Beautyblender is a hot pink, egg shaped sponge to use when applying makeup.  You can use it on both liquid and mineral powder makeup.  It  is denser than a latex sponge, with no edges, which means no lines or streaks when applying.  It’s a little pricey, at $25 for two sponges, but I’ve had mine for way over a year and I am still on the first one. I recently learned that for more mature women, i.e., me, it is better to apply makeup with a sponge than a brush.  Who knew.  I can tell you for me, I get a much softer air brushed look if I use a sponge to apply foundation, followed by a light amount of finishing powder with a powder puff instead of a brush. I still use the small triangle latex sponge to apply foundation/concealer under my bottom lashes because I find the tip of this sponge is just a little too big.  Who knew the one tiny thing about me is my under eyes.  You are supposed to use the sponge by wetting first, and then dabbing over the face.  I use my Evian spray to give the sponge a slight mist because wetting it seemed to be too much for me.

P.S., you can buy expensive makeup cleaners if you prefer, but I always clean my brushes and sponges in baby shampoo.  Generic baby shampoo.  Very gentle, cheap, and works like a charm.

I recently took a class at my local computer store.  While there, I asked my instructor if he had any recommendations for a personal scanner.  I wanted to be able to put all my family photo albums into a digital format.  He recommended the Pandigital Photo Scanner. He told me that this was the exact photo scanner that he was using to scan all his family photos beginning in the 1930’s.

There are three great things about this scanner: 1) it is $85; 2) it doesn’t need to be hooked up to a computer to use; and 3) it is so simple to use.  Simple.  Oh and fast, super fast.  The scanner will scan anything from a wallet size photo to an 8 1/2 x 11 size.  A memory card is included with the scanner.

I purchased mine from Amazon (free shipping), and started scanning photos immediately.  In less than 10 hours I had scanned over 2000 photos! TWO THOUSAND! The quality is unbelievable.  I could not be more pleased with my scanner.  I have already called my brother and told him to bring our family photos next time he comes to visit so I can scan them to distribute to my other family members so we all have a set.  I have also told my son to bring his scrapbook over. You know, the one that cost me a lot of money to make the old fashioned way before digital photobooks, so I can actually scan it and make a digital photo book! Genius.

I’ll give you the quick run down on how I used it.  There are two settings on the scanner.  300 dpi (dots per inch) or 600 dpi. The 300 is faster, but the 600 is the best quality.  To me it seemed to be the difference between 5 seconds vs. 10 seconds to scan.  Not an issue for me. I went for quality. I scanned each album and then downloaded onto my computer.  My instructor told me he would separate the photos by scanning index cards through with the photos to keep track of the dates, events, etc.

I will tell you that I think I did it not a moment too soon.  As I was pulling my photos out of the albums, the albums were disintegrating right in front of me.  Made me feel about 100 years old.  I feel so much safer knowing all my photos are backed up.

I’m sure if you do an internet search you can find companies that will scan all of your photos for you.  If you want to trust someone with your prized photos, and don’t care about money, you may want to go this route. I cannot tell you though how easy it was to scan.  And, it was fun going down memory lane again.

I did the same thing a few years back with all my family VHS tapes and converted them to DVD.  Technology!

Let me introduce you to my new favorite gum.  I am not a gum chewer.  But I do like to have fresh breath.  So I purchased these.  They come in a little plastic container that holds 15.  Very handy to keep at your desk, or car, or purse, or even pocket.  Let me tell you this, once you chew this for a few seconds your mouth feels cleaner than it would after leaving the dentist. No worries about offending anyone with bad breath.  I have also discovered that it is great for me personally when I am craving something sweet.  It gives you that clean mouth feeling, like after brushing your teeth, where you don’t want to eat anything.  I’ve lost 80 pounds in 2 weeks. Okay, maybe 8 ounces.  But it does do a good job in cleaning my breath and curbing my sweet cravings.  So it’s a win-win.  It’s sugar free.  Packaging states less than 5 calories per piece, and only 1.5 carbs. I just blew into the screen.  I bet you didn’t smell a thing. . .

Wolferman’s is known for it’s English Muffins, but Wolferman’s also carries great scones and tea breads. Just look at their website, and you will be ready to order just about everything on the site. Makes me hungry just looking at it.  Wolferman’s has been around for many years, but was acquired by Harry and David in 2008.  Even though part of Harry and David, they still keep a separate website, so you will want to save both.  I love sending food to friends and family who are out of town, especially after surgery when they aren’t up to cooking.  I’m sure my local friends and family wish I would send them something too.  But they get the personally made treats!

Harry and David is well known for fruit. They even have the fruit of the month gifts. Does that always remind you of the movie Christmas Vacation? Harry and David pears are worth every penny.

The pepper and onion relish is fabulous.  Mix with cream cheese and you have a wonderful dip.  My sister served this several years back at a party, and now I make sure to always have a supply on hand.  It is sold in sets of three, so you can keep some for yourself or give as gift. Or if someone compliments your fabulous homemade dip you can share your secret. Or not.

Have you heard of moose munch? I’m almost afraid to tell you.  It’s so addicting.  It’s caramel, chocolate, almond, and cashew flavored popcorn.

You can buy by the tin or in individual candy bar size. It. is. to. die. for.

Okay, I’m starving. Better go find something else to do to distract me STAT.