Divinity in a Donut

To say I wish i had thought of the Maple Bacon Donut idea is putting it mildly !
Having been a lover of all things Maple since being a kid i did start to get discouraged when my co workers actually had to tell me that my yearly " gift" of maple sugar candies were not only not liked they dreaded me bringing them back to them every summer. Sold only in a small amount of north east gift shops, they are in fact sugar drenched in maple flavor and then pressed like bricks into tooth breaking
replica's of mini maple leaves. Apparently another one of those things maybe you had to be raised on.

I am pretty sure i am the only household in Los Feliz that has not one but two bottles of Mapeline in my pantry. If there was every a retro product its Mapeline, as dark as the black hole and I'm pretty sure its deep maple essence has absolutely nothing to do with the real thing. I wouldn't be surprised to find out its totally a byproduct of an oil spill, its that black in its tiny bottle, but nothing will kick up that packet oatmeal like a single drop !

But back to heaven on earth ! Last week Nick and i went for the newly famous Maple Bacon donut at the Nickel Diner and we were beyond ecstatic. Its just like the best thing in the world and worth every calorie !
I would even venture to say, and idea that could be replicated at home with a 6 pack from Dunkin donuts and a pack of that pre cooked Oscar Myer its that good of an idea to steal ! I mean don't get me wrong the Nickel one is HUGE, the donut itself is already above any donut standard set , and there was no whiff of fake Mapeline in their product, however they open at 8:00 and i was up at 6:00 today, so a girl has to make due. The only thing is donut shops /LA /Maple, its totally not the same. Dunkin ( when they have them in stock , and by the way corporate guys at Dunkin, when the hell did not having maple donuts in your bins 24/7 start? Move those lousy white bagels out and get back to your namesake ! ) If i lived next to a Dunkin, I can tell you i would wear them out about that, they are just so lucky I'm a visitor because that's just wrong !) but i digress...

So not only did we try the Maple Bacon donuts, the Nickle diner has amazing other flavors as well. Nick said the Nutella which did look like a small fist, was even better the next day. That should tell you we didn't just " try" them, we basically stole the stock they would let us have that morning ! Ricky's grandmother used to serve him leftover stale donuts squished flat in a pan grilled in butter. I'm telling you don't turn your nose up until you have tried that ! It can turn a supermarket plain carton into something dinner party worthy !

Its so fantastic to see such creativity on an item we would consider so mundane, so thank you to all the creative chefs out there ( and all the frugal grandmothers !)
So lets take our inspiration from unlikely places and go get crackin in the kitchen !

i Love all things High Def !

There maybe something to this movement of calling things High Def.
When i was given a sample of Cargo's High Def blush a year ago, i was like really even blush is high def now, and its one of the only times i used the sample in the morning and bought the product by the end of the day. It really is that unique.

The entire product line is finely milled or highly pigmented specifically for photoshoots. What took me over a year to get the powder is the big question.
Last Saturday i was in Miami( and if there was ever a reason for powder that climate is it !) and i strolled into the local South Beach Ulta. There a lovely young lady told me that if i bought the High Def powder i got the really nifty very specialized powder brush for like 2.00 more. Didn't have to twist my arm, and this brush is really amazing ! Its not a kabuki brush its more flat sleek and dense but im telling you im not sure if its the brush the powder or both, but if your looking for flawless
you have to pick this up !

In fact i have tried the brush with just NY and company ( CVS end aisle) mineral powder and really it did work as well. However i do think the finer high def powders are worth the money !



In fact Makeup Forever makes an almost white high def powder , which was at the register at Sephora in a bin, looked like a 2.00 pot of gloss----NOT. It was over 30.00, but i was in Vegas i think so i just figured well its got to be really good and it is ! The crazy thing is , i've put it in this holy grail of its to good to use which is mental! This is almost white , as finely milled as anything you've ever seen, but it sets and mattifies like nothing i have ever used !

If you ever see it get it, especially for anytime you might encounter any paparatzzi ! You can ever be to High Def !

Girlfriends do give the best suggestions !

I've been looking for surf spray for my unnaturally straight hair for about 3 weeks now and i don't know why i haven't hit the Internet but i just haven't. Last summer seemed like every major brand had a seasonal version, including in my opinion the best one by my favorite brand Mark , by Avon. This year product can't be found, i swear Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray was on the end of a little visited aisle at CVS for a year until i went looking for it ! And I'm sure at half the price of whatever it is at a salon.

Anyway , last week i run into Extraordinary PR ladies from Starfish, and i commented how great their hair looked and good true friends they are they told me the secret product !

Go get Garnier Surf Hair right now, it's fantastic ! It's in an acid green tub and with the gels, not necessarily in the larger Garnier section of conditioner items. When i hit the Hollywood Rite Aid ( and it seemed like it was the most dangerous place in the world at 6:30 on Thursday night, but that's another story) it was even on sale for 2.99 ! Regularly 4.99, i hadn't even tried it and i bought 3 !

It's the greatest product, adds just enough texture and it smells wonderful !

I am glad I complimented my girls, and so glad they shared the secret !
See it always pays to be nice ! Thanks again to Alison and Angela !