The Summer of Shoes

Somehow, I have either lost a majority of my shoes from last summer or they have gone to shoe heaven via my Bassett mix. After taking stock of what shoes I have left, I put together this list of the shoes I'm really loving for the summer of 2013:

Navajo Sandal | These are the classic Jack Rogers Navajos that have been worn for decades. If I buy only one pair of shoes this summer it'll be these. I'm not sure what color to get, I'm leaning between the gold or platinum.

Espadrille Lace-Ups | I bought these the other weekend from Old Navy. They're only $20! They're comfortable and because they're espadrilles I doubt they'll last the rest of the summer. But for a pretty cheap price you get a lot of style.

Kilty Moccasin | I love moccasins, they're just so easy to put on and go while giving an extra bit of style that flats can't match. I'm debating between the classic brown or the gray.

Good as Gold Wedges| I bought these during the Lilly Pulitzer sale back in January. These low wedges just dress up an outfit effortlessly and I've been wearing them non-stop since May. The thong part that goes in between the toes was uncomfortable at first, but my mom found me some padded cushions to go around the thong part and they feel a lot better. Price have you down? They're easy to find for around $80 unused on Ebay.

Felucca Lace | I've been looking for a new pair of boat shoes that have a low vamp to wear with skinny jeans/pants. These fit the bill and they're made in America. I also love these Audrey flats from Sperry.

Hadley Espadrilles | Espadrille flats are hot this summer. All sorts of colors and prints are available on store shelves and you really just can't go wrong with any of 'em. I fell in love with the orange detailing on this pair from a collaboration between Sperry and one of the Queens of Prep, Milly. Isn't the bow on the back darling?

Alicia High Heel Sandal | Just a simple pair of strappy brown heels. I was going to get these, but ended up getting these from American Eagle:

They're cute, they're comfortable, they're cheaply made. I doubt these will last much longer. I'm going to wait a bit longer to see if the Lands' End version will go on sale a bit more before I buy. In the meantime, the AE version will suffice.

Sutton Wedges | I love the mixture of color and texture on these. I think these would be great to add interest to a rather simple outfit.

Peep Toe Cork Platform | After a knee injury about a year ago, I've had to nix wearing heels. Now that my knee is better I keep drooling over the highest heels I can find. I simply adore the shape on these Zara heels. Simple black peep-toes with a cork platform to help keep them summery is what made them jump over all other heels to make my list. Want to avoid knee injuries? Don't attempt to play hockey drunk.

BGP: Laura Mercier's Flawless Face Kit

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Flawless Face Kit, Sephora, $65

I keep a running list in my head of makeup that I want to try but just never get to it for one reason or another. Typically I'll walk into Sephora, list in hand, only to pick up something shiny that caught my eye and curse myself when I get home because I didn't get a thing off my list. The Clarisonic was on this list, and currently the list includes a creme blush brush, the Aqualillies for Tarte palette, and some Stila Smudge Pots.

(Although before I buy anything else I need to do a massive purge of my makeup.)

This Laura Mercier kit has been on my waiting list for probably about two years. I finally broke down and bought it during Sephora's Chic Week, where the VIBs get I think it was like 15-20% off their purchases during the week. The main reason I bought this kit was for the concealer brushes, which you'll see on the right hand side of the graphic above. The brushes were almost $28 apiece, so buying the kit just made much more sense. I've used the Laura Mercier setting powder in the past and it was okay, but I was eager to try everything else.

First, the good:
There are two brushes in the kit, a pointy brush and a flat, rounded brush. Both are concealer brushes but they have different purposes. I have heard the pointy brush called "a laser guided" aid in applying concealer to a pimple. The statement may sem laughable but it's true. This brush is five types of amazing. The pointy-ness allows to take just the right amount of the concealer and places it on the head of the pimple. Either tap or blend it very lightly with the brush, set it with the powder, and the pimple is gone. Because I've seen and tried so many different formulas, brushes, methods, etc., to conceal, it's hard to impress me. This combo of the brush and concealer is impressive.

