It's tax time...

I bet you can't guess my favorite time of year.  It's not Christmas, not spring, not Halloween, not Thanksgiving.... it's TAX TIME!  I love that the government "generously" gives me some of my hard earned cash back.  And it seems like every year my hubby and I decide to take a vacation around the same time.  Tonight we're going to get our taxes done so we can get that money and plan our last minute trip to Florida.  Some people like to pay bills off and such, but we like to visit his family.  That's all for today... it's Monday after all.  There is a big snow storm headed our way so it's likely I'll be working from home tomorrow and Wednesday... but we'll see what mother nature decided to dump on us.  Happy Monday!

Sunday Funday!

Today was a lot of fun.  I cleaned the house, got ready and then went shopping with my mom.  Afterwards we went to see Black Swan with my sister.  I'm just sitting down to some ramen noodles and wanted to get my blog done for the day.  So, that's it.  Have a great week!

Book on the Nook!

Picture this, if you will:

It's Christmas morning, 8am.  I have a cup of hot cocoa in hand and my sister and I have passed out all the presents to their designated owners.  Just one month earlier I had given my list out and it was mostly make-up items, a scarf, some gloves, and a few gift cards.  I was so excited for the gift opening that was about to ensue.  My hubby and I had gotten my sister new car speakers and she had no idea - I couldn't wait to see her face!  We had gotten my mom a gift card to her favorite spa for a facial and we'd collaborated with my sister and got my dad a new car stereo.  No one had a clue what we'd gotten them and that makes the face of the gift opener that much more special.  


My sister had the best reaction of everyone... it was sheer surprise, jaw to the floor, wide eyed.  She had absolutely no idea and was so grateful to have the new speakers!  But she knew what I was getting and insisted I open a long rectangular package first.  I opened it up and inside was a NOOK!  I had to think about it for a second because it was not something I had asked for and was not expecting it.  Below are pics from Christmas morn and me reading my Nook.  I absolutely love it!


For those of you that aren't familiar, it's an electronic reader.  It's about the width of my iPhone and it's about as big as a larger greeting card.  There were a few book options already loaded in and it's Wifi ready so you can purchase other books directly to the Nook.  It took me a few times to get used to all the settings and options, but it's a really great gift.  Plus you can connect to the web were there's Wifi so I can go on facebook or check my email too!  Right now I'm readying The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Pretty Little Liars - book 2, and I read US Weekly... and can't wait to read more!

Photo Friday...

Oh geez... I missed a blog post yesterday!  I actually felt guilty about it - even though I don't have very many readers.  It was my personal goal to post a blog a day.  It was such a busy day.  I had an early morning start at work because I had an eye appointment on my lunch which turned into me being gone for 2.5 hours.  Then I had dinner with my dad and we watched Idol and by the time I got home, I was so tired I fell right asleep.  It's been a great week though... lots of yummy meals from my Biggest Loser cookbook, great week at work, new contacts, getting to see my god daughter, and tomorrow is the hubby's company party at the Crowne Plaza.  Good Times!

1/22 - Tired after a long day of cleaning, shopping, and ear piercing

1/23 - Taken by my hubby on Packer Sunday Funday

1/24 - Successful shopping spree @ Fashion Bug!

1/25 - Yummy... shrimp quesadillas

1/26 - Snuggled in bed with my hubby

1/27 - New contacts... in this weird new case with some special solution for better cleaning

1/28 - Playing with my god-daughter

A yummy post... Shrimp Quesadillas

I have been making more and more meals from my Biggest Loser Cookbook that I got for Christmas.  I've made Hula Pizza, Tarragon Chicken with Goat Cheese (and sweet potatoes), and yesterday I made Shrimp Quesadillas.  They were delicious and I wanted to share the recipe with everyone.


SHRIMP QUESADILLAS

• 2 tsp Cocktail Sauce
• 2 tsp fat-free sour cream
• Olive Oil Spray
• 3 ounces cooked peeled bay shrimp (about 1/2 cup); drained -> I used frozen shrimp and followed the thawing instructions in the morning
• 1 - 7.5 inch multigrain or whole wheat tortilla
• 1/3 cup Light Cheddar Cheese 
• Optional: chopped cilantro

In a small bowl, mix the cocktail sauce and sour cream.  

