I decided to pretty myself up a little for Christmas Eve at my Dad's.  Kevin and I took the boys over for a turkey dinner.  Yum!

I wore a red shirt, black skirt and black leggings with a thick black belt.  The 7 year old stated that I looked just like Mrs. Claus and was extremely excited about my "costume".  It was adorable.

After we ate dinner, we opened presents.... They recieved RC cars and coloring books and crayons.  I think my dad might be have been a little excited about getting them toys.  He got the 2 year old switch and go dinos, which are basically transformers, and the 7 year old a semi-automatic nerf gun.

Holy Guacamole.  I predict some battles coming up when they get back from their mom's. :3

The remainder of the night was filled with RC car chasing, zombie fighting and sucking a balloon from the ceiling.  Christmas day we went back for Roast and to spend time with my brother and his family, who I met for the first time that night.  Cousins and their children were there, too.  Definitely the best holiday season I've had in a while.

So, uh.  Who volunteers to take down our decorations?

TTFN
Kirsten

Watercolor Pomegranates

I was browsing the internet for some watercolor exercises and stumbled upon Brenda Swenson's Blog. I found this exercise in negative painting and knew I had to try it.  So excited.  I drew a very similar outline to what she has and sent to work.

I know it's probably my inexperience with the medium, but my painting turned out NOTHING like hers.  It's not this fabulous ethereal piece... but I think it turned out wonderful nonetheless.  Kevin fell in love with it immediately.  He told me mine is infinitely better than what I was taking the practice from because it's mine.

And then he said some wonderful words:  "Why don't you outline it like you did your last paintings?  You know, to make it your own?"

I love this man.

My painting turned out to be a totally different piece than I expected, but it turned out that much better.  What I figured was going to just be a practice sheet is something we want to get framed and put on our wall. I love how life turns out that way.

I feel like I've got my groove back. I'm so so so happy right now.  I want to paint every day for the rest of my life.

~Kirsten

Watercolor Exercises

So after browsing a lot of blogs I stumbled upon Alisa Burke's.  Her watercolor sketchbooks are AH MAY ZING.  I felt so inspired I had to go grab my supplies right away.

I love her art style.  I've been in such a painting slump lately that I figured maybe this would break me out of it.  It kinda did!  I had a lot of fun doing these last night.

The first one was just a practice in different pens I have around the house mixed with the watercolors.  I expected that some of them would run more but they didn't!  My favorites are the Sharpie and Signo.  After that is the Micron .03, which I have a few more sizes of and a brush-style one.

The second one is a practice in.. style or technique, I guess.  This one was watercolor first, pen after. I used my Signo for that one.

I am so excited!  I really want to get into this more.  Yipee!

TTFN
Kirsten

Book Review: The Hair Wreath and Other Stories

I bought this book for $1 at a card shop that was closing.  I hadn't ever heard of it and wasn't even sure if I'd like it, but the card shop was closing because it could no longer afford the rent and I wanted to show what little support I could at the time.  Besides, I love reading! :)  Win-win situation, right?

The way the back cover talked about the book, I figured this was comprised of several stories that would all tie into one ending.  What an interesting concept.  It felt even more interesting, and consequently more far-fetched, the more I read.  They stories were sounding completely unrelated.

What bothered me even more, is that the stories I was reading had close to no closure.  When I got to the end, there was no closure at all.  I'm left to assume that from the synopsis on the back, stating that the strange stories weave themselves together, means to say that they are all paranormal and I suppose unexplained.

But.. maybe that's part of what makes this book great.  It did make me want to keep reading it.  I enjoyed the writing and the stories themselves, but I felt compelled to see what the fuck was going on.  The suspense is very subtle, but it's good.

I got through the book relatively fast.  I applaud Halli Villegas for being able to put together several short stories with various, united themes.  The stories span from eight to twenty pages, and she is able to fit a lot of emotion and atmosphere in a small amount of pages.

I give this book 4 stars.  :)

Making Iced Tea

After browsing Pintrest (this is how most things are started now days, right?) I decided to make some iced tea.  Unfortunately for Kevin I used black tea.  Fortunately for me, nobody else in the house wanted to drink it. ;)

As the water was boiling and I was trying to find a way to keep the tea bags in the pitcher without the strings falling in,  I was slapped with a stroke of genius.  There, on my not-so-neat kitchen counter, was the tab seal from a coffee creamer bottle.

