Peek-A-Boo!

Loyal blog followers, how I've missed you!  It's been a few months and I'm sure a lot has been going on with you.  It sure has for me!  If you've been reading my little corner of the interwebs for any length of time (or you happen to know me in person), then you know things, they have been a-changin'.

I lost my job at a law firm I thought was great.  Turns out, everything happens for a reason.  I now have a job at a nationwide law firm with 1000 times better benefits (including free parking in downtown, a block from the Amway Center, 24/7/365) and MUCH nicer coworkers.  Suck on that, old law firm.

My fiance and I have been scouting for a place to live.  Nothing set in stone yet, but we've got an application in at a place I'm in love with... So cross your fingers and toes for us!  Fiance also just started a new job that's extremely exciting and has a very promising future. Our days of both being unemployed are OVER!  Can you hear the choir singing Glory Glory?  I certainly can.  Oh, speaking of choirs and church and such, in November I had my first rite on my way to baptism on Easter Vigil this year.  It was joyous, exciting, scary (I was in front of the entire congregation!) and fun all at the same time.  Fiance's mom took pictures, but her camera skills are a little weak, so the pictures didn't come out great, otherwise I'd post a couple.  My next rite, the rite of election, is next month at the biggest Catholic church in the Orlando diocese: Mary, Queen of the Universe.  It's going to be a big, big deal.  Lots of celebration to follow.

We finally set a wedding date!  While I'm not at liberty to tell you the exact date at this point, it will be in the fourth quarter of this year.  More blog posts to come on wedding planning and general hysteria.

I changed my Twitter name to @J_Rad2012, so if you're a follower, tuck that under your hat.

I had a very strange encounter right before Christmas with an ex from ages ago.  That definitely deserves its own post, so consider this a teaser. 

Anyway, I'm on my lunch break at this very moment.  I can't get into anything super long-winded since I only have a few minutes left.  I just wanted to check in and let you know that I'm back, baby!  One of my resolutions this year was to keep up with my blog, so you can expect to see more in the near future. Until then... :)

Modern Love

I promised a blog entry regarding the products that I'd sneak onto the desert island (still cringing) if that fate befell me.  Now that I'm in my thirties, I've really started to find myself being loyal to products that work for me.  Then again, some things that worked when I was younger just ain't cutting the mustard anymore.  I have tons of things that I adore, but I thought that I'd limit today's jewels to cosmetics and hygiene products.  Sound like a deal?  Okay, here we go...

Every girl needs a good cleanser.  This comes from my years being brainwashed as an Estee Lauder beauty advisor, however I have to admit that it really is good advice.  An ideal cleanser will remove most make up and all the dirt and oil accumulated on your gorgeous mug throughout the day.  If you wear waterproof makeup, you'll need an actual makeup remover but that's another entry.  My favorite cleanser happens to be a cheapie that you can actually afford!  Remember, I'm a bitch on a budget.  L'oreal Go Clean is the best that I've found.  I have combo skin and this isn't too drying or too harsh.  I have to admit that I do love that little scrubbie thingie, too. 

My Estee Lauder brainwashing told me that I must include a toner but I'll be honest with you, I just don't care for this step.  If that's your thing, go for it.  Some chicks need it.  I'm not in that crowd.  Up next for me is a fabulous moisturizer.  This is SUPER important.  And you can't use the same shit you put on your body.  Your face has delicate skin.  I assume that most of you reading are around the same age as myself... We have to start thinking about fighting off those wrinkles!

 

Korres Pomegranate Balancing Moisturiser rocks my socks. It's like a gel... But a cream.  It's light enough not to feel like I'm wearing an oily mask, but rich enough to actually give me some moisture.  I dig it.  And for the price, it ain't too bad.

Now it's time for the fun stuff... Makeup!  If you don't like makeup, you're a Communist.  I'm just sayin.  Anyway, before you start spackling yourself up, you need to get rid of those pothole sized pores on your nose and cheeks.

Benefit: The POREfessional is that exact spackle you need.  Yes, for a little tube it has a pretty big price.  But you have to understand...  It fills in the giant crater sized pores that could house small orphaned children.  That's worth the money.  A little dab goes a long way.  And it's translucent, so it's not changing your face to some weird color.  I've even worn it without other makeup over it and it works fab.

