Is pale the new tan?

A study out of London was all over the news yesterday and all over our dinner conversation last night....tanning causes cancer. We're talking indoor tanning, tanning salons, tanning beds and booths specifically.

We know this. Read here if you do not.

What I found a little shocking was that this article compared tanning to being exposed to mustard gas or arsenic.

Sigh.

I have given up "tanning" as such and have not been for a few years although I have been guilty of doing in my college years. This year I did the spray tan (of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders) and it was awesome. I also use Neutrogena Bronzer (mixed with regular lotion - that's my secret). I find that works wonders especially since my legs never, ever, get tan. I have even turned in my number 4 dark tanning gel for 15 with green tea and maybe someday will bump it up to 30 (although I do use it on my face).

I just love being tan and think it looks good on almost everyone.

What's your stance?

Harry!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the SIXTH of these movies...and I cannot wait for the next one. This was an intense movie - heavy spells, heavy plots, and heavy emotions. The students at Hogwarts are young adults. Here are my thoughts without giving away too much (for you Muggles that have not seen it yet)....
1) I am not ready to believe it about Snape
2) This was a scary film at times - in the cave to be exact
3) This was not a kid's movie...all the snogging and what not
4) I wish I was magic - or went to Hogwarts
5) Tom Riddle is a maniac
6) Malfoy is a punk ass
7) Humor was used well

All in all, I was impressed and since I have not yet read this book, I am going to go back and read it to fill in the blanks and help answer my questions.

Craigslist of the week!

I have not posted a craigslist of the week in a while ( and I promise to get back to it), and today I am proud to post my very first craigstlist PURCHASE!

Yes, I have actually made a transaction from craigslist - and it's legit. Now, my sister bought her car from craigslist so I should have more faith, but I am a penny pincher and somewhat of a sceptic, so this was a leap of faith for me.

Since we recycle our paper and we cannot be too careful about identity theft, I needed a paper shredder. Office max seems to think that charging over $100 is cool. Craigslist IS essentially recycling so I gave it a whirl.

I landed this beaut today for $20....AND the seller dropped it off at my place of work (with a little negotiation on my part). Here is the best part - it actually works!

The Brits, a Priest, and the Hotel Shuttle

Def Leppard - even better the second time around for me (at DTE, aka Pine Knob). Let's just say I was among the younger of the fans, and quite the eclectic crowd. Def Lep rocked it OUT and the loved doing it. You can really tell that they still like touring and really have the energy to keep up. Those Brits have been selling out stadiums since 1979 (uh, I was ONE then). They played all their hits and none of their new sh@t (as if they have any), no long jam sessions (which I hate), just an amazing rock show.

Onto a totally separate topic, I had to be in Cleveland at 11am the next morning for a wedding ceremony for a friend from college - and we made it on time amazingly. I have been a member of the Catholic Church since I was baptized as a baby and have not been the most faithful church goer in the last several years. However, this mass was one of the best I have ever been to. The priest knew the bride and her family very well and mentioned that this was her 4th sacrament in that very church, talked about the significance of July 25th, their parents, and many other topics of interest. It was personal, humorous, and very interesting. These are the things that I want in a mass.

The reception was excellent: one to which I was looking forward for a long time. The bride and I went to college together hence my college friends were there and we don't have the opportunity to get together very often. There is nothing like a wedding to bring everyone together. The dinner was family style, which I enjoy because you get the benefit of buffet (pick your own portions) with the ease and class of served. This reception hall was very impressive in the way that not only did they serve shots, but they served until midnight - the very END of the reception. They had a shuttle to boot so we all took full advantage of the beverage service.

It was a great weekend. I need to go to bed at 8pm tonight.

Do you wanna get rocked (part 2)...

Tonight we are headed up to DTE to see Cheap Trick, Poison, and oh yes, DEF LEPPARD! This will be the second time I have seen these titans in concert and I am very pumped to say the least. Let's get rocked...

Jewels

Does anyone need to order any Premier Design Jewelry? I have some catalogs and can order some for you if you like. Sales close on Monday. This jewelry is fantastic and relatively affordable. Thanks!

Wicked comes to Toledo

Don't get excited just yet...it's not until March-April of 2010! However, I will look forward to this incredible production here in Northwest Ohio. I saw Wicked in Chicago at the ornate Ford Theater a few years ago and was incredibly impressed. I just hope the Stranahan can do it some justice.

Happy Birthday Hurley

Happy Birthday to my dear Friend Wade! Many of you know him as Hurley, a quippy blogger, whose posts we miss so much. We have had many adventures that have resulted in you getting arrested or me getting grounded (in college and and the years after).

Happy Birthday Buddy.

FAIL

Have you seen the FAIL blog? It is a pretty funny blog full of pictures and videos boasting "FAIL" as people do stupid things. I saw this one titled, "Teletubby FAIL," and just lost it. I laugh at a lot of these (I don't like the getting hurt ones so much), but this one was too funny. Check out the FAIL blog.

Obama throws the first pitch

I sort of missed this last night, but viewed it today and definitely wanted to share for those of you that missed it.