A tab that would sit comfortably on the edge of the pitcher, and would hold the teabags there.

The squares of paper are just big enough to get caught in the ring.

And, it leaves the bags low enough in the pitcher to sit in the water I poured in.  I feel like Leonardo Da Vinci.

I know I'm not the neatest person in the world, but I'm okay with that.  Especially when stuff like this springs from the chaos.

Face of the Day

bareMinerals Tinted Mineral Veil

bareMinerals Warmth

bareMinerals Eyeliner in Black Coffee

Physicians Formula PH Blush

bareMinerals Eyeshadow in June, which is similar to Soft Focus Dune but as a shimmer.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Secret Service

Maybelline Stiletto Mascara

Milani Brow Fix

bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipstick in Parfait

bareMinerals 100% Lipgloss in Mauve

Oh, also my new haircut. :)

TTFN

Kirsten

Catch Up Mail Call!

I have been slacking.  ACK!  I don't know the date ranges I received these, so here they are.

Click for bigger. :)

P&G Brand Sampler -
Coupon Book: Good P&G Brand Coupons.  Very helpful.
Crest Clinical Plaque Control:  Always nice to get more toothpaste.  I've never tried this kind.
Oral - B Glide Pro Health Floss: I thought most floss was created  equal.  I don't know how I feel about getting one string has a sample, but alright.
Pampers Sensitive Diaper Wipes: More wipes are always good with kids running around!
Secret Deodorant:  I already have a specific deodorent that I use, that works, so this might be gifted.  You know, to someone close that wont get offended. >.>

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB:  I tried this out already and made a blog post.  It's alright, but if I wanted a tinted moisturizer I'd look for something better for the price.

Airborne Sample Pack: I love me some preventive medicine.  I'm going to take one right now since the kids have the sniffles.

Afrin NoDrip:  I recieved this for free from Bzzagent.com!  I was SO EXCITED because I am miserable when I'm sick.  Moreso when I can't sleep because I can't breathe.  This is a life saver for Kevin and I.

L'OREAL Revitalift Triple Power Deep-Acting Moisturizer:  They sent me five days worth!  This is so great because most places only give enough sample for one application.  I'll have to test this out soon.

SafSlim:  I'd really like to try this, but I don't think one dose is going to show me any results.  I guess this will tell me if I have a bad reaction to it or not.

Jergens Daily Moisture Lotion:  I think I've already received one of these.  Jergens isn't the best lotion I've used, but I love lotion and it'll be put to use.

SkinFive5 Hydrating Serum:  I won this from a giveaway on Beauty 101 Blog!  The people from Skinfive5 are SO NICE.  Not only did they send me this, but they sent me samples of the renewal serum and the brightening serum.  Along with the products, they sent several information cards and a hand addressed letter!  The company gets an A+ for customer service and marketing from me.  I love places that go out of their way to make a personalized service.

This was so exciting since I love to try new skincare products, but I don't really have the money to get my hands on the good stuff.  Besides my acne, my face is as smooth as a baby's bottom.  I'm loving it so far.  This retails for $160!  Go to the SkinFive5 website to learn more about this amazing serum and maybe pick some up for yourself. :)

Stella Artois Chalice:  I got this for free from BzzAgent.com, too!  It's beautiful.  I am in love.  I'm going to use it for all my sparkling neeeeeds.

Pantene Pro-V Silky Moisture WHIP: I don't use hair styling products that often, so I'm not sure when I'll get around to this.  I might get Kevin to try it out first. :P

Breathe Right Advanced:  Breathe Right has never worked for me, and I doubt it'll work for Kevin but it's worth a shot.  /cough

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Sample

I got my first taste at a BB in the form of a sample that was mailed to me!  I have been super interested in trying these out, but I've held back for a few reasons.

One, I straight up don't have the money.  Two, I've heard that the Asian brands of BB are more true to their form than the American ones, so if I'm going to be shelling out any of that non existent cash I'd rather opt for the good stuff.  Three... I don't wear enough make up to really justify it to begin with.  Well, maybe if I got one of those super awesome Asian BBs... or the CCs that I've heard are hitting the market.

