Hamburger Press

 

So you all know I’m the gadget queen, right?  So, when I saw this hamburger press, I was all over it like mayo on white.  It’s such a simple thing, but oh I do love this.  I use two sheets of wax paper sheets that I buy in a pack, one under the patty, one on top so it keeps the press clean, and you have perfectly formed patties every time.

Quit rolling your eyes, this thing is a game changer.  I make multiple patties at once to freeze or put in the fridge for another meal, it’s quick, fast and with the waxed paper, cleanup is easy breezy.  Don’t cheap out and not use the waxed paper, it would be a pain in the patootie to clean without them.

It’s not expensive, $20 and change, you spend that much for one meal at a fast food joint.  Just buy the darn thing, trust me, it’s so worth it.  ~ Jan

Here’s the link, go for it...

And here are the squares, it’s a big pack, they last a long time.  

Here’s the link for the squares

Why I bought an Apple Watch...

When Series 1 Apple Watches were introduced, I didn’t get it.  Why have a watch when you have to still have to carrry your phone around with you?  Then along came Series 2, and I still wasn’t onboard.  And then here comes Series 3 LTE, finally, it’s available with celluar capabilities, you don’t have to be tethered to your phone, you just have to cough up a few bucks a month for cellular service.  I’m with Verizon, so for me it’s $10 a month.

When they introduced it last fall I liked it but I still wasn’t onboard.  And then this spring I rethought it.  Even though all the features are nice, calls, text, email, Siri, that’s not why I bought it.  I’m getting older, not quite ready for the Life Alert, but if I fell and nobody was around, I could just use my watch to call for help.  And while I hope this won’t happen, it’s an added layer of security and much better than that stupid “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” crap.

So I bought it, the bigger one, the 42mm, because I like big watches, and then I went on Amazon and bought lots of bands, and okay, I admit it, it’s fun to just change Minnie’s outfit colors to correspond with the bands.  And I love the convenience, no more worrying about having your phone on you, your watch rings, you answer, easy peasy.  And if you lose your phone, which I do multiple times daily, you can ping it with your watch.

Hubby and the boys were gone for a guys weekend and I was home alone.  It was great having the watch, it was always on me so I was always in touch.  It’s a little spendy, but the Life Alert system costs between $95 and $198 with a $49.95 monthly fee.  This is by far a better alternative, and it’s cute!

And about the bands, I have several now, but the best deal was a package I bought from YOLO that has 8 bands in different colors.  They look and feel like Apple Sport Bands that sell for $49 each, but the entire pack was $32.99 Prime.  What a deal.  Want to see them? 

Here’s the link...

So if you’re getting older, or if you’re younger and have mobility issues, this is a great alternative to Life Alert.  And I’m Jan, I can justify anything, it’s what I do. 🤪 

Does your Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Have Clumps???

 

I’m a big fan of anything that’s 25 calories, and this Swiss Miss Coca Mix works for me.  Sometimes I add a splash of vanilla, sometimes a grating of nutmeg, a few mini marshmallows, and it soothes the soul.  The problem with instant hot chocolate is the clumps.  Oh, the clumps, I whisk, I stir, and I always end up straining it and by the time I drink it, I’m frustrated!   So much for soothing the soul with a hot relaxing cup of hot chocolate!  But now I have a fix for those annoying clumps, it cost me $15 and was worth every penny.

It’s a frother, for me it was the Bean Envy Handheld.  I ordered this bad boy on Amazon and it’s a game changer.  It works so well, every single clump disappears and you are left with silky smooth hot chocolate.  Of course you can use it to froth milk and make those fancy pants latte’s with the cute little designs too.

And never, ever ever, ever under any circumstances turn it on until it’s fully immersed in the cup of hot water and cocoa mix or you will have a mess!  How do I know this?  It should be obvious, right?  Uhhhh, let’s just say, not always… :-( 

I’m a researcher, I love to research products and this one gave me the most bang for my buck.  It’s battery operated so it has no cord, it has a powerful little motor, it has a stand, so you can sit it on the counter instead of losing it somewhere in the vast recesses of a drawer and it looks good.  That’s important you know, it has to look good. ;-)  I never use more than 6 oz. of water, I don’t like weak hot chocolate, and I use the hot water brewer on my pod coffee maker to do it quickly.  I said “pod coffee maker” instead of Keurig because mine is a Cuisinart actually I think it’s the third one I’ve had because they keep conking out.  But when this one bites the dust, and it will, I think I’m going to switch to a Keurig.  Didn’t you want to know that?  Quit rolling your eyes, I know I’m being talky...

Okay back to the frother, you want one, too???  Of course you do.  Here’s the link, good ole’ Amazon Prime 

Now, do you also want to know how to make those fancy pants designs.  Um hmmmm, yep, you got it, here’s a video. 

Want even more how to make latte art videos - here’s the link - enjoy...

