So now for a beauty topic!  Yeah! *claps excitedly* So, you may know those tools that help us look our best each day. That help glide color onto our “canvas”?  Yes,  I am talking about your makeup brushes.  Let me ask you this…When is the last time you cleaned them and I mean really cleaned those puppies out?   I bet it’s been awhile.  Before I started into this field, I used the brushes that came with the makeup I bought. *shrug*  Because surely they wouldn’t put it in there, if it wasn’t what you were supposed to use right? *insert buzzer sound here* WRONG!

Makeup brushes are essential in a great makeup application and if you don’t have them…I highly recommend investing in a good, quality set.  However, your makeup brushes are like hair and we are talking the kind, you have on your head (not literally) but they need to be washed and cared for.  Once a month is a good cleaning and if you use more makeup than normal in a month, then twice is great.  The reason for washing is simple, BACTERIA.  You wash your face each night (or should be doing so!) You wash your hair several times a week (or should be doing so!) You use your makeup brushes on your face most every day and near your eyes and nose.  That “breakout” that you had last week…well it may not be from the source you thought it was.  It could very well be bacteria from your brushes.  So, here are some tips to care for those prized little possesions!

1) A mild shampoo (I like to use baby shampoo)

2) A clean towel or paper towels

3) A cup or a brush stand

4) Warm water

&

5) YOU listening to your favorite tunes on the ipod! (I do this all the time and I even dance!)

BRUSH CLEANING:

Get the head of your brush wet in the water, pour a bit of shampoo in the palm of your hand and gently make a circular motion, while “washing in the shampoo. Rinse and repeat until water runs clear. Try not get the entire brush wet because your brushes do have glue, to hold the hair in place.  Too many times and they could start to fall out.  Gently squeeze the water out of the brush and softly run over the towel.  Then let dry, don’t let it lay flat on the towel because of a chance of mildew forming (Yucky!) Make your way through each brush and you will be living bacteria free!

My friend recently told me “Girl, I think I might only have 2 patches of hair left on my wedding day. Just enough to attach my veil, I’m so stressed out!”  Southern Bell is now “Patches”  this week.  I wonder if she would notice, a few makeup brush hairs glued with eyelash glue on her head ;P  *insert giggle here* Hey, I washed them right!? They are bacteria free.

Well, I hope this finds you all well and in good spirits.  Wether you are tackling your to do list like I am, or you have performed a 5 star superman dive back into the middle of your bed remember…give it your best & do it in style, YOUR style!

*hugs*
~JD~

My daughter decided she had a “Twilight Fan Club”.  So one night my bestie said “Well, how do we get in your club?”  Daughter says (eye roll included) “Uhhhh, you just need to ask.”  In that “preteen” I know it all and “DUH” voice.  So we were initiated and in honor of the “Twilight Saga” we threw a “NEW MOON” party.
The girls each made a “fan club” badge.  Then we all made T-shirts “Team Jacob” or “Team Edward” some of us like Vamps and Wolves ;P   We had a spectacular Spaghetti dinner, crunchy warm bread and Red Velvet cupcakes for dessert. (The cupcakes had “E” for Edward, “B” for Bella & “J” for Jacob) it was a fantastic meal and it was a fun time.  I like to think that it’s one of those things our  daughters will remember for their lifetime. =)

I will be remembering my sunblock for my lips and my skin.  I’m sure the salt water will turn my hair into over time FRIZZ mode!  It always gets extremely curly when we head that way.  ;P  But ya know what!? I’m chucking all those beauty products to the back of the bus.   I am not SOOOO girly that I can’t put my baseball cap on and just have some time!  While it’s nice to get all dolled up…  It’s JUST as nice to not bother with it sometimes too.  =D

I hope you all have a wonderful few days! I would love to know what you are up to and where you are headed for Spring break!?  Maybe we’ll run into eachother! After all it is a small world!

*HUGS*
~JD~

I will wake in the morning, drink a cup of coffee and play my morning bonus game of FARKLE ( silly game! SO fun though! ;P)  I will primp myself and gather my makeup kit and other accessories and head out on this adventure.  I will be inspired by all the things around me,  looking to dive head first into this chaotic (SUPER FUN) time.  I will take on the challenges the day has to offer and be happy I get to hang out with all the girls! *claps excitedly*

Girls, GO KICK some butt!  We all have faith in you and I am happy to be beside each one of you, during this event!  Thank you for letting ME,  be a part of  YOUR team!

