Back in April I blogged about my new Clarisonic and told you how much I loved it and the results I was already seeing after only using it a short time. Well, it's been 5 months since that post and I thought an update was in order.
I have used my Clarisonic every day since I received it, sometimes twice a day, but mostly I use it at night after removing my makeup. I tried a few times to not use it, but my face just didn't feel as clean and I'd cave and use it anyway. I think I'm addicted to it. On a related note, the Mia hold it's charge a long time... considering the fact that I use it daily, I can go at least two weeks without having to charge it. I think that's pretty good.
Originally my Mia came with a sensitive brush head and I'll admit I was pretty happy with it...at first. Initially I was impressed with how it seemed to make my pores appears smaller, my fine lines appear more smooth and my breakouts less frequent, but I'd say about two months after starting to use it the long-term results weren't as great as I was hoping for and I was a bit let down. However, I still continued to use it faithfully.
The makers of the Clarisonic recommend replacing the brush head every 3 months. Well, being the frugal person that I am (and the fact that they're $25 a piece), I thought as long as the brush looked good and felt OK, that it was doing it's job. Wrong. By month 4 I was starting to experience more frequent breakouts, my skin was lackluster and my makeup wasn't looking as good nor lasting as long throughout the day. Finally one day it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, it was the brush head. So I broke down and placed a Sephora order (they sell a 2 pack for $40, great deal!). I went back and forth over sticking with the sensitive brush or bumping it up and trying out the normal...in the end I decided to try the normal and, worst case, I guess I could return them (no clue if Sephora would take them back, but I was hoping).
The first night I used the normal brush head I thought I had made a mistake - it felt harsh. But I kept using it. About a week or so into it I started to experience some horrible breakouts...probably the worst occurrence in about a year. I was NOT happy, especially since it was a few weeks before we were leaving for vacation - not the best time to be looking like a pizza face! But again, I kept using it. Amazingly, by the time vacation rolled around my skin was in much better shape and it wasn't until I was actually on vacation that I realized what had happened...the normal brush head had purged my skin - the one thing I was terrified of when I first started using the Clarisonic was the "purge" everyone talks about. I had never experienced it while using the sensitive brush head so I think I just kind of forgot that it was a possibility. Apparently, the normal brush head was just doing it's job and getting all the gunk out of my skin like it's supposed to. Now, after almost a month of using it and thankfully getting through that purge period, I'm super happy with the results and I now realize that the sensitive brush head was not enough for me in the first place. Lesson learned.
So that's the update. I was asked by a friend a while ago if I was still loving my Clarisonic and if I would recommend buying it. At that time I was just "eh" about it and suggested waiting for a really, really good sale, that I didn't feel it was worth paying full price. Today, I've changed my tune. While I still suggest waiting for a sale (who doesn't want to save some cash?), I really, truly feel it's worth paying full price if you have to. It may take some trial and error to find the right brush for your skin, but once you do, you won't look back.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Fall Into The Gap
Ahhh, the whirlwind that is Give & Get sale time has come to a close. I always love this sale, always find great deals, always buy too much. 30% off is hard to pass up!
I made two seperate trips to the Gap because on the first trip I felt rushed and didn't get enough time in the dressing room. So that required a second trip to leisurely browse and see if I missed anything. I bought 14 items and spent $160...which works out to be $11.43 an item! I saved $70 with the coupon alone! Most of the things I purchased were already on sale, so all combined I think I did pretty well. And my wardrobe is most definitely set for Fall :)
Wanna see what I got??? Sure you do!
I got two of the Oversized Striped V-neck sweaters in the navy/grey stripe, and the eggplant/charcoal stripe. Both were on sale for $19.99, so I only paid $13.99 each with the coupon...
...a solid Oversized V-Neck sweater in a pretty green, again, only $13.99 with the coupon...
...a Vintage Cardigan in a dark grey w/ dark green stripes that you see if you cuff the sleeves, on sale for $26.99, so I paid $18.90...
...and the Cascading Ruffles T in flint grey.
The next few things I picked off the sale racks at the back of the store (which I freely admit is usually the first place I check out whenever I shop at Gap):
...three of the Pocket T's in charcoal, light grey and brown. All on sale for $7.99, so I only paid $5.60 each! Great to throw on w/ jeans or for that price just wear them around the house.
...a Vintage Henley T in a pretty tan color (and of course that color is no longer pictured on the website).
...and a Striped Cropped-Sleeve Henley T.
I also picked up a two basic tanks for layering and two lace-trimmed camis (which I plan to return because the "straps" are too long and I feel like I'm too exposed). Overall, I'm pretty pleased with what I purchased in-store. With the exception of a few things I need to return (those lace-trimmed camis and possibly the solid v-neck sweater...still deciding if I need all three and I adore the striped ones too much!), I can't wait to wear everything once the weather cools down!
I did place an online order for a few things from Gap and Old Navy that I wasn't able to see or try on in person at either store. I'll probably do a seperate post showing you what I ordered and then update with what worked and what didn't.
At any rate, I'm so ready for Fall. Ready for jeans and sweaters, mums and pumpkins, hot chocolate and warm apple cider, colored leaves and cool crisp weather. Does it get any better than that?
I made two seperate trips to the Gap because on the first trip I felt rushed and didn't get enough time in the dressing room. So that required a second trip to leisurely browse and see if I missed anything. I bought 14 items and spent $160...which works out to be $11.43 an item! I saved $70 with the coupon alone! Most of the things I purchased were already on sale, so all combined I think I did pretty well. And my wardrobe is most definitely set for Fall :)
Wanna see what I got??? Sure you do!
I got two of the Oversized Striped V-neck sweaters in the navy/grey stripe, and the eggplant/charcoal stripe. Both were on sale for $19.99, so I only paid $13.99 each with the coupon...
...a solid Oversized V-Neck sweater in a pretty green, again, only $13.99 with the coupon...
...a Vintage Cardigan in a dark grey w/ dark green stripes that you see if you cuff the sleeves, on sale for $26.99, so I paid $18.90...
...and the Cascading Ruffles T in flint grey.
The next few things I picked off the sale racks at the back of the store (which I freely admit is usually the first place I check out whenever I shop at Gap):
...three of the Pocket T's in charcoal, light grey and brown. All on sale for $7.99, so I only paid $5.60 each! Great to throw on w/ jeans or for that price just wear them around the house.
...a Vintage Henley T in a pretty tan color (and of course that color is no longer pictured on the website).
...and a Striped Cropped-Sleeve Henley T.
I also picked up a two basic tanks for layering and two lace-trimmed camis (which I plan to return because the "straps" are too long and I feel like I'm too exposed). Overall, I'm pretty pleased with what I purchased in-store. With the exception of a few things I need to return (those lace-trimmed camis and possibly the solid v-neck sweater...still deciding if I need all three and I adore the striped ones too much!), I can't wait to wear everything once the weather cools down!
I did place an online order for a few things from Gap and Old Navy that I wasn't able to see or try on in person at either store. I'll probably do a seperate post showing you what I ordered and then update with what worked and what didn't.
At any rate, I'm so ready for Fall. Ready for jeans and sweaters, mums and pumpkins, hot chocolate and warm apple cider, colored leaves and cool crisp weather. Does it get any better than that?
Thursday, August 12, 2010
In a John Mayer state of mind...
Sorry for the delay but I'm still processing just how awesome the concert was. It was incredible to say the least... mesmerizing... inspiring. Oh, how I wish I could rewind and relive it. I seriously want to become a groupie: traveling from city to city, tailgating all day, and jamming out every night. That would be the life!
Tailgating was a whirlwind, but still lots of fun. We laughed a ton while setting up the EZ Up tent (and thank God for it, it was hot!), laughed some more when we spotted some people we "knew" from the JM message boards, and then sat there dumbfounded as we watched a few groups of teenagers get busted for underage drinking and/or smoking an illegal substance. Good times! Before we knew it it was time to start packing it in, freshen up (although that proved to be futile with the heat and humidity) and then make our trek to the stadium to fetch our tickets.
Once we got inside we scoped out the merch tent where I spent way too much money on Silly Bandz (yes, I said Silly Bandz, and yes, I am an adult), then hit up one of the drink stands where I then spent way too much money on a margarita. Finally we made our way to our seats just as Train was starting their set. I, of course, was paying more attention to where my feet were stepping while trying not to spill my alcohol (priorities), but I remember someone telling me to "look up" and all I could say was "holy sh*t!"...I had never seen a stage that close before. This was going to be good...
Train's set was incredible and Pat, the lead singer, is a true performer. It was great to hear Meet Virginia, Hey Soul Sister and Drops of Jupiter live...amongst others. They definitely held the crowd's attention and helped set the mood for the rest of the night.
At intermission we quickly hit the port-o-potties (remember everyone, green means go!) - big props to Jen for cluing us in on the private potties just for reserved seat ticket holders - followed by another stop at the drink stands to spend more money on alcohol (it's crazy what they charge) before heading back to our seats to wait. Such anticipation!
And then... it started. I think I could have fainted. Maybe I did, I'm not sure, everything after that seems like a blur. I tried my best to stay in the moment while also trying to capture some of it on my camera, text the hubster, post pics to Facebook and Tweet all at the same time. My fingers sure got a work out!
Overall the setlist was pretty awesome, but I will admit at the end of the show I felt a bit let down over what was missing... one song in particular that he's played at EVERY show on the tour thus far (the ONE song we all assumed was a given and wanted to hear so badly), he left out at our show, go figure. I'll explain my feelings as this: I love so many of John Mayer's songs, some I love so much they move me to tears, there is absolutely no way I'd ever be able to walk away from any of his concerts completely and totally satisfied unless he stood there and played his entire catalog of songs. And that's the truth...a true JM fan understands.
