The Truth About Riley

Meet Riley. Our two year old Yorkshire Terrier. He's equal parts frustrating and adorable. There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't make me want to rip my hair out and snuggle him up all at the same time. He is the definition of 'Little Dog Complex' and feels the need to bark at the slightest sound. He's loyal to a fault and has his own special place in our heart.

Riley has taught us a lot, like most dogs do, but if there is one thing he has taught us the most, it is the truth about pet store puppies.

We hear it day in and day out, adopt don't shop. There are so many animals living life in shelters that need a loving home. But there's another side to the saying that we often times don't think about. Another reason why you really need to think twice before taking home that adorable puppy in the pet store.

Let me explain...

Riley is a pet store puppy. I had absolutely no intentions of taking him home, but he quickly weaseled his way into my heart and I couldn't stand to put him back in the dirty kennel he probably spent most of his life in. So, what turned into a trip to play with puppies ended up as a trip home with the cutest little nugget.

It wasn't even a week later that I noticed Riley had kennel cough. Kennel cough is extremely contagious in animals, but if treated, not a big deal. Unfortunately, Riley had contracted kennel cough long before I brought him home and had gone untreated for too long, and quickly turned into pneumonia. Pneumonia is a three pound dog is pretty serious. I spent the first month and a half of his life home with me taking him to the vet twice a week, every week. I had to give him three different types of medication every day and even turned my bathroom into a sauna to help ease his breathing. 

Thankfully, Riley made it through and I thought we were on our way to live a healthy little life together.

Unfortunately, while Riley is a fighter, he has quite a few health problems. He has hypoglycemia, which is not all together uncommon in small breeds, but Riley experiences the attacks much more frequently than he should. He has also has had a few stomach issues which, to save you the nasty details, has resulted in us investing in a carpet cleaning machine and some not-so-cheap medication. Just last week, his stomach issues got so bad, I was afraid he wasn't going to pull through. Thankfully, the vet prescribed some serious medication that worked quickly and he's currently on the mend!

While Riley is clearly a surviver and a fighter, it is clear that he is not a healthy dog, just like all dogs who are born at puppy mills. Unhealthy dogs do not only require a lot of time and attention, but their care is expensive. 

Do I regret purchasing a pet store puppy? Absolutely not. (Justin, on the other hand, may have a different answer!) I truly believe that those little furballs living in pet stores need a loving home just as much as any animal does. But I do wish I would have known a little bit more about what type of commitment I was getting myself into. 

Don't let the idea of a cute, perfect little furball cloud your judgment when it comes to taking on the responsibility of caring for an animal. 

I hate to think about what might have happened to Riley had I not taken him home and given him the medical attention he needed. I think about his kennel-mate often, the cutest little pug. Chances are he was just as sick as Riley was since they shared such a small space. Hopefully he found a family to take care of him.

Despite the fact that Riley is more high maintenance than our daughter, I'm glad he's part of our little family. I write this, simply, to shed light on the truth about pet store puppies. 

I'm Dreaming

All I want for Christmas is a home of my own.

Okay, so a house isn't exactly something you write down on your list to Santa and expect to receive, but if we had the money to spend, you better believe it would be at the top of my list. 

I want to buy a house.

Apartment living is for the birds. Our apartment is pretty nice and in a great location (minus the toll road right outside of our window) and it was a really great size until little Miss Avery came along. Who knew that such a small human could take up so much space? I feel like we're bursting at the seams. The apartment always looks like a mess because we just have so much stuff and no where to keep it!

Early in my last trimester, Justin and I started house hunting and I was like a little kid in a candy store. I already spend my days searching relator.com, so actually going to look at houses was so exciting to me. But just as quickly as it started, it ended. We had some unexpected medical costs due to hospital visits for preterm contractions and our little savings for a down payment went right out the window.

So here we are, months later, still living in our apartment. I'm still searching realtor.com every day of my life, and even though home ownership most likely isn't in our very near future, I hold on to the idea that maybe we'll win the lottery or somehow find a bunch of money and my dreams will come true.

So until then, I'll peruse Pinterest and collect images of my dream home. I know that old saying "patience is a virtue" but I'm over it. I'm more on Veruca Salt's from Willy Wonka's level. I want a house now!

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And there you have it, my dream home in a nutshell. If I had my way, we would be moving to Waco, Texas where I would buy the cheapest house I could find and hire Chip and Joanna Gaines to create the perfect French country, rustic chic with a touch of modern home filled with neutral colors, hardwood floors, sliding barn doors, and shiplap accent walls. That's not too much to ask, is it? I didn't think so!

What would your dream home look like?

Holiday DIYs

This time of the year is the best because I get to combine two of my favorite things: crafting and Christmas! I could probably do Christmas crafts every day of my life, but I think Justin would have me committed -- he already gave me the side eye when I pulled out the Christmas decorations last week.

