Be Careful What You Wish For ...

Sigh.  That's what I have been telling myself all day.  Cold comfort, but the truth.

You may recall that I have ongoing issues with my hair and various stylists who have cut it.  Though I would love to have luxurious hair, I have very fine hair (thought lots of it), and I am too lazy to fool with it more than is absolutely necessary.  And once the weather gets hot, I can't stand to have it on my neck at all.

A few years ago, I got a cut that I absolutely loved.  I think it might have been one of the best haircuts of my life.  And it was one that apparently everyone else thought was a good one, too, as I always received compliments on it.  Basically, it was a messy pixie - meaning there was no specific part, and I didn't have to blow it dry.

But that place was really out of my way, and kind of a pain to get to, especially in the winter.  And the stylist stopped working on Saturdays, which limited me even more.  So I shopped around.

For the last year or so, I've been going to a place very close to my house.  It's nice, it's in the neighborhood, it's reasonably priced, and I really like my stylist.  She does a good job with cutting, and an awesome job at color.  Everyone in the salon is great.  My only complaint is that I could never get her to cut my hair as short as I'd like.

I ran into an acquaintance about a month ago, who told me that the person at the other place was going to be working on Saturdays in March, filling in for another stylist on maternity leave.  I gave it some thought, and devised a plan which I felt was *such* a good idea (which actually should have been a warning).  I decided to make an appt with her, and then when it was time for a "clean-up" I would go to my current stylist to show her what I meant, and we would all live happily ever after.  I talked to the girl who does appts at the current place, and she said no one would find that a problem, people do it a lot.

You know the result, right?  Well, to add insult to eventual injury, it was POURING this morning, so I had to trudge over in that.  Then the stylist was half an hour late (I was her first appt).  And when all was said and done, I ended up with a slightly longer haircut than a buzz cut.

I'm doing my best to look at the bright side: 1) my hair grows pretty quickly, so it should look at least a little better in a week or so, 2) when I go for my "clean up," it will hopefully be pretty much the way I want it to, so the current stylist will see what I mean, and, 3) it's convinced me once and for all to stay where I am.

In the meantime, I'll live.  But for about the millionth time in my life, a lesson has been learned.  I wish these lessons - once learned about one thing - would apply to all other things, so it would be done in one fell swoop.  But I'm pretty sure that would be too easy, and people would forget, or start ignoring the lessons.

As my sister would say, "White People Problems," and I agree, but I sure wish I didn't have to walk around with this haircut at all, even for another day ...

Lip Solution

Like a lot of people, I get chapped lips during the winter.  Unlike some people, mine get really awful - to the point of bleeding.  I regularly use some kind of lip balm, with varying results.  Some are so temporary, that by the time I leave the room where I applied them, my lips are dried out again!

I really like wearing lipstick, too, so it can be really disappointing to have my icky lips make the lipstick look awful.  Besides cracking and bleeding, at a minimum they start to peel, and the whole thing just looks bad.

Fast forward to a couple of weekends ago, when my niece and her husband asked us to spend the weekend with them at a beach house in Rehoboth Beach.  One of our favorite places to visit while there, is a soap shop called Little Egg Harbor Soap Shop.  First of all, it's a cute shop, and they have really nice, handmade soaps.  We went there last fall when we visited, and by the time we were going this time, the soaps we'd bought then were gone.  So we were really hoping to get some more, and hoping the shop was open in the off-season.

It was, so we were able to get more of the soaps we liked, and try one or two new ones.  But the best thing I bought that day was this little jar:

I bought this as a kind of afterthought, while waiting to check out.  The lady who works there said that it had been very popular, and that she really liked it.  It was $5.00, so I figured, what the heck I'd give it a try.

Wow.  I love this product.  A teeny amount rubbed across your lips not only feels good and even tastes OK, but immediately softens, exfoliates, and conditions your lips.  You wash it off, and your lips feel like you put a really lovely balm on them for about an hour or so afterwards.  All of a sudden, my lips were in good shape, even after only two times using this!  And you need such a small amount for big results, I think I'll have this for a while - so the $5.00 price tag is a good deal!

Little Egg Harbor Soap company has a website here, and the specific link for the lip scrub is here.  Of course, if you are in Rehoboth Beach or any of the other locations, you can buy it in person, while also getting a whiff of their lovely soaps.  But if you need something to help your lips, it may just be worth ordering it and paying for the shipping. 

