Adorable Napalm

Ghost Rider 2 Artwork? I'll Bite!

2012-02-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

The new Ghost Rider movie comes out this weekend!!! WOOOO!!!

Oh...you're less than excited? Huh. Um...well, then. Awkward...

My ticket was free!!! WOOOO!!!

That work better for you? Thought so.

Thomas managed to score us some free passes to an advance screening of the movie, so we're treating the little brother to a (God, I hope) fun movie tonight. I won't lie; I'm not stoked. See, I was really excited for the first one, and ended up disappointed. That said, Nicholas Cage* on fire is kind of a hard thing to pass up, so I'm willing to give the skeletal biker another chance.

*I adore you, Nicholas Cage. Just so you know. Raising Arizona is a favorite, and I actually really enjoyed The Sorcerer's Apprentice. You were not the problem with the first GR movie, trust me. Also, if you say you're not a vampire, I'll totally believe you. Please don't bite me.

Photo Credit: Paranormal Pop Culture

What did excite me on the GR front, however, was this mind-blowingly amazing artwork my friend Jon Pinto put together for his blog. Jon, as you may recall, is the insanely talented artist behind the 'toon versions of Rue, Claire and Herb from The Night Shift. There are multiple posts dedicated to the making of several of his pieces, and they make for really interesting reading. If you've ever been curious about the artist's process, or just would like to spend a few minutes looking at some awesome pop culture artwork, breeze on over to his site and set a spell. I highly recommend it.

Photo Credit: Jon Pinto

And now, I'm off to watch a flaming skeleton ride around on a gas-powered motorcycle. Somehow, I think bad guys might be the least of his worries. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Shiny Happy People...Make Me Want To Punch Things

2012-02-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: Allure

Between awards season and Fashion Week, I'm about sick of seeing pretty people. I try; I really do. This morning I had an appointment with my accountant, so I wanted to look a little nicer than I usually do on a workday. I thoughtfully pulled an outfit that I thought blended casual with cool, yet still gave off an air of responsibility. Then, I very carefully selected the makeup I would need to complete the very specific look I had in mind--an effortless pale eye with bold lip--and applied said makeup using professional brushes and an artist's precision. Finally, I slicked my newly dyed hair (a rich, dark, chocolaty auburn that I absolutely adore) into a neat, classic ponytail. Finished, I stepped back, looked into the mirror and thought, "Well, this sucks."

I can only work with what I got, folks.

So, imagine my delight (okay, maybe that's a bit too strong a word. Um...how 'bout midly pleased relief?) to discover I'm not alone. In fact, the artists behind these award and fashion shows have their own demons to deal with. Here is a fun interview with makeup artist to the stars, Angela Levin. It's basically "Anatomy of the Oscars" from a makeup artist's P.O.V., and I was completely fascinated. The other is a rather enlightening look at how those crazy fashion show makeups come to be. Let me just say I had no idea...

Alrighty. That does it for today. I'm off to see if anyone left any head-sized paper bags lying around the office.

It's Over! It's Finally Over!

2012-02-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: Someecards.com

Today is a wonderful, amazing, brilliant holiday. It marks nine months and eight days until we have to deal with another round of those God-awful jewelry commercials! Seriously, if I have to hear that, "Every Kiss Begins With Kay" (Yay! You can spell!), or that, "he went to Jared" (which we don't even have within a driveable distance), or see Jane Seymour's wonky Z-shaped heart-butt abomination one more time, I may have to pelt their offices with rotten Edible Arrangements, or have FTD deliver some dead roses.

I'm so sick of these materialistic commercials. For me, Valentine's is about showing appreciation for all the loves in your life--not about going into debt trying to quantify your affection. My Valentine's plans? A home-cooked dinner, a fancy homemade dessert, and some snuggling on the couch. It's about being together; not about diamonds, roses, or reservations.

So, to celebrate this blessed occasion, here are some fun deals on goodies for all my lovely little valentines out there. I adore you all! Have a fantastic day!

Old Navy: Save 14% off anything today with the code ONLOVE.

Dressbarn: Free Shipping today on orders $14 and over. No code needed.

Smashbox: Free Precision Liner with any purchase until 5pm ET. $20 value, and no code needed.

E.L.F.: Free Shipping on orders $14 and over with the code FSLOVE.

BeautyMint: Get $20 off a 4-piece system with the code VAL20. (exp. 2/15)

Aeropostale: Take 14% off anything (except clearance and fragrance) with the code 14VDAY.

DuWop: Save 14% sitewide. No code needed. (exp. 2/19)

TooFaced: Take 15% off your entire purchase with the code VDAYLOVE12.

A Quieted Soundtrack

2012-02-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

In third grade, I lobbied unsuccessfully to have my baton class twirl to "I Wanna Dance With Somebody". When The Bodyguard came out, I fell hopelessly in love with Kevin Costner and dreamed of someday singing "I Will Always Love You" (still waiting on that). The Waiting To Exhale soundtrack was one of the first CDs I ever bought, and The Preacher's Wife remains one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies.

Simply put, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, and for being the soundtrack of my youth. You will be greatly missed.

*Video Credit: YouTube

Frugal Friday and the Once and Future Heartbreaker

2012-02-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

One of these days, should Thomas and I have any kids, I hope that we are half as cool as Arthur's parents.

This site showed up on my Facebook the other day (and thank you to whomever it was that posted! I can't find it now to thank you properly, so if you see this, let me know who you are in the comments), and I couldn't stop smiling! As you probably have guessed, I'm a bit of a movie buff. I also happen to adore babies, and Arthur's parents were kind enough to combine my two loves into one absolutely precious blog: Arthur Recreates Scenes From Classic Movies.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind:

Photo Credit (This and All): studioarthur.co.uk

The Blair Witch Project:

And my personal favorite, American Beauty:

Check out some more of adorable little Arthur's work on his blog, or follow his (amazingly talented and sweetly goofy) Mom on Twitter: @EmilyCleaver. Oh, I just want to pinch those little cheeks!!!

And now, for today's Frugal Friday alerts!

