A Peek Inside

January 27, 2010 9 comments »

I am on a never ending quest to simplify and downsize my makeup bag.  I used to have a Caboodle the size of a small country slammed full with glamorous goodness.  Of course, I used to have what some might call “the hook up”– I worked at the corporate level for a regional department store chain in the cosmetics area.  I was in no way a cosmetic VIP, but some vendors with very big labels did not underestimate the power of the resident bean counter and gave me stuff.  99% of that bounty is long-gone, and now I’m left with this:

makeup bag
My collection is so much leaner than it used to be, but my desire is to have a small bag with only my tried and true favorites.  Currently, my contents can be divided into three categories.

Here to stay:
L’Oreal  Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner Pencils in Brown & Gray
Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil in Light Blonde
L’Oreal Bare Naturale Concealor in Fair/Light (This isn’t my favorite for under-eye use, but it is a must for blemishes!)
Chanel Irreelle Blush in Mystery (Leftover freebie.  Not even sold anymore. Will take me a sweet forever to use it all.)
Tweezerman tweezers in Pink
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Just Trying Out:
Complexion Perfection Kit by Smashbox (The mineral powder foundation and the concealor I was using just were not cutting it, so I splurged on the on this collection of trial sizes.  So far, so good.  Actually, I might madly in love with the primer.  The only problem is that I traded two products–mineral powder & concealer for four–primer, foundation, concealer, & powder.  That’s not exactly simplifying.
Ulta Professional Radiant Lift Concealer (This is a highlighter, not a concealer, and, as the associate told me, is a must for my tired mama eyes.  I didn’t want him to be right.  I didn’t want to add another weapon to my arsenal, but I can tell a huge difference.)

When It’s Gone, It’s Gone:
pixi Eye Beauty Kit in Miracle Velveteen (Discontined palette – I got 75% off!)
Bobbi Brown Mini Foundation Stick in Porcelain (Hated it as foundation, but it makes a tolerable eyeshadow base.)
Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara in Brownish Black (It’s ok, you can read more of my thoughts here.)

I also keep a massive powder brush, concealer brush, eyebrow brush, three eyeshadow brushes (all-over, angled shaper, small structured one for my arches), a kabuki brush, and an old toothbrush (for my lashes) handy.  I have an embarrassingly large number of makeup brushes, but don’t have need for them everyday, so they stay in the bathroom.

So you’ve seen mine.  Want to peek inside the makeup bags of others?  Head over to Chic Critique and see.

Monday Must-Reads

January 25, 2010 2 comments »

Saving With Purpose:  Short Term Goals @ Frugal Dad
I simply cannot wait to sit down with HH and put together a list like this for our family.  (And, if you are a budget nerd, like me, read through the comments– numbers and alternative scenarios aplenty!  Squeeee!)

5 Creative Ways to Upsize Your Life by Downsizing @ Marc and Angel Hack Life
After four months of living in my parents’ house that is filled to brim overflowing with stuff, the idea of downsizing–REALLY downsizing– is very appealing to me.  Also, considering we’ve survived with 95% of our possessions in a storage unit for almost four months, it also seems very doable.  That excites me to no end!

And the tweet that’s really sticking with me from @WayneLiew. To give credit where credit is due, it was retweeted by @magnetsfast, a fellow Birminghamian.

Ahhh…Minty Fresh (Price Update)

January 21, 2010 5 comments »

Mint is one of my most favorite scents.  I may be just a little obsessed with it.  Aveda makes my most favorite mint-scented body products, but in recent years I’ve become what some refer to as [VERY] price-sensitive and I don’t fork over double digits for soap.  You can imagine I was so very stoked to see in this post over at Chic Critique (one of my favorite blogs, btw) about the 365 Line of body products available at Whole Foods Market.  I quickly made way over to our Whole Foods and picked up a bottle of the shower gel in Herbal Mint.  Oh yum! is all I can say.  It smells lovely.  Even more lovely than the scent– the price tag:  $3.99* for a 16oz bottle.  FOUR DOLLARS*, PEOPLE.  (And, if you take your own shopping bag, you get a 15 cent credit to your transaction!)  I love the fact that it’s paraben-free, too.  I even picked up the Unscented shower gel and lotion for the kids. Turns out, they frown upon smelling like a stick of gum.  If that’s the case for you, too, in addition to the Herbal Mint and the Unscented, the line is available in two other scents:  Citrus Grapefruit and Lavendar.  The only drawback, for me, is that it’s not super lathery, but stacked against “smells good”, “cheap”, and “green”, I can deal with it. 

I love this stuff.  You can see more things that people love over at The Diaper Diaries.

 

Disclaimer:  No product and/or compensation was received in exchange for this post.  Bought it.  Love it.  Want to tell others about it.  Simple.

