Gluten Free Mascara soon to be released!!! A Red Apple Lipstick Product Pre-Launch

Sign up!!

Registration pagewww.redapplelipstick.com/thelashproject

Why am I so focused on reducing chemicals for me? I’ve started to think about the impact we are making on this world, yes we are small, no I am not a grandiose thinker that I (me me me) is all that important but what I can say is that if we ALL don’t care what we put in our bodies then who does? Who gets to call the shots on when enough is enough? What amount of sickness or genetic disfunction do we need to reach as a society to say that we need to examine things more and actually KNOW what impact the ingredients have on our bodies? For ME, I say I want to know the WHYs of ingredients now…it’s just me but that is my two cents!

I’m looking forward to grabbing some of this and trying it!

Registration pagewww.redapplelipstick.com/thelashproject

BA STAR Holiday Red Lip Pencil Review & Savings Code!

BA STAR a company based on the East Coast with a focus on “Convenience, Value & Customer Service”. They encourage all “Cheerleaders, Dancers, Competitors & Trend Setters” to “be Creative. Try Something New! Never be Afraid!”

BA STAR sent me a “Holiday Red” Lip Pencil to review and are offering Starfish Chic readers a 50% discount (use Code: BBLIPS) (This discount applies to full retail pricing). Continue reading

UGLee Pen Giveaway!

theUGLeePen

Sponsored by UGLee Pen

Hosted by Living Frugal in Georgia

 

The UGLee pen is a ergonomic pen created and used by a real physician. Dr. James Lee wanted to make the “perfect pen” after spending hours writing throughout his academic and professional life. The UGLee pen has been made to fit both big and small hands, lefties and right handers. Weighing less than half an ounce this pen glides across the paper with ease.

Would you like to win a 3 pack of UGLee Pens? The people over at UGLee Pen are giving away a 3 pack to one of our lucky readers! Enter and it may be you. Color is picked at random and the ink will be in black.

This giveaway is open to all residents of the continental US ages 18 and older. All winning entries will be verified and winners will have 24 hours to respond to their winning email. Please use the Giveaway Tools application below to enter. This giveaway will end on November 1, 2013 at 11:59 EST.

Disclosure: This blog is not responsible for shipment of prize. The sponsor is responsible for shipment. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social network. If you have any questions please email Rachel at rachelralston@livingfrugalinga.com

DEDICATED TO MY UNCLE KEN-9/26 National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

In just a few short hours a day will begin like any other day for most of us.  There is, however,  a group of people who will get up on September 26th fighting for their lives against a cancer caused by a material we can eliminate, asbestos.  Mesothelioma affects the smooth lining of the chest, lungs, heart and abdomen (the mesothelial cells)(1).

 

facts

 

This cause matters to me because I want cancer KILLED, cancer STINKS!  ALL CANCERS STINK!  This cancer specifically is a pesky thing that I want cured because it is attacking my Uncle Ken.  But HE FIGHTS!!  He is an amazing man, father, husband, grandfather, member of the Episcopal Church and he has already given one lung to this cancer.  Now he is fighting it again with one lung!  He was healthy my “One Lunged Wonder” I affectionately call him for several years much longer than the experts say he “had”.  Now he’s determined to “kick this cancers ass” (his quote not mine).

September 26th is Mesothelioma Awareness Day, help spread the word please!

Despite his chemo and struggle to keep his strength up there is one thing that I know never falters, his faith.  He is an amazing man who deserves another 30 years of life with the love of his life my Aunt Eleanor.  Her “Kenny” struggling is taking it’s toll on her but SHE keeps her faith, my amazing Godmother.  

How did he get this cancer?  Work.  Work for his country (the Navy) and work for this country’s capitalism (the Railroad) he devoted his life to a work ethic that saw him driving many mornings well before the sun to provide for his family and this is the thanks he got.  I am angry, very angry and I want this cancer cured.  He is not angry, he is peaceful, strong, stubborn and amazing.

Life has a way of showing us the way doesn’t it?  Lungs, breathing and the struggle for voice (sometimes my own) is one of my very important lessons right now I know this because of the recurring theme.  I discovered Heather Von St.James, read her story and the tears began to fall, for the first time in my life I saw a word next to Mesothelioma that I had NEVER seen before….SURVIVOR!!!

tumblr_static_survivor-1024x455

 (2)

Heather Von St.James is a Mesothelioma SURVIVOR who is working to spread awareness, as well as share her hope and optimism to inspire those who have been diagnosed. She is a mother who fought hard to make sure her daughter, Lily, didn’t have to grow up without her. She was diagnosed just 3 months after her little girl was born and given 15 months to live. That’s 7,200 hours. Now, Heather has set a goal for her story to get 7,200 social shares.
heather
I am donating my status to Heather all day September 26th in HOPE and in HONOR for Heather and Mesothelioma Awareness Day!  Donate your status too!!
Facebook SHARE- click here 
Twitter TWEET- click here
For more information and to read Heather’s story, please visit Mesothelioma.com/Heather and don’t forget to share!
You can view and share her YouTube video.

