NY $pender

shopping at the time warner center in ny

2008-08-07T20:15:00.006-04:00

This is the Time Warner Center located at Columbus Circle, and while you could call it a mall, it's really a "posh stop" before hitting Central Park.

One thing I find relaxing about this place is that it doesn't have that tight feeling of people walking all over you that you get at the mall. And sometimes, while I walk to my favorite store in there, I feel like I am the only one that knows about this place.

Which stores are in here? Hmm, let's see: Coach, Sephora, Williams-Sonoma, Borders, Cole Haan, Dean & Deluca, J. Crew, L'Occitane, and my personal favorite, United Colors of Benetton.

If these stores were the only stores left in NY, I think would be ok.

If you get hungry while you're here make sure you have brunch at Landmarc, their food is delicious, I love the Eggs Benedict, and the prices are moderate considering the luxurious area.

But be careful not to accidentally step into Per Se, because a meal there costs around $300 per person! If, on the other hand, you got that kind of money to spend on food, then please call me and let me know when we're going! ;)

The view from inside-out is priceless (and free)!

The TWC is located at Ten Columbus Circle in New York, steps away from Central Park.

you can totally still buy summer stuff

2008-08-05T20:45:00.006-04:00

Since Bullitt didn't give you much yesterday, here are three ideas for some end of season sale:

Knotted Crochet Back Tank $18.99

Shirred Ring Off Shoulder Top $17.99

Animal Print Halter $16.99
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bullitt's deals

2008-08-04T23:17:00.007-04:00

Hi, Bullitt here.

I have to say that I am very hurt by the rumors that have been circulating this past week...

So hurt that I am not even going to talk about deals.

So hurt that I am not even going to name a new winner of the Hana flat iron.

Why am I hurt you ask? Why? Why???

This is why!

Sure we are both white, sure we both have a blond tail... but that's where the similarities end.

The next person that comes up to me and tells me they've seen me on TV...

THAT'S NOT ME!!!

I mean look at the ears... and I weigh about one third of this guy!

===============================

Fine, fine, I'll announce another winner:

BEBEMIQUI

is the new winner of the Hana flat iron!!! Congratulations!!!
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elke is my eyebrows' best friend

2008-08-03T16:45:00.010-04:00

Back in the 90s, I used to pluck my eyebrows very very thin, and as a result of years and years of plucking, today I am left with pretty thin eyebrows.

After spending some time talking beauty tips with celebrity makeup artist Elke Von Freudenberg, she helped me realized that my thin brows are unnatural looking, and that I should try and grow them back, at least fuller than they are now (if I can).

I thought that whatever hairs I had plucked at for more than 10 years weren't going to grow back anymore, but Elke gave me hope and a tip: wash your face with a scrub, and use the scrub also on the eyebrows, to exfoliate the skin and remove any buildup that can obstruct the regrowth of these tiny weak hairs that have not seen the light of day in years.

So I have been doing just that for about 5 months now, and I have become reacquainted with many hairs that I hadn't seen since 1995! But I've also learned that the process of re-growth takes a looooooooong time. And during this time, your eyebrows will look a bit messy (one hair here, one hair there) and you can't pluck, because you are trying to grow these new hairs.

To give you an idea here is a picture of my eyebrow:

There is a lot of regrowth going on, and some empty spots (still).

So I keep scrubbing.

In the meantime I've started putting makeup on the brows to fill in the blanks, and let only Elke retouch their shape.

What's even better, Elke now has her own eyebrow makeup, which makes applying eyebrow makeup easier for eyebrows novices like me.

This line of products, in fact, was specifically created for the eyebrows, so no more of that old-fashioned, dark eyeshadow muddy look! Now you can pick the right color depending on your hair color: Blonde, Auburn, Ash Brown or Dark Brunette.

The line also has four Nite-Brow shadows, sparkling eyebrow powder, for those fun nights out with the girls, aptly named Hot Pants (Med. Brown), Sin City (Dark Brown), Big Time (Red) and Wana (Blonde), which I think are so cool! The powder gives you a hint of shimmer and highlights your eyes.

Of course I asked Elke to use her new products on me, and if you look at the picture above, she used the five products on the left side of the picture, including a pencil to fill in the color before putting the shadow on.

