Preliminary Christmas List

Prayer Bracelet

Cathedral Pectoral Cross

Cartier Pasha C Watch

This Michelle Watch

Or this one

World Food Programme Feed Bag

Prayer Bead Necklace

Also, gift cards from Neiman's, Nordstrom, and Sephora are always welcome!

Why I Do Not Wear Nail Polish

I must apologize for the blurry nature of the pictures... Pesky camera phones and shaky hands!

Once I get a little, tiny chip in the polish, I cannot rest until it is all gone. Unfortunately, that typically happens when there is no nail polish remover around. So I pick. And pick. And pick. Until it is all gone.

As a side note, geez, my hands are vein-y! Whoa!

Holiday Party PSA...

Need a cute and festive dress for upcoming holiday parties?

Go HERE for adorable and inexpensive velvet dresses.

I just got this one:

More Favorite Cosmetics

Since I'm on a roll...

Favorite Foundation:
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra

Bronzing Powder:
Isadora's is fantastic!

I simply adore Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color, especially in pale pink and "Chocolate Kiss."

Benefit Cosmetics has several products I'm loving right now:
Benetint (This stuff is awesome on cheeks AND lips and really easy to apply!)
Ooh La Lift
Eye Bright (to be used with Ooh La Lift)
and Georgia

The one area I always seem to have trouble with is my eye shadow. I have palette after palette of eye shadows but always seem to gravitate to one basic look. And that particular look is boring. I am a fan of all-in-one kits and I like having a simplified makeup routine. In fact, my skincare routine takes much longer to do than my makeup.

So in one of my many self-improvement efforts, I am going to clear out the clutter in my bathroom and pare down the makeup, throw out the old stuff, and replace as necessary.

Favorite Cosmetics and Skincare

It's time for me to replenish my supply of cosmetic and skincare items. As I peruse Sephora, I realize that I have a lot of favorites and I'm out of everything!

I may just incorporate this list into my Christmas Wish list as well and just go ahead and ask Santa for gift cards. ;-)

I'm at the end of my NARS blush and lipgloss in Orgasm. I like old-school blush and love the lipgloss. It isn't too gooey and the color is subtle and flattering.

I also need more of my Philosphy skincare. Right now I use the Philosophy Makeup Optional Kit for Congested Skin. I've been going back and forth between that and Obagi, something I've mentioned before. I am, however, all out of everything but Retin-A, so I'm in limbo.

I love Covergirl's Lash Exact mascara and Perfect Point eyeliner.

I have more to bring up, such as foundation, bronzer, eye shadow, cheek and lip stains, etc, but I'm tired of posting links at the moment.

More to come...

It's that time of year again...

Time to start the ole "Wish List"...
So. I want this. The only thing I can't decide upon is the color... Brown is always stylish, but pink or indigo are a little more fun. And I have a pair of shoes that would match the lime color perfectly. Decisions, decisions...

Style PSA

It's the little things that matter when you are presenting yourself...

If, as a woman, your self-esteem is tied to the size of your pants, cut that tag out! I've been seeing a lot of women lately wearing clothes that are a size too small.

The #1 single thing a woman (or man) can do to look nice is to wear clothes that FIT. Don't kid yourself that it is the size of the clothes that determines how the world views you as no one sees the size but YOU! Do yourself a favor and go up a size if you are struggling to keep a button closed. You'll thank me because you will be able to breathe easier, AND! You'll look thinner!

It's a win/win.

Lately, much like Victoria Beckham, I've hated "flat" shoes. I mean I've gone out of my way to not wear them. But I'm a realist and I recognize the need for them (maybe your pants shrunk and are too short, maybe you plan on being on your feet all day, no matter). Two weeks ago, I got out my trusty "go-to" flats, my Nine West ballet flats. Sadly, they had been worn so many times, they were at the end of their lives.

That also happened to be the day that my mom was in town and she, too, was distressed by the state of my shoes. She suggested we go to Nordstrom and take a look at these ballet flats she loved. Never one to pass up a trip there, we were on our way.

I found these. They are the cutest little snub-nosed, cap-toe ballet flats I've seen in a very long time! I adore them and want them in many colors. I ended up walking out of the store with them on my feet and I've worn them at least 8 times since I got them.

As a side note, the man who helped us told us that BCBG is actually making Jessica Simpson's shoes now. I'm not sure how true this is, but it seemed interesting. It's funny, though, as there are not very many shoemakers around the world and most shoes do originate out of one of four major factories.

