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Friday, October 31, 2014

BLOGTOBER | Halloween Costume Reveal


This year Paige is being an adorable little kitty cat!

Here are a couple photos of past Halloweens with my hubby!
Starting from the top left: Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts-2011, Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood-2010. Bottom left: Gangster girl-2009, and ghostbuster, Pirates-2008

 While I was pregnant with little Paige (2012), money was tight so I decided to make myself a costume.  I made it using regular white fabric paint and added the cute little bow because we just found out that she was a little girl.


And this one is from last year.  We could only afford to get Paige a costume, and it's not like we were going to make it to any costume parties with a little one, so we splurged a little and got her this amazing pink monster costume.  Seriously, how cute is this?!


What is your costume this year?  Have you ever made a costume yourself?

Hope you have a great holiday!!

Helene in Between

Thursday, October 30, 2014

BLOGTOBER | 30 Facts About Me

Well, today is my first day being 30!  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.  I'm not as upset as I thought I would be.  I've done a lot of pretty cool things in 30 years!  I can't wait to see what I do for the next 30+ years. lol!  So, to celebrate my 30 years I thought I would share 30 facts about me...
  1. I've known my husband since I was 13 years old
  2. I've lived in 5 different states.  Pennsylvania is the one that has felt the most like home to me.
  3. I LOVE owls and penguins.  I'm a little obsessed and I think it wore off on my daughter, because now she loves owls too. lol
  4. I can quote every single line from Robin Hood:Men In Tights. haha!  Not sure if I should be proud of that one or not...
  5. I am super OCD about applying my strawberry chapstick
  6. I am a super big sissy about cold weather.  I'm a summer kind of gal....but my favorite holiday is Christmas.  I don't make any sense
  7. My first celebrity crush ever (when I was a preteen) was Indiana Jones. haha!
  8. I didn't wear any makeup until I was around 18 or 19 years old.  I've been more of a tomboy my whole life.
  9. I have a bit of a shopping addiction problem...I kind of want everything.
  10. I hate talking on the phone with people.  I'm more of a texter.  If I have a story I need to tell them I just call but if it's just the usual "hey, how ya doin" then it's a text.
  11. I thought I would always want to live near Pittsburgh but now as I'm getting a little older and have been here for so many years, I would LOVE to try another state.
  12. I've been dying my hair since I was 15 years old.  I've had black, dark brown, reddish brown, fire engine red, and natural looking red.  No blonde
  13. I have 7 siblings. 1 brother, 3 half-sisters, 1 step-sister, and 2 step-brothers.
  14. When I was in 3rd grade I carried my Roger Rabbit doll with me everywhere, until my teacher told me I wasn't allowed to bring it to school anymore
  15. The sun makes me instantly happier and I tend to feel "down" on cold, rainy days
  16. I've suffered from depression on and off since I was 16 years old.  I was also an insomniac from 15- 24 years old.
  17. I've always had more guy friends than girl friends.  I'm not really sure why.
  18. I can't remember the last time I was drunk...it's been YEARS!  I rarely touch alcohol now.
  19. I used to be a dancer: ballet, tap, hip hop, etc.  I miss it a lot
  20. Even the sight of mayonnaise makes me gag.  Can't do it!
  21. I sing all the time when I'm alone or in front of my husband/daughter but I won't in front of anyone else.  Even though my husband says I have a great voice. lol
  22. When I was younger I never ever cried, but now I swear I cry about the dumbest things!  Disney movies even make me tear up.  What happened?!
  23. I can't handle the little wooden stick they give you with those ice cream cups or in popsicles ... they make me gag.  I don't know what it is about it.
  24. I gave up all coffee and soda a few years ago.  Now I really only drink tea and water.
  25. I hold on conversation while I am asleep.  My husband and friends tell me all of these stories. haha!  It's pretty embarrassing
  26. I love musical theater!  I've been in the theater since I was 13 and I love it.  I've even painted sets for larger scale productions in Pittsburgh
  27. My hands and feet are always cold unless I'm sick
  28. I have a HUGE public speaking phobia. I was the matron of honor at my best friend's wedding and had to give the speech.  It was horrible.  I thought I was going to pass out!
  29. I don't like ranch dressing.  I know, I'm the weirdest person alive
  30. I am fiercely loyal to the ones I love.  I will do anything I can for people.  I have a really hard time saying no.

Helene in Between

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

It's my 30th Birthday!!


Oh boy, I'm finally 30!!  I can't believe it!  I remember when I was little I thought 30 sounded so old, but here I am.  I'm not super sad about it like I thought I would be. I get to go out to eat with my family today, so it will be fun.

