Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Nocturnal

More and more I'm realizing night is my time. I feel like I live in my own little world in the night. I'm more awake and alert and my thoughts run with greater ease. Maybe it's the lack of distractions outside or the fact that I'm less likely to have some random person annoy me at night. Keepin' it real, folks, keepin' it real.

Love is a powerful thing. Given how my life has been with new friends and thoughts on my other posts, I'm overwhelmed by how much power love, or the lack there of, has.

I had other thoughts on this but they aren't there anymore so I'll post in the morning.

You are loved.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Accept

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, (11) so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.




I didn't find a perfect verse for what I want to say, but, these will work.  


Last week, due to a problem with a "friend", contained one of the hardest nights of my life.  I was just emotionally done.  Somewhere and I were in the right and things got intense between us and the friend in a way with which I've never had to deal.


On top of that, and all the other chaos that has been in our lives lately, I've been struggling with the fact that earlier in the day, I sinned.  I know that statement sounds strange, but, it's the best way to say it.  I sinned.  I messed up.  I opened doors that should forever stay shut.  I was beating myself up over it the next morning.  I was thinking about how many ways it could ruin so much of my world and all this and God spoke up.  


He impressed on my heart how I was not my judge.  I was not in control.  In this case, that's an extremely good thing.  He gently reminded my heart that I am not the one who decides just how much "punishment" I should receive.  I was so busy bruising up my heart that I didn't take a moment to ask God about it all. I asked for forgiveness and took no time to receive it or purification of my heart.


The moment I stopped and said "Lord, clean me."  It was done.  The burden lifted.  I'm not saying I just cleaned my conscience.  It definitely wasn't like that.  I just understood in the way my finite mind can, that I was forgiven.


I am sharing this I think to remind people to take a minute and think if there is any case were the one punishing you is simply you.


Thoughts below, I'll reply :)


Isaiah 33:24 ESV And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.





Thursday, December 8, 2011

Love your neighbour



Here's something I just want to place this thought in your minds and perhaps have you place in return your thoughts on here.

What I want to mention and plant is this verse, that's been on my mind today.



Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)

37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

"You shall love your neighbour as yourself."

I'm not going to say I think everyone should be self-centered jerks. There's a lot to be said for self-sacrifice and putting others before yourself. That's completely okay.

This is my thought, though, and I've heard this said somewhere and can't remember where.

If it says to love your neighbor as yourself, doesn't that mean that we are to love ourselves? That we are to respect and value that we are creatures of worth and beauty? Why then is it so hard to do things that are in care of yourself? Everything doesn't need to be about you, but, even taking time for mediation on our Savior is something for ourself in a sense.

Either way, my thoughts are if you can't love you, can you love others correctly?

Again, I think this can be taken to two extremes, especially in people of faith, but, I am curious as to your thoughts.

Thanks!


Sunday, December 4, 2011

A meme...


I have a whole lot on my mind today but not much of it is blog worthy.  Instead I'm going to do a cute little survey thing I saw on Caitlin's blog To Make Love Stay.

Also, I get the word "meme" but at the same time it always  makes me go "Wait, what?"


1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
My family has called me "Goose" as long as I can remember.  It stood for Goosey Loosey Matoosey.   Even in nicknames, my parents are excessive.  I say this because they kindly gave me a name four names long that equals 23 letters.  

2. What's a weird habit of yours? 
I sing in the bathroom whenever I'm all done.  I don't know why.

3. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?
I adore singing "Feelin' Good" by Nina Simone.  

4. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
People who preach one thing and then do the other.  
Other than that, leaving the spray nozzle in the sink.  Don't do that.  That's gross.

5. What's one of your nervous habits?
I chew my lip or start rapidly picking at my nails, in a cleaning them way.

6. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
I sleep on the left.  

7. What was your first stuffed animal & it's name?
Beasley.  He was a fantastic french teddy bear that I took everywhere.

8. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks?
Hmm.  Always? I like to switch it up.  Normally it will either be an iced doppio espresso with cream or some version of chai.  I love chai. I love it iced, hot, dirty or in a frappuccino. Ooo and with soy.

