Jun 25th 2010 06:41:05 pm

I bought new shampoo! Big whoop, you say? Well, it took me nearly a year to save my pennies – or maybe it is more like it took me a year to go a specific NYC-style of crazy that causes you to become comfortable with spending way too much for things – but I purchased the Philip B Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo that I first wrote about last July. I know, I know, even the name is ostentatious, and the price is way worse. (I do want it to be known that I only bought the smaller, less bank-busting size.) Before you judge me too harshly, you have to read the insanely good reviews. Reviewers have literally said, “Whatever your wish for your hair, the shampoo grants the wish.” Definitely sounds too good to be true, but what if they are right?!

So, I used the shampoo for the first time today. What did I think? First, I have to give you my hair backstory: I am terrible at doing hair. I usually use cheap Suave shampoo. I hate using styling product. I blow dry my hair, but I use no other styling tools. I do get my hair highlighted about once every ten weeks, but I am too chicken to take any risks on my cut. Also, I am lazy. Basically, if the Imperial Shampoo really is the miracle that can turn my daily hair routine into one quick shampooing step and give me pretty hair, it will *almost* be worth the price for me…

The verdict: It may be a miracle! The shampoo is thick, like honey, and it smells really amazing. A sweet almond, vanilla deliciousness. The shampoo does contain sulfates, which I know some people avoid, but I like that it does lather a bit. (I can’t quite get on board with non-lathering shampoos.) I left the shampoo in for five minutes, as directed, but I did not follow with conditioner or any other styling product. I let my hair nearly air dry completely, but then blew it dry just a bit to make it extra straight. I did not use a flatiron. My hair turned out shiny and smooth and straight with much more volume and way less fly-aways than usual. Usually the ends of my hair get a bit frizzy and poofy due to all of the highlighting they’ve endured, but so far they are staying perfectly in line after using the Imperial Shampoo. (See my “after” photo below. Ignore my make-up-less face and the cluttered background – just focus on the hair, people!) And maybe the best part, my hair smells awesome. If this shampoo were even close to a normal price, I would recommend it to everyone! I definitely cannot afford to use it every day, but I will look forward to using it for special occasions.

6 Comments » Categories: Favorites, Make-up & Beauty, New York

May 7th 2010 10:35:35 am

I needed an escape from the world of email today, so I spent some time fantasy shopping for summer…

• Kate Spade Alberta 2 sunglasses
• Tory Burch Rattan Clutch
• Chanel Brilliant Lip Shine in Laser
• Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine Spray for pretty summer hair!
• Bobbi Brown Brightening Spot Treatment Corrector SPF 25 for pretty summer skin!
• J.Crew Breezy Dot swimsuit
• Banana Republic Heritage Zebra Top
• Anthropologie Wavelite Hoop Earrings
• Sigerson Morrrison Belle sandals

I could live my entire life in a blue and gold palette…

3 Comments » Categories: Clothes, Fashion, Just for Fun, Make-up & Beauty, Shoes

Feb 11th 2010 11:06:07 pm

I am still working on a big birthday wrap-up post, I promise. I know all of you want to see photos of me opening presents, but for now you will have to settle for my 11th creative thing-a-day. My parents sent me a very cool sketching pencil/pen and I was eager to try it out. Now, I haven’t drawn without a computer for quite a while and I am out of practice, so forgive my quick, simple sketch. The subjects of my still life were two of the fabulous birthday gifts sent to me from Chelsea & Scott. I love them so much and have no idea how Chelsea read my mind and got me the two make-up items I was wishing for. I really liked using the sketching pen. It kept my hand clean and is comfortable to hold… now I just need to do more sketches!

1 Comment » Categories: Art, Birthday, Make-up & Beauty

Jan 7th 2010 02:08:17 pm

I haven’t done one of these magazine collages in over a year (the last one was posted in September 2007). They are just fun little pages where I glue all of the things that catch my eye from a single magazine issue. I don’t usually hang on to old issues of fashion mags, so this is a way to digitally archive the things I liked.

