...The Girly Tomboy...

At the Movies - Going the Distance

2010-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Can long distance relationships really work?

In Going the Distance, Erin (Drew Barrymore) meets Garrett (Justin Long) over a beer and they hit it off. But Erin is moving away in couple of months, so they agree to keep it casual. A totally uncomplicated fun summer fling. Too bad they end up falling in love, which of course complicates things. So when Erin moves, they decide to stay together and do the long distance thing. But is that really possible? Or are they totally fooling themselves?

You know how sometimes you see the preview for a movie, and the funny parts are hilarious, so you go see the movie only to find out that the only funny parts were in the preview? Well, Going is not like that at all. This was one of the funniest chick flicks I've seen in a long time. Barrymore and Long have great chemistry (probably because they used to date), and their quirky slightly awkward personalities really shine in the dialogue and humor of this romantic comedy. So, ladies, if you're fans of the chick flick genre, then leave the boys at home this weekend, and check out Going. I will definitely be buying this one when it comes out on DVD.

The Blocked Blogger

2010-09-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

Blocked. Unmotivated. Blog on the proverbial back burner. Stuck.

Been there?

What do you do?

Time for You - 11.09.2010

2010-09-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. Time to tell us how you've made Time for You this week. And if you weren't able to, tell us why. We will be your support system!

Link up with us - Untypically Jia and The Girly Tomboy - as we make ourselves a priority for at least the fraction of each week to take care of ourselves and come one (no matter how tiny) step to meet our goals.

Grab the 'Time for You' button and place it in your post or on your sidebar.

Blog about the steps you are taking to make yourself a priority and take care of yourself, and link that post. (Only link up the individual post. No links to your main blog, giveaways or other posts. Links will be monitored.)

Once you've linked up, click on as many other links as you'd like and offer your support to fellow bloggers who are taking time for themselves. Leave thoughtful comments, offer support and advice, follow their blogs and build friendships. We're in this journey together!

This is all about improving your life and taking time for you! It's not just about fitness or weight loss. Blog about how you're going to try and quit smoking. About how you're preparing to run a 5k marathon. Blog about your desire and steps your taking to overcome depression. Blog about your journey to lose weight or your plans to get pregnant.

One blogger from each week will be randomly selected and featured the following week. Want to be featured? Then you have to participate!

This weeks Featured Blogger is Emma from Toddler Awesome!

Emma is a beautiful Mom from Ireland who has decided that before she and her husband start trying for their second child, she is taking time for her by setting health goals to achieve a healthy and happy pregnancy! She is setting such a good example for other Mommy Bloggers out there, not to mention for her own family. We support you Emma! Keep up the good work!

As for me, I took almost a whole week for me. It was glorious fun hiking and swimming with the doggies. We made the most out of the last hot days of summer. Not only was it a bunch of good workouts, but it was also the best thing I could have done for my mental health! My link takes you to some pics from the lake.

All right everyone. Let's hear your stories. Link up!

At The Movies - The American

2010-09-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

Don't see this movie. It sucked...SLOWLY!

I mean it.

It was a complete waste. I want my $10 and 2 hours back.

George Clooney plays a spy/assassin who is on his last mission while someone is trying to kill him. His mission is to make a custom weapon for someone. He befriends a priest, and a hooker. Neither friendship is exciting.

First of all, this was the slowest movie I have ever seen. Nothing happens. Clooney spends half the movie driving up and down the hill to the village where he is staying, and the other half building a gun. There is little dialogue. It was BORING! Sure, he built a nice weapon, but he's a terrible spy. Terrible. Someone is after him and he seems oblivious as to who is calling the shots and giving info about his whereabouts to the bad guys.

Slowest movie ever. Really.

So save your money and pass on this one. Don't even bother renting it. Get the Ocean's Eleven movies instead if you need a Clooney fix.

Scarf Inspiration - How to Tie a Scarf

2010-09-09T00:08:00.000-07:00

I have started getting into scarves. They add that touch of color, and really complete an outfit. I loved the way scarves look on other people, but when I got my first scarf I was at a bit of a loss. How do I wear it?

There are lots of ways to tie a scarf. Depends on the outfit and the scarf. But here are some inspirations if you're a scarf newbie like me. Or maybe just need some new looks.

What's your favorite way to wear a scarf?

...And We're Back!!!

2010-09-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been absent. I spent some serious time unplugged. Crazy but true.

First, I made some jam and tomato sauce. Details and recipes will follow.

Then, we took full advantage of the the last days of warm weather by taking off for lots of hiking and swimming!

What a great way to enjoy those last few hot lazy days. And so great for my mental health!

Time for You - 28.08.2010

2010-08-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

Grab the 'Time for You' button and place it in your post or on your sidebar.

Health and Fitness 3 - Indoor Cycling

2010-08-28T00:53:00.000-07:00

I started cycling this week, after a 2 year absence. And two things are clear. First, I am way out of shape. And second, my crotch is not as used to the bike seat as it used to be. So I started with 25 minutes per day at an aerobic intensity, but took a day off yesterday to give my crotch a rest.

At this point, it's so easy to get discouraged by my lack of bike conditioning. I used to teach at least 5 spinning classes per week. I had no issues being on the bike for longer periods of time, both in comfort and fitness level. And now there are issues. That discouragement can easily translate to giving up. Surprisingly, what has gotten me on that bike every day is the music. I blasted some of my old spinning music while I worked out and it helped motivate me, get me going, and distract me from any discomfort. The first day I tried playing a movie while working out, and after that I switched to music. The music was much better. Much more motivating, and much more energizing!

So whether you're on a bike, treadmill, elliptical, or any other gym cardio toy, skip the daily news or crappy daytime tv, and pump up the volume on your favorite tunes.

And if you have a few moments, let me know in the comments what music inspires you or pumps you up. What do you like to workout to?

Time for You 21.08.2010

2010-08-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

Grab the 'Time for You' button and place it in your post or on your sidebar.

Health and Fitness 2 - Getting the Routine Started

2010-08-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Like many things, it's hard to start an exercise routine. Once we start, and get in the groove, it becomes automatic. We don't have to plan it anymore. Just like we don't plan getting dressed, or brushing our teeth, or taking a shower. It's automatic. Wake up, shower, brush teeth, get dressed. No planning required. No notation in our agenda that says Wednesday, 7am, get dressed. But starting a new routine is something else. We have to think about it. We have to plan. We have to shift our schedule. And let's face it, we have to shift our priorities.

That's where I'm starting. At the beginning. Putting regular exercise back into my daily routine. On top of my daily walks with the dogs, I'm starting with 30 minutes per day of aerobic exercise - 70% max heart rate (more on this later). I'm telling you so that I'm accountable.

I got this sexy looking CycleOps indoor bike to help me on my way. It's beautiful. And more importantly, it feels just like a real bike - without the rain, snow, heat, cold, or crazy motorists. I love cycling. I am not a runner. Not even a little bit. But cycling is awesome. I have dreamed of having my very own bike for a long time. Such a time saver. Just hop on, work out, and you're done. No driving to the gym, waiting for a machine to open up, then having to drive home again. So much easier and faster when you've got something at home. Once I get this routine down, I'll add longer rides. Then I'll add resistance training. But for now, it's 30 minutes per day. I've got to start somewhere.

What have you been up to this week? How have you made Time for You?

Lush Massage Bars as Moisturizer

2010-08-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

I went to into Lush today looking for a body moisturizer. My main criteria were scent (of course!) and that it not be sticky. After testing some of the moisturizing creams in the Lush line, the sales associate asked me if I ever used the massage bars as moisturizers. WHAT?

I love the massage bars, and have used them on my legs in the super dry Arizona winter. But now that I'm in a more humid climate, the massage bars are just way too greasy.

But not when you use them when you're still wet! That's right ladies, rub that lovely smelling cocoa butter goodness in your hands when they're damp and warm from your shower to melt the bar, and rub into your damp skin - like butta baby! A very rich moisturizer, that's not sticky. My favorites are Strawberry Feels Forever (smells like strawberry milkshake), Mange Too (white chocolate and honey), and Heavanilly (vanilla deliciousness).

Will you be Preserving Summer's Bounty?

2010-08-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Fall is inching closer and closer. And as tough as it is to let summer go, one of the benefits of this time of the year is the cornucopia of seasonal fruit and veggies bursting at the seams of local farmer's markets.

In an effort to avoid high sugar, high salt, and other mysterious (and bad for me) additives, I have decided to do some preserving this year. I have to admit, I have been planning on preserving for a while now, but was a bit intimidated by the process.

I picked up the Art of Preserving by the fine people of Williams-Sonoma. I recommend this book for newbs to preserving. It has all the basic recipes and also recipes on how to use what you've made. Brilliant. I will do a more thorough review of this book once I've tried more recipes.

I was really pleased to find out that I needed very few specialty utensils and supplies to get started. Very cheap start up!

I started with peach rosemary jam. This is my first ever attempt at preserving, and it worked out wonderfully. I used a bit less sugar, so it's a little runny, but SO delicious. And a lot easier than I thought.

My next project is tomato sauce.

I also want to make salsa, apricot jam, plum jam, and apple butter.

Are you going to be preserving this year? I would love to swap recipes and tips with you!

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Time for You - 14.08.2010

2010-08-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

When was the last moment you set aside time time for you?

Now is the time!

Every Friday night, visit Untypically Jia and The Girly Tomboy where we will post a link up. Every week a new list will be added, so make sure to come back each week and link up.

Grab the 'Time for You' button and place it in your post or on your sidebar.

Blog about the steps you are taking to improve your health and link that post. (Only link up the individual post. No links to your main blog, giveaways or other posts. Links will be monitored.)

Time For You Segment and Blog Hop

2010-08-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

As you know, I recently made a pact with myself to take better care of myself. But in reality, it's not easy for me to make myself a priority. And sometimes, I need a bit of inspiration, and a bit of support. So I have teamed up with the wonderful Jia to bring you a weekly segment and blog hop called 'A Time for You'. It's a way for all of us to inspire each other to meet our goals.

Here's how it will work:

* Every Friday night, visit Untypically Jia and The Girly Tomboy where we will post a link up. Every week a new list will be added, so make sure to come back each week and link up.

* Grab the 'Time for You' button and place it in your post or on your sidebar.

* Blog about the steps you are taking to improve your health and link that post. (Only link up the individual post. No links to your main blog, giveaways or other posts. Links will be monitored.)

* Once you've linked up, click on as many other links as you'd like and offer your support to fellow bloggers who are taking time for themselves. Leave thoughtful comments, offer support and advice, follow their blogs and build friendships. We're in this journey together!

And remember, this is about taking care of yourself and taking time out of your busy schedule for you. In my case, the goal is fitness and weight loss, but you may be trying to quit smoking (yes little sister, I'm talking to you!), or overcoming depression, or uncluttering your closet, or looking for a job you don't hate, or even trying to get pregnant. So blog about your goals and the steps you are taking to meet them, tell us about your struggles and your successes, and then share those blog posts with us every Saturday.

The Bronzy Glow - Kristin Cavallari Inspired Makeup

2010-08-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

I am my sister's private makeup guru. We have found her foundation, basic eye shadow colors, blush, brushes, etc. Most recently we have been working on application. I told her is to find a celebrity with similar coloring, who's style and makeup she likes. Then we replicated the look.

She picked Kristin Cavallari. I didn't even know who she was - clearly my sister and I don't watch the same reality TV. But google image search came up with these two pics:

Based on those pictures, we used what my sister already had to replicate Kristin's neutral bronzy look. The colors we chose are below - all MAC because that's what she had.

