PBS

I think that I'm going to have to scrape my pennies together for a minor cosmetic indulgence...microdermabrasion.

It took nearly all 30 of my years of existence to embrace my femininity. I guess that I can credit my cuz and S23/S30 with that. I don't remember owning as many dresses (which still isn't VERY many) as I do now. I only bought pumps and whatnot from Pay.less back in the day. And even then, I thought that a person only needed one pair of black shoes and one pair of brown shoes to cover their whole "dressy" wardrobe. My cuz has since banned me from the Pay.less parking lot...I believe that she may have even threatened my life in a less-than-Chris.tian way. Otherwise, as long as I had a fresh pair of Nikes and some clean white kicks, I was straight. (I'm laughing at how I placed all of my $5 shoes on a high rack in my closet, right before I evacuated from the N.O. I was HOT when we were finally allowed to inspect our properties after Katrin.a and I saw that whole shelf, collapsed onto the floor and surrounded by sludge-encrusted shoes. I cussed the devil. My cuz, on the other hand, thought that it was divine intervention and seized the opportunity to "make me over").

The 2 things that I couldn't maintain were hair appointments and mani-pedis. I had a hard time finding a hairdresser that will actually LISTEN to what I want and do it. The one that I had back home used to do the damn thang...hadn't found anyone as talented ever since. So, I do my own relaxers, roller wraps, trims, and highlights. My cuz is more "ghetto sheik" than I am, so she entrusts that to a professional. I only get mani-pedis on special occasions and they have to be VERY special. I think that I only did it once last year and have yet to have them done again. If I could afford the paraffin wax pedicure on a weekly basis, I would.

But now I have a new love.

So I hang with Tee a lot. Tee is 41 y/o, but you would never know it unless she told you. I've always thought that she had the prettiest skin that I'd ever seen and just resolved that that kind of skin doesn't run in my fam and I just need to accept it. But she recently passed me the info to the chick that does her microdermabrasion treatments. I was shocked that her peanut butter smooth skin was even attainable.

I met with the chick this morning. She said that I already had good skin to begin with. I thought that the lighting in the room must've been too dim, but I swallowed the complement. I know what effect I want, I just need to know how do I attain it. After the consultation, I decided to try out my first treatment. I must say, there was some discomfort. Afterall, she was scraping away all of my dead skin. But once she was done, I felt so refreshed and I haven't been able to stop touching my cheeks. This isn't cheap, but its certainly worth the outcome. Microdermabrasion minimizes pores, evens skin tone, and counters the effects of sun damage and aging. Personally, the result lasts longer than any mani-pedi would. So, she's won me over and it looks like I have a new budget item...for the time being.

By December, everyone can refer to me by my new nickname...PBS (peanut butter smooth).

when keeping it real goes wrong

I must say, I cannot believe that I was actually tagged to do something. But even bigger than that, to be issued the "Certified Honest Blogger" award by the fella waaayyyyyy ova dere in the Cheap Seats is...is...is...hmmm...well, it just doesn't seem right, lol. The planets must have shifted for me to be recognized for anything in the blog world. For one, I write exactly how I talk...with typos...and minus the "I was like"s. I don't really write anything prolific or profound and the only thoughts that my blog MAY provoke are whether or not I am slightly "touched" or "deep off the pages," as Leezarus would say. I don't know who lurks, who reads, or who's passing through to simply use my links. I just write about me b/c spending the day talking about myself to my friends would render me...friendless.

But anyway...

The rules that accompany it are as follows:

# When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back.

# Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or more) that you find brilliant in their content or design.

# Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing they were prized with ‘Honest Weblog’.

# Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize (optional).

# List [if you can and or dare] at least ten honest things about yourself.

# And then, pass it on.

LET'S GET IT:

1. I'm not really feeling men right now...what else is new? And men aren't really trying to feel me unless they can actually "feel" me.

2. I don't like it when people make comments about my weight. I would love to say, "I'm not slim just to make you feel bad." Weight comments should be off-limits...overweight, underweight, or otherwise.

3. I swat at people who bite their nails, but I will crack my knuckles all day, everyday.

4. If you have a dirty nose, I probably wouldn't be the one to tell you.

5. I haven't seen Suzie B in a grip and I have been doing well. I guess that I am not as "crooked" as I thought.

6. I'm patiently waiting on the following words to be retired: "boo", "chillaxin'", and "hatin'".

7. I can hold a grudge for about a year (give or take a couple of months), but it will lay dormant as long as I don't see you.

8. I want more kid(s), but its not looking too good for the home team.

9. I feel like I need to make a decision: either scrub my dishes or put them in the dishwasher. Doing both seems like a waste of water BUT I know that they're clean in the end. Germaphobe much?

10. I always look down (on the sly) when I'm walking...not b/c I'm shy or have low self-esteem. I have a fear of stepping in gum, spit, or something equally as nasty.

Fin

Now, I have to break the rules b/c I don't know many blog people. And the ones that I would tag, don't update enough for it to be worth it.

counting pennies for my thoughts

My watch tells me that I'm supposed to be a quarter past "worried". The news tells me that I should be panicking...in fact, every article that I have read on the internet has managed to sneak in the words "fear" and "crisis." But for some reason, I'm just not...moved. And at the looks of things, I probably should be.

The mutual fund for my baby's education has been on a steady decline...so has my other fund, which at this point, does not have as important of a purpose. I have been dipping into my savings account a lot recently to cover medical bills and "curb appeal" expenses. My 401K has been doing the sinusoidal wave thing and my house is in negative equity. On paper...and even after re-reading this paragraph...I should be rocking the hard, furrowed eyebrow. But in my mind, I'm covered. And this is not b/c I have money to spare. I just have faith.

The "right now" is not the issue. At least, not for me. It is my understanding that the market is cyclic. And albeit I'm "losing" money, I'm still taking advantage of the low costs and acquiring more shares. I'm no financial wizard, but I believe that this should prove profitable within the big picture...well before it is time to consider retirement. My baby has 11 more years before he graduates so that just means that I have enough time to stack some cash. Besides, I'm believing on a scholarship for him, so his money can go towards other non-pressing things. As far as my house is concerned, I have decided to table some of the more expensive home improvement projects that I had in mind. A house is an investment, but I bought a place that I love. In the meantime, (while I wait for the housing market to rebound) I will just enjoy being here. This is the perfect place for a homebody at heart.

Aside from that, I'm still banking on a sizable bonus, a generous raise, and a jaw-dropping tax return. Maybe I have been reading too many of those "I believe I can have it" books. But as for the "right now", the only things that I'm counting are my blessings.