Recently, Cookie magazine shut down and they replaced my subscription with one to Lucky. I don’t mind. (Well, I do mind that Cookie is gone – I liked that mag.) I have fun looking through fashion magazines; I just never felt quite right subscribing to Lucky, the self-proclaimed “magazine about shopping.” But, now it is here, so I might as well enjoy it!

My favorites:

Gap chambray down vest – Man, I love this denim puffy vest! Sadly, I can’t find it on the Gap website… (p. 99)

CupcakesandCashmere.com – A new blog I will check out. It is about shopping… (p. 30)

Philosophy Divine Illumination- This moisturizer claims to disguise imperfections and brighten your skin tone. It is new, and I am always game to try something new! (p. 69)

Lavish crochet and glass bead cuff bracelet – crocheted gold wire with beads – very cool. (p. 84)

Coach Kristin Bag – I really like these new handbags from Coach. I am thinking about a black one… (p. 58)

Neutrogena Ageless Restoratives 5 Minute Facial – A new, gently exfoliating at-home treatment. (p. 75)

Fresh Strawberry Flowers Eau de Parfum – I like the fresh brand and this perfume sounds really pretty… I guess I would need to smell it first to confirm. (p. 75)

Romeo + Juliet – So, this isn’t really a fashion item, but Romeo + Juliet was referenced as an influence for one of the fashion spreads in the magazine and it really took me back. The movie came out when I was a sophomore in high school – back when PG-13 movies were still quite cool in my mind – and I was just blown away by it. I don’t think any other movie could be more cool to a 15-year-old girl! I need to watch it again asap! (p. 39)

Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion – Intriguing. It is a powder that transforms into a lotion that claims to give your hair body and texture. (p. 26)

Cropped, pleated pants- These usually wouldn’t be something I would go for, but they are coming into style for spring and I think I could pull them off. Maybe. (p. 88 & 110)

That is about it… I picked out more beauty products than clothes this time. Maybe January isn’t the best time for fashion – it is too early for spring styles, but winter clothes no longer have any appeal… What has caught your eye this month?

3 Comments » Categories: Clothes, Fashion, Just for Fun, Magazines, Make-up & Beauty

Dec 15th 2009 04:24:01 pm

…but you could use it as one.

I have been wanting to do a “beauty recommendations” post for quite a while. (It was on my list of things to post about in November for NaBloPoMo, but I didn’t quite fit it in.) I am not exactly skilled in the area of beauty and make-up, so I love reading recommendations from real people on what works and what doesn’t. And even though I am no where near a make-up expert, I thought I would write about a few of my favorite products.

A little back story: I would describe myself as low-to-mid-maintenance, definitely not high maintenance. Most days, when I work from home, I don’t wear make-up. When I do wear it, I keep things fairly natural. However, I do love trying new products and probably put too much faith in anti-aging lotions. The things listed here are products which I really love, are easy to use, and that I have purchased MULTIPLE times. They are things I would highly recommend!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple – This is a face wash that also easily removes all of my makeup – including eye makeup – and leaves my face feeling clean, but not too dry. I have tried MANY different types of face cleansers and I keep coming back to this one. Another plus, the large bottles last a very long time!

Creme de la Mer – The price tag on this face cream is a major turnoff, but I still list it as one of my favorite products. I love this lotion in the winter when my face gets really dry (in the summer, it can be a little too rich). You can use it at night or during the day and I have not found another lotion as comfortable and replenishing as this. A note on the price: I was given my last small jar of La Mer as a birthday gift from my sweet parents last February and I still have some left! It lasts quite a while!

Blistex Herbal Answer – I have written about the wonder of the Herbal Answer before, but it is worth repeating. This is my favorite lip balm ever! I have not seen it in stores for a long time and I think you can only purchase it at Drugstore.com, but it is worth it. I keep these all over the house and in all my bags.

Fresh Sugar Roll-on Deodorant – I have been trying to make the move to more natural deodorant, but it has been difficult. I’ve tried Tom’s of Maine and La Vanilla natural deodorants, but they do NOT keep me odor free. I am not an expert on “natural” products, so I am not sure how truly safe fresh’s deodorant is, but I love the scent and it works! I just wish it was a little less expensive.

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick – I really love bobbi brown makeup and this foundation stick is one of my necessities. I use the #2 Sand color. I don’t use it as full foundation, but instead as a subtle concealer. I have been using this product for over seven years and I am only on my second stick! It last a really long time!

Benefit Benetint – I don’t really understand lipstick-it always wears off and leaves a gross ring around my lips-so instead, I use this red stain on my lips. It is pretty, but totally natural looking. This is one of Benefit’s very first products and it has won a ton of awards. You really can’t go wrong with it.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink – This is a great blush for people who are scared of blush like me. It has a very subtle shimmer and the multiple colors allow you to customize the intensity. You can also use it as an eyeshadow. I have also tried the bronzer shimmer brick and it was ok, but the pink is just so effortless and pretty. (oh-so-subtle Rachel gift idea alert – I recently dropped and destroyed my pink shimmer brick and would love another one!)

Yves Saint Laurant Touche Eclat Radiant Touch – I love this product!! It is the best, most fool-proof concealer I have ever used. I use my Bobbi Brown foundation stick as my first step, but I wait until the very end on my makeup routine to use the Luminous Radiance color Touche Eclat around my eyes and nose to reduce darkness and redness. Like magic, it disappears into your skin, but also covers flaws perfectly.

Bobbi Brown Nude Eye Palette – There are probably a million different nude eye palettes in the world that I could use, but I trust Bobbi Brown. Her nude palettes all come with a base color, a crease color, shimmery highlight colors, and a liner color. They always seem to work with my skin tone and are totally understated and natural – which is perfect for me because I am not very good at applying intense eye color.

Fresh Supernova Mascara – Of all the dozens of different brands of mascara I have used, this is the only one that truly goes on smoothly. It is not waterproof, which may be a deal breaker for some, but I love it.

So, what do you think of my recommendations? Do you like any of the same products? Dislike any of them? What other items are your must-have, go-to beauty favorites?

5 Comments » Categories: Favorites, Just for Fun, Make-up & Beauty

Nov 14th 2009 11:58:08 pm

These are two (somewhat ugly) photos from our trip into Manhattan today. We took the subway into Grand Central. It was raining on and off throughout the day, and by night it was quite foggy. The tops of the tall buildings faded into the mist. Spooky. It reminded my of Ghostbusters.

The goal of our trip was to complete some Christmas shopping before the really busy holiday season starts. We had some success buying gifts, but like usual, I was able to find a few things I needed for myself. We had lunch/dinner in a two-story Chipotle, which was a thrill. Then, Travis was a complete sweetheart and browsed with me through all of Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, and even the 5th Avenue Sephora store. I had fun! I picked up a few things that I desperately needed… you know, as desperately as anyone can really NEED makeup. I got two of my favorite and most used items: a bobbi brown nude eye palette and fresh mascara. I also got something new, an Yves Saint Laurant Mini Touche Blush. It is a subtle color, but it is a little sparkly and you apply it through a little sponge. I am excited to try it. I have the YSL Touche Eclat and I really love it.

1 Comment » Categories: Make-up & Beauty, New York, holidays

Nov 4th 2009 10:25:57 pm

so… I was REALLY sick yesterday. I could have sworn I had caught the dreaded H1N1 (I barfed, had a fever, body aches, head ache, the whole deal), but today I am feeling much better and I think I will be completely recovered by tomorrow. I’ll need to consult my almost-doctor brother to find out what it was.

The only good thing about being sick is that I got to lay on the couch and catch up on all my catalog reading. Did you know it is the holiday season again?! It always sneaks up on me… Every catalog is already featuring their gift ideas. There is so much sparkly, eye-catching STUFF out there! Including these lovely things:

• Shhh. Don’t tell Crusher, but I think we are getting him this Cozy Cave Dog Bed for Christmas. Wouldn’t he look cute in it?!
• For some reason these earrings from Anthropologie really caught my eye. They look sophisticated and feminine.
• I think they would go well with these shoes from J.Crew. (You’d probably need to find something to wear in between the two, though… hmmm.)
• Forgive me. I just finished looking at the Sephora catalog, so I have cosmetics on the brain. Like this new Extreme Party Mascara from bobbi brown…
• And, this gift set from fresh…
• And, this other gift set from Philosophy. Peppermint Hot Cocoa, yum!
• Lastly, I hate to say it, but after careful review of their respective catalogs, I am kinda digging Crate and Barrel’s holiday stuff (like these cute cardinal plates) more than Pottery Barn’s. Blasphemy, I know!

