Zenni Optical

First of all, something that has nothing to do with glasses – thank you for your comments regarding my rant. I really appreciated what each one of you said and it's nice to know I am not alone, some of you have had similar experiences. I was nervous to publish that post but it was nothing but a good experience for me and I’m glad to have that off my chest, no matter how small it is. Thanks.

Sooooo on to today’s post. Y’all know I love a great bargain right? Well when it came time to purchase some new glasses (my prescription changed and Rigby has all but destroyed my current pair – how many times can you twist an arm back into place before it breaks?) I knew I was going to purchase them nowhere but online at Zenni Optical. My sisters in law buy all their glasses (and their kid’s glasses) there and have been so happy with their products. I was excited to get started.

All you have to do is go to Zenni Optical  and create a profile, for FREE. You can upload a photo of yourself and “try on” as many pairs as you like. You create a list of favorites and slowly work your way through their thousands of pairs. I used the category boxes on the side to help narrow my search. You must have a current prescription (within 2 years) from your eye doctor and once you have made a final decision (it took me days  to get there!) you enter in your prescription, all the extra features you’d like (scratch resistance, anti reflection etc.). Then just watch it all add up. That’s sarcasm because once you visit you’ll see how inexpensive it all is. I bought these 2 pairs of glasses, each with scratch resistant and anti reflection lenses, for, *drumroll* $54, FIFTY FOUR DOLLARS and that includes shipping. I’m not lying to you. Neil was somewhat sketched out with the whole process and was fairly certain they would arrive and I’d be more blind with them than without them, BUT they were delivered this morning and I couldn’t be more pleased. Both pairs are true to their description, fit really well and I can see perfectly through them.

I am really quite thrilled with the entire experience. It was fun to browse their selection, pick my favorites and know that I was getting great glasses for a great price. You literally couldn’t purchase one lens for the price I paid for 2 pairs! Next time you're in the market for new glasses, I think you'd be a fool not to check out Zenni Optical. Just sayin'. :)

ps. This is my first use of Instagram. I like. (Ignore the bed-head.)

a rant: in defence of skinny girls

This is something that has been brewing in me for years and this post has been brewing for months. I usually keep topics on my blog fairly light and superficial but this is something I want to talk about. It's personal for me and I'm sure there must be girls out there that can relate. I have avoided posting about this topic in fear of offending someone when in turn I'm the one being offended time and again. I feel like it's time I said something.

I have been petite, skinny, slender, slight, thin (deathly thin - yes, someone called me that once), scrawny, gaunt, a toothpick - whatever name you have for it, for my whole life. For whatever reason my gene pool is full of tadpoles instead of big beautiful fish. Being an organically skinny girl has been interesting. I am comfortable with my body, my size and my image but it seems that many others are not. It never ceases to amaze me the kinds of things people will say to my face, let alone when I can not hear.

Even after all these years I can not wrap my head around the fact that someone (and I'll tell you, it's many someones) feels it's appropriate to tell me I'm too thin. You would never approach an overweight woman and tell her she is too heavy or that she should lose some weight. How rude! Why then is it ok to take me by the hand and tell me to eat more, or tell me you are worried about my health. It is not acceptable to voice your concern that I am too skinny or that you'd like to see me "put on a couple pounds." I have seen the looks, I have heard the whispers and I am fully aware that some people think I have a problem. There are also those that assume because I'm petite I have no idea what body image issues are. Imagine for a moment what it would be like to be stuck in a 13 year old's body forever. Granted, it's not quite like that but I do get an inferiority complex when I stand next to tall, beautiful, curvy women. Always being the twerp in the room gets old. Shopping in the youth department has it's perks but having a ladies small (or xs) still be too big is discouraging. And do you know how hard it is to stay warm? I am not trying to paint the picture that being thin is a trial but I do believe that many woman don't see it from our view, they just think we're skinny and we've got it made.

