Nice & Naughty: Skincare Edition

I haven't done a "Nice and Naughty" post for like eight years, so it's about time.  All the things on my previous lists still apply, and you can find them here and here. 

~ the Nice list ~

I've been on a quest to find the just right skin care products for basically my entire life.  The first time I ever used anything on my face besides regular soap and water was when I was in high school - I used Noxema.  Remember that? Horrible stuff.  I don't think they even make it anymore.  My skin did not like it.  It smelled gross and I continued to break out, but I was young and that's what my friends were using and friends were the only "google" we had back then so I didn't know any better.  In college, I discovered Clinique after stopping at their counter in Daytons (now Macy's) where my best friend Christine and I used to go to get our fix in the men's cologne dept. (and we were not shy about being obnoxious about it). Then there was a brief period in my 20's when I tried Mary Kay. It wasn't any better than Clinique for me honestly, so I eventually went back to Clinique. My skin improved quite a bit, but I continued to have dry spots and oily spots and would still break out - even well into my 40's and that's just about enough.  At the suggestion of my "all natural" sister-in-law Annett, about a year ago I started using Philosophy products and, well...I'm hooked!  I have had the best skin of my entire life.  Very little oil, no more dry spots, and no more breakouts.  OH happy day!  And happy face!  Here is my routine:

I start with Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash in the shower every morning.  It's really gritty and took a little getting used to.  In the evening I use Purity One-step Facial Cleanser before going to bed.  I'm not faithful about the latter, sometimes I'm tired and just use a washcloth, but I do use it most nights. Just one product to remove makeup and cleanse.  I like keeping it simple and then I'm more likely to do it.

This is the moisturizer I use every day.  I really like it.  It's not heavy at all, and isn't watery or greasy either.   I started with a different one by Philosophy, but that is on my naughty list now.  I'll explain why later.

Ok, this is one of the best skin products I have ever used.  I always used to think that specific moisturizers for around the eyes was just a gimmick, an unnecessary waste of money.....that is until I started getting some wrinkles and gave this a try.  It's amazing. The skin under my eyes is so soft now, and I'm choosing to believe that it's preventing wrinkles too.  (Please let me live in my world of delusion for a while anyway).

I still use some Clinique products, mostly makeup which I will probably blog about in another Nice and Naughty post because I know everyone who knows me is dying to know what makeup I use.  This is another product that I used to think was a gimmick...something that minimizes your pores?  Right.  Who needs that.  Apparently 48 year old Lisa does because this stuff has worked wonders at minimizing the pores on my nose and chin.  I'm a believer.

I have been using this moisturizer at night, only because I got a sample of it in my last Clinique "bonus time" giveaway bag.  (One reason I have always loved Clinique is when they have their "bonus time" twice a year where you get TONS of free stuff inside a cute makeup bag and a girl can never have enough cute makeup bags).  It's thick and creamy and feels really good on my skin.  And I don't wake up with a greasy face like I always used to. Philosophy also makes an anti-wrinkle "nighttime" moisturizer that is supposed to compliment the one I'm currently using during the day.  I'm thinking about giving that a try, but I'll wait until I can get a trial size of it.

~ the Naughty list ~

This looks like it would be wonderful, doesn't it?  Hope in a jar!  How could that be bad?  Well it's a good moisturizer but it's on my naughty list because it smells....HORRIBLE.  What in the world, Philosophy people?  I can't even explain what it smelled like...a very strong offensive soap crossed with old lady smell is all I can think of.  If it wasn't so expensive I would have thrown it out, but I stirred in some essential oils and made it tolerable enough to finish the jar.  Thankfully, the Miracle Worker stuff that I switched to has a pleasant smell. 

Last on my naughty list is this, which was part of my 3 step skin-care routine for years.  I'm not sure why they call it "lotion" because it is a liquid that you apply with a cotton ball after cleansing and before moisturizing.  It's for exfoliating.  But after using Philosophy, I have realized that this product was way too harsh on my skin.  It may have exfoliated well, but it is all chemicals and I have a feeling that because it was too harsh for me, it was causing all the problems I was using it to fix.  Hmmph.