What other cool, cute, lovely, holiday stuff is out there that I am missing? Also, have we recovered from the recession? Are people (in general) going to be spending on gifts this year?

2 Comments » Categories: Christmas, Just for Fun, Lovely Things, Make-up & Beauty, holidays

Jul 21st 2009 10:01:18 am

Summer is zooming by. Between getting a little sick (sore throat and cough, not H1N1) and preparing for an upcoming trip to California, there has been no time to blog. Today, however, I have a little bloggy gem for you! I have been completely obsessing over a few things lately that I feel the need to share:

1. Madewell – My new most favorite clothing shop ever! Madewell is a sister company to J.Crew, but I found out about it through a blog that I can’t seem to find at the moment… I signed up for the email updates a while ago, but it took me until last weekend to venture out to the Madewell store in Soho. I am in LOVE!! Such laid-back, cool, perfectly-on-trend-but-not-trying-too-hard style and everything seemed to fit me perfectly. I went a little wild in the store! I bought a pair of “rail straight” jeans made with some sort of fancy Japanese denim. Of course, they were the most expensive pair in the store, but the sales lady gave me an extra 20% off just because! I also got some t-shirts, a pair of shorts, and a very awesome cardigan. If I were a celebrity or fancy-pants rich person, Madewell is the store where I would say “give me one of everything in my size” each season.
2. Coach Spotlight bag – I do not have this bag, but it is the one I keep returning to when dreaming about my ideal fall bag. I want (need?) a super-big, cross-body, black bag for fall. I feel the need to branch away from Coach because I have really already given them way too much business, but this bag just seems to fit all of my criteria… I can’t stop thinking about it! What is wrong with me?!
3. NARS Orgasm Nail Polish – I have been coveting this nail polish for years, and I think I picked the best time to finally break down and buy it. Neon orange polish is totally what the cool kids are all wearing on their toes this summer, but neon is a little more than I can pull off. This NARS nail polish is a summery orange-peach color with a little sparkle that I think is a more subtle substitute. I was a little disappointed with it at first because you have to put on three coats to make it opaque, but I am really digging the color.
4. Philip B. Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo – Ok. This is absolutely ridiculous: $140 shampoo. I do not own it, I have never tried it, and I am trying hard to resist it. BUT, supposedly it is a miracle. I try not to blindly trust the reviews in fashion magazines, but the consensus on this product is that it is worth every penny and that it grants you your every hair wish – shiny, healthy, bouncy, beautiful hair. Oh man, I am a sucker. I want to try it!
5. J. Crew Linen shorts – I bought these linen shorts a few weeks ago and I have worn them almost every day since. They are slouchy and they get a little wrinkled, but they are easy and comfy and just the right length. I didn’t know if I would ever buy shorts again (I am not thrilled with my pale, less-than-toned legs), but these actually look good on me – wow! It seems that they are sold out on the J.Crew website, but these striped shorts are very similar.
6. Sam Edelman sandals – I bought these gold sandals in April because I thought they were cool, and New York-y, and kind of gladiator trend-ish. I had not bought Sam Edelman shoes before, but I would highly recommend them now. The sandals are all leather, comfortable, and I have worn them just about every day walking all around the city this summer. I have worn them on the subway, shopping in Soho, touring museums, and walking for hours at a time exploring NYC. They have held up amazingly! I am truly impressed. They still look shiny and nearly new. (I did almost loose one of the gems when I tripped on a Subway stair, but it easily slipped back into place.) I never expected a pair of sandals to survive this long in this city – and if they can stand up to New York, they can survive anywhere!

