Malamute Monster!

Tonight I got home from a quick trip to the hockey store in town.  When I let Kuma and Bella inside, Kuma obviously felt it was his duty to remind me that I should have taken them with me, if for no other reason than they like to ride in the car. Below is a video of a similar situation, where Kuma thought that everyone needed to hear what he thought about something.  

Tonight he was louder/more obnoxious than this, but I didn't have my camera with me.  If anyone he knows comes in the house, he holds a conversation with them.  Woo-wooing and shaking his head.  He loves to tell a story!  

The temps in our area have been in the low teens and single digits during the day, dropping to sub-zero at night.  Bella and Kuma are SO happy about this!  I looked out the kitchen window this morning and caught Bella chasing her tail in big circles in the snow.  When she finally stopped, she had a huge Malamute smile!!

Life with these goofy dogs is never dull!  I don't know what I would do without them. How can you be sad when Kuma is telling you a story?!?!  Thanks for stopping by and listening to us ;)

Favorite Facial Peels!

I know I said I was going to finish my Project 10 Pan before I bought any new beauty products.  I'm still working on the Project Pan, but I did cave and use my Sephora gift cards from Christmas.

I had been noticing that my skin just wasn't looking all that great.  No major breakouts, but just looking dull.  I also have an area of hyper-pigmentation from an acne cyst when I was in college.  This area of skin is darker than the rest of my face, and sometimes give the appearance of being a bruise, which it is not.  The acne cyst had been buried very deep under the skin and would not go away.  It felt like a large garden pea had been stuck in my cheek.  Finally, after months of hoping it would go away on it's own, I was forced to visit a dermatologist who had to anesthetize the area and insert a large gauge needle in to allow it to drain.  Ever since, that area has been darker.

I knew I wanted some sort of peel system, but didn't know which one.  There are lots available!  I decided to try the Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads.  At $45 for 60 pads, they weren't the cheapest, nor the most expensive products in the category.

How often you use them is dependent upon your skin texture and sensitivity level.  Since I have oily skin that is not overly sensitive, I use the pads daily.  I am very excited with the results I have gotten after just 2 weeks of use.  Small blemishes disappeared overnight.  My skin has a new glow that was missing before. And my pores appear smaller.   These pads are formulated with alpha, beta, and gamma hydroxy acids which act as exfoliators, and amino acids.

I also picked up the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel.  I use this peel twice a week, in addition to the Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads.  This peel utilizes pumpkin enzymes to stimulate cellular turn-over, improve the skins appearance, and provide natural hydration.  I have to say, after using this peel just twice, I am impressed.  My face is so radiant and soft.

The Pumpkin Enzyme Peel is $44 for 3.3 oz.  I would definitely purchase this item again!  A little bit goes a long way.  Some people may notice a slight burning/tingling sensation as the enzymes go to work.  For me, this sensation fades very quickly and is not at all uncomfortable.  This peel also has a slightly spicy pumpkin smell to it.  Not strong at all, and sure beats the medicinal smell of some products.

If you have any questions about whether these products would be suitable for your skin type, visit your local Sephora and request a sample!

Thanks for visiting!!

Project 10 Pan

Since my make-up collection can manage to get out of hand at times (just ask my mom), I have decided to do what is commonly called a "Project Pan".  A "Project Pan" is where you pick a number, in this case 10, and vow to not purchase any new make-up/hair care/fragrance items until you hit the bottom of the pan/bottle on that many of your current items.  The photo below is my Bobbi Brown palette.  As you can see, I have hit pan on 2 blush and 2 eyeshadow.  But for my challenge, I am trying to completely use them, not just hit the bottom of the pan.

Since I have a lot of everything, I am doing a Project 10 Pan, and that will include all items.  I've been focusing on using some of the perfumes that maybe aren't my absolute favorite, although I do still like them.  Estee Lauder's Beyond Paradise is a prime example.  I very much enjoy this scent, although of all my perfumes, it isn't my favorite.  That award goes to Dior's Dune.  So I am vowing to use up some of my "other" scents before I can buy anything new.  I've been eyeing Beyonce's Heat.....but won't let myself splurge on it yet.

I have several different shampoos and conditioners, since I like to rotate.  I need to use up some of the bottles that I currently have before I will allow myself to try the Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner.  I DO need to throw away 2 bottles of conditioner that I will never finish though.  I have Bed Heads Control Freak Conditioner and their Self Absorbed Conditioner.  They both have an awful scent.  The Control Freak smells like rotten fruit.  Really.  It makes me gag.  The Self Absorbed smells weird, but not as bad as the Control Freak.  I just know I will never use them up, so it's time to throw them out.  It surprises me since the Bed Head styling products that I have tried have good scents.

