For Those of You Dying to See What's in My Purse

A few weeks back {ok, who am I kidding, this was like, months ago} the gals over at Delightfully Inappropriate tagged me to do one of those "Here's my purse and what's in it" posts. I have put this off, and off, and off. Mostly because my cats seem to have radar. Every time I've attempted to take the camera out to arrange my purse items on the floor they've messed up the whole production. Also I'm really lousy at taking pictures. So I decided today that I need to get over it and just do this already. If you don't like my amazing photography skills {I am so tempted to spell skills like skillz}, don't say I didn't warn ya.

Ok, first, here's the bag/purse I am currently carrying:

White Guess bag. Purchased on ebags.com
I don't remember how much I paid for it.

Do you call it a bag or a purse? I mostly say purse, being a northerner. I once worked with a woman from Virginia who called it her pocketbook, or something like that.

As you can see, this bag is white. I can get away with this in March because I live in Florida. If I was still living in Chicago, my bag would undoubtedly be some shade of black or gray to match my mood of the cold dark winters and non-stop snow. And speaking of snow, here is a picture my friend posted on Facebook of her daughter trying to dig out this morning from a snowstorm today in Chicago. On March 29th. I can hear the Chicagoans cursing the snow Gods right now.


OK, this has nothing to do with the contents of my purse...moving on...

So, here is what you'll find in my purse:

1.) Coach wallet: I love this wallet because it's compact and yet it holds a ton of stuff. I like to stash coupons I get in the mail from Macy's, or wherever, and they fit nicely in here. Right now I have a bazillion coupons for Einstein's Bagels. Have I used one? No. But I've turned into my Mom and cut them out anyway.

See my coupons sticking out?

Not pictured: Cash.

2.) Vera Bradley Make-Up Bag: This was a small, unnecessary splurge when I visited Chicago last winter. I already had a make-up bag, however, this one matches my Vera Bradley tote bag I purchased for my honeymoon cruise {and now I use it to go to our pool}, so it was sort of like "a must" to get this.

The make-up bag and the tote bag that started it all.

I have to say, I don't really know what attracted me to Vera Bradley. Her bags remind me of those old, wealthy, stuffy ladies from Lake Forest, IL who drive Jaguars, shop at Sunset Foods, and decorate their kitchens with roosters and country-style wallpaper.

My strange obsession started when I ran into a Hallmark store at the Boca Town Center last fall for a greeting card and $80 dollars later I walked out of there with a Vera Bradley tote bag. Hallmark had a small display of the bags at the front of the store and I stopped dead in my tracks to look at everything. I still don't know what made me stop, exactly, but I did find myself liking the tote bag's color combination of blue and brown. It works well together and it's not too country-looking. At least I don't think it is?

3.) Inside the Vera Bradely bag:

Pictured left to right: Bobbi Brown powder compact, a nail file, Clinique lip liner {actually, I don't use that anymore}, Clinique lipstick in Black Honey {a huge favorite of mine}, a small brush with an elastic hair thing, a tiny hair clip, Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer in Sweet Pea, contact eye drops, the screen cleaner thing that came with my iPhone, toothpicks, a Band-Aid, Pepto-Bismol, Claritin, Pepcid AC, Shiseido face blotters, and a pantyliner.

As you can see, I'm prepared for just about anything.

Over the years I've really downsized how much stuff I carry with me. I'm all about what is absolutely essential and the items that I may need in a true emergency {especially when I travel...I tend to get a nervous stomach}.

4) All the other stuff...

iPhone, pen, gum, Gin-Gins, a good luck charm from my Mom, and my gym lock.

To the right, here are my sunglasses which I'm really sick of, actually.

I'm tagging:

Confessions of a Southern Belle

Funny in the 'Hood

Lis Loves

Misadventures with Andi

Re-Ramblings

Have fun with this, ladies! {I say that with a slightly devilish laugh...this was a little time consuming but fun once I started...}

Cashier & Bagger Etiquette Does Not Exist, At Least Not Here in Boca

After yesterday's post pondering the meaning of life, I've decided I need to lighten things up around here.