I, for one, couldn't be happier about the way this works.

Do You Anthropologie?

Do you ever shop at Anthropologie?  I know so many people who are addicted to that place, and truly live for their sales.  I go back and forth - I think a lot of their stuff is way overpriced (at least for my budget) for what it is, and I also think a lot of their stuff is just too much.  Too cool, too perfect - you know what I mean.  But I also like a lot of the things they sell.  I don't go in to the store all that often, so I can't really claim to be an expert.

For reasons that I can't explain, I got a coupon in the mail at the end of February, giving me 15% off on any purchase during the month of March, for my birthday.  As I said, I have no idea why I got it, but I figured it was worth going in to look around and see if I wanted to treat myself to anything.  I saw a few things I really liked, but decided were either too young for me, or just more than I would be willing to spend, for what they were.  I was walking out, and I saw a t-shirt that really struck me.  I took a closer look, and decided that if the price was in any way reasonable, I was going to use my coupon and buy it.  So I did, and here is what it looks like:

Pretty, right?  I love the shade of blue, and the fruit print is fresh, but not too sweet or hipster-y.  With my coupon, it was a price that I was willing to pay.  I like the way it looks on me, and am looking forward to wearing it.  (So of course now we are having a cold spell again!)  When I was checking out, the clerk said, "This is the kind of shirt I can see myself wearing while drinking a margarita."  At which point I really wanted a margarita.  (It was 11:00 a.m.)

So I am very happy with my Anthropologie purchase.  It's nicely made, and even fairly practical, and will be a versatile addition to my wardrobe.  It also made it possible for me to get rid of another shirt from my existing wardrobe that I finally admitted to myself that I would never wear again.  Hopefully someone will want to give it a good home, and think it's beautiful.

I'm not sure when I'll visit Anthropologie again, but I'm happy that I had the coupon to give me a push this time.

The Monthly Review

Do you "review" your makeup regularly?  Well I do, every month.  Yep.  Every month, I wash my makeup brushes* and go through my makeup to decide what has or has not worked.  Sometimes I resurrect things I've put away, and other times I add some new things.  At changes of seasons, I do adjust things like lipstick colors - for instance, really dark colors get put away in spring and summer.  It's all part of my desire for organization, and my low-level OCD.

I recently saw a segment on a TV show about a quick way to do everyday makeup that looked polished and natural.  So of course I became obsessed.  I had a gift certificate to Blue Mercury, and so today on my way home from a dr's appointment, I stopped and treated myself to two eyeshadows that - in theory at least - will work for this "look."  The person who waited on me tried it on me as I had described, and I liked the way it highlighted my eyes without making me look like I was loaded down with eye makeup.  Which let's face it, is not a look I want every day at work.

I bought a Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadow in Suede:

and a regular eyeshadow in Slate:

Now - just for the record, it's not that I spend a lot of time on my makeup on any regular day.  But I am, in the end, lazy and as a result, any way it can be even less time, and still look good, works for me.

Whether this will all really work for me, or passes the test of staying for more than a month, who knows?  But I plan to have some fun trying it, that's for sure!

*Yes, I know I should clean them more frequently.  But it's an improvement for me, since I used to just use them until they were really disgusting, and then throw them away.  Baby steps, people ...

Staying Inside the Lines

I love eye makeup.  I don't wear a lot, but I love it when it makes your eyes look more defined.  And eyeliner is one of my favorites.  I have given up on the idea of ever mastering even the slightest cat-eye, but I keep trying to get it right.  I've tried all versions, with varying success (or lack of).

With powder liner that is slightly dampened, a firm, straight brush, and concentration, I have been able to master the close-to-the-lash line that opens up my eyes without making me look like either a raccoon, or someone who got drunk and went to bed without removing their makeup.

Pencils and I have never been able to be friends.  A makeup artist showed me how to line my inner eyelid, and though I can do that, I end up with bloodshot eyes, which is not something I desire!  So I was skeptical when I read in a magazine about a new product from Smashbox Cosmetics, the Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner.  The tip is sharpened every time you twist the cap to open it for use.  According to the blurb, it allowed for smooth and easy application.

I was intrigued.  So I went to my local Sephora, and they had them.  The next thing was, what color would I try?

(The answer I wanted was ALL OF THEM.  The answer I could afford was one of them.)

I decided to try Penny Lane, a shimmery brown.  It wasn't really too dark, so I figured if I didn't get it just right, it might not look too bizarre.  (Plus, the Beatles fan in me couldn't resist!)

