Ten Beauty Products I Use Everyday

Time for ten things!

I know there are some guys that read my blog, so for you boys, I apologize in advance because this post is all about beauty products. I love recommending my favorite beauty products to my friends, so I thought I would share my favs with you guys too, maybe give you some new things to try! Here are ten products I use everyday in no particular order:

1. Posey Tint by Benefit. This stuff is multi purpose. I use it as a blush, but you could use it anywhere you need a little flush and could even use it as a lip stain. They also have a rose tint as well that I use as a lip stain. I love love love Benefit products. Aside from Nars, they are my favorite makeup brand.

2. Fleura by Gucci. This is my go to scent. I rotate between 4 scents pretty much all of the time (you can see the edges of the other three in the backround), but this one is my scent of the moment. I wear it on all special occasions and everytime I go out.

3. Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo. You ladies know I talk this stuff up like it's GOLD. Well let me tell you it is. This would be my personal item on Survivor. I took a picture of the powder version but you can also see the spray version in the backround as well. I use both, the powder in place of a full shampoo, the spray as just a touch up. The longer I use it, the better my hair looks because it has volumizing properties in it. Go get some now if you don't already have it. It will change your life.

4. L'Occitane Almond Apple Moisturizer. This is my everyday moisturizer. I use this one with SPF 40 in the summer (yes I am wicked pale and am deathly afraid of any kind of sun damage). I used to work at L'Occitane and can attest that they really do have great skin care products. I use a whole slew of things from there still, but this is the one I use daily. It also smells really good. I took this picture on top of my toilet but I think it kind of looks like the bottle is floating, don't you think? Pretty cool.

5. Makeup Remover Towels from Target. I love these. I have some in my gym bag (you all know how I feel about women who wear makeup to the gym) and some in my medicine cabinet for taking my makeup off before washing my face. They even take off my mascara.

6. Biolage Ultra Hydrating Balm Conditioner. There is nothing else that hydrates my hair like this conditioner. It also smells amazing. I have really really thick hair and most conditioners just aren't strong enough to penetrate my hair and leave it soft. This does. I have been using it for years and have tried so many other things, but keep coming back to this. Salon shampoo and conditioners are one of those things that I absolutely think you should splurge on. Drugstore products just don't make my hair feel nice.

7. L'Occitane Red Rice Foaming Cleanser. I had breakouts up until about a year ago. Not bad, but still enough to make me a little self conscious about my skin. Ever since switching to this cleanser twice a day (with the twice weekly scrub as well) my skin has taken a turn for the better. It also doesn't dry me out and make my skin flaky either.

8. Philosophy Amazing Grace. The label says this is a body wash, shampoo, and bubble bath all in one. How can you beat a product that is three in one? I will admit that I have never used it as a shampoo, but I use it as a body wash daily and have used it as a bubble bath on occasion. I love the smell of this and it doesn't compete with my perfumes. It sits in my shower right next to the boy's Head and Shoulders ;)

9. Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation. I have never found anything that covers quite like this. It also doesn't melt or fall off during the day. I tend to get shiny during the day, but this foundation keeps me matte and flawless all day long. The great part about it is that they also have a travel brush that holds powder in the base to throw in your purse. Ingenious.

10. Last but not least, Secret! I find that those clinical strength deodorants just don't work. Give me classic $1.99 Secret any day. I leave a stick of this everywhere (I'm a sweater, not to be gross) and it's the only thing that doesn't make me feel like I smell like a dirty gym sock.

I use a lot more than these ten everyday (I am a girl after all) but these are ten of my staples. What beauty products do you love and use everyday?

A Tail of Two Cats

Some people really love their pets. I try not to be one of those crazy cat ladies who is constantly posting pictures of her cats. I am making the exception today to share a little story with you.

I occasionally post pictures of my two cats, Mica and Bailey on the blog. Their back story is that they are sisters and essentially polar opposites. Mica is sweet, affectionate, and very laid back. Bailey is cranky, mischievious, and destructive. I say I love them both just like parents say they don't have a favorite, but in reality everyone knows Mica is my favorite. She was the runt of the litter and was significantly smaller than her brothers and sisters. My plan was only to take her (I felt bad for her because she was so small and didn't think anyone else would want her) but I randomly got the idea to take a second one so that they could keep each other company. Plus who can resist kittens right? They were so cute when they were little.

