eye spy i buy

How much do I love birch box ?

2012-01-19T05:35:00.000-08:00

It's like Christmas once a month! Birch box is a service where a surprise package of curated cosmetics arrives in your mailbox for 10.00.
It's just so much fun to come home after a long day and find small treats of lipgloss and perfume!
Go treat yourself and sign up , you can even do it just once , no heavy commitments. If I could do one a week I'd be in ! It beats a combo Meal and helps me look a lot better !

Notorious Nails

2011-11-20T10:08:00.000-08:00

You all know how i love the beauty products ! I can honestly say i knew more about Gel nails before at least half of the nail salons on the East Side of Los Angeles and Pasadena for more than a year.Finally they have gotten with the program but the idea of doing it at home is pretty cool. I've been saying for about 2 years now , if the nail polish industry takes this on it will put a big dent in salon visits !
Well friends Nutra Nail Gel Perfect is here ! Its UV light free so that is a huge plus.

Over the summer i figured since i knew so much more and was so critical of the techniques used at various salons around my neighborhood, that i bought an entire set up for myself. I have the full on light, the brushes, several gel kits,etc but it isn't easy and i found dragging the light out and setting up was a drag. I didn't click with it and i didn't really care for my own results.
Also no matter what they say it does weaken and wreck your natural nails, granted nothing like the aching damage of acrylics but its not the innocent product they claim either. No matter ,you have to suffer a bit to be fabulous so deal!

The nail kit relegated to the back of the closet i figured gels at the salon were what i would get when i felt like returning to them, however i read about the Nutra Nail Gel-Color a couple of weeks ago. The online product reviews were mixed, and i had tried there plain gel kit several times to really mixed to disappointing results. The old kit is basically superglue to strengthen, and it does shine but it also chips off in huge chunks. I was not impressed but its been a few years and i figured with new chemical innovations maybe it would be better .

I meant to get it on line but good thing i didn't my local ( and not known for being so well stocked ) CVS has a huge display yesterday, end cap and everything ! Already cleared out of many colors, but they had Flame which is a really great red.

So dear readers I'm typing away 5 minutes after application and i have to say its fabulous ! Don't know if it will last, but it went on super easy, in 2 coats its got great coverage, its shiny and awesome.
You'll have to wait for the update on wear but so far I'd say go out and try it its less trouble than even polishing your nails at home !

manic panic love

2011-07-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

There are Hair Dyes and then there's the gold standard Manic Panic. I always start out with the Splat dye kit because it has the bleach pack included plus a great blue dye but for the up keep Manic Panic Rules.

Nothing says summer like packing on the blue , doing some chores and then washing the dye out right over the lawn. I can say this I've been doing that for about 3 years now and no grass has been killed in the process.

Expensive and Stinky

2011-06-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Fresh may have made a mark with great smelling products ( a la' the brown sugar series of scrubs, creams even lip items) but the Soy Face Cleanser must rank as the worst smelling most expensive cleanser in the universe. Not to mention the rank awful weird look of the product. I went in to get the charcoal series was talked out of what i wanted , ended up with this stinky mess !

Don't waste your money on the Soy Face Cleanser, gentle on the face and eyes it maybe but on the nose ........you couldn't find any harsher !

Is there anything worth buying this Spring?

2011-05-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

I can't say enough good things about the Makeup For Ever HD foundation ! I know they are pushing it with ads that seem pretty fake " the first foundation ad not using any photo touch ups" but I'm sold.

I went to Sephora to get primarily the almost plastic looking orange lip gloss in their ads ( sephora's ad mind you) and once again met with the blank stares from the clerk that had NO idea what i was talking about. I said to her I knew i should have brought it in, its orange, its the only image in the Sephora ad in Allure/Vogue/ In Style, more blankness. In fact the last blank face read like " an Ad " what's that? You would think that a corporate machine as large as Sephora might just post their ads next to the time clock or staple a tear sheet to the paychecks, i mean come on , i expect that at Macy's but at Sephora,,,,,,,i was disgusted , and once again wondered why i didn't make a career out of my love for cosmetics.

But i digress, go get Make Up For Ever anything and everything. Yes, its expensive but there isn't a powder, foundation or lipstick that isn't worth it. I love the liners , eyeshadow too, but you all know you can replicate those items..(i actually put some crazy liners back and swapped Sephora Brands for some that day) but when it comes to foundation, money does seem to make a difference.

I am totally in love with this line, so go to Sephora and play in its section, but don't ask about the orange gloss, not even when i returned with the Ad could anyone say for sure which it was. So if you get anyone's ear, tell them they should have little signs that say , this one , this one right here,,,,yes this is the one in the Ad !

why did that link not work

2011-04-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

I hope this works if not google coolhunting.com/culture/papergirl.php
or papergirl berlin, because that is actually where the idea began !

Papergirl Inspires Me to do Good

2011-04-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

So in looking for something on line i came across this website and am thrilled to say i got me thinking of something that i could do that didn't just mimic Papergirl but had a charity angle to it as well.

Papergirl operates in a growing number of cities and gives away artwork.

Around Valentine's day i was in a Goodwill looking for ( yes still looking for the ABC murder books, see previous posts ) and i ended up in the T shirt aisle thinking look at all these hundreds of t shirts, so many logo's , so many " work related" give aways. In Los Angeles it seems like the number of t shirts made for any given movie must be exponential to the profit margin. Long story short it just stayed with me, so many people need free shirts but they can't actually get in the stores to get them.
That was when the Papergirl idea and the Brand You project came together !
I'm pledging to buy at least 100 t shirts in May, wash them, Tag them ( Nick o's coming up with the logo for our project)

We are going to make the act of giving the art ! ( and we want the emphasis to be on the person not the Logo's )

Our manifesto is " Not the Logo, You !)

so stay tuned for more Visuals as i get ready for my first May delivery !

The Hunt for letter C proves to difficult.....

2011-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking that this hunt for Letter C in the Susan Grafton series, see previous post, is to hard.........Would the blog followers be mad if i said i would start collecting them out of order?
please advise, i wouldn't want the blog followers to think i cheated !

Does the world need another mineral makeup ?

2011-01-30T12:24:00.001-08:00

The answer yes!
Go buy Almay's wake-up mineral makeup right now !
First off , remember when you were a kid and some novelty toys were more about texture than actual fun. Like silly putty,and that weird jelly that was all about the squeakiness.....well this makeup is like that.

Its a powder, looks like a powder, goes on the brush like a powder, touches your face and damn if it isn't liquid !
It is the coolest thing !

They have a brush tucked neatly into the top that is not only cool looking, it is fully functional ! This is a highly and well engineered product launch !
Using the Almay brush makes the product go on with a bit more precision, its neater,and you waste less.

Seriously i didn't know anything about the product when i popped into beloved CVS yesterday morning but I know everything i need to know now !
Go get some , for under 10.00 you get a very nice look,and have fun doing it !
If that isn't what make up is about then what is !

