| Cauldy's Book List |
[Mar. 8th, 2019|01:48 pm] |
I've decided I'd like to build a reading list. Feel free to make suggestions -- but please remember I'm currently interested in non-fiction, with limited exceptions for classic fiction. I'll bold titles as I read them (they're in no particular order, though I did attempt to group them by theme). I starred the books that are particularly excellent (three stars for "absolutely must read"). Feel free to ask me about any of the bolded titles.
( Eventually I will read... ) |
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| Foundation? |
[Jan. 20th, 2010|11:08 am] |
I'm looking for a new foundation, and I need your help.
I HATE shopping for make-up. Why? I have super-sensitive skin that's prone to break-outs, and is oily enough to slick many foundations right off. Every time I try something new, I'm risking a break-out that'll take two or three weeks to clear up.
I've been using CoverGirl Fresh Complexion. It's cheap make-up and it's not particularly awesome, BUT it doesn't cause me to break-out. However, it seems weaker than it used to be? It just doesn't seem to offer the same amount of coverage it once did. I don't know if they changed the formula or something, but it's not the same.
I'm looking for a matte foundation (preferably cream-to-powder) with FULL coverage for a super-oily face.
Last night I purchased some Clinique: I got the City Stick, which the counter-lady recommended using as a concealer, and one of the liquid foundations (either Superfit or Superbalanced, I can't quite remember). I set it with Airspun Translucent powder
On the upside: it doesn't feel like I'm wearing make-up.
On the downside: it doesn't look like I'm wearing make-up, either. And not in the "oh it makes my skin look naturally flawless" way -- try the "it's only been 3 hours and my face is oily and sticky, and every blemish and discoloration is showing through as clearly as it would if I had nothing on at all" way. Not good. I'm contemplating running home at lunch, wiping this off, and slapping on some CoverGirl just to get through the day.
So I'm going to return the Clinique, but I'm wondering else I should try? Should I try another Clinique (the website's click-through recommends the City Base Compact)? Or should I wander elsewhere?
Help! |
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| Diet Food, Mmm? |
[Jan. 13th, 2010|03:59 pm] |
Yes, I'm dieting again, but who isn't? Supposedly half of the women in America are dieting on any given day.
Anyways, I've been trying out a couple of new foods.
Breakfast is a Thomas' Better Start English Muffin (either the regular or multi-grain variety, they're both 100 calories) with Philadelphia Whipped Cream Cheese (60 calories) and a cup of Activia yogurt (110 calories).
In case you're wondering about Activia -- yes, it does work. My stomach used to get upset all the time, and now I only very rarely have stomach upsets. The flavors I've tried all taste good, and the consistency is nice and creamy without being too thick. If you're wondering about it, give it a try.
For lunch I've been trying a couple of different things. I've been eating Campbell's soups in the microwaveable bowls (not the weird soup-at-hand cups). What can I say? It's soup. It microwaves well. It tastes all right. The bowls (the entire bowl, not the half-bowl serving size) are pretty much all under 300 calories. Paired with a banana, it's definitely enough for a satisfying lunch.
A new thing I've been trying is the Marie Callender's Home-Style Creations and Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers. In case you're wondering, YES, these are the same damn thing. Both Marie Callender and Healthy Choice are owned by ConAgra Foods. The packaging is the same (different colors), the preparation is the same, the portion size is the same, and the calories are almost the same (all around 300, from what I can tell). For all of them, they seem small, but I've been pretty happy with the serving sizes.
From Marie Callender I've tried the Meatball Lasagna, which is ruffly pasta with meatballs in tomato sauce (310 calories). I liked it enough that I bought it again. I think it's better than the microwaveable Lean Cuisine equivalent -- it helps that it's more attractive to look at, so you feel like you're eating a real meal and not frozen food mush.
From Healthy Choice I've tried the Southwestern Style Chicken, which really didn't impress me. I'm not so sure I'll try it again. The rice was just... weird? Mushy and crunchy at the same time? And the spicing wasn't very good. It was 310 calories, again.
But I also tried the Tuscan Style Chicken from Healthy Choice, and that was much better. The chicken was nice and tender, and the sauce was pretty good, too -- a creamy tomato sauce with a very sliiiight spice. The pasta is teeny little penne, which is nice because it forces you to eat more slowly. This is 320 calories.
I think the moral of the story is that the pasta selections are ok but the rice ones may be questionable.
Anyone else have favorite microwaveable (or cold) meal items that don't require a lot of prep? |
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| Thoughts on Misogyny |
[Jan. 12th, 2010|04:11 pm] |
I ran across this article, almost by accident, but once I started reading it, I couldn't quite stop. It was all so familiar... the days and small ways in which women are put down, the words and acts that big enough to hurt and yet small enough that you don't bring them up, don't want to make a big deal of it, don't want to be the femnazi screeching about equality again.
