Just putting this here......

 

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara

I received the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara  to try from influenster.com .  This was my first time trying out Rimmel Mascara.  I will say the mascara is pretty good and seemed to be non-clumping.  Though using it by itself does not give you a retro look.  To truly get the retro look you need eye shadow and eye liner. 

 

I don't feel like I can do the greatest job showing you how to wear this mascara so check out this YouTube video for more information.

 

 

This just hit store shelves November 2013, so you can pick some up for yourself and try it out!

C-Ya!

Dr. Scholl's® For Her Cozy Cushions review

I received the Dr. Scholl's® For Her Cozy Cushions from influenster.com (ask me if you want an invite).  I was excited because I knew I was also in the market for a cute pair of black boots that may or may not be comfortable.  I got my boots home and opened my package of Cozy Cushions.  I noticed how soft they felt and trimmed them to size.  I proceeded to put them in my new boots and found a problem.... they were too thick for my feet to fit in the boots as well.  I then proceeded to put them in another pair of boots to try them out.  I could fit my feet in the boots but barely.  I did try them out though and found that if I had a pair of shoes or boots they would fit in I would find them very comfortable.  Because of this I would recommend them to a friend looking to make their footwear more comfortable.

You can find out more information about them here: www.drscholls.com.

 

C-Ya!

COVERGIRL flipstick!

Thanks to Bzzagent.com I have had a chance to try out the new COVERGIRL flipsticks.  I got sent to me 3 pairs to try out in minx, stunner and vixen.  These colors are bold and striking and easily layered.  So far I am really enjoying the bright colors.  The only off putting thing is that the taste is a little strong.  If you want a fun lipstick that does not break the bank, I say give COVERGIRL flipsticks a shot.



C-Ya!

Politics

Our nation is not a nation united.... It is a nation divided. Never is that more obvious then during election season.  This is not a post about who I am voting for, nor about who you should vote for.. It is about being disillusioned (sp?). When I go to the polls on Tuesday, in many cases I will be voting for the lesser of two evils... Because honestly no one seems right.  I know some people who are so liberal and some people who are so conservative.  These people spout venom to those that disagree with them.  I watch negative campaign ad after negative campaign ad.  I will be so grateful come 3 days from now when the results start coming in because truly even though someone (eventually) will be declared a winner, Americans will not win.  We will not win till we bridge this divide.  

C-Ya!

"Roads" by Chris Mann

I just got a sneak peak at Chris Mann's new album "Roads" that came out last Tuesday.  If you are a fan of "The Voice" you will remember him a year ago as one of the top 4 finalists.  Chris was the one I was rooting for so when I got a chance to check his new CD out I jumped at the chance.  For those not familiar with Mann, I would say he sounds a lot like and his songs are similar to Josh Groban (another one of my faves).  According to his official website (http://www.chrismannmusic.com/), Chris was trained in opera.... but for those that don't like opera, don't let that stop you, this CD includes some popular hits and some songs that I have never heard before (he did write a few of the songs on the CD).  The first song is the title track "Roads" and I think that is a perfect starter for anyone who has never heard his singing.  His second song is a cover of Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now", and does a good job with just the male voice (and heck, if he wants someone to duet with him on this song - I am available!)  He is like a peppy version of Frank Sinatra on "My Way".  For those that love opera you are going to enjoy his version of "Ave Maria".  And for those engaged and looking for a first dance song check out "Falling".
I am not going to talk about every song on the album... you need to check it out for yourself.  I will leave you with a picture of his album cover and ladies he is pretty easy on the eyes!!

If you want to check "Roads" out for yourself you can find it on iTunes (http://bit.ly/SgkwJb) Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/XQpJc8).
This is a review post from One2One Network. I was provided with a copy of the album and I am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated are my own.

C-Ya!

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A new chapter: Homeschooling

Tomorrow starts a new chapter in our household.  Instead of the kids getting up and putting on uniforms, rushing to catch the bus and coming home and having the age old homework battle; the kids will be getting up, sitting at the kitchen table and being taught by their father.  Tomorrow we officially start homeschooling.
The decision to homeschool was not taken lightly.  We loved the kids school, especially the teachers and the principal.  But after over a year of research and discussion we took the leap.  I wont lie, I am slightly worried about the decision.  When the kids had teachers I knew that we didn't have to teach them everything, now they look to us (mainly Nick) to learn everything they need to know.  I will say growing up till 6th grade I went to a Montessori school and we did a lot of workbooks and when I heard that in that way homeschooling was similar, that actually made it doable.
I will say this summer was kind of weird.  No back to school shopping, except for the curriculum (and Daddy took care of that).  No calendar filled with back to school night, uniform sales and such.  
For anyone that homeschools or knows anything about it, we are going with the Seton Catholic Curriculum along with Saxon Math.  The kids will be learning Latin for the first time and we will be learning it right there with them (hey we will be all set if they ever go back to a Latin Mass!)
We want to thank all the homeschool parents and regular teachers that have helped us to make sure we are on the right track.  
The kids are excited... I think this will help them develop their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.  
So tomorrow's back to school pictures will be a little different, but I will be excited to return home from work and hear all about their day!

C-Ya!

Girl Scout Cookies for sale!

Did the title make you hungry?  Are you looking for someone to buy Girl Scout Cookies from?  Well look no further!  For the first time in the Pickert Household my daughter Samantha is selling Girl Scout Cookies!  In fact I have a bunch at my house right now!  So if anyone wants to buy some feel free to contact me and you can get what you want ASAP.

A little bit of info:

They are $3.50 a box this year (checks written out to Girl Scouts River Valley).

There are 8 cookie varieties:

o   Samoas – vanilla cookies covered in caramel and rolled in toasted coconut with stripes of chocolate. 

o   Thin Mints – Wafer cookie with chocolate coating made with natural peppermint

o   Trefoils – shortbread cookie

o   Tagalongs – creamy peanut better with a chocolate coating

o   Do-Si-Dos – oatmeal sandwich cookies with creamy peanut butter filling

o   Savannah Smiles – NEW this year – Lemon cookies with a powdered sugar coating

o   Dulce De Leche – bite-size cookies with milk caramel chips

o   Thank U Berry Munch – cranberry cookies with white fudge chips.

You can also donate cookies to 2 different organizations!

Please let me know if you have any more questions or would like a box or 10!  

Opening night TONIGHT!

Wow, I cannot believe it, after all the hard work we have opening night tonight for 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'.

I remember hearing about the show earlier this summer.  Initially I thought, that would something fun for me to do.  Then I realized this was something the 2 older kids and I could do together.  Well Jeffrey didn't want to do it (he isn't a big fan of Oz) but Samantha was all over the idea of being in a play.  I had not been in a play since I was in high school and was in plays at school and musicals at the temple, but I remembered how much I loved it.  Well we auditioned and Samantha got cast as a munchkin and a field mouse, I got cast as a munchkin and a winkie.  Starting the beginning of August we practiced 2-3 times a week.  While sometimes the practices were tiring and sometimes I came home sore (moving a house can do that to you!), I also have had such a blast.  Honestly being a parent can sometime be hard, but at practice I could be Melissa (there wasn't much parenting I had to do for Samantha when we were at practice).  This week has been tech week and anyone who has ever done a play knows how much work it is; now, after all that hard work it is SHOWTIME!  Last night we had our final dress rehearsal and it seemed to go well, I am hoping that tonight is even better.

So to everyone in the cast, BREAK A LEG!  And thank you for all the fun!

C-Ya!

9/11 - I remember

10 years ago, on 9/11/01 I turned 22 years old.  10 years ago there was no blogs or facebook or twitter, no place where I really wrote down all my thoughts on that day.  I think it has taken 10 years for it really to hit me.  Looking back on all the highs and lows that has since happened, it is like it has all washed over me as a wave.  This is what I remember from that day 10 years ago.

