Challenge, Part Deux: Vamping It Up

I am a child of the 80s, and somehow, had managed to miss out on The Lost Boys until this week. Of course, I also, somehow, managed to miss out on Jaws, Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, Gremlins, and Indiana Jones until I was grown. Actually, I've still never seen Labyrinth, come to think of it. I do, however, have a Thriller sweatshirt from when I was three. It's cut up Flashdance-style, and I wore it to baby ballet. My mom has it framed with my ballet shoes. And yes, I have seen Flashdance.

Anywho, Thomas Netflixed The Lost Boys for me, and I got to spend two glorious hours watching vampires who don't sparkle (except they do when they get blown up. Check out the blood on the Frog brothers. It glitters) but do kick butt. I loved it. That said, it was also two hours of horribly dated 80s fashions, so I thought I might have to gouge out my eyes. Seriously, Edward Herrmann (Grandpa Gilmore!!) in a black and white checkered sportscoat--with ginormous shoulder pads--over a hot pink button-down with a necktie. I missed the color of the necktie, sadly. The rest of the outfit and the neon surrounding it distracted me. Holy Fluorescence, Batman!

Then, lovely pre-Twister Jami Gertz shows up in her gorgeous amazing technicolor dreamskirt and makes me long for the gypsy skirts I used to wear growing up. Her skirt's gauzy and dreamy and rhinestone encrusted and I want it. Oh, my Lord & Taylor, I want that skirt. The problem is, you can't really wear them anymore. Well, you can, but people ask you for palm readings. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just hate to disappoint them.

So, thinking back to yesterday's post, I decided to try another challenge. Update the gypsy look in a way that's actually wearable. I also don't want to break the bank, so let's keep it under $150. I'm also ignoring the fact that, as a hobbit, I should never wear maxi dresses. I may have to make an exception.

Here is Jami Gertz, and a really horrible picture of her cute skirt. There are no decent full-body pictures of her on the Interwebs, I'm sorry to report.

Photo by Infinite Coolness

Photo by Denofgeek.com

Yep. That's really the best I could do. But you can see *some* of the skirt, anyway. Yeesh.

Basically (since you can't see it), she's in a white eyelet lace tank top and sparkly gypsy skirt. It's multi-colored, but predominantly pink. Alrighty, then. Here we go.

For starters, let's go with a dress, and not a skirt and top combo. We'll calm it down to one color that we can work with. White's good. Add in some minor embellishments, and make sure the neckline is a little on the sexy side, but with a girlish innocence. How's this:

Photo by Boston Proper

I love the gold rings holding the tiers together. They add in a bit of that gypsy vibe, and show off a touch of skin without being vulgar. Also, how cute are the itty-bitty ties at the shoulders?!

Next, let's add a mettallic boho scarf/wrap to it. That way, we get the flowy material, sparkle, and a pop of color.

Photo by Rainbow Bridge Fashion

Some matching jewelry should add to the gypsy feel we're going for, as well even more sparkle. Maybe some crystal bangles?

Photo by ebay

Finally, some sandals. I like a bit of a lift, so let's go with platform. Maybe a woven texture, to keep with the earthy look?

Photo by Payless

Let's see: Dress, $89.99; Scarf, $12.99; Bangles, $18.00; Sandals, $9.00. Total: $129.98. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Anything else you want to see if we can make "real world" wearable? Let me know. It'll be fun! Also, if you've taken fashion inspiration from a movie character and would like to share with the rest of the class, that'd be awesome, too. Let me know in the comments section.

Challenge! B-Movie Update

Photo by Netflix

Last night, Thomas and I kicked back with Mystery Science Theatre 3000's take on The Blood Waters of Dr. Z. To say this was a bad movie would be like saying that sugar is a bad fuel additive--quite the understatement. I mean, I guess it's good as a public service announcement. The monster does remember to always use handrails when taking the stairs, afterall.
Overall, it's some of the best work the MST3K guys have done. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, and once I looked over and Thomas actually had tears in his eyes. It's hilarious, and if you haven't seen it, you're really missing out.

Now, for the point. This was a severely dated movie. It came out in the 70s, and everything about it screams period. Toward the end of the movie, one of the actresses had on a maxi dress. Taking into consideration the pastel colors and sheer, flowy material, I think it was chosen to represent her youth and beauty. I couldn't find an image of it from the movie, but here's a dress that's fairly close.

Photo by Rusty Zipper

Now, the dress in the movie had a higher neckline and was all yellow, but other than that, this is pretty similar. It's a lovely dress, but it's so of its era, I'm not sure you could wear it and it not look costumey. If you're into it, though (and you happen to be a size 0 Extra Small), it's available for $35 at rustyzipper.com.

I thought it might be a fun challenge to see if I could find a modern version; something a little more wearable, but still keeping the basics--flowy material, floral motif, pastel colors, youth and beauty. Oh, one more thing, the movie was set in Florida, so weather appropriate (no long sleeves).

This was a much tougher challenge than I had estimated. Apparently, tribal prints and tie-dye are all the rage when it comes to maxi dresses. I had no idea. I'm 5'3" and curvy. I have no business even looking at maxi dresses, much less wearing them. Who knew?

