I think I’ve found it!

Some of you know that I have spent many years search for the best mascara.  The one that will make my lashes look long and thick…. I have spent so much money and wasted so much time on some real losers when it comes to mascara.  I have probably single-handedly kept the make-up industry in business from my mascara purchases alone.  I think I have tried everyone out there, and I mistakenly thought that the more expensive it was the better it would be. How wrong I was.  L’Oreal’s Telescopic Mascara had held the top position until recently.  Surprisingly, the best so far comes from Wet n Wild, it cost me 1.50 and it was in the clearance bin.   I don’t usually buy mascara that’s in a clearance bin because I automatically assume that there is something wrong with it.  Well there was nothing wrong with this, my lashes look very long… my only fear now is that it was in the clearance bin because it’s no longer being made by Wet N Wild.  If that’s the case, then maybe they will be coming out with something better.  I can only hope, since I don’t know what I will do with my time if I have to stop searching.

Meet Mark!

I am now a Mark Makeup representative and I love it.  I’m not really expecting to sell anything, and I mostly signed up to get the discounts (which are 30-40% off) but despite that, I really love their make-up.  I may not buy simple drug store make-up again.  I can get this make up, in most cases, for under 10.00 and sometimes under 5.00 depending on what it is.  I am impressed with the eye shadow (which I used as eyeliner) and the actual eye liner.  Both stay on all day. 

Admittedly I have spent way too much money and have pretty much replaced all of my make-up with Mark make-up.  I also purchased their face cleansers and moisturizers, which I now use every day.  My skin feels really soft. 

As I mentioned I am not in it to make money, I just want the discounts.  So if you want to try something, I will get it for you at the representative discount, which, as I said is 30 to 40% depending on the item.  It’s also free shipping on orders of 20.00 or more. 

Here is the link to the site, http://shop.meetmark.com/shop/default.aspx and here are some of  the things I’ve purchased so far and I love all of them except for the hairspray stuff. I’m not crazy about that.  But everything else is something I use every day.  And many of these items I got included for the price of a 20.00 sign up fee.  They called it a Starter Kit so I would have some things on had to show, should I every have a Mark Party…which I don’t plan to do.  Let me know if you’re interested.  30 to 40% off and free shipping!

Sunday Brunch anyone?

Stuffed Cinnamon French Toast

You’ll need:

2 Tbsp part-skim ricotta cheese

2 slices whole-grain bread

1 tsp honey

pinch + 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 Tbsp sliced almonds

1Tbsp skim milk

handful of fresh berries

Spread ricotta on bread.  Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon.  Top with sliced almonds and other slice of bread.  Whisk together egg, milk and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.  Coat sandwich in egg mixture and cook over medium heat on a nonstick griddle until bread is lightly browned on both sides and cheese is melted. Serve with berries and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

A Brighter Future

Sedona Here We Come!

I have been planning a vacation with my best girlfriend for quite some time now.  We intended to go 5 years ago when I turned 35 and she turned 45…but time and money got in the way, and we had to postpone.  So now we are 40 and 50 and this trip is going to happen come hell or high water.   We are heading to Sedona, Arizona.  Don’t ask me how we came up with that location because I don’t really know, other than we wanted some place beautiful, relaxing, and warm. 

We have already decided that we’ll visit the Grand Canyon, and a small little town called Jerome, as well as a jeep tour, but we have yet to decide on anything else.  Which is ok, we’re “go with the flow” kind of girls.  But if anyone has any recommendations we’re definitely open to them!

A sample itinerary of What To Do in Sedona looks something like this.

