The Friday Forum - November 12

Even weeds can be pretty! Look at the berries on this wild grapevine. What a gorgeous color! I'm not sure why the birds haven't gobbled them up. Wild grapevine is an incredibly invasive weed, and I hate it. Even so, I love these pretty berries. I will have to go out cutting and ripping this weekend - a task that's overdue. Wild grapevine can smother trees and shrubs; it has to go.

This has been quite a week, with lots of activities I hadn't anticipated. After spending last weekend at the hospital with Mom, I tried to catch up on my rest. I also took her to a cardiologist on Tuesday, and he was stumped. She's stable and fine now. I'm very thankful. She likes Red Lobster, so yesterday I took her about 15 miles away to the closest one. We had a mid-afternoon dinner with all the blue-hairs. Now here's the surprising part. It was pretty good! As a foodie, I'm a bit of a snob about restaurants, and I routinely avoid chains. I loved my meal. Maybe I was starving.

Charlie has his annual vet appointment this morning. He will be getting his immunizations and a once-over. When we go to the animal hospital, Charlie screams at the top of his Bengal lungs all the way there and the whole time in the waiting room. He only quiets down when he goes into an exam room, where he can get out of his carrier and onto the exam table for love and adoration (by just about every member of the large hospital staff, since they have anointed him the best-looking cat in the practice). He is so loud over his dismay at being in a "cat carrier" that sometimes they give him an exam room early, just to shut him up. It's pretty funny watching him, as one after another doctor or technician peeks in to say hello. He goes into his "I really am gorgeous - too gorgeous to be jailed in a carrier" mode. He's such a character! Oh, and he broke through another porch screen this week.

I've got plenty of new makeup to show you, plus some new items for skin care. I'll be taking photos and writing after I get Charleston Sumter back from his short trip. Right now, he's sitting next to me purring, blissfully unaware of what's to come.

That's my life in a nutshell! How's yours going?

It's time for The Friday Forum. We use the forum to share information and chat. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By Monday, most readers have moved on.

We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. Last week, we had a great exchange. I loved it anyhow. I'm always happy if even one reader stops by. Leave a comment, and say hello - even if you don't want to comment on beauty products. As I always do, I'll leave news of some great beauty offers (great, not just good) in the comments of this post. If you want to know where to find nice gifts with purchase, free shipping, and other deals this weekend, make sure to check the comments.

Thanks for reading Best Things in Beauty! Got anything you want to talk about? Tell us about your pets if beauty isn't on your mind.

A few reminders...

The Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie focus on beauty continues, with a Le Métier de Beauté event through Saturday. If you are local to DC, you really should stop by Saturday to get your makeup done by Dustin - then get a photo! Feel free to send me JPGs, and I'll post them.

If you are a Sephora VIB, Sephora is enticing you to spend money with a 20% discount. Despite my annoyance with them, I ordered yesterday. Use code VIB20 at checkout.

Don't forget the fabulous NARS Sweet Disposition Mini Multiples Giveaway Contest here at Best Things in Beauty. The deadline for entries is tomorrow, November 13, and not all of you have entered. Why? It's a must-have set. I bought two.

Eyewear designer and expert Corinne McCormack will provide Bloomingdale's Chevy Chase customers with personal eyewear makeovers - just like she did this fall for Kelly Ripa on LIVE! with Regis and Kelly. Founder of Corinne McCormack, Inc., a line of her own eyewear and eyeglasses accessories, and Vice President of Fashion at FGX International, the largest sunglasses and eyewear designer and manufacturer in the country, Corinne will be on hand to help consumers select the right styles for them, a process based on face shape, color palette, and highlighting an individual's best facial features. She will be in the eyewear/accessories department Saturday, November 13, 12:00-2:00 pm at Bloomingdale's in Chevy Chase.

Photo by BTiB