Have You Seen This Man?

Day 3 of living in the Dark Ages. Supposedly, some mythical beast known as "the cable guy" is going to come out to my apartment and check to make sure the lines are all okay. Even though it's been said that he'll phone a day in advance to ensure his approach is unencumbered, and no such calls have taken place, I'm told that if I keep vigil in my home from early morning until dusk, "the cable guy" will appear in his white pickup truck to restore my communications services. Truly, this is a rare and magical creature! I don't know. The jury's still out on this one. I think I might have a better shot with Nessie, Sasquatch, or the fat man with the red suit.

Greetings From the Dark Ages

Day 2 (and a half) of no Internet. I can totally live without cable television; I have DVDs. I need my Internet. The only access I have right now is either at work or at Starbucks. I'm not blogging from work, and I doubt I get coffee tonight, so this is it for today. I just wanted to let y'all know I hadn't forgotten about you. Oh, and irritating communications provider...I haven't forgotten about you, either...

Last Dance, Last Chance

Photo Credit: MAC Cosmetics

So...um...my Internet's out. Cable, too. The modem, apparently, is about as dead as John Cleese's parakeet. This is especially annoying, because Thomas and I were planning to video-on-demand (can you use that as a verb? Well, I just did) Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, since it's not available on Redbox or Netflix, yet. I even tried one of the last brick-and-mortar Blockbusters in town, and they were out. I'm about to have to go out and buy the darn thing, because we really want to see this movie. Thomas and I once shared an X-Box with Brandon Routh (long story that involves Galaxy Quest, Twihards, and a farce-like quest for a gift bag), and he was just lovely; really sweet, polite, down-to-Earth guy. Since then, we've watched everything he's done, in hopes that our support will help him get more work. He's a very underrated actor, and I enjoyed Superman Returns, and to this day proclaim that it wasn't his fault...but I digress.

My point, is that I'm on borrowed time, here, so my ability to research has been somewhat limited. Luckily, MAC dropped a happy little surprise into my inbox:

THE BLOGGERS' OBSESSIONS COLLECTION IS BACK!!!

In case you missed it the first time, or your favorite product sold out before you could order, everything is back and in stock! Hop on this before they're gone again! Just to recap, these are products created by beauty bloggers, and are super on-trend.

I bought the Hocus Pocus eyeshadow and the Sonoran Rain lipglass. The Hocus Pocus is a sparkly, smoky gray with a greenish tinge, and it's my new go-to for a smoky eye. The Sonoran Rain is a very bright orangy-red with gold and silver shimmer. It's not for the faint of heart, but gorgeous all the same. Read my full reviews here (which also, funnily enough, contain bad Monty Python references. Hmmm....). All items are $14.50, and only available online. Now, get going!

Are You Man Enough, Cap'n?

Photo Credit (This and All): Fragrantica

Would you like to know today's excuse for not having Disney World pictures and stories? Would you really? Okay, I'll tell you. I washed a box of dryer sheets with a load of towels, and spent the morning trying to pick flakes of wet cardboard out of my washing machine. And how was your Tuesday?

As the realization of what I'd done dawned on me ("Why the heck are there dryer sheets in here? And why are there so many of them? It looks like a whole box just...oh"), strains of Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For a Hero echoed through my head. 

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Now, I have a good man--one who, believe it or not, normally handles the laundry (he's also a dishwashing wizard)--but he was at work. Even if he had been home, I doubt he'd have been any better at removing itty bitty chunks of the lint formerly known as the Snuggle box. He's a man of many talents, but his inability to succumb to brain freeze--impressive as that may be--probably wouldn't do much good in this instance. No, I needed a superhero; someone with either alien or technologically advanced powers of...well, lint-rolling or vaporizing or time travel (to keep me from being stupid and washing the darn box in the first place). Something like that. 

