And the winner is.....

   

Your EOS 'sweet mint' lip balm will be coming to you soon!  Most likely with your son's homework...lol...

Thanks for playing everyone!  I love doing giveaways and I now have a list of new lip balms to try! 

Stay tuned for future giveaways!

Move More, Eat Healthy Update

Yeah it ain't working.  Still can't fit into my favorite jeans.  Or any of my jeans actually.  Had to buy new jeans.  I'm resorting to calling in the big guns.  Weight Watchers it is.  I'm a Weight Watchers veteran and actually have qualified for a lifetime membership so I know that it works.  Point counting is easier than calorie counting for me and so I'm now a slave to the wonderful (seriously) WW Mobile app.

This time around I'm doing Weight Watchers Online vs going to weekly meetings.  It's cheaper and this blog will serve as my weekly meeting.  My weigh in day will be each Friday.  So here we go...

My current weight:  172

My goal weight:  154

Gain/Loss this week: 0  

 

The mix tape just never goes outta style!

This year for Valentine's Day, Aaron and I exchanged mix 'tapes' full of love songs.  This is SOOO much easier in this day and age to do...download the songs, pop into a playlist and burn a CD--done!  Or even simpler just copy onto an iPod. 

Back in the day (late 80's for me), I'd sit and listen to Power 98.9 on Saturday nights for hours and hours and try to be quick with the record button to tape my favorite songs onto cassettes.  Or I'd tape hours at a time and then go back using the 2 cassette feature on my dad's boom box and 'remaster' an all-hits tape. Priceless to me is that I still have many of the mix tapes I made back then!  In fact I have 4 boxes full of my old tapes...now I just need to hunt down a tape player to actually listen to them...hmmm...  

Anyhow, it's been awhile since Aaron and I made CDs for each other so we decided to resurrect the idea for V-day this year.  Aaron went all sweet and included songs that are meaningful to us over the years.  He even recorded a couple that he played and sang and included them on the CD.  Did I go sweet?  Yeah not so much...started out nice but then took a turn to crazy obsessive love street!  Ahh...talk about going old school....  ;-)

(My 'Crazy Love' mix to Aaron is below.)

 

New Obsession...EOS Lipbalm - (Giveaway Post!)

It's been documented on my blog before but I am lip-gloss addicted.  About a month ago I came across a new to me 'chapstick' that just makes me happy.  It's EOS Lipbalm and comes in the cutest little egg shaped orb!  It's not a chapstick you can pop into your pocket because of the size/shape but it's one you can easily find when it falls to the bottom of your purse.  I started with the honeydew melon and have proceeded to collect 3 more flavors since--can you say obsessive?  I now see on their website there is a tangerine available, gotta have it!  I found my EOS at my local Rite Aid and Walgreens stores and they cost about $3 each.  It's very moisturizing and smooth and all the flavors have a good taste too.  I must say it's not the most long-lasting lip balm I've tried but it's so fun to put on I don't mind! 

And just for fun I picked up an extra EOS 'sweet mint' lip balm that I thought I'd give away to a blog reader!!  Just leave me a comment here on this post telling me what your favorite lip balm/lip gloss/lipstick is and you will be entered to win.  I will draw a name at random on Monday, Feb 21st at 9pm. Good luck!

Happy (belated) New Year!

I'm a bit late (19 days to be exact) but I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  I'm actually quite surprised we are 19 days into the new year (and over halfway done with the school year-say what?) already.  I've been busy doing a lot of things that needed to be done but I've put off.  I have taken a bit of a break from Juella Designs as well.  I'm mentally changing up my business plan and physically plan to do it in the next month or so.  I'm excited for the change.  

No new years resolutions for me (well kinda-I'm keeping last years going for those in the know...lol). 

No big announcements of the physical fitness, weight loss variety either.  Whenever I do that I inevitably get hurt and derailed.  I'm keeping it simple--Move More, Eat Healthy.  Simple.  Now do it.  :-) 

Brother's House Remodel....

As I mentioned a month or so ago I was given the opportunity to redecorate/redesign a second room in my brother's house (see Just Call Me An Interior Decorator).  Last week I tackled that room!  The room itself was a converted porch area into a 3rd "bedroom," about 14 feet by 6 feet.  He was just planning to use the room as storage but instead I converted it into an office/studio.  I'm very thrilled with the results and I think he is too!  Though I'm now seeing the photos I captured don't fully reflect the change.  The room is tiny and I really needed a wide angle lens. 

BEFORE:

An ugly pinkish paint covered the walls along with baby poop brown trim paint.  An ugly linoleum covered the floor and smelled like many more dogs than just my brothers used it as a bathroom.  The windows have been painted over so many times they couldn't open.  We managed to pry 2 of them open. 

