Spring Time

It is finally starting to get warm consistently!!!  Watch as soon as I say this it'll be cold again...  But on a positive note I just LOVE when the weather starts getting warm :) :) :)  As much as I love the whole four seasons bit, winter is just TOO LONG!

One of my favorite parts about this time of year is going on walks in the neighborhood after work!  Fresh air & exercise are a great remedy for a desk job!  Hopefully these walks will put some COLOR on my legs!  :)

Spring also is a time for new beginnings, I got my hair CHOPPED!  It needed to be done, I have been growing it out for a few years now & only letting my stylist trim it/ shape it.  It is so much more healthy!  It's been a while since I've had more of a blunt cut instead of layers.  Re-learning how to style it, but I love it most days!  Especially with my new straightener!  If you're looking for the best stylist in St. Louis check out Brittny's page: Wear Style Begins.

Goodies

Nothing makes me more excited than coming home to find UPS deliveries :)  Maybe having 3!!!  I almost feel like it's wedding time again :)

My excitement was almost dampened by James seeing all of them when we arrived home from Florida... I got the "why did they get delivered when we were out of town?" talk followed by the "why did you need to order three packages?" talk.  Tell me I need to clean my car & I'll start seeing my dad's face.  Obviously I need better planning next time.  Challenge accepted.

Birchbox !!!
Love me some Birchbox.  This month was themed "little tweaks" to living healthy.  I think my favorite part was a 6 month subscription to Women's Health magazine!  And I'm super excited about the eye cream, for some reason (who am I kidding? let's blame my big veins & thin eye lids) I am having bad dark circles & my favorite Kate Sommerville is on E.  This one is StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate & it's half an ounce.  On the downside, I didn't realize I had to worry about anti-aging hair care products!!!  Now I guess I do after receiving Nexxus Youth Renewal anti-aging elixir.  I can't have old looking hair!!!

Sephora !!
I have been dying to try Wen forever (especially after watching the infomercial James mocked me for recording) and had heard bad things about ordering online (like they sign you up for automatic refills, no thank you) and was excited when I realized Sephora sells it!  Furthering my quest for the perfect dry shampoo I decided to also try Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo.  It got awesome reviews.  I really wanted the Southern Belle Volume mousse because the name was fabulous, but it didn't get good reviews.  Sad day!  I also got some samples I'm excited about, more from Drybar, Origins, Bumble & Bumble.

Silver Superstore !!
I have been dying to get some more things monogrammed around here, when I was drowned by Southern Living's pinterest, magazine, blog, etc. everything Derby I realized that silver mint julep cups were the perfect hand-me-down item to monogram!!!  It is also very difficult to photograph a silver monogrammed cup.  Sigh.

Penelope Love

Penelope is my iPhone's name.  I didn't switch teams :)

Not that appreciating "things" is important in life... but when you are traveling for 12+ hours (and counting) you really appreciate smartphones.  Or at least I do.  Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, folder of all shopping-related emails, Ebay...  Plane delays won't get me down Delta!!!  

Right.  It was miserable.  Thank goodness for distractions!

Saw these fun posts... thought I'd share :)

I love 15% off!!  I really really really want to try Wen, maybe this is the time!!! 

These look HILARIOUS!  I wish I had them at the airport :) 

Oh and James (who usually is accusing me of being too proper / not fun) wouldn't let me take pictures of various "people watching" opportunities at the airport.   Really?  Who's boring now!  Not me, I've seen Law & Order SVU: I know how It works. 

Outlet Mall!

I went on a marathon outlet mall excursion.  It was surprisingly disappointing.  It has been forever since I've been to our outlet mall (thanks work trips to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets!)...  The mall is really going down-hill :(

One of my new budget-friendly techniques is to look for seasonal or non-classic pieces at outlet stores/Target/online sales before I go to a higher end store like J.Crew or Banana.  I figured sun-dresses & sandals for vacation would be a great stop for the outlet mall!  FAIL.  

