Ten Fact Tuesday: Baltimore Edition!

I'm sure you are wondering...hmmm...Baltimore?  That's what I would have said, but now that my best friend  now officially lives there, I need to know about it.  Even more importantly- now that she has surprised me with a plane ticket there for my birthday I MUST know about it!  Yep.  My best friend is THAT awesome.  She called it "$285 dollars of LOVE".

1)  Founded in 1729, Baltimore was named after Lord Baltimore, a member of the Irish House of Lords.  It is located on the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay.  The very same Bay that...(go to #2)

2) Our very own National Anthem was written in! Inspired by the bombardment of Fort McHenry as viewed from the Bay, during the War of 1812.  Remember that guy Francis Scott Key?  Yeah, he wrote it as a poem while watching stuff get blown up..."aaaannnnd the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air!!!!"

3) Nicknames:  Charm City, Mobtown, B'more, The City of Firsts, Monument City and of course Ravenstown.

4) Motto:  "The Greatest City in America."  They've also added "Get in on it.", which gave me a chuckle...

5)  In the traditional local accent, the townspeople refer to their city as "Balamore".  Their accent is similar to a Philadelphian accent. (My spell check says that Philadelphian isn't a word, but if not it should be!)

6) Fort McHenry is now visited as a National Monument and Historic Shrine.  It's gorgeous grounds and rich history make it very appealing to tourists like myself.  Did you catch that Dani?  Add this to our list of "Things to Do".

7) It is home of the Ravens and the Orioles, so it is well represented in the sports world.  Not to mention, they can boast of being the birthplace of Babe Ruth.  Now that's a claim to fame.

8) Well-known for architecture that spans two centuries and many different movements, which I can't WAIT to experience in real life.  I think one of of my favorite aspects of traveling is exploring the architecture.  It truly entrances me...

 9)  As with any big city, many many famous and influential people call it home.  Including, but not limited to: Tori Amos, Tom Clancy, Billie Holiday, Nancy Pelosi, Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Post, Upton Sinclair, Oprah Winfrey and  David Hasselhoff -wait- you mean he's not from the beaches of California?

10) Last, but most certainly not least, my FAVORITE fact about Baltimore is that my Dani-Girl lives there!!

Only a short time and we will be enjoying this together!:

33 Days to be exact!!  Which also means- 35 days till my BIRTHDAY! 

 (I'm not getting older, just wiser ;)

Ten Fact Tuesdays- At home Beauty

1) Bath Fun:

• Scent your bath by filling a net bag with fresh lemon skins, hang it from the spout and let the warm water flow through. The oil from the lemons are good for your skin and it will smell lemony fresh.
• Sprinkle powdered milk into running water for relaxing milk bath that will soften your skin.
• Candles are always a necessity for baths, and they are complimented well by rose petals and champagne...

2) Hair Care:

• Make your own Dry shampoo- Mix 1 tbsp salt and ½ cup cornmeal. Sprinkle on roots and brush out.  Since I have blonde hair, I just use baby powder.
• Shine up brunette or red hair by rinsing in coffee or cider vinegar before the final water rinse.
• Shine up blonde hair by pouring 1 cup boiling water over 2 tsp dried chamomile leaves or a handful of fresh ones. Let infuse, then strain and use the liquid as a rinse.
• Mayonaise is a good conditioner for dry hair.  Apply ½ cup to unwashed hair, cover with foil or plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse off and then shampoo.
• Rinse very fine hair with beer to give it body.

3) Skin Care:

• Make your own skin freshener by adding equal parts rose water and witch hazel and applying with cotton ball. Contains no alcohol so won’t leave your face feeling taut.
• For dry skin, cut up unpeeled cucumber and blend with a small container of natural yogurt. Spread on face, let dry and rinse off.
• For oily skin, mix one egg white with 2 tbsp cornstarch. Spread the mixture over a clean face and leave for several min until it feels dry and tight. Brush off what you can with a dry cloth, and then rinse thoroughly with cold water.
• Apply a beaten egg to your face to tone the skin and tighten pores.
• Put toner and moisturizing cream in the fridge prior to use for more refreshment.

4) Nail Care:

• Strengthen your nails by soaking them in warm water and baking soda for 10 minutes once a week.
• Soften cuticles by dipping them in a bowl of warm olive oil. Push the cuticles back gently with a cotton swab, and use Vitamin E to coat cuticles regularly.
• Wipe nails with vinegar before you apply nail polish- this will help varnish adhere.

