A Little Pick-Me-Up

When you're 22 years young and married, the degree of your thoughts, dreams, ambitions and plans are no where near comparable to the average 22 year old. All of a sudden my mind started tossing and turning thinking about my future with Thomas.. "Where will we live? What type of house will we have? Will we have successful careers and love what we do? And hat about our kids? Will we have enough to provide for them? Vacations, toys, time? Will our marriage still be great 20 years from now?" I'm the guilty "over thinker", so suddenly I'm ten times more worried about meeting all my goals and dreams in life than your average Joe. I've always been a planner, I like knowing what I'm going to do and have it all planned ahead of time and be assured that its going to carry through.. 

But I realized something, sometimes life doesn't work that way. It throws you curve balls, it ruins your perfectly thought out plans, that's life! We've all been there, right? Things don't go as planned so we get stuck in a rut or become dismayed.. I don't want that, I don't want to ever put myself in that state of mind. No matter what my plans and dreams are, I need to be confident and strong enough to give them my all whether things get in the way or not. I'm learning to put my faith in God and know that whatever may happen, wherever I end up, everything will be OK.

My message to you is- No matter what you are trying to achieve in your life, no matter what has brought you down, don't.give.up! Pray unceasingly, and work endlessly to get to where you want to be! You only have one life, you might as well live it right. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are..

Kid President has a little pep talk he wanted me to pass on to you all.. He's got some good points, hear him out :)

Hope this pep talk helped, and I hope you all feel a tad bit more motivated to do what you need to do.

Winter Wonderland, The Cold, & An Update

That's the beauty I woke up to this morning! Being a Californian I appreciate the snow a little more than others might. It snowed on Christmas Eve but it was pretty weak, nothing special, but today's snow was amazing! Definitely enjoyable! Though, Lamba didn't enjoy it much.. I took her out to do her business as usual, she saw the snow, she smelled the snow, and she was not having it! She was probably all, "What the heck is this, and why are you making me pee in it?" So of coarse she didn't pee and headed straight upstairs, that silly girl..

Thomas took these next two shots.. Aren't they the cutest? Nice job honey!

As some of you may know my blog was not accessible for sometime. I was trying to fix some glitches that were going on before writing any more post but I wasn't able to fix any of them! Regardless, I will keep blogging while trying to figure out the problem  Within the next month or so you might be seeing a lot of changes going on with my blog. I'm trying to make it reflect me as much as possible so I'll be changing things up quite a bit to try to get it just right!

Aside from that I'm also working on some new posts. We'll see how long it takes before I get those up being that I'm sick and have little interest in blogging at the moment. At this very moment I am laying in our bed, bundled up with our baby girl, and I have blown my nose far too many times to the point where it feel like my nose just might fall off, yeah.. it hurts. Good thing about being sick though is that Thomas gets extra sweet and extra lovey dovey. Seriously, he's pretty amazing.. it's all rubs, hugs and kisses followed by, "Baby take this medicine. Baby layer on some clothes. Baby have you been blowing your nose?" Haha! I think he nurtures me more than my mother ever did!.. Can't complain about that!

I also can't complain about all the extra quality time we've been spending together. It's been about two weeks now since we got rid of our cable, something I thought I would never allow.. but Thomas somehow convinced me, and I must say I'm quite pleased! You don't realize how much valuable time t.v can take away from you until you don't have it anymore- we're so much more productive now! I admit, at times I do miss being lazy and sitting on the couch together watching Diners Drive-Ins & Dives (who's with me here?), but I rather look back twenty years from now and have memories of us chasing each other around our apartment and wrestling like little kids (that's still acceptable, right?) than sitting on those ugly black couches and staring at food we can't have! You kill me Guy Fieri.. 

If any of you have ever considered doing the same, don't hesitate, I promise you'll be much more efficient! We're considering getting Netflix or Hulu, just to have a little something, but we're still undecided. Do any of you have Netflix or Hulu? If so, would you recommend them? Please do share!

House Of Curiels- Living Room Tour

When Thomas and I were newlyweds and got our first apartment we started with a futon cushion laying on top of an air mattress... and that's it, that's all we had- and it stayed that way for the following months! When I look back and see how far we have come I am so grateful to see how much God has blessed us. We have both worked very hard to be able to be where we are and have what we have but without His help we would have gotten no where. And though material things aren't everything, creating a place of comfort is certainly important. Since our air mattress and futon days, our little place has come a long way, a place we can now call home.

