Anyway, Steam activated cleanser.  The product claims to have “SteamActiv beads” that apparently do something spiffy upon being introduced to steam.  Package states for optimal results use daily in the shower.  Granted I was in the shower so I couldn’t tell if they suddenly sprang to life with little scrub brushes to clean out my pores but it really didn’t seem to do anything other than foam. (Technically steam will “activate” any cleanser as steam/heat opens pores – just sayin)  The beads were not exfoliating as I suspected that they were.  I’m not sure if it is the beads or the actual cleanser part itself, but there is definitely some menthol in this product.  I currently use one of the 360 cleaners from L’Oreal, the Biore product is much better.  My skin felt cleaner, and I was a huge fan of the extra-clean tingly feeling.  The smell is similar to other Biore products, but I was reminded of a honey lemon flavored cough drop – because of the menthol.

Overall this was a great product, I wish that they would kind of copy L’Oreal with the “scrublet” thing.   I ended up snagging the scrublet from my 360 face wash and using it. My face felt much cleaner than it does with my normal product.  I was slightly let down as I thought it would do something spiffy like the self warming cleanser that they have.

Upside: Cleans well, has mint/menthol in it.  Makes your face tingle and feel fresh and clean

Downside:  Smells kind of like a liquid cough drop.

http://www.howtodestroyangels.com/store/

Rule #7 – We do not stick your sisters’ toothbrushes down the drain, for that matter nothing goes down the drain that isn’t liquid.

Yet I sit here tonight beginning this entry that will more than likely go on for ages (or until I get bored and the personal amusement dies) as my girls are 3, 4, and 6.  My “other half’s kids are here often as well so we’ll go ahead and tack on another 4 yr old girl and a 10 yr old boy)Just to be clear, this isn’t your normal everyday rules like brush your teeth before bed, or take your plate to the sink. These instead are things that make me wonder what the heck if anything is going through these kids’ brains at the moment of whatever the crazy action may be.

So I begin this list with the gems of today

Rule #1 – If you open the yogurt and decide you do not like it, you may not throw it out and then decide you want the same thing immediately after.

This was started after my 4 year old decided she wanted Trix yogurt, she then said she didn’t like it and threw it out, only to turn right around and ask for the exact same thing.

Rule #2 – While I am your mother and it is my responsibility to help you brush and dry your hair, I am not the care giver for the bazillion dolls that you insist on bringing into the bathtub.  Throwing yourself on the floor in a hissy fit will not get me to change my mind.

Rule #3 – When you ask if your new slug “friend” can live in the house and you find that the answer is no, you may not get angry and throw said slug as hard as possible at the wall because you are mad.  Temper tantrums never get you anywhere, and that is surely not how you would treat a “friend”, besides there is nothing wrong with the flowerbed.

Rule #4 – If you and your sister are playing with the exact same toy, there is no reason for you suddenly to become infatuated with the one that she has, they are the same – play with your own.

Rule #5 – When we see a midget in the grocery store you may not suddenly exclaim “Mom! LOOK! It’s a MIDGET! SEE MOM!

Rule #6 – When we are in the store and I am buying tampons it is not necessary to tell everyone that “mommy is bleeding out her butt”

I happened across this on accident via the One2One network. I must admit that One eskimO is not exactly what I would call your typical adult contemporary or easy listening album.  Upon first hearing it was pleasantly surprised, being that generally I am not really a fan of this style of music.  There is a cozy, somewhat haunting ambient feel to the entire album, leaving you somewhat dreamy as you listen. The acoustic guitar gives it a laid back folk feel and at times adds a somewhat fun element.  Some of the songs seem to go on, leaving you hanging with no peak, even with all of the elements included in each song it somehow seems somewhat lacking in points.  Strangely enough you are still left wanting more.   Comparative in some ways to Dave Matthews, Tracy Chapman, Massive Attack and at times Dan Folgelberg, One eskimO offers something new and different to please your ears in a time when music is starting to all sound the same.

Check out their site here

First on the list - Brian Martone Illustration -  Tainting the world with his sticky darkness one image at a time, this guy definitely has talent. Prints are available, just contact him for info.

