Twinkle Studio

Scraps

I love magazines!

They're expensive buggers when you buy them one at a time (versus a subscription), but I sure like to just grab a whole stack and hunker down to read them. 

But I don't just read magazines, I tag pages by folding them over and then I rip out those pages after I'm done. 

The pages that catch my attention tend to fit into a few categories: jewelry designs, food/recipe ideas, exercise moves, or things I want to buy. 

I have great intentions to organize these and use the information. 'Til then, I have folders and folders of magazine pages. 

 

Does anyone else have this crazy habit? 

Cruise Ex Post

Remember when I told you that I wasn't sure we were cruise people. Well, we confirmed that we're not really cruise people. But, we did have a great time on our 7-day cruise to Mexico. 

This cruise was incredibly centered around food (and I understand that most are). So I got off track on my healthy-eating program, but it was still a good time. 

Here are my top cruise tips (from a non-cruise):

 

- Research the port stops and figure out how you want to see at these ports. From that point, you can determine if it makes more sense to venture out on your own to see these sights or book a tour through the cruise ship. Generally, the trips are much more expensive through the cruise ship, but you do have certainty of the trip and the quality of it if you book this way. When you handle your own off-ship excursions, you will certainly save money, but you will have some uncertainty. 

- Bring several water bottles and/or coffee cups with spill-proof tops. You'll want these to bring water (you can never drink enough!) or coffee with you outside of the dining room.

- Eat a salad before every meal including breakfast (just make it a fruit salad). There is so much food to eat and if you load up on a healthy salad, you'll be less apt to gorge on everything else that isn't so healthy. 

- Bring alcohol with you because it's expensive on board. Our cruise line allowed us to bring wine, so we brought a box of wine (ahahahahahahahahahaha!) and a screw-top wine bottle that we filled with tequila. 

- Always ask your cabin steward for ice. You can never, ever have enough ice. 

- There are fabu showers in the spa/gym area. The shower in our room was small and not very nice, but the ones in the spa/gym area were fantastic. 

- Turn on the international feature on your cell phone so that you can use your phone in other countries. Be careful about using your cell phone on the ship because some ships have their own wireless networks and charge you WAY more than the international carriers. 

- Keep receipts for all your on-board purchases so that you can easily reconcile your bill when you check-out. 

- You can reduce or eliminate the service fee that they automatically levy on you just by asking. For our cruise, it was $11/day/person. That service fee is dispensed (no idea how) for crew tips. We chose to reduce the fee and pay our cabin stewards directly. 

Any other tips, readers? 

Sage Gramps

I really love old people. I find them incredibly honest, blunt, wise, and insightful. 

We had the pleasure of having dinner with a great older couple when on our cruise. They were dating, after each had lost their respective spouse after 45 years of marriage. They go to senior dances together, share meals (he makes a mean cheesecake!) and travel on lots of cruises. 

The gentleman shared a very cute philosophy with us when we were talking about older gals wearing slinky outfits to the senior dances: "If you own a shop, why would you keep the window shades drawn." 

Love it!

 
 

Girlfriends!

I'm thrilled to be part of the Girlfriends Helping Girlfriends event on Sunday, May 2nd at the Irish Times in Saratoga Springs from 4-7pm.

Think cocktails, shopping, and pampering...all for a good cause. Proceeds from this event benefit the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County. 

Fashion show, pampering stations (massage! hair! nails!), music, cocktails and more. Benita Zahn will be the Mistress of Ceremonies. Most importantly, there will be shopping including a table full of new Twinkle Studio creations!

$50 advance tickets can be purchased at Rockabella, Violet's or Stella's in Saratoga Springs. Tickets are $60 at the door. 

 

Twilight Zone

I sat down at Starbucks today and was looking through my little pink sketch pad. Then I moved locations and struck up a conversation with a really nice girl. 

In the course of our conversation she asked me what I did for work. I told her that I was a jewelry designer and she was visibly affected. 

Thing is, when she saw me looking at my little sketchpad, she though I was a jewelry designer! Weird, huh? 

Have you ever had one of those psychic-type experiences? 

Cuss cuss cuss!

All I can say is: !#$%)!#$*&%)#$%&#$)&$#)*%@&$#)*^T

I had an amazing week in California working out and eating clean and healthy. My stomach was flat, flat, flat and my arms lean and strong. 

Then hubs and I went on a cruise. 

Damn that cruise. 

I was very good the first few days, working out a lot and eating like a good, healthy girl. Then I ate some cheese and bread. Then a little butter. Then a few cookies. And some ice cream. Mashed potatoes. Pasta. Frick. Frack. Damn it. 

It really all fell apart when I didn't track my food and exercise. I just thought that I would "be good." I didn't go entirely hog wild, but I feel utterly crappy. 

I'm not even going to get near my skinny jeans or scale for a week or so. Damn it. 

Time to get back on that health bus and snack on some celery. 

 
 

New Beauty Finds

I'm a pretty low maintenance girl when it comes to beauty products. At the same time, I like experimenting and finding things to add to my simple routine. Two new, goodies to share with you!

100% Aloe Vera Gel. Hubs has been using this stuff forever for all sorts of stuff (including hair gel), but I just fell in love with it. I have had this weird dry patch on my shin that I could not get to go away with anything. I was even using over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, against my better judgement, and it wasn't working. A couple applications of the aloe and, BAM, it was gone!

This is the exact kind that I use. It's cheap and can be found at any drug store. 

 

Aveda Beautifying Composition. This oil is like magic. I was having some dryness on the outer edges of my eyes which I think was a pre-cursor to some major wrinkles (yikes!). So I applied this oil and no more dryness! It's primary ingredient is jojoba oil, so I suppose you could try other versions of that oil, too. 

I use it on my perpetually dry cuticles and it makes my hands look like they just had a manicure. Plus it smells delicious!

 

Any new beauty finds you have discovered recently? 
 

Sketchy Lily

I really like Lily Allen even though she can be a flake at times. 

What do you think of this sketch of her on the cover of Australia's Harper's Bazaar? 

 

Naked Face

Ladies (and guys I guess), how do you feel about going out without make-up? 

I'm not a big cosmetics girl, but I generally don't leave the house without a little concealer, mascara, and lip balm. I'm not opposed to some eyeliner and shadow if I want to zhuzz it up a bit either. 

But occasionally, I just want a naked face. I am very blessed to have somewhat decent skin and just enough of a hippie look to pull it off (at least I think so). 

Do you face the world without make-up?

Desperately Need a New Camera

I bought an expensive new camera a few months ago. What I thought was going to be a kick-ass camera for taking product shots of my jewelry. 

Long story short, it's a damn dog. 

So I need a new camera. My requirements are simple: fairly small, point-and-shoot, many options for changing settings, high-end quality. 

 I love Canons and will probably lean that way. Any recommendations?