9. What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?
Throw away old make up. I actually did do this a little while ago, but I hate throwing away make up because it gets expensive buying new.  It's necessary for you though to purge at least once a year (I mean that's a big stretch for some things.) Every three to six months is better.

10. Which way do you face in the shower?
I turn around?  I tend to face the water.  I also like to sit in the shower floor and just let really hot water pour over my head. It's my thinking spot.

11. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
I can wrap my big toe over the next toe.  It looks really weird because I have crazy long toes.

12. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food thats 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?
Mac n Cheese... I love it.  Strange for a comfort food I guess but I love chicken in wing form. 

13. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say? 
"I'm just sayin'."

14. Time to sleep - what are you wearing?
Heh. Shorts and a shirt generally.  Sometimes I mix it up. You know, a shirt and shorts.  Just kidding.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Why

Why do we blog? What inspires especially younger adults to blog?  To spill everything out into the open?

I was talking about this with some of the co-op mom's at McD's yesterday.   I'm also going to be speaking in a direction other than to make an income from blogging.

I said that perhaps it's to do with how the internet has opened up our world.  I met my husband online.  I met one of my bridesmaids online.  I have many friendships kept alive through the internet.  It would be somewhat possible through snail mail, but, not quite the same.   Therefore, to us, talking online is just like sitting around with your friends and sharing our lives.  It's as natural as speaking to us.

 Is that good?  Perhaps, perhaps not.  I communicate much more easily through written word than face to face.  I like how it gives me time to think, to process.  Can I verbally communicate?  Of course.  I'm not that kind of homeschooler. (I was homeschooled my whole life... that wasn't a dig against homeschoolers.)  I just prefer writing. And yes, I am an avid texter. :-p

Given how natural it feels, it is just as easy for us to desire to get comment on our every thought.  We have access to everything through Google.  We can constantly get updates on any celebrity we want.  We can learn almost any skill, language or hobby.  The internet has made the world an open book to us.  Why would we not, at least in some way, reflect the world around us?

As far as privacy, personally, I tried to keep from sharing everything on here.  I try to keep my real name and that of my friends and family's off of my blog.  I don't like people knowing what town I live in or where I work.  I think there is a line of responsibility as far as all that goes.

My dad asked me the other day though if I thought before I pushed "publish" about how once I did that, it was gone, out into the Blogosphere (he used it correctly!) for all to see.  Did I think about the impact it would have.  Honestly, yes, I do think.  I think a lot before I push that little button.

Part of me wants to not do that.  I don't want to care what anyone might think of me or my situation except that I be honest.  I want to openly share every struggle, every triumph and every fear.  I'm not sure exactly why I do.

Sometimes I think it's because I've seen a lot of secrecy about a lot of things.  Given what my last post was, I'm not talking about some deep, dark family thing.   I'm just talking in general life.  (As I was in the last post.)  One thing many of my friends say they like about me is my honesty.   I'm an open book.

It's a dangerous thing but for now it's who I am.

This isn't an entirely complete survey on my thoughts.  I'd love to hear yours.  Especially from bloggers, why do you blog?

Love, peace and honesty...


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

It really only feels like a couple of days ago that I last was here.  Strange.

Life has been moving and changing and becoming different and yet the same.   I'm excited to leave for Thanksgiving weekend with my Dad's family.  'Twill be an adventure.  Many of them haven't even gotten to meet Somewhere, or if they have, it was only briefly here and there.  I particularly can't wait for him to meet Granddaddy.  They are both such engineers, thinkers and magicians that I predict they will get along swimmingly.

I don't think I have a post of deep contemplation on in me today.

Here's a link to a great post I just read by a friend though.  My Shady Grove


(Mavis Beacon, I just realized how thankful I am that you taught me to type well.  I just thought I'd throw that out there.)

Anywho, I love you all and I hope you have a great holiday weekend to all of my US readers.

Peace and hope,
cj

Thursday, November 3, 2011

I really should...

... change the name of this blog.


Anywho, there's been a lot and nothing going on in my world lately.


There's been a lot of noise, due to bands recording in a studio in my basement.  Totally cool, and also, totally makes me feel like I'm never alone.  I'm not sure I like that feeling.  Ah well.


I've been getting into reading a lot more.  I find my IQ has dropped since my late teens because I stopped avidly reading.  Yup, that's what I'm blaming it on.  Anywho, I've started light with The Hunger Games series.  So delightful. Now I'm trying my darnedest to get through "THE GREAT HUNT" Book two in "The Wheel of Time" series.  Hard read.  I'm not sure I can handle such an extreme amount of detail.




Make up.  Because who would I be if I didn't talk about it?   First off, I've let my nails get a bit long.  Typing?  Such a chore now.  I'll do my make up in a minute then take a picture of them and my latest make up thing: Red lips.  I'm normally an eye shadow girl... you should really only do one or the other in a bold way, both at the same time is overwhelming in most cases.   Recently, though, I've been doing the classic black liner and bold lips.  It's new to me.  I don't normally wear lipstick, much less a color that seems to need a lot of babying.  But I'll struggle through. :-p



I've been contemplating church and life as a follower in general.  I've been thinking about what would happen if I was honest with those I love.  If we all were.


What if at the next family thing, I was to say:


"Hey, okay.


Enough.
I'm not pretending anymore.
Grandparents, I love you enough and I know you love me enough to accept the truths about me instead of me smoothing things over.


Other family, really.  We all talk about each other and to each other, carefully crafting what we are and how we each see each other.


Why not just be honest?  Don't want to be fussed at for the bad?  Don't want the lecture?  Why do you expect one?


 Yes, I can think of a couple secrets that I don't want to share with the world.  That's okay.  Why, oh why, do we feel our family is too weak to handle the truth.  Darkness can never fully cover the secret, so why not let it have light. You might find it dries up all together or is really a beautiful thing."

Forget just saying that to my family, what if I said it to all of you?  What if I admit I don't know where I stand? What if I overshared for a little while?


What would honesty bring?


For the record, I have awesome grandparents who I've always felt could handle almost all of my flaws and definitely my strengths.   I can handle the flaws they've told me about them.  Things in their past.  Hopes they have.  Things they find funny.  I can handle that.


It's good.


I'm not sure what this post is for. I'm only sure that it is.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

How cool is that...

Today was art class.

Have I ever mentioned just how much I love art class? I teach at a local co-op for homeschoolers.  I'm the art teacher. :) It suits me.  Once a week, one hour.  I can do that.

 They are between 3rd-5th grade with one 2nd grader and one 6th.   I love them.  I have... 14 youngsters.  They surprise me every week with their creativity.  I really enjoy being in a positive position where if some students don't completely blow you away in some area, it's totally fine, because I know they will be phenomenal in another medium/style.  I don't have to limit them at all.

Its wonderful.

Can you imagine what life would be like if that was your approach to everything?

:) *le sigh*

I also have so been enjoying the fellowship with all the moms.  Many have been married longer than I.   I think I'm one of the few childless teachers.

It's so wonderful to be surrounded by Christian woman who are so much wiser than I.

Well I'll be back tomorrow.

Night!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

So it begins again

It's been a long time since I've done this... stayed up way late and blogged.  Remember when I used to do this?  Of course you do.   Somewhere is snoring away beside me and the pabies are curled up in between us.  Or, given their size now, I should say we're curled up beside them.  2/3 of our king size bed taken up by dog.  What is this world coming to?

There's so much on my mind.  What I type is often spiritual to me.  I have other things on my mind but I don't feel it is the right moment to share them.

I don't really know what to talk about considering that.

Hmm.


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Forgetting numbers

I have a lot of emotions going through my soul right now.  I don't know if the soul is the source of emotions, but it seems the best place to put them for right now.  I don't even think I could name all of these emotions if I tried, and yet, if you looked at my face right now, you would see blankness.  There has been no great event or fantastic tragedy.  I am simply existing in a state of... screen saver.  That's a good way to put it.  I feel like I'm on screen saver.

I need to move the mouse.


