Product Review: Clearasil Pimple Blocker Pen

Despite having pretty clear skin, there are those occasions where a rogue pimple climbs over my defense system and manages to dig roots to sprout a devil spawn.

Gone are the days that I have to simply suffer through the lifespan of a common pimple which, usually ranges anywhere from 2-5 days.  We’ve all had to wait out the redness, drying and overall ugly appearance of a pimple and let’s face it – it’s not pretty.

Clearasil has come to the rescue. I’ve been seeing advertisements for the Pimple Blocker Pen for some time, but haven’t really taken the time to try it because of both not wanting to have another beauty product in my cabinet that I don’t use and most importantly spending the $7.99 on a product that didn’t work.

My lucky day finally came when I was blessed with a $1 coupon for any Clearasil product.  I finally decided to try it with this added incentive – saving money!

Just this past week, while washing my face (I’ve gone back to the oil cleansing method, but that’s another post) and cleaning around my chin area, I noticed a bump coming under the surface of my skin and was giddy when I found that I’d finally be able to use the pen.

After washing and drying my face, I broke the pen free of its packaging and twisted the bottom a couple of times to bring forth the gel-like substance and placed a bit on the affected area.  Since I was going to sleep, I just avoided using moisturizer that evening so that it wouldn’t absorb into it – and went to sleep.

The next day I still could feel the pimple under the skin so I applied it twice more and on the third day all traces of the bump were gone! This product actually worked.

If you, or anyone you know if afflicted with getting pimples every once and a while – please pass on this treasure because it truly works.

Eek! More Greys

So, this post isn’t me showing more grey clothing and shoes that I’m in love with – but the dreaded grey that most if not all women loathe. Grey hair!

While trying a new style with my hair earlier this evening, bantu knots (for anyone really interested) and finger parting my hair I happened upon a couple roadblocks in my progress.  Here are two photos that I just had to get.

grey hair 1

grey hair 2

So I’m not sure if you can tell, but on the second picture there’s a grey hair and then it turns brownish-orange at the end. I’m pretty sure that that’s due to the henna job that I tried while I still had locks. If that’s not it, then I have no idea where it came from.

Anyway, after finding these two and countless others during this hair experiment – I’ve decided to try henna again to color my hair. So if anyone out there has some tips, color choices or whatnot – please comment and share your ideas with me!

I look forward to hearing from ya soon!

SE

10 Questions to Ask Your Mother

A couple months ago, while reading my new favorite magazine, Real Simple – I came across this article entitled ” 10 questions to ask your mother.” The questions, although possibly tough to hear, give (I think) a great start for interesting dialogue with the one woman that should know you best.

I sent these questions to my mom a month or so ago and I just received the answers back – I thought I knew what some of her answers would be but I was wowed at some of the things that she candidly shared.

I suggest that you all do this to get to know more about the woman that “carried you for nine months” (c) Cheryl “Pepsii” Riley – you’re bound to get to know her a bit more than you either wanted or thought that you would!!

Here are the questions..

1. What’s the one thing that you would have differently as a Mom?

2. Why did you choose to be with my father? (I really wanted to know the answer to this question, lol)

3. In what ways do you think I’m like you? And not like you?

4. Which one of us kids did you like the best?

5. Is there anything you have always wanted to tell me but never have?

6. Do you think it’s easier or harder to be a mother now than when you were raising our family?

7. Is there anything you regret not having asked your parents?

8. What’s the best thing I can do for you right now?

9. Is there anything that you wish had been different between us – or that you would still like to change?

10. When did you realize you were no longer a child?

I gained so much more respect for my mom after getting this answers back.  I really didn’t know some of the things that she had gone through and as a result of getting her answers it’s definitely opened up our relationship and I have so many more follow up questions that I want/need to ask her because of what she opened up and shared.

I realized when I posted this on my Facebook page a couple weeks ago, that a lot of my friends/associates don’t have the luxury of asking their mothers these questions because they are no longer living – but I don’t think that this is ONLY limited to a mother. It could be someone that helped to raise you, a step-parent, grandmother or hell even your father!  I just think that it’s a way to get insight into your loved ones mind.

Anthropologie is Going to be the Death of Me

Anthropologie, as usual, is my main place to go for signature pieces that will last forever in my closet.

They offer the modern, eclectic woman a place to roam free without abandon trying out everything from shirts, skirts and even bedding out sans stuffy salespeople, crappy music and cheaply made items.

Back to the topic at hand. Anthro is the place that I always go to find something unique and totally me – but as of late, they are KILLING the fashion game for me and a couple other ladies that I know. Using Polyvore, I’ve shown just a taste of what I’m itching to buy.

I’m pretty sure that if I had a job at the moment most of these items would already be in my closet – but since I’m still unemployed, I’ll be waiting like normal till they go on sale once or twice and then will gladly purchase and wear.

Until then…a girl can wish, can’t she?

[images above, clockwise from top left: Wind-Rippled Tee $58, Windsor Scoopneck $98, Bespoke Shirtdress $128, Elsa Gloves $78, Dressage Peep-Toes $168,  A Thousand Tiers Dress $188 and Scarlet Blaze Shirtdress $148]

The Stress Diet

Today, while at the grocery store – I realized that it had been a full day that I had eaten anything and I had no hunger pangs at all.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m stressed.

