Love This Junk

How is it that I named this blog Love This Junk after my many Love This Junk posts on Kindredly, but don't have any Love This Junk posts here?  Weird...well, here is a list of some junk that's made it's way into my good graces...

My good friend and fellow blogger, LK, introduced me to OPI's axxium gel polish.  In 2010, I became a manicure junkie.  Each week, you'd find me at my local Beauty Nails gabbing it up with one of the technicians.  I suffer from not enough time and little patience, so I was always messing up my nails soon after leaving the salon.  First of all, it's just not possible for three layers of wet polish to completely dry within one hour.  What is dry to the touch is definitely not dry to the impact of slamming your nails into something, which is what will no doubt happen right after a mani.  So, I tried axxium at Lily Nails in Atlanta.  None of the salons in the burbs were on the gel nail bandwagon...unless you were talking about the pink and white claws, which I was not.  After a successful two week stint with axxium's bubble bath, I took it to my local salon to be soaked off. 

They had no clue what walked through their doors.  They were filing, trying to get all scary with that electric file thing...the whole time I'm trying to get "there's an easy way to get this off" translated into Vietnamese because I was certain they were going to file my nails down to nothing.  They made a few phone calls, and began the process of getting the polish off.  The soak off process is a bit tedious.  Especially if you don't have much time on your hands.  Also, if you're like me and have super sensitive hands and feet, this can be kind of painful if they get to digging all in your cuticle.  After getting a few weeks of normal manicures, I asked Beauty Nails if they'd begin carrying the gel polish...and now they do!

 

I've had Bubble Bath, You Don't Know Jacques, Lincoln Park After Dark, and Dulche de Leche from OPI.  Bubble Bath and Dulche de Leche were a bit "naked" looking.  Especially DdL - super naked, don't get it unless you want to look like you have super shiny naked nails.

 My local salon also purchased this line which I am currently wearing in a pretty pinkish-glittery color.  It's not love, but it's not hate.  I will say the application process is much easier with this line.  My salon hasn't found their comfort level with just using brushes from their current inventory, so she has to painstakingly clean the OPI brush from base coat to color coat, which again, takes time and makes me fidgety. This particular brand of polish is more in line with what they are used to, which results in a much better manicure for me.

I ran into two displays in one weekend holding Sally Hansen's nail polish strips.  I figured for $8, I'd give it a try.  It claims to be super easy to apply and last for two weeks...I purchased the below pattern, Misbehaved.

 image via

Application is actually super easy, and for my first time, I thought it looked pretty professionally done.  I wore it to work the next day, and my co-workers were all pretty impressed.  Fishnet fingernails are not exactly the most professional of things, so because of that, I only wore them for one day before getting my Lincoln Park After Dark axxium mani.  I recommend...there are several different colors and prints to choose from.  I think next time, I'll just try one of the metallic ones...

So, springtime tanning efforts went into effect in January.  My co-worker told me about L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze lotion, so I got it.  I picked up my trusty Neutrogena spray, but I'm not getting anywhere with that, so I tried this.  I love it.  One problem, it wears off like a spray tan...splotchy looking skin.  So, my suggestion is to keep building the tan. Use this as often as you can get away with.  Of course, it's a bit hard for me because I usually hit the gym before work...sleeping in tanning lotion, then going to the gym and sweating...I just envision streaks and a brown sports bra - gross. 

 

And finally....I love my Kindle.  I got it for my birthday, and I'm in love.  I'm kind of annoyed that I have two books on my nightstand that I must get through before I start using my it, but it's all ok.  I can use this time to find the perfect case because you know it can't be plain.  

So, what are some of your recent favorite finds?  Please share....

hello? Helllllllo???

Woo!  A new post - for those readers still out there...

Let's see...what's been going on since January 25th in the life of me?...

