Negative Nancy Says Winter Means Blahs, Dryness and Frigid Weather

I've talked about winter blues and how to stay warm. Now, it's time to talk about dryness. Dryness is a terror that deserves it's own post. It isn't a footnote in the long list of what is terrible in life about winter.

Instead of focusing on alligator skin and scarecrow hair, let's talk about suggested fixes.

Dry Skin

Aveeno! I love Aveeno. It's genius. It's cheap. It's widely available. All year round I use Aveeno Moisturizing Bars for Dry Skin. This bar is so gentle that it soothes my itchy, irritated skin. (Itchy and irritated are common words to describe me.)

In winter, I buy some kind of Aveeno lotion. It doesn't matter which; they've all been wonderful. This year I bought Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Nourishing Body Lotion, Energizing Pomegranate + Grapefruit. I'm a sucker for bath and body products that are grapefruit scented. (Sometimes, this ends badly, and I end up smelling like dish soap or worse bug spray.) This lotion smells great and once it absorbs is subtle. It does take awhile to sink in - especially on my hands and feet.

My coworker Sue introduced me to Nivea Creme. I buy it in the travel sized tins. The packaging is cute and small. It's easy to carry in the palm of my hand or throw in my purse. I find that I use it most often on the bus! I'm sitting there and BOOM my weirdo cuticles pull a run in my stockings like that is their main function. Solution: mourn the tights, silently swear, moisturize the cuticle.

Dry Eyes

Go to the drugstore. Buy five or sixty bottles of eye drops WITHOUT vasoconstrictors. Put them in your desk at work, every purse you own, in your bathroom, on your mantle. Hang them from your Christmas tree. Make earrings from them! 

Dry Hair

Sometimes lather, rinse, repeat isn't quite good enough. Here are the three things I use on my dry, coarse hair during winter - along with instructions on how to best utilize them.

Biolage by Matrix Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
wash hair well, massage liberal amount of conditioner into scalp and through hair focusing on roots, sit in tub until unbearably pruney, rinse in a half-assed way

Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream
apply utterly ridiculous amount to dry, dirty (like 3rd day dirty) hair, play video games for four hours OR watch four blood-soaked episodes of Vampire Diaries, take a normal shower

CHI Keratin Mist 
realize your hair is disgustingly dry but you have no time to do anything listed above, hold your ends altogether making your straw hair into a sort of broom, spray that shit until you drown that broom like you're a magician's assistant

Dry Lips

Lately I've been loving Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 20 Sunscreen. I bought it in cherry. It really doesn't have a color to it (which I like). It tastes good (enough). It isn't sticky.

For those with cash to burn, I do like Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15. It tastes good, has a little color (and is sticky in a good way?)

It's better to realize what you don't want than what you do want in makeup (and all things), because then it's easy to say no. What I DON'T want in a chapstick-but-not-chapstick: Glitter, stickiness, strong odor, strong taste, odor or taste that isn't based on something edible (read: floral), no SPF.

Spending Excuses

Hello. My name is Holley. I am a shopper.

There are many reasons that I love shopping. It's exercise, it has a tangible end, it makes me feel accomplished, it's distracting. But one of the best aspects of shopping for me is that I'm good at it. I find gems that cost pennies.

That being said, looking at my bank account and revolving credit line makes me want to puke.

Here are the bogus excuses I use to justify unnecessary spending:

• I don't own a car, so if I was a normal person this money would get spent on that.
• I don't drink, and shopping is a better habit than drinking. Instead of spending money on booze, I spend money on cardigans. I can wear cardigans to work. 
• My living expenses are low.
• I owe it to myself to do something nice for me and have nice things.
• I don't plan on having kids, so I don't need to plan for that expense.
• I have a 401k plan and my job matches my Social Security benefits, so I don't need to save for retirement (right now). 
• It's not like I'm ever going to get to retire - at this rate no one will.
• Shopping is cheaper than therapy and at least I get something out of it.

These excuses are just excuses; I need to button down and stop frivolous spending. 

Someone hold me to that. JCP has some cute, bright sweaters - and I am weak.

