Girls weekend in Chicago

Last weekend my friend Allison met me in Chicago for a girls weekend. We stayed downtown at the newly renovated Marriott Magnificent Mile downtown. It was the PERFECT local for a shopping/eating/drinking/altogether fun girls weekend.

We ate at some spectacular restaurants. Here are a few:

The Webber Grill Restaurant
http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/

Joe’s (specializing in steak and stone crab)
http://www.joes.net/chicago

Bice (pronounced Beach-ay) Italian Restaurant
http://chicago.bicegroup.com/11/index.html

Devon Seafood
http://www.devonseafood.com/

What's in there?

I’ve come to the conclusion that I might be a tad bit overly paranoid about certain things. Running with scissors is bad. Drinking tap water makes me suspicious at times. I garden organically. But, I never thought that I would be paranoid about the cosmetics I use. I was reading an article the other day about what chemicals are used in cosmetics. Now, I remember reading something about how Cleopatra used some kind of flower to make her cheeks and lips rosy and that was way back in about 200 BC (I think that was the only thing I remembered from history class).

  I was reading an article this week (I can not remember the web site for the life of me), but it happened to list www.cosmeticsdatabase.com  as a resource to help you find out what exactly is in your cosmetics and if it’s hazardous. I checked out some of the stuff that I use, just see what’s in there. They have a green, yellow, red system to show you the level of hazardous chemicals in you cosmetics.

     I buy 7^th generation and Aveda products, so I figured that I would be green all the way, right? WRONG! I was SHOCKED at how many chemicals are used in our cosmetics. This includes lotions and sunscreens, too. Now, if Cleopatra was using her own home made stuff back in the way in the day (assuming that it was made from plant products), why the hell in this day and age are we using so many chemicals in cosmetics?

Check out the cosmetics database site. You will be amazed! Here are some of the products that I use that rank green according to the cosmetics database: 

 

California baby sunscreen – it’s organic and certain formulas contain natural bug repellant. I use it and it’s fabulous. I never burn when I use that stuff.  It’s a bit gloppy but if you’re pasty white like me, the hubby and the kid, you want full coverage. www.californiababy.com

 

    I use bare minerals makeup and, sadly, it ranks a yellow (as in medium health hazard), I found a company that has mineral makeup that ranks green – Glam Nation. I have yet to try it, but it’s next on my list. http://www.glam-nation.com/index.cfm

 

     Other companies that rank as green include. Dancing dingo. They have shampoos, soaps, baby soaps and even dog shampoo. I think I need to try out the Dog De-funkier. Cava’s getting a little stinky.http://www.dancingdingo.com/

 

     California Costal Creations also uses plant products in their cosmetics – they’re a big GREEN according to the cosmetics database. I ordered some of their lipstick and eye shadow – I’ll let you know what I think of it. http://www.coastalclassiccreations.com/index.html

 

So, check out the web site and see what’s in the stuff that you’re using. If you really don’t care and just like the way that your cheap eye shadow shimmers, never mind. I will warn you that if you’re slightly paranoid about stuff like this, that web site is SO addictive.

Food processor, how do I love thee.... Let me count the ways.

For Christmas my husband bought me a food processor, but not just any food processor. It's the top of the line kitchen-aid food processor. In an effort to save money and actually use all of the food that we buy on a weekly basis, I've been putting the kitchen-aid to the test. I took old stale bread and made bread crumbs. The beauty with bread crumbs is that they freeze beautifully in an old sour cream container (or the like) and when you're ready to use they don't have to thaw - just sprinkle.

On Sunday, however, I experienced the piece de resistance. I was craving hash browns, the really good kind, the kind that are pan fried with just a little cheese. Suddenly, I had an epiphany. I took the fingerling potatoes that we had stashed in the pantry, put them through the grater attachment in the food processor and VOILA.... The world's best hash browns. And, the best part? We used up what we already had AND we didn't spend money on going out to breakfast.

My husband just bought me a vacuum sealer this past weekend. I've sealed everything I can get my grubby paws on. Then I thought! What about those hash browns? I can vacuum seal the grated potatoes, freeze them and use them whenever we feel like it.

It was a slightly liberating feeling to know that fingerling potato hash browns would be at my fingertips, 24/7. The possibilities are endless...

God Bless...

I just had to share this funny tidbit.

I was driving along the highway, as they call it here (apparently, only those from the West Coast call it a “freeway”). I was minding my own business, getting down to a little Justin Timberlake, bringing my sexy back, when I notice someone in my rear view mirror. This woman (who BADLY needed one of those makeovers from “What not to wear”) was on the edge of her seat, leaning over the steering wheel and looked like she had a massive case of road rage.

