Hair mania...

How is it that our self-esteem is totally wrapped up in our hair? You know, after you leave the salon with the perfect new cut and color you suddenly feel great...until that evening when you freak out about restyling it and wondering if it even looks close to the way it did at the salon. We go with clippings from magazines...I want a little of this and a little of that but not too much of this... Our poor stylists. What we do to them!

I am guilty of having a hair file, full of shades of red and auburn and blonde. I used to be a blonde, but will likely never go back. I feel more myself as a redhead. Think about that. I absolutely identify with my hair. Is that crazy?? Apparently not, since after a few days of conversation on the topic, I am really not alone.

I was able to do an interesting social experiment when I made the shocking switch in hair color. I found that going from long & blonde, to shoulder length auburn I was both taken more seriously at work (and produced far greater sales results) and was looked at more often by men. The kind of men you would want looking at you.

This is all surfacing because I inadvertently got a haircut far shorter than I ever intended. I let my stylist have at it with the scissors and didn't realize what he was doing until off went 6 inches of hair! I have received several comments that I look like a "working woman" though I feel like I belong on the six o'clock news. That or driving a minivan with kids screaming in the back seat. I don't think this cut will last for long, but I did find it interesting how much a few less inches of hair can totally mess with my psyche!

The new do...

These are a few of my favorite things...

I know, it has been a while! I have been traveling heavily this January, spending 12 of the last 26 days on the road...and trying to plan a cross-country move when time allows. Life has been a little hectic, but I have sat on enough planes (six, to be exact) to thoroughly catch up on my magazine habit and get some inspiration for this next post.

I tend to be a magazine reader (vs. a book reader) because a) I have a short attention span and b) I want current information that can enhance my life. I read a LOT of magazines every month and at the top of my pile is always Real Simple. It is jam packed with articles that advise, instruct & inspire. This year's January issue didn't disappoint & it inspired this post. The issue covered the "smartest, most useful products for: home, fashion, cooking, beauty, & health." I am going to borrow their categories & give you my MUST HAVES...many of which happened to pop up in the issue itself! Below you will find my list of things I cannot live without. Anything on it has at least two years of use in my home. So here it goes...you will find pictures of everything in every header.

MY LIST OF THE SMARTEST, MOST USEFUL, PRODUCTS FOR...

• The Dyson Animal Vacuum w/ Telescoping Wand The price may make you squint your eyes and scream "What?!? For a vacuum!!!?!" but I assure you it is worth it! I fill up its bag less container every week with more pet hair than I even imagined blanketed my home. It has a bare floors setting, which means the broom is obsolete. Check the target ads, usually they run a special where you pay full price, but get a $100 gift card which somehow makes it less of a blow. I actually look forward to vacuuming now!
• Spot Shot This carpet cleaner is the only one that gets the nastiest of nasty stains out of my white carpet. From muddy puppy paws, to kitty puke-this one has kept my carpet sparkling. I went through about a dozen brands before I found this one. You can buy it in 4 packs at Sam's or Costco.
• Method Wood for Good Most wood cleaners I have used in the past were so waxy that they would catch the cat hair floating in the air & make the surface I just cleaned look dirty is seconds, not to mention sticky for days. This is a pleasant almond scented cleaner that is non toxic & gentle on you & the environment. Couple it with Get a Grip, the microfiber cloth and you've got yourself a great cleaner for that kitchen table & nightstand that will make them both shine.
  
• Starbucks Proteo Barista Espresso Machine Though Starbucks no longer makes this machine, it is found on eBay & craigslist at very affordable prices. This gem of a purchase has probably saved me more money than any appliance. Starbucks sells the espresso "pods" so you can make the perfect strength espresso shot to drink alone or in my case, add to my latte in the morning. I swear this machine paid for itself in 6 months. I can make a better cup of coffee at home than any Starbucks can!
  
• Chilewich Table Mats I stumbled upon these a couple of years ago at the Sur la Table in town & fell in love with the line. I have the mini basket weave, in shades of green in a set of four for my table and these look identical today, to what they did three years ago. They are made of "plynyl" and can be cleaned in the sink w/soap and water, or even with bleach if you want to get aggressive. The real simple also features their rugs, which I cannot vouch for. I am probably going to splurge on one this year...
  

• UGG Boots Though I used to think these were just some status symbol, my move to the Midwest has taught me otherwise. I think I wear my tall, light sand, mosaic print uggs just about every day during the winter! They are a must have if the temp goes below freezing. Now, whether you really need them in places like California or (gasp) Texas is up for debate but here where the temp has averaged in the teens lately, we need our uggs. They have replacement inserts & special cleaning solution made by the company to make these last through the years...
  
