theFinds: Stuff You're Gonna Wanna Find

Les and SJC give you our most favorite finds, from amazing concealer to the best hamburger we've ever had. You're gonna wanna find this stuff, too!

[thefinds-blog]

Fetchdog.com

I am sooo sooo sooooo in love with this website!

If you have a dog, you don't need any other website but Fetchdog.

This site has the nicest stuff: beds, food bowls, sweaters, leashes, toys, on and on.  Good quality stuff.

Shelby has already made her Christmas list.

[thefinds-blog]

30-40% off EVERYTHING at Gap

Want to get a start on your Christmas shopping?  In need of some new duds?  Have we got good news for you . . .

Having lived in San Francisco for four years, just about everybody knows somebody who works for Gap.  And every once-in-a-while, their Friends and Family discounts become available.  And now it looks like they're letting everybody in on the fun.  

So now through this Sunday, the 13th, you can get 30% off online and 40% off in-store purchase from ALL of Gap's lines - including baby, kids, and maternity!  I ordered a haul myself online last night and saved a boat load.  Don't miss out!  

To redeem online, use code GAPFRIENDS.  If you plan to shop in-store, just print out the image above and you're set.  

Happy Shopping! SJC 

[thefinds-blog]

HuffingtonPost.com

The Huffington Post is my new online go-to source for, well, everything.

I think what makes the Huff so great is that it truly is an online newspaper, so everything is intended for online readers, rather than news that is adapted for the internet.

The Huff covers ev-er-y-thing.  Once you get on the Huff bandwagon, you'll start to find the areas you like best.

Their comedy section is by far my favorite.  They upload tons of funny clips from the prime time and late night talk shows.  Every Wednesday they publish "7 Sites You Should Be Wasting Your Time On Right Now" and I find the most random, entertaining, what-would-my-life-have-been-like-if-I-hadn't-seen-that sites.

Their breaking political news section is the best online.  When the debt ceiling crisis and FAA shutdown was happening, my friend Shannon and I were always the first to know the scoop, minute-by-minute, thanks to the Huff.

The travel section also offers tons of interesting articles, they have a great celebrity section if you're into that, plus religion, movies, fashion, sports, economics, health, and on and on and on.  And in my opinion, the Huff's articles are superior to the average news.

-Les

[thefinds-blog]

Mad Men

So it's four seasons in and I'm just getting up-to-speed.  I finally get all the buzz about Mad Men.  I don't have the AMC channel, so I assumed watching Mad Men was not an option for me.  But thanks to the internet, I got wise.  

If you watched the Emmy's Sunday night, you saw Mad Men win "Outstanding Drama" for the fourth year in-a-row.  Set in the 1960s, Mad Men is an AMC series about the hard-working advertising executives on Madison Avenue in New York City.  While there are many different aspects of the show that I find less than enthralling (nonstop adultery, sexism/womanizing, and constant smoking), I have found the costuming and authenticity of the scenes and story lines (in relation to the decade they are set in) keep me coming back for more. 

And you know what I've learned, I'm sure glad I wasn't getting my career started in the 60s!  I cannot imagine being treated so awful by my male (and female) colleagues.  I find myself gasping at different scenes.  I'm pretty sure that I would not have been a very well liked career woman in those days.  I'd have really made some waves and likely would have settled on being a crazy cat lady to avoid the rampant sexism.

The fifth season starts up in March 2012, so you've got some time get caught up.  Logon to sidereel.com and get to watching.  My favorite character you ask, Peggy - for sure.

-SJC

[thefinds-blog]

Pioneer Woman on Food Network

The Pioneer Woman has been a wildly successful blog for several years now.  Ree Drummond posts to-die-for recipes, photography, home and garden finds, movie picks, homeschooling tips, dog stories, and much more all from her Oklahoma ranch.

Last month, The Food Network added The Pioneer Woman to their lineup.  I enjoy seeing the shots of their ranch and her recipes have been really good ones like chicken fried steak and marinated tomato salad.  My one complaint about the show is that they don't let her personality out much, her blog is more entertaining if you ask me.