I did find one, though, at Macy's (on sale for $17.99!!!), and I have to say I'm fairly proud of myself.

Photo by Macy's

I apologize for the awful picture. I won't go into the details, but it was like pulling teeth to get a picture this good. If you would like to see a better image, you can go here, but I couldn't pull it for the site. Sorry.
Okay, everyone back from Macy's? Isn't it pretty?! For those of you who didn't attend the field trip, it's a strapless maxi dress, white, with a ruffled neckline. It's a blouson (peasant) style maxi with a smocked waistband and a blurred (no kidding) Ikat print. It's lovely, and , I thought, a nice update for the movie dress.

Let's just hope they never update the movie. Some things should just be left alone. *shudder*

Pass the Pushpins

The poster artist for The Night Shift sent Thomas a look at the nearly finished movie artwork, and I'm so excited right now, I can barely stand it.

Kyle Henry is amazing. I've never actually met the man, but I want to hug him. Thomas and I are both big fans of hand-drawn movie posters, and could think of nothing more fitting to capture the nostalgic 80s adventure-comedy feel of The Night Shift than a good old-fashioned hand-drawn poster. Kyle, you nailed it.

Photo by Kyle Henry

Now, there's still quite a bit left to do on this, and you can follow that work, and see the progression up to this point at Kyle's blog. I can't get over the detail in the faces, or how much the cemetery looks like our locations. Thanks, Kyle!!

So, if this has piqued your interest in movie poster art, might I suggest you try these on for size?

Photo br L.A. Artwork

How cute is this? L.A. Artwork, $19.99. This is a digitally restored giclee on canvas. You don't get much higher quality than that. On top of that, you have the iconic Veronica Lake (with her trademark hairstyle), plus adorable cartoon art mixed with lovely portrait work. Totally period, totally sweet.

Photo by Amazon

Here, we have the classic beauty and the beast tale. Goregous Fay Wray (in shredded nightie, no less), struggling to get away from a rightly smitten monkey man. I love the look on Kong's face, by the way. Beautiful artwork, prominent R.K.O. logo--a lithograph suitable for framing. Amazon, $20.

Photo by Amazon

I dare you to put this by your mirror! Get ready for your close-up with Norma Desmond! This poster is a replica of those from the German release of Sunset Boulevard, starring the often imitated, but never duplicated Gloria Swanson. Never before has derangement been so glamorous! Amazon, $8.99.

Photo by Amazon

Alrighty, this last one isn't exactly a movie poster, but how cool! It's a collage of some of Hitchcock's most popular works. It's by artist Justin Reed, and I think it's downright brilliant. I think my favorite bits are the bird painting in the back, and Norman Bates coming through the door on the far left. Amazon, $6.99.

Posters: they're not just for dorm rooms, anymore.

Cheap Tricks: E.L.F. Mineral Lipgloss

I'm redecorating. Thomas and I have tons of art deco style movie posters around our townhouse, and I'm planning to take the ones that go best together and decorate our downstairs bathroom with them. Actually, we're hoping to move soon, so I'll probably end up waiting until the move to actually do this. In the meantime, I get to browse through all the pretty shiny mirrored and chrome goodies I can find. I also get to spend a good chunk of my disposable income on said pretty shiny mirrored and chrome goodies, which means I have to scale back on other things.

With that, I bring you a new segment I like to call Cheap Tricks. From time to time, I'll highlight something super cute and super affordable. Think of it as a little low-end luxury.

Photo by E.L.F. Cosmetics

Today's featured product is E.L.F. Mineral Lipgloss in Trophy Wife. eyeslipsface.com, $3. Now, if you look through my makeup case, you'll find dozens of lipglosses: MAC, Smashbox, Philosophy, Kat Von D, Prescriptives, Urban Decay, etc.; and amid all the fancy schmancy department store and high end tubes, a bunch ( and I mean, a bunch) of E.L.F. glosses. I have almost every shade they make, and Trophy Wife is, by far, my favorite. It's a clear gloss with a light golden sheen, so you can wear it by itself and still have a little glow, or you can wear it over your favorite lipstick for a little extra oomph.

The Good: Completely non-sticky. You could wear this in a freaking hurricane, and your hair would not stick to it. As someone who has long hair and lives in a hurricane-prone area, this is very important. There's a subtle shimmer, but no huge chunks of glitter to make it too teeny-boppery. The packaging looks very expensive. I actually had to check the label on the bottom of one tube to see if it was MAC or E.L.F. Most importantly, this stuff feels fantastic on. It's very moisturizing and silky to the touch. There's also no harsh fragrance or flavor, and all colors are sheer. All in all, good kissin' gloss.

Photo by E.L.F. Cosmetics

The Bad: It's not long-lasting, so you have to reapply often. Also, if you purchase a different color of this gloss, bear in mind that the color on the computer and the color in the tube vary slightly, and the color in the tube is going to be much brighter than the color on your lips.

Final Verdict: Non-sticky, silky, moisturizing gloss in a gorgeous, versatile color. For $3 a pop, you can't beat it with a stick. 8 out of 10.

