A Home update: So random and fun!

If you're a regular here, you might recall that my big goal for 2018 was my house.  Getting it painted and spiffied up.  It's been a few years since it's been brand spanking new, so it needs a bit of TLC.

I am well on my way!

When I was approached by Commercial Palm Trees to receive a plant (or plants)  of my choice for the house, I jumped at the chance.  Because I  thought it was different, and it'd class up the place!

I actually had a hard time choosing one because there were so many wonderful looking plants.  They really have a super variety.  In the end I went with this one!

I originally had a hard time figuring out where I would put it in the house, but then my sister helped me see my entry way in a new light.  And I really love where it is now.

I will admit, that buying it online, I thought it was a little bit bigger, but I have gotten used to the size and realize, for my home, I would not want anything much bigger.  I am really impressed with the variety at Commercial Palm Trees for Wholesale ordering and Silk Direct, for individual purchases.  I am even considering buying more artificial plants/trees for my home from them!

If you can't wait to get out of this awful, too long of a winter weather, consider a purchase form Commercial Silk to help keep your home  feeling warm and springy all year long!!

Hello Again!

Today I'm linking up with my TBB Buddies for today's Spring prompt, Reintroducing Myself to my Readers!  Some readers are old friends, some are new readers, and others have found me thanks to The Blended Blog! And to all of you I say a big thank you!! 

And if you've just found yourself here today, a Hi and hello to you!  Here's a few fun facts about little ol' me!

• I started this blog way back in 2012 , really on a whim.  I had just living in my new apartment, all by my lonesome, and all these crazy things started happening so one day I announced in the faculty room at my school that I was gonna start a blog called the Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life, I actually got great feedback!  HA!  So after thinking about it, a few days later I set it up!!  You can read my very first post here!! I'd say my blog is definitely more of a lifestyle blog, like my life! 
  

                                        I like the ring of Mishaps and Mayhem better in the end!

• Even though the blog is called The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life, that really just refers to my life, on my own, as a single girl!  I really don't live too much of a solitary life. Like...it's only some nights I sit on my couch all alone binge watching my shows and drinking wine! I am surrounded by huge family, lots of friends and about 230 kids that I love!  In my job as a teacher!  I am a librarian and technology teacher at a small Catholic School in my town.  And this year I am back to having my own home room as well. I teach 6th grade religion.  I love what I do and often spend more time at work than I do at home!!  So you'll see friends and Family sprinkled throughout the blog as well.  Sometimes I blog about my life as a teacher on the blog!  Read one of my  favorite teacher posts here!!  

• In the early days I didn't know so much that a better blog called for pictures! And I blogged very little. In 2012 and 2013, I don't think I even blogged twenty times!  It wasn't until 2014 that I really started reading other blogs regularly and decided to kick my own in to high gear joining link-ups to grow my readership and make blog friends!  I know have a faithful following and and awesome bunch of blog friends both and in blogland and in real life thanks to The Blended Blog and my (very minimal) contributions there!

• I blog for me and for fun and as an outlet.  I don't do it for profit or as a full time job!  And I am totally okay with that.  That not what my blog will ever be. I don't even know where my blog fits in this world but I love it and am so glad to be a part of it!

To help you get to know me better, I thought I'd share some of my favorite posts!

You Might Live a Solitary Life If...

My Mix Tape: The Soundtrack of My Life 

Happy Heart Day Dad!

An Ode to Besties

TBB Takes Toronto

5 Things I've Learned in my Thirties

If you've landed here for the first time today, thanks for visiting...I hope you'll stick around! And if your one of my OG's, thanks for putting up with my crazy antics over the years!! 

Hope you have an awesome Monday!!  If you are a blogger, head over to TBB and link up with us today!  Can't wait to meet new friends!!
 

Ask TBB Launches today!

Excited to share that a new series is launching today over at The Blended Blog.  

Ask TBB is a question and answer series!  Really it's women sharing thoughts and advice.  Head over there to hear our thoughts today about leggings as pants, concealer and date night ideas.  And get involved!!  Ask us ANYTHING!!

Find out all about Ask TBB here!!  

TBB Asks: Spring!

Been off the blogging grid for a bit, but nothing like a good ol' TBB Asks with The Blended Blog, to bring me round again.  Today we're talking Spring!  And I'm asking myself where the heck Spring actually is, thanks to the fresh 6 inches of new snow currently falling round here!!  Cone ON!!!  Anyway, I have hope Spring will actually show up soon so I'm going to get in the Spring mindset, and think SPRING with these fun Q's!  Join us!!

1- Three colors that remind me of spring

When I think of Spring, I think of vivid yellows, oranges and purples.  I guess just because I am so ready to be over the Winter Blues and these bright colors make me happy!!

2- First thing you add to your wardrobe in spring...

My wardrobe gets a tee refresh in Spring and sometimes I'll get a new pair of jeans in a lighter more spring hue.  I go dark with jeans in the winter!

3- First thing I ditch come Spring...

The big ol' winter coat!

4-Who mows the grass?  