Have you ever stood in line at the grocery store and wondered if the cashiers and baggers ever went through a day of training before they started their jobs?

At my local Publix AND Whole Foods {surprise, surprise} the baggers absolutely don't get it. On my most recent trip to Publix, I handed the cashier my Envirosak bags and she looked at me like I had a third eyeball in the middle of my head. At Whole Foods they wouldn't bat an eyelash over my environmentally-friendly bags, but that's a story for another time.


Now, normally I'll keep an eye on the bagger to make sure he or she isn't doing something totally dumb like putting detergent and chicken in the same bag. For some reason I wasn't paying attention on this last trip and I got home to discover a HOT rotisserie chicken AND my {beloved} COLD Haagen Dazs ice cream having a little party together in the same bag. WTF? Whatever happened to common sense?? This kind of thing irritates me beyond belief. I've PAID MONEY for this food, and I expect it to be treated properly. Is that too much to ask??

The Publix near me has a bunch of REALLY chatty cashiers. They're talking to the customers about sports teams, the Lotto, and what kind of frozen pizza they like. And all the while, I'm standing there in line wondering when the CHAT FEST is going to end so I can get my groceries paid for and get the hell out of there. There are two cashiers in particular that I try to avoid now that I know their game. One cashier actually stood there once and examined just about every item I purchased as she scanned it. "Ooh, California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizza...that's fancy!" And then, "Oh, Activia Yogurt...have you tried the PRUNE flavor? It's really good, I'm going to have it on my break." THAT'S NICE, LADY. CAN YOU SCAN MY SHIT SO I CAN GET HOME??

Then there's the singing female cashier in her 70's {at least}. The one time I happened to get in her lane {with my husband} she was singing a sappy Phil Collins song. Jeff muttered under his breath, "You've got to be kidding me" mostly because the singing wasn't attractive and you could tell she was annoying everyone. When she started scanning our items, she said something like, "Is it another day in paradise for the two of you?" sort of half talking, half singing. Jeff shot back at her, "Listen, we need to get going, can you please ring us up instead of singing?" I almost fell over from trying to contain my laughter. He really caught me off-guard. It was like trying to hold in the giggles in while you're sitting in church.


Over at Whole Foods, it's the opposite problem - the baggers ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER. They aren't paying attention at all to the items they're putting in your bags. And talk about SLOOOWWW. Half the time I want to jump over the counter and bag everything myself. Many of the baggers are from the islands, which has led me to the general theory that they're just used to slow island life. But their pace just doesn't work for this northerner!

Am I alone here? Or do you share the same frustrations? What have you done about it? I complained once to a manager at Publix but I swear, I really don't think they care.

Where is life taking me?

OK. SO.

Last week I divulged that I am going to start my own business.

That was no joke.

HOWEVER.

A few days ago a recruiter in the Chicago area contacted me about a really plum, juicy job opportunity in Illinois and I could not ignore the possibility.

This week has been nuts.

I've spent just about every day either glued to my chair {revamping my resume}, waiting at Kinko's {scanning my writing samples since my stupid HP scanner decided to stop working} or stuck at my computer trying to upload my samples via a large file transfer system. {Oh, how I hate corporate firewalls. I tried using You Send It to send my writing samples, and the HR person said the link wasn't working.} This little situation really had me frazzled, mostly because I didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with the company, i.e., "Is that the candidate who couldn't upload her files? Oh, her, right."

ANYWAY.

All of this had got me seriously wondering about my life in general. I want very much to be in control of my destiny. However, when a great opportunity comes along to work for a FORTUNE 100 global organization, I really can't pass that up. Something is telling me that perhaps now is not the time to start my business. I can't describe it, it's just a gut feeling.

It is truly disconcerting to wake up every morning and wonder, "What's going to happen today?" without having any sense of your future, let alone where you will be living, and what you will be doing in the next few months.