• I had my first emotional breakdown over work - yeah, that was fun.  Lucky for me, I was working from home that day - and truthfully, I think the all day crying fest was really due to the lack of sleep from the night before.  
• The night before I attended my very first legit country music concert - Jason Aldean and Eric Church.  Yes, I know - I'm country.  My new co-workers unfortunately think I'm a deep-down redneck, which if my old co-workers knew this, I think they may be appalled (or at least they better be).  I'm the farthest thing from a redneck, but it just so happens I live in the country, and my first PTO was taken for a country music concert where we tailgated and did it up hillbilly style.  What can I say - I'm learning to embrace situations, so I embraced the country-ness of Jason Aldean's return to his hometown.  The husband really embraced it.  He embraced it so much that he threw up the next morning.  What a champ.
• The guy I hit with my car (I hit his car, btw) last May decided to come back and sue for damages...he and his passenger.  Nothing is more embarrassing than being served papers on your front porch when you have nosy neighbors - nothing is scarier than a cop banging on your door when you're home alone and don't know it's a cop.  Does the movie Strangers ring a bell...because that's all I could think about.  
• The husband gets mad at me when I say "I'm being sued"...so just in case he's reading, my insurance company is being sued...(whatever)
• My insurance company appointed attorney called me today and scared the bejesus out of me..."when this goes to trial"...."during your deposition..."  I thought these things settled out of court.  Then she mentioned something about a "six month discovery period" and I just stopped listening.  If this is going to take six months, just wake me up in August.
  
• I'm traveling to DC this month for work.  I feel so happy and important.  I get to meet the people behind my emotional breakdown my counterparts in Greater Washington, and I'm really excited to finally put a face on my dartboard a face with the name. 
  
• The husband and I finally bit the bullet and got new furniture.  See photos...

Our iridescent dining room.  For the record, the walls do not look like that in person - it's just a nice shimmer.  We did this paint job with Ralph Lauren Candlelight.  Annnywaaay - this is the new table and chairs.  The husband picked it out.  I picked out a more contemporary set - he didn't seem sold, and truthfully, the tables available just didn't look right.  We purchased this loot from our local JC Penney Outlet. They were doing 10% off everything and 20% off upholstered furniture - um..can we say awesome?  Some may hate on JC Penney, but I'm sitting here at this table now, and it's a sturdy little piece.  We're very happy with it.  The pink in the chair is my laptop bag, by the way...So, the deal is this - they have the same stuff that's in the catalog or in the stores, but this is supposedly "irregular".  You know how much I love TJ Maxx and Marshall's - irregular merchandise doesn't scare this sister.  I stumbled upon this table and it was perfect.  After fishing through every chair they had, we plucked six perfect ones.  The husband pulled the trigger and said we should definitely get this set, so we did...and here it is!  Of course, we still need an area rug, a new chandelier, and an updated centerpiece (that's right, Sandyn), but at least the biggest part is taken care of.

Next up is the living room.  We wanted a darker colored couch - with a chaise.  Despite the tall ceilings in our living room, the room is sort of small.  It would look super cluttered if we had a love seat and a couch, so we've been happy with our couch/chair combo. Until Sunday afternoons.  On those days, the husband and I are fighting for our nap spot on the couch, and we end up in a tangled mess, covered with beagles.  With this new gem, one of us can curl up on the chaise and the other on the couch...it's perfect.  I felt like the couch was going to be too big for the room, but as it turns out, we'll easily be able to add an armless chair in one corner (for company and decor) and a recliner (that doesn't look like a recliner - I've scoped several out) for the husband.  We got the couch for a cool $430.  Can you believe it?  It sits way better than our other one, and I'm super impressed with the quality.  This way, we don't feel bad splurging for the custom recliner from Haverty's. 

 nevermind the random sock in the middle of the floor

So, this is what's been going on.  So far, I'm in love with 2011.  Everything is so great - except the all day crying fest, but we won't make those a habit.  I hope you dear readers continue to bear with me while things are slow.  I'll try to make more of an effort to keep this updated, but you're going to have to comment.  I mean, seriously, the last three posts were duds and do nothing for positive reinforcement. 

I am very active on Twitter, so if you're missing me, just come over to @ashgillespie and say hello.

That is all. 

gamer

I think the husband and I are going to waste some money on this...

We're going to sell our Wii and Wii Fit.  Our Wii is busted - once we figure out what's wrong with it, hopefully we can fix it without coming out of pocket too much, or I might just throw all of our games, the Wii Fit and accessories into a bundle and sell it as is with the disclaimer that the Wii needs some fixin'.  It just stopped working - we didn't drop it or hurt it, so my feeling is that it's an easy fix...

Why do I want this new XBox 360?  Well, for Zumba...

and...

 

 

"Evacuate the Dancefloor" is totally on my workout playlist, so imagine my excitement when I saw the commercial with this fun dance on it...



how fun is this!?!?!?  Also, how hilarious would it be to pull this out when we have people over?  After a few drinks, everyone thinks they can dance, so the competition would be fierce. 

