Thankfulness Day 21

Today completes my beauty week and I thought I would give a little shout out to the men in our lives. Husbands, sons, boyfriends, uncles, dads.......if anyone likes to spike their hair this is it:

Sexy Hair Hard Up Holding Gel


A little bit mixed with water goes a long way! This gel will hold all day long and it smells great too! My hubby loves it and I steal it often for my son Kai. ;)

Today I am thankful for the men in my life.

Thankfulness Day 20

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation


I don't use foundation. I hate how it rubs off on my shirts, my hands, and on my husbands clothes when I hug him. I've tried all kinds and my face still feels clogged. So I found this powder from MAC and it gives my face the illusion of having the foundation on but it's really just in powder form. It costs about $26 and it has lasted me 2 years! (That's probably too long to have a makeup product but I don't follow makeup rules) If you haven't tried it I'm sure you will love it just as much as me!

Today I am thankful that less is more sometimes.

Thankfulness Day 19

I would like to present to you the hairdryer like no other hairdryers! This baby will be your new best friend and NEVER abandon you because she just lasts forever AND she doesn't make you spend too much time with her because she is so powerful your hair will be done in half the time! Between $70-$130 is her cost but it is worth every penny if you have thick hair that takes forever to dry or if you are just sick of your dryer breaking every few years. I'll never go back to another dryer. Nope! I'm sticking to my Solano!



For those of you who use straight irons I highly recommend this one. Once again I will not use any other because it lasts me and gets super hot and my hair super straight! I surprisingly found this HAI ceramic iron on Amazon for $52 and I think I paid $70 so I'm guessing they are around those prices. It's so worth it!

So today I am thankful for the inventions that make me happy and tame my curly frizzy locks of hair.

Thankfulness Day 18

I love Mac Makeup! Their brushes are especially nice but I can't seem to spend that much money on them. Instead I decided to get creative, go to Michaels Crafts Store, and purchase small painting brushes for my makeup. The results: Amazing! I use a flat tip brush to smooth eye shadow on the lid and the brush with a point in the middle for the crease in my eye. These brushes are about 75% cheaper then the name brand ones and work just as good in my opinion!

Today I am thankful for being frugal and persistent!

Thankfulness Day 17

Sephora Collection Lash Stretcher

Along with other cheap things I've bought mascara has been one of them. I'll buy what is on sale and I have a coupon for. However one time I just decided to spend a teensy bit more and try this one out. Now it's one of my favorites. I've tried two of Sephora's mascaras (Sephora Brand) and I've loved both of them! At $14 a piece it's really a good deal.

So today I am thankful for finding this mascara and spending just a bit more to try something new.

Thankfulness Day 16

Today is day #2 of my favorite beauty products. I've never been too attached to face lotions or cleansers. I will try whatever is on sale. They all seem about the same to me too. Then one time I was testing a new product (and getting paid) and it gave my skin a glow and I loved it! The product was unlabeled so I had to try to find something like it at the store and this was it:



Aveeno Positively Radiant lotion gives my skin a glow and makes me actually feel pretty BEFORE I put on makeup! Now that is quite some lotion. It also has a good spf in it. I don't think I'll ever switch.

So today I am thankful for finding this wonderful face lotion!

Thankfulness Day 15

This week I'm dedicating to some of my favorite beauty products! I think sometimes we all need encouragement and direction on what to buy and what other woman use and love.

I am a licensed Cosmetologist and I've used all sorts of brand named Shampoos and Conditioners. However I found something that is cheap (I'm talking cheap!)and works so great with my hair.



Suave Sleek Shampoo. I have really thick wavy hair and I need something that will help weigh it down, make it soft, and make it flatter. This works so well, it smells great, and is so inexpensive! I've heard the other Suave shampoo's are great too and definitely worth trying out once. I get mine at Target or Walmart.

Today I am thankful for not having to spend money on expensive shampoos when Suave has what I need!

Thankfulness Day 14

I really enjoy running outside. You put me on a treadmill indoors and I'm done in 5 minutes but there is something about the outdoors that I love! This morning was one of those days. The rain clouds hovered above and the sun was out also. It was a beautiful morning. When I run I can clear my head and I feel that I can have my alone time with God. Some of my best quiet times with God are on my runs. This morning was one of them. I even ran 4 miles and that is GOOD for me!