Forever 21: Now through Valentine's Day, take 30% off all lingerie. Online only, but no code is needed. There's some really cute stuff available, so I'd jump on this one.

Victoria's Secret: Again, now through V-Day, spend $75 in stores and receive a box of Vosges Haut-Chocolat truffles, inspired by VS collections. They're only available in select stores, so check before forking over any dough.

Wet Seal: Take $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with code Luv2shop. Ends 2/14/12, online only.

Sephora: Use the code BIGBALM to score a full-sized Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Balm in Wakiki with any online purchase of $25 or more. I have these in Bora Bora and Portofino, and they're amazing, so this is a real steal.

Have a lovely weekend!!

And Now, a Few Words From Prof. Higgins and Col. Pickering

2012-02-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

I had a commercial audition earlier this week. As of right now, I haven't heard anything on it, but it went well, so if I don't get it, I won't blame myself. It will just be because they needed someone taller/shorter, blonder/darker, thinner/heavier, or, possibly, male. You never know, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

That, however, is not what this post is about. See, I had very little notice for this audition, which left me in a bit of a panic. I mean, I try to keep myself up--and I think I do pretty good job of it, too--but it seems like the only times I get called in for interviews, photo shoots, or auditions are the times when I'm inbetween hair colorings, desperately need a tan (so I don't glow in the dark), and have a zit the size of East Texas somewhere prominent on my face. Oh, and I'm extra bloated. I can't forget that. Can't have an audition unless I'm feeling super-duper super-sized. It's not allowed.

At first, I moaned for a while about choosing such a superficial profession, but the thing is, once I thought about it, I realized that we all go through this stuff. Maybe it's not an audition; maybe it's a corporate function you didn't plan to attend. Maybe it's a date with that someone you've been crushing on for...well, ever. Maybe you just got up one morning, looked in the mirror, and thought, "Good morning, Corpse Bride. I am totally worth more than this..." Whatever the reason, I thought I'd share some of the products I keep around for quick fixes on a tight budget*. At the end, I'll list everything discussed, with links.

Tell-Tale Roots and Grays
I can't stress enough the importance of having a trustworthy, professional colorist. That said, sometimes schedules, finances, and good old procrastination get in the way of making that hair appointment, and we have to make do as best we can. I keep a box of L'Oreal Root Rescue in my bathroom for emergencies. That way, if something important comes up and there is absolutely no way of getting to the salon, I can do a quick touch-up without adding hours to my prep time...and then I call Miss Jessica for a real coloring!

Puffy Eyes
I know our moms all told us to lay cucumbers over our eyes to get rid of puffiness, but who has time for that? My go-to for puffy eyes is the Ganier Nutrioniste Eye Roller. The metal ball cools while the caffeine-infused liquid de-puffs your under-eye baggage. One will run you less than $15 and last several months. Have a couple of days notice? Pat on a good eye cream before you go to bed (which we should all be doing anyway, and I am appalled that any of you could think that I would go even one night--yeah, I can't get through that sentence. I'm HORRIBLE about remembering). I'd recommend mine, but it's discontinued, and would have been insanely expensive had I not found it for $6 on sale. Instead, try Biore SkinPreservation See the Future Eye Cream. It's $13.99 at drugstore.com, and while I haven't personally tested this, it's gotten fantastic reviews.

Coffee-Drinker Teeth
Now, I know there are a bajillion whitening systems out there, with some only taking a couple of hours for full effect. Unfortunately, they are freaking expensive, and, quite frankly, I can't afford to keep something like that in my cabinet "just in case". Instead, I keep Colgate Optic White, an exceptionally good whitening toothpaste, and a whitening mouth rinse. They may not work as quickly, but I noticed an improvement right away, and better results with continued use. Got something special going on? Brush and rinse in the morning and after each meal, with one more good scrubbing right before you walk out the door. Best of all, the two together will only cost about ten dollars.

Dry, Flaky Skin
The last thing you want to do right before an event is a facial because they can cause breakouts. So, how are you supposed to exfoliate and moisturize? Um...by exfoliating and moisturizing, simple as that. When you wash your face, use either a facial scrub brush (like this one from Sephora. It's $18, but less expensive ones are also available), or you can carefully scrub with a coarse washcloth. I like to use circular motions, alternating directions. After washing, slather on a gentle moisturizer, like Philosophy Hope In a Jar, which is only $15 for a travel size.

Pimples and Blemishes and Zits, Oh, My!
So, you're already broken out. Welcome to my world. Above all, do not pick at your face! First, apply a towel-wrapped ice cube to the affected area to help bring down redness and swelling. Next, dab on a spot treatment (available at most drugstores for about $5). Once that dries, you can continue with your usual makeup routine, adding concealer to that area. Oh, you already popped it? Yeah, I probably would have, too. In that case, I hope you have overnight to deal with it. Use a drying paste formulated for popped pimples. Again, it'll run about five bucks. Now, don't do that again!

Puffy...Everything...
On short notice, there are a few little things you can do to de-puff. First of all, can the soft drinks and super salty foods for a day and drink as much water as you can stand. This will help flush out your system. Secondly (and, boy, does this sound ridiculous), before you get dressed, do as many crunches as you can without breaking a sweat. That's probably 20-50. Believe it or not, just that little bit will make your abs temporarily appear more toned. Not enough? Might I suggest a fun, effective shaper?

Snow White Legs
If you're day-glo, like me, and find yourself in the position of having to show off your legs with zero notice, you might want to try a quick-drying airbrush tanner. If you have a day or so to get ready, a tinted self-tanner might be more up your alley. In either case, make sure you shave and moisturize beforehand. An easy way to keep down streaks is to apply moisturizer to each section immediately before applying the tanner. If you're only doing your legs, keep the application light, so it just knocks the chill off of your skin, and wash your hands thoroughly after.

Five Minute Manicure
One of the easiest ways to look polished and put-together is a manicure. Now, I know I don't have the time or extra cash for a pro mani-pedi at the salon, but I can usually find about five minutes to file and slap on a coat of paint. Sally Hansen may not be my favorite line, but they have a fantastic collection of quick-dry, one coat polishes. Try one in a pale neutral to look effortlessly chic (and camoflauge any chips!), in about five minutes. Back when we filmed The Night Shift, I used Rapid Red, and could refresh my manicure standing up, oustide, balancing on my car door, and be ready to roll camera within minutes. A-mazing.

Droopy Locks
This is probably the easiest fix of all. When you wash your hair, make your final rinse a cold water rinse. It seals the cuticle and cuts down on frizz. Do the same thing when you blow dry--finish by blasting your hair with cool air, in a downward motion. If you're dealing with dull or lifeless hair, try adding a volumizing mousse to towel-dried hair before blow drying, then spritzing with a shine-enhancing finishing spray (this Bumble & Bumble is a little pricey at $26, but it will last a very long time, since you have to use it sparingly).

Alright, here's the list of direct links to my personal recommendations, but you could definitely use your own finds. Heck, if you find something that works really well, send it to me and I'll happily share it with the rest of the class!

The Bare Necessities
Root Touch-Up
Eye Roller
Eye Cream
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening Mouth Rinse
Facial Brush or Coarse Washcloth
Moisturizer
Acne Spot Treatment
Popped Pimple Drying Paste
Shapewear
Airbrush Tanner or Self Tanner
Quick-Dry, Neutral Nail Polish
Volumizing Mousse
Shine Spray

*Disclaimer: I am not an esthetician, cosmetologist, or in any way qualified to give expert advice. These are tricks and products that I, a normal, average person, use myself on a regular basis, with positive results.

Eat Your Heart Out! (And Brains, and Liver, and Spleen...)

2012-02-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

You know, I racked my brain trying to figure out what to get Thomas for Valentine's Day. We don't normally do a whole lot for the "holiday", since it's only a hop, skip, and jump from both Christmas and our wedding anniversary. Still, neither of us likes for the day to go by completely unnoticed. Granted, last year's was about as unromantic as they come--with a, literally, ticking time-bomb of a television, a hurried and painfully expensive trip to Best Buy, and cold take-out from Olive Garden--but we tried. We had fancy cupcakes from the cool bakery in town, exchanged gifts, and watched a movie on our brand-new, not about to explode T.V. All in all, I'd call it a win, but I digress.

Anyhoo, I didn't know what to get Thomas. It needed to be small, inexpensive, and thoughtful. What would Thomas like that was small, inexpensive, and thoughtful? OH! I know!!

Photo Credit (This and Below): ThinkGeek

Zombie Bon-Bons!!!!!!!

They're bite-sized, only $9.99 per box, and full of (cherry-flavored) braaaiiiiinnnnssss. Who could ask for anything more?

Unfortunately, by the time I saw this, I'd already ordered his gift. Blast.

Oh, well. There's always next year.

BONUS! I just got an email from JewelMint, where you can get a free Be Charmed Ring with any purchase TODAY ONLY. Add the ring and any other piece of jewelry to your cart, and enter GIFTRING at checkout. Plus, you'll get free rush shipping, so your pieces should make it to you by Valentine's!

Photo Credit: JewelMint

Someone To Watch Over Me

2012-02-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

I have great parents. This past week, while I was out of town, Mom set up my kitchen, my step-dad fixed a leak in a sink, and Daddy fixed my dryer. That last one is probably the most impressive, considering my dad died ten years ago.

I swear I'm not crazy.

I mean, at least not about this.

If you've been keeping up, lately, you know that Thomas and I have had a...let's call it "fun"...couple of weeks. First, we moved our ridiculous, bordering on obscene, amount of stuff out of our townhouse and into our new house--the house I grew up in. That was Saturday. On Monday, we headed to Atlanta for the better part of a week, which meant that we had a massive amount of laundry to get done on Sunday. Yay.

Thomas is the laundry-doer in our household. I (sort of) cook and do the brunt of the housework, and he lugs the heavy clothes baskets around. I think it's a fair trade-off. Anyhoo, he washed the first load, went to put it in the dryer...and the "start" switch came off in his hand, the backing falling down into the machine.

[EXPLETIVE DELETED]

This had happened before, a few years earlier. Thomas tried to fix it. My step-dad tried to fix it. Heck, I think Curt and I may have tried our hands, too. Eventually, a professional had to be called in to get the darn thing working again. This time, we didn't have the time or money for that luxury, so Thomas spent the better part of an hour trying to put the pieces back together, but there was absolutely nothing he could do to make the machine turn on. Eventually, we just called it a night, Thomas set the pieces in place (just to keep from losing any parts), and I asked Mom if we could borrow her dryer.

Fast forward to Thursday. I called Mom to let her know we were on the road, headed home. She told me that she'd been over at the house all week, puttering around and putting up odds and ends--God, I love this woman--and that my step-dad had taken care of a pesky leak. I thanked her (for both of them), and that's when she hit me with, "...and Brent said the dryer worked fine."

"Oh, good! So he was able to fix it?"

"No. It wasn't broken. He just walked in the utility room and turned it on."

No way. No [EXPLETIVE DELETED] way. I looked at Thomas, "Mom said the dryer's working."

"Oh, Brent fixed it? Cool. Thanks!"

"Nope. Said it wasn't broken to begin with. He just flipped the switch and it worked."

"...huh?"

Seriously. It's a machine. It didn't just get better.
"I just want to make sure I have that right. The dryer wasn't broken? Brent didn't fix it, but it works?"

"I'll check with him again, but I think that's what he said...[silence]...Yeah, it's fine. Didn't have to do anything to it."

"I think my brain just bluescreened."

It was about that time that Mom and I both realized what happened: Daddy fixed it.

This isn't the first time, since his passing, that something helpful, yet unexplainable, has happened. My dad was a protector. He didn't want his family to want for anything, and he'd do whatever was necessary to make sure we were safe, happy, and healthy. We're not entirely sure that part of his nature ever left us, so when something we can't figure out happens, we, half-jokingly, chalk it up to Daddy looking out for us.
The most notable occurrence (out of too many to count) was while I was in college. Rehearsals and sorority stuff had me in and out at weird hours, so Mom and I had a system: she'd leave the brand new alarm off when she went to bed, with the understanding that I would turn it on as soon as I came in at night. Well, one night, I flat-out forgot and just went straight to bed. A few minutes later, I heard those familiar beeps and thought to myself, "Thanks, Mom." The next morning, I apologized and thanked her for setting the alarm for me.

"You didn't forget. I heard you set it when you came in."

"No, I heard you set it after I got in bed."

We both looked at my brother, who was maybe four, not tall enough to reach the panel, and had no idea what the code was, or, for that matter, what the alarm was.

Daddy set the alarm.

Daddy fixed the dryer.

I think I'm going to love living here.

While I Was Out...

2012-02-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

And we're back!!

I am so sorry that posting has been a little haphazard lately. Things have been beyond crazed in my world. Anyway, life is calming down a bit, so I thought I'd thrill you with an installment of:

WHILE I WAS OUT!

This is where, from time to time, I'll let you know what I've really been doing when posting's been light. Recently, I moved out of an apartment and into a house, then immediately (and I mean immediately) had to go to Atlanta for most of the week. So, while I was out, I stopped by:

The Conecuh County Sausage Factory. Seriously. Well, actually, we only stopped by the gift shop to get some sausage dogs, but that was, frankly, enough. I wish I'd had my camera, because it was the most adorable little general store...but completely stocked with gorgeous silver kitchen and dining accessories! Talk about opposites! If you ever find yourself in Evergreen, AL, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Also on the way up, we took a detour to visit Priester's Pecans, another country store filled with gifts and goodies. There's a coffee shop, ice cream stand, buffet, and more candy than you can shake a stick at. In fact, you can go upstairs and get a bird's-eye view of the candy-making process. It's a don't miss, in my book--but make sure you bring a hoodie. It's freezing in there!

In Hapeville, GA--mere minutes from the Atlanta airport area)--through the aid of our drunk-and-disorderly GPS, Jack ("We named the GPS Jack! Argh!"), Thomas and I stumbled upon the original Chick-Fil-A while trying to locate a post office. We never did find a mailbox, but the "Dwarf House" made up for it! Think Chick-Fil-A meets IHOP meets Walt Disney, and seek it out when you're in the area.

Since we had to eat, you know, more than once, we also headed to our favorite pizza joint (period. It rocks): Savage Pizza in Little Five Points. The pizza is incredible, the decor is Superhero chic, and the surrounding area looks like a cross between Portland and Greenwich Village. Go.

Atlanta's Horizon Theatre is currently running a simply fantastic production of Avenue Q. If you're not familiar with the Tony Award-Winning musical, it's basically Sesame Street for grown-ups. Catchy songs like, "What Do You Do With a B.A. In English", "If You Were Gay (That'd Be Okay)", and "It Sucks To Be Me" make learning about love, responsibility, racial and sexual diversity, and finding your purpose in life a side-splitting good time...just make sure to leave the kiddies at home!

When I wasn't out and about in the ATL (yeah, I just wrote that, and I am ashamed. Sorry), I put this piece on my still-in-fundraising-territory-but-hopefully-we'll-have-that-nailed-down-soon movie Jersey Devil Expeditions. I worked on the story and am helping with behind-the-scenes decisions right now. Paranormal Pop Culture is awesome and letting me write about our adventures in filmmaking.

So, that's what's been going on. I've got some fun posts coming up here at AN, so stick around!

I'm Not a Lady of Leisure, But I Did Stay At a Holiday Inn Express Last Night

2012-01-31T10:30:00.000-08:00

Well, actually, it was a Hilton, but who's counting? I'm typing this from the middle of a fancy hotel bed, as I sip on a green tea latte and nibble a toasted wheat bagel with cream cheese. Cheesy primetime-in-the-daytime television plays in the background.

I know you hate me, and I think I can deal with that.

Truth is, Thomas is on a business trip, and his awesome boss told him he could bring me along. So, while he's photographing convention meetings, I'm hanging out and pretending that I don't have a house full of boxes left to unpack. This trip may be more helpful than all my therapy sessions combined.

I'm planning to check in here and there, so stay tuned!

Frugal Friday: This Is How My Mind Works

2012-01-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

Some random observations from today:

Someone is always getting married on the Young & the Restless. Seriously. About once a week (in the 30 minutes, or so, that I catch most days before I go to work), someone will either announce an engagement, find themselves in a forced/arranged/sham marriage, get word that their ex is betrothed to their enemy and will be their kid's step-parent (whoa), or--crazy as it sounds--actually walk down the aisle. Of course, then someone will have to try to stop the ceremony by objecting, shooting someone, or having the bride or groom arrested. I'm telling you, that is one heckuva town. Vegas never had it so interesting.

Weddings make me think of cake. Now I want cake. There's a cupcake shop on the corner near my new house. I will never lose this weight. Oh well.

You don't so much clean an unused bathtub as you dust it. In some ways, I find that to be more difficult. Not only that, do you have any idea how galling it is to exert so much effort cleaning something that was never used? Well, I take that back. It was used once as a crime scene for a friend's student film, but then the only stuff that went into it was fake blood, and that was made with dishwashing detergent; so, in effect, the only thing that's ever been in that tub was soap...and I still had to clean it. That's just irritating.

Oh! There's a gym nextdoor to the cupcake shop! I could join the gym, and then work off whatever calories were in the cup--oh, I can't even get through that sentence. The shop is walking distance from the house, though. I could just walk to and from the cupcake-y goodness, and that wouldn't be so bad. Yeah! That's a plan!

You should never lose hope. Just because you step up to the Plinko game of life with only two chips, and the first one lands on $0, you shouldn't give up. It only takes one chip to hit $10,000. Your chip could be that one.

Forget the cupcakes! I don't need them! I will lose this weight! I will be strong! Now...what can I do about that pesky Krispy Kreme down the street? Sigh...

And now, for this week's deals:

E.L.F.: Get an 8-piece set (plus travel case) for $2 with any $20 online purchase. Just add the Sweetheart Collection set to your cart, along with $20 worth of merchandise, and enter code SWEET at checkout to get your discount. Offer valid until 1/30/12.

