DIY & Life Hacks

Dr. Seuss and Science…

..These are a few of my favorite things!

 

Spending time with our niece and nephew on the weekends is definitely a top 5 on our list of things my husband and I like to do. As a teacher, I have a special place in my heart for Dr. Seuss, the illustrations, the rhymes, the unforgettable characters which I love to share not only with my students but with Elsie and Ben too.

 One lesson (which I did in April) with my Pre-K class, was such a hit I thought I’d bring in home for the summer holiday and share it on here with both parents and teachers alike! Oobleck is a very easy science experiment that’s reminiscent of it’s 90’s predecessor, Gak and is wonderful fun for kids of all ages. Oobleck gets it’s name from the classic Dr. Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck if you’ve never read the book it center’s on an arrogant king who was tired of sunlight, rain, snow and wind falling from the sky so he calls upon his magicians to create something new. Enter the gooey green substance, Oobleck, which fell from the sky and wreaked havoc in the kingdom until the king says “I’m sorry”. Elsie, Tom, Ben and I made Oobleck-but never fear! We made it in a bowl that wreaked havoc in our kitchen, only because we got super carried away playing with it!
The kids really had a blast with it-not to mention it brought out the big kid in my husband, I’d highly recommend it for rainy days or just a day time activity to do with your own children. Want to make Oobleck like we did? Great let’s start!
Here’s what you need and how much it will cost you:
1. 2 Cups of Water – FREE from your faucet
2. 1 Cup of Glue (we used Elmer’s School Glue)- $12.99
3. 2 Tablespoons of Borax (We used ’20 Mule Team’ borax and you can find this in any laundry detergent aisle)- $4.09
4. Food Coloring (we used McCormick Specialty Extracts green food coloring) $2.62
Total Expenses: $19.70
That’s just under $20 for hours of fun, once you’ve got the things you need read below as show you how we did it (with pictures because obviously pictures make everything better).
1. I mixed 1 Cup of water with 1 Cup of glue.
2. Tom (in a separate bowl) mixed the remaining 1 Cup (remember the recipe called for two!) of water with the two tablespoons of borax.
3. Tom and I allowed Elsie and Ben to add a few drops of food coloring to the bowl with the borax in it.
4. Tom and Ben combined their borax and water mixture into Elsie and I’s glue and water mixture SLOWLY while allowing the kids each a spoon to stir.
5. Your mixture should start to become rubbery, when this happens please stop pouring in the Borax mixture.
6. Tom then poured off the excess liquid and let Elsie and Ben play…oh who are we kidding?! We played too and IT WAS FUN!
Word to the wise though this WILL stick to clothes, hair and YES even your carpets so mad scientists beware. Also I felt like this, being the second time I made it, it came out better than my first batch so if your first batch is off don’t get discouraged, keep trying!
Did you try this experiment and enjoy it? Have any others you want me to review? Leave a comment below, I love to hear from you!
Love you. Mean it.
Brittany
xoxo
Lists & Things

Addictive Games Review…

Stacks

Whether I’m waiting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office or just looking to pass some time away there’s an app for everything…literally!
Every now and again I get the urge to look through the top rated free games in the App Store on iTunes and every now and then an app catches my eye.
Enter the game ‘Stack’ by the developer Ketchapp (think of Ketchup to remember). The object of the game is quite simple you stack the squares by tapping the bottom square once the top square lines up. You basically stack them as high as you can before the blocks get smaller and smaller (the app actually keeps track of how many you get). It’s very easy but very addictive. Like super addictive, as in I’m about to start a chapter called ‘Stack Addicts Anonymous’

The diamonds you see in the top right corner you gain with the amount of personal records you set and the ads (while present) aren’t so overwhelming that you’ll get irritated with actually playing the game.

I believe you can get rid of the ads by paying a fee but as I mentioned above its not detrimental to your gamer sanity to view them.

Overall I give this app 5/5 stars it’s so simple my Mom could probably play it and challenging enough that you won’t get terribly bored of it quickly.

Did you try this app? How did you feel about it? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and opinions, I love to hear from you.

Love you. Mean it.

Brittany
Xoxo

DIY & Life Hacks

Aging Mascara: Before You Trash It…

try this!

Visine works really well on my go-to favorite mascara!