*hugs & smooches*

~JD~

So, on a lighter note…I have been doing some fun things.   I have designed a makeup look for one of our local high schools for state competitions! YEAH!  It has been this crazy, insane fun time for me.  I have met so many new girls, parents and people that have been appreciative of my time.  It has made it such an enjoyable journey.  I will be sad when it’s over for the summer.

Yesterday, I did the normal grocery shopping and errand running.   Seriously, what has gotten in to people these days?!  One car ahead, one person ahead…it drives me INSANE.  People at the grocery store…PLEASE use the shopping aisles, as you would lanes of traffic! I am so tempted to take a bike horn sometimes and mount it on the side of my cart and *HONK* at people.  I just stick to my rule and just *SMILE*!  When the grouchy old lady is staring me down…I whip it out *SMILE*  Sometimes, I get a smile back and sometimes a turn of the head. But, I WIN! =D  I am always the first to ask the person checking me out “Hi.  How are you today?” and almost always they look startled that I said anything to them.

I am a chatter box and if you know me personally, you know this to be true.  I am also a great listener however!  I met with a bride a couple of weeks ago.  We will call her “Southern Belle” and I kid you not, I think we were at the Starbucks for 3 or 4 hours!  We were like long last friends at a reunion.  What an amazing person!  We have become regular chat buddies.  Boy is “Southern Belle” beautiful, spunky, down to earth,  and the best looking fishing partner, you will ever have. *insert lucky GREEN boy fisherman here* (or I guess you could call him the groom) =D   By the time I got home Chris said “Wow,  I didn’t think you were going to come back.”   I love meetings like that.  Where you can just chat like you’ve known someone for ages.  All in all, a great time.

In other words be kind, whip it out *SMILE* and if things get really bad…get a bike horn!?

My random ramblings for the day!
*SMILE*

~JD~

Thank you for coming back to my blog to read.  I appreciate your support and I wish YOU a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
xoxox~

JD

Florice Chell Grow was born July 12, 1934 to Alta Florice Fuell Labrum and Alfred Dallas Labrum.  She was their fourth of seven children.  Seven kids! I don’t know how, that just baffles me!  I grew up in a HUGE family.  My grandma had seven children -  Amy, Val, Steve, Randy, Tommy, Rachell and Russell.  Two girls and five boys, that seems severely out numbered!   I grew up close to all of them.  Sometimes, when families get that big, they have a way of going their separate ways but ours never did.

I will never forget meeting at Grandma’s for Sunday dinners.  Holidays were always celebrated at her house.  Because of my Grandma I have memories of all of her children. I always joke and say we were more like brothers and sisters, because we were so close.

But some memories I have … The way my Mom always made ALL the holidays special for everyone and never left anyone out.  I will never forget painting the wall, with my Aunt Rachell’s magenta glitter finger nail polish and the consequence I suffered for that! LOL  The times Uncle Tommy drove down in Grandma’s car  to 7 eleven to buy me a slurpee.   Uncle Russell shutting the door on the dryer (my makeshift baby bed) and turning it on while I was sipping a coke and eating a banana!  Uncle Steve always remembering my birthday and putting a few bucks in a card.  Babysitting Uncle Val’s kids and watching them grow up.   Meeting Uncle Randy’s soon to be wife (Aunt Barb) and her kids for the first time.  I will never forget my Aunt Rachell playing house with me, time and time again.  Also, for just taking me everywhere she went.

I will never forget the year that all of her kids pitched in at Christmas and bought her a microwave!  That thing was the size of a school bus and had it’s own rolling cart!  She was so excited to have a microwave oven.  The kids were all so happy to gift her that thing too.  Looking back today that thing is a dinosaur!  But it’s cool that I have the memory.  She also loved her movie rewinder, the one that would be in the shape of a car or whatever! LOL  Our first VHS player was watched at Grandmas house as well and we thought that was the COOLEST  invention ever.  Ouch! All of a sudden I realize that I aged myself haha!

