Thursday

Other than a stuffy nose and a bit of a headache, I am back to normal. Yay! Now jsut need my toe to heal so I can go back to my sassy shoes!

Black tape yarn scoop necked empire waist short-sleeved sweater from Old Navy, wool blend trousers from Ann Taylor, black flats from Naturalizer, silver necklaces from H&M, studs from Diamond Nexus Labs.

Hair is second day, all I did was brush it and smooth the bangs with the dryer.

Makeup is Smashbox Photo Finish primer, L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - the ivory on the lid. Lashhes curled, a coat of Cover Girl Lash Blast in black and then a coat of Imju Fiberwig. Thin line of Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line and on lips is Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Glossy Rose.

Sorry if you have had any issues accessing this blog or Wardrobe Oxygen; I am trying to convert from the Blogspot address to my domain names (don't worry, both addresses will lead you here) and Blogger is requiring me to return to a "classic" template (why the place looks slightly different) and I am having some issues (not a code queen) getting it back to being the same AND have the company I got my domains from work out the kinks on their end. Hopefully it will all be resolved by the end of the weekend! :) In the meantime, if anyone knows why I lost the hyperlinks on my post titles and what the code is to get them back, I'd love you forever if you shot it to me in an email! :)

Tuesday and Wednesday

The Birthday Cold hit on Tuesday; it hurt to shower, and it hurt more when I slammed the hairdryer into my left temple. Not functioning too well...

Black cami from Banana Republic, black cashmere puff-sleeved sweater also from Banana Republic, Old Navy "The Flirt" bootcut jeans, black flats from Naturalizer, studs from Diamond Nexus Labs.

Hair is second day; and attempt was made to smooth with a round brush and dryer but gave up after hitting my noggin.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Cover Girl Lash Blast in black on curled lashes and Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Afterglow.

I ended up leaving work around 3:45 because my brain had stopped functioning. It was weird to head home while it was so light out and the people on the streets and Metro were a whole different crowd. Of course Murphy's Law hit that afternoon.

Serious Metro issues where it took about two hours to get home when it's usually more like 40 minutes. Sat in a tunnel, sat at two stations, asked to get off the train and wait for another and then my station was shut down so my husband had to get me at one closer to the city. Geez Louise!

He picked me up and asked where I wanted to go to eat; I wasn't hungry so he decided to stop by Burger King for a veggie burger and a small vanilla shake to soothe my throat.

They were out of veggie burgers. "But the only people in town who order them are us two!" my husband said to the guy behind the counter. The guy just laughed. My husband then decided to order some cheesy tots and onion rings. "Sorry, we are also out of onion rings." WHAT???

We decided to head to the nearby chain restaurant that has veggie burgers. We walk in... to a bad smell (sanitizer, BO and cheap cologne) and two men screaming at each other at the hostess stand. Walked right out.

We headed toward home but decided to stop at Pier 1 to grab some sale candles and walked into an empty store. No salespeople ANYWHERE; I had to open the backroom door to yell for some help at the register and then got a salesperson who seemed to be using the register and wrapping candles in tissue for the first time. Oh, and they were out of bags.

After this we were both exhausted (and my husband is also sick) so we drove to Chevy's where we had a nice waitress, a clean table and a hot vegetarian dinner. Oh, and some very strong margaritas that helped us forget what a ridiculous couple of hours...

Feeling a bit better today - amazing what a bit of tequila can do! :) And I went to scan my SmartTrip fro the Metro this morning and it said See Station Manager. Somehow my card wasn't scanned when leaving the Metro yesterday. "Did you go through that drama yesterday?" she asked. I said yes. "Well you poor thing, I didn't charge you for your travel yesterday. Have a good day!" Yay!

Orange merino scoopneck sweater from Marshall's, gray "Drew" trousers from Limited, long gold necklace from Express, gold bangles from Ralph Lauren, studs from Diamond Nexus Labs, black flats from Nautralizer.

Hair was washed and conditioned, bit of Jonathan Silky Dirt while damp, blown dry with a paddle brush.

Makeup is Smashbox Photo Finish primer, L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners, khaki on lids, chocolate in crease and along lash line. Lashes curled, Cover Girl Lash Blast in black and on lips is Neutrogena Soothing Lipsheer in Plum Kiss.

Not feeling great, hopefully with another night of good sleep I should be near normal tomorrow...

Monday

Happy birthday to me! Of course I woke up to the lovely monthly occurrence and also the cold my husband had last week. No worries, it's a sunny day and I had a relaxing weekend. However I am going to dress in the work-appropriate version of pajamas.