But now that I've downloaded the audio recording of the show and have listened to it a few (dozen) times, I can appreciate it more and realize just how terrific it really was. In fact, the whole night was perfect. Thank you to my girls for agreeing to go with me to our first ever JM show way back on July 21, 2007...and then taking time away from your babies to join me again this past February 21st and once more on August 5th. I'm already looking forward to the next time...Lord knows it can't come soon enough! Hmm, or maybe Mayercraft Carrier 3 experience?! Who's with me?
And with that I'll leave you with some photos, enjoy!
Tailgating was a whirlwind, but still lots of fun. We laughed a ton while setting up the EZ Up tent (and thank God for it, it was hot!), laughed some more when we spotted some people we "knew" from the JM message boards, and then sat there dumbfounded as we watched a few groups of teenagers get busted for underage drinking and/or smoking an illegal substance. Good times! Before we knew it it was time to start packing it in, freshen up (although that proved to be futile with the heat and humidity) and then make our trek to the stadium to fetch our tickets.
Once we got inside we scoped out the merch tent where I spent way too much money on Silly Bandz (yes, I said Silly Bandz, and yes, I am an adult), then hit up one of the drink stands where I then spent way too much money on a margarita. Finally we made our way to our seats just as Train was starting their set. I, of course, was paying more attention to where my feet were stepping while trying not to spill my alcohol (priorities), but I remember someone telling me to "look up" and all I could say was "holy sh*t!"...I had never seen a stage that close before. This was going to be good...
Train's set was incredible and Pat, the lead singer, is a true performer. It was great to hear Meet Virginia, Hey Soul Sister and Drops of Jupiter live...amongst others. They definitely held the crowd's attention and helped set the mood for the rest of the night.
At intermission we quickly hit the port-o-potties (remember everyone, green means go!) - big props to Jen for cluing us in on the private potties just for reserved seat ticket holders - followed by another stop at the drink stands to spend more money on alcohol (it's crazy what they charge) before heading back to our seats to wait. Such anticipation!
And then... it started. I think I could have fainted. Maybe I did, I'm not sure, everything after that seems like a blur. I tried my best to stay in the moment while also trying to capture some of it on my camera, text the hubster, post pics to Facebook and Tweet all at the same time. My fingers sure got a work out!
Overall the setlist was pretty awesome, but I will admit at the end of the show I felt a bit let down over what was missing... one song in particular that he's played at EVERY show on the tour thus far (the ONE song we all assumed was a given and wanted to hear so badly), he left out at our show, go figure. I'll explain my feelings as this: I love so many of John Mayer's songs, some I love so much they move me to tears, there is absolutely no way I'd ever be able to walk away from any of his concerts completely and totally satisfied unless he stood there and played his entire catalog of songs. And that's the truth...a true JM fan understands.
But now that I've downloaded the audio recording of the show and have listened to it a few (dozen) times, I can appreciate it more and realize just how terrific it really was. In fact, the whole night was perfect. Thank you to my girls for agreeing to go with me to our first ever JM show way back on July 21, 2007...and then taking time away from your babies to join me again this past February 21st and once more on August 5th. I'm already looking forward to the next time...Lord knows it can't come soon enough! Hmm, or maybe Mayercraft Carrier 3 experience?! Who's with me?
And with that I'll leave you with some photos, enjoy!
Setlist:
Chest Fever (intro)
Bigger Than My Body
Heartbreak Warfare
Ain't No Sunshine
Vultures
War Of My Life
Perfectly Lonely
The Heart Of Life
No Such Thing (in fast forward)
Assassin
Gravity
Waiting On The World To Change
Do You Know Me
Why Georgia
Who Says (encore)
Half of My Heart (encore)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Trying this again...
Tonight is the rescheduled John Mayer/Train show and there is rain in the forecast...ok, not just rain, but "severe" storms. And it's hot, and it's humid. Nice. I've been stalking future radar predictors and amazingly they show that it will be clear the whole time we plan to be there, so who knows really. I have my fingers crossed that the radar is correct and we really do end up with a storm-free evening, but it's still in the back of my mind that we might get rained on since all the weathermen and weather websites are telling me it's going to happen. Trying to stay positive though! I just pray the show goes on as planned because I fear if they cancel again tonight it will be canceled for good. That means we'll never get to experience what 7th row center seats feel like and that would seriously bum me out! But again, trying to stay positive that all this worrying for be for nothing...I'm nothing if not a worrier ;)
Friday, July 30, 2010
Blown Away!
Another beauty related review...sorry if it seems like that's all I talk about lately, but I have to share my thoughts on this amazing "tool" I recently purchased. To be honest, I've only been using it since Tuesday, only four days thus far, but I don't see how my thoughts on this will change so I figured what the heck - you're getting the review now!
The product: the beautyblender. *cue the parting clouds and singing angels*
I've always used sponges to apply my foundation and concealer. It's what I started out using when I first discovered makeup and over time what I was most comfortable with. Every once in a while I'd try to use my fingers but I could never get it to blend nicely and look the way I wanted it to. I even tried a few foundation brushes and again, I wasn't happy with the finish. I always resorted back to sponges...old habits die hard. I used to be able to pick up any old brand of sponges at the drugstore and be completely happy, but lately, no matter which brand I bought, they just felt off. Too plastic-y. I don't even want to tell you how many packs of sponges I've purchased. It's embarrassing :( But I was nearing the end of my stash of "good" sponges so I was desperate to find something, anything, that would apply my foundation as good as or better than I was used too.
I've seen the beautyblender on Sephora's website for a while now, but I just could never commit to spending that much on a sponge. I mean really, $20 for a sponge alone is a little ridiculous. But again, I was desperate I tell you! I read the reviews on sephora.com and makeupalley.com and most were pretty positive. Worst case scenario, I return it and get my money back. So I caved, added it to my shopping basket (amongst a few other things, of course!), checked out and then waited for my package to arrive.
First off, it's adorable. I dare you to not smile at it's hot pink, egg-shaped cuteness. Second, it's super soft and squishy. Third, it doesn't smell all gross like other sponges tend to smell. So far, so good.
I purchased the set that comes with one beautyblender and a bottle of cleanser, so the first thing I did was wash the sponge. I was amazed at how much the sponge expanded when wet! The directions say to always dampen the sponge before using it to apply your makeup...intriguing! I squeezed out any excess water, then squeezed it again with a towel in my hand - worked great. It still felt damp, but not damp enough to transfer any water to my hands if that makes sense. They also say to dip the sponge in the makeup then apply, but I like to use my fingers to dot the foundation on my face, then blend with the sponge - either way will work. All you do is bounce the sponge across your face, that's it. No tugging, no pulling, just bouncing. The shape of the sponge is what creates that airbrush effect. Since it's rounded it's impossible to get any lines or streaks. And the process goes so quickly since the sponge can cover a larger surface area with each bounce. I would typically squeeze out a thin strip of foundation on the tip of my index finger and repeat that three times, using one strip for each "section" of my face. One for my nose and cheeks, one for my eyelids and forehead, and then one more for my chin, jaw line and neck line. I was able to cut the amount of foundation I use in HALF by using this sponge. It makes me super happy to think of all the money I'll be saving on foundation, not to mention the minutes I'll be saving each morning, too!
The first time I used it I was blown away. I just kept saying "wow"...hours later I was still saying "wow". It's got the "wow" factor for sure! The way it blends makeup is just amazing. I've never been able to achieve that sheer, glow-y look before...ever. This just makes my skin look like MY skin, only better. I've noticed the staying power is better too, and my makeup doesn't settle into my lines as much anymore. Less truly is more, such an interesting concept!
The cleanser is great too, but from the reviews I've read, not entirely necessary (some use baby shampoo)...I personally love the cleanser and think it does a fabulous job at getting all the makeup off the sponge (you can dilute it a bit and use it to clean your brushes too). You're supposed to clean it between each use to keep it looking nice and germ free. I've read of some people using it a few times between washes, so I guess it's just personal preference and how much of a germaphobe you are ;) One reviewer said that while she cleans her beautyblender daily, she waits until right before she uses it...since you have to wet the sponge before applying makeup anyway, you're kind of killing two birds with one stone and saving time. Whichever method or system you choose is up to you. With proper care the sponge will last at least 3 months, but many are using it 6 months to a full year - talk about getting your money's worth! The company will even recycle the sponge if you send it back to them so it's environmentally friendly to boot.
If you use liquid foundation, you MUST get this. (It does work with powders too, including blush, bronzers and eye shadows, but I can't comment on that yet since I've only used it to apply my foundation and concealer thus far) Even if you use your fingers or a brush to apply your liquid foundation and are happy, I still think you'd be amazed by this. I'm really not sure how you'd ever go back to your old method once you get your hands on this sponge. It's that amazing, I promise you!
The product: the beautyblender. *cue the parting clouds and singing angels*
I've always used sponges to apply my foundation and concealer. It's what I started out using when I first discovered makeup and over time what I was most comfortable with. Every once in a while I'd try to use my fingers but I could never get it to blend nicely and look the way I wanted it to. I even tried a few foundation brushes and again, I wasn't happy with the finish. I always resorted back to sponges...old habits die hard. I used to be able to pick up any old brand of sponges at the drugstore and be completely happy, but lately, no matter which brand I bought, they just felt off. Too plastic-y. I don't even want to tell you how many packs of sponges I've purchased. It's embarrassing :( But I was nearing the end of my stash of "good" sponges so I was desperate to find something, anything, that would apply my foundation as good as or better than I was used too.
