Make Up...!!

I love feeling pretty, and looking how I feel.  Make up has always been part of my daily routine, and I trust the women at the Clinque counter to help me choose trendy colors and show me applications, and then I go out on my own to places like Kohls and try to find a few eye shadows and blushers I like.  9 times out of 10 I buy stuff I end up not using.

I realized a long time ago that mascara and I just don't get along, I have virtually NO lashes, and what does stick to them ends up running down to my lower lids before the day is out. But I recently discovered Younique 3D Fiber Lashes and they are truly amazing. You apply a coat of any mascara you have on hand and let it dry. Next apply an all natural Yonique gel coat to your lashes, and while that is still wet apply the fibers with a mascara wand which will adhere to the gel. Finally, finish with one more coat of gel to seal in the fibers.  This product is just as good as fake lashes, lasts all day, and truly is WATERPROOF. Yes you heard that right. And with all of that, it still comes off quite easily with soap and water.

The lashes are $29 for the gel and fibers, which will last you 2 months if you apply daily, longer if you apply less often. I think this is quite reasonable, as I'll spend up to $15 for an over the counter brand that barley gives  me any boost.

Younique also offers pigments for eyeshadow and liner, blushers, foundations and skin care...all of which I have yet to try but it's next on my list.  

Younique is a direct sales company where a representative acts as your personal sales consultant and they will work with you in person or online.  You can host online parties and share this fun with friends far and wide, that's what I did. So I have free product coming my way from hosting. Pretty cool!

The rep I went through is Lori Mitchell and here is a link to her site. If you order, please tell her Tracey from CT sent you.  https://www.youniqueproducts.com/LoriMitchell/products/landing

Kicking 2012 into Healthful Gear...

I'm sooo ready for 2012 to be an awesome year!  I am looking into being more nutritionally fit, and having some major fun. I have discovered a few really great resources for supporting me in my quest to be more health minded.

1. New Morning Market, Main Street in Woodbury,CT - a great place to find all natural and organic foods and wellness products. You can trust that these products have been vetted and meet very strict 'New Morning' standards.  AND for a limited time, they are offering a free 20 minute consultation with their resident nutritionist Alison Birks. Just call the store to set up an appointment and she'll guide you to some helpful solutions tailored just for you.

2. Isagenix - it's a nutritional cleanse and meal replacement nutrition program that helps you eat well, feel mentally on top of your game, oh yeah, and...you lose weight, too.  WINNER. (this video helps explain how Isagenix can help us combat the toxins and pollutants all around us, to keep us healthy)

3. Wildtree - This is an entire line of cooking ingredients that are all natural, and make meal prep a snap.  They have a variety of gluten free items, too. 

I'm going to make 2012 my year to improve my health.  40 is the new 20, and that's all I'm sayin'!

Bargain Movies

When I was younger, and single, seeing a new release in the movie theater was exciting.  Now...just getting out of the house without the kids is exciting.  Why should I spend $12 to see a new movie, plus additional hard earned cash on concessions?  No need to smuggle in Snow Caps and Sour Patch Kids in your purse, I've discovered two bargain movie theaters in Connecticut that I really enjoy.  Please use comments to add other budget theaters, too. I'd love to check out more.

My all time favorite movie theater is the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT. The theater formerly shared the building with some of Newtown's town hall offices, which have sinced moved.  Edmond Town Hall shows movies that have been out in the theaters for a while already, or perhaps even movies that are no longer being seen in first rate theaters. The theater has undergone some renovations, and the seats are all new now.  There is even a balcony which can make your movie viewing experience more unique.   The best part, though, is that tickets are onlyt $2 each! A large popcorn is $3, and bottled beverages are $2.  Other candies and concessions are also available.

Another great movie theater is the Strand Theatre on Main Street in Seymour, CT. The same type of movies can be seen here, older films no longer showing in first rate theaters.  The cost per flick here is $4.50.  In my opinion the atmosphere is not as quaint as Edmond Town Hall, however the theater is rarely full so you can have your pick of most seats in the house, and they sell inexpensive concessions, too.

If you're into staying home, look for a Redbox near you, and you can rent movies for just $1/day with a credit card.  Keep the movie as long as you'd like with no late fees...just $1/day. You can even check inventory and reserve your movie by visiting their website http://www.redbox.com before heading out.

Please add comments with other inexpensive movie theaters in the area.

Sweet Stuff...mmmm, mmmm good!

While this is not a travel post, I just wanted to share with you some really excellent (and inexpensive) sweet treats my family has found throughout Connecticut.

ICE CREAM
The Ice Cream Shoppe, Bridgeport Avenue, Shelton CT
http://www.icecreamshoppeshelton.com 
They have the best tasting soft serve ice cream we have ever had, and their cakes are way better than those at the local chain stores. The prices are reasonable and the cakes can be custom made with different flavor ice creams, fillings, toppings and even designs on the top. Just call about a week ahead for a special order. Open all year round.

Rich Farm, Route 67, Oxford, CT
http://www.richfarmicecream.com
Set on a real farm, Rich's has the best hard serve ice cream in the WORLD, and you get some monster scoops for a really nice price! That coupled with the beauty of the property makes it worth a trip from anywhere in the state. The lines are long on hot summer days, but the college kids doing the scooping do a great job of moving people fast. And, like Pepe's Pizza in New Haven, waiting in line is really half the fun. It's a great chance to chat with your kids while you pour over the extensive menu of flavors. It's only Seasonal, so check website or call for dates/times.

