Lookin' Good: Face Masks

There are few things I relish more than a day on the couch with a glass of wine, a good movie and a face mask.

It sounds silly and a little self indulgent, and it is, but I don't mind. I mean, why should a girl turn down a little self indulgence once in a while? 

I like to slather on a mask, plop down for some TV and just SIT. 

Then I wash it all off, take a washcloth with hot water and slap that on my face for a minute, then smooth on some vitamin E cream and call it a day. 

I have some favorite masks. I have combination skin, so mine are mostly in the clean-out-those-pores verity. 

My favorites are Freeman's Clay Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal, Freeman's Anti-Stress Mask, Origin's Clear Improvement and Soap & Glory's Fab Pore (which I talked about here as well- what can I say; I'm a fan!)

What about you guys? What are your favorite masks/ ways to indulge?

Not-Great Habits

So I bite my nails.


Ive stopped a few times for a few months at a time, but sooner or later I start again. They'll be nice and long and elegant, but one day I'll just be sitting watching tv and look down only to find I've absentmindedly bitten off my hard work.



But not this time.

This time, I'm going to make it stick.

A family friend once told me that he's always thought that being your nails means you're afraid to grow up. These words have stuck with me. I think they're true, too. I mean, I'm terrified to be a grown up and avoid it when possible. That doesn't mean I want my hands to look mangled and sad anymore, you know?

So this is the month that it all stops. I'm going to keep them painted and neat, maybe put that gross tasting stuff on them if I need to. Here's my starting point, and by next month I'll have long, healthy nails. Or at least I'm going to try.

What about you? Do you have any habits you're trying to break?

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Lookin' Good: Red Lips

It's winter now.

This means one thing: Red lips time.

Maybe it's the dramatic weather, or the creaminess of my complexion this time of year (due to the lack of sun,) but something about winter makes me long for a red lip. I feel more put together with one.
And pulling out a crimson tube for touch ups is possibly the best part of being a girl.

I have a few favorites.

My favorites are MAC Lipstick in Russian Red, Benefit Benetint Lip Balm and Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick in L'Exquise.

Today is a Chanel kind of day, you know?

Then again... what days aren't?


What's you're favorite winter lipstick?

End-Of-Year Goals

It's almost 2013.


I feel like I should do something-make a calendar, a promise, some kind of pledge; but lets be honest. I'm not exactly Captain Follow-Through (I TOTALLY just figured out next years halloween costume).

I'm not what people might call a self-motivating person. I honestly don't know what truly motivates me. Every form of motivation has worked for about a week at a time. But they all fail.

Observe: Guilt just makes me lie or avoid people, negative reinforcement sends me into a really self-depricating shame spiral, and 'fooling' myself just ends in a complex argument with myself that inevitably ends with marshmallows.

Basically the only thing that works for more than a week is consistent waves of positive reinforcement. The key is it cant come from me. When I say "go team this guy!" I feel (and sound) kind of like an idiot. And no one has the time to follow me around telling me how fantastic I am. I'm not Brad Pitt.




Unless you all have something very important to tell me...






Anyways, I'm bring this up now because, as you may have noticed, its November now- almost December, really. Seeing the leaves change and the weather crisp up makes me think about wrapping things up and new beginnings and all that. And that 2012 is almost over and i better have something to show for it. So I've been thinking about some goals- not overly large ones, but smaller, meatier goals. Goals that can be stepping stones to broader life goals or habits. So here's my little list of things I'd like to do before the end of 2012.



1. Do more yoga. There was a time when I did yoga every day for an hour. It was hard, but it was fantastic. I was a human rubber band, and calmer than I've been maybe ever. I had never been able to clear my head the way they say you're supposed to in meditation and before you go to bed. Somehow though, that year it clicked. For that hour, either my mind would quiet down or it would get so foggy and full of thoughts they would meld into a white noise; either way I felt quiet. Every class I left feeling centered. I miss that. I think that doing just 10 minutes of yoga a day- just yoga, in the quiet with just me- would be nice.

2. Go to the gym at least twice a week. I'm not an active person. I've tries to be a few Ike's but it always ends with me on the couch. I don't enjoy exercising. In fact, I kind of hate it. It frustrates me that the rewards are so hard to achieve; you don't get a six pack and loose 10 pounds in a week. The combination of this and the fact that it's hard and boarding make it really easy to just... Not. But I know I feel so much better when I do get off my butt, and the health benefits are undeniable. So instead of jumping into a big workout plan I will inevitably not be able to keep up with, I'm setting a simple, no-guilt goal: go work out twice a week. With any luck, it'll become a seamless part of my life. Like TV or mascara. But better for me.

