Revival

I can't tell you how long it's been since I've posted...okay, so I can. I am sure there is a date stamp on my last post. I am just too lazy to go check. All I know is that I announced I would be moving to Germany. Well, a lot has changed since that. For one, I am actually IN Germany now! Believe it or not, we have been here 6 months and one week. Life has changed so much in these last few months. Originally I gave up on my blog because I felt I had nothing interesting going on to talk about. I am also lazy and easily distracted lol. However, now that we are situated here and good weather is upon us, I feel there is so much more to share. Besides, it may be the perfect outlet for me so I can spare my husbands ears, and my friend's Facebook feeds!

So where to start? There is so much to catch up on! First of all, I am due in 2 weeks and 4 days with a precious baby girl. No name chosen yet, yes I know we are slackers. My son Kaelen is now 3.5 years old, he outsmarts me daily and amazes me in every moment. The pending arrival of our baby is bittersweet. I will miss Kaelen being my one and only, I worry about how I will share my focus. I worry he will feel less loved, or ignored. However, when I watch him interact with the pointy feet and elbows protruding from my sides I know how wrong I am. He is going to be an amazing big brother, and I will be ever more proud of him. I know that I can love them both, and they will each be special in their own ways. I look forward to the journey!

Of course, right now I am just running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Despite being a parent already, and having pretty much all we needed without having to even shop this time around, I feel unprepared. I know it can't be avoided, I am facing a huge change. I am also juggling another child and full time college! I must be insane, but I seem to do my best work this way. I am sure we will be fine. Actually, to be honest, I am very exciting about her arrival. Last time I was in such denial that I would ever have to do the hard part and give birth lol but this time I am looking forward to it. No, I am no masochist, I do not look forward to the pain. But I am looking forward to the experiance this time. At approximately 35 weeks I decided I couldn't bare to dump Kaelen off on a friend (and am not really close with anyone just yet anyhow) while I'm in the hospital. I also was very unhappy with my care at the military hospital here. So I contacted a doula service and was connected with an amazing lady who is working towards her certification. I get to be her second birth experiance as a doula, I feel really happy being able to help her with her goal. Anyway, my lovely doula gave me a lot of wonderful info and I realized I DO have choices! So to make the story short(er), I am now going to a German hospital. The staff there is amazing and totally in line with my beliefs and wants (including a labor tub OMG!), and my precious Kaelen and husband will be allowed to stay the night with me in a private room. I could not be happier!

Other than my pregnancy - which has been wonderful, minus the part at 10 weeks when we moved from the West coast overseas and I had some hellacious morning sickness - I have just been busy with said college (finals next week for 3 of my 5 courses!), making/hanging out with friends (there are some awesome ladies here!), and exploring Germany (so far just some stores and a castle). I also FINALLY got my USAREUR license so I can legally drive here. Put it off for months! We also bought a second vehicle, our first manual, so I don't have to be trapped at home all the time while hubby works. I will drive our automatic though, at least until I learn how to drive a clutch! I am also trying to get my garden started up for summer, I would like to get it done before baby arrives lol.

All in all, I don't think I could be any happier right now. Life is going really well for us, for once. We have a huge German house out in a quiet town, with an equally huge yard (and pool!) and lots of nature nearby. Between PCS reimbursment and taxes we were able to pay off debt as well as buy our second car and some other fancy things like a new couch and a DSLR camera (must have something nice for photographing Europe!). Even bought a trampoline, which I am pretty sure made my son's year lol. My marriage is content, my son is a prodigy (okay, maybe not but he is way ahead on milestones!), my pregnancy has gone smooth (and I am glowing so much I have been offered 3 maternity modeling gigs. Can you say ego boost?!), our landlords leave us alone, and heck....I live in Europe. I really can't complain! I do miss family and friends back home, but with all the leave my husband has accrued I am sure we will visit this fall after we spend our summer vacationing in the many amazing places Europe has to offer!

So yes, that sums it up. Sorry if that is too much reading. I am going to just treat this post as a journal entry, so I won't be offended if you get bored and don't finish it all hehe. I am just glad to "be back" so to speak. I hope that I can stick with it more, everyone keeps telling me I should. Only time will tell, but one thing I can say is this....it feels good to get it all out! Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful spring weekend with whatever plans they may have for Easter or otherwise. May you be blessed with sunny skies, a cool breeze, some good eats and great companionship! Tschüss!

Wir bewegen uns in Deutschland!

Hallo everyone! Long time, no blog. Sorry! There hasn't been much to talk about lately. I had been planning to move back to Northern California for college because it was likely my husband would deploy. However, he wasn't on the list. Last night we found out why......

.....we are moving to Germany! Yes, the Air Force is sending us there later this year. I am excited but also worried about such a big move. Also, I am really sad about not going to college back home. My major isn't available just anywhere (Equine Science) and I only receive my free tuition in California (although I'm sure I can qualify for grants too). And most importantly, Ill miss family. But, we don't get to see family as it is right now so it really isn't all that different. I am going to stay positive about and make the most of it. It is a chance of a lifetime!

