inside my mom's dating life.

You know how it is. Parents split up, go their separate ways, no one wants to be alone, blah blah blah. Well, my mother never ceases to amaze me with the people she finds to date. Let's take a look, shall we?

1. Flash back about eight or so years ago. My mom meets a guy in a bar. He turns out to be a millionaire and they are together for a very long time, taking his yacht to the Bahamas every year and such things. Why can't I have that kind of luck?!

2. A year or two ago, the million-dollar relationship ends. Mom meets another guy in the same bar. All she tells me is that she calls him "Billy Bob" because he looks like Billy Bob Thornton. Fun fact: He really does look like Billy Bob Thornton. I secretly hope I'll never have to call him Dad.

3. Billy Bob leaves the picture somehow (I never want details), and I go out to dinner with Mom. She proceeds to tell me she's met another nice man in the same bar. She starts describing him to me and I say, "Wait a minute. He's a vet? Where does he work?" She tells me the name of his vet clinic. I go, "Mom. HE'S OUR VET. We've literally been taking our dogs there as long as I can remember." (She wouldn't know that because my dad always takes them.) So, as the story goes, my mother is dating my dog's vet. I guess there are worse people to be dating, for sure. At least he loves animals and I know he's a nice guy. Maybe this is a sign to get another puppy!

my Misty, who passed away last year.

End note: I miss having a dog. Having a vet for a stepdad could be a great thing...

Happy Friday! (Or, if you're in Maryland, happy monsoon season.)

a new arrival

One of my best friends had her little girl, Evelyn, yesterday! Isn't she the sweetest thing? I'm so happy she's here safe and sound. Her mom and dad didn't want to find out what they were having, and the whole time they were convinced she would be a boy :) But I love that they got a little girl.

Welcome to the world, baby Evelyn! You are loved.

tuesday & tune-yards.

This morning's musings:

∆ It smells like bacon when I enter my work building every morning. And I always think, "maybe today is the day where I actually buy and eat that bacon."

∆ I'm avoiding checking my work email indefinitely. (Which means I'll check it in five minutes.)

∆ IT'S HUMID.

∆ Baseball games on weeknights are generally a very good idea.

∆ Must buy a ukelele.

Anyway! 

I saw Tune-Yards on Jimmy Fallon last week. Upon further research, I discovered some interesting facts that make this band even more crazy lovable. One is that they originated in Connecticut, of all places. I find that so random and hilarious, and I love that big music can come out of smaller environments. Plus, Merrill Garbus (the originator) recorded her first Tune-Yards album on cassette with a voice recorder. She loops and incorporates ukelele, electric bass, and a whole lot of crazy. This band has created something truly unique, strange, and wonderful... listen below! And don't be afraid to dance.

Their 2014 album, Nikki Nack, came out this month. Enjoy!

friday favorites :: dealing with stress

image via weheartit

Yesterday was a whirlwind... by the time I had a chance to sit down, I was getting ready for bed! Like I said last time... a lot is happening right now and hopefully I will be able to post about it soon. In the meantime, I've been feeling stressed like nobody's biz. Do you ever have those weeks where it's just a chronic, panicked feeling? That's been me this week. So today I decided to share my favorite ways to relieve stress.

∆ Friends. If I can get into a good convo with my friends about how I'm feeling or just hang out with them to distract me, I feel better. My friends have helped me make tough decisions more than once!

∆ Friday Night Lights. I couldn't sleep last night so I got on Netflix and watched an episode until I was tired again. It's the perfect thing for when your brain won't stop running. Tim Riggins cures all.

∆ Flowers. Our house and garden are filled with flowers right now, and it's such a relaxing space! (I'm not planning on all my favorite things starting with "f" by the way... it's just kind of happening...)

∆ Music. I ran through a bunch of covers the other night on my guitar to see what kind of shape I'm in for getting back out there and playing in public, and it made me feel much better.

∆ My preggo best friend. Her due date was yesterday, and talking to her about labor and other pregnant topics definitely took my mind off of my problems for a while! At least I don't have to be scared about pushing a human out of me, am I right?!

∆ Massages. I had one last weekend and I have a two-hour session scheduled in June. You'd be surprised at how much they help re-focus you, even if you get a short half-hour one. I use mine to clear my head and/or try to sort out my thoughts. Plus, they dig the knots out of my shoulders and it hurts so bad but feels amazing later!

∆ Books. Getting lost in a good story is a great feeling when you can't stop thinking about something stressful.

∆ Walks. In the spring and summer, my roommate and I go to this park by our old house and take long walks after work. It's filled with trees, water, and sometimes a tame deer. (I'm not kidding; we named him Steve. I look for him every time.)

∆ Prayer. I would be crazy to forget this one... As a believer in Jesus, I know He is taking care of me and my needs. I need the reminder that His ways are higher when I feel like I have to figure everything out alone.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

what they wore :: makeup 101

I love reading other blogger's posts on their daily makeup routines. It's convinced me to buy or replace certain products more than once! There's just something about reading a from-the-heart post on makeup and knowing you're getting an honest opinion that does a girl good.

Since I get up at 6 AM for work every day, I have a fairly simple makeup routine. The most important part is moisturizing! Trust me, your face needs it. After that, I use primer to create a smoother face under my foundation. I use Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer and Elf Mineral Face Primer.

I have a slightly oily face, so anytime I apply eyeshadow, it either disappears or creases. I HATE THAT. So I started using Stay Don't Stray eye primer. BONUS: I use it as under eye and blemish concealer, too! I always put it on after I moisturize and do my eyes last so it has time to settle. Then I use my Elf Powder Brush to lightly apply Laura Mercier Mineral Powder (my color is Real Sand). I'm no longer a teenager so I don't have acne to cover up anymore, but I still need something to balance out my skin tone.

