LOTD #56 and Bible Study

Clinique Different Lipsick in Raspberry Glace ($15)

If you have ever gotten a GWP (Gift With Purchase) from Clinique, I bet you have this lipstick! That's where I got mine.

Different because of its smooth, comfortable feel. Moderate coverage in a remarkable range of shades, from cream to pearl. Every one packed with rich emollients.

Bible Study

My Sunday School and Bible Study friends have been the best part of my life lately! We've been doing a weekly bible study since last fall, and it's always something I look forward to each week. Getting to have fellowship and study the Bible with my friends has been so encouraging and inspiring and honestly, it's just wonderful to be around people not only in the same season of life that I'm in, but also dealing with some of the same feelings and issues that I dealing with.

So far we've done Lysa TerKeurst's Unglued and Made to Crave (twice each so everyone has had a chance to attend) and they have been FABULOUS!

So here's where I need advice, and maybe you can help! We are getting ready to start another study, and I've found a few things I am interested in and wanted to see if any readers had done any of these. (The description paragraphs are from Amazon.)

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God

This book reveals how honoring God produces a life of deep joy and great purpose. It is an invitation to seek God and boldly ask for and expect more from the Christian life.

Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl

In six small group DVD sessions designed for use with the accompanying Participant's Guide, Lysa shows women how they can transform their walk with God from lackluster theory to vibrant reality.

Chase

The lessons in this study are simple yet deep and very interactive, offering Bible study, stories, and projects to dig into Scripture and deeply engage the mind and heart. God has carved out a space in each of us that only He can fill. So whether you are running from God or working your tail off to please Him, David’s journey will challenge your view of God.

Stuck

Stuck is a journey to take an honest look at the fight going on inside, leading us to the God who has a plan to restore it, to restore us. Because as we realize that our stuck places are the very places that make us ache for God, we find Him waiting there for us with hope and freedom.

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe

Also, I ran across the book Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe, and although it's not a bible study per se, I bought this DVD and it looks like it would be great for a book club meeting.......

So my question to you is this: Have you done any of these? Do you have any other recommendations if not these?

Thanks!

LOTD #55 and the Zoo

 

Avon Glazewear Diamonds Lipstick in Wine With Shine 

(discontinued.... and kinda old- prob from 2008)

 

Although I like this color, it has absolutely no staying power. It feels nice when you apply it, but it wears off quickly and leaves behind glitter, but not much color.

 

Trashing this one, due to age and the fact that I just don't like it!

 

The Zoo

 

 

Last Saturday morning the kids and I decided to head up to the OKC Zoo- it was a bit overcast and felt great outside! Mr. Sasha was at the lake visiting a friend.

 

We had a fabulous day, and did quite a few things we've surprisingly never done before. I have always wanted to ride the tram around the zoo, but for some reason we've never made that happen. Right before we decided to leave, it was getting hotter, so the covered tram was a perfect choice to spend some time sitting and just enjoy the exhibits from the tram.

 

 

We also enjoyed the Sea Lion show. I have no idea why we haven't done that in the million trips we have made to the zoo, but we'll be doing it again. The sea lions are so cool and do the cutest tricks- the kids loved it! 

LOTD #54 and The Next Food Network Star

Sephora Lush Flush (original shade)

(discontinued)

 

I purchased this a few years ago because TheBalm's Stainiac was a long-time favorite and this looked similar, at a cheaper price (I think this was $9 versus Stainiac's price of $17). Topped with a clear gloss, it starts out looking very similar. However, it wears off a bit quicker than Stainiac.

The Next Food Network Star

I know I am the biggest dork ever, but I LOVE The Next Food Network Star and am so excited that it started! My faves so far are Chad and Rodney.

I can't cook to save my life, but I LOVE watching other people cook. Those who can't, watch, I guess. That's why shows like Top Chef are so much fun to watch. And bonus, I learn stuff too!

All this talk of cooking shows reminds me of Ready... Set... Cook! Who else watched?

LOTD # 53 and Skylanders Swap Force?

Merle Norman Lip Polish in Coral Chic

over Age Defying + Lip Color in Coral Frost

I think this combo turned out nice! One thing I really liked about the Lip Polish is that the wand has a brush applicator rather than a doe foot- I really prefer a brush because you can be so much more precise. I always feel like doe foot applicators remove more product than they apply.