Finally!

All four books I ordered have all finally arrived! I cannot wait to share my thoughts, but first I must read up. I have had a few recommendations towards other books as well, but I am putting any more on hold until I get through these four. I have been very eager to dive into these books, but I seem to find a distraction at every turn. From dealing with the DMV from out of state and trying to get our smog waved, to trying to file our taxes for the first time on our own. What a pain being an adult is! On a good note I did get an appointment set finally for my vision. I am nearsighted and in moving I lost my glasses. The DMV also never sent me my new license, so between having no proof of a DL and my vision impaired I am nervous to drive even the shortest of distances! So I rely on my husband, which means I only get errands done when he is off work (these errands are the bulk of my distraction from reading). Its a vicious cycle for sure, but soon it will all be resolved I hope and then I can get cozy with some good reading and forget all my woes!

Until then, stay safe and warm! And remember to appreciate the little things and let everyone know you love and care about them!

Books and Better Living!

I ordered four books a couple days ago from a few different Amazon.com vendors. I received two already, and I'm so excited to start reading them! One is The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. I have heard so many great things about this book, especially in regards to the horrid factoring farming conditions in this country. My other book is Food Rules by Michael Pollan. Its a simple guide, but very useful. I have already flipped through a lot of it. Most eating tips are common sense, but are quite often overlooked, so it will be useful to have around as a reminder!


Part of my set of resolutions for the new year is to commit more to my going green. I have made a lot of strides in the last year, and have done a lot of research, but there is so much more I could be doing. One really important thing I could be doing is eating healthier! I intend to start my own garden once the weather warms, and I am working towards buying local and organic from a co-op not too far away. These ideas, along with Food Rules, should help my family a lot. I have also been looking up a lot of recipes online as well as making healthier versions of my passed-down family recipes. One recipe I found online is a healthier version/knockoff of McDonalds Chicken Nuggets, as well as some homemade fries. Still not the healthiest choice, but much better than actually eating out! Besides, I always throw some veggies on my plate too.


I should be receiving my other two books soon. One is The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith, the other is Frugal Luxuries by Tracey McBride. I have had many recommendations for both, and am eager to get them. I am still looking through books, but Id eventually like to buy some on herbs and gardening. I have also stumbled upon a website that sells herbs, oils, butters, etc. http://www.mountainroseherbs.com sells only organic or sustainable wild-harvested goods, and all I hear is rave reviews about them, so you can imagine my excitement! Anyway, Ill update as I get more into my books or make an order. I love sharing my finds with everyone!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Remember to live every day to the fullest. And don't forget to send your thoughts or prayers to those (both human and animal) in Haiti dealing with the aftermath of a tragic earthquake. If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross, you can visit their site or text "Haiti" to 90999 and it will charge $10 to your phone bill. You can also donate via Yele, or the ASPCA. Millions have already been raised! If you can afford it, please help. Karma will always come back in full!

Just a quick hello!

I just wanted to stop in and let you all know that my resolutions are going slow but well. For some things, it requires my ability to get out of the house and I only really do that on the days my husband is off work. He is off the next two days, so I plan to take advantage! Also, I was commenting the other day how much I love http://www.etsy.com and how useful the site is.

Etsy is a site dedicated to sellers who sell their home/handmade goods, or vintage items. Most think of clothing and jewelry. But I have seen soap (as well as purchased!), shampoo/conditioner, henna hair dye, candles, TOOTHPASTE, crotchet patterns, FOOD, makeup, seeds for gardening, paintings, corsets, etc. There is so much there! Youre also helping support small, family owned business as well as very earth friendly (most products are very natural do to the nature of making goods by hand) products. It is also a great way to find unique items for the holidays or gift giving. Prices are often very reasonable as well. I have hundreds of items saved to my list, so that when I eventually have money to spare I can buy them! Anyway, I just really wanted to share the link with all of you. Its definetly worth a look!

Hope all of you had a wonderful weekend!

A New Year

It has been awhile since I last posted. I have definetly been neglecting my blog. I feel like I have been neglecting a lot lately, including myself. Given its a new year though, I decided that there is no better time than now to improve and set some resolutions! I know we are already a week into the new year, but I am still carefully laying out my plans on paper. It might seem a bit silly to some, but I am very detail oriented and if I dont write it all out, then it will never happen! I am starting off with listing out my main goals, and then writing out specific ways of accomplishing those goals. For example, one of my goals is to have more family time. Things I can do to make that happen is cutting down on internet and television, eating dinner at the dining table, game nights, going to the dog park more often, etc.


