I've got a bad case of the ick...

Not exactly sure whats wrong with me but I haven't felt right since Friday and I've been sleeping a lot. I haven't even fixed my hair since then...just a quick wash and air dry. I went to work and I do okay but by the afternoon I'm absolutely exhausted. Luckily I'm doing most of my charting / office work this week but I've got to feel better soon because I WILL NOT be missing the football game this weekend!

Maybe I should try some rum?

Styling Rant

Today I have to rant. So I've been on the hunt for a dress to wear out at homecoming in a few weeks. These are not dresses that made my cut but rather examples of what I saw online; I love looking at websites for styling ideas and these are some of my favorite sites for dress buying. Some stores do an excellent job of hair, makeup, and accessories which make me want to buy everything on the page. Other sites (i.e, JCrew) feature models that look unclean and unhealthy and some of their poses make me question the fit of the outfit. I heard a rumor that a lot of companys are going to try styling clothes the way JCrew advertises which makes me very unsure of the future for online shopping for me. I still love all the following stores but I definitely prefer the models to look like they could be going to the event they're dressed for in the photo.

Ann Taylor Looking Party Perfect Banana Republic Sophisticated

Lilly Pulitzer Fun and Flirty

The Limited End of Summer Soiree

NOW FOR MY PET PEEVES

It looks like these models were told not to wash their hair for a week and the makeup artist gave them a super matte, colorless face. Oh and the models were asked to stand as awkwardly as possible

JCrew...Dishelved Diva

JCrew - I'm out of words. You can name this one.

New Sephora Items

Benefit Eye Bright. This is a product that is nice to have on hand but not a necessity. I haven't used this every day since I purchased it and I've noticed that the days I do take the time to use it I look much more "awake". I like to apply it to the inner corner of my eyes and just underneath my brow arch and pat it in with my finger - its a trick that makeup artist have used for decades and I'm definitely a convert. Today I didn't wear any eye product other than this and mascara.

Smashbox Camera Ready Concealer Stick. I bought this after I hated the Benefit Boing Concealer and I really like it. This concealer is great for lightening and brightening the undereye area but it probably isn't the best choice for blemishes. I also like to use it for the tiny bit of redness I sometimes get around my nose and it completely covers the area while "brightening" the skin. This probably will not be my HG concealer but I'll use the whole tube...I do love it for undereye circles.

Marc Jacobs Daisy (I bought the rollerball to keep in my purse). LOVE LOVE LOVE. This is my new daytime scent. I'm currently on the final few days of my Stella Sheer fragrance (I've been wearing it nearly a year) and I wanted to try something new. Not to mention some of the traveling I've been doing lately, I really didn't want a big clunky perfume bottle to carry around. I probably will ask for the full size bottle for Christmas - the scent is clean and feminine without being "too much" for my job in healthcare.

Lancome Flash Bronzer Anti Age. The jury is still out on this product. I've been using it at night to give me a glow in the morning...I really don't like the instant bronzer in it because it makes my face look "dirty" but I love the color the self tanner gives me in the mornings. One pump does my face and neck and it's 100% less damaging than a sun tan. I'd say it's worth trying and Lancome will let you return it for store credit if you don't like it. I'll probably use this bottle as the "glow" is perfect for fall and winter but eventually I want to try Clarins Self Tanning Milk because I've read such good reviews on it.

Doppleganger

So a few months back on Facebook everyone was posting their celebrity doppleganger (I wasn't even sure what that was). After asking a few people I got a very similar response. So here she is....

Dr. Allison Cameron from House, MD. I'm don't see it but I'm flattered that others would think I look like anyone famous!

Laugh if you want...

Meet the rebounder.

My mom and I bought one of these a while back to help with her rheumatoid arthritis and I think I might use it more than she does. It's a helluva lot of fun especially when I'm watching reruns of The Office in the afternoons. There are lots of aerobic routinues for the rebounder or you can bounce with a set of light handweights and time passes by really quickly. I love that it works my sides...seriously good for tightening up the lower stomach and waist. We bought the one with the stabilizing bar which my mom uses when she bounces and I can remove it when I use it.

Tonight is the new Thursday fall lineup!!!! I can't wait for:

1. Bones

2. The Office

3. Greys Anatomy

My DVR is going to be overworked this season!

New Hair Products - Finally!

I have been trying a new hair routine lately - most of my new products do a good job, others to a fabulous job! I wanted to share in case anyone was in the market to try something new...

I've been wanting to give L'Oreal EverPure a chance and about a month ago Rite Aid had it on sale and I had a coupon so I thought it would be a good chance to pick some up. I like it but I don't love it. The Rosemary Mint scent is lovely - clean but not overpowering and smells alot like the Back to Basics shampoos I used when I was in high school. The product info states there are alot of benefits such as UVA/UVB filter that protects color and it is salt and sulfate free - honestly the only thing that I really look for is color protection. I pay a decent amount of money every 10-12 weeks for hair color and I don't want it being stripped out by hair product. Bottom like my hair is soft afterwards and fairly easy to style but I've used better products in the past; for a drugstore formula this one is really good and I'll probably keep a set at my moms house when I move out to use when I come back a visit.

Kenra Platinum Volume Boost Spray. This is a fantastic product and the only thing I've found that I prefer more than my Big Sexy Hair Root Boost. After washing my hair I comb through the tangles and apply this directly at the roots and massage it in with by finger tips. Then I blast with heat and I have amazing volume that lasts for two days. (If I go a third day I use Oscar Blandi's Dry Shampoo which gives me back some volume). It's lightweight and doesn't flake.

WOW Standout Performer!!!!! Every stylist I've been to in the past 2 years has had a bottle of Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss on their counter with GOOD reason. This product is HG status for sure. For 2-3 years I've used CHI silk infusion or Paul Mitchell Super Skinny and they don't stand a chance with this product! I like the smell of this one much better too. After drying my hair I apply two pumps of product to my palm and with both hands I apply from the tops of my ears down concentrating on the very ends of my hair. Any leftover product I run through the top for shine. The product is super lightweight and has the added benefit of heat protection. After I comb through my hair I'm free to use tools - curling iron, hot rollers, or flatiron to create shiny, soft hair.

The sales lady at Ulta recommended this hairspray to me when I complained about the Carolina humidity - now that storm season is here the weather is hot but still very clammy and since it's damp at night when I go out my hair will frizz pretty easily with my old hair routine. Th Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Harder is formulated for humid conditions and so far I love it! It's lightweight and a few light sprays keeps my hair in place all day - especially my bangs, I hate when they're all over my face.

Sneaking away for my love...

...of FOOTBALL!

Beloved football has taken me away from blogland for several weeks. You shouldn't expect so much of me, I am a PiRaTe afterall.

PeeDee's Newest Outfit. ARRRGGGHHH!

This was the Purple Haze coming from our Pirate Ship from last year.

This year it comes out of huge skull from our Pirate Nation logo.

And if you've been wondering why I've been so MIA the past few weeks.

It's because I've been drinking some of this, and

...quite a bit more of this than usual.

Along with eating unholy quantities of this.

Hoist the colors boys!

This is our house. This is our Nation. The Pirate Nation!