CasaSugar

2009 Winners - Best Beauty Buys!

blondeyy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:32:56 -0700

24 Best Beauty Buys Now! 2009 Winners!

Five years and 365,400 reader votes later, our annual Glammy awards are still revealing beauty deals that get you gorgeous every time.

Meet the 2009 winners. Which ones are in your bathroom, and which should be?

The best mascaras

From drugstores: Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara ($6.50)
Five-time winner!The famous pink tube's content "lasts," and the wand "coats every lash"-all for "a recessionista price!"
From department/specialty stores: Lancôme Définicils Mascara Five-time winner!Définicils "lengthens lashes beyond belief," with no clumps. "Makes me look like I'm rocking fake lashes," says one reader.

The best shampoos

From drugstores:
First-time winner!"Crazy as it sounds, it helps my hair grow faster," says a former skeptic. Hair feels "superclean but not dry." Extra-credit points for the fresh, "fabulous" scent: "I can't stop smelling my hair!" says one fan.
From department/specialty stores: Biolage Hydrating Shampoo First-time winner!This "creamy lathering" shampoo won't "strip away natural oils" or "weigh hair down." Other hydrating shampoos "don't hold a candle," gushes a product junkie.

The best eye creams

From drugstores: Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum ($19, http://shopping.glamour.com/browse?fts=+Olay+Regenerist+Eye+Lifting+Seru...)
Four-time winner!There's no beating a product that's "magical, like unicorns and pots o' gold." This "instantly brightens, and reduces puffiness and wrinkles." Notes one devotee, "I'm 40, and I just got carded-thanks, Olay!"
From department/specialty stores: Clinique All About Eyes ($47 for 1 oz., http://www.clinique.com/)
Four-time winner!A "dream cream" that's "soothing and refreshing" like a "massage for the eyes." It also erases pesky dark circles so "your eyes don't show that you've had a long night."

The best blushes

From drugstores: CoverGirl Cheekers Blush ($4.50, Five-time winner!Readers always come back to this "amazing bargain" because it "blends smoothly," "lasts all day" and "doubles as eyeshadow." It's believable, too: "It looks more like a natural flush than something you applied with a brush!"
From department/specialty stores: NARS Blush First-time winner!"Universally flattering" with a "hint of sparkle," this blush works for "the office and a night out." The most popular shade? Orgasm (naturally). "The best bang for my buck," says one cheeky reader.

The best foundations

From drugstores: CoverGirl Clean Liquid Makeup ($6.50, Two-time winner!Gives great coverage, but it's "sheer enough to let my freckles shine through," says an admirer. It also "helps control oil" without the "nasty cracks."
From department/specialty stores: BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation ($25Five-time winner!Cult fave "BareMins," as it's affectionately known, delivers "flawless model skin." Even on a hot day, "it doesn't melt."

The best conditioners

From drugstores: Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Conditioner ($4, First-time winner!Leaves hair "silky" with "great sheen" and "a lot fewer tangles." Users report seeing less hair in the comb and the drain. It's nourishing, too: "I get regular highlights, but my hair never looks fried."
From department/specialty stores: Matrix Sleek.look Smoothing Conditioner Five-time winner!This undefeated champ deals humidity and frizz "a knockout punch." The "godsend" smooths so well that blowouts are "easier" and "last longer."

The best facial moisturizers

From drugstores: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer With SPF 30 ($14First-time winner!Voters say this "friendly to sensitive skin" cream "seriously hydrates," but it's superlight-"you barely know it's there." It works without "clogging pores" and leaves skin "downright luminous."
From department/specialty stores: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion With Pump Five-time winner!The "yellow stuff" is "amazing for combination skin-makes flaky spots soft, and oily areas don't break out." Also great: "Makeup doesn't slide off."

The best self-tanners

From drugstores: Dove Energy Glow Beauty Body Lotion ($7)
First-time winner!Great for getting rid of that "pasty winter look," this lotion gives subtle color "that doesn't rub off on my white underwear." Best of all, "it never looks orange-I wish it came in gallon sizes."
From department/specialty stores: Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel Three-time winner!It dries quickly-"No more walking around half naked waiting for tanner to dry!"-and looks like the real deal: "I told people I went to Hawaii, and they believed me!"