3. Eat only vegetables twice a week. I love vegetables, So this one won't be hard. It's just so easy to get in the habit of eating far too much meat and starch and carny goodness this time of year. So going veggie twice a week seems like a good way to break it up and,ale sure I'm not falling into the meat trap and stay feeling vibrant even in February.

4. Moisturize. A lot. I get so dry and crispy feeling this time of year. So I want to take the time to coat myself in lotions and potions. I always feel so lavish and soothed after I just put on some lotion. I have some nice, rich creamy ones that I don't use enough and, well, what time like the present?

5. Take more pictures. I always love looking at photos- two of my most precious possessions are photo albums, one from my parents and one from my grandparents. They're filled with baby pictures and little snapshots. Looking at these reminds me that pictures are so much more than posing for Facebook or composing a flattering angle. But it's more than that- we have several albums in my house filled with pictures from our adventures when we lived in London and traveled around Italy and France. But instead of pictures of the Eiffel tower or the colosseum (which we totally have don't you worry,) these albums are filled with doorknobs, manholes, graffiti, tiles, street signs, hinges, all sorts of little details my parents knew we would never see the likes of anywhere else. It's those details that make exploring so invigorating. Don't get me wrong, I love to see the sights and bask in the big history, but those weird small things are what make your journey so special and your own. I want to remember those little things better and I think this might be a good way to start.

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My Favorite Things: Perfume

I have a thing for smelling good. I hate leaving the house without a spritz of perfume. Perfumes are one of those things that make me feel complete. This is going to sound a tiny bit crazy, but I feel they take a group of garments and turn them into an outfit. They make me showered to clean and ready. They take me from awake to alive.


I really love perfume.
I wasn't kidding.

And I've gathered quite the collection over the years.

My relationship with perfume is a long one. So here it is.

me, loving one perfume best 

When I first started wearing perfumes every day, I started with the sweet, fruity ones like Ralph by Ralph Lauren. That one stuck for years; I was very into the signature scent school of thought. Like Belle in Beauty and the Beast when the shopkeepers like "girl, you've read that book!" and she's all "I don't care. Im gonna read it again."


That's right; I'm Belle in this story.

there are other perfumes? say WHAT

Later, I switched it up with florals when I discovered Stella by Stella Mccartney. I was extraordinarily loyal to my Stella, and still am in my heart. I still have a few bottles of Stella and Stella Fresh which I use regularly.

HELLS YES.

Then, about three years ago now, I realized something: by sticking to only one perfume, I was missing out on a myriad of scents. I could be wafting about smelling completely different and yet entirely like myself every day. Suddenly the walls of Sephora weren't just a shimmering collection of lights and glass, but a library of possibilities. I felt like Belle when Beast is all "here's a whole ton of books (ps please love me)" and she's all "What the WHAT? Awesome." Then she gives herself a mental high five.

Anyways, I became a woman of many perfumes. Not surprisingly, my collection expanded fairly quickly. After looking at them for a moment, I realized that I had, once again, fallen into a particular type of perfume: French, classic, and sexy. You might say that my perfume collection has matured as I have matured. Or you can say I have a weakness for Chanel. You would be right on either count.

Either way, my favorites right now are all have a crisp, old-world feel to them. On my nightstand, where they live, I have Eau de Fleures Néroli by Chloé, Chanel Allure, Coco Mademoiselle and it's predecessor, Coco, Love, Chloé by Chloé, and the recently rejuvenated classic Chanel No. 19 Poudré. I love them all for their subtlety and playfulness, their familiarity and  substantiality, but most of all for their sense of self.

Basically, I love them because they are everything a good book is.


And isn't that what all good perfumes should be?

So now you know my favorites, what are some of yours?

Inspiration: Lacy Things

I love lingerie.
It's my favorite thing to buy.
By far.

However, buying really pretty and fantastic lacy bras and matching undies (I hate the word 'panties') is not exactly possible on a post-grad budget. But, thanks to the internet, I can fill fake carts and leave them stranded in the middle of the store, minus the guilt. (Note: anyone who has done this in a real store will know the cold flash of guilt that trickles down your back when you do this. The glares from the clerks as they watch you slink out the door will amplify this feeling).

To be fair, my collection is fairly extensive. But theres always room for more... Right?

Lookin' Good: Products!

I love products.
I just... love them.
Sephora is my happy place.
Seriously, I get really quiet and calm among the creamy pots and tubes, the soft bristles, the wafts of scents. You know that scene in Amelie when she sticks her hand in the barrel of grains? Sephora is my barrel of grains. It's like yoga without any sweating.
Anywho, over the past decade, I have tested and futzed and perfected my skincare routine. So here are my favorites:

The Tools
My Clerisonic: Love it. It's an investment, for sure, but it's been 100% worth it. I'm an exfoliating enthusiast, so having a brush that lets me feel scrubbed and buffed every day is heavenly. And it makes me feel fancy, which is always a plus.

