Enumerated Update

How was your weekend?  Ours was laid back and restful.

Here's where we are:

1) School:  We have resolved our school situation viz the student to teacher ratio.  The solution is a compromised agreement, creating a situation where we have one certified teacher per ten students.  We are happy with the result, optimistic that the classroom will be successful, and are excited about the rest of the year. 

2) Screen Brightness:  I have been squinting a lot lately to see my phone during the day and especially outside.  Finally I recalled that I dimmed the screen significantly during a radical battery-saving settings rampage.  I may have to update my contacts prescription, but my battery has been performing at unprecedented levels. 

3) Passion:  Last week I read Karen Walrond's take on passion.  In summary:  "In my case, passion is more about being compelled to do something...  It's knowing that I could probably stop at any time, and yet I just can't. For me, it's often preceded by a sudden impulse, followed by an involuntary, dogged, almost robot-like pursuit."  Yes.  That sums it up nicely.  (Read the entire post here.)

4) Moving:  My neighbor saw me spit.  I apply insect repellent to the girls each morning before school.  Without a hefty dose of repellent, they are covered in insect bites after being on the playground.  This application occurs on the front porch, and I had an aerosol can last week, meaning that the fog of repellent blew all over me.  Long story short, I inhaled OFF! and could taste the spray in my mouth.  Reflexively, I spit it out, and, when I raised my head, I saw our nice neighbor from across the street walking his dog.  He has grown children and is probably removed from the day-to-day logistics of having small children.  To him, I am merely someone who spits off the front porch.  I have thought about my options, and they seem limited to a) pretending it never happened and b) moving. 

5)  Articles and reviews of the new fall shows keep puncturing my television-free existence.  Some of these articles have me thinking that I have not watched any type of regular television since 2004 -- almost a decade!  I am completely non-conversant with the Bachelor franchise, and I have totally missed the most popular shows over the last 10 years.  For example, I never saw Lost, Friday Night Lights, etc.  To break it down, it's as if I haven't watched television since the Friends' finale in 2004.

Since I have been in a television fog, I have a few questions. 

     A)  What is Duck Dynasty?
     B)  Is there really a show called Swamp People?
     C)  What is Hoggers?
     D)  Who/what is a Honey BooBoo Child?

Disclaimer:  I will occasionally watch Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I also watched the Rachel Zoe Project last winter during illness. 

6) To the Mom Who Can't Stop Following Her Child Around the Playground:  Hilarious.   

That basically sums up our current status.  What is happening with you?

More Cosmetics

So on Friday I talked about cosmetics.  We are still really into our make up kits around here. 

After several spills and mishaps, we are sure to use our makeup either in the bathrooms or the laundry room, where the floors are easily mopped. 

William George is usually at a loss on how to amuse himself during makeovers, but he always negotiates for a gender neutral item or two. 

A fellow needs a comb to look good. 

 

Happy Monday.

Beauty

Today we are talking about beauty products. 

 

Cosmetics are one of my favorite things.  Even now, when I barely have time to apply make-up, I still have huge affinity for my favorite products.  I tend to like products at all price points.  I routinely pick up cosmetics at Wal-Mart and Target, but I also occasionally splurge on some higher end products, too.  I learned in my late teens/early 20's that a more expensive product may last much longer than a cheaper version. 

 

My favorite foundation products are below.  I love Clinique's Moisture Surge Face Spray, Thirsty Skin Relief.  I apply this after I have finished with my make-up, and I reapply at least once during the day.  This bottle does cost $22.00, but I have had it for over a year. 

 

Next (and I will go ahead and freely admit that I like all of the Moisture Surge products), I started using Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer as a primer a few months ago.  I start with this product, apply a very thin layer of foundation, a smidgen of concealer and then lightly powder.  It's a process, as I am losing my battle with the sun, time and gravity. 

Next up, lip liner.  This product is indulgent for my every day routine, but I still use it.  I use lip and eye liner from Chanel.  After some extensive research -- during some of the leanest budgetary years of my life, Chanel's liners are probably the best deal on the market.  They last.  So much so, that I find myself wondering if I have passed the recommended two-year usage recommendation. 