I was so angered while watching Ellen one afternoon (I've since forgiven her - love Ellen) as she commented that clothes in size zero should not even be made. Her argument was that it only encourages girls to try and be thinner and that it perpetuates eating disorders. I shouted at the TV, "NOT ALL GIRLS THAT WEAR A SIZE ZERO HAVE AN EATING DISORDER!" It is views like that I am talking about, that we are only this thin if we are unhealthy. I do nothing to stay this size and in fact I have to do some things to maintain this size.  I would not say I have never experienced any eating related issues, in fact I have. Through much of junior high and high school I had a fear of eating in front of people. In social settings I would sit and push food around my plate, cut it into tiny bite size pieces or find some excuse not to eat it at all. These are similar signs to that of an eating disorder but I assure you it was social anxiety, not anorexia. It was a fear of having food on my face, something stuck in my teeth, or being spoken to with a mouth full. I would be able to chew but not swallow, sitting there with a knot in my stomach. It was not an eating disorder, it was a type of social phobia, not something great for a skinny girl to have. I struggled with this for years and I know it fueled speculation but through friends and actually a really great boyfriend I was able to overcome it and now while dining in social settings it doesn't even cross my mind. There was also a period in high school that for whatever reason I had convinced myself that going to bed hungry was some kind of power trip - a mind over matter accomplishment. It was foolish and I soon realized that going to bed with a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast in my tummy was a much better idea. I think we all go through phases of trying to take charge of our lives, and it was nothing more than that. I am sharing this to illustrate that these issues had nothing to do with my size, or weight. I believe they were natural growing pains and how unfair that something serious like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa be attached to them. There are other causes of 'thin-ness' than these painful diseases. Like say, your natural shape.

I feel it is ignorant for a thin person to be labelled with a "problem" while others who walk around carrying extra weight legitimately do have a problem. The stress those extra pounds put on your system is concerning. It is not my intention to offend those that struggle with weight gain but when pointing the finger at who is 'unhealthy,' I ask you to please not point at me. Women come in all shapes and sizes, and that's a beatiful thing. We should celebrate our bodies, regardless of how much they weigh. It is my argument that it is socially acceptable to outwardly comment on a thin person's body when you would never dream of saying something to someone who is obese. I am not talking about the, "that dress looks great on you, you skinny mini," or the "man, if I was as thin as you..." comments. I don't expect people to ignore it altogether, and I am the first to poke fun at my being a lil bitty. What I am referring to are the comments of supposed concern and worry and the remarks of, "you need to eat more!" I am tired of defending the absence of an eating disorder in my life. It's when it's assumed I have an issue that I take offence. Perhaps you are wondering why I care what other people think and why I let what they say bother me. I can appreciate that and to some extent I don't care. But when someone tells you to go "eat another sandwich," it is harder to ignore.

I want to raise awareness on behalf of skinny girls (and gentlemen) everywhere. Not because I think you inconsiderately tell the thin people in your life to stop throwing up their meals, but because some of the things people say could be said in a different way. That, "you're so skinny, I hate you!" isn't really a compliment. It is possible the person you are talking to can do nothing about her size. I want to bring to light that like being overweight, being underweight isn't without it's inconveniences either. It's good form to be respectful of both.

I don't know how else to conclude other than to say I am a healthy 100 pound woman and I eat. A lot actually. And I know there are others like me.

I would appreciate your feedback.


*Examples given are things that have actually been said to me.
**Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are serious disorders and in no way am I trying to discredit those individuals that struggle with these illnesses. I have seen their grips in my personal circle and can attest to the legitimate anguish they cause. 

I may or may not be a weird stranger

I had an experience a few weeks ago that made me wonder something. I was in a fabric store looking for the perfect binding for the faux chenille blanket I made for my friend Sharlee. (And she did have a girl! Little Della Michelle - LOVE her name?! I do!! But I might be biased!) I was trying to decide between 2 different shades of pink and when a lady walked by I asked her if she would mind coming over for a quick second to give me her opinion. She gave me a look that was somewhere in between, 'why are you talking to me?' and 'ok... because you asked.' I acted like I didn't notice her reaction and asked her which pink she liked better, thanked her for her opinion and just kind of laughed off the awkward moment.

