Friend or Foe?

So my last post was about poo, so I thought we would discuss poo of a different kind.....shampoo. Many hairstylists are converting their clients to an underground beauty trend called "no poo" where they remove shampoo from their shower regimen. There are many devout no poo followers who tenaciously claim that their hair is shinier, thicker and better overall after eliminating conditioners old friend. Apparently some experts say that shampoo cleanses hair by stripping it of its natural, necessary oils. This causes the scalp to produce more oil, making it impossible for some to skip shampoo for even one day without looking greasier than super size fries.

*MSNBC.com has this insightful article about the no poo movement. Check it out to learn more, and update me if any of you attempt this trend yourselves. I'm dying to know if it works, but unwilling to look like Pauly Shore for a week.
*Pic from Duane Hoffman/msnbc.com

Crappy Day.

Today I was so happy to get out of work. I bounded through the door into the sunshine and was ready to take on the day. Well, all my happiness came to a screeching halt once I got a look at my car. To my amazement and horror, there was bird crap covering the entire thing. No literally, some crew of anonymous birds did a number on my ride.....and that number was 2. My back window....covered. My passenger side back seat handle and drivers side mirror...coated with white. What made this scenario even more bizarre was the fact that there was not one drop of poo on the surrounding ground or on any other vehicles. Bird conspiracy or coincidence? You decide.

Wicked White.

I have been looking for a pair of white skinnys for the summer .....aaaand i think we have a winner. These J Brand 10" Skinnys would look great dressed up with heels and chill and causal with sandals. Buy your own here.

* I think they would look amazing with this flowy and intricate Free People top.

So Good, So Easy.

I may have found the ultimate lunch. This Veggie Bagel is so quick and easy you will be having one for lunch every day. I have been binging on them for about 5 days, but its fine because they only pack 95 cals each! OK so here is the recipie.

1/2 of a whole wheat bagel.
1 tablespoon fat free cream cheese
3 thin slices of cucumber
2 slices of tomato
1 slice of fat free Swiss Cheese

Directions
Turn your oven on broil.
Toast the Bagel
Spread the cream cheese on the bagel. Add the veggies. Top with cheese.
Stick it in the oven for about 2 mins or until cheese is melted.
Turn off oven
Stuff your face

*Recipie and pic from eatbetteramerica.com who retrieved it from Prevention Healthy Cooking.

Mix It Up.

I have never really been a fan of lipstick or lipgloss but I don't like to go out sans lip-wear so over the years I have developed a little lip cocktail that I think works perfectly. I usually go for a brown or nude lip and here are my 3 weapons to achieving a great look.
1. Start by lining your lips lightly with M.A.C lip pencil in spice.
2. Then coat your lips with Boots Mediterranean Grape Olive & Nectarine (available at Target)
3. Finish off with a dash of NARS Lip Gloss in Striptease...this gives just enough punch.

Now this dilution of color works with anything. I recently went to a wedding and I wanted to have a 40s harlot look (as my friend Melissa put it), and used a red lipstick as a base with the Boots as a topcoat of sorts. Mix and match all sorts of lipsitcks and glosses to achieve your perfect signature lip look.

The Way I See It.

I love inspirational and thought provoking quotes and some of my favorites come from The Way I See It section on Starbucks cups. Here is something to chew on.

The Way I See It #141
I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stumped by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, "Hi." They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word.
-Augusten Burroughs
Author of Running with Scissors

What a profound thought. You never know who you may meet and how they may affect your life. It all starts with one word.

Impatience.

Ugh, I cannot wait for the Real Housewives of New Jersey to debut!!! I have 50% Jersey blood pumping through these veins and let me tell you, if these women are anything like the typical Jersey girl...we are in for trouble! Jersey is all about attitude, confidence and looks. They do not censor themselves and have no problem telling you if you suck. Not to mention that Jersey accents are the best in the whole world. I saw the preview at the urging of my friend Jackie and I'm DYING to watch the show. I can already tell you my fav is going to be the saucy redhead Caroline who seems to run her family with a tough mob boss mentality. I wish this show was on tomorrowa!!

*FYI- I still remain loyal to Nene until Caroline proves herself.

Loves It.

I absolutely love this dress Leighton Meester wore to the opening of the Chloe store. The color is so unique and would look amazing on tan summer skin. What is that color even called...its like a burnt rose, bronze meets golden orange. Loves it!!!

Mount Everst Volume II.

