Recommends

Oft times I come across something great and think, Hey! I should review that on the blog.

But I don't, because most thoughts that cross my mind linger for an average of 2.3 seconds, and then they revert to something like, How many cookies can I justify eating right now?

So here's an overdue list of a few of my favorite things. (Insert clip of Fraulein Maria dancing about in her nightgown whilst singing "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. . ."):

1. H&M tee shirts. How has is taken me this long to discover them? They're soft, they're a good length, they're CHEAP. Like $5.95 cheap. And I'd post a link, but H&M won't let you buy their products online unless you live in Scandinavia somewhere. If this were an argument it'd be a wash, because it usually requires just too much effort to get me to an H&M to buy said cheap tee.


2. "It's a 10!" Leave-In Conditioner. As a self-proclaimed hair product connoisseur, I assert that this is the best conditioner out there; both the hair-repair mask and the spray. You'll be impressed with how silky and healthy your luscious locks feel. It's a little pricey, but you can find it cheaper online. Your hair will thank you, so - you're welcome.



3. A cousin who gives you free things - like A CAR:
I know, right? HELLO adorable black convertible beamer. Courtesy of lovely cousin Kit, I now have my own set of wheels!
Don't you wish someone loved you as much as Kit loves me? Are you all crying with envy? Well rightly so. When I first drove this home I constantly yelled "FREEEEDDOOMMMM!!" real loud like William Wallace in Braveheart . . . TMI, I know.



4. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I don't ever review books on here, mainly because that is a serious business, and here at NRL we avoid all things serious. Also, book choice can be personal, and I don't know how your book tastes run when you ask me for book recommends. Also, I can be a bit snobbish, and I now understand I can't throw things out like Atlas Shrugged to just anyone when they ask me what they should read next.

Anyway. I am telling you that if you want something good - read The Hunger Games. It's the first of a trilogy, and the second book, Catching Fire, was just released. They are Young Adult novels that deal with some dark and disturbing themes and situations, but (to me) it never gets graphic. If you like intensity, good writing, good love triangles, rebellions, and you're not an idiot, you'll like these. WARNING: they end very abruptly. If you are the type who CAN NOT handle a cliffhanger, then maybe consider waiting till the final book comes out next fall. Though I wouldn't recommend doing that. Jump on the bandwagon NOW people.

ALSO. Find me on goodreads.com if you really want to see what else I've been reading. Remember summer of YA Fiction? Going strong guys. Going strong.




5. Living here (also referred to as Paradise, minus the crap economy):
I was driving home from Irvine last week, and I stopped in Huntington to film some surfers, because, you know, I could. As I was meandering on the pier I thought to myself, Huh. This is my LIFE. Living in shorts and eating fish tacos and watching the surfers. Awesome.


6. Benefit Creaseless Eyeshadow.
I know, I was skeptical at first too. So I went to Sephora to try some on and see how long it lasted. I use the scientific method, you see. I was surprised that when I went to wash my face, usually betwixt 10pm and midnight, it was still fully intact without creaseage! I still don't actually own any, seeing it runs almost $20 per pot, but I have tried a few different colors, and each time it has easily lasted all day. It's definitely going on The Christmas List 2009.


Sheesh - I should get some kind of kickback for all that free advertising.

Have anything you'd like to add? Go ahead and comment to your hearts' content. And if you somewhat enjoyed this, but wish it were funnier or more interesting, head on over to my friend Rachie's blog where she reviews the latest: Roku Box!

For Amber

My grandparents have a cabin in Shaver Lake. They've owned it for. ev. er. My dad practically lived there every summer growing up. It's a nice place, and after NINE YEARS I was finally able to go back. Grams and Gramps love the place too - can you blame them - they live in FRESNO and they have a wonderfully nice secluded cabin in the woods, which is why their 8 children and their kids (and now apparently those kids with their spouses go for romantic getaways - which I would vote down if I could - I mean REALLY, its a family cabin not a honeymoon suite) rarely get to go. But I spent lots of time there as a wee thing with the sibs and cousins. Ah the memories . . .

See that huge log? I fell off it once while trying to cross it whilst it was covered in snow, and I landed in the frozen creek below it. It was a near death experience. Saw the bright light and everything. Though thinking back on it, it could've just been snow it my eyes. At any rate, those were the times when I was unaccepting of my clumsiness. Now I embrace it.


