Archive for April, 2009

About a month or so ago, I challenged myself to do a new mani nightly for a whole week (at least Sunday – Thursday).  I made it through the week, and the routine has stuck since.  I might go nude on Friday, and I never wear anything on Saturday or Sunday, but I always have a new mani nightly Sunday – Thursday.  

Now I’m wondering what I should challenge myself on next… I have a lot of untrieds, but most of them I’m just not “feeling” right now.  Maybe it’s the weather, or maybe it’s because I wanna wear lots of pastels and neons ATM.  IDK honestly.

Maybe I should just keep a simple challenge, and make it last until it’s done LOL!  What I mean by this is, apply a full mani using a specific base coat, polish and top coat.  Then, see how long before it chips and/or how bad tipwear is after a certain amount of time.  

I have a few different treatments I can use to test this with, and maybe I’ll come up with the best combo for my nails.  This sounds good… I’ll just have to get used to wearing the same color for more than a day LOL!  I do think I’ll give this a try starting Sunday night!  I’ll be sure to post results, and I’ll *try* my hardest to take pics

I’m not sure if anyone even remembers when I had a separate page on weight loss, which I’ve deleted since.  Basically, it came down to the fact that being on Depo caused me to gain 20 lbs!  Yes, 20 lbs!  I jumped from 125 to 145!  I tried to lose the weight, but it didn’t seem to help.  I ended up switching to Mirena back in August, and I’m guessing the switch was good.

Somehow, I’ve lost 15 lbs., and I look so much better!  I’m not as self-conscious as I was, which is always a plus!  I’ve cut out sugar as much as I can… No more soda, no sugar in my coffee, and if I drink a juice or tea, I try to make sure it has natural sugars from fruits or “real” sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.

Though I haven’t made it up to six smaller meals a day, I am eating three smaller meals with at least wosnacks.  It’s a start for me.  Even if I’m still not where I should be eating-wise, I’m trying hard.  I’m watching the carb, sodium, fat & calorie intakes… A newbie on this can only go so far at first!  My portions are smaller than before, and it’s taking less to “fill” me up.

I’ve also started some sense of exercise.  I had purchased DDR a while ago, and I do that whenever I can – until it starts to hurt my ankles.  I’ve been using my stability ball more as well.  I hope to go walking nightly sometime soon, and I’ve gotten my Budokon DVD from a friend, so I’ll start that up again soon too.

While it might not seem like much to a fitness guru, or someone who knows anything about diet and nutrition, it’s all a start for me, and I’m happy with the results I’ve received so far.  I’m able to fit back into clothes I haven’t been able to wear in well over a year, and my boss even told me I’m looking good and my efforts are paying off.  

And as much as I’d LOVE to lose at least another 15 lbs., I’m not pushing for it.  I’m slowly getting comfortable with my body again, and even getting down to 125 again would be nice.  I know I’ll never look as I did in high school, and if that happens, I’ll be in complete awe LOL!  Seriously, I will!  Just wish me luck on losing at least 5 more lbs., and toning up.   I’ll re-evaluate myself then to see how happy I am

Okay, seriously, I’m quite happy in jeans and a t-shirt… But if I wanted to seriously dress to impress, would I want to look like some A-list celeb on the red carpet?  Sure, why not?!

Here’s my problem though: A lot of celebrities are creating their own fashion lines, but charging prices their fans could never afford.  Seriously?!  

I love JT… I’ve loved him since the good ol’ days of the MMC… He’s one sexy man IMHO, and I’ve had a “crush” on him forever.  Now, Mr. JT has started a fashion line called William Rast.  The clothing is nice, and definitely my style.  Let’s just take a quick peek at prices, shall we?

WILLIAM RAST KNIT SCOOPNECK SWEATER - $138

WILLIAM RAST STELLA BOOT CUT TOURMALINE WASH JEANS – $209

So, JT wants me to pay $347 for a pair of jeans & a sweater?  Really?  I can get a similar look from Gap for less than $100!  Sorry JT, I love you, but I’d pay $347 for a date with you before I paid that for an outfit from you!

