Spenco® PolySorb® Total Support Sandals

I came across a vendor during this event prior to the Half Marathon and I scored BIG. The universal argument with shoes is comfort versus style. I'm somewhere in the middle, wavering between super practical/hideous box-like items (I got heckled at work one day for wearing these) and sexy/I'm-going-to-break-an-ankle items. For example, after scoring the deal of a lifetime ($39) at TJ Maxx for these chic, comfy and high-quality slingbacks,


I wasn't quite satisfied; I created a justified excuse with an upcoming wedding combined with my continuing quest to find the sauciest nude pumps and purchased the highest shoes to date:



Which, I might add, come in at a towering 4 1/2 inch heel and a 1 1/2 inch platform. Just trying to keep up with the youngins, I guess. They are quite flattering to the leg (seeing that I'm 7 inches taller).

OK, so the reverse...practical, maybe-my-life-will-be-longer-because-I-made-the-sensible-safe-shoe-choice shoe, where I nearly passed by the Expo display (because most of them are quite ugly) but I pulled one down and tried them on and OMG they are comfortable. Here's why (from their website):

Spenco® PolySorb® Total Support Sandals combine the support and stability of our best-selling insole with the comfort and simplicity of a slip-on sandal. Great for after sports or training or just kicking back indoors or out. Unlike some other slip-ons, Spenco® Sandals are designed with orthotic-quality arch and heel support. Superior impact cushioning and motion control help reduce pronation and supination—common problems associated with flat, slab-style sandals.

From the time I got home from the race and pulled my little, cramped toes from my running shoes, these were on for the rest of the weekend...also a 3-day trip walking through Downtown Minneapolis and not one bit of soreness. I got the Caramel/Coffee color (shown above) mostly because they would go with the most outfits and frankly, they have to be comfortable or no one would buy them. They had a $10 discount at the Expo, so I got them for $32. You can buy them at a local store but they also have a directory of online retailers. They have gotten a bit dirty from the typical sweaty feet, but I don't wear them to the beach, so mostly they've held up pretty well. There are a few dings in them, so I imagine whatever the soft material is comprised of isn't as tough as a traditional outdoor sandal. I am considering buying some of the insoles...I could conquer the world in work pumps/boots with this kind of technology...

Organicville (Pomegranate) Salad Dressing

Last year for my birthday, CB sent me this amazingly large box full of GF goodies and this salad dressing was the dark horse of all of the contenders. As you can see, there are a ton of other flavors (I've tried sun-dried tomato, herbs de provence, and dijon mustard) but by far this is the best one I've sampled. It's the perfect tart, citrus-y (with some orange juice/essence thrown in) for a summer spinach and feta/mozzarella salad. I'm typically a savory girl when it comes to dressing my greens, but this is sweet without the saccharine overkill. Also, all of their dressings are made with agave nectar, which is less refined than other forms of sweeteners.

Frog Tape

A woman of precision or accuracy I am not. However, I've determined my husband and I are the perfect painting duo because I like the paint the details--trim, doorways, tiny little nooks I can only reach with a brush--and he likes the large walls he can knock out with a roller. Despite all of the HGTV education I've collected, I still cannot get the @$*# tape to actually create a clean line. Granted I don't typically clean the walls or use alcohol like they recommend, but it's getting quite annoying when there's bleedthrough on your nice wooden trim. I decided to spend an extra dollar over the blue painter's tape and try it. They actually provide their own suggestions, tips, etc. and I did a little web searching. I "practiced" by putting the tape line inside the closet (which was more work to clean out and paint than I could muster at that point) so when you opened the doors you could mostly just see the new color, and also so if I screwed up royally it wouldn't really show. Voila, literally one minor touch up and the rest was amazingly clean. No paint (that I left) on my door or window trims or baseboards.

I didn't pick the widest roll, but the medium-wide roll. Completely worth the $7.

Perfume ID

Over the years, I've developed a tried-and-true list of my favorite scents. I found their "evaluation" at this site, which not only breaks down each fragrance by family, tone and notes (I had to look up what these meant), but it can also make recommendations based on several online tools. All of the content below is from their site for my favorite scents:

Emporio Armani She
Sexy, tender, feminine
Family : Floral Oriental
Tone : Classical
Head Notes: Cardamom, Angelica root
Heart Notes: Jasmine
Soul Notes: Vanilla, Musk, Cedarwood

Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
Feminine, chic, fantasy
Family : Mossy Woods
Tone : Crisp
Keynote : Citrus Fruity
Head Notes: Rosewood, Bergamot, Lavender, Mandarin, Apple martini
Heart Notes: Paperwhites (indoor narcissus), Orchid, Patchouli
Soul Notes: Sultry woods, Amber (white), Musk, Cedarwood

Heavenly by Victoria's Secret
Soft, feminine, sophisticated
Family : Floral Oriental
Tone : Crisp
Keynote : Green
Head Notes: Leaves (Ivy)
Heart Notes: Poppy, Peony (white)
Soul Notes: Heliotrope, Sandalwood, Musk (white)

Pure Grace by Philosophy
Fresh, crisp, clean
Family : Soft Floral
Tone : Fresh
Keynote : Musk
Head Notes: Bergamot, Waterlily, Green notes
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Lavender
Soul Notes: Musk

Armani Code for Men
Timelessly sensual, elegant, virile
Family : Woody Oriental
Tone : Crisp
Head Notes: Bergamot, Lemon
Heart Notes: Olive flower
Soul Notes: Guaïac wood, Tonka bean

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

I've been using these products for years, but little did I know that dedicated, nightly use of this product would not only keep the scraggly hangnails at bay, but would encourage my thin, brittle nails to necessitate a manicure. The essential oils only require you to use a dab, as a little goes a long way. If you can keep doggie bed-mates from licking it off and take the dust jacket off of your current novel (put it on right before you turn out the light), you'll be home free.

Greek yogurt (various)

My health foodie friend introduced me to this wonderment a few years ago, but it took me a while, probably based on laziness, to adopt it to my regular grocery list. Greek yogurt is very high in protein, quite low in saturated fat, and comes in a myriad of flavors (besides the average, eg. dill, pomegranate, honey) and can be made from cow, goat or other milk sources. I use the 0% as a substitute for sour cream, and the sweeter versions are a lot like creme fraiche. My best votes so far are Fage and Greek Gods (2 g fiber, too), both of which can be found at my local grocery stores. I've been really adventurous and added it as a topping to my butternut curry butternut squash soup and my GF chocolate cake.

Some food reading for thought:
greek yogurt vs. regular yogurt
article about the creators of Greek God

Just Browsing® Brow-shaping color by Origins

I have spent, like most women, an inordinate amount of money on makeup, trying to find just the right products. I had to concur with this posting and the message is simple: stop buying crap just because it's on sale. Take the time to speak to an expert. Ask lots of questions. Try the products in the store, then try them at home. Buy products with quality ingredients because they are on your face all day (maybe that's not on everyone's priority list, but I'm allergic to pretty much everything. I use Aveda rather faithfully and am starting to branch out, but it's hard living in tiny D town because I have to make a note to stop at the bigger stores when I'm out of town. Origins, which I learned is owned by Estee Lauder, is fitting the bill for me now. Two products in particular, this one, and Fill In The Blanks™ Eyebrow enhancer are really great for someone who wants polished brows but while still making it less noticeable. Beware: you'll want to select colors MUCH lighter than you think: I use Blonde and Soft Blonde--you don't want to end up looking like Joan Crawford. Start with the enhancer (the salesperson told me to fill in my brows in the opposite direction) and then smooth the brows, and finish with the color (it looks like a mascara tube).