Semi-annual Closet Cleanout

This afternoon, spurred on by Dr Pop's decision to go through his clothes and get rid of things, I decided to move my summer clothes, in favor of my fall/winter ones (even though the highs are still in the upper 80s/low 90s).

I've been lamenting my lack of clothes lately, or rather, my lack of anything to wear... Ever! What I discovered during my treks upstairs told another story. I have plenty to wear and I told Dr Pop that if I said that I needed a sweater within the next 10 years, he is to swat me upside the head.

It's nice to only keep seasonal clothes in ones closet, though. That way there is room to see what you have, and things don't get crammed in corners where you cannot see them. I have such a difficult time sorting things and letting them go, though, that I have ended up with a monster on my hands... Me! I think I need professional help, because I am simply not strong enough to say goodbye to my "stuff."

Notes on "Fashion"

I'm a pretty boring person, clothes-wise.

I have plenty of clothes, but the last time I plunked down a significant amount of money for a "trend" was in the year 2000, when I spent $300 on a pashmina. Noted exceptions to this include shoes, sunglasses, and purses, though I will say that even when I do spend money on these items, they are more on the scale of "timeless" instead of "trendy." In other words, if I'm going to spend a lot of money, I don't want it to go out of style in 3 months. Needless to say, my wardrobe is woefully out of date!

I've never really been comfortable in clothes other than my normal, casual, semi, sort of preppy look. My uniform for work and play consists of a lot of jeans, capri pants, t-shirts, khakis, and polos. Period.

This weekend, I took a step toward changing that somewhat. I bought trendy clothes! If you're in Texas, you may have avoided the malls this weekend because it was tax-free weekend. Not me, though. I took advantage of the sales and the whole "no tax" thing and dedicated a portion of my income to looking good.

First stop was the outlet mall on Friday. Dr Pop went with me. He bought me two pairs of jeans and a Polo (baby steps, people, baby steps!). Later, I went to Old Navy and picked up two pair of pants. I looked at what I'd gotten and I realized that instead of breaking out of my pattern, I was giving into my casual, boring ways.

So on Sunday, I bit the bullet. Armed with a list compiled of "wish list trendy" items, I headed to the mall. Two hours later, I arrived home with an adorable shirt dress from the Gap and this long cardigan/wrap/sweater thing. Still not perfect, but getting better.

With tax-free weekend over, and me still not being all that trendy, I made one last stop at a store near work. Hello sale! And finally, FINALLY! I hit the jackpot. I'm wearing one of my trendy tops with my new jeans today. And damn, I look good!

So is there a point to this little tale of woe and shopping? Not really. But I managed to hunt some good bargains and move toward a new, more stylish, less casual me.

A demonstration of the reading list...

I have finished the Janet Evanovich book... It took a total of about four hours to read from cover to cover. That's what I love about her writing. It is just so fast!

Currently, I'm reading Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle.

I really don't know what I'll read next. Maybe I'll revisit Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I don't know, though. I'm really not in the mood right now for anything that is taxing to read. I'm more in the mood for fun, flirty, easy, and cute.

Reading List

I have a stack of books that is about a foot tall sitting next to my bed...

I have really gotten into Peter Mayle. He wrote A Good Year, which was turned into a movie (look it up. :) ). I loved it so much that I read the first memoir he wrote, titled A Year in Provence. It is found in the travel section of any book store and chronicles the year that he and his wife decided to buy a 200 year old farm house in Provence and move there. It is fascinating and it will make you hungry. I can't wait to read his follow-up to that one and also the rest of his work.

Also sitting is the half-finished Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire, who also wrote Wicked, which I loved.

To be read:
The Other Bolyn Girl by Philipa Gregory

And... Well... I'd have to go back home to look at the rest of the books sitting there. I swear that there are at least 10 books.

What is on your summer reading list?

Stating the Obvious

Again!

No matter how tall or short you may be, if you wear high heels, please don't walk with permanently bent knees. It's not attractive and it makes you look self-conscious about your height.

It is my personal contention that all young women should take a modeling class just to learn how to walk with confidence.

Way to go, Sak's!*

*And the lovely, lovely La Mer representative.

Question: What happens when you walk up to the La Mer counter, tell the representative what you want, and also that it is your first ever purchase of their product line?

Answer: You get set up with samples of the entire La Mer skincare line, including the wondermous, fabulous, cult and celebrity favorite Creme de la Mer.

I think I'm going to be in a LOT of trouble if this kind of treatment keeps up. ;-)

I finally *get* the hype...

I received a sample of the La Mer SPF 18 Fluid Tint prior to my trip to Mexico this year. Being a doubter, I pretty much scoffed at it, but went ahead and threw it into my bag at the last minute.

I'm not a summer foundation wearer. My skin, even though I wear sun block all the time, does get darker in the summer, so my regular tint never looks right and my face always ends up looking strangely white. At least it does to me.

I found myself needing some coverage last week, though, so I tried some of my sample and... I have few words other than Amazing. Incredible. Wonderful. and other hyperbolic, and yet totally true adjectives.

This stuff goes on smooth, provides light moisture, sun protection, and the perfect amount of coverage. I could not ask for more. And while I am a notorious about not being able to let go of money if it's for something for myself, I find that I simply MUST shell out $65 for a full-sized tube. It is WORTH it. Plus, a tiny drop the size of a pea is all you need!

Tip of the day...

Just because something makes your waist look smaller, doesn't mean it is stylish or attractive.

At-home Peels and Microdermabrasion

I think that it is no secret that I'm a fan of leaving certain things up to the professionals. I do not believe that even with the advancements of science that you can get the same strength or results at home as you can get in a doctor's office.

That being said, I am a huge fan of the two products above, both by Loreal.

First, the ReFinish Microdermabrasion kit...

We all know (or should know) that it is a good idea to exfoliate regularly. How often depends on your skin's sensitivity. I use this product once or twice per week, usually in the mornings. It leaves my face feeling very smooth. It in no way replaces a clinical Microdermabrasion, but it is a damn fine exfoliator and does contain aluminum oxide crystals, delivered in a creamy base. It's clinical counterpart is delivered by a technician who uses a tool to blast the face with the dry crystal powder. The temptation with this product is to rub too hard, thereby leaving red, chaffed skin. This really needs a light touch (as do all at-home exfoliators).

Now for ReNoviste, the anti-aging Glycolic peel kit...

This kit contains a 10% glycolic acid solution, which is applied with a cotton disk. The instructions are to leave it on for 5 minutes, then use another disk to apply the enclosed neutralizer. You are then to rinse your face and apply the enclosed moisturizer.

Again, this cannot compete with an in-office visit as you are working with liscensed professionals and stronger chemicals. If you have sensitive skin, this might be too harsh for you as well. What the acid peels do is another form of exfoliation, this time, delivering the results via an acid such as glycolic or alpha hydroxy instead of scrubbing. I personally love this peel product above all the other over the counter ones that I've tried. I try to do one every week or two because I do see results.

*Please note that this commentary is in no way an attempt to replace the advice of a doctor. You are dealing with chemicals here, and it is always a good idea to have the "go ahead" by a professional.

Just in time for warmer weather...

I hope Dr Pop doesn't get mad at me for posting this yummy recipe. This martini will be my downfall. It is delicious. It is healthy. You cannot taste the vodka. It is easy to drink in large quantities.

Ready?

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.
2. Add an ounce and a half of vodka. We like Tito's.
3. Add an ounce and a half of pomegranate juice.
4. Add an ounce of pineapple juice.
5. Put the lid on and shake the hell out of it.
6. Pour into a glass.
7. Drink.
8. Repeat.

You get all the benefits of pom juice and the lovely side effect of a healthy buzz. :)

Annual Spring/Summer Foot PSA

As warm weather and sandal season fast approach, don't forget to visit your friendly neighborhood salon for a pedicure!

Here are some at-home tips for getting your feet sandal-ready:

• Apply cuticle oil to your toenails
• Soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes
• Use an orange stick to gently push back the cuticles
• If you feel comfortable with it, use cuticle nippers to gently cut away excess skin
• Invest a couple of dollars in a foot file. Use it on your heels and the parts of your feet that get the roughest. It can be used wet or dry, but best results are wet.
• Use an exfoliating scrub on your feet. This can be done in the shower when you are scrubbing the rest of yourself. It doesn't have to be a different scrub from what you'd use on your body.
• Be sure to file your toenails down to a decent length. You don't want your toenails to be longer than your fingernails!
  

Don't let embarassing feet stand in the way of enjoying all the cute shoes this season has to offer! A little nail polish and extra effort go a long way toward making your feet a star attraction rather than something you want to hide!

Inflation?