The best hairstyling products

From drugstores: Aussie Catch the Wave Sprunch Hair Spray ($3.50
First-time winner!A wavy or curly-haired girl's go-to spray, it leaves hair "springy but not too bouncy." Bonus: "It smells delicious-my husband loves to bury his face in my hair when I use it," says one satisfied user.
From department/specialty stores: BioSilk Silk Therapy ($40 for 12 oz.Five-time winner!Just a dime-size amount gets hair "smooth and shiny." Says one enthusiast, "I've retired my flatiron to the closet." Adds another, "I'd pay a ransom for this stuff." It's "magic."

The best lip glosses

From drugstores: CoverGirl Wetslicks Lipgloss ($6.50 First-time winner!Works as well as it sounds, voters agree-it's "slick" but not "sticky," so it's "more kissable" than other brands, and "ultra-moisturizing," too.
From department/specialty stores: MAC Tinted Lipglass ($1 Three-time winner!Users praise the "yummy scent" and the 29 shades. The color "lasts forever," and "the jojoba oil makes my lips supersoft!"

The best fragrances

From drugstores: Curious Britney Spears eau de parfum ($53 )
Four-time winner!"Floral and fruity" with a "sexy musk note," this longtime favorite lives up to its name: "Every time I wear it, people ask me about it," says a faithful spritzer. Another dubs it "the perfect date fragrance."
From department/specialty stores: Clinique Happy ($53 Two-time winner!"Clean and citrusy," this scent is considered "mood-altering" and, as one woman says, a real "pick-me-up." Another perk: "It's light enough for day and sexy enough to wear at night."

The best body products

From drugstores: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($8
First-time winner!Voters applaud the "uncomplicated" and "earthy" ingredients that "don't irritate skin." The cream is rich enough to soothe "dreaded cracked heels" but "absorbs quickly" and is "not a bit greasy."
From department/specialty stores: Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Japanese Cherry Blossom ($11)
Two-time winner!This "leg candy" has a "feminine, woodsy" scent that gets noticed: "A guy actually approached me in a bookstore to tell me that I smelled great!"

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/

24 Best Beauty Buys Now! 2009 Winners!

blondeyy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:39:08 -0700

24 Best Beauty Buys Now! 2009 Winners!

The best eye creams

From drugstores: Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum ($19)
Four-time winner!There's no beating a product that's "magical, like unicorns and pots o' gold." This "instantly brightens, and reduces puffiness and wrinkles." Notes one devotee, "I'm 40, and I just got carded-thanks, Olay!"
From department/specialty stores: Clinique All About Eyes ($47)
Four-time winner!A "dream cream" that's "soothing and refreshing" like a "massage for the eyes." It also erases pesky dark circles so "your eyes don't show that you've had a long night."

The best blushes

From drugstores: CoverGirl Cheekers Blush ($4.50, Five-time winner!Readers always come back to this "amazing bargain" because it "blends smoothly," "lasts all day" and "doubles as eyeshadow." It's believable, too: "It looks more like a natural flush than something you applied with a brush!"
From department/specialty stores: NARS Blush First-time winner!"Universally flattering" with a "hint of sparkle," this blush works for "the office and a night out." The most popular shade? Orgasm (naturally). "The best bang for my buck," says one cheeky reader.

The best foundations

From drugstores: CoverGirl Clean Liquid Makeup ($6.50, Two-time winner!Gives great coverage, but it's "sheer enough to let my freckles shine through," says an admirer. It also "helps control oil" without the "nasty cracks."
From department/specialty stores: BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation ($25 Five-time winner!Cult fave "BareMins," as it's affectionately known, delivers "flawless model skin." Even on a hot day, "it doesn't melt."

The best conditioners

From drugstores: Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Conditioner ($4, First-time winner!Leaves hair "silky" with "great sheen" and "a lot fewer tangles." Users report seeing less hair in the comb and the drain. It's nourishing, too: "I get regular highlights, but my hair never looks fried."
From department/specialty stores: Matrix Sleek.look Smoothing Conditioner Five-time winner!This undefeated champ deals humidity and frizz "a knockout punch." The "godsend" smooths so well that blowouts are "easier" and "last longer."

The best facial moisturizers

From drugstores: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer With SPF 30 ($14 First-time winner!Voters say this "friendly to sensitive skin" cream "seriously hydrates," but it's superlight-"you barely know it's there." It works without "clogging pores" and leaves skin "downright luminous."
From department/specialty stores: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion With Pump Five-time winner!The "yellow stuff" is "amazing for combination skin-makes flaky spots soft, and oily areas don't break out." Also great: "Makeup doesn't slide off."