The second rounded flat brush is for use with the other side of the concealer for under your eyes. It seems to have yellow-ish undertones which worried me at first, but once I got it applied it's truly spectacular. Again, I've seen and done a lot to get undereye circles gone, and this worked perfectly. Both this brush and the pointy one are full-sized, and mixed in with the concealer (which is half-sized) I consider my $65 well-spent.

The okay:
I've used Laura Mercier's setting powder before, and at the time I liked it. Now, after using Tarte's Amazonian Clay setting powder for so long, I really don't think it's as good as I thought it was. In a pinch, it'll do, but I'll continue to use my Tarte. The sponges included in the kit for applying the tinted moisturizer and the puff for the powder are both good quality, and I threw them in my travel kit so I don't have to haul my foundation brush with me all the time.

The bad:I haven't used Laura's primer or tinted moisturizer before but have heard a lot of good things about them so I was more than willing to give them a try. Well, what was should I say interesting was watching my makeup melt right off my face despite the primer. I could see where my blush was migrating down my cheeks. I've never seen anything like it. I stepped outside on one of the hotter days in downtown Charleston, and I could see where a bead of sweat was moving down my face, covered in makeup. I tried the tinted moisturizer without the primer, but it didn't seem to last that long. I didn't see any residue when I washed my face that night on my Clarisonic.

Despite the fact I didn't like the primer or moisturizer, the kit is a good buy. The brushes alone are worth their weight in gold, and the concealer impressed me, tryer of all things concealing.

REVIEW: Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara, $5-7

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for a pretty package. I'm in the market for a new mascara and one just happens to come along in such a pretty coat, yeah, I'm going to buy it.

I have--and will always--declare Tarte's Lights! Camera! Lashes! to be the best mascara available on the market. However, at $19 a tube, it can get pricey. Especially if you're like me and keep forgetting to close the tube all the way. Oops.

In the past I've used Maybelline's classic Great Lash mascara in the famous pink and green tube. It gives a lot of a volume but I wanted something that would give length as well. I've also tried Cover Girl's Lash Blast Fusion with bad results, and L'Oreal's Telescopic which is the wand with the little ball on the end. I like it but I can't put it on in a rush, which is how I usually do my makeup.

Henceforth, the mascara in the sparkly rainbow tube made its way into my makeup bag after my last Walmart trip. I accidentialy picked up the waterproof version, which actually ended up being a good thing because when I rubbed my eyes it didn't smear all over the place.

This is what Revlon has to say about Lash Potion:

Magically transform lashes to lush, long and lustrous. A potion with strengthening proteins drenches lashes for volume. Triple-groove wand combs through for clump-free length.

The brush consists of traditional nylon bristles set into a pattern I can best describe as similar to the Mercedes-Benz logo.

 

The mascara doesn't have much of a scent, other than the usual sort of earth-y scent that most mascaras have. I found the formula was rather wet but dried quickly. The brush head is somewhat large for a mascara wand which made getting to the inner corners of my eyes tricky.

Lash Potion gave my lashes some amazing length, probably the longest I've seen. That, and the anti-smudge of the waterproof are the best qualities of this mascara. The first coat I put on just lengthed my lashes. The second coat added a bit more volume and some clump. The third coat was pure clump. This mascara gave me the worst case of tarantula eyes.

If you like to layer your mascara, then I'd highly recommend this mascara. It does give great length and the waterproof version doesn't budge. However, if you're like me and apply your mascara while driving down I-64 on your way into work, I'd skip it.

 

tl; dr: A high-maintence mascara that is good for length and nothing more.

Battle of the Face Brushes: Clarisonic vs. Olay Pro-X

Clarisonic $119 + 20% off  | Olay Pro-X, $25

I've had the Olay Pro-X face brush for going on two and a half years. I'd typically use it 3-4 times a week when my skin felt disgusting or I wanted to a bit of a deeper clean than just face wash alone. I had wanted the Clarisonic for years but was hesitant to pay the price for one when numerous blogs said that the two were pretty close.

Earlier this year I found a Clarisonic on Sephora's clearance shelf and broke down and got it. You can read my story on that experience here.

I've been using the Clarisonic for a little over a month now, and it's fantastic. It's amazing. I wish I had bought it sooner.

