You only get one face (unless you're Joan Rivers), so how important is it to you? On a table in my parent's foyer is a photo of me at 13.  I had more acne than I care to remember, and after my bout with acne during that hormonal period in my life, my face had dark spots from the aftermath.  I used everything from Noxzema to Clearasil, but after doing research I discovered there are simply better products than the ones you pick up on the shelf at Wal-Mart and Target.  A very dear friend of mine turned me on to Sephora, and my face hasn't been the same since.  The consultants sort through the myriad of products, and will select the best products based on your skin type and will construct a regiment that will improve damaged skin and maintain healthy skin.  I LOVE the fact that the products contain all natural "goodies" (i.e. citrus, rosemary, willow bark, etc) and have very few synthetic ingredients.  Today many people are taken aback when they discover my age, as they often assume I'm much younger.  I have to say a healthy diet and exercise help (and perhaps some genetics), but after my visit to Sephora, I've noticed dramatic improvements to my skin.  This is an investment that you should make if you care about your skin.  Below are the products I use, and you should too if you have oily/combination skin.  If you aren't certain of your skin type or unsure as to what products are right for you, visit your local Sephora TODAY! Your skin will thank you.

1. Boscia Clarifying Detox Mask (Use one time a week at night)
2. Korress Wild Rose 24 Hr Moisturizer SPH 6 (Use every morning after cleansing skin *Use an SPH that corresponds with the amount of sun exposure you face on a daily basis)
3. Boscia Smoothing Facial Polish (Use exfoliators once weekly)
4. Korress Brightening and Illuminating Vitamin C Mask (Use one time a week at night)
5. Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner (Use twice weekly)
6. Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam (Use every day)
7. Dr. Brandt r3p eye Triple Peptide Cream (Use day and night under eye after cleansing/toning regiment)

Remember you'll need a cleanser, moisturizer, toner, exfoliator, detox mask, brightening mask, and eye cream (if you have my same skin type).  Just formulate a routine that corresponds with your schedule.  Shaving your face exfoliates, and I factored that in with my skin regiment, which is why I only use my Boscia exfoliator once a week.  Sephora.com can help you determine your skin type, and it's a great idea to visit the site and jot down some products you're interested in before you visit the store.  A beauty consultant will tell you if your selected products will be most effective for your skin care needs.  Well, what are you waiting for? Visit Sephora.com today!  

SN: Finding the perfect product also involves trial and error.  So don't be afraid to try different products, and always consult a professional to help you make prudent decisions.

We all have them.  Yes, ALL of us.  Those friends that do it openly without shame.  They are even shameless enough to do it in public.  They eat MEAT! Well I've finally discovered the kryptonite to my carnivorous compadres.  It's my chicken parmesan.  In a very short while you will have a delectable dish that will have them asking for the Reynold's Wrap.  Here's what you'll need:

Hardware:

• 1 Saucepan
• 1 Medium Skillet
• 2 stockpots/dutch ovens
• 2 plates (1 plate lined with two or three paper towels)
• 1 medium bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of thawed boneless skinless chicken breasts (Wal-Mart has a really inexpensive bag)
• Ragu Pasta Sauce (Your choice, but I love the sun-dried tomato and basil)
• 1 bag of chicken breader
• 1 carton of buttermilk
• 1 box of spaghetti pasta
• 1 bag of shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 pack of sliced pepperoni 
• 1 bag of stir fry vegetables (Peppers, onions; can be found in frozen food section)
• Italian Seasoning
• 1 gallon of canola oil
• Parsley 

Directions:

1. Fill Dutch Oven/Stockpot halfway with canola oil, and warm oil over medium heat (Oil will be ready when a drop of water on the oil causes oil to sizzle).
2. Fill second dutch oven/stockpot halfway with water, and bring to a boil; add pasta
3. Fill saucepan with pasta sauce and pepperoni, and warm over low heat.
4. Warm skillet over low to medium heat, and coat skillet with canola oil.
5. Add chicken breader to plate and buttermilk to a bowl and place next to stockpot/dutch oven with oil.  
6. Dip chicken in buttermilk, making sure to bathe the entire chicken breast in the buttermilk.  Drain slightly, and then coat each side with breader.  Add breaded chicken breast to the hot oil.  Add no more than two pieces of chicken to stockpot/dutchoven at a time.  Allow chicken to cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown (Remove chicken from stockpot/dutch oven onto second plate with the papertowels to absorb excess oil.  With a knife, slightly cut the chicken breast at it's thickest part.  Meat should not be pink!)  
7. While chicken is cooking, cook the vegetables in skillet.  Season with Italian Seasoning.  Remove from skillet, and place vegetables in the pasta sauce along with pepperoni.  
8. Remove pasta from boiling water after 3-5 minutes; drain and run hot pasta under cold water for a few seconds.  
9. Remove the pasta sauce from heat, and that's it!

