The gift that keeps on giving

December 28th, 2010 by prettyamy | 1 Comment | Filed in make up, prettyamy

Ho ho ho and all that jazz, my pretties. Hope your holidays were merry and bright.

Santa left me a fab makeup bag and brush set from Sephora under the tree this year, along with a gift card for all! new! makeup! (Said with an Oprah’s Favorite Things inflection.) And I can’t wait to get my hot little hands on some new stuff.

Tell me: what are your staple items from Sephora? Or what luxuries do you just plain covet from the Mothership?

I’ll be heading there tomorrow, child-free, if the fates align in my favor. So don’t delay with your tips.

Just because a girl’s a geek…

November 21st, 2010 by prettymisty | 3 Comments | Filed in prettymisty

…doesn’t mean she doesn’t want a stylin’ phone case.

And make no mistake, friends. This girl. Is a geek.

Last week the hubs and I ditched our old smartphones for Droids. And because I’m all into this blogging and picture taking stuff, I chose Droid X. I should’ve paid attention to the tech reviewers, whose biggest complaint about X is its size: “like carrying a Pop Tart in your pocket.”

That didn’t matter to me. I tote my phone in my purse. What I didn’t think about was finding a case for a phone the size of a Pop Tart.

Like any proper geek, I hit the interwebs. And what I found? Apparently only stodgy old men and 12-year-old girls carry Droid X. My choices were 1) plain leather belt clips, or 2) ridiculous, rhinestone-bedazzled snap on cases. Arghh!

Hours of shopping later, I came upon this solution:

Coach unviversal case.

Coach comes through!

Coach calls this the “Tartan Universal Case.” (Sorry, folks. Couldn’t find a direct link. Look on the top row of this page.) It is a perfect fit for my X, but I bet it would work for just about any smartphone. I can even leave it in the case while charging, thanks to the wrap-around zipper.

Oh, and check this out:

Inside: credit card and cash slots.

I love pockets.

Which means bye-bye wallet, and one less piece of clutter in my purse. I am..

(wait for it…)

Geeked.

Tags: ,

Go A Little Bolder: Fall Makeup

November 7th, 2010 by prettykate | 3 Comments | Filed in Fall 2010, make up, prettykate

I wear makeup almost everyday. However, it is usually very subtle.  Like, you probably would never guess I was wearing any subtle.  And because I am trying to branch out in my fashion choices, and because I’m trying to get myself to accept the fact that if people actually know I’m wearing makeup the world will not end, I’ve been going a little bolder with my daily makeup.  And fall is the perfect time to do this – the weather is colder, clothes are heavier and usually in deeper colors and a strong lip or heavier eye doesn’t seem so out of place as it would have been a few months ago.

My usual look:

neutral gray eyeshadow, light lip (ie Burt's Bees lipbalm)

The way I have mostly been going bolder is by using a darker lip.  Usually with a lipstain, to ease into the whole “noticeable makeup” thing, but I also like the indelible long lasting lipsticks because I never have to worry if it is smeared or rubbing off.

I applied this right over my chapstick - hence the uneven look. Trust me, when not doing it specifically for two seconds of photos, I CAN apply lipstick properly

I also like do add a bit of eyeliner to emphasize my eyes.  In this case I would usually stick with my regular neutral lip.

And here we have the previous lipstick not quite all wiped off, leaving another great splotchy look. Just focus on the eyeliner people, nothing to see here

Another look I like for fall is a bronze eye.

While I like the lipcolor I tried in this photo, I don't think I like it with the bronze eye. What do you think? Also, in general I probably wouldn't go with the dark eyeliner and the bronze eyeshadow, but I didn't want to wash my face in between photos

So in short, Fall is the perfect time to do a little experimenting with your look – try a little bolder makeup.  Just don’t try it all in one day for photos unless you want to wash your face multiple times or you get kind of a smudgy mess!

Tags: , ,

Pretty Brown Boots

November 7th, 2010 by prettyvirginia | 1 Comment | Filed in BOOTS bonanza, Fall 2010, prettyvirginia, shoes

Yes, I know.  I’m a day late and a dollar short.  Boots were discussed here last week, but I did not have my crap together in time to post.

Please forgive me, internets.

But, I super need to share these boots with you:

(My husband took these pictures.  I only have a limited amount of times that I can critique his picture taking of my clothes before he rebels.  Didn’t he do a lovely job?!)

I bought these boots at Target.  I have had the same brown boots for YEARS now!

Whilst browsing the Target shoe aisle (which is one of my favoritest activities) I found these and knew I needed to have them.  They were $39.99.

They look great with jeans and my new jean skirt.  They are so comfy.

I am now looking for a new pair of mid-knee high boots and a pair in black as well and I’ll be set for winter!

Make-up, or not?

November 6th, 2010 by prettyjamie | 3 Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Something about autumn makes me want to look good from head to toe. In summer, I don’t wear any make-up… not a stinkin’ drop of it. I put chapstick on. Lotion, sure. But make-up feels sticky, and pointless when I’m loafing/sweating around the garden, or chasing my kids. But Autumn? I pull out the make-up box more often.
Once upon a time I was an assistant manager of a The Body Shop, and I spent my days playing with make-up. I took all their tutorials very seriously, and had quite the supply. I loved spending down time in the mirrors there, or requiring my employees to try the newest boldest shades during eye make-up theme weeks. Very fond memories.
Now, like a million years later, I keep it pretty simple. And I have two rules that contradict what I was told when I was younger.
I can remember learning to put the lightest almost foundation-hued eye shadow just under the brow bone; now, at 31, I feel like it makes me look older, and wrinklier when I do. I keep my shadows, even the lightest color, lower.

Nevermind my translucent skin and age spots. I am who I am. The other rule I break? Shimmery lipstick. I have an aunt, who shall remain nameless, who is absolutly addicted to make-up. A couple times a year I get boxes of make-up from her-most of it still in the packaging, some of it used once. It forces me to try lots of shades I would not normally buy for myself. And you know what? I like shimmery lipstick. I don’t care if they say the shimmer makes you look older.

Now if I could just get the terrible patchy dry skin around my lips and chin to look even, (I’ve tried everything!) I’d feel like I actually know what I am doing.

Tags: , , , ,

Fall Fashion Favorites: Boots!!!

October 31st, 2010 by prettykate | 2 Comments | Filed in BOOTS bonanza, prettykate

I lurve me some boots!  Super duper tongue kiss love.  I could buy boots in all shapes and sizes and colors and never be satisfied.  Hmm, this is going in a creepy direction.  Let’s just take a look at my collection, shall we?

my current favorites

super comfy slouchy suede boots

love these - hardly wear them since it's hard to chase kids in 3 inch heels!

these are almost identical to the brown ones, but I don't like them as much . weird

flat black suede boots. so practical and cute

I've had these for years - never wear them anymore, but can't seem to part with them either

I love these booties - great under jeans but cute with a skirt too

really comfortable and nice with jeans

from when I was in to pointy toes peeking out from my jean hems. Super witchy looking so good for halloween too!

Winter boots for deep deep snow. And green for fun!

And on my wish list:

I love the slight wedge heel - so much easier to wear than a true flat. And these come in a super dark green which is a nice change from black

I saw a girl at the mall play area in these boots and have been dreaming about them ever since. I Must. Have!

As you can see, I clearly have a deep love affair with boots.  How about you?

Tags:

Gap: WTF?

October 30th, 2010 by prettysarah | 6 Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

The other day, I went shopping for new jeans at the Gap by my office, not because I am a huge fan of Gap jeans but because there’s a GAP right by my OFFICE.

I tried on 4 pairs, all on the EXACT SAME SIZE and found that every jean is a special snowflake at the Gap because they all fit waaaaaay differently.

See?

These boyfriend jeans were roomy

These bell bottoms were GIANT and so long I would have needed to wear stilts or hem off the entire bell

These skinnies were a friggin’ sausage casing

\

But these skinnies– the very same jeans as the one above in a different color– were great.  WTF?

I bought the skinnies above because I don’t have any super dark jeans.  But still, I left the place frustrated– has this happened to anyone else at the Gap?  The sizes boggle my mind.

Dress Your Neck

October 27th, 2010 by prettiersarah | 3 Comments | Filed in Cheap and chic, Fall 2010, Fall Outerwear and Accessory Week!, my uniform more or less, prettiersarah

After reading PrettyJamie’s post from the other day, it is taking every ounce of strength I have not to go to her Etsy site and buy one of everything.  But I’d have to alternate dressing my neck in her pumpkin cowl with my latest favorite necklaces from ZephyrWoods, another marvel of etsy.

This past July, Husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary, the traditional gift for which is wood.  Husband found himself in quite a conundrum, as I wasn’t really in the market for a new coffee table (nor does “new coffee table” scream romance–at least, not after kids).  Fortunately I am a habitual etsy perusers and typed “wooden jewelry” into it’s search function.  Low & beyond, some of the cutest pendants I have ever seen, fashioned out of maple wood, popped up on my screen.  I *may* have sent Husband a link and then waited patiently….

