China needs more things to do

image via Mashable

Apparently a big trend on a social networking site in China is to post pictures of your dog in pantyhose.  Poor dogs. Even I have standards about what I will put on animals for my amusement.

You can check the article here.

For Like Ever

I have been looking for the perfect recipe program for years. I hate having all the paper and links can be taken down, so I keep trying out program after program. After many trial and major errors I think I may have finally found the one that works well for me since it can save information from the web, take pictures of recipes you have around the house, or simple write down the notes. It's called Evernote and there are multiple ways to tag each item for easy searching and it just is so easy that any other way just seems complicated in comparison. It's become my new favorite app for my iPad, my go to on my computer and a way for me to not drag around any one's business card (you can just snap a picture and it saves the information).  You can share your notes/recipes via social media, email or a special URL (click here for a delicious Rosemary-Rosé drink recipe) and it is a multitasker in that it does way more then just collect recipes. I have been using it for months now and I can't stop using it which I think that is a pretty good sign of a good program. Check it out, it's free and that is just one of the best parts.

And yes I know it's been around for awhile, but sometimes I take my time to really make sure that I like a program.

Must

This week actually makes last week look super awesome, but the good news is it's Friday so hopefully the weekend will be looking up and people will suck a little less. I am still in the process of cleaning out my closet (yes, really) and the eBay updates have been daily. I decided to go through my closet again and found even more things that need to go. At least this leads me to the bright spot of the week that I have a little extra cash to spend on shoes clothes books booze. Yay.

Here is to a fantastic, relaxing weekend.

via Alice Clayton

Wallbanger

I have been meaning to read this book for awhile since I loved the Redhead series by Alice Clayton (and can't wait for the third book to come out in December) and I wish I hadn't waited so long. What it comes down to is if you are looking to move past 50 Shades of Grey into a more entertaining, well written book, but still a little smuttiness you need to read this book. Simply fun reading.

via Febreze

Febreze Stick and Refresh

The other day I was putting something in the kitchen garbage and once it was opened it stunk so bad that the BF declared it smelled like a diaper. Ugh. So I went and bought the Febreze stick and refresh. I actually bought two. One for the kitchen garbage and one for the curb garbage container. Not only does it work like a charm, but now the air smells like the ocean breeze and not a dirty diaper.

Report Ellenton Sandal via Nordstrom

Perfect Summer Sandal

The last few weeks have been amazing here in SoCal and have me looking for my annual summer sandal that I live in around the house and running errands. I think that I have found it at Nordstrom and for $49.95 it is the perfect price as well. Perfect basic.

image via Mashable

Facebook Home

In case you didn't know Facebook came out with a phone thingy, sort of and stuff. You can read the review of the information here, but really I just want my iPhone Facebook app to work. Possible?

Rehab Addict

It's like my dream job, but without the headache and the actual work. This is a fantastic "reality" show that chronicles Nicole Curtis in her adventures in rehabbing old homes to their former glory. Nothing quite gives you that fantastic feeling like discovering an amazing floor or hidden gem behind a false wall. 

What a Tart!

I was recently going through some of my favorite food blogs to help me get some new ideas for meatless Monday since the BF and I are making an effort to really improve our health. I would have no problem eating like this all the time if it was just me, but to keep the BF interested I need to try new things to keep him into it. Needless to say I was super excited when I found this French Onion Tart. As a lover of French onion soup this seemed like a perfect Monday night dinner for both of us. I happened to have all the ingredients on hand and not only is it simple, but paired with a salad and soup it is a perfect dinner.

I didn't make any changes, but I did use the mushroom broth to keep it veg and made sure that I really cooked down the onions to make it easier to eat with a fork. The only thing I would recommend that you make sure you do is to pre-bake the crust or you risk a dough like crust. Needless to say it turned out delicious and is a fantastic meatless Monday meal or would even be a perfect tart for brunch.

I'm Sorry What?

"Are we just sugaring the brows or the lip too?"

Ummm so when did the lip even come into play? This is one of those things that has now happened to me more than once...ok more then three times. I guess it's time to deal with it, but let me just say that first off, if I don't have lip listed on the appointment keep your comments to yourself. Got it? 

