IS GLUTEN-FREE THE WAY TO GO?

The first time I ever met someone on a gluten-free diet, I seriously questioned how she was able to enjoy eating (and life, for that matter) with so many restrictions on what she could put in her mouth. She told me it was something she eventually got used to, and that it was actually a much healthier way to live, but I still wasn't convinced. Give up carbs? I mean, maybe I could do it for a month, but forever?

Despite my initial doubts, I did some research (and fell in love with a man who's moderately allergic to wheat products) and I found that going gluten-free is far easier than I ever imagined. From rice-based pastas to swapping bread/wraps for corn tortillas, I've gotten quite used to the lifestyle and I've even mastered a few dishes over the last few months. I'm currently about 75% g-free, and I only slip up when I forget my breakfast and grab a muffin at Bristol Farms or have flour-enriched rice in my sushi.  Thankfully I don't have allergies or Celiac disease, so I'm not in huge trouble if I cheat, but I've often wondered if I should just go all the way and go completely g-free.  You see, not only does it make you more creative in the kitchen, but it also forces you to make healthier eating choices.

Of course, if I just HAVE to have red velvet cupcakes, I can a) go wait in line for 40 minutes and buy the amazing g-free ones at Sprinkles or b) spend an hour or two slaving away in the kitchen making them with my special King Arthur rice flour, which is kind of a pain.  However, I usually change my mind and end up busting out a bag of carrots and a dollop of peanut butter, because it's quicker, cheaper and better for me.  See?  It's working in my favor already.  Let's see how long I can keep this up...

IT'S OK JANUARY, I STILL LOVE YOU

While I'll admit that January Jones' thespian skills are in the C+ range in flicks like X-Men or Unknown, I'll always be a huge fan of her portrayal of Betty Draper on Mad Men. This role was truly created for her, and I believe every single word that comes out of her perfect little pout.

However, it seems like Ms. Jones isn't the most popular blonde starlet on the block, as she recently told E! News, "I find it really interesting that people think that like, in seasons three and four, [Betty has] become unlikable because she's become more independent. Everybody liked Betty when she was like in a living hell in season one and two, and now they hate her ... I think as an audience member you can empathize with her struggling to find happiness -- I think it's an ongoing process. I think it's funny that it carries over into my life, my actual life, when [showrunner] Matt [Weiner] writes a storyline that Betty's unlikable, all of a sudden everybody hates me. I hope she gets a little more well received."

I took a theater arts class in college, and while I pretty much sucked at everything from memorizing monologues to rehearsing dialogue, I always had an urge to get into acting.  Not for the money, fame or free shit, but because I think it would pretty much be the most awesome experience ever to play a character you knew you were born to play.  Me?  I'd love to play a gun-toting badass, a bitchy rocker chick or a 19th century cowgirl, but I would want to feel like I owned the role 100%.  Ms. Jones may never be nominated for an Oscar, but she absolutely nails her part in AMC's award-winning show, and for that reason and that reason alone, I absolutely adore her.

OOPSIE

I am a writer by trade, but despite my best efforts, I still make typos from time to time.

While I would rather punch myself in the face with a morning star than take a job as a copy editor, I do understand the fundamentals of grammar and sentence structure. I know the difference between their, they're and there (you'd be amazed at how many college educated people don't), I understand possessive pronouns, and most importantly, I know when I'm breaking the rules.  Don't end a sentence with a preposition, put a space on either side of an ellipsis, and make sure you back up your statements with evidence and an explantation. Blah, blah, blah.

That being said, I am a comma-happy scribe with a tendency of using run-on sentences, and while I love writing, I'm well aware of the fact that I could occasionally benefit from an editor (or at least a second set of eyes).  Knowing is half the battle, and as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather be a creative writer who needs a little improvement on their mechanics than a technically-gifted editor who lacks creative punch.  That's all.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS...

I'm heartbroken.

The lease on my 2010 GT Mustang is up, and when I went to the Ford dealership the other day, I got some bad news: The deal I got back in late 2009 no longer exists, and the only way I can get a 2012 GT is if I buy it and spend about twice what I did on the down payment and the monthlies.  I love the 5.0 GT and I nearly creamed myself when I got to test drive her, but not enough to spend that kind of money on a car that I'd probably want to sell after 7-8 years. Owning an American-made car is a pain in the ass, especially when the warranty expires in 5-6 years (and yes, I've owned a Mustang before, and all I have to say is, never again!).

Apparently when Ford re-designed the GT two years ago and gave it extra 90 horsepower, the banks all stopped their leasing programs because the car's increased engine power presented it as a liability.  It makes sense, but I have a clean driving record and I am very responsible human being, so surely I'd be an exception, right?  Nope.  The only affordable deal I could get was on a suped up V6 (test drove it and hated it), so I passed and immediately began researching other cars in my price range that I could see myself driving.  Chevy Camaro (and not the V6 stock model).  Acura TSX.  Mercedes C250.  BMW 3 series.  Sigh.  Nothing really stood out to me, but the frontrunners are currently the Camaro and the TSX, unless something changes with the 412 HP 5.0 liter GT Mustang with the V8 engine.  That car will always be the one that got away...

MY PRECIOUS

I never thought I'd be able to justify spending $60 on 1.7 ounces of face cream, but after I stumbled across this stuff last year, I am now hooked.

For the record, I do not make extravagant purchases or live beyond my means, but after finally finding the facial moisturizer of my dreams, I am more than happy to shell out a ridiculous sum of cash every three months when it's time to re-stock my vanity cabinet.

I have combination skin, so not only do I need something that actually moisturizes, but I need something that won't make me a greasy mess at the end of the day.  This does both.  My only complaint?  That it comes in a glass container, which I could very easily drop and shatter into a million little pieces.  Of course, I love this stuff so much, I'd probably scoop it off the floor in an attempt to salvage half an ounce of it.  Shh...don't tell.