MTV Shows Killed the Video Stars

I remember when "Video Killed the Radio Star," a song by the British group The Buggles, aired on MTV the summer of 1981. MTV was revolutionary! It introduced a whole other level to listening to music and watching TV. After school I would dance around my family room while watching my favorite bands' newest video. I would look forward to the premiere of a new music video as much as the release of an album. My taste in clothes, how I wore my hair and my vocabulary represented the musicians I listened to ... Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, or Janet Jackson. MTV and music videos were a huge influence in teaching us how to express ourselves through music and performance.

I can remember the first episode of The Real World and how fascinating it was to watch real drama unfold on TV, or when Jenny McCarthy was hosting Singled Out, or how Beavis and Butt-Head showed us how stupid stoners can be. Music videos were being aired less and less and the reality shows and cartoons became the forefront of MTV's programming. At least with efforts like Rock the Vote, MTV attempted to stay socially responsible.

Today, I never watch MTV. I no longer associate it with "music television" (do they even show music videos anymore?). Their daily programming are shows like Jersey Shore, 16 and Pregnant, The Hills, Teen Mom. It seems like instead of being interesting and entertaining, MTV feels like they have to be controversial ... infidelity, teen pregnancy, underage drinking, drugs, and grotesque sexuality. On January 17, the network aired their newest show is Skins (an adaptation of the controversial British TV production). MTV has described this show as:

"Skins is a wild ride through the lives of a group of high school friends stumbling through the mine field of adolescence... and stepping on most of the mines as they go...Be it sex, drugs, the breadth of friendships or the depth of heartbreaks, Skins is an emotional mosh-pit that slams through the insanity of teenage years. They'll crush hearts and burn brain cells, while fearlessly confronting every obstacle head on...or slightly off."

My daughter is only 5 years old, so I am not worried about her being exposed to these kind of shows. When she is with me I monitor what TV and movies she can watch, video games she can play and activities she can participate in. Am I controlling? No, I am her parent and it is my responsibility to teach and show her how be healthy, kind, respectful, gentle, compassionate, strong and balanced. I don't feel that any of these traits are present in MTV's current shows. Sadly, I know some parents who do not monitor what their kids watch or use shows to teach their kids about what NOT to do or act. I would hate to think their kids might come across Skins while channel surfing.

I am not the perfect parent (probably let my daughter indulge a little too much in the Disney Princess culture and give into her when she want more than she needs). I am not one to engage in online mob mentality either. But, the idea of teenagers "crushing" each other's hearts or "burning brain cells" makes me fear for my daughter's future. It makes her pink world of princesses look so much better! I believe that allowing MTV to air shows about the things we DON'T want our kids getting involved in is not the right approach. MTV says, "We are confident that the episodes of "Skins" will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers. We also have taken numerous steps to alert viewers to the strong subject matter so that they can choose for themselves whether it is appropriate." MTV may think that they are not glamorizing bad teenage behavior, but they are desensitizing teens from how this bad behavior can possibly lead to abuse, rape, addiction, overdose, jail and (heaven forbid) death.

Regardless of the viewer alerts MTV says they have put in place the Parents Television Counsel has called for the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees and the Department of Justice to "immediately open an investigation regarding child pornography and exploitation on MTV’s Skins." Companies are starting to pull their adversing from MTV during Skins time slot. And, if you agree that MTV has gone too far you can help by:

• DO NOT watch the show in order to understand what it is all about. That will simply increase the show's ratings. You can find out more about the show on their website.
• Retweet this post and/or the SD MOMfia post "MTV Must Be Stopped" with the hashtag #SkinThis
.
• Write a post about what you think and link up on the SD MOMfia post "MTV Must Be Stopped".

Our kids are the future of this country. Do you really want them at 16 to be manipulative, cruel, addicted or pregnant? I know I don't.

Jane Austen’s EMMA A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe

This past Saturday night I had a GNO (girls' night out) with Stacey, Sugar, Theresa and Jennifer. We went for drinks at The Prado and to opening night of Jane Austen’s EMMA, A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe. Good company, good drinks and a good show ... that makes for a great night out!



