I'm impartial when it comes to which cola to drink. I have friends that are die-hard Coke fans and die-hard Pepsi fans. Personally I'll drink whatever is on sale at the time that I'm at the store. At one time I did have a Coke Rewards addiction, but that's a topic from a previous blog entry.
I shop at Costco and I notice they have more Coke products (Sprite, Dasani, etc) than Pepsi products. So because of that I do tend to drink more Coke than Pepsi...until now. Costco and Coke are in a dispute about the price Coke charges versus the value Costco promises to it's members.
A few questions comes to mind:
- Will Costco now sell Pepsi products only?
- Is Coke really charging more money or just as much as if I bought it at the grocery store?
- Do Costco members care what brand of cola they sell or do they just want whatever is on sale?
- Will the loss of Costco as a retailer really hurt Coke?
All this talk of cola is making me thirsty. I think I'll go and grab me a Pepsi ;)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I Love My FHI
I know a lot of people who rave about the Chi flat iron. Well I'm a fan of the FHI Heat Runway flat iron. Some pronounce it F.H.I. or Fee.
I am fortunate enough to work at InStyle.com and one of the perks is that I get a lot of products for free or cheap. All the products I mentioned in my post yesterday I got for $1 each (including the hot curlers). The FHI Heat Runway flat iron costs $450 but a lot of retailers sell it online for less. Every year it's featured as one of InStyle's Best Beauty Buys. It has multiple heat settings from 170 degrees to 450 degrees (I usually use it at 370 degrees).
As a regular consumer I probably wouldn't buy the FHI because it is such a high price point BUT if I was a stylist or straightened my hair a lot I would absolutly invest in this flat iron. On average I can spend $40-$60 every 2 weeks getting my hair washed, conditioned, flat ironed and styled. That's about $960 to $1440 a year. I hate to sound like an infomercial but the FHI Heat Runway flat iron practically pays for itself after about 10 uses. Who hasn't used their flat iron at least 10 times in the past year?
If you want sleek, smooth, hair that won't snap, crackle, pop as you are straightening it then invest in a FHI Heat Runway.
I am fortunate enough to work at InStyle.com and one of the perks is that I get a lot of products for free or cheap. All the products I mentioned in my post yesterday I got for $1 each (including the hot curlers). The FHI Heat Runway flat iron costs $450 but a lot of retailers sell it online for less. Every year it's featured as one of InStyle's Best Beauty Buys. It has multiple heat settings from 170 degrees to 450 degrees (I usually use it at 370 degrees).
As a regular consumer I probably wouldn't buy the FHI because it is such a high price point BUT if I was a stylist or straightened my hair a lot I would absolutly invest in this flat iron. On average I can spend $40-$60 every 2 weeks getting my hair washed, conditioned, flat ironed and styled. That's about $960 to $1440 a year. I hate to sound like an infomercial but the FHI Heat Runway flat iron practically pays for itself after about 10 uses. Who hasn't used their flat iron at least 10 times in the past year?
If you want sleek, smooth, hair that won't snap, crackle, pop as you are straightening it then invest in a FHI Heat Runway.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Secret to My Hair Success
This past week I received a lot of compliments on my hair. It was soft with shine, volume and movement. I have a few good hair days, but I can't remember the last time I had a good hair week. So I'm going to share the secret to my hair success.
1. I washed my hair with Dr. Miracles Tingling 2 in 1 Dandraff Shampoo & Conditioner.
2. I conditioned with Aphogee Balancing Mosturizer. I put it on my hair, put on a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes.
3. I washed out the Aphogee and conditioned again with Pantene Relaxed and Natural Conditioner.
4. I rinsed my hair thoroughly, making sure no product was left in it.
5. Towel dried my hair and sprayed it with Dove Heat Defense Therapy.
6. I blow dried my hair straight.
7. I used my FHI Heat flat iron at 370 degrees (it can go as high as 450).
8. While flat ironing my hair I heated up my Conair Hot Rollers.
9. Once my hair was flat ironed I put in the hot rollers for about 20-30 minutes.
10. Took the hot rollers out and pin curled my hair so I could go to bed.
I know that sounds like a lot but the extra steps were due to having to wash and condition my hair. Maintaining my hairstyle for the rest of the week was the easy part.
