Rosina Rosinazanna

Did that make sense? LOL! When I saw the names of these two eye shadows (Rosina & Zanna), it immediately made me think of Rosanne Rosannadanna. I know. I'm a geek.

Anyway - these two shadows are from the Lost in Faerie Collection from soon-to-be-closed Aromaleigh. So if you're interested, you gotta move fast! Aromaleigh is only taking 100 orders at a time now - and they'll be closing forever very soon.

Please ignore the puffiness around my eyes. Facial edema (especially periorbital) is one of the lovely side effects of one of the blood pressure medications the doctor gave me. And of course, it's the one I would experience! Fortunately, I'm now on a new medication. Let's hope that one doesn't have any unsightly side effects, LOL!

Have a great weekend!

Today's wisdom

Chocolate chip cookies are the miracle cure for a myriad of problems.

I love shopping!

I mean I really love shopping!! Especially if I find something cute or a phenomenal deal!

I just bought 5 shirts from Ann Taylor - and only ended up paying $65! Sales and free shipping rock!

And right now, the deal is even better, because you can use the code SALE25 to get an add'l 25% off sale prices and free shipping!!

I got this one to just wear around the house - mine is a pale shell pink color. But it looks like they're sold out now!

This one is so much cuter IRL - I was a little iffy about it until it arrived. It's adorable! I was impressed by the quality - and it washes well, too. I was worried about how the charmeuse would look after washing & drying - but it looks perfect - no ironing needed! Love the color, but wish I could've gotten more colors in my size.

And I think this one is my favorite! It's rare that I can wear anything with ruffles on the front, because when you are a well-endowed girl, the last thing you need to do is draw more attention to your chest! But these ruffles are so tiny that they lie completely flat and they actually end up drawing attention up and down, away from the chest area. So I bought 3!! I got black, white, and a deep fuschia/magenta. I think these will work well under a sweater or jacket, too.

Have you come across any great deals lately? Share!!

Happy Nat'l Tequila Day!!

I think this might be my favorite day of the year! MAS TEQUILA!!!

We all need to honor tequila today by indulging in an adult beverage containing our favorite brand of tequila. I'll be paying homage to Cabo Wabo tequila!

Here's a little blurb about Cabo Wabo Tequila Reposado from the website:
"Recognized as one of the finest tequilas in the world, Cabo Wabo Tequila Reposado delivers a distinctive experience that even the most discerning drinkers find delightful and unique. An assertive nose of sweet lime, orange and fresh herbs excites upon pouring. Maturation in American oak casks for 4 to 6 months infuses our Reposado with a bold peppery flavor and hints of fruit that linger on the palate briefly, followed by a long, spicy finish. A truly incomparable spirit, Cabo Wabo Tequila Reposado is ideal for sipping solo or in a top-shelf margarita or other mixed drinks."

They even offer some yummy-sounding recipes to maximize your enjoyment of the tequila. How cool is that? I'm partial to the Caborita and the Red Rocker (both the drink and Sammy, LOL!).

How are you celebrating Nat'l Tequila Day?

Remember - Drink Responsibly!! Don't Drink and Drive!!

Purrfect Stranger at Sunrise

It's Friday, so this must be another makeup post, right? This one is a really easy neutral look that I like a lot. I'm still loving the Meow eye shadows, and I used "Purrfect Stranger" and "Sunrise" for this look.

List of products (with links, if possible):

• MAC "Your Ladyship" pigment (no longer available from MAC)
• Meow Cosmetics "Sunrise" eye shadow
• Meow Cosmetics "Purrfect Stranger" eye shadow
• Meow Cosmetics "Glisten" Firefly blush
• Chanel "Rose Honey" Sheer Lip Coloring Pencil (this color is no longer available)
• Chanel "Sweet Sixteen" lipstick (no longer available from Chanel, but you can still find it online)

Eyes: MAC "Your Ladyship" pigment from the crease to under the brow as a highlighter, and also on the inner corner of the eye. Meow "Sunrise" on the lid and in a thick line along the lower lashline. Meow "Purrfect Stranger" in the crease, outer vee, and to wetline both the upper and lower lashlines.

Cheeks: Meow Firefly blush in "Glisten".

Lips: Lined with Chanel Sheer Lip Colouring Pencil in "Rose Honey"; liner topped with Chanel InfraRouge lipstick No. 49, "Sweet Sixteen".

Have a great weekend!!!

Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion

I have several facial sunscreen samples that I want to test - so I'm starting with this one by Cosmedicine. The Medi-Matte Oil Control lotion is marketed as an oil control lotion that is also a skin protectant with spf 20 (1.35 oz. for $42).

