"The Gnomes Are Popping Up Like Easter Eggs!!!"

Tuesday, we closed on the house and officially became homeowners. That, of course, meant that on Wednesday, a raccoon moved into our chimney, but that's another story. The very first Saturday in our very first house, Thomas and I got up uncharacteristically early and started working on our backyard.

We've actually been living in this house for over a year, but for some reason, working in the yard never really seemed like a priority until now. Go figure. Thomas and I don't spend a whole lot of time in our backyard, so I guess we just turned a blind eye, for the most part. As soon as those papers were signed, though, it was like a veil was lifted, and we realized we had two choices: A) clean up the yard, or B) start allowing urban explorers to film youtube videos on our "abandoned" property. We went with A, but there was some honest to God discussion on it.

Seeing as we're, more or less, landscaping virgins, this has been a definite learning experience. We're nowhere near finished with the project. In fact, we're at that "it looks worse now than before we started" stage. Still, I thought I'd share some of the "fun" lessons we've been taught.

• Ladders and gardening tools are ridiculously expensive, for no other reason than because they can be. Seriously, what's a ladder, really, besides a few pieces of metal welded together? Why on Earth is the cheapest one fifty bucks? Oh...because I can't reach my celing or gutters without one...that's why. A garden hoe is a broomstick with a flat piece of metal stuck on one end, and it's fifteen-freaking-dollars because I need it to break up the weeds and roots in my overgrown flower beds.
• Bamboo grows wild in Alabama. I had no idea. I thought maybe my mom planted it, because it was in a bed she planted when I was kid (we bought my childhood home, by the way. Not sure if I mentioned that before), but she seemed just as surprised as I was. It's a real pain in the you-know-what to pull up, too. I'm pretty sure bamboo is the devil.
• Much like bamboo springs up in my yard at random, so, apparantly, do gnomes. I found two yesterday. I've named them Laurel and Hardy.
• The trunk of a Nissan Versa can hold, at least, six large bags of drainage rock. Getting them out of the trunk is the hard part. (They're still in there. I think we may need to devise a pulley system.)
• This yard should have come with a Quija board. My dear, departed Dad built our courtyard (and drainage system, but that's another story, as well), and while it's lovely, it does have some idiosyncracies that I just can't quite figure out. For instance, there's an absolutely gorgeous rockwork walkway that leads to the courtyard. The sides are completely rocked over, save for one 2-foot by 3-foot (approx.) patch, which was left unrocked, and held a few planters. It's entirely random and makes no sense. I'm putting a fairy garden there, but I would love to know the real reason for its existence. He didn't just run out of rock, because the rock continues on either side of the patch. It's just random.  
• If you give my husband a chainsaw, he goes from Clark Kent to Bruce Campbell in 0.4 seconds. No shrubbery is safe.
• When spray painting, even in well-ventilated areas (like outside), wear a mask. I coated my sinuses in black paint, and, let's just say that my sneezes would make Sam and Dean Winchester think I was possessed by a Leviathan. Ew.
• On the subject of painting: never trust the label on an old can of paint. Just because it says "white", and you know for a fact that the house hasn't had trim that was any color other than white in several years, it doesn't necessarily mean that the paint is white. Check first, and make sure it's not, say, beige, before you waste an hour taping off a dozen windows for no good reason. Make sure you have a brush, too. (oops)
• After several hours of non-stop yard work, be prepared for people to look at you funny when, in your delerium, you burst into a fit of giggles--for no discernable reason--while stumbling around in the middle of the Walmart soft drink aisle. I'm fairly certain that if we'd tried to buy any alcohol on that trip, we'd have been turned down, and possibly escorted out of the building.

Hopefully, we'll get the hang of this soon. I'll keep you posted...

UPDATED! It's Not a Time Turner, But It'll Do: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-In-1 Foundation

My time is not my own.

Between my job, rehearsals, teaching, the other job, the other other job, buying a house (we signed yesterday!! Done!!), filming...well, I think you get the picture. I'm busy. Aren't we all?

Seriously, I don't know a soul who isn't practically killing themselves trying to make a living and maintain some semblance of a personal life. I could get into a rant on that topic (and probably will), but it'll have to wait for another day. Frankly, I don't have time to rant.

I love a good one-step wonder. Anything that can save even a minute or two is tops in my book. Back in the day, I was a huge fan of the Stila One-Step foundation. It claimed to be a primer, concealer, and foundation, all in one, and it actually lived up to the hype. True, it was a little thick, but it covered like a champ, and was, flat-out, my Holy Grail foundation...and they discontinued it. Of course. Not only that, they discontinued it somewhere around the exact minute I discovered that it existed...because the universe has a sick sense of humor.

Imagine my delight when BzzAgent asked if I would be interested in trying CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation! It made all of the same claims as the Stila, but at a drugstore price (plus, they sent me a coupon to pick up a free bottle)--how could I refuse? Could this be as good? My curiosity was definitely piqued.

