May 28, 2010
May 26, 2010
Recently...
Don't forget to enter my contest to win a dress from House of Plum Red!
Recently I have done some shopping.
In stores.
Seriously, I never go shopping in person any more. Having Emerson and a full time job and a husband who I adore and love hanging out with (and who hates shopping), my life is planned on the Internet. Everything except groceries is bought online.
I personally like it better non-crinkly (especially since the crinkling falls out with wear). The dress is fully lined, completely covered the boobs (maybe not work appropriate but great for anywhere else). I think this dress is great for barbecues with flip flops, but would also be lovely for a summer wedding if the flops were switched out with proper heeled sandals. I got a bunch of compliments and my husband said I looked gorgeous. Win!
Do know the bodice lining is showing due to a baby pressed against my bust, not due to poor construction of the dress. And sorry, only pic I have of me in the dress from the day...
Monday I was supposed to go to traffic court but my conscience got the better of me. See, less than a week after my birthday I got pulled over at 6:00am for running a stop sign in a Metro parking lot. When the Transit Cop (yeah, not regular cop) took my license, he realized that my license expired on my birthday. Fabulous. So I got almost $200 worth of tickets for a 3-day expired license and running a stop sign in a virtually empty parking lot.
Well I decided to go to court, hoping the cop wouldn't show up. As time went by, I got notification on the ticket for the stop sign, but never for the expired license (I went two days later and got it renewed). I checked online, they only had record of the stop sign ticket. And well... I DID run that stop sign (well I slowed down...). So the date of my court hearing was coming and I chickened out. I couldn't go and lie to a judge, and what if the cop DID show up - Metro is hurting for money. So I paid it. But I still had the day off work. So I went shopping.
I finally got Emerson's baby announcement custom framed (it came with an 11"x17" poster version of the announcement). I bought some frames to work on decorating the master bedroom. I looked in various stores for a mirror that would look right in the nursery. And, I looked for clothes for me.
I wasn't looking for day-to-day clothes, but proper attire for the Bonnaroo Music Festival. I know before I mentioned that I found THE ULTIMATE ROO DRESS at Old Navy. Well, notsomuch. The XL was humongous on me. By time the Large was back in stock and I received it, I realized the dress is ridiculously sheer. Like so sheer you could see my belly button through the dark purple one. Boo. So I have been freaking out for Roo clothes. In a panic, I got the ivory version of my navy maxi dress from Gap. I look like butt in off-white, and this dress doesn't seem to fit quite as well as the navy one but I felt desperate. I took two dresses from '08 Bonnaroo that don't fit in the bust and cut off the straps to make them skirts. Not a good look on me (tank and full skirt) but I figured it was better than nothing and I couldn't afford or justify spending a lot of money on Roo attire.
Well Monday I went to Ross and wow. Seriously, if you are looking for some cute sundresses head thee to Ross! I tried on 27 dresses, and most of them were at least halfway decent on me. I was thisclose to buying two super cute matte jersey maxi dresses - one was a gorgeous shade of purple and had a silhouette similar to the one from Target that I wore Saturday. Another was a red and black zebra print that actually was wearable sans bra thanks to padded inserts in the bodice. The thing was... I don't have a life to wear sexy matte jersey maxi dresses. They weren't work appropriate, I don't have any weddings or bachelorette parties or Girls Night Outs on the books. And if I did, I could wear my new dress from Tarjay or my LBD from Ann Taylor that I bought last year.
But I did get a cute blue print maxi dress from She's Cool that I can wear sans bra and rock at Bonnaroo. I also got a gauzy black calf-length sundress that has straps just wide enough to cover my bra straps (don't remember brand). The dresses were only $12.99 each. Rock on! I think I may return the off-white Gap maxi dress now, and I may keep trolling Ross to see if I can get another dress just like the blue one but in a different print (I need an XL and I found shorter ones in XL that weren't quite right, or the longer version in L or 1X).
So it's kind of exciting to have a nice pile growing for Bonnaroo and a few new pieces in my closet. Also I have lost a bit more weight recently so the 14 regular white Gap pants from last year are snug but work and the 16s are loose, but good casual pants with a fitted top. And best thing - neither are too short any more. Wow, this crazy ever-changing postpartum bod!
Oh yeah, other outfits from recent...
Monday I wore the new Tarjay dress when shopping. Yeah I heart it that much.
Tuesday I was back to work and I wore my turquoise dolman top from Kenneth Cole with winter white trousers from Talbots and a turquoise multi-strand necklace from a boutique in Rehoboth Beach.
Today I am wearing a purple print blouson-sleeve shift dress from Ann Taylor Loft with my Duo boots and turquoise necklace.
May 25, 2010
Don't Take it Literally
I think the best fashion trend over the past decade or so has been the freedom to not match. I am not saying mixing plaids with paisleys and polka-dots, but by adding an unexpected item to an outfit to make it less matchy-matchy and surprisingly more cohesive.
Adding green snakeskin peeptoes with a brown a purple print dress, cinching a floaty floral chiffon dress with a rustic worn leather best, softening a conservative pinstriped pantsuit with a frilly silk camisole, pairing a girly dress with rugged chunky boots, pairing a sequined skirt with a denim jacket a ribbed tank. These are examples of taking an unexpected item, adding it to an outfit to make a unique and more stylish look.
