Falling Apart In One Piece

First of all, OMG.

If you are married with the slightest inkling that there is an undercurrent of the slightest 'something is not quite right here', RUN and get this book!

If you are married, with full blown chaos in your home and you think you might be alone, GET THIS BOOK!

If you are married and blissfully happy and want to stay that way, you NEED this book!

If you are unmarried and think you might be getting married at some point to your 'best friend and all that', this book is a must-read.

My point is get this book. Read this book. We can all relate to this book. Married or unmarried. Happy or unhappy. Career mom or stay at home mom. Kids or no kids. Male or female.

If you have ever wondered why marriages don't work out sometimes even between two amazing people, then Stacy Morrison will help you 'get it'. And she does this in the most real, unpreachy, loving way. Without self-pity or cynicism, devoid of finger-pointing or martyrdom, she lets you have her answer (because in the end it is her story, and we each have our own) - which it sometimes it just does not.

And that beyond divorce, there is still life and raising a toddler son and work at the helm of Redbook (a magazine for strong, independent family women, who supposedly 'have it all', whatever that means). So yes, life doesn't just stop just because you got problems. Amen, sister.

What I like most about this book is that it neither glorifies divorce nor puts down marriage. It is just one woman's story to which we can all relate. And it does serve as a wake up call, even attractive, successful women can and do have marital woes. And sometimes there is no 'reason' for a spouses change of heart - no other woman, no financial pressure and not even having a beautiful kid together can save that. And as for couples that never bicker - bravo, but complacency can be a sign of some deeper issue. Or not. But you just never know.

Stacy Morrison's voice is imbued with grace and matter of factness, but I still choked up in certain parts at the honesty and simplicity of her story. Think 'Eat, Pray, Love' meets 'The Devil wears Prada'. You know I'm a fan for life now.

Brava, pp

MonkeyBoy turns One!

Where does the time go, eh? That gurgling, tiny, almost translucent looking primate is one and big and into everything and in LIVING COLOR! Truly God has been gracious to me and mine.

We had a rollicking good time, with a traditional 'good old days' birthday party, in the basement, with balloons, cake and kids music blasted from the home stereo system. Sans the kiddie entertainer and face painter, it could have been 1984 again!

I just love to share my ideas and new finds, so here goes:

I am on a 'personalized' kick this year, cos it just makes it all the more personal, right :)? So I did the custom m&ms from mymms.com. I had always wanted to try them and it was the perfect opportunity - not for myself per se( too egocentric), you can pick your own colors and write whatever you want on it and - get this - upload photos to put a face on them!!! Now how cool is that? I know!!!! I am still in awe of this phenomenon - the personalized m&m.

As we all know, your party is only as good as the entertainment. For Numero Uno son's first, I had the most awesome magician/comedian/balloon artist, which was great for the older kids, but hardly registered with my son, as he was all of one. so this year I opted for a 'Gymboree' style person who could coordinate games, songs and activities for all ages. it turns out Ms Ann Goodman of 'Parties for Toddlers' was the best investment ever. I mean, who wants to be organising musical chairs and hosting their own puppet show on their sons birthday, when there are a million and one other things to do? She was so good, I joined in the fun myself! 'The wheels on the bus go..." Whoo hooo!

And there is Amy Tam - yes, almost like the brilliant writer, just swap an 'm' for an 'n' and face painting for writing. She is an artisan - that is the is the only way to describe the creativity this lady possesses and the lightening like speed with which she does all this, without sacrificing the beauty of her work is a plus. With squirming babies and temperamental toddlers, I crown her genius saint of birthday parties and all events. Of course I got my face painted. Like, hello?

So, oh yeah, happy birthday Monkeyboy. Cake is awesome, right?

party animal extraordinaire, pp

Tea parties

It's not just for little girls. At least not at our house, since those -little girls, that is- seem to be in short supply. Dear Hubby took us for a lovely 'spot o' tea' at Tea on the Tiber in historic Ellicott City. It's so weird how when you live so close to something, you never really bother to check it out, you know? I was so glad we did go here though. They usually cater to the 7 years and older crowd, but Hubby convinced them to make an exception for Numero Uno son. Of course he proceeded to charm all the staff and behaved quite well, considering. Who says 'soaking up culture' always has to be about museums? I am a firm believer in allowing my kids to travel as I travel and experience what I experience, as long as it is not inappropriate.