Today, I bring for your reading entertainment my two most recent Christmas DIYs. Both of these DIYs are pretty simple, easy to do, and you're able to make them your own. If you have any favorite holiday DIYs, share them in the comments below. I'm always looking for fun, new things to work on!

DIY Christmas Stockings

Ever since Justin and I got married, I have wanted to buy personalized linen stockings for Christmas. I found the perfect ones on Etsy, but they were not cheap, and being newlywed, we didn't really have extra funds to drop on something like seasonal decorations. Now that we have Avery, and really don't have extra money for frivolous things (hello medical bills!) I decided it was a great excuse for stocking. The things we tell ourselves to justify an outrageous purchase! I was showing Justin the stockings I was going to purchase when he said, "Pshh, you could make those!" So of course, I felt like I had something to prove, so I decided I was going to tackle these bad boys. Maybe he was just trying to manipulate me into not spending our weeks grocery money on Christmas stocking. Either way, it worked. 

Fast forward to when I had all my materials and sat down to start my project when I realized I didn't own a sewing machine and would have to hand stitch these stocking. I may or may not have shot Justin a death glare. But the good news is, I survived and I am happy with the results, even if it did take me three days to finish them. (I'm sure if you don't have a four month old child needing constant attention, it wouldn't take you as long!) Follow the directions below to create your own!

Materials

Fabric of your choice (I used about 1.5 yards for three stockings)

Fabric Sheers

Sewing Machine (or if you're like me and you don't own one, a needle and thread and four extra days)

Decorative Ornaments and Name Tags (optional)

Directions

1. Find a stocking pattern that you want to use. There are a ton of different options on Pinterest for different shaped stockings. I used the pattern from this tutorial.

2. Trace the pattern on the backside of your fabric. Even though solid fabrics don't have a visible frontside or backside, they typically have a side that looks better. Whatever side you want to be visible, trace on the opposite side. Flip the pattern over and trace again so that you have two pieces.

3. Using fabric sheers, cut out your pattern, leaving about 1/4 of an inch border. You will be sewing on the line you traced so you want to leave a border!

4. Finish the top edge of both pieces by folding the top edge along the line you created with the line on the inside of the seam. Sew straight across the top. 

5. Pin the two patterns together with the lines face outward. The lines you traced may not perfectly line up and that's okay! As long as the top seams are lined up, you're good to go! 

6. Get to sewing! Sew along the pattern traced on one side until complete. Turn the stocking inside out and, voila! You have a stocking.

7. To create a loop to hang your stocking with, take a strip of fabric about 6 inches long and two inches wide (it doesn't need to be precise). Fold the fabric onto itself long-ways and sew together. Create a loop and sew into the inside of the stocking along the seam.

8. Add any decorative ornaments or name tags that you want! I found these glitter snowflake ornaments at Target in a two-pack for two dollars. I also have these personalized birch wood name tags on their way to me as we speak. I can't wait to hang them on our stockings!

DIY Newspaper Ornament

I saw a picture once on Pinterest of an ornament covered in the pages of a book, so of course, I wanted to recreate it. I bought clear ornaments and had every intention to buy an old book at the used bookstore in town, buttttt Christmas came and went and I never did it. I decided this year was the year, but I had a better idea. I was given an old Detroit newspaper from the first moon landing in 1969 that belonged to my grandparents. It had just been sitting in a box, getting ripped up, so I thought I would use it to create some ornaments that would actually display a pretty cool piece of history. The pages of the newspaper have yellowed really nicely and I'm really happy with the way they look against the gold, silver, and white theme I have going on in our tree. I have found this DIY, while super easy, is a bit time consuming, so I recommend doing it while watching a cheesetastic Hallmark Christmas movie and sipping some wine.

Materials

Some type of printed material of your choice

Mod Podge

Sponge Paintbrush

Clear Ornaments

Glitter (optional)

A place to hang your ornaments to dry over night

Directions

1. Cut strips of whatever printed material you choose into 1/2 inch pieces or less.

2. Using the sponge paintbrush, spread mod podge onto your clear ornament, lay down a strip of the paper, and cover with a layer of mod podge to seal it in. Continue this process, laying the strips of papers down in different directions, until the entire ornament is covered. 

3. Apply one last final coat of mod podge over entire ornament to seal everything in place. Sprinkle with glitter if you choose to do so.

4. Hang in a safe place overnight to let dry. I used a clothes hanging rack.

5. Hang on your Christmas tree!

I love this DIY because, depending on the printed material you choose, you could have an interesting talking point with guests! 

If you guys recreate any of these DIYs, I want to see your results! I love seeing how different people recreate projects to match their personal style! Now, time to figure out what my next project will be!