APPLICATION

The most important part of Kristin's look is skin. Start with a tinted moisturizer or light-medium foundation to even out your skin tone. We used NARS sheer glow and applied with fingers. Then follow up with a bit of powder (I'm loving MAC Prep+Prime translucent powder at the moment) on a fluffy brush to set the foundation. Fill in your brows with either shadow, brow powder, or a brow pencil (we used Fling brow pencil).

Use a fluffy blender brush (MAC 217) to apply all eye shadow, which gives a soft application. On the lids use a soft shimmery peachy pink shadow (mix of Jest and All that Glitters e/s). Use a matte soft warm brown to define the crease (Soft Brown e/s) and also apply it to the outer two thirds of the bottom lash line. Lastly, use a soft wash of light shimmery shadow (Refined MSF) on the brow bone. We used a pencil brush to apply that same highlight to the inner eye (tear duct) area to open up the eyes. Finish the eyes by blending a black gel eye liner (Blacktrack) into the lashes and on the waterline, and apply a black mascara to the lashes.

Use a fluffy brush (MAC 138) to apply bronzer (Golden) to the hollows of the cheeks and on the temple and forehead to contour the face. Make sure to blend the bronzer into the hairline for a more natural look. Then apply a light dusting of a shimmery peach blush (Springsheen) on the apples of the cheeks for a bit of color and glow. Lastly, highlight the face with the same light shimmery shade used to highlight the eyes (Refined MSF).

Finally, apply a glossy pinky nude lipstick (Hue) to the lips.

Unfortunately, my sister is camera shy, but the makeup turned out great. She even got complements from her friends! So if you're ever in a rut and/or looking for a new makeup look, turn to your favorite celebrities for inspiration.

Who is your makeup/style idol?

Loving the Gray Nail Polish

2010-08-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

I love black nails, but they're a little too dark for summer. But sometimes you just need a break from colors, you know? So I turned to gray - a summery black. I'm loving it!

I have been wearing Zoya's Kelly, from the new 'Wonderful' collection on my toes. I expected Kelly to be a little lighter, and a little less blue (kind of like the true gray in the splatter up top). I think it's too dark to wear on my finger nails in the summer. But it'll be a great color for fall and winter, and is great for toes. Although I was hoping for concrete, I'm kind of digging the blue'ish hint to this one. It looks almost navy in low lighting. I feel like I'm too old to be sporting an in-your-face blue or turquoise. So I'm thankful for Kelly, because the blue-gray color satisfies my blue needs in a sophisticated way.

For my fingers, I picked up Essie's Chinchilly from the Fall 2009 collection. I am really digging this color. It's a concrete gray with just the tiniest hint of beige - which warms it up ever so slightly and makes it very flattering with my warm skin tone (NC25). The formula is a bit sheer, but I find that two coats are sufficient for a smooth even (non-streaky) coverage. I am also happy to report that this formula works wonderfully with the Zoya color lock system, so my manicures have been lasting well for about a week. Sweet!

Swatches of Zoya Kelly and Essie Chinchilly - taken in daylight. One thing to keep in mind when shopping for a gray polish is that they tend to look lighter in the bottle than they do on your nails.

What nail polish colors have you been digging lately?

The Girl Next Door - Elizabeth Noble

2010-08-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

Eve and Ed are two Brits who come to New York City when Ed gets a job offer he simply can't refuse. They find a lovely apartment in a co-op on upper east side. The story takes us into the lives of all of the residents in the building. It tells us about their lives, the stories of their past, and their plans and prospects for the future, as their lives intertwine in the big city.

I enjoyed The Girl Next Door for two reasons. First and foremost, Noble is excellent at exploring relationships. Even though I found the characters somewhat stereotypical, the depth of our journey into their lives, thoughts, and emotions is unique to Noble. Secondly, Elizabeth Noble is a good writer. There were no slow parts that I needed to skip. And more importantly, there were no loose ends to the story.

I enjoy books and movies that explore the inner workings of relationships, people, lives, and choices. I love to think about the events, motivations and feelings that lead people and/or relationships to change. This is the strength of Elizabeth Noble's writing. So pick up The Girl Next Door if you like to explore the inner workings of people and relationships, and/or are a fan of Noble.

At the Movies - Charlie St Cloud

2010-08-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

Charlie is an accomplished young man and a skilled sailor, who graduates from high school with a full scholarship to an ivy league college. His life is on the fast track to success. Then the unthinkable happens, and Charlie loses his younger brother Sam, and the light dims on his bright future. Having faced death himself, Charlie comes out of the accident with a unique perspective on the world, and an ability to see and talk to Sam. Charlie spends the next few years in limbo, clinging to Sam and the past. That is, until Tess, a former classmate comes into town for an unexpected visit. Soon Charlie finds himself at a crossroad, and must make a choice between the past and the future. A choice that will change his life.

Charlie St Cloud was one of those movies I could have watched for days. I did not want it to end. Charlie was a great bird's eye view into how life in a sleepy Northwestern town can be both ordinary and extraordinary. The acting was believable, and the characters were endearing. So it was easy to transport myself to that sleepy small town. And I really enjoyed the story. It was definitely a love story. Actually two love stories, one romantic and one fraternal. Charlie explored our beliefs of what happens when we lose loved ones, and how we cope with that loss. As expected, there is a bit of cheese interspersed throughout, but it was pretty good cheese that fit in with the story.

Check out Charlie if you're a fan of the chick flick, and like Nicolas Sparks. It was one of those kind of stories. So if you want a sweet tear-jerker to cut through all the summer blockbusters, bring the girls to see Charlie. But leave the significant other at home, because it is pretty much guaranteed to bore him.

At the Movies - SALT

2010-07-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

SALT is one of those I'm-a-spy, I've-been-wronged, I-use-all-my-awesome-spy-skills-to-save-myself-and-the-world, kind of movies. Angelina Jolie plays CIA agent Evelyn Salt. One tough broad. One day, a former Soviet government bad guy walks into the Agency in an attempt to defect. In exchange for help, he offers the agency information about a double agent. He names Salt as the double agent, while she is the one interrogating him. He tells her that she will be the one to assassinate the Russian president at an upcoming event. All of a sudden Salt finds herself being ushered to a secure room, while the agency contemplates her fate. She manages to get away, so she can prove her innocence and find the people behind the assassination conspiracy. But her actions cast doubt about her motives, and we are left wondering: Who is Salt?

I wanted to like this movie. Really, I did. I like spy movies. I like action movies. And I don't even mind Angelina Jolie. I can forgive her for Mr. and Mrs. Smith, because I liked the Tomb Raider movies. But SALT was not that great. I didn't hate it. But I didn't like it either. It was a little more predictable than I like in a spy movie, and the story was actually not that interesting. And the worst part about this movie was the ending, which obviously left the door open for a SALT2. Wide open. So open that I felt like the story didn't really end. All in all, another fail for Angelina.

I know a lot of people hated this one. I didn't hate it. I was still entertained. But I would only recommend this one to those of you who have seen everything else and are still in the mood to catch a flick at the theater. Otherwise, if you're mildly curious about it, then wait to rent it.

Shoe of the Moment - Zamberlan Civetta

2010-07-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hands down the best hiking boots I've ever owned. I have been wearing mine for years and years and they're still awesome. They're comfy, and tough all rolled into one awesome package. No rolling your ankle on rough ground with these on! I have worn them hiking through a creek, on sand, on rocks, through steep terrain, and everything in between. These boots are to footwear what all terrain tires are to cars. So if you're going on some long hikes, or going on a backpacking trip, check out the Zamberlan line. They're not cheap, but they wear like a dream and last forever, so you'll get your money's worth. And no matter what hiking boot you choose, it's always best to go to a reputable outdoor gear dealer and have someone fit you.

Some Inspiration

2010-07-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Linked To:

At the Movies - The Sorcerer's Apprentice

2010-07-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

Balthazar's love, Veronica, is trapped in a magical urn for all eternity. To rescue her, Balthazar must first free and defeat several evil powerful sorcerers trapped in layers around her. To defeat these sorcerers, Balthazar must first find the prime merlinian - a descendant of Merlin who is born with potential to be a great and powerful sorcerer.

After searching for centuries, Balthazar finally identifies Dave as the prime merlinian. Unfortunately, Dave is an awkward dorky boy who lacks the self-confidence to even accept the possibility that he may be a powerful sorcerer. But Balthazar won't leave Dave alone, as he has been searching for so long, and is desperate to finally free Veronica. With reluctance, Dave agrees to let Balthazar teach him magic, though it is questionable whether he will even survive the training.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice was very much a Disney movie. Wholesome. Good versus evil. Brimming with life lessons. If you are not a fan of Disney movies, then skip this one. However, if you are like me, and find Disney movies entertaining then you will like The Sorcerer's Apprentice. It was a good story and it was well done. The Sorcerer's Apprentice will transport you to a world where giant steel eagles fly, carpets can turn into quicksand, and rings give the wearer special powers. A world where anything is possible. A world of magic. And in the end, in true Disney fashion, you can rest assured that good will triumph over evil, and the ending will be predictably happy. The very formula that hooks me in every time. So if you're in need of a little magic and some good entertainment, then The Sorcerer's Apprentice is for you. This would be a good one for a family movie outing.

Loving the Neutral Look

2010-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Burberry recently released a GORGEOUS looking line of cosmetics. Great concept. It's basically sheer colors for more natural fresh looks. I love the makeup in the promo picture.

Natural makeup with that bit of smokey eye shadow for a bit of a modern edge. I have not been able to play with this range yet, but check naturalNchicMakeup for some great swatches and reviews of the entire range.

I love looking at promo ads for inspiration. Here are some of my other faves for the clean classic look.

Just keep in mind that a lot of the time, the makeup used in the adverts is not even the brand's own. So resist the urge of running out and spending lots of money on 'new' or 'limited edition' colors, when you already have something similar at home.

My Secret Guilty Pleasure

2010-07-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

I started watching Pretty Little Liars out of curiosity. And it was actually better than I expected. It's like Gossip Girl and 90210 (the original one, of course) went on a wild murder mystery trip together. I.can't.stop.watching. I'm addicted.

Watch it? Like it? Tell me your secrets.

The Home Library

2010-07-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

I have been re-watching seasons of Gilmore Girls - man, I love that show. And I was reminded of the wonderful corner library at the Dragonfly Inn.

Although a separate room for a library would be ideal, we don't all live in mansions. I love how this library is just a corner of a larger room, with a bunch of book cases and a couple of comfy chairs. I also love the chicken wire on the bottom cabinets - a great way camouflage a vast collection of paperbacks.

So if you have a lot of books and love the idea of a home library, check out some of these library corners. I am definitely setting up a little reading/library nook.

I love libraries. Having one in the house is such a luxury. So even my future dwelling doesn't have a whole room I can dedicate to it, where there's a will, there's a way.

Classic or Boring?

2010-07-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

I'm not a trendy dresser. Most of the items that comprise my wardrobe are some versions of pieces that have been wardrobe staples for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I'm in style, sometimes I'm not. I consider my style as 'classic'. But the word 'boring' has come up in reference to my wardrobe.

We all have our sweats, suits, black dresses, and jeans. But in addition to those, I can't live without some version of:

The Polo. Feels like a t-shirt but the collar makes it a little more polished.

The Khakis. I find them more comfy and versatile than jeans.

The V-Neck Sweater. More flattering than the crew neck, and can be dressed up or dressed down. Great for layering.

The Leather Shoulder Bag. Either black or brown. Goes with everything. Comfy.