Black merino shift from Banana Republic, black heavy tights from Target with the feet cut off, black flats from Naturalizer, silver necklaces from H&M, diamond studs from Diamond Nexus Labs. At work I left on my orange crinkle scarf from Banana Republic because I was cold.

Hair was washed and conditioned, a bit of Got2B curling mousse added while damp and dried with a diffuser. Hit the super frizzy parts with a curling iron.

Makeup is Smashbox Photo Finish primer, L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners, khaki on lid, chocolate in crease and along lash lines. Lashes curled, coat of Cover Girl Lash Blast in black with Imju Fiberwig over it. Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lipgloss in Strawberry Fizz and a dusting of Smashbox Soft Lights in Tint on cheekbones.

Busy day at work, but plan to have a nice romantic dinner with my husband this evening!

Friday and Saturday

Friday was a pretty basic day; was considering happy hour after work but just was exhausted and headed home for pizza and chianti with the hubby.

Black stretch merino crew from Banana Republic, white ribbed tank from Old Navy, dark denim pencil skirt from Newport News, Tan "Bern" boots from Duo, purple pashmina from Burlington Coat Factory, silver cuff.

Hair was second day; bangs straightened with brush and dryer but otherwise left alone.

Makeup was L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay lipcolor in Real Raisin, Cover Girl Lash Blast in black with Imju Fiberwig over it.


Saturday morning started with yoga, then dropping off dry cleaning and heading to the grocery. I usually try to wear something more street-worthy when I run errands after yoga, but all my other workout pants were in the laundry.

Black scoop tee from Gap, black cropped yoga pants from Champion for Target (loved the little scrolly design on the leg). To get from Point A to Point B, white athletic socks and black Chucks.

Hair was Day 3, just left as-is. Fresh face - just moisturizer.


Saturday evening, we had our friends over for dinner and movies. I made Baked Ziti and garlic bread, they brought salad and tiramisu. We were celebrating my 33rd that is Monday, and their one-year anniversary from when they met. Nice chill evening, we watched movies we owned - Mulholland Drive (hubby and I have seen many times, our friends never have) and were left wondering WTF (love movies that do that!) and Snatch (first time I had seen it in years).

Navy stretch cotton v-neck sweater from Banana Republic, Old Navy "The Flirt" dark bootcut jeans, Diamond Nexus Labs solitaire necklace and studs (I hadn't been able to find this set lately - come to find out they were in my jewelry armoire the whole time but hidden under my chunky pairs of earrings), blue knit Mary-Jane style footies that were in my stocking from "Santa."

Hair was Day 3, just a round brush and dryer to smooth.

Makeup is Smashbox Photo Finish primer, Urban Decay shadow primer, L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3 and foundation in C3, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Nars blush in Orgasm, Cover Girl Lash Blast in black with Imju Fiberwig over it. On lips is Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Afterglow.

Product Review - Jonathan Product Beauty Water Shower Purification System

How much would you spend for something that would give you better hair? Less frizz, more time between shampoos, extended life on your highlights and dye jobs and lots of shine to boot? What if this item also gave you softer skin?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I treated myself this birthday month to a beauty product. After a while of eyeing it at Sephora and remembering episodes of Blow Out, I finally succumbed and bought the Jonathan Product Beauty Water Shower Purification System.

Why did I hold off for so long? Well the $95 price tag scared me a bit. Come on, it’s just a freaking water filter; maybe I could figure out a way to jimmy-rig my Brita pitcher in my shower. And could a filter really make THAT much of a difference?

Then I thought about my bi-monthly visits to the salon where I get a cut and color touchup. I think about the hives I have been plagued with the past several months. I then think about how fabulous my hair is when I visit other states such as Maine. Oh, to have Maine hair… when I used to visit there each summer as a teen my hair was perfect Shirley-Temple ringlets without any styling tools or beauty products due to the quality of water.

So I took the plunge.

Two weeks later… that $95 was the best money I have spent in a very very long time. My hair has a shine I usually only see right after a salon visit (and it has been over my two-month mark). It’s soft, my scalp doesn’t seem to get greasy as quickly, my split ends don’t seem as noticeable, I need less or no product to get a decent look, I can straighten with ease and my curls seem more defined and less Kip Winger.

This morning I shampooed and conditioned as usual and when rinsing my locks didn’t feel squeaky clean – and I knew that was a GOOD thing. I let my hair air dry for a few minutes while I let the dog out and made myself a bowl of oatmeal. When I returned to the bathroom, my hair was in soft damp waves, not the stringy tendrils I usually find when I have let my hair air-dry sans any product. I took a simple wood-toothed brush and brushed my hair while drying it and ended up with faintly wavy hair with lots of body and shine. A round brush smoothed out the ends and bangs and I looked better than I used to after product, drying, use of a hot straightening or curling tool and some shine serum. Ten hours later, my hair looks almost exactly the same, not limp and greasy from products.

