Crashing cars and crushing hearts

With last week's premiere behind them, the contestants finally get to go to sleep and now the real fun begins (for us... not so much for them...).

The episode started off fast and furious with Arie pulling up on a motorcycle to have the season's first one-on-one with Becca K.  I don't remember Becca at all from the first episode.  I bet, when walking into the house, Arie wasn't even sure which girl she was.

The first part of the date is Rachel Zoe acting as a personal stylist for Becca.  Rachel Zoe is super cool but looked like she wanted to die.  Speaking of... I would die if this was my first date with a guy. How uncomfortable would it be to try on clothes for someone you just started dating?!  Trying on clothes is already the worst but having a guy you like sit there and see you in each one would be horrible.  There was not a moment of quality time spent between them.  Why was she being showered with expensive clothes/shoes/jewelry?  Becca and Arie only got to spend time together after she was completely high on dopamine and blinded by Loubouton studs.  (Full disclosure:  I had to google "red sole shoes" to be sure they were Loubouton's and find out how to actually spell "Loubouton").

Despite a weird date concept, Becca and Arie had a really natural connection.  The worst part about being the first one-on-one is having to see all of the dates to come and deal with playing second fiddle for a while.  Becca seems to have a confidence and maturity that a lot of the ladies don't.  Hearing her speak about her dad's illness and death gave us a glimpse at how open her heart is and where her values lie.

Look... for my own Bachelor-viewing sanity, Bibiana needs to stick around.  I know she won't win.  It's against all The Bachelor rules.  She does, however, play an incredibly important role.  She's the girl that gives hilarious commentary in her interviews.  She's who we all want as a drinking buddy.  I want her to come to my workplace Christmas party and walk around judging everyone.  Next time my department is hiring, I am going to look her up.  My friend, Andrea, hit the nail on the head when she referred to Bibiana as the "Carly W." of this season. Bibiana is a shoe-in for all of The Bachelor/ette spin-offs like Bachelor in Paradise. 





I wasn't surprised to see Krystal get the second one-on-one date of the night.  She is one of those people who makes a really memorable first impression.  She certainly has an intensity about her that draws you in.  I don't think we've seen an authentic and vulnerable side of Krystal yet. 



Did anyone else notice that Krystal and Arie's mom look alike?!  I lied about the personal stylist date...  meeting my boyfriend's parents on a first date is actually my nightmare.  What was Arie thinking?!  Thar is not only so much pressure for Krystal but the other girls are going to die when they find out.  It's social suicide to send her back into the house after this.


My gut feeling is that Krystal puts so much time into helping others in an attempt to cover up some of her own pain and past experiences.  She has had a rough life for sure but I worry that she hasn't had help and support for herself before pouring all of that energy into others.  This process will be really difficult for Krystal and her insecurities are going to bubble up as Arie spends time with other girls.




The Bachelor has an unrivaled ability to come up with the worst group date ideas.  Let's throw fifteen catty girls into an environment more competitive than merely vying for the love of the same guy.  Take all of that and then asking them to crash into each other in motor vehicles during a demolition derby? 





...  I wasn't going to bring it up but...   *sigh*   Ok... last week, Annaliese was one of my absolute favourite ladies.  I pegged her as going all the way.  We got a small glimpse into, what I hope is a rare moment, of Annaliese's PBCSD (Post Bumper Car Stress Disorder).  To be really fair,  I don't understand how a real like demolition derby with complete amateur drivers is safe.  I would have made up a fake story and popped out some tears to avoid intentional car crashes too.  The only good that could come from this date is finding out who the completely crazy and ruthless girls are (ehem...  Brittany T...).  Those are the locos who will key your car and slash your tires at the first opportunity.

I want to like Sienne.  Being a Yale grad, she is clearly super smart.  She happens to be stunningly beautiful which doesn't hurt.  For both of those reasons and more, she and Arie are a mismatch to say the least.  I wish Sienne would open up more during her limited time with Arie instead of listing off all of her life accomplishments.  I'm surprised that Arie gave her the date rose but delighted that he didn't give it to Chelsea.






