It's rare that I agonize over getting a new beauty product. However, it's also rare that I find myself lusting over something that costs as much as a dinner at a decent restaurant. But after spending weeks running at Mach 2 with my hair on fire (5 bonus points if you can name what movie that is from) with what never seems to be enough sleep, I found myself much more willing to splurge on something that would make me look vastly less Zombie-like.
Enter Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat. I stalked this wonder on Sephora.com, read over the comments, and despite the outpouring of love in those comments I still wasn't sure I shouldn't just run to Target and grab a run-of-the-mill concealer. This confusion ended the moment I tried it out in person. In about 2.5 seconds, I went from looking tired and stressed to appearing rested and glowing. I may still be stressed and tired, but this keeps my face from immediately giving that away. And that, friends, is priceless.
After lots of studying (and a blog hiatus) to tackle a very scary exam, I'm back to talk about a show I am so happy to be finally watching: Once Upon A Time. Yes, I'm turning 28 next week...But I have a feeling that this show will have tons of fashion/hair/makeup inspiration. Also...
Let's forget that poor Ginnifer Goodwin's hair looks like the seven dwarfs were playing in it while she was asleep, and direct your attention to the right of the picture. Yes, that is a mobile of crystal unicorns; if I know anything in this life, it's that my future daughter will have one like that.
Sugar fumes, that is. I don't know why, but whenever I'm facing crunch time at school, I've always turned to candy to get me through. Last December at finals time, it was Gummi Bears. This time the urge to eat solidified sugar while torturing my brain has conveniently coincided with Halloween. Luckily for me, I managed to find the original, small Swedish fish the other day at a bulk candy store. Yes, it's terribly neurotic of me, but I just can't do the giant Swedish fish, which is all they seem to carry at drugstores now. Alas, my little red sugar gems and I have been reunited, and they are carrying me through my final push of studying for my comprehensive exam. Hopefully I'll still fit in my airplane seat in a week and a half when I leave for Germany.
Does anyone else stress eat candy? If so, what's your poison?
My coworkers will sometimes tease me for the fact that one of my desk drawers makes me look like I'm a part-time dry cleaner. However, this collection of drugstore items has come in handy on multiple occasions not just for myself, but said skeptical colleagues. Assemble these items for yourself at work and be confident that you can fix just about any jam that may arise while you're at the office (and possibly make you even more popular than you already are when you're able to help others!)
1. Static Guard - There's nothing worse than taking off your winter coat and having your jersey dress/silky blouse suctioned to your body, the unfortunate victim of static cling. Take your static guard and excuse yourself to the ladies' room, and the garment will lay perfectly instantly. Also good, in a pinch, are dryer sheets. Rub it on the inside of the garment and it has a similar effect.
2. Tide pen - this one seems obvious but you'd be amazed at how many people have had to borrow mine because they lack their own. Coffee/jelly doughnut filling/spaghetti sauce has a very interesting way of leaping onto your clothes right before a big meeting or presentation. Not only does it save embarrassment, however, it saves clothes by attacking the stain immediately. A necessity if you wear light clothing often. They even come in a teeny-tiny size to fit the smallest of purses.
3. Lint roller - I own a very furry dog and so I have lint rollers absolutely everywhere (car, purse, work, everywhere!) I also shed a lot all on my own, so this is a great way to get those stray hairs off of your back and shoulders so that you look pulled-together and professional, not like you picked your shirt up off the floor and donned it without a thought. It also helps if you wear a dark skirt or pants with a light sweater on top and lint starts to migrate.
4. Band-Aids - for the obvious paper cuts, but also to save yourself from those new, fierce shoes that look so great with your pencil skirt. Shoes, like most guys, have to be broken-in, and similarly the process can be quite painful. There are many qualities that make women a great asset at the office - hobbling in new shoes is not one of them. Soothe those blisters with band-aids - just be sure to go for flesh colored ones. I'm all for a fun neon or Hello Kitty band-aid for one's personal life, but a neon bandage peeking out of a Tory Burch power shoe kind of ruins the grown-up effect, no?
5. Clear nail polish - Not only does this help prevent a broken nail from getting any worse (or more painful!) it is also a Godsend when you discover the beginnings of a run in your pantyhose. Before you mock me for the hose, those of us who work in the North East are not going to walk to the bus/metro in 10 degree weather in bare legs. That's just stupidity, and we like to project intelligence at the office. Digression aside, putting some clear nail polish on a run glues the rest of the fibers in place and prevents the tear from going any further until you can get home and tear the torturous nylon off of your body.
Hope this helps! Do any of you have workday stand-bys like these?
With all of the stress surrounding me right now, it's more important than ever to keep doing the little things that make me happy. One of these things is wine, usually paired with some sort of awesome cheese. Tonight, I am having a dinner comprised of water crackers and brie, with sauvignon blanc. Specifically, Brancott Estate sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. This is a great, inexpensive white wine that has a citrus-like acidity that balances so well with creamy brie. Raise a glass, even if you only get a minute to enjoy it!
One of my favorite makeup trends this fall has been the resurgence of red lips. It's one of the fastest ways to take a neutral, borderline-boring outfit and make it pop. It's also great for mornings where you pressed the snooze button one too many times and don't have time to put on a lot of accessories or eye makeup. A quick swipe of neutral eyeshadow, some mascara, and red lipstick and you're good to go!If you're scared to go right for full-on red lipstick, take baby steps. Start with a tinted balm, like Burt's Bees Tinted Balm in Rose. Next, try a stain; Clinique's Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry has impact but is still more sheer. When you're ready for the real deal, one of my favorites is Chanel's Excessive. When graduating to lipstick, make sure to get the right red for your skin. Those with porcelain skin should go for a cherry red, while those with olive or more yellow-toned skin will look great in a tomato red.
I am approximately two months away from graduating with my Masters from Georgetown University - the last two months in what has been a two and a half year odyssey filled with learning, friends, revelations, pain, fun, and stress. I also work a full-time, legit, grown-up job. Suffice it to say, my life is CRAY-ZAY right now!
So tonight, while desperately trying to come up with a fast dinner that didn't arrive at my plate via an automobile with a pizza company sign attached to the roof (ah em, Papa John's, you have my heart) I took comfort in an old friend. An old friend of the frozen-potato-pasta variety. The humble yet also magnificent pierogi. While some may scoff at their simplicity* these Polish pockets of carbohydrates are an unsung hero of the freezer, in my opinion. They keep forever, are ready in the time it takes to boil water (ok maybe 5 minutes more) and can be made into completely different meals. The traditionalist in me will always like them best with butter, sour cream, and onions; however, of late I have been pairing them with chopped fresh dill, and tonight I went with Herbs de Provence. A hot, inexpensive dinner in a few minutes with virtually no work involved that didn't involve an envelope of frightening orange powder**? A salve for my stress-tortured soul.
*None of these people are Polish or from my hometown of Pittsburgh. These people have experienced homemade pierogies, which are vastly superior to the frozen variety but completely undo the whole "fast, easy" concept I was seeking.
** I absolutely refuse to refer to this substance as cheese
This is the start of Simmer and Shine, a blog I intend to devote to two things I spend a lot of time (some would say entirely too much time!) thinking about - style and food. Much more to come after I finally - hopefully! - graduate with my Masters...
