HOME SWEET HOME!!

Well I'm back from vacation, just not home!  As I'm sure most of you know I had the chance to go to Varadero, Cuba last week for a "Single Girls Vacation".   The one thing I love most about traveling is that it really opens my eyes to how fortunate I am each and every day!  Some days I really forget how truly lucky I am, and after seeing how little some people have, and how grateful they are to be given simple items like a toothbrush or toothpaste it makes me want to just stop and reflect for a bit.

 The one thing that got to me the most was how some of the hotel staff asked if I had any used makeup that I might want to part with because they couldn't afford any them self.  I mean, I write a beauty blog, spend a small fortune on "stuff" I don't really need, and I've never even imagined it possible that someone would love my "left-over" makeup.  I honestly cant imagine what it would be like to ask somebody for used makeup.  I have to say, my makeup bag came back empty.  I'm just so happy that I had taken a bunch of the new makeup I had bought before I went so that they were given some half decent things. 

I managed to clean out my closet at home before I went and I probably ended up giving away half of the clothes in my suitcase while I was there, because really... I have MORE than enough clothes and it gives me so much joy that I can share what I have with others. (In some ways it was selfish as well, but only because I was hoping it would make my suitcase be UNDER-weight on my trip back.... no such luck by the way!)  Is there anything in particular that you take to give-away on any of the vacations you take?  I love getting new ideas!

 Anyways, I had a lovely time and I thought I'd share some of the highlights with you! Seeing as how pictures are worth a thousand words, we'll start there!

Krystle & Karen (the two lovely ladies I got to share this trip with)



Havana Trip




Birthday Pictures




Great friends... the one thing that makes a great vacation even better!




Birthday dinner (thanks to the hotel staff for making us a special reservation for this day!!)




Time to go home :(




The greatest part about coming home was stopping by my brother and SIL's and getting a chance to see my superstar niece Vyla!  She's turning into quite a ham! And yes... that is her sitting on the coffee table reading herself a book in her jibber-jabberish-make-believe language!!