Hannah

The second time’s the charm!! These fluffed up properly and everything. I haven’t tasted them yet, but yay!

I’m supposed to be writing a review of ‘Twilight’ but instead, I put my meager vegan baking skills to work.

They’re not great, but they’re a start!

I am embarking on what will either be the most brilliant decision of my life or the dumbest thing I’ve done yet. I’m going to become a vegetarian. Well, to be specific, lacto-vegetarian. I’m not entirely sure I can give up cheese.

My reasons relate mostly to health, that of my body and of the environment. I’ve already cut out red meat and a vast majority of egg-based dishes for diet reasons, so I think I can handle the leap to no meat at all. I’ve decided to gradually phase out meat as opposed to quitting cold turkey (ha!). One reason being I bought meat on my last grocery trip and I take serious issue with throwing away perfectly good food. We’re in a recession, and I’m not made of money!

I’m definitely inspired by the number of vegan recipes I’ve found. While I don’t intend to go Vegan in my daily life, I think baking Vegan could be a useful skill. I haven’t been able to enjoy baked goods in so long because of all the fat and other nastiness in typical baked items. There are a ton of vegetarian versions of things I already eat and a hundred different ways to tweak foods I already eat. For example, refried beans instead of taco meat, strips of portobella mushrooms in place of steak, etc.

I’m a little frightened by some of the new ingredients I’m going to have to familiarize myself with. Tofu, for whatever reason, scares me the most. I don’t know what it is about that stuff, but it gives me the creeps. It looks like a fairly versatile food, but I can’t get over how much it resembles PlayDoh.

Has anyone else gone vegetarian and lived to tell about it? Know anybody else who has? Lemme know! I need all the encouragement I can get!

I just finished reading the first three books of the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. It was amazing. But I’m saving my big critique until Sheena finishes them so I don’t spoil everything.

However, since I’ve finished them and the final installment is still months away, I’ve been lackadaisical. I realize it’s because I connected with the characters on such a level that having them gone is like having your best friend just up and move away without saying goodbye.

In honor of that unsettled feeling, here are the songs I like to listen to when I’m in that melancholy, I-miss-my-friends mood.

‘Olala’ by Sensation Junkies: My favorite line from this is ‘I may not amount to much more than a smile and a memory.’ It always reminds me of the friends who have come and gone who really are no more than a smile and a memory. I know I’m little more than that to some people. But that’s life, right?

‘Lonely Day’ by System of a Down: Surprisingly emo for them, but still really good. The line ‘And if you go, I want to go with you, and if you die, I want to die with you, take your hand and walk away’ always makes me misty. Combine haunting vocals, intricate and flowing guitar work and heady lyrics and you have the perfect tearjerker from a band not known for tearjerkers.

‘Feel it Now’ by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: I literally just heard this song. It was playing during the wind down of BONES. I may or may not have started crying. A few choice lines: ‘I’m on my own, I’m sure I’ll feel it now’ and ‘I leave myself behind in pieces, I know you’ll need them when I’m gone’

‘The Days of the Phoenix’ by AFI: OK, so AFI never fails to make me feel better about life in general. The video for this song is crazy distracting because the cameraman feels the need to zoom in on Davey’s crotch every five seconds. Some of my favorite lines are ‘I fell into yesterday, our dreams seemed not far away, I want to, I want to, I want to stay, I fell into a fantasy’ and ‘Nothing could touch us then, no one could change us then, and everyone was dancing, nothing could hurt us then, no one could see us then, and everyone was dancing’

‘At the Stars’ by Better Than Ezra: This was one of my favorite songs while I was in Chicago, when I actually had a shore to consider. I was also in a quasi maybe might be a relationship with a dude I met on the Web. Yeah, that was a proud moment. My favorite lines are still, ‘I’ve already found that everybody loves to love you when you’re far away’ and ‘Blame us because we are who are, hate us because you’ll never get that far’

‘Snow (Hey Oh)’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers: You cannot be sad while listening to this song. It is impossible. I feel all happy and bouncy. And I sing along. LOUDLY. The line ‘When I sit alone, come get a little know, but I need more than myself this time’ always reminds me that it’s totally OK to bitch to my friends. They’ll love me regardless.

