Archive for November, 2008

I figure I’ll do a sense of a “Daily Hot Spot” whenever I find a site that has enthralled me, or I think it’s definitely worth mentioning.  Today’s “Hot Spot” is given to Design-her Gals, which I found out about through Scrangie’s blog.  I adored Scrangie’s Gal so much, I made one of my own for my site, which you can see to the right.

Design-her Gals was founded in 2005 by president and CEO, Jeanne Fitzmaurice.  It is a warmly sophisticated, Web-based, custom stationery and gift company with a mission to inspire, empower and celebrate women.  Strengthened by a growing interactive women’s community, Design-her Gals offers a unique online experience that celebrates women’s individuality and style while also raising awareness and funding for patients with late-stage breast cancer.  

The three gals behind the site are Jeanne Fitzmaurice of Bend, Oregon (Go-To Gal), Sue McMillan of La Mesa, California (A&E – Anything & Everything – Gal), and Esther Luc of Los Angeles, California (Graphic Designer/Illustrator Gal).

Gal-to-Gal Foundation is Design-her Gals non-profit arm, which is the first national non-profit organization to dedicate 100% of its resources exclusively to Stage 4 breast cancer causes as well as raising awareness and funding for patients and their families.  In 2006, Design-her Gals pledged $100,000 for the late-stage breast cancer cause, and set a goal of donating $1 million over the next three-year period. 

For more information about Design-her Gals and Gal-to-Gal Foundation, visit their site here.  Be sure to make your own gal while your visiting!

~ Source ~

Okay, ever since I heard OPI was making polishes exclusively for Sephora, I was thrilled!  From the moment I first saw pics of Metro Chic long before the collection launched, I knew it had to be mine!  Of course the first few times it was in stock I missed out.  Then when the Friends & Family code came along I waited a few hours too many and it was sold out again… Only to be back in stock after the code was no longer valid the next morning!  WTH is that?!

Anywho!  My local Sephora didn’t have it, and I couldn’t justify spending $6 in shipping on a $9 polish.  I mean, I’m not THAT fanatical about polish!  So, my lovely friend picked it up for me at her local Sephora.  I’ve been dying to use it… I mean, like tempted to just up and paint my nails at 10pm when I get in bed then!  So, today while I had peace and quiet, I did my toes.  

Now, I had swatched Metro Chic once I took my polish off last night, and the color didn’t seem as “awesome” on me as I had seen in pics.  I figured it could’ve been the lighting, so I should still give it a chance.  My toes look okay with it on.  The color is almost like a dirty brown on me… I really don’t know how to describe it.  It’s definitely an okay color for my toes though.  As for my hands?  Blech!

First of all, the color is way streaky on me.  I’m not sure if I got it from a bad batch or what, but it’s seriously a runny polish that streaks.  My first application was VERY sheer, and I had to apply three coats to get it to look as opaque as it should’ve as well as rid myself of streaks.  NOT HAPPY!  I hate having to use more than two coats of polish! 

So, as much as I wanted to love this polish because I was dying to have it, I don’t think I’ll be using it as much as I had hoped.  I honestly had the lemming squashed for a bit when I heard OPI You Don’t Know Jacques! was the better of the two… But I ended up wanting it anyway.  I wish I had just saved my $9 for something else, but I won’t let it go to waste!  I can swap it, keep it for just my toes, or give it to a friend.  I do think I should stock up on YDKJ though so I can make sure I have a nice taupe-grey I love.   Now, to get my hands on China Glaze Recycle and hope it doesn’t disappoint like Metro Chic did

I’m even gonna be nice and do a “two-for” on reviews this evening… How sweet am I?  Again, yet another Epinions review I’ve done

Product: 1 of 5
Packaging: 4 of 5
Quality: 1 of 5
Price: 3 of 5
Overall: 1 of 5
Would I repurchase? No, no and NO!  This is the worst product I’ve ever tried regarding hair removal!

I honestly just find this to be another gimmick to get women in search of stubble-free legs without worries of constant shaving.  But I could be the minority on this one since it seems it truly does work for some… Just not me!

::: The Product :::
Veet Rasera Bladeless Kits come in four scents: Aloe Vera, Floral Sensation, Fresh Sensation, and Dewberry. Each kit contains a bladeless razor with an aloe strip, and a 5.1 fl. oz. can of hair removal gel-cream. The product totes the claim of “soft, smooth skin that lasts up to twice as long as a razor – without cuts, dryness or stubble.” Veet Rasera is dermatologist tested, and contains no CFCs.