Sedona Nature Experience

Day 1:         

1. Trolley Tour
2. Jeep Tour
3. Red Rock State Park  (Education/Interpretation Programs, Hiking, Bird Watching, etc.)  

Day 2:            

1. Hiking in the Red Rock Country  (On your own or participate in a guided tour)  i.e. Fay Canyon Trail, Doe Mountain Trail, Devils Bridge Trail, Jim Thompson Trail, Jordan Trail, etc.
2. Explore Oak Creek Canyon

• Swimming at Slide Rock State Park  (or Education/Interpretation Programs, Bird Watching, etc.)
• More Hiking – West Fork Trail
• Picnic Lunch at Recreation Sites in the Canyon 

Day 3:           

1. Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Tour  – Enjoy the beautiful Red Rocks and early morning wild life from the balloon
2. Hiking or Mountain Biking in the Red Rock Country

• On your own or participate in a guided tour
• Village of Oak Creek – Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Area,Turkey Creek Trail

3. Picnic Lunch at Red Rock Crossing

Or something like this:

Sedona Spiritual & Healing Experience

Day 1:            
1. Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
2. Take a Jeep Tour or a van tour to Vortex Sites

Day 2:             
1. Take another Vortex Tour or a hike to a Vortex Site    
2. Visit the Amitabha stupa     
3. Participate in Healing Programs

• Aromatherapy
• Sound Healing
• Hands on Healing
• Energy Work
• Reiki, etc.

Day 3:             
1. Pamper Your Body and Soul at a Spa

• Hot Stone Therapy
• Pain Management
• Reflexology
• Massage, etc.

2. Experience Readings

• Tarot Card Reading
• Intuitive Reading
• Aura Reading
• Astrology, etc.

Health Boosting Herbs and Garlic-Rosemary Marinade Recipe

Rosemary: Adding rosemary to a marinade may cut your cancer risk… it’s antioxidants help combat potential carcinogens created when meats are broiled or grilled at high temps.

Lavender: Inhaling this flower’s aroma can help reduce feelings of depression and stress and make you feel drowsy.

Thyme: Ease a cough with Thyme. Just soak the herb in hot water for a few minutes, remove thyme, and sip.

Basil: Add chopped basil to a vinaigrette, it will make your greens safer to eat.  The oil from basil’s leaves kills bacteria that can cause stomach bugs.

Sage: Forget the air freshener.  Instead, place orange peel mixed with sage in small bowls for a nontoxic odor remover.

Grilled Pork Loin with Garlic Rosemary Marinade

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1/4 cup minced shallots
• 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon minced lemon zest
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup oyster sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon chipotle chili sauce

Rinse the pork loin medallions, place in a bowl. Combine the marinade ingredients and coat the pork loin pieces evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. Grill the loins for about 5 to 8 minutes on each side. As the pork cooks, brush with marinade. Transfer the pork to a heated dinner plate and serve at once.

What Gets Your Creative Juices Flowing?

A few years ago I thought that maybe I could be a writer.  I love writing, but the extent of my writing is journals, blogs, and work related things.   I love the idea of being creative, and creating something with my mind or with my hands.  But I learned a long time ago that writing really isn’t my forte.  I am terrible with dialog and back story.  I don’t know how many times I’ve written something, even a short story, and after reading it again decided to toss it or delete it.

I’ve finally come to the conclusion  that I’m a reader and probably not a writer, but quite often I will read a book that gets those creative juices flowing again and I wish that I could write like a particular author.

Quite often a book captures me so completely that I feel I am part of the book, living the lives of the characters and would give anything to be able to write like that.  And I know the sign of a good book is one that I think about long after I’ve finished reading it.   I’m not a good enough writer to write anything other than journal entries, and maybe some blog entries, but I still feel the need to find some sort of creative outlet.  I just don’t know what.

What gets your creative juices flowing?  What kinds of things do you love to do in your spare time and fulfills those creative desires?

I’d love to know!

Books, Cheese and …. Squid?

Just the smell of books makes me happy… wandering through a used book store makes me ecstatic.  There is just something about all of those books, even the ones I would never read, that make me feel content.   I love wandering through book stores like Barnes and Noble too, don’t get me wrong, but I know that when a used book store opens that the owner loves books as much as I do.  One of our favorite things to do on a Saturday is try to visit as many used book stores as we can.  I don’t always find something, but when I do it’s usually a treasure.   And when I’m done looking I can easily find a chair and read whatever I’ve already picked out while I wait for S to finish his treasure hunt.

Today was a trip to Half Price Books where I found the journals of Anais Nin. There are three different books that span 1931-1949, and chronicle her life and her affair with author Henry Miller.  The other thing I am crazy for is journals themselves.  I mean blank journals that I can write in myself.  Might be why I’m fascinated with Nin’s journals.  I found several today to add to my collection.

