October Reading

October is one of my favorite months for reading. This is probably because I read Wuthering Heights almost every fall. I know that it's a tragic/romantic sort of story but I also think it's a little on the dark side, making it the perfect Halloweentime kind of novel. I have several other re-reads lined up for the month, as well as some new stuff (Stephen King, anyone?). I'm going to revisit Wicked for what I'm thinking is the fourth time. I'm also planning on reading Emma because a couple of years ago when I read through the Austen collection, someone was borrowing my copy and I missed it (and truly, I haven't felt complete since... at least not where Jane Austen is concerned... It's sort of "my thing" to read all six books at once).

Right now I'm reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (by Rasom Riggs) and I'm loving it. It's a little bit creepy and a little bit mysterious- the perfect type of story for this time of year. Have you read it? What did you think? What are you reading right now? (By the way, NONE of these questions are rhetorical.)

 Anyhoo...

Happy Weekend, my friends!

Make it an exciting one.

The One About Harper's Dad

The thing about Harper's dad is that... he's awesome.

I've realized lately that there are a lot of totally not-awesome dads out there and I'm so glad that Harper's dad isn't one of them. 

Colt works really hard so that Harper can have the things that she needs (and even some that she doesn't, like gymnastics class and princess stuff). Colt plays with Harper and he makes her laugh every single day. He gets excited over silly things like "Ariel kisses" and he always claps for Harper when she dances and does tricks. He shares his ice cream with her and brings her Chic-fil-A and he tickles her belly whenever she asks. 

Awesome. I told you that he's awesome.

Harper is so much like Colt. She has his temper (his SHORT temper), his coordination (lucky for her, since mine is seriously lacking), his eyes, and his hair.

From the very beginning, Colt has been amazing (seriously... he even went to my baby shower and opened every single present because I was too embarrassed to do it alone). I've never doubted his devotion to Harper and I love that. I love knowing that Colt will never miss a dance recital or soccer game and that he will let Harper watch her "show" even if a big game is on. I love knowing that Harper will never have to doubt her father's love for her. She'll never need to wonder if anything is more important than her because nothing ever will be and I love that. I absolutely love that. 

For real, how adorable are these two?

Did you know that Colt has a nickname for Harper? He calls her "lil' bugger" and it's the cutest thing ever... Well, it's almost as cute as when I come back from walking Hazelnut to find this...

Be Blessed

I told you that I've been quite lost in my own thoughts the past couple of weeks. It's true.

I've been thinking a lot about blessings lately. We are all so blessed. I'm blessed with a hard-working husband, a beautiful daughter, two spunky dogs, a comfy home, a job that I love, plenty of good books to read, a strong body, and an able mind (plus so much more).

How in the world could I ever complain? How in the world could I ever have a bad day when I'm surrounded by so much good- when my life is overflowing with blessings?

I just don't know. I don't know how people can complain about the very things that make their life wonderful. I honestly get tired of hearing/reading complaints. People whine about their jobs (which is really annoying considering the unemployment rate), their families, their children (seriously, people? just, no...), their houses (which keep them warm and comfy) not being big/fancy/awesome enough, their bodies (which I've been guilty of myself) not being good enough, and their day/week/month not going as well as they'd like.

We all have bad days/week/months/years. We all dream of having more and being better. We all want bigger/better/more.

Sometimes we get bigger/better/more. Sometimes we don't.

That, my friends, is life.

It's nothing to complain about. It's nothing to begrudge. In actuality, it's something to celebrate. Life, in good moments and bad, is something to celebrate.

Life is a precious and almost unbelievable gift. It is something that we should embrace each morning, even if we are up for work at 5:00 am (which I am, every day of the week), with joy and with gratitude. If we felt a little more thankful for our houses, children, pets, families, and possessions, maybe we wouldn't feel so inclined to complain about them. Maybe we would stop seeing them as always being less-than adequate/awesome/perfect.

Let me just tell you something. If you have a home, a family, a pet, a healthy body, and a working mind, YOU ARE BLESSED. You are a blessed person. Embrace your blessings and give thanks for them every single day. I've been trying to do this and it's been amazing. You'd be surprised how much easier it is to have an awesome day when you are constantly noticing and appreciating the world around you.

The people, pets, and things that are a part of your life are special and to be frank, they aren't constant. At any moment, you could loose them. You could find yourself jobless, childless, or even homeless and that, my friends, is when you will be allowed to complain about a bad day.

