I’ve been a fan of Samantha Thompson Smith from the News and Observer for awhile now – even when she did the retail section, back in the days before Sue Stock and her coupons galore! In the past few years, Samantha has been doing the fashion section of the paper and has a blog called the Fashion Plate. A few weeks ago there was a giveaway, and lo and behold, I somehow won!
My goods arrived in the mail today. Muy exciting! I got this Clinique tiger lily eye shadow from the Spring 09 collection, which is “shades of pinkish brown.” Well, so far in my ventures in wearing eye makeup, I’ve only enjoyed brown/beige shades. So, perhaps “pinkish brown” will be the next shade I enjoy. I preliminarily tried it on, but I can’t say for sure if I like it until I wear it a few times. The shades have definite promise though! Look at me with “fancy department store makeup.” haha. Worst part is, if I actually decide this is the eye makeup I Must Have, I’ve discovered that it’s already DISCONTINUED!! Ugh! Why do makeup companies do that????
Speaking of discontinued makeup, I was recently trying to buy some more of that Carmindy fast fix concealer I was all excited about a few months ago. Don’t I (finally) figure out, after visiting like 3 different stores that the shade of it I was using was DISCONTINUED!! Ugh! They still have the crappy lavender stuff, but not the yellowish shade for covering up dark circles. I gave up and got the light version of the skin-tone fast fix, and so far it seems pretty good. It might actually be better than the yellowish shade. With that purchase I could get another Carmindy product for 50% off, so I decided to try the mascara because I needed some. So far, I am not impressed. The brush is super tiny and the mascara is all gloppy on the brush when you take it out. Time will tell. The only mascaras I consistently like are Maybelline, but, 50% off! I can’t help myself. I still want to try her primer, which is supposed to make your skin super smooth, or something. It’s almost ALWAYS sold out at the store, which tells me its awesomeness is unbounded. However, be warned: the Carmindy stuff is NOT at Target or Wal-mart. I’ve only seen the line at Ulta, though, maybe they might also have it at drug stores (but seriously, who shops at drug stores???).
I’m determined to have this eye makeup crap figured out in the next few years (when I hit that scary birthday that ends in 0), at which point, I’m sure a whole new host of problems will show up that completely defile whatever makeup routine I’ve developed. Why is it so difficult!!? Any tips are appreciated!
I’m reading another book by a What not to Wear cast member – Clinton Kelly’s “Freakin’ Fabulous.” (Hmm, do Stacy London and Nick Arrojo have books? That would complete my series. Note to self: investigate.)
The book covers the many aspects of fabulous living, including hosting a party, cooking, decorating (some tasty lookin’ canapes!), grammar (hmm, what’s with the title then, Clinton?), and etiquette. However, the first chapter, as you might guess from Clinton’s most well-known realm of expertise, is fashion.
Most of the chapter is a repeat of a What not to Wear episode, but what I found especially interesting is the section on work dress. For corporate environments, you must wear a blazer at the very least! For a creative environment, you can wear a cute zebra print shirt, vest, and dressy pants. Most shocking, however, is Clinton’s take on dress in a tech environment. I quote, from page 38 of the book:
“Like anyone even cares what you people wear. Just get the Diet Coke out of your keyboard and go home to your video games.”
Clinton, you couldn’t have it more wrong. It’s Diet Mountain Dew, dammit! The evidence of the rapidly clearing vending machine says so.
I’ve now decided that I’ll wear my Betty Boop pajamas to work tomorrow. Sweet! Thanks Clinton!
Because everything else in my life at the moment stresses me too out too much to blog about, I’ve decided to write a fluffy entry about my birthday gifts for your personal enjoyment. 
Crocs Hanalei sandals. Check these suckers out. Aren’t they hot? Plus, they have (almost) all the comfort of crocs, but you totally can’t tell they are Crocs! Sure, they ARE a heeled shoe, but the most comfortable heeled shoe I own. Definitely a new summer favorite. Thanks mom and Dave! ding!
With a red polo shirt, and the sandals, hello stylish nautical look! Hotness!
A foodie read. Oak found Under the Table for me on Amazon. I’m a few chapters in and so far it’s very enjoyable.
A fancy candied apple from Rocky Mountain chocolate factory. I got a piece once as a free sample when I was browsing at the mall like 2 years ago (or more, I don’t remember), and Oak has had to hear me mention how tasty it was every time we’ve walked by that joint on our mall visits. Lucky him. I think that my heavy hinting can subside for now… drool.
An electronic yogurt maker. Who knew you could MAKE yogurt? I’m already picturing my cute little homemade yogurt pods in my future lunch boxes, flavored with multitudes of Oak’s homemade jams. Sorry Harris teeter, someone else will have to enjoy your yogurt from this day forward.
Luxurious spa robe. With my initials! Hellow Luxury. Excuse me while I go take a bath …
How to have style is Isaac Mizrahi’s fashion bible and another find from the local library. While the book claims that it is “not a makeover book”, it pretty much is. He profiles a bunch of different women of different sizes, ages, coloring, etc. and helps them find a style.
The first interesting that Isaac suggests doing is keeping a style board. This is not just ripping stuff out of fashion magazines (though can be part of it), but anything you find inspiring – fabric swatches, tickets, etc. He had each lady in the book create one on a bulletin board to help inspire her fashion sense. However, I think this board could help inspire art projects, interior decorations, etc. I think I want one for my craft room!
Going through this book for me was picking women with whom I could relate to and reading their sections. Obviously I’m not feeling the style of an older woman who wears tribal prints! haha. I most enjoyed reading about Lara. Isaac suggested dying her hair platinum blonde (which looked, interesting.. haha) and he put her in very brightly colored clothes. Hotness. See, my pastel purple pants can’t be an entire fashion no-no, right? haha.
Isaac’s fashion illustration is all throughout the book, and is very fun. My favorite segment of his talk show, when it was on TV, was when he would sketch outfits for women and then give them the sketch! That’s worth framing!!! 
So, overall I would say the book is worth a skim through if you can get it from the library or at the bookstore. Find the looks that are you and see if there’s anything new and different you can try. My new resolution is to try 2 bright colors together with a neutral. This was done on Lara with turquoise pants + white top + yellow scarf. Tres hot! Will report back soon.
OK, well somehow I had found out that Carmindy from What Not to Wear had a book. And, believe it or not, our local library actually carries it. So, I requested it and it was reserved for me way faster than I thought it actually would be! Our library is awesome.
This book is as much of a book about building your self-confidence as it is makeup tips. I read through mostly the whole thing last night (OK, some of it I skimmed), and there were a few good tips. I was more interested in the how-to stuff than the “being happy about yourself” stuff, because I’m already pretty happy. However, I can see that stuff being inspiring to some people.
However, if you’re a regular What Not to Wear watcher, you probably already know a lot of it. Here are some of the things I learned:
- Carmindy was an awkward teenager! I couldn’t believe it until I saw the picture. I always kind of figured she was one of those girls that everyone looked up to in high school.
- A review of the signature “Carmindy eye” is white highlighter on the inside of your eye and just under the eyebrows. (I have tried this and the eyebrow part still looks weird to me.) There are some helpful “maps” in the book for applying eyeshadow for different eye shapes (also for other things like blush, etc). Though, I’m not really sure what shape my eyes are – sigh!
- Blotting papers. Who knew there was such a thing? I guess I will pick some up to combat my mid-day shine. She says to use them and then apply powder over to refresh your look.
- There are 3 things to carry in your purse make-up wise: the aforementioned blotting papers, a powder compact with a mirror, and lip gloss or lipstick. Nice to know it’s not very much, but still more than I normally carry… haha.
- There’s something called “primer” that you can use to prepare your face to hold onto makeup better. I’ve never seen it before.
- I like that she finally shares with us some of the products she uses in the last chapter. They are listed at several price points, though many are clever product-placements for her Sally Hansen Natural Beauty line (I’m planning on checking out the videos on here, maybe it will help to see this stuff actually done in person). I actually purchased the “fast-fix concealer” a few months ago and have been super happy with it, so I might try some more of the product line. However, the “all-over brightener” was weird.. who wants to have lavender under their eyes? Luckily Ulta has a very nice return policy.
