Monday, October 22, 2012

Powered by Orange

Marcus loves Oregon State University Beavers football so imagine my excitement when a friend offered me her two VIP tickets to Saturday's game! The Beavers were playing the Utah Utes and it was the Beavs' homecoming. 

Marcus has been to one game - two years ago, I scored tickets from a friend who holds season tickets but I haven't had a chance to take him back. 

My friend told me these were VIP tickets....this would be a different experience! 


It's a 4 hour drive to Corvallis so with tickets in hand Marcus and I left around noon for the 7:30 game.

We arrived at Reser Stadium around 4:30. Fans were gathering outside and there were many activities to keep you from getting bored until the "gates" opened. This was a "black-out game" so rather than a sea of orange, it was a sea of black with spots of orange.


We made it in time for part of the Beaver walk. We got to watch the band up close. They were really good!

We also saw the cheerleaders. Marcus was pretty thrilled to see them "up close" but then he asked me why they looked so scary. I laughed when I realized they had on more makeup than a drag queen. I explained when you're out there performing and the cameras are on you, you have to put more on than usual.


Our seats were in an upper level on the 10 yard line. They were covered (which was a good thing because it rained like crazy in the second half!)


Our tickets gave us entrance into the "Club Lounge" where we were treated to free food, drinks, arcade games, etc. There were big screen tvs everywhere. You could watch the game from in here or outside - there was no way Marcus was letting me sit in here.

Inside the lounge, it was like a big cocktail/football party.

Below Marcus stands outside watching the players warm up. I didn't get a picture but our photo would be shown later on that screen behind him while we were screaming O - S - U and acting like crazy fans with the rest of the folks in our row. 


We had perfect seats and a perfect view of the Beavs first touchdown! As you can see, the guy in front of us was waving his hand (or his finger) in excitement. It was a great game and the Beavs won 21 to 7!
It was a great time and I'm thankful to be able to take Marcus. It was awesome to have some quality alone time with him and be able to visit all the way there (he slept on the way back). 

When he gets older, I hope these are the things he'll remember!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Makeup Junkie

I come from a long line of natural beauties - women who look great with little to no makeup on. Women who embrace the simplicity of a coat of mascara, a swipe of chapstick, and out the door they go.

That is definitely not me! Early on, I fell in love with makeup and beauty products - attracted to all the colors and dazzled by all the promises (look younger, look like a bombshell, achieve that sexy look, blah blah blah).  It's not unusual for me to have at least a dozen eyeshadow quads to choose from (although really I only use one), two dozen or more lip glosses (lip stuff is my weakness), and tons of nail polishes. I collect lotions the way some collect knick-knacks and collectibles.

So when I learned of a "of-the-month" club that gives you beauty samples, it seemed a perfect match. I signed up for Ipsy's Glam Bag. Once a month, they promise to send me a bag full of deluxe sized samples (and some full-size products) of  higher-end products. It's only $10 a month and my rationalization is that I'll quit drinking $4 coffees 2-3 times a week.

I've waited rather impatiently for my first Glam Bag and it finally arrived. In a bright pink, foily shiny package!

Here's what it looked like:

Each bag has the same products but the colors may change. I ended up with:

  • Coastal Scents Eyeshadow Quad - I had hoped for the "browns" but I ended up with yellow (WTH??), teal, dark gold, and golden olive. It's a nice sized sample. If I used it every day I bet it'd last about a month or two. Perfect for a season. 
I tried it this morning, not really sure if yellow and green were my color. And honestly, I found myself feeling happy I didn't have lunch plans with my good friend Stacy. Nothing against Stacy but I think the only times I've attempted a color other than brown (like say blue), I've gone to lunch with her and she's asked me incredulously whether or not I'm actually wearing blue eyeshadow. ha!! So here it is:

I have no idea why it looks like my eyes don't match...we'll call it lighting. And I discovered that while I love makeup, I don't want to look like I'm wearing a TON of it so not sure you can even tell I have it on. I'll have to try it again and go for a more "makeupy look." That said, my review of this shadow is that it went on really really nicely and the colors were true (except I barely put any one). I'd consider buying this product in a different color). 
  • Be A Bombshell Eyeliner in Onyx - this liquid eyeliner is a pretty big sample. My review? The tip looked like one of my son's Crayola markers but I loved it. I'm definitely going to use it for a date night or something when I want more dramatic look. I was very happy that it went on thinner for my daytime look. It went on smoothly. I think I'd buy it. 
  • theBalm "Body Builder" mascara -My review? I wasn't impressed. I'll stick with my drugstore brand. I didn't like the brush and I think it made my eyelashes look weird. 
The bag also included:
  • Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain - Oh be still my heart. Lip stuff! I ended up with a "brighter-than-I'd-normally-wear-pink-color." This was a full size product. My review? I'm not sure yet. It's not a lipstick or a gloss, it's more like a stain. The color is true and it goes on nicely. It's hard because I really don't think I care for the color and that's my hangup. I don't think I'd spend $28 for this.

