The great Advanced Night Repair Experiment

In the gift I got with my Estee Lauder purchase yesterday, I got a deluxe sample of Advanced Night Repair and Advanced Night Repair Eye. Now, I have had samples of the ANR before and I don't recall ever using it. I found several in the stash of stuff under the bathroom sink yesterday, two had evaporated.

This time I decided to try them. This is because while I am overall pleased with my skin using the Makeup is Optional Skincare by Philosophy, my eyes have been bothering me some recently. I used the Hope in a Tube for eyes and lips regularly, but, I still have a lot of fine lines - and they bug me. My husband says I am nuts, that I am the only one that sees them, but, you know, they are there. I really am bugged when I am putting on eye makeup.

So, for the next ten days I am using the Advanced Night Repair on my face and the Advanced Night Repair Eye over clean skin and under my normal Philosophy regime. (Yes, I think you can mix sometimes, and I am not worried about this being a problem. I am actually curious what might happen.

This information is from EsteeLauder.com:

Advanced Night Repair

roduct Details:

For every woman. Every night. Based on solid, scientific findings and 24 years of proven success, this is the one formula your skin shouldn't live without. Helps visibly repair the appearance of past damage and protect your skin's future. Heightens your skin's natural repair response—critical for its well-being. Soothes daily irritation and builds a rich reserve of anti-oxidants and lipids to help replenish skin's natural protectants. Protects the future by neutralizing up to 90% of environmentally generated free radicals before they can cause your skin to look prematurely aged. Because it is this environmental damage—not time—that can cause 80% of the visible signs of aging. Delivers high levels of long-proven hyaluronic acid—nature's "moisture magnet." Locks in moisture to create the ideal environment for healthy skin. Think of it as your "insurance" for younger, healthier-looking skin, today and tomorrow. Dermatologist-, Ophthalmologist-tested.

For more info

And Advanced Night Repair Eye

Product Details:

All the proven repair and protection of original Advanced Night Repair, now for the fragile eye area. Exclusive repair technologies successfully treat the appearance of lines, dryness, puffiness and dark circles. All night, all day it helps repair the appearance of past damage, while dramatically protecting skin from the aging effects of the environment...to give your eyes a younger-looking future. Leaves skin with a wonderful, silky feeling. Even helps eye makeup glide on. Dermatologist-, Ophthalmologist-tested

More information here


Opinion/Results after one day: Okay, so far I am actually impressed. When you do take care of your skin, it takes something really great to stand out and both of these products are seeming to. My face felt firmer and looked more radiant this morning - which amazes me to no end. My eyes did indeed look better - less puffy and I swear the lines looked better. Hmmmmm.

Why I love Estee Lauder

Happy Tuesday. Yesterday had its moments. I had some computer issues - mainly installing the Yahoo Music Jukebox and getting it to work. This lead to massive issues with Windows Updates, which should be a blog itself I think. I can sum it up in one word - AAAARRRGGGHHH!!! And as a note, I am not listening to music right now, even though I want to be.

Enough about that. While battling that, I decided to head out to the mall. I promised her to go by Wednesday to go to Build a Bear Workshop so she could obtain a couple limited edition Valentine's Day outfits for her menagerie. With a winter storm predicted for us today I thought it might be wise to get out while we could. (So far we have only rain, but, apparently that could change to snow, although we might be far enough South to miss the big snow. We can hope)

First we got some darling new outfits for Fairy Kitty, Fairy Poodle, Katie Koala and Fairy Bunny to share, and having the nice lady revamp Fairy Bunny - the Wild Child won her for selling Girl Scout Cookies - it is a special edition Girl Scout Bunny, and was a little thin looking. WC had been bemoaning her as mostly skin. She got a sound, a heart and more stuffing so now she looks better.

Then I found a great pair of shoes, exactly what I wanted going in, some cloggy slip ons. I found exactly what I wanted, on sale no less at The Shoe Dept.

I also decided to stop by the cosmetic department. Cosmetics at Macy's was really busy - the counter people were all busy talking to each other or doing inventory or something and I didn't see anything that really called out to me, so eventually we made our way to Dillard's where things seemed more inviting. The Estee Lauder Counter is where I ended up. It so often is. I have been thinking about Estee Lauder a lot lately. I have been very close to buying some new foundation online, and even though they have had some interesting gift with purchase online (although never as good as the stores) and I have had my cart loaded, something made me stop. Now, I know why.

My favorite foundation, both favorite in general and by Estee Lauder is Double Wear. I bought my first bottle 11 years ago I think. I know I bought a bottle for my wedding, and I really think that was the first. I bought Fresco. I liked it. I have bought at least two more. I really really like Double Wear. I can't say enough about how great it is. It looks great, wears just like they say - all day, fifteen hours. It looks as good when I take it off as when I put it on.

Now regular readers and those who know me, know I am a major fan of tinted moisturizers and a dab of concealer where I need it. But, I also wear foundation fairly often - when you have the right foundation it really makes your look. It should look natural. Well, yesterday I was by the way wearing tinted moisturize and concealer with a light application of Bare Minerals Mineral Veil over all. When I made myself comfee in the chair, and my lovely beauty adviser began cleaning a bit of my face, she was surprised to see I have mild rosecea - she complemented me on my application. ( I love that).

