hair product

Where HAVE you been all my life?
This tames and smooths my thick, just-enough-body-to-often-be-unruly hair. I am seriously contemplating dreadlocks now that I don't have to alter my appearance to some unspoken standard of sophisticated, Southern and professional. You can use it when your hair is wet or dry. I use it daily to prolong having to actually wash my hair, which I loathe having to do. It smooths and softens and adds shine. And it smells good. It is crazy expensive but can be found in most drug stores and a little goes a long way. Thank you Wanda. I gave it to Laura for her birthday. Turns out she has been using it for years and was almost out. It's really good I tell ya.

another reason i love Reefs

J.Crew Sale

$38
$20
$14
$20
$10
J. Crew is having a sale again. 30% off all sale items and free shipping on orders of $150. They will eventually increase the sale to 40% and reduce the spending limit to $100 for free shipping, but selections are limited. I recommend going into your local store. You can find items there most likely an additional $10 off the online sale price, and you get to try it on. Don't forget to search the clearance for accessories and shoes. They have Minnetonka Moccasins on sale too!

Red Table Wine

I think you can find this at Cost Plus World Market. Since my trip to Cape Town and sampling South African wines, I have become a fan. I am actually quite impressed. I am seeking them out. This is an inexpensive table wine, a blend of reds, incredibly young and sweet, but nice. You'll like it.

www.goatsdoroam.com

Hair Pins

These work! And if you wear your hair up often, I recommend them. If you have fine hair, you may need to add product to help hold it in place, but if you have a messy mop like mine, you just twist them in clockwise. You can use one or two. Retail: $6

Wal-Mart.com has them in a variety pack for $8 here:

A blog

And not just any blog. Gwyenth Paltrow's blog.

It is lovely. www.goop.com

Make-up: Kandee the Make-up artist

This girl knows her stuff. She shows you the actual products she uses and works with a variety of lines. She has several videos to choose from. I always learn something.

Hair Tip

Laura sent this to me. We've both tried it. It works. Results vary. :)

Skin Care

I am always on the search for good things to bring home that you cannot find just anywhere. One day I will be a buyer for a huge store and they will fly me around the world to search pottery shops down narrow streets of Greece and antique stores in southern France and to find craftsmen in desert tents in the middle of nowhere. But for now, I found this a few years ago in the pharmacy in South Africa and I really like the face wash and daily face cream (SPF 25).

http://www.africanextracts.com/

Wine

I got to visit and taste from this vineyard in Cape Town. If you ever see it, get it!


"Mother Nature smiled when she prepared the Constantia Valley for the winemaker. She bestowed on him the influence of the sun, wind, oceans and fertile soil, and then challenged him to plant vineyards and make excellent wines. To this the owners of Constantia have answered positively for more than three centuries, producing one of the world’s most famous sweet blends and today continuing this tradition, creating a range of quality wines.

The name Constantia is irrevocably linked to the most famous wines to be made in South Africa. Constantia wine was coveted across the globe. Limited volumes were made and it was so expensive that it was exclusively bought and consumed by the aristocracy of the world. Members of the British Royal House, Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis Philippe of France, Frederick II (The Great) of Prussia, the Lords Seventeen of the VOC, governors, admirals, captains and other dignitaries coveted the Constantia label and treated their special guests to it".

http://www.grootconstantia.co.za

free tunes

Terra Bailey first introduced me to iMeem, which no longer exists sadly. But this weekend, she revealed their replacement, Grooveshark. Her exact words were, "I love introducing people to Grooveshark". So, Grooveshark, meet my blog readers. Blog Readers, meet Grooveshark. Any musician you can think of, right at your fingertips. Thank you Terra. www.grooveshark.com

vino

this is a decent little inexpensive Australian wine. strangely enough, i found this at the Wayfield Foods in College Park for less than $5.00! i got the shiraz cabernet. nice little table wine and far better than two buck chuck. excellent flavors, berries and cardamon. you will be surprised and at $5, you will not be disappointed.