Until then, join me in being blessed. Seriously, it's a choice. You can choose to complain or you can choose to be thankful.

I choose thankful.

Hazel is among my favorite blessings.

She makes me happy every single day with her sweet Grinch kisses.

Harper is blessed, too.

Every Wednesday, she gets to see the garbage truck.

She's Nearly Two

I think we all know that I've been avoiding the subject of Harper's upcoming birthday. In a few short days, my baby- my sweet, beautiful baby- is going to be two.

In a few short days, my baby won't be much of a baby anymore. 

In truth, she hasn't been much of a baby for a long time.

I'm not ready for her to be two. 

I never will be.

Still, it's coming. Harper is going to turn two, she's going to have an Ariel party (are you surprised?), and she's going to be spoiled rotten and there is nothing I can do about it. 

I looked through baby Harper photos the other day and nearly had a breakdown. If anything in this world can make me baby hungry (tacky phrase, I know), it's baby Harper. 

Baby Harper was seriously cute (and so were her chubby hands/fingers/toes).

The Beauty Aisle: Going Bare

Someone asked me about buying Bare Minerals for the first time.

I have used Bare Minerals it for a long time and love the foundation, mineral veil, blush, eye shadow, and brushes. The foundation is probably my favorite Bare Minerals product and I think that it's very fairly priced. $26 is not that much to pay for foundation that lasts 4-6 months.

There are several places to purchase Bare Minerals: Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom, Bare Escentuals Boutique, etc. and the good thing about these stores is that they all come with helpful (and oftentimes annoying) sales associates who will show you what you need to know and make sure you find the proper shades/textures for you. Also, if you get home and don't like what you purchased, you won't need to worry because all of these stores have customer-friendly return/exchange policies (be sure to hold on to your receipt!).

I typically purchase my Bare Minerals products from Ulta or Nordstrom.

However, if I were buying Bare Minerals for the first time ever I'd start with a kit, mainly because it's a great deal.

This kit from Bare Escentuals is only $59.99, which is amazing because you seriously get over $200 in product and brushes. Bare Minerals brushes are my favorite but they can get expensive (the four brushes offered here would total $81 if you purchased them separately). 

The kit is offered in six different color options (I, of course, purchased fair) and you get two shades of foundation to try. I actually liked the two shades from my original kit and still use both them depending on how tan I am at different times of the year (in fall, winter, and spring I wear fair... and in summer I wear fairly light).

I think that a kit is also a good choice because it lets you try smaller (medium size) versions of the foundations and mineral veil. That way you can decide if you even like Bare Minerals. Once you've used your kit products and realized, like I did, that you can't even imagine life without mineral makeup, you can branch out and try different options, like Matte Foundation or Shimmering Mineral Veil. The kit is just a really good starting point.   

So, my suggestion for first time Bare Minerals users is: buy a kit, try it out, decide if you even like it, and then go to a store (Ulta is my preference) and let a sales associate show you what else Bare Minerals offers (especially in blushes, other foundation textures, and mineral veil options). Sound good? 

Hello There

Blogfriends!

It's been a few days. I'm sorry. I've been a bit lost in my own thoughts lately. Once I get things sorted out, I'll explain, I promise.

I was also out of town over the weekend. While Harper had big fun with my parents, Colty and I took off for a quick getaway with some friends. It was awesome (celebrity suite, pool time, yummy food, shopping, fun friends, and macaroons = awesome, just so you know).

I'm going to be around more this week, I promise. Heaven knows that I need something to distract me from the fact that I will soon have a TWO YEAR OLD.

Also... Remember to schedule your Halloween mini-sesh with Rush Photography. We are going to have a great time on Saturday and I'm not kidding when I say that I'd love to see you there. Plus, how can you say no to professional photos for $35 (regular price is $50 but Diligent Joy readers get a deal, mainly because they are awesome). Contact Whitney on facebook or e-mail her at whitneyrushton@aol.com.

The Beauty Aisle: Trying New Things and Flat Iron Curls

You should never be afraid to try new things with your hair/skin/nails/makeup. I love experimenting with different products and looks and I probably have too much fun playing beauty parlor alone in my bedroom.

I've said it before- I'm willing to try just about anything (well, except glitter eyeliner or blue mascara, mainly because I don't plan on being a stripper anytime soon).