My Grandma made the best pickles!  I would sit on hot summer days and think of ways I could get away with,  running off with an entire jar of pickles.  I never managed to do it, but I did eat my share of pickles!  One of the things she would always do,  is have a bowl of cucumbers and red onions soaked in white vinegar.  They would always be in the refrigerator because my Grandpa,  liked to eat them when he’d get home from work.  Well, one day my sister and I ate ALL the cucumbers out of the bowl.  We were being sneaky and when we realized we had eaten them all, we knew we were done!  Grandpa came home and obviously knew we ate the cucumbers.  Grandma laughed and just sliced some more cucumbers up and dropped them in the bowl.  We were eating more and as I went in for seconds Grandpa said “JD you know what happens when you eat cucumbers right?” I’m sure my eyeballs were as big as saucers at this point.  But, I shook my head “No”.  So he says “Well, when you eat cucumbers your tonsils grow back!”  I dropped that cucumber like it was on fire!  I DID NOT want my tonsils growing back.   My Grandma laughed so hard at that.  It has been a joke in our family ever since….LOOONG time ;P

Grandma taught me how to make the best soups, macaroni and cheese, the family Salsa and Banana Bread.   She always told me that I had to accept people for what they were and love them as they are.  Sometimes, you wish better for people but they can’t do better.  So we just accept them, for what they are.  She taught me that even though you might not have the “ideal” family.  They are still your family and that blood is thicker than water.  She taught me that it’s okay to fight, but you always have to make up.  She taught me that sitting on the porch in the summer, listening to the radio is one of the best things ever!  She taught us all to keep our heads up and be strong.  That even if it’s bad, it could always be worse and just be thankful for what you have.  Some of her quotes would crack you up, but I can’t repeat them here!  Those of you that know, are laughing right now lol!

Our family also suffered another great loss this past week.  We lost my Great Uncle Larry.  He was a great man. I always referred to him as my “good looking” great uncle!  He is my Grandmas  sister Flora’s husband.  He was a kind soul and always had nice things to say.  He was always cracking jokes and teasing everyone.  Every family reunion I can remember attending, he made an effort to come and talk to my sister and I.  He was just one of those men that you loved being around because they are fun and have this way of making things feel light and carefree.  My Grandma loved Larry very much and was sad to lose him.  She would want the Lawson family to know,  how much they are all,  in her thoughts and how wonderful they all are.

She was a beautiful person and will be missed greatly.  She was the foundation of our family, the core that held it all together.  The ladies of our family,  have some pretty big shoes to fill now.   She will never be forgotten, forever remembered and eternally loved!

*** In Loving Memory ***

FLORICE CHELL GROW

July 12, 1934- December 21, 2009

So I’m going to share some of what makes me, the person that I am.  The things I like and the some of the things I dislike.  Maybe we have something in common! =)

My Favorites… “Spider Loves” from my daughter, RED, Lilies and wildflowers, Curly hair, belly laughs (when you laugh so hard your stomach hurts!), Fishing, wine, crafting, warm winds, reading, perfume, freshly cut grass, frisbee,  scent of skunk ( I know! I know!), tennis shoes, sunshine, the smell of Chris’s pillow, white towels, my Dad’s coffee, Lilacs, Candles, Camping, Smiles, pictures, a good thunderstorm, the sound of water on a shore, pictures and memories, music and the smell of a campfire.

UN-favorites ( not even a word!!!) Spam, scrambled eggs, waffles, pancakes, sausage…pretty much most breakfast foods, golf (I just wanna drive a cart!), rude people, early mornings, being cold, being tired, laundry, yard work, having a cold, running out of gas, scotch, having fights with people you love, wearing my hair down, not living close to my sister and nieces.

Things I want to do…be successful in my life as a whole, visit a tropical destination,  fish in Alaska and see the Northern Lights, Go on a cruise, visit family more, ski (at least once), Disney Land, watch my daughter get married one day.  Go on a vacation somewhere warm for the holidays and be able to chill in flip flops and sunglasses.  Learn the Salsa.  Mend a friendship or two, get married, try rock climbing and maybe run a marathon.

So there are some things about me!  Hope this finds you all well and in great Holiday spirits!

*hugs*
~J~

I like watching movies like this, every once in a while and being a woman, some times a good cry is just what the doctor ordered. =) But this movie really got to me. I can’t quit thinking about, what “Ben” (Will Smith) put himself through in this movie. How sad for him that he put himself through so much heartache and guilt.  As you watch this movie and really listen to everything going on.  It sure does make you think, of all the things that we take for granted every day.

Just like I said to my friends and family the other day…I am thankful for EVERY one of my friends and family members. In some way or another each of you has touched my life so deeply. I wouldn’t be the same without your influences. Thank you for always being there and being supportive. Family is family, you know everything about each other. Usually good with the bad, you love one another unconditionally.  Friends are the family you get to pick.  Sometimes they stay in our lives and sometimes they go.  I feel blessed with the friends I have.   I feel grateful for the family I have.

