The alien in my side is back

So this post is going to be kind of all over the place, but that's how my brain works, so I guess it's fitting, right?  On Saturday, I was sitting on my bed (mattress on the floor since we sold our bedroom set) thinking about everything we need to do, and the alien came back.  I guess I should explain, for many years now, I've suffered from anxiety and depression.  It's something I don't talk about much, but it's always there.  I used to take medication to control it, but I didn't like the way it didn't make me feel.  I guess the best way to describe it is a volume dial on your radio, most people, when it comes to emotions, are right in the middle.  For me, my day to day is cranked all the way to 10.  When I was medicated, I was about a 2, I just didn't feel anything.  If there were meds that would keep me right in the middle, or close to "normal" I might take them, but for now, I deal with being overly emotional. I've been told I need to be more thick skinned, this was from people who don't understand. There's a difference between the two, I can take criticism just fine, I'm not able to just turn off my emotions (what I wouldn't give to be a vampire ala Vampire Diaries).  Anyway, getting back to sitting on my mattress being totally overwhelmed, the alien came back.  You see, I don't always have full out panic attacks, sometimes my anxiety comes in pain.  A little over a month ago, I started having a pain in my side, and kept telling Steve it felt like I had an alien living inside me, trying to get out.  At the time I was having major anxiety, but once I was able to get over the issue, the pain went away.  Thinking about all that we have to do in order to get the house in order, the alien made a return appearance.  However, this time I was able to get rid of him pretty quickly.  Instead of sitting there, crying over my frog tape, I went to get my hair done.

 

I don't know how you relax, but as soon as I get in that chair, everything else just disappears.  It helps that I have a couple of the greatest girls handling the mess on my head.  I went for copper red this time, here's the picture I gave her:

 

I'd say she did exactly what I asked for, and I'm in love with my color.  Do you see the purple peeking out? Love!  I thought it would be a bad idea though, seeing as that I'm currently interviewing for a new job.  As it is, they don't know about my tattoos yet.  Steve can't believe that I would be worried that they would have a problem with visible tattoos, seeing as it's 2012 and all, but I totally am.  So, needless to say I thought better of adding purple to my hair.  But wait!  Have you heard of hair chalk?

 

You can "color" pieces of hair, set it with hair spray or heat and it washes out the next time you shampoo.  They were out of the purple at the salon, but I'm going to Ulta this week to look for it.  Yes, I'm probably too old for this, but I don't care, I love being able to change up my look with hair color and makeup whenever I want, it's part of the fun of being a girl.

 

Yesterday we got a good amount of painting done, and got the kitchen all packed up, so I'm feeling a little better about the disaster area that is my house.  I'm sure I'll feel overwhelmed, and stressed every other day, but I'm working hard to manage it on my own.  Yes, there will be meltdowns (must to Steve's dismay) but if it gets us to TX, it's all worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Want to help me pack?

So getting ready to move sucks.  We've been in our house for 14 years next week.  There are so many little things that have needed to be done for so long, and we just kept putting them off.  Now that we want to move in the next couple months, everything needs to be done NOW.  The list is looooong, with not a lot of time, and trying to spend the least amount of money possible.  We've been painting trim, and doors every free minute we have.  I currently have living room furniture in my kitchen, and since we decided we're going to sell a lot of our furniture and buy new, we're sleeping on a mattress on the floor.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that our bedroom set sold so fast, but having all of Steve's clothes in tubs kind of sucks.  I'm not one for ironing, so if you see us in the next month or two, he's gonna be wrinkly.  My wonderful friend has been at our house painting the ceilings for us this week.  Have I mentioned how much I hate to paint?  I do.  A lot.  The realtor said maybe it would be a good idea to paint more neutral colors (I like bright, orange, yellow, green, you need sunglasses in my house.)  We're painting the ceiling white, good enough for me.  I know there are people out there who can't get over color, but if you're not going to buy my house because you don't like the paint color, then I don't want you to have it.

We picked out our cabinets and countertops last weekend, hopefully they'll be in around the first weekend of Nov.  Tile is being purchased tonight, that gives Steve 3 weeks to get the floor done.  Sounds like plenty of time right?  We'll see about that. 

I have another interview in 20 minutes, wish me luck, I'll let you know how it goes!

