Today's Obsessions

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• 8 of My Favorite Creepy Movies …
• 7 Tips For Losing Weight …
• 7 Ways to De-Stress During the Holidays …
• 8 Easy Ways to Bring Laughter to Your Life …
• Top 10 ANTM Candidates I Loved …
• 8 Reasons to Use Eco-friendly Products …
• 7 Fun Things To Do When You’re Bored …
• 8 Great Inexpensive Body Washes …
• 15 Lovely Ornaments I’d Love to See on my Christmas Tree …
• 10 Gorgeous Wall Hangings from IKEA …
• 9 Fun Father-Daughter Activities to Try Today …
• 7 Tips on Writing for Magazines …
• 8 Unique Honeymoon Destinations …
• 7 Cool Reasons to Play Video Games …
• 5 Fabulous Flats for You …

8 of My Favorite Creepy Movies … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 10:22 AM PST To me, "creepy" and "scary" are two different things, especially in movies. A scary movie is all about the thrill, the gore, the shock that makes you scream out loud in the theater. Creepy is more reserved, slowly drawing you in, making you think, and giving you nightmares for weeks. Creepy movies are so much more visceral and powerful than scary one, and if you agree, keep reading! Here are my 8 favorite creepy movies… 1. Pet Sematary Price: $7.49 at amazon.com What happens when a young doctor and his family move to a small New England college town? It may sound idyllic, but it's not. Things start to go wrong quickly, and despite his neighbor's warning that "sometimes dead is better," the doctor decides to try to raise the dead. This movie is so creepy, not just because of the gore, but because of the tension, and a few of the characters and some of the back-story. 2. Let the Right One In Price: $8.99 at amazon.com This summer, there was a movie in the theaters called "Let Me In," which is actually a Hollywood version of this movie, which, in my view, is the best vampire movie EVER. It's nothing like any other vampire movie out there. It's haunting, touching, and more than a little creepy. 3. The Night of the Hunter Price: $11.99 at amazon.com This is my all-time favorite creepy movie, starring Robert Mitchum as a southern minister in search of a missing fortune. He thinks a young widow's children might know where it is, and once he dispatches the mother, he relentlessly pursues her children. The movie is full of tension, drama, and near-misses. You'll be on the edge of your seat, trust me.

7 Tips For Losing Weight … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 10:14 AM PST “If only I could just lose 10 pounds I’d be happy”. Man, if I had a dollar for every time i’ve heard (or said!) that very statement! Most of us do have a few unwanted pounds to shed but we never seem to have the self-will to stick through our diets until we reach our goal. And hectic schedules seem to put us in a time crunch and we end up grabbing a burger on the run. Here are 7 tips for helping you to lose those last few pounds! 1. Reward Yourself Photo Credit: RoOoNa Yes I’m serious! Set a goal of weight loss, and once you have achieved it, then reward yourself! Buy a new outfit or some new makeup, or take yourself and a friend out for dinner. Do something FUN and something that will help keep you motivated and you will see that it is much easier to stick to your weight loss plan and the pounds will keep melting off with your determination! 2. Don’t Snack Around Photo Credit: floodkoff Trying to lose weight is difficult when you snack throughout the day. If you feel you simply can’t make it through the day without a snack, then here’s what you can do. Get rid of all your chips and cookies and sodas and stock your fridge with water, grapes, carrots, and line your pantry shelves with rice cakes and granola bars. Then when you reach for a snack, it will be healthy! 3. Make Small Changes Photo Credit: AXEHD You don’t have to start living on spinach and water and have a 2-hour workout session every day to see progress. Although I’m sure that would get you drastic results, most people don’t have the time to cook wholesome meals and get to the gym every day. But what you CAN do is simple changes. When you grocery shop, park at the end of the parking lot and get in extra walking time. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Drink water instead of pop. Replace as many food items as you can with fat-free versions. It will take a few weeks, but it will make a difference over time!

7 Ways to De-Stress During the Holidays … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 09:29 AM PST The holidays are my favorite time of the year, but they can be so stressful. The family gatherings, the parties, the shopping — even though you love it all, it can all take its toll and make you stressed and unhappy. But you don't have to decline every party invitation and hide like a hermit while you try to unwind… accept half of the dozens of invitations that come your way, and keep reading! Here are 7 ways to de-stress during the holidays. 1. Take a day off Photo Credit: .ervin. Do you really need to work every single day, all day, during the holiday season? And on your days off, is it so important to rush around getting everything done? No. Take a day off. Stay in your pajamas, drink tea and laze on the couch watching back episodes of your favorite TV shows. You'll be amazed at how de-stressed and relaxed you'll feel after these 8 stolen hours. 2. Take a bath Photo Credit: Justin Shearer If you can't take the whole day off, at least take an hour off — and spend it in a steamy hot bath. Use your favorite bubbles or bath salts, and just relax. 3. Find a happy scent Photo Credit: iamchanelle Sometimes all you need to help you relax and de-stress is the scent of something you love. Maybe it's a steaming mug of Trader Joe's mango black tea, or the stolen joy of the smell when a co-worker peels an orange, or your favorite spring-time perfume. Find a scent that makes you happy, and keep it handy for tiny little pick-me-ups.

