A New Favorite Beauty Product!

Ok, well the title of this post is actually a misnomer. I have really loved this product for quite some time but realized, just this morning, that I hadn't mentioned it on my blog!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive w. SPF 20; Deep Wrinkle Moisturizing Treatment

I like to use this moisturizer during the day. It isn't too heavy and absorbs pretty quickly so applying makeup is easy (and my skin isn't greasy). When you put this lotion on your face you can smell the SPF- which I actually don't like...I know it is for our own good to use an SPF, but I am not a fan of strong chemical smells (unless it is a chemical peel...in which case, chemical smells are welcome). But that is really the only flaw...

After using this product, my skin definitely experienced the "mild redness" and "a warm tingling sensation". Just as the tube says, I knew this was a sign that the product was actually working (and not just sitting on top of my skin like other lotions tend to do). After a few days, my skin adjusted and was definitely smoother, especially on my forehead where I tend to experience the most congestion.

I definitely recommend this product for the daytime. I feel great knowing that I have a hard-working SPF product protecting my skin while powerful anti-wrinkle agents are getting to work to decrease my current lines and creases.

And, as a side note, I don't like the idea of using an SPF cream at night. I think it is essential to have an SPF in your daytime lotions, but at night, I feel like it is an added chemical on my skin that really doesn't serve a purpose. Neutrogena has a Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Night Formula with retinol (a secret ingredient to some serious wrinkle wrecking!). I will have to try it! But in the meantime I have been using my tried and true Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer. It is super light and I feel good about the fact that it is simple, fragrance free, and non-SPF. Sometimes I will go with something a little thicker if my skin is really dry, but this does the trick and it is perfect for the summer when you don't feel like slabbing on anything too heavy (yes, I know it isn't summer -YET! I am merely suggesting that as we start to think about our summer skin regimens over the next 4 months, we add this to the routine. What? You are going to tell me that you aren't thinking about your summer skincare routine? Liar.).

What's this?! Does Neutrogena have an Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Serum! Two words... Stay. Tuned.

A follow up to fostering

Hi All,
As many of you probably remember, I posted about fostering dogs. I mentioned that I get asked a lot about letting the dogs go after fostering. My response was that I get so many emails with lists of dogs in need that are going to be put down without our help. I wanted to send you a list that I just received this morning.

Most of these dogs can be found within the petlist.

**If you think you might be interested in fostering one of these guys, let me know!!

Hennesey – bt Male Boston 6 years,likes little dogs, not the big ones Sweet, loving and energetic boy with people. Housebroken easy foster , but is doing well running loose with Wanda’s dogs now. He needs a alpha person who doesn’t let him get away with anything. . HE is crate and leash trained. OK with cats that don’t run. He is a Seal or been out in the sun too long, hair in really coarse shape, beautiful dog. Update:he is a really nice dog who wants to please you badly. He has really changed from the dog I brought in here because I have been working with him. He is doing ok with the other dogs now and only has a scuffle every now and then. This is a really nice guy. He did lose some hair on his side because he got a staph infection, but it is coming back in. Doesn’t like being in crate and makes a racket, does fine with a baby gate.need foster

Honey Bear – Female Red Boston - 18 lbs, 1 year old. need help with housebreaking. ok in crate . Cats? She is very sweet, ok with dogs, but will jump on a dog if she thinks any dog is getting hurt, and will protect her human from another dog. She just needs someone to be the alpha with her. I bet she has potential to unlearn these behaviors. She may have had to defend her babies at the breeders:((( need foster

Ba-Dew-Si – Male Boston 1-4 years-23 lbs-Dogs good, no cats.-working on Housebreaking, ok in crate. sweet boy.was treated for HW, is ready to come!!!,need foster

Hot Buttered Rum male Boston 18 lbs-2 years. hb to doggie door dogs good. crate good. cats? - was treated for HW, ready to come now. He is a sweet boy! need foster

Liams Lucky Charm, male bt-7-10 years. 13 lbs, this one breaks my heart, he has a stage 3 heart murmer. Has maybe a disc or pinched nerve affecting his leg, he has a limp, and neck is sore. has a growth on leg that will be biopsied when he gets his dental next week. He is good with dogs, really sweet boy.good in crate no separation anxiety Need foster

Gilligan's Island- Male Bt-1 year , 13 lbs.Has Demodex, on meds NOT contagious. Very sweet boy, Puppy Like. adorable. Good w/ other dogs at Wanda's, crate good, Trained to Doggie door. Has undesended Testicle, will be taken care of when neutered, which will be soon. Need foster

Kirin- male bt-10 months,Puppy. owner surrender -Good with dogs, kids good. Crate good. Work on housebreaking. Need foster

Salt Water Willie-Male bt- 1-2 years,15 lbs-cats and dogs good. HB to doggie door. Crate good. very playful boy...sweet! Need foster

Scotch Daisy- female BT-18-20 lbs, 3-6 yrs. Dogs good, crate good. Hb to doggie door,sweetie. Need foster

Tiger Jack-male bt-18-29 lbs, 2-4 years.Good with dogs HB to doggie door,crate good.this boy is a little timid, but will warm up. Need foster

Zultry Zoe Cocktail- female bt- 3 years, 12-15 lbs.kids and dogs good, crate good. no pic yet.Work on housebreaking Need foster

Blog Ideas

Hi All,

Apologies, I know...my blog is outdated! I wanted to thank everyone who asked about my next blog post. Really, I appreciate this because it means you guys are actually interested in my rambling stream of consciousness (either that, or my parents are still paying you to be nice to me).

