Juicy AND Beautiful, that's me...I guess

One of my new year's resolutions was to focus more on pampering and treating my body right, and that seems to be translating to several (not cheap) trips to Sephora and my new favorite spa. So far all I've found out is that pampering is completely, 100 percent addictive and that it's also freakin' expensive, two things that really shouldn't hand in hand if you're a cheapskate like me.

Recently I picked up a little trial size five-pack kit from Juice Beauty, which is all natural and organic and the fact that it was packaged in green apple-colored packaging sold me instantly. I got a wee bit panicky at the fact that my sales gal at Sephora claimed she "absolutely, totally could not live without Juice Beauty's Hydrating Mist." Have I doomed myself by not purchasing a larger size? Will I collapse like a wilted flower on the bus one morning because I lack Hydrating Mist?

Who knew that not being properly pampered was a dangerous business? Here I just thought the worst would be some dry skin and stressed out looking hair.

Posting Secrets

Yeah, I know it's not a big secret, but I forgot just how cool PostSecret is sometimes.

Don't forget they have books to check out too....

One Punk, Under God

Interesting find on the Sundance Channel this weekend - looks like Jay Bakker, son of Jim and Tammy Faye, has his own show about his alterna-church Revolution. I'm not a card carrying member, but I like his approach and the idea behind Revolution:

"To show all people the unconditional love and grace of Jesus without any reservations because of their lifestyle or religious background, past or future. This love has no agenda behind it (I Cor. 13:5). This grace sets no timeline on personal change or standards for spiritual growth (Romans 4:4-5). The idea is to be a part of people’s lives because we truly care for them rather than to fulfill a religious duty; to walk with them through all their struggles as a part of their life, not as a religious outsider."

Seems like a solid answer to the "What Would Jesus Do?" question that too many folks use to shun and punish those who's lives they don't agree with.

I'm just sayin'.

Actually, Kleenex, I prefer to Keep It All Inside

So there I was, flipping through the latest issue of Allure, when I saw this weird ad from Kleenex that featured four very stoic/dead-inside looking people, covered by flaps of paper that opened, revealing alternative pictures of these people as crazed, psychotic, emotional, teary freakshows.

They've come out with this new campaign all around "Let It Out," - which encourages people to stop restraining their emotions and feelings and, well Let It All Out. By weeping openly (and using Kleenex), by getting so angry you barf (and use Kleenex), by laughing until you drool (and, ugh...seek medical counsel?). You get the picture. As a person of Danish ancestry (a group that's not exactly known for its giddy, raucous, emotional outbursts), this concept could not be more foreign to me.

But. Still. Like a good consumer, I trekked on over this morning to Let It Out.com, only to find videos and pictures that Nonstable People have submitted to Kleenex as well as a blog where you can read still more about this weird concept.

First the oval box transformation, now this invitation to abandon social decorum and personal dignity? Kleenex, what's up with you?

Mother Nature Clearly Dropping Acid These Days

You know, like I don't have enough to worry about, Mother Nature throws me a curveball in the form of a prehistoric shark with an eel's body.

Um, if that thing doesn't freak the bejeezus out of you, then you're a brave, hearty soul. I can't even blog about this any more. BLECH.

Apparently the “New Year! New You!” mantra that’s big this time of year doesn’t exactly translate to “New Blog Posts!” from the World of Beth. Okay, okay, I get it. I’m baaaaack! So what has Beth been up to for the past three weeks or so?

Getting snowed in. First two blizzards hit me in Denver, now we’re on our third (or fourth? Fifth?) snowstorm in Seattle of the season. Enough. Seriously.

Reading. Well what the heck else are you supposed to do when you’re snowed in? I’ve plowed through some good books lately, including Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress, Bitter is the New Black, Slammerkin and Tulip Fever. Also spending some time on a preppy Republican sorority girl's Website, which is pretty flippin' funny, despite how much I want to smack her sometimes.

Working on the New Me! In the New Year!. Yes, I’m trying to be healthy this year, like everyone else in the free world. I’ve been walking on my treadmill 4-5 times a week and so far I’ve lost three pounds! Yay! Which I gained back this week somehow. Boo! Snaps and props go out to the kind folks at SparkPeople, though, who sent me a kick-ass pedometer, water bottle and t-shirt. You guys rock!

Shopping online. Again, we’ve been snowed in a lot, lately. In addition to massive book-related purchases, I’ve also found Endless.com, which is Amazon’s shoe department extending into a separate website. The kicker is that they offer FREE overnight shipping. Find shoes. Click and buy shoes. Wear shoes the VERY NEXT DAY.

Being outraged by the movie "Friends With Money." Most. Depressing. Film. EVER. It takes a pretty ridiculous, sad, pointless film to make me hate every actress in it, especially since all of them normally kick ass. Catherine, Jennifer, Joan and Francis, I'm talking to you.