Does Bekah makes anyone else incredibly nervous?!  I struggle to put my finger on exactly what makes me so uncomfortable.  She doesn't strike me as disingenuous but she's a lot...  Like... a lot a lot.  Arie is obviously intrigued by her boldness and confidence but does she have the ability to tone it down?  What is she like at home on a Sunday afternoon?  I've been reading lots of speculation that Becca has the same appeal to Arie that Courtney Robinson had.  Courtney was one of the most controversial gals to ever grace The Bachelor (which is saying something).  Although Bekah seems like a nicer and more social contestant than Courtney was, they both have a similar level of intensity and mystique.  They also may or may not have practically the same face... 


At this point in "the game", the pre-rose ceremony cocktail hours are so charged and intense but the girls going home are typically those who have had no on-air time.  No one is emotionally invested but the girls are typically exhausted, under-fed and over-served.  This leads to the best exit interviews of all time.  This week, the Best Exit award easily went to Jenna who told Arie she wasn't crying because she was upset about leaving him.  She was upset about leaving her friends.  Yes!!

I have a feeling Arie is going to do what has to be done this season.  I can't see him keeping girls around just for the sake of it.  He has the benefit of being a past contestant but also having years of distance between being on the show and coming back. I wasn't initially excited about this season, but Arie is growing on me and I'm definitely hooked early.  Looking forward to watching along with you all!  Please leave your thoughts and predictions below and follow along @midtowndiaries on Instagram. 

Fraying Lace- Week 3 Bachelor recap

It's that point in the season where you watch the Bachelor and, within the first three minutes, you find yourself wondering, "Wait...  who's that?" at least three times.  The producers have been spending 80% of their time on 20% of the girls and now, since numbers are dwindling already, one starts to notice people like Jennifer, Shushana and Rachel.  Who?  Exactly.

Jennifer

Shushanna

Rachel

Lauren B. is adorbs and it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that she scored the episode's first 1-on-1 date.  Despite being a flight attendant, she seemed out of her element flying in a propeller plane. She probably felt insecure without her drink cart and an emergency escape plan.  How do you get out of one of those planes if it's going down?

Although Lauren was nervous, it was refreshing to see a date that involved flying and heights where the girl doesn't happen to be deathly afraid of both of those things. The pilot conveniently flew directly over the Bachelor mansion while all of the girls happened to be outside.  That's just cruel.

Finally the plane landed in an incredibly remote location that, conveniently enough, had a working hot tub. Where is the plug and water source for said hot tub?  Who was the poor bloke that had to lug that thing out, fill it up, then come back out to empty it and cart it away?!

Ben and Lauren were really comfortable and sweet together.  The main issue I had was trying to figure out how her hair was so gorgeous while being in the hot tub?  I would look way worse than this coming out of more than 10 mins in a hot tub:

A quiet dinner allowed Ben to get to know about Lauren's family and values.  He was so sweaty during their chat. Give this dude a t-shirt!  Chris Harrison- where were you on that one?  Lauren told Ben that she's really picky when it comes to guys because she's looking for someone as kind and caring as her dad.  If Lauren gets a home town, I bet her father will be the one cleaning his gun in the garage when they arrive.  Luckily, if things don't work out for Lauren B, she could join the band that was serenading them at the end of the night (Lucy Angel) since they all looked exactly like she will in 30 years.





The group date was a soccer competition where the girls were put on two teams and coached by players from Team USA.  Can I just go back to something for one second...  Who is Rachel??  Other than her "23, Unemployed" description, we know nothing about this girl.  She may not have played soccer before but she's sure watched enough. She faked a hamstring injury like a real pro!  Emily (the twin) was really impressive with her goal tending.  She comes across as really dainty but she was taking some serious hits!  At the end of the date, the losing team had to hobble back to the mansion while the winners rinsed off and got to enjoy an after party with Ben.