Anyway, why was I in the chair. I wanted a bottle of Double Wear, in Fresco, the shade I had worn for years, and the shade which was first picked for me by a EL sales woman. I was going to get a bottle, get the gift and leave. When I asked the woman for Fresco, she said, are you sure? I was surprised. I had never had any complaint over this shade, but, I said, why do you think that is wrong. She said, maybe not, but, if I had time, maybe we could compare and see. So, I ended up in the chair. After applying cleanser to my lower cheek and jaw area, she brushed a little Fresco on and blended in. Below it, she applied one shade under Fresco - maybe, it is kind of in a band on the chart with Fresco, but one down, called Dusk - now, this is interesting. This shade is also designed for those with red in their complexion. The Dusk was a perfect match. The then took that all off, and reapplied only the Dusk and it was amazing. A bit lighter, than what I was used to when wearing foundation. I hadn't realized my skin maybe had changed. With all the exfoliation and other things I do and use, maybe I had lightened. Maybe it is the season. At any rate I bought a bottle, and she nicely gave me two tiny vials she made up so I could use it at home before I opened the full sized. Nice of her to do that.

Then I got the gift. Estee Lauder pioneered the cosmetic gift with purchase years ago, so they generally have good ones. The current one at Dillard's is pretty nice. A picture is at the beginning of this post. Here is the description:

Estee Lauder Gift Time - Choose Your Shades

02/07/2007 through 02/14/2007

This fabulous collection with tortoise accents gives you the season's best colors, advanced skincare and more. It's all yours with any Estee Lauder purchase of $22.50 or more. Worth $65, this exciting collection includes your choice of shades:
- All-Day lipstick (full-size)
- Pure Color Eyeshadow
- More Than Mascara (10 day supply)
- Advanced Night Repair (10 day supply)
Advanced Night Repair (7 day supply)
- Batik Print Train Case
- Companion Pebbled Cosmetic Bag

Offer good while supplies last. Quantities limited. One gift to a customer, please.

It says it expires tomorrow, but, call your local Dillard's and check. Or get up there today! This is a great gift. The choices are warm or cool. I took warm and the lipstick, in Caffe Latte is a perfect color for me. A warm golden pinky peach. Which doesn't sound nearly as pretty as this is on me. As EL reps often do, she slipped me a couple other goodies in the bag - a deluxe sample size of MagnaScopic Mascara and another eye shadow in a great base shade of Auburn Light -this is actually more of a champagny color that looks great on me.

After coming home from the mall, I took off all my makeup, used Philosophy's Micro Peel Pads and then redid my makeup. I really like Dusk - it totally covered my tiny area of broken capillaries that will only be cured by laser treatment with no concealer. And it looks pretty and natural. Oh, and the other thing about Double Wear. My skin is a bit on the dry side of normal. Double Wear is the only long wearing that I have ever tried that felt good and didn't seem to be drying or uncomfortable. It doesn't accentuate any fine lines.

I think everyone should check their shade now and then. The right foundation is the most important thing in my opinion. If you wear it. And another thing - the right shade, which Dusk is for me, will blend so well, you can use it only wear you need it. But, I do use all over, applying with a brush then blending with a little latex sponge wedge. I have long felt that it is hard to get a good match on foundation in the drugstore brands. Not impossible, but, hard. I used to use Revlon's Color Stay and to get the right shade I actually bought two and blended in my hand daily. The pricier foundations do have better pigments and all, and do look better. A bottle of Double Wear lasts a long time and besides, you get a lot in the gift that really adds to your total value.

It Never Ends

The quest for organization. I guess the biggest problem is we have a small home and we like stuff. Our house was built in 1832 and they didn't build in closets back then. We have exactly two in the whole house. So, we have to be creative. Right now I am trying to figure out how to store more bathroom stuff. As mentioned in other posts, the Wild Child and I love LUSH products and have a nice little stash of goodies. At the present, they are in a long oval basket - but I don't like this for several reasons. One they are kind of piled on top of each other and I would rather have them all in a single layer. I guess what I need is one of those small stacked drawers sets, but, finding what I want is proving to be a challenge. Most are plastic, and I would rather not have that. Although if it ends up being all I can find, I suppose I can and then put the unit on a shelf in the corner. But, I am crossing my fingers that I find one in wicker or rattan or something. Then I can have it sit on top of a small wooden chest of drawers, where the basket is currently. This makes it handy. If you have any ideas, let me know.



I

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and if you are looking for a great gift for your Domestic Goddess (barefoot or not) look no further. Flowers are nice, but, the Rock and I came to an agreement years ago. I don't like arranged flowers. He can get me unarranged, and I really prefer them from a wholesale florist (years ago I worked for a florist) and sometimes does. He likes the whole idea of giving them I guess. And this year flower prices are supposed to be high.

What I really prefer is an IOU for some nice rose bushes that I get to pick out later in the spring. I got two beautiful bushes last spring, and I will enjoy them for years to come. So he has promised that again this year. Nice.

But, another gift (and it already came and he gave it to me already - hmmm, this usually means more will come) was some wonderful goodies from LUSH - lush.com - the Handmade Cosmetics people. He gave the Wild Child (a devotee herself) and I a little shopping spree there, which gave us the fun of spending it and the joy of getting it.

One thing I got, was the Your a Sex Bomb gift. WOW - this is nice and would make the nicest gift. It came wrapped in beautiful paper with a pretty bow and had inside nestled in red crinkly paper the following:

Sex Bomb Bath Ballistic
Elixer Luxury Bath Melt
Godiva Shampoo Bar
Joy of Jelly Shower Jelly
You Snap The Whip Body Butter



These are all incredible bath products. Sex Bomb is one of my favorite LUSH bath ballistics and the smell is out of this world. I may have opened it all ready, but, I am saving it all for a special night soon.

