Benefit’s Big Beautiful Eyes

Hello, lovelies. I know not all of you wear makeup regularly (or at all), but I thought I’d share one of my go-to cosmetic solutions that I’ve been really impressed with. It’s called “Big Beautiful Eyes” from Benefit.

I get ready at the gym in the morning and usually have less than 5 minutes to throw on some makeup. I have found that if I even take 2-3 minutes and use this, it makes a huge difference in how I look (and sometimes how I feel!).

This baby comes in a set of 3 colors & it looks marvelous with Forney eye colors & skin tone (though it claims to works for all eye colors). Aside from having very flattering shades, everything is combined into one, which makes application extremely quick and easy. It includes two great little brushes and a concealer palette for those rare mornings when you have little dark circles under your eyes.

I especially love how well the colors work together to provide seemingly endless color combinations from subtle daytime makeup, to polished and professional, to smoky sexy nighttime eyes (ooh la la!). Also, in case you are a little shy of the make-up brush, the kit comes with instructions on how to apply each color to create different combinations.

I bought mine at Sephora for around $30 and it’s been well worth it. Also, it looks like you can get a free philosophy body wash with any purchase at Sephora now, by just entering the code “Buffing” at checkout. How fabulous!

DC at night

I was down on the mall the other weekend with Adam and his parents and got a few nice pictures of the WWII Memorial.  For those who miss the midnight monument gazing, here are a few for your enjoyment:

Photos

So, Dad is secretly (or not so secretly) a photographer, and has a website where he posts a lot of his excellent photography – especially photos of Tomas!  There are also two photos of Ainsley, along with a number of other children who I can only assume are Tomas’ new friends in North Carolina!  You can enjoy Dad’s photos here:  http://photo.net/photos/DavidLForney

I had just been thinking about how much I wanted to see a more recent shot of Tomas.  This did the trick!

30% Off at Nine West

Attention all Nine West fans – wait a minute – Attention all Forney Gals!

Use this Friends & Family coupon code NWFRND6 and you’ll get

30% off regular priced merchandise, & 20% off all sale merchandise

Sale ends 10/18/2009

(so act soon!)

Germ-Free Hands

It is officially “flu season” so I thought I’d share a few tidbits of knowledge I’ve picked up about one of the best ways to prevent infection and protecting yourself from germies:  washing those hands!

In a recent study conducted by Joint Bank Group/Fund Health Services Department, scientists found there is no difference in bacteria levels on people who washed their hands in hot water versus those who washed in cold.  Really!  Nope, you don’t need to scald yourself to get those germs to scram.

The scientists recommended tepid water for hand washing because it’s gentler on the skin and it’s better for the environment.  This is an adjustment for me!

What is most important, the experts say, is that you do these two things:

1) use soap (it doesn’t matter if it is anti-bacterial) and

2) scrub for at least 30 seconds.

It is the soap and the scrubbing combined that is the key to ridding yourself of germs.  Also, 30 seconds seems to be the magic number, according to the Mayo Clinic.  I like to sing the alphabet in my head (though it would be funny to do outloud, particularly at the office) as a way to make sure I get in the full recommended thirty.

Happy scrubbing, and stay healthy, folks!

Bing Travel Price Predictor

For anyone planning travel in the coming months – and that’s a lot of us! – I recommend you check out Bing Travel:  http://www.bing.com/travel/

This website includes a 7 day price predictor that aggregates data from millions of round-trip, priced flight itineraries and countless combinations of origins and  destinations.  Like Kayak.com, Bing Travel aggregates & compiles the best travel prices and deals for the flights your searching.*

What really makes Bing great though, is that it makes airfare price predictions.  Based on rate trends and patterns, Bing will tell you whether you should wait, hold, or buy and will tell you the percentage chance that the price of the flight you’d like is going to go up, down, or remain unchanged.

For example, I’m searching for my flights home for Christmas & Bing is telling me to wait – there is a 76% chance that the fares for the flights I’m looking at will drop by more than $50.  Sweet!

* Note:  I don’t think Bing searches some discount airlines like JetBlue and Southwest.

Hello Fall!

I went to the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building this morning.  I saw this delicious crate of Granny Smiths and thought it made a perfect “Welcome Fall” photo!

I bought a bunch of apples and the apple crisp is in the oven now — thanks for the recipe, Andrea!

Zippity do-dah

Here is an exercise I do to workout my triceps.

This is called the tricep zipup.  You can do it with or without the calf raises.  You begin with your hands interlaced (I use a weight) at hip level and pull up to the top of your chest.  Keep your shoulders level with your shoulder blades pulled back.  When your hands are at the top of your chest you don’t want to have your shoulders by your ears or feel like you’re shrugging.  Then you push the weight back down – don’t let your arms go limp, keep a steady speed for both the up and down motions.  This should be done close to your body just like you’re zipping a jacket.   I usually do this with a ten pound weight like this one:

this way your hands stay close together during the exercise.  It can also be done with light dumbells (2-3lbs).   This video is a great 10 minute pilates arm workout that includes the zip-up.

Happy toning!

World’s Biggest Dog

This is one of the craziest things I have ever seen.  This dog is tall enough to drink directly out of the tap!  I cannot imagine having a seven foot, 180 lb. tail-waggin’ pet.

His name is Boomer.   Boomer stares into car windows eye to eye with drivers.  Unbelievable.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Sale

Andrea’s favorite baby store is having a sale!  Ainsley deserves to be spoiled, but so do our wallets, so this may be worth checking out!