Some things I'm loving!

VersaTan

When I "unfroze" my tanning membership this spring (I know.  Don't judge.), I was able to add *spray-tanning* to my package.  My salon uses VersaTan, and it is AWESOME!  

I am not a self-tanner gal---I always get streaky.  But this is different.  You get in a shower stall type box, and it sprays you first with tanner, dries you, then sprays you with moisturizer, and then dries you again.

VersaTan is nothing like what I had heard about MysticTan.  It gives a really even glow, without any orange at all.  I highly recommend it!

Sudocrem

Love this stuff!  Heard about it originally from Lollipop26  whose blog and YouTube channel are both fab!

 

It's a "Nappy Cream" from Europe that really helps get rid of acne and redness.  It's also a great multi-purpose item for cuts, rashes and any general skin malady.  The scent is *wonderfully lavendery*.  Sudocrem is different from most of our US diaper creams in that it contains alcohol and has anti-bacterial properties.  My awesome globe-trotting Daddy brought me some from London, but it can be purchased on Ebay and various websites.

MAC

I am a sucker for MAC.  There are a few things I am really loving right now...

Shadesticks~ these are an everyday for me.  I use them as a base for my eyeshadow.  They really make my shadow stick on my oily lids.  I'm loving the new shades from the new Sugarsweet collection.

Mineralize Skinfinish~ this is MAC's Mineral Makeup.  I love it because it is really buildable, and can be as light or full coverage as you need.  Gives your skin a great glow and texture.

MV2 Fragrance~honestly, I haven't met a MAC fragrance I didn't like.  They are all really subtle and lovely.  Right now I like the MV2 because it seems *springlike*!

Cherryculture 20% Off Sale

Cherryculture is having a 20% Off Sale!  This is a great place to buy NYX makeup (high quality makeup at a fantastic price!)!  I love their lipsticks and eyeshadows!

Code is MMM20

Glamour on the cheap

Are you a magazine junkie?  I am!  I love magazines, and subscribe to many.  I just heard about a fantastic deal on a subscription to Glamour---they are celebrating their 70th anniversary by offering 1 year subscriptions for $1.50!  That's the 1939 price!

(It says it expires on March 15, but it worked for me today!)

Glamour $1.50 Subscription

Are you a Joan, Marilyn or someone else?

I thought this quiz looked fun, and it was fairly accurate.

Who are you?

You Are a Joan!

 

 

You are a Joan -- "I need to succeed"

 Joans are energetic, optimistic, self-assured, and goal oriented.

 

How to Get Along with Me   

• * Leave me alone when I am doing my work.   
• * Give me honest, but not unduly critical or judgmental, feedback.   
• * Help me keep my environment harmonious and peaceful.   
• * Don't burden me with negative emotions.   
• * Tell me you like being around me.   
• * Tell me when you're proud of me or my accomplishments.

 

 

What I Like About Being a Joan   

• * being optimistic, friendly, and upbeat   
• * providing well for my family   
• * being able to recover quickly from setbacks and to charge ahead to the next challenge   
• * staying informed, knowing what's going on   
• * being competent and able to get things to work efficiently   
• * being able to motivate people

 

 

What's Hard About Being a Joan   

• * having to put up with inefficiency and incompetence   
• * the fear on not being -- or of not being seen as -- successful   
• * comparing myself to people who do things better   
• * struggling to hang on to my success   
• * putting on facades in order to impress people   
• * always being "on." It's exhausting.

 

 

Joans as Children Often   

• * work hard to receive appreciation for their accomplishments   
• * are well liked by other children and by adults   
• * are among the most capable and responsible children in their class or school
• * are active in school government and clubs or are quietly busy working on their own projects

 

 

Joans as Parents   

• * are consistent, dependable, and loyal   
• * struggle between wanting to spend time with their children and wanting to get more work done   
• * expect their children to be responsible and organized

Happy 11th Anniversary, Tim!

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband, Tim!  I love you, baby!  

We were married 11 years ago today at The Columns Hotel in New Orleans.  We had a *wonderful* destination wedding with so many friends and family traveling to celebrate with us.  After the ceremony & reception we took a private streetcar down to Bourbon Street to continue the party in true Big Easy style!

My wedding gown was so special to me.  It was an unadorned silk Christian Dior.  I loved it then, and still do!

Recession Fashion

Kelly over at Kelly's Corner (who is just precious and has a gorgeous new baby) did a recent post about Recession Fashion.  I love posts like this because I am a bargain girl!

