Zoya Nail Polish

Ok, so I bought some nail polish from Zoya because I've heard good things about it; here is their 'About' verbiage on their website:

Zoya Nail Polish has been awarded as the longest wearing natural nail polish by an independent panel in Women’s Health Magazine. Zoya Nail Polish is a nail polish free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor. Nail Polish by Zoya offers over 300 gorgeous nail polish colors to choose from, plus 4 seasonal collections of nail polish every year. Zoya Nail Polish was specifically formulated to deliver the longest wear possible on natural nails. Zoya Nail Polish can be found in better beauty salons, spas and online at www.zoya.com.

When I got an email about a BOGO deal they were having, I figured it would be a good time to finally give them a shot.  Below are the colors I decided to order:

Charisma

Source: zoya.com via Angela on Pinterest

Charlize

Source: zoya.com via Angela on Pinterest

Diana

Source: zoya.com via Angela on Pinterest

Dea

Source: zoya.com via Angela on Pinterest

I got them yesterday finally!  So as I stood in the kitchen I began painting my nails while Steve watched - one nail in each color - obviously to see what they look like.  I feel like Steve thought I was crazy and quickly walked away after seeing how effen bright that top color is.

Welllllll... I would certainly suggest reading the fine print (or even the FULL description) on their website - that top color (Charisma) dries matte and, while I get that matte is trendy AND I get that a top coat will bring it to it's original beauty, I don't keep top coat on hand because I don't use it!  So yeah.  It's also A LOT more Purple than I expected.  I don't dislike it, I just need a top coat to truly tell.

The other colors I like just fine - I used to have a Brown nail polish that I LOVED and I used it all up and was unable to ever find it again - it made me sad.  So I decided to try this Brown (Dea) - it's very similar to the shade I had before - but the polish itself was ... not as wonderful.

For some reason, I've become accustom to nail polish that is ... hardy.  The Zoya brand goes on so thin, I found myself considering a third coat just to even it out.  Maybe its the because this nail polish is free of so much of the bad stuff?  I don't know and I really don't care as long as the color looks pretty and it lasts!

I got right into the shower after I painted them, one of my fingers has a tip that is slightly peeling, which is fine, cause I just wanted to paint them to see the colors.  So here I sit with one hand painted with 4 different colors (I used Charisma on the thumb and pinky), wondering if I should leave it on to see how long they last or take them off and do a REAL paint job on them.  I guess I need to invest in a top coat first, eh?

They sure do have some pretty colors though... and they go on nice, no matter how many coats you have to put on!

I'll let you know how long they last after I wear it for a bit.  I use my hands a lot (on top of my 9 to 5, I have 2 cleaning jobs I do), so my nail polish usually doesn't make it very far!

Don't get bent out of shape - this is my opinion only.  I've not been asked to review this product by anyone, nor have I been given ANYTHING in return for it.

ETA 12/7/11: I'm now in love with Zoya nail polishes!  It was a change in thinking, as stated above, but just because they go on thin doesn't make it any less of a polish!  This stuff lasts on my nails forever - I've done toes and fingers in a few of the colors and I've had to take them off for nail growth over polish chipping.  I've NEVER been able to do that.  I'm impressed and I'm now a lifelong user of Zoya!  I just ordered 3 more colors and should be getting them soon!  Follow them on Twitter - sometimes they have promo codes for some pretty great deals - @Zoya_NailPolish

Remembering 9/11

I know I'm a day late and I also have a trip to Milwaukee to blog about - I'll get it done, in due time.

Over the weekend while in Milwaukee, I got an email from Meetup, which is a website that basically helps you arrange meetups with people in your area based around things that interest you; like knitting?  Join a meetup with other knitters.  Want to hang with people who share you love for cooking?  Meetup just might be able to help you.   I'm not trying to sell the site here, just trying to give you an idea of what it's about.  You get the idea.  Well, as I was flipping through my email this weekend, I stopped to read this as I don't subscribe to emails from them.  I had no idea that meetup was a product of 9/11... I thought this was a neat little fact worth sharing, here is the email:

Fellow Meetuppers,
I don't write to our whole community often, but this week isspecial because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and manypeople don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.
Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple milesfrom the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thoughtlocal community doesn't matter much if we've got the internetand tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when Ihoped they wouldn't bother me.
When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighborsin the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello toneighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normallyignore. People were looking after each other, helping eachother, and meeting up with each other. You know, beingneighborly.
A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bringpeople together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup wasborn: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- andgrow local communities?
We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was acrazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to makepeople distrust one another.
A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 monthsafter 9/11.
Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it'sworking. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except onething.
Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello toneighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.They grow businesses and bands together, they teach andmotivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and findother ways to work together. They have fun and find solacetogether. They make friends and form powerful community. It'spowerful stuff.
It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanksto everyone who shows up.
Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if itweren't for 9/11.
9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk tostrangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building newcommunity together!!!!
The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting startedwith these Meetups. 

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)Co-Founder & CEO, MeetupNew York CitySeptember 2011

Interesting, right?  I think it just kind of helps us take a step back and maybe say hello to someone today that you might not otherwise have noticed.  Just think about it.
Again, I'm not here to sell the site to you or promote it or anything, nor have I been asked to post this - I just thought it was a good story and thought maybe someone could walk away after reading this with a new/better outlook.

God Bless America!

Get Human

Every once and awhile I post a website that I think is neat and think everyone should know about... today is one of those days!

How tired are you of calling a company and getting a recording?  Or following the voice prompts (to get you to the right person) and then still having to hold.

This website - gethuman.com - gives you numbers to call, for just about any company, that will connect you directly to a human - a real human person!

I've used it for work, I've used it for personal... it's pretty well amazing!

Trust me - I'm getting nothing for plugging this site - I just like to help people out once in awhile :)

A plug, an update, and some random

A website plug, not a butt plug or anything crazy like that..
A good friend of mine has started a recipe website - Dinner with Ease - if you like cooking and want to try out some new recipes, follow her - she's been on a posting spree!  She is a wife and busy mother of 3 children, so I think she has the cooking thing down (I actually know from experience that she does!)  Anywhos - check it out and maybe learn a thing or two; who couldn't use a new recipe?!

Update: on the home front.  As I told you a few weeks ago, Steve is looking for a home to buy.  He's been pretty much super awesome and asked me to come along to everything from First Time Home Buyers classes to looking at each home with him - it's been a lot of fun and super informative for me.  Well, on Monday Steve put an offer in on a beautiful home built in 1923!  It's so full of character and has been very well kept - beautiful woodwork and hardwood floors... amazing!  Currently waiting   Anyhow, just wanted to share the bit of fun/exciting news with you - obviously I'll keep you posted.

I was thinking the other day about how I used to blog.  My random blogs were seriously... random - this was more when I was blogging to a certain audience and since then, I've change a bit to blog for my current audience, you!  Anyhow - I wanted to share some snip-its of the random posts that once upon a time were posted on myspace and copied and pasted when I started this blog:

**I love to have my window down, but I drive by the dump in Elk River everyday and not only does it stink something fierce but there are always trucks in and out, up and down on Hwy. 169. I had several huge rocks hit the windshield on my van, a couple even put a chip in it. What if those rocks came in my rolled down window and took out my eye?!

**Have you ever thought about what would happen if you are driving... you are wearing sunglasses (or regular glasses)... and your airbag (assuming you have one) deploys?! Would those glasses break leaving shards of glass or plastic in your eyeball?

**Does anyone know what is on the other side of the world… directly across from wherever you are?! 

**Last night I met up with the most amazing guys friends near me- we went to "All-You-Can-Eat Crab Legs" (YUM-O!!), no big deal, I shouldn't be tired from that... well I had a few glasses of wine and 5 plates of crab legs- i probably should have stopped at 2 glasses of wine and 4 plates of crab legs. {NOTE: the most amazing guys friends near me <--Steve was one of those people}

**I am sitting at work, I am very tired from lack of sleep this weekend and all I keep thinking about is laying my head in my desk for like 5 minutes.  So I was just having that thought, only this time I have a 3 ring binder on my desk with the rings open to take stuff out.  My head is heavy... my thought to follow was 'What if my head fell onto my desk with the rings open on this binder and my eye hooked on one?' 

**sometimes... I look up at the clouds on a sunny blue sky day and I think "Damn, those clouds really look like the clouds in the intro to The Simpsons."

**So all week, i've had to use my automatic power window, and by automatic i mean that if i push the button in the down position real quick it will roll itself down all the way.  So as i'm driving away and trying not to crash while fumbling with the deposit receipt, i would like to be able to push that same button in the up direction and have it roll all the way up.