I worked for the Magic Theatre in San Francisco for 3 years working stage production, assistant directing and marketing. No matter how much work is put into a performance to get it ready there is nothing like the opening night of a show. After months, weeks, days of rehearsal and previews it all culminates into the success of opening night. Critics are mixed in with family, friends and colleagues of the cast and crew. You can feel the electricity of excitement and anxiousness in the air. On Saturday night I could feel all of that the minute I sat down in my center balcony seat.

As I mentioned in my previous post I studied Jane Austen as part of my major in university, so I was very skeptical about having one of her a novels turned into a musical. Austen's wrote stories that are relevant at any age, especially Emma. The story of Emma is simple ... a young lady who think she knows what is best for everyone, but in her process of trying to improve her friends' lives she discovers herself. So did adding musical numbers into this story make it even better?

I loved how some musical numbers brought out the comedy of characters like Harriet's Humiliation. Unfortunately, I felt that some songs were pointless or too long. For example, The Argument between of Emma and Mr. Knightley in his office when he lectured her on match making seemed forced. To me, there is room for improvement with the musical numbers.

The adaptation of the novel was decent. Some modern references I found awkward and jarring from the period piece, but most people might not notice them as much as I did (guess I'm just an Austen snob).

With that said, I thought Patti Murin did a wonderful job as Emma and Dani Marcus was a perfect Harriet Smith. The relationship between the actors was believable. I enjoyed the performances of Will Reynolds as Frank Churchill, Amanda Naughton as Mrs. Weston and Brian Herndon as Mr. Elton. I thought Adam Monley came off too pompous and not charming enough to make me really want Emma to be with him. Kelly Hutchinson's performance of Mrs. Elton drove me crazy ... but, I guess that is what that character is supposed to do!

What did impress me was the set. I loved how the floor rotated limiting the set change time. There were some issues with sight line according to other audience members, but I think as the show settles in these little issues will work themselves out.



Overall, I recommend that you see Jane Austen’s EMMA A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe. It was entertaining and will make for a good night out at the theatre. Also, San Diego Bargain Mama Members receive 50% discount and NO handling fee! Click here to purchase tickets. Select tickets before or on January 22, 2011 and use the Promo Code: SDBM.* All tickets will be waiting at Will Call, located at the Box Office, under your name.

If you see the show come back and let me know what you thought!

*Discounts apply to Area A seating only. Offer only available online.

Lunch Box Party sponsored by Fresh & Easy

I want to feed my daughter foods that not only taste good, but are good for her. Now that she is in Kindergarten I have joined the ranks of the moms that have to pack lunch and snacks Monday through Friday. Princess D is getting tired of eating the same old things I have been giving her for a while now. Enter Fresh & Easy, who are opening up more and more locations all over San Diego. If you haven't shopped there yet, you have to! They support local growers and businesses, have very reasonable prices and are all about healthy eating.

With the start of the school year they introduced their new line of kids food -- Goodness™. This new line is wholesome, natural foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and other foods that are naturally good sources of vitamins and minerals. Fresh & Easy worked hard to limit the amount of sugar, sodium, and fat in the Goodness™ products. They have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, no added trans fat, no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial sweeteners, and no added caffeine!





I have been wanting to get a bunch of local mom bloggers together for our kids to play (and simply meet some of them in person). Having this group together was a great opportunity to help spread the word about Fresh & Easy's Goodness™ new products. So, this past weekend I hosted a Lunch Box Party sponsored by Fresh & Easy. They provided all of the delicious food for the kids to try and for the mom's to snack on.





We didn't have the fabulous San Diego weather you typically hear about, but the moms had a good time chatting while the kids had fun playing, coloring and snacking. Hands down favorites for the moms was the salami and gouda cheese (which also double as an ice pack for San Diego Momma's daughter). The kids' favorites were Goodness™ Kettle Corn and Coco Boulders cereal.



