bobbi brown shimmer brick, take me away...

The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick. It is like a mythical creature that you hear about but never have been able to come in contact with... My latest issue of Elle says that it is Katie Holmes favorite thing (that must mean something, somewhere??).  As the snow comes down in sheets across my dull, pale skin here in the Midwest, I realize that it is meant to be. 

I need this thing that is shimmery and may make me look glowing and alive. At any cost.

I say at any cost because at $42, it is not inexpensive, but I will pay just about anything to not look like a zombie at this point. I also have purchased numerous knock offs, attempting to achieve a glowing, sun-kissed complexion. So why not just get the real deal? I hear that it last forever when the colors are swirled and applied with a kabuki brush..

I will give it a whirl. 

obsession: tramp shower gel by LUSH

I never understood women's love of bath products until the day I fell in love with LUSH. After experiencing a bath with handmade, highly concentrated products from LUSH Cosmetics, you too will understand why someone (me) would pay $10 for a bath bomb, a.k.a. - something that you put in a bathtub that dissolves and then is gone forever. It is worth the money though dammit! 

But I don't always have time to lounge around in a tub full of pink, silky bath bomb infused water, much to my serious dismay, so occasionally I shower. Recently I realized that even though I am forced to stand while bathing, I can still enjoy it it. That is, with my new $28 shower gel from LUSH called Tramp! Why would I pay over $30 for a shower gel (don't forget about shipping - Tramp is only available online)?

 Because:

1. It is called Tramp, which is funny

2. It is almost 17oz, so it's not like they're being stingy

3. Their website said I would emerge from my shower smelling like an enchanted forest

Sold. To me. For way to much money to spend on shower gel. 

Really though, I cannot even begin to truly express my amorous for this shower gel. It makes your skin extremely soft, and they were not lying, I do smell like an enchanted forest after I use it. Somewhere between an enchanted forest and a very clean hippie...

Love. I never knew that I could feel this way about a bath product. I usually reserve this level of obsession over a product for lip products. That's how I know this stuff is the real deal. Everyone needs a Tramp in their shower! 

why make cookies when you can make chocolate dipped chips

I do not like to bake. All those ingredients, the mess, the calories. . .

But I was on Pinterest for eight hours the other day, and ran across an image of chocolate-dipped chips and thought, I can handle that! Since you really don't have to cook anything. At all. 

Just melt half of a bag of chocolate chips in the microwave (about 1 1/2 minutes then stir, otherwise the chocolate will burn and be disgusting and lumpy, which is not good) then dip your kettle chips into it and place them on a cookie sheet. While they are still hot, sprinkle with, ya know, whatever. Sprinkles, those silver beads they insist you can eat but will likely kill you, glitter - anything goes. Then sprinkle with sea salt and viola! Attractive dessert type thing. 

Look how lovely they look placed in a white bowl! Do not try and be low-cal with this. The chunkier and crunchier the chip the better they stand up to the chocolate and the better they taste. That means you need fat, so no reduced fat crap, or those weird baked things. Kettle. Chips. 

These pair nicely with a bottle of zinfandel. Or merlot. Or anything else you feel like drinking a bottle of.