Two of My Loves in One

Halloween (love it) meets Goodwill (love it).

Agency: The Miller Group, Los Angeles

Executive Creative Director: Renee Miller

Creative Director: Greg Collins

Art Director: Shin Kawase

Copywriter: Greg Collins

Illustrator: Andy Mueller

Thanks to Steve at my office for sharing this amazing feat of illustration and design.

Fashionable (and Affordable!) Cold Weather Accessory

When my wonderful girlfriend Kate came over for dinner Tuesday night, she had on the chocolate brown pashmina I gifted her with earlier this month. The lightweight cashmere/wool blend scarf was part of my thank you to her for serving as one of my bridesmaids.

 Knowing I couldn't possibly (and shouldn't) pick one color for all eight girls, I chose different solid colors and patterns that I felt complemented their personalities. Because a lot of Kate's wardrobe is natural or neutral colors, I thought the brown would be perfect. So, I was pleased to see her wearing it the other night.

 What is my point? I was reminded to post something about the eBay vendor I used for the scarves. The seller's user ID is epashion — and he/she currently has just over 500 scarves up for bidding. They're very reasonably priced, not to mention there's a great variety of colors and patterns available. I highly recommend these for birthday, Christmas, whatever gifts — and keep in mind that shipping is less when you combine items. Stock up for yourself or friends!

Link to eBay here. Search sellers for "epashion."

Facial Bargain

After nine days honeymooning in Europe with no washcloth to use to exfoliate my face (we were only provided with bath towels at our lodging locations), my complexion has not fared well. I should also admit that an Italian diet of gelato, meat, pasta, bread and oils likely didn't help either.

So not long after our arrival back in the states at 2am today, I decided a facial was in order. I've only had two in my life, the last being about three weeks before Dan and I tied the knot. Remembering that a popular little Indian-run salon I frequent for eyebrow threading had affordable facials, I called up Natural Identity in Decatur. They had an opening for 4:30.

I enjoyed one hour's worth of facial, arm and chest massage as well as your typical masks, steaming, extractions, toners and moisturizers (not necessarily in that order). My technician used most all the same tools and creams one finds at a fancy spa, though this experience was sans the pushy product selling, cushy facility and robe (I think the pared-down room and wrap-around towel did the job just fine though). 

Some people get facials for the relaxation element. To me, that's part of it but only a small piece. I'd rather feel that my skin is clean and free of gunk in my pores.  Don't get me wrong though, my technician used great massage techniques and gave solid skin advice—the atmosphere just wasn't that of a Spa Sydell or Natural Beauty. I felt better about the clean pores aspect following my Natural Identity experience than I did with my posh $120* Intercontinental Hotel Spa experience from just six weeks earlier—this time for a banging $40.

While I was in the shop, I had my eyebrows threaded ($4) and didn't miss the expensive valet parking of the Intercontinental ($15). 

Natural Identity Beauty Architects

1707 Church Street #C3

Decatur, GA 30033

(404) 292-6230

*Note: I wouldn't have usually gone for this expensive pampering. I happened to have a $120 Intercontinental gift certificate given to me over a year ago. 

Lipstick that Stays Put

The Mission: find a lipstick that won't wear off within 30 minutes that also didn't break the wedding budget.

Solution: Maybelline Superstay Gloss.

I'm usually more of a Chapstick gal than I am a lipstick maven, so I was a little handicapped when I began my hunt. I wasn't impressed with staying power of the Loreal Infallible lip color I'd picked up about a month and a half ago—but since I did like the color, I brought the tube with me to Target for color comparison purposes.

I tested this "superstay" gloss for about a week leading up to our wedding this past Saturday. I officially marked it with my stamp of approval and wore it on the big day, maybe applying only three or four times (just for good measure) across a seven hour period.

And at about $8 at Target (less at some other retailers), it didn't set our wedding budget back too much at all!

Hiatus!

Forgive me for not blogging much on this new blog. Until our wedding has wrapped (that will be this weekend) and we return from our honeymoon, I probably won't be posting much here.

I will, however, be putting up little snippets on my original blog about wedding stuff. Check them if you'd like!

http://katystreamsherconsciousness.blogspot.com/