It has been awhile since I have done one of these Cosmetics Counter posts, but lately I have discovered a few new products that I really want to share so I am reviving the category.
The first product I want to share is Drying Lotion made by Mario Badescu.
It is not an anti-moisturizer as the name implies, but, in fact, it is a pimple healer. And it really, really works! I am prone to occasional pimples (not regular acne) and I have tried a lot of these so-called "spot" removers. Most of them don't really seem to work, but this stuff is like a little miracle. Apply this stuff before bed and in the morning any pimples are either gone or really significantly reduced. I've even started putting it on in spots where I think I might be getting a pimple. It is something that has to be worn at bedtime because it is a pink solution that has to be washed off. Also good to note, because you only apply it on the spot, your skin doesn't get all dry and flaky.
At $17 for a small bottle it does sound expensive, but one bottle lasts me at least 6 months.
31 October 2008
30 October 2008
Sing for stress relief
I have always enjoyed singing along with the radio while driving. I do it by default and I have a knack for remembering lyrics. Admittedly I am not the greatest singer (I am not the worst either), but when a boyfriend of mine once told me that the person singing didn't need my help, I pulled my car over to the side of the road and told him he could get out and walk if he didn't like my singing. You can probably see why things didn't work out between us.
Anyway, my point is that lately I have been, like much of the country and probably the world, kind of stressed out. Between the election, the economy and my own work situation (which I have now named "Survivor: Corporate Edition") my shoulders have found a resting spot around the tops of my ears and my sleep patterns make me think there is a baby in the house. The other day while driving home I noticed that on my trips to and from work I was making things worse for myself by either listening to news radio (CNN via Satellite radio) or thinking about my work situation and what exactly I was going to do or needed to do. Rather than let myself wallow in the stress yet again I switched the station until I found a song I liked. I turned the music up loud and then sang along at the top of my lungs. I sang like that for the rest of the ride home and when I got home I felt so much better (although slightly hoarse).
The next day on my way too work I tried it again. This time I popped in an Indigo Girls CD. I know every lyric of every song so I didn't have to stop singing for a minute. It was great!
That night, I went home and burned myself a CD of all my favorite songs to sing along to. It is a somewhat eclectic mix, but it works for me and it has been playing in my car every day since. I have been singing my little heart out. I sometimes wonder if the other drivers notice me belting it out, but that doesn't stop me because it works. I drive a beige Jeep Grand Cherokee in case you think you've seen me...
So, if you're feeling stressed out, I recommend you give this a try. Find some songs you like to sing, get them playing in your car and go for it.
Anyway, my point is that lately I have been, like much of the country and probably the world, kind of stressed out. Between the election, the economy and my own work situation (which I have now named "Survivor: Corporate Edition") my shoulders have found a resting spot around the tops of my ears and my sleep patterns make me think there is a baby in the house. The other day while driving home I noticed that on my trips to and from work I was making things worse for myself by either listening to news radio (CNN via Satellite radio) or thinking about my work situation and what exactly I was going to do or needed to do. Rather than let myself wallow in the stress yet again I switched the station until I found a song I liked. I turned the music up loud and then sang along at the top of my lungs. I sang like that for the rest of the ride home and when I got home I felt so much better (although slightly hoarse).
The next day on my way too work I tried it again. This time I popped in an Indigo Girls CD. I know every lyric of every song so I didn't have to stop singing for a minute. It was great!
That night, I went home and burned myself a CD of all my favorite songs to sing along to. It is a somewhat eclectic mix, but it works for me and it has been playing in my car every day since. I have been singing my little heart out. I sometimes wonder if the other drivers notice me belting it out, but that doesn't stop me because it works. I drive a beige Jeep Grand Cherokee in case you think you've seen me...
So, if you're feeling stressed out, I recommend you give this a try. Find some songs you like to sing, get them playing in your car and go for it.
29 October 2008
Words for Wednesday
Yesterday Emily started a new regular blog entry she has titled "Favorite Song Lyrics Monday" and she welcomed others to take the idea so I am doing just that.
My day will be Wednesdays and I am kicking it off with my current favorite song "Free Life" by Dan Wilson. I discovered this song while listening to The Spectrum on Sirius satellite radio (also known as '"crack radio'). I remember the first time I heard it. Rob, Zoe and I were on our way to Springfield, MA to see the Dr. Seuss museum on a gorgeous, sunny spring day. Zoe had fallen asleep in the back seat and Rob and I were enjoying the music and chatting. When this song came on we both stopped talking to listen and I even wrote down the title and artist so I could remember it for later.
The lyrics are simple yet moving and evocative. I want to "fall in love again." I want some more "empty afternoons." And most of all I want the answers to some of the questions. The music, mostly guitars, starts out soft and slow and it builds throughout the song as the chorus hits home more and more. So, now, without further delay, here are the lyrics:
Free Life
by Dan Wilson
Let's take a little trip down where we used to go
It's way beyond the strip, a place they call your soul
We'll sit down for a while and let the evening roll
Don't worry about the time, we'll find a place to stay
The people down here seem familiar in some way
Look kind of like we did before we got so cold
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life.
Let's fall in love again with music as our guide
We'll raise our ready hands and let go for the ride
Down into unknown lands where lovers need and hide
We got these lives for free, don't know where they've been
Don't know where they'll go when we are through with them
Starlight of the sun, dark side of the moon
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life.
It seems so long ago, those empty afternoon
With nowhere much to go and nothing much to do
Just sit up in my room and let the world unfold
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life.
My day will be Wednesdays and I am kicking it off with my current favorite song "Free Life" by Dan Wilson. I discovered this song while listening to The Spectrum on Sirius satellite radio (also known as '"crack radio'). I remember the first time I heard it. Rob, Zoe and I were on our way to Springfield, MA to see the Dr. Seuss museum on a gorgeous, sunny spring day. Zoe had fallen asleep in the back seat and Rob and I were enjoying the music and chatting. When this song came on we both stopped talking to listen and I even wrote down the title and artist so I could remember it for later.
The lyrics are simple yet moving and evocative. I want to "fall in love again." I want some more "empty afternoons." And most of all I want the answers to some of the questions. The music, mostly guitars, starts out soft and slow and it builds throughout the song as the chorus hits home more and more. So, now, without further delay, here are the lyrics:
Free Life
by Dan Wilson
Let's take a little trip down where we used to go
It's way beyond the strip, a place they call your soul
We'll sit down for a while and let the evening roll
Don't worry about the time, we'll find a place to stay
The people down here seem familiar in some way
Look kind of like we did before we got so cold
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life.
Let's fall in love again with music as our guide
We'll raise our ready hands and let go for the ride
Down into unknown lands where lovers need and hide
We got these lives for free, don't know where they've been
Don't know where they'll go when we are through with them
Starlight of the sun, dark side of the moon
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life.
It seems so long ago, those empty afternoon
With nowhere much to go and nothing much to do
Just sit up in my room and let the world unfold
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life.
26 October 2008
A Six-year-old in a Sleep Mask
Yes, I love to take pictures of Zoe while she is sleeping and have taken many and posted a few here on the blog, but this may be my favorite to date. The funniest part about the fact that she is wearing the sleep mask is that she insists there be at least 2 different lights on in her room at night -- her closet light and a night light. At least the flash from my camera didn't disturb her when I took this picture.
23 October 2008
The elementary school vote
The other day Zoe came home from school and announced, "You cannot vote for John McCain because he wants to add one more hour to the school day! You have to vote for Barack Obama." You cannot imagine the look of horror on her face as she said this.
My husband and I giggled and then because my husband likes to tease as much as I do, he said, "Barack Obama eats children." Zoe stomped off and we continued to giggle and then the subject was dropped.
Several days later we were in the car and out of no where Zoe said, "Daddy, tell me the truth. The real truth. Does Barack Obama really eat children?"
"Of course not honey." We were both stifling huge guffaws. "Not anymore."
"Daddy!" she shouted exasperated.
I then tried to reassure her that Barack Obama does not eat children, but I'm still not 100% sure she believed me. Rest assured though, Zoe still things we should vote for him because she does not want John McCain and his extra hour of school.
My husband and I giggled and then because my husband likes to tease as much as I do, he said, "Barack Obama eats children." Zoe stomped off and we continued to giggle and then the subject was dropped.
Several days later we were in the car and out of no where Zoe said, "Daddy, tell me the truth. The real truth. Does Barack Obama really eat children?"
"Of course not honey." We were both stifling huge guffaws. "Not anymore."
"Daddy!" she shouted exasperated.
I then tried to reassure her that Barack Obama does not eat children, but I'm still not 100% sure she believed me. Rest assured though, Zoe still things we should vote for him because she does not want John McCain and his extra hour of school.
17 October 2008
Excuse me while I get political for a moment...
I have stayed away from posting anything about the upcoming presidential election, but I just had to share this one video clip because it truly scares the life out of me and I want to make sure as many people as possible see and hear this.
What goes on in his head????
What goes on in his head????
16 October 2008
9 things about my marriage
Today is my 9th wedding anniversary therefore I give you 9 things about my marriage:
1. It has been a lot of laughs and not too much tears.
2. It has been a lot of pizza and some champagne.
3. Neither of us cook or clean much, but I clean more and he cooks more.
4. He can still surprise me (in a good way) and I think I still surprise him occasionally.
5. There was a time about 5 years ago when I wasn't sure we would make it. I'm glad we got through that time and it makes me more confident that if (when) bad times come again, we'll get through that too.
6. We still hold hands all the time.
7. On weekends we often have to make sure we're not dressed in the same outfit (i.e. jeans and a black shirt).
8. We're the only people we don't bore with endless talk of Zoe and we do spend an awful lot of time talking about her -- or watching her sleep.
9. I love him more than I did on our wedding day.
1. It has been a lot of laughs and not too much tears.
2. It has been a lot of pizza and some champagne.
3. Neither of us cook or clean much, but I clean more and he cooks more.
4. He can still surprise me (in a good way) and I think I still surprise him occasionally.
5. There was a time about 5 years ago when I wasn't sure we would make it. I'm glad we got through that time and it makes me more confident that if (when) bad times come again, we'll get through that too.
6. We still hold hands all the time.
7. On weekends we often have to make sure we're not dressed in the same outfit (i.e. jeans and a black shirt).
8. We're the only people we don't bore with endless talk of Zoe and we do spend an awful lot of time talking about her -- or watching her sleep.
9. I love him more than I did on our wedding day.
13 October 2008
Zoe and Michelle
We spent this past weekend visiting good friends who have a farm in Aurora, NY. Their farm includes a beautiful old farmhouse, a big red barn, corn fields, and chickens. Hard as it may be to believe, they are really good looking chickens too, but they all look identical. Therefore, they are all named Michelle. Zoe had a fantastic time at the farm and especially loved getting to know the Michelles.
12 October 2008
Once
This past Friday night I was fortunate enough to catch a really wonderful movie on TV. It is called Once. The title caught my attention as I was scrolling through the "guide" looking for something to watch because I remembered that it won an Oscar for best music in February. I had never heard of the movie before Oscar night, but the two lead actors performed one of the songs and I remember thinking how much I liked it. The song was "Falling Slowly" and if you go to the link for the movie above you can hear it.
The official movie description is:
It truly is one of the most beautiful love stories I've seen in a long time. And for those who are generally turned off by musicals, in this case the music is so perfectly integrated into the story that I don't even consider it a musical per se. I highly recommend this movie.
Now I am off to check out more music by Glen Hansard and The Frames.
The official movie description is:
A modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin. Featuring Glen Hansard from the Irish band "The Frames," the film tells the story of a street musician and a Czech immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs that reveal their unique love story.
It truly is one of the most beautiful love stories I've seen in a long time. And for those who are generally turned off by musicals, in this case the music is so perfectly integrated into the story that I don't even consider it a musical per se. I highly recommend this movie.
Now I am off to check out more music by Glen Hansard and The Frames.
07 October 2008
Confirmation at last!
I took the The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test and I have finally gotten confirmation that I am:
Pure Nerd
Here are my results...
Pure Nerd
Here are my results...
For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.
The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.
Congratulations!
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.
The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.
Congratulations!
06 October 2008
Where did my rug go?
Did you ever get some news that, even though you pretty much knew it was coming, you were completely unprepared for? At least completely unprepared for the full impact of the news at any rate. It seems that is what has happened to me.
Last Wednesday I arrived at the office just in time to receive an email from the president of the company informing us that we have been sold and we're all officially being given 60 days until termination. Fun stuff, right? Unfortunately and fortunately -- depending on how you're looking at things -- it isn't really all that simple.
We've been sort of sold.
We sort of have 60 days until we're out of work.
We sort of might have the opportunity to apply for our own jobs.
We sort of get information eked out to us.
Like I said, I was largely expecting this news, but somehow seeing it all in print and living through the bureaucracy has been unsettling to a degree that I hadn't expected. I have been a real grouch and I kind of feel like somebody died.
Bah.
Last Wednesday I arrived at the office just in time to receive an email from the president of the company informing us that we have been sold and we're all officially being given 60 days until termination. Fun stuff, right? Unfortunately and fortunately -- depending on how you're looking at things -- it isn't really all that simple.
We've been sort of sold.
We sort of have 60 days until we're out of work.
We sort of might have the opportunity to apply for our own jobs.
We sort of get information eked out to us.
Like I said, I was largely expecting this news, but somehow seeing it all in print and living through the bureaucracy has been unsettling to a degree that I hadn't expected. I have been a real grouch and I kind of feel like somebody died.
Bah.
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