This is coming from someone who never, ever... EVER wears color on her nails that isn't some kind of barely-there-pink or nude color. Normally, they chip so fast that by day 2, I look like a slob - so I usually avoid it all together. NO MORE! Starting right now, I'm ignoring the chips... and going for it. I even bought my own bottle of 'over the top' online at Essie so I can fix it and make it last a little longer.
So all was good in the hood, until I found out that the day I went to Barney's was a little special sale day, and you got a certain amount of money incrimentally, when you spent a certain amount of money! Score! (This is where the trouble starts) I now have YET ANOTHER gift certificate for Barneys, that I have to use on a return visit. Keep in mind, I'm not one who shops regularly at Barneys. I have a mortgage, and rent to pay - and I need to eat. If I shopped at Barney's on a regular basis, I'd be homeless (twice) and I'd really really skinny... (which ((now that I think about it)) would only make me want to shop at Barney's even more!) Anyway, I needed to unload this special treat, and fast. It's a good thing that I've been totally coveting a certain pair of shoes and have been dreaming about them for a while (Heather, I totally blame you for this one!)
I have two other pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes... and they're all equally the best shoes ever. They're lifetime shoes, and these are no exception.
The heels are only 2.5 inches tall, so they're TOTALLY comfortable - but still really elegant. They go with absolutely anything, and they're just so incredibly cute, I might need to have them framed.
And that my blog-reading friends, is first (and unfortunatly expensive) cure for thing-misery! Next up, the equally satisfying freebie!!!!!!!!!!!!
When it was just Calvin and I, Tidy Cat was just fine, but once I used the World's Best Cat Litter and added Kitty to the mix - it was a no brainer. It's made of CORN!! It's light and airy (kind of like grapenuts, but I've never tasted it) and still does a great job. There's NO dust, it clumps really well, it's totally flushable (although we still throw it away after scooping) -- And it's all natural, so when Calvin and Kitty clean themselves - they're not licking any icky manufactured chemicals.
The kitties love it! I had no problem switching over and when I ran out once, and had to go with the old Tidy Cat standby... Calvin was not pleased at all, and I switched back immediately.
It's the Phillips MonstorVent Brush, or "Phil" as I call him. I first met Phil while getting a blowout at the Canyon Ranch Spa in Las Vegas after getting some delicious pampering on a business trip a few years back. Who knew that I'd fall so fast. It was love at first sight, and I bought him on the spot. A few years later, like all brushes - he needed replacing so I "combed" (hahahah) the internet looking for good old Phil. I finally found him at Folica.com. It comes in 4, 4.5 and 5 inch sizes. I think (although I haven't measured) that mine is the 5er, as I can't imagine a brush any bigger. The size, by the way, is what I love best about it. It totally lives up to its name as a monster, and dries my hair faster than any other brush in the history of brushes. And trust me, if there's one thing this natural curly girl knows, it's a good blow-out brush.
The actual CD doesn't come out until next week or so, but we pre-ordered it on Vinyl (limited edition, boo-yeah!) and got it last week. I love Maritime's last album's 'We, the Vehicles,' 'Glass Floor,' and 'Adios' -- and was very excited when my brand new record showed up in the mail. Since I don't quite have the time to review the entire album - you should read this review because it basically sums up exactly how I feel.
I made this recipe this week and it was soooooooooo delicious. It turned out to be 5 servings, so it made a good lunch too. The only thing that I did differently, is that I made it in a dutch oven because it's really a ton of food - and would be very hard to do in one skillet. It was one of those... "even better the next day" recipes! Super easy!
2 large tart unpeeled apples, such as Granny Smith
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 teaspoon black pepper
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 green pepper, coarsely chopped
1 yellow pepper, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 14 ½-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup long-grain converted rice
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Quarter, core, and slice the apples into ¼-inch-thick pieces; set aside. Season the chicken with the salt and black pepper. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove the chicken and set aside, leaving the oil in the pan. Add the green pepper, yellow pepper, onion, and garlic. Stir well and cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and apples to the pan. Cook 8 to 10 minutes more. Add the paprika and red pepper. Stir well and add the rice. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, arrange the chicken on top of the rice mixture, and cover. Cook about 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with the parsley. Serve hot.
Yield: Makes 4 servings (5 for us - it's very filling!)
It's just the mix from the box, and some fat free yogurt - and 34 minutes later... the moistest (is that a word) most delicious brownie that you've ever had, and totally fat free. You might need to padlock them once you bake them so that you don't eat the whole pan, but they have gotten me through some very desperate chocolate cravings. If you have a microwave (which I don't) it even tells you how to make them in individual portions. ((I can't vouch for the deliciousness of the microwaved version)
It's a tiny bit bigger than this photo, but REALLY slim. It's 1/4 of an inch thick and weighs less than 2 oz. The pictures on the web and commercials don't do it justice because I had absolutely no idea how tiny and cute it was in person.
It was a Matte Lipstick that lasted forever (in a good way) -- and the color "Malt" was absoultly perfect for that "My So Called Life" greyish-pink, almost corpse-like, grungie color that I was looking for at the time. I remember my friends used to comment on how amazing it was that my lipstick stayed on all day. So that lipstick was amazing UNTIL -- it became all about the gloss. The big trend was wet-looking, shiny sparkly- yet somehow still natural looking lips. Goodbye Matte Malty goodness, it was a nice ride while it lasted.
I'm starting to really like some other fresh products. I'm sure there will be more to come on that front.
It's a lint roller, that makes your clothes smell like they just came out of the dryer. Unbelievable. Possibly the best lint-related invention of all time. I don't want to give away all my secrets for this blog on day 1 but if you have a pet, and your pet has hair and you don't like wearing that pet's hair to work - this is right up your alley.