Of course when I suggested we get the new XBox, I was met with "let's go get it!" from the husband.  Getting a new gaming system is always an easy Yes from husbands. 

Yipppeeee!!! 

two weeks later

Errr....sorry loyal readers.  The 20-something of you who so sweetly check this blog daily have come up with nothing.  Things here have been crazy.  I've visited this site to peruse my blogroll - but that's even rare - and each time, I decide against posting yet another post about how I'm so busy.  Clearly, I'm busy.  I have thought about making an official announcement about how the blog is dunzo, but who am I kidding?  I'll be back....and here I am! 

It's 7pm on the Tuesday before Christmas, and I'm writing this post while simultaneously checking my work email and handling things as they pop up.  Not to say that my old job was juvenile, but my new job is for big girls, and I've been completely consumed with rising to the challenge.

There are a few updates::

• For starters, Ryan Reynolds and that hooch, Scarjo are OVER.  O.V.E.R.  wooooooooo!!!!  Literally, me and my new work friends were JUST talking about how weird they were as a couple - good looking, no less, but still weird - and BAM!  two days later, they announced their divorce.  New office friends might have thought I put a voodoo curse on their marriage at first, but I think I successfully backed them off that ledge.  P.S. Ryan's been spotted around the town recently filming a movie - IJS.
• Zac Efron also split with that bratty looking girlfriend of his.  Oh happy day. I'm old enough to be his babysitter, but he's hot.  Can't help it. 
• Moving off celebrities and on to the goings-on, I'm exhausted, but haven't been happier.  Things with my new job are just now starting to become somewhat second nature.  I don't squeeze the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white the whole way to work anymore.  I'm actually quite happy in my new role, and I'm happy I'm starting to feel more comfortable.  I was worried it would never happen.
• I'm writing this post on my work laptop, and I just wonder if someone's reading it as I write - don't like this.
• I think Mia, our chunky dog, is dehydrated from over consumption of chocolate bark.  She ate no less than 30 red velvet cake balls covered in white chocolate today.  At some point, she threw all of it up...all over my house, and now she's drinking water like it's going out of style.  Beagle up for adoption - taking applications now.
• Isn't it funny how Christmas is so magical when you're little?  I'm working up until Christmas Eve and I'm probably going back to work on Monday.  I almost want to have a kiddo just so I can relive the magic vicariously through it. 
• I think we're having a New Years Eve party at our house, but I don't know.  Isn't there something super strange about that?  Kind of need to prepare....
• Remember when I told you I would be going to the gym every day because the big Corporate guys wouldn't let you ride into work whenever you felt like it?  Actually, that's not the case, and I haven't been to the gym even a handful of times.  Pathetic. 

I know there's more to say, but my brain is clouded with what's going on tomorrow and two glasses of wine.  Hopefully two weeks between posts isn't going to be the norm, but I make no promises. 

x's and o's, ya'll! 
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year, just in case.


\


gah!

a couple of things...

• I can't just watch football - hence the blog post during the Georgia/Georgia Tech game.  (Go Dawgs!)
• I think I'm going to start paying closer attention to punctuation on junk.
• Lord have mercy, this blog sucks compared to Kindredly.  Is it possible the feeling of censorship was all in my crazy head and I took a decent blog with a decent following and created a mediocre blog with a teeny following (something like 30 hits a day, here).  I'm seriously thinking about sharing on Kindredly the link to junk....if family finds it, family finds it.  
• that's all.  I hope you all have enjoyed this long weekend.  Now, back to drinking - this game has me stressed.

bare minerals

feels like i'm about two years late on this...but i switched to bare minerals makeup.  i mentioned before that i switched from mac's studio fix that i've used since high school to sephora's line of foundation powder that quickly lost it's luster...

it all started with a short trip to sephora to grab some bronzer and new brushes.  i picked up what i thought was the bare minerals bronzer my friend suggested.  turns out, i was walking around with the brand's form of concealer.

after discussing alternatives, the sephora girl sold me on the starter kit...

 

i needed new brushes, which i got, and bronzer, which she assured me was included - with it's own special name.  i've been swirling, tapping and buffing for a week now, and i think i like it...all for about $60!

i'm addicted to my smashbox photo finish light primer, and the associate at sephora admitted it was probably better than bare minerals' option.  

