My family

My family

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Challenge: Why do I blog?

Blog Challenge - Day 31

Heck yeah......we made it!  Now you know everything there is to know about me.

You're welcome! 😉


I started blogging when our family moved from Texas to Minnesota.  


Jim's job transferred us up here to the Arctic Tundra and I wanted a way to share our adventure with my family back home.  

The only readers are my friends and family and that's exactly the way I want it!  


Over the years, I've started using the blog as an electronic family yearbook.  

Each year, I transfer the blog posts to a hard-bound book using Blurb.


I will eventually make copies for each of the kiddos.  

Thanks for hanging out with me this month!  Now that 2017 is in full-swing.....I'm excited to catch you up on what's been going on around here.  

Love you guys!!





Monday, January 30, 2017

Challenge: Makeup Bag

Blog Challenge - Day 30


Southern girls learn pretty early on that you must keep two sets of make-up/essentials......
one at home and one at work (or in your purse).

To be honest, I don't wear a ton of make-up.  I make up for the extra room in my bag with a pretty strange assortment of essentials though.


I've never gotten into the expensive cosmetic brands.  

In fact, I buy most of my make-up at the drugstore.

Cover Girl has been my go-to brand since high school.  

If it ain't broke, don't fix it girls!😉


Here's what make-up I can't live without.....

1)  Under-eye concealer
This is the only thing I splurge on.  I alternate between Mary Kay and MAC.

2)  Mascara
Always black.  Always with a curved wand.

3)  Eyeliner
Black in the winter months;  brown in the cooler months.  I know.....it's weird.

4)  Blush
It's on my 2017 to-do list to try liquid blush because mine wears off too quickly.

5) Powder
I have a one compact at work, one in my purse, one in my bathroom vanity and one in my car.  I loooooooove the way Cover Girl powder compacts smell!!

Here's what else I have to have within reach.....

1)  Hand sanitizer
I blame this on Jim.  I never used it until Mr. Clean came along.  ðŸ˜Š

2)  Hairspray
Because Southern girls know that the bigger your hair, the closer to Jesus!

3)  Mouthwash

4)  Cinnamon mints/gum 
Other flavors need not apply.

5)  Nail file/clippers
Another Southern girl rule:  Clipping your nails in public is not allowed.  
No ma'am!  
Bathrooms only girls!
You can, however, FILE your nails in public.  

6)  Contact case & rewetting drops

7)  Lubriderm lotion
Again.....other brands need not apply.

8)  Cortizone cream 
I have no idea why but I use cortizone cream on a weekly basis.

9)  Lip balm.  Lots and lots of lip balm.  
Seriously.....if I was stranded on a desert island, this is one thing that I would have to have.  



I have about 153 tubes of Burts Bees "Fig" lip balm in total.  I stash this stuff everywhere......in my jacket pocket, my desk drawer at work, my purse, my car, in Jim's truck.......everywhere!

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Jim has a tube in the pocket of his jeans.  I'm always asking him to carry it for me.  

I've gone waaaayyyy past the obsession phase.

"My name is Charlotte and I'm addicted to lip balm."


Because of my migraines, I can't go without peppermint oil.

My sweet hairdresser turned me on to this Aveda blue oil roller ball several years ago.

If I feel a migraine coming on, I roll this onto the back of my neck, my shoulders and temples.

It works 9 times out of 10.

One more day for the blog challenge!!  See you tomorrow.  ðŸ’›











Sunday, January 29, 2017

Challenge: Travels

Blog Challenge - Day 29


Great timing! 

 I just finished this page in my bullet journal (click here to read more about the journal).


Some of my favorite USA visits....

High school road trip

My parents took Charlene and I on a two-week road trip to CA and back.  We passed through Colorado and Nevada on the way out.  Through Arizona & New Mexico on the way back.

New York

A long weekend when Garrett was just a baby.

New Mexico


Family trip to Angel Fire. (That's Tracey on the slopes!)

Florida

I love the Destin area up in the panhandle.  Those white beaches are amazing.

Louisiana



New Orleans is magical.

Click here to read about my latest visit.

It's always especially exciting to travel OUTSIDE the United States.

Italy


Duh!  Favorite trip of all time.

Click here to check it out.

Cozumel

Girls only cruise with Denise, Charlene, Tracey & Mom.

Jamaica


My favorite part was climbing the waterfall in Ocho Rios.

Needless to say, traveling is my favorite past time.  ðŸ˜€



Saturday, January 28, 2017

Challenge: Looking forward

Blog Challenge - Day 28


Jim and I are about to start a new and exciting chapter as empty-nesters.

I'm looking forward to seeing what that looks like.  ðŸ’œ

Next year also brings a few trips I'm really excited about.....

The MS Walk is in the Spring.


I'm hoping Jim and I get to spend some time up north during the summer.


Delanie leaves for college later in the summer and I'm looking forward to checking out the campus.  She first visited the campus in 2014.  It's sweet to look back at that first trip where she fell in love with The Going Band from Raiderland. 


This cutie graduates college in December.  That will be a party to remember!


Lots to look forward to!! 😊




Friday, January 27, 2017

Challenge: Recipe

Blog Challenge - Day Twenty Seven


My all-time favorite recipe comes from Jim's mama, Ruth.

Her homemade mac and cheese is to die for!  In fact, we have it for supper (nothing else, just this gloriously cheesy goodness) several times per month.


If you put this stuff on top of your head, your tongue will beat your brains out trying to get at it.  ðŸ˜‰





Thursday, January 26, 2017

Challenge: Oldies

Blog Challenge - Day 26


Throwing all the way back to high school.


This photo of Charlene and I was taken at our graduation in 1987.

It's not the best quality but it's one of my favorites because, even though we are fraternal twins, I can see the resemblance.

Love this girl! 💙




Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Challenge: Blogs

Blog Challenge - Day 25


There are several blogs I read on a consistent basis......each for a different reason.




I really like this blog because the blogger lives not far from where we used to live in Texas.  Its a mixture of a family blog and a foodie blog and I really enjoy it.  




Even though this is a fashion blog, the blogger has a great sense of humor and does a fantastic Bachelor/Bachelorette recap each season.



There are a few reasons I love this blog.  What drew me to it at first was her home decorating style.  I love that "cottage farm house" look.  The blogger writes about her adoption journey and it is incredibly moving.  Her husband is a fantastic photographer and I am awed by some of his work.




This one is a tear-jerker.  Click here to read my previous post about it.  It chronicles the life of a country music couple as they battle cancer.  The husband is the blogger and he has a way of writing that just holds you captive.