My parents named me Laurel, after the mountain laurel flower, but I've always gone by Laurie. I feel like I've spent my whole life trying to be what other people would find acceptable, and it hasn't been until recent years that I've thought more about how GOD would like me to be. He wants my heart to be seeking after HIM and not the approval of man. So, this is where I will be working out my thoughts, removing the masks (even my nickname!), being real, and making a FREAK of myself! ha ha Any other Jesus Freaks or just freaks in general or even non-freaky people are welcome to read, discuss, encourage, or be encouraged. Welcome to my brain . . . and my heart. :)
Foodliness: Love, love, love (but I'm the only one in my house who does) these Snapea Crisps, the lightly salted variety. I found them at Martin's, but I'm sure they are available elsewhere. I don't know how healthy they actually are, but they're a tasty snack from time to time. They are snap peas that are baked, and they kind of puff up and become crunchy. Something different.
From the Makeup Bag: My eyelashes need as much help as they can get! Alas, I wasn't born with LM's never-ending, perfectly curled lashes. Seems unfair if I choose to look at it that way. ;) L'oreal Voluminous mascara does a decent job.
Skin Care: We've all heard how important it is to remove our makeup before cleansing the skin. Some of the facial wipes out there are quite costly! Awhile back, I took a chance when I saw that Dollar Tree carries "Exfoliating Facial Wipes" for sensitive skin. You get 30 in a package for $1, and they work! They even remove most eye makeup well. They're not very thick, but they still get the job done.
Musically Speaking: Love this! When we sing it in church, I find myself singing or humming it for weeks to come. :)
Home Theater: LM and I enjoyed watching this adventurous family-friendly movie on Netflix, and I highly recommend it!
Candle: The only candle I burned in May was a "Huntington Home" Spa candle, in "coconut milk & mango" scent. I love the smell of coconut, and, though I love mangoes, the mango scent overpowers the coconut milk and smells a little to sweet or something. I'm not a fan of candles that smell like food usually anyway, but the word "coconut" swayed me this time. It's fine, but I'm not crazy about it.
App: I go back and forth between reading my physical, crinkly-paged Bible and reading on my phone or Kindle. In May I mostly read from YouVersion.
Human: My favorite human for this month has to be Landon Austin. He's doing a very decent thing (which will be obvious in the near future) to support my upcoming Young Adult Christian fiction series, due to be available on Kindle later this summer. I've loved Landon's music for quite awhile. He does fantastic covers (often better than the originals!) and records his own original music, too. Unforgettable voice and scads of talent. He has a funny vlog channel, too. Here's his latest (I think) cover:
For this week's Friday fun, I chose the 70s/80s Kid Tag, and I tag whoever wants to do it! :)
I was born in 1968, so spent most of my childhood in the 70s and my teenage years in the 80s.
1. What were your favorite TV shows?
Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, Incredible Hulk. As a teenager (80s): Moonlighting, Miami Vice, and the sit-coms like Cosby and Family Ties.
2. What show did you watch when you came home from school?
Brady Bunch, Partridge Family, Munsters--it was always reruns, except when there was an After School Special. :)
3. What was your favorite commercial?
In the 80s, the Michael Jackson Pepsi commercials.
4. What was your favorite clothing store?
I'm trying to remember the names of them: The Limited, Deb, Lerner, Beneton, Contempo (?)
5. What was the weirdest fashion trend you remember?
70s--gauchos 80s--Probably parachute pants. It didn't seem weird at the time, though!
6. What was your favorite book?
70s--All the Nancy Drew books; 80s--The Flowers in the Attic series (though, if I'm remembering them correctly, I wouldn't recommend them now.)
7. What was your favorite toy?
The computer punch cards, paper, and file folders my dad brought home from work (the file folders held all the "cases" my detective self was working on) and the leftover dittos my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Cupp, gave me to play school with. And Merlin
8. What was your favorite game?
Sorry!, Perfection, Aggravation
9. Who was your favorite music artist?
70s--Donny Osmond and Shaun Cassidy; 80s--Michael Jackson
10. What was your favorite candy and/or snack?
My sisters and/or friends and I would sometimes walk or bike to a deli on 95th St (Oak Lawn, IL) called "Country Kitchen," I believe. They had penny candy there, and we would get Swedish fish, Bazooka, Smarties, etc.
For this week's random, lighthearted Friday night post, I decided to do the "TMI Tag" I've seen around. I have no idea where it originated, but here is my TMI:
What are you wearing? Faded blue jeans, navy hooded sweater
Ever been in love? Absolutely! :)
Ever had a terrible breakup? Mmmm, not really.
Any tattoos? Nope. I'm not anti-tattoo, just not something I've ever wanted to do.
Any piercings? My ears are double pierced, but, because of my sensitive skin, it hurts to wear earrings, so I think they've kinda closed up.
Favorite show? All-time favorite is The Brady Bunch. My favorites on Netflix are "19 Kids and Counting" and "Once Upon a Time."
Favorite bands? Toby Mac, U2, Newsboys
Something you miss? Sometimes I miss my old record player and records! I mostly miss family that I don't get to see often.
