Favorite Things Part Deux

Back by POPULAR demand, I have another favorite things post.

Okay, so only one person said they wanted another one, but still.

In case you're wondering where I've been, it's been a crazy couple weeks. We got new carpet, painted baseboards and did family pictures. Aren't all those things stressful enough? Family pictures alone almost caused a complete mental breakdown. Oh, and Faith? She freaks when I'm on the computer. We are talking 'throw-her-body-down-kicking-and-screaming-pushing-wailing-gnashing-of-teeth-style-freakouts'. They ain't pretty.

I'll post pics of the before and after carpet soon. I've been doing 'carpet angels' and getting down on my knees to smell it every night. It's bliss. Pure, pure carpeted bliss.

On to the favorite things:

(And in case you missed the last one, CLICK HERE.)

Are you happy with your makeup sponge? Do you take forever to replace it and start using the teeny tiny foamy bits to apply your makeup? And when you start putting it on, the teeny bits crumble and fall into your eyes? Well, fear no more my friends.

My FAVORITE makeup sponge is from The Body Shop. It's the best. And I would know because I've tried several kinds. When I apply my makeup, I like a really thin, even layer. To accomplish this, I wet my makeup sponge. This applicator puts up with my abuse and lasts FOREVER. It even gets better over time. I can wet it and squeeze it out day in and day out and it still stays strong.

As I get older, my love of cheese grows and grows. Unfortunately, if I eat too much of it, so does my waistline. I have to be careful. I love Tilamook products. My Dad introduced me to them and they really are the best. They now have 'Tila-moos' which are individually packed slices of cheese. It's just enough to get that 'fix' you need. I buy them in pepper jack because it's my favorite, but you can get them in any kind.

Do what I do and buy Ritz crackers and divide your cheese in like six baby sections and eat one section on top of each Ritz. You can appreciate it more that way as long as you're fine with the six crackers of extra caloric intake. *sigh*

I LOVE DHC skincare products. It's all mail-order or online and you get four samples with every order so you can try it before you buy it. It's a nice line and I buy several items from there.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is wonderful. It takes off your makeup and leaves your skin feeling fantastic and smooth. The only thing I despise about it is that you must put it on a DRY face. So, my routine is as follows: I keep it in the shower (even though it says not to), turn my water on and then point the shower head downwards. Then I dry my hands on the towels hanging by the shower, hop in and wash my face before it gets wet. I'm good at it. Call me lazy, but I don't like washing my face anywhere but the shower. It just sounds like too much mess and too much work and then your counter top gets all wet and the soap gets in your hair and you look like 'Earth Woman'. My skin quality improved dramatically when I started using this. When I'm done cleansing and moisturizing, I finish off with...

This product:

Olive Virgin Oil, also from DHC. It lasts forever because you only use a tiny bit. Whether your skin is oily or dry, it doesn't matter. It seals in the moisture and evens out your skin tone. Fabulous. I use it after my moisturizer.

You'll glow. But not in a sick, shiny look-like-you-haven't-showered-sort of way.

Mmmm... food. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge connoisseur of it.

Sandy's is sooooooo yummy. I think a lot of people don't think of it because it's sort of an 'Old Fogie' hangout. Seriously. It is. You instantly feel youthful because you're always the youngest one in there. It's wholesome goodness and I crave it the most when I'm breathing.

If you go, ya gotta try the triple berry pie a' la mode. Oh, baby. You'll thank me. They also have seasonal fruit tarts. Right now they have both peach and strawberry. But their food is equally good to their desserts. My personal fave is the patty melt. Yes. It's a patty and it melts in your mouth, Mamma.

Like pickles? Have you been shopping in the pickle aisle thinking that those pickles were your only options? Guess what? You've been missing out on pickle deliciousness, my friend. And I mean BIG TIME. Go to the refrigerated section. Get the Claussen baby dills. Your mouth will thank-you. Your husband? He won't thank you unless he indulges with you. They make your breath stink. But who cares about bad food breath when you've been married a while? Am I right, people?

Thanks for telling me about them, Joyce. I'll forever be in your debt for saving me from the non-refrigerated pickles.

I used to sell 'Pampered Chef' for a couple years. I swear to you that I wasn't an annoying salesperson. Pampered Chef just sales itself. I bet most of you own one thing or another.

One of my favorites? The batter bowls. Very basic. Very classic. Very handy. Love them. Have four of them. Don't have one? You need one. 'Nuff said.

One of my VERY FAVORITE products in this list is 'Pinch Your Cheeks' by Origins. Ya know how cute you look when you're flushed (Not sweaty flushed, but maybe early in the workout flushed.)? This stuff is magic. I get it in 'Raspberry' and it doesn't fail me. It lasts forever and Origins also has great sample sales and I usually order it when I get a few free samples to go along with it. (One of these days, I'll have to do a post about my obsession with samples. It's my sister, Laura's fault. She's even more obsessed than I am and that's hard to do. )

I really LOVE this product. You can't beat it.

If you haven't tried the Ziploc Zip 'n Steam bags yet, you really should. The bags say right on it how long to cook which vegetable whether it's frozen or fresh. You don't add water. Just pop your veggies (and even MEAT) in there, add a few seasonings and Voila! You're a chef!

I loved them this summer with my garden fresh green beans. They cooked perfectly and I didn't have to sit and wait for water to boil and then cook them too long until they turned 'poop yellow'. Not that I ever had that happen or anything.

Last, but most certainly NOT LEAST, I must tell you about what might possibly be one of my favorite movies of all time. Nacho Libre! It's right up there. Every time I watch it, I laugh even harder than the time before. If you haven't seen it, you really NEED to. If you've only seen it once, watch it again. If you've seen it and didn't like it, I really don't know if we can be friends anymore.

Nachoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

One of my new favorite quotes?

'They think I don't know crap about the gospel, but I Deuuuuuu'

Until next time, my readers!!