"Things I Love" Tuesday

I may do this every Tuesday, or maybe just every Tuesday I happen to think of it...

Today I'm going to shamelessly proclaim my love for some beauty products I can't live without. I'd love to hear your favorites, or your opinion on my picks if you've tried them.

In no particular order:











Johnson's Body Care - "Melt Away Stress" Line
Why I love it:
To start, I love the smell. Chamomile and lavender... so soothing.
The lotion moisturizes without leaving me feeling sticky or oily. The perfect bedside companion after long, draining days.
The body wash is also fantastic. Gives a good lather on my loofah and washes clean, and helps my head feel clear and uncluttered in the morning.













CoverGirl Outlast Lip Stain
Why I love it:
Provides a pop of color on my lips without the drying, fading, or rubbing-off effects of lipstick.
Honestly, I have always HATED lipstick. No joke. Most of it seems to change colors once it's been on my lips for a minute or two, so I've stuck with glosses that wear off before you can say lickety-split. Not so with this product.
Cheap for something of its caliber (I've seen similar products sell for $12 for half the amount CG gives you), it goes on quite bright, but fades a bit as it sinks in. If you let it dry before applying balm over the top, it doesn't budge for hours. And the marker-like applicator is super easy to use. I only wish it had been around for my wedding!












Alba Botanicals Coconut Cream Lip Balm
Why I love it:
This stuff feels so nice on your lips! It also tastes and smells like heaven (and I don't like coconut, so I was surprised at how much I loved it). I also like the way it looks - adds a lot of nice shine. Preston approves as well... :)














Bare Escentuals "Prime Time" Eyelid Primer
Why I love it:
Keeps my eyeshadow going strong all day long!
Not exactly a bargain at $16 for a small tube, this is still a great product. Easy to apply, stays put all day. Even keeps my unruly eyeliner at bay (by midday it usually makes an escape attempt down the outer corners of my smiley/squinty eyes). Plus, a little really does go a long way.













Garnier Fructis Smoothing Milk
Why I love it:
I will admit, my hair is generally pretty cooperative stuff. It doesn't misbehave very often. But some days in needs a little management. I love this smoothing milk because it helps keep the fly-aways under control without leaving my hair crispy or sticky. It also doesn't weigh down my fine hair.
I apply to the very ends of damp hair (never more than a dime-sized amount) and blow dry. If fly-aways persist use just a touch to smooth them down.

The Denim Tirade

Well... it's that time again... Time to go jean shopping.

I hate jean shopping for several reasons. The first of which is that it requires me to trade in my broken-in jeans for stiff, new ones. Nevermind that the jeans I'm wearing as I type are almost a full size too big, have been safety pinned to keep them from falling down, and are wearing quite thin between the thighs (as is the usual demise of my jeans...)

But the reason I hate it most right now is that I don't fit into any size. The bigger size is too loose, the smaller size is too tight. I would buy the smaller size, because I know they will stretch out, but in the meantime I look foolish and feel very uncomfortable.

(Now, I will (proudly) admit to having lost a bit of weight since the last time I went jean shopping, but I'm scared to death that it won't have made the slightest difference. I'd almost rather not know that I STILL don't fit into the smaller size jeans.)

And once I have selected the new pair, I will be faced in 6 months or so with the same problem: the dreaded thigh-wear-out. I know I'm not the only person who has this problem, so I'm just going to put it out there.

I tell you, Old Navy is making a mint off of me because I have to buy a new pair of jeans so often!

This time, I'm taking matters into my own hands! I'm not putting jeans out to pasture because of this problem anymore! I'm saying no! I'm being proactive!

My one and only thought is ScotchGuard. I'm not sure if this will really help the problem or not, but I think it's worth a shot. My operating theory is that the ScotchGuard will act as a sort of lubricant, reducing the friction as I walk. If anyone has a better idea, I'd love to hear it.

I'll let you know if this works. Wish me luck!

*UPDATE*

I bought new jeans, and I'm ecstatic to say that they're the smaller size! There might be hope for me yet!!! :D

Experiences

To start, I must say that I'm saddened that only Cam seems to want a gift made by me. What? Do you guys not think I'm talented? Because I am.

On to my real post...

I have been tagged, which means that I get to do yet another unoriginal post instead of spending my dwindling energy on coming up with something witty. (Yay!!!)

So. The idea here is that you go through the list and make bold all items that apply to you. So here goes...

Have you:
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a Solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - I think cooking counts here.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been on television
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud - I know you think I've always been prissy, but I assure you I have played in mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - much to my shame...
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club - that didn't last long. We were pathetic.
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone's blog to your own

Pay It Forward

Lucky Me! I get a present made by the beautiful Kalee! But the real excitement is that it is now my privilege to make the same offer that was made to me...

The first five people to leave a comment for this post will get a present made by me! My choice. For you.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1 - I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (Though I certainly hope you do! I may ask some questions during the process.)
2 - What I create will be just for you.
3 - It'll be done this year (might take a little while).
4 - You have no clue what it's going to be. It might be a frame, or jewelry. I may make you some cards. I may bake you something for you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

The catch? Oh yes, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and make the same offer to the first 5 people who leave a comment and promise to keep sharing the love. The first 5 people to do so win a wonderful homemade gift from yours truly!

PS: If you don't blog, never fear, you can still play along. But you have to promise to make 5 gifts yourself, or perform 5 random acts of kindness to qualify for your present. I don't want anyone to be excluded. I'm an equal-opportunity gifter.