Some actresses in the early 30s club with me:
Anne Hathaway(31),  Jessica Alba (33),  Jessica Biel (32), Christina Ricci (34),  Claire Danes (35), Elisha Cuthbert (31), Eliza Dushku (33), Emily Blunt (31), Jennifer Love Hewitt (35), Kate Bosworth (31), Kate Hudson (35),  Katie Holmes (35), Kirsten Dunst (32), Kristen Bell (34), Kristin Kreuk (31), Mena Suvari (35), Mila Kunis (31), Olivia Wilde (30), Rachel Bilson (33),  Rachel McAdams (35), Rosario Dawson (35), Zooey Deschanel (34), Cobie Smulders (32), Jennifer Morrison (35)

Aaaaand on that note, I am going to take this bloggy day off and enjoy it!  I will play catch up tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

BLOGTOBER | Things I am superstitious about

Very superstitious....writings on the waaallll.....Sorry, I had to!!  I'm going to have that song stuck in my head for weeks now!!  Anyway, as you've probably guessed by now, today's writing prompt is: Things I'm Superstitious About

//  If I wore a certain jersey/team shirt on game day and we won, then I have to wear the exact same thing for the next game.  If we lose then I'm not allowed to wear that shirt again that season, haha!  Good thing I have a few jerseys and a bunch of tee shirts!

//  If I have a series of really bad days when I am wearing the same necklace, I automatically take the necklace off and refuse to wear it for a while.  I'm kind of crazy

//  Sometimes I go into a creative spurt where I will draw/paint a lot of different portraits at once and I end up being pretty happy about all of them.  When these creative spurts happen I have to use the same pencil/paintbrush for every drawing because it just MUST be giving me some artistic power, right?!  Yeah, probably not..

//  When you see a shooting star you have to make a wish!  And don't tell anyone what it is, or it won't come true

//  Pulling out a gray/white hair will cause 10 more to grow in it's place.  My grandma has always said that, and now that I'm getting older I have some grays and I'm too scared to pull them...so I just dye it! haha

Do you do any of the same things??  Or am I just crazy?!  haha

Helene in Between

Monday, October 27, 2014

OUTFIT: Lace and leather

It's been getting chilly here in Pittsburgh!  Last week I had to break out the blazer to wear over my lace Express top.  I guess I shouldn't be so surprised that it's getting cold.  It's the end of October already!  I can't believe it.  Lace has always been a little too girly for me but once I added the leather boots I feel like it added just enough edge to the outfit.

Another slightly depressing thing about it being the end of the month....  I turn 30 on Wednesday!  Yuck!  My husband says I'm not allowed to lay in bed and cry all day with a bottle of wine, so I guess we will go out to eat instead. haha!  Is there anyone else out there in the dirty 30 club??

Anyway, back to the outfit!  The blazer is REALLY old from Guess.  I honestly don't remember where I got the boots and they are so old that the logo wore off so I can't even look.  All I know is that they are the comfiest heel boots ever.  I will be sad when I have to retire them soon.

All of my accessaries are from Charming Charlie.  Seriously, isn't that place the greatest?!?! 

...and unfortunately I didn't notice that part of the necklace flipped until I loaded the pictures on my computer... and I was too lazy to retake them. LOL!

Do you like pairing leather with lace?  Or am I just crazy?! haha!

linked up at: Rhea EtCetera, Pink Sole and Cha Cha the Fashion Genuis, More Pieces of Me and On the Daily Express, Fizz and Frosting, I do deClaire, Bless Her Heart Y'all, Induffinitely Me

Sunday, October 26, 2014

BLOGTOBER | Who'd play you in a movie version of your life?

This is actually a post that I published back in July but I thought I would reshare it for the Blogtober Challenge....with a few changes!

Have you ever been watching a movie and wondered, if there was a movie about my life who would play me??  I have, and it's not like I have an overly exciting life or anything...maybe I just have a crazy imagination

ME- Mila Kunis
We don't really look alike but we seem like we have very similar personalities (from her movies).  In a lot of her movies she is sort of the tomboyish girly girl, if that makes any sense.  She has a sarcastic sense of humor and isn't afraid to make fun of herself.

MY HUSBAND - Jason Statham
Because, why not?!  I mean, look at him!  But seriously, I have always thought that my hubby resembles him.  He doesn't have the sexy accent though.....but he can fake it!  In all of his movies he has a walk like he means business and so does my husband, Chris.  They both also know martial arts!

MY MOM - Goldie Hawn
Not only does my mom already sort of resemble her but she LOVES her.  My mom has a bubbly, goofy personality when you get to know her....and she's also very found of the "bling". haha!  My mom is always complimented on her smile and that's one of the things that Goldie Hawn is known for!