And so I leave this post with an open question: Where is life taking me?

P.S. Can I request a virtual *fingers crossed* from you? I need some good karma sent my way. Thank you!! xoxox

Best. Stuff. Period.

I recently bought this mineral blush in Sugar Plum and LOVE it.
It stays on all day, even in the Florida humidity.
And a bonus? It was rated as best inexpensive powder blush by InStyle magazine.


I've used Eye Doctor by Orgins for years.
I'm totally addicted to it, but for $30 a pop,
I'm starting to wonder if I should look for something less expensive.
Can anyone recommend a decent drugstore eye cream?

Discovering this at the grocery store was like finding the Holy Grail.
COULD. NOT. BELIEVE. MY. EYES.
32% less fat than the regular brand of Haagen Dazs!
And only 5 ingredients. I would bathe in this if I could.
{Actually, I think I'm on to something...how cool would that be?
I would totally dig having vanilla bean specks all over my body.
Sort of like a body shimmer.
Did Jessica Simpson already create something like that?}

While I'm on the subject of ice cream, I have to tell you about this product.
My husband LOVES them. He's lactose intolerant
{sorry, is that TMI?} but likes a little ice cream now and then.
These vanilla sandwiches are made from soy and are 100% dairy free.
They taste just like the real thing!

These are very, very addicting.
But they're good for you, so it's OK to not feel guilty
for eating the entire jar in one day. Ahem.

And P.S. They come in Vanilla Bean flavor!!! OMG!!!
{Hi, my name is Missy, M-i-s-s-y, and I'm addicted to Madagascar Vanilla Beans.}

This is why I can't get anything accomplished...

Here's Doughie last night, trying so hard to get my attention. She's very jealous of my laptop.

I'm Going to Admit It

I'm not a fan of the Twilight series. There. I said it.

I first learned of the series from my sister-in-law last summer. I came home from work one day to find a big Amazon box filled with three books. Jenn kept saying, "Oh my gosh, I can't wait for you to read them, you are going to LOVE them!" I felt a little intimidated at first...those books are LONG! And, I was smack-dab in the middle of planning my October wedding. When the hell would I have time to read three books?

Sorry, I don't *heart* you, Edward.

I read "Twilight" without much effort. It was just....eh. I had my moments with the story and wanted to like it so much, but then I started reading "New Moon" and all hope went right out the window. Everyone kept telling me, "Give it a chance! New Moon drags a little." So I gave it a chance. New Moon did nothing for me. I moved on to "Eclipse" and you know what? I never finished it. It's still sitting on my nightstand and I've decided to move it permanently to my bookshelf.

I can understand a 13 year old liking these books. I get that. But I have to admit, the story is so far-fetched that I have to wonder what it is about the books that attracts adult readers? I grew up reading J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Shel Silverstein, and then in my teen years I really got into the V.C. Andrews series. It occurred to me that all of these authors and their books had some element of fantasy, science fiction, or romance...which is basically what the Twilight trilogy captures. So you'd think I would have liked Twilight but apparently somewhere along the way in my adult life I lost interest in far-flung stories.

With the crazy cult following, screaming fans, and talk of the movie being released this weekend to DVD, I have to wonder, am I the only person who didn't like Twilight??

I Rearranged the Furniture...Again.

Waddya think? The header is from Delicious Design Studio while I anxiously await my new blog design. The blog title/font was a little DIY project...I'm sure it could be much better, but for now, it's Missy-approved.

Apparently it's the first day of Spring...

If you live in a predominantly cold climate like my hometown of Chicago, today is a day for celebrating. It's like the freakin' Fourth of July.

There is nothing like finally opening the windows after a harsh winter, wearing a tee with your bare arms, and seeing your {likely very white} legs after many months of wearing layers upon layers of clothing. I used to celebrate this day by shoving my boots to the back of my closet, with the hopes of never seeing them again.