They are a little over 3.5 years old now and have not calmed down the least bit.

I got home last night after the gym and was sitting on the couch. Bailey came over to sit with me and we watched Gossip Girl together. Ten o'clock rolled around and it was bedtime for me. The normal bedtime routine is that as soon as the cats see me starting to turn lights off, they both run for the bedroom and hide under the bed because they don't want me to shut the door. The only way to get them out is kitty treats. So per usual, I shook the kitty treat bag and Bailey came running. But Mica didn't. Strange I thought. I started calling her and looking all around for her. She was nowhere to be found. I checked every closet, every cabinet, under the furniture, everywhere. I figured if she was trapped somewhere she would meow when I called her (Bailey frequently gets trapped in closests because she sneaks in when I'm not looking and then I shut the door) but not a peep.

At this point, panic starts to set in. I am furiously texting the boy, who was at the Pats game, that I think Mica got out. That was the only explanation because no matter where she was, she would've come out for treats. She is obsessed with treats. I hurriedly throw on my jacket and sneakers and head outside with a bag of treats, thinking if she is in fact outside, she will come when I shake the bag. So for 20 minutes I run around my neighborhood like a crazy person shaking the bag of treats and calling her. At this point I am hysterical because I think she must have gotten run over or someone stole her thinking she was a stray.

I cannot explain the fear and sadness that washed over me. I finally go back inside and start crying because I think my baby is gone. That's when I hear it. Not a meow. A cry. I try to localize it, it seems to be coming from the diningroom somewhere. I call for Mica over and over again until I found her. Apparently the boy shut her in the drawer where he keeps his Pats tickets without realizing it. She had been stuck in a drawer for almost 15 hours. I literally could have killed him. But I have never been more relieved in my life. Sometimes it takes something like that to make you realize just how much your pets mean to you.

I gave Mica the entire full bag of treats before bed.

Scenes From a Supermarket

Sometimes I forget why I never let the boy grocery shop with me. He is a bargain shopper. As in the kind of shopper that will actually pay attention to the cost by volume and what brands are on sale. Usually it's not so much of a problem, but the other day it kind of was.

There we are at the deli ordering turkey and cheese. I tell the deli guy that I want a half pound of swiss. So the guy goes about slicing my cheese when the boy notices that there is a different swiss on sale. He stops the guy and asks for the sale cheese, as I tactfully try to say no, we want the (normal) cheese he is already slicing. But the boy is not to be deterred.

"But it's not on sale!"

"No, but you know that usually deli items are on sale for a REASON, right?"

"Not always."

Then the deli guy hands us the sale cheese. This my friends, is supposed to be swiss cheese.

Are you confused? Because I was. Isn't swiss supposed to have holes? Is it supposed to have that brown edge? I don't think so.

I made the boy a sandwich yesterday morning with what I have dubbed the "mystery sale cheese" and hoped that he would learn his lesson. No such luck, friends. The cheese is "not that bad" he said. Which essentially means that the next time I bring him shopping with me and his eye catches a questionnable sale item, I will have no sway to be able to say there is no way we are getting that.

Immediately upon leaving the deli counter, I went down an aisle to grab some almond milk. Just as I am coming out of the aisle, I catch the boy with a summer sausage in his hand.

"No. Put that down."

"But it's yummy."

Sigh. Luckily we made it out of the supermarket without the summer sausage or any other bad-for-you items, but there were a lot of close calls and lectures about the sugar/salt/fat content of food. I am writing this post as a reminder to myself that it's just easier to leave the boy at home when I go grocery shopping.

Dinner last night was a simple egg and cheese on wheat bread after heading to the gym for my first post-illness workout.

At the gym I tried to take it easy as I still cannot 100% breathe through my nose, but it felt really good to get my heart pumping and get my sweat on. I did a 10 minute warmup walk on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the rowing machine, and finished off with a mile run and another 10 minutes walking to cool down. Simple but effective. After all, only three more months until Costa Rica!

Do you grocery shop for your household? Are you a bargain shopper?

Destination Costa Rica!