Just in case there’s anyone who hasn’t heard about it, Zoya is doing an exchange program on nail polishes.  The current deadline has been extended (yet again) to June 28th.

How It Works: You send in your old nail polishes, and receive the same amount in Zoya polishes at half price.  Instead of paying $6 per bottle, you’re paying $3.  Zoya will then dispose of your old polishes based on EPA guidelines.

Limitations: There is a 6 bottle minimum and 200 bottle maximum.  You can send in anything BESIDES Zoya brand.  You can participate as many times as you’d like as well.  (From what I understand, they’re accepting mini polish bottles too)

For more information, you can visit the Zoya website here: Zoya Nail Polish Exchange.

Oh, and from what I understand, a few people have been able to add products to their order, and just pay the difference for the product(s) and shipping

I’m one happy woman to an extent tonight!  My large nail polish swap made its way into my home today, and I just swatched 10 of the 18 colors LOL!  I’m VERY happy with my polish choices!  You can go to Nailgal to see pics of them all, or I’m sure Scrangie and/or All Lacquered Up for pics too.  I’ll try to take my own pics something this weekend

CND Tart-A-Licious

SpaRitual Delight, Marvel, She’s A River & Shrewd

ChG Caribbean Temptation, Chiaroscuro, Cowgirl Up & Sexy in The City

OPI Conga-Line Coral, Done Out In Deco, Give Me The Moon, Moon Over Mumbai, My Daddy’s The King!,  Overexposed in South Beach, Queen of West Web-erly, Stars in My Eyes & Who Needs A Prince?

I can say I’m VERY happy with all of the colors!  As soon as my Saturday interview with Macy’s is over, I’m definitely doing a bold mani!  I’m not too sure what I’ll use yet, but I’ll be sure to post pics if I can

This totally doesn’t help my nail polish addiction, but I could give a rat’s @ss!  LOL!  This morning I saw a post regarding the Zoya Earth Day Giveaway on the Casual Lavish blog.  The first 25 responses upon the giveaway beginning at 11am EST would receive 4 free nail polishes based on their answers.  All you simply had to do was send an e-mail to Zoya with one of their polishes for the following categories:

Earth – nude polish
Wind – blue polish
Fire –  red polish
Zoya – any polish

I answered Charlize (Earth), Tallulah (Wind), Tosca (Fire) & Harley (Zoya).  

I seriously didn’t even think I’d win, but I did!  YAY!  I don’t honestly remember the last time I won anything, if ever LOL!  Unfortunately, I wasn’t truly paying attention, and I already own Harley.  I wrote back to see if I could replace it with a different color, and I was told they would try.  So, I opted for Kylie2.  Either way, I’ll be a happy woman!  You can’t beat winning – especially if it’s free polish!

And, so you can see the gorgeous colors I’ve opted for, here’s swatches from various blogs (I’ll post my own pics once I receive them in about 3 weeks or so):

Zoya Charlize (via Zoya’s site)
 

Zoya Tallulah
 
 

Zoya Tosca (via Zoya’s site)
 

Zoya Harley
 

Zoya Kylie2 (In case I get this instead of Harley)
 

I’m way super excited and can’t wait to get my package!  Yay for winning LOL!

Honest to goodness I do!  I’m such a polish whore anymore!  I need to at least make an attempt to post pics if I’m going to be so dirty LOL!  I have 29 polishes coming in swaps, and I’m in negotiations on a swap for at least 2 more!  That’ll only bring my total up to 110, but that’s still a lot!  I need more storage space now!  Okay, I needed more storage space before these swaps were established, but that’s neither here nor there LOL!  Oh dear me oh my!  Someone create a 12-Step Program for me!

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens…. Brown paper packages tied up with strings…. These are a few of my favorite things.”

Okay, not really all of that (just the first two), but who doesn’t love that song from The Sound of Music?!

This is a random listing of my favorite things… Call it “Getting to Know Aquilah Better”

TV SHOWS
Bullrun
Chopped
Clean House
Forensic Files
Ghost Hunters
House Hunters
Iron Chef America
Law & Order (all)
NASCAR
Operacion Repo
Paranormal State 

MOVIES
Alice in Wonderland
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Cruel Intentions
Fast and the Furious (I & II)
Gone With the Wind
Saw (all) 

HOBBIES
Blogging
Cooking
Reading
Web Design 

Yeah, I know, I’m boring LOL!