The Olay Pro-X has a head that rotates quickly and has a hint of vibration. It has two speeds.
The Clarisonic head doesn't move, but the unit vibrates with sonic waves. You rotate the brush manually to get the exfoliating action. My model, the Plus, has three speeds and a timer for the recommended 20 seconds each on nose, chin, and forehead, and 10 seconds each for the cheeks. I think the timer is pretty pointless.

The results I have gotten from the Clarisonic in the past month have been amazing. It's been really helpful on helping to shrink the appearance of my pores and keeping my oily skin in check. I don't have to use as much skin care products, which I hope will save me some coin in the long run. A lot of people have said it also helps with aging and wrinkles but since I don't have either of those I can't say.

Even if you can't afford the Clarisonic, the Olay Pro-X is a solid must-have for your bathroom. It does help with exfoliation and makeup removal.

Either way, you can't go wrong. However, if you're in serious need of some skin help, the Clarisonic is the way to go.

Save Money on Pedicures with this Lotion!

I've been meaning to get a pedicure for the last month, but I haven't gotten around to finding a new nail tech in Charleston. I usually do them myself, but when I was working at the airport the steel-toe shoes I had to wear destroyed my feet.

Now it's sandal time and my feet look horrible. I was at Sally's Beauty Supply the other day and I saw this lotion, Mr. Pumice Callus Terminator. It claims to get rid of calluses in minutes. So I bought it and a pumice bar and gave it a try. I soaked my feet for about 10 minutes, then applied the lotion for another five minutes then scrubbed like hell with the pumice stone. My feet look amazing, they're soft, and I can't be more thrilled.

I have to warn you though, this product contains lye,  which is a very caustic cleanser. The directions say to wear gloves when applying the lotion or to rinse your hands immediately. The lotion doesn't come off easily. No matter how much I scrubbed it refused to budge. I probably have the top two layers of the skin on my hands flaking off right now and it's pretty gross. So, wear gloves and you'll be golden.

If you're like me and keep forgetting to get a pedicure or you're cheap, $12 at Sally's Beauty Supply will have your feet looking like new.

A Dress For All Occasions

From 2008-2012 I worked in various aspects of the construction industry. This meant a lot of jeans, company polos, and Carhartt.
Then I had the world's most unflattering uniform in the airline industry. Lots of baggy navy blue.
And now I'm an office manager.

This means an entire shift in my wardrobe. Still overrun with denim and faded tees, I have pretty much been wearing the same thing to work everyday: my navy pants from my airline uniform (a tad frumpy but OH SO COMFY) and a cardigan.

My mom even told me it was time I spent some money putting together a work wardrobe.

Sideswept jersey dress | Coldwater Creek $99-109 + 25% off

This dress comes in sizes 4-24, not to mention petites sizing. I pretty much love everything about this dress:
-Flattering draping across the bodice
-A color that goes with so much. Need to add a blazer? Black, red, brown, white, etc. would look great.
-So easy to accessorize!
-Made of jersey material, meaning no wrinkling, making this a good dress for business travel or to keep on hand just in case.

This dress just has a lot going for it. I'm finding out that work dresses in general are fairly expensive and that I can't live in Old Navy as much as I'm used to. Yes, I can pick up a jersey dress from ON, but it's going to be a thin jersey, as opposed to the thickness of the Coldwater Creek jersey. Not all jersey dresses are equal.

With this dress I could wear any number of my usual cardigans, purses, or shoes. I can't say that about a lot of the work dresses I've looked it.

Ladies and Gentlemen...Break Out Your Whites!

Madras | Land's End $60
Lilly Pulitzer | Nordstrom $278
White Eyelet | JC Penney's $42
Nautical | Modcloth $75

Traditionally, the time to put your whites and seersucker has always been Memorial Day. However, since it can easily be 90 degrees in Huntington at the end of April, that date has been moved up to the weekend of The Kentucky Derby. Why the seemingly outdated approach to wearing white?

It's called appropiateness. It's not appropiate to be wearing white gauze when it's 50 degrees out.
It's silly to be wearing nautical motifs when your boat is in dry dock for the winter.
Conversely, would you wear a black wool turtleneck in late July when the humidity is 100 percent?