My Eyelash Curler: I used to have one of those fancy-pants Shu Uemura eyelash curers, but it always pinched my eyes. So I grabbed this one at some Walgreens or Target or something for $4 and it works GREAT. I do pine for one of the Chanel ones- I'm such a sucker for those C's.


The Lotions
I don't have skin that looks dry, but it is. It's that horrible itchy dry that plagues you in the middle of a meeting or when you're wearing tight jeans. I'v invested in the $40 tiny, super fancy bottles of lotion with very little success. But I found three me-priced ones that I LOVE:

Vitamin E Cream: I get the huge tubs at the drugstore. After I shower I slather it on and let it soak in. My skin sucks it up like halloween candy.

That Nivea Q10 Stuff: the firming lotions don't actually firm much up. All they really do is moisturize your skin so it plumps up and LOOKS firmer. So I guess it does work. I love this one because it smells great, soaks in nicely and laaaaasts.

Lush Sympathy for the Skin: It smells amazing. It lasts all day. It comes in a pretty tub. SOLD.

The Face Routine

My skin is... temperamental. It doesn't like moisturizers or most face washes. But it does love the proactive stuff, so I go with it and use that three piece kit thingy. In addition, I've found my favorite little bits:

Soap & Glory the Fab Pore: obSESSED with this stuff. you only need a little bit. You rub it in, then do the dishes or sort the laundry and scrub it off. The result is glory happy clean clean clean skin.

Origins Modern Friction: The best exfoliator, period. And I have actually tried them all. I got this one from my cousin two or three years ago and I've never looked back. You only need a teeny bit, and you can make it more gentle with a touch of water. I like to scuba it on and then go to town with my Clerisonic. Afterwards, my skin is so soft and glows like a happy baby.

Biore Nose Strips: Love these things. Is there anything more satisfying than pulling these things off and being grossed out by them? I say no.

Eye Cream: I get a little tub of the Eucerin cream once a year and use it under my eyes at night. Then in the morning I use Cinique All About Eyes Rich. Between the two, my makeup slides on nicely and my skin feels happy.

Happy Belly: Poached Eggs

I'm pretty sure eggs are the best food in the world.

And I'm pretty sure poached eggs are the best eggs in the world.

Think about it: poached eggs are creamy but cooked, gooey but manageable, soft yoked but not fried so they're good for you. It really is the best of all eggs.

I will put poached eggs on... Well, anything I suppose. I put them on soup, salad, sandwiches, most meats, any carbs... Just about anything. The trouble is that they can be very tricky to do right-  so easily can one find a whisky, stringy mess staring back at you from the pot of lightly bubbling water. Is there anything more sad and disappointing when all you want is an egg?

Well, the Mama Cravens has found the solution: poach pods.

I know, I'm just as skeptical of anything with "pod" in the title. But these are magical.
They've simplified the process of poaching an egg to boiling the water, spraying the pods with pam, cracking eggs into them, and putting them in the boiling water. A few minutes later, you come back to beautiful, happy, shiny little eggs glinting back at you cheerily.

So what does one do with that time? If you're me, (which I am,) then you put one of those laughing cow cheese wedges on toast, put the eggs on, crush some salt, pepper and flax seed on, and go to town.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some eggs to eat.
Or twelve.

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Lookin' Good: Mascara

I have big eyes, which is great. I love playing them up, which is even greater. My favorite way is to go dramatic with the lashes. I always have something on my lashes, even if I skip the rest of my makeup. It's amazing
My go-to is mascara, but there's a lot to be said for a set of false lashes. Here are my favorites and some tips:

Mascaras:
Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion: My everyday mascara. I love this one because it coats your lashes but isn't too heavy so it doesn't ruin your curl. It adds tons of volume- my favorite- and comes in a nice inky black. It's also hard to beat the price, so replacing it every three months (which you should definitely be doing,) isn't a problem.



Benefit Bad Gal Lash: This one is defiantly gives me my favorite look. The downside of having such intensity and drama is that, at the end of the day, it's stubborn as hell. It's pretty much impossible not to wake up with some raccoon action. The price also makes this one more of a reach, but if you can swing it and are better about washing your face when you get home than I am, it's a winner. 


Tips:

• Blast your eyelash curler with your blow dryer for a couple seconds, then use it to curl your lashes while it's still warm. 
• When applying mascara, be sure to start as close to your eye as possible. 
• As you move the wand up the lashes, wiggle it back and forth to coat all sides of the lashes. 
• Flip the wand so it's perpendicular to your lashes to get the outer corners.
• Don't let your mascara dry all the way between coats- that leads to clumps!
• Instead of an eyelash comb, wipe off your mascara wand on a tissue and use that to separate your lashes and get rid of any clumps 

Then, you just bat those lashes to your hearts content. Happy fluttering!