Try It On

So, this probably won't amuse anyone but me. Today I was scavenging through the internet and I happened upon the Clairol website. (shocking, shocking). I found this tool they have called,"Try It On". I click on it and low and behold, I fell in love. You simply upload a picture of yourself and start to play. You can experiment with different colors of hair and different hairstyles. If you are ever in the market for a new color or style, check this out. It is quite fun AND I know of a great stylist who could take those pictures and make them a reality. *wink* Just an idea!

Laughter is Good like a Medicine

I pulled into my usual parking spot at home, mentally drained from a whole day of convincing people to buy makeup. I gathered my belongings and climbed out of the car, eager to swallow some coffee and get something to eat.

I am standing RIGHT outside my door, and I think to myself," My keys...." and, right as that thought is passing through my head....I slammed the door shut. what? Yes. Great. I squinted and saw my pink heart key chain swinging gleefully from the ignition. Crap. I almost broke a nail yanking on the VERY locked door. ugh. So, I called my nice boyfriend. So, there we are, trying to pry open my locked car. Here is me, laying my whole 6 ft frame on the hood of the car with my face pressed against the windshield yelling out "to the left, no right, go down!", my brother, Riley, standing with an old piece of wood shoved between the door and the frame. Then there was Jose Luis, working a wobbly, twisted coat hanger down to the very slippery lock.

After about an hour, my mom wanders out with a very long broom handle. "Try this you guys, because whatever you are doing isn't working" We all gave her an incredulous look and tried her broom handle technique. You are right. It didn't work either. So, after an hour and 30 minutes, still without coffee and food, I looked at Jose with a determined look. I said," baby, try prying it open more" He pushed and with all of my might, I yanked that handle open and it popped. We broke the lock. Who cares. I got the keys, we are happy. With a high five and a "we make a great team!" cheer, we called it quits.

Two days later. Jose Luis and I were running an errand for my mom. Mind you, it was boiling hot and we were eager to get home and into some AC. We climb into the hot, sweaty car and I tried to start it. It wouldn't start. He looked and me and casually asked," did you ever get that gas?" Oops. "No" I squeaked out. He was like," Ok, let's walk to Holiday" Of course the people at Holiday wouldn't let us borrow a gas can. We had the option of buying one for $10. No thanks. Mom came to the rescue with a gas can and a ride back to the car.

The points of these stories are not only to mention that things in life might happen only to merely set us back, but to find good company to experience them with. Jose is definitely the best. When he heard that I locked my keys in the car, he said," I really have to teach those keys to remind you to grab them. Dumb keys" ended with a kiss to my cheek. And, barely two days later, we ran out of gas. He just found us a shady spot and a bag of Corn Nuts ( actually he bought them, he didn't just find those. phew) and we sat waiting, happy and sweaty, pointing out cool cars..

"A cheerful heart is like a good medicine, but a crushed spirit is like dried up bones." Proverbs 17:22 I believe God wants us to live our lives in His good medicine. I want to live in His love and His spirit, because mine can feel like it's crushed some days. I want to live with a cheerful heart!!

the end.

Beauty School Drop-Out?

Today, I re-enrolled in Beauty school! I have 2 months of school left then I will be a licensed cosmetologist. I will be taking clients and practicing for my state board exam.

I did the first 16 months of my education at the Spring Lake Park location. However, now that I am living in Maple Grove, I decided that it was be a lot more fuel efficient to transfer to a closer campus. I entered into the Eden Prairie campus. The student body is a lot smaller and since I will be going full time, it was important to me to NOT be in a zoo atmosphere. (no offense, day time students at SLP.)

I was sitting in the office today filling out the paperwork and they had to call my former director of Education to get something from my file. I overheard her say," oh, you are so lucky to get Marni! She is so quick! You can just leave her alone without any instruction and she does incredible work!" That made a HUGE smile stretch across my face. It is so wonderful to hear something so positive! I truly am excited to be back at school! The two months will fly by and before I know it, my life can start! So, book an appt. before I get too booked! (haha)

The Importance of Being "Ernest"

I started working at the ripe age of 14. I started out cleaning houses, sharing a paper route with my older sister, and babysitting on a regular basis. When I was 16, I started working at the 50's Grill. I stayed on there for almost 8 years with a smattering of other jobs woven into those 8 years. I was used to having a schedule set out for me, showing up for my shift, working my shift, punching out, and going home. Now, I am an independent contractor, or for a more glamorous title, which I am ALWAYS a bigger fan of, a freelance makeup artist. I work with a company called Resolutions Lifestyle Makeup. I actually have a few different responsibilties. I work as a makeup artist selling our AMAZING products (*hint hint*), selling, and promoting our makeup classes, and assisting the owner and founder, Julie.
I always thought I was a self-motivated worker. I was wrong. No, scratch that. I think it's just a different sort of work. If I want to get paid, I have to be a walking, talking, marketing sign for my company. I LOVE it. When people compliment me on my makeup, I whip out a business card and with a bright smile, launch into a quick speal. My second favorite thing besides doing the makeup is selling the classes. I love launching into how "great!" our classes are and " how I think you should totally sign up!"
So, to end this post that I wrote because I thought the title was clever, it is so important to be ernest. Especially when selling someone that "chiclet" of eyeshadow, buys me milk for the week! Oh so glamorous, yes, yes I know.

Congrats Class of '04!

I still remember that day. The last weekend in May. Sunny skies, tons of friends, a heart full of dreams, and me in a blue cap and gown. I was ready to take on the world. I was graduating from highschool! Why this sudden recollection of meloncholy you might ask? Every spring, when school is out for the summer, I always get a little sentimental. Who knows, maybe because one chapter is ending and another is starting, maybe because I hate change, so I get sad. Like I said," who knows?"
So, last night, I was driving home and the fresh breeze hit my nose and I was taken back to that day in 2004. I remember thinking that life could only get better from there on out. This is when I start life for real, right? I can start being a grown up!
Now, I'm only 23, soon to be 24 in a little under a month, so I'm not exactly well versed nor well weathered in the concept of life. But, I do know that life can deal us things that aren't exactly the things we had in mind on our graduation day. I spent the next few years rushing about and filling my schedule with too many things, too many people, and too many places. I never stopped and just rested for a little bit. Recently, I heard someone say," God loves us to be still, to know He is God. He wants to relax us, like an unflexed muscle, to give us peace, and to fill our hearts with His love." That hit me hard. I had just spent the past 6 years rushing and running, changing and moving. In that process, I stopped resting. Recently, I have allowed myself to just stop. Stop with the fuss, the constant struggle of everyday life, and just REST. My goal is to just let God's peace fill up my life. I'm in a place right now in my life where I can do just that.
I can't tell you how much of a change it has made in my life, in my heart, in my dreams. I encourage you, if you need to, just relax. The Bible promises that the peace of God, that passes ALL understanding, with fill our heart and minds.
"So, congratulations class of 2004,WE DID IT"- Elle Woods, Legally Blonde
(c'mon, what other movie did you expect me to quote???)

A New Day-A New Blog

I couldn't help it. I had to start blogging again. I love it. I love writing down my thoughts and stories. But. Even more, I think I like having readers. I love sharing with people what I think is funny. SO. On this blog, you will be able to read my witty, clever renditions of stories. I promise I will make you laugh and maybe in the process, keep you updated on my somewhat changing, but always, happily ever present life.
the end.