Jami was a real weiney this week.  I've been uncomfortable with her since the beginning when, during her first encounter with Ben, she revealed she knows Kaitlin and she's told her all about him.  Then, this week, she pulled Olivia aside and ratted out the girls for talking about how hideous Olivia's toes are.  By the way- why are the girls talking about how hideous Olivia's toes are?

Amber finally decided that tonight was the night to make her move and try to establish a connection with Ben.  They were having a completely boring surface conversation then they just started kissing. It was surprising because I don't sense a spark but she snatched up the group date rose so she must have left some sort of positive impression.

The second 1-on-1 date went to Jubilee.  As time goes on, I really feel for the girl.  She's really stepped out of her comfort zone.  Although Jubilee comes across as a total bad@$$, she is actually fragile, sensitive and has a tragic past.  She uses the tough girl to cover up her awkwardness and insecurities. Once she got away from the other girls, she was much more herself.

"This date shows me what just a normal day would be like". A day taking a helicopter to an exclusive spa?  Oh yeah- get used to that.  It's sad that Jubilee hasn't found someone that she can completely be herself around.  She has one of the most gut-wrenching stories I've heard on The Bachelor.  She was adopted from Haiti after her entire family died in an accident.  Ben was so genuinely kind to her.  He pushed Jubilee to open up more but, by that point, he had developed her trust.  I know that Jubilee won't be top three and I worry about her heart being even more broken.  I literally got butterflies when he kissed her hand before asking her to accept the rose.

At the end of the night, Ben entered the cocktail party and let the ladies know that two close family friends had died in a plane crash.  He told them he was down and just needed their care and support throughout the night.  Olivia immediately pulled him aside and cried about how she hates her legs...  No guy on Earth wants to hear a girl complain about her appearance on the best of days.  She's the worst.

Good on Lace for leaving the show - for real. That girl was in way over her head and knew that she and Ben weren't establishing a close connection.  I agree that she needs to work on herself but disagree with her quoting her own tattoo.  "You can't love someone else until you truly love yourself."  That must be a really long tattoo...  I bet production passed her a clipboard on her way out with her contract for Bachelor in Paradise.

Who is Rachel??

Thaaaaaaaank you, Ben, for not giving Jami a rose.  She ended the rose ceremony saying she's learned to never trust humans and that she was off to adopt a bunch of cats.

Rivals, Country Songs and Crocodile Tears- Bachelor Recap Week 6

Ei yai yai!  Things are certainly heating up with the ladies as Week 6 sheds the light on who is making it, who is faking it and how big of a mouth Chris has.

Last week was a cliff-hanger although every preview showed Kelsey rolling around on the floor saying "I can't breathe".  Girl- if you are talkin', you're breathin'.  I don't necessarily think she was faking.  She clearly has some issues with expressing herself in appropriate ways but, that being said, I don't believe she was in a crisis situation that constituted flailing on the floor needing oxygen.  Asking for Chris when she was in that predicament is ridiculous.  The last thing I would want my new boyfriend to see is me in the middle of a panic attack getting attended to by medics.

As expected, KardAshley was super mean about the whole thing.  I would be rolling my eyes and hoping Kelsey didn't get a rose too but Ashley just needs to shush those massive over-done lips.





On to the cocktail hour or, as Chris says- "cacktail".  Chris is really not the most expressive fellow.  His mini rants make so sense and the girls stand there with looks on their faces as though they have NO idea what he's talking about.

I can't believe Samantha got sent home.  Mostly because I keep forgetting she's there and then the camera shows her 1/2 a time per episode and I'm like- "Oh yeah- Sam's a person".  So mostly, I can't believe there's a girl named Sam on the show.  It's also a shame about MacKenzie- her hair was just starting to get settled.

