So started my love affair with salted butter.

When I was little, we always had margarine. My best friend had real butter at her house. I did not like it at all. I think it may have been the unsalted variety, though, which I *still* don’t like. So I spent years thinking I just didn’t like real butter at all.

Then several years ago, I had dinner at a friend’s house, and he served *salted* butter with the bread. And I LOVED it. And from that moment, my tastes have completely changed. I don’t care for margarine at all now. It’s edible, if there’s nothing else, but bleah. Not my favorite.

Now, I use salted butter at every opportunity. Even when recipes call for unsalted, I ignore them and use what I like. I’m just glad I was eventually forced to give it a shot! Just imagine how many more years I could have gone! The horror!

Just wanted to be clear on that part!

One of my finds there actually wasn’t my own find but my mother’s. (Thanks!)

In the baby section they have what they call (I believe, and I’m going by memory here since the packaging is long gone) “baby snack cups.” They’re small (probably about 5 oz. or so) plastic bowls with lids that are really useful. They come 5 to a pack, so they’re only about 20 cents each.

• storage of small amounts of leftovers
• holding ingredients during meal preparation
• sending samples of home made flavored vodka home with guests after holiday parties
• serving ice cream when you don’t want a whole lot (or when you’re telling yourself you don’t want a whole lot)

Pretend I don’t sound slightly out of breath through most of this video. Also, pretend that I didn’t drop the stack of bowls right before making this, which is why the “clean” bowl I’m referring to has a couple crumbs stuck to the bottom of it that it picked up from the not-as-clean counter top. Oops. So I didn’t wipe them down yet! Sorry!

I do have 5 cats, though, and I had seen videos of them in action (sadly, I don’t have one of those for you here. It would have been too hard to make one and brush Mr. Baby Cat one handed.) They just looked so impressive! I’ve seen the video of someone using it on a big dog at the vet’s office and there are just piles and piles of hair!

So eventually I acquired one and when I actually remember to use it, it really is awesome. I have another comb that gets used some too, but it’s more to keep my one kitty detangled, since he develops clumpy mats in his mane. Poor Muffin! He even had to get shaved last summer. He looked ridiculous. So now I comb him pretty much every day, sometimes multiple times.

When I want to get a lot of extra hair off, though, I go straight for the Furminator. Here’s a video of what you get after just a couple minutes of furmination! And I’ve seen worse!

I picked mine up at Sally Beauty Supply. It’s an emjoi Epi Silk and cost me about $40. I can be used with or without the included cord. I found that I had better luck with it plugged in. Perhaps I didn’t charge it long enough. It definitely seemed to have more power and speed when I had it plugged in.

It comes with the device, instructions, cleaning brush, cord, and a soft drawstring bag to keep it all in.

Good things: It actually does work! I found that I have more hairs than I ever imagined, as it did the job of yanking the little suckers out. My skin is not as irritated afterward as it is after I shave. No raised pus-filled (yum!) pimply looking bumps so far, which is my problem after shaving (bleah!) It is easy to use. It doesn’t seem to be dangerous so far. It is small and portable. It is rechargeable and can be used cordless.

Bad things: Sweet baby Jesus is it unpleasant. When it comes down to it, you are yanking out all of your hairs by the root. It also takes a while. It’s not the fastest process. I think it might be best to split it up over a few days actually. Did I mention that it hurts? Like in an OH MY GOD WHY AM I DOING THIS?? kind of way. It doesn’t seem to have as much power when used without the cord. It’s a little loud.

Summary: Go for it if you can handle the pain and hate shaving. It’s worth a try.

I just went looking at the emjoi website and I think I want this: It’s a fancier, more expensive version! I would totally consider this if it worked as well as it is supposed to. They do have a 30 day, money back guarantee. But I don’t know if that’s a “new-in-package, never bothered to use it” kind of  guarantee, or an “I’ve used this product and I really hate it. Please give me my money back” kind of guarantee.

There are a few things in their Naturally Naughty fall lineup that I would love to check out. Here is a list! I love lists!

