Almost Rich Girl Problems

Previously known as White Girl Problems...shhhhh! I'm just a little afraid that post title will get me into unknown problems...as in a White person SAID something that p'sed off the rest of the Freakin World and a media Sh*& storm rained down on her beautiful gray head....Yawl know whew I'm tawking  bout. I live in Texas now ( GO  Wendy DAVIS - not going to help me either with some) but, I was born and raised in Georgia. Been going to Tybee and Savannah for years until the big move to Texas. I've always been a big fan of Paula and her cookin & boys. With the help of a wonderful book, Midnight in the Garden of  Good & Evil - they have helped raise the economy in a little town known mostly for green beer and drunk people. I sure hope ALL those green beer drinkin drunk people are backing her now. She needs our support. Cause she didn't realize that only non- white people can say the n word. They can rap about it, joke about it, walk around with their asses hanging out and brag about the joys of making a movie where they get to kill WHITE people . But, Miss P.D. well, enough said about that. I was raised to believe Sticks and Stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me....names. NAMES...names. Funny how one word - a name- has so much power to wreck havoc - all by who says it.  I don't know why or when she said it. All I know is that she admitted it and her world is on fire. I'm pretty sure SHE never owned a slave. Most of the people so upset are not slaves. We have elected an African American To be our President. Twice. Can't we put the power of this word to rest. When ANYONE says it or raps it. If we want to be EQUAL about our lives now then let's be equal. Let words be words and let's all use them respectfully. Nuff, said....Mind your P"s and Q's folks....As for my problems and the whole point behind this post...I'm going into month two of no dishwasher and suddenly that doesn't seem like the biggest deal in the world.  Nevermind.

What Is Right In Our World

Once again we are unfortunately drawn together as another unspeakable act changes lives at random. Lives, limbs, families, hopes and dreams are forever altered. Even when those responsible are caught and punished, it does not change or take away what was lost. As a nation, once again we are proving why we are strong. It is not because of retaliation, although An Eye For An Eye is one of my favorite parts of the bible. It is because we come together and we take care of our own and most of the world when needed. As horrified as I was yesterday as I watched the events unfold, I was equally amazed as I watched the heroes that rushed to save lives, to offer comfort, to put themselves at risk unselfishly.

 I saw an amazing quote today on Facebook by Mr. Rogers. His mother told him when he was a child and frightened by bad things going on in his world to always look for the helpers. I just loved that and  know I'm not the first to praise our heroes/helpers yesterday but in the midst of terror it is no small feat that there are helpers that run toward the trouble. It renews my faith in mankind, even when cowards hiding behind some misguided sense of righteousness try to take it away.

My goal behind this blog is to share the good stuff in life. Yesterday made that goal a little harder until I focused on the Helpers. We can all be helpers everyday in our own lives. We don't even have to rush towards danger to accomplish this. We can live our lives with faith, hope and love for one another. It shouldn't take an act of violence to remind us of this but, it doesn't hurt to renew our focus on what is really important. Let your loved ones know how much you love them. Everyday. Keep in touch with your friends near and far. Even if it is a quick hit on Face Book, text, twitter, or email. Smile at a stranger. Be positive. Encourage others. Share. Be Helpers. Mr. Rogers, we miss you.

Dallas is Back

I'm sure I'm not the only one that grew up on Dallas. The TV show. JR, Sue Ellen, Bobby, Pam, Lucy and Cliff to name a few...Miss Ellie and Jock. Before U-verse, Direct TV and a few others, including big clunky VCR tapes, there were the good ole days, when you had to actually show up at the right time and WATCH your favorite show on live tv. AND only one show - so you had to pick which one it was going to be. And sit through all the commercials. I'll be the first to say those were NOT the good ole days. Great TV - but, a pain in the ass to watch that way.

Flash forward a few years - more than 25 (so I've been told) and some of us are still watching Dallas.  What an inspiring testament to great TV. Those that remember it when, are watching it now. And it has three original cast members bringing it back. Sue Ellen, Bobby and J.R.- How lucky are we? For a few episodes longer...And as much as we love the cast from the past - let's take a moment to praise the ones that will be carrying Dallas into the future. Hats off to John Ross for delivering the best opening line in a long time..."Love is for P*SS&@s"! LOVED IT!! But, true Southern Girl that I am - I can say and write a LOT of ugly/curse/bad words, but the P word is not one of them. Just a personal girl thing. But, John Ross can say that all day long :)))

Anyhoo!! Back to tonight - cause I'm catching up on my time with the awesome AT&T U-verse and as a former Direct TV customer I can only say,  NO COMPLAINTS  with AT&T - John Ross set the tone and it was a fun two hour opener with the younger cast holding their own while Bobby, Sue Ellen and J.R. reminded us all why we are still watching. One of my favorite moments was when Sue Ellen*, who owed J.R. big time for saving her, gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek and said, "And THAT is all you are going to get". And he, ever the gentleman, said, "There is the Gal I know". Got to love that. And the really freaking hot off the elevator scene with John Ross and Pamela/Rebecca...have I mentioned how wonderful John Ross is??? Dallas is going to be just fine - keep watching!

