Friday, December 28, 2012

Three

This past week has flown by with Christmas, working 3 days and another 4 day weekend coming up. So this post is going to be short and sweet. Our fruit holder is now holds bags of chocolate and the fruit has to sit on the counter. Ohhhh the holidays. We got a gift card to get a new bed set since we got the cheapest one possible when we moved back in August and were already getting holes in the pillow cases. Lastly, Allison and I took our cousin Faith driving for the first time! She got her learners permit less than 2 weeks ago and did great!




Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas in pictures

For Christmas we spent 3 days in Daytona with Ryan's family and had a jam packed schedule for such a short time. We got to see thousands of lights (literally), an ice skating rink that was next to an ocean, smoked a ham and enjoyed Christmas morning with his family. After one Christmas we went straight to the next with my family. As soon as we got there we opened a million presents then played dirty Santa (or whatever you would like to call it.) Let me tell you, the gifts were the highest quality this year, not so many re-gifts. ha!

I hope you and your family had a great Christmas this year.

This house had over 100,000 dancing lights. 
If you turned your radio to this station 7 songs played while all the lights blinked to the beats.
It was actually in the 40's in Florida.
Where Gizmo spent most of his time.
Where Barney spent most of his time.
The best smoked ham I've ever tasted.

If you look close you can see the ocean and a pier.

Sand sculpture at the beach.

Daytona Beach boardwalk.

Annual Christmas eve party at the Cole's.

We got a tablet, I think we're finally caught up with technology. 

Dirty Santa.

3 out of 4 of the dogs. 

Grandma!

I love how none of the dogs are looking at the camera.

Sistersssssssss.
Merry Christmas from the Ruddy's. 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Faith's 15th birthday

Last night Ryan and I hosted my cousins 15th birthday dinner at our place. I was so excited to decorate, I think the big hit of the night was the "Faith" banner over the fireplace, oh and her baby pictures too. It was great spending time with everyone eating dinner, talking and roasting marshmallows. It was the perfect weather to have all the windows open and a fire going, how often can you say that in Florida?

Happy birthday Faith, and watch out world she has her learners permit!!! We love you :)

Over the fireplace

Birthday subway art

Old pictures of the birthday girl

The 3 doggies

Faith's new pup, Chester the Corgi 

S'more time

The girls fighting over the mallows

Cousin pic

Whoop whoop

Faith and Chester blowing out the candles 



Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Ipsy Review


I made the change spur of the moment at the end of last month to switch from Birchbox to Ipsy (formally glam bag.) I was nervous because I like everything about Birchbox; the presentation, points, the website, blog and how involved they are about teaching you how to use the product. I did my research and was looking for something with better products. I felt with Birchbox the sizes were tiny and I was only getting 2 things each month that I liked. I know it's only $10 but if I'm spending my money I would like to be getting stuff that I will use.

Well Ipsy did just that! I got 5 things that are all really great sample sizes, and a couple are full size. One of the best parts is that it comes in a makeup bag each month. That alone is worth the $10! I can't say enough good things about the products this month. Also, they are very good with getting your bag to you on time. I read that they ship that bags around the 7th of the month and I got it on the 10th. I felt with Birchbox my boxes always came towards the last week.

There are a few con's of this bag. Their website isn't put together that well. I had to navigate and search around for things. Also, the presentation in how you get your bag is very plain. It comes in a hot pink bubble wrapped envelope then inside is the actual make up bag with the products inside that and that's it. There's nothing extra except some coupons. Even though Birchbox's presentation is much better I always end up looking right past everything and getting to the products. So I guess with Ipsy it's right to the point.

*One last thing I want to compare between the 2. With Birchbox everyone gets completely different things in their boxes. With Ipsy everyone gets the same thing each month, the only difference would be the color of a product. (I got nude eye shadow, but I saw some girls got purple. I got red gloss, but I saw some girls got nude. That kind of thing.) 

Everything together right out of the bag.

Eye shadow. You can wear it very subtle or dramatic.

I never wore makeup primer before I got a sample from Birchbox and now I love what it does. This one doesn't smell too good at first but that goes away and keeps my makeup on all day.