My biggest advice about trying new things is to do it at home. The first time I wore cherry-red lipstick, I was in my pajamas and cleaning my bathroom. I make sure to never do anything new in the hair, makeup, or style department on days/nights when I have plans. I prefer to have a few "practice" days at home, which help me 1. perfect the look, 2. decide if it even works for me (blue nail polish, for example, was a definite "no" for me after two at-home trials), and 3. get used to it so that I don't feel awkward when I'm out and about.

Bright lipstick, braids, half-ponytails, bright eye shadow, and hot-roller curls are all things that I've tried at home on cleaning day or on evenings when I don't have plans.

Also, if you are trying a new product, test it out a few days before anything important, just in case. Nobody wants to go to their sister's wedding or family photos with a nasty rash.

One of the facebook questions I received was about how to do flat iron curls, like the ones I had when Colt and I got married.

It took me a while to get these right and so my advice is to just practice at home. Make sure that you section off your hair (I use three sections: bottom, middle, and top), don't use super small sections of hair, and don't be to precise. This style is best when it's a bit on the messy side (and you won't wind up looking like Shirley Temple).

I don't do flat iron curls much anymore but for about two years, I didn't even own a curling iron and so I did them all the time. Most recently, I've been using a larger (1.5") curling iron on my hair but on days when I want messier curls, I use my flat iron.

I've been on youtube all morning trying to find the perfect tutorial about flat iron curls (because I'm never going to be a vlogger) and frankly, I haven't found it. I did find some sufficient ones and you may link to them here, here, and here (the last one is my favorite).

Tradsies?

Is anyone interested in doing a blog sponsorship page? I'll sponsor you for a month (and do a spotlight post all about you and your awesomeness) if you'll sponsor me for a month.

E-mail me at missabbya@gmail.com if you're interested.

The Beauty Aisle: Prioritizing to Save Time

Over the weekend, I asked my facebook friends and followers what beauty/product questions they might have. If you responded, you're awesome. I'm going to answer all of the questions this week, I promise.

One of the questions was about saving time.

Sometimes I wonder what in the world I did before I had a Harper girl. Then I remember that it used to take me over an hour (eek!) to get ready each day. I'd iron my clothes, shower, wash my hair, lotion, put makeup on, dry my hair, get dressed, flat-iron/curl my hair, accessorize, and find the perfect pair of shoes every single day.

What in the world was I thinking?

Now that I'm a mom (among other things) I can't do this everyday because I don't have time. Also, I don't want to be so high maintenance that I have to spend an hour in front of the mirror in order to feel ready. I'd much rather read a book or take Hazelnut for a walk. In the past few years, I have come up with a simplified routine that really works for me.

Sure, there are days when I take my time getting ready. They are usually on the weekends when I have special plans. Really though, I don't feel like I look any better when I spend 60+ minutes getting ready than I do on days when time is limited.

On regular days, I'm all Abbyed up in about 25 minutes. Last Saturday, for example, I was super busy getting our house ready because people were coming over to watch the U game (which was so fun, by the way... we seriously have awesome friends). I was showered, "done up", and dressed in about half an hour.

I think that the best way to shorten  your beauty routine is to prioritize.

Ask yourself what parts of your routine are necessary for you to feel put together (it doesn't matter what advertisers say or what your mom/friends do... you need to find what works for you). Make those things a daily habit and let everything else be optional.

Everyone will have different priorities. I know girls that can't feel pretty unless they have clean hair or wear mascara. Others don't consider themselves "ready" unless they have jewelry on.

It's all up to you and it's all about what specific things make you feel beautiful.

My priorities are a shower, shaved legs, lotion, ironed clothes, and a little makeup. I will never feel pretty if I have dry skin or wrinkled clothing and that's just that.

I save other things like hair washing, jewelry, and heavier makeup for the days when I have/need more time.

My simplified hair routine is easy because not washing my hair saves so much time (at least 30 minutes each day!). A little dry shampoo, a messy bun or a few curls, and some hairspray is all I need to feel good about my hair. I can honestly do my hair in about five minutes.

My simplified makeup routine (which also takes about five minutes) includes nothing more than foundation (Bare Minerals), blush (Sonia Kashuk for Target), and lipstick (L'Oreal Paris). If I'm wearing lipstick, I feel pretty almost regardless of anything else. I don't bother with eye makeup unless I have to because it takes so much time (I also wear sunglasses everywhere I go so unless it's evening, nobody even sees my eyes).

That's pretty much all I have to say about saving time. How do you save time when you get ready? Do you have any good tips to share?

U of U Fans Are Cuter than BYU Fans and I Have Proof

I'm not a college football fan but my sweet husband is, so I'm dedicating this post to him.

It's game day today (and a particularly big game day since the U is playing BYU, their biggest rival). Colt prefers to watch Ute games at home (as opposed to a sports bar which, according to Colt, is distracting) so I'm making white chili and planning for a cozy night in (cozy = Colt standing and yelling at the television). 

Harper and I have spent almost all day playing outside. The weather is perfect, especially if you're in the mood for running/rolling/hopping down big hills. 

This just proves that U fans are cuter than BYU fans.

(and they have better hair... I neither washed nor combed Harper's hair today, FYI)

 I did put a bow in it- a cute red bow that didn't make it through Harper's somersaults.

 I agree with Harper: If you're going to splash in a puddle, you might as well twirl in it, too.

Thanks to Grandma Carrie, Harper is ready for game day.

We don't know if she likes the Utes, but we do know that she loves Minnie Mouse.

Go Utes!

Opportunity

The thing that I love about Harper is that she never misses an opportunity. She never says no to a yummy treat. She never turns down a good movie or book. If she sees a puddle, she jumps in it. If she sees a great big lake and wants to get naked, she does. If she sees a way to turn our couch cushion into a landing pad, she does it, no questions asked.

When opportunity knocks, Harper answers.

Head on over here to wish my friend Misty a very happy birthday!

By the way, Misty... Do you remember when we were in primary together?

We had Penny for a teacher and I loved her because she gave us candy every single week.

Happy Friday, my sweet friends.

Do something awesome.

Announcements and Whatnot

I took Harper to the store for a treat.

She chose a bagel and an orange.

I'm telling you, Harper is so much more than a cute girl.

She's a healthy girl.

The winner of the Favorites contest is Lizbeth. Congrats lady! I have your e-mail address and will be in touch this afternoon.

Also, here is the info for Rush Photography's Halloween Mini-Sessions:

• They will be on Saturday, October 1, 2011 (and may overflow to the 2nd, depending on demand).
• Each session will take about 20 minutes.
• The location is TBD- we are trying to find the perfect spot as we speak! You might want to display these photos in your house and chances are you don't want them to be overly Halloweeny (not a word, I know).
• They are $50 but Diligent Joy readers will get them for $35! (See, I told you it would be worth your while to stick around this little bloggyspace.)
• You'll get 5 edited images on a disc as well as a copyright notice so that you can have them printed from anywhere you'd like. 

If you have more questions or if you just want to be awesome and book your mini-shesh, e-mail Whitney at whitneyrushton@aol.com or contact her on facebook here. I'd really love to see you there. I'm going to be playing photographer's assistant for the day and I'm so excited!

Also, I know you're probably wondering what happened to the Harper's Halloween Costume Contest. The answer is... nothing. I loved all of the suggestions but we just haven't decided yet. We have to find something that Harper will actually wear which right now, isn't much. At this point, Harper will wear either a dress or a skirt/t-shirt. Pants and hats are absolutely out of the question. We are working on it and I promise that if I take any of the suggestions, I'll pay up on the prize. (I'm actually leaning towards one of them right now... I just have to see if it will work!)

Like I've said before, it's going to be hard to beat this...

 I've even thought of having Harper wear her witch costume again. I just have a really hard time spending money on Halloween costumes. Seriously, how annoying is it that whenever I find one I like, it costs more than a real outfit?

Soup, A Person, and Halloween Photos for You

Weather in SLC has taken a turn this week and cooler temperatures have arrived (will they stay? I'm not sure... and I really hope not because I'm still very much in summer mode) causing us to crave soup & sandwich dinners.

A while back, I told you that I wanted a person. If you watch Grey's Anatomy, you know what I mean by this. If you don't watch Grey's Anatomy, you probably think it's weird for me to want a person.

When I say I want a person, I mean I want a kindred spirit/love you more than life/I need to tell you everything kind of friend.

I had one of these friends once. Her name was Tarah and she has been a special part of my life since I was 12. Sunday was Tarah's birthday. She would have been 30 this year. I missed her all day long and thought about how much has happened in the past nine years that I've had to live without her.

Of all the people that have come and gone in my life, I miss Tarah the most and that's probably because she was my person. 

The change in weather has made me feel a bit melancholy. Tarah's birthday, the anniversary of 9/11, my car getting crunched again, and some unexpected work changes have made for a somber week.

I feel reflective. I feel like it's time to reevaluate and make some positive changes. I feel the need to finally let another person (or two or three) into my life and my heart. I'm trying to connect with people and to plan more activities with those that are special to me (including Colty). 