Blush is next. I've had this same compact for more years than I can count, and it still hasn't run out! Totally worth the money. It's NARS blush... pricey, but if you find something you love, they say to stick with it! I recently got the Elf Flawless Eyeshadow and I really like it so far. Normally I just layer a bit of gray on my lids, but if I go out on a weekend, I do the whole shebang. Each powder has an instruction imprinted on it: Crease, Lid, Liner, etc. Really cute.

Ignore how dirty this blush compact is... like I said, I've literally had it for years! The color is "Orgasm." That used to make me giggle, but it made sense when one of my magazines said it was "the color that looks good on everyone." I believe it!

To finish off my eyes, I currently use Bare Escentuals Buxom Mascara. I borrowed my friend's at her house one time and loved it. It worked so much better than my old mascara! I used to use Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal, but the Buxom really fills out my lashes a lot more. It's on the pricier side, and I just read an article saying that most of your lash length/fullness has to do with the brush. So I may just save the wand and re-use it in a cheaper mascara when I run out to test that theory.

You wouldn't think the type of brush you use would be that important, but I have found that it makes a difference when trying to put on foundation. I used to use brushes that would shed like crazy, and I hated it. Little black hairs all over my face tickling me in the early morning was not my idea of fun! So after reading about the Elf brush, I made the switch. First of all, most Elf products are in the $3-$5 range. So that's a win. And this one doesn't shed at all while giving me even coverage. My blush brush is from Bare Escentuals back in the day when I used to use their foundation. It's a great brush that I haven't needed to replace, but again, Elf is awesome and I bet one of theirs would work just as well.

My daily lip wear is Burt's Bees all the time, around the clock. The grapefruit flavor is what I'm currently wearing, but I adore the pomegranate as well! I have been using Revlon Just Bitten balm stain in Lovesick when I go out on the weekends. I layer it over the Burt's Bees and I'm good to go! The stain lasts even after you feel like it's worn off (or the top layer has). For actual lipstick, I layer Bite Beauty Lip Primer (not pictured) underneath to keep it on longer and because my lips can be flaky.

So there you have it! Stay tuned for more WTW makeup posts in the future, and if you guys have posted your routine, share the link in the comments! I'd love to check it out.

belated music monday...

I know, I know. I'm running late this week. Lots going on around here and I haven't had time to put my fingers to the keys. Hopefully, I'll be able to explain more later, but for now let's talk music!

Have you guys heard Ingrid Michaelson's album Lights Out that came out last month? I just listened to it today and I am really happy with it. I was a huuuuge fan of her first two, and somewhere around the third or fourth I didn't get the same enjoyment out of it. But I really like what she's done with this one! Proof:

I've also been re-loving The Script since I will be seeing them this summer. Two favorites:

Any Once Upon a Time fans? Did you know that Colin O'Donoghue is too hot to just play Captain Hook? (I KNEW IT.) He's a member of The Enemies. I believe as of right now he remains an honorary member, since he hasn't had time to actually be in the band with Once going on. 

Catch up with you tomorrow!

journal day 11

Sorry I missed WTW yesterday, friends... It was hurricaning (new word?) outside and I was trying to finish an insanely long book yesterday when I got home from work! More on that book later. I promise you a nice WTW post for next week! Up next: journal times!

Sometimes it can be hard to hear criticism from others. I know for me it's something I may always struggle with- being a people pleaser, etc. At the same time though, constructive criticism can be very helpful, and allow us to look at ourselves in a new light and maybe even grow and change. Take a step out of yourself. If you were on the outside looking in, how would you critique yourself? What things do you see that could change or work on? This isn't about tearing ourselves down; it's about really looking at ourselves and seeing where there's room for growth.

Oh, criticism. We are all cut from the same cloth on this one. As human beings, we criticize all the time: others, ourselves, a tiny bit or harshly. It's a hard thing to deal with, isn't it? Let's start with being criticized.

Being criticized is part of life. Every single person is different, which is why criticism even happens. You may not agree with what someone says or does, and they may not agree with you. I view being criticized in two lights: the first being that there is such a thing as good criticism. The kind where a friend comes to you lovingly and wants to have a kind, albeit difficult, conversation about you. This usually results in a worthwhile conversation and a positive outcome. The other type is bad criticism. The kind where someone calls you out in a harsh manner and you kind of have no choice but to defend yourself or take a beating. This is generally unproductive.

The other half of things is being the criticizer. I am a critical person myself. I try not to judge others, but we are all guilty of that. We all have a picture in our minds of how we want others to be. When someone goes outside those mental guidelines, we immediately criticize in some form. Which brings me to the second part of the prompt: if I was on the outside looking in, how would I critique myself? What can I change or work on? (What a question!)

I touched on this in the last journal, but there is a lot for me to work on. We should never stop working to become better, don't you think? I think it's beneficial to step outside of ourselves and view us how other people do. Here's what I think people see in me (the bad):

- too outspoken; I often have an unfiltered heart
- hard on people who don't have their stuff together
- overly opinionated on certain subjects
- slightly unaccepting of people who I don't have things in common with
- showing that I am annoyed or frustrated (I wear my heart on my sleeve for all to see)

Wow. This shows me two things: 1) I have a lot to work on, and 2) I am probably never getting married, because who wants to put up with that ;) All joking aside, there is so much room to grow. I would like to see myself cut down the judgment and give people a little more grace in my own heart. It's good to step back and take a hard look at your own life sometimes, huh?