 


 Helpful Hint: In addition to avoiding the dreaded clumpy look, twirling the mascara wand inside the tube rather than pumping it in and out will also keep unwanted bacteria out! – xo Britt

Makeup isn’t cheap, so when I found myself getting ready for a date night consisting of half-price appetizers at Applebee’s and my mascara started drying out before its expiration date, it easily put a damper on our my prep time. It was disappointing, my loyal mascara seemed doomed to fail me, I had only bought it a month ago, it couldn’t already be time to replace it, could it? I was about ready to send Tom out to buy a new one when I had remembered something that I once read on Buzzfeed about adding saline solution to mascara . I was skeptical, I admit it, but I had nothing lose except a couple of dollars if it didn’t work and I had all the materials I needed in my cabinet. Yes, it was a risk but it actually paid off. Before I walk you through step by step, I’d like to toss out a disclaimer stating that you shouldn’t keep mascara more than two months as it’s a total bacteria breeding ground and can cause a wide variety of eye issues. However, if you’re only a month in and your favorite makeup is looking a little stale try this little trick to make it good as new!

What you will need and how much it will cost:
1. Your dried up mascara: Already purchased so no price necessary.
2. Saline Solution (I used Equate Saline Solution for sensitive eyes) : $3.96 at Walmart.
Total cost of materials needed: $3.96
Okay, I’ve got all the things I need! Now what?
1. Un-cap your offending mascara and set wand aside.
2. Place 2-3 drops of the Saline Solution into your mascara.
3. Replace cap and twirl the mascara wand in the tube (DO NOT go up and down as mentioned above because this invites in bacteria)
4. Put on your mascara like normal and note the difference.
As mentioned above, I found this technique to be particularly helpful and as evident in the pictures provided, the myth of saline solutions as adequate moisture suppliers for dry mascaras is fairly accurate. Please use your judgment when adding the drops, the amount my mascara called for might be different than yours, I’d say use two and go from there.

Have you tried this technique and liked it? Do you have a different tick for dry mascara you use just as well? Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts and feedback, I’d love to hear from you!

Love you. Mean it.
Brittany
xo
Lists & Things

A Woman’s Right To Choose…

…Not, in the meaning you think this title means….

