It’s funny.  Whenever I run and swim, I lose weight and firm up like you wouldn’t believe.  It’s incredibly simple, it works, and yet somehow, I still find myself buying crazy exercise DVDs instead of running and swimming.   The”On the Ball” Abs Workout DVD is the latest in my long line of experiments, but I’m actually really happy with this one.

Why, you ask?  Because it actually gave me something to do with the freaky ball that’s been occupying a corner of my office for the last 3 years.  For 3 years, that thing has stared at me from the corner, daring me to try it (and probably kill myself on it…I tell you, my ball is evil).  Thanks to On the Ball: Abs Workout, I’ve figured out how to use my balance ball and not kill myself.  I’d say this one actually earned my $20.

Abs Workout DVD
Price: $20.0
Abs Workout DVD - total running time: approximately 32 minutes.

When it comes to meat, a good sauce can help people overlook a lot of problems.  Did you singe the edges of the steak?  Just cover it with some sauce.   Over salt the chicken?  Rinse it off and add sauce.  Drop it on the floor?  Call it breading and add sauce.

This Robert Rothschild “King of the Grill” Sauce Set comes with Smoky Sweet Chipotle Sauce, Asian Sesame Sauce, Regular Smoky Sweet Sauce, and Apricot Ginger Sauce.  At $30 for 4, that’s actually cheaper than some of the bizarre gourmet sauces in the local grocery store.

Robert Rothschild “King of the Grill” Sauce Set
Show them why you’re the king of the grill! This set of four sauces lets you grill up steaks, burgers and chicken with flavors guaranteed to make your mouth water. From sweet and savory to spicy and exotic, these sauces are the grillmaster’s best companions.

I’m definitely a fan of mixing modern with not-so-modern - specifically, rococo with contemporary for a cute bohemian look.  When I came across these Rococo accent pieces today, I was definitely excited.  They’re super-versatile and they really brighten up a room.  What do you think?  Cute boho or hideous no-go?  Did I just say that?  Somebody stop me here.

Focal Point Rococo-R6
89617 - Focal Point Rococo-R6Rococo-R6Fixture Type:MedallionsDimensions:Projection: 2 1/8″Diameter: 16 1/4″

Focal Point Rococo- Left
99014 - Focal Point Rococo- LeftRococo- LeftFixture Type:Stair BracketsDimensions:Height: 7 7/8″Projection: 3/4″Length: 11 7/8″

Focal Point Rococo- Right
99024 - Focal Point Rococo- RightRococo- RightFixture Type:Stair BracketsDimensions:Height: 7 7/8″Projection: 3/4″Length: 11 7/8″
I’m not so sure that you need all three pieces to make the perfect little boho room, but I figured there’s no harm in mentioning all three.  I particularly like the round rococo focal point.

Back in junior high, I was a pretty big nerd.  Despite the fact that I looked pretty normal, I might has well have been a leper, based on the attention I got from the boys in my school.  Actually, the same can be said of high school.  Although a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that I was kind of an uptight nerd, I’m sure the constant minor breakouts didn’t hep, either.  I never understood how some girls were able to have perfect skin, while I was stuck trying to keep things under control.

Nothing worked: not diet, not exercise, and not even the various prescription acne medications that ended up causing half my face to peel off.  I guess it was probably just genetics, but that’s not even remotely comforting as an excuse -  actually, it still isn’t.  That’s a lot of wasted time.

As a 20-something, my skin’s not as bad, but I definitely wouldn’t call it good. At any given time, there are at least a couple of existing breakouts or issues just below the surface.  That’s why I ran to the store within a few hours of hearing about the Zeno acne clearing device.  I had read nothing but positive reviews, and it was over $100, so I figure it might actually work.

Once I had it in my hands, I immediately got to work on a pimple-in-progress.   Two days later, it still hadn’t appeared, and the slightly swollen area beneath the skin had gone away completely. In all seriousness, I practically cried at the thought of how much better my teenage years would have been with this the Zeno.

So what I’m saying is this - if you have problem skin, or even if you just have occasional breakouts, don’t hesitate to pick up a Zeno.  They come in teal, pink, and silver, and they’ll usually run you somewhere between $150-200.

There are few things nicer than a friendly outdoor dinner in the middle of the summer. A pitcher of sangria, some light salads, and some meat on the grill - plus a bit of light music that everyone can enjoy.  The Time Life - Classic Soft Rock set includes 11 discs of the best soft rock songs from 70s and 80s.

Check out the full track list below.  There are a ton of good ones on here.

