Calming Sea ~ Day 30

I have been having some difficulty falling asleep at night. Ok, a lot of difficulty, and I have resorted to numerous things to try to help my ease into slumber. I have used bedtime tea, reading before bed, no TV before bed, no computer before bed, no sugar, no caffeine, just about everything to help me to fall asleep. My new thing for the day was the Calming Sea CD, which has music with waves in the background. It is wonderful, I love the sound of the ocean, it always sets me at peace. Did I fall asleep a little easier, no, but I would say it did help me relax.

My new thing for the day, was the Calming Sea. Although I wish I was on the beach hearing the waves for myself, in my bikini, with my feet in the sand, the sun on my skin and not a grey cloud in site, it was the closest thing to it.

Karaoke Baby ~ Day 29

For Christmas my brother got the girls a karaoke machine and it just arrived. I love to sing, but I don’t know who loves it more, the girls or myself. We unpacked it and each took turns at singing. It is funny, I love to sing but singing in front of others is a whole new story. When the microphone is to your mouth and your voice is amplified, it is a little nerve racking at first, but who am I kidding... I let loose and sang as loud as I could. It was AWESOME. The kids and my husband sat around and clapped when I finished and even if I stunk, they thought I was great, and that is all that matters. I swear everyone needs one of these things!!!

Our new thing for the day was a Karaoke Machine, and it rocks.

Did I mention I bought the Taylor Swift Fearless Karaoke CD too, I, I mean the kids, love it!

Jo Malone's Orange Blossom ~ Day 21

We had our annual gathering at our friend’s home for Christmas. This has become a tradition for us over the past few years and I look forward every year it draws near.

My friend and I both have three girls, all very close in age. They are more like family than friends, and each Christmas we gather together to exchange gifts and have our own Christmas celebration. We had another wonderful evening with great food and great friends. Sarah is my friend who understands me and often seems to spoil me too. She will go out of her way to do things to just make me smile or feel special, not just with a gift, but with her actions and her words. If I ever need to talk or to laugh she is there, she is truely one of a kind. Tonight she surprised me with something she knew I really, really, wanted. I mean I really, really, wanted it bad. Her first question Christmas morning was "Did you get that perfume you are dying for?" I answered "No, but I did get a lot of things I am super happy about." Little did I know she had already gotten it for me.

My new thing for the day was the most wonderful scent of Orange Blossom by Jo Malone. If it isn't something you haven't smelled, you need to, it is heavenly.

Day 69 ~ Out Of My Comfort Zone

My new thing for the day was stepping out of my comfort zone, and getting something I wouldn't normally get.

This Saturday is going to be a VERY FUN night. We are going out with friends for a Birthday celebration. Over the past 7 years, I have seen my sense of style go out the window. Comfort has won over, and fashion has left me. I would like to find something that combines both words, comfortably fashionable into one but that doesn't always seem to work. I stepped outside my comfort zone and got a new pair of earrings for my outfit for this Saturday that are not like anything I own. I am comfortable with stones, I like a sparkly stones in my ear, but I know I am playing it safe so my earrings for Saturday are big, dangly and fun. My 2 year old loved them. She kept telling me pretty mommy, pretty! Lets see if anybody even notices the change! The sales woman even suggested skinny jeans with my sweater, but I don't own a pair and my question is, "Doesn't your butt and hips have to be skinny to fit in a pair of those?"

I stepped out my safety earring zone and I am kinda excited to see what my husband thinks.

Day 57 ~ Dinner and Champagne

Last night, my neighbor did something very special for us. She made us dinner, and brought us champagne.

My wonderful neighbor wanted to do something special for my family, in honor of the fact my husband has gotten a new great job. It has been a rough couple of years, and she has been there for me through it all. The plan was to go to her house, but then one of her children got sick, so she brought everything to our house and it was delicious. She is an amazing cook. She also surprised us with a bottle of champagne. I admit, I am not a champagne girl, I tend to prefer a cold beer, but I thought I would give it a try especially after all she did. Can I just say YUMMMMMMM... it was so good. I had tried champagne a long time ago at my brothers wedding but didn't like it. This though, this was so tasty it reminded me of apple cider, but better. I kept asking, "This is champagne, really, it is?" I couldn't believe how good it was. This must be what all the fuss is about. This must be why some people talk about it like it is candy. We have a very special bottle of champange we have been saving for our annivsary, I am now looking forward to it. I realize not all bottles are the same, but I also know tastes buds change over the years. What ever it is, me likey! We had a great night, with an unexpected surprise, from an absolutely wonderful friend.

In case you were wondering the champagne is called:
Martini & Rossi
Asti
Sparkling Wine
Imported from Italy

Day 39 ~ Miami Glow

My new thing for the day was a gift from my wonderful husband.

