Busy Bee

So, for the next little while I am going to be a busy little bee! The country's favorite holiday is coming up very quickly and I am so thankful that I get to spend it at the lake. Oh yeah! Soakin' up the sun, eating grilled hamburgers, drinking ice cold Diet Coke from a cooler that would be a choice penguin habitat (maybe not my best idea), listening to some good music and spending time with the boyfriend! Oh, glorious day: The 4th of July! So what if my hair will be wind-blown and my freckles will be the most prominent feature on my face? So what if comfort trumps cuteness? So what if flavor outweighs calories? Its the fourth people! A time to celebrate! Celebrate that we have the choice to have messy hair, freckles and be FAT! This is gonna be my kind of weekend! Okay, so maybe I have to sleep in a hot bedroom in a small cabin in the middle of nowhere... And maybe we play clown for a few days and pack in as many people as possible... And maybe the dogs are a little wild... But, that sounds like a good time to me! Don't let me down Lake Sinclair!

So, after a fantastic fourth we come to the country's next favorite holiday... MY BIRTHDAY! Wishful thinking? Maybe... But hey, its my favorite day! Being that I was born right after the 4th (thanks mom) my birthday has generally fallen by the wayside... Vacations always seemed to get in the way. But not anymore! Now, there is someone whose goal in life is to make me happy. To make me feel special. And to make this birthday as important as any other. That said, my amazing boyfriend has planned a FABULOUS birthday for me that includes my very most favorite thing, animals, and one of my favorite summer activities, Braves game! That's right people! I get both! A day of pure happiness! Atlanta Zoo and Turner Field haven't seen happy til they've seen me!

So, I'll update you after the July extravaganza (not a real event by the way) has come to a close...

Happy Blogging!

Instant Pick-Me-Up

Okay, so I decided to go ahead and do a quick post about my new love-- nail polish! I am not working or in school right now (LONG story) so I don't really have to look... well, presentable very often which can wear on the old self esteem. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. So, when I need a pick me up I look to my nail care bag. I pick out a funky color, since it is summer! Then comes the tough stuff... Scrub a dub dub the old polish away with a cotton round. (Toilet paper, tissue or paper towels tend to break, leave behind residue and become a disastrous mess so I only suggest using in major emergencies.) At this point, I usually clip my nails, rather short (its much more chic) and file the ends to a smooth squircle. Maybe I just made up that word, but you get the idea. The nail polish remover should soften the cuticles but if you take a while cleaning up the nail and the cuticles have dried just soak them in warm soapy water for a few minutes and they'll be much easier to work with. Next find a good cuticle pusher. I recommend a metal Revlon pusher which should be quite easy to find. Scored mine at Walmart. Very carefully push back the cuticle overgrowth that makes a home on your nails. This will make for a much smoother surface and also make your nails look longer. If you do this on a regular basis going to the salon won't be a necessity. After pushing back the cuticle use a cuticle clipper/nipper-- whatever you want to call it-- or as I do, a sharp pair of nail clippers and trim the excess. But BE CAREFUL! It is easy to cut too short and cause bleeding. Once you have done this use a buffer to smooth the nail. Only run over the nail a few times, they will become thin if you over-do this. This should remove any ripples and make for a nice "canvas" to paint on. I am not a big fan of waiting on nails to dry so I try to use a good polish that covers well, which will make for fewer coats, and has a good shine once dried so a top coat is not necessary. I am currently using Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear. Give the nails 2 good coats and then, ugh... The hard part... Pray for patience. But, Xtreme Wear dries in about 15 minutes, which from my experience is not bad at all. My nails grow quickly and since I have some time on my hands, no pun intended, I am able to repeat this process within 10 to 14 days. The nails chip very little so 2 weeks is possible with this particular polish. Okay, so I hope you girls have learned something! Good luck and remember to be patient when waiting on them to dry. Its totally worth it and you'll feel a little more glamorous at work, out at night or even in jammies!

Happy Blogging,
Hannah

Little ol' Me

I stumble across many things in my day-to-day that I find both interesting and beneficial and I would love to share all of my new found insight with you! So, I guess I should let you know what I find "interesting and beneficial", huh?

I love music. I can't even begin to imagine a day that doesn't begin with music videos, iPod or Pandora. I dig all kinds of music from The Allman Brothers to Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga to Sara Evans, Stone Temple Pilots to John Mayer and everything in between. Believe me when I say I LOVE music. So, that said... I have seen Incubus, John Mayer and Green Day in concert and will be seeing Kings of Leon on July 27 (look out for an awesome post after that!) and hopefully Incubus again in September. Helpful tips like how to receive discounts on tickets will be hidden in my posts. For example, for Coke-drinkers: Save your boxes and bottle caps and you can get a whopping $10 off a Livenation.com purchase! 

I am really into DIY projects also. I love self mani/pedis. I have become very good at them considering my limited income and desire for cute nails. I can share my tips for simple manicures and applying Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips (which are awesome by the way). I am also ready and willing to try new makeup ideas and hairstyles and will tell you about each hit and miss. I have just recently tried a new DIY Beach Salt Spray recipe to achieve those super cute "day-at-the-beach waves" and have to tweak my ingredients but I'm feeling confident and can't wait for that post!

Lastly, my boyfriend and I love going on dates and are always looking for great new places and ways to save money in the process. We love dinner-and-a-movie dates so I have some great restaurants to share and some smart ways to save at movie theaters. But we aren't that boring! We love going to Braves games, any UGA sporting event, anywhere with animals-- Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta and this amazing place I will tell you all about after we visit called Noah's Ark-- etc. So, if I come across anything helpful I'll make sure to let ya'll know! 

Hope this gives you an idea of what you're getting yourself into! And I hope that I will help and entertain you in all the ways I can! 

Happy Blogging,

Hannah