Sunday Runday: What's New?

I was realizing the other day that this year has been pretty boring in terms of runs/running/races. BUT I have been using this time to renew and replace.  Which is kinda exciting, right?

So I figured this was a good time to update on these new products that have found there way into my life, and my thoughts on them.

S  A Cell wireless magnetic bluetooth earbuds - You guys, I have the hardest time with earbuds/headphones.  Wireless/nonwireless, I just can't seem to find a pair I love.  I'm going through them like tissues.  This year alone I've had 2 pair stop working, 2 pair break, and a pair that was just...not good.  I got these on Amazon prime day and I'm not sold yet.  I like the wireless feature and they fit well, but I don't love the magnetic aspect of them.  Which I thought I was going to love.  But if they aren't magnetically connected, it just drains the battery.  Plus I find the reception to be spotty.  Like they're not receiving the bluetooth signal from my phone which is less than a foot away.

Nike Free RN Flyknit -  I love these shoes!  UDubb has been instrumental in hooking me up with sneakers, but my go-to shoe was discontinued a couple years back.  UDubb picked these ones out for me, and they are my new favorite.  So when my old pair started wearing down, I picked up this year's model.  I don't like to recommend shoes, because everyone's foot and stride is different, and what works for one won't work for another.  So let me just say that they work for me!

One of the perks of the Craft Classic 5k was their sock trade in.  It was the first race I've ever run that did this, but I love the idea.  After the race we gave them our old, sweaty socks, and they gave us a new pair.  The only problem is that I didn't get the brand, which is nowhere on the sock.  And this is a problem because I love these socks!  They're thin, sweat wicking, and super comfortable for long runs.  I pretty much destroyed them on my trail run, but my feet were in great shape.

Chantelle Sports Bra - I've been a Moving Comfort girl for....7 years?  But with the recent buyout by Brooks, I've found the bras have changed a bit.  I thought it might be time to branch out and try something new.  I'd heard good things about Chantelle as a brand for women with...more up top and they definitely delivered.  I like the lift, separation and support.  I also like the fact there's no difficulty in putting it on.  And BONUS, the top converts from regular straps to racer back, which is extra nice if you have a variety of styles in your running tops.

So what's new in your world?  Anything new to recommend?  Want to tell me about your earbuds which are comfortable, dependable, and last for longer than a month?

BONUS!

Today was a day of bonuses...

It started with a bonus trip to the doctor! Because once in a week isn't enough for Thatboy OR I.

Then came the week I've been waiting for since the beginning of the year - Clinique Bonus Time! I ran out of my facial cleanser and have been holding off on buying my fave - the rinse off foaming cleanser until bonus time rolled around.

I love how gentle this stuff is on my face. I love how foamy it gets, because we all know that foam = it's working. And I love how it doesn't smell. I just want something clean, not floral, not fruity. Not on my face.

And of course I had to pick up some moisturizer while I was there.....

Cause if it ain't broke..... This isn't my winter moisturizer, it's too light. But I got it anyway in the hopes the weather will warm up a bit and I won't need to coat my face in a thick protective layer of lotion.

And the bonus is totally amazing. I have to say, in general, I like the bonuses because they give me loads of travel goodies, which is good since I do tend to travel a lot, even if it's just up and down to Thatmom's house and back. The cosmetics bags they come in, however, usually go right under the bathroom sink because they're kinda tacky. Not this one! It's so cute!!!!!


And I'm equally as jazzed about the contents - there's a redness reducing mineral powder I'm just dying to try, and the mascara that makes Thatboy say "Woah...are you wearing mascara?" and an oversize tub of some new skin refining moisturizer with SPF 20.

Because I "preordered" my bonus items, I even got a bonus bonus! It's another cosmetics bag that's not nearly as cute (going right under the sink) a mini-mini bag which will just hold some powder, lip gloss, and mascara and fit in just about any of my purses, and two samples of their Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Almond Blossom.

