Prom night, '08

The Time Warp Prom was last night, and just as fun as it was last year. Here's a few pictures of our pre-prom party/dinner at Tracie's house. The guy with the beard is Tracie's husband, Brian; we rented a Prom Shuttle Bus (a.k.a. 12-passenger van) and Brian chauffered us there and back. Isn't he nice???

Some pictures in the kitchen:

1. Tina and me.

2. (l-r) me, Nicole, Carissa, Tina, Brandy, Heather

3. Tracie and me

Here we are, getting the party started (as usual) by being the first group out on the dance floor.

Within 2 songs time, the party was in full swing- yes, that's Heather and Brandy leading the "train" through the room.

That's Nicole and Carissa up on the stage with the band; Nicole is singing backup!

Group photo (I don't know where Nicole and Carissa are...possibly still onstage?)

I bought a new cell phone this week. Joe and I bought a Motorola Q phone for each of us when they first came out, and they were fun for a while...Joe still likes his, and most people I know who have them enjoy them, but mine was a reject phone. The internet connection was crappy, my e-mails wouldn't forward to my phone anymore, I never could send e-mail, and then other smaller things went haywire, such as the screen going white and not coming back for a while, the keys would freeze up at random times, I'd set it to "silent" and it would still ring...etc etc etc.

That phone had been on my very last nerve, and last week I'd had enough.

So I went to our Verizon store and with the help of the oh-so-friendly Verizon workers (haha) I got a "Chocolate" phone. It doesn't have a full 'qwerty' keyboard, it doesn't do internet or e-mail, it's just a phone that will call and text and take pictures, and I love it. And it's half the size of my Q phone, which I enjoy. And, another bonus, it holds a charge for days, unlike the Q which held its charge for, oh, I don't know, eight hours?

mmm, peas.

Quinn had his first solid food this week: peas. Notice that in the presence of food, Cissi is alive and well, and all too willing to catch any dropped bites!

Tea Time

I took Jessica's recommendation and bought some Red Tea. This was not an easy purchase- my two main shopping venues, WalMart and Kroger, don't have a big supply of red tea. In fact, WalMart has none, Kroger has one kind, their own 'Private Selection' brand. So I got it, and as Rachel Ray would say "YUM-O!"
The actual taste isn't that different...actually it kind of just tastes like hot water...but it smells so good! It's got a spice-y scent, in a chai kind of way, but not the overpowering taste of chai.
Thanks for the tip, Jessica!!

Let's see, what else, what else.....it's spring, so I'm a blonde again.

Prom is one week away, and I totally scrapped both dresses and started all over with my outfit. The one dress was going to be way too hot, and I gave the other one to one of the other girls who needed something to wear.
I found some fabric upstairs in my "craft" room (a.k.a. the 'big fat messy room") and fashioned a shirt out of it. It's very Madonna meets Flashdance with a hint of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
It's not very prom-y at all, but more like 1980-something "high school girl sneaks out of the house through her bedroom window to go to a party in the city".

I think between us all we have every aspect of the 80's covered; we've got the 80's bridesmaid, the early 80's (as in Footloose) kind of dress, one girl we call the 'Easter Sunday in the 80's', there's the 80's prom queen, my 80's party wear....add in some big bangs, some crimps, a side ponytail, and some jelly bracelets and I think we've got it all.

No plans this weekend, other than cleaning up the house. I hear it's going to be a rainy weekend, so maybe I'll get some reading in. I did finally start my Jodi Picoult book (Second Glance). I gave up on the other book I was reading; it was Danielle Steele "Sisters" and if I had to sum it up in one word: SUCKS. Don't read it. I got halfway through and couldn't take it anymore, so I skipped and read the last 3 pages and gave it away to be sold in a garage sale. Good riddance, bad book.

More faves...

While I'm on the topic of makeup, I'm going to share my other current favorites. I use these every day, no fail. First up, Burt's Bees pomegranite lip balm. I am a HUGE Burt's Bees original lip balm fan...no, make that "addict"...so I tried this one. It doesn't tingle like the original does, but it has a teensy bit of pink color to it. Since Quinn's been born I don't wear lipstick like I used to, for his sake- otherwise he'd be covered in lipstick kisses all day. So this product gives me just enough color so I don't look like the un-dead, and it doesn't rub off on Q's face.
Now, having said that...when I DO wear lipstick, I wear this:
I own it in 6 shades, and I'm sure I'll get more. (Every now and then CVS sells them 2 for 1!) It's a gloss, but it stays on all day without being sticky, and it comes in colors and sheers. I have some of each, but my favorite is the "sheer nude".