*Edited to add:  I was going through receipts this morning and realized that I had the price wrong.  The price was actually $2.99!!!  Wow!

Fifty-Two New, Week Three: New Duds

4 comments »

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This week may be the easiest new thing ever.  My friend, Courtney, made new shirts for Bug and me.  Bug got her initial (obviously, not a ‘B’) and I got a cross. 

 (Sorry for the lack of faces.  You know, that Bug-girl is so unphotogenic.  **Cough**)

Did you try something new this week?  If so, link up below.   (If you don’t mind, use the format “Name or Blog Name (New Thing)” — if that makes sense.  My MckLinkys have been getting spammed).

Wif You?

January 19, 2010 10 comments »

As I bent over to kiss Bug goodbye this morning before leaving for work, this sweet little face looked up at me and asked,

 ”Wif you?”

I’m quitting tomorrow.

Change in Programming

No comments »

Don’t go all Conan – Jay Leno on me, but I’m moving my Fifty-Two New posts to Thursdays.  If you’ve got a Week Two post, you can linky up by clicking here (even if that’s where you linked your first week’s post). 

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A new post (and new MckLinky) will be up on Thursday and will stay open all week long for your third Fifty-Two New posts!

What About the Shoes?

January 14, 2010 7 comments »

I was reading back over some of my posts, trying to take in Will Blog for Shoes as a whole.  I realized that it really is one big misnomer.  I wonder how many folks wind up here in hopes of seeing some really kick-butt shoes and leave, sorely disappointed at all the nonshoe-ness of it all.

The truth is I just don’t really buy myself shoes anymore.  And when I do, they are far from fabulous.  The last shoes I bought for myself were these Target beauties.vlasta

I bought them back in September and have worn them every day since.  They’ve held up nicely for being so inexpensive.  The metallic makes me feel a little sassy, too.

Of course last week, I bought THREE pair of shoes.  Yeah. T-H-R-E-E.  Unfortunately, you won’t see me sporting any of them.

First of all, a certain three year-old has been begging for rain boots for over a year.  BEGGING.  So, I periodically peruse the rain boot section of my fave online shops.  These popped up last week on the exact same day that said three year-old proclaimed that he wanted to dress up as a tiger for Circus Day at school.  (I also had a $15 credit that I WON back in August!)
tiger bootFerocious, no?

Then, of course, my sweet baby girl received two of the cutest dresses EVER from her Grammy for Christmas.  They are that beautiful powdery teal blue and chocolate.  One even has a gorgeous pair of coordinating tights.   Perfect justification to add a brown pair of shoes to Bug’s repertoire (that currently only includes black patent mary janes & pink New Balances–both of which are snug on her pudgy feet).  Plus, I had a $25 gift certificate THAT I WON in a Twitter contest a few months ago. So, I dropped a cool $14 on these:
willitsI LURVE classic little girl shoes!

Last, but certainly not least. HH’s brown loafers bit the dust MANY moons ago.  I’ve sent him MANY links to some good deals on cool loafers, but he ALWAYS finds something wrong with them.  Finally, thanks to a Shop It To Me alert, I found these uber marked down.

punchualGuess what?  They look identical to almost every link I’ve sent him!

So, while I’ve not been on the cutting edge of fabulous shoes in some time, I am doing my part to keep the shoe industry going.

So, I won’t be changing the name just yet.

Fifty-Two New, Week Two: Lashing Out

January 12, 2010 6 comments »

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In dire need of mascara, I ran into Ulta to pick up my go-to,  L’Oreal Telescopic.  As I was perusing the L’Oreal section for a few more things, I overheard an associate tell a customer that Maybelline eye products were Buy 2, Get 2 Free (as were the L’Oreal eye products).  I quickly hopped over a few feet, hoping to snag four of my much loved, but ever-elusive Define-A-Brow in Lt. Blonde. Of course, there was only one on the shelf.  The associate that was restocking the area found one more in the last box she was unpacking.  That covered the Buy 2 part of the deal, but what about the Get 2.  Never one to let a bargain pass me by, I picked up a couple new Maybelline mascaras to try.  (Of course, I did forget to put my L’Oreal back, and, thus, am 100%, A+, full-to-the-brim stocked in the mascara department right now).

Here’s the first one I broke out.

The formula is good–not too thick, not too thin.  There was no clumping (can I get a WOOT?!) and I immediately noticed the extra volume.  The brush is average in size.  It’s much thicker than my Telescopic (which, if you’ve ever used, you’ll know it is VERY VERY thin and takes some time to master), but it’s smaller and much easier to handle than, say, CG’s Lash Blast.  Best of all, it lasted all day.

Here’s the result:

(Do not be distracted by the crookedness.  I’d like to blame the photo.  Unfortunately, I am, indeed, crooked– crooked nose, crooked eyes, crooked eyebrows.)