Now go, order this gadget, colder weather is coming, ’tis the season for hot drinks and Happy Frothing.  ~ Jan

 

 

 

Downy Fresh Protect, It's AMAZING!!!!

In a perfect world I would have clean sheets every single day.  No, let me rephrase that, in a perfect world I would have a maid who would put clean sheets on my bed every single day.  But, it’s not a perfect world, hubby is the closest thing i have to a maid, oh he will love reading this, but seriously, he always strips the bed for me, we wash the sheets and we both make it again.  But back to my story.  I love the smell of clean sheets, who doesn’t.  I grew up with line dried sheets and nothing in the world smells better, but that’s not possible anymore, so I dump in tons of fabric softener in an attempt to get a fresh smell.  And it works, for a day and then they don’t smell fresh anymore.

I read online that Gain Detergent scent lasts a long time so I bought it after making myself nauseous in the grocery store, smelling all of their different fragrances. I ended up buying their original scent, bought the pricey pods, bought the softener, came home, washed the sheets and they smelled HIDEOUS.  Those reviewers must have been paid because that Gain was some nasty stuff!  It went in the trash and it was back to Tide Pods and Downy for me, but I still wanted that fresh smell to last longer.

Then a few weeks ago we were at Costco and I saw this Downy April  Fresh Protect Scent Booster with Febreze, you add it to your wash and you can sprinkle in a little or sprinkle in a lot.  Well, I washed sheets and blankets and I sprinkled in a lot, I filled that little pink cup to the rim, if a little dab will do ya, then a lot has to be better, right???  And the result...

Oh my, my bed smells amazing and the scent lasts for days.  

You may think this is an unnecessary expense but the smell is so worth it, your bed smells so fresh, your linen closet smells fresh, your clothes smell fresh, your laundry room smells fresh, what’s not to love..

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner, these little pink beads pack a big punch, this is definitely holy grail at our house now...

You don't have to pluck or wax your eyebrows

 

Now don’t go freaking out on me, somehow the thought of shaving your eyebrows is a scary thought.  Okay, so I don’t shave my eyebrows, I  now shave under my eyebrows, and the first time I did it I was a little apprehensive, but it’s not a big deal and wow, it’s so much easier than plucking, which we’ve all been doing our entire life or going to a salon and coughing up the bucks for a wax.  I have used hot wax at home, I don’t really suggest this is you are slightly ditzy like yours truly, who one time had the wax drip on my eyelashes.  Oh, that was a fun look until they grew back out.  Who doesn’t like to go around with a chunk of missing eyebrows, not something I would suggest you do...

So, it’s another YouTube tip.  Quit rolling your eyes, I know you are, thinking, “here she goes again!”  These are such great ideas, and I always share the good stuff.  So order these little beauties from Amazon, only $4.39 Prime and in two days, you can have awesome results with just a few strokes of this little shaver.  I put a dab of foam on my eyelids, pull them taut, and carefully shave at a slight angle in an upward motion.  No pain, none, nada, no teary eyes either. Wipe off the foam, gel, lotion, whatever you use, but please use something to make your skin more pliable  and TADA, you have perfectly smooth underbrows.  I just touch up a bit directly under my brows with tweezers and I’m good for a few days.

Here’s Tammy’s original video, she shaves the peach fuzz off her entire face, oh the joys of post-menopausal women.  I don’t have to do that, but some of you might want to give it a go.

And I’m not finished yet, I have lots more ideas for you, I’ll be back in another post with more.  Oh, quit rolling your eyes.  Stop it right now!  You know I always give you great tips :-)

The Amazon link is below, now hop over there and order these pronto, these are cheaper than a trip to Starbucks!  They have other brands in your local drugstore, but according to Tammy, these are the best and this lady knows her stuff.

Here’s the click, go for it!

And here is Crazy Miss Tammy and her defuzzing video.   

I’m thinking I need a sign-off tag for these posts.  Tammy’s is “Be happy, be healthy, be beautiful, but most of all be lovable"  Mary Ellen’s is “It’s all good, it is ALL good”  So what could mine be, hmmmmm, how about “Old age is kicking us all in the ass, don’t go down without a fight.”  Uh, maybe I better work on that a bit.  Have a good day and give this a try, it’s a pinkie swear good tip.  ~ Jan

Pretty Woman

Funny, touching, a page turner, that’s the way I describe this book.  I’m a reader, thats what I do, every night I search for good books, and it’s been awhile since I enjoyed anything more than this one.  I only read women authors, I only read fun, lighthearted books and I only read fiction.  Shallow, yep, but it works for me and this book was worth telling you all about.  Here’s a synopsis, some of you might enjoy it, too.  ~ Jan

In Fern Michaels's extraordinary, inspiring New York Timesbestseller, an overweight woman sets out to improve her life by losing fifty-five pounds -- and ends up changing much more than her dress size! 

