June Birchbox

 

I'm a couple weeks late in posting this month's Birchbox and my feelings are a bit mixed on this one.

This month's haul included:

• Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream (sample)
• Eyeko Fat Eye Stick (full size, brown)
• BORGHESE Bagno di Vita Body Soak (two sample packs)
• theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac (sample, beauty queen)
• LUNA Bar (chocolate peppermint flavor)

While I certainly enjoy the products I received I have to admit I'm a little jealous of some of the other boxes I've seen online. My boxes seem to be a bit on the skimpy side when compared to others, and I'm pretty disappointed that I did not receive the men's cologne sample that most of the boxes included. I've received a brown eyeliner and hand cream two months in a row now so I'm hoping that next month's special Glamour magazine edition has something fun and different to try.

Trying something new

Testing the Blogger app and posting from my iPhone

Also trying a new look - I rarely paint my nails and can't decide if I like this combination or not

Out and about

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here for the last few weeks (the rain is back this week, but for a 'Bama girl this isn't enough rain to bother me) and we've been getting out and exploring our new town.

Some of the fun places we've been and things we've seen in the last few weeks:

• Tulip Festival in Woodburn
• Tillamook Cheese Factory
• Oregon Zoo
• Seaside
• Iris Festival in Keizer

This weekend starts the Rose Festival here in Portland and we're planning on going to see the fireworks on Friday night, then seeing the Alabama Shakes on Sunday. Not sure what we'll do for Memorial Day, but I'm sure looking forward to a long holiday weekend!

Beauty JACKPOT!

Got home from a hectic day at the office to find not one, but TWO boxes of beauty goodies in the mailbox! I LOVE getting mail and packages, so I've been stalking the mailbox for a few days waiting for these goodies to arrive.

The first was my May 2012 Birchbox, shown below. If you haven't checked out Birchbox yet you are missing out! For $10 a month you get a box full of generous samples or full size products to try out, customized according to your own beauty profile. 

This month's box included:

• A sample of Kérastase Cristalliste Lumiere Liquide leave in hair serum
• A sample of BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette Spray
• A sample of Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream
• A sample of Kiehl's Abyssine Cream + moisturizer
• A full size stila sparkle waterproof liquid eye liner in "Rock Candy" (chocolate brown)
• A cute note card with matching envelope

I'll be trying out the products over the next few days, but overall I am thrilled with this month's items! I would never have picked out a liquid eyeliner but the color is gorgeous and the brush seems like it will be easy to apply. I use a hair serum, moisturizer, and fragrance every day so new ones are always fun to try, and I keep a hand and nail cream in my purse so this will get a lot of use as well.


The second package was the Spring 2010 Beauty VoxBox from Influenster, and is my first time to receive one of these packages. Influenster is a similar concept, but you sign up for free and may be selected to receive a package of items to try out based on your profile. While you receive the items at no cost, you are expected to share your experiences with the items on your social media platforms to help the brands get their name out.

This VoxBox included (all products were received complementary for testing purposes from Influenster):

• ChapStick Lipshield 365
• Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips in a fun zebra design
• SOYJOY soy and fruit bar in Blueberry
• Sheer Cover duo concealer in Light/Medium
• Bath & Body Works Fragrance Mist in Japanese Cherry Blossom
• Dr Scholl's For Her ball of foot cushions
• Aveno Daily Moisturizing body wash (travel size)

I'm a complete lip balm freak, so I've already tried out the ChapStick and have to say I'm extremely pleased with it. I usually stick to Burt's Bees but the Lipshield goes on smooth (not waxy) and leaves my lips feeling soft but not heavy with balm. I'm a big fan of Bath & Body Works fragrance mists and the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent, so I'll be giving that a try tomorrow when I'm getting dressed for work. I've been using the ball of foot cushions for years so another pair is always a good thing in my book, and I've been needing to buy a new concealer so the timing couldn't be better for the Sheer Cover concealer. The SOYJOY bar has already been claimed by the hubbin, but I'm hoping to at least get a bite of it! I don't usually keep my fingernails painted, but I've been dying to try the polish strips so this will be a fun experiment for me!