Today my husband and I went shopping for some shoes for the girls. He was nice enough to come along and keep me company, we all know most men don't enjoy shopping too much. I was picking up my dad some of his favorite cologne in the perfume store, and casually smelling the different scents. I love perfume. I love things that smell wonderful whether that is fruit, flowers, fresh rain, sunshine, fresh air and even food. I have a very sensitive nose, so although I love wonderful scents, if something smells wrong, I find it almost painful to be around. It is a blessing and a curse all wrapped up in one tiny package, my nose.

While smelling the different perfumes, I came across this AMAZING scent. It smelled of summer, of coconut, pineapples, sunshine, everything wonderful and beautiful in the world. To my huge surprise it was by no other than J-Lo. That is right folks, Miami Glow is what it was called, and it was intoxicating. I sprayed a little on my neck and my husband just gave me that grin. The, "Hey, how you doin?" grin. I couldn't help but laugh. Later today he had to work, but came home with a surprise. He found the same perfume and brought it home for me. Of course I was delighted, he made me feel very special.

Tonight I sit here and smell of summer, coconut, pineapples, and sunshine, everything wonderful and beautiful in the world thanks to my wonderful husband.

Next time you are at the mall, check out the J-Lo perfumes, I think you will be pleasantly surprised

Day 12 ~ A New Boutique

Normally when I hear the word Boutique I think cute, sassy, unique and CHA CHING. When I see them a little voice goes off in my head, do not stop, do not shop, warning, warning! I wonder, will buying something there cost me my arm, my leg or both. I have driven by a little boutique everyday for a year with that warning in my head, today I ignored it and went in. I was glad I did.

I love shopping but these days with three kids I can’t decide which is more painful, a root canal or shopping with 3 little girls at the mall. My girls are sweet but you know the routine, stay close to the stroller, don’t touch that please, stop hiding in the clothes rack, please don’t be running in the store, we are inside so use your inside voice, stop messing with your sister! Today I had an hour to myself, well myself and my 2-year old co-pilot, and we headed to the local boutique in town I have heard so much about, but had not yet dared to enter. I had planned on going in and just looking. I love boutiques but quite often they are way out of my price range. With a tight budget, I rarely spend money on new clothes for myself, but I thought it would be fun to just look at the new fashions and styles.

I loved it! She had SO many cute things, many high end brands that I was sure were way out of my budget, but I was completely wrong. I was so surprised when I found her pricing to be very affordable. I even found the BEST jeans on sale (70 % off) that lifted and tucked in all the right spots. Is there anything better than finding an amazing deal? It is funny, it goes back to the simple idea that you don’t really know unless you try. All this time there has been a great little boutique that I have been passing by on my way to the mall, when I could have saved time and money by shopping locally. I plan on going back very soon! I tried something new today and not only did I find a cool shop, but now my new jeans have put my butt right back where it belongs!

Nikki Jane's Boutique
1505 Portland Rd (Hwy 99), Suite# 210
Newberg, Oregon 97132
503.538.2620
www.nikkijanes.com

Day Six - Shopping for Eyelashes

I have always wanted to try fake eyelashes. Today that happened.

Today started out great. I figured I would get myself dressed up and put on a little make-up. I love make-up but the truth is I hardly have time to put it on so, a little blush, powder and mascara, and I am good to go. Today I wanted to take the extra time for foundation, concealer, eye shadow, you know, the works. I sat at my table with the pretty little lighted mirror my husband got me for Christmas and got started. Everything looked perfect except I needed to curl my eyelashes. I curled my eyelashes and took a look and HOLY CRAP!!! I think I am missing part of my eyelashes. No really! OH NO! I have somehow manage to cut off a portion of both my eyelashes, each side. That damn eyelash curler was off track and it snipped my eyelashes. I couldn't help it, I actually laughed. What the hell, a good excuse to get fake ones! I call my husband, he tries to show sympathy but he just can’t help it, and he starts laughing. I cut my eyelashes off today and so began my new thing for the day.

I have always had short eyelashes but come on, did I really need them this short? I have ALWAYS wanted to try fake lashes but for some reason thought they would be hard to apply, or that they would look crazy on me but I was soooooo wrong. I went to the store and bought a couple of different sets of eyelashes. I also bought a new mascara claiming to lengthen my lashes by 40%. I tried them both. Sure, the mascara made some of my lashes longer, but no matter how hard I tried, my short lashes stayed short. After applying the mascara the difference between the cut ones and the uncut where even more noticeable, and I looked like a crazy person. Next I tried the fake lashes and LOVED THEM. Why didn't I do this before? Anyone out there who has short lashes TRY IT! I couldn't believe how real they looked and I felt so dang fancy. I got new eyelashes today and I love them!!!