The best self-tanners

From drugstores: Dove Energy Glow Beauty Body Lotion ($7)
First-time winner!Great for getting rid of that "pasty winter look," this lotion gives subtle color "that doesn't rub off on my white underwear." Best of all, "it never looks orange-I wish it came in gallon sizes."
From department/specialty stores: Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel Three-time winner!It dries quickly-"No more walking around half naked waiting for tanner to dry!"-and looks like the real deal: "I told people I went to Hawaii, and they believed me!"

The best hairstyling products

From drugstores: Aussie Catch the Wave Sprunch Hair Spray ($3.50
First-time winner!A wavy or curly-haired girl's go-to spray, it leaves hair "springy but not too bouncy." Bonus: "It smells delicious-my husband loves to bury his face in my hair when I use it," says one satisfied user.
From department/specialty stores: BioSilk Silk Therapy ($40 for 12 oz. Five-time winner!Just a dime-size amount gets hair "smooth and shiny." Says one enthusiast, "I've retired my flatiron to the closet." Adds another, "I'd pay a ransom for this stuff." It's "magic."

The best lip glosses

From drugstores: CoverGirl Wetslicks Lipgloss ($6.50 First-time winner!Works as well as it sounds, voters agree-it's "slick" but not "sticky," so it's "more kissable" than other brands, and "ultra-moisturizing," too.
From department/specialty stores: MAC Tinted Lipglass Three-time winner!Users praise the "yummy scent" and the 29 shades. The color "lasts forever," and "the jojoba oil makes my lips supersoft!"

The best fragrances

From drugstores: Curious Britney Spears eau de parfum ($53 )
Four-time winner!"Floral and fruity" with a "sexy musk note," this longtime favorite lives up to its name: "Every time I wear it, people ask me about it," says a faithful spritzer. Another dubs it "the perfect date fragrance."
From department/specialty stores: Clinique Happy ($53 Two-time winner!"Clean and citrusy," this scent is considered "mood-altering" and, as one woman says, a real "pick-me-up." Another perk: "It's light enough for day and sexy enough to wear at night."

The best body products

From drugstores: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($8
First-time winner!Voters applaud the "uncomplicated" and "earthy" ingredients that "don't irritate skin." The cream is rich enough to soothe "dreaded cracked heels" but "absorbs quickly" and is "not a bit greasy."
From department/specialty stores: Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Japanese Cherry Blossom ($11)
Two-time winner!This "leg candy" has a "feminine, woodsy" scent that gets noticed: "A guy actually approached me in a bookstore to tell me that I smelled great!"

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/

10 ways to make your next party chic, stylish, and green

tdsollog — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:06:17 -0700

Simple Green
Just because you’re ecofriendly doesn’t mean you’ve gone hippie. Here are 10 ways to make your next party chic, stylish, and green.
Christie Matheson
http://lifestyle.msn.com/green/greenarticletkt.aspx?cp-documentid=457509...

Do as many of these tips as you can. Then reward yourself with a fresh mani and pedi for your party. Hey, even three or four of these ideas will help future generations of Nesties.

1. Evites are a must.
Skip the pretty paper cards and save a tree or two. We know you love wowing your friends with your invitation creations, but you'll amaze them enough when they arrive, we promise! Plus, the Evite has a great way for you to still be clever with your post. We love uploading funny pictures and choosing pretty designs that even the pickiest guest will love. And be sure to get creative with the reply categories.

2. Use the stuff you've got.
You know those dishes, glasses, and place settings you put on your registry but still haven't taken out of the cabinet? Now is the time to break them out. You'll have to do a little extra cleanup at the end of the night, but isn't reversing global warming worth an extra few minutes?

3. Personalize cups.
If you insist on using disposable glassware, buy the kind made from recycled or sustainable materials (look for stuff manufactured from corn resin or sugar-cane stalk, or items labeled "biodegradable" or "100% recycled content"). And prevent the cup-mistaken-identity syndrome (you know, when someone takes a cup and places it next to an identical one, and then both people have to get new cups) by taking a Sharpie and marking each cup with a personalized monogram.

4. Light it up.
Cut down on electricity and create a romantic (and, let's face it, flattering) glow by placing lit candles everywhere. Use soy or beeswax candles, which, unlike petroleum-based paraffin candles, won't emit toxic, sooty fumes.