Finally, lipstick is my deserted island necessity.  If I had to pick just one cosmetic to take with me to a deserted island, without question I would grab a lipstick.  Invariably, if I am not wearing lipstick, people ask me if I am feeling ok.  They really do!  Chanel is probably my favorite, but I will wear almost any lipstick, any time.  I like Revlon, Maybelline, Clinique, etc.  After wearing softer colors for a while, I am excited about the darker trends for fall. 

Those are my personal faves and my go-to tools in the arsenal. 

What are yours?  What is your survival (stranded-on-a-deserted island) pick?

 

iPhone 5

Remembering is difficult now. 

Five-plus year ago, Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone. 

Where are the buttons? 

How do you make calls?

Reviewers were astounded.  People stood in line at Apple stores, much like they would later for the iPad 2.  The iPhone is an insanely great product, to borrow Jobs' terminology.  When I received the iPhone as a Christmas present from Skip later that year, I soon declared it to be the best (non-jewelry) gift I had ever received.  I compared it to the automobile.  The iPhone brought almost as much freedom as obtaining one's driver's license. 

Since then, the technology has been replicated, duplicated -- blatantly ripped off.  Yesterday, Apple again demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to creating great products when they launched the iPhone 5. 

Again, they made significant improvements with the camera.  According to David Pogue's blog:

"Not many rumor mills predicted the improvement in the camera. It’s an eight-megapixel model with an f/2.4 aperture, meaning that it lets in a lot of light. The panorama mode is the best you’ve ever seen: as you swing the camera in an arc in front of you, a preview screen shows you the resulting panorama growing in real time. I took only two panorama shots in my limited time with the iPhone 5, but they came out crazy good.

The camera takes 40 percent less time between shots, it can recognize up to 10 faces (for focus and exposure purposes) and it can take still photos even while you’re filming video."

Consumers are quibbling with the new connector.  We have several cables that fit our current devices (2 iPhones, 2 iTouches, and an iPad).  The change doesn't irk me, as they kept the same connector for five years; ultimately, change was inevitable.  The adaptor's cost $30-$40 is more of a point of contention.  We will not need one, as we use Bluetooth wirelessly, but the adaptor should not carry a significant profit margin. 

Will you be upgrading to the new iPhone 5?

Disclaimer:  Although the product seems amazing, I am refraining from upgrading. Why, you ask?  I am a memory/storage glutton and prefer the 32GB over the 8GB (at the much lower price point).  For my piggish storage needs, I would even want to take advantage of the 64GB version ($399 -- ouch!). 

Friday's Quote

Apple's new headquarters, via Business Insider

Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.

-Benjamin Disraeli

Sights From the Gulf

I confessed earlier that I am a shameless taker of the vacation photographs.  If you do not share this affliction, look away!  I beg you: Look away!   

Vacationing with small children is a funny prospect.  On the one hand, we have to allow an entire morning or afternoon for the simple tasks of going to the beach or pool.  Logistically, packing everything up for three high maintenance children takes some time and effort, but also time just moves more slowly for them.  Skip always says it's like herding cats.  We have to allow time for the girls to become mesmerized by the umbrellas, and we have to allow time for George's fascination with sand.

Instead of feeling restless or pushing for more efficiency, the slow pace can actually be enjoyable.  Certainly, I found myself with ample time to photograph the scenery.  For example, the below Tommy Bahama store was our backdrop during the 40 minutes of play time. 

When we weren't hanging out, George and I had plenty of time to tour the property.  Since he wasn't as fascinated with the pool as his sisters, he was able to have a reprieve from the sun and enjoy a stroll, while I was able to see the shops. 

We also went out on the pier.  I couldn't help but think how bananas he will be about these boats in the next year or two.  We went out on the pier again on our last night, and we got to see a dinner cruise taking off from the pier.  Lauren kept saying she wanted to join the party, too. I wanted to photograph the party, but I didn't dare take my hands off the duo for even a second while on the pier.   

 We felt very urban in our ability to grab the stroller (tucked in the laundry room of our suite, as opposed to being crammed in the trunk) and walk to dinner or sightsee. 