I don’t for once, but I’m bored and need to post something so I submit the following for your consideration: ‘Crestfallen’ by The Smashing Pumpkins with clips from ‘Brokeback Mountain.’

On this point, me and Miss Stefani are in complete agreement (well, on most points me and Miss Stefani are in complete agreement). I love makeup. Foundation, cleanser, eye shadow, liner, lipstick — I love it all! You can emphasize your finer points (Much like Ned Beatty in Deliverance, I have a pretty mouth. Though I’ve never had Surprize Butsecks with hill folks). You can also camouflage your less than finer points (Hi pimples! Hi undereye circles that never go away!). Or you can go crazy and look like something, anything, completely different. Go Goth, be a rave kid, vamp it out. The possibilities are endless.

Now allow me to gush on the products I use each and every day. I’ll go into my more avant garde stuff later. Because I’m nice, I’ll even tell you where to get it and how much you’ll probably pay for it.

Cleanser:

Cetaphil is my cleanser of choice because my skin is mad cranky. Just one pump gets my whole face nice and clean. I’ve heard of people using it to take makeup off, but I wouldn’t try it. Also, it uh, sorta resembles a certain bodily fluid. Yes, I’m 12; shut up. It’ll set you back about $10, but you get a massive amount (16 fl. oz.), and like I said, you only need one pump to get your whole face clean. You can find it almost anywhere (Walgreens, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc.).

If you’re looking for something a little higher end, Kinerase’s Gentle Daily Cleanser is fabulous. A bit creamier than Cetaphil, it’s just as calming and my skin adored it. Unfortunately, it’s going to set you back $30 and unless you have a Sephora store close by, you’ll need to head online (my favorite online beauty source is Sephora) to get a hold of it. I only had a sample so I don’t know how long a full-sized bottle (6.6 ounces) of this stuff will last you, but it might be worth the price.

Moisturizer:

Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer is fabulous for sensitive skin and it has the added bonus of SPF. It has a really nice consistency and does a fantastic job of keeping skin supple. Because it’s for sensitive skin and has no added fragrances, you can use as much as you want. Even so, just a dab gets the job done easily. It costs between $6 - $8 and you can get it at the usual places (Wal-Mart, Walgreens, you know the drill). Also, coupons pop up often enough, so you can get it for even cheaper. You also get a good amount of product for the money (4 fl oz). Mine actually went bad before I ever ran out.

Another, more expensive, option is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. The gel is an alternative to the lotion version of the same product. It’s also very good for sensitive skin and soaks in like a dream. The downside is its lack of SPF (Boo, Clinique, boo!). But it comes in a handy dandy pump and you can slather on as much as you like. It’s probably necessary as just a dab does nothing for me. A 4.2 ounce bottle costs $23 and you can get it at any Clinique counter, Clinique’s Web site or Sephora.

Primer:

I confess I don’t use primer as much as probably should, but when I do, MAC’s Prep + Prime Face Protect is a godsend. It has SPF 50 — that’s right people, 50!!! It has a deliciously creamy consistency and just a little goes a long way. Which is good because it’s pretty expensive for such a small amount. You’ll be ponying up $26.50 for 1 fl oz. Yup, one ounce. You’ll have to hit up your local MAC counter or Web site to get it.

Another good option I’ve found is Napolean Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-foundation Primer. I got sample of this with an order from Sephora’s Web site (that’s the beauty of Sephora; samples, lovely samples) and it made my foundation look smooth and last for a good while. This, however, offers no SPF and a 1.7 oz. tube will set you back $39. Also, you’ll probably need to hit up the Web to get it. Primer’s not a requirement though, and while I listed it with my daily routine, it won’t hurt to skip it.

Concealer:

OK, I’ve presented two options for every category, but I’ve only ever used one concealer, so that’s the one I’m going to gush about. I use Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-in-Place Concealer. It blends well with my foundation (which is also Estee Lauder, but we’ll get to that). It covers pimples and dark under eye circles well and comes in a pretty convenient package. It also has SPF 10. Yes, I am obsessed with sun protection; why do you ask? A .24 fl oz tube will cost $19.50 and you can get it at an Estee Lauder counter or their Web site.