I know, I know. I should be writing more about our trip! I’m completely swamped at work and am trying my best to stay focused on getting that stuff done. But, I just had to take a moment out of my lunch hour to share this amazing beauty product find. I was looking through one of my magazines from the huge pile that was waiting for me on the return home (I think it was a copy of All You), and came across a helpful review of this nail product.
I never give myself manicures. I find they chip way too fast and aren’t worth the effort (Who can paint well with their left hand?). Even when we went to the manicurist for Sarah’s wedding a few years ago, I loved how it looked but again, one load of dishes when I got home and the whole thing was ruined.
In comes Sally Hansen natural shine. It’s similar to clear nail polish, but unlike clear nail polish, it creates a more subtle shine on your nails, like you’ve buffed them. It goes on and dries in seconds and , instead of ugly chipping, it seems to simply begin to fade. My nails are still shiny and I’ve taken two showers and done dishes since I put it on. It comes in clear and a pink tint. I got the clear, but I like it so much I might have to try out the pink as well. A definite must for any of us who are lazy about manicures!
On Sunday, Oak was brewing so I decided to check out the Rugged Wearhouse in Cary. Mom let me in on this secret gem a few months ago, when I bought a cute orange purse and a Hello Kitty t-shirt at one of the locations near Concord. Little did I know, there are several locations in the Triangle… we’ve also got Rugged Wearhouse in Durham and Raleigh! Craziness.
Anyway, you could consider Rugged Wearhouse to be a cheaper, ghettoer version of TJ Maxx. Actually, I think maybe just cheaper. As in, most of the t-shirts are $5. Most pants are under $15. Dressier tops are between $7-10. You get the idea. You’ve got to be in what I can only call the “thrifting” frame of mind, though. Willing to sort through racks and racks of clothes, and to try EVERYTHING on. A lot of the merchandise is either a) from a no-name brand, so who knows how the sizing works or b) is a second from a big-name store, like Express. So you have to be careful to make sure that it fits, and that there aren’t any holes or stains. Not exactly made for a half an hour stop to browse.
I managed to find quite a few things. Only shirts this time. Since I pretty much only wear t-shirts on nights and weekends now, being such a “professional office person” (haha), this is a perfect place and price point to update that wardrobe. A little bit harder to find were office appropriate shirts, but I did find two; a button-up blouse from New York and Company that has little French people and Eiffel towers all over it (what my mom would describe as a “Carrie shirt”), and a nautical-eque red and white blouse. Ding!
I got some shorts for Oak but they didn’t end up working out. Oh darn, we’ll have to go back to return them….
I found it really suprising that this article recommends “dark wash” jeans to wear to a job interview. While I think that everything they describe would be fine for everyday wear in a casual office, I don’t see them being appropriate for an interview, no matter how casual the office. The title of the article should be changed to “what to wear in a business casual office. ” – after all for the interview, aren’t you supposed to dress slightly nicer than the employees of the company?
Samantha Thompson Smith, one of my favorite columnists from the Raleigh News and Observer, discusses the entry of shorts into the workplace.
I haven’t gotten a pair of “city shorts” yet, but I do have to note that wearing them would probably be completely acceptable, considering the fact that I even see the “traditional midthigh length shorts” that Samantha says are not appropriate.
I also think that white sneakers should be banned from all offices. In fact, let’s ban them from anywhere but the gym and Walt Disney World. Thanks!
It’s a continual challenge to get motivated to prepare and bring healthy lunches to work instead of hitting up unhealthy eateries every day.
It seems that some take it as a motivating factor document and photograph their lunch creations.
Through these sites, I’m also noticing the interesting products they are making for adults lunch boxes. Remember when you just had to have that Barbie, Care bears, Transformers, Superman, or < insert_favorite_cartoon_character_here > lunch box?
Our favorite wine carrier maker, Built NY, now has a great lunchbag, the Gourmet getaway tote, that I received for my birthday. It has plenty of room for your drink, big plastic container of leftovers, and some fruit.
Mr. Bento and laptop lunches extremely cute, but I just don’t pack 5 different little portions of food in my lunch every day. The Wrap n mat is also interesting – it turns your sandwich wrapper into a little placemat, ideal for chowing down in your cubicle.
Now.. if only one of those lunch-photographing people would prepare my lunch every day…
