I recently revisited my four favorite friends this past couple weeks when I read Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares. It had been 7 years since I last traveled through the lives of Tibby, Carmen, Lena, and Bridget wearing a magical pair of pants and it was 7 years too long. The latest and final installment of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series came out in 2011, but I just now found out about it. It follows the four girls ten years after they last lost the magical pants and there lives have drastically changed.
My expectations for this book were nowhere close to what I received. I loved the book up until about page 60 when Tibby pissed me off. (I don't want to give spoilers.) I set it down for a few days, then picked it back up, falling back in love around page 130. This book was a perfect read for where I am in my life right now. I'm being forced to move on from the life I know into something much more uncomfortable and uncertain, while desperately holding onto the past.
However, I could never tell if I was turning pages of excitement or because I simply just wanted to know how the girls lives turned out. My emotions were played with a lot in this book, but I would recommend it to any Traveling Pants fans.
Juan Pablo is the scum of the earth. I don't think ABC could have picked a slimier guy as the bachelor. To get all the way to meeting Renee's little boy, then not giving her a rose broke my heart. However, she's a remarkable woman and my favorite this season, I know she can do better. I was hoping she would be the next Bachelorette, but rumor has it next season belongs to Andi. If I were Andi I would have gone running out of the overnight, which in a way she did. I wish they had been recorded so America could see what garbage he is, but Andi did a good job exposing him for all he is. He talks about what a family man he is and how much he wants to find a good guy for his daughter, but he insinuated that he slept with Clare mid-season on air, something his four year old may not understand now, but she will figure it out in ten years. Juan Pablo will have a perfect match in either Crazy Clare or Negative Nikki, but it won't last when they realize they aren't in St. Lucia anymore.
Here are some funny tweets I've come across this week regarding the past two episodes of The Bachelor:
I'm always looking for the next best thing to help my skin. I recently purchases The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil, and so far, it's so so. I used to work at The Body Shop and it came highly recommended by customers who struggled with blemishes and scarring. It was on sale a couple weeks ago 40% off, so I decided to give it a go.
Just put a couple droplets in the hand and then use your finger to apply it to any pimples. The tea tree oil dries it up and helps heal scarring.
It doesn't dry out my skin, like many other acne medications do. It works quickly, lightening the pimple almost immediately and shrinking it within 24 hours. I am not a fan of the smell, but it's tolerable. It's a pain in the butt to get out of the bottle and once you get a droplet out, several come falling.
I need a day between Saturday & Sunday to do absolutely nothing except lay in bed and watch tv, dozing in and out of slumber throughout the day. Friday night, I went to Prime Steakhouse in Agoura Hills. The food was delicious, the company was even better. After that headed to Los Angeles to pick up James' sister from LAX with a pit stop at Diddy Riese along the way. Delicious! You can never go wrong with cookie wheels, especially when they're $1.50 and as big as your face. I spent all day Saturday at my oldest brother Chris' house in Santa Clarita, digging up the yard, pulling weeds, and planting all sorts of stuff. Their new house is coming along and I'm looking forward to barbecuing there next weekend with all our family and friends, including my brother Ryan who is flying in from Florida. I'm starting to get sick again, so hopefully I can feel better before the sweetest baby I know sucks all my energy out of me again this week.
In honor of the B E A U T I F U L spring weather, missing Colorado a lot lately, and wishing I had this carefree of a lifestyle right now, I'm flashing back to lazy Thursdays boarding around the Reeg.
I recently started the Your Tea Tiny Tea Teatox. After a lot of recommendation from various friends, I decided to give it a try. While I am overall content with my body, I could always eat better, workout more, and weigh a little less. After hearing all the great things about my friends who did the 14 day Tiny Tea Teatox that have now ordered the 28 day, I decided I could probably benefit from it. The herbal blend cleanses the digestive system, reduces weight and bloating, improves skin, and increases energy levels. It is drank three times a day for 2 weeks or 4 weeks, depending on what was ordered.
I am currently on day 4 of the Teatox, and I feel a lot more energized. I have not felt a need for an energy drink and am a lot less lethargic. I feel more encouraged to work out and eat better, solely because I want to reach the full potential of benefits. My skin has cleared up a bit and has more glow to it. I look forward to seeing how I will look and feel at the end of 14 days, but as of now, I definitely plan on continuing on the Teatox!