Now that I'm living in Florida, the first day of Spring is a distant memory. Did my dream come true about never seeing those boots again? Yes. Am I thankful that I don't have to shovel snow and scrape ice off my car and warm it up for 20 minutes before I go anywhere? Yes. But do I love the season-less Florida lifestyle?

N-O. I can't stand it.

In Florida is almost always feels like summer. Now that I've lived here nearly four years, I'm more in tune to the rhythms of the weather. Each year, I inevitably reach a point around September where I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. It's so freakin' hot and humid and it just wears you out. My husband and I joke during the summer months that it's too hot to go to our pool. And I'll let you in on a little secret: Unless I'm heading to work, I don't bother to shower until after I'm home from running errands. It's like a sweat factory out there.

I know, I know. I shouldn't complain. I try to appreciate the sunny days and the blue skies. But I miss the distinct change in seasons. This time of year is a funky one for Chicagoans...it can be 40 degrees on day, 70 the next, and then 50 the following day. You're never quite sure what to wear and people get sick from the extreme changes in temperatures. And then...Bam! It's suddenly 80 degrees, Cubs games are in full swing, people are flocking to the art fairs in the city, the BoDeans are back again at Ravinia, and, well, life's good.

Yea. I miss that.

And ya know what else I miss? CHICAGO CUBS BASEBALL!

Wrigley Field, baby!!!

Opening Day: April 13th! Woo hoo!

I am beyond tired of Rachael Ray!

It never fails. Every time I turn on the Food Network, there she is, making her stupid 30 Minute Meals. She ALWAYS on! Always! Boo! Hiss!

And like the robotic Food Network-watching idiot that I am, I leave her on. As a result, I continue to torture myself with the following Rachael-isms...imagine her nasally voice:

- Just chop and drop!
- Everyone should have a garbage bowl!
- Do two turns of the pan with a little EVOO!
- Oh! Heads up guys! Don't forget to add a little salt to your pasta water!
- I make everything with tons of garlic, onions, and peppers!
- I love burgers every night of the week!
- Where's my SPOON-ULA? (WTF?)
- Wash all your herbs and keep them in a plastic zip-bag!
- Delish!
- YUM-O!

AHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH!!!!!!!!!!!!! <-- That's me screaming. Here's the thing that pisses me off about her so-called 30 Minute Meals: THEY AREN'T 30 MINUTES! What about all the grocery shopping? And the clean-up time? It may be possible to cook up the meal but the entire process from {from start to finish, as she says} takes longer! And you know what else? I cannot believe there are people paying TWENTY DOLLARS for her stupid Garbage Bowl! I saw the bowl at Bed Bath & Beyond recently and had to look twice at the price. Unbelievable! Do you really need a special bowl for garbage??

Is this worth $20? N.O.

Check out these Uggs!
Are you kidding me?

Wow. I feel better.

P.S. It delights me to no end that Anthony Bourdain mocks her. Cracks. Me. Up.

Essie's Spring Line

I'm a big Essie fan. My favorite polishes are {left to right} Sugar Daddy, Limo Scene, and Wicked. I also love a shade called Tropical Punch - it's a really bright hot pink, great against a tan on your toes. The color is so old that Essie doesn't make it anymore! I included a bottle below that is close to the color...it's called Wife Goes On. Ha! Love it.

I was flipping through InStyle magazine last weekend and noticed the ad for Essie's new Spring line. And, well, it didn't *wow* me. The bottle in the ad was an awful shade of beige. How do you feel about beige colored nail polish? Something about it reminds me of the 70's and Sheer Energy beige pantyhose. It reminds me of my next-door neighbor growing up...she wore beige constantly and she even drove a beige Nova, a total 70's vehicle. Funny how memories like that can turn you off to a simple thing like color!

This is beige, trust me. I know, it looks pink.

Who can forget pantyhose in the egg-shaped container?!
My Mom had a dresser drawer full of these.

