Quickie: New Polish Poll

Everyone knows I regularly wear red nail polish. As a matter of fact, I almost only wear red polish. 

Berry is so in this season that I wanted to  try some new nail colors.

Normally when I try a new color, I'm blah about the new color - I mean, red is red! So, I want your opinion - how do you like Essie "Wicked"?

(Yep, that's Niko on my lap)

All I Want for Christmas

As I look for Christmas gifts for my friends and family, I'm finding some great products that I'm longing for. And, since I know you are DYING to know what I want for Christmas, I thought I'd share them with you.

I'm lusting over my Mom's wireless printer. It is so beautiful.
Meet the HP 8600 Office Jet Pro

This bad boy is the best wireless printer on the market and I want it!

I want a great print shop - and here's the one I want: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5. (Pssst it's on sale today on Amazon - $99)

The FULL Twilight series in one set ($40 on Amazon)

Mortal Instruments (Digital + Ultraviolet $18 on Amazon - releasing Dec 3)

Also Big Bang Seasons 5 & 6 ($11-20 on Amazon)

I want this Tarte Off the Cuff Blush Palette!!! ($36 at Sephora and Ulta) 

But...I think it's sold out :(

The Balm: 
BALM VOYAGE Palette ($42 at Kohls.com)

While I love theBalm, I want Lorac more!

Lorac: (which is Carol spelled backwards - a woman named Carol created it)
The Pro Palette is an amazing set of matte and shimmer eyeshadows

($42 at Ulta or Sephoa)

This eye shadow set is at Kohl's and is so cute! ($36). I might have to buy it if I don't get it as a gift!

While I'm at it, the Lorac Pro to Go palette is also amazing!

Urban Decay - 

There is a ton of Urban Decay stuff I want. Like, the Vice 2 Palette ($59 at Ilta and Sephora)

And let's take one minute to talk about the ultimate Urban Decay shadow set. Out of this world cost but I would die for this. It is EVERY shadow they make! ($595 at Sephora)

But, the one I want the most is Naked 3: ($52 at urban decay.com)

Now, onto lips:

I am dying for the Nars matte lip pencils! ($25 at Sephora)

I'm especially going crazy over "Cruella" (which I own and it's shown below)

Other great colors are "Dragon Girl" and "Damned" that I'm longing for

Now, I'm a huge Sigma Beauty fan!

I would love the cleaning glove in pink ($35 on sigmabeauty.com)

Also, I'm wanting the perfect blending set ($63 on sigmabeauty.com)

Those are the most wanted items! Hope you enjoyed my wish list! 

24 days to Christmas!!!!

Makeover Monday - Adventures in Foundation

I'm on the hunt for a great liquid foundation...and I'm having a rough time finding one.

For a bit of a back story, I have tanned since high school. Yep, full on tanning bed, bronzed tan. And, I look AWESOME with a good tan. AWESOME.

However, in the last couple of years I have gotten Rosacea. The type I have is the really red, blotchy, dry Rosacea. Thankfully, I didn't get the bumpy kind, but it still totally sucks.

For a couple of years, the tanning would fix the Rosacea. While tanning dries out some skin, it actually is quite hydrating on mine - something with natural oils, blah, blah, blah.

Anywho, the tanning is no longer working. I'm pretty sure that it is actually making it worse and some studies say that the Rosacea might even have been caused by sun damage. So, I stopped tanning about a month or so ago.

Wow - that was a really long explanation of why my foundation no longer matches my skin. But, that's it -- I'm lighter, so I need a lighter foundation.

Well, they no longer make the foundation type I was using, so I'm testing out new.

On Friday, I purchased some Urban Decay Naked foundation. TERRIBLE. It didn't blend well, really flaked my dry areas, and was a bit too yellow. So...I returned that on Sunday.

Now, I'm trying Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation. The color is dead on. (YES, of COURSE I had the guy at the Ulta counter match my skin - that is most certainly a skill I do not possess. I would have walked away with a way wrong shade) It didn't blend as well as my old kind did and there was a tiny bit of flaking, but I actually going to try it a few more times. I'm pretty sure that I'm a bit dehydrated, so I'm going to drink a ton of water over the next few days and see what happens.

Ultimately, I'm up for any recommendations. I am combination skin, I like a matte to dewy finish, want something that is long wear and full coverage.

Do you have any foundation recommendations?

This and That and Some Bra Shopping with Grandma

I have a new obsession, and I mean OBSESSION -- Beauty How-To Videos on YouTube.