I Need to Raise My Credit Limit: Target + Neiman Marcus is Debuting in December

Target is out for blood with this new collaboration with Neiman Marcus. After seeing the lookbook on A Bullseye View, my credit card has never been more frightened. This is where I need to step up and say that even though I work for Target (SURPRISE), my opinion does not in any way represent the company. 

Okay, now that the disclaimer is out of the way - here's my wish list.

Band of Outsiders made Best Friends hats. A) They remind me of Katie Binning. B) They're Platteville colors. C) They're juvenile. D) I want them.

This dress from Lela Rose is a hundred bucks. I'm going to try it on. If I have an emotional reaction, I'll buy it straight out. If not, ce la vie.

Off-topic: I HATE when nice dresses don't have sleeves. Dress, --- I talk to clothes --- Dress, I cannot wear you to work. This decreases your value in utils to me by over 60%. I have to wear layers and pair you with sweaters. I think it looks ugly when people wear t-shirts under you. Do you want to look ugly? When you have no sleeves and force people to match things to you - you risk looking terrible. Think about that next time you don't want to buy extra fabric or hem arm holes.

I effin' love this bag by Oscar de la Renta.

The color (winter white) is fantastic and unexpected. The print is embroidered. It looks like it could house all my work stuff.

It's fun without being distracting. It's professional without being dawdy.

TAKE MY MONEY. 

I love capes. I'm all about capes. I want to own all the capes.

They make me feel like I'm in a live action cartoon show - like I'm about to round-house kick a dragon and eat a turkey leg with my bare hands.

I feel like a brassier, adult version of the chick from Tangled.

Anyways, this cape from Prabal Gurung is $79.99 and it makes me want to stand in line at Target in 20 degree weather

This tree ornament from Rodarte looks like it'd be in a B-Movie spin off of Men in Black.

"The galaxy is on Orion's tree...."

But seriously, this looks awesome. If it looks like the cosmos in person, I'm game.

Your move, Manufacturing.










That's a wrap! PEACE.

(I'm having a weird night.)

Brand Love: Paul Green

Paul Green is a German based shoe brand. They make excellent shoes for flat feet that aren't incredibly ugly.

I've bought (let's say several) several pairs of shoes from Macy's in this brand... for research purposes.

This all started on my weekly trip to Macy's. I had stopped by NARS and wandered into the shoe section to mainly waste time. I was looking at born ankle boots and talking about navy flats. Salli, my shoe-friend, told me she was coveting a pair of navy heels across the way. I had to check that out.

That day, I bought my first pair of heels since senior prom (the ones I wore 10 minutes and twisted my ankle). They're these great navy suede 2 1/2 inch wedges with an ankle strap. The arch support held up through multiple days of work and public transportation. The ankle strap is snap on, with an elastic strip, and an adjustable buckle.

Since then I've purchased a second pair in tan... and three pairs of flats.

  One of the best things about the brand is how well the shoe stays on my foot! I know this sounds ridiculous. But, I have flat feet that are a size 6.5 and 8.5. Because my feet are so wide - I buy nines. I usually have to add a strap to the top of my flats. These fit great! I don't need to add a strap.

I would like to say is buy these bad boys on sale. The retail for $280.00. I bought mine for around $70.00 each.

 

Makeup Summer 2012

Summer 2012 is all about red lips, colorful eyes and  bronze everything else. To read about these trends, I would like to send you to the Makeup Geek.

Here I want to discuss what I'm loving this summer. 

FACE:

Let's start with a basic: sunblock. I hate sunblock. It smells terrible, feels terrible and sweats off in less than an hour. Unfortunately, I'm of European descent and flush to a bright red after very little time in the sun. 

For the past few months, I've been dusting on a layer of Bare Escentuals - SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen. I layer it on over makeup if I'm going downtown for the day. I wear it alone when I'm on my day off. It works beautifully as long as I stay dry. Today, I went to the lake and am very very burnt after two hours of fun in the sun. 

I don't add color to my face during the summer time, because I am flushed most days over 70 degrees. Instead, I add color and shimmer with eyeshadow and lipstick. 

EYES: 

For eyes, I like to have different options for the level of maintenance I'm willing to put in that day. 

