Monday, October 29, 2007

Fun Monday #1

Karina at Candid Karina is hosting Fun Monday this week. I've never participated in one before, although I planned on signing up for Willowtree's last week and then somehow never did. For my maiden FM voyage, this is the task we've been set -

I want to see your security blankets. No, not the kind Linus carries around with him in the Charlie Brown cartoons, although, if you have one of those, by all means share it. What I want to see are the items you just cannot leave home without. What is it that if you leave your house without, you feel naked, incomplete, not quite right? This can be one thing or many things. And since most of us don't live in a clothing optional society, lets just assume we all leave the house fully dressed...


Okay. I'm dressed. I'm walking out of the house. What do I absolutely have to have with me?


I guess I need to start this off with a little confession. I am the ultimate low maintenance woman. Surely I could be more babe-like if I put a little more effort into it, but for the most part I don't . If pressed, I can go from smacking the snooze alarm off to pulling out of the driveway in fifteen minutes flat, including shower. Add two minutes for a shampoo. Now I'm not trying to say I don't look like ass for the entire day, but it can be done. It just isn't pretty.

Even when I have a lot of time I'm still not the heavy make-up type. If I'm working
I'll do a very minimal make-up, but otherwise I go barefaced, save for moisturizer. So my security blanket wouldn't be any products that made me look terribly girly. I can safely cross off anything by Loreal and associates. (I'm worth it, I'm just too lazy to do it).

I've thought about this for days and can only come up with two things I won't leave my house without. (I'm assuming I'll have car keys, cash, a credit card and a cell phone). Maybe I do have six things, because I won't leave my house without any of those, but there's no real story behind those things - that's just survival.


My first security blanket is my sunglasses. They are plain non-prescription sunglasses, and I have lots of them. My children are really hard on my sunglasses and they tend to end up in very strange places, so earlier this year I bought a lot of 20+ pair on eBay so I wouldn't have to worry about tracking them down. My favorites look a lot like the ones pictured here, but I'm not really picky. I don't like bright lights in my eyes and they make driving a lot easier, but my main reason for always wearing sunglasses (outside anyway) is vanity. One of my eyes wanders a little when I'm tired (which is always) and I'm terribly self-conscious about it, so I hide behind dark lensed sunglasses. One of these days I'm going to bite the bullet and have corrective surgery done, but today isn't the day. In the meantime I'm stylin' in my shades.



The second thing I won't leave home without is my chicken poop. Yes, chicken poop. For those unfamiliar with this product (which I'm sure is almost everyone), chicken poop is the best lip balm in the world. I speak as a connoisseur of lip balm, so you have to trust me on this. It's a soy, jojoba and beeswax base, with sweet orange and lavender and it is To Die For. I was a Burt' s Bees devotee for years, but I've never looked back.




The story behind the name is that apparently
the woman who created it spent a lot of time on her grandparent's farm when she was younger. She had really chapped lips, which she made worse by constantly licking them. Her grandfather told her he was going to put chicken poop on her lips to make her stop licking them, and whammo! Product history was made. If you find it in a store, the display box is shaped like a big white chicken and the lip balm comes out a hole in the tail end. Duh. Where else would it come from?

As tempting as it was to make up really cool things that I won't leave home without, I didn't. Don't hate me because I'm truthful.

57 comments:

laurie said...

chicken poop!!!! never heard of it. dare i trade in my chapstick for it?

i don't wear makeup, either. not a bit. not any. i had decided when i turned 50 i'd start wearing lipstick, but then i turned 50 and figured maybe 60 was really the magic lipstick age..

great inaugural fun monday!

willowtree said...

That chook poo thing is funny.

So you're telling me that you never drive and you don't lock the house? Come on! How about a little honesty here!!!

Welcome to Fun Monday.

Molly said...

Well, welcome to Fun Monday. You have made a great splash with your first entry. Chicken Poop will be the talk of this Fun Monday.

the rotten correspondent said...

laurie - I swear by this stuff, it's that good. I wish I liked to wear make-up more, but I don't. Ah well...next life.

willowtree - did ya miss the part where I said KEYS, cash, credit card and cell phone were mandatory? Hmm? Have you been smoking chook poo lately?

