What I Keep In My Clutch

    My favorite clutch is the Aztec geo print from DailyLook that I have previously talked about. I love everything about it. I used it the other night when I went out to meet some friends and I'm not kidding, the waitress snatched my clutch out of my hands and said she loved it and I should leave it so she can have it. It was a bit of an awkward moment but I guess in this case it was all good because she loved my bag so much. I got more compliments from my friends as well. Best clearance purchase I have ever made.

 

If you haven't read my previous post about the bag this is it. Like I said it was from DailyLook and it also comes with a gold chain but I prefer without it. It goes with everything since it's basic colors but the print gives it a little something extra.

 

Moving on to the essentials which are very important. This is a bigger clutch so it can fit a lot but the whole point is to not carry a lot but there are certain things you need when going out on the town. Here is a list of my clutch essentials:

*Pressed powder in case of emergency. The one I have here is the Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Intensive Comfort Pressed Powder in the shade 02 Light.

*The lipstick I have on for the night in case it starts to fade away. This is the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 825 Lovers Coral.

*A hair tie. You need a hair tie with you always because you never know when you'll want it.

*Money for obvious reasons.

*Gum for some fresh breath because no one wants to talk with you if you have terrible breath.

*ID and credit card again because you have to have it.

*Lastly I like to keep lip gloss in my bag as well. This is the C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries Mentha Lip Shine in Spearmint.

*Also in case anyone was wondering I would also have my phone with me even though it's not in the photo.

 

 

 

    I like to watch "what's in my bag" videos on YouTube because some people carry the oddest things and other times someone has something that makes you think, why don't I carry that in my bag? Do you carry anything special in your clutch when you go out? 



Can't We All Get Along??

    A couple of weeks ago my Dad showed up to my work unexpected. I thought I forgot us meeting for dinner or something but I was wrong. My grandmother (my stepdad, John's mom) had a heart attack and was in the hospital. I left work to go to the hospital to be with my family. I expected to get there and see her in a hospital bed talking with my mom and stepdad but I was so wrong. I walked into this huge trauma room in the ER where my mom, stepdad, and his siblings were sitting to one side while their mother was laying flat on a hospital bed hooked up to a bunch of machines. I was shocked at how wrong I was. She wasn't even conscious and wasn't even breathing on her own.

    Later talking with my mom I got more details of what happened. Marie, my grandmother, had went into cardiac arrest meaning her heart stopped beating. My mom gave her CPR at Marie's house and was able to bring her back and they had to do it again on the way to the hospital. There was a certain time line for when Marie should be awake and able to do things herself but she never came out of the state she was in. They did some tests and it was determined that she lost too much neurological activity when she stopped breathing. Since she was not breathing a couple of times her brain lost oxygen and therefore suffered damage on both sides. She was basically a vegetable. After a certain number of days of being hooked up to the breathing machine you have to be disconnected so you don't get a virus.

    They made the decision to take her off the machine and within 30 minutes she was gone. As you can imagine this whole process was horrible on the family and no one was handling it well. How could they when they just lost their mother? I would be a mess as well. Marie had a beautiful funeral service on the following Saturday where a lot of people showed up to pay their final respects.

   You would think that after losing their last living parent you would lean on your family for support but that's not what happened, in fact things got ugly. The next day while all the siblings and spouses were all in the area (some lived hours away) they decided to go through the will and talk about what's next. John found the will and showed it to everyone. They were not happy because John was the executor of the estate and was also to inherit the house. His sisters got ugly and talked trash about John when he got up from the table. My mom was there and stood up for John so his sisters then turned on my mother calling her horrible things and getting in her face.

   It was ugly. My mother was so upset as well as my stepdad. The sisters even went so far as refusing to be in the house if my mom was in it, mind you it was freezing outside. I know emotions are high when something like this happens but it was all uncalled for and extremely rude. The family is now split when they should be leaning on each other for support not tearing others apart.