How flipping gorgeous is this powder? I am SUCH a sucker for embossed/designed powders. There's something so retro and elegant about them. And the almond blossom color is a gorgeous tawny bronze. I always forget to use bronzer, but my friend Teseract considers it the quintessential makeup item.


And of course a peek at what Thatboy and I are getting for dinner....mmmmmmm...



Except, without the yummy sandwich....and not THIS baked potato. Because THIS baked potato is coated in butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Our baked potato doesn't get any of the good stuff, just a little butter so we don't choke on it on its way down.


But, because I love y'all so much - here's another bonus. This one's for you! Another great Valentine's Day recipe. Well, another great anytime recipe that can be used for Valentine's Day. I'm not sure why, but I love the idea of steak for romantic dinners. There's a reason carnal derives from the Latin word for "meat" or "flesh."

Italian Crusted Roast Beef
1/2 Tbsp seasoned salt
1/2 Tbsp basil
1/2 Tbsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp ground pepper
3 Tbsp pinenuts, chopped
2 Tbsp parmesean cheese, grated
1 tenderloin roast (1-2 lbs)

1. Preheat oven to 425. Combine seasoned salt, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, pepper, pinenuts, and cheese in a small bowl.
2. Rub the pinenut mixture over the roast, and place roast in roasting pan. Roast 40 minutes, or until meat almost (but not quite) reaches your desired level of doneness. Pull it out when it looks just a little too pink for you.
3. Transfer roast to your cutting board and tent with aluminum foil. Let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

Product Review: Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover

I'm really not a makeup girl, which is ironic, given that I wear makeup every day. Well almost every day. Saturdays and Sundays are my freedom from makeup days and I run around bare faced and bare foot. I like that clean makeup free feeling.

But what I don't like is the makeup removal process. Mostly because I'm tired at the end of the day and all I really want to do is crawl into bed. Of course, I don't have the luxury of just crawling in to bed unless I want to declare war on my face (and just in case you're tempted, its a losing battle. Always) So I need something that will remove everything quick and easy. I've actually been using this for years. Partly because I like shaking the bottle. I'm simple that way and watching the components join together and get bubbly gives me inexplicable joy.

What: Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover
How Much: $26.00
Where to buy: Lancome, department stores
Review: There's really nothing about this product I don't like. I like the calming blue bottle, I like how it takes all my makeup off in a few swipes - even though it says its just for eye makeup, I like the way my skin feels like silk afterwards, I like the way I buy it during bonus time and get a bag of fun goodies. It's quick and effective and gets me tucked in as early as can be.

Review: Bath and Bodyworks Japanese Cherry Blossom Lotion

During the winter I use heavy duty boring lotion for my dry skin, so I love when spring comes along and I can use something lighter and yummier. For spring I love a light lotion with a sweet springy scent. Nothing too overpowering, and of course it still has to keep my skin soft......

What: Bath and Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Lotion
How Much: $9.50
Where to buy: Bath and Body Works
Review: I've been a Bath and Body Works fan since high school. What's not to like? Actually, you know what I don't like? Everytime I find a new favorite, they discontinue it. Bleh to them. Of course, that means I'm always discovering new scents and favorites. I like to pretend I don't like floral scents, but my favorite perfume is Marc Jacobs - a Gardenia scent. And now I can add another great floral. This one is very light and smells like a day in spring. Not a day in the garden with hundreds of flowers fighting for your attention. Not a summer day when the smell of flowers is sickeningly sweet. Instead its just a hint of "mmm what is the fresh scent?" And like every other BBW lotion, its intensely moisturizing without being heavy. Of course, now that I've told you all how much I love it, they're sure to pull this scent off the shelves and stick it with my juicy pear and ginger lime...