So, that's my skincare routine!  Your life is complete now. I know there are less expensive products out there that probably would work well for me too, but once I find something that works for me I tend to stick with it.  I have nothing against cheap, trust me I go cheap on lots of things (hairspray, mousse, jewelry, thrift store clothes).  But there are some things I'm willing to spend a little more on... skincare products, shampoo/conditioner, shoes, and perfume.  About that, I've used the same perfume since 2004 and I know this because I remember exactly when I discovered it at the Celine Dion store in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.  I walked around the entire day smelling my arm and saying "I'm in love with myself" all the day.   Just ask my sister. 

Pottery, Panera and some much needed "me" time

So.  I'm getting some much needed "me time" today.  Vince is working from home both today and tomorrow (on his birthday, boo).  Nicolas and Kyle are turkey hunting in SD with their dad and grandpa, Hope is getting ready for her first of three proms tonight.  Not sure what Vinny is up to, but he'll be working later.  I came to Rochester this morning - mainly to pick up our pieces from Color Me Mine.  Last Saturday, Vince and I met Donna & Dave, Brittany, Bill and Rebekah there to do some painting and our pieces were ready today.  They turned out SO GOOD!

We had such a good time!  And I can't wait to serve some chips and dip in my new chip/dip platter :)  I might have to do so tomorrow for Mr. W's birthday lunch.  Shhhh, don't tell him.  It'll be a surprise.  One of the birthday traditions in our family is that the birthday person gets to choose what we have for their birthday meal, and what kind of cake they want.  Vince always chooses steak and german chocolate cake.  Since he'll be occupied on his work computer (dumb) he is going to have to trust me to properly season and not overcook his steak.  I get to be in the "testosterone zone" all by myself, unless of course Trev helps me out.  As far as the cake, I think Vince is the only one in the fam that likes german chocolate so I have an idea.  I'm going to buy a chocolate cake mix (I think you use Devils food for german chocolate?)  I'll have to google that.  And then I will get different frostings.  I am planning on baking individual cakes either in ramekins or the jumbo muffin tins that I have.  Probably that. And then people can put different frostings on them.  I'll get coconut pecan frosting for the birthday boy of course, and then maybe chocolate or cream cheese frosting for the rest of us. Ooooh, I'll see if they have a caramel frosting.  Yum.  I'm going to have to watch my carbs tomorrow so I can indulge!

So I just googled it, and it is Devil's food.  In the process of searching I happened upon a recipe for "the best german chocolate cake you will ever have in your lifetime on this planet ever".  So I guess I'm making that!  It starts with the cake mix and also has pudding mix, sour cream and espresso powder.  So ummmm, yea.  That's what I'll be making.  I'm buying the frosting tho.  I have my limits. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Back to my "me time".  I'm currently sitting at Panera, where I have been firmly planted for the past 2 hours.  I had my favorite soup - broccoli cheddar - and a half turkey cheddar panini for lunch, and have been sipping on iced coffee whilst perusing facebook, pinterest, and some other blogs that I follow, updating my shopping and "to do" lists, and chatting with some of my people on messenger. I know I could do these things at home but there are always distractions, usually from my own brain telling me I should be cleaning and I do my best to ignore my brain when it tells me silly things like that.  Plus I don't have broccoli cheddar soup with a french baguette at home, so.

It's quite interesting sitting at Panera for an extended period of time by myself.  I've seen several people come and go from the tables around me, and I've heard some interesting conversations. One couple of retirement age sat next to me reading the newspaper as they ate their lunch and chatted...mostly the wife telling her husband about the various news articles she was reading while he nodded and made an occasional comment.  Another couple arrived shortly after, and this time it was the husband/boyfriend doing most of the talking.  At first I wondered if they were in a new relationship, but as I saw the wife/girlfriend sort of pay attention and make relevant comments here and there, it was obvious they've been together for a while and she's used to listening to him talk. A lot.  They didn't look unhappy, but were not trying to impress each other either. The young couple currently sitting near me are quite adorable.  Probably in high school or maybe their first year of college.  Holding hands under the table, looking at her phone while smiling and laughing and leaning their heads together.  It's pretty dang cute.  I love love!  I could sit here all day, except I can't sit that long and I have other places to go such as Trader Joes, Savers, Barnes and Noble (duh) and Target for the birthday stuff.

So, I suppose almost 3 hours is about long enough.  Time to get going on my other shopping adventures and see what other conversations I can eavesdrop on along the way.

