Love Actually Movie

Love Actually is one of my absolute VERY favorite movies.  I don't own a lot of DVDs, I own only a few and Love Actually is the chosen one.  It's quite perfect for the holidays as well as for a good 4th of July movie.  It's brilliantly funny, witty and has an outstanding cast.

The soundtrack is fabu too and I own that as well.  It's on this time of year on all those Christmas movie channels that play Christmas movies all night long so you can catch it there or you can buy it for as little as $5 at Target too.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin Butter is available year round at Trader Joe's but for some reason I associate it with the holidays so that is when I buy it.  This last trip, I purchased 3 jars.  A little bit goes a long way.  I can't even explain how delicious it is but all I can say is that you need to buy some.  It's sweet but not too sweet.  It's perfect on toast, english muffins, and I love mixing it with Ricotta cheese.  I might transfer it to an unmarked jar and give it away as gifts and make people think I slaved over it. ha. 

For less than $4-- you can taste the season.

Glass Magic Dishwasher Booster

okay, I am officially old.  I had a serious MELT DOWN awhile back about spots on the glassware and eating utensils after they came of the dishwasher.  We even had someone come out and make sure our dishwasher was working properly, we had someone come out and price quote us for a water softener. Apparently, the washer works fine and the water softener unit would cost us thousands.... so what does a girl do?!!  

I'll tell you what she does, She buys Glass Magic!!  It is truly MAGICAL, people!  Our stuff came out looking brand new and perfect!  YEAH FOR GLASS MAGIC!  All you do is put 1/2 cup of this stuff on the bottom of your washer and fill with your normal detergent and make sure you have jet dry in the jet dry holder.  

I had to buy it on amazon.  It's about $4 a box, I bought 3 since you have to pay for ship and handle.  I think I am going to buy a case next time. 

The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs CD

Christmas Music is one of my very favorite things about the holiday season.  I recently have found this awesome CD, The Hotel Cafe presents WINTER SONGS.  It is a CD filled with just that-- WINTER SONGS!  Not cheezy "ho ho ho, jolly oh, dooo deee bop" music-- more just wintery sounding cool tunes.

I found it on itunes, I also saw the CD available at Target Boutique.

Only $9.99 and you can listen to some decent holiday sounds without screaming, "five goldennnnnnnnn rings." 

Hello Kitty Kitty

HA!!!!!!!!!!!  I was on the search for the perfect Hello Kitty ADULT costume but all I could find where ones for kids (maybe this is a sign) or for actual kittys.  I need this costume.  I must have it.  Unforts, there isn't any other info about this kitty costume.  This will be my next "project"-- to track this kitty costume down and of course find one for myself for next Halloween.  If only my head were smaller, I could just buy the cat costume and wear that.  oh well. 

Coffee-mate Peppermint Mocha Creamer

It's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!  YES!

Coffee-mate Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer is pretty much the only reason I exist.  Okay, that's a bit dramatic.  But it is ONE of the reasons I exist.

I can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning and add some to my coffee!!  

If you are a flavored creamer fan, you mUst (put the U is must) go buy some right now.  If you are smart (like me) you'll buy it in bulk after the season too b/c it stays good for quite some time (about 2-3 months) you can enjoy it well into spring too!

Wake Up and Drink Up!  (There are 2 liquids that make me want to get out of bed, coffee and bloody marys.)

Ranges between $3-$6 depending on the size and what you local grocer with the club card sales and coupons.  

Dreamfields Pasta

What is an Italian girl supposed to do when the entire world has nothing to say about pasta except that it will make you fat?  I'll tell you what I say, "I'M NOT FAT, I'M BIG BONED!" But since when I grocery shop, I have little demons in my head telling me that pasta makes me fat, I found DREAMFIELDS PASTA.  It is a low carb pasta (actually, I have no flippin clue how this works b/c it has the same amount of carbs but it's DIGESTABLE carbs- whatever the heck that means.)  It's good, I eat lots of it and I am still big boned.  What now? ay?

