Hug it Out

Last night, in the absence of a new Burn Notice, Thomas and I pulled up the Netflix streaming and decided to go with the mindless fun of Mystery Science Theatre 3ooo. The film for the evening: Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy!

Worst. Episode. Ever. I am a huge MST3K fan. Had the entire movie memorized in high school, and knew I'd get along with my college academic advisor when I saw he had an MST3K screensaver. I've watched this show forever, and even went to the Plan 9 from Outer Space live event. I'm a Mystie. I admit it.

The movie was so bad, these guys had trouble getting through it. Best line of the night: "They're just covering plot holes with asphalt now." We FINALLY get to the big fight--the TITLE fight--between the robot (a guy in cardboard boxes) and the Aztec mummy (a guy in a bad Halloween costume), and the only thing keeping poor Thomas from throwing a shoe at the television, and...they basically just hug it out, which gets me thinking about a robot and a mummy hugging it out. Which gets me surfing. Which gets me this:

VS.

                               Photos by Etsy and  Entertainment Earth

I want them to hug it out!! I'll hug them!! The robot is from Etsy, and there are only 10 available at $30.00 each. The mummy is from FUNKO (same as the cute Wolfman) and will be $12.99 starting in October 2010.

Spies Like Us

Burn Notice is one of my favorite shows. Spies, comedy, romance, suspense, shoot 'em ups, and, of course, Mr. Bruce Campbell (in case you haven't noticed, I love me some Bruce). It's also one of my husband's favorite shows, so Thursday nights are very much looked forward to. We finish dinner, pop some popcorn, and settle in for whatever new calamity might befall Michael Weston.

And that's when I start driving Thomas batty:

Me: Oh, my God! I love her little (insert fantastic outfit here)!

Thomas: She needs to eat something.

Me: Yes, but oh, it's so cute! Where do they find this stuff?

Thomas: Shhhh...

Me: And the shoes!!! Um...why do they have that guy tied up?

Thomas: *facepalm*

So, in an attempt to quiet down and give poor Thomas a little peace for tonight's episode, I have taken it upon myself to find Fiona's wardrobe. Obviously, I don't have the budget USA has or access to their wardrobe department, but I do have access to the Forever 21 website. So there.

According to USA's Burn Notice Spy Style page, Fiona is partial to the following:

The assymetric high society dress. First we have Fiona's, then the affordable alternative for $19.80. I tried to find a picture of the dress she wears in the pilot (and in the opening spiel for every episode), but couldn't. I think this Forever 21 dress looks just like it. If anyone finds it, let me know and I'll update the post with it.

The V-neck butterfly dress. This one from Forever 21 is only $14.50 The tangerine trapeze dress. I actually like this off-the rack version better. I'm a sucker for details, and the wooden beads are killer. It's $24.80.

An embroidered romper. This Forever 21 version is a really reasonable facsimile, I think. The color's different, but at $14.50, I can deal. Cargo pants and a simple tank. This inexpensive alternative will run you $26.40 total.
Of course, you can't talk Burn Notice without mentioning sunglasses. This mall pair will run you a whopping $5.80.

So, there you have it. Again, all styles are from Forever 21. Happy shopping, and try not to spill any yogurt on anything.

 

*Photos by USA Network and Forever 21

Visions of...AAAAHHHH!!

Wednesday is singing day. I have my voice lesson in the morning, then in the evening after work, I run off to rehearse for my second gig--and a terrific one for a young professional (I'm a very lucky little soprano)--as a church soloist.

This is the day I most often find myself humming Gounod and Donizetti, and since my lessons are at my alma mater, fondly remembering rushing around the halls, dressed as The Queen of the Night or Yum-Yum. I loved the random "evening gown afternoons" when we had formal recitals during weekdays for some odd reason or another. Nothing like putting on taffeta, sequins, and full makeup at 2pm on a Tuesday.

 So, with visions of sugarplums...no wait, wrong fine art...er, suicidal geishas? No. Um...two-timing gypsy tramps? Wow. No. Geez...innocents accidentally murdered by their hunchback fathers? Good Lord, these composers were psychotic!! So, um, with visions of...ahem...singer people in fancy costumes (yeah, that's the ticket!) dancing in my head, I hit the Met Opera website to gawk at all the pretties in the gift shop. I thought this travel makeup bag was too cute for words, and actually a practical find. At $18, it's also one of the more affordable items available. It sure would have come in handy on Taffeta Tuesdays, and may have to come to my house before my next trip out of town.

Photo by Metropolitan Opera

McClane Vs. Kirk



Photo by Urban Collector

 My husband (who is by no means a girly girl) emailed me this afternoon to tell me that Bruce Willis has a new cologne coming out, with the oh-so creative name, Bruce Willis). I'm taking this as a not too subtle hint as to what to get the dear boy for his birthday. Supposedly, this is "the manliest scent in the world" (which, of course, only makes me think of the most interesting man in the world, but I digress).

I'm curious, though, as to whether the Die Hard star's cologne is "manlier" than, say, Captain Kirk's cologne. Which scent would win in a fight? I mean, Shirtless Kirk cologne says to "Set Phasers to Stunning", but Bruce Willis' says, "Smart Guys Live Forever".