I've seen the beautyblender on Sephora's website for a while now, but I just could never commit to spending that much on a sponge. I mean really, $20 for a sponge alone is a little ridiculous. But again, I was desperate I tell you! I read the reviews on sephora.com and makeupalley.com and most were pretty positive. Worst case scenario, I return it and get my money back. So I caved, added it to my shopping basket (amongst a few other things, of course!), checked out and then waited for my package to arrive.
First off, it's adorable. I dare you to not smile at it's hot pink, egg-shaped cuteness. Second, it's super soft and squishy. Third, it doesn't smell all gross like other sponges tend to smell. So far, so good.
I purchased the set that comes with one beautyblender and a bottle of cleanser, so the first thing I did was wash the sponge. I was amazed at how much the sponge expanded when wet! The directions say to always dampen the sponge before using it to apply your makeup...intriguing! I squeezed out any excess water, then squeezed it again with a towel in my hand - worked great. It still felt damp, but not damp enough to transfer any water to my hands if that makes sense. They also say to dip the sponge in the makeup then apply, but I like to use my fingers to dot the foundation on my face, then blend with the sponge - either way will work. All you do is bounce the sponge across your face, that's it. No tugging, no pulling, just bouncing. The shape of the sponge is what creates that airbrush effect. Since it's rounded it's impossible to get any lines or streaks. And the process goes so quickly since the sponge can cover a larger surface area with each bounce. I would typically squeeze out a thin strip of foundation on the tip of my index finger and repeat that three times, using one strip for each "section" of my face. One for my nose and cheeks, one for my eyelids and forehead, and then one more for my chin, jaw line and neck line. I was able to cut the amount of foundation I use in HALF by using this sponge. It makes me super happy to think of all the money I'll be saving on foundation, not to mention the minutes I'll be saving each morning, too!
The first time I used it I was blown away. I just kept saying "wow"...hours later I was still saying "wow". It's got the "wow" factor for sure! The way it blends makeup is just amazing. I've never been able to achieve that sheer, glow-y look before...ever. This just makes my skin look like MY skin, only better. I've noticed the staying power is better too, and my makeup doesn't settle into my lines as much anymore. Less truly is more, such an interesting concept!
The cleanser is great too, but from the reviews I've read, not entirely necessary (some use baby shampoo)...I personally love the cleanser and think it does a fabulous job at getting all the makeup off the sponge (you can dilute it a bit and use it to clean your brushes too). You're supposed to clean it between each use to keep it looking nice and germ free. I've read of some people using it a few times between washes, so I guess it's just personal preference and how much of a germaphobe you are ;) One reviewer said that while she cleans her beautyblender daily, she waits until right before she uses it...since you have to wet the sponge before applying makeup anyway, you're kind of killing two birds with one stone and saving time. Whichever method or system you choose is up to you. With proper care the sponge will last at least 3 months, but many are using it 6 months to a full year - talk about getting your money's worth! The company will even recycle the sponge if you send it back to them so it's environmentally friendly to boot.
If you use liquid foundation, you MUST get this. (It does work with powders too, including blush, bronzers and eye shadows, but I can't comment on that yet since I've only used it to apply my foundation and concealer thus far) Even if you use your fingers or a brush to apply your liquid foundation and are happy, I still think you'd be amazed by this. I'm really not sure how you'd ever go back to your old method once you get your hands on this sponge. It's that amazing, I promise you!
2 Month Follow-up to "Putting it out there..."
Let me just say that I think I timed my "weigh-ins" during the wrong time of the month, if you know what I mean. Not the best for my morale. Same as last month, I'm a few days late with my update, but I did weigh myself on the correct day (the 27th) to again be sure I was getting an accurate reading. I'm only down another 2 pounds, 4 pounds total since I started this whole "eat better, lose weight" plan. I weighed myself a few times throughout this past month and there were definitely days where I was lower than the number I ended up at on the official weigh-in day. But this past week I've been feeling super bloated and just overall uncomfortable. Not sure if it has to do with the extreme heat (hello, high 90's!) or all the fruit I've been eating (hello, lots o' fiber!). At any rate, only 2 pounds. Blah. I will say though that I've been fitting into clothes a bit better lately...a few pairs of shorts that I haven't worn since buying them two Summers ago fit nicely now. So in that respect I am seeing results. I just wish I'd see it a bit more on the scale!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Disappointment has a name...
It's heartbreak...or it was heartbreaking. I was all set to come back and post an awesome review of the John Mayer concert, but sadly it never happened. There was some major, unrepairable equipment damage due to some crazy, heavy storms that passed through our area Sunday afternoon and there was no choice but to postpone. We found out the sad news about 15 minutes or so after arriving in Hershey, just as the rain was coming to an end and the sun was starting to shine. It was tough news to take, especially since we had been waiting 3+ months for this concert to take place. Thankfully, it was rescheduled for August 5th and while it sucks to have to wait, again, I'm confident it will be a show to remember. John will make it up to us, I'm sure of it.
Here's a little peek of just how bad the storm was (warning: some "adult" language can be heard)...
Amazingly enough, once the storm passed it turned out to be one of the most beautiful Summer days we've had in a while. It was warm, but not too warm, not much humidity (if any), a slight breeze, and gorgeous blue skies. It would have been the perfect evening for an outdoor concert! We tried to make the best of it by doing a little shopping at the outlets then ending the night with dinner on the river. While it certainly wasn't the night we had planned and prepared for, it was nice to spend the time with friends and I realized on the drive home that we'd get to do it all over again in a few short days. That put a smile on my face :)
Looking forward to August 5th!!!
Here's a little peek of just how bad the storm was (warning: some "adult" language can be heard)...
Amazingly enough, once the storm passed it turned out to be one of the most beautiful Summer days we've had in a while. It was warm, but not too warm, not much humidity (if any), a slight breeze, and gorgeous blue skies. It would have been the perfect evening for an outdoor concert! We tried to make the best of it by doing a little shopping at the outlets then ending the night with dinner on the river. While it certainly wasn't the night we had planned and prepared for, it was nice to spend the time with friends and I realized on the drive home that we'd get to do it all over again in a few short days. That put a smile on my face :)
Looking forward to August 5th!!!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Guess who I get to see tomorrow...
Can. not. wait. I'll be sitting 7th row center and praying I don't pass out, #1 from the heat (90 degrees, ouch!) and #2 from the hottness in front of me ;) Fingers crossed the rain stays away and that he delivers the best set of the tour so far. Have a fabulous Sunday...I know I will!!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Beauty and Skin-care Raves, pt. 2
As promised in a post I did back in April, I want to share some products I've been loving during the past three months (April-June, yes I know I'm a little late!). But before I get to the new products, I want to revisit the items I raved about in part 1 and let you know how I'm feeling about them now (please visit my old post for links directing you to more info. on each product)...
Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine: still love it, but haven't been reaching for it as much as I was. With it being late Spring/early Summer I've been using lip products containing an SPF - hello, Softlips vanilla! Occasionally I'll layer some of the Korres over my Softlips, but not often. I think I'll be addicted to this again come Fall and Winter though!
Stila Illuminating Finishing Powder: again, not reaching for this as much...maybe a few times a week vs. every day as I was in my last review. I think because I naturally have a bit more color to my face due to the sun, I'm not wanting to use any bronzer. But I have been adding some of the illuminator to the tops of cheeks every so often, layered over my new favorite blush that I'll talk about a bit later. I'll probably start reaching for this more once the weather starts changing and the color is zapped from my skin.
Clinique Even Better Makeup: still using this, but not every day. I've been going back and forth between this formula and Clinique Superfit, which is a better color match for me during the Summer. Still love the finish and coverage!
Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara: LOVE this mascara! After the horror that is CoverGirl LashBlast (see here), I really appreciate this a lot more. Still making my way through some "sample"/trial-sized tubes, but will definitely be buying a full-sized once those are done. And I'm surprised I'm enjoying a non-waterproof formula as much as I have, even in the warmer weather. It doesn't sweat off and give me raccoon eyes.
Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel: still using it, still loving it! Just bought my second bottle/tube.
Clinique Moisture Surge: haven't had the need for this as much since my skin hasn't experienced any dry patches lately, but I'm still reaching for it on occasion. I know it will be on heavy rotation once the weather changes though.
Lacura Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream: I've been alternating this with another wrinkle cream that I'll talk about below. I haven't even gotten half-way through the jar even after all this time, but I think once it's done I won't be repurchasing it for a few reasons, mainly being that I can't find it anymore. A little sad about it since it was such a great value, but I'm keeping my eyes opened, maybe I'll stumble upon a jar when I'm least expecting it.
Now on to the NEW products...my April-June favorites!
Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Facial Clay Masque: I found this in the back of my bathroom closet while I was searching for my stash of gradual tanners...it's amazing the stuff I find in my bathroom sometimes. I've never been too fond of masques since they seemed to always make my skin worse, not better...obviously I know now that it was just the masque working and pulling out the impurities, but at the time I guess I just didn't feel it was worth it to look like even more of a pizza face. Now that my skin is in relatively "good" shape (*knock on wood*), I was hoping it wouldn't wreak havoc and it didn't - yay! My routine is this: I gently wash my face to remove any oils or dirt, pat dry, slather on the masque, cruise the 'net for 15-20 mins., then jump in the shower and wait until the end to rinse it off. I feel like it tightens my skin and gives me a nice glow. I also think it helps keep oiliness at bay. My makeup usually looks pretty awesome for the next few days after I do the masque. For now I'm only doing it once a week (usually on the weekend since I have more time) but I think I may amp it up to twice a week and see how it goes...hopefully it's not too much for my skin. It's cheap too! $4-$5 at Walmart :)
Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 Age Decelerating Moisturizer: I received a small jar of this during a Clinique promotion and at first I thought it would just get tossed aside and never touched since I didn't need a new moisturizer. So it sat there for a few weeks until I got an email from Clinique touting it's wrinkle fighting abilities. I was intrigued! Up until then I was happily using my Lacura and loving it, but that night I tried the Youth Surge for the first time and I was sold! Now, I realize the formula I have is meant to be used during the day, but honestly, with my oily skin it would be way too heavy to use under makeup. In fact, I have a hard time imagining it used all over my face. I only use it in my problem areas: around my eyes and between my brows, that's it. Once I'm through with the sample jar I'll probably purchase the "night" version of this...but I think it will be a while until that happens since I've barely made a dent after using it for a few months...really, a little goes a long way. It melts into my skin and almost immediately I can see it diminishing my lines. I really can't say enough great things about it, but I do wish it were cheaper :( $48.50 is a tough pill for me to swallow, but like I said, a little goes a long a way and if it works, it's definitely worth it!