• Hanky Panky These are the absolute most comfortable thong! The lace on the side prevent any lines from showing through and the design is flawless. Many brands have knocked these off but Hanky Pankies are the originals. I prefer the low rise version. They are one size fits all. The only undies I'll wear! Though a bit expensive, they can be found discounted at the Nordstrom half yearly sale as well as at Neimans Last Call outlet stores. Wash in a mesh bag w/ Woolite and they will clean up beautifully!
  
• Spanx Truly original...started with footless pantyhose and now they make shapers for ever need! I especially love their Power Panties & Higher Power designs. They say whats underneath makes the look...and obviously I prescribe to that theory!
• Chantelle Senso 2701 I happen to be one of those naturally busty gals who needs more than a pretty bra to keep me looking good. I searched for years for the perfect undergarment and everything above a D-cup always had huge straps and full coverage. There was nothing that worked well and was pretty or even just normal looking. Alas, the chantelle senso t-shirt bra! My favorite part about this bra--the straps have adjustable positioning in the back. There are two loops inside the normal bra positioning that lie closer to the hooks in the middle of the back. This keeps the bra straps from falling down your shoulders and from showing in any sleeveless tanks. I am VERY passionate about this well constructed piece of french lingerie!
• Paige Premium Denim These quickly have replaced 7 for all Mankind as my favorite jeans. The short story: Paige was the fit model for many of the brands of denim we love. This means the jeans were modeled around her body. She was the model for 7, Habitual, True Religion, Lucky, Citizens for Humanity and many more. She decided to build her own company and it is fabulous. My favorites are the Laurel Canyon cut. Check out her interactive fit guide to find your ideal cut. There is even a hidden ID holder in the back pocket in case you don't want to carry a purse while out on the town!

• Everyday Food This magazine has transformed my cooking! A Martha Stewart Magazine, it covers not only tons of recipes but educates readers about all things cooking! From veggies to knives, it is so educational. I find the recipes easy & healthy and many of them are our household staples. It is one of those smaller magazines that you can grab near the checkout but of course, a subscription is cheaper. A few times a year there are supplements called "Good Things" that are creative compilations of crafts and tips for homekeeping.
  
• Allrecipes.com Another resource that has transformed my cooking! This is a huge user driven database of recipes. There are a few features that make this place great. First, you can sort recipes based on how many stars they have been given. You can also see the number of reviews and base your decisions on how many other people cook that recipe. The BEST feature is the comments feature. Much like epicurious, those who have tried the recipe can post comments about their alterations. Usually, you can find a few people who made each recipe much healthier and improve the quality of the meal by using the suggestions.
  
• Nordicware I love to bake but in order to make a pretty finished product, the pan must be high quality. I have Nordicware for all seasons, since they make beautiful molds in many shapes & sizes. My most used: pumpkin loaf pan. Somehow food just tastes better when it is beautiful! You can find most Nordicware for 50% off after the holidays at Sur La Table, my favorite cooking store!
  
• LeCreuset Silicone Spatula Alas, the best spatula ever!! Even visiting cooking friends have commented on the perfect design of this kitchen tool. I initially bought this one because it was hot pink and sparkly (sparkles are in the silicone) but soon found it to be perfectly balanced & easy to grip the rounded handle. The silicone is the perfect consistency! Tuesday Morning often carries the LeCreuset line of silicone highly discounted, but never in as cool colors as Sur La Table. :)
  
• Jo!e Non Stick Omelet Pan Just the perfect size for a single omelet! I have the double pan and the single one, along with the mini flipper & the mini whisk. The double pan makes the most fluffy, perfect omelet every time. It fits perfectly on an English muffin for a great egg sandwich. Every tool & pan has the cute little egg guy on the handle!
  

• Bare Minerals This is my favorite line of makeup. I don't wear a lot, but my favorites in this line that I do wear just about every day are the SPF 15 Foundation, Faux Tan (better than Warmth for a bronzer), and Mineral Veil (no more shine!). I really do love this line of makeup & it is great for your skin!
  
• Shu Uemura Basic Mascara Best mascara ever! Goes on without any clumps & separated lashes perfectly. I also really like the brand's eyelash curler. It is usually the pick by celebrity makeup artists and perfectly shapes the eye for a flawless curl every time.
• Kerastase Reflection Most of you know that my redheadedness is not natural...thus I need a great shampoo & conditioner to hold that color! My blonde locks just want to let it go...This is the best shampoo & masque I have found. It makes my hair shiny as ever!
  
• Super Solano Hair Dryer I have had this same hair dryer since my junior year of college and it is still going strong 6 years later! Talk about a worthwhile investment! This dryer cut my drying time in half when I first purchased it and when people visit & use it...they usually end up buying one of their own!
  