This year, I've been all about Urban Decay eye shadows. The vintage formula is awesome and the new formula is somehow even better. It's creamier and has better staying powder. It seems to blend better, too.

Pictured Top: X. Bottom left 

to right:  Kush and Last Call

On the kind of day where I'm a little tired and would rather watch Jane by Design on Hulu than fix myself up, I cover my entire lid in Urban Decay eyeshadow X. The color is iridescent and has a nice shimmer. It seems to change from gold to a pale pink. The photo on the left does not do it justice. 

The days where I'm in less of a hurry and haven't worn my usual bright colored outfits, I wear Urban Decay eyeshadow in Last Call and Kush. Sometimes I wear all three shadows together. Sometimes I wear one alone. Sometimes two at a time. The trio blends well together and are well pigmented. Usually if I wear Kush or Last Call "alone," I'll blend using ABC Gum. 

 

LIPS:

During the winter, I use NARS Manhunt to brighten my my pale pale face. In summer, I'm flushed (as stated above). I've been slathering on Fresh - Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 in Sugar Plum. I keep this in my purse to avoid dry, chapped (and sunburned) lips. It adds enough color to boost my natural lip tone without overwhelming my face when wearing bright eyeshadow. 

Confession: I do not have the complexion for a lot of bronzer. Against my skin a lot of bronzer products make me look dirty. (I'm a strong believer in not wearing shimmer on your skin. You don't put glitter on a zit. Matte bronzer is great to layer over blush in winter, but worn alone looks bad on fair skin.) 

To hop on the bronze everywhere for everyone trend, I've purchased NARS (lipstick brand of choice) Hot Voodoo Semi Matte Lipstick. Even the name "Hot Voodoo" is fun! You can't tell from the picture here, but it's a pretty, metallic bronze. The semi matte formula is just sheer enough to see my natural lip color under the tint. It makes a great neutral lip tone and goes with all my eyeshadows (even those not listed in this blog post). I'm in lust.

That's a wrap. I might buy something new sometime this summer, but I feel like I am done. Summer 2012 is the season of shimmer (at least for me!).

April Shopping Trip VLOG

Interview Style Hahtchachacha

It's very difficult to update a blog after a long absence. I wish I could just have a Q&A. I'll try to predict your questions and answer them here.

How are you doing?

I'm pretty good. I have been trying to stabilize my sleep schedule. Last week was awesome; I was waking up at the same time everyday and getting to bed at the same time everyday. It was like the sun shone for me. Birds sang. Grass was green. Everyday was the best day of the week.
This week, I've been keeping up a solid bed-time, but waking up really late. I am exhausted a lot of the time. I need to work on that.

Otherwise, my hair is growing out really well. In two months I plan on perming it again. It's getting to that so-straight-and-heavy-I-want-to-chop-it-all-off length.

I've been going to Jungle Red on Nicolett and getting facial's with Jodi. Last Thursday after my facial, I looked like a burn-victim! A makeup artist at Macy's stopped me to offer me an exfoliant. People were nicer. Homeless men stared at me for all the wrong reasons. I felt like Liz Lemon when she dressed like a crazy lady. Hopefully, one day I'll recover.

How's work?

It's going. I have a new boss. She's really great and wants to see me improve. I've been talking to people in different departments seeing what they're all about. I'm happy and satisfied with my job and the company I work for.

However, I've had a sinus headache all day from the vents clearing out. I felt groggy and out of it for hours - and now I'm clear headed and want to stay awake all night long.

What have you been doing in your free time?

On my day off, I like to go downtown and walk around. I shop a little. Mostly, I enjoy being able to travel where I want without bumming a ride. The city is beautiful and busy. It's a whole new world.

On weekends, Jared and I go to the dog park with Gizmo. We've been going to dog-themed work events as well. It's great to get out and enjoy nature. It's even better to see my dog running at high speed, all feet off the ground.

What's your latest favorite thing?

My new love is NARS Sheer Lipstick in Manhunt. It looks far too red out of the tube, but it's more of a berry when you wear it. It makes me feel confident and modern. The formula is awesome. It doesn't clump up or get chalky the way matte lipsticks tend to do. It doesn't feel sticky or heavy the way a lot of glosses do. It has excellent staying power. When it wears off it looks like a stain. I have nothing bad to say about this lipstick. I've been pairing it with nude/brown eyes.