The Fleece Jacket. Can be layered with heavy duty outerwear for maximum insulation, but still cute enough for a trip to the mall.

The Birkenstocks. These make my feet happy.

Argyle. From socks to sweaters, I heart argyle.

The Pearl Studs. Go with almost every piece of jewelry I own.

The Cute Summer Skirt. Summer is for skirts. They're so cute and girly and comfy. Can't ask for anything more.

The Beaded Necklace. I learned to wire wrap and now I make my own. I love these in all different colors and patterns.

Boring or Classic?

What are your staples?

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I Heart Baths

2010-07-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

I love baths. I love hot baths to warm up on a cold day. And I love cool baths on a hot day. Perfect way to relax. Perfect way to unwind.

The bathtub is my favorite place to read. If the book is good, I add extra hot water because the water gets cold and I don't want to stop reading.

This week I discovered Lush's Keep It Fluffy bath bomb. Wicked awesome deliciousness. The fragrance is sweet, but not too sweet. A little powdery, but not too powdery. And just fresh enough to be a great summer bath.

I dream of a claw foot tub. Someday. In a perfect world.

But then, I may never get out.

What do you do to unwind?

At The Movies - Eclipse

2010-07-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Eclipse is the third installment in the Twilight series. I did not read the books, but I absolutely love the movies. Yes, even the first two. I know Twilight and New Moon did not live up to the expectations of the books, but they were still well done. But then, I can easily forgive a cheesy line or two I like the story. And I like the Twilight story.

In Eclipse Bella Swan is once again in danger from an old foe. In addition, Seattle is ravaged by a series of unexplained acts of violence. The Cullen family must once again rally together against insurmountable odds as they plan to fight against an army of newborn vampires - a time when vampires are at their most vicious. In the midst of the dangers, Bella once again finds herself choosing between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob. She struggles with the severe consequences attached to a life with Edward. Is eternal love really worth giving up life and becoming a vampire? What about Jacob? Are Bella's feelings for Jacob deeper than friendship?

I really enjoyed Eclipse. It moved the Twilight saga along - including the relationship between the Cullens and the Volturi, and Victoria's quest for revenge. It does a good job of resolving the triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob. We also find out the details of how Rosalie and Jasper became vampires, and what their lives were like before they joined the Cullen clan. And best of all, Eclipse was much lighter on the cheesy lines than the previous two Twilight movies. I can't wait to see the last installment of this series, Breaking Dawn, which I believe has been split into two movies - not cool. So if you liked Twilight and New Moon, but have not yet seen Eclipse, then go see it. You will enjoy it. Guaranteed.

I can not do a review of Eclipse without telling you that I am emphatically Team Jacob!

If you put aside the the whole werewolf and vampire thing, Bella's choice between Jacob and Edward is the age old struggle between the good sweet boy next door and the dangerous mysterious guy on the motorcycle. Sadly, more often than not, women of all ages are drawn to the dangerous type, only to then ask the question - why do I always fall for the wrong guy? In this case, choosing the wrong guy also means choosing to die and alienate yourself from your whole family. Talk about wrong. On the other hand, there is sweet, good, dependable Jacob. In his own words "...being with [him] will be as easy as breathing." Isn't that hotter than danger and mystery? So why do we continue to celebrate the dangerous Edward? Why is there a Team Edward? Would said Team be as enthusiastic if their sister and/or best friend gave up everything for some guy?

Plus, at the risk of sounding like a dirty old lady, Jacob is way hotter. And since a picture is worth a thousand words...

'Nuff said.

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The Wedding Girl - Madeleine Wickham

2010-07-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

When she was eighteen, Milly was quite adventurous and free spirited. One of her adventures led her down the altar, when she married Allan, a gay friend that needed her help to stay in the country. After that whirlwind summer, Milly and Allan went their separate ways and didn't keep in touch. Ten years later, Milly is engaged to the wealthy and conservative Simon Pinnacle. Simon believes Milly to be just as conservative and serious. With her free spirit put safely away in the back of her closet with her more daring and eccentric wardrobe, Milly is ready to marry Simon in a ceremony fit for royalty. However, days before the wedding Milly meets the photographer, who started taking pictures of brides ten years ago, outside of city hall. Will Millie's past catch up with her just before her wedding and spoil her present and her future?

I enjoyed The Wedding Girl. It was a sweet girly story worthy of a beach blanket. However, I would have enjoyed the book more if I didn't know that Sophie Kinsella wrote it. Wedding Girl, lacked the quickness, wit and charm of the Kinsella novels. The story was a little sloppier and a little slower than I expected. Madeleine Wickhham writing as herself was still developing a style and exploring the art of story telling. Madeleine Wickham as Sophie Kinsella has it figured out and tells stories that are impossible to put down. So I think that if you're a die hard Kinsella fan, you will be disappointed with Wedding Girl. However, this does not mean that it was a bad book. I did enjoy it. Wedding Girl was, for lack of a better word, cute. It's lives up to its cover. And yes, I do choose books based on their covers - and lately I've been enjoying the cartoony cover genre. So, if you are looking for an easy breezy summer read, then Wedding Girl is for you.

When the Lights Go Out

2010-07-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

Toronto is in the midst of a major heat wave right now. Super hot. Super humid.

The ACs are running like crazy. Which was surely the contributing factor to today's 2 hour power outage in my area. No computer, no internet, no TV, no CD player. Too hot to go outside.

For over two whole hours!

It was still light outside. But the first thing I did was got a candle and lighter within easy reach.

Then I painted my nails. Went neutral this time with Zoya's Ellen. Stay tuned for a review.

Then I read a little. I'm in the process or reading The Wedding Girl by Madeline Wickham (a.k.a.: Sophie Kinsella). Like it so far.

And finally, the doggies and I took a nap. Oh so lovely.

And when we woke up it was dark. But luckily the power was back on!

What do you do during a power outage?

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Body Shop DeoDry Deodorant Review

2010-07-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

The Body Shop has introduced a new deodorant range. It contains minerals to absorb wetness and keep you dry without the need for harsh chemicals. Right now, everything in the line is 50% off.

I picked up the roll on deodorant in the cool and zesty scent. The scent is fresh and herbal, and reminds me a little of the all natural bug spray I use. But since I like that scent, I didn't mind. I also liked that you can buy a refill for it when it runs out. Saves on packaging waste and cost. Nice.

However, the deodorant itself did not work for me. I sweat a lot, and definitely need something that controls wetness and odor. This deodorant did not deliver, so I ended up smelling like a stinky old man two hours into my day.

I was determined to give this product a fair chance, and wanted to try and wear it exclusively for about a week. I couldn't do it. I only lasted three days. I smelled bad. I had pit stains. Oh, and did I mention I smelled bad? I mean, BAD.

So it's back to the chemical stuff for me. Maybe if you hardly sweat at all, this will be a good option for you. But if you are more on the sweatier side like me, stay away. Far, far, away.

Sunshine and Substance

2010-07-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love sunshine?

Lifts your spirit. Warms yours soul. Makes you smile.

The wonderful Tennessee Mom from Days on the Creek gave me the Sunshine Award. Thank you so much! And I would like to spread the sunshine to some awesome blogs I've discovered fairly recently, and boy am I glad I did. Check them out. Great ladies with excellent blogs.

Cafe Bellini
Frenchy at Le Chateau des Fleurs
Chelsea at Cream & Cotton

Holly at 504 Main

Roxy at Roro

Erika at Tiptoe Butterfly

Island Gal at NYC Island Gal

Sailboats and Seersucker

Chloe at tryin' to throw my arms around the world

Courtney at Run Courtney, Run
McGriddle Pants at Serenity Now!! Insanity Later...

Jen at Every Day is a New Adventure

I also got this Blog with Substance award from the wonderful Kathleen at Life with 4 Boys. YAY! Thank you so much Kathleen! I pass this one some lovely ladies who provide me with a regular bite of substance through their awesome blogs. Visit them. You won't be disappointed.

Sara at C'est La Vie
Lauren at Life with a Lab
Jennifer at Crazy Shenanigans
Carmie at The Single Nester
Jia at Untypically Jia
Beth at Just Me and My Life
Annie at Adorkable Annie
Running in the Delta
Kaleena at Just Add Kaleena
naturalNchicMakeup

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend and enjoying the summer sunshine!

At the Movies: Grown Ups

2010-07-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

We were in the mood for something funny when we chose to see Grown Ups. It stars Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, after all.

Gown Ups is about five childhood friends who reunite after the passing of their basketball coach passes away. With their quirky families in tow, the boys get together in the coach's lake house for a Fourth of July weekend of reliving their childhoods. Chaos ensues as the parents realize that growing older doesn't mean that you have to grow up. You're never too old to let loose, be goofy, and have fun with your friends and your kids, sometimes even at the same time.

You know how certain comedies look funny in the previews, but the preview includes most of the really funny bits? And then there are others that are so funny all the way through that you spend 2 hours hoping you don't pee your pants? Well Grown Ups is somewhere in between. Although it was funny, and I enjoyed myself, I went in expecting a funnier movie than I got. The redeeming quality of Grown Ups is that it took me back to the summer camp days. And now I want to go to the lake, and I want to go camping. What is it about spending time camping lakeside that transforms us back to those carefree childhood summers?

Grown Ups is definitely a family movie. And it is a movie that the family will enjoy. It's well paced, so it doesn't drag. It will entertain you, no matter how old you are. And you will laugh, but maybe not as much as you expected.

New Segment - Health and Fitness

2010-07-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

I am a mountain biking tomboy. I am a biologist. I am a certified Spinning instructor.

I am overweight.

I have been putting the needs of others before my own needs for the past year. I eat when I have time, and I eat whatever is around at the time. I have not been exercising. And the results have been predictable.

I have gained weight. I have lost muscle mass. I am out of shape.

I am now ready to put myself first again. I will be watching what I eat and planning my meals better. I am in the process of getting my own indoor bike so I can work out regularly again. I have lived like this before, and felt great. For 5 years I taught 5+ spinning classes per week. I watched what I ate. I felt great.

I am ready to reacquaint myself with old habits. To get myself back.

As I do this, I will bring you on my journey. I will share all I have learned, and re-learned. I will tell you about my workouts, and my eating plan.

This will be a weekly segment - with its own spiffy header link.

Welcome to my health and fitness journey!

And Isn't it Ironic - Don't you think?

2010-07-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

I see this cute boy at the dog park all the time. We smile. We chat. We flirt.

Today cute guy came with a cute girl.

Boo.

Could it be a sister or a cousin?

Sure.

But doubtful.

Very doubtful.

I'm hoping someday soon life will help me out in the romance department.

Mine has been the curse of the 'best friend' and/or favorite mountain biking/hiking buddy.

At The Movies - Prince of Persia

2010-06-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to see Prince of Persia for a while now. But for some reason, I always ended up seeing something else. Well, I finally saw it, and I'm glad I did.

This one is from the producer who brought us Pirates of the Caribbean. It stars a very hot and buff Jake Gyllenhaal, as a free spirited Persian prince who finds himself battling an evil conspiracy to unleash the sands of time. The prince must join forces with a mysterious princess from a mystical empire to protect an ancient dagger - the key to releasing the magical sands. If the dagger gets into the wrong hands, it can be used to turn back time and rule the world.

Prince of Persia is one of those fairy tale type adventure movies that takes us to different times and distant lands. When this type of movie is done well, we can immerse ourselves in the magical story and enjoy the ride, without trying to tease apart the possible from the impossible. And Prince was done well. The special effects are excellent, the many action scenes are well choreographed and smooth, and the actors have good chemistry. Sure there are some cheesy lines, and some corny scenes, and a certain degree of predictability. But isn't that why we love fairy tales in the first place? Because while times may be tough, and there are certain lessons we must learn the hard way, good always triumphs over evil, and there is a happily ever after.