Even worse, Essie also has shades of green and blue nail polish this season. Did I miss something? Why are these shades so popular? Or maybe they're just trendy?

Having worked in the corporate world for many years, I know I would never be able to get away with wearing those colors...back then, at least. What about now? The colors are probably fun to wear, but I don't see how they work in real life. Do you?

And P.S. For the record, I truly believe OPI nail polish doesn't last. I stopped buying it.

Blogging Runs in the Family

My13 year-old stepson started his own blog today! He became very curious about blogging recently and asked me and my husband a bunch of questions about it. Take a peek...how cute is he? And creative, too! Here's his site: http://www.fingerpopmedia.blogspot.com.

He came up with the name all by himself...I suggested that he explain the blog name but he wants to leave it a bit of a mystery. Too funny.

P.S. You might have noticed I switched up my blog design just a tad. There I go again...it's like the urge to rearrange the furniture in my house. I can't help myself. I'm on the DDS waiting list for a new blog design sometime this summer. Until then, you'll probably see me changing the look now and then.

Music, Moods and Memories

I've been stuck in a Coldplay Viva La Vida rut these past few weeks. Coldplay's a funny band...you either really love them or you really don't. There isn't much in-between with their music, it seems. Anyway, something about the Viva La Vida album has really gotten into my bones. Until recently I was in a big time rut and the song "Lost" really sort of spoke to how I was feeling.

That's the thing I love about music. Certain songs can become the anthem of your life. I'm sure in a few years I'll be driving somewhere and "Viva La Vida" will be on the radio, prompting to recall my days of being unemployed and the terrible economy. And it's not just Coldplay. Other music reminds me of times in my life, for instance:

• Fleetwood Mac - the early stuff, particularly "Dreams" and "Rhiannon". I distinctly remember being in the car with my Mom going somewhere when I was around 5 or 6 years old. Fleetwood Mac was on the radio and my Mom loved their music. I'm pretty sure it's one of the first bands I ever heard.
• Anything 80's reminds me of my childhood, especially Duran Duran, Bananarama, REO Speedwagon, .38 Special, Def Leppard, the Go-Go's, Devo, and Men at Work.
• Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" reminds me of 8th grade and watching "Miami Vice" every Friday night. That was a HUGE hit with me and my friends.
• The Counting Crows, Pearl Jam, and the Freddy Jones Band reminds me of college.
• Sarah McLachlan: Totally reminds me of my first years in the working world right after college. I used to listen to her on my Discman (yikes!!) as I took the train into the city. I also kept her CDs in my bag for work and would pop a disc into my computer, put on my headphones, and zone out all the cube chatter around me in the office.
• Van Morrison: "Someone Like You" was the song my husband and I selected for our first dance at our wedding.
  

What kind of music brings back memories for you? Does music affect your mood as well?

About that last post...

Thanks for your comments!! Just so we're clear, I don't have anything against our fellow blogger Dooce, it's just that I don't *get* how/why her blog is so damn popular! I swear that it isn't a jealousy thing at all, although, I realized that it might sound like it. Basically, I don't get it.

OK, let's move on. :)

I'd Just Like to Say...

The fact that Heather over at Dooce earns enough advertising revenue off her blog to support her family {I have read that it's upwards of $500k!} makes me I-L-L.

Her posts are consistently either pictures of her dogs, or a selection of earrings that she thinks are cool.

Seriously? WTF?

That is all.

Reinventing Myself

Last November when I lost my job I never thought it would take me this long to find a shiny new position somewhere here in South Florida. Yet, here I am four months later, still unemployed. And you know what? The unemployment has finally overstayed its welcome. I'm worn out, and, I've realized that it's time to stop bitching.

But first, I have to share three things that happened this past week. Maybe this will help you understand why I've been bitter lately...