I’m perfectly fine being the crazy Aunt 🙂
Let me start this post by giving you a background, I’m 27 years old. Keep that in mind that at 27, I’d have to get pregnant next month in order to be the age my Mother was when she had me (at 28). Surprisingly (or not surprisingly to those of you who actually know me), I am on the fence about having children of my own. Don’t get me wrong, my love for kids is totally intact, I mold and shape them into (hopefully) becoming the most well-rounded and well-adjusted student five out of seven days a week and I truly love my job. Being a pre-school teacher is one of the most demanding and rewarding things you can do with your life. Which is why for many the months leading up to my wedding to Tom, relatives and friends asked us “So when do you plan on starting a family?” it’s a natural progressive question. This is why I did not get offended the first six times it was asked to me and I coyly replied, “We’re not sure if kids are in the cards for us”. The reactions ranged from “good for you!” to “why not?! You’d be such great parents!” I’ve come to the conclusion with my husband that IF we do have a child it will on our terms (yes, there’s no typo if we have a child it will be the only one).
My parents are very supportive of Tom and I’s decision to have or not have a child and there’s a large comfort in knowing we aren’t the only millennials opting out of parenthood. According to a study from the Urban Institute,’ birth rates among women in their 20’s dropped 15% between 2007 and 2012.’ Additional studies from Pew Research Center shows a longer-term trend of women opting out of parenthood as since 1970 foregoing motherhood altogether has doubled. This statistic is strangely empowering, mostly because I’ve been faced with comments from relatives and even friends who’ve had kids that reflect the taboo associated with women who choose not to be Mothers. I’ve been told that it’s “disappointing” that I could honestly even consider not bringing life into this world, then there’s my favorite, the “I do not know what true unconditional love is until I give birth and lay eyes on my baby for the very first time” and even past popes in my Catholic faith have put reluctant women (like myself) on blast saying not to procreate is essentially “selfish”.
When I’m feeling optimistic about having a child, I try to appease these “pro parenting” people and say perhaps just one baby would be nice, and I genuinely mean that most days. After all, as my cousin Kathleen and I have joked, “who will pick out the best nursing home for us when we’re old?”. I have a lot of decent jewelry, a solid set of morals and values passed on from my parents and I’m already kind of a parent now as a teacher. So, essentially the critics DO have a point, I think my husband and I could potentially have a lot of positive attributes that would make us decent parents. What we didn’t count on was reactions to having one child are sometimes WORSE than explaining you’re not sure you’re having children at all. “You can’t just have one!” “That’s more selfish than having none at all!” “They’ll be alone!” the onslaught of these pro-parenting individuals many of them who I love and who’s opinion I value, make me fall back to square one of ‘undecided’ in the kid department.
These claims that having just one is even more selfish is simply unfounded for me. For one, I was an only child for nearly eight years before my brother was born. Had a beautiful “whoops!” that ended up resulting in Joey not happened, I would have been an only child. I love my brother, I’m blessed to have him and every time I watch him accomplish something great my heart swells with genuine pride. Am I better off for having him in my life? Absolutely, I only hazily remember my detailed life before he was born, however, I do not think I would have been less adjusted, more bratty, and heaps more self-centered if he had not been born 19 years and 3 months ago. That character just never was in mine or my husband’s DNA and it certainly wouldn’t be in our only child’s DNA either.
A common misconception about women on the fence about kids is that we don’t want to have children because we don’t have the time and our careers come first. This isn’t always true, in fact, I LOVE when people ask me how I’ve come to my decision rather than assume. My advice, ASK before you ASSUME. Here are 5 reasons why I’m leaning towards not having children:
1. Children can be money pits and with student loans on the table they may not be feasible to support when my husband and I ourselves have just enough money get by and get the occasional Applebee’s once a month. Don’t even get me started on medical costs in terms of giving birth and having the burden of a lifetime financial commitment to a kid (not to mention more than one, how’s that selfish?). With more millenials going to college finances is the top reason many of my 20’s cohorts feel they may opt out altogether.
2. Mental health issues are on both sides of my husband and I’s families. I won’t get into details but if you’ve taken a biology course in science you’ll know there’s always a shot at mental illness being passed down.
3. I will need in-vitro fertilization because of a genetic disorder-that while it does not impact my life to severely-it could manifest in my offspring much more severe. So my eggs will need to be tested and basically conceived for me which takes time, money and patience.
4.  The world isn’t always a great place and I would want to spare my potential child from living in a world of jerks. I feel like we as a world have far too many issues with bullying, shooting, law enforcement, government officials and quite frankly I don’t want to thrust that responsibility on someone who had no say in whether or not they wanted to be born.
5. It’s my body, my choice and I don’t need a reason why. The same way I do not judge people who want to embark on starting families or ask them why they are choosing to have children, I do not want that question thrust upon me about why I chose not to.
If Tom and I do have a baby, rest assured it will be an only child. Not only is this more financially feasible for our lifestyle, our miracle baby would be loved and gotten the best medical care in the world (if they did turn out mentally ill), I would only have one child to worry about in this scary world and that’s if we choose to have one, devil’s advocate. I also wouldn’t be that parent on social media who posts a slew of photos and videos of their child on social media every two hours. In fact, my child will probably be posted and chatted about once a month so my friends and family can actually see the growth of the child and not feel bombarded by photographs of every hour of my child’s mouth (showing a tooth coming in), showing them sleep or 60 other photographs of them doing the same thing. I will not be that social media monster mom and if I become one, please remind me of this post. A child might just be okay and affordable for Tom and I but forget about two, it just isn’t in the cards. A baby might not be in the cards at all for us. If all else fails we’re perfectly fine being the crazy Aunt and Uncle, I’ll write an update in 10 years on the outcome but please stop criticizing me, because it is a woman’s right to choose.
How do you feel about children? Are you having one or more? What influenced your choice? Leave a comment below discussing your thoughts and feelings, I love to hear from you!
Love you. Mean it.
Brittany
Lists & Things

7 Things…

My Grammy taught me never to take for granted….