And my skin? After a few days, I have had hardly a hive. My skin feels softer and more supple, I have soft elbows and heels and I think my body oil seems to absorb into my skin better post-shower.

The filter comes with its own shower head, but I preferred to use the one I had; not a problem, my Bed Bath & Beyond dual shower head fit on the filter without trouble. I was also able to keep my shower caddy; the filter ended up sitting in the top bin of it next to my shower gel and shampoo!

The water in my area is known as being hard. Leave a Nalgene on your office desk over the weekend with a bit of water and you’ll have a faint white residue all over it by Monday and the bottle will smell like… a bit of chlorine, a bit of metal and the signature DC-area “water” smell. I have known this for decades, but never really put two and two together and consider how that water was affecting my skin and hair. Not all of you readers may have this same plight, but for those of you who do, I highly recommend this shower filter. May seem like a hefty purchase, but when you consider the value of your hair and skin and the amount you spend yearly on products to fix your limp/frizzy/greasy/fading hair and dry/itchy/scaly skin… well you might find this could end up being a savings!

Would love to hear from any of you who have used the Jonathan Product Beauty Water Shower Purification System or a similar product!

Wear Red on February 1st - Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear

One of my favorite colors and a great campaign to support; National Wear Red Day. Join me next Friday in wearing red and spreading awareness about women's heart disease.


Friday, February 1, 2008, is National Wear Red Day—a day when Americans nationwide will take women's health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Although significant progress has been made in increasing awareness among women from 34 percent in 2000 to 57 percent in 2006—most women fail to make the connection between risk factors and their personal risk of developing heart disease.

National Wear Red Day is an annual event held on the first Friday in February. On this day, women and men across the country will wear red to unite in the national movement to give women a personal and urgent wake-up call about their risk of heart disease. Everyone can participate by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, or tie, or by wearing the Red Dress Pin (available at www.hearttruth.gov).

Join this national effort by wearing red on February 1, and encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to do the same.

By participating in National Wear Red Day, you are joining The Heart Truth. The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign to alert women about their risk for heart disease and motivate them to take steps to lower their risk. The centerpiece of the campaign is the Red Dress—the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. What's a Red Dress got to do with it? A simple Red Dress works as a visual red alert to get the message heard loud and clear: "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear—It's the #1 Killer of Women." Sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the campaign is reaching women with important heart health messages in community settings through a diverse network of national and grassroots partner organizations.

Please join in and help spread the word about women and heart disease. For ideas and tools to help you participate in National Wear Red Day or to order a Red Dress Pin, visit www.hearttruth.gov.

Thursday

I don't want to admit that I broke my toe earlier this month. I keep wearing shoes that have heels thinking I am fine and by time I am home, my foot is throbbing. I give up; I wear flats until it heals. :-(

Navy stretch cotton v-neck sweater from Banana Republic, gray "Drew" trousers from Limited, black flats from Naturalizer, seaglass and silver necklace from Ross, silver cuff.

Hair is washed and conditioned, tiny bit of Jonathan Silky Dirt and blown dry with paddle brush, round brush used to smooth bangs.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 as concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Maybelline Shine Seduction in Blushed Bass, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners, khki on lid. Lashes curled, Cover Girl Lash Blast in black and a coat of Imju Fiberwig over it.

Wednesday Rant - Happy Birthday to YOU!

I turned 30 a couple of years ago, and that date was not as much frightening as it was eye-opening. I was never one of those women who made a list of what she hoped to accomplish by a certain date, I have worked hard and let life take me where it wants to when it wants to.

However when I turned 30, I realized I was an actual GROWN UP. No longer could I party until 3am and still survive work the next day. No longer could I live off vodka tonics and Slim Fast bars and have energy and a decent waistline. The concept of disposable clothing from low-price retailers seemed to be stupid when I was shopping for furniture, cars, electronics.

And my skin… oh my skin was looking 30. 15 years of makeup, a decade of passing out before taking off my makeup and drinking more soda than water had taken its toll. My skin was suffering, and I felt guilty.

For at 30, I realized that you can be fired from a job, your house can be burned down, your spouse can leave you but you will always have your body. Fashions come and go, but great skin is always the best accessory. So starting on my 30th birthday and every year since, I have decided to forgo the fatty dinner, the late night of cocktails or even the pedicure and frappucino date with my best girlfriend for a present for my body.

