Friday, May 11, 2012

Favorite Things Friday: Assorted "beauty" products

I'm not sure if one would actually categorize the following things as "beauty" products, but I wasn't sure what else to call them.  But they're staples in my daily life and I love them so I thought I'd share.

First up...

Goody Rectangular hair clips AKA "gymnastic-y clips"

buy them here

It took me a couple years to find these babies.  I had 3 random rectangular clips that I had been using (two were purple and one was gold -- ick!) and I couldn't find any more of them anywhere.  I didn't want the tapered end ones you can buy anywhere - I wanted these rectangular ones that are the same width the whole way across.  Here's why... I do the bang bump.


See it?  When my bangs aren't cooperating I brush them back and bump them up a little and clip them.  I don't like to use bobby pins for this because it always ends up falling out.  And I don't like the tapered end ones because... well, I just don't.  So with those rectangular ones I pull out that little "stay in place" plastic thing and throw it away --- because it just gets in the way --- and then I do the bang bump.  

Are you wondering why I called them "gymnastic-y clips"?  Growing up we loved watching the Olympics, especially the gymnastics portion.  Those girls always had their hair so tight and filled with so dang many of those clips that they became "gymnastic-y clips" whenever we needed to talk about them.  Which really wasn't very often, but whatever.  They got a fun name anyway.

Remember those, Erica and Holly?

Next up...

Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment


buy it here

For a long time I was a Chapstick Medicated girl.  That's what I always used and that's what I liked.  I'm not sure how I eventually converted to this kind but it was Frank's preferred "lip stuff" so I tried it and was hooked.  I have 1 in my purse, 1 in the diaper bag, 1 in my desk at work, and 1 in a mug on top of my desk at work.  Sometimes they even come in a handy 2 pack.  Plus they make your lips shiny but not sticky like lip gloss.

Next...

Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Pads

buy them here

These are by far the best eye makeup remover things I've ever used.  I tried them once and loved them. The pads are really soft - not scratchy like the cotton rounds you can get at drug stores.  Plus the liquid in the eye makeup remover doesn't sting your eyes when it (inevitably) gets in your eyes.  You get 30 in a jar - so they last a month.  Target and Walmart both have them for about $5.99.  It's totally worth it.  You should try them.

And finally...

Shea Cashmere Hand Cream in Secret Wonderland

buy it here

I don't really shop in Bath & Body Works anymore.  Maybe it's because at one time I had 13 bottles of lotion or body spray in my bathroom cabinet and Frank put his foot down.  In all honesty, I ended up throwing most of them out because I either got sick of the smell or they got all separated and runny.  But this smell is SO GOOD!  The first little bottle of this was used up completely.  And when I say completely, I mean it.  I even cut the end off and scraped the last little bit out of the bottle.  Spending $10 a bottle for 3 ounces of lotion is pretty unheard of for me.  So I was delighted to find a coupon so I could get 2 bottles for the price of 1... so 1 lives at work and the other is in my purse.

Do you have any favorite products I need to know about?

-Kara



Like all my FTF posts, these opinions are my own.  I was not compensated in any way for my review.







Tuesday, May 8, 2012

We're Moving!

At the end of the month we'll be moving to a new house.  It's another rental, but it doesn't matter.  We are so excited.  We are moving from a huge (and totally inefficient) house built in 1917 to a 1960's ranch.  There will be less square footage, but all the good things outweigh that.

We'll have central air, a 4th bedroom, a finished basement, and an almost totally fenced backyard complete with two lilac bushes.

We can hardly wait.  I hope to document the transformation of each room on this blog so everyone will get a complete house tour by the time it's all said and done.

Here's a preview.



P.S.  The blog will retain the name Life on Ninth Avenue.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Favorite Things Friday: A Memorial

I didn't love the Beastie Boys until I was 22.  In fact, I had only heard Brass Monkey, (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party), Sabotage, and Intergalactic up to that point in my life.  The very first band Frank asked me if I liked was them... But I misheard him and thought he said the Beach Boys.  To which I said an adamant "No!"  He couldn't believe it.  And I couldn't believe that someone under the age of 50 actually enjoyed the Beach Boys.

We got it sorted out shortly after and I admitted that I had never heard much of the Beastie Boys so I didn't really have an opinion.  Coincidentally, the Boys had an album that came out the year we met (2004) so we bought it.  It only took a few songs and I was hooked.

Sadly, today Adam Yauch (MCA) died of cancer.  He was my favorite.  Something about his rugged voice was so fantastic to me.  When Frank told me, I got choked up.  I didn't have any idea how sad I'd be.  He seemed like such a good guy.


MCA, you will be missed.


You can read more about him here.



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Almost Deal Breakers...

Do you have things that you believe so completely in your heart to be true?  And what if someone you were really close to disagreed with those things?  What if that person was your boyfriend/fiance/husband/spouse?

I have two of those things with my husband.  They're almost deal breakers.

Okay, so these things are sorta petty...  Well, not sorta.  They're totally petty.  But it's hard to be serious with someone who believes the complete opposite thing you do.  And so adamantly!

Do I have you on the edge of your seat?  Can you hardly wait to find out what my silly, petty deal breakers are?

They're two men.

This delightful fellow is man number one...

O.J. Simpson


Before you go and say "Oh, no you didn't!" Let me tell you something.  Frank and I fight about this TO THIS DAY.  I assume anyone who reads this will agree with me.  Because I'm right and that's all there is to it.  

Me:  GUILTY!
Frank:  Not guilty.

WHAT!?!  Yes.  For real.  He thinks The Juice didn't kill Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.  

I can't believe I married a man that thinks this guy is not guilty.  Sick.

Ready for fellow number two?

John Travolta


Do you like him?  Would you categorize him as one of your favorite actors?

I know, me either.  He's terrible.  That's where Frank and I disagree.  He thinks John Ravolta is good.  Like, really good.  

Sick.  He's terrible.  Worse than terrible.  

Do you have any silly, petty things that you and your spouse disagree on?  I'd love to hear it.

-Kara




Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Busy Tray

I've found hundreds of things on Pinterest that I'm dying to try.  I have a whole board dedicated to creative things to do with kids and this was one of them.  The idea comes from In Between Laundry and I think it's brilliant.  She used an old cookie sheet as a magnet board.  What a great idea!

I had Frank get a cookie sheet at Dollar Tree for... you guessed it, $1.  It's a little one.  Only 9 x 13 but it's big enough.  Then I found some magnetic letters at ShopKo for $1.49.  



Clearly Ez was delighted.  And all for $2.49.  He played with it for a good half hour.  



His daycare has been teaching the kids the first letters of their names.  He points out "O" for Olive, "A" for Alex and "S" for Saul as well as his favorite... the "E" for Ezra!


I also plan on making some magnets for this tray, too.  I've seen people use sheets and decorate them and cut them out.  Ashley of Make It and Love It made some paper dolls for her daughter and a cute little cover for her tray.  And she had a great idea about a pirate scene or maybe I could make dinosaurs.  Or perhaps The Wiggles since Ez is so crazy about them.  


He told me that "E" was first... I placed the "Z" and the "R" and on his own he added the "A".  

My child is a genius.  For reals.

-Kara