I Can Vouch for That

I realized I haven't done product reviews for a while, so I thought I'd give you an update on some of my new favorite things:

Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof Antiperspirant/Deodorant

(All-day Fresh Scent)

So I'd been using the same Mitchum unscented antiperspirant for a long time because I just couldn't find anything else that I really liked. Problem was, even though that stuff was unscented, it still had a slight scent and I came to associate it with BO smell. I could never wear my shirts more than once because I thought they smelled weird. It also stained the armpits yellow in  my white shirts. Plus it just seemed like it wasn't working that great anymore. Thus began my search for a new deodorant.

Lucky for me I just happened to find this awesome deodorant on my first venture out into the new deodorant world. I had previously snubbed Secret brand because I hated their scents. This goes with most of the other woman deodorant brands as well. But, I saw this new clinical strength stuff that had a higher aluminum content than most other women's antiperspirants, so that immediately intrigued me. After smelling the very mild "fresh scent" that was neither fruity, flowery, or baby-powderesque, I knew I had a winner.

Now, I'm not sure why this stuff works so well, but it seems to work much better than the Mitchum, even though it has less aluminum. I swear my pits never get so much as damp. When I smell the pits on my shirts at the end of the day, I can smell the very mild "fresh scent" but it's not overwhelming or laced with BO. I can wear my shirts more than once! Plus this doesn't stain my clothes. Compared to other brands this is a little on the pricey side, but I'd say it's well worth it. It keeps my pits dry, keeps me & my clothes smelling great, and it's easy to find! Winner!

Grocery iQ App

So I have a few apps I use on my Galaxy S Android phone, but this is by far my favorite. I know it sounds boring, but this thing saves me so much time. It's basically a grocery/shopping list maker, but it takes it to a whole new level.

I use this as mainly my grocery shopping list, though you can create lists for different stores, so I also have lists for the hardware store and Target. For each store you can add or remove isles AND put them in the order they are in that particular store. This alone saves me a ton of time. When adding items to your list you can either type them in or scan the bar code of the item to enter it. This comes in handy as I can just scan the empty box of an item I've just run out of and immediately put it onto my shopping list on my phone (since I always have my phone with me!). It is generally pretty easy to find items listed in the app's memory where they are already categorized by item type, but it's also simple to add your own item if it isn't listed. You can change the isle the item is located in and note anything special about it such as size, quantity, type, etc. You can also put in a price so you know how much it typically costs, thus avoiding paying too much on future trips. This app also makes it really convenient to add items you buy all the time. Just mark the item as a Favorite, then go down your favorites list and check all the things you want to buy such as milk, eggs, cheese, etc. and it will quickly add them all to the list.

Not only does this app make it easy to make a list, it also makes it so easy to shop. Since each item is classified by category and isle, you can go from one end of the store to the other without missing anything. And it's hard to miss an item because as soon as you put the item in your cart, you check the item off and it moves it to the bottom of the list to your "shopping cart." This means your list shrinks as you shop and doesn't get all cluttered with scribbles and lined out items. 

I can't say that I like grocery shopping these days, but it is a heck of a lot easier, faster, and "fun" using this app.  Best of all, if you've got a smartphone, it's FREE!!

The Library

I hate to think of all the years I wasted not going to the library. All that money spent on books that would never get picked up again. Books that just took up space and made moving more difficult. Now I don't hate books mind you, I just think that unless it's something you'll be using or reading more than once, it's a waste of money to buy it when you can get it for free!

Now because I didn't visit the library for so many years, I had no idea of all the technological advancements made in the book checking out process. When I finally went back I was astounded at just how easy it is to find and read the books I want! Luckily the library has adopted the use of the Internets. I can now search online for books & other media I want, put a hold on them, and renew books I haven't quite finished. Even better, I get e-mail notifications when books I've put on hold are available and when books I've checked out are almost due. No late fees! No guessing! No phone calls or needless trips! So if you haven't utilized your local library for a while "check it out!" HA!

L'Oreal Everpure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

 

My hair and scalp are always at odds with me, especially during the winter. My hair tends to get super staticky no matter how much product I put in and my scalp always itches like crazy. I always tried to solve the itchiness problem by using a dry scalp shampoo and it never seemed to help and usually made the problem worse. As far as the staticky hair goes, I tried everything from hair serums, to lotion, to dryer sheets (which actually works pretty well, by the way) but nothing ever seemed to last more than a couple hours. Finally one day I decided to go the opposite direction of what I'd always done. Having oily, fine hair I'd always been told to stay away from moisturizing shampoos as they tend to weigh the hair down. But, I figured there was nothing to lose and gave this shampoo/conditioner duo a shot.