To use Veet Rasera, you’re supposed to spread the Gel Cream to fully cover hair. Wash your hands immediately after application. Leave the Gel Cream on the skin for 3 minutes, timed carefully. Then use the Rasera Bladeless Tool to test a small area. If hair comes away easily, remove the rest of the Gel Cream with the Rasera Bladeless Tool. Total hair removal time depends on hair thickness. If needed, leave the gel cream on for a bit longer WITHOUT EXCEEDING 6 MINUTES in total. Rinse your skin thoroughly with water after use. After use, rinse the nozzle and Rasera Bladeless Tool thoroughly with water.

Some of the precautions include:

1. Always wait 72 hours between product applications.
2. DO NOT sunbathe or swim for 24 hours after use. avoid contact with jewelry. For external use only.
3. Prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Before each use, patch test a small area you wish to treat and wait 24 hours before using product to ensure you have no adverse skin reaction.
4. Contains thioglycolate.
5. DO NOT use on irritated, sunburned, inflamed or broken skin, or on skin which has suffered an adverse reaction to hair removal lotions in the past.
6. DO NOT use on face or ears, on moles, breast nipples, perianal or genital areas. If discomfort or irritation occurs during use, remove the product immediately and rinse area with cold water. If irritation persists, consult a physician or call a Poison Control Center.

::: The Ingredients :::
Water (Agua), Urea, Potassium Thioglycolate, Nitrogen, Calcium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Perfume (Fragrance), Potassium Hydroxide, Magnesium Trisilicate, Titanium Dioxide, Propylene Glycol, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Sodium Gluconate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Hydrated Silica, BHT

::: My Experience :::
I hate body hair, I really do! Therefore, I prefer to keep my legs and underarm area as smooth as a baby’s bottom if I can help it. Even if that means shaving daily. I don’t bother with waxing as I’m allergic to most waxes, and the thought of epilating it just downright scary!

That being said, my legs were actually getting irritated from shaving daily. Sadly, if I don’t shave daily, I get a case of razor burn when I do finally shave again. Since summer was coming, and I knew skirts and shorts would be imminent, I figured I would look into hair removal creams. I asked a few people, and they said Veet Rasera had worked for them, even though they had really coarse, stubborn hair. I figured I’d give it a go, and was fortunate enough to have my husband pick some up for me.

I immediate tried it before I got in the shower. I followed the directions to the T, and tested a small spot on my calf at the initial “end” time. Nothing happened, so I left it on up to the maximum amount of minutes. About halfway through the nice fresh scent turned into the smell of bleach, which is not pleasing at all! Once my time was up, I started to “shave” my legs using the bladeless razor. Needless to say, not a SINGLE HAIR was removed. I’m dead serious… NOTHING happened. Then, when I went to wash off the remaining gel-cream, my legs had a weird film to them, which I can only assume was the moisturizing aspect? Oh yeah, and the horrible smell lingered even after my shower, and using a scented body butter! Regardless, the whole experience was just a waste of my time and money!

::: Overall :::
I most definitely wouldn’t tell anyone to waste their money on this! I don’t think this would honestly work for anyone who doesn’t have extremely soft, fine hairs. I’d rather shave daily.

I’m feeling a tad lazy on this one… At least I admit it!  Alas, I am simply putting my Epinions review here for you to read since I don’t wanna say the same thing twice LOL!

Product: 3 of 5
Packaging: 5 of 5
Quality: 4 of 5
Price: 3 of 5
Overall: 4 of 5
Would I repurchase? Yep!  But only as a night eye cream, and only because I know it works!

::: The Product :::
Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream comes in a slightly neon green tube with a white cap, and measures about 4.25″ in length and 1.25″ at its widest point.  Each tube contains 0.5 FL OZ (15 mL) of product.  The front of the tube has the company logo and product name, and the back of the tube has the product name, company contact information, and directions.  The eye cream itself has a white opalescent look to it, and applies very smoothly as it has the perfect texture of not being too thick or thin, and sinks into the skin pretty quickly. 

As per the drugstore.com website, Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream is said to “Reduce fine lines and brighten eye area.  Boosts surface-cell regeneration to brighten the eye area and reduce fine lines while diminishing dark circles.”  The product is Dermatologist tested for safety, Ophthalmologist tested, 100% oil-free, gentle to skin, allergy tested and non-greasy.  Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream is supposed to instantly “gently brighten and energize the delicate eye area”, and within 3 weeks“fine lines and puffiness are noticeably diminished.”  And with continued use, dark circles are to appear reduced.  