StyleMint: Existing members who buy any two Ts today will receive a free Cupid's Kit, which includes one best-selling JewelMint piece, a seamless cami, and either a lip stain or face cream. No code necessary.

JewelMint: Purchase any JewelMint piece today and receive the Take a Bow Ring for free with code BOWRING.

Have a great weekend, guys! (Now, go get your cupcake on!)

Me Wants It, My Precious!!

2012-01-26T11:49:00.000-08:00

Thomas found this today:

I am in desperate need of a manicure, and now I want this on my nails!

Photo Credit (This and Below): billythebrime

(and you can all just shut up about my never having seen all of the series. I can't help it if I fall asleep. It's not boring...it's peaceful. The elves are so pretty and calm, and they just put me right out.)

The "One Ring To Bind Them" quote reads in a circle, from left thumb to right thumb. According to the artist's tumblr, the base coat was Milani Gold Lame, and the artwork was done with black acrylic.

Photo Credit: Sephora

If you're interested in giving this a shot, any gold base will work. I'm partial to Sephora by OPI's Charge It! You'll also need either a black nail polish pen, or a black polish with a super skinny brush. Cinapro has a black nail pen available on Amazon. ENailSupply has a really neat option, as well: a pen/brush hybrid! You can either use the bottle as a pen, or unscrew the cap and use the itty-bitty brush that's inside. You'll also want to seal your work with a clear topcoat.

Personally, I'd suggest either having this done by an artist, or taking your time and painting the design onto false nails, then applying them later. I only say this because I cannot draw with my left hand. At all. I'd hate to get halfway through and not be able to finish well.

Here's a copy of the quote in Elvish, for reference. Good luck!

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

You See, What Had Happened Was...

2012-01-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

The dog ate my blog.
The computer crashed.
I thought it was due next Wednesday.
My time-turner was in the shop. Is in the shop? What day is this?
Tribbles, man. Tribbles.

I know. Excuses, excuses. The thing is, I have a post for today...it's just not written. Life happened, and here we are. I'll be back tomorrow, God willing, with some cool stuff for you. Until then, what are your best excuses? Leave 'em for me in the comments, and we can all have a good giggle.

Thanks,
Erin

This Ring Belongs In a Museum!

2012-01-24T12:20:00.000-08:00

I'm funny about engagement rings. When Thomas and I were discussing getting engaged, and he asked me if I would like to pick out my ring, my answer was an emphatic, "NO!" In my mind (and I know there are gazillions out there who will disagree with me), the engagement ring is a gift. I hate choosing gifts for myself. I can't stand the thought of someone spending too much money on me, so, unless I am given a specific budget to stick to, I will invariably pick the cheapest thing I see, regardless of whether or not I actually like it. When we registered for gifts, we only chose items we could reasonably afford to give as wedding gifts ourselves. To this day, I have no idea how much my ring cost, and I intend to keep it that way.

Anyway, I had a second reason for not wishing to choose my own ring: the ring (again, only my opinion) is a reflection of how the giver sees the wearer. If I'm feeling a little down on myself, I can look at my left hand and be reminded that 1) I have a husband who loves me, and 2) he sees me as a classic, yet modern woman with a quiet strength and tons of sparkle. Someone who knows me very well sees that in me, so why can't I see that in myself?

Of course, I totally understand why some people would want to pick out their ring, and how that could really help out the person buying it. It's a big-ticket item, and one that is going to be worn, theoretically, everyday for the rest of your life. You kinda don't want to screw that one up, so when I went to have my finger measured, I did a little scouting so I could offer helpful hints, if needed. Oh, who am I kidding? I accidentally looked down while the jeweler was sizing me, saw My Ring (TM) and had to get the specs on it immediately. I ran back to Thomas' apartment and told him I'd found My Ring, and where he could go to get it. He took a look at the ring's details, walked over to his computer, pulled up a page he'd saved to favorites, and said, "This it?"

It was.

There, on the screen, was the exact ring I'd fallen in love with, except that this page was one where you could build your own custom ring. He'd built My Ring, already, with no help from me.

Some people just get it right.

Case in point: a fellow whose girl had a deep, unabiding love of the Indiana Jones films, had this amazingly detailed ring made for her. The band is a minature replica of Indy's whip, while the yellow diamond represents the golden idol from Raiders. It's ridiculously thoughtful, and gorgeous to boot, but what I love most about it is the subtlety. At first glance, it's just a yellow diamond set in a wide, carved band. It's not until you view it up close that you get the reference. I don't know who this guy is, but good going! (I hope she said yes!)

In case you're wondering, here are the schematics for it.

Photo Credit (All): Geekologie

These Are My Kind of Spock Ears!

2012-01-23T12:06:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick bit of pretty for you this (if you live around here) gloomy, nasty Monday:

Photo Credit: LRakerDesigns

These are just plain neat. Whether you're into fairies, elves, or Vulcans, these pretty wire ear-wraps might be right up your alley. Personally, I think they'd go perfectly with my Arwen necklace. Etsy seller LRakerDesigns handmakes these one-of-a-kind beauties, along with a few other gorgeous goodies. Check 'em out, and let me know what you think in the comments. $45, etsy.

Frugal Friday: Work In Progress

2012-01-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!!! Here are your deals and steals o' the day!

Smashbox: Now through Sunday, you can take $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with the code SWEETDEAL. Offer not valid in conjunction with other promotions.

Victoria's Secret: In stores, through Feb. 2nd, you can get a PINK minidog with any PINK purchase. Starting Jan. 23rd, you can also snag one with any PINK online purchase, using the code PINKLOVE. Just make sure you add the little fella to your order first.

Wet Seal: Hurry for this one! 20% off your entire order UNTIL 3PM PST!!!

Today's post is more of a heads up than anything else. I'm in the process of testing out the Real Techniques makeup brushes by Pixiwoo's Samantha Chapman, but I haven't been able to locate all the brushes in the set, so the review is forthcoming, but not ready to go at this particular point in time. It appears they're only available at Ulta here in the States, and mine stays sold out of them. Go figure.

