Do These Lashes Make Tummy Look Flat?

I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow! If you could imagine me simultaneously jumping up and down while weeping, you would have a good picture about how I feel right now. I'm really, really excited for a few relaxing days away, laying on the beach, and sleeping through the night. But saying goodbye to the boys is going to be really, really tough. Ryan's parents have kindly offered to come and watch them, so I know they will be having an amazing time with Mimi and Grandpa while we're away, but I'm still going to miss the heck out of them. 

   

So about the trip... I know what most women worry about when they're headed on a beach trip.

Eyelashes, right?

Think of it as a really vain version of the Serenity Prayer. There are things we can change - without too much effort, money or pain - (i.e. eyelashes) and things that we cannot (i.e. oh, I don't know, stretch marks?) 

I know the difference and I've chosen to focus all of my energies on the former. 

Apparently, these ladies have gotten eyelash extensions:

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And so did Tricia - the trendy, adorable, younger sister I'm always yammering on about. (Side note: I have a trendy, adorable, older sister too - I'll be yammering on about her on here when she visits with my sweet nephew Brady next week!)

Anyhow, Tricia was really good at graciously fielding compliments about her lashes without giving away the secret. I, however, couldn't stop myself from telling anyone that complimented my new look (and probably a few people who said nothing at all): "They're FAKE! Extensions I tell you!"

A few friends have asked me to blog about them, (probably just to shut me up), but for those that are interested, here is a behind-the-scenes look at professional eyelash extensions:

It looks pretty intense, but really the most painful part is laying flat on a table for a really long time - like two hours. 

You can't stop your big sis from taking pics when someone is pointing that thing at your eye.

At first, I thought that sounded kind of amazing, but sleeping isn't easy when your eyes are taped shut and there are sharp tools moving around them. Also, after about an hour and twenty minutes I start to get pretty antsy and my hips begin getting sore, but maybe that's just me. 

These falsies are supposed to last for two to four weeks, which seems like a pretty good trade-off. I'll have to update you if that window is shortened by a few days of salt water and chlorine. 

I'm not sure how long I'll keep them up, but I think they're pretty awesome. I mean, I wake up feeling fancy. Even, my sweatshirts suddenly look dressed up. And since I don't tend to wear makeup on vacations, they seem perfect for a beach trip.

Here are the obligatory before and after shots:

Danielle: Before

Danielle: After

I'm pretty sure Ryan doesn't notice them, but he doesn't seem to notice stretch marks either, so I'm okay with that. 

Tricia: Before

Tricia: After

So what do you think? Another crazy thing to add to the list of what women do for beauty? Or a fun and painless way to dress things up for a special occasion, vacation, or trip to the grocery store?

Zagat Restaurant Guide (Toddler Edition)

I love food. 

I don't consider myself a foodie, because something sounds a little too gourmet about that and I'm no Gwenyth Paltrow (and this is no Goop!), but it is fair to say I don't like to waste my meals on food that doesn't taste good. 

I've been known to spend an absurd amount of time researching restaurants before we go on vacation. (In the meantime, I may have forgotten to book a flight once and possibly left our train tickets from Paris to Arles on the kitchen counter - in America - another time, but that's neither here nor there.) I am no longer trusted with transportation booking, but I've never lead us astray on dining options.

Shortly after I moved to New York City in 2005, I bought a Zagat Restaurant Guide and proceeded to highlight and make notes about nearly every place I ate until the book became outdated - or maybe I ran out of money. I can't remember which it was. 

So for those of you that have never looked at a hard copy of a Zagat, they look like this: 

According to my '06 edition, there is a little formula used to judge nearly every place in the city on a scale of 30 and restaurants are given a score in the categories of "food", "decor", "service" and "cost". The location, website and phone number are provided, then there is an amazing little review, "with suveyor's comments in quotes". Here's an example of the top restaurant from that year:

I never went to per se, but the description of getting a "temporary pass to heaven" for about $201 a person tells me a lot about the place. 

My life has changed a lot since I toted this tattered guide around in my purse. For starters, I generally carry a giant diaper bag instead of a handbag these days. I also don't get quite as much of a say in where I dine (we get some strong opinions from the second row). So for these reasons I decided I could use an updated version for the types of places we now frequent. Below is the roll out of this new edition, using my own surveyor (Noah), whose expert opinion you will find in quotes below.

Costco

Make sure Mom and Dad time their trip to this membership-only warehouse to coincide with "sample time". A tiny person can nearly fill up on the "yogurt, cookies... hummus, cookies, sausage, juice and cookies" lurking on nearly every aisle. "Big carts" and "toys that are too high to play on" are the name of the game at this suburban staple. If the sample sentinels get stingy be sure to beg for a slice of "pizza" and "ice cream too" on your way out the door.

Chick-Fil-A 

The "cow place" is not just for southerners these days. Often requested under the guise of "chicken" cravings, but probably loved most for their "play place" and "ice cream with sprinkles". The friendliest fast-food workers on earth will slap a disposable placemat down on your table after they carry a high chair over for your little one. They'll also move you through a line in just five minutes that would take all day at the DMV. Don't forget to check for your "surprise" (spoiler: it's usually a book) in the kid's bag.

P.F. Changs

A toddler fan favorite for their "cookies with notes" this upscale chain welcomes you with "pretend statues of one, two horses" by the front door and a memorable "waving white cat" inside. They will give you "one, two, three, four crayons" but it's "too dark to see what color" they are. The egg drop soup tastes a little "like the soup with white jello squares and seaweed from the sushi restaurant" and may require an "ice cube" upon arrival. Children's menu is limited, so you may end up paying in the mid-teens for "steak and broccoli" for your three-year-old.

Sweet Cow

Affectionately referred to as "Lucky Cow" because it's attached to one of our favorite pizza places, Luckie Pie, this local treasure has become a go-to for sugaring up kiddos so they can run around the front "lawn" (it's really astroturf) and "bounce on cows" of the inflatable variety. Mom and Dad have been known to suggest a trip after dinner and pretend it's for the kids.

My favorite surveyor is busy napping off his calories (I promise he doesn't eat ice cream every day), but he will be updating me on additions for the guide as he continues to explore various cuisines in the Denver-Boulder area over the coming months.