December 8, 2011
There are many products that I get suckered into buying and are ultimately dissapointed in. It’s not that I’m a product junkie, I’m just always searching for that miracle product. That thing that actually does what it’s supposed to. How crazy of me, right?  But I kid you not…. this bad boy is legit. I found it at Ulta (where else…) and it took me a while to get used to, so I’ll hopefully save you that learning curve.  First things first. It looks like tar and makes you look like a lunatic. Proceed with caution when people are in the house. That being said- pain is beauty.. Is that the phrase? I don’t know. Anyway.  Here are a few of my rules for applying this little bottle of happiness without wanting to kill yourself (or someone else) when you start to take it off.  Rule #1 - Get a huge fat headband and make DAMN sure your itty bitty hairs are not in your face. I had to slick mine back with water. Probably could have done it after the shower in hindsight. If you don’t do this, you’ll pull your hair out. For reals. It’s so thick that you can’t shimmy them out. You’ll get stuck with black on your face and scissors in your hand contemplating cutting your baby hairs off. Trust me. It wasn’t pretty.  Rule #2- Apply a ton. It was very hard for me peel off in the thin areas. Second time around I applied a lot more and it wasted product, but it worked so much better. Rule #3- Pull like a band-aid. Quick and over with. I’m not going to lie.. It kind of feels cool, kind of hurts like a… well you know. But when I prolonged it and stopped mid pull, it hurt worse. Take a deep breath and just do it.  Rule #4- Use a warm, damp washrag to get the remainder off. Don’t rub, though. Just press it to your face like they do in a facial. You know, since this whole process has been so relaxing, right?  There you go! Try it, I promise you will love it and be happy with the results. I just feel so clean afterwards. Probably because I’m ripping half my face off, but whatever works. 

There are many products that I get suckered into buying and are ultimately dissapointed in. It’s not that I’m a product junkie, I’m just always searching for that miracle product. That thing that actually does what it’s supposed to. How crazy of me, right? 

But I kid you not…. this bad boy is legit. I found it at Ulta (where else…) and it took me a while to get used to, so I’ll hopefully save you that learning curve. 

First things first. It looks like tar and makes you look like a lunatic. Proceed with caution when people are in the house. That being said- pain is beauty.. Is that the phrase? I don’t know. Anyway. 

Here are a few of my rules for applying this little bottle of happiness without wanting to kill yourself (or someone else) when you start to take it off. 

Rule #1 - Get a huge fat headband and make DAMN sure your itty bitty hairs are not in your face. I had to slick mine back with water. Probably could have done it after the shower in hindsight. If you don’t do this, you’ll pull your hair out. For reals. It’s so thick that you can’t shimmy them out. You’ll get stuck with black on your face and scissors in your hand contemplating cutting your baby hairs off. Trust me. It wasn’t pretty. 

Rule #2- Apply a ton. It was very hard for me peel off in the thin areas. Second time around I applied a lot more and it wasted product, but it worked so much better.

Rule #3- Pull like a band-aid. Quick and over with. I’m not going to lie.. It kind of feels cool, kind of hurts like a… well you know. But when I prolonged it and stopped mid pull, it hurt worse. Take a deep breath and just do it. 

Rule #4- Use a warm, damp washrag to get the remainder off. Don’t rub, though. Just press it to your face like they do in a facial. You know, since this whole process has been so relaxing, right? 

There you go! Try it, I promise you will love it and be happy with the results. I just feel so clean afterwards. Probably because I’m ripping half my face off, but whatever works. 

3:14pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvwC_YLDN
(Notes: 5)
  
Filed under: products 
December 8, 2011

I’m not sure if Pinterest has helped my fashion obsession or hurdled it into overdrive but it’s definately taken over my world. You see in the past, I’ve longed to have the unmistakable style. That je ne sais quoi that makes other women envoius. (I mean, isn’t that why we do everything ladies? Forget the guys, it’s the girls we want to impress.)

But frankly, I’m lazy. I like to just copy people around me rather than develop my own style and stick with that. And honestly, our shopping choices are limited so you look the same as everyone else.  Enter Pintrest. I feel like a little girl that just learned that her town wasn’t the only town on earth. There is a whole world out there of fabulous, accessible, practical outfits. And they are mine! All mine! Well, not really but I can save them onto my “Style” board and copy them at home.

So we are back to the beginning. I’m lazy. But at least now my laziness is more efficient. 

2:59pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvwC_VpP4
Filed under: fashion 
December 8, 2011

I should be paid by Ulta. I spend more time in that darn store than I really should. But what can I say? I’m a sucker for makeup. I love reading blogs and magazines and finding out what the next new product is. It’s becoming a curse.  

But when I discovered tinted moisturizers, I thought all my hard core research had paid off. Turns out every single gorgeous woman in a magazine says that’s what she wears. She doesn’t even need foundation because it works so well! Well friends, I’m here to tell you that is crap. Liars. 

I should preface this by saying that I do not have bad skin. Except for the occasional hormonal breakout, I have been blessed with clear (ish) skin. That’s not to say that I don’t wear makeup… I just don’t need a pound to look decent. And quite frankly I am so bad at makeup that I look silly when I wear a ton. So I should be the perfect candidate for tinted moisturizer, right? After all, it’s the low-maintenance solution for the everyday girl. Wrong. Big time

To save you the money, time and frustration of trying product after product, I have summarized my findings below. Your joint checking account will thank me. 

Laura Mercier- The crown jewel. Google it and you’ll see everyone from Lauren Conrad to Kristen Stewart wearing it. (who really wants to look like Kristen, though). Unfortunately, this made my skin look SO OILY and sticky. For $40+ bucks, I was very disappointed.