As I previously mentioned, one of my New Years Resolutions was to read one book a month. Well the year started off great with the quick reads Confessions of a Shopaholic and Love the One You're With. Then I decided to choose a lengthy and more challenging book. Ken Follet's The Pillars of The Earth was just that. At almost 1,000 pages it took me about a full month to read it. I know that seems impossible to do around a work and social schedule, but the great thing about this book is that it is broken up into 6 sections, and each section is broken up into chapters...which is then further broken into 3 parts. Therefore I could chip away at this mountanious novel without getting too lost. If you are up for a challenge, this book has it all. Mystery, lust, death, deception all centered around the building of a massive cathederal. I would recommend following along with the reading and discussion guide on Oprah.com for a more complete view of the book.

Musical Mania.

A few weeks ago I went to see the the Broadway show "Spring Awakening". I had no previous knowledge of the show, other than it had won several Tony's and was supposed to be pretty provocative. Well, the show definetly stood up to it's expectations. The show takes place in provincial 19th-century Germany, and tells the coming of age story of a group of teenagers curious about sexuality in conservative and repressed society. The score of the show has a rock feel to it, and I loved a few of the songs, particularly Mama Who Bore Me, My Junk and Touch Me. Spring Awakening is an old time story with a modern message and I would recommend it to anyone. If anything else, download the soundtrack and get your American Idol on.

*A word to the wise though...If you happen to see this show, there is nudity and a lot of sexual refrences, so leave Grandma or the town prude at home. There were several elderly women who blatantly walked out of the show around the 14 minute mark.
*Another Spring Awakening fun fact. The score was written by Duncan Sheik....if you don't remember him check out his 90s hit, Barely Breathing for a mental refresher.

Usher?

While out to eat with a group of friends the other night, I couldn't help but notice that one of the guys had on the most intoxicating cologne. I honestly smelled it the second he walked up and it only got better and stronger within a matter of minutes. Finally all the girls at the table clamored to know what he was wearing....was it Armani? Gucci? Ralph perhaps? No friends, it was Usher. I literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor because I didn't even know Usher had taken time out of his ab crunching, old lady marrying life to develop said fragrance. While I was shocked by the revelation of the fragrance's namesake, I will give credit where credit is due. Usher nailed this one, and I'm sure his efforts will cause more than one man to get a little love in the club.

J is For.....

Java Boost. I'm slowly trying to wean myself off buying coffee everyday, and I think I have found just the trick. Right now at Starbucks they are having a buy one, get one free on the Dark Chocolate covered Espresso Beans. Every morning I pop a few of these in on my way to work and within 30 mins I start to wake up and feel energized. Dark chocolate is heart healthy and eating these in moderation daily is lighter on your wallet and waistline.

Ummmmm.....YUM.

Channing Tatum + Underground Fighting + Brad Pitt's Fight Club Body= PERFECTION.

Fighting opens this weekend and I am one hundred percent prepared to fight the throngs of drooling girls to see it.

Word to Ya Mother.

Today is Earth Day. Do something to make Mama Earth proud. Take a shorter shower, recycle that newspaper or if your really into it and have tons of time on your hands, plant a tree. Today is just one day of many where we need to green ourselves and better our planet!

Mount Everest.

Well I finished my first half marathon. My final time was 2:16:57, which is about 15 minutes earlier than I projected. Not only did the race begin at 7 am, but it rained the ENTIRE time, so I was doubly proud of myself and my friends who ran with me.

I am also thrilled because I crushed Tara's time on biggest loser....but who's keeping track right?

Girl Crush.

It's no secret that I have an intense love for all things Tina Fey. 30 Rock = pure, simple, sarcastic genius. I have equal love for Amy Phoeler, and I'm feeling her new show Parks and Recreation
Today I decided to pop in an old fav starring both ladies....Mean Girls. I cannot believe how long it's been since I've watched this movie, and I forgot how utterly hilarious it is. The lines in that movie just do not quit. Here are some laugh inducing quotes to rev up your memory.

I want my pink shirt back!
Glenn Coco? FOUR for you, Glenn Coco! You go, Glenn Coco.
If you're from Africa, then why are you white?
Hey, Hey, Hey How's my best girlfriends?
She doesn't even go here!

Going the Distance.

Every year people make lame New Years Resolutions that they know they will never keep. Instead of making myself feel inadequate next December for never working out everyday or saving money instead of shopping I decided to take the bull by the horns and make 2 resolutions that were attainable. The first was to run a half marathon. The second was to read one book a month. Results to be blogged about later. Well number one is fastly approaching as tomorrow morning is race day. I have been training for a hot minute and absolutely do not feel prepared. I picked up my packet today and my race number is 10,028 so I figure there has to be people who are less athletic than me...but the pre-race events did not stablize these feelings. As I was cruising around trying to find the t-shirt stand I was surrounded by people wearing dry fit tees, Mizuno shoes and stop timer watches. Damn, I am so screwed for this. My only hope in finishing at a decent time is my sleeper weapon....my Nike + technology shoes. It is the chip that goes in your shoe and updates your time and distance in your ear. It has totally transformed the way I run. The best part about it is once it senses you start to slow down, it changes your current song to your previously selected "Power Jam" which kicks your ass into gear. I expect to hear mine..."Burn for You" by Kreo during at least 10 of the miles. Friends, wish me luck.