Product Review: Johnson's 24 Hour Moisturizing Body Wash

There is a serious war that goes on in my household. It involves the shower. Actually, truth be told, there are quite a number of wars which involve the shower, which is a definite peril of marrying a man who is almost a foot taller than you. But this particular war is war of the body washes. I like my body washes SUPER moisturizing and creamy. Thatboy always has a problem with anything I pick. Either he thinks its too slimey, smells too girly, or doesn't lather enough. So I am constantly trying new products to see if they'll meet His Highness's approval. Now I'm sure you're all just thinking the easiest solution is 2 separate body washes. Hey! Do you think we're MADE of money? Does the bodywash fairy magically drop off products at your house? Actually, in all honestly, there's barely room in our shower for shampoo/conditioner/and 1 body wash container. If you want to wash your face, its helpful to shower as a team so one person can hold the container. And shaving can only be done with the door open and the shave gel on a counter almost within arms grasp. Seriously WHO designs bathrooms?

What: Johnson's Softwash 24 Hour Moisturizing Wash
How Much: $5.99
Where to buy: drugstores nation-wide
Review: Back to the drawing board. While the product is great in terms of creamy, non residuey, super lathery it has a serious drawback for each of us. Thatboy doesn't like the exfoliating beedies (which I swear to Gertrude he wouldn't know were there if it didn't say it on the package...but he's a little bit neurotic in that way). Personally, I CAN'T stand the smell. I kid you not, it makes me not want to shower. I have been reveling in my gym showers since purchasing this product and hoping Thatboy will use it up without me. I was trying to place the scent, and the closest I can get is baby vomit. Baby vomit that has been sitting out on a wash cloth for a couple hours in a warm room. It's like Johnson's tried to get the baby powder scent, but something went horribly, horribly awry.

Product Review: Dove Volumizing Conditioner

So growing up, I was very OCD about my clothes. Including the fact that everything had to match. Down to the underwear. I've gotten a million times better, and that extends to my hair. I used to NEED to have shampoo and conditioner that were the same brand. But now I just go for what works. Or what I have a coupon for......

What: Dove Volumizing Conditioner
How Much: $5.99
Where to buy: the supermarket
Review: The only problem with conditioner, is that I can't use it alone. It's hard to review because its always used in combination with shampoo. So let me tell you - this is cheap, it smells good, it makes my hair smell good, it makes my hair soft and it doesn't f-up all the hard work of my shampoo. Does it add to the shampoo? Maybe. But how would I know? I will tell you that the other morning I was VERY tired and I kept putting this on my poof and getting VERY annoyed that it wouldn't lather. However, before I noticed I was using the wrong product, I did notice it made my skin very soft too. So as far as I'm concerned this conditioner does everything a conditioner is supposed to do. And you can't beat the price. And the fact there are always coupons.

Product Review: Matrix Amplify Color XL Shampoo

I just want to start out with a super big shout out to my girls Haley and Katie. Thanks for the e-cards!!!! They both made me laugh and pumped me up.

In contrast to ubercool Haley and Katie, I had some pretty lame friends in high school. One of the things we would do was sit around and lunch and play "if you were a......" (I did preface this with the fact that they were pretty lame.) We played "if you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?" (general consensus was that I would be a yorkie......), "if you were a character from Winnie the Pooh, which one would you be?" General consensus? I'd be Tigger. Because I'm bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy fun fun fun fun fun. (Although in retrospect, it didn't take much with that group to be the "fun" one)

However, even though my personality might be bouncy, my hair never followed suit. Instead, if my hair were a character from Winnie the Pooh, it'd be Eeyore. Mopey, gloomy, and generally dejected. So like any good Tigger, I've tried to infuse a little bounce into my ole pal. I love love love my Matrix Full Body Texturizer, so I thought I'd try to build on that, starting with the first crucial hair step - my shampoo!