Tip #1 - if you are sensitive to silicones, avoid this product! Tip #2 - if you love how silicones make your skin look/feel - try this product!

I've used silicone products in the past - some I liked, some I didn't. Some made my skin look smoother and some made my face very oily after a few hours (even though my skin really isn't very oily anymore). Some made it impossible to apply mineral makeup (MMU) because the powder "stuck" to the silicones.

The Cosmedicine company says "a little goes a long way" and "if your face feels sticky, you've applied too much". Hmmmm. Now we all know that "a little goes a long way" are not words one hears in connection with a sunscreen. So if you follow the company's advice and just use a little, I wouldn't rely on it as your only sun protection.

I'm sure I used more than the company recommends, but it seemed to work just fine. I even mixed a bit of my MMU with it - and I loved how that turned out! When I mixed the MMU with the Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion, the lotion became thicker, but I was still able to easily apply it. It made my pores virtually disappear! After waiting a few minutes for the product to set, I was able to dust more MMU on my skin for a bit more coverage without any caking of the powder.

I think the most impressive thing about this product is that at the end of the day, my makeup looked just like it did when I applied it! Even in 90 degree heat and 60% humidity!

The Cosmedicine site lists the key ingredients as:

• Dimethicone: OTC ingredient with a breathable barrier bolsters skin's natural defenses. Creates a "zone of inhibition" that prevents the entry of harmful external irritants and potential environmental skin-agers and prevents the exit of vital moisture.
• Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): The ultimate cell regenerators. These marine-derived complex proteins help support the intercellular matrix and increase skin's elasticity.
• Pomegranate Extract: A potent antioxidant whose free radical fighting activity is shown to be higher than that of red wine and green tea.
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate): Powerful anti-oxidant in an easily absorbed form. Helps counteract skin damage; boosts skin's natural resistance UVA/UVB damage.

Active Ingredients:

• Octinoxate 7.5%
• Avobenzone 2%

Other ingredients:

• Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
• Purified Water
• Glycerin
• C12-14 Pareth-12
• Butylene Glycol
• Punica Granatum Extract
• Tocopheryl Acetate
• Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
• Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Root Extract
• Sorbitol
• Squalane
• Yeast Extract
• Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
• Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract
• Glucosamine HCl
• Panthenyl Ethyl Ether
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
• Polysorbate 60
• Isopropylparaben
• Isobutylparaben
• Butylparaben

Bottom line: I wouldn't rely on this for adequate sun protection, but it's really great as a makeup primer if you have a tendency towards oily skin and don't have issues with silicones.
 

Repurchase? I liked it, but I don't know that I liked it enough to pay $42 for such a small tube - especially when you can't apply enough to get adequate protection from the sun. If it could actually double as a primer/sunscreen, then I would definitely consider repurchasing.

7 Ways to Look Younger Just Using Makeup (by Makeup Geek)

I recently read this article by Makeup Geek and I was so impressed with it, I'm reposting it in it's entirety (with Makeup Geek's permission) here on DMRH&S.

Since I'll be 49 in November, I appreciated the tips - and I think I probably have some readers who will also appreciate them, too. I was also happy to see that I already utilize most of them! Yay!

I hope you enjoy the article!

7 Ways to Look Younger Using Just Makeup!

by Makeup Geek

Wanting to discover the fountain of youth? Here’s 7 easy ways to look younger just using makeup! 

Nothing works better in keeping yourself young than to eat healthy and exercise. BUT, if you’d like some additional ways to look younger instantly, here’s some helpful tricks!

1. Skip the Powder
As we age, we tend to lose the natural “glow” to the skin. Adding powder can make the skin too matte looking and dull or can make it look cakey. Opt for liquid foundations or tinted moisturizers as they allow the skin to shine through.

My top pick: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (eBay)


 
2. Apply a Creamy Pink Blush
Powder blush can also dull the skin, so using a cream blush adds a glow to the cheeks. Plus the pink color adds a nice flush to the cheeks that gives a youthful appearance.

My top pick: NYX Cream Blush in Tea Rose


 

3. Curl your Lashes
Making your eyes appear larger and more open is a great way to make you look younger. The best way to accomplish that- curl your lashes and apply 1-2 coats of mascara.

My top pick: Shu Uemura Lash Curler (eBay)


 

4. Wear Plumping Lipgloss
Making the lips look full and glossy is another way to look younger, plus it makes them look uber sexy and kissable! Avoid dark shades as that can make lips look smaller.

My top pick: Bare Escentuals Buxom Lipgloss in Bambi (eBay)


 

5. Conceal your Dark Circles
Whether it’s age or lack of sleep that’s giving you shadows under your eyes, hiding them with concealer with automatically make you look fresh! The trick is to use a peach or coral color concealer to counteract the blueness of the dark circles. Then applying a concealer on top that is your natural skin color or 1 shade lighter will brighten this area.
 
My top pick: Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach (eBay)

6. Wing Your Liner
Getting that droopiness to the eyelids is another change that happens as we age, but bringing your eyeliner up and out will help lift the eyes. Take a bent liner brush and some gel liner, apply along the upper lashline and wing it up on the outer edge of the eyes.

My top pick: Gel Liner in Black and Bent Liner Brush

7. Wear Light Shimmer Shadow
Applying a light colored shimmery shadow near the tear duct and just under the brows will brighten your eyes and make you look more awake. The key is to not wear shimmery shadow all over the eyes- JUST near the tear duct and under the brows.

My top pick: MAC Pigment in Vanilla


You can find the original article on the Makeup Geek website. You can also follow Marlena on Twitter and become a Makeup Geek fan on Facebook. And don't forget to check out her videos on YouTube!!

Drag racing...

Who else loves RuPaul's Drag Race? I could sit and watch it all day long! So, of course, when I discovered the Dragulator, I had to give it a try!

It's a program that allows you to upload a picture and then dress yourself in drag! How fun!! You get to add eye makeup, blush, lips, a wig, earrings, an outfit, and accessories. You can even give yourself a name.

Here are my pics - they're hilarious!!

This is me as "Miss Scarlett"

And this is me as "Priscilla"

Give it a try - and have fun!! If Gus didn't read my blog, I would've "dragulated" a picture of him and posted it.

Oh, what the heck...

Meet Gustina...

Hmmm. Honey, you remind me a little of Alexis Arquette, but you definitely look better dressed as a man. Thanks for letting me post this picture of you. And yes, I am aware that you will require some sort of compensation.

BTW - I loved the final three on Season 2. I wanted them all to win! I really liked Raven a lot and thought she out-classed the other two. But Tyra definitely had a lot of charisma and stage-presence.

Check your local listings for the day/time/channel in your area for RuPaul's Drag Race. You can follow on Twitter; "like" it on Facebook; download wallpaper; and download the calendar.

My new favorite product...

I really like the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for getting pet hair off my microfiber sofas. It absolutely rocks and is worth every penny. But I've discovered a new use for it that makes me even happier!! Getting globs of pet hair off the carpet!! 10 out of 10 stars!!

If you have pets, you need one of these!

 

I have beige berber carpet in my living room - and as you know, two of my cats (Angus and Xander) have dark-colored fur. Of course, they love to tussle on the beige carpet (usually right after I've used the vacuum cleaner). So I'll walk out of the room to put the vacuum cleaner away, only to return and find more cat hair. Argh.

Enter the Pledge Fabric Sweeper!! I can just run it over the hairballs and POOF! They're gone!! No muss, no fuss - no dragging out the vacuum cleaner!! I wish they'd make one with a long handle - like a Swiffer, but with the little rollers that collect the pet hair.

FYI: I've also tried the Scotch Fur Fighter; it gets -10 stars. It didn't work well at all and was a waste of money.

Don't waste your money!!

Today's wisdom...

If there are two entrance lanes and one exit lane - and you are in the exit lane - the old lady turning into the double entrance lane will still manage take part of the exit lane, almost hit your car, and then act like you were in her way. Beware of old ladies with blue hair.

Deals!

Old Navy

It's Stuff & Save time!! Through 7/18, get 20% off your entire purchase when you use your Old Navy/GAP/Banana Republic card and use code ONSTUFF20. You also receive free shipping on orders $75 & over.

Ann Taylor Loft

Take an extra 50% off sale items when you use the code SALE50.

 

 Macys

Be sure to check their clearance items - I bought the cutest dress for $22 (orig. $60) and shipping was only 99 cents with code 99CENTS!

 Ulta

Free shipping on orders $25+ with code 59031 through 7/17. (Free STANDARD Shipping offer on orders of $25 or more purchased on ULTA.com using promotion code 59031 is valid through 7/17/10.  Free Standard Shipping on orders with merchandise total of $25 or more - tax and gift cards do not apply towards merchandise total. Some restrictions apply.)

