The Holidays

I realize, that in the rush of things, I didn't exactly do a holiday update. I took the tree down yesterday (correction, I undecorated and de-lit it, Doug took it down). I took this photo of it prior too with the new camera I received as a Christmas gift from Doug's parents. I am so fond of it already. So much detail it's unreal. I can't wait to work with the many slr features it has :)

In the week leading to Christmas MiMi & I did our usual Christmas crafts:



I took a couple of pictures of the kids in their Christmas outfits:


For Christmas day, my parents came, and I made eggplant, the kids opened a barrage of gifts and were spoiled. They seemed to be particularly fond of this HUGE color on house my friend, Vanessa gave them.


What a sweet and practical gift :) Thank you, Nessa :) MiMi even spent the night in it one night while Doug's parents were visiting. The children had a lot of gifts that they enjoyed a ton, I don't want to post every photo so just a couple:



The day after Christmas, it snowed, and it snowed a pretty good amount for what we are used to:

Even the bamboo plants were weighed down by the snowfall. The front yard was so beautiful, especially the maples who had since become naked skeletons:




The next few days I spent decluttering & then Doug's parents arrived. It was good to see everyone. I of course was getting over my two week long sinus bug, and being sick one day after the next. Typical for my miserable self eheh:) The kids had another Christmas and were spoiled once again.


Now it's 2011 and that was insane how fast 2010 went. I am not making a resolution because I tend to break them, so if it happens it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't :)
Hope everyone else had a wonderful time with family for the holidays!

7 years today..

I was a senior in high school in 2001. Do you remember what your senior year was like? Or what you looked like? I do.

My senior year was at a brand new school, we were to be the "first" graduating class. We had the option to leave our old schools and come to a new one and I felt change was good, and went. I remember liking it so much more than my old school. People from a bunch of random high schools thrown together and yet we all seemed to get along. It was interesting.

Then I remember my senior math class. I had to take tech math as my last credit to graduate. Yep, I could of graduated early, but I bombed Algebra II the following year and had to gain a credit in it's place to have my final math credit. - Did I mention I am the world's most horrible math student? It's so VERRRY true.

But that year was different, we took and easy math, my best friend was in class with me, and I met this guy named Doug. I always thought he was just so handsome.

He was way different than me, I (embarrassingly enough) dressed like a raver/skater chick, and Doug, well he was clean cut and preppy, and I was never attracted to that type, but I was to him.

One day I thought as I turned in my math test I would go and introduce myself to Doug, and so I sauntered over with some confidence that came out of no where and as I said "hi, I am.." I totally tripped on his book bag and smirked and quickly lost what ounce of confidence lingered and rushed back to my desk. My friend laughing, me a few shades of red and one of my guy friends looking at me like "what just happened, did i miss something?".

high school. sigh. It is what it is.

Then one day Doug disappeared from school and I never knew what happened to him. A couple years later my friend Kelly said "hey remember Doug from high school, you should talk to him" and she gave me his aol screen name. I laughed and said, "okay". Doug and I started to chat, he had even asked me to a movie, and at some point I just backed out and didn't go at all. We stopped talking for some months after that.

Maybe close to a half year later I was in wal mart (of all places) and seen him,in line with some girl, and..a baby. I thought "Oh, well, there goes my chance".

A week later he messaged me online. I asked how he and his new family were. He seemed lost. I explained to him I had seen him and his girl in wal mart with the baby. He laughed and told me it was his room mates and their child. hmm..

Doug got away from me twice. Once in high school, once after. Maybe third time is a charm? so January 4th of 2004 we finally made plans to hang out. It was an awkward meeting. So awkward, I shouldn't divulge that the first thing out of nervousness I did was say "hey want to see my cat in a leather jacket". yes, seriously, that's how SHY and inexperienced with boys I was. I know, looking back I don't even know what the hell..lol

Then we went to the local bar for drinks, where an insurance agent I gave business to when I worked in realty closings picked up our rather large tab.

I think I pecked Doug on the cheek and called it a night. I wasn't much for hanging out.