It was actually quite charming - everything from the old mansion, our own personal space in the library, fine china place settings for all three of us, the petit fours, fruit, scones and clotted cream, incredibly tiny yet yummy crustless sandwiches, oolong pomegranate tea, chai cream tea, etc etc. We totally pigged out and still could not finish all three tiers. But we came close. And at $25 a person, it was a steal.

One Bad Apple...

I really, really, really wanted to like - no, LOVE- the iPhone. Its sleek, dark multitasking good looks were just so...'pradalicious'. I stalked it for a long time, just waiting for the perfect time to make it mine. I even bypassed the first one, to give them ample time to work out the kinks, you know? When the 3G finally debuted, I waited a fashionable amount of time, read EVERY possible review and opinion out there, tried out a friend's own, did all the research one could possibly do, short of like being an intern at Apple.

So of course, mere hours into owning it, I finally admit to myself that I absolutely HATE it. I really, really do. I did not know that an inanimate object could send me into such paroxysms of frustration. And I'm usually a chill kinda girl. But everything irritates me about this phone. The 'touch type thingy'. The fact that you cannot copy and paste - I know, right? The gratuitous smudging. The fact that my 'settings' icon needs to be thumped to work. The fact that putting it to my ear results in random conference calls to myself. The fact that the folks at ATT could not figure out how to sync my email to my phone was the last straw. Did I mention the 'touch type thingy'?. Ugghhh.

So come tomorrow, I shall be a Black Berry girl. Yep, the BB i so resisted for years will now be my phone of choice. My 'anti BB' stance was pure rebellion (against the BB toting, bluetooth earpiece wearing culture in DC) culture. but I am over it and firmly ensconsed in the BB program. Woot. Woot.

ttyl (not) apple, pp

Legally Blonde and other things you shouldn't admit to on your blog...

But I went to see it. The musical. The Legally Blonde musical, yes, with Elle Woods and pink and sorority girls and gratuitous 'dumbness' (or is it blondeness?). Yup, that one. And I do not feel any dumber. My I.Q doesn't seemed to have dropped. And it was fun! And I (dare I put this in writing?) actually gave the cast a standing 'o' when they were done. (Ducks out of post, in case irate intellectual throws Starbucks and/or No. 2 pencil at screen. Sneaks back in.) Who am I kidding? No one reads this blog anyway, right? Anyway, it was fun and girly and sweet and I went with my girlfriends and we all (gasp) wore something pink and had champagne and fairly good seats (because that is the one perk of being 'old', you can at least afford good seats, right?) and were not out of place and there were more thirty year olds than tweens there and even straight men (double gasp) so it was all good. But my point is, I don't do this enough - i.e hang with friends and do non-mommy stuff and I should. Point number two- I need a new camera. Exhibit A below was taken on my girl friend's camera phone. If there ever was an 'uglifier' - it's this camera. And I certainly am not that fat. So there. p.s. You should really go see Legally Blonde the musical. It was pretty good!



humming 'omg, omg you guys.." pp

Birth - the control of.

Dear FDA/ scientists/ would be inventors, women and all:

If there is any bill control pill that will not make me/ will make me (depending)

1) bi-polar, schizophrenic or otherwise moody,

2) balloon up by 5 to 50 lbs (yes, even 5 lbs I take issue with, what's your point?)

3) break out in prepubescent acne or angry hives,

4) cause hair loss and alopecia,

5) have incessant withdrawal bleeding that is equal to or longer than a regular period,

6) feel nauseated, bloated, suicidal, bitchy, crampy, witchy,

7) lose my sex drive,

8) give me cysts, growths, lesions, a stroke

9) give me an ungodly amount of discharge and/or any kind of foul odor down there,

Do give me a buzz. While I am not trying to get pregnant for a good while (or maybe ever again), I would prefer not to experience any of the above or kick the proverbial bucket, you know what I mean? Sheesh! Is it really that hard, people?

researching, pp

Upgrade! (Lookin' Good Prada!)

Yes we are getting more and more stylish as the days go by... Just check out our new banner! I could just die looking at the caricature 'me' and my boys 'Numero Uno Son' and 'monkeyboy'. J'adore Melissa Kulesa of Kulesa Design. Everything is said in a french accent ( and in french) in my world these days - an ode to our Paris trip, if you will... Tres annoying, mais oui? Lol.

