Best Products List - ongoing

So I have been meaning to make a list of my favorite products for a long time. There are certain things that I love and want to share with the world! Or at least the three friends who read this blog.

So this will be an ongoing post - I will add to it as I think of things.

1. Nivea creme - this stuff is simply the best in getting eye make up off. If you've had a hard day/night and need under-eye replenishing buy this stuff. If anyone knows where I can buy the smaller, travel-sized version

please let me know. I am never without this in my bathroom cabinet and on the road.



It's about $7.50 for a 6.8 oz jar at CVS.

2. Best lotion for post-shaving of the legs. Which, of course, is different than what you use on your face. I also would spread this stuff all over my body.

Say hello to my little friend.
Crabtree & Evelyn Body Cream


I prefer the Avocado selection, but since they have cruelly decided to discontinue that line I am in mourning and have stockpiled as much as possible under my bed which I will blow through all too quickly, I'm sure.



But this doesn't change the quality of their lotion. The Body Cream, specifically, is perfect for post-shaved legs. Some lotions are too oily (I have naturally oily skin so I don't like extra oil), some don't get absorbed into my skin but stay on top and slide around for hours after I put it on. I live in NYC where it gets humid in the summer and I want a lotion that I can apply and not have it sting or make my legs sweat afterwards.

Crabtree & Evelyn's Body Cream is by far the best product I have ever sampled. It's worth the extra money, in my opinion. It runs $28.00 for 8.8 oz which will last you a long time.

3. Face sunblock. This is something I am very particular about having both oily and dry skin on my face and also have skin that dermatologists have told me "should never, ever be in the sun... ever". I have to wear sunblock everyday, regardless of weather, and I am sure there are better, more expensive products that I don't know about, but for every day use and the right budget, Oil of Olay's Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 is perfect.



$14.99 at CVS.

4. Facial hydrating cream. Another great facial moisturizer I use at night before bed is Oil of Olay's Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream.


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Often when I wear this out I will get compliments that my skin is "glowing". It's silky and smooth and lovely and doesn't make me break out. $18.99 at CVS.

5. Lip balm. I am also very particular about what kind of lip balm I use. I need to have it on me at all times and use lip balm with SPF in it as well, so I have sampled many - expensive and inexpensive - over the years. My all-time favorite lip balm WAS Rite Aid's Aloe Lip Balm but that doesn't exist anymore and it has been replaced by generic Rite Aid Lip Balm. This stuff is pretty good.
However, my current favorite is Banana Boat's Aloe Vera with Vitamin E SPF 30 Lip Balm.



This shit will protect you from the sun, stay on, it's not too waxy or slimy. It smells like vacation and keeps your lips smooth and soft and supple. If you have a matte lipstick that dries out your lips, try applying some of this before you put it on. I never go anywhere without this product.

6. Sunscreen. Don't get a sunburn. Just don't. If you use sunscreen and are out in the sun you will probably get some color anyway and it might stop you from dying a horrible death. Well, one of many, I suppose.

This is the sunscreen I use (Banana Boat Sport) when I'm out in the sun, especially when I'm in the water a lot and need good protection that won't wash away after ten minutes.



WAIT!!!!!!!!! Don't leave! It's just getting good!

7. Hair product- curling gel that won't make you look like you used Jerry Curl! Deva Curl.



It makes my hair curl and look so pretty people confuse me for a unicorn. Or a puppet.

8. Welcome to Sonya Dakar. Some of the best facial products I have ever used. I have combination skin and got recommended these products when I got a facial at D'mai Urban Spa in Park Slope a while back. I will say two negative words about Sonya Dakar: NOT CHEAP.

The Berry Mask is unbelievable. I have used it a bunch and it completely cleans my face of any oily feeling or any dryness. I plan on getting some more for my wedding weekend. $67.00



The Triple Action Scrub is also amazing - makes your skin tingle, you wash it off (otherwise it gets uncomfortable) and cleans out my pores very well. $49.00



9. Bumble & bumble. I wouldn't say I used their products alllll the time, but there are a few I adore and like to keep around. Their Grooming Creme is awesome- gets rid of the frizzy immediately and smells incredible. Gives hair a glossy, sleek look right out of the shower.