Place a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  When hot, spray with the Olive Oil Spray and add the shrimp.  Cook for 1-2 minutes just to remove the excess moisture and heat the shrimp.

Place a large nonstick skill, large enough for the tortilla, over medium heat and add the tortilla.  Sprinkle about the half the cheese over the tortilla and add the cilantro.  Put the shrimp on half the tortilla and top with the remaining cheese.  Fold the bare half over the shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes.  Carefully turn over and cook on the other side for 1-2 minutes.  Please the quesadilla on a plate and cut in half.  Top with the cocktail sauce made earlier.  This makes 1 serving.  ENJOY!

About ready to flip

Yummy... all set to eat

Close up... see all that yummy cheese, shrimp, and cilantro?

Make-Up Collection...This is not hoarding - Part 2

Now for... the make-up.  I was always a bareMinerals user, like I've said, but I'm trying new things lately.  I went to a CCO (Cosmetics Company Store) and purchased a MAC eye shadow and Paint Pot and loved them.  So, I branched out and purchased more items.  I regularly use my Painterly Paint Pot and All That Glitters eye shadow.  Here are some pictures and info.

All my make-up (except lip products) fits into this one carry case.  It's a Sonia Kashuk, from Target.

The top portion holds a pencils and misc items

The bottom portion is my other face and eye items

Here's what was in the top part:  Old Sonia Kashuk compact that I use as a mirror, Tweezerman Tweezers, Brow Brush, Wet N' Wild eye shadow palette, Urban Decay 24/7 Liner Pencils (Electric, Underground, and Zero), NYX Liner Pencil (White Pearl), and NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencils (Cottage Cheese, Iced Mocha, and Pots & Pans) 

Inside the case are my face products.  I have Revlon Foundation, a Too Faced concealer, some bareMinerals face products, Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush, MAC Cream Blush, ELF Blush, bareMinerals Busom Lashline, and some ELF all over face products

My eye products

MAC Paint Pot (Painterly), Benefit Cream Shadow (Birthday Suit), BM Liner Shadow in Soft Black, BM in Chenille, BM in Cultured Pearl, BM in Vanilla Sugar

BM in Nude Beach, BM in Rose Petal, BM in Pebble, BM in Passionate Plum, BM in Red Velvet, BM in Tiramisu, and BM in Chocolate Fondue

LEFT: ELF Blush in Candid Coral; MIDDLE: Top - BM Warmth, BM Clear Radiance, Middle - BM Compatibles in Joyous Jennifer & Sorbet, BM Blush in Giddy Pink, and Bottom - BM samples in Beauty and Golden Gate; RIGHT: MAC Cream Blush in Sweet William, Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Sation

MAC Shadow Palette: TOP - Scene, Brule, All That Glitters; BOTTOM - Knight, Woodwinked, Sable

All my lip products - I'm not going to list all of them, but the glass jar is a MAC Paint Pot in Girl Friendly (I love the color tapped on my lips lightly).  On top is a Wet N' Wild lipstick and a Sephora one, 2 ELF lip stains, 3 Menthol lip glosses from B&BW, a Kat Von D gloss, MAC glass, 2 BM Buxom glosses, a Smashbox gloss, and Urban Decay lip stain, and then a Maybellone gloss and 2 small Tarte glosses

Make-up Collection... This is not hoarding - Part 1

Late last night, I couldn't sleep because I was too excited about the PACKERS GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL.  So, I thought I would start a make-up mini series.  My husband, my mom, and my sister think I have "an addiction" but I have to disagree.  I think it's normal for a women to have the amount of make-up and coordinating brushes as I do.  I'm now posting my make-up collection to see what other women think... and I'm doing this in 2 parts (brushes and make-up).


My collection started about 7 years ago when I began wearing bareMinerals.  I honestly can't even remember what I did before bareMinerals.  In the last year, I have been watching a lot more beauty guru videos on Youtube and that has contributed to my collection as well.  There is a use for every brush in my collection.  Ok, maybe not every one.  Some of them I like to have and find a use for.  


My brushes are mostly bareMinerals and the rest are ELF.  I'm saving up for a Sigma brush set right now.  I want to replace my brushes that have begun shedding and also since I'm wearing liquid foundation now, I would like to have a Duo Fiber brush for giving the foundation an airbrushed look.  Anyways... here we go!