My newest find, for all you Bare Minerals lovers out there.......EVERYDAY MINERALS! It's Bare Minerals on a budget. :) I've tried every mineral makeup there is out there, and this is the closest to BM; possibly even better, because it is gentler on the skin.
What I really love about it though, is if you go to the website, www.everydayminerals.com , for the price of shipping ($5.00, I believe) you can customize a free sample kit for yourself, in which you get 3 foundation colors, a blush, and a concealer. It's one sample kit per order, but there's no limit to how many times you can order samples, and no purchase required.
Try it. You will love it.
I have the foundation, a couple blushes, some concealers (multitasking is my favorite) and some eyeshadows. The only thing I don't love is the eyeliner....unlike Bare Minerals, this doesn't translate well to wet-use as an eyeliner. But the shadows are terrific - my current top pick is "pressed olive".

My name is Lori...

...and I am a makeup junkie. I have no problems admitting to that. I'm on Sephora's mailing list, I will buy anything to get the Clinique bonus gift, I own more eyeshadow in various shades of plum than any one girl should own...
And yet I still want more.
I discovered a new store. It's not 'new' or 'hip' even, but new to me. It's so old-school that it's just too fun! It's the Merle Norman store right here in Springfield! I went there, to buy a lipstick that one of my clients wore and she got it there. How very cool that when I went in I forgot the name of the shade, but I gave the lady my client's name, she looked her up in the system and told me what shade she bought!
So I bought the lip pencil.
I'm an official makeup stalker now.

While I was there, I tried on a few shades on my hand...and used this awesome cream cleanser to wipe it off...so I bought the cleanser. (It's fabulous for removing eye makeup, without getting the oily eye-makeup-remover in your eyes!)
And also, my newest favorite product, I bought eyeshadow primer. It's awesome! I've never used an eyeshadow primer, but for some reason (namely the fact that I can't keep shadow on my lids all day) I decided I needed it. And I love it. I have squinty eyes and I keep saying someday I'll get an eyelid lift so I can see my eyeshadow better, but until then I've found the $11.00 solution.

Other recent purchases: today I bought black leggings with silver studded stars on them and a silver scrunchie. Both are for prom.
And yes, I said scrunchie.
And yes, it was for sale- for real- in a clothing store. (Dots, if you must know).
Scary, isn't it??????
Not only did they have silver scrunchies, they had gold, hot pink, lime green, and orange.

Other news, Cissi is wasting away and is all skin and bones now. I keep thinking she's near-death and then she bounces back (we figured out today that she's at least 15 years old). Just when I think she's a goner, I came home tonight and she's jumping for marshmallows and looking more 'chipper' than she has in days. I really think she's indestructable. She has, however, been permanently relocated to the laundry room due to her lack of bladder control.

Tomorrow: day off. Lunch with a friend, Quinn's getting his picture taken, dinner w/ another friend...maybe I'll clean up the house in between all of our outings. Maybe not. Maybe I'll just watch more 90210 reruns and take a nap. :)

Weekend Update

We spent this past weekend in Cleveland for our friend Andrew's wedding. Joe was a groomsman, so we were there for the entire weekend of festivities. Friday afternoon, we checked into our hotel, did a quick-change and headed to the rehearsal and dinner. The dinner was at the Elyria Country Club (been there Nan?) and was very yummy. Andrew's mom really went all-out, with a fabulous dinner and cake, and homemade chocolates.

Here's Joe with Andrew, at the rehearsal dinner.

And Quinn with his new friend "Nona". I think she really may have taken him home with her if I had given her the chance!

The guys in their groomsmen gifts. Andrew got them all personalized jerseys (he had their names stitched on the back.)

Quinn stayed awake through the whole rehearsal dinner party so he crashed as soon as we left......and he slept through breakfast the next morning.

The wedding was great- Andrew and Jen are a very cute couple. She was smiley and giggly through the ceremony. It was adorable. We hadn't met Jen until this weekend, and I think she and Andrew are a good match, and she's great for him.

Joe, Dan, and Steve enjoying their dinner

Joe and I, at the reception
Joe with the bride.

Joe's parents were SO nice to come meet us at the hotel Saturday night to babysit while we went to the wedding. Here's Quinn and his Grandma at breakfast Sunday morning.Then on the way home, we stopped at the outlet mall in Lodi and did a little shopping. It was so nice to walk around and enjoy the sun! And Quinn loved it- he kicked his feet in the stroller the whole time.

Cereal!

Quinn started into the cereal this week...the word "cereal" is kind of a stretch, however. Rice flakes diluted in water isn't anywhere near a bowl of Lucky Charms, but if Gerber can call it cereal, then I can too.

As predicted, most of it didn't actually stay inside his mouth, but rather ended up back on the bib. It's been messy but gets better each time he tries it. Here he is, with his first attempt at eating from a spoon. Not sure of the taste.....
mmm.....good ol' similac!

