Ten On Tuesday

Today's Ten on Tuesday is a little more involved than usual and may take me a day or two to get it done. It is told in pictures! Okay, this is a work in progress but I am going on vacation so I thought I would share what I have so far and then finish it up later.

1. Your house

2. Your shower

3. Inside of your fridge



The fridge is pretty bare! All I see are bottles of booze, some pickled herring, cream cheese and Laughing Cow cheese. Oh, and some cardboard that stuck to the shelf--yeah, I should try to get that off. In all fairness, we have been out of town a lot and we eat out a lot. Our refrigerator is pretty pathetic!

4. Your Pet

5. Favorite pair of shoes



My favorite shoes this past summer have been my gold, crystal encrusted flip flops by Guess. I have worn these shoes to death and into the ground. See how beat up they are? I have walked many, many, many miles in these shoes and I don't think they have much life left in them. I am thinking I am going to go to DSW and see if they have left on clearance.

6. Most comfortable seating area

7. Favorite coffee cup

8. Laundry

9. View from your office

My desktop - business card holder, photos of Chloe and Tiffany (both r.i.p.), my bicycle postcard collection, and a picture of Roxie - Noodles is there, too--he is off camera!

The lobby

Lots of greenery

My desk again, what I see when I glance to the right


And sometimes I see this lovely lady, Lily the wiener dog!


10. Spouse or significant other

Another Beauty Product Review

I received a sample of Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion mascara in Very Black in my role as a Bzz Agent.

I was very excited to be part of this campaign because I am always on the quest for the perfect mascara. One that doesn't smudge or flake or clump, and one that makes my lashes look longer and thicker than they really are. I am really happy to report that this mascara does not clump even though I put on 3 coats this morning on my top lashes. And it lengthens my lashes wonderfully. And I have had no issues with smudging at all today which is really saying something! I also love how light-weight it feels, not heavy or sticky.



So if you are looking for a new mascara, I suggest you head to your local drugstore and check out Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion in the purple container. I will definitely buy this product.

DISCLAIMER: I am a Bzz Agent and received this free product to try and review. I have not received any monetary compensation, and the opinions above are my own.

Ten On Tuesday

1. Where did you go to college?

I went to Lowthian College of Design.

2. What did you study?

Interior design, retail store layout and fashion history

3. Was college really all that it was cracked up to be?

I loved it!!!

4. How far were you from home?

My school was in downtown Minneapolis and I lived in Edina so only about 20 minutes

5. Did you have the same roommate all four years?

If my cat, Tiffany, counts, then yes! And sadly I did not go for the whole time – I am a design school dropout who still hopes to someday finish her degree. Bad Lesli

6. Where did you order food from at 2am?

My own kitchen. Usually cheese and crackers and lots of coffee if I had to do a design board at 2 a.m.

7. Did you date in college or were you tied down?

I was engaged but I do think my going to school while also working 3 jobs contributed to the downfall of our relationship. Think no free time ever. But he is one of my best friends to this day.

8. Funniest drunk college moment?

Sorry, I don’t have one. Not that I didn’t drink, but I went to college as a working adult so I think that is a whole different experience!

9. Did you make it to class on time?

Strangely enough, yes, and I am notoriously late for other things in life.

10. What was your favorite class in college?

Fashion history was HARD but I probably learned the most in that class. I can tell you about fashions all the way back to the 1600s! Interior design was a lot of late nights doing my design boards and a lot of precision with measuring things and keeping it all to scale. And it seemed that in almost every class I had to make a presentation – hello, public speaking! So that leaves retail store layout which was fun. I liked learning about the psychology behind why stores are laid out the way they are. My project was a flower shop that I designed myself.

Pictures From A Weekend

Eric and I had a wedding reception on Saturday night. Here we are at the reception.





And before as I posed with my kitty, Brie.



And way before I had changed my clothes or had my hair done. Me and Noodles!



And finally Sunday was a beautiful day to swing! Thanks, Sara, for cutting my head off. I kind of like it!

Beauty Product Review

I received a sample of Got2B Smooth Operator Lustre Lotion through my role as a Bzz Agent. Coincidentally, I received it right after I had received a Brazilian Blowout (keratin treatment) at the salon which is a pricey service to make your hair smooth and sleek for 8 to 12 weeks. My hair is quite thick and heavy, but at the same time the texture is fine. It is long and also frequently highlighted at the salon and fairly straight but with a little bit of a wave & it curls easily. I think I was swayed to get the Brazilian Blowout because it is something new my salon started doing and it is supposed to cut way down on your blow drying time and you don’t even need to bother with a flat iron.