Conversely, I was in another fabric store (I gotta get out more...) a few days after that when I was stopped by a lady asking for my opinion on which flannel went better with the fabric she had for a blanket she was making her grandson. With my previous experience in mind I was thrilled that she had approached me for an opinion and told her that I do the same thing when I'm shopping alone.

Now my question to you is, which woman are you? If someone stops you in a store to ask for your opinion do you think it's strange or are you happy to offer it? Are you the gal asking what someone else thinks? I don't limit this to fabric stores either. I know I do it in the fitting room as well - if a gal comes out of the dressing room to see herself in the mirror, I'll tell her what she's trying on looks cute if I think it does. Is that annoying? I may be the totally weird stranger but I think when you're shopping alone sometimes it's nice to get some feedback from someone else. I know I appreciate it.

Where are you ladies on this?

swinging

I’m pretty sure he likes it.

the magic spoon

So. This is the story. Porter (like most children) loves chocolate milk so we often have chocolate syrup in the house. He likes to get a spoon and stir his own cup, watching the white milk turn to chocolate. (Acutally, he likes to get his own cup, get the milk from the fridge, pour his own milk, squeeze the syrup, get his own spoon, and then stir the cup. Independent much?) I don’t know what sparked it but one day Neil handed Porter a spoon and told him it was a magic spoon and that it would turn white milk to chocolate milk! Porter didn’t know that Neil had already squeezed the chocolate syrup into the cup of milk as it had all settled down on the bottom. Porter took the magic spoon and began stirring. His eyes got wider and wider as the white milk started to turn chocolate. He had been pretty skeptical it was going to work (he’s no dummy). He still asked Neil a few times if he was teasing but Neil assured him the spoon really was magic. Porter thought that was awesome.

Last week I was in the living room and I heard Porter clanging around in the kitchen, opening and closing the utensil drawer. I could also hear him mutter to himself things like, “it’s got to be around here somewhere.” and “maybe this is the one.” After I heard him stir in a cup a few times I knew exactly what he was up to. I walked into the kitchen to find this. My little boy had gone through almost every spoon in the drawer looking for the magic spoon to turn his white milk to chocolate. Could you just die?  Part of me laughed cause it was so cute and part of me wanted to cry because this innocent child took his dad’s word for truth. How trusting are our children. He asked me to help him find the magic spoon and because we were out of chocolate syrup, as much as my mommy heart desired I knew I wasn’t going to find it for him. I don’t remember how I diverted him out of it but he was fine with whatever I said and I told him we’d ask daddy when he got home. And then I called Neil and told him he was a bully, haha! We thought it was cute and so sweet. Children are innocent and trusting and sometimes I wish I had a little more of that left in me.

McGavin's Bread Basket

Would you like to buy really great bread at a really great price??? -in my best infomercial voice-

I thought I would share with you my favorite place to buy bread (I know, who gets excited about bread?) as sometimes when I talk about this place people haven't heard of it before, and I feel like that's really unfortunate. I'd hate to be keeping something from you.

I have been shopping at McGavin's Bread Basket on and off for years. I'm not sure why there is ever an 'off' because every time I go back I wonder how I could possibly buy bread anywhere else. McGavin's sells all kinds of baked goods but what I go in for is their amazing bread deal. You can purchase 10 loaves of bread for $11.99, and they are hearty loaves like Dempster's Ancient Grains, Wheat & Oats with Honey, Flax, and my favorite- 12 Grain. (Side note: when I was young I used to call this kind of bread "fingernail bread" because it's so chewy and full of crunchy little things that feel like, well, fingernails. I didn't really care for it and complained when my mom bought fingernail bread. Think of that when you're enjoying your next sandwich. :)) Similar loaves are sold at Costco (correct me if I'm wrong) at like $5.99 for 3 loaves. Ten loaves for $11.99 makes the price of each loaf  a whopping $1.20, that is amazing for a loaf that would cost you around $4 at most supermarkets. That deal is not limited to bread either, you can throw in bagels, wraps, pitas or buns and they have other kinds of bread too if you fancy Texas toast, cinnamon raisin, or sour dough. Heck yeah! The stock is sometimes hit and miss, you really have to go in on the right day to find a full variety but when you do it's worth it to buy a pile and take them home to your freezer.