What: Matrix Amplify Color XL Shampoo
How Much: $16.50
Where to buy: any "beauty supply" store
Review: So right now there is color in my hair, but even if there wasn't I'm a huge fan of shampoos for color treated hair. I mean, its extra gentle and who doesn't want an extra gentle shampoo? And this one is volumizing too! I really have noticed a difference in my hair since I started using it. It claims to increase hair thickness and diameter and the scientist in me doesn't believe that actually happens, but my hair is noticeably fuller. I can also vouch that while the layering helps create bouncy bouncy bouncy hair, my hair still has volume even when I don't use the texturizing spray in addition to this faboo shampoo. I also love the way it smells. I forget until I get a whiff of Jon's head and think - oooooo someone washed his hair today!

Product Review: Relastin

Okay, we now break from our usual program because really? Cooking this week is SO not happening. I do have some backlogged recipes and pictures, but seeing as how I can't have any good food this week, I think y'all should suffer with me.

Why is cooking not happening? Well first because I no longer have a pot or pan that doesn't reside in brown cardboard box sealed with packing tape. Second because it's Passover! That means for the next week there is no flour, wheat, oat, spelt, corn, beans, rice, pasta, soy, or anything derived from those items allowed. So unless y'all want a lot of recipes for "matzah topped with cheese" "baked potatoes" and "salad" it'd be a pretty boring week.

I will however give you a quick review of the weekend. It involved a TON of packing. Yeah it was real exciting. Although after me and Liz's first and last catering gig on Saturday, we didn't need any more excitement. Note to others: Chicken satay is the devil. The absolute devil.

So if we're not doing recipes this week, I'll go back to another favorite - product reviews. I take excellent care of my eyes, I'm very paranoid since I love being able to see. I extend occular care to the skin around my eyes, it's VERY sensitive skin, and since I wear eye makeup every day to work, I want to make sure I take care of it.

In general I pamper my eyes with Kiehls Abyssine eye cream. But I ran out earlier this year, and since I had a gift certificate to Amazon.com, I thought maybe I'd check to see whether "you get what you pay for." We've all heard of really expensive moisturizers and lotions and how they're supposed to be so much better for your skin. So I thought I'd check to see if that held true for eye cream. I had read about Relastin in a bunch of magazines and product blogs, and couldn't bear the thought of spending over twice what I usually spend on eyecream, but a gift certificate's not REAL money....

What: Relastin Eye Silk
How Much: $69.00
Where to buy: Relastin, Amazon
Review: I've been using this for about 3-4 months now, and I must say, I'm not impressed. I figured this was a good time in my life to test this out since I'm beginning to develop bags from lack of sleep. I mean, blues and purples are definitely my colors, but for some reason they're not that attractive under my eyes. Neither is the puffiness. Usually the Kiehls stuff keeps me looking fresh and rested - this Relastin? Not so much. And when I look tired? I feel even more tired. So I'm just as happy I only spent fake money on this stuff, since it's not so hot at making me feel so hot. However, I can say it makes my skin feel super silky and soft. So I guess if you want silky eyes, this is the way to go!

Product Review: Paula Dorf 2+1 For Brows

This weekend Jon, Ringo and I took a roadtrip up to Santa Barbara. It was a glorious day - the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and we got to do some great shopping! Santa Barbara is a great place for shopping because State Street just goes on and on forever, crammed with well known stores and cutie little boutiques. Ringo's favorite was "Unleashed" where he got to play with a couple of Whippets while we perused their natural dog treat selection and Ringo ended up with a doggie cannoli.

I found a cute little store called Crush Cosmetics and had to stop in, the nice thing about boutiquey little stores is, unlike Sephora or a department store, I was the only one there which meant I got some personal one on one attention. Having finally gotten my brows done (yay new years resolutions!) I confided in the saleswoman my likes and dislikes of Mac brow set (ie -good staying power/shiny brows) and she recommended this product. The price tag is above and beyond what I would normally pay, but I decided I deserved a special treat that day (I had done a really good thing earlier) and so it was packed up for me.
What: Paula Dorf 2+1 For Brows (I got brunette)
How Much: $24.00
Where to buy: Crush Cosmetics
Review: This is exactly opposite from the MAC brow set. First, it's not quite as easy to use. Instead of swiping it on like mascara, you dip the brush in the powder, and then the wax, and then your eye. I wasn't sure I was doing it right and kept putting more and more on. Which leads me to Number two - unlike MAC this thing isn't glossy at all! I only knew it was actually on because after about 100 applications I touched my eyebrow and found it to feel waxy. Oops. The only similarity is this thing has the same stay all day kind of power that MAC does. But so much more natural looking! Once I master the powder/wax/brow application I can see this becoming a very useful weapon.