How did I miss this?

Long John Silver's was giving away their new fish tacos today...FREE! Dang! I really don't care what terrible face you are making or if you are rolling your eyes at me, I freakin' love LJS and stand by it. Sal! I know you are with me on this one. If you don't like the fish (2 piece fish n' more is made by the gods), get the chicken planks because they rule.

It doesn't help that LJS is normally in a shady neighborhood, but next time you see one, just try it.

What "terrible" fast food do you like?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIDGET

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BRIDGET!

This is a funny picture from some crazy theme party in college. Love you!

Reply Email

Dear People That Don't Include The Original Email In A Reply Message,

I find you terribly annoying and hard to follow. Unless you sit at your desk all day and live for email, you cannot possibly be expected to remember what was said in all previous emails. This goes for both personal and business correspondence.

Regards,
Someone That Can Never Delete An Old Email Because I Have To Constantly Check Old Conversations To Remember What We Have Already Discussed

Yogurt: store brand vs. name brand

Yoplait Light yogurts are fantastic - they make delicious non-fat yogurts in various exciting flavors and the absolute best part about them is the consistency. You don't really have to stir them. They come out nice and even with no watery gross stuff on the top (**side note, dairy stuff creeps me out a bit and if somethings is even close to its expiration date I won't touch it).

Yoplait Yogurts are normally 50 cents each at Kroger.

Now, the Kroger brand yogurts also come in a wonderful variety, with new flavors recently (probably to keep up with Yoplait and Dannon), but the consistency is all wrong. They are not smooth like the name brands and get that aforementioned nasty stuff on the top that I cannot handle and just don't taste as good. Plain and simple.

Kroger brand yogurt is advertised most of the time at 10 for $4.00.

Is saving $1 really worth choking down the calcium or is it better to actually enjoy what I am eating?

Never again - I will always buy the brand name yogurt.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday to Heidi!!

Here we are on your bday two years ago! Love ya!

Happy Independence Day

Take your Kids to the Bar Night

Last night after the Sylvania fireworks, we went out for some drinks. I went right to the bathroom when we got there only to wait in line behind a bunch of kids....KIDS! I am talking under 10. Observing this and trying to locate their mother (word used loosely), I watched these kids run around the bar and dance with drunk people. One of the little girls had a soccer ball so she wasn't totally bored.

At one point, I went out into the parking lot to make a phone call and the 6 or 7 little ones are OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT! I happened to know the owner of the bar, so by this point I just could not help myself and had to say something to him to the effect of "there are kids in the parking lot waiting to get hit or abducted. Thought you might like to know." His response was to shrug. Turns out the kids were either his, or his sisters or some combination thereof.

As it starts to hit Midnight, 1am, the kids are clearly tired and try to lay down in the booth. The sauced up mother comes over, picks one of them up and makes her dance. At this point I wanted to go fight the mom and call the police. I was told to calm down and mind my own business, but REALLY, would that have pissed you off? I know that I am not a parent and should mind my own business, but I really did feel socially responsible when they were out in the parking lot to at least say something. Sigh.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

You don't have to be genius to follow the plot of Transformers 2...basically it showcases Megan Fox's hot body amongst incredible robot stuff. There was this one shot of her bending over a motorcycle in a pair of cut-offs and the entire audience let out a grunt or a sigh. It was amusing (irritating).

Great movie! Expect action the ENTIRE 2.5 hours of this flick - you won't get bored. Between the robot battle scenes, there is not too much ridiculous plot (although don't think too hard about it, it's about alien robots, people). New Autobots are on the scene as the evil decepticon robots try to take over earth. Sam holds the key to it all and he must SAVE THE WORLD!

Fantastic supporting roles are supplied by Sam's (Shia LaBeouf) hilarious parents, the amazing John Turturro, and a glimpse of Rainn Wilson as a professor all in between Megan Fox's ass, er face (she has her mouth open the duration of the film as well - not her fault, she's just reading her lines). Of course I love Mr. LaBeouf himself, quippy and witty as usual, but not too overthetop.

If you are an action junkie, you must see this movie. PS Movies are $6 on Tuesdays at the Franklin Park Mall (Westfield to you youngsters).

Pleasant Surprise

....BIG LOTS! Have you been to Big Lots lately? I had not been there in years and had this idea in my head of a big, disorganized warehouse full of crap that no one would want. FALSE!

To my delight, Big Lots has stuff that I think everyone would want, at really amazing prices. Featured in the store: home items (we bought silverware), dishes (from Libbey glass even), decorations, furniture, food, all kinds of things. I bought brand name shampoo and conditioner for $2 each. Do you know how much of that crap I rip through?

Check out Big Lots next time you pass one, I think you will also be pleasantly surprised.

Old House / New House

It's official! My parents are in their new house and my sister and I are in their old house. We have been in the moving process for a while and will be for a little while longer but I am excited to finally be in one place again!

Taking over our parents house is so great! Living were were grew up with our own spin on it is going to be awesome. How much better is it to have an actual house and not a duplex or apartment? We can live real adult lives finally.