Immediately I noticed a reduction in how itchy my scalp was. I think the combination of having a sulfate-free shampoo along with the intense moisturizing properties of it worked wonders for my hair and scalp. I no longer have an itchy scalp and this is the first winter in a long time when I haven't had the constant problem of staticky fly-away hair. I really think the shampoo is this duo is the real magic maker, but I really love the smell of both products and they work well together moisturizing my hair just enough without making it feel heavy and limp. Anytime I use a different shampoo I can tell the difference. My hair doesn't feel as smooth and the itchiness returns. These aren't the cheapest products around, but so far, they're the only thing I've found that'll work with my crazy hair. I'm typically a shampoo/conditioner fanatic and have a hard time sticking with just one kind. Ever since I started using these my wander-lust has disappeared. I think I'm converted for life.

Backpacking Gear Reviews

Before we embarked on our backpacking trips this year, we decided we should invest in some quality gear. Our last trip had involved a leaky tent, uncomfortable packs, and less than desirable sleeping conditions. We tried to remedy those things this time around as well as a few other minor elements. This is what we've found from our testing so far.

Marmot Limelight 3P Tent

I love this tent. There are so many details on it that make it a great piece of equipment. It is meant to be a 3 person tent, but I thought it fit 2 people perfectly with just enough room to spare for small items (3 people would be a bit of a squeeze).  The main reason I went with the 3 person tent over the 2 person, was this one has 2 doors, one on either side. Let me tell you how awesome this was. Each person having their own door and vestibule rocked. No more climbing over people in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. No tracking dirty feet across the tent. This tent also comes with it's own footprint tarp and has a small gear loft inside (great for keeping items easily accessible). I also liked that the zippers and tie-down cords were reflective so you could see them in the dark. The tent was incredibly easy to set up and the orange color makes it highly visible when you're trying to find it in a clump of trees. Now as a disclaimer, we haven't seen any adverse weather (no strong winds or rain), but knowing Marmot, that won't be a problem.

Osprey Ariel 65-Litre Backpack

I tried on every single women's pack at REI before I found this one. I couldn't find a pack that didn't put pressure on my hip bones or one that didn't squish my bewbs and make them look weird or rub on my neck. Or that just felt comfortable. This pack met all of those criteria and I'm happy to say it was just as comfortable on the trail. I liked that the hip belt was wider and flatter than the other packs I tried. It also has cutouts that align with your hip bones so there is no pressure on them. I was able to put 100% of the weight on my legs which meant my arms and shoulders never got sore from the weight. It does not come with its own water pack, but the 3 liter water bag from my day pack fit great into it and there were openings and straps for the hose to be easily routed to my shoulder strap. The bag had plenty of room for all my gear and an adequate amount of pockets and exterior straps for things like water bottles, jackets, and my fly rod. This was an incredibly comfortable pack and I am extremely happy with it!

Big Agnes Ethel 0 Degree Sleeping Bag with Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad

I was so excited to get this sleeping bag. I always sleep cold when I'm camping and thought this was the solution for sure. Night time temps on the 2 trips I took this on were probably around 35-40 degrees, so not too cold... nowhere near the 0 deg. temp rating of this bag. While I did like that my sleeping pad didn't move around while I slept (or didn't sleep...), it also prevented me from closing my bag in around me, thus making the bag feel drafty and cold. Maybe this would be better if you were a little bigger and filled out the bag more. The pad seemed to let a lot of cold air up from the bottom as well, making me think that the complete lack of down on the bottom of the bag wasn't such a great idea. So, the bag was comfortable, but not warm. The pad was suitable and worked well... I liked that it was extra thick at 2.5", plus it packed down super small. Seth's pad actually leaked however... so not sure if mine will end up with the same problem. Ultimately, I had one of the worst nights out backpacking I can remember. Too bad, I really had high hopes for this combo.