Anyhow I received my sample of Got2B Smooth Operator Lustre Lotion and since I had just received a smoothing treatment I definitely didn’t want anything that was going to weigh my hair down or feel greasy. This smoothing lotion smells delicious and fruity, kind of like raspberries and, as you will see, the full-size bottle is very cute and has little charms on it. I am happy to report that it does not weigh my hair down and it smoothes any little flyaways that I might still have.




I would recommend this to anyone looking to smooth their ends and it smells yummy. It is not at all expensive—I have seen it for as little as $5 or $6 at the drugstore.

DISCLAIMER: I am a Bzz Agent and received this free product to try and review. I have not received any monetary compensation, and the opinions above are my own.

Friday Night at the Movies

I saw Eat Pray Love on Friday night, opening night. First I had to get my snacks! I mixed Mr. Pibb with Cherry Coke

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and then added some Jelly Belly's to my popcorn.

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Then I settled in to watch the movie, although predictably the theater was too cold and even though I had brought a little cardigan with me, I had on cropped jeans and my legs were freezing! Why do they keep theaters so cold? I just want to know!

And my husband was fidgeting next to me. It was not his kind of movie at all, but I felt he was due for a chick flick. Somehow he got out of seeing Sex and the City 2 with me!

So really this movie was not for everyone, maybe not ALL husbands. But I think it was beautifully done and stuck very close to the book. If you like to travel and see foreign countries that part was very well executed! And I thought Julia Roberts was lovely in her role of Elizabeth Gilbert, a divorced woman trying to find herself and find happiness.

But let's be up front here people, the REAL reason I went to see the movie was James Franco, my second favorite actor next to Johnny Depp. He was wonderful! I love him. And if I was Julia Roberts I could not have left him to go roaming around the world--hee!

Some people have asked me if they would like the movie. I really can't say for sure. I would say you should read the book first which I did when it first came out so I might need to re-read it! Then there is my friend who shockingly hated the book and I told her she should still see the movie--she MIGHT like it. The scenes are beautiful and it does feel that you have been transported to Italy, India and Bali.

It was a lovely way to spend a Friday night! Have you seen the movie & did you like it? Have you read the book? Was your theater freezing? Finally, most importantly, what did you eat?

An Indoor Girl

I was thinking about this subject on Wednesday night when I went for a walk after dinner. It was just me because my husband was playing golf and it was too hot to drag my dog out for an extended period of time. So I am walking along minding my own business making sure I get 10,000 steps on my pedometer, and a bug flies into my eye. About 20 seconds later I jam a stick up my foot. And that is why I don’t go camping!

I don’t really like the outdoors unless it is on my own terms. I am definitely more of an indoor girl.

I don’t like heat and humidity combined, insect bites, itchy weeds, wet grass or mud, or peeing outside. I do like thunderstorms and pretty snowfalls, but I enjoy them more from the comfort of my own home while baking cookies or sipping hot chocolate.



I don’t like camping, but I do like S’mores!

Some things I do like to do outdoors:

Eat outside overlooking the water or at a sidewalk café or a picnic with cheese & wine and brownies (I had to throw in brownies!)

I like the beach

I like brunch & dinner cruises on boats

I like putting the top down on my convertible

I like sitting outside on a pleasant night sipping wine & looking at the stars

I love casually pedaling my bike around when the weather isn’t too sticky

As I have mentioned before, I adore fall and cooler weather with pretty trees & pumpkin patches and apple orchards

So basically maybe I like the outdoors, but on my own terms – 3 mimosa breakfast on the rooftop of a lovely restaurant – that is my kind of outdoors!

How about you? Indoors or outdoors?

My Interview

My blogging pal, Michelle, interviewed me last week. You should stop by her blog. Just to recap, here was my interview. My words in orange; Michelle's in purple.

So today I want to share the thoughts of my sweet blogging friend, Lesli. I found Lesli's blog through a link on Karyn Bosnak's blog one night while I was looking around for some fun blogs to follow. The first thing I noticed about Lesli is her love of cats and dogs. She has beautiful kitties in her life and the sweetest pug, Noodles. Then I noticed she has just amazing taste in just about everything. But what really impressed me is how upbeat and happy Lesli keeps her blog. Life is definitely not all sunshine and roses, but Lesli doesn't bring daily life drama to her little corner of the web. She shares fun stories, cute pictures, gorgeous fashion, and complete grace. Plus she is tackling the most difficult task of all -- paying off her debt and trying not to spend outside of a list of rules she made for herself. Very admirable!