Now accepting Q's for A's in a future post. VLOG goes up in June!

Makeup Extravaganza

Yesterday, I went nuts at Sephora.

Really, you can't blame me. I had a terrible experience at two different malls. Macy's was having a One Day Sale and Herberger's sale percent off was at 85%. I spent a long while digging through heaps of discards and found really beautiful pieces in not-my-sizes. It was extremely frustrating, especially when Herberger's doesn't keep track of yellow-tag merchandise and everything I liked at Macy's was at the Mall of America. (The Mall of America is one of the worst places to be on the weekend. It's a combination of hard floors, swarms of people and loud noises.)

Here I was after two miserable shopping days. I was newly full and exhausted having awoke at 6:30 AM to deliver my dog to the vet. I went into Sephora planning to buy some bronzer. I met with a woman at the door who pointed me in three different directions toward matte bronzers. I tried them out only to find everything was way too dark on my pale pale face. I then met a woman named Meesa. She was so patient with me! I was having a very hard time expressing what I wanted, but we got through it. I tried out a few different blushes and bronzers. I ended up going with Sephora's Los Cabos bronzer and Tarte's Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in Tipsy. Then, I remembered: Rachel Berry from Glee carried an Urban Decay compact. I had to try that out. And, it is amazing. The makeup is pale enough for me. I got it in "Illusion." The cream to powder texture is smooth and sticks. The color covers so well I look like I just gave blood. It's a great canvas for my beautiful light coral blush too. Was this enough to settle my makeup craving? No way. I also grabbed up OPI for Sephora 3-in-1 clear polish and Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.

I went a little insane this shopping trip.

I'll review the makeup in about a month (once I figure out how allergic I am to it). And, sometime in the next two weeks or so I'll review Jungle Red. (I need to wait on the facial to see how this turns out.)

Hurrah for beauty. Also, hurrah for a disposable income. First time for everything!

VLOG on Christmas Shopping

Erin / Miri-love said...

Okay, how is your Christmas shopping going? Is it done? Did you get anything fun for Gizmo? ;)

No Shop November

Over the last few weeks, I have taken part in far too much retail therapy. I think I'm just stressed out and use shopping as recreation. Although I love it... I just don't have the room in my house and far too much room in my wallet.

So my plan is simple: I'm not going shopping in November.

Unfortunately for you (and me)... this means a hiatus for This Week in Thrift. I would be able to highlight purchases I've made in the past. But, I'd like to have some different posting ideas. I'm not willing to talk about work on my blog, because I've never been 100% clear on what I can and cannot post about. To stay in the clear, I just don't post about work. If ya'll have want an update... call me (preferably on the weekend). If anyone has blog post requests, please share them! I need content ASAP.

This Week in Thrift: Bag Sale and Then Some

This weekend was Calvary Lutheran Church's rummage sale. On Saturday, everything has individual prices. Sunday, it's bag day! You purchase a bag for a flat fee and can fill it with whatever will fit. I got there late in the day and most of the place was cleaned out. Here is what I bought for $1.00.

Not pictured: a mint-condition, veggie steamer; two crafty, fabric reindeer; a small, green, wicker box; and these little, knit chachkis. 

I also went across the street to some kind of garage sale. I bought a button-up for a dollar. And, on our way home I stopped by Buffalo Exchange. (Hey! We were already in the car and on Lyndale; might as well.) I purchased a cute floral top for $8.75. (Big spender.) Jared bought a Kenneth Cole leather coat for $34.50. 

Then that night we went and saw the "new" Harry Potter and Rise of the Planet of the Apes at Riverview Theater. We ate two huge buckets of popcorn for dinner. 

This Week in Thrift: Smells Like Store

On Saturday, Jared and I got lost in Richfield/Bloomington trying to find Menard's. On our way to Menard's (and yes, we finally found it) we found a great Goodwill. It's located on American Blvd. outside of the Mall of America. The prices are fair, and the majority of the merchandise is new. The whole time I was browsing I kept announcing how shocked I was that there were so many new Target brand items for such low prices at this store.