Layer your plate with pasta, then add a nice crispy chicken breast over the pasta, and then coat the chicken breast with that amazing pasta sauce/pepperoni/vegetable mixture.  Top it off with some shredded parmesan cheese, parsley, and VOILA, you're ready to eat!

SN: A great salad, garlic bread, and white or red wine will go well with this dish!

This week I was on a 90's kicks with the Cranberries and Mazzy Star.  I believe some of the best music came from the 90's, and these two songs are great representations of this.  Kelly Rowland has a great new song out called, "Commander".  If it wasn't apparent that I'm a gay male, then bopping to this song at the gym certainly solidified this fact.  I stumbled over Bryn Christopher while I was shopping iTunes one night for a similar artist, and boy am I glad I did.  This guy is nothing short of amazing as his "one-of-a-kind" voice hypnotizes you in "Taken Me Over".  You're certain to enjoy these songs, and the fantastic thought provoking lyrics that will make these your digital favs.   Buy these on iTunes and Amazon today!

1. Slash-Saint Is A Sinner Too
2. Kelly Rowland-Commander
3. Bruno Mars-Just The Way You Are
4. Beyonce-Smash Into You
5. Brandy-Come A Little Bit Closer
6. Cranberries-Linger
7. John Legend-This Time
8. Mazzy Star-Fade Into You
9. Olive-You're Not Alone
10. Bryn Christopher-Taken Me Over

I remember when I was just a young'n and I'd grab a large bath towel, and would dart about the house pretending to be Dracula.  That guy was so cool.  He had an eloquent style about him that I try to emulate today.  Well, like so many things I've fancied in the course of my life, they seem to grow in popularity down the road (once I've tired of them).  Creature features has been the stuff of Hollywood for quite some time, though lately it seems that our fascination with zombies, vampires, and werewolves has risen substantially.  Is it an indicator of the current zeitgeist? I'll have to ask my colleague, Cornelius (the Trend Specialist) if the Trend Forecasting firm he interned with has incorporated this admiration for the living dead in with future forecasts.  I'm afraid these days we are in creature over kill!  Every vampire story has a different list of vampire do's and don'ts and so forth.  In the midst of this supernatural craze, I've decided to list the top 5 Creature features of all time to help you sift through the garbage that's out here.

1. Bram Stokers Dracula
The biggest bad ass of all vampires, Dracula shows us he is "the" vampire to know.  Francis Ford Coppola produces the best rendition of Bram Stoker's book to date.  This is the true vampire story for those of us that love the blood, fangs, and gothic overtones.

2. Van Helsing
First of all, Hugh Jackman is a very hot man indeed.  You'll never see a sexier werewolf (sorry Taylor Lautner, but next to Hugh Jackman, you're more of a pup than a wolf).  The ongoing battle between werewolves and vampires is explained in this film, and is visually depicted well in my opinion. No sappy "Twilight" teeny bopper b.s. in this film (or bad acting).  No, this is a movie for those that have a true appreciation for vampire vs. werewolf films.

3. The Lost Boys
Before "Twilight" and "True Blood" there were the Lost Boys.  This 80's film is certainly the predecessor of the aforementioned.  You won't see any pretty boys here, or any nampy pampy sickeningly sweet romance.  No, this film ditches the melodramatic romance, and prefers to unsettle you instead.  Sweet!

4. Night of the Living Dead
This movie made brains a delicacy.  I've never laughed while looking over my shoulder at the same time as I did when I watched this film.  Zombies are not nice people, and this remake has proven the fact that a lesson in etiquette is in order.  Damn radiation!  When will people ever learn?  The remake is good, and the original is even better!  Don't watch this alone.

5. Interview With The Vampire
I love Anne Rice as an author.  Movies that are based on books sometimes fall short of the former.  Not in this case.  Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt are amazing in this film, as is Kirsten Dunst (you'll likely not hear me say that again).  This rather progressive tale about vampires dismisses some of the myths that we have learned about vampires (see "Warding off Vampires 101").  Well, forget everything you know, and run for it in this film that is set in Louisiana.








Burnthecloset wants you to share you favorite vampire, zombie, or werewolf films.  Leave them as a comment to this post, or email it to me, and I'll post it on the site.