I may have found a new person and I was even cheesy enough to tell her so last night. Luckily, she watches Grey's Anatomy so she didn't think I was a crazy girl when I said, "I think you could be my person."

On a cheerier note, the blog makeover is coming along well, no thanks to me of course. I was going to try and do it myself and I'm so glad that I didn't because Katie has done a most fabulous job.

On an even cheerier note, there is so much to look forward to right now, including a new adventure with Whitney and some other friends, a little getaway with Colt, Harper's birthday, and Halloween.

Speaking of Halloween... If you live in the area and want some photos of your kids (or your dogs or just yourself) in their Halloween costumes, leave a comment on this post ASAP. Whitney is going to do a day of pumpkin patch mini photo sessions. They will be similar to the Easter mini-session that Harper had last spring (except they will be outside and there won't be a bunny because honestly, I think that poor bunny is still recovering from the Easter photos). 

Anyway, I don't have all of the details (location, exact pricing) quite yet but for under $40, you'll get several edited (and amazing) images from Rush Photography. There might even be a little discount for Diligent Joy readers (wink... wink). Don't forget to leave a comment because the mini-sesh slots will fill up quickly and because I'll most likely be there too and I'd much rather hang out with you guys than with anyone else. :)

Oh and I'm going to start running again tonight. I'm thinking of doing a 10k in November. Wish me luck, friends, because I'm going to need it. 

Nobody Told Harper It Wasn't a Nude Beach

Harper and I joined Whitney for some photo sessions this past Saturday. We spent almost six hours watching her work her magic (I wasn't just watching- I was making an idiot of myself. Getting a baby to look at you, smile, and not move all at the same time is hard work, my friends.). One of the locations she used was The Great Salt Lake. Harper had never been there before and you can't even imagine how excited she was.

While Whitney was doing this...

 

Harper was doing this...

As soon as Harper saw the lake, she started undressing. Her skirt, shirt, and shoes were off within minutes and eventually (and despite protests from me) even her diaper came off, and that was when I was really happy that we were with Whitney and her camera (because naked baby bum photos really are the cutest thing ever, even if you can't share them with bloggy friends...).

Ironically, Harper didn't actually get in the lake until her clothes were back on. 

The Beauty Aisle: Some Favorites...

The winner of the Neutrogena Mineral Makeup giveaway is Farm Girl (who must be really fabulous since she is also named Abby!). Congrats! E-mail me at missabbya@gmail.com

Some of my favorite things right now...

Trail mix- Harper eats the M&M's and I eat everything else.

Club Minis Multi- Grain Crackers- Have you tried these? Delish.

Tea (iced tea, that is)- In my efforts to be more healthy (and self-accepting), I've cut back on the Sugar-Free Rockstars. I drink one every couple of days because I love them but I'm trying to choose better forms of caffeine. Right now, I love these zero-calorie Arnold Palmers. I'm also obsessed with the new line of Lipton teas, especially the Diet Citrus Green Tea. It's so refreshing.

Some of Harper's favorite things right now...

 Skirts- She won't even look at pants (and heaven help the person who tries to make her wear a pair). Thank goodness for these adorable $5 Circo skirts from Target and thank goodness for the amazing person who picked up one in each color for us. Fabulous.

Tummy Tickles- She pulls up her shirt and places your hand on her tummy. 

Now for some of my all-time favorite things (that come from The Beauty Aisle)...

Oil of Olay Total Effects Moisturizer- I love this stuff and really don't ever want to live without it. It feels amazing on my face, sinks in quickly, and pairs perfectly with other Olay products that I use.

Maybelinne Full N' Soft Mascara- I've been using this stuff forever- like seriously since high school. I've tried countless mascaras from the beauty aisle and the cosmetics counter alike. None have ever compared to Full N' Soft. I think that's because this is my "first love" in the world of mascara and we all know how hard it is to let go of a first love. Plus, this stuff and I have been through it all together- proms, pageants, graduation, concert tours, college, marriage, divorce, marriage again, pregnancy, and motherhood. I love it because it gives a really thick and even look and because it comes off just as easily as it goes on. 

Nivea Skin Firming Moisturizer- This is my favorite lotion because it smells and feels really good. I'm a lotion freak. I can't stand dry skin and have to put lotion on right after I get out of the shower. Seriously, even thinking of dry skin makes me want to shudder. 