We are back in suburbia, the stroller is in the trunk, and we sit in carpool lines twice each day.  But vacation, even a mini one, was dreamy. 

 

PS:  On the upside, we don't miss the sand in our clothes, beds, etc. 

Montreal Swings

Lovely.

SLG Scholarship Fund

 

 

Tomorrow is a very special day.  The first annual Sarah's Memorial Golf Tournament will be held in New Kent, Virginia, to help raise funds for the Sarah Lindsey Gupta Memorial Scholarship Fund. 

As many of you know and remember, Sarah is Skip's cousin, and she was healed of Adrenal Cortical Cancer on November 6, 2011, by being called home to her Savior and Redeemer.  We know that Sarah is rejoicing and has not only been healed but is now living an eternal life of perfection. 

Sarah was full of love and life.  In addition to loving those around her, she had two passions:  Performing and teaching.  She loved to sing and dance, and she knew from a very early age that she wanted to be a teacher.  We have her childhood Fisher Price desk on loan, and I remember the sheer joy in her eyes when she told me how she used to play at that desk for hours and hours.  She also told me how she used almost all of her Christmas money one year to buy a large dry erase board to have hanging near the desk so that she could properly instruct her "class". 

Over the last several months, Sarah's sorority sisters, along with Sarah's parents, began working on a scholarship fund.  This fund will be used to help future students seeking an education degree at the College of William & Mary.  To help reach the ambitious goal of raising $50,000 (so that this fund might become an endowment and a perpetual memory of Sarah’s gift of teaching), Sarah's lifelong friend, Patrick Evelyn, has organized the Sarah Lindsey Golf Tournament on September 13, 2012.  The scope of this tournament has grown, much to everyone's delight, and I am asking a very special favor of you. 

Will you please pray for this event?  We would like for the event to be successful, of course, but I also ask that you pray for the family and friends who have poured their hearts and souls into this tournament.  Please pray that they are comforted by Sarah's presence, and that their strength will be renewed so they can continue to work each day to live one of Sarah's favorite verses: 

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" 
Psalm 118:24

Thanks so much, and let's rejoice!

Daily Photo

Beach Trip

As summer began winding down, we decided to take a quick trip to the beach. We threw some things in bags and headed south to the Gulf of Mexico.

This trip was William George's first experience with the beach.  The ocean made him a little nervous, but he eventually became so comfortable and relaxed he was "noodle-like". 

The girls were determined to take on the ocean.  With their life vests in place, they were ready to swim to Cuba. 

Then they encountered seaweed, and logged hours and hours in the pool instead. 

George, although squint-y, had fun as well. 

Gracie enjoyed going to our favorite Mexican restaurant. 

And the trio enjoyed shopping and playing in the courtyard after dinner. 

George loved watching his sisters run around and play. 

And he had a few laughs with Gracie. 

In keeping with his feline tendencies, William George does not like anything weird touching his feet.  He considers grass "weird".  He planted his feet in the grass and refused to move, and therefore, Gracie and Lauren had to walk him around. 

He preferred a paved surface.

Lauren preferred singing and dancing. 

And then the entire family was ready for more pool time. 

We had time for one more night on the town. 

We watched the sun set and had a casual meal. 

The crew awaiting dinner. 

Gracie always calls room keys "credit cards".  At this particular property, the room key is almost like currency with various services, and therefore, she really enjoyed being the keeper of the key. 

Gracie and Lauren had talked so much about building sand castles on this trip... so we decided to spend a final morning on the beach.  George was along for the ride. 

Like pros, they spent some requisite time scouting for the perfect location. 

 

Then the work began. 

George provided some supervision. 

He contemplated taking a little snooze under his hat. 

Gracie and Lauren were focused like lasers on their castle. 

Lauren's passion for digging in the sand evidences a complete recovery of her neatnik tendencies in her earliest years. 

George laughed and played the entire time. 

Unfortunately, he will not wear sunglasses, and he only sporadically tolerated a hat. 

But everyone is wearing sunscreen with 100spf.  We could walk on the sun without getting burned!

This mini trip, unfortunately, has us dreaming of a return trip...

...soon.