Life is Sassy!

Blog Award! :)

2010-10-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

The beautiful La Dama made my day when she recently paid an award forward to me. I love the whole concept of this type of award, so here are my fifteen picks!

If your blog is listed below, please accept this award, and be sure to pass it along to your top 15 favorite blogs! Be sure to contact them to let them know they've won!

In alphabetical order:

1. All You Desire
2. Kandee Johnson
3. Laura (lollipop26writes)
4. Makeup and Beauty (Irish beauty blogger)
5. Makeup and Life
6. Makeup by Ansa
7. Makeup Savvy (UK blogger)
8. Musing on Beauty
9. Picturesque Makeup
10. TiffanyD
11. Ushishi
12. Vivid Fusion
13. You've Got Face
14. You've Got Nail
15. ....Pixiwoo...

Thanks to La Dama!!!

I LOVE PINK! Especially Pink Ribbons!

2010-10-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

From the "secretive" Facebook status tags (by the way, I personally like it on the kitchen table) to the little pink ribbons that pop up everywhere, one of the best things about the month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness. Heck, even Halloween and that renewed (and blessedly appreciated for us Southern gals!) cool crispiness in the air can't top the Pink!

In celebration of this wonderful cause, I want to share my list of favorites from this year's collection of pink-ribbon themed products!

But first! I honestly can't gush about items to buy without first imploring my dear readers to go straight to the source - be it the Susan G. Komen Foundation, or any other honest and worthwhile organization devoted to breast cancer research, treatment, awareness and education, or even helping those directly affected by this disease. In fact, if there's a local organization that you know of in (or near) your community, start there. Every little bit helps. Donate money. Donate time. Donate a teddy bear to a child who's mom is fighting this illness, if you know of a group doing such a thing. Whatever you can do, it doesn't matter how big or small the gesture, because each one counts!

Also, be careful. Before you donate to an organization or buy a product allegedly linked to the flurry of breast cancer awareness campaigns this year, be sure to read the fine print. You'll be surprised (sometimes even apalled) to find some brands doing as little as possible in return for you buying the overpriced items that they're hocking. Similarly, you should really do your homework before forking over your money to an organization that's not familiar to you. Yes, every little bit helps, but there is a significant line between doing good and getting ripped off.

Now, onto the goodies!

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer ($35): I've been wanting to try this (Have I posted my skincare must-have yet? No? Well, I will be soon, and this is on the list!), and what a better time of the year to take the plunge? I've heard good things about this moisturizer, and the pink-ribbon version comes with a collectible key ring attached. The only iffy part about it is the fact that it's $12.50 more than the regular one, which gives them an extra $2.50 profit, but I'd pay $2.50 for the keychain alone, so it's a reasonable mark-up.

2. DKNY Be Delicious Coffret ($38): You know I absolutely love my Be Delicious Fresh Blossom. Well, here's four minis to split between me and my sister! You get two of the original (green) Be Delicious and two Be Delicious Fresh Blossom (pink). According to Sephora.com, "In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month DKNY Be Delicious will be making a $15,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation." Doesn't say if it's in relation to the sale of these coffrets, but $15K isn't too shabby.

3. Estee Lauder - Elizabeth Hurley Lip Design Collection ($25): Estee Lauder is a HUGE supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness each year, and this year alone, they will be donating $500,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In fact, according to their web site, "By October 2010, the Estee Lauder Companies and their retail partners will have contributed or raised $45 million since 1993 for BCRF." Why wouldn't we want help them out by purchasing this lovely set of two dual-ended lip glosses with pink crocodile clutch? You get four different glosses in two hook-up tubes! Four Glosses! (Okay, half glosses?) For $25.00! I am personally not a fan of lip gloss, but I am definitely willing to give it one more shot with these. Besides, if anyone has the right boobs to help promote awareness about breast cancer, it's Elizabeth Hurley!

By the way, if you're not a fan of Estee Lauder makeup, then I suggest picking up one of their Jeweled Pink Ribbon Pins for only $12.50. It's pink. It sparkles. Needs I say more?

4. Anything from the Save the Ta-Tas brand! I absolutely love the Ta-Tas brand. It's so cheeky and fun! Granted, no one will argue that cancer is a serious and depressing disease, but making people aware, educating them, and even more importantly, getting them to do something to help the cause doesn't have to be a gloomy, solemn process. The Ta-Tas brand offers clothing, accessories (which is more than just decals and beads), and Boob Lube, a line of lotion, soap, and body wash - all of which come complete with instructions for using them in self examination! I personally love the PREMIUM ta-tas Medallion V-neck Tee in Heathered Charcoal, and the Save the Ta-Tas pullover hoodies (available in black and white).

Do note that this is a for-profit company, but they state clearly on every page that "at least 25% of the proceeds of every purchase is used to fight this devastating disease." After clicking through, it says that it "has contributed on average approximately 50% of company net profits, or proceeds, over the past 6 years to help fight the war on breast cancer."

5. Philosophy - Shower for the Cure ($20): This is a good one. 100% of the net proceeds from sales of this 3-in-1 bath product will be donated to the Women's Cancer Research Fun. For those not familiar with the Philosophy 3-in-1 products, it's a shampoo, shower gel, and bath gel all in one.

6. Essie - We Can Do It Pink! ($8): We Can Do It Pink! - a soft, sheer pink, according to the web site - is Essie's contribution to breast cancer awareness this year. An unspecified portion of the sale of this polish will go to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, an organization that empowers women affected by breast cancer. If it were any brand other than essie, I might be skeptical, but for them, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. ;)

7. Yoplait yogurt lids: Yoplait is encouraging you to lick (and save) your yogurt tops this month. I love yogurt - it's tasty and good for you - and now it's even better. "Save lids to save lives," they say. With each lid you send from now until December 31, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to the Susan G. Koman Foundation. The total donation cap is set at $1.6 million, with a guaranteed donation of $500,000. Considering that they met their goal of $1.5 million last year, I have just one thing to say: Get to lickin' ladies!

8. Pink Ribbon Sharpies + Sharpie's Ink it in Pink!: 10 cent from the sale of every Pink Ribbon Sharpie goes to City of Hope for breast cancer research, treatment and education (up to $50,000). That seems like a paltry amount, but there's more! Upload your pink-Sharpie siggy to the SharpieUncapped web site, and Sharpie will donate $1 (up to a max of $10,000) to City of Hope in support of breast cancer research and treatment. Miley's doing it, but don't let that stop you! (lol!) Other celebs have done it, too! Besides, $60,000 is nothing to thumb your nose at! (Markers are available from OfficeMax.com for about $2.00 for a 2-pack.)

9. Origins - Peace of Mind On the Spot Relief ($10): Origins is another must-have for me (I swear I'll post my list soon!). Right now, they have a pink-ribbon themed offering for clarity and peace of mind. This isn't a skincare item. It's a "sensibilities care" item, in the form of an aromatherapy-esque liquid that you dab on the back of your neck, earlobes, and temples (near the hairline, not your eyes). Origins will donate $35,000 to the Breast Cancer Research foundation, regardless of whether or not you buy this particular product, so at $10 a pop, what do you have to lose by supporting them for their efforts? Other than your sanity, of course. ;)

10. Guess - Sparkling Pink 2010 Watch ($95): 20% of each sale of this stainless steel watch goes to the Susan G. Koman foundation. Sporting 11 baby pink crystals at each hour (tiny clear crystals appear to be at the 12 o'clock mark), and a pink crystal-encrusted ribbon on the face, this cute little timepiece is well worth a look. It comes in a pink snake skin box with GUESS embossed on the cover. I'm personally not sure if I'm going to get this one, since I already have a watch that I love (and that doubles as a charm bracelet to boot!), but if I didn't already have one, I'd definitely want this on my wishlist!

So, there you have it. My list of top faves from the BCA goodies being offered! Now, put on your shopping hats and get to spending! It's for a great cause!

Always Use Protection! (Sun protection, that is!)

2010-10-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

I seriously doubt that anyone reading this will argue with the idea that including some type of sunscreen in our beuty regimine is a must. The sun is just not something you can play with (or in) anymore, and it hasn't been for a long time. We also know why, too: skin cancer, premature wrinkling, and hard-to-kill sun spots top the list for me.