::: The Ingredients :::
Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Extract (Lycopene), Ascorbyl Glucoside (Vitamin C), Magnesium PCA (Magnesium Complex), Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Water, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Manganese PCA (Magnesium Complex), Zinc PCA (Magnesium Complex), Sodium PCA (Magnesium Complex), Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecanol, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Ceteth 10, Laureth 4, Mica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Nylon 12, Polycaprolactone, Polysorbate 80, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, FIL

::: My Experience :::
I had ran out of my M.A.C. Fast Response Cream, and didn’t have the time or money to drive 40 minutes away to get it.  I had always had good luck with Garnier Nutritioniste products in the past, so I figured I would try out their eye cream until I could get a hold of M.A.C’s.  Both luckily and unluckily, I came into my normal eye cream faster than I expected.

Why do I say luckily AND unluckily?  Well, if I hadn’t come into it as quickly, I might’ve discovered this gem of an eye cream really worked sooner!  I mean, it just sat in my medicine cabinet for a few weeks being neglected.  Then, one night I decided I needed to stay treating my face better than I was, and used it before bed after washing my face.  I continued using the eye cream on my entire eye area for a few weeks without really paying much attention to anything.

Lo and behold!  I discovered one morning that my under eye circles didn’t look as bad as normal!  Surely this was a fluke, so I didn’t expect much the next day.  BUT!  Again, I was delighted to see my dark circles still weren’t as dark as they normally were.  I could only attribute this to Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream because I hadn’t changed anything else in my skin care regimen.  My friend said the products are a great combination of anti-oxidants and brighteners, which is probably why it truly worked for me.  Now, it didn’t completely eliminate my dark circles, and I can’t say if it does much by way of making the eye area less puffy since I’m using this at night when I don’t have a lot of puffiness.

::: Overall :::
If you’re tried countless other products to reduce your under eye circles without much success, this might be worth a try.  My dark circles are hereditary, and they’ve definitely appear to have been reduced.  I no longer have a nasty greyish cast under my concealer, and my eyes certainly do look brightened.  The only thing I can think of that might make my eyes look even better is if I purchased a brightening pencil such as YSL Touche Eclat.

I really miss being a SAHM a lot.  I really do.  Especially now that I’ve met someone who is approximately the same age as I am, and our kids are all the same ages for the most part.

I miss making a nice yummy dinner that’s ready when my husband walks in the door.  I miss knowing my house was ALWAYS clean, and now just for a matter of a few hours on a Saturday.  Knowing I didn’t have laundry looming over me on the weekend before I had to start getting ready for work.

But, I do enjoy working at the same time.  Maybe that’s because of my job and the people I work with, or maybe because it’s a sense of feeling like an “adult” while I’m at work.  I dunno!  If you asked me if I could work my current position from home, would I be happier?  HELL YEAH!  I’d be over the moon with joy!

Not gonna happen, I know… Sucks, but it’s the reality of my job.  It’s the reality of being a working mother of two.  Not to mention being a wife.  Some days I feel I have no energy to make the PB&J sandwich for lunch… Or take a shower before bed.  Alas, it comes with the new territory I have.  Can I be a SAHM part-time at least and still make the same money and keep my benefits?!  That would be a second best option LOL!

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week!  Wow!  I really don’t wanna cook, but I gotta.  NOT FUN!  Slaving over a hot stove/oven for countless hours to make dinner.  Ugh!  Speaking of, what’s on your Thanksgiving dinner list?  Here’s mine:

• Turkey
• Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy
• Candied Yams
• Homemade Mac & Cheese
• Green Beans
• Stuffing
• Cranberry Sauce
• Dessert 

Can I never make up my mind?  Especially when something is limited edition (LE), and I wait so damned long I miss out?

Thankfully, that’s not the case ATM.  I’ve been avidly using Philosophy Amazing Grace EDP for a little over a year now.  At one time I was a perfume whore, until I listened to my aunt and decided to stick with a “signature” scent.  I’m thinking this is impossible for me because if I follow my nose, I stray from AG.

That is what leads me to my current woe.  I guess you could almost say I’m kinda sick of AG lately.  So, I finally decided to cave and give Aquolina Pink Sugar a try.  Granted, I got the dupe by Luxe called Pink Paradise.  It’s heavenly!  Now, at the same time, I’ve been jonesing to buy B&BW Sweet Pea EDT.  My good friend Aprill sent me some, and John actually prefers it over AG and the PS dupe!  Grrrrr!