Well, after trying it several times in the past couple of months, I have to say that I love it!  It is easy to apply, so you don't need to keep going over and over the line, and/or pulling on your eyelid, and the tip really is nicely sharp for a slight line.  You could probably also apply more to make a thicker line.  My guess about the particular shade I purchased was correct, so I've been able to get used to it without noticeable mistakes.

Unfortunately, I still cannot afford (nor do I actually need) all of the other colors.  But I do want to get at least one more.

Sorry other pencils, but you are dead to me ...

Falling Down

I wear socks nearly every day.  Even with slacks, I generally wear socks instead of nylon knee-highs, or nothing at all, because a) I get blisters easily, and b) my feet are often cold, especially at this time of year.  As a result, I can be really picky about socks.

For as long as I've been knitting, and for as many pairs of socks that I've knit, up to this point, I've only knit three pairs for myself.  I have a pair on the needles right now that are about 65% finished, but I don't knit that fast to crank them out quickly, so it would take me a long time to have my own hand-knit sock wardrobe.

One thing that drives me nuts is to wear socks that fall down.  It makes me really stabby when that happens!  I've gotten pretty good at being able to tell when I am buying socks which ones will or won't fall down, but there are always times when I fail.  Like recently.

I love Kohl's.  I think they are very nice stores overall, and have good prices.  Plus, they have a lot of sales and coupons, so you can really save on some very nice things.  For instance, I have quite a few cotton tees and turtlenecks from Croft & Barrow, and they not only look nice and feel good when you wear them, but they hold up well after many washings.  The Tim buys a lot of his casual pants there, and wears them to death, but they last a long time before dying.

But even Kohl's carries some things that are fails for me.  Recently, we shopped there, and they were having a sale on their Simply Vera socks.  Now, though I am picky about socks, I am also cheap when it comes to buying them.  I think nothing of paying $24.00 for sock yarn and knitting my own socks.  But I really hate to pay that much when I buy them.   Anyway, they had the Simply Vera socks on sale, plus I had an extra 20% off coupon.  With the coupon, they would be about $5.99 a pair.   So I bought two pairs of the crew socks.

Should you be tempted to try these socks, I have three words for you.  Just. Say. No.  For one thing, they are not very warm.  But then again, I wasn't buying them thinking they would be wonderfully toasty winter socks, though I hoped they would be as warm as "regular" socks are. They were not.  But even worse than that, they immediately started falling down.  As in, I walked out of the bedroom and they were bunched around my ankles!

Now, for whatever reason, I apparently thought that would change as the day went on, and kept them on.  They did not stay up.  At all.  For any length of time.  I even waited a few days to try the second pair, thinking that maybe the first pair was a fluke.  No difference whatsoever.

And so, in my opinion, even on sale, the Simply Vera crew socks are not worth your money.  They seem to be made cheaply and poorly, and I will definitely not be buying them again.

My two cents worth, but if you are picky about socks, I hope this is helpful.

January Recap

I started the year with great ambition.  Honestly, I haven't done much that has been on my list of goals and intentions.  Actually, I haven't done anything yet.

I am not sure why, but January just moved right along without me.  I know a lot of people don't like February, but January is usually hard for me.  Christmas is over, and though I am always planning for the new year, the month of January always makes me feel like I'm on hold or something.  And I guess it just always feels longer since not much happens.  For me at least, it's usually a "clean up" time.  You know, put away the Christmas decorations, get the house back in order, put away the gifts and clean out what is no longer needed.  All of these things need to be done, and in and of themselves they are not difficult for me.  But I think that having it all be part of January makes it seem like the month drags.

On the plus side, I didn't get sick this January, like I have the past two years.  And, we definitely did not have a wimpy month, weather-wise.  I did eat too much, and didn't really exercise at all.  I didn't spend a lot of money on useless things, and I did finish one knitting project and nearly finish another one that has been languishing.

I guess the most frustrating thing is that I just didn't care enough about anything.  Not really depressed, just uninterested.  I did what I absolutely needed to do  - went to work, did laundry, fed us, etc. - but did not feel the desire or the need to make any real effort.

I'm getting a little bit itchy do get a move on some things.  So we'll see if February makes me feel any more like I'm back on track.  I hope it does, because even though I've been uninterested, I've *wished* I was not ...

Having said all of that, it wasn't a terrible month ... it just ... was.