Before I begin, I want to share a few things I already knew about SPF, as well as some highlights that I've picked up in my recent poking-around. Whatever you ultimately decide to use for yourself, and regardless of whether or not you care to read anything past this, please remember these points:

If you use a moisturizer with SPF 20, and a foundation with SPF 15, you will NOT get a grand total of SPF 35! All you'll get is SPF 20, because that was the higher SPF of the two products.
SPF 15 is the lowest recommended SPF to use. If you plan on being in the sun longer than you normally would, use an SPF of 30 or higher to be safe.
Whatever you use in the summer is exactly what you should use in the winter. Seasons make little to no difference. Furthermore, clouds don't do a damn thing to block UV rays, so don't skip (or skimp) during rainy weather!
Once your SPF time allowance is up, reapplication is futile. Reapplication ONLY guarantees that your original timeline stays put (see below to figure up your timeline based on your skintone and how that correlates to a given SPF number). It will not ADD time. Choose your SPF wisely and apply it evenly from the start. Your skin will thank you for it later.
If you sweat, go swimming, get rained on, or even get caught in steady wind, your sunscreen will need to be reapplied. Again, this won't restart your SPF clock, but it will ensure that your original timeline remains in place.
There is a difference between "sunscreen" and "sunblock." Sunscreen protects against UVs chemically; therefore, it must be applied at least 30 minutes before sun exposure, so that it can be properly absorbed into the skin. Sunblock uses particles (such as titanium dioxide) that physically deflect UV rays; they will begin working immediately (meaning, you can apply them when you're already in the sun), because they sit on top of the skin.

What I didn't know was how sunscreen works, or how much was the right level, so I decided do a little digging to find out.

Turns out, there is no "right" number - or at least, what's right for me, might be overkill for you. Likewise, SPF 15 may plenty for you, but is far too little for me. Why is that? Because the SPF number on the bottle correlates to the amount of time you should be able to stay in the sun before burning. For instance, if I can stay in the sun (unprotected) for twenty minutes before any reddening (let alone full-on burning) occurs, then an SPF of 5 is going to allow me to stay five times longer - or in this case, 100 minutes (20 x 5 = 100). If I were going to be out and about all day, then protection that technically only covers me for an hour and forty minutes is clearly not enough for me.

What I use now is a moisturizer with SPF 15. In fact, a good majority of moisturizers and foundations that I've come across only have SPF 15 (some do go higher, though, obviously). So, if it takes 20 minutes for my skin to start burning... that's 20 x 15, which is 300 minutes, or 5 hours. Am I ever going to be in direct sunlight for 5 hours? Probably not. Not unless I'm locked outside of my hotel at the beach or something, but that's not the point. Timewise, if I TRULY want to be covered - indoors or out, cloudy or not - I think I personally would want an SPF of 30 or more.

But wait! That's not all! There's also UVA and UVB to worry about! Yikes!

UVA (or ultraviolet-A) are long-wave solar rays that don't necessarily burn your skin, but DO penetrate deeper into the skin. These buggers are the cause of wrinkling, weathering (or leathering) of the skin, freckles and age spots. Basically, UVA = Photoaging.

UVB (ultraviolet-B) are the short-wave rays that burn your skin and are the cause of cancer. They are clearly much more concentrated than UVA rays, and obviously cause the most damage. Or I should say, the worst of the damage, as I do consider premature wrinkles a form of damage, too.

An SPF of 15 typically blocks about 92% of UV rays (one site said 94%), which is good. SPF 30 jumps up to about 97%. What's interesting, however, is that SPF 40 only protects 97.5%. As you can guess from that, once you hit SPF 30, the UV protection only increases in minor increments. I'm not saying that your SPF 50 sunscreen isn't doing you any good, but it's probably not that much better at protecting you against UV rays than the SPF 30.

Just sayin'. ;)

So, what this all comes down to is you. That's right. You, the person reading this (if you've managed to get this far, in which case, kudos!). Take a look at your skin. Darker skin tones tend to burn at a much slower rate than someone like me (I've never been color matched, but I'm guessing I'm either NW10 or NW15), so you may be able to get away with the standard SPF 15. However, the lighter your skin tone is, the more thoughtful you should be about the SPF in the products that you use. When in doubt, go higher. It's your only safe bet.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation

2010-10-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

First, I feel that I should preface this with a post-meltdown update. Yesterday was bad. I probably shouldn't have taken it out on my blog, but that's in the past. After I calmed down a little, I decided to "pamper" myself with a lemon and sugar facial scrub that left my skin feeling baby smooth. I plan to do this at least twice a week from now on. Hopefully, it will give my skin some natural clarity, which will make everything else beauty-related not such a pain in the ass.

Now, onto the real purpose of this post: a personal review of Maybelline's Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation.

I had to go to the drugstore today (CVS), and while I was there, I picked this up on a whim. I had heard such great things about it - how it made your skin glow, was good for dry skin, was a Holy Grail foundation for most everyone who had tried it, and so on and so forth. Needless to say, I was very curious to try it out.

The packaging didn't really bother me that much, unlike a good many of the reviews I've seen on it. The product itself is in the base of the container, so you have to unscrew the top to get to it. The pop-top part, which is where I guess most people expected the actual foundation to be, houses the sponge that comes with it. There's no mirror or anything like that, but then, who would use a compact mirror for applying something as broad as foundation?

I got the lightest shade - Porcelain Ivory - because I'm a severely white child like that. I couldn't really see the color in the package, though, because (as I said) the product is hidden away in the base of the container, and there's a huge sticker on the bottom covering up the see-through part at the bottom. All I had to go on was the 1/4 inch strip of clear plastic around the bottom edge and a bit of faith.

I got it home, opened it up, and ... it looked okay. I was a little skeptical, because it did look just a little on the yellow-ish side to me, but I figured it would work alright.

When I first started putting it on, I saw that the color was more pinkish than it looked in the pot, so that was a relief. As I continued applying it, I was really pleased with how light it felt on my skin. It was definitely that almost-not-there kind of weight, which I really liked.

Unfortunately, that was a far as my liking went. After I got it applied, I leaned in, and oh my god, I could have fainted. Lines I didn't even know I had were doing a Broadway number right there on my face! Before I could get into full-blown panic-/tanrum-mode, I decided to apply a dusting of MUFE HD setting powder and just finish up the whole package (minus the eyes) to see if that helped it any.

Haha! Ha. ha...

I went back into the bathroom with all the big lights to see how it went, and I looked like I was wearing a foundation that was three shades too dark and a billion times too orange. I guess it had oxidized on my face? Whatever. It looked horrible.

So, bottom line: this was a waste of $10.00 for moi, and I absolutely will not be buying anymore of this at any point for the rest of my life. In fact, being the snob that I am, it will probably be a long, long time (and a cold, cold day in hell) before I will trust the Maybelline brand in general ever again.

Oh, and I ordered the Revlon PhotoReady from Ulta, but for some reason (I suspect a dose of crack at 3 a.m., but that's just me and my silly imagination) the awesome folks at UPS decided to tender my package to the "local Post Office."

An hour from where I live.

Operation No Makeup for Mimmy. Apparently.

2010-10-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I'm just about fed up with all the trial-and-error (heavy, heavy emphasis on ERROR!) I've been having to go through lately, just to find ONE THING that doesn't make me look stupid, doesn't make my eyes burn like crazy, or that reasonably covers the things I don't want to show!

I have had so many eyeliner FAIL!s in the last month or two that I am literally in tears each time I test something new (if not from the searing of my eyes, then from the joker staring back at me from the mirror). What was working perfectly fine for me this time last year (MAC Fluidline) suddenly isn't - not by a long shot. And FYI, a company doesn't have to change their formula in order for shit like this to happen. My eyes are just spoiled little brats that probably need to be popped out in order to teach them a lesson.

So, that's me, swearing off eyeliner. What's next?

Mascara. I bought a new tube of Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion, because last year, the LB Volumizing worked wonders. It made my eyes sting ever so slightly after a few hours of wearing it, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. And now? Now, I could rub sandpaper on my eyeballs and it would feel better than that crap!

Heck, I can't even wear my trusty Coastal Scents eyeshadow anymore. I tried that by itself, and after a few minutes, my eyes turned red and started watering.

At this point, I'm thinking it would be a waste of time and money to even try to find a new foundation like I've been planning, because that's all I'd be able to use at this point - and how stupid would that look??

