Question of the Week : 5 Things on Your Wish List

What are the top 5 things on your holiday wish list this year?

1. iPhone
2. Wii
3. This couch
4. Keurig coffee maker
5. A super large flat screen there is that will fit perfectly above our fireplace.


1. Calvin Klein "Robin" boots (I think I can check those off since I plan to order them today....Piperlime, 20% off today!)
2. Coach "Madison" wallet
3. Dior J'adore
4. A Roomba
5. Down Jacket



1. Witchy stuff (i.e. cauldron, wand, athame, incense, candles, chalice, Goddess/God statues, an altar, a pentacle for my altar, witchy jewelry etc.)

2. A greenhouse for my plants, as well as a water filter for my entire house.

3. A spa day (including a cut, color, and style; pedi and mani; eyebrow wax; and make-up consultation)

4. A gift certificate to Borders...at least $500. ;)

5. A 50+ inch flat screen HDTV.



1. My own In home office
2. Was a Keurig too but we got one Sunday! So now I'd like some acessories, I'm obsessed with it! Will need to post about it and take pics..
3.Permenant Gps in my car
4. Dooney &Bourke Leather bag
5. New living room furniture.



1. Lots of new clothes
2. A key fob for my new Coach purse
3. Whammy! for the Wii (seriously love that show!)
4. Maid service- including someone to come and put up all of the early Christmas stuff we just acquired at the relatives over Thanksgiving
5. Money- then I can just do what I want with it all ;)

1. Viva la Juicy Perfume, or Baby Grace by Philosophy
2. Some new clothes!! I would love this jacket, which was quite flattering on, but was too much $$.
3. Books!! Especially "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffeneger- author of "The Time Traveler's Wife".
4. A "semi-pro" camera
5. Some fun jewelry, like this "Mamma Mia" inspired necklace (in gold!) and some new makeup goodies, like Anastasia brow gel in caramel!

Be Thankful!!!

There's no denying that times are tough for a lot of people right now. But we here at Simply Femme still know that there's plenty to be thankful for. We're wishing you all a wonderful, relaxing, joyous Thanksgiving. Take a moment to reflect on the things that are going well for you now, and be thankful :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

New Moon [No Spoilers!]

Just a quick post to see if anyone was among the crazy millions (I was!!) to go see New Moon in the past few days... if so, what did you think???

BUT no spoilers please!! :)

QOTW - What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for the good health of almost all of my family and friends, as well as myself. I am thankful that I found the love of my life at such a young age. I am thankful that my kids are really cute and smart. I am thankful that I have been able to start making a little extra money to help pay the bills. I am thankful for the job security that Joe seems to have. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and two working cars. Lastly, I am thankful for coffee, kid's On-Demand shows, Snuggies, our fireplace, and good books.

I am thankful for good friends, a great family, being able to spend the holidays together, and making memories that last a lifetime.
I'm also thankful for Black Friday sales, leftover turkey sandwiches, help with putting up the Christmas decorations, our troops who won't be able to be home for the holidays, fake snow at Stony Point (I hear it tastes like peppermint!), home air fresheners, stain removers, strong coffee, quiet trips to the grocery store, and bubble baths with a glass of wine after the kids go to bed.

I am thankful for my family, for my friends, and for our good health. I'm also thankful for my school and the fact that I was finally able to return to school, and for Russ' job during these hard times. For my favorite used bookstore with its seemingly endless shelves of formerly lightly-loved books, and for the book club that I belong to.

I'm thankful for our sweet doggy, and for the smiles and cuddles she brings. Finally, I am thankful for those who serve our country both in the past and present, and that they gave their freedom so that we may have ours.

I am thankful for my family and friends, for my home, for my husband who works so that I don't have to. For my two wonderful children, great vacations, our health and happiness. I'm thankful for 2 newer, working vehicles, for paying off bills, for friends who are there through the good and bad times, quiet walks on the beach, and only a 20 minute drive to get to the beach. I'm thankful for our soldiers, past and present, and for the sacrifice from them and their families.

On the less serious side, I'm thankful for Coca Cola, maccaroni and cheese, Walmart brand Doritos, designer jeans, Sephora, Coach and Louis Vuitton. ;)

This year, I'm thankful for so many things: my spiritual path, my home, our cars (even if they are old..they're paid off!), Doug's job, my family and friends, my herbs, and mostly, my two amazing little munchkins who make my life worth living. I'm beyond thankful for the strides Parker had made this year and for the beautiful, sunny little girl Autumn is becoming.

I'm also thankful for alternate medicine and doctors who are willing to listen to parents and understand their need not to vaccinate. And finally, the autism community I'm a part of, DAN! doctors, my family's health, our amazing soldiers, good books, blogging, and the GAP commercial currently on TV which celebrates religious and cultural diversity...and actually mentions solstice! Go GAP!

Suri Cruise: Growing Tall

Love 'em or hate 'em, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise have one of the most famous kids in America, Suri Cruise.

Ah yes, to live the lavish life, with two multi-millionaires as parents, jet-setting and spending your days shopping for toys in countries that most kids you age can't even pronounce.

But Suri has been making news lately for a different reason.

What is she wearing on her feet?

Yes, those are heels on Suri (rumored to be a specially made pair of Christian Louboutins). At one point, the poor little one loses a shoe and stumbles on the sidewalk. Mom (in flat boots, mind you) catches her.



Don't get me wrong, I think Suri is a total doll. But high heels on a little girl, almost daily, are just all wrong in my opinion. My daughter wears heels, but they are loafers with chunky heels, or the occassional pair of dress shoes that may have a chunky heel on them. But fancy, designer heels for a child? Not sure how I feel about that one. Once in awhile would be ok, but Suri seems to be in the news quite often for wearing heels. Obviously they aren't going to buy their shoes at Shoe Show, but what kind of message is that sending?

So tell us, what are your thoughts on little girls in heels? Do you think Suri's shoes are inappropriate, or are they cute? What age is ok? Would you let your daughter wear them at that age? Should girls that age wear heels for anything besides dress up?

Femme Forum Reminder!

Just a reminder! Join us at the Femme Forum tonight at 10pm EST. Grab a drink and settle down for a night with the girls. We always have tons of fun, so don't miss it!

To attend the chat, log-in to your AOL messenger or AIM. Find your Buddy Chat option, usually located under the "AIM" tab at the top of your buddy list. In the buddy chat box that pops up, type your screen name into the "screen names to invite" box, and the name "Simply Femme" in the box for the name of the chat. It should take you to the chat. If you have trouble or a question, please feel free to send one of us an instant message.

Stephanie: SimplyStephanie6
Bernadette: SimplyBernie6
Bridgett: SimplyBoo6
Kaileigh: SimplyKiki6
Cassie: SimplyCass6
Chantelle: SimplyChantelle6

We hope to see you there!

Book Review : The Wednesday Sisters

Synopsis from Barnes&Noble.com: 

Friendship, loyalty, and love lie at the heart of Meg Waite Clayton’s beautifully written, poignant, and sweeping novel of five women who, over the course of four decades, come to redefine what it means to be family.

For thirty-five years, Frankie, Linda, Kath, Brett, and Ally have met every Wednesday at the park near their homes in Palo Alto, California. Defined when they first meet by what their husbands do, the young homemakers and mothers are far removed from the Summer of Love that has enveloped most of the Bay Area in 1967. These “Wednesday Sisters” seem to have little in common: Frankie is a timid transplant from Chicago, brutally blunt Linda is a remarkable athlete, Kath is a Kentucky debutante, quiet Ally has a secret, and quirky, ultra-intelligent Brett wears little white gloves with her miniskirts. But they are bonded by a shared love of both literature–Fitzgerald, Eliot, Austen, du Maurier, Plath, and Dickens–and the Miss America Pageant, which they watch together every year.

As the years roll on and their children grow, the quintet forms a writers circle to express their hopes and dreams through poems, stories, and, eventually, books. Along the way, they experience history in the making: Vietnam, the race for the moon, and a womens movement that challenges everything they have ever thought about themselves, while at the same time supporting one another through changes in their personal lives brought on by infidelity, longing, illness, failure, and success.

Humorous and moving, The Wednesday Sisters is a literary feast for book lovers that earns a place among those popular works that honor the joyful,mysterious, unbreakable bonds between friends.

Read an excerpt from The Wednesday Sisters. 

My opinion:

I picked up this book because of the basis of the story, five women come together through their writing.  I thought it would be a perfect fit for Simply Femme. I was surprised by how much I liked this book, I thought it would be a quick read but I found myself absorbed in it...fascinated by these women.