Friday, July 8, 2011

Passions Series {Food}

Food. 
     I love cooking.  I love the way a good dish can pull people together.  I love hearing my husband say his dinner was good.  I love the moment when the flavors blend, the reduction is perfect, the meat is just juicy but fully done, the way that the right foods can be so delicious but so pure and good for you.  Ilovecooking.  There is definitely something humbling in kneading bread.  There is magic in the smell of onions and butter cooking together. There is simplicity in the sweetness of a strawberry.

     If you read the Bible, there is much said about food.  I could google and probably find an exact count of just how many verses deal with food, but I'll refrain.  Solomon tells us to "Eat, drink and be merry!"  Jesus said He is the "Bread of Life."  A birthright was the cost of a bowl of stew.  A woman used milk to lure a king into a sleep so she could kill him.   The Israelites had many rules based around food.  God used those same rules to show Peter that Gentiles were precious to Him as well as Jews. 

Meals are gathering places, they are social events.  They are necessary for life, for health.  They also can bring death and sickness.  There is so much knowledge to be gained from the lessons of food.

I know this is a passion because I can talk about it for hours.  My grandfather and I go walking, (like sweaty, uphill/downhill training walking) three times a week.  We spend a good half discussing food. :p

Food is something I love, but if I was called to a life where all I would eat was rice, I would like to say I could do it.



                                             The Beginning of the Passions Series

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Passions Series: {makeup}

     Makeup.  
     Of anything in my life other than faith, and unfortunately sometimes more than that, I read about make up.  I watch videos on it.  (Kandee Johnson makes me smile all the time with her adorable videos.)  I dream about it.  I enter a happy place when I'm in a make up store.  I adore the way it can make eyes come alive and sparkle.  I love how it gives you a "pick me up" when you take the time for yourself on a bad day to feel prettier.  I love it's ability to transform.  Just say the word pigments around me and I can gush for hours. 

 (I've been checking Walmart daily for the movie Sucker Punch, which was a good movie in itself, but the reason I want it is for the make up inspiration it gave me.  I could barely focus on the movie in theaters for looking at the make up, examining if I could do it or not.)

      I've said before that I realize beauty comes from the heart.  In the words of the oh-so-classic and beautiful Audrey Hepburn (seriously, I love her) 

"Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside but it doesn't help if your ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the make-up." 
 Audrey Hepburn  (Source)


Hehe, okay so the last part was a joke, but really, even the Bible extolls that a woman's (or man's!) beauty comes from the heart. 


 Could I live without make up?  I have before.  In fact, as much as I love make up, I only wear it two or three times a week.  That said, if I really felt that I needed to give it up, like it was becoming a god, yes.  It would be hard, but yes.




If you are interested in reading the rest of the "Passion Series", here's the start: Passions Series {origin}


Here are some cute make up quotes I borrowed from Confessions of a Doll:

“It's all or nothing with my makeup. If I get dressed up, I'll go to an extreme. I'll wear foundation, bright blue or bright red lipstick with one of my weird purple wigs.” -Angelina Jolie  (YES!!!!)

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.” -Miss Piggy

“The makeup is simply an extension of the personality and colors, clothing, makeup all express something.” -Gene Simmons


Passions Series {origin}

So I'm looking through my indie_wife Twitter timeline and see this:










I replied with this:
(Isn't the play-by-play great?  I missed my calling as a sports commentator.)












After being told I wasn't limited instead encouraged to do more than one... do them all.


I started to think.  Surely I was deeper than "makeup".  What if I expanded the idea to being beyond objects and went into emotions and ideas I was passionate about.  You could even say I was deeply passionate in the way I explain my massive respect for Sharon Osbourne. (I love, love, love her.  Such an example to me!)  How do you explain the passion you feel for peace, not only in the world, but just in your sphere of it, in your relationships, in your home, in your heart and mind.  What am I passionate about?


The question spread through my mind like a drop of ink in a cup.  


I'm passionate about many things.  I passionate about knowledge, peace, happiness, faith, family, friends, cooking, art, music, gaming, reading, the outdoors and of course, makeup.  Each one required more explaining than the 140 word limit Twitter supplied me.   


