The Hit List: Cronuts ‘n Makeup Splurges

Welcome to my new feature, The Hit List. Each Saturday, I’m giving you the Tarot Lady low down on the things I’m celebratin’ or contemplating. I’m more than just tarot-centric, my friends. I’m into all sorts of stuff (it’s a Gemini thang). Read on and dig this week’s high fives, playas:

I’ve spent the last two weekends in the friendly and oh-so-hip city of Minneapolis doing some biz type stuff with two workshops that I am still all in a flutter over.

First up was Write Yourself Into Motion with my favorite word goddess, Alexandra Franzen. I got to spend lots o’ quality time honing my writing skills and getting some killer ideas for blog posts – plus hanging out with a cool group of smarty pants women (bonus!). This workshop was small and intimate, which is my favorite way to work (I am an introvert so little = comfortable). Alex’s writing drills were fun yet challenging. I found myself getting speedier with the pen – quickly. And best part – she had a tarot themed exercise, Tarot-etry. I won’t give you the details but suffice it to say this was the hardest one for me because I had to turn off my darn tarot brain!

We were also treated with a guest appearance from super blogger, the very stylish Sara Van Bargen of Yes and Yes. I had plenty of questions about blogging so I was grateful for Sarah’s bloggery wisdom. (Btw, she’s cute as a button.)

I took lots of notes and walked away with new found writing confidence and some great new pals!

(PS kudos to the divine Ms Franzen for being Miss Grace Under Pressure as Minneapolis experienced one of the biggest power outages ever. We were working without air conditioning and had to go low tech – but somehow she made it seem like it was no biggie. I would have been a total biotch if this happened to me!)

If you want to up your writing skillz, you need to get on the waiting list and hustle on over to her workshop. For realz. The wait is worth it.

Downed trees in MPLS

The following week, I headed back to Minneapolis (with my daughter in tow) to attend Blogcademy (see the pic of the cool industrial locale below). I love to blog but thought I needed to get clear on how to move my blog to the next level so this workshop seemed like the answer to my bloggy prayers.

I was not disappointed – I learned all the ins and outs of running a successful blog from the headmistresses of Blogcademy, influential and popular bloggers Gala Darling, Shauna Haider and Kat Williams. These ladies really know their shit plus they also know how to throw a par-tay: a swag bag to die for, cupcakes, funky balloons and a soundtrack straight outta my club kid days! (Oh, the 80’s….how I missed you!) Anyhoo, I had a lot of takeaways (especially loved the segment on redesigning your blog plus the one-on-one feedback regarding my site). But the best part? I won a prize for best tweet! Woo hoo! I LOVE winning! (Here I am below, listening intently with my mouse ears on:)

Wearing mouse ears!

Photo credit: Gene Oh

While I was at Blogcademy, I could not help but stare all slack jawed like a drunken hillbilly at Gala Darling’s ethereal and flawless complexion (I tried to play it cool – hope she didn’t think I was being a freak). I’m hyper obsessed with my skin and have probably tried everything on the market in a vain quest for a poreless and oil free mug. By the end of the day, I am always a greasy mess (supposedly oily skin means I’ll be aging well but I am sick to death of looking like someone rubbed a cheeseburger on my T Zone!). I assumed Gala had naturally perfecto skin and well, she’s young enough to be my daughter so she had that going for her too. But lo and behold, she put up a blog post this week, Hello Dollface: How To Get Perfectly Matte Skin! and spilled her secrets for an impeccable complexion. So what did I do? Treat myself to a whole bunch o’ new products as soon as I got my butt to Sephora. And heck yeah – this shizz works! I’ll never look like a glowy youngster but at least I don’t look like I’ve been sweating like an oldie all day!

As I was dropping all that skin swag into my shopping bag, I found this adorable eye shadow kit: Benefit Cosmetics World Famous Neutrals – Easiest Nudes Ever . I love neutral eyeshadows but this tarot themed box sold me! (If you love tarot + makeup, you need this kit. Word.)

Adorable!

While still hanging in the Twin Cities, I kept hearing about “cronuts” on the news. What the heck is a cronut you ask? It’s a cross between a croissant and a donut! This is PMS-heaven food (girls, you KNOW what I’m talkin’ about!) and I almost ventured to a local bakery to get my claws on one but decided against it as I already blew my poor daughter’s diet that weekend. (We were bingeing on some uh-mazing food at 112 Eatery with my buddy, Barbara Moore.) I now have cronuts on my bucket list. It must happen, one day, somehow….

If you like snackin’ but want a healthy non-cronut route, check out my new fave thang: GRAZE. You get a cute little (recyclable!) box filled with wholesome treats every other week (you can get ’em delivered every week or once a month depending on your grazing needs). The snacks are yummy – plus it’s nice to get a little something something every few weeks in the mail.

BTW, congrats to Minnesota for being the 12th state to legalize gay marriage! (Come on, Wisconsin – let’s get with the program and do the same!)

A little love note to Minnesota: you’re so great. Can I marry you?

Other stuff:

I’ve been doing some major coveting. Every day, I stare at this FRYE Cameron Satchel and think: I need it. (PS I’m a purse fanatic but am also on an anti-hoarding mission so I’m pretty much unable to press that buy button. Wanna push it for me? PUH-LEAZE?!)

I also have a little secret to share with you: I’m a marvelous drinker. I can drink like a man, hold my liquor well and I have never had a hangover, ever. I never cry or get violent so you can be rest assured if we drink together, a good time is guaranteed. That being said, I love this post on Jezebel: How To Get Drunk After Age 28. These are solid tips if you tend to be a lightweight. Bottoms up!

These days, I am girl crushing on Wendy Davis, the lawyer and Democrat from Texas who stood up to the anti-choice Senate Bill 5 with a grueling ten hour long filibuster. Even with her heroic efforts, they are still trying to cram that bill through. I never thought we’d be still having to fight for the right to choose in this day and age.

Speaking of anti-choice – WTF Ohio?

I’m digging this post from Susan Boynkin: How To Make Time Work For Beautiful You. (I work way too hard and try to do way too much – needed to take this in)

I am soooo obsessed with Little Free Libraries. This is a great idea but I have yet to convince hubby that we need one. Btw, check out this video about the efforts to save the library in Troy, Michigan. Library power! Let’s all read and fight da man!

What I’m grateful for this week:

My daughter and I managed to have a successful not bitchy road trip together

Great food

Learning new things

A local Sephora

Coming home to my little sanctuary

A day off

Long rides in comfortable cars

Sunshine

Electricity

Good pals + making new ones

Soundtrack for 7/6/13 (heard this while I was in MPLS and it’s stuck with me ever since)