Is it Bad...

...that it's only Monday and that this is where my mind is? It's gloomy and cloudy and dark outside right now, but if I get 99 degrees and sunshine all weekend I'm happy. More non-throw-away posts to come this week. Promise.

Armani Face Fabric

I don't post many product raves, but this weekend Lizzi introduced me to Armani Face Fabric, and I'm kind of hooked.

"Giorgio Armani translates his skills in texture and layering into its unique range of cosmetic textiles, a wardrobe for face. Face fabric is an invisible makeup with a 3D Micro-fil technology. Its unique Micro-fil™ formulations bring lightness and fluidity to makeup, allowing infinite blending and layering to enhance the natural glow of the skin."

Whiza-whiza-whiza-what? That might be just a tinsy bit intense, but seriously. This stuff is sort of awesome. And a well-timed discovery for me, since my go-to MAC foundation just ran out. So here's what I love about this little find – the way it feels. You might not think there'd be that much difference from one to the next, BUT trust. me. on. this. Sometimes my MAC foundation has that caked-on feeling, but you don't get that at all with this stuff. It's really light, silky smooth, and still does what it's supposed to. Plus it has a little SPF in it. Since the color that matches my skin is so pointedly named "pale" I guess having a little bit of sun protection is a good thing.

The only place in Dallas that sells it is Neiman's Northpark, but it's also available online. If you give it a try, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Motorcycles & Vespas

Several weeks ago I rode a motorcycle for the first time. I'd like to just leave the story there – so if I happen to re-read this when I'm 50 I'll think about how cool I was back in the day – but for accuracy's sake I guess I'll tell the real story. Sigh. The real story is that Brian (LB’s husband…what what!!) came to get me from another (nameless) friend's home who happens to live in the same sub-division as LB & Brian but who’s company was otherwise occupied that evening. ;) Long story short, I rode with Brian from one house to the other. Estimated distance? Maybe half of a mile. It was fun in that trying something new way, but I won’t lie, the entire time I kept thinking about how I was going to die and how mad my mom would be. We were going approximately 10 to 15 mph the entire way. Obviously I’m a pretty big daredevil. Anyway, I can now check that off the bucket list. Not sure it was ever on it, but it’s checked off nonetheless.

Now on to Vespas!! My brother, Mike, and his wife, Laura, just moved to Bermuda! Mike has worked in NYC for the past several years, but one of his clients out in Bermuda hired him away. All I have to say is that their offer for us to visit is not going to go untaken. Anne and I have already talked about if going for Labor Day is too soon (I think the answer is a definite yes). I’m excited for them because they are totally pumped about it. (I am also excited for selfish reasons. Does putting this in parenthesis make it seem like this is a secondary excitement to their primary excitement? Mmmmk, good). Their house is right on the beach. How sweet is that? Oh! You might be wondering what this has to do with Vespas. In Bermuda each household is limited to one car, so most people ride around on Vespas. Kinda fun, right?! One more fun fact – “Men in Bermuda are never shy about revealing their knees. Standard business dress for men incorporates colourful linen or worsted wool shorts, worn with shirt, tie and blazer, plus the characteristic knee socks.” Can’t wait to see my fashion-forward brother try this out. ;)

Tres Leches Cake (i.e., Heaven on a Plate)

Instead of going into uber detail about my crazy-pants furniture shopping spree last weekend (short version: after going to nearly 30 furniture shops – not even exaggerating – I finally found a couch), or this week/weekend's fourplex drama (short story: my dad was "concerned" about the safety of my new place, then everyone else decided that they thought it was sketchy too, so I ended up bailing) I'm going to share this A-mazing Tres Leches Cake Recipe from Lauren Handler. She made it for supper club a few months ago and we've all been begging for the recipe ever since. It's awesome. Not really a light option, per se, but so good. My version had a little 4th of July twist! =)

Tres Leches Cake

1 box white cake mix

1 egg plus 2 egg whites

15 oz. can Coco Lopez

14 oz.can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 to 1 pint whipping cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Shredded or shaved coconut

Prepare cake mix according to the package directions, using the water and oil listed, plus 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites. Pour into a 9 x 13 cake pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 30-35 minutes in oven preheated to temperature on the box.