Through the eyes of Frankie, we look into these five different women's lives during the late 60's.  These women watch the lives of females everywhere changing as women across the country burn bras and compete for spots in the Olympics.  Sometimes the characters are torn between holding on to what they know and chasing after what they've dreamed of.  The Wednesday Sisters come together through their writing.  They meet in the park and critique each others work, through this they get to know each other inside and out.  They help keep each other grounded when things go wrong, like losing a child or finding out a husband is cheating...the kind of things we all do for our own girlfriends.  They have their ups and downs as friends. and it's a great story of women coming together and supporting each other, even when they have differences.  It's hard to not be able to relate to this book in one way or another.

...You'll laugh, you'll cry, your heart will break and swell along with these five women.  You'll put the book down smiling and feel an urgency to call your best friends.  I loved this book and it's definitely one I'd recommend picking up.

Question of the Week

You've been abducted by a T.V. crew and are told that you've been cast for a reality show...but they won't tell you which show. What are your top choices be for the show you'd like to appear on?


My top choices would be:
1. Big Brother
2. Real Housewives (any of them)
3. Project Runway
4. Make Me a Supermodel


My favorite reality shows are (in the order I like them):

1. Big Brother
2. Project Runway
3. Top Chef
4. America's Next Top Model
5. So You Think You Can Dance


1. What not to wear... I want a 5 grand shopping spree in NYC!

2. Real Housewives

3. Sex Addict w/Dr.Drew

4. Bad girls club (although I wouldn't qualify for this)

1. Big Brother
2. The Amazing Race
3. Survivor
4. America's Next Top Model
5. Dancing With The Stars

I could go on and on, I love "reality" tv ;)


Well... I actually don't watch much reality tv lately... so I'm going to just say some that I've liked in the past...
1. What not to wear
2. Clean House (Or maybe if they just had "Clean Garage")
3. While you were out
4. Overhaulin' (For my husband! :) )

Okay, I can't think of any more, but clearly my home & wardrobe need makeovers.


1. The Rachel Zoe Project
2. What Not to Wear
3. Divine Designs
4. Little People, Big World
5. Dancing With the Stars

Book Review: Bitter is the New Black...

Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office
by Jen Lancaster

Synopsis from Barnes&Noble.com:  
Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb.

She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice.

This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good.

Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.

Read an Excerpt from Barnes&Noble.com 

My Opinion:
At first I was a little put off by the author's use of margin notes.  It was a little like trying to read Lord of the Rings, with all of the footnotes and maps, making you stop reading mid-page to scroll to the bottom and find the side-note.  But after a few chapters I really started to enjoy her private asides...kind of like when a girlfriend nudges you and whispers a funny one liner in your ear...it became quite endearing.

I couldn't put the book down and was a little disappointed when it ended.  Good thing Ms. Lancaster has several more books out already and more coming.  I couldn't get enough of her humor and brutal honesty...or her handbag collection!  I put this book down and 1.) reflected a little on what's really important in life, 2.) felt a little closer to my inner preppy-bitch.

In the book you'll read about her taking her frustrations to the blogging world, and a few of the ups and downs that go along with it.  Check out her real-life blog Jennsylvania, I can guarantee you'll laugh out loud.

Have you read Bitter is the New Black? ..Or any of Jen Lancaster's other books?  ...Did you check out her blog and crack a smile?  Let us know what you thought!

Eyelash Ninja: Take 2

I just saw this and couldn't resist sharing. I seriously laughed out loud watching this.

Consider it an addendum to my Eyelash Ninja entry. ;)

Lashisse from Molly Sims

Veterans Day 2009

Today on November 11th we remember, we thank and we support our Veterans. All Vets who are alive, gone or lost. Everyone knows of one or has friends of friends who know them. They are our keepers of liberty, justice and freedom. They are our guardians. Without them, ask yourself and try to imagine...where would we be? Would I or my children even exist?

As this day goes on, put the politics aside and remember the sense of togetherness you had towards everyone in your country on September 11th. We are living on this land together, we are neighbors. Thank those who put their lives on the line or worse gave the ultimate sacrifice for you.

Today we would like to thank all of them and remember them. Some of us have put up a list and pictures of those close to us who have served. We ask you to join us in the comments or email us a short story and picture (If available) We will keep this list going and running each year.

A few of our Vets we thank :

E. Foster

In the Navy


In the Army

My Grandfather who will always remain a hero to me, has served in the navy and was then drafted to serve in the army! He fought in WWII. I will not repeat his duties but I remember listening and repeatedly asking about stories. Especially the stories of going to the aftermath of one of the concentration camps. We are very fortunate he made it out both times alive. He then moved onto have 5 children and 12 grandchildren and counting! Love and Thank you.

