Toddlers and .......what?!

So I watched "Toddlers and Tiaras" on TLC the other night, and needed a couple of days to digest that absolute nastiness of that show.

I have many problems with it, and I just have to share them!!!

What the hell is wrong with people first off......I know every mom thinks their child is beautiful and/or handsome as they should, as well as instilling in your child that they should feel the same about themselves...HOWEVER making your child a ego-maniac from the gate is garbage. One mother had twins, and was completely doting on one of the girls, even saying on camera that one was prettier than the other!!!! DISGUSTING! SERIOUSLY?! .........

One mother went on and on about how her kid always won, and usually the big titles....OK we get it your kid is cute and has charisma, but what I am seeing of your "princess, angel, darling....yadda yadda" is a spoiled, entitled, little brat. Blatantly acting out and sending major cries for help, the kind of help only you as a parent can give...try this on for size: take your baby out of the pageant scene, give your child discipline, guidance and some unconditional love and see where your little human ends up. This same woman stated she spent between 65-70K YES THOUSAND on her 5 year old's pageant dresses and misc......do you realize that money could be put away for an EDUCATION?!

Now I do realize though, that there are many scholarships available through these pageants, but do you really want your child to grow up thinking that if she puts on stage make-up, spray tan and fake teeth, that she is going to get whatever she wants? Including an education? I hope these women aren't so ignorant that they don't realize how many kids out there either don't receive any education or struggle to get the most mediocre education that you could hardly call them literate. You know 65-70 thousand dollars would be a perfect amount to put into a college fund, or perhaps a scholarship for underprivileged kids??????

I've know people who have put their kids in pageants, and when their children said "I don't want to do this anymore" they took them out, unfortunately the people in this TV show don't seem to be that type.

I am sure that there is a lot of editing done on this show, as on all the others but I can't help but think these people's true colors shine through the obnoxious things that come out of their mouths regardless of editing.

The woman who had the twins, was at the pageant and the "prettier" one was a complete BRAT, the dad stepped in and said "that's enough, her attitude stinks, she's done" THANK YOU!!!!! Later on in the show the girl who wasn't as pretty( or so momma thinks) won a title and was soooo excited and even offered to giver her sister all of her balloons, the whole time saying "I won, I'm so excited" .....then they cut to a clip of just the sisters talking to the camera and the brat girl is hamming it up while the other girl was sitting there ....then the one girl says to the camera "I won today( or something along those lines) and the brat girl says " NO I won, mommy told me so"

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

As parents it is our responsibility to make sure our kids are given the tools to become decent humans, and when they get to the age where they choose the person that they are going to be, we can only hope that WE as parents have done everything in our power to make sure they become the best they can be. Our kids are so innocent to the world around them, so trusting of everyone it makes me sick to see people exploit them as if they are property. Well guess what...when your daughter becomes pregnant at 15 or 16 or gets some STD because she had the need to get validation from some punk because you made it so painfully obvious that she wasn't as pretty as her sister or wasn't as good as her sister....you have no one to blame but yourself.

I am so lucky to have the mom that I do, and I am equally lucky to be surrounded by people that are wonderful parents.

My beauty must haves!

At the moment there are several things that I can't live without when it comes to my beauty/skin routine. I am going to list them here, along with why I love them!

Are you ready??? Well....here we go!:

Skin care:

I really don't do much with this, and that is probably the biggest reason I have the issues I have, but I am going to put it down anyway, more than likely I am not the only person/woman out there that doesn't have a whole list of things to wash your face with.

I have Eczema, which makes your skin extremely dry, and sensitive to boot! So I use Dove bar soap, fragrance free dye free, it does feel like it leaves a film on my face so after washing my face I use an apricot face scrub to get that film off, and it doesn't make my face feel tight, like when you wash with something to harsh. Make sure to pat dry! This is very important for anyone but especially for dry skin. After I pat dry I use Aveeno baby lotion as a moisturizer on my face because it has been really my savior.....not to greasy as most heavy creams can be, and not so watered down feeling that it seems like it soaks up really fast, for me it has been just perfect.

That is it......really....that is it =)

Make up must haves, please know that these aren't in any particular order of how much I like the product. I am just going in the order I would when sitting down to do my make up. So here it is:

1. Smashbox Photo finish foundation primer - I love this foundation primer because first it has sunscreen (spf 15) and it leaves your face feeling like satin! I have noticed that if I don't use it, my foundation needs touch ups more often than when I do use it, which is the purpose of primers =) Now, this product isn't inexpensive but a little does go a very long way so I really feel like I get my money's worth. The one I have now is a travel size, it was I think around $16.00....HOWEVER....I've had it at least 6 months.

2. Benefit Stay don't stray concealer primer- Ok so I use this as an eyeshadow primer and not so much a concealer primer. I put this all over my eye lid and under eye area as well. I love this one because it doesn't feel "cakey" and goes on really smooth. Not to mention my eyeshadow doesn't crease after a few hours!! Benefit brand cosmetics isn't super expensive, but when you are used to only buying drug store brands it does sometimes give you sticker shock =)

3. Almay Smart Shade concealer- again love this because it has sunscreen (spf 10) it is supposed to match up to the tone of your skin/foundation and so far it has done it's job really well! This product is also one of those that a little goes a long way, which is really important for me because I, along with many others don't have the money to just be throwing away.

4. L'Oreal Infallible Never fail powder- SPF 20!!!!! Seeing a trend there??? I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff!!! It gives me great coverage, and doesn't make me feel like I have Spackle on my face!

5. Too Faced- Smokey Eye collection, it has three different looks in one little box!! A day time smokey eye trio, a fashion smokey eye trio and a night smokey eye trio, the day time smokey eye are browns, the fashion smokey eye is a cream, emerald green and royal blue trio and the night smokey eye trio is silver, smoke gray and black. They have great color payoff and blend extremely well! A lot of times you get eye shadows and either they are more pigmented in the little case than on your eye, or they don't blend well. The ONLY thing I can say that I don't like about these shadows is the fall-out.....the dreaded fall out......

6.Benefit- High Brow, this product is like a giant eye liner for your eyelid....you draw a thin line under your eyebrow, following the curve of your eyebrow and blend it in, and it instantly makes your eyes brighter and gives the illusion of a higher brow.

7. Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara- the one I have comes in an orange tube, but I also really love the one that comes in the purple tube. The reason I love this mascara is because it separates your lashes beautifully. I don't like them when they are brand new, only because they are very wet and tend to clump the lash slightly.....however when it is used a few times and is a little more on the dry side it is AWESOME!

8. Maybelline Eye Studio gel eyeliner- this comes in a little pot, and with a really neat little brush. I purchased the Black, and I haven't found any other colors so far, and that may be because the other colors were sold out or the stores I went to only had black, I'm not sure really. I love gel eye liners because they are easier to use (for me anyway) than the liquid eye liners, and the plus for me as well is the fact I don't have to wait for it to dry.

9. L'Oreal Voluminous mascara- this is my old school love, awesome mascara!! Gives you great length and volume......( Side note: every mascara I buy is the Blackest Black color, and I do believe L'oreal has the voluminous in Carbon black)

10. Cover Girl Wet Slicks- These are are lip glosses, the one I currently use is # 505, Guava Splash......its a really pretty pink color, and smells FANTASTIC....it is a sheer pink so its not over powering and has a little bit of a shimmer to it.

11. Benefit blush in Dallas- the bottom of the cute little box describes the color as "dusty sunset plum" ....it really is very pretty, it has a bit of a shimmer to it, so you don't want to over do it, but it gives you a little bit of a dewy look. Love the color as well, it is a gorgeous pinky plum .

Pheeewwww....that seemed really long!! There are so many products out there that are fabulous, and these were just a few of my faves. I would really like to get more colors in the gel eyeliner, as well as a few more of the Benefit blushes, they have gorgeous colors!!!

Well I think that is it for now, I will do another blog when I am able to go out and get more items!!! If you have any suggestions, or want me to try some of your faves let me know in the comments, I would love to try them out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make up

Growing up my mom always wore make up, I am talking not just a little bit of mascara...but a full blown, take two hours to get ready kind of deal. This was for anything we did, be it go shopping or just go get the mail. I asked her once why it took her so long to "get ready" and why she was ALWAYS wearing make up, and she told me that when she was growing up her mom would always tell her to go get some make up on and do her hair, because you always have to put your best foot forward regardless of if you are going across town or just down the street.

I admire this quality in a person, because lets face it not many people live by that standard anymore. Take for instance a trip to the grocery store or Walmart....filled with people who do not care what they look like, people in pajamas, slippers, barefoot, hair a mess...make up smeared.....you get the point. There are other people that go to Walmart that do care and do make sure to look their best, they are the minority though.

So lets get this show on the road. Several months ago I went to a store called Sephora, a cosmetic boutique really. They had all kinds of sparkly pretty make up, all different types and colors. They had make up to make you look like you aren't wearing any make up, make up that covered things you didn't want seen....you get the idea. For the most part I have always purchased my beauty products at Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS, places of that nature, until now.