The Garlic Twist

The Garlic Twist is one of those kitchen tools that I actually use.  Like for real, I really use this one.  I don't really use the other 2 drawers filled with kitchen stuff, but The Garlic Twist is great.  You simply place the peeled garlic pieces in the container, place the top on it and twist it a few times.  VOILA!  Minced garlic in a matter of seconds.  Then you just throw it in the dish washer and you are good to go.  

She comes in red, white or clear.  I have the red one.  $15.00

Clinton Kelly

Clinton Kelly from TLC's What Not To Wear is FABULOUS!  SO fabulous that he has a new book out called "Freaking Fabulous".  I suggest you thumb thru it, it has some of the best fashion tips ever.  Not only fashion but just tips in life... how to decorate, eat, behave and just "be".  I don't want to gloat or anything here but I did get to meet him in person this past Friday night and he told me my jacket was great.  I started sweating.  I then posed for a photo of him where I look like an amazon next to his body but that's my own personal issue.  I want him to move in with me.  I have 2 extra bedrooms, he can have both of them and I'll cook his dinner every night.  I wonder if he would agree to this?  

The Glass Castle

My friend told me about this book, The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls.  It is a really great book.  I had a hard time putting it down and wanted to stay up 'til all hours of the night (even on school nights!) to keep reading.  And for you people that say, "I don't even have time to brush my hair, let alone read a book!" Let me tell you, "Boy, you are missing out and Boy, your hair looks like crap!"  Make the time and start reading, it gets you hooked within the first 5 pages.  If you disagree, I'll argue with you about it. 

Healthy & Delicious Food

Ingredients:

Tomatoes

Mozzarella

Fresh Basil

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

That's it.  It the most simple thing you could possibly make besides boiling water.  And what kind of snack is boiling water?  I guess you could throw a cigarette in there and make it "a runway model's snack" the day before fashion week.  My friend has an herb garden and gave me the basil.  It smelled heavenly, I almost didn't want to eat them, but just sniff them.  

This can be duplicated for about $7 unless my friend gives you some basil, then it's even cheaper. 

Gold-tone Ceramic Vase

It looks better in person, I promise.  I found 2 of these uber chic and pretty cool vases at Target.  In a mad rush to put the finishing touches on our home before our Open House/housewarming party I found this vase in a small and large.  They are prefect by the fireplace together.  They offer just the right amount of visual interest and color the room needed.  My whole point of going to Target was to pick up a new Welcome mat and instead I came home with about $147 worth of STUFF.  These 2 vases being part of the quickie shopping trip.  

Large is $45 and small is $30

Kate Spade China

Soooooooooooo... I didn't want china on my wedding registry.  NOPE, not doing china, I am NOT into china.  UNTIL............   I found THIS china.  Soon I was singing a different tune.  I NEED THIS CHINA, I MUST HAVE THIS CHINA.  I WANT THIS CHINA.  And let me tell ya, people LOVE to buy you china when you are getting married.  So here it is in all it's glory.  THE CHINA.  Isn't she pretty?  So pretty that I hate to mess it all up with food and stuff.  Kate Spade did me right with this pattern.  It's cool, whimsical yet still simple enough.  

Does this mean I have to make fancy dancy meal to serve on this china?  Nah.... 

Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty, Good-Bye paycheck!

If I could, I would spend my entire paycheck on Hello Kitty stuff.  She is so cute.  How can you not look at Hello Kitty and not want to cry?  It's pretty easy to go nutso on HK stuff since now you can  find her anywhere.  From umbrellas to assault rifles, she is everywhere.  But I like the traditional HK stuff-- this design posted above is the best.  I almost put a HK toaster and rice cooker on my wedding registry but decided to just keep her out of my marriage.  My husband is fine with the cutesy stuff here and there but a HK toaster on the counter could be a bit too much.  Plus, I wouldn't want to actually use them because then I would get them dirty and Kitty doesn't roll that way.  ( But what's my excuse now for not using my non HK kitchen appliances?)

I loved Hello Kitty since I was a little girl.  I would hoard my HK pencils, stationary, tissues, erasers and stapler and never used them, in fact I still have many of them still unused. Someday.