I turned to my good friend Blog to help me.  I'm starting the Passions Series.  It will probably be about five posts long, perhaps as much seven or ten. :-p   I'll be putting them in list form in links on this post as I go.   The reason I'm not doing them all on one big post is, A. I really like breaking things into smaller bites.  B. This way you don't have to lose reading about passions I have that you share while reading through ones you really care little for.




As I do this, I challenge you. 


If you have a blog, blog your own passions.  Comment me a link.  


If you have a Twitter, post them there, with #passion and @synxiec.  He won't judge and I'll be reading them there too.  


Email them to me if you have neither.  I'll share some on here if you like. 


Comment me if you do any of the above or if you don't want to do any and just wanna put it in the comments. 


Look into yourself. This may come easy to you or it may be life changing.


Do it.



Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Day 93 | Vindicated

Vindicated. 

Thats been my word for the past couple days.  The causes are manly stupid, but I've been very frustrated with the feeling that I can't vindicate myself.  It's not that I don't have the right arguments.  I can vindicate myself, especially in my mind, for hours.  

The problem is, and this is a big one. I'm nice. It stinks being nice. Its not simply that I'm nice. That's a wimpy excuse not to defend yourself.  Its that I think stuff like "I don't know what kind of day they have had" or "What good will my being aggressive back do?"  

All that said, this is my moment.  Its been building up inside me for the past couple days.  Like I said, this is mostly over stupid stuff, people I don't even know online. How lame.  But its in me and I need it out.

I'm sorry you were having a bad day.  

I'm sorry that I did something you considered to be incorrect.  

I'm sorry that I respected you.  

I'm sorry that I tried to explain myself at all to you.  

I'm sorry you felt the need to project inordinate amounts of anger toward me.  

I'm sorry you think it works to put a smilie face at the end to make it seem nice. 

I'm sorry you didn't think about how the one 
obscure 
meaningless, 
faceless person you took all the bad day out on was 
me, 
the one person who would 
care, 
go red in the face, 
and cry.

  Do I need to be less sensitive. Ohyeah.  Was I having an emotional day too? Definitely.  Am I sorry I am not sorry? No.

Whew.

Thank you.


All this said... think.  Think before you take any anger out on someone.  Think before you are rude.  Think before you assume you know their motives.  Think of how you want to be treated. Think of how crappy their day may have been.  Think of the better.

Even if they are just a name on a screen.

Also, to the person this was toward... I sincerely hope today was better.  

Monday, June 27, 2011

Day 92| Dwell

I was messing around with the ohsofabulous Evernote today, having realized how easy it made syncing my life to my computer.  During this messing, I made my first note on the computer. It simply poured out of me.  I thought I'd share.  This isn't a great theological debate.  It's simply a note to uplift.



Girl, you are wonderful.  Jesus made you and He loves you.  Yes, there will be hard times, this isn't a feel good lie.  The core of life though is that you are made to glorify God.  God would not put so much stock in what he says "is good" if it wasn't important.  He seemed to consider the work He did at the end of each day of creation finished if "it was good."

 He didn't say dwell on death, sadness and heartache.  He didn't say live each day in suffering and moaning.  He said it would happen, but not to dwell on it.

He said: "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."


Smile.
Be joyful.
Be thankful.
Be loving.
Be.

These are all of God.


*Phil. 4:8

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Day 91| Thinking

I asked a friend what he was up to today.  His reply: thinking.

I told him my plans for the day (nothing but chillin' with the hubby man. aahhhhh, how lovely.) Then I asked "thinking?"  This was unheard of to me.  To have a life so organized as to be able to just take time to think.    More than that, to have a life that you value so much that it wouldn't matter if everything was done and in place, you had to take time to think that day.  I have never planned to think for a day.  I... can barely comprehend this.

My friend simply replied, "yes. Thinking."

I was inspired.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  I asked more questions of him.  The included contemplating how Christ often took time to be alone.  Now, the idea of "I'm getting away to be with God" that one I've heard.  I suppose it's like thinking.  There is something beautifully mediative, zen-like and natural about the idea though.  I spent a lot of today, in the back of my mind, thinking about thinking.