Oh.. AND! I was so happy the other day when my grandmother agreed to cut my hair for me, because it's been a long time since she's been able to do that. A few years, in fact. It was like I was little girl again. She washed it, put some of her magical stuff on it, and I sat perfectly still while she started combing through it. Then she told me, "You need to stop pulling your hair back so tight - it's getting thin on top."

And here I was, thinking it had actually gotten thicker in the last two years, thanks to my vitamins and whatnot. Ha. I should have known better.

So yeah, I'm just going to sit here and be miserable while I continue to get older and wrinklier and spottier and all my hair falls out.

Have a great day.

Thoughtful Thursday... (2)

2010-09-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Anti-aging. It's really a myth. I mean, we all know it, though we still spend hundreds of dollars to fight it with creams, serums, injections, and dancing naked around a fire under a full moon while chanting and drinking goat's blood. Or something. It makes us feel better, and a lot of the time, it can make us look better, too.

We all want to stay young and beautiful forever. When we're young, we're too bullheaded and self-absorbed to grasp the idea that we'll ever get old and wrinkly like Grandma. We do silly things, like sunbathing, smoking, drinking, partying hard all night, and avoiding anything that looks, sounds, or smells even remotely healthy. Our skin suffers, and we spend the rest of our lives (along with way more money than we probably should) trying to reverse the damage that's done while trying to ward off what was naturally coming our way all along. In short, our fight against age is all about the skin, the canvas, whatever is on the surface and visible to us.

But do we ever stop to consider what may be going on beneath the surface?

In this article posted at Science Daily, they talk about just that. Bone loss is as inevitable as sixty candles on your birthday cake. We all know about Osteoporosis and the devastating effect it can have on our bones, but even if you don't fall victim to it, you will still lose bone mass as you age. Your face is no exception. And as far as I know, all the skin creams in the world can't change that.

What can? Calcium. No, it's not a miracle cure, and it certainly won't prevent it entirely; but it definitely helps. As with anything related to our vanity, the earlier you start, the better. Hell, even if you're in your 40's or 50's, it can't be too late!

Next time you're at your doctor's office, remember to ask him or her about whether or not you should be taking a calcium supplement. Most women do not get as much as they should, regardless of age! If you're not big on supplemental vitamins and the like, ask about all the different ways you can receive your daily dose. Aside from milk, cheese, and all the other obvious dairy products, there are also certain green leafy vegetables that pack a bit of calcium: Spinach, collards, kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, to name a few. I personally hate spinach when it's cooked (who doesn't shudder just a little to see a pile of slimy, blackened-green stuff on their plate?), but I love it uncooked on salads! Even better, all of these come with some other big-ticket vitamins built in as well, such as Vitamins A, C, and K.

So, while you're sorting through the frothy sea of skincare products, take a moment to think about what's supporting those gorgeous features of yours, and try to find ways to take better care of your bones! :)

Let's Try That Again.

2010-09-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

Let me refresh your memory for a second, because you probably ~~remember this about as well as I do prom night~~ won't know what I'm talking about.

Back when I was searching for my new favorite perfume, I ordered the Orange Sapphire Eau de Toilette from Bath and Body Works. When I got it, I was brilliantly disappointed, because I absolutely loved the smell of it in the hand soap form. At the time, the best way I could describe it was "day-old cat pee."

Well, today, as I was cleaning up, I found it in the package that I clearly forgot to send back to B&BW. After I kicked myself in the butt for forgetting about it - because the deadline to return it is long gone - I opened it up and decided that the bottle was pretty enough to set out on my vanity. At least that way it'd serve some kind of purpose, right?

Then my curiosity got to me, and I decided to remind myself just how bad it was. I spritzed a little on a tissue and took a whiff. Hmm. Wait... sniff that again? I don't know if there's something wrong with my nose right now, or if there was something wrong with it back when I first got it, but it honestly doesn't smell nearly as bad as I remember. Of course, it could be any number of things not related to my nose, either, such as the time of year, what I had for supper, or even the fact that my youngest nephew turned eight years old about 45 minutes ago (god, I'm old!). Who knows? We ladies have the god-given right to change our minds without a reason, let alone a lousy one!

The point is, I think I might actually like this fragrance now. It's definitely NOT a spring/summer scent, in my opinion. It's too "peppery" for the warmer seasons. It's not a gross peppery scent as, say, a guy who hasn't showered in three days, but definitely more warm and spicy than I originally picked up on. Granted, nothing in the description mentions anything remotely spicy, but that's what my little nose tells me.

Coupled with the warmth is a weighty floral scent, too, which I attribute to the jasmine. When I say "weighty," I don't mean heavy in the sense that it's overpowering. It's just not a light (or sweet) floral scent as one would describe honeysuckle, for example - or rather, honeysuckle in real life, as opposed to the concentrated essence you get in perfume.

And that pee-pee smell? That's definitely the orange, I think, which is pleasantly shocking, because now that I've really smelled it, it reminds me of the real-life scent of the inside of an orange peel - that tangy, tart sort of smell that makes your mouth water (especially when oranges are in full season) when it should probably turn you off oranges completely. The best part of it is that it mellows very quickly (something I really didn't give it time to do after my initial reaction, shame on me), letting the spicy, floralish scents bleed through.

Now, would I actually wear this out of the house, especially given my first impression of it? Probably, but I'm definitely going to wait for the dead of winter, when we simmer orange peels and sweet spices all day on the stove, before I test my courage on that score. ;) It's also not one of those fragrances I'm going to want to spray on all of my pulse points, like I do with my beloved, DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom. I have it (the Orange Sapphire) on my wrists right now, and that's gracious plenty for my sinuses.

I'm truly amazed at my own 180 with this scent. I cannot believe I'm even writing about it - I was absolutely certain that I hated it! I'm so glad I decided to spritz it just for the heck of it. It won't replace my greedy need to have Burberry London as my fall fragrance, but come colder temps, I'm almost positive it'll get the spotlight a few times.

Poor little bottle. I bet he was as sure as I was that he was doomed for the trash. Bless his heart.

;)

(P.S. - The more this stuff dries down, the more I'm liking it! Seriously! WTF!)

I'm In Love! - Coralista Blush (Benefit)

2010-09-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

Fact: It's been well over ten years since I last used blush as a regular step in my makeup routine. When I did, it was Earthen Rose by Avon. Earthen Rose is (to me) better suited as a bronzer/contouring shade, which is essentially how I was using it at the time, because I already had nice color in my cheeks.

Of course I did, I was just turning 20 the last time I purchased it.

My very first purchase of Nyx products, as you may (or may not) remember, included three blushes. These blushes were so pigmented that I'm kind of scared to use them - even now. Thankfully, I never really got the chance before the hot weather kicked in and make up was a really bad idea. I swatched them all, of course, and wore them around the house, but I never got up the nerve to try them with a full face for work.

Fast-forward to this morning, when I received a package in the mail. It was from Sephora, where I had purchased the Benefit Some Beauty to Love set. In this set there is a little box of their CORALista blush.

I knew it was in the set when I bought it, but frankly, that was the last thing I was interested in when I purchased it. The set also comes with an Eye Bright pencil, a deluxe sample size of BADgal Lash mascara, and a little tube of That Gal face primer. THOSE were the things I was psyched about - not the blush. So of course, I didn't really pay any attention to it while I played with everything else.

Seems I was saving the absolute best for last, without even realizing it. I popped some on my cheeks, and sat back. WOW. I really hope it wasn't just the lighting in my house, because the flush of color was amazing! Coral is so not my shade, generally speaking, but this stuff was absolutely gorgeous - on ME, no less! I was so happily surprised I even forgot to test out the mascara. ;)

So, I am finally and officially adding a blush product to my list of Loves: Benefit's CORALista cheek powder.

Highly, highly recommended! :)

Tips and Toes Tuesday! (2)

2010-09-21T10:03:00.001-07:00

My vocabulary feels grossly insufficient when attempting to talk about this color. It's just too awesome.

I will, however, apologize for my temporary lack of painting skills. This was just for swatching purposes, because it was too late at night to actually do a full manicure. Plus, with my big boo-boo still healing on my right hand, I didn't want to paint those nails. I'd look pretty silly walking around with only one hand painted!

Anyway. Look at this color. I DEMAND THAT YOU LOOK AT IT! (haha!) The pictures are not doing this justice, since it was low light, but they are good enough to give you an idea of just how gorgeous it is!

It's China Glaze's "Goin' My Way" from their Vintage Vixen collection. I am so in love! And somehow, it makes my fingers look more slender (to me, and that's all I care about!), which is a very cool bonus. It's a medium-dark brown with gold flecks, but what's so amazing to me is that it doesn't translate as a "warm" color - which typically looks like crap next to my cool, babypink skin. It's just that whenever the light hits it, you're treated to a glint of copper and gold that's rather mesmerizing. *__*

Everyone must have this color! Seriously. Stop reading and go buy it now! ;)

Must-Have Monday! (2)

2010-09-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

After having gone through so many perfumes in the department stores in search of my perfect summer scent, I now have so many on my list for fall and winter, I don't know what to do with myself!

My absolute Must-Have Fragrance for fall is Buberry London. I've been waiting since JUNE to be able to get this perfume and wear it! From the very first (accidental) spritz of it in Belk's, I not only knew it was a fragrance for me, I knew right away that it would be the one for autumn. I may still have to wait another month before I can plunk down the money for it, but trust me, I'm crunching the numbers for a sooner-rather-than-later shopping trip for this stuff. Notes include top-notes of Honeysuckle, Jasmine, and Tangerine; mid-notes of Peony and Tiare Flower; and base notes of the requisite sandalwood and musk.

Up next is Dolce & Gabbana's L'Imperatrice. I got a whiff of this in a magazine, and I could not stop sniffing it. Not sure that I'd consider it a must-have for fall/winter, but certainly a contender for early to late spring. I have no idea how it will smell right out of the bottle (especially on my skin), but if it smells as good as I remember, I will definitely be getting me a bottle! Top notes are Rhubarb, Kiwi Accord, and Red Current - how freaking yummy does that sound?? Midnotes are cyclamen, watermelon, and jasmine - again, my nose is happy just thinking about it! And then, of course, the basenotes are musk, sandalwood, and grapefruit wood. The dry-down scent is what concerns me the most, though, so I'll definitely have to preview it in the store before I buy it. And look! Amazon.com has it for nearly half price! That makes me especially giddy. ;)

The bonus? My mom loved the smell of L'Imperatrice, too, and she's a hard critic to please when it comes to these things.

Lastly, a designer who's apparently gaining the corner market on Mimmy-approved fragrances. Donna Karen's Pure DKNY is one that I'm not sure if I will like for the long haul, but have given it an honorable-mention sort of spot on my must-have list. At first sniff, this smells dangerously close to being that sweet, sugary, powdery smelling scent that I absolute detest (think Juicy Couture or Miss Cherie). But then it's as if my nose pauses for a second to process it, and decides to translate it differently. Top notes include Ugandan vanilla*, dewdrop floral petals (whatever that means), lotus and Bulgarian rose. Mid-notes are jasmine, freesia, and orchid. Base notes are white amber, sandalwood, and vanilla in water (wtf?). Honestly, reading this makes my teeth hurt, but it's still most definitely a fragrance I want to meet in person soon.

Plus, with this fragrance, DKNY has partnered with CARE, which helps Ugandan women in breaking the cycle of poverty. It has to do with the vanilla that's used in the fragrance. See more here. If that's not a good enough reason to give it a go, I don't know what is.

So, that's all for this Monday's Must-Have feature! Stay tuned for tomorrow's tips 'n' toes!

Thoughtful Thursday!

2010-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Sheryl Crow:

No. Just... No.

Yours, etc.
Mim

------------------

This was one of my most favorite songs back in the day - or at least, during the time period when it was new and all (my tastes changed as rapidly then as they do now - if not more so). I thought Terrence Trent D'Arby was so hot, in that tortured, poetic kind of way. Although, looking at him now, my Gaydar admittedly goes nuts. Bless his heart.

Here's the original "Sign Your Name" by the man himself (note that the model is totally in love with her hair!):

And this... this abomination is the remake of "Sign Your Name" by Sheryl Crow. My 13 year old self is weeping. :(

Don't get me wrong, I love Sheryl Crow. I just... don't love her for this.

Whatever Wednesday!

2010-09-15T21:28:00.001-07:00

Since this is my day to say whatever I darn well please, let's get into it!

My finger is getting better, I think. Slowly, but surely, it will heal. I mean, I knew from the moment it happened that it would eventually heal, of course, but mentally, I'm feeling more convinced of the fact. It still looks horrible, but last night was the first night I had to leave it undressed (haha, that sounds kinky!), and it went well. I was forced to look at it - up close, even - to be sure it wasn't showing signs of infection, and though it made me cringe for the first hour, it actually ended up being okay. In fact, it went so well, I didn't want to have to redress it this morning, and when I came home from work tonight, taking off the bandage was the first To Do on my list.

Finger: *wants to move to nudey camp!*

Since I really have nothing else to talk about, here. Meet my extended family - all rescues:

Full Name: Monsieur Joe Le Beau
Alias: Joe, JoeBeau, Joe II
Likes: Swimming and riding shotgun with Pau
Dislikes: Charley getting fresh with him
Rescue Story: Joe the First was a black lab mix, just like Joe II. He was a stray that hung around outside the store where my dad worked during his partial retirement. Sadly, Joe the First had to be put to sleep after getting caught by a train (one hind leg was cut off in the accident, and the other was crushed). It broke my dad's heart to lose Joe I. About a month after that, he noticed another black lab - the spitting image of Joe I - tied up at a house behind the store. The house looked abandoned, so over the next few days, he went up to give the dog some food and water. It was sometime during that week that he learned the homeowner had moved, leaving Joe II there to starve to death. Needless to say, Daddy brought him home right there on the spot. And thus, JoeBeau came to live with us!

Full Name: Innie Minnie Miney Moe
Alias: Minnie, MiniMoo
Likes: Napping in the "throne" in the living room.
Dislikes: Anyone getting near her food!
Rescue Story: Another one-loss-leads-to-a-happy-ending type of deal. I was walking through the house one day - a few years ago - and I heard the big dogs outside making a ruckus. Knowing they were into something, I poked my head out the door and saw them trying to pull apart what I thought was a dead animal. Then I heard the yelping and crying, and the adrenaline kicked in. Those dogs went scattering like bowling pins as I ran over, screaming my head off at them. There, on the ground, lay a half-dead puppy, so starved/sickly he couldn't move (and by that point, he also had suffered internal injuries from being ganged-up on by the other dogs). My mom scooped him up into a towel and we rushed him to the Vet. He was so close to death, he couldn't even hold his head up. It just flopped against my mom's chest. The Vet was optimistic at first, but a few hours after we'd left him there, we got the call about his internal injuries. Again, he had to be put to sleep - he was suffering too much, and there was nothing they could do. This time, I was the one who was heartbroken. But the very next morning, I woke up to find another "stranger" sitting on our back porch with the other big dogs. She was about twice the size of the puppy we'd found and lost, but was still obviously a puppy herself. And she looked exactly the same as the little man we'd tried to save. So again, we had found a new addition to the family through the sad loss of another.

Full Name: Prince Charles I
Alias: Charley, CharleyBoy, You Goof!
Likes: EVERYTHING!!!! Especially shoes.
Dislikes: Being left out of all the fun! Using his "indoor voice."
Rescue Story: This isn't so much a rescue as Charley finding his way to our house (from the neighbor's) and deciding this was totally the place to be! He's such a lovable goofball, we couldn't resist. Not like we had any choice, mind you. We tried several times to take him home, because he's supposedly a full-blooded white lab, and we didn't want the neighbor to think we had stolen him; but he just kept bumbling back down to our house each time. After the fifth try, the neighbor finally told us to just keep him. We didn't protest. ;) Charley is ALL about the fun, and he will unabashedly nose his way into anything at any given moment without regard for privacy, propriety, pecking order, or (as in the case of Joe), sexual orientation. He is such a hoot. Definitely a worm-his-way-into-your-affections kind of puppy!

