simply complicated: February 2014

Faith

This past Christmas my best friend/"sister from a different mister", Alison, gave me a book called Popular by Tindell Baldwin. I have to say that it is one of the best books I have read in a while. So much heart & real/good advice. Well, I am excited to announce that Popular is currently FREE on Kindle! I think its only for the next couple of days so you might want to follow the link & pick it up while you can. Recommend it to someone too. It is a great read for moms and daughters. I would recommend it for daughters 12 or 13 & up! It is one of those books that they may read at 12 & not see how it can be connected to what they are going through right now, but come their freshman year in high school they might want to reread it because it is suddenly relevant.

Tindell grew up in a Christian home. In fact her brother is Kristian Stanfill, a very popular Christian artist on the radio even! She had everything going for her. The only problem was she wanted so bad to be part of the "popular" group and have "real" fun. This is her story of her life & how she came to know Jesus through what she experienced in high school. Tindell gives real life examples of how being Popular isn't all that it cracks up to be. It is NOT as fulfilling as everyone makes it seem like & you probably aren't as popular as you really think you are.

Here is a quote from page 128. Its probably my favorite quote of the entire book because the amount of truth behind the words. "Becoming a Christian doesn't mean all your problems fade away, & it definitely doesn't mean all your old habits die with your old self. You'll still be tempted to act the same, tempted to put your hope in the same things & tempted to think the same. The hardest part of Christianity isn't accepting Christ; it's what comes after that. It's when He asks you to walk away from relationships, friends, & a life you were accustomed to. God asks you to make these decisions so you can see that He only wants what is best for your life. If you can walk away from the really hard stuff, then huge blessing are waiting at the other end." -Tindell Baldwin.

I pray that if you know someone who needs to read this book that you will recommend it. & if you need to read this book then you will download and dive in. I know that you will love it as much as I did!

Beauty

ways to look more awake then you really are

6:23 PM

I work at a small Christian University & some of the girls that live in the campus housing had a "Galentine's" party last week. They asked me to come & give them make up tips & tricks. Well, if you know me at all you know I can talk about makeup all day everyday. I just love it. I love knowing the best products. I love knowing different techniques. I love seeing what other people are buying/using. I love it all. So needless to say, I was excited!

I thought that I might share what I shared with them. These are just a couple of things to take your makeup up a notch (or at all) and look more awake than you may feel. I have also put some low cost product recommendations that I use regularly!

Concealer, Concealer, Concealer || Under eye concealer & face concealer. When you’re in a hurry, this step should not be skipped! Get a more convenient way of applying. Make sure you get an under eye concealer that is not too thick so it doesn’t settle in the lines under your eyes. To make your eye area look brighter and more awake, use a concealer two shades lighter than your skin tone, OR most concealer have a "brightening" color.

--Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser

--NYX HD Concealer (@ Ulta)

Highlighters…Your new BFF || Highlight the inner corner of your eye with a light ivory/beige. **NO SILVER** Also use a nude eye liner on your water line of your eye. This will make you look instantly more awake! When we first all started wearing makeup we all put black in our water lines. I do not recommend doing this unless you are doing a smoky eye look.

--Covergirl Eyeshadow: French Vanilla

--Rimmel Eyeliner in Nude (or Taupe if you think nude is too light for you)

--NYX Slide On Glide On Eyeliner

--Wet N Wild Bronzer in “Reserve Your Cabana” as cheek highlight [goes on the high point of your cheek bone. usually ends up being right above your blush.

Blush…Use It! || Blush is not a scary thing! You don’t have to look like your grandma :) If you are scared of blush or don’t know what color to get, usually a nice rosy color is a safe bet. Use a light hand.

--NYX Blushes are the bomb!

--Milani Baked Blush (favorite color is Luminoso and Dulce Pink)

Mascara…don’t leave home without it! No matter what. || It is amazing how a coat of mascara can make your eyes look brighter, more awake, & you stop looking 12. A good mascara is good for the soul.

--L’Oreal typically has the best cheap mascara. My favorite is “Voluminous Original” & the new “Butterfly Mascara”

--Covergirl LashBlast Original in the orange tube

--Covergirl Professional Super Thick Lash (usually at the bottom of the display because its super cheap. I use this mostly has my second coat of mascara on top of something else…yes, I use 2 mascaras everyday. My lashes really need help…)

Eyebrows…they are hairy beasts that CAN be tamed. || I know it probably sounds crazy, but if you tame them brows, your look will totally change. I use a brow pencil & then a clear gel to keep them in place. You don’t have to do anything drastic. Start with a clear gel just to keep them in place.