Grammy and I: Halloween 2009
There are lessons which need to be learned through experiences and there are lessons which can be taught to you by family and friends. My Grammy was born during a time where America was building into the nation it became today, she lived through the Great Depression, World War II, Kennedy being assassinated, and the twin towers coming down on 9/11. To say she saw and experienced a lot in her lifetime was an understatement. I spent more time with my Mother’s Mom then any of my cousins, her and I shared a bond that even her death in August of 2011 could not break. I found myself feeling such a profound void in her absence but also a profound sense of duty to record and live by the 7 things which she taught me never to take for granted. I’d like to share these 7 things with you, my loyal readers, today.
1. The love God has for all of us. According to my Grammy, God is always there just waiting for us to pray for his guidance and we must never take for granted our unique ability to call on him whenever we may need him.
2. The unconditional love of families. Nothing was more important to my Grammy than family, she always stressed the importance of blood being thicker than water and truly valuing and accepting family members for who they are just as they must accept you.
3. The gift of being able to wake up each and every day. My Grammy lived to be 93, which meant she saw a lot of people die, including her youngest son, she taught me that every day we are able to wake up and make a difference in the world we should because we never know if we will be granted the opportunity for tomorrow.
4. The ability to distinguish blessings from lessons. According to Grammy, every person and event was sent by God either as blessings which we must cherish or lessons which we must grow from and we MUST be grateful for both and thank the LORD for them.
5. The way we treat people will have a profound impact on how they turn out. Grammy shared with me many stories from her youth and adulthood centered around the theme of how the adults in her life shaped her thoughts and attitudes on life. She stressed that we must always treat others with love and compassion because everyone is fighting a battle which you cannot see.
6. The power of forgiveness. My Grammy once described hate and grudges as poison which taints the soul and that we must not only forgive to release that toxicity from our own systems but because as Catholics it is our God-given duty to forgive others as HE has asked us.
7. The knowledge that what you don’t have in your hand you can’t very well hold on to. My Grammy used this saying to describe her feelings on letting go of the things in our life which we have little to no control over.
What were seven things someone taught you never to take for granted? Leave your response in the comment section below, because I love hearing from you!
Love you. Mean it.
Brittany
xo
This post was dedicated to my beautiful and selfless Grammy
Mary T. Doyle (5/2/18-8/30/11) you helped shape me into the woman I am today and I love you to heaven and back.
Lists & Things

13 Things On May 13th…

That I love about my husband Tom…

With the monotony of everyday life it is so easy to get caught up in the here and now rather than the always been there and always valued. To some of you who read this blog, you may know my husband Tom and I personally, to others you may only know of him as that guy I mention here and there in my posts that I call my spouse. Whether you know or do not know that wonderful man who captured my heart eight years ago in March, in honor of his birthday today I’ve compiled a list of 13 things on this Friday May 13th that I love about Tom.

My lovable husband, Tom.
1. His loyalty. Tom is easily one of the most loyal people I have ever known in my life, his ability to stand by me and defend me whether I am right or wrong is a trade I will never take for granted. Tom’s brother Joe put it best in his Best Man speech, if he (or anyone Tom cared about) was broken down in Alaska he’d without question go there to help and bring them home.
2. He is loving and kind. Tom is the first person to lift my spirits when I put myself down. He does not tolerate anything less than the absolute best for me and anyone else he loves and cares for. He treats everyone he meets with love and compassion from the old lady needing help in the parking lot to putting together a toy or game for his niece and nephew.
3. He really is amazing with kids! Although we are on the fence about having a child of our own, as a teacher, I marvel at watching my husband interact with kids and it makes me lean more towards the possibility of having one someday even just so I can see what an amazing Dad I know he could be!
4. He is responsible. Tom is very responsible with everything from paying bills on time to never forgetting a first cousin once removed’s birthday and insisting we send a gift. He knows how to manage our money and (like me) understands there’s a large difference between wants and needs.
5. He is hardworking. Tom is a total go-getter in life, he works hard at his job, is always early or on time and rarely calls out sick (unless of course he really IS sick). A lot of Tom’s livelihood is based on his ability to help provide the best life possible for Draco and I. Tom helps me write a lot of the home budget tips and lists of things we plan to do, he loves to tackle DIY home improvement projects and has a natural flair for it.
6. He is supportive. Tom has managed to support me through both the laughter and the tears that have come our way through the years. He’s rejoiced in my happiness and held me in my moments of profound grief. No matter whether I am teaching or embracing the launch of my second career (this blog), Tom is my biggest fan and the gratitude I feel for that is immeasurable.
7. He’s the organized to my unorganized. I’m not going to lie, if my husband had the same habits with neatness and organization as I did we’d live in a pig sty! Luckily, he doesn’t and in turn he motivates me to be more neat and orderly which I credit him for helping me clean up with.
8. He loves hockey and football. While we do not support the same teams (I’m the NJ Devils to his NY Rangers and he’s the Dallas Cowboys to my Carolina Panthers) we can talk for hours about both sports, from impending deals/trades to score predictions for upcoming games.
9. His ability to use movie quotes to lighten any mood. Tom is the master of lightning up any dark mood, his ability to take situations and match them to movie quotes to garner laughter is uncanny and second to none. For example, when the Vikings field goal kicker missed that playoff winning field goal (I really wanted the Seahawks to lose) I was a bit bummed until Tom mimicked Ray Finkle from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective saying “THE LACES WERE IN! THEY WERE IN!” which immediately caused me to bust out laughing.
10. He’s one of my best friends. Seriously, I can tell Tom anything and I know what I say stays safely with him. He does not blab our business to anyone from family to strangers. I value the fact that we do everything from food shopping to taking walks in Home Depot together (the happiest place on Earth in my opinion).
11. His love for God matches mine. Tom and I make God apart of our marriage. We read scripture, pray, go to church , and look to God for a greater understanding of our life purpose together. We understand God’s desire for us to serve Him, others and more importantly each other and we keep His commandments and hold them sacred.
12.  His unapologetic nature. Tom is who he is, and he is unapologetic in his truth about his likes, dislikes, and generally way of viewing things. He is unique and a self-proclaimed non-conformist, his ability to march to the beat of his own drum is very refreshing in a world where everybody tries to be someone else.
13. His unconditional love for me and ability to forgive others. Tom loves me so unconditionally it never ceases to amaze me, additionally, his ability to not hold grudges for things which we were wronged by is truly inspiring. While I have been known to harbor a grudge or three, Tom holds none towards anyone and inspires me to be more like that also.
So there you have it, 13 things I love about my husband. I could have gone on forever but I’ll stop there because it’s time for me to light the candles on his ice cream cake before the whole cake melts. Feel free to leave your comment below and tell me what you love about Tom or if you don’t know him comment about something in which you learned about him through my 13 things, because I do love hearing from you the fan friends.
Love you. Mean it.
Brittany