The other day, I went out and bought myself a tube of Sally Hansen Lip Inflation lip gloss. I am a sucker for lip gloss and I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more. So I thought, dear readers, that I would be a guinea pig for you guys.

As lip gloss goes, this is nice. It's a bit tingly when it goes on, has decent staying power, and tastes okay.

The drawbacks? It's kind of goopy, which I don't love. I also didn't notice any difference in the size of my lips. No "inflation" at all. Also, my grocery stores and drug stores don't have much in the way of selection. They in fact only carry a blush color and clear. That is a drawback to me because I prefer pinks and reds for my glosses.

Overall rating? For doing what it says it will do: D

For being a decent lip gloss: B+

Best. Deep. Conditioner. Ever.

www.aveda.com

I have become a HUGE fan in a short month of this amazing product: Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment.

As you may or may not know, only "Aveda" salons and stores are allowed to carry Aveda products. This, to me, seems to prompt certain hairdressers and stylists to not recommend their products because they make no money and most salons make a lot of money on these back-end sales.

At my last hair appointment, I was lamenting my lack of a really good deep conditioner for my poor abused hair. My hairdresser (who sells incredible brands such as Pureology and Alterna) immediately wrote down this product and told me that I had to get it.

I did. He was right. My hair hasn't felt this healthy in YEARS.

Thank you, Aveda!

Cute Stationary Update

Well, my Adorable Anne Taintor notepads arrived yesterday.

I have to say that I'm very disappointed in what I received. Yes, they were adorable, but for the price I paid, I expected, I don't know, more substance.

Honestly, I would have felt infinitely better about spending the money on cute notebooks at Target. I could have gotten about 12 of them, plus a book or two for the price I paid for three little POS notepads.

Adorable!

I was doing a little blog surfing and came across The Grosgrain Garage. From there, I found a link to www.annetaintor.com. And all I can say is These are just so awesome!

I'm ordering some little things for myself from here for my birthday.

Obagi, Day 57

I'll admit that I've been a little lax in my skincare over the past several weeks. I'm really, really good in the morning, scrubbing my face, applying my Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum around my eyes, and my Obagi Clear and Exfoderm prior to putting on my makeup. But at night, I've been really, really bad. I've actually averaged about two or three nights per week of the Obagi Blender and the Retin-A. For someone who is trying to resurface her skin, well, this is a bad thing.

As my 33rd birthday is fast-approaching, I've decided to be totally faithful to the regimen for an entire week without rest. I started on Sunday morning with an AM dose of Retin-A. My skin today is peeling big-time and looks like I am slightly sunburned. This is good, though. Once I get through this week, I'm scheduling a microdermabrasion and will take a "mid-point" photo to compare my pre-Obagi face with what it is now.

The surface lines around my eyes and mouth are continuing their disappearing act and I am really loving that. Once I can make it through a full 3 months of this, I plan to schedule a partial blue peel (enough to make a difference, but not enough to turn me blue) as a reward. I cannot wait to get to that point.

While the things I describe may sound a bit harsh, this is all just part of it. We put our poor faces through so much! If we want to begin cellular regeneration, this is the price we pay. And at this point in my life, I really don't care if I have to peel a bit. The only person I care about impressing is my husband and he gets to see the transformation first hand.

Let's talk about ironing for a minute...

Actually, let's not. I hate to iron. H.A.T.E. it. With a passion. I don't quite know why I dislike it so much, but it probably has something to do with the fact that I am lazy. I don't mind doing laundry, but please don't make me iron. It's probably why I end up spending more on dry cleaning than I do on the clothes...

Until now. Now, I have found the perfect shirt. The non-iron cotton button-down shirt from Brooks Brothers. Take a look at it on the Brooks Brothers website.

Many people told me about this shirt. I decided to buy one to see what all the fuss was about. And all I can say is WOW! I washed and dried this shirt. When I pulled it out of the dryer, it was as though I'd picked it up from the cleaners! Even the crease on the sleeve was razor-sharp. Simply put, this shirt is amazing and I want more.

Dos and Don'ts

This is really more of a random thought than anything else...

I often wish that Glamour magazine would hire me to be a "Dos & Don'ts" contributing editor. I would have a month's worth of material each day... Mainly Don'ts, but still...

Like one of today's for instance... It's 36 degrees outside. She is wearing a black tank top, a beige crocheted short-sleeve tie-front sweater, skinny jeans, and stilletto faux-leather boots that come up over her jeans.