This would be a good one for the whole family. Even though there are a good number of fight scenes, there is very little gore. Great for a matinee on a day that is just too darn hot and humid and sticky to be outside without dehydrating and burning to a crisp.

How to Shape Your Brows

2010-06-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

Eye brows frame your eyes. They are very important. Yet shaping your brows is extremely difficult. I have read countless articles and forum posts about what NOT to do. We naturally notice, and comment on, poorly shaped brows. But how the heck do we get our brows off the DON'T list?

Here is everything I learned about eye brows in my quest to tame my own bushy brows.

To determine where your brows should begin and end, as well as where they should arch, you will need a chopstick, or pencil, or straw. To determine the START of your brow, hold up your chopstick from the bottom edge of your nose to the inner corner of your eye. Your brow should start where the chopstick touches transects your brow. Similarly, hold the chopstick from the edge of your nose to the outer edge of your eye, to determine the END of your brow. Use your chopstick to indicate your brow's ARCH by holding it from the edge of your nose to the middle of your iris.

When shaping your brows, the most important thing to remember is that the part of the brow before the arch should be one thick line. That is, if you draw a line at the bottom of your brow, and another line at the top of the brow, those two lines should be parallel. Since my brows are quite thick and bushy, I use brow scissors to trim the top of the brow to give me that straight shape. A common mistake is to over-pluck the bottom area in an attempt to emphasize the arch. This leads to the 'comma brow', where you get a bulb at the inner end, and then a thin brow from there. I sported one of these for quite some time.

Past the arch, your brow should taper. It's best to just follow your brow shape here. I usually don't mess with this part of my brow.

Also remember these brow shape guidelines when you're filling in your brows. Sometimes our brows just don't grow all the way to where they should on the ends. So use a pencil or an eye shadow that matches your brow color or is slightly lighter, to lightly feather in any sparse areas.

Accept your brows for what they are. Some people have naturally high arching brows, others don't. I have almost no arch to my brows. And the more I tried to fight that shape, and the more I tried to give myself an arch, the worse my brows looked. About a year ago, I stopped fighting it, and went with the flow. It took forever for my brows to grow out. But I'm so much happier with their shape now.

We hear this over and over. And yet we still are tempted to make this number one brow mistake. We pluck and we pluck. STOP! Don't do it! Step away from the tweezers.

I was recently watching GossMakeupArtist on youtube talk about the way we unnecessarily age ourselves. Over-plucking was near the top of his list. He also made a very good point I never considered before:

Ever notice that the princess has nice full brows, and the evil queen has over-arched, super thin brows?

So next time you're shaping your brows, remember that you're the princess, and not the evil queen!

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Quick Kitchen Tip: Preventing Fruit Flies

2010-06-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Having fruit flies in the kitchen can be such a pain. They can be especially bad in the summer months, because they like the heat and the humidity. But there is a way to prevent them from ever coming into the house in the first place.

When it comes to fruit flies, bananas are your worst enemy, because in the supermarket, fruit flies preferentially lay eggs on bananas. When you bring your bananas home, the flies hatch, and you have a problem.

The easy solution - rinse your bananas thoroughly when you bring them home from the store. Voila! No more pesky flies.

New Fall Shows I'm Intrigued About

2010-06-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

The last installment of the TV week series. I looked up the new shows that will be coming up in the fall. Here are a few that look interesting. We shall see...

Body of Proof

Dr. Megan Hunt (Delany) was in a class of her own, a brilliant neurosurgeon at the top of her game. But her world is turned upside down when a devastating car accident puts an end to her time in the operating room. Megan resumes her career as a medical examiner, determined to solve the puzzle of who or what killed the victims. Her instincts are sharp, but she's developed a reputation for graying the lines of where her job ends and where the police department's begins. It turns out her career isn't the only thing that will need to be rebuilt; Megan's family has taken a backseat to her ambition, and now she's discovering there's a lot of work to do when it comes to dissecting her relationships with the living. - ABC

Criminal Minds spin-off

Forest Whitaker will play the dynamic, mysterious, and charming father figure on the spin-off, who will take the reins as leader of the new group of profilers who work outside the FBI bureaucracy. Look for it to start mid season. - CBS

Friends With Benefits

An honest look at the complexity of finding "the one," and the things one must do to survive along the way. And when dating is hard, it's good to have friends around who are easy. - NBC

No Ordinary Family

The Powells are about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. After 16 years of marriage, Jim and Stephanie's relationship lacks the spark it once had, and their family life now consists of balancing work and their two children, leaving little time for family bonding. During a family vacation set up by Jim in an attempt to reconnect, their plane crashes into the Amazon River. But this is where the fun starts for the Powells, as they soon discover that something's not quite right. Each of them now possesses unique and distinct superpowers. But saving and savoring their family life will be equally important, as they try to find purpose for their new powers and embark on a journey to find out what defines and unifies them. The Powells are a totally relatable family who happen to be a little bit amazing. - ABC

Love Bites

Irreverent and poignant, Love Bites pulls back the curtain to expose modern romance - in a way you've never seen before. - NBC

The Whole Truth

Kathryn Peale, the product of a New England background and a sheriff father, is the Deputy Bureau Chief in the New York State District Attorney's office. Jimmy Brogan, born and raised in Hell's Kitchen and a friend of Kathryn's since their days at Yale Law School, is one of New York's rising criminal attorney stars. Buoyed by their respective teams, these evenly matched lawyers—each with a strong streak of competitiveness, a fervent belief in their clients and an equally intense passion for the law go about creating two different stories from the same set of facts. As this up-close, behind-the-scenes look at the legal process mirrors the excitement of a championship match, it becomes evident that truth has nothing to do with innocence or guilt—at the end of every trial, the only thing that matters is what the jury believes. - ABC

What say ye?

TV Week - The Best of the Worst - Reality TV

2010-06-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

Let's face it - reality TV is trash. But it's also a bit irresistible, isn't it? You know you shouldn't, but you watch it anyway. TV's guilty pleasures. I'll show you mine. Will you show me yours?

Ok, your turn...

TV Week ends tomorrow with New Shows I'm Intrigued About.

H204K9 Water Bottle - Part Deux

2010-06-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

Meet our replacement H204K9 water bottle. I got one of these bottles a while ago, and the dogs loved it. And I loved it. And I reviewed it. And then someone adopted it as their own.

Well, the nice people at H204K9 sent us a new one. And I got to choose from all of the available colors. Of course I chose pink.

I have been using this bottle for the girls for over a month now, and I absolutely love it. So check out The Friendly Pooch for a more thorough review and pics from our latest dog park and hiking adventures!

Have a good weekend everyone! Get out there and enjoy the sunshine. And don't forget your water and your sunscreen!

At the Movies: Killers

2010-06-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

I have to interrupt TV week to tell you about this movie I just saw.

Tonight was one of those spontaneous movie nights. Because sometimes it's fun to see a really late movie. Too bad we had already seen all the popular picks- Sex and the City 2, Robin Hood, Letters to Juliet, The A-Team. So we were debating between Prince of Persia and Karate Kid (hey, don't judge!), when I came upon Killers. This sounded like an action/lots of guns kind of movie to me, so I never paid any attention. But tonight, for whatever reason, I clicked on the title, and read the synopsis, and decided to go see it.

Jen (Katherine Heigl) is on vacation with her parents after a break up. When she gets there, she meets Spencer (Ashton Kutcher), who is everything she (and every girl on the planet) ever dreamed of - handsome, confident, and incredibly sweet. They fall in love, get married, and live a quiet suburban life. The only problem is that three years into their marriage Spencer finds himself in trouble. People start trying to kill him. Assasin people. It turns out that Spencer used to be a spy and a professional hit man, and he never bothered to tell his wife. And when the truth comes out, Jen has to decide if Spencer's love and their marriage were ever real. That is, if the assassins don't get him first.

I don't know how I hadn't heard of Killers before. I somehow missed the previews, or there weren't any. But I'm glad that I went to see this movie. It was really funny. Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl had great chemistry and are both masters of the quirky humor. There were so many awkward moments between Jen and Spencer - funny because they were such dorks, and because the dork in all of us can relate.

Killers is not an Oscar contender. It is not deep. It will not blow your mind and make you think about life's deeper purpose. But it was a lot of fun. It's the kind of movie where you just sit back and enjoy being entertained. And I also have to tell you that even though I'm not normally an Ashton fan in the looks department, he was really hot in this movie! I guarantee Killers will make you laugh. Maybe even a lot.

The comedy and the guns in Killers is enough to keep your other half entertained, while the romance is so sweet and real (read: quirky and dorky) it will melt your heart. So it's a great date pick.

Anyone else heard of Killers? See it? What did you think?

TV Week - Returning Shows I'm Excited About

2010-06-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

I've enjoyed my stroll down TV memory lane. But now back to the present, or more accurately, the not too distant future. I'm looking forward to catching up with these favorites again in the fall.

What will you be watching this fall?

TV Week continues tomorrow with The Best of the Worst - Reality TV.

TV Week: Shows That Ended Much Too Soon

2010-06-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

There are some shows that I fell in love with only to see them canceled too soon. I hate that.

What were some of your favorites that ended too soon?

TV Week continues tomorrow with Returning Shows I'm Excited About.

TV Week - TV Shows I Miss

2010-06-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

I love TV. I really do. I have not had time to watch as much TV as I used to, so I have to be very selective in my old age. But I can't imagine life without TV. So welcome to TV week all my fellow junkies!

Since TV has been sucking lately, I have been re-watching some of my favorites. Yes, some are cheesy, but I really enjoy them, even now. Here are some TV shows I really miss - why don't they make TV like this anymore?

Anyone else watch these shows?

What TV shows do you miss?

The rest of TV week will be:

Shows That Ended Much Too Soon

Returning Shows I'm Excited About
The Best of the Worst - Reality TV

New Shows I'm Intrigued About

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At the Movies: Letters to Juliet

2010-06-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY saw Letters to Juliet. Woo Hoo! And I liked it. Bonus!

Sophie is a young aspiring writer who works as a fact checker at the New Yorker. She travels to Italy with her fiance, a budding restauranteur. While her fiance is tasting cheeses, buying wines, and learning Italian cooking techniques, Sophie tours Rome. One of her first stops is Juliet's house, where hundreds of women of all ages gather every day and write letters to Juliet about their love life problems. She finds a letter from Claire, who 50 years ago did not go to meet the love of her life so that they could elope. Claire aswers the letter. This brings Claire to Italy, to find her long lost love. Sophie comes along, offering her fact checking skills for a chance to write Claire's story.

Girls, Letters is every bit the sweet romantic story that the ads promise. The Italian countryside backdrop is stunning, the story is endearing, and the acting is believable - except for a somewhat forced ice cream scene, but I am willing to overlook that. Your significant other probably will not appreciate this movie. It is 100% a chick flick. So don't bother with this one on your next date night. But if you and one or more of your girls are looking for something to do after gabbing away at dinner, check out Letters. This is one of those rosy sweet romantic movies that makes you feel good about life. I think you'll like it as much as I did.

Zoya Color Lock System Revisited and Zoya Perrie Polish

2010-06-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

I have been using the Zoya color lock system for two months now. I liked it right from the first review, but it has now reached holy grail status for me. I love it that much.