L.A. MacKenzie

Santa Fe MakKenzie

As the girls continue to get stamps on their passports... oh wait- they haven't left the midwest yet... Chris admits "I'm not into drama.  I'm just looking to have a bit of fun.  That's why we're coming to Deadwood".  How romantic.

Becca needs a chance to push her way up to the top and she finally gets her one-on-one.  She seems like a cool girl and actually way prettier when she's dressed down.  I think it will be a great change of pace for Chris after all of the craziness going on as of late.

When Becca tells Chris that she's insecure about communication in relationships, Chris assures her that he's a really good communicator.  Let's take a look at how effective his communication has been with Britt:

  

This season is making virgins out to be people who can't touch a member of the opposite sex or show affection to someone they like.  At least Becca isn't making a big deal about it to Chris but her interviews make her seem a bit confused on where her "line" is.  Chris was a gentleman for giving her a peck when he gave her the rose but I'm glad she went back in for more and got the full on make-out.

The group date really was the "most shocking date ever" but the element of surprise had nothing to do with the girls.  The real shocker was finding out Big & Rich are potentially still relevant in the country music world.  I watched John Rich on Celebrity Apprentice and he killed it raising a bazillion dollars for his charity and being an all-around great contestant.  He must have really connected with Gary Busey off camera that same season because "Big" of Big & Rich is Busey in a crazy hat.  

Big & Rich (or is it Gary Busey and John Rich?! Right??)

The girls are tasked to write and perform a love song.  This date definitely brought out some insecurities in some of the girls but showed a light-hearted and fun side to others.  Jade has clearly never listened to country music before as she said "It's hard to write a love song when he's clearly into someone else"  Ummm...  hello- every achy breaky song in country music history has that exact scenario.  You can't script broken heart and torn emotion better than that.

Carly sings for a living but her performance was only slightly less awkward than when her brother, Zak, sang to Des at The Men Tell All but way less awkward than when Kasey sang a capella to Ali . Let's relive.  My favorite part is at 0:36 followed closely by 1:00-1:01.  Wasn't this the date where he didn't get the rose and she left him alone on a mountain?

Quick update- Kasey is now a bar brawler.  http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/vienna-girardis-ex-kasey-kahl-will-serve-180-days-community-service-for-12-bar-brawl/

Jade is the first girl to talk to Chris about how shes can see herself in Iowa and living the Farmer's Wife life.  I think she is really into Chris and but her feelings may be blinding her a little bit.  She moved from a small town to L.A. to pursue modelling and start a cosmetics line and she shouldn't abandon that for the possibility of love. 

  

Britt and Chris are so ridiculously attracted to each other.  They can't keep their hands (or their lips) to themselves.  That being said, the attraction seems really shallow and surface.  They haven't really gotten to know one another because they spend all their time sucking face and having outlandish dates.  She will definitely be the girl who the winner of this season is jealous of for all eternity and will never allow Chris to interact with her again.

The folks at ABC must have called the producers from Millionaire Matchmaker because these girls are looking awfully sober lately.  Patti has a strict 2 drink minimum which is great advice in the real world but horrible advice when you're supposed to be entertaining millions of people for two hours every Monday night.  Less articulating your feels in a clear way; more drunken blubbering!

Chris runs off to a Big & Rich concert with Britt while the other girls wait around for over an hour.  When they return, the ladies are piisssssed and with reason.  Chris gets to just pop by, make things really awkward then ditch Britt to deal with everyone.  At least give Britt the rose then send the other girls home to continue the night with a one-on-one.  Don't leave the other girls sitting there waiting.  

Classic two-on-one date scenario- rivals!  The Bachelor has a tendency, more so than The Bachelorette, to put rivals together on group dates or, even more heartbreaking, best friends!  Who could forget Ashley S. and Ashley H. during Brad's season.  Luckily, neither one of them ended up with Brad since he's a greasy doucheball.