(Picture borrowed from Lesli's blog. Look at that cute Noodles!)

First, I just want to say I am honored that Michelle asked me to participate in this. She is one of my very best blogging friends and I am excited to be included.

WHO/WHAT INSPIRES ME?

I am inspired by fashion and beauty – I always like to make things pretty and I am inspired by things I see everyday in fashion magazines, catalogues, shopping in the mall, etc. I am inspired by Rachel Ashwell who is the founder of Shabby Chic who creates the perfect setting with her pastels and slightly distressed looking vintage influenced decors. My other inspiration comes from the whimsy of Anne Keenan-Higgins who illustrates everything from greeting cards to book covers and always manages to convey my love of shoes and handbags and cats and dogs with all of her delightful drawings!

I take my inspiration and use it when I put together outfits and accessories, or decorate a room in my house, or just want to take a picture of something I think is pretty. I take pictures of something almost everyday.

I am also very much inspired by other bloggers, especially Karyn of Pretty in the City for her humor and warmth (and a Yorkie named Bev and a cat named Elvis), Janet at Slice of Pink because she always has fun with life and talks about everything from cupcakes to bicycles, and Chloe of the Chloe Conspiracy who shops and creates fashion statements and does it all while making me laugh, plus she has two adorable Chihuahuas. They inspired me to blog and to also write more. While I do love my blogs, you will also find me journaling my more personal thoughts and I have been keeping a diary since I was 23. I just love to write.

WHO/WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

I am especially thankful for a really great life. I have wonderful friends, some going back to high school, junior high and even elementary (thank you Facebook!) and, of course, my everyday, real life friends who have been there for me for years. I also have other great friends I have met through blogging. I have an amazing husband who is my best friend and spoils me rotten. And I can’t forget my cats, Brie, Trista and Sophie (and also Chloe r.i.p – I will love & miss her always), and my Pug, Noodles and my sometimes-dog Roxie (a Shih Tzu) who I dog-sit as often as I can!

Last but not least, I have a really great job as a receptionist at an upscale bath and body company and I am lucky to be surrounded by creative people and people who are more than just co-workers—they really are like a second family. And it is not just a job—I get to see a fragrance line take shape from its very inception to the time it goes out the door to various boutiques.

I think it is important to express gratitude every day from the smallest thing like a great cup of coffee or a pretty flower spotted in someone’s garden to the bigger things like having good health.
Thank you to Michelle for asking me to do this. I hope I didn’t ramble too much! xoxo

Be sure to stop by Michelle's blog at Just Jump.

Ten On Tuesday - August 10th

1. Do you have an innie or an outie?

An innie, always. But don’t touch me there—I hate to be touched there.



2. What kind of milkshake do you order?

Strawberrry. Unless I am at Potbelly in which case I would get a Boysenberry. Yummy!


3. How often do you repeat outfits at work?

I try not to wear the same outfit more than twice a month. I mix and match pieces, but it can’t be the exact same thing I wore the week before.



4. What are your feelings about thank you notes?

I think they are very classy. If someone takes the time to give you a gift, you definitely should take the time to sit down & hand-write a thank-you card. No email. That is so cheating! Plus Papyrus makes really cute thank-you cards.



5. Do you like spicy food?

Sure, bring it on! I like such things as spicy cream cheese egg rolls and Mexican should definitely be spicy. I also like things like spice cake!



6. How many toilet paper squares do you use?

Well, first of all, I don’t count squares. Uh, I take as much as I need???




7. Were you in Girl Scouts?

Yes, I was in Brownies, at least for a few years – I think from second grade to maybe fourth.



8. Notebooks/Journals: College ruled? Wide Ruled? No lines? Spiral Bound? Plain front? Decorative?

I lke them to be college ruled, definitely lines (otherwise I will write crooked!) and definitely decorative. I use them for recording my personal thoughts so I like them to be pretty.



9. Do you snack throughout the day? What do you pack for snacks?

I am definitely a snacker because my meals are so light. I like to bring almonds, fruit snacks, string cheese, Laughing Cow cheese, Fig Newtons, Nilla Wafers. Always something or I feel like I have low blood sugar!



10. What is your favorite month? Why?

October for so many reasons. First of all, the weather is near perfect. Crisp and cool and alternating between sunny blue skies & gray skies. You can go to the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard and the nights are frosty. I love the vivid colors of the changing leaves. And then it is my birthday month so I like to celebrate my birthday for an entire week or more (October 13th!) and then I also love the fun of Halloween