I didn't want to buy a new set of brushes. I really didn't. I've been using E.L.F. for so long, and I dearly love them, but I needed to have a set devoted solely to movie/stage makeup (it's absolutely no fun to have to cart your own, personal set of brushes to and from set. They can get lost, stepped on, broken...did I mention lost? It's nerve-wracking). I decided to donate that set to the cause and give these a shot. I'd watched the Pixiwoo girls use them for a while, and was impressed with the on-camera results.

Anyway, this isn't the review, but I have had the opportunity to test out four of the brushes, and have been extraordinarily pleased with both the quality and the results. Plus, with each brush (that isn't in a collection) running between $5 and $10, with a buy one get one 50% off sale, the price point is comparable to E.L.F.'s.

So, like I said, this isn't the review, but I knew a few of you out there had to be in the market for brushes. Now you can be on the lookout for the review and a breakdown of each brush. Hope that helps some.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Brainy Beauty

2012-01-19T10:57:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm celebrating being alive (and compensating for a horrible hair day) by wearing a precious, handmade headband, featuring a cute little purple felt zombie face. I bought it at an Art Walk, from a really sweet local artist who, sadly, does not have an online shop, even though she's awesome and most definitely should. Anyway, I did some looking and came up with a next-best option for you guys:

Photo Credit: Janine Basil

Those are the cutest brains ever!! This headband (also available in pink) is $23 plus shipping, and comes from Etsy artist Janine Basil. It's quirky, unexpected, and surprisingly wearable. Visit Janine's shop here.

Pin-Up Posters and Diva Decor

2012-01-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

You know how I said yesterday that I hoped to take some pictures of the bathroom last night? Well, I decided to wait on that until there was something decent to photograph. Right now, the towels aren't out, the decor is only halfway installed, and a great big container of spackle is right smack dab in the middle of my countertop. Trust me, you want me to wait on this.

Andy's Room. Photo Credit: DisneyWallpaper

In the meantime, let me tell you about my nowhere-near-finished guest room! (I can tell you're just chompin' at the bit.) The room had been what Thomas referred to as "Andy's Room Blue", but we painted over that with slate gray and trimmed the window, doors, and baseboards in white. Most of the accents are lime green, which really pops against the gray.

The inspiration for the room came, in part, from a rather odd source: Victoria's Secret. I kid thee not.

See, back around the time of the last fashion show, the company held a sweepstakes, and I--for once--won a prize! I received a design-inspired sketch of one of the runway looks. Now, to be perfectly frank, I wasn't thrilled. I was thrilled to get anything, of course, but I'd hoped for a gift card, discount, or maybe a t-shirt. Design-inspired sketch never even entered my mind. What on Earth was I going to do with a picture of some random chick in lingerie?

Photo Credit: CBS News.
Change the yellow to pink, and this is my sketch.

A few weeks later, my "major award" arrived. Inside a little "Congratulations! You're a Winner!" card was the sweetest little cartoon-like sketch of a redheaded superheroine--all in hot pink with white go-go boots! The background was a lemon-lime green, and the entire piece was beyond adorable. I squealed a little, and decided right then and there that I would decorate the guestroom in a sophisticatedly (is that a word? It is now) girly fashion. The sketch went into a chrome frame with a white mat, and the search for equally precious pinup art commenced.

A quick search on Amazon brought up some winners. Here are my favorites:

Photo Credit: Poster Shop Live (This and next two)

Link

Photo Credit: Pop Culture Graphics

Since the room's going uber-girly, I thought I'd toss in a frilly mirror...

Photo Credit: Kirkland's

...then tone things down a bit with a mod lamp.

Photo Credit: Target

It's a work-in-progress, but I think we may be getting there. Any thought? I'd love to read them in the comments.

If I Can't Go To the Spa, I'll Bring the Spa To Me!

2012-01-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

I confess. I did not watch the Golden Globes last night. I saw a few of the red carpet entrances, and thought that Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara both looked stunning, and wanted to push Zooey Deschanel's hair behind her ears, but other than that...I got nothing. Instead, I fought a horrible 24-hour stomach bug and watched Guillermo del Toro's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, an episode of Sherlock, and the newest My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. I was sick. Don't judge me.

In addition to dealing with a stupid virus, I also spent much of this weekend moving house. We're nowhere near done, but things are starting to look a little less like piles of junk, and a little more like nice people live there. My living room curtains totally and completely suck, but other than that, I'm really happy with how things are turning out. I'll try to remember to take some pictures tonight when I go over with the next load o'stuff, but the guest bathroom and bedroom are quickly becoming my favorite rooms in the house.

The guest bathroom was this very strange shade of moss green, and there wasn't time to paint over it (we were already painting two other rooms), so I decided to go with it and try to create a very Zen atmosphere. I'm not done, yet--I still need to switch out the toilet seat cover and some light bulbs, and bring in a few little knick-knacks and pictures--but the current state is very promising.

As I said, I hope to take some pictures this evening, but here's how things are starting out:

Photo Credit: Bed Bath & Beyond

First off, I kept the shower curtain I bought for the apartment. It's the same moss green with chocolate sections and itty-bitty coppery sequins. Bed Bath & Beyond, $44.99. (Dear God, I didn't pay anything near that much!) There is also a matching bathmat, but I can't find it online anywhere...yet. Working on it.

Photo Credit: Target

Next, my sweet Thomas hung some pretty little white shelves for me. One is about 11 inches long, and the one centered beneath it is 18. Here's the shorter of the two. Target's website hates me, so I can't locate the long one. They're only available in stores, anyway, and the two together ran about $15.

Photo Credit: Target

Across the top of the top, smaller shelf, runs this little row of white tealights. Target, $9.99 plus tealights.

Photo Credit: Target

The white sink with chrome fixtures is set in a beige countertop over dark wood cabinetry, I tried to combine as much of that as possible into a simple, elegant floral arrangement. Here's the best I could do, and I just love it. Target, $21.39.

Photo Credit: JC Penney (I got the one with the moss green stripes)

Of course, you have to have towels in a bathroom, and I decided to go with simple, basic white. These, from JC Penney, are the best towels I have ever used. They dry quickly, hold their color, and don't shed all over the place. $4.00 each, JC Penney.