Product: 5 of 5
Packaging: 5 of 5
Quality: 5 of 5
Price: 4 of 5
Overall: 5 of 5
Would I repurchase? You bet your sweet @ss I would!  Again, and again, and again, and again…

::: The Product :::
M·A·C 182 Buffer Brush is described by the company as “A full, dome-shaped brush of extra soft goat hair. Specially created to flawlessly blend powder onto the skin for an immaculate polished finish. Excellent for all M·A·C powders and pigments.”  I’ve seen some descriptions specifically say “Japanese goat hair,” but I’m not sure this is true.    

The brush comes in a plastic cover, which can just be tossed.  Unless you want to keep the brush in the casing, but I’d recommend a kabuki case for that instead.  The brush handle is approximately 1.25″ in diameter, and 1.25″ in length.  The hairs measure approximately 1.25″ from the base end of the handle to the tips.  The handle states “M·A·C 182″ along the side, and the back says “China.” 

::: My Experience :::
This is by far the best kabuki brush I’ve ever used!  It’s soft, soft, soft!  My mineral makeup application is flawlessly and evenly distributed.  No worries about having too much excess in one spot as opposed to another. 

My trick for using this is to use a separate dish, like a petri dish, to dispense some mineral makeup into, and then dot the brush to evenly coat the hairs.  Then, as you’re supposed to do, I swirl the brush around in the dish using even swirls (i.e. 5 swirls clockwise, and another 5 counter-clockwise).  Then I tap the brush against the side of the dish or sink to tap loose anything loose.  I apply my makeup using clockwise and counter-clockwise motions alone one side of my face and forehead.  Then I repeat the whole process for the other side using a tad less makeup since I only need to do the other side of my face and eyes.  Granted, that might’ve been more of a description of how I apply my makeup, but I haven’t had any issues using the brush in this fashion.  I also use the brush to apply my M·A·C Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.  

I haven’t had a lot of shedding from my brush, which is a definitely plus!  The Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki left LOADS of hairs all over me and my clothes.  Not to mention, the hairs seemed to get stuck in my pores (yeah, it felt like fiberglass all over my face), and that’s not an issue I’ve experienced with my M·A·C 182 Buffer Brush. 

As for washing the brush, I normally spray it with brush cleanser, and then swirl it around in my hand until it lathers up.  Then I rinse the brush until there are no further traces of brush cleanser/suds, or the water runs clear when I squeeze out the excess.  I then dry the brush on it’s side.  I’ve been using M·A·C Brush Cleanser, and it seems to take a while for the brush to dry when I use it.  I have to wash it on Friday evening to know it’s completely dry and ready to be used on Monday morning for work.  I’ve just purchased Clinique’s Brush Cleanser, so I’ll have to see if it dries any faster as I’ve heard it can with brushes. 

The only “negative” I can say about this brush is that after it’s been washed, it seems that the first few applications require me to use a lot more mineral makeup to get the same coverage.  It could just be my imagination, but I’ve also heard of this happening to others who use a different brand brush. 

::: Purchasing & Pricing Information :::
The M·A·C 182 Buffer Brush retails for $45 from M·A·C stores/counters, and on their website (www.maccosmetics.com).  I do not advocate purchasing M·A·C brushes from eBay, as there are a lot of fakes out there.  While they may seem legitimate, it’s actually rare to get an authentic M·A·C brush on eBay.  So, while the price seems insanely expensive, it’s worth it in the long run to me.  (To learn more about fake M·A·C brushes, do a web search for information from either eBay – avjwc has a good reivew – or Specktra.net) 

::: Recommendation :::
If you’re looking for an ultra soft buffer/kabuki brush for applying mineral makeup, pressed powders, or any facial product, then I HIGHLY recommend the M·A·C 182 Buffer Brush!  I honestly don’t know what I’ll ever do without mine, or what I did before it!  My makeup applies flawlessly and evenly, and I don’t end up with brush hairs all over my face.  Definitely worth the $45!