Mountain Hard Wear Yuma Convertible Pants

I have a love/hate relationship with pants. I love wearing them, but hate shopping for them. The junk in my trunk, though quite spectacular, doesn't lend for easy fitting in the pants department. I also have this problem where the length of my legs doesn't quite conform to standard sizing. A "regular" inseam usually measures 32", a little too short. "Long" inseams are typically 34" or longer... too long (if you can actually find long pants...). So as you can imagine, shopping for pants isn't usually a fun activity for me and I usually have to try on at least 10 pair of jeans (usually double that) before I find something that fits, and even then it's not a home run. So when I went to REI to find some new convertible pants (or Adventure Pants as Seth and I call them) I wasn't surprised when after trying on about 10 pairs, I still hadn't found one I was in love with. But, somehow on my way into the dressing room, I'd found another pair of adventure pants and thrown them on top of the pile. This was the last pair I tried on. And I loved them from the moment I put them on.

These Mountain Hard Wear pants are so amazing in so many ways. First of all, they fit me. Like a glove. Ample room for my butt and thighs without being tight. No gaping at the back. And get this... their regular inseam length must be 33" because they were long enough to cover my boots without being slouchy and sloppy. WOOHOO!! They have 2 snaps and a zipper to close as well as a drawstring to give that extra tightness if needed... thus eliminating the need for a belt. The fabric is super light and stretchy so it moves really well while hiking. And as is a common problem with adventure pants, the zipper at the knee doesn't rub when I bend my leg. The pants have 2 zipped cargo pockets, easily unzipped and zipped with one hand. I would like to have had the two hand pockets at the top, but I can overlook that because of all the other amazing traits. I can't recommend these pants enough.

Keen Targhee II Boots

Several years ago Seth and I each bought his and hers Danner 453 GTX boots to wear for our more serious hiking excursions. While Seth has always really liked his, mine just never seemed to cut it. My ankle area/lower calves are not dainty like most women and my feet are really wide. While the Danners were plenty wide enough, the back of the boot was too high and always hurt the back of my leg, especially when walking downhill. The boots were also too stiff, not allowing them to conform to my foot. I could never get them tight enough and when I did, it caused the pain on the back of my leg to worsen. The last straw was when I wore these on our 10 mile backpacking trip. My feet came away sore and blistered. All I wanted to do was take the stupid things off. They made the trip miserable. So when another backpacking trip was on the horizon, I made the demand that I HAD to get new boots beforehand. That's where these Keens come in.

I did a lot of research online before purchasing these. I was pretty sure this was the boot I wanted, but went into my local REI to try them on first, just to make sure they would work. I immediately loved these boots. They were really comfortable and fit my foot really well. The back of the boot didn't put pressure on my leg and there was a ton of room in the toe box for my wide feet. They were a little stiffer than a tennis-shoe type day-hiker boot, but not near as stiff as the hard-core backpacker boots available. The perfect mix. Add all that to the cute factor, and I was sold. But the true test would be in the hiking.

I hiked about 5 miles in these boots without even thinking about them. They provided great traction and my feet felt super comfy the whole time. No hot spots. No blisters. I actually LIKED wearing these and that's saying a lot. Now I haven't tested out the waterproof-ness or durability of these yet, but if all goes well, I'll be using these babies for years to come.

I Can Vouch for That

So Seth asked me this morning what I was writing about this time and I told him it was another post about my favorite things. He promptly raised his arms over his head complete with 'jazz hands' and yelled in his best Oprah voice:

"MY FAAAVORITE THIIINGS!!!!"

*snickering*

Ok on with the goods....

L'Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner- I bought this stuff last Christmas to use as a dark base under my eyeshadow for a party. While it worked well, for some reason I never thought to use it as intended until recently. I have used eyeliner pencils in the past, but like all my other eye makeup, it tends to melt off during the day because of my oily skin. So I got this out again the other day and tried it and it was awesome! In fact, Seth asked me if I'd done something different with my makeup when I got home from work that day because he said I "looked really good." When a dude notices your makeup is different, you know it must be good, right?

Now, this eyeliner does come with its own brush, but I thought it was a little stabby and a bit too skinny, so I just used an eyeliner brush I already had. A little goes a long way, so I just barely dab the end of the brush in the pot. It does dry fast so it's not super forgiving of mistakes, but I got the hang of it after a couple tries. After each use I wipe the brush off on a piece of tissue to get rid of any extra pigment because otherwise it will dry on your brush and make it stiff.

I just bought the black eyeliner, but they have several other colors available including midnight blue, brown, turquoise, and purple. I really love L'Oreal makeup overall... they generally have good quality products. And they have several products available in their HiP line now... including eyeshadows of which I recently bought several. We'll see how it goes with those...