MY BFF - Zooey Deschanel
My best friend Nikki, is a lot like Zooey Deschanel from The New Girl.  When she gets nervous and/or drinks a little too much, she can not get herself to stop talking.  She rambles and talks so fast that you can barely understand her. lol. She's always optimistic and friendly, and is super gorgeous but doesn't know it or act like it.  Besides, who would not want to be friends with Zooey Deschanel?!?!

Do you look like any celebrities??  Who do you think would be cast in a movie about your life?

Helene in Between

Saturday, October 25, 2014

BLOGTOBER | Favorite Book

Today is day #25 of the Blogtober Challenge and today's writing prompt is: Favorite Book.

This was probably the easiest post for me to write out of this whole challenge. haha!  My favorite book of all time is Pride and Prejudice.  I re-read it once a year, and I own the movie (the one with Keira Knightley).  I'm a little obsessed.


Not only am I a complete sucker when it comes to a great love story but I also really fell in love with the characters.  I loved Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's witty banters but also how deeply he loved her.  And of course the moment she realizes she loves him too.  Soooo soo good!  What girl didn't dream of having her own "Mr. Darcy"?!

What is your favorite book of all time?  

Helene in Between

Friday, October 24, 2014

Painting pumpkins!

Earlier this week I decided to FINALLY paint my pumpkins!  Yeah, I've really been a slacker this year!  Sometimes I decide to carve them and sometimes I paint them.  This year I wanted to make something for my daughter.  After she went to bed I sketched out this Minnie and Mickey design because she LOVES them.  When I finished it, I couldn't wait to show her in the morning!


Needless to say, she was a very happy girl in the morning!

I also painted a quick little owl pumpkin.  She is just as obsessed with owls as I am so I thought she would enjoy that too!  It's pretty sloppy but she could definitely tell what it was


Here is her little excited face when she got up in the morning...   excuse her bedhead, she was a sleepy girl. lol!  She kept screaming Meenee and KeeKee ( Minnie and Mickey) and Whoo whoo, for the owl.  She was a happy girl


Here are our pumpkins from previous years:

Jack and Sally from Nightmare before Christmas

aaaand I even painted a Nightmare Before Christmas pumpkin... I am a little obsessed. LOL


Did you carve or paint pumpkins this year??

Thursday, October 23, 2014

One Lovely Blog Award

I had a nice surprise this morning. Well, first a not so nice surprise....the blog post that I had originally written and scheduled for today somehow got deleted.  Grrr!  BUT then as I was checking my new comments, I saw that I had been nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award by Charlotte over at A Love Triangle.  Thank you so much Charlotte!  This truly made my day!

The rules for this award are:
- Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
- Add the Lovely blog award logo onto your post/ blog.
- Share 7 facts about yourself.
- Nominate 15 bloggers you admire/ read and inform nominees by commenting on their blog.


7 Facts about me:
1.  I have a degree in Technical Theater and have painted sets for large theaters and a movie set
2.  Right now I am a stay at home mom, but I am looking to go back to work soon.
3.  I have an addiction to vanilla oreos.  OMG they are so good!
4.  My birthday is on Wednesday and I'm turning 30!  I'm not so excited about it.
5.  I can be a very anxious person.  I worry about everything and can get stressed easily.
6.  This may be an obvious one but I LOVE clothes/shopping.  It's my stress reliever.
7.  I used to have a fear of heights but I went bungee jumping to get over my fear. *Bungee jumping is not as fun as it looks!  I got whiplash!

Blogs I would like to nominate:
I want to nominate any and all blogs that are giving this blog life a try.  It's definitely not as easy as I thought it was going to be and I want the bloggers that are just starting out to know that we've all been there.  I still have A LOT to learn too.  Just keep at it.  AND if you write one of these posts, leave me comment with the link because I would love to see it and get to know you!

Thank you so much again, Charlotte!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

BLOGTOBER | My pet peeves


When people talk over me or cut through what I'm saying.  I shouldn't have to continually repeat what I'm saying because you can't contain yourself. LOL!  So annoying!

The whole curvy girl vs. thin girl battle that's happening now.  I'm so sick of seeing memes all over Facebook about how curvy girls are better or about thigh gap.  Seriously?!  Who cares!  Everyone is their worst critic and will always think they have a ton of flaws, but we just need to be happy with how we are.  Skinny, curvy, whatever!  It doesn't matter!  If you aren't beautiful on the inside then none of it matters anyway.

People who cut in line.  Seriously, I waited in this line, what makes them feel like they are so special that they get to skip to the front?!