Now, back to deco-rating! I'll let you guys know if I find anything cool, and keep you posted on the room's progress.

Zombie Be Gone

I love zombies. I do. I'm just--pardon the expression--sick to death of them. Between a year of pre-production on a zombie movie, fittings, makeup workshops, two months of filming said zombie movie, and then cleaning the piles upon piles of filfthy, sweaty, greasepaint covered (and I mean covered) costumes, I am sick of zombies.*

This morning, I took four garbage bags full of costumes to the thrift store. That's just what I've laundered that we didn't decide to keep. That's right. There's more. Lots more. And, in going through the piles upon piles of filfthy, sweaty, greasepaint covered costumes, I found more greasepaint! I have a box full of greasepaint, with every color you could imagine (except green. I ran out of green). If my brother wants to be a zombie for Halloween, I am totally set. Heck, I may go as Corpse Bride. Maybe Thomas will be a Smurf. Or Avatar. Or a combination of the two.

Honestly, after helping make up around forty (40) extras, I don't care if I never see greasepaint again. However, considering I'm a theatre and film girl, it's bound to pop up again. It is, afterall, part of the magic of the movies.

I'm still sick of it, though. I don't know about you, but when I think of movies, even though I know how much not-so glamorous work goes into making them, I still think of movie stars on the red carpet, and all of that Old Hollywood glitz and showmanship. The actor in me wants to play the part, warts and all, no matter how ugly it gets. The little girl in me wants the pretty makeup and sparkly dress.

So, Erin the actor rolled around in the dirt. I spent one evening covered in werewolf sweat, and another covered in blood. I have bug bites and scrapes and bruises. I did it all for art, and wouldn't have it any other way.

Now, Erin the little girl wants to play movie star dress-up. No more greasepaint. This stuff is fancy.

Photo by Sephora

LORAC cosmetics founder and celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw put together a collection of her favorite products. Supposedly, this is the stuff she uses on her A-list clients to ready them for the red carpet.. Along with the collection, she has included instructions for application, ensuring a professional look every time. It's a $142 value, priced at $39.50, and a Sephora exclusive. With movie-themed product names like "Perfectly Lit" and "Special Effects", I had to give it a go.

First Impressions: When they say $142 value, they really mean it. You get five full-sized products. Not deluxe-sized samples, or mini versions. Five FULL-SIZED products. That's $8 a piece. You can't beat that at the drugstore.

The Products:

Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight (warm beige)
The Good: When brushed on, it appears transluscent, with a slight shimmer. Comes in a beautiful silver-colored compact with a large mirror and sponge applicator. Silky texture.
The Bad: Does not control oil, and can actually make skin look oilier if over-applied.
Final Verdict: I threw out my old highlighter powder. This is lovely on cheekbones. Use a regular setting powder to control oil, and highlight with this. 7 out of 10.

Baked Matte Satin Blush in Hollywood (bronzed rose)
The Good: Gorgeous color. Highly pigmented. Works double-duty as a bronzer. Satin-like feel.
The Bad: If you're heavy-handed, you could look like Bozo.
Final Verdict: I'm Casper pale and can wear this. It does have a slight orange tinge, but I'm a redhead, so it works. That's not the case for everyone, so try before you buy, if at all possible. 8 out of 10.

Bronzed Bombshell Eye Shadow Trio in Sand/Serenity/ Bronze
The Good: Highly pigmented. Goes on like butter. Gorgeous shimmer. Colors blend well and work together harmoniously. When used over a primer, no creasing or fading.
The Bad: This is more for Ms. Shaw's instructions. She suggests you use the darkest shade as a liner. While that works for some sets, the darkest shade in this trio is a rosy bronze. When used as a liner, it makes my eyes look red, like I've been rubbing them. I would suggest using another liner.
Final Verdict: Beautiful eyeshadows. Some of the best I've tried. 10 out of 10.

Special Effects Mascara
The Good: Comes with a primer. Okay lengthening.
The Bad: The primer doesn't really make a difference. Not waterproof or smudgeproof. Does nothing for volume. Not great at separating. Not especially dark.
Final Verdict: Sadly, this was a real disappointment. I was excited over the primer. Really, I've gotten better at the drugstore. It didn't irritate my eyes, so I'll give it a 3 out of 10.

Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick in Vintage (light neutral beige)
The Good: They weren't kidding about the shine. Patent leather. It's a really beautiful, high shine. The lipstick also feels really smooth on your lips. Long-wearing. Pleasant fragrance and light flavor.
The Bad: The color! It matches my skin exactly! If your skin is olive or darker, you could probably wear this. I put it on and looked like a ghost. Also, while long-wearing is a plus, it would be nice to be able to take it off. I wiped off the lipstick, then got in the shower and used exfoliating face wash (Philosophy's The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash) TWICE, then rubbed them with a towel, and it was still there.
Final Verdict: Maybe a different color with a really good makeup remover. 5 out of 10.

