Product Review

I've tested a few products that deliver on their promises, and I'd like to share them with you. First, if you color your hair and have had problems with your color fading, try L'OREAL Ever Pure shampoo. This shampoo is very affordable and it has extended my time between coloring at least 2 weeks. I have been extremely pleased with this product as it smells great, feels wonderful and leaves my hair soft and moisturized. I have never been very loyal to my hair products, but I will use this product again. In fact, I will be loyal to this shampoo for ever, or until something better comes along.

Next, of all the deodorants on the market, I have always been a fan of Secret. Dove, however, lured me away with promises of minimizing the feel of underarm stubble. I'm sure I'm not alone in my hatred of that little patch of sandpaper that develops under my arms at the end of the day. If that was too much information, I apologize. I've got to say that Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth delivers on their promise to minimize that feeling. Since I shave everyday, I'm not sure it minimized any appearance of hair, but I definitely felt softer as I crawled into bed. It has a nice fragrance and does the job. Although deodorant isn't the most exciting product, I figured you might like to know that there is something out there that softens underarm stubble.

Last, but not least, I've found a great inexpensive lotion that really moisturizes. I must admit that I am a complete lotion snob. I've tried almost everything out there from $1 to $50. I am always disappointed. Although I've hated Jergens in the past, I tried Jergens Shea Butter Cream. I have been pleasantly surprised by this very inexpensive product. In the winter my skin is typically so dry and itchy that I draw blood by scratching. This product leaves my skin moisturized and I rarely itch. The soft fragrance won't interfere with your perfume. It absorbs within a few minutes and doesn't feel greasy.

Circle of Lies

If you are a woman for whom relational fulfillment seems to always be out of your grasp, you are not alone. In fact, you are just one of millions who feel just the way that you do. Different women are aware of their dissatisfaction in varying degrees. Many women seek relational fulfillment through careers, and are frustrated by the fact that no matter how much they excel, they never seem to be satisfied. Many women seek fulfillment by excelling in family life- being the perfect wife or mother.


If you are a man who never seems to please your woman, regardless of how you exceed her expectations for a husband or father, you are not alone.


Men and women equally victimized by the "circle of lies". Because I consider myself a true feminist and not a "man-hater", I am surprised by my latest epiphany. Although what I am about to reveal is no secret, it is a fact that is hidden in plain sight. This is such common sense knowledge that it has eluded us only because we are unwilling to admit it.

Girls, consider all the books you've read and the movies that you've seen from adolescence to present day. Think about all the romantic comedies and dramas that involve a relationship between a man and a woman. I realize that logically we recognize that these are entertainment, and we would really like to believe that we do not let entertainment affect our expectations for life. Nevertheless, by design, women are created to be inspired by art and learn about life from other women. Unfortunately our instincts do not differentiate between real stories and fantasy. Consider your favorite romantic story and examine all the characteristics that the male character displays. Most of the time the man pursues the woman with a fiery passion, undeterred by villains or circumstances. He admires her independence, intelligence and beauty above all other women. He typically forgives her for some great indiscretion and humbles himself to be with her. The woman, on the other hand, is not easily convinced that she wants to commit to him. She is distracted by something else- career, person, or independence. She does not "need" him and thinks perhaps she would like to wait for someone or something more exciting to come along. He pursues her nonetheless.

Please understand that I love men, most of all my husband, but I have never known a man to portray these characteristics. I realize that I am dealing in generalizations and stereotypes, but they are for the most part true. The reason that we are inspired by these stories and swoon for these men, is because the men are most likely a portrayal of ourselves. Typically women will sacrifice all for love, wait for the one they love, and pursue someone regardless of villain or circumstance. On the other hand, men do pursue women, but if it becomes inconvenient or uncomfortable, they will generally cut their losses and find someone else to pursue. I believe with all my heart that men are incapable of loving women they way that we expect to be loved. They are incapable because it goes against their instincts. We only expect to be loved this way, because we have portrayed ourselves in our entertainment and given the character a virile, masculine body. Have we truly been awaiting our very own fantasies? I would love to hear your input. Before you comment, though, dig deep within your soul and force yourself to be honest.

Must See Movie Rental!

"Grace is Gone" is one of those films that has a profound affect on those who see it. John Cusack plays an average father who, upon learning that his wife has been killed in combat, embarks on a spur of the moment road trip with is two daughters. The pain of his loss is compounded by his inability to tell his girls what happened to their mother. The supporting cast is phenomenal at portraying a real family, and John Cusack is brilliant in his role. Even though it sounds like more tears than smiles, this move is a must see. It will enrich your life, trust me.