My body, who made it through the flu, bounced back after a horrible sunburn after high school graduation, has stretched and receded with my weight gains and losses. My body that has become stronger and more flexible with yoga; that has healed miraculously well from injuries, lived through bad dye jobs, fake tans, crash diets and car accidents; that gets me from Point A to Point B with relative ease; is beautiful not despite but because of its freckles, scars from life experiences and the not-so-perfect tattoo I got in college. My body, that works harder than any electronic in my home and spends more time with me than my husband. My body deserves a freaking award, let alone a present to celebrate our anniversary on this planet together.

For my 30th, I went through the product review issues of InStyle and Allure and made a list of items I would usually never purchase but always coveted. The eye cream that so-and-so uses, the blush that every makeup artist has in his train case, the must-have designer lipstick for the season, the styling cream that will make my locks like Gisele’s. I spent as much as I would on an evening celebrating my best friend’s birthday. Because come on, your body should be your best friend.

Each year I look forward to this new ritual; I plot out my purchase or spa treatment, I prep for the day with lots of water, sleep and babying of my face. I switch out the razor, my toothbrush and contacts for fresh ones in honor of the event. The night before my birthday I celebrate with a bubble bath and the best exfoliation and treatment of my skin known to man (and possible in my tiny bathroom). I empty out my linen closet, medicine cabinet and makeup case; wipe them down and replace items one-by-one, reassessing their importance in my life and tossing those that are not up to snuff.

Seems like… work? Maybe, but think what you would do to host your best friend’s birthday in your home, what you go through to prepare for your wedding day, the effort you exude to prepare for a large holiday meal with plenty of guests. Why is it that we women will work our hands to the bone for the entertainment and comfort of others, and find ourselves having no time to properly care for ourselves?

A birthday is an accepted day to be considered “selfish.” Take advantage of it by making it a day where you care for yourself. Love yourself, pamper yourself within your budget, and don’t succumb to social events out of guilt (we all have done things we didn’t want to do on our birthday for fear of looking ungrateful; how silly is that?).

My birthday is next week; I saved up all year for my present to myself (which I will be providing in a review within the week) and have informed all my loved ones that this weekend I will be playing it low-key, getting enough sleep, enough water, a clean face and night cream before bed and time to care for myself and thank my body for all it has gone through these 30-something years.

Wednesday

Cold but sunny, and had to take a long lunch for my uncle's funeral at Arlington Cemetary (he passed a couple of months ago). So needed something nicer looking, work-appropriate, layers for warmth during an outside ceremony and shoes that could handle lots of walking.

Purple merino dress from Goodwill, brown suede slouch boots from Silhouettes, green pashmina from Nordstrom, silver cuff.

Hair is second day; blew all straight with my round brush (luggage arrived by time I got home and in perfect condition!).

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 as concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Body Shop eyecolor in Fawn on lid and along lower lash line, Cover Girl LashBlast in black on curled lashes and a layer of Imju Fiberwig over it. On lips is Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Afterglow.

The ceremony was very beautiful and moving; my uncle would have loved it. It was a nice sunny day so I was able to test drive my new sunglasses.

Dress Your Age, Not Your Shoe Size

I hate too many rules with fashion – it takes the fun out of it. I don’t think a certain age requires one to have a certain length of hair or skirt, and heck I think diamonds are too pretty to only wear in evening and when older. However, I think some fashion guidelines are created to help us from looking like fools.

Last week I was crossing the street in Washington D.C. and in front of me was a woman in a full-length mink coat and a shoulder-length sandy-colored bob. She was wearing black pants, black heels, had a very large black handbag and was walking with purpose. From the back, I assumed she was a successful and powerful woman in her late 40s to early 50s. At the intersection she went left when I went right and I was able to see the front of her and was utterly shocked to see this woman was in fact younger than I – probably early to mid 20s with a fresh face and a baby pink cashmere turtleneck.

This weekend I visited Miami, the land of flamboyant dress. I saw so many women of all ages strutting their stuff – be it money, creativity, fashion sense, love of a Bedazzler. What made many of these women great was that they wore their confidence as loudly as they did their gem-encrusted lounge suits. It isn’t my personal desire to wear lamé tunics and appliquéd jeans, but I respect these women’s desires – their style is appropriate for their environment and lifestyle and most had colors that flattered, cuts that fit and accessories to tell a little about the woman inside.