Another goal of mine is to return to college. I took time off from it because of my husband going into the Air Force and our subsequent move. Now that we are well established here though, I am eager to return! Only issue is paying for it. My mother is a disabled veteran and I recieved free tuition in California because of that, but I cannot get it in Washington. We are on a single income now, with no one to watch our son, so it puts me in a frustrating situation. However, I was used to being a full time student, but if I get my foot in the door with one class at a time then that is still better than nothing!


Anyway, that is just my little update! I still need to organize myself a bit more, and work on the most important resolutions first, then make some time for my blog. I am thinking though, that if I treat this blog somewhat like a public diary, then it will keep my honest and true to following through with my resolutions. We will see how it goes, but I have high hopes for 2010. I am hoping it will be 200% better than last year. Of course, hoping only goes so far. I need to work for it, and MAKE this year better than the last. For myself, my son, my family, and the world around me! Wish me luck, and I wish all you the best for this new year. I hope that it will be exactly what you want it to be!

NOM - Gathering Storm

This video is hard to take seriously. Its almost as if these people fear gays. I am really disturbed by this whole "separate but equal" idea going on. Havent we done that with "blacks" and women? Didnt that turn out really bad? I think we have worse things to worry about, like the staggering divorce rate and all the 20 second marriage/annulments that cheapen the meaning of marriage. I see it like this: if gays truly want to marriage, and be unhappy like the majority of the population, then by all means. LOL Anyway, what gets me the most is the whole teaching kids about gay marriage in school. I hear it all the time, but I worked for a school in California. We discussed policy with schools from all over and not one has ever heard of kids being taught this. Its an outright lie, and a ridiculous one at that...

Anyway, just my $0.02 :) if you dont like it, keep it to yourself. This is my blog, where I have the right to share my thoughts. If you want to hate on it, go elsewhere please. Ive heard the argument a million times. Try spreading your beliefs through love, not hate. Thanks. And for all of you that may enjoy this post, thanks to you as well for being awesome as usual!

I Fear the Future

I started this blog with plans to make it about me. To write about the things I care about. Lately I have been posting about makeup and Aromaleigh, which is great btw but still it is just one thing. I always talk to my husband and vent about things that bother me, or post on Facebook about something I think of. Silly me always forgets about sharing it on my blog. Perhaps out of some laziness, perhaps because I fear the strangers out there who read this will condemn me for my beliefs. Who knows? Anyway, I was just thinking about the state of our economy and national debt, and had this crazy notion I should share my thoughts here! This is a bit of a messy rant, so bear with me. This is not a polished essay, but rather me spilling my heart.

I was thinking about how our education system is failing, our health care system is faltering, and our national debt is rising. And then I thought about how millions of people still show up for sports games, and the latest movie craze. I got to thinking, why do we pay athletes and actors sooooo much? I know they work hard too, but they don't really give back (save for a few who do charity work..which is still only like 1% of the millions they have). What if we took those millions that they just piddle away on Escalades and dog fighting, mansions and cocaine, and put it into our education system? Our children are our future, right? If we paid teachers better and funded the schools then there would be no pink slips and cuts, no shortage of electives, and no reason for teachers to stop giving a damn. No excuse from kids about giving up since college isn't an option anyway. They would have confidence and drive instead. Or maybe we could feed the poor? I know, I know. Those celebrities 'earned' their money, but Id say the percentage of what they deserve is inflated. Do you know how many starving people we could feed? How many foster kids or homeless animals we could help?

So maybe I sound a bit socialist, stealing from the rich to give to the poor, but honestly I am talking strictly about careers of excess. I'm not talking about rich doctors, lawyers, business owners. I'm talking about people who kick a ball around, which many of us have fun doing for free. I'm talking about all these rappers who buy fat gold chains and even with all their money feel the need to break the law and do drugs. The football players who can buy happiness, but throw their money in on dog fighting rings. I don't care what I am branded as, I know my ideas have their flaws, but whats wrong with being an optimist? I am all for people having their riches, but I think that if our economy is in the shitter yet they can drive their Porsche and cruise on their yachts while the world collapses around us, that there is something obviously wrong.

Here is a little story for you....Before moving to Washington for the Air Force, I worked at an elementary school in California. I LOVED my job in the after school program helping kids. I didn't care about the money, it got me by. I just took so much joy in it that I would've done it for free. So many of those children have been forgotten by their parents, their teachers, and they fail and fall behind without anyone batting an eye. They say to me they don't care because they cant afford college anyway. I fear many of them will end up in prison. But doesn't anyone realize that funding education is significantly cheaper than funding the prison system?!? I helped many of them turn their grades around, renewed their spirits and hope for the future, and many of them thanked me. They said if it wasn't for me, they would have dropped out or skipped school. That they would have settled for less. It broke my heart that those feelings ever crossed their minds, but it melted my heart knowing the difference I made. But even still, despite my greatest efforts, the high school many are now attending this new school year has few electives. It has low standards for passing. They'll pass you with F's because they need your seat for the next round of kids. They are like cattle, they are just numbers. They are cutting senior projects, field trips to colleges, all because there is no money in the system. Some of these kids don't even know their multiplication tables. Its sad. And when one kid struggles, instead of helping them they just set their expectations lower. If there has been this much change since I was in school a few years ago, what will my son have?