--Maybelline Define a Brow (use a color as close to your hair color as humanly possible. I use medium brown.)

--Maybelline Clear Mascara (I know, I know…its okay to use on your brows I promise)

I will have {many} more posts about makeup to come. But in the meantime...what are you favorite makeup products to look more awake?

Life

30 reasons why I am thankful for Nathan

12:03 PM

Life

what I'm reading

7:06 PM

Life

where there's a will, there's a way...

6:57 PM

Or so my mom says…

Many have asked in my last [almost] 4 years of marriage how Nathan & I met. To which I reply, “well, how much time do you have?”

If you have heard even a piece of our story then you know its not a short one.

But none the less, I thought I would share the basic idea.

Nathan & I grew up at the same church in Houston, TX. My family started attending when I was in 6th grade, & his dad was our senior pastor. In March 2004 my youth group started a tradition to go to Cofradia, Mexico for Spring Break for a mission trip. That’s why I started to go every year. Nathan tagged along March 2005. The only thing was, he wasn’t in the youth group anymore. That’s right…I was 16 & he was 21. [this is where you can gasp.]

It was on Nathan’s first trip in 2005 that I realized how much I liked this guy. Maybe part of it at the time was that he was in college and would be interested in a little ole me. But regardless of the reasons, he liked me too. Looked like my dreams were coming true! We talked on & off that year until the next year in 2006 when we both went back to Mexico. That just grew my love even more. He said that he liked me & felt the same, but he was dating a girl at the time who was “holding him back”. [that’s what they all say…] The truth is that it was not a healthy situation. It was in no way good for either of us. I was lying to my parents & friends about Nathan and he was lying to his girlfriend about me. Again I repeat, not good. & my parents definitely didn’t approve.

Despite that, we still continued to talk. He still continued to make me feel like he liked me when all he liked was that I was a challenge. I can remember once that he was telling me that I had all these qualities that he was looking for in a wife, & the next time I saw him he was engaged to his girlfriend. Heart broken doesn’t even begin to describe it.

I went off to college in 2007. He ended up breaking off the engagement sometime during my freshman year. When I came home for the summer between my freshman year in college and my sophomore year, I gave him an ultimatum. I said he had till the end of the summer to decide if he really thought that our relationship [whatever that meant] was something that he could see happening long term or if it was just for fun. Unless the answer was long term, I would be done talking to him. The last day of summer, he told me that he was scared of long distance but that he wanted it to work with us. That I was worth the long distance for. [this is where you can say “awww…”] He called me the next day & told me that he thinks he has actually loved me for a long time, but he was too afraid to admit it to himself.

We started dating [for real this time] & it was amazing! He treated me so different. Our conversations had meaning. He made efforts to come see me at school [5 hours away from Houston]. Our family & friends were so happy for us [the most shocking were my parents who admitted that before it was just terrible timing of age differences]. We were both growing as people in Christ.

The Christmas after we started dating, I got to come home for a month & see him almost every day. It was the best time of my life. Our families had dinner together & just got to know each other on a personal level. While I was home my parents asked when we were going to get married. I said “when I graduate I guess.” They asked why. I told them because I didn’t want to pay for my school. They told me that they would not make me start paying for school because I decide to get married before graduation. I shared that news with Nathan & we got totally excited! I went back to school totally heartbroken because I realized how much long distance was not what I wanted to do. I decided a short time later to transfer to University of Houston to finish out my degree. We dated long distance my entire sophomore year and then I moved back to my parents to go to UofH. Nathan proposed that next month [June 5, 2009…my half birthday!] We got married May 21, 2010. It was the absolute best day of my life. I thank God for Nathan everyday. I do not know what I would do without him. Or the family that I married into.

Is it a crazy story? Yes.

I have told you half of it? Nope.

Do I recommend to date someone almost 5 years older than you when you’re at an illegal age? Heck no.

But I guess like Queen said…its a crazy little thing called love.

Life

new year's resolutions

6:50 PM

Beauty

the oxymoron

6:41 AM

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