I tried on quite a few things (all at once because there is no dressing room limit!) Everything I tried on was in great (if not new) condition. I could have easily gone broke there, but only a few things fit correctly (and didn't make me look like a Sister Wife). I did find two nice leather waist belts.

And, I found two nice dresses. One of which is a size 6! Calvin Klein grey herringbone print dress. It smells like store and was $14.99. I'm very pleased. It fits me like a glove. There was also a Marshall Fields brand lilac sweater jacket. The color is wonderful, and the fabric is a very nice weight. It's also structured enough to be worn to work.

Gizmo's costumes came in the mail this week as well. Here is a photo of him in a sombrero.

This Week in Thrift: Ball Jars and a Spoon Bracelet

I've decided to do a weekly feature called "This Week in Thrift." I usually go out thrift shopping at least once a week. Sometimes I find stuff; sometimes I don't. If it's a don't week, I'll just profile something I found that is second hand in my house. 

Today, Karen and I went to Savers on Lake St. after work. She found really great black pinstripe pants from Lane Bryant with the tags still on them. I found some cornflower blue Ball Jars, a bracelet made from the handles of silverware, and a London Times green dress with a nice print.

Here are some pictures.

This one is a little washed out due to a mixture
of flash and no Picniking. 

Mighty Swell But Not Well

I have had a horrible flu for the last week. I'm getting basically nothing done at home... everything is either too loud, too bright... or makes me nauseous. I don't like to use a emoticons in my blog posts, but... :(

Today, I got up enough energy to go to the Mighty Swell Vintage Popup Sale. I've had it marked on my calendar for a while now, and no migraine was going to keep me away!

I scored a cute floral, purple dress; a metal bowl; a beaded belt; and (not pictured) a decorative hand towel. Here are some photos.

Fingers crossed that I will feel better soon. Right now, I just feel like death. Sniffly, cranky death.

Dear Erin McManness, fashion inspiration and blogger,

Please make stud/post earrings, so that I can buy something from your shop. I'm a simple girl, but I want to support the arts/my friends.

<3 Holley

Work Clothes

The week of my birthday, I accepted a job through KellyMitchell. I was very very excited for this job, because I'll be working in a position I'm qualified for and that I have previous experience in. I was horrified when I saw the dress code. I had no clue what "Business Casual" meant, but I understood that it wasn't the t-shirt and jeans I was so used to.

I've spent the last few weeks making wise decisions about clothing choices for work. I was hoping to find a happy medium between what I like... and what I'm expected to wear. Luckily, I had a lot of skirts leftover from last summer. (Summer of '10 was so hot, I'd have to peel my jeans off with pliers.) I purchased black slacks when I was interviewing, and I have two gray blazers that I found over last summer as well. (The best time to buy jackets is during the blackout heat of Summer '10.) I added a third gray blazer to my collection last week. I also found Banana Republic khakis. (Pictured in my Ode to Savers.) I found a bunch of blouses at Marshall's from August Silk and Spense (not pictured; I couldn't find them on the Internet.) I bought two cap sleeve sweaters to make my shoulders more decent from Macy's (INC brand, not pictured.) My shoe collection is pretty amazing as is; however, I added a brown, shiny pair of Dolce Vita DV oxfords/flats.

Work Clothes by holley-mclellan featuring cotton skirts

All in all, I am prepared to look like an adult after Labor Day!!! Today I found some skin tone tanks to wear under my at times see-through August Silk blouses. I sectioned off my closet into "can wear to work" and "cannot wear to work." Just for fun, and because my drawers become a disaster faster than I can spin around, I organized my t-shirt and tank drawers to be "filed."

I love Savers!

Happy Sunday! Today, I talked Jared into taking me to Savers off of Lake and Hiawatha! It turned out that they were having a big sale where everything in the store was an additional 50% off. I went through the blazers, pants and blouses. I found a silk blouse from Jones New York, a grey blazer from AGB and some Banana Republic khakis! 

I also scored two Halston silk scarves for $2.00 each.

Not pictured: A lobster stuffed animal/puppet for Gizmo, a beach towel, shorts for Jared and a bread pan.