This is my little section of our dresser.  My brushes were in a bag but I just cleaned them and moved them to these glasses for now.

The taller brushes are in the larger glass and the smaller brushes and items I reach for most are in the smaller glass.

A view of my brushes from the top

Close up

I'm not going to list every brush, but the top row are face brushes and Sonia Kashuk Eye Lash Curler, the bottom row are eye brushes and the items on the end are my quick grabs

Eye Lash Curler and Quick Grabs (Revlon Age Defying Concealer, Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner in Natural, MAC Lipstick in Myth, and MAC Dazzleglass in Local Colour) 

Sunday Funday!

Today has been very relaxing and fun so far.  I got to sleep in until 9 am, which never happens.   Then I caught up on my DVR and got ready for the Packer game.  I painted my nails with a new polish that I picked up last night.  The hubby and I went to CVS for windshield washer fluid and I picked up some Revlon Colorstay Foundation (for Oily/Combination Skin), a Revlon concealer pen, a Revlon Colorstay lip liner, and Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle Polish.  This is the first day I used the foundation and concealer and I love it so far.  The color is perfect for me and my forehead doesn't look oily like the Maybelline 24 Hour was doing.


The polish is in the color Perfect Plum.  It's a deep purple that is on the red side.  Here are some pics:

I wanted to support my team today so I did a Green and Gold eye make-up look.  GO PACK GO!  It's almost half time right now and it's 14-0 PACKERS.


PACK LOOK


Face Products:

• Revlon Colorstay Foundation for Oily/Combination Skin - Buff
• Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer - Light (under eyes and around the nose for redness)
• bareMinerals Mineral Veil (used to set the make-up)
• Maybelline Deam Mousse Blush - Peach Satin (on the apples of the cheeks as a blush base)
• bareMinerals Blush - Beauty (layered over mousse blush so it doesn't run or move)

Eye Products:

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance - Eye Shadow Primer
• MAC Paint Pot - Painterly (to even the lid and cover any veins showing)
• NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil - Cottage Cheese (inner corner and under the brow for highlight)
• bareMinerals Eye Shadow - Chenille (over the lid to lighten the lid)
• Wet N' Wild Eye Shadow colors - I don't have the exact colors but it was a matte and satin green shadow (on the outer 1/3 of the lid)
• MAC Eye Shadow - Woodwinked (in the crease and then blended down)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner - Zero (along the upper and lower lashliner)
• Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume - Black (upper and lower lashes)

Lip Products:

• Revlon Colorstay Lip Pencil - Natural
• MAC Lipstick Satin - Myth (lightly blotted over the lip pencil)
• MAC Dazzleglass - Locale Color

1 - 2 - 3... Ear We Go!

Today was a fun day... my god-daughter got her ears pierced today!  It was a lot of fun and even though she's only 8 months old she did pretty well.  Holly, Kaylin, and I started our girls day by shopping at Sears.  I bought her a pair of adorable "Ugg" boots and Holly got her some new onesies and pants (because the little stinker is growing so fast).  Then, we bravely walked into Claire's.  We watched another little girl, about 8, get her ears pierced and she was a trooper.  Not one tear or even and "Ouch!"  It was Kaylin's turn... Holly got to sick in the chair and hold Kaylin while the piercer did her thing.  Kaylin cried when the actual holes were punched, but we gave her a bottle and all was right with the world.  Within minutes she was back to her happy little self... like nothing happened.  She really is a tough cookie and now she looks like a little lady.  Isn't she the cutest thing ever!?

Kaylin in the new boots I got her

We tried to keep Kaylin occupied by giving her a mirror and a princess crown

Holly and Kaylin picking out the perfect earrings

Kaylin looks really excited to get her ears pierced

Look at her!  She just got her ears pierced

Photo Friday...

I was really bad this week... I only took 4 pictures :(  Next week will be better.

1/15 - new Facebook prof pic!

1/16 - Lots of snow coming down, even though you can't tell, so I worked from home in the afternoon

1/18 - Free Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha from a grateful co-worker

1/19 - Waiting for 5 o'clock

1/21 - Thank God it's Friday... I'm really tired in this picture

1/21 - Throwing this in for good measure... it says -5 (that was the temp on my way to work this morning)

Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting....