$3.50 off any $10 order with code 44500 through 7/24. (Offer valid through 07/24/10 on all regular price, sale and clearance merchandise. Excludes Benefit Brow Bar, salon services, fragrance, hair artistry brands, prestige cosmetics including Bare Escentuals, prestige skincare, Dermalogica, Philosophy, Clarisonic, Thermaclear and T3. Cannot be redeemed for cash or gift cards. This offer cannot be combined with any other ULTA coupon offer. Not valid on prior purchases. Limit one per customer.)

Monday's Margarita

Gus & I went out with friends this weekend, and I don't have a "Monday's Meal", so I thought I'd do a "Monday's Margarita" instead!

 
Since I adapted it from a recipe for Loco Lemonade, I guess I'll have to call it a Loco Lemonade Margarita...I made it in my Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker (MFCM), so if you're not using one of those, you'll need to add crushed ice or water to dilute the drink.

Loco Lemonade Margarita

(makes enough for two drinks)
 

3 lemons

1 1/2 oz. tequila

1 oz. grenadine

simple syrup*

about 10 ice cubes

Squeeze the lemons & put the juice in the MFCM container. Add tequila, grenadine, and simple syrup (I make my own simple syrup and store it in a Starbuck's pump bottle; I used about 6-7 pumps). Put the ice cubes in the top of the MFCM and turn it on (use the "shave & blend" setting).

Pour into glass and enjoy!!

(adapted from the Loco Lemonade recipe at barnonedrinks.com)

*To make your own simple syrup, you'll need 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar. Put the water in a pan and bring to a boil. Add the sugar, reduce heat, and stir. Simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool, then pour into bottle. If refrigerated, it will keep 2-3 weeks.

Today's wisdom...

The chance that you will blink while applying mascara (and get mascara on your eyelid and under your eye, thereby ruining the eye shadow and liner you spent the last half hour applying so carefully) is inversely proportional to the amount of time you have before you need to leave the house.

Blah, blah, blah...

Sorry I haven't posted anything for the past few days!

It was a busy holiday weekend - Buddy went 4-wheeling with my brother, Wild Bill - so we had to do a lot of driving to get him there and back. Luckily, there weren't any wrecks this time, and he came home in one piece and without any bruises.

Gus and I spent the day at the outlet mall after we dropped off Buddy. Gus got three pairs of shoes at the Bass outlet for $100 - they had a sale; buy one, get two free - what a deal! He also got two polo shirts at the Eddie Bauer outlet for $9.99 each! I got a really cute dress at the Ann Taylor outlet - originally $100, my price $38.99. And the best news of all is that I was able to find my beloved MAC Skinsheen bronzer at the Cosmetic Company outlet!! Three cans in my color - for only $15.75 each!! YAY!!!

Lulu spent most of her time with her boyfriend, CW - although they did stay at the house for awhile and help Gus set off his yearly fireworks (since Buddy wasn't here to help as usual and Gus was pouting that there wasn't anyone there to "ooh" and "aah" over his display). No pictures.

Riley had a spa weekend at the nice quiet kennel. He missed the fireworks (which is okay, because he would've hidden under my desk and had to take a nerve pill) - and had a bath, haircut, style, and toenail trim. He doesn't smell like doggie now - at least not for the next few days. He is a little needy after being at the kennel for 3.5 days - he hasn't left my side since we brought him home. As a matter of fact, he's laying under my desk, on top of my feet, right now.

The other reason that I haven't blogged much is this...I..AM...TIRED. The doctor increased my blood pressure medicine, which happens to be a beta-blocker - and that means that I am exhausted. So tired that it's difficult for me to concentrate on anything for an extended period. It's also giving me headaches and making my feet swell a little. I'm not going to bother calling the office, because he's on vacation right now and I have an appointment in 6 days anyway. So until then, I'll just keep dragging my butt. And worrying about what he'll change the medicine to - and how the new meds will affect me. Argh - it sucks to get old!!

And to add to the list of critters that I have seen in my yard, I give you - Mr. Froggie. Buddy called me at 2:30am this morning to tell me that there was a frog on the patio. I thought it was probably a toad because we see those a lot - but when I went downstairs to check it out, it really was a frog! I think he came over to eat all of the June bugs, which is okay with me!

What did you do over the holiday weekend?

New iPhone cases & Hello Kitty!

Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know. You're all sick of hearing about the iPhone. Well, just in case any of you have one and are looking for cases, I found some cute, inexpensive ones on amazon.com.