How do I get bit by that radioactive spider? It would be ridiculously awesome to just stare really hard at my bathtub, and clean it with my Scrubbing Bubbles-Vision (TM). I'm sure Thomas would gladly trade the minor inconvenience of a super-secret underground medical procedure to be able to, I don't know, incinerate the garbage with a snap of his fingers. My point, is that I'm sure there are plenty of times in our everyday lives that we all wish we were superheroes. Where's that darn Easy button, Staples? Well, the folks at Diesel have decided to cash in--I mean, help us out with our wishes. If you can't be a superhero, at least you can smell like one. Sort of. 

Captain America cologne! Well, again, sort of. It's also Iron Man cologne. Well, as I said, sort of. Technically, it's Only the Brave, by Diesel, a blend of lemon, leather, violet, amber, styrax, labdanum, and cedar. I haven't sniffed it yet, but it sounds yummy (bold, masculine scents mixed with sparkling, playful notes--awesome), and reviews have been mostly favorable, so it seems to be a decent product, and not just a clever marketing ploy. Of course, it is a clever marketing ploy, but at least there's a chance of getting something quality along with the kitchsy exterior. That exterior, by the way, is a fist. The original Only the Brave comes bottled in a glass fist, adorned with a Diesel logo-as knuckle ring. The Iron Man bottle is still a fist, but a shiny, red metallic one. Captain America is metallic blue with the Star-Spangled Shield emblazoned on the side. 

It's cheesy. It's silly. It's clearly a movie tie-in, and I kind of love it. What's more, my husband would love it. Heck, it might even get my 13 year-old brother to wear something other than Axe (the angels haven't fallen, yet, but he keeps hoping). That would truly be heroic. $67.50, Macy's (not online at time of publication).

Driving, Tunes, and Why I'll Never Be On a Game Show

Okay, I officially suck. I did get the pictures from my Disney trip, and they're really cute. They're just not on this computer, and I have no way of getting to them until later this evening. *headdesk* Soooo...I'll just leave you with an embarrassing story to tide you over until I can anti-climatically post the now over-hyped photos. Enjoy.

Thomas and I drove to Orlando. It's about an eight hour drive down some of the least scenic, most boring stretches of highway you could ever hope to never have to encounter. To pass the time, Thomas brought along his iPod, and we listened to some of the podcasts he'd been able to stockpile. When those ran out, he switched over to albums, and started to play some of the Doctor Who soundtrack. Out of utter boredom, I started trying to play "Name That Episode" with the score.

Me: Oh! That's the pirate episode!!
Thomas: No, it's the Titanic. I don't have any Matt Smith stuff on here, yet.
Me: Got ya. Okay. (Next song) Oh! Oh! Daleks in Mahattan!
Thomas: Empty Child.
Me: Shoot! Well, similar styles, I guess. (Next song) Is that something to do with cybermen?
Thomas: Erin, that's TRON...
Me:...oh...thought it sounded familiar...

So, not only do I suck at photos and Doctor Who trivia, but I apparently can't even tell the difference between Who and TRON. Turns out, though, that I'm not the only person mashing the two together. For your listening and viewing pleasure, I give you abstractvmilk's well-edited DW/TRON mash-up video. I'm especially impressed with the lip-sync. If you're not into either Who or TRON, don't worry! I'll have different stuff to play with tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe there'll even be some un-asked for, overly sold vacation photos.

Nothing a Good Mai Tai Probably Couldn't Fix

Photo Credit: Sephora

Okay. The picture round-up is currently on-going, so I'm going to have to put off any Disney tales till next week. I know; you're heartbroken, but I'm sure you'll find a way to get by.

I will say, that after three full days of sweating glowing in the hotter'n Hades beautiful Florida sunshine, I could literally feel the dirt invading my pores. I could see the clogs. That's bad. I did the best I could to combat the elements: drank lots of water, scrubbed my face at least twice a day, used tinted moisturizer instead of foundation, and tried to let my skin breathe as much as possible. It didn't matter. I am so broken out, people are mistaking me for a high schooler. Of course, I'm sure my being short isn't helping with their confusion.