5. Be thrifty.
When looking for hosting odds and ends that will add a finishing touch to your decor -- like salad servers and place mats -- check out flea markets and thrift shops. As long as you wash them in incredibly hot water, you are actually getting something amazingly unique and doing your part to create less trash. After all, if you didn't buy it, it might have been thrown out.

6. Go local.
Skip the produce aisle at your regular grocery store, and visit a local organic farm or market to grab your greens. Or if your supermarket chain carries a local organic vendor line, all the better. You'll not only get pesticide- and hormone-free products, but buying local items means they've had to travel only a short distance (versus thousands of miles) to get to your house. And if you haven't guessed it already, that means they used up less fuel.

7. Fill 'er up.
Treat your friends to organic wines and spirits, and you'll be getting them drunk without the gunk of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Another reason you're hearing and seeing so much "buy organic" propaganda is that it supports farmers who make the extra effort to not pollute the soil, which helps Big Momma Earth.

8. Give away your decor.
Decorate your pad with small organic plants -- they'll help clear the air of carbon dioxide, of course, and pump in more oxygen. Then give them away as favors. Encourage guests to plant them, and you'll be spreading that earth-lovin' love!

9. Recycle!
This might be the "duh" tip of the day, but if you don't do it already, you must. Check absolutely everything you're about to throw away to see if you can use it again (even if it's to send home extra food with a guest). And if you can't use it, make sure glass, paper, and plastic products get thrown out in the recycle bin. This will preserve natural resources, cut down on junk heading to landfills, and reduce the amount of energy used and pollution emitted in the manufacturing of new products.

10. Clean up green.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Organic stuff equals good for the planet. So use spray cleaner and dishwashing liquid that won't add bad chemicals to the water supply, air, and soil. We like Method (methodhome.com) because its products smell yummy. And if you must use paper towels (reusable cloths are ideal), get recycled products from Seventh Generation (seventhgeneration.com) or Planet (planetinc.com). And for whatever waste you have (hopefully, it's not too much), use biodegradable trash bags, like the ones from BioBag (biogroupusa.com).

Throw a Spa Party!

ALSW — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:16:38 -0700

I found this article today on http://www.ladiesblend.com and I just had to share it!

So you want to host a Spa Party?

Your Budget

How important is having a budget? Only one of the most important tasks, especially if you’re like most of us who need to keep our cash in check! For a successful party, every chic hostess should take into consideration her needs, wants and must haves, along with a reasonable dollar spending amount and the financial bankroll, to back it up. How many guests will you invite? Don't have a big budget? No worries, we will give you some fun, creative ideas that won't break the bank.

The Event Day

The next most important item on your to do list is figuring out precisely what will be included in your event. This is not too terribly hard to come up with since you already have your budget in place. However, there are several options, and choosing what will fit your needs can be a bit time consuming, so lets get started. There is something to be said for the fun it would be transforming and turning your home into a Spa for a day or evening.

Services to consider are full body massages, or spot massages, such as hands and feet, face and neck, arms and neck, check with a local licensed massage therapist for rates and availability.

Affordable creative ideas for your spa party

If your budget is not big and bulky, (and most of ours is not) I can assure you that you can still pull off an amazing spa-together time. Keep in mind, some of the most smashing parties have been thrown on a modest budget, you can do it!

Making homemade beauty recipes is all the rage these days, make them yourself before your guests arrive, or gather everyone in the kitchen to mix up countless concoctions. These are fresh, fun to make, and good for you, Now you can give each other facials, condition your hair, foot and hand scrubs and so much more. Split up into two groups, group one will put down foot soaks for everyone in-group two, then apply the beauty treatments you have made, then switch off. This is one of my favorite things to do, and budgets of all sizes have tremendous fun and meaningful bonding time too.

After you have decided what type of Spa Party, you will be having, make a schedule of events and pick the time of day or evening. Pick your party time carefully considering your guest’s schedules a head of time. This is sure to be the "can't miss" event; everyone is going to WANT to come to this party!

The Invitations

Send your invitations out 2-3 weeks in advance, and let your guests know what to expect so they can prepare appropriately. If you are crafty, you may like to make your own invitations, or for you computer savvy girls, making great looking invitations on the computer is a snap. A handwritten note inviting your guests is a thoughtful touch, but of course, you can also buy them.

The Menu

Keep it light. You don’t want your guests feeling overly full and uncomfortable, prepare fresh foods presented in a simple, beautiful fashion. Create an appealing setting for your food keeping it all together on one table, this makes it much easier to replenish, as needed.