Ten Facts

Happy Monday!

If you're stopping over from Nikki's blog, welcome to Ivy & Grace! If you've just found your way to my little blog some other way, you should definitely go check out Nikki's blog. I'm over there today with some tips and tricks to create the perfect, classic holiday makeup look!

I figured that since some of you may be visiting my blog for the very first time,  I would do a little 'get to know me' type post today. I've always loved reading these types of posts. It's fun to get to know a little bit more about a blogger, especially when it is random fact!

1. This isn't my first blog. I blogged for a few years back in the day. If you've been with Nikki since the beginning of her blog, you might recognize me from Ramblings from Yours Truly. I absolutely loved blogging and grew my little blog quite a bit in just two short years. I got busy planning my wedding and then moving to another state and before I knew it, I just stopped. I'm loving getting back into blogging, but it has been hard starting from the beginning all over again! It's also hard to find time to blog with my four month old!

2. I did not go to school to be a makeup artist. I get asked a lot at work where I went to cosmetology school or how I went about training to become a makeup artist. And the answer is, ummm.... I didn't! I have a Social Work degree, and before moving to Indiana, I was a Social Worker. I worked with homeless infants and toddlers in a daycare setting right out of college and then moved to a Head Start program. I couldn't find a social work job in Indiana when we moved because I am not licensed here. So I started working at Sephora as temporary holiday help and before you knew it, they trained and certified me as a makeup artist and it became my full-time career. Since having Avery, I've transitioned back to part-time, but I love my job. I wouldn't go back to social work for anything.

3. I'm really competitive. I'm also terrible at pretty much any game and I do not have an athletic bone in my body. Wrap all those facts up and you get Jenna, the girl who refuses to play any game because she knows she's probably going to lose and will get really angry. Just the thought of playing a game makes me feel frustrated. Does this make me really weird? I think so...

4. I had a reoccurring dream as a child that a pom-pom came to life and led me through underground tunnels to a playhouse. The playhouse was divided into two themes: ballerinas and pirates. Once inside the playhouse, I was forced to pick a side and I always woke up just as I was picking. The weirdest part? This dream would terrify me! I was an overly anxious child.

5. I hate mushrooms. I try so hard to like them, but I can't stand the texture. I don't know why I feel like I would be more sophisticated if I liked mushrooms, but I just can't do it. They're slimy and grey and just bleh!

6. I'm all about that rustic life. The main reason being nothing has to be perfect. I enjoy crafting but I don't have the patience for perfection, so I'll make it "good enough," slap the word rustic on it, and call it a day! Who doesn't like a little character?!

7. But one part of that rustic life I'm not about? Camping. My high school friends wanted to make it a tradition to camp near Lake Michigan every summer. Good thing that only lasted two years. I would rather eat mushrooms than go camping, and you already know how I feel about mushrooms. 

8. I have a fear of math. My husband made me cry one time by quizzing me with math problems. Somehow, in middle school, I was put in advance math and I remember begging my teacher to let me go back to regular math. Why he thought I was capable to continue is beyond me. I failed almost all of my tests and only passed classes because I would cheat on my homework. I would feel like I was having panic attacks when teachers asked me to complete math problems on the board in front of my classmates. It was the worst! To this day, doing math in my head give me so much anxiety! 

9. I live for food. Eating is my favorite thing to do. I should be overweight, but I was blessed with my mother's high metabolism. Pregnancy was amazing because it gave me an excuse to eat even more. Sure, the whole "you're eating for two" isn't a real thing while you're pregnant, but my doctor was happy with my weight gain so I just kept on eating!

10. I love the first snow of the season. It brings my obsession with Christmas to a whole new level. I don't think there is anything prettier than sparkly snow covering trees. But once Christmas is over, my love for snow turns to hatred.

And there you have it. Ten random facts about me! If you're visiting from Nikki's blog, I hope you will come back to visit more often!

Top 4 Highlighters

There's something you should know about me. I am obsessed with highlighters. OBSESSED! I have skin as dry as the desert, so I am the girl that piles on the glow. If you can't see my highlight from space, then I've failed. 

Since I'm always playing around with new highlighters at work, I've found four of the best, must-have, can't live without highlighters. If you don't have any of these, you're going to want to run out and snag one, or two...or all of them.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette.

