America

Time is one of those concepts that seem abstract and hard to grasp.  Sure we know there are 60 seconds in a minute, 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year.  Minute after minute adds up faster than we realize when we are busy with our day to day lives.  That's why markers like a year, a decade, etc can hit us like a ton of bricks.

A decade.  10 years ago today.  We all know what happened on that fateful day and for most of us 9/11 seems like only yesterday.  Its hard to know the impact that September 11, 2001 had on all of our lives, but every American life was in some way changed.

As a child of the 80's and 90's I grew up in a world that seemed safer and had an economy that seemed stronger.  It seemed like nothing could take away those two things.  The year before 9/11 I lost a parent and with that I lost the remainder of my innocence and childhood.  Yet, I still felt safe in the world.  Attacks on America were things that could only happen in movies & even then normally only came in the form of alien invasions.  After 9/11 it took awhile before I felt safe again & I wonder if I will ever feel 100% safe.  9/11 changed how secure all of us felt.  The terrorists not only attacked America on that day, but they used our own planes to do it. Call me naive, but I always felt like there was this imaginary shield protecting the United States and on that day we all found out how wrong that notion was.  Sometimes it still seems unreal, but then there are reminders, such as a friend going off to war, longer travel security lines, etc.  My generation is a generation that knows of the outcome of evil and the terror of being attacked.  My generation also knows of the great sacrifice of heros and the true meaning of being proud to be an American.  With all of the media coverage for this anniversary came stories about those born on or after 9/11.  Its interesting to hear how some of them see it as an event in history - much like I would have viewed WWI & II - while still feeling the ramifications of those events.  

With all of the bad & all of the changes there is still good.  So many heros sacrificed on 9/11 and have every day since fighting for our freedom.  Strangers helped strangers, "everyday" people became heros & many lost their lives in order to save lives of others.  

I had the opportunity to go to my childhood church this weekend for the first time since this past Christmas.  I must say I have never heard music as beautiful as the patriotic songs that filled the pews this weekend.  At the end of mass, when most people are normally scrambling to be the first one out the door the National Anthem was sung.  Not one person left early.  Everyone was united as one, the way we should be.  

I think that is how we can truly honor the heros.  Being united and loving this country.  Hate is what cause this, but love is how we all can heal.  

For as much as I love Jay-Z I don't think I've ever heard his music sound better:

God Bless America.

Friday Favorite: (Online) Shopping Addict

I love shopping.  I love online shopping.  If I had a disposable income I would shop everyday.  Until my bank account catches up to me though I need to make my shopping as meaningful as possible.  While I do alternate between online & "real" shopping there are certain things I like to buy on or offline.  For example for clothes and shoes I love to go to "real" stores.  Part of the fun is feeling the material, mixing and matching outfits, and trying on clothes that cost more than a small country.  Other things such as make up and beauty supplies I like to shop for online.

I like to research these products before I buy them.  I also buy such a wide variety of products there isn't one store I could go into for all of the needs - sometimes a girl needs $5 lipstick and $40 bronzer (don't judge just an example).

Thats why I am dedicating my Friday Favorite to www.bloom.com.  It is a website I stumbled onto awhile back.  I will admit I almost gave up because they had some technological problems that made it a bit of a hassle, but they have since cleared all of that up.  They also have great customer service, I e-mailed them about a product I was wondering if they carried and I got a response within a 24 hour period.

What is great about this site is it is the illegitimate child of makeup and social media.  What I mean by this is I can go on there, enter some information and see what girlies just like me are using.  Yes, friends are perfect for swapping advice on products, but sometimes you need someone who is the same as you.  You could trust your best friend 100%, but if she has an oily complexion and dry hair she isn't going to be much help for you little Ms. dry skin & greasy hair (hypothetical of course - you are gorgeous!)

I also always try products & cannot remember if I tried the product.  This way I can review it and keep track myself which means no more buying products that have failed me in the past.

Plus Bloom also gives you money back on your purchase as well as free samples.  Who wouldn't like that.  I love that I get to try new products in terms of their free samples, but also can justify splurging or experimenting since I'm saving money.  I have told all of my girlfriends about this site and felt that I should also tell all of my blog-girlfriends.

So there you have it.  What's better than a Friday Favorite post about  good make up?  A Friday Favorite post about getting good make up for a great deal.

Happy Friday!

Wake Me Up When September Ends

When I was younger I always looked at September as a beginning - the beginning of school & the beginning of fall.  Somewhere along the years it started to signify the end - the end of summer and freedom.  

For the last decade or so September is always a rougher month to get through & it seems like Im not the only one.  Music is great because it can often get you out of funks.  Sometimes though you want the music you are listening to to fit your mood, so here it goes:

Green Day's Wake Me Up When September Ends courtesy of Youtube

and

Daughtry's September also from Youtube

Is there a month for you that always seems gloomy?  Any songs that you listen to to get out of a bad mood?  