Starting a new adventure!

This blog has been dormant for FAR too long, so I'm hoping to resuscitate it and get back to blogging about my adventures and interests.

Some of the major changes in my life since my last post - I'm now living in my 4th state in two years, was in Houston, TX when I last posted, lived to Oklahoma City, OK for a year then Minneapolis, MN for 9 months, and now Portland, OR. Each move has been a result of a new job, and I've started and completed a Masters degree in Project Management through Penn State along the way as well. I'm now an AUNT to the most precious niece (my brother) and nephew (husband's sister) ever and I love spoiling them rotten.

What hasn't changed? I'm still sewing and knitting and crafting up a storm, though I've added an embroidery machine and a Silhouette digital cutter to my ever-expanding craft room. I've been documenting my crafty adventures on Facebook and I plan to use this space to document in more detail as I'm sure my husband is getting tired of pretending to know what I'm babbling about ;)

I've fallen off and gotten back on the fitness bandwagon a few times, but living in this perfect climate has the urge kicking back in to high gear so I plan to get back to the gym and hopefully into biking or running over the next few weeks. I've already become obsessed with my Fitbit and Polar fitness computer (Thanks to Little Bit Funky and BlogHer!) and I'm working on convincing my new coworkers to form a team for the upcoming Color Run that's taking place here in September.

Wine is still very much an interest of mine, and now that I live in the wine country I'll be visiting various local wineries much more often than my previous once a year trips. There are so many things to see, places to go, and festivals in the area that I'm getting a lot of use out of my camera already!

I've also become obsessed with Pinterest, BirchBox, and Influenster so I'll be sharing other various fashion, beauty, and just plain girly things in the coming weeks.

It's great to be back!

kicking my own ass.....

I'm about halfway through a new dress (McCall 4768) and it seems from the time I took my measurements until now either a) the dress has shrunk, b) my ass has grown, or c) the pattern measurements on the envelope are just off by an inch or two.

I'm going with option C personally, but that doesn't make me feel any better. While the dress does technically 'fit' there is no way in hell I'm going to wear this out in public looking the way it does. I'm no Mariah Carey, and 'sausage casing' is not a good look for me.

So the dress has been put aside for the time being and I started day 1 of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred to see if I can whittle myself back down into it. Stranger things have happened! Plus I'm just coming off my cycle so that always makes me swell a teensy bit anyways.

On the sewing room front - I got a new ironing board and (cheap) iron today so I can return the good/expensive one back downstairs for every day use. Figure I'll do most of the major ironing of fabrics as soon as I pull them from the dryer so I can use the Rowenta downstairs for that and just use the new one upstairs for seams while sewing. Also hung two of my photography prints (one of my own, one of my old photog prof.) on one wall and framed two of my old sorority cross stitch pieces to hang on another wall when Stephen is available to help me hang my shelf. I've also got an old painting he did in the first grade that his Nana had mounted and framed that I plan to hang as well, it's really cool!

what's new in my world...

I FINALLY got a sewing table, and was able to set up my space in one of the spare bedrooms upstairs!


you can also see the new serger I got Friday as well ;)

Also finished something new (and stop reading if you are my brother or sister-in-law, or are married to or was a groomsman in my wedding) just a few minutes ago -


Actually made two of them, but since they are identical I'm only showing one, kindly modeled by Betty and my cowboy

why I have the BESTEST husband evar!!!

I just ordered a serger!


Brother 1034D

Since my free trial of Amazon Prime is still good for another 9 days I was able to get one day shipping for $3.99, so she will be delivered on Friday and I get a whole weekend to play with her!

gremlins!

we seem to have gremlins in our house, or maybe a mischievous leprechaun?

whatever it is, something has swiped my potato peeler, and now my skirt/pant hooks are missing!

