wishbone clover

Cube Dog: The Extra Portable Pet Dog App

Thank you to Cube Dog (a Clever Girls Collective client) for sponsoring this review. For more information about Cube Dog please visit the Facebook page or download it on iTunes.

I don't usually participate in Clever Girls series, but this one was too fun and cute to resist: Cube Dog, a customizable dog that lives on your iPhone. You can take it with you anywhere, and play with it any time, without ever worrying about barking, bad behavior or allergies. And it's so cute!

Doubters, and IRL dog owners might be asking, "How cute could an iPhone pet be?" to which I reply, "OMG, SO FREAKING CUTE!"

I'm serious, when you "pet" your Cube Dog, his or her eyes turn into hearts. Like this:

That's Tanya, one of my Cube Dogs, sitting on my sofa. Isn't she a doll? And how neat is the feature that lets you take a picture of your Cube Dog, with your iPhone, actually in your house?

The graphics are surprisingly advanced and 3-D, which I think is why it pulls you (ahem, or why it pulled me in) so quickly. You can customize the color, the eyes, nose, the ears. And so many hair style options! (Okay, clearly THAT was the big selling point for me!)

Check out this video introduction to Cube Dog:

 
To use Cube Dog right now, you need an iPhone® 3GS, iPhone® 4, iPod touch® (3rd generation, except for 8GB model), and iPod touch® (4th generation). All compatible devices must be running iOS 4.0 or higher. There is a note in the iTunes store that they're working on supporting earlier versions of iOS 3.x in the future. You can get the latest news on releases, contests and new features by following Cube Dog on Facebook.

If you have a compatible phone, and you're in the market for the most carefree pet ever, download the free app and check out Cube Dog!

While Cube Dog provided me with the app to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Cube Dog, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Pointy

Sometimes art can be as prickly and fragile as it is beautiful.

 

photo: luckycatphotography

Erno Laszlo Total Face & Body Protection SPF 30

If we've met in person, you've probably noticed that I'm pale. Really pale. Like sparkly vampire pale.

There was a time when I tried to entice my Sicilian half to express itself in ways other than threatening to "take care of" anyone who crosses me, or a "friend of mine".  But those 47 days were a long time ago (summer of 1986 to be exact, when I baby sat for the Hurd girls at the Whoosic Club pool). Today I'm at peace with, protective even, of my pallor.

But I still hate wearing sunscreen. It's greasy and slimy, the mineral stuff makes me even whiter. It's gross. And pretty much everything I put on my face makes me break out.

Plus I've always struggled with the moisturizer vs. sunscreen thing -- it's all I can do to get some Lubriderm slapped on my legs on a regular basis.

So I wear hats, long sleeves and stay indoors. Safety first. I don't want to burst into flames or anything.

Meanwhile, Erno Laszlo has been offering me stuff for ages, and I always say "Yes, please!" because I'm no dummy. And their stuff is fine, but nothing's been so good that I needed to replace my beloved Guerlain and tell everyone.

But the PR gals keep sending me stuff, and this just goes to show how smart they are, because I'm IN LOVE with the Total Face & Body Protection SPF 30.

It goes on like really nice lotion, because it IS really nice lotion! I can put it on my face, and it doesn't make me break out. And it makes my arms and legs all silky and smooth.

I love it. You should try it, because you will love it, too.

The only thing I would add to it? Make it a spray on so I don't have to get it all over my hands. Because I still hate that part.

Uh Oh, It's Girls Scout Cookie Time

 
One sleeve of Shortbread Trefoils, inhaled on Caltrains, before I even got the box home.

Yep. Public shame eating. And it felt good.

The Perfect Airport Shoe

I’m a frequent flier, a planner/worrier, and a shoe fetishist. The search for the perfect pair of airport shoes is an inevitable obsession.

Lately I’ve been wearing a pair of black leather Lucky Brand clogs while traveling, and they score an amazing 6.5 out of 7 on the Wishbone Clover Seven Point Perfect Airport Shoe Scale.  They are a little higher than I anticipated, so they’re bad if I need to sprint from one terminal to the next to make a connection (#2, Mobility). However, both shoes have a four leaf clover lucky charm on them, which provides double luck for good connections.

These clogs score 6.5/7, which is the highest I've ever found.

The Wishbone Clover Seven Point Perfect Airport Shoe Scale

1. Comfort

They have to be comfortable enough to wear all day, including if I drink too much Diet Coke and get The Swollen-ness of The Ankles. Also, no heel blistering, toe pinching or instep crushing.

2. Mobility

When I only have seconds to spare between connections, my shoes have to be mobile/secure enough to walk-jogs through endless terminals. Falling off your heels is mortifying in a crowded airport!

3. Fast on – fast off 

All about the security line. I travel with two bags, a coat, and my computer – I don’t have time for zippers, and forget about laces.

4. Sock Compatibility

You need socks in an airport. This is what disqualifies flip flops.  When I'm sock-free, I can feel the disease boring holes through my bare soles as I stand on the rough grey security area carpet, waiting for my shoes to pass through the x-ray machine.  Feet need protection!