FreeDumb

Edward Mueller -  3D Street Art is always going to get my vote.  I don’t have that kind of patience to create something as vast as he does.  In a word – Impressive

The Crevasse

Jonathan Griffiths apparently gets a camera two years ago from his fiance to take pictures of his newborn son.  Somehow in the mix decides that he wants to take pictures of predators close up.  Goes to a wildlife breeding reserve in the Rockies – ends up with some pretty amazing shots.  (clicking on image takes you to story)

Snow Leopard

I get that no one can have good days 100% of the time, but when she gets like that I cannot deal with it.  She’s had a hard knock life so far.  I’m happy to say that things are better than they used to be.  I suppose overall it’s the age-old argument of nature vs nurture.  Plenty of times I beat myself up over things that have happened in the past and worry that she’s broken before her life even started.  I try my hardest to keep everything as smooth and copacetic, but when she has bad days that becomes damned near impossible.

Last night she decided that ” We are poor” because the cabinets are going bare.  Really in most people’s eyes that means, we need to go grocery shopping.  But to her we’re poor.  This wasn’t just a statement, this was an actual woeful remark made by her.  In some ways she’s right, we don’t have a lot of money but I surely wouldn’t call us poor.  Perhaps it’s just me that is in denial.

Later in conversation she exclaimed that she wished she was dead.  It was really hard for me to control my temper on that one for many reasons.  Top on the list is she’s six, at six you haven’t really even lived life.  There are so many things in store for you, so many things good and bad to experience.    She’s always been ruled by emotions instead of her head, a beautiful heard and mind.  Her reasoning though for wishing she was dead is simply so she wouldn’t have “to do everything for me”.  What brought that on?  I asked her to take her clothes and set them on the banister as part of our nightly routine to get ready for school the next day.

My little drama queen went on about all the things that make her life so horrible including us “being poor” and that her sisters are mean to her.  Despite that she isn’t always so nice to them either.  After talking to her for a bit we finally got to the underlying problem.  Kids were being mean to her at school saying that they weren’t her friend anymore.  I mean I get that your friends being mean to you at school can kind of spoil your day.  But to wish you were dead over it? I don’t understand that for a minute.  Perhaps I am slightly stuck on myself but I surely cannot understand wishing my life away over something someone else said.

So now the question is this:  Is it just her being over dramatic, or are these things really that bad?  Back in March there was a story about a girl who committed suicide after being bullied in school.  We all know from growing up that kids can and will be cruel.  How is it that you instill a sense of self into kids so that they don’t actually believe the stuff that people say to them?  How do you know when someone is being over dramatic, and when there is really an issue?

Is the world so different that we cannot deal with the stresses and pressures of life anymore?  How does one support their child in situations like this without enabling them to have a woe is me party?  Where is the line when you should look into seeking counseling and what not for statements like that.  Do you ignore statements like that?  Is it chalked up to things that kids say? Is it a warning sign or  just an overly dramatic rant?

But in the times between doing stuff I did manage to come up with some things to share.

#1 A poor man left by his wife, after 12 years of marriage.  She packed up her belongings except for her wedding dress, moved out telling him to do “”Whatever the $%^@# you want” with the dress.   So instead of throwing it out or selling it, he decided to use it as a healing process of sorts.  His goal to come up with 101 ways to use said dress.  So far on the list has been a foot rest, a gym towel, grill cover and scarecrow.  Amusing and sad at the same time.

#2 – Video of a fight on a bus.  While not very exciting per se, it is a very good example of what is wrong with people today.  Pay close attention to the beginning of the conversation.  The white man is asking the black man to shine his shoes.  Black man obviously takes offense, shit talking ensues and punches are thrown.

#3 Free Stuff Times – This one happens to be useful, unlike other sites that claim that you can get free stuff, this one compiles offers for samples, trials, coupons etc into one friendly site.  Useful, if you like free stuff .

#4 There, I fixed It. Related to Fail Blog and LOLcats this site features images of things rigged up.  You kind of have to see it to get the humor.  God knows what the hell some of these people were thinking.