Oh NO! More Skylanders to buy! Today I got an email from Amazon about the new Skylanders product coming out in October- Skylanders Giants: SWAP Force . Another new game, and a bazillion new figures to buy too I'm sure. Will LOVES this game and it is quite big with his group of friends. October seems like a strange release date though..... wouldn't closer to Christmas be more lucrative for the business?

Disclosure: The Merle Norman lippies were sent to me for review purposes. The Amazon link is a referral link.

LOTD #52 and The Music Man

Sephora Lush Flush in Rose'

(discontinued)

 

Hello, 1989? Sasha has your lipcolor!

 

Look at the frost! I remember purchasing this shade after I had purchased another non-frosty shade and loved it. Rose'? Not so much. I do think I'll keep it just in case I have another 80s party to go to.

 

 

The Music Man

 

 

Friday night the kids and I went to watch a local children's theatre production of The Music Man. It was great! I found myself singing along with all the songs. I can't believe I remember them all because it's been so long since I've seen it. "Wells Fargo Wagon" is definitely my favorite.

 

We all got a little dressed up and had a great evening. I love exposing them to a bit of culture and I am always so excited when they enjoy something I love too.

LOTD #51 and Parental Guidance

Avon Pro-To-Go in Shimmering Red

Sadly, the Pro-To-Go lippies were discontinued. I first discovered them back in 2008 when Reese Witherspoon was serving as a Beauty Ambassador for Avon and was in all the ads wearing lipstick from this line.

Pro-to-Go is a creamy, moisturizing, highly-pigmented formula that also contains SPF 15. It glides on smooth, the texture is light, the color is even a little bit shiny, and the one-hand application packaging is fabulous!
Slide: Slide up button to raise lid…and lipstick.
Glide: Glide on color for beautiful lips.
Hide: Slide down button…see lid close.

This is definitely my favorite of all the Pro-To-Gos I have..... I think the shimmer in it gives it some staying power. Love love love this one!

Parental Guidance

Last week Will told me they had watched the funniest movie that day at their summer program and that I just had to see it. In fact, he remembered that my mom had told us it was funny too. So last night we stopped by Redbox on our way home and rented Parental Guidance and it was hilarious. It's PG, but with the kids being 7 and almost 10, I'm OK with PG as long as we watch with them. And it even featured our favorite sport- baseball!

LOTD #50 and Shoes

Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Black Violet ($15)

 

Every time I wear Black Violet I think about how my friend Heather and I called Clinique lipsticks "Special Occasion Lipsticks" in college because we couldn't imagine wearing a $15 lippie on a daily basis! We saved them for going out. Our go-to then was Pink Chocolate- I need to see if I can find a tube of that one laying around- it was a fave for years.

 

Black Violet is pretty- but DARK! I used a lipliner with this (Clinique Black Honey) but you can still see that this shade needs a careful application.... or it will bleed outside your lipline like it did just a bit in my pic above. Keeping this one for sentimental reasons!

 

Shoes!

 

Do you ever pick out your outfit just to match your shoes? Today I did! I have been dying to wear my Fioni Women's Kit Bow Pumps from Payless and today was the day!

 

 

I have on khaki crops, a white t and a purple short sleeved cardi and I love my outfit! These shoes are comfortable, believe it or not.

LOTD #49 and Smash

Avon Pro-To-Go in Provocative Plum

Sadly, the Pro-To-Go lippies were discontinued. I first discovered them back in 2008 when Reese Witherspoon was serving as a Beauty Ambassador for Avon and was in all the ads wearing lipstick from this line.

Pro-to-Go is a creamy, moisturizing, highly-pigmented formula that also contains SPF 15. It glides on smooth, the texture is light, the color is even a little bit shiny, and the one-hand application packaging is fabulous!
Slide: Slide up button to raise lid…and lipstick.
Glide: Glide on color for beautiful lips.
Hide: Slide down button…see lid close.

I would describe the Pro To Go as a highly pigmented lip balm (sort of a first gen Revlon Lip Butter). They don't have a lot of staying power, this shade in particular. In fact, it didn't last long at all. Not sure that I'll keep this one.

Smash

Last week I had a nasty stomach virus and spent two days in bed. The upside was the I got almost caught up on Smash....... I just have three hours left. I'm so sad that it got cancelled- it was really good this season! Were you watching? I think Megan Hilty is just fabulous and am going to miss seeing her perform.