However I did also see quite a travesty while on my vacation – women dressing as children. My sister and I saw a woman at the Bal Harbour Shops in a pink spandex tube top riddled with beading and sequins, a white cotton ruffled micro-mini skirt, pink metallic wedges to match her pink metallic lips, and extensions that put Paris and Brit to shame. It was the look of a Bratz doll and was being worn by a woman in her 40s. Nothing wrong with a passion for pink and all things girly, but on this woman it looked like a costume… and it looked ridiculous. Later we saw a woman with her children who had a teased ponytail on top of her head, sequin-embellished cropped jeans, metallic heels with satin bows on them and pink glitter all over her eyes and lips. Her daughters were dressed similarly – too cute on a four-year old, but a bit desperate on the 30-something mom.

No one is saying you have to toss your Levis for wool gabardine once you hit 40, or that only “ladies of a certain age” can wear jewels, it is just being true to yourself. A four-year old dresses with what is shiny and fun, not needing to find clothing as a uniform, a social norm or communication device. The older we are, the more our clothing multi-tasks and is an extension of our personality and lifestyle. Our wardrobe needs to be as multi-faceted as our personality. Just as I recently made mention of animal-shaped hats and cartoon tees, wearing clothing obviously too old or young for you confuses those who meet you, not understanding your true nature and often pre-judging you. Dressing too adult can make you seem boring, old-fashioned, unstylish, uptight. Dressing too young can make you look unintelligent, superficial, promiscuous, annoying. It is possible to seem youthful and creative without raiding your daughter’s closet, and to look classic and conservative without dressing like your mother.

How to Add Youth to a Conservative Wardrobe:
Play With Color. Instead of donning neutrals and black, add some cheer to the mix. Pastels are feminine and subtle and great compliments to gray, camel and brown. Muted jewel tones like berry, teal and plum add class to a simple look and flatter most any skintone.

Walk the Mall. We often get comfortable with the brands we shop at; maybe we choose Boutique B because they have conservative hemlines and classic lines. The thing is you can often find items that fit your sense of style in unexpected shops. A classic pencil skirt could be found at Old Navy, a great suit in J. Crew, a lovely trench in Bebe. Be honest with the salesperson about your style and needs so you don’t waste either of your time.

Simple and Fresh. Keeping your hair and makeup simple, clean and fresh will help show your youthful side. Over-polished hair styles and matte makeup ages anyone.

How to Make a Whimsical Wardrobe Age-Appropriate:
Respect Hemlines. A skirt that is too short is flattering on no-one. Keep your hemlines just above your knee and you will flatter your legs and still look youthful. Keep this in mind also for shorts.

Leave Some to the Imagination. Short skirt, tight belly-baring top AND a low neckline? This is too much on anyone, no matter her age or figure. Choose one body part you wish to highlight, be is your fabulous décolleté, great gams, or a strong back. As for belly-baring tops, outside of a gym or beach they usually look contrived and desperate. We can tell you have a six-pack by your silhouette, it doesn’t have to be on display.

Channel Chanel. Coco Chanel once said, “Before leaving the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.” No one would ever find Chanel to be boring or fitting a mold. If you have on bracelets, large earrings, several necklaces, sunglasses, six chunky rings, a hip belt, a scarf and a headband… you look like a fashion victim, not an artist. You can still show your sense of whimsy or creativity with less embellishment. A strong necklace can be far more telling than a ring on every finger, a great bangle made by an artist or picked up on vacation holds far more interest than a mess of necklaces from any old mall store. You will receive more compliments and inquiries into your look or accessory if it gracefully holds the spotlight and doesn’t fight for it.

New Year, New Contests - Part 4

Congratulations to Kristen from the US for winning the Darphin Toning Oil! So many of you applied; Kristin you better come back and let us know what you thought of the product! :-)


This week's prize is from a company I reviewed before - ALIZA DARIK. Known for sassy and well-made shoe clips, ALIZA DARIK has now branched out the line to include other accessories such as necklaces.

This prize is for the ALIZA DARIK "Belize" necklace, valued at $70. Details from their website:

'Belize' Green Jade Long Pendant Necklace
Long pendant necklace. Faceted Green Dyed Jade Disc Pendant. 22Kt Gold Plated 33"L Chain. Lobster Claw Clasp. Semi-precious pendant: 1 5/8"D.

Green is such a big color right now and through spring - this necklace will really jazz up your whole wardrobe and make it fun and modern. I love long necklaces - they really elongate the body and neck and look great with dresses and hip-length and longer tops.

How to Win:
Send an email to me with "Necklace" in the subject and your name and mailing address in the body. This contest is open to all - international readers are included! Emails must be received by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 29th 2008. The winner will be notified on the 23rd and the product will be mailed out that same week. As always, email and mailing addresses and names are never shared, sold or distributed. Winner is chosen by random, but entries without mailing address will be invalid.

Tuesday

What does Allie look like without brushes, styling tools, styling products, her shoes, and 90% of her cosmetics collection? Now you know!