 

I'm a believer in mineral makeup.  It's one of those things that you're either totally for, or you're totally aghast at.  I don't have too many breakouts or scars to cover (just that one bullet hole), so I don't need theatrical coverage.  Bare Minerals Foundation is really the only choice.  Accept no impostors.  Yes, it may look scary all loosey goosey in that little pot... I understand if you're OCD you may have a hard time with it.  It comes with a great brush, called a kabuki, for application.  I've found that a tissue on my bathroom counter alleviates powder fallout.  Go with one of Bare Escentuals "Get Started" kits to begin with.  The coverage is sheer and build-able.  You can thank me later.  Just Tweet me @NoelleSebastian.

It has kind of a dirty name, and I like that about it.  It's also one of the most popular blushes EVER, and for good reason.  NARS Blush in Orgasm (yep, exactly) makes almost any girl look like she just... Well, you know.

 

There are a million and three eyeshadows out there and I could spend a whole blog talking about the ones I love.  For everyday, I wear something that's not even really considered an eyeshadow at all.  It's also made by Bare Escentuals, and it's an all over face color called Pure Radiance. It gives your eyes a little shimmer and a pick-me-up without being too over the top.  It's all you need at the office with a swipe of eyeliner and some good mascara.  Speaking of which...

Eyeliners piss me off most of the time.  They're either too chalky and don't glide on like they should, or they're so oily that they smudge and you end up looking like Rocky Raccoon by your morning coffee break.  Neither of those situations instills much hope in eyeliner wearers of the world.  Behold, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.  These pencils are the perfect balance of smooth and long-lasting.  They aren't waterproof, which in my book is a plus because I hate waterproof shit around my eyes.  They come in lots of sparkly, pretty colors, but honestly my favorite is called Zero, and it's the basic black.  Around the holidays, Sephora has gift sets where you can get a bunch of these little babies at once for a killer deal.  And hey, the holidays are just around the corner.  Santa, are you taking notes?

Before we can even talk mascara, we have to talk about the device depicted above.  An eyelash curler is essential, unless you're lucky enough to have perfectly curled and long, lush lashes.  If you are one of those people, poop on you.  Anyway, it's painless and it takes about 5 seconds for each eye.  The difference it makes is pretty remarkable.  I love my Tweezerman curler.

I'm like the Goldilocks of mascaras.  This one is too thick; this one is too thin; the brush on this one is all wrong...  I picked up a gift set of sample sized mascaras from Sephora after Valentine's Day this year, and the winner from that pack was Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes!  It does everything in one tube:  Curls, volumizes, conditions AND lengthens.  What more could you want?  And for me, the formula is just right.

I'm definitely the type of girl who doesn't feel dressed until I have some perfume on.  I like clean scents.  If it has too much musk or it's too flowery, I just can't hang.  I want something that not only I like sniffing at, but men do as well.  So far, Clean Shower Fresh has made a good impression on both genders alike. The Clean perfume line has at least 5 scents, probably more.  I just happen to be diggin on this one right now... But when it runs out I might go for something a little more Autumnal.  Or maybe not.  Woman's prerogative.

Anyway, my only other piece of advice is to get yourself enrolled in the Sephora rewards program and look for kits with stuff you want to try whenever possible.  It makes a big difference.

And is anyone else cringing about the desert island oxymoron?  Still just me?  Geez.

*Today's entry title is from Matt Nathanson's new album, conveniently titled "Modern Love"

That About Sums It Up.

No words, really... Just a graphic of how I'm feeling today.  Well, most days.

Don't Count Me Out

Hi friends and neighbors!

It's been a minute since I've blogged and I feel ashamed of myself for neglecting my bloggerly duties.  Yes, I just made up the word 'bloggerly'.  Call Webster.  Anyway, I just wanted to check in and say a quick hello.  I wanted to let all 8 of my loyal followers know that I'm alive and well.  My new job is fantastic, but draining.  I love it and I'm definitely not complaining.  It's just that when I get home from work, social media and anything to do with looking at a computer screen are at the very bottom of my to-do list.  So, essentially what I'm trying to say is that it's not you, it's me.

I'll be back, though!  I have lots of mayhem to report, including getting an extra hole installed on my face, a battle with a medicine ball, why beer and pizza Fridays make me more productive, products I'd take to the proverbial desert island (side note: does anyone else cringe at the oxymoron that is "desert island'?  Just me?), how getting a professional picture taken is 100 times worse than school pictures ever were, why I like animals better than homo sapiens, and many other blog worthy rants.  Brace yourselves.  It's coming.