This one is made by Konnet and it's just a thin, hard plastic case that snaps on. It has cut-outs for all of the buttons and openings, so there's no problem there. The price also includes a screen protector with some of the same graphics - but I don't use a screen protector. You can go to the Konnet website and download matching wallpaper for free. I paid $9.99 at amazon.com for mine - I'm not sure why, but the price is now showing up as $17.94!

This one is made by ifrogz and is identical to the one I got at the AT&T store when I bought my iPhone. AT&T sells it for $30 - as does the ifrogz website. I got it from amazon.com for $4.00!! (The price is now showing up as $4.10. There are also other colors available for this price.) It's a hard plastic case with a matte metallic finish - and there are cut-outs for easy access to all ports/buttons. This one also comes with a screen protector. My original ifrogz case broke - but I don't fault the product. I dropped my phone so many times that it finally cracked the case. The case did it's job - it kept the phone safe.

This next case is my new favorite - it's Hello Kitty!! I love it! This one is flexible plastic, but the finish is smooth enough that it doesn't attract dust or stick in your pocket like some flexible plastic/silicone covers. My one complaint with it is that it doesn't have a cut-out for the volume or power on/off button. However, the plastic is soft enough that it's not too difficult to adjust the volume. The price includes a screen protector. I bought mine from Target through amazon.com and paid $14.55 total (including tax & shipping). It's no longer on amazon.com (I just got mine a few days ago! WTF?), but it is available at target.com for $14.99 plus shipping.

I downloaded cute Hello Kitty wallpaper to match. I really like that the iPhone OS 4.0 allows you to have one wallpaper for the lock screen and a different wallpaper for the home screen.

You're never too old for Hello Kitty, right?

Aromaleigh Victoria's Revenge swatches

I ordered a few samples of Aromaleigh's Victoria's Revenge Collection, and wanted to share the swatches with you. You've already heard me rave about "Poison Utopia" - did I mention that I lurves it??? :-)

I only ordered 10 of the 25 shades - but the ones I got are very pretty. Intense colors (except for "Infernal Chaos", which is the lightest color in the collection), easy to apply, and when applied over a primer there isn't any smudging or flaking.

Perpetual Motion - shimmery copper, like a new penny 

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "Gleaming coppery brown gears churn, dulled from persistent use, but shining through with metal's rich smooth surface and sparks of electricity.")

Cyanide Sorrow - a really pretty tea rose pink with shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "An innocent dusty rose pink, with buff undertones.... tarnished forever with the ashen guilt of wanting to write poison pen letters. Spilled ink, hello forever...")

Freakshow - pale olive/yellow brown with minimal shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "A worn and barren brown with olivine tones, reminiscent of the underbelly of the golden days of the traveling circus..")

Infernal Chaos - pale taupe with a little shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "Immaculate dove grey with the softest sheen and brown tones... to match the gloves you wear to ensure that you leave no fingerprints.")

Tarnished Strychnine - metallic olive/forest green with copper/gold shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "The garden has wilted, copper pots tarnished green from the relentless fog. Next to her prized Dendrobium, she rests, sleeping, it seems... with her teacup. Full. Such a pale beauty.")

Splintered - (this isn't a very good swatch - it's much prettier IRL) dark forest/pine green with blue/green & gold shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "Broken evergreen branches and moonlit reflections in the water. The blackened forest green glimmers from within with the lost dimensions of faerie, perpetually changing...")

Obscura - dark metallic teal with blue/green shimmer; base is more black and shimmer is more blue than Splintered

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "The depth of the deepest lake and it's secrets, which the moonlight plays on the rippling water. An elusive deep teal, blackened but brilliant with green and azure accent sparks.")

Night Shade - not quite black with blue/green shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "The last rays of the sun reflect off the light of the green glass-paned greenhouse windows, casting a loving glow of warm chartreuse light on the poisonous plants, then all is dark...")

Poison Utopia - blackened royal purple with purple shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "A deep and glimmering purple blackened by the soot of industry's progress yet glittering with a borealis of dreamlike sparks. ... my reflection, dance the ghost with me...")

Ruthless Indulgence -metallic mauve with purple and pink shimmer

(description from the Aromaleigh website: "The pink glimmer of bittersweet dreams, wrapped in the frosted charcoal depths of the dark determination to achieve them."

Kristen has revised the Aromaleigh closing schedule - the ADIEU35 coupon (good for 35% off your order) is now valid through Aug. 10. But the eye shadows are selling out quickly, so if you want to give them a try, don't wait too long! 

I ordered samples of the entire Lost in Faerie Collection, so those should be here soon!