you always want what you don't have

I have always wanted curly hair and my hair is far from curly. I have thin, limp, straight, blah hair. 

I hate it. The texture, color, everything. I wish I had different hair. But, this is what God gave me and unless I get myself a wig, I've gotta work with it!

Oh, and to make matters worse, my hair doesn't curl well. Like at all. I've gone to the salon to have it done and by the time they get to the end of my head, they have to re-curl it, and even at that, it is basically no curl. Look, I'll show you.

That was an hour after it was curled twice and touched up. Pretty pathetic.

So then a few years back I was walking through the mall and I was stopped by one of the people working at a kiosk. I never stop, but I saw they had a curling iron that was curling hair real well. I let them try it on me and it actually did curl my hair pretty well! And not only well, but it stayed curly!  

partial curls

 full head of curls

It even stayed for days, like in this picture. I just spray some new hairspray and flip my head around some and it fluffs good as new.

So this is a great way for me to curl my hair, but it can also be tough because it takes me a while. Recently I learned of a new product that is quite easy and it is super cheap! I had a few glitches that added to the time, but I think it will become a lot easier and much quicker when I do it a few times. They look pretty funky, but they are easy to use and gave good curl to my hair!

 My goal is to get good enough to be real quick so I can have curly hair multiple times a week! Do you have any good tricks/products to help with curly hair? 

ten truths tuesday

I don't know if this will become a weekly topic or not, but for this Tuesday, here are ten truths about myself. Feel free to join along and share ten truths about yourself!

1. I have a slight obsession with handbags. I have had to really detach and clean out. Simplify. There is still a little way to go to lose the obsession, but at least I’ve admitted it. That’s the first step, right?

2. I’m not a slob, but I am not the neatest person either. I can keep the house neat and tidy, but my bedroom is the catchall, specifically my dresser. Whatever hasn’t gotten done, needs to still be done, you name it, it goes there.

3. I don’t shower every single day. I would LOVE to. But these days, even a quick 5 minute shower with a shower cap so I don’t even wash my hair (dry shampoo is a must in my routine) is a luxury.

4. I am a HORRIBLE meal planner and cook, except if I have a great recipe, all the ingredients and the time to prep/cook. Then I do an okay job. I wish I was better at it and I am working on compiling a binder of all my go to recipes that I know are either good or I am good at cooking. - If you have any fabulous, easy recipes, send them my way!

5. I am guilty of letting my kids watch too much tv. I am very selective in what they watch, but sometimes I need time to get things done without a baby in my arms (she doesn’t watch the tv) and two two year olds hanging off of me. They don’t watch hours upon hours a day, but I’d rather keep it less than it is. Hopefully in a few months when the baby is a little older and I’ve figured life with three out a little better, it will lessen.

6. I am not good at finishing projects. I get tired, distracted, and bored. I’ve been known to paint pictures, but not finish them because of the above reasons or because I am not happy with how it’s coming so it just gets put aside.

7. I’m incredibly forgetful. Now even more with three kids. I write EVERYTHING down in my planner. I cannot wait for January to roll around when I can start using my new Simplified Planner from Emily Ley.

8. I wish I had a talent or knew how to do something to have a little side job/etsy shop to bring in some extra money. Any ideas?

9. I’d love to be part of a joint mom/life blog. Where you take different topics and share days to write. That way I feel like my blog isn’t so neglected, yet I could still blog. We’d share stories, frustrations, inspiration, DIYs, recipes, etc. I’d SO love to do that! Anyone want to join me? :)

10. I fall asleep during movies, even if I love them. My poor husband. It drives him crazy and he totally does not get how I can fall asleep during certain movies. 

hello, new york!

Growing up on Long Island, I always had a special pocket in my heart for the great city of New York. I am not the best person to get around the city alone, so I end up like a tourist most visits. When Gus and I were up in the northeast for our Summer visit, we spent part of the time in New York visiting my family and my best friend. We met up with my godmother and one of my cousins and walked around the Battery Park area. I had driven through the area, but never spent time walking around. I have to tell you, it's beautiful. It is the perfect mix for my liking! Greenery and tress and concrete. Perfection. There were families walking through the little parks, young boys playing football on a field in the middle of the city. I loved it. We had such an enjoyable day together. My cousin knows a heck of a lot more about the things to do in the city than I do. So does the hubs and my aunt. They have all the cute little spots. One of my cousins was lucky enough to call this area home for a few years up until recently. How fun is that? So, once we arrived, we met up and headed to meet up at the Shake Shack for lunch and then walk the city. After my aunt and cousin headed out to make a visit to my grandfather in the hospital, Gus, the little men and I headed to see the progress at the site of the World Trade Center area and then walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. There were a few other sites I wanted to take the boys to, but it was getting to late and a bit dark. Next time. The boys loved people watching, looking at all the tall buildings, and lights. I can't wait for future trips to the city with the boys as they grow up.

Look at this lady's office. Pretty nice desk space if you ask me!

This boat was beautiful and so sleek. The pictures don't do it justice.

This is one special and incredibly handsome kid! He's just naturally this cool. If I had a candid photo taken of me, I'd probably be slumped over with my hair in my face... or something embarrassing.

The hubs and I love visits to NYC!

Family photo!

I truly love spending such precious time with family when we go back to the northeast. It is becoming more and more special as the boys grow bonds with the family I grew up in. I love watching their little relationships form!

The handsome hubs was soaking up every bit of the city skyline before we headed back down south, to a more countrified atmosphere. He is a real city boy and I am lucky he loves me enough to make the south his home!

Taking the boys to such a historic site was a really different experience for me. The rest of the city is fun to look at, but here they are, in this area that has so much sadness, so many memories, so many stories, and so much history, none of which they are aware of. They will never know this place like I did, only with two massive holes in the ground now as a memorial to so many lost lives.

This is such a beautiful memorial and it is almost just too much to take in at once. Part of me wanted to smile at it's beauty, yet there was such sadness as I pushed the boys along the walls with thousands of names listed. Each person whose name is on the memorial left behind memories and loved ones, with a life so horrifically taken from them. I prayed for them as I walked by, wishing I could touch each name and pray for each soul and each family individually. I would still be there, but I know God heard the prayers. September 11th was such a devastating day in our country, in our world, both personally and as a whole. Most of us will probably never forget exactly where we were and what we were doing when this happened.

They put a white rose on the person's name when it was their birthday. Happy Birthday, Edward Saiya.

My aunt and cousin brought the boys birthday balloons and we lost one over the Brooklyn Bridge.