Hello Kitty items range from $1.00 to $1,000,000,000.00,  so take that however you like.

If my husband reads this blog this picture is for him, my birthday is Dec. 10th or Christmas, whatever.  Just saying.

 

CO Bigelow Lip Gloss

Pucker up, Ladies!  Show off your pout with CO Bigelow's lip gloss.  It'll make any face bee-utiful.  The minty ones are the best because they not only are lip glosses BUT hello! breath savers as well.  Since most gloss ends up in your mouth anyway, shouldn't it taste great and freshen your breath?  

There are tinted ones as well that are pretty gosh darn fabu. I buy them in bulk when they go on sale at Bath & Body Works.  I have about 4 that rotate around in my various purses, a few at my desk, some in the pockets of my jeans in the wash right now, but I never leave them in my car in Phoenix because the heat will cause it to combust and then it's wasted-- and if you have good gloss like this, then you best not waste it.  Leave your craptastic Vaseline tube in the 140 degree Phoenix car instead.  Your lips will thank you.

$7.50 unless you get it on sale at Bath & Body Works for a bargain at $3 a piece.

Bumble and Bumble DOES IT ALL

I like most Bumble and Bumble products, you will see other ones popping up later on as well, but DOES IT ALL deserves to be the first one.  Because, it DOES IT ALL.  Like for real.  It's used to protect your hair when you apply heat.... so dry your hair spray a ton on and then style your hair with heat.... and VOILA-- it has done it all.  It adds shine, body, makes hair more manageable, helps keep hold bust isn't hairspray.  You can just keep spraying it on and your hair isn't crunchy or sticky.  It's fabulous.  My hair likes to just sit there and frizz out looking all blah and thin. It's sad.  But DOES IT ALL really helps so do a bunch of other Bb products (I'll get to some of those later.)

My friend, Rachel introduced me to it and now I am hooked, like a junkie.  I would write more but I have to go now and spray more of this stuff on my head.

25 smackers because it does it all.   

Capiz Hanging Pendant

Darling, you look better in dim lighting.  Isn't that a nice thing to say to someone?  Well, it's true.  So if you want to look good and have a cool lamp-- this Capiz Hanging Pendant and Floor Lamp are the way to go. 

There is something really chic looking about it.  It's adds depth to a room and a bit of pizazz.  And did I mention the dim lighting is easy on the eyes.

It was a good find at Cost Plus World Market.  Kinda funny that they call it World Market when it should be China Market.   I think that is probably where all the merchandise is mass produced (well, this isn't a fact, but it seems this way).  Just don't chew on the lamp and you should be free of lead based paints.  

Pendant is $20 and floor lamp is $30.  

Celebrity Gossip Mags

It's a sick sick sick nasty habit.  I am not talking about biting toe nails.  I am talking about reading celebrity gossip rags.  But it's so fun!    OH MY GOD, SHE IS FAT!  OH MY GOD, SHE IS TOO SKINNY!  OH MY GOD, HE IS DATING HER?  What the hell is my problem?  Why do I care?  I don't care.  Or do I care?  I don't know anymore but I do know that I do not like Angelina J. Pitt and I am confused as to why Lauren Conrad is famous.   

It's so easy to get lost in these rags.  I have a "system" to reading them.  FIrst I flip thru just looking at pictures and quickly scanning the tag lines.  Then the next time I go thru it, I read the short write ups, nothing that takes me longer than 4 minutes to read.  The the final read is when I read the long stories, those are the ones that take about 6 minutes to read and you get to follow some flowchart thing to see how the story evolved.

The cost on this is about $4- $25 a week, depending on your habit.  I have a subscription to US Weekly (it was a gift) and I enjoy knowing that it will be delivered weekly into my hot little hands.  Didn't you hear?  Enquiring minds want to know!

LaTortilla Factory Low Carb Torts

In case you don't know me... I like to Low Carb it every so often usually before special events like weddings and trips.  I am not sure why I bother because I always gain back what I lost.  ALWAYS.  