P.S.  How do you like the new look?

Mercy, Mercy, Understand... I Need Less Drowning, More Land...

Hypocrisy is a funny thing.  I said a lot about quitting Facebook, most of it I'll still stand behind.  That doesn't make me any less of a hypocrite for rejoining the social network again.  I missed keeping in touch with friends that I'd normally not have contact with.  I'll admit that it's a convenient way to keep track of people.  What a double edged sword that is, though.  I love my friends, but those on the fringes had to be eliminated.  Part of the reason I quit Facebook in the first place is because it was propogating rumors and lies, the likes of which I hadn't seen since junior high.  I stand behind my decision to drop out of that for a while.  I've trimmed down my "friends" list considerably this time around.  We'll see how long I last this time.

The Lord has blessed me with a new job.  I am so unbelievably thankful.  I stumbled upon it almost by accident, and I can't believe how right this place is for me.  The people I work with are great.  The working environment is awesome.  I now believe even more in the power of prayer because of this job.  I prayed long and hard for this and I was blessed in return for my patience.  That's all I'm going to say about the job... I'm doubtful it will make a reappearance in any entries here.

I'm not sure that I have much more to say about things right now.  I'm just taking one day at a time.  I've found more land, less drowning.  Pretty good feeling.

Today's post title is from "Mercy" by Matt Nathanson.  The new album, "Modern Love" was totally worth the wait!

Honeysuckle Blue

My current address makes the sixth city that I've lived in since moving to the penis-shaped state back in the 1990's.  I was barely 16 when my family moved to Florida.  It wasn't my idea, and honestly I wasn't exactly thrilled at changing schools my Sophomore year of high school.  And what the hell did a farm girl from the mountains in Georgia know about palm trees and beaches anyway?  It's not like I was going to jump on a surf board and hang ten, for crying out loud.  I knew about tubing down the Toccoa River and jet skiing on the chilly waters of Lakes Lanier, Notley and Blue Ridge in the sweltering July heat.  Frankly, I thought (and still think sometimes) that Florida smelled like rotten eggs.  Swimming in waters that have the potential threats of alligators, sharks, jellyfish and the like just didn't thrill me.  I don't like sand between my toes--or in any other crevice for that matter.

My first landing place on the big move to Florida was the town of Indian Harbour Beach.  It's a small town, although compared to where I came from in Georgia, it was a bustling megalopolis full of promise.  Pizza delivery?  That actually exists?  Cable television?  These were things only dreamt of by those of us who grew up where I did.  Satellite Beach was next on the zip code tour of Central Florida.  Satellite and Indian Harbour are basically the same town.  Then came the big, fat ugly mistake:  Orlando.  My family stayed on the coast while my idiot self moved inland.  I hung in there in the interior for about 9 months before I made my way back to the coastal breezes of the Melbourne area.  A few years and boyfriends later, I found myself living on the west coast in Tampa.  After three years it was back to Melbourne... And now I'm in Longwood, which is a suburb of Orlando.  Incidentally, I lived in the wrong part of Orlando during my first foray to the interior parts of the Sunshine State.  Longwood is beautiful.  And really, the name Longwood is hilarious.  That shit's on my driver's license!

When I look back at all the places I've bounced around, I realize that I don't have a place I truly consider my hometown.  I was born in Gainesville, Georgia, a town I never lived in.  The place I associate my childhood with, Suches, is still missing from some maps because it has a post office, the smallest public school in the state of Georgia, and one convenience store.  That's ALL.  Blue Ridge, the town I lived in before I made my triumphant entrance into weiner land (aka Florida), probably would be the closest thing I have to a 'hometown'.  Here's the thing, though.  None of my family lives there.  I have very few friends there.  I haven't been back there in 13 long years.  I fear I wouldn't recognize it, there have been so many changes there since I left.

Although both my parents, my grandmother, a cousin and a stepsister live in Melbourne, I've never considered that home.  Yes, I know a lot of people there, and when I visit I often run into people I know.  I just never felt any sort of affection for that place.  I guess the way I feel is how military brats must feel.  When you move around a lot, you don't get a hometown.  I'm hardly complaining, because I have friends in each of the places I've mentioned.  I could have a couch to sleep on in Blue Ridge tonight if I wanted it.  I'm always welcome in Melbourne, especially because my family is there.  But there isn't that pull to come "home" to any of these places like there is with a real hometown.  When people ask me where I'm from, my answer is usually along the lines of, 'Originally from Georgia, but I've lived all over Florida most of my adult life.'  That's kind of a sad way of saying, 'I'm not really from anywhere except where I am right now.'

