TBB ASKS ~BEAUTY EDITION~

March 12, 2018

Last Monday the Blended Blog (TBB) hosted a link up for bloggers to post answers to a beauty questionnaire.

~MARCH BEAUTY EDITION~

I wasn’t ready and therefore didn’t get to “link up”. But I thought the questionnaire was fun. And its nice to have someone provide a topic on occasion.

One of these days I’ll get it together so I can post mine on the same day!

1. Eyelash Curler Yes or No?

I gave up the eyelash curler when I noticed that it was collecting my eyelashes

2. Favorite Nail Shade?

I love Chinchilly by Essie

3. Favorite Lipstick Shade?

Although I am a Mary Kay rep, there are many other products that I love.

One of those products is

Spiced Latte

4. Blow Dry or Air Dry your hair?

Definitely blow dry… otherwise it ain’t pretty!

5. Artificial Nails: Yes or No?

see question #2

6. Foundation: Yes or No?

Absolutely Yes – and I use Mary Kay’s medium coverage foundation in beige

7. Hair Up or Hair Down?

Both

8. Bar Soap or Body Wash?

Because bar soap leaves a terrible film, I prefer body wash in a nice little pump dispenser

9. Bath or Shower?

Shower!

And an occasional Epsom salt and lavender bath for relaxation…

if the bathtub isn’t already occupied

10. Favorite Body Lotion?

Right now it is TimeWise Body™ Targeted-Action® Toning Lotion

11. Do you wear perfume?

Yes

Favorite scent?Sensuous by Estée Lauder

12. Do you shave your legs every day?

13. Favorite Lip Balm?

meh

14. How old were you when you first started wearing makeup?

I started wearing makeup sometime in Junior High. Yes… I said Junior High.

Back in the early 1900’s when I attended school, 8th-9th grade was referred to as Junior High; 10th-12th was Senior High. That is the way it was and we liked it just fine.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

It Has Been One Year

March 10, 2018

March 10, 2018 marks one year since I began this blog.

Today is my

FIRST

BLOGIVERSARY!

With no idea how to begin, I presumed if other bloggers I’ve followed can do this, so can I. My intention was to ease my way into fashion blogging because that’s what I like, so I registered with WordPress and came up with a name for my blog.

The title “Pretty is” came to me from a quote my Mama enjoyed repeating:

“Pretty is as Pretty does”

And apparently she heard it often from her mother.

Prettyis.me

was registered because pretty is dot net and pretty is dot com were already taken.

Also it sounds cute.

My first post was short and sweet and included nothing about women’s fashion.

It was a Friday, and I took the day off to keep my GlamBaby Lydia. She was 20 months old at the time. You can see that post by clicking here.

Ironically, I spent the day with her today, as well…happily pushing a Little Tikes car.

After beginning my blog, and as the weeks passed, I realized that fashion blogging isn’t as easy as it looks.

Although I enjoy reading fashion blogs, I spend a good deal of my time working an office job and commuting to and from that office [which happens to be located in another city and makes for a lot of travel time].

Rather than posts about fashion, I found that I was posting more and more about what I do and the people in my life, which is okay.

That said, today is a special day for another reason.

In Buffalo New York, on March 10, 1925, Bettelou Ellen McCarty was born.

Much later she met George S. Duckworth and she loved him.

And so she would become Bette Duckworth

My Mema

a.k.a. Mema Duck

Today we spent the day at my Mama’s house and I enjoyed taking some time going through her old pictures.

Mema left us on January 14, 2010That is another sweet face that I look forward to seeing again.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

Friday Favorites: Barbie Edition

March 9, 2018

Today is

FRIDAY

March 9th

and it is the anniversary of the day the Barbie doll made its debut in 1959.

Therefore March 9th is National Barbie Day.

Created by Ruth Handler, Barbie’s full name is

Barbara Millicent Roberts

I know.

I have always been a Barbie FAN, along with my sister. And if we weren’t outside playing in the dirt, we were in the house playing Barbies.

Today I’m dedicating my Friday Favorites to Barbie!