That night my mom cooked up the Goodness™ Mac & Cheese for my daughter and Miss' son. This mac & cheese is is not only delicious, but is made with whole grains and has 4 grams of fiber! So even I indulged in some cheesy goodness with out feeling guilty.


Thank you to all of the wonderful moms who came to my Lunch Box Party: Miss, Hip Mom, Bird Rock Fabrications, San Diego Momma, Mama Mary Show, and Not Just Another Jen. I hope you ladies and your kids had a good time. Let's do it again soon!

Huge thank you to Fresh & Easy! They provided the food for my Lunch Box Party and a stipend for hosting. I was not asked to post about them or their products. All statements are my opinion and my opinion only.

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NaBloPoMo Day 29: Word of Mama

There are so many different toys on the market for kids right now like those Zu Zu pets or dolls that sneeze, but I like to make sure what Princess D plays with is not only fun but educational. ebeanstalk is a website dedicated to selecting good, safe toys for kids based on their age. They have asked moms like me to help pick the toys they sell. Recently they sent me Play Foam by Education Insights, one of their many learning toys. Click here to read what Princess D and I thought about it.

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Vanity (part 1)

This weekend I am doing some much needed self maintenance. As you have seen I have dark hair and lots of it. I have bushy brows and a ... um ... mustache. Not like a man-stache. Just thicker, darker peach fuzz that grows on my upper lip. Because of my dark skin having this extra hair on my face makes my appearance look dirty.

Living in San Francisco I saw an esthetician religiously, but since moving down to San Diego in 2003 I haven't been consistent with my upkeep. Plus, over the past year I have developed eczema on my face which makes waxing a bit more difficult. The topical steroids cause my skin to thin out, so when you rip hot wax off my upper lip a thin layer of skin would come off too.

One of my friends recommended Beehive Waxing Salon. It is a slight drive for me, but they have a woman who does threading. If you have never seen or heard of threading it is something you would never believe could remove hair. But, it works and is so much more gentler than waxing.

It has been a couple of month since I had gotten waxed, so the woman who did my treatment was able to reshape my brows. I think she did a pretty darn good job:



As for my upper lip ... it is hairless and isn't showing a sign of irritation! (Sorry, no before or after photos of that embarrassing feature.)

As for Beehive Waxing Salon it was worth the drive. The salon is in decorated beautifully with lots of fun things to buy. The prices are incredibly reasonable. I have already made my next appointment! If you live in San Diego I highly recommend this place ... and let them know I sent you!

Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut and colored ... so stay tuned!

Word of Mom: Hamsa Bracelet

My grandmother grew up Catholic but also honored her Chinese ancestry's Buddhist beliefs. She would go to daily services in the morning and then come home to burn incense and give her offerings to Buddha in the back yard. Everywhere she went she carried a small ivory Buddha and her rosary. She was incredibly superstitious too. All her superstitions are of Chinese origin. For example, on her burial she had to be wearing her favorite pink dress and holding a purse which contained a picture of the family, some money to pay her fare to heaven, water if she gets thirsty in her after life journey, her shoes were placed next to her (they don't put shoes on the dead in the coffin) because she didn't want to get blisters on her feet in case her travel was arduous, a blanket to keep her warm and candle and match to light her way.

She was a quirky and eccentric woman. I didn't have much exposure to her since she passed away when I was only 8 years old, but much like her I have found myself drawn to different religious beliefs.

I was raised Catholic -- received my first communion, went to confession and even got confirmed. I lost my faith in Catholicism during college when I started studying the history of the Catholic church, studying other religions and stories of priests molesting altar boys started coming out. There were so many options of how to pray, literature to read, ways to be one with your surroundings and how to live your life, but I felt that all of them had two main philosophies: 1) there is a higher being and 2) live your time on earth with goodness and respect. What organized religion I chose didn't seem to matter much to me. I don't pretend to know everything (or anything for that matter) about religion. What I do know is that each one has something that makes complete sense to me. (Maybe I should invent my own religion ... it is a pretty lucrative business!)