I wonder what Kelsey will think when she watches herself back.  In my experience, those who spend all their time talking about how smart they are, aren't that smart.  Kelsey comes across incredibly condescending and has obviously rubbed everyone the wrong way.  My first impression of her was positive.  In her attempt to come across strong, poised, articulate and intelligent, she actually makes herself look judgmental, self-important and uppity.  Her laugh is the true tell-tale sign of being coo-coo pants.  Imagine sitting near Kelsey and Chris at a funny movie...

Again with the "drop me off and kill me locations".  Laying on a weird bed in the middle of the Badlands on a windy day is a scratched retina waiting to happen.

Ashley was really dumb for dishing all that dirt on Kelsey to Chris.  Never actually tell The Bachelor what's going on in the house!!  Spend the time talking about your own feelings and your own relationship with him; not about anyone else.

Kelsey doesn't have discussions- she lectures.  She's a know-it-all and I don't think she listens to anyone.  Did she say Ashley is someone she can trust and is friends with?  She was mortified that Ashley was talking smack about her to Chris which is to be expected.

It is really shitty of Chris to keep telling the girls what the other ones said.  "I couldn't lie about it"- yeah but you could tell her that you don't want to throw someone else under the bus.  

I don't think Chris has really liked Kelsey or Ashley I. that much.  They're both obviously a ton of drama and way too much work for him.  It's a huge red flag for any guy when a girl can't get along with others.  Lots of the girls in the house have problems with Kelsey but they aren't mean about it.

Surprise surprise- they both get dumped and Kelsey is left sitting on the bed by herself as the helicopter picks up Brad and flies away.  "Where's Ashley?", you ask.  Oh- she's been sitting on a hill crying the entire time.   As the chopper takes off, Kelsey gets up and runs into the desert.  Clearly the same producers as in Ali's season.  (see video of Kasey above).  I'd be like "Ummm... Chris- do you mind if I take this one?  Wait- do Ashley and Kelsey have to share a ride back?!  Has Ashley been seen since?

Meanwhile, back at the house, the girls popped a bottle of champagne and jumped around with joy when they saw Kelsey's suitcase being taken away.  It may be all nicey nicey for now but I'm sure next week will prove to bring out more claws yet fewer fake eyelashes.

Like what you see?  Be sure to comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @midtowndiaries.

These girls be cray!! The Bachelor Recap- Week 2

Remember a week ago when I said that this is probably the most beautiful and normal group of girls to ever grace the Bachelor Mansion.  I retract my comment.  These girls are gorgeous but way cray!

After leaving us with the Kimberly cliffhanger last week, I'm disappointed that the women of America have learned nothing from past contestants.  Can we take a moment to remember Kacie B showing up in Switzerland to try to get Ben back?  We all know how that ended- with Kacie lying on the hotel lobby floor (with her face touching the carpet) crying.

Before:

After:  

There was also that fateful day when Shawntel from Brad's season tried to muscle her way in to Ben's heart during a cocktail party?  That went well...

A move like that will, not only put a massive target on your back with the other girls but it never- and I mean never- ends well.  Let's all agree to just move on when a guy dumps us for 23 other women ok?

Thank goodness our favorite confidant Chris Harrison was around to give Chris S. some solid advice and remind him that this is life we're talking about; not just a game.  He should (say it with me now) follow... his... heart.

Quick question...  Does Chris have an indoor shower or just a little hut in his yard with a tap?  Does he use sulfate free soap because I didn't see a lather...  

During the first group date, "Show Me Your Country" (I refuse to comment...), Megan and Jillian are stuck at home so they do what anyone would do- get day drunk and break into Chris' house!  To be fair, if I was at home while my boyfriend was out dating a bunch of other girls, I'd drink a box of wine, put on a helmet and hit my head against a few hard surfaces too.  I've been day drunk for way less worthy reasons but I've always been wearing pants while doing so... unlike Jillian.  