8 Easy Ways to Bring Laughter to Your Life … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 09:26 AM PST When life's troubles get the better of you, there are some things you can do to cope. You can talk to a therapist and take medication. You can turn to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes to help you escape. Or you can cope with your stress in a different manner: with laughter. Yes, I believe that laughter is the best medicine. And we are quite lucky that it is free and highly accessible to everyone. Here are some ideas to get you laughing. 1. Comedy shows Photo Credit: Karen Martin Photo For a quick laughter, watch your favorite comedy shows and movies on TV or DVD. You can also check out different stand up comedies on video. Watch the shows with a special someone or with friends and family. 2. Comedy clubs Photo Credit: stanfordcomedy If you want a laugh while out in town, then you and your friends can go to a local comedy club. Find one with the kind of humor you enjoy. The point of going to a comedy club is to laugh the night away and not to end up being pissed off or offended. 3. Comics and Books Photo Credit: katiescrapbooklady There are a lot of funny comics and books that can bring laughter into your life. When you read the Sunday paper, don't forget to check out the comics section. As for books, you can check out your local library or a bookshop for material that will bring you laughter.

Top 10 ANTM Candidates I Loved … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 09:12 AM PST So yeah, I have some issues with America’s Next Top Model, also known as ANTM. However, I also watch the show religiously. Maybe not new episodes, but I watch a lot of the huge marathons shown on so many cable channels. I still love the show, but I loved it more in some of its golden years. Still, models in most cycles stand out to me, and here’s my top 10 list of them! 10. Analeigh Tipton Photo Credit: Michael Barr Pictures Analeigh was in cycle 11, which was about the last season before I stopped being invested in the contestants as much. Plus, well, pretty much all of my picks stopped winning! Analeigh’s soft, doll-like look and her sweetness reminded me a lot of Nicole from cycle 5. She’s another favorite, along with Nic of the same season, although they didn’t make it into the top 19. 9. Shandi Sullivan Photo Credit: ??? Shandi’s from the old school days of cycle 2, which is one of my favorite seasons. Actually, it’s my top favorite season, as you’ll see. I find Shandi absolutely gorgeous, sleek, and sophisticated, and I love it that she’s still just a beautiful little geek girl, singing karaoke. However, I can understand how she maybe didn’t do so well in photographs out in the real modeling world. 8. Kim Stolz Photo Credit: a r b o This androgynous beauty was a highlight of cycle 5 for me. I loved everything about Kim. In pictures, her mouth was an eye catcher, and I love the way the red hair from her makeover complemented her skin, which provide an amazing contrast for her eyes. I can get why she was kicked off, but her Venus picture in London was still exquisite. Have any of you seen her on MTV?

8 Reasons to Use Eco-friendly Products … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 09:04 AM PST Look under your kitchen sink. Is it cluttered with dozens of cleaning products? Most of us have one thing for cleaning the bathroom, another for the kitchen, a degreaser, floor cleaner, window cleaner … However many products you have, have you ever given any thought to what effect they have on you and the environment? Here are some strong reasons for switching to eco-friendly products. 1. Environment Photo Credit: Lumase It's very easy to forget that all the products we use end up polluting the environment. Either they end up in the water system, or in the atmosphere. So giving up existing products in favour of more environmentally-friendly alternatives makes a really positive contribution to reducing contamination and improving our surroundings. 2. Animal-Friendly Photo Credit: vanessa mae As I have cats in my home, I don't like to use strong chemical products. So wherever possible, I prefer to use natural or eco alternatives. If you have a garden, eco-friendly versions of pest control will also avoid harming useful insects, unlike chemical products. 3. More Pleasant Photo Credit: Renato Pequito Personally I can't stand the smell of most cleaning products, and find that the eco-friendly versions have a much more pleasant aroma. I even make my own air freshener with a few drops of essential oil (NOT perfume oil) in a small spray bottle of water. Lovely – and not at all harmful!