• Chi 1in Flat Iron This is the only hot tool I use. It can curl just as well as a curling iron and yet flatten straight as a board! A one stop shop! This is the original ceramic flat iron.
  
  
  
• Fish Oil Capsules I swear these make my skin more hydrated. Since I began using them, I have seen a big difference. There are also an insane amount of health benefits associated with their consumption--click the link above to see the Mayo Clinic's evidence. My OB also said that taking these along with a prenatal vitamin during pregnancy prevents the need to use a stool softener since fish oil is naturally provides that benefit. I had a hard time taking them at first because I didn't like the taste I burped up...but Martha taught me if you freeze them & take them just before bed, you wont get any of the nasty taste! My vet even encouraged me to give one or two a day to my dog to shine up his coat. He now drools for them...
  
• Vaniqa You know that bit of peachy fuzz we ladies get on our cheeks that we [oh, no she didn't] shave, wax & pluck? Meet Vaniqa. A prescription cream that keeps that fuzz from growing. It stops any hair growth where you rub it in. It says to use it twice per day, but I only rub it on once per day and it has kept my face nice and hairless for three years! Patience is necessary...it takes about 6 months of use to start working but it is GREAT!
  
• Prenatal Vitamins Most doctors will tell you the generic brand you find at Costco will suit you just fine. Did you know that you have to be taking a Prenatal Vitamin BEFORE conception to reap all the benefits for your baby? Since 50% of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned, it's not a bad idea to be taking one just in case. I know, you're on the pill...but of these unintended pregnancies, 44% are behavior related method failures. What can it hurt to take one anyway? Thicker hair? Beautiful fingernails? Not a bad idea! **NEW NEWS 1/31/08-a study of over 35,000 women who took folic acid supplements for at least a year before becoming pregnant cut their chances for very early preterm births (20-28wks) by 70%. Most prenatals have at least 400mcg of folic acid, try to find one w/ at least 800mcg(.8mg) if you can!
  
• Heart Rate Monitor Ever at the gym and wonder how hard you are working? The best way to know is to wear a heart rate monitor & be sure you are at your target heart rate. I have a Polar HRM and it has lasted over 8 years now. I am so impressed that most of the cardio machines have picked up this technology and have built in sensors so you can actually set your Target Heart Rate at the start of your run and the speed will adjust so you always hit your THR. Genius!
  
• Nalgene OTG Bottles It pretty much goes without saying, but we need to drink a lot of water. My favorite bottle for in the car and for working out is this Nalgene bottle that I can open with one hand. It holds just enough water for a good workout and is the prefect fit for in the car cup holders. I take one with me on the road everyday and have a commitment to myself to drink the whole thing before I am back home. It sounds easy...but I think it is a challenge!

What are your MUST HAVE favorite things??

Oh how I love Michigan Avenue...

So we just HAD to come to Chicago for my husband's very last medical school exam (really, we had to come) so...I urged him to make it a weekend trip. As he began his exam on Friday, I hopped on the train and made my first trip to Michigan Avenue. Fabulous! I found myself enjoying the mass retail offerings but was the most excited at Filene's Basement...bargain city! There was a whole bin of designer jeans...7's, Paige's, Citizen's...all $99 and 25% off. What a dream! Though most of Michigan Avenue was grossly overpriced it was fun to take it all in. I fell in love with the iPhone all over again...

Today we made a trip to Lincoln Park, a quaint boutiquey shopping experience. We encounted the worst wet & snowy weather...goodbye decent hair & dry pants. I learned that the jeans tucked into boots thing isnt just a fashion statement, it is a necessity. Wish I would have brought mine!

Though I had to drag my husband kicking and screaming, I discovered a new store to add to my list of favorites. I read about lululemon in one of my magazines and put it on the list of "shops to visit" whenever I made it to a big city (yes that list exists). When I read the article, I thought that anyone that would spend THAT much on gym pants must be nuts...but I was mistaken. They make, quite possibly, the best gym pants ever. Who says you need to go to the gym to get the best ass?? These pants literally give it to ya. Here is my find of the day, a way too spendy pair of workout pants (umm...reflective polka dots and two tummy panels that suck it all in plus seams that run at the perfect angles...they are like designer jeans, but spandex...another dream come true!) These are the Groove Pants and the two top panels come in a multitude of colors & patterns. But, I had to have the polka dots. These are [sadly] not sold online because you have to get the "in store experience" as they called it. It was a great one. The salespeople are some of the happiest people I have seen. Maybe it's because they get to wear spandex to work??? Purchases come in this nifty little brown box bag that has the cutest inspirational sayings on the back...

Let me also recommend HOTEL 71. It is in the heart of the "magnificent mile" and more affordable than you might think. We are very happy here. (thank you free wifi!)