Paris Fashion Week

Of the many shows of Paris Fashion Week, there does seem to be a common thread. Spring 2010 will bring back the "Roaring 20's" with a modern bohemian twist. Next season will be feminine, sexy, colorful and flamboyant. So what does fashion week in Paris mean for us regular gals? This is absolutely the most perfect time to be shopping for spring and summer clothes! Before you bundle up and hit the clearance racks, spend a short time checking out the runway shows and get a solid idea of what you are looking for. We don't want to get a bunch of "great deals" that don't work together. I recommend going to www.nymag.com/fashion/. Be sure to check out Valentino(A+), Collette Dinnigan(A), Giles Deacon(A-), John Galliano(B+), Hermes(B), and Elie Saab(B-). (Pay no attention to the living skeletons wearing the designs. I'm sure they have paramedics standing by to attend to anyone who keels over from mal-nutrition.) If you prefer the "cliff notes" version, here it is. Look for lightweight pencil skirts for the office and whimsical flapper style dresses for everything else. Keep your eyes peeled for loose, flowy fabric with light ruffling. Next spring's color palette will be made up of greys, charcoal, white, butter, melon and navy. After you've done your homework, hit the second hand stores and clearance racks. Above all, find things you like with flattering silhouettes that you may strut your stuff with style next season. Happy hunting!

Our Love/Hate Relationship With Waiting

If waiting is so good for us, why do we hate it so much? I'm not referring to waiting in line at the market. I'm talking about the kind of waiting that requires a more majestic word. Anticipation is more appropriate. When we are anticipating that moment of gratification-a promotion we've worked so hard for, the wedding we've spent our childhood planning, love's first kiss- we sit on the edge of our seats and wait. It feels like agony, as if the world stands still and waits with us. Then, for that brief moment when the wait comes to an end, we are satisfied, and the earth resumes it's course. Yet we know all too well that the clock also resumes it's ticking and time, it's relentless advantage. Though all is well, it is not as it should be. We begin to miss the stirring- the desire of anticipation, that uneasy longing. Do we have a sort of primal thirst for whatever it is that we do not have? Because the moment we have it, the thirst creeps up again for a new conquest. Could we perhaps learn to love anticipation for what it is? It is the great expectation from which true passion arises.

Must See Movie Rental!

I don't typically write about movies, but this one is a must see. "House of Flying Daggers" is the most visually extravagent film I have seen in ages. Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) is stunning and superb. Her portrayal of Mei, a blind dancer associated with a dangerous rebel force, is exquisite. Male stars Takeshi Kaneshiro and Andy Lau bring depth and complexity to well written characters. If you like martial arts, these meticulously coreographed fight scenes are top notch. Amazing cinematography and a well executed plot come together to make House of Flying Daggers one of my all time favorites.

Faux Conscience

While compiling a wish list for my approaching 32nd birthday and Christmas, I stumbled upon some strange feelings. Is it morally wrong to buy a knock-off handbag? The "faux" handbags are genuine calf skin and still cost the same as the monthly payment on my husband's work vehicle. This is the vehicle in which he transports carpet, tile, tools, wood, etc., all around town working his ass off to put food on the table for us. When it comes to getting a great deal, I am a champion. I rarely buy anything new, opting instead to troll second hand stores for anything I can't make myself. So why, I ask myself, do I feel the need to own a truly magnificent handbag? I realize that just because I am fabulous, doesn't mean I am entitled to have fabulous material things. I am young and have plenty of time to earn money and buy nice things. Unfortunately, affordable purses are purely functional and virtually indistinguishable. Designer handbags, however, are like art that you carry around with you and put things in. Faux bags look like art and cost a pretty penny, but they are still just forgeries-copies of someone else's genius. So I lack respect for even a high quality counterfeit, yet have only enough net worth to purchase a brass buckle off the soft calf hobo by Prada that I adore. What am I to do? After much soul and internet searching, I have decided to follow in the footsteps of the great Coco Chanel. The ropes of pearls, an intigral part of her signature style, she preferred to be fake. To wear that many real pearls of that size would simply be vulgar. So, until I can afford to feed a small country and have done so, wearing genuine Prada on my shoulder will have to wait. Nevertheless, Prada employees will still have their jobs whether I buy a knockoff Prada, or a cheap vinyl number at Walmart. When you see me around town, you can safely assume that my jewelry is off the clearance rack, my clothes are second hand, and my Prada handbag is indeed a fake. I will look and feel fantastic, conscience in tact.