Later, the wind started blowing powerfully outside this afternoon.  I raced out to get the clothes, that were drying, off the porch. I stood there for a moment, looking at the clouds... there were so many faces in them, I was tempted to run downstairs and grab my sketchbook.  I knew they would be gone when I got back though.  Instead, I dumped the clothes on the table.  Picking up one of the towels, I folded it up into a pillow and went to lay on my back on the porch.  I lay there for about 5 minutes, just looking and thinking.

Just thinking.

I am inspired.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Day 89 | CRACKLE!!!

You guys thought I forgot, didn't you?  You thought I bailed.  I didn't.  I'm here.  I have the review!   


Its for China Glaze CRACKLEglaze Nail Lacquer!

(disclaimer: I don't have the best camera nor do I know how to use the camera I do have well.  This is not about having perfectly done nails.  Really.)



 I went to Sally's Beauty Supply with Mom and looked around for this "crackle" nail polish I'd been hearing about and seeing all over the web.  I didn't see it. I walked up to the counter and asked if I was just kinda blind and missing it.  The girl smiled and said I was in the right place.  She pulled the box out from behind the counter and proceeded to gush about this nail polish.  I text Somewhere just to be sure he was okay with the idea of me paying $7 for a bottle of nail polish.  


He was, with a claus.  "You have to do a review." 
 Twist my arm why don't you?  
I happily agreed and bought it in a refreshing color called "Crushed Candy."
 About a month ago.  
It's about time for me to keep my end of the deal.  :)  


Some big tips to remember before I start though.   
  1. This nail polish DOES NOT work on natural nails.  You have to have a polish on underneath. 
  2. This nail polish works so much better if the base polish is completely dry first before you paint over it. 
  3. Be patient.  It takes time to learn how best to use this kind of polish.
Anddd action!

I started out with multi colored nails.


I used five different colours for my bases.

(Colors and brands listed at the end.)

 I did this pretty quick, so it looks a little rough.  A good thing to remember is you have to go quick with this stuff.  Also, the thickness of the layer makes a big difference.  The amount of strokes changes it too.

 Basically, it does take getting used to so you can get the effect you want within reason. 
 Part of the beauty of this is also it's curse in that it changes every time.  It will never crack the same way twice.  I did each finger differently in this case, so you can get an idea of what you can do. 


The thumb is a black base
 I did it quick and pretty light, but I missed the base.  
I tapped a little on the base to cover my mistake. You can see the line too well, but if you don't tell, they won't know.

The index finger, with its bright purple 
is an example of what happens when you go over a second time.  
You can see the split of the three areas. It was also heavyish stokes.


The middle finger is a good example of if you lay it on quick and thick.
I love this colour on white. It might be neat to do half and half of white and a darker shade.
It's a chunky, well separated look when you use thick, quick stokes.

The blue based ring finger:
This one I did very quick and light stokes.  
I took it to the side to add variety.  
Many people just run the brush lengthwise.

Dark purple pinkie:
This purple color is one of my favourtites but it just doesn't make it pop with the crackle.
I like the somewhat muted look of it, but, a polish like this begs for drama.
This was just a heavy, normal speed stroke.





 I decided to mess around with a few quick designs on my right hand.  
One of my favorites, that I do most of the time that I wear this polish, is this slant streak.  
It adds such a nice splash of chaos without letting it take over.  I also did a couple squiggles that look 
pretty awesome, but since they were on the white, I gave up trying to get a good shot.



 This is not a nail polish for everyone.  Its so fun, though, that you should try it, just in case it is for you.  


 Have fun and look up reviews and tutorials on this if you are stumped how to use it.  There are so, so many extremely talented people out there who have done so much with this type of nail polish its nuts!

There are many brands that carry a crackle/shatter line.  O.P.I, Cover Girl [where? I don't know] and Mia Secret all carry them.  

Katy Perry and Pirates of the Caribbean have their own sets through O.P.I. even.

Thanks so much for reading!  Let me know which color you liked the crackle with best, and if you have them, let me know what you think of crackle nail polishes.