I hope September started of good for all of you

Hollywood

Back in the good 'ole USA just in time for Labor day.  Unpacked for the second time in a month.  Im ready to finally settle into Pittsburgh for a bit before I travel or move somewhere else - what can I say I'm a like a little nomadic camel.  hmm, on second thought lets describe myself as a gypse, one of those gorgeous gypse women who wear flowing purple outfits and lots & lots of jewelry.  Ok, I like that a lot better.

Anyways I wanted to alert all of the Pittsburghers following this to an event.  Children's Hospital is having a benefit event.  As I'm sure you've come to realize from my posts I love children & I support all non-profits so I had to give this a shout out.  The event is A Hollywood Benefit and is featuring Pittsburgh native & hunky (flashback to 90's lingo) Joe Manganiello.  You might know him from True Blood  or One Tree Hill among others.

Donate to Children's Hospital

So you can spend the afternoon cheering on the Steelers vs. the Ravens & then go to this event to celebrate the Steelers win while doing some good.

It is going be held at Mixx at Station Square at 8pm this Sunday, September 11.  For more information on tickets you can go to the events page.  Hoping I can go & I that some of you are able to go as well.

Have a good short week :)

European Adventure

I sent a mobile post, but alas I see it didn't work.  Sooo I just wanted to let you know Ive been out of the country and will be until next week.  I have a few good posts coming your way once Im back and don't have spotty internet.  Can't wait to catch up on the blogs Ive been missing.  Posting soon.  Until them hope you're having a great week.

Change Up

So when I decided to start this blog I had one rule: don't post just to post.  That's why I've been MIA lately.  What I figured it I could tell you everything that's been happening in one short post.

Just pretend that we are together drinking coffee and catching up.

I saw the movie The Change Up with three of my girlfriends.  I recommend it.  I recommend it even more if you get ever so slightly tipsy before seeing it (Thank you Hofbrauhaus).  Think a grown up, inappropriately funny version Freaky Friday.  As in instead of innocent little Lindsay Lohan we have pre-jail partying all night Lindsay Lohan (I joke, but I would much rather see her making movies again than in rehab/jail/etc).  Besides the inappropriately funny jokes and witty one-liners you have Ryan Reynolds. All the reason right there.   Check out the trailer here (PS I totally didn't watch it & though Reynolds character was a son switching places with Jason Bateman's character a father.  Nope totally just friends, when did Reynolds get so old?):

The other majority of my time was spent getting items for a yard sale -interesting experience to say the least.  Learned a few things: 1. Just because you lived in the South all summer never once burning doesn't mean you can be outside ALL day up North and not get burnt.  Almost a week later Im still red.  2.  All kinds of people come to yard sales.  When these people come they will buy the things you least expect them to.  3. My table wasn't organized & wasn't priced since I was the last one to get on board for this yard sale.  I think that actually helped me.  My theory is people like the hunt.  4.  Teenage/Twenty-something boys.  People you wouldn't expect to see at a yard sale.  They come though.  I just might question any jewelry that is given to me in the future ;)

Other than that it was just hanging out with friends, unpacking/organizing & shopping.  The way I see it is I gave away like 6 bags of clothes.  Even though my bank account didn't grow I can shop.  Things will balance out in the universe eventually. -If only karma could buy my clothes, shoes & purses.

I can now say I lived through an earthquake.  Much like the horrible hurricane-ish/tornado weather the past few summers I have come to realize that by the time the actual "natural disaster" has happened I didn't know what was coming on.  Ehh, no harm no loss right?  Luckily the local news got us covered & asked the hard hitting question: Did the Steelers feel it?  Now Im a Steelers fan, but come on, who really cares. Maybe there could have been a story there if they felt it, but they didn't.  I mean can you imagine being a player and answering that question? All jokes aside lets keep the earthquakes to the other side of the coast.

Speaking of sports, I finally watched the ESPYS.  I of course enjoy it all, but if you aren't into sports its still a good show because of the laughs from the host (this year was Seth Meyers - such a cutie), emotion from the Arthur Ashe Award & the Jimmy V Perserverance Award. 

This years Aurthur Ashe Award

And acceptance speech

This years Jimmy V award

If you've never seen Jimmy V's Espy Speech it is a much watch

So that's basically it.  Nothing overly exciting.  Trying to enjoy the last few momenst of summer, though you can already feel Fall in the air.

Have you seen any good  movies lately?  Do you watch award shoes?  

Friday Favorites: Into the Sun

One of my favorite things in the world are sunrises and sunsets.  I love to take pictures of these beautiful skies as well.  One night before I moved out of Charlotte I took my phone up to the roof and took these pics.  So for today's friday favorite I figured I'd share these pictures.  Enjoy!

Happy Friday!! Have a great weekend....off to sleep soon, up early for a yard sale.

What do you like to take pictures of?  Which do you like better sunrises or sunsets?

oxox