Something a little different (it involves a sandwich)

The other day started off as expected, with its little surprises sprinkled in, and I thought it would end in one of the ways it usually did. But it didn't. There was one more happy surprise for me. I walked into a sandwich shop ready to order what I regularly did, the familiar. Only on a whim did I change my mind and go from ordering the 12…or 13 to the 8…or was it 7. Whatever the number was, I was hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed. As much as I love sandwiches, I have found few that have really satisfied. I often default to what I know. My mother even ordered one of my favorite defaults, so I could compare my whim to it. But when the sandwich came, it looked like any other I had ordered. Nothing stood out about it. Bread, meat, sauce, and veggies; Pretty standard. But when I took a bite, I knew what it was like to have a great sandwich. Everything came together and made sense. As common as the ingredients were, together, they were just great.
The funny thing is that I don’t even remember the name of it or everything that was even on it. That’s how little attention I paid to it when ordering. It was the kind of sandwich that I couldn't have every day, but would really appreciate when I did. But now that I have tried one of the best sandwiches, I’m a little nervous. I have this image in my head of going back to the shop, getting the same sandwich, and feeling…nothing. That what I tasted the first time was caused by a mixture of hunger and the excitement of not having to order the same thing again. 
Well one thing’s for sure, I will be having it again, and, fingers crossed, it will be just as delicious.

Does anyone have a favorite sandwich that they love? 

Products for your winter blues 2/2

During the winter time, or anytime really, my hands can get really dry and rough which makes me sad. But I could never find a good hand cream that moisturized and didn’t burn. I was recommended the Neutrogena Norwegian formula hand cream, so I picked it up in fragrance free, just to be safe. I can honestly say that it is the best cream I’ve tried for dry hands. Neutrogena is one of my favorite brands, and this cream will be joining the my stash. It’s moisturizing and leaves my hand comfortable and soft. One of the biggest things it doesn’t do is sting or burn.
So many hand creams that claim to moisturize or be suitable sensitize skin, leave my skin itchy and hardly moisturized. The formula is really concentrated, so a little goes a long way. My hands feel so much better and lose that tight feeling that I can’t stand. I might even pick up the lip balm version and try it out. I think it’s worth a try for around five dollars, especially if you’ve tried as many creams as I have.

One of my favorite body lotions is the Vaseline sheer infusion line. I have tried a few and none of them were really memorable, or left me with a greasy feeling, yuck! This one is really creamy on the skin and absorbs really well.  There are three different kinds and each one has a pleasant smell that I like. I found mine at the dollar store, few things are better than paying a dollar for great lotion, so I picked up three. It instantly hydrates my dry skin and makes it smooth. It says it has patented moisturizers and maybe that’s why it works so well.
Am I the only one who gets sucked in by the word "patented"? Whatever it is that makes it work so well I like it, and I will keep using it until I find something better or until the dollar store runs out*.

*Just kidding, I'll pay full price for it. 

Something for your winter blues 1/2

So I know it’s been awhile since I last posted…well, longer than awhile. But I was just so busy, that I didn’t have any time to do anything. Now that I have a little break, I’m going to try to post more often. *note to self: post more often*

Well now that the weather is getting colder, I’ve decide to talk about some of my favorite winter, or anytime really, staples. First, I’ll talk about lip balms and then I’ll do a post on creams and lotions. So with lip balms, I’m a little picky. But I’ve managed to find some really good ones that meet most, if not all, my needs.

    *Aveeno Essential Moisture lid conditioner with spf 15.                                                           

     It’s really moisturizing and melts on, so it doesn’t need a lot of pressure. It has a light scent that I can’t place, but doesn’t bother me. It coats evenly and isn’t sticky, which is great. I like to use this one in the day because of its spf and none of the other ones I use have any. This one shouldn’t be packed on because it can get a little goopy and grainy even. So even though this one can be a little temperamental, I think it's worth it. 

            *Yes to carrots lip butter.

     This one is stiffer than the Aveeno, so it will hold up a little better. It’s smooth on the lips and glides on. It’s also really moisturizing and is 95% organic for those of you who are looking for that. Mine is in berry, and the smell is light and berry-y and not unbearable. I have to watch myself with this one because it can also get grainy if piled on, but it’s really softening and gives a thinner coat compared with the Aveeno. So it's nice if you don’t want to feel something on your lips.   