I've finished another skirt (McCall's 5429) but I can't find the hook closure, and I KNOW I have some since I bought a new pack when I made the last version of this skirt!

The last one was denim and was cute, but I wasn't very happy with the fit or the cheap denim I picked up at WalMart. This new version is a really nice stretch cotton-blend khaki, and (as well as I can tell without the closure) fits absolutely perfectly. The pattern makers seem to assume that all women are at least 6 feet tall so I've got to cut a few inches off so I don't look uber-religious, but again that requires the closure so I can accurately measure where to cut it...

guess I just have to console myself with this glass of wine and the homemade brownies that are currently baking...

FINISHED!

The fleece jacket is finished, just in time for this warmer weather ;)



McCall's/DIY Style 5714 in polar fleece

Hooray for progress!

So I'm almost finished with McCall's 5714, just have to hem it and sew on the two snaps. Surprisingly the sleeves were a piece of cake, it really is true that using a LOT of pins makes set in sleeves much easier!

I dug through my old craft/Chi Omega box today looking for the old GRE exam prep book I bought 11 years ago. Did not find it (think I tossed it when I realized I wasn't going to grad school anytime soon) but I DID find the missing pattern I've been searching for off and on for the last year.

Bought this when I first started belly dancing but it was delayed by the publisher, so it did not come in until after my first hafla, so I'd already made my own costume based off tips and tricks I'd found online. I've no idea how the pattern ended up in this box but I sure am glad to have found it. Also found a bunch of old photos in there, including one of me and my mom on my 16th birthday.

And as for why I was digging around in the box in the first place, I have decided (after 11 years) to apply for graduate school for a Masters in Project Management. I'm planning to enroll in Penn State's program this fall, so wish me luck! Just ordered two GMAT exam prep books so I can go ahead and start studying, I'm afraid my math skills might be a bit rusty...

where the heck does the time go?

actually I know where it goes....to my employers and clients, that's where!

I made quite a bit of progress on my latest sewing project last weekend, McCall's 5714 fleece jacket (http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5714.htm??tab=diystyle&page=1 - I'm making the orange one on the model but in a charcoal gray color) but I've had absolutely no time on the machine since I went back to work Monday.

Guess I could have made time today but darn it, I worked HARD this week and I just wanted to spend some time curled up in my chair with a good book or running errands with my hubby!

Maybe tomorrow I'll finish it up, now that it's getting warmer and I probably won't get a chance to wear it until next winter!

I'm also ashamed to report I've done NO exercising for the last couple of weeks. Got a few new videos to try out but due to the aforementioned lack of free time I can't get motivated enough to head upstairs to my workout area to give them a try. Maybe tomorrow will be the day.....at least I can report that eating healthier (and taking Alli) is actually making a difference as I've dropped below 140lbs for the first time in as long as I can remember. Stephen has already dropped about 15 lbs since Christmas, but I've only lost 5 or so.

Hopefully my next post will be much more exciting, with photos of completed projects or something actually interesting to report!

Baseball cards...

My husband says my patterns are like baseball cards - that I seem to collect them and try to get them all

He might have a point, I bought some new ones this weekend and decided to take stock of everything I had, and it was more than I thought!

http://picasaweb.google.com/artemis76/SewingPatterns is my current inventory, minus one FatChanceBellyDance/Folkware pattern that I have misplaced

I need to go back through the photo gallery and add captions so I can search more easily, but it looks like it will be very helpful to see at a glance what patterns I have when I'm looking at online fabric sales!

new year....new start?

Obviously I read other blogs far more often than I post to my own (any of them!) so I'm going to attempt to do better this year

I've been collecting patterns far more than I'm sewing them these days but mostly due to how busy I've been at work lately - by the time I get home I just want to veg in front of the television and on weekends I just want to relax!

