"GCB"

Just finished watching my dvr'd GCB from last night. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this show!!! I love Kristin Chenoweth (who plays Carlene), I've really enjoyed Miriam Shor's character (Cricket Caruth-Reilly), and am THRILLED Annie Potts is back on tv (as Gigi)! Here are some of my favorite quotes from this first season....

 

 

Carlene: “Cleavage makes your cross hang straight.”

Cricket on having another baby: "I am just not in the position to give up alcohol, sushi, or grabbing stimulus dollars for nine months."

Zach on Sharon's new "Losin' It With Jesus" Diet Meal Plan: "Sharon, you might just be on to something, I don't recall any fat people in The Bible."
Sharon: "I know, right?"

Cricket: "The closest I ever came to abstinence was no salt in my margarita."

Amanda: "How do you apologize for shooting someone?"
Gigi: "That is an etiquette conundrum you will not find in Emily Post. You know, I have Dick Cheney's number someplace."

Gigi on the internet:

Will: "Grandma, I mean Gigi, do you have internet?"

Gigi: "Oh why would I, I don’t watch porn!"

Gigi on Soberity:

Amanda: "I’ve been sober for 18 months."

Gigi: "Why?"

Gigi on Amanda’s decision to raise the children without religion: “Cut the commie crap! My grandchildren are going to church so they can go to heaven. End of story, Amen!”

Amanda: "You’re teaching my son to mix drinks?!?"

Gigi: "Yes. He’ll be employable someday."

Gigi on Big Texas Hair: “Big hair is a sign of confidence and confidence never goes out of style.”

Gigi on Amanda’s daughter’s breast: “Breast who knew… And the best part, her’s are real. That’s going to save you some money missy!”

Gigi on Amanda’s decision to avoid eligible bachelors: “If you don’t put it in the window who’s going to know it’s for sale.”

Gigi on her relationship with God: “God often speaks to me through Christian Dior.”

Gigi and Amanda quarrel:

Amanda: "I’m not a heifer!"

Gigi: "Exactly, you’re not young enough to be a heifer!"

Gigi: "I've been through too much to cry. Husband's death, family trauma, democratic administrations. Don't worry. I'm with ya."

Gigi on California: “I mean why would anybody in their right mind leave Dallas for Southern California. We got the same weather without the liberals.”

If you're not watching this show (ABC Sunday, 9pm) you're missing out!

 

 

(I found the above quotes through a google search on these two websites:

http://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/shows/gcb/

 and http://tvfiends.com/2012/03/05/gcb-quotes-annie-potts-gigi/)

Mint Condition

For my birthday I got some awesome swag (thanks Jamie Lett) from Ulta and this polish is one of my new favs....

Its called "Mint Condition." 

Look how fun it looks with my lime green BCBG heels (from several seasons ago)!!!



Another Year Younger

Had a great night out with the girls celebrating my birthday!!!

 29......AGAIN!

My friend Branden bought me this FABULOUS dress from Blue Moon Market on Main Street in Joplin. I love the detail in the back.....

My BCBG Shoes from Sophie are a PERFECT match!!

This FAB bracelet is a gift from my sister in law, also from Sophie.

Earrings I made for each guest as a party favor. 

Great group of Girls! Thanks to each of you for helping me celebrate another year! 

Look how short I am!!!;0)



Having Fun in the Big D

Ash and I are in Dallas for a looooong weekend visiting Rob (who is here working).

On SATURDAY we spent a FABULOUS day shopping at the Galleria, where I got some great finds at H&M!!!!
Had a (crazy) lunch at the American Girl Bistro/Store, where Ashlyn got one of her doll's hair "did" and acquired a new tennis outfit for her doll (because dolls also need to be fashionable on a pretend tennis court).

After lunch Ash went ice skating for the 2nd time in her life, and rocked it!!

(Rob was golfing during our Galleria excursion....which works out best for all parties involved.)

SUNDAY was ROB's  Big D Half Marathon!! This was the first one he's ever ran in, and he completed 13.1 miles in 1 hour and 52 minutes, 17th in his age division, AND in the POURING rain!! We are very proud of him!!!

Ash with my inlaws, who also came down to see Rob run.

Rob crossing finish line.

Rob with his medal on, sporting my Juicy Couture bling umbrella.

MONDAY we hit the Dallas ZOO.

Always love feeding the giraffes.

Ash riding Mitch the Camel.

Ash dissecting an albatross' bolus (the stuff that is regurgitated from the birds......gross).

TOMORROW the Grapevine Aquarium and more Shopping at the Grapevine Mills Mall!

April's Birchbox

Got my April Birchbox today!! 

This month's deluxe samples are in honor of Earth Day (April 22nd). The skincare samples are packed with nourishing and natural ingredients, plus Taylor Swift's new perfume (sample), Wonderlust (Full-Size $49.50-$59.50). 

 Pangea Organics Facial Scrub (Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean and Cranberry Full-Size $32), Pangea Organics Eye Cream (Turkish Rose and White Tea Full-Size $55), and Pangea Organics full size lip balm (Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit and Sweet Orange Full-Size $12).

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream (Full-Size $33) and Benta Berry G-1 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser (Full-Size $16).