I never wanted to share pictures of our living space. I'm the type of person that only likes giving the finished product. If I'm doing your hair or makeup you better not peek till I'm done, if I'm making dinner you better not taste it till it's finished, and it was no different when it came to our home decor, especially that! Weird, I know. Part of it may be due to the fact that interior decorating is one of my biggest passions, I love it and I take pride in the work I put into our home, so naturally I want my hard work to do me justice and would hate to show anything that doesn't meet up to par with what I envision. With so many friends, family, even acquaintances asking to see what the Curiel's throne looked like, no amount of "Oh it's not complete" or "Can you wait till I re-decorate?" could get them off my back, so I finally gave in!

Now let me start by saying that when I first began decorating our living room I had completely different taste than I do now, I mean completely. Therefore, the decor we've got going on at the moment is by no means what I want it to be, but that will be changing shortly. It's cute for now (I guess), but my vision for the feel and the look of our home goes in a whole different direction then where we are at the moment. Hubby loves it, the wifey doesn't... so whata ya do? YOU CHANGE IT! :)

Within the next coming months or so I plan on bringing that vision I have to life and I would love to keep you all updated, starting with the inspiration board I've come up with! I came up with this quickly just to give you a rough idea of what I'm picturing so I may or may not change a few things here and there.. but you'll get the gist of it!

As you can see, everything is light, and neutral with little touches of gold and silver. What may seem like plain and boring to others seems like a little piece of heaven to me! There are two main reason why I like this design. One because I just love how light and airy the room feels. In addition, neutral color schemes such as light grays, blues, beiges, and whites bring a sense of calm and soothing peacefulness to oneself. I don't know about you but I like a room a room to be all sorts of cleanliness and tranquility!

Second reason is because I like re-decorating and changing up the look of a room every so often. Let's face it, who wants to walk into the same room all the time? BORING! You gotta change it up a little! And to be honest, my taste just might change yet once again, so by keeping the main furniture pieces neutral it allows me to switch out small things like curtains and accessories to add pops of color and the give the room a whole new look without spending tons of money! That's always a deal in my book! ;D

My number one priority with the living room re-model at is to get rid of those hideous big black couches (wasn't my pick- that was all Thomas)! Though they've served us well and are extremely comfy while cuddling, it's time for those suckers TO GO! I'm leaning towards replacing them with the Ikea Karlstad Sofas. Did you just say Ikea? I know, I know.. personally I love Ikea, I truly think you get a bang for your buck!.. But others may beg to differ, to each their own. Nonetheless, I'm thinking of the Karlstads specifically because I love the clean cut lines and the fact that you can customize them by replacing the wooden legs (which I plan on doing). I also like them because again, you can switch the sofa covers to play around with your color scheme without spending a whole lot, and they're easy to keep clean! Bonus!

As you may have noticed, all of our accent tables are black. Why did I purchase a black coffee table along with black side tables while already having black couches? Spur of the moment, a bump to the head, I don't know? But I can assure you that this gal has learned her lesson- never again! Therefore the coffee table has also become a priority. Though I have a few options I'm considering  I think my little heart might already be set on the mirrored table shown above. Not only does it add a touch of glamour (you know I gotta have a little glam in my life.. or a lot) but it also helps open up the room by creating the illusion of an open space (acrylic and glass tables also do the same), and when you live in an apartment, you gotta take all the open space illusion you can get!

So those items will probably be the first ones I will be purchasing once I get down to the nitty-gritty. I can't tell you how excited I am for it, yeeep! I get super crazy happy when it comes to our home decor and going out shopping to complete it all, decorating is just so much fun for me! Anyone else feel the same? 

Just to let you know, the living room will be the only space I will be sharing for the moment. Perhaps in the near future I'll get to our master bedroom and kitchen and so on.. but for now this is good. Sharing this is a baby step for me to get over my freako "You can only see it once it's done" ways.. Capisce? 

Don't forget to subscribe to stay posted on the progress! :)

Holy Grail Beauty Products

I am BIG into beauty, like huge.. I'm like an all-things-beauty junkie. I love trying new products and when I come across one that I love I'm usually a pretty die hard fan. So I rounded up some of my holy grail or most used products of twenty-twelve and decided to share them with you all! I was originally going to blog about my goals for this year but honestly, I'm not trying to bore the possible two readers I have so I tossed the idea... You're welcome.

