LOOKBOOK: March 23

Calvin Klein Belted Ikat Sheath, $100, Macy's

This pale blue dress will mix and match with almost any color you have in your closet.  Go with a metalliac gold sandals and clutch for Easter Mass, or pair with white flats and an orange scarf for brunch with your sister.

LOOKBOOK: March 22

 

Michelle Ballet Flat, Christian Siriano Gold, $43, Payless Shoe Source

Perhaps named after our stylish First Lady, these classic keyhole flats are a wardrobe staple.  These are wearable on all but the coldest days of the year, and would go with anything.  Since I've been losing a lot of weight, I've dropped a shoe size and have to replace most of my shoes.  I've bought a couple pairs of cheap flats but I need something nicer, and I think these will fit the bill.

LOOKBOOK: March 21

Bobbitt Handbag, Call It Spring, $40, JC Penney's

Bright colors? Check.  Ladylike tote?  Check.  Only $40?  Double Check?

If you're not into my bright colors, this tote also comes in black and white, which is just as striking.

LOOKBOOK: March 20

 

Tri-Blend Tees, $9.50, Old Navy

After a recent closet purge, I had to restock up on t-shirts.  These were the ones I chose.  They come in a variety of colors and necklines, and are comfortable beyond words.  Word to the wise: these tees run large and sheer.

March Birchbox Review

I subscribe to a service known as Birchbox.  Every month, for $10 a pop, I get sent a box of beauty products in either travel sizes or samples.  If you're lucky enough, you can ever get full-sized products like eye shadow or nail polish.

I had a subscription for a few months last year, and I wasn't impressed.  I would read blog posts or forum messages about people getting all this cool full-sized nail polish, or interesting stuff while I got crap like this:



The lash cards are supposed to help you avoid getting mascara on your brow area (you can also use a playing card).  And then some of those stick-on nail polish decals which I have yet to master, which really doesn't bother me because it's not my style.  I also have perfume samples from brands I don't know out the wazoo, most of which I haven't liked.

I decided to restart my subscription, and hoped I'd get better stuff.  Again, I can't say I'm impressed:



So, a quick rundown of what's in my box, clockwise from the back:

-Eye Rock, One-time use eyeliner stickers.  They're sorta like temporary tattoos, only in eyeliner.
-Hollywood Fashion Secrets, fashion tape.  So you don't flash anyone.
-Deborah Lippmann The Stripper to Go, nail polish remover mitts.
-Annick Goutal Petite Cherie perfume sample.
-Orofludio, basically some sort of Argan oil hair product.
-Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser.
-A black ribbon.  I have no idea why, but each box comes with a ribbon.  It just ends up in my craft box.

First impression of this box: a solid MEH.  Not the worst box I've gotten...and come to think of it, I really haven't gotten box I've been thrilled with.  First things first:



These ridiculous things.  I know how to apply eyeliner.  Actually, I really don't like eyeliner, but for kicks and giggles and the pursuit of beauty, I tried 'em out:



I don't remember which eye is which, but I tried to apply the cat eye style to both of my eyes.  They're hard to place on the eye correctly, they got tangled in my lashes, and they're uncomfortable as hell.

Being a huge fan of Deborah Lippmann's polishes, I was interested in trying out her polish removing mitts:



They're lavender scented, which I guess is nice (I'm of the opinion too many unnecessary items are scented these days).  I compared these a regular nail polishing removing wipe, usually you can get like 10 for around $3 at any drugstore.  With a regular removing wipe, I can get all ten fingers and most of my toes if I'm not removing a glitter polish.  A Lippmann mitt couldn't make past seven nails, and since six mitts costs $12 there's no way they're worth the cash.

There were some great finds in this month's Birchbox though:

-I got a travel size of Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser.  I've used some Juice Beauty products in the past and they're pretty good.  This is a travel size sample, so I'm going to probably throw this in my travel bag.  I've only used this twice so far but I like it, and the fact that it inhibits bacteria growth (the cause of acne) endears it to my heart.

-I mentioned earlier not liking the samples from brands I've never heard of.  Well, I've never heard of Annik Goutal, but I'm absolutely loving Petite Cherie.  The card says it's a "sexy floral melange of peach, vanilla, fresh grass, and musky rose."  I can smell the vanilla, peach, and grass, but no rose.  I can't describe how much I love the smell of grass, so when all I can smell is grass...I'm a happy fashionologist. I normally don't buy perfume, but I've already planned part of my paycheck to go towards a bottle of Petite Cherie.

I haven't tried the Orofludio or the Fashion Tape.  I do use Fashion Tape on occasion, so I'll probably just put this in my purse or travel kit.

On Birchbox there is a beauty profile that you fill out so they know they have a general idea of what to send you.  If you mention you have oily skin, they probably won't send you samples that are meant for extra dry skin.  I played around with my settings so hopefully, maybe, I might get a better box next month.

LOOKBOOK: March 19

Dana Buchman Tracy Linen Tote, $109, Kohl's

I am not normally a fan of Kohl's handbags, they always seem to be several seasons behind.  However, I love this Dana Buchman linen tote.  It's tailored enough to take to work, and is still relaxed enough for the weekend.

The Hair Chop

Over a year ago, I made the mistake of getting highlights.  A few weeks ago while brushing my hair, a huge chunk of highlights came out in my hand.  After a minor (HA, major) freakout, I ran straight to the salon and chopped my hair off.  I took in the following picture to give my stylist some guidance:



Ended up looking more like this:



 

Minus the heavy bangs and defined curls.  I got some medium-thickness bangs, which I immediately pinned back because they hang straight in my eyes and make me look like I'm 16 again.  My hair, once I took all the weight out of it, is trying to curl, and if that curl would stay my hai would look great.  But no matter the product I use, I can't get the curl to hold and by midday my hair is just hanging there limp and dead.  In the picture of Katie Holmes in the gray shirt, her hair has more of an A Line shape to it, whereas I got mine blunt cut and all one length.

However, I'm thinking of doing something else to my hair.  I'm debating between growing my hair out to a shoulder-length bob, or cutting it all off, a la this Chanel ad:



There's just something so cute and free about this cut.  The only problem I forsee with me and a short pixie cut is getting it trimmed every 4-6 weeks, which I doubt I'd do.  I put off getting regular trims, and I know, it's bad for my hair, yada yada yada.

I think what I might do is get some layers added and then decide if I want to go shorter.