Now, trying to colormatch a drugstore foundation can be tricky because you can't swatch anything. Some brands have little cards you can hold up, which is helpful, but this isn't one of those brands. The product comes in a glass jar with a pump (yay! It's hygienic!), so you can see the color, at least, but there's a lot of room for error. I wavered between Classic Beige (810) and Buff Beige (825) for a while, and finally settled on Buff Beige. I figured it would be better to be slightly too dark than slightly too light. At least, this way--worst case scenario--I could use it over a fake tan. Luckily, it matched perfectly, so if you're a MAC NW15, go with Buff Beige.

Application was a snap. I used a Real Techniques Expert Face brust to buff the liquid (not the cream I was expecting, given the claims) into my skin. It applied smoothly and evenly, and I was pleasantly surprised by the coverage. Here's a shot, sans concealer or powder:

I feel pretty. Oh, so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and...really brave, actually

A little ruddiness around my cheeks and nose remained, but nowhere near as much as I'm used to seeing. Also, my dark spots were still visible, but just barely. I did need to use a little concealer under my eyes and on a blemish, but only the teeniest amount. I am extremely impressed by the coverage.

The formula is light and comfortable. I can see that I'm wearing makeup, but it doesn't look cakey, and I feel like my skin can still breathe. Given the heat and humidity down here in the ninth cir--Deep South, makeup weight can be a dealbreaker. This is perfectly wearable. The foundation also has what I would describe as a semi-matte finish; it's not completely matte, but not dewy, either. To me, it just looks like skin, which is kind of the point. My only complaint is that it does seem to settle in the lines on my forehead. Normally, I wear bangs, so it's not really a problem, but my hair was "not being its best self", as my mother would put it. I had to pull my bangs back, and my lines are prominently on display. Oh, well. Other than that, I'm super happy with the look.

Okay, so it looks fantastic when you first put it on, but how does it hold up? Pretty darn well, actually. Today is a hot, humid, rainy, miserable day (in other words, Wednesday), and I had a million errands to run. Here's a shot of me at the three-hour mark:

All other makeup used for this look (ha! Thrown on to run errands and go to work...) is drugstore, with the exception of my mascara, eyeliner, and brow pencil. And my brows still suck. Oh, well.

Not bad! None of the foundation has worn off, and there are no oil slicks in sight. I checked again at the four- and five-hour marks, and while I could top off my powder if I wanted to, it wasn't really necessary. I'll keep checking throughout the day, and update here if there's anything to report. My first impression of this is that it's a keeper. Honestly, I think I prefer it to the Stila, and that's really saying something.

The Good
Scent is very light to non-existent
Even application
Medium to full coverage
Light feel
Natural-looking finish
Eliminates need for primer
Hygienic pump
Wide selection of shades
Good staying power
Easily available

The Bad
On the expensive side for drugstore ($12.99 at Ulta)
Concealer is still needed (though minimally)
Colormatching is a bit tricky
Can settle into fine lines

Final Verdict: 7.1 out of 10. This isn't just a good drugstore foundation. It's a good foundation. Period.

UPDATE!! After twelve hours of continuous wear, the foundation still looked pretty much like it did when I put it on. I didn't see any fading or caking. I did top off the powder around the six hour mark, but that was it. Darn good stuff.

*Disclaimer: BzzAgent sent me a coupon for this item so that I could try it out for free. They are a word-of-mouth advertising company, but I am not required to review it here, and all opinions are my own. Y'all know me; if I don't like something, I'll tell you. For more information on BzzAgent, please click here.

Shimmering Scavenger Hunt: Maybelline Limited Edition Summer Color Tattoo Review

I swear, Maybelline must have read every busy girl's mind when they created the Color Tattoo line. I'm completely addicted to them now, and while I don't have (or need) anywhere near the entire line, I do have quite a few. I just use my finger to pat a little on my eye lid, possibly add a crease color (if I'm feeling motivated and fancy), a little liner and mascara, and BAM! Good to go!

Obviously, when I heard that there was a limited edition collection (that I can not seem to find for sale anywhere online), I went on a little scavenger hunt around town to find them. Three days and six stores later, the Heavens parted and the angels sang right there in the middle of a Rite Aid, that just so happened to be next to a Checkers, where Thomas had a craving for ice cream. In other words, I just sort of stumbled across them. Even better, they were Buy One Get One 1/2 Off. Eureka!

The six colors available were all quite pretty. I was immediately drawn to Cool Crush, a shimmering silver with indigo duo-chrome. For the half-off shade, I let Thomas pick (why not?), and he chose Icy Mint, a pearlescent true mint green.

Left: Icy Mint. Right: Cool Crush.

Left: Icy Mint. Right: Cool Crush. Direct light on top, going into shade at the bottom. Icy Mint is really sheer. That's swatched pretty heavily. The Cool Crush is only swatched once.