Rosie Gardener fell under the spell of handsome Kent Bliss, and not even her best friend Vickie could persuade her that her fiancé was a two-timing cad. Now it's her third wedding anniversary, and Rosie, fed up with Kent's mistreatment, realizes her estranged best friend was right. But the day after kicking Kent out and beginning a diet and exercise regime, Rosie experiences another life-changing event: she wins $302 million in the Wonderball lottery. Now with Kent lurking in the shadows to claim a share of her money, Rosie needs her friends more than ever. As she works out under the eye of sexy personal trainer Jack Silver, a stronger new Rosie emerges -- a woman who wants to learn to trust love once again. Can she keep her vow not to be stopped by Kent's bitterness and her own self-doubts and jump into life with a passion she didn't know she possessed?

 

 

Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl

The year was 2013, we were visiting John and Deanna in Nashville, Lexi was just in the planning stages at that time, Deanna looked lovely, the guys looked great and yours truly had on too dark of a shade of fake and bake, but anyway, it was a pretty summer afternoon and we decided to visit Loretta Lynn’s town of Hurricane Mills.  We didn’t know what to expect, I thought it would be touristy and hokey, but I was so wrong, it was just so much fun and you got a true feeling of what her life is like.   This picture was taken on the front porch of her home, we were the only people on the tour that afternoon and the guide was really “chatty” telling us all sorts of things about Miss Loretta.  She doesn’t live in this house now, she built a smaller home behind it and thats where she resides.

I’ve always been a fan, there wasn’t ever a better duo that Conway and Loretta and when I saw that PBS American Masters Series was going to have a documentary about her, I marked my calendar for March 4th pronto.  It says 9pm, but I don’t know if it’s central or eastern, so I set it for 8pm to be on the safe side.

Here’s a synopsis:

It's about time the PBS documentary series American Masters dedicated an episode to Loretta Lynn! During her 50-plus year career, the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient has sold more 45 million records worldwide and has been inducted into more music Halls of Fame than any other female singer.

American Masters – Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl will air in March, on the same day as the release of Full Circle, Lynn's first new studio album in over a decade. Lynn never dreamed of, nor planned on, international stardom, she explains in the new documentary: "Growing up in Butcher Hollow [Kentucky], that's where you'll stay, you thought." 

But the coal miner's daughter grew up surrounded by people who created their own music. This is easy, she learned. "So I threw the songbook down and wrote my own songs," Lynn, 83, recalls in the documentary, which features interviews with her family and industry admirers like Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow. 

Check out the preview below and tune into American Masters on PBS, Friday, March 4 at 9 p.m. 

 

 

My Vitamix a year later...

An update to this pricey piece of equipment that Jan the Gadget Queen just had to have.  Was it just a flash in the pan or does it continue to be the most amazing piece of equipment ever.  Has it lived up to the hype, is the thrill gone???

Well, let me tell you, it’s not a flash in the pan, it is truly amazing and it was worth every single penny.  I use it all the time, not for smoothies, I prefer to eat my food rather than drink it, but I use it for all sorts of things, anything you would use a regular blender for, this one does it with gusto.  But my favorite thing to use it for is soup.  I make soup in it several times a week, and it’s so fast and easy, I precook raw ingredients, and then put all the ingredients in the Vitamix, set it to the soup setting, walk away, and a few minutes later it shuts itself off and I have hot, steaming soup with no effort.  That’s the key, no effort, so I tend to make more soup than I normally would.

Since we eat low carb, I make a lot of soup with vegetables and if I want it a bit chunky, I leave out a portion (I always precook my raw veggies) and pulse them in at the end.  When I first started making soup I had issues with it being foamy, but I quickly learned from the Vitamix Community to just adjust it to setting #1 and run it for a few seconds to finish it off and the foam dissipates.

I got mine at Williams Sonoma, they are less expensive now than they were a year ago, this model is now $599  instead of $750, but when I bought mine I got 20% off, so that helped.  It’s a huge decision buying a Vitamix, there are a lot of models to choose from, but since I only planned on doing this once I got the top of the line with all the presets and I’m glad I did.  It’s such a workhorse, rivaling my beloved Cuisinart DLC7 Food Processor that’s still going strong since 1978, my All-Clad Slow Cooker (a Christmas surprise a few years ago from my son, Ryan, another kindred foodie soul) and my WolfGang Puck Pressure Cooker.  I use all of these appliances multiple times weekly, they are my favorites and all are simply awesome.