I am not even sure when the lip hair started, I have incredibly light hair on my face and arms so I never really paid attention to it, but I guess when several trained estheticians are recommending I look into this, I guess they are not just trying to get me to do more services (because that of course was my first thought). So I succumbed to it and had it done for the first time ever and holy lambits how in the world do people do this on a regular basis? It HURTS and it leaves your lip so red that no amount of lipstick will distract from it, so you will just have to wait it out in a dark room for a few hours before showing your face in public. Ugh.

It is no joke that beauty hurts.

Must

This week has been interesting to say the least. We can safely say that I don't want to repeat it, but I did at least get out of the house a bit, ate cake and cleaned. So while not all fun and games at least there were a few highlights and productive moments to be had. I can say that a cocktail on my front porch in the sun this weekend is one thing I am truly looking forward to. I think we all deserve one...or two.

xx
Shannon

Image via Birchbox

Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner

Like all great beauty finds I come across lately this came from Birchbox and I am not the only one that thinks this is brilliant. There are roughly 3700 reviews of this eyeliner on their site with 4.5 stars out of 5. Yeah, it's that good. It goes on easily, stays put (and I have eyelids that tend to want to make eye make-up run) and comes off easily with make-up remover. Love.

Image vis the Skimm

Skimm

So do you like a little snark with your news? I know I do and I also know that I can't read or watch the news all the time so this little gem is an email I get Monday through Friday with a little synopsis of the big issues at hand. Replacement for all the details? No, but it at least serves as a way to update you on things you might want to know about!

Refreshing and delicious

Bees Knees

I am not a regular gin drinker or even an occasional gin drinker. I can count on my hand how many gin drinks I have had in the last few years, which is why I was so surprised by how badly I wanted to make this drink the Bees Knees that I cam across from Radical Possibility. I had it both with and with out a splash of soda water and I must say I do like a little bubbles in my cocktails. If you like gin, honey and lemon it's totally worth a try. Yum.

Image via All Recipes

Garlic Chicken

Things I almost always have in my kitchen are chicken, garlic, parmesan and olive oil and usually bread crumbs. With these simple ingredients you can make one of the easiest, moist, best and quick baked chicken I have had. Read the reviews and you will see that people don't change this recipe, because why would you change a great thing? The one thing that was confusing is the whole fresh parmesan vs. green can parmesan. For the record I used fresh finely ground parmesan simply because that is what I always have on hand. It was fantastic. Try it, you will enjoy it.

Mental Floss 

Just a fun few minutes of learning things you probably could have lived the rest of your life without knowing, but it's Friday and you are waiting out the clock. Plus it's entertaining. Enjoy.

Have a fantastically awesome weekend!

Spring Cleaning

Michael Kors Shoes...you know you want them

This post should actually be named Buy. My. Crap.

I have been in a cleaning mood, maybe it's all the talk about the season change, but I think it's more along the lines that I clean when I am frustrated and let's just say I have been a cleaning freak. Deep cleaning freak.

I started with the floors and then found myself in my closet, tossing things that should have been tossed a long time ago, but I never bothered to try them on and find out they didn't fit. This time I did and the piles of clothes, shoes, purses and jewelry kept growing and growing. I separated everything into three piles; Goodwill, eBay/consign and craft/trash. I am pretty picky about what I try to resell which is why there are three piles. The Goodwill pile consists of clothing that is still wearable, but not in super top, really good condition. This also includes my Target and Gap clothes, while these are awesome basics and staples they aren't really worth the energy trying to sell. The eBay pile is for the stuff that is a little bit better condition that is worth more then a few dollars. Posting stuff on eBay takes some time so it has to be worth my time to post things. The last pile is stuff that has holes and is in bad shape. I try to use these items in all the things I pin onto my Pinterest craft board.

So what's the point of all this? Well frankly you should check out my eBay page and see all the items I have posted and be sure to check back because I am constantly adding things. I can only add a few things a day because I am still cleaning. Yup, it's that kind of deep clean.

Here are just a few other items, but there are so many more...

These are super cute!

Leith angora, amazingly soft.

Oh and yes, I am back on Blogger. Boring story, but let's just say it's good to be back.