Full Name: Princess Missy Prissy PooPooFace
Alias: Miss(y), Miss(y) Priss
Likes: Socks. Poopy time. Treats. Plotting her invasion of the neighbor's yard (we suspect she may have allied herself with the cats, but so far, our intelligence has not confirmed it).
Dislikes: Anyone who isn't named Pau or Mim. Thunder. Other animals. Closed doors. Meals that are not properly embellished (she requires toppings, you imbecile!). Anyone who messes with her leash, toys, bed, or anything else she's claimed as Property of The Crown. Being sat (or stepped) upon - especially while she naps under the covers.
Rescue Story: Missy came to us by way of the same store where my dad worked. A customer who frequented the shop had had her for a year, but for some reason, his wife decided she no longer wanted Missy around. Maybe the old lady was jealous. Mr. Bobby DID spend an awful lot of time and attention on Missy, after all. She was supposed to be my dad's pet, but she and I formed an immediate attachment. We've been best buds ever since. :)

And that's all but two of our puppies. I don't have pictures yet of our two newest additions. We also have three cats - one of which was rescued from drowning in a ditch, and two who were adopted from the Humane Society. Yes, I am aware that we have a lot of pets. We are most definitely an animal-loving family. We gladly accept the responsibility, as well as the personal and financial sacrifices that come with being a "sheltering" home. We've had so many wonderful pets to come in and out of our lives over the years, and each one has left their unique little paw prints on our hearts. ;)

If you're an animal lover, too, introduce me to your pets in the comments below! :)

Tips and Toes Tuesday! (9-14-2010)

2010-09-14T08:56:00.001-07:00

Tips and Toes Tuesday - 09/14/2010

I was really looking forward to this feature more so than any of the others, but with my recent (ahem) injury, I'll have to do this the lame way until my finger heals. I'm so glad I picked up some nail swatching wheels on a whim! If I hadn't, I'd only be able to show you the very gross picture of my finger, and trust me, you don't want to see that.

Mimmy doesn't even want to see that - which is why I squeezed my eyes shut and turned my head away every time the doctor or nurse peeled off the tissue or gauze to have a look at it. I knew it was bad, I didn't need confirmation!!!

Anyway, the day before my accident, I took a picture - thank goodness! - of one of my newest additions to my nail polish collection: OPI's "Over the Taupe." Oh dear lord, I am in LOVE!

I'd already decided even before my Ouchie happened that I wouldn't wear this one again until my nails had grown some more, so I may do a second-take kind of post at some point this season. I feel like it's one of those colors that's just dark enough to require longer nails to really wear it well. Otherwise, "it is SO choice!" (Big red lolly to whomever can tell me where that quote is from!)

So! Here it is!

Please excuse the crappy camera shot.
This will go back to normal soon!

As with all of the OPI cream polishes that I own, this applies perfectly (though now that I look at it, it could probably have done with an extra coat), dries to a smooth, glossy finish, and it lasts about five days with a proper base and top coat. It's a cool, chocolatey brown that goes great with my skintone, I think. I never would have picked up had I got a hankering for something "fallish" early this year. On principle, I usually refrain from going AutumnCrazy until October, but I just couldn't resist! Good thing, too, or I would have missed out.

And speaking of tips and toes, I found out last night that my grandmother still paints her toes! I knew she still did her nails, but can you believe that? Pushing ninety, and she's still giving herself mannies and peddies! I love that woman - she's such a girlygirl at heart!

I want to be just like her when I grow up. ;)

Must-Have Monday!

2010-09-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

Must-Have Monday!

So, what's a Must-Have Monday? Well, basically, it's a way for me to obsess about whatever it is I absolutely HAVE to have, but in a healthy way. It also serves as a combination wishlist and shopping list, because as soon as I have some extra cash on hand - which is usually for one day only, following payday! - I plan to blow it on whatever is listed in these posts throughout the month.

For this Monday in particular, I'm making it a true "must have" because it's not just a want, it's a need.

I ~~want~~ NEED some new foundation for the fall/winter, now that the time of year has almost arrived, and this year, I do not want to be playing around with powders. I learned my lesson last year - my skin is just too dry and temperamental for that. I suppose I could still use a little dusting of some kind of light setting powder in my t-zone, but even that's iffy. Whatever foundation I get will have to be good enough to stand on its own, or at the very least, one that requires very little in the way of setting powder. I'd also like something that will seal in the moisture, but as they say, "You can want in one hand..."

So far in my research, I've compiled a list of four candidates. I see nothing wrong with buying one drugstore brand as well as one high(er) end, so unless I find more that I want to see up close, at least two of the following will be in my collection soon-ish:

Boots No. 7 Lifting and Firming Foundation (SPF 15) Ginabinawina99 recently gave this foundation a glowing review, including the idea that it's comparable to Chanel Lift Lumiere and BETTER than NARS sheer glow (one I've been wanting to try, but haven't been able to afford yet). Considering that you can get this brand at Target for a reasonable price, I am definitely willing to take a trip to see it for myself.

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup - This was another one I decided to try after seeing the Guide to Clinique Foundation by pixiwoo. Basically, she went through six Clinique foundations and applied each one, sort of with the theme of "first impressions." Of all the ones she used, I liked this one the best - at least enough so to take a trip to my nearest department store to have a look at it for myself. (As an aside, I also liked the Even Better foundation she used in that same video demo/review, so if I decide against my first pick, I'll probably check that one out.)

Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation (SPF 15) - This one wasn't a recommendation I picked up, per se, but after I found it on Sephora's web site, I did go to YouTube for some reviews of it. There was nothing really negative said about it (and if there was, it probably pertained to oily skin, which I definitely do not have, especially in the cooler months).

Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation - Again, not one that was recommended by any one person; just one I stumbled across, and then hit YouTube for review. The only problem with this one is that I'd have to get color matched, and I seriously have no idea where to find this apart from Sephora, which is nowhere near where I live. Still, if all of the others I've noted end up being a disappointment, I could always order online and return it if it's the wrong color.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! What's your absolute Must-Have Item this Monday?? Leave a comment below!

Friday FAIL!

2010-09-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

I'll warn you now. The following post contains details that some may find unsettling (or even gross). Blood was involved, along with lots of pain, a trip to the ER, and many many tears!

It's difficult to type right now. I cut a nice, big chunk out of the pad of my middle fingertip while opening one of those pop-top cans of cat food. The only reason I didn't get stitches was because there was nothing left to stitch. The bit of flesh that was gouged out was dead, so they couldn't put it back. No stitches is good, I guess, but a gaping wound in one's finger is still really bad.

And I had just done my nails, too! :(

I can only imagine how long this will take to heal, but I shall not be thwarted by this evil! I still have one perfectly good hand that I can paint in order to show off all my latest nail goodies, so Tips & Toes Tuesday shall go off without a hitch, damnit! Likewise, I don't foresee this being too much of a hindrance with regards to any other blogging I've planned to do.

It'll just take me longer to type. That's all. ;)

New Features - YAY!!

2010-09-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

I've been so lax lately about updating this thing that I've finally put my foot down and have come up with a list of daily features that I hope will help me get back into the habit of posting more regularly. Also, I'm thinking that it will bring this blog closer to having the Oomph it's currently lacking.

If you haven't noticed, all I seem to feature on here are hauls, swatches, and a few (admittedly bland) reviews. That and the whining and the rambling on about nothing.

Ahem.

So! To give myself a challenge, I shall do my utmost to begin the features outlined below each week. These are, of course, subject to change under Article XVII, Section MCXI of The Laws of The Female, which clearly states, "And unto all females is bestowed the right, authority, privilege, and obligation to change Her mind, opinion, lipstick, demeanor, tone of voice, feelings, or dress at any moment, with or without notice, regard, or explanation to her fellow females or male counterparts." Amen.

1. Must-Have Monday! - This will probably be the easiest, because there's an entire planet full of things I want, want to try, or have been drooling over for some time. Therefore, on Mondays - to shoo away the dreariness and all - I will feature one (or two) products or items that I absolutely Must Have. In doing so, I'll not only have an ongoing Wish List to help me keep track of all the things I really want, I'll also be able to give my pre-purchase thoughts on them and express my reasons as to why I think they'd be awesome to have or try or whatever.

2. Tips and Toes Tuesday - No, I won't be showing you my feet, but I will be showing off my nails of the week each Tuesday, along with whatever new polishes I happen to have added to my collection. And let's be honest: the colors I like wearing on my nails, some gals prefer to wear on their toes. To each her own.

3. Whatever Wednesday - This is actually the current label I typically have for all Wednesdays. "Whatever," is adopted as my standard response to everything on this day, so we might as well pull that on over to the blogosphere, too. If I want to post, I will (if I don't, I won't), and it'll basically be a toss-up as to what the subject may be.

4. Thoughtful Thursday - If I have any brain cells left by Thursday, which is technically my Friday work-wise, I will do my best to impart a flash of wisdom (or fizzle of insanity) to you, my gorgeous readers.

