…and possibly the best dollar I’ve spent (with the exception of the $1 I put in Tim’s g-string when we met…LOL JUST KIDDING!!).

I am not really into a lot of beauty products. My skin is very sensitive, and I don’t like the feel of makeup, so my daily routine for the past few months has become: wash face, moisturize, mascara, and Burt’s Bees Peppermint Lip Balm. Sometimes, if I’m rushed, I skip the mascara.

Here’s what it looks like when I skip the mascara:

Ho-hum.

Well, my old eyelash curler (a Maybelline) lost it’s grippy, and I have been searching high and low for a good curler. I don’t like when the rubber grip is too rounded, because then it kind of slips around the lashes. Anyway, I had despaired of finding one for under 10 dollars, when this caught my eye at Target:

ELF Essential Mechanical Eyelash Curler

IT COST ME $1. No, it wasn’t on clearance. It regularly costs $1. It has the perfect amount of tension, and curves perfectly to my eye shape. Every lash curled!

Remember the mascara I raved about a few months back?? Bring these two wonderful items together, and you get this:

I feel like I did the time Adrian put false eylashes on the corners of my eyes, and I just wanted to wink at people.

Anyone else score a great beauty product on the cheap?

 Kind of excited that my hair is finally long enough to play with. Last weekend I successfully (more or less, LOL) braided all of my hair entirely around my head, in one continuous braid! It was messy, and I had difficulty with the back – but it felt good to have my hair off my neck, and it looked fun.

 Messy, but comfy

 View from the top

goofy face >:-)

 Any hair ideas for me?

First time wearing a romper: win!! I loved how comfortable, yet sexy and chic I felt in it! Tim agrees: more rompers, please.

iPhone pictures taken in the downtown Napa plaza, whilst waiting for a table at Gillwood’s. Mmm, waffles…

Romper: Target
Rose-clasp belt: Forever21 (purchased 2008)
Black wedges: Forever21
Sunglasses: Target (purchased 2010)
Teal bracelets: Macy’s (purchased 2009)
Handbag: vintage French language book, made into a handbag by Swing Set Designs. (2010 gift from my mother-in-law)

 

I dream of a Parisian getaway, and in my fantasies I’m extremely well dressed while touring the beautiful city of lights. I created a Polyvore set to match. A fashion ‘soundtrack’, if you will!

The remainder of my wonderful Mother’s Day…

First – my outfit!

Dress: Derek Heart
Belt: vintage
Sandals: Preview, purchased 2009
Scarf, worn as headwrap: vintage

After a stop at Whole Foods for supplies, the three of us headed to Downtown Sonoma for a picnic. There is a pretty park right smack in the middle of the main square, and lots of sweet little boutiques to peruse. A few restaurants that I want to try, too!

Marco loves avocado and mango

After the picnic, we wandered around the shops, and checked out some local sights.

We headed back home so Marco could take a cozy nap. After a rest and an episode of ‘Poirot’, we went to Firewood Cafe for dinner, and YoBelle for frozen yogurt!

I filled my cup with Plain and Fresh Strawberry yogurts, and added kiwi, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Tim ordered Yellow Cake Batter, Cinnamon Bun, and Plain, mixing in peanut butter cups, cheesecake bites, and brownie bites.

Tim made funny faces, and I let Marco press the shutter button on my camera. He is a good photographer

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Today is also a milestone; May 9th 2011 marks the 8th year since Tim and I had our first date.

(not from our first date, but this was taken the day he first kissed me)

I am ridiculous. Somehow, Tim puts up with me. I love him in ways I never imagined, and can’t think of anything about him that I would change. Okay….maybe he could pick up his dirty socks, and rinse out his cereal bowls after use. But aside from those minor details, he’s just what I need in my partner. He’s been an amazing father to Marco, and I hope that Marco inherits all of Tim’s beautiful qualities, his intelligence, his kindness, and his wonderful natural scent (seriously, I could smell Tim’s neck all day).

I love you, Tim!! <3

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P.S. Did you enter my giveaway? Ends Friday, May 13th!!

iPhone pictures of recent outfits I’ve worn to work:

Tuesday:

Black sweater: Target, purchased 2007
Grey striped blouse: Target, purchased 2008
Head wrap: Forever21, purchased 2010

Yes…I am totally in the employee bathroom taking a photo. CREEPY….

Last Friday:

Blouse printed with birds: H&M, gift from Micaela!
Cami (layered underneath): Target
Skirt: Forever21
Gladiator sandals: BCBGeneration, purchased 2009

PSSSSSTTTTTT…. Giveaway announced tomorrow!!

Two (2) new pairs of shoes.

I purchased this first pair because they reminded me of Hercule Poirot – especially as portrayed by David Suchet on BBC. He’s always wearing awesome white, cream or grey suits, and leather shoes, which he keeps perfectly polished.