I am also superstitious, but not to the extent my grandmother was. As a kid in the 80s I did have a lucky rabbit's foot (which I think that is a hideous concept now). When I studied in London for a summer I took a class on astrology and had my charts read multiple times. I carry the fortunes from my cookies and Yogi Tea around in my wallet. I have a lucky number. I have a small statue of Buddha in my house. More recently I have acquired a a hamsa bracelet.



At a wedding in June I noticed my friend Dub (no, that is not her real name) wearing a pretty red cord bracelet. I asked her what it was. She told me it was to ward off evil. You might have seen one on a few celebrity wrists. After some research I discovered that hamsa is an old and popular amulet for magical protection from the Evil Eye. The word HAMSA means five and refers to the digits on the hands. It is considered a Jewish good luck charm symbolizing the protecting hand of God. According to my Jewish clients When worn as a bracelet it is not to be taken off until it falls off on its own. Considering where I am currently in my life I had to have one. So, I went to SeenOnMTV.com (don't say it ... I know) and purchased one.

Has my luck changed since I have been wearing it? Do I feel protected? Actually, I do! Whether it is mind over matter. This little bracelet and silver hand have given me some additional strength. Have I converted to Judaism or Kabbalah? No, I am still an open faith believer embracing my own spirituality. I am not very eccentric, but I guess I am a bit quirky!

Do you have a good luck charm?

Word of Mom: Bravo

Living with a painting contractor I have always been concerned with budgeting with only one income in mind. But, with having two adults and a child in one home sharing one bank account this has not been easy. Now that I am 100% in control of where my money is spent I am working on a realistic budget. To get to where I want to be financially I had to start with some very serious purging. I have been selling things at consignment stores, donating to Goodwill for the end of year tax write off, being better at conserving energy, and cutting back on needless luxuries.

The first (and most obvious) was my cable bill.

Did I really need a DVR in my bedroom? Nope. That was an easy one. Someday maybe I will learn to live without a TV in my bedroom (don't hold your breath). It has been a bit of an adjustment to not be able to rewind something I might have missed on the Today show while getting ready for work and Little 'Ny is learning that if she wants to watch something we need to put on a DVD instead of watching yesterday's Dora episode while curled up in my "warm spot" drinking her milk. But, we are adjusting. After all, we still have the DVR downstairs.

Next to get the axe was my premium cable channels. I don't go to the movies. I don't belong to Blockbuster or Netflix. Therefore, HBO, Showtime, and Starzwere our form of entertainment. But, I don't need to watch the same movies over and over. The show I really want to watch (The Tudors) is on for a limited time and I can always watch it at my parents house, rent the collection or turn Showtime back on and have a marathon week then turn it off. So, I asked the customer service rep to turn the channels off *wimper* after a weekend of DVR'ing a bunch of movies (my way of sticking it to the man).

Thanks to those two changes I had knocked $70 bucks off of my monthly bill! But, what the hell am I supposed to watch now when my favorite shows are not on?

My solution ... the Bravo channel!

I already am hooked on Shear Genius and had always wanted to watch Project Runway. During my girls weekend in AZ my friends were raving about The Rachel Zoe Project, so on Tuesday I saw Bravo was running all of the episodes back to back. I turned it on. Fashion, celebrities, over the top drama ... I was hooked. I set the DVR to record all of them so I could watch them at my leisure. Then last night I watched the last episode of Project Runway until 1am! Again, hooked. I will be watching the reruns for sure. Then to top it off the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Somebody save me!

Now I don't have anyone loading up the DVR with Cops and Metal Mania. I am master of my own remote control (when Little 'Ny is asleep). I can enjoy my silly shows with no one teasing me. So, I saved Bravo to my favorites and set my DVR (and I think you should too)!

word of mom: flubber recipe

Some people asked me what Little 'Ny is playing with in my second photo from last weeks WW post. It is called flubber and something you can make at home. It is actually a lot less messy than play-doh and just as fun. Here is the recipe:

In one bowl combine 2 cups of clue, 1 1/2 cups of water & food coloring. In a large bowl mix 2 tsp. of borax and 1 cup of hot water. Stir until smooth. Slowly add glue mixture to excess water. Let stand for a few minutes, and then pour into a shallow tray. Let dry for 10 minutes. Store in a plastic sealed container.