Thoughts on Misogyny |
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| I'm not dead. |
[Dec. 17th, 2009|11:41 am] |
I know this may come as a shock to you, but I'm not dead.
Here are the Cauldy Notes (screw Cliff):
I have a boyfriend. I really didn't think it would happen -- and to be honest, I'm still not totally sure how it happened -- but I have a sweet, caring, gorgeous boyfriend. We've been together for three months now, and we've spent every single weekend together. We're also planning on going to Tucson together in February (why Tucson? It's warm, cheap, and doesn't require international travel).
I have dolls. I still have the twins, Corensa and Cosmina (the CH Sp. Prayer Choas), as well as Bethesda (PW Goldie), McGee (technically "Tits McGee," Volks DDdy Sasara), the-one-who-will-not-be-named (Rosette Fir), and the-one-I-never-bothered-to-name (Felix Brownie). I also just managed to win two Volks SD16G Kiras.
Before I write to Volks asking them to cancel the second one, is anyone here interested?
I'll only charge true costs -- the doll, shipping from Volks to me, shipping from me to you, and any paypal fees. No profit for me. Layaway is OK, too (with a non-refundable deposit).
I still have my job at the publisher. My insane boss finally gave birth to her baby and is gone on maternity leave, and I actually like my job again. I'm pretty much dreading her return, but I'm hoping I can pull some strings and maybe arrange it so that I'm not reporting to her when she returns.
I moved into my new apartment, which I share with a sane, quiet, responsible female roommate. We each have our own bathroom. The kitchen is open and airy. Our neighbors are quiet. We have a huge storage unit. I have a walk-in closet. It's my personal version of heaven.
...I think that's about it, really. Happy Holidays! |
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| When it rains, the it pours -- dolls |
[Aug. 31st, 2009|12:47 am] |
Why is it, now that I am in the limbo of waiting to find out whether or not I won Sasara from the Volks lottery, that a host of other dolls I am seriously interested in getting decide to appear?
Of course, I have been eyeballing Summer Term Marguerite from Rosette for quite some time now. When the Summer Term girls came out, my original debate was between Fir and Marguerite. Fir was definitely the right choice for me -- but Marguerite is still terribly tempting. Do I want two Rosettes so soon?
Or do I want Wake-Up Goldie from Peakswood? Beth, my regular Goldie, is one of my favorite dolls. I really adore her. And I adore dreaming dolls. So a dreaming Goldie? Oh yes. Very yes. I will own Wake-Up Goldie eventually. But now... or later?
Enter the third contender! Yaoyue from Oasisdoll is GORGEOUS. Look at that long, lean body! I love slender girls (see my love of Rosette). And her face is so sweet. She's absolutely charming. I know I should probably stay away, since my history with open-eyed dolls isn't too great, but still... so cute.
Of course, none of this matters if I win Sasara, now does it?
Wednesdayplzbherealreadykthnxbai. |
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| If you read DoA... |
[Aug. 21st, 2009|03:12 pm] |
I'd like to draw your attention to this thread: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318011
Here's the post I was about to make... just as the thread was locked:
I feel so sad for the moderators, for whom the upkeep of this forum is already a massive undertaking, and who have added onto that leviathan task the responsibilities of organizing and overseeing a variety of anniversary activities well beyond what I have seen any other forum even attempt to offer, who now have to sign on and see this thread comparing their actions to those taken by religious extremists and communists. There are so many better ways to voice a complaint such as this one.
It smacks of hypocrisy to complain the mods are not acting like professionals while you are behaving in such an unprofessional way; to complain that you do not like way they are donating their time and energy to handling this massive forum while you are participating in and enjoying the benefits of that same forum for free; to complain about their lack of communication while your own communication consists of calling things "idiotic" and "lame;" to complain that they are not using good judgment when your own judgment sees no issue with comparing the closing of a single thread on a doll forum to mass human rights violations committed by foreign governments?
Even if you had a valid argument, the manner in which you chose to convey your opinion is beyond insulting. I can tell you that if you attempted such behavior on Bad Dolly Deals, the moderators would not be discussing how best to answer you -- we would be discussing whether or not to merely warn you, or to outright ban you. The fact that the moderators here are reacting as calmly and patiently as they are is a testament to the fact that they are, in fact, EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD MODERATORS.
-----
Anyone have anything else they'd post, if the thread hadn't been locked? |
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| Now THIS is awesome customer service (and yogurt) |
[Jul. 31st, 2009|10:09 pm] |
As you all know, Rosette's customer service has been driving me batty. Today I received a package from Rosette. What did it contain? A replacement faceplate, for the one that arrived damaged? No. The correct shoes, since they originally sent me the wrong ones? No. The correct eyes, since they also sent me the wrong ones? No. A pair of cream-colored tights, which I never asked for, which I already have a pair of? Yes. Tights. WTF?!
