Just One Shade Of Gray

I was in the car the other day, waiting to pick up the unnamed child from school. I was looking at my iPhone and thinking about how much it helps me with my blog throughout the day. I get my comments from you awesome readers, no matter where I am. It also lets me know what my numbers are for the day and when I have new followers (thank you to all who have been spreading the word). I always have this amazing piece of technology with me.

That started me thinking about what things I could, and couldn’t, live without.

Here’s my top 10 couldn’t-live-without things in my life (besides my family — and yes there are days when I think I could live without some of them LOL).

1. My pets. I am awoken every day with little kisses on my cheeks, and I go to sleep every night with them snuggled next to me. Yes, sometimes they make me crazy, but they make everyday of my life so much better. 7 years ago, I never planned on having 1 dog … let alone three (Charlie, Gracie, and LuLu), and Kitten has been with me for the last 19 years.
2. My iPhone see above.
3. Medications. We are so lucky to live in a place where medications are readily available to us. I have certain medications that I literally could not live without. We might visit this topic someday.
4. My laptop. I got a new one a few months ago, and I am so happy at how much faster it is. I love that I can work on my blog while watching SharkTank, The Bachelor, and Ellen. Life is good.
5. TiVo. I do not know how we lived without this. When people make references to commercials or movie trailers, I never have any idea what the are talking about. I haven’t watched a commercial in years. I love being able to record multiple channels at once and pausing live TV. The person who came up with this was surely a woman trying to find a way to record multiple soap operas at the same time. She’s a genius!
6. Makeup. The older I’m getting, the more essential this is becoming. I have blonde eyebrows and eyelashes and am practically transparent I am so white.  If I’m not wearing makeup, I have no facial features at all. My daughter is olive complected with dark hair and eyes. Without makeup she still looks unfairly beautiful … and the fact that she’s 15 probably doesn’t hurt either.
7. Books. Not e-books.  Real, honest-to-God, have-it-in-your-hand, turn-the-paper-page books. I know, I know, jump into this decade and buy a Kindle, but I just like real books. I’m sure someday I might break down and get one, but for now I enjoy reading “real books”. I have to read every night before I go to bed no matter how tired I am.
8. Lotion. I am the absolute driest person on the planet. I take supplements for it, I use a humidifier, and I have tried every lotion known to woman. I put it on in the morning twice before my makeup goes on, touch on a bit more once it’s on, sometimes more in the afternoon, and a huge production of different steps of serums and lotions before I go to bed. I’m surprised that when I get a massage they don’t charge me extra. They pump the lotion on my back and 30 seconds later they have to do it again. By the end of the session, I have used up the girl’s whole pump thingy full of lotion.
9. Lip balm. Take the whole lotion thing, and take it times 100. I have lip balm everywhere. In the car, in all of my coats, all of my purses,and in EVERY single room in the house. I can’t go two minutes without it. It can’t just be some thin moisten-your-lips lip balm that washes off with one drink from a cup. It has to be the thick stuff that stays on. If anyone has a good recommendation, I am always looking for a new good one … let me know.
10. CARBS. I can not live without carbs. I know they aren’t good for you, but I don’t care. I would rather live a shorter life than a life without bread and pasta. Back when the Atkins Diet phase was big and carbs were forbidden, I decided I would take the plunge. I didn’t even make it 24 hours. I felt horrible, and, according to Topher, I was “irritable”. Needless to say I will never do that again. Plus I had friends who went months without a carb touching their lips, and they had the most rancid breath I ever smelt (not sure if the two are connected — just saying). I could live my life a happy woman on nothing but different forms of bread, pasta and cheese.

That’s my top 10 guys. I want to hear your top 10! What can’t you live without? What makes you crazy if you don’t have it? Can’t live without Cap’n Crunch? Your life isn’t complete without coffee?

You don’t have to do all 10, just throw a few out there in the comment section down below!

I almost forgot about my latest project! Sorry, I have visions of Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits dancing in my head.

Here is another thrift store find. I found this half table at a Goodwill store, and it had great bones, but it was pretty scratched up.

I decided to paint it gray! Gray people! I have never done any piece in gray, but I was pleasantly surprised. I am going to be bringing it to the craft fair on Feb 2nd (Century II, 10-4, free admission). If you are interested come see me then!

Before:

After