the january blues

does anyone else have an extreme dislike for january? or is that just me? i have never liked this month and have always found myself feeling bored, depressed and definitely not diggin' the weather. i think that this hatred stems back from my school days, being that january was always the month that school started again and spring break seemed like light years away.
so i have decided to take things into my own hands and instead of feeling mopey and sad for the next three weeks, i am going to make a concentrated effort to relish in the moment of playing with my favorite, little girl or snuggling up on the couch with my hubby.
so if you come and visit (and please do!) and i am balled up on the couch, wishing away this wretched month, just remind me of my new plan.
i'm happy to embrace this new challenge to makeover january, BUT....can't a girl wish for july??

Pretty Little Liars......?

I really don't watch a lot of t.v. You will usually find Eric and I watching shows we've recorded such as Seinfield, I shouldn't be Alive, or Extreme Home Makeover. In fact, we've even put our Netflix account on hold because our money was wasting away as we let our dvds we ordered just sit unopened somewhere in a pile. What's wrong with us?! How can you not have time to watch t.v. in the winter?! Last winter we zipped through a ton of dvds from Netflix. Weird.

There are a few shows though that we (or I guess...me) have to make sure to watch or record to watch for another time. Two of which are currently on at the EXACT same time (praise the Lord for DVR!) Umm....The Bachelor (*blush*) and Pretty Little Liars (*blush*). I know, I know...but they're so....addicting!

download-tvshows.com

blogs.babble.com

 I became hooked on Pretty Little Liars when it aired this summer. Summers are when Eric puts in the hours, so at times I find myself watching more tv out of boredom. I saw the previews for the premiere of the show, and I thought, "hey why not?!" and from the first episode I was hooked. I don't know...I just want to know who the heck "A" is!! Please tell me I am not alone in this lol. Each episode keeps you on the edge of your seat...throwing in a bunch of surprises! If you are at all interested in watching it you definitely need to watch the first season otherwise you will be way confused. I couldn't even remember from the first season to the second everything that happened and who people were!

Apparently it's based on the books? Maybe I should try them...I am sure they are for teenagers though and not women in their twenties! :) I've given into the fact that I just need to admit I love it and try not to be ashamed of it! A big part of me will always be a little/teenage girl at heart :) I will always love the cheesy romance books, movies, shows, and Taylor Swift songs. Sorry...you just can't help it when a heart resonates!

Another perk to the show is the great music they play! I have discovered some great songs and artists from the show. Playlists for each episode are listed on the ABC Family website. Isn't it just great when shows introduce you to new music you love?

P.S. What shows are you ashamedly  (or unashamedly) hooked on? Please share! Maybe they will become my next obsession :)

Calling all readers...

Do you have something you think you could share with the world??

We're looking for people who have something interesting to share with our readers.  A few ideas to inspire you:

Crafts ideas
Recipes
Cool finds
Interesting places you've traveled
Fun things in Des Moines
Products you love
Fashion tips
Motherhood

We'd love to feature you (or your small business or blog) on The Wonder Woman Diaries with a guest post. We are open to anything the average woman might be interested in.  Email thewonderwomandiaries@gmail.com with your ideas!

          

These are a few of my favorite things...

I have recently come across some hair products that I am loving and when I use them, I think, "I want to tell everyone about this".  So since, everyone at least 2 people read this blog, I thought I would share my favorite things with you, in case they'll help your life as much as they've helped mine!

#1 Pantene Sleek and Shine for hair you want to sleek-erize--$3-7

Since I started using Pantene shampoo and conditioner a few years ago, I have loved it.  My hair always feels so smooth and nice after I use the conditioner.  Recently, they came out with a more individualized product line and I got a sample of it in the mail.  Well, their marketing campaign worked for me because I was immediately hooked and went out to buy the shampoo and conditioner AS SOON as my sample was nearing empty.

