Fashion and Make-up Tips From Mom...........

Well, I missed a few days of the blog every day challenge
so we need to catch up this week:)
The topic for this post is "what are some tips your mom gave you?"
Like everyone else, I could say the obvious ones.......
Read your Bible, go to church, be honest, pay off your credit cards..........
very good advice, right?
But as I was making a list, I found a trend.
The ones that seemed to keep popping up were tips having to do with
make-up and style/fashion.
So I thought, keep it light.  Nobody needs a life lecture.
And it's not like ANY of these are important.  But a little goes a long way, you know?
And she had 4 daughters, so it was in her best interest to pay attention to us.
(Although how she ever let me leave the house in my shimmery bright blue eyeshadow phase, or wear orange high top tennis shoes to church,
I'll never know:) LOL


* * * Please know, she is not vain. My Mom was never some DiIVA, creating mini divas.  We just used to read a lot of magazines and play with make-up:) 
 Appearance is not everything and she would be the first to say it doesn't matter how someone looks.  She would say "I need to figure out what to do with my OWN face",  if you asked her, but that's not true.  She's figured it out, very nicely!!  
See...........

Actually, it cracks me up writing this because I realize I am the same with my girls.
I mean, slap a bit of lipstick on before running out to the store, you know?
They don't always listen, just as I didn't always listen.
And it was/is not all the time.
But I bet someday, they will remember some little tips I passed on that
my mom also said to me.
At least, I hope! lol

 In no particular order, here are some of the "gems" she passed on.........
Unfortunately, I was great about some and not others..........
and yes, she was right!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Make-up Tips
-wear sunscreen everyday, even if it's in your moisturizer or foundation.
Nope...didn't follow that one.  And now I pay.  Or as Jamie Lee Curtis said in Freaky Friday,
"I Look Like The Crypt Keeper"

 -always wash your makeup off before going to sleep. 

-if your face breaks out, don't pick at it:)
-you do NOT need to pay a lot for cosmetics or skin lotion.
I happen to agree with this one.  My Grandma had AMAZING skin using Oil of Olay, and my mom and I love cleaning our face with Pond's Cold Cream:)
-do your makeup in natural light.....and make sure your blush is even.

-  Apply lipstick then blot your lips with a tissue. A few times.  ALWAYS.

-Wear makeup but blend, blend, BLEND.

-Black eyeliner rimming the eye entirely looks harsh.  
-don't scowl.......it makes bad lines.
--use a natural, matte blush.
 We always use a cool pink/warm peach/touch of brown shade.
The intensity depends on your skin tone.  Got it? :)  lol

(M.A.C Desert Rose is a great blush!)
-brown eyeshadow, brown eyeshadow, brown eyeshadow.
-wear your make-up.......don't let the make-up wear you:)

Fashion/Style Tips:

-if something you are buying is damaged in the least, ask for a discount.
she was way better at this than I am.

-when in doubt,wear something black.

-Remember slips?  Her rule was if you can see through a dress/skirt in the sunlight, you MUST wear a slip.  
We would stand in the living room and look in
the big mirror with the light from the picture window shining in, 
to see if a dress was too sheer. Now, I have to confess that we do not wear slips, but
I do shop with the thought in mind that I don't want a skirt too sheer. And we would NEVER have been allowed to try this!

-If you're gonna pierce your ears, wear earrings, even tiny ones at all times. 

 Nobody wants to see an empty hole and you don't want it to close up.
-"It's all about that bling, bout that bling.....:) "Got a plain top or jacket?  Embellish it.
Bling, Bling, BLING!

Well that's it.......... fashion and make-up tips from mom.

Catch you next time!

XOXOXOXO

Suzanne

Stuff I Want To Read in 2015.......

Well, it's January 2, 2015.........

Day 2 of the New Year and Day 2 of my blog every day challenge:)

Today I am supposed to write about what I want to read in 2015.

Hmmmmmmm.........Since I didn't read much in 2014,

you'd think I had a long list.

However, I am so out of the loop in reading circles, it isn't all that long.

Maybe I'll add to it throughout the year.

That way I could "review" a book I have read while adding to my list.

I think I'll give it a try........

"try" being the key word.