So, it’s been no secret that I’ve been laid off for 10 months now.  The toll that this is taking on me has shown up in different ways:

a) alienating myself from folks – I’ve not kept up with folks like normal. I’ve not been in the mood for much small talk with folks etc.

b) distance in relationships – I’ve all but kicked folks to the curb (friends, family, S.O.) It’s strange because, I can smile and laugh with folks but then in an instant – I just want to be alone. I’ve always been an introvert, but this is weird.

c) the loss of weight – of course, losing weight is a great thing – but I didn’t want it to come in the form of being stressed about not having a job, being on a fixed income and not knowing what steps to take with my life.

I’m on this Emotional Rollercoaster right now and I’m trying to figure out what precisely to do with my life to get myself back to being the happy, outgoing person that I know that I am.  I keep thinking that by finding a job – everything will miraculously get better, but to be honest, I don’t think that it will.  There’s still something more that’s missing and I’ve yet to figure it out.

So anyway, back to the subject at hand – over the past 3 months, I’ve lost about 17 pounds and lots of inches from eating well and most lately stress. The smaller sizes that I’ve been getting into makes my inner skinny girl scream with glee, but the sensible me says that I need to curb it immediately before some traumatizing side effect kicks in like hair loss.

Pray for me y’all!

I’m back!

So it’s been quite some time since the last time that I’ve visited this blog. I could think of  a million reasons as to why, but it all boils down to being uninspired, lazy and lack of imagination when I have other things to think about.

I believe that when I begun this journey – I was freshly laid off from the job that I loved and was alright with that as long as it wasn’t TOO long.  Well to catch you all up (those that even read) I’m still currently unemployed.  It’s been exactly 10 months on the 11th of October.

I’ve actually  been searching high and low for a job, was in the throes of getting one, but still haven’t found anything as of yet. At this point, I’m considering a move to another state for a position – but we’ll see how that goes.

Despite being on this fixed income, for the longest period of my life, I’ve still been keeping up with my shopping habit like I’ve still got a well paying job.

I believe that the deals that I’ve been getting and finding while unemployed will be a central theme here at my blog now.

Anyway, if you’re still checking up on me – feel free to comment, send links for job (cause I’m willing to move) and let me know what you’re thinking or what you’d like to see more of.

Peace,

earth

What’s a Crudité?

Being a wannabe foodie, I know this word…I love this word, but to the folks that don’t watch or read The Food Network, this word may confuse you.

Crudité according to Wikipedia;  are traditional French appetizers comprising sliced or whole raw vegetables which are dipped in a vinaigrette or another dipping sauce.  Crudités often include celery sticks, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus spears.

Crudités or Veggie Platter

While watching Rachel Ray the other day, she was making some dish that called for leftover veggies from the holidays and she kept saying the word Crudités.  In my mind, I know what the word means, but I figure that if you’re making food for the average american, why not just say “cut-up veggies?” Most folks are not going to use this word in a normal, everyday conversation – probably cause they can’t pronounce it – LOL.

But it just bugged me that while most folks were oohing and ahhing that they probably were thinking the same thing that I was thinking either what the word is, or why is she using such a fancy schmancy word, when we all know that at home and with friends, she simply says, cut up veggies, lol.

Maybe I’m thinking too much into this, but it’s just an observation.

Newest Lesson: Ottomans!!!

Well it’s been a minute, but I’m back with something new that I’ve made within the past week.

Last week at my favorite place for learning and spending way too much money The Needle Shop I took a class on upholstery and we made an ottoman from scratch.  Now that I’m writing this, I’m wishing that I had taken pictures during the process so that I could show the stages that I went though.  But I’m positive that I’ll be making more, so I’ll show it from start to finish then.

Below is the finished product and as of right now, I have two people interested in having one made. One is for sure and another is just really showing initial interest.  I’m sure that the price that I’m going to charge is WAAY less than they would pay to have it custom built by someone else.

Hopefully, I’ll get some more actual inquries and can have some extra income while I’m off of work again, lol.

Top View Ottoman

Ottoman Foot View

The pictures are kind of dark, but I want to get some other pictures of it in better light to show the color etc.

The feet are able to be changed, but I wanted a lower profile on mine, hence the small legs.

Catching up on the method

Hey folks, it’s been a while since I’ve updated the blog with the information on how the method has been going and frankly its because I haven’t done it since December 26th!

I’m starting again tonight and will try and update at least every couple days or at least once a week!

I’ll say that I have noticed that since I had NOT been doing it I’ve had a couple breakouts and that so not acceptable.

Hopefully over the next week or so, it’ll get better!

Time to get back on the wagon…

Well folks, you know it’s the beginning of the year and you know what that means…

Time to begin working out!

I took a three month break from working out because of the fun filled times of the summer – including: beer, eating any and everything found at the Taste of Chicago, extreme partying and of course right back to drinking like a fish!

So now that I’ve managed to gain all the weight and inches that I lost at the beginning of 2008 it’s time to get back to the gym.

I’ll attempt to log my workouts here and note how I’m doing from month to month.

In the spirit of the Queen, Latifah that is I will be trying to get to my healthy weight and will only say how much I’ve lost and will not give a start weight or updates on my weight until I get to my desired healthy weight.

I will however try give an update on inches lost!

If your reading this and want to give me updated on your weight loss journey also, please feel free to leave your comments and we’ll track our progress together!

Happy Weight Losing!