Recently, I...

Celebrated our eighth anniversary:

Contemplated bangs. Again. Poorly.

 Met many people, including Big Jumper, the self-named unsung hero of the first Thanksgiving:

...his sister, Mademoiselle Butterfly:

...and LaRaconteuse:

Ate your soul:

Visited J's office (decidedly the winner of the unofficial Parent-With-the-Coolest-Office Contest I decided to run, just now, between the two of us.)...

And saw the city through their eyes.

Commenced working on my masterpiece, The Twilight: Breaking Dawn rap. It's...it's a work in progress.

And you?

Review: Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Wash

Every year around this time, I feel it coming, and it arrives without warning. 

Oh, people LOVE to romanticize cooler temperatures, and crisp fall air, but beneath the autumnal leaf veneer, I know what’s coming: DRY SKIN. NOOOO.

I was recently asked by BlogHer and Dove to review Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Wash. Not knowing what Nutrium was, but intrigued by the “moisturizing body wash” part, I happily signed on, hoping that it would help me stave off any cool weather-related dry skin woes.

Now, ordinarily when I review products, I like to take a picture of myself using them, but there are some lengths to which I will not go. Suffice it to say that I did utilize the body wash in the shower. Swearsies.

I’m a fan of a good rich lather, and the Dove Nutrium Body Wash had it is spades. It quickly and cleanly rinsed away, but left my skin nicely moisturized. I was also pleasantly surprised by the scent. I’m a bit persnickety when it comes to scented products, but this was very light; it smelled clean and fresh on my skin in the shower, but didn’t compete with my perfume at all once I was out and dressed. The true proof of the body wash’s effectiveness came a bit later--I didn’t need to slather my legs with body butter like I usually do this time of year. I’m not certain if I’ll completely be able to swear off my beloved body butter as we ease into winter, but the Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Wash body wash is definitely going to be a part of my routine.

While we’re on the subject of routines, I have a few little things I do each day, that make me feel…centered. I don’t mean in some hippie, sage-burning drum circle way (UNLESS THAT IS YOUR THING OH MAN I AM NOT JUDGING), but rather, just...ready for the day. I shower at night before I go to sleep, and when my alarm goes off at 5:45, I hop out of bed (as much as anyone ever hops at 5:45 AM), and get myself together. I apply my sundry face lotions and makeup, slip on my outfit (like a toddler, I pick out my clothes the night before), and head out into the city. I try to get my brain running by catching up on my Words With Friends games, and once I arrive at my destination, I pick up my morning iced coffee (light and sweet, please) and head upstairs to my office, ready to face the day. I love my routine, and taking those few moments to myself to nourish ME, inside and out. (Did I just say that? I just said that.)  

What about you? Do you have a YOU routine? How do you nourish yourself each day?

Answer that question, and you will be entered to win a random drawing for a $100 SpaFinder gift card! 


The contest runs from 11/21/11 through 12/21/11.

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry

methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

There are more chances to win here.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be

selected. 

Here are the official rules!

Please don't make me feel any dumber than I already do about the "Come Undone" thing.

(Disclosure: I received tickets to a Duran Duran concert in exchange for sharing my thoughts about the show. All thoughts are my own. Particularly those regarding the chorus of "Come Undone," as will soon become clear.)

Last week (before the power outage that overtook my life, but that is a post for another day), I was asked to attend the New York show of Duran Duran's US tour. I've long loved the band. I grew up watching the Pop-Up Video version of "Rio" (Side note: What happened to Pop-Up Video? BRING BACK POP-UP VIDEO.), and singing "Ordinary World" into my toothbrush. And even though I STILL don't know what I'm singing when I shriek the high part of "Come Undone," all these years later, I'd never seen them in concert, and immediately said yes.

J and I showed up at Madison Square Garden and made our way to our seats, and I immediately started sharing with him my list of what I always THOUGHT the lyrics to the high shrieky part of "Come Undone" were. It's called being a great conversationalist, and I am the master of it.

LIST OF MY PERCEIVED LYRICS TO THE HIGH SHRIEKY PART OF "COME UNDONE"

1. Cannot believe you got me now boy; you believe it?  Come on and see you breakin' my heart to pieces.
2. Common to see the fall in two parts, ooh, steamy. Common to see you bade my heart to peace, yeah.
 
Needless to say, he was riveted.

An exciting Google search revealed that the answer is "Can't ever keep from falling apart at the seams/Can I believe you're taking my heart to pieces." Who knew? SERIOUSLY NOT ME, FOR REAL.


Fortunately, the show soon got underway.

Simon  Le Bon took to the stage in amazing sparklepants that could be viewed from space, and he, along with the rest of the band (and a few special guests) proceeded to rock the hell out of the Garden. They played a lot of the classics (The Reflex! HUNGRY LIKE THE MEEEEEE!), and, since the band has a new album out, they played a lot of new stuff, as well.

Duran Duran put on a really great show -- regardless of whether or not we knew every song -- because they just seemed like they were having FUN up there. I've been to a lot of concerts (remind me to tell you guys about the Snoop Dogg one sometime, and how I did NOT participate in the onstage bootyshake contest.), and you can generally tell when the band is into it. These guys had a ton of energy, and really came across as though they were enjoying themselves as much as the audience.
 
In all we had a fantastic time (see?)...

...and I highly recommend checking them out when/if they come to a city near you!