Yum!

This cake is a twist on the classic French dessert Napoleon. Let me know if y'all want the recipe!  :)

Contest

Hey y'all!
Well, I have been trying to come up with a name for my little jewelry-making business for quite a while now. I mainly work with beading and occasionally wire-wrapping techniques, and metal stamping (working on that one--- each stamp costs about $13!). So, my point is, I am having a little contest from now until August 1st and whoever comes up with the best business name idea will win a gorgeous natural agate faceted graduated bead necklace (colors being black and turquoise), an egg's nest pendant (wire wrapped 3 beads to look like nest). As soon as I get a chance, I will post pictures of this fabulous (if I may say so myself :) necklace. To enter, post your idea as a comments, along with a username or whatever you would like to be called (no profanity or otherwise inappropriate comments or your idea will not be considered) Happy thinking!
Love y'all!
Lauren Ashley

Announcement

SOooooo y'all, I went to this book thing a few weeks ago, and got advanced reader's copies of books. For those of y'all who don't know what that means, it means that they haven't been released to the public yet. For the next few weeks, I will be reviewing these books and posting my reviews on here, along with the name of book, author, publisher, and when it will be released. That's all for now, y'all!

Love,

Lauren Ashley

Sponsor A Child Through Compassion International

SO, there is this program called Compassion International. Through this program, you can "sponsor" a child from another country that is in need. I HIGHLY recommend checking this life-changing organization. The cost to sponsor one child is $38 a month for however long you are able to do so. Website is http://compassioninternational.com/. Please visit this website and learn more about Compassion  International. Thanks, y'all!
Love,
Lauren Ashley

Flight Attendants

circa 1971

still circa 1971

circa 1974

still circa 1974- but with an optional poncho-cape type thing

still circa 1974- rarely seen because it was only for colder weather, and with Southwest Airlines  originating in Dallas, TX, and providing flights only within Texas for years, cold weather wasn't really a problem.

circa 1977- three versions of the uniform

If you've ever been on a plane, you've probably noticed the nice people that offer you food and drinks. We know them as "flight attendants," but in another era they were called "stewardesses." Doesn't that sound glamorous, y'all? Nowadays they wear modest uniforms that are usually darker colored; kinda business-y type clothing. But, in the early 1970's that wasn't the case. At least not for Southwest airlines. No no no, the Southwest stewardess of that era wore orange hotpants (miniskirts could also be worn), white lace up go-go boots, and an orange tee with a white belt worn between the waist and the hips (1971). In 1974, a new uniform was introduced and featured a play of white polka dots on orange for blouse with rust shade of orange hot pants and an aviator jacket – first worn on October 1, 1974. In 1977, a new uniform was issued, featuring a new version of hot pants—noncuffed, front zippered, and fitted at the waist for a sleek look. For summertime, Southwest introduced an overalls-styled outfit combining a miniskirt and bib-like top of denim satin polyester. I have attached some pictures for the nonbelievers or just plain interested. Not only did they issue this uniform, but Southwest Airlines made its motto "Sex sells seats," and served in-flight drinks named such things as Passion Punch and Love Potion. In a court case in 1981, Southwest Airlines tried to defend its policy of hiring only attractive female flight attendants, arguing that female sex appeal was a legit occupational qualification under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act because it wanted to project a "sexy image and fulfill its public promise to take passengers skyward with 'love'" (because that's what every businessman with a wife or fiancee or whatever needs...not). Needless to say, this appeal didn't hold with the Court. Thanks for readin, hope y'all enjoyed! If y'all have any comments or questions please comment/ask away!

Love y'all!

Lauren Ashley

P.S.- The first photo shown is from here. website photos were obtained from TLC, and uniform details obtained from Southwest. Information about the court case was also from the first link provided, labeled "here."

Multitasking: Accessorizing and Supporting a Good Cause

Hey y'all!
I know, I know, it's been a realllyyy long time since my last post. I've just been so busy... but anyway, I'm back now, and am going to tell y'all about this really cool cause. There are several companies/organizations that do this, but this is the one I first heard about. The website link is: http://lilyandlaura.com/index.htm, and, y'all, I tell you, they have every color of bracelet you can possibly think of, and even several patterned bracelets. I have posted a picture below from their website of some of their bracelets. Their mission is to, "pay more than fair trade wages to our artisans thereby improving the quality of their lives while providing you with beautiful, top quality, handcrafted glass beaded bracelets." So, again, I urge you to check this out, and feel free to comment if you have any questions about this great cause. Y'all come back now!
Love y'all,
Lauren Ashley

