Must-have items for 2013

Hello internet friends,

I’m currently in Belize on my honeymoon, which means I’m either:
A) Soaking up some rays (with my SPF 70 lathered) on a sandy beach
B) Eating delicious tamales, meat, beans, and rice
C) Sharing cocktails with Jonathan at sunset
D) Reenacting all of the date nights from Ben’s season of The Bachelor: Belize

Before I departed on my adventure, I did a bit of shopping and found some absolute gems I need to share with you.

First, and most importantly, is this Sugar Lip Treatment from Fresh (plum is my favorite shade so far).  I’m very particular about my lip products for several reasons.  Lip gloss is too gooey and doesn’t stay on for more than a minute.  Lipstick is often very dry and doesn’t have SPF.  Chapstick is my go-to product, but it doesn’t usually have color, leaving my lips pale and plain.

This product is the perfect blend of lipstick and chapstick with SPF that makes my lips feel fantastic!  It’s not glossy, but it slides on and stays for a long time.  They have a whole range of colors too!

Click image for original source. From sephora.com

This next one isn’t so much a product, as it is a TV series that you need to watch if you’re a 20-30 something female.  “Girls” is a funnier and more intelligent “Sex in the City” with more realistic characters.  I love it with all my heart.

Click image for original source. From wikipedia.com

I’ve never had a good pair of sunglasses.  Mostly because I have a tendency to step on, lose, and scratch every pair I’ve ever owned.  However, this year, some little birdie decided I needed to protect my eyes from the sun and got me these Maui Jim Palms for Christmas.

Getting a nice pair of polarized lenses will save your eyeballs, make you look professional, and teach you how to treat your sunglasses well.

Click image for original source. From mauijim.com

I normally buy the $2 flip-flops from Old Navy that bust about 3 months into wearing them, but these Teva Olowaho sandals are a much better alternative.  They have enough cushioning to keep my heels comfortable and enough give in the straps so that they don’t rub and cause blisters.  I have them in black, but I plan on getting a few more colors for summer.

Click image for original source. From amazon.com

The final product I found that I cannot live without is the Olive Body Butter from The Body Shop.  This bad boy has a mild smell compared to their potent fruity flavors, but I can’t get enough of the subtle earthy smell.  Also, the body butter is not greasy, which is a major plus.  This is a must!

Click image for original source. From thebodyshop.com

What products have you fallen in love with during this shopping season?  What do I need to have to prepare for spring?

-Mads

 

Help us find a new car

Hey team,

There is nothing I love more than public transportation, including busses and bicycles, but that’s not always practical in LA.  Sometimes you need a car.  Plus, there’s no way I’m riding the bus home from class at 10:30pm in downtown Long Beach.  I choose life.

That being said, Jonathan and I both drive around this commuter city in 12 year old + cars.  His car smells like a dead creature, has broken speakers (which are daintily covered with flowered throw pillows), and makes thunderous sounds when it hobbles down the street.

Click on image to be redirected to original source.

The time has come to say goodbye to the “Camborghini” (a.k.a., the sexy sexy Camry that got Jonathan through college and beyond).

I know zero about cars, mainly because they do not interest me at all.

Things I know: -van -ambulance -car -truck -limo -herse -gas mileage is important -trunk space for my cooler of beers

That’s about it.  I know it’s sad, but I don’t have any desire to increase my knowledge in this instance.

In any case, Jonathan wants my help to him pick out a new car and I am deplorably unhelpful.  I thought maybe you could help by picking your favorite!

Click on your top choice for our new car:

Thanks for voting!

What car would you buy if money was no object?  Do you drive cars until they die or do you love to splurge every few years?

-Mads

Josie the Pug

It’s that time again…gratuitous photos of Josie time!

I’ve been debating whether or not Josie needs her own Facebook page.  The main draw of the Facebook page is that I would only expose pictures of her to people who are interested.

Grinches and curmudgeons would no longer have to look at her cute pug face on my blog or my personal Facebook page.

All. The. Pillows.

On top of that, I could waste even more time on the internet coming up with quirky one-liners from my dog.

However, that puts me one step away from crazy dog lady (if I’m not a crazy dog lady already).

Olympic diver Josie.

What are your thoughts about a doggy Facebook page?  Would you befriend Miss Josie VonPugglesworth of Greater Long Beach?  Or would you shake your head in embarrassment?  

-Mads

Transformations

If you didn’t already know, I’m going to school to become a therapist.  You know, the kind that help other people work through their issues.  Shocking?  Perhaps.  Overwhelming?  Definitely.

I’m reading this wonderful book called, On Being a Therapist, by Jeffrey Kottler.  If you’re in a helping profession, I highly recommend it.

Anyway, he wrote something that has really stuck with me for the past week:

“It’s as if some practitioners believe that therapy and ongoing growth and development are for others, but not for themselves…What sort of hypocrites have we become when we ask people to do things that we are unwilling or unable to do ourselves?”  

The first time I read it, I told myself, “Yeah.  Those therapists with major issues should get help for themselves.”

But then I spent a few more minutes hours days thinking about it, and realized that I am one of those hypocrites.  I don’t share my emotions with others.  I shut out my own feelings all of the time.  (a few cocktails might bring out some “truths”, but that’s the extent of it)  How can I possibly expect my clients to share their feelings with me, if I’m unable to do so in my own life?

Basically, this realization shook me to my core and I decided to do something about it.  So for the past 72 hours, I have been sharing.  And I’m exhausted.

I don’t want this blog to turn into my whiny diary, but I do want to open up more.  I’m not sure exactly what that will look like, but I wanted to let you know I am going through some changes and I might write about it from time to time.  I hope that doesn’t scare you.

It scares the poop out of me.

Has anything changed your outlook on life or yourself recently?  If you’re a blogger, how comfortable are you blogging about your real feelings?  

-Mads

Pie-Off

Folks, this is epic.  A few of my fellow bloggers decided it would be great to compete in a pie-off.  That’s right…PIE-OFF!!!

I’ve made a few pies in my day–strawberry cream pie, boston cream pie, banana cream pie (Do you sense a theme?), pecan pie, and french silk pie.

As you might be able to tell, I’m avoiding baked fruit pies.  Something about the challenge has paralyzed me with cooking fear.

That being said, I have vowed to change that this fall.  Baking a fruit pie is my #1 goal!

Next Thursday you will be able to see the fruits (ba-dum-bum) of my labor, and I will also be linking up with the other pie contestants.

Is there something you are nervous about cooking for the first time?  What’s your worst kitchen disaster?

-Mads