Moody Monday

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Lady 1 or Lady 2?

Hi from NYC!

Tonight I am headed to Broadway and then out on the town.

Tomorrow night is an Alabama Alumni Halloween party and I am either going to be this little lady

or this one

Lucky for me I have both outfits on hand...just gonna depend on my mood I guess.

I'll let ya know what I decide.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Jetsetter

My life is about to get really busy.

In the next two months I am going to be quite the Jetsetter.

This weekend starts it all off by celebrating Halloween in New York City.

Then comes L.A., Memphis, London & Florence for Thanksgiving, Breckenridge, Mobile for a wedding then back to Memphis for Christmas. 

This is going to entail a lot of organization and planning on my part. Hopefully I can get in a few fabulous outfit posts for y'all. Because let's face it, I am hitting 4 major cities that are known for fashion and I will not make a fool of myself. 

How sexy are Louis Vuitton's ads? Like a piece of art.

Confessions of a Product Junkie #2

All-Time Favorites

My apologies everyone for being absent last week . . . the annual bout of allergies hit me hard and I spent way more time rubbing my itchy, watery eyes rather than applying eyeliner (bad for me I know, but my, my did it feel good).

Back to the matter at hand- what I’ve spending my hard earned cash on, and what I’ve been thinking about my purchases.

This week, we’ll visit my all-star list- products that try as I may, can’t be beat. Drumroll please . . . .

In no particular order:

Purity Made Simple by Philosophy

I don’t care how sensitive, oily, make-up clad, redness prone, blotchy, wrinkly, or dry your skin is- this stuff will work. Rub it on your face, rub it on your eyes, bathe in it- you can’t go wrong. Gets all the gunk off your face with none of the nasty side effects. And it works even better when you pair it with ...

Skincare Brush by Clarisonic

Now, this is a splurge- no doubt about it. But here’s the test- get all dolled up, go out, have dinner with your girlfriends, hit up a few hotspots, dance a little, drink a little, shake, shake, shake, then- like you know you should- wash your face before you go to bed. BUT- wash it first like you normally would, then rewash it with the Clarisonic. Trust me, because you’re a bit tipsy, and because this is your first Clarisonic experience, your face will look like this once you see what’s on the brush:

Because all that loveliness that you thought you had washed off with your hands will now be on your brush, and you will realize why that big chunk ‘o change you plopped down for this thing is totally worth it.

Photo Finish Primer by Smashbox

This is another product that I keep trying to find replacements for because it’s not exactly the most budget friendly ($38 for 1 oz.), but I just can’t find anything that works as well. Personally I’m a fan of the green version which is redness correcting, but the texture of this is so amazing that any type you try you’ll love. Your foundation stays on better and longer, and if you live down South and get to fight the daily humidity battle, you’ll find this to be a life-saver. Need proof? Consider the photo below. Lucky for you people, this chick works at a manufacturing plant where it’s totally acceptable to wear boat shoes and no makeup. And to walk around with half your face primed and the other half bare, which is exactly what I did this morning before snapping the photo below.

Bear with me as I’m still working out the details on how to snap “product demonstration” type photos, but believe it or not, I’m standing directly under the middle of the light, and you can see the difference the primer makes when it comes to shine and redness. There’s no foundation on either side of my face, and no other face makeup being used whatsoever.

LashBlast in Very Black by Covergirl

Love DiorShow? Well- meet its $8.99 counterpart. A quick tally reveals that I currently have no fewer than six of these babies permanently stashed in my purse, makeup bag, kitchen, clutch, bedside table, and various other locations that no mascara should ever be, but when it’s this good you’ve just got to keep it handy at all times.

Larger than Life Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte by NARS

Let me just state up front that I take no credit for this little trick I’m about to teach you. Let me also say that this trick only works if you’re running on not enough sleep, have larger under eye circles than you’d like, and can’t seem to cut your wine intake back enough to take the red out of your eyes. If none of these apply to you, no need to read further.

However if any of the above seem to be accurate description of your present state, let me present you with the Nude Eyeliner:

Not only does the left side have a botched eyebrow (Just as a side note, I would not recommend plucking after 3 glasses of Chardonnay), but it’s also benefitting from nude eyeliner applied to the inner lower eyelid. This is a close up view, and to show you what it does from a distance, we’ll return to the primer picture:

It might be a small difference, but I do honestly think this eyeliner helps brighten up your eyes, and when used with the LashBlast, it’s a pretty killer combo. *Note: If you want to use this along with your regular black eyeliner, here’s what I recommend- use the black eyeliner on the inner and outer rims of your top eyelids, and on the outer rim of your bottom eyelids, and use this nude liner on the inner rim of your bottom eyelids, especially on the inner parts of your eye.

Exfolikate by Kate Somerville

I don’t care how beat up your face is looking right now- this will bring you back to baby bottom smooth skin. As a warning, it will sting a bit while you have it on, and if you’re like me and have somewhat sensitive skin, use this at night only as your skin will definitely be red for 30 or so minutes afterwards, but the way your skin will feel makes all the pain bearable.

So there you have it- my top favorites. What are yours? Feel free to leave a comment and share your top product lists!

I also wanted to mention but forgot to last time- please let me know if there are products you’d like to see reviewed . . . chances are if you mention a product I’ve either tried it or have been wanting to try it (and we all know my self-control goes out the window the moment I enter Sephora)- so let me know!



Thanks Erin! You know the Clarisonic has been on my wish list for nearly a year now. Hopefully Santa will be adding that baby to my stocking.

 

Happy Hump Day everyone!

Winner Winner

Seeing that I only have one virtual friend, congrats to Laura on winning the Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run canvas tote.

Laura is the ONLY person that commented to enter the contest.

Guess I am not as poppy as I thought :(

Thank you Laura for taking the time to stop by and comment.

Please email me your address so that I can send you the goods.

 

Moody Monday

Last week I was listening to NPR as they discussed the most relaxing songs.

This one was voted by scientists to be the most relaxing.

That is the second largest aquarium in the world.
And I love aquariums.
Which means I need to go there.
What's your schedule look like?

Pinkwater

(update- this was supposed to post like a week ago...not sure what the heck is going on)

What if that was my last name?

I would like it.

But would everyone expect your favorite color to be pink?

Royce Pinkwater gave me some good lovin to look at in HB this time around.



If you haven't noticed my love for a breakfast nook I'm not sure what to say to you.

But you should know.

The green and the brown scream warm and cozy to me while the floor to ceiling window lets in lots of natural light and the books supply pops of color here and there.

I have been probably less vocal with you about my obsession with built-ins.

I want a room that is nothing but floor to ceiling built-ins. We can discuss this later.

So lets zoom in on this lighting situation

I love this.

Totally not my style but for whatever reason I love this.

Maybe because at first I didn't notice it and then was like "what the heck, that is awesome."

In the next room over Royce gives us a little more girlyness

I don't know how I feel about the chairs....the color doesn't bother me because I like the femininity of the deep lilac but I'd rather have something else. Not sure. Not my house though so I guess it's all good.



Pinkwater, make me a nook please.

Thanks.

Images via House Beautiful (in print)

Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run

Last Tuesday I told y'all that Lucy Adams would be stopping by on her Blog Tour for her new book

Lucy enjoys visiting book clubs and talking with readers. In the following podcast from a visit to a book club in her hometown, she addresses the issue of writing about friends and family members in Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run.

And in case you want another peak before purchasing here, below is an excerpt from the book:

Snapping over Snapple

Regardless of our differences, my husband and I have in common the fact that we can’t drive around the block without stopping at a convenience store for a bottled beverage. And, as it’s my spouse’s chivalrous duty to go in and purchase our drinks, I always request a Snapple, by name. “If they don’t have Snapple,” I add, “get me something like it.”

To my consistent disappointment, he never fulfills my one request. He exits every store, tail tucked between legs, offering me all types, flavors, brands and makes of drinks, but never a Snapple – or anything like it.

Finally, after weeks, months, nay, years, of holding my tongue, last Wednesday, I asked him, “Why don’t you ever buy me a Snapple?”

“Why do you always want a Snapple,” he asked, quite indignantly, as if I was the one at fault.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a Snapple,” I snapped. “As I have said before, any equivalent would do.”

He breathed deeply and glared. Then pointing at the strawberry-kiwimango mixture I held, he exasperatedly challenged, “Drink up. That’s as close as I can get. What do you expect, anyway?”

“Iced tea,” I sharply retorted. “Snapple means iced tea.”

Sighing heavily, he went on to explain that Snapple does not mean, and has never meant, iced tea. First of all, according to my knowledgeable and worldly spouse, tea is only iced if it has ice in it and beverage bottlers don’t put ice in tea. Secondly, Snapple’s main product line consists of fruity drinks. “Iced tea is a hobby,” he declared, “a sideline to garner extra revenues. If Snapple means anything, it means fruit drink.”