LaTortilla Factory makes it easy to Low Carb though. These torts taste great and they are really soft and just yummy.  Now, you can't compare it to a REAL tortilla, that's like comparing chuck roast to a filet.  Just not the same.  But if you need to take off a few lbs and de-pudgify and go the low carb route, you'll enjoy these tortillas.  You know, when you low carb, you enjoy eating low carb styrofoam also.   Anything that isn't a meat, cheese or vegetable is a nice change. 

$3.79 a package

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Bronzer

The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Bronzer is FABULOUS!  It has the right amount of shimmer so you don't look like a 6 year old in her dance recital.  It is best when applied in an upsweep motion under the apples of your cheeks.  This then gives the illusion of a shadowed area under your cheekbones so they really pop!  You can have that gaunt look and still eat your burgers and fries!

Bobbi Brown has multiple shimmer brick shades.  They range from bronzers to browns to pinks.  

It runs about $25 and lasts for a long time, I think it lasts me over a year.  I hope to see you out there shimmering the night and day away soon! 

Windex Multi-Surface (Yellow Liquid) Cleaner

Before I get into the Windex Antibacterial Multi-Surface cleaner, I want to say that I also use Method products.  I understand Method products will not only save the earth but will also save babies from burning buildings and solve our Nation's economic problems.  So, you Method lovers out there, please don't judge me. 

With that being said, this Windex rocks!  Like big time rocks.  It smells so good I want to spray it all over my body when I am done cleaning the stove, countertops, mirrors, appliances. It doesn't just smell good while you are cleaning, the smell lingers for awhile so about 30 mins after you are done using it and your hubby doesn't believe that you actually got up and cleaned something, you have the smell to prove it (oh, this works vice versa).

I like that it is one same product to clean counters, glass and mirrors-- hence the whole "multi-surface" on the label.  So if I use it in the powder room, I don't have to use 2 different products for the counters and mirror. It's just easy and I need easy for when I actually clean. A good way to spend $3.69.

BR Suit Jacket

No, I do not own the young lady on the right. I own the JACKET though.  It is on sale right now at Banana Republic, I am not certain how many are actually left BUT the whole "idea" of this suit jacket is my favorite.  

I don't know about you, but when I wear suit jackets, I tend to look more like a line-backer, not a business woman.  I try looking for suits about 2 times a year and try on about 15 different suits only to walk away shaking my head and thinking, wish I could get paid like a line-backer in the NFL.

So, I began accepting the fact that my nice black pants would do just fine and be done with it.  Then she, I mean the jacket popped up on my computer screen while playing on the Banana Republic website.  It is the perfect suit jacket for my black pants.  The short sleeves are also perfect since in Phoenix winter you don't really need long sleeves anyway~ because we BBQ on Christmas Day and have our a/c on until November.   And I think I can pair it with dark denim as well.  I am happy. You can be too, for under $80.

Gucci Sunglasses

These are my signature shades.  I love them.  I think I lose them about once a week and call grocery stores, libraries and restaurants all over town asking if they found my sunglasses on a regular basis.  Then I get sad that I lost them and end up finding them either in my car, in my purse (with the other gazilion "lost" items) or on my head.  

They are hugely oversized and most people probably couldn't wear them because their faces aren't as large pizza sized as mine is.  What is a large pizza? 18 inches?  Anyhow...  They are classic and stylish and when I have on my $10 target yoga pants and tattered t-shirt, I feel like a super-model (well, kinda).  Gucci has oodles of great sunglasses for all face sizes that are just as great as these.  

Available for the bargain price of $275 (or have your significant other buy them for because then they are free!) 

Whirly Pop

Have you seen anything like this before?  It's a Whirly Pop Popcorn Maker.  It makes popcorn taste like REAL popcorn.  Not the microwaved crap you've been eating all this time.  That isn't real popcorn.  THIS is real popcorn.

All it takes is about 5 mins.  You put the packages in the popper on medium heat turn the handle, get all excited while you hear the popcorn popping and when the handle is tough to turn, that means it's done.  Sometimes when you can't hear it popping anymore, that means it's done too.