Hunt for the letter C

2011-01-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

You know how it is , the minute you say I've noticed this ,,,damn if that won't break the pattern.

It seemed like a fairly cute and fast idea based on how many Sue Grafton books I'd seen in the " thrifts", until i posted it that is and then apparently everyone ran out and scooped them up. Three thrift stores into it , Arlene, friend and doyenne of thrift stores, finally spotted a small ( i think they call them trade paperbacks)version of letter B ! I didn't make it a rule to rule out those cheesy rack paperback versions,only because i didn't even think she was published in that format, i really hate that size, but since i was in no position to choose to just get letter b , I'm allowing it in the rules !

We did a lovely job of tidying and organizing several shelves over there at the Glendale Goodwill and although letters much further down were there, no C, was present, so the hunt continues.

Well dear readers, you can expect this one to go on for a while, Ms Grafton is on letter U and at this speed she will be well through any numerical series before i complete this challenge ! If it continues this slow, i may have to go upstairs and route through the stacks of books i have at home and possibly allow any i have into said challenge !

Will keep you updated, I am pleased to say that i did beat my previous 81 books read in 2009 ( audio and in print )so the 2011 number to beat is now 83 ! What am i doing on the laptop , i better get in the car and start that audio !

Here is to an amazing 2011 for all of us, and letter C , I'm looking for you baby !

Book Hunt 2010-2011

2010-11-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

It's impossible to ever go into a thrift store and not see at least 2 or 3 Sue Grafton books. I started thinking she must be one of the most beloved authors in the country ( and prolific !), so i made an invisible challenge in Sept that i am going to try and buy the entire series but with certain conditions.

Condition # 1: I can only buy them in thrift stores .

Condition #2: I have to buy them only in alphabetical order.

Condition #3: If i have any at home or have read any , that won't count. Still need to search for them and then read them in alphabetical order. Gifts of any of these would also NOT count.

Condition #4: Must log where they were bought.

So dear readers, its now November 27th and it has taken that long to find the first.
Written in 1982 "A is for Alibi" begins the treasure hunt for all of Ms Grafton's books in this series. Letter T book is due to drop on November 30th , but of course by the time i get to T it will be in all the thrift stores I'm sure !

Stay tuned for the treasure hunt as we head into 2011 !

A is for Alibi: 11/27/10 Discovery Thrift Shop Burbank

Divinity in a Donut

2010-09-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

To say I wish i had thought of the Maple Bacon Donut idea is putting it mildly !
Having been a lover of all things Maple since being a kid i did start to get discouraged when my co workers actually had to tell me that my yearly " gift" of maple sugar candies were not only not liked they dreaded me bringing them back to them every summer. Sold only in a small amount of north east gift shops, they are in fact sugar drenched in maple flavor and then pressed like bricks into tooth breaking
replica's of mini maple leaves. Apparently another one of those things maybe you had to be raised on.

I am pretty sure i am the only household in Los Feliz that has not one but two bottles of Mapeline in my pantry. If there was every a retro product its Mapeline, as dark as the black hole and I'm pretty sure its deep maple essence has absolutely nothing to do with the real thing. I wouldn't be surprised to find out its totally a byproduct of an oil spill, its that black in its tiny bottle, but nothing will kick up that packet oatmeal like a single drop !

But back to heaven on earth ! Last week Nick and i went for the newly famous Maple Bacon donut at the Nickel Diner and we were beyond ecstatic. Its just like the best thing in the world and worth every calorie !
I would even venture to say, and idea that could be replicated at home with a 6 pack from Dunkin donuts and a pack of that pre cooked Oscar Myer its that good of an idea to steal ! I mean don't get me wrong the Nickel one is HUGE, the donut itself is already above any donut standard set , and there was no whiff of fake Mapeline in their product, however they open at 8:00 and i was up at 6:00 today, so a girl has to make due. The only thing is donut shops /LA /Maple, its totally not the same. Dunkin ( when they have them in stock , and by the way corporate guys at Dunkin, when the hell did not having maple donuts in your bins 24/7 start? Move those lousy white bagels out and get back to your namesake ! ) If i lived next to a Dunkin, I can tell you i would wear them out about that, they are just so lucky I'm a visitor because that's just wrong !) but i digress...

So not only did we try the Maple Bacon donuts, the Nickle diner has amazing other flavors as well. Nick said the Nutella which did look like a small fist, was even better the next day. That should tell you we didn't just " try" them, we basically stole the stock they would let us have that morning ! Ricky's grandmother used to serve him leftover stale donuts squished flat in a pan grilled in butter. I'm telling you don't turn your nose up until you have tried that ! It can turn a supermarket plain carton into something dinner party worthy !

Its so fantastic to see such creativity on an item we would consider so mundane, so thank you to all the creative chefs out there ( and all the frugal grandmothers !)
So lets take our inspiration from unlikely places and go get crackin in the kitchen !

i Love all things High Def !

2010-09-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

There maybe something to this movement of calling things High Def.
When i was given a sample of Cargo's High Def blush a year ago, i was like really even blush is high def now, and its one of the only times i used the sample in the morning and bought the product by the end of the day. It really is that unique.

The entire product line is finely milled or highly pigmented specifically for photoshoots. What took me over a year to get the powder is the big question.
Last Saturday i was in Miami( and if there was ever a reason for powder that climate is it !) and i strolled into the local South Beach Ulta. There a lovely young lady told me that if i bought the High Def powder i got the really nifty very specialized powder brush for like 2.00 more. Didn't have to twist my arm, and this brush is really amazing ! Its not a kabuki brush its more flat sleek and dense but im telling you im not sure if its the brush the powder or both, but if your looking for flawless
you have to pick this up !

In fact i have tried the brush with just NY and company ( CVS end aisle) mineral powder and really it did work as well. However i do think the finer high def powders are worth the money !

In fact Makeup Forever makes an almost white high def powder , which was at the register at Sephora in a bin, looked like a 2.00 pot of gloss----NOT. It was over 30.00, but i was in Vegas i think so i just figured well its got to be really good and it is ! The crazy thing is , i've put it in this holy grail of its to good to use which is mental! This is almost white , as finely milled as anything you've ever seen, but it sets and mattifies like nothing i have ever used !

If you ever see it get it, especially for anytime you might encounter any paparatzzi ! You can ever be to High Def !

Girlfriends do give the best suggestions !

2010-09-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for surf spray for my unnaturally straight hair for about 3 weeks now and i don't know why i haven't hit the Internet but i just haven't. Last summer seemed like every major brand had a seasonal version, including in my opinion the best one by my favorite brand Mark , by Avon. This year product can't be found, i swear Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray was on the end of a little visited aisle at CVS for a year until i went looking for it ! And I'm sure at half the price of whatever it is at a salon.

Anyway , last week i run into Extraordinary PR ladies from Starfish, and i commented how great their hair looked and good true friends they are they told me the secret product !