Yesterday I got an email from ELF Cosmetics that they were having 50% off some products.  I usually delete those emails but I decided to check it out and I got around 10 products for only $29.95 w/ shipping... AMAZING!  I can't wait to show off my products.  I purchased some lip items, a blush, a brush, and some nail polishes.  I've never tried ELF polishes but I'm excited to try them.  Check out the sale for yourself at the ELF website or at Target or WalMart.  My package should be arriving within 7-10 business days!

I've been waiting for this moment...

Wanna know why today is great?  

Today is the first day of American Idol 2011!!!  My hubby and I love American Idol so this is a great day.  I had a very productive day.  I woke up on time today, cleaned up the kitchen (since our landlord was coming to fix our oven), got ready for work, it was a busy day at work but I had lots of help today.  I left early and went to my parents to help my dad stack fire wood, and then came home and my hubby brought Culver's home for dinner.  Now, we're watching IDOL!

I have to go now because this is cutting into my American Idol watching  :)

Treats for me!

Lately I have been putting off blogging until late at night because work has been so busy... today is no different so this is going to be short.  It was a really long day but a grateful co-worker bought me a Venti White Chocolate Mocha with Skim and no whip.  Yummy!  Then for dinner I met with another co-worker, that I don't see often, for dinner at Olive Garden.  Today was full of yummy treats but I'm glad the day is over.  Now, I'm cozy in bed with my hubby watching this week's episode of Chuck.

Have a good night!

Snow Day...

Not a lot to talk about today...  There is a winter weather advisory until 3 AM tomorrow and it's been snowing all day.  I left work early and worked from home so I wouldn't have to drive home during rush hour in the snow mess.

Then, for dinner I made Hulu Pizza from the Biggest Loser cookbook.  It was really yummy!

Hopefully, I'll have something better to talk about tomorrow.

Super Bowl...

This is a really quick post because I'm pooped today!  We had a busy day but I had to tell everyone how excited I am that the Packers are one step closed to the Super Bowl.  Next weekend should be an exciting game because we're playing our long time rivals... Da Bears!

GO PACK GO!

Everyday Neutral Eye Make-up...

I wasn't sure what to write about today so I decided to do a make-up post because I love make-up!  This was the make-up I wore today... neutral but still a little dressed up because I had a day date with my hubby.  He went grocery shopping while I cleaned and go showered... that was so nice of him, wasn't it?  We went to see The Green Hornet and out to dinner.  We weren't ready to go home afterwards so we ended up at Target  for some essentials and gifts for my god-son and then to Best Buy because I wanted Zumba for Wii but they didn't have it so the hubs got a game for PS3 instead.  Lastly, we stopped at the grocery store for some Red Bull, Naked Juice, a few items for our lunch tomorrow, and rented Knight and Day.  So, here I am sitting on the next to my hubby watching a movie and blogging.  Tomorrow should be lots of fun!  

P.S.  GO PACK GO! 

EVERYDAY NEUTRALS

Face Products:

• Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Concealer - Ivory
• Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hours Foundation - Porcelain Ivory
• bareMinerals Original Formula - Fairly Light (a light layer over my foundation)
• bareMinerals Mineral Veil (used to set my make-up)
• Maybelline Deam Mousse Blush - Peach Satin
• bareMinerals Blush - Beauty (layered over mousse blush so it doesn't run or move)
• bareMinerals Clear Radiance (highlight on cheek bones and over nose)

Eye Products:

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance - Eye Shadow Primer
• MAC Paint Pot - Painterly (to even the lid and cover any veins showing)
• NYX Eye Pencil - White Pearl (inner corner and under the brown for highlight)
• bareMinerals Liner Shadow - Soft Black (light application in the outer 2/3 of the eye crease)
• bareMinerals Eye Shadow - Pebble (outer third of the eye lid)
• MAC Eye Shadow - Sable (along the lash line, not into the crease)
• Blended all the shadows
• bareMinerals Eye Shadow - Cultured Pearl (added over the eye pencil in the inner corner and under the eye brow)
• bareMinerals Buxom Lashliner - Leatherette (thicker line on top then used whatever was left on the brush in a light application on the bottom lash line)
• 2 coats of Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume on the upper and lower lash line