This one's for all the ladies...

So tonight I'm pondering skin care, more specifically skin care for your face. As I ponder this, I'm wearing a mask that I kind of want to eat, it smells like dessert. Is this really good for my face if I want to eat it? The glop on my face is pictured to the left and can be found here.

Now, on a daily basis I'm pretty lazy about any kind of skin care regimen. I want something easy and fast, I don't want to spend 20 minutes washing my face. But on the other hand, I'm a girl, and I want to feel preeeeeetty. (I'm twirling my hair and batting my eyelashes, just so you know.) So in the decades since I've been aware of skin care and, um, boys, I've scoured the globe for the perfect formula, or regimen if you will, ahem, for my face. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. You troll the aisles at the drugstore or Sephora or Ulta if you're fancy, (or department stores if you're super fancy), searching for the product that promises the answers to all your skin care woes. Blemishes, wrinkles, dark circles, fine lines, floppy eyelids, say goodbye! Hello brighter, radiant, young glowing skin! Okay, the floppy eyelids thing I made up, but you get the picture, I'm sure.

I have pretty normal skin, but into adulthood, meaning since I have lapped puberty, I have developed some breakouts. Charming I know. And I'm a sucker for eye creams. So I have tried e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. I'm not exaggerating. From Neutrogena and Clean and Clear to Pro-Activ, MAC, Origins, Aveda, Benefit, Kiehls, Philosophy, Dermologica, and Kiss my Face. I've tried fancy-spa-in-Vegas wonderstuff, and organic-dirt-for-your-face just like the ancestors. What I've found, much to the detriment of my wallet, is that just because it costs a ton doesn't mean it's good. The expensive stuff is sometimes too harsh and smelly for my poor little face, and I'm basically paying through the nose for the brand name and fancy packaging. I've also found that different things work for different people, which is so not helpful. Also, those super helpful salesgirls are exactly that, sales-girls. They know their stuff and know how to get vulnerable, clueless me to buy it. Don't get me wrong, they're not out to get you, and are very helpful if you have questions and need suggestions, but they don't tell you that their products could all be wrong for you. However, they will give you samples of pretty much anything to try out if they can which is awesome! So if you're nervous about trying a new face cream, you don't have to commit to a whole bottle, just ask for a little sample, try it out for a few days before you shell out the big money.

I do have a point to this lengthy monologue. In all my years of trying the new and trendy and fabulous, the one face wash I've found that works the best for me is this one:

Cetaphil. Under $10, found at the local drugstore, everyone has heard of it. It took me this long to actually try it! I didn't think it would be any good, but it's gentle and doesn't dry out my skin. I can spend all my extra money on fancy dessert masks or bubble baths. I'm sure you all already knew this, but I'm a little slow getting on the train. And I like to waste money frivolously.

So now, I'm on a quest for the perfect moisturizer, not too greasy, not too drying. Girls out there, if you know of one holla at me! Yeah, I just said that. It was out of desperation. I don't want to spend another decade throwing money away on $99 miracle creams that last one week and leave me feeling like a french...you know. Help! My face is begging you!

Just in case you were wondering, the yummy mask made my face feel soft and oh so pretty.

reading, writing, arithmetic, too much homework...

So I am back in school, which means full-time classes and full-time working. Oh, and full-time homework.

My brain is mushy and I'm trying to practice good time management by staying on top of assignments. But

this video shows what it's really like.

Happy New Year!

For my New Years' celebration, we dressed in clothes that make us happy,

Then, we eat yummy mexican food until ready to burst. Then we scour various Target stores for brownie mix and fun games. This is what we chose:

For an hour, I was Queen Spatula. I had to say izzle after everything I said. I had to see how many things I could stuff down my shirt and in my pockets in thirty seconds. As for what else this game entails. I'd tell you, but it's better if I show ya.

Next, we played Pictureka. Find stinky things, flies, fire, and see of you can find 32 teeth.

She kicked our butts. I don't want to play that anymore. Okay, maybe a rematch. Best out of 5.

Then we had to take a little break to toast the New Year. Woot.

Hmmm, what else is there left to do?

How about Wii tennis?

After all that excitement, we decided to loll around eating brownies and watch this:

Yep. Who needs hoopla and debauchery when you have board games and crazy friends? Happy New Year, however you decided to ring it in.

A new blog post is long overdue, I know. And if you are like me at all, you have also been caught up in the melee known as the holiday season. I shopped, cleaned, cooked, worked, laughed, cried, and I am spent! Now the old year is over and a new year is only hours away and I finally have time to catch my breath. So here is a recap of all things Christmas-y that has been happening:

Not so much Christmas-related, but my roommate and I decided to redo the home office. Nothing crazy, a little paint, a new desk, make it a little more conducive to productivity. As a result, I have a piece of advice, never start a home renovation project, however small, in the months of November or December. Despite the best of intentions, it is near impossible to find enough time to complete. The good news is, the office is no longer living strewn throughout the family room and an "after picture" is soon to come.

I made these for a delicious holiday treat (among many other things), they're Pumpkin Pasties. And if you've read Harry Potter you know what I'm talking about. This is my version of that Hogwarts Express snack. It's super easy, and super yummy. Just pumpkin, pre-made sugar cookies and cupcake tins. They're like mini pumpkin pies.

My dad came to visit for Christmas.

He fixed things. Closet shelves, dimmer switches, refrigerator light bulbs. I didn't even know my refrigerator had light. And he took me to the dump.

<--Now my garage looks like this.

<---Instead of this.

Thanks Dad.

Cocoa also came for a visit. She's a sweet potato.

And now that they're gone, my dogs are sad. No, really. I'm not making this up. They miss my dad.

Did I mention I got a new camera? Can you tell?

I have my friends and family running for cover when I whip it out. But I have to practice on someone, right?

Happy Holidays!