Out Darn Spot!: Garnier Dark Spot Corrector Progress

Happy Lundi Gras!!!! I'm actually going to be at the big party this year, so look for pics coming soon. Of course, it's also supposed to pour buckets during the parades, so those pictures might be of the inside of the local shop. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Quick update: I've now been using the Garnier Nutritioniste Dark Spot Correcting Peel and Daily Moisturizer for six weeks, and I can tell a difference. My dark spots are nowhere near gone, but they are lighter and easier to cover with concealer. I'm going to continue using these products and keep you posted on the progress. I got mine on a BOGO, so I only paid around $16 for the set. That's a heckuva lot cheaper than an in-office procedure, I'll tell you that.

Have a fantastic Monday, and I'll see you soon!

Playing Cinderella at the Ball

I got all dolled up for the Mardi Gras, and since it's a rare occurrence for me to be this fancy, I thought I'd share it with you guys. I also thought it might be helpful to prom-goers, since I did this on a very tight budget, using stuff from the drugstore, along with some very popular higher-end items that a lot of you guys already have, or can either dupe or acquire on the cheap. If you want to skip this one, though, I'll understand.

*sniff*

Thomas took this picture of me after we got back, so so I'm super proud of my hair for not falling completely flat. It was close to midnight, and I was a little bleary (I'm a 10:00 pm bedtime kind of girl), but I actually squeezed into this dress and needed visual proof.

Again, this is end of the night makeup, but it proves that Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray is a freaking miracle product. I'll list products used at the end of the post, in case you're interested in recreating.

Here's a close-up of the eye makeup. It was created using a white base, then silver and navy cream shadows layered on top. Over that, I blended silver, blue, black, and muted purple shadows, and finished with a warm white highlighter at the tear duct and browbone. The coolest part, to me, anyway, is the crystal accent. These came as part of a set called Eye Rock, and I found it at Ulta for about $6.99. Technically, you're supposed to apply these as you would a temporary tattoo, and they come in pretty designs. I didn't want that much going on around my eye, so I just used a pair of tweezers to pick a couple off of the sticky backing (they come pre-glued), and applied them only where I wanted a little extra sparkle. They're not the easiest little suckers to work with, and I did lose a few along the way, but once they were on, they were on. They're also re-usable, if you want to save them and re-stick with a little spirit gum at a later date. (The original sticky back is a one-time-use kind of deal, just to be clear.) If you would like to see a real tutorial on this look, let me know in the comments.

My hair is long, damaged, and unruly. Think: Merida from Brave, but with fewer curls and more frizz. It does what it wants, when it wants, and I'm really beginning to think it's sentient. Anyhoo, to get through the night I decided, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and let it do it's own thing...with a little guidance.

I started by hot rolling my hair, using Bumble & Bumble Prep. This helps extend the life of the curl, but in a soft, touchable way. I wanted waves, not curls, and this helps achieve that look much better than hairspray can. Once the curls set, I took down the rollers and finger combed the curls to break them up. Then, I twisted two sections on the side where my hair is parted, pinning them to the back of my head. After that, I took the remaining length and divided it so that all of the hair on the non-twisted side would remain down, and the bit that was left on the twisted side was loosely twisted upward to meet the other twisted sections (good Lord, I hope that makes sense). I made a loose bun with the now twisted length, and used it to cover the pins I'd used on the first two twisted sections. I added a sparkly comb for interest. So, the left side of my head was all twisty, and the right side was completely down and curled. It's like a really fancy-schmancy side pony, without the ponytail holder. I used Aquage hairspray to finish.