My sons name is Kaelen. He is two years old. I fear for his future, not because of the war in the middle east, but because it is likely no one will give a damn about his education but me. He is not ready for school yet but Ive already begun to think about it. I have considered homeschooling, but even that is required to follow the standards the state gives (my sister is home schooled and I have found it to be nearly as bad as the school she went to), and still has many limitations. I have considered private school, but it is unlikely we could afford it or even find one near us. I only want what is best for him, as most parents want for their children. But we are still held back by the options we are given. And as every day passes the options seem to grow dimmer. I fear that my son may grow up in a very bleak world. Our economy is failing, our environment is poisoned, our government does not care, and wars continue to wage. What is there to offer my son? What can I do to help? These are the things I wonder every day, every hour. And silly me posts blogs about makeup. Silly me keeps my mouth shut, for fear of stepping on toes. Silly me is going to feel really bad when the stories I tell my son when he is older, is that I didn't even speak out. So that is why I write this. It is time for change. It is mostly an outlet for me to vent my fear, frustration, and grief over all of this. But if it can help one person, make one person think about it, then I have made a difference.


***Feel free to comment, I would love to hear the voice of others, but please keep it polite and respectful. I understand not all people will agree or see my point. But remember, this is my blog. It is a place for me to share my thoughts, not for you to hate on me. I put it here out of kindness, I do not push my beliefs nor judge others for their differing views. And as the old saying goes, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." I hope all of you are well and staying warm this winter! Yours Truly, Ashley.

Aromaleigh's New Hi-Fi Matte Collection

I've had the privilege of being sent a sample set of Aromaleigh's 20 new retro colors. Now when most of you think of matte colors, you think of simple and neutral day looks, but these colors are bright and vivid! The colors remind me a lot of my childhood, when I would draw on the driveway and sidewalks with chalk. However, it is ONLY the colors that remind me, these do not feel chalky whatsoever! My swatches are below, starting from the left: Spaz, Cranked (hint of shimmer), Got Dibs, Kookie, Supermurgatroid, Big Tickle, Flip Your Lid, Train Wreck, What's Shakin'?, Heels On Fire, In The Mix, and Fake Out.

My second photo below, which is swatched on the top of my forearm (my skin is darker here than on the photo above) includes the following(right from left this time LOL): Cats Pajamas, Real Gone, Smokin', Ankle Biter, Radioactive, Cool It, Daddy-O, and In Orbit (hint of shimmer).

I am not that experienced with makeup so I often shy away from mattes because Ive found them more difficult to work with, and some of the ones I have tried were disappointing. Because of this I usually gravitate towards shimmer. However a good matte color is always useful, even if just used as a base for adding the sparkle! I am a fan of Miss K and Aromaleigh, and have tried a couple samples of her other matte collections, but with my lack of makeup knowledge and with only one semi decent eyeshadow brush, I was lost as how to apply them well. So for awhile I gave up, even though I loved the colors she offered. But given the opportunity to be sent this new collection, I decided it would be worth another go. And I am glad I tried them, because they are gorgeous and wearable. I am not sure if the formula is the same as her previous matte collections, but I am finding these ones much easier to work with. Perhaps its because they are so darn bright and lovely, that I just cant screw it up! LOL So far I have worn Kookie and Spaz, and I really like both. I am also very fond of purples, so I cant wait to try all the of the purples that are in this collection!

I really think that this collection has a color for everyone. There are some dark yet bold colors, as well as light and bright ones. There is even a hint of sparkle/shimmer to a couple colors! They apply smoothly, and it does not take much product to get the desired look. With a good primer, they stay well. I have oily lids so worn alone I did get creasing, but that may not be an issue for everyone. This collection makes me want to go back and try out her previous matte collections to see what I was doing wrong. I am thinking I just need to invest in a better set of brushes! So would I recommend this product? Yes! If you love bright and bold then you'll enjoy these. If you love Aromaleigh, you'll enjoy these. Or if you are willing to try something new, I am betting you'll enjoy these! They are fun and perky, which is great for the dreary winter ahead. I wouldn't call them my favorites (who can really have a favorite when there are nearly 500 colors to choose from!) but I'm really glad Miss K made these rather than sticking to the normal holiday shades. You can find this collection, as well as many others, at Aromaleigh.com!

Thanks again for reading. I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving (or if you dont celebrate, I hope you enjoyed the break!) and I wish you all Happy Holidays and a warm, safe winter!

