We've moved!

I'm trying out typepad - so please go to www.prettyplease.typepad.com to check out our new site. I'm going to keep making improvements to the design so let me know what you think!

Look Good - Feel Good

I am a firm believer in the "look good, feel good" philosophy. Wearing something that makes me feel extra spiffy really adjusts my mood and gives me added confidence - especially on days when I have important meetings and don't really feel like I belong there. Lately, my favorite "look good" item is my dress from Banana Republic that I blogged about before but I also have a pretty awesome new belted top that makes me feel at the top of my game. What are your favorite "look good" items?

By the way, I'm wearing my new red patent leather pumps today...and I feel pretty dang snazzy.

What's With All the Ugly?

I went shopping yesterday and stopped by the BP section (Juniors) at Nordstroms and kept thinking to myself "everything here is a damn mess!" (excuse the language, but it is necessary!). This whole "back to the sixties" thing bought us some cuteness - the mod dress, the high boots. But what is with all the ugly patterns? It's not even attractive - my dad calls attractive people "easy on the eyes" and these tops and dresses definitely were not. Here are some of the worst offenders (also brought to you by Reference):

Ew.

What the....?

It's almost like a Christmas sweater dress.

Recently, I have been totally turned off by these kinds of clothes and find myself lusting after Banana Republic fall collective - so chic and yummy. I just ordered this gorgeous dress that I can't wait to arrive. Isn't this so much better than all that sixties craziness?

Keep it Simple

Sometimes something doesn't have to be the latest and greatest to be one of the best products out there. Case in point: The Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (usually costs all of 4 bucks at any drug store). This stuff has been around for AGES and it's just the best deep cleaning, pore-shrinking mask out there, in my humble opinion. Whether or not acne is an issue for you, this mask is great for tightening up your pores and refreshing your skin. I've been using this since freshman year of college -somewhere between once a month and once a week and I just love it and HIGHLY recommend it.

On a side note - can I just say that my amazing husband designed and printed notepads for me for my birthday that match the colors of this blog and include the website address on the bottom. How sweet is he? He says that he's proud I'm writing, even if it is about all things pretty.

Quality Versus Quantity

I have a lot of clothes. A lot. My college roommate was pretty shocked by the amount I brought in freshman year - and ever since my roommates have been a little taken aback by the sheer volume of options I bring with me. However - I probably don't consistently (or even ever) wear 75% of what I own. Pathetic, huh? I tend to get into a bit of a frenzy when I shop and make some bad choices just because there might be some aspect to the shirt or pants that I like and I figure I'll just deal with what I don't like about it. The problem is that I typically don't wear the "problem" clothes at all and rely on a small number of staple pieces that I really love. I've decided that I need to become a more critical and savvy shopper. If I'm going to buy something, there needs to be a good reason and I'd better LOVE it - because seriously, otherwise, it might never leave my closet.


So, this week, I spent more money than I usually would on a dress that I absolutely love from Banana Republic. I didn't even think it would look good on me but I tried it anyway, and it's just great. It's surprisingly flattering on my "guitar" shaped frame - I thought a lot about the fit and it's great - comes in at the waist but floats away instead of clinging to my hips. And I love the little sleeves and the neckline. It's perfect for fancier days at work - like board meetings or Amethyst Ball committee meetings, days when I need to look extra sharp. And I feel so confident in it. Now, this dress wiped out about half of my clothing budget for the month, but it's worth buying this one great piece, than five pieces I might never wear but give me that shopping high. NOTE: Now, if I was extra savvy like some of my friends, I would wait until the dress went on sale and then still have the dough for other things...but hey, one step at a time!

The New Man in My Life - Oscar Blandi

Shh, don't tell Chris. Oh don't worry, the new man in my life is just a hair stylist who I've never met...but his products are really doing a number on my hair...in a good way! I just realized that I've started quite the collection of Oscar Blandi products - and decided to learn a little about the man behind the gorgeous hair. Apparently he's Italian and always uses ingredients that remind him of Italy in his products - like Jasmine Oil and Eucalyptus (I didn't know those were particularly Italian). Anyway, I love his stuff and since Sephora's return policy has bolstered my confidence about trying new things, I've accumulated quite a few items from his line (the problem is that they are so good I don't return them!).

First of all, there's the dry shampoo. We've talked about it before...it's magic.

Before I discovered the dry shampoo I got the "Trattamento al Fango" (I'm getting so Italian) - it's a marine mud mask...for your hair. I use it as a deep conditioner about once a week and first of all - I'd just use it because it's amazing smell - but it also revitalizes my poor fried ends.