Kelly covered a lot of my favorite cheap chic spots already--Walmart, Target, Old Navy, Forever 21 & Sam Moon (new one opening in Fort Worth in May--HOLLA!), so I just have a few things to add:

*Thanks to Clemson Girl I now own "Magic Pants" from Target.

At $16.99, these pants are really magical!  They are actually PJ pants made from a Modal blend.  They are SO flattering, and can be dressed up or down.  The trick to these pants is to buy a size smaller than usual.  And they are *only* available on Target.com.

*New York & Co. (formerly Lerner) is another great store for bargain priced basics and trendy pieces.  They almost always have some kind of sale or coupon going.  Be sure to sign up for their emails!

I am loving this empire top--so flattering to the body and bust:

And at $24.95  -  30% off code = $17.46!

*These fun scarves are only $5 at Walmart:

A fun way to spice up an outfit.  Since I wear a LOT of black, I am getting into the popular colorful accessories.

*Shopping your own closet is a great way to save.  I love to find inspiration for new outfit combinations/silhouettes/accessories from fashion blogs like:

Fab Finds Under $50

Domestic Sophisticate

The Sartorialist

Shoes, Bags, Clothes....Oh My!

Chic and Charming

Thanks to Kelly for inspiring everyone to share their tips!

Fro-Yo!

I am not a huge fan of sweets/desserts.  As my Mom likes to say, "give me some chips and hot sauce" for a treat!  I really cannot believe I am devoting a whole post to frozen yogurt!

But, ever since I was a little girl I have been a fan of "real" frozen yogurt.  I remember the novelty of it in the late 70's/early 80's when my Mom took me to get it at the health food store café.  The taste was sweet, but with a definite *tart* tangy/sourness---just like *real* yogurt.

It seemed to all but disappear in my life from then until about 1993.  While on a trip to NYC, I experienced frozen yogurt at 40 Carrots Café in Bloomingdales.  This was the fro-yo I remembered from my childhood.

Then, gone again...

Fast forward to a couple of years ago, when I start seeing mention of Pinkberry all over the place.  I surmise from some internet research that:

1.  It seems to be a cute place to procure *tart* frozen yogurt and 

2. It only exists in CA and NY.

This causes me to dislike Pinkberry, much like I dislike H&M for not existing in Texas.

Next...

I find I Heart Yogurt in Dallas.  Very cute, very hip, full of North Dallas/SMU/HPHS people.  A bit expensive and a blatant rip-off of Pinkberry.  But, hey, it's their loss, since they don't exist in Texas.  The fro-yo is wonderful---sweetness is subtle, tartness is full-on.  It is fat-free.  LOVE it! Hate that it is 45 miles from my home.

I also find Pure Bliss frozen yogurt in Arlington.  A lot like I Heart Yogurt.  I need to give this place another shot.  Hate that it is 20 minutes from my home.

And finally I find Frogberry frozen yogurt right here in Fort Worth.  It's practically on campus at my alma mater, TCU.  I found the yogurt tasty, but was disappointed in the plain tart (my fave).  However, my daughter's blueberry tart was PHENOMENAL!  The only other issue I have with Frogberry is their spoons.  The spoons are eco-friendly, made from recycled material, and frankly, they taste like you are having a side of newspaper with your yogurt.  Perhaps we will bring our own spoons next time.  That's green, right?

My next fro-yo experiment will be trying this recipe at home:

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt Recipe

Heidi notes: First off, remember it is important to use good-quality whole-milk yogurt. The version in David's book is Vanilla Frozen Yogurt. This time around I skipped out on the vanilla, opting for straight, bright white yogurt with the sweetness playing off the tang of the yogurt. I also used slightly less sugar than called for here, more like 2/3 cup - but you can go either way depending on what you like.

3 cups (720g) strained yogurt (see below) or Greek-style yogurt
3/4 cup (150g) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Mix together the yogurt, sugar, and vanilla (if using). Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

To make 1 cup (240g) of strained yogurt, line a mesh strainer with a few layers of cheese cloth. then scrape 16 ounces or 2 cups (480g) of plain whole-milk yogurt into the cheesecloth. Gather the ends and fold them over the yogurt, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours. So, for the above recipe start with and strain 6 cups of yogurt.

Makes about 1 quart. 

I will let you know how it goes!

Do you like tart fro-yo?

Do you have a shop near you?

Let's share, people!