Foundation:

I’m a fickle creature when it comes to foundations, I’ll admit. I’ve used a million different kinds in a myriad of formulations. My current favorite is Estee Lauder’s Double Matte foundation. It has an SPF of 15 and eight different shades to choose from. That’s not many, but mine seems to do a decent job of matching my skin. True to its name, it stays shine free throughout most of the day, though I always have to blot toward the end of the night. Just a small amount gives my face excellent coverage, and it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. A 1 fl oz bottle costs $32.50 and can be found at an Estee Lauder counter or the Web.

Another great option is from Clinique. It’s called Perfectly Real. It matches skin like a dream, blends great and has a lovely, almost mousse-like texture. However, its staying power is woefully limited and it does absolutely nothing to stop the greasies. If you’re not of the oily persuasion, it would be a fantastic option. It covers well and, like most foundation, a little goes a long way. A 1 oz. tube costs $22.50 and you can get it through your Clinique counter, their Web site or Sephora.

Blush:

I’m new to the blush game and it’s definitely territory where one must tread lightly. The right shade can make you look flushed and awake; the wrong shade can make you look like a graduate from clown college. One of the best I’ve found is Hot Mama from TheBalm. It’s a pretty peachy pink with a gold shimmer. Don’t fear the shimmer though, it’s very subtle. It gives a sexy, ‘I’ve just finished a romp in the sheets’ flush that’s still very wearable. I’ve given it a whirl as an eye shadow, but wasn’t all that impressed. The packaging is incredibly cheeky and not terribly expensive at $18 for an 1 oz. package. As with most things, hit up Sephora.

A more recent discovery is Dandelion by Benefit. This powder has been out for a while, but I lived in fear of pink blush. This stuff is nothing to fear. Though it’s called a highlighter online and a few online reviews say it makes a better face powder, with my admittedly pasty complexion it makes me look like a good night’s rest even when I’m dog tired. It comes with its own brush which is feels velvety and does a good job of distributing the powder evenly. You’ll plunk down $28 for .35 oz, but a little goes a long way. Hit up Sephora or Benefit’s Web site.

Face Powder:

I’ll admit I have a love/hate relationship with face powder. I love the airbrushed look it gives my face; I loathe the way it cakes up when I so much as break a sweat. I switch out powders depending on what I need on any given day. My usual go to is Mineral Veil by Bare Escentuals. I got this in the Bare Escentuals mineral makeup starter kit. I HATED the foundation, never touched the bronzer, left the Skin Revver-Upper in the box and pretended the brushed didn’t exist, but the Mineral Veil is love. It goes on nice and sheer and keeps things in place. It is a bit on the shimmery side, which can get annoying. A .47 ounce jar costs $19. Hit up Sephora.

My second favorite is what I use when my makeup absolutely cannot move for any reason. Estee Lauder’s Double Matte Oil-Control pressed powder holds everything together and does an efficient job keeping the shine in its place. A .49 oz compact has lasted me almost three years. $25 may be a bit much for some, but seriously, I’ve had mine for three years! Take to the Web or the mall to find it.

Eye Shadow:

I love eye shadow. Like really love. Will have eye shadow’s babies kinda love. It’s the most versatile of all makeup products. While yes, some colors do compliment certain eye and skin colors, generally anyone can wear any kind of eye makeup.That said, I have my favorites. My everyday eye color is Vellum by MAC. A frosty white in the pot, it’s a duochrome that shine purple and blue from different angles. In a word: Gorgeous! It’s subtle enough to wear to work, but still crazy glam. The pot appears small at a mere .05 oz, a little goes a long way. It costs $14. A word of warning about MAC eye shadows in general: This stuff does not play. It’s heavily pigment and if you’re not careful, you may end up looking like a drag queen without meaning to.