Check out the show Saturdays at 10:30 Central time.  It does a good job of representing Oklahoma without showing trailer homes and tornadoes!

-Les

[thefinds-blog]

Simply Lemonade

So it seems that summer is over where most of the US is concerned, but here in San Francisco, the summer is just getting started.  I have kicked-off my summer nights with Simply Lemonade.  Have you have this stuff yet?  Wow!  The ads are right, you'll never make you own lemonade again!  

Maybe it's the childhood memories that come into focus when I drink it or maybe it's the satisfaction I get from drinking a GOOD glass of lemonade - whatever it is, I want more.  Thankfully I treated myself to a Costco supply of the lemonade, so it should last me throughout the Indian Summer.

If you too want to enjoy a good glass of lemonade - summer or not - grab a bottle of Simply Lemonade at your local grocer.  You'll thank me.

-SJC

[thefinds-blog]

I Heart My State Necklace

Gift alert!  I am loving these I heart my home state necklaces.  They are super cute and decently priced.  She's got all the states and lots of countries.

Price is $55.

-Les

[thefinds-blog]

TypeRacer

Think you type fast??  Wait til you try TypeRacer!

I'm all over this game lately.  It's free and you don't have to create an account (although I highly recommend that you do).  TypeRacer puts you in a typing race with a handful of others as you each type a quote from a movie or book.

If you register, it will keep track of all your wins and losses, your typing speeds, your average speed, your fastest speed, etc.

And you can even create a temporary race link to invite anyone to race against you.

I'm up to 114 wpm suckas.

-Les

[thefinds-blog]

Stacy's Pita Chips

Are you looking for a simple, satisfying snack?  Well look no further than Stacy's Pita Chips.  Stacy's has got it right here.  These pita chips are unlike any others I have had - primarily, they are really, really good.  I dare you to eat just one.

The Simply Naked variety are a crowd-pleaser and need nothing added to them.  But I will occasionally eat them with bruschetta or hummus.  My other favorite variety is the Parmesan Garlic and Herb.  If you are lucky enough to live near a Costco, you can get Stacy's Pita Chips in all their varieties for a good price.  However, lately I've seen them all over the place.  Grab a bag today!

-SJC

[thefinds-blog]

Fresh Sugar Lip Balm

Just another reason why I heart Sephora.  Fresh's line of Sugar lip balms is fabulous!  This balm moisturizes, repairs, protects, and tints lips.  I wear plum, and it also comes in clear, rose, honey, and passion (brand spankin new).

This stuff is silky and has a great tint that is natural.  I also love to wear it under lip gloss if I need a more "going-out" look.  This lip balm is $22.50 at Sephora.

-Les

[thefinds-blog]

The Help

I recently just finished reading The Help, in anticipation of the movie.  It is the story of black women who worked as maids in white homes in Jasckon, Mississippi in the 1960s.  I thought the book was okay, a little slow, a little too complicated, but overall a good read.

The movie is better than the book.  It still has the slow pace of the book (the movie is 2.5 hours!) but the movie cuts out some of the complicated stuff from the book and simplifies the story-line in just the right ways.

What really makes this movie are the maids.  Aibileen is played by Viola Davis and Minny is played by Octavia Spencer.  Those two women bring LIFE to the film.  Everything is funnier when they are on screen and when they cry, get ready, you gon cry with em.

The book is not bad, I recommend it if you are a reader, but I enjoyed the movie more.  It's a good, non-conventional "chick flick" for you and a friend.

-Les

[thefinds-blog]

Ricochet the Golden Retriever

Okay - stop whatever you are doing right now, and watch this video.  

Ricochet the golden retriever is a canine copilot for disabled surfers.  Dogs are absolutely amazing!  Their ability to connect with humans has inspired so many to do things they never dreamed possible.  This video is but yet another example of man's best friend at work.

-SJC

PS - Don't forget to visit Ricochet's Facebook page.

[thefinds-blog]

$1 McDonald's Coke 'til Summer Ends

Mmmmmm!  My favorite summertime treat - an ice-cold McDonald's Coke!  There is no better Coke than the elixir that flows from the McDonald's fountains.  Do you know what I'm talking about - that slow "burns-down-your-throat" feeling?