One product that I didn't get to try, but that I am going to buy asap is the Brow Tamer, an eyebrow wax to keep all those crazy hairs in check.

Finally here is a picture of my eyebrow after Elke cleaned it up a bit and filled it in with her products.

This is exactly what I want it to look at the end of the re-growth process, and if that won't happen, at least now I know how to fake it. :)

If you need eyebrow makeup, check out Elke's Brow Collection.
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splendid reads

2008-08-01T22:14:00.001-04:00

From the Splendicity community, this week best in beauty, fashion and shopping.

BEAUTY

Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at everything you need for a perfect brow from Anastasia Beverly Hills

Viva Woman finds out the types of Vitamin C in skincare products and what works for our skin.

Beauty Bento Box offers her first impressions on the OLAY White Radiance Foaming Cleanser.

My Women Stuff discusses what are chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens.

Beauty Blogging Junkie shows you how you can channel a Mad Men character at various price points.

Cinnamon Kitten forsakes her M.A.C. brushes for a few weeks to try out a couple of eco-friendly ecoTools.

Beauty Match has a video review: Should you buy Cover Girl Lash Blast or Maybelline Collosal Mascara?

Beauty Secrets Revealed is Giving Away AminoGenesis Anti-aging Skin Care Products Worth $119

Makeup and Beauty Blog gives you details on how to attend a free Chanel master makeup class.

SHOPPING

Shopalicious wants to share the wonderful jewelry concoctions of Amy of the B-Line, chemistry teacher by day, jewelry designer for fun!

ShopDiary loves the scent of Hermèssence Vétiver Tonka.

Laya's EYE has fallen in love with the prettiest cupcake wrappers she has ever seen.

Shoe Blitz talks about the hottest shoe trends for fall.

Glamour Gift Guide loves the look of Lori Bonn jewelry, including coordinating necklaces, bracelets and more.

FASHION

Style...a work in progress is looking forward to a Gothic-Victorian-cowgirl style Fall and tells us about it when she says "Real cowboys never run, they just ride away"

Style Manila invites all to support the Style Manila Page on Facebook!

Tops 2 Bottoms shares some shirred and bubble style ideas for your work wear.

Just A Formality talks about trends in bridal shoes.

The Space Between My Peers wonders if long floral dresses are hopelessly dated.

shopping at marshalls, really!

2008-07-31T20:33:00.011-04:00

Marshalls is, for me, one of those guilty pleasure stores.

I wouldn't readily admit that I have shopped there, but I have. But it's my mother's fault (isn't is always?)

My mom loves Marshalls! She has a store close to where she lives, so every time I visit it's either "do you want to watch a movie?" or "do you want to go to Marshalls?"

I go with her because it's an easy mother and daughter activity, and I usually look at their kitchen and bedroom stuff. Sometimes at the handbags. Rarely at the clothes. Never at the shoes.

Well, the people at Marshalls wanted to change that and sent me a $200 gift certificate. So this time around it was

"Mom, we have to go to Marshalls!"

Considering I wanted to blog about my fashion finds on the blog, there was no point in looking at pots and pans, nor at duvet covers... and so I rolled-up my sleeves and hit those hundreds and hundreds of aisles looking for fashionable stuff but also for great deals. I mean, it's Marshalls, I shouldn't be paying more than $50 for anything in the store, right?

I was pleasantly surprised to find more things than I could fit in my certificate: pretty and colorful shirts, designer jeans, Ralph Lauren polo shirts and cotton sweaters... Coach bags!!! I didn't know you could find a Coach bag at Marshalls!

And it's not even a once in a while occurrence, in fact, since that first time I saw one, every time we go to Marshalls, it's a race to see who finds a Coach bag first, and there is always a winner!

But let me show you my favorite find:

A lingerie set by Miss Sixty.

I first noticed the top and immediately loved it because it was different than the usual stuff with prints and flowers.

It actually reminded me of something Dolce & Gabbana.

But I ended up putting it back because I like to have matching top and bottoms if I can.

Two aisles down, and without even looking for it, the bikini bottom jumped at me and I almost heard it go "ta da!"

I immediately took the bikini bottom, ran back where the top was and grabbed the top, and then continued shopping, with a new and satisfied smile on my face. I later picked a pair of shorts, a dress and two pillows (sorry, I just can't go to Marshalls and not buy something for the house).