5) Pearly Whites:

• Brush with baking soda for white teeth. (I use Arm & Hammer)
• Remove stubborn stains from teeth (i.e coffee, tea, tobacco, etc.) by dipping toothbrush in mashed strawberries, brushing teeth thoroughly and then rinsing with a lttle salt dissolved in warm water. (Haven't tried this one, but I am quite intrigued.)

6) Eu De Toilette:

• Try a sample of a new perfume for a short time and then decide whether to buy it or not.  Not all perfume smells the same on everyone.  (Just because it smells good on Suzy, doesn't mean it will smell good on you.)
• Put Vaseline on skin before putting on perfume and the oily skin holds it better.
• Heat and sunlight deteriorates perfume. Store in cold, dark, dry area.

7) Treating Your Tools:

• Drip hot water into old mascara to revive. (Totally works!)
• To keep makeup brushes soft, wash them in conditioner occasionally.
• Put eyebrow pencils in fridge before sharpening for less breakage.
• Rub petroleum jelly in grooves of your nail polish caps before recapping the polish to keep it from sticking.

8) Makeup Tricks:

• Always start with a clean canvas and then moisturize.
• Wipe a wet sponge over face before applying liquid foundation to prevent dragging.
• Run your eyeliner pencil over a flame to make it go on like liquid liner.
• Blend eyeshadow, so that you don't end up with hard lines.
• Stroke your eyebrows with a bit of dark shadow to fill them in and add form to them.  Don't over do it, though!
• Less is more. Seriously.

9) Beauty From The Inside Out:

• Hydration is KEY.
• Eating Fresh Fruits and veggies will improve your overall skin quality.
• Fish Oil supplements help with dry skin, as a daily multi-vitamin will help with overall skin quality as well.
• De-stress your life. People can see stress in your face and it will cause wrinkles!

10) Tried and True Products:

• Noxema Triple Clean with Triclosan
• Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 with Benzoyl Peroxide.  When I combined the Noxzema and Persa-gel, my face totally cleared up and it looks better than ever! I wash with the Noxzema and then apply the Persa-Gel all over the face.  After it dries I add the Moisturizing gel and I'm ready for my day! I also use this at night as well.
• Clinique Moisturizing Gel is my favorite daily moisturizer
• Neutrogena’s new rapid wrinkle repair moisturizer is a daily treatment with “accelerated retinol” a new form of vitamin a that delivers results.

Hope you learned something useful!!

10 Fact Tuesday/ Blogger is Being Lame Lately ;(

Is it just me or  are any of you having issues commenting?  Blogger isn't allowing me to comment back on any of my posts or on anyone's blog that doesn't send you to a comment form.  This has been going on for a few days, so I'm getting FRUSTRATED!  grrr....

So, instead of stalking and commenting on all of your lovely blogs as I would like to do, I'll post a quick "10 Fact Tuesday".

Today's facts will be coming from this lovely gem that I happened to pick up from the library:

The author, Cassandra Kent, compiled a very comprehensive collection of "How to's" for any home.  Some of them I was familiar with and some are going to be nice additions to making my life easier ;)

1) Most people know that if you use newspaper to clean windows and mirrors, you aren't left with the lint that paper towels leave, but did you know that the ink actually adds shine to the surface?  I thought that was pretty nifty.

2) When you end up with small pieces of bar soap leftover, you can cut a slit in a bath sponge and slip the soap inside to to use as a fun self-foaming sponge!

3) If you get a grease stain, place brown or blotting paper over the spot and then hold an iron to it to lift out the grease. The heat will pull it right into the paper. Got a grease stain on your paper or presentation for work/school? This will work for that too!

(On furniture you can also pour talcum powder on the grease and wait till it soaks it up.)

4) Boil white socks with slices of lemon to return them to pristine condition.  My friend Emily tried it, and she said that it works!

5) If you are at a hotel with no iron, place clothing items under your mattress over night, and your body weight will press it while you sleep.  All of you lazy motivationally challenged Bloggers will love that one ;)

6) For long-lasting buttons, dab the threads with clear nail polish and they'll hold a lot longer...I don't know about you, but I HATE losing buttons.

7) Rub an ordinary pencil over a zipper if its sticking.  The graphite will help it slide smoothly.  I do wonder, however, if it will get on your other clothes?

8) Give stainless steel pans a good shine by rubbing them with flour and remove heat marks with a scouring pad and lemon juice.

9) Rub vegetable oil into your hands to remove dried paint, then wipe them dry with a paper towel.  It works great and won’t dry your hands like turpentine.