When I first heard the words 'color lock system', my first thougts were: complicated, multi-layered, and very expensive. Well, it's nothing more than a top coat and a base coat. I also have the drying drops, because I'm impatient. So anything that cuts drying time is great for me. There is also a ridge filler if you need one (which I don't), and a polish remover I have yet to try (but I've read some great reviews). What's great about this 'system' is that it was designed to work together with the nail polish so that it adheres to the nautral nail. And the best part is that Zoya delivers on that promise.

With the color lock system, my manicures consistently last for a full seven days with minimal chipping. And that chipping is usually due to me playing with the dogs, or hiking, or using my nail to peel a sticker off of something. I know, I shouldn't use my nails as tools. But sometimes I do.

The only drawback is that your nails take quite a while to dry, even with the drying drops. This took me a while to get used to, having switched from Seche Vite which dries almost instantaneously. And also, the base coat bonds pretty strongly to your nail, so no picking at your polish! I made that mistake, and ended up with some peeling.

Now here is a swatche of Zoya Perrie.

Perrie is from the Flash part of the Sparkle and Flash collection. It is a creamy lavender with a definite flashy kick. To my eye it's also more blue than the bottle in the above picture (see my swatch below), but I quite like that. Great for summer. However, I am not sure if I just got a dud, but this one did not apply as smoothly as my other Zoya polishes. It was a little clumpy and did not spread well. But the application imperfections were fixed by the top coat so it's ok. And it is a very opaque polish, so I only needed two thin coats.

This swatch is about 5 days into the mani, on the right hand (I'm right handed), and still going strong. Please excuse the cuticles, they're not going as strong as the mani. Note how shiny the top coat is still. Seche Vite always got dull 2-3 days into the mani. And I don't reapply topcoat every couple of days as Zoya recommends to make the mani last longer. After 7 days I'm bored with the color and need a change anyway!

GRR - Just One of Those Days!

2010-06-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

I had a temper as a kid. But of course, as I grew up, I grew out of most of it, and learned to control the rest. And now I'm pretty even tempered.

But there are those days, when something sets me off. And then I spend the rest of the day making sure I don't rip any one's head off for no reason. Because my insides are still boiling.

Today, my dogs got into it with a dog they usually love to play with. Nothing major, but it really made me angry. I raised them better than that, after all!

And it's always like that, something small, when I'm stressed out, or rushing, or slept poorly...

and WHAMO!

(images from WeHeartIt)

Ever have one of those days?

They're exhausting!

At the Movies - Sex and the City 2

2010-06-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

I finally saw Sex and the City II (to be known as SATCII for the rest of this review) this weeknd. I think I was probably the last person on the planet to see this one, but I'm going to review it anyway. Why? Because I was not impressed.

I loved the TV show. Loved. I mean, LOVED. And I loved the first movie. I thought they did such a wonderful job of picking up where the TV show left off.

But SATCII left me underwhelmed. In this one, Carrie is worried that her relationship with Big has become much too ordinary. Charlotte is stressed out about her daughter's terrible two's. And Miranda struggles with a pig headed new boss who can't handle women in the workplace. Samantha has a PR trip to the UAE, and manages to fenangle all four girls on an all expenses paid trip to Abu Dhabi to 'get away'.

But why are we once again dealing with an Aiden, Big, Carrie triangle? I was always on Team Aiden, but come on! Both Carrie and Aiden married different people, so enough already! And why was Miranda's solution to a pig to quit her job? Do strong powerful women walk away from law firm partnerships becuase some pig doesn't like them? And what happened to Charlotte and Harry? Why wasn't their relationship explored more? And why did she have such a hard time with two kids when she had a full time nanny? My mom had three kids, no nanny and went to school full time, and managed to do it all without a daily breakdown. And why is Samantha so one dimensional all of a sudden? She is now just a slut - no character development, no relationships, nothing about her career - just her being slutty all the time. And she used to be classy. That was a large part of what defined Samantha. Even though she was 'free', she was also classy, smart, career driven, and confident. In SATCII she is reduced to a menaupausally challenged, whiny slut with the fashion sense of Miley Sirus - which works for Miley, but not a 52 year old PR executive!

It's ironic that the whole Abu Dhabi trip was an homage to women's rights, when the main characters were immature, weak and whiny in their own lives. What happened to those successful, strong, confident and fun Sex and the City girls we all knew and loved?

I wish the 'THEY' who have control over such things, left the Sex and the City franchise on a high note, and never made SATCII. Didn't their mothers ever tell them that if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well?

If you haven't seen this one, don't bother. Wait to rent it.

If you've already seen it, what say ye?

A Little Inspiration

2010-06-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Photo from WeHeartIt

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,

or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,

or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
time is short, the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,

when you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,

with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast,

time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,

and in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,

'cause you never had time to call and say hi?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast,

time is short, the music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

you miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

it's like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life isn't a race, so take it slower,

hear the music before your song is over.

Adding this post to:

Why Are Stores Pushing Us to Buy and Return?

2010-06-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

I stopped in at Sephora and Lush this weekend. I need a new face scrub. The conversation went something like this:

Me: I'm looking for a very gentle face exfoliator for sensitive skin. Can I get a sample of this so I can try it and see if it agrees with my skin?

Sales Associate: Did you know that you can buy the product and then return it if you don't like it?

Me: Yes, but I think that's really wasteful, so I prefer to just try a sample and then come back and buy it if it works for my skin.

Sales Associate: [insert dirty look] I guess I can get you a sample.

Stores are pushing customers to buy products that may not be appropriate for them and then give them the option of returning that product (usually in 30 days). While that may seem like a great idea to you, resist the urge. Because how likely are you to remember to return to that store and get a refund? Next thing you know, you've got a drawer full of crap you don't need or use. And it's all going bad.

My skin has been so sensitive lately that I've had to be very choosy about skin care or I get red splotches - not at all attractive. So I have had to take samples of every face product I am considering getting and use it on my face for a couple of days to see if my skin is ok wth it. Hence the request for samples.

And the sad part is that they have to toss the products you return. But the company still has to make money. So they hike up the prices. Which means that we all end up paying for this ridiculously bad sales strategy.

I refuse to buy 5 $30+ face scrubs, only to return 4 of them later.

So give me the samples and stop selling me stuff I don't need. And save the dirty looks. I'm not easily intimidated.

Have you had someone tell you to buy and then return?

At the Movies - The A-Team

2010-06-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

In the TV show, the A-Team is a group ex-military types who help out desperate men out of desperate, and often dangerous situations. A-Team is about how this group of misfits got together. These former special forces soldiers are framed for a crime they did not commit. They team up to find the real criminal and clear their names.

This was a good action flick. If you were a fan of the A-Team TV show, then you will enjoy this movie. If you like action flicks, then definitely check out the A-Team. It rates an eight out of ten on my action flick scale.

Oldy but goody - Glow by JLo

2010-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I almost never wear perfume. But when I do wear perfume, I really love JLo Glow. Remember the ad?

The marketing concept is pure cheese, but the perfume is lovely. And evertime I wear it, I am grateful that while Jennifer Lopez is sometimes a bit much, she has a good nose. Not to mention, she has wicked awesome makeup a all times!

What cheesy product do you still use and love?

Hot Rocks - Nora Roberts

2010-06-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Laine Tavish has set up a nice life for herself in a small town where everybody knows her name. She opened up an antique shop called 'Remember When', which is flourishing. Life is smooth until a strange man appears out of nowhere with cryptic requests, and proceeds to be run down by right in front of Laine's shop. Next thing she knows, Laine finds herself in the run for her life, and in a treasure hunt a girl can only dream about. To get out of the mess, Laine must rely on Max Gannon, a complete stranger with his own agenda.

This is a quick read that has it all - suspense, murder, drama, and romance. It is best described as a great piece of fluff. I enjoyed reading this one while lounging one weekend in the yard afte some heavy duty weeding of the garden. Nora Roberts is a great story teller, and this one is vintage Nora. If you're after somethng deep and profound, then this book is not for you. But if you want some light entertainment, give Hot Rocks a try.

Keep in mind this book is a release of one of the stories of Roberts' previously published Remember When.

Read anything good lately?

May 2010 Favorites

2010-06-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping it simple this month - between the heat and how busy I've been, I really didn't have a choice. Here is what I've been enjoying all May. I love Favorites lists, so please post a link to yours!

Zoya Happi nail polish. Perfect summery shade. Will post swatches and review of this one shortly.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme is in the perfect little tin so it's great to take with you and use whenever you have a minute - red light, waiting for a friend, at the dog park, etc. I love that this isn't greasy when applied.

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil is a wonderful soft nautral lip balm. Even though it has a tint, it's clear on the lips. I love the taste of this one - slightly herby and slightly fruity. And tomorrow I will be getting a new one of these, because my dogs ate mine this afternoon!

MAC Mulch Eye Shadow is such a pretty shimmery buttery brown. I've been wearing this one by itself washed over the lid. Lovely.

Prestige Total Intensity liners glide smooth as butta and last all day, even in the sweltering heat and humidity. Best $5 I've ever spent!

Milani Luminous blush is the perfect coral color with very subtle shimmer. Adds a glowy flush to the cheeks that lasts better than cream blush in the heat.

My Kiwi sandals are so comfy! The lether is soft and the sole is vibram, which equals comfort. I heart these sandals.

At the Movies - Robin Hood

2010-05-31T22:18:00.000-07:00

We went to see Letters to Juliet, but we missed it, so we saw Robin Hood instead. I had no idea what to exect. Apparently, I have been living under a cinematic rock, because I didn't even know this movie existed. And if I had heard of it, I would not have been very enthusiastic to see it.

But how can you not like Robin Hood? He steals from the ritch and gives to the poor. And there are all those merry men. I still remember the Robin Hood cartoon I used to watch every Saturday morning while my parents were still in bed.

This movie is the beginning of the story. Who is Robin Hood? What's his beef with the rich? And where did all those merry men come from?

I enjoyed this one. I like period movies, and this one fit the bill. Good costumes, good story. My sister thought it dragged a bit at the beginning. But that's kind of the pitfall of the period piece - the back story takes time to tell. And since I thought it was a good story, I didn't find the beginning slow. And I actually enjoyed Russell Crowe in the Robin Hood role. He did a great job. Good enough for me to leave the theater with a bit of a crush.

Some of the war scenes were a little 'I'll get you with my plastic sword', and the lines were laced with just a smidge of cheese. But overall, I rate Robin Hood as a decent date movie - because just like my broter in law, I don't think your date is likely to agree to Sex in the City 2.

The Playful Pooch

2010-05-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

I did it. I started a second blog. A dog blog of course. So for updates on the antics of Kitty and Millie, and for other useful (or at least somewhat useful) doggie content, chek out The Playful Pooch. And please add yourself to our pack of friends!

I added the dog food info from this blog - because that's what I get asked about the most.

One of the things I want to do on The Playful Pooch is to feature YOUR dogs, so I may be contacting you for pictures and stories. Also, if you would like to feature your dog on The Playful Pooch, email me at theplayfulpooch at gmail.

Also please email, comment or chat any feedback and requests.

HAPPY WEEKEND!!

Lipstick Jungle - Candace Bushnell

2010-05-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to read something by Candace Bushnell for ages. This was the first one of her books I grabbed off the bookshelf. And boy am I glad I did.

Lipstick Jungle is about three strong and powerful New York women. Nico is a magazine executive who is in the process for lining herself up to be CEO. Victory is fashion designer at the helm of a globally successful design house. And Wendy is the president of a top movie production company. Lipstick Jungle takes you inside the personal and professional lives of these three self-made moguls as they navigate through some of the most pivotal and life changing events of their entire careers.