Go get Garnier Surf Hair right now, it's fantastic ! It's in an acid green tub and with the gels, not necessarily in the larger Garnier section of conditioner items. When i hit the Hollywood Rite Aid ( and it seemed like it was the most dangerous place in the world at 6:30 on Thursday night, but that's another story) it was even on sale for 2.99 ! Regularly 4.99, i hadn't even tried it and i bought 3 !

It's the greatest product, adds just enough texture and it smells wonderful !

I am glad I complimented my girls, and so glad they shared the secret !
See it always pays to be nice ! Thanks again to Alison and Angela !

I love this movie !

2010-08-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

I know I'm usually the one pushing one book or another but I am in love with this movie. I'm not sure how i found out about it but I'm seriously thinking of telling Netflix it got lost in the mail.

It's a french film called The Crimson Rivers. Apparently it was a huge french book which this is a " version" of. The liner notes say its an atmospheric thriller . That is putting it mildly. The Scenery,and the school that its shot in are really almost as interesting as the story. I've watched it twice, and i have to say, i saw some Netflicks comments that said don't watch it dubbed in English, and boy were they right. If you watch it in English it sounds like a bad cop flick, and its just to weird, but in French its sublime.

I watched the " extras " and i have never ever seen such bitchiness from an Actor before on any extra material. I'm kind of surprised they even included it ! What a cry baby, the movie is fantastic, but i guess actors are actors,,,,,but it was really kind of funny to see what they thought about the production. If you think the movie is a bit confusing apparently the book is about twice as complex. I doubt in America you would ever find such honest comments about the work. The director starts out by saying the second day it snowed wrecking any continuity of the shoot and how they were writing the script somewhat around the weather. You have to love that, even thought I'm sure that does happen here in the US, no one would ever say that. I just though it was really funny to see the director, the producer and the B character kind of go at it in the clips . They could have been an ethnic family For god sake, and of the actor i would say pretty accepting of his comments! More like " yeah our whiny kid brother ! "

Then there is Jean Reno, who I am totally in love with. I can't really remember the names of the other things I've seen him in, but i love those deep tortured detectives ! I may say this way to much, but it would be great if he could be my neighbor. Wouldn't that be great to have a fabulous french actor next door, go out there and get your paper , say " hey good morning Jean, come have coffee, tell me what it was like filming in the Alps ". OK most likely not going to happen, but just in case I'm going to brush up on all his work.

So do put this on your list of movies to rent , I'm for sure buying a copy. When the mood strikes for a dark , architectural mystery in an absolute frigid climate, this is the one I'm going for !

Just what you need when you want a little bit of winter in August !

Regional Food Nostalga

2010-08-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Call me crazy,( but i know at least one other person in the Northeast who feels this way..).......there is nothing like Poland Spring Water !
When i get to an airport that has that familiar green label i know I'm on my way to the homeland.

That made me start to wonder is it a regional thing? Do you tend to get nostalgic and love the things you can not have? At least once on a trip home I will try to get to a Stop and Shop and just walk the Portuguese Food aisle with the reverence i usually reserve for the cosmetic dept at Barney's.

A few weeks ago i went to a Gallery show where the photographers' comments said his inspiration was "GOYA ". My first thought was the Portuguese Food brand? Turns out it stands for Get Off Your Ass ( and do something) in the art world.

That's very different from the packets of " seasoning" that my mother put in everything from scrambled eggs to pork dishes. It wasn't until i was in my 40's and begging for someone to ship them to me that i started to think, what's really in there ?
They are small packets filled with obviously paprika and turmeric, because no matter what you make its all the same shade of " Portuguese orange ". I think really its nothing but colored MSG, but damn if it does not add magic to whatever you put it in ! In my middle years i kind of scorned it but in recent years as I've gotten less snobby and actually started to miss the ethnic foods they tried to push on me as a kid, I've hauled out the old GOYA and been very happy to have them.
The strange thing is GOYA is actually pretty strong in all Ethnic markets, but i think there must be some very selective demographic research going on there because although they may own an aisle in the markets around town they don't waste any shelf space with the one or two Portuguese people in the area !

So today's Eye Spy I Buy moral is don't skip those unknown food aisles in your market, the several dollars you spend could be just the excitement your menu needs
and you can get a basket of stuff for the price of a few " real saffron" buds.
Course you may be begging for water because of all the salt, but what the hell, if it was good enough for my momma, then its good enough for me !

The Shadow of the Wind, how a book can make a mark on you

2010-07-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

I've had lots of books come into my life but none quite as specific as this one.

Two summers ago we went to Chebeague Island, Maine to celebrate the islanders revolt at Nabisco for not making the historic large Chowder Bisquits anymore. We read about it in the New York Times, and thought if there was ever a reason to stage a vacation revolt this was the one. We ditched the Caribbean, and went to Maine instead ! We weren't successful in getting huge bakery Nabisco to continue making something many New Englanders grew up on, but we did get to enjoy the menu at Chebeague Island Inn made exclusively with these " Milk Crackers". Yep, the chef devoted the entire summer menu as an ode to these large crackers, from the stuffing in the lobster, to the berry tarts ! Needless to say the trip would have been a success had the food been the only thing that was amazing, but little did i know what else would be coming into my life !

You get to Chebeague Island by boat,its vintage Maine at its best. Limited cars, no TV, it was fantastic. Its so small you can walk it in about an hour, and that is where on one of my walks i found the public library . Naturally i had to go in, and after walking around, i found the Library Sale shelf . I mean this shelf was in the last aisle way down practically on the floor. Now we have all been to library sales or yard sales, you always have the assortment of books that are basically orphans. They are only going home as a sympathy purchase . I have a rule i buy any dictionary i see, it just seems tragic to me to let them languish.

BUT

there on that bottom shelf i find this tattered copy of a book called " The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. The Cover of the book itself looks vintage, but even more spooky i can't find this exact cover in any of the searches ive tried to attach here today! Set in Barcelona in 1945 its about a mysterious book by an even more mysterious author. The opening chapter is called The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, and basically it opens with everyone gets to pick one book that they will champion and protect from destruction! This could define Literary Gothic !

The way this book came to me, its just surreal ! From the minute i started it i felt like it was Real, as if ,this was my book to protect!

Needless to say i spent the next few days with my nose in it, which at a real old fashioned Maine lodge, no phones, knotty pine everywhere,great fireplaces, and porches, is the best place to dive into a really good book .

I came back raving about this book to everyone,,,,,,,,however, its the only book i own that i will not lend out. I just feel it came to me in such a special spooky way that it would be folly to lend.

However, i found an equally used copy at a thrift shop in the Valley and it was my great pleasure to buy it and pass it right into the hands of Arlene who was with me.

If you are looking to be intrigued, engaged , to lose yourself completely to a book, get this one now.