As soon as I got home, I washed my face (again), and slathered on my Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. True to form, it cleared out a significant amount of clogged pores and blackheads. Still, my face was in a state of trauma. You don't think about the wringer your skin goes through while you're laughing it up in the Happiest Place On Earth (okay, I know that's Disneyland, but same deal). We've established there's the heat and sweat and dirt...fine. There's also greasy food (which, I know, dermatologists have said that the grease you put in your stomach doesn't affect your skin...try eating pizza without getting some on your face. I dare you), drastic changes in enviroment (a/c in the car, airplane atmosphere, getting on and off rides, fog machines, wind machines, etc.), sleep deprivation, too many cokes and not enough water, little germy kids with little germy hands that touch all the same things you touch...I could go on, but you see my point? Even after the masque my skin was still screaming.

Yesterday, I happened upon Ole Henriksen's Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask. According to Sephora:

This potently calming blend of lavender, papaya enzyme, blueberries, and blackberries gently polishes the skin, relieving facial stress and delivering smooth results.

Well, that sounded like it might help. There was a fantastic sale, so I snapped this puppy up for only six bucks.

So, last night, after work, I put on my jammies, washed my face and pulled my hair back, opened up the jar and spread the contents all over my face. Then, I sat down to relax and watch some television.

The Good: The scent. Wow. This mask has a very strong lavender fragrance, but not a fakey, chemically one. This is real lavender, and it is extremely calming. The gel mask is downright frosty, and there are also no parabens, sulfates, or artificial colors. In fact, there's no color at all. It's clear, which also keeps you from having that whole Wicked Witch of the West thing going on.

The Bad: I had a hard time washing the mask off, and really, I couldn't tell if it did anything to my skin. I followed up with a moisturizer, partially because you should always follow a mask with a good moisturizer, and partially because my skin felt really dry. That's not a good sign when it's supposed to be a hydrating mask.

The Ugly: Normally, this is priced at $32. That's insane.

I'm going to give this another go. The directions said it could be used 2-3 times weekly, so it may just be very gentle. If nothing else, twenty minutes of inhaling lavender might relax me enough to not care about my skin anymore. I say, for six bucks, it's worth a second look. For $32, I suggest you keep your money and look elsewhere.

Final Verdict: It'll calm your nerves, but not necessarily your face. 4 out of 10.

Boredom Buster: Design Your Own Makeup Palette

I know; I promised pictures and stories from my Disney World trip...I lied. Well, only partially. I have, like, a grand total of two decent pictures on my phone, and one of them is Thomas in a fez ('cause fezzes are cool). The rest of the pictures are on my mom's camera, and it's at her house, patiently awaiting download onto my computer tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have stuff for you then. Key word: hopefully.

In the meantime, I ran across this little deal yesterday, and it's too good to pass up. Too Faced Cosmetics has an online exclusive: you can get one of their custom palettes (regular price, $35) for $17.50 right now, plus there's free shipping with the code travel until July 25th (which I totally missed, and am now kicking myself over).

Photo Credit: Too Faced Cosmetics

I love this palette. You get to pick a blush (pink, peach, or Sun Bunny bronzer), an eye shadow duo, and either a lip gloss, mascara, glitter eyeliner, or eye shadow primer. Then you get to customize the cover and add an optional gift message. I've been searching for some pretty pinks to break up my usual peach/bronze routine, so I opted for Pinch My Petals pink blush, Totally Toasted eye shadow duo (milk chocolate and toasted almond), and I Love Myself pink Mirror Mirror lip gloss. The cover is customized with a pink fishnet stocking background and black chandeliers, and inscribed with "Erin's Pink Palette". It's uber-girly, and completely awesome. Plus, the eye shadow alone would have run $17, so for fifty cents more, I got the blush and gloss to go with. Oh--they're also sending lipstick and lip plumper samples. It's a can't lose deal.

By the way, if you're stumped for what to put in your palette, I'd suggest Sun Bunny bronzer (it's my all-time favorite, and works great on all skin tones), George & Wheezy eye shadow (icy gold and bronze pearl), and a Lash Injection mascara. Those are great shimmery but natural colors for a glowy, polished look, and you can have it all in one place.