Overall Reaction: This set is worth it for the blush, luminizing powder, and eyeshadow alone. If you like the other two products, well, then that's gravy. I'm thrilled with my purchase, and it really does look amazing on. I look very natural and polished, just like a movie star. Now, all I need is an Oscar. Wanna hear my acceptance speech? Anybody? Fine. Be that way. 6.5 out of 10.

*Zombie and Ghost Extras: I love you all!!! Thank you for all your hard work and willingness to stand out in the heat with the bugs!!! I still hate the greasepaint, though. This is on CafePress, designed by Thomas. I think it's appropriate. The front says, "People for the Ethical Treatment of Zombies", and the back says, "I (Heart) Zombies".




Photo by CafePress



You Learn Something New Every Day

Tropical Depression Bonnie is keeping me indoors this evening. In her honor, I thought I'd type "Tropical Storm" and "Cute" into Google and see what popped up.

Photo by Lindas Online

How precious!! The Freya Bamboo Island Short (along with two different matching tops) is available from Linda the Bra Lady for $34.99. It's a clearance sale, so sizes are limited, but there are tons of other equally darling suits on the site.

I'd never been to this particular site before, but I love that you can shop by bra size, and sizes range from 28AA to 50M!! There's also "Bra School", where you can calculate your correct size, search a style guide, solve bra problems, and learn how to properly care for your "unmentionables". I'm bookmarking this one!

Alrighty. I'm off to try to finish the laundry before the power goes out.

Cute Hoots

Part of the fun of being a movie producer (or the lady who happens to be married to the movie director) is paperwork. Lots of paperwork. Lists of actors, crew, phone numbers, addresses, bios, emails, costume sizes, food allergies, props, agents, distributors, festivals, arts associations, film associations, locations, location managers, scheduling conflicts, etc. There are schedule revisions and scene revisions; blogs to write, and buzz to keep track of; photos to bind and press releases to proof. Paper here, paper there! Paper! Paper, everywhere!

My newest task is to start on thank you notes. I'm compiling a (rather sizable) list of all the people and organizations that helped make The Night Shift happen, and while Thomas edits, I'll write.

We have a very (very, very, very) limited budget, so I'm probably just going to end up grabbing whatever bulk thank you notes I can find on sale. However, a girl can dream, and in those dreams, we can afford adorable thank you notes that reflect the film company, Fighting Owl Films, and our quirky vision.

Dream with me, folks.

Photo by Peter Pauper Press

This little cutey comes from Peter Pauper Press, and is available in a pack of 14, with 15 matching envelopes. I love the circus-like stripes and the bright Autumn colors, and I especially love the confused look on the owl's face. Trust me, all of us Fighting Owls look like that right about now. It's very sweet, but fun at the same time. Amazon, $8.99.

Photo by designedbyme

This one really makes me think of Halloween. I think it's all the orange. In any case, it's absolutely precious. From designedbyme on Etsy, this one grabbed me with her daisy-shaped eyes and polka-dotted wings. The swirls of color give the tree branch a magical, whimsical feel, and I really want some individually wrapped, x-ray-scanned candy now. And some cocoa. Yeah...cocoa...mmmm. Set of 8 with matching orange envelopes. Etsy, $16.

Photo by Sweetprintsshop

As is, this little sweetie seems more suited for a baby shower than a film company, but the colors and font are customizable to your particular needs. With a red owl on a taupe background, we'd have a very nice, professional looking note card, and I would be a happy, happy camper. From sweetprintsshop on Etsy. Set of 10 with matching envelopes. Etsy, $12.

Now, you have no excuse not to do as Emily Post and your momma told you. Write some thank you's, darn it!

CON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not upset that I'm not at Comic-Con. Nope. Not at all. I am not scouring the Internet to find out all the exclusives I'm missing out on, all the celebrities I won't get to meet (BRUCE!!!!), and which movies are going to be heavily promoted. Nope. Not at all.

I am a big fat liar. I am DYING to go to Comic-Con!!!! Thomas and I went last year, and it was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. Neither of us had ever gone before, so we had no Earthly idea what we were in for. Oh. Good. Lord.

Somehow, through a total fluke (okay, through me bouncing up and down like an idiot, waving my arms for attention, wearing a practically day-glo t-shirt, and, honestly, being a girl--and one who happens to know too much trivia on Galaxy Quest), we ended up getting into the Wrath of Con party at the Hard Rock Hotel. That is, apparently, THE party to get into. Joss Whedon got turned away. That's right. We got in, but Joss didn't. Daughtry was the entertainment. I had a drink at the same bar as Robert Englund. Thomas waited in line behind Brandon Routh to play X-box. The TNA Wrestling Ring was set up in the middle of the party. Zack Snyder accepted an award. Harry Knowles rode around mingling. Stan Lee made a walk-through appearance. Kevin Freaking Sorbo was there. The cake was good. We were horribly underdressed. I'm still mad that I didn't get my gift bag. It was a magical, magical evening. Personally, I would have loved it if Mr. Whedon had been let in.

Throughout the weekend, we saw panels for Burn Notice (with Bruce!!!), Family Guy, Doctor Who (and I still have a massive crush on David Tennant--sorry, Thomas), and about a million other things. I got to meet John Barrowman and totally embarrass myself. We saw Leonard Nimoy from a distance. Lou Ferigno was in a booth selling t-shirts.