There is even a followup called The Angel's Game, its sitting here on my table and I've had it since it came out , but its so new, so crisp, hardcover, its almost like it lacks soul. Maybe i can find a used copy, that will draw me into the deep recess of moody Barcelona again. It is just about the same time of year and I am headed to that beach shack in RI soon,,,,,,

So don't turn away at book sales, we may all have that single volume to protect in the cemetery of books one day,,,,,,,you never know when that one perfect book will find you !

Oh my ,You look so Young !

2010-07-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

I never thought i would invest in an expensive eyebrow session. Not because i wouldn't lay out the money, just because i never seemed to catch the brow lady in at Nordstroms in Glendale. Now you know there are multiple ads about " brow ladies " of Beverly hills, but those who know me, going west of western to get my brows done is just not an option ! I'm making myself laugh, i wouldn't go west of western unless it was A : not available anywhere else in the City ( and by that i mean east of western , like even Boston is still OK !), or B : no not even free, go back to A.

However kismet prevailed and the Anastasia brow lady was there in Nordstroms/Glendale on Saturday !
No matter where you are in the city, call Lauren DiCicco (818)502 992 ext 1912 at the Glendale location and make an apt NOW! I can not believe it, not only did i think NBF material the minute she let that back east accent roll, but she had me at we do not do trendy brows ! Finally someone to tell me what's best in brows !

Lauren D did her magic in a chair in an aisle , not what i would have designed for my Saturday brow 'soiree", but after what she did, i would let her tend my brows in a center divider at high noon ! Did i mention she even made my glasses look better, and that is not easy. I've been thinking my entire head was crooked when i got these nerdy thick frame design glasses, even lovely Catherine p from Wisconsin said, "Its" not the glasses its your eyebrows " ! Damn if she wasn't right !

I can't believe the difference, i look so well rested ! So treat yourself and find someone who knows brows, you'll look thinner too !

Really you can get that from a Gorilla ?

2010-07-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Once again more great product to report from my favorite place to drop by.
This time the CVS on San Fernando road, which is a pretty good location for "interesting" product. With its great parking and central location its my go to CVS for inspiration !

I didn't actually buy the Gorilla Products, but you know i will !
Just a matter of using up the other crazy stuff in that drawer right now.

My bathroom as a crime scene

2010-07-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

I woke up last week feeling a scratch on my nose. I'd like to blame it on a 3 carat diamond but i think it was just me fighting off dream ninjas or something. It did hurt like hell, which really is a lousy way to see 5 am, so i got up, little dog of course right on my heals,waiting for his vittles, and there is more blood pouring out of a nanosize cut on the tip of my nose than i could ever have thought possible. Ill tell you if that much blood can come from a scratch, i can't imagine a real crime scene. I'm squishing my nose to stop the bleeding,Andy is just running around begging for his breakfast, it was hysterical! Try making tea, cutting Andy's steak, and bleeding droplets of blood through the tissue bits Ive consecutively plastered to the scratch. It would not stop ! I finally went on line to see how to stop bleeding because pressure was doing absolutely nothing.

Here's my take on the free Internet advice, SuperGlue? maybe but i was not about to try that on my nose at 5:30 AM, Nu-skin which i think is really like watered down superglue ( burned like hell, and blood oozed right thru.

The winner ? Baking Powder ! I don't know why it worked, but it did. Oh it hurt like hell, and I looked like an extra in a drug movie but it worked immediately !

So I can't vouch for any other places for cuts, and i very much doubt it would be of any help to you if you were trying to hide a crime but if you scratch your nose--- head to the kitchen and pray no one baked !

Does this make you Hot or what?

2010-07-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

Now I know I have done my share of pitching products from CVS but i maintain on a bad day where else will 5.00 lift your spirits quite so high!

I've also said to hit those less " traveled" aisles, but just in case you thought I had stopped buying stuff that i totally can not read the labels on ,,,,,,,,,,,,,

yes here is something that could not be left on the shelf !

Cabellina, Chile Con Remero Conditioner ! I didn't get the shampoo because well that seemed just to over the top !
Look at the size of that bottle and i swear it was for sure under 5.00 !

Was it a little scary the first time i used it ,of course ! Does it work? As well as any other value item you would buy in a huge bottle with a pump........

And is it spicy ? Yes and the craziest part is your hair smells like mild green salsa until its totally dry ( and maybe several hours later, you kind of get used to it, so I'm not sure i can judge accurately!

Would i buy it again ? Probably not, has it given me great fun? You BET !

I had already gotten my yucks with the girl at the register! Never mind when I got it home !

So remember never let language stop you from shopping ( but try not to confuse the conditioner from the salad dressing either !)

Chicago for a Fill ?

2010-07-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

So for 3 weeks I've been De-lighted with my super lovely red gel nails that were expertly applied for under 60.00 in less than 60 minutes in only an above average Chicago nail salon. However even the best things need a touch up so about 2 weeks ago i started searching for Gel nails / Los Angeles. I found what appeared to be a fantastic choice in Little Tokyo, which anyone following nails knows, Japan even has monthly magazines about nail tech and design, if there ever was going to be a place to try , this was it.

So do i go , No ! I go to a place , that had Gel in its ad, and was voted best nail salon in Pasadena. Opi Salon, all indicators are good right? I even go there to make the appt. the very nice young woman examines my nails , we set up the appt for the next day.

When did i realize things were about to go Horribly Horribly bad ? Right about when 5 nail tech ladies swarmed me and said the gel is red ! You might have thought i just brought leprosy into the salon. So i look at them and go yes, i got these 3 weeks ago in Chicago , like i said yesterday ! What the hell are you looking at my like that for? Do you not get any trade magazines? For god sake look at my blog posts from last summer . I ask you readers how can we consistently know more than the ladies behind the cosmetic counters, and obviously much more than anyone in the nail business. What i want to know is how can they be an OPI salon and have missed the entire OPI gel axxis innovation.

Needless to say , now I'm in the chair, they only have pink gel and she is pulling out a DRILL ! Two hours later, I pulled my hands from the UV light machine ( which i hear is like getting 4 times the UV sunburn rays ,so your nails will look great but your hands will be of a hag !)

I went from having the most lovely red nails that withstood the rigors of a major trade show to pinky lee nails. I drew the line at the hard white edge, I'm down with a lot of things but Stripper nails , not even i can say yes to .

Tune in two weeks from now, when the big question will be How do i get my Glam back?

Moral of the Story: be careful when you make commitment beauty decisions on the road !!!!!!!!!!!

Where do you get the best eyeliners ever? Surprise!

2010-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Of course its at CVS . I know you can get them other places but we all know CVS rules across the nation.

So back to the best eyeliner pencils ever, styli-style available either as an end cap or a smaller display close to end may not have the most extensive of offerings but what they do make are really fantastic. They have waterproof items, glimmer ones, and the best sharpener ever ! I know how can someone go on about an eyeliner sharpener, well ( and this really is the truth) I passed on seeing Sarah Silverman Live Thursday night , i wouldn't say i stayed home to sharpen my eye pencils, but given the time alone that was in fact what i did ( and all the lip pencils as well !). It felt great too ! I bought a vintage shot glass and they are all in there perfectly sharpened just waiting to prove how good they are. The silly part is they are basically all the same shade of green - teal on the eye side, and all hot red on the lip side. Let's just say I've done my part to help the American Cosmetic Industry !