xo

This post is dedicated to husband, Tom.
DIY & Life Hacks

Pinterest Gems: 7 Easy and Affordable Tips I Liked…

…To Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal

With regards to curb appeal some of the time that is all it takes is a slap of paint and a little imagination. A few of us simply have a talent for it, while others might require a little motivation to get the thoughts streaming. You’d be astounded at what a distinction even economic changes can make to enhance the curb appeal of your home. Beside the self-evident — arranging, pulling weeds, paint, and general clean it up — here is 7 easy and affordable tips that I plan on doing for my house and pretty much anybody can do!

1. I found this on Pinterest, the person who pinned it ditched the slab foundation look by purchasing fake panels which cover the boring old slab look and are relatively inexpensive. As someone who also has a slab foundation, I did some research and found the fake or “faux” as they are referred to panels can be ordered online in a wide variety of choices. I personally like the faux rock look and will definitely be ordering mine soon.

I was overwhelmed with how many options I found on www.fauxpanels.com


2. Give your front door a much-needed make over! Sometimes ditching an old door and replacing it with a newer one does the trick BUT for most of us on a budget a new door is costly and let’s face it we’re all tight on cash here and there. In this case, take your current door and paint it a bold new color. Once your done with that, add brass numbers to the door to give it extra pizzazz.

I really loved the article about how this door went from ‘Blah’ to ‘Yeah!’ in Melissa’s blog which you can check out at: http://www.320sycamoreblog.com/2011/06/door-details.html
3. Maybe it’s because I think I’m a Disney Princess 90% of the time but I really want window boxes, and I want you to want them too because not only are they super chic but it makes your windows look bigger (look for yourself in the picture below). Plus, it’s a total bonus that it’s almost like bringing a bit of nature indoors because you can see all of the flowers and plants from the interior of the home, too. SHAZAM!
Found on Pinterest
4. I’m dying to ditch that old as the hills mailbox that’s been there since before I moved in! Think about it, our mailbox is literally the first impression of our home. So go outside, look at your mailbox and ask yourself: what does it say about you? Go ahead…I’ll wait! Verdict is? Nothing good? Well that’s okay because since it is so small, it could be as simple as an afternoon project to get it looking like it came straight out of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Pinterest has a whole slew of affordable ideas, like one post I read which a woman took a cast stone post surround that she placed over a 4×4 wooden post, it looked gorgeous and turns out it’s much easier than it looks!
Read more about how to do this on http://www.beneathmyheart.net
5. My porch is concrete, not to mention it’s the first thing my friends and family see when they come in the front door. Ever since I found this picture on Pinterest I’ve been dying to create faux tile by the use of concrete stain! The pinner (I’m not entirely sure who the author is when I went to revisit their site from Pinterest the link was broken) created a concrete look like tile by using painter’s tape to make faux grout lines prior to staining. I’ve seen many neighbors use the stain by itself which instantly give walkways, patios, and driveways and entirely new look and its relatively inexpensive at your local Home Depot or Lowes.
Faux tile without the hassle of real tile! Found on Pinterest if anyone knows who took this picture please leave a comment so I can cite them properly.

