I Admit It. I Wore Sleeping Pants To The Grocery Store.

So, I had to go to the grocery a couple weeks ago on a Sunday. We were both heading back to work on Monday after our Christmas/New Years holiday (and, seriously. How can that many days fly by in what seems like about 36 minutes?) and we had no food in the house. I had put it off as long as possible. I would have to actually LEAVE THE HOUSE. I went in the bedroom to remove my sleeping pants and slip on some jeans and then.

I reconsidered.

They didn't actually LOOK like sleeping pants. They didn't have little moons or sleepy puppies on them. They were navy and white. I had them on with a navy t-shirt. I could just put on tennis shoes and a ball cap and a jacket and nobody would even know they were sleeping pants! I could TOTALLY get away with this. It's not like I was wearing my slippers.

So I went. And I don't think anyone even noticed.


And even if they did?

Based on the number of OTHER people who were wearing sleeping pants, I think it's just a matter of time before the entire world wears sleeping pants EVERYWHERE.



I can't wait.

Try It Tuesday: L'Occitane Milk Cleanser

Man. The things I do for you. I certainly hope you appreciate it.

And I KNOW you do because I got an email from my friend Maquel the other day who reads my blog and admitted that she ADORED toaster strudels so much that she actually had to keep them out of the house or she would eat them every day and then she was even inspired to tell me a little story about some friends who had stayed with her and they were from Australia and they LOVED toaster strudels so much that she gave them toaster strudels every single morning and then she had to swear them to secrecy so their mother would not know she had given them toaster strudels every morning. And this guile absolutely WARMS MY HEART. And also lets me know that someone other than my family actually reads these recommendations. Because she totally bought the face cloths I recommended and LOVES THEM.

And this is precisely why I just spent 30 minutes trying to locate information about this completely FABULOUS new face cleanser that I bought last week at Sephora. Because even though I LOVE and ADORE it? The label was in French. And I had some difficulty deciphering what the actual company was that made the stuff. Because even though I like to pretend that I remember those three years of French in high school? It doesn't help much to know how to say "Sir, a goat has eaten my shoe" when you are trying to translate the information about who made the milk cleanser that is a gift from the Gods. Finally, I managed to persuade my friend Google to locate this fabulous substance.

I have literally six different face cleansers lined up in my shower and, until now, every single one caused my face to look like I had just spent a week in the Sahara. Dry and flaky and tight. Not at all a pleasant sensation. And this is quite the contradiction to the way my face USED to be in high school which was so oily that I often had to SHAMPOO my bangs because my forehead made them so oily. Yes, indeed. I would lower my head over the sink, get a teaspoon of shampoo and shampoo my bangs. Then fluff them dry. And then apply some white eye shadow and a Bonnie Belle lip smacker. Ah. The good ole days.

But now. Now I have L'Occitane Ultra Comfort Cleansing Milk. Or, as the bottle says "Lait Delicat Ultra Confort" which, strangely enough, has nothing to do with either goats or shoes. But is indeed fabulous. After I use it, my face is as smooth and creamy as a baby's butt. And, as you know. That is pretty DARN smooth.

Try it. Let me know what you think.


I have to be honest. I had never heard of Julius before I received these books to review. Curious George, yes. Julius, no. Apparently, I have been living in a cave because Julius seems to be quite the phenomenon with everything from clothes to bicycles available. But I have to say, now that I have read a couple of books about Julius, I really like him. Read more at my Herald-Leader blog here.

The Couch

You already know that Tom and I have our own set places when we watch TV together and they cannot be changed. He settles on the couch. I curl up in the recliner. And life goes on.

But the other night I was not feeling well. My head was aching and no amount of medicine seemed to have any effect, even my migraine medicine. It was starting to make my stomach hurt too. I kept shifting around in my chair, rearranging my pillows and blanket, trying to get comfortable and realizing that I was going to have to give up and just go to bed, when Tom spoke up. "Do you want the couch?"

People. I was STUNNED.

Perhaps you don't realize what a big sacrifice this was for him. He loves his couch. He adores his couch. The couch is his favorite place to be in the whole, wide world. And he was offering it to me.

I accepted instantly, without reservation. He moved to the recliner. I piled up two pillows for my head, covered myself with a soft quilt and, apparently, went immediately to sleep since he said later he talked to me for a while without getting an answer before he gave up.

The couch was quite lovely.

The fact that he gave it up for me?

Quite fabulous.

For Fun Friday, January 9, 2009

Great trick!

http://www.thehumorarchives.com/joke/Pepper_Trick

Fabulous places to visit on Valentine's Day.

http://www.freedating.co.uk/articles/gigantic-hearts.html

How are you at charades? I suck, apparently.

http://youcharades.com/charades/browse

Could This Recipe BE Any Easier?

