Holy Hell: My first visit to the sauna.

Day 4

Ok.  So I'm not the most adventurous when it comes to health, fitness and... sweating.  If you know me even a little bit, you'd know that I'm not down with sweating.  But luckily, I've gotten a little better with my relationship with exercise over the years, and since exercise and perspiration are BFF's-- I had to suck it up.  Jeremy usually goes in the sauna after a workout to loosen his muscles and shed some extra water-weight.  He's always had good things to say so I finally joined him.

Overall, it was pretty cool.  It was hot as Hades... and my face was tingling like it was confused!  The heat must have started to affect my brain too... apparently I told Jeremy to look at me because I felt that-- either the skin on my face was shrinking, or my whole head was growing bigger and my face couldn't keep up!

Ketchup and Fruitloops

Day 3

Fact: I don't buy my kids sugary cereals or juices anymore.  Our days of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Coco Puffs and Fruit Loops are over.  It's been well over a year, and we've done well.  We're strictly on the organic brand "Cascadian Farms" now.  Long story short-- since the kids don't get the "cool" cereals at home, they think they've struck gold when it's served at a breakfast buffet.  That's the first thing they ask for, like it's Filet Mignon or something!  Roman was so mesmerized by the Fruit Loops that he ate it with ketchup-  and surprisingly fell in love with it!  2 year olds are so weird!  

DIY Children's Art Gallery

www.mycraftywednesday.blogspot.com

My galpal, Brenna, discovered this awesome idea to display her children's artwork... I'm definitely going to be a biter and do this for my kid's art too!  And since I've got 4 lil' Picaso's running around, my whole house will end up looking like a museum, for sure!

Check out her quick, easy and frugal How-to at mycraftywednesday.blogspot.com

What's inside your make-up bag?

Day 2

I admit it.  I'm a slave to make-up.  I love the magic that it has to transform from "hit with the ugly stick" to "hitting the Runway".

I've been asked what I use, so here it is.

Skin:

BareMinerals in Golden Medium

"Dolly Mix" blush by Mac

Eye:

"Pink Freeze" by Mac

"Satin Taupe" by Mac

"Black Pearl" by MaryKay

Eyebrow pencil in "Hazel" by Rimmel

Ultra Liner Waterproof liquid liner in "Black" by Maybelline

Lash Discovery Waterproof mascarra in "Very Black" by Maybelline

Daily "A" lashes by Daiso w/glue in "Black"

Lip:

Double Wear Stay-in-place Duo in "Made you blush" by Estee Lauder

Now it's your turn!  What's inside your daily make-up bag?

Family is a link from the past and a bridge for our future.

Thinking about my family today.

Top: Abad Family (my Dad is the cool guy wearing a peach shirt)
Bottom: Castaneda Siblings (my Mom is the lovely lady on the left)

Our Family

We laugh and cry, pray and protect, forgive and respect.

We tease then trust, conceal then confess,  judge then accept.

We are strength in weakness, light in darkness, hope in grief.

Stripes: the new black.

DAY 1

Can I be honest?  I dreeeaaaad horizontal stripes!  It's my body's enemy.

Don't get me wrong... I absolutely love it on others-- children and adults alike-- especially when they are colorful like the one my lil' man is wearing.  I've noticed the current trend is 2 toned stripes, usually a bold black accompanied by a light shade of gray or white.  I see it on department store hangers, and I love the contrast!  However, I don't dare try one on-- no matter how fantastical I imagine myself looking in it.  It's  just not compatible with my body type.  I've accepted that my broad shoulders, full chestacles, no waist, huge thighs and hobbit legs just aren't cut out for the horizontal craze.

Oh man, and to make matters worse (well, worse for me), they're usually paired with "skinny jeans" or "leggings".  F M L to the tenth power!!!  First of all, I tried on a pair of skinny jeans, and it seriously took me over 10 minutes to put on, and another 10 minutes to peel back off!  Second, I was the opposite of cute with it on-- it accentuated my giant calves, I felt like a dang centaur!  And third, y'all know I love me some heels... and painted-on jeans with my fave heels, makes me look a little "too" available.

So here I am.  Stuck in another fashion dilemma, waiting for horizontal to go OUT and vertical to come IN....

White Elephant Rules

Yes, folks... I'm still alive!  I know it's been a hott minute since I've blogged... or updated Project365, or posted recipes, or put up pictures... but it's a pain to post since I've already exceeded my max storage capacity for this site.

Anyhow!  Enough about that... and more about White Elephant!

If you're a hermit and socially awkward- like me... you've probably heard about "White Elephant" parties-- but never really participated in one.  Heck, I have yet to attend a Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Passion, MaryKay, BodyShop, etc... party!  I'm pretty sure it's my sub-conscious in cahoots with our bank account balance!  It knows I'm weak, and funds are low.

Anyhow, since I'm new to the Christmas Party scene, I had to research about this White Elephant stuff.  I dedicate this entry to the rest of my "socially-handicapped" peoples who don't know how to make small-talk, or chit-chat about current events at social function... this one's for you!

White Elephant (aka "Yankee Swap" or "Dirty Santa") Rules


1)  Decide ahead of time if your group wants to set any minimums/maximums on gift prices and/or gift themes.
2)  The objective is to open, exchange or "steal" a gift from other participants.
3)  Gifts can be expensive or inexpensive-- and can range from useful and unique, to funny and tacky!
4)  All gifts MUST be wrapped.  You can decide as a group, if you want to use the "white" side of the wrapping paper to reduce the risk of figuring out who brought a specific gift.
5)   Numbers can be drawn out of a hat to designate who goes first, second, third, etc.
6)  EXAMPLE:  "Edward" goes first.  He chooses any gift from the table, opens it, everyone admires it, and his turn ends.
7)  "Bella" goes second.  She has the option to choose from the table of unopened gifts OR "steal" Edward's opened gift.
8)  "Jacob" goes third.  He has the option to choose an unopened gift from the table, or "steal" from Bella or Edward's already opened gifts.
9)  If someone steals from you-- you can steal from someone else OR open a new gift.
10) However, a gift should not be "stolen" more than once per turn (aka: you can't steal your gift back right away).
11) A gift can only be stolen 3 times (aka: everyone can't keep stealing Lady Gaga's meat-dress!  If Justin Bieber already stole it from Oprah, and Oprah already stole it from JLo... then The Biebster get's the meat-dress).

There are many variations to the game.  As long as your group agrees to follow the rules, feel free to change, add or omit accordingly.

Have fun and Happy Holidays :)