First world problems:  I love reading other blogs, but when you're 24, still in school and your parents pay your rent so you don't need to work, don't complain that you missed out on that great Kate Spade purse because you couldn't get online fast enough for the sale.  Some of us have to work our booties off to be able to afford a Kate Spade.  At the outlet.  For 60% off.

Edited to add:  You bet I went online to see if there's a Kate Spade outlet near where we'll be in TX.

Hey, I'm still here

So yeah, just call me slacker.  It’s not that I don’t have anything to say, because I do.  I guess I’ve just become a little disenchanted with the beauty world lately.  I go on the beauty forums, and lately, it seems like no one is happy with anything.  I went on Birchbox’s Facebook page the other day, and saw people threatening to tell everyone in the WORLD what a waste the service is because one of the samples they got was too small, and another complaining about getting nail polish in their beauty box.  I mean, the nerve!  Who would want a beauty product in their beauty box?  I look at it this way, Birchbox is fun.  $10 a month is going twice to Starbucks, if I don’t get something great in my box this month, I hope next month will be better.  If it’s not, then it’s up to me to cancel or find another box I like better.  It’s things like this that have just kind of taken the fun out of it for me lately. 

So, here’s what’s new with me.  We’re moving to TX.  Not like, we’re talking about maybe moving at some point in the future, we’re moving.  I’ve been interviewing with a company, and it’s looking pretty good.  We have a town picked out we like, and are going down next month to check it out and look at some houses.  We’re working with a realtor, and trying to remodel our kitchen in the next month to get our house on the market by Thanksgiving.  Do I want to move in the middle of winter? No!  But, at least we’re heading south away from the cold, right?  So, in an effort to get back into blogging more, besides my usual hoarding of beauty products, I’m asking you to follow me as this Chicago girl heads south to TX.  I’m sure I’ll have a lot to talk about.

First world problems:  I’m 5’7”, why is it that if I buy regular length jeans I can sew them up at the bottom like they’re footie pajamas?  I bought a pair in short length yesterday and they’re perfect.  If I’m considered short, what is regular?



4 Butter London Polishes for $11!

Ok, this is a great deal seeing as they're usually $14 each.  Hurry though, I'm sure it won't last long!

 

Coterie is in their pre-launch, the site officially launches on the 17th.  Right now though, you can get 3 Butter London polishes, and either a Matte, or Hardwear topcoat for $11!  They have 6 colors to choose from.  When I looked this morning they were sold out of 5, but this afternoon they must have restocked, and added the Hardwear topcoat option.  Here's how you get this great deal:

 

Go to www.coterie.com/preview

 

In the first box type in OBSESSED-VIP

Then fill in your e-mail and a password

 

Once you're in, go to events and you'll see the Butter offer.  Click on shop, pick if you want the Matte or Hardwear topcoat and pick your 3 shades.  It'll show as $36 for your total.

 

Go to checkout.  Fill everything in, but in promo code type in VIPMEMBER.  This will take $25 off of your order!

 

Like I said, this won't last long, but they did restock, so if it's sold out keep checking!

I need a rain day

Is it bad that I'm hoping for a rain day on the weekend so I can get caught up around here?  I have a list of things to post about, and a pile of products I need to take pictures of, and no time to do it.  I don't think I'll get my rain day this weekend, but I'm hoping to carve some time out.  We have a realtor coming tonight to tell us what we need to do in order to get our house ready to sell, so I'm sure that list won't be short.  It seems any free time we do get is spent taping and painting.  I'm hoping to get all the little things done before we start the big things. Kitchen and bath remodel anyone?  It'll all be worth it when we're packing up and on our way to Texas!

 

So a short post today, anyone use Twistbands?  I received one in my first Birchbox, and pretty much immediately ordered a 6 pack of them.

 

So yes, I paid $12 for 6 little pieces of elastic, but for my thick hair they work so well!  They're gentle on hair, and don't leave a dent.  I spend many weekends on the back of a motorcycle.  If we stop and get off anywhere I usually look like I just got out of a wind tunnel.  With these I can take my hair down, run a brush through it and I'm good to go.  Really though? $12 for 6?  I thought I could do better than that, and I did.