Color Names



I am not an affiliate of China Glaze or any of the other companies listed.  
I simply did this review for fun, they have no idea who I am.  :)

















Monday, June 13, 2011

Day 88 | ugh

I feel so horrible about how little I've been able to blog this weekend. It's simply been non-stop. The wedding I worked threw a kink in my make up review and today I just didn't have the time to redo some of the steps. If anyone was waiting to read that tonight, I'm so sorry to have let you down. In exciting news, Somewhere and I have been talking and I'm going to have a surprise for you guys. Hint hint, Day 100 is coming up. To me, it's weird that there are nearly 100 little posts you can read to get further into my mind. I feel a little bit naked thinking about it.

This said, expect a nice long post and a make up review tomorrow.

Be loving!
Didge

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Day 87 | sore feet

Well, my brother, my husband, one of my best friends and I worked a wedding today. Oh my word My legs/feet/walking apparatuses ache. It was so much fun though. I wanna do it again. I wanna sleep more. Sorry this is a short post weekend. I love you all. ~Me

Friday, June 10, 2011

Day 86 | Late

It's late and I haven't been inspired toward the blog today. This isn't your fault or the blog's, therefore, why should either have to suffer. I think it is almost a thing to be celebrated that I have blogged 10 days this month, and thus far, there have only been 10 days this month. Huzzah.

Like I said, its late and I'm pretty tired. Somewhere just said "so you're blogging about blogging." I think it's a good time to stop for the night. Due to having a very busy weekend, the make up review is being pushed til Sunday. I'll give you a hint what it is: I may snap, it will CRACKLE and your eyes may pop. :) Any guesses?

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Day 85 | Stargirl

I'm having a rough morning.  I don't feel the need to share why on here.  It's just been tough.  Somewhere has been really loving and supportive, and for that, I'm eternally grateful.  There is nothing like having your best friend there for you when you need him.  


Source

I started reading a children's book yesterday called "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli.  


 My friend, who I will call Sunshine, gave it to me before she left for Japan.  I miss her. *sigh*  


I started the book yesterday and finished it this morning.  It was a book I should have read years and years ago.  It deals with a homeschool girl who goes to public school (only homeschoolers say it like that.  I know) in the 10th grade.  


She's a different girl, who wears long skirts, plays the ukulele, cares for everyone and has a rat named Cinnamon.  


The fact that I've always wanted a rat is not the only thing I had in common with Stargirl.  I've always been a little outside of normal. I wished I'd read this book when I was 16.  It might have stopped me from trying to be normal.  I would be so much more me right now.  I don't really want to say more about it, because it's delicate and deserves to have people come into it with an open mind.


Please read it.


"She was elusive.  
She was today.  
She was tomorrow. 


 She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, 
                       the flitting shadow of an elf owl.  


We did not know what to make of her.  


In our minds we tried to pin her to corkboard like a butterfly, 
but the pin merely went through and 
away 
       she 
            flew."


 ~Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli 



Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Day 84 | Long

It's been a very long day.  Tomorrow or Friday I'm putting up a make up review! Woot!  Be on the look out!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Day 83 | Floor

There is nothing like having a dog lay by your chair while you work whatever.  Somewhere and I moved a large corner desk into the guest bedroom.  (Do you know how grown up having a guest bedroom feels to me? Just sayin'.)  I love it.  I love having a station for all the computer stuff... finally. 


 This is especially helpful since Somewhere is about to get an iMac.  He desperately needs one for his film work.  You know, he does tell me he married me for my Macbook.  Maybe I should rethink this.  Hmmmm....  (I think it's funny that I typed that as the song Pandora is playing "said" "hhmmmmmmm.")




Just kidding. 


I dare you to try to take my Eos
lip balm from Toothless.


The dogs.  That's who I'm talking about.  I love it that Brink and Topher are definitely settling to the idea that this is mom's space and she's going to be here for long periods of a time.  (Honesty.)  




She always moves when I go to take a picture.