Use linen tablecloths and napkins, please...no paper plates, plastic beverage bottles, plastic eating utensils, etc. TIP: Budget minded individuals-if in need, take a quick trip to your local dollar store, thrift sore, yard sales, etc., for these items. Don't worry about everything matching (example-dinner plates, silver, etc.), some of the most beautiful settings are done with mis-matched items.

The Bar

Serve Iced Teas and Fresh or Sparkling Waters in beautiful glass pitchers, with a dish full of lemon and lime slices and wedges. You may also like to serve select Wines, Champagne, Hot Herbal Teas, Fresh Juices or a Coffee Bar. Bring out your pretty teacups and glassware for this occasion.

Create Your Space(s)

Depending on how many guests you invite and what services you will be providing; transforming your home is another task to think about. Move furniture around to create open spaces. If you are having multiple professionals, use all the space you can. If people are having relaxing massages, you may want to include bedrooms in the plan along with all bathrooms. Be sure to have stacks of fresh clean towels, washcloths, soaps or gels.

Present your guests with a new freshly laundered Spa Robe Gift as they enter your party, or ask that everyone bring their own robe and slippers.

Have at least one vase full of fresh flowers and more if possible. If your party is themed or around the Holiday season, you may like to decorate; a touch of sparkle here and there creates a festive and warm feeling.

Dim the Lights. Light candles even if the event is during the day, the glow of a candle(s) relays warmth and beauty.

Set pretty dishes of potpourri in all rooms being used.

Potpourri Recipe

1 cup pink rose petals
1/2 cup red rose petals
1/2 cup white rose petals
1/4 cup chamomile fs
1/2 cup crushed statice (blue or white)
1/4 cup eucalyptus leaves
1/4 cup oakmoss
20 drops rose oil

Gently combine petals and leaves in a large bowl. Scatter drops of rose oil over the mixture using an eyedropper. Stir gently. Place mixture in a brown paper bag lined with wax paper. Fold and seal the bag with a paper clip and leave in a dry, dark, cool place for 2 weeks. Every other day, stir the contents gently to blend and disperse ingredients and scents. Place in glass bowls or candy dishes. Top with small white or pink rose buds.

Select relaxing/nature music CD’s, and have beautiful music flowing from beginning to end.

Take this opportunity to lavish and spoil your guests, and I don't mean by spending a lot of money on them, but by showing them how much you care by doing the little things that truly shine through. Make a toast to them and let them know how wholeheartedly happy you are that they could all come together to share and experience this time with you. Make this one afternoon or evening a time to remember. Relax, unwind and above all, enjoy!

Gifts for the Guests

Handmade Beauty Gifts for your Guests are a great personal touch at the end of the Spa Day. Or pick a special moment during your event to hand each guest their gift. Wrap up individual gifts in pretty papers or snuggle items together in a spa or fabric bag.

Great Gift Ideas

Bath Teas

Purchase quality organic Dried Herbs from your local Herb Shop to make Relaxing and Beautiful Bath Teas.

Ingredients

Lavender Buds
Rose Petals
Chamomile Flowers
Lemon Balm
Pre-cut sheer tulle circles
Raffia or Ribbon
Essential Oils-optional

Directions

In a large bowl, mix all the dried herbs, and a few drops Essential Oils if you prefer. Put a scoop of the mixed herbs in the center of each tulle circle, gather the tulle up around the herbs snugly, and tie with a piece of raffia or ribbon. You can include a homemade tag for your Bath Tea with directions to toss in the tub and enjoy a relaxing stress-less bath.

Cranberry Lip Gloss

Every girl should have a pot of yummy lip gloss with her at all times! Protect sensitive lips from the drying elements with this simple yet rich lip balm. Delightful to wear alone or on top of your lipstick for extra shine!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
10 fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon honey
1 drop of vitamin E oil

Directions

Mix all the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for a couple of minutes or until the mixture just begins to boil. (Bowl may also be heated in a pan of water on a stove top). Stir well and gently crush the berries. Cool mixture for five minutes and then strain through a fine sieve to remove all the fruit pieces. Stir again and set aside to cool completely. When cool, transfer into a small portable plastic container or tin. Apply a small amount onto your lips and remember to smile!

Lavender Sachets

Fill small muslin drawstring bags with dried lavender buds; make a little tag and your done. You may like to make several for each guest, do this by making four sachets for each guest, stack them on top of each other and secure with a pretty ribbon or raffia. You could also put them in a clear cello bag with a ribbon bow. Use your imagination and have fun with the gifts!