 

 

I give you 80 for a whopping $16, and $4 of that was shipping!  I was able to get 20 yards of the same elastic Twistband uses and in under an hour made all these.  I held one of mine next to one of the authentic bands and couldn't tell the difference.  Twistband would charge over $156 for these.  Now will I ever use all of them? No.  But, I did put them on my trade list, if they help get me more products that I'll use for virtually $0 then it was definitely worth it!



Because who doesn't want food delivered to their door?

I've been MIA for awhile.  Work has been busy, then add in a trip to Texas and I go back into slacker mode.  I have a ton to talk about, so I'm hoping to get caught up here in the next week. 

 

In the meantime, there are a couple great deals going on over at DailyCandyDeals.  The first one is for Love With Food.

 

 This box is normally $10 a month, plus $2 shipping for a box with at least 8 gourmet food samples.  And the best part is that with every box purchased, Love With Food donates a meal to a hungry child.  With this deal, you can get 3 months for $15, plus a one time $2 delivery charge.  It does automatically bill you every 3 months, so if you don't want to pay $36 each quarter, make sure to cancel after you receive your third box.

 

Next up is Mistobox.  This box sends you 4 coffee blends each month for $15.  You save a little if you sign up for 6 or 12 months.  This deal gets you 2 months for $15.  The shipping is free, but there is a processing fee of $.50.  Again, make sure to cancel after the 2 months if you don't want it to automatically renew.

 

 

Until tomorrow night (Friday Sept 7th) if you enter the promo code laborday you save $10 on your order, so you can get either box for just $5.



The reason my mailman hates me

I just have to say, it's a good thing I was home from work on Monday to intercept the mail.  If the husband would've gotten home first to see all the packages that came, he probably would've had a heart attack.  Granted I only paid for 2 of them, but he didn't know that at the time.  I, however, had a blast going through all my goods.  The rain on my vacation day didn't even bother me when I had new loot to check out.  Here's what showed up that day:

 

 

First was a trade.  I believe I sent her a Laura Gellar eye spackle, and lip gloss, and got all this in return.  That bottle on the bottom right is a Demeter roll on in Clean Skin, and oddly enough that's exactly what it smells like.  I've been in love with Demeter scents for years and was happy to get this one.

 

Next up,

 

A bunch of dish soap samples from Caldrea, along with a spot treater.  I've actually been looking for Caldrea but haven't been able to find it offered anywhere near me so I was happy to get these.

 

 

This one was a bit of a surprise.  Lancome shadow quad in Pretty Pretty.  This was a freebie for doing surveys for L'Oreal's consumer testing panel.

 

This was my Bzz kit that I posted about earlier.  You can kind of see in this pic how light the color is, way lighter than my skin tone.  I guess a lot of people ended up with colors that didn't match their skin.  I was able to test the products just fine, just can't use them beyond that.

 

This was one of my 2 paid shipments.  I used my 20% anniversary coupon from Birchbox.  Supergoop sunscreen, Sabon foot cream (OMG love!), J.R. Watkins lemon hand and cuticle salve, and Origins Checks & Balances (of which is the husband's HG cleanser).

 

 

I was so excited about this one, my free sample of Rose Hips Black Soap from Shea Terra.  This is a 1oz sample and will last a good long time.  I had heard so much about this cleanser I couldn't wait to try it.

 

And when I requested the sample, they were nice enough to tell me about their 30% off coupon code that was currently going on.  I ran to the website and placed a full size order.  Full size Rose Hips Black Soap (review to come later), Man Power Shea Healing Balm, Bananas & Baobabs lip butter, and mini shea whippers in Bananas & Baobabs, Gingered Pumpkin, and Vanilla Bourbon.  They also sent 3 samples of other products.  I can't even begin to say how much I love Shea Terra products.  Their August 30% off promotion ended yesterday, and since I didn't want to wait for the Sept one I placed a 2nd order.  I'll be getting the full size Bananas & Baobabs whipped shea butter, and Premium Dark Chocolate Sugar-Stone Exfoliating Cream. 

 

All that in one day.  When I walked outside and saw boxes stacked on my porch I figured that was it, then I could barely get everything out of my mailbox since it was packed so tight.  After all this I should be good for a long while.  (Who am I kidding right?)