Those are the material objects that I am obsessing over this summer, but I should probably add one more thing: Gilad Bodies in Motion. I have been sticking with my commitment to do the TV workouts every weekday for over ten weeks, and I think I am actually starting to see some nice results. I am still a long way from wanting to get my photo taken in a bikini (but really, why would that need to happen?), and I still need to work on my eating habits (isn’t that a perpetual battle?), but I feel stronger and more fit. And – as stated above – I am feeling comfortable in shorts, which is a small miracle! Thank you, Gilad!!

So, what are you digging this summer? Anything awesome that I shouldn’t be missing?

1 Comment » Categories: Clothes, Exercise, Fashion, Feeling Happy, Health, Make-up & Beauty, New York, Shoes

Nov 7th 2008 04:14:47 pm

So…. it turns out that I am totally burnt out on obsessively keeping up with political news. I just can’t refresh The Huffington Post homepage even one more time, or listen to CNN’s coverage of the president’s dog. This morning, all I wanted to do was have fun on the internet. These are the incredibly random things I found and enjoyed…

• Holiday season here already? Check out Anthropologie’s fun ornament display.
• Organic beauty products – I think I am going to try to make a slow transition to beauty and cleansing products that are more natural and less full of toxic chemicals and carcinogens. It is tough because it is really hard to know what is in stuff (even when using the Cosmetic Safety Database), but I think it is worth it to try to be a little more natural for myself and for any future humans that may end up growing inside my body.
• Everyone is already linking to this story, but it is so fascinating that I have to join in: Newsweek’s Secrets of the Campaign series. It is an in-depth look at the presidential campaign. It is long, but the 1/3 of it that I have read so far is extremely interesting. It shows the human side of all of the plotting and planning.
• I can’t get enough of yellow, yellow, yellow.
• I am loving the acrylic rings by Dillon Designs on etsy. In fact, I might just have to purchase one right now…
• I ordered new business cards and postcards for Swap-bot and they finally arrived today. I can’t wait to send them out in my swaps and what-not!
• Travis loves his Kindle. He is reading it constantly and trying to convince me to buy one of my own. I happen to like real books, but I might have to borrow his to check it out.
• The other day over my lunch break I went slightly insane and bought a too-expensive pair of boots over the internet. However, everything worked out because they are just about the greatest shoes ever! They are great over jeans and totally comfortable.

3 Comments » Categories: Accessories, Just for Fun, Lovely Things, Make-up & Beauty, Shoes, Swap-bot, Travis, design, holidays, politics

Jul 29th 2008 06:55:38 pm

I despise sunscreen. I don’t think I can express accurately how much I hate it – especially face lotions with sunscreen. I have tried just about every brand: Neutrogena, Oil of Olay, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, even Creme de la Mer (!), and most recently, Philosophy’s When Hope is Not Enough SPF 20. Every single brand causes my skin to break out terribly. Neutrogena’s “non-pore-clogging” stuff is the worst! I have been forcing myself to wear face sunscreen lately because I have been walking to and from work each day, and because all of the annoying dermatologists quoted in all of those lame and repetitive woman’s magazine and the overly made-up women at make-up counters say that it is an absolute must. Right now my skin is so messed up that my despair over the situation has caused me to turn to conspiracy theories – namely that sunscreen was purposely created to give you acne so that you are forced to buy more face cleaners and special acne lotions. There is also a fairly large number of people who believe that the chemicals in sunscreen actually cause as much cancer as the sun. I am neither a chemist nor a doctor (although I know a second-year med student), so I am not going to jump on that bandwagon just yet…

I am not to the point of swearing off sunscreen for good. (I don’t want to sound like a crazy person.) I just think I am going to lay off the daily face moisturizers with added SPF for a while. They make my face feel disgusting and the acne is really getting obscene. The reality is that I am outside for less than 40 minutes a day. It is actually depressing how little my skin gets to see the sun. Our species evolved under the sun, don’t you think I should be able to handle 40 minutes of it a day? I need the Vitamin D, right? How about I make a deal: I will never sunbathe again, ever, if I don’t have to wear daily sunscreen. Deal? …Ok, I am starting to sound a little crazy… What do you all think? Am I crazy? Do you wear sunscreen every day? Do you know of a brand that does not cause skin to break out? Help me!

11 Comments » Categories: Make-up & Beauty, Thinking