technicolor turtle

So in case no one has noticed things have been a little crazy the last few months and me getting back into the swing of things hasn't quite happened. But! Never say never, I'm not going to quit just yet, I have some things planned and despite school and getting another concussion I am determined to work through all this madness. Also the fact I need to obtain a new car within the next two weeks... but it's going to be done along with the rest of everything else.

I have a few reviews planned, a gift guide, another recipe, and some outfits I'd like to showcase that I think so many different body types can pull off.

So hold on, there is plenty more to come!

xo

Hello, Hello! So I think I'll be scheduling posts for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I've been thinking- well what can make me consistent, and it looks like this will be it. Plus I can always pre-make some posts and schedule them when things get a little crazy. For now though I'll make a post if I change anything but as of the moment I sort of like this as a plan. Now onto the reviews! 


When it comes to dry shampoo I am a connoisseur of sorts, and I have to be. Oily hair? Check. Fine hair? Check. Thin? Check. I am a walking-talking advert for dry shampoo, and I'm sad it took me until about 20/21 to truly realize this. I used to wash my hair every. Single. Day. Some people- that's fine! You do you, boo! But I am lazy. And I don't have the patience to deal with that. Plus I produce way more oil when I was washing my hair every single day, even now after a workout I spritz my roots and then move about my day until I can jump into the shower (of course I wash my face and neck in the meantime but still). Now I am elated if I can go a week without washing my hair- thrilled from the tip of my nose to the bottom of my toes.

 I would say I average washing my hair every three days, and so I have tested many, many, many dry shampoos of various price ranges. Plus I usually rotate brands to see if something works better than before, if a formula has changed, and sometimes because it's on sale, so my reviews are over the last couple of years over trying out brands a few times (for the most part). I'll note if this is a one-time use or not. 

tresemme dry shampoo: This- This was my first dry shampoo EVER. So I was loyal to a fault for many months. I liked it because it smelled like my mom, but she used a lot of Tresemme and Pantine when I was younger so I guess that makes sense. It's a little heavy and perfumed strongly, smells nice but really strong. For a starter it got the job done, but as I kept using it I noticed that it would leave my roots very powdery and it was't fun. I even used this last summer as a travel size when I went away for a few days and was again reminded why I stopped using it. It's fine, and I'm sure some people love it- but it's not for me. Cost: $5.99

Dove refresh +care: Wow, wow, WOW. As far as drug store dry shampoos go this one is the CHAMPION. I have used this off and on for about 3 years (roughly? I want to say?) And this has always been the champion of them all, my winner in all books. Smells so clean and feels great, however there is some serious buildup after a few days- I can't do more than three days using this consistently, it just starts to coat and build up. Even my boyfriend likes to use this one! Overall I adore this product and recommend this to everyone on a budget! I need this one in a travel size for short vacations. Psssst, Dove, you hear that? Please? Cost: $4.40

BB prêt-a-powder: Now to something a wee-bit more expensive. Now I used this a small handful of times (Ha! Get it? Cause you put it in your hand...? Whatever. I'm funny.) in the travel size, it's alright. For me the biggest issue was application, I prefer the cans, although they can't be good for the environment. For one night after a good sleep or to extend a style through the night it's great! But building it for an additional day it's just not my favorite. Overall it's a great product with a neat application. Not too powdery unless you have a heavy hand, and smells really lovely. Cost: $27.00

Suave professionals: Now I have tried the regular Suave Professionals and the Keratin formula. If you need a quick fix: yes, great and the cheapest on this list. I used the Keratin formula while trying to pull a disastrous perm out of my hair and it was great! However when my hair texture returned to normal it started weighing my hair heavily. The regular formula is nice but a bit too fruity smelling for my taste, I prefer something clean or floral. Again it's a heavy buildup after a two-three days, just a heads up! Cost: $2.89

Herbal Essences Naked: As much as I love the Naked line from Herbal Essences due to how my hair feels and smells I have to say this product was a huge let down. I expected so much more, it fell flat during the day, barely made a difference with my oily roots, and didn't smell nearly as refreshing as the shampoo and conditioner. If this works for you- great! If you're like me, well, you know it's not the most reliable. Cost: $4.99