Maria Bamford otra vez

Exercise the demons! Part 3

Holy baby Jesus.

If you want a workout that will make sense and get you sweating for real - forget Tae Bo.

Try this video out.



It's a great workout.

Too pooped to blog.

Oh, Spring in New York... you make love to me like a Spanish lounge-singer... slowly y con pasion!

Or at least, that's how I interpret it.

AND I have a treat for you. Recently while at Sharky and Mrs. Sharky's house we were watching comedy central and a comedienne named Maria Bamford came on and did a bit and she was super duper funny. Like had me laughing out loud repeatedly funny! Which almost never happens.

Most stand-up comedians are not funny. I like Eddie Izzard, George Carlin, Richard Pryor... and Maria Bamford.

Anyway- enough about ME... here's Maria.

I stole this from my nephews blog. Because it rocks.

See Chice's blog here.

A brief quilting update... the countdown is on.

It's fuckin Spring!

At least in New York. And let me tell you, it is most welcome. I don't like hot weather so I always grimace a little when the last chill of winter dissipates because I know humidity and misery are in store for me. But this Spring is SO beautiful that it melts even the heart of a an old grinch like me.

I have been grinding away at the sewing machine trying to get this baby quilt done by Sunday at 12:30pm (not that I'm counting) and I thought I'd share my progress thus far. Some of it is quite good, and some of it is ridiculous, but I am a beginner quilter and it's the goddamn thought that counts... right?

Here is the quilt all pieced together. I have just finished the actual quilting and have to bind it and I will be done!





This is the top of the quilt juxtaposed with the backing fabric.


The backing fabric is awesome - it's called "Goth Baby" and is blue with chocolate brown skulls & crossbones.




The borders.




Now, I thought I would be clever girl and quilt in a pattern, large and "easy" in each block to leave it relatively puffy and relaxed since it's a baby blanket. I thought "I'll just do a crescent moon and star pattern in each one" and practiced on some muslin. Well, I'm taking my creative license and calling it "rich with character" because as you can see... the moon and star pattern (and this is my best one) sort of look like they were done by a two-year-old. Such is life.



So on I go towards binding. This I have never succesfully done before. I have watched five videos on youtube.com about it and taken a class where I WATCHED someone do it, but have yet to do it myself. So this should be interesting.

I suspect quilting is like the rest of life where you complete one part of one task and think, "That would have worked a lot better if I had only done ______." But ya know, there are times to go back and be a perfectionist and there are times to say, "Fuck it" and keep moving.

This is a "Fuck it" time. Go babies!

Two new recipes... I mean HEAVEN.

I made these last weekend for a dinner party for friends, then for my father and we ate a considerable number of them as well. They are DEEE-LISH.

From Epicurious.com.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)
1 large egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line twelve 1/3-cup muffin cups with foil muffin liners. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Mix mashed bananas, egg, melted butter and milk in medium bowl. Stir banana mixture into dry ingredients just until blended (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake muffins until tops are pale golden and tester inserted into center comes out with some melted chocolate attached but no crumbs, about 32 minutes. Transfer muffins to rack; cool.

And secondly, Roasted Chicken with Dijon Sauce.

Ingredients

3 pound chicken parts (thighs, drumsticks, and/or breasts), with skin and bones
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 small shallots, thinly sliced
3/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.

Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in an ovenproof 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Working in 2 batches, brown chicken, skin side down first and turning once, about 5 minutes per batch.

Return all chicken, skin side up, to skillet and roast in oven until just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Transfer chicken to a platter, then add shallots, wine, and broth to pan juices in skillet and boil, scraping up any brown bits, until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cream and boil until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

Strain sauce through a sieve into a bowl. Whisk in mustard, chives, and salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chicken with sauce.

****

With the chicken recipe I did not use chives because we didn't have them. I did not strain the sauce because I love lumps and chewy bits in my sauce (that's right) and I used six, boneless, skinless breasts. Oh, and I added mushrooms because me and the Mans love them. It was truly delicious. I bet it would also be good with a thick, white fish.