ELF Natural Radiance Blusher: I ordered a few things from ELF over the Winter when they were offering free shipping on a relatively small order...usually, their shipping is outrageous, and even if they do offer a free shipping promotion you need to spend $20 on products, annoying. Some people are lucky enough to have an ELF display in their local Target. The closest Targets to me are a least a 40 min. drive, no lie, and none (so far) carry the product line. Anyway, I had always heard mixed reviews on ELF but wanted to decide for myself. The blush colors I ordered were Coy (a muted brownish-mauve) and Innocence ( a baby doll pink). Warning: the pans are small! They actually look more along the size of an eyeshadow, but for $1, not too bad I guess. Coy is a nice color for my skin tone and a little goes a long way with this, I barely have to touch my brush to the product to get a nice sweep of color. Bad news: it crumbles like crazy. I've resorted to dumping the excess blush into a different small container so I don't waste it. A pain in the butt, yes, but again, it's $1! Innocence is such a pretty color in the pan, however, I really have to layer it on to see the color on my cheeks. But it's worth it because the color is beautiful. It gives me that "blush from within" look that I've never been able to achieve with other blushes. This color doesn't crumble nearly as much as Coy does, so I find it easier to use...obviously consistency isn't ELF's strong suit. So while my review mentions a lot of faults, I'm willing to look past them for the color alone and how well they look on my cheeks. Now if only I could find the ELF products in an actual brick and mortar store I'd be a really happy girl!
Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray: I learned about this makeup setting spray in a YouTube video, but I can't for the life of me remember who it was or find the video so I can link it for you, bummer. I was hesitant to order it (from Sephora, my happy place) because of the price, but after I got it home and tested it out, it's worth it's weight in gold I tell you! A must have for the Summer months for sure, when the heat and humidity cause your makeup to melt and virtually disappear in a matter of hours some days. All you do is apply your makeup as you normally would and then once you're done you mist about 2-4 pumps over your face, that's it. It sounds bizarre, I know, but it works. The mist is so fine that it dries in seconds and it doesn't smell odd or feel strange at all, in fact I think it feels kind of nice :) They claim your makeup won't budge for 16 hours, which I guess it's quite possible depending on your skin type, but for my oily skin I'd say it gives me about 5 hours before I see some shine, and by some, I mean pretty minimal...of course, totally dependent on what I'm doing. But overall, I'm very, very rarely touching up my makeup anymore, only occasionally blotting, and I'd say that's pretty awesome for this oily-skinned girl!
And that's a wrap! Hopefully I've introduced you to some new things and peaked your interest a little bit. Let me know if you use any of the mentioned products (and if you love them/hate them), or if you plan to try them out. See you back here in a few months for part 3, my July-September favorites!
Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine: still love it, but haven't been reaching for it as much as I was. With it being late Spring/early Summer I've been using lip products containing an SPF - hello, Softlips vanilla! Occasionally I'll layer some of the Korres over my Softlips, but not often. I think I'll be addicted to this again come Fall and Winter though!
Stila Illuminating Finishing Powder: again, not reaching for this as much...maybe a few times a week vs. every day as I was in my last review. I think because I naturally have a bit more color to my face due to the sun, I'm not wanting to use any bronzer. But I have been adding some of the illuminator to the tops of cheeks every so often, layered over my new favorite blush that I'll talk about a bit later. I'll probably start reaching for this more once the weather starts changing and the color is zapped from my skin.
Clinique Even Better Makeup: still using this, but not every day. I've been going back and forth between this formula and Clinique Superfit, which is a better color match for me during the Summer. Still love the finish and coverage!
Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara: LOVE this mascara! After the horror that is CoverGirl LashBlast (see here), I really appreciate this a lot more. Still making my way through some "sample"/trial-sized tubes, but will definitely be buying a full-sized once those are done. And I'm surprised I'm enjoying a non-waterproof formula as much as I have, even in the warmer weather. It doesn't sweat off and give me raccoon eyes.
Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel: still using it, still loving it! Just bought my second bottle/tube.
Clinique Moisture Surge: haven't had the need for this as much since my skin hasn't experienced any dry patches lately, but I'm still reaching for it on occasion. I know it will be on heavy rotation once the weather changes though.
Lacura Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream: I've been alternating this with another wrinkle cream that I'll talk about below. I haven't even gotten half-way through the jar even after all this time, but I think once it's done I won't be repurchasing it for a few reasons, mainly being that I can't find it anymore. A little sad about it since it was such a great value, but I'm keeping my eyes opened, maybe I'll stumble upon a jar when I'm least expecting it.
Now on to the NEW products...my April-June favorites!
Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Facial Clay Masque: I found this in the back of my bathroom closet while I was searching for my stash of gradual tanners...it's amazing the stuff I find in my bathroom sometimes. I've never been too fond of masques since they seemed to always make my skin worse, not better...obviously I know now that it was just the masque working and pulling out the impurities, but at the time I guess I just didn't feel it was worth it to look like even more of a pizza face. Now that my skin is in relatively "good" shape (*knock on wood*), I was hoping it wouldn't wreak havoc and it didn't - yay! My routine is this: I gently wash my face to remove any oils or dirt, pat dry, slather on the masque, cruise the 'net for 15-20 mins., then jump in the shower and wait until the end to rinse it off. I feel like it tightens my skin and gives me a nice glow. I also think it helps keep oiliness at bay. My makeup usually looks pretty awesome for the next few days after I do the masque. For now I'm only doing it once a week (usually on the weekend since I have more time) but I think I may amp it up to twice a week and see how it goes...hopefully it's not too much for my skin. It's cheap too! $4-$5 at Walmart :)
Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 Age Decelerating Moisturizer: I received a small jar of this during a Clinique promotion and at first I thought it would just get tossed aside and never touched since I didn't need a new moisturizer. So it sat there for a few weeks until I got an email from Clinique touting it's wrinkle fighting abilities. I was intrigued! Up until then I was happily using my Lacura and loving it, but that night I tried the Youth Surge for the first time and I was sold! Now, I realize the formula I have is meant to be used during the day, but honestly, with my oily skin it would be way too heavy to use under makeup. In fact, I have a hard time imagining it used all over my face. I only use it in my problem areas: around my eyes and between my brows, that's it. Once I'm through with the sample jar I'll probably purchase the "night" version of this...but I think it will be a while until that happens since I've barely made a dent after using it for a few months...really, a little goes a long way. It melts into my skin and almost immediately I can see it diminishing my lines. I really can't say enough great things about it, but I do wish it were cheaper :( $48.50 is a tough pill for me to swallow, but like I said, a little goes a long a way and if it works, it's definitely worth it!
ELF Natural Radiance Blusher: I ordered a few things from ELF over the Winter when they were offering free shipping on a relatively small order...usually, their shipping is outrageous, and even if they do offer a free shipping promotion you need to spend $20 on products, annoying. Some people are lucky enough to have an ELF display in their local Target. The closest Targets to me are a least a 40 min. drive, no lie, and none (so far) carry the product line. Anyway, I had always heard mixed reviews on ELF but wanted to decide for myself. The blush colors I ordered were Coy (a muted brownish-mauve) and Innocence ( a baby doll pink). Warning: the pans are small! They actually look more along the size of an eyeshadow, but for $1, not too bad I guess. Coy is a nice color for my skin tone and a little goes a long way with this, I barely have to touch my brush to the product to get a nice sweep of color. Bad news: it crumbles like crazy. I've resorted to dumping the excess blush into a different small container so I don't waste it. A pain in the butt, yes, but again, it's $1! Innocence is such a pretty color in the pan, however, I really have to layer it on to see the color on my cheeks. But it's worth it because the color is beautiful. It gives me that "blush from within" look that I've never been able to achieve with other blushes. This color doesn't crumble nearly as much as Coy does, so I find it easier to use...obviously consistency isn't ELF's strong suit. So while my review mentions a lot of faults, I'm willing to look past them for the color alone and how well they look on my cheeks. Now if only I could find the ELF products in an actual brick and mortar store I'd be a really happy girl!
Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray: I learned about this makeup setting spray in a YouTube video, but I can't for the life of me remember who it was or find the video so I can link it for you, bummer. I was hesitant to order it (from Sephora, my happy place) because of the price, but after I got it home and tested it out, it's worth it's weight in gold I tell you! A must have for the Summer months for sure, when the heat and humidity cause your makeup to melt and virtually disappear in a matter of hours some days. All you do is apply your makeup as you normally would and then once you're done you mist about 2-4 pumps over your face, that's it. It sounds bizarre, I know, but it works. The mist is so fine that it dries in seconds and it doesn't smell odd or feel strange at all, in fact I think it feels kind of nice :) They claim your makeup won't budge for 16 hours, which I guess it's quite possible depending on your skin type, but for my oily skin I'd say it gives me about 5 hours before I see some shine, and by some, I mean pretty minimal...of course, totally dependent on what I'm doing. But overall, I'm very, very rarely touching up my makeup anymore, only occasionally blotting, and I'd say that's pretty awesome for this oily-skinned girl!