I don't know a ton about the McGavin's franchise but I do know that all the cities I have lived in have had a store or two. I really do think it's worth checking out if you like good bread but don't want to pay a high price for it. I'm not usually one that breaks up my grocery shop into a few different stores (get me in and out and my screaming children home, please!) but I do feel it's worth skipping the bread at Superstore to head over to McGavins and pick up my supply there.

Anyway, this is getting wordy, about bread of all things, but if you haven't checked out a McGavin's before I say, hey give it a go. But they don't supply bags so take your own. Or children to carry loaves.

clever boy

For my birthday a couple girlfriends gave me a cute gift – a box with 29 suckers in it that says “29 sucks.” (Hee hee!) As you can imagine my boys have been all over it and ask for a sucker a few times a day. We were hanging out downstairs and after Rigby had had his fair share of suckers I walked up the stairs and put the box on the ledge so it was out of reach.

A few minutes later I came up and found this:

And walked into the family room to find this:

Please excuse the blurry photos, I had to grab my phone and snap quickly as the little culprit was trying to run away.

Seriously.

Naked2 FOTD and what I think so far

Since I shared with you the thrill of receiving this palette I thought I had better give you an idea (I’m not joking I just typed eyedea…) of how the Naked2 palette transfers onto the eyes. This is a simple look using a few of the new shades I am loving.

I started with my Urban Decay Primer Potion and then added Painterly paint pot to give the look a neutral base. I applied Suspect all over the moving lid with Half Baked in the center. I added Snakebite to the crease and carried it under the eye. I blended the edges with MAC Blanc Type and added Blacktrack gel liner on top and Maybelline Unstoppable liner (which btw is not unstoppable) to the waterline. I finished it off with Maybelline Volum’ Express Turbo Boost mascara.

I know this is a lot of pictures but I wanted to catch the shadow in different lights to give you the best idea of how it looks.

click any photo to enlarge

The shadows in this palette, not unlike the original Naked, are very smooth and easy to use. They are highly pigmented and the shimmery shades have a beautiful finish. Like Sidecar in the first palette I find Chopper to have unnecessarily large shimmer with annoying fall out, but having said that, the shade is pretty and it is something that can be dealt with using a good primer and proper application. I found a surprise love in Bootycall, a shade that didn’t catch my eye at first. It is a frosty cream color that has such depth on the eye. It looks beautiful as an all over lid color or as a highlight. I am still experimenting with different combinations and looks but have found some real favorites here as well. As I said, so far so good!

On the rest of my face I used:
MAC Face and Body foundation
MAC Pro Longwear concealer in NW15
MAC Refined Golden bronzer (which I think is too red for my fair skin, I’m still deciding)
MAC Soft and Gentle MSF to highlight
MAC Hue lipstick (have I mentioned how much I love this shade?)

someone teach me how to do this

The favorite of my guilty pleasures is The Real Housewives shows (don't judge). I’ve been a fan of the Orange County series for years and started watching Beverly Hills this past summer (thanks Judy!) I haven’t got into the others as these 2 hold enough tears and screaming to get my drama fix. Taylor Armstrong from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has just about the most beautiful hair I have ever seen. Every episode I sit and admire it. Taylor herself has gone coo coo bananas (poor dear) but her hair is magnificent and I’d love to know exactly how she her personal hairstylist does it.

I am kind of all thumbs when it comes to doing hair. When I receive a compliment on my hair I really feel like I’ve fooled you because I actually have no idea what I’m doing. If it ever looks half decent it’s a fluke I’m sure.