Absolutely Invisible Candlelight pressed powder: I like things that are supposed to make me glowy. I know there is a chance that it might not be *good* glowy, which is why I want to try these things out in the store, of course. But in theory, it would be a good thing! It’s supposed to be vitamin and antioxidant enriched and warm and illuminate the skin. Wee!

Primed and Poreless face primer: If this worked, it, too, would be fabulous! I use an eyeshadow primer (Urban Decay’s Primer Potion) and it has made such a huge difference in how my eye makeup wears and lasts. I don’t know how I survived so long without it, actually. So if I could find something for my face that would make me similarly happy, then yay! I’m always looking for things to make my skin prettier and this might be a winner.

Lip of Luxury lipstick: There are a few shades I’d like to try. Like Sex Kitten. Bonus that it’s a “sparkly berry wine” shade which I might actually be able to pull off. Mostly I just want it because of the name. I’d also like to try Drop Dead Red and Cupcake.

Hopefully I’ll get the chance to try these out soon. Anyone tried any of the new products yet? What do you think?

Looks, smells, and feels like some sort of sweet and spicy pumpkin dessert. Definitely like something I would eat. Well, maybe not me. I’m not into pumpkin desserts. But if you are, you’d want to eat something that smelled like this!

It says on the jar that it will tingle. It does a little. And it felt just a tiny bit stingy at first on a couple breakout spots. My skin is not happy with me lately. I don’t blame it. I’ve been drinking too much, out in the sun too much, not washing it as obsessively as usual, etc. Shame on me!

The box says to leave it on for 5 minutes and then rinse off. I should have noted when I put it on but I didn’t. I’ll go shower in a few and hope I guessed correctly.

After the first minute or so, the tingling goes away. It’s easy to forget I have anything on.

I’d like to say that my face felt different and glowy after I rinsed it off but it, uh, didn’t. It also didn’t make anything go wrong with my skin so far. So that’s good. And I do feel smooth and not terribly greasy.

All good things!

But, I’d have to say that I don’t notice any immediate effects from using this peel.

Where to buy: MyChelle Dermaceuticals

Do you like pancakes? I like pancakes!

What if you could combine the two? You can!

There is a stove top waffle pancake pan from Nordic Ware. This griddle has a non-stick surface (for easy clean up) and makes up to 7 3-inch waffle pancakes at a time. They come out as crisp round pancakes, with a waffle top! Perfect for drizzling butter and syrup or even fruit! Mmmm.

I want one of these!

Any thoughts? Ideas? Things I should cover? Regular features I should add?

Then I found out they’re open in the back like a hospital gown. What good is that then?? I want to be cozy all over all the time! Not just when I’m sitting down in an armchair or on a couch! Perhaps I’m just picky. But if they made a blanket with sleeves that covered me all the way around, I’d be all over it. A robe is just not the same. I have one. It’s fabulous right out of the bath, but not good for just lounging around.

Someone find me something to keep me warm!

I’ve tried it with spiced apple cider (one shot of Kilo Kai in a mug of hot cider), and mixed with Kahlua and Bailey’s (mix in equal parts – I did this as a shot but you could easily serve it over ice in a glass).

Most recently, I’ve used it as the rum portion of my hot buttered rum recipe. This is SO GOOD. You really must try it. The recipe makes a whole bunch but this is not a bad thing. Keep some for yourself, to get you through the cold winter, and give some away to family and friends!

Product Whore’s hot buttered rum

1 lb  salted butter
1 lb dark brown sugar
1 lb powdered (confectioners) sugar
1 quart softened vanilla ice cream
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions:
1 Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and powdered sugar. Taste it now because this part is HEAVEN.

Remove from heat, and whisk in the ice cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour mixture into a plastic container, seal, and freeze.

To prepare:
In a coffee mug, measure 1 tablespoon of rum batter (or more, this stuff is delicious!) and 1 shot of rum (try it with Kilo Kai, you will love it!), then fill cup with boiling water. Stir and enjoy!

Variation to try: replace the water with hot apple cider.

What are your favorite rum based drinks? Have you tried Kilo Kai? I’d love to hear your thoughts and favorite drink recipes!