Next I tried the Proteine di Jasmine Protein Mist for Restyling Hair - this is great for the days I don't wash my hair, I use the dry shampoo on the roots and the restyling mist on the ends and it seems to protect the ends from the additional damage of getting flat ironed again and freshens everything up. No one liked stale hair.

Last night I picked up the Jasmine Oil Hair Serum - the stuff is great! I put it on the length of my hair and put my mousse on the roots and it just smoothes everything out, protects it when I'm styling it and leaves it so soft and manageble all day. The stuff is dang expensive but since I used literally three drops today, I think it'll last a long time. Gosh, I've bought a lot of hair stuff lately. At least I'm spreading it out over like 6 months. Anyway, next time you're ready to try a new hair product and spend a little more - go to Sephora and check out their Oscar Blandi selection. And hey, if you don't like it, you can always take it back!

Something New - Urban Decay Eyeshadow

Last night I made my long-awaited trip to Sephora. Usually I get a little self-conscious and just grab something I need and get out (paying for it first, of course). Last night, I made myself take my time and explore because I'd promised myself that I would get some different looking eye shadow. I pride myself on my ability to apply shadow to create a subtle work look or turn it up a notch for a wedding - but in general, I'm pretty boring with my eyes. The colors I use? Browns...sometimes blacks for a smokey eye. Something bright for highlights. That's all. So last night I decided that I needed to get something different - have a little fun and maybe get something a little more summery for a change. I spent a long time trying Benefit cream eyeshadows but wasn't thrilled with the colors and cream shadows sometimes get really creasy on me (although I have their shadow in Skinny Jeans - a dark, shimmery gray which I love). I ended up falling in love with Urbay Decay's eyeshadows. Now, these shadows are legendary - a lot of women swear by them, but I'd never tried them out.

WELL - the colors are beautiful! If I had enough money, and I sure don't, I'd buy the whole lot of them. They are so pigmented and shimmery and...different. And you can really build the color the way you want to and they don't crease! I had a hard time making my selections and ended up choosing MidNight Cowgirl - a golden beige with gold micro shimmer (according to sephora.com) and YDK - Bronzed Mocha with golden shimmer. I haven't worn anything with gold in it for a long time - I tend to go for the cooler shades, but these are gorgeous and different. They can be worn in the same places as my brown shadows and have similar effects regarding shading, but they are just more interesting! And my gosh, Urban Decay has about a hundred shades of eye shadow - I can't wait to save up and get more!

As Requested - The Three Beauty Products I Won't Go Without

As requested by a good friend, I will now tell you all about the three beauty products I won't go without (she asked for the products I can't live without, but I'm trying to show my depth by saying that I can live without makeup and beauty products...yeah right). :)

Anyway, these are obviously my preferences based on my beauty needs. First, Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Black/Brown. I have tried a lot of eyeliner in my time (my eyes are deep set and kind of get lost without eyeliner, I think) and this is by far the best in that the pencil is soft and doesn't tug, but also stays put really well. I have had some bad experiences with liner that goes on well but then 20 minutes later it's all over my eyelid.

Next: undereye concealer. Now, this I need your help with. I think that concealer is CRUCIAL for opening up my eye area and making my whole face look awake. However, I'm still working on finding the perfect one. My usual problems? Either the concealor is too orangey and doesn't really brighten the area OR (and this is the big-y) it becomes a weird consistency and either settles into the really fine lines under my eyes (making me suddenly look older and tired) or get's kind of grainy and cakey and looks super weird. I'm still on the hunt for a concealer that's a nice light hue but the right smooth consistency. I've tried a lot and thought I found the right one but was sadly mistaken - Boing by Benefit - too orange, Revlon New Complexion Concealer (been trying to make this work but it makes me look all grainy), Lemon Aid by Benefit (it's for your eyelids but I tried it underneath and that was the worst regarding getting in my lines and looking creased). There are many other sad failures. So, do you have a favorite? Help me!

And my final product choice that I won't go without? My flat iron!! I have large hair. Most people no longer know that since I discovered this invention - and in particular, the pricier version. For many items, buying drugstore doesn't actually make that big of a difference in performance, in my opinion. (In fact, maybe that's been the problem with my concealer attempts - maybe I need to step up to more expensive, department store products. Hmmm). However, with flat irons, getting a good quality iron makes a BIG difference. First of all, you need a LOT of heat. My Solia flat iron (which cost me about $100 if I remember) heats up to 400 degrees in a minute. So, yes, I am baking my hair. It's also ceramic, which means you don't smell burning hair when you use it because it heats your hair from the inside out instead of frying it. Not to say that this is at all good for my hair, but at least it doesn't completely wreck it. I'll go into what I do to keep my hair as damage free as possible in another post. Anyway, flat irons are amazing and a must-have. Oh, and don't think you are limited to straight styles with it - I recently learned how to CURL MY HAIR WITH MY FLAT IRON. I seriously did not think this would work but if you clamp it about an inch from your head and then turn the iron (still clamping) a full 360 degrees and then pull it through, it gives you amazing waves. It works in the same way that using scissors to put curls in ribbon works. Weird but true. And SO CUTE, I wearing my hair that way today!

Bronzer

Oops, it's been a while since I last posted! The good news? It's August so I have another month's budget to spend on clothes and makeup (I...um...wasn't allowed to buy anything in August due to an overly spendy June). I plan on making a trip to Sephora this week (I "need" some interesting new eye shadows and we'll see what else I find!).

Today, I'd like to discuss bronzer. I've battled with bronzer in years past - I first tried it while on Europe Semester in college. I bought some Clarins powder face bronzer in Rome but after a little while realized that it just made my face look dirty. However, this year, when my body tan was looking great from my spray tanner (scroll down to learn more about that), I realized that my face was a completely different color. I ran off to Sephora and scooped up Stila Sun Bronzing Powder SPF 15 (it's so tricky, you LOOK tan, but you're actually wearing sunscreen!) in Shade 2, Sheer Warm Matte Bronse. Now, I have learned that the key to bronzer is figuring out where to apply it and, to be more specific, where to apply it on your particular face. Before, I had been applying it "where the sun would normally hit you" - on the tops of my nose, cheeks, forehead, chin. However, I'm a bit cheeky, and I mean that physically, my face cheeks are plump and happy (and whenever I gain weight it goes there first). For me, I use bronzer as a contouring trick - under my cheek bones, around the edges of my face, on the sides of my nose, and a little on my forehead and chin. This slims my face down a little while still looking summery.

I say, try bronzer again and experiment with where you put it. It can make a big difference!

Dry Shampoo Update

I can now report that dry shampoo is great to use to get rid of the grease and allow you to skip a shampoo or two! I am now back to washing my hair every other day because using dry shampoo on my bangs fluffs them up and you can't tell my hair is a little stale. (Oh, it smells nice too!). I love this stuff. The picture is my proof.

Yes, it's bright outside (it's before 8 on the 4th of July!). Since we were getting up early, I took the opportunity to try out not washing my hair and using some dry shampoo instead. As you can see, my bangs don't look oily at all! Yay! Also, this is typical of Chris and me in the morning. I'm all energetic and squinty and he is sad and sleepy.

Sephora - for commitment phobics

A lot more money has been leaving our toiletry budget since Sephora came to Santa Barbara. I stayed away at first, committed to my drug store makeup finds and knowing that once I started I wouldn't be able to stop. And...it's true. That place is unbelievable (if still a little intimidating). I don't buy much makeup there - I get my Bare Minerals foundations from their online program and I still stick with some drug store stuff but since starting to shop there I have had some great finds. I typically shop through their website - if you buy more than $75 at a time there's free shipping - and here's the best part...you can return items to the store...after you've tried them for a while! This has been a lifesaver because the products at Sephora tend to be pretty expensive and I could never take the leap if I didn't know that I could take it back if it didn't work.

So far, I have utilized their return policy quite frequently. Here's my example: I bought ghd Fat Hair Lotion For All-Over Volume (my new hair cut needs a boost sometimes) after reading all the hype on the online description. Seriously, this stuff was going to revolutionize my hair. Sephora promised that it would "increase body and texture and a ceramide-derived complex adds volume and shine while protecting against stress caused by chemical processes. It also acts as a smoother for the cuticles and improves cell cohesion along the hair shaft. " The description also mentioned polymers at some point...I have no idea what those are, but I was impressed. So, I ordered it online along with a couple of other products (including the Bare Escentuals Get Started Eyes set - more about that in a later post). I was so excited for it to arrive, imagining what magic those little polymers would have on my limp locks. I followed the directions after washing my hair and waited for the miracle to occur while blow-drying and... kept waiting. No miracles, not even a noticeable change in texture or volume. What the ??? My drugstore Garnier Fructis mousse worked better than that crap.

So....I returned it to the store, completely guilt free and bought Frédéric Fekkai - Full Volume Mousse for Fine or Limp Hair and I love it (I just discovered when searching for the right name of the product online that they have a TON of other things I want to try too). The mouse gives the right amount of texture so that I can get some more volume and style hold and a little goes a long ways. Perfect!