The other day I was on the Metro and a woman entered the car. She had gorgeous silver-white hair cut into a crisp bob, and beautiful makeup that made her face glow and not look painted. She was wearing a well-tailored navy pantsuit with subtle pin-striping. The suit fit her perfectly, and looked as though it cost a pretty penny. With it she had on navy leather pumps with buckle detail, and a white silk knit surplice-neckline shell that had a navy chain pattern. Her purse was a navy shoulder bag with a buckle out of the same brushed silver metal seen on her shoes. A brushed silver watched peeked out from the cuff of her jacket.
This woman was obviously successful and financially comfortable. However her desire to match so perfectly cheapened her obviously expensive ensemble. The perfect matching of navy (which in itself is a true feat – matching navys deserves a Nobel prize) made her outfit look more flight attendant than Fortune 500. If she had not taken navy so literally and added a bit of unexpected color or texture to her ensemble, she would have looked more expensive, more confident, more youthful, and still as professional.
Adding one unexpected piece will add style, adding more can create a costume. In the words of Tim Gunn, “choose thoughtfully.” Try a contrast of textures for an easy way to be less literal with fashion – soft with structured, a chiffon blouse with tweed trousers, a leather biker jacket over a frothy frock, switching out your dress’ self belt with one made of leather or suede. Mixing of patterns takes a bit more care - a plum pinstriped pencil skirt with a teal paisley-printed cardigan can be fantastic, a purple rugby striped skirt with Kelly green paisley top can be a very bad acid trip.
To try out this trend, start small. Have your unexpected element be an accessory. A belt can make a huge impact without being too extreme or obvious. Add personality to your LBD with a clutch in an expected texture and hue. Instead of your go-to cardigan, top your dresses with denim or leather. Switch our your suit shells with a camisole in a feminine fabric or an unusual pop of color. And if this all seems too wacky and overwhelming, one can always choose the failsafe accessory – shoes. Animal prints are an unexpected neutral – a cheetah print can often replace tan or camel; pick it in suede or nubuck or with a wood heel to add even more interest. Some colors like red, green and purple are also unexpected neutrals. These colors on your feet can add a real pop of color and interest to a basic suit, dress, or even the standard Nite Out uniform of jeans and a black top.
As for the lady in navy, she could have switched the obvious choice of a navy and white shell for one in a complimentary color such a teal or berry. The shoes could have been a subtle change with camel or tan, or she could have added personality while still looking professional with a dark red hue. Handbags are a great place where one can show personality. Colors like mustard, aubergine, teal, olive, hunter, indigo, and merlot are colors that compliment many basic corporate colors, but don’t stand out or look too casual. These sorts of shades are great choices for handbags, shoes, belts and coats where you can add color and not lose your professional edge.
When you don’t take fashion so literally, you add your personality to your wardrobe. The unexpected addition to your ensemble will take your chain store items and give them a boutique look. It is the best way to take your wardrobe staples and alter them and make them stylish and on-trend.
The other day I was on the Metro and a woman entered the car. She had gorgeous silver-white hair cut into a crisp bob, and beautiful makeup that made her face glow and not look painted. She was wearing a well-tailored navy pantsuit with subtle pin-striping. The suit fit her perfectly, and looked as though it cost a pretty penny. With it she had on navy leather pumps with buckle detail, and a white silk knit surplice-neckline shell that had a navy chain pattern. Her purse was a navy shoulder bag with a buckle out of the same brushed silver metal seen on her shoes. A brushed silver watched peeked out from the cuff of her jacket.
This woman was obviously successful and financially comfortable. However her desire to match so perfectly cheapened her obviously expensive ensemble. The perfect matching of navy (which in itself is a true feat – matching navys deserves a Nobel prize) made her outfit look more flight attendant than Fortune 500. If she had not taken navy so literally and added a bit of unexpected color or texture to her ensemble, she would have looked more expensive, more confident, more youthful, and still as professional.
To try out this trend, start small. Have your unexpected element be an accessory. A belt can make a huge impact without being too extreme or obvious. Add personality to your LBD with a clutch in an expected texture and hue. Instead of your go-to cardigan, top your dresses with denim or leather. Switch our your suit shells with a camisole in a feminine fabric or an unusual pop of color. And if this all seems too wacky and overwhelming, one can always choose the failsafe accessory – shoes. Animal prints are an unexpected neutral – a cheetah print can often replace tan or camel; pick it in suede or nubuck or with a wood heel to add even more interest. Some colors like red, green and purple are also unexpected neutrals. These colors on your feet can add a real pop of color and interest to a basic suit, dress, or even the standard Nite Out uniform of jeans and a black top.
When you don’t take fashion so literally, you add your personality to your wardrobe. The unexpected addition to your ensemble will take your chain store items and give them a boutique look. It is the best way to take your wardrobe staples and alter them and make them stylish and on-trend.
May 18, 2010
Tuesday
Well today I am wearing a recycled outfit. Black Jones New York tee shirt dress, orange crinkle scarf from Banana Republic, tan Bern boots from DUO. Silver hoops and cuff. Only thing that makes it 2010 is my turquoise bead necklace and the need for Spanx Higher Power. But it’s cool to be able to wear this again (of course previous times I wore with this scarf I was pregnant but I have had this dress since 2008).
Makeup is super simple – DiorShow mascara, Philosophy The Supernatural Airbrushed Canvas powder foundation in Beige, and Nars The Multiple in South Beach on cheeks, eyes and lips. This is my 30-second face these days.