However, there's still those one or two things that are best kept until Memorial Day, when we all know for a fact we'll be baking outisde on the Capitol grounds during the Vandalia Gathering:
Tropical prints and crop tops are best left to when it's a steady 85 degrees and above.

Here's a handy guide you can add to Pinterest to help you remember!

Gifts for the Fashionable Graduate

I mildly despise gift guides. First off, every other damn blog features a gift guide. Most of the stuff is overpriced junk and the two things you actually do like are only sold by a store that is open for two hours a day on Mondays. It's iffy if they answer the phone and of course they don't have a web site. This is actually a true story, and the main reason I don't do gift guides.

However, my little sister is getting ready to graduate with two degrees and she's more or less helped me put together this gift guide as a sort of "hint hint wink wink" to friends and family.

What do people actually want when they graduate? My little sister says they want nice, practical gifts that make them appear "grown-up."  They don't want college-themed trinkets--they have plenty of those already--or anything branded with "Class of 2013!" Also nixed are those inspirational "Oh the places you'll go" gifts. She says people have no idea how much stuff like that can hurt when one's top job prospects involve folding jeans or delivering pizza.1. I call it a power purse, but a really nice bag tops my sister's list. She wants something that convey's "I'm here to work" or at least something that will make people take her slightly more seriously. Look for purses in neutral colors--black or brown--that are well-made in a sturdy material with simple styling.
2. A grown-up wallet. "It's time to move beyond the lanyard."
3. A grown-up watch. She thinks having a watch is a good idea because she's under the impression you can't check your cell phone for the time at work (she's partially right).
4. A good going-out clutch. Again, look for quality workmanship and materials. If you can't afford to gift someone a power bag, a clutch is less-expensive option.
5. A good piece of everyday jewelry. Pearls and diamonds are a bit clichéd, and gemstones can fall out of settings. A nice unembellished piece like the one above makes a wonderful gift, especially for someone you're close to. This is something she can wear everyday and looks good with a business suit or a breezy sundress.
6. A grown-up keychain. My little sister thinks after graduation a beer-opener keychain is immature but as an actual adult I have to disagree with her.
7. Much like the power purse, any fashionable grad would adore a pair of power shoes. Get her something she can wear to work or an interview.
8. A gift card for work clothes. A giftcard to Macy's, Nordstorm, or even JC Penney's can help a grad out when they sudden have to drop a massive chunk of change for work clothes. If you find a gift card tacky (hi mom!), take the young lady to the store of her choice to pick out an outfit, and toss in a nice lunch.

You don't have to spend a fortune buying a graduation gift. If I were to single out any one particular gift, I'd go for a nice piece of everyday jewelry. It's hard to fake a good bag or pair of shoes, but a lovely stainless silver pendant can be had for an affordable price from Kmart. Stop by Michael's or Hobby Lobby and pick up an elegant jewelry presentation box and no will be the wiser. All she'll see on graduation day is a beautiful gift from a loved one.

STYLE EVOLUTION: What I Wore in High School 1999-2003

I know it's late April when I start seeing the sidewalks of Charleston and Huntington covered in pastel-colored ball gowns and too big tuxedos.

Then, I start thinking back to my prom, and then I start thinking about high school, and then I remember that this year is my 10 year high school reunion. Yikes.

I thought it would be interesting to post a little bit about who my fashion icons were at the time, and what I wore:

Liz Parker from the TV show Roswell | Joey Potter from the TV show Dawson's Creek | Jackie O
Ali MacGraw from the movie Love Story | Everything from the movie Blue Crush

If I were to really describe my fashion sense during high school, I'd describe it as a preppy surfer girl, which more or less equals out to Abercrombie & Fitch, during its heyday. I liked simple clothes that were easy to wear, which I still do. I was also very much into vintage clothing, especially flares from the 1970s. I'm one of six kids, and at the time there were a couple of kids in college and some of us still in prep school so money was pretty tight. I couldn't afford the Abercrombie that everyone else was wearing so when I was stuck shopping at Goodwill for clothes, I decided to really go ahead and embrace vintage.