I was a young bride when I bought my Cuisinart Food Processor, it was the first expensive piece of kitchen equipment I ever purchased.  It cost $175, that was a lot in 1978, but I obsessed over that food processor, and dear hubby coughed up the money and bought it for me.  I fell in love with it instantly, and still love it to this day.  I woudn’t dream of replacing it with a new model, he’s asked repeatedly if I would like a newer one, but this is the best model Cuisinart ever made and it works great, why would I want to update it?  That’s where my love of cooking and gadgets started, with that food processor and then when Silver Palate Cookbooks came out and Abby Mandel’s Cuisinart Cookbooks, that’s all it took for me to be a die hard foodie.  I’ve been obsessed with cooking and cooking gadgets ever since, and even though my way of cooking has changed dramatically since we no longer eat flour, sugar or processed foods, I still enjoy it tremendously and am always amazed at what I cook that is good for us.

So this morning hubby and I were out running errands, it’s rainy and chilly in Heavensville, perfect soup weather.  I came in the house, grabbed two cans of italian style diced tomatoes from the pantry, a block of cream cheese from the fridge, dumped them in the Vitamix, added a heaping teaspoon of sweet basil leaves, a teaspoon of garlic powder, a teaspoon of onion powder, and turned it on.  It took me less than sixty seconds to make soup.  Then I made grilled cheese sandwiches (using Netrition Low Carb Bread Company Bread) and I used my friend Nish’s trick, combining slices of both Swiss and American cheese, and by the time the sandwiches had grilled the soup was ready.  See what I mean, so, so easy.  And I had to give credit to my buddy V, who is a tomato soup afficiado, this woman knows her soup.  I sent her home with a quart of my tomato soup this fall, asked her how she liked it, at that time I wasn’t adding the extra basil, onion and garlic powders, and she told me that it would be a solid “10” if I just tweaked it with these ingredients.  So I did, she was right and it’s just  delicious.

If you don’t have a Vitamix, you can presoften your cream cheese in the microwave, and then simmer it with the other ingredients on the stove.  Just be sure and get the cream cheese soft ahead of time so it doesn’t clump.  You can leave it chunky, or blend it with an immersion blender, or put it in your blender to puree - It’s wonderful soup, even if you’re not a tomato soup fan, you may just change your mind.

And that’s my Vitamix Update, actually I’ve had this for a year and a half now and I’m still as excited about it as the day I got it.

Do you think you might want one?  Buy the best, you’re worth it, and it will last forever.  Mine is Candy Apple Red, because I ‘m just that kinda girl :-)

 Here’s the link so you can see it for yourself...

~ Jan ~

WAZE Navigation is AWESOME!!!!

I wish I would have thought to share Waze with all of you before your holiday travels.   It’s the best navigation ever,  it not only navigates and shows your route via voice GPS, it also shows how many miles you have to your destination and estimated arrival time.  It also tells you of traffic jams or road construction and automatically reroutes you if there are problems ahead, and it was recently purchased by Google, so you know it’s good.  And of course it’s hands free.

Waze is a community of people who share information.  It will tell you when there is an accident, whether it is minor or major, when a car is parked beside the road, and yes, it informs you that there are police ahead so you can adjust your speed.

You can input your destination, share it with friends and family and they can map you as you travel and see your ETA for your final destination.  You can also message them along the way and It even tells you what speed you’re traveling at.

Below are a couple of videos to get you started.  Download the App from your iPhone or Android device, give yourself a user name I’m CousinMinnie (I was in Nashville when I signed up, I did it on a whim (Minnie Pearl) - jeez, it was a good idea at the time, but you know how impulsive I am.

Just download it and play with it, you’ll figure it out in no time and here are a couple of tutorials to get you started.

Talk about a good thing - this is absolutely fantastic.

Enjoy ~ Jan

 

 

 

Honey Helps You Get A Good Night's Sleep

I was skeptical, but it's now two nights later and both hubby and I have slept really well by eating honey before bedtime.

I read about this on Facebook, and it said to take two tablespoons of raw, unprocessed honey and mix it with a teaspoon of salt and then eat a dab of it before bedtime.

My honey was local, so I’m “assuming” it was unprocessed, but now that I’ve read more about it, unprocessed is always the preferred method, but you can try supermarket honey.  They warn you that supermarket honey is not always 100% honey and it’s been pasteurized, therefore killing off the good stuff.

I don’t know why the salt is necessary, and haven’t been able to find out why I need to add it, so I’m going to try discontinuing that, it doesn’t taste bad with the salt, but I would rather just eat the honey by itself.  From what I’m reading suggestions are to eat between a teaspoon to a tablespoon, so if any of you try this, just play with it and see what works for you. So far so good for both of us, I only woke up once last night, normally I’m awake 5-6 times a night.  Here’s an article that explains how honey effects the liver enabling us to sleep better.

Does this really help us sleep or is it a fluke?  There's a lot of positive information about this online and only time will tell whether we continue to get a good night’s sleep after eating honey at bedtime.  Worst case scenario, we’ve ingested something yummy. :)

It’s worth a try, and worth passing along the information… ~ Jan

Amazon Echo is AMAZING!!!!

 

I’m absolutely ESTATIC about Amazon Echo. It’s so much fun, performs flawlessly, sounds great and it’s easy to use.