What makes the sharpener fantastic is it has a fat and a thin sharpener side, and it contains all the mess. It has some kick ass blade in there too because the pencils come out cleaner than anything else i own.

So another reminder to shop for the best and not to be snotty and think the best need a trip and the aggravation of going to the mall ! Hit your CVS and enjoy the extra time at the end caps !

Gel nails, its kind of far to return to Chicago for the fill !

2010-06-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Now you would think i would have been done with that whole gel nail concept, but i was in Chicago and i overheard a friend talking about this mysterious gel nail coating that makes your manicure last for 3 weeks. So Miss Eye Spy started right in on the grilling , was it OPI , were the colors limited, did it lasts? She must be very distracted when she gets her nails done because she caved under my grilling, about all i got out of her was it was not OPI. I do apologize for my detective like questioning dear, but i am here to provide a service to my readers !

I didn't really give it another thought until the Bentley Prince Street girls hit the closest salon to our hotel many days later, and low and behold on the menu, the mysterious " Gel Coatings". Also about half the price of my previous foray into the OPI gel nail route and an extensive offering of colors. After being assured that " no damage will be done in the processing of your natural nails" i jumped in !
Its been a full week now and they look prettier than ever.

Now a new worry, there were no trademarks for what product i was getting. The wonderfully talented , very hip nail person was not really very forthcoming with what i was getting. I got the feeling it was very very " aftermarket" but they looked so good she could have been applying fiberglass i really did not care in the least. However, now what? It did say you can soak these babies off in 15 minutes ( which you have to do if you ever want to really change the entire color in gel)but i love them !

This is a wonderful invention and we need to get it out beyond the realm of the " branded " salons ! That's my biggest beef with LA, you would think we would get all the best products first, but every time i go East I'm shocked at how much more of everything they have. I'm serious ! Go stand in a Stop and Shop in the Northeast vs an Albertson's in the West and you will know what i'm talking about. Every time i go home I'm like damn they have more choices in Mustard than we have in all of the condiment aisle! Never mind a Dunkin Donuts on every corner ( but that's another post)!

All I'm saying is I need gel and flying to Chicago is not an option!

So LA Salons, get your postings on Yelp cause I need a Los Angeles place to brag on, if anyone can pass the word to Gloss, be my guest! Gloss is hands down the coolest, grooviest ,hippest nail salon in all of Los Angeles. We don't need any 310 glam West of Western! We have the elegance of Gloss, and that suits us just fine !
Take this as a Will Advise all!

Does this Girl ever get exhausted with the talk of SelfTanner?

2010-06-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

I don't want to scare anyone but if your a fan of L'oreal Sublime bronze tinted self tanner i would strongly suggest you run out and buy at least one more tube. Has anyone but me noticed how scarce its becoming? Not to start a frenzied run on the product but when in Chicago recently friend Noelle and I were spotted sweeping the shelves of the local CVS of the last tubes there.

We have nothing to formally go on , but if you are a fan of the best gel tinted lotion, minimal stinky smell and absolutely awesome amount of "Metallic glint" then I'd go get the car keys and start roaming the city. Your only worry should be in Noelle and I are in town !

Swedish book pitch not what you think

2010-06-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

So its been far to long since i made a literary pitch, and im not bragging on that i was ahead of the curve here..........but .

Last winter Masterpiece Mystery (Thank you WGBH Boston , best PBS station in the nation !) had 3 drama's based on Henning Mankells' Wallander character.

Now you all know how into the Dragon Tattoo series i am but this is even more full of scenery and moodiness. What do you expect detective Kurt Wallander to be ? Of course an opera buff with a drinking problem , astute perception and the most god awful climate on earth. I was made to love this character! Think Inspector Morse without a side kick and even worse weather !
I just finished Faceless Killers the first in the series, and i never wanted to get out of the car ! I have at least 6 titles ( audio) in the trunk right now, i could possibly drive to NY and still arrive with a contented look on my face.

Saturday's NY Times front page had an article how the death of Stieg Larsson has only made all of the other Swedish writers a hot commodity. By my bed right now im reading the so called " prime suspect " of Sweden. Author Helene Turstens' character is Detective Inspector Huss, and she definitely rocks! This is my second book in her series, and I love her . A police detective married to a chef with twin teenage daughters who loves wine, excuse me what's not to love. Did i mention she is also totally in love with her dog, no wonder I was hooked from page one.

Then there is Asa Larsson, another winner of Sweden's best crime novel award.
Sun Storm also by my bed is another moody violent but incredibly literary voice from Scandinavia. You have to understand these are not " thrillers" nor just " mysteries" they are rich deep works of fiction with commentary on everything from relationships in families to society in general. To even try to place a label on them is just so trite.

You get the sense that Sweden has potential to be one seriously dangerous place but also an incredibly intelligent country to hang . The best part of my weekend was i was sitting by my wonderful pool, palm trees waving, iced Rose in the tumbler, little andy poocha laying in the shade and I'm reading about a white out snowstorm outside Stockholm. Now that's my kind of summer read.

Get yourself to the library and on the Henning Mankell wait list, start with Faceless Killers if you can, and if you are on NetFlix, stop what you are doing and type in Wallander and get all the series. There will only be 2 discs, also available on Amazon ( of course i bought them, LA friends you are welcome to borrow the DVD's) ,,,,,,,you are about to get such a wonderful treat !

Dear friends,i do hope you enjoy them as much as i am !
Not just stuff, Your literary shopper as well!.

Helmut Lang dress and the day it finally fit

2010-06-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Now you know how much i love dresses, so earlier in the year (January) i found this dress on the sale rack at the Barneys Co-op . I have always wanted to have a Helmut Lang anything. I remember going into the Soho store (maybe 8 years ago) and just basking in the total minimalist aesthetic of it. Then i had to leave with just cologne, because really almost everything in there was more than my house payment !

So when i saw this dress i thought even if i have to have organs removed im getting it ! Yes i really did leave the store that day with it not even zipping !!!!!!!! But im glad i did, cause if you think the back is cool, you really should see the front. Its the most basic black dress you could possibly imagine and yet it has the sexiest cutouts with little mesh bits. Its like something you'd see on a little girls " heidi" kind of summer sundress and then rocked out to a goth extreme !

It is smokin****' and if it never fits again, no matter, its what i want to be buried in ! No one will know if they have to split the back !

When i brought that dress to Chicago i wasn't even sure it would fit and it was a real delight when it did ! It was worth all the effort in the world, and as my friend Samantha Weisman said it was no longer the products that made that market but the dress !

Long live Helmut Lang and even more important a really good sale rack !