Naturally, if I choose to at some point, I will probably switch these up somehow. After all, the Internet at large tends to have the attention span of a gnat. ;) And so we're all clear, these will likely be included in with my less regular hauls, reviews, swatches, and so forth. Hell, I might even go completely crazy and add special features in for Friday and Saturday. We'll just have to see how it goes, ne?

There. I've done it. It's now officially on record, so I have to hold myself to it. Wish me luck! And if you have any suggestions to add to (or replace) any of the feature ideas, leave me a comment to share!

Stay Sassy!

Estee Lauder Sensuous Noir Smells Like My Uncle Bob.

2010-09-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

I got an Ulta catalog thingy in the mail the other day, but I wasn't able to look at it until last night. The first thing I noticed when I picked it up was the pile of perfume samples that fell out of it. There were three in all - Pure by DKNY, L'Imperatrice by Dolce and Gabana, and Sensuous Noir by Esteé Lauder. But for right now, I want to focus on the latter: Sensuous Noir.

My grandfather's younger brother, Bob, was a total Rat Pack wannabe. He dressed sharp as Senatra ALL the time: dress shirts, slacks, shiny shoes, slicked-back hair, goatee, and a pinky ring. He was a "cool cat" kind of guy. We all loved Uncle Bob, simply because he was so ... smooth. Granddaddy was tough and mean, so the contrast was always welcome whenever Bob came to visit.

Uncle Bob had a very distinct scent, something I do not remember my granddaddy ever having (unless you count the stale cigarette smell of his car). It wasn't Old Spice - or if it was, it transformed into something almost completely different on his skin - but it was like that. That same spicy, old-gentleman sort of smell. Not an "old man" scent. More like "antique sophistication"...

Last night, I peeled back the bottom corner of the Estee Lauder sample, and I had a flashback to a dusty summer ages ago. Sitting in the swing in my grandmother's backyard, my legs not long enough to reach the ground. And there was Uncle Bob sitting next to me, slowing pushing the swing while he told me a story about the old days. The 1940's, 1950's. OLD days. I can even see him sweeping his hand across his face, that pinky ring of his glinting in the sunlight, indicating that whomever he was describing had had a full beard during the time frame of the story he was telling. Not a goatee, such as himself.

Sensuous Noir is not a fragrance I would ever wear. For me, it would be a sacrilege to even think it (not to mention just a little bit creepy for more than myself to be smelling it all day long). It's one of those scents that are lovingly folded away in my memory, and should be left there respectfully. I can chuckle at it - at the irony of it - but I cannot say anything negative about it, even if it isn't a scent for me.

Swap Haul - Courtesy of Jacie!

2010-08-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago (okay, probably more like a month or more now), I did a swap with the lovely Jacie. I sent her a bottle of Limbo Bimbo by China Glaze, and she sent me 3 bottles of polishes that she had swatched for her blog.

These are the bottles she sent:

Left to right, we have:

Raspberries & Cream by Totally Beautiful Nails - This is a gorgeous, cool red that I cannot wait to wear! It definitely speaks to me as a winter/holiday color, so I will probably be wearing this quite a bit around Thanksgiving and Christmas, possibly into February. I have swatched it, and it looks great with my skintone; but unfortunately, my nails have been throwing tempertantrums left and right lately, so my vanity won't let me show you right now. For a pro swatch, check out Jacie's You've Got Nail blog post about it, where you can see the color in all its divine glory! Do note, however, that her images make it appear more fire-engine red than it actually is. It's definitely a bluer tone of red. Love it, love it!!

Le Beauty (no color name for it, sadly) - This shimmery purple and blue color is absolutely stunning. The bottle has the number 51 embossed on the bottom, but I have no idea if that signifies anything in terms of the color. When I first apply it to my nails, it's definitely a purple color, but after drying, I can really see the blue-ish tones glinting on the surface. Again, I'm not showing you my awful nails right now, so be sure to check the original swatches from You've Got Nail!

Mid Nite Blue by Models Inc. - The color looks exactly like what you'd expect, given the name. I confess, I'm not fan of super-dark polishes like this, because my skin is way too pale to really pull them off. Because of the stark contrast, they always end up looking purely black, whereas with darker skintones, it's been my observation that you can tell the subtle differences between the colors, because there is a lower level of contrast between skin and nail. This color is unfortunately no exception, but what I do love about it is the formula. One coat, and it's done. That only makes me want to use it more! I would never have bought this color - I always shy away from these shades, no matter how beautiful I think they are - but now that I have it, I can't wait for my nails to grow again, so that I can brave giving it a try! I'll just have to be extra careful when painting it on - one little wibble in the lines, and the mistake will be even more glaring with my deathly skin! lol! Wish me luck!!

And that's all three bottles!

I have to give a special thanks to the beautiful Jacie for being so generous! I also want to thank her for BOTH of her blogs - You've Got Nail and You've Got Face. I truly enjoy each and every update!

Big Taste, Small Pockets

2010-08-28T03:39:00.000-07:00

It's time for another installment of "Big Taste, Small Pockets!" YAAAY!

Today, I would like to present you with a brilliant Tiffany and Co. knock-off. I got this piece a few months ago, because I really wanted one of the Tiffany key pendants, but at $80+ for just the pendant itself, I wasn't THAT eager. At the time of my purchase, I thought the design of the one I picked was simple enough to mimic the real thing, but I had no idea just how exact a match it was until I saw the original Tiffany version on another blog.

Check this out:

The above image is a screen cap from the Tiffany & Co. web site. As you can see, the key is of a trefoil design, and is made of sterling silver. It will cost you about $175, not including tax or shipping.

Now, let's look at the one I purchased from Amazon.com:

Click the link. Take a good look. Are you seeing this?? It's an exact dupe for a fraction of the cost! And being the proud owner of this piece for several months now, I can fully attest to the fact that the quality of this pendant couldn't be better. It's about two inches long, and is solid. I paired it with one of my sterling silver box chains, and I've gotten many compliments on it.

Again, when I bought this thing, I had no idea that it would be so similar to one of the originals! What a happy accident!

So, the only question is... do you want to pay $175+ for the real thing, or fool them all (and have plenty of cash to spare!) with a perfect knock-off?

I rest my case. ;)

The "Sent For Consideration" Debate

2010-08-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, I cannot sit on my hands any longer. I HAVE to post about this, if for no other reason than to get it out of my system.

The Issue:
Reviewers who have been sent a product or products, for FREE, for consideration by a company or marketing firm.

The Good: (I like opening on a positive note.)
The most obvious plus-side to this debate is the fact that products sent to reviewers for their consideration are oftentimes a NEW product that has either just hit the market, or isn't even available yet. In that respect, these types of reviewers are a great source of information for their audience, who not only catch wind of the new or upcoming product, but also get to have a preview of what's good and/or bad about it.

The YouTube beauty community is notorious for the "Sent for Consideration" phenomenon, because they are arguably the most visible source available for sharing this kind of information. Let's face it: a video can show an audience aspects of a product that pictures and words alone cannot (conversely, written reviews and hi-res photos can offer a level of insight and detail that you just can't cram into a 10-15 minute video).

Another good thing about reviewers working in collaboration with companies and marketing peeps is that a lot of times, you will get a discount if you're subscribed to (or otherwise follow) the reviewer in question. Discounts, in my book, are awesome. I don't really care if the reviewer gets extra perks for doing it, I like saving money!

The Bad:
It's hard to trust a review - especially a glowing one - when you know that the person doing the reviewing hasn't had to spend their hard-earned money on it. And that is a huge point that I think a lot of people on the "nay" side are trying to make. No one walks into a store and randomly (or blindly) plucks a $40.00 bottle of face cream from the shelf a la, "Gee, I think I'll blow a couple of Jacksons on this just for shits and giggles!" No, it doesn't work that way.

When we go to put our money down on something we've never tried before, we're essentially bending over in front of Lady Luck and hoping that she doesn't kick us in the ass. If presented with the idea of spending $40 on a little jar of something that claims to be magic, we will turn that sucker over in our hands fifteen times, reading every last detail on the bottle at least half as many times, before putting it back down. At that point, we will browse the entire store before we return back to that same little jar, only to turn it over another fifteen times. If we're still itching up a storm to try it, then - and only then! - will we actually walk away from the shelf with it still in our hands.