After the book store was a trip to Whole Foods.  I am lulled into thinking that because I am at Whole Foods that I’m buying and eating healthy, but in reality they have just as much junk and sugary stuff as a regular grocery store. So I have to pay attention, but I still feel like I’m being good when I go there.  This trip we purchased Drunken Goat Cheese, Goat Gouda, Australian Cheddar, crusty whole wheat bread and a container full of assorted olives from the olive bar. Sounds like a good dinner to me and much better than the raw squid S wanted to put in the cart (ewww).

I can tell we’re getting old when a trip to the book store and the grocery store is a mini adventure for us.

Oatmeal Pancakes with Wild Blueberry Sauce

When Australian researchers put people on reduced calorie diets, one low-fat, the other low-carb, for 1 year, each group lost an average of 30 pounds.  But the low-carb group, which cut out bread, pasta, and beans, felt more angry, depressed and confused than the low-fat eaters.  Carbs help stimulate the production of mood-boosting serotonin.  To lose weight and stay upbeat, eat a calorie controlled diet with about 30 grams of healthy carbs, such as produce and whole grains at every meal.

Try this recipe.

Oatmeal Pancakes with Wild Blueberry Sauce  YUM!

Pancakes

1.5 cups rolled oats

1 cup low-fat buttermilk (1%)

1 cup of all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole-wheat flour

1/4 cup sugar or splenda

1 tsp of baking sodoa

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 large eggs

2 large egg whites

1.5 cups skim milk

Wild Blueberry Sauce

2 cups frozen wild blueberries (thawed)

1/4 cup sugar or splenda

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice.

Soak rolled oats in the low-fat buttermilk in a small bowl for 15 minutes.  Combine the all-purpose flour,  whole-wheat flour,  sugar (or splenda)  baking soda,  baking powder n salt and ground cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Whisk 2 large eggs together with 2 large egg whites in a small bowl and stir in low fat milk.  add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir.  Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and coat with cooking spray.  Pour about 1/2 cup batter per pancake onto hot skillet, and cook 2 minutes or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.  Flip and cook 2 minutes or until bottoms are lightly brown.

Transfer to a plate and keep warm.  Meanwhile combine blueberries  1/4 cup sugar (or splenda) and fresh lemon juice in a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium heat until berries pop.  Stir in ground cinnamon. Spoon blueberry sauce over pancakes.  Makes about 12 pancakes.

My Stay Happy, Feel Great Tricks

Here are a few things that make me feel good about myself, and make me happy.  I’d love to hear some of your Stay Happy, Feel Great Tricks!

My go-to healthy snack is…… yogurt, and it has to have less than 12 grams of sugar (which comes from skim milk) no fat, and at least 4 grams of protein.

When I work out I listen to … fast paced, upbeat music, sometimes it’s rock,  sometimes it’s pop… quite often it’s music I wouldn’t want anyone to know I listen to, but it still gets my heart pumping and keeps me going.

I love the website…. www.icanhascheezburger.com It makes me laugh … and who can resist those adorable kittens?

The TV show I can’t resist is……. United States of Tara which stars Toni Collette as a wife and mother, with a multiple personality disorder which makes for some hilarious and heartbreaking moments

My ultimate Stress buster is……. a hot bath with lots of bubbles, comfy pj’s,  and then a quiet place to read a good book

The one beauty step I never miss….. is moisturizer.  I put it on before bed, and then I use one with SPF for in the morning.  ( I don’t leave the house without at least some mascara either)

When it comes to food, my biggest weakness is…… mashed potatoes.  It’s my go to food when I am sad or depressed

When I want a fun night out I ……… enjoy a nice dinner and a few drinks with my husband and/or friends

My best healthy eating habit is….. I use whole wheat flour and splenda in all of my cooking/baking

My feelings on Birthdays are…… they should be celebrated to the fullest… no matter what your age

The most important lesson I learned growing up is……  to have compassion and empathy by putting myself in someone else’s shoes.

I always make time for…. a good book, my family, and my cat.  (not necessarily in that order)

My happy life motto is…. “You only live once, so take a few risks, and  enjoy every minute of it”