Saying Goodbye to a Dear Friend

It is with great sadness that I write this post. I have not been on as much as Id like and it is mostly due to the condition of my horse Boo. A few weeks ago it started out with a drastic loss in weight, but in the past two weeks has worsened. We went out to feed one day and discovered his...man parts...were swollen. I did not think it would get much worse (thought he just needed to be cleaned and that the swelling was due to irritation) and it was the weekend so we did not call a vet out ASAP. By that Monday the swelling had increased so we called and the vet came out about an hour later. What she saw shocked her. In her 18 years as a veterinarian she had never seen anything like it, and had only heard of it in breeding stallions (Boo is a gelding - castrated male). She gave us a poor prognosis and told us surgery would be the best choice. But on a military single income budget, we could not afford $3000 (at a minimum mind you) to have it amputated. So over the past two weeks we have been giving him antibiotics, pain killers, and trying to keep it elevated in hopes that the fluid would drain off.



Instead of getting better the tissue has turned purple, and although the swelling has dissipated some, he now has edema in his chest and along the underside of his torso. We called our vet to tell her how it is doing, and she said that even with money to spare that the outcome was grim. So after much struggle with the decision, we have decided to euthanize him. This is such a difficult decision for me to make but I know at this point it is in his best interest. If the outcome of surgery was a guarantee I would do everything in my power to raise that money. I hate that decisions of life or death come down to finances, its heartbreaking.



So this Monday, I will have to say good bye to my dear old friend Boo (registered name Premium Page). He has been a part of my family since my Sophomore year of high school (I'm 21 now). He has always been such a pain in the rear, but I love him because he makes up for it in sweetness and effort. He is awkward and pigeon toed, and dislikes his mouth touched and rarely allows me to tie him to a hitching post. But we have worked through a lot of his issues, accepted his imperfections and come to be good friends. He has even made friends with my two year old son. Boo will be greatly missed by all of us, but especially by our mare (female horse) Joey. They have been pasture buddies and friends for a couple years now. I worry that she will fall into depression (yes, that really does happen with animals!) but hopefully since she is stabled near other horses she will do okay.



Anyway, that's all for now. Not much else to say about it unless you wanted my life story with Boo :) . This is why I haven't been on much, I'm sorry. But I hope you will understand! On a better note, I have friends from Northern California coming up for Thanksgiving. It is our first big holiday in a place of our own, so I am very excited about that! I hope the rest of you have a fantastic holiday season. Keep warm, and drive safe on those wet roads!

Hilarious Yet Realistic Look At Vaccines And Their Ingredients

People are beginning to show more awareness and concern for ingredients in their food, yet they blindly accept vaccinations because they are doctor (and government) recommended. But do you know what is in them? This is a humorous take on the situation. Enjoy!

Zoya Nail Polish & Besem Natural Scents

I received two highly anticipated packages in the mail today. I was hoping they would've been here yesterday but as we all know it was Veterans Day (Thank you for serving mom! Oh and you too dad, uncle O, and grandpa!) so I didn't mind waiting just one more day! Anyway, one package was from Zoya. They have water based nail polish that is free of the big nasties (aka formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, pthalates...). Its been described as long wearing and comparable in wear to traditional nail polish, but without sacrificing your health! I follow Zoya on Facebook and they recently had a promotion in celebration of their Presidents birthday. It was for a free nail polish, you just pay shipping.



I had been looking at trying Zoya out but was waiting for my wallet to fill back up after my Aromaleigh hauls, but I just could pass up this deal! So I went ahead and ordered two colors, one was free and I paid for the other color plus shipping. It came out to be just less than buying two regularly, but I saved because buying them regularly would require me to pay shipping as well (which equals about another nail polish). Overall it was worthwhile. You can find Zoya products in a few select stores, or order from Zoya.com. I really recommend adding them on Facebook as well for their awesome promotions. Aside from the free nail polish, I was given a code today to put in an order of 3 free lip glosses!

The colors I chose are Beyonnce, and Charity. Beyonnce can be described as a coppery red with a frosty metallic finish. It is categorized with the coral family of colors. Ive only applied it to one nail so far but it went on smoothly. Its slightly sheer so I will need to add a second coat but I think that will be sufficient coverage. I have fair skin but with a warm undertone, so corals seem to work well for me. However, I haven't worn nail polish in years so it is a bit odd to see color on my nails! The second color, Charity, is a lovely lavender type purple with gold undertones. It is much more opaque than Beyonnce, but I think I will add a second coat just to smooth out any missed spots. It applied well, dried quickly, and so far hasn't smudged or been damaged like what often happens when you bump your fingers too soon after the drying stage. I really like this color, it seems a little more wearable than Beyonnce. Only time will tell though how well they stay on my fingers, but so far so good!



My only real disappointment is that the bottles are smaller than I had anticipated. I didn't look at the ounces at all when I ordered but figured the yd be at least the size of the drugstore brands. They are a bit smaller though, and have .5 ounces. The price at $7 is still reasonable considering the quality, and Ive never finished a bottle of polish in my life so I'm not too concerned about running out! ***I couldn't get any decent pictures of my nails colored, but there is a picture at the bottom of this post pertaining to my Besem order that has my thumb in it (with the color Charity). Its not too bad in the picture but its much prettier in person!