When people think it's okay to ask "When are you and your husband going to start trying for your second kid?".  Since when is it appropriate for you to ask if my husband and I are having sex or not.  I don't think that's any of your business.

When people try to tickle me.  It's not cute.  I will probably end up breaking your nose if you try.  I don't really like being touched by people I don't know, thanks!

Open-toed booties.  I just don't get it.  If it's too cold to wear flip flops then why would I want my toes hanging out of my boots?  I wear boots because they are warmer and I can wear my comfy fuzzy socks with no one knowing. lol

Do any of these things get under your skin?  What are some of your pet peeves?

Helene in Between

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

BLOGTOBER | Dream vacation

Today is day #21 of the Blogtober Challenge and today's writing prompt is: What is your Dream vacation?  I know exactly where I would go if money was no issue and we had someone to watch the baby for a whole week....  the Ladera Resort in St. Lucia.

This place is beautiful!!  I am a beachy warm weather kind of gal, but I also love a good hike and rockclimbing...sooo pretty much this place would be heaven for me.  Take a look at the rooms:



Yeah, it's like a dream!  As if the hotel itself isn't amazing enough, they have a ton of activities to do there too.  Ziplining, horseback riding, glassboat tour, rainforest tour, etc.

BUT here is the problem, and why I say I would have to hit the lotto for this place to ever happen for us:  it would be almost $8,000 for 6 nights there!  AND that is WITH the promotion that they have going on right now where you buy 4 nights and get 2 free.  Yikes, right??  Also, that doesn't include airfare....uggghh!

Hey, a girl can dream, right??
Here is their website if you want to check it out for yourself... Ladera

Helene in Between

Monday, October 20, 2014

OUTFIT: Polka dots


Last week we had our last few days of "warmer" weather, so I decided to take advantage of it and wear a sleeveless outfit.  I love black and white polka dots.  There is just something so classy about them.  I styled it with burgundy skinny jeans and black accessories.  I'm almost always wearing flats because I have to chase around my daughter.  That isn't so easy in heels! lol

All of the leaves are starting to change now, so it's my favorite time to head out to the park.  I love all of the bright colors of the leaves.  That's when it finally starts feeling like Fall to me.


 I dressed up my outfit a little bit with a multi-strand pearl necklace, a cute black snap bracelet I got at a craft fair, and a pair of studs from Charming Charlie.  I love that place!  It is so dangerous on my bank account though!


How is the weather where you are?  Ours has been so crazy that I feel like I'm getting seasonal whiplash. lol

linked up at: I Would So Rock This, Rhea Et Cetera, Pink Sole, Cha Cha the Fashion Genius, Life of Meg, More Pieces of Me, On the Daily Express, Fizz and Frosting, Induffinitely Me, I do deClaire, Fitness Blonde, Shopping My Closet

Sunday, October 19, 2014

BLOGTOBER | What makes you happy



  • Acting like a complete goofball with my hubby and baby
  • Strawberries - I have no idea why, but they've always been my "happy" food
  • Time alone with my hubby
  • The way my daughter says Mama
  • Headache-free days
  • Slobbery puppy kisses
  • The smell of leaves in the Fall
  • Shopping!!
  • Having dance parties in the living room with my daughter
  • Singing at the top of my lungs in the car - Sometimes you just have to!
  • Sitting on my back patio with a cup of hot tea in my hand, a blanket in my lap, and snuggled up with my hubby
  • When my daughter decides to take a nap and I get some quiet time to myself
  • Snuggle time with my daughter
  • Hiking/Rockclimbing
  • Being outside


Helene in Between

Friday, October 17, 2014

BLOGTOBER | I'm an expert at....

Today is already day #17 of the Blogtober Challenge!  I can't believe how fast this month is going!  They say time flies when you are having fun!  Today's writing prompt is: I'm an expert at.....

Procrastination! I will put something off until the last possible moment and then completely freak out about it and send myself into a panic attack.  I don't know why I do it to myself, but I do.  Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment! lol





I can't be alone in this!!  Is anyone else out there a huge procrastinator like me??

Helene in Between

Thursday, October 16, 2014

BLOGTOBER | Fall Fashion

Fall is my favorite time for fashion!  For those of you following me on Pinterest you probably already know, but I have an album named "Baby, it's cold outside" just for Fall/Winter fashion.  I'm OCD like that.

LEATHER:
source   |  source  |  source  |  source

PLAID:
source

OVERSIZED SCARVES:
source unknown  |  source  |  source  |  source

LAYERS:
 source unknown

COMFY SWEATERS/CARDIGANS:
source unknown  |  source unknown  |  source




Helene in Between