Favorite # ONE

Barbie’s Townhouse

(circa 1970)

Three levels of Barbie fun in the pink townhouse.

Complete with Barbie furniture and a personal elevator. Barbie LOVED living in this townhouse!

Favorite # TWO

Shoes

once again, we’re talking about shoesspecifically the Buster Brown variety.

Back in the day, shoes were a means of transportation, not only for your feet, but for your Barbie doll. Especially if she didn’t own a pink corvette.

Just bend her legs, set her inside, and VAROOOOM…

Favorite # THREE

Barbie’s Karosel KitchenThe Karosel came complete with an oven that roasted chicken, a refrigerator that would light up, a sink with a “modern” faucet, a dishwasher, a washing machine, and a dryer with a built-in clothes basket. The kitchen would rotate with the push of a button and made for hours of fun.

Favorite # FOUR

Sweet Sixteen Barbie

Sweet Sixteen Barbie came with her own compact and real makeup.

Barbie looked pretty in her pink party dress and even prettier once her makeup had been applied!

Favorite # FIVE

Barbie’s Peeps

And first on the list is Barbie’s littler sister

Skipper

The Skipper doll (Skipper Roberts) was created in 1964.

Although she wasn’t as cute as Barbie, Mattel kept trying and in 1975 we were introduced to

Growing Up Skipper

Just turn her arm and

voilà

You could “make her grow from a young girl to a teenager in seconds”.

If you have never heard of this little doll, watch this commercial

watch closely

There was also

Barbie’s dear friend

Midge

Who was created in 1963 and looked rather plain compared to Barbie. She was created to counteract criticism that Barbie was a sex symbol (source).

Good job Mattel!

Apparently Gina and I didn’t feel that she was plain enough.

When all was said and done, Midge looked like this:

Obviously there was a rogue hairdresser on site.

FYI to my little sister:

Tuesday Taylor

was not a true Barbie friend.

We always knew there was some sort of disharmony in the group, and assumed it to be the rogue hairdresser.

Alas, I imagine Tuesday Taylor was to blame!

The 1970’s Ideal Toy Company doll was released in an attempt to dislodge Mattel’s Barbie as the top fashion doll. (source)

Her hair do should have been our first clue. Poor Midge.

We all know a little girl that loves Barbie dolls and has at least one doll, if not a whole collection of them.

Wish her a Happy Barbie Day!!

Use #NationalBarbieDay to post your pics on social media.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

Friday Favorites: Bee Gees Edition

March 2, 2018

I haven’t been this excited about Friday since last Friday!

Ready for a party!

There’s Night Fever in the air

Today my Friday Favorites post has a theme…

Friday Favorites: Bee Gees Edition

Favorite # ONE

Stayin’ Alive: One Night of The Bee Gees at the Thrasher-Horne Center

Described as “the World’s #1 Tribute to the Bee Gees! Stayin’ Alive is the quintessential tribute band to the Bee Gees, capturing the excitement of live performance and the tender subtleties of the human voice.” (source)

It was a last minute decision, but LB and I decided to check it out, then we convinced Mama to come along.

Favorite # TWO

Spending fun time with Mama

We found our seats and made our way toward them. There was another couple already settled in the seats adjacent to ours. I whispered to LB “let Mama go first” my thought was that she could have the seat next to the strangers because she never meets one. Ironically, she knew the couple and it was a happy reunion for them all.

On the way home we had the pleasure of hearing about Mama’s old boyfriends, what became of them, and how God took care of her by bringing her together with my Daddy.

Amen.

Favorite # THREE

A Text Message

from my nephew Clay

Clay Loves music and will almost always say he is jealous when I tell him about a concert I’m attending. Clay was very jealous about missing out on this particular concert since the Bee Gees are a favorite and [I’m assuming] because his Mema was going without him. In an attempt to make him feel like he was a part of the event, Mama sent several video clips of the concert. They were sent to our family group text.

This was Clay’s response:

And it truly made me LOL

The video texts did not do justice to the tribute band. The band was actually pretty good.