While I am certainly thankful for the gift certificate, I am even more thankful for the opportunity to go and scout and find a treasure that I didn't think would be there.

Look! It sparkles!!! :)

do you anti-frizz?

2008-07-29T21:30:00.016-04:00

My anti-frizz battles started in the 90s, and back then my loyal ally was John Frieda.

I remember everybody I knew used this product and it almost felt like there were no other products to fight frizz.

Since I had fine hair, I had to be careful not to use too much product in order to avoid looking like I had used olive oil to style my hair...

Then, under the influence of the Rachel haircut, I went out and bought one of my first expensive hair products, Phytodefrisant by Phyto.

I couldn't even pronounce the stuff, but I had to have the same anti-frizz that Jennifer Aniston allegedly used.

And it was horrible. At least on my hair.

It was a creme that weighted my hair down, no matter how little I put on. I didn't finish the tube and went searching for something better.

By this time, a new product was on everybody's frizz, Biosilk.

It was the best product I had tried so far, because it was lighter in consistency and it didn't give me greasy hair as soon as I looked at the bottle.

And it also had a pleasant smell.

But even the best anti-frizz love affair could come to an end, and so Biosilk went out the door, and Cristalli Liquidi (Liquid Crystals) from AlfaParf now sits in its place on the shelf.

This little thing is expensive, at about $12 for a tiny bottle, but it lasts long enough.

It is very light, and absolutely not greasy at all.

But the thing I love the most about it is its smell. If you have the chance to sample it at a beauty store, please do so and then come back and let me know if it's not the best anti-frizz you've ever smelled in your life. And now imagine your hair smelling like that. Hmmm.
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bullitt's deals - contests contests

2008-07-28T20:45:00.006-04:00

I know, I know, it's been a while... but when the Spender left on her vacation last week, she forgot to leave me the password for the computer, so I couldn't blog...

Let me tell you, a week without the Internet, I wouldn't wish it on anybody, especially when you can't leave the house, nor open the fridge, nor lift the toilet seat...

To make it up to me, the Spender has promoted me to Contest Coordinator!!! And I should be getting my new business cards soon! :)

As for first contest coordination news, I am saddened to report that the winner of the last contest has not contacted us, and so we are still in possession of the Hana Flat Iron. If anybody knows MATTERNU please get in touch with her to let her know she has won! If by next Monday I have not heard from her, I will announce a new winner on my post.

Next, instead of a deal, this week, in honor of my new position, I bring you the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival!

What is the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival? Well, other than a great way to waste a whole day online, it is also a great opportunity to win, win, win!!! A collection of all the contests going on in the blogosphere. Last time I checked there were 545 contests listed! Go ahead, go win something!

bikini club - last chapter

2008-07-27T19:54:00.005-04:00

Well, this is it!

We've reached the end of the Bikini Club.

I've just returned from my vacation and I have to admit that I was hoping to have a perfectly toned body and a defined set of abs to show off...

Then I looked at my pictures... and I realized that the last month or so I had been slacking too much...

At the start of the club, I had promised you I would publish my bikini picture, and while I won't post one today, I will post one by the end of the summer. Seriously.

All this to say that it's not really the end of all the hard work, it can never be, and I will always make sure I'll find a reason to eat healthy and stay fit. And so should you.

If you want to share your success story, please feel free to do so in the comments. I would love to hear from you! Especially from the brides to be! :)

Lastly, even if the bikini club is over, I will always share any "fit tips" with you along the way, and I have a good feeling that next spring the club will be back. Thank you all again for being part of the club. :)

fashion disaster - two-toned pants

2008-07-22T21:58:00.003-04:00

Not a horrible fashion disaster, but still something that doesn't look quite right.

Starting with those cropped, two-toned pants...

... and ending with the weird combination of colors on top: white/red clashing with the ones on the bottom: tan/orange.

fashion disaster - fishnet stockings

2008-07-21T22:02:00.005-04:00

You can't see it clearly, but she is wearing fishnets.

Black fishnet knee high stockings.

With white shoes.

If you ever want to re-create this less than desirable look, please remember not to idle for too long in any dark street or street corner in general.

fashion disaster marathon

2008-07-19T21:33:00.002-04:00

I am officially on vacation!!! :)

And starting tomorrow NY Spender will have a fashion disaster marathon.