Usually my MO at the outlet mall is to park by Banana & only visit a few stores all close together (Banana, Gap, Old Navy, Nine West).  However, I did not see anything in the Banana outlet that I liked.  That never, never, never, NEVER happens!  I was starting to get worried.  Ditto to the other usual stores...

I ended up walking around the WHOLE CRAZY outlet mall looking for something to take on vacation.  I think the mall now caters to baby teenagers or big & tall stores with white suits and alligator accessories.

I did manage to salvage the trip by picking up a few accessories at the Marshall's Outlet.  Not quite vacation clothes, but hey you can't come home empty handed!  At least my hair will be pretty for vacation!

1)  Cynthia Rowley sunglasses - $9 !!  
I always prefer to take cheaper sunglasses on vacation in case something happens to them, James hates my Jackie-O style sunglasses, so these were a nice addition.

2) Rusk body and texture amplifier - $8.99 !!
Love me some big hair :)

3) The Body Shop hair butter for colored hair - $3.99 !!
Smells fabulousa!

If buying high-end hair care products at Marshall's is wrong, I don't want to be right.

~ you can quote me

Rock It ~ Return It

I have had some random crazy tooth pain this week, after a trip to the Dentist who punted me to a Neurologist...  I am finally feeling better.   I gladly stopped in at CVS for some vacation goodies :)

(I need to figure out how to take better pictures of products... any tips?)

Ok.... lets rock & roll!

L'Oreal Lineur Intense
in Carbon Black 
I purchased this after seeing a video on MakeupbyTiffanyD (she's fabulous at makeup tutorials & reviews).  She said it was easy to use & featured it in her 5 minute makeup tutorial.  I did not find it easier than your typical liquid liner (I need more practice obviously!).  Although I did like it just as much as my Makeup Forever liquid liner & it is significantly cheaper!  Due to that fact I am glad I purchased it.  Another neat feature is that with light pressure it makes a thin line & with heavy pressure it makes a thicker line.
Verdict ~ ROCK IT!!

Sally Hersberger Glam Waves
Texture Spray
This is one of my old favorites :)  Kinda unfair for "Rock It Return It" but I haven't used it for a while & wanted to make sure I still loved it!  I DO :)  This is the best 'beach spray' that I've ever used.  It is not salty, it is not drying or frizzy, and it is amazing at reviving tired curls.  This is a magic product that creates pretty curls yet has natural oils to make hair soft & pretty.  I love using this on beach vacations.  This was the only hair product I used my entire honeymoon!  Ready for the beach!
Verdict ~ ROCK IT!!

TRESemme Dry Shampoo
Volumizing for Fine Hair
I have been on a massive hunt for the perfect dry shampoo.  This is the best drugstore version I have tried so far.  I like the scent, the size of the bottle & that it helps with volume.  I do want to try it a few more times...
Verdict ~ Undecided

Jergins Natural Glow for Face
for Fair/Medium Skin
If any of you have seen any winter pictures of me, I could be an extra on a zombie movie with my insanely white skin!  I need some color up in my life! :)  This year I have decided to phase tanning beds out of my life & get better at sunless-tanning.  I do like the moisturizer a lot, it has a slight tanning smell but that wears off after 5 minutes.   I did get a spray tan for my vacation after using it 2 days, so cannot yet report on the color progression, but I do plan to use it to keep color on my face.  :)  Is it summer yet?????
Verdict ~ ROCK IT!!

Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit
in Medium 02
I purchased this after the Elf brow kit was not a success for me.  They only have one color at Target & it was too dark for me!  This one was about $7, so twice the Elf price, but in my opinion much more quality & useability.  It comes with two browns for your brows, a highlighter for just under your brows, tweezers, brush & sponge applicator.  I love this kit!  And I'm glad that big bold brows are in (thanks Dad)!
Verdict ~ ROCK IT!!