This treatment has Moroccan argan oil, which locks in moisture, adds shine, and prevents frizz. While these are all benefits, my favorite thing about this oil is that it makes drying time faster. The past few months I have been doing what I can to let my hair air dry and go au natural because it was terribly damaged after a fatal home dye job. A serious deep conditioning and a lot of beautiful inches cut off, but it is finally healthy again and I am trying to keep it that way! But when I do dry my hair, this cuts dry time in half, while still keeping it moist. It can be used three different ways: 1.) adding a small amount to damp hair prior to drying; 2.) adding a dollop to dry hair to add shine; 3.) as a deep conditioner, applied to damp hair for 20 minutes, then rinsed.
There are two things I do not like about this product is that it is pricy and if I use too much my hair is weighed down. This treatment is not too pricy, it runs about $15 for 4 oz. However, I do not like spending a lot on hair products, and actually got this as a sample during a charity race about six months ago, but will purchase. Also, with my short, thin hair if I use even slightly too much, my hair looks greasy. While I love the product, it is difficult to get the perfect amount into my hands every time.
I would definitely recommend this product, especially to those with damaged hair. It has made my brittle, dry hair contain a lot more moisture and maintain a healthy look.
"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way."
I'm off to enjoy the beautiful 72 degree day. You should go do the same.
Celebrating my third favorite holiday today (behind 4th of July & St. Patrick's Day!) Hope everyone is feeling the love as much as I am. I can't wait to enjoy a romantic night with the love of my life, even if I am feeling a little sicky.
Shia LaBeouf has been making headlines recently for having a mental breakdown. Abnormal actions are nothing new for LaBeouf who has been in the limelight since age 10, when he starred on the Disney Channel hit, Even Stevens. LaBeouf who was accused earlier this year of plagarism, and has taken to Twitter in the past couple weeks to let everyone know that he is no longer famous. He was spotted this weekend at the Berlinale Film Festival with a brown grocery bag over his head.
Nothing says celebrity breakdown quite like taking to Twitter...
In theme with Shia's breakdown, I have compiled the top ten celebrity breakdowns of all time. Feel free to agree, disagree, add, or subtract in the comments below.
10.) Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman): Arrested in 1991 for "indecent exposure" in an adult movie theater, Reubens tried to get out of legal trouble by offering to host a children's benefit for the Sarasota, Florida sheriff's station. The news of Reubens arrest spread like wildfire and it was immediately discovered that he had previously been arrested in the 1970's for other acts at adult movie theaters. He was arrested again in 2002 for a case of child pornography.
9.) Naomi Campbell: In a span of ten years, the model was accused of ten different counts of assault. Many of them were for her attacking assistants with mobile devices, but others included spitting on police officers at London Heathrow Airport, causing her to be permanently banned from British Airways. After being sentenced to community service, Campbell showed up in a silver ball gown, fedora, and fur vest.
8.) David Hasselhoff: In 2007, a home video surfaced of The Hoff drunk and shirtless laying on the floor of a hotel room eating a cheeseburger. The video was filmed by his 15 year old daughter, in which she can be heard asking him to stop drinking so much. The actor/singer believed his daughter set him up to get media attention.
7.) Mel Gibson: A self-proclaimed manic depressive, Gibson has struggled with alcoholism throughout his life. While filming Lethal Weapon 2, it was rumored that the actor drank five pints of beer for breakfast. He contemplated suicide in 2004 and then was arrested in 2006 for DUI, where he yelled at the arresting officer, famously referring to him as "sugar tits." Gibson also made many anti-Semitic remarks.
6.) Alec Baldwin: In 2007, Baldwin left his daughter Ireland, age 11 at the time, a nasty voicemail going off about ex-wife Kim Basinger. He told Ireland, "You are a rude, thoughtless little pig...You don't have the brains or decency as a human being." Four years later the actor was kicked off a flight for acting belligerently when asked to turn his phone off. Apparently the flight attendant was interrupting his game of Words With Friends. In 2013, Baldwin used several gay slurs while physically attacking. a photographer
5.) Robert Downey Jr.: After being arrested in 1986 for heroin and cocaine, the actor proceeded to enter his neighbor's Malibu home and take a nap in a young child's bed. Ten years later he was found driving naked down Sunset Blvd. throwing imaginary rats out his car window. He was arrested again for drugs, as well as possession of a .357-Caliber Magnum handgun.