I am thankful to have SO many supportive people around me. That have been my cheerleaders, while I have taken on this new life adventure. You’ve known that I have been stressed out and have taken me as I am. I am constantly learning new things, expanding my knowledge to better myself in this career field. I have the luxury of being able to do this from home with the help of my man, Chris. He helps keep me motivated and keeps the faith. Definitley takes my good days in stride, and treads lightly, on the not so good days. =)

Anyhows, I know I sound like a blubbering fool by now and probably have you all thinking that I am a loony toon! But we all have bad days! It’s okay, it’s how we let our emotions flow. Tomorrow is a new day, I’m going to HIDE the kleenex box and stick my face in the sun. I’m going to take the day as it is, and remember all your faces, that make me smile each day! Maybe I will try a new eyeshadow out! I have a pretty sunset color from STILA that looks fun. I’ll get creative and look forward to Christmas tree hunting!

Thanks for reading my blabbering writings! Promise I will have new work/pictures up soon!

*hugs*
~JD~

As most of you that know me personally, you know that I have lived in Oregon for 11 years.  Before living here,  I grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. mostly. I still have many, many relatives that live down there.   My sophomore year of  High school, I moved to South Eastern Idaho.   This was a huge transition for both my sister and myself.  I think for any teenager at that age, it would be a somewhat hard thing to undergo.  Jen and I are 2 1/2 years apart.  So, she gets to make fun of me for turning 30 before her…haha, getting gray hair before her…it’s lovely.  Yet,  it’s the glue of sisterhood.

Jen and I are complete opposites!  She’s blonde,  I’m brunette.   She dresses more like a tomboy,  I’m more girly.   She tells great jokes and is hilarious,  well… I can’t tell a joke to save my life and I’m more the dry sense of humor.   She is going to school to become a mechanic, I am getting a career started in makeup.  She likes sour, I like sweet.  So,  as you can see the list goes on.  But, even though we are such opposites, it works for us.                        

For those of you that stay with me and keep reading (even if you don’t want to) but continue to do so to support me ( I love you for doing this!) You know that my sister was here, visiting for Thanksgiving.  While she was here, I did her makeup and of course the talented Chris Steele took her pictures.  It was FREEZING cold outside, we were all shivering. My daughter was dancing around singing a moon/sun song with the reflector, as we all laughed at her! But, the background made it all worth it.   She looks amazing!

I love you with all my heart “Peeper”!  I could never imagine,  having anyone but YOU as my sister.  You are such a beautiful person inside and out.  I am SO thankful for our time together in November. Thank you for letting me do your makeup and letting us take pictures.  Your photos are absolutely stunning!  Hopefully, sooner rather than later, we will be together again.  Missing you and loving you always.

~Jay~

~“We are grown and very different now.  People say- ” I would never have taken her for your sister.”

But we share the glimmering dark, birthday cuddles.  We share a secret land where no one else can come.

For we are bound together by a thousand memories.”   -Helen Exley

It’s the time of year,  holiday traditions are revived.  You get to be with your friends and family more often and everyone seems to be heading to a party of some sort.  The kids seem to be amped out on sugar for the month, between the advent calendars or the hordes of cookies, that seem to make it to the cookie jar.  There is Christmas shopping to do,  Christmas cards to send, dinners to plan and you still have the regular hustle and bustle of the everyday life.  Rush, rush, rush!

In the flurry of the holidays, don’t forget to take care of yourself!  Even if you are extremely tired,  make sure to wash your face!  Your skin will thank you the next morning.  It is much easier to throw in the towel and plop into your warm, comfy bed.  However,  with the alterations in some diets and alcohol consumptions a bit higher than normal,  your skin will be a bit out of whack anyways.  Not only that,  but it’s a great way to take just a little bit of time out for yourself!  I’m guilty! I don’t take much extra time to really pamper myself.  But, when I do, I feel a lot better.  Just once a week and an extra 30 minutes.   Give yourself a manicure/pedicure while you sip hot tea or a hot buttered rum. Listen to some holiday music, or watch the show you haven’t had time to see lately.  Doing small things for yourself,  will make you a much more jolly person to be around.

It might be fun to try  that red lipstick , or a new gloss for that holiday party.  Maybe pair a fun silky shirt,  with some chandelier earrings.  Maybe find that party dress, that you’ve been waiting to wear!  When you are running so hard to please everyone around you, you might as well look awesome doing it!  =)  A little tip for  wearing that red lipstick!  Use a lip liner, top with red lipstick, blot, lipstick again! SMOOCH! You are ready to go!

Hoping your Holiday is Happy!

*hugs*
~JD~