The next few times we hung out he would ask me out and I'd always say "no" and then one day I just said "sure why not!" And the rest is history.

We had MiMi unplanned, it was a hard decision for me because I had goals in life to be something. I had worked so hard and saved to pay for college and started on my way and then there ya go, baby on the way. Personally abortion wasn't for me, and ultimately we both decided to keep our baby. I remember not telling my parents until I was 6 months along. It was hard hiding it when i was working in the same realty office as my dad and throwing up 5 x each morning. My gosh was that a rough pregnancy. But we made it.

We've shared a lot of great times and we've also shared a lot of straight up HORRIBLE times that I would rather not remember. One thing I have to remind myself from time to time is that we are all human and we all make mistakes and the fact he and I got together so young just means we have to grow together. I know that no matter what I will always love him and the two beautiful children we share. No matter how hard things get, even if we straight up despise each other sometimes.

He's still my best friend and the person I can tell everything too. No matter what.


So happy anniversary, Dougie, I love you. I really do. Even if we don't see eye to eye. Even if we are polar opposites, even if I have to defend and honor my own self in public, it's okay, you're still my knight and shining, mechanic haha:) & if my computers didn't crash twice over the course of 7 years I'd even have a sappy photo to share, but I do not :) sorta - as you can see today we have aged since high school, but, really, what is age..and another year? xoxox

"I don't know how you do it, but you're good" A Physician's Formula Review

"I don't know how you do it, Jenny, but you're good at it". My sister would tell me this a lot in the last few years. What was she referring to? My magical abilities to hide my adult acne & acne scaring.

Yes, here I am at 28, and I am still prone to the occasional acne flare up. When my skin is good, it is very, very good, but when it is bad, it is BEYOND horrid. Of course you can't cover everything when it comes to acne, but I have learned how to perfectly mask acne scars and small break outs with out noticing when I buy the right makeup.

Of course Revlon foundation is my favorite of all time.

I could NEVER find a powder to safe my life when it came to setting my liquid. NEVER. Either it was too pasty, or way too orange. I know, but it's true.

One day I was in CVS 6 years ago and seen a product line called Physician's Formula, I thought, hmm, okay, they've caught my attention with the name, so I read the back and figured, this could be good for my skin. It wasn't department store priced, but it was a little more than the other drug store brands, but I gave it a go and bought it anyway.

RIGHT AWAY, I fell in love. I bought the beige pressed powder, because I didn't want to go too light. It was amazing, there were no blotches, nothing, it was an even and natural looking powder, my skin seriously NEVER a day in my life looked that good.


Other times I would buy the Natural glow powder, which was pale, but I would finish it off with a magic mosaic palette in warm beige which absolutely gave me the perfect light and soft NATURAL tan look with out looking orange at all, it was amazing, a makeup that FOR ONCE NEVER made me orange!


I have since been fiercely brand loyal to Physician's Formula and even love their shimmer strips eye shadows when I want to try a different look from time to time. They are honestly the only make up I can wear that doesn't give me the "Tammy Faye effect". I love Tammy Faye by the way, but you know where I am coming from ;)

Today I was ecstatic to see this arrive in the mail:


Who could of sent me such pretty envelopes?! What was in them?

I hurriedly opened them to find that I was LUCKY enough to try the new product line before it will even hit stores!! OH MY WORLD!!! The day after Christmas and it feels like Christmas all over again ;) These are called Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush and Face Powder.


First impression is that I am drawn to the adorable product packaging! Second impression is that I am going to try the lighter palette first. I literally opened it up and tried it out. I noticed right away the light and airy scent of the makeup. I wondered if it was supposed to have this scent, because I sure loved it, I read the paper that came with the makeup and sure enough it has an aroma therapy added to it! AMAZING!!

You all know how some makeups have this funky smell? ugh, does your significant other really want to peck you on the cheek with that funky makeup smell? I hope not, well this is smooch worthy, trust me :) it's not overpowering at all, it has just the right hint of scent.