Onto my next package, my soaps from the Etsy company Besem Natural Scents! I have been wanting to get rid of all my nasty chemical-laden drugstore products and Miss K (Aromaleigh Mineral Makeup) is always talking on Facebook about her Etsy finds (as well as Zoya!) so I thought Id check the site out! It is full of homemade, hand crafted products and most are natural and eco-friendly. I'm really in love with all the companies Ive come across so far! So my first Etsy purchase I decided would be from Besem. You can find them through Etsy or at BesemNaturalScents.com




I like Besem because they are a green family owned business. They make their own cold process soap and natural palm/beeswax candles. Their palm wax/oil is sustainably sourced (instead of destroying a fragile ecosystem) and their beeswax is from local bee farm. They use high quality fragrance oils too. They also donate 10% of their profits to orphan relief. So it was an easy decision to make for me to support their company with my business! Since I am new to their products and wasn't sure which scent Id like, I decided to try out their sample set. It comes with 6 bars of your choice, and they are each 1/4 the size of a regular bar. For a small business making their own products, the $11 price tag was very reasonable. I was also surprised with a 7th bar of sample soap in my box. I think free samples are not only exciting to receive, but a wonderful way to charm your customers and get them to try a product/scent they might not otherwise think to purchase. I also loved the handwritten note Wendy (the owner) wrote to thank me!


The 6 soaps I ordered (pictured in two separate photos above) were Pink Grapefruit, Almond Honey & Oats, Cinnamon Spice, Ultimate Travel Bar (which is good for hair, face, and body!), Sweet Anisette (smells like black licorice and contains active charcoal so its great for your face), and Lavender Harvest (also suitable for face). The freebie she included was Lemon Tea. They all smell amazing! I am excited to get in the shower and try them out! I will let you all know more as I try them all out but so far I am very pleased!



Thanks again for reading. I hope everyone has been doing well. Keep safe and warm, Ill be back soon!

Making Eyeshadow: Comparison between Aromaleigh and Lime Crime

I do not want to argue semantics, but there has been a lot of controversy over the makeup company Lime Crime. A lot of people believe she just repackages. On November 4th she released a video as a rebuttal, stating she does not. However, she still doesn't get into specifics so its difficult to tell one way or another. But whatever the truth really is, I do not buy from her mainly because of her $12 price tags when I can find hundreds more vibrant colors at Aromaleigh.com! Oh and all the icky ingredients Ive noticed in LC products. Those alone make it hard to believe Doe Deere makes them herself, because so many of those ingredients are unneccesary especially when made in small loving batches.....but anyway, that all is beside the point. I'm going to post links to a video of Doe Deere making her eyeshadow, and Kristen's new video where she also makes eyeshadow.

I do not want to persuade or sway my viewers based upon my opinion, or tell them what to think. But just watch both, and you will see the difference between the two companies. Enjoy!

Lime Crime: (Note she does not allow comments)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB6HjDC-Y_E

Aromaleigh: (Allows comments)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nccNupgAHtw&feature=player_embedded

*** Also, if you'd like to leave a comment here, please do. But DO NOT cuss, flame, accuse, defame, or leave generally rude comments because Ill be forced to delete them before they are even posted. However, I would be more than happy to see debate, constructive criticism, and thoughtful comments and/or questions!

Pink Orchid Look Using Limited Edition Collection

As promised, here is my look using Aromaleigh eyeshadow from her L'Orchidee collection which was for sale again for a limited time during the end of October, but is now no longer available (the best of 2009 will be chosen from each of these limited edition collections though...so stayed tuned!). If you like my look and want to check out the products for yourself, go to Aromaleigh.com!

All I really did for this look was my eyes. I was at home for the evening so I wasnt going to get completely dolled up. So please excuse the messy hair and overall incomplete look! The above photo also came out with high contrast, I look a bit odd but I just wanted to give you the general idea. Im also wearing creampuff lip color from Aromaleigh as well. For my eyes I used the following:

seed pearl - upper/inner eye and lower eyelid

pink fingers - upper lash to brow

heart - upper and lower eyelid

showy - center of upper lid

mariposa - outer V

I also used the Indelible Gel Liner (also available at Aromaleigh.com) in the color Blackout, as well as my lash blast mascara. I blended the pink shadows pretty well, and my camera is pretty crummy, so in the picture you cant really make out each shade distinctly but the overall look on my eyes was really pretty, and complemented my blue eyes without clashing with my new reddish blonde hair! I cant recall if Id added purple to the crease yet, and the photo is leaving me unsure. If I did, it was from the same collection, the color jewel I believe.