I always suspected that the Coke from McDonald's was not your regular Coke.  But I was able to confirm my suspicions about five years ago when I ran into a big time national Coke distributor at a dinner party.  He told me that McDonald's is the only fast food vendor that adds MORE syrup and carbonation than the "manufacturer suggested" mix.  And ooooh what a difference it makes!  If you don't know what I'm talking about, go get one today.  

The best part - all large drinks at McDonald's are only $1 all summer long.  But summer won't last forever.  The deal lasts through September 6th.

-SJC

[thefinds-blog]

Beauty Fusion Tinted Moisturizer

This stuff is a miracle!  I don't wear foundation, in fact I can't stand it, but I'm getting a tad older, and I felt like my skin needed just a liiiiiiitle something.  So I headed out to Sephora and a consultant hooked me up with this gem.

Fusion Beauty's tinted moisturizer is heaven on my face.  It is the lightest-weight of all the tinted moisturizers out there so when I wear it, my skin still feels like my skin.  The shades are very complimentary to skin, your real color still shows thru; no orange makeup foundation face.  It has a decent amount of coverage, while still remaining sheer.  A little dab will do you, it doesn't take much.  It's got SPF in it, no oil, it won't break out your skin, and it provides great moisture.  It is everything a tinted moisturizer should be.

I wear Sand, and a large tube costs $40.

-Les

**Alert** Right now, if you order anything online at Sephora.com, one of the free samples you can choose is a sample of this stuff in Sand.  Get it and try it!

[thefinds-blog]

Bachelor Pad

Yes, another reality TV find . . are you seeing a theme here with my summer choices?  So the second season of Bachelor Pad started up last week and it is a whole new [low] level of reality TV.  Bachelor Pad is a collection of contestants from all the former Bachelor and Bachelorette seasons living together in the Bachelor mansion, competing for $250k in cash.  And it's brutal.  These folks are back for blood.  It seems as though they put together the crazy of the craziest for this competition.  

If any of you watched the Bachelor season with Jake and Vienna, you've gotta tune in to the Bachelor Pad.  They are both back.  Vienna is there with her boyfriend, former bachelor "guard and protect your heart" duche bag Kasey.  Jake is clearly still in love and Vienna is as evil as ever.

Be warned - Bachelor Pad will suck up your ENTIRE Monday night as it runs for THREE HOURS!  Join me Monday nights 8PM/7PM Central on ABC.

-SJC

[thefinds-blog]

Big Brother

Are you watching this summer?  Big Brother is my annual summertime guilty pleasure.  This show is is always a guaranteed crowd pleaser (albiet an adult crowd).  I jumped on the Big Brother train about 10 seasons ago and I've been hooked ever since.  I continue to find it absolutely fascinating to watch these folks go into a game where their every word and move are recorded and displayed for the whole world to see.  They all know that they are going to be lied to consistently throughout the entire summer, yet they always seem to think they have a winning strategy and that their alliance(s) are trustworthy.  And even I have moments of insanity where I think I would enjoy playing the game myself.

If you have not caught the Big Brother bug yet, it's not too late to join in.  Big Brother is on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights this summer on CBS.  Get your TIVO set and enjoy!

-SJC

Les footnote here: I let SJC talk me into this 4 years ago, and I haven't missed a summer season yet!  It is reality TV watch-worthy.

[thefinds-blog]

Watch the Throne

Kanye West and Jay Z have a collaborative album out this Friday, August 12. 

I am really digging this album, from start to finish.

Kanye's beats are really, really good and I feel like Jay's more mellow attitude helps Kanye to tone himself down all around.  They each rap on all songs, it really is a good, joint effort, no one is trying to be the star.

Top 5 tracks are (hard to narrow down!): That's my B&%$#, N****s in Paris, Gotta Have It, Who's Gon Stop me, and Murder to Excellence.

Get this album, bump it in your car, I promise you will be glad you did.

-Les

Preorder for $9.99 on Amazon.com and iTunes