Favorite Things October

Clothes

Hanro sensual cami bra

I purchased one of these bras several years ago, and I just bought a second. 

They are expensive ($75), but the quality is amazing and when treated properly they last a long time – gotta love the Swiss.  You benefit from the support of an under-wire with the comfort of a camisole.  They are true to size, so if your regular bra size is 34B,  this will fit the same. They used to be available on BareNecessities.com, but lately I can only find them in multiple colors at Neiman Marcus.  And because I appreciate a good marketing writer, I had to include the description of Hanro on the web.  "With a 130-year history, the Switzerland-based company Hanro specializes in clever, stylish, and alluring underpinnings. Known for a superb fit and seamless design, this line blends trends with comfortable and highly practical style."  Underpinnings?  I can picture myself in the Four Seasons overlooking Lake Geneva, frolicking with my Swiss lover and in the heat of the moment he says, "Ah Darling, you are so magnificent, you must remove your underpinnings this instant!!"

While searching for this bra online to provide a photo, I ended up in the “daywear” sub section of Neiman Marcus lingerie.  Hmmm.  Daywear.  For me, daywear depends on what I am doing that day.  If I work out in the morning, then my gym clothes become daywear, if I have an appointment with a client, then I wear some office/work attire during the day.  If I’m sitting at my computer for 8 hours straight taking super boring real estate classes, I wear my pajamas.  It appears that “daywear” is garb for someone who has nothing to do during the day but choose an outfit they can lounge around in.  If I ever get to that point in life AND I can afford to buy clothing in the “daywear” category, this is what I picture myself in.

Joli

My friend Katherine just opened a fabulous boutique in SLC.  While the store space is small, the offerings are grand.  Katherine buys only the most beautiful, unique, and stylish women’s clothing, accessories, and jewelry for her clients.  There is a tasty little bistro next door, so grab a bite and do some shopping before the Holiday Season begins!  (1594 Stratford Ave, SLC just off the 1300 Sugarhouse exit) http://www.saltlakemagazine.com/blog/2012/09/shop-the-grand-opening-of-joli-boutique-in-sugarhouse/

Products

Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant

Deodorant, it seems, it like mascara these days.  The kind that I bought 3 months ago is no longer available.  Instead, there is a new and improved version that has cannibalized its sister product in the market.  Consequently,  I am forced to sample the Dove “Go Sleeveless” deodorant,  fully believing that this is just a new marketing ploy.  However, I have to say – since I started using it,  the hair under my arms grows more slowly and is very thin, so I don’t have to shave as often.  This could be a real break-through!  I’m going to try it on my legs next, then the bikini area, and perhaps even on my chin where those annoying hormonally infused hairs grow sporadically and seemingly right before big events.

CeraVe cleanser and facial lotion with spf

My dermatologist recommended this for my son who has some breakouts.  I figure what is good for the hormonally charged gander is good for the hormonally challenged mamma goose.    Both the cleanser and the lotion have hyaluronic acid, which is supposed to help skin retain moisture.  You can buy this at Walmart, Target and Amazon.

B&B products – The term B&B has been thrown around for a while and virtually every cosmetic company seems to be producing one of these B&B creations thus making it a commodity, but I do like the Loreal Youth Code lotion.  I mix it with the CeraVe moisturizer to get a bit of coverage without feeling overly made up.

It’s a 10 – leave in hair conditioner that defrizzes, detangles, smooths, conditions, etc.  There are ten things that it does but I can’t remember all of them because as we know, my memory is filled with irrelevant real estate terms, but I do know that it is available at Target and Amazon.

Apps

Food for table (my brother turned me onto this) – this app allows you to plan up to three meals per week for free and more if you pay extra for the bigger version of the app.  You can choose from chicken, meat free, slow cooker, salads, etc.  It also alerts you when grocery stores in your area are having a sale so you can plan your meals around those items.  The meals are pretty simple, so I would say this is more for weeknight meals, but it is great to have on your phone in the grocery store when your time to shop is limited  and your creativity is in even shorter supply.

Nike training app This app offers general workouts at three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.  It also has fitness routines for specific body areas such as a “better butt”.  The app demonstrates the exercise and then times the workout and notifies you when to switch to the next exercise.  Great for the at-home workout.  My only complaint is that it is a kilobyte hog.   My friend Amanda, who has a much better butt than me, gave me this app.

Books
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
This is an entertaining read, not any great classic - but very fun for anyone married and/or with kids.  Alice gets banged on the head and forgets the last ten years of her life - but amazingly she seems to only forget the bad things.  What a concept!

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
Also a quick read, Left Neglect is actually a form of brain injury.  Fascinating and frustrating!

Movies
Argo
I was 13 when the Iran Hostage Crisis took place, so in hindsight I probably should be more familiar with this historical event, but I was preoccupied with boys, Steve miller, and other teenage distractions during 1979 and 80.  Anyway, this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat, is very well made and Ben Affleck, even with the bad early 80's hair and clothing still looks entirely sexy.  I don't even like facial hair.  I can't explain it, I think this real estate class has permanently scarred my brain.   (yes this is my new crush)

Recipes

Coconut chicken curry

My sister-in-law gave me this recipe. It is really tasty and you can make it ahead of time.  Good for a group, serve with rice (and the trimmings listed below) and steamed broccoli or asparagus.  Or a salad with toasted almonds, goat cheese and mandarin oranges.

