I am a big fan of oatmeal

There is an ongoing joke in my family about one of our family members who lived to almost 100 because "she ate oatmeal every morning". I grew up eating Quaker Oats and have always been happy with it - even the instant packets. Several years ago, I learned about steel-cut oats and was hooked immediately! I discovered McCann's Irish Oatmeal and love everything about it - especially the round can. But, it takes forever to cook...I mean forever! I was very excited to find that Trader Joe's carries frozen steel-cut oatmeal. I tried it recently and was quite pleased with it. I will tell you that it is not as good as the slow cooking oats, but it is a good alternative for the days when you don't have an hour to kill.

Did you sign up for Earth Hour?

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Sorry Bush fans...

...but, this gum is hilarious!

Forget squeezing the Charmin

"They" say you should not even be using it! I do not believe in buying cheap toilet paper and have been using Charmin for years. However, I recently learned from a plumber that Charmin is bad for your pipes. Charmin dismisses the claim, but I found several links supporting the claim. The cotton in Charmin toilet paper does not break down in your pipes and you should never ever use it with a septic tank.

I am now faced with a big dilemma. Should I use the environmentally friendly Seventh Generation Bath Tissue or try some other mainstream brand? Ideally, I would like to try the Seventh Generation, but fear that it will be rough...and then I would be forced to pick between my comfort and my desire to save the planet. Kermit was right; it's not easy being green.

I was at the mall recently with my friend Kailey

And, we popped in to Origins and made a beeline towards A Perfect World.

K: You love this too...it is so great, isn't it?
Me: Yes - amazing. When I wear it, I am acutally kind of in love with myself.
K: I know what you mean and my skin is so soft when I wear it...
Me: ...especially if you put it on when your skin is a bit damp from the shower...
K: Totally!

So nice to have girlfriends, isn't it?

Coffee Machine Update

I don't know if it has "changed my life", but I am very happy with my Keurig B60 Single Cup Brewer. A few readers have emailed their questions...

Lisa wanted to know if you must buy their coffee. No, you do not need to buy their coffee. The Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter allows you to use your own coffee.

Meryl was concerned because she likes flavored coffee. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of coffee, tea, and cocoa available for the Keurig machines. They also include a sampler pack with the machine, so you can sample the offerings from well known companies such as Caribou Coffee, Newman's Own, Green Mountain, and Bigelow.

Amy was concerned that the coffee was too expensive. I think you will spend 25 to 50 cents per cup of coffee...not cheap, but sooooo convenient. I look at it in the same way I approach buying cut fruit...I could cut it myself, but it is so much easier to buy it already cut and packaged at the store...

Another cool find from my mom...

This is an amazing chart to print out and save...Foods that Heal.

PEEPS Meringue Tartlets

PEEPS Meringue Tartlets

Toasted yellow Chicks take the place of meringue in these delightful lemon curd-filled mini tarts. You’ll need twelve 3 1/2- to 4-inch tartlet pans with removable bottoms to make this recipe. Watch carefully when you toast the Chicks; their yellow sugar coating will burn quickly! You can bake the tartlet shells up to 2 days ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature.




1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (about 12 ounces) purchased lemon curd or prepared lemon or vanilla pudding
24 yellow PEEPS® Chicks

Happy Easter...from the folks at Chronicle Books...

Love coffee...hate to make it...

I finally broke down last night and bought the Keurig B60 Single Cup Brewer. I have not had a chance to use it yet, but it is supposed to change my life...

I'll keep you posted...

Stealing from my nephew

I bought this Crayola Toothbrush for my nephew Nathan (in his favorite color blue), but it is so cool that I think I might keep it for myself. It has a suction cup to stick to the counter and the brush is multi-colored. If I also buy the Crayola Flossers, I will be the envy of his entire preschool!

Paper Envy

I bought this box of cards a year or so ago and clearly did not use it for the intended purpose - every card you need for one year.

But, I digress...I pulled it out today and my colleagues were sooooo jealous! They did not want one when I first bought it, but now they do...

It was just a little bit of smoke

I recently attempted to make a meatloaf for my sister, brother-in-law and nephews...suffice it to say, we ended up eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and I have been forbidden from using their oven. I didn't set the house on fire or anything, but I am afraid this Do You Smell Something Burning? Apron & Mitt Set will be showing up on my doorstep soon...