What I like about it: My hair is medium-weight and naturally very wavy and frizzy.  With this shampoo, my hair is even smoother than it was with the original shampoo I was using. Now, once I blow-dry my hair, my locks are so smooth, straightening is a breeze.

#2 Conair Infiniti Tourmaline Straightener for when you want stick-straight hair--$30

Last week, the Revlon straightener I had for years went kaput.  I remember when I first got that $20 bundle-of-joy that it was so hot and worked way better than my $60 Hot Tools straighter ever dreamed of.  The Revlon served me well, or so I thought.  I went back to the store to replace it with the same appliance and they weren't making the same model anymore.  I picked up one I thought would be similar and it barely heated up to straighten my wavy hair.  That's when I realized, heat matters. I was annoyed and took it back to the store. I picked up a different brand that promised to get REALLY hot.  And it was AWESOME!

What I like about it: It heats up to a whopping 446 degrees so my hair has NEVER been this straight.  Thankfully, hair doesn't have nerve-endings:)  It's quick to heat up (15 secs) and does exactly what I want.  I have always been one that gets frustrated when doing my hair because of the natural wave and lack of cooperation but this straightener whips it into shape like never before.  This is my FAVORITE product on this list.  If your relationship with the straightener in you life is so-so, go out and get this one, you WON'T be disappointed.

#3 Sleek and Shine by Sexy Hair Concepts for when you want shine-- $18

I've used this product for years now and love it.  Though, I don't have to use it as much with my new straightener and conditioner.  It's a styling aid that helps your hair straighten and adds shine.

What I like about it: It makes straightening my hair faster and better.  My hair is smooth and shiny and it doesn't smell like Aquanet.

#4 The Tease Brush for when you want a big lift-- $5

A few weeks back, I saw this brush on Iowa Girl Eats and put it in the back of my mind to pick up sometime.  After I straighten my hair, it's usually too smooth to tease very well.  I may start out with a little lift but it falls in under an hour.  I was at Sally's picking up some shears to fix my husbands disaster of a haircut (long story), when I saw this and I snatched it up right away.

What I like about it: It teases my hair easily without buckets of hairspray and it lasts all day.  For the first time, I have a little height without having to buy a Bump-It.

#5 More Big Curls Conair Rollers for when you want a quick curl--$30

I picked these rollers up a few Christmases ago and have used them regularly ever since.  When I am in a hurry, I can easily blow-dry my hair, throw it up in rollers and continue getting ready while the heat sets my hair.  

What I like about it: I take them out, do a little hair-flip and suddenly, it looked like I spent all day on my hair when it was actually easier than straightening.  The curls are big and modern and flow nicely.  Also, the curlers don't burn my hand because of the felt layer around the outside.



I have used Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play hairspray for several years now but am open to new suggestions if anyone has any.  I like it but I don't think I LOVE it. For now, what are your favorite hair products AND do you have any products I should think about adding to a follow-up make-up/body product post?

show me some sass

as promised, i will post a picture of our new and improved kitchen.

but first, let's talk details.

a few months back, while searching for our perfect home, we came across many ugly kitchens. not just ugly....hideous. we're talkin' an aray of baby blue cabinets, strange layouts (a laundry area in the kitchen?!?!) and more than enough faux for a lifetime. i've never seen so much faux brick. i know this is some people's aesthetic, but it sure ain't mine. :)

when it came to buying a home, we didn't want a lot of renovations looming over us once those keys were handed over. we purposely bought in a neighborhood where the schools were good, but it also happened to be at the top of our price range, which equals no pricey kitchen renos in the near (or far) future. priorities, people.
thankfully, we found a home with a brand new kitchen! the cabinets, flooring, appliances and counter tops were all updated in the last few years. score! the downer was that we felt like we stepped into a country cottage. lucky for us, paint is a very cost efficient way to completely transform a room.  and new years eve, that's exactly what we did.