Warning: This is a horrendously long post, but if you stick around an read it you might actually discover one or two great products you'll want to give a go! Though I do obsess over some products more than others they are in no particular order.. Ok, enough with the rambling, let's just get started shall we? Here are my 2012 holy grail beauty products.

BeneFit Hoola Bronzer

This bronzer is widely known in the beauty world. The color is so universal it looks great on all skin tones. It's dark enough but not too dark and it blends like a dream! I use it everyday to bronze and contour all around my face and I just now hit pan after maybe 9 months or so, a little definitely goes a long way and that's always a plus!

BeneFit Dandelion and Coralista Blush

I love these blushes! They are two of BeneFit's best sellers and I can see why! Dandelion is a super pretty baby pink, I love wearing it when I'm going for a more natural, simple look. Coralista gives you a nice shimmery golden color which looks great in the summer but is also subtle enough to wear year around.

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation

Oh my lanta- this is a rave for me, like no joke this foundation is amazing! I honestly think it comes neck to neck with my two other favorite foundations which are Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation and Revlon Colorstay. I love that this foundation looks like second skin regardless of how many layers you add on. The consistency is so smooth and creamy, it's like buttuh (butter, in my wannabe New York accent)! If you do decide to try this product (which I highly recommend you do) I suggest you use your God-given tools and apply it with your fingers. As far as I'm concerned this is the best and only way to get a flawless look with this foundation.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

I am self-proclaimed the Queen of Mascara! If there were a rehab for mascara obsession.. I'd be there! next to a flawless face, big flirty lashes are my thang! You feel me?! This mascara is meant for volumizing your lashes though it also gives you some length. The color is such deep, rich black that it makes your lashes stand out and gives you that BAM factor! This is definitely not my one and only favorite mascara (I have many), but I decided it should be the only one I mention since it has been my most used one for the past few months.

Physicians Formula Conceal Rx Concealer

This has actually been my go-to concealer for years now! It's very comparable to a tattoo concealer so it gives you great coverage. I use it under my eyes to conceal my dark circles and it does a great job at doing so, but it also does just as great of a job at covering up blemishes. I cannot stress enough how great this concealer works, seriously, go get you some!

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

I use this powder to set my under eye concealer and I love the finish it gives. I usually like to set my under eyes with a powder that has a slight shimmer to it because it makes that area pop and lightens it up, but this product gives you such a flawless finish that I don't even miss the shimmer.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

This is such a nice setting powder it gives a really pretty finish. My preferred method of applying it is to spray my brush with a spritz or two of water then swirl it in the powder and apply it to my face. By doing this it gives a nice natural sheen to the face and it looks absolutely gorgeous. I especially like applying it this way during the fall time when skin tends to look a bit dull.

Vaseline

Uhhh yeah.. you read that right- Vaseline. It's no secret that Vaseline is one of the best beauty products out there and for various reasons. There are well over 50 beauty related uses for Vaseline, though I won't go through all of them. I will however, share with you my top favorites. When I remember I like to apply some Vaseline on my eyelashes to keep them from getting dry and brittle (some claim that this also helps them grow), I also apply some on my cuticles for the same reason, and my absolute fave is on my lips! There is no better lip moisturizer than Vaseline!
Extra Tip: 
After applying Vaseline to your lips take a wet toothbrush and lightly exfoliate your lips with it. Talk about smooth and smooch-ready lips! Yeahh buddyy!

Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil

This is a product created by Vaseline so you know it's gonna be great from the get-go, but you don't know exactly how great it is until you try it! Oh.My.Word! Let's just say that if this product were to ever be discontinued I might just go haywire! This stuff is legit people! It's my secret to keeping my skin baby-bottom soft, beyond soft even! Best time to apply this is after you shower and are still semi wet, this will lock in your skin's moisture. The first few minutes after applying the gel it might feel slightly greasy, but just wait till it settles in to your skin, you will be amazed (cue the heavens)!

L'Oreal Ever Sleek Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner

Last but certainly not least are my all-time favorite shampoo and conditioner! I take pride in my hair care because I truly believe it can be one of your best assets, if you take care of it properly which is I make sure to use only the best (expensive or non-expensive) products on my hair. Obviously, it's a sulfate-free shampoo which has many benefits to it that I won't get into at the moment (maybe at a later time). It smells really nice, makes your hair feel super soft, optimizes your hair's natural texture, and cleans your hair without stripping it of all its natural oils or weighing it down. Love this stuff, I can;t say enough good about it!

