Brooke, Bidding, & Banana

Charlene Harreveld 03/03/2017 2 Comments

Banana Republic Shirtdress

Last week, my good friend Melanie invited me to attend a wonderful luncheon at The Breakers Hotel is Palm Beach for the Cancer Alliance. Brooke Shields was the keynote speaker, and the event was based on shopping, shopping, and more shopping! So many generous shops from Palm Beach donated items for the attendees to bid on, with all money going to support the Cancer Alliance. It was a wonderful event, and the most perfect occasions for me to wear my new Banana Republic Shirtdress in Neon Hibiscus.

(The black straps are from my chunky Banana Republic necklace.)

I love the style of this dress so much! I usually freeze at these types of events, but the sleeves on this dress kept me comfortable. The color is fabulous! You can easily add rhinestones and wear this dress at night with a dressy heel.

Banana Republic also sells the same design in this pattern, too. I’m planning on wearing it on Easter Sunday.

I found the perfect purse at Nordstrom. It’s faux leather, vegan, and a copy of a popular Stella McCartney purse. I love it because it’s perfect for day or night and the strap is adjustable. Win!!!

Neon Hibiscus Shirtdress HERE

Ikat Shirtdress HERE

Purse HERE

Oh, and I also got a quick selfie with Brooke Shields!

Best Product EVER for a No-Chip Manicure, Hands-Down

charlene harreveld 03/02/2017 1 Comment

DIY No-Chip Manicure!

You guys, I HATE getting manicures. Don’t get me wrong. I love a crisp and clean fingernail as much as the next gal. However, what I don’t love is the time it takes for the upkeep. I just have too many other things to do than to sit in a nail salon and have someone poke and prod and massage my digits. I can do it myself from the comfort of my living room couch on a Saturday night while watching A Few Good Men for the millionth time, thank you very much.

I also don’t like paying for something that doesn’t last. Because of the work I do, I use my fingertips a lot. I am constantly repositioning pieces of cardstock and peeling sticky stuff off the backs of embellishments. I also get sticky stuff directly on my fingernails and when I peel it off, the nail polish peels off right along, too.

I have to handle tiny objects like miniature pearls and rhinestones. Acrylics don’t work for me; I have tried them and their rigidness makes it impossible for me to pick up little pieces of paper. They aren’t an option. As a result, I have come to accept the fact that chipped nail polish is just one of the inevitable inherent dangers in the life of a paper crafter. Until now.

Friends, meet Nail-Aid 3 Minute Artificials.

I had been toying with the idea of trying a gel manicure, but my dread of the upkeep was preventing me from doing it. I had seen different do-it-yourself gel products but those things are always all-show and no-go. In other words, they are usually a rip-off. I decided to give Nail-Aid 3 Minute Artificials a try, and I will NEVER look back. This stuff really works. I tried it two weeks ago for the first time and my polish never chipped. I thought it must have just been a random fluke, but no. I gave myself a manicure on Saturday night. I have been making cards non-stop since then. It is now Wednesday night, AND NO CHIPS. NO FLUKE. THIS STUFF REALLY WORKS.

This is how I use it:

1) three coats of Nail-Aid 3 Minute Artificials

one coat vertically across nails
one coat horizontally across nails
one coat vertically across nails

2) three coats of Essie “Ballet Slippers” Nail Polish.

(or any color, but I like to keep it pale)

3) one more coat of Nail-Aid 3 Minute Artificials

4) finish it all up with one coat of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Nail Coat, 0.5 Ounce
(a.k.a. “shellac” I love this stuff!!)

That’s it!

You can purchase all of it from Amazon.com for less than the price of one manicure. Think of all time and money you will save. You can paint your nails from the comfort of your couch, you don’t have to spend time at the nail salon, and if it does chip, you have the stuff at home to fix it yourself.

Just click on the images below to purchase all three products from Amazon.com. C’mon. Treat yourself!!!

affiliate post

Sweet Progress Winter Swap Box Reveal!

Charlene Harreveld 02/18/2017 3 Comments

Sweet Progress Winter Swap Box Reveal!

I participated in the Sweet Winter Galentine’s Box Swap and was paired with Dara from the blog “Not in Jersey.” I noticed right away that Dara lived in Kansas, but little did I know how much we would have in common!!! The internet is such a small world.

Dara was kind enough to ask if there was anything specific that I would like in my box. I replied that I would love, love, love to receive items that were “Kansas,” since I’ve never been to Kansas. I also let her know that I’m a HUGE Wizard of Oz fan. I assume that everyone who lives in Kansas is friends with Dorothy – I’m weird like that.

