stop - i'm blushing

i know, i know, you've all missed me terribly! well - i had a baby so i've got good reason to have been out of the computer loop. this doesn't mean that i'm going to start only telling you about the best mommy gear (though, i do love those sites and have found them to be a god-send). but, i am continually striving to down size & stream line life, so you'll be the recipient of all of those must-have products. here's one that i'm not sure how i lived without - bobbi brown's pot rouge. i've been on the hunt for a great cream blush (i don't really care if it works on my lips; you all know how i feel about lip gloss). bobbi brown's pot rouge is the best around. it stays on ALL day. even through southern heat and a full day of chasing toddlers & dogs around. i'm sporting the pale pink (not the color pictured), which looks like something katy perry or ke$ha (really - a dollar sign? kills me) would sport on tour. but, actually goes on so pretty and gives you the best, most youthful flush. i'm already drooling over other colors. it also will last forever as it only takes a tiny amount to give you great coverage. worth the $24.00 and available at any bobbi brown counter in the mall. so though i've only had 17 minutes of restful sleep, my face looks perky and ready for more (please god, no).

what pea?

in an effort to focus more on the home comforts over the next month or so, let me introduce you to the best thing that ever happened to your bed. unless you're sleeping with george clooney. i'd guess, anyway. this feather bed (the unsexy name is the allergy luxe down alternative fiberbed with premium allergen barrier fabric), found at bed bath & beyond, is the perfect topper to send you off to la-la land. it's 100% cotton and filled with down alternative, which means its not going to make you sneeze and you can wash it. it actually attaches to your mattress like a fitted sheet, so no worries on it (or you) sliding off the bed. it's lux for only $150 for a king size, not counting the 20% off coupons that you get every 20 minutes. pop one on your mattress and enjoy some serious bed time comfort. oh - and tell clooney i say hello.

kick it into neutral

i'm not one to throw splashy nails colors around. i generally stay in the sheer white, really dark, or really deep red categories. you won't see a coral or pink or green or some other rainbow shade on these hands or toes. so i'm always intrigued when i can find a new color to add to my very short list of permissible shades. enter OPI (of course). on a recent trip to the mani/pedi place, i came across two neutrals, but ones that sill have some color. i have been loving them ever since. the one featured left is "over the taupe" and is on my hands as we speak (well, we're not really speaking are we, but just go with it). it's dark enough to have some impact (but not as dark as the black or deep earthy browns i usually go with) and neutral enough to not clash with whatever you're wearing. it's darker and yet still neutral brother is "you don't know jacques" and is gracing my toes. i think it would also work really well on hands, too. so branch out this new years and try something right in the middle. you'll be amazed how comfortable it is here.