Colett's Big Birthday

I was in the hospital 40 years ago today. I was worried about giving birth and how I could be a mother of two at only 20 years old. I had had a baby almost exactly 13 months earlier and was not sure I could handle another baby so soon. Then Colett was born and my heart melted. Now I had a little girl that would forever change my life for good. She was so sweet I couldn't even put her down, and she stayed on my lap for 5 years until her sister Amy was born and I needed the room for her. Shon may have gotten short changed, but he was such an easy going and sweet little tot that he didn't seem to mind. Colett Loraine turns 40 today. It seems just like yesterday sometimes.

Colett....we call her Lettie or Lett

with her babies Isabelle, Millie and Nick

with her hubby Matt

with her sister Amy

her last birthday in the 30's

getting the squeeze from Daddy Wayne

With her sister Amy and her Mom...me

Getting ready for dessert

The beauty queen.... which she truly is

Happy 40th Birthday lovely Lett

Favorites #7

#7

I love Costco's Kirkland spices, especially the vanilla.  I have gotten vanilla from Mexico before but I didn't like it that much.  I do like Watkins brand vanilla a lot but for the buck, you can't beat the flavor and price of Kirkland's pure vanilla.  (Obviously I have used it a lot and spilled on the label....Oops!)  I also love the cinnamon and just about any of the other spices.  I actually had a couple of other brands in front of me and did a taste test of several of them side by side and Kirkland won for me.  The Italian seasoning is very good and the balsamic vinegar is excellent.   You will also get about twice as much product for your money as the little bottles at the grocery store.  If you don't have a membership, go with someone who does and stock up.

Favorites #6

#6

My facial moisturizer is Neutrogena's oil-free moisturizer. It won't clog pores, is hypoallergenic, alcohol and fragrance free, contains SPF 15 and is non-greasy.

The Vitamin E Skin Care Cream is "Fruit of the Earth" brand and can be found at Walmart at the back of the store.  Because it is so cheap and never advertised, it's not out front. It contains aloe vera, sunflower seed oil, collagen, elastin, gylcerin, and vitamin E among other things.  It is best on dry legs, feet and hands, bit  It is also good on your face in the really dry areas. 

Fruit of the Earth Vitamin E Skin Care Cream 4 oz Cream - Swanson Health Produ

Neutrogena - Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15

Favorites #5

#5

I had used Windex and also copycat store brands with the color and smell of Windex for years. I have tried making my own window cleaner, used newspapers etc. and they are work pretty well, but about 13 years ago I found Sprayway Window cleaner at Costco and that is my go to cleaner now.  When it first came out I was intrigued by it's 50's style label. (A graphic of a lady wearing a dress and apron.)  Some of the cans still have that label,  but at Costco now, they changed it to this version. The product is the same and has been for 60 years. It has a clean, good smell, it comes out like a frothy, thinned down version of shaving cream so doesn't drip and cleans very well with few if any streaks. It does not contain ammonia so you can use it on porcelain, chrome and mirrors.   A can goes a long way and you can get a 3 pack at Costo but Target and other stores carry it too. It varies so much in price from place to place.  Target's is about $2.40 a can.  Some places charge almost $5.  Go figure.  It makes washing windows a little less painful.

Favorites #4

#4

I love make-up.  I feel like an artist when I apply even if it's only a little, but I have to have just the right product especially Where mascara is concerned. I have tried sooooooooo many.
I need waterproof for church ( Did I mention I have a tendency to cry at tender things?) and regular for most other days.  I bought Avon's wash off waterproof.  It does a good job.  I bought a Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof and just don't like it's wimpy little brush or the way it coats the lash. Colett turned me onto Colossal Volume Express by Maybelline and I like it the best.  The sculpted brush gets all the lashes, even in the corner and it won't come off unless I use eye make-up remover.  My favorite regular mascara is also Colossal volume Express.  It has the same brush and doesn't dry out as quickly as some.  I have fairly long lashes but they are not really thick so it works to plump up the lashes a bit. I have tried Prescriptives, Avon, Revlon, Estee Lauder and others that haven't worked as well for me. I like the one called Falsies (also by Maybelline) and it works well but has the little wimpy brush that almost feels like it will break if you use it too often.  If I use the Colossal brush in the Falsies tube, then it works pretty well.  For me, I don't want the "almost can't tell it's there" mascara, or the mascara that thickens so much it looks like spider legs hanging from your eyes..ewww... but I like something that extends, thickens a  little and stays put until I take it off.  That's what Colossal does for me.  I just might mention that no matter what mascara I have, I take the brush and bend it into a arch before I use it.  It makes applying easier.