My Favorite Things

Bank of America "Add It Up"

noreply@blogger.com (AllyAck) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:11:00 +0000

I know, I know, 2 posts in one day!!

I do a lot of online shopping, (the curse of living on Nantucket). I have found a way to get a little cash back while ordering online... I use Bank of America "Add It Up". Not every store is available through their website, bu there are many to choose from... I good example for me..I spend a lot of money at Sephora, last time I ordered from them I got 5% cash back from Bank of America..

You can only use this service if you use Bank of America online banking...

https://additup.bankofamerica.com/jsp/01.0-welcome.jsp

They have specials, this week, Macy's 6%, crate and Barrel 5%.

USE IT!!! Well Worth it!!!

Moisturizer

noreply@blogger.com (AllyAck) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:44:00 +0000

I literally have spent years trying to find the right skin care regimen for me. I have tried the expensive creams (la Mer) and the over the counter creams (oil of olay). Today I can write to you and say that I have finally found a regimen that works for me, from beginning to end. I would suggest theses products to everyone!!

One word Shiseido. Shiseido is from Japan. In my research I found that it is one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world.. That has got to say something!!! :)

I use the Shiseido White Lucent Regimen. I start with the White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam, works great. Next, I know that some of you are skeptical when it comes to toner, and I am guessing that is when Shiseido call it "softener". Skeptical or not, I definitely suggest using the White Lucent Brightening Brightening Refining Softener- Enriched....

Now here is the tricky part, the actual moisturizer.... For my every day moisturizer I use the White Lucent Brightening Protective Moisturizer ( which I think has been replaced by the white lucent brightening protective emulsion). However, there are times when my skin is extremely dry.. On these occasions I use the White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing GEL. There is no SPF in this one, and it says that it is meant for nighttime.. I don't agree.. If you need extra moisturizing during the day use the moisturizing gel instead of the protective emulsion.

For night, I use the White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion.

All of these products are fantastic. Most of them I originally bought at Nordstroms.. I have also found that Macy's in Hyannis carries Shiseido.. However, I buy most of my beauty products from Sephora, and of course they carry all the Shiseido products...

This week in preparation for my vacation I am going to try some of their sun care products..

BlenderBall

noreply@blogger.com (AllyAck) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:10:00 +0000

I promised that I would post about this...

I am all about protein shakes.... However, I always found it difficult to make them at work.. It was a chore and a mess to bring the hand blender to work.. and just stirring a protein shake with a spoon... well.... it was impossible to get all that grit mixed up.

I found the blender ball on Amazon when I was ordering my designer whey protein powder.. The reviews were pretty mixed, but I thought that I would give it a try....

It is by far my favorite gadget of the month!! Anyone who likes protein shakes on the go should buy one of these.

It does not leak, and mixes the powder and milk just as well as my hand blender, without all the mess to clean up.

My breakfast: No Sugar Added Carnation Instant Breakfast, a scoop of designer whey (natural) protein powder, and either skim milk, or fat Free Vanilla Soy milk!!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AJ60AY/ref=ox_ya_os_product

CAVAPOO, THE BEST DOG IN THE WORLD!

noreply@blogger.com (AllyAck) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:42:00 +0000

My Favorite thing: My Cavapoo, Hazel!!

OK, so maybe I am a little biased.. But I think that Cavapoo's are the greatest dog in the world. I spent a lot of time looking for a puppy that would suit me (after my awesome landlords agreed to let me have a dog!).

I wanted to find a dog that didn't shed, was on the smaller side, and who would get along with my cats.. After some searching I came across the Cavapoo and fell in love. It only took a couple of days to find Hazel.... I named her just from her picture..( The name comes from a television series that my grandmother used to love to watch... It reminds me of her.)

Hazel came from a breeder in Kansas, she flew by herself from Kansas to Boston. I was a nervous wreck... It was love at first sight...

She is what was missing in my life at the time. I have had her almost a year now.. Everyone is love with her.. and she loves everyone, man, woman, child and animal...

She loves to watch animals on TV. If any of you have seen the Traveler's insurance commercial where the dog is protecting his bone, the song Trouble plays in the background.. As soon as Hazel hears "Trouble", even if she is sound asleep she goes bonkers..... The other night someone on American Idol sang Trouble and she went bonkers... It is the funniest thing...

Thank God for Hazel, she keeps me sane.. Check out my slide show..... You will fall in love as well!

Want to know more about Cavapoos.... Check out this url...

http://www.puppyfind.com/breed/?breed_id=194&back=%2Fsearch%2F%3Fsubmit%3D1%26str%3Dcavapoo%26page%3D1

FROZEN PIZZA

noreply@blogger.com (AllyAck) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:47:00 +0000

I guess I am in a food mood....... Today I want to talk about frozen pizza... I typically am not a fan.. I usually by dough and make my own.. I saw a commercial recently for Dr. Oetker frozen pizza.. It actually looked good.. They advertised it as the #1 pizza in Italy...Sounded promising.

Next time I am in the Stop and Shop I head down the pizza aisle, not really expecting to find it..... But it was there...

I decided to try the Pizza Generosa; Pepperoni, onion, red yellow and green peppers.. It took about ten minutes to cook, right on the oven rack.. It has a nice thin crust, which is a plus for me. It was OUTSTANDING....... I am in love.. I am shocked and in love.....

I would rather get this frozen pizza than any take-out pizza here on Nantucket...

If anyone else has tried any other flavors let me know how they were. I highly suggest giving it a try...

Oh, and for all you Top Chef fans... Fabio (one of my favorite contestants ever!!!) is the new spokesperson for Dr. Oetkers....LOVE HIM!!!

THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE

noreply@blogger.com (AllyAck) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:11:00 +0000

Today I am going to talk about a grilled cheese recipe. Bartlett Farm has a yearly Grilled Cheese Contest. This year I thought that I would participate. I came up with a great concoction.. I like to call it A "Grilled Banana Split."

I used pound cake sliced very thinly for the bread. ( i made my own pound cake, but it did not seem to work very well.. not dense enough. So I ended up using sara lee.)

Next, thin slices of Cheese Cake, topped with shaved chocolate, caramel and thinly sliced bananas. After it grilled I stuck a cherry on top...

It turned out great. I can see myself using this recipe for a dinner party..

I didn't win...But it was a lot of fun. Can't wait for next year!!

LIP EXFOLIATOR

noreply@blogger.com (AllyAck) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:31:00 +0000

The reason that I started this blog was because of a product that I received today from Sephora.com.

My lips have been so chapped the last couple of weeks.. Probably because I have been stuck (post op knee surgery) in the dry house. I was in search of a lip exfoliator. I wasn't even sure any such thing existed. To my pleasant surprise Smashbox makes one. ( I have come to really love smashbox products, I will share more later). I received it today and was very excited to try it... WOW!!! It was all I wanted it to be and more. It has a nice peppermint taste.. You rub it on your lips, exfoliating the loose skin, then wipe it off with a paper towel. It smoothed my lips instantly!! I recommend this to everyone.

I am sharing the website that I bought it from... You can't go wrong!!