These are worn laceless, but the shoes did arrive with a pair of laces if you prefer. I like the boyish look and feel of a pair of oxfords with trousers.

We’d purchased Justin a gift certificate for Toms for his birthday, and I ended up ordering a pair of red canvas classics flats for myself. Oh my gosh they are so comfortable!

Looks good with most casual outfits, but I’ll likely wear them with shorts and tee shirts over the summer.

I went to Kohl’s last night to see about a pair of pants. I ended up leaving with 1 pair of navy cotton trousers, 1 navy and white striped top with ruffle detail, 1 army and pale pink top with lace detail, a DIVINE pair of blush-colored platform pumps, and a tube of mascara. I always find lots of clothes to like (even the LC by Lauren Conrad is built with a few great pieces), but finding my size is difficult. In the women’s department, the smallest size they make is a 2, but it’s sized more like a 4-6. Great for your vanity, not great for purchasing. Luckily, there are occasionally some basics in the junior department that I can work with (like the trousers!).

The mascara was part of the Flirt cosmetics line, the ‘All That Lash’ in black.

I didn’t wear makeup today, so as soon as I got home I grabbed my trusty eyelash curler and headed for the nearest mirror! I snapped some photos with my iPhone so you could see the difference (yes,those are bags/dark circles under my eyes):

BEFORE

AFTER

I really like this mascara! I normally use CoverGirl Waterproof Lash Blast, but this realllly makes my eyelashes pop!

You’re dying to see the shoes, aren’t you!?

SERIOUSLY these shoes are amazing (and really comfortable). They make me very tall. ’Hestia’ style in the Simply Vera by Vera Wang line. The pictures do not do this pair justice!

I can’t wait to wear them.

It’s another Monday. I’m in a dreary mood, so here are some happy pictures from the past week, all taken with my iPhone:

My favorite shirt!!

My first gel manicure. It generally lasts 2-3 weeks, and I’m hoping that it’s true for me. I chip my nail polish about 2 hours after they dry whenever I try to paint them myself, and even professional manicures last maybe 3 days.

We (as in Tim – I only laid down 15 tiles, and grouted 5) finally finished the floors (WHEE!!), and it looks SO much better. This is the front entryway.

Part of the dining/living area. This used to be carpeted, but we decided to tear it out and extend the floors.

Yes, that’s Roux’s little foot and tail in the corner.

Yesterday, I drove to San Jose to celebrate Micaela’s birthday eve (March 7th is her actual birthday) with her family. Marco was getting over a cold, so he stayed home with Tim.

It was great to spend time with my awesome BF! We may or may not have eaten much cake and tacos. Not sayin’ for sure.

Monica made this awesome chocolate, cream, and raspberry sauce frozen dessert thing – it was tasty to the extreme!

Micaela and Buster

Make a wish!

Unfortunately, this morning I woke up with a nasty headache and a slight (101.2) fever. I had to call in sick to work, and that does not make me very happy;  with the conversion to new software going on at work, we’re all sitting on two week’s worth of catchup paperwork/emails. Now I’ll be an extra day behind. BLAH. Tomorrow is going to be ugly.

Here’s to another week!

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards

The fashion…

My favorite dresses of the evening:

Mandy Moore
I love her dress! She looks so lovely.

Anne Hathaway – these were her two best dresses of the evening. Tim was drooling over her in the red number.

Sandra Bullock – stunning!

I think purple was having a great night tonight….

Mila Kunis

Cate Blanchett

Natalie Portman

Scarlett Johansson – though she probably should just walk around naked. I don’t like her acting, but her body is awesome.

The show…

Just some notes about the evening:

I didn’t see all of the Oscar movies this year, but there were a few that I was rooting for just on the merit of the actors from previous films.
Best Supporting Actor was one of them, and I was happy that Christian Bale won. I’ve heard that his performance is breathtaking in ‘The Fighter’, and I think his intensity is thrilling. Woo hoo!

I KNEW that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross would win for ‘The Social Network’ in the Best Original Score category. Tim was rooting for Hans Zimmer.

When Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi performed their nominated song from ‘Tangled’ , I couldn’t help but just think. “Lol, it’s Chuck”.

Why does James Franco look high ALL THE TIME!? Did he just bake in the greenroom of the Academy Awards?!

Not gonna lie, I kind of cried when Natalie Portman mentioned her love, and thanked him for giving her the ‘role’ of motherhood.

COLIN FIRTH COLIN FIRTH COLIN FIRTH COLIN FIRTH!!! I am so happy he won!! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!

Tim and I agreed that the stage setup/backdrops/etc werre VERY well done; the show sparkled.

A good show, but I wouldn’t ask actors that aren’t natural comedians to do the hosting again. I loved Jon Stewart; bring him back!!