Halloween Manicure

 

I love painting my nails, and while it's usually a ritual I do every week, between the smell and some people saying the chemicals/odor are bad for the baby, I can't follow my norm during pregnancy.  I was lamenting the loss of fancy nails, until I remembered that I had stashed away some nail effect stickers that Jeff got me like a year ago.  I thought they'd make the perfect Halloween manicure, if they could just last as long as they suggested they would-10 days.

If you've never used these before, here's the run-down:
Super cinch to put on.
They have a slight odor, but I don't think I'd notice it if I wasn't pregnant.
Mine lasted from Friday night to Wednesday looking acceptable; they started to chip pretty fast, but luckily this design hid it well.  So, obviously, they didn't last as long as I hoped, but I didn't really expect them to stand up to dish-washing, floor scrubbing, crafting, or toddler nibbling.
I thought I could save the extra strips for touch-ups, although the instructions say to throw them away immediately. I was right and wrong. The strips dry out really fast once their pouch is opened, but I applied a clear coat to my bare nail, stuck on the dried out nail effect, snipped it down to shape, then applied a clear top coat and it held for another day or two.

Overall, I loved how easy these were to use and that my nails were dry and usable right away, but they are a little pricey considering they don't last very long with my hard-hitting lifestyle (hah).  So great for me during pregnancy, but I'll be going back to the usual once the baby comes along.

Back to Halloween manicures like these:

Halloween Layered Drinks

 

I was on the look out for something easy but festive to do for the Halloween playdate I'm hosting for a few mama's in my neighborhood when I came across layered drink ideas.  Easy-check. Festive-check.  While the kiddies nibble witch fingers or goblin eye balls, we'll be sipping on some bewitching brews.

Here's how to do it:

You need drinks with different levels of sugar content, like 30 grams, 15 grams, 0 grams. I found that the difference in sugar needed to be at least around 10 grams. Fill a glass with ice, then slowly pour in the drink with the highest sugar content, filling glass about 1/3 full. Repeat with the next highest sugar content, then finish with the drink with the lowest sugar content.  Remember, pour SLOWLY! 

I only used two different drinks because baby doesn't like artificial sweeteners and colored drinks with low- to no- sugar aren't really in existence.  I used pina colada drink mix for the bottom layer, and orange gatorade, green margarita mix (just the mix, no alcohol of course), and blueberry pomegranate juice for the top layers. I drank the margarita mix one first (yeah, it was that kind of day), but liked the juice the best.

Now go get brewing!

Weekend Mirths: Let the Halloween Celebration Begin

Inspired by one of my all-time favorite costumes, we three attended our Church/community Trunk or Treat and Chili Cook-off this weekend as three visually impaired rodents. Jeff was actually supportive of the idea and had a good time being a blind mousy, I, too, was happy acting like a dork, and Sawyer wore his whole costume (ok, he went sans sunglasses after about 10 minutes) the entire night! Ears and all! I love this costume because it's so simple to pull off and so ridiculously fun to behave like a blind mouse.

And I would know, I've had experience.

So once I realized this was our last Halloween as a family of three, I put aside my other plans and pulled out the mouse-eared headband, dug around the dollar store for fluffy pink socks and gloves, and sniffed out some head-to-toe grey in each of our closets.  

Normally we bring more than just ourselves to the Chili Cook-off and we tote over our never-fail, always the winner, spectacular white chicken chili, but Jeff suggested we "let someone else win this year." :)

But if you ever want to win a chili cook-off, bring a white chili to the party.  It generates some discord, some people cry unfair, but most people cry out "delicious!" and you go home with bragging rights and a prize. 

On a totally unrelated, pintrest-worthy note, look at my neighbor's awesome idea for a Sir Toppem Hat outfit and Thomas the Tank wagon! She told me her boy specifically requested a little pudge around the middle to make his tummy look just right.