I've had a chance to wear both, and overall, I'm very happy. The Icy Mint is perfect for anyone who wants to experiment with pastels, but is a little shy about it. It's sheer, and when worn on the lid only, gives just a hint of Spring-y color. I paired it with Tease from the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. Cool Crush is definitely not as subdued, given all of the sparkle and shine that comes with it, but can still be day appropriate. I wore it paired with Tornado from the Urban Decay Glinda palette, and they seemed almost made for each other. My only complaint is that, on my eyes, they do fade slightly. Oddly enough, they seem to fade at the crease first, leaving the area closest to my lashes nice and vibrant. It's weird, y'all.

The other colors in the line are:
Waves of White--iridescent white with pink and blue shifts. Think: Aura from the Glinda palette, only in a cream form.
Shady Shores--creamy yellow with green undertones.
Lavish Lavender--shimmering, well, lavender. Kinda says it all in the name...
Seashore Frosts--shimmering blue-gray with copper duo-chrome.

I actually went back to Rite Aid today and picked up Seashore Frosts. I'd considered it the first time around, and after a weekend of sleeping on it, decided to bite the bullet. I haven't gotten to play with it, though, so it's not included in this review. The other shades are absolutely beautiful, but I have Aura and rarely use it, so Waves of White seemed unnecessary. I do love yellow eyeshadow (really), but I have two gold bases already. I also went through a purple phase not too long ago, so I've got more than enough purple eyeshadow. Plus, Cool Crush has some serious purple in it, anyway--if you get one, you probably don't need to get the other. I felt like Icy Mint, Cool Crush, and Seashore Frosts were the most unique, un-dupe-able shades in the bunch. (If you'd like to see all of these colors swatched, check out Swatch Soiree's review. There are some extraordinarily helpful photos posted, along with some beautiful looks.)

So, are they worth hunting for? If you like Color Tattoos (or MAC Paint Pots, or Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadows), shimmer, and Spring-y colors, then absolutely. The staying power is pretty good (a primer would stop that fading, but I'm lazy), the shades that are unique are truly unique, and the price point is pretty darn unbelievable (less than seven bucks before any discounts or promos).

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. Good luck storming the drugstores!

Ip, Ip, Ooray! April Ipsy Glam Bag

I missed my Glossyboxes. Granted, they were ridiculously expensive, and more often than not, a little disappointing. Still, I loved the anticipation of not knowing what I was going to get, and the fun surprise of finding a little happy in the mailbox.

I'm a child. I know. I'm okay with this.

The Glossyboxes had to go. That was the hard truth, and one of the things that sucks about being a grown-up. They just didn't make the cut on my scale of fiscal responsibility. But...I still really wanted them.

Enter ipsy. Like Glossybox, they're a monthly subscription service that sends deluxe sample and travel-sized products to your door. Unlike Glossybox, they're only ten bucks. I can do ten bucks. Plus, each month's selection comes in a cute little makeup bag. That's a heck of a lot easier to reuse than the pink box. (I loved the pink boxes, and found ways to repurpose most of them, but a few still ended up in the trash, and that hurt my soul a little.) It should be noted that the ipsy products aren't quite as prestigious as the ones in the Glossyboxes, but let's be honest: was I ever really going to purchase a full size of the $100 moisturizer I sampled? Sweet fancy Moses, not a chance! Even if it was miraculous, there's no way I could ever swing that. Might I purchase a bottle of the $22 hair treatment from ipsy? No idea, but if it's miraculous, there's a distinct possibility, especially if I have an Ulta coupon.

Anyhoo, each month is themed, and this month was "Pretty in Pink". It was my first ipsy Glam Bag, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. Turns out, it was a pretty darn great bag.

The first product I tried out was the Mica Beauty mineral eye shadow in Earth. The shade is a lovely muted rose with a ton of sparkle. As with any loose mineral shadow, it helps to have a base for the product to stick to. Here, I have it layered over the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink. They're almost the exact same shade, so the pairing works nicely. The mineral shadow has good staying power, and I haven't experienced any creasing, even after hours of wear in high humidity. The size I received was 2g, just shy of the 2.5g full-sized version. The full-sized runs $14.95.

Next, I found a full-sized bottle of Sation by Miss Professional nail polish in the color Of Corset I'll Call You (that's adorable). The shade is a stunning sheer blush pink with a hint of lavender. Please note: it is very sheer, but not in a watered down, streaky way. I would call this less of a nail color, and more of a nail flush, and it would make for a gorgeous French manicure. In this picture, I'm wearing three coats, because, honestly...I'm a klutz. I kept making one nail darker than the one before it, and kept adding coats trying to even them out. Adding to the klutz factor: this is the only finger photographed because this is the only finger I didn't totally destroy immediately after applying nail polish. It has nothing to do with the polish, itself. It has everything to do with the fact that I've been out of town at a film festival, trying to buy a house, and hold down a job. I haven't really slept a whole lot, and am a little bit of a walking zombie, right now. Also, I may have had a slight case of food poisoning, as well. I'm a mess, y'all. But that's beside the point. Back to the polish! It's beautiful, goes on smoothly and evenly, and has a fantastic brush. Best of all, it's only five bucks for a bottle. I may have to pick up a few more

And it's blurry, too...I rock...(ugh...)

I'm really excited over the next product! Unfortunately, I'll have to wait a little longer to really play with it. Included in each bag was a full-sized (read: $16) Be a Bombshell blush. Mine was in the color Sweet Cheeks, which is kind of a bright mauve with a slight sheen. Sad to say, it broke in shipping (as did many others, according to Facebook), but a brand new one is on its way to me.

Cute, cute, cute packaging! It's about the size and shape of a MAC mineralized blush.

My heart hurts.

In the meantime, I did my best to work with what I had to, at least, give you an idea of the color and what it would look like on. Here it is on my cheek. While it might look a little scary in the pan, when applied with a fluffy brush, it appears as a natural flush on the skin. The sheen is so light that it just gives you a little glow. It's highly pigmented, not powdery, and I love the finish. Now, I really can't wait until the unbroken one arrives and I can really see what it can do.


See? There's a little color, but it doesn't look like I'm caked with blush. Also, I need a face mask. And to not photograph this close up. 

 Here's a shot of me with the blush and eyeshadow. The rest of the makeup is very minimal (mascara, eyeliner, beauty balm, concealer, lip balm, and a little pressed powder), and I think these products help pull together a very fresh and natural Spring look.

The last product in the bag was Sexy Hair Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Nourishing Styling Treatment. (That's a mouthful.) I haven't tried it yet, but as soon as I do, I'll give you a verdict. The sized I received is a good travel size, so I should get several uses out of it.

Part of the ipsy Glam Bag experience is the little makeup bag (the Glam Bag, itself, I suppose) that holds all of the products. This month's appears to be a simple white bag with a pink zipper, but I won't know for sure until next month. There was a problem with some of the bags, and those of us who were to receive those bags were sent a different one, with the assurance that our correct bag will arrive in our next shipment. The one I ended up with is cute, though. It's Springy and floral--not the highest quality, but whatever. It's not the one I was supposed to get, so I'm reserving judgement.

So, is ipsy worth the ten bucks a month? I think so. I've been impressed with the products I tested out, and really impressed with the customer service. I don't know how long I'll subscribe, but for now, it's a fun, inexpensive treat.

I Cut Myself Shaving My Arm...

I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off! Somehow, I have to clean the entire house, wash the car (in the rain...seems pointless, but you'd be surprised) and vacuum it out, charge all of the electronics (which is proving trickier than you'd think), pack personal and promo items, and go to work, ALL before bed tonight. Yeah...I'm not sleeping, methinks.

Thomas and I are heading to the Crossroads Film Festival in Jackson, Mississippi, this weekend. Our short film, C.U.P.I.D., is in competition, and we're beyond excited. I'll let you know how it goes, and maybe post some pictures if I can figure out how to do it on my phone. That's a big "if", but I'll try.

Have a fantastic weekend, and I'll see you on the flip side! (Because I have just about flipped out...)

Fake It Till You Wake It: Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner

My eyes suck.

 

Between living in the pollen capital of the world (okay, that's an exaggeration. It's just one of the highest counts in the nation), being allergic to life in general, and having an awesome job that I love, but requires me to get up with the chickens on the weekends, my eyes look pretty rough. They've earned it.

 

Over the past little while, I've been hearing about how using a nude liner on your waterline could really brighten up your eyes. White has always seemed a little harsh, and more fitting for Halloween or stage makeup, but the thought of nude made sense. It would, effectively, just act as concealer for the redness in that super delicate, hard to get to area. Cool. Beans.

 

Not wanting to spend an arm and a leg on a high-end waterproof liner--especially not knowing if this trick would even work on me--I was thrilled to find that Rimmel London had their own version (aptly named "nude") in the very affordable $4-$5 range. I snapped one up and gave it a go. Here's the lowdown:

 

The Good

• This pencil applies very smoothly, and does leave your waterline looking much brighter and more awake. The difference is actually pretty darn staggering.
• The color is a beautiful, creamy flesh-tone that matches my waterline perfectly. If you have a very pale, slightly pink skin tone, you could probably use this as a spot concealer in a pinch. I tried, and it worked fairly well, but was just too pink for me.
• It is waterproof and smudge-proof. I swatched it on my hand, waited a minute or two, then rubbed hard to see if it would move. Nope! Then, I splashed a little water on it and wet my finger and rubbed again. Again, nothing moved. That's what I call waterproof.
• Lastly, the packaging is nice. You do have to sharpen this pencil, but that's a plus if you do makeup for other people. The pencil, itself, is the same color as the product, and has silver foiled writing on the sides, and a clear cap. It's sleek and looks lovely in my makeup organizer.

The Bad

• It doesn't stay on my waterline. When I first apply the product, it looks fantastic. Within a very short period of time, though (less than an hour, in some cases), it begins to fade. That's unfortunate, but it could just be my eyes. I haven't had good luck with darker liners on the waterline, either. Even the Urban Decay 24/7 tends to shift a bit on my waterline, and it's supposed to be practically bullet-proof.

I'm going to keep using this product. If nothing else, it'll look good when I first put it on, and I can carry the pencil in my purse for touch-ups.

Final Verdict: If you can wear liners on your waterline, give it a shot.  8 out of 10.

You Can't Take the Sky From Me (But You Can Take My Money)

You know, if I weren't already broke, I certainly would be after today. First of all, I awoke this morning to see this precious sight on Ript:

Photo Credit: Ript Apparel

Malvin and Cobbes!!!! I love it!!!! For the next few hours, you can snag this shirt for ten bucks. After that, head over to Redbubble. It'll cost (quite a bit) more, but you can change the shirt color to one of your liking, and you don't have that evil timer counting down the seconds. While you're there, check out the artist's other works. Karen Hallion's portfolio is a pop culture fever dream of awesomeness. Subjects range from Harry Potter to Labyrinth, on to zombies, Doctor Who, and Disney princesses--often in mash-ups that make you think, "Wow! I never saw it that way, but now that you mention it..." She's good, y'all.

As if that weren't torture enough, a few minutes later, a friend of mine liked a post on Facebook. Martha, I am less than happy with you, now. I want these.



Photo Credit: Sweet Libertine Mineral Cosmetics

 Firefly-inspired mineral eye shadows!!!! I know, I'm using an over abundance of exclamation points today, but...really?!!! The names are fantastic (Inevitable Betrayal, Jayne's Hat, Captain Tight Pants, etc.), and the colors are very fitting. The bright yellow of Jayne's "cunning" hat, the blue gloves...spot on. My favorites are Companion, Leaf on the Wind, and The Captain's Wife, but they're all beautiful in the photographs.

Now, I've never heard of this brand, and I've definitely never tried them, so this is not an out and out recommendation. However, if you want to test them out for yourself, each shade is only $7, and the entire set can be purchased for $120. They've caught my attention, I'll tell you that.

Are You Kidding Me?

Good evening, ladies and germs! Wow, I just put sunless tanner all over my body, and BOY are my arms tired!

No, seriously. I put sunless tanner on this morning, and now I'm doing well to hold my water bottle to my mouth without wearing most of the contents. My arms are as shaky as if I'd done a hundred push-ups. Well, let me rephrase that: my arms are as shaky as I would imagine them to be if I'd done a hundred push-ups. We all know I've never done a hundred push-ups...so you can stop laughing at the idea of it (Mom and Thomas). Thanks.

Am I really in that bad of shape? I mean, my arms are actually sore from applying the lotion to the skin. That's ridiculous. Granted, I've never been the kind of girl who could do chin-ups or bench press, well, anything. In high school, I joined the band to get out of P.E. Of course, I joined the color guard, so I twirled flags and danced and ran all over the place, so it kind of defeated the purpose, but still...it's the principle. Anyway, I've danced for most of my life--professionally, for a spell--and still have the calves and thighs to prove it. So, while I've never been athletically inclined, I've always thought I was "in shape". Not supermodel bikini shape, but certainly not embarrasingly weak and wimpy.

Apparently, I was wrong.

I have been bested by a bottle of bronzer. That's pathetic.

Maybe it's because I'm only a couple of months away from my 33rd birthday, and my baby brother (whom I'm old enough to have birthed, myself) is in high school and learning how to drive, but this is really depressing me. I truly thought I was healthy. Sure, I'm a few pounds heavier than I'd like to be (aren't we all?), but I'm in the middle of my target weight for my height. I ate a salad for lunch. I had a smoothie for a snack. Am I just getting old? When my Mom was my age, I was eight--that's sobering. True, I dye away the "sparkle" in my hairline, and I use an eye cream and anti-aging treatment, but that doesn't make me old? Does it? I'm buying a house and working with a mortgage lender and figuring out insurance and all sorts of other grown-up-y things, but that doesn't make me old? Right?

I am not old. I will not be old. I might gain years, chronologically speaking (it sure beats the alternative), but I will not be old. My aunt is 87 years old (and shall remain nameless, because she'd kill me for letting that out) and is still completely independent, dresses stylishly, and is sharp as a tack. She's not old, so, neither am I.

I might do more grown-up-y things, like have a kid, or open an IRA (neither happening anytime soon), but that does not make me old.

I might have to start coloring my hair more often to cover up the ever-increasing "sparkle", but that does not make me old.

I might get winded putting on body lotion, or have to stop on the third or fourth flight of stairs, but that does not make me old.

I'm not old until I say so, and you can't make me. Nana nana boo boo!

By the way, the tan looks good.

Plus, I got carded today buying a pack of wine coolers at the grocery store. Probably because I was wearing sweatpants, a Doctor Who shirt, and no makeup.