So that's my glammed-up "Goin' to the Boom Boom" (as it's referred to around here. Because the parades are loud and have marching band drums throughout. I'm totally serious.) formal look. If you're getting ready for prom (or any other formal event) and want to DIY your hair and makeup, I hope this helped. The only thing I had to buy was a blue eyeshadow base and the crystals, so I only spent about $12 or $13 total. Here's that promised product list:

Touch in Sol Feels Like Honey Moon Skin Base (from a past Glossybox--any non-mattifying primer will work)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation (Check out the Revlon Nearly Naked for a decent dupe)

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Electric Blue

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Spoon (Maybellline Color Tattoo in Silver Strike is almost identical)

Urban Decay Naked Palette (Gunmetal, Creep)

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (Verve, Blackout)

MAC Apres Chic Eyeshadow in Fireside (any muted plum will work. You're only blending out the edges with it.)

MAC Apres Chic Eyeshadow in Ice (I really don't have a dupe for this one. Mixing a little peach and gold glitter into a shimmery white eyeshadow might be a good place to start, though.)

Buxom Insider Eyeliner in Onyx (liner--any black cream/gel pencil will work)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero (waterline)

Buxom Lash Mascara (or any black mascara that you like. Add false lashes, too, if you want!)

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette (E.L.F. Brow Kit works well, too)

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Tarte Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess (on cheeks)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface (on cheeks--you can get this and the bronzer in a travel set and save A LOT)

Benefit Hoola Bronzer (contour--look for a deluxe sample of this in the mini-kits Benefit is so fond of putting out. The sets run about $10-$15 and offer several products. A mini of this will last for-freaking-ever)

Eye Rock crystal tattoo (or rhinestones and spirit gum)

Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in London (or any matte baby pink)

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Rose Quartz

Victoria's Secret Color Drama Lipstick in Enamored

LORAC Perfectly Lit Pressed Powder in Spotlight (for highlighting contour. Try Hard Candy Baked Blush in Pin Up)

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roullier! Glam Mardi Gras Ball Nails

Tonight, Thomas and I are going to a Mardi Gras ball! I'll be working as a narrator for the tableaux, so I'm even more excited than usual. Normally, the local news anchors and radio personalities take on those roles, so It's a huge honor for little ol' me to get to do this. It's also a really nerve-wracking, because instead of throwing on a gown from a couple of years ago, hoping my hair only frizzes half as much as it normally does, and just trying to blend in with the crowd, I'm going to have a spotlight on me. Oh. Dear. God. No complaints, but I've had to kick "gettin' purty" into high gear.

I have an awesome dress that I hope to God I can squeeze into. It's not Spanx-friendly, so I'm on my own, and already formulating a backup plan. I have fake-baked, exfoliated, moisturized, exfoliated some more, face-masked, moisturized some more, and broken in my heels. Last night, I bit the bullet and did my mani-pedi. I'm never sure of the best time to do those. I chip my nails just thinking about chipping my nails. Anyhoo, I wanted something super glam with just a little bit of silver bling. My dress has silver and, well, it's Mardi Gras. You have to be just a little over-the-top. Here's what I came up with:

Sorry for the slightly fuzzy picture. I can not take a picture of my hand without my other hand shaking. I've even tried propping the camera up on something. I need a tripod. And a better camera. And talent.

The base coat is Femme Fatale by Ulta. Once that dried, I used LA Colors Art Deco silver glitter to draw on the half moon and fill it in. This is not easy to do, and can be very frustrating, so don't get discouraged. Just take your time and remember to breathe. Once that's dried, dot a holographic top coat (mine's discontinued, sadly, but here's a great option) on top of the silver for a little extra dimension. Finish with a clear topcoat.

That's my fancy-schmancy manicure for the fancy-schmancy ball tonight. Tomorrow, the coach turns back into a pumpkin, and the pumpkin into a...carpet cleaner, actually. I have Krampus tracks all over my living room. Glamorous, no?

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roullier!

Happy Mardi Gras!

If you're not from around here (or, like me, and stuck at work), you can still enjoy the parades by clicking this link. It's a live feed of all the action, courtesy of a local news channel. Sit back, pour yourself a hurricane, and let the good times roll!

Where the Wild Things Are

Things are crazy here in the land of Mardi Gras! Yesterday was Joe Cain Day, and an extended one, at that. Three Saturday parades that were postponed due to a torrential rainstorm were added to the already packed Sunday Carnival schedule. Today is Lundi Gras, with more parades, and tomorrow is the Granddaddy party of the Carnival season: Fat Tuesday!

I'll be at work.

Somebody please send me a moonpie.

Pretty please?

To make myself feel better, I dug up some heretofore unpublished photos from New Orleans 1938 Mardi Gras season. Things were different then...but not by that much.

Yeah...that's about right, I'd say. About the only thing missing is a street vendor trying to get through with a full cart of glo-sticks and t-shirts.

Photo Credit (All Black and White): Life

Photo Credit: The Oakland Press

Floats! You can't have Mardi Gras without floats, and this is pretty close to it's modern equivalent. The technology may have improved a bit, though.

Photo Credit: Mail.com

Now, while I don't have an updated picture to go with these fellas, I'm fairly sure one of their 2012 counterparts danced his way past my car and across the street Sunday afternoon. I have to say, it was a pretty good show.

Happy Lundi Gras, everyone, and Laissez Les Bon Temps Roullier!

Ashes To Ashes, Now Pass the Hush Puppies

As I write this, in the honest-to-God home of the original Mardi Gras (1703, thank you. That's fifteen years before New Orleans even existed), I am right smack dab in the middle of Fat Tuesday. Well, I'm as smack dab in the middle as one can be when they're stuck at work on a day when everyone else in the entire city is off, Downtown, and tossing back hurricanes while they catch beads and moonpies (I'm not bitter). Even the local news channel canceled all programming to bring live coverage of the parades, interspersed with shots of folks grilling ribs, frying funnel cakes, and just generally having a fabulous time (I'm not bitter).

 

My brother is out of school. (Yeah, okay, I'm bitter as heck!)

 

Truly, Fat Tuesday is the epitome of frivolity and debauchery, but many tend to forget that there's more to the day than imbibing and flashing (which is illegal here, I might add). Fat Tuesday is the day before (what, by the time this posts, will be) today: Ash Wednesday.

 

For you non-Catholics out there, Ash Wednesday is not just the day that people walk around with dirty foreheads. I mean, yes, we do that, too, but that's not the main thing. It's also not just the time of year when my choir director likes to torture me by dropping all keys a half-step each week, though I think it's one of the highlights of his year. Finally, no, Thomas, it's not the day when we all celebrate Bruce Campbell's achievements against demonic possession. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season; that time before Easter when we reflect on our sins and on just what our redemption cost. The ashes are created by burning the palm fronds from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration, and symbolize repentence and mortality. Lent is a dark time of sorrow and remorse, and a far cry from the jubilant Mardi Gras season.

 

It is also, as one of my parents' Sunday School kids once put it, "when we eat grilled cheese sandwiches on Friday".

 

Lent is when we give up something we enjoy, or strive to better a portion of our lives that has been lacking. True, Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays (though it does give us a chance to throw some awesome fish fries), but the real point is the restraint and self-denial, to symbolize the 40 days of prayer and fasting Jesus went through before he began his public ministry (It also gives us something to talk about at the fish fries). 

 

I have no idea what I'm giving up. Not a clue, so I Googled up a little advice.

 

Twitter users are giving up Twitter, baked goods, sweets, smoking, television (no!), Mountain Dew, alcohol (some limiting that to non-weekend beers), Facebook (egad! I'd die!), McDonald's, random snacks, and my favorite, gloating over football.

 

I'm still undecided. As of right now, I'm thinking I might give up going over 1200 calories a day. It's something I really need to work on, and a fairly reasonable goal. Remember, though, whatever you sacrifice is YOUR sacrifice. It's not your family/friend/co-worker's fault that you gave up caffeine or smoking. Don't take it out on them. One more thing: even if you're not Catholic, Christian, or religious at all, Lent can be a wonderful time for self-reflection; a time to think about what you can do to be a better you. That's something we all should do from time to time, anyway. Good luck, guys!