I sat in silence picking at the label on the fruity knock-off beverage in my hand.

He continued, saying, “If you want iced tea just say iced tea. I get stressed out every time I go in a store looking for Snapple. I never bring out the right thing and you always look irritated. Snapple means fruit drink. Fruit drink, fruit drink, fruit drink!”

We lapped the block in silence, sipping to ourselves. I made a mental note of his transgression against me and Snapple lovers everywhere.

When we got home, I logged onto the Internet, plugged in Snapple.com, crossed my fingers, closed my eyes, said a prayer, and clicked. The search engine churned.

Then, as big as a cold pitcher of iced tea on an August afternoon, the Snapple home page popped onto my screen. And the headliner product was (drum roll please) . . .

SNAPPLE TEA. SNAPPLE TEA. SNAPPLE TEA.

Hah! I win! 

Oh Lucy, I am pretty sure we have ALL been there.

But really, can you imagine this face getting too cray cray on you? 

Just smile that smile sister.

I received my copy in the mail this past Friday and am so excited to dive on in. Thanks so much Lucy for allowing me to host you and for my copy of Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run.

Don't forget, you can pick up Lucy's book at Amazon here.

Don't think I have forgotten about the Canvas tote she I mentioned for a giveaway. My camera isn't working right now so I will post a pic later but if you are interested in a freebie then do the following:
-follow Cubicle Sanity
-leave a comment, you know what, better yet, leave a comment that includes the word 'panties' without repeating the title of the book

Meanwhile, I will figure out the whole "random number generator" thing so this is all fair. Check back next Tuesday for the winner winner.

Moody Monday

I was watching Wimbledon last week one afternoon when I went home from work sick.

The British accent made my heart melt, per usualy, and the soundtrack had me googling these babes







Feelin Flabby this Friday?

A friend at work sent me this the other day.

We are both training for the half marathon in January and like to make fun of ourselves a fair amount.

I wish I knew what that chunk has in her hand....if it's food then she is probably running away from someone.  I can relate. I am not the best at sharing edible objects. or wine.

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend.

I have a family friend coming in to stay with me all weekend!

Couldn't come at a better time.

Um, can you believe that October is half over?!

Love, Hate, Indifferent?

Pat Healing designed this little number and I just can't choose my feeling towards it...

I love the curtains, bed, headboard.

The wallpaper makes me a bit dizzy and can you imagine if you had the spins?

But then I glance at it real quick and think "hmmrrr. maybe I could dig it...?"

Image via House Beautiful Oct 2011(in print)

Confessions of a Product Junkie

Do I have a prize for y'all or what! 

We are going to be trying something a little special and new on Wednesdays.

My friend Erin is obsessed with products and sister knows her stuff. She has given me more freebees than you could imagine. 

I tried to convince Erin to start her own blog but she responded "baby steps."

So we are going to have her visit us here (hopefully weekly) and give us the scoop on what she is using.

Welcome Erin!!

A couple of weeks ago I went to Sephora. I had been trying out a new skincare line, and while I’m

usually the type to see the bottle through even if I’m not digging the results, I was fed up with the way

my skin was looking, so halfway through the new bottle I abandoned hope and decided to revert to my

tried and true favorites (more on these at a later date).

As I was checking out, I was asked if I had a Beauty Insider card. “Ohhh yeahhh,” I responded, and

handed over that well-worn piece of black plastic. One scan of the barcode and the whole store was

magically transformed- streamers bursting from the ceiling, confetti shooting out from behind the

perfume aisles, the entire hair care section turned into one massive speaker blaring Sexyback (please

release another album asap J. Timberlake), and a throne so grand Queen Nicky Minaj herself would be

envious appeared beneath me. “Well he-llo,” the checkout lady said, “so good to see you.”

My name is Erin, and I am a Product Junkie.

Five minutes later I was walking out of the store, but not before racking up on this:

. . . in freebies. Yes, you read right. Free. No charge. Gratis. And yes- you’re totally on the right track

with your thoughts right now- “how much shit does this chick actually pay for if she’s getting all this for

free??” Which is precisely the thought that was going through Sarah’s mind as she perused the above

freebies in person, and then suggested I put my product addiction to good use and write some reviews

for you lovely people.