DON'T

Designer Fakes

Hmm... I've been toying with this post for about a month now because I am so torn on the issue.

Is it okay to buy fake designer goods such as Louis Vuitton handbags or Hermes scarves, etc?

On the one hand, if all the reports out there are to be believed, fake goods help fund terrorism and are created in sweatshops. Not only that, they are illegal in most parts of the world.

So okay. I get it. That fake Prada tote bag sitting in my closet is from the Devil.

On the other hand, there are so many fashion trends out there, and if one were to pick one and follow it, a girl could end up paying thousands of dollars for just a few little items. And unless your last name is Jolie-Pitt, Gates, or Beckham, you probably cannot afford to do that. The whole family to support thing kind of gets in the way.

It is my belief that the average woman likes to treat herself every now and then. If you're like me, you fantasize about the "treats" being that new Jimmy Choo purse that all the stars are carrying, but the reality is that you cannot justify the expense, so you go to Old Navy and pick up a track suit and cool tote bag on sale. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I believe that is the responsible thing to do. Spending money that could be better used for things like bills, groceries, and living expenses on a pair of shoes or a purse is NOT a good choice.

So every now and then the siren song of the fake bag/accessory beckons. And there in front of you is the brand new Chanel bag for $45. You have the magazine ad in front of you and it is identical to the naked eye. Sure the lining might be different or the leather might really be "pleather" but for $45, who cares? Right? And you find yourself writing a check...

So I come to the point of my post. If the siren song beckons and is too strong to resist, please, PLEASE take a little advice from me:

1) Remember that your purse is FAKE.
2) Enjoy it.
3) If someone asks about its authenticity, don't lie. Be proud of your bargain. It's likely that the person asking already knows and wants to know where you picked it up.
4) Do your homework. If you've never, EVER seen a magenta and orange striped Louis Vuitton, then your fake will stick out like a sore thumb.

I will say this, though... In my closet, I have a handful of fake purses that sit next to a handful of the real thing. I have experienced buyer's remorse on about half of my collection (real & fake). Don't buy something just to buy it and don't buy a name. I've used purses as an example, but we could be talking about scarves, jewelry, watches, you name it. Spend money carefully and when you hand out your cash (whether it's $20 or $2000), make sure it's on something you're going to ENJOY.

Review: Eye Cream

I love products. Especially eye care products. You see, I suffer from the malady called "dark undereye circles." Yes. It's true. :(

Since I have zero qualms about trying something new, especially something in a well-done commercial, I picked up a tiny little bottle of this stuff at the grocery store. I did think to myself, "For eighteen bucks at a GROCERY store, this stuff had better work!" And guess what? It did. No one has been more amazed than me. I didn't think it would.

I use this lightweight gel-like cream each morning after I wash my face and before I put on all of my layers of Obagi stuff and makeup. It perks up my eye area and does make a difference on my circles. Best $18 I've spent in a long time.

Obagi, Day 28

Well, I've been at this for about 4 weeks now. There have been some days here and there where I skipped the Retin-A or used regular moisturizer instead of the skin bleaching and exfoliating creams, but for the most part, I've been extremely faithful to the program.

Drumroll please...

The fine lines around my eyes diminsh more and more each day.

The little acne scars that I only recently created (like, WTF??? I'm in my 30s! I should know better!) are becoming less visible as my skin regenerates.

My overall complexion is brighter.

One of my friends told me last week that my skin "glowed" and I wasn't even wearing makeup.

I'm still not posting a picture yet. Not until I've gone through at least two more weeks. Then y'all can have the before and after shots.

Obagi, Day Eleven

Well folks, it's day 11. My face is so red and itchy and peeling that I can hardly stand it. But then I look at my right eye... And I notice the visible lack of surface lines. The crow's feet have all but disappeared on that side. So has the line that goes from my nose to my mouth. But only on the right side. My left crow's feet and mouth line are both still intact (GRR!), but they are a bit less visible.

If a person can tough out the peeling and redness, the results will speak for themselves. The true test for me will be going back to the office on Monday, peeling face and all...

One thing on my list is now checked off...

And I didn't even have to win the lottery!

Dr Pop gave me the above bag for Christmas. While technically, it's a tote bag and a bit too obnoxious to carry around all the time as a purse, I haven't been able to help myself. So I'm THAT girl now... The one who, with one turn to look back at something can take out people like bowling pins. It's so awesome!