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment- I'd been using some prescription topical ointment for my skin which was working pretty good, but then I ran out of stuff and didn't want to go back to the dermatologist to get a new prescription. I noticed even while using the prescription stuff I'd gotten some little bumps on my forehead that wouldn't go away. Long story short as soon as I started using this stuff, the bumps went away. And I could actually see an overall improvement in my skin which NEVER happens with anything I buy. My skin is smoother and more evenly toned. Anyway, I put this on my whole face every morning and I really love it. It's keeping me away from the dermatologist so that's even better!

Unicorn 6" Keytop Peppermill- My life changed the day I started using fresh ground pepper in my cooking. Ok, not really, but I refuse to use the pre-ground stuff in my food now. Mainly because it has no taste. So I've had a small salt and pepper set that I've used forever, and it's great and all, but the peppermill is way too small. This means that it takes forever to grind any significant amount of pepper and it also means I have to refill the thing every two days. So trying to find a better solution, I bought a pepperball. I thought it would be more convenient for cooking to have a one hand operation. It was the worst purchase I've made for a long time. It took probably three times longer to grind any amount of pepper and it made my hand tired. Plus I could never get the slot open to refill it (after I actually FOUND the refill slot). So the pepperball got relegated to the camping supplies.

So this year for my birthday Seth's awesome brother and sis-in-law, Scott & Amanda, gave me a gift certificate to Amazon. I used the opportunity to spend the money on something I wouldn't normally justify and bought a nice peppermill. I was really tempted by the Unicorn Magnum Plus 9 Inch Peppermill just because of the name alone. But, ultimately I thought it would be a bit too large (you can get too big you know) and would tip over more easily on the stovetop where I normally keep my peppermill. I was about to get the 6" Unicorn Magnum Peppermill, but then I saw they had a 6" Keytop Peppermill and I ultimately chose that one as it looked easier to turn (even though I wanted one called Magnum).

I have been using this peppermill for a couple months now and it's awesome! It's very easy to refill, holds a lot of peppercorns, grinds quickly, and has a very solid build. I can't say how it compares to the regular Magnum design, but I would buy the keytop version again given the choice, mainly because it seems like it would be easier to turn if your hands were slippery or something. So, if you've got an extra $30 laying around and need a really good peppermill, give this little guy a shot... or go straight for the 9" Magnum... I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed by that either...

Frabill Wood Handle Rubber Landing Net- My first landing net was your standard nylon netting cheap landing net. Problem is, I'm a two-fly kind of girl. This meant whenever I actually used my landing net, I'd end up with my flies tangled up in the nylon and 10 minutes of fighting to get them out. I rarely ever used my landing net unless I had to because it seemed to be more of a hindrance than anything. Then I saw the new-fangled rubber netting landing nets and began coveting immediately.  However the ones I saw were all about $100, which was a little out of my price range.

Then one day Seth and I were at Angler's Den, a local fly shop, and noticed they had these Frabill rubber landing nets for only $30! So, we bought 2, one for each of us. And it's been one of the best things we've ever bought. I love using my landing net now. It makes landing fish so much easier and I can quickly remove hooks and release fish. No more tangles. Plus this net is nice and deep so there's more room for larger fish (because that's all we catch...). I was a little worried that the quality of the Frabill nets would be crappy because they were so much cheaper than the other rubber nets we'd seen, but so far they've proved to be durable and are just as good as they were the day we bought them. If you're still using one of those old style nylon nets, I highly recommend switching over to one of these babies. You won't regret it!

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W290 12.1MP Digital Camera- So this is sort of an endorsement for Sony Cyber-Shot cameras in general, but this is the current camera I have from them. I had an older model which finally gave up the ghost a year after being dropped in the dirt (thanks a lot Seth!... just kidding), so Seth bought me this camera as a replacement this last Christmas. I am not normally inclined to haul a camera everywhere, mainly because they're too cumbersome. The thing I like about this camera is it's so slim and small that I can slip it in my back pocket or in my purse and it doesn't take up much room at all. Which means I bring it everywhere and actually USE it!