I remember waking up on 9/11/01, the sun was shining and the weather had just a touch of fall in the air.  I was no longer 21.  I put on one of my favorite outfits, excited for however work was going to celebrate my birthday that day.  I got on bus 677 at around 7:30am (central) taking me from Mound, MN to downtown Minneapolis to my full-time job at WCCO-TV.  Like I did most mornings I sat down about halfway back on the bus and put my headphones on to listen to some of the local radio morning shows (I usually flipped between K102, KS95 and KDWB).  I am sure I was reading something, maybe some of the newspaper.  Somewhere along 394 going east near St. Louis Park I heard the most disturbing thing on the radio.  They had a TV on and they were reporting that an explosion or something happened to the World Trade Center, then they said a plane had hit the other tower.  They did not know what was going on. 
One of the biggest images of that day then happened.  I remember looking up on the bus at everyone just sitting there, I didn't notice anyone else with headphones on, and I thought to myself, they do not know that the world as we know it has just changed.  As I was looking around I also looked out the front window at downtown Minneapolis with that sun shinning bright and thought about how serene it looked compared to another downtown right now. 
We got to downtown, I hopped off the bus at Nicollet Mall and 11th and ran into the front door at WCCO.  There in the front lobby I had my first glimpse on the TV of what I heard on the radio.  Not long after, they lockdown that front door and would not let anybody use that entrance for months.  I ran upstairs to my desk, dropped off my stuff and started watching one of the TVs we had in our area.  One of the TVs I could see if I stood up in my cubical, the other was behind a friend's desk.  I remember standing at that TV when my friend told me Happy Birthday.  Eventually we got word about the plane in the Pentagon and about another plane.  Where was that plane headed when it went down, we did not know.  We wondered if the attacks were done.
Working at a TV station it was kind of crazy... I worked with commercials and as many can remember we had wall to wall coverage for days.  Being local TV we really didn't have to worry about what was on (except for the local news break ins) but we never knew when we would stop covering it.  We spent many hours just staring at the TVs not knowing what to do.  I remember during that time calling my Mom at work, making sure she knew what was going on.  And I talked to my husband who was out mowing lawns, to find out what he knew.  I do not remember eating lunch that day, but I must have. 
Eventually our department head said we could go home.  My co-workers said we could celebrate my birthday tomorrow.  Because I had taken a bus I had to wait for the 676 bus to go home (now not available) which meant a longer trip home.  I of course listened to the radio the whole way home, but there was no new news.  And I went home to do what I had been doing all day, watching TV.
In a way I was thankful that we had celebrated my birthday as a family (at TGIFridays) the weekend before, no one would have wanted to celebrate that night.  I know that I spent many days in shock, I do not even remember crying at that time.  When the tragic events happened I knew no one that had died that day, 10 years later I have met a few people who lost loved ones.  It almost made me feel sheltered living in the Twin Cities.
Does it suck having your birthday on 9/11?  Yes, it does.  But someone has a birthday every day... it just so happened that mine was that day.  Has it been hard celebrating in the years since?  I remember spending the first anniversary just very depressed but it has gotten easier.
One piece of joy happened that September.  It turns out right before the attacks I got pregnant.  Later on that month I found out I was going to be a mother for the first time and 9 months later, on May 21, 2002 I gave birth to Jeffrey.  He is finally old enough to talk to about what happened when he was the size of a pea inside my tummy.  Since then I have brought 3 other children into this world.  But I have also had to say Goodbye to many loved ones (including our fathers).  Maybe that is why this year has hit me so hard... so much has happened since that day.

Now 10 years later on 9/11/11 I will wake up 32 years old.  I will go to church for mass (since it is Sunday).  I will try to spend sometime at the Incredible Festival.  I will probably have play practice.  I will not forget where I was 10 years ago.  I will never forget.

First day of school blues!

I remember as a kid the dreams started about a month before school starts... they even continued after I graduated college.  You know the dreams... some version of going to your first day of school and not being ready.  Well ready or not, that first day of school is tomorrow! 
Not for me though... for my kids.
This year Jeffrey will be in fourth grade, Samantha will be in second and Carter will be a new preschooler.  For the first time in a few years I will be down to one kid three mornings a week at home!
Are we all ready for tomorrow?  Mostly.  Most of the school supplies have been dropped off at school, the shoes have been purchased and the uniforms tried on.  We need to just get a few more things together, wash off the gym shoes and pack it all up in their backpacks.
Are the kids ready?  Mostly not.  They would love to stay home and hang out and not go to school! 
Is Mom ready?  YES!  This has been quite the summer with the kids not always getting along, I think they need the separation that school will bring (even if J & S's classroom doors are just across the hall from each other).
So tomorrow we will all wake up and bring the 2 oldest to the bus stop.  Wednesday we will go to Carter's preschool open house and Friday will be the first day for him.  Some wonder if Elizabeth will be ok with all of them gone, for some reason I think she will be just fine!
Happy New School Year!

C-Ya!

New blog!

I have started another blog!  This is in conjunction with this one.  It is at http://my365opinions.blogspot.com/.  It is called 365 Opinions and is about the opinions I have about things.
I have one post right now, just a welcome message, but I hope to post a lot more often! 
C-Ya!

Hurricane Irene

I cannot grasp the idea of a hurricane.
Now before I go on, I do agree with the severity. I truly hope everyone out there has taken the precautions neccessary in the wake of this hurricane. This sounds like it will be quite the disaster.
That said... I was born in Minnesota and have lived here all my life. I have never been in a hurricane or an earthquake. I have never had to board up my house or evacuate 50+ miles to get away from a weather event. We have tornadoes in Minnesota, and while some of come close to me, I have never been in one.
I cannot imagine what many of my friends are going through right now, just like I couldn't imagine all those years ago with Hurricane Katrina.
I will be praying for all of you on the East Coast, please listen to officials and stay safe.

C-Ya!