Today I am thankful for the ability to run and the joy I find in it.

Thankfulness Day 13

Today was a hard day. Nothing seemed to go right and Nash was "him" you know the not so sweet boy that just can't be my child?!

However there was one thing that stood out today. It was when my boys were sitting together on a chair watching a show. Nash had swiped a pacifier from his room that I didn't know about (he only gets them at nap) and they were peaceful. Then Kai looks at Nash and says "Nash, I just love you" and Nash looks at him, mumbles something with his pacifier, and leans his head down to Kai's shoulder. It was the cutest thing ever!

Today I am thankful that amidst the fighting I can see my boys still love each other very much.

Thankfulness Day 12

I love that my boys have a soft side. They are both sensitive and are attached to something. Around 1 years old Nash started grabbing this blanket, in which he calls his softie, and drags it around the house all day. He cries when we have to wash it and cries for it to leave the house with him daily. If he comes over and gives it to you it means he really likes you or wants you to hold him.

As for Kai, well he wasn't really attached to anything until Nash came along with his softie. Since then Kai can't sleep without his Clifford. He likes to say that Clifford misses him when he isn't around. It's really cute.

Today I am thankful for the comfort my boys find in Cotton.

...it's just a few errands.

Let's just start with this morning: I drove Kai to preschool and was trying to sign him in. The teach told me that Nash is not to touch ANY toy in the classroom for fear of him contaminating everything with germs! So I held Nash as I attempted to sign Kai in but Nash insisted on washing his hands at their sink so he started to hit and kick me so I would let him down. I held on tighter and firmly told him to STOP but instead of listening and saying "okay mommy, sorry" (I can dream) he pulled down my shirt AND bra to reveal my hidden treasure! I of course let him down in fear of being kicked out for public nudity and he washed his hands, arms, and sweatshirt while I signed Kai in!

Now we'll skip to picking Kai up: I picked him up from preschool and brought both kids to Chick-fil-A for some free chicken! A tantrum began as I placed a horrible rule on my boys to eat their food and NOT play in the playground until it's gone. So no food was eaten and I just took them straight to my simple, short, easy errands!

First up-Michaels for some ribbon. I stuck Nash in the cart and let Kai walk. Nash started pulling all the ribbon off the aisles saying that he needed it. When I grabbed it out of his hands he screamed at the top of his lungs that he didn't like it and wanted OUT of the cart! I grabbed the ribbon and went to checkout as Kai ran quickly out of sight at the store. I paid and then mangeled the kids back together and tried to buckle them in. Nash hit me in the face and Kai went running around the parking lot!

As if I hadn't had enough I took them to Walmart. This time I put them BOTH in the cart and went straight to the items I needed. I was waiting for fabric to get cut while Nash saw the bell and screamed that he needs to push it. Over, over, over, and over again! I calmly told him no he can't, he'll get in trouble, etc but his mind was set! All the while the kids where fighting back in forth and clawing each other, exchanging items to hold, and fighting over other items!

I vowed to myself that two kids are not allowed to go to the store together and it will NOT happen again ANYTIME soon!

And THAT was my day!

Thankfulness Day 11

It's been a long 10 months of trials and growth. The pruning has hurt and been extremely uncomfortable. We are not out of the woods yet but having a new job for Devin I feel that I can look back safely and see the growth. Our dependence on God and our trust in Him has truly been tested and I believe we have come out stronger and unharmed.

Today I am thankful for the pruning in this last year and the people Devin and I have become.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and be complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

Thankfulness Day 10

Today at Nurture, a moms group at church, we talked about our marriages and what it is that a man needs. We took a look at ourselves and the ways we want to be loved and the respect that a man needs to help him feel loved.

Today I am thankful for Nurture and how it helps us women to take a real look at our marriages and how we are contributing in a good or bad way to our husbands.

Have you affirmed your spouse today?

What kind of ways can you give love sacrifically where you have no expectations of getting anything in return?

What is your favorite quality in your spouse?

Thankfulness Day 9

For the last 8 months or so we've been going to Chick-fil-A on Tuesday nights for dinner. I didn't know about this place until I moved back here and let me tell you I'm in LOVE! The one by our house has the best owners! Every Tuesday night kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal, they have a craft table, sometimes a balloon guy, an indoor playground, and always a great big cow dressed up and walking around! (Nash use to run away terrified from him but now runs up to him and gives him a high five!) Plus once a month they have every 100th guest eats free chicken for 1 year, free breakfast items on friday morning, and this week eat a free item to help celebrate their anniversary! It's the best chicken around!