10) If an old paint brush has become stiff from not being cleaned properly, simmer it in vinegar until it’s soft and scrape off the old paint.  That'll make it good as new!

Hope you found these intriguing/ informative!  I have som more, but i'll save them for a future post.  Gotta keep you coming back for more!

Can I also throw in a "YaY!" for Public Libraries?!  I love FREE books at my fingertips!

Ten Fact Tuesday- Facts of Moi

Did I create this topic?...Or has it been done?  Scratch that-don't tell me! Allow me my moment ;)

As the first addition- I guess I'll fill you in on some more details about myself.  Hope I don't bore you. hehe.

1)  I HATE working out! I know some of you just cringed at the thought of not working out (I've read all your runner blogs), but I'm just not a regimented exercise person.  Take me for a walk, bring me to the mountains for a hike or find me a yoga (preferably hot) spot, and I am totally down- just don't put me on a stair-master.

2)  Since I don't work out I compensate with eating healthy.  It's become my hobby (other than blogging ;), my passion, my saving grace.  I truly enjoy finding healthy ways to "do-over" all the bad things that I love and to find innovative ways to prepare food to entertain myself and feel fulfilled.

3) I still cheat eat the not-so-good-for-you stuff, but ssshhh don't tell anyone!  French fries will be the death of me...I have never met an order of fries I did not like and the more good stuff you pile on top the more I'll like 'em.  My fave is Truffle Parmesan Fries...yum.

Don't even try to pretend that you could say no to this:

via

4)  I'm definitely a "Jack of all trades, but a master of none...". I can honestly BS my way through anything, but I'm not that person that was born to be a dancer, hairstylist, rock star, athlete, mathematician or engineer. I guess I shouldn't complain because I can pick up absolutely anything that I'm asked to learn and usually excel very quickly in said subject, but I guess I just get frustrated with my lack of direction.  I know I want to move forward and grow, but there are so many paths in front of me that I just feel overwhelmed.  A simple life is a happy life!

6)  For now I am a server/bartender with a B.A. in Bullsh*t English Literature.  Fancy, huh?  Secretly though, I really like my job.  A- I match my hubby's salary, while only working 30-35 hours/week.  B- I don't have to take my work home with me, and C-  I enjoy being a positive influence in peoples lives, if only for their lunch break.

7)  Other jobs I have had: Slave Assistant at the family Biz, Cashier, Daycare teacher, Hostess, Nanny, Administrative Assistant, Event Planner, Promo Model and Marketing Director.  I think my favorite would be the Promo job, which leads me into the 8th fact.

This particular event, we got paid to dress as a Duke & Duchess for a charity event- Soo FUN!

8)  As a Promo Model, I basically hung out and got paid minimum $20/ hour and on two occasions, they also had me sing the Star Spangled Banner during Fleet Week in Ft. Lauderdale.  Pretty sweet, right?  I must tell you- singing the MOST important song in the country to a sea of service men and women, is EXTREMELY daunting.  When you can bring tears to their eyes, you know you did something right <3.

9)  I also like the event planning gig because it allowed me to meet bands like Switchfoot, Our Lady Peace and All American Rejects, Comedians such as, Kat Williams, Darren Carter and Bruce Bruce and I alone had a yearly budget of $60-Grand.  Pretty good for a 20-year old.

Here is the crew backstage with Our Lady Peace!  I had loved them for so long, that it was so surreal...

10) My life has settled into a much less glamorous state.  Aaand I'm perfectly OK with that.  Actually, I don't think my body could handle all the hours I used to work, on top of all the traveling I did and the stress those jobs caused.  I once planned on becoming a brilliant event planner, but soon realized that the hectic life and high stress, wasn't worth it to me.  I'm really good under pressure, but the after effects kick my butt.  I DO NOT miss that part lol.  Now-a-days, working Monday-Friday, coming home and cooking my husband dinner, lazy weekends at home-while having fun with the hubs and our wonderful puppy- are what complete me <3

We may lead a simple life,  but it's most certainly, NOT boring ;)

Hope I didn't bore you too much!  Any requests on future "Ten Fact Tuesdays"?  I'm thinking I could eventually do guest posts to learn more about bloggers, and specifically- professionals who can teach us about a particular subject.  I enjoy learning and am constantly in search of knowledge (I'm a nerd. don't judge) and I think that this topic could become inspiring!  Any input would be helpful!  You can comment or head up to the "Talk To Me" TAB and shoot me an email.  

XO~ Love you all! ~XO

Happy Tuesday!