Maybe I should just get a good dupe of PS in a perfume roll-on, and use that in rotation with B&BW Sweet Pea?  I mean, that seems logical, right?  I can always swap out my Philosophy AG, especially since it’s still like a half bottle of the Cologne Spray (which IMHO is stronger than the EDP).  

You see!  I can’t make up my damned mind!  It’s such a curse!  Like I said though, at least this isn’t like I’m debating on anything LE, and I’m just doomed to miss out!

And I’m sure there will be a lot more as there’s already been a bit LOL!  Today has basically been a calm day.  Nothing too exciting.  I did go get a relaxer touch-up, which I’ve desperately needed for a LONG time now.  I actually, for the first time in years, dared to let scissors near my hair for more than a trim!  I got myself semi-long sideswept bangs.  I like them too.  We really just framed my face, but added a tad more towards bangs too.  Did that make sense?  I really do like it, and might delve into a slightly deeper bang cut when I go back in January.  We’ll see!

I’m surprised I didn’t head into B&BW while I was at the mall.  I was tempted since Signature Collection items are BOGO 50% off.  I could’ve gotten my Vanilla Bean Noel, and some Sweet Pea.  Especially since I have that $10 off a $30 purchase!  While kinda makes me wonder if I shouldn’t ask for a B&BW GC for X-Mas or my birthday so I can get it then.  At the same time, I want a Macy’s or Sephora GC so I can either get the two MSFs I want from M.A.C., or my mascara primer and MMU from Sephora.  I reckon we’ll see what happens!

I should write some more reviews while I’m sitting here bored.  I’m sure there’s something I can write a review on.  A nail polish, eyeshadow, something!  Every month I go on Epinions and write a few reviews, but I’ve yet to do 10 of them within the month to get my $10.  I’ll write like 6 and suddenly stop.  Goodness knows I have enough beauty products I could write on LOL!  Yeah, that’s what I’ll go do.  I’ll go write a review

I love, love, love my Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm, but I wanted so badly to find Aquafina’s lip balm and try it.  Suddenly it wasn’t to be found in Wal-Mart check-out lanes, so I grabbed Nivea A Kiss of Moisture Hydrating Lip Care SPF 4.

Apparently this is similar to the original Labello.  The tube reminds me a bit of M.A.C. Lip Conditioner.  It’s considered to be a “lightweight, fast absorbing formula with long-lasting moisturization.”  Well… Either my lips are serverely chapped, or there’s seriously no long-lasting moisturization with this.  It is lightweight and does absorb fast.  But it wears off as soon as you take a few sips of your drink or a few bites of food.

It does feel nice on the lips though, so I give it credit for that.  At the same time, it’s irritating that the product twists itself back down into the tube as you’re applying it.  It seems you have to hold it a certain way so as to not have that happen.  I guess it’s not too horribly expensive as it’s really only about 50¢ less than Burt’s Bees at $2.49.  

Overall, I guess I’m going to give this 2 out of 5 stars because of the whole “product twisting down” issue and the lack of true moisturization that’s supposed to be “long-lasting.”  I think I’ll finish this up, and then stick with my good ol’ Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm.

As you can see, I’m getting in Holiday mode.  I’ve changed my theme YET again LOL!  Isn’t the snowman too cute though?!  Honestly, I really like this theme!  I should find something similar for daily use, yes?  I know, I know!  I’m too much when it comes to changes like this!

Anywho!  Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday!  It’s not even the food or anything… There’s just something about it that makes me feel good.  Maybe it’s because 6 years ago I almost died in a car accident a week before Thanksgiving.  Maybe it’s because I really do have a lot in life to be thankful for.  Regardless, it’s just my fave holiday!

At the same time, Christmas is becoming more exciting for me too.  As the kids grow up, and watching their faces while opening presents.  It’s a wonderful feeling to see that… It really is!  I’m definitely not looking forward to the day they learn the truth about Santa Claus.  I’m sure the excitement will still be there, but it might not be as bright of a glimmer.  Ya know?

Seriously though, I haven’t started a single bit of Christmas shopping!  Eek!  For shame!  I need to get my rear in gear!  John’s the hardest to shop for, as I’ve mentioned before.  Then again, with the kids constantly wanting this or that, it gets to be hard too.  I still need to come up with my own Christmas wishlist!  My birthday wishlist too, since it’s only 2.5 weeks after!