I LOVE scrubs and lip balm, so I can't wait to try each out and report back to you on my favs!

SPEAKING OF...........

Last month I got some tea samples from Birchbox and absolutely loved the Tea Forte' Cherry Marzipan.

I loved (the taste) so much I ordered two boxes this month ($6 for 16 teabags, free shipping). It is a "skin-smart antioxidant amplifier tea that is blended to work with your body's chemistry to help protect your skin from within." This specific green tea is for corrective skin repair.

 Cheaper than botox, right?!? ;>)

**A Birchbox subscription is $10/month and you receive approximately 5 high-end beauty and lifestyle samples monthly. I highly recommend to any of you fellow "product junkies" out there!**

I Like Oxygen

I am ALWAYS on the look out for a new (and better than the last) foundation! I am ALWAYS testing new products (anti-aging, oil free, powder, liquid, cream, with sunscreen, without sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, mineral, etc.)! You know...looking for that one miracle cream!

 And pretty much I ALWAYS end up going right back to my 'ole faithful... Bare Minerals (which I have been using (for eons) since they were just in a few small boutiques, on qvc, and infomercials).

Recently I've been seeing a lot of ads and articles about Benefit Cosmetics' new foundation, "Hello Flawless." I have been a fan of this company for about 12 years now. Their products are fun, and the packaging witty.

"Hello Flawless!" Oxygen Wow is a liquid brightening foundation. It is an oil-free formula with a SPF 25 PA+++ protection.

<PA+++ has been seen most recently in European cosmetics, meaning it contains the SPF protection grade of the UVA filter (+++) and is the highest standard of the sun protection rating.>

This foundation is said to be a "natural-finish" that can build from light to medium coverage.

*I found this foundation to be a bit heavier, more of a medium. However, I DO prefer a heavier coverage, so that may have been more to do with the appliquer and not the applique.

It is also packaged as featuring light-diffusing properties with hydrating benefits.

*My skin did look more hydrated and "radiant" while wearing. I had to apply very little powder through out the day, which is HUGE because I am ALWAYS shiney (as in oily, not sparkly).

The "Oxygen Wow Hydration Complex" is an exclusive formula (that is said) to help boost cellular respiration for a "plumping up" effect and protects from environmental stresses. It also contains vitamins C and E that are known to prevent signs of aging.
*Only my second day of wearing, but so far I'm pretty happy with the results.

I got a free deluxe sample at my local Ulta. The colors look a lot darker in the bottle then they do on, so I definately suggest getting a sample to try.

This sample is called "I'm So Money, Honey." I actually think I could go a shade darker, but they did not have that color in a sample.

Sorry for the pic.....I find if I smile too many lines show. ;>)

 

Restoring and Recovering Joplin, MO

On May 22, 2011, Joplin, MO had the misfortune of experiencing a catastrophic EF5 multi-vortex tornado. Almost 1 year, 160 casualties, and $2.2 billion worth of damage later our town is still working on rebuilding and restoring.

Tomorrow, April 3rd, 2012, a very important bond issue is up for vote. It's a request for $62 million to help rebuild Joplin Schools destroyed by the tornado (Joplin High School, Irving and Emerson Elementary Schools, and East Middle School). The funds will also help build a new elementary school for Duquesne and Duenweg that will be attached to the new East Middle School.

The building and education plans for the NEW Joplin High School and Franklin Tech Center are amazing! Students will get the opportunity to choose a "pathway" of learning that will let them experience future career choice(s) and earn credits towards an associate degree!

The schools that were not necessarily directly impacted by the tornado (which in all honesty ALL the schools were impacted whether it be with increased enrollment, staff members or students that lost their homes/lives, or sharing their physical property with a school that did suffer physical damage), will benefit from the bond issue as well.

For example, my daughter's elementary school (McKinley) will receive a brand new gym, with extra classrooms added to hold art and music, freeing up other classrooms in our main building. The outdoor walkways from the main building to the gym will be covered, which is so important for our kids during inclement weather. Also, this new gym will serve as a community (storm) shelter!!

In fact, EACH school will receive its own community (storm) shelter!

If the bond does NOT pass then none of the above is possible and we lose the chance of obtaining millions in matching federal grants and funds.

The cost per household is only $5.54/month for a home assessed at $100,000. Pennies compared to the cost of a private school's tuition.

On another note, I am always so proud of my husband and the work he does for State Farm Insurance Catastrophe Services department! He has been with State Farm Insurance for 18 years, which is how we met, while he was working on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1998 after Hurricane George.

He also was very involved in helping State Farm customers and other Joplin residents after the tornadoes.

State Farm is offering an opportunity to support Joplin schools with DonorsChoose.org, and “double your impact” with a State Farm match. To help the recovery of Joplin schools, State Farm is providing $30,000 in matching grant support to DonorsChoose.org, a non-profit organization that connects public school teachers with needs to donors who are willing to help. View the list of needs in Joplin schools, and between now and May, State Farm will match up to $30,000 of private donations.

It has been an amazing experience to live in such a resilient and caring community. There are so many opportunities to help Joplin recover! If you live within the Joplin city limits, I encourage you to vote tomorrow! If you do not, then I hope you check out the above link to Donors Choose.