Random, Random - Who Wants Some Random?

Yeah, so, I didn't work out this week.  At all.  I'm ashamed of myself.  But I promise, I'm back on the wagon starting tomorrow!

So, instead I have a lot of random-ness to share with you.  Let's start with Skinny Bitch...there have been a few pages of my calendar recently that I really like.  I actually like them so much that they're hanging up in my cube at work, haha.  And here they are:

The first two are actually my favorite.  June11/12 is probably my very favorite.  Especially since I haven't exactly been happy with my job lately, and I've been feeling just overwhelmed with life yet underwhelmed with myself.  I just have to remind myself that I do have control, and I can create the life that I want.  I already have an amazing fiance, caring friends and family, I just have to figure out what I want to do and do it.

I like the affirmation because let's face it, we don't tell ourselves that we love our bodies enough.  And regardless of where you are in a weight loss/gain/maintenance journey, you should love the body you've got!

And I like the last one because I'm sooooooo bad at remembering to hydrate myself!  So that sucker is front and center - on top of my computer monitor at work - to remind me to drink more effing water!

Next up, some beauty finds!

So, I get my hair done at Ulta, and while I'm "processing" I shop, haha.  Well last night I found (and fell madly in love with) the Pop Beauty Bare Texture Kit eyeshadow pallette.  Seriously, swoon.  If you're looking for an awesome new eyeshadow pallette, I 100% recommend this one:

Personal Photo

And here's a blurb from the description (stolen from the Ulta site):
Bare hues to subtly frames your eyes as our added POP eye-brightening hue adds bursts of color - so you have the option of going bright for night! Kit also contains POP Beauty's famous Eye Magnet Primer for durability and a defined eye that stays that way all day or night! Line and blend mini brush duo included. This is all about the texture! Frolic along with matte, shimmer or full-on glitterati pigments! Play, combine and mix texture & color to truly define your peepers!

Seriously love it.  I had trouble picking out which colors to use this morning...I ended up going with barely lining my eye with the top row farthest to the right, did top row farthest to the left for my lid, middle row - middle section - top left for the crease of my lid, and a little hint of the green that is in the middle of the top row on my tear duct...

Perfect look for work, if I do say
so myself!

I also bought, and am now obsessed with, CoverGirl natureluxe "gloss balm" (I got it in "cabernet"):

Personal
Photo

I like that it isn't sticky and adds just the right amount of color and glossiness.  And it has SPF 15, which is always good to have in the summer.  And since it's CoverGirl (aka not obscenely expensive) I might have to go to Walmart to see if they have it so I can invest in a few more colors!  The one I got looks super dark in the tube, but it really isn't.  That's my favorite kind of lip color though!
And finally, on today's random agenda, gotta throw in some Wedding Related fun, right?  Well, I've started working on my second shoe - and no, I haven't gotten so sick of it that I wanna stab my eyes out with the tweezers that I use to place the gems yet.  A little less than 2 hours worth of work (I do have to actually eat during my lunch, not just bedazzle shoes) and we are well on our way:

Starting off sucks...once you get a good bit done, it becomes much easier.

That's all for now - still quasi dreading starting my invitation suite this weekend, but you can't avoid the inevitable!  Just keep your fingers crossed for me that everything goes smoothly...

Do you have any random-ness to share on this lovely Friday?

Mixed Feelings on My Facial Detox - And Some Random Happiness

So, I've officially not worn make-up for a whole week (in case you missed you, you can find my original post about facial detoxing here).  At first, it was very difficult.  But now, I may reconsider wearing make-up to work everyday.  Seriously, getting ready in the morning is SO much easier if you don't wear make-up.  Maybe I'll only wear it on special occasions - like for important meetings or something.

But anyway, before I show you the before/after pictures I have to admit that they don't look like there has been as much of a difference as I see in real life.  The biggest reason for that is because whereas the flash didn't go off during the "before" pictures, it did during the "after" so my coloring is completely different.

Also, my period started the day after I started my detox.  I don't know about you, but my face explodes when Aunt Flo comes to visit, so it is in much better condition than I would normal expect given the time of the month.

And third, but this is completely my fault, not wearing make-up just made me want to pick at my skin even more (no idea why) which is bad.  You'll see I have a lovely little blemish on my chin that I didn't have a week ago and I'm willing to bet money that if I hadn't constantly been picking at it, it wouldn't be there anymore.

But, without further adieu...

I also have a feeling 1 week isn't long enough of a detox.  Skin almost always gets worse before it gets better, and I think 2 weeks would have much better results.  But, my 2 week detox will have to come another time because there's no way in hell I'm not wearing make-up at my bridal shower...which is in 2 freaking days!!!!!

And now, as promised, some random happiness...

1)  I am taking a day off from work tomorrow!  Woohoo!  Because I'm flying up to Massachusetts today after work for my bridal shower on Saturday!

2)  I'm wearing a really adorable outfit.  The top I got at Kohl's for a steal because Kohl's is never not in the middle of a huge sale!  And the necklace I'm wearing I actually got off ebay in a huge lot of vintage costume jewelry that I had bid on/purchased because of some brooches that I wanted.  The necklace was just a total bonus!

3)  There were no planned parenthood protesters picketing this morning.  Any day that doesn't start with a massive picture of a dead fetus is a good day in my book!

4)  My dog's are flipping adorable:

Seriously...is that not the cutest picture ever???

5)  Cricutmachine.com is having a MASSIVE sale - and I look forward to wasting a good portion of my day browsing cartridges to buy since days where you're going to be traveling after work are the longest work days ever.

6)  I have re-discovered my love for the band Kings of Leon.  The entire "Come Around Sundown" album is flipping amazing but I really like the sound of "The Face"...

7)  I made some pretty sweet cards for my Dad (for Father's Day) and my sister (for her birthday) that I'll get to give to them in person this weekend!

8)  Did I mention I don't have to work tomorrow!?!?!

So, needless to say, although my facial detox wasn't as successful as I would have liked it to be, I have a lot to be happy about!  I'll be MUCH happier once I'm on my way to Boston though - the weather isn't looking to great for flying this evening!

What do you have to be happy about this totally random Thursday morning?

Today I Begin My Facial Detox...

Yeah, so remember when I was bitching about hating my skin (in case you don't, the post can be found here)?  Well HiLLjo, author of Daisy to Sunflower, made an unthinkable recommendation - if I want my skin to clear up I have to cold turkey quit wearing makeup for a while.

At first the idea kind of made me want to vomit.  I've been wearing makeup for as long as I can remember.  I feel naked without it.  But the idea of not having clear skin for the wedding makes me want to vomit and then die, so I figured I'd give it a try.

But, instead of waiting until the wedding to see if it would work for me, I'm doing a mini facial detox between now and my bridal shower (Saturday, June 11th).  And you should know me well enough by now to realize I love me some before and after pictures, so, (and I can't believe I'm posting close-ups of my face on the internet sans-makeup) here are my before pictures:

Oh the horror...

Let's just hope that a week from now I'll be happily posting "after" pictures (because if things don't improve you can bet your first born I'm taking this suckers down and deleting every copy of them I can find).

And, just for fun, I really like my Skinny Bitch calendar today, so I'm going to share that with you as well (to make up for forcing you to look at my naked face):

Until next time...

I hate my skin...

Let me begin by saying I had the clearest skin ever through middle school and high school.  While everyone else was being awkward together and having pimples, my skin was flawless.  When I went to college that changed.

My skin isn't that bad.  I get a lot of little, under the skin white heads that no one can really see (but me), and I occasionally get big, painful, cystic pimples that basically develop a mind of their own and sometimes get to the point where I can actually feel my pulse in them.  Then I lose my mind trying to pop them and end up piercing them with a needle to get all the horrible-ness out.  Then I COVER it in heavy duty acne medicine and after a few days of looking like a scab, it goes away.

You would think I would have scars on my face from all the popping I do, but I don't.  Either I am an extremely skilled popper, or it is just genetics or something.  But, needless to say, after the pimple heals there is no sign that I had brutally attacked it a few days before.

Well, you may remember, a few months ago I started going to a dermatologist.  First it was a pill, face wash, and a cream - but I was only supposed to be on the pill for a short period of time while we got things under control.  That kind of helped with the big, painful guys but I still had all the little, under the skin ones.  So we changed the cream but kept the pill and the face wash.  That cream dried my skin out like woah.  I couldn't use it every day, but if I didn't use it every day it didn't really work.  Then I ran out of the pills (that I wasn't supposed to have to be on long term) and everything came back.

I am not okay with the idea of being on a pill forever for my skin.  I don't think my body should be constantly exposed to an antibiotic like that.  So I'm taking it into my own hands...and I threw down a pretty penny on a bunch of Murad Products.

Up first, Murad Clarifying Cleanser.  I use this twice a day.



Then, I spot treat with Murad Acne Spot Treatment.  This has salicylic acid and sulfur in it.  I am also using this twice a day.



Then I put Murad Gentle Acne Treatment Gel all over my face.  This also has salicylic acid in it, among other things to help heal and shrink pores.  Again, this is a twice a day type of deal.



And finally, I wrap it up with Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion.  This I only use at night, in the morning I use my Lancome First Signs of Aging Moisturizer.



But, I didn't even stop there...I already use Bare Minerals make-up, and I decided to invest in Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy, which you use to cover up any blemishes (and it covers them up really well) and has Sulfur in it to help fight the pimple.

I've been using all this for almost two weeks, and I really think it's working.  I won't make a final judgement until I get my "monthly gift" while still using this stuff since that tends to be when I break out the worst (stupid hormones).  And seriously, I'm just hoping that I can get my skin under control before the wedding.  Nobody deserves to have a massive, pulsing, painful, tumor-like pimple on their wedding day!

Have you changed your skincare regimen to prepare for your upcoming nuptials?  Do you have any recommendations?  Because if this doesn't work, I'll take any advice I can get...

And don't forget to head over to my post, "Happy 50th Follower to Me" to enter into my give-away...I'll be selecting a winner tomorrow!

In Love With New Hair Products!

So, I have really weird hair.  Really weird, and really thick.  Really weird, and thick, and really coarse.  It takes forever to dry.  I refuse to blow dry it when it is warm out because it takes so long and I end up sweating.  So, when it's warm out I depend on a turbi-twist to suck up as much water as possible, then I sleep on it, and it's almost dry the next morning.  In the winter I still shower at night because even though I don't mind blow drying it, doing so makes it ::poof:: so then I sleep on it and it become manageable enough for me to straighten with a flat iron.

I don't think I've ever found a hair product that I absolutely love for when I'm letting my hair air dry.  See, some pieces are really quite curly, some are dead straight, but the majority of it is just quasi-wavy ready to frizz out at the first sign of moisture in the air.  That is, until recently...

I got my hair cut and colored about a week and a half ago and my hair dresser said they had a product she thought would be great for my hair when I'm not straightening it.  I get my hair cut at Ulta, so anything I buy I have 60 days to return if I don't like it, so of course I bought it...

Personal Photo

They are Redken Curl Wise 14 Defining Cream and Redken Nature's Rescue Radiant Sea Spray.  I don't know how they're doing it, but it is gross as all hell out and my hair isn't a giant poof ball (or pulled back into a bun due to it becoming a giant poof ball).  I have, like, the perfect amount of "beachy" waves that it looks styled with an acceptable volume given that it isn't 1985 anymore!

And I came across these heavenly hair products just in time for hair-poofing season!  If anyone out there struggles with thick, coarse, kinda curly, kinda not, completely un-manageable hair, I totally recommend you try this stuff out!  I put the cream in when my hair is wet, and still wrap it on up in my turbi-twist.  Then I sleep on it and spray it with the "radiance" spray when I'm getting ready in the morning, give it a little scrunch, and I'm good to go!

Does your hair start a rebellion when the humidity rises?  Do you have a favorite hair product to tame your mane?

And don't forget to go enter yourself in my give-away!

Belated Weddzilla Wednesday!

Sorry guys, I forgot to post the link yesterday!  My post can be found here!

Its about being a bride with tattoos, and how to compromise with my mom who would prefer I cover them with make-up for the wedding.  In case you didn't realize, I have quite a few tats - you can see my largest one in my before and after pictures here!

April Showers Bring...

...May showers?  I realize that's supposed to be May Flowers but here in Pittsburgh, April showers just bring more May showers, and usually June Showers, too.  Yeah, it's pretty rainy here.  I think the Cullen Family would really enjoy it (yes, that was totally a Twilight reference).  But seriously, look at this:

Rain...rain...rain...rain...cloudy...rain.  And it'll be like that until July, haha.

But anyway, enough bitching about the weather...there are basically 4 months left to get ready for the wedding!!!  And less than a month and a half until my first Bridal Shower! Holy cow, that's all I can say.  Here's what's on the board this month:

 So, I actually have a project to do today, and that's making our ring box, but you'll hear more on that  tomorrow!  Next Saturday I will be making tissue paper pomanders with the help of MOH Sam, and the 29th Sam and I will be making ribbon flower pomanders!  Since we're going to be making the ribbon flower poms at the end of the month, I have to finish making all the ribbon flowers before then, and thus have that scheduled for every weekend leading up to it, lol.  I'll also be making them while I'm at work during my lunch break, haha.

Other than that I just have an appointment with my dermatologist this week, two family events with the future in-laws, and two weekends where I'm on-call for work (stupid work).

So, nothing really that exciting, but I definitely have a ton to do.  I also want to get a good start on my pearl bouquet, and I totally have to get back to work on bedazzling my shoes!

So what's going on for you this month?

Fashion, Rants, and Other Wednesday Randomness...

It's a pretty crappy day today in Pittsburgh.  It's warm, but it's also humid (my hair and oily skin do not enjoy humid) and rainy and just all around crappy:

Stolen from Weather.com

But, I'm looking might adorable today, if I do say so myself!

Bryan may suck at taking pictures, but you get the general idea!  Here's a breakdown of my outfit today:

Skirt (Express) HIGH-WAIST HOOK-AND-EYE PENCIL SKIRT in Oxford Blue - bought on sale for $19.19:

Source

Top (Express) CROSS-OVER DROP-WAIST MESH TOP in Yellow - bought on sale for $12.79:

Source

Belt (Express) ADJUSTABLE METAL CHAIN SKINNY BELT in Brown (but it's more copper than brown in real life) - bought on sale for $12.79:

Sweater (overstock) Audrey & Grace Women's Shawl Collar Bolero in grey - $29.99:

Source

And, although you can't see them in the picture Bryan took, my shoes are from DSW MIX NO. 6 Octavia Wedge Pump in yellow - $39.95:

Source

I really feel quite snazzy today!

As for the rants, whether you are pro-life or pro-choice you have to agree that the people that stand outside of Planned Parenthood with over sized posters of dead fetuses are taking it too far.  Apparently, the protesters are doing "40 Days of Life" for lent so they have been in full force and I have to walk buy them every morning on my way to work.  Protest all you want, but I do not need to see that graphic of an image at 7 in the morning.  I hope someday when I'm pregnant if I get morning sickness I can get myself to vomit on their over sized poster.  I understand that is childish and rude, but seriously these images are grotesque and there's no way to avoid them without walking 15 minutes out of my way!  And I would say to them (after throwing up on their dead fetus poster) "Oh my God!  I'm so sorry!  I'm pregnant, and don't worry I'm keeping my baby, but that picture is just so graphic it triggered my morning sickness!" 

And as for other Wednesday Radomness, cricutmachine.com is having an Easter Sale!  Full cartridges starting at $17.95:

Source

And, my dog Gabby is effing adorable:

Happy Hump Day Everyone!  I hope you all are as lucky as I am and have Good Friday off so the week is already more than half over!

IT ISN'T FREEZING OUT!

The past few months have been a hell of a weather rollercoaster here in Pittsburgh, but today it's actually warm out!!!

Stolen from weather.com

And in honor of this delightful weather, I'm wearing a new dress that I got from NY&Co (for 50% off) this weekend.  Don't I look adorable, lol:

Soooo spring-y and comfortable!  Fun story...so I was shopping with Bryan this weekend when I got the dress.  And since I have to wear nylons to work (boo - I think human resources exists just to make me miserable) I realized I would probably need a slip or else the dress would cling to the nylons and ride up.  Well, I said to Bryan, "I need to go to Macy's to get a slip" and his response was...are you ready for a giggle..."Is that like a unitard?"  I almost died laughing.  And then I had quite some fun explaining to him the purpose of different under-garments while in Macy's.

Anyway, happy Monday!  I hope you all are enjoying warm weather like we are here in Pittsburgh (even though there are supposed to be thunderstorms later and it won't be nearly this warm tomorrow, I will enjoy it while it lasts!)!

Beauty Must-Haves

In the past year I've been trying out many new, nicer (aka more expensive) beauty products, mainly because I'm finally not a broke college student any more.  Can I just say, they honestly make a world of a difference.  Yes, cheap-o makeup from walmart works but not like nice stuff does.  So, here are some "must haves" for me:

Urban Decay Primer
This stuff is flipping amazing.  It makes my skin just feel better and wear make-up better.  Love it for day to day life, and it will be a must have for the wedding day!







Bare Minerals Foundation
I actually use one shade in the original formula and one shade in the matte formula, then I use their "warmth" (aka bronzer) as well as their blush and their mineral veil.  I find it incredibly easy to apply, and it really just looks great.  I never liked liquid foundation, it just felt weird to me, but this stuff I love!





Urban Decay Deslick
This is a newer find for me, and I'm obsessed!  I have combination skin, so sometimes my face will get shiny.  Especially since my commute to work includes walking, being crammed on a packed train, and then more walking.  I just spray one little spritz in the air after I applied my foundation (not my bronzer, blush, etc. yet) and I walk through it.  Easy-peasy!




Kenra Dry Shampoo
BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME!  I have a full sized thing at home for if I choose not to wash my hair and want to "freshen up" and a travel size in my desk at work for if my commute left my hair all cucky (it gets really windy in Pittsburgh).  It kind of smells like chocolate to me, but it is a miracle.  Spray it on and it feels like you just washed and blow dried your hair.




Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment Strength
I have pretty weak nails, and I pick at them constantly.  This is the only clear polish that has ever actually made my nails stronger/less likely to break.  Again, I have one at home and one in my desk at work in case one of my nails ever starts to break I can save it!






Do you have any "must-haves"?

Getting Ready for the Wedding Starts MONTHS in Advance!

And requires an appointment with a doctor...

Personal Photo of the actual exam room

Well, with a dermatologist, that is. I have a few issues we're working on. First, I occasionally get these massive under the skin swollen masses of horrible that take weeks to go away. They can be covered up easy enough since they aren't puss-filled, but they HURT!

They're technically called "cystic pimples" - Source

Then, I get baby version of those which are basically white heads. They don't hurt, but they come in clusters (mainly on my chin and along side my nose) and they suck...so I pop them (which is bad).

These are technically called Milia - Source

But, in my own defense, I am so good at popping my face that the Doc couldn't even tell that I do! And finally, I have a serious issue with underarm sweating. I've tried 'clinical strength' everything and it doesn't help...at all. And since no one wants a bride with pit-stains, I figured I should address that as well.

Well, my first appointment was three months ago. He gave me a pill for my skin, as well as a face wash and gel to use every night. This mixture of prescriptions really cut down on the big, painful guys but didn't do anything for the little, obnoxious clusters. And he gave me a prescription antiperspirant that made my underarms feel like they were on fire, so needless to say I couldn't handle that!

Yeah...it felt like that - Source

I went back this morning, and we went over what issues I'm still having and he decided to change it up a bit. I am going to continue the pill for at least another month, still use the nightly face wash, but he prescribed a new cream to use all over my face every night and I can now use the old gel to spot treat in the mornings if I feel a big, painful sucker coming.

The sweating is a whole different issue. Apparently the next step is...wait for it...BOTOX!

Okay, not that kind of Botox Injection - Source

In case you didn't know (because I didn't) if you get Botox injected in your armpits they won't sweat! But this is a total last resort, and he's probably going to have to duke it out with my insurance company for a few weeks and then get back to me. But if my insurance gives us the go ahead, it will just be a few injections in my armpits every 6 to 9 months and no more sweating! This will open up so many more options in my wardrobe, it's insane!
Did you go to the extreme of seeing a doctor to prep for your big day? Or am I just nuts...?  Especially for being excited at the prospect of getting Botox in my armpits, haha.