Hair is airdry – trying to train it for Bonnaroo. Washed, and then put in Jonathan Create Motion (which I got through BeautyFix and hadn’t yet tried). I scrunched and scrunched and then let the dogs out, did a couple crunches, went to Emerson when she woke. Nursed, changed her, brought her down to feed her breakfast. By time I was heading out the door, hair was dry and I sorta liked the end result. It’s not crunchy, but it’s not soft glossy ringlets like I get with Frederic Fekkai. Instead it’s a bit coarser, but it has more body and has held better through the day – more hippie/beachy looking.
This pic was taken at 4:45pm, so not too shabby of a hair product. It's rainy and icky here in DC and I have been wearing headsets and earphones almost all day. Pretty good hold, I will try this product again, and it may be my Roo hair product.
Speaking of BeautyFix... So this company offered me a free trial if I did a review (usually $25). I went through the process – explained my hair and skin type, and I picked my products to go in my kit. A week later I received a box full of cool stuff – full size products, and nice brands like Jonathan. So I am all about writing a review in thanks for the stuff. I email my contact with a couple questions – no response. So I email BeautyFix. No response. Hit them up again, and no response again. WTH?
So anyway, the concept is awesome. Tell them your beauty needs, pick from a boatload of cool stuff. Get a box of goodies and a really nice sized makeup bag (great for toiletries on vacation). Then review five items and get a gift card to Glow. You can do this once a quarter – try out goodies for this low price of $25. Supposedly if you refer people, you get credit towards a free quarterly goodie bag. Well this is what I can’t seem to figure out and the question which does not get an email response. And this annoys me to no end. It’s not like I am all about free stuff, it’s just basic good customer service.
Here’s the pack of goodies I got. Not too shabby, eh (the makeup bag is the gray and white thing in the background)? I am currently using the eye cream, the lash serum (to nourish and grow lashes), and today used the Jonathan mousse/gel stuff. I also have been using the Redpoint concealer trio and like it a lot – the tan color to the left is like the PERFECT color for my undereye dark circles and I blend the others to cover zits, blood vessels, etc. I think it blends well and actually like it better than my Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. I tried the Jonathan Root Lifting Spray and it’s really good if you have a pretty static hairstyle. Like if I used a Bump-it or something, it would help it look bumpy. If I was a bridesmaid and did some backcombing for lift before my perfectly coiffed half-updo, it would do a great job. And if I were a Playboy Playmate and needed something to keep my voluminous extensions looking perfectly tousled but weren’t going to touch the hair or get sweaty, it would do a great job. It doesn’t look glossy or sticky, it doesn’t meld the hair all together like Aqua Net, and it does a better job of actually lifting the roots than my Elnett. But once you move your hair, the magic is broken. And I am a person who flips her hair around a lot. But it doesn’t make my roots greasy after hair-flipping, which is a plus.
The 3Lab face wash is the one item in the goodie bag that I hate. It’s a thick cream that is gummy and there are so few exfoliating beads you think something is on your face, not that you are scrubbing. It takes forever to wash off and it irritated my eyes and even after tons of rinsing and using rose witch hazel after for toner, I can put on my night cream and still feel a weird mini-bead on my face, feeling like a grain of sand. I haven’t tried the mineral sun protection or the mask yet.
So if you are one who likes to try out new stuff, you may like BeautyFix. Just don’t send an email to their customer service department.
Makeup is super simple – DiorShow mascara, Philosophy The Supernatural Airbrushed Canvas powder foundation in Beige, and Nars The Multiple in South Beach on cheeks, eyes and lips. This is my 30-second face these days.
Hair is airdry – trying to train it for Bonnaroo. Washed, and then put in Jonathan Create Motion (which I got through BeautyFix and hadn’t yet tried). I scrunched and scrunched and then let the dogs out, did a couple crunches, went to Emerson when she woke. Nursed, changed her, brought her down to feed her breakfast. By time I was heading out the door, hair was dry and I sorta liked the end result. It’s not crunchy, but it’s not soft glossy ringlets like I get with Frederic Fekkai. Instead it’s a bit coarser, but it has more body and has held better through the day – more hippie/beachy looking.
This pic was taken at 4:45pm, so not too shabby of a hair product. It's rainy and icky here in DC and I have been wearing headsets and earphones almost all day. Pretty good hold, I will try this product again, and it may be my Roo hair product.
Speaking of BeautyFix... So this company offered me a free trial if I did a review (usually $25). I went through the process – explained my hair and skin type, and I picked my products to go in my kit. A week later I received a box full of cool stuff – full size products, and nice brands like Jonathan. So I am all about writing a review in thanks for the stuff. I email my contact with a couple questions – no response. So I email BeautyFix. No response. Hit them up again, and no response again. WTH?
So anyway, the concept is awesome. Tell them your beauty needs, pick from a boatload of cool stuff. Get a box of goodies and a really nice sized makeup bag (great for toiletries on vacation). Then review five items and get a gift card to Glow. You can do this once a quarter – try out goodies for this low price of $25. Supposedly if you refer people, you get credit towards a free quarterly goodie bag. Well this is what I can’t seem to figure out and the question which does not get an email response. And this annoys me to no end. It’s not like I am all about free stuff, it’s just basic good customer service.
Here’s the pack of goodies I got. Not too shabby, eh (the makeup bag is the gray and white thing in the background)? I am currently using the eye cream, the lash serum (to nourish and grow lashes), and today used the Jonathan mousse/gel stuff. I also have been using the Redpoint concealer trio and like it a lot – the tan color to the left is like the PERFECT color for my undereye dark circles and I blend the others to cover zits, blood vessels, etc. I think it blends well and actually like it better than my Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. I tried the Jonathan Root Lifting Spray and it’s really good if you have a pretty static hairstyle. Like if I used a Bump-it or something, it would help it look bumpy. If I was a bridesmaid and did some backcombing for lift before my perfectly coiffed half-updo, it would do a great job. And if I were a Playboy Playmate and needed something to keep my voluminous extensions looking perfectly tousled but weren’t going to touch the hair or get sweaty, it would do a great job. It doesn’t look glossy or sticky, it doesn’t meld the hair all together like Aqua Net, and it does a better job of actually lifting the roots than my Elnett. But once you move your hair, the magic is broken. And I am a person who flips her hair around a lot. But it doesn’t make my roots greasy after hair-flipping, which is a plus.
The 3Lab face wash is the one item in the goodie bag that I hate. It’s a thick cream that is gummy and there are so few exfoliating beads you think something is on your face, not that you are scrubbing. It takes forever to wash off and it irritated my eyes and even after tons of rinsing and using rose witch hazel after for toner, I can put on my night cream and still feel a weird mini-bead on my face, feeling like a grain of sand. I haven’t tried the mineral sun protection or the mask yet.
So if you are one who likes to try out new stuff, you may like BeautyFix. Just don’t send an email to their customer service department.
May 14, 2010
So Glad it's Friday...
I have been feeling better about myself lately (except for last night when I was day before getting period and trying on clothes and feeling like a fat saggy pale whale). I feel far more zen, more connected, calmer, happier about me and my life. And I can’t figure out what is the difference.
With Bonnaroo less than a month away and a promotion at my job, my free time is going towards prepping for Bonnaroo. Organizing my group, seeking out clothes and camping supplies, checking out bands from the lineup I don’t know so well, downloading new tunes. When I get home, I enjoy my hour of time with Emerson before I put her to bed, and then I chill with my husband – he has been cooking and baking a lot, and the longer warmer days means we can often enjoy dinner outside and away from the television. Emerson’s molars are sticking out of her gums now, which means she is getting better sleep (and I am getting better sleep).
Ever since the My Morning Jacket concert, I have been in a better frame of mind. My husband mentioned it the other week, and people at work say I seem less stressed. I just had something click in my mind.
Emerson is going to be just fine. She has all she needs – loving parents, a safe home, lots of activities. Enough diapers and clothes and toys. She is developing just fine, and I don’t need to study for a degree to ensure that. If her clothes don’t match or her hair is still sticky from her gummy hands when she goes to bed… she won’t die. She can get a bath tomorrow. I have stopped visiting baby-related blogs and message boards because I don’t think they are helping me. I see nurseries that are far cooler than Emerson’s, babies with sweet curls and cute little dresses, moms showing off new cloth diapers and eco-friendly toys that I covet. People complain about how hard it is to be a parent, to nurse, to do cloth diaper laundry, to have a good relationship with their husband. They talk about how they constantly have to defend their desire to babywear, to nurse, to formula feed, to cosleep, to use a crib, to vaccinate, to not vaccinate. It’s exhausting… and it also makes me start seeing drama in my life that really isn’t there. Mob mentality.
My husband loves me. And he loves me more when I try less. He doesn’t want a mother, he wants a wife. I need to let things go. I need to trust him, and let him run the house while I am at work. So he doesn’t clean the same way I do – no one is getting a bacterial infection from a dust bunny. So he doesn’t always cook meals I like – well for years he has been dealing with my cooking and never a complaint. He always said how lucky he was to have a wife who loved cooking for him. Well I am darn lucky to have a husband who loves cooking for me too. I love knowing that the food I consume was made with such love.
I have a great job, great friends, great family. The rest is gravy and the rest is unimportant.
I feel like a freaking hippie. But is that so bad? I feel positive, loving, sharing. And since I have turned that corner, I also seem far more connected to myself. I care more about what I look like and have a bit more creativity with my wardrobe. I want to write on this blog more, and less on my baby blog. I want to write again, and I think I have interesting things to say.
A couple weeks ago at my women’s group I brought up my blogging. I said during the discussion that I wondered if I was neglecting this blog and Wardrobe Oxygen because I didn’t feel that passion any more. Maybe it was time to change directions. Maybe I had a less-than-perfect birthing experience because I am supposed to use it to educate fellow women. Maybe my job now is to teach people how easy it is to cloth diaper, the options for pregnancy and childbirth, etc.
The next morning I woke up and knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I want to support other women who follow that passion, but my passion is still for fashion. This past year and a half has been such a crazy time. My life completely changed with the birth of Emerson. She is utterly glorious, but with it I lost my privacy, my personal time, my social life, my body, my direction. It has taken this year and a half to start reclaiming all of it, understanding how I still can have those things, but just in a different way. And that the happier and more connected I feel, the better of a mother and wife and friend and coworker I can be.
Now if I could just figure out how to squeeze five minutes with a self-timed camera on a tripod in an empty room every morning I could be better about posting on this blog!
Happy Friday everyone!