I am a little sad that the other original Ewing brother is missing - Gary. Remember him? If you were a Knot's Landing Fan like myself you would. He was the black sheep that got his own spin off show - my favorite of all time - Knot's Landing....Every Thursday night at 10:00 there was only one place I wanted to be. In Front Of A TV Watching Knot's Landing. 25 1/2 Years ago  my first date with Wonderman happened to be on a Thursday night. And yes, I was a little nervous. It was going great - He was as cute and charming as I thought he was the Friday night before when I met him. He called me on Wednesday and we talked for an hour and made plans for Thursday night. Dinner at what happened to be my favorite restaurant in Atlanta, Indigo's.  He loves to tell everyone that I ate every single thing in front of me that night. Like I had not eaten lunch, breakfast or dinner for a week before that night. The real story is that it was getting closer to 10:00 and time was a ticking. He had one last test to pass for a second date. Would he pass the Knot's Landing Test??? Fast forward - we'll go into details of first date in April when we celebrate our 25th Anniversary...yes, He got an A+ on the first date test. Not only did I get to see Knot's...he had me in front of a tv putting his arm around me during Hotel. A slightly cheesy show that came on at 9:00...during which he got a few pecks on the cheek - Sue Ellen is not the only girl that knows how to get a man :) By 10:00,  WE were watching KL and I knew without a doubt, he was a keeper. Sorry, John Ross - Love is not for Pu#$%@s...But, you keep being a very bad boy and we will keep watching you and missing J.R.too.

*Sue Ellen - Wow! She looks awesome this season and I'm JUST SAYING - I'LL DO WHATEVER SHE DID...and I'm guessing it was not all that filler crap that makes faces look fat. And Old. I'm thinking a good ole fashion face lift is still the way to go. One Day. You go girlfriend. Amazing!

P.S.....how funny is it that this born & bred Atlanta (by way of Thomaston) gal now lives in Texas!! And just last week we were lucky enough to be at a party at the former Hunt home, known as Mt. Vernon for a pre party for the Cotes du Coeur, supporting the American Heart Association. This beautiful private home was the first home in Dallas to have air conditioning and a swimming pool. Think about that - today it also has the world's largest private bowling alley - the very one that was featured in the world famous Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog as a his and her gift....this little girl growing up watching Dallas - J.R., Sue Ellen and Bobby - never saw that coming. Life is good. God is great.

New Year New Tricks

Happy New Year! We will pretend that I had a fabulous post at Christmas that included pictures, videos and how to lessons on Christmas decor as well as mouth watering recipes. Let's just come clean and confess I was just to busy enjoying all that to actually take the time to sit down on my snail mail computer and share all that. I am sure we all had a wonderful Christmas - especially those of us that had a very special Christmas Day snow delivery that turned our world into a winter wonderland. But, by now that is all old news and today's topic is New Tricks!!! 

*NEW TRICKS DISCLAIMER* By sharing the following I do not intend to steal credit for these tricks. Due to my love of beauty products and my magazine addiction there is usually a REALLY good chance that I will not be able to give credit where credit is due. I apologize to any that may be offended. I repeat your ideas in the spirit of sharing with all. Here are my latest favorite things....

1. Newest Nail technology - NEXGEN NAILS!! I love mine and I got them from Tony at Serenity Nails on Eldorado...If you live in McKinney you know where to go - if not check out the website nexgenails.com  to find a location near you that is up to date on these nails. Mine look and feel natural - so much better than traditional acrylics and pink & whites...And they are better for your natural nail beds. LOVE THEM!!

2. Chewy Vitamins - seriously! Genius idea - especially for those of us that hate to swallow...a lot of supplements every morning...I have found chewy multivitamins (Alive ), B12(Vitafusion) and Fiber Well (Vitafusion) I save them for last and it's a treat to take them - almost as good as Swedish Fish. Almost. I even saw a chewy fish oil supplement today but, I think I'll pass on that one. I finally found one that goes down and stays down. Nordic Naturals Omega - 3 is the one for me.

3. Thanks to Wonderman flipping late night channels one night I have a new skin care line that I really love...even if I'm not crazy about the name...Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford. Personally, I'd have left off the Meaningful. Anyway, he was watching the infomercial and before I knew it, I was receiving my Mean Beauty Products in the mail. I admire Cindy and all she has accomplished and I know she has been a patient of the Doctor behind the line for many years. I really like it and it's easy to follow.  Yes, Wonderman got bonus points for encouraging my beauty quest.

