Ready, set, GO!

Buying a house and living together with Keith is near the top of the list of "worst things to happen to my body".  I went from living at home with my mom, who happens to be a pretty big health fanatic, to living with Keith who had a coffee table that stored as much candy as it could hold!   The man can eat and eat, and not gain a pound...it really isn't fair at all. 

Now that I'm in my late twenties, I realize that I should be in the best shape I ever will be in, and I'm quite far from that.  So starting today, I'm going to do it...I'm going to start working out hard core again.  My goal is to have that beach body by next summer.  I'm tired of having to change outfits constantly because one isn't flattering, or having clothes I really want to wear but I just can't zip up that zipper anymore.

So, I'm signing off now and gonna get my booty up to the gym!  Cardio and legs are the plan for today.  I didn't have much time yesterday, so I played SingStar Dance...does that count?  I did work up a sweat!

Maybe you guys should all text me everyday to make sure I'm sticking to the workouts?  Sounds like a great idea to me! :0)

Would love to look like this next summer!!!

Home Improvements!

As most married couples know, when you register at Crate & Barrel (or become "sponsored" by them as Keith says), you get 10% off for up to 6 months after your wedding date.  Keith and I had been needing a new kitchen table since the day we moved in, and had had our eyes on the Pacifica table from C&B.  After a yummy lunch date at Nadoz Euro Bakery today, we decided to head over to C&B to "walk off" our lunch.  We quickly headed upstairs to the furniture department to take another looksy at our table.  Our 10% coupon doesn't expire until December, so we are still good to go there.  But we quickly found out that all dining chairs are currently on sale for 15% off! 

It didn't take us too long to decide to finally bite the bullet and finally order our new kitchen table!  We have hosted Christmas for the Promaroli family that past couple of years, and this year, we will finally have more seating available!  We only purchased the table and one bench, as we can't decide what chairs to get.

Here is where you guys come in...can someone please give us some suggestions as to what chairs might look good at this table?!  I'm so not good at the "big picture". 

Exactly what we ordered today!

Just another example of the table (minus the bench)

Example #2 of the table...our set up will be similar to this.

Backyard Disaster

So this past summer we had sod laid in our backyard, which was just a dirt pit that turned muddy and nasty when it rained.  Bad thing about laying sod this past summer is that not only was it extremely hot, but we were getting married!  Who has time to nurture new grass in the midst of a wedding?  We didn't, and it turned out that our lovely sod that we once had is now completely dead.  What a waste of thousands of dollars!  I'm so frustrated with our back yard, it's practically hopeless. 

I had a company come out this morning to aerate and over-seed the entire yard, which I made sure to run by my brother-in-law first, as he was the one who laid our sod.  He said to go for it, but I don't think he realizes what bad shape the sod is in.  After the front and sides were finished being aerated, they attempted to start on the back.  As our luck would have it, aerating was not our solution.  They couldn't even work back there because it was just tearing up the sod and turning it to mush.  Our biggest problem is that the root system never developed, so the sod isn't anchored in at all.  The guys this morning said there was no point in seeding the dead sod either. 

So now what?  Are we just destined to NOT have a beautiful back yard?  I will make damn sure to check under the snow the next time we are house shopping!!!

Our yard the year we moved in.....after we raked away all the straw that the snow had covered

Happy Birthday Phibee!!!

10.10.10....my little baby girl was born!  We picked up Phibee one chilly December day, and met the breeder's friend at Jimmy John's parking lot off 44 and 141.  We saw Phibee, her sister Gia already in her new mommy's arms, and her chubby brother.  She was the tiniest and cutest little thing I had seen since March 2006 when I got Rusty.  It was a cold day, and my little 8 week old puppy was shivering, so I kept her close to me inside my coat.  We immediately drove to Pets Mart to pick her out some things, a little pink coat included.  Kinda sad she doesn't fit into her teenie tiny coat anymore. 

I remember as we sat in the parking lot getting ready to go into PetsMart, a shopping cart came out of  nowhere and rammed the back of my Prelude.  It was a windy day, and stupid people who are to freakin lazy to put away their shopping carts left one out in the lot.  I purposely had Keith park away from that cart, but as my luck would have it, that damn cart still searched me out in the lot!  If you don't already know, this is the second time my car has been hit by rouge shopping carts, the Prelude must have some magnetic properties!  I still have the dent in my left rear quarter panel from that day.

After we got home, I had homework and studying to do for my Anatomy and Physiology class....which was nearly impossible because I just wanted to spend the day with Phibee!  After we let Rusty meet Phibee, I put her on a blanket on the table, and she slept curled up in my left arm while I continued to do my class work.  That first night, she only cried for a little bit.  I put her crate on top of Rusty's crate next to the bed so that she was able to see me.  

In the days to come, we realized a few things about our puppy....for one, her breath smelled like coffee!  I miss that smell, it was so cute!  She also used to curl up on my neck and sleep that way with me.   I miss that too, although now she comes and throws her neck in your face b/c she likes it when we go "Ahhhhhhhhh" on her neck.  My littler girl turns one year old today!!!

My mom and step-dad's Golden Retriever died last week in her sleep.  She was a great dog, and had lived a long happy life.  Rus and Phibee are over there now, as I thought that their company might lift the spirits in the household for a bit.  So tonight, we are going to have a puppy birthday party for Phibee over there.  I ordered the doggie cake on Friday, and Rusty and Phibee both have doggie party hats!  Pics to come soon! 

First Bath!

All clean and blown dry!

She would bite at the air from the blow dryer

Laying on her sleeping dad's back

First snow!  She wasn't too thrilled about it, Phibee hates being cold!

In her lil pink heaven...still a pup, she doesn't fit in that shirt anymore :(

Playing with daddy!

ali | makeup + hair

Some of you may know that I have started my own makeup business.  I have done everything from weddings to high school seniors and also boudoir clients.  My business really took off after I was laid off from NARS (not the makeup company!) and had more time to devote to building my brand and client base.  My dream would be for my makeup business to grow so big, that it could sustain an income for me.  I would love to be booked every weekend! 

I received my bachelor's degree in Biology at Mizzou, but it just seems that there really isn't much out there that interests me in that area.   I tried my hand at medical equipment sales, but I just do not possess that sales driven attitude that is needed for that industry.  My next step would be to pursue another degree, this time in Nursing, and move on to become a nurse practitioner.  I always felt a great sense of worth when working with patients and improving the quality of someone's life.  But at 28 years old, I am not excited about putting in that much schooling again.  If only I had been steered in the right direction when I was 17!

So what does all of this mean?  Please refer me to any of your friends that may require my makeup services!  With the holidays right around the corner, this could be for holiday parties or Christmas pictures.  It is also that time of the year for high school homecomings, and senior portraits.  And the biggie has always been with weddings.  Weddings can bring a lot of business, not just the big day itself, but also for the engagement photo shoot, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and the rehearsal dinner. 

Check out and "like" my facebook page at www.facebook.com/AliMakeup!  Official website coming soon!  If you do have someone you want to send my way, they can always email me at: ali@ali-makeup.com.

~Ali