Outside the convention center, we had lunch in the SyFy cafe, went to a Heroes carnival, and tooled around gorgeous San Diego. I can't wait until next year when we can actually go back. We would have gone this year, but scheduling conflicts didn't allow for it, hence the mini-break to Atlanta.



Photo by Converse



However, if I could go, I've learned from last year, and there are a few things I would have to have in my convention-going arsenal:

1) Really comfortable shoes. With insoles. And a team of hunky men to carry me around like Cleopatra. And a pony. Seriously, though, the convention floor is massive, and you will cross it several times a day. Plus, the transit system decided it didn't like running when it was supposed to, so we got to walk the two miles from our hotel to the center and back a few times. These are my pick. They're Converse, so they're good, and the Dr. Seuss design screams Comic-Con. Converse.com, $55.



Photo by Target



2) A big, roomy bag. I've had a Mossimo bag for years, and it's still in fantastic shape. My only problem with it is that it's black, and tends to get mixed up with other people's bags rather easily. The gray color and fuscia stripe on this one makes it a little more distinctive. Oh--and it mostly matches the cute Converse shoes! Target.com, $19.99



Photo by The Body Shop

3)Foot Relief. Because no matter how fabulous your shoes, your feet are going to hurt like the Dickens by day's end. By week's end, you'll be grateful the airports have those little conveyor belt walkways to ride on. While sitting down. And possibly sleeping. This Peppermint Purifying Foot Mask is some of the best stuff I've ever used. It relaxes, soothes, detoxes, and even clears your sinuses. No kidding. The Body Shop, $17

Okay, 2011, you'd better be worth the wait.

Vacation 2: Electric Boogaloo

Previously on Adorable Napalm:

Thomas and I went on vacation to Altanta, GA. There, I found a Filene's Basement and a cute t-shirt at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Oh, and our GPS, Jack (we named the GPS Jack), was apparently drunk, and sent us forty miles out of the city to eat at a Logan's, when all we wanted to do was go to a movie theatre in the mall. But that wasn't in the last post. Oops. Dinner was tasty, though. *ahem* Moving on...

So, in case you haven't noticed, I'm a Sephora nut. Unfortunately, we don't have one in town. Well, we have the little one inside JC Penney's, but it doesn't count. I mean that literally. Purchases made there don't count towards Beauty Insider (loyalty club) rewards or V.I.B. (premium level) status. The thought of going inside a full-size Sephora and actually being able to buy something and take it home with me that day was almost too much for my little heart to take. And there were more than one. Had there been a Starbucks attached, I would have thought I'd died and gone to Heaven.

With that, I apologized to Thomas for the massive amount of time I was about to spend in the extremely crowded girly store (Thomas: "I don't mind. It makes you pretty." I love him so much), then ran head first into the fray.

Photo by Sephora

The first thing I noticed (read: nearly tripped over walking through the door) was Buxom's new line of Stay There eyeshadows. These are supposed to be waterproof, non-creasing, and long-wearing. According to Buxom, they'll be your "faithful friends", so they're all named after dogs. That's cute, but I'm not sure it's the most effective marketing. Beauty products are supposed to keep you from looking like a dog, afterall.

Photo by Sephora

The only color available in store was Mutt, a really pretty mettalic taupe (Thomas: "It looks like a penny"). That's a color I tend to wear a lot, so I scooped up one of the few remaining pots and headed over to the Buxom lipgloss. Yes, I looked at other stuff, too, but I won't bore you with all the gory details of disappointment over things not found.

I love Buxom lipgloss. Love it. From the cute pin-up girl packaging to the minty tingle that lasts, no kidding, for hours. I have several shades at home--some picked for the shade, itself, and others for the name. I mean, when I saw one with my best friend's daughter's name (Tempest!!! How often do you see stuff with the name Tempest on it?), I had to get it. Another, and one of my favorite shades to date (wearing it right now, actually), Clair, was bought after I played Claire in The Night Shift.

Photo by PrettySkin4Less

I settled in and starting looking at shades, when Thomas looked down and pointed at one. Ruby. I was looking for a reddish color, but this seemed awfully dark, and more of a purple in the store's lighting. I was skeptical.

Me: Really?

Thomas: Yeah!! Ruby!!

Me: You really like it better than Starr?

Thomas: It's RUBY!!!!! Yes!!!

Me: Is Starr just too glittery? I mean, they're similar shades, but Starr is a sheer gloss, and Ruby is more of a liquid...wait a minute. You just want me to get it because it's Ruby. From Supernatural.

Thomas: YEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! And yeah, that other is way too glittery. GET RUBY!!!

I suppose I should be grateful that my husband's sudden interest in lipstick stemmed only from a crush on Katie Cassidy.

Long story short (I know, too late), they were out, but I found it in another store and humored the boy.

Now, for the reviews:

Buxom Stay There Eyeshadow in Mutt: This stuff is weird. It's the strangest texture I have dealt with. The only way I can even describe it is, well, think of wet/dry florist's foam. The eyeshadow dents when you put a brush to it. It's not liquid, but not solid. It's squolid.

The color is very sheer but buildable. It's just very difficult to tell if you've actually gotten any on the brush. I might note that I am not using the special Buxom eyeshadow brush made specifically for this product, but it's not necessary. The eyeshadow is waterproof, and after hours of wearing it, looks as good as it did when it was put on. Basically, it lives up to its claims. It's just bizarre.

Final Tally: It does what it says, but could have better pigmentation. The texture is also difficult to pick up with a brush. I'll try a different color, at some point, but I'm not rushing out to get it. 6 out of 10. Sephora.com, $17.

Buxom Lips, Ruby: Holy Cow! I have a new favorite! I really wasn't sure about this color. It looked too deep and blue for me in the store, but once I saw it in natural light and put it on, I was hooked. It's a berry mauve color, and one that I would call universally flattering. The gloss is opaque, like a liquid lipstick, but the applicator keeps it from globbing on and allows the color to build to whatever intensity you prefer.

Final Tally: Gorgeous color, mild plumping action, nice tingle. A rare 10 out of 10. Now I know why Sephora had it listed as a "Most Wanted" item. Oddly enough, you can't get this shade through Sephora.com. I found it here for $18.

But Will it Cook Me Dinner and Do My Taxes?

Photo by Uber-Luxe

This purse is $109,500.00. Yeah. You read that right. This purse is worth more than six (6) times the price of my car. I could get up on my soap box right now and talk about how that is a criminally insane amount of money to spend on an accessory; how there are starving children and homeless puppies, or that money could be better spent fixing the oil leak, or whathaveyou. Or that you shouldn't measure your worth (or anyone else's) by a handbag, coffee cup, or mode of transportation, but I won't. I will say this: Perspective, people. Get some.

Also this: it sure is cute.

I was relatively unaware of this handbag. Aside from knowing some useless Gilmore Girls trivia about Rory receiving a bag from Logan, I knew nothing about the brand (Hermes), the style (Birkin), or the price range (whoa, Nelly!), and really, my life was no worse off. I only came across it by accident while looking up stuff for the post on my bird. I typed BIRD into Google, and BIRKIN popped up. Whoops.

Since then, I've been fascinated by the bag and its mystique. A book was even written about getting on the waiting list for one. People go crazy for this thing.

It sure is cute.

So, with that, whether you're like me and think it's cute, but would never in a million years spend that kind of money on a purse; or your life will be incomplete until you own a Birkin bag of your very own, here are some options:

Photo by Princess Purse

Photo by Luxevoute

This is a reasonable alternative to the gold Hermes bag. Please note: This is not a sketchy knock-off. Hermes is not losing any money because someone bought this believing it to be a true Birkin, nor was it made illegally. It is a designer-inspired look, but not a direct copy. Nowhere on the bag is a Hermes logo. It's a similar style so that a Birkin fan could be happy carrying it to the coffee shop, and at $19.50, still be able to afford the coffee. You could buy 5,615 of this purse for one of the purse at the top of the post. Just sayin'. Okay, this is a real Birkin. It's on clearance for $1,195.00 If you have that and want to spend it on a purse, more power to you. Here it is.

Photo by Jacco Fashion

This would be my personal favorite of the group. I'm sorry I couldn't find a bigger picture of this, but my computer is being fussy. Who knows, one day I may treat myself to this bag. I always like to buy a good, new handbag in the Fall. This could be that bag. At $63.99, it's a little more than I usually go, but nowhere near $1,195.00. They're not identical--and they shouldn't be--but it's close enough that I can tote a cute, stylish bag, sans mortgage.

So, there you go. Links to the real ones, links to the similar bags, links all around. But if you blow your inheritance on that top bag, don't blame me. It sure is cute, though.

Vacation!

Thomas and I ran away from home. Between work, the movie, work, maintenance issues with the apartment, work--oh, and did I mention work--we had a choice. We could either tape our eyelids to our cheeks to stop the twitching, or we could get the heck out of Dodge. We hit up Hotwire, packed up the car, and drove to Atlanta for the weekend.

First off, Hotwire is made of awesome. Our hotel room was normally $355 a night. There is no way on God's green Earth we could ever pay $355 a night for a hotel room. Ever. Period. You say $355 and I start totaling up bills and gasoline. If I had that kind of money, I still wouldn't pay it for a hotel room. We got out for a fraction of that. Hotwire is the greatest.

The hotel was fabulous. It had two shower heads in the bathroom, smelled like my husband's cologne (yummy), and actually had decaf Starbucks in the room. I only drink decaf. I don't know how they knew!

Secondly, Atlanta has wonderful shopping. I used to live in New York, and one of my absolute favorite places to go was Filene's Basement. When I moved, I didn't think I'd have too many more opportunities to rifle through their many racks of lovely, off-priced designer clothing. ATLANTA HAS ONE!!! I may have to move there.

So, here's one of my happy finds from Filene's. Would that I'd had many more hours to dig.



Photo by 80stees



You can't order things online from Filene's, but I found this shirt at 80stees.com for $20.

We also took a little trip to the Puppet Museum to check out the Jim Henson exhibit, and I highly recommend it if you're planning a trip to the area. Tons of stuff from Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street, the Muppet Show, and much more. I was a breath away from Kermit. Seriously, I may have to move to Atlanta.

On the way out (through the gift shop, of course), I fell in love with a t-shirt. Unfortunately, all the shirts were slightly chocolate covered. I guess that's a hazard of field trips and tiny fingers. All was not lost, though. I found it here for $26.

Photo by Old Glory

More to come from the shopping vacation! Stay tuned!

In Search of Sanity

I'm taking a small internet break the rest of this week, so posting shall be pretty much non-existent. Please feel free to read the older posts, comment on them, and share this little piece of drivvel with your friends and family. Or don't. Totally up to you.

Oh--unrelated note, but the trailer for my movie is available to watch! If my poor skills at embedding worked, it should be below. If not, then you can find it here.

Going Batty

Photo by CoverGirl

As my husband can tell you (while rolling his eyes and sighing heavily, I'm sure), I have recently been on a borderline-obsessive hunt for something that, apparently, did not exist: a(n inexpensive) mascara that BOTH lengthens and volumizes. Seriously, you would not think this would be that hard. You would be wrong. I can find tons that do one or the other, but very few that do BOTH! For a while, I used Rimmel Glam Eyes ($7.79, Walgreen's)for length, then put on a coat of the CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe ($7.79, Walgreen's) for volume. It worked, but that's a real pain, and you're paying for two mascaras. I also tried the Fresh Magic Wands Mini Mascara Duo ($10, Sephora), and they're fabulous--I look like I have on fake lashes!--but they're super tiny, and the full size set is really expensive ($51 total, Sephora). Plus, it's still two mascaras. That said, they're totally worth it because they're gorgeous, I'm going to replace mine when I run out, and I could write an entire post devoted to their fabulousness, but this is a search for ONE mascara that does both, so moving on.

So far, the best I could find (on the recommendation of an uber-talented cosmetologist friend) was Buxom Lash ($18, Sephora). It's pretty darn wonderful at lengthening and volumizing, and the price isn't terrible. It's the mascara I ended up using all through the Night Shift shoot, and I've been very happy with it. You don't get the false eyelash look you get with the Fresh Magic Wands, but you do get defined, long, full lashes. It's a very pin-up girly look (appropriate, since Buxom names all their products after pin-up girls), since it makes your lashes really pop. It's great for a night out, theatrical performances, or any time you really want your lashes noticed. My only gripes with it are that the wand is too big and cumbersome, and it's not waterproof, so I do have to stay on the look out for raccoon eyes. Both things I can live with.

However, the nice people at BzzAgent asked me if I would be interested in trying the new CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion mascara. It's billed as "COVERGIRL'S first ever volume+length mascara", so I figured, why not? Let's see how the $9 mascara stacks up to the one that's twice the price. Plus, it's a free sample, so I'm not out anything except possibly looking a little sleepy one day if it doesn't work.

Wow. That's really all I can say. This stuff rocks. Now, before I go any further, let me remind you that BzzAgent doesn't require that I advertise the products I try. If I don't like them, I can either voice my opinion (of course) or keep my mouth shut (not bloody likely). Doesn't matter. If I do like something, though, I'm encouraged to let folks know. I like this. I'm letting you know. This. Stuff. Rocks.

The Pros: Doll lashes. Long, full, flirty, seen from across the room lashes. I curled mine, and they actually look like they're touching the brow bone. I kid you not. Also, I've had it on all day, in crazy heat and humidity, through a grueling voice lesson, and I'm not Rocky Raccoon. Amazing.

The Cons: The tube is huge and takes up a ton of space in my make-up case. It's also not the most comfortable thing to hold.

The In-Between: It's not waterproof, but it is "smudgeproof, flakeproof, and rubproof" according to CoverGirl. As I said, I haven't had any smearing or running. It's also not the darkest mascara ever. I got the darkest shade, Very Black, and it's nowhere near as dark as Buxom, but really, that can be too dark for everyday wear, so it's really your call on that.

All in all, I give it about an 8/10. $8.99 suggested retail price, available at drugstores, grocery stores, mass retailers and online.

I'm a Bird Watcher...

Rufus is a very sick little parakeet. Thomas and I adopted him two years ago, and he's become part of the family. The good news is that the vet thinks he'll pull through. The bad news is that he's had a respiratory infection, which can be passed on to his mate, Fancy, and he has a heart murmur. This is one sick little blue parakeet. (Yes, I know Rufus means red. I didn't name him. That would be Thomas.)

Photo by Ailiang LLC

So, in honor of Rufus, his super-star behavior at the vet's today, and bird lovers everywhere who understand that it's not "just a bird", I did a little digging and found some pretty awesome bird-centric goodies floating around the Interwebs.I love this brooch. Not really a pin wearer, myself, but Polly looks awfully pretty in Swarovski studded purple, green and gold. Then again, I do live in the land of Mardi Gras, so what do I know. She's $15.99.