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. If you haven't watched Lauren Curtis (Lauren Beautyy) or Jacklyn Hill PLEASE go watch them! Do it! They have the best eyebrows ever!

Speaking of eyebrows, I'm getting mine reshaped tomorrow. I've waxed my own for years, but I've really lost my arch. I could really use a professional fix. Then I can start using all my brow filling techniques I learned from Lauren! (I like her brow tutorial better than Jacklyn)

All my beautiful tools fit in my awesome new organizer

This is the Winsome Halifax Cabinet. I loved it so much I bought a second one!!! The second one was $10 cheaper. Both purchased on Amazon. Once I get the second one put together, I will take a pic. 

To jump topics, I'm really mad at myself. For months I have been training myself to be a morning person. I am NOT naturally a morning person so this has been quite an ordeal. Lots of sleepy days and wake up calls from friends (true story). But, I finally did it. I was consistently waking up on time - swimming day ring a bell? One day I actually woke up at 4 am to workout before I had to be to work early at 7am. So...we just had a 3-day weekend. I figured I could sleep in one day (Saturday) and even if it messed me up a little, I'd have 2 days to fix it. WRONG. I completely jacked up my sleep schedule. For the days following, my body kept me up at night and wouldn't wake me up in the morning. I'm pretty bummed, but I'm determined to fix it!

For that reason, I'm going to finish this post in bed from my phone. I love technology. 

Ahh! That's better! Well, sort of. This is my current situation:

Every time I go to type, she pushes my phone with her face. So spoiled. It was apparently rough for her that the long weekend was over and I had to go back to work. 

So, what did you do this weekend? 

The highlight of MY weekend was bra shopping with my Grandma.

Truth.

Long story short, I joked that I would buy her a bra for her birthday, which turned from her saying "you can't pick one out", and me saying "then I'll take you shopping" to her asking "do you think your Mom would come?"...

...and next thing you knew, Mom and I were taking her bra shopping.

Do you think she'd kill me for posting this? 

I snuck one in as proof but I had to be a ninja about it, so it's blurry.

What was the best part about bra shopping with Grandma?

Was it Mom buying her a bra and me buying her blue shape wear for her birthday? Nope

Was it saying Happy Birthday and having the clerk look at us funny? 

How about her wanting all 3 of us in the same dressing room to try in and model together? Or after I said no to same dressing rooms, she still modeled for me? Not likely but hilarious. 

All of those were great and I think Grandma had a blast shopping. We wore her out but she found a great bra.

My most favorite moment of bra shopping was Mom and I pointing out matching sets for her to try on. While another shopper was looking, I turned to my 84 year old Grandma (85 on the 7th), and said, 

"Ohhhh Grandma, these are see-through! You should buy see-through panties!"

The look from the other shopper was priceless. 

And, that's how I roll. Now, it's off to sleep to hopefully wake up early to work out. Wish me luck!!!

But, seriously, the set was cute.

My Entry into the Olympics?

A friend of mine shared that she added swimming to her workout routine. Once a week, she goes to the local aquatic center and swims laps. I've been pretty jealous about this since the Tamarac (the local gym) has a dinky, odd-shaped pool which isn't set up for laps. 

So, I was so excited to see this show up in my Facebook feed:

They re-opened the old high school as a community center!!! Best of all, they have lane swimming from 5:30-7:30 AM - which is when I work out! 

So, I've been totally geeked...but haven't gone. I've been nervous!!!

Today, I put on my big girl panties...er, swimming suit...and drove the 3 blocks to the high school.

I wanted to be early to get a gutter lane (to hang onto) so I arrived at 5:34 AM. Much to my dismay, there were a BUNCH of cars in the lot. Shit! I thought. Are there lots of GOOD swimmers here?!?!?!

Sure enough, I found myself amongst Olympic Swimmers. The pool has 5 lanes, and there were 6 fit dudes in the pool (no lane markers so that more fit).

Well, crap. I actually have to do this. In front of a bunch of dudes that are great swimmers who are really in shape and gosh they are swimming fast! 

I asked the lifeguard the best lane to get in and then I did it -- I got in.

Let's be real: I am not a very good swimmer. I stuck to the breast stroke and rested every lap. 

Ok, wait. I think a lap is down and back. I rested every half a lap. 

Next to these graceful gliders I looked like a walrus having a seizure. Spitting and sputtering, kicking up geysers of water, gasping for air, and barely making it down the lane. 

