Favorites in February - Movies

I won't lie. Movies that I enjoy are either sophomorically funny, epic series, or tragically beautiful. I can't even remember the last time I watched a chick flick (Sex and the City doesn't really count. It was waaaay deeper than I expected) and I don't do action or horror movies too often either. And I rarely watch a movie multiple times. Those that I do watch over and over are watched when I am doing something else, like scrapping, cleaning, or reading.

So these are the ones I love. And it is a weird bunch indeed.

Silence of the Lambs my all time favorite movie.

Ever. I still remember the first time I watched it sitting with my dad and brother on the floor in my parents' bedroom. My mom yelling at my dad for letting us watch it. Maybe that has something to do with why I love it so much.

Elizabeth I from HBO

So technically this is a mini series, but ah, just an amazing account of the Virgin Queen's rule. The acting in phenomenal, the sets beautiful, the costumes stunning.

Newsies

What mid-20s something woman didn't watch this at a sleepover?And pick the newsie of their dream? And sing along to the catchy tunes? 'nuff said.

Hotel Rwanda

So chilling. A reminder of what we must never allow to happen again.

All the Harry Potter films

Bringing the books alive makes these movies a guilty pleasure.

Crash

I remember watching this movie and just sobbing. Our lives impact way more than we think they do.

And Elf

This movie cracks me up every time. And I tend to watch it year-round. Really I like all Will Ferrell movies (there's that sophomoric part)

Favorites in February - Scrapbook Essentials

I've been scrapbooking for about six years now. I've found that sometimes I get into a real scrapping groove, constantly taking great photos, using lots of cool products, and making great projects. There are some really great items out there that make scrapping easy for me and are real essentials.

1. A great scrapbooking website

I love twopeasinabucket.com . I've been visiting the site since April 2004 and love that I can post my layouts there, learn what products are worth buying, and learn the latest and greatest about the industry. The gallery at 2peas is filled with amazing cards and layouts and I use it often for inspiration.

2. A fabulous cutter

If you can work at home and have endless space, I recommend the Tonic Guillotine trimmer

It cuts through several sheets of cardstock and acrylic and is super sharp.

For crops and simple scrapping, I use my Fiskars Euro Trimmer (this isn't exactly what I have, but it seems to be a newer version, hence the NEW circle).

It is precise and cuts very well. You do need to buy replacement blades, so slight bummer.

3. Strong, acid-free adhesive

I think you need both dry and wet adhesive depending on the project.

I like Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Adhesive

and I am looooooving my ATG gun.

Yes, it's large,but the refills are so inexpensive and last forever and are so super sticky.

4. Glue dots

These little wonders make ribbon, metal art, wood, stick to anything.

5. Fabulous Cardstock

I use Bazzil or Prism mostly. Great texture and very easy to work with. I have learned I do not need every color of the rainbow, I now just buy those go-to colors I use most:

white, black, dark brown, kraft brown, greens, teal/icy blue, and pomegranate red.

6. A fabulous Local Scrapbook Store

I've been shopping at Scrapper's Playground since the week it opened. What helps is that this store stocks all the latest and greatest and is open to any suggestions on what to stock. They have amazing papers, a "wall of color" with every ink, paint, copic marker, chalk you can imagine, a knowledgeable staff to tell you how to use the product, and awesome classes with their talented staff members and "celeb" scrappers too (it's where I went to Donna Downey's classes last year when my hair was way longer).

Most of all, just enjoy the process. Once it becomes a burden, I have learned to take a little break, pack up my stuff and ignore it. Then the bug hits and I am back in the groove.

So go get scrappy :)

Favorites in February - Beauty

I have a crazy obsession with makeup and skincare products. I have tried them, fell in love with some and ditched many others. These are my current favorites.

1. My skin is the only skin I have, so I do have a pretty serious skin care regiment. And I drink a lot of water to keep my hydrated.

-Face wash for AM is Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash

Gentle and effective.



-Face Wash for PM is Philosophy Purity Made Simple



Really gets my skin clean.

-Daytime Moisturizer is sadly, no longer available, as Prescriptives said goodbye to the beauty world this month. I have a new bottle of All You Need + SPF 15 to get me through a few months and then I'll be finding a new moisturizer

.
-Eye Cream is also Prescriptives, so alas, I am unable to tell you to get it.

-Evening Moisturizer is Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream

I have some slight redness and this soothes without making my skin too oily

2. Foundation
I am pretty fair-skinned (some may say pale, that's ok) and so I am constantly in search of the best foundation with even coverage that lets me still look like me and not too masky.