And that's a wrap! Hopefully I've introduced you to some new things and peaked your interest a little bit. Let me know if you use any of the mentioned products (and if you love them/hate them), or if you plan to try them out. See you back here in a few months for part 3, my July-September favorites!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Regretful Product Purchases
I miss blogging...sorry for the absence :( However, it's Summer, and even though we really haven't been doing a ton of "fun" things, we have been enjoying being outside and relaxing together. I think we've been out in the yard more this Summer than we have in any of the previous eight that we've lived here. Nothing better than dining al fresco and enjoying an adult beverage in the warm evening air. But onward to the point of my post...
While cleaning and organizing my bathroom last week I came upon a few things that I've been using recently that I'm not really loving, but using anyway as to not be wasteful...things I will not repurchase once the bottle/tube/what-have-you is empty. All of these are drugstore products, nothing that would break the bank, but it's still annoying to spend money on something and not be satisfied regardless of how much or how little it cost. These are just my opinions, of course, so sorry if you use any of these and love them!
#1 L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin I normally use the Clinique 3-Step system when I wash my face at night before bed, but I like to keep something cheaper in the shower that the hubster and I can both use (he uses whatever I put in the shower, he's not picky). I was initially intrigued by the little scrublet that comes w/ each bottle (which, btw, only I used...we didn't share, lol) and chose the sensitive skin version because I figured it would lesson the chance of it breaking me out. It's a creamy cleanser and lathered extremely well, but it really dried me out! I'm pretty oily, so usually a product that is a bit drying still works ok with my skin, but this was just too intense for me. It made my face feel tight. No good. I did however LOVE the scrublet! In fact, I kept it even after I tossed the empty bottle. I think I paid $5 w/ a coupon.
#2 John Frieda Root Awakening Nourishing Moisture Shampoo I have a lot of hair, but it's super fine which makes it pretty limp most times. I normally reach for a volumizing shampoo, but those types of shampoos generally dry out your hair and blow out the follicle which in turns makes your hair appear fuller and more volumized. Over time the volumizing shampoos started drying out my hair and my scalp especially, so I switched to a more moisturizing shampoo which I've found doesn't weigh down my hair like I assumed it would. I saw this shampoo at Target and thought that maybe since it was geared towards healthy roots and contained eucalyptus it would help my scalp while adding more moisture into my hair. Wrong! While I love the smell, it really does nothing for me. In fact, on days when I use this (I like to switch between shampoos and usually have two in my shower at all times) my ends appear so dried out like I'm in dire need of a trim or something. And as far as it nourishing my scalp, I think it makes it feel tighter. I'm still slowly making my way through the tube which seems to be taking forever! The hubster doesn't even like it. It's quite a shame since I've normally heard good things about John Frieda products...maybe I'll try something else of his down the line. I think I paid about $7.
#3 Aussie Cleanse & Mend Shampoo I picked this up at Walmart after I started using the John Frieda and I wanted something that would help my ends not look so dry. This shampoo is supposed to gently, yet effectively cleanse your hair while softening and smoothing your ends. Wrong again! This seemed to dry my scalp out even more and really didn't do much for my ends at all. Plus, I think it made my hair feel greasy at the roots as the day went on. Overall, not good. I was so glad to see this bottle get finished! It was around $5...I guess you get what you pay for.
#4 Garnier Fructis Style Full Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray Ugh, the humidity! My hair turns to a gross, lifeless, sometimes frizzy, sometimes greasy, overall disgusting mess when it's humid. On those days I have to go light on the hairspray otherwise it just adds to the cotton candy effect. I saw this Garnier hairspray mentioned in a magazine ad and the "anti-humidity" sucked me in...it's supposed to provide hold even in 90% humidity. Nope, not even close. First of all, I went for the strongest hold I could find in this line and it provides no hold at all, even if it's not humid in the slightest. It's been delegated to what I call "ponytail hairspray" meaning the spray I use to hold down fly-aways when I toss my hair up to do stuff around the house. I think I paid $4 w/ a coupon at Walmart. Save your money and don't bother. It smells nice though.
#5 CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Waterproof Mascara It pains me to not like this mascara since everyone raves about it! I bought it in the black/brown shade and I think it's a great shade for my eye color and complexion, but the formula and brush are not my favorite combo. The the little rubber bristles are supposed to coat every lash but I think they're way too short and stubby to properly do this. And the mascara just clumps on to the brush. When I pull it out of the tube, you can't even tell there are bristles, that's how much product is on the darn brush. It takes me 5 minutes of wiping the brush along the edge of the tube to get enough product off so it doesn't clump up on my lashes. The formula is also too wet...it may remedy itself as it gets a bit older and naturally dries out from air exposure, but until that happens, I'm struggling. I've also had problems with it flaking as the day goes on and it is a PAIN to remove at night. Even after eye makeup remover AND Pond's cold cream it's still hanging on. I personally like waterproof mascaras for their staying power, but this is just ridiculous. Overall, just too much work. I bought this at CVS during a CG buy 1 get 1 half off sale...normally it's about $8 a tube, I think?
That's about it for the time being. $30 worth of products I dislike :( I'm sure there will more in the future... the hunt for the "best" products never ends! Even when I find something I love I'm still on a quest for something better, does anyone else do that? Why can't I just be satisfied once I find something that works and does what I want it to do? One thing's for sure, it would be easier on my wallet! Anything you've recently purchased that you wanted to love but didn't? Let me know!
While cleaning and organizing my bathroom last week I came upon a few things that I've been using recently that I'm not really loving, but using anyway as to not be wasteful...things I will not repurchase once the bottle/tube/what-have-you is empty. All of these are drugstore products, nothing that would break the bank, but it's still annoying to spend money on something and not be satisfied regardless of how much or how little it cost. These are just my opinions, of course, so sorry if you use any of these and love them!
#1 L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin I normally use the Clinique 3-Step system when I wash my face at night before bed, but I like to keep something cheaper in the shower that the hubster and I can both use (he uses whatever I put in the shower, he's not picky). I was initially intrigued by the little scrublet that comes w/ each bottle (which, btw, only I used...we didn't share, lol) and chose the sensitive skin version because I figured it would lesson the chance of it breaking me out. It's a creamy cleanser and lathered extremely well, but it really dried me out! I'm pretty oily, so usually a product that is a bit drying still works ok with my skin, but this was just too intense for me. It made my face feel tight. No good. I did however LOVE the scrublet! In fact, I kept it even after I tossed the empty bottle. I think I paid $5 w/ a coupon.
#2 John Frieda Root Awakening Nourishing Moisture Shampoo I have a lot of hair, but it's super fine which makes it pretty limp most times. I normally reach for a volumizing shampoo, but those types of shampoos generally dry out your hair and blow out the follicle which in turns makes your hair appear fuller and more volumized. Over time the volumizing shampoos started drying out my hair and my scalp especially, so I switched to a more moisturizing shampoo which I've found doesn't weigh down my hair like I assumed it would. I saw this shampoo at Target and thought that maybe since it was geared towards healthy roots and contained eucalyptus it would help my scalp while adding more moisture into my hair. Wrong! While I love the smell, it really does nothing for me. In fact, on days when I use this (I like to switch between shampoos and usually have two in my shower at all times) my ends appear so dried out like I'm in dire need of a trim or something. And as far as it nourishing my scalp, I think it makes it feel tighter. I'm still slowly making my way through the tube which seems to be taking forever! The hubster doesn't even like it. It's quite a shame since I've normally heard good things about John Frieda products...maybe I'll try something else of his down the line. I think I paid about $7.
#3 Aussie Cleanse & Mend Shampoo I picked this up at Walmart after I started using the John Frieda and I wanted something that would help my ends not look so dry. This shampoo is supposed to gently, yet effectively cleanse your hair while softening and smoothing your ends. Wrong again! This seemed to dry my scalp out even more and really didn't do much for my ends at all. Plus, I think it made my hair feel greasy at the roots as the day went on. Overall, not good. I was so glad to see this bottle get finished! It was around $5...I guess you get what you pay for.
#4 Garnier Fructis Style Full Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray Ugh, the humidity! My hair turns to a gross, lifeless, sometimes frizzy, sometimes greasy, overall disgusting mess when it's humid. On those days I have to go light on the hairspray otherwise it just adds to the cotton candy effect. I saw this Garnier hairspray mentioned in a magazine ad and the "anti-humidity" sucked me in...it's supposed to provide hold even in 90% humidity. Nope, not even close. First of all, I went for the strongest hold I could find in this line and it provides no hold at all, even if it's not humid in the slightest. It's been delegated to what I call "ponytail hairspray" meaning the spray I use to hold down fly-aways when I toss my hair up to do stuff around the house. I think I paid $4 w/ a coupon at Walmart. Save your money and don't bother. It smells nice though.
#5 CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Waterproof Mascara It pains me to not like this mascara since everyone raves about it! I bought it in the black/brown shade and I think it's a great shade for my eye color and complexion, but the formula and brush are not my favorite combo. The the little rubber bristles are supposed to coat every lash but I think they're way too short and stubby to properly do this. And the mascara just clumps on to the brush. When I pull it out of the tube, you can't even tell there are bristles, that's how much product is on the darn brush. It takes me 5 minutes of wiping the brush along the edge of the tube to get enough product off so it doesn't clump up on my lashes. The formula is also too wet...it may remedy itself as it gets a bit older and naturally dries out from air exposure, but until that happens, I'm struggling. I've also had problems with it flaking as the day goes on and it is a PAIN to remove at night. Even after eye makeup remover AND Pond's cold cream it's still hanging on. I personally like waterproof mascaras for their staying power, but this is just ridiculous. Overall, just too much work. I bought this at CVS during a CG buy 1 get 1 half off sale...normally it's about $8 a tube, I think?
That's about it for the time being. $30 worth of products I dislike :( I'm sure there will more in the future... the hunt for the "best" products never ends! Even when I find something I love I'm still on a quest for something better, does anyone else do that? Why can't I just be satisfied once I find something that works and does what I want it to do? One thing's for sure, it would be easier on my wallet! Anything you've recently purchased that you wanted to love but didn't? Let me know!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Land of the Free, The Home of the Brave...
...and there's no place like home.
Happy Independence Day, everyone!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
1 Month Follow-up to "Putting it out there..."
A few days late, but better late than never I say! I did weigh myself on the correct day (June 27th) just to give myself an accurate reading. Sadly, I only lost 2 pounds...1 pound short of my 3 pound goal. Without sounding like I'm making excuses, because I don't want to be that kind of person pushing blame onto other things, it was a busy month full of a lot of eating "out" (ie: be it restaurants or other peoples homes, parties, etc). I need to have better restraint in these types of situations. I am allowing myself one reasonable cheat day a week and I think that's fair, otherwise, I just really need to focus on making healthier choices.
One thing that I've been doing is tracking pretty much everything I've been eating and drinking on Sparkpeople.com. If you're looking to lose a few pounds and need to see things in black and white, sign up! It's free to join and easy to follow. I use it strictly to track my calories and water intake and it helps a ton to see it everyday and know where I succeeded (did I get enough protein?) or failed (did I go over my "fat" goal?).
I am pretty proud of myself, though, for really sticking to my goal of upping my water intake. I've read that you should be drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day, and then for every caffeinated and alcoholic beverage you consume you need to drink an equal amount of water (in addition to your "regular" intake amount). While I haven't always stuck to that rule of drinking additional ounces to counteract the caffeine or alcohol, I have been drinking my required ounces and that's a huge step for me.
I've been exercising, but not nearly as much as I should be. Again, I really need to push myself and get into a routine. It is getting easier though to want to go for a power walk in the evening... daylight until at least 8:30pm and lackluster Summer television help ;)
Overall, I'm ok with only losing 2 pounds, but really wanted to lose more. Baby steps. Hopefully month 2 will bring me better results!
One thing that I've been doing is tracking pretty much everything I've been eating and drinking on Sparkpeople.com. If you're looking to lose a few pounds and need to see things in black and white, sign up! It's free to join and easy to follow. I use it strictly to track my calories and water intake and it helps a ton to see it everyday and know where I succeeded (did I get enough protein?) or failed (did I go over my "fat" goal?).
I am pretty proud of myself, though, for really sticking to my goal of upping my water intake. I've read that you should be drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day, and then for every caffeinated and alcoholic beverage you consume you need to drink an equal amount of water (in addition to your "regular" intake amount). While I haven't always stuck to that rule of drinking additional ounces to counteract the caffeine or alcohol, I have been drinking my required ounces and that's a huge step for me.
I've been exercising, but not nearly as much as I should be. Again, I really need to push myself and get into a routine. It is getting easier though to want to go for a power walk in the evening... daylight until at least 8:30pm and lackluster Summer television help ;)
Overall, I'm ok with only losing 2 pounds, but really wanted to lose more. Baby steps. Hopefully month 2 will bring me better results!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Birthday Recap
I had such a great birthday this year! Totally makes up for last year and then some. In fact, my birthday was kind of celebrated throughout the whole weekend and yesterday, my actual birthday, was just the icing on the cake.
Saturday my in-laws took us out to dinner as a combo birthday/Father's Day celebration. Afterwards we went for ice cream and then back to their house for gifts. They know that, with me, cash is never frowned upon, and at times it's actually preferred ;) They even threw in a yummy smelling Bath & Body Works candle so I'd have something to open other than a card. Way too generous, but I'm very thankful that they care so much to make it a special day for me. Now I just need to decide what I want to spend my money on, hmmmm.....
Sunday the hubster pampered me at home, making me breakfast, lunch and dinner and helping me with things around the house. My dear friend Jen even surprised me with a few gifts...the to-go coffee cup and wine preserver I blogged about a month ago. Both awesome and are already being put to use!
Yesterday we decided to go see Toy Story 3 instead of SATC 2 (re: this blog post)...I'm so glad I changed my mind! Toy Story 3 was so, so awesome and it even made me cry. I've loved this whole series of movies and would even venture to say they're some of my favorite animated movies of all times (after The Little Mermaid, of course). The theatre wasn't crowded at all (we went to a matinee) but we weren't the only adult couple in the there, which made me feel a bit better :) I highly recommend going to see it if you're a fan of all the other Toy Story movies, it's worth the ticket price!
Before we left for the theatre, the hubster surprised me with a cake, card and another gift! The cake was not expected at all and I loved that he went through the trouble. The gift was the perfume I had also mentioned in that blog post from a month ago, Eternity Summer (it even came with a free beach towel, too). After the movie we went to dinner and then just came home to relax and eat a slice of my cake - it was super yummy! He did a great job, couldn't have asked for more and I sported my new watch and perfume the rest of the day.
I also got lots of phone calls, emails, texts and Facebook messages from family and friends wishing me a Happy Birthday and it really made me smile. My 30th, take two, will not be forgotten!
Saturday my in-laws took us out to dinner as a combo birthday/Father's Day celebration. Afterwards we went for ice cream and then back to their house for gifts. They know that, with me, cash is never frowned upon, and at times it's actually preferred ;) They even threw in a yummy smelling Bath & Body Works candle so I'd have something to open other than a card. Way too generous, but I'm very thankful that they care so much to make it a special day for me. Now I just need to decide what I want to spend my money on, hmmmm.....
Sunday the hubster pampered me at home, making me breakfast, lunch and dinner and helping me with things around the house. My dear friend Jen even surprised me with a few gifts...the to-go coffee cup and wine preserver I blogged about a month ago. Both awesome and are already being put to use!
Yesterday we decided to go see Toy Story 3 instead of SATC 2 (re: this blog post)...I'm so glad I changed my mind! Toy Story 3 was so, so awesome and it even made me cry. I've loved this whole series of movies and would even venture to say they're some of my favorite animated movies of all times (after The Little Mermaid, of course). The theatre wasn't crowded at all (we went to a matinee) but we weren't the only adult couple in the there, which made me feel a bit better :) I highly recommend going to see it if you're a fan of all the other Toy Story movies, it's worth the ticket price!
Before we left for the theatre, the hubster surprised me with a cake, card and another gift! The cake was not expected at all and I loved that he went through the trouble. The gift was the perfume I had also mentioned in that blog post from a month ago, Eternity Summer (it even came with a free beach towel, too). After the movie we went to dinner and then just came home to relax and eat a slice of my cake - it was super yummy! He did a great job, couldn't have asked for more and I sported my new watch and perfume the rest of the day.
I also got lots of phone calls, emails, texts and Facebook messages from family and friends wishing me a Happy Birthday and it really made me smile. My 30th, take two, will not be forgotten!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Happy Birthday to...ME!
It's the first day of Summer, the longest day of the year, and MY birthday :) Whoo hoo! Mother Nature came through with an awesome birthday gift this year...it's to be absolutely beautiful today. The hubster took a half day (originally for a different reason, but that "reason" was postponed, but still worked out in my favor) so we have plans to have an early dinner at a new restaurant that just opened near us, and then head to the movies to see SATC 2, finally! I know he would never admit it, but I know he's looking forward to seeing it too, maybe not as much as I am, but still...
Last weekend he let me pick out the watch I wanted because he knows how super duper picky I am and have to try things on and touch and inspect and go back and forth a million times between a few different styles and drive the salespeople (and him) crazy! I ended up going with the Fossil Stella Skinny White Glitz Watch, but the face of mine doesn't look nearly as "mother of pearl-y" as it does on the Fossil website, which is a good thing in my opinion. And because I'm a thifty shopper and the hubster is too, after the sale price and a coupon, we saved $30 off the price of the watch :) And because I know my husband and know he has/had a "birthday budget" set in his mind, it only means I have money leftover towards something else ;) So I'm not completely sure if he has anything else up his sleeve, but fingers crossed!
Last weekend he let me pick out the watch I wanted because he knows how super duper picky I am and have to try things on and touch and inspect and go back and forth a million times between a few different styles and drive the salespeople (and him) crazy! I ended up going with the Fossil Stella Skinny White Glitz Watch, but the face of mine doesn't look nearly as "mother of pearl-y" as it does on the Fossil website, which is a good thing in my opinion. And because I'm a thifty shopper and the hubster is too, after the sale price and a coupon, we saved $30 off the price of the watch :) And because I know my husband and know he has/had a "birthday budget" set in his mind, it only means I have money leftover towards something else ;) So I'm not completely sure if he has anything else up his sleeve, but fingers crossed!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Healthy Snacking
I've been trying to cut down on my snacking and desserts, but when I do snack or am craving something sweet, I try to make it as healthy as possible. One of my favorite healthy snacks/desserts, that I kind of forgot about until a few weeks ago, is a fruit and yogurt parfait with granola. Very rarely do I actually make it pretty and layer it in a fancy glass, but it's still the same ingredients and idea, just in a bowl.