6. Okay! I saw this on Pinterest and my inner gardening goddess jumped with glee at this planting pottery addresses idea. I mean what a cute DIY idea to enhance curb appeal! The address display I have now was left over from the people who used to live in my house, not to mention you can’t see it from the road, it was then I stumbled across this idea on Pinterest and I couldn’t help but love the simplicity of it, yet how chic it would be to incorporate my address into the garden pots with flowers in them. I may just scratch the numbers on the front door idea and trade it in for the perfect little area on the front corner of my yard where I plan to make this happen!

Pottery addresses add sensational curb appeal to your home
Courtesy of Pinterest

7. Hide your trash! Hide your recycle! This is one of my biggest pet peeves about my own house where my big, ugly trash cans are visible from the street, sometimes open with trash bags peeking out of the top. If you, like me, are forced to keep your trash where it can easily be seen from the street (or from anywhere really), you can put up a small fence, or perhaps even build  a garbage can storage shed to hide any and all offending trash culprits. Gates like the one pictured below, you can find at Lowes in their outdoor gardening section.

Courtesy of Pinterest
So there you have it, some Pinterest gems I definitely plan on doing and will be compiling before and after photos as well as  ‘How To’s as I accomplish each one to share with you, my readers. What ways have you found Pinterest helped give you ideas to enhance your home’s curb appeal? Leave a comment below and join in the discussion because I love hearing from all of you!
Love you. Mean it.
Brittany
xo
Lists & Things

My 5 Birthday Wishes….

I hope every year come true…

Past. Present. Future. Time changes things. On the other hand, we may not realize it but we all change with time. One day finishes to become another and what’s more, another. The Earth gradually pivots and spins. The clock’s hands never stop, no matter how much we want it to. Furthermore, with it, the wheels of progress are set into movement. It creeps in gradually, inch by inch. Adding yet one more day. But then again, it is definitely not.
To make a few days stand out from the rest, we give them a significance, a name, or a reason. Indeed, even your birthday is a day your parents and relatives teach you to give significance and yet there are so many people who see no motivation to celebrate the day they arrived into this world and took their first breath of air. (I do.) Critics often say it is simply one more day, so why go the additional mile?
They are right in this sense, it is one more day. In any case, why should that prevent us from celebrating the precious joy of life? Why does it prevent us from taking a couple of minutes, hours or a whole day to reflect on your life, your relationships with family, friends, even co-workers, and above all, remember your good fortune?
In our current reality where there are incalculable motivations to feel dull and useless, it is the small day-to-day activities we take part in that matter because essentially they make you who you are. These activities quite often win us the bonds we share with friends and family. Yet, these friends may not stay until the end of time, sadly there are moments when we lose all sense of contact with our longtime friends and they are in the different chapters of the book called life then we are, basically in light of the fact that “life” happened.
Yes, it is not an extremely cheerful feeling to think back and recollect the people who were once so dear to us and yet are no longer a dynamic piece of our life. We are taught to hold those all the more dear who have been with us until the end of time.
In any case, why should to that prevent you from being appreciative to have the people who do remain, or the people who have entered your life once more? Since past experience recommends they may not be there tomorrow and since nothing keeps going on indefinitely forever except for God’s love for us (in my opinion, yours may vary, I hold zero judgments).
In the event that you ask me, it is definitely this motivation behind why you SHOULD celebrate birthdays — yours and others, particularly others — for on the off-chance that you didn’t take today to create meaningful experiences and memories, to feel appreciative and feel unique, you might have nothing to think back about tomorrow.
Today, you have these people. Tomorrow, you may not. For example, my Grammy and I were born a day apart, I never realized how much I took for granted being able to share a birthday cake and blow out the candles with her until the first birthday I celebrated after she passed away. In any case, amid the time when they are a piece of your life, they are or have been critical and when they aren’t anymore you feel it. Why not make them feel that specialness today, regardless of what happens tomorrow? Figures of speech and expressions inform us to make the most of each moment; that each and every day ought to be exceptional — not only a couple. In any case, we all realize that is not always sensible as life gets in the way, jobs and obligations.
That is what brings me to the five birthday wishes I have every year, hopefully one year I’ll receive them:
1. All of my friends, family and relatives to chip in and have a huge party, like a wedding, except it celebrates the bond we share with each other another year. Rent a big hall, hire a DJ, a caterer, dress up and celebrate each other.
2. I do not hear news that anyone I know (or anyone they know) has cancer.
3. God blesses all my family, friends, and everyone who reads this blog with many more birthdays, health and happiness (myself included).
4. To meet a real, gifted medium who will be able to contact my Grammy so I can talk to her again.
5. That my blog will reach, inspire and change the way people think in a positive way.
Those are my five birthday wishes, be that as it may, there were additionally times when I was horribly aware of those I had left behind on my journey forward in life and my wishes also extend to them. Their non-attendance was felt. These who made up the ‘ghosts of friendships past’ and once held a significant spot in my day by day life that have followed a different path than me, I salute you too, for you left a hand print on my heart that helped shape me into the woman I became.
Life happened. It is dismal, yes. In any case, I think back on those times with those people with cheerful wistfulness. I am appreciative of that reason for my birthday, where I get to communicate the significance of everyone I know (past and present)’s place in my life, and the other way around. I now know, right then and there in time, I had mattered to them. I likewise realize that since they aren’t here does not mean they have been erased for all eternity. I feel my Grandmother’s presence with me daily despite her being deceased for nearly five years. I also have photographs of my childhood friends Jessica and Mike (one lost to cancer the other lost to growing apart) and I will cherish them when I look at them every now and then when I feel nostalgic.
Every May 1st, I feel appreciative for having been loved and esteemed by those around me, by being given the life I now lead, for the friends and family who are a piece of my life now and who went to such awesome lengths to make me feel extraordinary. Every year I do that then offer into the universe as bit of wistfulness for the lost ones that despite the fact that they and the memories I’d imparted to them were unique, I find myself in hopes that they are as happy as I am with their lives.Every May 1st, I discover motivations to praise the day, as opposed to pass it off as simply one more day. On my birthday, I remember my good fortune for what I have today before I lose it, and what I had yesterday.

