Summer Sandals

Love the mixture of lace up oxfords and sandals...and of course the color.

Delias, $44.50

Cigarette Pants

How I long for these sweet Pixie pants...so retro, so Audrey, so Jackie (when she was still a Bouvier most likely.)

J Crew = ridiculously overpriced at $70

Instead, I found some white capris when I got some house stuff for the bachelor pad that I now reside in.  I took them to Original Hems in Santa Ana.  Voila, cigarette pants.

But I still kinda want these.

Threader Earrings

First of all, I have been ridiculously negligent of my blog...again!  And I only have a week before Lent...and ever so much to say.

Last month, I saw some beautiful threader earrings in my People Style Watch magazine.  It showed Jessica Alba wearing them.  However, at over $100, I knew I could find something cheaper.

Etsy and ebay have proved very helpful.  I'm still trying to decide on which pair.

I love the length, dangling at three inches or over...but they are so light weight and can still be super casual.  LOVE them.

 

 

Kajal Eyeliner

I have a new obsession I am wanting to try.

Eastern style kahal/kohl eyeliners.  I randomly read about Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner.  It's a loose kohl that you apply to your waterline, close your eye, and swipe it across your eye--giving a tight, intense line all the way around your inner lids.


Through reading some reviews, I discovered YouTube tutorials on how to achieve this look

Watch here

Through that, discovered a couple of cheaper options

Styli-Style, a reasonable brand I really like

Off of PeninsulaBeauty.com, the same site I buy my haircolor from

Shahnaz Husain Herbal Kajal Kohl Liner

Ebay

Indian brand recommended

I want to try it!!

• Waterproof
• Dramatic, but not overly made up
• Long lasting
• Quick and easy, after practice
• Potentially very cheap
• Exotic
  

Victoria's Secret Convertible Dress

I have seen a few cute convertible dresses on Etsy recently.  About a year ago, I saw an article on them and, of course, wanted one.  Too bad my money goes to endless supplies of supplements and doctor visits.  Maybe this will go on sale!

I would get it in brown or blue.

 

  

Victoria's Secret, $88

Pewter Nails

I'm really lusting after a charcoal or pewter nail.  A few options:

Essie Steel-in the Scene









Revlon Steel-Her Heart

Tulip Skirt

Forever 21, $15.80

Urban Outfitters, $58

I want a tulip skirt! I want to wear it with (warning: politically incorrectly named) a wife-beater. I want it!!!

Have I mentioned that I am done with work a week from tomorrow? Or that I leave for England/Greece three weeks from tomorrow?

Or that I haven't had DSL at home for a week now....

Sephora Musings

I popped into Sephora over the weekend, completely bare-faced. I wanted to play with Benefit Erase Paste in the #1 shade, and some tinted moisturizers. I put the Erase Paste on one side and was amazed. The fair shade is so much better on me. I can use it under my eyes and on blemishes, and around my nose where I get red creases. I used my store credit from returning Coralista (which looked super bright and fake on me) and went home with this wonderful (but not perfect, see here) product.

I also played with NARS The Multiple in Malibu. Wonderful. It was the perfect pinky brown shimmer, looked great on both my lips and cheeks. How I long for it...but at $37, so not going to happen.

To Splurge or Not...

So today, I dragged my sickly body out of bed/the couch and went to Sephora. I hadn't left my house all weekend, and had a coupon for 15% off that I wanted to use for a replacement eyelash curler (Shu Uemura) and the Bare Minerals sunscreen powder (I really want it to keep in my purse for times I'm unexpectedly in direct sunlight.)

I really, really wanted this in Jersey Pink:
But...it is $25.50!! It is BEAUTIFUL. I love glosses with peachy pink and gold flecks in them.

But, then I realize I could buy this for under $5 as it's on sale at Long's this week. Hmmm...

Glass Nail File

When I got my wonderful birthday pedicure at the day spa (the experienced that launched my passion for the wonderful OPI Drip Dry drops), I encountered a glass nail file for the first time. Now, I really want one of my own. I usually buy the Sephora nail file with four options of grittiness, but now I want this one. It's supposed to be very long lasting too.

Sephora, $8

Mineral Sunscreen

I am a big fan of physical sunscreens (as opposed to chemical sunscreens.) I am also super obsessed with anything clogging my pores. I currently use Shiseido SPF55 lotion, which is wonderful for balancing out my combination skin. It has a mixture of physical and chemical sunscreens, and stays put.

I have tried a Peter Thomas Roth mineral sunscreen, but returned it because it dried my skin out so much. I discovered that it had cornstarch in it, that's why! I loved taking it to the pool and keeping in my purse for instant coverage. Chemical sunscreens take up to 30 minutes to become active, whereas physical sunscreens both a physical barrier on instantly. I used the PTR powder on my niece for instant protection on her little face too. Plus, the less chemicals, the better. I saw my doctor today and he talked to me about the traces of estrogen in many cosmetics that are affecting alot of women...possibly myself included. I need to be better about researching all the chemicals that go into my products.

I saw that Bare Minerals was coming out with one and it's finally here. I can't wait to try it in time for summer. I just hope it's not so drying.

Natural Sunscreen, $28

I Want These

Fossil, $10

I saw these on the Glamour site.