Anyway, the point of all this is that Sephora's return policy makes it easier to invest in quality products that really deliver. Oh, and don't forget that you get three free samples with every purchase!!

Dry Shampoo!

Ever since I got side-sweepy bangs cut this spring, I've had some hair dilemmas. First of all - side swept bangs are not always swept to the side. Typically there are some rebellious chunks trying to hang over my eyebrow and creeping toward my eye. I'm not so good at ignoring this and although I've been perfecting the hair flip move that returns my bangs to their rightful place by the end of the day I usually have some obviously greasy strands from touching my hair all day. This new development has forced me to abandon my schedule of washing my hair every other day (and has caused me to lose some time in the mornings) so that I can be grease-free but I recently made a discovery that has helped alleviate the problem some.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is amazing! I came across some reviews on makeupalley.com (great place to read up on products before spending your hard earned cash) and decided to buy their $10 1 oz bottle and give it a try. According to the description on sephora.com, it's supposed to "Refresh, revive and recharge hair and scalp without water. Pronto is perfect for use between washings, in a rush, as a midday hair pick-me-up, or when you overdose on a styling product."

Basically it's a little like baby powder and you just squeeze a tiny amount on your roots where it's greasy (I end up having to coat part of my bangs) and then rub it in. It's a little scary at first because it's a white powder and it's hard to believe that you won't be left with a gray tinge. However, it blends in and really does absorb the oil and kind of fluff the area. I haven't tried it for when I "overdose on a styling product" but I can't imagine it working on anything other than if you put too much gloss or shine serum on. Anyway, this has been fantastic for putting on right before we go out to dinner or after a long car ride when we're about to see family (can you tell we've been traveling lately?). I haven't tried it as a substitute for a full shampoo but I might get brave soon. Either way, I'm no longer ashamed of my greasy-obviously-not-broken-in bangs!

White Pants

I never thought I would wear white pants. I never thought I'd WANT to wear white pants. I've never in my life owned a pair of khaki pants that I wore more than once, so white pants would be pretty dramatic for me. I'm pretty pear shaped so the whole thing used to seem like a very bad idea but this summer I couldn't stop feeling like I was ready. So - the search began.

Initially, I was very encouraged by my white pants expedition. I found a pair that I thought looked amazing in Ann Taylor Loft (which I purchased on my "chris is away so I will play" shopping spree") and proceeded to buy tops to go along with my trendy new pants. However, when Chris got home and I showed off my new discovery his reaction was less than enthusiastic. Now, he's a sweet guy who is very sensitve to my self-esteem, but he's also very committed to honesty - so the tell-tale negative reaction from him is "Huh, ok" or just silence and sad eyes. Seriously. When I finally pressured him into explaining what he hated about the pants he quietly said "they make your legs look...um...enormous." (Or at least that's what I heard. He probably said "they make your legs look slightly larger than they are"). Then I took a good look in the mirror and discovered that he was right! What happened to my slimming Ann Taylor Loft white slacks? They had become this:

Well, not actually these pants, but that's how they looked on me, except worse. I was mortified and was immediately convinced that the mirrors in Ann Taylor Loft should not be trusted (I still hold that opinion).

I rushed to return the heinous pants and proceeded to order three different pairs online (I knew I'd return the ones that didn't work, I'm not ridiculous.) And the winner?

Martin Refined Cuffed Chino in Tall by Banana Republic. They are all that Ann Taylor Loft's white pants seemed to be in the store, but are actually flattering! What made the difference? Well - the B.R. pants are just straight legged enough to be slimming but just bootcut enough so that you still have legs in there. For some reason, they work with my hips and I love them for that.

New pants (especially in a new color) are great because they completely expands your wardrobe! The rust-colored top I'm wearing today looks completely different with white pants than it did with my normal brown slacks (I guess less halloween-y too).

Yay for white pants (except that I'm now a little paranoid about getting too close to anything that might make them dirty! Chris wasn't paying attention to how he repacked our bag for our weekend trip and put his shoes soles down right on top of them! AHHHH)! By the way - the losers were different pairs of white pants from Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. Apparently white pants are not their specialty. At least for girls who got back.

Learning How to Dress Like a Grown-Up

I feel blessed to currently have a relatively high powered job. I go to a lot of meetings and sometimes my opinions even mean something (rarely, actually....it's been a hard day so far). It's fun to feel like a grown-up, a real career woman. The one problem is that I'm still trying to figure out how to dress like one. Frankly, I look my age - and considering that it's a good 40 years off of most of the people I meet with, that doesn't give me a lot of credibility. So - my latest project is learning to dress, well...older.