Here’s what it looks like up close and personal. 

Amazon Echo came to reside in my sunroom via my youngest son Ryan in a roundabout way.  Ry turned forty in September and I wanted to buy him something special for his milestone birthday.  Being the techkie mom I am, I thought this would be the perfect gift.

I was at a girl's lunch a few weeks ago with V and Patti in New Harmony.  I was talking about Echo and Patti told me her mom had one and loved it.  So we all visited her mother, and what a delightful lady she was, anyway, Patti showed us the basics, and I decided that’s what I would get for Ryan.

Fast forward to his birthday, I was so excited about his present, he unwrapped it and was immediately skeptical, first because his internet connection isn’t the fastest, he lives in the country and doesn’t have a lot of provider options, second, he travels every week and didn’t think he would use it that much and third, he didn’t know how the kids would act with it.  We stayed with the grands while he and Lindsay went to Chicago for his birthday weekend, and the kids, while enthralled with “Alexa” (the voice you use for Echo) were constantly changing the streaming music.  Ben, at three wanted to constantly listen to Thomas the Train, and Abby at almost six was interested in other venues, and they kept interrupting each other and changing Echo to reflect what they wanted to hear.

So, maybe for his family it will work when the kids are older, but right not it doesn’t, so they brought it back to me, and did I send it back to Amazon?  Are you kidding me????  Echo is the best thing sinced sliced bread.  I love it! 

Below is a brief synopsis of how it works, and since Amazon allows third party apps, it will be constantly upgrading.  Here’s how Im using it.

News, all you say is “Alexa, what’s the latest news?”  She then gives you flash briefings from NPR.  You can set alarms and timers, too, she alerts you, just by talking to her.

Echo has access to everything in Wikipedia.  For instance if you want to know about hydrangeas just say “Alexa Wikipedia Hydrangeas” and she gives you a synopsis of the flower.   If Alexa doesn’t give you enough information, you can then refer to your smartphone for a complete rundown of the entire Wikipedia link.

You can listen to the local police/fire scanners if you’re interested in that kind of thing, not my cuppa but it we ever hear sirens, whether it be police or fire, we can find out from Echo what’s going on.  You can access audio books on it and listen to them, it’s amazing what Echo is capable of.

Echo also has Smart Home features, which enables you to control your lights, thermostat, coffee pot, even your electric blanket.  This entails buying WeMo or Hue devices, which I know nothing about, yet…  

It’s super for weather, current and forecasts from local to International and you can use it for to-do lists which sync to your smartphone.  It’s perfect for when you’re out and about and need to pick up items from the grocery or drugstore.  I know, I know, you’re all saying you already make lists on your smartphone, or you just write it down, but here’s what’s really good about Echo. 

The best part of Echo, It’s . hands . free !  You . just . talk . to it !  Period!  You don’t have to find your phone, push a button and type or text, you don’t have to look for a pencil and paper, you don’t have to put anything into your computer, you just say “Alexa, do so and so and she does it.”  Voice recognition is great, too, she understands what I’m saying 99% of the time.

Hubby says I love Alexa because I can boss her around, she doesn’t talk back and she always listens and he’s probably right.   I’ll give him that, but far and away the best part of Echo is music.

There are so many choices, Amazon Prime, Pandora, IHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Audible.  You simply tell her to play a Pandora station for instance and she starts streaming.  I’m a jazz girl, so I say “Alexa play Pandora Smooth Jazz” and she does!  If you need to pause the music, just say “Alexa Pause” and then say “Alexa Play” to have Echo start playing again.  If volume is too soft or too loud, just say “Alexa turn volume up or down” and she does that too.  I also have a remote control to use from other rooms, but she has a 30 ft. range and seven microphones, so she can hear you from another room without the remote if you aren’t too far away.

She plays all the local radio stations through TuneIn, public radio, talk radio, there are countless stations you have access too.  Well, except for Sirius Radio, it doesn’t sync to that yet, but maybe someday.  Holiday’s are coming soon, I bet Amazon sells a ton of these for Christmas.  

Here’s a video, watch it and see if it intrigues you as much as it does me.

 Echo, definitely a good thing… ~ Jan

Revisiting the Beauty Blender +++

I blogged about my new Beauty Blender back in March.  My friend Carlene wanted to know if I still liked it after a month, if I did, she would rethink spending $20 for a sponge.  Well here I am, a month later, in my closet with wet hair and my makeup is blended.  I didn’t retouch the photo, I should have photoshopped out the wrinkles, and I’m a little wild eyed, but hopefully you can see how well this makeup is blended.

And now the verdict is in, this is hands down the best makeup tool I’ve ever purchased.  I will continue to  buy Beauty Blenders and use them daily, it’s an absolutely fantastic tool.