Not me!  LOL  Living in a condo, we have landscapers!  Woo hoo!

5- What's Spring like where you live?

UNPREDICTABLE to say the least!  Like I said, it's Snowing right now!  Ugh.  And some now think that thanks to this brutal winter we may just skip Spring all together and start going straight to the hot temps!  Who knows?  Mother Nature's gonna do what she wants!! 

6- Favorite thing about Spring

That it's bright and sunshine-y and everyone is just happier!  HA!!  And I can get outside...in the winter I tend to hibernate!!

7- Spring Cleaner?

I didn't think I was, but this year I's say yes.  One of my big goals this year was to work on my house!  So I've been doing that.  I've been cleaning, decluttering and throwing away!

8- Baseball Fan? YES!!  

9- Tulips or Daffodils? 

Definitely tulips!  They just make me happy!!  

10- Favorite Outdoor activity?

Just that fact of finally being able to get outdoors works for me!!

11- Flowers in Pots for the win!  Or in a vase on my table!!  

12- Favorite Bird?

I don't think I have one of those!!

13- Vehicle washed at Home or at the Car Wash?

SKIP...LOL  I'd have to say car wash though!  

14- When do you pull out the sandals?

As soon as I paint my toys!!  HA!

Hope your Monday's a great one!!  Link up with us all month long!!

TBBtalks: Skincare!

Last week's TBB Asks was all about Beauty and kicked off our Beauty themed posts for the month of March.  Today The Blended Blog is rolling right along...we're talking skin care!! #TBBtalks

If I'm being honest, I never really thought too much about my skin.  I know that's scary, but I really didn't.  Other than the "everybody looks better with a tan" mantra, I got going on, my actual skincare was an after-thought.  I am a creature of habit.  I used Mary Kay Time Wise Facial Cleanser for years because my sister sold it, then after noticing gross dark spots on my skin (thank you sunshine!) switched to Kiehls Clearly Corrective


Not too long ago I was introduced to Rodan + Fields thanks to Instagram and Facebook. Actually that's a lie.  I knew about Rodan + Fields because I used Proactiv for years!!  And I actually blamed them for my dark spots!!  LOL Which I now realize was probably all MY fault, because, when it says, "avoid sun exposure" on the label, you should probably listen!!  But me and sunshine go hand and hand...and now, so do me and hats!!!

Anyway, back to the Rodan + Fields skin care line.  Like I said, I was introduced to the line (for adults!) via Facebook and Instagram.  Bloggers and friends were using and selling it and it just kept popping up.  A family friend got me into trying the Lash Boost, which I Love!  A few years ago, via a blogger I actually did give the Reverse Regimen a try.  But in all honesty, I couldn't keep up with it because it was so expensive, (and at the time I wasn't making as much as I am today), and I guess I thought, I'm still young, I have time for this!!

Well fast forward to today!! I am officially OLD!  I went to a Rodan + Fields Party that my sister hosted, where this was pointed out to me quite literally!!

When we got there we took a skin profile, called the solutions tool. I thought for sure it would tell me that my regimen would be Reverse, for the dark spots, but since they've diminished (thanks to this miracle, bought on a whim!!)  my face's primary concern is LINES AND WRINKLES!!!!!   WHAT?!? WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

So my sister had this party, and I was really very good!  I was super conservative with my spending, got a few awesome new products I knew I'd love and DID NOT purchase an entire regimen!!  I was so proud of myself!

Then a few weeks later, I stayed over my sister's house for the night and forgot my face wash.  She, being so super impressed with all the Rodan+Fields products at the party, became a consultant!  So at my disposal was every regimen they offer!  Being that Rodan + Fields had suggested the Redifine Regimen (ya know, for those damn lines and wrinkles!), I tried that!!

And seriously, I'm not even lying, when I say even after night one, I noticed a difference!!  We're all these R+F crazies out there really on to something?  And did I want to hop on their bandwagon??  I was really thinking about it.

I left my sister's house the next day with samples of the Redefine Regimen, which includes 4 steps!  A face wash, a toner,  an a.m. moisture, and a p.m. moisture.  She told me to give a few days and see what I thought!

After day three I was hooked and knew I wanted to get the regimen.  I am really excited I've revamped my beauty routine with the Redefine regimen and it's enhancements!!   I also signed up to to be an R + F Preferred Customer because it has it's perks! So I'm saving money any which way I can. Yes, it's pricey, and yes, I'll have to cut way back on my new clothing budget but is my old lady skin worth it??  YOU BET!!  (And in all honestly, I am writing this blog in the same old pair of leggings and tunic I've worn probably 8 times in two weeks, so why do I continue to spend money on new clothes!?!)   Rodan + Fields says give it six weeks.  So I'm gonna do that...and I'm sure I'll document my progress on the blog!  HA!!

I just received my full redifine regimen in the mail today, with a free lash boost...woo hoo!  (Free lash boost with regimen ends today)  Excited to start using it on the regular!!

Can't wait to see what everyone else uses on their skin.  This is a fun link-up!  And see you back here next week for #TBBTalks Hair care!

