Author: Nikki J.

by

The Human Condition

      

Election years always bring out the very worst in people, I think. The finger pointing, the accusations, the lying, the marginalizing, the hypocrisy, the selling out – I could go on. I saw this verse today and it is really speaking to me. It’s not relevant only to Christians, but to humanity in general, regardless of your background. We are all so quick to judge, that we forget to love. And really, that’s our biggest, toughest job. Maybe that’s why we tend to focus on the “multitude of sins” that are so much easier to put in a box and check off a list.

That’s how I’m reading it, anyway.

by

Two Things are Irking Me Today…

…My hair, and my speeding ticket.

Chuck and I left Monday morning after a whirlwind 24-hour visit to the Outer Banks to visit friends. Moments after driving on a 70 MPH road, I was pulled over for going 74 in a 55 MPH. Grrr. Honestly, I didn’t even notice the change. Now I have to drive two hours away for my mandatory court date in November. I’ve never gotten a speeding ticket before (though I can’t deny that I deserve one almost daily…)

Anyway, I’ve been planning my schpiel so I can get the ticket reduced, though I can’t escape those court fees. Let’s hope for a male judge who appreciates a blonde with a twinkle in her eye. JUST KIDDING. Sort of…

Speaking of blonde, that brings me to annoyance #2. I’ve gone to 4 different stylists down here in NC and no one can seem to achieve the blonde hues I had back home. I’m not sure why it’s so difficult (is the dye/bleach different here?) but it seriously turns various shades of yellow or orange after 1 wash, if not sooner. This past time, I asked for partial highlights to touch up my roots – and somehow she ended up painting the top of my head with straight up bleach, resulting in an all-over yellow look.

The last time she did my hair, she used some gloss that turned it orange, so I think she was using the bleach to pull the orange out… but I just want foil highlights people!!! They’ve always worked for me. If I had wanted my hair bleached, I would have asked for that. Colors, dyes, glosses, etc. always make me brassy, so I have learned to stick to the basics. But, no one ever listens to me. “Just let me try this, I think it will work.” Sure. I really need to start saying no more aggressively while in that chair…

The situation is seriously just going to make me go dark(er) sooner than planned. I really don’t like yellow hair :-

On a more positive note – OBX was beautiful on Sunday 🙂

     

There are 800 happy texts in the Bible. Did you know that? If God took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must have wanted us to do it.

Pollyanna

Happy birthday, Emily! My fab little trio down here in NC planned a girls’ night Downtown at The Little Dipper after work to celebrate. Fondue, cheesecake, and Honey Dew Me Martinis were the theme of the night. We all needed this 🙂

(Taken with Instagram)

With the exception of cozy sweaters and rich, satisfying beverages, I’ve never been one to get excited for the fall. Northern Virginia tends to skip fall and spring… it goes from the extreme of summer to the extreme of winter, rains a bunch in between, then starts over. Thus, I’ve always been an (early) summer girl! Fall is simply a gray, wet forecast of the winter to come…

But the summer here in NC has been incredibly hot, muggy, and wet. Most of August has been rainy and sadly lacking on the beach front. We had a gorgeous spring and fall however! No extremes, and just a reasonable amount of rain to mix things up. Simply gorgeous – with lots of time outside.

Thus, for the first time in ages, I am looking forward to autumn for more than those pumpkin spice lattes. I can’t wait for long days eating and drinking beachfront with friends at Daddy Mac’s, lighting the firepit in the backyard, and taking evening strolls through the Cottages to glimpse the geese on the pond. 🙂 August is almost over!

by

Rosy Cheek a-Hunting

Typically, I go for warm, coral blushes when I shop for makeup. I’m always looking for that summer glow – shimmers, bronzers, golden peaches. But lately I’ve wanted to switch it up and change to a cooler, crispier pink. I want to trade in my warm glow for the fresh flush – something that would brighten my light complexion instead of warming it. Or maybe something that would add some cool contrast to the warm glow – make me a little less clay-like!

Of course, now that I want it, I can’t find it anywhere. I don’t know if it’s the trends or the season keeping me in the bronzes and peaches, but all I want is the Rose Sucre shade from Lancome that I had years and years ago…

Sigh. First world problems.