Erasing the disgusting stuff...

Erasing the disgusting stuff...from the bathroom.

So, my house has been in "showing" condition for a little over 3 weeks. We were under contract and then the lady decided to pull out of the contract because our neighbors were to loud (but that is an entirely different topic). Hence we are keeping our home in "showing" condition.

Well, as I'm sure some of you know, "showing" condition requires that everything stays clean and pristine at all times. We could get a call for a showing at any moment. Because of the this I have stocked my bathrooms with simple, easy products that help with quick cleans. One product that I have found helps tremendously with cleaning the bathtub, sinks, counters......Scotch Brite Soap Scum Eraser.

If you are not into serious elbow grease to rid your bathroom of soap scrum and yuck, Scotch Brite Soap Scum Eraser is the trick . Definitely worth your money and try. I have heard that Magic Eraser is superb, but right now I just can't discount how impressed I am with Scotch Brite Soap Scum Eraser. I'm telling you, I hardly scrubbed and my bathtub is now "showing" condition.

Scotch Brite Soap Scrum Eraser - around $2.00 at Walmart, but you can purchase at any grocery store.

The Best Commercial

I'm sure most of you have seen the new Doritos' commercial...but if you haven't...it's worth looking up. The commercial begins with a man (carrying flowers) knocking on the front door of a house. A pretty woman, dressed for a date answers the door. She acknowledges his gift by saying, "How sweet," and then invites him in. As soon as he enters she introduces him to her son (out of the shot)...she exits with the flower into another room. The man sits down and grabs a dorito from the bowl on the living room table. The little boy slaps him, tells him to put it back and puts two little fingers up in his face..."Don't touch my Mama, and don't touch my doritos." Then gets in his face staring him down.

LOL...it's SO FUNNY and charming. Watch it.

Doritos' commercial...Boy Slaps Man

"COMMITTED" to a great book......about marriage

Now...this may sound contrary to writing a review blog, which would normally support, debate or oppose an idea, item, product, etc, but I am suggesting a book that I feel is definitely worth a read. The book is titled, "Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage," by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Gilbert does a fabulous job of researching/asking questions about marriage globally. As someone who has travelled quite a bit myself, it's amazing to hear how international ideals and rituals are similar or vastly different. One such topic is the concept of marriage. In many societies, marriage is a form of survival. It's also a "class" assurance or denial. In some cases a marriage doesn't even involve the opinions of those directly involved, thus, strips them of freedom of will or choice. Kind of pulls the rug out from underneath the idea of pleasure or passion when it pertains to a committed relationship, doesn't it?

For my Christian friends...this is NOT a self-help, Christian-eeze type of book on how to better your relationship....nor is it a way to find the right partner in 90 days or less. For my secular(non-Christian) friends, this is not a 3 to 10 step system to better your sex life...or how to solve the "picky problem." What the book does uncover, for me, is the unrealistic emphasis our Western civilization (Greek thinking) has placed on marriage..and how marriage is ultimately suppose to add uncompromisable bliss (which I will say even within 6 months of marriage I have realized is bunk). I truly believe because we have placed such focus on marriage bringing "heavenly" happiness...we have literally unstitched, in someways, the whole idea of why God created matrimony. We have made it selfish and a contrite...instead of a calling and holy. We have made it about passion and pleasure instead of purpose and eternally minded.

"Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage," by Elizabeth Gilbert in my opinion is worth a read!!!! I believe it is very controversial and not for the faint of heart...but it's knowledge...and knowledge is priceless.

Gilbert is a delightfully, fun read...with many twist and turns...which as we know...keeps things interesting. So keep the brain power pumping! lol

Starry-eyed over an Eyeshadow (SERIOUSLY!)

Well....here I am again...(strongly) recommending a make-up product...but what can I say...I think if you find a noteworthy make-up...it MUST be talked about.My husband purchased, for me, a LORAC makeup combo kit for Christmas. At first, I wasn't to sure about the product since I could had never, even heard of LORAC....but I fell in love almost immediately. The eyeshadows in the combo were rich, soft, AND (the big one) stayed put!!!(Side note: I also liked the mini brush that was included in the kit....actually made application easier). The blushes are subtle, but exact...as far as shades go. I have been both really white and tan with the blushes...and they seem to compliment and highlight no matter my skin tone.