4.  My new best friends at Neiman's Willowbend gave me and my partner in Beauty Crime a really fun day of beauty....of course this is all my Beauty Crime Partner's fault. She and many unnamed others love the La Mer line of skincare. She has been sharing and raving about the eye cream for awhile. And I have been avoiding this line of skin care for the last 30 years. Why? Cause I am a cheap beauty whore. I have been telling myself for years that Ponds is THE MIRACLE CREAM. And it is a really good one even if it falls into the less pricey category. There has never ever been any doubt in my mind that I wouldn't absolutely love and look amazing if I too used the La Mer line of skin care. I've just been waiting to win the lottery in order to do so. Fast forward to our day of beauty. She signed us up /twisted my arm, drugged me & dragged me - for a facial from La Mer last week. Now due to the drugs and arm twisting I agreed to go and let the wonderful ladies work their magic. And yes, it was heaven. So here is the skinny - I'm happy with my Mean Girls Beauty stuff from Cindy. I can get a shipment of about 10 beauty products every 3 months for less than one La Mer product. However, I was interested in their BODY product. Now I read, that Mariah Carey uses La Mer on her babies bottoms. That is CRAY CRAY.  But, I am always looking for something to help the skin I have stupidly ignored the last twenty years. Pretty much everything from the chin down. If only I had taken the time to protect my neck, chest, arms, hands and knees. I could pass for 49!!!Since I kinda didn't - I just tell everyone I'm 79 and I LOOK AWESOME FOR THAT! But, even 79 year old women are still hoping for something to help and that is why I am telling you about La Mer's Reparative Body Lotion. It is so good for anti-aging powers that they tell you NOT to use it everyday. WHAT?? Either brilliant marketing or ....THIS STUFF MIGHT WORK!! I'm hoping it's not just marketing. I figure if I use it once a year this bottle will last me forever. Got to be less than a penny a day. SCORE. CHEAP BEAUTY WHORE IS HAPPY....Okay, every other day or so and here's the best part...these wonderful ladies load you up with ALL KINDS of samples!! I now have eye creams and face creams and if I'm really careful I can make these samples last awhile!! Now I'm not going to being slapping it on any babies bottoms that is for freakin sure. But, I'll be using a touch of La Mer at night over my Mean Beauty Stuff. JACKPOT!!

5.  After my La Mer facial my new best friend at the YSL counter graciously offered to give me a makeup touchup... I kinda looked like a drowned rat. Now I have been using YSL's - for beauty newbies that is Yves Saint Laurent -Touche Eclat. That is fancy smancy for beauty junkies illuminating magic beauty wand. It pretty much erases all signs of ugly. You just use it anywhere you are not happy with on your face. How's that for awesome marketing? That was all me - I really should have majored in marketing. Guess what -  now they have a foundation - Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation.....Still thinking not bad for 79??? Girlfriend has lots of tricks you don't even want to know :))  Anyhoo,  I just asked for a little Touche Eclat touch up and she gave me the works, without any pressure to buy anything. Very nice. And probably the only time I have ever liked what someone else has done with my makeup. Now she did try - even knowing I'd hate it, and I did - a bright teal liner on my eyes. And Graciously changed it back to dark brown, when I was honest. I prefer to see my eye color over eye makeup color. Big difference. She did amazing things with my eyebrows - who knew- I'd been doing it all wrong. Thanks to Latisse I now have eyebrows and now I know how to make them look better. Eyebrow pencil #3 on TOP edge of them. Loved the foundation/base - it covers without looking heavy and yes, age spots and veins need covering. The really fun thing she showed me was with lip liners - always kinda thought they were pointless and unnecessary -  they give you a color base to hold the lipstick or gloss and they can make different color combinations. Now - this is probably better for make up junkies but let's say you buy a lipstick and get home and it just isn't quite right. Been there? Okay, liners can bring it back to where you want it. Just know if you like more pink or orange base colors on you. Use the liner to get you there. I like more pink usually, so with that liner even an orange or peach lipstick will look better on me. Glosses work the same way. And my new fav YSL product is without a doubt the mascara - Volume Effet Faux Cils Noir Radical...key word RADICAL...as with all lines there are several and they may all be fab but I have used this one and LOVE IT...sorry Stilletto's by Maybelline...I'm moving on :) She also told me that anytime a mascara gets too thick and this has always been my pet peeve with pricey mascara's - Just run really hot water over the outside of the tube (not into the tube) and it will heat up and liquify the product again. Air causes it to get thick and clumpy. I hate clumpy.

6. One more thing  now - Latisse vs. RevitaLash....been using Latisse for two years. Due to cost and feeling like it wasn't giving results anymore,  I switched to RevitaLash  and love it. More product for the buck and better lashes. Both work on eyebrows. You can Google it to find sellers.

7. Find a Wonderman - the one that thinks you are so amazing and beautiful even when you know you are probably looking a little old/silly/bare/ natural/happy/sad/tired/ you - one that goes "Wow!" everytime he sees you. And is smart enough not to ask, "What did you buy at Neiman's?" Find that guy. I love you John!!

As usual, I'm all over the place and still have so much soooo much more to share - let's do this again real soon (I promise) ....I can't wait to share my new love for Lush products (OMG - another huge thanks to Beauty in Crime Partner!!) , Coconut Oil - you will love too!!! and Hair Stuff!!! Come back!!!! Please :))) Oh, and for the love of God - DO NOT DRY YOUR LEVI'S MID RISE SKINNY JEANS IN THE DRYER!!! You will lose 1 1/2 inches off the length and forget about the waist!! Next time !!