So, as I browsed the little stands with the different products and brands, I came across a brand of foundation that I had seen many tutorials and hauls on youtube, saying this was one of the BEST foundations. I decided I would go ahead and try it out, I have always been in search of the perfect foundation! One that gave excellent coverage, didn't feel like cake on my face, didn't have to be re-applied every couple of hours, etc....so I check the price......$35.00.......yeah I know CRAZY!

So after I got over the shock of the price ( which by the way, wasn't the most expensive one in the store, that would be Bare Minerals) I checked out and home I went (OK lets get real I bought a few other things as well...but we will talk about that later ).

So I get home super excited to use my $35.00 foundation!! I head to the bathroom with my goodies, and get started. Dun Dun Dun, I was soooooo not happy with the results....the reason I wanted something with "excellent" coverage is because I have the following issues with my complexion:

1. Spider veins- for those of you who don't know what those are...they are pesky little blood vessels that pop and leave a little ( although sometimes big) red dot. Fun huh?!

2. HUGE pores- nuf' said

3. Sometimes a blemish or two...or three

4. Redness- under my eyes, on my cheeks, forehead.

So with that in mind, I really wanted to find something to cover all of those issues. Now any good cosmetic boutique will tell you that you need several items along with the foundation in order for the foundation to do its job correctly. Those items are as follows:

1. Primer for your face- this is so that the foundation sticks without resting in your pores or looking like you need to re-apply

2. Primer for your eyelids - to make sure your eye shadows stays on all day without creasing, or looking like it needs a touch up.

3. Concealer - this is where you can spend some bucks as well because there are all different types of concealers. There are green concealers for redness, natural colored concealers to cover other issues, salmon colored concealers to cover blue under eye circles....SOOO many!!!

So anyway, I purchased a face primer and eye lid primer, along with the expensive foundation and it didn't cover hardly anything.....but there was no way I was going to not use it, I paid way to much to just throw it away. After using it all the time, I still don't like it, but I am going to use it until it runs out and get my moneys worth!

I went to the fair a week or so ago with Shana, and she had to put her make up on, she pulled out this compact thing and started putting her foundation on, and I loved the coverage it gave her!! The packaging had kinda worn off and she said she thought it was L'Oreal.....I looked online at the L'Oreal Paris website and found it!!!! Wooohoooo!

Drum roll please......it was L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Powder. This powder is amazing, you can use it dry and it gives you a heavier coverage, which is what I need, and you can also use it with the sponge a little damp and it gives you more of a liquid feeling coverage. I used it last night first on my sister in law Megan, who has almost the exact skin tone as I do, it looked beautiful on her! Did I mention it is SPF 20???? Awesome!!!! Not only does it give great coverage, but it goes on silky smooth and has sunscreen!!! What more could a girl ask for? Once I use it some more I will update this and give a better review.

Another favorite of mine is Maybeline gel eye liner, it comes in a little pot, with an applicator, it doesn't look like much but let me tell you, with this product a little goes a long way! This eye liner is great if you aren't confident in using liquid eye liner, or you have a reaction to liquid eye liners like my sister in law. It gives you a liquid look but easier to manage.

I will be putting together another blog today of my other favorite products, maybe one of you will try one out and love it as much as I do!!

Super Sweet 16?....I think NOT

So after putting Jackson down for a nap I started channel surfing and stopped on MTV, Music Television?? Not so much....What happened to the day when MTV actually showed music videos?? I mean this is no new question, there are many many many people out there asking the same thing. Which brings me to question number 2.....When did only having a handful of VJs ever satisfy?? I keep seeing the same ones over and over again!! Bring back the MTV VJ search!! Bring back weird characters such as Downtown Julie Brown, or Jesse Camp.

Ok so I got a little distracted, the point of this whole thing this certain TV shows. The first being "Sweet 16" or "My Super Sweet 16" whatever it is truly called, it should be called " Super BRATS acting like jerks". These ungrateful little freaks are UNBELIEVABLE, well really not so much because seeing the parents of these creeps completely explains their behavior. It's not like the normal parent ( and by normal I mean, not loaded) doesn't want to provide things for our children, I mean seriously do I want to give my son things that I didn't have when I was growing up? Sure....do I want to make sure he doesn't have to "want"? Sure....More importantly I want him to grow up and know the meaning of having to work for things you want, I want him to know that manners and being polite work far better at getting you things than screaming that you hate your parents and slamming doors. I want my son to grow up having an appreciation for the things he does get, and have pride of ownership of those things.