Product Review: Matrix Amplify Full Body Texturizer

I am finally coming to terms with my hair. After years of fighting, we have signed a peace treaty and vowed to do no harm. I readily admit that I am the one who started the feud. Growing up, I had stick straight hair. No flip, no curl, no anything. Of course, this was the 80s and early 90s and curly hair was "in". I begged and pleaded for years to get a perm and was finally rewarded. My hair viewed this like the annexation of Czechoslovakia and launched a defensive attack. The front right section of my hair refused to "take" - even after several attempts. This meant that while most of my hair was curly, the front section hung like a wet towel - not the best look. Round 1: Kate 0, Hair 1.

When I was 15, my hair underwent a transformation and became a hot wavy mess. Flips, curls, uncontrollable. Of course, by this time everyone wanted straight and shiny hair. Desparate to tame it, I began blowing it dry and straightening it every day. Sure it took time, but at least it was straight! Until of course there was a drop of humidity in the air, or lunchtime - whichever came first.

Now I am embracing the wavyness of my hair and have learned both to control it so that I can have sleek straight hair, and bouncy curls. However, I rarely wear it wavy because I'm still lacking in the volume department. And for those of you having trouble picturing what flat wavy hair looks like:

Anybody else develop a sudden craving for spaghetti? Which brings us full circle back to my quest for the perfect volume producing product. We now know that Aveda is not my friend. But now I may have actually found something that is! So now my waves can look more like this:

Yay for truces! Me and my hair can finally be besties again!

What: Matrix Amplify Full Body Texturizer
How Much: $16.00
Where to buy: Any "beauty supply" store
Review: I seriously love this! It gives you "beach hair" which we all know is the best kind of hair to have. I spray it on after a shower and if I let it air dry I get full wavy hair. If I blow it dry I have thick straight hair - and I really mean thick - I can feel the difference when I run my fingers through my hair - there's actual texture there! And it lasts not just all day, but into the next day and through multiple trips to the gym! (well...2 trips...and 2 is more than 1). It gives me the hair I always wanted.

Product Review: Olay Complete Moisturizer

One of my favorite beauty secrets is moisturizer. "That's a stupid secret," you say. "You're stupid," I say back. This goes on for hours as we vow never to speak again, cry, hug, and promise never to fight again. Then I fill you in on why moisturizer is a beauty secret.

1) As I alluded to in the Cetaphil review, your body tries to regulate itself in terms of moisture. When your skin is exceptionally dry, your skin says "Uh oh, better send out the big guns," and starts producing lots of oil. A lot of people with oily skin don't want to use moisturizer because "my skin is already oily" well duh! Your skin is telling your brain "I'm thirsty" because you're not moisturizing it! You can keep control of the messages your skin is sending my keeping it moisturized.

2) My mom looks like shes in her 30s. She's not. She hasn't been for a while (but we'll leave it at that). She doesn't have a wrinkle on her face, its soft, smooth, and I'd say pliable, but that makes her face sound like silly putty. It is clear that my mother has found the fountain of youth. Her two secrets? Moisturizer and Sunscreen. I combine the two and love Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion.