Moving on from there...I went to Sephora and purchased the "Starry-eyed Baked" Eyeshadow Trio by LORAC...and...LOVED IT! Loved the color combo (purples)...the richness of the tints...and the longevity of the shadow, etc. Once the shadows are applied they stay for the remainder of the day. Seriously....I'm not even ashamed to admit that I plan outfits around the make-up. :)

LORAC Starry-eyed Trio eyeshadows...at Sephora for $25.00The other make-up products by LORAC..while I have not used many of the others...are fairly priced...and will last for a while.

A Little KABOOM BOOM BOOOOOO....

Okay...a note to the self-proclaimed "cleaning enthusiasts," "OCD bleachers," and "Martha Stewart wanna-be's"....I am NOT a kindred spirit of yours...and I do not know the best kept secrets to a clean, organized house...HOWEVER...I do like to keep things in order and germ-free...as well as, like to find a product that helps cut cleaning time in half (or more). With ALL that said...this is not about what does work...and unfortunately about what does NOT work.

I recently saw the Kaboom Foam-tastic infomerical...and thought I had found the miracle cleaning aid..you know...the one that requires zero effort. Not only did the stuff not work...as far as what marketing promised...BUT it left a residue that was later detected when I spray Lysol Bathroom Cleaner on the areas I had "cleaned" with Kaboom Foam-tastic.

On the infomerical you see that the Kaboom Foam-tastic sprays on blue and when it turns white it's time to wipe off. Well, when I did this (a few times) I noticed some spots on my tub and sink that were not getting cleaned....so I decided to cover the area again with my fave bleach cleaner...and next thing I know...all areas were turning blue..ONLY I hadn't sprayed Kaboom Foam-Tastic..I had sprayed Lysol Bathroom Cleaner (with bleach). Ummmmmm.....gross. Residue from a cleaner???? really?

Needless to say...I can not and will not recommend Kaboom Foam-tastic...and of course this is my opinion and only my opinion...BUT if you want a truly great product...try Lysol Bathroom Cleaner. I think you purchase it for around $2.80 at Target.

Fantastic Cheap Wine

By no means am I a wine connoisseur. I can't pick out the plum or oak notes in a red wine. I have no idea what it means to comment on the full-bodied or front notes of a merlot or pinot noir. HOWEVER, I know when I'm impressed with how something tastes...OR when the cost felt like a GREAT buy. I'm not a fan of wines that has a strong after taste...or one that seems to overpower whatever I am eating at the time.

Well...recently, I purchased DeCanal's "Montepulciano D'Abruzzo.," and loved it. It's a red from the Italian coast with a nice spice/fruit flavor. AND at $14.99 it was affordable and well worth the effort (I went to this little, out of the way store).

I'm told this wine is a perfect pairing with Italian/Greek food...but who cares...it's fabulous. Try it. You will not be disappointed.

An Amazing New Mascara

So...I'm always looking for the miracle mascara. You know the one that can take non-existent lashes to ultimate supermodel fabulousness. Okay, well that has really EVER happened (shocker I know), and I have become somewhat jaded towards most make-up advertising as a result (hello...no such thing as stiletto lashes with out the fakies) . HOWEVER, I have randomly found a mascara that has truly worked wonders for me.

It's called "Lights, Camera, Lashes," by Tarte. I found at Sephora in their Lash line-up display.One of the best features of the mascara is the wand. Many, and I really mean MOST, brands claim to lift and separate lashes, but ultimately just clump with gunk. The wand on "Lights, Camera, Lash," really does lift and separate. In fact, I have not used my lash separator since using this product.

This mascara will cost you around $16.00 dollars and comes in brown, black/brown and black. I easily found it Sephora, but I'm sure it's located elsewhere.