Macadamia Volumizing: This product is hard to find, and maybe that's because people had similar experiences as myself. Oil for Oily hair, crazy, right? But I've put oil based products in my hair and have reaped the benefits so I was hoping that this would be an excellent product as well. Nope. Nope. I think I disliked this product more than the Herbal Essences one, it just fell flat. But it looks like there is a different formula out so I'll have to give that one a try as well! Cost: $10.44

Batiste: Now if I thought Dove was my holy grail- damn. Damn was I ever wrong! I was super skeptical of trying this out, how can one product work so well for so many different people?! It doesn't make sense and yet here it is! I got SEVEN days out of my hair with this until I needed to wash my hair. The fresh and clean scent and the original scent are amazing and just put me on cloud nine. Nothing negative I can say about this product at all. Winner-winner chicken dinner. Cost: $7.99

Psssst! Instant Dry: I tried this about three separate times. Not good- not great, kind of meh. It looked great on but I didn't like the way my hair felt and it was a bit too baby powder smelling for me, I'd recommend it to girls whose hair is on the bit of the normal side of oily. Cost: $5.99

NYM: Clean Freak:  Kind of similar feelings on the formula of Psssst!, although something must be casting a dark shadow over every bottle I buy of this. After roughly three uses the nozzle always breaks on me. How? Why? I don't know. I do what I always do but these nozzles just won't stay with me. Nice product, typically clean smell, but my bad luck with the nozzles keeps me from being optimistic about the brand. Cost: $6.19

Oribe Dry Texturizing Shampoo: This one... this one I have mixed feelings for. It's hit or miss on the  dry shampoo but texturizing? HELL YEAH. And combined with fresh hair or a bit of my Batiste? It's a slam dunk! Sometimes it makes my hair a little shinier than I like when I use it alone, but it really keeps the curls in second day hair and doesn't make my hair crispy or crunchy. I love this! Even if it's the most expensive product on here I think it's worth it. I bought this back in March and I'm still using the same one and I use it a few times a week. It's an amazing product for your cash. Cost: $44.00


So I believe this is a wrap, for now. I of course want to try more products and if anyone has any suggestions or additions please let me know! I really am interested in the Dry Bar brand so I'll probably try that one out next. I need more goodies, I think I might share my favorite liquid lipsticks next, or just regular lipsticks, or maybe mascaras! Who knows, I sure don't yet, please leave any suggestions. I might make an outfit post this weekend so just hold tight! 

XxOo

So, this is my little recipe I wanted to share with you all! I only took a few photos because cooking takes time and I haven't yet mastered taking photos and cooking at the same time. I am a hot mess. The hottest of messes. Any who let's get started! 

Last week I went shopping at Trader Joe's a did some damage, a whopping $35 but it's been a week and I still have groceries waiting to be used. So that's why I do what I do. So damn yummy. But as I was shopping I knew I needed to make a fantastic meal that was on the healthier side as well as delicious.



So it was a small recipe but thats why I loved it. Made enough for 3 people. Which is usually my goal. I love leftovers but for a first time recipe I didn't want to make too much just in case it wasn't so good. So you'll need....

• box of angel hair pasta (I used white but next time I'll use whole wheat)
• half red onion
• 3 slices of prosciutto
• 3/4 bag of shredded brussels sprouts
• 2 cloves of garlic
• salt and pepper to taste
• olive oil (as much or as little as you prefer)

So things have been a little crazy on my end which is why I haven't made a post. I've figured out a few neat recipes, done a whole revamp of my pantry, been going on job interviews, and overall just staying busy while I wait for some good news. Waiting isn't the most fun thing out there but damn I would love to just walk into an interview for a job I love and say, "yes, I am hired, thank you." And just get started.

Regular desk jobs aren't my forte but it looks like I'm going to have to keep doing that- which of course kills my soul a bit. I need a job where I can be up and moving too, not just staring at a computer all day waiting for 5pm. That's not me. I need somewhere that I can put my skills and passions to use. Just the fact that I have an application review at the Art Institute tomorrow morning is exciting! It's a step closer to that damn Fashion Merchandising degree. And I'm so scared I will never get that degree, especially when I love to DO and be out in the field. I'm even more scared because I had an interview last week that made my heart soar and got me so excited and now I think too much time has passed. Obviously I want the best for a company but it sucks when it feels like I could be the best.