So watch your back because my camera is loaded and I might be vacationing in your town! ;)

splendid reads

2008-07-19T21:26:00.001-04:00

From the Splendicity community this week best in beauty, fashion and shopping.

FASHION

Tops 2 Bottoms gets some styling inspiration from Military-inspired waistcoats.

Style Manila invites readers to say hi to makers of fabulous dresses.

Style...a work in progress asks what four words you'd use to describe your style?

Lucy of the chic tee-shirt line Rose La Biche answers some questions about her design life for Indie Style File

Her Accessories has been scoping out the Fall handbag previews and like what she sees!

Vote for your favorite celebrity look of the week over at CelebLOOK.

Just A Formality loves this silk and satin champagne gown from Tadashi.

SHOPPING

Shopalicious is tickled pink by a cute chemise for $23.90, and invites you try your chance to win a $25 certificate from Oh Cheri!

ShopDiary is craving for Eairth, an edgy yet sustainable clothing line.

Check out this Chloe suede ankle boot with an open back at Shoe Blitz.

Glamour Gift Guide adores this L.A.M.B. ombre patent tote in glossy red.

BEAUTY

Beauty and Fashion Tech tells you how to kill calluses and soften your feet with AB Skin Care Happy Feet.

Beauty Secrets Revealed is giving away 6 Bestselling Skin Care e-books.

Viva Woman finds out if your sunscreens can double up as moisturizers.

Beauty Bento Box experiments on a couple of Dove hair care products formulated for coloured or treated hair.

Looking for a eco-friendly way to dry your hair? All That & a tries the new Barbar eco 800 hair dryer and loves it!

Krizia from Beauty Match talks to Dr. Paul Cohen about Skincare cosmetic rejuvenation treatments for men over 35.

The Mineral Makeup Blog features a review about the newly reformulated, talc and paraben free Alison Raffaele Mineral Concealer

Cinnamon Kitten checks out the colourful and popular Danish cosmetics line - Gosh Cosmetics - now available in Canada!

fashion disaster - bad in-vest-ment

2008-07-17T22:52:00.002-04:00

I'm going to try and be nice about this one...

I won't say anything.

I'll leave it up to you, in the comments.

;)

your nails are going to love this!

2008-07-16T21:13:00.011-04:00

Finally!!! A new kid on the block! :)

Essie must be nervous and with reasons: there is a new nail polish player on the market: butter LONDON.

First and foremost, butter LONDON nail polishes are 3 Free, meaning free of the usual toxins you find in other nail polishes: Fomaldehyde, Toluene and DBP.

These toxins can cause cancer, birth defects, respiratory problems and neurological damage, so I think we are definitely better off without them.

As for the colors on their collection... Wow! Gorgeous!

I was lucky to be in the same room with some of these adorable bottles (not lucky enough to try them... yet!) and just by looking at them, I fell in love!

The colors are beautiful, very bold and brilliant.

And while I've been an Essie's fan for a long time, it is also true that picking one of their colors has turned into a big deal (for me) because of the dozens and dozens of very similar colors.

I mean look at Essie's pink palette:

Do you see how many light pink they have? Do you know what that does to someone as anal as me? At one point I wanted to try them all, because I wanted to find the perfect shade of light pink for me. And I would have tried them all, except my nail salon didn't carry every single shade Essie made, and I was seriously ticked by the fact that they were missing shades.

I even had a book where I kept track of all the colors I had tried and where I jotted down if I liked them or not. What? You don't believe me? You want to see the book? Ok. Here is the book.

So now you understand why I see butter LONDON as a breath of fresh air. Finally a line of colors with an interesting variety of colors that doesn't affect my obsessive/compulsive nature.

I mean, how many light pinks do you see in this picture?

beautiful idea from ikea

2008-07-15T21:43:00.006-04:00

I am not a big IKEA fan, I mean I go once in a while, and somehow I always end up buying the weirdest things, from wicker buckets to filing folders to flour sifters... well, you get the idea.

This last time I visited, though, they were able to get my attention with some serious beauty organizers!

I stood in front of these beauty panels with my head looking up and my jaw dropped in awe for quite some time.

They looked so good, that if I would buy them I would try to hang them on the wall like they did (but I think I would have to glue my products to them, and that is not a real bright idea..)!