My mom was another one of my inspirations. My mom grew up in San Fransisco during the 1950s and 1960s. Yes, she hung out at Haight-Ashbury during the Summer of Love. I loved going through the few pictures she had from those times and getting a sense of the styles that people were wearing and then trying to recreate them from the racks at Goodwill. I found the best vintage shop in Huntington around that time, it was just a little hole-in-the-wall by where the Village on Sixth is now located. I had no trouble finding the flares I loved so much there. I got all sorts of jeans, sweaters, and amazing tee shirts from there. It also sold the finest in head shop paraphernalia.

However, there was one little thing to keep in mind about my high school years. I wore a uniform from the age of 6 to the age of 18.

This is based off my senior year. I had to wear khakis or navy blue pants or skirts. We had polo shirts with the school logo on them that came in white or navy, and on cooler days we could wear a plain navy sweatshirt/sweater. My accessories included Wallabee shoes because they are the most comfortable shoe on earth, a yin yang necklace because that was the thing at the time, and I had a giant tote bag that I used instead of a backpack.

Here's what I wore on the weekends:

Flares, camp shirts, and chunky turtlenecks were favorites of mine. For a few years I incorporated a hint of military into my closet because I found some old Army shirts at Goodwill and loved them. There's the obligatory surfer-inspired gear all high school girls wear at one point. I had a crazy collection of messenger bags during high school, I still love them today. For shoes I typically wore my Wallabees from my school uniform, and the original Candie's slides. This was back when they were $50 and sold at Nordstrom instead of Kohl's.

I won't lie, I would still wear 70% of the clothes I owned in high school.

Here's one of my senior portraits:

Sweater? Check. Low-rise flares? Check and check. Converse? Check, check, and check.

The Battle For Flatlandia: Who Makes the Best Flats?

In the country of Malli on the subcontent of East Retailia, an ongoing conflict known as the Battle for Flatlandia has consumed most of the female population for the past several years. After years of dictatorship by a man known to the nation as Pointy Stiletto (real name: Jimmy Choo), the women of the small but influential region in Flatlandia rebelled. While they were not successful in completely overthrowing Pointy Stiletto from Malli, they managed to gain a foothold in their native homeland. After a brief period of peace the residents began to turn on each other in a power struggle for dominance in the countryside, which was quickly filling with refugees from the Blahnik Mountains in the north, the Louboutin jungles to the south, and the Vivier river valley which was dangerously close to Flatlandia. The sudden influx of shelter seekers to the Flatlandia plains had originally confused the residents whom were often the butt of many a Mallian joke. Factions began forming, with five main groups controlling most of the Flatlandia Plains while dozens if not hundreds of much smaller groups remained in the shadows. Some of the groups, such as Madewell, J.Crew, and Gap were similarly armed in materials and workmanship but demanded high prices for "security." Others such as Old Navy and Target were very popular due to their friendliness to the pocketbooks of the Flatlandia population, offering similar "protection" for much less cost.

Target (similar) | Madewell | Old Navy | Gap | J. Crew

There is no absolute answer as to who makes the best flats. It really depends on what you're doing in the shoes and your feet. All the shoes I featured above are the ones I wear the most, and most of them are at least six months old. The blue Target flats I've had for at least three years that are still going strong. I have several pairs of flats from the Gap that just keep going despite me walking to the moon and back in them. Let me break down the pros and cons of each:

Do keep in mind that details in flats can vary, even those made by the same brand.

Here are some of my other favorite brands for flats:

Jack Rogers

Land's End

H&M

American Eagle Outfitters

Where are your favorite places to buy flats?

REVIEW: Eva NYC Shampoo & Conditioner

Available at Ulta & Drugstore.com.
 You can also buy it direct from the conmpany but it's twice the price.

I'm running out of my beloved Joico liters and I've been reluctant to buy new ones. Considering I do nada with my hair, I really can't justify paying $60-ish on just hair products. I can sometimes find them at Marshall's or T.J. Maxx but I've been striking out lately.

While browsing the selection in Ulta, I came across these two bright pink bottles. They were made for all hair types and had Argan oil, so I figured I had nothing to lose, I was going to have to try something new anyways. I didn't even smell them, I just grabbed them, paid, and left.