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm
in Caring Coral
I am so excited about all the coral colors popping up this spring :)  I typically stick to very natural colors, for some reason I am able to venture into coral land easier than bright pinks.  Maybe I still have nightmares about Mamma Kay's bright pink '80's lipstick she used to try to rub on me "Put some color on your face!!"  I digress...  I am NOT a lipstick girl (see previous comments) and prefer balms, sticks, etc.  I am a big fan of the formula that is like a very moisturizing balm & a very pretty color.
Verdict ~ ROCK IT!!


Always fun spending a free day at CVS :)

The Library

Not a college bar.  I am a nerd.  I love libraries!

The one by my house isn't pretty, it's kinda old, with weird lighting.  But I love the idea that I can walk to millions of books! :)  I'm pretty sure this isn't new or exciting, but with online catalogs & reservations I can browse for books when I'm bored at work & they will hold it for me at the front desk :)  That's service!  There are two designated "call to pickup" parking spots out front for the super lazy who can't even walk IN to the library to get their books.

AND the library has DVDs and all sorts of fun other material.  Like every Jillian Michaels DVD!

Where have I been????  How did I forget about the library???

Well thanks to Ms. Ashley I renewed my love with the library & got a fancy new card that fits on my keyring (like the CVS reward cards).

They even have an app where you can read ebooks for free.  Too bad my craigslist nook isn't new enough for apps...


Here were the results of my first few library trips!   For some reason I was drawn to blog/books...

1)  Young House Love by Sherry & John Petersik
This book was very fun & has great ideas.  I love how well it is organized by giving you approximate time & price to complete the projects.  The ideas are super creative!  I am glad I rented this book from the library instead of buying it because some of the projects weren't my style & most of the projects are from their experience of fixing up an older home.  I am not in that situation now, how many projects can I do in my tiny condo???  I found the projects around creating centerpieces or setting tables the most applicable.  If I ever do buy an older home that needs some fixing up this blog/book would be perfect!


2)  Cupcakes and Cashmere by Emily Schuman
This book would be a perfect present for a young lady graduating high school or college.  It was very cute and covered a wide variety of topics.  I found the subject material a little basic (hence the first statement).  For example one of the posts was how to pop a champagne cork.  Really?  I don't know if I'm friends with anyone who doesn't already know this.  Or how to set a basic table.  Really?  I'm pretty sure Mamma Kay had me doing that since I was 6.  The pictures were great & she has a very so-Cal style.  Maybe I'll buy this book for JJ.  The one idea I am planning on using was throwing an Oscar themed party, she had a recipe for fun star sugar cookies that were red & gold!


3) How to Look Expensive by Andrea Pomerantz Lustig
Or "why I spend money on the internet" :)  I really liked this book!  (<-- exclamation point!) She has a wonderful way of making the book relevant.  First she explains four "styles" Park Avenue Pretty (à la Jessica Chastain), Hollywood Boho (à la Rachel Bilson), Glam Globe-Trotter (à la Gisele) & Modern Movie Star (à la Reese Witherspoon).   Each chapter she makes suggestions of what hair, makeup, clothes, etc. based on your style.  The second awesome part of the book is for each chapter she interviews a celebrity expert & asks them how to get the best bang for your buck.  Yep, even the wax lady.  Each chapter ends with her/celebrity info on what looks expensive & what looks cheap.  I felt she was glamorous & still was in the ball park of the line between reasonable/expensive.  Don't you hate those magazines that are all "steals!" $300 skirt!  Yeah right.  Moving on ~ this book I may actually buy.  I don't know if I was blown-away by crazy new information, however this was one awesome encyclopedia to keep handy.  James would love it if I would stop hoarding old editions of InStyle....


Anyways I'm glad I liked these books so much ~ I forgot to return them & had to pay an $11 fine!! Oops :)  I wonder if that's tax-deductible...