White + Warren: Drape Neck Cardigan

I was able to nab this White +Warren cashmere Drape Neck Cardigan for $100 on NeimanMarcus.com:

It was on sale for $150 (and still is), but thanks to a $50 promotional gift card from Neiman Marcus, it brought the price down to $100.  Throw in free shipping, how could I not get it??  My old dry-cleaners had shrunk my previous White + Warren cashmere cardigan, so I'm happy that I finally found a replacement at such a great price!

Note: Even if you didn't receive a $50 promotional gc from Neiman Marcus, $150 for this cardigan is still a great deal!  Use code "NMSEPT" to get free shipping (expires 9/27/10).

Prescription-Strength Hydroquinone: Not Covered By Insurance But Still Cheaper Than Whitening Beauty Products

Last week, I went to a follow-up appointment with my oral surgeon.  I went in knowing that he was going to admonish me for getting a tan on my recent trip to Bermuda.  And yes, he did admonish me.  He re-stressed to me that tanning and scarring don't mix.  Basically, he was thinking, "What the hell was she thinking??"  

I was really good the entire summer.  I avoided tanning and I used sunblock every day.  But when I'm on vacation, I just can't help it.   I like to tan when on vacation.  I still use sunblock but when you're on the beach, you tan.  KWIM?  

So what did this mean for me?  Before I could start my laser resurfacing treatment to correct the scarring below my lower lip, I had to lighten up the scar area.  My doctor prescribed to me prescription-strength hydroquinone (4%) - the generic version.

Much to my surprise, prescription-strength hydroquinone - even the generic version - is usually NOT covered by insurance.  Cash price for generic hydroquinone cream (4%) was $43.  Okay...this is not a huge amount of money, but what the heck am I paying my health insurance company for?  Per the pharmacist, hydroquinone is considered a cosmetic prescription, so most health insurance plans do not cover it.  I argued that I needed it for corrective purposes, not cosmetic but it fell on deaf ears.

I've been using the bleaching cream for a few days now... and not just on the scarring below my lower lip but also on a dark spot on my left leg.  I don't know about the scarring below my lower lip, but the dark spot on my left leg has lightened in a most dramatic manner.

What's the point of this post?  If you're out there buying over-the-counter bleaching products to lighten darks spots, consider going to your dermatologist for prescription-strength hydroquinone. Even at $43, there's a good chance that it's still cheaper than whitening beauty products from a department store.

Food Therapy: Simply Lite's Dark Chocolate Bar

I am an unabashed chocolate lover (addict?) and I LIVE for dark chocolate!  For me, it's all about the taste and not about the sugar, carb or calorie content. This means that if there's a dark chocolate bar in the house, I eat first and ask questions later.

Usually, the chocolate in the house belongs to me but a few weeks ago, I found this dark chocolate bar lying around:

I didn't really look at the label except for the part that reads, "Dark Chocolate" and immediately, I started eating away.  It was actually pretty good and I took a second look at the label.  I was surprised to find that its was low carb, sugar free and gluten free.

Simply Lite's Dark Chocolate bar is sold at Trader Joe's and I'm pretty sure that I've bypassed it many times due to the "Sugar Free" labeling.  (Have I mentioned that I'm a sugar addict too?)  This is a good option if you're trying to be healthy but still need a chocolate fix.

Would I buy this myself?  Maybe...I do feel significantly less guilty when eating a Simply Lite Dark Chocolate bar than when eating a Vosges Dark Chocolate bar.  But it feels a bit too healthy for me.  Dark chocolate should be a luxury and an indulgence.  However, if I find another bar lying around the house, I will most definitely eat it again.

Note:  People have stated that they've had some issues with the maltitol, a sugar substitute, in Simply Lite's Dark Chocolate bar (think Olestra), but I haven't had any problems.  Maybe I have a stomach of steel?

UMIL: Surprise Mold in the Subzero

These past few months, I have been consumed with my kitchen renovation.  We gutted everything and the only appliance we kept was the Subzero refrigerator.  I had meticulously cleaned the Subzero before the kitchen guys set it aside for the summer.  So it was a HUGE UMIL yesterday, when I realized that the interior of the Subzero contained mold upon opening it (the first time since construction began).

Apparently, I had cleaned the Subzero but did not let it completely dry.  The result of this mistake:

Moisture + Summer Heat = Mold.

I spend the better part of yesterday cleaning/sanitizing the Subzero, yet again.  So the next time you clean your refrigerator, make sure it's completely dry before you close the doors and start using it.