CHEESECAKE
Stockbridges Cheesecake, Route 110, Shelton, CT
http://www.sbcheesecakes.com 



CINNAMON BUNS
Ikea, Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT
http://www.ikea.com 
6 for $4!


CHOCOLATE
Bridgewater Chocolate, Brookfield, CT
Tastes fantatstic, but this is one store that is not on the cheap side. A bar goes for $4.95, but it really is worth every penny!

Munson's Chocolate
http://www.munsonschocolates.com 
Main store and factory, located at 174 Hop River Road, Bolton, CT


Ikea
Pretty good bars for $.99, and the packaging is plain and sophisicated, so I think they'd make a nice addition to any gift basket or a great gift topper, even. Personally I think they make a wonderful snack for the ride home!

BAKERY
Ovens of France, Woodbury, CT
http://www.ovensoffrance.net

Great pastries, cookies, coffee cakes and tapioca pudding

Haight-Brown Vineyard Harvest Fest - September 19, 2010

http://www.haightvineyards.com/

My husband and I wanted to take a casual stoll outside today, and go somewhere we could take our two year old, too. So we headed to the Harvest Festival at the Haight-Brown Vineyard in Litchfield, CT.

The cost was $8 per person for the festival, which featured jazz musicians playing on the lawn, self-guided tours of the vineyard, and the kids had the opportunity to do some old fashioned grape-stomping. There were a handful of vendors there including Hungarian food, local burgers and keilbasa, local ice cream, fudge, and some crafts, hand made jewelry, soaps and custom wood designs.

If you wanted to taste wines there was an extra $7 charge, and that included a keepsake glass. I opted for purchasing just one $5 glass (cup) of white wine, which had a very nice flavor and was served by a very friendly woman, who was enjoying a glass herself. My kinda gal!

The ride up to the vineyard was beautiful, and the vineyard itself is pretty. The tasting room inside is upstairs and is quite lovely with dark wood, a little bar, items for sale, and again very friendly staff. I enjoyed chicken paprikash from the Hungarian vendor, and my husband ate both a burger and kielbasa from the local vendor, then we sat on the lawn with our daughter and enjoyed the music.

All in all a nice day trip, but I'm still not sure what we paid the $8 for. I wonder if I missed something....?

Ladies Night Away

Last weekend I enjoyed a Ladies Night Away with a few friends from New Hampshire and Connecticut. Everyone thought this was a great trip, and it was really cost effective!

We all met at the Clarion Inn and Suites in Manchester, CT where we reserved a two bedroom suite that was just perfect for five friends. We enjoyed some lunchtime appetizers we had brought, and headed to the Buckland Hills Mall for shopping, which was only about 10 mintues away. After shopping we headed back to the room for our wine and munchies, while we got dressed for our night out. The two bedrooms and two full bathrooms sure did come in handy for five chics trying to primp!

We then met up with three more girlfriends and had a cozy, inexpensive dinner at the Hartford Road Cafe' in Manchester, where the fire was roaring on this freezing cold Connecticut winter night. The food was decent, and the service was attentive. After dinner we headed out to Willimantic (which was about a 25 minute drive) to see the play 'Steel Magnolias' at the Burton Levitt Theatre. The actors are in the Windham Theatre Guild and they did a wonderful job. Our tickets were just $15 each, and the theatre was intimate so any seat in the house is fantastic! After the play, we had a chance to chat with the cast, what a pleasant experience for all of us.

Once we left the theatre, we tried to go the Main Pub back in Manchester for drinks, but the doorman wanted to charge us $7 each for a cover, because there was a band playing. Being mommies on a budget we simply said 'No thank you' and headed for the door. He then offered to let us sit in the empty secluded dining area and pay no cover. Not what we had in mind, when you go to a bar you don't want to sit on the room by yourself, what's the point? He then tried to charge us less of a cover to sit in the side of the bar where the band could not be seen. We just don't like covers, they're mean! Then as we walked out the door he offered to charge us no cover. Too late buddy, sorry. By then we had already agreed it would be best to head back to our hotel room and save our money. We still had a bottle of wine and some sweets, as well as the game Apples to Apples which one of my friends thought to bring. GREAT idea!

We had a blast, just being women, laughing, drinking, chatting, bitching, and remembering how important girl time really is. Did we miss our kids? Sure...a little. But mommy needs a little bit of her own time sometimes, too. And the credit cards did not even work up a sweat!

Just Call Me Julie McCoy!

Well, that was easy! I just started my very own blog. Why? Because my friends all call me Julie McCoy, as in the Cruise Director from the Love Boat. (If you don't remember the Love Boat then you're probably too young to read this.) I love to plan social outings. Getting people together and making it an event is my favorite thing to do, second to listening to my toddler giggle.

I would love to share with you the experiences I've had, in the hopes of giving you some ideas for fun, festive, traditional and unique things you can do with your friends and family. Or, perhaps I'll help steer you away from something that I've discovered was perhaps not exactly as advertised.

Some quick background on me, I am married, I live in Connecticut and I'm in my late 30's. I have my Masters Degree in Marketing, and I used to work in the tourism industry. I now do freelance PR from home while caring for my 18 month old baby, and I also have two teenage step daughters.

In this blog I'll cover attractions for kids, babies, teen, ladies nights, romantic getaways, special events, theatre, and hopefully give you suggestions for how to get the most bang for your hard-earned buck.

I would love for you to post your own suggestions and feedback, too. So, come aboard!