Cooler weather head gear

Urban Outfitters

Back to Beauty

Today all I wanted to do was stay at home and finish Twilight book number four. But, I had a hair appointment, and could not wait to cut 2+ inches off of my hair. That done, I decided to stop by the mall because I was out of my fave mascara, Imju Fiberwig (read about my love for it here.) I hadn't been to Sephora in at least two months. I know, what is wrong with me?? So, went for the mascara and ended up being very curious to try DiorSkin Airflash spray foundation. The girl doing my makeup ended up bonding with me, and we spent an hour together...talking about products and adding more fun things on. She put on DiorShow in Plum...very fun and different. And contoured my eyes in a very subtle, yet stunning way. She had me practice techniques, and told me repeatedly that I should model (haha!! I think they expect us unsuspecting girls to all aspire to be models and, therefore, want to be told that.) The whole thing was very fun. I took some pictures of the makeup and will post them soon.

I got home, and was thinking about matte eye makeup. I started playing on the Bobbi Brown website and fell in love with this palette. I want it!! Perfection. I love the not-too-warm and not-too-cool colors. The mauvey color is shimmery, but the rest look matte. I would, of course, only wear matte eyeshadow with a strong primer underneath to keep my oily lids from creasing (I love Urban Decay Primer Potion.)

Basics Eye Palette

Saturday Rituals

I love my long, leisurely Saturday morning showers. I usually take showers at night during the week, but like lounging in the morning on Saturdays. I do an extra long pumice on my feet, even though I already pumice every other day. I actually use shave gel on my legs. Today, I did my Ahava Liquid Salt and left it on for a few minutes, all the while imagining my skin releasing toxins. I exfoliate my whole body, and rinse my hair off with cool water (to make it shinier, I imagine.)

One product I have contemplated adding to this routine is Clean & Clear Soft In-Shower Facial. I have read some good reviews on it, but haven't been able to decide if I should add it to my already fairly aggressive AHA treatments (my glycolic/salicylic acid peel, toner and primer.) I already try to steam my face every couple of weeks to help clean out the ol' pores. But I have been wanting to try this for a few months, so may break down and do so!

If I Could Have Anything...

If I had $200 of extra money...no, wait...If I had $200 extra money and I HAD to spend it in a frivolous manner. Ok, if this was given to me.

Oh, I give up. Let's face it, I probably wouldn't spend $200 on the Clarisonic skin brush...but I lust after it all the time. Everyone has been raving about this for the last couple of years. It is made by the same people who developed the Sonicare toothbrush. It deeply cleanses and smoothes the skin, without harsh scrubbing. It is supposed to help with wrinkles, acne, blotchiness, oiliness, etc! How can such perfection be possible? I don't know, but I think about it quite a bit.

Until someone gives me this (even in that case, it would still pain me to have spent $195 on a skin brush), I may have to make do with the Neutrogena Wave. I have read some great reviews on it. I guess it is a similar gentle, yet deeply cleansing technique. But, you do have to buy the replacement pads for it.

A convert

Up until a few years ago, I was a sun bunny. I had tan lines nearly year round (thanks to the warm southern CA beach weather) and never seemed to be tan enough. How times have changed!! For a few years, my face has been protected by SPF or hats. I definitely get some sun on my arms and upper body sometimes, but mostly rely on self tanner.

Usually I use BareMinerals Faux Tan powder over my makeup (sweeping across my forehead, nose, cheeks and blending down below my jaw.) And yet, today, I experienced a new product.

I have been reading about the Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Spray. This retails at $57 (ouch!) It has silicone in it and dries to a powder finish. I got my new Sephora catalogue the other day, and took myself to the mall to try the items I had circled.

At first, I sprayed the #2 shade in error. I looked like I had just come back from a year on a deserted island, without sunscreen. Luckily, a kind Sephora employee offered her services and showed me how to lightly spray #1 on. And it was amazing. I looked the tan old me, before I started caring for my skin. Maybe I can find this cheaper on Ebay! What a lot of high maintenance it takes to make me look like the truly low maintenance, younger me. But, I'm older and more responsible now.

I feel too lazy to use my normal camera, so snapped one on my phone, but I don't think you can tell how tan I look. Oh well...

What's wrong with me?

Why do I want this so badly? I saw it in my local beauty supply store and haven't been able to forget about it. A few years ago, I was obsessed with a hot pink ModelCo one in Sephora that closed with velcro. However, they never had it in-store and I wasn't about to pay $7 shipping for a $10 item.

But this looks so amazing!! I want it.

Stay tuned: I am on a mad hunt for Lindsy hair/makeup wedding ideas, as I have been charged with the tasks. I will post some pics of my current ideas and tips. I am doing all the research I can now, so that my hands don't shake with nerves and ruin everything!

Anthropologie

So my new "Summertime" Anthropologie catalogue came last week. I love Anthropologie clothes, but in moderation. I tend to dress more simply, and then like to add one memorable/distinctive piece or fun accessories. My basics consist of well-fitting, classic clothes. Anthropologie provides many distinctive pieces, but usually the catalogues pair too many distinctive pieces together. As I'm a "less is more" kind of girl, I think this style robs the distinctive pieces of their distinctiveness. (Have I said "distinctive" enough?)

This edition was a breath of fresh air. The clothes were simple, with just a slight twist or the perfect accessory. I wanted nearly everything in it!

Well done, Anthropologie.

Go check it out online.

Summer Feet

The first time I saw a late-night infomercial for this thing, I was mildly disgusted. However, I have since read and heard that it is truly a remarkable product. When my in-shower pumice stone reaches a replacement age, I will be purchasing this As-Seen-On-TV product. Especially since Linens'n'Things has 20% off coupons, so it will only be $8.

On another note, I have some sort of stomach bug. Now, I am forced to waste the gorgeous summer day outside and stay in...drinking 7-UP and eating soup. At least I squeezed in some fun the last few days so that I don't feel persecuted!