A few things you should know about me.........
At 50 years old,
I can read what I want and do not need to impress anyone.
My taste is quite simple........
~Light, entertaining, engrossing, with rich characters.
~If it's a DIY type of book, I need it to be clear, informative and have pictures!
~I like books that are inspiring, encouraging, positive and motivate me.
~Southern stories, with funny, quirky, witty southern women, full of "Southernisms" are some of my favorites.
~I also love forensic/criminal minds types of shows so suspense books
 in that genre are favorites also.
~I do not like trashy books and definitely no vulgar language.  Just not my style.
~I enjoy learning something new but I don't like a book that is too technical.
Remember.....keep it simple for this girl;)
~I'm in awe of those who have faced and/or overcome struggles in life.
~I like books I can read anywhere, and if I need to put them down for a day or three,
 I'm not totally lost when I start back up again.
You may absolutely hate my choices or laugh your head off at them.
I haven't read these so if I start one and it is bad, I'll stop.
(Besides the Bible, which is really the book I hope to read more of in 2015:)
Okay, here goes.........

Stuff I Want To Read in 2015

1.   The book I just started is You Can, You WILL by Joel Osteen.

Positive, encouraging and motivating.
A reminder that as a child of God, He wants me to be a winner.

2.  An Absent Mind 
About a man and his family fighting the race against time.
Time being swallowed up by the rapid onset of Alzheimers, and how it affects a family.
Reminds me of Still Alice by Lisa Genova, a book I really enjoyed.

3.  Speaking of Lisa Genova, I give you her newer book Left Neglected.
Th story of a vibrant woman......wife, mother,friend who is in a tragic car accident leaving her with a traumatic brain disorder that changes everything.

4.  Grain Brain
Whether you buy into his eating plan of being wary of wheat, grains and sugar, he does offer useful tips and really valid arguments.  And as someone with MS, I have to pay attention to these findings and possibly adapt at least a few in my life.

5.  Big Little Lies

Described as "funny, smart, entertaining, irresistible and a perfect beach read."  

I might give it a try this summer.  

6.  And while we're on the subject, Over 50, Overweight and Out of Breath.

Looks like a fun read while getting fit.

7.  The Book Club 

Five women in a book club, facing changes and all that comes with life.

Sounds like a winner!

8.  Wedding Belles

Funny story about five southern women, red hat ladies, facing the marriage of one of their daughters...to an inappropriate groom.  And they will NOT let that happen:)

9.  The Southern Belle Breakfast Club

Southern Belles who get together for a breakfast club.

Chick lit, heart warming and funny:)

10.   Firefly...a psychological suspense.

11.  Chasing Daylight is about an incredibly successful CEO who is diagnosed with brain cancer.

He writes this book in 3 1/2 months until he passes away, describing how his terminal illness transformed his life, relationships.....  Can't wait to read this!

12.  Try to Make Your Life

On January 25, 1943, the day of a planned escape from Nazi Germany, 22-year-old Margot Bendheim learns that the Gestapo has just picked up her brother and mother. Her mother manages to leave her a message, "Try to make your life." This is Margot's award winning story...written when she was 88 years old.  Another one I can't wait to read.  What these beautiful people suffered is unfathomable.

13.  I Brake For Yard Sales....

Lara Spencer from GMA is a flea market maniac.....

and she shows you how to score great stuff!

14.  I'm a HUGE fan of Alexandra Stoddard, and these are two books I have yet to read:)

Gracious Living in a New World...

"In today's fast-paced world, as we juggle family responsibilities, jobs, and social obligations, we seem to be missing out on what we fundamentally crave: a calmer, gentler, sweeter, and more gracious life. In Gracious Living in a New World, Alexandra Stoddard offers a rich assortment of ideas for achieving a gracious lifestyle. "

15.  Open Your Eyes.....1,001 Simple Ways to Bring Beauty into Your Home 
and Everyday Life.
 Alexandra helps you become more attuned to your surroundings-as you set a table, straighten out a linen closet, stroll through a garden, or browse in a thrift shop. Then, through personal anecdotes; examples from masters; a rich array of ideas, tips, and techniques, she reveals hundreds of ways to see and solve problems or proportion, pattern, color, and composition. Her simple suggestions-whether it's changing a lampshade, rearranging treasured objects on a table, or moving a chair-will yield dramatic results.

and finally.......

16.  Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer.....

