LAST NIGHT I ALMOST FELL IN LOVE WITH A TIGER SHARK NAMED DELORIS

The rows of teeth. The menacing eyes. The small but very real chance I have of being hunted, maimed and/or killed while frolicking innocently in the ocean. The Discovery Channels 20th Anniversary must-see, Shark Week, started Sunday and it doesn't disappoint.
Sunday night I learned the ten most dangerous sharks {great white is no. 2 and the bull shark is no. 1 because it can swim in rivers as well as the ocean}.
Last night I watched, "Deadly Stripes: Tiger Sharks" which was fascinating. South African Mark Addison free dives {that means he isn't using oxygen, just a snorkel. p.s. he can dive for up to six minutes on one breath at a depth of 150 feet} with tiger sharks; trying to dispel the myth that they are man-hunters. It was mesmerizing as he interacted with one tiger shark he called Deloris. He petted her, held on to her dorsal fin like a sea world performer, and scariest of all, he fed her by hand.



Just when I was buying the idea that the shark could be friendly and beautiful, I saw the beginning of Top Five Eaten Alive reliving one girl's shark attack which resulted in her losing the bottom half of her leg. I had to turn it off because I knew I was going to have shark dreams for the next year {I TiVo'd it for watching in digestible segments throughout the week}.

If you love to hate sharks like me, you must tune in for what they are saying is the best year yet.

OUT THE DOOR

This weekend I stopped by Sally's Beauty Supply to pick up a new clear top coat for my nails. You must trust me when I say, "Out the Door" delivers premium coverage. It dries VERY fast and I haven't had a chip yet (since Saturday). This might be one of my elite "top picks" for 2006. We'll see. But in the meantime, when I paint my nails I know I can be "Out the Door" in five minutes.

I'M GREEN

I am loving the color green lately. I noticed the trend and wanted to show all the green things I've mentioned in posts in the last few months. I especially love the sweater and want it quite badly.

LAW AND ORDER

Law and Order Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent are the best shows on TV.

On SVU, Mariska Hargitay's character, Olivia Benson, is completely tormented particularly when it comes to rape victims. She, after all, is the result of a rape herself. Christopher Meloni plays Elliot Stabler who goes from happy to explosive in seconds and can often be found beating the life out of the pedophile types.













CI has one of the greatest characters played by Vincent D'onofrio, Det. Robert Goren. This man is a walking encyclopedia. He always seems to know just the right random detail necessary to solve a crime and his manerisms will hypnotize you. Plus, you'll find the infamous Mr. Big (Chris Noth) from Sex and The City solving cases. Go Mr. Big.













The beauty of Law and Order is that you can find an episode on every single night.

I LOVE OPRAH

This is just another reason why I love Oprah.

DRINK COCAINE?

Well, my dreams have finally come true. I've sampled nearly every energy drink and worked on nearly every taurine, guarana buzz...but now there's something new. Cocaine energy drink. Read about it here.
They say, "a high hits you within five minutes, followed by a caffeine boost 15 minutes later. But hold on - the ride lasts five hours and the concoction is "350 percent stronger than Red Bull. The effect is part chemical - this drink uses "simple" sugars that don't need to be broken down by the body to create a sugar buzz, and a much larger dose of vitamin B12 - and part psychological." Hooray for Cocaine!

POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHY

I really like polaroid photography and bought a camera to experiement with. I wish the film wasn't so expensive. It ends up being $1/photo. The photography itself gives a sense of voyarism which I like. I want to do a whole album with nothing but polaroids.

ODE TO GARLIC

I'm a big fan of garlic. Probably a little too much. But I've heard that garlic has cancer fighting compounds and is one of the healthiest foods. I don't like bottled marinara so I make my own — which includes so much garlic that my skin sweats it out for a week afterward.
If you are ever asked to bring an hors d'oeuvre to a party, roasted garlic and fabulous bread (like the Italian ciabatta) is a simple and sophisticated contribution. The garlic will actually spread like butter and I promise it just won't last long so make sure to prepare an extra bulb for yourself. Here is a quick recipe from Martha Stewart's body+soul.

Recipe: Take a whole bulb of garlic and remove the outermost papery layers. Cut off the top of the bulb, exposing the individual cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap in parchment paper (or aluminum foil), and bake at 400° until soft, about 1 hour. Cool slightly before using or serving.

HEATHER

This national flower of Scotland is less likely to grow happily in Utah as it prefers the cool temperatures and wetter atmospheres of a moorland or heathland. That being said, heather is pretty and I'd love to grow some in my backyard.

