So glad they decided to make the trip to Florida.  Talk about a completely relaxing vacation.  We planned nothing and did little to nothing.  Well, except Jill.  She organized my kitchen pantry and spent 2 days pulling all my fabrics out and reorganizing them by color, project, etc.   My cabinet looks amazing and I’m beyond thrilled.  It was like I could shop in my own fabrics since I had forgotten a lot I had bought prior.

We did make a trip to show her a Beall’s store, Hole in one Donuts and the local quilt shop.  She even took to my long arm like an otter to the water and was able to free motion 2 tops while she was here.  One she gifted to Nancy.

After that we just chilled and visited till Friday.  Mark, Jill and I met Nancy for lunch Friday and got to visit with her for a while then it was off to the gun range.  So exciting to see Jill go from I don’t like gun to I love guns.   I hope they had as good a time as I did.  I’m already counting towards our next visit.

I finally got this one quilted and bound and I just love how it turned out.  The color is so much more vibrant and deep, rich coloring than it shows in the photo.  It’s made using a Robert Hoffman digital print called Proud as a Peacock Dahlia.  I finished it with a teal and purple batik for the trim and binding.    So far I plan to keep this one for myself.

Updated this to show it was ultimately gifted to my cousin Bonnie Catron

After a life time of thin, fine lifeless hair I’m kind of used to there isn’t a lot you can do with it.  It only looks decent with certain cuts and colors have to match your skin tone and personality.  You spend a lot of time with a curling iron and hair spray.

I spent some time this weekend looking into different products and I think it might be as bad, if not worse, than the skin care research.  You need root lifters, thickening shampoos and conditioners, collagen mousse, dry sprays for volume.  Again how many products can you put in your hair in one day?  I’m seriously starting to believe that we see so many new diseases, cancers, etc. because we are just choking our skin to death.  How does your skin breathe and your scalp release built up heat when it’s layered with 6-10 products a day?

I think I need a change. Maybe I need to get a wig?

Ok I couldn’t resist mentioning this on my blog as I think women may be going crazy.   Yes women, men would never pay these prices to look better.

I agree that after a certain age you may need to change up you make up routine.  If you’re like me and have oily skin you may have to make a little more of an effort but come on, have women gone nuts?

I tend to be lazy in the make up department and throw on a foundation and eyeliner and call it a day.   However I noticed lately my face more attention as it is getting problem areas with itching and rashes.  Lupus causes rashes and a higher acid content in my skin so that certainly doesn’t help.  After a lot of talking to dermatologists and reading what I can, I’ve discovered some of these things are priced like crazy.  They definitely play on women’s desire to look younger, prettier, etc.

Do you really need an oil free moisturizer with white tea for $80 and ounce?  Or what about a matte foundation for $50 an ounce?   By the time you add in primers, concealers, eye shadows and liners then top it all off with a finishing spray,  I’s have a $3-400 a month face.  This isn’t even using high end department store lines.  I used prices from Hello, L’Oreal and Revlon.  Is that really what women need to feel good about themselves?  While I think it certainly makes me feel better to cover some flaws and adding a little enhancement to the way God made me look, some of this is nuts.   If I follow the routine suggested by the dermatologist, I need to get up at least an hour earlier and put approximately 6-8 layers of cosmetics on my face daily.  Can that really be good for you?

Don’t get me stared on the hair thing.