7 Fun Things To Do When You’re Bored … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 08:56 AM PST I hate hearing people complain about how bored they are. There are always so many things to do, you’ll never have to be bored again! If you’re looking for something to do, I can help! Here are 7 fun things to do when you’re bored. 1. Go bowling Photo Credit: FotoEdge Most people think bowling is boring, but it's actually not, especially if you bring a group of friends. You can bowl just for fun, or maybe compete against each other to see who the better bowler is. When I go bowling, I have them put the bumpers up on the lane, so I don't have to keep getting gutter balls. Bowling doesn't have to be serious, just make it fun! 2. Have a photo shoot Photo Credit: nickwheeleroz You don't have to be a professional photographer to have a photo shoot! Just grab your camera and your friends, and have fun with it. You can also dress up in what you'd like to add spice to the pictures. This is another fun way to hang out and be goofy at the same time. 3. Play board games Photo Credit: Canonshot Mole Bring out Monopoly! Many people also think that board games are boring, but that's only if you make them boring. Gather a group of friends and just play. Don't take the game so seriously, just laugh and have fun. You'll love playing that way, I promise!

8 Great Inexpensive Body Washes … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 08:45 AM PST I love using body wash, but I hate spending a fortune on it. Seriously, it's shocking how expensive some of them can be, and they're not really any better than the lesser-expensive ones, either! If you're with me on this, keep reading! Here are 8 great, but inexpensive, body washes, all under $10 each, all available at drugstore.com! 1. Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash, Pink Grapefruit Price: $7.99 at drugstore.com If you suffer from body-breakouts, but you don't want to use harsh treatments on your chest, neck, or back to get rid of them, then give this gentle, effective body wash instead. It lathers up nicely, and has a fresh, realistic pink grapefruit scent. Best of all, it's designed to clear up body acne, and won't over-dry our skin in the process. 2. Dove Body Wash, Deep Moisture Price: $8.99 at drugstore.com Winter's here, and for some of us, that can mean dry, itchy winter skin. Yuck! Combat it gently with this rich, fragrant body wash by Dove. It provides deep, healing moisture while you wash, rinsing clean and leaving your skin soft and supple, even in the middle of winter. 3. Olay Body In-Shower Body Lotion, Moisturizing with Shea Butter Price: $6.99 at drugstore.com My dermatologist once told me that the best time to apply body lotion was directly after my shower or bath because then my skin would best absorb it. She commented that it would actually be best to apply it in the shower, but they didn't make a shower lotion… until now. Olay does make one, ideal for dry, itchy skin, that looks and feels like a body wash, but works like a lotion.

15 Lovely Ornaments I’d Love to See on my Christmas Tree … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:25 AM PST Some prefer their Christmas tree decorated with red and gold ornaments, some opt for silver and blue and some would never give up the chance to have them all. I fall in this last category and my Christmas tree is always quite a little explosion of colors. That's why I'm about to give you a very long list of 15 ornaments I'd like to update my collection with. Hope you like them! 1. Gingerbread cookies set Price: $27.80 at crateandbarrel.com Four different cookies will make somebody's tree decorating routine much sweeter this year. Don't let the design fool you, though, they are not edible so, you'll still have to bake some real ones. 2. Candy canes set Price: $11.80 at crateandbarrel.com This set of four lovely candy canes looks good enough to eat. You can't do that, unfortunately, but I'll tell you one good thing about them. They are made of glass so you can use them to decorate your tree for Christmas and decorate your cocktails on any given day of the year. 3. Glass whale Price: $4.95 at crateandbarrel.com Lovely design and an even better color! I'm a sucker for glass ornaments because, if you take a good care of them, they will always look brand new. And, since this is not a tradition Christmas design, there is no rule that says you have to put it away after it.

10 Gorgeous Wall Hangings from IKEA … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:28 AM PST I love IKEA so much. They have a lot of expensive items, but there are even more affordable ones, and their sales are so tempting. Even if you can’t afford their couches or beds or dressers, I am a big believer that you can do a lot of decorating with simple wall hangings, so here are my top ten favorites from the store. You’ll find pictures, posters, frames, and mirrors! 1. Drops Price: $9.99 at ikea.com This piece is not only ridiculously inexpensive, but it has the potential to be a great decoration. Cute all by itself, you could also buy two of them and hang them on either side of a larger picture, a mirror, or a wall clock. You could put in family pictures, pictures you’ve taken, or some of the small photos and posters IKEA offers. 2. Premiar Price: $149.00 at ikea.com This is on the expensive side (I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sale), but I love the picture. Nighttime shots and city scenes are favorites of mine, and this one has exquisite juxtaposition. It would look great in a living room or a bedroom, and with the right décor and furniture, it would be just beautiful. 3. Honefoss Price: $14.99 at ikea.com I love this mirror! Better still, you can buy more than one and add them together, so you can make all kinds of different shapes. And since the mirror is less than fifteen dollars, that’s actually doable. I could see this looking great in a bathroom.