If you have tons of beauty products all over your bathroom, this is definitely something to look into.

And the prices just add to the sweetness of it all: from $7.99 to $17.99. :)

and the winner is...

2008-07-15T13:44:00.005-04:00

Matternu!

You are the winner of the Hana flat iron!!!

Please get in touch with me at nyspender@gmail.com

Thank you all for making this giveaway "fun" to read by sharing your bad hair day stories. I hope it made you feel a little better knowing that other people have had similar experiences. :)

bullitt's deals - affordable jeans

2008-07-14T21:03:00.006-04:00

Considering the price of most designer jeans, you would think they would come with unlimited food in their pockets, but they don't.

And since they don't need gasoline to run, I just don't understand why a pair of jeans these days can cost anywhere from over $100 up to $300!

Hi this is Bullitt, and I didn't think I could ever use the words affordable and jeans together in the same sentence anymore, but today I've found something interesting for my deals' column.

Stretch denim skinny jeans from Newport News for only $39.00!

I like the slim fit and the fact that they come in many different colors: gray, blue, black, white and cocoa.

It's ok... you can thank me later. ;)

bikini club - week 16

2008-07-13T21:03:00.018-04:00

Today's post is going to be a bit technical about diet and calories.

Calories are what make you lose and gain weight.

If you need 2,000 calories a day to maintain your ideal weight, and instead you consume 2,500 calories a day, you will gain weight.

If you eat 1,500 calories, instead, you will lose weight.

Up to here, I think we all know and understand this.

What you should always focus your attention on is the source of these calories: are they from carbs, proteins or fat?

As you can see from these pictures, 200 calories can look and taste very different, and your goal is to give your body the best calories you can find.

These are some important numbers to remember: 40% of your total daily calories should come from proteins, then 30% from carbs and 30% from fat.

Proteins, carbs and fat are not the same, in fact, a gram of carbs has 4 calories, a gram of proteins has 4 calories but a gram of fat has 9 calories!

So if you eat 2,000 calories a day you would get them from:

40% protein = 800 calories = 200 grams
30% carbs = 600 calories = 150 grams
30% fat = 600 calories = 67 grams

Also, very important for those of us trying to shed any belly fat, try to eat a mostly-protein breakfast.

Proteins help lose more weight in the abdominal area, and when a study compared a toast and juice breakfast group vs. a eggs and yogurt breakfast group, the latter lost a lot more weight than the former, especially belly fat.

Additionally, the body works harder to digest proteins than it does to digest carbs and fat, so proteins burn more calories and they make you feel full longer.

If you enjoyed these 200 calories pictures, you can find more here.

i like my new noisy bracelet

2008-07-11T22:40:00.005-04:00

If you are looking for a fun new bracelet, look no further.

This Beatnik bracelet from Twisted Silver is my newest cutest thing!

I don't wear bracelets often because they get in the way of typing and stuff, but at the same time I've always been fascinated by those big chunky bracelets that make a lot of noise.

Well, since this Beatnik looked like one of those bracelets, I needed to have it. And I was right: it does make a lot of noise! :)

It's chunky but light in weight, and I just love the noise it makes when I move my arm, or when it hits the desk while I type and it sounds like quarter coins dancing on the wood (If you like to gamble, you should like this bracelet)!

What is it with me and the noise? I don't know... I just find it very feminine.

If you want to make some noise, too, check out the Beatnik over at Twisted Silver.

win a ceramic flat iron from hana

2008-07-10T21:05:00.014-04:00

I had the opportunity to try a new ceramic flat iron, the Hana Elite flat iron.

I have to admit that I have been using my other flat iron pretty much every time I've washed my hair lately and while many people will say that it's bad for my hair, I've come to the conclusion that, yes it might be, but considering my wild hair, the flat iron is my only way to go.

As I've complained here before, the main problem with my hair is that it's frizzy. And the iron has been the only thing able to tame this frizz. So while I know that I am not nourishing my hair by constantly using a flat iron, I am very happy with the way my hair looks these days.

So being the flat iron expert now, I gave the Hana a try. :)

What I love about these new irons is the size. I remember irons with plates so big that if you put a t-shirt between them you could iron it! This Hana is tiny, which makes it very easy to handle, portable, and perfect for detailing or layers or bangs.

