April Musts!

I love Spring! Things are starting to get more colorful outside, a little warmer too, but unfortunately I live in Indiana where it likes to rain and be random with the temperature, so my kids and I sit inside and watch "SpongeBob Squarepants" all day and playing with cars and dollies. But when I do get a free moment to myself I have been getting some things that have been bringing some "life" back into this rainy April weather.


First off I got this amazing ring! I normally don't wear giant rings but I saw this one and I loved it and it was the last one so I snatched it up!

I also get these gorgeous earrings! Which look small but are actually huge on my ears.

Then I am in love with nail polish right now so I have been scooping it up left and right. My collection is outgrowing my little bin I have it all in so I am going to have to get a wall rack to organize it all. Anyway I got these plus several others but these are my favorites. I love these Insta-Dry by Sally Hanson. They dry so quickly and last forever. They are great with my 2 yr-old daughter because she loves nail polish but won't wait for it to dry. She loves the bubble gum pink one called "Fuchsia Flare". I love this silver color called "Silver Sweep", and the baby pink color is called "Beige Blast". It is really pigmented and it lasted for more than 5 days when I used a basecoat under it.

This gold color by Nicole by OPI is the perfect shade of Antique Gold. I got it at Walmart and it's called "The Next CEO".Then I was at ULTA and they had this buy two get two free deal. So I went crazy. I bought a whole bunch of colors, but what I really love are the X-Dry, Clear/Topcoat, and Basecoat. They really help the polish last a long time and doesn't cost a fortune.

Next I got this Nail Enamel Dryer by DeMert which they carry at ULTA but I got it at Meijers for around $2.50. A lot of nail salons have it at their dry stations for people who need a quick dry session. Just let your polish sit for a 1-2 minutes, spray on your nails and your good to go. It works even better with the Insta-Dry Polish!

Now I haven't tried this yet, but because I am a larger girl I use more product than most so I can't afford the more expensive self-tanners like St. Tropez all the time. So when I was at ULTA I asked if they had any recommendations and they said they had a lot of girls buying this product. Now of course they are going to promote their own brand but I trusted the girl because it was only $10 versus $40. So we shall see.

This has been out for quite a while with MAC but I just got it and it is the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. It is GORGEOUS! It leaves this beautiful glow to your skin. It's definitely my favorite product by far from MAC so far.

Next I got this pigment by MAC called Violet cause I love working with purples. So I thought I would give the pigments a try and start with colors I am most familiar with working with.

 I also got these eyeshadows while at MAC. Top Row is Retrospeck, Goldmine, All That Glitters, and bottom row is Twinks, Mulch, and Silver Ring. Silver Ring looks amazing along with Knight Divine.

I have been working on making my own makeup brush cleaning solution because for 2 fl. oz. bottle it costs almost $10 and if you clean them off everyday like you should that will last you maybe 2 weeks. So I made my own which I will do another post on later how to do it for really cheap, it produces a lot of solution, and works extremely well.

I saw the movie and thought it was incredible so I'm starting the book "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. And my kids were being naughty and going through my sister's room and brought me one of her candles (Sorry Courtney!). I smelled it and it was heaven! I didn't use it so don't worry Court, but I am definitely going to go get me one from Bath and Body Works and it's called "Sparkling Mojito".

My lovely husband bought me this awesome HD Camcorder so we can start recording memories of our kids and I can start making youtube videos. I'm still working on figuring out how to use it but I hope to start getting videos up next month.

Finally, I have started a workout regimen. So on those rainy days the best thing is my treadmill and my Brooks running shoes.








So there you have it. My April Musts! I can't wait to see what May brings. My husband gets out of school and starts summer semester. We will have a little more time as a family, YAY! But until then we just keep on going.
~LOVE~ Dani

You Don't Need a Ton of Makeup to be a Makeup Guru!

So I started this post at 4am Monday morning and because I couldn't sleep so what better time to write a post. I have been watching a lot of youtube makeup "Gurus" lately to get some ideas on what I should start making tutorials on and the one thing I have noticed is each one eventually does a "makeup collection/organization" video. You wouldn't believe the amount of makeup some of these girls have. Yes, some of them are makeup artists for a living, but they still have an awful lot of "personal" makeup. I'm going to tell you girls I don't have a ton of makeup. As of right now I have this container that I keep the makeup that I use most often from Target, its 14" L x 10" W x 6" H and that is it. I'm slowly growing my collection, but makeup has a lifespan. Some of these girls have so much makeup there is no way they could possibly use it all by it's expiration (the expiration date starts after you open it, so if it is still sealed, if should be fine).