  

 

i rarely buy into a whole makeup line, but they have several eye trios i'm looking at... this may just be the winner. 

i also picked up their eyelid primer.  it was on sale for $9, and the associate said people were buying it in bulk - i can't decide if i like it or not...

i'm still a huge believer in mac's prep and prime for eyes...not so much for the face...

so, who else is a devoted bare minerals user?  actually, what are the products in your make up bag that you DO NOT run out of? 

first week recap

this might have to be the last post about my new job in order to still have readers.  i know you get it.  i like my new job.

orientation was day one and two, which are summarized in the last two posts.

wednesday i was finally able to use my nifty pass to allow me access to my floor and my office - secure!  my team is fabulous!  everyone is super cool and laid back, and totally not in my business.  the whole get-your-job-done-and-do-what-you-want concept is very new to me.  my old company was as good as family, which is great, but this feels like a nice separation.  everyone works together nicely, but getting your job done and coming and going is totally your own business.

wednesday and thursday were spent doing all of the "mandatory actions" required by New Company.  i took what feels like a million online courses (still have one left that I plan on knocking out tomorrow) and ate no less than 3000 calories a day.

in orientation, they showed this hilarious video making fun of how people at New Company scavenge.  i come from a company where we appreciate a good cake, cookie, fried pickle, etc, so this was not an issue at first....but as shown in the video - food is king. 

for starters, on my floor alone, i've counted maybe three "pantries."  Pantries are kitchens.  they have a vending machine, fridge, and fun keurig-ish coffee maker (trust that i've taken full advantage of the various coffees and teas on hand - not to mention the slew of creamers and fun "accessories").  on top of this, my floor is the conference floor or the learning floor...anyway, it's where everyone from everywhere comes to participate continuing ed classes offered by the company.  it's no thang to see randoms walking down the hall with their suitcase.  so, classes mean catered lunches, and catered lunches mean dessert.  after two welcome lunches, paid for by the company, i've also participated in the daily scavenge of the various pantries.  cheesecake petit fours, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream socials!!!!  this must stop.  i tried to get a handle on it friday, but all was forgotten when i came back from lunch to an open invitation to the ice cream social with endless toppings.

needless to say, i've joined the gym in my building.

in the middle of all of this, i fit in a little training.  next week is my big training week.  everyone will be gone except for the girl who's training me.  we'll spend all day every day digging in to the details of the job.  my goal is to eat the normal amount of food usually allotted and to be able to completely do the job by the monday after thanksgiving.

while i was in orientation, i took a field trip up to my new office to say hello to my new office peeps.  they were telling me the perks of the job and mentioned we all get PDAs and the one to get is the iPhone.  obvi.  i've been throwing around the idea of switching to an iPhone once iPhone decides to be cool enough for verizon - but the idea of having my work email come to my work iPhone (that i don't have to pay for) is exciting.  New Company apparently isn't cool with getting company emails on your personal phone - so if  i were to ever go back to being glued to my phone,  i'd have to get one through work.  unfortunately, my job is pretty office-based, and i have my laptop, so at the moment, my boss says i'm not going to really need a work PDA.  boo.

i will say the biggest challenge of this week has been letting go of the idea of controlling the process.  when i was interviewing for the position, my interviewers were very focused on my previous position being a full-desk recruiting position where i pretty much controlled the deal.  my current job is coordinating, so i'm kind of back to the place where i'm taking direction from the recruiters on what's happening next.  basically, my job is about to be really easy - and i'm having a problem with it....of course.  i'm sure it's something i'll easily adapt to.  if anything, at least we know i'll be able to do the job!

and....that's it.  blogging is probably going to be happening at night when i get around to it.  sorry i've been MIA, but i think this might be the regular now - unless i become really good at scheduling posts, which i'll definitely try to do.

i swear this is all you'll hear about the new job for now.  i'm just so excited!!

addition by subtraction

notice the fun little tabs....

i changed some things around once i discovered how to do this.  fun!  my blog list is under a tab, and while i like it there, i'm kind of sad i won't be seeing the updates.  i guess it's time to crack open my google reader again.   you'll notice my twitter tab is there (follow me) and my book club tab.  i left comments open on the book club tab in hopes you all will drop off your recommendations all the time and not only when i do book posts! 

needless to say, little work has been done today.  typical friday.

happy weekend, all!

it's a new post!