Disc: 1
1. Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts
2. Key Largo - Bertie Higgins
3. Make It With You - Bread
4. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago
5. Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
6. Hello It’s Me - Todd Rundgren
7. Sara Smile - Daryl Hall & John Oates
8. Chuck E.’s in Love - Rickie Lee Jones
9. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
10. Still the One - Orleans
11. Hurt So Bad - Linda Ronstadt
12. Cool Change - Little River Band
13. Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia
14. Never Be the Same - Christopher Cross
15. You Can Do Magic - America

Disc: 2
1. Black Velvet - Alannah Myles
2. Beautiful in My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
3. Missing You - John Waite
4. Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross
5. Even the Nights Are Better - Air Supply
6. Kiss You All Over - Exile
7. Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
8. You’re the Only Woman - Ambrosia
9. Steal Away - Robbie Dupree
10. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
11. Lotta Love - Nicolette Larson
12. 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
13. Wildfire - Michael Murphy
14. Tin Man - America
15. Guitar Man, The - Bread
Disc: 3
1. Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins
2. Waiting For a Girl Like You - Foreigner
3. Sailing - Christopher Cross
4. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
5. Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime - The Korgis
6. How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
7. Sentimental Lady - Bob Welch
8. Minute by Minute - The Doobie Brothers
9. She’s Gone - Daryl Hall & John Oates
10. It Might Be You - Stephen Bishop
11. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
12. I Saw the Light - Todd Rundgren
13. Diamond Girl - Seals & Croft
14. Horse With No Name, A - America
15. Baby I’m-a Want You - Bread
Disc: 4
1. Ride Like the Wind - Christopher Cross
2. Saturday in the Park - Chicago
3. Sister Golden Hair - America
4. You’re So Vain - Carly Simon
5. If - Bread
6. Ooh Baby Baby - Linda Ronstadt
7. Him - Rupert Holmes
8. You Are the Woman - Firefall
9. All I Need - Jack Wagner
10. Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
11. Making Love Out of Nothing at All - Air Supply
12. I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
13. Living Years, The - Mike & The Mechanics
14. Drive - The Cars
15. One More Night - Phil Collins
16. I’ll Be There - The Escape Club
Disc: 5
1. Into the Night - Benny Mardones
2. It’s a Heartache - Bonnie Tyler
3. Drift Away - Dobie Gray
4. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
5. Your Song - Elton John
6. How Long - AIR
7. More Love - Kim Carnes
8. I’m Not in Love - 10cc
9. I Just Wanna Stop - Gino Vannelli
10. Babe - Styx
11. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton
12. Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop
13. Lonesome Loser - Little River Band
14. While You See a Chance - Steve Winwood
15. Let’s Make a Night to Remember - Bryan Adams
Disc: 6
1. Daniel - Elton John
2. I Need You - America
3. Wild World - Cat Stevens
4. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
5. I’d Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan/John Ford Coley
6. On and On - Stephen Bishop
7. Tempted - Squeeze
8. Things We Do For Love, The - 10cc
9. Best of Times, The - Styx
10. Cry - Godley & Creme
11. Your Wildest Dreams - The Moody Blues
12. Higher Love - Steve Winwood
13. I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) - Meat Loaf
14. Please Forgive Me - Bryan Adams
15. More Than Words - Extreme
Disc: 7
1. Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
2. Whenever I Call You ‘Friend’ - Kenny Loggins
3. Piano Man - Billy Joel
4. Longer - Dan Fogelberg
5. Miracles - Jefferson Starship
6. Lost in Love - Air Supply
7. More Than I Can Say - Leo Sayer
8. Rosanna - Toto
9. More Than a Feeling - Boston
10. Take It on the Run - REO Speedwagon
11. Make Me Lose Control - Eric Carmen
12. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
13. Living Inside Myself - Gino Vannelli
14. Flame, The - Cheap Trick
15. Sara - Starship
Disc: 8
1. Livin’ Thing - Electric Light Orchestra
2. This Is It - Kenny Loggins
3. Africa - Toto
4. Eye in the Sky - Alan Parsons Project
5. Look What You’ve Done to Me - Boz Scaggs
6. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling - Daryl Hall & John Oates
7. All Out of Love - Air Supply
8. Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
9. Search Is Over, The - Survivor
10. All by Myself - Eric Carmen
11. Without You - Nilsson
12. Year of the Cat - Al Stewart
13. Dust in the Wind - Kansas
14. Vincent - Don McLean
15. Please Come to Boston - Dave Loggins
Disc: 9
1. Listen to the Music - The Doobie Brothers
2. Ventura Highway - America
3. Kokomo - The Beach Boys
4. California Dreamin’ - The Mamas & The Papas
5. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
6. It Never Rains in Southern California - Albert Hammond
7. Thank You For Being a Friend - Andew Gold
8. Everything I Own - Bread
9. When Will I Be Loved - Linda Ronstadt
10. I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near) - Michael McDonald
11. Baby Come Back - Player
12. Circle in the Sand - Belinda Carlisle
13. Hold On - Wilson Phillips
14. I’ll Be Over You - Toto
15. Just the Way It Is, Baby - The Rembrandts
Disc: 10
1. We Don’t Talk Anymore - Cliff Richard
2. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
3. When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman - Dr. Hook
4. Fool (If You Think It’s Over) - Chris Rea
5. Doctor, The - The Doobie Brothers
6. Release Me - Wilson Phillips
7. Jessie - Joshua Kadison
8. These Dreams - Heart
9. Hearts - Marty Balin
10. I Go Crazy - Paul Davis
11. Sad Eyes - Robert John
12. American Pie - Don McLean
13. Air That I Breathe, The - The Hollies
14. Reminiscing - Little River Band
15. You’re No Good - Linda Ronstadt