Thank you to The Duda Homestead for sharing this with me. (3)

Want to Learn More or Connect?

https://www.facebook.com/HeatherVonStJames

https://www.facebook.com/curemesothelioma

https://www.facebook.com/MesotheliomaCancer

 

 

Sources:

(1) http://www.curemeso.org/site/c.duIWJfNQKiL8G/b.8578801/k.639A/What_is_Mesothelioma.htm

(2)

http://ourinvisibleillness.tumblr.com/

(3)

http://www.nickandaprilduda.com/2013/09/mesotheliomaawareness.html

 

 

WEDDING PREP LIST – The things you never think to think of & Why you should have already done it!

BE Society Wedding

I am officially 11 (ELEVEN!!!!!!!!!) days away from getting married and I am also EVEN CLOSER to be OFFICIALLY A NUTCASE!  YEP ladies and gents you are reading that correctly despite my most OCD planning (this coming from someone who plans for a living) I have a variety of things that still need to be done!

 

So here is my list from this morning for the last 11 day stretch of activities:

  1. Butcher’s twine with tiffany blue and chocolate – NEED
  2. Come as you are frame – NEED white to match the Jenn Lynne frame
  3. Photobooth hanger or system – NEED
  4. Jenn watch – NEED
  5. Jenn day of gift – NEED the prep box
  6. Will gift – NEED
  7. Tulle runner – how much do we have in OC? Jenn
  8. Rehearsal outfit – NEED
  9. Cake box or cake set up to raise it up – email to Miss Patti
  10. Thank you stickers – design underway – etsy – APartyStudio
  11. Kisses stickers – design underway – etsy – APartyStudio
  12. Come as you are sign – being printed
  13. Photobooth sign – being printed
  14. Program – design underway – etsy –
  15. sticker order – 
  16. sign pick up –
  17. program print/pickup –
  18. cupcake/thank you assembly –

So I think that the week that I lost fighting with an abscessed root canal/having that sucker ripped out of my face SANS anesthesia might have knocked me back a WEE-bit more than I’d like to think but with the help of an AH-Mazing Matron of Honor I have knocked out some serious progress.  HOWEVER, when I go to check things off my list they are STILL NOT DONE!  Why are they still not done?  Because:

A- I am stubborn and want to have things my way,

B-I want to DIY it,

C-I have a job – a FULL TIME ok MORE THAN FULL TIME job!  You know the thing that has helped pay for this money sucking thing we call a wedding that is right now equaling fighting like two rabid cats!!!  Anyway, I love my job it’s fulfilling and I  enjoy doing the work and travel associated with so I focus during the days and then the nights equal half-ing it efforts!

Even if I order the signs, or the stickers or the other things I still have to:

1. pick them up

2. assemble them

3. personalize them and all that takes time, so if I were to give about 2-3 days per step so I’m “taking time to enjoy the preparation of wedded bliss” then EACH one of these activities would likely take me 1-2 weeks!  WE DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME PEOPLE!!!

What is my walking away lesson for other brides:

DO IT BEFORE YOU THINK YOU NEED TO DO IT AND SAVE THE LAST MONTH – YEP I SAID MONTH, 30 DAYS, 4 WEEKS 4 WEEKENDS!! to do the last minute things that you will still enjoy doing!

And TRY TO SCHEDULE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE in the month going up to, I am actually pretty low maintenance no haircut, no hair color, no tanning appointments, no teeth whitening, these are all things that I have heard about other brides do to prep and they just aren’t on my radar so if you are adding those things to your list you need to give yourself EVEN more time.  The things that I have listed above are NOT LISTED ON ANY wedding prep checklist, believe me I have them ALL!!

In the past month we have: gone white water rafting, camping, bachelorette partying and honestly we probably should have sat our happy nappy asses in our house to crank this stuff out!!

Much of these things Jenn could completely do without, a favor with a personal note, kisses with personalized notes that say thanks…wha she says…but to ME it’s the details it’s those little things like a sign at the bar that says “Alcohol, because no good story ever started with once we had a salad”…

 

That is my story and I am sticking to it.  I have a lot more to share about this wedding but right now I need to NOT THINK!  More soon!

Namaste!

The Wedding Details/Background/Repeating Info for New Readers:

Let me break it down for you.  Our wedding will have about 60 total people  plus DJ, officiant, photogs, day of coordinator and venue manager and we wanted a relatively modest (read – budget friendly) flower budget.  Truth be told if I had more time (like no full time job that I actually enjoy doing during the day) I MIGHT be able to stay focused enough on this ONE day, this ONE run of 12 hours that is getting likely 15K of our hard earned pesos.

 So the theme is Starfish, sandy, Tiffany blue, it’s very Lynne (Jenn is being a great sport).  The invitations were designed by my better half at magnetstreet.com and happened to have the exact color combo that I thought was ours (and would give me a little justification for purchasing (continuing to purchase) Tiffany blue. starfish theme

 

The venue is awesome and we are pretty laid back people so the inspiration was pretty simple and in an effort to be “dressed up” but not detract from the outside view which are the focus.   So on pinterest (strikes again) (If Jenn never hears pinterest or “the knot website said” again she’ll be happy. ) had something that was understated but classy.  It because the basis of my design:

 

 

 

Ok coming up in my Adventures of the Type A Bride:

1. DIY Aisle Decor Inspiration

starfish to match past project

 

Do you think I can make it look similar to that?  You will see soon enough!

