Exfoliation

Exfoliation is to a skin regimen, what flossing is to tooth care. Essential, and increasingly important as one ages, but also easy to skip. I've been more theory than practice, but now as I'm in my thirties I find myself missing that youthful glow. In my twenties, a quick rub with a face cloth was usually all I needed, but now it's time for a slightly stronger remedy.

For my face, I'm using Clinique's 7 Day scrub. I have light Irish skin, the kind that wrinkles like a sheet of paper, so it's plenty strong enough for now. I had a good old scrub this morning, as part of my new (hopefully) weekly routine. It left my skin soft and glowing. Although new skin cells continue to form, the sloughing off of old cells starts to slow down as we age. In this heat, I've noticed that my skin's been looking less than stellar. The exfoliation seems to have brought a little bit of my glow back and left my skin feeling smooth.

For my body, I am going hard core. I dug my bath gloves out of my sock drawer, where they've been living for the past few years. I bought them at the Body Shop. They're quite small but stretchy and made of some rough material. I put them on in the shower; and, after getting them wet, I put a dollop of body wash on the palm of one. After rubbing my hands together to get a bit of a lather going, I start to scrub from my neck all the way down to my toes. It's amazingly effective. I don't do it every day, just 2-3 times a week. I used to use Body Shop's Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub all over. It left my skin lovely, soft and sweet smelling, but the tubs were small and rather expensive. I think the bath gloves are a better way to go, although I am still searching for my ideal body wash. All of the creamy stuff isn't really my thing. I was hoping to find something with grapefruit. Aveeno has one with rosemary and lemongrass, but it doesn't pack quite the punch I was hoping for. Looks like I will have to go back to the Body Shop. The grapefruit shower gel has a great snappy scent.

All in all, my skin's in pretty good shape, and I know I'm lucky that only a few tweaks are needed now and then.

Angelina Jolie invited you to join Facebook...

I had not one but two invitations from Mlle Jolie in my spam filter this Monday morning. How different my weekend might have been if only said invites had been received earlier. Such is life.

Worst Idea Ever

Sex is awesome and everyone should be invited to the party. Whether it's for two or more, so long as things stay safe, consensual and fun, please go and be joyous. But OMG these sex tapes have to stop. Seriously. What's next?

Post Secret Pick

Yikes!!!

Counting the days . . .

June 13. Can't wait!

A few months ago, I introduced my book club to the joys of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries. They were a tad too racy for some of the 'ladies', but most people got into the spirit. When my friend went to buy the book, another customer started talking about the HBO series. Apparently this woman got very excited and started rambling on about vampire porn. I would venture a guess that she's a fan!

Joy!

Found a link on Jezebel to these great pictures. I'm not a dancer, but I wish I were. Check out more of the photos here.

Fake

This isn't a real secret; it's an art project.

Nostalgia

Yesterday's analysis of a 1986 issue of Elle over on Jezebel has made me realise how much I miss the 80s. We were fiercer and a lot more fun back then. It wasn't all cheesy pop music and acid wash jeans, there were also big dreams and the belief you could make anything happen. I loved the who do it yourself ethos of the era. It wasn't just about greed or consumerism.

Love & Rossdale Trysts

I sniggered a bit when I heard the news about Courtney Love's alleged hook up with Gavin Rossdale. And it's not just straight up schadenfreude either. Although I do find Ms Stefani adorable in many ways--her determination and joie de vivre are two of her most winning characteristics--there is also an aspect of her character that I find insufferable. In the press, she's been quite deliberate in cultivating an image at odds with the rock and roll lifestyle. She's the one drinking green tea while all the boys in her band are banging the Gwen wannabees backstage at the show. Shall we all pause for a moment and consider how fucking meta this is? Not to mention the irony? And, of course, she is quick to remind us that she's only had like two boyfriends ever in her whole life. Courtney Love seems like a breath of fresh air in comparison. I hate the fucked up logic that equates so-called chastity with femininity. It's like honouring someone's bullemia, because it keeps them looking pretty. Courtney may be deeply flawed, but at least she's human and honest. That being said, I have no time for her lack of parenting skills.

Treme

I am loving the new series Treme. There hasn't been much buzz about it, which is worrying. It's got good story lines and dozens of great little moments--strippers are moving in--that illuminate not only life in crisis but also life in general. And its refreshing to see actors rather than the plastic androids who seem to inhabit many of the network dramas. And I'm starting to feel some of the love I had for Khandi Alexander when she was on News Radio. I don't know wtf she was doing, performance-wise on Miami Vice. Finally, I think that Davis' character, played by Steven Zahn, makes a compelling argument for the soul patch, regardless of what the lady mags might say.

The Hell Much Music Hath Spawned

The soporific Laurie Brown is guest hosting on Q this week. She is simply appalling. The last time she filled in for Gomeshi, she completely botched an interview with David Sedaris. Sedaris did his best. He kept lobbing conversational soft balls at her, but she failed to return any of them. It was brutal, and I suspect Ms Brown will feature in some wicked short story in the future.

Cider

Cider makes me mean. I drink more than two and I am a foul-tempered drunk. No idea why. Speaking of cider, how great is the word scrumpy? Scrumpy. It sounds kind of sexy.

Lands End Canvas

One of the dowdiest online retailers has come over all hipster-ish in recent months. I was looking for a canvas tote and discovered the company's newest venture called Canvas. It looks like they're usual stuff, made for smaller models, carefully styled and shot on location in Williamsburg. What's next? Shots from LATFH in khakis?

Whatever Happened to SMG?

I was a huge fan of Buffy in the 90s and though the star would go on to big things. I caught one of her movies, Simply Irresistible, and wondered if her success might not have more to do with Joss Whedon than natural talent. It seems that many of the actresses--except perhaps Alyson Hannigan--he works with seem to thrive in his series but wilt without him.

Post Secret

Not to sound overly harsh, but we all know this woman, and it is never a secret who she's baking for. Office romances are crap. And so are shows about office romances. The quiet genius of Gervais' sitcom is as of yet undiscovered by me. I have ample opportunity to suffer aholes in my real life. Why should I devote part of my entertainment hours?

Matt & Nat: Nin

I was doing a little on-line browsing and came across this little number. I adore it: great shape.

Christmas is Over

It's February. Why are there still Christmas decorations up on the light standards around my home town? And why the f*ck do my neighbours turn on their lights every night? Seriously.

40 over 40

Apparently, forty percent of men over 40 experience some form of erectile dysfunction. What a lot I have to look forward to . . . . This piece of information puts the motivations of cougars in a whole new perspective. It seems the only sensible approach.

Chipotle

I'm really digging on chipotle, but this dip that I've found tastes a lot like cigarette smoke. Still oddly tasty. What gives?

Post Secret: My Fave this Week

PostSecret rules.