Hi friends, it's Monday again. It snuck up on me. Probably because I spent the ENTIRE weekend on the couch. I am feeling better today, but still not 100%. I cannot even remember the last time I was that sick. I went to Target on Saturday and literally had to take a 2 hour nap when I got back because it took that much energy just to grab detergent and socks. Crazy.

I did manage to go out Friday night with Danielle and Kristen to my favorite place, Yardhouse. I had 2 beers even though they were not tasting good at ALL. I wasn't going to go out but I hate to cancel on people, and I haven't seen my friends a lot lately due to the traveling. Even though I was sick I still had a great time with my girls. I also went to my friend Meg's christmas party Saturday night and indulged in some delicious food and exactly half of a peppermint martini (again, the alcohol was not agreeing with my illness).

I was the first one to leave the party (another thing I hate) but it was still a good time even though I was not my usual peppy self.

So on to the title of my post. The boy and I have decided to take a vacation. We had been throwing Costa Rica around for a while, but now it is official, it has been decided and we are going to book next week. I am literally so excited I can barely stand it. This will be our first vacation together and I can't wait for it. We have a lot of fun things planned, like a canopy tour and some rainforest excursions.

Luckily he is outdoorsy and active like I am so I know we will have a blast. It's time for us to start tackling that bucket list anyway.

Breakfast this morning was a Strawberry Banana Chobani yogurt bowl with granola.

Lunch is going to be some leftover soup that the boy made me yesterday to make me feel better. Yes he actually cooked it and no it wasn't campbells! I was very impressed.

I am going to be super clean with my eats since we only have 3 months until Costa Rica and I want to look fabulous in all the photos I'm going to take. Another goal is to acquire a better camera before we go. My little point and shoot is old and on the verge of death. I really want a Canon Rebel and hope it will be in my budget at some point. Maybe even a Christmas present from the boy!

Do you have any fun vacation plans? Any good camera recommendations?

When Mucus Attacks

When mucus attacks, this is the aftermath:

A pile of tissues on the corner of the couch.

I have been up since 5. Took some dayquil and took a 2 hour nap.

No food pictures today friends. I am too busy trying not to die.

Well, maybe I won't die. But for the last few days and probably the next few coming up, I'm going to wish I could. Being sick sucks.

I will return to my regular scheduled blogging on Monday. Have a good weekend.

A Little of This, A Little of That

Thank God it's Thursday! And guess what?? I am SICK. For the first (and hopefully last) time this year, I am sick. Luckily it's not in my face so I don't have to worry about a sinus infection or anything, but my throat is absolutely burning and I'm slightly feverish :( So there has been a lot of this last night and today:

I love pulp. It makes me happy. I don't understand how anyone can drink OJ without pulp...fresh squeezed always has pulp and fresh squeezed is the best, right?

Let me actually rewind to Tuesday night. My coworkers and I went to Lattitude again since it was so delicious the first time. I got all of the same things (I'm original I know) except for the dessert. When I first found Lattitude on Yelp, there were two desserts that kept getting mentioned. The fried twinkie (which I had last time) and the peppermint creme brulee. I love all things peppermint, so I knew I had to try it.

Ah.Mazing. The peppermint flavor was divine, not overpowering at all like some peppermint desserts can be. The only complaint I have is that underneath the hardened top, the creme brulee was cold. It was obvious that these were premade and then reheated when ordered. Despite the fact that it was cold did not deter me one bit, however. I just thought of the colder part as peppermint flavored pudding. Delicious.

Breakfast yesterday was an egg and cheese from Dunkins. Lunch was a chicken caesar salad with a slice of apple pie. Both were on par with cafeteria food. Not great, but not bad. You work with what you've got.

Much like this post, dinner last night was a little bit of this and a little bit of that because I was trying to test out what foods I could swallow. I tried popcorn, a banana, and one of my pumpkin cupcakes that I made last night to bring in for my coworkers.

They were gone within a half hour of me bringing them in. And none of them eaten by me! Yay willpower! Part of the reason for that though is that someone brought bagels into work this morning. From Brueggers. Which is my favorite. They are the only bagel shop to still carry full fat veggie cream cheese. And I was PSYCHED to see that there was two containers of the veggie cream cheese (which means there is enough for me to slather it on without worrying that i will look like a pig and not leave enough for the next person). I picked a yummy looking garlic bagel. Sigh. Bagel perfection people.