Makeup Lifespan:
Mascara: 3 months
Foundation: 1 year
Concealer: 12-18 months
Powder: 18 months
Blush/Bronzer: 18 months
Cream Blush: 12-18 months
Eyeshadow: 18 months
Eyeliner: 18 months
Liquid Eyeliner: 6 months
Lip stick/lip gloss: 12-18 months
Lip liner: 1 year
Nail Polish: 1 year
Makeup Sponges: Wash after every use/discard after 1 month
Makeup Brushes: Wash after every use/discard when frayed

If you don't follow this time-line you run the risk of developing eye infections, and face blemishes. Here are some links to some girls' makeup collections that are out of this world but impossible to keep up with.. this is Ramnari7:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6NXrN4aSAc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxa1lbYQsqA&playnext=1&list=PL52CCF3E3287A3E8F
This girl has WAY TOO MUCH MAKEUP even for someone who is trying to become a makeup artist. The key to being a good makeup artist is being able to take what you have to work with and turning it into something beautiful, you don't need an entire room full of makeup to do so.

AllThatGlitters21:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crJD-NYTPGA&feature=related
Even though I am not a fan of her attitude, this girl has a little more manageable collection.

JuicyStar07:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MrZ8OtSis4&feature=fvwrel
Again this is a smaller more manageable collection, great for doing youtube tutorials, but a lot of money invested.

But this girl is one of my favorite. She is very classy. Has good ideas, and variety of makeup but isn't ridiculous! It's MakeupByTiffanyD and here is two of her makeup collection/storage videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exl4oEM_lMs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupByTiffanyD#p/u/47/D2Sw7x0x2FA

So here is what I have to offer...not much, but I can do A LOT with what I got!!!!

Crown Brush Set (made right here, in Crown Point, Indiana!), a Bare Essentials Bare Minerals Face Brush, and a Sonia Kashuk Stippling Brush

My Blue/Green MAC Palette

Top Row:Freshwater, Aquadisiac, Bitter

Middle Row: Atlantic Blue, Deep Truth, Tilt, Swimming

Bottom Row: Contrast, and Humid

My Neutral/Purple MAC Palette

Top Row: Quarry, Blanc Type, Naked Lunch, Hush (I LOVE THIS ONE!), Beautiful Iris

Middle Row: Scene, Goldmine, Parfait Amour

Bottom Row: Carbon, Knight Divine, Shadowy Lady, Nocturnelle

My Blush MAC Palette

Blunt (great non-shimmer bronzer), Fleur Power, Dollymix

So there you have it. I have some other "junk" in a box upstairs in my room. I keep this downstairs in my kids playroom so they can play while I do my makeup at the desk. I'm trying to build my collection, but good quality makeup is expensive so it will happen as it happens
~LOVE~ Dani

Yummy Chicken and Mexican Cheese Quesadilla and Salsa

This is a recipe for a delicious and very simple Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla. It takes maybe 5 minutes to make and it's fairly healthy considering it uses whole wheat tortillas!

What you'll need:
1 Medium Whole Wheat Tortilla (by Mission)
1 to 1.3 oz of Grilled Chicken (Hormel Pre-grilled)
1/4cup to 1/3 cup of Mexican Cheese
Salsa

Step 1: Take your Whole Wheat Tortilla and cut it in half

Step 2: Take 1/4 cup Mexican Cheese and evenly distribute on one side of the tortilla.

Step 3: Measure out about 1 to 1.3 oz of pre-grilled chicken. If you don't have a scale it's about enough to rest in the palm of your hand.

Step 4: Dice up the chicken very finely.

Step 5: Evenly Distribute the chicken on top of the cheese. (it may look like a lot of chicken but don't worry...)

Step 6: Sprinkle a little more Mexican Cheese over the top of the chicken.

Step 7: Place the other half of the tortilla on top and place in the microwave. Microwave on High for 1min30sec. (DON'T OVER COOK!)

Step 8: The Mexican Cheese when melted leaves a some grease, so I soak it up with a paper towel.

Step 9: Using a Pizza Cutter (or whatever you may have) cut the tortilla into four slices.







Step 10: Pour your self a little salsa on the side and there you have it! A delicious and nutritious Chicken and Mexican Cheese Quesadilla! And if you are worried that the whole wheat tortillas are going to taste funny, don't, they taste just like a regular tortilla, just healthier for you cause it is using healthier carbs. So eat up and enjoy!!!!!!!

Nutrition Facts:
Mission Whole Wheat Tortilla: 1 Tortilla= 120 Calories 19 Carbs
1.3oz Hormel Grilled Chicken Breast: 50 Calories 0 Carbs
Target brand Mexican Cheese: 1/4 cup= 110 Calories+20 Calories in Sprinkled Cheese 1 Carbs
2 Tbsp Salsa: 10 Calories 2 Carbs
Total: 310 Calories 22 Carbs

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!! Internet problem resolved. Stuff to come. I'm getting a Camcorder and I hope to post some makeup tutorials and diy projects. I have a super yummy, extremely easy, and fairly healthy Chicken and Mexican Cheese Quesadilla Recipe I will be sharing. I have been creating a lot of handmade jewelry lately and plan on selling some on etsy.com soon so I will keep you posted on that. And I am ready for it to warm up cause I finally have the motivation to go walking!!!!!!! YAY!!!! Soon as I get pictures going there will be posts!!!!
~LOVE~ Dani

Computer update... Still having computer Internet issues. It's strange, it works fantastically with Comcast but it doesn't work at all with AT&T Uverse, so Greg and I are ordering a comcast plan this Monday so hopefully (cross your fingers) I will be up and runny very soon. I have been posting whenever I go to work or on my cell phone...boo! I am looking into getting a camcorder so I can start taping some makeup tutorials as well as craft projects to organize your accessories and such. I swill bring you fashion, shoe, and accessories goodies for less! I'm so excited to get this up and running, so check back in soon. Much love, -Dani

New Beginning!!