Disc: 11
1. Got to Give It up (Pt.1) - Marvin Gaye
2. Serpentine Fire - Earth, Wind & Fire
3. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
4. Cold as Ice - Foreigner
5. It’s So Easy - Linda Ronstadt
6. Year of the Cat - Al Stewart
7. Things We Do For Love, The - 10cc
8. Rich Girl - Daryl Hall & John Oates
9. Handy Man - James Taylor
10. How Deep Is Your Love - The Bee Gees
11. Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt
12. Heard It in a Love Song - The Marshall Tucker Band
13. Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
14. Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller
15. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
16. Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner
17. Slip Slidin’ Away - Paul Simon
18. Stayin’ Alive - The Bee Gees
19. So in to You - Atlanta Rhythm Section
20. I’m in You - Peter Frampton

Get the set at:

Summer is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited.  Yes, it’s almost unbearably hot, and yes, gas is $4+ around here, but outside of that, life is pretty good.  Of course, I would be better if I had this 18 Liter Cooler & Warmer with Radio.  In addition to keeping your drinks cold, it has a warming feature (great in 6 months for bringing holiday food to parties) and a radio/iPod feature.  Yes, a cooler with an iPod adapter.

$120 is a little steep for a cooler (and warmer!), but given that you can listen to music pretty much anywhere with it, it’s not bad deal.

If you love it, buy it at:  

I’ve probably said it before, but Delia’s definitely has some cute stuff, even if you’re “too old” to be caught dead in their stores.  This funky Damask Victorian Sheet & Pillowcase set is a perfect example.  It’s a little bit youthful and cute, but the damask pattern definitely lends it a bit of sophistication.  It would be great for a 20-something bedroom.

Several of the set’s pieces are pictured below:

Victorian Sheet & Pillowcase Sets
Price: $41.0
The sheet set comes with a striped flat sheet with blue border, blue fitted sheet, and stripe pillowcase with blue border.

Victorian Message Board
Price: $46.0
Wood/fabric.  Imported. Catalog and web exclusive.

Victorian Comforter Cover
Price: $40.0
The comforter cover can be reversed to show a large Victorian print.  Black-Multi. Twin, full, queen. Imported. Catalog and web exclusive.

Amazingly enough, I do remember to feed my pets.  Of course, they actually interact with me.  Plants are another story.  I can’t remember the last time I was able to keep a plant alive for more than a few weeks.  They just fade into the background for weeks at a time, and by the time I remember to water them, they’re on their way out of this world.

I do love some of the newer self-watering planters and hanging baskets, though.  I might actually have a shot at keeping something alive if the plant waters itself.  Here are a few that I came across recently:

20″ Cortina Self-Watering Planter, Ochre
These Italian-style self-watering planters come in several vibrant colors for $45 each.  The 16″ version comes in at $35.

39″ Self-Watering Windowbox, Green
For $39, you could get one of these cute self-watering windowbox planters.  I think they’d also be cute along the edge of a white wraparound porch - very Leave it to Beaver-ish.

Self-Watering Trellis Planter, Small
If you have a little more room, this $90 self-watering trellis planter could be perfect.  Once you get vines growing up the trellis, you’ll have extra privacy or shade, too.

Self-Watering Hanging Basket
If your budget is a little lower (or if you just want a hanging planter), this self-watering hanging basket is perfect.  Hanging plants are kind of a pain to water even if you do remember, so this version is especially nice.

I think the biggest thing that keeps me from recycling is the fact that it’s time consuming and gross. Dirty newsprint and sticky soda cans really aren’t something I want lying around my kitchen in piles. Of course, if I had something like these cute Recycling Bins, I might feel a little more obligated to do it…and then I’d feel better for doing something good for the world…and then that would translate into actually BEING a better person, right?

Or I’d just have some cute recycling bins. What do you think? Can owning the bins make you get responsible about the environment? Should there be a charity somewhere designed to get these bins into homes at no charge?

The Smart Bin 16 Gallon, 3 Compartment 18/0 Stainless Steel Pedal Recycle Bin

Even though Poo-Pourri Spray looks all pink and flowery like it’s for girls, we should all remember that girls do not actually poop. If you happened to know someone who DOES poop, though, this would be a fun gift. It would definitely be handy in a shared bathroom situation.

Instead of spraying it to cover up the icky smells, you spray the water with Poo-Pourri before the smells happen. Yeah, it’s a little gross to explain, but the effect is decidedly un-gross.