Favorite song? Can't get this one out of my head the last few weeks. The acoustic version is even more beautiful than the studio version. My favorite lines are, "I can't fight you anymore, it's you I'm fighting for," and "Birds fly high in the summer sky, and rest on the breeze. The same wind will take care of you and I, we'll build our house in the trees . . ." So poetic. Deep sigh. lol "Ordinary Love," by U2
How old are you? 45
Favorite Quote? "Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness." --Mother Teresa
Favorite actor? Jimmy Stewart
Favorite color? I'm far too indecisive to truly have one favorite anything, but to choose one color is especially impossible. There are so many lovely ones!
Loud music or soft? Depends on my mood. Probably more loud than soft, though. :)
Where do you go when you're sad? I often can't really go anywhere, because I have too many things I need to do. Sometimes I retreat to my bedroom, or outside if it's nice. Wherever I am, I pray. I know God doesn't need me to be in a certain place in order to hear me.
How long does it take you to shower? Some of these questions are funny. An average of 10 minutes, I suppose.
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on how much "getting ready" I'm doing that day.
Ever been in a physical fight? No, other than my sisters and I slapping and pinching each other occasionally when we were little. lol
The reason I blog? I love to write. Blogging is a way to organize my thoughts, and hopefully encourage others along the way, too. This particular blog is an exercise in transparency, something I feel like I need to practice more.
Fears? Spiders, tornadoes, heights--big time! A bit of claustrophobia as well.
Color your hair? I haven't for quite a few years. I used to color it blonde in high school, and, maybe a decade ago, I went through a reddish phase, and then a blonde highlight phase. I may color again someday.
Last thing that made you cry? A tough parenting day today.
Last time you said you loved someone? Today, a little while ago.
Meaning behind your blog title? Look at the top of this page, under "Transparently Me" for the explanation. :)
Last book you read? I think it was Reshaping it All by Candace Cameron Bure.
The book you're currently reading? I'm going through two at a time, and very slowly, too! They are completely unrelated to each other! lol A Love that Multiplies, by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar; and Bono, a biography by Michka Assayas, a French journalist.
Last show you watched? Okay, okay, it was a Brady Bunch episode with LM, okay? lol :)
Last person you talked to? LM (my son)
The relationship between you and the person you last texted? Hold on, I have to look . . . She's my mom, I'm her daughter. :)
Favorite food? Trying to choose a favorite food is as bad as trying to choose a favorite color. Mexican is always good, though!
Place you want to visit? Besides wanting to visit all of our far-away family members, the places I'd like to go that I've never been are: Ireland, Israel, Prince Edward Island, places where Laura Ingalls lived.
Do you have a crush? YES!!! I recommend nurturing a crush one one's spouse! :)
Last time you kissed someone? About 15 minutes ago.
Last time you were insulted? Hmmm. Not sure. I try not to take others' opinions of me too seriously, unless they are lovingly confronting me about something. Not that I haven't been insulted. I just can't think of anything serious enough that it stayed with me.
Favourite flavor of sweet? Chocolate, of course!
What instruments do you play? I took about 6 years of piano as a kid, but haven't kept up with it enough to say "I play the piano." It was something I enjoyed, but didn't have enough natural talent to be great at it. I'm okay with that. lol
Favorite piece of jewellery? Definitely my engagement/wedding rings. They are the most meaningful. But then there are all the necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc. that LM has made/bought me over the years . . . I'm really not into wearing a lot of jewellery, though.
Last song you sang? See my favorite-right-now song above. :)
Who should answer these questions next? I tag anyone who wants to do this!
I've decided this blog can use some light-heartedness once in awhile, so whenever I post on a Friday, it will be something random or fun or stupid or humorous or a combination of any of the above. There's a "tag" I've seen the YouTube beauty gurus do (if you don't know what I'm talking about, see my post from last Friday) called the "What's in my Purse?" tag, where they. . . well, show what's in their purse! I have no idea how much they stage those, but I assure you, I did not take stuff out of my purse or know what exactly would be in there, other than the stuff I use all the time. LM helped me with it. I used an old camera, and the color is a bit off, but everything else is genuine. lol So, let's see what's in Laurel's purse . . .
So, I don't spend all my time thinking deeply or doing things that matter. I DO waste time sometimes, too! Here's a perfect example.
Friday nights are often "Guys' Night" around here, where Kevin and LM spend time together doing guy stuff or watching a movie together or something. Whatever they end up doing, it always includes food, laughter, and conversation. I'm all for it. They have a solid relationship, and that doesn't happen without time spent together. (The good Lord knows LM spends plenty of time with ME during the week! lol)
If I have nothing worthwhile to do on those Friday nights, wanna know what I sometimes to do to try to balance out the hormone level in this house (even the dog's a male!)?
True Confessions: You might find me on a Friday night . . . well, ummm. . . . okay . . . watching beauty gurus on YouTube!
Yes, it's true. Try not to judge. ;)
I know, I know. It's sooo shallow (not the ladies themselves, but the subject matter), but the truth is that I love makeup and all that girly stuff! I don't have tons of time to devote to all that stuff, and I will never look like those young beauties, no matter how much makeup I might pile on, but they are FUN to watch!!
I'm laughing at myself right now. I really am. I'm too old to find pretty much anything on YouTube entertaining (other than 80s music videos), but I DO love to watch the beauty channels.
Maybe you would, too, if you had tiny eyelashes like mine and needed to know the best mascara to use. ;)
So, if you're a girlie-girl who has some free time sometime, and want to see what's going on in the beauty world, here are some of my favorites:
