September 2008

Meg here, I hope you all had a nice weekend. I am using this weekend as a family detox. I spent 11 days with family and it was very nice seeing my sister and family and my Grandmother. Well, very nice to see my Gram but even dinner with her, my bff, was weird when all those old-school taboos played in.

My grandfather died like a decade ago. My mother was trying to figure the profit of selling his house and said "Well, it has to be split between the 6 kids." My sister piped up that since one had died there were 5 kids. My mother said "Don't forget Uncle XYZ.." My sister said "Who the hell is Uncle XYZ?" My mother just responded it was our Grandfather's secret son, our secret uncle and to just do the house math. I am 32 years old, I just found out about my Uncle XYZ, like 8 days ago.

That's the way it is. It is so disturbing to me. So many weird family secrets come out all the time. It's not just me, everytime my bestfriend's Gram gets tanked at Thanksgiving she lets one out of the bag.."We're Jewish!..."Your Grandfather was 100% Native American!"..."Grampy was married before!"

When I said to my mother that I thought it a bit unnerving to just find out about Secret Uncle she said to me "That's nothing. My grandfather had two families."

When I would read in novels the star character got secretly knocked up and "sent away to stay with a cousin" I shouldn't have laughed at how dumb that was. It's 2008, I went with my awesome Gram and my Dad to dinner. A friend of my Gram's asked how I was. I said I was getting divorced but all is good. My Gram and Father actually said, in front of me "HAHAHA, she's kidding they're not getting divorced." What? I'm getting divorced. "HAAHA, they're working it out. She's just joking, haha".

I actually had to try to convince my grandmother's friend that while wacky, not insane. Yes, I am getting divorced.

I'm from Boston, that's supposed to be progressive. We're not the Kennedy's, we're not running for anything. Who the Hell cares?

I'm all for keeping up with the Jones's, however, you know the Jones's have an insane relative locked in their attic.

I'm just over it. Yes, I smoke ciggs. Yes, I enjoy my cocktails. Yes, I'm getting divorced.

I think Marilyn Monroe said it best ..“I fear being like everyone I hate, I fear failure, I fear losing control. I love balancing between chaos and control with everything I do. I always have a fear of going one way or another, getting lost in something, or losing everything to get lost in. And I fear being a completely acceptable sheep in society.”

This black sheep has finally become OK with the label, it's OK for me to not follow the herd.

I can't be the only one that feels like this! Chime in black sheep! have you any wool?

Katie here and for the record, I am with all you ladies who responded to Meg's post about Cindy McCain. If you've got it flaunt it. And she is a little bit older. She looks much less ridiculous in pearls and Chanel, and Oscar than some 22 year old wannabe ever will. Less is not more. More is Fabulous.

Speaking of gluttony, I have like 10 different mascaras and I never have any problem accepting/buying/trying more. I have my night-time going out mascaras...my tinted moisturizer and hat on my head mascaras, and my everyday daytime mascara.

This last category recently evolved a new front runner. Enter: Fresh Firebird Mascara ($26). It comes in a pretty peacock green and gold tube. The brush is also rather unique. The wife of the Fresh founding couple took her old Supernova mascara wand and attacked it with tweezers. The more sparsely haired Firebird brush truly gives you feathery, soft, and LONG lashes. And I do mean soft, long, and SEPARATED. No combing required. It's a must-have.

Oh, and P.S. I just noticed the new interactive feedback/review features on Sephora.com and it's addictive!

Any other fans of Fresh?

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Fresh Buy It Here

Meg here, I'm back! There is really no place like home. So pleased to be back in my bubble! LaLa Land I love you! It took me 11 hours to get back yesterday so I'm sorry this is up a little late! Here's Gigi's first ever Drugstore Don't!

Gigi's back with a DD Don't! Scarlett O’Hara was famous for two beauty “tricks:” Literally pinching her cheeks to bring a rush of color to her fair Southern Belle complexion and taking the ultimate advantage of her long, full eyelashes to garner power over men. With a bat of her eyes, men fell over themselves to serve her at a barbeque and easily succumbed to her other charms.