-I love Clinique's Perfectly Real foundation

Good coverage, great colors, and affordable

-NARS Sheer Matte foundation is also lovely.

Way more expensive, but really nice stuff.

3. Powder

-I am really liking Bare Essentuals Hydrating Mineral Veil

I do also like the foundation powder, but right now I am liking this powder for everyday. It does have a teeny bit of luster, so if you are very oily it may not work for you.

-Stila Sheer Pressed Powder

This is always with me in my bag. Love the flawless coverage.

4. Eyes

-Mascara I have fallen in love with is Sephora Brand Waterproof Triple Action Mascara

It's natural for everyday and truly doesn't clump or smudge.

-Eyeshadow Cargo Essential Palette

Very natural and wearable, smooth application

-Undereye concealer and highlighter Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector

Instantly makes me look a little perkier. Affordable and a great formula.

5. Cheeks

I never used to 'get' blush and I kind of avoided it. Now, I am loving it. Especially cream versions for their natural flush look.

-Stila Convertible Color

I've been liking Poppy lately

-Smashbox OGlow

This is a build able gel formula so you can go from day to evening.

-Sephora Blush Me

My favorite powder version. I like all their colors.

7. Lips

I adore gloss. I am constantly searching for that perfect pink shade that is naturally pretty.

-Cargo Classic Gloss

This is the least-sticky gloss I have ever worn. My favorite shade is Tobago.

-Stila Lip Glazes

Get the mini set and you are going to love all the colors. They add instant plump and the colors are great.

-Philosophy The Supernatural Superglossy Lip Gloss

Glowy and smooth.

What are some of your beauty essentials?

Me Right Now - February

1.What is your current Obsession?
I'm really into organizing. I joined Simplify 101's Organizing 101 workshop. And let me tell ya, it is a great class that has really motivated me to get more order in my life.

2. What are you wearing today?
Black lounge pants, blue v neck top, and my bathrobe. It is one of the rare days that I am sick and had to take off from work (my mantra is, if you are stick, stay home, so I listened to my own advice).

3. What’s for dinner?
Leftover macaroni and bean soup.

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
cleaning products from Target

5. What are you listening to right now?
HGTV's House Hunters.

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Not tagged, just choose to do this.

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Definitely close to home, probably on Long Island's South Shore.

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Flowing skirts and jcrew flip flops.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
A museum.

10. Which language do you want to learn?
French. It just sounds so cool.

11. What’s your favourite quote?
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi

12. Who do you want to meet right now?
Oprah.

13. What is your favourite colour?
Sage green.

14. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
Gel, not hairspray. Took me a long time to realize this.
Under-eye highlighter. Totally brightens my face.
Moisturize face and body.

15. What is your dream job?
Magazine research.

16. What’s your favorite magazine?
Real Simple.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Clothes. I really want some new layering tees.

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Leggings without something additional covering your butt.

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
That's tough. I usually like most of the icons. I think Paris Hilton dresses a little too young.

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
I like my short choppy hair.

21. What are you going to do after this?
Finish my mac and cheese and take a nap.

22. What are your favourite movies?
Crash, Hotel Rwanda, Newsies, Elizabeth

23. What inspires you?
A moving book, crafty people.

24. What do your friends call you most commonly?
Just Kathleen. At least to my face :)

25. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
Tea. Always tea.

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
I scrapbook. I tend to become depressed and then become a slight recluse, so I have to surround myself with good things and uplifting people. That, coupled with some scrapping, really helps.

27. What makes you go wild?
When people are fanatical. About anything. And feel the need to tell me.

28. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
Besides those of my friends (who read this anyway and know I love their stuff), I like Lisa Leonard, Ali Edwards, InCourage

29. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
I'm not much of a sweets person, but I guess ice cream

30. How many tabs are turned on in ur browser right now?
2

31. Favorite Season?
Fall.

32. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
My husband would cook, not me :)

33. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
I usually just avoid them totally. This happens rarely though, fortunately.

34. What are you afraid of the most?
How I will die.

35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
uck, I DO look pretty bad!

36. What brings a smile on your face instantly?
New magazines in the mail.

37. A word that you say a lot?
Flip.

38. When was the last time you did something nice?
I try to do something nice everyday. Don't really keep track though.

39. What would you do if you were made President of the US for one day?
Put in a holiday between President's Day and 4th of July.

Major Blog Renovation :)

Today I decided it was time to do a major overhaul of my blog. I want it to look less generic, more like a scrapbook page I would make.

So after some searching, I found Shabby Blogsand oh my, is it the site for me. It took some time figuring out how to work with blogger and its layout, but less than an hour later, viola! My blog=my style. Do ya like?