"Hot mess" very red lip gloss. I've found you can wear this very light and it's perfect for the day or put extra on and have bright red lips for night. 

These sheets add just the right amount of glitter to your face or chest area.

I actually was about to buy new eye liner until I saw I was getting this so I held off. I'm glad I did because this was the smoothest I've ever had an eye liner go on and it didn't smudge.

Everything in the bag. If you look close the inside says "ipsy!" How cute!





If you're looking to make the switch from another company or looking to start something new, I recommend Ipsy 100%! It's $10 a month, tax and shipping included and you can stop and start it at any time.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Christmas at the Ruddy's '12

First off, who buys a tree 9 days before Christmas? Uhh we do! Long story short and a good thing to know Lowe's marks down all their live trees, wreaths and garland half off or more right before Christmas. We already had a fake 4ft tree but I really wanted a real one and didn't want to spend the money just to throw it away at the end of the month so when I saw a tree for $10 I was sold. Now the real mission was to find a stand. We went to a couple of stores that were sold out and long story short we got one at Kmart for $5. I think we did pretty good. 

"Little full, lotta sap"

o
I took all the ornaments off the little tree and pulled the lights off the porch to decorate the new tree all in about 10 minutes. 


The tree and mantel. 

Countdown to Christmas.

The wreath fell off the hanger so I had to improvise and use the thermostat. 

The little tree now sits on the floor in our room. 

The stars blink on the front porch. 

Friday, December 14, 2012

Three

The past couple of Sundays Ryan and I have been going to a Unitarian Universalist church in Tarpon Springs. We are not very religious but we we've been researching for places to go that don't talk about God the whole time or push their beliefs on you and I think we've found the type of church that does just that. From the Tarpon church's website, "it may be said that in the Unitarian Universalist denomination there are no fixed creeds or dogmas, but, rather,there is encouragement of independent thinking and free inquiry in the search  for a meaningful religion related to everyday living."

What I get from that, everyone is equal and it's OK to believe different things. What other church do you know that has an openly gay minister and a gay flag hanging out front? 

I also discovered this week that if you cover your fingers with a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover then wrap that with tin foil over your fingers for a couple of minutes it takes glitter nail polish off veryyyy easy. I never use glitter on my nails because it's difficult to get off but now with new years around the corner I'll be wearing glitter more often. I'm not sure how it works, it just does. Don't believe me, try it!

Wednesday night we went to a food truck and wine event in Hyde Park and met Joel Stein an author of "manly" books and a contributor to Time magazine. I had no idea who he was but Ryan has listened to him on NPR before.We had a great night tasting different wines, trying food and meeting new people. Oh and this event was totally free!!

This church is also home to George Innes Jr's paintings that are from the early 1900's.



Wrapped in tin foil. 
Glitter on every finger.


Thank you Stark Raving wine for sponsoring this event. 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Men's holiday gift guide

Don't know what to get your dad, husband, boyfriend, or brother? Here is a start. A flask is always a gift that someone will use and not just keep hidden in the closet. Target has really cute and colorful ones this year. Making your own beer is pretty popular right now and you can get a kit just about anywhere but I like the look of the one at Willams-Sonoma. It seems a little more "upscale" if you will.

If you're a fan of Arrested Development (the new season will be on Netflix next year) then check out this cute shirt from Urban Outfitters. When looking for a shirt I saw a lot of other ones, but his was my favorite. And if all else fails, just go with a soap kit, 10 bucks at Walmart and your'e done!

Ryan may or may not be getting some things off of this list, good thing he doesn't read my blog ;)



Monday, December 10, 2012

Women's holiday gift guide

I thought I'd share a couple gift ideas that would be good for a mom, wife, girlfriend or sister. Boots are very popular during the cold months and you can't go wrong with a pair of black simple ones, Target has a bunch of different options. Personally I would wear boots everyday if the weather was right. For the coffee drinker these cute, colorful and stackable cups from World Market would be the talk of the kitchen if they sat on your counter. 

If all else fails and you need a last minute gift Yankee Candle is your best bet. They have all different sizes and scents that could work for anyone's nose and budget.