2010 Photo Walk

Sorry for my lame little bit this morning.  I may not be completely better now, but I promise that this afternoons post will be much more positive and considerably shorter.

So.. how cool is the idea of have a WORLD-wide photography event?!  Sometimes I'm not sure how I make me way around the internet, but yesterday I found this little gem: Scott Kelby's 3rd Annual World Wide Photo Walk!!
Basically you search your city and sign up if you are interested.  Everyone around the world does the walk on the same date!

I've signed up to do Minneapolis and may sign up to do St. Cloud as well.

I'm dying to know how other people see the city I call home.
Anyone who gives the smallest rip about photography, by hobby or profession, should do this.  Won't you sign up too?

Groupon

If you like coupons, you'll love this site!
Groupon has daily deals and it very cleaver in the way it works... they post a deal online, daily, if enough people 'buy it' the deal is on and people are charged.

For example, today's deal is: for $7 you can get $15 worth of food at The 5*8 Club (home of the Juicy Lucy).  So the deal only needed 30 people to buy it in order for it to be a valid deal.  It's up past 1,000 now.  Had it not reached 30 people interested, no one would be charged and the deal would be cancelled.  It's not always restaurants either!

Go Check it out, sign up for the daily email, if you'd like (it's not just the Twin Cities either!) - I just know that everyone is trying to save money these days, and this site gives you the chance to still do things, but at a fraction of the cost!

Groupon!

I love awesome websites!

TFT: Surfing at Work

This week has been pretty slow at work for me... so I've had a lot of time to surf the web - hell, even in a normal week I have a lot of time to surf.  I sit at a desk and when my workload gets to be overwhelming or just when I need a break from the bump and grind... I jump online and play for a bit.  I usually start with Facebook, just to see if anything interesting is going on there then I find myself '6 degrees of separation' style far away from where I started and not even sure why I came to Facebook in the first place.  It's a true addiction of mine.

At any given time I have up to 7+ people I am poking, constantly getting notified that someone else commented on something I liked or something I commented on, playing around in the few applications I use (for blogging mostly), checking my groups for activity, reading my fan pages, saying hello to people I haven't seen for a long time, looking through suggestions of friends and wondering how/why Facebook would think I know this person, reading links people post, reading the help sections, and playing with privacy settings.

If I'm lucky enough to make it past Facebook onto other sites, a few of my favorites are:
People of Walmart - Check it out, no need for explanation.
Stuff White People Like - The satire of this site is spot on.  Makes me proud to be White :)
F My Life - While I know {or believe} some of these stories are completely made up, I can't help but laugh at them all.  If they are real, they are great... if they are fake, someone took the time to think it up and it's still pretty funny/sad.
A site that is pretty new to me but absolutely HILARIOUS is: Awkward Family Photos
I also spend a lot of time looking at photography, reading photography websites, cooking sites and recipes.

BTW - I do read news sometimes too... it's not all fun and games! :)

So TFT to you: How much time in an average work day do you spend surfing?  What are some of your favorite sites?  Are you as addicted to Facebook as I am?

Other TFT's today:
Kristi on Going Gray (You should seriously read this and post a comment, because I'm curious too!)

Instructables

Another website for you people... especially the thrifty people or the Do-It-Yourselfers!

Instructables - Go here to learn how to do just about anything better. The site features instructions for do-it-yourself projects in a wide variety of categories such as arts and crafts, games, gardening, music, pets, and technology. User-friendly videos and photos guide you through the projects, and user comments offer firsthand accounts of what it's like to work on them.

Still Tasty?

I wanted to share this website with all of you; seems like a great find!

How many times have you peered into the refrigerator, freezer, or pantry and wondered if a particular food item is "still good"? Making that determination isn't always easy, but StillTasty can help. The site features answers to questions like, "I left pizza out overnight-is it still safe to eat?" and, "Does olive oil last longer if you store it in the fridge?" It also lists the shelf life of hundreds of foods and offers helpful hints on how to safely defrost food and interpret expiration labels.


Click Here - http://stilltasty.com/

Plinky

My blog is hosted by blogger - in my dashboard [which is like the 'homepage' for my blog] I have blogger buzz, which is news and sneak peeks into new things blogger is hosting or associated with.  Today I found out about Plinky.  Plinky is a site that offers something for those with 'bloggers block' [aka writers block]... they post a new question or semi-thought provoking thought for you to answer and give some feedback on.... daily.  The account is free and you can link it to your blog, facebook, twitter, and many others.. then you have the option to answer the question and have it automatically post to your selected service.  