Chris was really sweet to give Kimberly some one-on-one time during the pool party but I knew things were going downhill when the producers were interviewing her outside... at a bustop in LA... while she was wearing only a bikini...  She really should have just hailed down the first limo she saw and headed back to Long Island.

I was a bit surprised that Chris singled out MacKenzie to hang with after the group date.  I assume he is trying to get a feel for whether or not to keep her around.  It's pure gold listening to the girls try to justify why there weren't picked for one-on-one time.  "He's just such a great guy that he's trying to be really fair to everyone."  Then, as they are walking back to their limos, they get more and more bitter about it.

MacKenzie is young (a 12 year difference between them) and I think that maturity gap is going to become an issue.  She was obviously really nervous and maybe a bit drunk but the girl is 21.  I remember my first time at a bar.  Just a suggestion but maybe she could have omitted the chat about aliens.  Or when your date says "Have you seen aliens?", don't reply with "... I dunno..."

I wish MacKenzie would have told Chris about her son Kale with a bit more confidence and pride instead of making it seem like she had a bit scary secret to share.

It was a bit surprising to see Megan get the one-on-one date but she seems like a nice enough girl.  Has she ever watched The Bachelor though because how can you not understand a date card?  She thought it was just a love note??  Really?!
FINALLY!  I've been waiting two episodes for a helicopter but who was prepared for a private jet and a helicopter?!

Wow- look at that Hoover Dam...  stunning...  Was the Grand Canyon closed to tourists that day because there were zero people around.  Maybe the date was at 5am or something.  My girl @Britt_Landry brings up a good point- where does that pilot go during the date?

Super sad about Megan's dad passing away right before filming.  Good for her for sticking through and seeming to have a positive attitude about things.  Also kudos for not saying "My dad would have wanted me to stay."  Because no girl's dad wants them to date a guy who has 23 other gfs on TV for the entire world to see.

Group date to the Zombie Hunting warehouse- I would die.  I hate hate hate being scared.  I can't go through the least scary level of a haunted house in Niagara Falls.  My husband loves zombies and would kill (no pun intended) to go on this date with Chris.  I, on the other hand, would hunt Chris if he put me on this date.  It is actually my real life personal nightmare.  Big ups to the girl doing Fireball shots before getting out of the limo.

What is wrong with Ashley S?  Seriously though.  Wtf is going on?  Chris is so incredibly nice to her but kind of in the way I'm nice to a junior kindergartner when they are trying to show me their ladybug boots but get distracted by a sparkly scarf.  Although the girls acknowledge she's bat shit cray, they're actually pretty patient with her and don't partake in the bullying behaviour that we've seen on past seasons.

I thought that Britt might be falling to the sidelines a bit but that Free Kiss note was (corny- yes) but also really thoughtful and he knew it would be the perfect gift for her.  Someone should really pull her aside and advise her to "trust the process".

The cocktail hour was a bit of a gong show as emotions are running high and wine is pouring freely.

Fertility Girl (Whitney) still has a crazy voice but she seems to be more comfortable with Chris and more herself.  Her mini date by the fire was really cute and a good way to stand out a bit from the crowd.

Ashley Kardashian I. is pushing this virgin thing a bit too much.  I don't think it's something she has to come out and confess to Chris.  The info might be more relevant if she was saving it until marriage or for religious reasons but he doesn't need to know that now.  I wish I could take back seeing her "Make three wishes on my bellybutton ring.  Rub it first" routine.

Arabian niiiiiiiiiiiights...  

Jordan...  Jordan, Jordan, Jordan...  When you're talking to a guy about how much you want to kiss him and his reaction is nervous laughter, you should just walk yourself out to the front door and wait for your ride.  To be honest- Jordan's really not that crazy.  She is that hammered but seems like a fun gal.  I would love to hit the town with her and am available for drinks whenever she gets out of rehab.  