 

AFTER:

I painted the walls a bright white (Behr Polar Bear) and the trim a bright apple green (Behr Pepper Grass).  Don't look too close to the window trim-it's hideous and needs some more TLC.  I painted the inset area, which was previously a window patched in when the room was remodeled, with black chalkboard paint.  Jeff's main interest for this room was to have an office and a room he could paint in.  I propped an easel with waiting canvas in the corner and purchased a baker's rack for him to store his art supplies. 

A crazy last minute idea was to retile the floor.  I found these inexpensive vinyl tiles at Lowes and retiled the floor all by myself!  Quite a feat for someone who hates measuring! 

I found this desk at Amazin Finds in Redding and it fits perfectly at the far end of the room.  I also purchased the wood sorter that sits on top at the same store.  The beige filing cabinet has been replaced by a black one also found at Amazin Finds on a second trip.  I also set him up with all the basic office supplies--while planning the room at his house I was hard pressed to find even a scrap of paper or a pencil!  Whether you decide to run a business or write a novel....You're all set now Jeff!

The last few days we've been working on some home redecorating projects at our own home.  I took some before shots....stay tuned for afters!  (But please be patient.  It'll take me some time to commit to paint colors.)

 

Day 25 of My Favorite Things

Merry Christmas everyone! 

My Favorite thing EVER?  My husband and my kids.....I LOVE YOU GUYS!! 

Day 24 of My Favorite Things

Day 24 is all of my family and friends!!  I love you all!  I love, love, love getting Christmas cards and adding them to my crazy manzanita branches--I love to see all the happy smiling faces of our friends and family.  Last year I kept this tree up for about 7 months!  Hated to take it down.  Thank you everyone who has touched our lives. 

Day 21, 22, 23 of My Favorite Things

This daily posting thing is hard!  OK, I've slacked but I've got 3 good ones to share. 

Day 21...Glitter!  Specifically Martha Stewart's Glitter--all the pretty colors, oh my.....

I have glittered everything around me these last couple holiday months...it was skulls, then pumpkins, now Christmas trees.  Tomorrow I plan to glitter some bangle bracelets-just for fun.  I love this set from Michaels with 24 pretty colors--grab a 40% off coupon, get it and glitter the world!

  Day 22....Fuji Instax Camera!  Aaron bought this for me for my birthday last year and it is such a fun treat!  Like the Polaroid's of old but with business card sized prints.  I even purchased some photo albums specifically made for this camera and have scrapbooked at an event!  The only scrapbooking I've done in YEARS! 

Day 23 is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution cookbook!  I am not a good cook but with this book I feel like I can make excellent meals.  And healthy meals.  And learn something in the process.  We just made a chicken Thai recipe from it that I've had 3 meals straight....good stuff!  He teaches a way to make rice that I've never tried before and will never go back to my old way.  In the new year I plan to try most every recipe in there (do I hear New Year's Resolution?)

 

Hair OBSESSED!

Remember from only a few days ago (Day 16 Favorite Things) and I talked about my fairly drastic hair cut?  Well already I've changed it!  Amy P. is still my favorite thing but she got upped a notch even higher in my book for putting up with my neurosis and giving me an even better cut!  I went the weekend just not vibing on the first cut...I just didn't feel like me.  Why wait 6 weeks or so until the next cut?  I called her up and she totally understood me and we went for the full she-bang! 

I love it!!!  And you know what's even funnier?  I went in to see her with a new inspiration photo.  A picture of a cartoon character!  Ha! 

Day 20 of My Favorite Things

Just back from a trip so I think I'll make the destination my Day 20 Favorite Thing!  San Francisco! 

San Francisco didn't used to rank up there in favorites for me but over the years we have gone down quite a few times, all for different purposes and I have loved each and every trip.  The city offers so much and is so close to us (about 3.5 hours) that I am embracing it as a favorite.  This last visit my Mom, Ella and I went to the Holiday edition of Renegade and as always had a great time.  We stayed in a really eclectic and modern hotel in the SOMA district that was within walking distance of of Union Square.  So of course we had to walk to my faves Sephora and Anthropologie!  We also visited Japantown for the first time.  Loved it--much more laid back then Chinatown and a fun experience.  And there's always the food experience...something I love to research and enjoy on trips.  We had great burgers, boba tea, baked goods to die for.... 

So much to see and so much to do in SF....but Shh....don't tell my real favorite city Chicago! 

Day 17 and 18 and a bonus 19 of My Favorite Things

Playing catch up here!  It's been crazy these last days leading up to Christmas.  Kids are now out of school, finishing up on my last minute orders and getting ready to go to Renegade in San Francisco for a couple of days. 