What I should look like is to the left.

This has not been an easy task. I still gravitate towards younger pieces, with the idea of "Oh, I can wear that relaxing on Saturdays...oh, and I can probably make it work for my job too!" I end up with a lot of glorified t-shirt and black pants combinations and it's not working. I recently cleaned out my overstuffed side of the closet and ended up donating a good 3 garbage bags worth of old clothes that I haven't been wearing or that, let's be honest, I shouldn't be wearing. When Chris left for a 5 day bachelor party earlier in June (yes, it was ridiculously long), I took the opportunity to go shopping for some age and position appropriate outfits. I did...alright. I spent a lot of time at Ann Taylor Loft and Banana Republic but still only came away with one suit jacket and too many not as fancy tops. I am starting to lean more on the side of "Oh, I can wear that to work and look cute in it with jeans on Saturday" but it's been hard. I still bought two t-shirts that I have refused to return because I look how cute they are...even if I really shouldn't wear them to work (although...I have worn each already). Plus, I want to be able to look older and professional, but also still look like myself. Is being young such a bad thing??

What I actually look like is to the right (on a good day. It's cute, but young looking. I just don't like wearing suits all the time).

The other problem? When you live in Santa Barbara and are trying to look respectable at meetings with, I don't know, multi-millionaires, it gets pricey. We already have a pretty sizable clothing budget which I definitely went over last month in an attempt to look the part. Where's the balance? Since I work at a non-profit, I feel like I should get away with not looking "the part" but I am also meeting with donors who want to see in how I dress that I respect them and that we aren't a shabby place. Bottom line: I need a raise to afford my expanding work wardrobe!

Up next: The trials and tribulations of finding the perfect pair of white pants.

Oh, the glories of self-tanner

Now, in high school and, let's be honest, throughout college, I was all for tanning. I didn't go to tanning beds mind you (although I did before my wedding last year - that is an awkward experience), but I soaked up every harmful ray while lying on a towel or lawn chair in our backyard or porch. I would lay out there for HOURS, obsessing about tan lines and analyzing where I was in the dark tan to severe burn scale. I tended to gauge this incorrected and was frequently burned in those years.

Since those days, and because I fear both skin cancer (my cousin had it and is now in remission, thank God) and age spotted, winkled skin, I have converted to self-tanners. They have been on the market long enough now that there are a LOT to choose from and they are relatively inexpensive. Last year I was obsessed with Jergens Natural Glow in Medium. It's a gradual tanner with a little shimmer and I used it pretty consistently last year. The drawbacks? It takes forever to dry (I literally blowdried my body every morning) and it stinks! Oh, and definitely wash your hands and be cautious when using it around your feet. I also got weird white patches in my elbow pits. ANYWAY, I recently made a new discovery which I highly recommend....

L'Oreal Sublime Glow Spray Tanner. Seriously, it's the best. It also has glowing (or should I say sublime??) reviews on makeupalley.com. It dries super fast (like a minute - no more naked blowdrying), and it's really easy to get an even application. You won't get any on your hands (because, hello, you're using an aerosol spray bottle) and it doesn't smell at all. Now, there are a few drawbacks - you had better put lotion on your feet or they will turn seriously orange...and when you exit the bathroom there is a pretty awesome cloud of mist that will follow you out. However, the benefits much outweigh the negatives. Now, it will run you about 10 bucks at a drug store, but hey, isn't your healthy skin worth the price??

Here we go!

Welcome to my new blog. After spending the last couple of months sampling some of the other beauty blogs out there, I've decided that I too have something to offer!

This revelation came after I tried cleaning out my toiletries drawer earlier this week. I undertake this task every several months in an attempt to make this drawer easier to open (it's chock full). I spend about half an hour throwing out old products that are nearly empty or products that I've tried and didn't work but hadn't taken the time to throw away previously. Oh, and I usually take another hour trying out the items I had completely forgotten about and then remembering why they are hidden in the bottom of the drawer (oh, my dark red lipstick! Ahh, yes, I keep that around just in case I need to look bloody for a halloween party).

Anyway, this week, I didn't throw out anything - not one thing. It seems there are many beauty products I love - be it eye shadow, body cream, sunscreen (yes, it's a beauty product!), or foot scrubbers. And, I have pretty strong opinions and HATE to purchase something that doesn't live up to the hype on the label. Therefore, I will be blogging about all things pretty - in the hopes that others can benefit from my great and not so great purchases. I hope this is fun to read and helpful. Here we go!