One more awesome thing, and then I promise to quit gushing. After I placed my order, I received a phone call from a rep at Too Faced. Seems they'd run out of the lip gloss I'd originally chosen, and rather than just randomly toss in a replacement (as so many other companies would), they called to see what I'd like in its place. That really says a lot about how they value their customers, and it's very much appreciated. $17.50, Too Faced.

**UPDATE! It appears that Too Faced has discontinued this palette. The items are still available, though, so stay tuned for a review of individual pieces. Thanks!

And...We're Back

GAH!!!! We just made it in from Orlando last night. Thomas is too sick to go to work, and I'm inundated. We've somehow got to get unpacked, finish laundry, get groceries (not even milk in the house), and find an HD camcorder (don't ask). On top of that, if one more person spoils Harry Potter for me, they will feel the wrath that-shall-not-be-named. In other words, I'm frazzled, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and really, really, really sore. But it sure was fun...I'll have pics and a decent post for you tomorrow. Signing off.

Yeah, I Know It's the Full House Twins. It's Still Cool.

Photo Credit: StyleMint

Back in March, I told you guys about a little site called JewelMint. It's a jewelry club, where you can purchase a new, personally selected accessory each month. I've gotten a couple of cute things from it, so I was thrilled to learn, this morning, that JewelMint has branched off into the world of fashion. Well, t-shirts, anyway.

StyleMint is JewelMint's clothing-centric little sister. Here's what they have to say for themselves:

StyleMint is the brainchild of fashion designers and style icons Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen and parent company BeachMint. StyleMint offers members a revolutionary online shopping destination with the unrivaled experience of a personal stylist. The best part? Members-only access to Mary-Kate and Ashley's exclusively designed and styled T Shirts, with new styles to choose from every month.


Designers Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen have built a portfolio of lifestyle fashion labels appealing to customers along the fashion spectrum with The Row, Elizabeth and James, Textile Elizabeth and James and Olsenboye. StyleMint offers what Mary-Kate and Ashley do best- impeccable design, perfect fit and unparalleled quality, all in a T Shirt styled for you.

So, for $29.99, you can have a designer t-shirt of your choice (from a selection personalized to your taste) shipped (for free) directly to your home. It's a little more than I'd normally pay for a t-shirt, but for a sometimes treat, it's not out of the realm of possibility. Afterall, you can skip any months you want.

Have a great weekend, and I'll see you Wednesday!

That Old Black(head) Magic...Or Not...

Photo Credit: Geek Chick Daily

Tonight at Midnight, some of you lucky readers will head off to the Harry Potter premiere. Alas, I will not be among you, but am planning to make it to a theatre next weekend. However, to celebrate the, well, beginning of the end, as it were, I have a link to a pretty cool, easy to enter giveaway!

Geek Chic Daily is giving away one unbelievably detailed, screen-quality Invisibility Cloak replica. The retail value on this bad boy is a whopping $395! All you have to do is click the above link (the one on the word "giveaway") and enter your email address. There are also bonus chances on Facebook and Twitter, with info available when you enter. The only catch is you have to subscribe to GCD, but that's not a bad deal. It's a great little once-a-day email newsletter about nifty, nerdy gizmos. Entry deadline is July 27th. Good luck!

Photo Credit: Sephora

Speaking of making things disappear, I dipped into the old magic bag o' samples the other day, in search of something to expelliarmus my blackheads. Sephora sent me two Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips to try out, so I used one and gave the other to Thomas. Here's what Sephora has to say about the strips:

Each adhesive strip attracts pore-clogging dirt and oil. Its full-contact delivery system instantly applies charcoal powder, an ingredient that draws out impurities and detoxifies the skin. Silica, a natural mineral, controls excess oil while witch hazel extract, a natural astringent, tightens pores. Effective yet gentle, additional botanical ingredients provide a soothing and cooling sensation upon adhesion. Skin is left exceptionally clarified.

Pros: Some blackheads were extracted; Thomas looked a little like a cartoon puppy while wearing the strip.
Cons: I didn't notice much of a difference in pore size or clarity; I looked like a freaking Ewok.

