Ad makes me want to "spruce up [my] Aphrodite"

A British ad urging women to "mow the law" (think *very* personal grooming put to an upbeat song and dance) is supposedly causing a stir in the States. I'm not sure if it's the super-tame U.S. version that's causing a stir, or if the peppy and much more pointed UK version got an airing that was too hot for American screens. I live in the UK and never saw either ad before they caught the attention of The Daily Beast.

The UK ad sure is effective; it not only made me laugh, it also made me want to do a little trimming with a Quattro razor, even though I've got plenty of disposables in ladylike pink already. Unfortunately I don't have the skill to do any heart-shaped "topiary" like the lass in the ad.

Here's the tepid U.S. version. Check out the infinitely more fun (and more naughty) UK version below:

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Simpsons take a licking from USPS

How much do I love the new Simpsons stamps? So much that I'm actually thinking about getting a stamp-collecting book for the first time since I was 10.

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Pride and Prejudice gets zombie treatment

I'm not big on zombie flicks (much to my husband's dismay), but I might have to check out the upcoming film that merges Zombies with Pride and Prejudice. Natalie Portman is set to star, so this sounds like a major-budget film. The classic opening line of P&P will now go like this (according to an article in the Times):

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

And the storyline will remain largely true to the original tale -- with a few little twists:

While much of the original novel remains — perhaps about 85% — Grahame-Smith, who has written five previous books, including How to Survive a Horror Movie, has taken liberties. The Bennet family still has five marriageable daughters, but we know we are in a terribly different, though somehow disconcertingly familiar, world when we learn that in the zombie-infested England of those times: “The business of Mr Bennet’s life was to keep his daughters alive. The business of Mrs Bennet’s was to get them married.” All five Bennet girls have been taken to Shaolin, in China, by their father to be trained in the deadly arts of zombie-killing by the Chinese master Liu.

Urm, on closer inspection of the article, there is set to be some gross stuff in the film, and I REALLY hate gross stuff. Might give this a pass after all, but for those who can stomach it, it may be the most unique re visioning of Jane Austen yet.

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The Next Gen does Family Guy

The Family Guy is doing an episode featuring the principle cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Based on the clip, it looks like the crew had no problem poking fun at themselves. And can I just say that young or old, live action or cartoon, Patrick Stewart can beam me up anytime. Go on, make it so, Picard.

Daydreams aside, the episode "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven" airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. Get Wired for more info.

Check it out:

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A forgotten hero of The Great Escape

Sixty-five years ago as of last night, Allied POWS at Stalag Luft III began their escape attempt (it was March 24, 1944). Out of the 76 men who escaped the German camp, only three made it to freedom; 50 of them were executed.

The escape was immortalized in the film "The Great Escape." U.S. Army Col. Jerry Sage is the war hero on whom Steve McQueen's character was based, though regretfully you never seem to hear much about him. Sage worked for 15 months on a three-tunnel escape plan while in the POW camp, which he told of in his book "Sage." The movie "The Great Escape" was based on the book of the same title by Paul Brickhill, but Sage's exploits are credited with helping form the movie's plot (though his own book wasn't printed until well after the movie was made).

According to his 1993 obituary in Variety, Sage:

"...earned the nickname 'Cooler King' because he was placed in solitary confinement 15 times in the Nazi camp.

In the movie, McQueen whiled away time in solitary with a baseball glove and ball.

After numerous breakout attempts, Sage, who worked for the U.S. Office of Strategic Service, made his final escape across Poland after being a POW for more than three years."

According to IMDB:

"Steve McQueen's character Hilts was based on amalgamation of several characters, including Major Dave Jones, a flight commander during Doolittle's Raid who made it to Europe and was shot down and captured and Colonel Jerry Sage, who was an OSS agent in the North African desert when he was captured. Col. Sage was able to don a flight jacket and pass as a flier otherwise he would have been executed as a spy. Another inspiration was probably Sqn Ldr Eric Foster who escaped no less than seven times from German prisoner-of-war camps."

There's not a lot out there about Col. Sage. I remember him coming to speak at a history class when I was in junior high in the '80s; he talked about how he could kill a man in two seconds with his bare hands. Even though he was well into his 60s at the time, I firmly believed him and didn't doubt he could still do it if need be.

Sage struck me as a tough old bird who gave a hell of a lot in service of the United States. He was a member of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in World War II, a predecessor of the CIA. Perhaps he kept such a low profile due to the nature of his work. He also seems to have led an incredibly interesting life. I wish there was more out there about him (heck, I wish at least that his book were still in print! You can find some used copies on Amazon and at Abebooks.).

Do you have more info or stories about Jerry Sage? Leave a comment and share the love!

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The Fabulous Story of Soap & Glory

I'll admit it -- I'm slowly becoming a Pamper Princess. It's sometimes pricey, frequently frivolous and always fabulous. I never used to be this way -- but then again, I never used to live near a Boots with all it's coupons, gifts with purchase, and bonus offers. I guess I'm not a total princess because I need there to be some kind of sale or free gift involved before I buy, but I've found more than my share of those (as my shelves overloaded with lovely, fragrant lotions, potions and cosmetics will attest).