Finally, I decided to fill the entire room with a soothing scent. Bath and Body Works has a wonderful line of Stress Relief aromatherapy products (prices vary). I have the hand soap, candle, and wallflower in Eucalyptis Spearmint, and it's heavenly. Toss in some new chrome drawer pulls, a few massage stones, and some black and white photos, and I think we'll have us one gorgeous bathroom.

Any home renovations going on in your life? Tell us about them in the comments.

Frugal Friday: I Don't Wanna Be a Grown-Up!

2012-01-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

I miss you guys!!!!! Things are still really crazy, but I wanted to check in and drop off a few discounts I found. In case you're wondering where I've been, adulthood has basically body-checked me. Thomas and I are trying to move out of our apartment and into a house, which is great, but comes with a side order of painting and meeting with the pest control and security peeps (yes, I said peeps. I'm stressed, so just go with it). On top of that, work's a little crazy with upgrades and such (all very good, but again, stressful), and I'm helping Thomas figure out fundraising for a movie, as well and reading over scripts to help him figure what to cut/keep/re-work. Throw in little things like, oh, I don't know...laundry and showering, and I'm a wreck. For added fun, my hair dryer died while my hair was still sopping wet, which made for a very interesting Target run. I need a drink. Or twelve.

If any of you got through that rambling nonsense, congratulations. And you probably need a drink, too.

Anyhoo, here's what I found for you:

E.L.F.: $1.50 shipping on any order of $15 or more with the code 150LIKES. Offer valid through 1/15/12.

Kirkland's: Friday the Thirteenth $13 sale on specific items through 1/15/12.

Sadly, that's all I've got. If anything else shows up, I'll add it to the list. Until then (or until Monday, when, hopefully, I'll be able to write again), here's a trailer for an upcoming movie I'm absolutely dying to see. I watched the trailer last night, and fell in love. It, honestly, made my cruddy day a little brighter. The movie is Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, and it's the tale of two twelve year-old lovebirds who run off together, and the comic havoc their disappearance creates. Starring Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Francis McDormand, Bruce Willis, and Tilda Swinton (among others), the film looks sweet, absurd, and utterly charming. I hope it makes you smile.

I Will Be Catching This Snitch In My Dreams

2012-01-09T07:35:00.000-08:00

Oh. Wow.

I was totally looking for something else (and if I find it, I'll post it ASAP), but this flashed across the screen and completely captured my attention. Potter fans, how gorgeous is this?


Photo Credit: Avenue B

This beauty is handmade, goldtone, with 18" extendable chain and lobsterclaw closure. I'm in love. $14 plus $4 shipping. The rest of the store is precious, too, so give it a look-see.

Out To Lunch. Back In Five.

2012-01-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

Howdy guys,

I've had some unexpected stuff come up (nothing bad!), so posting may be a little sporadic for the next few weeks. I'll post as often as I can, so keep checking back! For now, here's a link to some brand-new, sparkly leaked info on the Universal Studios Florida Wizarding World of Harry Potter updates. I'm beyond excited, and need to start planning my next trip, like, yesterday. Happy reading, and see you soon!

Erin

The Saga Continues: UNII Palette Review Part III

2012-01-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Hello, 2012! With the new year, we have a chance to start over; wipe the slate clean, if you'll pardon the cliche. Thomas and I are ringing in the new year by moving into our very first house. No, we're not homeowners (yet), but we'll be in an actual house. Not a townhouse. This is a real house with a real yard and real driveway to separate us from the immediate neighbors (finally). There is even--get this--a white picket fence. Seriously. Best of all, the landlady's a real doll. She's also my mom.

Oh, did I neglect to mention that? Thomas and I are moving into the house I grew up in. My family moved out of it ages ago, and it's just sitting there, waiting for the housing market to turn around so that someone can buy it. Ridiculously long (like, Tolstoy-length) story short, we wanted a house, the house needed a family, and Jupiter aligned with Mars. We're moving in!

Of course, this requires packing, which requires organizing, which requires boxes, storage containers, and the like. I decided to start small and work my way up, like a Russian stacking doll. Maybe the little stuff can consolidate into the bigger items, and take up even less of the U-Haul's precious real estate? I don't know, yet, but I figured it was worth a shot. I'll let you all know how it works out.

Now, by small, I mean small. I've started with the makeup I tend to keep out on my counter. Most of my cosmetics are in a fantastic train case in my closet, and I just grab as I need. However, a few of more frequently used products are kept in an organizer on my bathroom counter (which is horrible, as the steam from the shower can damage them, but I really have no other option right now. I'll have a drawer in the new house, but my current bathroom has no drawers. Not one. Zip. Nada. It's a scandal, it's an outrage). In an effort to reduce some of larger, less efficient packaging on a few of these go-to products, and save a couple of those products from some serious damage (caused by the larger, less efficient packaging--again, long story), I turned to the UNII company.

If you recall, back in April, I ran across this new, innovative product, the UNII palette. This was a completely customizable palette that could be filled with refill or de-potted cosmetics. After reading and watching review after glowing review, I ordered my own and wrote my own review here.

The palette was a revelation. It was sleek, gorgeous, and held positively everything I could need for travel. The design was sturdy, air-tight, and I never worried that my makeup would break, or that any dust/glitter/residue would end up all over my purse or luggage. I wanted a dozen more, but, alas, had to make do with the just the one for the time being.

Well, the impending move came up, and my amazing UNII was stuffed to the gills (to the point of needing to move things into another case), so a second palette had moved from "want" territory on over to "necessity". However, when I went to order the new case, I was met with the news that things had changed on the UNII front. The cases were...different.

Well, different is good, right? Change can be for the better, right? Um...let's talk about this for a sec.

I ordered one. I had no real choice, at this point. Here's the breakdown:

The Good: The color is just gorgeous. I ordered turquoise, and it's a bright, Spring-y teal with just a sprinkling of fine glitter throughout. The inner plate is a coordinating shade of pale aqua, and the new thumbgrip is much more space-conscious than the older design. The palette looks amazing, and seems just as sturdy as ever.