February Book Round- Up!

I knew 13 books would never happen again!!  And it didn't!  I struggled this month to get through some books.

Two I started in February and am still working on! 

Perfectly Yourself I am reading as part of my Lenten journey with Dynamic Catholic, so to go with each email and video each day, is assigned reading from the book.  So I'll finish this one come Easter.  But so far, I'm really enjoying it.  Both the book and the program!  Find out more about Best Lent Ever here!

Sometimes I Lie  by Alice Feeny, is not even out yet in the States, but you can pre-order it here!)  My goal is to finish it before the 13th!  We'll see.  I don't know why I've struggled with this one because I am liking it.  Maybe because it's a book I own and it can fall to the side.  Lately, I've had so many of my audio book holds come through all at once and I'm trying to read like a mad woman to get them all back on time.

Case in point, the two books I read (or rather listened to) this month.

The first one was entitled The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher.  This was recommended to me by my neighbor, who is quite a bit older than me, but we bond over our love of books and wine!  HA!!  This one was a little bit tough for me to get into.  But then it took a turn, and I couldn't put it down.  I will admit though, it took QUITE awhile! It's centered around a family and their feelings (or lack there of) for a piece of art, The Shell Seekers.   For me, it ended up being a good book, and I want to read more by her!

The next book I listened to and read...because I loved it so much I ended up buying the book (to highlight and underline and post-it the fun tidbits and words of wisdom!!), was called Something Like Happy by Eva Woods, an author who's new to me.

The story is based on the100 happy days premise, that, a while ago took over social media.
Just to find the happy in every single day...could be big, or the tiniest little thing!
Each chapter is the "happy" the main character finds.  One example: Change the Sheets {HA!}
I adored this story of friendship and change.
I wish I could tell you more about it, but I don't want to give anything away. Please Just read it!!  And let me know if you loved it as much as I did!!

The book actually had me thinking about my own hundred days of happy!  So I'm going to share them on the blog!!  Stay tuned!

I started Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run memoir at the end of February and am still working my way through it.  Will share it next month!!

What have you read this month that you can recommend?  I'd love to hear them in the comments below!!

Happy Tuesday, Happy March & Happy Reading!!

TBB Asks: March Beauty Edition!

Wow!  March!!  I just can't believe it's already here!!  January seemed to drag on forever and ever and February just FLEW by!!  But I'm excited for March to be here...we are that much closer to Spring.

The first Monday of the month means it's TBB Asks Day with The Blended Blog!!  And it's a super fun topic...we're talking Beauty!!

1- Eyelash Curler?
YES!!  Most definitely!!  Everyday!!

2-Favorite Nail Shade? 

It's very rare that I have my nails done in the winter, but when I do do them, it's an Essie color.  Devil's Advocate is dark but I love it.  I'm partial to the darks.

3- Favorite Lipstick Shade? 
Right now, I'm wearing LipSense!  A fave color is Praline Rose!  Or Praline Rose with Bella.

Three Layers of Praline Rose!

4- Blow Dry or Air Dry? 
Always blow dry dry my hair! Even in summer.  I just like the way it looks and feels when I do.  If I let it air dry, it's kinda a hot mess.

5- Artificial Nails?
Nope!

6- Foundation?
Yes, everyday.  In summer it's a tinted moisturizer!

7- Hair Up or Hair Down?
It totally depends on the day!  I personally like my hair up best...the pull of the pony makes my face look thinner!  And most day's by the end of the day, it gets thrown up anyway!

And it usually is just thrown up and in a mess like this!  

(And I'm not even sure why this is the only photo I had of my actual full head with my hair up! HA!!)

Sorry for all the selfies but...solitary life and all!!

8- Bar Soap or Body Wash?
Body Wash...hands down.  I really like Caress Evenly Gorgeous.  It cleans and exfoliates...and is super affordable!  A little on my pouf goes a long way!!

9- Bath or Shower?
Showers on the daily!  But I love, love, love baths!  I wish I had time to soak in the tub more.

10- Favorite Body Lotion?
I am loving Kopari lately.  I have a number of their products and love them all.  I use the Coconut Body Milk everyday.  It's fab and smells amazing!!!

11- Favorite perfume?
Right now I'm wearing Victoria's Secret Scandalous, sad it's been discontinued and I won't be able to get more!!

12- Do you shave your legs everyday?
In the Winter? HELL NO!  Summer...yup!!  Yup!!  Grrrrrr....

13- Favorite Lip Balm?
I recently started using Rodan + Fields Lip Renewing Serum...it comes in capsules.  And it's another one of those things that a little goes a long way!  I open one capsule before bed, then use the rest of that one before putting on my LipSense in the morning.

14- When did I first start wearing make-up?
Honestly, I have no idea.  Maybe 7th or 8th grade for real?  But when I was little my mom was a Mary Kay lady for a short time so we were always into it.  LOL

Now it's your turn!!  Link up your post with us or share your answers on social.  And don't forget to come back and join us every Monday this month for more beauty fabulousness!!

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