Time for New Beginnings. All my life I have been over weight. I have always been the one teased about who heavy I was. I had a real hard time dealing with my weight issues when I was little. I hated going to school because I didn't like being teased, so I would fake being sick to stay home. In high school, I had a hard time with boys. They took advantage of me cause they new I wanted a boyfriend but no boy wanted to be with my cause most boys of that age are looking for a girl with good looks not everything else too. It wasn't until I started to slim down my senior year of high school when I finally got my first real boyfriend, and that didn't last very long. Then it was off to college where the weight goes up and down and up and down and up and up and down and up for what seems like an eternity. Then I met my husband and we got pregnant...with TWINS!!! And I was told I had to gain at least 45-50 lbs for the babies sake. So that was hard to take cause my whole life I hated being fat and to be told that I had to be fatter made me really depressed. I had some complications with the pregnancy causing water to accumulate in my left leg making it swell to 3x it size causing me to gain in total 70lbs with the pregnancy. I weighed 236 lbs. Immediately after the babies were born I dropped down to 190lbs just like that, even before I left the hospital 5 days later. But then being the mother of twins with no help catches up to you cause you cant take care of yourself correctly and all you eat is what is available to you and you end up gaining 20 lbs so now I am up to 210lbs. That was back in August of 2009 since then I lost 40 lbs for my wedding this past December 11, 2010, but I have had some stress come about causing me to gain 17 lbs and now I am back up to 190 lbs. My goal is to lose at least 25 lbs. through a diet and exercise and then....if I get approved...I plan on getting a body lift and breast lift this June. A body lift is a lot like a tummy tuck except the incision goes the entire way around the body, removing fat pockets from your hips, and lifting and tightening your buttocks, and tightening your tummy. At the same time they do a form of liposuction on your legs to smooth everything out. With all the extra skin from having the babies I just don't feel "sexy" anymore and I want to feel SEXY!!!!!! Then I'm also getting a breast lift and augmentation because they have fallen bellow my belly button and they are heavy and they hurt. I know I won't come out of this surgery a supermodel or anything. I am just looking on gaining some confidence to wear something other than jeans and a sweatshirt. I'm young and beautiful on the inside but I'm ready to look like the girl I feel like I should be. I hope you will all support me in my weight loss journey....

I will be posting new stuff soon!

Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since I have posted anything new but I have gone through some massive computer/internet drama over the past 3 weeks. It started out with my old computer dying so I ordered a new Dell (computer #1) from Best Buy online. When I got it and tried to use the internet nothing would happen, nothing would pull up, it would just be a blank page. So I took it in to Best Buy and they figured out that it had a bad internet card in it. So I got computer #2 a Toshiba, I got it home and tried the internet and it was really slow and sometimes it wouldnt load the page at all. So I called up Geek Squad and they said it had to be my interney provider. So I called my internet provider, AT&T Uverse, and they said my internet was working fine which I believed because all the other computers in the house are working just fine, so I took computer #2 back to Best Buy. The Geek Squad there "tested it" by using their internet and going to 3 websites and said it was fine, but I said it did not work right at home, so they exchanged it for computer #3, back to the Dell. I get the Dell home and the same thing happens, internet is running slow and wont open certain pages. So I called up Geek Squad again where they insisted it was my internet provider, so I called AT&T and they came out and replaced our equipment even though the internet worked fine on the other 3 computers in the house. But guess what...it didnt fix it, the internet still didnt work on the computer. So I called Geek Squad back up where I finally got a guy who sounded like he knew what he was doing. We were on the phone for almost 2 hours working on the computer when nothing worked he said that I was going to have to delete everything on the computer and reupload the computer from the backup disc. I said "no, I havent loaded anything on it because I am only using it for internet right now and internet web page building and I cant load any of that without the internet. So that is pointless" So I took the computer back to Best Buy where after arguing with the little 10 year-old manager for 20 minutes with my kids screaming in my ear, he finally agreed to exchange the computer so now we are computer #4, the internet is still running extremely slow, Im having trouble uploading pictures, and I am about ready to pay the ridiculous amount ($150) to have Geek Squad come to my house and see for themselves that the internet isnt working on this computer!!!!! So I promise I havent gone anywhere. I have tons of stuff to post I just need the internet to do so. So keep checking in and I hope to be up and running by the end of the week!!!!!!
~LOVE~
Dani