LUSH is offering free wrap and a free expedited shipping upgrade to get this (or one of their other lovely gifts to your sweetie in time.

Just go to http://usa.lush.com/cgi-bin/lushdb/val

to make your selection. They also have great advice for making Valentine's Day one to remember. If you live near a LUSH store, they have them in the stores as well.

This and That

Thanks for the emails everyone. It looks like people like the cosmetic posts, but, want to see homekeeping stuff as well. Okay, you know what? So do I! So, I will combine them and we will see how that goes. Although some of the makeup (did you know the slang for makeup is slap in the UK? I LOVE that!) posts may be stand alones. I am working on getting an rss feed - those of you on the group will be getting daily (or near daily) posts about when the blog is up.

Today is another cold day here in the Midwest. I am so ready for Spring, which I thought the old groundhog said would be early. We'll see I guess. And since there really is nothing we can do about it anyway, we are trying to make the best of it.

I am working on revamping my Control Journal - Hah! - when am I not working on that. I am close to having some downloads on that for those who have been waiting so patiently.

The Rock is away a couple days on business so the Wild Child and I are muddling through. When it is just us girls a lot of times we have what we call "You Pick Dinner Night". Which means we eat what we want, when we want. Although I do approve hers - no just eating candy or ice cream and calling it dinner here. I am actually thinking of pizza, but, the day is early and I might just hit the freezer and come up with something.

My nails are growing like mad and getting stronger. I bought some Sally Hansen Complete Care 4 - in 1 Treatment a couple weeks ago and have been using it. It really seems to work and I just love it when that is the case. I found it at Walgreens -it is available all over.

Products doing what they are said to is my biggest issue. I will pay more for results. Case in point - I have been using Sebastian's Potion No 9. I used this years back and loved it, I really can't think why I stopped. About a month or so ago, I realized that the winter cold and the indoor central heating was really doing a number on my hair. Dry, frizzy, yuck. Then Potion No 9 popped into my head and I ordered some from Drugstore.com and it was just like falling in love all over again. Magic stuff this is. It is called wearable treatment and that it is. It is so much more than just a leave in conditioner. My hair is so revitalized. It smells incredible and doesn't leave my hair oily or dirty feeling, which is something that seems to happen with other leave ins. It just feels wonderful. No frizz. My natural curl really comes out and looks nice. And a little goes a long way, so a tube lasts a long time. I am not going to let this amazing product leave my routine again!

The Beauty Buyble

The Beauty Buybleby Paula Conway (pictured right) is one of of the greatest books I have encountered in recent memory. This is a wonderfully up to date book, but it is so much more. Here is a synopsis of the book from Powells.com

"

Going to the cosmetic counter can be one of the most abusive experiences in a woman's daily routine. Where else do you pay for the privilege of being told, You need a new look? You're sold $150 worth of makeup and skin care products you don't need or that may irritate your skin, and the salesperson doesn't have a clue about what's right for you. How do you know which mascara truly lengthens, curls, or offers the blackest black? Which lipstick really does stay on all day without drying your lips? The Beauty Buyble gives consumers a one-stop reference to the year's best beauty buys and products. It takes out the guesswork, making it easier for women to find the best hair care, makeup, skin care, and beauty tools available on the market. This helpful, accessible book lists products in the low-, middle-, and high-end ranges so that you can find the product that's right for you and will truly enhance your beauty. The clean, concise format helps women on the go find the products they need, and the authors offer advice from celebrity makeup artists to help readers get the best out of their beauty purchases. Complete with dozens of actual samples and coupons for the products, The Beauty Buyble will be the first book to offer the very best beauty products, describe why they work, quote the experts, and tell the consumer how and where to buy. The book and bag of beauty goodies will come nestled inside a gorgeous box."

Okay, did you read that bit in bold? Bag of beauty goodies? Yes, there is a great bag of goodies - most samples, but, some full size and it all comes in a cute bag inside the nicest box. The box reminds me of an oversize pink cigar box with a ribbon tie and will find some good use. Did I ever tell you all I am nuts about cute boxes? Tis true. And the bag of goodies! Great samples of products you will love trying.

Included are products from MD Skincare, Freeze, Cetaphil, ELF (!!!!) Mentholatum Lip Balm, Biosilk, Nivea, Schwartzkopf, Profoot, Banana Boat, DHC (lots of DHC which has some really great skincare), Borba, Selona, Vitabath, Lipmints, Yu-Be, Jelly Bath, Cat Cosmetics (watch for a separate post on Cat Cosmetics, I love them so much!) NYC, Canyon Ranch, Chupa Chupa and at least one or two other suprises - all names you love or want to know more about. The samples are great, there are pencils and full sized lip products.

This is a great treat, can you imagine, you order it (or you can find it at Target or other fine stores) and you get it home and you can read some really right on reviews of some of the major most talked about companies and products. And you can then play with all your goodies. This just fantastic. I haven't had a pile of samples like this, in, well, maybe never. Go on get one (and this makes a really wonderful gift, especially for teens, but, really for anyone who likes looking great). You deserve it!

http://www.powells.com/partner/31636/biblio/9780060851637

Happy Groundhog's Day!

Or Happy Candlemas, Imbolc or St Bridget's Day - if you celebrate any of those!

What can I say. Computer issues (sigh, again) and the flu kept me down in the past month. Also have been working on how to get some things on my blog and all that I want. More in the near future.

ELF Cosmetics - Eyes Lips Face is having a great sale. For three days, or until Feb 3 everything is 30% off. That means the great little dollar cosmetics are all seventy cents. Wow, you can experience this great line yourself for very little cash. I think everyone will love some stuff, dislike some, but, that is pretty much true for any line. I love the Lip Color in Bark and the Plumping Lip Color in Oasis. Give this a try and let me know what you think!

What Price Beauty?

I have had some email from readers (and I love email, or you can comment on the blog and I will respond) curious about if this is all about high end, high priced products. The answer is no, and, yes. I am a beauty junkie. I freely admit that. I use high end products that work and seem worth the price to me. But, I use bargain products as well. I am a big fan of bathing -and, I will also freely confess to being a Lush Lover, I buy all kinds of bath products. I have found some killer bubble baths at the all kinds of places. Including but not limited to Target, Wal-Mart and Dollar Tree. Yes, Dollar Tree -they have all kinds of great beauty stuff - you have to watch what you are buying. Hair thingies and clips, head bands, bath brushes, sponges and stuff as well as some terrific body butter. I am a body lotion/cream/butter fiend. I think the body butter sold at Dollar Tree is good, as good or better than other higher priced products. In fact, I have seen this same body butter (and scrub) sold in a catalogue for 20.00 for 2 scrubs and 2 butters.

The past two years for the holidays, my young daughter has made me "spa baskets" that have a lot of stuff from her favorite store, Dollar Tree. This years included 5 body butters - I really use this stuff folks and will use it all up in a year or less. This years scents included jasmine, passionfruit, aloe vera, tangerine and olive/sage. I was especially happy to get the jasmine as one of my favorite bath ballistics from Lush, which I use mostly as a treat not as a daily thing due to the cost, is the Sex Bomb, which is jasmine/rose/ylang ylang. The one thing about Lush, their stuff smells incredible and is very good, but, they really don't have matching things -ie no body lotion/cream for each ballistic. I took the jasmine body butter, and broke out my essential oil collection, and added some rose and ylang ylang - not exactly the Lush blend, but, it smells pretty close and pretty darn good to me. Also in the basket was some new poofs, (she loves them so much) some bath fizzies, a new headband, some foot buffers, some spa face cloths, a bath brush, some nice fuzzy soft slipper socks and slippers (another thing I love) and then some Lush goodies and a Philosophy 3 in 1 bath gel in Enpowerment. My daughter obviously knows what Mama likes. And she is a bath addict as well.

The Best Beauty Advice I Have Ever Received

The best advice I have ever received, and, therefore, the best advice I pass on is pretty simple. Never go to sleep with makeup on (and make sure your face is really clean), use eye cream, exfoliate, use sunblock, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep. I fall down on the sleep one, but the rest I am pretty diligent about following.

I can count on one hand (with fingers to spare) the times I have slept without removing makeup. Many cleansers say they remove makeup, and, I would use cleanser, then toner. But years ago an exotic dancer gave me one of the best tips. At the time, I sold flowers in nightclubs in a southern city. One of the accounts was a gentlemen's club and I would frequently use the ladies room attached to the dancer's dressing room when there. Many times I would basically take a break there and sit in the dressing room a while, chatting with the girls, (they liked to scope out my basket of flowers and gifts and pick what they wanted and then later get one of their customers to buy it for them). One day, one of the dancers, who had incredible skin, was sitting at the dressing table removing her makeup with cold cream. Now, this interested me as one, we used the same foundation - I was in and out of clubs all night and needed makeup with staying power. This was about the time that the long lasting stuff was first hitting the market and I had recently switched from a stage foundation to Revlon's Color Stay (not bad, I had to buy two and mix them to get my perfect color, but, it really did last!). I noticed though that she also had the same cleanser I was then using (and while I remember the cold cream, I can't recall what cleanser it was). After tissuing off the cold cream. She then used the cleanser and washed it off at the sink. I commented that I used that cleanser as well, and it did take off makeup. She shook her head and said "not the kind we wear." I asked her what she meant and she said that the heavier makeup really didn't come off in one washing, and if you didn't remove the makeup, one wasn't cleansing one's skin, one was cleansing the makeup. Hmmm, I thought, maybe she is on to something. She had the most gorgeous complexion and I knew from previous conversations that we were the same age. I had fairly okay skin at the time, I did have regular small breakouts which were a pain. I used a lot of concealor and really didn't have skin that looked nice and even and all without makeup. Later that evening, I stopped at an all night drugstore and bought a jar of Pond's Cold Cream. And when I got home I did what she did. As I mentioned, I was then using toner and when I used it after removing my makeup and cleansing, I was amazed that the first ball of cotton soaked in toner came away clean! That never happened. Anyway, made the separate makeup removal part of my routine and within a couple weeks, I noticed an astounding difference in my complexion. I pretty much stopped having any kind of breakouts or blackheads and my overall skin just looked better. One thing that helped is the double massage I was getting - with the cold cream, and with the cleanser. Massage is one thing that really helps. But getting all the crud off my face is the main thing.

Now I use the Purity Made Simple Cleanser by Philosophy. I love this and it will take off makeup - but, if I have anything more than light tinted moisturizer on my face, I use it twice. Once for makeup, once to cleanse. A couple months back, I started using a different mascara, and realized that while the Purity Made Simple did take off my old mascara and most makeup, I was really having to work to get it to get off the new mascara. It isn't good to have to really rub and all. I do like this mascara (Hard Candy) and I have never cared for the liquid clear eye makeup removers. Even the ones that say non oily seem oily to me, or they just feel like they make my eyes blurry. So I bought a jar of good old Pond's Cold Cream, and I use it to remove eye makeup and then I use a bit to remove the rest of my makeup. On a normal day, I use tinted moisturizer, a dab or two of concealer, blush and maybe some loose powder. It all adds up. Then I cleanse with the Purity. My skin was already looking good, but, it started looking even better.

I love Philosophy

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I love cosmetics and beauty products of all kinds. What I love most right now are Philosophy skincare and Benefit Cosmetics. I have been using Philosophy skincare for a little over a year now - I use the Makeup is Optional Skincare line and I absolutely love the results!!! Go to Philosophy Girl and you can get this line at a great savings. They send you the kit, which includes Purity Cleanser, Hope in a Jar, Hope in a Tube, When Hope is Not Enough Serum and the Microdelivery Peel. They bill you monthly in three payments and they say that this is a 90 day supply. (I disagree, it lasts me 5 - 6 months, overuse of product is the major thing I learned in beauty school, more doesn't do anymore for your skin, it just wastes product) They will autoship you a new kit every three months, (oh, and did I mention they include a great free gift and samples with every kit?) or you can call them and have them change the dates. The customer service is first rate. They also sell their products online at the regular Philosophy site and at various retailers on and off line, but, the kit I linked to is the best deal.

Except for makeup remover ( the Purity Cleanser will take off light makeup, and while I don't wear heavy base, I find it isn't the best at removing mascara, so I use plain old Pond's Cold Cream) the Philosophy products are all I use. Oprah has plugged Hope in a Jar and I got a sample that convinced me in three days that it was good stuff. I love the smell of the products, kind of herby, but a very light herby scent. And I like Philosophy's various 3 in one body cleansers (shampoos, shower gel and bubble bath) and hair care. More about various products in the future.

But, I can't end without mentioning how much I love the new Philosophy the Fragrance and another fragrance, Amazing Grace. I was a really good girl this year and Santa brought me an Amazing Grace set and a bottle of Philosophy the Fragrance. Both smell so great. And so do I!

Turning over another new leaf!

I ponder why I don't blog daily, well, daily. And I really don't know the answer. Part of the problem has been this whole year has just been, well nuts. I was sick this summer, actually I was sick all year and didn't know it and that really screwed things up. Then I have also had a lot of computer issues. The most recent has been the motherboard dying in my desktop. I just got it back running yesterday, and in the meantime was using my laptop, which I find fine for surfing and light email but I have major trouble typing for any period of time on it. It just really kills my hands.


So here I am. I have been thinking for about the past month that what the problem is, is that I kind of limited myself to homekeeping, which on one hand is fine, I love that. But, what I really love is makeup and beauty. All kinds of girly things. Besides having a near lifelong obsession with makeup and skincare, I have actually been to beauty school. (I will tell all about that in the days and weeks to come. I have great skin for my age (which I will tell sometime, I promise) and am the person that everyone I know asks for advice. I love to read the beauty blogs of others and one day it just hit me. Blog about this. So, while I am not abandoning homekeeping, I will be blogging a great deal about all things beautful. I am a makeup junkie and have opinions about everything! I use all kinds of product from high end to drugstore items. I can only give my honest view of things, and I will. I love love love perfume and bath products.

Maybe I never told you this, but, even when I am barefoot, or in slippers, I wear makeup. That part of Flylady, getting up and getting made up I never had a problem with. Unless I am ill, I am madeup and pretty close to being ready to run out anytime. I am one of those women that really look better with a little help. I think that. My husband says that is bull, I look great au natural, and I suppose he is correct. I don't look bad, I just look better when I enhance what I have. And honestly, who doesn't?

So, I will just jump in on this. There will be some various affiliate things, as I hope to make a little off this. I am stating that right out in the open, although, that is a secondary thing.

I will also blog about homemaking as the mood strikes me. LOL. Which is pretty much how I keep house, as the mood strikes me. Maybe with the New Year upon us, it will be good to blog about my routines as I always revamp and all at this time of year.

I am thankful beyond expression for those of you have stuck with me, those of you who email me and keep in touch. I really appreciate it.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday, whatever you celebrate!

The Day After Yesterday

Was quite busy yesterday with the election and didn't get a chance to blog. But, it was very worth it as I won my precinct for my party. So it is all good. All though I have been recuperating today. Didn't party hearty, just stayed up too late watching the returns. We went to our party's party for a bit and then I just couched out with the tube.

Even the Wild Child helped out yesterday - we hung door tags reminding folks to vote on a bunch houses in our precinct. She is such the little politician, I like hearing her talk to people at the party about how she got her vote out. LOL

Today's dinner is broiled chicken breast, rice, broccoli, rolls and fruit salad. It is actually warm hear after a couple chilly days. And after eating the hearty buffet last night a lighter meal is a good thing.

I cleaned my desk off today and am happy with the results. I got a bunch of coordinated things, folders, postits, memo pads, blank notes and a new desk basket (not a big splurge, found them at Dollar Tree, and they were just the tonic to spruce things up and give me a some new color on the desk. And now I have much more room to work, since I took my inbasket and have it up on a shelf over the desk.

Am still excited about the Martha Homekeeping book. She has a bunch of routines, and, I really like the basic plans. and I am copying them and personalizing them for my Control Journal. Will figure out how I can post my Control Journal contents soon. It isn't that I change every time I read something new; I really don't, but, I like to be quick to change when the change is good.

Chilly and Raining

What a cold dreary day. Had to run out to the bank and the supermarket to get stuff for a breakfast/goodie basket for my election judges tomorrow. Worth the effort as I have good judges and being an election judge is hard work. Hope the rain clears so more people will get out and vote tomorrow.

Had computer issues starting Friday afternoon. My daughter plays on NeoPets. Heck I used to, but, I don't think any of us had since last Spring, maybe late Winter. About 2 weeks ago, she decided to start again, and Friday afternoon the computer shut down for no reason, okay, on Thursday for no reason my network connections where gone and I had to reinstall the DSL. So when the computer came back up my antivirus went nuts and I had over 200!!!! According to a geeky friend who knows, he says it is from Neopets (we have/had a firewall and all) and that meant I had to restore everything, which sucks. I actually had to do it twice cause for some reason after the first time, it wouldn't boot so I had to do it again. Everytime I set it to do automatic updates for Windows it won't reboot - this has been an ongoing problem since last summer when I put on a new hard drive. If anyone has any ideas, send them my way.

Have been reading Martha's Homekeeping book and I really do love, love, love it. It has so much great info! I know I will use it all the time. Have to give a thought to doing some desk top reorganization though. It is a big book. LOL

Taking a break from calling my voters, will start again about 6. Dinner tonight is cheating and using a Banquet Frozen Salisbury Steak. I know - but both DH and DD think this is the best entree ever and we have it once in a while. DD had it at a friends and when I was in the hospital this summer, she pretty much stayed with my parents during the week and came home to stay with him on weekends. One day he took to the grocery store to shop and she picked it out. It was fine by him and then she was telling me later that evening at the hospital how good it was and wanted it again at the store. I keep a couple of those and some Stouffer's frozen lasagna in the freezer for those certain days. Seemed like a good thing to have on a cold day when I really didn't feel like cooking as I have too much to do. - I bake it in the regular oven and am serving it with mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and green salad.

DH will probably go to bed way early tonight as he worked all weekend and he is an election judge tomorrow, has to be there by 5. I am planning on catching up on Desperate Housewives. I recorded every episode this season but haven't watched any yet.

We had company yesterday and I cleaned Saturday so the house still looked great today. Just a little once over. Got several loads of laundry done and folded, but, never took them upstairs to put away. Will do that here in a bit.

Take a minute and vote tomorrow - it is an important election!

It's Here!!!!

It came. Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook, The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home. Wow - all I can say is Wow. It look's like it is everything I hoped it would be. It is also quite attractive. The cover photo is printed on the book cover, the dustcover is clear plastic with the name and inside info printed in blue. I was flipping through it quickly and I really like the way it is organized. I know what I will be doing this afternoon!

I love the book Home Comforts and it sits on my desk and I use it often. But, I really have to say the style of Martha's book is much friendlier, the author of Home Comforts is an attorney and it shows. Now, I actually worked as a legal secretary and assistant many years ago, the style doesn't necessarily bother me, but, I have heard others comment that it is written like a law book. Martha's book is in the tone of her other books. In the forward, Martha says that she was given a copy of Mrs. Beeton's book back in 1961 and always liked looking at homemaking books, So do I. I have a copy of Mrs. Beeton's and various other old books. Will have to get them all together I suppose and spend some time with the old ones again. But, after I have been through Martha's.

Friday all day

Hope you're having a great Friday. I am, I suppose, although it is a very big Friday in my life, I have quit smoking. Why today? I don't know. I was finishing a pack late last night, when I realized it was my last pack, and I thought, either I could run up to the local convenient store and get some, which being about midnight I really didn't want to do, or, leave a note for DH to get me some before work, which he would do, but, I just thought, NO. No it is time to stop. So I found a couple patches on top the fridge in a med basket I keep there (hmmmm, there is a project, reorganize the crap on top the fridge) and stuck one on my arm, I have a couple boxes of Smoking Withdrawal tabs from Natra Bio which is a homeopathic product that provides relief for cravings, nervous tension, irritability, all the while helping one detoxify. I bought some early summer when I thought I might quit but didn't attempt it. Oh, and I also have some Endits from the same earlier time - although then I bought all the stuff and then said screw it I don't want to quit. So I can't really say I tried any of them, except the patch, but, I was thinking the other two things will help. And you know, so far they are. I am not plotting a run for smokes and I really think, although maybe I am afraid to say it, that this is it? Wish me luck.

I am anxiously awaiting the UPS to bring me the books I ordered. One being the Martha Stewart Homemaking book pictured at left. I have to run out in a bit, run a couple quick errands (go to bank, pay sewer/trash bill at City Hall and that is it. I went to the grocery store Wednesday and other than running out and getting milk (but I don't want to go get that one, we buy it from a store called Farm Fresh on the other side of town cause they have hormone free milk, but, it is also the store with best deals on cigs in town, so I need to stay out of there. For a few days anyway. DH can get later. So actually it is a pretty good Friday in terms of not having to run all over. But, I hate to leave till the books come as UPS just leaves the boxes on the front porch and last year I had a pair of shoes stolen!