Aveda- I am a huge Aveda fan. I love their products, smells, plant/flower concept.. everything. Their shampoo is the ONLY shampoo that helps with my dry scalp. A godsend. So I was excited to try this makeup, but was again sadly disappointed. I love the smell and the way it feels on my skin. Truly doesn’t feel like you are wearing makeup, but I started to notice that after a while it looks like you don’t have any make up. And not in a good way. loved it for the first few days. 

Lancome- This Bienfait Multi-Vital Teinte was my lifesaver while on the beach. Just slap it on and you are good to go. Problem began when I got back home. I slapped it on and a couple hours later I looked like a sticky, greasy mess. I guess I never noticed before because I was going for the beachy vibe and didn’t need to look polished. Another $40 bucks down the drain. 

You get the point. I ended up googling “Can you sell semi-makeup online” and searching for a new foundation. 

The verdict? An old bottle of Diorskin foundation I bought almost a year ago. For some reason I stopped using it (think I had gotten a tan) but now I’m pasty and it’s doing the trick. Long lasting, non cakey and looks natural. All that work and I’m back where I started. Figures. 

2:56pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvwC_VKbY
Filed under: beauty 
November 1, 2011

11:43am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvwBNBxKC
Filed under: music 
October 19, 2011

Photos from http://fabricofmylife.co.uk/

Have you ever gotten so into a book that you have to remind yourself you aren’t friends with the characters? Ever been embarrassed to realize just how seriously upset you are? Welcome to my world. 

I finished The Paris Wife last night and after a long battle (I started it in July - it’s now October), I am crushed. My friends are gone! Moved onto other fabulous places and they’ve left me here. Wanting more. How rude.

The story follows the early life of Hemingway and his first wife while they traveled Europe and explored his new-found talent of writing. 

Immediately you are transported into a world of exploration. A land where the wine flows and laughter engulfs a dinner party held in an outdoor restaurant. They travel to old European towns and live with friends for months at a time. Their Paris shack is nothing extravegant but the sheer fact that it’s in Paris and is old makes me swoon. I’m easy to please. 

So now here I am. Daydreaming of old European architecture, warm summer nights and long dinner parties. Soon baby, soon. 

3:57pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvwAtHae1
(Notes: 3)
  
Filed under: books 
October 5, 2011

My new daily outfit obsessions. Slouchy t’s and messy hair. Check. Now if only that will turn me into a model. 

4:01pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvwAtIEEz
(Notes: 1)
  
Filed under: fashion 
October 1, 2011
I adore this photo. Yes, I love Diane Kruger. And yes, I love Chanel and would love to be at this Chanel party. But even if it was just a bunch of nobodys, I would love it. It reminds me to have fun. To stop worrying about every little thing and remember what my dad says- “How you spend your days is how you’ll spend your life. So make those days count.”

I adore this photo. Yes, I love Diane Kruger. And yes, I love Chanel and would love to be at this Chanel party. But even if it was just a bunch of nobodys, I would love it. It reminds me to have fun. To stop worrying about every little thing and remember what my dad says- “How you spend your days is how you’ll spend your life. So make those days count.”

12:00am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvwAtIyIh
September 26, 2011

1/2/3/4

Lately I’ve been inspired by natural beauty. I look that effortless look.. knowing good and well they spent hours looking that way. I’m convinced that the lack of heavy, chemically ridden products is what gives french woman (and these girls) that glow and that i-just-woke-up-but-yet-im-stunning skin. So on my never-ending search to downsize my life from crap (and to save some money), I’ve started looking into home made beauty treatments. I’m slowly trying them myself, so I can’t tell you if they work, but it’s worth a shot. Plus, a $2 facial toner is a heck of a lot better than $100 miracle cream. 

Cheap-O cleanser- (for oily skin)

  • Three part castor oil, one part extra virgin olive oil
  • Mix into a bottle and shake. Pour into palm and massage onto dry skin. Work it into your skin for about a minute. 
  • Next soak a washcloth into hot water and put it over your face until its about room temperature. (Steaming your pores- getting all the dead skin out). 
  • Leave on for about a minute and gently wipe off the oil. 

Voila! 

4:00pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvw9zgVQ5
September 23, 2011

A huge to-do list and pressing deadlines has left me uninspired and blah. Maybe it’s the anticipation of fall, but all I want to do lately is curl up with a cup of tea and good book. Thank goodness for weekends. I need to re-charge, re-energize and re-visit ole Hemingway…. see what he’s been up to lately. Ya know, because I’m such a deep, intellectual person. Riiiggghhhhtt. 

4:42pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvw9r-CI2
September 8, 2011
Life Mantra “Look at you. You’re young. And you’re scared. Why are you so scared? Stop being paralyzed. Stop swallowing your words. Stop caring what other people think. Wear what you want. Say what you want. Listen to the music you want to listen to. Play it loud as hell and dance to it. Go out for a drive at midnight and forget that you have school the next day. Stop waiting for Friday. Live now. Do it now. Take risks. Tell secrets. This life is yours. When are you going to realize that you can do whatever you want?”

Life Mantra

“Look at you. You’re young. And you’re scared. Why are you so scared? Stop being paralyzed. Stop swallowing your words. Stop caring what other people think. Wear what you want. Say what you want. Listen to the music you want to listen to. Play it loud as hell and dance to it. Go out for a drive at midnight and forget that you have school the next day. Stop waiting for Friday. Live now. Do it now. Take risks. Tell secrets. This life is yours. When are you going to realize that you can do whatever you want?”

10:27am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZKJvvw9HZTR3
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