I know that it will probably be a long time until he truly realizes the things his father and I have done and will do in the future to ensure that he has a good life, because it took me until having my own child to really know the struggles of my parents, and really appreciate their love.

So the reason I really started this blog is because of one episode of this super sleazy 16, one in where the princess daughter wants things that most adults never get in life, like a brand new BMW, and would NOT be happy if she received a used one...seriously?? More than likely she will mame or kill someone because she will be texting or talking on the phone while driving her "new" BMW....and as a parent WHY IN THE WORLD would you buy a 16 year old a brand new BMW?! Why would you spend that much money on a car that your entitled brat of a child can not appreciate it?

So lets set this scene up, the big "reveal" was about to happen, the brat standing there, they uncover what was going to be her new car...and ...TA DA!!! Its a huge big ugly white boat of a car...( of course I cheered on the parents and laughed my butt off) and brat girl storms off while her mom was screaming her name to come back, and can you believe the nerve of brat girl she actually said " LEAVE ME ALONE, ..F**** Off" ......wow........so she runs into this rented space where her party is going on....a friend runs in and gets her and tells her she has to come out now....SURPRISE there is the new BMW.....I wanted to vomit.

I don't want this blog to sound really nasty, because the bottom line is YES I am a little jealous of this 16 year old girl. I mean WHO wouldn't be? I want a new car, I want a huge lavish party for my birthday, I want my parents to just give me EVERYTHING I want BUT that isn't going to happen. Even after that is said, I am not unhappy with the things I do get, and have gotten. I am happy with what I CAN provide my son with, because lets face it there are so many families out there that can barely afford to feed their children.

I just hope that these kids realize how bad things can get, that maybe one day they won't get things handed to them on a silver platter, that there are people out there that don't have the same luxuries they do.......

So many new little ones are coming into the world, and many more on the way. It kills me to think about all the precious little souls out there that don't have a roof over their heads, food in their bellies and most of all LOVE.

For those of you who don't know, a man I have called my "uncle" for my whole life is not doing well, and sad to say it won't be much longer until he crosses over to what lies beyond this life for him. This incredibly sad event is on the heels of the birth of another grandson for him. Kyle will be two weeks old soon and it just kills me to think he won't know the wonderful man that his his poppa. Doug Jones has been at times to me more than just an "uncle" he has been a positive male in my life, a father figure and as a child coming from a home that a father wasn't present that has been awesome in so many ways. He is considered a surrogate father for many people and provided love and support for those who didn't quite get that from their own dads. I know I am blessed for knowing him and will keep a special place in my heart just for him. Please keep positive thoughts for him and his family.

My beautiful friend Natalie has just welcomed a bouncing baby boy into her little family and my heart is filled with such joy for her and for Ron, the proud poppa!!!! Welcome to the world Brody you are going to be surrounded with so much love it will be sickening at times =)

Please tell the ones you love, that they mean so much to you and that you will love them no matter what because again, you never know how much time you have left with that person.

So, with everything going on lately I haven't had a chance to post any funny ones, so here's hoping that something funny will happen to me soon!!!!!

Movies...stickies and phattys

I am a documentary freak, I LOVE documentaries. The other day I watched a documentary about John Hughes, a group of people set out to try and find out why it is that after making so many wonderful movies in the 80's this legendary filmmaker just up and disappeared. This documentary was done over two years and I really enjoyed it. Most of all I really appreciated the point they were making ( well one of the several really) which was the fact that people in general CAN NOT connect with movies today, like they had once done with movies like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club.

When I say connect, I mean in the whole sense of the word. For example; Molly Wringwald, if you look at movies like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club Molly Wringwald is a very pretty woman, however when you compare her looks to starlets of today there is something drastically different. I want to know why filmmakers believe that when they do a "high school" movie that they need to have these blond haired, blue eyed, big chested "typical" high school student....because lets face reality here most of us were not that picture of perfection, we all followed HIDEOUS trends, we all had ( well except for the lucky few) acne....Do you see that in today's high school dramas?? That is a big fat NO. So what is it about these cheesy movies nowadays that make so much money?

Now onto the more adult films....and NO I don't mean "Adult" lol. I'm talking about these schmaltzy films where at the end the man and woman get together, have this fairytale wedding, and ride off into the sunset and it's happily ever after........GET REAL....How many people does this actually happen to, where you hop into a Rolls Royce after getting hitched and drive down a long graveled driveway with fireworks going off and that's the end? Why aren't they showing the rest?! Why aren't they showing how much you have to work at marriage? Which leads me to yet another point. How many of us really have the husband with the 12 pack abs who saves the day every chance he gets? Now don't get me wrong, my husband was and is my "knight in shinning armor" ....however, he isn't perfect and he isn't Brad Pitt....so how can I relate to these movies??? I will tell you that no matter how perfect these leading men are in the movies, nothing is more sexy and more manly than my husband play and love our child. I would take that ANY DAY OF THE WEEK over a shirtless Brad Pitt type.