Coming from the LA area, I’m used to this sort of behavior. I smiled slightly as took my foot off the gas. They would eventually go around. The woman swerved to the right and then cut off a semi. As she passed me I saw a sticker on her car that said “JESUS” in big gold type.

I just thought to myself “Well, God Bless, you too!”

Yea, spring is here… sort of

Now I understand spring fever. After months of scurrying from the car to the building, and donning grandma and mom’s furs, it has finally started to warm up a bit. My new sister-in-law explained to me that here in the Midwest when spring arrives, people are more than enthusiastic (and frequently take the day off from work in celebration).

I decided to have my own spring celebration over the weekend. Scott put together a planter box for me out of lumber. We filled it with soil and planted spring veggies under the deck (so the mid day sun doesn’t wilt my lettuce). During the "growing up" years, I always remember my Mom having a garden. Not only is an economical way to get your fresh fruits and vegetables, but she would use her 2 day laborers (my brother and myself) to help maintain the garden. The garden also gave us an opportunity to learn how things grow and what different fruits and vegetables are called. She would hand me a pair of scissors and ask me to get a handful of parsley. I would dutifully walk back to the garden and promptly forget what parsley looked like. She would have to show me again before cutting her a handful.

What's amazing to me is in the age of video games and razor scooters, my step son is just as intrigued about the garden as I once was. This weekend he was more than happy to help with the yard work. He even insisted on using his own children's garden tools and gloves. I'll admit that I felt nostalgic when he asked me how it was that I knew how to plant lettuce. I just smiled and showed him, as my Mom showed me, exactly how to dig, plant, and cover up the tender baby lettuce. Now I just hope that it grows.

Great Wedding Day... and Great Hair

Amazingly enough, I got married. I think it’s amazing, anyway. I never really thought about getting married or even finding someone who understands me, for that matter. I was busy. I was too busy. I went to graduate school, opened my own (failed) business, I had things to do.

BOOM! Then I met Scott and everything changed. We were getting married.

I had a few problems with the whole planning process; the first problem being my deceased mother. Every place I went to, some snotty sales girl asked about my mother. What would she be wearing, what does she think. It’s enough to drive you crazy. I knew she was absent. I went alone to pick out my wedding dress. I was aware of the void and didn’t need to be reminded of it. I just had no idea that a wedding was so much about a mother and daughter.

Regardless, I found a dress, a venue, a minister, blah, blah, blah. Everything was set. Two weeks before the wedding, I realized that I had no idea how I would wear my hair. Of course, my tried and true hair dresser had already been schedule but what the heck would we do for that day? Every bridal picture showed some girl with long flowing hair or up in a French twist. But, I have short hair! Should I be denied cute hair just because I’m a low maintenance hair girl? I finally, FINALLY found a picture online and we worked from there. For those of you who need a special hair do and have short hair like me, check this out. My hair stylist rocked and it looked incredible – even the back of my hair looked great! Everything went smoothly. The flowers were incredible, the food was great, and the venue was perfect. And… I had great hair.

For great wedding hair, or every day hair you can see Chelsea DeVere at Salon Pop in Long Beach. Call 562-987-9200 for an apt.

If you do get married in the Orange County area, I highly recommend using Lavender Hill as your florist. Dawn is great and the flowers were beautiful.
http://www.lavenderhilloc.com/

Also, our minister was AWESOME. Really, he helped me more on that day than the event coordinator from the hotel. I highly recommend Rev. Clint Hufft.
http://www.reverendclint.com/

Spa Day Turned Home Treatment

Like many people, I spent the holidays sick in bed. I had several facial appointments previously scheduled so that I could look glowing and beautifully radiant for my late Jan wedding. The last two appointments that I made I just could not attend. When I called to cancel the last reservation, I received a rude response from some spa girl stating “well, I GUESS it’s alright”. I thought about telling her she two choices; she could graciously accept my cancellation or kissing my ***. I hung up instead.

After realizing that I have been paying $150 each visit to the spa just to deal with the rude spa bitch, I thought that there HAD to be an alternative.

I’ve always been a fan of Arbonne products. They all natural, yadda, yadda, yadda… and your skin looks great. I noticed online that they have an enzyme peel that you can do at home. What a brilliant thought! The peel is roughly 30 bucks and is applied the way you would apply a normal night cream. You wake up in the morning and wash your face. I’m not joking when I say that your skin looks fantastic.

https://arbonne.com/shop_online/showitem.asp?ProductId=6326&menuId=217&withLinks=1

Of course, you have to purchase Arbonne products through a rep. I’m sure if you go on their web site you can search for one.

I must admit that I do feel smart doing my own at home spa treatments. I know, it’s not as fun as going to the spa but, at least I have some cash left in my pocket. And, best of all, I can have a glass of wine while I pretend I'm at the spa... and I don't even have far to drive home.

Happy Spa-ing!