9 Fun Father-Daughter Activities to Try Today … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:08 AM PST For the picture in the beginning of this blog, I have included a picture of my husband and little girl. As a father it can sometimes be difficult to know what activities to do with your daughter and the truth is she will probably enjoy anything that involves spending time with daddy. Here are 9 fun father-daughter activities to try today. 9. Shopping trip adventure Photo Credit: Salva del Saz This activity really depends on your daughter because some really love shopping for clothes, accessories and other bits but others really hate it. If your daughter is one that loves this kind of trip then why not go on a giant shopping trip, you do not need to spend lots of money but it can be a nice day out. 8. Visit the zoo Photo Credit: _Zinni_ For a child a visit to the zoo is spectacular, especially if they have never been before, with the wide variety of animals there. The two of you could spend hours at the zoo having fun and again it would be an educational trip because your daughter would learn about nature. 7. Read stories or create your own Photo Credit: Grain Edit.com Your daughter will be able to let her creativity and imagination run wild if you read stories together or better still create your own story. This activity will show your daughter that reading can be educational and fun at the same time.

7 Tips on Writing for Magazines … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:43 AM PST As a fulltime freelance writer, I enjoy writing about many things. I also enjoy writing for magazines and believe there is nothing that is out of my boundaries. As long as I have the Internet, I can do whatever research is necessary. Right now, I have decided to give you 7 tips on writing for magazines. Now, some of you may already know these tips, but some of you may need to be reminded, so let me continue … 7. Be Professional Photo Credit: -Snugg- Many writers that choose to work for magazines will accept less money simply for having the status of being published. Then, you have other who do it as a hobby because they have other money sources. You also have those that do it as a job. Either way you go, it is important to be professional. Always meet the deadline and avoid making errors. 6. Keep in Touch with Your Editor Photo Credit: extraverage™ You should keep in touch with your editor, but don't ask too many senseless questions. If you do not think you will be able to meet a certain deadline, then make sure you get in touch with the editor as soon as possible. 5. Be Unique Photo Credit: Federico Erra You do not want your writing to look like something that has previously been written. You want it to be unique. Simply put, you want your name to be written all over it.

8 Unique Honeymoon Destinations … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:18 AM PST One of the most waited moments in life is the wedding, followed by the vacation called honeymoon, which gives the lovers the relaxation needed after the stress with the preparations. There is a vast number of possible destinations, each one being unique by its culture, lifestyle and of course the beauty of nature… 8. The Bora Bora Island Photo Credit: msdstefan Being located in the Pacific Ocean, in the Tahiti group, this French destination is known to be one of the most beautiful in the world due to its natural splendor, being surrounded by a lagoon and a reef. It is a quiet place. Two black peaks peaks dominate the view: Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu. They are considered a dream for any romantic couple. 7. The Mauritius Photo Credit: bleuet / Anne-Marie This is an island from Africa's southeastern coast in the Indian Ocean, it's a true paradise with azure clear water and white-yellowish beaches and a coral reef. The population is a mix of different European, Indian and Chinese people. 6. Hawaii Photo Credit: PGill Family Many islands wait for couples to spend their love period here. It's a dream come true for every romantic pair.

7 Cool Reasons to Play Video Games … Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:36 AM PST It's time to express those reasons why it's cool to play video games and I will tell you 7 Cool Reasons to Play Video Games in this blog. Video games are a major cool thing to do for children, teenagers and adults. Let me tell you my cool reasons to play video games. 7. It Helps You Comprehend Stories Better Photo Credit: ryo59plus I've found that many people that play video games comprehend the story better, because you get to be in the story and be hands on. For those that don't like reading books, you can play video games. 6. Eye And Hand Coordination Photo Credit: Ethony* Video games help you with increasing your eye coordination and hand coordination. You can develop good finger and hand movements through pushing buttons or even using remotes like the wii or PS3 motion controllers. 5. There Fun To Play Photo Credit: andyversus Of course its fun to play and it's what cool kids do. People play video games to test their skills and have fun while doing it. Each different console has its own unique way to adding fun to your day.

5 Fabulous Flats for You … Posted: 14 Dec 2010 08:16 PM PST 1.Vintage Boots Well, these will definitely keep you warm. They’re great for sight-seeing, too! The next time I go on a holiday, I’d bring flat boots with me. 2. Skulls Here is a beautiful pair from Alexander McQueen. Colors are white, black, and silver. Can you say FAB? They look like they will be very kind to your feet, too. 3. Lace Up I like flat shoes with laces (oxfords, brogues, etc) and this brown pair is a looker! I like the way it’s styled here with jeggings and a flowy top, too. 4. Quilted For a self-confessed flats-lover, I have never owned a quilted pair. I bet these are super comfortable! I think I’ll send this link to the boyfriend…Boys need all the help they can get when it comes to shopping for gifts. 5. Studded Like I said, I like lace-up flats. So it only makes sense that I would include this pair that Karla got recently. Beautiful, right? Which of these flat shoes would you rock out? If you ask me, I’d say all. Top Photo Credit:  cherry blossom girl

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