Have fun!

P.S. If you do make some flubber please send me photos of your little one playing with it and I will happily post them!

word of mom: summer colds suck

Can you believe it? Two "word of mom" installments in one week! I actually meant to write a post about this before, but like many other things I forgot! What is going on? Well, Little 'Ny has come down with her second summer cold is what's going on.

Yesterday on our way home from swimming lessons I heard Little 'Ny cough. Not just a "clearing your throat" cough, but a "phlegmy" cough. When we got home she said "Mommy, I have boogies." Which means she needs my help blowing her nose. I knew it ... she was coming down with a cold.

When little kids come down with a cold life just sucks (mostly for mom and dad). But, when they come down with a cold during the summer life sucks even more. Going from air conditioned rooms to playing in the outdoor heat makes it inevitable that little ones will get sick. Sinus congestion and coughing makes for sleepless nights. The heat adds to the exhaustion. Exhaustion makes it even harder for them to get over their colds faster.

The last summer cold hit Little 'Ny really hard. She was so congested and uncomfortable that she was barely sleeping. I hate giving her over the counter decongestants and they don't seem to do anything for her anyways. What I needed was a solution that would shorten the duration of her cold more naturally. So, I headed to Sprouts for help. The woman that help me sent me home with: Hylands Sniffles n Sneezes Tablets for kids and Childrens Chestal By Boiron.

Did they work you ask? They sure did! Three days after I started Little 'Ny on these homeopathic solutions she was almost 100% better. I couldn't believe it! Her colds typically last 10 days. The trick is to make sure you set an alarm to remind you to administer the dosage.

So, after a very restless night last night (up at midnight and 2am) due to her stuffy nose and coughing I headed to the store to pick up another bottle of Hylands Sniffles n Sneezes Tablets for kids and Childrens Chestal By Boiron. This time to help make her more comfortable I used California Baby Bubble Bath Cold&Flu in her bath and rubbed her down with California Baby Massage Oil - Colds & Flu. She felt great after her bath. Her sinuses seems less congested. Let's hope she gets a good night sleep!

word of mom: organic solutions for eczema

Growing up I struggled with eczema in the typical "hot spots" -- inner elbows, inner knees, neck and the corners of my mouth. In college it showed up on my earlobes during finals. When I turned 23 my skin seemed to finally calm down. I was seeing a dermatologist and esthetician monthly and got my acne and eczema under control.

Then Little 'Ny came along. Money that once went to my esthetician now goes to her school. Stress has increased thanks to work and finances. My regular 10 hours of sleep has been decreased to an average of 6 hours a night.

In February my skin let me know that I am neglecting it with a major eczema flare up in the corner of my eyes and all around my mouth. I saw my internal medicine doctor, my allergist, my dermatologist and all of them said ... STOP SCRATCHING and sent me home with a tube of cortisone. Well, it worked for 3 days. As soon as I stop using the cream the eczema flares back up and I am back to scratching. I have been unable to wear make up and hide behind large sunglasses when I can. The stress of having eczema on my face simply adds to the problem.

Then a friend told me about Neem and Turmeric. I had never heard of either of these, but was desperate to find anything that would help me. So, I headed to Sprouts and grabbed the first person I could find in the health aisle. She handed me these products:



As soon as I started using these things my skin condition improved ... quickly. But, when I ran out of these products and my eczema returned ... quickly. I have always wanted to rely less on modern medicine and turn to more natural, Ayurveda remedies. These two products have proven to me that this is the best choice.

