one half of the smashing pumpkins

I also saw one half of my favorite band since the 8th grade, the Smashing Pumpkins. Now I hear you saying already "gee steph grow up already." But my reply is, "I've just always been very sophisticated. Not every 13 year old is attracted to 9 minute 70's style rock."

Having very restrictive parents, I was never really able to fulfill my middle school fantasy of seeing Mr.Corgan live with his original line up. I saw Zwan once, but it wasn't the same. In fact, the lights kind of cancelled out half my memories of that show. I think I had some type of seizure. But I digress, in 2008 I got to see Mr. Corgan and Mr. Chamberlain live.

I really enjoyed the cracks Billy C made at us for being old. I really did feel old. I stood for the majority of the concert, I was angry at the woman who was obviously on crystal who would periodically elbow my concert friend, and I was a little bit peeved at the couple who was making out in front of us.

I loved the opening where Billy came out wearing a big theatrical headpiece and a foofy dress. At first I thought it was part of the set, but no it was our personal, our ultimate, our court appointed heavy metal machine- Billy Corgan.

A Set List:

tarantula,
glow,
i am one,
mayonaise,
eye
the end is the begining is the end (watchmen trailer style, not batman and robbin)
a 10 min version of heavy metal machines
today
rosemart
stand inside your love
tonight tonight

and we only come out at night

Once upon a time:



We are all slaves to rock and roll.

New Year New You

You might have heard of the massive recession going on. This undoubtedly cuts into one's funds for the occasional spa excursion. I don't often go to the spa. But it's not out of the question to have the experience even in this economic climate. See the below "recipes" for masks etc that I plagiarized.

Coffee Body Scrub
What you need:
2 cups of coarsely ground coffee
½ cup raw sugar or sea salt
2 to 3 tablespoons of massage oil
Mix all of the ingredients together. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and to open your pores. While in the shower, use wide circular motions to rub the coffee body scrub on your skin, making sure you use strong, even pressure. Shower off, pat your skin dry and apply a thin layer of your favorite body lotion.

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask: This mask helps rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture and fade age spots, thanks to vitamin E (found in avocados), the beta-carotene and antioxidants of carrots and the high calcium and protein of the cream.
What you need:
1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
½ cup of heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons of honey
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread the mask gently over your face and neck and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant: Get softer, smoother hands and feet, thanks to natural fruit acids that aid exfoliation.
What you need:
8 to 10 strawberries
2 tablespoons of apricot oil (or olive oil)
1 teaspoon of coarse salt (kosher salt or sea salt)
Mix together all the ingredients into a paste, massage into hands and feet, rinse off and pat dry.

Fruit Salad Body Mask: It sounds like a healthy smoothie for your skin – and it is! The pineapple contains bromelain, a protein-digestive enzyme, which helps rid skin of dead cells and dirt and acts as a mild astringent. Grapes are rich in procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs) that provide protection against harmful UV rays, and bananas are loaded with vitamins, calcium and nutrients that keep your skin smooth and soft. Kiwi is high in vitamin C, and honeydew is soothing and hydrating.
What you need:
2 slices of pineapple (rind removed)
½ medium honeydew melon (rind removed)
1 dozen green grapes
1 medium banana (peeled)
1 medium kiwi fruit (peeled)
Puree all the ingredients in a food processor (the mixture will be slightly lumpy). Refrigerate for one hour. Smooth onto your body and face, leaving it on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Find these and more great recipes at www.spaindex.com

Also check out BellaSugar's DIY section.

the hold steady

This month I went to the Hold Steady show with a friend from law school. I felt very angelino while going to a show on a weeknight and running around in/from the torrential downpour that occurred at the end of the show. Those of you who are familiar with the phenomenon, those in California can't drive or deal with the rain. It's one of the reasons why no one walks in L.A. it's the rain (or fear of the rain.)

I'd been very curious about the Hold Steady for some time now and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. RRS now stands for "Rebel Rock Steph" as friend from law school says. The Hold Steady is a band which gives you a healthy dose of rock rock rock. Our energetic front man, Craig Finn is like an ultra excited Elvis Costello.

I often do a little research before going to the show and this guy catches a little flack for being a little chubby. "Who really cares?" is my immediate reply. We've been loving that bald Billy Corgan and also chubby Frank Black for years. Get over it fourteen year olds.

One of my favorite songs, and a crowd favorite as well was called "Chips Ahoy"