so...sorry for totally neglecting the blog. i'm starting to wonder if my blogging days are coming to an end because life takes up all my time. by the end of the day, i'm so exhausted i can't bring myself to write a blog post. terrible, i know.

the weekend:
well, i'm back from bluffton, and it was fabulous. my girlfriend lives. the. life. i know people say once you have kids, it's kind of...hard? but seriously - i think i'd trade my eight hour view of the westin for her daily view of the kiddie pool. yes, even with the incessant screaming and yelling.

i guess i didn't realize how much i needed some down time, and really, i need more of it. i arrived late friday afternoon to a bottle of wine and much needed conversation. i've missed her so much since she's moved from atlanta. on top of that, she popped out baby number two, and we've barely had time to talk. she hauled the kiddos off to the grandparents, and she and i sat on her immaculate screened in porch for a couple of glasses of wine before dinner. after that, we trucked it to savannah where we met my bestie and my friend's sister in law, who actually know each other through junior league. small world. after a fun night, we caught the last ferry back to the other side of the savannah river and made our way back to her house. saturday was spent lounging by the "adult" pool where we ordered cocktails and gossiped. it was amazing. the pool overlooked the gorgeous may river, and the cooler air was accompanied by the best little ocean-like breeze.

i have to stop writing or i'll start crying.

i haven't had a better weekend in a while...much needed!

introducing hudson:

the husband has always wanted a golf course dog. we have beagles, so they don't make good golf course companions. when we unleash them to the course, we spend most of our time screaming for them to come out of the woods where they've sniffed something out. one of the husband's contacts at the course adopted a stray a few months ago. he'd told me how awesome he was, and mentioned that he'd like to start looking for one to adopt. well, as it turns out, the guy who adopted the stray to begin with, can't keep him....so, now he belongs to the husband and his crew!

meet huddy!

please don't look at my gross house - it's terrible. i'd just gone grocery shopping.
i need a new dining room table. it's embarrassing.

marley, little pup in my other arm, is noooo toooo happy about hudson's arrival. mia, little puppy hog in the back, has a little crush.

huddy comes home to our house after his day at work, and i just love having him. he's the sweetest, most trained stray dog i've ever met. he's so calm and chill, i'm almost afraid he's sick or something. one of the husbands employees brother is a vet. i'm giving it another week for the guys to take him before i take him to our vet for a check up. i'm getting more and more attached by the second; he can't be sick. his favorite activities are jumping in the many lakes at the golf course and running behind the gators (not alligators - john deere gators). i think if he were sick, he wouldn't like doing that so much.

so, that's pretty much it. i feel like life is so full of hustle and bustle right now - but in a good way. more blogging to come up, i promise.

indroducing...

the Haute Initiative

a new blog dreamed up by Hiking in Stilettos and myself.

we met a few years ago, and bonded over all things fashion, shopping, and entertainment. literally, we like the same things. it was kind of like i'd met a smaller, cuter cookie cutter of myself... kind of sort of... except we look nothing alike, but you get me, right?

every time we get together, it's non-stop "have you seen the new designer line at target?"..."holy crap, did you hear me squealing over blair waldorf's outfit last night on Gossip Girl?" "how about this shopping trip needs to a little less anthro and a little more f21 because the wallet (and husband) are about to explode"....and it's all met with "wait, i was thinking the same thing."

so, the idea of doing a blog together was just the next step in our quest to take over the world.

ok. maybe not. but we're really excited about it.

check it out. if you follow here, follow there! we need your support!

work wear daily

i can't express how tired i am of my closet right now. i just wish this time didn't come around annually. the feeling like i just want to go in and rip everything down is overwhelming. i want to scrutinize every piece, and if it hasn't been worn in six months, get rid of it.

unlike my usual approach to dressing myself, i'm kind of more thinking of separating work and play. none of this shopping for things i can wear both places anymore. i think i wear things out this way, and i tend to wear the old favorites over and over. it's time to focus on the work wardrobe.

there are too many days when i've gotten dressed in the dark or half asleep and swear my outfit was totally presentable, only to get to work and see that i look like a hot mess.

this season and from now on, i vow to buy things that look great, flatter my body, and focus on looking like my uber-professional office environment. if we want to call it that, we have to look like it, right?

so, i've thrown together various pieces for work. some of these will most definitely not make it into my work wardrobe as they are upwards of $200/piece, but some will...

