I Married Mr. Rogers: Giving Thanks for The Bloomin Boutique Giveaway!

Giving Thanks for The Bloomin Boutique Giveaway!

Over at "I Married Mr. Rogers" blog.

Enter this giveway! Do it!

L'Oreal Elnett

I'm back! It's been a crazy few weeks, but I've still managed to make some discoveries about the good, bad and perfect products.

First of all, this:
L'Oreal Elnett hairspray

Are you expecting another rave review? Well, I happen to disagree with every magazine beauty editor who has ever pushed me to buy this! For YEARS, I have read about this "wonder product." It is not all that, you guys. No at all.

Let me disclaim a little first. I have only used the small size of the Extra Strong Hold, rather than the Strong Hold. The reason is that it takes me forever to go through a bottle of hairspray. My aerosol cans always clog up, so my last purchase was a travel size of Dove Soft Hold spray. It has done everything I wanted it to (just getting my bangs to stay where I want them to, with light hold.) My hair holds shape too well, so I don't need more spray on it. Plus, I don't like the crunchy feeling of hairspray all over my hair. I use Frederick Fekkai Glossing Spray for a light, shiny hold.

Why don't I like this? I have to say the biggest reason is the smell. It is awful, and seems to get worse the longer it's on. I am not normally too sensitive to smells, but this one is just very old lady like and musty. Yuck.

The second reason is that it's really sticky for something that is supposed to be brushable.

The third is that is bodifies my already full bodied hair. It seems to frizz and fatten it up.

This was a huge disappointment since I've followed its cult status for years--from the illegal ingredient that wasn't allowed in the US, to its arrival at Target last year.

Florida

So I'm leaving in the morning to visit a good friend in Florida.  I'm definitely becoming a fan of distraction to make the time go by more quickly while Aaron is gone.  Six more months!  Haha, WAY too early for a countdown.  With things so intense on the deployment front, I'm looking forward to the trip.

I many times find myself carrying a purse and a canvas tote.  For someone with no kids, this is ridiculous.  I was at Barnes'n'Noble and happened upon this AMAZING pocketed tote.  Yes, please!  I'm excited to break it in this trip. I love my little Kenneth Cole purse that is the perfect size and shape, but this the perfect canvas tote that can carry alot and maintain organization.  Ahhhh.

Top Coats, Etc

Seche Vita, OPI, Barielle...I can't say I prefer one over the other.  I have found that the stickier/thickier a top coat is, usually means a.) it takes longer to dry and b.) generally lasts longer.

Top coats among those brands seem to be equals in my experience, but two things that are not:

OPI Drip Dry Drops (read my rave here)

Sally Hansen strengthening coat (read my rave here, that stuff is strong)

Essie Sew Psyched - still obsessed

Freida Loveliness

So gorgeous.  And really makes me want to have short hair, ala Marion Cottilard in "Inception."

Sew Psyched

I am so psyched about Essie Sew Psyched...I know, painfully bad pun on a good nail polish pun. It is like an update version of OPI You Don't Know Jacques, my favorite fall color of 2008.

Half Up Hair

I saw this picture and was so inspired:

Not only is it gorgeous, but I am in such a hair rut right now.  My bangs are very awkwardly growing out, and I think I am not layered enough for my mushroom hair.  I'm just OVER my hair.

I foresee myself utilizing this hairstyle.  And I absolute adore the color, too.

 

Check out how to do it here.

 

Have I gone too far in my love of nautical stripes?? When did this happen?  I have always had a love for simple things.  Simple, classic things.  Simple, classic, NAVY things.

When I wrote this?  No.

When I married him?  Maybe.