Here’s what I’m finding after using it for a month - 

• I’ve experimented a lot, putting dabs of foundation on my face with my finger then using the blender and smoothing, I’ve put it in my palm, then dabbed the blender in it before using it to apply it, but it was a pain.  The easiest, fastest way is to just put makeup in your hands, rub your hands together and press it all over your face, don’t rub, just press.  It’s thick and very ragged at this point, but then just take the damp blender and start blending and it works like a charm.
• I use it for powder, for concealer, just dab, dab, dab.  I don’t use it for eye shadow, but I do clean up the edges with it.  
• And how is it lasting after a month?  Great, I just wash it with a little liquid soap, squeeze the water out, and I always have it damp when I use it.
• What about staining?  It stains immediately, but it’s no biggie, it doesn’t seem to get worse, it’s just discolored.  

And last month I also blogged about Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade.

This took some getting used to for me because I’ve never had defined brows.  The trick with this is to use a light hand.  I start at the arch of my eyebrows underneath, lightly draw it to the edge, then draw the top of my brow, I’m making a frame, then fill it in lightly and brush it out so it isn’t harsh. Just use a little product, ladies, unless you want to really vamp up those eyebrows.  

And, something new I’m trying but the verdict isn’t in yet.

ELF Makeup Mist and Set - I bought this because it’s a dupe for the pricey $30 Urban Decay Makeup Mist, this one is $6.  The first time I used it I applied way too much, and my eye makeup was running down my cheeks. Of course we were getting ready to go out to dinner and I was in a panic.  Live and learn!!! I backed off the next time, now I  just give it 3-4 squirts, it seems to make makeup last and makes your skin dewy, but we’ll see what happens when the weather is warmer.

Finally, let’s talk about foundation.  Like everyone, i’ve tried so many kinds over the years, including many brands of the pricey stuff, but I’m a drugstore makeup junkie and always go back to Revlon ColorStay for Combination Skin.

This stuff has staying power, it lasts all day into the night and best of all, you don’t shine.  It stays on in heat and humidity, it never slides down my face and did I say it doesn’t shine ;).  

I was buying it locally for about $12.99, but it’s cheaper on Amazon and you don’t have to trudge through the drugstore.

Fresh Beige is such a good color, and this is an absolutely wonderful product for the price.  It was $10 the last time I ordered but they’ve dropped the price even further to $9.30.  Interested, here’s the link...

Candace Bergen on Weight Gain

Isn’t it refreshing when a celebrity owns it.  The woman is sixty-eight years old, she’s a real woman with a real body and she stands up and says she’s fat and she loves food. She’s put on thirty pounds and she’s healthy looking, not a slave to dieting and she isn’t making excuses.  She quite simply looks her age, and that’s okay.  Good for you, Candace!

People Magazine has an article about her, but it’s the comments that are interesting, so much support for this lovely lady.  Of course there are  critics, that’s to be expected, but so many people only have positive things to say.  Every woman has her day and eventually age is going to get all of us.  Sometimes we just need to enjoy the ride and not spend every waking moment obsessing about what we do or don’t eat. I just thought it was courageous that this lovely lady has the guts to address an issue that dogs all of us.

I especially like what this woman has to say:

"Don't think she really qualifies as FAT, but good for her! She's 68 for pete's sake. At that age, why spend the rest of your life counting every calorie and fretting over what other people think. I've never heard of anyone on their death bed saying "I'm sure glad I didn't eat the ice cream......."

Here’s the article and more importantly, scroll down for the comments...

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade

Thinning brows, just another problem for old(er) women.  I’ve been a fan of Anastasia products for awhile now, and have regularly used their Brow Wiz pictured below.  It’s a great product, a retractable pencil with a spoolie on the other end, it’s worked well for me.  

But I do like to try other products so I bought this Dipbrow Pomade ($18) at Ulta even though I was skeptical because it’s kind of a gooey consistency.  It wasn’t love at first try, either and I didn’t cough up the money for their brush/spoolie combo.  I already had a spoolie on the end of my Brow Wiz, and I had a thin angle brush, in other words, I cheaped out!  Well, that other angle brush didn’t work for so well, and after a few tries I was starting to get the knack of using the pomade, so I coughed up another $18 for the darned brush.  So worth it, if you’re going to do this, buy the brush!

 

I’ve used it for a few weeks now, and really like it.  The trick is to use it lightly and brush it out with the spoolie after you put it on.  What’s the big attraction?  It fills in your brows really well, looks good and it stays on all day.  I finish it off with Anastasia Clear Gel Brow Gel to keep everything in place, and I’m good to go.

If you think you might be interested, watch this video, this girl explains how to use it perfectly.  The only con I’ve found is that the blonde shade is dark.  I wish it went more toward golden blonde instead of brown, but it doesn’t so I deal with it.  If you try it, just give yourself some time, it’s a bit of a learning curve.  I think I’m making it sound harder than it really is, the trick is to have a light touch.

