Diamonds and Pearls

I've come to the realization that I am really a diamonds and pearls type girl. Well, I will be when I get a job. No, scratch that, when I start the career that I am studying for. Don't you start thinking that I'm not on the grind, now!

My beloved bodywash that I mentioned in the previous post cannot be found. I really think they discontinued it and that saddens me beyond belief! Beauty takes so much time and I really enjoyed being able to skip a step here and there...who has the time to study, write papers, date and do a full body scrub? Not I says Ms.New.Beauty!

In other news, as much as I am loving DARK nail polish, I am also loving the look on the other extreme, a PALE fingernail. I peeped this combo (dark toes, pail tips) in the new edition of Vibe Vixen and fell in love. It was the first thing I noticed on the page and it won't soon be forgotten! The next opportunity I get to paint my nails (maybe tomorrow..hmm..) I will copy this. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

If you haven't copped the new Vibe Vixen, I recommend it. Who new that this magazine was THIS good?! I kept overlooking it on the newstands becuase I was thinking it was for..umm..the mens, but it's not! It's chock full of beauty and style for US!

Off to do something BEAUTIFUL!

P.S. Speaking of beautiful, the weather is just WONDERFUL this week. If only I had a MAN to share it with!

Where exactly is Lincoln Park?

When it comes to a new trend I am like a rabid dog. It seems like I take hold of it and refuse to let it go...until I get it PERFECT that is! OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark is *the* perfect dark nail polish for this season. I love it, I love it! It only took me a month to hunt down a store that actually SOLD it, but now that I've got it, I don't want to let it go. It's all I can do not to RUN back to the store and pick up another bottle, JUST IN CASE something happens to the mine! I have two kidney's JUST IN CASE, right? So, why shouldn't I have two bottles of my new favorite nail polish?! It would be cheaper than getting the much covetted Chanel Vamp, even at retail price! We won't even talk about the ridiculous ebay price, I shutter to think of paying THAT much for some nail polish. A kidney, maybe I'd spring for, but nail polish that HAS to be done at least every week, I'll pass!

For some reason, it seems like winter trends are really speaking to me at the moment! I actually went Black Friday shopping (oh yes, I got up at 4 and scraped the ice off my car to shop) and found quite a few things that I liked. I got everything from hair products, to shoes, to jewelry and I love everything that I bought! It feels good to not just purchase an item because it's on sale and I could use it. I actually like this stuff and can't wait to use it! I was putting outfits together in my head the whole time I was shopping and when my imagination failed me, I just picked whatever the sales person was wearing! There were a ton of ladies that were dead on today and I thank each and every one of them!

Now, off to shower with my Bath and Body Works Skin Renewal Body Wash with Natural Exfoliators (yes, that is the name) in Warm Vanilla Sugar. This scent just screams winter to me and I couldn't have picked a better body wash. It comes with the exfoliant already in it (I'm sure you could tell by the name) and I'm in love. I really have to be up on my exfoliation game in the winter or dry scaly skin will meet me in the morning! This body wash eliminates a step and gets me closer to my beloved body butters! One less thing to forget.

Before I go, I'll leave you with five things I want to perfect BEFORE New Year's! ( I never keep my New Year's Resolutions!):

1.) Paying another woman a compliment. It makes me feel good when perfect strangers say something nice to/about me, especially when I'm having a particularly rough day. It's time for me to pass on the feeling! A few kind words can do wonders for someone's spirit, yours included.

2.) These eyebrows. They are a recent obsession of mine. I just love the look of great brows on a barely made up face. They are the perfect accessory, EVERY TIME! Mine usually look good for a few days after a wax (a week tops), but I purchased an eyebrow shaver and WILL maintain this halfway decent shape!

3.) Returning phone calls. I am forever telling someone that I will call them later, and later usually never comes, or it comes in two weeks. I've got to stop that! I need to keep up with my old friends, especially the ones that I've had since childhood. I want to know what they are up to and facebook/myspace don't cut it. There isn't enough personal communication in the world!

4.) Sending cards/Handwritten Notes. We are all becoming technology obsessed. Sending an e-mail or an e-card is so impersonal. I know that I love to get mail, so I want to pass that feeling on! It may be 37 cents out of my beauty/me budget, but I think it's 37 cents well worth it!

5.) Blogging. I don't think an explanation is needed here!

Ciao Bellas!

All oiled up..and nowhere to go.

I have a feeling that this is going to be a winter full of ME pampering MYSELF. I had the Neutrogena body oil laying around for awhile before I finally began to use it. Now that I'm using it EVERY DAY, I'm in love. So in love, in fact, that I went out and bought the HUGE bottle from Target that should last me from here until the end of eternity. Hopefully the combination of using body washes instead of soap (a practice I adopted last winter and have yet to stray from), oiling while still wet, and THEN using a body butter will keep winter dry skin and ashiness away. I don't know why my skin is such a problem for me. The ashiness I can handle (I'll be wearing jeans ANYWAY), but the itchiness has got to go! I'll be giving this regimine a test while this week, and hopefully it can stand up to the challenge!

So long..so yesterday..

Today I realized that I have to say good-bye to my trusty aveeno daily moisturizing lotion. Unfortunately, it isn't moisturizing enough. That hurts my heart, because I love that lotion. R.I.P. Aveeno, until we meet again this spring.

Now, I must wipe the single tear from my cheek, and break out the body butters! I just love the seasonal changing of hair and body products, nail polish, and makeup! There's nothing like a change to make you feel like a new woman (or man). I was so excited, that I went out and bought three NEW body butters. Bath and Body Works had them buy one get one free, so I picked up Japanese Cherry Blossom and Exotic Coconut. Both of these smell great and seem like they would be perfect layered under other scents or alone. They just SCREAM winter! I also bought Love Spell from Victoria's Secret. Their body butters are just $5.00 each (they are regularly 10.00 each). AHHH, there's nothing like retail therapy to help you get over a heartache!

Partner let me upgrade you...

"I can do for you what Martin did for the people. Ran by the men, but the women keep the tempo. It's very seldome that you're blessed to find your equal. Play my part and let you take the lead role." - Beyonce

Why can't I find a man that wants to upgrade me. Why can't I find a man that's grown. I really do want to find my equal. A good man that has a steady job, is educated (either formally or by trade), can talk politics, entertainment, hell, I'll even attempt to talk sports. Young adult men these days seem to have a one track mind and it seems they seldom stray from that. They want a woman to upgrade them, but who's going to upgrade us? Who's going to challenge us mentally.

On to the beauty. I think I'm a little obsessive compulsive about my toe nails. They are always polished. ALWAYS. My mother came to visit just after I had removed my polish and before I could reapply and SHE even mentioned my bare toes - she hasn't seen them in years. If I had time to pamper my feet twice a week, I would without hesitation. There is nothing like the feeling of soft feet on a woman. People wonder WHY I am a fanatic about having my toes done, even in the winter. Having pretty toes makes me feel sexy. It's like I've got this great secret that no one else knows. It's something for me. Like wearing sexy lingerie when you KNOW no one is going to see it but you. That whole post was really random, but I must make time to re-up my pedicure tomorrow.

I'll leave you with a list of my pedicure essentials:

1.) Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
2.) Johnson's Foot Soak
3.) Miracle Foot Repair Cream
4.) Avon's Cuticle Cream
5.) My garlic basecoat