Reviewers who are sent products for free don't have to agonize like that. Of course, some may pick and choose based on the nature of their blog or channel, or what they may think their particular audience may find interesting, useful, etc. But you can never be sure. It's easy to say, "I'm being honest, even though I was sent this for free," but you have to understand that (as sad as it may be) not everyone can take you at your word. They just don't know for sure. You are not their best friend, sister, mother, etc. They are only allowed to know, read, or see as much as you let them, which is never, EVER the entire picture. They don't know what was in the communication between you and the provider of the product.

Bottom line: To a lot of people, the situation looks and feels shady. It's a slick sort of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," type of deal. And if the audience can't trust it, they'll be more apt to navigate away from it. There's really nothing a reviewer can do about it.

The Ugly:
And then there are those who are actually compensated or paid to give a review of a product. These are the ones that really turn my stomach, even though celebrities get away with it all the freaking time! I know it's completely unreasonable, but it's my own little breed of insanity, I guess. I don't know why it bothers me so much when I find out that my favorite YouTube "guru" is being paid to "review" a product. I suppose it's because in the end, when I discover that what I thought was just a freebie type of situation turns out to have been a full-on compensation or sponsorship, I feel like they've sold out. Or maybe I think they've sold me. My trust. My admiration. All for what? A year's supply of Cover Girl? A few hundred (or thousand) bucks?

Fine. That's their decision.

It's also my decision to never listen to another word they say.

The "Solution":
Since I can't just sit here and debate the subject without offering at least some sort of compromise, let me explain how I deal with these kinds of reviews.

1. I remember who I am. I'm a girly girl at heart, but I also have a non-conformist streak in me. More often than not, I just don't play into such things as hype, trends, or more specifically in this case, drama. I have my own opinions about things, and I have to remember not to let them be swayed by those of others.

2. I hold fast to my own needs. I don't NEED a $40.00 face cream unless it will do something miraculous for my perma-freckles. I especially don't need that face cream if it has dyes, fragrance, or any other funky ingredients that will make my face feel like it's being dunked in acid, or look like it lost a battle with a slice of pizza. I'm also old; therefore, I must be wary of shimmer. In short, I KNOW my needs, and must keep them in mind regardless of who's reviewing what.

3. I stay true to myself. I have one of those sun-and-moon personalities. Mostly, I'm sunny and happy. But I can also be moody and broody. When presented with something new, my eyes may sparkle over it one second, but it's a toss-up as to whether they'll stay that way. So, when I finally do go to make a purchase based on someone's recommendation, I know to stop myself and ask, "Is this what I really WANT?" If the answer is no, or undecided, I'll leave it on the shelf.

In short, all you have to do is know yourself and your own needs. If you can do that, then all the frustration, drama, and controversy over the "sent for consideration" debate shouldn't faze you one bit.

Before I stop rambling, I just want to state once again for the record that it is completely and totally by my own choice that I have set a policy of never accepting any products for free from any company or PR reps. I would rather take the time to go out, find the product, turn it over in my hands a few times, and ultimately spend the money for it, than to alienate even one reader due to all of the controversy and gossip surrounding the issue of freebies.

Until next time, lovies... be sweet!

The Incredible Invisible Target!

2010-08-14T21:28:00.001-07:00

If you read my last post, then hopefully you've had a chance to think about the scenario I described to you. If you did, then I also hope that you really put yourself into the situation and thought about how it would make you feel. Personally.

Over this past year - maybe not even that long - I've seen a lot of talk about so-called "plus-sized" models. They've appeared in ads, on the runway, in commercials, and in the news. Most recently, I was sent a link to a New York Times article entitled, "Plus-Size Wars," in which the author, Ginia Bellafante, does a great job talking about the topic of larger models and how the fashion industry deals (or fails to deal) with the issue of full-figured women. The article even gives a nice history lesson on the origins and progress of Lane Bryant, a popular retailer of plus-sized attire.

On the whole, I have to say that I really like seeing sturdier-framed ladies featured in media and advertising. Even though I don't consider many of them to be true examples of "plus-sized" women, I find their figures more agreeable and far (FAR!) more attainable for someone like me.

Know this: I am not a skinny girl. I never have been. And I have finally come to terms with the fact that I never will be. At my smallest (which happened while working a tough, manual-labor type of job for 50 hours a week over the course of 2 years, being in constant motion the entire time), I was a size 18. Otherwise, I've mostly hovered around the size 22 mark, on average.

For me, shopping for clothes isn't fun. AT ALL. It's exactly what I described in my last post. I can walk through an entire mall and never enter the first shop, because I know there's no point. The limitations placed on a woman of my size is shocking, even to me, and I've been tolerating it all my life. There are a few specialty shops that cater to plus-sized figures, but it's basically hit-or-miss as to whether or not they'll have anything that looks pretty. Oh, and department stores? What a joke. They'll say something is a size 18, but in reality, it's more like a 14.

The message I've ALWAYS gotten is that I am not allowed to look, feel, or BE beautiful. I was a small child when I accepted this. The kind of teasing I got from the other kids at school was acceptable in my mind - and I've born every possible form of insult, sting, and censuring that a fat kid can possibly hear. By the time I hit high school, I'd gotten so good at the game, I would stay three steps ahead of everyone else by being almost hypervigilent. Everything I did, said, wore, whatever - every last detail was analzyed from every possible angle before I made even the slightest move.

It's normal to feel awkward growing up. I totally get that. It's normal to experience some variety of teasing, bullying, or just general unpleasantness. They pick on you until something more peculiar comes along. It comes and goes. No one is immune. What I'm talking about isn't that type of "normal" - in fact, there's nothing normal about it. But I digress.

I'm a grown up now, and frankly, I could care less what others think of me. But I still find myself stuck in that rut of acceptance. I order clothes online, because I can't go out and shop like any other girl. There's a total of 2 brick-and-morter stores that I know of where I can buy my clothes, but the online selections are always more and better. And let me tell ya, I spend a lot of money on shipping - mostly in returns.

The article I've linked talks about that, too. A few retailers have moved their plus-sized selections online. Do you know what that says to me - someone who's long since been conditioned to think of these things as "normal"? "We want you to have clothes, we just don't want you to come out into public to get them." Their reasoning, according to the article, is that they save space by doing this. They also avoid an apparently large investment in "floor space, potentially bigger dressing rooms, sales associates sensitive to customers’ particular needs," according to the article.

What a crock. You will find no one more keenly aware of themselves and their surroundings than someone of a larger size. They can maneuver just about any space, obstacle, or bitchy sales clerk.

Anyway. The whole point here is that while I do understand completely that "fat" equates to "unhealthy," and that "healthy" biologically coorelates to "beauty," I'm flat-out tired of being isolated, ignored, and made to feel as if I am somehow less of a person than someone who's proportions are smaller than my own. I didn't suddenly wake up fat. I didn't sit on my ass for a couple of years and stuff my face with ice cream to get this way. I've been this way my whole life, and I've tried many, MANY times to "get skinny." It's just not happening for me.

And because of that, I'm not only a target... I'm an invisible one.

-------

So, I promise: no more venting or whiny posts like this (if I can help it). I'll go back to my regular rounds of reviewing products and gushing and whatnot. I'm also thinking of maybe starting some video posts at some point in the future, because that seems like it might be less time-consuming (for me) than devoting a couple of hours to a written post.

We'll see.

Here's a Nightmare for You.

2010-08-04T23:37:00.000-07:00

Indulge me for a moment by placing yourself in the following scenario:

You're on vacation and need a nice dress, so you decide to head to the local mall. As you get to the first dress shop, you see that the entrance is really short. That's odd, because you're really tall (just go with it, even if you're not very tall in RL). Despite that, you duck into a boutique to get a closer look at the clothes. Uh oh. The clerk looks at you funny. I mean, what do you expect? You're tall, and you just stepped into a shop with a short door. You choose to ignore her - what else can you do? - and start browsing. The clothes are all super-cute, most looking as if they were sent straight from the runway; but upon closer inspection, you realize that they're made for someone who's only 3 feet tall. Clearly, you've made a mistake, so you leave.

Back out in the main part of the mall, you continue on your way, coming to the next dress shop. It, too, has a short door, so you look in through the window. Those clothes are for people 3 feet and under, too. Then it hits you. ALL of the stores are that way. You can't buy anything here! What a waste of a trip!