This camera has a lot of great features and it's really easy to use. You can put it on an auto setting which does a pretty good job of selecting an option for your situation whether you're taking a close-up picture, a landscape, or a portrait. But, there's also a lot of manual selections as well if you want to do that instead. After owning the camera for a little while I found some extra options on there, one of which was a pleasant surprise... it had a 'food' setting! I use this one ALL the time and it works really well. The camera has a great zoom range and a large viewing screen and it also comes with a rechargeable battery which is awesome. Plus at 12.1 MP, the quality of pictures are amazing. I can't believe some of the pictures I've gotten with this thing!

This camera also has a video camera setting which is fine... nothing too amazing, but better than nothing. The only bad thing about the video setting is that you can't zoom, so you have to physically move around if you want to change the view. I don't use the video setting that often but I've been fairly pleased with it the times I have used it. So if you're in the market for a good digital camera, try this one out. It's not exactly cheap, but sometimes it's worth it to spend a little extra for added quality. It's definitely one of my favorite things.

I Can Vouch for That

I know I just did one of these posts but I forgot about a couple things and discovered a few things that warrant mentioning. Everyday when I use these items I have this urge that I really need to tell everyone about them asap so in order to clear my conscience and lay my mind at rest, here are some more of my favorite things:

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara: I know. I know. I just barely posted about the CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara and I still support my original review. In my defense I did say I'd probably try this one too, so this is more of a follow-up... moving on. The second I put this stuff on I was in love. The brush loads with the perfect amount of mascara and it made my lashes look gigantic. And it separated them evenly as well! Just like the Length mascara this one did a good job of not flaking off during the day. So it's my new favorite! I prefer this one over the Length mascara, but you may not feel the same. The brush on the Volume mascara is really fat and not as easy to control as the skinnier Length wand. It also applies more mascara on each stroke so you don't have as much control over the amount applied as the Length. If you want more of a "va-va-voom" look, go for the Volume mascara. If you like a more natural look and/or you don't think you'd like a fat wand, go for the Length mascara. Either way you can't lose.

Cococare Cocoa Butter Lip Balm: My lips are always chapped and peeling. It drives me crazy. I've tried just about every chapstick out there looking for something that would actually work. While reading about the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion that I love, I came across a review of some lip balm/chapstick from the same company saying how awesome it was. Unfortunately I couldn't find the lip balm anywhere. While on our Houston trip, Seth and I made a run over to a Walgreens and on a whim I checked to see if they had cocoa butter lip balm. Score! It wasn't the Palmer's brand, but it was cocoa butter so I gave it a shot. This stuff rocks! It actually works and my lips have never been so soft and chap-free! I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out... probably have to buy it online (or make another trip to Houston...), but it's worth it!

PowerBody Kettlebell Bootcamp: I'm just going to start by saying I LOVE KETTLEBELLS. They are tough but fun to work with and I've seen results from them very quickly. I originally bought my 10lb. kettlebell a couple years ago, but put it aside for a long time because the workout was crappy and the moves seemed too hard. The DVD that came with the kettlebell I bought was called 'GoFit: Kettlebells the Iron Core Way.' It was terrible. I do not recommend it. The instructor was annoying and she paused for 30 seconds between every single exercise. So, I bought this PowerBody DVD to give the kettlebell one more shot. It was awesome! Every time I do this workout I'm sore for days afterward. It's tough but I can already tell I'm getting a lot stronger. And I think they're fun to work with. I started out with a 10lb. bell and it's enough for me now. I'm planning on upgrading to a 15lb. bell once I get a little bit stronger, but I'm holding off for now because they are a little pricey (around $40 I think). But, they are very versatile. I've used them in other workouts in place of regular hand weights and even in place of a medicine ball.

Cast Iron Cookware: This item was introduced to me by my friends, Heidi & Paul. Paul especially is big on cooking and loved his cast iron pans. So what did they do? They got me one for my birthday! I use this thing almost every single day. It is a great size, heats evenly, and is unbeatable when it comes to browning. I've used it for sauteing onions, grilling steaks and salmon, and for pretty much anything else I can fit into it. It's oven safe and easy to clean and has a nice tight-fitting lid to go with it. When I get more room in my kitchen I'm going to add a few more of these babies.

Velcro Hair Rollers:  I've had my velcro rollers for a long time but used them only intermittently until recently. I've been using them every single day because they make my hair look so good. They are super fast and easy to use and make my hair come out perfect every time. My hair isn't very thick and is fine and oily so my hair usually looks pretty crappy by the end of the day... unless I use these. They give my hair lots of volume and it's easy to control just how curly or straight I want my hair to be. To use these I just dry my hair like usual, roll my hair up how I want it and heat each curler for a few seconds with the blow dryer on high heat at a low speed setting. Then I finish getting ready while my hair cools (5 minutes or so) and then pull them out, give my head a shake, and I'm done! I figure there is a lot less heat damage using these than a straightener or curling iron and my hair usually turns out better anyway. I always feel much prettier when I've used these... like I'm on one of those shampoo commercials!