Boots

"In 1853, Aigle revolutionised the world of footwear by using rubber as its core material for boot manufacture. Boots continue to be made by hand at Ingrandes, France near Chatellerault.From preparation through to finishing, each stage takes place under the watchful eye of specialists. Firstly, the natural rubber mix endows the boots with all of their characteristics (suppleness, waterproofness, sturdiness, comfort, etc.) Then the parts are assembled by hand on an aluminium last. The 3rd stage in the process involves vulcanisation of the boots in an autoclave at 140° to give them their definitive shape. Finally, each boot is carefully inspected to ensure that a high-performance, high-quality product is obtained".

These are excellent, well-made, all-purpose, comfortable, all-weather boots. Oprah likes them too, but I liked them before she did. I have found most all other rubber boots impossible to walk in and they make me feel stiff like the Tin Man. Aunt Nancy kept army green rubber boots in the back of the rusty blue Jeep where I learned to drive a stick shift, going back and forth to the pond. They were just my size when I was young and I loved being able to put those boots on and puddle jump and get in the mud. These are all perfect for that. Get you some. http://www.aigle.com/

Oh! It's pronounced "Eh-gleu". Bonjour!

Chocolate

It is not at all surprising that chocolate graces a list of favorite things. Although, I have never been a major fan of white chocolate. To me, it often tastes a lot like that cheap baker's chocolate. Twenty years ago Aunt Mot used to make those chocolates molded on a stick in shapes of Santa at Christmas. The chocolate all tasted the same and it tasted artificial. M&M's recent release of the coconut m&m tempted me and I tried them. They were not bad (I like them in plain Greek yogurt). But I quickly discovered that coconut is not even an ingredient! Angelique packed this in my Christmas package and I have been waiting for a quiet moment to experience it. Real coconut is the fourth ingredient! Lindt has "excellence" in their name and this bar is done quite well. With large coconut flakes, white chocolate done well, this is a bar worth the calories. And speaking of calories, it really isn't all THAT bad, only 120 in two squares.

Under African Skies - Articles - Travel + Leisure

Under African Skies - Articles - Travel + Leisure

J.Crew Sale

I am posting these to show Laura what I got. They both retailed for over $200 and I got them for $35 each with free shipping with coupon code MUSTHAVE. I got the strapless one in the "fatigue" green and plan to pair it with gold jewelry and black pearls.. I needed formalwear like a hole in the head. My motto is you have to spend money to save money and I saved a lot. And now 2011, I am prepared for all the weddings, showers and formal events you throw my way. Or maybe I will just wear taffeta to Target because I can...in 3-6 business days.

Music

Good Tunes

Dinnerware

Mom had a few pieces of this on the oak Buffet in the kitchen when I was little. I loved the variety of the bold colors all pieced together and their distinct rings, vibrant colors. When Carla asked what I wanted for Christmas, I tried to think of the most practical thing that I really can use and need. I hate waste and squander and I am incredibly practical. Always at the top of my list is US Postal Stamps. The only other thing I could think of is that I really need are black socks for work, but I already have one pair and I can just wash them more often, so I scratched those off the list. I don't really need anything and everything I want seems to be high ticket items like a flight to Iceland. I thought about it over cereal one morning and took a look at my cereal bowl, chipped, cracked and purchased circa 1995 for my college dorm room. I knew then what I wanted. I looked at the mismatched set of service for 7 (Loren Tankersley, College Roommate- broke a plate and I broke a bowl) all chipped and mismatched. I never made dishes a priority for the same reason I used to refuse to buy anything monogrammed. I am going to get married! And when you get married, people buy you dishes. Don't start feeling sorry for me. A new last name and fine china are nothing for which I am pining away. I just realized, it is time I get some new dishes and I don't think I am going to be visiting the Registry at Nordstrom any time soon. I instantly knew what I wanted. A colorful variety of the classic Fiestaware for everyday dishes. I got them in Peacock Blue with Shamrock Gusto Bowls. They have been around since the 30's and have an expressed Art Deco influence. I think it is classic, love the combination of various colors and find it very reasonably priced. Not as practical as stamps, but a very useful gift. Come visit! Bring 6 friends. P.S. Ralphie's family in The "you'll shoot your eye out" Christmas Story dines on Fiestaware too.