The funnest, fabbest find I've stumbled on in my journey into the heart of pamperness is Soap and Glory (now available in the States at Target). It'll smooth your rough hands or heels, soften your bath or hair, and plump your lips or wrinkly spots. All while making you smile at the punny names and retro-yet-modern designs.

The aspect that really sucked me in was the packaging. It's fun and girlie and silly in a self-aware way. It uses puns without shame and makes them fun. If there's a photo on the package, the hair and clothes on the models look like something straight out of "I Love Lucy" -- the total '5os housewife, but a fabby, pampered, diva '50s housewife. The packaging -- and the products themselves -- are largely in fanciful, candy-colored pinks and blues that you would've loved to buy at age 12, but you were basically a broke beggar living on the charity of your parents back then and couldn't indulge yourself so you didn't. But now you can. Judging from myself and friends of varying ages, Soap and Glory products seem to tap into those little girl desires hiding in women of all ages -- only these little girls are all grown up and carry credit cards. Ka-ching!

The products themselves kept me coming back for more after the packaging drew me in. They work well, feel great and are just fun to use. They're even fun to look at. Many of them smell a little like candy; some smell a lot like candy. I'm not too enthralled with the ones that smell extremely sweet -- but then again, that's what I said when I first bought Jam Sessions body wash (which looks and smells like someone squeezed the juice from red Jolly Ranchers candy), but it really grew on me. And don't worry if you don't have a body-product sweet-tooth, as many of the products are only mildly sweet-scented or not sweet at all (as in the case of the facial care products).

S&G also sells criminally adorable pink cosmetic bags (criminal because it's like being robbed -- you simply *have* to hand over your cash once you've seen them). I've got a few that I didn't really need but love love love looking at and using.

Best items for buying on a budget

Soap and Glory products are mostly moderately priced and great value compared to similar pamper products at The Body Shop or a premium cosmetics counter, and they're way more fun. But they do cost more than brands like Dove or Suave or store's own brands, and I realize S&G may be a splurge for some pamper-princesses-in-waiting with small budgets but big longings to sample giddily girlish goodies.

However, I firmly believe we all need a little self-indulgence to brighten our days and make us feel divine. If you decide to try Soap and Glory as a special treat, you can do it on a budget by selecting just a few long-lasting products you can use every day.

I've mentioned some of my fav S&G items before. One buy that stretches your pennies or pence is the Endless Glove Hand Cream. At a cost of $9.99 for a 4.2 ounce tube at Target in the States or £4.40 at Boots in the UK, it's not as cheap as using Johnson & Johnson -- but it's much more divine. You feel like you're giving yourself a treat each time you massage in this smooth white lotion that smells of daisies and kiwi fruit. A little bit goes a long way, and one tube offers months of daily pampering.

Another long-lasting buy is Heel Genius Foot Mask. This is $9.99 at Target and £4.89 at Boots for a 4.2 ounce tube. It's a cotton-candy blue cream containing macadamia oil, bilberry, and orange and lemon fruit acid smoothers, among other things. There's a light citrus scent and it feels rich and creamy as you smooth it on those tired footsies. Do it just before bed and pull on cotton socks for an ultra-deep moisture experience.

Yet another product where a little goes a long way is the S&G body sprays. My favorite is Mist You Madly. It's described as "flirty" and "floral," and I'd say it's a very nice combo of both those things. In the UK, you can buy the large-sized 250ml bottle for £5.87 or try a trio of body sprays with the Scent-Sationalism set for £7.83. It contains 100ml bottles of Mist You Madly, Girligo and Glam-a-lot. I couldn't find Mist You Madly or this trio set at Target.com, but you can get the 7.7 ounce bottle of Girligo at Target for $11.99. It's a body-moisturizing mist that you spray on. It's nice, but my heart belongs to Mist You Madly.

Basically, any of the S&G products should last a long time, though obviously things like Wash Your Hands of it hand wash or the uber-awesome Hair Supply hair mask would be gone in a few weeks if used daily (and you definitely would want to use the hand wash daily, but the hair mask could be a treat to use a couple of times a week).

You also might want to try minis of some products in the UK before deciding to invest more cash. At regular prices, they cost about £2.20 each. Better yet, you could try the selection of five minis for £4.89 in the Admit It, You Want Me set (truer word have never been writ). Unfortunately, I don't think you can buy individual minis at Target. You can, however, test out a trio of bathing minis with the S&G Scrub Triangle Mini Gift Set for $9.99.

If you live in the UK, keep an eye out for 3 for 2 deals at Boots, as well as coupons (found in the store magazine or the Account Card Machines for Boots Advantage Card holders), gifts with purchase, or -- in the best bargain I've seen yet for people who want to save without having to buy a lot to get the offer -- the current 1/3 off the whole range of S&G (right now Endless Glove is only £2.93). This is the same price per item you'd get if you bought them on a 3 for 2 sale, but you only have to buy one instead of three. Fab time to test products.

Where to buy Soap and Glory

In the UK, you can buy the products at Boots and Harvey Nichols (though I recommend using Boots as they have 3 for 2 sales, coupons, free gifts, and you usually earn good coupons for something in the store anytime you spend at least £5 on almost anything -- might as well let your S&G habit help you buy other goodies). In the States, go to Target in store or online.

To read what customers are saying about this addictive range of products, check out the Facebook page.

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