Braids

I found this very helpful and inspirational. I get so tired of my hair these days (battling my bang lust...meaning that in the most innocent way possible!!!)

Total Beauty Braid How-To

Obsessed with Angelina

I am the first to say that on an average day, I am not the biggest fan of Angelina's style. She is usually too skinny and too action-figure-like for me to emulate. I always like her seemingly low maintenance black on black, and dresses. Oh wait, and I like her very simple makeup (I myself am partial to glowing cheeks and black liquid liner.)

Ok, so maybe I'm a bigger fan that I would like to think already. But this week, everything I see makes me love her style. This chic trench (and everyone knows how much I love gray), the gorgeous hair, the SAG look.

Enjoy!

Marisa Tomei

I have loved Marisa Tomei's style, ever since I saw the very mediocre movies "What a Girl Wants" and "Someone Like You." She is the sidekick in both, and has such quirky style in both also. I love her hair--never too done, a little off-beat, and her makeup is always so natural looking. Add that to this chic, fitted red dress...and it is perfect in my opinion.

And the nude pumps...so flattering on everyone. They definitely elongate the legs.

Clip in bangs

Guys, I'm seriously thinking of getting these. I am not willing to cut my own bangs yet again (I've done that cycle of cutting-the-regrowing the bangs three times in as many years.) But, I want them!!!

I wrote about these here.

And have been seriously thinking about getting them this week. $34.99 sounds worth it.

New Primer Potion!!

Anyone who's read my blog for a while knows my love of Urban Decay Primer Potion under any and all eyeshadows. Without it, even the "creaseless" shadows end up settling into my crease. I recommend it to everyone.

I just got an email today from Sephora saying that UD has an updated potion out...the same formula with a champagne hue and sparkle!!!

This sounds like perfection. I have long loved the Laura Mercier eye tints, giving that perfect understated wash of color on the lids.

I can't wait to try it out! It's $17...a little pricey, but I think it's totally worth it because I wear it under everything. And it lasts years...

The City

I was pleasantly surprised to see Whitney wearing my Urban Outfitters ear warmer! It looked so cute on her...with the straight hair.

I've gone drugstore...Cover Girl

For a while now, I've been annoyed with drugstore makeup. It seems like it is almost as expensive as MAC makeup (sometimes half the price of Sephora stuff) and there is no opportunity to try it out. I love Sephora's return policy and samples--both which keep me loyal to my beloved Sephora, as well as the coupons they send me as a Beauty Insider.

However, this week I purchased TWO Cover Girl products, both 40% off at Long's Drugs. First, the tinted moisturizer (CG Smoothers SPF 15.) I had read rave reviews of this on Makeup Alley, from people who normally do higher end makeup. I got the Light to Medium shade and it's grade. It is oil-free, not pore-clogging, made of some gel complex to go on smoother. It is perfect...and was less than $5 at 40% off of the regular price. I still wear my Bare Escentuals over it because I need some powder, but I'm loving it. I also still wear it over my Shiseido SPF55 for more protection.

Also, I have been looking for months for a matte pale lipstick, similar to Nicole Richie's. I have a shimmery one, but have had my heart set on a matte one. Most lipsticks I tried on were too drying or too shimmery. Once again, Longs had CG stuff on 40% sale, so I found the perfect color there! Again, about $4.

It is IncrediFULL Lipcolor in #908, Pillow Pink. I'm loving it! Exactly what I was looking for, especially since, like Nicole R, I am partial to think black liquid liner as my go-to makeup. No matter how many eyeshadows I have, I usually go back to the standard black liquid liner!

I'm loving my steals!

Kate and Anne

I have been a lover of Kate Hudson's style for years. She looks so effortless, bohemian and sunny.

I have grown to appreciate Anne's style since she chopped her hair into the Lob (long bob.) She is very classy, and usually wears very flattering fits.

This picture, however, is completely highlighting Kate's good points and makes Anne look so frumpy and outdated. It looks like she's wearing a wrap-around denim skirt with an ill-fitting wrap-around shirt...a very popular look in 1996.

Some Things I'm Loving

I'm so tired tonight. I couldn't sleep last night, and stayed up until after 1am reading my historical fiction novel. And then found out that I have early morning meetings at work both tomorrow and Wednesday. So, maybe I'm tired in anticipation! PLUS, my nephew is going to be born this week and I am on the edge of my seat (so to speak.)

Meanwhile, things I'm loving:

This watch, Urban $110

Eva Mendes' hair at the Golden Globes


The City's Erin's gorgeous bangs


Binging on blackberries

Success Story!

So, my friend Jesi and I had been having a "conversation" via Facebook wall comments about a solution for her hair. She didn't like how it didn't curl the way she wanted. Even when she tried hot rollers (usually a great idea for a long lasting hold), her hair didn't hold the curl.

She got sucked into a presentation at a mall booth for Ginalli Milano products. She bought this:


And her hair went from this:

To this:


And it held the curl on its own! For even longer lasting curl, I would recommend Redken Spray Starch 15.

Congratulations, Jesi! I guess it goes to show that sometimes getting sucked into those demonstrations really pays off!

The Beret

I'm home sick today. I am getting ready to dig into either my latest book club book "Three Cups of Tea" or my fluffy historical fiction "The Other Queen." Meanwhile, I am obsessed with Blair's beret from Gossip Girl last night. I have just spent (wasted) 15 minutes searching for a good pic of it. This is all I could come up with.

I got a stiff felt black beret for Christmas and have been playing around with the best, least pretentious-looking way to wear it. I have been on the lookout for cute ideas, and LOVED this style. Hopefully you can tell in this one dark picture:


I have also been wearing a knit beret I got last month (pictured here at my work Christmas party with my friend Ashley):

Kerry Washington

beautiful fit and colors!!

Tube Mascara for Less

Early last summer, I found my HG ("Holy Grail" in beauty speak) mascara--Imju Fiberwig. I have written before about my short, sparse, straight Asian lashes. When looking for a mascara, I am not even going to start looking for huge volume. My biggest priority is added length and holding a curl. Throw in the water/smudgeproof tube technology, and Fiberwig is THE mascara for me. I hate paying $22 for it, but am willing to because I wear it nearly every day.

I was so excited when I saw L'Oreal coming out with a tube mascara--Double Extend Lash Extention Effect Mascara. Fiberwig adds the microfibers to the mascara, rather than the two-step process of L'Oreal. Still, I was excited because none of the other tube mascaras I had seen (Too Faced, Clinique, Blinc) added any length or drama.

Add to this that I got the mascara at Long's for $6...amazing. However, it is no Fiberwig. It doesn't hold the curl nearly as well, and doesn't add as much extention. Very disappointing.

It is still a decent option, if I wasn't already spoiled by Fiberwig. I use it on weekends sometimes, and everyday on my bottom lashes. I figured I might as well take advantage of the fact that it doesn't smudge one bit throughout the day...even through tears!