Valentine's Day

SO. Today is Valentine's day. For some, this day is that dreaded fourteenth day of February. For others, it is a day of flowers, chocolate, and romance. Of course, there ARE the people who refuse to acknowledge this day; they simply call it Tuesday. Or, Singles Awareness Day (which actually spells out SAD day... fun fact :) It's true though. I mean, when you are surrounded by people holding getting red roses and chocolates, and you are sitting there like "Okay.... awkward," you just become more aware of your current relationship status of nonexistent. One solution to this is to go buy yourself some ice cream, watch a chick flick, and get over it. You can even go so far as to order yourself flowers to be delivered at school or work, and act surprised when you get them. I recommend having your friend be ou Valentine. Then y'all can go out to eat and act silly and not worry about anything. Happy V-Day y'all!

The White Shoes Rule

We've all heard it: No white shoes after Labor Day. We have all probably wondered why, but no one cares enough to actually find out why. There are many opinions as to why one shouldn't wear white after Labor Day, though, so I will just talk about the most sensible ones. My personal opinion has to do with the weather. Memorial Day falls on May 28th this year, and Labor Day falls on September 3rd. The majority of women that follow this rule are Southern women-- born and bred in the South. If you live in the South, you know that the days in between the end of May and the beginning of September are not cool, pleasant days. Rather, they are hot, humid, sticky days which can sometimes be pretty muddy. SO, it would only be logical to NOT wear white shoes that can easily get dirty during this time. There ya go and then you're there. Later, y'all!

The Species of Southern

When I was little, I read this book that had a class full of elementary kids in it, one of which who had a southern accent. When she turned out to be smart and talented, the other kids were surprised. Now, my question is, why are people (especially girls) with southern accents automatically labeled as stupid hicks? Because, let me tell y'all, if you are southern, you know the different typed of people down here. There are the southern belles and southern gentlemen, for one, and then, if you do something very unladylike or ungentlemanly you are labeled as white trash. Then there are the hicks/hillbillies. And there you have it. 


*** In the south, you can say absolutely whatever you want about anyone as long as you say "Bless her heart" or "Bless his heart" at the end.***

Example

Daughter: "Psst. Mama. Look right over there."
Mama: "Oh my gracious! Where is the rest of that... dress... she has on?"
Daughter: "And look at her shoes, Mama! Those are definitely hooker heels...."
Together (accompanied with shaking of heads): "Well bless her heart."

A shoe a day keeps the doctor... just keeps him.

These started as a pair of plain black flats, and 4 hours later, turned into these beautiful shoes. Like animals and fruits turning into a coach and horses (Cinderella), these couldn't last. They lasted about 2 hours. The first hour I walked to my front door from the craftroom and walked back, then realized I had little mirror pieces all over me. Not only that, but I had two cuts on my foot from the opposite shoe's mirror pieces grazing it. Hour two, I decided it was worth the pain, I would just be more careful, then after I finished the second shoe I looked under the table at the first one. It had lost most of it's mirror pieces. So, until I figure out how to super glue mirror pieces to a shoe without gluing myself to it in the process, I will stick to flowers, glitter, and rhinestones. Voila!

DIY Spa

*http://www.collegefashion.net/beauty-and-hair/dorm-room-spa-3-easy-diy-beauty-recipes-to-try/

Dorm Room Spa: 3 Easy DIY Beauty Recipes to Try

Written by Erin - Western Washington University 72 Comments

It’s that taxing in-between time of the semester again – spring break is over, papers and projects are coming due, and finals are looming ahead. It’s clear that college students are stressed right now, and with that stress comes the need for relaxation. And what better way to unwind than by pampering yourself and indulging in some me-time?
Of course, as college students, we can’t all afford to shell out for a trip to a high-end spa. So how do you get all the benefits of a spa treatment without the hefty cost? Easy. Raid your kitchen! Here are three of my favorite do-it-yourself beauty treatments that are easy (and fairly cheap) to whip together in your dorm room or apartment.

1. The Olive Oil Hair Treatment

Olive oil isn’t just for cooking — it’s great for your hair, too! Olive oil has been proven to give hair a healthy sheen, help to repair split ends, and reduce frizz.
To give your hair a conditioning treatment, massage about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into your hair and scalp. The amount you’ll use should vary depending on the length and thickness of your hair. And remember to massage it in well – the massaging feels really nice on your scalp, but is also important to the treatment, as massage stimulates helps promote a healthy scalp.
Next, take a warm, damp towel and wrap it around your head and treated hair (“turban” it). Leave it on for about 30-45 minutes. This allows the olive oil to work into your hair to have the full effect.
Finally, rinse out the olive oil with shampoo. This might take a few shampoo-ings (when I tried it, it took 2 rounds.) Give your hair further rest by allowing it to air dry, if you have the time. Then say hello to your luscious locks!

