do you birchbox?

Six months ago, I stumbled across Birchbox, and on a whim I signed up to receive a monthly little box with makeup samples and lifestyle products. I love this concept (why did I not think of this concept?), each month a cute box with fun things to try and potentially buy makes it way to me, and I get to enjoy products I’d be nervous about just buying full sized just to try out. I’ve definitely had some successful finds during my time so far with Birchbox – I now really prefer a BB crème over foundation, and my skin feels so good. I also love that it’s not always beauty products, I’ve tried teas, chocolates, Lara bars to hair ties, baggies, it’s never certain what this little box of mystery will contain. I do feel like every month it’s like Santa has dropped by with extra treats to feed my girly habits.

penny lane

I am really digging the metallic colors for nail polish for the holidays this year – it feels festive without the standard reds and greens.  I’ve been sporting gold nails a lot, but on a recent trip to the salon I decided that copper it was the next choice for me. I really like the shiny new penny look on the finished product, but if feels more muted than gold I've been sporting. How do you feel about metallic polish colors? Do you like to be trendy with the polish or are you more of a classic reds and pinks, or french manicure type?

kiss me now

I took one too many trips to Sephora over the weekend, after I had already did an online order. Seems to be what I do though, all of a sudden I run out of one thing and then I am trying all sorts of new things. I was struck by this nude lip color by Too Faced- Naughty Nude (Love, love the name!). I really do prefer neutral lips, so this seemed to give the tiniest hint of color, which is just perfect.

seen another sunset on my own

At my office I've become the one that everyone checks out the nail polish on a regular basis- probably because I am borderline crazy and do my nails about three times a week. I like to do my nails in like the last half hour before I go to bed - it's relaxing to sit still and do nothing while the nails dry watching a little bit of TV. I just bought a new essie polish- called Merino Cool- which is this gorgeous grey- purple color that I can see myself wearing all the time. It's just purple enough for that girly feel, but neutral enough to be appropriate for the boardroom.  I might have to stock on this one.

(Photo)

pink, like a deco umbrella

It seems that everyone is into a unique manicure- the standards still hold but there's something about having a fun twist to your nails. I love trying to paint patterns on my fingertips- however my hand is not very skilled. Long ago a friend had amazing patterned nails- which she confessed were the Sally Hansen Nail Effects. I was intrigued to try them for myself and of course never ever could find them anywhere. Alas, this week a trip to CVS brought me face to face with several choices. I picked pink polka dots- even though it's a bit summery for February (just because the groundhog saw his shadow doesn't mean I have to wait six more weeks). The instructions are pretty easy to follow to apply what I would call stickers to your nails- and by nail number three I felt like I had mastered how to do this. So far no complaints from me, and very minimal chipping - much longer then I usually make it after a trip home from the nail salon. I have also received many compliments on my pretty patterned polish - I will definitely be purchasing these again.

strawberry wine

With names like whoppin watermelon, chunky cherry and super strawberry these little lip balms are appropriately named chubby sticks. One of the reason I wanted to try out this lip color is because it looks like a giant colored pencil or crayon, and I really do love odd looking chapstick containers. My lips definitely feel hydrated when wearing the color, and it doesn't wear off quickly. This is a great product for keep lips moisturized during those dry harsh winter months.

little snowbird

As part of the holiday festivities, my mother and I each got a manicure before heading to church services. Getting my nails done is one of my favorite little treats, just a tiny bit of pampering, to make you feel completely girly. My mom and I were not the only mother/daughter pair in the place, a young girl and her mother were getting mani/pedis for Christmas too. While the little girl's mother was doing something in the back room (I'll leave what that was to your imagination, because I have no idea what could have been taking so long), she asked the nail tech to paint little snowmen on her nails. I definitely thought it was cute, but not something I would normally go for, until the technician asked me if I wanted snowflakes on my nails. Feeling festive, I said sure why not, which resulted in this very sweet design on the ring finger of both hands.

put your head on my shoulder

I just can't get on board with that no-poo movement- the one where people have given up on using shampoo on a regular basis. I tend to look like I've rolled my head in butter without a good shampoo most days - it's a very rare occasion that I can get away with a day off from washing. One of my favorite daily shampoos is Head and Shoulders - Smooth and Silky. I never imagined that dandruff shampoo would top my list. One of the reasons I find this a great shampoo is that it really does tame the hair like it says it will, my hair is smoother, with a lot less work (meaning less time with the hair straightener). An added benefit is that this shampoo smells delicious as well - what's not to love about great looking, clean smelling hair?