Remove cake from oven when done and punch holes in the cake, spaced about 2 inches apart...about 40-50 holes, using the end of a wooden spoon. Pour Coco Lopez evenly over the top, making sure it gets in the holes. Refrigerate the cake for 15 minutes. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the cake and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Whip the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread over the top of the cake and refrigerate until well chilled.

At serving time, cut into squares and top with toasted coconut (**when you toast the coconut...be very careful...it can burn more quickly than you think!  I put a the coconut on top of some foil on a cookie sheet at a fairly low temperature. I would stand nearby the oven...you can "toss" the coconut if you see one side getting brown too quickly.) Serves 15.

Rhymes with "Underwear"

Okay. I get that it’s not very nice of me to keep posting about interns (it’s also probably not all that interesting), but I can’t let this one go. Earlier this week I asked my intern to start collecting interesting facts about the underwear category for a trends presentation. Simple enough. Today she e-mailed me a document with some initial thoughts. To her credit, a lot of what she sent was actually pretty good. And then I got to the end of the document. And I quote…

What rhymes with the word “Underwear” ––– flatware • hardware • glassware •neckwear • headsquare • setsquare •delftware • menswear • shareware •tableware • rainwear • freeware •beachwear • T-square • creamware •swimwear • tinware • knitwear •giftware • kitchenware •womenswear • anywhere •everywhere • nightwear • software •sportswear • nowhere • stoneware •cookware • footwear • somewhere •ovenware • ironware • underwear •leisurewear • Delaware • Tupperware •outerwear • otherwhere • silverware •workwear • earthenware

Alrighty then. 

Home Sweet Home

Who’s about to return to the world of paying rent, buying groceries, and doing her own dishes? That’s right, ladies and gentleman. I’ve found my new digs. Minus the paying rent part, I’m pumped!!!

  

The new place is in a fourplex, but I’m going to have to figure out something else to call it. “Hey, you should come over to my fourplex!” is just weird. Anyone who knows me knows how much I like to decorate, and a new place equals lots o' decorating. Especially this place. It doesn't have shiny new appliances or walk-in closets, or a remote access garage. But with a little paint and a lot of Clorox I think it’ll be even better than any of that stuff and feel much more like home!!

Pros:

• Location – Still in uptown but just enough off the beaten path to feel a little less like I’m in college and a little more like an adult.
• Rent – Better than my last place!
• Character – Think hardwood floors, cool archways, etc.
• Size – I thought my last place was a pretty decent size, but this is even bigger! 1,000 square feet for just little ol’ me!
• Neighbors – I haven’t met them yet but have heard about them and think they’ll 1) be fun and 2) watch out for me.
• A gut-feeling that it's just what I've been looking for. ;)

Cons:

• Driveway – It’s semi-steep, made of gravel, and bound to cause several flat tires. Oh, and my car bottoms out every time I drive out.
• Closet – All that’s in my bedroom is a coat closet. That’s it. There’s a bigger closet in the living room, though, so I think I can use that for my clothes. Or something…
• Kitchen – It’s ugly. That’s really all there is to it. I’d love to paint the cabinets white because they’re the most offensive part, but I’m trying to tread lightly with the landlord so he doesn’t get freaked out by me. End of day, nothing a little Anthropologie can’t help. =)
• Guest parking – It’s just on the street, and supposedly Zipperz – the gay bar just down the road – really draws a crowd on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Guess I’ll have to work my guest schedule around that.

I realize the con list looks longer than the pro list, but I’m blaming that on longer explanations. Overall, I’m super pumped and think it's going to be really awesome. I can’t wait to unleash the Doak-girl-decorating-crazy on it!