I have the headphones on, fan blowing, B and T are chewing on some bones, that aren't mine, so plus, and it's peaceful knowing Somewhere is in the other room.  We're people who can simply be.  We don't have to be doing anything together as long as we're in the same building.  We can be.   The peaceful still this brings to my mind is glorious.  Mentally, I'm a bit of a hodgepodge.  I have a really hard time focusing my mind on tasks and keeping it in the now.  I know, I've complained enough on here.  Somewhere brings so much order to my mind though.  It's one of the things that makes him home.  



Home is a beautiful thing to have in a person.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Day 82 | Rain

Today there was a storm.  
Hail, thunder, wind and rain.  I relished it.  I love the wildness, the unpredictability of it all.  It's like a roller coaster controlled not by tracks and machines but by the laws of nature.   It to me reminds me of the rawness and grandeur of God.


For some reason, I feel incredibly safe and, yet, vulnerable during storms.  Who wants to break into someone's house or something like that in a storm?  Let's set aside how in the movies the murders always occur on stormy nights.  I would like to stay in my happy place.  I feel vulnerable in that what can I really do to stop a storm?  Nothing.  There is nothing to do but embrace it and ride it out.




 Wild nights are my glory,” 
            the unearthly stranger told them."
~Madeleine L'Engle, "A Wrinkle In Time"

Sunday, June 5, 2011

81 | Car Rides

"Mom! Topher's touching me!"


This is a little post, not the post for the day, just cause I wanna share some cute pictures.  Brink and Topher love the new car.  We used to have a hard time getting them into our cars, but this car, they love it.  They are supposed to love it.  We bought an SUV for dogs and, later, for children.






Good of a shot as I'm getting
of Toph in the car.




Yesterday we went to the dog park for the second day in a row to exercise and exhaust ourselves... at least our puppyselves.   I now understand why Mom took us to the playground.  It was fun for us and promised her a quiet afternoon.













Back to the story, the only hard part of traveling with the babes is they like to try to come up front.  Other than that, we love having them with us.  They are so good at waiting til we tell them to get out.  I've never had them just jump out of the car.   Also, the multiple ways they like the sit in the car cracks us up.  These are the favorites of yesterday:


For some reason, Toper loves to ride facing backwards.
I haven't figured that one out.




Brink is an absolute daddy's boy.
He adores spending time with his boy.
"You are my master and I looove you."

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Day 80 | Coffee

It's definitely a coffee morning.  I'm hungry but we have no milk, my yogurt went bad, a bagel sounds gross, and I don't know what to eat.  I should make oatmeal.  That would help.

Is it weird I'm really excited to be in the 80's?  June is turning out well, 4 days, 4 posts.  Woot. :)  I'm thinking about updating the blog a bit.  I'm looking into it today in fact. That will be exciting.  (I hate this font, I just realized that.)

I dunno, I'm kinda moody this morning. It's not a bad mood, just moody.  The fact that Somewhere and I went to sleep around... 1ish doesn't help.  I'm a nightowl mostly and Somewhere definitely is, but with his job and our puppies, it's difficult to be so like we used to.  I'm barefoot with bare toes (no nail polish), in jeans and a tank top and my great-grandparent's (I don't know which) buckle ring on my fingers.  My hair is absolutely huge today. I have to say, I feel pretty though.  I think it's the bare toes.  That and having the windows/doors open while the pups lay on the porch, listening to the birds, it's getting to me. I'm relaxing.  That's why I started this blog.  To relax my mind.


I've come to the conclusion that the excuses are gone.  I have a wonderful, wonderful husband, who I love and adore, who supports me in basically everything I do.  I want purple and blue hair? Do it.  I want to start finding a niche in an artistic sense that I could maybe start a business with?  Do it.   I want to wear glitter eye shadow every day of my life? Do it.  He gives me no excuses not to take the world for all I can.  (This font is horrid, too, today.  Tomorrow I'll love them again.)  


I've left my job for the role of house wife.  It's time to start finding a way to be the Proverbs 31 gal and bring income into my home from home.  This also means I can have stuff like purple and blue hair because I do not really desire to re-enter the outside work force.  It also means I have to show drive and motivation and force myself to do this.  It means all my excuses to not create art, a way to hide from talents not being honed, are gone.  It means so much and I don't know what to do with all this freedom.


Man.