for fall/winter season, i'm going to focus on skirts and fun tights. i always tend to buy wide leg pants, and i end up looking ridiculous. i have big thighs - it's an issue for me, and i'll complain all day about how my calves are totally proportional, but my thighs are a whole new ballgame. the best way to combat this issue is wearing skirts, and there are so many fabulous ones out there. some of my favorites are below.

click to make photos larger

1. boulee kendel studden skirt - revolve clothing - $114
2. lightweight wool charcoal pencil skirt - banana republic - $79.50
3. textured power skirt - bcbg - $148 (is this not showing up? click here to view)
4. novelty grosgrain pencil skirt - the limited - $69.90
5. cricket match skirt - modcloth - $41.99
6. abstract print woven skirt - love 21, forever 21 - $17.99
7. asymmetrical pleated dress - love 21, forever 21 - $29.80
8. paper bag skirt in black - banana republic - $59.50
9. zip back and relax skirt - modcloth - $42.99

in my particular role, my boss likes for us to wear "suits" daily. in the event a client were to call in and want to meet a recruiter, she'd obviously want us to not look like raggamuffins. not only that, we see candidates daily, and we have to set an example if we're going to require they wear a suit (and sometimes we have to tell the unemployed people to go buy one) to visit our clients. while she's lenient on it being an actual suit - thank gawd - a jacket is pretty much manditory monday through thursday. friday can kind of be a free for all, but we still have to keep it classy. long story longer, i'm always looking for blazers. the crazier the cut, the better; although, my boss may not agree.

10. city synthetic jacket - ann taylor loft - $128
11. show jumping blazer - modcloth - $53.99
12. darlin blazer - theory - $395 (ughhhhhhhhhhhh)


13. satin layers top - twelve by twelve, forever 21 - $32.00
14. breezy chiffon top - love 21, forever 21 - $27.80
15. silk ruffle flounce top - love 21, forever 21 - $27.80
16. codey - theory - $200

i love the idea of the cropped pant suit. i'm 5'2" so i'm not sure this would work on me and my thighs, but it's something i'm definitely going to try. i was surprised the limited had shorts in their suiting section but not cropped pants. whatev - i've just featured a couple of pairs that pretty much look exactly alike...

17. lison c - theory - $255
18. parker cropped skinny pants - bcbg - $138

maybe i can take all of the clothes i'm about to boot to plato's closet to help pay for all the newness.

the boot

the husband and i are going to see miranda lambert at the georgia national fair this october.


i kind of love her. what i love even more is when all the rednecks on facebook put the opening lyrics of "only prettier" on their facebook status, but that's neither here nor there.

anyway - my besties are going to be there, and i'm so excited to be able to morph a girls night into time also spent with the husband. good times! like any other event i attend, i have to be properly dressed, and i thought there would be no better place for me to wear some shiny new cowboy boots. i've been browsing boots for a couple of years now, but refuse to pay more than $150 because i'm cheap.

i've scouted a few websites and these are some of the options i've come up with :::

these high heel babies are great. i love the round toe, and i'll wear them more because i'm always perched atop some high heels. i'm not a flat wearer. i found these at zappos. roper - $164


i'm kind of liking the cropped boot here. the dark brown is fun; although, i might prefer a camel. rocket dog sheriff - $59.95

these are kind of the front runners. i love love them! dingo - $109

taller boots tend to swallow me. i'm 5'2, and my legs are short tree trunks. these look like they'd come up to my knees, and that would look gross. sm plablo - $119

these i'm not too sure about. i think it's the wonky way the model has her feet. anyway - they are wanted - $74


which ones are your faves? we have plenty of time, and by the time it rolls around, i'm sure i'll have even more options.

Well I've been saved by the grace of Southern charm
I got a mouth like a sailor and yours' is more like a Hallmark card
If you wanna pick a fight, Well I'm gonna have to say goodnight
I don't have to be hateful, I can just say Bless. your. heart.


yeeehaw!

giveaway!

i'm thinking about a giveaway!

this is the first one i've ever done!! more details to come!

dress for sale!

i purchased the brown dress below on ebay thinking it was the same fab dress LK has in green.

witness LK's dress ::

me and LK have a few pieces of clothing that are copied from each other.
hardcore girl crushes.

as it turns out, the dress came, and it was the wrong one. while it's still gorgeous and fabulous, i ended up finding and purchasing the right one - meaning that i don't need the wrong one anymore.