This day I was using vanilla yogurt, strawberries and vanilla almond granola. I use 1 cup of yogurt (the recommended serving size), add about a cup of sliced strawberries, then sprinkle some granola on top. Easy peasy. It's filling, low in fat, a good source of protein, and it's yummy! I also love it with blueberries too :)
Any healthy snacks or desserts you enjoy that you'd care to share? I'm always looking for new ideas.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Redness Relief
I need to take a minute to rave about a new product I've been using for the past two weeks. It's the Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder.
I've seen the product at the Clinique counter a few times before and I wasn't really sure what to think of it...it's a yellow powder, for God's sake!!! None of the reps ever mentioned it to me or talked about it, and I never felt the need to ask about it either. But I saw it mentioned in a Youtube video by Sardun1 and it peaked my interest. I have redness issues, maybe this could work for me?! So I picked it up and tried it out the very next day. I'm sold. I definitely see a difference when I use the powder. It doesn't completely, totally, get rid of the red, but it tones it down a significant amount. No matter how fair my foundation was, I never felt like my face, neck, and chest "matched"...but it does now :) This is my new finishing powder, all the way. It feels wonderful on my skin and it has a nice cooling effect too. You can reapply throughout the day if you need to, and in my experience, if you use a light hand, it won't get cakey or give your skin a yellow cast. It's a little pricey, at least for me, but you use a very small amount that the jar should last a pretty long time. I highly recommend checking it out if you have redness issues!
I've seen the product at the Clinique counter a few times before and I wasn't really sure what to think of it...it's a yellow powder, for God's sake!!! None of the reps ever mentioned it to me or talked about it, and I never felt the need to ask about it either. But I saw it mentioned in a Youtube video by Sardun1 and it peaked my interest. I have redness issues, maybe this could work for me?! So I picked it up and tried it out the very next day. I'm sold. I definitely see a difference when I use the powder. It doesn't completely, totally, get rid of the red, but it tones it down a significant amount. No matter how fair my foundation was, I never felt like my face, neck, and chest "matched"...but it does now :) This is my new finishing powder, all the way. It feels wonderful on my skin and it has a nice cooling effect too. You can reapply throughout the day if you need to, and in my experience, if you use a light hand, it won't get cakey or give your skin a yellow cast. It's a little pricey, at least for me, but you use a very small amount that the jar should last a pretty long time. I highly recommend checking it out if you have redness issues!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Holiday Weekend
We're enjoying our long weekend thus far. A cook-out Saturday with family, and another on Sunday with friends. Monday we're planning on staying home, doing a few household chores, and then spending the remainder of the day relaxing and gearing up for another hectic week.
But lets not forget the reason for my post...to honor the servicemen and women who have died for our country. Let us take a few moments this Memorial Day to reflect upon the meaning of the day and be mindful of the sacrifices of others before we go and enjoy the freedoms they fought so hard for us to have.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Putting it out there...
It's gone from unseasonably cold temps to hot-as-hell temps in the matter of a few days. Yesterday we got above 90 and I was miserable. Too hot too soon! Give me 80 and sunny with a slight breeze and I'm a happy camper. Sweltering heat, high humidity and zero air movement does not make me a happy girl. At any rate, the warmer temps obviously require a change in wardrobe, which I will admit that most of my Spring/Summer wardrobe is still packed away in storage boxes at the top of my closet. I've been putting it off. Going through all the clothes I haven't had on my body in about a year is not going to be fun, it's not going to be pretty, and it's probably going to produce a few tears. Bottom line: I've gained weight.
We keep a small notebook on our scale and everytime we weigh ourselves we jot down the date and our weight. We don't do it on any sort of time frame, just when the mood strikes. We do however try to stick to the same time of day: morning. Today I got on, closed my eyes, said a quick prayer, then opened them to see an ugly number staring back at me. How did this happen? Well, I can tell you how it happened...too many sweets and snacks. I also think another factor was my husband being unemployed for a year. No, I'm not looking for excuses, I'm just keeping it real. We used food for comfort. We didn't "do" much as far as activities just because we didn't have the extra cash to spend...so most times we'd stay home, which led to being bored, which then led to snacking. Yes, we could have done free activities like biking, walking, hiking, etc., but to be honest I think we were both dealing with a bit of depression (my husband more than myself) which really didn't help to motivate us. It made us crave wanting to be home and comfortable. At the time we just did what we wanted to do to keep a balance of sanity. Obviously, in hind sight, getting "out there" probably would have been the better thing to do. It would have pushed those depressing thoughts away and definitely would have helped our waistlines. Now that the hubster is back to work (yesterday marked his one month anniversary! whoo hoo!) and morale is a bit higher...AND we're hoping to actually take a vacation late this Summer...we need to tackle this problem.
So today I weighed myself and wrote it down. Today I'm making a vow to really do it this time. I'm going to eat better and exercise more...or I should say we. WE are going to eat better and exercise more. My handy-dandy weight notebook tells me I was 10 lbs. lighter on May 24th of 2008. That is my goal, to get back to that weight. No, I'm not going to admit to everyone out there in blogland exactly what the number is, I just know that for me it's a good weight for me to be at. Some may be saying, "10 lbs.?! That's not horrible over the span of two years." For me, it is. I'm barely 5 foot tall, even an extra 5 lbs. is too much on my frame...10 is just taking it to a whole new level.
If I can lose 3 lbs. per month I can meet my goal by the time we head to the beach. That's do-able. It's all about watching my calories, upping my water in-take, and being more active. I CAN do this. I WILL do this. Blogland, hold me to it.
I will update in one month :)
We keep a small notebook on our scale and everytime we weigh ourselves we jot down the date and our weight. We don't do it on any sort of time frame, just when the mood strikes. We do however try to stick to the same time of day: morning. Today I got on, closed my eyes, said a quick prayer, then opened them to see an ugly number staring back at me. How did this happen? Well, I can tell you how it happened...too many sweets and snacks. I also think another factor was my husband being unemployed for a year. No, I'm not looking for excuses, I'm just keeping it real. We used food for comfort. We didn't "do" much as far as activities just because we didn't have the extra cash to spend...so most times we'd stay home, which led to being bored, which then led to snacking. Yes, we could have done free activities like biking, walking, hiking, etc., but to be honest I think we were both dealing with a bit of depression (my husband more than myself) which really didn't help to motivate us. It made us crave wanting to be home and comfortable. At the time we just did what we wanted to do to keep a balance of sanity. Obviously, in hind sight, getting "out there" probably would have been the better thing to do. It would have pushed those depressing thoughts away and definitely would have helped our waistlines. Now that the hubster is back to work (yesterday marked his one month anniversary! whoo hoo!) and morale is a bit higher...AND we're hoping to actually take a vacation late this Summer...we need to tackle this problem.
So today I weighed myself and wrote it down. Today I'm making a vow to really do it this time. I'm going to eat better and exercise more...or I should say we. WE are going to eat better and exercise more. My handy-dandy weight notebook tells me I was 10 lbs. lighter on May 24th of 2008. That is my goal, to get back to that weight. No, I'm not going to admit to everyone out there in blogland exactly what the number is, I just know that for me it's a good weight for me to be at. Some may be saying, "10 lbs.?! That's not horrible over the span of two years." For me, it is. I'm barely 5 foot tall, even an extra 5 lbs. is too much on my frame...10 is just taking it to a whole new level.
If I can lose 3 lbs. per month I can meet my goal by the time we head to the beach. That's do-able. It's all about watching my calories, upping my water in-take, and being more active. I CAN do this. I WILL do this. Blogland, hold me to it.
I will update in one month :)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
This is the End
Are you ready? I'm not. While I am excited to see how this whole thing ends, it's going to be bittersweet. Even though it's given me some sleepless nights and headaches from trying to figure out just what the hell was going on, it's been a fun ride and I'm probably going to shed more than a few tears tonight :(
To all my fellow LOST fans out there in blogland, enjoy the finale. Namaste.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Wishin' and Hopin'
Friday began the month-long countdown until my birthday...my 30th, take two ;) Last year my birthday sucked, not super horribly, but I think the reason it sucked as much as it did was that for my real 30th, I had an idea in my head of what the occasion would be like. I wasn't hoping for a big party or lots and lots of gifts, I just wanted something special. A nice dinner with people I cared about and those people actually going out of their way to spend the time with me to mark my 30th year of life. I pictured a nice, long meal full of laughter and smiles, a drink or two (or ten), and our waitress carrying out a cake full of candles and everyone singing Happy Birthday to ME. Ok, and maybe a cool gift or two as well ;) But alas, that wasn't what happened...at all. Sigh. I really have no clue how this year's birthday is going to be better than last, I think the fact that there are no expectations will help. June is already shaping up to be a busy, busy month too...not much time to squeeze in anything spectacular. Here's hoping the hubster thinks of something fun despite the time constraints!
Then there's the gifts. Already I have my MIL asking me what I want this year. She's so great about birthdays, she really tries to make them special. So I've compiled a small wishlist, emphasis on wish ;) The hubster better take hints from this list too.
#1 this year is a white watch. I'm normally not a watch wearer, in fact I don't even own one at all (besides my great-grandmother's antique Bulova, but it doesn't work, so it doesn't qualify). I'm not a jewelry wearer either (I wear my wedding rings, a small anniversary band on my right hand, and studs in my ears, thats it) but for some strange reason I'm drawn to these watches and I've been obsessing over them. My first choice would be the Fossil Stella followed by the Stella White Topring.
#2 is the Copco To Go Cup travel mug I saw at Bed, Bath & Beyond during our last shopping trip. I have a few other travel mugs already but this one is dishwasher and microwave safe...my other mugs are not. Plus it's super cute and it makes me smile.