Favorite # FOUR

An SNL excerpt that was played during a costume change.

Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake are hilarious!

Favorite # FIVE

My Psychedelic Concert Outfit

Because there has to be a bit of style in this mix!

and a BONUS…

Favorite # SIX

[obviously]

The Bee Gees

It’s Friday…. You should be dancin’

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Kim

Happy Birthday in Heaven

March 1, 2018

Although I obviously have no proof, my personal belief is that our earthly birthdays are not celebrated in Heaven. I’m sure that there are Bible verses to support my theory.

That said, our loved ones who have gone to Heaven are still celebrated here on earth, by the ones they’ve left behind.

My Daddy

would have been

Seventy-Two

years old today.

He may have been walking crooked (bent to the right) as he occasionally did when his back gave him trouble.

Daddy may have still been telling elephant jokes (why do elephants paint their toenails red?) and playing practical jokes – now on his grandchildren – since his children have long since figured out his antics.

He would have LOVED his growing family

and

meeting the ones who came along after he left:

Sydney, Chynna, Emily, Levi, Lydia, Thea, and Rory.

He would have loved them all… and they would have loved him!

I’m sure he would have enjoyed events like dancing with my Mama at the Rockabilly Prom.

I imagine he may have walked next door to enjoy old movies with his oldest daughter in her TV room.

His hair would likely have been completely grey and I’m sure his green eyes would still have an “I love You” sparkle. I’ve mentioned him again and again in my posts:

Num Nell Knox

August 1965

and

Father’s Day

where he claimed a starring role.

Richard A. Reid was born in Palatka, Florida on March 1, 1946.

He lived to the age of 55 and enjoyed A Wonderful Life.

He has been gone since November 23, 2001.

I am not exaggerating when I say that not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I’m looking forward to seeing you again!

We are ALL looking forward to seeing you again!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Tom & Betty’s

February 28, 2018

Tom and Betty’s

was once a favorite place for a weekend dinner and entertainment with LB.

The restaurant was in business for nearly fifty years when due to circumstances that were seemingly beyond their control, the owners Duane and Valerie Atkinson announced that Tom and Betty’s would be closing their current location. The owners described Tom and Betty’s as “a local gathering place, offering great food and drink to generations of ‘Westsiders.’” (source)

I am among those Westsiders who remember the first Tom and Betty’s Restaurant at Park Street and Cassat Avenue. The restaurant was then owned by Tom and Betty Fritsch who opened in 1971. The location at Park and Cassat was destroyed in a fire in 1988 and then relocated to 4409 Roosevelt Blvd. The Roosevelt Blvd. location closed in May 2017.

I thought I mentioned it in this blog last May but apparently I did not.

Last Friday

Tom and Betty’s new location opened in Orange Park. LB was eager to check out the new place which is exactly what we did on Saturday night. There was quite mass of former patrons standing outside as there was an hour wait to be seated plus additional waiting time to place an order. The menu was limited, but those items were excellent choices.

The dining area was a bit small/crowded.

The dance floor was also a bit small… and well lit. I like the dance floor to be dark, so I’m not quite as visible to the public (smile). Many other people have no fear of the spotlight as they graced the dance floor.

The band (the TOP SHELF Band) was energetic and entertaining.

I enjoyed seeing the signature automobile memorabilia including the back of a red corvette with its tail lights lit and the vintage Tom and Betty’s logo on the tag.

I can’t say enough good things about the

Wait Staff

The young ladies that waited on us were exceptionally attentive and courteous.

The chicken wings were superb.

It seems to me that the popularity of the restaurant was underestimated. After the initial kinks are worked out, I’m sure this place will be a favorite once again.

Getting Out Early

February 27, 2018

It isn’t typical that I get out of the house before 5PM on Saturdays.

This past

Saturday

I had to keep an appointment with the eye doctor, so I was out and about by 1:30. My prescription changed only slightly, so I decided to keep using my current glasses instead of putting money into the designer pair that caught my attention. Armani Exchange. Rose Gold. Pretty.