Put it in a giant bowl and eat it all by yourself.  If someone wants some too, you could share or you could tell him or her to go make some for them-self. 

**One minor problem is that cleaning it is a bit of a pain, but if you don't share yours and make the other person make it them-self, they have to clean up since they touched it last.  Rules are rules.  

about $30

Sharpie PEN (not marker)

Dear Diary,

My obsession with writing with a Sharpie became even more obsessive when they came out with the fine point Sharpie.  I thought I was in heaven, but there was one small problem.  The ink always bled thru on the next sheet of paper.  Darn you, Sharpie!  But I was okay with it.  I continue to rock the Sharpie Fine Point. 

And then just the other day wandering around Walgreens, I came across one of the most brilliant ideas ever (yes, I know there are all sorts of great ideas out there that are far more brilliant, but AT THE TIME, it was the most brilliant idea ever).  My eyes met with the SHARPIE PEN, the no bleed thru Sharpie Pen.  My hand instinctively grabbed all 9 packages off the display and began screaming for my husband to "COME SEE WHAT I HAVE FOUND!"  He was happy for me, in fact he was elated but I think still just doesn't get it. Does he not understand the IMPORTANCE of these pens?  How my dream pen has come home to me? 

I put back the 9 packages of 2 and decided to go with 2 packs of Black and 2 packs of Blue.  This should hold me over for now.  But as I sit here typing this out (oh, I wish I was writing this out because then I could be using my new pen), I think I really need to go back and buy more.  What if they stop carrying them?  What if they don't sell well and they discontinue them?  What if? What if?  What if?  

xoxo, 

NC

$3.99/2 pack

Hollywood Fashion Tape

Listen Up Ladies (and maybe Gents?) ---  You may have nice t*ts, but your grandma, the shoe sales person, and the summer intern do NOT need to know this by actually seeing the girls. Your safety pin is not as well hidden as you think it is and for some flipping reason I can't find black safety pins so the silver is not so blatantly announcing that "Yes, indeed my shirt is revealing a part of me I don't want you to see."   

This is why YOU, errr, WE NEED Hollywood Fashion Tape. 

It is a double stick clear tape that is made to hold your clothes down in place so that you can flaunt the girls but don't need to smother the neighbors head in them.  They come in all sorts of shapes to help you out, depending on your needs.  Needs that you may not even realize that can be meet.  The Skinny Strips are perfect for that pink slingback angle strap that seems to always slip off the back of your ankle.  The Original size is great for helping keep your favorite work button down from getting you fired because you exposed your hot pink lace bra to the entire board room every-time you looked to the left. 

So clean it up for less than $9, Ladies, because you are a Lady...... riiight? 

here... read about them here: www.hollywoodfashiontape.com/products_red_carpet.cfm

you can buy them there too OR you can buy them at Bed Bath and Beyond and use one of the 6,214 20% off coupons they mail to your house and save yourself a few quarters.  

Why am I doing this?

So... I am asking myself WHY I am even starting this thing, this blog, this whatever it is.  I mean I might be the only person in the whole wide world that ever looks at it but what's the big deal if that is the case? At least I will have all my favorite things cataloged in an organized fashion.

To be completely and brutally honest, I have some great stuff.  

Stuff that ranges from .25 cents to $2500 (can someone tell me why the cent sign is not on a a keyboard?) and I am ready to show it off to you.  Some are steals and some are deals and others are not-- but worth every red cent.   So NOW you can appreciate my favorite things and make them yours too!  

Oprah does her "Favorite Things" show each year and people all over the world screech and cry to get to be at this taping so they can take home all of the Media Queens fav items. It's comical and cool all at the same time.  So now you don't have to claw your way into Harpo Studios, you can log in here and go buy great things for yourself instead of taking freebies.  Not that I wouldn't oh, you know, say... MIND if I was at the Oprah taping collecting all my goodies and telling the story for the next 25 years about how "I WAS AT THE  FAVORITE THINGS SHOW!!"  (and had to sell half the stuff to cover the taxes on it).  

Favorite Things can and should be something you get and enjoy everyday!