Now I have no idea what I’m doing putting a picture of myself next to Taylor’s but here is an attempt I’ve made at replicating her hair on myself. Comparing them now side by side I can see some tweaks I need to make (thanks for that, cowlick...) but if anyone has any hair tips on how to create this look I’d love to hear them. Would you use a curling iron? A straightener? Loose curls? Tight curls pulled out? What products would you use? See, I just have no clue.

I think Taylor is a sweetheart, albeit an unstable mess, but the only thing of hers I’d like is her hair. I do wish her happiness and a much less tearful next season, and for myself, I wish her hair. Can anyone help?

willow

I grew up with dogs and have always considered myself a ‘dog person,’ even though the pets we’ve had include a ferret, cat, and frogs – not dogs. Dogs are a bit more of a commitment and up to this point we haven’t felt ready for one. Just before New Years we were speaking with some good friends that suggested we become a foster home for dogs, in particular the Prairie Pitbull Rescue organization. We thought it would be a great fit at this point in our lives as with Neil’s job taking us away every summer (to apartments that don’t allow pets) we can’t have a dog of our own. We have also been concerned that Neil’s asthma and allergies, that were severely affected by our cat, would be affected by dogs. We didn’t want to get a dog just to find out he does react and we'd have to give it away. This would prove a good trial for his asthma as well as to how our boys would adapt to having a furry friend around. We were also thrilled at the thought of providing a safe, loving home for an animal that needed to be loved until it found a family. After discussing it for a couple weeks Neil and I informed our friend that we were interested and would be willing to be a foster home.

Last week we were contacted and told that a little lady needed a place to go and were we interested in having her. We said yes and the next day I went and picked her up.

Meet Willow.

Aren’t those the most adorable ears you’ve ever seen? :)

It has only been a couple days and we are in love with her. She has fit right into our family like I wasn’t expecting and I think we’re really in trouble. Fostering means you have to give them away right? *sob* She is a gentle girl who is obviously timid and a little unsure, but seeks to be loved. She sticks her nose out and puts her ears down asking to be pet. She will sit at your side for hours and every once in a while rolls over so you can tickle her tummy. She is kind with the boys who have been very excited to have her in our home. She lets them pet her and snuggle her and licks their arms when they reach out. Rigby loves to watch her eat and helps her by handing her one piece at a time which she gently takes from his fingers. Porter brings her his blanket and stuffies and tries to make her feel safe as we’ve explained to him she is a little afraid and needs to know we are her friends. She is still adjusting to our house and hasn’t shown much of her playful energetic side yet but we do get glimpses of it here and there. She likes to stick her bum in the air and go down on her elbows, ready for action.

The only thing we know of her history is that she is approximately 10 months old and is a stray from LA. She is beautiful with no scarring or patches and has shown absolutely no signs of aggression or cowering. I don’t know her past but I do know that through this rescue operation she has a bright future with a family that will love her. I’m so grateful we get to be a part of it.



If you think fostering a dog would be a good fit for your family visit the site I’ve linked to above. They have many dogs in need of temporary (and permanent!) homes. All dogs are vaccinated and spayed/neutered and come with a collar, leash, crate and the organization provides food. They just need somewhere safe to be and someone to love them.

Now to end on a sappy note – when I found out we would be fostering a little girl named Willow, I immediately thought of Paul McCartney’s song “Little Willow” from him album Flaming Pie. I’ve been singing it to Willow and I actually think it’s quite fitting for this little orphan.

BEND, LITTLE WILLOW,

WINDS GONNA BLOW YOU

HARD AND COLD TONIGHT.

LIFE, AS IT HAPPENS,

NOBODY WARNS YOU,

WILLOW, HOLD ON TIGHT.

NOTHING'S GONNA SHAKE YOUR LOVE,

TAKE YOUR LOVE AWAY.

NO ONE'S OUT TO BREAK YOUR HEART,

IT ONLY SEEMS THAT WAY...HEY.

SLEEP, LITTLE WILLOW,

PEACE GONNA FOLLOW,

TIME WILL HEAL YOUR WOUNDS.

GROW TO THE HEAVENS,

NOW AND FOREVER,

ALWAYS CAME TOO SOON.