1. The recruiter: She had a promising out-of-state position with a large, global organization. I sent her my resume. We exchanged emails. She said she would call me the next day. She didn't call. I followed up. She said she would call again. She didn't. I followed up again -- at this point thinking it was a lost cause, but nevertheless I decided to be proactive. She emailed saying "I'm confused about what position we're talking about. Can you send me a resume that is more geared towards internal and HR communication?"

UGH! I DON'T GET IT. Why, after two weeks of all the back and forth, did she jerk me around and now she needs a different resume? Since I believe in following up on every lead, I took the time to completely revamp my resume to her specifications -- all the while wondering if it would lead to anything {and reminding myself, recruiters are your friends}. Have I heard from her yet? No.

2. The work-from-home position: I got a lead for a telecommuting job from an old friend. The job involved screening job candidates over the phone. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I liked the idea because it would still allow me to job search while working from home. My friend's manager contacted me three weeks ago stating "I'll get in touch with you next week about getting started." Turns out I got all excited about nothing. Have I heard from her yet? No. This woman may never understand how wrong it is to do this to someone.

3. The promising LinkedIn lead from my former boss: My manager from the Chicago area recommended me for a position that seemed very promising. I followed up with the recruiter and it turns out they are already in the final stages of interviewing candidates. Another UGH! It's pretty obvious the recruiter decided to collect other candidate resumes in case something didn't work out with the people they were interviewing. Another dead end.

In my state of mind right now, all it takes is something like those three situations to really set me off. After I spent some considerable time being pissed off, I finally decided to start seeing past all this nonsense. I decided to take things into my own hands, and to stop relying on others to secure employment. Essentially, I decided that I want to be my own boss.

Yikes! Scary and very exciting all at the same time.

Thankfully, my husband is an idea man. While I consider myself creative, I often fumble with new ideas. I'm much better at the strategic planning and implementation. So, he's been working with me on new ideas, and we're also considering the possibility of going into business together.

This doesn't mean that my job search is stopping. Nope, I'm still keeping at it. But in the meantime, it feels awesome to know that I'm taking charge of my destiny. With the way this economy is, I figure it might be the best time to explore a real lifestyle change...because what I do I have to lose?

The Large Appliance Trifecta

My clothes dryer died last night.

I can't believe it. What is going on?! I feel like the appliances in my house have concocted a conspiracy against me.

First the dishwasher. And now the dryer. I say "trifecta" because I will undoubtedly purchase a new washer to go along with the dryer...grr...

I wish I could get a hold of my house's former owner and strangle her.

Our house was most definitely a flip house - it was move-in ready and pretty much restored top to bottom. We had an inspection, the whole nine yards. But ever since the day we moved in, the appliances have been a mystery. They {were} undoubtedly new, but, how new? The former owner said they were "brand" new but I always questioned that. They seemed gently used, and I got past it because it wasn't a deal breaker.

And now, three years later, I am feeling like these appliances should have lasted longer. I used to have a policy that we renewed every year to cover things like this, but we let it expire over a year ago because, well, it just didn't seem to be necessary. Really? It was like insurance. It's a pain in the ass to pay, but you do it because you might need it some day.

Like today.

Sears, here I come...

Swoon Monday

I would like this, please.

Handmade by Julie on Etsy

My Quest to Stay a Brunette

I turned 36 last August and ever since then it's been like the Gray Hair Parade all over my head. Thankfully the gray hair is just here and there, and it's mostly underneath. You can't see it, but I know it's there and that's enough.

Lately I've been toying with the idea of coloring my own hair. I'm not working and figured it's time to think Jen Lancaster-style and start doing things on my own. I mean, it's not like I'm going anywhere fancy at the moment. And I sure as hell don't have an office to drive to every day, so why would I spend upwards of $100+ to have my hair colored by Joe, my {gay} hair stylist? He's great and all, but I realized that perhaps I should save my pennies for a haircut, not the color.

Yesterday I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond {aka, BBB} for something totally unrelated to hair color, and I ended up spending over an hour unexpectedly looking at coloring products. My purchase? A box of Preference by Loreal for the low, low price of $8.49 minus a 20% off coupon. So really the whole thing cost me $6.79!