What: Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion
How Much: less than $10
Where to buy: Costco, your local supermarket, pharmacy....
Review: I have 2 qualifications for any moisturizer/lotion I put on my body. First it cannot be greasy. Second it must immediately absorb into my skin. Face mositurizer has an additional qualification of SPF protection. I wouldn't go out without clothes, doesn't my face deserve the same protection from the elements? This meets all my qualifications and at a super bargain price (especially if you're a coupon shopper like me which usuallu can give you discounts of at least $2!) It absorbs into my face so quickly, sometimes I wonder if I've used enough and put on a "second coat" which absorbs just as quickly as the first. Because of the quick absorbtion there's no greasy mess on my hands when I'm done applying. And of course, with SPF included I don't need to worry about sun, rain, or greenhouse gases (that IS what SPF protects against, right?) It doesn't have a very strong smell, instead it smells "clean" for lack of a better term. And cleanliness IS next to godliness, so perhaps it smells godly?

Product Review: Cetaphil Face Wash

I have said it before, and I'll say it again - I never want to return to high school. High school was rough. Especially if you weren't a size 2 blonde cheerleader. It was even worse when you were the smarty who was requested not to join in during class games because otherwise the other kids wouldn't participate.

However, my cleansing routine in high school is definitely something I want to revisit. Who wouldn't want dewy, glowy skin again? I recently went back to an oldie, but a goodie. Cetaphil.

What: Cetaphil
How Much: $8.99 for the giganto size at Costco
Where to buy: Costco, your local supermarket, pharmacy....
Review: What's good about it - Cetaphil is super duper gentle. Good for all skin types, especially sensative skin. I really like it in the winter when my face gets extra dry. It's also supposed to help your skin maintin its natural pH balance. Scientifically, this should cause your skin to regulate itself oil wise so it doesn't overproduce oils, causing breakouts.
What's bad about it - I forgot that it doesn't foam. Boo. I have an erroneous belief (I know it's erroneous, but I don't care) that if it doesn't foam it's not cleaning. It's a comfort thing I think. Makes me feel like the cleanser is doing its job and not slacking off in the corner somewhere reading a magazine.

Product Review: T3 Featherweight Dryer

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I bought a hair dryer. The details are fuzzy, but I'm sure it was around $18.99 or something. It lasted me from senior year of high school, up until November of 2007. Then it died. It just wouldn't turn on.

I did my research. I found the best hairdryer on the market. Reviews raved about how it changed their lives. It was written up in every publication that wrote up those kind of things. The only problem was that it was $200. $200 for a hair dryer? I don't own a suit that costs $200! I narrowed my search to hairdryers that could be purchased at stores like Target and picked up the best cheap-o hairdryer out there for $20.

I didn't love my cheap-o hair dryer. It was really loud. It made my hair frizzy. And fine hair that's flat and frizzy is very unattractive. I complained to Jon about this hairdryer and how my life would be perfect if I could just get my hands on that expensive hairdryer.

You'll never guess what I got for Christmas!

What: T3 Featherweight Hairdryer
How Much: Retails for $200. Jon got it for $80 technically. It's a long and drawn out story.
Where to buy: T3, Nordstroms, Sephora, Ulta, Folica
Review: I absolutely love this hairdryer. I will never ever ever go back to a cheap-o hairdryer again. First lets talk about noise. There is practically none. This thing is silent enough that the dog will come right up beside me while its in use. Second, speed. Man is this thing quick. My hair doesn't take very long to dry normally, so I can only imagine what a lifesaver this thing would be if I had long, thick hair.

And as for how it works? Fabulous. It takes away the need for most other hair tools. Even a brush! I blew dry my hair upside down one day using only my fingers and it had so much body it was like someone else's hair. I didn't even need to brush it because it fell perfectly into place. Or if I want to straighten my hair, all I need to do is blow it dry and use a brush. No flat iron needed for a salon worthy blowout. No more friz, no more flyaways.

I would like to make one disclaimer though: Remember, I was using a cheap-o dryer before. If you are a person who already owns a fairly expensive dryer, *cough*Ashley*cough* you may not be as impressed as I am with this amazing tool. For me though, this hair dryer changed my life ;-)

Product Review: Clairol Natural Instincts

My rule of thumb with all beauty products is that no one should be able to tell you're using a beauty product. I personally would much rather hear "you have fantastic skin" instead of "what a fantastic foundation!" Which leads me to my secret beauty confession. I dye my hair. Most people don't know this - especially because I dye it my natural color. Ever since I was a little girl, my hair turn hypercolor in the summer. It gets really blonde. Which looks ridiculous come fall when my dark roots start growing in. I was in a wedding in October where my bun was literally a different color than the rest of my head and all the bride's relatives insisted it was a hairpiece. So every fall I dye my hair back to its normal brown shade. Because everyone thinks of me as a brunette, no one notices the change.

I always perform the coloring myself - mostly because its cheaper and I'm not doing anything drastic. I don't have to worry about touch ups, or grow outs or whatever. This year I decided to tweak my normal brown just a bit by adding a little red to it. Still - nothing drastic. I went for a red brown from Clairol because - well, I had a coupon for Clairol.

What: Clairol Natural Instincts
How Much: $8 - $11
Where to buy: Target, grocery store, pharmacy.....
Review: On the plus side, I've been walking around for about 2 weeks now with "red hair" and only one person's noticed. I've had dinner with parents and friends, yet none of them have said anything. When I mentioned it to my mom she said "you know, I did think you'd done something with your hair, but I couldn't figure out what." For me, this is a sign of success. The process was easy enough to use - single application, wait, rinse, condition. The only thing I didn't like about it was that you had to use the strand test to determine the time to leave the product on. Perhaps this appeals to some people, but not me. I want you to give me a time so I'm not running over to the test every 2 minutes, rinsing off the 7 hairs to determine if they're the color I want before putting them back in the mixture and waiting another 2 minutes. Maybe if I were going from blonde to brown this would be easy, but when you're dealing with degrees of brown it difficult to say "aha, yes, we have acheived the result!" Especially when you're rinsing the hairs every few minutes.

Product Review: Aveda Phomollient

I really have a hard time spending any money on myself. Really. Anything I would buy for myself that's over $10 I put on a list, and wait for the nearest gift giving occasion to ask for it. This means I get eye cream for Valentines Day, books for my birthday, and so on. This next product is something that's been on my list for a while.

I have baby fine hair. It's really really thin. I'm lucky that I have enough of it where most people don't notice, unless of course its back in a pony tail when it becomes oh so obvious. Because its so fine, most of the time my hair just lies flat and lifeless. When I went to my hair and makeup trial before my wedding I told her I wantedbig Texas beauty queen hair. I didn't quite get it as high or full as I wanted, but I blame my hair, and the ridiculously humid weather that August morning. I hardly ever go a day without putting volumizer in it. I read about Aveda Phomollient a while ago which promised "weightless volume." This Christmas, I found it in my stocking! Whee! Big hair here I come!

What: Aveda Phomollient
How Much: $13.00
Where to buy: Aveda
Review: Smell. Inside this bottle, a war is being waged between mint and honey. Some days when I put it on I smell the mint. These are the good days. I like the smell of mint. Other days I put it on and all I can smell is the cloyingly sweet smell of honey. I do not like smelling like honey. It's almost a musky scent and I fear I'll attract bees or unsavory men.
The feel. In general, I like foam-y volumizers. I feel like they work well because they're so full of air. This one however gurgles out into my hand like a teenage boy on prom night, rather disapointing.
How does it work? I'm not very impressed. I don't find my hair to have anymore volume when I use this than without. I can actually get more volume out of my hair by blowdrying it upside down without using the volumizer at all. Oh yeah, on the plus side, it's definitely weightless.

Product Review: Kiehl's Clean Hold Styling Gel

Kiehls is a pretty smart company. They have a loyal clientel and have a unique way of increasing it. Free samples. I have never walked into a Kiehls store without having a handful of new products to take home and try. Last time I went in to return something and sure enough, the bright shiny face behind the counter sent me home with new things to try and love.