Unfortunately, luxurious, lengthy lashes are not one of my charms. I do have a scant amount, but they are auburn, easily overpowered by eyeshadow and liner. In junior high school, I learned the power of mascara to transform me from “cute” to “striking” if used correctly. For me, mascara is a beauty must-have for women unless you are unusually blessed with naturally lush, gorgeous lashes—it adds definition, enhances eye color, and makes the whites of your eyes more vivid. I do not “pump” the tube for color, as air can dry out the formula and render it hard to apply; simply twirl the wand in the tube for more color (free tip!). I followed professional suggestions to add bulk to mine: Between coats of color, I would dust them with face powder. Finally, cosmetic companies began to offer base coats to plump lashes before mascara. But we’re all busy—I often don’t have time to work with dual products. Perhaps I’m an idealist, but I’m continually on a quest for super-quick “miracle” products.

Maybelline’s “The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara” is displayed on drugstore shelves everywhere (around $8.00). Maybelline, as you are well aware, has given us “Great Lash” (a staple for thousands of women). I especially like their “Full and Soft” mascara, as lashes are thickened and remain naturally supple. Colossal Volum’ promises that the patented MegaBrush and collagen will add nine times more volume to your lashes (sorry, but I’ve never understood how they derive such statistics—is there such a thing as an “eyelash-measuring tool?”). Something troubled me immediately--this product is available in “Classic Back” or “Glam Black.” What’s the difference? Black can be overwhelming for many.

My hand is steady, as I paint for a hobby with fine brushes. While applying, something smelled foul. I looked around me—was there a spoiled piece of fruit nearby or had our dog had an accident? No—it emanated from the mascara. I’ve never paid much attention to a mascara’s scent, but this can be politely described as “Ugh.” The Drugstore Deal reviewer bought another one just to make sure she was using a fresh product, but the gag response recurred.

Maybelline advises that you brush from root to tip without allowing one coat to dry before adding others. I struggled with the first coat! The MegaBrush is too large and unwieldy. No matter how much time I spent, it was difficult to capture all lashes and I wound up with the color far from my eyes. This “no-clumping” formula does—in a major way. I went to my sister’s home and my family asked why I was wearing “spiders.” Point taken. When dry, lashes are elongated and have bulk, but in a bizarre, stilted rather than flattering way. Packaging states that it can be taken off with eye makeup remover. Save yourself some cash—don’t buy it at all.

I hate to diss the company that has brought us “fine makeup, sensibly priced” (their old slogan), but I speak the truth. To paraphrase Rhett Butler, “Frankly, Maybelline, “I don’t give a darn . . .”

Am I missing something with “The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara”?

Meg here! Happy Monday! I know, I was just trying to be upbeat. When girlfriends come to visit me at my house they don't even bring a makeup bag. Usually they walk into my bathroom and scream out "OMG, it's like a flipping Sephora in here!" Why bring anything when you can try the latest and greatest at my house and usually leave with a few partying gifts?

Realizing that this is a rare happenstance, I pack my cosmetics case to the brim when travelling. I have every potion, every creme, every...Wait. No, I know I put it in here. Maybe it's under this brush..No, wait my purse? FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! I forgot blush! What kind of makeup maven forgets her blush? Since, we had a few Drugstore Deal issues on Thursday, I'll be bringing you my DD on Monday.

I am a firm believer in cream blush, it just makes a nice "glow" like when you were little and running around outside. It blends and you can get very spot specific. I also use bronzer all over my face. I disregard the rules for that one. I take a big, fat brush and do a quick sweep for an all over golden hue. Then I grab my trusty creme blush to blend on the apples of my cheeks and voila! I look among the living!

I was at my sister's house. She is far from a sephora and department store! Off to trusty Walgreens for my new blush.

I settled (for $5.99) on Maybelline'sDream Mousse Blush shade #25 ROSE PETAL. It's $5.99 so I figured, eh, we'll see. I am so happy I forgot my other, much pricier creme blush at home. Here's the skivvy, it is whipped like mousse, you need a foundation brush to apply this or else it's going to get all under your nails and make a mess. It blends very well, it luminous and slighty sheer with pink undertones but with enough color to look spry!

So don't cry for me Argentina! Left the pricey stuff at home and let's all believe in a higher power (I'm sure he has nothing else to do but worry about my blush issues) and say it all happened as part of the greater, frugal plan!

ON SALE HERE!

Can I get a Wohoo on Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush?