M Studio

Just wanted to give a shout out to M Studio where I got the best $35 hair cut of my life. Ever.* I had Leah as my stylist and she made sure she understood exactly what I wanted and she's an absolute sweetheart. She was very skilled and very attentive, spending an hour and a half on my hair. It looked so good when I left that I literally haven't washed my hair in four days to try and keep it looking that good, because there's no way I'm going to be able to get it so glass shiny smooth at home.

It also didn't hurt that she played my therapist while she cut my hair, so thank you Leah, I will definitely be back.

* Although with my coupon it was only $17 :) At least when I spend emotionally I also am a responsible emotional wreck.

YAY!

I just found out I won a ticket to the Outnet's birthday sale, where everything is $2!
Sooo excited : )

If you want to get in on the action too, there's still time. They're picking winners until Thursday April 14th. To enter, click here. 

Brazilians

Warning ladies, we're about to get really intimate over here.
Most women remove hair in one way or another, shaving, nair, waxing.... and it's not new. Egyptians used a lime mixture as a sort of nair back in the B.C. and the Romans used to shave their entire bodies after attending the baths.

So I had gotten sick of shaving. Too much effort (I'm a lazy ass, I know) and waxing seemed to look pretty awesome. What? I only have to go in once every six weeks and I'm mainly hairless for the rest of the month?
Sign me up.

And being me, I went to my first waxing session before my cruise, and I figured I'd just dive right in with a brazilian. Go big or go home, am I right?
I found it to be relatively painless, considering your ripping out large swaths of pubic hair. The only thing that cracked me up was that I have become more intimate with the esthetician Marie at AR salon than any man in my life. Ever.
While I was laying there, as a distraction, I wound up asking her for advice for future waxing sessions. She was a delightful lady, and because I love you guys so much I'll share:

The hair has to be at least 1/4" to be able to be waxed, so if you're thinking about switching to waxing, winter is really the best time to start.
Schedule your waxing session in the afternoon, around 3-5pm, as your pain tolerance is highest during the late afternoon.
Avoid the week before your period, during your period (duh) and for a few days after. Again, you're sensitive and things get messy.
Pop a few ibuprofen a couple hours before your appointment and avoid nicotine, caffeine and stress.
Make sure to take a shower before a brazilian because things are about to become very intimate.

During your wax, remember to breathe. Don't hold your breath when they pull the wax strip off, it just means they have to do it again.
Talk or bring an ipod to distract yourself. The more relaxed you are the easier the process and less painful it will be.
And remember, the first one is the most painful. Afterwards the hair grows in fine and weak, so it's easier to pull out.
If the pain becomes too much, just ask for a break. Though I tend to be the kind of person who says "let's get it over with. GO FASTER!" :)

Afterwards, avoid hot showers, sex (duh), exercise, exfoliation and tight clothing for a day or so. You want the skin to breathe and give your pores a chance to close up without becoming infected.
Regularly exfoliate (2-3 times a week) afterwards to prevent ingrowns.
DO NOT SHAVE. Marie pretty much beat this into me. The hair becomes weaker and finer with each progressive wax, and you can go more time between appointments and it is less painful. However, as soon as you shave you are back to square one.

Anyway, after all of that I think I might have this become a regular habit. It's still pretty chilly here in NY so I'm thinking about waxing my legs and pits next time with my brazilian, as it's been a few weeks and no sign of regrowth. I haven't been this smooth or clean since I was ten (hehehe sorry for the awful mental image guys).
I really do think that the five minutes or so of discomfort is worth saving all that time for the next six weeks. Personally.

If anyone is interested I went to AR salon, which is having a $17 deal on brazilians via lifebooker.

Photo courtesy of Mistee Montanye

Whole Health and Wellness Medspa

I found a ridiculous discount for a reflexology and neck massage on Lifebooker* at the Whole Health and Wellness Medspa a couple days ago, and considering  the fact that my shoulders are now officially at ear level, I figured it was time to get a massage.

I thoroughly enjoyed my massage here. It was quiet (I went on a Friday afternoon. Unheard of.) and the staff was very attentive and prompt. They didn't pressure any additional services, although my masseuse did mention that my knots were so bad that he wouldn't be able to get all of them out with just a neck rub and suggested I come back for a more intense massage. Fair enough.

My masseuse's name was Kevin. Lovely man, I highly recommend asking for him. I know when I get something done I'm polite, but I don't particularly like to chat or have someone drone on at me. He merely asked if this or that was comfortable and then left me alone to relax.
Thank you Kevin, I highly appreciate it.

*Lifebooker is a website that offers insane discounts (up to 95% off) on facials, massages, manicures, haircuts ect. To join click here.

Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Color

I'm always lured in by pretty packaging and grandiose claims. Usually, I come to my senses and check Make-up Alley to see if the claims are true, but they weren't with me when I went to Target last week.

Due to this lack of judgement, I picked up a Maybelline Superstay lipgloss/lipstick thing, excited about the prospect of un-moveable color and perfectly glossed lips without effort (yeah right).

So.... the color stays, but only around the edges of my lips and in the cracks. Not cute. The rest rubbed off in a few minutes and dried out my lips a ridiculous amount = more cracks. I looked like I had the mouth of a 90 year old chain smoker. I was applying cocoa-butter to my lips like a fiend for the next couple days trying to keep them from peeling on me. Ew.

And just for clarification I'm talking about the one with a white cap-end  with balm and the color on the other end, I think it's the latest version. I haven't had a chance to try the one with a clear end with gloss in it, perhaps it's better?

But to all of you girls out there thinking about purchasing this... stay away from this product! Stay far away!

Read Directions First

This is a PSA to all my readers who follow my method of washing clothes.

Normally I'm a big fan of just throwing all of my clothes into the washing machine on a delicate cycle with some woolite and calling it a day.

I've actually had pretty good success with this method, except that I found out one tag when it says "hand wash" and "dry clean only" they really do mean it.

Cashmere and merino wool.

If these aren't mixed with any other fibers, apparently they become matted by the agitation of the washing machine, and shrink. Kind of like when you felt wool or when you rat your hair to create dreads.

What this means is that I just had a perfectly good sweater that is now about the right size to fit an American Girl doll.

Goddammit.

Bodega Kitties

As anyone who has lived in NYC knows, rats are a HUGE problem. That and monstrous cockroaches.*

So most bodega owners keep a cat around, because as anyone knows, a cat is better than all the exterminators and poisons that money can buy.
Besides, look at the cuteness!
It makes me miss my own two fat tabbies that I left back in Boston so much....
Although, the only things that my cats hunt are bumblebees and shoelaces.

For the article I found on how health inspectors are trying to outlaw cats in bodegas, check it out here. Personally I think it's silly, I think it's much healthier to have a cat than to be spraying poison around food.

*Don't even get me started on the time I had to hunt down three of them that were living in our apartment. Ewww. Those things will not die.

Photos thanks to Buzzfeed

Dances of Vice

If you're in the New York area, get your calendars ready, because you're going to want to mark this one down.

Last week I stumbled upon/wound up chatting with Shien Lee at a dancing class, and found out she organizes the Dances of Vice events.

Described as "the art of nightlife once again revived... showcasing an exotic melange of art, performance, and music influenced by that special time in history, the 1920s and '30s"
It's more generally known as one of the best parties in town, bringing all of the new romantics and eccentrics out of the wood work for a night of over the top opulence and decadence.
Generally, a smashing good time.

After class she invited me to their next event, a film noir themed party held at the Ace Hotel on January 29th.
If you're interested, check out their website: Dances of Vice, for more information.

Here's one of their past events, the Cursed Circus:

Much Love to Lands End

I have a serious soft spot for heritage brands, and with a pseudo-preppy style you can imagine my devotion to places like Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, Lilly Pulitzer, Land's End, Sperry and L.L. Bean.

However, I just ordered a Breton striped shirt and cardigan from Land's End (they're having a super sale at their spin-off brand that j'adore: Lands End Canvas) and the little note I received just made me love them a little bit more:

While their sizes are a bit too generous (I had to return two shirts that I had ordered, much too big in the waist) if I ever have something that I don't mind being a bit slouchy, I will definitely order from them.

For the price, the quality is fantastic (with only a dud here or there, but what do you expect?).
The customer service and return policy is helpful and easy.
Their Canvas brand is a younger, trimmer, updated version of their old brand, which is great.

But that they send hand-written notes to thank customers?
Sold.
It's the little things that count the most to me, and I'll be sure to remember this personal touch if I ever open up my own store.

Selling on Ebay

Everyone knows how to buy on Ebay. It's pretty simple although I like to think I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I might share later.

Check measurements.
Check seller's ratings.
Only bid what you're willing to pay.

However, if you're stuck with unwanted Christmas gifts, a bunch of clothes from a recent purge or just need a little extra cash, this is also a great resource to guilt-free dump your stuff.
The way I figure it is that if no one buys it on Ebay, it must be so useless that it's fine to just throw it in the trash : ) conscious absolved.

So first create an account if you don't already have one on Ebay and on Paypal (it's the preferred method of payment, and it just makes things very hassle-free), then simply go to Sell, and follow the prompts.

Tips on Selling

Take good pictures. If you have a mannequin, that's fantastic. If you have yourself, that works too. At the very least, hang it on a hanger (I'm assuming we're selling clothing). Make sure that the picture is in good light and that you can see the details. People are very unlikely to bid on a black, formless blob that you promise is a dress.

Sell to move. Yes, it might have sentimental value. Yes, it might have a designer label. But let's face it, it's probably been used. It's also selling on Ebay. So price it as low as you're willing to part with, preferably single digits. If it's actually worth more people will bid up the price.

Skim a little. This is probably one of my more skeevier tricks (sorry Ebay) and they have been taking steps to curb it. But when you are shipping, try and use flat rate envelopes, which just makes things simpler. Then add a few dollars onto the shipping price. Ebay will skim  a bit of profit off the top, but they don't count what it costs you to ship in the final price, so you get to save a few cents and probably attract more buyers with a lower starting price.

Be descriptive. Describe EVERYTHING. There's nothing more annoying as a buyer to just have a listing that says "Banana Republic top. XS." I can't touch it, I can't try it on, and I usually can't see the details or the back so please describe everything to me and include measurements.

Cover your butt. Always tack onto the end of a listing whether you are willing to ship outside the country or accept returns.

Customer Service

Of course, every once in a while you get the irritating people who are impossible to please.

I had one recently who complained that a  bag I sold her reeked so badly she needed to double bag it and throw it away. Fortunately, I had been storing it on my closet shelf for the past month so I could guarantee her that there must be something wrong with her nose. No refund for you!

But please assume that in general, the buyers are just there to have an easy, pleasant transaction and buy something for a bargain.

So as a seller it's important to:
Answer questions within a reasonable amount of time.
Ship promptly.
Be honest.

And always, always, check the condition of items before you sell them. Preferably wash them before you list them so if you do get a negative Nancy, you can assure her that she must be mistaken, you checked it before it shipped.

However, accidents do happen on both sides, and you can go to the seller help center in order to issue refunds, demand payment, combine shipping and a host of other things.

In general, Ebay has become very safe and a great environment to sell. They are very customer oriented and have set it up in an easy-to-use and intuitive way so it's very simple to start buying or selling.

I hope that my few tips have encouraged you guys to join the community, and as a seller for the past four years I like to think I have a bit of experience, so if you have any questions that I haven't covered, fire away!

Why We Want More

Just read a great article yesterday, "Enough is Enough: learn to want less" from The Times & The Sunday Times, it's a bit old (from 2008) but I think that it's definitely still relevant.
They're a bit heavy-handed with the psychology and neuro-chemicals, but I think you guys can handle it : )

And I'm off to study Moliere and Maryse Conde. Blergh.

Man Repeller

I just had to share this blog.

Found on a random meander through the internet while procrastinating on my French thesis paper (please don't ask), it made me laugh so hard that I almost stopped breathing and then had to share it with all of my roommates and the girls across the hall.

So if you're in the mood for a laugh of the "that's SOO TRUE!" variety/ procrastinating on work, head over to The Man Repeller.

The Man Repeller herself

It's worth it. I promise.

Zen

Perhaps its the fact that I'm running in a bajillion different directions lately, maybe I'm just getting to know myself better, or maybe I just can't take my messy room mates any more (why do I always get stuck with the slobs?) but I'm really embracing the idea of zen.

Dictionary definition of Zen is:
A school of Mahayana Buddhism that asserts that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion and that is practiced mainly in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Also called Zen Buddhism .

I do have Buddhist friends, but by nature I tend to be an atheist and avoid religion like it's my job (sorry mom, Catholicism just didn't work out) so I'm not so much into the religious side of it. I am however very into the idea of simplicity.


What it means to me?
Just getting rid of all this STUFF and streamlining my life.
Saying no more often.
Realizing simple does not mean easy, but it usually means better.
Breathing.

I'm still figuring this stuff out as I go, but a great resource I found to kick start me off is Zen Habits.
Now I'm off to go purge my life.


Image thanks to Genisrp

And a Few More

Thanks to the amazing Sarah at Yes and Yes who is a self-proclaimed travel addict, I picked up a few more tips for my upcoming plane trips (yes, the one has now expanded to include family visits to Seattle and San Antonio. Apparently I'm going to be living on a plane for the month of July).

One is 3 Fl. Oz which has all of your favorite brands and products in a convenient 3 fl. oz size for that pesky 3-1-1 regulation.
While I already have a collection of little 1 oz labeled bottles that I just decant into, I could see this being very useful for just trying out products that I'm not sure of or just want a taste of luxury without indulging.

The other is the bar lotion at Lush. I went and wandered over there after work to try it out, and while I can see the appeal, I just wasn't feeling the scents for some reason *shrug*.
However, I am all over the Bee Bar which smells like vanilla and bees wax (yum!) and comes in an adorable tin.

If you have any other tips, tricks or products to streamline, spill-proof, and generally making traveling easier give a shout out, I could always use a few more to keep my blood pressure down in the airport.

Miracle

 I can't own white things because I invariably either get food, dirt or sweat stains on it.
So my color palette is pretty much limited to black, navy and once in a while I get daring with a gray shirt.
Which is pretty much the bane of my existence because I love, love the look of a crisp white blouse with jeans. But without fail I always get pit stains on it after a week or two making it not worth the money and a white button down anything but a classic "investment" piece.

I've tried bleach, stain removers, baking soda, cold water, hot water, aluminum-free deodorant (ew), and none of it worked.

Then I asked my wears-pearls-and-heels-while-vacuuming grandma, who I assumed had never had a stain on any of her perfectly pressed clothes in her life.
She said to try oxiclean, and it worked like a miracle.

Oxiclean Laundry Stain Remover

I decided to test it out on a white t-shirt that I was hoping to resurrect from pit stains, I just sprayed some of it on the stains, let it sit in my laundry hamper for a few days, sprayed it again before I washed it and voila! Out it came sparkling clean and white.
It must be a sign.
It's time to go on a white blouse shopping spree.

I Must Be Fine Because My Heart is Still Beating

Good news

I'm going to see Cobra Starship and 30H!3 in concert on May 12th! I just picked up the ticket here.

Bad news

I look and feel like this:

So I'm off for some time at the gym and some serious TLC. I'll be back when I feel human again.

Lick Me Lashes

I have pretty normal lashes, my only issue is that I abuse them with tons of mascara every morning since I'm a blondie and like the look of thick lashes.
So I have the issue of them falling out a lot, which is great for making wishes, not so great for getting lush, "lick me lashes" (as my friend calls them) like Bridget Bardot.

While L'oreal's Lash Boosting Serum isn't going to magically transform me into Bridget Bardot (but how awesome would that be?) it did make my lashes healthier, stronger, and I think longer. If not longer at least more lush.
Basically the same results you'd get if you hadn't conditioned your hair for the past twenty years and then started using a super-conditioning hair mask.

You can pick it up at your local drugstore, it's about $15 in NYC, but it was only $11 in my hometown CVS, either way it was a little expensive for a drugstore product (yes, I bitched. I'll admit it) but I'd heard such good reviews from my friends and Makeup Alley that I decided to try it out anyway.

The application is pretty easy, just swipe it on your lashes and line your eyes every morning and night. After about a week my eyes stopped itching, and I noticed that I had more eyelashes and that they were longer after about a month.

PLEASE NOTE: this is not Latisse. It is an eyelash conditioner. If you're just looking for a little help, not miracles, this is your product.

Anyway, with that little note out of the way, I'd definitely recommend this product if you have issues with your eyelashes falling out or being spindly, or if you are just a major supporter of prevention instead of putting makeup over the issue.
I can tell you this right now, I've definitely been using less mascara to get the results I want, and if I can put any less makeup goop on my face I am a very happy girl.

Addict

Confession time: I've been wearing my new joe's jeans for almost a week straight. I'm going to have to peel them off my body some time soon to wash them, and I will be very upset.
I've always bought my jeans from American Eagle at about $50 a pop, and I figured they were good jeans. I knew designer denim was supposed to be better, but I figured it couldn't be that much of a difference.

Boy, was I wrong. My joe's jeans are so comfy, make my ass look fantastic, are molded to my body and are basically made of unicorn hair and fairy dust dreams.

I just can't go back to $50 jeans, I'm sorry American Eagle.
I'm a designer denim addict now (blame my champagne tastes) and I need another pair, but I can't blow my bank account on them. I'm just praying Ebay will come through again.

In other, less depressing news, I have my latest article for College Fashion up about one of my favorite eco-friendly basics brands: Alternative Apparel. Check it out here.

Serena Studios

Yesterday my friend and I decided to take a bellydancing class.
Why?
Why not?
Honestly I agreed partially because my workout routine was a snoozefest of yoga, running, yoga, running, and then if we want to get real crazy I'd swim a few laps and do a few flips off the diving board until the lifeguard on duty yells at me.

So we decided on Serena Studios because it was nearby and because we'd heard good things about it from the dance majors at our school, and an hour long class was only $12. 

My friend was meh about it, but I loved it and promptly got a five-class card.

Here's why my experience was awesome:

As a work out it was pretty intense. Not sweaty, heavy breathing intense, but just the amount of muscle control you need and the fact that it works muscles that I didn't even know existed.

As a studio it was an incredibly welcoming environment. The place is tiny, but the receptionist was adorable, the teacher very warm and funny, and all the women there were really nice.

As a work out, this is probably one of the  most accepting classes I've taken. Maybe because it's very hard to be competitive with someone when you're just in your sports bra, or maybe its because this is a dance that was made by women for women.
While some people would say it's sexual (ahem. Blondie) I think that it's a dance that specifically showcases what's beautiful about every woman from the skinny little girls like me, to the curvy women with a belly (it is called belly dancing after all).

Also, it was crazy fun. How can you not crack a smile and laugh a little when you're standing there jiggling your butt?


Photo thanks to Serena Studios

Jeggings

I almost completely forgot to tell you ladies about my new jeggings.
Um... they're pretty awesome. Here's what you need to know:

Kate Indigo Knitted Jegging (Lauren Conrad style)

The quality is worth the price. These are some pretty well made leggings/jeans, the color is resistant and non-cheap looking, and they hold their shape (so far).

They are perfect for boots (which is what I basically bought them for). No scrunching, bunching or mushrooming. Perfect.

While these weren't the soft and stretchy kind of leggings I was expecting (I'm a little sad about that), they are jeans that are basically painted onto your body. That means they're made out of denim material so they're not leggings, but these are definitely the skinniest jeans you are ever going to find.

So all in all, since I love my legs and leggings but needed something a little sturdier, these are perfect. I give them a 9.5.
The 0.5 off is because I was hoping they'd be soft like leggings too, but hey, I guess you can't have everything.