What do I know?

I'm older than most of you reading this; I've also done a few "grown-up" things that some haven't (House, marriage - divorce. You get the idea.) I have no illusions that this makes me any smarter than anyone - but one point of this blog is to pass on any "wisdom" I've acquired from which others might benefit.

This week's gem? Home ownership is not all it's cracked up to be.

I love to shop on the weekends, go to movies, hang out with friends, go see my cousins, etc. Some weekends, I can get away with it. Others - not so much. There's stuff that has to be done - deck furniture to put away, leaves to be cleaned up, lawns to be mowed, mulch to be spread, gardens to be pruned.

In short - houses are a lot of work. This is all stuff someone else would take care of if I lived in an apartment. Or even owned a condo.

But nooooo....

It looks so innocent....

So I'm outside for two hours this weekend, dragging huge bags of mulch all over the yard to get them into the garden. I trimmed, I clipped, I weeded - I got a sliver from the stupid barberry bush, which are really pretty, but completely treacherous.

One of those bushes is huge - so I couldn't just trim it with the clippers. I had to get out the electric hedge trimmer (which I highly recommend if you need such things). I actually like using that thing, and was humming along. Until the wire got unruly - and I accidentally cut through the cord with the trimmer.

Sparks flew - towards me, towards the garden; towards the house. Ooops.

My cousin says to me: Why were you using tools?!

Well, the answer to that is simple: I'm single, I live alone, and I can't afford to pay someone to do my yard work. It has to be done - and I'm the one who has to do it. {cue violin} Don't get me wrong, it's satisfying to own something of your own; to look at a well-kept home and know you did it all yourself. It's also an excellent workout.

But it's hard work - and doesn't always leave a lot of room for fun. Which is not something any real estate agent will put on the listing.

Which brings me back to my point - home ownership isn't all it's cracked up to be. Also - the world is a much safer place when I'm in a shoe store.

Loreal Sublime

*In the interest of full disclosure, please note that I was not compensated for this post. I bought the product with my very own money. Just so happens I loved it enough I felt I had to tell you.


Wanna know a secret? Tan legs look thinner. Since I fully endorse the optical-illusion method of looking thin, I like to keep myself tan, especially in the summer months when skirts and shorts abound in my wardrobe.

Know what else? Tanning is bad for you, and requires you to undress in a small room with the possibility of a fire alarm going off at any moment. I'm all for sun-worshipping when I have the time, and the weather, but that almost never happens at the same time.  Plus there's the whole wrinkles issue.

So, self-tanners it is. They actually work well. We know I have no patience, so I prefer the variety that deliver quick results. I also prefer the medium-tan (aka darker) tone, even though I have lighter skin. I get my light skin from my Irish mom, but my ability to tan and dark hair come from my French -/American Indian dad.

The problems with self-tanners are: You have to wait for them to dry, there is a noticeable odor and they streak if you're not careful. Those first two issues mean I try to apply lotions at night - and if I forget, my whole tanning schedule is messed up.

But the other day, unable to find my regular brand, I stumbled upon Loreal Sublime. Let me tell you - it's aptly named. It's has a dark tint, which makes it easy to tell where you've applied, and where you haven't, and helps keep the application even. It's lighter than a lotion, so it dries quickly, and it leaves a subtle shimmer on your skin. Tanning appeared after just a couple applications.

Best of all? No odor.

This product is perfect to apply in the morning, which means I don't have to test my patience - or my tanning schedule.

Just thought you oughta know.