1. Turn on my Conair Hot Rollers.
2. Roll my hair and let sit for 20-30 minutes.
3. Take out the hot rollers and pin curl my hair.
In the morning all I had to do was take out the pins and use my fingers and a wide tooth comb to style. No sleeping with rollers in my hair. No having to get up early to do my hair. I had the Conair Hot Rollers in my hair while I was watching TV the night before. It was fast and easy and my hair looked great all day long.
I honestly don't know what took me so long to get Hot Rollers cause I think that is the true secret to my hair success. Now that I have them, I want more. I want to see if I can spiral set hot curl my hair.
I know my natural hair friends are probably cringing because of all the heat applied to my hair. But I don't have a relaxer and the hot curlers provide less heat to the hair than if I had used my Gold and Hot curling iron every day.
So what do you think? Anyone willing to give my method a try? Got any hair secrets you want to share?
1. I washed my hair with Dr. Miracles Tingling 2 in 1 Dandraff Shampoo & Conditioner.
2. I conditioned with Aphogee Balancing Mosturizer. I put it on my hair, put on a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes.
3. I washed out the Aphogee and conditioned again with Pantene Relaxed and Natural Conditioner.
4. I rinsed my hair thoroughly, making sure no product was left in it.
5. Towel dried my hair and sprayed it with Dove Heat Defense Therapy.
6. I blow dried my hair straight.
7. I used my FHI Heat flat iron at 370 degrees (it can go as high as 450).
8. While flat ironing my hair I heated up my Conair Hot Rollers.
9. Once my hair was flat ironed I put in the hot rollers for about 20-30 minutes.
10. Took the hot rollers out and pin curled my hair so I could go to bed.
I know that sounds like a lot but the extra steps were due to having to wash and condition my hair. Maintaining my hairstyle for the rest of the week was the easy part.
1. Turn on my Conair Hot Rollers.
2. Roll my hair and let sit for 20-30 minutes.
3. Take out the hot rollers and pin curl my hair.
In the morning all I had to do was take out the pins and use my fingers and a wide tooth comb to style. No sleeping with rollers in my hair. No having to get up early to do my hair. I had the Conair Hot Rollers in my hair while I was watching TV the night before. It was fast and easy and my hair looked great all day long.
I honestly don't know what took me so long to get Hot Rollers cause I think that is the true secret to my hair success. Now that I have them, I want more. I want to see if I can spiral set hot curl my hair.
I know my natural hair friends are probably cringing because of all the heat applied to my hair. But I don't have a relaxer and the hot curlers provide less heat to the hair than if I had used my Gold and Hot curling iron every day.
So what do you think? Anyone willing to give my method a try? Got any hair secrets you want to share?
Monday, November 02, 2009
Cold Weather Comfort Food
When the cold weather hits there are certain foods I look forward to having and cooking. Here is my top 10 list, what's yours?
1. Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
2. White Hot Chocolate (preferably from Max Brenner's)
3. Gumbo (brown or red...I make both)
4. Casseroles (usually Chicken)
5. Shrimp and Corn Chowder; Tomato Cheddar Soup; all kinds of soups
6. Beef Stew
7. Apple Pie or Baked Apples
8. Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese
9. Apple Cider
10. Chili
Does anyone have any recipes for the above that they care to share? Or one of your favorites? I already got another Apple Pie recipe ;)
1. Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
2. White Hot Chocolate (preferably from Max Brenner's)
3. Gumbo (brown or red...I make both)
4. Casseroles (usually Chicken)
5. Shrimp and Corn Chowder; Tomato Cheddar Soup; all kinds of soups
6. Beef Stew
7. Apple Pie or Baked Apples
8. Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese
9. Apple Cider
10. Chili
Does anyone have any recipes for the above that they care to share? Or one of your favorites? I already got another Apple Pie recipe ;)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Pre-Marital Financial Counseling
We have all heard the stats that about 50% of marriages ends in divorce. However this stat does give credence to the statement, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worse." Maybe if more couples engaged in pre-marital counseling or better yet in pre-marital financial counseling that stat might not be so high.
There is a company in Boston, Lantern Financial, that does pre-marital financial counseling through a program they call Harmoney. The New York Times recently did a piece on the company and what they consider to be the four financial issues that should be discussed before getting married. There are of course other issues but I agree with the four.