While I am ogling over the amazing scent, I am pleased with how this actually looks on my face, it has a nice sheer translucent shimmer. BEAUUUUTIFUL!!! I really mean it, BEAUTIFUL! I have bought supposed "sheer shimmering face powders" before only to notice they make my pores pop out like an eye sore. YUCK!! I don't know how Physician's Formula did it, but they did! They managed a product that not only goes on even and evens out your skin tone but NOW also, hides those yucky pores.

I haven't tried out the darker palette yet, but I will in the morning and promise to post a photo to show you just how beautiful this product is and how satisfied I am with it, but first, I wanted to say thank you to Physician's Formula, & Blue Sky Communications for allowing me to try this product before it hit shelves. I LOVE to share product reviews that are review worthy with my friends & readers, and this one was definitely worth blogging about. And if you know me, my dear friends, and readers, you all know I am the first to complain about any and everything I do not like. It's true, I have this built in negative Nancy that likes to complain about products or companies that are foul, so when I rave on about a product, it is because I GENUINELY find no flaw in it and LOVE it. I guess I should also add that anytime I wear Physician's Formula powders of any sort, my face breaks out a lot less if any at all.

So, let's wrap that up into a short version for all of you: EVEN toned skin, HIDES/MINIMIZES unsightly pores, helps conceal acne & the scaring left from old breakouts, and gives you a fresh YOUNG glow all while having an added aroma therapy light and airy scent, rich in omega 3, a known anti depressant that has been linked to the production of Dopamine which promites happiness, feels light on skin, AKA NOT cakey.

Again, Physician's Formula does cost slightly more than other drug store brands, but it's worth every dime to have that even skin tone! I also find, that places like Ulta usually run buy 2 get 1 free deals, as well as local drug stores. Ulta also has a $3.50 off total purchase coupon in every Sunday paper as well which can curb the cost. My gosh this make up never ceases to amaze me! I get excited every time a new line comes out.

I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU, Physician's Formula :) !!! Check out there site while you are added, my user name is girlxmom on the site :)

..and she's built! (the farmhouse bed that is..)

So, the lovely man of mine assembled the farmhouse bed in our bedroom, we'll have to paint it white tomorrow sometime, but I LOVE!! Now to find bedding to compliment the blue walls..hmmm..wish me luck:) Again, excuse the odd angle of the images - my room is small I need a smaller lense camera to capture it.



I can't wait to paint it:D

I also spray painted these photo frames with krylon's ivory paint, it's comparable to rustoleum's heirloom white and 3 bucks cheaper :)

It only took 7 months..

7 months for what? Oh, to decide on what to do with this farmhouse bed we built.
I couldn't tell you the exact month we started, it was sometime after we got our income tax returns. We used the queen plans from Ana White of knock off wood. We ran into some bumps along the way. The center panels in her build directions were not the right size, and instead of buying all new panels, we just cut a small piece to fit. However, we are still thankful for her plans, because WE LOVE IT, even with it's minor flaw hehe.

So there it sat for months, all built, just not assembled, and we couldn't decide what color to stain/paint it. Eventually we settled on white.

Since we are both busy with kids and never having a break, today we finally decided it would be a good idea to get the ball rolling.

So the drop cloth is down, the bed & it's pieces are up, and we shall paint it shortly. I have to tell ya'll, I realllllly love the natural pine look, but we are going to go for white paint. Wish us luck:) She's def going to be beautiful!!

And don't mind the odd angled shots, my camera lens is huge, and my 65 rancher bedroom is insanely small compared to most new homes, so taking a photo of it is a challenge in and of itself:) More pics when it's all said and done!

Mini Session: Baby M & Baby B: Indoors Portraiture

This week, I was thankful to be able to photograph these two adorable little boys. The Christmas baby with Santa hat is a photo I think ALL babies should have for their first Christmas. I have done it with my own children & think it's cute on any baby!

H Family Photo Shoot: Fayetteville, NC

This weekend I had the honor of photographing two lovely families. The rain held out for my last session of the day and I love how they turned out. Take a peek of the "H" Family :)




same photo as first, just different effect:











Such a beautiful family!