Key Fobs

Betty gave me one of these for Christmas and I love it already! I didn't realize how many times a day I refuse to make a second trip from the car and go into the house, keys in hand, arms full, dropping stuff. This key fob allows you to slip your keys over your wrist for such occasions and set your hands free for Target bags. In a way, it reminds me of those cheap ones from the 80's. The key to the 4th Floor Capitol women's bathroom has a purple one of those on it. But these are much nicer and you can get your name on it! And who, this side of the Mason-Dixon, doesn't love a monogram on polka dots? I am also quite anal retentive/obsession compulsive about key rings. I think a key ring can speak volumes about your personality. But I must admit that my deliberately streamlined key chain, often gets lost in the bottom of my bag. Now this helps me find them. I recommend them and if you want one, Betty can hook you up. Just let me know. Oh, and if you are like my sister, I recommend skipping the monogram and just adding your phone number in case your keys are ever lost. And if you just want one of these, I think there may be a stash someone on the 4th Floor of the State Capitol.

Socks

I am typically not a fan of socks. I don't know if it is the childhood memory of watching the neighbors chase firetrucks down the street in their sock feet or just my absolute love of going barefoot, but I never dreamed socks would make a favorite things list of mine. Old Navy sells these for $2.50. They may lose their soft, cozy, comfort over many washes and I am sure when Spring comes they will remained balled up in the bottom of my drawer, but I have had this pair on for the past 3 days. Yep. In a row. Under tall boots. Skidding around wood floors in my house. They're that cozy.

Music

If you get my Christmas Album from 2010 Jonsi is song #13. The song for 2011. This music will serenade me into the coming year. Praying it means a plane ride to Iceland with this in my ears as I land. With God all things are possible and the journey is exciting. But for now, he serenades me at my desk while I eat lefotvers from a Stryofoam plate with a gently used plastic fork waiting for the 4:30 bell to strike...daydreaming.

about go http://jonsi.com/go (click here to play full length songs from the entire album)

go contains nine songs amassed from the large pool of songs written by jónsi during his many years with sigur rós. the album is sung in english and icelandic, and was co-produced by jónsi, his partner alex somers and peter katis (the national, interpol).
when he began working on go, jónsi initially thought he would be making a low-key, acoustic album until, as he says, “somewhere along the line, it just sort of exploded.” that explosion resulted in sheer aural fireworks. not a straight ahead pop record, nor rock, folk, ambient or electronic, it encompasses all of these to create an expansive musical palette that’s been brought to life by jónsi alongside a number of free-spirited collaborators.
chief among these is nico muhly, the philip glass protégé who is renowned for his work with björk, antony & the johnsons, bonnie “prince” billy and grizzly bear. muhly has arranged all the songs on go, bringing strings, brass and woodwind to dance playfully alongside his offbeat piano playing. add into the mix the percussive genius of samuli kosminen, whose original drumming powers many of the songs along, and you have a sonic landscape that bears little relation to anything else around today, yet explodes from the speakers with sheer happiness and wonder, wide-eyed and eager to be heard.

Laptop Case

I have been wanting one of these for a long time. The hardback case keeps your computer safe from scratches and being crushed. And passersby will think it's a dirty ole book and not try to swipe it. I have been living in the ATL too long because I think in ways to protect yourself against theft. Yet, it is incredibly stylish too. They make them for iPads if you have one of those. They are $80 but www.horchow.com has them 30% off today with free shipping. I like these better than the Speck (http://www.speckproducts.com/) brand see thru cases that retail for $50 and they serve the same purpose, and for a little more you get that anti-theft measure and you get to look smart. Cases made by www.twelvesouth.com

Corduroy

j.crew toothpick cord. soft. forgiving. can be worn with tall boots. or ballet flats. comfortable.

don't you dare pay $79.50! order them online at the factory store on the weekends or get last seasons style at their site. or go to the outlet mall they are at least half price there at all times.