With Bonnaroo less than a month away and a promotion at my job, my free time is going towards prepping for Bonnaroo. Organizing my group, seeking out clothes and camping supplies, checking out bands from the lineup I don’t know so well, downloading new tunes. When I get home, I enjoy my hour of time with Emerson before I put her to bed, and then I chill with my husband – he has been cooking and baking a lot, and the longer warmer days means we can often enjoy dinner outside and away from the television. Emerson’s molars are sticking out of her gums now, which means she is getting better sleep (and I am getting better sleep).
Ever since the My Morning Jacket concert, I have been in a better frame of mind. My husband mentioned it the other week, and people at work say I seem less stressed. I just had something click in my mind.
Emerson is going to be just fine. She has all she needs – loving parents, a safe home, lots of activities. Enough diapers and clothes and toys. She is developing just fine, and I don’t need to study for a degree to ensure that. If her clothes don’t match or her hair is still sticky from her gummy hands when she goes to bed… she won’t die. She can get a bath tomorrow. I have stopped visiting baby-related blogs and message boards because I don’t think they are helping me. I see nurseries that are far cooler than Emerson’s, babies with sweet curls and cute little dresses, moms showing off new cloth diapers and eco-friendly toys that I covet. People complain about how hard it is to be a parent, to nurse, to do cloth diaper laundry, to have a good relationship with their husband. They talk about how they constantly have to defend their desire to babywear, to nurse, to formula feed, to cosleep, to use a crib, to vaccinate, to not vaccinate. It’s exhausting… and it also makes me start seeing drama in my life that really isn’t there. Mob mentality.
My husband loves me. And he loves me more when I try less. He doesn’t want a mother, he wants a wife. I need to let things go. I need to trust him, and let him run the house while I am at work. So he doesn’t clean the same way I do – no one is getting a bacterial infection from a dust bunny. So he doesn’t always cook meals I like – well for years he has been dealing with my cooking and never a complaint. He always said how lucky he was to have a wife who loved cooking for him. Well I am darn lucky to have a husband who loves cooking for me too. I love knowing that the food I consume was made with such love.
I have a great job, great friends, great family. The rest is gravy and the rest is unimportant.
I feel like a freaking hippie. But is that so bad? I feel positive, loving, sharing. And since I have turned that corner, I also seem far more connected to myself. I care more about what I look like and have a bit more creativity with my wardrobe. I want to write on this blog more, and less on my baby blog. I want to write again, and I think I have interesting things to say.
A couple weeks ago at my women’s group I brought up my blogging. I said during the discussion that I wondered if I was neglecting this blog and Wardrobe Oxygen because I didn’t feel that passion any more. Maybe it was time to change directions. Maybe I had a less-than-perfect birthing experience because I am supposed to use it to educate fellow women. Maybe my job now is to teach people how easy it is to cloth diaper, the options for pregnancy and childbirth, etc.
The next morning I woke up and knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I want to support other women who follow that passion, but my passion is still for fashion. This past year and a half has been such a crazy time. My life completely changed with the birth of Emerson. She is utterly glorious, but with it I lost my privacy, my personal time, my social life, my body, my direction. It has taken this year and a half to start reclaiming all of it, understanding how I still can have those things, but just in a different way. And that the happier and more connected I feel, the better of a mother and wife and friend and coworker I can be.
Now if I could just figure out how to squeeze five minutes with a self-timed camera on a tripod in an empty room every morning I could be better about posting on this blog!
Happy Friday everyone!
May 13, 2010
Loving Liner
If you have been visiting my blog for a long time, you will see that I love me some liquid liner. I love the crisp black line, I love how it makes my brown eyes have more impact, makes my average lashes look lush, love how liquid is less likely to smear when I rub my allergy-prone eyes and it's less likely to run or flake and irritate my contacts-wearing eyes.
I also like it because I can actually do it.
I haven't worn pencil liner since my freshman year of college, and back then I used to take a Maybelline kohl liner
in black and run it along the inner rims of my eyes - top and bottom. If it got smeary, that's fine. Then I would gob on the Max Factor 2000 Calorie
, add some Revlon Coffee Bean lipstick
and call it a day. But then, I had half my head shaved, wore Doc Martens 99% of the time and when you're 18 you can get away with a heck of a lot more.
I don't wear pencil liner because I can't get it to look good. I always look as though I applied it drunk while riding on a school bus down a rural road. I try a sharp point, warming the pencil, making dots and then connecting them, starting from the outer corners, using a Q-tip and every other tip they have in Allure magazine. I always look a mess.
I started trying liquid liner in college. My sophomore year roomate used it and she always looked so polished. I bought some L'Oreal liner and found it surprisingly easy. It worked like a Sharpie for me - close that one eye, draw, done. I remember practicing in my mirror - try holding the lid taut, try dotting it on, maybe a swoop at the edges for a cat eye effect... I did a lot of practice knowing how much pressure to use to get a nice line.
The L'Oreal liner was eventually discontinued and I switched to Maybelline's UltraLiner
. Maybelline's UltraLiner
gave me a great shiny, solid black line. A nice clean, polished look that I loved to wear with glossy pale lips and my Rachel hair-do. I liked a thicker line, and a look that would work through a double shift and a night at a bar and UltraLiner got the job done.
