And now, for some deep thoughts.....

I've been really busy lately. And traveling a lot, which is both exhilarating and awful all at once. Countless times I've thought to myself that I needed to write about something or other in my blog so that the 3 of you who are reading it can stay up-to-date on my innermost thoughts. Obviously, though, you've survived without a regular update from me.

I can't remember everything I wanted to write about, but here, in no particular order, are a few things that have been on my mind as of late.

1. If someone asks you if you'd like to have your upper lip waxed at the same time as your eyebrows you should seriously consider saying yes.

This happened to me recently. Just there for an innocent eyebrow wax (that was about two years overdue), and Rhonda says, "Do you want me to do your lip, too?" I thought I had heard incorrectly and I must have made a face because she leaned over conspiratorialy and said, "all the girls here do it." As if that makes me feel better about A) possibly having a shadow on my upper lip or B) having coated in hot wax and ripped off.

I said yes because I have, in fact, noticed the faintest blush of a mustache, but only when I'm looking in one of those magnifying mirrors. I don't think anyone looks at me that closely, but I figured I might as well be safe.

It didn't hurt as bad as I thought. I'm also not sure I needed it, but I do notice that my make-up goes on a little more smoothly there. So maybe I should just be glad that someone brought it up, no?

2) Don't have aforementioned waxing done the same day you're going out to dinner with friends.

You can get away with the eyebrow part because it could just be pink eyeshadow. But the pink lip? The one that's still a wee bit sticky from wax? Not a good look.

3) Would it really be that weird to have Alice from the Brady Bunch living with you?

I am lucky enough to have a cleaning lady. She comes twice a month and that is my favorite day - when I get home and the floors are absolutely crumb-free and there are vacuum marks in the carpet in my room. I wish I could levitate from the bedroom door to my bathroom so as not to disturb the lovely seascape of carpet.

I would be even luckier if she came and did this every day and then left a delicious home-cooked dinner on the table for us.

Then cleaned it up and did the laundry.

Then magically disappeared into a closet where she stayed preserved, yet frozen and silent, until we left the next morning and she started all over again.

4) Finally, a makeover show where you could actually afford the clothes!

During one of the 978 snow days we've had this winter I watched an Oprah show where they were doing "affordable makeovers." It was something about not being a "schlumpadinka", Oprah's word for people who dress badly and don't make much effort to look put-together.

The great part was that they were taking the women shopping at Kohl's, The Gap, Sears and JC Penney. Seriously, I love a makeover show and this was the first time I've ever seen one that anyone could actually relate to. I mean, who can buy $350 pants?

The best tip from that show? The Brooks Brothers No-Iron fitted white shirt. A fantastic shirt. I tried to buy one, but the Brooks Brothers at the Philadelphia airport was out of my size. And here's another tip: get the one with the red ribbon on it. It has a better collar that will hold its shape well after washing.

The show also had a list of 10 things to have in your wardrobe so that you can always put together a stylish, classic look. It's a great list. Get it at www.oprah.com

5) The best beauty tip I've ever tried is kind of weird.

I've read many times that using white eyeliner on the inside of your lower lid will make your eyes look brighter/make you look more awake/attract the man of your dreams who just happens to be George Clooney....

I finally tried it.

It works.

Proving, at least to me, that all those beauty tips in InStyle must have been tried by someone and really do work.

6) When you have to travel a lot, don't forget to have sex with your husband.

Not that you would. Forget, I mean. But you might want to really make a point of doing so. That's all I'm saying.

7) Robins = spring

I saw three supremely fat ones on a tree outside the girls' window yesterday. And I can hear birds singing in the morning, even though there are about 18 inches of snow in the yard. It has to be a good sign.