I've joined and linked it to this blog.  You will be seeing, once in awhile, posts from me with the little "Powered by Plinky" icon at the bottom; today was my first... so it was just a test.  The question was "If you could eat only one type of cuisine for a year, what would it be?" 
I wish it would post the question on my blog... but you can find that out by clicking the "Powered by..." icon.  In the future I will post with a different title.  I even have the option to have Plinky post it with a photo for me!


Anyhow- thought I would explain that post and throw the site out there for those lacking topics for blogging [also may be helpful for the TFT posts].  New sites are fun.  Enjoy!

Twitter...

Okay yeah... so what?  I signed up for Twitter, after basically being forced into it; then quickly after, I realized I was forced into it so that I could figure it out and drop my knowledge on the forcer.  Follow?
Speaking of follow - Follow me here.


Not the point here people; Stay with me!


Renee actually sold me on the idea of Twitter as a way to direct more traffic to my blog.  I don't really want randoms following my blog, but I did just start to follow Joe Mauer, and if he were to take the time to read my blog... well, just maybe we'd fall in love after he realizes how amazing I am.  A girl can hope right?


UGH... stop distracting me!


I went on the Google and searched the exact phrase What is the point of twitter.  The results were endless.  I found this blog which helped me more than anything else I had read up to that point.  Really, go read it; it'll help you too; not only with Twitter, but with why blogging is better than email.
After reading the blog and still not fully getting why I signed up I thought well, let's see what this thing can do. So I started researching how to sync Twitter with Facebook - you have to install the Twitter app. on Facebook [which I was not crazy about doing as I try to avoid all apps.], then you just enter your Twitter login information and the next time you update your Twitter it will automatically update your Facebook status.  Score one for me; I found one use for it.  


Actually the first use was following Joe Mauer; 2 uses... How'm I doing so far Renee?


Moving on, I thought Well, maybe I want my status on my blog? - so I researched that, again, not really knowing if I wanted to have it on there... but what the heck, why not?!  I really have no idea how I did that other than searching the Google for syncing Twitter with blogger, following a link, clicking a button, and all of the sudden I'm sync'd.  
Speaking of Following - Follow me here.


Backup a paragraph... now that I have Twitter to update my status; why is Facebook even necessary?  Really, isn't the point of FB just the status and letting everyone know what you are doing all the time?  Kind of, but not really; I'll still use the book for photos and fun stuff like that... but I probably won't be logged in ALL THE TIME anymore.  Ahhh Hell, who am I kidding?  I'll still be on the bitch stalking all you fools, I just won't have to type my status a million times over


Wait a second... 


I was only typing my status into the book and occasionally into myspace [for a total of 2 sites]... so now I've just signed up for a site and spent way to much time researching how to sync, just to have my updates come from somewhere else, still updating only 2 sites?  
I guess I've added it to my blog, but did I care about that to begin with?


Ugh... I'm struggling here people.


So, the next step of Twitter is using it with your mobile phone, so fine.. I already log into the book to update my status.  Wouldn't it be easier to send a text to Twitter and have it done for me?  Sure it would, but I'm just not sure if that is really how it works.  I haven't signed up for that part yet and, in all honesty, I'm kind of scared to.  IF, by registering my cell, it only sends me updates of my friends... well, [sorry] I just don't care enough what you people do to need those things sent to my phone.


Ugh, Read Ang...


I just read some of the help section [turns out that is helpful]... you can send SMS texts to Twitter to update your status and/or receive updates from people you specify.  
I'll maybe add that another time... for now I still struggle with the point.


Here is the last thing [as I've been writing this blog for quite some time all while trying to learn the twit]: I don't get why someone who doesn't know me, would follow me.  There is no personal information on there, so I'm fine with it... but really?  
What's the point?  


Pretty sure that is the million dollar question....


anyone have anything to say?

Facebook Users Beware

I received this in email from my work ISP this morning; well worth posting as I know a lot of you are on facebook.

If you're on Facebook, be aware that a fast-spreading worm called Koobface is targeting users and trying to steal personal information such as credit card details. The Koobface worm sends a message to the Facebook user, supposedly from a friend, that says things like "you look funny in this new video" or "is it u there?" After clicking on the video link, the user is asked to download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. Only after the user clicks on the fraudulent Flash update is the Koobface worm installed.