i LOVE how it turned out. exactly how i was envisioning. i had a hard time narrowing down which color to choose, but in the end, i went with my gut and choose "Sassy Green". and it sure has sass:)
the color is very similar to the bridesmaid's dresses in my wedding and is almost exactly the same color of peyton's room in the house that we brought her home to. what can i say? i have a weakness for it.

sorry i didn't get a better before shot. i get too anxious and excited for the transformation and forget to document. i will work on that as i slowly and surely decorate my new house. go here if you want to see some shots of the old kitchen. don't say i didn't warn ya:)

tell me what you think!! do you like? do you have any amazing paint transformations? any scary ones? please share.

no longer M.I.A

i just wanted to tune in and apoligize for my absense over the past few weeks. let me tell you....it's been a crazy couple of weeks:) han and rach have filled in for me and i am so thankful! between moving, christmas, and lack of internet for a week, blogging has gotten pushed to the bottom of my never ending "to-do" list.

my first order of business to address is: WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! i have a feeling that a lot of my blog posts will be centered around new home-ish topics, since i have immersed myself in some serious room redecorating lately.

brandon and i (and my mom, for a few hours) spent the better part of new years weekend painting the three main rooms in our house. we rang in the new year by moving furnature, frog taping the death out of our kitchen and removing about a hundred outlet covers. thankfully, little miss P was having fun up north for the weekend at grandma's house, otherwise, our three room overhaul would not have been as successful.

here is a little sneak peak of what was on the outs:

blue heart wallpaper? no thanks.

pastel blue paint and birdhouse decals. again....pass.

blue gingham curtains. now stashed in a goodwill box.

can you blame us for doing a little dance once all that was gone?? i know, i know...many people love this style, but brandon and i just don't share that love. come back tomorrow for a new and improved kitchen.

you'll be green with envy:)

2011...what do you have in store for us?!

Now that all of you know how 2010 was for me and my family, let's see what 2011 has in store! I'm excited.

We all know the concept of setting goals for yourself for the new year and making New Years resolutions, but this time I am wanting to do something different (I was never that good at NY resolutions anyway)   :)

My awesome sister-in-law introduced me to the concept of a "101 Things to do in a 1,001 Days" list. It's a fun and different way to set goals for yourself and keep yourself accountable. And I don't know about you, but I completely agree with her when she says that a person is more likely to do something if they write it down. She had some extremely neat things that she accomplished on her list that she should be proud of! Uh hum...run a half marathon, anyone?!

I've started on my list...it's definitely fun, but like my sis-in-law also pointed out, I am trying to be practical with what I can actually accomplish in that amount of time. Wanna take a peek at some of the things I have so far?

• Get a nice camera
• Scrapbook at least two albums
• Take yoga classes
• Read through the entire Bible
• Have a baby (?!?!?)
• Create a garden
• Sponsor a child
• Try 10 new restaurants
• Go to a Women of Faith Conference
• Go to Disney World
• Learn how to better take care of Sully
• Pay off my car
• Become a more faithful prayer
• Read (this # still to be determined) books :)
• Learn to make jewelry
• Learn to golf

These are just a few...it's amazing to see how fast you can get rolling, but it's also nice to bounce ideas off others. I am also trying to be careful with ones I write such as "have a baby", because ultimately I know this is in God's timing. I don't want to put Him in a box and try to do everything by my time frame. It's also important to not beat yourself up at the end of this if you don't accomplish everything. They're more of guidelines really.  :)
Life throws curve balls....we can't have everything figured out! And who wants to?!


Anyway, I hope if you were dreading thinking of the new year and all that you want to accomplish, that maybe this unique idea of setting goals will spark some energy and excitement into you!

Are you in too?! Happy list making! :)

P.S. Do you have any fun ideas/ways of setting goals for yourself? What goals do you have for this year? Any fun ideas to share with me so I can add it to my list?!

Oh yeah, happy New Year too!!!