   This isn't the first time I have seen this happen. Three years ago my dad's grandmother died and it also got ugly. One of the daughters was stealing things from the house saying they were hers and she yelled at my grandmother. In fact they aren't on speaking terms and it's three years later. I know emotions are high when you lose someone so close but don't take it out on your siblings they are all you have left. It's stupid for families to split over materialistic things. You lost a parent now is when you need to hold on to the family you have left. Can't we all get along??

Christmas Present Giving in March

    I made a really special Christmas gift for my grandparents this year (2014) however we did not get to see each other. I could have mailed it but I was worried about it getting damaged and I also wanted to see my grandmother's reaction because I know she was going to love this gift! Personally I think this is one of the best gifts I have ever given anyone and the best part was I made it. I did need some help making it but the idea and concept was all me.

 

This is not what I made this is what inspired me. My childhood memories of being with my grandparents all have Scrabble in them. They had the anniversary board that was on a lazy susan and had red tiles. My idea was to make a Scrabble frame with all our names on it for them. I wanted Stewart (our last name) to be in the center and then we all branch off it. I wanted it to look like you could play it on an actual Scrabble board. I didn't want to have the background a real Scrabble board because I wanted it to look elegant. This is how it turned out...

 

 

   I would love to tell you that this was easy to make and I have step by step pictures with directions but that would be a total lie. It was a bit difficult to make probably because there are so many tiles and I wanted it to be perfect. There are a couple flaws but nothing you can see if you aren't looking super close. I bought the red tiles and tile holder from eBay, frame from Michael's, and hand made the mat to fit perfectly. Here is another picture but it looks yellow due to the hotel lights...

 



 

 

 

    This was a very rewarding gift to give because it was made from the heart special for my grandparents who would do anything for me. The fact that my grandmother loved this so much just made it so much more worth it.

 

    What do you guys think? Anyone going to try this or have done something similar?



February Favorites

    I can not believe February is over already! The month just flew by but it's probably because it only had 28 days. The beginning of the month was really good but for me the month ended badly. Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good. Today I'm going to share what I was using a lot/loving in the month of February.

 

 

1. Olay Fresh Effects Bright On Schedule Eye Awakening Cream

I love this eye cream because of the rollerball. It feels so good to apply because it's cool and you don't have to dirty your hands.

2. Nest Fragrances Indigo

I tend to buy travel size fragrances because I don't stick with one for long. This smells so good! It's like floral, fruity, and musk all wrapped in one. Perfection.

3. Sonia Kashuk Confidential Concealer 03 Light

For whatever reason I have a hard time finding the perfect concealer until now. This is my favorite and we shall never part.

4. Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam

I use this either on my wet hair to hold my naturally wavy hair or in my wet hair and blow dry for more volume and shine. It has such a good smell which can be hard to find in hair products I feel.

5. Ulta Lip Color in #246 Bit of Berry

It's a great berry color which is a must during this winter season.

6. tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

My favorite mascara, ever.

7. tarte Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush

Best powder brush I have ever owned. My make up doesn't look caked on which it tends to do when I use other brushes.

8. Urban Decay Naked Basics

This eye shadow palette is the best for a natural look or smokey eye look. I use this almost everyday. I like to use the black shade as eye liner instead of an actual eye liner because it's not so harsh on my fair skin.

 

 

I may be late on this one but I am obsessed with Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer. On repeat 24/7.

 

 

This is my favorite picture of the month. It's my two dogs laying in bed with me cuddling. It's so hard to wake up when they do this.

 

I read an article of books you should read before the movie comes out and this was on the list. I had never heard of it before but the article listed the cast and I was hooked (love you Mae Whitman). I watched the trailer and decided I had to read the book. I love this book so much! It was a bit more sexual than I thought it would be but I liked how the characters had good and bad things happen to them. They weren't perfect which made them relatable and loveable. Now I have to see the movie asap!

 

 

What were some of your favorite things in February?