Gesundheit.

The Place to Find Out About Good New Stuff.

Monday, July 24, 2006

"For the Health Nut in You. Yeah, You."

Well folks, it was a long but awesome weekend up at the BBQ Championships and Brewfest at the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, VT. Yours truly almost didn't make it to post today, but I couldn't let another day go by without some new juicy tidbit. I'm almost ready to do my fake eyelash piece, but that will be for Thursday. Today, I think we are overdue for what I call a "culture" bit. Ready?
Bookmark The World's Healthiest Foods. My friend, Jessica, turned me on to this website and boy, what an encyclopedia of fun facts. You can look up any food group and find tons of interesting stuff - not just on nutrition value and percentages, but also on the history of a food, how to choose it and keep it at home, good recipes, etc.. Site features include a Food of the Week, Recipe of the Week, Tips, sample menus, and a food advisor which helps you analyze your nutrient intake and offers suggestions on specifc foods you can add to help round out your diet.
The website is run by a non-profit foundation whose main interest is to help people discover the benefits and joys of healthy eating. The team is made up of various scientists, nutritionists and chefs, who not only try to keep things practical, but also (and importantly) affordable. You can sign up to receive a free weekly e-bulletin, and also submit your own questions and/or favorite recipes.
The next time you need to procrastinate, find a quick and healthy dinner menu, or kill time at the office, look up this site and get to learning.

Monday, July 17, 2006

"Curly Sue, Where Are You?"

Am I imagining that that is a saying or some song, or did I just make that up? Whatever. The point is, my friend Jen sent me a question and I am going to try to answer it - and include you all on my maybe limited wisdom on this topic.

So, Jen asked me about eyelash curlers - what I would recommend for one of those torturous devices. Once you get the hang of the things, I guess they're not so bad, but the occasional slip and curling of the actual eyelid is enough to make me stay away most of the time. But I digress. In response to one woman's quest for the perfect eyelash curler, I have a two-part answer, and it goes a little something like this....

Meet Shu Uemura's super eyelash curler. Upfront, let me tell you that I have NOT tried this thing. This is the curler that I have read in fashion mags is their favorite pick. I'm still not sure why - it looks like every other curler I've seen. Now, I've tried styles like this one and find them a little unwieldy. Discounting that fact in light of the fact that sometimes I'm just a klutz, I still can't figure what makes this thing soooo awesome that its worth paying $18 for. SO, here is my non-Cosmo/Elle/Glamour answer to Jen's question:

Here is my personal preference. Sephora's lash curler AND brow brush in one. And its only $5. Travels well, doesn't stick out all over the place like the gangly versions (see above photo). Performs two functions. I just can't see any reason why something that costs 2-3 times as much is any better. I don't discourage you all from buying whichever version you decide is best for you, but you know, for $5, you might as well try my choice first and if you hate it - you're only down the cost of a beer.

All of this lash discussion is inspiring me. Stay tuned for a soon-to-arrive post about fake lashes and loving them.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

"Music for Any Occasion"



I almost posted about something else tonight, but then as I sat at my desk and put together business cards to the shuffle feature on my iTunes, something stopped me in my thoughts and I realized that I just had to post this. Jeff Buckley. If you know who Jeff Buckley is, you're nodding in agreement right now. If you don't, consider yourself informed. Jeff Buckley is the one artist who I can listen to at any time, in any mood, for any reason. Ok so Jeff Buckley isn't exactly a new kid on the block, however, for some reason that I still can't understand, some people have actually made it to this day without having heard his name or his music. Oh tragedy! So, here's some background -
Jeff Buckley was born in 1966 and died in a drowning accident in 1997. His first EP was released on Columbia Records in 1993 as he was coming up through the New York City music club circuit. He did do some touring after his EP came out and also recorded a full length album called "Grace." For this album he won France's Gran Prix International du Disque, an honor received before Jeff by the likes of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Edith Piaf, and Bruce Springsteen. This is just a weeee bit of information that I gleaned from Jeff's website, which you must immediately check out for more information. OR, you must go to iTunes or your other local music vendor and buy Live at Sin-e and/or Grace. Then, you should really also pick up Sketches for my Sweetheart the Drunk. At some point, I highly recommend getting all of his albums, but for starters lets not break the bank, shall we?
Some good tracks to skip to if you want know: Lover, You Should've Come Over, Hallelujah, Everybody Here Wants You, and Last Goodbye. Oh, there are a lot more but I don't want to overwhelm you. Trust me, go check Jeff out and get back to me. I promise you won't be disappointed. And if you haven't read enough here, go to that crazy site Wikipedia and read on, you reader, you.

Friday, July 07, 2006

"The Second Must"

So, I've been dying to write about this product for a while, and here I am. Everyone knows the saying "diamonds are a girl's best friend." I say that's a load of you-know-what. People like us aren't quiiite at that diamond-buying fiscal level yet in our lives, and so for our sake I have coined my own adaptation of this old saying. I would like to suggest that in actuality, a good mascara is a girl's best friend. Seriously. I mean, I am well aware that there are those fortunate SOB's out there who have naturally full and long lashes (seriously, I think my boyfriend is one of them), but since there are a lot more people in the world who do NOT fall into that category, here is my gift to you:

Dior's Diorshow mascara is really the most amazing mascara I've ever found. And let me tell you, I've been through them all: Lancome, , Origins, Clinique, Maybelline, Cover Girl, Almay, Shu Uemura, MAC, Benefit, Bourjois, Vincent Longo, NARS... I could go on. Most of these other brands either don't come off for days, smudge, or don't perform the way they say they will. Whether I spent $8 in a drugstore or $30 in a department store, life has never been better than when I walked out with Dior in my shopping bag. $23 has never been better spent and after all, what woman isn't on the hunt for THE perfect mascara?

Ladies (and men, if you fall into this group as well), let me strongly encourage you to try this stuff out. It comes in colors - black, brown, blue; it cleans off easily, it lengthens and defines. I don't think there will ever be a day when I do not want this product in my cosmetic case. As always, a quick lash curl prior to application adds a little extra flare, but with this stuff you can get away without it. Take it from someone who is obsessed with eye makeup - get yourself to your local Sephora or department store and pick up a tube today.