Girls Rock!

Because I adore girls and completely identify with how important it is to empower those (sometimes fragile) egos, this is todays post - an email from a 'rockin' mom. I just love her site and what it's trying to do, and the Wii fit prize is an awesome incentive to win this contest! Enjoy and have a great weekend...
pp

We are launching a photo essay contest for young girls in America, asking them to submit photos of what it means to be a Tween Girl in America right now. We believe that girls in America cannot be labeled or pigeonholed. They're not just athletes, just pretty, just smart, or just students. They are a tapestry, and we believe that these girls are the best people to tell us who they are. We're giving away a Wii Fit game to the winner. In addition, we will post the top five entries and the accompanying text on our site at www.itchickclothes.com. The contest is open from August 1st to September 30th.
Who are we? We're owners of an online boutique of plus or extended size clothes for tween girls. We're also mothers of daughters. We believe strongly in helping girls find their voice, and we're giving away 10% of our sales in August and September to Girls Inc., a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. With roots dating to 1864, Girls Inc has provided vital educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. Today, innovative programs help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling lives. More information can be found at www.girlsinc.org.
We're hoping to make our contest and our gift to Girls Inc. as big as possible. Will you consider posting our contest information on your blog to help us get the word out? We think this is a great opportunity for girls to find their voice through art and writing.
Contest details can be found at https://www.itchickclothes.com/index.php/contest.html. We are happy to answer any questions you might have for us. Also, please feel free to forward this email or our contest information to as anyone you think might be interested.

From two moms of daughters, thank you.
Catherine and Emily

Chictopia

It is always extremely gratifying when I find out that indeed there are folks just as nutty and quirky as myself. See, fashion is truly something I am passionate about. I love to wear nice things, attempt to design clothes, enjoy watching people's fashion choices. So I was overjoyed to discover chictopia.

Have you ever put together an outfit so clever or maybe so simple yet so utterly divine? Or maybe you just liked the way you looked that day? Well, there are fellow fashionistas on chictopia waiting to learn from you and admire you. And you can pick up quite a few tips yourself. In less than 15 minutes, I picked up three different ways to tie my scarf and an innovative way to wear a man's shirt(as a strapless dress!) Even if you just like to people watch, this site is worth it. And I am so adding it to my reader feed.

'Gilty' Pleasure - by invitation only.

I'm just a regular Jo(sephina). As in, I put my Loubou(tins) on one foot at a time, just like y'all and there is something about a deal - any deal - that makes me want to spend copious amounts of money. This must be true for all of us, or Costco and BJ's would be out of business. But I am learning to recognise (and wait for) real deals. Ergo, the one shouldered Jay Godfrey dress from Neiman's (though aching cute) is not as much of a bargain as the one shouldered Cynthia Steffe dress from 'the Gilt groupe', (which costs $179 at both Neimans and Saks) where a deal is truly a deal. How much of deal, you ask? try $70 versus $300 and something? Plus, you never ever pay full price for a trend, because you'll ALWAYS regret it. Remember, celebs get this stuff for free. And we(non-celebs yet fabulous all the same) get our stuff from 'the Gilt Groupe', cause "our mama's didn't birth no fools...". Besides the 'handwritten' note from the owners was so classy, in all its 'black scratch paper and gold inked' glory. Nice touch, no? Exactly.

pp

Out of Africa...

Out of Africa comes beautiful things. Gorgeous fabrics, delicious food, beautiful people. And I want to celebrate just a few of them in this post - little things that I've found on the web that make me proud to be who I am.

Motherland Bites has everything I crave from my childhood days. Golden 'puff puffs', shiny 'meat pies', did someone say crunchy nuts? I am so there. Except they are based in the U.K. {Sigh} Oh well, here's a shout out to those wonderful women 'across the pond'. Your presentation alone (as I have not tasted their food) makes you noteworthy!

I fell in love with these little darling dolls when I spotted them last year on this site. (Bella Naija, by the way is another awesome Nigerian import and her blog keeps my nose firmly planted in the business of all the fabulous people in Nigeria) I mean, how adorable are these replicas of women from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria? If you have been hunting for dolls that look more like your baby girl and ESPECIALLY if you are Nigerian. these barbies are a must have. I even ordered one for myself, and let's face it, I am hardly seven anymore.