LOTD #48 and Sandlot

 

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Raspberry

$14 at Sephora

 

This lightweight, soothing lip butter imparts vibrant and shiny color, smells utterly delicious, and comes packaged in an easy-application tube.

 

While I will agree that this is moisturizing, the color lasts for about 5 seconds. I took the pic after I had just applied it, and now that I have had it on for about 2 hours, although the moisture is still there and feels great, there is almost no color left. I think I'll save this for times when I need a rescue moisture product.

 

Sandlot!

 

On Saturday Mr. Sasha was reading the sports section of the paper and noticed that The Sandlot was going to be shown at the Red Hawks stadium that evening. David Mickey Evans, the writer and director of The Sandlot, is touring around the country the celebrate its 20th anniversary by doing showings at Triple A ballparks. Of course we hurried to get tickets! 

 

They showed the movie on the scoreboard- it was awesome!

 

It was so cool to get to spread out a blanket on the outfield and watch the movie as a family. After all the terrible, scary weather we've been having, the weather was perfect Saturday night and we had a fabulous time.

 

LOTD #47 and SDC

Avon Pro-To-Go in Beaming Berry

Sadly, the Pro-To-Go lippies were discontinued. I first discovered them back in 2008 when Reese Witherspoon was serving as a Beauty Ambassador for Avon and was in all the ads wearing lipstick from this line.

Pro-to-Go is a creamy, moisturizing, highly-pigmented formula that also contains SPF 15. It glides on smooth, the texture is light, the color is even a little bit shiny, and the one-hand application packaging is fabulous!
Slide: Slide up button to raise lid…and lipstick.
Glide: Glide on color for beautiful lips.
Hide: Slide down button…see lid close.

I would describe the Pro To Go as a highly pigmented lip balm (sort of a first gen Revlon Lip Butter). They doesn't have a lot of staying power, but they feel absolutely fabulous on your lips and wears off extremely evenly, so I didn't mind reapplying it. I've got about 4-5 shades to rediscover and see if I still want to keep them in my stash- Beaming Berry is a keeper.

Memorial Day Weekend

Last Friday was the last day of school here, so we packed up the car and headed to Branson. We purchased season tickets for Silver Dollar City when we went out for Spring Break, and we always find a good deal on lodging thru www.vrbo.com, so we figured, why not?

And bonus, GAC Country Nights had started! This is definitely P's favorite part of SDC! GAC Country Nights is a fabulous 90 minute singing and dancing show they have every evening during the warmer months. He was so disappointed not to get to see it when we went in March, so that was the first thing he asked about this trip. I am so glad he loves music like me.

WC was so excited to pose for a pic with Jessica, one of the hosts. She was so funny!

Hope you had a nice holiday weekend too!

Hemangioma Revision Surgery- current pic of scar

Mrs. Fancy Pants recently left me a comment on my Hemangioma revision post:

Hi Sasha, my daughter will be 3 in August. I've referenced this blog many many times since hers became ulcerated at 3-4 months old. We have a consult with the surgeon in November (he wanted to wait for a non sunny season). He mentioned there were 2 schools of thought...getting it off early, so it's over with...or waiting til she was 14 and stopped growing. He said that the benefit of getting off early is so that she won't have to worry about it (people comment on it often, and she is aware of it already) but that her scar may be a bit wider than it would be if we waited til she was older. He said it was up to us. I was just curious if you had a more recent pic of this? It looks like it's been a few years now?

Yes, it has been a few years- she turned 7 in January and her last surgery was just a little over 4 years ago.

We are *very* pleased with the result! To see progressions pics of WC's Hemangioma journey, visit this post.

Scar from Hemangioma revision surgery

Age 7 years, a little over 4 years after surgery

In my personal, non-medical-expert opinion, it is better to do the surgery earlier. I was told that the thick scar tissue would not stretch as she grew, so that it could actually be tight and painful as she got older. Note that it took two surgeries to do the scar removal- doing it in two steps allowed her skin to stretch naturally.

I hope this helps Mrs. Fancy Pants!

LOTD #46 and FOUR!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic

 

It’s a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood.

Just like Adore, I do NOT like this color. As the gloss wears off, it doesn't leave behind the same quality of stain that I get from Lovesick, Crush, or Smitten. Boo!

Four!

Fellow Divergent lovers, why did you not tell me about this?

Free Four: Tobias Tells the Divergent Knife-Throwing Scene

I might just be more excited about the Divergent movie than Catching Fire.... I *might*.