Meme from Chiloe

I am still alive and kicking! We are in the hotel now. It’s fab, to say the least. I was made for hotel living. I will write more about that later. Doing lots of final wrap up things this weekend. We shipped our car out today. It will get to Juneau in about 8 weeks or so, by way of Guam, then Seattle, then Juneau.

Chiloe tagged me ages ago and it has been on my mind, so here goes:

(*let me just put this out there in the interest of full disclosure: I used to be a walking advertisement for Lancome cosmetics. I couldn’t get enough of the stuff. Before DH, I would go to the Lancome counter and drop a few hundred on a makeover a couple of times per year. Shoot, the day I took my NCLEX (nursing state licensing boards), I was so freaked out after the whole ordeal that I cried on the way home and decided that the only thing that would cheer me up is to stop at Macy’s and do some Lancome retail therapy. I still have a tiny nub of the eye liner that I bought that day… le Snobs. Sadly, it is discontinued. Oh, and I passed my exam on the first try. Anyway. I have turned over a new leaf…on with the meme)

Foundation

I don’t use any. Too hot here. Just concealer under the eyes when I think of it and translucent powder.

Mascara

I usually don’t wear any. When I do, it is Lancome’s defenicils. It is the only kind that doesn’t make my eyes swell up. All of the other kinds make my eyes burn and water as soon as I get the wand near them, I am that sensitive to the chemical fumes. Almay makes a pretty good one as well for drugstore kind.

Day Cream

I have been using some Estee Lauder moisturizer that Mom bought shortly before she died. I can’t let perfectly good stuff go to waste, can I? I have also used one by Dior in the past…it was okay. Day Cream is generally too heavy for me.

Favorite Make Up Product

Is chap stick a make up product? I love the stuff. If it isn’t, then there is a Clinique City Block moisturizer with SPF 25 that I like. And don’t put on nearly enough…considering I was a Dermatology nurse and all.

Perfume

Right now, it is a giant bottle of Vera Wang that is almost gone. Finally. I also like Chanel Chance and some other Chanel one that I sniffed as I whizzed past the Chanel kiosk at the airport on the was to Japan a few months ago. No clue what it was called, definitely not No. 5.

Nails

Always filed. I hate raggedy nails. Toenails always painted. Always. I doubly hate bare toenails…eww. I use either OPI Nail Envy as a base coat or Essie First Base base coat. OPI colors I like are: Dutch Tulips, Got the blues for red, Breakfast in bed (nude), Chick Flick Cherry, and Kennebunk-port.

Hands

I love paraffin treatments. Haven’t had one in 4 years, but I love them. I use Nivea Soft for a moisturizer.

Feet

Burt’s Bees foot cream with Coconut in it. Great stuff.

3 Products to bring on a deserted island

Deodorant, chap stick, nail file

Women I admire for their beauty

Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn

My ultimate dream

To be blissfully happy, whatever that may entail…I don’t quite know yet, but I am getting there : )

How I define womanhood

Inner beauty and strength. Cosmetics can only do so much, people. Being responsible for yourself and your actions.  Womanhood doesn’t start at any one age in my opinion.  I think that I am finally entering womanhood to a certain extent.

Favorite fashion publication

I never read the rags anymore. Never. They don’t really promote beauty in my opinion, they leave you wanting more, wishing to be more…that what you are is never enough.

Let’s tag the Aunts…they inspire me to be a better woman. Aunt Jackie and Aunt Tamie, they are both beautiful.

Peace.

Dear CUC

*CUC is our utility company, run by the local government*

Dear CUC,

I want to thank you for changing our daily power outage schedule from 2pm-4pm to 4pm-6pm. This new time works out much better for me. With the old schedule, it disrupted my nap time almost every day. Now, I can get an afternoon nap in when it suits me and not have to worry about sweating to death without my fan.

My family has adapted pretty well to the changes and challenges thrown at them because of the power outages and doubled rates. Mama & Papa were talking about the new bill and it seems that we are still on track with using only 303 kWh per month. The bad thing is that our bill is now $120 instead of $60. We spend lots of time together when the power is out. Reading books, playing with blocks or playing outside.

But the straw that broke the camel’s back happened last night. Our power came back on at 6pm and I got in the bath around 6:40. Papa even made it a big bubble bath…that is my favorite! Unfortunately, at 6:45, the power went out again. Just as I was getting my hair all shampooed and had soap bubbles all over my body. The problem is that when the power goes out, we don’t have any water because our water pump runs on electricity. So, Mama had to figure out how to get a bucket of water out of the tank to rinse off with while Papa kept me company in the bathroom.

I eventually got all rinsed and ready for bed. I hate going to bed without my fan running, it is so hot in our house. But, I managed. Mama said that the neighbors sat in their car for a few hours last night with their airconditioner running, and drove around their yard and driveway. I might ask to join their family when the power goes out next time. Mama said that the power came back on at 11:15pm. That was a long time!

Good for me that we only have 2 more days in our house before we move to the hotel. Then we don’t have to worry about the power going out. Then only 10 more days left on Saipan. I can’t say that I will miss you, CUC.

Regards,

BTH

Peace.