As I said last week, I never intended for this to become a cooking blog but I keep finding cool things I want to share with you and also? As an added benefit? I can totally drive my husband crazy in the process.

When I told him a couple of weeks ago that I had a new recipe to try, he asked with trepidation "It doesn't have Velveeta in it, does it?" And I assured him with an evil cackle that, yes it did! And perhaps he should take me out to dinner instead. So he did. And here's the thing. It didn't actually even have Velveeta in it. I was just messing with him. But I guess I won't be able to do that again now that he has read this. Uh. Hi, babe! Read more at my Herald-Leader blog here.

You're Invited To A Party. Make Sure You Wear New Underwear.

So, I went shopping the day after Christmas. I KNOW. I'm totally a breakneck adventurer with a desire to dance THIS CLOSE to death.

I got some great deals. But here's the problem. I bought socks at one store because I totally needed some cute new socks (I did not.) and then I went to another store where they had socks EVEN CHEAPER so I bought some more because I was truly in desperate need of socks (I was not.). Then I went to a store that was going out of business and they had the bras I love so I bought three because I desperately needed new bras (I did not.). Then I went to a store that had 33% off their sleeping pants and then an extra 40% off which, even though as you know I am the FURTHEST THING from a math wizard, is a great deal, so I bought every color they had. Except the pink. Which was regular price. And who pays regular price on the day after Christmas? Not me. So I put them back. But I bought the others because I desperately needed sleeping pants. (I did not.)

So. Are you keeping track? Why not? You didn't DOZE OFF during my recitation of the items purchased on this shopping trip, which did I forget to add? Took ALL DAY. So. Socks. Underwear. Pajamas.

Basically, nobody will even know that I bought something new. Except Tom. Who, when I ask him how something looks, will turn to me, slightly squint his eyes, which apparently aids with helping to remember, God help him, that he should diplomatically answer "Does this make my butt look like a Mack truck?" with "Looks good."

So, just for your information, I am having a party. Where I will wear my new socks, underwear and sleeping pants. And some sort of top. God. Get your mind out of the gutter.

And everyone will tell me how great I look and is that new and those socks are DARLING and what a great shopper you are!

You're invited. Make sure you wear your new socks. And underwear, of course. I WILL be checking.

Updated to add: I went shopping again. I bought a new TRASH CAN for my kitchen. I know. The excitement in my life has reached UNPARALLELED HEIGHTS.

Try It Tuesday: Boston Cream Pie Toaster Strudel

So. The holidays are now over, everyone is back at work and I am on a strict diet and exercise plan.

Yeah. You KNOW that is a lie. I might possibly have cut back on the Christmas candy and cookies but that's only because I already ate them all. So, in deference to the non-diet, I introduce you to my new favorite food. Toaster strudels. In particular, these toaster strudels. Boston Cream Pie. BOSTON CREAM PIE. Can you think of a more inappropriate, more calorie-stuffed, more unhealthy morning meal?



Me either. You want one?

Seriously. Pop-tarts PALE in comparison to these hot, flaky pastries which come with their own little icing packet. And, really? Any item that comes with its own little icing packet? Is good for me.

Let me know what you think.

I have now visited that location where individuals, apparently assigned to specific areas and clad entirely in black, wander around talking to each other about all the other individuals not dressed in black using tiny, unobtrusive microphones. Read more at my Herald-Leader blog here.

But What Will I Do For The Other 364 Days?

So, I have accomplished my one resolution. What now? Because, obviously. If I spend this much time at my desk. Exercise is COMPLETELY out of the question.

Before.



After.

For Fun Friday January 2, 2009

These are SO COOL. I need one.

http://stylecrave.com/2008-12-11/lightdrops-umbrella-the-glowing-mushroom/

Creepy Beach Sculptures. What WERE they thinking?

http://www.premier-holidays.com/info/5_creepy_beach_sculptures_to_scare_off_sunbath.aspx

Bored with those games on your cell phone? What about reading a book on there?

http://www.booksinmyphone.com/index.php

You Had Me At York Peppermint Patties

I never intended for this to become a cooking and recipe blog. Seriously. I am the kind of cook who thinks a delivered pizza is the height of haute cuisine and that dried onions are just as good as freshly chopped ones. I have spices in my pantry that are older than my children. I have been known to take the baking soda that is absorbing odors in my fridge and use it for a recipe. I have taken used french fry oil from my cupboard and put it in a brownie recipe. Also, I have approximately 6 cans of baking power in my pantry because I can never remember if I have it so I buy another one. Read more at my Herald-Leader blog here.