It’s a good product, I will buy it again, probably not for a really long time, though because you use so little of this it will last forever.  Watch the video, see if it’s for you, it really is a good thing.  ~ Jan

 

Beauty Blender, is it really worth $20

 

You bet your bootie it is!  It’s worth every penny.  If you’re not familiar with a Beauty Blender, it’s a makeup sponge, and you’re thinking, "Jan, you’ve lost your mind, no way am I going to pay $20 for a little pink egg sponge."  Okay, hang onto that $20 but you’re missing out on something really great, you know I always share the good stuff, and trust me, this one is a winner!

 

I researched this extensively, cause that’s what I do, the majority of the reviewers say to not even try buying a knock-off, the foam isn’t the same, the knock-offs are hard and stiff and don’t absorb the makeup like the Beauty Blender, so you don’t get the same results.  C’mon ladies, it’s like going through Starbucks four times, just cough up the money for this.

 

What it doesn’t do is turn back time.  There is no way that we are going to take our aging skin and make it look young again.  You still have the sags, the wrinkles, oh aren’t I Miss Merry Sunshine this morning.  But what the Beauty Blender does is blend your makeup flawlessly.  I’m attaching Kandee’s video below, I did just what she did.  Got it wet, squeezed it dry with a towel and got started.  The only thing I didn’t do was apply the foundation directly to the Blender, I think you get more control by putting it in your palm and then dabbing the blender in it.

 

So I stippled on my foundation like she did in the video, wow, it did to go on smoothly, just like she said, no lines of demarcation, no unevenness, it worked amazingly well.  But did I quit, oh heck no, I just kept going.  I dabbed my concealer in it, put it on, went on smooth as silk, then I dabbed my loose powder in it and did the same.  And I still kept going, I used it to apply my powder blush and I actually dabbed it in my beloved MAC eyeshadow and applied my eyeshadow with it.   Smooth, smooth, smooth, totally blended, easy, fast, it’s a winner.  This thing rocks!  I didn’t spend more money for their cleanser, I just used baby shampoo to rinse it in, and yep, it immediately stains, but  who cares.  The reviewers also say it works great to rinse it in Dawn Dishwashing Liquid.  They also sell it in white and red.  White, I don’t think so, and I’m not a fan of red, pink works for me.

 

This thing is a staple from now on for this old makeup junkie.  Do you want one and not leave your house?  Get it from Nordstroms, free shipping, it will arrive in a few days.  Why not Amazon?  Because reviewers say that sometimes they are knock-offs from Amazon, and I didn’t want to chance it.  I didn’t want to wait, so I got mine at Sephora, don’t try Ulta, they don’t have it. But it’s a cold day,  it’s snowy, it’s winter, just order the darn thing.  You can get it from Beauty Blender’s site, too, but they don’t have free ship like Nordie’s does.

 

Here’s the click to order, take a deep breath, fork over $20 for a sponge that’s hideously overpriced and you too can have flawless makeup.  Some things are just worth the money.  Know what I mean, Vern...

 

Oh, you can email me and thank me after you buy it, you’re gonna love this one, trust me.  ~ Jan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Setting Goals

I’ve never been one for New Year’s Resolutions. It’s just has never worked for me, but maybe there are alternatives.  My buddy, Ang, is setting a short term goal, she’s giving up seven foods for a month, coffee, tea, pizza, things she really likes, think of it as kind of a mini cleanse.

I’m making progress as well.  A couple of weeks ago, I decided to drastically cut my calories, even though I eat low carb, I need to shake it up a bit, so I’m eating 1000 calories daily through March 1st.  I’m determined to do this, it’s brutal, but it’s a sense of accomplishment to know that I’ve made the commitment and am sticking to it. I’m realistic, this isn’t sustainable long term, but it is doable for a few weeks.  

I realize I need extra calcium, but can’t remember to take it, I set a daily alarm on my phone as a reminder.  Just simple things, but sometimes I just don’t see beyond what’s in front of my face, and I’m really trying to make my life run smoother.  My short term memory is just kaput, as is most of my friends, so I'm really trying to implement workarounds so that I don’t forget.  Everybody says “make a list” and that’s a great idea, but not practical for everything. 

I’m on a mission to look for new goals, some of them just for one day.  Who knows, maybe some just for one hour.  I’m thinking that if I divide things I want to accomplish into small blocks of time instead of looking at the broader picture it will be more attainable.

So today, I’m setting a timer for fifteen minutes, I’m going to work on straightening my closet. Do I want to, of course not, I but I’m doing it.

So think about this ladies, it’s a good time of the year to accomplish some mini goals for yourself.  Maybe it’s something pleasurable, like sitting down and planning your spring garden, or starting some seeds like my friend Holly did.  Or maybe you’ve been putting off a doctor’s appointment, like I have been, I really need a visit to the optometrist for an eye exam, I’m going to just do it instead of procrastinating about it.