#3 is the VacuVin Wine Saver. I've (well, we've) been wanting one for a while now. We enjoy a bottle of wine here and there, but we don't always finish the bottle the same day we open it. Our favorite wine shop introduced us to this gadget when we went to stock up before the holidays. They depend on the VacuVin to preserve their wine between sample pours...can't really expect to gain new customers if you let them sample poorly preserved wine! They also have a champagne/sparking wine preserver...ooh, add that to the wishlist too :)
#4 is an item I ask for every year - Calvin Klein's Eternity Summer perfume. This year's version is literally Summer in a bottle for me. They change each year's limited edition Summer scent ever so slightly, and up until this year my favorite version was from 2006, but it's getting harder and harder to find from online retailers. It may still remain my favorite, but 2010 will come pretty close, plus it'll be easier to find if the next few versions don't wow me either. Isn't the bottle pretty? Makes me want to dip my toes in the ocean!
I think that's about it as far as actual gifts are concerned, of course the usual Target and Sephora gift cards are always added to the list too. Sorry for the greedy and selfish sounding post, I just get excited once the birthday countdown starts. But I'm not only looking forward to the day that I become one year older (insert eyeroll here), my birthday signifies the official start of Summer, yay! And I love that MY birthday is the longest day of the year ;)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Shop It Out continued...
Almost two weeks ago I blogged about a little shopping "spree" of sorts at Old Navy during their 30% off sale. I bought a few things in store then ended up placing two, yes two!, online orders. I know clothes fit different people in different ways, but I still wanted to rant and rave about a few key pieces in case someone out there had their eye on any of them...or perhaps you're looking to pick up a few new items for your Spring/Summer wardrobe and could use a little push ;)
First let start with the rants. Considering all I bought, there were only a few, luckily. Sometimes Old Navy really doesn't make sense to me be the way some of their clothes fit. I know I shouldn't complain...they're cheap clothes after all, and let face it, most times you get what you pay for. But sometimes I'm just stumped and am left wondering just who the heck can fit into some of these things comfortably. I ordered 3 of the Lightweight Scoop-neck Tees in a small (my "normal" size at Old Navy) and the top half was so darn tight I got a little claustrophobic just trying them on. The bottom half was loose, bordering on too loose. It was bizarre. I thought after the first tee that maybe, just maybe I got a badly sewn tee, but every single one fit the same. Sad. I thought these would become my go-to basic tee for the Summer. I have a bunch of the Ruched V-neck Tees, and love the way they look and fit. I was hoping these would be similar.
GOOD: BAD:
Next rant is over their bermudas. As I shared previously, I bought a pair of their Perfect Khaki Bermudas in Truffle Brown when I shopped in store. Obviously I tried them on and they fit great. When I went to order another pair - the Oxford Bermudas in Maritime - I went ahead and ordered the same size. Silly me! When they arrived, they were easily two sizes too big. Total bummer because they were really cute in person and I loved the length. I'm hoping to see these in store when I go to return my dud items...I'll laugh if I really do have to go down TWO sizes.
Super cute, but try on in person:
Now for the raves! I ordered two more of the Raw-Hem Jersey Dresses and I LOVE them. Super duper comfortable, perfect for those warm weather days when you want as few layers as possible. I now have one in Bear Hug (brown), Black Jack (black, obviously, lol) and Heather Gray (you guessed it, gray!). These would also work well as bathing suit cover-ups for the beach or pool.
I also got the V-Neck Jersey Dress in Black Jack too...although I think I'm going to order one in Kiwi Kiss (pictured below) and return the black since I have a few other black cotton dresses. But this dress fits like a dream! The v-neck is so flattering and even though it does show some cleavage, the cut makes you feel secure, if that makes sense. I wish they offered this one in more colors.
Last dress...the Cross-Front Cabana Sundress in the Black/White print (yes, I agree, I need a color intervention). This has a definite "baby-doll dress" styling. It flares out starting just below the chest area...almost gives the illusion that it should be a dress for someone expecting. In fact, I'm sure this could work great for someone with a baby bump! At first when I put it on I thought it would give people the wrong impression and elicit a bunch of questions, lol, but the more I wore it, the more I liked it and at this point I think I'm keeping it. The print is fun, it's really comfortable, and it even has hidden pockets along the side seams. It definitely requires a tank of some kind to be worn underneath otherwise you'd be showing more than you'd probably prefer. I tried it on with the ON Jersey-Stretch Tank and it looked great!
The Crochet-Hem V-Neck Tee is sooooo cute! It's very comfy, and the tiny bit of crochet at the bottom is just enough to keep it interesting. I ordered an XS in this and it's still roomy...so it definitely runs big, just a warning. I also got both the petite and the regular length because the reviews said it ran big AND long...I'm torn between the two and will have to try it on with a few different bottoms before I decide. I wish this came in more colors too because I would order more.
Lastly, I got two pairs of the Wide-Leg Walking Capris, one pair in Carbon (a dark charcoal gray) and one pair in New Black. New gym attire! I ordered these in a small and I'm wondering if maybe the medium would have been better? The small fits fine, I just think the medium may give me more room to move (and fit more like they appear in the pic below)...although knowing how things usually work for me, the medium will probably be too big and all this wondering will be for nothing. I plan on keeping the small, but trying on the medium in store if I can find them. I guess if nothing more they may motivate me to lose a few pounds, which is kind of the point of the new gym attire in the first place, right?!
So those were my hits and misses... with more hits than misses for once! I have my eye on a few more items on their website which I hope to check out when I make my returns/exchanges. And even though it's not officially Summer yet, I'd say I'm pretty set with my wardrobe now. In fact, I'm sure I can get rid of a lot of things...too many clothes, not enough closet space. Isn't that always the case?
First let start with the rants. Considering all I bought, there were only a few, luckily. Sometimes Old Navy really doesn't make sense to me be the way some of their clothes fit. I know I shouldn't complain...they're cheap clothes after all, and let face it, most times you get what you pay for. But sometimes I'm just stumped and am left wondering just who the heck can fit into some of these things comfortably. I ordered 3 of the Lightweight Scoop-neck Tees in a small (my "normal" size at Old Navy) and the top half was so darn tight I got a little claustrophobic just trying them on. The bottom half was loose, bordering on too loose. It was bizarre. I thought after the first tee that maybe, just maybe I got a badly sewn tee, but every single one fit the same. Sad. I thought these would become my go-to basic tee for the Summer. I have a bunch of the Ruched V-neck Tees, and love the way they look and fit. I was hoping these would be similar.
GOOD: BAD:
Next rant is over their bermudas. As I shared previously, I bought a pair of their Perfect Khaki Bermudas in Truffle Brown when I shopped in store. Obviously I tried them on and they fit great. When I went to order another pair - the Oxford Bermudas in Maritime - I went ahead and ordered the same size. Silly me! When they arrived, they were easily two sizes too big. Total bummer because they were really cute in person and I loved the length. I'm hoping to see these in store when I go to return my dud items...I'll laugh if I really do have to go down TWO sizes.
Super cute, but try on in person:
Now for the raves! I ordered two more of the Raw-Hem Jersey Dresses and I LOVE them. Super duper comfortable, perfect for those warm weather days when you want as few layers as possible. I now have one in Bear Hug (brown), Black Jack (black, obviously, lol) and Heather Gray (you guessed it, gray!). These would also work well as bathing suit cover-ups for the beach or pool.
I also got the V-Neck Jersey Dress in Black Jack too...although I think I'm going to order one in Kiwi Kiss (pictured below) and return the black since I have a few other black cotton dresses. But this dress fits like a dream! The v-neck is so flattering and even though it does show some cleavage, the cut makes you feel secure, if that makes sense. I wish they offered this one in more colors.
Last dress...the Cross-Front Cabana Sundress in the Black/White print (yes, I agree, I need a color intervention). This has a definite "baby-doll dress" styling. It flares out starting just below the chest area...almost gives the illusion that it should be a dress for someone expecting. In fact, I'm sure this could work great for someone with a baby bump! At first when I put it on I thought it would give people the wrong impression and elicit a bunch of questions, lol, but the more I wore it, the more I liked it and at this point I think I'm keeping it. The print is fun, it's really comfortable, and it even has hidden pockets along the side seams. It definitely requires a tank of some kind to be worn underneath otherwise you'd be showing more than you'd probably prefer. I tried it on with the ON Jersey-Stretch Tank and it looked great!
The Crochet-Hem V-Neck Tee is sooooo cute! It's very comfy, and the tiny bit of crochet at the bottom is just enough to keep it interesting. I ordered an XS in this and it's still roomy...so it definitely runs big, just a warning. I also got both the petite and the regular length because the reviews said it ran big AND long...I'm torn between the two and will have to try it on with a few different bottoms before I decide. I wish this came in more colors too because I would order more.
Lastly, I got two pairs of the Wide-Leg Walking Capris, one pair in Carbon (a dark charcoal gray) and one pair in New Black. New gym attire! I ordered these in a small and I'm wondering if maybe the medium would have been better? The small fits fine, I just think the medium may give me more room to move (and fit more like they appear in the pic below)...although knowing how things usually work for me, the medium will probably be too big and all this wondering will be for nothing. I plan on keeping the small, but trying on the medium in store if I can find them. I guess if nothing more they may motivate me to lose a few pounds, which is kind of the point of the new gym attire in the first place, right?!
So those were my hits and misses... with more hits than misses for once! I have my eye on a few more items on their website which I hope to check out when I make my returns/exchanges. And even though it's not officially Summer yet, I'd say I'm pretty set with my wardrobe now. In fact, I'm sure I can get rid of a lot of things...too many clothes, not enough closet space. Isn't that always the case?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