Warren St. John seeks out the roving community of RVers who follow the Alabama Crimson Tide from game to game across the South. A movable feast of Weber grills, Igloo coolers, and die-hard superstition, these are characters who arrive on Wednesday for Saturday’s game: Freeman and Betty Reese, who skipped their own daughter’s wedding because it coincided with a Bama game; Ray Pradat, the Episcopalian minister who watches the games on a television set beside his altar while performing weddings; John Ed (pronounced as three syllables, John Ay-ud), the wheeling and dealing ticket scalper whose access to good seats gives him power on par with the governor and many more.

And win or lose......Roll Tide

Well, that's about it.  

Once again, use your own judgement if you choose to read one of these.

Wish me Luck!!!  I really hope to read more in 2015.

And I hope on Day 2 of 2015, you're still having a good year:)

XOXOXO

Suzanne

2015........It's Here! What are you going to do with it?

Happy 2015!

Time for the million dollar question......

Did you make a New Year's Resolution?

Maybe the question should be, what IS a New Year's Resolution?

Well, the official definition is this

New Year's Resolution: a commitment that an individual makes at New Year's Day

Okaaaay.......  

 I'll be honest.

I haven't made resolutions for years.

I think they're stupid.

And for many of us, they quickly lead to discouragement.

But then I realized I may be going about this all wrong.

I say things like "I'm going to lose weight."

Or "I'm going to exercise every day."

Who am I kidding?

Maybe I simply need to say "I would like to lose 15 lbs."

Then when I do, maybe I'll want to lose more.

Or "I would like to exercise more, so every other night I am going to

leave my exercise clothes handy to put on first thing in the morning."

These aren't really resolutions, they are more like game plans.

I could say "I'll make my bed first thing every morning:)"

Resolutions sound like "resolve", which sounds like "if you screw up, there goes another year down the tube."

When that IS NOT what this is about, I'm positive of that.

So this year I am making them, but my way.  

I'm putting the two above on my list.

And a few others.

Such as........

~ I would like to spend time with my extended family.  

Something I have been EXTREMELY

negligent about, but I would like to fix that throughout the year.

~ I would like to cultivate my friendships and possibly make a few new friends.

Friends I don't have to see, but would like to spend time with.

Chatting, drinking coffee, laughing.......being a friend.

~ I would like to eat healthier.  Less sugar.  MUCH less sugar.

Stuff like that.  Not to lose weight, but to feel better.

~ I would like to have a few outfits for each season that I can put on at

a moment's notice.......to have lunch with a friend, 

shop in a nice store, go to dinner with my husband.......

~  I want to entertain more.  

It seems as if it's all about "going out to dinner", 

and I love that as much as the next person.

But this year, I hope to open the doors to my lovely home a bit more often.

~ I would like to take a "girl's trip" with my two favorite girls in the whole world.

We used to do this......and it's a good time to start up again.  

We're thinking Texas for the Roundtop Antiques Fair.

Yep, you can call me Rachel Ashwell if you like;)

~ I would like to work on saying no if I need to and not feel guilty.

Also, taking those lazy days in stride when I can't seem to get moving.

~ I like to be happy.  Who doesn't.

But I often let the little details of the day steal my happiness, so for 2015,

I want to be genuinely HAPPY.

Totally, absolutely, crazy, stinkin happy.

That's me.

I hope:)

~ I'm going to try to be more organized.

I NEED to be more organized.

But I have a problem that seems to make this a REALLY difficult task some days.

I hope I don't miss anything important, but I vow to not be so hard on myself

when this happens.

~ I love having a blog, but you wouldn't know by how little I post.

This year, I hope to change that.

Hope.  I HOPE to change that.

Maybe I will, maybe I won't........but I do hope so.

So there you go.

My Resolutions for 2015.

Notice I didn't say "New Year's" resolution.

I personally think we set ourselves up for disaster by starting this on a Holiday.

But that's just me:)

Okay my friends,

There's my two cents worth on the subject.

It's taken me 50 years to figure this out.

And I'm STILL not sure I have.

But that's ok.

I think this will work for me.

I would like to wish y'all a very HAPPY new year.

The bright, sparkly, shiny kind of new year.

You deserve that.  Me too. i'm sure of it:)

God Bless!

Suzanne