4.) Bill O'Reilly: In the early 1990's the newscaster flipped out on an intern for a teleprompter error. The whole thing was caught on camera, showing O'Reilly's true colors.
3.) Britney Spears: In 2007 the pop star, fresh out of a very public divorce, entered a salon and shaved her head. She then walked into a tattoo parlor, inking her body with, "I'm tired of everybody touching me." She then attacked photographers with an umbrella and was taken into a psychiatric ward. Many feared her life and she was later placed into a rehab facility.
2.) Amanda Bynes: In 2012, the actress got a DUI and was involved in several hit and runs. She then was caught several times smoking marijuana and was busted for throwing a bong out her apartment window. After continuing to do bizarre things, Bynes then left New York to return to her hometown (and my hometown) of Thousand Oaks, Calif. There she tried to set an elderly woman's driveway on fire using a wash rag and gasoline. After this didn't work she walked to Southwest Liquor & Deli (a place I frequent often for a bottle of wine or two or seven) and tried to wash gasoline off her dog before being arrested and placed a 5150 hold.
1.) Charlie Sheen: There's a whole timeline of crazy for this "winning" actor. In 1996, Sheen was arrested for assaulting then-girlfriend Brittany Ashland. In 1998 he enters rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. In 2006, Sheen and wife Denise Richards divorce, with Richards claiming her husband abused her and threatened her life. In 2009, Sheen is again arrested for assaulting then-wife Brooke Mueller. In 2010, Sheen was hospitalized for going insane in a hotel room, while intoxicated. He was hospitalized again in early 2011, then checked into rehab. His young twin boys were taken from his custody and Sheen is replaced on his hit sitcom Two & A Half Men. The actor then has "goddesses" move into his mansion with him and claims he is made of tiger blood during many of his bizarre rants during interviews.
I was laying in bed last night reading this month's Cosmo when an article struck me in the wrong way. It was about the "new thing" called the Vaportini, where people literally inhale liquor. It lets users get drunk quickly on little booze, without consuming calories. While this may sound like a better option than grabbing drinks with friends, it's not. Because it is inhaled, it immediately hits the brain at a very high concentration. There is no way to track how much alcohol enters the body and it can not be thrown up, which puts users at a very high risk for serious illness or death.
This is right up there on the stupidity level with the fad from a couple years ago where young adults would soak tampons in alcohol then insert them in their body to get drunk. Why wouldn't you just drink your alcohol? For me, drinking is a social event and the Vaportini takes all the fun out of it. It's main purpose is to just get drunk quick and not enjoy the journey. I don't ever really WANT to get drunk, sometimes it just happens after a few too many glasses of wine and episodes of Real Housewives with the roommates.
A legend passed away last night. Shirley Temple Black, who tapped into our hearts decades ago, was the most famous child actress of all time. A U.S. diplomat and breast cancer survivor, Temple was a role model to many. As someone who began tapping at the age of 3, I can say the Good Ship Lollipop is sailing sadly today.
As a child I dreamed of being the next Shirley Temple. Sure I could tap, but I definitely couldn't sing!
I'm someone who has to plan everything out down to the minute. If it doesn't go as planned, I get anxiety up the wazoo. It's been really hard for me post graduating to understand that things just won't go as planned. If you had asked me what six months ago what I would be doing today, I would assume I'd be at a super awesome 9-5 job with great pay. Instead I'm covered in a 7 month old's spit up writing how I feel on an online forum that I doubt anyone reads.
When I was given the opportunity several times this weekend to just roll with it and not worry about making perfect plans, I learned some really great things and had a freaking sweet weekend. The feeling I had at a George Strait concert I bought tickets to just hours before the concert with my boyfriend, soaking in the moment, thinking "wow...this is my life!" was way better than the feelings I have when I'm trying to figure out what is going to happen next.
Thursday Night: 100 Days Party
Kiersten, Jade, Courtney, and Me...Blame it on the fireball.