Photo by Overstock.com

This ring is amazing. I would not like to get punched in the face by someone wearing this ring (of course, I also would not like to get punched in the face, period), but it's pretty freaking gorgeous. Definitely a conversation starter for your next cocktail party:

"I say, I thought this was a cocktail party, not a cockatiel party. Aha, aha, aha, aha!"

*punch*

$39.99 at Overstock.com. Medical insurance not included.

Photo by ebay

I want this poster. My entire apartment is decorated in art deco and vintage inspired posters. Some movies, some magazine covers, whatever looks cool. I have no earthly idea where this would go, but I'm about two seconds away from hitting buy it now on the ebay listing. It's a reproduction of a 1919 perfume advertisement, and all I can say is they sure don't make 'em like they used to. $21.95 on ebay, with free shipping.

Photo by Dinodirect.com

Ha!! This just makes me giggle. It's a 4GB, rhinestone encrusted, parrot shaped USB Flash Drive. It's silly and pointless, and I so want one. Mostly, though, because $34.79 is a really good price for four gigs. Just sayin'.

Photo by ShopNewZeland

And, last but not least, it's a budgie! It's a robot! It's both!! Robo-keet! I'm not really sure I have anything to add to that. It's $153.30--way more expensive than anything else on this list, but I had to show you guys.
I'll keep everyone posted on the little guy's recovery. Happy bird-hunting!
UPDATE: Rufus is 100% back to normal, and he and Fancy are very happy to be back in the same cage again. Thanks!

Adventure(ish)land

Photo by Got2b

I like to think I'm somewhat adventurous. Granted, the two times I went hiking were both completely on accident, I'm not even slightly interested in camping, and I have a tendency to inhale bug spray as I'm applying it (not recommended). But I like trying new things. In the comfort of my own home. In air-conditioning. And by new things, I mean Ben & Jerry's flavors and lipgloss. Yeah.

Okay, for about thirty seconds, I had myself convinced I was adventurous. I had probably tasted something fancy and highly caffeinated in the moments leading up to this. Anyway, in that thirty seconds, I decided to sign up for this thing called BzzAgent. It's a word of mouth advertising company. Basically, they send me a product, I try it out, decide how I feel about it (good or bad), and then tell other people what I think and report back to the agency. I thought, "I like new things! I'm opinionated! This'll be fun!" and signed right up.

And it is fun. It's about as much adventure as my little heart can take. I never know when a new campaign will pop up, or what it will be about. Then, I get to wait for the post office to deliver my special package, and then I get to play with whatever is inside. It's like Christmas! Plus--they send coupons for me to share with my friends and family. It's like being on a roller-coaster! Okay, not-so-much, but it works for me, and I can't recommend it enough.

So, right now, I'm working on the Got2b Smooth Operator campaign, and it's pretty neat. I've tried a really good chunk of the line (a few new things came out after I signed up, and I haven't seen them in town, yet), and while I'm not crazy about most of the products, I've become a big fan of the hairspray.

You see, most of the products are okay in small doses--heck, the smoothing lotion is fantastic at smoothing down frizzies--but over time, they really dry out your hair. I would love to recommend it, but only for very limited use. The mousse actually made my hair frizzier, if that's possible. I have thick, wavy hair and live in 1000% humidity, I really didn't think ANYTHING could make my hair frizz more.

However, the hairspray is a little bit of liquid gold. Seriously, it's made its way into my full-time arsenal. It's a lightweight finishing spray that helps smooth existing flyaways and prevent new ones. I don't know how it works, all I know is that it does work. Remember, though, this is not going to keep your bridesmaid's up-do in place all by itself. It's not that heavy-duty. This is more for keeping that cute, purposely messy pony-tail from getting out of hand, or making sure your loose beach waves don't 'fro out during the walk from your car to the mall. I pretty much just fix my hair how I want, with whatever products I would normally use, then lightly mist this over the finished style. It's a little extra hold, a little extra shine, and lot of help keeping things neat and tidy.

So, here's the breakdown:

Pros: Cute as a button packaging. Does what it says, for the most part. Pleasant, but not overpowering fragrance. Affordable price point ($6.29 at CVS). Hairspray is magic.

Cons: Mousse and lotion dry your hair over time. Mousse makes your hair frizzier (well, mine, anyway).

All in all, I'd give the group a 4.5 out of 10, with the mousse getting a 1, the lotion getting a 5, and the hairspray getting a 7 (magic that it is, a little more hold would be nice).

Alrighty, that's enough adventure for one day. Now, where's my blue blanket...

The Cake is NOT a Lie!

Alrighty, you've all been listening to me jabber on about Threadcakes for a while now. Well, I finally finished my entry, and it is up on the Threadcakes website for all to enjoy. There's no voting or view counting, or anything like that. There are just tons of fabulous cakes for you to marvel at and enjoy. Each is based on an artist-designed t-shirt, and range from cutsey to nerdy to downright gorgeous. I've been incredibly impressed by the level of talent and commitment that has gone into each cake, and that most have been done by non-professionals (such as myself). Here's a sampling of what you can find on the site. Mine's the first one. Sorry for the awful background, but once everything was assembled, we couldn't move it! :)

Photos courtesy of Threadcakes