 

2.  Dress fitting (and the madness that was my quest to get this dress, from preownedweddingdresses,com).  This is before any fittings.

the dress

3.  DIY Signage (or outsource maybe) Inspiration

next DIY

OK Need Rest!

 

Namaste!!

 

NOW for the pampering — the Ah-Mazing  BE Society Blog Group SPA Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to Worldwide and Ends September 30, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST.*

*No purchase is necessary! Open WW!18 years and older. Enter in the Rafflecopter Widget! If you have problems using Rafflecopter, be sure you are running the latest version of your web browser and have javascript updated.. Do not attempt multiple instances of entering as all entries will be disqualified. If we are unable to verify your entry, it will not count. Giveaway prize of $300 Spa finder Gift Card (US) or $300 PayPal Cash (WW) is provided by BE Society and bloggers hosting the giveaway are NOT responsible for the prize or its delivery. Odds of winning are based on number of entries. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be picked. Winner will be announce in this post on or about October 4, 2013, you may email Rita@be-society.me for winner list. By entering you agree to the rules of the contest.

 

“If I Should Die Before My Dog — ” by Joe & Cathy Connolly BOOK REVIEW

if i should die image

How often in life do people, busy people, people who have full and complete lives take the time to provide a service that will continue to give to those who can’t speak for themselves? I’ll answer that, not very often! What a great tool Cathy and Joe Connolly have created in this book, “If I Should Die Before My Dog –“! This book is as close as it gets to a “drag and drop” tool as a book to protect our fur-babies as one could ask for wrapped up and ready to serve! Want to go paperless, “go green”…ok, purchase the Kindle version (but you’ll have a little bit more difficult time filling it in). What do you need to know, what do you need to know? DON’T FEAR, there are blanks! Each animal that we own needs this book! Just going away for the weekend (or even overnight) and want your sitter to have the information just in case?! This book is it!

Meet Joe and Cathy Connolly:
joe and cathy connolly

We have an amazing and typically very healthy Boxer named Griffin! He was a rescue and as any dog that comes along will try to tell you they have histories! For instance, try to put Griffin in a crate and he turns into a spider monkey and goes into a complete 65 pound panic, we don’t know why, he can’t tell us but he’s shown us and now we don’t have to worry about telling others, it’s all captured in GRIFFIN’S If I Should Die Before My Dog book! He is madly in love with one of his mom’s Jenn and if she isn’t around he’ll be off his food but if you sit with him and eat your dinner in the kitchen, he’ll eat his too, he likes the company!

Meet My Griffer’s (one of the million nick names we have for him):
grif

Our animals give us unconditional full on absolute love and they deserve to have their story told to attempt to lessen the grief that they are undoubtedly feeling if they do unfortunately have to lose us! Grab a copy of this book for yours and your loved ones animals and help the ones that love us so!

What an amazing place this world would be if all adopted dogs had been lucky enough to have this communication tool!

Run, Hurry, Jump on Amazon and grab this book now! Here is the link to the book, “If I Should Die Before My Dog — “ The $11.99 price tag (YES it’s on Amazon Prime) is WELL worth the $11.99 price tag to ensure the dog who has given you ALL of their love and attention and only $4.99 on Kindle!

Ways to Connect:
https://www.facebook.com/IfIshoulddiebeforemydog

http://coffeecanine.blogspot.com/2012/12/joe-and-cathy-connolly-booth-and-bailey.html

BIG THANKS TO: John and Carolyn Mullins and the Channel Island Book Tour for all their hard work and determination to help with this cause!
DISCLOSURE: I received If I Should Die Before My Dog — for free from Channel Island Book Tours however all opinions are my own.
(c) 2013 Starfish Chic.

Who’s craving PB Crave?! It’s a Giveaway!

PB Crave

Hosted By: Simply Southern Couponers

Sponsored By: PB Crave

PB Crave is an all natural and healthy treat made out of only the highest quality ingredients. PB Crave offers 4 different flavors and is made by Sweet Harvest Foods in Cannon Falls, MN. We love Peanut Butter around our house. How would you like to try Peanut Butter with a Twist?

To see more about PB Crave read Simply Southern Couponers full review here.

PB Crave flavors(Photo Credit: PB Crave)

{Promoting Bloggers add 2-3 sentences here}

Event Details:

Date: September 6th, 2013- September 20th, 2013

Open to US residents only. Must be 18+ to participate.

Prize: One lucky reader will receive PB Crave Choco Choco Variety Pack.

How to enter:

Complete the Entry Form below. All entries are optional. Winning entries will be verified.

By entering this giveaway you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions on the Entry Form.

A special thanks to our sponsor and a great group of blogger friends for helping us with this event. Stop by and visit each of them.

Good Luck & thanks for entering!

Giveaway Disclosure