I need to focus on the good though a little more.

Today my baby sister is 16. Like thats unbelievable. I remember when she was born, when she had her first dance recital, when she started playing softball and didn't play t-ball anymore. That's crazy. But I am so proud of her, she's a tough cookie with a damn good head on her shoulders. I wish I had had that same sense of responsibility at her age that she has. PLUS she passed her permit test! So some people should definitely get off the road in the meantime... but seriously, I am so proud of her and so excited with all she has accomplished.

Later tonight or tomorrow morning (before the review) I will make a post on the delicious recipe that I made last week and that was a huge hit with myself, Mike, and Zack.

Well if you read my last post you know the day I blogged last I was having a rather rough day, which is expected with depression from time to time, however it did not last forever! Friday was uneventful up until Mike picked me up to go to his old school's middle school production of Cinderella. The costumes were gorgeous (found out they did rent most of them), the props were cute and the kids tried so hard! They actually did rather well too, I think my favorite was the girl playing Crazy Marie. She reminded me a lot of Jacqui, she also seemed the most in character and devoted to her role in addition to having a lovely voice. 

After the show Mike and I went to Iron Hill for dinner and grabbed a bunch of apps, honestly I should have taken a photo because DAMN everything was so good and delicious. Nachos (w/o meat), bruschetta, cheesesteak egg rolls, and a caesar salad (for me). Mike had two whitberry beers and I had a coke which tasted funky since I'm trying not to drink it all that much, so overall dinner was so good. I love doing appetizers for dinner. But as we were leaving we ran into a ton of his old teachers and the teacher he had really wanted to see was there so they caught up for awhile. I really enjoyed how happy it made Mike to catch up with an old teacher that he really liked and admired. It was sweet.

Saturday was just kind of weird, mostly because Mike and I woke up late and ended up getting Blizzards from Dairy Queen for breakfast/ lunch and ate them in the park. Big. Mistake. That much dairy made me sick to my stomach. I did't even finish the whole thing and it was only a small. So Mike took me home and he relaxed with me, but that dairy had me cramping so, so badly. It felt like those period cramps from hell- like the skeleton army is marching over your abdomen. Needless to say I did not go to my cousin's grad party. Because I am a horrible human. So probably a gallon of water and a few hours later the roomie and I had guests of Mary Kathryn and Don. That of course was a fun time! Zack, Don, Mary Kathryn and I ordered a pizza (I know, more dairy) and fries, broke open some wine, and watched a movie. Overall a good low-key night, which I think we all needed. 

After they left Zack and I were awake for maybe an hour or two later and then went to bed as well. Such exciting adult lives. Sunday was more eventful though!

So Sunday started with meeting Mary Kathryn, the other bridesmaids, and Don's mom at The Dress Matters so Mary Kathryn could pick up her dress. Seeing her in the dress that was her size was so wonderful. She literally looks fantastic and Don is going to cry when she walks down that aisle. We loaded the dress and her boots into my car and then popped over to pick up Momma Marie's dress from David's Bridal. We mosied around for awhile and then all of us ladies grabbed lunch at Bertuccis. Which was so good. We all got entrees and three of us got sangria. Now THAT was some amazing sangria, so of course I had to take a photo. After lunch we marched over to Men's Warehouse since it was close to make sure that the men had ordered matte shoes for their suits and not the shiny ones, thankfully Don called and fixed it! At that point we realized Momma Marie had to get to work at the firehouse so we drove back to Mary Kathryn's house (which is next door to my Kacco's) and said our goodbyes. 



Going into Kacco's was interesting because Magnus is living there now and that pup is massive. He's a damn horse and it's hard to believe he's only a year old. He was also a huge ladies man- showing off for all the girls and giving so many puppy kisses, I hope he always stays so sweet. Kacco then took us upstairs and we got Mary Kathryn into her dress so Kacco could check on alterations. The amazing thing about being tall is NOTHING HAS TO BE HEMMED. Like GODDAMN. We tightened the bust more than they had at the dress shop and Mary Kathryn said it fit a lot better, then we played with the bustle. I took photos of the finished product that Kacco is going to do but of course I'm not posting those photos! Seriously she looks stunning and I'm so happy she feels like a bride. The dress was even perfect with her boots! 