Anyways, here are some photos of me trying to de-zombify!

Before - clean, naked face.

I look absolutely pissed here...and this is not what I normally look like.  Kevin wanted to know why I uploaded a picture of my man face. :(

With Maybelline Dream Fresh BB

My skin tone is evened out.  Blemishes aren't covered, but what does one expect from what basically is a tinted moisturizer?  Speaking of which, I didn't feel particularly moisturized after I put it on.  It went on like a liquid foundation.  In this picture, I have a look of resigned disgust.  My face is also blanched and not very exciting, and since I already did one step of my make up, I decided to do the rest.

Full Make Up.

I contoured a little bit and added some blush.  I also spruced up my eyebrows with Milani's brow pencil!

I used Wet N Wild Comfort Palette, the Eyelid shade on the left.  I'm in love with this color, and will be actively searching for a single pan dupe of it.  It's a shimmery.. copperish nude.  I'm not so good at describing make up colors, sorry!

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner, bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumnizing Mascara, bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipgloss in Mauve.

I really love that lip gloss. it's a perfect nude shade for me. I want to hoard like 20 of them so I'll never run out.

So that's my itty bitty update. :)

TTFN!

-Kirsten

November 2012 Summary

November has been an interesting month for me.  I'ts had more than its fair share of ups and downs but everything definitely worked out for the best.

One of the biggest changes is a change in household income.  Thankfully, we've been wary of this for the past few months and have been prepared.  Most of our endurance is contributed to careful meal planning and couponing.  The best part is, nothing extreme has had to be done to see a noticeable improvement.

Buying things in bulk and on the slightly-cheaper-than norm, like chicken breasts, rice, canned vegetables and ground beef has been a big help.  A while ago I did a cost breakdown for simple dinners.  While we don't eat much fancy and exciting food, the meals are decently rounded and I feel comfortable feeding us with them.

Our rent is also going to increase starting in January.  Completely unexpected and at a horrible time.  When it rains, it pours, but we just need to get slogging through it.

On a good note, for Thanksgiving Kevin and I hitched a ride with my Dad and Lillian to Washington.  It was his first time being up there, and he loved it.  The weather was perfect for November: Crisp, cold and colorful.  Given our short time there and lack of own vehicle, though I'm sure we could have borrowed someone's, we didn't do much sightseeing.  There are still a lot of things I'd love to show him, but he seems to be in love with the area already.

Here is a cat to break up the text.

Even better, we all had a blast.  Well, maybe besides the lack of his ideal traditional Thanksgiving foods.  Next year I plan on making him at least some rolls.  He fits into my family perfectly.  As far as I know they all enjoyed his company as much as he enjoyed theirs.  He contributed to our absurd dinner and after dinner talks and it was wonderful.  He even got to watch some football!  I wasn't really worried about the trip, but it's always nice to have everything go smoothly, right? :)

Last month I did an October Empties post.  I tried doing one for November but... I apparently haven't emptied anything!  I am so horrible at using up one thing at a time.  I still have a conditioner and a lotion that I've been on the last couple days worth for a month, even though I use them!  I guarantee that by the end of December I will have at least two bottles empty.  I'll make it happen!

Projects... I have started a ton of projects.  I finally finished a sewing project in which I completed a roll up brush/pen case and zippered make up bag!  I seriously went over my head when I thought fusible vinyl was going to be a good idea while I'm still technically learning how to sew.  The bag was horrific.  I'm not sure if it's my sewing machine or what, but it stuck to the feed dog like flies to poop.  From now on the Vinyl stays in the closet.

I am still working on a crochet blanket... that's going to end up being huge!  I will make a post about it soon. It's going to be for keeps, though, as Kevin has already claimed it.  I finished off the fringe on another blanket, and I have a cable scarf in the work.  I've also been crocheting little washcloths, though that's been put on hold while I do the scarf.  I really need to stop starting so many things at once.

I completed reading two books in November!  It seems like such an insignificant number, but I feel really good about it.

So, that's about it.  Some interesting things have started in December, so I'm sure I'll have plenty to blog about.