Just as I was beginning to think customer service had died, I received the most awesome email. A few days ago, I had e-mailed Dannon Yogurt to tell them how much I liked their new watermelon flavor (it's awesome, btw, go try it) and how I hoped it would become a permanent flavor (it's advertised as seasonal). I usually eat a cup of yogurt & bran buds (sounds awful, is awesome) every single day, so I love when there are new flavors -- variety makes me happy. Non-traditional (not berry, banana, or vanilla) makes me even happier.
Well super-awesome Dannon actually replied! And it wasn't a generic "thank you for your comments" reply, it was a specific tailored reply thanking me for my input on the watermelon flavor. And they're sending me coupons! I didn't even ask for any, and it's not like I was a complaining customer who needed soothing. They're just sending coupons because they are full of WIN! OM NOM NOM. I'm going to go eat a watermelon yogurt in celebration.
(Note that this is not only a contrast to Rosette's fuck-around-the-rosey customer service, but also Yoplait, whose yogurt I will NEVER buy again. I got a batch of strawberry yogurt that tasted like rotting fruit, and I wrote them a letter about how disappointed I was, because I had eaten Yoplait almost exclusively up to this point, and usually their quality control was better. They wrote back and were essentially "not our fault, fruit flavors can vary depending n the season, here's two coupons, now shut up" and I switched to buying Dannon the next day.)
Dannon = 1
Rosette = 0
Yoplait = 0 |
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| Mass Photo Dump 2 of 2 |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|10:51 pm] |
The continuation (and completion) of the mass photo dump! Again, I know I like the first photo (and actually the second), but my brain is too fried to process any more than that. Help, please? Tell me what to post to DoA!
( The little schoolgirl... ) |
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| Mass Photo Dump 1 of 2 |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|10:32 pm] |
I apologize in advance for the mass photo dump, but my brain is too fried to cut them down any further... I think some of them are borderline crap/okay, tbh. All I know is I like this first one! I would really appreciate if you guys would let me know your favorites, and I'll post the top 5-10 on DoA.
( Many, many more! ) |
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| Doll Scales |
[Jul. 14th, 2009|10:58 am] |
This was deleted off of DoA, but in case you have trouble understanding scales (mathematical ratios), here it is for you:
1:3 = 1 inch in the model is 3 inches in the real world, the units are the SAME (also, 1in:3in is the same as 1cm:3cm and the same as 1ft:3ft, as long as the units before and after the colon are the same, you can use 1:3 no matter what measurements you are using -- it's universal).
1/3 = the model is 1/3 (one third) the size of real life, the same as 1:3 (also universal).
1'-3" = 3 inches in the model is 1 foot in the real world, not the same as 1:3 or 1/3 because the units CHANGE (foot versus inch) -- please note you HAVE to use feet and inches (NOT universal). This sometimes written as 1'=3" as well.
SDs are 1:3, 1/3, or 1'-4" (also known as "four-inch scale")
MSDs are 1:4, 1/4, or 1'-3" (also known as "three-inch scale"
Barbies are 1:6, 1/6, or 1'-2" (also known as "two-inch scale")
Dollhouses are 1:12, 1/12, or 1'-1" (also known as "one-inch scale")
Tiny matchbox cars are 1:64, 1/64, or 1'-3/16" scale (1'-0.1875") (also know as "three-sixteenths inch scale")
Please note that with 1:3 and 1/3, as the second number (the 3 in this example) gets larger, the model gets smaller. With 1'-3" or 1'=3", as the second number (again, the 3 in this example) gets larger, the model gets larger. 1:144 and 1/144 are extremely tiny, but 1'-144" would be twelve times real-life size size!
Working with a 6 ft [aka 72 inch] person:
In 1:3 scale, the doll would be 2 ft [aka 24 inches]. Each 1 of the 24 inches represents 3 inches in the real world, 24 x 3 = 72. This corresponds to "SD-size."
In 1/3 scale, the doll would be 2 ft [aka 24 inches]. The doll is one-third the size of the real model, so 72 รท 3 = 24. This corresponds to "SD-size."
In 1'-3" scale, the doll would be 1.5 ft [aka 18 inches]. Each foot in the real world is 3 inches in the model, so 6 x 3 = 18. This correponds to "MSD-size."
If you used 1:144 or 1/144, your 6ft man is a teeny half-inch tall. If you used 1'-144", your 6ft man is a massive 72 FEET tall! This is why using the right scale (and writing it correctly) are so important. Don't mix them!