Basically, it's an expensive, slightly larger Biore strip, and worked about as well. I had better luck cleaning out my pores by washing my face more effectively and using the occasional Queen Helene Mint Julip Masque (that gunk works wonders). It did what it said it would, but not to an extent that would justify the price. Unless you are in dire straits where blackheads are concerned, skip this. $15 for six strips, Sephora.
Final Verdict: 4 out of 10. Meh. Just...meh.

Thumbellina Would Be Quite at Home

Today, I'm just going to let the picture do the talking. Below is a photo of Fairy Castle, a 9-foot tall dollhouse, created by silent film star Colleen Moore. The 83-year old castle's ornamentation includes jewels dated at over 500-years old, original artwork by Walt Disney, himself, and, in 1947, was estimated to be worth almost one-half million dollars. Obviously, that estimate would be considerably higher in today's economy, but it hardly matters, as this piece resides in a museum, where it rightfully belongs. You can take a mini-tour of the castle here, and I promise, you'll be breathtaken. If you're in Chicago, see it yourself for only $15 (discounts for kids, seniors, and residents).


Photo Credit: Mail Online

 **Edited to Add--I just found out that during the Great Depression, Ms. Moore sent her beautiful Fairy Castle on tour. It graced toy stores and county fairs, all in the name of charity. Between 1935 and 1939, Moore's Fairy Castle raised more than $650,000 for children's charities. Now that's really beautiful.

If Wishes Were Hippogriffs...

I saw this today, and thought of you guys. It's an artist's fantasy rendering of what a Criterion Collection release of the Harry Potter movies might look like. Please note that this is not an actual product, nor have the nice people at Criterion mentioned doing anything with the Potter franchise. This is just one artist's dream, and how he would handle the job.

Photo Credit (This and Below): Patrick Sullivan

Isn't that gorgeous! I adore the newspaper style for the back cover. Patrick Sullivan is a senior at prestigious Cooper Union. This collection will be part of his Senior Portfolio (think: thesis for the artistic types), and is still kind of a work in progress. A typo or two need to be fixed, and some minor details have yet to be tweaked, but all in all, it's a staggeringly beautiful project. I know I'd be tickled to have it in my home.

To learn more about Patrick, check out his facebook, or click the above link to see the rest of the collection.

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

I'm heading to Disney this weekend! This, of course, means that this week will be consumed by packing, planning, and plotting--and a lot of blog-watching. So, today, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite online places for tips, tricks, and gossip. (That, and I'm trying desperately to figure out blogger since they changed it on me...again. Please bear with me.)

For Park News and General Updates, and Overall Best Research Blog: Chip & Co.
This is a fantastic site for the latest on all things Disney. Florida, California, TV, DVD...whatever. If it is in any way involved with The Mouse, it's here. The site is constantly updated, and many posts include video for that "almost in the park" feel. Money- and time-saving advice, along with guides that tackle topics from traveling with tots through attractions for seniors.

*Runner-Up: The Disney Parks Blog
It's, again, a great stop for general information, and very user friendly. It's just, understandably, a little biased, and not so quick to help you save any money.

For Making Home In One Piece and Not Completely Broke: Surviving Disney
Really fun to read blog with great tips for handling the heat, the kids, the lines, and the cost. There are a ton of guest posts, too--including some from *gasp* Disney Cast Members!!--that give the site a community vibe; like we're all in this together.

*Runner-Up: Couponing To Disney
Technically, this is the superior blog. It's extremely well-written, informative, filled with tricks and tips, freebies, and money-saving advice. It's also constantly updated, and the author's Facebook skills are second to none. The only reason it's the runner-up is that you have to wade through posts on couponing. Yes, that's the entire point of that blog, and handled exceptionally well, but if that's not your bag (and it's not mine), you have to dig, somewhat, for all that Disney gold. Fabulous blog, though. I highly recommend it, and urge you to follow on Facebook.