And that’s what’s happening in my world this morning,  and if I can plant a seed in just one of you, it’s worth the effort to blog about it. 

Make it a good day, ladies, I’m heading to the closet.  ~ Jan

Happiness Vs. Pleasure

  

I’ve often talked about happiness being fleeting moments in time but inner peace is what I strive for.  Then I read an article about happiness vs. pleasure and it made me step back and think about what gives me pleasure.  It’s not revelations, yet reaffirmations of what I already know.  At this age, I know myself pretty well, warts and all, and most important, I accept who I am.  And if you read me regularly, you can pretty much figure out what gives me pleasure, but I may throw a curve ball at you, so here goes...

• The obvious, family, grandchildren, a simple phone call is all it takes to give me great joy.  FaceTime takes it to a whole new level and actually makes me giddy.
• A furry little body sitting by my side, silently warming my soul.
• Walking to the window with my morning coffee, in the summer stepping outside to feel the wind on my face, observing the wonders of Mother Nature is the most calming thing in my world.
• Accomplshment.  My mother always said “Never let a day go by without accomplishing something” and as usual Ma was right, even doing a little job that I’ve procrastinated about gives me pleasure when I actually do it.
• A smile, whether it be from a loved one or a stranger, just the interaction with people is uplifting.
• A good hair day, yes dear hearts, I’m a vain woman and there is nothing like a good hair day to perk me right up.
• Oh, I can’t forget cutting the tags off of new clothes.  I don’t know if it’s the clothes themselves that give me such pleasure, or if it’s cutting the tag off something that actually fits without going up a size.  I’m sure you can relate.
• A touch, a hug, human kindness.  We need more of it in our world.
• Giggling, happy children.  It always sends my pleasure endorphins into overdrive..
• A loaf of warm crusty bread, a rarity in these days, preferably shared with my boys who are both bread lovers like their mom.
• Date night, no surprise here, but nothing gives me more pleasure than Friday nights out with hubby.  
• Pine trees after a rain, nothing more fragrant, the smells of nature are a wondrous thing.
• Food, doesn’t it give us all pleasure?  A piece of homemade pie with a cup of coffee, a plate of pasta, takeeoutee chinese eaten in front of the television, homemade candy, preferably caramels or fudge,  all the things that give me pleasure, and the very things I deny myself 95% of the time. 
• Clean sheets, I haven’t had line dried ones in years, but there is nothing better.
• Occasional solitude.  I’ve discovered I really do like my own company.
• Those in my life who love me in spite of my transgressions.  We’re all human, doing the best we can, living the best life we can.  

I could go on and on, actually no big surprises here, what about you?  Think about what gives you pleasure and make it happen… Today!

Vlasic Farmer's Garden pickles

There are pickles and then there are pickles. Oh my, these are just the best!  My buddy, V, introduced me to these a few weeks ago, they’re in the condiment section of your grocery store, they’re not refrigerated and I’m hooked.  

The Garlic Dill Slices are extremely thick, that’s what makes them so good.  If you’re a pickle lover and haven’t tried these, pick up a jar and you will see what I mean.  Four stars on this one, V!

Are you streaming Amazon Prime music yet???

Now that Amazon Prime is streaming music free, I finally got on the bandwagon after my friend, Holly, reminded me about it.  There are apps of course, I have one on my iMac and it’s super easy to  use.  I haven’t uploaded to my iPhone or iPad yet, but I will, just a busy week here.

Anyhoo, if you’re a Prime member and haven’t done this, you can build a really great library for no money.  My favorite album so far, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  Oh, I do love this album, easy listening...

Try it, it’s a good thing!  ~ Jan

FLAVORED WATER, IT'S A GOOD THING...

I’m a little late to this parade, fruit and veggie infused water has been making the rounds on Pinterest and Facebook for quite a while now.  But it’s been on my “try” list for because I really need to quit the diet soda and drink water, which unfortunately I’m not a fan of.

Today, hubby and I were out and about and we stopped in at Tuesday Morning and found these Del Sol Beverage Dispensers.  We bought them, found out later we got a good price, $30, and they are sold online for $60, stocked up on different kinds of fruits, bought some jugs of filtered water and filled the containers.  Slices of lemon went into one container, and slices of watermelon into the other.

I tried the lemon first, it was really refreshing, yep, I could drink this, then I tried the watermelon, and oh . my . goodness - it was amazing!  Next I’m going to mix cucumber with lemon, it seems to be a big “spa drink” favorite online.

I was on Ball’s site, they sell an infuser that you put in a Ball Fruit Jar, a handy little gadget, but I like the dispenser idea better.  They also had several different suggestions for making your own water, maybe some of you who haven’t already done this might like to check it out.  Of course you don’t really need the dispenser, it just makes it handy.  Frozen fruit works well too, just dump a bag in a gallon container, and you’ve got instantly cold flavored water.  I should have tried this a long time ago...