On our anniversary, I opened three cute little boxes, each containing one of the above necklaces.  They are absolutely perfect for me–they were super affordable and come in a million adorable designs.  I like Tiffany’s as much as the next girl, but I am also a sucker for super unique, less special-ocassion everyday jewelry, too and these necklaces totally fit that bill AND scream personality.  They may not sparkle, but anytime I wear any of them I am complimented 2-3 times a day and asked where I got them.

I love that they are big statement pieces, but they weigh next to  nothing and come to find out, wood goes with everything in my day-to-day closet. :-)

Including my fabulous new coat from Target:

This is the coat that has been making me pine for autumn.  I bought it back in August when Target first brought out it’s fall apparel (which in California is such a torturous tease because its almost November before you can wear anything but short sleeves) and I love it.  I tend to center my fall wardrobe around dark neutrals, blacks and shades of brown (although this year I am adding a lot of grey, so I’ll probably *neeeeed* another fall jacket as well to match those outfits), and this pop-of-color jacket is perfect to offset my regular dark “uniform.”

My one complaint about the jacket is that the buttons are dull–just a plain orange to match the orange of the corduroy.  I am thinking I might get a bit crafty and replace the buttons with more interesting ones to make the jacket a bit more unique.

Tags:

Fall Must Have: Sweater Coats (And One Jacket)

October 26th, 2010 by prettykate | No Comments | Filed in Fall 2010, Fall Outerwear and Accessory Week!, Mom wear, prettykate

I love me some cardigans.  I have a zillion and wear them constantly between October and April.  And I especially love sweater coats.  Comfy, cozy, easy to throw on, they are the perfect fall garment for when you have to admit the weather is getting colder, but you aren’t ready to surrender to a full on winter jacket just yet.  Sweater coats can dress up your summer favorites to transition them into fall, and they can jazz up your mom uniform.  They don’t however photograph quite as flattering as they are in person, as I learned while trying to document my favorite sweater coats!

This is one I grab the most since it is the most figure flattering.  The diagonal rib knit is really good for accentuating curves, and the green. blue and purple colors match pretty much everything in my closet.  Perfect for the pumpkin patch or walk through the park with the kids.

I’ve probably had this sweater for ten years.  I love the long length and it is big for me so I can really wrap up in it and get cozy.

I love the pattern in the knit of this fabric, as well as the half sleeves that show off the sleeves of any long tee I wear with it.  I don’t love that this sweater makes me look a little wide, but it is super soft so I keep it anyway.

picture from last march - in case you were wondering about my hair

This is my “maybe they won’t notice I’m wearing my pajamas/ratty workout gear to preschool drop off if I cover it with this” wrap sweater.  So basically it is a bathrobe.  And I’m not fooling anyone.

I really am happy in this coat. but I was having a fat day so I wasn't too pleased with my photos which is why I look so cranky

Okay – not a sweater.  But I love this little faux leather jacket from Target so I had to share it.  It is perfect for fall weather, and it works so much better to dress up my ratty workout clothes than the previous sweater.  Operation Fool ‘Em At Preschool version 2.0.

Tags: , , , , ,

So I loves me some silver

October 25th, 2010 by prettymisty | No Comments | Filed in Cheap and chic, Fall Outerwear and Accessory Week!, prettymisty

But I hates me some tarnish: that pesky chemical reaction between silver and air. It’s worse in places with high smog and humidity. Which is awesome since I live in Atlanta — the international capital of smog and humidity.

Complicating matters, I have some antiques and pieces set with gemstones. Ever read the fine print on chemical cleaner?

Connoisseur silver jewelry cleaner

"Not for use on precious or semiprecious stones, antique pieces, blahblahblah..."

And these polishing cloths can’t get down in the nooks and crannies.

Silver polishing cloth.

Rub-a-dub

So now what? Counter top chemistry! Here’s all it takes.

The ingredients.

Baking soda, aluminum foil, plastic dish, & grubby necklace.

This plus a steaming kettle, the photo of which I deleted, owing to my failure to scrub the stove.

Cut enough foil to cover the bottom of the dish. Place jewelry on foil.

Necklace in the dish, on the foil.

I shoot for maximum surface contact.

Sprinkle in a spoonful of baking soda.

Necklace covered in baking soda.

You don't have to bury it completely.

Next, add enough boiling water to cover the jewelry.

In goes the water.

Neato! It fizzes!

You’ll know it’s working when you smell something faintly eggy. That’s the sulfur being released. Once it stops fizzing, rinse the piece in cool water; just be sure to use a plastic utensil to fish it out.

It may take a few treatments for a piece as nasty as I used here. And you may see a yellowish film left behind, but just wipe that away with a polishing cloth.

One clean necklace.

Ta-daaaaaaa...

As they say on G4, It’s Effin Science.

Happy Accessory Week!

Tags: , , ,

« Older Entries