I guess I'm not over the hill just yet.

Spring Sophistication: Easy Coral and Gold Manicure

It's Spring (-ish), and that means it's time for pretty bright colors! It also means that it's wedding season, and I'm (thankfully) ridiculously busy. I needed a nail look that's cute, classy, and quick. Here's what I came up with:

I'm digging it. The most time consuming part was the coral base coat. I used Flower Beauty Nail'd It in What's the Daffodilly-O, and it takes about three coats for full, streak-free opacity. The gold tips were made with Urban Decay nail polish in Superfreak, from the Rollergirl palette. That palette has been discontinued, but you can still find it on ebay. A more readily-available option is Essie nail polish in Good As Gold. The topcoat is Finger Paints. I knocked this out while I watched TV Monday evening...and took the picture today. Friday. That's three solid days of wear without a single chip. I can't vouch that the Essie will be as chip-resistant, of course, but the Flower Beauty has great wear time on its own. This may be my new go-to look for the season.

Got any nail looks you want to share? Leave 'em in the comments!

In Which I Was Young and Stupid

Back in 2003, shortly before I graduated from College, I worked for a little radio station in my town. It doesn't even exist anymore, sadly, and the pretty building that once housed it (along with a tiny tot dance studio and, oddly enough, a possibly drug-addled, decidedly difficult, eventually evicted apartment tenant) is now a preschool. I only mention all of that to give you an idea of how teeny this station was. Because it was so small, those of us who worked there grew to be fairly tight-knit. One co-worker ended up a bridesmaid in my wedding, if that gives you any idea. So, when one of us had the opportunity to move on to bigger and better, we were all thrilled for him, but sad to see him go. A going away party was definitely in order. Problem was, I had a class during the party, and a play rehearsal immediately after class. Scheduling was going to be a bit tight.

My plan (and we all know what they say about plans) was to go to class first. It was a performance class, so I could volunteer to sing first, and slip out the back once I was finished. Then, I could high-tail it over to the party, make an appearance, and head on to rehearsal. Now, ten years wiser, I look back and realize that, obviously, I should have just skipped the party and given the guy a nice card, instead. I also could have just called the teacher and begged off class, since I was mere days from graduating and had had perfect attendance up to that point. It wouldn't have been a big deal. At the time, though, it seemed dire that I be at everything, all at one time. What can I say? I was young and stupid.

So, the evening of the party, I hopped in my Skylark (oh, yes, I had one of those. Got the recall notice about the spontaneously combusting steering column, and everything) and set forth to class. I took the shortest route possible, and was doing pretty well until I caught a red light about a block from the University. I sat there, and sat there, and sat there, and looked at my watch, and sat there, and WHAM!!!!

My air-conditioner and radio landed in my passenger seat, and I jolted forward so quickly that I, truly, didn't know what hit me. My Skylark rammed forward through the red light, and came to rest at an angle, facing the oncoming traffic. Thank God there wasn't any.

The pick-up truck that sent me careening down the street had tried to stop for the light, but its brakes had failed. The poor driver was just as terrified and shocked as I was. Legally, it was his fault, but really, it was just a horrible, scary accident. We waited for the police, filled out paperwork, and thanked our lucky stars that no one was hurt and the cars were driveable. The officer on scene did ask if I needed to see a doctor, but I felt fine. Anyway, I had stuff to do. I couldn't bother with the emergency room.

I hopped back in my car, make a quick call to the school to explain what had happened (class had long since started), and drove straight to the going away party, already in progress. I stayed about five minutes, maybe. I don't think I even went into the building. My co-workers were shocked that I had come, and wondered why I hadn't gone straight to the doctor. After all, if the collision had caused my front console to eject, what had it done to my body? But I felt fine. Anyway, I had to go to rehearsal. I couldn't bother with a doctor.

Onward to the theatre! By the time I arrived, about an hour had passed since the wreck, but I felt fine. I was ready to sing and dance! Of course, that was before my little boyfriend at the time ("little boyfriend"...we were both 22 years-old. Little, my foot. I'm just Southern, and that's how we talk down here) took one look at me and wanted to know what the heck had happened. Apparently, I was walking a little funny and acting loopy as all get-out. The boyfriend also worked at a car audio place, so when he saw the radio, et al, sitting in the front seat, he had a pretty good idea how hard I'd been hit. Next thing you know, he'd told the (very understanding) director that there was no way I was going to be able rehearse, and I was loaded up in the car and taken home. I remember getting to the theatre and him seeing the car. I only know the rest because I was told. I still did not see a doctor. I was just in shock. I felt fine.

A few days later, I couldn't turn my head. I finally saw a doctor, and learned that I had a mild case of whiplash. Nothing serious. It should clear itself up with stretching and some IcyHot. My voice teacher urged me to get a brace, just to make sure everything healed correctly, but I was young, it didn't hurt that badly, and I was afraid I'd look ridiculous.