Best Specialty Blog: Studios Central
Whether you can't get enough of Hollywood Studios, or think you've seen all there is to see, this blog will cure what ails you. Pages upon pages of articles, pictures, and updates will show you how the park has changed over the years, the inspirations for every tiny detail (and believe me, there's stuff you'd never have dreamed of!), and where the future of the park is headed. Beware--this site will suck you in, and you can easily lose a day drifting through the archives.

For a Quick Giggle: Disco Yeti
The tag line for this site is: "The Rants and Raves of a Broken-Down Theme Park Yeti. Yes, Really." A couple of years ago, the state-of-the-art yeti animatronic on Expedition: Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom, for lack of a better term, broke. It stopped working in a most unfortunate position, that has left it frozen in an permanent Saturday Night Fever pose. To add insult to injury, a strobe light was added to create the illusion of movement. Poor Disco Yeti. To pass the time, the yeti keeps an insider blog of the shenanigans and goings-on in all of the parks. It's a riot.

Happy Time Wasting!

Why Doesn't the Spa Make House Calls?

Hey Guys and Gals!

Apologies for the late, brief post. I took a mental health day, and even got to squeeze a little acting work into the relaxation time. Don't worry, though--I've made sure to find lots of pretty shinies to talk about next week. See you Monday!

Erin

Those Are Phoenix Tears, Okay! *Sniff*



Photo Credit: The Guardian

This afternoon, London's Trafalgar Square was packed to the gills with fans, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the stars of the latest--and last--Harry Potter film. The red carpet premiere was a bittersweet cap to the series, leaving not just the fans, but the cast and crew, with lovely memories and not-so-lovely questions about what to do next.

Obviously, I wasn't there. I live in Alabama, for crying out loud. The premiere streamed on Facebook, but it started at the same time as my voice lesson, and I do have my priorities. Still, I'm a little sad over the end of an era--even one that I only just started to understand and enjoy.

There's a fantastic little chit chat with the producers and stars of the series over at The Guardian, and a neat interview with the Malfoy actors at ABC News. I'm going to go drown my sorrows in a nice Butterbeer, if you don't mind.

Photo Credit: The Associated Press
The Gang, Sans Harry, All Grown Up

Lip Gloss On the Half-Shell

Photo Credit (This and All): DuWop

Summer is a great time to add a little color to your makeup routine, and DuWop has a new line out that makes it even more fun. Regardless of your feelings about the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (I'm a fan, but that's not important), the colors and textures of the new Isla Sirena collection are sure to raise your main sail on the starboard side and swab the deck while walking the plank and...something something pirate...um...arr matey...yo ho! Saavy?

The collection is divided into three distinct looks: Mermaid (iridescent pastels and water colors), Pirate (smoky, sexy, bold tones), and Treasure (jewel tones and golds). The line includes a rotating compass-styled palette, with nine eye shadows, three gel eye liners, and three lip tints. Separately, lip, eye, and cheek duals are available in swashbuckling shades such as Relic, Mystic Waters, and Rogue, and come housed in stunning antique gold sea shell compacts. The line is rounded out with a trio of lip glosses, or Caribbean Iced Teas in Mint Mojito, Butter Rum, and Ruby Grapefruit. Prices run from $19 to $39, DuWop.

Note: I have not tried these products. This is not a review. I'm simply alerting you to the line's existence because I thought it was too freaking cute not to. Alright. End of note. Carry on.

Scary Hair, or Captain Howdy's Been Playing With My Shampoo Again

Photo Credit: Sephora

My hair needs a young priest and an old priest. We have a few of each at the church I work at, but since I'd feel weird asking any of them to douse my head in Holy Water, I've been on a journey to find something to tame my possessed hair. "The power of Redken compels you!" hasn't quite been cutting it.

My hair is naturally wavy--in the back. It's naturally straight on one side in the front. I tried blowing it out, but that only seemed to make it angry, so I dropped my weapon, backed away slowly, and decided to give the surfer girl look a go.