So reviews you will get, and I promise to be honest, objective, and hopefully delightfully humorous in my

commentary. And in case you were wondering who I am and if you should even continue reading this

diatribe, I’ve actually made a couple cameo appearances on this here blog.

This is me rafting down the river with Senorita Sarah this summer- no makeup, braided hair to try and

control the curly frizz, and after a little over an hour in the sun, nice and red faced.

This is me out dancing- complete with a straightening iron, spray tan, and eyeliner. See? I clean up

decently.

Both of these pics lead me to 

Successful Product Shopping Tip #1:  Consider the source when reading reviews. 

If you look nothing like me and already have perfect, tan, poreless skin, Sofia Vergara hair, and no imperfections whatsoever, this ain’t the blog post for you.  This point can also be applied when reading reviews on sephora.com (which I highly recommend as my experience has told me that most of the people who work at Sephora are clueless product pushers) – if you’re reading a review about an anti-wrinkle cream and the reviewer is 15 years old, chances are she’s not exactly the target audience for said anti-wrinkle cream.

Successful Product Shopping Tip #2: Give products at least 30 days before issuing judgment. 

I’ve got a face moisturizer that smells like cheap sushi, but let me tell you, it works like magic.  I’ve also tried products that are amazing at first, and yet over time my skin starts to look worse.  Always make a valiant attempt at finishing the entire bottle- you might be surprised at the products that ultimately win and lose.

Successful Product Shopping Tip #3: Sephora will make you samples of anything- take advantage of this. 

After purchasing six bottles of perfume that I ended up hating after I wore it around for a few hours, I finally learned that no matter how too-cool-for-school the 17-year-old Sephora sales girl is, or how much she stares at the fact that you’re wearing boat shoes and weigh 50 pounds more than her, it’s not worth throwing away $75 just because you were too afraid to ask for a sample.  Also- you are under NO obligation to buy a single thing in exchange for your samples.  So when you get the evil eye for doing so, just give them the “I have a real job and you’re hawking eye shadow for minimum wage loser” glare, and they’ll shut right up.

Successful Product Shopping Tip #4: Shop on the weeknights.  

I generally apply this principle to all types of shopping, but it’s especially helpful when it comes to beauty purchases, as anyone who has entered a Sephora on a Saturday afternoon can attest . . . it’s a Turkish bath nightmare.  Hot, crowded, and a hazy fog of weird, at one point might have been perfume smells wafting through the air that will literally make you gag.  Which I have totally done in the middle of a Sephora store. Yep.

Successful Product Shopping Tip #5: Once you find the product of your dreams, quit searching.

He was great- tall, tan, smart, respectful, funny, and all that jazz.  But the way he chewed his food was a bit odd.  And was consistently running 10 minutes late to everything.  It just wasn’t meant to be.  Oh wait? We’re talking mascara? Not boys?  Bottom line: if something works, quit wondering if something else might work better.  It has taken me wayyyyy too many purchase regrets to come to this realization.  The only time you need to go searching for a new product is when one of your favorites gets cancelled and you never got the chance to hoard and buy an entire box of it before it was discontinued.  And yes- you’re absolutely permitted to cry when this happens.  And if you could offer me any advice on how to actually believe the boy part of this statement and not just talk about it, I’d greatly appreciate it. J

So, to the 2 people out there still reading this, I don’t claim to be an expert.  I’m just a junkie, with a deep and abiding addition to all things bottled and beautiful, and these are my confessions.  (Cue Usher.)

Erin is her name,

Products are her game, 

Houston is her hood,

You know it's all good!

Thanks Erin!

Tonight I'll be drinking wine on her couch while watching Revenge and smearing on a new eye cream for her next post. 

Happy Hump Day

Book Tour

Next Tuesday we are so lucky because LucyAdams is stopping by on her Blog Tour to talk to us about her new book 

Mark your calendars because in conjunction with Lucy's visit will be a giveaway of a cute canvas tote. Fist giveaway for Cubicle Sanity. AH!

Moody Monday

I know, I am late. What else is new lately?

Yesterday we drove back from Dallas with some friends and it poured the ENTIRE way.

Natalie downloaded this song because I hadn't heard it yet.

Have y'all heard it?

Thoughts?



Moody Music

Have y'all been watching Revenge?

I have and I am obsessed with this song almost as much as I am with the show.

Do yourself a favor and tune in Wednesday nights at 9pm central time.

I'm headed to New Orleans today for work until Wednesday.
Hope my tummy is ready for all those good eats headed its way.