Come on! How about a little honesty here!!!

mjd - thanks for the welcome. It was way better than Peter's. I suppose from now on I'll be the chicken poop gal.

This was really a lot of fun!

Kim said...

I cannot believe there is a lip balm on the planet I haven't heard of, but you've named it! How funny.

I am a pretty low maintenance girl, too. Long straight hair, no makeup most days, just moisturizing sunscreen. And my favorite lip balm, which is made by DHC. If I'm going out with hubby, I'll put on a little color on my eyes and lips and add mascara, then I'm done.

Fun Mondays are pretty cool. I may have to try, too, now that you and Laurie have proven to me that it's safe.

Junebug said...

My daughters can not live without their Burt's Bees. I will tell them about the Chicken Poop and we'll try to find some.

the rotten correspondent said...

kaycie - well, it's as safe as anything that willowtree participates in. I think you should join in. It's very interesting!

junebug - I love Burt's Bees, too. I added the link to the website so you can check it out. It's made in Kansas and I think you can buy it in stores through the midwest.Thanks for stopping by!

Madam Crunchypants said...

I have never heard of that kind of chicken poop before. I am now coveting! (also a fine lip gloss/balm critic)

Junebug said...

My oldest daughter will graduate from Oklahoma Wesleyan in May with a BS in nursing. She will be an RN soon. She wants to work in pediatrics or labor and delivery.

the rotten correspondent said...

thalia's child - well, it's the only kind of chicken poop I'm putting on my lips, believe me! I'm amazed at how many of us junkies there are out there!

junebug - Good for her. I love nursing and wouldn't want to do anything else. Most days, anyway!

Serina Hope said...

I have never heard of this chicken poop. I have to find out more. Happy fun Monday to ya!

Beckie said...

I need to get me some Chicken Poop!

Welcome to Fun Monday!

Nearlydawn said...

I was thinking about your question of what can't you leave without and all I could think of was Sunglasses too! I really can leave the house without a purse, but not the glasses - must.have.sunglasses! A little friend of mine, a 4 yr old named Emily, put her glasses on her head and said "I'm like Dawn now!". She was so thrilled with herself. :)

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, eh?

pursegirl said...

Sunglasses and , thanks to running amok children and evil job, my cell phone.

The Red Sox just won the World Series over CO. Love the Sox, but was hoping for a mountain win.

ped crossing said...

Well, I'll be. Chicken Poop. Who'd a thought.

Can't say there isn't anything that I have to leave with. I have left without my glasses (prescription), house keys, wallet, phone and work stuff. The only thing I have not left without is the boys. I have not yet (knock on wood) accidentally left them at home.

the planet of janet said...

welcome to fun monday. and you definitely made an impression with the chicken poop!

Anonymous said...

I've never seen or heard of chicken poop, but that name! What an attention getter. If I ever run across any I'm definitely gonna give it a try.

Cool post. Welcome!

Dumdad said...

Chicken poop?! Only in America!

I mean, what would make a company think this was a good name to get people to smear their product on their lips? They might as well have named it Badger Droppings or Wombat Whoopsies.

Pam said...

when i was in my teens and prob up to about 30, i wouldn't leave the house w/o makeup. not even to run down to the 7-11. after 30, the only makeup i absolutely had to have was eyebrow powder. they're very sparse. most days i don't give a poop (chicken or otherwise) what i look like when i go somewhere. my son once told me i dressed like a bag lady. i'll be 41 in less than a wk, i'm too old to care anymore lol

btw...my PIF follow-thru is not total crap. miss u over at allthingswomanly.com got hers saturday. i'm sending mel hers later today...tho i half cheated w hers (only one thing is made by me, the rest is store bought lol)

Anonymous said...

Welcome to Fun Monday! I've seen Chicken Poop around the blogosphere and it always gets great reviews. Haven't seen it in Canada yet, but who knows.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

I wouldn't call myself high maintenance, but I always put a smear of lipstick, bronzer and mascara on before I leave the house. I'll look for Chicken Poop next time I'm in the States.