So there you go! Those are some of my top holy grail products of 2012! I hope you all enjoyed this post and maybe decided to try a few products out! 
Have a great weekend every one!

Sayonara Twenty-Twelve!

It's 2013 and we're not dead! Congratulations on your millionth "end of the world" survival! Ha! Ok, ok, all jokes aside I must say I am much more excited for 2013 than any other year that I can recall. I think part of it may be that I'm particularly excited for where the military will be taking us. Thomas has been in the process of reenlisting and it has taken a bit longer than expected since he's trying to LAT move (change jobs), so that in itself has been quite the tedious process. But, we have hopes that everything should be getting done soon.. And when it does that means a new job for Thomas and it means back to California for the both of us!

We have both been away from home for about a year and a half and I cannot begin to explain how much we miss it! Not only are we estranged from all our friends and family but we're away from the most beautiful state in the world! We miss all that Cali has to offer us so we are anxiously patiently awaiting for the news of when exactly we will be PCSing back home! Hopefully these new changes in 2013 are kind to us!

Now, I don't have too many exciting moments to recap for 2012 because, well, I was just trying to get use to the Virginia lifestyle.. That makes me sound pretty lame doesn't it? Ha! I guess I could dig up a few moments worth mentioning. Okay, here it goes..

• January/February- Both Thomas and I turned 21 (Society makes it sound far more exciting than it really is)! So blessed to be living another year.
•  My MIL came to visit us for the first time! She was also our very first visiter which made it pretty exciting! 
• Thomas got promoted to Corporal and this lucky gal got to pin him! I am so proud of the Marine he has become and I am eager to see his further progress!
• April- We adopted another Miniautre Pinscher named Cash but eventually had to return him back to his shelter. Unfortunately, he was far too viscious for us to handle and a law suit would have surely been coming our way if we kept him any longer! Nevertheless, the time we spent with him was a great learning lesson, to say the least!
• May- I got to witness a live birth! Can you say wowzers?! A dear friend of mine who also happens to be a Marine wife asked me to be with her during labor and I was so honered! It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen and I will never forget the experience!
• June- We purchased our dream cars!.. Well, sort of.. We traded in our Hyundai Sonata for two different cars. Thomas finally got a truck- I swear his grin was far too contagious, it was like a child on Christmas morning! And I got a fully loaded, and I mean, fully loaded Jeep Commander.
• July-Llove was in the air! Thomas and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary! Woot woot! We celebrated the weekend with a little romantic getaway to Virginia Beach including an ocean front hotel and lots of yummy food! Oh, and a surprise dinner date by Thomas once we were back home! He set up the table with some scattered candles a dozen red roses- cutest thing ever!
• October- We got rid of my gas-guzzling Jeep Commander and opted for a more (much more) gas efficient Hyundai Elantra. The Jeep was a beauty, but the mpg was beyond ridiculous!
•  I also started a new job and I couldn't be any happier! I really do love what I do!
• December- Mama Cindy came to visit again! She's always a fun time and I am so greatful to have such an awesome MIL!

So that's my whole year in a nutshell! As I said, not too exciting but I'm hoping this year is a bit more eventful. I was originally going to post my new year's goals but this post is longer than expected so I'll be writing about that in my next post!
 I'll leave you now with a few memories from last year :)

Guess I'm A Blogger Now?

Hi there every one! Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful time with family and friends!

So, after much deliberation and tons of wishing and wondering, I decided to finally start a blog! I have always been so inspired by blogs that I follow so I decided to start this blog in hopes of doing the same for others. I mean, why not? The blogging world could use another one of us right?! ;)

I will be sharing little bits and pieces of my life. Everything from life adventures with my husband, beauty and product reviews, fashion, and trying to successively turn our house into a home while dealing with my ever-evolving decor style.. Seriously it can get pretty annoying sometimes, poor hubby.

I hope to make many new friends in this wonderful world of blog. To my family and friends, I hope this blogs makes you feel a little closer to Thomas and makes you feel as if you're a part of our every day lives while being miles away (booo)!

Don't forget to subscribe- you wouldn't wanna miss any post now would ya?! Till next time!