Archive for September 2009
Meet precious Alexandra Marie. She is the sweetest peanut the world has ever seen. This was her first official photo shoot. I think she’s going to be a super model and take over the world.
Yesterday, without intending to, I came home with a bag full of new bath products. As I laid out my goodies on my desk I thought (with some buyers guilt) “Why am I such a sucker for product?”. This thought broadened into - why are women such suckers for beauty products? I obsess over which products to buy. I read the ingredients, read the advertising copy and all sorts of online reviews with an insatiable appetite. When I first discovered the product reviews on drugstore.com I would spend hours and hours pouring over them, trying to validate which reviews were written by people with a worth while opinion.
I do not think that all women are like me (including a chunk of change for “personal care products” in a monthly budget). In fact, of my two bestest girlfriends one of them doesn’t own any face wash or lotion (I think there might be some body lotion somewhere in her house) and the other buys whatever is on sale at Ocean State Job Lot (although she is a sucker, like me, for promos at Origins). But, that doesn’t negate the fact that beauty products for women is a multi-billion dollar a year industry. Go into a drugstore and you are assaulted with a hundred brands, then go to Whole Foods and you get a hundred more, then finally, make your way into a department store and your brain has now officially overloaded. It’s probably best to not even mention the mecca know as Sephora. And what do they all promise? In short - a better you. The reason I do not have a problem with this is that I do feel like a better me when I use these products. When my skin is glowing and my hair is bouncy I actually feel better; and when I feel better then I also look better.
My husband often likes to point out (with a resigned sigh of affection) that I am very susceptible to advertising. To be fair, though I am really only influenced by things that I already want anyway; namely beauty products, sugary treats, and hand bags. I do not see an ad for cigarettes and think - “yes, I will be like that menthol girl in the ad!” Which brings me back to my recent splurge at Lush. The place is warm, fizzy, bright colored heaven. It smells divine and everything in there promises to take rough, dirty you and spin out a softer, cleaner you that positively sparkles with magic. Bath bombs, yummy soaps and quirky product names entice the shopper from every angle. And free gift with purchase!? Yes, please. Of course after my sudsy warm bath last night, all my buyers guilt melted away with my new body butter and delicious smelling face mask.
Happy bathing.
A few months ago I had the opportunity to do a great project for the VCC. It included taking lots of photos of people who’s lives have been improved by the services provided at VCC, creating a poster template and adding the photos and stories to create a series of 30 posters. The posters were framed and hung in the new building. I am so happy with how the project came together.
A brisk afternoon walk along the Quincy shore.
Baby Alex came home from the hospital on Friday afternoon. As the loving aunts that we are, Melissa and I came by the Perrault home and tickled and coo’d the little peanut while Mom got a nap and Dad went to the store. It was a delightful evening for all parties involved.
Nicole and Josh Perrault welcomed baby girl Alex to the world on Wednesday afternoon. She possibly the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. Simply perfect. Look out for a lifetime of photos of this little wonder woman.
I have always been a morning person. I love early morning light. The sunlight that comes down our street in the mornings is filtered through green leaves and bounces off roof tops. I can’t help but smile when I see such gentle beauty.
I lived in Boston for 5.5 years before I relocated to San Diego. Now that I’m back in the Hub I feel like I’m rediscovering the city. I’m not sure I even knew about Blue Hills Reservation! It is beautiful, gigantic and has a lot to offer everyone. I stopped by a look out point and got a glimpse of the downtown skyline then turned around and walked through the woods to a stone tower. I look forward to exploring this public space more in the future.
Nicole and Josh are expecting their first child (a baby girl!) any minute now. At 39.5 weeks Nicole looks beautiful but admits she is really ready for the little girl to come out now.