Take a look at an example of a Koobface message below:

This malware can then quickly seize credit card details in two ways - either by waiting for the user to buy something online and remembering the details, or by searching the computer for cookies from past online purchases.

With dozens of Koobface variants known to exist, security leader McAfee warns that the situation may get worse before it gets better. Should your PC be infected with the Koobface worm, Facebook suggests resetting your password and running updated antivirus software to purge the worm from your system. To learn more about security tips for Facebook users, go to http://www.facebook.com/security.

It's important to note that Koobface attacked MySpace users before moving to Facebook, and has also jumped to the social networking site Bebo. All users of such sites would be well advised to stay alert for suspicious messages. 

Go Girl

I'm kind of dying to know what you people think of this product.  The link was presented to me through a friends status on facebook and, ever since, I can't stop thinking about situations where it would be a great thing to have.

Camping, road trips, dirty bathrooms... all kinds of situations!  There is something about it, though, that still creeps me out!

Check it out - and let me know your thoughts!

Random - Vol. 8.21

Is it right to let girls be in a band/group because they are sexy if they have no talent?  Don't get me wrong, I love a sexy girl as much as the next guy, but seriously... The Pussycat Dolls were on the AMA's the other night (which I finished watching last night) and I'm not impressed with their talent as much as I was impressed with their sexy outfits!
I'm just sayin'... 
I guess the same goes for Britney.. sexy sure, but pretty much talentless.  HOWEVER, Christina... the body and the voice, that lady is pretty dope.  Never thought I'd see a day where I favored Xtina over Brit!  


Interesting Story - I heard Mischke mention it yesterday on his show (I owe a blog in dedication to him... he's one of my favorite people).



A Great Site!  Here is the full list; my favorites include: Facebook, Wine, Canada, Recycling, Breakfast, and Coffee.

On that same site you will find Sushi, you may have assumed my love flows deep for the stuff, while I've not written about it, I do jump at every chance to try a new sushi place.  I should start writing about it!  
Anyhow, my point here is after reading the page linked to sushi I've come to discover I'm a borderline sushi snob!  I want to just express to all of you, if you have not tried sushi because you are scared to order it or scared of it in general... see me!  If you take me out to a sushi dinner I will sit there with you and explain everything I know (which is a lot, but not all), help you understand, and even order your meal for you!  I know the good things to order for a beginner... I'm that good!  I'm just saying... don't be scared, it's just another food really.


Last random topic involves you, the reader.  This is Random - Vol. 8.21, as you may or may not have noticed, in 2008 I have titled all of my random blogs this way, with the last number increasing.  Basically, you have random, which explains what the blog post is about, then you have the volume number, in this case it's 8.21, which means it's year 2008 (8) and post number 21 in that year (8.21).  I thought about continuing to post this way in 2009, so it'd be 9.1 through 9.21 [or whatever number I get up to], but I'm not sure if I really want to continue like that. 
As a reader I'm sure you don't really care how I label my posts... but in the off chance you do, I'd like to hear from you.  I'm looking for creative ways to title posts in 2009, some way that allows me to keep track of how many random blogs I've posted.  I'm not sure how to best do that, different from what I'm already doing.  Anyone have thoughts... (even if you think it's silly, it may spark something in my head... so please let me hear it)... ??


As I haven't signed off for quite some time, I will leave you with this:
WORD BITCHES!

OvErHeArD

So, I was checking out a blog of a friend of a friend (remember when I first signed up for this blog I mentioned there is a whole community involved with it?) - Her name is Dana and I was looking at this blog specifically.

She talks about a website called Overheard.  It caught my eye and I decided to spend some time there.  I highly suggest you take a few minutes and make a stop there... if you have any bit of a sense of humor you will truly appreciate this site!  There are many different sites for different locations; I was at Overheard in the Office for quite some time as well.

These are actual conversations people have had and someone has overheard... anyone can post, so keep it in mind next time you overhear some random hilarity.

Here is an example of one that made me laugh pretty hard:

Boss: I think I'm going to start keeping a supply of Bailey's in my desk to mix with my coffee to make the day more bearable.

Surprised secretary: Seriously?
Boss: Not really, but it would be awesome.
Secretary: I guess it would make it better.
Boss: Like two cups...then you would be set for the day. And plus, your tolerance would be higher preparing you for the weekend. It's two birds with one stone.
Secretary: Wanna go at lunch?