Flowerpot said...

I rarely wear make up and if I do most people dont know I've got it on! I don't wear sunglasses but I do need my keys and some poo bags for Mollie. Then I'm set!

Hootin Anni said...

I'm with you all the way. Me too....me too!!! I'm one who can shower, dress, and make it to work in 15 minutes....including drive time. Oh wait.....that was 30 years ago! Now? I'm just low.....gravity took hold.

Mine's posted...
Have a great MOANday.

Jen said...

I've never heard of Chicken Poop, but I'll look for it. Thanks for the link. Iwas always a Burts Bees kind of gal, especially since they are headquarted in Durham, NC.

I'm still catching up on all the posts from the weekend! Glad you made it back in one piece!

Jodi said...

Chicken Poop?? Does one dare put that on their lips even after hearing the ingredients?!?!

Very funny... and daring, I might add!

Happy Monday!

Amy said...

Besides the basics of clothing, keys, driver's license, phone, possibly money, there's nothing I have to have with me or have done first. I don't wear makeup, I don't style my hair. I try to make sure my clothes are reasonably clean and my teeth are brushed. I have the wandering eye when I'm tired, too. But my glasses are always stuck to my face which corrects it well. I use Blistex. Love it. But if I see the chicken poop, I'll give it a shot. Maybe we could trade a Cow Pie for some Chicken Poop.

thefoodsnob said...

Hmmm, would I trade my Burt's Bees for Chicken Poop? I'll have to find some first and try it!

Lisa

Anonymous said...

Send me your address and I'll send you plenty of chicken poop. But don't eat it.

Crystal xx

Akelamalu said...

Chicken Poop? I want some where d'ya get it from? Sunglasses can hide a multitude of wrinkles, I love mine! :)

Sandy said...

Chicken Poop!!! My God, that is awesome! I must find some. I already use Bag Balm on my hands and now I can have Chicken Poop on my lips! It just doesn't get any better than that! Thanks. Great First Post.

Anonymous said...

*snort*

I desperately need some chicken poop.

Never thought I'd say that. Out loud anyway.

Tiggerlane said...

I'm a three-minute makeup girl, and get ready VERY fast, too! We would have made good roommates in college. Welcome to Fun Monday!

Karina said...

Great entry for your first Fun Monday! And I am SOOO going to get myself some chicken poop! (now there's a sentence I never thought I'd hear myself say).

I forgot sunglasses in mine...I always have my sunglasses too (only mine are prescription).

Robin M said...

Welcome to fun monday. Chicken Poop, eh! Not sure I could wear something called chicken poop. Fascinating.
I hardly wear make up any more. Only when I go to work which is only two days a week or to a event. Otherwise au natural. Can't stand wearing the stuff.

Robin of mytwoblessings

Anonymous said...

OMG - I have got to get that Chicken poop. I love, love, love lip stuff.

Happy in the Abyss said...

Good One, sis.

OK. Well, since Athena broke my 7th pair of sunglasses two weeks ago and I still have not gotten them replaced...here is what I cannot forget at home, besides the cell phone!

Eyelash Curler. I know...what a diva! I love to make sure that throughout the day, my eyelashes are at their longest. Not Kate Moss on the commercial long, because that is just freakish...but long for me.

Ahh...I think that might be it. I mean, I never forget my kids...does that count???

LOVE U!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I can't leave the house with naked ears. It's my thing.

ChrisB said...

I remember reading about 'chicken poop' on several blogs in the past. It really does bring on a smile giving it a name like that!

Unknown said...

Welcome to Fun Monday. I haven't heard of Chicken Poop, but may have to check into it.

Diana said...

For me, I need to have showered and shampooed. And put in my contacts. Outside of that, (if we're taking the purse basics as read--phone, keys, credit card) nothing. But, if I'm going to have to wait somewhere I MUST have a book or something.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Ooo fun Monday sounds fun.
I never leave without wipes,raisins, juice and a change of clothes for Miss M, (just in case.)
My mobile, keys, make up (though I don't wear a lot either. I'm not very good at it., erm, a pen and my purse.
How dull is that?
Ah well.
I might have to get some of that chicken poop just so when Grandma asks what M has round her mouth I can train E and M to shout 'Chicken poop' at her. :D

the rotten correspondent said...