Purple "Dream" sweater from J. Crew, denim trousers from Gap, black lowrise "Chucks" from Converse, silver cuff, white gold and diamond studs and necklace from the hubby.

Hair washed and conditioned, a bit of John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Starlit Waves added while damp, bangs dried by tugging on them while hitting witht he dryer, rest left to air dry.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3, Nars blush in Orgasm, Body Shop eyecolor in Fawn, Benefit Bad Gal mascara, a bit of black eye definer from The Body Shop.

Eh, for the best. Spilled out on my sweater and it has started raining so I am dressed accordingly!

Saturday - Monday in Miami

Hello all! I am back from Miami. Due to the weather I am not sporting much of a sunkissed glow (it rained, it was cloudy, it was horrifically windy and never over 70 degrees or so) but we had fun.

For those who don't know, I won this trip from Budget Travel magazine. I have been to Florida many times, but not to Miami. As that the reason I won the contest involved my sister and our vacation traditions I took her as my guest. We also planned it so that this trip fell on her birthday weekend!

Saturday morning, I took the Metro to Regan airport. I took a black pullman to check, and my HARDWARE Handbags and purse for carry-on.

I wore my black merino crewneck, orange crinkled scarf/shawl from Banana Republic, my dark denim skirt from Gap, my tan "bern" boots from Duo, silver cuff. Hair was washed and conditioned but left to air dry except for the bangs. Makeup was simple - L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon Shiny Sheers in Sheer Cocoa Glaze and Cover Girl Lash Blast in Black on curled lashes.

We arrived at the hotel (located in Bal Harbour) around 3pm, got ourselves settled and switched into bathing suits and semi-streetwear to investigate the pool and beach. I wore my aqua halter-neck one-piece from J. Crew, my dark denim skirt and a jade green scoop tee from Gap with black flops from J. Crew. We walked to the beach, but it was so late in the day the highrises were blocking most of the sun. We dipped our feet in the Atlantic, and then spent a bit at the pool deck near the bar just people watching.

We then took a nap to prepare for our evening out. I showered and decided to wear my hair wavy, but the water in Miami was different from at home and I forgot my shampoo and used the hotel one so my hair was very limp. I ended up curling almost the whole thing, doing some backcombing and creative techniques to make it decent.

Gold and olive silk dress with pockets from Banana Republic (but purchased for far less on eBay), black croco peeptoes from BCBGirls, long gold necklace from Express, gold bangles from Ralph Lauren, gold hoops.

Makeup was Smashbox Photo Finish primer, L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Body Shop eyecolor in Slate over lid and the black shade from the Pop Beauty for Brown Eyes set in crease and along lash lines. Lashes curled, two coats of Cover Girl Lash Blast in black with two coats of Imju Fiberwig over it. Bit of Sephora eye pencil in grey along lash lines. On lips was Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Glossy Rose.

We walked across the street from our hotel to the Bal Harbour Shops where the restaurant was located. We had a nice meal, did a lot of people watching and had a lovely bottle of champagne. After dinner, we caught a cab down to the nightclub which was closer to South Beach. We had VIP seating, which meant we had a seat in the center of the club where there was a section of white vinyl couches. They brought us a bottle of champagne and strawberries and again we had an awesome time people watching, and then dancing a bit. We're not used to partying until 6am, so we headed out around 2:00.

The next morning it was raining, the wind was INSANE and it was the actual day of my sister's birthday so we ordered Room Service for breakfast. We sat in front of the balcony overlooking the ocean, ate yummy food (felt very Sex in the City... you ladies know which episode) and watched that TLC reality show about Miss America.

The rain let up and we had some mandatory shopping to do so we got dressed. I didn't do my hair from the night before because it was acting so strange; I just brushed out any tangles.

As for outfit, my trusty black merino shift from Banana Republic, my tan "Bern" boots from Duo, silver hoops and cuff bracelet.

Makeup was L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners, khaki on lid, chocolate in crease and along lash lines. Lashes curled and two coats of Cover Girl Lash Blast in black. On lips was Revlon Shiny Sheers in Sheer Cocoa Glaze.

The mall was ridiculous; honestly I had a hard time spending the gift card. We first went to Tiffany because my sister received a gift she wanted to exchange. She got a gorgeous enamel necklace and I used some of the gift card to cover the difference. We then walked the two flights seeing it more like a museum than an actual shopping mall. Chanel, Versace, Dior, Oscar, Fendi, Hermes, Prada... the gift card could maybe buy me a keychain in these places...