While most irons out there are only ceramic coated, this one has 100% solid ceramic plates, which will never degrade or peel.

I decided to put it to the ultimate test: while I could have washed my hair, and then used a hair dryer, and then the flat iron, it would have been too easy for the iron to straighten my hair.

So I washed my hair at night, went to bed with it damp and used the flat iron the next morning, when my hair is so set in its weird fine waves that only another shampoo can help undo the crazy curls.

To give you an idea, this is my natural hair: it honestly doesn't know if it wants to be straight, wavy or curly.

Please don't say that it's beautiful because it's not. This was actually a good "bad hair day", it can get much worse depending on humidity and whatever other factors contribute to making my hair a mess!

So this is the hair I used the flat iron on, and it did a pretty good job!

I don't have a better picture because I didn't have makeup on yet...

This flat iron was able to smooth out the curls, and give me some shine, too.

I did have to use it a couple of times all over, and pause it a little longer on the more stubborn curls, but that's normal considering the impossible task at hand!

In the end, it was a winner!

And now it's your turn to be a winner... as the title of this post suggests, I am giving away this ceramic flat iron (retail price $189.00).

Rules to enter the contest are simple: just post a comment about your worst bad hair day.

The contest will end on Monday July 14th, 2008 at midnight EST. I will pick a random winner on Tuesday.

Good Luck! :)

Disclaimer: the prize is the actual flat iron that I've reviewed, which means it has been used one time, by me. Other than that, it's like new and in excellent conditions and it comes in the original packaging.

rules and regulations of ankle bracelets

2008-07-09T21:39:00.010-04:00

So you want to wear an ankle bracelet this summer? Sure, why not?

I like ankle bracelets, even if I don't usually wear one regularly.

I like the whole theory behind it that if you wear it on your right ankle it means you are sentimentally "taken", while if you wear it on your left ankle it means you are "single". I am all for facilitating communication.

What about a woman that wears one on each ankle? Easy! It means "married and looking" ;)

I like wearing the anklet in the summer, with perfectly tanned and toned legs... as I was saying, I don't wear one often.

But I am planning on changing that, in fact, I will start looking for a pretty ankle bracelet to wear during these hot weekends... and I say weekends because I think there are some rules that should be followed in order to avoid an anklet fashion faux pas.

1) The ankle bracelet has a flirty and sexy connotation, so it's a bit tacky to wear one in an office environment that implements business attire. If you work in a tattoo parlor, by any means, you can keep wearing it.

2) There is an age limit. It's hard to say when to stop wearing it, but since it's a sexy thing, then maybe you shouldn't wear it anymore after... hmm... say 55-60 years old? I would even say stop at 45 years old. Or you could stop at the same time you stop having sex. I mean what's the point of false advertisement? Comment below if you don't agree.

3) Don't wear it under stockings! It doesn't look right and you'll rip the stockings.

Not really a rule, more of a suggestion:

4) Be creative. We've seen million of plain old Jane anklets. The cute little chain, sometimes with charms.

Try to go for something more fun and different.

I like this idea of stacking many colorful anklets together (try to wear these under stockings!)

Now we're talking summer!

Another idea that I have not really seen anywhere, but that I would like to try is a soft band anklet, preferably in a metallic color like this silver one, unfortunately still attached to a shoe.

And how about you? Will you wear an anklet this summer? Do you think it has a sexy connotation or it's just another piece of jewelry?

bath & body works scents analyzed

2008-07-08T22:55:00.019-04:00

Is a hand soap really a beauty product? Of course it is. Especially if it's one from Bath & Body Works.

I love these anti-bacterial deep-cleansing soaps!

If you have not tried them yet, you don't know what you are missing: tons of different scents, enough to satisfy pretty much everybody, a long-lasting product, very affordable prices and did I mention the tons of different scents???

I would like to try them all, in order to complete my love it, hate it, tolerate it list.

LOVE IT

Moonlight Path

Probably my favorite one.

I also use the body wash. It smells like musk, and I love musk!

Cherry Blossom

My second best.

It's a delicate and romantic scent.

Exotic Coconut

I love coconut scent!

Warm Vanilla Sugar

If you like vanilla scents this one is for you.

It smells so good you'll want to eat it!

Kitchen Herb

Simply the best kitchen scent!

It's minty and refreshing and it smells great!

