Most Inspirational Blog Award. And the Winners Are. . .

Happy Thursday Everyone! "I Look Good Today" has been up and running for a little over a month now with close to 90 followers already. Do I feel popular or what?! I hope you are enjoying your time with me as much as I have enjoyed sharing my life with you! I have made so many new friends and met so many new fellow bloggers that touch my life each and every day and I thank you for that.

I'm excited because today I am giving out the Most Inspirational Blog Award to two of the loveliest ladies I know who write the most inspirational blogs that you just have to check out. Believe me, your day will be blessed by adding these two ladies to your list of daily reads.

Meet Nicole. She is the author of Being a Marine Wife. I actually met Nicole last year during her final semester studying PR at the University of South FL when she did her PR internship with me. I had the opportunity to get to know her both professionally and personally; and I tell you, she is just one of the sweetest, most compassionate people you'll ever meet. I was lucky enough to know her when she became engaged to her now Marine hubby (You just have to read how he proposed. . .in her blog of course.). I got to hear and take part in her wedding plans (We both got married at the same church which was so exciting to us both.). Finally, I was there when she got the call from her then future hubby that they would be moving to CA for his first assignment. I remember that moment; so exciting for them both, but sad at the same time that she was leaving her loved ones behind. Being a Marine Wife captures beautifully the trials, triumphs, happiness and tears of being a Marine wife, away from your family and friends all the while trying to figure out your own calling in life.



Meet "H". She is the author of Immediate Mom. "H" and I went to college together. We suffered through 8am Media Ethics together. . .I ask you this. . .how is one supposed to be ethical at 8am? "H" graduated a semester before I did and landed herself quite a nice job. Thanks to her, two weeks before I graduated I was hired and working a few cubicles down from her at the same company. The statement, "It's all about who you know" couldn't have been more true! Our friendship only continued to grow and in 2001 she honored me with being a bridesmaid in her wedding. It wasn't long after the "I do's" that her and her hubby ("DH" or dear husband as she refers to him in her blog.) moved south with his work. Immediate Mom is the heartwarming story of finalizing the adoption of their first child, a 12-year-old girl named "K".  Being early 30-something first time parents to a 12-year-old has been such an amazing gift to this family. You will be filled with laughter, hope and love as you read "H's" journey of learning to be a mom to a 12-year-old and becoming a forever family.

As part of the award, our winners are to link to moi, write seven facts about themselves, and award it to seven other bloggers.

I LOVE your blogs ladies and how your personalities shine through every post.  Keep up the good work, and don't forget to remind yourself . . . "I Look Good Today!"

Are You Getting Your Beauty Sleep?

I don't know about your bedding, but when it is time to go to sleep, I cannot wait to snuggle up under my soft bamboo sheets and feel the cool, soft pillowcase against my cheek in the Summer or the warm coziness of our flannel sheets in the Winter.

Our bed feels like you're sleeping on a cloud if you ask me, so soft and fluffy. I have recently learned that even the highest quality bedding might be robbing you of your beauty sleep; and in fact, cotton, silk and satin pillowcases draw moisture from the skin leaving it dry by morning.

The DreamSkin™ Beauty Pillowcase is your answer to not only a fabulous night's sleep, but also your secret weapon to looking your best in the morning.

Made with the patented JuveTex rejuvenating fabric, the DreamSkin™ Beauty Pillowcase is designed to eliminate sleep wrinkles and fine lines while rebuilding the collagen in your skin. FABULOUS!!!

Regardless of the brand of skin care product you use, everyone concerned about their skin will benefit from the DreamSkin™ Beauty Pillowcase.

The DreamSkin™ Beauty Pillowcase is also great for your hair. I have long, extremely thick, "bed head" in the morning hair. I pretty much stay in one position all night and I still wake up looking like I just put my finger in an electrical socket. What gives?

By sleeping on the DreamSkin™ Beauty Pillowcase you can reduce hair breakage, eliminate tangles and “bed head”. You can maintain beautiful hair as the DreamSkin™ Beauty Pillowcase provides a natural moisture balance for your hair. It is even excellent for preserving your hairstyle and maintaining hair weaves and extensions.

Celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Kate Winslet and Jessica Simpson take their beauty bedding seriously, so why shouldn't you?

The cost is a bit pricey at $39.99 per pillowcase, but the results are well worth the ticket price.

All you have to do is sleep and reap the benefits. How fabulous does that sounds?

Cool Down With Concord's Smoothie Mix

As the temperature continues to rise I have been finding myself searching for a refreshingly cool treat that I won't feel guilty after eating or drinking.

I have become addicted to Concord's Smoothie Mix, thanks a friend of ours, to make the tastiest fruit smoothies that not only provide the cool down I am desperately searching for, but also the nutrition value I want to obtain.

Simply blended with strawberries, milk and ice, each packet contains enough mix to make one quart of delicious tasting smoothie.