Lots of drama at the Rose Ceremony.  The highlights?  Chris says "Juelia" and Jillian starts walking toward him.  She slips on the floor almost taking a massive spills but makes an incredible recovery only to find out that Chris called the girl behind her.

                       
Ashley S. gets a rose.  The only thing that will make this ok is if Chris pulls a Brad and the Ashleys become best friends and Chris makes them go on a 2-on-1 and only one will remain.

Kimberly without a rose twice?!  Ouch.  Lesson learned, ladies of America.

Tara's exit speech = awesome.  "I'm never anyone's #1.  You'd think I'd be used to all the rejection by now.  That will haunt me for the rest of my life"

A couple of closing notes:
- 9:15pm:  The first time I have ever seen a girl eat food on any season.  Jillian took a bit of pita bread.
- Where did Tandra come from?!

- Chris has no upper lip when he smiles.  This was pointed out by my husband who was walking through the room between periods of the hockey game he was watching (just trying to justify his manhood).  

What surprised you about last night's episode?  Would you like to be a contributor to next week's blog?  Follow me on Twitter @midtowndiaries or Like my Facebook page.  A big thank you to all my contributors this week with a special shout out to @Britt_Landry, @MegCams and @sarahcatherinef for all your tweets and texts.  It's always a joy to watch "with" you despite being four provinces away!

See you next week, Bachelor Nation!

These are a few (more!) of my favorite thiiings...

We did it!  We survived winter.  A cold, dark, snowy, stormy winter.  I don't believe that we've seen the absolute end of it but April is upon us and my sunroof is begging to be opened.

Enough with the naysaying though.  Let me share a few (of my favorite) thiiings that made those yucky March days just a little less yucky.




1.  Books
     Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
Although I'm typically not super into historical fiction, and certainly not Westerns, this book had me at hello.  I love the narration and all of the obstacles these brothers face on their way to California to finish a job for the Commodore.  A really good Canadian read that may even leave your heartstrings pulled a bit tighter.  You can find Sisters Brothers at your local bookstore or online at Indigo.



2. Health & Beauty
    Olay Complete with SPF 15
I'm not the type to be picky about the products or brands I use for skin care.  To be honest, when it comes to face creams, I usually just grab whatever is over $10 but under $20 and usually on sale.  Sticking to the 60-75mL size is great because they're easier to travel with and the jars fit nicely in my medicine cabinet.

What immediately drew me to the Olay all day moisture cream was the smell.  Since I can remember, I have loved the smell of sunscreen.  I can't get enough of it.  Not the coconuty ones either.  I want the straight up Coppertone Sport goodness.  It will take you right back to your childhood frolicking at the beach or wading in the public pool. It ran me around $15 at my neighbourhood Rexall.  Oh-                                                       it's also good at moisturizing.  Bonus!

3. Online/Social Media
    LinkedIn
I know what most of you are thinking and I thought it too.  I didn't get it!  I didn't understand what the benefits of being on LinkedIn could be.  It seemed like a whole lot of work and why would I want all that information about myself floating around in cyber world for just anyone to see?  Well, it turns out that LinkedIn has some great functions other than being a way to see if your ex is still a deadbeat or if your high school sweetheart is a wealthy CEO now.  Mine is not.

LinkedIn has groups and company pages you can join to enter into conversations about anything.  You can be linked to fellow alumni, those with common interests or skills as well as any type of field or community you would like to be a part of as a listener or contributor.

If it has been two years since you set up your account and have never typed "l-i-n..." into your Google search bar since, do yourself a favour.  Give LinkedIn onnnne more chance.  Perhaps this 2 min video will help.  