*pic from stltoday.com

Forehead Floss?

I know I might receive a lot a flack for this post, but I think these hippie headbands people are wearing look ridiculous. Literally if I looked at someone wearing one sideways it looks like your forehead is wearing a thong. Why would you want to chop up your face and make it look choady? I don't get it. To me some things that become "fashionable" just don't work. I have seen some people look decent wearing one....and her name was Nicole Richie. The average bear just can't pull this look off. Am I totally wrong on this trend? Are these actually cute? This pic --->
demonstrates my opinion. If I was going to wear this trend, I do it more like a headband a la Vanessa Hudgens. On a positive note, I'm digging Ashlee's seahorse necklace in her pic.

*pic from Instyle.com

I is For....

Influence. I received this coffee table book by the Olsen twins as a Christmas gift from my friend Katie, but I haven't thoroughly read it until now. The general idea of the book is genius, for me as a journalist it's an ultimate dream. What an amazing opportunity to sit down with the people who have influenced your life or style and ask them any and everything you have ever dreamed?? In typical Olsen fashion their book was mostly filled with fashion icons and influential desginers. I LOVED the piece with Diane VonFurstenburg, what a powerful and inspiring woman. If you aren't particularly into the Olsen's or fashion, then this book isn't for you, but next time you're at dinner with the posse, pose this question to them: If you could interview any 5 people in the world who would they be and why? I bet their awnsers might surprise you.

Scent You Very Much.

My friend Yasmine recently tied the knot, and the wedding was just stupid beautiful. Everything was so succinctly beautiful....she did not miss a beat. However, the thing I am finding myself thinking about most from this fabulous soiree are the thank you cards she sent out for her Bridal Shower. Not only were they adorable asthetically, but they smelled wonderful! It is the kind of scent you smell immediately upon opening the card, and it actually lingers for weeks and weeks. I put it in my drawer when I got it, and just recently found it smelling as fresh as ever. They are from The Soap and Paper Company, which has the cutest website ever. The whole idea reminds me of Elle Wood's scented resume....it just gives it something extra, you know?! So I may order the Green Tea Blank note cards. Nothing is more gracious than a hand written thank you card on beautiful stationary, and these will definetly be remembered. Grab some for yourself here.

Broken Record.

Please tell me you have heard the song Turn My Swag On by Supaman himself Soulja Boy Tell Em. Well friends, I CANNOT get this song out of my head, which is a HUGE problem. I can't understand a damn thing this fool is saying, there is no chorus or varying melodies to this jam, and he basically repeats the same thing over and over as only Soluja Boy can. While there is no accompanying dance or foul sexual reference in this club banga, it appears ol boy got another hit because I cannot turn on a radio station in hood rich STL without hearing it. I finally bit the bullet and downloaded it in hopes I would forget about it. No such luck. I have no clue why this song won't escape my cranium, but at least its a step up from Stanky Leg.

H is For...

Havaianas. I mean there are no better flip-flips around. I particularly love the slim style and have them in several colors. Some nay-sayers scorn the beloved flip-flop and tend to go for the gladiators or leather thongs when the temps increase. But I love flops. I do. They are perfect for lazy people. No buckles or straps...easy to get on and off....make an ever so lovely clacking noise when you walk....don't have to worry about cleaning them...what more could you ask for in a shoe? They also give you a perfect excuse to get a pedicure. These peacock based Hav's bring a fun twist to the classic flip-flops and I am loving them to knock around in during the warm Spring/Summer months. Buy your own at havaianasus.com

Lash Hurrah.

I love fake eyelashes. They are so glamorous and really punch up any look. There's only one problem...I can never seem to apply them correctly. My former roommate Kacie used to help me out in that department, but she now lives 5 hours away making my glam squad obsolete. The last time I had them applied, she used individual lashes towards the ends of my eyes, which really made them pop. So I am branching on out Friday and trying to duplicate Kacie's fabulous faux lashes. Here is how I plan to achieve this:
1. Take the individual lashes with tweezers and gently dab their ends in the glue.
2. Place the lashes in the appropriate spot (starting outside and working in) and pat the ends down with a toothpick
3. Let them dry at least 30 seconds and apply eyeliner.
4. Apply mascara. This is optional and sometimes the lashes are so fantastic they don't need any extra pizzaz.