This one isn’t just one eye shadow. Oh no, friends, it’s a palette. I love palettes; they’re the best way to get the most bang for your buck. Urban Decay’s Deluxe Shadow Box is a true winner. This set features nine of the brand’s Deluxe eye shadows which are velvety, heavily pigmented joys in and of themselves. The Deluxe line has 11 shades in total. The only ones missing from this are Heat and Sting. But there’s still something for everyone. Shimmery neutrals (the pretty Champagne colored Scratch is my favorite of those) mingle with bold brights and a dark blue and a gorgeous black round it out. This set also comes with a sample sized Primer Potion, which is a fantastic eye shadow base. Each shadow is about .03 oz, but a small amount is all you need for intense color. The shebang costs $36 and can be found at Sephora or Urban Decay’s Web site.

Mascara:

I bought CoverGirl Lash Blast mainly because Drew Barrymore was in the advertisements and Drew would never, ever steer me wrong. And I’m happy to report she was right again. I bought the waterproof version because my allergies can make my eyes water and I like avoid raccoon eyes when I can. A lot of people across the Web hate on this product, but I love it. The wand is thicker than most and it takes some getting used to. Also, you cannot be heavy handed with this one; use a light touch. A .44 fl oz tube will run you about $7, and keep your eyes peeled for coupons. It’s easy to find at whatever drugstore or discount store makes you happy.

Another option is Clinique’s High Definition Lashes. It has a spiffy little comb on the other side of the brush that I never use. The formula and the regular brush are more than enough to get your lashes all sex kitten looking. It has staying power, though it’s not waterproof. A .24 fl oz tube will run you $14 and you can get it wherever you get Clinique, you know on the Web, in the mall, etc.

Eyeliner:

All things considered, I suck at eyeliner. But I keep on keeping on! My personal favorite is Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Liner. It comes in a vibrant array of colors and it’s a liquid so you brush it on. You can pile it on heavy for a glam punk effect or go easy on it and be edgy but still classy. A .25 fl oz tube costs $18 and you can get it from Sephora or the brand’s Web site.

Urban Decay and MAC kick ass in the eye makeup department. Woe unto me I haven’t tried any of MAC’s liners yet, but Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye pencils take the cake. They come in vibrant shades and glide on smooth with no pulling or tugging. They’re just sparkly enough to be fun without being straight-up tacky. They’re also waterproof and delightfully creamy. A .04 oz pencil costs about $16. Again, get it anywhere you get Urban Decay.

Lipstick:

My love for lip color knows no bounds. Truly. I adore it all. My favorite right now is Black Honey Almost Lipstick by Clinique. While it looks dangerously dark in the tube, it goes a delightful sheer berry that can be built up into a lovely, vampy wine. Its staying power leaves something to be desired, but it’s still a beautiful lip color that flatters everyone. A .07 oz tube will set you back $14 and you can get it wherever you get Clinique.

L’Oreal’s Infallible Lip Gloss was a find brought to my attention by my dearly beloved Sheena. My shade is Fiery which looks a scary brown in the bottle, but is a pretty coral with gold shimmer on lips. The glossiness eventually wears off, but it leaves behind a pretty coral stain. It’s a steal at about $9 for a .21 fl oz tube. Coupons pop up for it, so keep a look out.

Makeup Remover:

Now that you’ve got it all on, it’s time to take it all off. No, not like that! Sleeping in makeup is evil, so you have to remove it at the end of the night. My favorite (and the only one I ever use) is MAC’s Cleanse Off Oil. It seems counterintuitive to use oil to clean your face, but this stuff is amazing. Waterproof mascara and tough foundation doesn’t stand a chance. One or two pumps slathered on a dry face and then washed off with a washcloth gets your mug ready for the rest of your routine. $20 for 5 fl oz sounds like a lot, but I’ve had mine for 6 months. Get it at the MAC counter or the Web site.

This post was way longer than I meant for it to go, but next time I’ll go into products that I love, but don’t use daily.

In honor of my best gal’s birthday, I present the one and the only GERARD!

He’s pensive because he’s not currently chained to your bed post. I’d be angry too really.

He’s thinking ‘Nom nom nom, this microphone is tasty but Bean would be better!’

My pelvis, let me show you it.

Does this shot make me look artsy?

JAZZ HANDS! And hips!

A tongue, I haz one!!! You can take it from there!

Hehe. Sweaty. Hehe.

HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER, HOT MAMA!!!!