January Book Reviews: "Three Cups of Tea" & "Robinson Crusoe"

In order to achieve my goal of 30 books this year, I need to read 2.5 books a month. This month I was able to stick with that quota and read the following (My Rating Scale: *Ok **Good ***Great):

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin

Rating: **

I really liked this book. I don't normally get into books about war and historical type stuff, but this was actually very well written and engaging. It gave me a much different perspective of the normal civilian population in the middle eastern countries.

It also made me feel so inadequate in my contributions to society. I don't think I could ever have as much patience and motivation as Mortenson does. It's very awe inspiring. This book got me to think a little bit more about what I could do to make the world a better place. Sometimes donating money just doesn't seem personal enough to me and I hope to be able to find a way to help other people and make a difference.

Just as a final note... I thought this would be a chic type book because of the title. It is far from it. If you're a guy, you'll like this too. It's probably one of the least girly books I've read in a while.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Rating **

This book was among the classics collection I received as a kid. I'd never read it before and thought it might be fun. It was entertaining and would be a good read for anyone who likes adventure-type stories. I read "Hatchet" as a kid and thought this was a similar story, though maybe a little more grown-up as there were scenes of cannibalistic behaviors and more fighting and such. I was surprised at how much the attitudes in the world have changed since this book was written (early 1700s). There are definitely some racist leanings which are spoken of in a way that you can tell it was common, acceptable thinking in those days. It made me a little angry sometimes, but also makes me feel better knowing we have come a long way in improving racial equality.

I Can Vouch For That: Part 3

It's time for another installation of my favorite things! I really like doing these posts for some reason. Almost makes me want to go out and buy more stuff just so I can write about it... Ha ha Seth, just kidding. (no I'm not) 

Baking Soda: Ok I know this is going to sound a little weird, but I like to use baking soda as a beauty product. After years of trying everything from expensive facial scrubs to sugar, I have finally found the perfect exfoliant. My pores always seem to get clogged so fast so I have to exfoliate everyday in order to keep my skin looking good and my makeup application smooth. I add probably 1/2-1 tsp. of this to my facial cleanser (see below) every morning and scrub away. The baking soda is rough enough to be a great exfoliant, but not so rough it hurts. Plus it's what, $1 for a box? And it lasts forever.

Cetaphil Facial Cleansers: There are actually two different Cetaphil cleansers I use. The first one is called "Gentle Skin Cleanser: For All Skin Types" and I use it in the morning mixed with the above mentioned baking soda. It's very mild and is best for light dirt/oil (i.e. from sleeping). This isn't very good for removing makeup. The other Cetaphil cleanser I use is the one labeled "Daily Facial Cleanser: For Normal to Oily Skin." I use this one at night when my face is more grimey from dirt and makeup. I don't like mixing this one with the baking soda... I think the combination is too strong for my skin.

I do wish the bottles looked a little more different because it would be easy to accidentally grab the wrong one at the store (which I have done).

Oxo Mug: This is my second Oxo mug of this design. The first one was very similar, but it was blue plastic instead of stainless steel. The stainless steel mug was probably $10 more than the plastic one, but it is much better at retaining heat. These mugs are spill-proof because of an inner seal that opens and closes when you push the button on top. I also like that the lid screws on and there is no handle to get in the way. The lid isn't the easiest thing to clean thoroughly, but I just rinse mine through with hot water and soap and it seems just fine.

CoverGirl LashBlast Length: I was hesitant to try a CoverGirl brand mascara (my inner snob I think), but figured it couldn't hurt as I hadn't liked any others I'd tried. Plus the bright packaging and plastic wand bristles sucked me in. I can now say I have finally found my perfect mascara. The wand is AMAZING. It separates each last beautifully and picks up just the right amount of mascara. I can easily apply more layers of mascara without getting spider lashes or clumps. And it doesn't flake off during the day! That has always been my one problem with every other brand of mascara besides Loreal. This stuff really is great. And because it's CoverGirl, it's also pretty cheap! (p.s. I've heard the CoverGirl LashBlast Volume mascara is great as well. I may try that one next just to see if it's as good as this. I couldn't decide when I bought this if I'd rather have length or volume. That's what she said. HA!)