My Day 17 Favorite Thing is Divine Twine! 

I use this stuff for everything--gift wrap, tags, mini banners, crafting, jewelry packaging.  All the colors just make me happy!

 

My Day 18 Favorite Thing is Washi Tape!

You might be asking, what the heck is washi tape?  Well I'll tell ya!  It's Japanese masking tape and comes in yummy colors and patterns.  I love, love, love it!  I've got quite the collection going.  Like the Divine Twine, I use this stuff for everything.  It's perfect for various jewelry packaging needs becasuse it peels off easily and doesn't leave sticky residue. 

My Day 19 Favorite Things is all the kawaii Japanese imports! 

In Japan, kawaii basically means "cute" or "adorable".  Hello Kitty would fall into this category.  I do like Hello Kitty but I LOVE all the other Japanese cuteness stuff out there!  I have a mini collection of notepads, pencils, stickers, mini bags, etc of Japanese imported items that I just love to look at.  It's a bit of a reversion to my 8 year old self, but so what!?  I've bought some things online but I recently found out a friend locally has begun selling all things Japanese and it makes me so happy! 

My daughter started a little business over the summer called Kawaii Belle and many of the cute stuff she created definitely fits this bill...so cute!

 

 

 

Day 16 of My Favorite Things

I told myself that I was going to keep my "25 Days of Favorite Things" list to material items only...reason being I could fill the 25 days easily by listing my family members, friends and other important people in my life.  As shallow as it may be I wanted to only talk about "things."  Well I broke that rule for Rob Thomas (Favorite thing number 12-though a friend reminded me that I've spent enough on him that he's basically a material possession!)  and I'm going to break the rule again...my favorite thing today is my hair stylist-- Goddess Amy P! 

Each time I (and definitely my daughter) have gone to her, it's been magic.  Today I had her lop off a good 12 inches of my hair today and while it could have been 'traumatic', I couldn't be more thrilled!  In fact...I actually want to go shorter!  She is AWESOME with hair cuts but downright genius with color.  Check out that color--the red pops are incredible! Not to mention she is such a fun person--her laugh is infectious! 

Please go check out her page on Facebook....Goddess Amy P.'s Page of Beauty and Inspiration

Let her know I sent ya! 

Here's a couple of peeks at my hair this morning....

 

Day 15 of My Favorite Things

10 days to go, woo hoo!  My day 15 favorite thing is my Ariat Fatbaby boots!  I am not a cowgirl kinda girl but these boots are seriously my most comfortable pair of shoes/boots/slippers.  I can go all day without taking them off or even thinking about taking them.  Rare for me! 

Day 14 of My Favorite Things

  I didn't know this was my favorite until last night but OH MY GOSH it's a major new favorite!  A pure extravagant indulgence but OMG.... Vintner's Cellar of Redding's Cocoa De Dolce.  Last night I attended a wine tasting event which is funny because I'm not a wine drinker-at all.  It was a wonderful evening and while I didn't care for pretty much all the wine we tasted, learning about the different wines and tasting them with various food pairings was actually quite fascinating.  And then we hit our final wine--a chocolate port.  All I can say is "WOW" and "mmmmmmmm....."  Given that I have never bought a bottle of wine before and the first bottle I buy is $40, I think it's best I don't become a wine drinker.  But our Christmas dinner will have an excellent finish.  :-)

Day 13 of My Favorite Things

I LOVE SEPHORA!  I love the freebies, the samples, getting makeovers in the stores, perusing the website for new items, reading reviews of items.  Love it all! I have found many a favorite product at Sephora and could fill a list just with items I found at Sephora. 

 

Day 12 of My Favorite Things

Many know about this obsession but many do not.  Time to fill them in...Day 12 of My Favorite Things is Rob Thomas.  See that photo at left?  I took that.  With my camera.  See how he is singing directly to me?  Yep, it's true.  He loves me. 

And in the spirit of Christmas I leave you with this....

Day 11 of My Favorite Things

My absolute favorite movie is Almost Famous! 

I think I may have unfulfilled dreams of being a band groupie in the 1970's....sigh....

Day 10 of My Favorite Things

My Day 10 'Favorite Thing" is the color Turquoise!  What's funny is turquoise also happens to be the "official" color of the year as determined by Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color.  Did you know there was such a thing?  :-)

Turquoise only has about 20 more days to be the reigning color before it hands it's title over to Honeysuckle.  But it will always be tops in my heart. 

For a little eye-candy of this beautiful color, check out this awesome blog.... House of Turquoise.  I visit often for bursts of inspiration. 

Day 9 of My Favorite Things

 

Give me a Grande Chevy's Strawberry Margarita blended and I am in heaven....