here's where i pass my good deal on to my readers before slapping it back up on ebay.

bcbg maxazria | size 6

the measurements are as follows:

bust/chest: 34-36 inches

waist: 32 inches

hips: 42 inches

length: 34 inches

color: chestnut

the dress was slightly big on me, and if i were to keep it, i'd get it taken in a little around the top to fit snug. it hits right above my knee (i'm 5'2 | 34C bra size).

the bcbg tag is still on it, but there is no price. the dress was originally $258. i twisted it, turned it inside out, and looked at every single stitch to make sure it was legit. truthfully, it's great! if someone doesn't buy it, i guess i'll wear it to the husband's christmas party - preplanning at it's best!

so, i'll sell it for $50. if you want it let me know in the comments, and leave your email address. :)

the makeup post

everyone goes through a lull with their skin. i seem to be "lulling" all at once right now. i'm experiencing a lull in the clothing department, which is a direct result from the lull in body image or actual body size, so a makeup lull fits in perfectly. this is going to be an expensive one.

for now, i'm going to focus on the easy - the makeup.

i've been a hopelessly devoted mac studio fix user since...i can't remember. probably high school - definitely early college. after too many pictures of my shiny face or total lack of makeup all together, i booked it to sephora to consult with the experts.

i'm particular. there are quite a few products with some sort of shimmer in them. i. hate. shimmer. i'm not snooki. i'm going for a smooth, clean look.

the main problem was the shine. i don't have what i consider oily skin - it's normal. i like it a little on the dry side to keep the pimples at bay, and i'm not a big user of facial moisturizer because of the grease. despite all of this, i was still gross and shiny after a day at work or two hours into an event. total crap.

the professionals at sephora suggested i switch things up. i knew they were telling me the truth when they didn't shove products down my throat, but offered samples to try - and hefty samples at that. not only do they offer the samples, they also offer a 30 day money back guarantee on any product - even if it's opened and used (this may be all old news to you, but i've been shopping at the mac counter and gilt - so new news to me!). this way, we can buy new products worry-free as they all cost upwards of $30 - 40 a piece, and you know how cheap i am!

now that i've been given some samples, i can make an educated decision about what new products make their way into my highly exclusive makeup bag (highly exclusive in that smashbox and covergirl are about to become bff's).
first up - murad oil-control mattifier. um...i. love. this. junk. the associate gave me a sample of this product, and i'm not totally sure i can live without it now. it's light. it contains an SPF, which is healthy and something i normally don't find important (go figure - i'm going to look 50 when i'm 35). it stops my greasy face from being greasy (amazing). i just dab it around my t-zone. it's a steal at $39.50 because it would take me forever to get through this tube. a little bit goes a long way.

next, smashbox photo finish light primer. i'm a smashbox fan. i had another primer they offered. it ran out quickly, and i moved to mac's prep and prime line - truthfully, nothing's better than smashbox. worth every penny (somewhere in the $36 range). once the murad sets in, i dab this all over (another sample the nice sephora associate provided me with). not only does it work whatever magic primer's do, it has an oil fighting ingredient. between the two, my face should be seriously matte.

after the associate listened to me drone on about my love for studio fix and my complete inability to understand why it's made me shiny - she suggested sephora's collection of powder foundation, or the technical term, mattifying compact foundation. i went ahead and bought this - it's only $20.

my thought was that i'd go super big on the foundation powder. i'll spend what i have to spend because i apply with a brush (i'm sure alexa on jerseylicious would have something to say about that, but whateva!), and typically my compacts last six months. i've been itching to start my love affair with laura mercier, but my hatred for liquid foundation runs deep. i'm pretty sure i haven't found a foundation powder she offers. after a couple of weeks using sephora's collection, i'm pretty happy. i can tell my makeup sets cleaner and stays put all day - i'm not sure if i should attribute this to the powder, mattifyer or primer. i'm just going to go with it. no need to mess with genius.

one of my readers called sephora sensory overload, and they are correct. not only do i have a solid shopping list for my next trip, but i also have a few products i'm curious about. i thought i'd add them to this list, and if you've used them, you can give me a review (orrrr..I can just go get a sample!).

while we're talking about foundation powders, these two sparked some interest ::

philosophy's supernatural. because there's a scary sponge involved, i'm a little nervous. i hate using the same sponge to put makeup on day after day. a brush feels cleaner; although, i know they also get gross, and i don't wash mine nearly as often as i should. anyone used this?...
benefit's hello flawless. i love benefit's products. they are solid and always worth the money. this one might get the go ahead next time around.

hold the phone! it's laura mercier!! there is a reason why i want to start a relationship here. several co-workers of mine are as devoted to LM as i to mac. i've also had my first LM experience with a compact on crack (the loving name i've given it) that includes a lipstick/gloss palate and equally amazing eye shadow palate that i scored way on sale at gilt. the makeup goes on so smooth and stays that way all day. my co-worker who uses only LM has fantastic makeup when she's in the mood to complete the process (i mean that in the most loving way possible).
smashbox anti-shine. it's cooling? all you have to say is it's cooling, and i'll buy it. i'm like a 55 year old woman experiencing the worst symptoms of menopause right now. i am in a constant state of hot flash.

this might make the most sense. smashbox photo finish bronzing primer. perfecto! i need this! i wonder if this has the secret oil fighting ingredient? to me, the most important part about the bronzer is the lack of shimmer and overall look on the skin. i want it to be natural enough to wear alone. i do not want to look like a have a bronzer-stache, snooki.

i think this is a good stopping point. i'm fighting the urge to continue with countless tubes of lipgloss options and eyeshadows but i suppose if you wanted to see all sephora has to offer, you'd just go and get some samples! happy shopping, friends, and do leave your best makeup suggestions/finds in the comments.

christmas in july

the husband came across a shitload of points from one of his reward programs. literally - there were a lot. and they were about to expire. because it was his deal, he took over the reigns despite my urge to use all the points for a macbook or kate spade bag.

the husband logged on to the catalog of prizes only to discover that we were about to get hooked up in a big way. that night, we curled up on the couch and picked our loot, and it's started arriving this week!

point program santa is bringing the following ::

ipod nano for the husband.
we have the worst luck with ipods. they just break.
he's pumped about the video capabilities and the radio option as he likes to listen to the braves.



docking station for ipod.
we need this. i wanted something portable, and the husband wanted something versatile. this has everything we want. it plays the radio, cds and ipods, and it can go places, like the beach.



a tv.
yup. a freakin' tv. so, now we can add a flat screen to our bedroom! we picked a sharp 26 inch.
a new watch for the husband.
he needed one, and we were narrowing down points...


a digital camera.
the husband always takes mine (and i blame the fact that it's so crusty on him). he finally has his own!


and for me, a waffle iron.
why, you ask? it's actually kind of a joke between me and the husband. he placed in a golf tournament one year, and totally won a waffle iron. another winner mentioned that his kids sure did love waffles, and he would have loved to have won that. well, of course, the husband, being a nice guy and all, said "well, what did you win?" and the guy said "this longhorn gift card."
and then the husband proceeded to trade MY waffle iron for a longhorn giftcard.

i don't even really like longhorn.

he told me while we were on our way to redeem the gift card, which made me really kind of crave waffles and not steak.

so, after that, i gave him hell about how i really wish i had a waffle iron, and yes, i know waffle irons are not expensive. they are just not things you really think about picking up while you're at target, you know?
so, of course, the husband agreed to use his precious points toward getting me a waffle maker. this one is awesome because it flips, which i think is crucial, without being one of those huge ones that takes up so much space. i'm pretty much really excited about it. it's on it's way to me, and, of course, we're out of town this weekend. boo hiss....

the husband picked up a few small things like a rolling cooler (as if we don't have enough), a rain jacket (again, the outerwear is taking over) and a memory card for his new camera with the leftover points. i feel like i'm forgetting something, but i think that's it.

it was insane.

oh oh oh...and a firepit!!

and seriously, that's it. we're going to have to do a lot of yard work before this thing arrives. just throwing that out to the universe...

....and that's it. this is actually bigger than christmas. i kind of feel guilty.

i dunno

i’ve been blogging for years, but i lost my mojo. i brought what was left of it here, so that i could write a little more anonymously. if you know me, hiiiiii….if not, welcome and bear with me. i swear this will get gooooood.

‘love this junk’ will be a sort of showcase of my neverending list of wants. because it’s impossible for me to NOT bitch, there will also be some of that here too.

oh – and how do i make this junk pretty? i’m down with my header for now, less is more, but all this other plainness has got.to.go.