Oh, my goodness, what a lot of new people are here today. Welcome to all of you! I am so loving Fun Monday!

I got on the Chicken Poop website that I linked and they do have a state by state list of where it's available. It seems like they're adding places like crazy lately.

Go chicken poop!

Devon said...

Now I want some Chicken Poop! Where is your purse? There must be more that you take with you... Everyone is so minimalist today that I am beginning to feel like a bag lady!

Kaytabug said...

It is made in Kansas and lil ole me did not know about it? WTF chuck! I still do not think anything will tare me from my main man Burt. I don't know if I could get over the name...

Great First Fun Monday! Welcome!

Kaytabug said...

Oh wait ya know what I did see this stuff at the Zoo gift shop and thought ewwww. I thought it was something along the lines of the gag gifts you get at Spencer's! LOL!!
I also could have seen it at Varney's in Manhattan...we went to both places on the same 3 day trip...it was all a blur!

Pamela said...

check to see where your sunglasses are made.

I'm suspicious of all claims now of UV protection - as everything else being made in CH*** is being proven to have no regulatory controls whatsoever.

chicken poop..eh? I think I'll put that in christmas stockings.

Princess Jewelee said...

OMG, i soooo need chicken poop. That is awesome.

Lapa said...

MIGUEL TORGA

THE PLOUGHMAN OF THE WRITING

A SHARED PATH

In the 1st centenary of his birth

BY CRISTÓVÃO DE AGUIAR

Susan said...

Keys (hopefully are a given...it is bad when you leave the house and shut the door only to find the key you need to get the car started, or back into the house is still inside, but I've done it), wallet, and cell phone being givens, I'd add my planner, a hair brush, and lipstick. I don't like dry lips and like a bit of color. I doubt I will ever put chicken poop, in any form, on my lips! Also, I need to wash, dry, and take a curling iron to my hair daily, and I like to keep it brushed!

Susan said...

One more thing...my watch! Without that I don't know what I'd do!

Anonymous said...

Someone else had Lasik surgery and has to wear sunglasses for the light sensitivity. The wandering eye...I thought you were going to say that you like looking at all the guys and need to hide behind the sunglasses :-)

Chicken Poop!! Love the story behind it.

Anonymous said...

I think everyone is chicken pooped out, but I still have to add my shock that I have never heard of this. I love lip balm, always burts bees, I am so looking for some chicken poop. I honestly can say I learned something new today.
Too funny, and I am now on a mission.
XOXO

laurie said...

good lord RC, i've been in fun mondays TWICE AS LONG AS YOU (that is, two weeks as opposed to your own) and you've blown me out of the water with 52 comments.

how DO you do it?

oh well, i console myself that you're going to be busily providing the world with chicken poop, while i can just go take a nice nap.

the rotten correspondent said...

Wow! Thanks again to everyone for stopping by today. I feel a very warm Fun Monday welcome.

laurie - I have absolutely no idea what happened here today, but if you notice that the name of the blog is changed to the Chicken Poop Gazette you'll know why.

BS said...

Oh.My.Goodness !! Chicken Poop was one of the two things I can't leave home without!! Isn't it the best there is? I was introduced to it by my sister is CO - they don't sell it here in VA. She used to get it at Walgreens but is having trouble finding it now. I posted late, then started down the list of participants - you made my evening when I saw it in your post.

SJINCO said...

Hey there! My sister (BS - she commented right above me) showed me this post.....

You are the first person in the blogosphere that I have come across that has heard of Chicken Poop, well besides me! Totally cool, I love the stuff. Gave up every type of lip balm I had for Chicken Poop, it's that good!

Have a great day!

Deb said...

Hmmm... you're telling me I should give up plain, old, unflavored Chapstick? Really? I've tried EVERYTHING!