I should have listened.

Ten years later, I'm sitting here with Tiger Balm on my neck. I have a neck massager at home that gets a real workout, and a special, freakishly expensive bed pillow that's designed for neck issues. The flare-ups are few and far-between, but when they happen, they happen. It's not fun. I don't enjoy it. This go-round was caused by a combination of several factors, including stress (unavoidable) and strain (I did crunches and push-ups. Heaven forbid...). It's getting better, but it's, pardon the expression, a real pain in the neck.

So, my point, and do I have one? My little brother just got his learner's permit. Several of his friends have either gotten theirs, too, or are planning to over the next few months. Not only that, it's Spring Break, and a lot of kiddos are going on road trips. Depending on how you look at it, this accident was both completely unavoidable, and completely avoidable.

The wreck was unavoidable because the truck's brakes failed. I was simply sitting at a red light. There honestly wasn't anything anyone could have done at that moment. However, regular maintenance and keeping an eye on service lights should have detected the problem long before the brakes finally gave way. As for the whiplash and subsequent years of discomfort...I should have seen a doctor. Not one of those activities was worth this much trouble, and it's not like I got to do any of them anyway. If you're in an accident and given the option of seeing a doctor, see them. If you are given expert advice from a professional that you know and trust, it's probably best to take it. I let my stubborness and my pride get in the way, and I'm paying for it now.

So, kids, before you get on the road, please make sure that your vehicle is in proper working order. If you do get into an accident, get checked out--even if you have a million things to do and feel perfectly fine. You may not know how not fine you actually are.

Wow. That was not the post I intended to write. This was supposed to be about Tiger Balm, and how awesome it is on sore muscles, and how nice it smells. Um...so, yeah. All that, too.

Just use your brains and stay safe, kids. Have a fantastic Spring Break, and congrats on the Rite of Passage.

March Favorites!

Oh, dear God, it's April. When did that happen? Well, here are the products that most impressed me during the month of March. Some are new, some are new to me, and some are old loves. Have fun, and leave me your faves in the comments.

Eyes
Naked Palette--Half Baked/Smog
Who doesn't adore the Pixiwoo sisters? I mean, really? They're precious, and their tutorials are amazing, and surprisingly easy to recreate. One of my favorites was a Victoria's Secret-inspired bronze look that used these two shadows from the Urban Decay Naked palette. Half Baked on the lid, and Smog at the lashline (upper and lower) look spectacular on hazel eyes. It's my go-to these days.

Anastasia Eye Lights Matte in Camille
Sure, you can use this to add a matte highlight to your browbone or inner corner...yada, yada, yada. Whatevs. Personally, I love to run this creamy, slightly pink fleshtone over the darkest parts of my undereye, then go over it with my regular concealer. There's no tugging or pulling, and the shade is just pink enough to brighten without going over into the too-peach category that so many brightening concealers tend to lean toward. I'm super pale with yellow undertones, so while salmon concealers look gorgeous on everyone else, I look like I smudged coral eyeshadow under my eyes. It's not a good look, trust me. This works perfectly.

Lips
Flower Beauty Shine On Lipgloss in Pretty In Petunia
Hello, gorgeous! This has been the perfect wash of coral-ly goodness for the dreary Spring we've had so far. Whereas salmon concealer looks horrendous under my eyes, salmon lipgloss brightens up the face like crazy! The formula is really beautiful, too; not to sticky, decent wear, and moisturizing. It's lovely, and you can't beat the Walmart pricetag.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush in Strawberry Fizz
This stays in my purse. In a pinch, it looks beautiful on its own, for a lot of shine and a little color. You can also pop it over a coordinating liner (Rimmel Rose Quartz is a good one) for a deeper, super sparkly, shade. Plus, it smells like candy.

Face
Flower Beauty Skincognito Foundation Stick
You know how in my review I mentioned that this went on patchy and didn't cover well? Well, I'm going back to update it. The product is fine--my application was off. I used a brush to blend the foundation into my skin, when really, I should have been using my hands. The heat from my (clean and sanitized) hands melts the product into the skin for a much smoother, more even application. Used over a primer, this lasts all day, and the finish is completely natural looking. The coverage has been much better, as well. I've been wearing this about every other day, and love the look of it.

Flower Beauty Ready, Set, Glow Blush/Bronzer Duo in Beachy Keen
I know, I know, I'm on a Flower Beauty kick. I can't help it! All of the products I picked up have, legitimately, become everyday staples. This blush has usurped my NARS Orgasm, and the bronzer is just the ticket for a beachy glow. I highly recommend checking this one out.

*Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded
This is sort of an honorable mention because it's been in a few Favorites now, and this is not the intended use for the product, but it works. If you like the look of Benefit Watt's Up but don't have it handy, dab a little of this particular shade onto your cheekbones, inner corners, brow bone, and cupid's bow for an almost identical look. Added bonus: it's not going to budge. Well...the cupid's bow budges, but nothing else does. Plus, it's $6 compared to $30.