Knitting has been pretty rare around here too, though I did knit mini stockings for all of the gift cards we gave out for Christmas, and I've knit some thumbless mittens for some upcoming arrivals in my Aunt's family (which reminds me to finish the second pair and get them in the mail!)

Starting to get back into photography thanks to my new Nikon D80 SLR I got for Christmas, so prepare to start seeing random photos. If you've added me on Facebook you've already gotten to see some of them, with so many blogs/social networking sites it becomes somewhat redundant to keep posting the same things over and over, especially when I don't even know if I have readers here!

So I guess that pretty much sums up my first post of OH-NINE, might as well kick it off with a new design while I'm at it!

and it just keeps going....

to be perfectly honest, I've been doing more sewing than knitting these days (though I am knitting!)

my latest projects, both from S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop -


Wear Anywhere Yoga Pants


Easy Breazy Wrap Skirt


I've just finished a second wrap skirt in pink for my grandmother, and I made a jersey knit pair of shorts for my husband (need to get a picture of him in them!)


On the (knitting) needles currently is a third pair of Fibertrends Felt Clogs (replacement pair for my husband, he's worn holes in his), the hooden baby blanket from MagKnits a few months back, and the Print O' The Wave shawl that's been on the needles about 18 months now....

my latest obsession....

SEWING! drug out the trusty old Kenmore last month and have been enjoying every minute of it, though she's in need of service now (straight stitching works fine, but the zigzag part is stuck)

My darling husband surprised me by ordering me a new machine last week, and she's due to arrive on Tuesday. He got me the Brother CS-6000i so I'll be quite busy learning all the new features and stitches

Here's a few things I've made so far...


Quilted Potholder from Amy Butler's In Stitches



Toyko bag from S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop



Unforgettable Elephant from S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop

Up next in the queue - ordered 3 colors of linen from Fabric.com last week (also due to arrive Tuesday) and am planning some linen pants and skirts form S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop. Bought that book with my Barnes & Noble christmas giftcard and have really learned a lot.

On the knitting front, the Print O' The Wave stole is still on the needles...I've just lost the motivation to finish it, though I have knocked out a couple pattern repeats while watching tv in the last couple of weeks. I cast on for the Cloud Bolero with some Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk that's been lounging in the stash for the last year but made a mistake on the back and rather than try to fix it I ripped it all out to start over.

Otherwise I've just been enjoying the bread machine I got for Christmas, and in general loving owning our first home and having a nice big kitchen to play in!

Sabrina's Christmas Stocking

whipped this up this week while my Husband has been out of town

pattern was a freebie from Bernat, but I cast on more stitches to make it larger (to hold more treats!)



embroidered her name and duplicate stitched some paw-prints on after it was complete




now this pretty little girl is all ready for Santa!

an actual FO!

it's been a while since I had one of these....



the infamous shallowtail, in zephyr wool/silk

I have no idea when I started this, other than I was still living in Birmingham.....I know I bought the yarn at Knit Nouveau, sometime after they moved to their Homewood location

HOUSTON!!!

Posting has been pretty much non-existant around here recently, sorry about that! The biggest piece of news is that we relocated to Houston earlier this month so every spare minute has been spent unpacking or looking for houses.

I currently work in that unual shaped building on the far right (the Continental building, it's designed to look different from each side and offers SPECTACULAR views from that sharp angled side) but sometime in the next week or two I will be moving to that mirrored building that is right smack in the center (Texaco Heritage Plaza, where I will have an actual office w/ door as opposed to a cubicle)

I know there are tons of knitties in the area and I plan to join y'all for SnB night sometime soon!

Random Act of Kindness

Yesterday I received a little bit of sunshine in the form of a knittyboard RAK:

Inside was Cuisine at Home magazine, 3 of her favorite recipes, a bar of swiss dark chocolate w/ cinnamon, Trader Joe's decaf Earl Grey tea, two Hershey's special dark w/ almonds nuggets in their own knit cozy, a ball of SWTC Bamboo, and a lovely card with such a sweet note inside.

THANK YOU Aruni!