I do consider myself a Georgia Peach, however.  I am a Southerner in all the best ways (not the Bible-thumping, gun wielding, South-Shall-Rise-Again ways).  I suppose all I'm really trying to say is that home is where your heart is.  It's where you hang your hat and your heart.  I'm so glad to be happy where I am, even if it won't ever be where I'm "from".

*Today's title is from the song of the same name by Drivin' N' Cryin'.  Reminds me of Suches!

If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me

Returning phone calls has never been one of my strong suits.  In fact, I'm really, really terrible at it.  I always get caught up in something else and forget until days later, when it's too late to call back because whatever the message was about is a moot point anyway.  I say this in the interest of full disclosure, because what I'm about to say makes me seem like a bit of a hypocrite.  It wouldn't be the first time I've been accused of that, but whatever.  Just go with me on this.

In the last month, I've been on two interviews for large law firms in the downtown area.  These firms are by no means Mickey Mouse operations.  They're big, sleek and wealthy.  The first interview I went on, I couldn't get a read on the interviewers.  It was short and to the point.  I answered all their questions in the manner I knew they would want them answered (which isn't to say I lied about anything because I didn't).  I was ushered out pretty unceremoniously and told they'd be in touch.  I had a feeling that was the kiss of death.  The following week I gave my contact in their human resources department a call, and he said that they were still interviewing candidates, but that I was a contender.  He gave me a time frame to call back to follow up and I did.  Not only could I not get him to pick up his phone, he never returned my calls either. 

The second firm I interviewed for was much different.  The interviewer took her time, explained the position and the firm thoroughly and answered my questions.  The interview took over an hour, and when I was leaving she told me that she would definitely be in touch late the next week.  I left feeling really good about how things went.  I contacted HR late the next week, to be told that candidates were still being interviewed and to check back the following week.  I was starting to get a sense of deja vu.  When I emailed HR again, I got no response. 

Before I complain, I have to acknowledge how lucky I was to even get interviews.  It means they thought I was qualified and wanted to see how I could work out.  I'm sure there are other job seekers out there who are more qualified than me, considering I'm still working on my paralegal degree.  I was grateful for the interviews and it definitely made me feel better about my prospects.  Having said all that, I'm utterly pissed and dumbfounded that neither of these places had the decency to call, email or send a letter saying that someone else got the job.  I don't take things like that personally and would have welcomed the closure of knowing that I didn't get the position.  I don't think that's too much to ask.  In my humble opinion, it's very unprofessional to just leave people hanging.  I mean, yeah I got the hint... But this isn't a junior high break up.  There's no need to be a pussy, just make the call.

I'm still searching, and although the actions (or non-actions, really) of those two firms was a little disheartening, I'm not getting all down in the dumps.  This kind of thing takes time.  And if anything, I've got plenty of that.  In the meantime, I'm tossing around the idea of going back to work at a cosmetics counter.  I did that in my early 20's, and it wasn't terrible.  The money was pretty decent and the discount was great.  We shall see.  I'm trying to stay focused on the positives.  I love where I'm living.  I have a great boyfriend.  I'm healthy.  The rest will fall into place, I'm certain of it.

*Today's title is from Jimmy Buffet's song of the same name.  Parrotthead forever :)
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What I Know About Lady Justice

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been following the Casey Anthony trial pretty darn closely.  The reasons for this are twofold.  It's a local case, happening about 10 miles from where I sit typing this post right now.  Also, I've come to love law and the intricacies of our judicial system.  And then there's the added bonus that this trial has turned out to be much juicier than anything we've seen yet this millennium.  The only thing I can really compare it to was the Menedez brothers case back in the 90's.  Even that isn't a fair comparison because that case was about two men killing their parents.  This is about one (very pretty) young woman allegedly killing her own (adorable) toddler.

