A little grass roots advertising

Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Christa Allan

This weekend I went to Nashville, TN, to a writer's retreat. I had been working on college junk and running on low sleep prior to leaving. Combine that with getting up at 4:00 am to leave Thursday morning, then driving 12 hours to get to Tennessee, and I was exhausted. I pretty much looked hungover the entire time I was there. I was with a group of Christian writers, and I looked like the token drunk. Stripes do not distract from eye bags. I think Christian Siriano said that.

I had a great time hanging out with writer buddies. I also got to hang out with super writer and one of my closest friends, Natalie Lloyd.

Things you need to know about Natalie:
a. She is disgustingly photogenic.

b. Our twangs must cancel one other out. She says she has a heavy accent, but girls from Arkansas do not notice these things.

c. Her awakeness made me look even more in need of AA.

d. She is seriously funny.

e. She is seriously fun.

f. She has good stories.

g. I can't wait for you to read her fiction. It's as enviable as her picture-taking abilities.

You can't even see my eyeballs in that picture.
We're totally impressing that guy behind us.

Natalie recently asked me about my mascara, and I got all excited to tell her about it. Because it's my One Thing. You know, the one product I swear by, buy in bulk, and love to tell others about. I have tried expensive stuff (at least two whole times), but my favorite, favorite mascara is just plain old L'oreal Voluminous in black. You can purchase it wherever fine items are sold. Items such as Noxema, heating pads, and Depends. Right now you can even get it in a two pack at Wal-Mart or Target for ten bucks. Combine that with a coupon from the Sunday paper, and you're basically stealing luxury. I also like this mascara because it supports my personal mission statement of “Who Needs Falsies?”

What's your One Thing? Your must-have item that you swear by?

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 23 comments

Abbi(gatorade635) - November 4, 2012

I can’t really think of any item that I “swear by” I tend to switch stuff up a lot. I do have authors that I “swear by” or rather purchase every book I can of theirs and recommend them to everyone!

I have seen Natalie’s book around and didn’t give it much thought, but after reading this post I just ordered my copy and I’m super stoked to read it!

Kristin - November 5, 2012

Jenny B. Jones and Natalie Lloyd together…I don’t think I can handle that kind of awesomeness! 🙂

I don’t really know if I have a “one thing.” I’m a big fan of Burts Bees products, especially one of their face cleansers (which I cannot for the life of me remember the name of right now). I’ve been using it for a couple of years now, and it’s amazing compared to the nasty chemical-ridden Acne Free I used to use. I also used to be obsessed with the plain Burts Bees lip balm, but now I use a handmade kind by some of our beekeeper friends, and I actually like it better.

~Kristin

Jenny - November 5, 2012

Lip gloss. It is one thing technically, but I love it in all shapes, sizes, and (many) colors. In every purse, bag, coat pocket, make-up drawer, bed side basket, vehicle I own you’ll find at least one lip gloss. It might be an addiction, but I’ll not be joining a support group to stop it any time soon. I find it very hard to pass up a lip gloss purchase & make no apologies for the shiny smile it puts on my face.

Jenny - November 5, 2012

I’m sorry. I have no idea why your lovely picture is by my comment. That looks like I’m trying to pretend you made my comment! Maybe I need to officially change my name on here to Jenny from the North 🙂

Christa Allan - November 5, 2012

Hey–thanks for the mascara tip! I’ve been on the prowl for a new one.

And, good grief, I look like I’m demon possessed with those eyes!

Ruth - November 5, 2012

Oh I wish I had been able to photo-bomb this picture! I’m so thrilled I finally got to meet Natalie face-to-face a couple of weeks ago…if you’d been at the book-signing, Jenny, it would’ve been even MORE out-of-this-world awesome. 🙂

Emily Reynolds - November 5, 2012

Apparently you and Background Guy were sympatico on the whole stripes thing. And he’s yawning. Maybe he thought they’d help him look more awake, too….

Emily Reynolds - November 5, 2012

Sorry, Jen! Your pic showed up under my name, too….

Jimmie Anderson - November 5, 2012

Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks. No other tracks will do.

Natalie - November 5, 2012

I’m glad you didn’t think it was creepyville that I kept starting at your eyes trying to figure out if your eyelashes were real or fake. I have a hunch that you just have redunkulously long lashes that look rad no matter the mascera BUT I’m still giving this L’Oreal stuff a whirl.

Seriously, you’re too fantastic for words. Thanks for jumping away from your smart/inspiring stuff to meet up with me and talk about country music and cheese dip.

Abbigail - November 5, 2012

Natalie, I’m asking for Paperdoll this Christmas! If I don’t get it, I’m getting it with my Christmas money. 🙂 Excited to read it. Err, once I get it, one way or another. 🙂
Jenny, I literally laughed out loud at the guy behind ya’ll. That was BEFORE you mentioned him.
My one thing….hm…Am I allowed to say your blog? Hehe. But seriously. Whenever you don’t post at least once a week, I feel like I’m going to go into withdrawal.

Abbigail - November 5, 2012

Woah. Jenny face. ^
And I forgot how creepy the smiley faces are. You should really do something about that.

Kriss Spencer - November 5, 2012

my must have, yet I still haven’t had the gumption to buy it…Gain laundry crystals….you know…the little pebbles of wonderfulness that make you smell snifferrific for 12 weeks!!!! A friend gave me some to try…Oh MY! 3 times I have carried those bad boys to the check-out counter and then denied myself the privelege of putting them on the belt!! Someday, I might just eeeekkk enough out of my sweet single income family budget to splurge on such a thing…but then again, I am an extreme tightwad, so…….

Jenny B Jones - November 5, 2012

Abbi, you will love her books. Highly recommended.

Kristin, I’d love to use Burt’s Bees on my face, but I’m all allergic to it. I’m allergic to just about everything I put on my face. I’m so delicate. ; )

Jenny E, I am good at buying lip gloss, but I’m terrible at remembering to put it on.

Ruth, we would’ve have loved for you to join us!

Kriss, snifferific–that made me laugh. I love the smell of Gain. But I have not seen this crystal business. Fingers crossed you’ll get some soon. : )
Thanks, Abbigail. : )

Natalie, I forgot to tell them how cheese-wise you are.

Christa, you will love the mascara.

Jimmy, I’m more of a Ben and Jerry’s person myself. But I totally understand a commitment to ice cream.

Jada - November 5, 2012

I swear by my computer. It holds EVERYTHING. I bring it everywhere because I’m like “what if my house burns down?”
I also swear by chocolate chip cookies- not the wal-mart kind…some of theirs make cookies look bad

CharityHawkins - November 6, 2012

I have been Googling and Googling for this writer’s retreat/conference and it must be the best kept secret EVER. I cannot find any mention of it. I’m trying to see if I can order the CD or MP3 of your class. Are you SURE it was a writer’s retreat and not an undercover mob meeting? I’m getting suspicious…
If it was not an undercover operation, and there is an actual web site for it, could I have the link or the official name of the event pretty please? Thank you so much!

capillya - November 6, 2012

Girl! You look GREAT in your pictures. So hush!

I’ve never tried that type of mascara, so I definitely will have to when I run out of my current mascara — I’m currently using Rimmel something or other. My one product I swear by is actually new to me but I LOVE it: Mixed Chicks leave-in conditioner. I use it as a styling product and I’m asking for more of it for Christmas, because it’s not cheap! =)