The Regimen

My granny has a gal pal who answers the phone, "This is the beauty!" Can you imagine? To have that sense of moxie!

I just answer the phone, "Hullo?" but I rarely answer the phone, let's be honest. When I'm in my 80s, who knows? Maybe I'll develop some telephonic pinache.

Here in my 30s, I am just trying to eat my vegetables, hit it hard at the gym, and get a good night's sleep. Two out of three ain't bad most weeks.

I'm no vain Lane, but I'm not a plain Jane either. I am still a Catholic schoolgirl in recovery, and to be honest some mornings I actually think my polyester triblend kickpleat skirt is waiting for me on a hanger in my closet. Then I awaken to the fact that I have to :GASP: pick out mah cloves!

When it comes to putting on mah face, it has to be quick and clean looking. Not that you asked for it, but I always love knowing what products people fancy. Here's some honesty as well as my beauty regimen.

Avant

Apres

Array o' Beauty

1. Josie Maran Natural Volume Lip Gloss in golden beige- this lip gloss feels as good as it looks. Non-tacky and yummy smelling, but not something obnoxiously Tinkerbell cotton candy-like. Know what I mean?

2. Josie Maran Natural Volume Argan Mascara - This is fine for everyday. Nothing dramatic. Best part is it washes off like nothin'.

3. Clinique High Lengths Mascara - If I can't find the above mascara, I use this one. It's excellent and is not clumpy at all.

4. fresh Sugar in Passion - My favorite tinted lip balm.

5. Amazing Cosmetics Concealer to Go - This is the world's greatest concealer. As you can observe, I have a touch of rosacea. This wee little tube gets the job done. Very pigmented so the tube will last you foreverrrr.

6. Josie Maran Beautiful Eyes - This eye shadow blends nicely. Nothing dramatic. Colors work well with my rosy/pale complexion and blue eyes.

7. and 8. are limited edition products by Mary Kay. I like the cooling bronzer - easy to apply and fake me out some high cheekbones.I love this blush to the depths. Just a hint of sparkle my cheeks.

9. Brushes by Mary Kay. Gots to have good tools to get the job done well.

Comfort Food

It is pure cliche to cozy up in the kitchen come October and become a one-woman factory of pumpkin spiced everything consumable but here I am: an autumnal cliche! I've been whisking up heaps of goodies and it feels so good to be working the node in my noggin' that is not used for grammar or creative discipline.

Some highlights from my baking adventures: Pumpkin Creme Brulee (excellent) - I made an oreo crust on the bottom of this messipe. Pumpkin smoothie Candy Corn bark

We finally got to host a soup swap at our place and it was so lovely. Everyone brought either several quarts of soup, a few dozen cookies, or a few loaves of bread -- all homemade (FTW!). And everyone went home with somebody else's spouse! Oh...and I kid. We gathered with three other families that are also suffering raising up joyfully the small children who live with them, so we ate at the same time that nursing homes start slinging the jell-o for dinner and everyone went home with a whole mess of food for the week. It was so clutch.

Except for this guy. He was bored out of his gourd.

Me Do This Summer

I start back to teaching this week, so I thought I'd glance back LIKE LOT'S WIFE OHHH NOOOO and take stock of how well I managed to complete my summer bucket list.

From June 7, 2012: A list of summer must-dos in no particular order: 1. Organize clips + build professional website Here it be! 2. Complete sabbath school lesson project (Um, 1 out of 4 ain't bad?) 3. Publish an essay or two (Oh, haha. About that...) 4. Hunter Museum (It'll still be there next month, right?) 5. Salted Caramel ice cream from Mitchell's in Cleveland, OH 6. Fit back into all of my summer shorts 7. Read at least 4 books for pleasure (2 out of 4 ain't bad?) 8. Complete Photoshop professional growth course 9. Take a hike in Asheville 10. Learn to make some new summer salads

Love, laugh, floss, bike, smooch, read, friend, mom, wife, summer like it's an action verb.