I read Lipstick Jungle in two days. I could not put it down. I lost sleep, but it was worth it. This fast-paced novel was much fun to read. These women came alive on the pages, and watching them persevere with strength and grace was not just entertaining, but also empowering.

Hands down one of the better books I've read in a while. Read this one.

Note: As naturalnchicmakeup pointed out there was also a show. The show stunk. I think I watched one episode. So bad I erased it from my memory. But I'm glad I forgot about that show or I would not have picked up the book. The book was better. For sure.

Dear Weekend, Where Are You When I Need You?

2010-05-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Perrier,

Thank you for making pink grapefruit sparkling water. It's the most delicious sparkling beverage I've ever tried. Thank you for not polluting your products with caffeine, aspertame, and/or high fructose corn syrup. Don't discontinue the pink grapefruit flavor, ever. I mean it. EVER. I. Love. It.

Dear Google,

Why is it that everyday I have trouble logging into something? Two days ago it was gmail, yesterday it was blogger, and now it's gmail again. Is it too much to ask that all my computer portals work simultaneously? Yes, that may make me a dork...don't judge. Fix it already.

Dear Bryce at H204K9,

Thank you for sending me a replacement water bottle because it sucks that mine was stolen. It saves me so much time trying to track one down in town. Not only do your products rock, but you are the sweetest. Doggie kisses from Millie and Kitty.

Dear Cassi,

Why did you elude me once again? Sure, I'm happy with the color I got today. But I would have liked to have found you instead. You mock me with your online swatches. You taunt me with that perfect coral color and subtle shimmer. And then you play hard to get. Are you enjoying being such a tease?

Dear Sara,

You are so sweet and I value our back and forth comments greatly. I love your blog and this post format. Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? XOXO

Dear Strange Lonely Man at the coffee shop,

No, I didn't want to talk to you. Not even a little bit. I had my headphones on. I didn't want to be disturbed. Sure, there was nothing playing. But you didn't know that. Headphones mean 'leave me alone please'. Period.

Dear my future other half,

Hurry up, already. I'm tired of waiting. I don't want to be single anymore. And I am sick of dealing with all of your cheaper immitation stand-ins. Sometimes even us independent girls need a reliable and permanently available shoulder to lean on.

Dear Letters to Juliet,

This weekend. You and me. For sure. I won't take no for an answer.

Tout Sweet - Karen Wheeler

2010-05-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

This book is about the successful Karen Wheeler, who has a great job in fashion, a chic life, a posh flat in London, and a hot boyfriend. But when the hot boyfriend dumps her, Karen sets out to search for a simpler life in France. She buys a cottage in a remote French village, and befriends a group of eccentric and outspoken friends. She learns how to be more self sufficient and enjoy the simpler things in life, while she navigates throug a dating minefield.

This book sounded good so I piced it up. And though I enjoyed the story line and the characters, I found Tout Sweet quite slow. This is a great book to take with you while you're traveling, and will be reading bits at a time. But it is certainly a book I had no problem putting down. So overall I would pass on this one.

Furthermore, the story was very reminicent of Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. Lead character goes to a new country, buys a house in desperate need of repair, makes some friends and learns to be self sufficient. Unfortunately Tout Sweet was the cheaper immitation of Tuscan Sun. So if you haven't read either book, then by all means get Under the Tuscan Sun, which was a much better book. And no, having seen the movie does not count!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

2010-05-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Red velvet is my favorite cake. I've been craving it for a couple of days now. Unfortunately, the last time (which was also the first time) I made a red velvet cake, it didn't turn out all that great. So I'm a little scared to try again. I did find a recipe by Paula Dean. She's never disappointed me, so I may give it a try. Do you have any other tried and true recipes for red velvet? Have you tried Paula Dean's version?

I Want That!

2010-05-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

I spent this evening watching James Bond and e-shopping. I found some great goodies. If only I had a pocket full of cash!

The Coach Julia Leather Op Art Perry Tote. Such a great color that can be worn all year. I have been looking for a tote for quite some time, and this one fits the bill.

Every time I go into a store that sells Zoya polish, I look for Cassi. I love the way this one looks in swatches. Too bad no one carries it. If I ever order directly from Zoya, Cassi will be first on the list!

The Wetnoz Ultra bowl and stand are so perfect and sleek looking. I love that the bowl has a higher back so that the food doesn't go flying. I also love the stand - Missy Kitty has a cleft palette and it's much easier for her to eat when her bowl is raised. This combo is EXACTLY what I've been looking for.

I need some new pajama pants as all mine are looking a bit tattered and faded. How cute are these ones from Life is Good??

Did you know that Sophie Kinsella's real name is Madeleine Wickham? Did you know she wrote books under that name? I didn't! I.Must.Read.These. I love her.

I love these wedges by Sofft - who make THE MOST COMFORTABLE shoes I've ever owned. I need these super cute wedges for summer.

How is it that I still don't own the doggie charm from Pandora? I'll tell you how - it's always sold out!

I missed out on MAC's Hipness blush with the Fafi collection. It's getting repromoted with the 'To The Beach' Collection. I'll have to pick it up. It's a great coral blush that will be perfect for that summer glowy look everyone's always talking about.

At some point I'll be redoing my bedroom. And I've got my eye on the Mendocino bed frame from the Pottery Barn.

What are your favorite e-shopping finds?

It's Friday Again - Friday Show 'N Tell

2010-05-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ok peeps, bring and brag time again! I've been sick all week and have no idea what's going on in the blogging world. Show me what you've been blogging about this week and share your blog with the rest of us. I LOVE checking out everyone's blogs!

So post a link to a single post (feel free to add more than one link) from your blog that you posted within the last 7 days, and then check out what everyone else has been up to - and don't forget to share some comment love! Also, add the Friday Show 'N Tell Button (grab it from the sidebar) to the post you featued so that others can join the fun! I put in a couple of my posts to get us started.

Reviewing Products - Business 2 Blogger

2010-05-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

As you can tell from my blog, I like to do reviews. If something is good, why not let everyone know. And if it didn't live up to the hype? Definitely something to write about!

I came across the Business 2 Blogger site this morning, and was intrigued. They send you an email with info about companies who are looking for bloggers to review their products. You sign up, they send you the product, you revew it on your blog. Sounds like fun, right?

I liked that they let you choose what you participte in, so I don't have to review random crap I would never consider buying. And you can unsubscribe at any time.

I'm not sure about this site as of yet. This morning I signed up and confirmed my account. Then I got a welcome email. That's it so far. But I'll definitely keep you posted on how this goes.

And don't worry, just because someone sends me something for free doesn't mean that I'm going to sing it's praises. I always tell it like it is, whether on my blog or in person. For better or for worse, that will never change.

If you check out Business 2 Blogger, leave a comment or send me an email. I really want to know what you guys think of this service.

Holy Grail Status

2010-05-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

There are products I like, and there are products I don't like. But then there is a whole other section of products that have reached Holy Grail status in my books. These are products that I have and will continue to purchase over and over again. I like a lot of products, but I'm fickle and more often than not want to try something new. But once in a while, I find perfection and my eyes don't stray to others...that's a Holy Grail.

I love the pink tweezers by Anastasia. They are precise, just the right angle and width and always stay true. I can get every single stubborn brow hair, no matter how small. The pink color is a bonus. I lost my first pair of these when my purse was stolen, and didn't entertain the idea of trying something else for a second. I just marched down to Sephora and got the exact same ones.

The MAC 217 is the perfect eye shadow brush. If I was going to a desert island with a palette of shadows, and was only allowed one eye shadow brush, the 217 would be it. This is one of those desert islands that has fancy restaurants and cocktail parties. On days when I'm in a hurry, I apply all of my shadows with this one brush. I have two of these just in case one is dirty.

CoverGirl's LashBlast mascara is perfection in a tube. The fatty wand takes some time to get used to, but this mascara rocks. It does not flake and it does not run. It's the only non-waterproof mascara I can use without looking like a racoon after 3 hours. It doesn't clump, and does a great job of defining my lashes. Why buy $20+ mascaras when there is LashBlast?

Dermalogica's super sensitve sunblock is the my all time favorite face sunblocks. It does not irritate my skin, which turns red and blotchy when it doesn't like what I put on my face. It protects my face no matter what I may be doing. It stays put pretty well without running into my eyes when I'm sweaty. I wear this one to work, the dog park, biking, hiking and anything else. For swimming, I will choose something waterproof. Otherwise, this is it.

MAC Viva Glam V. It's a lustre - creamy, shiny, sheer. The color is 'my lips but better' and I don't need to wear a gloss with it. Need I say more?

My hair hasn't seen silicone in about 8 years. In that time, I have been using veganese almost every day. When the weather is dry, and my hair is dry, I mix myself a bottle of 1:1 Veganese and American Cream. It smells and works better than American Cream alone. Veganese conditions my fine hair well without weighing it down and yet tames those pesky baby hairs at my hairline. Love it!

Sure I have a pair of fancy everyday sunglasses. But for all of my outdoor activities, I swear by these Rudy Project Apache SX Girl Sunglasses. Diffeent colored lenses pop in and out of these frames with ease, so I can switch up depending on conditions. I even have a clear set of lenses for gloomy days of mountain biking - so that my eyes are still protected even when the light is too low for sunglasses. When the sun is low the orange lenses actually make everything brighter. And the best part is that Rudy Project guarantees their lenses FOR LIFE - so if you ever scratch them, just send them in with a S&H fee and they send you replacement lenses. BRILLIANT. Believe it or not, I've already gone through 2 pairs of these sunglasses. One got stolen at the beach, and one got stolen with my purse, along with the replacement lenses! Man, I lost a lot of good stuff with that purse! So this summer, I'll be replacing these with a third pair. That's how much I love them!

The Sugoi Evolution Shorty is THE BEST biking short I have ever used! I love the padding of these - just enough but not too much. I love the fit. Low waist but not too low. Higher in the back so my butt crack doesn't show. The panels make the shorts more comfortable and more flattering. The bottom elastic is wide and not too tight, so I never get 'sausage leg'. I use these for Spinning and for mountain biking. The fabric is durable so when I've wiped out any small holes did not get bigger. I have successfully patched the Shortys up too. I used to teach 5-8 spinning classes per week, and bike on top of that. So I own 6 pairs of Shortys so I didn't have to do laundry every other day. My oldest pair is about 7 years old, and has lady bug and honey bee patches on the arse and thigh, but they're still going stong! I have plenty of different jerseys, but the Evolution Shorty is what I ALWAYS wear. Other shorts I've tried have chafed, ripped, sausaged, bunched, sagged, shrunk, frayed, and rubbed. No wonder I'm so loyal to the Shorty!

I have to admit, I'm only on my firsst pair of Zamberlan hiking boots. And I got them for $20 at an REI garage sale. But I have had them for many many years. These things are indestructible. I have hiked in sand, snow and water in these - sometimes all in the same hiking trip. Through all the abuse, these boots have retained their shape and remained supple and comfy. If these ever fall apart, and I'm beginning to doubt that they ever will, I will be buying another pair exactly the same.

I use my KitchenAid 600 Pro at least 2 times each week, and sometimes more than once per day. I use it for baking everything from cakes to pizza dough. It whips egg whites and cream like magic. I also have the pasta attachment and the meat grinder. I NEVER buy ground meat anymore, so I know what exactly is in my ground meat. And one you've had home made pasta, it's hard to go back to store bought. Especially for lasagne. Hands down, the best kitchen appliance ever.