  • Pequi Oil Treatment - this product says it'll make my hair 6x stronger. My review? It smells WONDERFUL and made my hair super soft. It's an oil but doesn't make my hair feel oily at all. I'd probably buy this. This was a good size sample. I think it'd last a few weeks if you use it every time you fix your hair. 
My review of my first bag overall - a really fun treat to myself for $10. I think I'll stay subscribed a bit longer and see how it goes. It might be a great way to try out some things I wouldn't normally try for little cost. 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Oh Skid Row...I Remember You

Last night, I tortured my oldest son with Rock of Ages. You know...the musical featuring all that great music from the 80s. Back when rock was rock and hair was big and the boys wore more eyeliner than I did.

"Was it a good movie," you ask?

"Well no," I'd say, "but I did know the words to every single song." I could even tell you the name of most of the songs in 4 notes or less and who sang them.

It was easily 30 seconds into the movie the first time I caught Marcus rolling his eyes as I sang along to Sister Christian. Where you goin' what you lookin' for......motorin' what's your price for flight....

Unfortunately, it only took 30 seconds for me to realize the movie folks had done a horrible job casting for the movie. Julianne Hough was the most un-rock-n-roll-like person and her voice was all wrong. I thought by the end maybe she'd be a little more Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Pat Benatar or Patty Smyth but nope, she was still too country/choir girl (and might I add a horrible actress).

Never the less, the music was good and I wanna rock

So despite the awful acting, the bad character casting, and a few factual errors (like the movie is set in 1987 but at least two of the songs I know weren't released till later (I Remember You was 1989 and More than Words was 1990), it was an enjoyable movie that led me down good ole' Memory Lane so without further adieu....here I go again on my own.

The Hair
I embraced the big beautiful hair of the 80s and held onto it for dear life until about 1993. Here I am in 88 (the closest picture I could find to the movie which was set in 1987).
My hair doesn't perm well but curls weren't the objective...damage was. Damage was the only way I could get my hair to go as big as I wanted. Big bangs and "wings" - holding the sides of my hair away from my head, spraying with good ole' AquaNet then blowdrying it to crispy goodness.

The Music.
Where do I start? Well at the beginning...the first song I remember rocking out to was Talk Dirty to Me...Poison of course! It was rebellious (dad forbid me to listen to it). Everyone else in my family loved country but I wanted more! You know you never act the way you should but I like it...

It's really really hard to just focus on one or two songs but bear with me.


I can't fight this feeling any longer and yet, I'm still afraid to let it flow. Not one of my favorite songs but considering it was my first "song" with my first "boyfriend" - it deserves a little recognition. Ben and I met at hunting camp right before the start of school my freshman year. I was moving from 8th grade to freshman and I was growing up. Ben was a senior. We shared our first kiss under the stars on a four-wheeler, worrying that when we got back our parents would know we'd been "making out." Our relationship lasted an entire year and marked a couple of milestones. For example, the first time I snuck out. Or the first time I told my parents I was staying at a friends house (I got busted before I even made it to Ben's house, no worries, I'd try it again my junior year). Ben broke my heart right before prom when he left me for what's-her-name. I  avoided school for days - heartbroke and lovesick.

Well you're a real tough cookie with the long history of breaking little hearts...I can't be the only girl who danced around her bedroom singing this anthem. No boy was going to break my heart. I was tough. Hit me with your best shot....fire away!!

Man, I could list all the songs but I'll stop with a trip to Paradise City. Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. ...Gotta love me some Guns N Roses.

The Boys
Here's where my real obsession lies...with the boys. Who didn't have posters of their favorite rockers wallpapered across their walls!

Bon Jovi - Slippery when wet! I have to admit he's even yummier now!!!! Still a crush!

Bret Michaels - please talk dirty to me! Ok, actually don't. When I see you now, I just think STD.

David Coverdale - please don't go on your own - take me with you! Looking at him now though I think maybe he only made the list because he was rich and famous and I really liked his song!

Vince Neil - he's my Dr. Feelgood. Of course to look at him now I think he made one too many visits to Dr. Feelgood but damn, back when he looked good!

Sebastian Bach - He was one of my favorites. I had the most photos of this gorgeous guy...yummy. - I remember you....back when you looked good. Instead of washed up.


You know, looking at this list, I have to wonder what I was thinking. And I'm sure glad that all those daydreams didn't work out or right now I'd be married to a washed-up rocker. 

Unless you mean Bon Jovi...please God, there's still time.......