All crookedness aside, it’s a really really good product for the price (it retails for $7.79 at Ulta).  While the formula just feels a smidge cheaper than my beloved L’Oreal, I’m definitely adding to my list of acceptable substitutions in an emergency out-of-stock or super-duper sale. (What?  You don’t have one of those lists?  You so should.)

So, what did you try this week? MckLinky up!

Fifty-Two New, Week One: The Part

January 5, 2010 7 comments »

Subtitle:  Be prepared for all sorts of lameness.

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My friend, Courtney, sent me a delish sounding recipe to start off my 52 New project.  Unfortunately, the whole cooking in my mama’s kitchen thing doesn’t work out so well for me.  Don’t ask.  Let’s just say that Hamburger Helper has been burned.  By me, let me clarify– my mother is still a culinary goddess.

So what to do new?  What exciting thing is waiting to be tried?  What will start this project off with a bang?

My hair is parted on the left.

I know what you’re thinking… setting the bar so high on week one will surely set me up for failure.  I’ll just have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

In all honesty, parting on my left side wasn’t exactly planned.  I may or may not be trying to cover up a spot I missed while touching up my roots on Saturday.

But, whatever.

Pictures? Almost.  Turns out they looked exactly the same and I got confused as to which was before and which was after.  Plus, I have a zit.

As a life-long right parter, I’ve had some difficulty adjusting.  I think my nose may look bigger and more pointy (as if that were even possible).  Also, it seems to create an almost vertigo-like sensation when I go to tuck my hair behind my right ear, as is my habit.

There are some ups too.  My hair has a little more volume and it’s seems smidge shinier.

Am I conquer-the-world ready?

Um, no.  But it’s only week one.

For my local peeps, the gals at BirminghamMommy and Birmingham Bargain Mom are joining in too.  You can head over there to see what they’re up to this week.  You can also leave your link on their posts so other local gals can see what your up to.

Also, if you’re on twitter, you can use the hastag #52newthings when you tweet about it.

Not all my peeps are local, so leave a link here too! I can’t wait to read what you’re doing.  We all need some ideas and inspiration!

Moving On…

January 2, 2010 10 comments »

2009 wasn’t banner for the Shoe house.  I think we’ve established that.

My posts, though sporadic, have been more of a therapeutic outlet for me than really entertainment for anyone else (and I’m sure if I looked at blog stats, they’d confirm it).  Not every one of them has been house-related, but having this place to post whatever, whenever has felt really good.  Unfortunately, I think my posts are coming off as a smidge whiney.  And, really, whiney is so not where I am.  Mad? Yes.  Put out? Often.  I think the length of and the sheer absurdity of our ordeal maybe just begs sympathy, though.  So, I think I’ll take a cue from my real life and just quit talking about it here as well.

Of course, when I do move into a house, be prepared.  I may just blog the unpacking of each box.  I am that excited about seeing all of my stuff again.

What I have now is a very exciting year before me.  I feel weird typing that though.  I’m not exactly known as Mrs. Positive.  Enthusiasm isn’t exactly my thing either.  But I made a few resolutions.  They are nothing earth-shattering.  They are just resolutions that will  be fun to keep.

Here they are:

1.  Wear lipstick.  Everywhere. Everyday. This was sparked by a quick glance at all of the pictures in which I was tagged on Facebook.  No lipstick.  Never.  Paleface needs color.  And Paleface likes the Ulta.  Oh yes she does.

2.  Don’t miss a birthday card. I used to be so good to send cards to all of our friends and family.  It just seems that since the kids take up so much of the focus, I was missing birthdays left and right.  And once you’ve missed one person’s birthday, it just seemed inappropriate to send on to his or her spouse on their birthday.  It just kind of snowballed and with the exception of my immediate family, I’ve let most birthdays slide by.  This year, I’ll send cards… even if they’re belated.  (Paleface happens to like the stationary aisle at Target, too!)

And the biggie…

3.  Try something new every week.  How neat is that?  I totally can’t take credit for the idea.  I got it from a Facebook post by Birmingham Bargain Mom, Christie Dedman.  (Stop right now & go follow her on Twitter.)  But can you imagine — at the end of 2010, I’ll be able to say that I’ve tried 52 new things.  New recipes, new beauty products, new stores, new routes to work… the possibilities are endless!  Even cooler, a real-life/twitter friend, Courtney, is helping me out.  She’s already sent me a new recipe for this week!

Wouldn’t it be even cooler if I blogged my new thing each week?  Yeah, a little regular posting wouldn’t be so bad, huh?  Anyone else want to hop in on the fun?  Maybe a McLinky each week to link up to?  I happen to know that one of my fave people in the whole. entire. universe., Mary R. Snyder, is doing this as well.  (Are you going to blog your new stuff, Mary?  You should!)

Happy 2010 folks!