What are your holy grails?

When I'm Not Feeling Well..

2010-05-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

I take lots of naps on the sofa...

...under my down throw.

I eat lots of brothy soup - especially Pho. Yum.

And I sip on hot tea...

...while reading magazines. I have no attention span for anything but pictures and short articles.

And of course I watch a buttload of TV!

I've gotta say...my dogs have been excellent cuddle buddies during all the napping...yes...they're allowed on the couch!

Who the heck gets sick when it's warm anyway?

What do you do when you're sick?

My Skin Care Routine

2010-05-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

Here is my skin care routine as it stands right now. My approach to skin care is to keep it as simple and gentle as possible. The more harsh products I use on my face, the more redness and irritation I then have to cover with foundation.

CLEANSING:

I absolutely love the Bioderma Sensibio H2O. I use this to remove my makeup and to cleanse my skin. It does not dry out my skin, and yet it removes ALL of my makeup - including mascara and MAC fluidlie. See my review of this one for more detailed info.

I am still on the search for the perfect cream or sensitive skin geared cleanser, but so far I have had no luck. If anyone is using something good, please let me know in the comments. I am also still in the market for an exfoliator. Again, this has to be geared for sensitive skin. Everything I've tried is too hars and I end up using it as a body scrub - which is getting pretty expensive.

MOISTURIZING:

The best moisturizer I've ever tried is the Bioderma Sensibio Light moisturizer. Another one I have reviewed previously. I am on my third tube of this and it's amazing. It has completely changed the properties of my skin, which used to be dry and is now in the normal range. This is extremely moisturizing without being greasy, and soaks into my skin like a dream.

In the day, I also sometimes use the Estee Lauder Daywear Plus. This is a slightly tinted moisturizer that gives me a bit of luminosity on non-makeup days or with just a light bit of mineral makeup dusted on my face. I like the bonus SPF15 of this one, but I don't like that the SPF is chemical and not mineral.

OTHER:

The only eye cream I have ever tried that I feel does anything is the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. It is extremely moisturizing, though it does not really reduce the appearance of fine lines - though I doubt the existence of that magic line eraser that we all yearn to discover at our local beauty counter. See my review of this one for more info.

I recently started using a serum. I am using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. I scored this one at a CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet) and I'm really enjoying it. Is it doing anything? My skin seems healthier and smoother, but that could be a placebo effect. It may also be due to the Bioderma skin care. Hard to tell. I'll probably be revisiting this one in a couple of months.

I love the Dermalogica Super Sensitive FaceBlock SPF30 as my daily sunscreen. It's great under makeup and I really like that it does not contain any chemical sunscreens, but is instead a mineral based sunscreen. Because it goes under my makeup, I find that it is not too reflective on my skin and does not make my face appear white.

What are your favorite skin care items? I love learning about other peoples' skin care routine, and what they think of the various skin care products. There is so much out there, and it's nice to get honest reviews before I buy. So if you do a skin care routine post or review skin care items, let me know!

Did You Know?

2010-05-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Did you know that ~

~ cuticle creme only works if you remember to apply it?

~ when your dad gives your dogs too many treats at least one will throw up in the car on the way home?

~ a duck's quack doesn't echo - but that doesn't stop your dogs from chasing it into the creek and getting all wet just before you go home?

~ nasty neighbors will do shitty things to you and your other neighbors regularly, frequently, and completely for no reason?

~ it's a bummer when your sister cancels movie night, even if she has a somewhat legitimate excuse?

~ 35% of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married?

~ the strangest people with the worst behaved dogs come to the dog park on the weekend?

~ you can't get money out of the ATM when you leave your card at home?

~ Indian food is most delicious?

~ it takes 37 muscles to frown, but only 22 to smile?

And that about sums up my day.

How was your day today?

Friday Show N' Tell

2010-05-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Ok peeps, bring and brag time again! Show us what you've been blogging about this week and share your blog with the rest of us. I LOVE checking out everyone's blogs!

I Heart My Food Processor

2010-05-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

I have resisted buying a food processor for the LONGEST time. I can chop. Why do I need a machine? I already have to many machines and gadgets cluttering my kitchen. And I CAN CHOP!

As you probably know, I make my own dog food. It has a lot of veggies in it, and I always chopped them by hand. After all, I can chop.

About a year ago I was stayig with a friend. I had shared my dog food recipe with her, and she just happened to be making it one of the days I was there. First thing she did after washing all the veggies was pull out her food processor. "UGH", I though, "I can chop". I judged. But I also was surprised at how much less time it took for her to make dog food.

But I'm stubborn. AND...I can chop.

Two months later, about 10 months ago, my sister dragged me to a Cuisinart warehouse sale. And I couldn't pass up a 14 cup stainless steel food processor for $120.

It has an extra wide opening at the top so you can shred veggies without having to chop them up too much first. And it processes all the veggies for dog food in about 1 hour. It used to take me 4-5 hours. And it also makes great pie dough, slices veggies for salads in a snap, and shreds through costco sized bricks of cheese (for freezing) in minutes. It has a strong motor and sharp, good quality bades. It goes through anything I throw in to it like butta!

I can STILL chop!!

But for bigger jobs, I save tons of time using my swanky, welll loved, food processor.

Resistance is futile. Get one. You won't regret it.

What's your favorite kitchen gadget or appliance?

Zoya Nikki Swatch and Review

2010-05-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

I've really been enjoying the Zoya color lock system lately. I love how well this stuff works with Zoya polishes, which I had always found to be incredibly streaky and difficult to work with. I am hence now rediscovering my unloved Zoya polishes. Zoya Nikki is the one I've got on at the moment.

I really like this color. It has that greyish lavener quality of Sephora by OPI's Call Your Mother, and even slightly reminds me of Metro Chic. But Nikki is much paler and therefore great for summer. I am especially enjoying it since my nails have been very bright of late. This one also has very fine green shimmer in it, which is very subtle in daylight but gives and intersting hue to your manicure in certain lighting conditions.

This is a neutral with a twist, so it's great for everyday and pretty work friendly.

I chose the swatch with the shady bit so that you can hopefully see the bit of green tint on the pinky and ring fingers. It's just a subtly shimmery pale lavender in the light (index and middle fingers). The shimmer looks more silvery than green in sunlight.

On the swatch you may also see the indentations from my pillow on the finish. That's the one drawback to the color lock system - it dries SO SLLLOWLY! I went to bed about 5 hours after I applied this polish, and still got the indentations. I hate sheet marks on my nails!!!

The swatch of Nikki from the Zoya website shows the shimmer a bit more accurately.

I think Zoya has some really great and unique colors, and I've been enjoying the polish formula lately. Have you tried Zoya polish? Do you like it? What are your favorite shades? What shades would you like to see swatched?

Overrated Products

2010-05-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

I love to blog about products I've discovered and fallen in love with. It's great to recommend your faves to others. But I think it's just as important to mention things that were a huge disappointment and waste of cash.

The CoverGirl ShadowBlast looked so good on Drew Barrymore. And I love Drew. So I fell for the ads and bought this one. The pigmentation is great on these, and they look lovely and metallic on the eye. But they crease like crazy because they never set. They stay greasy. And when I set them with a shadow I get a shadow cake forming on my crease. And it didn't matter how sheerly I applied this product. And really, what's the point when it's sheer anyway? Unless you want your shadow to crease. Useless. Thanks a lot Drew, you lied to me. But don't worry I love you much more than I love the ShadowBlast.

The Cuccio Apple Cuticle Remover just did not work for me at all. It has a waxy/greasy consistency. You're supposed to put it on, rub it into your cuticles and then soak it in hot water for a couple of minutes. At the end of the protocol my cuticles looked like they would have looked if I just pushed soaked them and pushed them back. Plus I then had to wait for my nails to dry a bit before applying polish.

I had heard so much about Rimmel's Lasting Finish foundation. It was supposed to be so smooth, easy to apply and long lasting. Well on my normal to dry skin it was a disaster. I got a yellow tone of this foundation for my NC25 skin. When I first applied it, this foundation looked flawless and a good color match. However, after about an hour, this foundation oxidized and left me looking orange! Not only that, but after about 4-5 hours this foundation started to crack on my skin kind of like a dry face mask. This got progerssively worse throughout the day. Though it was cheap and on sale, I still want my $6 back!

Lush Shower Jellies are the DUMBEST product on the market. They're squishy and fun looking and come in great fragrance options like the scent of one of my favorite bath bombs, the sex bomb. You're supposed to pinch off a bit, lather and use in lieu of shower gel. But these have the consistency of jello. Try holding on to a piece of jello under running water. I dare you. Your jello, just like your shower jelly, will end up slipping out of your hands and down the drain. And it cracks me up that Lush thinks this is an environmentally friendly product because it doesn't need a container. And then they sell them in unrecyclable plastic takeout containers that also look stupid in your shower. Stay away from this gimmicky product, no matter how good it smells.

I hate MAC Lipglasses. I realize I may be in the minority here, but these are a sticky mess. Sure, sticky lipglosses last longer on your lips, and the lipglasses come in a great variety of colors. But I hate the way these make my hair stick to my lips in any windy situation, and the way the product gathers in the corners of my mouth after a while. Yuck. I love MAC Slimshines and Lip Gelees so much more - too bad they're getting discontinued. MAC, you're dumb.

I was enticed to try OPI Nail Envy by the promise of stronger healthier nails. I should have read the fine print. My nails were initially strengthened, but then they started peeling like crazy if I went even a day without Nail Envy. So I stopped using it, and suffered through the ugliest peely and weak nails I've ever had while ever bit of nail affected by Nail Envy grew out. Furthermore, I got the matte, thinking it would make a better base for polish. Nope. And OPI tells you to reapply nail envy over polish every couple of days. But doing so gave me a matte finish, which I hate. Stay away from this one. It will actually mess up your nails rather than helping them.

OPI My Private Jet looks so beautiful in the bottle. It is a dark grey/black polish with hollographic glitter. And I have heard so many great things about it. Too bad that when you apply it to your nails, the glitter is no longer hollographic, or even glittery. So this polish just ends up looking like a concrete fax finish on my nails. Not pretty and pretty boring. Skip this one - there are much better OPI shades out there.

The Swiffer Sweeper Pads are useless. Completely. Useless. I love the Swiffer mopping system and got these dry pads with my Costco Swiffer set. These don't pick up anything. A regular broom and dustpan are so much more effective. I even tried using these as dusting pads for my appliances and shelving. Nope. Left dust behind. I don't have the heart to throw these away, and I have yet to find a use for them. For now, they sit under the sink and collect dust.

Never, ever, ever feed your dog or cat any Purina product. I was house sitting with Amelia and the dogs of the house were on Purina Beneful. Of course Amelia had to sneak some, and a half an hour later she projectile vomited all over my bed. NASTY. This is an expensive dog food, but it scores only a 17 on the dog food assesment scale. Comapre that the the Kirkland kibble which scores a 110 at 1/3 of the price! I house sat a lot when I was a grad student, so Amelia got into all different varieties of kibble, and nothing gave her quite the explosive reaction of Beneful.

What were some of your biggest disappointments?

Sporn Collar - Stops Your Dog from Pulling

2010-05-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Some dogs are easier to leash train than others. And even a leash trained dog will sometimes decide to chase a squirrel or another dog - and give you a good yank at the other end of the leash. My girls are each about 80 lbs, and even though they're good on the leash, but they weren't always. And 160 lbs of dog is tough to hold on to!

I've never been a fan of the choke collar. I think they're mean and can potentially hurt your dog. As a result, I went looking for alternatives. I found a great one in the Sporn Halter Collar. They don't ship to Canada directly, but you can get them from Ren's.