You could ask anyone in the Orlando area if they know about Casey Anthony, and the answer would be a resounding yes.  Not only does everyone know about it, every has already made up their mind as to her guilt or innocence.  My not at all scientific conclusion is that probably 98% of people believe she's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The beauty of (or fallacy of) the judicial system in America is that all the defense has to do is introduce reasonable doubt into the mind of (in Florida--other states have different rules for producing a verdict) one lone juror.  If the prosecution can't prove beyond reasonable doubt for every single person in the jury box that Casey Anthony murdered her daughter Caylee, then Casey cannot be found guilty.  First degree murder means that the act was premeditated with malice aforethought.  In layman's terms, it was maliciously planned and carried out.

I consider myself in the lowly 2% of the population that are withholding judgment against Casey Anthony at this point.  Yes, Caylee is no longer with us and that is an awful tragedy.  I absolutely believe that Casey Anthony had something to do with her death.  Did she intentionally plan out her own child's murder?  I can't be sure of that.  If I were on the jury, at this point in the trial, I would be the one lone juror who had a reasonable doubt.

I would have never, however, been selected for the jury, had I been called to serve.  A part of me feels sorry for Casey Anthony, and I felt that way before the defense dropped the bomb in their opening statement that her father and brother allegedly sexually abused her.  I think she's a girl who has some serious mental and emotional issues that predate any of the events surrounding Caylee's birth, life or death.  That doesn't mean that I couldn't find her guilty if the state's evidence and testimony supported their case.  It just means that I think Casey Anthony's whole existence has been somewhat tragic.

Getting a fair trial in the midst of the frenzy of media coverage this case has gotten will be extremely difficult.  The American justice system was created and put into practice in a time when those in charge couldn't even dream of television, internet, cell phones, satellites and the like.  The system was never perfect, and even less so in the present day.  I still believe in Lady Justice, though.  I believe in the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.  I believe in the death penalty for those found guilty of heinous crimes by a jury of their peers.  I believe in the prosecution's burden of proof.  Because of, and in spite of, all this, I hope that Casey Anthony gets a fair trial, for the sake of Caylee's memory.  The person who deserves justice more than anyone is that little girl who didn't get to experience the life she should have.

Back In The Saddle

I'd say that over a month of not posting a new entry to my blog is a little excessive.  Things in the Noelle world have been a little topsy-turvy to say the least.  I have a lot to say, but I think for now a list of updates is all I can muster.  I have to ease myself back into this.  It's like exercising, I think.  You can't just go balls to the wall your first day out.  So here's the scoop, in case you were wondering what the hell happened to me.

• I'm living in Orlando now.  Longwood, actually.  Longwood is NOT Orlando, as I've been told, but for all intents and purposes, it's close enough.
• I've started sending out my resume and looking for a job again.  I still will be going to school, but I need cash flow and I'm going bonkers with nothing to do over the summer.  Liquidity AND purpose will make me a happy girl.
• After a lot of soul searching and reflection, I'm converting to Catholicism.  I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but I went to my local parish and signed up for the classes I have to take before I can be baptized, confirmed and receive my first communion on Easter Vigil (the Saturday before Easter Sunday) next year.  Classes start in September, and are every Sunday after Mass and every Monday night at 7:00.  Prince Charming is my sponsor, and I've asked his mother to be my Godmother.  I can say without reservation that the decision to become Catholic is not at all influenced by him or his family.  I've been searching for, groping for, wishing for something right for a long time.  After attending Mass a few times, I felt deep down in my bones that I've finally found what's right for me.
• If you know me, you'll know that for a very, very long time I've said that in order for me to run, someone would have to be chasing me.  Not to be a hypocrite, but I've changed my tune.  One of my friends has taken up running, and she blogs about it frequently.  She's inspired me to give it a try.  A real try, not just go out once and then give up.  If I can get into it, which I think I can, I'm going to start training for a triathlon.  I know that sounds incredibly crazy coming from me, but I need to get myself in shape before I hit the big 3-0 in a few months.  Obviously I won't be ready to throw down by then, but I'll at least have some tone and look good in pictures.  Vanity drives a girl to do things differently, ya know.
• My very favorite artist, Matt Nathanson, has a new album coming out on June 21 called Modern Love.  I own ALL his other stuff and it's awesome.  I'll be buying the new stuff on iTunes the day it comes out.  It might seem like a strange thing to be so excited about, but this album has been a long time in the making.  I follow him on Twitter, and I've been charting the progress of Modern Love for a while.  If you're into Indie rock, you should definitely check him out here.
• I've deleted my Facebook account.  If you're dying to find out what I'm up to, you'll have to come here or follow me on Twitter.  I'm pretty obsessed with Twitter and also with FourSquare.  Thank you iPhone, for turning me into a freak.  Okay, I was already a freak...
• The Casey Anthony trial started today.  If you aren't familiar with it, just do a little Googling.  I'm obsessed with it.  I'd LOVE to be a paralegal working on that case.  Prosecution or defense, I wouldn't care.  It's super juicy.