I have altered Concord's recipe a bit and use frozen strawberries, no ice (thus the frozen strawberries) and almond milk (extra healthy). I also will add in some fresh or frozen blueberries or fresh bananas to the mix for an extra fruity treat.

For less than $10 for all ingredients at your local supermarket. . .say it with me now AHHHH RE-FRESH-ING!

Endless Possibilities

Can I be real with you? I mean really REALLY real?

I'm finding myself these days in a bit of a quandary. I feel almost . . . empty.

Don't get me wrong, I am extremely happy. I have the best hubby in the world. I have my health. I have my family, my friends. I have my job. I have this blog. But for whatever reason I still feel empty.

When I say empty I don't mean lonely, unhappy or indifferent. It's more of a feeling of wanting something new. Everything has been statuesque for so long, I want something more. . .but what?

There are a few things on my radar lately. Probably the biggest is considering going back to school (yet again) for my certification as a Christian counselor. I have always felt the calling on my life to help people. That's certainly why I love my current job so much. I feel I am really making a difference in people's lives. Counseling seems to be the perfect fit for me.

The other is singing. I have always loved singing. My family (especially my father and cousin) are very musically talented. Yes I can carry a tune, but I am no Christina Aguilera. I have sung in choirs in high school and college, but never been the solo artist. I have no desire to be some famous musician, but I love how singing makes me feel. I would love to have one on one coaching to better my voice.

I am one of those people that always wants to be growing in every way that I can. I get bored when I am not evolving in some way. It doesn't have to be anything big, but just something, and lately I feel like I am just going through the motions with nothing different.

I look forward to whatever is to come.

I look forward to meeting new challenges head on and triumphing.

I know there is something new, something big out there waiting for me. The possibilities are endless.

Whatever it is, I'm ready and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

Friday Flashback

{My chunky fleur de lis necklace from India.}

Happy Friday Friends! I don't know about you, but with Monday being a holiday, this week completely flew by for me. I feel like I blinked and the week is over. Hey, I'm not complaining. Although lightning speed, this week was a very good one. I had the opportunity to schmooze with country singer/songwriter Mel Tillis who gave a very generous donation to our hospital. I got to enjoy one of my favorite concoctions from Marble Ice Creamery. I had a date night with my hubby and to end the week. . .trivia at The Jerk Hut  (A Jamaican restaurant in Tampa.) where JP2 (That's Squared) almost came in first place. We'll get 'em next time! Have a great weekend!!!

{Sweet cream ice cream with graham cracker crust. Hubby and I call it liquid crack!}

{Hangin' with Mel Tillis. What a sweet man with a heart of gold!}

{Where we enjoyed a taste of the island. . .and kicked butt in trivia!}

{Hubby and I had a date night to see the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie "On Stranger Tides. Although it did not have Orlando Bloom in it (I love him) it was still a fabulous movie. I would highly recommend it!}

Are You Insured?

We all know how important it is to have auto insurance, homeowners or renters insurance, insurance on valuables. So then why open yourself up to risk when it comes to your makeup? Thanks to Too Faced, you don't have to!

Shadow Insurance is your full-coverage insurance policy against eye shadow fading, creasing and melting. This silicone-based eyeshadow primer transforms any eye shadow into a perfectly blendable, color-drenched, intensified version of itself, then locks it down perfectly until you take it off. The skin soothing formula evens out the skin tone on your lids and smooths out lines while it secures a barrier between the oils of your skin and your makeup,

I have normal to oily skin. Ranging more normal in the morning and by mid afternoon I'm needing to apply powder for shine in my t-zone area. One of my biggest problems with my eye makeup was one eyelid would be nearly worn off of color, the other creased. . .a total mess by lunchtime. NOT COOL!



I had tried other eye primers in the past, but either found them to be too sticky for my liking or they just didn't hold up to their promise. I had heard of Shadow Insurance from shopping at Sephora, but was skeptical if it really worked. Then one of my fabulous volunteers at work came in and was telling me about her recent college graduation and how she had her makeup done at Sephora.

She and I share the same problems with our skin type. When she mentioned Too Faced for her eye primer and that it really worked, I had to give it a try.

I have been using this product all week and everything this product claims to protect you from is true! My eye shadow looks picture perfect when I am wiping it off at the end of the day as if it were just put on. YEA!

With Too Faced Shadow Insurance I can be confident that no shadow catastrophes will ever happen again!

Brighton My Day

I love getting gifts. What girl doesn't? Yesterday my wonderful boss came in to work with the prettiest summery yellow gift bag in her hand.

I secretly hoped it was for me, but certainly was not getting my hopes up.

To my delight it was for me.

The bag was from Brighton Collections which made me very excited. Since working with my boss over the last 7 years, her love of everything Brighton has definitely rubbed off on me!

Inside was a very pretty heart shaped tin box.

What was inside? The prettiest silver cross earrings with a diamond stud in the middle. Earrings are probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite accessory, so I was elated when I saw these.

 Getting this surprise made my entire day. I can't wait to wear my new lovelies!