      *Chapstick naturals botanical medley.

     OK, I usually have a hard time liking chapstick. Something about the texture and it gets really grainy when it dries on my lips, so I was really skeptical when I fished this one out of the discount bin while shopping. But I am really surprised. This one is by far the stiffest one out of all the lip balms I own, so I don’t have to be gentle with it and can pack it on without fear. And to my surprise, it rarely gets grainy on me while being just as moisturizing as the others. It has a medical type smell to it, but it’s not very strong and it doesn’t bother me. I think it's just a good all around lip balm. Definitely a keeper.   

            *Carmix original.

     Now, I couldn’t talk about lip balms without this one. It’s the one I pull out when nothing else will do the job. It has a tingly feeling that I like. It also has a smell to it like eucalyptus, maybe? But I don’t mind it even though some people can’t stand it. I put this one when going to bed and let it work its magic while I sleep. It even helps with really bad cracked lips. I use the one in the tube because I don't like dipping my fingers in the pot. It’s moisturizing, but I like it more for the way it heals more than the others. It isn’t sticky and has a thicker consistency. I will always go back to this one.

Full Metal Alchemist

     So I watched the newest English dubbed Full Metal episode on cartoon network a little bit ago, and it was pretty good.  I was so upset that Alphonse didn't get his body back this time, but I guess that was predictable. I'm also mad that Roy is now blind. How annoying! I mean, of all the things, and he didn't even want to do it! My sisters are way ahead of me because they've read the comic and have watched it in Japanese, but I just haven't gotten around to it, and I'm happy taking my time. But because the episodes are only twenty minutes long and only come on once a week, you don't really get to see a lot before the end credits start rolling. There isn't even an enticing "next time on Full Metal Alarmist…" to get me pumped.
     I know you might be thinking, "If you want to know what happens, just read/watch past the dubbed episodes". But if I did that, I would be totally consumed and there would be nothing left for me to enjoy. This way I have something to look forward to. So is anyone else a fan of Full Metal, or am I flying solo on this one?   

My thoughts on Clinique's 3-step skin care system

   I've been thinking long and hard about what I'm going to post, so I've decided to review Clinique's 3- step skin care system. Even though I've stopped using the system, I did use it for eight months so I have a good idea of each product. I have normal to combination skin that breaks out and I thought I would give Clinique a try, even though it’s pricey, because I heard good things about it.

Fist I use the liquid facial soap for oily skin, the pump is convenient and makes dispensing the product easy. The soap has a gel-like consistency, and I think of menthol when I smell it but my mother smells bamboo which I do get; the smell isn't bad and it goes away when you wash your face. The soap gives a nice lather and my face feels clean and soft without feeling tight.

After that, I use the number 3 clarifying lotion that comes in the pink bottle. This toner claims to exfoliate the skin and to help it look overall better, and I think it does a good job at that. It gives my skin a clean feeling, and my face doesn't get as oily as quickly in the heat while also making my skin feel smooth. Even though the toner is suppose to help your pores look smaller, I don’t think it really did that, but I was pleased enough with the tone that it wasn't a big deal.

Lastly, I use the dramatically different moisturizing gel. There is a lotion that my sister uses if your skin needs the moisture, but I use the gel for my skin. I like that the moisturizer gives me a cooling sensation and that it’s on the light side so it doesn't make me oily, which a lot of moisturizers do, but I usually have to use a second pump on my cheeks so they feel hydrated. I also heard the products would help with acne but I didn't see a big difference. Overall, I really like how the toner is refreshing and makes my skin feel clean, and I like how the moisturizer doesn't break me out or make me oily. I might go back to the moisturizer, and I think the products in general are pretty good. Clinique does work for a lot of people and has helped their skin.

  Hopefully this review helps and if there are questions about the system, let me know. J          

The beginning of things...

So here I am. I finally opened a blogger account. I have been thinking about this for the longest time and I have finally decided to do it after I watched my sister conquer her fears and bravely sign up for one. I'm probably going to talk about anything from baking and food, to reviews for beauty and skin care and other things. I might do weekly randomness as I go along but that depends on if I have anything special to say...
Hopefully I get the hang of blogging so I can have fun with it and post regualrly.
So with that I say, let the blogging begin :)