5. Be Pretty

This disqualifies Uggs and Crocs. Goth Crocs do not exist. I’m wearing heavy black eyeliner and possibly last night’s false eyelashes. At 8am. Foam rubber shoes or round toe sheepskin boots are beyond incongruous on me, even when they’re black. And if I wouldn't wear them in real life...well, this is real life. So

6. Class Factor

Be acceptable first class upgrade shoes – I’ve only been upgraded twice in 20 years, but it’s so worth it! I believe in being prepared, so usually no to sneakers, and I always have a drapey scarf to distract from my jeans – I mean my "designer premium denim trousers."

7. Versatility

Must go with all outfits packed – there’s no point wearing a pair of shoes on the plane that you can’t wear once you get there. Versatility is the watchword of travel outfits!

Past Perfect Airport Shoe Contenders:

Adidas Djyena

Score: 4/7

These are possibly my most favorite shoes ever. I’ve had them for about 10 years, and consider it one of my worst failures that I didn’t secure them in black when I had the chance. They are now completely out of stock, even on Ebay.

They score off the charts on characteristics 1-4.  And while I appreciate their sort of mod-hipster appeal, they are in essence white tennis shoes. Their outfit pairings are limited. So they fail on 5-7.

Isaac Mizrahi Kitten Heel Ankle Boots

Score: 4.5/7

I dread the day (and I know it’s coming all too soon) when these Isaac Mizrahi kitten heel ankle boots are hopelessly dated. I paid all of $30 for them at Target at least six years ago, and have reheeled and resoled them several times.

They score very high on 4-7, and are pretty good for #3 – zippers require one extra step past slip ons, but it’s negligible.

However, the top of the list is a tough one. These boots are okay for limited periods of time, but the combination of the pointy toe and sodium swell means they can get uncomfortably tight. Also, the little heel looks like it would be an easy walker, but it’s a little spindly, and a little slippery, so I wind up tippie–toe-shuffling across expanses of polished airport floors.

Pretty Much Any Running Shoes

Score: 3/7

In the interest of saving suitcase space, I wore my running shoes on a trip this summer. Hands down the most comfortable, stable, practical shoe for getting around. High scores on 1 and 2. And 4.

Sadly, they fail on all of the other categories. Slow at the security line, only moderately cool looking (except for this one pair of green suede Tretorns and similar novelty styles). You can’t wear them in first class, and they make every outfit, except workout gear, look kinda dorky.

The Search Continues

I’m pretty pleased with the 6.5/7 Lucky Clogs, but I also won’t let that make me complacent. There is always another shoe to try, in the elusive hunt for the traveler’s Holy Grail of a shoe that scores a perfect lucky 7/7 on the Wishbone Clover Seven Point Perfect Airport Shoe Scale.

Wordle of wishbone clover 2010

Image credit: Wordle

Wigs In Cages

Obviously these wigs had to be locked up. Otherwise some (like ME) would steal 'em. Because OMIGODYOUGUYS, I love fake hair.

Photo taken at the totally sketchy "flea market" near my sister's house in North Carolina. I was in heaven, although I did throw away the $1 lipstick because it tasted like a crayon.

- Cat/BadKitty

PS, does this picture remind anyone else of that old lady porn mag, "Grey Box"?

There's a Contest on my Review Blog!

Did you realize I have a review blog? Well, I do. It's called "Lucky Cat Reviews" and I'll be posting there more often. Right now, thanks to BlogHer and Pepperidge Farms, I have a new review posted and a contest. With a prize!

That's right, you can win one hundred dollars just for leaving a comment about snack food. Click over, check out the post, which is a review of the new Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Cheese Crisps. Leave your comment and test fate. You just might be the lucky winner!

- Cat/BadKitty

These Shoes Complete Me. For Now.

You know when you meet a pair of shoes, and there is that moment of recognition, like you were together in a past life, or an alternate plane of existence, but somehow you were separated through time and space? But thanks to all of the photon energy in the universe aligning at the right moment, you were magically brought back together again, and are now complete?

Today I had one of those moments. Behold my new green shoes: DKNY clogs with a perforated design on the toe box.

Yes, those are stars on the toes. Also, they are green. Green like grass in a codeine induced dream.

I can just tell we're going to be very happy together, at least for a season or two. I might sleep in them tonight. I mean, I might forget to take them off "by accident".

 

And because I would want to know: yes, extremely comfortable, Loehmann's, under $50.

Happy Birthday, Chief!

Isn't it beautiful? This is the "chocolate silk pie" that Chief has been requesting for his birthday for the past 12 years.

We've had Hawaiian celebrations, spirited ourselves away to Mendocino or Monterey, and partied in literally a dozen different ways, but I've never come through with the chocolate silk pie.

Today I finally made it for him. I guess this is his lucky year!

 

Also, the magic pink sunglasses look SPECTACULAR on him.

Happy Birthday Chief! You're my favorite Big Mick ever!