My three kitties are running around like wild cats right now. I have a chair by my desk that I have a Surefit slip cover on and they are currently running under the slipcover and over the chair and down the back. It appears to be some kind of game. .

Chores today - pretty much just the basics as I am okay with the not smoking but figure I should take it easy. Although having written that I am now wondering if activity is the answer. Hmmm. Well, I also have to do some campaign literature and that will get me outside a while. I also plan on doing some pilates later (I do Winsor Pilates, which I adore.) I am actually thinking of doubling a workout and also doing them daily for a while instead of three time a week.

And I must write today, the NaNoWriMo thing is going great. I have 3200 words, so I am better than my goal, but, I decided to write daily anyway. And probably not going to take the weekend off. We'll see.

Must remember to stop and get some kind of sugar free candy. I like Charm's Sour Balls but they are sugared so I don't want to suck on many of those. Most sugarfree candy though isn't that great, I haven't seen any made with Splenda, which would probably help. Ah, maybe I would be better off munching on carrot and celery sticks or brushing my teeth a lot. That with the Endits might help. Maybe that and just very occasional use of the Charm's which are sitting here anyway. My biggest problem I have always thought in quitting smoking is the act of smoking. I like the idea of pulling out the cig, lighting it, inhaling, etc. (must stop this) so the Endits do give that ritual thingy. I know they tell you change your routine, but, that is so hard, actually the changing the routine to something temporary which will not be my real routine ends up, in my opinion, being my problem. So, I am doing everything the way I normally do, with a few small exceptions and moving on ward. I am trying to keep in my mind a smoke free life and all and keep telling myself that the first few days or week will be the hardest.

Something really cool

Today Yahoo launched a new site that I have been exploring this morning. Yahoo Food at http://food.yahoo.com/ is really nice. It has so much there, kind of a great one stop beginning to finding all kinds of food and recipe information. Except for a recipe for pork chops, which is what's for dinner here this evening. Oh, well, they have a Martha section so you know I like it anyway. If anybody has any ideas on pork chops let me know. I like to try new things now and then, but, will probably just end up making DH's favorite smothered chops.


Pretty day today. A bit chilly, but, it is actually fall the way I like it. Fall is just so brisk. I guess that it inspires me. Doing just fine on the NaNoWriMo. I am actually amazed at myself.

Today's agenda is light housekeeping - ie just my basic daily stuff. I pretty much model on the Fly Lady stuff. I do like her ideas for the most part. I just don't like the shoe shit. I am sitting here comfy in my new slippers. I finally found them, they are velor booties, little ankles ones that are softy and cushy, and just hug my ankles in cushy warmth. I had some a couple years ago and then couldn't find any I liked at a price I would pay for slippers. So I found them the other day at Walmart. I plan on buying several pairs and putting them up for when these wear out. They only have them for the holiday shopping season. These have rubber soles so you can run out in the yard and all and not worry. The last pair I had washed well a few times, no dryer, but eventually fell apart. I am declaring them the official slipper of the Barefoot Domestic Goddess. They come this year in black (my choice) and pink. Which I will pick up a pair of when I stock up as it makes the Wild Child so happy when Mama wears pink. You know I pretty much wear all black, but, thanks to her I do add some color in periodically.

More to come.

I love cheesecake!

I was browsing at Amazon and just got these cool little pans. I have several large springform pans, but, these caught my eye. I am going to make small cheesecakes for Thanksgiving, instead of one large. In multiple flavors, then if they are sliced, everyone can have an assortment instead of one large slice. Not sure yet on flavors, will figure this out and post the recipes soon.

How cool is this!

This is a book I have wanted for years. All of Martha's advice on homekeeping in one handy volume. 752 pages and I will have it Friday!!!! (I am too cheap to pay for next day delivery, but, I am an Amazon Prime Member which means I get it in two days!)I have actually written MS several times over the years suggesting this book, although, I am sure I am not thanked. Doesn't matter. I am just happy it is out.

Here is what the Amazon review says about it:

"Book Description
Whether your home is small or large, an apartment in the city or a country cottage, it is a space that should be at once beautiful and livable. The key to that is managing the upkeep without feeling flustered. Until now, there has never been a comprehensive resource that not only tells how to care for your home and everything in it, but that also simplifies the process by explaining just when. With secrets from Martha Stewart for accomplishing the most challenging homekeeping tasks with ease, this detailed and comprehensive book is the only one you will need to help you keep your home looking its best, floor to ceiling, room by room.

In Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook, Martha shares her unparalleled expertise in home maintenance and care. Readable and practical–and graced with charts, sidebars, illustrated techniques, and personal
anecdotes from Martha’s decades of experience caring for her homes–this is far more than just a compendium of ways to keep your house clean. It covers everything from properly executing a living room floor plan to setting a formal table; from choosing HEPA filters to sealing soapstone countertops; from organizing your home office to polishing your silver and caring for family heirlooms.

Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook is organized for clarity and maximum practicality:

Room by Room covers the upkeep of the appliances, tools, furnishings, and surfaces found in each room, from the entryway to the kitchen, from the attic to the laundry room.

Throughout the House instructs the reader on the proper ways to routinely clean and periodically maintain everything in the home, including dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, polishing, scrubbing, waxing and much more.

Comfort and Safety focuses on techniques to ensure your home is running properly and safely, such as recognizing when to clean vents, fixing a leaky faucet, and eradicating pests.