And of course, this list would not be complete without something from Calista Clothiers. If you're looking for something to take you from office to evening or just to lounge in this summer, look no further! This Culotte jumpsuit is too cute and available in all kinds of fabulous colors. All kinds of delish, I tell ya!

Fierce Purple Lips

Lately, I have been obsessed with finding the perfect purple lip gloss. Well, not exactly purple , more like purplish. I must explain, I'm weird like that. i get caught up in the little things that I just have to have. You know like the perfect black briefcase (for going to court to do my pro bono case), The perfect diamond studs, the perfect purple- sorry purplish lip gloss.

Now, the good thing is I always know exactly what I want. First off, it must be a gloss and not a lipstick. Lipsticks are too old ladyish for me right now and certainly too much for these sunny summer days. It cannot be sticky, as there is nothing more annoying than hair stuck on your lips - so this disqualifies the Victoris Secret Beauty Rush gloss I got. It must not be too sheer - I have dark chocolate colored lips, so it has to stand up to and conquer my lip color, which brings me to my last point - without being overpowering. So, it can't be waxy or plastic looking - you know, overpowering. You do not want to be looking like you have purple plasticine on your lips.

So I have tested quite a few - one by MAC ( I didn't realise that this was also a 'plumper', so I was writhing in agony from the intense tingling and wondering why.), Sally Hansen - My usual go to gloss, not quite purple enough, Victorias Secret - too sticky and too sheer, Now I'm on to Dior Addict. Wr'll see how that goes. And I will be updating with pictures of my fierce pucker. Do with that information what you will.

the puckering prada principal...

Puella Girl

My shipment from Puella just arrived this weekend and I am as excited as I can be. You see, I pre-ordered the fab Puella grab bag, sight unseen, based entirely on the word of Melissa, who I do not know, but whose judgement i inexplicably, trust, at least when it comes to such things.

And boy, am I glad I did place that order like six, seven months ago! I was at least 8 months pregnant, unsure of what size I would turn out to be post pregnancy or if I would even like the clothes, but I did it anyway. Such is my love for fashion. It arrived - my TEN (yes, TEN)pieces of clothing, delicious in their soft jersey, floral, pastel colored, wonder - packed in this adorable Puella pink and cream tote, and I tell you, I was in fashion heaven.
I must admit, I was nervous at first. I mean, you have no clue what you're getting. All you are sure of is the size. At first glance, I was positive they were all glorified pajamas, but No! They are fashionable, pretty and easy to wear. And every, very figure friendly. Which is important to me as I press towards my goal of being skinny again. So now I have a plethora of tops, couple of dresses, cute yogaish cropped drawstring pants... TEN items of summer clothing for $150. I dare you to beat that bargain. And look this fabulous doing it. :-) I'm just saying...

Living 'Puella' Loca,

pp

Books, Bracelets, Babies and Body Lotion...

'The Mrs. Club'. Is where I'm at right now, quite literally and figuratively. A good friend bought (had autographed and mailed) me a copy of this foray into the hitherto uncharted waters of Nigerian 'chick-lit'. My first reaction was 'Bravo!' and 'A for effort!' for this self published first book, until I saw a grammatical error in the very first paragraph. It put me off for like a week or so. I mean, hello, spell check much? When I did finally give it another try, I was hooked by the conversational, true to life tone of a worldly single Nigerian (or Naija as we like to say) girl, trying to make it in the U.S. A bit exaggerated and intense, but you try developing and sustaining three very different characters in 195 pages and then you can talk! Rough around the edges, yes. The drifting between tenses will make you dizzy for sure. But definitely, definitely, entertaining and you will be holding your sides laughing. Literally. I guess what I am trying to say is, I'm a fan. And I will be buying copies for other Nigerian women or at least letting them know we have embraced a new genre of literature and a new queen of Naija Chick Lit. So, Get it, then, Ekene!

I am chock full of reviews today - all unpaid, I promise, but definitely 'prada tested'. I am all about the unique gifts for my special 'peeps'. Check out these simply gorg 'mommy and me' bracelets I ordered from Lisa for my cousin and her new baby, Kimber. Adorable. And you can customize with just about anything. I did birthstones, baby alphabet blocks and booties. Love, love, love it!