I research the hell out of anything cosmetic/beauty-related before I buy it, so trying something from a brand I've never even heard of is a new experience for me.

I'm really impressed with both of these products. A lot of products claim to work on oily hair but really don't. This one tamed my oil without drying my hair, and also made it super shiny and soft as well. The only test it did fail was my "can I get away with washing my hair every other day." Summer's coming up and with my hair going from just oily to BP-in-the-Gulf-Oily, I'm going to have to wash my hair everyday so it's not a big deal.

Did I mention how amazing this stuff smells? The shampoo has a vanilla scent with a hint of florals. It smells good enough I'd wear it as a perfume. The conditioner actually doesn't seem to have a smell to me.

There's a whole product lineup, some of which Ulta sells, including a dry shampoo which has been added to my shopping list, an Argan oil hair oil, and a deep conditioning mask amongst others.

They also make hair tools. This flat iron is so freakin' amazing I may have to get it to replace my Remington Straight-to-Wet from 2005 (I straighten my hair twice a year).

Rest in Colorful Peace, Lilly Pulitzer

It all started with a juice stand.

Lilly Pulitzer had just married Peter Pulitzer in the early 1950s and relocated to West Palm Beach from New York City. Her husband owned several orange groves and since she had nothing to do, she decided to open a juice stand.

The juices kept staining her dresses, so she had a seamstress design easy-to-wear shifts in bright colorful prints. These dresses soon sold more than the dresses and an American legend was born.  She became a household name when a former classmate, Jacqueline Kennedy, was photographed wearing the now iconic shift dress.

My Lilly Pulitzer story began when I was 12-13ish, making the year 1996 or so. As a lover of bright, tropical colors and prints, her prints and ladylike styles stood out to me amidst the Abercrombie and American Eagle of the era. She was the first designer whom I really could recognize by aesthetic and she remains my favorite designer.

I consider Lilly Pulitzer to what I call an "heirloom" brand. What I consider an heirloom brand is one where people hang onto the clothes and accessories year after year. Last summer's dresses are welcomed with open arms this summer. It's the dress you try to borrow from your mom's closet when you're 16...and when you're 36.

Lilly Pulitzer also designed two lovely scarves for The Greenbrier:

According to The Greenbrier's website, the pink & green scarf contains "rhododendrons, The Greenbrier "G", the Springhouse, a Dorothy Draper clock, and The Greenbrier's arched windows." The blue scarf on the right has "the Cameo Ballroom, Victorian Writing Room, the Springhouse, and The Greenbrier front entrance"  They're $118 each, and you can click here or on the picture above to buy one.

The BEST Product to Help Hide Pores!

I have a backlog of products to review, so you'll be seeing those the rest of the week. You know, before I forget.

Sephora, $30

I had actually bought this last summer and for one reason or another it's just sat in my makeup box, lonely and forgotten. This past week, when I've been thinking about my skin way too often, I was complaining to myself about how large my pores have been looking. Then I remember I had this sitting on my vanity, and added it to my makeup routine.

For the record, you can't shrink your pores. Once they're big, they're that way for life. However, there are many products floating that claim to minimize the appearance of pores, this product being one of them.

To be brief, I love this stuff. It really does work. I saw probably a good 75% reduction in the appearance of my pores. I keep looking at my skin, just tickled by how well it looks.

This can also be used as a primer and I've noticed my makeup staying on a tad better through the day. It has a pinkish-beige color to it that disappears as you apply it. Word to the wise: a little goes a long way. I used too much at the beginning, and the product will "ball up," sort of like a sweater pilling. You might also compare it to eyeshadow when it gathers in the crease of your lid. The texture is very light and soft, like a whipped mousse. It helped keep some shine away during the afternoon and it makes your face super soft.

I can't recommend this stuff enough (heh, that rhymes). If you want, Sephora can make you a sample and you can try it for yourself.

My Weird Clarisonic Story

This is a bit of an odd story and I'm not even sure if it's worth telling but something just feels...off, even when I discuss it with friends.