A-to-Z Materials Guide provides an invaluable resource that explains the unusual materials that many favorite objects are made of–from abalone to zinc–
and how to care for them so they last.

Encyclopedic yet friendly, Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook is a seminal work–a must-have for everyone who wants a well-cared-for home that will endure for generations.

About the Author
Martha Stewart is the author of many books on cooking, decorating, gardening, weddings, and other domestic arts, and is the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She lives in Bedford, New York."

I will post more about this when I actually have it in my hands!

Where does the time go?

Here it is, November 1. Hard to believe, but, the calendar says so. I am actually kind of excited today. November is the month of NaNoWriMo which you can find at http://www.nanowrimo.org/

I have wanted to do this for years, but, never signed up until this year. I am working on getting today's done. To write 50,000 words in a month you need about 1700 per day, more is better and you need to figure out if you are going to do it Monday to Friday or include weekends. What I am doing is going with my momentum and then will figure out in a couple of weeks where I am and then adjust. Daily counts, as you all might imagine, freak me out. Just the "Daily" part is probably drawing chuckles. Ah, well, I can only give it a go.

This is a busy month for me. I just got 150 boxes of Girl Scout cookies yesterday to be delivered for some and some sold. We order like that as DH finds it easier to sell at work if he has the boxes of cookies with him, rather than take orders. It is for a good cause. My daughter just loves being a Girl Scout, actually, she is a Brownie and in her final year of that.

Then there is the election. I am a precinct committeeman and have to finish getting literature out this week and then start my phone calls this weekend. Between Saturday and Monday night, I call all the registered voters in my precinct (of my party) and remind them to vote and see if they need a ride to the polling place. Call people really gets the vote out. But, it makes for a busy week. I am really nervous about this election. I know how I want it to go, how I really think it will, but, I am so worried about potential election fraud/voter machine mischief (not in my state or local area but nationally) that sometimes it just makes me sick to my stomach.

Last night was Halloween and my darling daughter was a Fire Fairie. She was totally adorable. A Fire Fairie is a fairie dressed in reds, oranges, pinks, etc. She was so cute. I can't get over it. There probably won't be too many years left for her to Trick or Treat. I will miss it.

This is the time of year (November 1) when I start really planning the holidays. I always think I will start in July or so, but, never do. Thanksgiving first. Luckily the menu is pretty standard year to year. The difference this year is that my Mother wants to have it at her house, for the last 10 it has been here. So, there will be some changes, and I won't be cooking the turkey for the first time in a decade. I am kind of disapointed to be honest; but, my Dad doesn't want to leave home and then go home after dinner. So we change.

More later today. I am along with the NaNoWriMo keeping my blog window open and have some more stuff I want to post about.

I'mmmm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, didn't realize it is almost four months since I blogged. Where does the time go? Well, I for one had a summer that was both eventful and speedy. Maybe sometime I will blog about all that happened, but, then again maybe not. One thing, probably the biggest thing was I was ill. Ill as in hospital for a week and a half with about a once recovery at home once discharged. So, that was the big thing. Then a hard drive failure after getting home took a couple weeks to resolve. And I still have trouble with Windows XP staying installed, which is a rant on its own.

I think about blogging though. I wonder why I don't daily. It isn't as much laziness as it is more likely fear of blogging. Not actual fear of writing, but more fear of being read. I sometimes wonder who would want to read what I have to say, but, then again you have to wonder why anyone blogs at all. And why we read them.

Now that Fall is nearly here, and, weatherwise, it really feels like Fall this week, I guess I am inspired a new to begin putting my thoughts out there. There is certainly enough going on to have something to say. I suppose I am one of those that really feels like Autumn is the new year. The crispness of the weather makes me think of back to school and all, and with other things like clubs and whatnot getting going again, it is my personal new year's time. So, onward.

So what is a new year without some resolutions? Probably a better one, but, here are some of my resolutions anyway.

Continue my diet and exercise routine. 15 pounds down since July 20. Yeah me!!!

Get up and reorganize my day to start watching The View. For some reason I want to. Let's see if I make this one tomorrow. I forgot today even though I was up and it some time before it started.

Fall clean. This always seems more important to me that Spring Cleaning. Cleaning and getting ready for the holidays. Note to self, find that elist I was on a couple years back with this very theme that worked great and if I remember started around October 1.

Write daily. The blog, but, several other projects I have in mind.

And those would be enough for resolutions.

Today I am ticked about what looks like my first ever eBay problem. Ordered a birthday gift to me on August 26, still don't have it and am getting runaround bull$*it from the seller, who had good feedback (99.7 for about 350 when I ordered). DAMN! IT! I am so pissed. She is apparently trying to stall me past the PayPal cut off to charge back, which isn't going to happen. I really wanted this item. Needless to say it put a damper on my birthday - yeah I got other stuff, but, this I wanted. DH and I decided that this year instead of buying each other something, we would each take the amount of money we would have spent and buy what we wanted. I spent one third on the eBay item in question, and the other 2/3's on a couple other things. But the eBay item was the gift I was most looking forward to getting. If I don't get it PDQ I will name the seller here. The only thing that gives me a wee bit of hope is she actually left me feedback (positive of course) the day she claims to have shipped it, so I don't have to worry about not being able to be honest about her in fear she will give me a negative. I say claimed to shipped as she sent me a tracking number which is invalid and refuses to give me either a valid one or even say the actually day she shipped. Am crossing my fingers.

So what's up with you all?