G.Foster

Patroling the streets in Afgan.

My cousin, followed in his grandpa's shoes. Who is still serving in the Army, now as recruiter. He was part of the 101 Airborne division for at least 5 years. He has served in Operation freedom over in Afghanistan and in the Iraq war. He now is a recruiter living with his wife. Thank you.

I am proud to say that both of my grandfathers are WWII veterans. My maternal grandfather, David F. Holmes, was in the Navy and served in the Asiatic/Pacific area, and my other grandfather, R. Pluckebaum, was in the Merchant Marines during WWII, and served overseas in several places, including Germany. My Father-in-Law is also a veteran, having served in the Navy.

Both of my grandfathers were also veterans of WWII and the Korean War. My mother's father, Donald J. Heasen, and my dad's father, Joseph A. Clarke, both served in the Navy.

Chris' grandfather, Ervin Worrell served in the Army during WWII and the Korean war. He witnessed the flag being raised on Imo Jima, as well as General MacArthur signing the peace treaty, aboard the Missouri, that ended the Korean War.

My father, Patrick J. Clarke, enlisted in the Navy so he wouldn't be drafted out of high school during the Vietnam war. He served the Navy for 9 years, was a training pilot during Vietnam, and was proud to have served as an honor guard at John F. Kennedy's burial. It was an honor to bury my father in Arlington National Cemetery.

Every year before my dad died he would get together with his old buddies and go visit The Wall in D.C., to remember the friends and comrades that didn't come home with them. Thank you to all the men and women who serve this great country.

Patrick J. Clarke, United States Navy

Today I give thanks to all Veterans, thank you for your service for our country!!!

My paternal grandfather was a Korean War veteran. I wish I had some sort of story to share, but unfortunately he passed away a few years ago, and it wasn't something that was talked about often when he was here...

Also, my very own hero is my husband, who is a veteran as well. He was in the Air Force for four and a half years, and was in Iraq for most of 2005. Thank you, love!!

Makeup Review: Loose Powder

I've been on the quest to find THE perfect face powder for quite some time. I've never done well with the pressed powder, it just doesn't do anything for me. And so, I ventured into new territory, and decided to try two new loose powders. Up for your consideration:




Smashbox High Definition Dual Finish Micro Powder Retail $38. (Rated 3 out of 5 stars on Sephora.com)

I have to admit, my first lure to this product was the great packaging- you get the powder, and the brush, all in one enclosed handy little tube. It comes with a lid (that does not stay on), and also has the ability to be adjusted from matte to luminous in one easy twist. You can even mix them for a more even coverage.

The pros?: Definitely the convenient packaging, as mentioned above. It's also small, so you can tote it in a purse or clutch. And well, that's about it.

The cons?: Everything else! To use this product, you have to adjust it to your desired setting, then turn it downward and shake, to get the powder into the brush. The powder is free flowing, it's not overly messy, but I definitely didn't feel like the majority of it went on my face. However, then you must turn it back to the "off" position, or else you will have big white splotches all over your face. I found the brush to be flexible, but yet still very coarse- almost like horse hair. It was nowhere near the texture that I would prefer for an applicator. The lid doesn't stay on, and if you're unfortunate enough to forget to put the lid on at all, and not turn it "off", then you're going to end up with a mess.

I also didn't like the way that this product applied- again, I feel like mainly because of the brush. It left splotches of white on my face that I had to blend in with something else, thus defeating the convenient all-in-one packaging gimmick. The last part, I looked quite white and ghostly, even with a very small amount used.

Bottom line? This one was a waste. :(

Next up, I figured I would go for something else loose, but not in an all-in-one package. So I went for:





MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder:Retail $21.


I was hoping this product would suit me better, since it clearly states that it's made to set makeup, and it's transparent. Unfortunately, not. This one also left me with a ghost white face, even with a small amount used. I live in Florida, and I can't imagine how terrible these would look when I have a really tan face during the summer months. I felt dried out and it didn't do any wonders for setting my makeup, or helping pores, either. It's also very, very, messy, so it definitely has to be applied before getting dressed.

Bottom line on this one? Strike 2 for me :(


So I'm back to the drawing board for the perfect powder. I already use liquid (mousse) foundation, I just want something to set it in and take away shine if needed. Any ideas? :)