Brace Yourself...

I'm channeling my inner straight man today. As we know, I have a broad rang of favorite things, from Britney Spears to Popcorn. But today's post isn't something you can eat, listen to, wear, or dance in... it's for your car.
The product is RainX. For those of you who aren't familiar, it's a treatment that makes rain and moisture on your windshield bead up and repel away. It's really one of the coolest things I've seen. I can remember my Dad using it before we went on long drives and being fascinated by the beading and repelling (it's the little things in life), it kept me busy for hours. The coolest thing is I had forgotten all about the product until I bought their Windshield Wipers (thank you Target) which just HAPPEN to be coated with RainX! I almost got in a wreck watching the rain bead instead of the road. I CAN SEEEE CLEARRRLY NOW THE RAINNNN IS GOOOOONE.

For their full line of products check out www.RainX.com

Microwave Popcorn is the Devil

If you know me, you know there are VERY few food items that I don't like. But towards the top of my list (under Mayonnaise) is microwaved popcorn. I don't think ANYTHING smells worse, or has a scent lingers longer (I hate it even more then the scent of Ruby Tuesdays) So I have a solution (of course)... POPCORN FACTORY

The Popcorn Factory has AWESOME popcorns, candies, and treats that you can send to yourself, or friends and family. I sent out a bunch over the holidays (where are my thank you notes?!). They almost always have a coupon for a dollar amount off, or for free shipping (paying without a coupon is soooo oldschool). Try their Goldstar Sampler that comes packaged in a gold star box (tricky) and is filled with Caramel corn, Cheese popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, peanuts, super sour fruit chews, chocolate stars and sour hard candies. All of that for only $9.99 plus shipping. If that's not a cheap way to say "Thanks for letting me stay @ your house" or "Happy Birthday" I don't know what is.
The food is delicious and ALWAYS fresh. This is one you'll be thanking me for.

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www.PopcornFactory.com

*I've heard their Ranch Popcorn is amazing... if that's your thing... try it and let me know

Tuesday's Coming...

And that means NEW MUSIC! Rumor has it that the new Kelly Clarkson single "My Life Would Suck Without You" will leak/premier today. Fingers crossed its not as angry as "Never Again"


I think we can agree that 2008 had it's ups (Bleeding Love) and downs (Light On) in music. But even when music is bad (I Kissed a Girl) it's damn catchy. So here's my top 10 of 2008

1. Britney Spears "Womanizer"
-No doubt this will be come one of her signature songs. Try to find the "performance" version on Youtube or however you "acquire" music. It's chopped up and HOT.
2. Adele "Chasing Pavements"
-After her SNL performance, how can you NOT love this song. Old school, bluesy, and GREAT to make out too.
3. Beyonce "Single Ladies/If I Were a Boy"
- You've got to be crazy to not want to get up and dance when this one comes on. And If I Were a Boy is pretty awesome too. B's vocals have never been better.
4. Michelle Williams "We Break The Dawn"
-The 3rd member of Destiny's Child dropped a dance album this year (betcha didn't know that) The jam is hot (and was #1 on the club charst). The rest of the album rounds out with more dance tracks as well as some surprises (check out "Too Young for Love")
5. Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love"
-It amazes me when a ballad, paired with an awesome kick drum and catchy chorus becomes a hit. Me likey
6. Raven Symone "Girl Get It"
-I know what you're thinking, BUT the song is hot, empowering, and catchy as all get out. Big girls represent!! (Also on the album "Double Dutch Bus")
7. Joey + Rory "Cheater, Cheater"
-Straight country from CMT's show "You Can Duet" BUT a lyrics that ANYONE (especially victims of no good cheaters) can relate too.
8. Nickleback "Something In Your Mouth"
-Usually, I'm not a fan of this genre (fake rock) but this dirty dirty dirty song is amazing. The louder the better
9. Christina Aguilera "Keeps Gettin Better"
-I'm liking this new sound. Saying "bitch" over and over is a little bit of forced edginess and she's TOTALLY biting Lady GaGa's style, but I think 2009 will bring good things from Xtina.
10. Danity Kane "Damaged"
-STILL can't get enough of this jam. The video, the lyrics, the harmonies... hot, hot, hot.

And if you're not loving my favs of '08, head over to Amazon.com to read their editors top 100 of 2008 as well as most downloaded songs of 2008. I'm loving buying music from Amazon these days. They've got AMAZING deals on CD's (new major label releases as low as $4.99) and single songs for as low as ($.89). And when you download it, it syncs right to your iTunes, totally seemlessly.