That should do it. Now go flutter those bad boys and rustle up some free drinks.

*pic from ehow.com

Word Up.

Showmance. AKA passionate love affair with a television show. Sometimes you just need to block out the world, rent a season of a good TV show and have a full blown showmance. Showmance's come with a warning label though, as they may get intense and completely disrupt your life. One particularly torrid affair with LOST made my friends and I social mutants for about 2 weeks. We ended up watching all 3 seasons in an 11 day timespan. Once we imerged from our hazy state, our cerimonious lighting of the ocean scented candle and persistant Hatch refrences were just considered awkard. Moral of this story? Showmance at your on risk.

*My current love affair is with Arrested Development. More details to come soon.

Scrub It Out.

The only thing in my life I am truly anal about is skincare. I HATE to sleep in my makeup and I have dedicated way too much time and money trying to find the perfect skin care regimen. For years I have wanted to buy a Clarisonic rotating brush but the obscene $225 price tage prevented me from making the ultimate skin care upgrade. I have found a cheap substitute in Dermalogica's exfoliating face brush. It doesnt have the automatic 3 spin cycle like the luxurious Clarisonic, but it definitely removes more makeup and works products deep into your skin. So fork over $13 dollars, add a little elbow grease and scrub your way to glowing, refreshed skin. For an added boost, mist your clean skin with Dermologica's truly addicting Multi-Active Toner.

G is For....

Ghetto Gold. I work really weird hours (the news never quits people) so when I'm home, there is never any good TV on. I have been watching tons of Sex and the City re-runs, and have been really inspired by Carrie's accessories. She wears tons of ghetto gold ....and they actually goes well beyond the proverbial nameplate necklace. Carrie rocks a fun lightning bolt in one episode and also a big gold pretzel that I loved. Stacking tons of gold bangles has always been in my accessory lineup, but I really want to channel my inner-Carrie. Here are some fun ones on Fredflare.com that I'm considering....

Fame Goggles?

My friend Jillian recently had THE celebrity sighting.....Justin Timberlake. Yes, Mr. Sexy-back himself. Obviously our friends lined up to pump her for every single detail. Was he hot in person? Did they play a Britney song when he walked in? Was man-face Biel with him? But much to my dismay, Jillian informs me that the former peroxide lover is NOT that good looking in person!!! And I quote, "He is still hot obvi, but if I saw him at a bar and he was a regular guy I would not look twice." WHAT?! I cannot fathom this. Perhaps its his buttery voice and three piece suits that make him so appealing. But this poses the question, do we 'regular' people suffer from an intense case of fame goggles where we make celebs look better than they actually are?

Hankering.

When the weather gets warm, my mind get consumed with ideas of grilling out with friends. I am so craving a delicious hamburger, frosty beer and good convo while sitting outside in the sunshine. This recipie from Shape.com seems easy, healthy and delicious.

Ingredients

Cooking spray
1 pound extra-lean ground sirloin
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
4 1-inch cubes Gorgonzola or any blue cheese (about 4 ounces total)
1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
¼ cup shredded cucumber
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 whole-wheat rolls

Directions

Spritz a large grill pan with cooking spray; set over medium heat. In a large bowl, combine sirloin, salt, and pepper. Shape mixture into 4 equal balls. Press a cube of Gorgonzola into the center of each, covering cheese completely with meat. Shape balls into patties, each about 1 inch thick. Place burgers on hot pan and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side until cooked through (less for medium-rare meat). Meanwhile, mix next 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Place burgers on rolls and top each with 2 tablespoons yogurt sauce. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Nutrition Score per serving: (1 burger, ¼ cup cucumber-yogurt sauce) - 292 calories, 10 g fat (30% of calories), 5 g saturated fat, 28 g carbs, 26 g protein, 3 g fiber, 210 mg calcium, 3 mg iron, 595 mg sodium

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I am OBSESSED with the Biggest Loser, and my all time favorite Sione was just voted off. UGH I hate Laura for keeping Helen around, she totally deserved to go! I am 100% an addict of the show, but next week is going to be so lame without Sione there. But on a lighter note, how hot did he look after the transformation?? Ripped bod, new haircut, better clothes, precious daughter with huge glasses. Too bad he is married. I know he is studying to be a trainer, and I would love to have a workout sesh with him..........

So now it's all up to Filipe...team Blue what what! I hope that conceited bia Tara goes next week....she is totally on my last nerve.