In the cosmetics area, the only items that I am not including in the Project 10 Pan are items that I only have 1 of....like my Double Extend waterproof mascara.  When my current one is empty, I will get a new one.   And my mattifying primers.  I have one by Murad that is awesome, so when that runs out, I will replace it.  I try to only use it when I have some where important to be or when I know I will be gone for a long period of time.  For light use during the day, I am using up my other primers that don't control the oil nearly as well.

I am being good and saving my Sephora gift cards from Christmas too.  I want to wait until I have finished this challenge to myself, and then get a fun reward!

Z Palette

As my collection of MAC Pro Pan eye shadows has increased, I decided it was finally time to try out the much touted Z-Palette.  I ordered mine from Beauty.com, which offered free shipping on orders over $40.  I got 2 Z-Palettes, one large Leopard print and one large black.

The palettes arrived yesterday.  I couldn't wait to get them opened and transfer my shadows into one.  I decided to put my shadows in the Leopard one first.  Since the bottom of the Z-Palette is magnetized, the MAC Pro Pans can just be dropped in and are held securely.  The 15 shadows that were in my MAC palette easily fit into the Z-Palette, along with the 6 shadows that were still in packaging since I didn't have a safe place to put them.  The neat thing about the Z-Palettes being magnetized is that you can fit in a variety of cosmetic pans.  You can vary sizes as there are not pre-cut pan holes.  You can also frequently change the selection of cosmetics that you carry in each palette.  Lots of mixing and matching can be done.

You can also de-pot shadows or blushes that are in plastic compacts, apply a small magnet to the back of the metal pan that holds the makeup, and add them to the Z-Palette!  This is a great way to streamline your cosmetics storage.  De-potting and getting rid of all the large compacts can definitely reduce the amount of space that is needed to store a large collection.

There are a variety of size and color combinations.  The palettes come in large, 8" x 4.75", and small, which is about 4" x 4".  Both sizes come in black, pink, leopard, or zebra patterns.

I was very please with the Beauty.com order.  It arrived quickly and very well packaged.  As I mentioned, when I ordered, they were offering free shipping on orders over $40.  To qualify for the free shipping you just need an order over the $40 mark, but that can be comprised of products from both Beauty.com and Drugstore.com.  Z-Palettes can be ordered from a number of websites, along with select retail locations, including their own website, http://www.zpalette.com/.

'Heavy' thinking

Ok, so tonight I've been watching a lot of A&E programs.  Earlier it was the "Hoarders" shows....which promptly got me working on the pile of paperwork that has been sitting on my kitchen counter for Lord only knows how long.  The stuff work keeping has been taken upstairs to be filed eventually.....at least for now it's not taking up space in the kitchen.  The junk has been thrown away, and the remaining stuff shredded.  One counter clean, one more to go.

After "Hoarders", the new series "Heavy" came on.  Oh Lord!  When I look in the mirror, I don't see the person I used to be, nor the person I feel like I am now.  While we all dream of fitting back in our skinny jeans, I really don't desire to be a size 6 or 8 again.  At a size 6 and 140 lbs, I was way too thin for my bone structure, muscling, and height of 5' 10".


"Heavy" really hit me.  I'm seeing in one program how, with hard work and good eating, these people are making enormous strides in 6 months.  WHAT is MY excuse?  Yes, doing nothing is always easier.....but the desired results NEVER appear.

My goal is to lose 50 lbs before our fishing trip in August.  That gives ME 6 months and 3 weeks to get it done!  Can I do it?  I think so.  It HAS to become a mind-set.  I want to be able to go on this trip, not be cramped in the airplane seats with Kelly and Jeremy.  And to be able to haul all the coolers and fish from the cabin to the boats, and then from the boats back to the cabins, without feeling like I am breathing through a straw.

I think from now on, I need to watch a bit more tv :)  I just might find the inspiration to DO the things I've been wanting to do.  I'm 39.....not 70.  I need to be active and have fun.  Not sitting on the sidelines waiting for life to happen around me.

For now....I am off.  Going to at least climb the stairs a few times before it gets too late.  Gotta start some where!

  

Poor Kuma

    I got home from a friends house late last night.  When I let them in, Kuma and Bella decided to run through the house like a couple of wild monkeys.  That is their way of telling me that they have been ignored too long.  After a bit of racing from the family room, through the kitchen, out in to the living room, Kuma suddenly sat down and started biting at his tail area.  I thought the big dork had a bad itch....until he stood up.  There was a nasty mess on the floor.  :(

    One of Kuma's anal sacs had gotten impacted and ruptured.  This then caused an infection in the area surrounding the sac.  Last night, when he was playing, the infection broke through the skin.  Harold was already asleep, so I was forced to solicit the help of Taylor.  He was good at holding Kuma's tail out of the way and soothing the big dog, but he wanted nothing, nothing at all, to do with the actual wound area.  Silly kid!  So, with Taylor's help, I was able to clean the area up a bit and decided that since it was 1:00 am, we would wait until morning, or at least later in the morning, to make a trip to the ER vet.