Check out Amazon.com's Top 100 Editors Choice & 100 Top Downloaded MP3's of 2008

It's been a while... I know I shouldn't have kept you waiting...

But I'm here now. Christmas break is OVA! It's back to the old grind and man, does it suck. But here's to a Happy, Healthy, Date-filled 2009 with TONS of new favorite things.

Over Christmas I saw tons of things that I thought "oooo put them on the blog!" but now of course, I can't remember a single one. So I'll go with one of the gifts I got/gave. Let's be honest I suck at growing things (except my waistline) so when I got a gift set of flower bulbs, dirt, and a pot, I was skeptical for sure. Turns out, they bloom quickly and the package promises me they'll look beautiful too! (If the cat doesn't get at them first)The version I received is similar to this one shown above with 4 Paper White bulbs, enough potting soil to start my own commune garden (ala Sister Act), and a very cute pewtered pot. The one I'm showing is available via Amazon.com, but the one I received came from Target (my FAVORITE). It's a great gift to give a neighbor to say "thanks for watering my plants/feeding my cat/getting my mail" or for a sick neighbor or friend to say "hey, at least SOMETHING'S healthy" or as a hostess gift (that was my best Rachael Ray impression)

Paperwhite Bulbs complete with soil and bowl is available at Amazon.com for $17.95
Let me know how your's grow!

Show me the Money Honey...

Usually there isn't any money in my wallet (a sad story I know) but you've still gotta put all those credit cards, CVS cards, and business cards (don't forget cat food coupons) somewhere. For years I carried around a big thick tri-fold wallet (because it's what my Dad did) but as I grew older, I saw the problem with this wallet that was obviously created by the straight man (all functionality, no design quality or practicality), not to mention the bulk and the ability to shove in as many receipts as possible (throw them away, you don't need them). So I switched to a different kind of wallet, you may know it as "The Magic Wallet"
I buy my "Magic Wallets" at JCrew (well JCrew outlet, let's be honest). The real "technology" of it all (and I use that word loosly) is the bands of elastic inside. You fold up your cash, coupons, and other whatnot's (I'm on a roll with today), place them on one side of the wallet, flip open the other side and WHAM! It's magically under those elastic straps (ahhh thats why they call it a Magic Wallet... more coffee please). JCrew makes them in tons of really cute preppy patterns and styles, my current wallet is yellow and blue silk (a tie remnent I'm assuming) and it's damn cute.

JCrew has solid leather ones on their site for $29.50 (with free shipping today)

My suggestion? Head to the JCrew outlet. They're usually between $10 & $20 and come in a lot more patterns and colors.

It's My Signature. Love it, or Hate Me

Put Down The Remote!

Tuesday night's are usually ho-hum TV nights. There's not much to watch besides "I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day" on TLC for the 100th time, some special about tiny people (SHARON!), or extraordinarily large people (RUBY!). So if that's not your cup of tea, allow me to distract you for a moment and head over to CBS (this ain't you're momma's CBS) The only show worthy of watching tonight is on the Eyeball network...

Tune into The Mentalist. Simon Baker plays Patrick Jane, an ex-fake-psychic, turned consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation. The character uses his ability to read body language, and pick up on nonverbal cues of suspects to either exclude them, or prove that they are in fact guilty of the investigated crime (wow, that was a long time for me to not use parenthesis). Bottom line is the show is great, very intricate and smartly written. It moves along and always leaves me saying "wow, it's over already?" If you can't park it on the couch tonight and watch, make sure you set that DVR or check it out on CBS.com tomorrow.

The Mentalist is on CBS Tuesdays @9pm est

No that's not mascara...

It's dark circles around my eyes from a weekend of craziness. Well to be honest, there are generally always dark circles around my eyes (thanks for the genes Dad). And over the years I've tried tons of different products to get rid of them (or at least make them less noticeable). Weeding through all the crap lotions and serums has been tedious (life's hard, I know) but when it boils down, this is the best one I've found....


It's "Lumene Radiant C-Energy Eye Intensive Renewing Eye Serum" I'm loving this stuff for a couple of reasons. One of the best is that it's a roll on stick. It makes it super easy to glide it under and around your eyes. Also it's sheer (no goop, I promise) and it doesn't leave a film on your skin (because that's just icky) Also, you can pop it in the fridge and roll it on nice and cool in the morning (perfect for making that hangover look far better then it is). Better yet it's really easy to get (unlike some face products). $20 might sound like a lot for a face product, but this is well worth it, and you'll be dark circle free or a couple of months @ least!

Find it @ CVS for $19.99. Online, or in the Store