Thursday, July 30, 2009

Summer Break is almost over!

My summer break is quickly coming to an end. Sean and I will be returning to work on Monday for training and then the high schools start on Monday August 10th. Were did the summer go?! Despite feeling like I need a longer break from work, I am glad to go back. I got a raise and Sean got promoted to a higher postition in the district. So, we are really excited for our higher paychecks! I have a feeling this next school year at work will have a lot of things happen before the school year is over. We may try and get pregnant during the school year. We are some what house hunting. We found one we really like....so we will see what happens. By the end of the school year, I will be closer to being done with my own degree. Seans group Color Free will either take off in the next year, or it won't....but i'm pretty positive they will! I'm just really excited to see what this next year holds. A lot can happen in a school year, and I'm ready for it!!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Adoption

I just got finished watching the season finale of "16 and Pregnant" on MTV. This show really bothered me at first. I felt in a way, it was glorifying teen pregnancy. But the season finale was one that I didn't want to miss. It aired on Thursday and I DVR'd it. The girl and her boyfriend decided to place their daughter for adoption, against their families wishes. These two kids are so mature beyond their years. Having ZERO support from their families, and still making the best choice for their daughter.

I've had many people tell me, "I could never do what you did," when referring to me being a birth mom. I know they mean well when they say this, but I almost want to say to them: So...if you were in an abusive relationship, you would want to keep your child and put them in that horrible situation? If God told you that this dear baby belonged to someone else, you would not have the faith to trust in God's plan? If the baby's father left you, you would want your child in a fatherless home, and sealed to no parents? I understand that many married mothers tell me this. But married mothers don't understand. They have a stable situation for their children. But if they were NOT in a stable situation, would they sacrifice for their child?

Most people don't! Most people think it is more noble to keep a child in an unstable environment, then to have that child raised by someone who is not your blood. "Blood is thicker then water" right? I HATE that saying! I was not raised by my blood. Joseph, Jesus' father, was not his biological father. God was the Saviors biological father, yet Joseph loved Jesus as his own. The person that I am closest to in this WHOLE world, is my husband. Am I blood related to him?? Or course not! So, that saying means nothing. In reality, we are all Gods children. So, we are all kind of adoptive parents for God. When you are a birth mom and adopted, you really get a bigger picture of the whole world. Its not about blood. It's about love. It's about God's love and doing His will. It's about making it back to Him so that we can ALL be together as one big family someday.

"I delivered him from Heaven, from God's gentle loving care. I entrusted him to mortals, who have wished and prayed him there. They'll deliver him back to Heaven, where we'll meet again someday." -Cherie Call

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Saturday, July 11, 2009

A yummy treat and some beauty secrets!

There are 2 things I want to blog about. Food and beauty!

First...the food! I've been feeling very antsy about baking lately. I love to bake, but who wants to turn on the oven when it's 100 degrees outside?! So, on the Bakerella blog, I found this great little recipe for Oreo truffles. Not only are they extremely simple to make, they are SOOOO good. I was actually taken back at how good they are! Mine turned out pretty well I think!

Here is the batch.



A close up



Here is the recipe from the Bakerella Blog.

Oreo Truffles

1 package Oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
white chocolate bark

1. Finely crush 7 cookies in a food processor or place them in a Ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency. Reserve for later.
2. Crush remaining cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.
3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. You can sprinkle the tops with the 7 crushed cookies for decoration. (I usually eat mine before they make it to this stage.)
5. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Makes about 36 truffles.

Notes: I used a small cookie cutter to push the mixture through for the heart shaped truffles. Also, it helps to freeze the uncoated balls for a few minutes to keep the mixture from starting to fall apart in the melted chocolate. If this becomes a problem, dip them in the chocolate, let dry and then dip again. They are also good dipped in regular milk chocolate bark. And for an extra twist, use the mint oreo sandwich cookies.

A side note from me: If you are going to decorate them with the extra oreos for decoration, do it right after you dip the balls. That's why only half of mine have the decoration. They harden pretty fast so if you don't do it right away, then it won't work

Beauty

I was asked recently what I use on my face to make it look so nice. Mind you, I have had acne before and it has taken me years to find a good beauty regimen. So, I decided that I would share some of my beauty secrets!

The cleanser that I like the best is this Oil of Olay Cleanser. It really gets all my make up off and doesn't over dry my face. I tried switching once to another cleanser and I went right back to this one. It just works better. It's about $4.48 at Walmart. The toner I use is also Olay. It's just witch hazel and it's around $3 art Walmart.


This moisturizer is the best stuff I have EVER used! I love it. It makes me skin look SO good. Even without make up my skin looks good. It's a little pricey. Its about $14 or $15 at Walmart. I usually will look for Aveeno coupons in the Sunday paper. It also comes out in a pump, so it lasts longer because you are only using a little bit.


This Aveeno scrub works great too. I use it about once a week. It is more affordable at about $6.50.


Last but not least, my foundation and powder. I use Mac Studio Fix Foundation. My color is NC42. It is a great foundation. Makes my skin look beautiful. It is pricey, at $ 26.00 at Macys, but it lasts about 3-5 months. I've used cheaper foundations that were gone in a month, but you don't have to use as much with this foundation. The powder is Minerlize Skin Finish, color Medium Deep. This stuff is really great too! If you don't wear a lot of make-up, this is really all you need as your base. This is $25.00 at Macys and my last one lasted me 6 months!


Side not: If you are on a budget, use vaseline as a moisturizer. I use it as an eye cream. Just don't use too much. You don't want to get the sheets greasy!
And if you wear foundation, try a foundation brush. You can get one at Walmart or Target for pretty cheap and you can use one for years instead of throwing them away like sponges. But if you do use a make-up sponge, make sure it is moist. A dry sponge will just soak up all the foundation, making you use more foundation.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Vegas

Sean and I went to Vegas this last Monday for 4 days. We only went because it was free. We stayed in our free room at the Polo Towers from Monday till Wednesday. We decided to stay an extra day, so we got a cheap hotel room at Excalibur. And it was GHETTO! Which made it MORE fun! And despite all the crap that goes down in Vegas, there are a few perks.
Things I like about Vegas: They have a GREAT winter clearance section at Forever 21 out there. Does it ever get cold in Vegas?
I can get tan in like 20 minutes.
It is really fun to "people watch"!



Sean let me read some Twilight to him on our way there. What a good hubby!



The coke store on the strip..and they had Diet Coke apparel! MY DREAM!



Chillin on the strip



Our view at Polo Towers.



What do you do when you get a ghetto hotel room? Jump on the beds of course!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Our Nina Ballerina is 2!!

2 years ago today, I became and Aunt and Sean became an Uncle. We have loved watching Nina grow up and love how close we are to her. She is a beautiful little princess. We love you Nina Ballerina!!


Nina and Auntie bonding a few hours after her birth. July 5th 2007



Nina and Sierra at our wedding open house. 4 months



Being a gansta with Uncle


First Birthday


Nina giving Auntie some lovin. July 5th 2009



2 years old. Our Ballerina