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion: Let me get one thing straight... I HATE lotion. But it's pretty much a necessity, so I have to have it. There are so many problems with lotions and I hate spending money on lotion anyway, let alone on stuff I don't like. Up until now the lotion I bought had either too strong of a fragrance or was 'fragrance free' which always smells like glue. Or, the lotion was way too thick (think body butter)... never completely soaking into my skin making it impossible to pull my jeans on or leaving grease marks everywhere. Or the lotion wasn't thick enough and my skin would need several applications in order to get the right amount of moisturization. Then a few weeks ago I bought this stuff. It has a very light 'milk chocolate' smell (but not too sweet or off-putting) and it's the perfect consistency. Most of it gets absorbed into my skin before I get dressed so it's not too greasy. It makes my skin feel so smooth and it doesn't irritate the sensitive skin on my chest and neck. Plus it was cheap... around $7 for 13.5oz.

Revlon Colorsilk (Dark Mahogany Brown #32): After getting my hair professionally colored a couple times, I realized I was going to go broke if I had to keep doing it every month or so. In comes the store-bought color-in-a-box. Let me tell you I was scared to color my own hair. What if the color was all wrong? Or I missed a spot? Or it looked completely unnatural? So I did some research and found a couple brands that were rated highest, especially in the brunette color family. After spending probably 2 hours in the isle at Target trying to decide what color to get, I settled on Revlon Colorsilk Dark Mahogany Brown (#32). I just about did a dance at the checkout stand when the total came to about $3.50. Let's see... $3.50 vs. lots of money... I choose $3.50! Anyway, long story short, I really really like this color. It is just what I was looking for and it also fades really well... maybe even better than the professional color I had done. Plus, get this...the last time I went in to get my haircut, one of the girls complimented me on my hair color. And, my stylist couldn't tell I'd dyed it again! Sweet! p.s. This stuff also makes my hair look really shiny :)

Quaker Lower Sugar Instant Oatmeal: I'm all about eating healthier stuff, but that's not the initial reason I bought this. I think regular instant oatmeal is way too sweet... especially because I usually eat 2 packets. In the past I'd mix one packet of regular sugary stuff with one packet of plain flavor, but then it was a little too bland. With the lower sugar oatmeal I can just use 2 packets of the flavor I like and it turns out perfect! I keep a stash at work for quick easy breakfasts (just dump it into a cup and add hot water from the tap on the coffee machine) and there you have it! I have tried the fruit & cream type flavors which are good too, but I'm a bigger fan of the cinnamon and brown sugar flavors.

Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Vanilla Almond Milk: I'd heard about almond milk before and people were always raving about how good it was. I thought it was probably the same people who though soy milk was good (yuck), but decided to give it a shot anyway. This stuff is so good! It tastes great straight up or on cereal. I've never tried the plain unflavored stuff and not sure if I ever will, but vanilla has my stamp of approval. (You can find this by all the other regular milk & soy milk in the grocery store.)

Biggest Loser Bootcamp & Cardio Max: I added these 2 DVDs to my workout video collection recently to keep me from getting bored with my indoor workouts. They are both pretty tough, but not too hard. The cool thing about these is you can customize your workout. Each DVD has a menu with a warm-up, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Cool-down. It tells you how long each segment is and then you can select the sections you want to do that day and it plays them automatically. It suggests you start at level 1 and gradually add each segment as you get in better shape. If you do the entire DVD it is about 50-55 minutes (10 minutes of which is the warm-up and cool-down). As the name states, the Cardio Max is a bit more cardio centered where the bootcamp is more circuit training, switching between cardio and strength training... although both videos involve strength & cardio segments. I like that they have the Biggest Loser contestants in the videos because they look more like regular people and because they are obviously fitness video rookies... they have constant goofy smiles, don't do the moves exactly right all the time, and are completely out of sync with each other. For some reason it's not annoying, more funny than anything. One last note, if you don't want to do pushups, don't buy these.