And lastly is the picture of my arm with swatches of all the L'Orchidee colors. I wish they all showed up better in the photo, because all the colors are gorgeous in real life! I am attempting to name them in order but if I mess up and any of you notice, let me know!

Starting from my wrist (these are my own descriptions):

Bumblebee - Its right at the left edge of the picture. A lovely golden yellow.

Wild Coco - It came across as a silvery green to me with kind of an earthy look to it

Jewel - A very lovely purple, reminds me of Amethyst (thus the name jewel?)

Moonset - A very smokey purple with a bit of blue

Moth - A light shimmery sheer purple/grey

Orinoco - A satiny peachy pink

Pixie Cup - Similar to Moth but more of a lavendar purple

Shadow Witch - A dark, midnight smokey blue/purple with more glitter than the others

Tangleroot - A gorgeous deep earthy green

Tigrilla - A perky golden orange

Unicorn - A much softer yellow than Bubblebee

Cascade - Looks like a deep purple in baggie but came out a rich wine like red/purple

Chatterbox - An earthier purple

Cricket - A bright green (looks yellow in photo -_-), actually a very wearable gorgeous color!

Dragon - A smokey greenish purple, very layered/multi-dimensional

Seed Pearl - A great highlighter color. A very light nude with pink shimmer

Pink Fingers - A satin sheen pastel pink, looks great with my blue eyes!

Mariposa - A deep pink with a reddish tone, very wearable in crease or outer V

Heart - A rich sexy pink with a bit of gold

Showy - Just what the name implies, lots of sparkle to this lovely light pink!

Well that sums it up. I really love this collection and hope that my favorites (which Im still debating on) end up becoming permanent additions! All I have are samples, and Im pretty sure Id love to have a few in full size! Luckily Kristens samples are so generous, and I have so many, that each baggie should last me awhile! Thanks for reading! Until next time, stay safe and warm this fall. ****Id also like the extend my thoughts and support to those who were affected by the shooting today on Fort Hood, Texas . That area is no stranger to mass shootings/killings tragedy (Killeen 1991). I was also born there (both parents were Army) so I hold the area and its residents near and dear to me!

~ I was not paid for this review/endorsement of Aromaleigh products. All of it was paid for with my own money, and I just happen to love this company and want to share my joy!

Steilacoom Dog Park

Hi everyone! Sorry its been so long, there just hasn't been much to write about. I just wanted to check in. Tomorrow/later today Ill be posting an eye look using some pink colors from the Limited Edition L'Orchidee collection from Aromaleigh.com

I also wanted to share with you some pictures from the dog park a couple day ago. We try to go on my husbands days off as long as its not raining. Its been in the 30s morning/night and 50s during the day with some wind, but the sun has been out so its okay! I really enjoy the dog park. It feels good to get outside and run around, and my son and dog love making new furry friends! They also just finished putting in a new bench and gazebo cover!

My dog Zippo is always so happy when he gets to go to the park. And everyone loves him and are constantly asking me about him and his baby blue (and one half brown) eyes. We adopted him about a year and a half ago at the approximate age of 6 months. Hes a real sweety, and not too jumpy as long as he gets out to play (which is why the park is great!). He passes out afterwards exhausted. We are exactly sure what mix of breeds he is, but hes cute and loving and that's good enough for us! Adopting pets is so amazing, I recommend to anyone who reads this to please do the same and save a life or two :) it'll feel good! I could go on and on about the subject but that's for a different post. Anyway, that's all for now! Thanks for reading, stay warm and safe this fall!

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Amazing Grass - Amazing Meal

So I just tried the first of my Amazing Grass order, and I must say I am pleasantly surprised! I tried the Amazing Meal in the flavor 'Chocolate Infusion'. Amazing Meals are meant as just that, a meal. Use it to start of your day with energy, or fill in the gaps when you're hungry. It is chock full of healthy certified organic ingredients which themselves are full of vitamins and minerals. There is also beneficial bacteria like you find in yogurt, which aids in digestion. Its sweetened with Organic Cane Juice and flavored with Organic Red Dutch Cocoa. I had planned on making a shake with it but didn't have any ice cream, so I just added it to milk. My first impression upon opening the single serving packet was the smell, yum! It smelled just like you want chocolate powder to smell, although its very understated and mild compared to some other things like sugar-laden hot cocoa, etc. I also let my husband take a whiff, and he goes "Mmm, that smells tasty!"

Then I proceeded to add it to my glass of milk. It recommends approximately 10 ounces of liquid, I'm not sure how much I put but it was about half of my large red cup. I was a bit disappointed in how it mixed, there was a lot of lumpiness even after stirring. I think Ill try putting it in a shaker next time and see if that helps. Or perhaps adding more milk would help, but I like my drinks really strong so I didn't. Upon first taste I was a bit wishy-washy about how I felt. At first you get the delicious chocolate taste, but soon after it tasted a bit like grass. And the texture (because it was hard to mix) was sort of like dirt. Which, when you think about all the ingredients in it, makes total sense. But still it is a bummer! I think I often set my expectations way too high, rather than remaining neutral to begin with. It causes everything to fall short in my eyes, which is silly because nothing is perfect!