I "swam" until my muscles gave out. Technically I was in the pool an hour but I'm guessing actual swim time was half or less of that. 

But, shit - I DID it! What are most people doing at 5:34 AM? 

And, I'm doing it again next week! 

Btw: my goggles are the best goggles I've ever worn - and clearly I'm an expert - they are Speedo Resilience

Fingers Crossed

Do you know what the date is today?

August 26.

Do you know why that date has meaning?

Come on, you know...

Think about it...

...but seriously, if you know me, you can easily figure it out.

Does this help?

Um...yeah. LAST YEAR, on August 26, a bat made his nasty way into my house.

If you forgot about that, feel free to read this

As you may imagine, I'm petrified of what may happen today or in the next few days. I'm carrying around tennis rackets and have them posted in every room of my house. I am NOT looking for a three-peat here.

There is a slight possibility that I have bat "proofed" my house. This year I:

• Had the attic fan closed off (the little buggers were HIBERNATING against the attic fan)
• Had the exhaust to my shower fan fixed so there wasn't a gaping hole into the attic
• Had the screen replaced on my exterior vent

Peek at the old vent screen:

For realz, that ish is NASTY! (I made Mom set it down so I could take a pic -- I did NOT touch it). Apparently when he replaced the screen, there was bat poop everywhere!

So, let's all cross our fingers and say a little prayer. Bats are the worst thing EVER and I will lose it if another one gets in my house.

Ewwwwwwwwwwwww

Movie Review -- Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Have you heard about this movie?

If you haven't, you should know it's based on book 1 of the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

My friend, Raquel, and I have a tradition. When our books come out in movies, we take off work and go see a matinee showing of the movie on the day it opens. This one opened on Wednesday, August 21, so we were at the theater for an 11:45 AM showing.

In case you want a brief description, you can view the trailer here

Here's my Top 10 Things you need to know about the Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

10. Read the book FIRST. All bookies know this, but you won't truly understand the characters without reading the book first. READ. It's good for you!

9. While many things were changed, I found myself saying "Oh yeah" and "I forgot about that". I read the book probably in 2008 so the movie helped bring me back into the world of the Mortal Instruments. Yep, I totally got pissed at the things that were changed but I loved the things that were on point - it made me want to re-read the whole series.

8. As what usually happens in a book turned movie, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the book was cut out. Why can't they just make 4-6 hour movies for us bookies? (Intermission people!)

7. Lily Collins was a great Clary.

6. While he wasn't given enough time to develop his character, (and originally I thought he was a poor fit for this role) Jamie Campbell Bower was a fantastic Jace. Jamie - you were tremendous and truly fit as Jace. I apologize for my hasty judgement!

(So sad that Lily and Jamie broke up in real life -- maybe they will get back together for the next movie)

5. Yes, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, and Jemima West: You were great too! Robert totally broke my heart in the movie! (I can't spoil it for you so I won't tell you why)

4. The set director and costume designer totally rocked the house on this one. The scenes were magnificent! The apartment! The institute! The vampire hang out! The club! MAGNIFICENT! The costumes were on point and EXACTLY as described in the book, if not better than I imagined.

3. CAUTION: CHEESE FACTOR! Ok, I'm a total mushy sap and I enjoyed the "garden" scene - BUT, let's be honest, it had a cheese factor of about 8.7. Lily was a great Clary - but not a great tripper, if you know what I mean. However, that's only a short part of the movie so don't let it stop you from watching.

2. The Book is MUCH better. I mean, really? When are movie makers going to figure it out?
Here's what I say to the creators/directors: DON'T CHANGE IMPORTANT PARTS!!! - like changing Hodge's journey, or completely cutting out Rafeal, nobody understands what Simon drank at the party because the movie didn't show what truly happened, and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - please take the time to explain Magnus Bane! While, Godfrey Gao is a dream, the movie in no way let the watchers understand his true essence!

PS. I love you, Godfrey. You are pretty much the best looking man on the planet.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:

1. PLEASE see it!!! I really want them to continue making the books into movies and they can only do that if it grosses enough money!


Directed by: Harald Zwart
Screenplay by: Jessica Postigo Paquette
Based on the novel by: Cassandra Clare:
Executive Producers: Bob Shaye, Michael Lynn, Martin Moszkowicz
Cast: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, Lena Headev, Kevin Durand, Aidan Turner, Jemima West, Godfrey Gao