I got a makeover at the Trish McEvoy counter like a decade ago and they taught me how I can use dark shadow and a stiff brush and use that combo to line my eyes. After that I never again tried classic pencil eye liners. I was a huge fan of this, trying different colors and types of brushes for the right effect. I would even wet the brush to get a darker line, similar to a liquid liner but not as harsh.
For the past decade, I have switched between a subtle smokey eye of various hues with using eye shadows as liner, contour and color; and liquid liner with a pretty neutral lid. And I have pretty much stuck with Maybelline UltraLiner. I found other liquid liners to not be as thick of a formula and would end up making uneven lines, thin translucent lines, would get caught in thin skin and make a mistake. The felt-tip style pens always seemed rough on my lids, I preferred the brush styles because they would glide. UltraLiner is thick like paint so it didn't dribble and I could get the look I desired with one stroke.
Lately I have been wanting to use products that aren't as chemical-laden as before. Wanting a "healthy" liquid liner is hard. I was trying to make do with a wet brush and black shadow, but found that when I had itchy eyes or teared up at a Kodak commercial I ended up looking like Tammy Faye. I had tried cream or gel liners before (some department store brands, L'Oreal H.I.P
) and always found them messy. I decided to try Bare Escentuals' Buxom Liner
because I like the brand, and I know they don't use quite as many scary chemicals as other brands. Might as well try...
I tried a liner brush I once got free in a Sephora brush kit
and it made a total mess and I hated the product. Switched to an old lip liner brush from Garden Botanika (tres old - I worked there for the 1995 Christmas season!) and found love. The stiffer brush helped me get a straight line with first swipe.
I apply my shadow, and then curl and coat my lashes with mascara. By curling my lashes and applying mascara, my lashes are pulled away from my lid so I have a bit of a ridge between lashes and lid where the liner can fit. I tap the brush into the pot, then wipe it along the rim so that the brush has a good coating, but is pressed thin and flat. I close my lid and follow the lash line. I start in the center of the lid and work to the outer corner. Then I come back and make a thin line near the inner corner (though not quite that deep) and graduate to match the medium sized line in the center of the eye. I always do better on my right eye because I am right handed. I do the right eye first so I can look at it for reference and inspiration. The left eye is a bit more dotting and filling in the dots and then smoothing with the brush to have it match the right eye. Right eye I could do without a mirror, left eye there's no way in heck I could.
So anyway, there's the history of my love affair with liner! Hope it helps and let me know if I can add any more details!
I also like it because I can actually do it.
I haven't worn pencil liner since my freshman year of college, and back then I used to take a Maybelline kohl liner
in black and run it along the inner rims of my eyes - top and bottom. If it got smeary, that's fine. Then I would gob on the Max Factor 2000 Calorie, add some Revlon Coffee Bean lipstick and call it a day. But then, I had half my head shaved, wore Doc Martens 99% of the time and when you're 18 you can get away with a heck of a lot more.
Sorority Bid Day, Angst-ridden Winona-wannabe High Schooler, High School Senior Year Yearbook Photo. All with various intensities of black kohl liner
I don't wear pencil liner because I can't get it to look good. I always look as though I applied it drunk while riding on a school bus down a rural road. I try a sharp point, warming the pencil, making dots and then connecting them, starting from the outer corners, using a Q-tip and every other tip they have in Allure magazine. I always look a mess.
I started trying liquid liner in college. My sophomore year roomate used it and she always looked so polished. I bought some L'Oreal liner and found it surprisingly easy. It worked like a Sharpie for me - close that one eye, draw, done. I remember practicing in my mirror - try holding the lid taut, try dotting it on, maybe a swoop at the edges for a cat eye effect... I did a lot of practice knowing how much pressure to use to get a nice line.
The L'Oreal liner was eventually discontinued and I switched to Maybelline's UltraLiner
. Maybelline's UltraLiner gave me a great shiny, solid black line. A nice clean, polished look that I loved to wear with glossy pale lips and my Rachel hair-do. I liked a thicker line, and a look that would work through a double shift and a night at a bar and UltraLiner got the job done.I got a makeover at the Trish McEvoy counter like a decade ago and they taught me how I can use dark shadow and a stiff brush and use that combo to line my eyes. After that I never again tried classic pencil eye liners. I was a huge fan of this, trying different colors and types of brushes for the right effect. I would even wet the brush to get a darker line, similar to a liquid liner but not as harsh.
For the past decade, I have switched between a subtle smokey eye of various hues with using eye shadows as liner, contour and color; and liquid liner with a pretty neutral lid. And I have pretty much stuck with Maybelline UltraLiner
. I found other liquid liners to not be as thick of a formula and would end up making uneven lines, thin translucent lines, would get caught in thin skin and make a mistake. The felt-tip style pens always seemed rough on my lids, I preferred the brush styles because they would glide. UltraLiner is thick like paint so it didn't dribble and I could get the look I desired with one stroke.