I'd "dye" for her hair. ;)

Actually, while I'm on the subject of BBB, can I just say how much my local BBB's make-up and hair products section ROCKS? And, while I'm on the subject of said products, did I mention that just because one lives in Boca Raton does not mean that one has an ULTA store conveniently located nearby? Yea, you heard me right. There is no f%$*ING ULTA anywhere near me. The closest one is over 30 miles away and dangerously close to the Miami-Dade county line. No way am I driving to Miami for ULTA. I love my products, but not that much.

So...wow, that was a digression. Anyway, I went to BBB yesterday to purchase some brand spankin' new dish towels since my less-than-three-years-old dishwasher decided to conk out. My handyman who put the IKEA desk together told me the dishwasher's electronic motherboard panel burned out and that it's going to be very expensive to repair. So there's a new kitchen appliance in my future but in the meantime we're just hand washing dishes. Honestly? It ain't that bad. I was annoyed as shit at first, and then I discovered the beauty of hand washing dishes is never having to unload the dishwasher and putting everything away. Somehow life seems a little easier.

OK, another tangent. As I was saying.

So, I'm wandering around BBB making a Wish List of Everything Missy Would Like Once She Finds a New Job {La Cruset, I love you} and suddenly the clouds parted and the Gods started to sing when I discovered BBB's hair and make-up section. I don't know if you realize the importance of this discovery.

I'm the girl who previously shopped at ULTA for all my salon quality hair care products, my Essie nail polishes, and my moisturizers. Living in Chicago I grew accustomed to certain products that I suddenly couldn't find in South Florida because my shopping options dwindled to Target or Walgreens {I'm not a Wal-Mart girl...snobby much?} Anyway, the Target near me is ALWAYS out of something I need. It never fails! My back-up plan is now Walgreens or CVS. And sometimes they don't have it. Most recently I couldn't find a jar of Pantene styling pomade until I decided to look at Publix {the grocery store, of all places} and, ta-da! There it is was. See what I mean? ULTA used to be my saving grace. Not anymore.

ANYWAY...

Like I said, BBB's products nook is suddenly my new haven. This place has PRODUCTS GALORE. It's totally crazy. I would've snapped a picture yesterday but I became completely distracted. You would not believe the amount of travel-sized items the store carries. And did you know they still make Pert, Prell, and Flex shampoos? I had no idea! My Dad used Flex shampoo in the 80's. I distinctly remember a bottle of it in his racquetball bag.

So as I was perusing the hair products, there against the back wall was a huge display of hair coloring options. As an avid reader of InStyle magazine, I know that Preference by Loreal is consistently rated as a top hair coloring product. There were a gazillion other options--including more "natural" choices without ammonia--but I decided to stay with Preference. I carefully examined the hair swatches to get a close match to my hair color. After debating between two different shades I finally made a choice. It's funny, because with the shade I picked out it's going to be difficult to mess up but I'm still a little nervous about coloring my own hair.

Wish me luck.

I'm having an identity crisis...

...a blogging category crisis, that is.

I'm not a...
- Mommy Blogger
- Crafty Blogger
- Cooking Blogger
- Cupcake Blogger
- Fashionista Blogger
- Twenty-Something Blogger
- Single Gal Blogger

Lately I've become preoccupied with this issue. I feel like I lack an identity. I don't know where this is coming from or how the notion popped into my head in the first place. Part of me thinks it has to do with age, but I really, really hate to think that being a Thirty-Something blogger has anything to do with it. I'm 36 to be exact. I will never be one of those women who don't like to tell their age. I don't hide from it.

I can't tell if I'm onto something here, or if I'm a victim of my own paranoia. Help me out, would you? Before we go there, here is who I KNOW I am...