Yay math! |
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| Obligatory Crappy New Doll Photos |
[Jul. 7th, 2009|09:57 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | bjd | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  aggravated | ] |
I have a new doll, and thus I have taken the obligatory, totally crap first photos, which I have shooped the hell out of. She is a Rosette Good Afternoon Fir. I really, REALLY hate the lashes and am going to have to take them out and replace them with something less spidery. She also has several marks and scratches (shooped out) that resulted from her arriving with her faceplate totally detached from her head and just rolling around loose inside the box. Rosette is dragging their heels about getting back to me about a replacement, which is making me pretty irritated.
...otherwise, damn, I do love this doll. Her expression is so perfect. No name for the girl yet, though.
( Fear the Fir? Fier de la Fir? Fire and Fir? Feeeeh. ) |
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| Fiona Apple Again! |
[Apr. 10th, 2009|08:21 pm] |
I don't know if you were like me, and absolutely loved Fiona Apple back in the day -- that mellow, smoky voice that just rolls around you like velvet. It had something you don't hear a lot these days: soul. No bubblegum here, folks.
Well, she's recorded a new song (maybe it's not that new, but it's new to me at least!). Just close your eyes and listen to this one. It really transports you to another time, and another place. Just beautiful.
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| Cute Materialistic Stuff |
[Mar. 22nd, 2009|07:55 pm] |
Pro: I have been making an attempt not to buy new dolls or doll clothing, since I just purchased a large amount of Cheerydoll and Azone stuff not that long ago.
Con: I have been spending a lot of time browsing HLJ and finding cute things I'd like to buy. These are significantly less expensive that dolls and doll clothing, but significantly more useless -- just cute clutter.
So what do I want?
( Hidamari no Tami! )( Fraulein! )( Walkie Bits! )( Jellyfish Mood Lamp )( Inanimate Character Stickers )
Anyone have any other really cute, not-totally-but-rather-only-slightly useless things I should look at?
Also. Seriously. Fraulein? Do I get one? Halp! |
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| Frustrated and Ranting -- As Usual |
[Mar. 6th, 2009|12:34 am] |
I think my job is turning me into someone I don't want to be. I'm pretty sure 25 is too young to be burned-out, isn't it?
The busy season is just beginning to heat up, and it already feels like I'm drowning. I'm so much more negative and intolerant than I used to be; it seems like all I can do is complain and bitch and rant. I'm exhausted all the time. I'm exhausted when I wake up, I'm exhausted when I get to work, I'm exhausted when I get home, and I'm exhausted when I go to bed. Except I don't sleep; I've never had a problem sleeping before, but now I'm an insomniac. It's not just a physical exhaustion, it's this deep down to the bone exhaustion that clouds everything.
Ugh, and even now all I can do is complain. I wish I knew how to fix this. Maybe seeing Deneb this weekend will help cheer things up... and I hope Christina comes down during her Spring Break. I wonder if it's even worth trying to look for a new job in this economy. |
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| True Beauty -- True Idiocy |
[Feb. 16th, 2009|09:35 pm] |
True Beauty drives me absolutely crazy. I absolutely adore Julia. She's passed every single test with flying colors; she's never NOT helped someone (given, I missed one episode, so maybe she flubbed there, but in all the episodes I've seen, she's the only one who HASN'T fucked up on at least one of the judges' cheesy-ass "tests"). She is a nice girl. She is a sweet, honest, down-to-earth, NICE girl. And she is gorgeous. GORGEOUS. She has always been my #1 in terms of physical beauty. She's just so cute! I would bang her in a hot second, and I wouldn't let any of the other contestants touch me with even one of their sleazy fingers.
But everyone keeps calling her "fake," as if no one could possibly be THAT nice. It drives me crazy. When did nice = fake on a show that's supposed to be about inner beauty? I want to smash these judges in their 15-minutes-of-fame-is-over faces with a sledgehammer. The truth is, people can be THAT nice. Heather in high school really was THAT nice. I never heard her say a bad thing about anyone, even her cheating-ass boyfriend when their relationship crashed and burned in flames. Laura at college. Laura was pretty as a Barbie doll, blonde, blue-eyed, body to DIE for, rich, designer clothes, graceful, and the center of attention at all times. She could have been a total bitch-whore-diva from hell, but she was the sweetest, kindest little thing you ever did see in a children's book. She was THAT nice. So it makes me so angry when everyone keeps calling Julia fake because she's THAT nice. Dammit!
Also, could someone explain the deal with Laura? The judges keep talking about how pretty she is... maybe I'm wired wrong. She's... just okay. She's not someone who would make me look twice (now Julia, I'd look about 1,000 times). Laura is just so generic. There's nothing distinct or gorgeous about her, other than her eternal slutitude. Which, now that I think about it, isn't distinct or gorgeous either. It's justy generic slut. I feel like I've seen her in every porno every made. |
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cauldroness's journal