) and always found them messy. I decided to try Bare Escentuals' Buxom Liner because I like the brand, and I know they don't use quite as many scary chemicals as other brands. Might as well try...I tried a liner brush I once got free in a Sephora brush kit
and it made a total mess and I hated the product. Switched to an old lip liner brush from Garden Botanika (tres old - I worked there for the 1995 Christmas season!) and found love. The stiffer brush helped me get a straight line with first swipe.I apply my shadow, and then curl and coat my lashes with mascara. By curling my lashes and applying mascara, my lashes are pulled away from my lid so I have a bit of a ridge between lashes and lid where the liner can fit. I tap the brush into the pot
, then wipe it along the rim so that the brush has a good coating, but is pressed thin and flat. I close my lid and follow the lash line. I start in the center of the lid and work to the outer corner. Then I come back and make a thin line near the inner corner (though not quite that deep) and graduate to match the medium sized line in the center of the eye. I always do better on my right eye because I am right handed. I do the right eye first so I can look at it for reference and inspiration. The left eye is a bit more dotting and filling in the dots and then smoothing with the brush to have it match the right eye. Right eye I could do without a mirror, left eye there's no way in heck I could.So anyway, there's the history of my love affair with liner! Hope it helps and let me know if I can add any more details!
Thursday
Dressing in the dark - I got to work at 6:45am this morning. Blech. Pictures taken at the bathroom at work.
I have worn them before, totally adore them. Surprisingly comfortable too!
Will be another early day tomorrow, think I will be wearing my white gauzy peasant top from Old Navy with my Seven jeans. If it's warmer than today, I will wear with my brown croco Carlina heels from Sofft. If not, might wear these shoes again!
I am considering upgrading my cell phone. I currently have an "old school" cell phone - it does everything that I need - takes pictures, I can text, get calls. My plan is a reasonable price - I never go over minutes, have unlimited texts. I don't have picture texts (have to pay for each) and don't have Web features (canceled that to keep the price low). Well the phone is starting to get a bit old - doesn't hold a charge as long as it used to, scratched up. I find I am texting much more than I used to be - even for work I often have to text and a QWERTY keyboard would make life easier (and texts faster). I also wonder if I used my cell to check email, I would be on the actual computer less.
So I can get a free phone with my cell provider, but I would have to change plans to accommodate a "fancy" phone. This would be an increase of $20 a month. I don't see any other "old school" phones that are any nicer than the phone I have now so I don't see the value in upgrading from regular cell to regular cell. But I don't know if it's worth the $20/month to become high-tech and modern with a phone that can surf the Web, hook up to my email account and calendar, have GPS (I don't have one for my car), blah blah blah... What's your opinion?
Super big scarf from H&M, black merino short-sleeved dress from Banana Republic over dark straight jeans from NYDJ, gray shoes from Miz Mooz, silver hoops and cuff, hair in messy updo, makeup basic, with Bare Escentual Buxom Eyeliner in Leatherette (love it!).
The shoes:
Will be another early day tomorrow, think I will be wearing my white gauzy peasant top from Old Navy with my Seven jeans. If it's warmer than today, I will wear with my brown croco Carlina heels from Sofft. If not, might wear these shoes again!
I am considering upgrading my cell phone. I currently have an "old school" cell phone - it does everything that I need - takes pictures, I can text, get calls. My plan is a reasonable price - I never go over minutes, have unlimited texts. I don't have picture texts (have to pay for each) and don't have Web features (canceled that to keep the price low). Well the phone is starting to get a bit old - doesn't hold a charge as long as it used to, scratched up. I find I am texting much more than I used to be - even for work I often have to text and a QWERTY keyboard would make life easier (and texts faster). I also wonder if I used my cell to check email, I would be on the actual computer less.
So I can get a free phone with my cell provider, but I would have to change plans to accommodate a "fancy" phone. This would be an increase of $20 a month. I don't see any other "old school" phones that are any nicer than the phone I have now so I don't see the value in upgrading from regular cell to regular cell. But I don't know if it's worth the $20/month to become high-tech and modern with a phone that can surf the Web, hook up to my email account and calendar, have GPS (I don't have one for my car), blah blah blah... What's your opinion?
May 10, 2010
Sunday
Every Mother's Day we take my mom to see a Washington Nationals baseball game. She is a big Nats fan and loves going to the games. It's fun for all and not as generic as brunch.
This year we had hoped to take Emerson. I got her an adorable onesie that had the Nats logo on the front and our last name and a 0 on the back. Saturday night Emerson did NOT sleep well. She is getting in all of her molars right now and wakes every 2-4 hours no matter what we do. She woke at 6:30 on Sunday morning and would NOT go back to sleep. I dressed her for the game (a red long-sleeved tee under the onesie, jeans, red Mary Janes). I tried to get her to take a nap before we left but she was not having it. Unfortunately I left her at home with my husband, and went to the game with my mom and sister.
Even though we didn't have Emerson with us, we had a great time. The Nats won and it was a GORGEOUS day!
This year we had hoped to take Emerson. I got her an adorable onesie that had the Nats logo on the front and our last name and a 0 on the back. Saturday night Emerson did NOT sleep well. She is getting in all of her molars right now and wakes every 2-4 hours no matter what we do. She woke at 6:30 on Sunday morning and would NOT go back to sleep. I dressed her for the game (a red long-sleeved tee under the onesie, jeans, red Mary Janes). I tried to get her to take a nap before we left but she was not having it. Unfortunately I left her at home with my husband, and went to the game with my mom and sister.
Even though we didn't have Emerson with us, we had a great time. The Nats won and it was a GORGEOUS day!
When the sun moved in the sky, we were in shade and it got pretty chilly and huddled under a Washington Nationals blanket I got my mom for Christmas one year.
We had really great seats - my coworker has season tickets and hooked me up for the game. It was amazing how EMPTY the stadium was. Too bad, they all missed out on a fun day!
