Zeebou

If you're lucky enough to know Jane or I in person, you'll most likely have heard about African Dance. We rave about it constantly. Which is why it's so exciting that we were able to convince our teacher to come and teach classes in Hamilton, instead of us making the trek to Toronto each week. If you want to be a part of something totally amazing and have a ton of fun and an incredible workout at the same time, join us with Sani-Abu of Ijo Vudu Dance on Sundays at 2pm at the Sky Dragon Center. It will be the one recommendation that you should definitely take from me. Classes start this Sunday!

It's Your Birthday, It's Your Birthday Boy Or Girl

Jane, I think you should order this Bamboo Bathtub Caddy with Wine Glass Holder for your birthday, which is today. I would have bought it for you if I had seen it sooner, and if I weren't already insane with jealousy over your ability to take baths in your deep clawfoot tub. It would utterly kill me if I gave you a present which then enabled you to take long, relaxing baths in your deep clawfoot tub while reading a book and drinking a glass of wine.

I know, I know, I should just buy a plug from the dollar store and quit complaining.

I Think I'm Turning Veganese

This year I have two priorities: my hair, and the environment. And whaddya know, I just discovered Veganese Conditioner from LUSH which is good for both!

I've been doing a major overhaul in my routine all for the sake of my hair (drinking more water, taking Biotin, eating more greens) so I can't be entirely sure that this conditioner is the sole cause of my amazingly soft and shiny hair, but I've only been using it for four days now and the condition of my hair has improved tenfold. Seriously, miracle conditioner, guys.

And of course, LUSH is so eco-conscious that it makes me feel all warm and gooey when I use it.

Headcase

I spend a lot of time trying to sleep upright. Number one problem: damn pillow never stays put! Instead of resting your body, you are in constant tension/fear of the pillow slip. Boy life is hard. Which is why I am more than appropriately excited about Pillowig.

(thanks, swissmiss & bientotdemain)

Eyeglasses Porn

HELLO SHOP OF MY DREAMS.

Seriously, this is the best idea I've seen in a while. Unique Eyewear of Texas not only sell amazing vintage frames, but since they work out of an optometrist clinic they will also fit your newly purchased vintage frames with your prescription lenses. I have had a pair of vintage glasses for almost a year now, sitting idly in my jewelry box because I have been too lazy to go and get some lenses. SO I KNOW HOW AMAZING THIS STORE REALLY IS.

Seriously, heaven. I am such a glasses nerd.

Kisses And Hugs

'Tis the season to give. And there's just no better way than to help a child in need.

Hey, you might get something back too.

I Don't Think You're Ready For This Jelly... But I Am

It's not easy to see yourself get on in years. Half the time I can't even remember how old I am. It must be memory loss setting in.

Guys, I can see wrinkles emerging on my face. Either I've got to start making some botox appointments, or try Burt's Bees Radiance Night Creme with super anti-age-fighting ingredient Royal Jelly. There's Bee hormones in it! If I know anything about Bees, I know they're a lot smarter than they look. And if they can help me look youthful, I'm ready to smother some of their hormones all over my face.

This Means War

I've decided to make Dan feel bad about his filthy habits until he finally breaks down and begins to post again. So Dan, I present to you the Smoke Lighter from Atypyk. Each time you decide you want to light up, you can toss this and have the decision to smoke or quit be made for you.

And AK, don't think you've escaped so easily. I'll be attacking your dirty hippie beard next.

Lye Rain Water Wood Ash

Ladies love bath products, it's a fact. My linen closet is already about to burst with the multitudes of sweet-smelling body washes, scrubs and lotions that I've compiled for myself. But I'm sure I could find room for some more, especially these beautifully packaged Triple Butter Creams from The Bubble Roome.

Neighbourly Love

Fellow Canadians, the Americans have been keeping a wonderful secret from us. The Anti-bacterial Gentle Foaming Soap from Bath & Body Works is like, the best thing ever. They have a ton of great scents, the foam is nice and lightweight, it lasts forever, and right now it's on sale 5 for $15!! I just went across the border on Monday and came back with ten of these babies. I have enough Midnight Pomegranate soap to last me for the next three years.

ClubNuva

Ladies, I feel like having a heart-to-heart. About birth control.

I've been on the Pill for about six years now, and I've tried out fix or six different brands because each one made me a psychotic mess for the majority of the month. The last brand I was on was for the longest amount of time (about three years) because it made me the least crazy. But it still made me crazy.

And then, on a friend's advice I tried the NuvaRing. And OH MY GOD, for the first time in six years I can get through an entire episode of The Price is Right without shedding any tears. NuvaRing releases a steady and low (one of the lowest doses there is!) dose of hormones straight to your bloodstream, so there are fewer of those crazy hormonal ups and downs. Once you get over the initial "I've got something in my vagina for three weeks straight" fear, you'll never go back. This thing saved my life. Ladies, you don't have to be a slave to your hormones anymore.

New Kid On The Bloq

Um, how excited am I that my favourite collection of cleaning products, method is coming out with "bloq", a line of body care goodies (ie: this charming shave cream, body washes, lotions and body bars)?

Um,

SO excited!

I'm going to have a bloq party in my shower. That's right. I said it.

Hmmmm......

I don't really understand this Breath Palette Toothpaste Kit . It comes in some of the weirdest flavors ever.

Still, I'm intrigued enough to post about it. Plus, there's this:

"Regardless of your chosen flavour, Breath Palette toothpaste leaves your mouth clean and fresh. This is because your sense of smell is responsible for about 80% of what you taste, so you experience the fancy flavour for a few fleeting moments before a light, menthol finish kicks in."

Sweating Is Gross

Shocking confession of the day: I am fairly sweaty. Not in a Chris Farley, puddles dripping off my forehead kind of way, but enough that I am terribly embarrassed when I wear cute shirts to work, look down, and find sweat marks are ruining it's cuteness. The point is, I know I'm not the only one, because I've bonded with enough girls over the years to know that sweating is a fairly serious problem for a lot of us.

Enter DrySol. A friend once told me about it, and OH MY GOD is it ever amazing. If you live in Canada or the States, you can get it behind the counter at your pharmacy. Basically, you put it on for 7 days in a row, and then after that, you only ever have to put it on ONCE every week or two. And seriously, YOU DON'T SWEAT AT ALL. It is the miracle cure of miracle cures. I'm not kidding... it's amazing.

Hey Girls, Let's Have A Talk

Gather round, because this is a talk about our voojes. This may not qualify under "things I love a lot", but it is something really really awesome that's out there that you may not know about. In fact, I didn't know about it until I went to see my doctor and she started passing around phrases like "possibility of cervical cancer" and I fainted on her table.

When I woke up, she told me about this new vaccine that has been released called Gardasil. Here's the thing with it: it's protects you from a whole bunch of types of HPV. HPV is a tricky little thing because there's something like 100 different types of it. 75% of Canadians will be have an HPV virus in their life, but most clear up on their own and YOU NEVER KNOW YOU HAVE IT because with most of them there are no symptoms.

This vaccine protects you from some of the most serious types, And the thing about that? 70% of ALL cervical cancer cases are caused by one of these types. 70%!!! And this prevents that. So essentially, we can look at this little vaccine here as a vaccine for CANCER. A CANCER VACCINE. Is there any other reason to not get it? It's a little pricey because it's usually not covered by your benefits plan, but hello, VACCINE FOR CANCER. I'd say it's worth it. Read more, here, and here, and here.