Photo by Sephora

 I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Red Shirt is the manliest. Granted, I've never smelled any of these--okay, that's not completely true. I smelled all the Star Trek colognes at Comic-Con last year, but I can't remember any of them. Not a reflection on the scent, it was just a ridiculous week, and my mind was fried by that point. I'm basing this opinion strictly on the tag line: "Because Tomorrow May Never Come". This is a live for the moment, never say die fragrance for the man who wants to sieze the day. What could be manlier than that?

However, if you want a real recommendation for a men's fragrance, I have to go with Jean Paul Gualtier's Le Male. It's scented with wormwood, bergamont, cardamom, lavendar, orange blossom, cinnamon, cumin, wood, musk, amber, vanilla, and tonka bean. The only word I have to describe it is "yummy". The bottle's adorable, too--a blue, stylized sailor's shirt. It's priced from $42-$78 at Sephora.

Now, if Bruce Campbell ever comes out with a fragrance of his own (that isn't Old Spice), all bets are off.

Photo from Warming Glow

Cheaper Peepers

As much fun as expensive trips to the fancy makeup counter can be, sometimes my bank account just won't allow it. Unfortunately, I still have to try to look nice for work (or, at least, not scare any of the neighborhood children). These are the times I'm glad to have bargain-seeking in my blood. Trust me, Sam and Dean Winchester have nothing on hunters like my Mom and Grandma.

E.l.f. has a fantastic cream eyeliner. It glides on smoothly, and with a dab of translucent powder to set, doesn't transfer or crease. I actually used it for filming, and even with sweat pouring down my face, this stuff didn't budge. (Lovely image, I know.) It comes in four shades, right now: coffee, black, midnight, and ivory. Best of all, it's only $3.

Photo by E.L.F. Cosmetics

...and Ice Cream?

I was doomed. Both my parents were into it. I grew up around it, and even started experimenting as a tween. It's all over TV and the Internet these days, and now, my best friend and even my husband are doing it. It had to happen. It was fate.

I had to become an amateur cake decorator. Blast! Why couldn't I pick a less expensive hobby, like horse racing or yachting?

Each year, the kind folks at Threadless tees sponsor an online cake decorating contest, Threadcakes. Basically, you pick a Threadless t-shirt, design a cake around it, bake it, decorate it, and send in tons of pictures. After all entries are in, their celebrity judges panel picks a winner. Last year was my first year, and while I didn't win, I have to say, I was fairly impressed with my entry.


So, today, I sat down to pick out a fantastic entry to top last year's, and while I was there, thought I'd check out Fourth of July t-shirts. This one cracked me up, so I had to share it with you.

Photos by Threadless

IT'S A ROBOT CHASING PAUL REVERE!!!!! If that doesn't make your heart swell with patriotic pride, I don't know what will. Happy Birthday, America!!!! Now, how 'bout some cake?

Little Darlings

Photo by Sephora

In an attempt to justify my latest Sephora binge, I thought I'd highlight a couple of my new favorite things. These have the requisite adorable packaging, but are also just really darn good products, and, best of all, have sweet prices to boot.

Here we have Benefit's Some Kind of Gorgeous, and it's

easily the best foundation (although it's actually called a "foundation faker") I've ever used. It goes on like a cream, blends beautifully, and dries to a powder finish. I don't know about you, but living in the extreme humidity, the last thing I want is a heavy foundation that's going to melt off as soon as I walk through the door. I've tried tinted moisturizers, and only ended up shiny and greasy. Gorgeous is just enough foundation to, as I'm wont to say, keep you from scaring small children. I have used it by itself, over a light primer (Benefit's That Gal), and with just a dusting of powder to set it. In all three cases, I haven't had to so much as touch it up during the day. Plus, I think the record player

case is about as precious as you can get. A full size at Sephora, with mirror and application sponge nestled inside, will run you about $28. A trial size (pictured) is $9, or you can pony up an extra buck and get the Benefit To Go Bestsellers--a combination set with trial sizes of Gorgeous, That Gal, High Beam (a highlighter cream) and Posietint (a liquid blush/lipstain).

Next up is Buxom's Big & Healthy Lip Balm. It looks like a beach ball, but a really sophisticated beach ball--all silvery with an inlaid floral motif. Personally, I love the round shape, because it makes it easier for me to find floating around in my purse, and really, anything that can be

Photo by Sephora

found easily in that dark and terrifying void automatically gets put on my happy list. Anyway, back on topic, the lid twists off, and inside the lid is a surprisingly high quality mirror--a major plus for convenience--and the brightest, scariest color balm you will ever see. Seriously, it's a little off-putting at first, but don't let it run you off. Just hold my hand, take a deep breath, and we'll get through this together. The color goes on totally sheer. My favorite, Bora Bora, is a bright cherry red in the pot, but goes on just red enough to really accentuate my natural lip color. I think it's perfect for that natural look that's all the rage in the Summer. As with all Buxom lip products, it is supposed to plump up the lips. I can't really say that it does that all that well, but the tingling feels really nice, and it has a strong, but pleasant mint flavor. At $15, it's not the cheapest on the market, but for the amount you get (and a little goes a long way), it's not terrible, either.

So, those are my poolside picks for Fourth of July. No, they're not waterproof, but I have no intention of actually getting in the pool. Then again, my husband and brother are fond of water guns...any suggestions for a good waterproof mascara?