L'Oreal Paris Lip Stain Duo- Lip stain is probably my favorite makeup item ever. If my lips look pretty, I feel pretty no matter what I'm wearing or how long it's been since I shampooed my hair. I love lip stain because it lasts all day (great for weddings, family photos, and other events where the last thing you want to worry about is your lipstick) and I never have to worry about kissing my pretty lips away (which, with Harper and Colt around, could easily happen). I've tried several lip stains and this little set from L'Oreal is great. I really like that the lip stain and gloss are together in one container. 

Best of luck and lots of love.

Happy Weekend, my friends.

Do something memorable.

Harper Reads

Remember that time I wrote about moments with Harper- magical, yet fleeting, moments that I never ever want to forget for as long as I live?

Well, we've been having them almost every night this week.

Harper has finally matured enough to really enjoy books (remember how in one of my very first blog posts, I told you that I really wanted her to love reading?). She likes to be read to. She likes to read to me. She likes to sit quietly and look at a book while I sit next to her and read my book. Sometimes we even trade and I read Dr. Seuss while she thumbs through some Dickens.


(Fall is the time of year when I really enjoy the classics... I always re-read my favorites- Wuthering Heights, Dracula, Emma, and Crime and Punishment. I think this is because fall is such a cozy time of year and I just can't help but want something familiar to cuddle up with... Some people crave soup and sweaters... I crave Bronte and Austen... To each their own, right?)

Last night, Harper and I spent a solid hour enjoying story time together. There are no words to describe how I feel about watching Harper discover the magic of books. I love it and think that it just might be my favorite Harper memory thus far (okay, I could never choose a favorite but just know that this one is up there with spontaneous dance parties and belting The Wizard and I in our laundry room).

Right now, Harper is really enjoying the following books:

Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman (except we say mommy instead of mother because I'll never be old enough to be called "mother")

If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond (and don't worry, I cry every single time we read this one)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen and Mark Teaque (it's only good if you roar with vigor on page 9)

Up by Kristine O'Connell George and Hiroe Nakata

Princess Says Goodnight by Naomi Howland and David Small (right now, anything that has to do with anything princessish is a go for Harper)

And when those books don't interest her, she goes for a little David Copperfield- you know, just some light reading.

This makes me wonder... What are your favorite children's books? What are your children's favorites?

(When I ask these questions and you don't answer, it makes me feel awkward so... if you have some kids and they like some books, leave a comment. I love comments.)

Wednesdays Are Super Cool, If You're A Harper Girl

I'm pretty sure that Wednesday is Harper's favorite day of the week. She loves it for two reasons.

#1. It's garbage day and she gets to watch the truck drive by our house not once, but twice. She loves it and never fails to ask for "a ride?"

Garbage trucks are big entertainment and refreshments are required.

#2. Wednesday is gymnastics day.

Yesterday was an especially cool Wednesday because Harper got to wear (and sleep in) her Ariel shirt. 

The Beauty Aisle: Why Exactly You Should Be Sulfate-Free

Pureology posted a link on their facebook page this morning and I wanted to share it with you. Ever since I went sulfate-free several years ago, my hair has been drastically healthier, which considering how much color/bleach/heat I put on it, is nothing short of a beauty miracle.

And really, don't we all need a beauty miracle (or ten) from time to time (or every single day of the year)?

Go here to learn more about why you should be sulfate-free (unless of course you want to use a dish soap equivalent on your hair) and stay tuned for a list of excellent sulfate-free products.

Also, if you're like me and you aren't quite ready for fall yet, join me and make a stand. I'm protesting with essie's Mod Squad polish and Spicy Pink lipstick from L'Oreal's Colour Riche line, which is the best kind of $8 lipstick I've ever owned (and I should know since I've tried just about everything). I love it so much that I own it in five shades.

There is no rule that says you can't wear pink after Labor Day so go ahead and rock at least a little bit of summer for me, okay?

Oh and ya'll can just stop holding your breath now because Diligent Joy has officially joined facebook. You can "like" it here (and don't worry... I know that you don't just "like" me but sadly, there isn't a "love" button in the facebook world... but I'll know what you mean). It'll be worth your time if you like (or love with all your heart) quotes/thoughts about being happy.

Also, sushi with the ladies last night was great, but it's not like that was a surprise or anything and in my most humble (and non-fish-eating) opinion, Ichiban is the best sush spot in SLC. I had the Vegiban Roll last night and it was delish.

(Thanks a lot, Harper, for ruining our photo.)

And for more pinkspiration, go here.