Expensive, but worth it! $25 per person (not including tax) gets you into the exhibit and a free cup of hot chocolate.  I was a little miffed at the pricing but the experience was amazing! They keep the exhibit at 9 degrees so dress warm even though they give you a full length hooded winter parka. We were fortunate to bring hats and gloves and were really thankful! Imagine an indoor ice sc...

As a last resort, I decided to try Cover FX products. Last resort here meaning 30+ years of product hopping to walk out of doors looking human and Cover FX being on the "way more than I would ever spend on cosmetics" level price-wise. I have super sensitive and acne prone skin and have a heck of a time finding a product that not only covers acne and the bluish/blackish areas that acne leaves ...

Guess I should start with the "Pros"- yes, it does work, yes, it is portable, yes it has helped.... now for the "Cons" (taking a deep breath here)....I became suspicious of the Zeno mini after the batteries ran out exceedingly fast and the cartridge needed to be replaced almost as quickly. So, being a scientifically-minded individual I started actually tracking uses and how ...

Another on my list of amazing make up finds that don't break the bank! This little beauty is 99 cents and I can't tell you how many $10+ products I would choose it over. First I'll tell you why it is cheesy- the product is double ended, one side is "brow" the other is "lash" and the only difference is the brush in one side is tapered (lash) and the brush in the other side is blunt (eyebrow). ...

The good news is that it works! You can dab a swab into the mix, dot it over you skin, and in an hour or so any tender areas that might be developing a pimple will dry out and dramatically reduce swelling. Because it does work I can't complain too much, but if I wanted to complain.... this is what I would say!• It is pink. Damn pink. Think Calamine lotion pink. Not something I would we...

This is a great little box of Urban Decay's finest tricks, however, don't let their product description mislead you in thinking this is a travel -friendly purchase! The set includes: Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Lip Envy in Greedy, XXX Shine Lip Gloss, Eyeshadow shades in Chopper (shimmering fawn with sparkles), Twice Baked (brownie shimmer), Smog (deep coppery bronze) and Glitter (sparking...

Overnight Prints is my new favorite for printing, and I wanted to share the good find. As a designer, I have clients that want their printed materials asap, but they don't want to pay the bloated prices offered at the local print shop. These online printing services are popping up all over with streamlined ordering processes and super quick turnaround, the trick is finding a good one. ...

I am in the process of doing my wedding invitations and realized no matter how much time and energy I put into the papers, envelopes & fonts, the whole selection of USPS postage is just going to be a downer.  The USPS offers so few styles these days and those awful Liberty Bell design simply won't cut it.I went all through the post office's web site looking for a match up to my...

I promised myself I wouldn't be that dork that bought all the Star Wars novels. I actually consciously made that decision. That's why when I saw that my favorite graphic novel had been made into a NOVEL (-sans- GRAPHIC)  I was quite the sceptic... That is like providing the cookies but no milk..  it's just not right and I wanted no part of it. However, for $11 and being pa...

After using zillions of brands including Dior, Too Faced, Urban Decay, Bare Minerals, Paula Dorf, philosophy, NARS, Smashbox and so many more, I still have to say that this $7 mascara takes the cake. Double ended, it comes with its own primer lash foundation so you can get some "boom" with the mascara alone or you can get some "bada boom" using the primer with the mascara! Really revs up your ...

Too Faced's Little Pink Book is a great little "all in one" for travel. I suppose I must preface this review with the fact that I have olive/medium skin and dark hair so you have a baseline. The book itself is super cute, pink-metallic with little rhinestone gems on the cover. I'm not much of a girlie-girl, but this does make me smile when I reach for it. It has a nice strong magnetic clasp th...

After receiving two mini samples of Too Faced Mascara, one regular "Lash Injection" and the other "Lash Injection Pin Point" I really felt like I should advise others of my experience. I have to say I was blessed with wonderful lashes. Both dark and long, it really takes some work to make them look bad when I apply mascara. Unfortunately, Lash Injection was a real disappointment. First, they sm...

If you have never heard of philosophy, you really need to check them out! All of their products are just to die for- the smells and textures are heavenly. Sugar Cookie, Vanilla Birthday Cake and Cinnamon Buns are my favorites, and wether you purchase these "flavors" as lip glosses, moisturizers or shower gels, you won't be disappointed. The lip glosses taste and smell so good it actually make...

Not to be confused with the Getty Villa (also in LA), the Getty Center is a huge 4 building complex high on the hills above LA. They concentrate on a collection of art that ranges from the Middle Ages until today with great rotating exhibits on just about anything!  Each building is a work of art in itself- with walkways, balconies and breathtaking views of the city and ocean that rival wi...

The Santa Barbara Zoo is a wonderful place to get lost in! Situated across the street from the beach, zoo-goers have a wide variety of animals to enjoy with an incredible ocean view backdrop.  We go several times a year and have just recently purchased an anual pass, giving us free admission and parking whenever we visit.160 species and 500+ animals available to view makes this place a hit...

The Pier Aquarium is a good find, but be warned before you enter that the whole aquarium is about 2,000 square feet total. When you visit "St Pete" it is hard not to miss the interesting and colorful structure at the end of the pier, but recognize that the actual aquarium is only one floor and that the entierty of the exhibit is about 1/3 gift shop.  I just want to be sure you do...

The Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens is a wonderful spot to spend a day!  A rarity in protected garden enclosures, visitors are welcome to bring dogs making it a friendly place to walk for hours with or without your pooch. Although these gardens are not a national or state park, they are dedicated to educational and scientific exploration and are a wealth of information on the climate chang...

This is the coolest thing I have received in a very long time! I'm big on nutrition, organics and healthy meal substitutions because I always seem to be too busy to eat right or need to eat while on the run.  I got these in the mail from my brother and instantly feel in love! You Bars are completely customized- even down to the label! You go to their web site, fill out your preferences...

Medickey is an all-inclusive program and travel-sized storage device in one! Specifically designed to organize and maintain an individuals health records, MedicKey allows facilities and/or individuals the freedom and security of knowing that at any time on any computer important health care information is within reach. MedicKey auto-launches when plugged into a USB port of a Windows® compu...

This is an awesome concept and a great project if you have kids in the house ( I don't, but qualify as a big kid at heart).  Garden in a bag is so easy to use, they give you all the necessary parts and pieces and you grow the plant right in the bag it comes in! No need to look for the potting soil or find an empty container- just grab it and start growing!I included images of the bag c...