3 Years and Counting

This is what I used to do my mother's house and it's pretty much what I've let Sawyer do to my house today. He's had a jolly good time running from one toy box to the next, tearing through the contents, playing with what he likes, then strewing toys all across the floor as he heads in search of his next exploration.  I haven't had the where-with-all to keep up, because I feel like a mess myself today.

It's the day of my third year, post-cancer follow-up, the first time I've gone 6 months between check ups; and basically, these appointments are a nightmare.  I try to let them creep up and surprise me so they're not making me fret for days and days, but even though I forgot about this one until I got the reminder call last night, I still couldn't sleep and I've been anxiously waiting all day for the appointment to come and get itself over with.  Not that they ever go badly, I'm actually doing remarkably well, but it's a day of reliving 7 months of what we could call "legalized medical torture for a good cause"-more commonly known as cancer treatment.

I've always been really positive about my cancer experience because I witnessed intensely the power and love of my Heavenly Father and learned at a young age how to endure trials well, and I consider these two pieces of knowledge great tools for living strong and happy each day. But there are so many terrible, terrible things that I can also associate with the experience.  And while I overlook them in light of all the good, days like today-days where I have to back to where it hurts so badly-bring out memories of all the pain and fear and struggle.

My appointment is at 3:15pm and I don't want to go, but I will.  I won't want them to stick me with a needle one more time, but they will.  I won't want to talk about my ongoing symptoms and the possible deteriorations I have to look out for, but I will.  And hopefully by 4:15 it will be all over and I can breathe a tremendous sigh of relief, say a prayer of gratitude, and get back to counting all my beautiful blessings.  I can go back to having a day like every other, and maybe even get all those toys picked up.

Jakers Pumpkin Patch

Oh you know, just a million pictures of us having some ridiculously good fun at the pumpkin patch.

We explored the corn pit, hay rides, petting zoo (complete with kangaroo!!!), mini hay maze, giant hay maze, horses, cows, and mules, made our own wagon ride, and examined all the pumpkins they had for sale.  Can you believe all this was free?! I love this little family-friendly corner of the world.

30 weeks

Truth be told, I've been feeling absolutely terrible! It's like I'm caught in a first trimester relapse and I've had no energy and have felt so sick and bland and blah.  Add to that the glories of third trimester insomnia, and well, lets just say I haven't been too pleasant to be around (most especially if your name is Jeff and you are my husband). To that poor, beat up man, I give my sincerest apologies.  This too, shall pass. Now rub my feet, and put your back into it! 

I'm on the brink of nailing down what's making me feel ill, and I've charted two triggers so far: milk in the morning, and not eating smaller meals with greater frequency throughout the day.  I'm amending my ways to accommodate these two things, and so far I've felt better, so maybe this week we'll eat something other than soup and crackers for dinner.  Any suggestions? 

Foothill Hillbillies

  

{my old man, studying the world}

{his face!!}

As we packed up our things and headed back to our cars, my cousin Jeff summated the evening the best when he asked, "Why the hel-er, heck, haven't we done this before?!!"
(the mid-sentence expletive swap came after a glance at his baby girl in his arms-excellent choice Jeff :) 

There may not be too many crisp, clear, and virtually perfect days left in the year, but letting a fire burn down to coals and roasting hobo dinners while toddlers ran themselves into a beautiful night's sleep, chasing a football and exploring the mountain stream, was the best night we've had in a long time.  We've been nearly overrun these past few months with job searching and final semestering and practically-single parenting and new baby preparing, it's been easy to forget that there's more to do than just what is needed; there's sunk-in-deep, fully invested, life to be lived.  There's family to share fall evenings with and moments to savor before they're memories forever.  It's a wonder to me that, consistently, uncomplicated things- like meat and veggies wrapped in tin foil and hardly cooked after spending 30 minutes on the fire- are what bring me the most fulfilling joy.  And sharing these un-fussy things with family and good friends are what really makes them nest down deep in my heart.  This evening was a reminder that wherever life takes us, family and friends will always be a part of our life well-lived.