Martina McBride & George Strait covering Johnny Cash's "Jackson"
Beautiful shot of James & I taken yesterday at Conejo Creek Park by Emma Hopp Photography
In honor of the 100 Day Party tonight, in which my friends and I will all gather to celebrate the fact that in 100 days we will be dressed in our caps and gowns, walking up the stage, and receiving our diplomas, I have a very special Throw Back Thursday. A look back at my favorite memories in my past 2 years at CLU.
It was announced Wednesday morning that yet another Disney star has completed time at a rehab facility. Selena Gomez, 21, spent two weeks at Meadows Rehab in January. While her people report she was there for emotional trauma, TMZ reports she was there for marijuana, alcohol, ambien, and an addiction to ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber. As great as I think Selena is, I was not surprised to hear the news.
Disney is home to troubled young adults. Shia LaBeouf, Mitchel Musso, Kirsten Storm, and Orlando Brown have all been arrested for DUIs. Lalaine, who played Miranda on Lizzie McGuire, was busted in 2008 for meth possession. Zac Efron and Demi Lovato have both spent time in rehab, while Miley Cyrus is just one hot mess.
So why does there seem to be so many Disney stars in the negative spotlight, instead of other young adults? The transition from child star to adulthood can be a difficult one. Many unfortunately turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the turmoil. This structure can be a reason for them to act out. Also, during a time when many teenagers are finding out their identity in the privacy of their own homes and friend circles, these teens are doing it in front of the nation and are being told their identity instead of being allowed to figure it out on their own.
Disney star, Joe Jonas has been reported to say that Disney makes puppets out of all the kids that act on their show. This could play a large part in why Nickelodeon stars have been able to transition without the same troubles. Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice have both been able to stay out of the spotlight and lead normal lives, attending college and getting other jobs. The biggest Nickelodeon controversy to date was in 2007, when Jamie Lynn Spears got pregnant at age 16. She has done quite fine on her own being separated from the network and has become a role model to many young mothers.
I hope Disney can take a look at the way they treat their actors, remembering how young they are. They should encourage them to live as normal lives as possible and provide a transitional program or counseling for those that are in need.
Isn't it crazy that we have so much faith and love for something we have no proof of? I'm a Christian, a devout one, but I'm not perfect. I don't go to church every Sunday. I'm not a saint. I am not always nice to my parents. I don't always tell the truth. I don't read my bible often and some of it I just don't agree with.
But when it comes to God, I'm 100% devoted to him because my entire life he has been 100% devoted to me. With his guidance and love, he's proven to me that he's real, regardless of what others say. I will never question him even if I disagree. I believe God puts each and everyone of us through obstacles because he knows we can handle them. He makes everything happen for a reason. While I am not perfect, I believe that we all need to let go and let God and trust his faith and plan for each of us.
Well, what can I say? It was a tough loss for my team. No one showed up on the field except for the blue and green. My favorite football coach always says, "defense wins championships." Yesterday the Broncos didn't show a sign off defense or offense, which is disappointing since we are the #1 offense in the NFL. I look forward to the draft in hopes of getting some new guys, as well as Von Miller being back in the starting lineup, to better an already great team. Looking at Bleacher Report this morning, a safe bet would be Stephon Tuitt, DE from Notre Dame.
Commercials were mediocre. None really impressed me except for the Bud Light ones. Shout out to the CLU cheerleaders in their Chrysler commercial with Bob Dylan. Blink and you would've missed them, which apparently I did.
Besides my boys losing, it was an overall nice day. Had a party at my boyfriends house with lots of delicious food and even more delicious drinks. I tried making two new things--buffalo chicken ranch dip and jell-o shots...both were a hit. Lots of cleaning up today, but it was definitely worth it.
Next up....baseball season: Angels 2014 World Series Champions.
"To create the life of your dreams, the time has to come for you to love you. Focus on your joy. Do all the things that make you feel good. Love you, inside and out. Everything will change in your life, when you change the inside of you. Allow the Universe to give you every good thing you deserve, by being a magnet to them all. To be a magnet for every single thing you deserve, to be a magnet of love." -Rhonda Byrne
Happy February! In honor of Valentine's Day in a couple weeks, I have created a playlist of some of the greatest love songs of all time. Comment with your own additions!
+copy.jpg)