Photo Credit: UNII

The Bad: It's no longer air-tight. Not even close. The rubber gasket in the original design has been replaced by hard plastic, and none of the inner workings are removable for cleaning. The UNII company has stated, though, that the intend to bring back the rubber gasket. The magnetic plate is nice, as most of my pans are plain old ordinary metal, but not everything sticks right to it. Magnet to magnet doesn't work very well, and some items that already contain magnets have to be moved around the palette until they "click" into place, while other items (including anything aluminum) require a "Not-A-Magnet" sheet to allow them to even stick at all. Let me just say that this "Not-A-Magnet" option does not seem secure. The hold is weak, and I am very concerned. Luckily, only one product needed it. If your pans are just plain metal (think: Stila refills), you'll be good to go.

The Ugly: The palette is not as deep as it used to be. The magnetic plate is thicker than the sheet metal that used to line the bottom of the case, so you can't fit the same products from the old into the new. For example, in this picture, you can see where I have a mini eyeshadow primer, travel brush, travel eyeliner, and short (really used) lipliner.

Photo Credit: Me, but now on the UNII website. That's how much I love the old design.

Um...yeah...the brush still fits. That's it. The flat product pans fit without any problem, but the round items are too large for the new case to close around. If I take the lid off of the lipliner, it works, but then I have a whole host of other problems to contend with.

So, in the past, I could fit everything I could ever need for touch-ups in a UNII palette. Now, I have to carry my eyeliner and lipliner separately. It doesn't seem like a big deal, unless you've ever had to turn a purse upside-down to find an errant lipliner, only to find out later that it fell out in your car, inbetween the seats, and you're never going to be able to fish it out, so you have to buy a new one, which will only get lost again...not that that's ever happened to me. Strictly hypothetical, of course.

In the end, it's still a really good case, and a fine way to organize your products or keep badly packaged items from being destroyed. Honestly, when the rubber gasket returns, I plan to purchase another palette. It's just not as good of a case as it used to be. To use another cliche, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Final Verdict: 7 out of 10. Anybody know where I can find some flat liner pencils?

Frugal Friday: Holiday Round-Up

2011-12-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Last Friday of 2011!!! Let's get to this, shall we?

Victoria's Secret: The semi-annual sale is going on right now, with some fantastic deals and free shipping on online orders over $50 with the code SHIP50. Also, if you're a Facebook fan, you can print out an instore only coupon for a free NYE panty with any purchase today only!! Dec. 30th!! Get on that now, 'cause it's pretty darn cute.

E.L.F.: You have a few offers to choose from right now, actually. You can get a free mini-makeup collection with any order over $10 with code HOLIDAY thru Dec. 31st (tomorrow), and SHIP25 will get you free shipping on orders over $25 thru Jan. 1st. This one's a little complicated, but if you spend $20.12, you can add an 11-piece Studio Brush set plus case for $2.12 with code 2012. That one is good until Jan. 2nd. None of these can be combined, so choose wisely.

Busted Tees: It's Grab Bag time!! Thirty bucks gets you four random shirts. Granted, you don't get to pick 'em, but at $8 and change per shirt, it's still a really good deal. **P.S. If you find an Easter Egg and get a code, WRITE IT DOWN!! I accidentally clicked my mouse before I had a chance to, and it disappeared, never to return. I tried to remember it, but one letter/number escaped me. Busted, it would be nice if that code automatically made it to my cart next time. Just sayin'.

Sephora: Extra 20% off ALL sale items. Use code EXTRA thru Jan. 3rd. Good only online, and cannot be combined with other offers.

StyleMint: Extra 30% off any tee with code TLOW30. One tee per transaction, but an unlimited number of transactions is allowed. Also, buy any cashmere sweater and receive two free JewelMint pieces (Parisian Dream earrings and Smooth Sailing necklace). No promo code needed, and none allowed on cashmere pieces.

Old Navy: Take an extra 15% off your entire order, including sale items (!) with code ONEXTRA15. Offer good online only, and only thru Jan. 2nd. Considering clearance items are going for 50% off, this is a fantastic deal.

Of course, there are tons of other sales going on this weekend, but this should help out with promo codes and special deals. Have a wonderful New Year, and remember to eat your peas, cabbage, and pork! We need all the luck, money, and health we can get in 2012!!

Cinematic Romance (and All That Mushy Stuff)

2011-12-29T12:17:00.000-08:00

Thomas and I are celebrating our fourth (really?) wedding anniversary today. Last night, while we watched a Rocky retrospective (we're nothing if not exciting), we both noticed that, without meaning to, Thomas proposed to me with almost the same wording as when Rocky told Adrian he was "wondering if [she] wouldn't mind marrying" him. And we both cracked up. That may very well be the greatest marriage proposal ever put on film, by the way. It's certainly my favorite, and not just because it mirrors my own.

Anyway, mine was a surprise proposal. Well, it was a surprise to me. I think everyone else on the planet knew, including my mother, who normally couldn't keep a secret THAT BIG from me if her life depended on it. We're too close, and way too darn much alike. Thomas took me out to dinner at a really nice, local Italian place. Of course, we were early for our reservation, so we needed to kill some time. We hung out in the nearby Dollar Tree for a few minutes, and I think bought some candy. We're classy like that.

When our reservation time rolled around, we headed into the restaurant, and were guided toward the back. I'm a chatterbox, and don't think I've stopped talking, except maybe to sleep, since 2007, so I was totally oblivious to the fact the hostess was leading us through the kitchen, out the back of the restaurant, across a courtyard, and into a cottage. Never once even floated past my consciousness that this was unusual. As we crossed the threshold into the cottage, Thomas put his hand on my arm, and simply said, "Wait." He walked slightly ahead of me as we left the foyer and entered the candlelit room, strewn with rose petals, and furnished only with a single table and two chairs, then got down on one knee.

I stopped talking.

That was a fantastic proposal. I can't imagine one better suited for the two of us, and I always tear up a bit thinking about it. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a single moment.

I adore a good wedding proposal. I'm a total sucker for all things romantic, anyway, but this one appealed to the filmmaker's wife in me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I grinned like an idiot through most of the video. The highlights for me were the girl's reactions and the slo-mo section set to "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana. Have a great day, guys!