Lookin' Good: At-Home Pedicure

As you may have heard, I love a pedicure. But sometimes you just can't make it out to get one or you don't have the cash to make it worth it. Or the couch Is really comfy. Either way, the prospect of going out together your feet prettied isn't always likely. That's why I've whipped up my own at-home recipes and steps to tide you over till you can scrape together the change to get a professional to do the job.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Here's what you'll need product-wise:

sad feet; lemon, salt and oil at the ready!

• Salt
• End of a lemon
• Olive oil or coconut oil
• A bucket, sink or bathtub
• Your favorite lotion
• A yummy pair of old socks

That's the minimum. If you wanna go all-out, you'll need:

• Your favorite foot mask
• A small hard ball, like a golf ball or tennis ball

Ok- you got everything? Let's do this.


First, if you want to, start with a foot mask. All you do is slather it on and wrap your feet in plastic wrap or ziplock bags (this part is a little weird at first, but you get the hang of it. Then you wrap them in a warm towel and watch an episode of Say Yes To The Dress.

"i wanna be a princess..."

If you dont want to/ dont have a foot maks you like, start by taking your lemon half and putting a bit of oil on it. Then sprinkle the grainy sugar on it. Add some more as needed. then, over your tub or sink, use the lemon to scrub the ever-loving crap out of your heels, arches and toes. Really get in there! The acid in the lemon helps break down the dead skin cells, the salt scrubs them away and the oil moisturizes. Once your content with the scrubby goodness, rinse and pat dry those feet.



Now hobble over to the couch.



Take your favorite lotion and warm some up in your hands. I like to rub my feet starting with the arches and gently rubbing each toe and muscle. Once your hands hurt, glob on a layer of lotion and carefully roll on your old socks.

If you want a deeper massage put that hard ball on the floor and roll your foot over it to get th knots out. I like to do this with my socks on. I do it kind of mindlessly while I watch another Say Yes To The Dress or Income Property.

happy, soft feet!

Bam-you have happy, soft feet!And you got caught up on your HGTV and TLC shows. So everyone's a winner.

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My Favorite Things: Lush Body Products

There are two factors in a product that will sell it to me instantly and without hesitation: smell and packaging. That is why I don't let myself near the Benefit store. And why I am not allowed in a Lush store alone or with a credit card. (You heard me gush about their lotion in my this older post.) All of their lotions and potions come in the cutest, cleanest packaging with hand-made looking labels. Between that and the giggle-enducing, mind-calming, unmistakable scent that wafts from the doorway, I'm completely on bored. Add amazing organic ingredient and I'm driving the ship.

I have tried (what feels like literally) every single product on their shelves, and I've come to and important conclusion: I love them all. The bath bombs even make someone as impatient as me like sitting in a bath tub. I can usually only do a 10  minute bath tops before I get bored senseless. But when a Lush bath bomb is involved, I take my sweet time. The prices are higher than I'd like, but the quality and effectiveness make them worth it. These are just the after-bath bits I love; I'm afraid the bath time goodies are going to have to wait for another post. Until then, enjoy smelling, feeling, and looking amazing. 

(Trust me- you will)

Here are the products I love the best and are completely worth the price tag:

Breath of Fresh Air- I like to keep this toner in the fridge and spritz my face when it's hot. It's also a nice way to start your day if you're not a morning person (like me)

Tea Tree Toner Tabs- These are a great little addition to a spa night. After you scrub and before you put on your mask, get a pot of just-boiled water and a tea towel. Drop one of these little nuggets into the water, place the towel over your head and bask in the glorious steam. The tea tree oil in the tabs is incredibly cleansing for your skin, smells great and just makes you feel spa-like. Cucumber water, please!

Dream Cream- LOVE this. It smells and feels like a sunday where you have nothing scheduled and you stay in your pajamas all day reading.   

Volcano Foot Mask- It's a little tricky to use, but I think it's worth it. You slather it on your feet, then wrap them up in plastic wrap (which is a little strange at first, but you get used to it). Then you just sit back and let it soak in for a while. And then the awkward plastic-wrapping process becomes worth it. I don't know how, but it makes your feet tingle, then just relax. You feel the muscles in your feet calm down and unclench. Then, you take off the plastic wrap and rinse or scrub it off. The results? Soft, happy, relaxed feet. 

Stepping Stone- This little foot-sheped nugget is one of my favorite  foot scrubs. It crumbles into little bits and you can just scrub and scrub till your feet are soft again. Its also great for post-beach elbows and knees.

Bewitched- This massage bar smells RIDICULOUS. It has violet, lime and chamomile, which sounds weird at first. But trust me, you smell this and everything is better and sweeter and softer. It also has those yummy knobs to gently coax knots to calm down for a second.  

Shimmy Shimmy- LOVE this. It's basically solid body lotion. You rub it on and the warmth of your body makes it melt just a little. I like to use it before bed so it can soak in all night. Oh yeah- and it's a little bit sparkly. Which is a gimmie for this gal. 

Lustre- I use a little bit of this every day. It's a gold flecked powder with the finest glittery texture. It also smells like jasmine. I use just a touch (thats really all you need) on my shoulders and collar bone, or I put it in my hand with my lotion for my legs and arms. Not gonna lie; it kinda makes me feel like a fairy princess, and I kinda* love feeling like a fairy princess. 

*By kinda I mean REALLY.

Wish List: CHANEL

All I need is a million dollars.
Because then I could slather myself in head-to-toe Chanel products EVERY DAY.

so... pretty....

Until then, I'll just have to pine away from the glow of my computer screen, dreaming of that magical day when I find thousands of bills in the family banana stand.

theres always money in the banana stand.

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.

Wish List: Airplane Essentials

You know how celebrities always have that magical product they love that makes all those long flights better? Well here's my wish list for if I was much fancier when I fly...

origins no puffery; rosebud salve; l'occitane cuticle cream; masque*ology brightening mask; mural oil-control mattifier; hello kitty bag

jcrew cashmere hoodie; jcrew minnie twill pants; hermes scarf; kate spade bon shopper; ipad

I would also like it if Stephen Fry would follow me around in his Jeeves costume and bring me martinis. And be my best friend.

very good, miss... 

Just the best friend part would work too.


(hint hint).