     This morning when I got up, Kuma was acting a little down.  No fever present, but he just acted uncomfortable.  Which is very understandable considering he had a hole in his backside, one that was NOT supposed to be there!  When I let him and Bella out for a potty break, I noticed Kuma's teeth chattering when he came back inside.  We have seen this behavior only when he is in a fair amount of pain.  So, I packed the big guy up and headed for town and the emergency vet clinic.

    We got to the ER vet clinic and went on in.  We were the only ones there, so were quickly shown in to an exam room.  After completing some paperwork, the assistant took a look at the wound and quickly decided that she wouldn't make Kuma even more uncomfortable by taking his temperature.  I am sure he is very thankful for that small blessing!  Soon Dr. Deaver came in and took a look.  His advice was surgery.  The last time Kuma had this problem, my normal vet just held him down and irrigated the wound with an antibiotic solution.  It healed ok but was tender for quite some time.  This was a big enough wound that Dr. Deaver felt it was better to anesthetize Kuma and open the area to get it really cleaned out.

    I came home for a couple of hours while the procedure was done.  I called to check on him and was told he had just come out of surgery and was still VERY drugged.  I gave them an hour or so to get him feeling a little better, and then went to pick him up.  I ended up with a $575 bill, some really strong antibiotics (Baytril), and pain killers.  Most importantly, I ended up with a dog that will be ok.
  
     Kuma was really, really groggy when I got him home.  Bella sniffed him up one side and down the other!  The cats thought he smelled funky too.  A little while ago, he was whining a bit so I gave him a Rimadyl tablet.  It didn't take long and the big lug flopped over with a big relaxed sigh.  Before the meds kicked in, I could see that he really didn't want to move.  He just kind of froze and didn't look even remotely relaxed.

     He just looked miserable.  To know Kuma is to know that he always has a happy expression, at least while at home :)  His tail is always wagging when he is here with us, and he has a sparkle in his eyes.  Tonight all of that is missing.  He laid in the above pose for a while, as we waited for the painkillers to take effect.  I noticed the silly boy is laying on the side that had the surgery!  Dork dog.  What you don't see in these photos is the old quilt and sleeping bag that had been put on the floor so he would have a soft spot to lay.  But no, he lays on the hard floor.

    About 15 to 20 minutes later, the meds kicked in and he flopped over.  I know the feeling of relief when the pain finally goes away.  He still isn't on the soft quilt or sleeping bag, but I don't think he really cares right now.  I'm just happy that he is finally comfortable and resting.

     Tomorrow morning he will get a light breakfast.  No dinner tonight!  Poor guy didn't even notice when I took Bella outside for her dinner.

     This is something that has happened before, and due to the consistency of the gunk in those sacs (vet described as super thick like toothpaste), we will have to continue to be watchful.  Although with a woolly Mal it's very hard to tell anything is going on under all that fur!  Some dogs just have issues with these sacs, no matter what the owners do.  The super thick consistency doesn't allow the stuff to be expressed naturally, so it clogs the little tubes and ends up causing a mess like this one.

     Well, it's been a long day.  It's time to hit the hay because morning medication time will come bright and early!   Don't want the big boy being even more uncomfortable than he has to be.   Thanks for stopping by!

MAC Dazzleglass Creme

First, let me say that I am not usually a fan of lip gloss.  Period.  That is why my newest purchase is such a shock.  MAC Dazzleglass Creme in Passing Fancy.

MAC's website describes the product like this:

M∙A∙C cult favourite Dazzleglass with a creamier, smoother,

 but no less shiny or dazzling effect. 

For those who are drawn to the luxe of cream lips,

 but still want the dazzling allure of its inspiration, this is it.

I was watching a YouTube video by MissChevious, who was reviewing some products from MAC's new Tartan Tale Collection.  She mentioned really liking this gloss, and mentioned that it wasn't as sticky or heavy as some of the others.  So I decided to grab a tube.  

The first time I used it I was hooked!  Passing Fancy is a beautiful creamy coral color, with a subtle shimmer.  Applied on it's own, it provides a beautiful peachy glow to my lips.  When applied over a lip pencil or lipstick, it gives a gorgeous glassy shine with a bit of peach sparkle.  Dazzleglass Creme is not a heavy or super sticky gloss.  I have been able to go outside and not have the wind blow globs of my hair in to my lip gloss.  Dazzleglass Creme feels like a mix between a lip gloss and a lip balm in my book.  

At $18 per tube, it isn't cheap.  But in comparison to the many glosses I have tried over the years, which I ultimately ended up throwing away, it is worth the money.  I admit to throwing several Bobbi Brown glosses in the garbage.  I just could not get used to their level of stickiness.  

I think this may become a staple in my makeup kit.  

Thanks for stopping by!