You head out, disgruntled, thinking maybe you'll find something at one of the shops at the shopping center you saw up the road. You pull into the parking lot, but again, there are those tiny doors! You drive out of there, getting thoroughly frustrated! Why can't you just find a normal shop! Better yet, why can't they just put a few pieces out for a tall person?! It's not rocket science!

FINALLY, another mall and two shopping centers later, you find the ONE shop that has a door tall enough for you. You pull into a parking space and get out. You go inside, and the clerk smiles at you. That much is promising, as is the fact that all of the clothes are clearly meant for a tall person such as yourself. Unfortunately, they only have two small racks with dresses - everything else just won't do. Knowing you have to have some kind of dress, you pick through what's available to you, finding the two or three dresses that aren't entirely hideous. You take them to the dressing room to try them on, and find out that only one of them actually fits your exact height. It's not a very pretty dress, but hey... at least you're not flashing your bottom to everyone, right? Beggars cannot be choosers, right?

RIGHT?

Stay tuned for the answer, and the moral of this story. Until then, stay sassy! It's your only hope! ;)

Would You Rather...? (Edition 1 and 2)

2010-07-28T00:59:00.000-07:00

EDITION 1

1.Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice make-up or Nice hair and no make-up? Aahahah. Ha. ... ha. It's summertime in the south, and thanks to the insane temperatures and even worse humidity, I can't wear make up, nor can I do anything with my hair. So, right now, it's a toss-up. Come cooler temps, however, I will definitely be sporting the nice-makeup/bad-hair look, because my hair is always a pain in the ass.

2.Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out? I CHOOSE ICE CREAM!!!! ... no? poo. :(

Okay, let's look at this from a health (or biological) perspective, shall we? Eyelashes have a purpose other than just looking pretty or humoring you when you glob on the mascara. They protect your eyes from various particulates (yeah, I really just wanted to use the word "particulates" there), which always have a potential to damage your eyes.

Conversely, your eyebrows, while they may have had a similar purpose early in our evolution, essentially do nothing these days. Indeed, the fleshy bit beneath them are what's most important.

So, given that analysis, I say bring on the eyebrow razor!

3.Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life? Sephora. I can count on one hand all of the MAC products I own, so for me, Sephora just makes more sense. Though truthfully, I could give up both of them and just shop at nyxcosmetics.com for the rest of my life.

Well, that and my friendly neighborhood drugstore. ;)

4.Would you rather wear lipgloss/lipliner look or 80's perm? I had the 80's perm (at an age when I had no say, even!). I had the 90's perm, too. I am living with the consequences of both. So needless to say, I will totally rock that lipliner! Hell, I might even make it stylish again. :P

5.Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush? I don't wear blush, and if anything, I've worn foundation that's too light (if you can believe such a thing), so I've never really had the line problem. That said, I have seen many unfortunate girls who did have the foundation lines going on, and it was horrifying to me. So yeah, I'll take the blush in this instance.

6.Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public? No one - repeat: NO ONE - wants to see THIS ASS in a pair of biker shorts, so it's Hammer Time for me!

7.Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered? I don't really tan. Does that exempt me from this question? No? Damn! C'mon!

Okay, fine. Since I would never waste my money on spray tan to begin with, I'll go with the weird "tan" lines, because it'll actually be a burn line on me, which will fade away to pale nothingness after a couple of days, so HA! I WIN!

8.Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair color? Umm... I'll take Exotic Vacations for a thousand, Alex!

9.Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever? Psh. I hate Twitter. I don't get the point of it to begin with, and when I DO try to use it, I never seem to have anything noteworthy to say, so yeah. Down with the Twitter (fightthepower!).

10. Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara? Mascara. It hurts my eyes, anyway.

EDITION 2

1. Would you rather walk around all day with you skirt tucked in your underwear or be seen wearing a really see through dress? Is this really a legit question? Who the hell wants to walk around with their skirt tucked into their ass? At least with a see-through dress you can play the intentionally-slutty card!

2. Would you rather go to a party and not realize until the end of the night that you have lipstick on your teeth or that your fake lashes are coming unglued? Lipstick. It happens to every chick at some point. But to me, having some falsies come off would make me feel really stupid, and rightfully so, given that I've never worn them before...

3. Would you rather forget to put mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face? Mascara. Again, it hurts my eyes, so I don't think I'd mind.

4. Would you rather wear lipstick/lipliner combo or frosty blue eyeshadow? Actually, I think the frosty blue would probably look okay with my complexion, so let's go with that one.

5. Would you rather wear foundation that is two shades too light or go way overboard on bronzer? Foundation. For me, two shades too light would be invisible to the human eye! lol!

6. Would you rather drink an entire bottle of ketchup or run into the guy who broke your heart on a bad hair day when your skin is freaking out? I actually DID run into the guy who broke my heart just the other day, and yep, I had bad hair and a bad face. Therefore, I am TAKING an exemption from this one. Damnit.

7. Would you rather be able to date any celeb you wanted or wake up with perfect red carpet-worthy hair? Who the hell wants to date a celebrity? o_O Gimme that hair!

8. Would you rather your armpits smell musky or like delicious lasagna? Okay, who the hell thought up this one? That's just gross. Me and my armpits, we be smellin' like fresh, yo!

9. Would you rather give up your makeup or cell phone for one year? Make up. I commute thirty miles a day through the countryside, and frankly, I don't want to be caught without a phone if or when I hear those dueling banjos. :P

10. Would you rather run into a cute guy you like with food all in your grill or no makeup at all? No make-up. I'm what scientist sometimes call a "Fat Girl," and having food in your teeth would give people additional license to mock me.

And there you have it - my "Would You Rather..." contributions.

I tag everyone who actually reads this! HA!

Another Quirk of Life! (They never really stop coming, do they?)

2010-07-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been really down - which isn't very common for me these days, truth be known. It's why I haven't felt like writing anything noteworthy these past couple of weeks. My sleep has been off, which has caused my attitude to suck big time; and to make things worse, during those few precious moments I have been able to sleep, I've had some out-of-the-blue dreams about "the one that got away," which has turned my usually contented state of solitude into a chest-caving sort of loneliness.

I'm more than a little sure that the way I've been feeling stems (probably entirely) from my wacko sleep patterns, because a sleepy Mimmy is a cranky Mimmy. Add to that the fact that I tend to be a bottler - that is, I let most things roll off my back, but some of the bigger stuff rolls right into a collective pit of Things to Bring Me Down Later - and you have the perfect set-up for a major funk One little thing triggers it - in this case, the crankiness from sleep deprivation, coupled with those inexplicable dreams - and then all of the woes I've been hoarding come flooding out, much like a kicked rock tends to expose a wriggling swarm of creepy-crawlies.

Today, I was so exhausted, I didn't think I'd make it home from my voluntary Saturday of work. I knew for a couple of weeks that I was expected to be there, but obviously I never thought to factor in the possibility that I'd be suffering from temporary insomnia. I was near tears when I finally collapsed into bed. I slept unsteadily for about five hours, so even though I did make up a little of the loss, I still didn't feel all that great when I woke up (no dreams that were significant enough to remember, thank god).

As usual, I logged on to check my e-mail and pop in on Facebook for a bit. That's when everything seemed to turn around. One of my best friends from my late teens/early twenties had announced on Facebook that she was engaged! I swear, it's about bloody time!! H. (as I'll call her, to respect her privacy) is one of the most wonderful and amazing people I have ever known. She's brilliant, strong, kind-hearted, and beautiful in every sense of the word. The guy who snapped her up is truly a lucky, lucky man.

Her announcement - wonderful, happy news that it is - has absolutely nothing to do with me, yet it completely turned my attitude around. It's really astonishing to me how life can seem so tough and heavy one second, only to be light and free the next, when nothing has actually changed in my own little world. The bathroom still needs to be gutted before the shower falls through. I'm still a total of about eight to ten hours short of sleep. I still have no idea where I'll find the money for gas just to get back and forth to work next week. The waters of the Gulf are still full of oil, and somewhere in the world, some sick bastard is probably torturing a kitten (and I bet you money he's laughing!).

But for once, the cosmos finally seem to have gotten something right. H is getting married. And right now, I couldn't be happier for anyone.

Congrats, H!!

GottaGottaGotta

2010-07-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

I have to try Yaby eyeshadow. I HAVE to. Consider this one added to my wishlist!

That is all. :)