1. Ancestry
Because so many of our money behaviors are learned, couples should share their earliest money memories. How did your parents deal with money, how does that impact how you deal with it, and how might that impact the relationship.
2. Credit
Full disclosure on the credit history. No real explanation needed, we all know how important our individual credit ratings are.
3. Control
Who will be the person responsible for paying the bills each month? How much will each person contribute to the household account? When you have been living on your own and managing the bills yourself, you may or may not want to give up that control. It's highly unlikely you and your mate make the same exact amount of money so how do you fairly divide the bills?
4. Affluence
What is your desired level of affluence? Basically how rich do you, as a couple, want to be one day? If she wants a big house and a large family and he wants a small house and no kids, you gotta find some happy medium and decide what that is before you say "I do."
So what's my solution to avoiding divorce and not becoming another bad statistic? Getting married later in life (I'm almost 30 and marriage is not on the current horizon) and I know I will seek pre-marital counseling of every form. Because I'm Type A and have to have a plan for everything ;)
There is a company in Boston, Lantern Financial, that does pre-marital financial counseling through a program they call Harmoney. The New York Times recently did a piece on the company and what they consider to be the four financial issues that should be discussed before getting married. There are of course other issues but I agree with the four.
1. Ancestry
Because so many of our money behaviors are learned, couples should share their earliest money memories. How did your parents deal with money, how does that impact how you deal with it, and how might that impact the relationship.
2. Credit
Full disclosure on the credit history. No real explanation needed, we all know how important our individual credit ratings are.
3. Control
Who will be the person responsible for paying the bills each month? How much will each person contribute to the household account? When you have been living on your own and managing the bills yourself, you may or may not want to give up that control. It's highly unlikely you and your mate make the same exact amount of money so how do you fairly divide the bills?
4. Affluence
What is your desired level of affluence? Basically how rich do you, as a couple, want to be one day? If she wants a big house and a large family and he wants a small house and no kids, you gotta find some happy medium and decide what that is before you say "I do."
So what's my solution to avoiding divorce and not becoming another bad statistic? Getting married later in life (I'm almost 30 and marriage is not on the current horizon) and I know I will seek pre-marital counseling of every form. Because I'm Type A and have to have a plan for everything ;)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Facebook News Feed vs Live Feed
Facebook implemented this seperation of what was the news feed in to something called a live feed and a news feed. I have been trying to figure out what is the difference. How does some people's stuff end up in my news feed as opposed to others. I honestly can't figure out the logic of it. So if anyone has any answers, information, links...SOMETHING...send them my way. Because I'm sure if I'm confused my students also have to be confused and will be asking me for an answer as soon as they realize they are confused....lol.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Precious
I know people are all hyped about seeing "This Is It" or they were hyped about "Good Hair" but I'm actually more interested in seeing "Precious."
I am a movie snob. Meaning there aren't that many movies made today that are worth me paying full admission price for ($12.50 in NYC). And even if a movie is worth paying for, I'll still just wait for it to hit DVD.
I'm also not the type to see a movie on opening weekend. I'd rather avoid the crowds so I can get a good seat. If I do see something opening weekend I get to the theater really early or I catch a matinee.
The New York Times Magazine did an excellent piece on the movie Precious and it's just added to the already positive things I have heard about the film.
For movies based on books I like to read the book first, if possible. As of this blog entry I'm #44 of 156 people that have requested the book on Paperbackswap.com...so it doesn't look like I'll get to read the book before I see the movie. But I still think I'm going to defy my own rules of movie viewing to check out Precious on November 6th.
Is anyone else interested in seeing this movie?
I am a movie snob. Meaning there aren't that many movies made today that are worth me paying full admission price for ($12.50 in NYC). And even if a movie is worth paying for, I'll still just wait for it to hit DVD.
I'm also not the type to see a movie on opening weekend. I'd rather avoid the crowds so I can get a good seat. If I do see something opening weekend I get to the theater really early or I catch a matinee.
The New York Times Magazine did an excellent piece on the movie Precious and it's just added to the already positive things I have heard about the film.
For movies based on books I like to read the book first, if possible. As of this blog entry I'm #44 of 156 people that have requested the book on Paperbackswap.com...so it doesn't look like I'll get to read the book before I see the movie. But I still think I'm going to defy my own rules of movie viewing to check out Precious on November 6th.
Is anyone else interested in seeing this movie?
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