Missing Shopper?

2010-06-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

How many times can a blogger apologize for being MIA ? Well that's an exponential number really, so let me stop and start kicking some content your way to show you i am not the flake i give off i am!

First off i have not been as frugal as the lack of content would imply, if you are my facebook friend you know there was no shortage of cash dropped on that Helmut Lang dress i rocked at NeoCon.

What have i been buying, well since May i've been saying nothing but good things about the end cap Milano cosmetic section at CVS. Run and get yourself their super diamond gloss ! What will that set you back? Maybe 6.00? Everything they have in the line is super concentrated with color, i have the feeling its intended for women of color, and being Portuguese i figure i rank in that category. If your very fair, you might want to be careful, you could look like a club kid at work, but for us creatives that's only a bonus !

What are you still doing here , didn't i just tell you to go shop !

funny thing for me to blog on

2010-04-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

You won't believe this is what I'm choosing to blog on but anyone who I've raved live to on this product knows I am Hooked !!
If you aren't using daily shower spray in your shower you for sure are working to hard to clean. I love Daily Shower Spray, its available in a hundred variations from the Chic bottle Method has to the basic Safeway variety. They all work great and here's the deal, it takes no effort to spray the glass and when you get home later its like the cleaning lady was there ! Seriously, this is the most underrated product ever. I am convinced that the only reason my glass doors look so good after 3 years is my semi diligent use of shower spray. I know this product is great because my use really is half ass and I'm not always even the last one in the shower, so factor that in and this is a really really great product sector !

This is the real spirit of Eye Spy I Buy, if its great it needs to get its due so go out and get yourself some shower spray its way cheaper than daily maid service

Re use but maybe for the actual use !

2010-03-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

Well that whole use a product for another use almost always works, but in the case of conditioner, not so good.
Oh well, i tried , so hope the maid at the hotel likes it when i leave it behind next time. Does anyone else do that? I can't tell you the number of open bottles ,used once, of nail polish remover I've left in hotel rooms over the years ! I should leave a note i suppose but if i were a cleaning lady i sure the hell would not be throwing out nail polish remover or hairspray left behind. I'm always thrilled when a house guest leaves something , its like ohhhh !something new to try for free !
So for the record if your coming to stay , plan to leave lighter !
Have a gorgeous day all !

Frugalista the cosmetic approach

2010-03-08T06:25:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me, knows i'm always trying to push a lipstick that's just not the right thing for me, the gloss i hate the taste of
so it should come as no shock that it kills me to have hair care products i hate but can't bring myself to toss !
so that's how i discovered body lotion as shaving cream ( best idea ever !) you cut down time, no shivvers as you lotion up in a freezing bathroom, and you even smell better longer!
Ok so today's experiment, which ill have to advise on later.....using curl deactivator creme as conditioner, so far so good, went on even better rinsed faster, and maybe will have straightening powers after the dry? i just hate the way they make my hair feel crunchy, not so much that i don't have like 5 in the drawer, each time hoping this product will be the ONE!
Will advise if this is the trick to clean out the drawer !
I do love the Re-Use idea !
Have a gorgeaus day all !

Do Not Try This at Home ( the gel nail version)

2009-11-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

I hope you didn't all run out and get thos OPI gel nails!
Well as crazy as i was about them 3 weeks ago the bloom is slightly off the rose.

Here is the insane thing though ,this week i had to go to Cal Poly Pomona for a work tour and in the process met all the folks at the paints and finishes lab that actually created the product. Isn't that crazy ? Luckily i was still in love and they were wearing well at that time.
I knew it was true also when the knew exactly the color of the gels i was wearing !

However, after a short bout of dish washing on Thanksgiving day 7 or 10 were off, and i was really only prepping the dishes for the dishwasher , so don't imagine me in the prison kitchen !

So I took myself to Sally Beauty supply and bought myself my own non UV light gel kit. Major mistake. There is a reason why they are professionals . I'm not saying i won't go back for the real deal, however, it did kind of limit any creative expression when you have to select a color for life.

I did know a super classy lady once who only wore one shade of Chanel polish, but really how many people do you know who live like that?

So all in all I do think the OPI system is the best colored gel system out there, more importantly I loved the RobbSalon. The calm nature of the salon and its beautiful interior design and still at the tops of my list.

However it is in the Valley , so for the local Silverlake/Los Feliz girls, my vote still goes to Gloss on Sunset. For sure not as fancy, not as elegant, but really isn't that why we are in this neighborhood and not the Valley to begin with !

Gloss Rocks on !

And no matter what, do not try and do it at home ! Spread the wealth and look fabulous ! No one is allowed to look at my hands until these claws drop off !

Nail Envy you say?

2009-11-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Nails they don't come any tougher on them than me, so i was really thrilled to read the recent press on OPI Axxium. Its their relatively new ( not really easy to find) colored gel lacquer system. Its a professional applied gel polish that lasts 2-3 weeks without touch ups.

Recent press on the ROB/B Salon in Studio City made it really the only destination choice. Seriously close all the other nail salons in this state down. I did look up who else offered the Axxium system, and thank god i called. I never seriously thought the two places in the city were Glendale and ROB/B . Really Glendale? and i was correct! The highly amusing conversation i had with the desk lady at the " alleged' shop that had access to the gel system made it sound like i was asking her if she had access to the formula for plutonium. Seriously where do they find these people!

So i quickly called ROB/B , had an appt within 15 minutes, and damn these gorgeous nails in under an hour. You do make a commitment with the color you choose so you kind of have to love it. But seriously is there better polish than OPI, and the colors are to die for , so you don't have to think to hard.

I'm on day 2 and they honestly look as good as the minute they were done. In 2 weeks you go back and get the " impervious" seal broken and they paint over, no horrible filing or damage for prep. No thick cheap acyclic look, and I'm hoping just that tiny little extra bit of strength i need.

I can't rave enough about the place! Its beautiful ! I understood every word spoken in the salon.
I had wonderful conversation with my nail tech ( who i am so lax at forgetting his name) but i swear I'll credit him when i return in two weeks.

Dear readers , it also never hurts to go to a salon where the owner has actual pedigree, and owner R, really does have OPI DNA!

I know i don't usually get site specific, and maybe i should be raving about the product, but you can't really embellish fabulous . The product just rocks, like i knew it would. My only hope is it becomes readily available for everyone !

We as Americans need to put an end to those horrible thick Stripper/Orange County nails !!!!!!!! We need to get as classy as the people in the White House ladies, so lets soak off the acrylics, and get with the lovely Axxium gels !

And if you are anywhere near Studio City get into the ROB/B salon, and enjoy a beautiful space and lovely nails all at the same time! ( If i find out they serve wine, i'm moving in )

ROB/B Salon
12246 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
818 980 7622

Don't be afraid ! shop all the beauty aisles at CVS

2009-10-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

When i was a single girl in RI, my favorite no date Saturday night thing was to prowl the aisles of CVS and buy myself beauty treats. So fast forward 20 years and its still one of my very favorite pick me ups. In fact when i first moved to California, the only CVS was at least 20 miles away in Panorama City, which was not Panoramic then and hasn't improved with age. I would drive out there on an occasional Saturday morning and pretend i was in the promised land of Providence . Thank God you only have to go 20 blocks now to find a CVS.