More Easter Photos

Happy Easter

Easter was a lot of fun- we spent the weekend with Joe's family and got to get the babies together. They were very cute together, but liked to pull on each other's hair and ears. I took a ton of pictures, but have yet to load them onto the computer, so in the mean time, here's two I "borrowed" from Trish's snapfish. Thanks Trish! :)

Quinn has been on cold medicine this week for his rattly cough...it's working, but it's made him super hyper, and not wanting to sleep very much. As a result, he's learned to "sing" (scream/laugh/squeal combo) VERY loudly, and for long periods of time, and has kept us awake for the past two nights, wanting to do anything but go to bed. So this weekend, afterI get some more sleep, I'll put more pictures up.

Oh, and I've cut my hair again, since the above picture. It's shorter in back, and slightly longer on one side, since it's all about the asymmetry this season.

Random Thursday morning thoughts.

I woke up today to SUNSHINE! Can you believe it? I thought spring would never get here. And I'm completely enjoying it, and procrastinating my morning away,blogging instead of getting ready for work. I've watched the View (taped, from yesterday), fed Quinn, made some coffee, looked out the back windows to enjoy the sun, and killed a good chunk of time online. Still in my p.j.'s...have to leave for work in 40 minutes. Uh oh.

I get to see the world's best nephew this weekend, so I'm sure there will be a new batch of pictures of the boys after Easter. Can't wait!

I finally cut my hair this week. Quinn was pulling on it way too much and it was taking too long to dry in the morning, (taking away from blogging, apparantly) so I did the total 'mom' thing and cut it off. It's in a cute little bob now, a la Katie Holmes. Or since I have bangs, it's possible I look more like Suri. Oh well.

Speaking of cute little girls with bob haircuts, my neice, Rylee, is complete entertainment on any given day. Here she is watching her new favorite movie, The Music Man. Do you think she spends some time with my mom??? :) (pause the music on the playlist to the right, to hear the music on the video.) By the way, there's an even better one of her doing the Chicken Fat workout with her uncle John, but since I want John to still be my friend, I won't put that one on here.

4 months old

Here's our little man with his new fashionable eyewear from Aunt Trish, on his 4 month b-day.

Ready for another trip to the mall. (And ready for baseball season to start!)

Asleep in the swing with his stuffed monkey and tag blanket.

beware the ides of march!

It's been sickness, round 2. First I got it, then Quinn, now Joe. One last cough, sneeze, and sore throat before spring gets here- which is hopefully soon!

Quinn is four months old now and is doing all kinds of new tricks: rolling from front to back, pulling his pacifier out of his mouth and playing with it, kicking his socks off at record speed, and sleeping through the night (yay!). Joe and I have not learned any new tricks, nor has Cissi, unless you count chronic 'death-breath' as a trick, if so, then Cissi can count that one for herself.

We survived the big blizzard of '08...we were snowed in for all of 17 hours or so, then the sun came out and melted it all away, leaving the backyard a big muddy pile of mush. I just love March weather.

For the upcoming St. Patty's day we've planned a trip to Marie's Candies with my Monday lunch group of girls. We're like the red-hats for the 25 to 35 crowd, but we're all hairstylists, so instead of hats, we just change our haircolor. During the summer months we do "pool Mondays" but with the cold weather, we've started doing lunch once a month, somewhere fabulous and exciting. So this month is the tour of Champaign county food (we really sound like a bunch of old ladies, don't we!?) with lunch at Mumford's deli and dessert at Marie's. Most of the girls have never experienced Marie's....it's something every chocoholic should do at least once.
Next month it'll hopefully be warmer, and we'll go to the 'new' outdoor mall in Dayton, the Green, and shop and eat at Cheesecake Factory. YUM.

one last note: the Ohio IKEA is open!!!

Drove my Chevy to the Levy

Actually, I drive a Saturn and I didn't vote for the levy, or the presidential hopefuls either. I had good intentions for voting... yes I know, how very un-American of me to so carelessly toss aside my right to vote, but when it came down to it Tuesday morning, I either had time to vote or buy supplies for work (mainly replenishing the color we were in desperate need of!)
Obviously my means of earning money won out in that battle, so I skipped out on voting and the nifty sticker that comes along with it.
I found out last night- after the polls had closed, of course- that now you can go in early, at your convenience- for example, on Monday afternoon- and vote....would have been good to know. I would have done just that.

Our school levy still finally passed (BARELY!) without my vote: 2454 to 2452. Joe says that it was his vote that saved the football season. However, it just has passed "for now" because since it's so close they have to count the provisional ballots.....lets hope my one vote doesn't blow it for the school. But really, they should make public this whole 'voting ahead of time' thing (which is different from absentee ballots, FYI).

And yes, I know that in American Pie when he sings about driving his Chevy, he's not talking about a school levy. But it's a catchy title, no?

what's so funny?