Natural Balance

My dog has a highly sensitive stomach. There have been stretches of time she's gone on a hunger strike and then proceeded to throw up... nothing... in great quantities.

Thinking she might have an allergy to chicken, I moved her over to an allergy-friendly brand of dog food- Natural Balance.

It has a minimal amount of ingredients in an attempt to be gentle on sensitive dog tummies. Maddie took a liking to it and has had less trouble if she stays on a regular feeding schedule. She also adores the treats that come in a variety of flavors. The Roll-A-Rounds makes her drool.

Due to her oral surgery, she's supposed to be on soft foods for five days. I soaked a few bites of her regular, crunchy food in water before opening up a can what, apparently, smells like the best thing in the world to Maddie. She's never had wet dog food before (from a can) and holy smokes that dog almost helped herself to the entire can I had left open on the counter.

I turned my back to get a fork and I hear Maddie attempting to crawl up the cabinets to get to the food. I missed the teeniest tiniest forkfull of the wet food with her softened bites and needless to say, it's been a success getting her nourishment even with the sensitivity in her mouth.

Thank you, Natural Balance. Your products are so good for my dog that I'm blogging about it. That means a heck of a lot.

Sometimes I feel like I'm not preppy enough for J. Crew

When I visited the J.Crew outlet in Freeport I didn't find many clothes that were worth trying (due to prices). Usually I find at least one item on the clearance rack that suits my budget and style but I was out of luck (so Mary, you don't have to be jealous!).

I did, however, find two hair accessories at the outlet that I decided to take home as mementos of my trip to the seashore.

I found a barrette with three black flowers clustered together and a white elastic with a delicate puffy flowery snow-flake like thing on it. Doesn't it sound lovely? I think so. My brother's dog liked it so much he tried to eat it out of my hand.

Since I am unable to locate these items on the J.Crew retail website, I'm afraid I'll have to tempt with with a couple of other items instead. And of course, one of these items has a much higher price tag than I can justify...

Crystal Dangle Ring $55.oo

It is quite sparkly and lovely though, isn't it?

Since my friend Zjani cut my hair earlier this summer, I've put forth more effort to love it and style it and change it up throughout the week. I have found that having an assortment of inexpensive ponytail holders can easily add some glam and interest to a plain ol' pulled back hairdo.

Golden Cluster Elastic $16.50

This one is much to my liking. Kev and I actually bumped into a clearance rack at Smith's grocery with 10 for $10 hair accessories and he helped me pick out some quality yet inexpensive accents for my hair (what a great friend he is, yes?).

It goes to show that you can spend a little or a lot and get gems either way. Whether you spend $6.50 on a white fluffy flowery snowflake thing or $1 on a giant pink flower thing (one of my Smith's finds), you can look and feel great. I don't know why a little clip or flower makes such a big difference, but it does.

Fried ice cream for my feeties!

When Kev told me a package had come for me one day, I promised him that I didn't order anything. I could not recall entering any contests, and I really couldn't recall spending my own money on something.


But I was so confused. I kept asking him if he entered me in something or if he knew anything about the little package.


We opened it up and out popped a delicious smelling spa sampler from Cultures Salon and Day Spa in Clearfield. No note. No indication as to who may have sent it. Just information about giving myself a manicure and/or pedicure with the delightful products inside.


I am in love with it. Creams. Bath salts. Little foam flip flops. So cute.


Of course, being the social networker that I am, I twittered about the surprise package and promptly discovered the person responsible for this little treat (via Facebook).


The Internet really does bring us closer together.

It's in a book, so take a look

I've started reading again! Although I still haven't finished Gilead, which I borrowed from Kristie months ago... I finished Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit over the weekend and am working through Julie and Julia, which is the book by Julie Powell that became the movie directed by Nora Ephron.

Next up will be My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

It feels good to spend about an hour each day reading for the heck of it.

Let me know if you have any suggestions!

I seem to remember someone was looking for bookends recently.

I still have so many magazines to go through that arrived while I was on vacation. This morning while eating my challah bread from Einstein's Bagels, I went through my CB2 catalogue.

Kimba, are you still looking for bookends?

Chrome or white, $39.95 for set of two.

$49.95 for set of two.

$39.95 for one.

I'm partial to the hippo since for some reason it is one of my favorite animals. I also like its sophistication. There are more Zuny options in both Classic and more playful styles on the Zuny site, but pricing eludes me.

Happy hunting!

I've always loved this staircase.

Built in the late 1800s, some of this house has original features that are quite indicative of New England charm and architecture.

The staircase at the front of my parents' house is one of those features. It's much more alluring than the 1970s addition in the back of the house. I think there are too many layers of linoleum on the floor to count, and I really really don't know why the previous owners had a hot tub in what became my room over the kitchen.

That didn't make any sense to me at all.

Anyway. You can obviously see why I love the staircase. If you can't, duh. Seriously. You need help. 

A new job warrants a few new items in the wardrobe.

Red dress: Gap. Black Mary Janes: Nine West. Rock 'N Roll Necklace: My sister's.

Shades: Banana Republic (I ended up buying a similar and less expensive pair from Forever21). Red top: Forever21.

Monhegan Island

I am one tired tourist.

I'm losing my voice. My face is sunburned. My lips are chapped. My lobster from last night cut my finger open.

I also miss my Kev and Maddie very, very much.

But I'm having fun.

I spent the day on Monhegan Island with my parentals.

Then I made a quick trip to the mall with Sophia.

We bought coordinating jackets.

Here are about 6 kajillion photos for your viewing pleasure.

Leaving Booth Bay Harbor, Maine.

On Monhegan Island.

The D. T. Sheridan. It crashed on the shores of Monhegan back in the 40s. Poor little tugboat.

A dark storm rolled over the island about an hour before our ferry was scheduled to take us back to Booth Bay. 

It was a bit unpleasant. And so was almost tossing my cookies on the ferry when we were finally on our way. There has already been too much barfing on this trip!

Thankfully I held it in.

It was a good day.

Need I say more?

I am enjoying my vacation with my family.

It was worth the red-eye and puking in a little paper bag on the runway.

I have fallen in love with a razor. I've been a fan of Daisy's 3-blade disposables for a few years now. Probably... 6 or so.

Sam's Club doesn't sell Daisy razors in bulk. Lame. So I opted to try the refillable Schick Quattro for Women.

A-Maze-Ing. For the first time in years I didn't feel like I was dragging a rusty blade over my leg. Why have I been avoiding good razors? Why?!

I think I only spent $20 on a 13-blade pack. I used to spend at least $6 on a 4-pack of lame-o Daisy blades. I don't know why I was so ignorant for so long.

Please try these if you're not satisfied with your current razor. They're fantastic. And I like that it's pink. Pink is always good for me.