lips like sugar

A handbag is empty unless you have at least five lip glosses, chap sticks, or lipsticks to choose from. Every time I inventory what I have in my bag, I seem to pull out an endless supply of products for my lips. This might lead you to think I'd have some self control when it comes to purchasing more. Clearly, this is not the case as I had to try out this cute three pack of lip balm from Sephora. I thought I would love the dark shade the best, but I absolutely adore the light pink. The cotton candy color is surprisingly complementary to my skin tone, and just give at subtle youthful color.

be beautiful in this skin

Winter is terror on the skin - cold weather and heating make for a very dry feeling, and unpleasant skin fel. One of my favorite products that can be used for almost anything you can think of is- Aquaphor. I got hooked on it during a visit to one of my favorite couples up in New England a few years back. It's something I've been known to call- nectar of the gods. I consider this a purse, bathroom, or desk must have. I've been known to carry the large container around if I run out of the more compact holders, because I hate not having it with me. I use Aquaphor as a chapstick, blister relief, and particularly in the winter to add a bit of moisture to the hands that get dry from all the handwashing I do to avoid getting sick.  I recommend everyone keep some on hand to keep skin smooth and soft during these cold months ahead.

Downtown, waiting for you tonight

Nail envy - I am a frequent suffer of having manicure envy, since every time I get my nails done, I am lucky if it lasts 3 days before the chips start. I tend to looks like the 6 year old who painted her nails, and than started to peel it off. One of my friends had what I could only assume was a very good salon mani, since there were no chips or divots. You can imagine my surprise when I found out she had done her nails at home without a professional assisting her. The secret was a good nail polish- particulary the brand Essie. I picked up these two on a recent run to Target- the darker shade is "downtown brown" which has a nice red undertone, and the pink color is call "in stitches". I can't wait to wear both of these shades this fall, and have a great manicure without having weekly trips to the salon.

Ah, We Fade to Grey, Fade to Grey

The finished product.

You're never fully dressed without a pedicure. I think everyone enjoys having freshly painted nails, even if not expertly done (though that is more preferred when there's time), painted toes make you feel like your feet are ready to be seen.Now that summer warmth is heading for the boarder, I felt ready for a nice fall shade on the toes, something a bit more sophisticated over the hot pinks and light greens I gravitate towards in the summer time. I picked up this grey polish called "money maker" at Sephora. This is definitely a toe nail color, it's a nice opaque grey blue, that feels a bit dark for my fingers, but probably will be a regular polish on the toes. I'd like to find a lighter grey for my manicure, so the quest for the perfect shade continues...

Your Kiss is on My Lips

My mother is a true lady, she won't leave the house without her lipstick. I have rolled my eyes as she prepares to go to Jazzercise, but can't leave the house without applying a fresh shellac of color across her pout. I wish I inherited her confidence of wearing lipstick, however I feel like I look a little clownish when I try to wear it, but I'll be taking baby steps in my transformation to grown up. I love the Burt's Bees tinted lip gloss, because it's fool proof. Similar to the Burt's chapstick, the small tube has a hint of color that is subtle yet dignified. My current shade of choice is the Red Dahlia, but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the varieties. This is a definite step up from Bonne Bell.

Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen

I am one of those pesky pale people, who even when tan, I still look pale. As a teenager, I spent my summers lifeguarding 8 hours a day, sometimes 7 days a week. A tan was a badge of honor. My fellow guards and I would use low SPF sunscreen or even oil and work on those glows for 3 months. I even looked tan if you saw my strap lines. Now you hear about how Melanoma is effecting people in their 20's. Though I can't turn back the clock on those glorious summer days, today I am a sunscreen addict. I wear sunscreen every single day, particularly on my face. My favorite daily moisturizer with sunscreen is Neutrogena's Healthy Defense in SPF 30 (available at drugstores for about $14). It's not greasy and putting makeup works well if you allow your skin to absorb for a couple minutes. I can hope I have that skin in my 50's that makes people envious including my older sister.