I'll probably give it a try because it might be very prosperous in Utah fall weather. The last few weeks have been very chilly (50-60 degrees) with lots of rain. The heather could just be blooming when my yarrow is drying out. Something to think about.

LAVENDER

I'm beginning to think my bridal bouquet could easily be reproduced in my new backyard. Along with Yarrow, Lavender survives with very little water which is good for the arid atmosphere in Utah.

I've been using lavender in the form of essential oil for years. Because it's supposed to encourage sleep I've diffused it into the air as well as dropped it in the bath and on my linens — particularly if I'm going through my annual tango with insomnia.

Lavender is said to ward of insects as well as soothe and heal those nasty bites! Some say if you dab lavender essential oil onto your temples it will help with a headache. I've personally used a drop or two of oil with my moisturizer on occasion if my skin is feeling irritated or if it has a rash. Anywhere you choose to put the scent of lavender is an improvement, I say. Plus, it's pretty.

YARROW

Nate and I get the marvelous responsibility of landscaping this spring. Our front yard will be landscaped for us but we will be in charge of the back. Daybreak still has pretty strict policies and ordinances that we will need to abide by, but here is a flower I'm hoping to incorporate into the mix. I used yellow yarrow in my bridal bouquet along with lavender and heather.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): comes in many colors and does very well in a drought. Several species actually change colors as they age so your garden is transformed throughout the summertime. I love that yarrow is used in butterfly gardens, but in a more practical vein, yarrow is used medicinally to speed healing. In fact, it gets the "Achillea" part of its name because Achillies (the Greek character) reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds.

DRY SHAMPOO

Yesterday Jordan blogged about using either baby powder or Bumble & Bumble hair powder to gain a few more days before washing your hair. I've heard it doesn't work so good. But now I'm here to share my super secret.

Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo. Here's the scoop; I was running a bit late this morning and didn't have time to wash my hair (it had already been two days). Because this is a very typical conundrum for me to find myself in, I've learned to plan ahead. I've done my research.

While splurging in a delightful beauty boutique with Marissa Beyers in Santa Monica, I stumbled upon Klorane and bought it at Marissa recommendation. You have to know Marissa. She's beautiful and wickedly smart. And she knows her stuff when it comes to looking fabulous.

Back to this morning: I simply used Klorane in my bangs and near my temples where my hair was looking a little old. According to the directions, you let the dry shampoo set for two minutes; in the meantime, it may appear that you've flocked your hair Christmas tree style.

Once the two minutes have passed, I recommend brushing your hair out with a boar brissle brush which you should be using anyway. No exageration, my hair looks shower fresh and Klorane helped it smell good, too. $14.99 is such a little price to pay for looking good on the run!

RALPH LAUREN BATH TOWELS

Nate and I got some Ralph Lauren bath towels for our wedding and they are my favorite. They are ultra absorbent and when you wash them up they are uber plush. I prefer all white bath towels for one reason; you can bleach them and make them sparkly white.

I prefer the clean look of all white towels in a bathroom because it makes me feel like I'm in a luxurious spa. If you want the freshest white towels, use Oxiclean along with Gain detergent. Your towels will turn up ultra white and smell very fresh. I also prefer Bounce dryer sheets but on special occasions I use my Mrs. Meyers dryer sheets.

I am obsessed with linens and I love them to smell good.

GUERLAIN AQUA ALLEGORIA

Are you in to French perfumes? A few years ago while shopping at TJMaxx, I found 3 small Guerlain Aqua Allegoria scents for a very cheap price. Today I'm wearing Ylang & Vanille. It's so perfectly French I'm sure to wear it when Nate and I go mucking around in Paris this November.

EMILY DICKINSON

During my senior year of college I did a student exchange and was lucky enough to attend University of Montana in Missoula. Though I wasn't a graduate student, I was able to focus on graduate classes on the topics of poetry and creative writing. I studied under Earl Ganz, and Greg Pape. This was a great opportunity for me both personally and educationally.
These two professors taught me well and I discovered a lot about my writing voice while under their wings. I was also able to meet some very wonderful friends in Missoula, Montana, which I love still to this day. Natalie and Shannon, that means you!

One of the classes I took focused on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. I fell in love with her poetry and became obsessed with the poem below. I plan to have it engraved on my headstone (though, in reality, I want to be cremated so perhaps I'll have it engraved on my urn).

My life closed twice before its close;
It yet remains to see
If immortality unveil
A third event to me,
So huge, so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of Heaven,
and all we need of Hell.