The best part of Chick-fil-A is that they are closed on Sundays because the founder is a Christian.

Today I am thankful for Chick-fil-A and the many memories my boys will have playing there and meeting new friends!

Thankfulness Day 8

Today I am thankful for the JOB Devin got!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since April 1st he has been unemployed and after hundreds of resumes being sent out we still got no response. He had two interviews in 10 months and that was it for the corporate world! As I've been pleading with God and asking for understanding I felt like He kept telling me to seek Him, spend time with Him, and all our needs will be provided for. In other words, stop applying for jobs for your husband and start sitting with me because I have it already taken care of! Well wouldn't you know it, this head hunter found Devin's resume on Monster and called him! The pay is good and after 4 interviews he got job! It's through a temp agency and it's a 1 year contract position but it gets his foot in the door and it's a GOOD job! Seriously we couldn't even get a part time $8 an hour job and then this comes along.

The Lord told me I will find joy in February and I knew it was a job. I told Devin that back in January. Then last week our friend and anointed man of God, told Devin that he saw his resume being revealed to the top of the stack and that jobs were being released to some in the room (at a prayer night). 2 days later and Devin was in the interview process. God is SO FAITHFUL! We are not out of the woods yet but we are so much closer! Thank you for all your prayers during this time of ups and downs!

Thankfulness Day 7

I'm a creative person. I love doing crafts, playing with peoples hair, making beaded socks, painting, taking pictures, and the list goes on! However God saw it fit to give me two boys. Hmmmm, they don't like drawing, painting, or braids! You give them a hair brush and they make it into a drumstick, give them crayons they'll make them fight, and give them crafts they'll make a gun.

So in order to hang out with the color pink more and help little girls feel pretty I've decided to make tutu's! I love the way a little girl feels after I cut her hair, you can tell she feels beautiful and now she can have a tutu to dance around in afterwards!

I'm custom making them for $25.

Today I am thankful for little girls and their need to dress up in various outfits and feel beautiful!

Thankfulness Day 6

Today I am reminded on how faithful God is with His provision. Since April Devin has filled in or interviewed at many churches in Southern California. One church that keeps calling him back is Compass Bible Church. Although it doesn't look like a good fit overall, it provides Devin with a paycheck as well as tons of experience with a bigger church. God has really grown Devin musically as a worship leader and as a servant for Christ.

Today I am so VERY thankful for my husbands talent as a Worship Leader and the many churches that he so willingly serves at.

Thankfulness Day 5

Discovery Research

Today I am thankful for the $30 I made for tasting pizza for 30 minutes and filling out a survey! Last week I played with cell phones for 1 1/2 hours and got $75!

If you haven't joined you need too!

Thankfulness Day 4

HAIRCUTS, COLOR, HIGHLIGHTS, OH MY!



Since I've been back I have been building clientele with my low prices and the comfort of my own home (plus you can bring your kids WITH you!)

Today I am VERY thankful for my Cosmetology License and the decision I made at 17 to get it! It's a wonderful way to help provide income and it's a great creative outlet for me. I feel very blessed to help increase a woman's beauty.

Thankfulness Day 3

Since April my husband has been out of work and it's been a little like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (you know through Hell and back) however we've really needed this process to grow in our trust with the Lord and communication and time with each other. We both are looking forward to a new beginning though!

So today I am thankful for Devin's 3rd phone interview with:



Please join me in prayer as we seek God's direction and that if this isn't for us it would soon close and not shake our faith.

Thankfulness Day 2

I LOVE Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt! It's a great treat for few calories and I would eat it everyday if my budget allowed. I went to pick one up today and I had a coupon for 20% off to another yogurt store but this Golden Spoon said they would honor it and since they didn't have a button to ring it up they gave it to me for FREE! That's right FREE!

Today I am THANKFUL for my FREE frozen yogurt and for Golden Spoon all together!

Thankfulness Day 1

After almost 1 year of my husband being unemployed and our living situation being with my parents, I've seen myself lose heart often. I know I have so much in life to be thankful for so I'm going to commit to be thankful for something each day and TODAY is DAY 1!

Today I am thankful for mildly cool California winters.