The collar has two restraints attached to the front that go under your dog's front legs. These then come together through a loop on the back of the collar and attach to the leash. When your dog pulls, the restraints tighten and pinch the dog's armpit region. This is not painful for your dog, but it is uncomfortabe. The equivalent of a poke.

I used these on both my girls when I was leash training them. And now, even though I am confident that the girls are well leash trained, I still use these if we're going somewhere new.

For example, I put them on when we go hiking somewhere popular where there will be a lot of people and off leash dogs we don't know coming out of the bushes in our direction. It gives me something to grab them with and they can't yank me.

My parents' dog, Ernie wears his EVERYWHERE because he is strong and stubborn, so when he sees a squirrel or something he goes after it, leash or not. It's comfy enough to wear when he's off leash and running around. No chafing problems.

These collars take a little practice to get your dog into. It's best to put the collar on first and then put the legs through the loops one at a time. Ernie is so used to it now, he lifts up his legs to make it easier. At first, your dog may not like the collar very much. After all, it pinches them when they pull. But it doesn't take long for them to associate the collar with walks and dog parks. All of our dogs are THRILLED when they see their Sporn collars coming out.

So if your dog pulls on the leash, the Sporn Collar is the best thing I've found to keep your pooch in control without hurting them. We've gotten a lot of questions about our dogs' collars both at the dog park and online, and I've gotten several thank-you's from others who had a lot of trouble keeping their dogs from pulling. Or from people whose dogs are stronger than they are - like my parents. I highly recommend these. Best $40 (for two) I've ever spent!

Happy Mother's Day with Rosemary, Apricot, and Goat Cheese Scones

2010-05-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!!

We celebrated with flowers. Tulip are my mom's favorite.

And I made Rosemary, Apricot, and Goat Cheese Scones.

These were delicious! The goat cheese was very subtle in these, but made the texture a little creamier.

Here is the recipe as adapted from the fine folks at America's Test Kitchen. Enjoy!

1 C Flour

3 Tbs Sugar

1 Tbs Baking Soda

Pinch of Salt

2T Butter, chilled & cubed

1/4 C Goat Cheese

3/4 C Dried Apricots, chopped

1 1/2 Tbs Dried Rosemary, chopped finely

1 C Cream

Preheat oven to 450oF

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Cut in butter and goat cheese until mix looks like bread crumbs. Stir in rosemary and apricots, then stir in cream. Do not overmix. Shape dough into palm sized balls, place on parchment lined baking sheet, and press until flattened (1 inch high). These will look all cracked and messy at this point - that's ok!

Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

How did you celebrate Mother's day?

NYX Catwalk Palette - Champagne and Caviar

2010-05-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

I have been using this palette for a couple of weeks now, I and really like it. It's the palette of 101 neutral eye looks. I really appreciate that there are shimmery and matte colors. There is also a nice mix of dark and light colors.

I got this paltte for $7, which was a great deal. The shadows are soft, pigmented and blend well.

I recommend this one to anyone who loves neutrals and needs a good mix of work apporpriate colors. This palette will be great for travelling and is is my go to when I just want something quick.

April Showers in May

2010-05-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

It has been raining all afternoon.

Which is bad news for the girls, since the trails at the dog park always get super muddy instantly.

It's not all bad though. We really need the rain. Our April was quite dry.

So I have been e-window shopping for some cute rain gear. I've been lemming Hunter rain boots for a while now.

It's also time to pull my trench out and wear it. I am a traditionalist and love my khaki trench. Mine is London Fog and has pink on the buttons. Love it.

I'm still searching for a pretty umbrella that is also good enough quality to survive the gusts of wind we get here.

And how cute would the girls look in matching doggie umbrellas.

So tonight I'll be curling up with a book. This is the one I'm reading right now.

And I'll be listening to the rain falling - making everything fresh and clean.

I love the way it smells outside after a good rain.

What do you do when it's raining?

Jessica Simpson on the May 2010 Marie Claire Cover with NO MAKEUP!

2010-05-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

I was not surprised that Jessica Simpson graced the cover of the May issue of Marie Claire But I was surprised to that the photo had not been touched up in any way. And...GASP...Jessica is not wearing ANY makeup. ON THE COVER!

Confession: I'm not really a Jessica Simpson Fan. A girl should be celebrated for her brain, and not for the size of her boobs. Unfortunately in Jessica's case, it's the opposite.

Having said that, it took a tremendous amount of guts for Jessica to appear makeup-less and not electronically augmented on the cover of Marie Claire. She is promoting A Beautiful Me, an initiative encouraging young women to be comfortable in their own skin and love themselves for who they are.

In a world where many women don't feel comfortable leaving the house without at least some minimal makeup, Jessica's cover should be an inspiraton to us all. If Jessica can grace the cover of a major fashion magazine without makeup, every girl should feel comfortable leaving the house makeup-less!

So if you're going to the market, or you're going to hang out with some friends, pass on the makeup. Just slap on some sunscreen and go have fun. You're beautiful just the way you are!

The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella

2010-05-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

After liking Twenties Girl so much, I had to get more Kinsella books. So of course I picked up The Undomestic Goddess.

This book is about Samantha, a successful London lawyer whose idea of house work is picking up her clothes at the dry cleaners and ordering take-out for dinner. Samantha is on the fast track to making partner, until she makes a major mistake. The kind of mistake that may cost Samantha everything she's been working for her whole life - her career. In shock from the realization, Samantha walks out of the office, boards a train, and finds herself in the middle of nowhere. She stops at a fancy house to ask to use the phone, but is mistakenly interviewed for a housekeeper position. She is offered the job, and accepts it. Unfortunately, she has no idea how to run a household. She can't cook and she can't clean. But as she learns how to work a stove, and a washing machine, and an iron, and a vaccuum cleaner, she also learns that there is more to life than 16 hour days at the office. She begins to embrace the daily life of her new domestic self, and finds unexpected happiness. Unfortunately, you can't just run away from your life and disappear. At some point your past catches up with you...

Kinsella is an excellent story teller and her characters are compelling. The Undomestic Goddess is no exception. I could not put this book down. I could identify with Samantha, and her struggles and her instinct to just walk away and start a new life. I could also appreciate that you can't really start fresh without accepting where you came from and what you've done. And most importantly, this book reminded me to appreciate the simple things in life, no matter how small and 'insignificant' by society's standards. Life is too short to take anything for granted.

I loved this book and recommend it. If you love 'chick lit' and romantic comedies, then put The Undomestic Goddess on your reading list. You won't be disappointed.

At the Movies - The Back-Up Plan

2010-05-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Of course I had to see The Back-Up Plan. After all, it IS a chick flick - my kind of movie.

In The Back-Up Plan, Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has her life together. She is getting older and really wants kids, but there is no man in the picture. So Zoe takes matters into her own hands, and goes to a sperm bank. On the way home from her insemination appointment she meets Stan (Alex O'Loughlin). He turns out to be someone she wants to date. Unfortunately, just after their first official date, Zoe finds out she is pregnant. So as Sam and Zoe start their life together, they must deal with all the trials and tribulations of a first pregnancy.

I am not usually a Lopez fan. Maid in Manhattan - blech! But The Plan was a funny movie. I was definitely entertained. There are some corny parts that I could have done without, that make me not super enthused about this one, but overal it was a decent flick. Having said that, I would recommend it to my girl friends who enjoy a decent chick flick.

In short, it was cheese - but good cheese.

How about you - see any good movies lately?

Zoya Aria Review - Oldie but Goodie

2010-04-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

When I was buying the color lock system at my local Trade Secrets, I fished out a bottle of Zoya Aria out of the back of the display. It was looking rather sad, with a layer of dust on it. But the color and shimmer had potential, so I bought it. It's a purply pink, with a foil-like glitter in it. It's glittery and bright and fun, but yet different from the glitter bombs that are so popular these days. Call me boring, but I don't want my nails look like I glued crystals all over them, or like I bedazzled them. This is a much more understated glitter.

It applied really smoothly. Two coats gave me good non-streaky opaque coverage.

This is the 4th day of this manicure, and there is absolutely no tip wear or chipping. Hail to the color lock system!

You can see that the shimmer is clear with just a bit of a pinky/purply tone in the right light - like foil. Here is a closeup of the shimmer.

So if you're digging through some oldie but goodie Zoya polishes in the corner of your beauty supply, and you run across a dusty bottle of Zoya Aria, get it. It's a really nice color. Totally underrated.

Random From A to Z - Armani to Zoya

2010-04-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

I got an awesome call yesterday - from the Chanel counter. I was there about 2 weeks ago, and happened to ask the girl about Particuliere nail polish. She told me that they've been sold out for ages and people have even been stealing their testers, so she couldn't even show me what it looked like. The counter did have a waiting list for it, because apparently they still get some shipped to them once in a while. So she put me on the waiting list and I waited...and waited...and waited...and then got the call!! Woo hoo!!!

I love the color! It's about the color of dirt - but in a good way. I'm super excited! I will be swatching this one as soon as I put it on my nails. Right now I'm sporting a sparkly Zoya color. More on that tomorrow.

Of course the Chanel counter just happened to be next to the Armani counter, so I HAD to play with the new Armani Blushing Fabric. It's a blush in a tube. I tested the hot pink one (shimmering apricot pink) on my hand, and I wasn't impressed. It was a silicone-y feeling gel - the pigmentation was allright, but nothing great. The color was actually really nice and I can see it being very glowy, without making you look like a clown, when applied to the cheek. BUT this thing had GLITTER in it. Not shimmer like Benefit Moon Beam, but chunkier glitter. That's lovely for a day at the beach, but forget wearing this one to the office. I always associated Armani with classy and timeless, and the glitter found in this does not qualify. This was definitely a FAIL.

I have been test driving the Zoya color lock system since I told you about it last week, and I'm not just impressed by this product, I'm THRILLED! My manicure lasted a whole week - 7 full days! For test purposes, did not reapply top coat a couple of days into the manicure, which I think would have made it last longer. I could have left it on my nails longer as well, but once I see any chipping, I start picking on my polish. But 7 full days of playing with dogs, cooking, baking, cleaning, typing, etc -that's amazing!

Here are the pictures. The polish I had on was Zoya Maya, a summery bright color.

This is what my polish looked like after 6 days. Please excuse the cuticles - they're in desperate need of manicure attention at this point. Though you can see some tip wear, there is absolutely no chipping. Sweet! The index finger has a strange reflection on the tip that's making it look like a chip, but there is no chip there, just some minimal tip wear. This is a more accurate picture of the color than the one below.

Here is a picture of the polish just before I took it off. This is day 7. First, you can see the bed sheet marks on my ring finger - this is the slow drying time I was talking about in my last post. Also you can really see the tip wear on the middle finger and the ring finger. There is some chipping at the tip of the middle finger (top of the picture).

Now, in all fairness to Zoya, this finger is always the problem child - a heavy door slammed on it when I was younger, and now it has a ridge on the side with the chip. That area is more flexible weaker, and my polish always chips there (usually after 1-2 days).

Again, pardon the 'pre manicure' cuticles.

I'm really excited about the Zoya color lock system. It was not cheap, but if my manicures are to last at least a week, then it was well worth the price. I'm on my second manicure with 'the system' and so far so good! I'll take pics of this one tomorrow, when the light is better.

I'm also looking for some more summery colors of polish. I have been wearing a lot of dark colors on my nails all Fall and Winter. Now it's time for a bit of a fresher change. What are your favorite summer shades?