"Tip" of the Week

This week is a classic: red! A girl can never go wrong with red. It matches with pretty much everything, it's bright, it's beautiful on any skin tone and it always seems to make you feel just a little bit more sexy when you have it on. This red beauty is one of my favorite reds of all time: OPI Big Apple Red. My mom discovered it at the nail salon we usually go to years ago. After I saw how nice this red was I went out and bought a bottle at my local nail supply. Instant classic for my mother and I. Looks great on the toes and hands and I truly believe you can wear it any time of the year. It's like the black of clothes, it can be worn anytime with anything!

                                       

Rewind. Play.

I don't know about you but I do love movies. It's an escape from reality for about two hours, it's an inspiration, it can make you happy, sad, scared or just plain fun. Including every one's individual favorite movies there are always a few movies that you can watch no matter what time of day and no matter when you catch it. These movies aren't always necessarily your all time favorite but they are the movies that make your top VERY re-watchable movies! Does that ever happen to you? I always wondered why channels bother playing movies on TV with all the technology available nowadays, why watch a movie with commercials? I answered this question for myself the other.

There is nothing like flipping through the hundreds of channels now available and not being able to find one thing to watch (so frustrating!) until viola! one of your favorite movies is on TV!! Even though you are aware that it involves commercials you stop to watch it, even if it's half way, a quarter of the way, edited, you will stop to watch it. I believe it's a psychological trigger; you see the name of the movie on your guide and your mind is automatically happy because something you really enjoy watching is actually on.

Naturally, everyone has their own set of movies they will stop to watch. Mine are as follows:

• The Shining
• Mean Girls
• Mrs. Doubtfire
• The Karate Kid (old and new)
• Gran Torino
• Casino Royale
• Golden Eye
• Tangled
• Sex and the City Movie
• He's Not That Into You
• Forrest Gump
• Breakfast Club
• Batman Begins
• Pirates of the Caribbean 

I'm sure I'm missing a few however these are definitely my top re-watchable movies. What are yours??

As Seen on TV!

Unfortunately, I am a fan of As Seen on TV merchandise because believe it or not it can sometimes be a great product! I have a few in my home one being this great item: Swivel Store. Now this item is meant to be a spice rack, but when I saw it at Bed Bath and Beyond a thought occurred to me. I have been wanting a storage solution to my nail polish collection since I have been just dumping them in a basket I had. They were harder to reach and see what color was what plus the basket was taking up a lot of space. Once I saw this a light bulb lit above my head. Ah ha!! I quickly went to the beauty section of my local Bed Bath and Beyond, took an Essie bottle over to the Swivel Store: VIOLA! Perfect fit. I had just found my solution to my nail polish storage issue. The best part is the way the shelves slide out to make it even easier to see your polishes (pictured below). Naturally, being as anal as I am I stored all my polish by colors and at the same time I did some spring cleaning to make room for newer, future colors! The shelves store very nicely as well not taking up any room, very slim. It's the best As Seen on TV item I have ever had! So ladies, here is your solution if you have a polish storage issue like me. You can find this item at Bed Bath and Beyond, Ross and Marshalls (perhaps there are more places that sell them)!

Have fun!

New Wave

I am a total 80s freak! Everyday that goes by I truly wish I was my age in the 80s. I would be having the time of my life going to the clubs, dancing all night to that awesome pop/new wave music of the time. Music back then had power, it was new, it was fun, it was positive, it was catchy, so much so that you can still hear it today. The music of the 80s has enough power to continue being popular through all the eras of music.

I generally love all 80s music from the rock to the new wave but the new wave/pop is definitely my favorite. New wave has a pop catchy sound with a hint of darkness or industrial sound such as Depeche Mode. I can never get enough (no pun intended... Depeche Mode has a song called I Just Can't Get Enough) and no matter how many times I hear an 80s song I never seem to get tired of it. When a song comes on the radio I raise the volume and get excited as if it were something new. I can't imagine what it was like hearing these songs for the first time back then... again it was something new and fun. Everyone seemed to equally enough the music of the time unlike now where people are divided by music; you're either a rocker or rapper. Music united people then which is the power that music should have and all in a positive way!

My cousins are the ones to thank for this 80s inspiration. I'll never forget watching the Wedding Singer with them as a kid and they had the soundtrack (all 80s) which we jammed to the next day going to Taco Bell. I fell in love. However, to this day I cannot pick my favorite 80s song, it's too hard, there are too many, nor my favorite artist. All the songs and artists contributed to the 80s era in their own way making them all pretty significant.

Here are a few of my favorite songs:
The Outfield - Your Love
Bananarama - Cruel Summer
Yaz - Situation
Depeche Mode - I Just Can't Get Enough
Michael Jackson - Beat It
Aha - Take on Me
Dead or Alive - You Spin Me
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Madonna - Holiday
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Devo - Whip It
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
Modern English - I Melt with You
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
Duran Duran - Rio
Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
Men at Work - Down Under
The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star
Human League - Don't You Want Me
Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
The Romantics - Talking in Your Sleep
New Order - Blue Monday
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
Eurthymics - Sweet Dreams
The Cars - You Might Think
Animotion - Obsession
After the Fire - Der Kommissar
The Fixx - One Thing Leads to Another

AH and so many more that I can't think of at the moment! I don't think anything will ever match or beat the music of the 80s. I like some of today's modern music but it doesn't have that staying power of the 80s, the new-ness that mesmerizes the entire world. When I hear 80s music I see myself dancing the night away dressed with wild, colorful fashion and big hair with a lot of make -up and coming home at 5am. If only I had a Delorean...!