How lucky are we to be able to just walk in a drugstore and have it filled with a million variations on joy! Which brings me to that strange section of products labeled primarily in Spanish. Now my CVS has an entire section loaded with cool looking stuff that sometimes you can figure out what its for and sometimes well maybe you take your chances. I bought a product called Concha Nacar de Perlop. It has a lovely Neptune shell on the jar with the # 3, which must mean its # times the power and under 5.00. What does it do you say? It says it will fade spots and scars and is made with Oyster shell powder ...does it work ? Well i can't really vouch for the working part,,,,,,,,but it is so fun to use! Its like a thick masky paste, but its kind of sweet smelling . Imagine if plaster of paris , dry wall and honey got together with some oil and had a rave,,,,,,,,,yeah that's what it would be like. I've had it for about 3 months and i can honestly say its just a kick to open the jar up and discover its un-usual-ness every time.
That why shopping that aisle is so fun, where else will you find tomato , goat milk and other unusual soaps for under 3.00!
So far I've tried some lovely rose scented body oil, great soaps, this unusual cream, and have only struck out with one horribly skunk scented splash !

So our moral here is shop all aisles, bodegas , 99c stores and clearance centers,,,,,,,,,when it comes to cosmetics remember be brave , be bold and be bilingual !

glamazon tan-o-rama

2009-09-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

As promised i went and compiled the list of all the self tanners currently in my possession
and even if they were at the very least 5.oo, which you know they were not, lets just say i have a pair of shoes in self tanner !

Just for clarification, i am rating self tanners only, not the gradual body lotion type. That could be an entire other topic and another pair of shoes !

Let's cut to the chase, if your in the market for self tanner go straight to Bath and Body Works and get yourself True Blue Spa Strike Gold lotion with bronzer. Now that's this years model, it used to be called just True Blue bronzer. I have to tell you i had stockpiled the original when i realized i loved the product and i was crushed when i thought it was gone. The original was maybe just a bit more gel like, but even though the new model is called " lotion" i don't find it to lotioney and i still use it on my face. There is a difference in the scent , but basically they both smell wonderful, have a great level of bronze , which i use it instead of foundation so that's an important factor with me. Its about 15.oo, your biggest challenge will be getting out of the store without spending another 50.00 on their other products.

If you are adverse to the mall and getting to Bath and Body works, or super anxious, just get to your local drugstore and pick up L'oreal's sublime bronze. Honestly it was a very close second to the BBworks item. Also smells great, and has a lovely level of bronze right out of the tube.
And who doesn't look good in a little glimmer right out of the gate ,right!
In a separate category, and very much less used by me, i also have the towelettes by L'oreal, and i like them, but i don't use them very often, great on trips but not immediate, its a clear fluid so good luck!

In the fancy range, I liked Too Faced : Tanning Bed in a tube enough to give it to several girlfriends for mothers day. Smells good , very golden, but not for the face. I keep it by the pool so its definitely in my favor. I did notice at least one of my giftee's did not use it, so my love of self tanner may not be for everyone ( and yes i saw it unopened in the medicine cabinet ! so sue me)

For the one I dislike the most, lets try Clarins gelee' self tanning instant gel express. That must be french for Bullshit ! First off its clear ( how's that for instant , i bought this on a serious recommendation from some magazine , so again who's on the dole right?) smells like something very very chemical and if you ever squeeze if out of the tube at the counter ( because i forbid you to buy this product) you will know what i mean. It looks like a questionable body fluid. Run from the clarins counter, even the Face version is overpriced, smells bad , run to cvs and get the L'oreal.

MAC, tint and tan, so dark you'll be washing your hands for 10 minutes, maybe that is why it was at the cosmetic outlet store. Skip this one entirely, you will look like a clown.

Avon: OK so you know I'm a HUGE fan of their MARK line, the bronzing self tanner, instant vacation is OK , and even the face one is OK. Only get these if you can't find L'oreal or Bath and Body works.

Glow Fusion spray: Now i had really high expectations for this one. First off its expensive , like in the 30.+ range, once again, i love that Sephora, i went in did my face test and went home. Thank god i did not pop for this one at full price, just really not that great. The copy for this product is unbelievable ( and i guess really it is unbelievable) is toutes special proteins, no smell---yeah whatever. Also no tan. I did however pick it up for like 9.00 at TJ maxx and its the liquid i did my own " cloths" with , and as a cheap no color alternative, not bad. Only buy this on sale and don't expect much. Picture a Northern Ireland tan and you won't be disappointed.

Model Co Tan gloves. Another TJ Maxx purchase , i like this glove idea , but its clear, so your really on your own for levelness. I never do what they tell you to pre scrub, or hang around for it to dry, so the gloves are nice cause they dry fast,but the mistakes can be funny. Don't do the clear unless you have a fine sense of humor. Another thing , something about the single use strikes me as wasteful, so like my grandmother i end up saving them cause " they are to good to use ", considering they were about 8.00, another sign of my frugal but mental state of mind.

Victoria Secret: Bare Bronze face tint, a bit to heavy, again like a glamazon.......don't bother !

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess, tinted self tan. I saved the biggest slam for last. I can not believe some mag said this smelled good, and did not develop that trademark slightly weird smell that lets face it , if it works, its going to have that funky smell. I can only hope that i smell it but I'm hoping no one else can? I seriously do not self tan on work days below the neck because i think it could be perceived as not such a pleasant whiff. : Like did you carpool with a skunk this morning? or not change a litter box. I'm just saying, self tanning is tricky stuff.
Back to topic,,,,,,,,,,,,,,big waste of money, yes it works, its got a milky bronzy look out of the tube, not as cool as the Too Faced which is also in the more $ category. For sure did not live up to any of the hype that was written about it, again get to CVS get the L'Oreal, or to Bath and Bodyworks.

So that dear readers is all that i know about self tanner, and as i sit here blogging isn't it the epitome of multi-tasking.........I'm stepping away from the computer to my Saturday Night so much tanner than when i sat down !

self tanner and the art of being frugal

2009-08-31T19:05:00.000-07:00

Well if there is one thing i have even more of than lip stains, its self tanners. If there is even one positive comment about " not having that tell tale funky scent" I'll usually have it by weekend. However, and i will make the list this week of exactly how many i do have in my possession.
I have to say----almost everything I've read that said they didn't smell was pretty much " big white lies" so to speak.

So last weekend when i was in my local Sephora and saw a Clarins liquid product i thought well this is cool because it must dry right away ( and really who on earth is going to wait for that stuff to dry !) --but the new frugal me said , oh really like the other 20 you have at home?