This highlighting palette is for you if you are highlight obsessed like myself. Hourglass is a luxury brand, so this bad boy isn't cheap, but it is a must-have for my full-face makeup routine. This palette includes three different lighting powders, Radiant Light, Incandescent Light, and Dim Light. Incandescent Light is exclusive to the palette, but you can purchase the other two, as well as four other lighting powders, on their own. The Hourglass lighting powders were intended to mimic different types of lighting on the skin. They're more of your 'healthy glow' powder as opposed to a really intense highlight. I typically use Radiant Light to set my foundation for a luminous finish. I absolutely love using these lighting powders as a soft, romantic highlight on brides. These powders are for you if you're looking for the perfect glow without looking like a disco ball.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal

Now, if you are looking to be a disco ball (don't be embarrassed, I love looking like a disco ball) you need this highlighter. Becca's Opal has quickly become a cult classic in the highlighting world, and all for good reason. On the Sephora website, the color is described as golden opal pearl, and it is absolutely beautiful. As you can tell in the picture above, mine is well loved as I am close to hitting pan. This highlighter also comes in a cream and liquid formula, so there is something for everyone. 

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in Gilded Honey

I die for this highlighter. Just like the Opal highlighter, Gilded Honey is an intense highlight. It is the perfect golden honey shade and looks absolutely stunning with a tan. Even though my skin hasn't seen the sun in over a year (#pregnancyproblems) I still wear it and it's gorgeous. I'm all about that golden goddess life.

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight 01

Don't let the name fool you, this highlight is not matte, but the perfect vanilla glow. Just like the Hourglass powders, this highlight is less intense and gives more of a healthy glow. I just have a small, deluxe sample size of this highlight, but I use this often and still have so much of the product left. This highlight is stunning on fair to medium skintones; if you are tan to deep complected, this highlight will look ashy on your skin. This holiday season, Laura Mercier launched a holiday palette with this highlight, their best selling Bronze 03 shade, and their Baked Bronzing Blush in Ritual, and you should probably buy it!

And there you have it, my top four, can't live without, highlighters. If you have a favorite highlighter that I didn't mention, leave it in the comments below! 

Random Thoughts

Once again, I've managed to not blog in the last week. This whole juggling real life, work, motherhood, blogging thing is hard! My house looks like a tornado ripped through it, even though I just picked it up a few days ago. I think that's just a loosing battle.

Since I've been MIA, I've had a few things on my mind, like....

1. This whole dumb red cup ordeal. I know everyone and their mom's has something to say about it, but that's because it's absolutely absurd. I'm a Christian and not once did I look at that red cup and get offended or think that Starbucks was proclaiming they hate Jesus (but, then again, I'm not one to get offended when it comes to my faith). If a disposable coffee cup defines your faith, then you need to reevaluate your life. Also, what is a 'Social Media Evangelist'? Please, excuse me while I go enjoy my Caramel Brûlée Latte in a Starbucks red cup.

2. Speaking of Christmas, is it too early to decorate? Why can't I keep my Christmas tree up all year long? Why is every one so against spreading out the happiest time of the year? Why can't I roll myself in glitter. I snuck this little guy up in hopes that he's not too obvious. I mean, it says 'holidays' which technically includes Thanksgiving, right?

3. Why are donuts so bad for you? They're just fried dough that bring so much joy and warmth to my inner spirit. I think that makes them semi-healthy. Emotional health is important too, people!

4. Is it possible to hire someone to do my grocery shopping and laundry for me without having to pay an arm and a leg for a personal assistant? Like, I can't afford to pay someone a legit salary to live off of, but I really need someone to do this for me. It's the bane of my existence. 

5. I picked up a few necessities at work last week since we get an extra discount during the month of November. (Also, important to note that what is necessary to a Sephora employee is not really necessary. We'll find any way to justify the purchase of a $50 eyeshadow palette that we basically already have). Any who, I needed Justin, my voice of reason, to give me a spending limit because I have no control. His response? "Just don't go all VIB Rouge." (In case you don't know, in order to become a VIB Rouge member, you have to spend $1,000 in a calendar year). Silly boy, I'm already VIB Rouge.

And last, but not least....

6. Why can't I look this cute in leopard print leggings?

Family Pictures

Recently, my brother- and sister-in-law made the trek down to Indiana to visit. We haven't been able to spend time with them since their wedding in early August, so it was really nice to catch up and spend some quality family time together. 

My sister-in-law is an extremely talented photographer, and I'm not just saying that because she's family! She has an eye for those beautiful candid moments that I think is very rare. She owns her own photography business, Jess Marie Photography, based in Southeast Michigan, and specializes in portrait and wedding photography. If you live in the area and you are looking for a great photographer, look her up! I really don't like getting pictures taken of myself and honestly find the whole process quite awkward, but Jess made it so natural. Every so often she would tell us where to stand or what to do, but most of the time, she just wanted us to act how we would normally act, and the results were amazing!

It was really hard for me to choose just a few pictures to share with you all here because I really do love every single one. I am so happy to have beautiful, professional pictures to document this time in our lives.

All photos by Jess Marie Photography