Us ladies holding her dress though was hysterical! I was holding up the front since she was getting warm and fanning her out, Kelly had to go under her skirts to hide the ribbon that tied her in, Ashley was fanning her with a box top, it was overall a sight to see. We are keeping the dress at Kacco's so Don can't "stumble" upon it at the house. We all chatted for awhile once we were done and then ran outside in a downpour to our cars/ homes. After that the day seemed ordinary, it was close to 6:30p once I got home so I changed and did some work, then Zack and I reheated the fries from the night before and sat down for Game of Thrones. After that it was bedtime. 

So really not a super crazy weekend but it was fun, and I was glad to spend time with friends and some family. 

If there is one thing I have learned it's that it's okay to feel sad sometimes.

 Depression is a difficult thing to deal with, it's something I have had to come to terms with over the years and something that only last year I had to learn how to handle when in the deepest rut. It's a terrible feeling, it's like being hollow-chested, constantly tired, like there is a fog hanging around in my brain keeping me from reaching out for the things I desire and the things I need to function normally.

Today has been an exceptionally difficult day, and without getting into it too much it's been a lot of me realizing that I can want things for myself that aren't conventional. I don't need to feel like I'm in a corner just because I don't want what I think I should want. Today was the sort of day that my disappointment in what is going on finally prompted me to just sigh and shake off the last few weeks. Well, shake off the best I am able, which is more of a little raincloud sitting inside my chest and just being dark instead of rainy and dark.

As weird as it seems rainy days like today make me feel better and make me want to do more for myself. Falling asleep to a noise machine of thunderstorms every night (the Rain Rain app) soothes me, so it only makes sense that it's one of those things that helps clear my head too.

Of course I had to go out into the rain, mostly to wear the new Hunter boots that Mike got me for my birthday/ our 2 year anniversary, and it felt nice to kind of clear my head that way. I think for the rest of the weekend I'll be offline, I have a cousin's grad party tomorrow from high school, date night tonight, possibly helping Kacco (my grandma) out tomorrow before the grad party. Sunday we go to pick up Mary Kathryn's wedding dress and take it back to Kacco's to be fitted a bit more. So it's already a full-ish weekend, but that should give me plenty to write about on Monday.

rain rain app

This Spring I needed a new wreath on my door. Not because I didn't make one for Winter. Which I didn't. Just nothing this winter screamed out to me, "YES I AM PERFECT MAKE ME HOLIDAY READY!" I didn't want to go the stereotypical route with a Winter wreath, but let's be honest. I probably will this year. 

This one started out because I saw that little wire "hello" sign and I knew what I wanted to do. That's pretty much where it all started, after that it was just me waiting for a moment so I could pick up the rest of the supplies I needed. Also I decided on a flat wreath instead of a rounded or styrofoam one. Not sure why, just felt like it. Like the look for this one and the effect. 

• a hot glue gun
• flat wooden wreath
• small sign to attach (optional, I got mine from Primemark for 50 cents!)
• various flowers all in bright colors (michaels)
• green wire

Literally- and you will find me saying literally A LOT, kids crack me up. My young cousin Marissa is my goddaughter, I'm about 15/16 years older than her, give or take. Today the minute I got to my dad's house for his Memorial Day BBQ she was all over me. Literally. She definitely gives my boyfriend a run for his money- haha, honestly I think her energy surprises him.

Besides playing the Shopkins app, some app called My Boo, and then her just showing me random stuff on the iPad she kept sitting in my lap and practically scoffed, "you're my godmother that means you're pretty much my mom!" The FEAR in Mike's eyes (boyfrand) was hysterical! She says stuff like this a lot and it just cracks me up every time.

Maybe the funniest part of it all is that she's a lot like me at her age. Outspoken, high-energy, a toucher, not to mention we do have a strong resemblance. Especially in the younger years. She's a good kid if not a little wild and so much louder than her older sister Jules and the oldest Alexandra. Although Alexandra is like me in a lot of senses. Not to mention people think she's my kid (or used to be now that she's in her teens). Jules is getting louder and she's just overall a sweet kid, probably the sweetest ever.

Matter of this story is that kids are funny. And I'm blogging again.

I'll eventually link my Tumblr I guess.
Maybe.
Probably.

Also Jules made a cute little photo collage of the day.



So yeh.