Raspberry Vanilla Bubble Bath

8 ounces unscented liquid soap
2 ounces distilled water
8 drops vanilla fragrance oil
6 drops raspberry frangrance oil
2 drops red food coloring

Mix together and store in a container. Pour in running bath water to use.

Here's another article if you're interested: http://www.savvy-spa.com/wellness-articles/plan-a-home-spa-party/

Has anyone ever done this? Are you thinking about it now?

MORE BEAUTY PRODUCT LUSH: Laura Mercier!!

VSug — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:05:41 -0700

Creme Brulee in Honey for bath by Laura Mercier

Warning, while this honey for your relaxing, candle-lit bath shines, softens, and, yes, even makes you look more toned. You are not allowed to eat it. That's no matter how yummy it smells and feels!!

Laura Mercier is a line I'm grooving on at the moment. Known especially for her skin and body care, she's also great with eye shadow and liner products!!

If you're on a tight budget, I'd start with either this creme brulee ($40) or her "Flawless" foundation ($42). But be forewarned: you can get hooked! Especially is you are living in the SF BAY AREA and visit Neiman's for a special event at the Laura Mercier counter, with pampering and complimenttary make-over by CELEB MAKE-OVER ARTIST AUBREY LANE! She does fashion shows for Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, shoots for Elle and Bazaar, and a host of of Celebs! If you want to go, I sugget you might make an appt. at (415) 362-3900.

Sunday, June 1st is Aubrey's last day.

How to Clean Your House in a Hurry

SweetPeasMom — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:07:13 -0800

How to Clean Your House in a Hurry!
By Nicole Dean

You're lying on the couch in your living room, in one of your husband's old t-shirts and a pair of baggie sweatpants, watching last night's taped episode of Desperate Housewives, when suddenly - the phone rings. You don't recognize the number on caller ID and you make the mistake of answering it. It's your long lost best friend from the sixth grade. She's in town and she just happens to be in your neighborhood. She'll be over in 10 minutes, and your house is a MESS.

So, how do you clean up for unexpected guests in 10 minutes or less?!

1. Stay calm!

2. Do a clean sweep. Grab a trash bag or laundry basket and gather up everything that is lying around that shouldn't be, and throw it into the bag. Hide the bag.

3. Plump up pillows on couches and chairs in living room, fold blankets. Give each cushion a swat for crumbs.

4. Stack mail, newspapers and magazines in a nice, neat pile. Stick the pile in a corner or on a kitchen chair.

5. Give the bathroom a speedy sprucing up! Wipe out the sink, wipe off the toilet seat and quickly swish the bowl. Then, close the shower curtain, and throw odds and ends in cabinets or drawers. Spray some Lysol or air freshener so the bathroom will smell clean - even if it's far from it.

6. Rinse off any dishes in the sink and stack them neatly or toss them in the dishwasher. Wipe off the table and counter tops.

7. Take a peek inside the fridge - what beverages and snacks do you have that you can offer your guests?

8. Close the doors to all rooms that you don't want on display.

9. Light a yummy scented candle in the kitchen - like Cinnamon Buns or Chocolate Cake. Lighting a few scented candles will uplift the mood of any home and make guests feel welcomed. Throw some fruit in a bowl and place it in the center of your table. Fresh flowers also do wonders, if you have them on hand.

10. Take a deep breath. Give yourself a squirt of perfume and you're all set! You may even have enough time to get changed into something a little more presentable.

Cleaning up for unexpected guests does not have to be a mad rush, if you stay caught up on your housework as a rule. A friend of mine gave me some really good advice right after my husband and I got married, she said "The best way to keep a clean house is to entertain in your home at least once a month." There's nothing like having company coming to get cleaning!

You are invited to visit http://www.homeorganizationhelp.com/house-cleaning-tips.htm for more cleaning and organization advice -- and http://www.freequickrecipes.com for meals in minutes!

Copyright 2005 - Nicole Dean

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Dean

What I want now

TheUrbanMommy82 — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:07:16 -0800

Lucky magazine has this one part called "What I want now", this is my version of that. (I just edited to add the links)

Wranglers Lillington straight jean, looks good with everything from flats to boots! The "mushroom" color is awesome!
www.barneys.com/b/browse/search.s?query=lillington&searchBox=true

Pacifica soy wax candle in Nerola Orange Blossom, smells delightful! www.pacificacandles.com/nerola-orange.asp

M.A.C Finery lipcolor set in plum, every color is great! www.maccosmetics.com/templates/products/sp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY2576...