On my birthdays, I pay tribute to the thing called time and I encourage you to do the same.

How do you feel about birthdays? Who in your life are you must grateful for? Leave a comment below as I love hearing from all of you!
Love you. Mean it.
Brittany
 xoxo
Coffee and Confessions

So I Got Hair Extensions…

Here are my thoughts so far on Keratin Extension…

I’ve wanted hair extensions ever since I was a teenager and so as an early birthday gift to myself I decided to embark on a hair journey of sorts. While many women would opt for an Apple Watch on their birthday, but for me, lucky number 27 was about good old-fashioned vanity. I hadn’t had long hair in more than five years, especially after cutting it Victoria Beckham short last year and needing to wear clip-in extensions for my wedding, I felt like changing it up. Of course, I was afraid—all the horror stories would it damage my hair? Would it feel weird? Well here’s my experience so far on hair extensions.
After going to my trusted salon ‘Salon Bellissimo’ and talking with one of my hairdressers, Candice, I opted for the keratin-bond extensions. The hair isn’t fake but in fact tiny strands of real, virgin (unprocessed) human hair. Generally, since I got them at the salon that has religiously cut and colored my hair for three years Candice was able to match my color and order the hair, which I paid for after my consultation.
Before

 

 
The extensions themselves looked like small wisps of my own hair, but with a keratin-based dried “glue” at one end. They can be curled, dyed, straightened, styled with heat—everything I’d do to my own hair. In order to attach them, Candice used heat with a tool that reminded me of a monkey wrench and she fused that keratin “glue” to my hair. My extensions were placed in rows so that they always remain strategically covered by another piece of hair, even if I were to wear a ponytail.

What You Need to Know

After

My dry hair was sectioned off, and Candice worked in rows, scooping tiny sections of my hair up (much like applying highlights) and placing an individual extension about a 1/2-inch away from the root. Then, she used the monkey wrench looking tool to fuse it on. Honestly, some pieces you’ll feel when they put in and others you won’t but I will say that if you are too ADHD to sit and patiently wait out the time it takes to get them in then well maybe you should reconsider. The process took between two and half hours for me and finishes with a blowout and dry cut in order to ensure the extensions are layered or evened out to perfection.

My First Reaction

“Kim Kardashian, eat your heart out!”