Un-dead

I had forgotten how hellacious it is to be sick. Oy vey. I felt like I wanted to die. Thankfully, I am much much better today. I have even eaten something more than just applesauce and wheat toast. That alone is a huge accomplishment.

Well, the week from hell is over. This is our last week in the house. Everything went pretty smoothly last week except for Bella baby (orange kitty) taking off one day before her appointment with the DLNR Vet for her final sign off on the Health Certificate to fly. I forgot to capture her and keep her in the spare room, so we were kind of stressed, but she showed up right after we got home from the appointment with the other two pets. So we popped her in a kennel and off we went, back to the clinic. I think that she was trying to say, “Neener, neener, neener. The appoinment is over already, so I don’t have to go.” Sorry sister.

I think that the pets have winged their way from Saipan to Japan and are now in Minneapolis where they will spend the night at the kennel before flying to Chicago in the morning. There is a limit as to how many hours per day that a pet can fly. And there is a ban on pets flying in the summer months…seems like we got in just under the wire. *whew* My Dad & Father-In-Law are picking them up in Chicago and taking them home with them for the time being.

The garage sale was a giant success. Much thanks to Harry’s radio station and their “Bargain Basket” announcements and the Saipan Garage Sale website. We still have the brush cutter available, so if you want a brush cutter, let me know and I can get the info to you. Plus, I have lots of plants that I would like to find new homes for. These are plants that I have rescued, saved, divided, repotted, nurtured and loved. I am not sure if our house is going to be rented out quickly or not and I would hate to have my lovelies croak from lack of water or too much sunlight. We can’t take them with us, otherwise I would. I am giving them away. If you want some, let me know via comments.

I received an awesome package this weekend. I participated in a pin cushion swap on Ravelry. My partner did a fabulous job on a pink ribbon pincushion for me and I love it! It will have a special place in my new sewing room when we move. She even included lots of tawashi’s for me and a cute little lion puppet for BTH. He carries it around making meowing noises at it.

We didn’t get an updated MLS listing this weekend from our realtor. Not sure what is up with that. He hasn’t answered our last few emails either which is making us nervous. Is this a precursor as to what is to come? I hope not. But, I have totally fallen in love with this house…

Looks like a cabin, but isn’t.

It is on Douglas, the island across from Juneau. Love the fact that from the front it looks like a little cabin that could be sitting on the river. Even DH is yapping about this house and he hasn’t yapped about a house on his own for a while. Fingers crossed that it is perfect in person and still there, waiting for us on August 1st.

Here are some questions for you, my lovely readers…

1. Anyone own a Honda Odyssey? We are looking at model years 1999-2004 specifically. Your experience please.

2. We have talked to the bank about pre-approval for our monster mortgage. It will be good for 90 days. How long does it usually take to get pre-approved?

3. On average, how long (in weeks/days) does the house buying process take from the time of offer acceptance to closing? (We have asked the realtor this but he hasn’t replied yet)

4. Anyone have furniture from Pottery Barn? I am really liking their eco furniture (what am I, a tree hugger?) and we will be buying all new furniture for the new house. Just wondering what other people’s experinces have been with their furniture. We figure that furniture should be bought with the idea that you will keep it for at least 10-15 years, therefore we don’t mind spending the extra $. Most of our furniture was hand me down stuff that I got when I moved out on my own a long time ago. It is time we bought our own.

Okay, that is enough from me. If I am scarce this week, it is just because we are busy. And not the drive-you-insane-following-appointment-times-and-other-people’s-schedules either. Just getting stuff organized for the movers when the come on Monday. Squee!

Peace.

Yucky

Ugh, I have had the flu since yesterday (sunday) am. I haven’t thrown up since I don’t know when (alcohol induced vomiting not included), and lemme tell ya, I didn’t miss it.

I do feel a bit better today..haven’t been sick so that is good. Just need to be able to stand for more than 15 minutes without feeling like I am going to pass out.

What a crummy Father’s Day for DH.

I will update later when I can stare at the screen for more than 10 minutes. Oh, Tami, sorry I didn’t get back to you in time, but everything sold…except some plants. If you want plants, I am giving them away so let me know.

Peace

Leaving Island Sale!

When: Saturday June 14, 7am to 12pm

Where: Look for signs just north of Shell San Roque and across the street from San Roque Church

Things priced to go!

Some of the things that we are selling include:

• Troy Built 4 cycle brush cutter – bought in Oct 07, retails for $300, selling for $150 including big spool of line, manual and copy of receipt
• Ceramic water dispenser (mint condition) $10
• 5 gallon water jugs $5 each
• 27″ Zenith TV, Sony DVD player and wooden stand, all for $40
• Lots of plants – starting at 50 cents, nothing higher than $5
• Set of pots, pans & lids – all for $15
• Microwave $15
• Wooden dining table and 4 chairs $30
• Folding camp chairs – 2 for $5
• Plastic patio chairs – 2 for $5
• 2 living room lamps and shades $10 for both
• 3 charcoal barbecue grills
• Bicycle
• some tools
• wine rack
• towels
• comforter
• coolers/ice chests
• iron

Look for these signs:

Of course I painted the signs. Using pieces of wood that we found in the boonies and paint that was left behind at a previous house. Because that’s how I roll.

Peace.