But consider the fact that they pack in all organic ingredients including wheat and barley grass, alfalfa, rice and hemp protein, rose hips, maca, Goji, carrot, flax seed powder, etc. We don't eat most of those things in our everyday food, and few of them taste great to begin with, so to be able to make them palatable is actually quite amazing! And after I sipped at it for awhile, the taste no longer bothered me. I did end up adding a scoop of Ovaltine to it since I had it in the cupboard, and that gave it a little more chocolate flavoring but it didn't make a huge difference.

It has been about a half hour now since I drank my Amazing Meal and I'm actually quite shocked. It may be coincidence but I had a headache before and now its gone! Also, I just feel good. I felt fine all day I suppose, but now I'm just like "lets go run around the block!" I'm sure part of it is just a placebo effect, but given what its made of I think the whole point is to make you feel great. In reality it may take drinking it regularly to make a real difference in my health, so we will just have to see. But overall, this is a very worthwhile product. And if it really can make a difference in health and how you feel, then a little aftertaste is worth it for what you get in return!

Id definitely recommend everyone to at least order the samples like I did, they are very affordable, and see for yourself. Its great to read peoples thoughts on stuff, but the best thing to do is research it yourself! As I try all the other product samples I bought, I will post on them and let you know what I think! Thanks again for reading. Stay healthy this fall!

Just checking in!

Just wanted to let everyone know I finally received my Amazing Grass supplements, as well as the rest of my Aromaleigh order. I was going to try out the Amazing Grass this evening but I have no milk, and no blender to make a smoothie. :) Soooo I will try to take care of that problem tomorrow, and then I will post my review. I'm also on the lookout for a better camera so that I can get some more photos on here. A lot of times I slack on posting because I cant get a decent image!

I also need to try out some more eyeshadow looks and share them. I ordered samples of a few more colors, including the Le Mystere collection. They are one of a kind, unable to replicate colors that Kristen creates with the 'scraps' from creating her other collections. They are in limited supply so I thought I might try some samples and see if they are worth ordering full sizes before its too late! I also received the fragrance sample collection, indelible gel eyeliner in blackout, a free Rocks! glitter in rebelrebel. So far I'm liking the looks of everything, and have a feeling Ill be very pleased with my purchases!

The last thing I wanted to mention was that along with the usual 3 free eye shadow samples with every Aromaleigh order, I also have been receiving a free sample of a lipstick! I just wanted to express how awesome that is, and what a nice surprise. I'm not used to all this wonderful treatment from a company! Aromaleigh is really wonderful though, and one of a kind in not only its products but its customer treatment, etc. I am so glad I stumbled upon this company!

Well, that's all for now! Thanks again for reading. I hope everyone's week is going well, have fun and stay safe!

WWF - Videos - 2009 Public Service Announcements

Id like to share this video with you all. The environment and its future are very important to me. WWF - Videos - 2009 Public Service Announcements

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Aromaleigh Makeup Haul

So yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon I checked the mail and there was a bunch of junk advertisements of course. But there was also a small package! At first because it was so small I thought it must be my Amazing Grass supplements (I also ordered those first, so it made sense) but it turned out to be my Aromaleigh Mineral Makeup samples, yay!!! I guess since it was all samples its pretty easy to get them all into a small package ^_^. So here's a picture of the envelope (bubble wrap padded). The itemized purchase list with free samples stapled to corner is under it, and the tissue paper wrapped samples on top.

I really, really love how they wrapped up the samples. Its so cute! Inside of the tissue paper were all the individual zip lock samples, which were in one big zip lock bag to keep them all together. So far they've made a great first impression!

What iced the cake for me was the handwritten thank you. Its thoughtful, and just goes to show you how much better small businesses are compared to corporate owned. Also, Kristen (the owner) has personally responded to comments Ive left on their Facebook. She is very much involved! Plus to top it all off they have amazing sales, free samples with EVERY order, and customer incentives. So not only are you getting a great product, you are getting it at a reasonable price, as well as being rewarded by them for no other reason than to say, "thank you for being a customer!" If I made a checklist of all the features I look for in a company or in makeup, they nearly fulfill them all!

This last picture is of all my samples laid out. I have them in piles based on the collection they are from, and their use. The upper left corner are the lipstick samples, the center right are foundation, and the rest are basically eyeshadow. There are also a few blush, a night repair mineral, a foundation primer, and a mineral glow. As I use them I will add pictures as well as naming each product individually! So keep checking in as I add more!

Thanks again for reading! Have a great week, stay safe, and come back soon!

*I was not paid for this review, nor were the products free. I bought them with my own money for my own personal use and enjoyment. I blog about them so that I may share the joy and/or dismay I have in the product.