This past Saturday, I was browsing the Sephora inside the JC Penney's at the Charleston Town Center. One of the first sections I always hit up is the clearance section, just to see if something I've had my eye on has dropped in price. Lo and behold, there on the bottom shelf towards the very back is a Clarisonic Classic. It doesn't have a price on it, so I ask. It's a mere $90. I've been debating on buying a Clarisonic for sometime (like, over a year) because I've decided I need something with a bit more oomph than my Olay Pro-X brush. My logic was this: I can spend $90 for the Clarisonic now, or pay $225 down the road. I chose to go ahead and get it.

The Sephora associate advises to charge it for 24 hours before use. I excitedly plug it in and start reading the instruction manual. Huh, there's supposed to be a blinking green light? I don't see one. I try a few more outlets and decided I probably got a dud. The Clarisonic has a warranty so I call into their customer service. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hi, I bought a Clarisonic Classic two days ago and it's not charging. The instructions say there should be a blinking light and I don't see one.

Clarisonic Customer Service: Hmm, okay. What's the serial number on the handle?

Me: [whatever the serial number is]. I even tried it in different outlets and I know the outlets work find because I just charged my cellphone in the sam--

Clarisonic Customer Service: Um, ma'am, I hate to interrupt but when did you buy your Clarisonic again?

Me: Saturday afternoon, two days ago.

Clarisonic Customer Service: According to our records, this model was made four years ago.

Me: You gotta be kidding me.

To make a long story short, I had to scan in my Sephora receipt and send it in the Clarisonic folks. Although it may be four years old, they're honoring the warranty and sending me the Clarisonic Plus, the model that replaced the Classic (I really don't see a difference, except there's a body brush head included). So I'm getting the $225 model I was really hesitant to buy in the first place.

The weird part is that I can't wrap my mind around is the fact Sephora is selling a four-year old product. The model is discontinued, which is fine as long as it still works. But this particular little brush has been sitting on a shelf in a Sephora warehouse or stores since 2009.

Maybe I'm making too much of this. I probably am.

I will state for the record that Clarisonic has amazing customer service. Other than the fact both the service agent and I were both shocked to find this brush was so old, it was super smooth and painless. The worst part was that I had to sit on hold for 25 minutes.

If you're interested in purchasing a Clarisonic, Sephora sells plenty that work.

You can also buy one through SkinStore.com, and take 20% off the purchase price.

REVIEW: Josie Maran's Argan Lip Treatment

If you're unfamiliar with Sephora's Beauty Bank, essentially it's a way of earning free products for shopping at Sephora. Fo every dollar spent, you get a point. When you get 100 points, you can redeem them for a travel-size product. If you save up 500 points, you can get a kit that usually has one full-sized product along with a few other travel-sized products. The kits usually end up being around a $40-50 value, which is nothing to sneeze at. I've been over 500 points for sometime, waiting for the right 500 point perk to come along. When purchasing my Illamasqua nail polish the other week, I was offered this Josie Moran perk and decided to take it.

The Argan Lip Treatment in this package is full size and retails for $18. The Argan Oil is a 0.5 travel-size bottle that retails for $14. The Bare Naked wipes and Argan Cleansing oils are both probably worth $20 together.

The Argan Lip Treatment is a creamy smooth balm that has the most delicious green apple scent. I also think there's just a hint of vanilla in there, too. I actually stood and smelled it for a few minutes, taking some big whiffs because it smells that good. The texture is very smooth and silky and not greasy at all. There's no applicator so you have to apply it with your finger, which some people like and some hate. I was looking at the lid, and I think you could jerry-rig an applicator in there pretty easily.

Despite the wonderful smell, the taste really doesn't follow suit. The closest I can describe the taste is that it's similar to that of Vaseline. Not great but not horrible either. It feels nice and light on the lips, and gives a pretty sheen. However, this lip treatment isn't very mositurizing at all. It disappeared off my lips in under ten minutes and left them feeling drier. I had a similar experience with Maybelliene's Baby Lips last year.

If I hate to rate Josie Maran's Argan Lip Treatment, I would probably give it only 1 star out of five. Yes, it smells amazing but it doesn't moisturize very well, essentially making this product pointless.