"Tip" of the Week

This week I was a little daring to try something new. Sally Hansen Salon Effects French Mani strips with a twist. It is not a tradition French mani it is with a black tip and natural nail color. It's a little hard to get used to but it is cute and a bit edgy from the traditional. The Sally Hansen strips are very innovative however they are a bit frustrating to apply to ones own nails. It is very time consuming although the result is pretty seamless. I have had it on since Saturday and so far no major chips. It is very pretty to stare at because it also comes out close to salon perfect without messy bottles or brushes!

Sounds

There are sounds that I just love. I'm not talking about music, but everyday sounds that maybe not everyone thinks about or notice but they are there. What are mine?

One sounds I really like is the sound of typing. However, it has to be from a specific keyboard. While I am a Mac user the typing sound I like are from older PC keyboards. Growing up the sound of typing meant you had a job, that you were important. Of course nowadays typing is an everyday occurrence for almost everyone in the world at home or work. There is something about that clicking noise that I've always found soothing.

The next sound I like but have never really heard in real life in camp fire or fire in a fire place. The crackling sound is also soothing and have always found it to be warming... naturally it is of course because it's fire! I've only heard this sound on TV or movies. It has a ambiance of romance although at the same time of horror. I have always wanted to start a camp fire just hear the crackling of the fire and to feel the warmth.

Next are the sound of high heels on any walking surface. I like the clicking sound. Again, for me as a child, that sound meant an adult woman, a powerful woman, a pretty woman, a successful woman. Funny now that I am able to wear heels I don't wear them that often nor do I like the sound when I have them on. 

I also like the sound of creaking wood such as stairs, doors, floor boards, etc. That sound is cool to me. It reminds me of rustic, old and/or something scary... because apparently almost all horror movies have some kind of old, creaking wood somewhere! 

These are my top four sounds that I love. What sounds do you like? Think about it. You hear possibly thousands of sounds a day there must be one that sticks out to you. It could be a bird, cars, the ocean, almost anything. There are probably more sounds I like but can't think of them at the moment because I'm actually sitting down to write about it (that always happens!). Next time you're out and about, listen up! 

Teenage Wasteland

Ah your teenage years, even at 25 they seem very far, way far in the past already. Events have become a blur but some moments have stayed true in my memory bank. The drama of those years are, what I believe, shape us into the adults we eventually become. All the stupid or smart decisions curve our future and our personalities. I can honestly say I don't miss those teenage years too much, but I do remember while being a teenager adults saying how annoying teens are in general or how they have no regard for anything. It felt like being a teenager was being a different species, as if for about 7 years teens are out casted from humanity. Come back when you hit twenty!

I never understood why adults seemed to feel this way until most recently. I went to the movies on Saturday with my boyfriend, which of course like all generations is a hang out haven for pre-teens and teens. We buy our tickets, find our theater and before the movie starts I head to the restroom. Now it is about 7:15pm, most of the time the movies start getting full after 8pm but for some reason there was a long line in the women's restroom! I've also never understood why girls/women need to flock to the bathroom together... Anyway, a group of 5 girls were in front of me, chit chatting, giggling, talking about "officially going out with a guy,"not paying attention, and holding up the line. One of the girls from the group goes to use a stall. Someone else steps out of their stall indicating "I'm done!" so that usually means step right up to whoever is next in line. The remaining 4 girls in front of me continue to stand in line talking, I finally ask if they are waiting in line. First they give me an annoyed look and say "No we're not waiting." Then why are you in line????? The women behind me were also frustrated with the teenage hen group because it is unnecessary to stand in line when you have no intention of using the restroom and holding up the line! What bothered me the most was the attitude. When I went to wash my hands and heading out of the restroom is when the waiting group says "I'm going to wait outside."

Something that is irritating is paying $20 for a movie, a rated R movie that somehow teens get into and ruin. I'm paying to watch a horror movie, for example, to be scared, to have fun, but it's not as fun when you have teenagers laughing at inappropriate moments or yelling across the theater making "jokes" or talking really loud to their friends. Even as a teenager I hated when others acted that way during a movie. I don't remember being that way with my friends, but maybe we were. Maybe it's a phase that everyone has to go through because you can get away with it.

Nothing beats seeing a teenager at the mall or anywhere really carrying a designer purse and expensive phones. Why? Teens don't need these things. I didn't know nor care for designer anything when I was 13 or 17 years old because it didn't matter. Every generation seems to be getting spoiled more than the previous.

Thinking this way makes me feel old or maybe just intolerant because that's the way I feel. I have no patience for this kind of behavior. With new technology comes different generations and different "teenager breeds." We better hold on tight!