She was excited to tell me that not only was she a huge Wizard of Oz fan, too, but that the name of her blog was an homage to the movie – “Not in Jersey,” get it? Like “not in Kansas anymore!” So cute!

We also discovered that we are both from New Jersey and that her parents live in Florida about 25 miles from me. So it is quite possible that this box swap could turn into a real-life meet-up one day.

I was excited to receive some fun “Kansas” items in my box:

Dorothy! Dark chocolate! Sunflowers! Apple butter! BBQ sauce!! All of my favorite things. It’s like Dara read my mind.

Dara was also thoughtful enough to include items to donate to Cosmetics for a Cause! That was so sweet of her!!! Cosmetics for a Cause is a non-profit that collects makeup and donates it to women in need. These fun items will make someone less-fortunate very happy. Thank you, Dara!!!! And thank you, Ashley and Dean for organizing this fun box swap!!!

P.S. Naturally, I mailed Dara a box of eWillow.com Greeting Cards. Coincidentally, though, I mailed her my latest collection of hot-air balloon cards. There’s no place like home!! Those Wizard of Oz bonds run deep!! 🙂

One of the cards I mailed to Dara! I didn’t realize the Wizard of Oz reference!!!

My First Crush: Robert Ashton

Charlene Harreveld 02/13/2017 Comments Off

My First Crush: Robert Ashton

Valentine’s Day seems like the perfect day to write about my first crush, Robert Ashton, but not for the reasons you might be thinking. My first crush lasted TWO whole years, from second grade to third grade at D’Ippolito Elementary School in Vineland, NJ. Robert Ashton was a rosy-cheeked, dark-haired cherub. He was all I thought about! We sat next to each other and talked all the time. That is pretty much all I remember about our interactions. But the most important thing is that sitting next to him taught me what it was like to have butterflies in my stomach over a boy. Isn’t that what first crushes are all about, anyway?

Robert moved away during our elementary school/middle school years. We never kept in touch, but thanks to Google, I found him a few years ago. Turns out he was still a cutie pie, and in addition to his good looks, he was also a prestigious thoracic surgeon in northern New Jersey. He was married to the very beautiful Dr. Jennifer Ashton, a medical contributor to Good Morning America. Robert himself also had some on-air TV gigs with FOX News.

I was devastated tonight when I was tagged in a FB post about Robert. He jumped to his death off the George Washington Bridge in NYC over the weekend, just a couple of weeks after his divorce. The news stung my heart. How could it be? On Valentine’s Day eve I learned that my first crush died tragically.

His wife posted this on her Facebook page. It’s just too sad. It was shocking to me that the news also made our local Palm Beach Post newspaper. The George Washington Bridge…that’s the bridge we take whenever we drive to Erica’s college from NJ.

I wish I could find my class photos from second and third grade. I know I have them somewhere. But right now, I’m too stunned to look.

In the meantime, this is Dr. Robert Ashton … R.I.P.

photo via LinkedIn

Valentine’s Day Gift

Charlene Harreveld 02/11/2017 3 Comments

Valentine’s Day Gift

What is your favorite Valentine’s Day gift to give and/or receive? I’m a peanut M&M’s kind of girl. I don’t need diamonds or flowers. Yuk. This year, Neil told me he is giving me a colonoscopy as my Valentine’s Day gift. What??? He is scheduled for a follow-up colonoscopy on the 15th, and he told me it’s a gift to me because it means a longer life for him, which in-turn is a gift for me! I like that kind of thinking.

Six years ago today, when Neil was 51, he went in for a routine colonoscopy and came home with the knowledge that he had a “very large tumor” and he needed to “have it removed and have it removed right away.” It was certainly a jolt to our systems.

He’s been cancer-free for five years, and except for neuropathy in his feet from the chemo, no one would ever know.

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, so if you are stuck with what to give yourself or someone else for Valentine’s Day, schedule a colonoscopy if you are fifty or older. You could look at it as being gross, or you could look at it as a sign of love. It’s up to you!

Isn’t this adorable? It was made by my BFF Nancy.

My BFF Nancy made these cute Valentine’s Day blocks. Coincidentally, Nancy is a radiation therapist. Her daughter is one, too, and treated Neil. 🙂

P.S. Let me also add that Neil had zero symptoms.

#valentinesdaygift #coloncancer #coloncancerawareness