-Emily Dickinson, Parting

FANCY DOOR KNOBS

Because Daybreak is a planned neighborhood, we don't have the wide-open options that many homeowners have. For instance, typically a homeowner can select any color of home he/she wants. But at Daybreak there are approved colors and you must choose from them. You also must have a certain type of landscaping as well. Originally I was edgy and concerned about all the stipulations but soon realized that with too many options, it's impossible for me to make a decision.

With this in mind, though I'd love to have a really fun colored door, ours will be stained a pretty brown making our home look really classic and tasteful upon approach.

I have found a way to make a great first impression however. One that will help us stand out from others. I'm going to buy an antique door knob. Something like this, perhaps.

CHELSEA HANDLER

Chelsea Handler is fast becoming one of my favorite comedians. The lead currently (and probably forever) is Mo Rocca, but Chelsea is coming in a very close second. She has her own show on the comedy channel and it gives Nate and I a good laugh. If you are easily offended by racial jokes and promiscuity, you probably shouldn't tune in. I won't make apologies for her. She can be a rake. But it's all done in good fun.

GREAT ROOM!

The great room in our new house will have blue walls with white arts and crafts trim. Wide baseboards, really cool door and window casings. I think the color will play nicely with our rich, dark walnut floors.

I haven't picked out a lot of furniture since we are just now getting the foundation poured, but one thing I know I want for the great room is this couch. It comes from William Sonoma Home collection. I love that it has just one seat cushion and that it's a bit longer then a regular couch. I'm getting butter yellow velvet. Great couch for a great room!

MY ADDICTIONS

This blog is for all you creatures of habit! Don't be shamed; it's okay to really, really like something. In fact, I'm proud of most of my addictions. Nate get's a bit uncomfortable when I start moaning over the succulent taste of cheddar cheese gold fish crackers from Pepperidge Farms. But I know he's probably making the same sounds when he gets his VMware working on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell. So we are even.

My most passionate addictions are Nate's big, fat lips. I love them. When he's traveling I wish I could keep his lips home to hang out with. I'd say my second addiction is a tie between lovely shoes and sephora. I just bought these shoes which had to be shipped from California and I'm anxiously awaiting a visit from UPS. Buy them here.

Another addiction is Schwarzkopf Sealed Ends. It's the best hair care product I've ever used. I get lazy about using the blow dryer on my hair and get into a rut where I let it air-dry. And if I use the Sealed Ends I actually look pretty hot. If I don't...I look like Bette Midler.

I used to be addicted to Diet Dr. Pepper. But that all changed one day when I just simply lost the taste for it. I'll sip it on occasion, but nothing like the hand-over-fist fashion in which I drank it in 2005. That being said, I also know that an aging girl of 35 needs her liquids in order to keep her skin hydrated. And that's when I found zipfizz. I love the little tubes it comes in and the way it makes my water fizz with lemony goodness. It's best when consumed icey cold. I encourage everyone to try it and use it. Sugar free, lots and lots of vitamin C and other essentials. I get mine at Costco.
My skin is picky. As an example, I tried to use the generic form of proactive. Not because I had unruly acne...but because I'm intoxicated by Jessica Simpson's skin in the commercials she does for proactive. Anyway, I used this for two days and conclude with firm indignation that it could be used to strip floors. Under my eyes became scaley, my lids flaked, and my neck broke out in a horrible rash. When I found out that Kym would be in San Francisco and just a short walk from Sephora I called in the cavalry. I'm an advocate for Juice Beauty Products. I love the way they smell. I love that they use citric juices. I love the way my skin glows when I use them. Kym got me two items which i whole-heartedly recommend. Green Apple Anti-Oxidant Moisturizer ($43) and Green Apple Cleansing Gel ($22).
Try them for yourself.

I love Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products. Either I'm totally addicted to the geranium scent, or there is some hypnotizing powers in those bottles that make cleaning fun. I love the way my house smells on Saturday afternoon following a good scrub. I currently use (all in geranium scent): surface scrub, general purpose scrub, window cleaner, shower spray, hand soap and lotion, dish soap, ironing spray, toilet bowl cleaner, countertop spray and dryer sheets. Our little condo smells like a florist when I'm done.

The last thing I'll mention is my love for magazines. Those I adore include Martha Stewart, Oprah, Domino, Lucky, Bluprint, and US Weekly. Here is the TIP OF THE DAY: get your subscriptions on eBay. You'll end up paying a fraction of the price and the only draw-back is that you have to wait about 8-10 weeks for your subscription to kick-in. In the meantime, it's fundamentally okay to buy the issues you are missing from the newstand. Just make sure that the subscription you purchase includes shipping and handling so you don't get hung-out-to-dry. Happy shopping.