The Reality of Realty

As many of you know (because I have been whining and complaining for days), I have been asked by my husband to contribute to the family real estate development business by obtaining my realtor license.  Under great duress, I agreed to undertake the 120 hours of classes plus exam prep and completion so that I can become A Real Estate Professional.   Because I am part of an equitable relationship,  I fully expect that when I finally begin my novel, Blake will merrily agree to take 120 hours of grammar and spelling classes to support the publishing/editing effort.

This is the worst thing he has ever asked me to do (OK at least in the top five things) since our relationship began in 1987.  It ranks up there with helping him complete his senior college thesis on the Economy of China, or doing that sprint triathlon where I nearly drowned, or when I climbed Mount Washington with a 40 pound pack.  With these other events, I never detected any remorse about putting me in uncomfortable situations.  However, this latest experience has induced some unfamiliar behavior. I think he realizes that he may have over-extended the call of duties implied in the marriage contract (vs. an express contract which I now know are two different things) and that, just possibly, he feels a little bit guilty. Case in point – while I was taking some of these classes online, he actually made me lunch and brought it to my desk (granted it was two turkey/cheese roll-ups and a jar of yogurt – not exactly what Barefoot Contessa makes for her employees, but it is a start).  Not at anytime during college, courting, grad school, breast-feeding, NEVER has he made me lunch or brought it to me. So I know he feels badly and I plan to capitalize on these new found emotions.

When I attended grad school, I identified two things that I never, ever wanted to be when I grew up: an attorney, and an accountant.  Well, guess what friends, as part of the family business, I now possess a healthy understanding of Quick Books and can define eminent domain as well as the best lawyer.  (I am not intimating that Realtors are anything as complicated as lawyers – but even the legalese involved in realtor training is more than I ever wanted to know).  I feel as though I’m trying to learn a new language while in the throws of early Alzheimer’s.  I can’t even remember why I walked into a room, no less the definition of abrogation.  I have been using the alpha part of my brain for too long.  The beta version is atrophied.  I recommend that all of my friends take a class immediately, before it is too late.

I completed 18% of my 120 hours online, at home, in my office.  Sometimes slumbering, other times scribbling away at math problems that remind me of the SAT (which of these four things is NOT part of The Bundle of Rights).  I tried to toil in the evening before bed, but the same screen repeated itself in my head all night and I ended up having to take a two-hour nap the next day because I didn’t sleep a wink.  (I think this is when Blake’s guilt started to kick in)

Today, I adopted a can-do attitude and decided to take some of the classes live.  I reason that if I can take two full days of classes (16 hours), my completion rate will jet up to 30%.  The physical classes take place in a newer building in a strip mall in Murray – a rather industrial part of Salt Lake City.   I have to admit, my first four hours of class were rather pleasant; I had a great teacher who entertained us with real world examples of real estate in action.  There is a big difference between learning something versus memorization - especially when you have Alzheimer’s.  It was refreshing to sit in a classroom after the banality of the online experience (although I missed the Pavlovian clapping sound I receive when I answer a question correctly online).  Anyway, the teacher was the plus in this equation.  The minus is that within the first hour of my 8-hour real estate journey, I consumed one bag of Swedish fish, two Reece's peanut butter cups, 2 large peppermint candies, and a bite size Butter finger.  I created the following word problem in my head, “If Kristie eats 400 calories per hour and does no exercise and continues this for the next 7 hours, how much fat will be on her muffin tops when she is done?  How much after 120 hours?”   

For the next 3 hours, I managed to refrain from the candy offerings in the classroom.  Thankfully I had a short break before my remaining four hours of instruction began.  I decided to explore the strip mall with greater scrutiny.  When I first pulled in, I noticed a sign that said ESPRESSO in front of the mall. No brand names or colorful logos, just ESPRESSO in red caps.  No messing around here, this must be the real deal! – I thought to myself.  I walked maddeningly around the mall in search of perks (pun intended).  Nothing.  I did, however, take note of the following retail gems at my disposal:

• Two insurance companies
• Tio’s Mexican Restaurant
• Papa Murphy’s Pizza
• Golden Isle Chinese Restaurant (At least all of the ethic food groups are represented)
• Smokes 4 U (I got a lot of good xmas shopping done here)
• The Best Hair Salon (ironically, I saw no clients)
• A similarly titled A+ Nails (also without patrons)
• Shoe Repair (obviously decided there were too many false superlatives in the mall already and just went with the basics)
• And the true golden nugget of the strip mall – Smith’s market

Fearing certain gastric distress for the next 4 hours if I chose the ethnic options, and hoping to repent for my earlier poor nutrition, I opted for a ready-made spinach salad from the Smith’s produce section and ate it on the stairs in front of Tio’s.

I’ve always wondered where the STRIP acronym originated and after some assessment, I’ve come up with a couple of options:

Shopping That Really Is Pathetic

Stores That Require Improvement Pronto!

Shitty Tasteless Retail Is Painful  

Worried that I might be gang-raped by some of the clientele burning rubber through the parking lot as they frequent the Smokes 4 U, I retreated to the safety of my vehicle.  (Hmm, if they see my JHilburn car magnet and are interested in high-end Italian clothing, should I risk my life for the sale?)   As I looked out my window from the annals of this hellhole of a mall, I see my salvation shining in the sunlight– right across the street (of course) is a Mormon church.  (Now I know why the ESPRESSO store was no longer in business but there were at least 10 vending machines advertising coke).  I contemplate going to pray for Blake to take the realtor classes instead of me, but realize I am too far in atheist debt to request anything of God at this point.  Appropriately, I trudge back in for my final class of the day, Settlement Procedures.  I need to stop whining, sleeping, consuming sugar, complaining, and settle in for the next 100 hours.