So tell me have you every tried these products and what did you think of them? Do you have any other recommendations for me if you also suffer from eczema?

can't live without ... Ralph's World

Little 'Ny loves to sing (she could be the next American Idol) ... especially in the car. A couple of her favorite CDs are Little Einsteins: Musical Missions and Mickey's Top 40 Tunes which can get pretty old after a short car ride week. But, the CD I don't get sick of is Welcome to Ralph's World

If your child watches Playhouse Disney you probably have seen Ralph's World music videos. The songs have a hip sound with witty lyrics that even adults can enjoy. Little 'Ny's favorite song is Surfin' in My Imagination. My favorite is The Coffee Song. Hubs' just likes them all!

Last year Ralph's World did a House of Blues tour. We caught the show twice! Funny thing is that neither Hubs or I had been to HOB before these 10am Saturday concerts. Little 'Ny had a great time dancing and meeting Ralph himeself!

Ralph's World - House of Blues San Diego - February 10, 2007

Ralph's World - House of Blues San Diego - May 19, 2007

The big news is Ralph's World has released a new album: The Rhyming Circus! It goes on sale tomorrow and I can't wait to pick it up. You should pick it up too!

namaste

In January 2000 I made a new year resolution to find something that would inspire me to workout. I had gotten tired of eliptical machines, kick boxing and step classes. I enjoyed pilates, but it was so expensive.

Then one Tuesday I walked by a yoga studio on my way home from the local health food store. I had walked by it hundreds of times, but had never noticed it. In the window it advertised a free trial class. So, I thought to myself "why not?" I looked at the schedule and made a plan to go that Saturday morning.

The rest of the week was spent getting ready for the class ... buying a yoga mat and an outfit, researching the different kinds of yoga, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me.

Saturday morning I walked into the small hatha yoga studio. I was the first person there and no one was at the front desk. I could feel the heat eminating from the room. I started to get nervous. As I was about to turn to leave a very petite man came out and greeted me. He had a thick, warm Spanish accent that instantly calmed my nerves. He introduced himself as Tony Sanchez, the owner of the studio. At this point other students started coming in. It was too late for me to make a quiet getaway. So, I entered the studio and found my spot in the back right corner.

It was the most challenging 1 hour workout I had ever experienced. I walked out of that studio drenched in sweat and a new member of the studio. I was inspired ... I had never felt better. I started going 3 days a week. Six months later I had dropped almost 2 clothing sizes, my skin never looked better and I was the healthiest I have ever been in my life.

One of the instructors from the studio started teaching at the gym across the street from my office, so I started going there too. I was practicing 5 days a week and loving it.

Three years later I got married and we moved down here. Once unpacked the first thing I did was find a local yoga studio. I discovered Ginseng Yoga. When I wasn't working or at Ginseng I was practicing yoga at home using Yoga Challenge® I DVD. The company I work for provides a membership to the gym located on the office property. The gym offers yoga classes, so of course I went to them 3 days a week.

When I got pregnant I continued to attended prenatal classes at Ginseng Yoga and practiced at home using ZenMama with Rainbeau Mars: Prenatal Yoga Workout DVD.

Five and a half years after my first yoga class Little 'Ny was born. I practiced postnatal yoga for a while. But, I went back to work full time (half day in the office and the other half at home). Yoga started to become less and less of a priority. Little 'Ny, Hubs, the house, my job, finances all seemed to prevent me from practicing yoga. Two and half years later I am over weight and out of shape.

Yesterday I took my first yoga class. I say "first" because that is what if felt like. The class was taught by a teacher I didn't know. My hamstrings and back are tightened up again. My muscles are sore like the day after my first yoga class with Tony Sanchez. And, once again, I am inspired.

If you are looking for some inspiration to help you boost your workout I recommend:

can't live without ... Kiss My Face Olive & Aloe Moisturizer

I have extremely sensitive skin due to a combination of eczema and a nickel allergy. My other issue is that my hands suffer from dishwashing, laundry and bath time. So, I have been searching for the perfect body & hand lotion. I have finally found it ...

I love how this lotion leaves my skin feeling silky, not oily or sticky. The scent is light and pleasing. My hands no longer look like they have been soaked in battery acid. And, it's organic!

nablopomo 16: can't live without ... Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler & Mascara

I love makeup, but I barely wear any. Partially because I think I look ridiculous and because I have too many other things to do other than my makeup. I am a minimalist, but I can't leave the house without doing something about my eyes.