That's really all I have for right now on movies. Onto fashion. Jeez man....I could go on and on about this one, but I really just have a few things I will put down, so here it goes:

I was watching "What not to wear" on TLC, and the subject was an average woman, and when I say average, I mean she wasn't a stick figure with a bobble head attached at the shoulders, she had curves. So anyway she was sent shopping and she just kept walking up to clothes and saying oh this is SO cute, but probably don't have it in my size, and she would look and guess what NOPE. She kept saying why can't these people make these clothes in my size, they would make more money. Here is the answer: Because NOT every larger girl knows that just because some of the clothes they make for the stickies (this is what I like to call them) will look the least bit flattering on us. In particular: SKINNY JEANS.....ladies ladies ladies....you know who you are, please please please I am begging you....PUT DOWN THE SKINNY JEANS!!!!! Did you ever stop to ask yourself why it is they are in fact named SKINNY jeans????? I mean seriously.....when you pack all of your womanly curves into those things it is not by any means flattering, and to be blunt ...sometimes it looks downright WRONG and nasty. Knowing that I have a fuller figure there are just some things I try and stay away from, I will list some examples here:

1. SPANDEX
2. Skinny jeans
3. Crop tops
4. Shirts 4 sizes too small
5. Extremely clingy material

Now that is just 5 items, but really there are a lot more. However onto my next point is, there has been like no happy medium between stickies clothes and full figured clothes. If you ever have the chance, regardless of if you are a stickie ( when I say stickie, I am really not saying it mean, because I really would like to at some point in my life join the stickie clan...well maybe not be that stickie, but you know where I'm going with that) or even less of a stickie, please go into a large women's clothing store. Some things are really cute, and some......well ......lets just say that it probably doesn't do anyone any good to wear a hot orange tent with flowers all over it. Until stores started having "Plus size" areas, and specialty stores like Torrid came into the picture there really wasn't any choice but for these women to wear the hot orange floral tents. So thank you Torrid, because you have some really cute clothes!!!!!!

Now for the last point of this really long rambling thing......whether you are a stickie or a Phatty....we are ALL beautiful, small bodies or large bodies we are all exceptional in our own ways!!!!

No Matter What.....

Lately it feels like the bad news of people passing away or news of someone having an illness is becoming overwhelming.....

One of my good friends told me something the other day that I can honestly say I never even realized....we were having a conversation and he said to me; "Have you ever noticed that when someone is getting ready to have a baby or just had a baby, it's like a new life comes into the world and yet one is taken....."

It is seemingly becoming one of the most true statements I have ever heard. Jackson was born in June, and in December we lost one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, Nicole was not only Gorgeous on the outside but on the inside as well, and undeniably the heart and soul of the family with her crazy quick wit, contagious laugh, and wonderful charisma....we will ALWAYS remember her beautiful soul and ALWAYS love her as if she were still here.

Another friend, was pregnant with her third baby, a baby girl when her sweet father passed away, undoubtedly the most tragic thing to happen to that family, and from knowing how much he was and STILL is loved, you know he was not only a wonderful human, but the best friend, husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather to his family.

Yet...another friend is pregnant, and her husband lost an aunt just recently, and I did not know this person, but it doesn't make it less hard for his family and my heart and sympathies go out to their family.

Onto the whole point of this blog.....My family has just been hit yet again with bad news, in that the man I have called my "Uncle" for my whole life has been diagnosed with a rare form of Liver cancer, Angiosarcoma of the Liver. He will be seeing a specialist today. His daughter is pregnant with her first child, and I just can't help but feel like ....When does it ever end, all of this bad news.....I am heartbroken on one hand because of this, and on the other, so full of joy for my cousin getting ready to bring a precious little one into the world soon.

Please do not let a day go by without telling your loved ones how special they are and how much you love them, you really NEVER know how much time you have with them.

To all of my loved ones, family and friends alike please know this: Each and everyone of you is so special to me in your own individual ways, you all have had a hand in building and shaping the person that I am today, and I will always be thankful, grateful, and appreciative to that. I love you all and I hope that you know every day that someone out there thinks these things of you and loves you NO MATTER WHAT.