So I'm proud to say, i slapped that liquid all over my face and went home to see if it worked. It did but no better or worse than any of the other ones that i love. That whole experience though made me think of ways to maybe try the products i had at home in a new way, and I'm happy to share my results !
First off, the towelettes of self tanner are to damn expensive, and just always wrong, not enough product , to much product . However much easier to use and somehow more even and you seem to not be as wet as the lotions, so-----i decided to try and take a tube product and apply it with a facecloth . The results === it worked like a dream, and i just saved 36.00 on that Clarins liquid.

I just can't tell you how thrilled i was at this baby invention of mine. Its made me start thinking about what else could i be doing with the bazillion products i have around that I'm to guilty to ditch but just don't love enough to use.

Stay tuned the Self Tanner list of Best and Save your money girls,,,,,to follow.

Lipstick now Literary,the bliss of The Thirteenth Tale !

2009-08-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

If I've been absent dear friends its because I've been in the car savoring every single word of
" The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. It was voted the best first novel of the year for 2006, and i don't know where i found the lead for it ( most likely the NY times book section) but I'm so thrilled i did. I know last summer i wore you guys out over how fabulous The Shadow of The Wind was, and i can't say this is better but i love them both so much that on this last of 14 audio discs I feel terrible that it is about to end.

This is the very essence of what intriguing intelligent fiction( with that small Gothic spooky spin)is supposed to be. Whomever this Diane Setterfield is ( and I'm about to stalk her) so if anyone knows her save me the time, she deserves every bit of praise lavished on her.

Run do not walk and get this book right now, i borrowed the 14 CD version( maybe 20 hrs in the car) from the library, but I'm right now going to go buy it in a Hardcover and anything else this wonderful author has penned.

Isn't it wonderful to discover a great new read !!!!!!!

Lipstick Journey, last call

2009-08-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

So we are down to the final two. Marks' version Tattoo Kiss, ( youth brand of Avon ) offered this to the marketplace at least a year ago, maybe longer. Its a great product. In a pen like the Pixie
product, they could have been separated at birth in the lab. One thing about the Tattoo Kiss though, its got adorable packaging , and really when your pulling that out of your bag doesn't that count for something! The only problem with this one is your ability to get it easily. If you don't have an Avon lady, your bound to stay with nude lips. I'd say this for sure ties for second place in the smack down.

So lets talk about the lip stain that started my call to action Cover Girls Outlast . What can i say i really did not care for this product. Of all of the options, this one really did not even come close. It is the latest on the scene and so mass market you can get it anywhere, but runny , lousy taste, and seriously could their be less sexy packaging. I just read some very positive copy on this product in either the LA times or the New York times, they must have been on the dole, choose any of the other choices if you can.

So what should you run out and buy ..............get yourself to Target and get the Pixie Lip Blush in any of the colors in comes in. Its easy to get to ( who doesn't have a target next to them these days), very affordable, cute and you can easily fall in love with a number of other products in that aisle.
Stay away from that Cover Girl junk if for no other reason than their poor choice of design in packaging !

So this journey ends dear reader, but with so many things to buy, barter, read or comment on don't worry...........the eye spy i buy blogger will never be to far away,,,,,,,,

Now go put on some lipstick and stay Gorgeous !

battle of the lip stains

2009-08-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

From a point of historical reference BeneFit : Benetint does deserve the nod. This practical bottle can be used not only as a lip stain but also as a cheek stain. Since Bonne Bell and Max Factor exited the stain business when i was still in my 20's, BeneFit should get props for bringing the product to life again. Judging by how many variants i had in my cosmetic drawers its a definite market segment.
Flavored with the taste of Roses its a treat to swab on with the little brush, but forget about that on the cheekbones ! The product is thin there is no other way around dissing the granddaddy. Developments make all the other contenders just a little hipper, easier to use and more practical. Sorry , cause i love many other products in the BeneFit sisters line !

Here's a suprise. Rummaging through an old beach bag today i came across a Revlon product called Just Bitten. It has to be at least 3 years old and for sure launched to early to jump on the Vampire craze.

This stain is in roller ball vehicle. Its a mess. a completely unpractical delivery system for the product. However the drips that collect on the bottle and then your fingers do look like you just cut yourself opening it. That would make it very popular with the Soukie set! The one thing i can say about it.......a really great Font. If there was ever a font that said Vampire this is it!

Next post we look at Avon's' youth line Mark, with its clever " Tattoo" marker, and then Outlast by Cover girl which was really the catalyst for this entire series. Until then dear reader go grab a lipstick and make yourself gorgeous !

my lipstick journey

2009-08-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

So next up in the lipstick stain battle royale is " pixie" lip blush in color happiness.
The taste is fantastic, like a cherry ice pop. Its delivered in a pen medium so its super convenient. I picked this up at Target last winter, so I'll tell you right off the bat that it was already a favorite when i started the battle.

so far the urban decay and this pixie are clear favorite, both taste good, last long, but don't try to eat anything with oil. You might want to use a straw really if you want any lip color to last , who are they kidding in these ads.

I have to say though the urban decay a little thicker, so less of a bleed factor, but still Pixie, in a white pen like marker, super cute, and easy to tote. The urban decay bottle more adorable on the desk !

For sure pick up a Pixie marker the next time your in Target, all the products in the Pixie line are wonderful, great colors and super smart packaging ! I totally want to give this to everyone i know!

Tomorrow Benefit 2 : benetint !

Battle of the Lip Stains

2009-08-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

To say that i am a bit obsessed with makeup might be slightly exaggerating however i did find myself rushing out to buy the newest stain being hawked on the market. Since i already had 3 in the makeup vault at home i thought I'd do a little battle royale.

Stay tuned dear reader as everyday for the next four days we pit stains against each other and then stain vs traditional lip color.

Saturday : Urban Decay , Lip Envy: color Greedy

You can't get much cooler than this little gypsy bottle of packaging. It has a wonderful almost gel like texture, pleasant flavor, not overpowering. Color is deep and rich,and not the least bit runny. So far I'm digging it.

I am officially one of the millions who starts to blog and then abandons them

2009-07-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

In true keeping with the name of this blog, i've spent June doing my part to help the national economy. When all is said and done, Diamonds really are a girls best friend, and so far i've had very little buyers remorse!

2009-03-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

If your looking for a dose of northeast yankee audio, check out any of the books by Jane Langton. I don't know how i found her but i'm so thrilled i did. I am working my way thru the 18 homer kelley mysteries, and the one i'm listening to in the car now was written in 1964. Its so quaint it should come on reel to reel, the men still wear ties for work! Almost all of them i've listened to revolve around boston with "Murder at the Gardner " , (that wonderful freak of a museum that had the huge theft they pretend didn't happen, ) just wanting me to pack up the LA house and go move to Concord, Mass.
If anyone has any suggestions for other audio's with a good northeast feel please drop me a line, this LA drive doesn't get any shorter everyday!