2. The Miracle Mask

This DIY mask, made of nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon, is calming and soothing for stressed-out skin – in addition, it smells absolutely amazing!
The secret? Nutmeg and honey act as natural anti-inflammatories, which can reduce swelling and redness in skin. They’re also great for soothing acne scars and preventing infection. In addition, the nutmeg and cinnamon also work to exfoliate your skin when you wash this mask off.
Before you begin, it’s always a good idea to do a small test with homemade mixes on your skin to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction to any ingredients. So remember to do a quick patch test on sensitive skin, like that on the inside of your wrist, before applying this mask to your face.

To create the mask, mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg. The consistency should be like a thick paste. After it’s all mixed, apply the mask to your face and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash it off with warm water, scrubbing softly in circular motion for exfoliation.

3. Brown Sugar Body Scrub

One of my favorite DIY beauty treatments is this brown sugar body scrub, found on The Frugal Style. It’s the perfect way to get rid of dry winter skin, as well as prep your body for any sunless tanner you may be applying.

To create the scrub, just mix together half a cup of coarse brown sugar with a tablespoon of honey, a little olive oil, and 1/4 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, then apply all over your body and rinse. The scrub not only smells delicious, but leaves your skin feeling ultra-smooth.

Spa Stuff

I Love, love, love easy-to-make spa stuff, 
and when I saw this on Teen Vogue's website, 
I thought I would share it with y'all :) 
So, again, courtesy of Teen Vogue.

Just Peachy Facial Mask 
(for normal-oily skin; can soothe inflamed and irritated skin)

Ingredients: 

1 ripe peach

2 tbs of natural yogurt

1/2 tsp of baking soda

Peel, pit, and mash the peach, 
combine with other ingredients and mix well. 
Finally, apply to face and let dry. Remove with warm water and a washcloth.

Milk & Honey Facial Mask
(for dry skin; has skin-softening and smoothing properties)

Ingredients:

4 tbs powdered milk

1-2 tbs warm water

2 tbs honey

Combine the powdered milk with enough water to make a paste-like texture. 
Blend in honey until smooth. Wet the washcloth with as hot of water as you can stand. 
Spread mixture over face and relax with the washcloth over your face for 10-15 minutes.
To finish, remove mask with washcloth and pat dry.

Read More http://www.teenvogue.com/beauty/blogs/beauty/2009/07/diy-facial-mask-recipes.html#ixzz1jfuEhJtj

Blogs

According to Ask.com, "People use blogs so they talk about things that interest them. It's almost like an online diary that you can share with friends and fans and showcase your writing ability." I, however, don't care about sharing it with most of my friends, or family, or my nonexistent fans. I made this blog just because sometimes things happen in life that should go in a book. I don't feel like writing a book, hence this blog. Plus, blogging is so much fun! In a book, I wouldn't be putting absolutely random things. On my blog, I can write about whatever I want to- and post pictures to go with them. See a dress I love? Blog about it. New makeup product I'm obsessed with? Blog. Hilarious things grandmothers say? Blog :) 

Random Statement: If you repeatedly say the word "blog" out loud it eventually sounds like a really weird word. I mean, "blog" bulog... buhlawg... balawg... BLOG. LoL.

My New Obsession #1

SO, today I discovered Pinterest for the first time. And I can only think of one word (well actually three)--- A-Freaking-MAZING!!! You can find info and sites on just about everything. For example, first thing I saw was a picture of a poor pitbull that had been through hell. Then, I noticed the art. Then the fashion. Then the hair. Like I said, everything!!! Well, I will post more about this new obsession of mine.... of course I will probably have a new obsession tomorrow. LOL.

Crazy Day 1

So, this Christmas break I was having a serious conversation with my grandma. She told me that she worries that as soon as I graduate and get out from under my parents' roof, I will go crazy. Not asylum crazy, but yay-now-i'm-free-let's-get-crazy crazy. I informed her that the only definite plans I have right now are to get pink and blue and maybe purple highlights and buy at least 10 pairs of platforms heels (not hooker heels though, just regular platform).... She really wasn't surprised. Gotta love grandmas :)