Kansas City Gems

After a white knuckle drive to Kansas City through an ice storm, we made it safely. The trees were unbelievably gorgeous, sparkling with ice. (pics to come after editing)

After my work duties were fulfilled, I made my first trip to The Plaza which is the shopping mecca of KC. I stumbled upon two of the neatest shops I have seen in a while.

My first find, was The Paper Source. I knew I was in heaven when I first saw their logo, "Do something creative everyday." This was my kind of store! I walked away with a couple of treasures...and a book I have been eyeing for a couple of months. I am inspired already--it was a great buy.

The second store I found gave me heart palpitations. Fabric is one of the things that leaves me sleepless at night. I think forever about the endless possibilites of combinations! I found a store called 1154 LILL that was one of the most creative concepts I have ever seen. She has walls of fabric in the store and about 50 different handbag designs. You choose the handbag design and then you can choose ANY combination of fabric to cover the bag-inside & out. It was a designers dream come true! The fabrics were dreamy and I swear, I could have spent hours there. I was dragged out by my husband after about 45 minutes, but the website is just another dream come true! If you are a gal that likes things to be uniquely yours...and unlike anything that you will see on the street, you have got to check this out! She has everything from makeup bags to clutches to laptop bags and diaperbags. I was so excited about this find!

Here are a couple of examples:

Every single plane of the bag is the fabric of your choice. Oh, I could gush on and on and on about this store!

The Madeline...

My new winter fashion find of the season...mine is in charcoal and I love it! So chic! With my job, most of the winter I wear slacks, a coat and tall boots so I have built up quite a lovely selection of wool winter coats. One color I was lacking was charcoal, and I just stumbled upon this one at the Macy's (a mini Macy's in Sioux Falls) for 30% off. Score! This is the Madeline by Guess. I particularly love the super high, asymmetrical collar which will block out this nasty South Dakota wind. It also means I can slack off planning matching outfits since you can't see the top under such cozy outerwear. Even better! Now I just hope I move somewhere cold so I can wear it next season too.

Who pays that for JEANS?

I was reminded just which state I am currently living in today at the grand opening of our brand new Costco. (YAY!)

As a lover of designer jeans, I am always in search of a bargain on a great pair of Sevens, Paiges, Hudsons, True Religions...you know, the basic piece of a woman's wardrobe! You don't skimp on a basic piece. You just don't! Back in California, Costco was notorious for getting in an entire pallet of Sevens or other designer jeans and selling out the same day-- so if you hit is just right, you had to fight with all the other Danville women for one of the limited five sizes that were offered. So with high hopes, I made arrangements to get to Costco within 45 minutes of its grand opening just in case there was a pallet of my coveted jeans...turns out, if you live in Nebraska, you needn't hurry to the clothing section of Costco to beat out all the other women looking for the designer jeans.

After feverishly rushing through the ridiculous crowd...I saw the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...an entire pallet of Sevens and oh my gosh! An entire pallet of True Religions on the other side! Woohoo! They had them! As I began digging through the vast selection of styles and washes I noticed something was off...something wasn't right. I didn't have to dig. I didn't have to fight. In fact, I was the only one even remotely paying attention to this sea of "bargain" denim. And yes, absolutely, at $109 a pair, these jeans was a ridiculous bargain...right?!? YES...they are usually at least $200...TRs are $300--BARGAIN!!! Yeah...well...with a plethora of sizes and not a competitor in sight, I calmed down...and began to listen. "Who on earth would pay one hundred dollars for a pair of jeans." "Well isn't that ridiculous, look at the price of those." "Holy moly, why would you buy those when you could have these [holds up a pair of five pocket $39 Gloria Vanderbilt mom jeans] that are just fine." I stood there thinking (and feeling guilty) don't hate me because I am not fat and can actually wear these. Don't judge me because I like nice things. I work hard for my money and love a designer anything! Oh my gosh! Not only do these people not care, but they think I am CRAZY! I was getting stares pacing around the giant pile of perfectly folded jeans. Perfect stacks of 26's, 27's, 28's, 29's, and 30's. A complete set. Do I buy one? Two? Which ones? I made my decision. Got to the register, these people wouldn't quit. The guy rang them through, looked at the $112 total and looked at me with his eyebrows just about touching his receding hairline. "Is this right" he asked me. I smiled. "Those are a bargain," I said. "WHAAT!" He looked at me like I was nuts. "Those would be at least one hundred dollars more anywhere else." He shook his head, took my credit card and well, I proudly left the store with my bargain designer jeans.

I returned five hours later for another pair for myself and some sevens for my husband too. The piles were still untouched.

Hopefully, we will get them again. But, I am not holding my breath. Nebraska just might not be the place.

My new A Pockets! SCORE!