Birthday Weekend - YAHOO!

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I am a very lucky girl, as this week (and weekend ahead) has proven that I can (if only for this week) have my cake and eat it too! I have been spoiled with fabulous gifts, wonderful words, delish dinners and a night out on the town tomorrow. Thank you to all for birthday wishes! I feel truly blessed!

If you were looking for a reason to go out and party hardy...you can use my birthday as an excuse (j/k!). Here's hoping ya'll have an incredibly amazing weekend surrounded by friends and loved ones!

XOXO

Forever Frugal Friday: Office to Drinks with the Girls

Here's an outfit for your that cost only $35.40 (plus some heels and a blazer that you already own), that takes you straight from the office to the bar, for drinks with the ladies.

The Jolene Tulip Skirt is a simple black skirt with a little more pizazz to it and sure to flatter all body types. Pair it with the simple Ribbed Macramé Trim Tank and Painted Beads Necklace and you have an outfit that you won't disappoint. Plus all three pieces can be mixed and matched with items you already have hanging in your closet. In hard economic times like these, making whats old, new again is key and simple to do with the right pieces.

Cheers!

Instant Radiance = Instant Disappointment

I celebrated my 29th birthday this week (OUCH), and have been on a mission for the last few months to find the perfect product that will make my skin glowy and dewey like the days when I was 25.

I stepped into Sephora with an open mind and a pocket full of change. The thing I love about Sephora is that the employees are so helpful! If you need a sample they will gladly make one for you. In this visit, the Kinerase representative was in the store, and let me just say that she had the most flawless skin I had ever seen. Basically, I was ready to buy whatever she was selling. I described my search and she suggested the Kinerase Instant Radiance Facial Peel. For $80, I got a 3 month supply that was guaranteed to give me glowing results. The rep even went as far to say that if I didn't see results in three days to return the product to Sephora.

You can imagine my excitement to try this product out. So I began the five day treatment and was less then pleased with the results. Now, I am not one to quit without giving a product a fair chance, so I tried peel again in January and had my co-worker give me her honest opinion everyday. Again, nothing...so I took the Kinerase Instant Radiance Facial Peel back to Sephora ready to plead my case. Turns out wasn't necessary at all, as they gladly took it back and offered me store credit.

My ultimate verdict is to skip it. For $80 you can get a facial and probably achieve results that you are looking for and have a nice pamper session as well.

So the search continues....

Cynthia Vincent 12th Street Resort ’09 Collection

With my ticket purchased and my vacation request in at work, now comes the fun part (besides the actual vacation)…packing! I will be heading to Maui for what is sure to be an amazing wedding.

A few weeks ago, I was browsing the cute boutiques in Manhattan Beach with Cassie when we stumbled upon the amazing Strapless Long Dress with Jute by Cynthia Vincent dress below. We both fell in love instantly and as I continued to browse the store, realized that it was as if Cynthia Vincent heard a rumor I was heading to Hawaii and designed an entire collection that would fit my every Hawaiian need or desire. It is not very often that I find myself LOVING a designer’s entire collection, but Cynthia got the job done and done. My favorite pieces are below, and with any hope will go down a bit (a lot actually) before I board that jet.

(click to enlarge)

I love the simplicity of this collection. She chose a fantastic color palette and then jazzed up the dresses with the details. Dainty ribbon accents, twisted rope details and a pretty little belt to accentuate the waist.

The prints in this collection are glamorous and not to be confused with the likes of a typical Hawaiian print. The yellow dress has cute little fishes as the print and both of the black dresses would look hot in Hawaii or anywhere else you might need a little tropical love.

I must say, that when I heard Neon's were coming back, I got a bit nervous remembering my favorite kulats and hyper color t-shirts. However, the neon's this time are around are done right. Flirty, sassy and sexy and you are sure not to blend in with the crowd.

Now, if I can only find a way to make all these items mine……

Song Of The Week: Poker Face

Lady Gaga - New Music - More Music Videos

Trust me when I say, that every girl should own (if they don't already) the Lady Gaga CD. It is such a fun, rockin', exciting CD. Lots of dance music, a few slow (but catchy) tunes, and fantastic workout music.

My current fave is Poker Face, the beginning might throw you off at first but as soon as she gets to the chorus you are hooked. I currently have this song on repeat as it is just too hard to not be pumped or jazzed when this song is on (preferably at a high volume). Lady Gaga kind of fascinates me. Expect her to be around for while longer. If you are tired of listening to Just Dance, try out Poker Face or Summerboy or The Fame (currently heard on the ANTM promos). You will not be disappointed!

Forever Frugal Friday

I am so glad it is the weekend and even more excited because it suppose to be hot, hot, hot in LA. Today at lunch I wore a knee length, sleeveless dress which made me yearn for more to add to my collection. So, I have had my eye on this Theory Alisse Dress for quite some time but just couldn't commit to the price tag....


What I can commit to however is the fantastically affordable Fab Colorblock Dress from Forever.

It may not be as cute as the Theory dress but at $13.50 who am I to complain really?

Have a great Super Bowl Weekend!

Totally Tubular!

I am very excited to share with you all two additional mascaras that are sure to get the job done and done.

I will start with the pricier of the two. I bought the CARGO TexasLash™ Mascara a few months back for a wedding I was attending and was not pleased with the results. It was goopy and thick and made my lashes look a little like spider legs. I threw the tube back in my makeup case and forgot all about it, until I ran out of mascara and had to pull out the reserve. It was miraculous...the mascara went on easy and had my eyelashes looking full and in control. I haven't stopped using it since. I don't really quite know how to explain it. I love it and am totally planning to buy another tube once I run out. It stays on well, washes off with ease (in weird sort of tube like pieces) and only takes about one quote to give you big old Texas beauty queen lashes. SOLD!

When I was disappointed with the TexasLash™ I picked up a cheap tube of Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara and damn if I didn't like it the most of all the cheap mascaras I have tried. You can put on layer after layer of this stuff and it never gets clumpy and scary looking. It has a nice glossy look to it and I SWEAR (although I have zero proof) it made my eyelashes grow longer. My only complaint is that the mascara dries up kind of fast, but at this price who cares?

They are both wonderful products and I strongly encourage ya'll to pick up either tube (or both)immediately! Your lashes will thank you!