Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Thanks to Dawn Wittig for suggesting today’s awesome product.
My friend Dawn is visiting for the holiday weekend and she tells me she swears by Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. She has sensitive eyes and wears contacts. She’s tried every eye makeup remover there is and this is the only one that gets the job done without burning or being oily. She simply won’t use anything else.
With an endorsement like that I had to try it myself. I really like it. No pain, no grease, and no more mascara on my pillowcase.
Oyamel Forests
Monarchs gathering on tree tops
Each fall, eastern North American monarch butterflies migrate up to 2,000 miles to high-altitude Oyamel fir forests in central Mexico. There, over 100 million monarchs overwinter.
The mountain hillsides of Oyamel forest provide an ideal microclimate for the butterflies.
Awesome.
Cornelia Seigneur
Cornelia Seigneur (from her website)
When Cornelia Seigneur saw a Portland, Oregon, police officer get thrown out of a cafe for no other reason than the fact that he was a police officer she blogged about it; about how she didn’t understand why a public servant wasn’t welcome for a cup of coffee. Her blog post went viral and was picked up by national media, resulting in an outpouring of support for the men and women in blue who risk their lives every day to serve and protect.
She started a conversation about how we, the general public, view and treat not just police officers, but all public servants. She’s kept the conversation positive and open while standing up for something she believes in. And I think that’s pretty darn awesome.
Emma and the Aristocrats
There are great artists in nooks and crannies all over the world. In towns and villages everywhere live talented painters and gifted singers making their corner of the world a brighter place.
Emma Morton and her Aristocrats are just such artists.
Emma and the Aristocrats
Based in the small town of Barga, Italy, this Jazz/Swing band is belting out smooth sounds for all to hear.
Emma’s picture-perfect retro style brings a hip flavor to the band of known and not-so-known musicians that make up the band:
Alessandro Rizzardi (mandolin), Keane (Percussion), Fabio Guazzelli (guitar), Leo Gnesi (bass), and Emma Morton (cantante).
If you can’t make it to the Barga Jazz Club, head over to their website and have a listen.
The dogs of Pompeii
Pompeii is known as the resting place of Italians caught in a volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. It’s also known for the dogs that lived and died along side their owners. And for the dogs that live there now.
Beware of Dog
One of the most well preserved mosaics of Pompei is the “Cave Canem” mosaic in the House of the Tragic Poet. The “Beware of Dog” sign is a reminder that dogs have long been part of the community at Pompeii.
Today, a trip to the ancient city includes a stroll through the streets beside the stray dogs that wander and live there. One organization “i Cani di Pompei” is working to keep these dogs healthy, happy and to find them homes.
If you live in Italy, you can take one of these dogs, named after regions of the city and for historical home owners, home with you. If you don’t, you can support the dogs by donating online. The dogs are cleaned, neutered, and sheltered while they wait for adoption. They’re even given collars and name tags. Very much awesome.
Sand Castles
I don’t know about you, but for me, the call of the sand is almost undeniable. Anytime I go to the beach, I want to do three things: lie in the sun, swim in the water, and build a sand castle.
Sand castles!
I can remember being 6 or 7 years old, in the school playground, building fortresses complete with moats, drawbridges, arrow slots and turrets. I remember the feel of the sand and the excitement that came from creating. Now my sandcastles are mostly of the online variety.
But every now and then, I find myself on a beach with sand that is just the right amount of wet. And I’m 7 again, full of creativity, and alive.
Kale
Kale is one of those wonder foods. The kind we know is good for us, full of nutrients and whatnot, but that many of us don’t know what to do with. Maybe you get a bunch of it in your garden box, or maybe you see it at the farmers’ market.
Here’s a tip for preparing kale so that even your kids will eat it.
Kale chips
Buy some kale. Not the fancy kind, just the kale kind. Rinse and tear into pieces roughly the size of a potato chip. Yup, a potato chip. Spread them out on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Or until the leaves are crispy, but not burned.
That’s it. These bad boys are tasty. It’s almost like eating potato chips. But better. Way more awesome.
Cards for Causes
Thanks to Andrew Nordquist for this recommendation.
According to the website:
Cards for Causes was founded in order to help support worthy causes by offering hundreds of holiday, all occasion cards and invitations where 20% of every card purchase is donated by us to the nonprofit cause of the customer’s choice.
That’s pretty awesome. If you’re going to buy cards anyway, say for a business, or for your own holiday needs, why not buy from a company that donates to a charity of your choice?
In addition, Cards for Causes sells Christmas cards made from 10-100% post-consumer recycled paper. Good deal.
Cards for Causes
Torre del Lago
Italy has its share of beach towns. From the Cinque Terre and it’s beautiful jewel-like villages, to the Amalfi Coast and its buildings nestled into dramatic valleys. This week, I visited Torre del Lago, a beach town west of Florence in northern Italy. Just down the road from some of the more fancy beaches like Viareggio, Torre del Lago has a gritty, fabulous feel.
Torre del Lago
With the dramatic, green ocean in the foreground, and the often snow-capped mountains in the background, Torre del Lago offers amazing views from its colorful, public beaches.
Not only does it have beach access, Torre del Lago literally means, “Tower of the Lake.” So for those who enjoy a more tame water experience, the town’s lake is a great, peaceful place to watch ducks swimming and eat a gelato. As if that was not enough, this town is where the famous composer Puccini worked and lived. Those looking for a cultural experience can tour his home, opera house, or the church where he is buried.
Street performers
Street performers are pretty awesome people. They perform nightly, or daily, doing all kinds of amazing things. I saw this guy in Rome. He was riding a super-high unicycle and juggling fire.
Um, that’s awesome.