Favorites in February - Books

I have always been a reader. I have vivid memories of walking down to the corner to visit the mobile library as a kid in the summer. And I was always a member of our summer reading programs at the local library.

My dad has been an avid reader, so I like to think my love of reading came from him.

I used to be obsessed with keeping every book I bought, but now I have realized they just grab dust and I tend not to read books a second time anyway. Plus, now I have a Kindle, so I don't need to have all the clutter of all those books.

When I moved out of my parents' home, I only brought with me those books that really mean something to me. Here is a list of some of my most favorite reads:

The Lovely Bones

I read this when it first came out and remember it as one of the very few books that made me cry. Sob, actually. So touching.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Not a book I would ever have picked up without the help of a Border's associate. And I loved it (I am reading the sequel, Girl Who Played with Fire now). It is a mystery/adventure/action book, keeps your attention the entire time. Fast read. Enthralling.

Velvet Elvis

We all know I have an obsession with religion/spirituality. I think my whole life I will be on the quest to come to terms with belief in my life. It was hard picking one book to represent how I want to believe, but Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis is the best choice. Live with love. Love with all your heart. Be the person who does what is right. Act with kindness. You get the point.

The Life of Elizabeth I

Ah, Tudor England. I could read constantly about the mundane details of food, clothes, and drama.

White Oleander

The first book I read that I highlighted. The imagery is just awesome. The story is chilling.

I Know this Much is True

A HUGE book (I think over 700 pages) and very worth the read.

Madame Bovary

I hate classics. I really do. I try over and over to read them and rarely enjoy them. Except for Madame Bovary. I guess because it is risque and dark.

Handmaid's Tale

Oh, so up my alley. Fundamentalism, women's freedoms. Love it.

Bell Jar

Without a doubt the one book I read in college that I totally "got."

Catcher in the Rye

Loved this book in high school. Still remember reading it in Mrs. Beuser's English class.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Well, all the HP books are my guilty pleasure reads. I can read them over and over and over. And they never get old.

Simplify: February Update

As per Ali Edwards's influence, I will be checking in with my word here each month. It's a good way for me to see how I have put the word into action.

For the month of January I:

-Purged my ginormous pen collection keeping only those I will really use

-Went through all my clothes and pared my wardrobe down to those pieces that I am truly happy wearing. They have to feel good and look good.

-Set up online bill pay for most of my expenses

-Kept things out of my car. If it doesn't belong there, it gets outta there

-Writing in my gratitude journal daily.

-started Zumba classes

-Worked on organizing the kitchen with my Organized for Life book. It was a lot of work and required some journaling, but now all the drawers have a purpose and I know where everything is.

-and got the Lisa Leonard necklace with my word. And I love it>

How is your word doing?

Favorites in February - Cleaning

This month I will highlight some of my favorite things, from products I love, favorite books and movies, to everyday stuff.

Today I will highlight my favorite cleaning products and helpers. I actually don't mind cleaning. It's one of those things that has to be done, so I just grab stuff that works best and get going.

1. Our Kenmore Canister Vacuum

I grew up always using a canister. I know, some people are cringing, they don't like to have to pull the canister around, but it is lightweight and I find it easier to move around. An upright can be too heavy for me, so this vacuum was an easy choice. After consulting Consumer Reports, we knew we were heading to Sears for a Kenmore. The features of our model are a very easily detachable head, a light on the head, lightweight, serious power, and a bag (bagless just get too messy for me). Plus, c'mon, it's a cheery yellow color :)

2. Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner

I love this stuff! One of the things that I need is a product that has a pleasing scent. No orange, no nastiness. This product is fresh-smelling and cleans every surface in the apartment, especially the stainless garbage pail.

3. Cleaning Cloths

In my attempts to be a little greener, I try not to use many paper towels as I clean. Instead, I stock up on microfiber cloths that have specific uses (glass, wood, bathroom, etc). When done, bleach 'em and they're good to go for next time. They attract dirt, deep clean, and cut down on waste.

4. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Ahhh, memories of my mom scrubbing grease off the stove with these. And they really do work. We have the mop, too. Like it.

5. All things Swiffer

Love the sweeper for the kitchen and bath, use the duster and cloths for quick dusting sessions.

6. Method Shower Cleaner

Just spray after you take a shower. The bathroom smells clean and the shower truly stays clean.

7. Soft Scrub

This stuff seriously cleans. Works in the bathroom and kitchen (and on stained cutting boards).

What are some of your favorites to make your home sparkle?