When I first announced that I was starting a blog, many of my friends said that they wanted to do the same thing but didn't know what they would blog about. The below post is a list of ideas that would make excellent blogs! So get inspired and blog away! If you have seen some of these blogs out there, share the link in the comments section so we can appreciate them!!

I know that this post is kind of lame, but stay tuned as I vet out some of these ideas as posts on my existing blog!

Forwards From My Parents:

An aggregated page that features the absurd emails sent to me by my parents (more specifically my father as my mom is not quite sure how the "machine" and "world wide web" work). These emails would include the inappropriate dirty old man jokes and marriage snubs, the influential political propaganda, and of course the, "Send this to any woman you care about!!! It could save her life!!!" (you know the one I am talking about...the unmarked police car and the secret number you can dial to see if there is, in fact, an unmarked police car in your area).

*I would like to take this time to apologize to everyone who has been tricked into giving my father their email address. Please let me know if you need a tutorial on how to activate your "spam" folder

Sayings I Can Never Remember But Insist On Using During Work Meetings:

Is it play it by ear or play it by year? How many of six is a half dozen and how is it the same? Is it point in case or case in point (and can I say "case in point" at the end of this blog idea as it is clearly "point in case" that I don't know these sayings)?

Er, case...in...point....?

Emails From My Boss:

Does this need an explanation? This would be a dedicated destination that invites users to forward those cryptic emails that lack direction or insight. Or that response to your initial email that asked 6 questions with two follow-up questions based on the condition and the response consists of simply "yes". Which brings me to my next blog idea...

Emails You Never Should Have Sent:

This blog would feature the passive aggressive email back to your boss with the "per my email" introduction. Or the infamous "reply all" where you mock your bosses inability to answer a set of questions.

Homes I'll Never Be Able To Afford...But Can't Help Looking At

This wouldn't be just a luxury real estate blog. It would be more like a "If I Had All The Money In the World" blog. Think ridiculous beach side villas and 50 bedroom, fully furnished mansions. Or this castle in Rhode Island that I stumbled across while looking for homes between $1m and $20m. How awesome would it be to say that you owned a castle...in Rhode Island?!?! Why, because you have all the money in the world...that's why!

Worst Job Descriptions Ever:

I need to give my friend Megan Yaps a shout out here as this idea originated as I was looking for potential job opportunities for her. I will leave you with this teaser, "Serve as primary liaison between me and my family". What?! They forgot to add "manage unimaginable family disfunction and serve as child psychotherapist."

Book Club Blog:

If you need a description, than you probably shouldn't create this blog.

My Daily Pet Peeves:

Everyone already knows my distaste for seat hogs on public transportation and backpack wearers on crowded subways, but I have an unraveling list of pet peeves that I would just love to share. This blog would showcase a pet peeve per day, one that I was subjected to while going about my business. For example, being stuck behind someone smoking a cigarette and every time you try to pass them, they speed up and every time you try to move off to a side, the wind changes and the smoke goes back into your face...

OR

The fact that there has been a couch sitting in my lobby for over a week and the (ex) owner of the couch doesn't even have the courtesy to post a note saying "sorry, we are in the process of moving, this will be out of the way shortly". And the fact that there are only 4 families in my building (and we have already deducted that it is not one couple's )so leaving an obnoxious note like, "For Sale" is not a question as their is no safety in anonymity. Well Mr. & Mrs. Inconsiderate...I hope you have a pet peeve about dogs, peeing on your furniture...because that is just what mine did (really...he did. Good boy Ry-guy, good boy).

Shows I Could Watch All Day:

This blog would list out TV guilty pleasures and would probably include shows like Rock of Love, House Hunters, House Hunters International, Hoarders, Intervention (I am convinced that these last two shows are addicting in and of themselves but must agree that watching them makes me feel SO much better about how messy my house is and how much I drank last night) ...

Real Life Legal Scams (can a "scam" be legal?):

This one comes straight from my husband. He just told me about a guy who bought 4 commemorative quarters for a dollar. He ordered thousands on his credit card and as soon as they were delivered, he put them back in the bank and gained loads of air miles from his purchase. Wait, something sounds scammy about this blog idea- I have a sneaking suspicion that I have just been scammed by my husband...which brings me to my next post...

Things That SO CLEARLY Need To Be Cleaned But My Husband Can't Seem To See Them:

I find that when we are cleaning our house, my husband lacks the pro-active, "go get 'em" attitude that I have come to embrace. I love when he claims that "we're good, everything is clean" while sitting on the couch on top of a pile of clean laundry that is not folded. Or when he asks me what else needs to be done while standing next to the coffee table that is covered in food and dirty dishes.