They had a Banana Republic and ya'll KNOW how much I love that store! I thought wow, for almost $500 I could totally buy everything I hearted in the place, or maybe a new purse! Notsomuch; the store was kinda messy, very few items in my size and a lot of the new clothing looks prettier on the hanger than on my bod. I ended up leaving with a $9 clearance sweater and an $18 black cami. I know, boring.

I decided my best bet was either a sale purse (because these stores had purses around $1,500, not $500) or sunglasses and then spend the rest on cosmetics. I tried on sunglasses in every boutique and all looked stupid. This is probably why in the past five years the only sunglasses I have worn are crappy cheap ones from the kiosk in the mall or Target - sunglasses are usually too big, too small, or too rounded for my large and not round head.

Until Celine.

We went into Celine and I tried on THE SUNGLASSES. Not super flashy with logos, not overly trendy and obviously passe by next summer, not too round, too big, too small, too manly, too girly, too trendy. Just right. To add to it, the salesperson was one of the first who treated us nicely, and not like street urchins. I bought them!

We had shopped until we almost dropped so we headed out to our next destination - massages! My sister's friends bought her a gift certificate to a day spa near our hotel for her birthday gift and so I asked my mom if my birthday gift could be a gift certificate towards the price of a massage so we could get them at the same time. The spa didn't look too impressive, but my sister and I agree we received some of the best massages ever.

After our massages, the weather had gotten far colder. We caught a cab back to our hotel and changed for dinner.

Black cami from Banana Republic, black merino crewneck from Banana Republic, dark "The Flirt" bootcut jeans from Old Navy tucked into my tan "Bern" boots from Duo, orange silk crinkle scarf from Banana Republic, hair held back with my new Celine sunglasses. Makeup the same except for touchups, hair the same (and now kinda greasy from the massage).

We walked to Surfside and ate at an adorable sushi place that was full of friendly staff, happy locals and good food at a good price. We shared a variety of sushi and sashima and each had a nice glass of Pinot Noir to warm us up. After, we ran across the street to CVS for bottled water at non-hotel prices and were psyched to see they sold champagne there! We grabbed a bottle of Freixenet and headed back to the hotel.

The wind was INSANE at this point and we often walked backwards so we didn't get sand in our eyes. Once back, we each settled in our beds (the beds at the hotel were sooo comfy!) with glasses of bubbly and watched Extreme Home Makeover. Glamorous, no? Didn't matter, we had a great time, gabbed and giggled.

Monday we got up and were both sore from the massages so did a bit of yoga and then got ready for our day. It was still rainy and windy so we couldn't go to the beach. Anyway, I still had money to spend on the gift card so we had to return to the mall.

I had showered the night before and let my hair air dry. As for makeup, it was exactly the same as the day prior.

For clothing, I wore my olive linen shift from Old Navy, my Duo boots, my orange crinkle scarf, silver cuff and hoops.

Then I went out on the balcony.

Oh

My

Goodness!

The wind was INSANE! I decided to put my Old Navy jeans on under the dress and boots so if my skirt flew up in the wind, I would be covered. This was also a good idea as that this is what I would be wearing on my flight home and it was about 20 degrees back in DC.

I decided to spend the bulk of the rest on a perfume. I have been wearing Burberry London for a very long time and love it, but was ready for a change. I already know what I wanted - Narciso Rodriguez for Her. I had received a sample at Sephora and had been coveting it ever since. We went to Saks and bought it up. We them went to a cafe for late breakfast/early lunch. I decided to sport my new sunglasses perrched on top of my head.

Sitting at the table (it is in a sheltered outdoor part of the mall) I felt something fall on then off my head. I look down and see a piece of metal. Pick it up and it says, "Celine." It was part of my sunglasses! I grab the pair and realize the plastic part was cracked and the metal fell off and couldn't be reattached. What the heck!?!? Glad that this happened while still in Miami, we headed back to the store after lunch.

OMG, I am so glad this happened in Miami and not back home. The DRAMA it took to exchange out these darn sunglasses for a replacement pair (and can I say the saleswoman remembered me from the previous day as well?) was horrific and left the worst taste in my and my sister's mouths. I have worked retail and KNOW that it didn't have to be so difficult. This plus drama I didn't even mention the day prior when trying to use the gift card in their store... I won't go into details, just letting you know I have received better service at Express, at Forever 21, at H&M and even The Gap in the same mall on the same day than I did at Celine and someone at their corporate office will receive my complaint, whether or not it will do any good.

So after what felt more like work than play at Bal Harbour Shops, we walked back to the hotel to have a pre-flight cocktail and then catch a cab to the airport. No time for the drinky-poo which was probably good because we were both grumpy and tired by this point.