Scientific Angler Fly Boxes: I finally forked over the cash for some decent fly boxes after the cheap one I had completely fell apart after only a couple uses. These boxes rock. They are quick and easy to open and stay securely shut. There is a rubber seal around the edge that keeps the box watertight and it fits perfectly in a vest pocket. The foam holds the flies really well and the gaps keep the hackle from getting smashed. There are a large variety of inserts available so you can choose the one that suits your needs (i.e. smaller dry flies, large streamers, nymphs, etc.). I even have one with extra compartments that I use for sinkers and strike indicators. The inserts remove completely from the clear cases so you can swap them out depending on the situation and there is enough clearance between the insert and case for bigger flies so they don't get smashed. I also like that they are color coded and clear so I can tell at a quick glance whether it's my 'dry fly box' or my 'wet fly box.'

Bed Head Hard Head Hairspray- I read somewhere that hairspray that doesn't contain water as an ingredient is much better, so I decided to see if this was really true. This hairspray is one of the brands I found that doesn't contain water. It was pricey... about $13 at Target (but the cheapest of the water-free hairsprays I found), so I had really high standards for it. I have to say it does have much better hold than the hairsprays I've used in the past. It dries almost instantly and for a flexible hold, you don't need much. Use a little more and your hair won't budge an inch. It smells a little booze-ish to me when it first comes out of the bottle, but this smell dissipates quickly and there is no accompanying lingering perfumey smell. If I used a lot of hairspray on a daily basis this could be an expensive new habit, but luckily the bottle is pretty big and one bottle of hairspray lasts a long time for me.

I'm in Love With Lee

Not Tommy Lee

Not Spike Lee

Not Sandra Lee

Not Robert E. Lee

Or even Bruce Lee

I'm in love with regular old, Lee. There I said it. To tell you the truth I've always kind of looked down on Lee. Thought Lee wasn't good enough for me... that Lee was dare I say... uncool.

But as of yesterday I have changed my ways. Lee is suddenly hip. I will let the world see me with Lee and I'll be proud and confident. In fact I'm going to show Lee off to all my friends.

Ok ok I'm talking about Lee jeans. Surprised? Yeah me too. I went shopping last night for some new clothes over at the local Kohls. My favorite pair of Gap jeans finally got a hole worn through the inner thigh and I needed something to replace them, pronto.

I sauntered around the Kohls for a half hour or so picking up anything and everything that looked like it might be suitable for entry into my wardrobe. I ended up carrying an armload of about 2 tons of clothes into the dressing room, including close to 10 pairs of jeans.

Finding clothes that look flattering is a very daunting task. Especially when you're pretending you're on What Not to Wear and trying to decide if the outfit you have on would ever appear on one of the sample mannequins and if it follows "the rules."

I tried on pair after pair of jeans. The stack slowly dwindled while I wondered if it was actually possible to try on 500 pairs of jeans and have none of them fit correctly. I wasn't getting down on myself for any extra cushioning I might have, in fact I was becoming frustrated with the selection of jeans available. I know what I want. Finding it is another story. They're either too high waisted or very low rise. They taper too much or they're too light of a wash. Or I find the perfect pair, but they're out of my size. It's one thing after another.

I got down to the last two pairs of jeans. These were more of a trouser style jean. I was looking for something a bit more casual, but these would be a bit nicer looking and besides, I had one or two pairs of regular jeans I could wear if I needed to. The thing was... the last two pairs of jeans I had to try on were Lee brand. I've never liked the look of Lee jeans much and the casual Lee jeans I'd already tried on were very high waisted and looked ridiculous. But I figured, what the heck. Might as well try them on while I'm here.

Holy crap... these jeans were AMAZING! Both pairs sat just below my belly button... high enough to lock in my pooch, but not so high as to make me look 20 years older. They were both a cotton/spandex blend so they stretched just a bit and the waistbands were thick, great for slimming the tummy region. One pair also had an added feature that I've never seen before. The waistband looked normal on the outside, but had a 2" wide elastic band sewed onto the inside to allow for an even better fit. It keeps the back of the waistband from gaping, which is a problem I encounter frequently due to my ample (yet quite spectacular) rear quarters.

The best part of all was these jeans were only like $30 each. Winner winner chicken dinner.

Here's the jeans I got:

Lee Jessica Trouser (Black Retro Wash)

Lee Natural Fit Reese Straight Leg (Indigo Rinse)

(These have a tab-front closure which I love)

So, if you're in the market for some jeans too, give these puppies a try. They come in lots of sizes and have inseams of 30", 32", and 34" so you should be able to find some that fit you. If not, try some other crazy brand you blew off long ago. You never know.