#24. A Brand New Me (well, at least my hair)

Watch out world! Erin is now a fiery redhead!

As one of my lovely friends so aptly put it: "New town, new life, new hair!!! :) " - Sarah

Snow!

We had the first snow of the season in Denver today. So pretty but also soooo cold!

And tomorrow's forecast is a little warmer, so yay :)

In My Arsenal

Here's a peek at a few of my favorite beauty products...

Make Up For Ever Microfinish Powder - just plain awesome.

L'Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic Mascara - makes my teeny tiny stubby lashes look good

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit (I'm also dying to own the shade Skinny Jeans)

MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger - I sang its praises not too long ago on this blog!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation - makes anyone's skin look amazing

Stop Deferring Your Happiness

This week has been about getting back on track. Setting a daily schedule. Doing things I've put off or just been too afraid/intimidated to do: ie. join a gym. Refocusing.
Today, my "jolly green giant" (6ft 5in, college student, should be a linebacker) cousin posted this link on his Facebook and I just had to share.

To boil it all down, here's what struck me, and I'm basically preaching to myself on these and being brutally honest:

1. Don't defer your happiness. This is a BIG one for me personally. I seem to always say to myself "When I move", "when I have this certain possession" or "when I have this job" then I'll be content. I thougth my life would be complete if I reached the "promised land" of any other state but PA. Now I know (and have always heard said) f you're waiting for that big break, that perfect relationship, that perfect circumstance to make you happy, you'll never be happy. Even if you get all you dreamed of, it still won't fulfill you because you'll always be wishing and dreaming for the next big thing. A personal relationship with Jesus is the only way to true fulfillment.

2. People everywhere want the same things: love, understanding, acceptance, and humanity. Peel away all their ethnic, social, and cultural differences and that's what you have. We're all human, after all. So easy to forget.

3. Possessions tie you down to too many things. Big houses full of expensive but meaningless possessions have a way of draining you of life, adventure and vitality. You lose your freedom to piles of stuff, tons of crushing debt, and mental and emotional turmoil from thinking you have to "keep up with the Joneses. I feel this in my own life and would love to simplify. I love the idea of MINIMALISM and read blogs on this topic frequently: Becoming Minimalist, Miss Minimalist, Zen Habits, and my favorite Be More With Less.

4. Stop watching so much TV and wasting time on the internet. I do this all the time. No wonder it seems hard for me to forge genuine friendships. I'm not brave enough to venture out of my own house to meet new people or experience new things. I live vicariously through awesome but totally unrealistic television characters.

So as this new week begins, these will be the things I will be ruminating on. Simplifying life, logging off the internet, loving others, and trying to find happiness in the moment I'm in and relying on Jesus every step of the way!

(and you never know, I might finally get that tattoo or piercing this weekend!)

#1: Lose 30 Pounds .... STEP 1

Today I joined a gym!

Here's to committing to get healthy, get in shape and feel more confident about myself!

xoxo

Getting Down to Business

If you are one of the 50 or so people who may have tuned in to my recent rambling Twitter messages, you will know where I'm going with this...

Time to get down to business.

I've been lazy. Time to REALLY start crossing things off my 30 For 30 List.

Beginning TODAY!

Today is the day I declare independence from nail polish for 30 days.

I love it. It's my kryptonite. You know how recent reports say that Nail Polish is the new Lipstick (as in, women buying more lipstick when the economy's down?). I totally agree, and I have singlehandedly contributed to that upswing in nail polish sales lately. It's something that I buy when I'm down in the dumps. It's an easy pick-me-up.

That, and of course, red lipstick ;)

So, beginning today, NO NAIL POLISH FOR A MONTH.

Yes, I'm counting on you to keep me accountable (my two or so readers LOL).

And so it begins!

(Sob! Nail polish, my friend, see you again on Nov. 10th)

Transitions

I admit, I've been having a tough time transitioning and adjusting to living here in Denver.

Not because of the city. Not because of the people. But because I'M SCARED. Homesickness has been overwhelming the past few days. It's not that I particularly miss anything or anyone, but I miss the familiarity of it all. Knowing my place, my schedule, and what is expected of me. Of "knowing" what tomorrow holds.

So many times the past few days I have wanted to load my car up and head for home. To give up after just three weeks. And to what aim? Living with my parents again? Being stuck in a job with no motivation to do my work? I know that if I hadn't left when I did, I probably would never have left. I would becme a miserable old lady with too many regrets to count. I would despise myself for never stepping out in faith and seeing what my life could become outside the confines of my small, safe little world.

In self-examination, I have realized that I have never worked hard for anything before. Never gave something my all - my blood, sweat and tears.  I want to PERSEVERE, to FOLLOW THROUGH and to DEPEND ON GOD.

The Lord has graciously provided me a great job with some really interesting and challenging people. But yet --- here it comes --- I'M SCARED. Afraid that I won't be good enough, that I'll let myself and others down, that I'll be fired, or that I'll really mess something up.

But then sermons come along, like the one Pastor Barry from Calvary Temple preached last Sunday, that remind me of who I am IN CHRIST, that:

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.

Philippians 4:13

And so I will stay in CO until the Lord moves me. He led me here, He has great things to teach me through all of this. Someday, I have no doubt, I will look back and say "there was a reason for all of the struggle, the heartache, and the homesickness."

Through Him, I will persevere!

Amen.

Victory!

Trust

I liked this so much that I swiped it from French by Design...

Trust in God. He's the "gut, destiny, life, karma."

RIP Steve Jobs.

Lady Danger

I have been dying to try MAC's Lady Danger lipstick for awhile now, ever since I saw it on Chloe Sevigny ...

I finally splurged on it the other day and WOWWWW! I luuuuurve it.

Ladies, it is not for the faint of heart, but if you're a woman who loves bright lipstick (like me!), then go for it!

The Difference

Mount Falcon

Last weekend, my friend Brett and I went for a little hike at Mount Falcon Park in Morrison.

The Denver skyline