I wore an ivory and navy striped boatneck tee from Lands End, my Seven jeans and my Duo boots. Silver hoops and cuff. Very simple basic makeup. Hair was done wavy/curly.
May 7, 2010
Thursday
I wore my purple print shift-like dress from Ann Taylor Loft, turquoise necklace from Allison Dayton Jewelry, tan boots from DUO. Silver hoops and cuff. Hair was second day, very simple makeup. This picture was taken at the end of the day in the car as my husband drove me home from the Metro. Windows open, enjoying the gorgeous weather, sitting in the back seat, chillin' with Emerson.
And speaking of Emerson, yesterday we made her first ponytail. Just a little wisp, but it was cute and she loved looking at it in her reflection!
After work, we walked down to the cafe in the town center for dinner. They were also having their Open Mic night. Emerson LOVES live music and had a blast rocking out to the performers.
May 6, 2010
For Your Reference
I apologize for not posting regularly. Having a full time job, a toddler, and a wonderful family and set of friends leaves little time for regular writing. And I don’t want to fill Wardrobe Oxygen with fluff.
Wardrobe Oxygen is a blog where I hope all women, regardless of size, age, budget, or lifestyle can find tips and assistance in creating and achieving personal style. When I write posts, I hope that they provide timeless advice – posts from 2005 should still be useful in 2010. Because of this I have made a couple changes to Wardrobe Oxygen.
First, I am going through and deleting any posts about sales and coupons if they are expired. Archives should be clean and easy to peruse for all who visit this site.
Second, I am slowly updating my tags so that it will be easier to find posts on topics that are relevant to you and your needs. You will see that post topics are now posted in the sidebar; I will be updating and organizing this over the next week or so. If you have any suggestions on topics you feel should be added to the list, do leave a comment. The goal is to make this site user-friendly for all.
Third, I will be updating the blog’s layout in the near future so it will assist in navigating through the archives.
And I want to thank you again for being a reader of Wardrobe Oxygen. Do know that though I am not posting as regularly as I was, I am not planning on abandoning this blog. I will continue to post, but will only post articles that I feel could be helpful, and are well thought out. I appreciate all of your comments and emails and thank you for all of your support!
First, I am going through and deleting any posts about sales and coupons if they are expired. Archives should be clean and easy to peruse for all who visit this site.
Second, I am slowly updating my tags so that it will be easier to find posts on topics that are relevant to you and your needs. You will see that post topics are now posted in the sidebar; I will be updating and organizing this over the next week or so. If you have any suggestions on topics you feel should be added to the list, do leave a comment. The goal is to make this site user-friendly for all.
Third, I will be updating the blog’s layout in the near future so it will assist in navigating through the archives.
And I want to thank you again for being a reader of Wardrobe Oxygen. Do know that though I am not posting as regularly as I was, I am not planning on abandoning this blog. I will continue to post, but will only post articles that I feel could be helpful, and are well thought out. I appreciate all of your comments and emails and thank you for all of your support!
May 4, 2010
My Onesie Today
When Emerson was little, I didn't understand why one would buy a baby cute clothes that were expensive. I mean, it was like a month and then the garment no longer fit! And then add to it spitup, pee, and regular washings, cute clothes weren't worth it.
Well Emerson is starting to walk, spends more time upright than lying on the floor (though now she lies on the floor for fun, not because she can't get herself around). She plays in the yard and in playgrounds and at her local Mamas and Papas playgroup. When we visit friends and family, she is toddling around their homes, no longer napping in the Ergo or car seat. Now... it's worth it to get clothes that aren't just durable knits.
Luckily, it's not too hard to get cute clothes on clearance. I am a huge fan of Gap and Old Navy for kids clothing. They always have cute stuff (like these two tops and pairs of jeans) on great sales, and since I have a Banana Republic Visa, I get free shipping and notification when they have their 30% off sales.
Now, dressing Emerson is fun. I can buy her clothes that I think are cool - not a bunch of candy colored ruffled knits that say, "Hug Me!" all over them. She also seems to enjoy them - she loves the top in the first picture (taken this morning) - she plays with the emboidery and when I take it out of the drawer she says, "Ooohhh!"
I just wish they had that ivory and pink embroidered top in MY size!
May 3, 2010
Saturday
Saturday evening I attended the My Morning Jacket concert at Merriwether Post Pavillion. It. Was. Awesome.
Sooo awesome. One of the best concerts I have ever attended. I am TOTALLY reved up for Bonnaroo after that show - totally in the live music/festie mindset now!
But anyway... on to the pictures...
And with the dress I wore my Bern boots from DUO. That ivory floral thing is a drawstring bag I pinned to my dress and stuck in my dress pocket. It held my camera, phone, money, lip gloss.
This dress is great - not the best for the breasts, but not horrible and very comfy and fun to dance in. It was also very breezy on a hot evening. I look forward to wearing it at Bonnaroo.
Sooo awesome. One of the best concerts I have ever attended. I am TOTALLY reved up for Bonnaroo after that show - totally in the live music/festie mindset now!
But anyway... on to the pictures...
Here I am a tailgating. This is the maxi dress from Gap. And yes, it was hot out. Silver earrings from a boutique in Rehoboth beach, and for the tailgate, my silver aviator sunglasses.
This dress is great - not the best for the breasts, but not horrible and very comfy and fun to dance in. It was also very breezy on a hot evening. I look forward to wearing it at Bonnaroo.
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