We got to the airport, which is one of the most confusing and smelly airports I have visited; checked our luggage and headed to our gate where there weren't enough seats so we ended up sitting on the floor in a busy thoroughfare. Oh, and it was like 80 degrees and humid in the airport and smelled like manure. This picture sums up our feelings by this point, and also shows off my new sunglasses and my sister's new Tiffany necklace.

Got home (yay!) to find out they lost my luggage (boo!) but they found it this morning (pending yay; haven't seen its condition yet... to be delivered to my house and I'll check it out this evening). Looking forward to the luggage coming back - thinking about it on the Metro home I wasn't tooo sad because really everything is replaceable or expendable that was in there except my black merino shift from Banana Republic - I do love that thing. And I wanted to wear my new perfume and give my husband the shirt I bought him. Also made getting ready today SUCK because in the suitcase was almost all my makeup, my shoes, my curling iron, both my brushes, my Jonathan Silky Dirt, my best nude bra, my deodorant, my toothbrush... I could go on but you get the idea!

Friday

Sorry so late. So Friday... hard to remember after my weekend! I believe it was very very cold and slushy and gross. On top of that, I broke the heel on my Impo city boots and am still hobbling a bit from the broken toe. Didn't make for a fashion plate sort of day!

Teal scoop tee from Gap, teal merino bateau neck sweater from Banana Republic, Gap Curvy Bootcut jeans, black lowrise "Chucks" from Converse, silver cuff and hoops.

Hair is second day; got a bit damp the night before from drizzle and the morning from the shower. Scrunched and dried with dryer, using curling iron for frizzy parts. Jonathan Silky Dirt twirled around sections.

philosophy The Supernatural foundation in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Stila Lip Glaze in... a pink I cannot recall offhand, Cover Girl Lash Blast in black on curled lashes and that's about it!

That night, I finally put the Christmas decorations in the attic and packed for my trip the next day. The husband came home from his business trip, we watched How to Look Good Naked, drank wine and went to bed early.

Thursday

Today I knew it was going to snow and possibly be icy; also had to get to work early because a platform I use for my job was being wacko last night and I couldn't get my tasks completed before leaving work. And... my feet hurt from yesterday and wanted something comfy.

Burgundy merino shift from Banana Republic (this is a week of red), black thermal top from Old Navy, black heavy tights from Target, tan "Bern" boots from Duo, silver cuff.

Hair was washed and conditioned the night before and a bit of curling mousse from Got2B was added. This morning, took large sections around the curling iron and used the iron to straighten bangs. Finger comb.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners and along brow bone, khaki on lid, chocolate in crease and along lash lines. Lashes curled and applied CoverGirl LashBlast in black. On lips is Nars lipcolor in Dolce Vita.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Sorry about yesterday... it was very busy at work and next thing I knew I was on the Metro home and hadn't posted my outfit! Then my hubby took the laptop on his business trip... well you get two days in one. I also think it's funny because not until I uploaded the pics to my computer did I realize both days were all black and red. Sort of a theme...

Yesterday I wore a red silk jersey puff-sleeved surplice top from Banana Republic, black cami from Victoria's Secret, black wool blend trousers from Ann Taylor Loft and black city boots from Impo. Gold hoops and gold bangles from Ralph Lauren.

Hair was washed and conditioned, a bit of Jonathan Silky Dirt added while damp and blown dry with a paddle brush and then a round brush for the ends.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Cover Girl LashBlust in black on curled lashes, Maybelline UltraLiner in black on tht etop lash line and Revlon ColorStay Lipcolor in Real Raisin.

Today is another day of red. Red crepe jersey dress from Maggy London, black tights from Target, black "Zampa" patent Mary Janes from Nine West.

Hair is second day. Finger combed, blew the bangs straight, that's about it.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners and brow bone, khaki on lid, chocolate in crease and along lash lines. Lashes curled, two coats of Cover Girl LashBlast in black. On lips is Neutrogena Soothing Lipsheer in Plum Kiss.

And yes, these are new shoes (these are the ones we were discussing, Tonya). I have coveted these for a while at Nordstrom and after some sleuthing online, found them for half the price at Nordstrom on a site called 6pm.com. The site was easy to navigate, the shoes arrived in less than a week and were well packaged and all in all I am a happy camper... except that I wore these on the wrong day.

Today a Metro train broke down and there were major delays, packed cars and a lot of cars just standing still during issues. A normal 40 minute commute took well over an hour and all of it took place with me smashed into people and standing up. Did I mention I broke/sprained a toe last weekend? Yeppers, by time I got to my office building I was hobbling and I am typing this in my stockinged feet. I think these shoes will be jsut fine once I put in some Foot Petals and let my toe heal!