4. Food & Drink

    Cajun Blackened Salmon
No Favorite Thiiings list would be complete without a good recipe.  I love fish but I don't have much experience or confidence when it comes to cooking it.  I don't really know what flavours go with what fish or how to enhance a dish with anything other than salt & pepper.  Thank goodness for this recipe from Food.com!  It's a great way to spice up a salmon fillet but you can also use this seasoning on pretty much anything else.  I substituted some spices for some others and used all black pepper since I didn't have white in my cupboard.  I made a spinach salad on the side but you could also make rice or grilled veggies.  Try it tonight!  http://www.food.com/recipe/cajun-blackened-salmon-278329

What are some of your Favorite Thiiings?  Please leave a comment below or join the conversation @midtowndiaries #favoritethiiings.

A few of my favorite thiiiiiiings (and GRC Week 4)

Who says Oprah is the only one who can have a list of favorite things?  If "favorite things" has some sort of a copyright, please don't sue me Oprah or staff!!

Since the month is coming to a close, I wanted to share a few favorite things I've been smelling/using/eating/drinking/watching so that you can enjoy them too!

Favorite Candle:  Cinnamon Frosting by Bath & Body Works
Vanilla, cloves and buttermilk all melted together in a waxy ball of goodness.  I love love love BBW 3 wick candles as they last for so long and have really lovely scents that aren't too perfumey or over powering.

Cinnamon Frosting Candle by BBW

Favorite Shower Gel:  Sea Island Cotton by Bath & Body Works
I maaaaaayyyyyy have a total of 15 BBW shower gels in my linen closet right now.  I'm a wee bit particular with which scents correspond with which seasons.  One can't walk around smelling like a Japanese Cherry Blossom in October!!  For instance, I have one scent, Bali Mango, that I will only use during the summer and when I'm in the Caribbean for work or on vacation.  The gels are arranged by season in the closet.  The same is true for my 11 bottles of BBW hand soap.

Sea Island Cotton Shower Gel by BBW

I keep three scents in my shower at all times and I switch them out, whether they are empty or not, depending on the weather.  One is my going out gel which is always a scent I really love and don't want to use up too quickly.  The second is one I use if I have a a work event or some sort of social occasion and wanted to smell nice but not going-out-nice.  Then, the third, is more of an everyday just-around-the-house or got-back-from-the-gym soap that isn't anything too special but that I still really enjoy.  Sea Island Cotton is the perfect third soap because it smells like... well... soap!  It has a nice light scent and reminds me a bit of fresh clean laundry.  Mmmmmmm...

Favorite Tea:  Earl's Garden by David's Tea
If you like (or love) Earl Grey tea, you will like (or love) Earl's Garden.  I bought a bag for a friend one time and she loved it so she got me hooked on it.  I then got my mother hooked on it and I just recommended it to another friend this morning.  It has the coziness of Earl Grey but with hints of strawberries, raspberries and black currant.

Earl's Garden Tea by David's Tea

Favorite TV Personality:  Parker Schnabel from Gold Rush Alaska
Judge away but T and I spend our Sunday nights watching shows about gold mining.  Gold Rush Alaska followed by Bering Sea Gold followed by, our personal favorite, Jungle Gold.  Despite the fact that George and Scott on Jungle Gold are completely jacked badass hotties who run around Ghana putting armed men in chokeholds, Parker Schabel completely warms my heart.

Parker Schnabel from Gold Rush Alaska

He's this adorable teenage kid who works so hard to continue the gold mining legacy of his 93-year-old grandfather, John.  He's so sweet and I just love him.

Favorite Recipe:  No-Bake Energy Bites by Gimme Some Oven
You didn't think I'd end this without including my GRC Week 4 recipe did you?!  I never have difficulty finding good dinner ideas but I struggle with breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the week.  This little nuggets are great to have in the fridge to grab whenever you need a boost.  They took about 30 seconds to throw together and will stay fresh in the fridge for about a week.  I used Banana Nut instant oatmeal by Quaker.

No-Bake Energy Bites by Gimme Some Oven

What are some of your favorite products and recipes?  Comment below or tweet me @darbyvt.