TOLERATE IT

Country Apple

Not a big fan of this one. I used the whole bottle which means I didn't hate it, but the scent is too faint for my taste.

I also know someone that loves it, so don't just go by me. Try it for yourself.

Cotton Blossom
I usually use separate scents for the bathroom and for the kitchen, and this one never seemed to fit right anywhere: too laundry-like for the kitchen, and not sexy enough for the bathroom.

Kitchen Lemon

Second choice for the kitchen when Kitchen Herbs is not available

Sensual Amber

A little too intoxicating for a casual soap.

It reminds me of the perfume Opium.

HATE IT

Sweet Pea

I know many people that love this one, but for some reason I don't like it at all...

Japanese Cherry Blossom

This is what happens when you mess with perfection! Cherry Blossom scent is just fine as it is.

Feel free to share any of the other scents you have tried. I really am trying to complete the set. The only problem I have is that when I buy the 3 for $10, I always end up getting at least two of my favorite ones, and one new one. If the folks at Bath & Body Works would like me to complete this list in a speedier manner, they can send over the scents missing and I'll be more than happy to report back my findings! ;)
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bullitt's deals - bikinis

2008-07-07T20:27:00.016-04:00

Hi, this is Bullitt and what you are about to see might not be the highlight of my cat modeling career, but I hope you'll enjoy it.

So this past Sunday the Spender was like "Bullitt come here, look what I got for you!" And without asking for my opinion, she proceeded on putting a bikini top on me!

At first I was a bit confused, because even though I can't technically prove it anymore, I know I am a male cat!

After much begging, I agreed to have her take my picture with the bikini top on as long as I didn't have to show my face.

Problem is she didn't like this pose. She said it made me look fat! The nerve!

In order to end the drama, I tried to give her my sexiest pose... and I think she was finally satisfied! (I am too sexy for my fur... too sexy for my fur... too sexy, yeah!)

But enough about me.

You need to get a bikini now because they are all selling out. And because I had to wear a sexy bikini, now you get to buy one too. Think of it as your final motivation for your last month of the Bikini Club. ;)

Without further interruptions, here are my sexy bikini choices of the day:

Victoria's Secret Boho Print Bikini $42

Victoria's Secret Ombré Bikini $56

Victoria's Secret Paisley Print Bikini $52

bikini club - week 15

2008-07-06T22:02:00.005-04:00

A weight loss program has two stages: first a losing stage then a maintenance stage.

The first stage can last up to six months and it's pretty much what we have been doing here. We have cut off the obviously bad food and looked at better options, we have been eating less and snacking more... and the welcomed result has been that most of us have experienced some weight loss. :)

As the bikini club enters its final month I want to start talking about the "after".

The maintenance stage will be up to you. You've lost all (or most of) the weight you wanted to lose, but now you have to make sure it doesn't come back. How do you do that?

I have one secret that will help. :)

I'm talking about creating habits.

I've learned, for example, that eating whole wheat bread is better for me than eating white bread, so I've switched to whole wheat and after more than a month of eating it, it has become a habit.

When I shop for bread now, my new habit makes me look at the bread aisle differently. I don't look at the white breads anymore, and I don't even miss them. I only compare the different whole wheat brands trying to find the better one (with no high fructose corn syrup in it, for example).

So as you start switching to healthier food choices, try to make them a habit. If you decide to eat less sugar, make it a habit: if you used to have 2 donuts in the morning and now you have switched to oatmeal, make the oatmeal the habit. Stop thinking at the donuts. They are not your habit anymore. The oatmeal is. After a while your brain will forget the donuts habit, and the donuts as well. :)

Make a habit of exercising, too!

Exercise is crucial in the second stage of weight loss, and if you can develop a habit of making time for 30 minutes of exercise every day, or every other day, once you've established it as an habit, you won't dread exercising as much anymore. It will just become part of you routine, of your day, of your life... until you won't be able to go back to non-exercising. Because you will also realize how much better you feel and how much better you look when you follow such a healthier lifestyle.

For more on this, you can read this article from WebMD: 10 Easy Ways to Make Exercise a Habit and this article from Zenhabits

And if you ever get overwhelmed by all the changes you think you need to make and by all the habits you need to pick up, don't worry! You don't have to change everything at once. Start with small changes and then turn them into habits. Like me and my bread. :)
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