Two years ago, I found myself in a similar predicament. Once Summer hits full-swing down here, all you can do is hope for the best and expect the frizz. Our weather laughs at anti-humidity hairspray. It guffaws at gel. The more you do to combat the moisture in the air, the more you just tick it off. I fully believe that Southern weather is sentient, and wages war with those who personally offend it. I am totally on its hit list, especially after last Summer's filming and all the gunk that went into my hairstyles.

Two years ago, I also found my hair's salvation--a magical little cheapie potion called Sunsilk Waves of Envy Sea Mist. You sprayed it on, let it air dry either down or twisted into pin curls, and took it down for amazing rock-star surfer waves. It was liquid gold, I tell you. Sadly--nay, tragically--it has been discontinued.

This year, I searched high and low for a replacement brand, and, for the longest time, found nothing. I guess when you live near the beach, buyers assume you'll just let nature do the work for you. To that, I respond, "pish!" I haven't been to the beach this year, and I highly doubt I'll make it anytime soon. There's also no salt spray in my air-conditioned bathroom, where all my other hair styling products reside. I needed something bottled, thank you.

Luckily, Bumble and Bumble have seen the need for this product, and Sephora has been nice enough to stock it. Of course, it's considerably more expensive than the Sunsilk, but that's supply and demand for you. Aptly named Sea Spray, this is, basically, bottled sea air. Here's what Sephora has to say about it:

This styling spray adds volume and texture to the hair to create a sexy, wind-blown feel. Its salt-infused formula adds fullness, hold, and a cool, matte finish. Salt water is no secret to editorial stylists for adding volume and texture, and anyone who has been in the ocean knows of that salty, sexy, sun-dried, wind-styled feel (that seems such a shame to wash out). So while Bumble and bumble hasn't exactly bottled the real thing, they've replicated and improved it, including seaweed and kelp extracts to enhance moisture.

I say: Yeah, that about covers it. I washed my hair, added a bit of mousse, blew it dry to the point of dampness, spritzed it generously, hit it with the hair dryer again for a second (just to blow it around a little bit, like wind would), then let it air dry the rest of the way. It resulted in the exact same beachy kind of style I'd get after spending a day laying out in sugar sands. The spray added a ton of body and texture, so my already thick hair looked even more voluminous, and the waves held all day, without even a touch of hairspray. It was gorgeous, easy, and I loved it...

...till the next day. I didn't have time to wash my hair the next morning, but figured the beach waves would get me through work and I could shampoo that evening. That's when I made the fatal error of brushing my hair. It immediately frizzed almost beyond control. In retrospect, I should have skipped brushing and opted to utilize the extra texture in a messy bun, but I didn't. A fair amount of hair oil and smoothing cream and a couple of well-placed braids later, the frizz gave way to a look a little more Ren Faire in nature, and I was good to go. On the pro side, the mattifying formula of the Surf Spray kept my second-day roots from looking shiny. $23, Sephora.

Final Verdict: 7 out of 10. Pricey, but worth it. Just be prepared for second day drama if you skip the shampoo.

We All Knew It Was Coming

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you--The Inevitable:

Photo Credit (This and Below): Daily Mail

Yeppers. That's the knock-off version of Kate Middleton's wedding gown. It was bound to happen, and it's not as bad as I expected.

I like that it's obviously inspired by the stunning Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen bridal gown, but not a direct copy. So many times, the designer-inspired versions are the same dress, but with cheap fabrics and less embellishment, which, really, just looks tacky. It's like slapping a Coach label on a pleather drawstring bag--you get the expensive label, but everyone knows it's not the real deal. This is a different dress entirely, and I have to applaud that. You still get the look of a corset bodice with lace overlay, and an elegant circle skirt--which were the hallmarks of that now-iconic gown--but the sleeves are shorter, the neckline simplified, the hem raised and the train removed. There's also the addition of a sweet satin sash. It's a much more casual dress, and would, in my opinion, be perfect for an afternoon garden wedding. You could even accessorize with a birdcage veil, or--in true Kate fashion--a small fascinator. Available August 7th, exclusively at Peacocks. Sizes 8-18, approx. $96. If you want one, you'll need to act fast. They expect a quick sell-out.