I’ve eliminated the blogroll from my revamped site, but I do want to give a shout-out to a few of my friends’ blogs:

• Mia’s relationships blog
• Chris’s library blog
• Kim’s personal blog
• My husband’s music blog
• Michael’s library technology blog

These are all neat sites with good information. Check them out!

Cool, quick links

eDiet’s 10 steps to fitness

Elle’s bangs retrospective: a tribute to fringe

Celeb workout wear from InStyle

Does thin=happy?

More healthy smoothie suggestions

Cute fashion flashback: Jennifer Lopez’s I’m Real Remix video

I like magic. I like shows about magic, books about magic, stickers about magic, and the idea of magic in general. I even used to shop at a magic store in Florida, which was very cool. I really like Nora Roberts’ Donovan Legacy series (Captivated, Entranced, Charmed, and Enchanted), which is about ordinary people who have magical gifts, and I’ve been hunting for something similar ever since I first read them. I do like typical fantasy fare (obviously), but there is something appealing about stories that are completely realistic (contemporary setting, time, etc.) that feature characters with magical talents.

Christine Feehan’s Drake Sisters series is a pretty good example. They are pretty standard romance fare, so they can get a little cheesy from time to time, but overall they are well-written, with intriguing characters, compelling plots, and the occasional steamy scene. The crux of the series is the seven Drake sisters: Sarah, Kate, Abbey, Libby, Hannah, Joley, and Elle. Each book is one sister’s story; primarily they’re about the women finding true love, but there are also evil spirits, Russian mobsters, cranky cops, and the sisters’ unique abilities to manipulate the wind, animals, death, and baked goods. Of course, the sisters are all extraordinarily beautiful and have amazing careers: renowned security expert, best-selling author, famous marine biologist, sought-after doctor, supermodel, world-famous singer, and mysterious jack-of-all-trades. On top of that, three of the main male characters have special abilities: one has outright magic, and two are telepathic. As of right now, there are only 5 books in the series; Joley and Elle’s stories are still in the making.

Overall, this is a fun, spicy, silly series with interesting people, hunky men, and a house that can eat people. One word of caution: these are all published as mass-market paperbacks, and the inside front cover of each depicts the male lead of each story: all of these men are cheesy, Fabio-esque characters. It’s best to let your imagination conjure up the image, rather than rely on these goofy illustrations.The books, in order, are:

• Magic in the Wind
• The Twilight Before Christmas
• Oceans of Fire
• Dangerous Tides
• Safe Harbor

I’ve been hearing a lot about Amy Winehouse lately. There’s her tumultuous romance, her somewhat disturbing behavior, and her completely whacked-out style. I’ve also heard a lot about how she’s really talented, and her album is good, and her sound is a refreshing throwback. You know what I haven’t heard, though? Her actual music. For all the hype surrounding the British singer, where’s the airplay? I’ve started hearing her single Rehab on one station, about once a week. But that’s it. I tried putting one of her tracks on my myspace page, but it only plays a short sample. So I finally caved and downloaded the album. And you know what? It is really good. I know Rehab is the song that gets the most hype (Winehouse is a bit of a lush, and her old record label tried to send her to rehab. She refused, changed labels, and recorded a great song about the whole thing. Nice.), but my personal favorite is You Know I’m No Good. It’s sultry, sexy and dark, with a great beat. Have a listen:

I guess that it’s only fitting to choose a photo of Charisma Carpenter (circa 2001ish) for my latest Hairquest inspiration. After all, it was her cut that inspired me to chop it all off and color it blond. Now that I’m going back to school, I need to grow it out so that I can pull it back and go. I also want to return to darker roots, so that it will require less maintenance and last longer between touch-ups. Once I move to Texas, I’ll be leaving behind my beloved stylist, not to mention giving up the income that keeps me in $200 haircuts. So, as it grows out, I’m thinking something along these lines: an easy simple bob in a rich, healthy brunette. But I may add a few caramel and honey tones to it, just to jazz it up and make it mine.