Paspic.com - This one, any busy mom who has ever had to sit immobile under a white cheesecloth with her squirming baby on her lap (I kid you not), all for the sake of a passport photo, will agree is worth its weight in gold. Imagine taking passport photos at home, uploading them and having them sent to you for just $10??? Cannot beat it. They will proof and correct for you as well. I have posted MonkeyBoys, and I will post the finished product from Paspic when they mail them back. Oh, and the $10 (well $10.18 actually) is for THREE Passport photos, INCLUDES postage and you get it within TWO BUSINESS DAYS! I 'PUFFY HEART' THE PEOPLE WHO CAME UP WITH THIS INGENIOUS IDEA!

In my never ending quest to stay fab for less, I turned guinea pig last week. I rubbed the entire left half of my body in Nivea Natural Tone Lotion ($6.99, Target) and the entire right size of my body in Kiehls ($18, Target - 4 sizes smaller than Nivea). No difference. I daresay the left side of my body stayed smoother and more moisturised longer. So Nivea Natural Tone it is, then. :-)

The infinitely smooth, pp

Travel Torture Chamber

Travelling with two children could be a new form of torture. Easily. Add cramped seats and no pillows or blankets to the mix and it is literally, hell. This is why I would happily kiss the printing press that Cookie is produced on. It is the best, hippest and one of the truly useful magazines for modern mamas out there, if you've never heard of this literary phenom before. Once you get past the Prada dresses for children, they actually do cater to regular people. Well, kinda.

This months' mag is packed with useful articles, like the 'anatomy of a trip' which gives handy tips from national caregiver directories to sending bulk baby items ahead. (babiestravellite.com). I also appreciated the heads up on cool family vacation spots where the kids are treated like royalty and parents actually get to have a vacation, without it being a noisy, chaotic kids fiesta like some Holiday Inns turn out to be. That kind of environment can really suck the joy out of your vacation, like being in one giant daycare, if you know what I mean. Even if breakfast is free.

Filed under 'why didn't I come up with that idea?' www.babiesplay.com is a toy rental online site where toys are vetted for lead poisoning and recalls and sent to your home for a nominal monthly membership fee. Like Netflix meets Toysrus. I like it!

toodles, pp

Giver of Good Gifts

I love to give nice gifts. The occasion is irrelevant - birthdays, kids birthdays, housewarming, 'just because' gifts. I just get immense pleasure from seeing the recipients face when I have given a thoughtful, 'think-out- of- the- box' gift which the person ultimately I hope, finds useful. Things that you wouldn't think of, know where to look for or realise that you totally couldn't do without. Until, of course I give it to you. Maybe even one of those things you'd like but never thought to buy for yourself. I love to give these Carolee sentiment bangles to Mom and baby daughter, I 'puffy heart' these adorable chunky little books from babystyle and I give them as gifts to almost every one year old and/toddler I know. And this 'Best Grandma' quilt for Grandma, complete with all her grand kids names? Priceless AND on sale at Lillian Vernon (how precious is that?) - and then I discovered 'Uncommon Goods.' Dude. Can you say "Prada Principal in wonderland?". It is now my one stop shop for everything and everyone, even my extremely 'hard -to- buy -for' hubby. If going green looks this fab, why ever not? Made from 100% recycled cotton, it is a 100% ME. I did however also cop a 'look for less' version at Target for 99 cents. No kidding. It's sassy red and zips into a small pencil case like thingy. Uberchic and ubercheap, which always works, right?

Anywho, I really envy good friends of mine with ANY (and I do mean any) occasion coming up. Y'all just made out like bandits.
The ever so generous PP

PS. Oh and OMG Puella now has dresses at anthropologie. I first heard of them through awesome Melissa, whom I adore and hope to morph into some day. Go to her blog NOW (she was my inspiration to use this blog as my creative outlet during my maternity leave and now it looks like I'm here to stay!) and I promise you'll be hooked. Never actually worn Puella Girl stuff, but I surfed their site and Melissa's word for it and preordered their grab bag sight unseen. It is due this June and I for one cannot wait. Will dish all about it when it comes. I promise.