Essies "Wrapped in rubies" is a great holiday red! www.essie.com/products/

Philosophy's Hope in a Jar leaves my skin so soft! www.philosophy.com/web/store/cat_skincare-moisturizers____24007_23503

I'm addicted to C.O Bigelow's Lemon body cream, which smells yummy and leaves my skin baby soft! www.bathandbodyworks.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2478386&cp=2073258....

Who can resist this beautiful necklace by up and coming jewelry designer Rebecca Berry? www.rebeccaberry.com/product/Gypsy-Rose-Pendant-Necklace.html

The Epiphany of a MEAT CAKE.

c0rkie — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:30:43 -0700

The chef behind this is a GENIUS!

This is supposedly delicious lol.
I haven't personally tried to make a meat cake yet so I wouldn't know.

I just had to share this on Teamsugar in case you haven't seen this yet.

There's even a gallery of other meatcake fanatics! Talk about having a FEAST!

the following is taken from:
http://www.blackwidowbakery.com/demo/meatcake/

This, my friends,
is my culinary epiphany.

Feast your eyes on this!

A cake...with a t-bone drawn on
it? Has our intrepid chefstress lost her mind? NO, my friends, NO!
because THIS....is MEAT CAKE.

Okay, see, this bears some
explanation. A coworker is getting married next week, and we were
talking about wedding cakes (I had just done one for two friends of
mine). He asked if I could do one for him - totally joking of
course. "Oh, sure, what kind of chef are you that you can't pump out
a wedding cake on just two weeks notice??" He went on to describe
his ultimate wedding cake. "I hate that wedding cakes are all girly.
There should be like a groom cake to go with the traditional wedding
cake. A guy's cake. Like..made out of meat."

A lightbulb went off in my
mind. "I could TOTALLY do that," I exclaimed. "A meatloaf! With
mashed potato frosting! OH MY GOD!"

"Yeah!" He was catching on.
"And like, gravy between the layers and melted cheese for the
writing!"

"Hmmmm. No, ketchup glaze," I
decided. "I am so totally going to do this," I suddenly realized.

So today I did. Here's how it
went down:

The first thing I needed was the meatloaf. I make a pretty yummy meatloaf, but I never make it the same way twice. I knew I needed a dryer meatloaf, so I would need a lot of breadcrumbs. Into a bowl, I mixed:

6 # hamburger, 80% lean
3 large AA eggs
2 TB minced garlic

1 TB minced dried onion
1 TB basil
2c bread crumbs
2 TB kosher salt

I knew there was going to be a
lot of fat left in the pans, and I am lazy, so I used disposable
cake tins. Three 8 inch rounds. There wouldn't be as much fat if I'd
used leaner meat, but the grocery store didn't have any leaner meat
in chubs, and I didn't want to spend a million dollars on this
anyway. Next time I'll cut the beef with something a little leaner,
or maybe bigger chunks of bread. I wasn't too concerned about it,
since this was only the trial run to see if this idea is even
worthy. I evenly distributed the meat into the cake tins.

And then into the 400 degree
oven until they reached an internal temperature of 170 degrees,
which was about 45 minutes. I glazed two of them after about 20
minutes, but this was an act of sheer optimism, as there was a
better than average chance I was going to have to cut the tops off
anyway, to level them.

It wouldn't do at ALL to have
them bathing in yukky grease once they were out, so I pulled them
out of the tins right away and let them cool on draining racks. Yep,
glazing was too optimistic. The meatloaf bound up a little tighter
than I would have liked - I think next time I would go with three
cups of bread crumbs instead of two. I watched an episode of Good
Eats while I waited for them to cool, and thanks to Alton, I really
wanted wontons.

Like any cake, it needed to be
leveled. I wasn't too worried about accuracy here, but I carved off
a nice level slice from each layer. They steamed up when I leveled
them, so I ate a quick lunch of meatloaf scraps while they cooled
down some more. Needed a little salt, but my meatloaf is still very
tasty. This time Alton taught me about vinegar.

I stacked the layers and cut
off the edges, to get some semblance of roundness. More scraps for
dinner, I foresee. Again, I'm not really worried about making it
perfect, because I can buy a lot of forgiveness with icing. I mean
potatoes. (pardon me, I've got to go check on my green tea melon
sorbet)

(back. It's not ready yet, but
my raspberry ginger sorbet is hardened and it is delicious and I'm
eating some.) So many scraps for dinner! mmmmm.