So at the end of the summer we had a family vacation, the first in years with all 6 kids there, where we made a pilgrimage back to The Cabin - only to find ourselves doing a lot of this:

Watching TV.

Well, after our nightly walk to Indian Rock where we star gaze and muse about the Indians who used to grind their corn there. Don't judge too harshly though - we are without cable at my house. A sore trial for everyone except my mom. Man vs. Wild always won out, which is no surprise as I'm used to being out-voted with 4 brothers, but don't be fooled . . . What Not To Wear came on during every commercial, and I didn't even have to request it.

As is was quite hot, we played at the lake during the day. And by "we played" I mean I sat in the boat and watched whilst the boys attempted to wake board and knee board and other painful activities I'd just rather NOT, and that suits me perfectly. I did spend a day rock jumping with the babies though, so that has to count for something. AND I tubed. Which any idiot with a decent grip can do. Idiot being the key word. Case in point:

Before.



After.
I caught lots of air, Kyle jammed his finger, Paige bled, the twins cartwheeled over the water, and Zach and Sam hung on so tight that they SKIDDED on the water behind the tube because they refused to let go.

So, it was a success.
And everything that tubing should be.


Here we see some of the crew, but not me, because I'm obviously utilizing my talents: sitting and tanning and watching (judging).
And despite my irrational fear of lakes (monsters and other bottom lurkers that consider me as a tasty treat), I jumped over the side every time we stopped (read: someone wiped out), because the water felt SO GOOD.

Behold Captain Kevin, whom I also refer to as Dad, who only let The Helm out of his grasp whilst he wake boarded for a whopping ten minutes. How we ever survived those ten minutes I will never know, because a) the boat sat REALLY low and took on water every time the smallest of wakes splashed by, and b) there was a madman at The Helm (read: Lance). Twin + machinery = heart failure for those in the general vicinity.


Shockingly, there were no trips to the ER, broken bones, sprains, or deep gashes that needed stiches . . .Quite miraculous considering he's jumping into 4 feet of water. But what's new?


And that, dear friends, BARELY scratches the surface of what went down at The Family Vacation, but I shall spare you the rest. I really don't think I get thanked enough for posting so few pictures and stories of my family.

As a side note: Notice the wood-paneled door in the picture of us in the family room? It's locked, and only Grams and Gramps have the key which means no one, and I mean NO ONE (unless maybe their favorite child Amy) is allowed to step into the other side . . . Have I piqued your interest of the secret room on the other side of The Door? I'M not even sure what the room on the other side looks like. Which is why I can say with total confidence that EVERY SINGLE PERSON who comes to stay there looks for the spare key that may or may not be hidden somewhere in The Cabin. Consider it a treasure hunt, a quest.

It's always something at the Seven-Eleven

It has been SO HOT here the last few days, and in these parts we don't believe in air conditioning. Mostly because there is only a week or so where the temps reach above 80. So when I got back from DC on Thursday and walked into my stuffy house, I had one unquenchable desire: BIG GULP.

Off I went to get me a 32 oz. at the closest Seven-Eleven, and it was the happening place, let me tell you. Diet Coke in hand, I waited in line to pay, and as I stood there this middle-aged man in a business suit walks in. NOT good looking. But my attention was diverted, so I looked his way. And he flashes me this big smile, and raises his eyes brows at me. I looked around to see if he was looking at anybody else, but no, apparently not. Because as I was in my car backing out, he walked out and gave me the same look. Raised eye brows and all.

Now, let me clarify - this WAS NOT a leer. Not a construction site stare-down. Not even in the same category as a trapped-at-the-stop-light check out. It was like there was something about me he found . . . funny. Okay, I'm not always the world's best dresser on a big gulp run, but funny? My hair was in a pony tail, I was in jeans and a tee, and I didn't have chocolate or smeared lipstick on my face. I'm also fairly certain that I didn't know him.

Maybe this is a regular occurrence, but I'm too oblivious to notice. I was just so confused by the whole thing. At any rate, if ever I see him on the next inevitable BG run, I'm going to ask him what it is about my person that he finds humorous. And then, of course, I'll be so weirded-out by the exchange that it will have to end up on the blog.