Until I get my Mac

I'll just use this computer calculator that looks like a Mac, but strangely can't be used with a Mac...

March 15th or 17th?

Apparently, it was changed by the Roman Catholic Church this year to avoid conflict with Holy Monday.

If you are in Atlanta...

...be sure to check out my new favorite place. I am thinking about moving in! Entebello is a Modern Apothecary & Spa for men and women; the men even have their own entrance. I have not tried the spa services...yet...but, am in love with their product selection - they carry some of my favorite brands...Yosh, Daub & Bauble, the lip scrub, Whish, blinc, Lipstick Queen, mor...

Mmmm...smells great!

I tend to pick a signature scent...middle school was the Liz Claiborne perfume in the red triangle bottle...college was Carolina Herrera...post college was Angel by Thierry Mugler and then I discovered Jo Malone and played around with her fragrances for a while...

But, I got tired of wearing such recognizable scents...I didn't like smelling like everyone else and I began to search for a new fragrance that was not as well known...I looked and looked and looked...and finally found Yosh and I am in love! You can find local retailers on her site or you can order the Sweet Suite 6-piece sampler...it is a good way to try several at once and they are also great for travel!

Stylish tots

Car seats are expensive, but so important - you should definitely spend the extra money to buy the best one you can afford.

With such a big purchase, it would be great to use again with your second (or third) child...but, they get really gross! Even if you wash the cover...they fade...they look dated...they have stains...and, you liked the denim cover when you bought it, but not so much now...

EmmaLu Designs has the perfect solution! Super cute waterproof car seat covers. They are easy to "install"...they have velcro so you do not even need to remove the car seat. Check out all of their designs to find the one that best expresses your personality.

And, as a special for readers of The Ferret...Online, if you enter the offer code ferret, EmmaLu Designs will give you free shipping until April 1st.

A beauty MUST

Mary Stuart just asked me for a tweezer recommendation...I enthusiastically told her about my love for Tweezerman. I have had the same pair of tweezers for years...the quality is amazing and they offer free sharpening services if when they become dull. How great is that? Check out the Tweezerman Go Green Mini Slant if you want to help the environment too.

Fierce Clothing

I'm not sure that I would actually buy any of the outfits, but it is kind of cool that you can bid on the Project Runway creations...including the Bryant Park Collections...and, thanks to Bobbie at Little Splurge, I found a link to Christian's "fiercest moments".

I wash my hands all day long

I love hand moisturizer, but have a hard time using a super heavy cream during the day because I can't touch anything when my hands are too greasy. So I end up living with dry hands...which is really gross. But, I recently found a great compromise with Gloves in a Bottle. The lotion is very lightweight, but the product is a real heavyweight...it forms a protective barrier that really does keep your hands from drying out...even after frequent washings...

One product...many uses

I love products and I have an appreciation for quality and quantity...but, I try to be less indulgent. So, it is a big day when I find a great multi-purpose product like Upper Crust Dust from Face Time Cosmetics. I use it by itself for those days when I don't want to "put on my entire face" but need a splash of color. I also layer it on top of other products when I want something a bit more dramatic. And, you can mix it with a bit of lotion to add a bit of sparkle to your skin for a festive night...

Helping to feed the world

Dr. Hauschka donates a portion of the proceeds from their trial kits to an international organization commited to fighting hunger.

And, I am going to give one lucky reader the Dr. Hauschka Daily Face Care Kit for Oily/Impure Skin. To win this awesome kit, leave a comment for me with the name of the organization Dr. Hauschka has partnered with...you can find the answer on their site.

I will announce the randomly selected winner on my site on Saturday, March 8th...all entries must be received by Friday, March 7th at 11:59PM, EST.

The bad news is I had a massive pimple

The good news is that:

1. I did not pick at it as much as usual.
2. I found a great product to get rid of it.

Kailey, my friend and makeup artist extraordinaire, recommended insisted that I buy Burt's Bees Doctor Burt's Herbal Blemish Stick with Tea Tree Oil. She's a genius...it is practically invisible now! I am not so in love with the smell, but I do like the roll-on stick. It is so much more precise than putting cream on my face with my finger and it did not dry out the skin around my pimple.