My eyelashes are thick, long and very straight. When I don't curl my eyelashes I look tired. I remember the first time I got a makeover I was 16 years old. The makeup artist tried using a Revlon eyelash curler on me, but it barely made a crimp. Next thing I knew she used a blunt butter knife and her finger to curl my lashes. The heat from her hand with the edge of the butter knife got my stubborn lashes to curl beautifully.

Before I go on vacation I typically get my eyelashes permed so I don't have to worry what I will look like after snorkeling. It lasts about a month and shaves a minute off my "makeup routine". But, it is impractical getting an eyelash perm every month. So, I was on the hunt for the über eyelash curler ... and, I found it! Shu Uemura's eyelash curler. It requires very little squeezing, doesn't pull at the lash and creates a nice shape.

A really good mascara is so hard to find. I love the MAC mascara because it had rosewater in it which makes your lashes really glossy, but it smudged. So, by lunch time I looked like a raccoon. I tried the best selling Maybelline's Great Lash mascara, but it would make my perfectly curled eyelashes straight seconds later. Once again, Shu Uemura came to my rescue. Their mascara is not clumpy, it doesn't straighten out my lashes and it lasts all day.

Shu Uemura you are the apple of my eye!

nablopomo day 4: can't live without ... Murad Soothing Lip Therapy

I have always had extremely sensitive skin, allergies and eczema. When I was going to high school the "in" lipstick was a very matte and had some kind of ingredient that I was apparently allergic to. So, ever since then my lips have been incredibly sensitive. If I change face products my lips get irritated and raw for months.

What's even worse is that I am a "lip stuff junky". Any gloss, chapstick or lip color I see that looks delicious I have to try, but I end up paying the price later. The only solution for me was petroleum jelly and no lipstick until my esthetician recommended Murad's Soothing Lip Therapy. That stuff works miracles!

I am still get suckered into a yummy looking lip gloss, but I know I have salvation in my pocket if I need it.

can't live without ... Trader Joe's Mac 'n Cheese & Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar

When it comes to food there are two things I simply can't live without ... cheese and chocolate.

I discovered Trader Joe's Mac 'n Cheese. It is incredibly cheesy and tastes like it is homemade. You can find it in the frozen food aisle most of the time. But, it such a popular item by the end of the day it might be sold out.

Now, my biggest vice is milk chocolate. If I can't have Godiva Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar satisfies my craving. And, it's organic!

can't live without ... Bioganic® Home & Garden Insect Spray Ready-to-Use

The other day my husband called me in a frenzy because our living room had become infested with ants! With a toddler crumbs on the floor are inevitable. What we didn't realize was that there is a slight gap between our baseboards and hardwood floor behind our sofa.


A while back a co-worker told me about Green Light's Bioganic® Home & Garden Insect Spray Ready-to-Use. It's safe to use around children and pets and it's all natural -- 100% ORGANIC! But, I couldn't find it anywhere so I was forced to purchase a toxic, non-biodegradeable product to help us in the short term.


The next day I went online an bought 2 bottles.

can't live without ... MomSpit

When a story came out about a toddler who died of alcohol poisoning from a hand sanitizer I became frantic to find a non-alcohol based on-the-go cleanser. Let me tell you ... it is not easy to find!

Last month GoodyBlog advertised MomSpit -- a no-rinse cleanser for hands and face that contains no alcohol. So, I quickly purchased 2 bottles.

This stuff is GREAT! It smells wonderful. It leaves my hands soft, smooth and feeling clean.

thank goodness for ...

One day before Christmas I came down with a horrible chest cold. Since I suffer from allergies and asthma a simple cold can quickly turn into bronchitis for me. And, sure enough the day after Christmas I completely lost my voice and had full chest congestion.

Someone recommended I pick up Sambucol, a homeopathic product which improves upper respiratory health. Not only does the syrup form taste good ... IT WORKS! Move over Robitusin ... Sambucol is "it"!