A Snowy, Cozy "Spring?" Day

It was a January kind of day today....smack in the middle of April.  Blustery, cold, snowing, blowing, sleeting, and snowing and blowing some more.  Ugh.  It was almost spring the past week too...snow was mostly gone, birds were chirping, and I was going around without a coat some days (that can be attributed less to the weather and more to the menopause thing which is oh-so-much-fun for me these days).  Spring made a good attempt but as of yesterday it got the smack down.  We haven't had a winter storm like this for years, and we get to be so lucky to get it now.  In April.  The little birdies in our neighborhood are so confused.  Oh well.  I kind of like today, actually.  We have not left the house.  All three kids are home on a Saturday night (the ones who still live here that is).  I can't remember when that happened last - not since they have had jobs and cars and probably some time before that.  Even though they are spending most of their time in their rooms, it feels nice to be home together.

Macey has enjoyed the calm day as well with everyone here and she has not once obsessed about staring at the door and barking at every noise waiting for one of her missing people to get home.  She did, however, have an episode where she got her ruff all up, and was staring at the patio doors from the edge of the living room as if there was some kind of critter on the deck that needed stalking.  There was of course nothing there.  Weirdo.

I talked to both my dad and my son Nicolas on the phone today, both of which made my heart smile.

Vince and I spent the morning organizing our bills at the kitchen table while we watched a bootleg recording of the off-broadway production of The Little Mermaid on YouTube because HELLO KING TRITON!!!

I'm super excited to see him play this role (and call him King Triton for the next two months!)  I'm thinking about volunteering back stage so that I can see the goings on of the show and how it all comes together.  It's amazing to me that they can get all the costuming, props, and everyone's lines, songs, and choreography down in a matter of 2 months.  Hope is disappointed that she didn't get the part of Ariel, but after seeing her and her dad trying to sing this song together in the kitchen this morning...

"If only you could stay
And never say goodbye
If only I could make time stop
Believe me, I would try
But fathers have to learn
Their daughters have to grow
And if you truly love them
You must let them go..."

Yup.  Vince couldn't get through it without getting choked up, so I'm not sure he would have been able to do this scene with his baby girl if she were Ariel!!  I do feel for her though, this has always been one of her "dream" roles.  I told her she is young enough that she could still get the chance again to play it in another production.  I hope so.  But she is taking it very well.  She'll be a "Mersister" and she'll be fantastic!

I can't wait for the costumes and the music and the laughs...it's already my favorite musical :)

I started on some organizing projects today...mainly in the office.  I didn't get very far, but hey I started! Sometimes that is the hardest step.  I also went through our recipe books and Vince's family cookbook.  I love that thing so much.  He made it several years ago and it includes recipes from his mom, grandma and siblings.  There are many memories to cherish in that book and I'm sure will be considered a family heirloom.

We have come up with some new kick-butt recipes since it was printed, so maybe someday we will have to come out with a "volume 2".  But then there is the idea I had of doing a "Heeren Family Cookbook".  I really want to do that with my siblings and some of our parents' and grandmas' recipes.  Mom never wrote a single thing down, but I do know a few of her recipes and I'm sure my sister and I can figure out some of the others.  Kathy and Dad have lots of good recipes, too and I have a few of them.  Some of my favorites growing up were mom's meatballs & gravy, tuna hotdish, and roast beef, potatoes and carrots.  Dad made some yummy butterscotch pudding.  Kathy made awesome goulash and salmon loaf.  My favorite things that Grandma Hankel made was her hamburger soup and of course strawberry banana jello cups!  Donna made the best cheesy potatoes for most of our family gatherings, and now my brother Alan has turned into quite a chef himself.

Most of my recipes are in my recipe book...isn't it just the cutest thing?!

We have also accumulated some really great cookbooks that I want to use more often than we do.  (Dang you, Pinterest and Food Network App - you are just too convenient!)  Seriously, I could never get another cookbook or recipe online and we would be able to eat well for the rest of our lives with the cookbooks we have now.  (So, one would think that I won't need to get any more cookbooks ever, but one would be wrong on that.  I don't yet have one of Trisha Yearwood's cookbooks.  Duh.)

In the spirit of wrapping this up for tonight (it's 1am! and I'm planning on sleeping out here on the couch tonight next to King Triton, as he has been working from home since 5:30pm and will likely be up all night doing such)  I will now share my newest favorite foodie discovery...

These are seriously the most delicious little things ever!  I have eaten most of the jar so far and have not (yet) spilled any beet juice on my clothes.  It's a Christmas Miracle!  In April....hmmmph.

P.S.  I feel a "Nice & Naughty" post coming on.  Maybe tomorrow.