*For the record, he is so good when I kindly point out the things that could still be cleaned and I love how eager he is to help me clean when I ask. I asked his permission to recommend this blog idea.

Do you have any blog ideas? Share them in the comments section!

A New Resolution for the New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Apologies for the lack of posts- I was too busy failing at my holiday cabbage soup diet to write.

So as we remind ourselves of our new year's resolutions to lose weight, work out more, quit smoking, drink less, spend less, I thought I would suggest we add "pay it forward" to our lists!

Here is a resolution idea...Foster a dog!!

(And let's be honest, why waste a New Years resolution on "drink less" when you will likely make that resolution weekly....usually on a Sunday...with a hangover).

Many of you know that my husband and I have had the privilege to foster two wonderful Boston Terriers. Each one of them have gone to loving forever homes and we know that we've made a difference in both of their lives.

Fostering dogs isn't for everyone (especially if you aren't a dog person, which means, you should probably stop reading now. Really, stop reading because unless you like dogs all I will do is embarrass myself).

People have a lot of questions when I tell them that we foster dogs, so let's start with those first.

Is it expensive?

It's as expensive as you want it to be. As a foster for Friends of Homeless Animals, all I am responsible for is feeding and walking the foster dog as well as keeping him or her safe (dare I add a "duh" at the end of this sentence?).

You are also asked to take pictures of your dog so that they can be posted on rescue sites to help in their chances of being adopted.

For our dogs we also invested in other essentials like a Polartec Puffy Dog Parka Coat from Trixie & Peanut, a turtle halloween costume, soothing oatmeal shampoo and leave-in conditioner, Omega-3 fish Oil, daily dog walking services...(What? Why are you looking at me like that? They are essentials.)

One of the most expensive responsibilities of being a pet owner is veterinary care. As a foster for FOHA, all necessary vet visits are reimbursed. By the time dogs make it to your home, they are typically in great shape as they have been nursed by experienced dog rescuers so major issues are usually taken care of before they get to you. Also, dogs are typically already spayed or neutered.

Is it hard to see them go?

No, never....says the girl who was crying in her cubicle when the official adoption papers came in for Pansie.

How can you foster a dog and then give them up?

Well, that's easy. Everyday I get anywhere from 15-30 emails about mistreated, lost, ill, and needy dogs that just need a home so they can escape kill shelters, puppy mills, and abusive situations. That helps me get over the bittersweet sadness of sending an adorable, innocent, and loving dog to a forever home to make room for the next little guy. Well, that and the fact that my husband is unfairly rational and reminds me that we are more valuable as a foster home for many dogs, than a forever home for just one dog.

Where do the dogs come from?

Everywhere! Both of our fosters (and many on the rescue list) have been rescued from puppy mills in Missouri (this state is considered to have the highest concentration of puppy mills according to this article written by the Senior Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for the ASPCA). FOHA provides a transport for these dogs that will drive for days just to deliver these dogs to safe homes. Some dogs come as far as Texas, too! By car!

According to the Humane Society of the United States, anywhere from 6-8 million animals enter shelters each year. Half of those animals are euthanized. Put into context, I think I would opt for the 20+ hour road trip, too.

What if you have a problem with your foster dog?

No problem. Fostering is a challenge but I can imagine that some situations can be more challenging than others. If for some reason your foster doesn't work out, most foster companies will work with you to find a new foster home and a new dog that is better suited for your situation.

Can you keep a foster dog?

Why not? Actually...great question, we have never tried to keep a foster (and I promise that I never considered telling Pansie's adopters that she had run away and was no longer available for adoption but thought better of it when I imagined running into them on the street and having to introduce "Pansette", Pansie's long lost identical twin sister who we decided to adopt shortly after Pansie ran away).

I think it is important to realize how valuable you are as a foster home, but if you found the dog of your Lassie dreams, I don't think many rescue groups would say no (juuuust as long as you can do some fostering on the side ;)

So on that note, I thought I would leave you with some articles, photos and information in the event you are curious about fostering dogs. The links below are what inspire me to "pay it forward" and give these dogs a home that they deserve.

Are you thinking about getting a pet for your family? Fostering is a great way to experience having a dog to ensure that your family is ready for the responsibilities while doing a good deed for a dog in need!

First & foremost:

Pansie & Pearl- both of our girls were rescued from a puppy mill where they were used for mass breading. When we first got them, they were a little shy and skittish, but overtime they learned how to be real dogs!

Petfinder Pet List for Friends of Homeless Animals

Friends of Homeless Animals Website

American Boston Terrier Rescue Site (this site is managed by Wanda Jewell- I imagine she is better known as Saint Wanda by her canine rescues)

Dogs Smell Cancer (how amazing is this?)

Dog Saves Boy From Cougar Attack (I feel sorry for the cougar but I am a dog person, not a boy-eating cougar person)

Economic Euthanasia (so sad)

PS

I promise that this blog will return to the superficial side shortly...but the New Year's champagne must have gone to my head and I feel the need to be sappy!