I am going to stack them on my
prettiest paper round. Hee hee hee.

I whipped up a little more
glaze to put between the layers. For glaze, I use Worcestershire
sauce (pronounce the city 'worcestershire' "wuss-tuh-shuh" (with
hard, english vowel sounds). 'worcester' is "wuss-tuh". the stress
goes on the first syllable in both. Don't be wrong. You don't
pronounce the 'ce', like you don't call Gloucester 'glao-che-ster'
ACK BRAIN FREEZE DAMN YOU, GINGER SORBET! ok. Sorry.
'gloucester' and 'gloucestershire' are pronounced "gloss-tuh" and
"gloss-tuh-shuh" respectively. or wuss-stur-sher, but the sauce is
pronounced "wuhsher". Yeah. I've had a LOT of emails about
this. It's very strange. A lot of them contradict each
other. say it right. the end.), brown sugar, and ketchup. This
is the only time I ever eat ketchup on purpose, because ketchup is
vinegary, salty tomato blood and it is gross. True culinary fact. I
use 1 tsp of wooshereshtir sauce, 1/4 c of brown sugar, and 1 c of
ketchup, roughly. It's like my meatloaf. I don't usually make it the
same way twice. I generally brush it on while it bakes, so the sugar
caramelizes to deliciousness, but I am just using the raw deal here.

And now I spread it between the
layers. The weight of the next layer is going to push on it, so I
don't spread the glaze all the way to the edges. I'm being extra
careful here, since I don't want the ketchup bleeding into the
mashed potatoes when I spread them on. When I fill a cake with the
same frosting that's going on the outside, I'm not so careful about
it, but in cases like this, I don't want to contaminate the outer
appearance at all.

And now the frosting! Yeah, I'm
cheating and using potato flakes - but for a specific reason. I like
my real mashed potatoes with the skin in and lumpy as hell, so you
can tell that it used to be a potato, but consistency is key here.
I'm using potato flakes for smoothness and uniformity that I can't
really get with real potatoes without killing my whip attachment.
Yes, I *have* heard of a potato ricer, but I don't have one. And the
ingredients for this alone cost me $40, so I wasn't about to invest
some money on a ricer that I'm only going to use for this. And this
is just a test cake anyway. Nyah. Yes. I'm cheating. And lazy. MMmmm
potato flakes.

Is it buttercream? Is it mashed
potatoes? hm. Hard to tell! And THAT, my friends, is the whole very
point.

And now for the crumb coat! A
very thin layer of potatoes is applied to give the cake shape, and
to seal in the meaty crumbs and glaze that escaped. If this were a
cake, I'd have frozen it for a little while before doing the actual
frosting..

..But it's not a real cake!
HA-HA! So I'm plowing ahead and smothering it with potatoey
goodness. It's at about this stage I started giggling at how well my
plan was working. Holy hell, this looked like a cake. A real, proper
cake! I am a GENIUS!

And now for the delicate
touches. A spirally border with accents of glaze and a T-bone on
top. I've never drawn a T-bone steak before. It didn't come out too
bad, though there is a definite uterusy quality to it. And the
brilliant part of this, is that mashed potatoes can be colored
(anyone who's ever seen the movie Hook will testify). So I
could have decorated this just like any other cake in the world. But
the whole point of it is to be a Manly Man Cake, and hence the
steak. Next time, I'll decorate it like a proper cake. You can pipe
the mashed potatoes as easily as frosting. I also considered cutting
some crispy bacon to be 'candles'.

It tastes delicious. I chilled
it, sliced it, then served it warmed up from the microwave. Cold
meatloaf only belongs in sandwiches, not meat cake. It came out as
well as I hoped, and it's received far more attention than I ever
thought it would. Holy cats, a lot of you have seen this! I've
received a ton of email about it, and so far the worst people have
had to say was 'ewww meatloaf'. I shrug at thee! Meatloaf - when
done properly - is delicious! Unless you are not a meatatarian, in
which case it maybe tastes like murder, but for us hardcore
meatatarians, murder tastes like meat! And meat is delicious!

And now I'm going to go watch
what Alton has to say about spices, while you look at my meatcake
some more. Bon apetit!

http://www.blackwidowbakery.com/demo/meatcake/