- Wife {A newlywed, to be exact}
- Stepmom
- Sister
- Daughter
- Friend
- Communications/PR/Marketing Professional
- Ex-Sorority Girl {Delta Delta Delta, Omega Delta Chapter, Iowa State University}
- News junkie
- Addict of the Food Network and Bravo TV.
- A girlie girl; lover of all things shopping, beauty/make up products, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and all shiny objects.

OK, so what do you think? What identity should I take on? How would you brand me?

I'm Tawlking Like a New Yawker

I can't help it. Every time I watch "The Real Housewives of NYC" on Bravo, I find myself going into this whole rant with a nasal twang like Jill. For the record, she is my favorite, so I guess you can say imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery, right?

Here's Jill with her husband Bobby in the Hamptons, dah-ling.
Oh wait, that's how The Countess Luann talks, not Jill!

Tonight after the show:

Me to Eric {my stepson}: "Airrrrr-reeec, why are you still awake? Oh my gawd, your room is such a dizzzzasssstttteerrr!"

Eric: Puzzled look.

Me: "OH MY GAWD, there is candy aulllll oooveeer your floooorrrr!"

Eric: Still puzzled.

Me: "Puh-leeeeze set your alarm! You always oversleeeep! And brush your teeeettthhh!"

Eric, finally: "You sound weird."

The Phone Interview

A week ago today I complained about the phone interview that never happened. I sat at my desk waiting for Mr. President of Company XYZ to call me at 8 a.m. and he never called.

Later that day I received an email about how sorry he was that he missed our call {this, after I followed up over email asking if he still wanted to chat}. We exchanged messages back and forth and agreed we would talk this morning at 8 a.m. {He seems to have something for Tuesdays at 8 a.m.} Anyway...

I finally had the interview this morning.

Phone interviews can be a weird thing. I've had a handful during my career, and I've learned that there are two types of interviewers: those who are easy to read, and those who aren't.

This guy was the latter.

We spent the first half-hour talking about my experience and what I could offer. Each time I finished talking--with a definitive ending in reply to his questions--there was a brief pause on the other end. An unusual pause. I hate awkward pauses, particularly since I was using my cell phone and wondered if the call dropped.

Then there were two questions he asked that I thought were both odd but possibly tests. First, he wanted me to explain what "lessons I learned from my previous two positions given I had been laid off by both employers." Wow. OK. In a nutshell I told him when you're faced with adversity, embrace change and look at it as an opportunity. The more granular part of this answer? The force of the markets could not change the fact that Employer #1 filed Chapter 11, and that Employer #2 had to downsize staff in order to keep its doors open.

From here we shifted gears and he asked me to give a critical review of his company's website. Although I felt put on the spot {again, perhaps this was a test?}, I gave him an honest critique. For instance, the font size was a little small, but good use of white space, nice to see a frequently updated news section, and have you thought about starting Twitter and Facebook accounts?

All in all I thought the interview went well. After I hung up the phone, I started to analyze every nook and cranny of our conversation. Should I have answered him differently about a particular topic? Did I give him enough information? Did he think my questions were pointed? What else could I have done? For some reason I had an edgy feeling after the call.

Well, now the waiting game begins. They are interviewing a few more candidates and then in-person interviews will happen over the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, I'm going to do my best to move on and try not to think about all this. But the not knowing is killer.

Meet My Latest Addiction

Big Love on HBO.

The story of a polygamist family in Utah. Totally addictive, creepy, strange, and intriguing all at the same time.

Big Love first aired in 2006 but I only I started watching it sporadically last year. Suddenly these past few weeks my husband and I wanted something new to watch on Sunday nights. To my surprise, Jeff is just as addicted as I am.

Bill Paxton is the head honcho of the family. Honestly? He always looks a little spaced out like his mind is elsewhere. Thankfully the three wives make up for that -- played by Barb {Jeanne Tripplehorn}, Nicki {Chloë Sevigny} and Margene {Ginnifer Goodwin}.

I'm not sure this show is for everyone...but I swear, once it gets its hooks into you, forget it.