Skin
Basin Face Mask
I didn't supply a link for this because you can't get it online...which really sucks. However, if you happen to have a Basin store near you (or are planning a trip to Disney World--there's one in Downtown Disney), do yourself a favor and hop on over and get a custom face mask. For about twelve bucks, you'll receive a colloidial clay base of your choosing (mine is strawberry), and a bottle of glycerine mixed with whatever ingredients you decide. I picked green tea and sea kelp...I think. It's not in front of me, but it is marked on the bottle. Mix the two together whenever you want to apply. I needed a mask to brighten skin and fight inflammation, since I tend to get puffy. This has worked like a charm! The lady at the counter told me I could get three to five masks out of the set, but I've had it since October, and have made well over half a dozen and it's still going strong.

Meaningful Beauty Skin Brightening Treatment
For years, I have been infuriated by informericials for Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty. They talk about Ms. Crawford like she was the Cryptkeeper! "What? She's 43 and still looks sooo young!!" Because she is young. Forty-three ain't what it used to be. My mom had a one year-old when she was 43. I'm not quite 33, and the mere thought that I could be considered "old" in ten years is downright heartwrenching. That said, I've been fighting some dark spots for a bit, and ran across a bottle of this on sale at Sephora. (Meaningful Beauty has revamped the formula and changed the packaging) Desperate times called for desperate measures. And you know what? It's really good stuff. My skin looks incredibly bright and alive, and my makeup applies better, too. Honestly, I'm considering ordering the set when I need to restock my skincare. It's about forty bucks for five pieces (fifty for seven pieces), and my eye cream alone costs thirty at MAC (and I'm not thrilled...review to come). That's a serious deal, money's tight, and I know that at least one product is a winner. It galls me to use this stuff, but it's a good product at a great price, and I'm not going to miss out (or not tell you about it) because of ego.

*Replenix All-Trans-Retinol Eye Repair Cream
Here's another honorable mention, but only because I'm never going to purchase this. It's $75 freaking dollars. That's not happening. Anyhoo, I had a deluxe sample of this stuff, and my current eye cream was a bit of a disappointment, so I gave it a shot. It's wonderful. It's emolient and moisturizing and makes my little fine lines softer and less noticeable and I love it...and it's crazy expensive. Darn it.

Hair
Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Shampoo/Conditioner/One-Minute Moisture-Plenish
This is going to get a real review later, but I've been using this for a while and really, really like it. BzzAgent sent me this set to test out and give my opinion on, so it's been in my shower for a few weeks. In that time, I've been able to stop using my leave-in treatment. That's astounding. Plus, while it's not color-safe, I haven't noticed any fading. I even used a white towel to dry my hair, and had to look extremely hard to find even a trace of transfer, and I'm still not positive there was any. I've been using mainly the shampoo and conditioner, but once every one to two weeks I'll throw in the one-minute treatment. My hair's been smooth, shiny, and soft. Best of all, the system smells like tropical fruit, so I feel like I'm showering with a mixed drink--I just wish it came with one of those little umbrellas!

Random Observations and Hard Truths

Either I dress like a seventeen year-old boy, or there's a kid at the mall who dresses like a 32 year-old woman. In either case, it made for an awkward moment outside of Hollister last night.

Why do the owners on Bar Rescue get so bent out of shape over Taffert changing the name or redesigning the interior? He does that on every episode. Did they not watch the show before signing up? I could understand the first couple of seasons, but it's been on for a while now.

In my town, there is a cupcake shop next to a gym, and a Baskin Robbins next to a Weight Watchers. There's a special place in Hell for those sweet shoppe owners.

Pineapple-Banana smoothies and Pinterest-inspired single-serve salads are awesome. They make a fantastic lunch, and I feel so much healthier for eating that today. It was even better when followed by a Cadbury Caramel Egg.

I should consider joining that gym next to the cupcake shop.

Facebook is a complete and total productivity-sucker. That said, if I ever stopped scrolling through it, I might miss gems like this:

Photo Credit: Facebook (The Walking Dead Memes, via Rosemary Martin)
I laughed for about a minute.

The other day at Target, I saw two really cute belted dresses that I considered trying on...until I realized they were in the maternity section. Why are there belted dresses in the maternity section?

I really want a red velvet cupcake. Darn you, cupcake shop!

It costs as much today to go to a matinee flick as it did for my first date to take me to a nighttime showing. Thank God for Netflix.

A couple of weeks ago, I had to explain to my brother what life was like before the Internet. Ouch.

One of my brother's friends had never seen a rotary phone until he saw my mother's decorative princess phone. He asked how to text on it...and was serious. Double ouch.

Walgreen's only had 100+ sunscreen when I ran out of what I had and needed to buy another tube. I think I'm getting paler.

Thomas and I are buying a house, finishing a movie, preparing for a festival, and working our regular jobs. Whoever invented the frozen margarita in a bag, I salute you.