May 31, 2007

I Just Love My Beauty Products...

LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics just has to be the best bath and body company out there. Not only are their products handmade (which is in the company title), but they're made with wholesome ingredients and all of the products are human tested, bunny approved. It's unknown to most consumers but a lot of companies that say they don't test their products on animals actually use ingredients from companies that do. So, it's basically like they're testing their products on animals. LUSH is adamant about making sure that not only do they not test their products on animals, but they don't buy ingredients from companies that do.

I've been using LUSH products for years now and there is absolutely nothing else like it out there. Some of my summer staples are: Mud Flats soap (which gently buffs and scrubs away dead skin to reveal smooth skin ready to be bared), Aquamarina facial cleanser (which battles the greasies without being overly drying-- really!), Rehab shampoo (perfect to use if you've been at the beach or the pool a lot...it's SUPER moisturizing), and Ultralight Moisturizer (the only moisturizer out there that offers UVA/UVB sun protection without using ingredients tested on animals).

Check out LUSH for tons of amazing, handmade products!

May 30, 2007

Turn Up the Heat!

As shown in my previous post, I'm all about airy dresses this summer. And what better way to add a punch of the exotic than to pair those solid-colored, simple dresses with a taste of the eclectic- bangles and bracelets with Moroccan and tribal themes. My favorite of the moment: Moroccan Bangles from Urban Outfitters in a Jade or Turquoise mix. Runners up: Sovereign Cuff by Anthropologie and the Zulu Cuff from Free People in Brown or Pumpkin. They're all unique but completely and totally wearable.

May 22, 2007

One of the Best Things About Summer...

...Is wearing dresses! It's the perfect time to break out those strappy dresses, show off a little tan, and romp on the beach. They're comfortable and oh-so-cute! Some of my favorites:

  • Urban Outfitters Lux Knit Voile Dress in turquoise. It's so easy to dress up or down that you can wear it at almost any event. I wore this exact dress to my cousin's wedding and it was a huge hit! And it was so comfortable.
  • Also at Urban Outfitters, the Lux French Terry Tie Shoulder Dress in red. This is the perfect cover-up for when you're at the beach or to wear to a nighttime bonfire at the lake. The little bows at the chest add a girlish charm and the bold, red color adds a little spice.
  • Forever 21 is really shaping up. I found some great dresses that are unique, eye-catching, and comfy at the same time (and with their prices, how can you go wrong?): Embroidered Woven Babydoll Dress, White & Navy Woven Cotton Dress, and the Floral Shirtdress. These are a few of my favorites, but check out Forever 21 for tons of other styles and prints, because there are plenty to choose from!
  • I'm usually not a big fan of Victoria's Secret clothing (they tend to get very loose with wear and the sizes run big- go figure), but they have a slew of great dresses this season. Among those, my favorites are: the Curvy Jersey Scoopneck Dress, Halter Babydoll Bra Top Dress, Racerback Tank Dress w/Crochet Skirt (for a dressier look), and the Striped Dress in green & white stripe.
Add some bangles and you're ready to dress pretty!

An Adventure into Summertime Makeup

I have two favorite looks of the moment for summertime: A nice pop of translucent color for us pale girls and, to beat the heat, an icy cool look-- which is nice for making the eyes stand out and giving you a more bronzed look.

I've also been on a search (for the past 2 years) for the perfect, muted pink pout and have finally found the lipstick that delivers that look: Cargo PlantLove lipstick in Lindsay. Check out Cargo's PlantLove website to see the color...and plant a flower or two while you're there! It's also a lipstick with benefits- the lipstick tube is compostable (it's made entirely of corn), you can plant the box that it comes in for a wildflower garden, and $2 from every sale is donated to St. Jude's Children Hospital. They also have a great coral color, which is in for summer, called Evangeline.

With summer rapidly approaching, I'm all about getting that coveted rosy glow. My two favorite cheek boosters of the moment: Stila's Beach-y Keen and LORAC's Cheekstamp in Hibiscus (which is super easy to apply, too). If you're going for more of a bronzed rosy look, just layer a light dusting of Stila's Bronzer (in Shade 1) on top. Perfect look for the beach!

Not many people talk about it, but those who know about it will tell you that BeneFit's She Laq is the BEST way to waterproof your eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, and even lipstick while at the beach. It stays put for hours and wears comfortably.

That's all for now...Keep checking back because I will be posting some of my favorite summertime dresses next.

A Long Week...

So, if anyone has actually been checking my blog, you'll notice that week two of my sewing project was very looooong (as pointed out by another blogger). I had the idea to track my progress on a whim and, because of this, I wasn't very dedicated to actually doing it. I did finish the project, I just didn't plan properly with blogging and taking photos along the way.

I started on a tote bag for the summer months and am about halfway done. I need to assemble the bag and sew on the straps, but afterwards I'm going to post the finished photos. It seems like the step-by-step photo blogging would be tedious to read through. All future projects, from here on out, will be posted as finished works.

Also, since I often have plenty of free time while on the job, I'm going to venture into blogging about another passion of mine: clothes and makeup. (I'm such a girl!) I pass a lot of the time by online shopping- well, window shopping- and would love to bring my finds and reviews to you. Stay tuned...

January 13, 2007

Sewing Project Week #2

I skipped right to week two because during week one we practiced sewing corners, straight lines, and a zigzag stitch and I don't think that it would be very entertaining to look at my scrap material and see my basic stitches. I'll have pictures to come, but this is what we accomplished during week two. We cut our pattern out for our "pajama" pants. They're more like oversized scrubs rather than pajama pants, but they're an easy pattern to start with. We learned how to mark seam lines on a pattern until we get skilled enough to eye the seams; it's time consuming, but I know that it's definitely going to be worth the knowledge I gain from doing it. We also learned the difference between the finished and raw edge of the fabric and learned how to line our pattern up parallel to the grain. Finally, we cut out our pattern and marked the seam lines with carbon paper. I know this all seems so basic, but it's a whole new world for me and the beginning of, what I hope to be, a hobby that I could become really skilled at. Till next week...