Of course I forgot to take a picture until I was most of the way done, but at least you get the idea. The little brown flakes on the top are the garlic that fell off my bagel onto the plate. I didn't want any of it to go to waste. I love garlic.

What's your favorite bagel shop? Bagel? Cream cheese? Are there any good sore throat remedies I should try?

Ten Legitimate Reasons Not to Workout

Today's ten things post is all of the legitimate reasons I have had in the past not to go to the gym. These are all true stories. And yes, I do encourage healthy habits. But these are for the days when you just need excuses.

1. Your trainer broke up with you. That's right, my trainer broke up with me. I was stupid enough to get sucked into buying a training package thinking I would use it and it would do me good. Well after cancelling one appointment (with plenty of notice) and sleeping through another, my trainer cancelled ALL of my training appointments. I only went to the gym after that when I knew she wasn't going to be there. I did run into her a few times and I awkwardly avoided eye contact, but every time I could feel her judgement bearing down on me. This is one of the reasons I moved.

2. You forgot to do laundry. I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me. Sure, some people would suck it up and just wear dirty clothes to the gym...but this isn't like wearing a pair of work pants twice in the same week (yes I have done that)...you have already SWEATED in used gym clothes.There is a layer of dirt and grime and disgustingness in used gym clothes. Not to mention the smell. Do you really want to be that girl that people can smell before they even get close to you? The gym on it's own smells funky enough. Leave your stank ass at home. Or at least run outside away from the public.

3. Your iPod isn't charged. I have stayed home from the gym on numerous occasions because I forgot to charge my iPod and really, who can endure 45 minutes on a cardio machine with no music? If you're lucky you go to a gym with TVs, so you can at least plug your headphones into the TV, but for the unfortunate souls who belong to a gym with no TVs, not having a charged iPod is a perfectly acceptable reason to skip the gym.

4. One of your cats chewed off your shoelace. Cats love new shoes. Especially sneakers because of the shoelaces. My cat Bailey once chewed off one of my shoelaces right at the sneaker, thus making it impossible for me to tie my sneakers until I got new shoelaces. I am not lying when I tell you she is the devil.

5. It is snowing/sleeting/hailing outside. If you live in New England, you know what I mean. Unless you have four wheel drive, and even then it's questionable, traversing treacherous roads just for the sake of burning a little fat really isn't worth it. Besides, if it's inclement weather outside, do you really want to go out there in shorts anyway to warm up your car? No. Don't do it.

6. Working out would ruin your great hair day. Girls with long or difficult hair, I know you feel me here. You spend close to an hour on your hair and if you didn't go to the gym, you could get at least 2 or 3 days out of it...but one sweat session and your hair needs to be done all over again. A good hair day may be rare, don't waste the opportunity for 2 or 3 days of great hair is my philosophy.

7. Your stomach is empty or full. If I'm too hungry or have just eaten, I can't go to the gym. Either way, I'm going to feel a little sick. I just can't force myself to work out if I'm hungry because food is all I think about and if I wait too long, you know a binge is coming. On the flip side, if I'm too full, I know that I am going to have the urge to vomit once my heartrate gets about 130, and really that wouldn't be good for anyone. Best to stay home and let things digest.

8. You carried the groceries in the house today, that counts as a workout, right? Why YES it does. Give yourself a break, you earned it almost breaking a sweat carrying in all those bottles of soda and candy.

9. You have a twinge in your foot that could be exercise-related pain or it could be because you sat on it and it fell asleep. Better not risk it, you don't want to get injured. This applies to not just your foot falling asleep but to any random soreness or pain you are feeling in your body. However arbitrary it may be, it's a damn good excuse for ducking out of going to the gym.

10. It's peak hours and you KNOW you are not finding a parking lot within 5 miles. This one is especially true with the bigger gyms (LA Fitness, Equinox, etc). For whatever reason, they hock memberships like they are going out of style yet insist on only allowing parking for 25 people at a time. This relates to my ten examples of how I am lazy. If I have to park a certain distance away from the gym (particularly if it's cold out) you can bet your ass I'm turning right around, driving home, throwing my jammies on and watch Biggest Loser instead. Watching Biggest Loser is almost the same as working out anyway.

How do you get out of working out?