Chasing Fireflies

If I were a rich girl, nananananananana*...I would shop EXCLUSIVELY at chasing fireflies. Or maybe I'd shop there regardless if I had a little girl. I mean, I have two adorable boys and I shop there - not exclusively, but more than I should. You see, while I love my Old Navy/Gap staples (any mom with a kid in preschool knows how well they hold up to the 'play doh' and paint) I cannot resist a saucy T-shirt, or this pair of 'dragon appliqued' pants. Let's face it, this is the only time when he'll be able to wear those and get away with it, so I'm going for it. Yes, the prices are a bit steep (sometimes even when they're on sale) but they hold up SO well, are totally adorable and unique and I promise you, you'll never see any other kid in them.
That's why if I was a rich girl (nananananananana), I would live in this saucy, lime green, glorious tutu. And sleep in this disgustingly fabulous bed. Yes, I totally would.

*Sung by Gwen Stephanie, Butchered By Prada Principal

Potty Mouth

Bad words. Like s--t and st--id and 'shut up'. That's the phase we're in now - 'numero uno' son and I. It is a constant battle between us, made all the more difficult because he is, afterall only repeating what Mark* says. And as long as he prefaces it with "Mama, Mark said {insert expletive here). Bad word!", I am supposed to be okay with it. I mean, he is merely acting in his capacity as an objective journalist, providing verbatim quotes, but not really saying the 'bad words', right? Wrong, buddy.

I on the other hand, am trying to find the delicate balance of letting him know those words are not acceptable in our house, and from his mouth in any house for that matter, without getting too excited, as that would invariably have the same effect as making him say them even more, just to get a reaction from me. Sigh. Being an adult and a parent can be so tiresome. Why my kid has to be be BFFs with Mr. Potty Mouth is beyond me. So, does washing one's mouth out with soap and water really work?

* name changed to protect tots identity.

Speaking of mouths, (I know, clever segue) the good folks at 'Let's Dish' are offering a free - yes free - dinner for all new (even repeat) moms from May 4th to the 11th in honor of Mothers Day. I love free stuff and I love 'Let's Dish'! My hubby and I went to the Columbia location last year and had a blast. Plus we came away with meals for weeks and weeks. Delish and cost effective, which always works for me... (P>S. Not sure if they are only based in Maryland, but you could check the website and/or facebook page to find out.)

toodles, PP

Baby Gizmo Buying Guide

This is the must-have baby buying guide of the season. It is 'Baby Bargains' in a Prada suit, if you will. It is just big enough to have print that is actually readable without squinting, has terrific 'feedback', by way of pros and cons of each item (none is too minor to be mentioned) that you would conceivably use for your new baby. It is also great for second (and third etc) time moms who like me, might need a refresher course. As we all know, the rules change every year or so and there are always new products that we'd love to try or preferably have other moms try for us. Well, Heather Maclean and Hollie Schultz have done just that. So without further ado, I have 2 copies of 'The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide' (courtesy of the fabulous authors/their marketers, to give away to two lucky readers of my blog, who actually take the time to comment on this post in particular. No strings. Promise. The rest of you can pick up at amazon.com or your local bookstore for $16.99 - but wouldn't you rather get it for free? I mean, really. :)

fondly, PP

Starvation

A picture is worth a thousand words. I have two for ya - diet and deprivation. 'That' was actually my lunch a couple of days ago, as a result of spiraling out of control due to comments two ladies in church nonetheless, made about my expanding, um, assets. One of the ladies told me that I was putting on weight. I was incredulous. I just had a baby barely three months ago! I mean fine, I did gain more than I would have liked and the pounds are not exactly falling off, but three months is really not a lot of time, people! So the question is was she refering to my gaining weight from before I was pregnant? Well, duh. Last time I checked that was the deal. But you know how you never have the really smart comebacks until you've left the scene. Well there you go. So instead, I blog. And starve myself, eating 'barbie doll portions' of 'bad for you human food'. Like Ledo's pizza and chicken wings, with a carrot and celery to make it healthy. You know how we do.

Okay, Rant over and time for a review of a lip gloss that looks great, and is super affordable. Sally Hansen Diamond Slicks, available at your local drug store for less than six bucks. It goes on so smooth, is not sticky at all and smells/tastes great, in the best colors too! Me likey. Go get yours.