 

 

My Second Reaction

Wait…this feels weird. Physically, there is a tiny “bead” (think of it like a bit of clear nail polish that hardens to a small spot of your hair) where the keratin “glue” is attached to your hair. When you run your hands through your hair, you will feel them, and at first it’s like, “Oh, so now I’m going to feel like I have hard stuff stuck in my hair at all times? Why did I do this? Was this a mistake?” Forget about trying to lay down on the couch and get comfy because you really feel those suckers in your head now.

But then, you look in the mirror and see your Kardashian-hair reflection again, you take a million selfies (at least that’s what I did) and all of that fear fades away.

After the First Wash…

You have to be careful with extensions, specifically the bonds. You can’t just yank a brush through your hair or clamp a flatiron onto the glue spot. Candice also advises not to use conditioner where the bonds are located because that could loosen them. She also recommends don’t use products with sulfates, which can break down the bonds. As someone who’s religiously colored their hair since they were 12, I have always used sulfate-free shampoo. Now in my experience, I was scared to wash my hair but after the first time I did I’m now confident that I can do it.

Damage Control

1. Brush your hair with a special de-tangle brush designed for extensions and brush often to avoid your extensions looking matted.

2. Make regular monthly appointments with your stylist to get a blowout and check on the existing bonds in your hair.

3. Silk pillowcases are great for extensions during sleep and allow for the hair to not get tangled in your sleep.

4. If you don’t have a silk pillowcase then please sleep with your hair in a low ponytail as this will accomplish the same feat as number 3.

5. Treat it like your real hair and that means heat protectant spray before use of any heat products to prevent damage.

What’s the Cost?

Be wary of any salon that charges you less than $500, extensions will cost you anywhere from $500-1,000 dollars (depending on the salon, I paid WAY less then $1,000 FYI) but if you treat them right they can last up to 6-7 months before you need to order replacements.

What’s the Verdict?
So far I have enjoyed my experience with them, I am still adjusting to having them but find they enhance my look and boost my confidence. Candice and the rest of Salon Belissimo are wonderful, dedicated, professionals who were very reassuring and offered to help me in any way that they could in caring for my new addition.
I highly recommend this salon to anyone in New Jersey especially since I’m extremely particular about my hair that I have only allowed them to touch it and feel totally safe in their hands.

What do you think of extensions? Have you ever or would you ever get them? Leave a comment below to discuss your thoughts and feelings as I love hearing from you.

Love you. Mean it.

Brittany
xoxo

DIY & Life Hacks

Make it rain, make it rain…

make it rain on them jars!

Looking for a cheap way to entertain your children or (in my case) niece and nephew? You’ve come to the right place this week! Parents and teachers alike can use this cool DIY science experiment of the children (and inner child) in their lives. What inspired me to write this post came during Easter weekend, Tom and I found ourselves doing puzzles, coloring in coloring books and reading stories to our niece Elsie (6 years old) and nephew Ben (2 1/2 years old). As a Pre-school teacher, I love science experiments-almost as much as I love food coloring-and what I decided to show Elsie and Ben that particular weekend left them both in awe and begging to try again. Now, I have made rain clouds in a jar a few times in the past with my Pre-K kids, and my students love this activity I found on Pinterest one summer in 2013 more each time we revisit it. My niece and nephew were no exception!
Here’s What You’ll Need:
1. Water, you know the kind from your sink, -FREE

2. Barbasol Original Shaving cream – $1.00 at DollarTree
3. Glass pint jar mugs $1.00 at DollarTree
4. McCormick Specialty Extracts Assorted Food Color and Egg Dye- $3.48 at Walmart. We used blue but you can use any color you want your ‘rain’ to be. ( I’ve also read watercolors work just as well but we did not try them)
5. Super Dropper (2 pack so you can allow two children to conduct the experiment at once)-$4.42 at Walmart.

Total cost of this experiment: $9.90

Okay, got what I need, now how do I do it?
1. Fill the jar with water and top it with shaving cream. Allow the shaving cream a minute or so to settle on top of water before beginning.
2. In a separate regular standard kitchen drinking glass fill it with water, deposit the blue food coloring into it and mix it well.
3. Have the children suction up the blue dyed water with their droppers and deposit it into the top of the shaving cream.
4. Watch the blue dye travel through the shaving cream and begin to “rain” inside the jar.
5. Pat yourself on the back when you see the looks of amazement on the kids’ faces!

Have you done this experiment? Did you use watercolors instead? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on this cool kids experiment, I love hearing from you!

Love you. Mean it.

Brittany

xo