www.jcrew.com

Audio Books

Although this site really needs updating, the content it offers is worth enduring the very antiquated site. Librivox offers audio and text versions of all the classics and pretty much anything written over 100 years ago and not subject to copyright laws. You can find C.S. Lewis, H.G. Wells, Stephen Crane, Mark Twain ,the Bronte sisters and all the great poets and so much more. You can also volunteer to be a reader. I want to do that, but all the instructions are incredibly confusing- Boards to make posts and replies and saving files in a certain format and I am thoroughly confused. But oh what fun that would be! I have always wanted to be a book reader. I loved it when Librarian Harriett Brown would read to us as Hartwell Elementary School students. Stuart Little came alive and scurried across the large carpet among us. I think my Southern accent could fit nicely with a great Classic. But I can't read Snow White because I can't say the word, "mirror". It always comes out "mirrow" instead of "mirra" or "mirrrrrer". Which one is it? But if I ever figure out their system and I ever record a book I will let you know and even if the word mirror is in there, I will practice. In the meantime, check them out on iTunes as well. And if you have time to decipher the intricacies of how to record and book and save and send the files, let me know! Simon and Schuster might get wind of my reading, hire me and I can read books all day long!

http://librivox.org/

Stone Soup Kitchen

Jeremy Fare told me about this place. It is close to work. Nice restaurants close to the capitol are a big deal. Yet, over time, the rest of the capitol gang discovers it too and you can no longer go there and talk about work for fear of bashing the school superintendent for her close-mindedness for removing all references to evolution from curriculum, only to have her emerge from the booth behind you, giving you a cold hard stare and fake smile. I have not seen any suits here just yet. Just local Grant Park residents in need of a warm meal and great cup of coffee, kids in their PJ's and Patagonia, eating pancakes.

I like the fact that they have huge tables with outlets. You can go and perch and set up office and plug in and connect and work and sip coffee and have a delicious bowl of soup. I recommend going after the lunch rush, that way you can occupy a large table and not be taking up valuable space. They have vegan options on the menu and pretty sure breakfast is served all day. I like their Cuban Black Bean Soup. They serve Batdorf and Bronson coffee. They also have a little stash of yesterday's brownies and cookies for $1 at the front counter. If their stale cookies are good, I can pretty much guarantee the fresh ones are amazing.

http://www.stonesoupkitchen.net/

I didn't realize I was such a huge fan of cocoa butter. I generally am not a fan of lotion as I have explained before and there is just never enough time to put it on and I find it daunting. And messy. And greasy. Yet, hot baths and cold winters make some sort of moisture replacement a necessity. With this stuff a little goes a long, long way, but I like it. It is great for knees and ankles and elbows and in between. It would also make a great massage oil, if only...

Retail $5.00

They also have this now! Dying to try it! I use vaseline for eye makeup removal, up my nose in dry weather, on my lips mornings and nights, middle finger for lips, index for nose.

Retail $3.00

Body Wash

Back in July when I went to Fernandina with Angelique, the beach house had an outdoor shower. Don't all beach houses? With a Teak floor and walls and a small thin curtain protecting my bare flesh from whomever may be watching, I loved the outdoor shower. Hot sand encrusted skin, sea salt hair, all washed away by fresh H20 spilling from the tiny shower head. Someone had left this behind. It was hot from the sun. It smelled amazing and left me feeling clean and soft and smelling like butter cream with hints of cocoa and coconut. For a while I had trouble finding it at local Walgreen's, CVS, Target and the like, but have since noticed it on the shelves. It also comes in hand and body creams.Retail $7.99 Grab your loofah and enjoy. Inside or out.

Keyboard Protector

After hearing horror stories from so many friends who have spilled coffee across their laptops resulting in absolute ruin, I began to look into ways to protect her from me. This is certainly absolutely fool or klutz-proof, but it is something. It protects your keys and it lays in one solid piece across the keyboard which could also serve as a buffer from spills.

I got mine at www.ifuncity.com $8.49. Free shipping.

It is quite thin and doesn't interfere with typing and can quickly be removed if you are going to be working awhile and want to type without it. It comes in fun colors. I got the red one. It is a cheap investment that could save you thousands and just overall wear on your keys.

Sweet Potato Souffle' ala Christine Davis

Sweet Potato Souffle'
3c. cooked mashed potatoes
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter, melted
2 1/2 tsp vanilla
Combine all & put in casserole dish.
Topping:
1 c. nuts
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
1/2 stick butter
mix all & sprinkle over potatoes.
Bake 350 until brown