So that's the latest in my world.  I hope you haven't all tuned out completely.  All seven or eight of you, that is!  If you're the praying sort, please say a little one for me on my job search.  If not, could you think positive thoughts for me? 

There's A Fire Starting In My Heart

This entry is going to be a bit of a mish-mash, so hold on tight.  I figure bullet points is the easiest way to go about this, since it's early in the morning and I'm not inclined at this point to put together fully coherent thoughts.

• I deleted my Facebook account.  It's just become too Big Brother-ish.  I don't like everyone and their uncle knowing all my business.  I had too many 'friends' who I would probably never speak to in real life.  Why do these people need to know about my daily life?  They don't.  Not to mention, Facebook is too much like high school.  If you've read any of my blogs or know anything about me, you'll know that high school and I didn't part on amicable terms.  Getting out of there was one of the greatest days of my life.  Why should I relive it electronically?
• That being said, I do still have Twitter and Foursquare accounts.  Neither have my picture or full name attached to them.  If you'd like to follow me on either application, you can find me @JStoutie.
• I'm slowly repairing a broken friendship (A., this isn't about you.  We're fixed!) and I'm so happy to be making baby steps back to open communication.  I know better than to let communication lapse.  It's the enemy of any good relationship.
• I'm a hypocrite.  I freely admit it.  For years I wanted no part of religion.  I think that harkens back to the day when I was 10 years old and attending summer Bible school at a friend's Southern Baptist church and the preacher told me I was going to Hell because Jesus hadn't saved me.  After that, I figured this Jesus dude must be a real ball buster and I didn't need any part of that.  That was nearly 20 years ago, and I'm finally starting to open my heart.  I've been to Catholic mass a couple times now, and I've also been doing a lot of reading.  What really did it for me was reading a book called The Shack by William P. Young.  Honestly, if you're on the fence about God or you just want a reaffirmation of your faith, I strongly urge you to read this book.  I don't plan on turning this blog into anything preachy, so don't worry.  Faith is making an appearance in my life, so I'm sure it will make an occasional appearance here as well.  I'm still snarky, but my edges have been softened a little.
• Prince Charming and I put the brakes on our nuptials in a big way.  The stress of planning a wedding got to both of us.  Nothing has changed about our relationship except that we're taking the time to enjoy each other instead of crazily running around trying to put together a huge shindig.  That's not what it should be about, and we both realize that after coming to our senses.  
• I'm only going to say this, and then leave the subject alone:  "Googling" someone isn't a good idea.  You only get half truths and misinformation.  Ask questions, don't try to do an amateur background check.
• I'm taking two classes for the summer semester that I'm pretty excited about.  Both are online which isn't my favorite, but my favorite professor and mentor, Dr. J., doesn't teach classes during the summer.  Online classes also give me the freedom to travel a bit and not have to be in Melbourne on any particular day.  I'm taking Business Organizations and Law Office Procedures.  They may sound boring to you, but they are both classes that are essential to my field and I'm looking forward to learning what I need and getting them out of the way.  Fall semester will be here before I can even blink.  I should probably start thinking about my Fall schedule, come to think of it.  
• If you like getting manicures or pedicures, you need to seek out a salon that uses Shellac nail polish.  The stuff is incredible.  My manicure lasts for almost 2 weeks with no chipping.  Also, if you're a runner and your polish rubs off your toes (PlumQueen, I'm talking to you), you need to try Shellac.  It's more expensive, but it's SO worth it.  That's an endorsement coming from the Queen of Unemployment.  If you're in Central FL, the best place to go is Sorelli Hair Studio.  I get all my salon services done there (hair, facials, waxing, nails, massage) and everyone there is awesome.  

Well, I think that's it for this time.  As usual, everything is up and down and up again.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

*Today's post title is courtesy of "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele.  Get that album, she's incredible.