Nostalgia.

Prank Calls. Remember how fun it was to hang out with your friends on a weekend night and make prank calls to people in your class? Well my friends, the art of prank calling is not dead just yet. Some of my friends and I recently pranked someone we knew while we were sitting in traffic and it was one of the most hilarious moments I have witnessed in a long time. People our age are just not expecting to get a prank call and are all the more gullible. Let it simmer for a while after you hang up....just long enough for them to call people and dish the story. Also, you can leave great prank messages now with tools like Slydial. Happy Pranking!

Lost And Found.

If you have ever been to Europe, you know there are certain things you have there that you will never be able to find in America. Well when I lived in Italy, I was obsessed with Labello chap stick. I had them in about 5 flavors and put them on fiendishly. When I returned back home, my stock ran out quickly and I was beyond devastated using regular ol Carmex. After some online digging, I have found a site online that sells several versions of it. My personal fav's are the strawberry and passionfruit. They hydrate and leave the most gorgeous color sheen. At $8 a pop, they are definetly more expensive than in the markets of Italia, but it is totally worth it in my opinion.

To get your own Lip Balm with a Cult Status, go to http://www.smallflower.com/labello/.

F is For....

Freida Pinto. If you haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire, you must live under a rock or just be really lame. Although she says roughly seven words in the movie, I just loved Freida Pinto in the film. She is so gorgeous and I thought she killed it during awards season. She's also set to star in the new Woody Allen movie, which I'm sure will be fantastic. On another note, I sooooooooo wish she and Dev Patel (Jamal in the movie) would date in real life. They remind me of an Indian version of Barbie and Ken....perfection.

Mood Elevator

My friend Brian has introduced me to the best website EVER......fmylife.com. We all have those cringe worthy moments, and this website is a forum to rant to the world about them. The simplicity of this site is pure genius. I love how every comment ends with FML. I have spent a good hour laughing out loud at other people's lives and its extremely validating (particularly when you're hungover being a piece on the couch). No matter how bad you may feel, this website will cheer you up and give you and your shambly life validation. I can picture several of my friends reading entrys and going "Well at least Im not that guy......"

Here are 2 of my personal F My Life Favs...

Today, I tasted the rainbow. By that, I mean a homeless man hit me in the face with a bag of Skittles for not giving him money. FML

Today, I walked past a church with a bunch of people standing outside waiting for the bride and groom to walk out. When the church doors opened, I yelled congratulations as loud as I could. It was a funeral. FML

Unreal.

This rock remix of Lady Gaga's club banger Just Dance is a must have on your workout playlist. For real, download it, get your ass on a treadmill and see what happens.

A Real O.G.

I am completely and utterly obsessed with Gangland on the History Channel. If you haven't watched it, you are soooo missing out. I literally watched a marathon of it for roughly 7 hours one day. For some sick reason I am fascinated by organized crime and seeing different forms of it all over America is so over the top. One thing this show does confirm however is that all modern gangs are just a horrible knockoff of the Italian Mafia. Seriously.....Capone, Gotti, Castellano...they knew what was up. Trust me friends, spend one hung over Saturday watching this show and you will be hooked.

E is for....

Eco-Consciousness. It's just too stupid and lazy not to be green these days. Anyone who knows me is aware of my constant strive to be more eco-friendly. If I had it my way I would eat local, drive hybrid and recycle everything that ever passed through my hands...but life gets busy and those things become harder and harder to accomplish. So what's the answer? Start small. Step one is to change out your old lightbulbs to energy-efficient ones...I'm sure you've seen the ads that reveal if 100 million Americans made the switch it would equate to removing 700,000 cars worth of greenhouse gases from the air. Step 2? Stop buying bottled water and start bringing an aluminum bottle and refilling it. I just purchased this one from Target and it is fantastic. Finally, for the love of God bring a canvas bag with you when you shop. Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide and they are not biodegradable. It's completely up to us to save dear ol' Mother Earth, so let's not let her down. For more eco-conscious tips, visit ecoki.com or greendaily.com.

*Pic from mynewplace.com

Blushing Bride.

This weekend this altered version of SJP's gorgeous wedding dress in the Sex and the City movie went on sale at Net-a-Porter.com and sold out almost immediately. I loved the original Vivienne Westwood dress Carrie wore in the film (sans feather applique of course) and think this shorter version is a fresh take on the dress. Too bad you would have to weigh 75 pounds for that dress not to make it look like you were wearing a silk burlap sack though. Good thing Net-a-Porter has an entire Wedding Boutique, and you can peruse through it and find the designer dress of your dreams. Aaaannnd here is the link!