Shortly before Christmas I found a couple packets of their clean hold styling gel in my purchase bag. It was excellent timing because Jon had used up our old gel. (It had apparently been sitting on the counter empty for weeks before I tried to use it and noticed it was empty.) I liked the gel so much, that it was quickly added to my Christmas list.


What: Kiehls Clean Hold Styling Gel
How Much: $13.50
Where to buy: Kiehls or Nordstroms
Review: Lets begin with something very important - the smell. It is crucial to me that anything I put in my hair smells fantastic. I love the smell of this. Jon loves the smell of this (or at least he compliments the way my hair smells everytime I use it.
Next, the feel. Really just as important as the smell. I hate stickiness. I usually use a spray gel so I don't get sticky gel hands. This is completely not sticky. After rubbing it in my hands and then hair, I can't even tell there was ever gel on my hands to begin with. Excellent. And because its not sticky it doesn't harden in my hair and make my hair stiff. Even more excellent.
But how does it work? See, here's where I have mixed feelings. It makes my hair super shiny and soft, but as far as hold? It doesn't seem to really have any holding power. At all. I love it, but not necessarily because it keeps my hair in place.

Product Review: MAC brow set

I inherited some wonderful traits from my mother. Unfortunately, I also inherited her crazy eyebrows. I have absolutely no control over my eyebrows - at all. They are willful, they are high spirited, they are children who refuse to behave. This is especially true when a camera is around, which sucks for me, but is nice for you because there is documentation of how my eyebrows love to ruin a perfectly good picture.

Please notice how exactly as the camera snaps, my eyebrows start bending in twisting in every direction but normal. And these pictures are back when I was getting my brows waxed on a regular basis. When I was in high school, I controlled my crazy eyebrows by basically getting rid of them:

It wasn't my most attractive look. It took years to get them to grow back. Once they grew back I tried everything in the book to get them to behave - including hairspray. Finally I gave up. But since I'm going to start getting them waxed again on a regular basis, it only makes sense to try daily upkeep again too. I got MAC brow set for Christmas in clear and have been using it every day.

What: MAC Brow Set in Clear
How Much: $13.50
Where to buy: MAC or Nordstroms
Review: I really really really like this. I put it on in the morning and it holds my brows in place all day. My only complaint is that its a little sticky/stiff and makes my brows look glossy. Some people might like the gloss, but I think it draws attention to how dark my brows are. Hopefully once they start getting into shape though the glossiness will actually be attractive. Here's a picture from New Years. Note how both brows are posed and photogenic?

Product Review: Kiehls Blue Astringent

I used to have really great skin. Enviable skin. So great in fact, that getting a single zit became a huge ordeal because they weren't that common. This lasted right up until I graduated from college.

Jon blamed himself. He had pretty bad skin, and around this time his cleared up completely. We joked it was because he rubbed his oily face on mine and got rid of his excess oil that way.

I blamed stress. After college was a rough time for me, and things didn't get any less stressful when I started law school.

An estetician blamed hormones. These are always changing and she said the location of my breakouts made her believe it was due to a change in my hormone levels. (seriously bah to hormones).

Whatever the cause, my breakouts seemed here to stay. As part of my New Years resolution, I decided to really try to get control over my face (great visual image right?). I thought back on what my "beauty routine" was when I actually had a beauty routine - cleanser, toner, moisturizer. Then I realized, I haven't used toner in ages. Mostly because I "had such great skin" that I "didn't need it." - at least according to others. I thought maybe I should investigate this further. So for Channukah I got Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion and have been using it daily for about two weeks. What: Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion
How Much: $10 *not cheap, but if it works, its a lot cheaper than a facial - which I never needed until I started law school*
Where to buy: Kiehls or Nordstroms
Review: So far, so good. I'm noticing less breakouts and the previously existing one has cleared up almost completely. My skin is really soft too. *Note to self - stop touching skin, probably not helping the problem*