If you're looking for a moisturizing balm, spend a few dollars more and get Fresh's Sugar balms. They come in a variety of sheer yet buildable colors, and there's an intensive care balm as well.

For who lose their lip stuff on the daily, you can't beat Alba Botanica. They're organic, come in a range of flavors, it stays on forever, and it costs less than $3. You can find it at most drugstores, Walmart/Target, and Kroger's.

Oh, Shift!

Lilly Pulitzer is an absolute favorite of mine. I love bright colors and prints, so naturally Lilly and I would be a perfect fit for each other.
Lilly's offerings often have unique details that separates them from similar items you may find in say, Macy's or Kohl's. A basic navy blazer from Kohl's will be just that--a basic navy blazer. However, a Lilly blazer would have a scalloped hem or sleeves. It's those little touches that make her clothes so beautiful.  They're also easy to wear. To me, a Lilly dress and simple accessories can help me get out the door in no time.

I will openly admit her clothes are very much a niche market, mostly limited to those who are fans of preppy or Southern fashion. If you find her prints too whimsical for your tastes, she also offers many items with amazing textures and colors.

Also for a limited time, you can get a free keychain with any purchase and a charm bracelet with any purchase over $250 (not to mention free shopping!):

Since I've been in need of a new keychain, I went ahead and bought a phone case I've been lusting over for sometime:

U Gotta Regatta is probably my favorite Lilly print ever.

Spring Nail Trend: Textured Polishes

One of the biggest trends for nails this spring is textured nail polish. It doesn't necessarily mean a texture you can feel, but instead a textural look. These three can all be found at  your local Sephora, although the Illamasqua polish on the right is sold out on the website.

The Nails Inc. polish on the far left has long strands of holographic glitter. It comes in a few colors that lean tropical/summery but you should have no trouble getting away wearing them now. Heads up, this polish is a b!$%^ to remove. It's best to soak your nails for a few minutes before attempting removal.

Ciate has a whole line of textures available for polish. Instead of being built into the polish, you can apply tiny sequins, velvet, or even caviar beads for an endless amount of looks. These are really fun, albeit messy polishes so plan for at least an hour for a manicure.

This Illamasqua polish has been in every magazine and blog known to man. It's a pastel polish with random black bits mixed in. It looks exactly like a robin's egg shell. It's a pretty polish and I've had my eye on it for at least a month. Scarce is a dusty light pink with the previously mentioned black bits in it. The polish is neutral enough to wear to the most conservative of business offices, yet the speckled texture adds some interest.

I'm not afraid of expensive nail polishes, but this is one instance where I don't feel this polish was worth the $16 price tag. It's neat, it's fun, but now that I got the polish home I feel like it's something I wouldn't wear very often. I've been known to change my mind before about polishes.

If you want a similar look, Walmart's Hard Candy line has a polish that's pretty close to Scarce's finish, but I haven't seen them in the West Virginia stores yet. I saw a display of them at the Walmart in Cincinnati last week so I'm hoping they'll make their way here.

Spend or Save: Kate Spade Floral Beaded Necklace

Kate Spade and J.Crew jewelry has really become popular in the past few years and it looks like the momentum isn't going to stop anytime soon. This is evident by the abundance of the Bubble necklace and its imitators.

So you get two more flowers with the Kate Spade necklace, but for a mere $25, I'll gladly go with The Limited's version. Since we no longer have
The Limited in West Virginia (sadness), you should be able to find an equally cheap version at Charming Charlie's or Charlotte Russe.

LOOKBOOK: welcome to the jungle

Visit the Polyvore set for purchasing information!

It started off with a simple giraffe necklace I saw at the J. Crew factory store outside of Columbus. Then it became J. Crew's enameled animal bangles.

The giraffe made friends with elephants with chevron blankets, a zebra showing off its Art Deco influence, and a peacock displaying its magnificent colors.

The leopard with a bow? So elegant and luxe. The snail teasing a turtle with a carrot? Simply too cute for words!

What's great about these charming necklaces and bracelets is that they can be found no matter your budget and will fit in with many styles.

LOOKBOOK: an easy, chic bag

Madewell Essex tote in Colorblock, $218

This is a simple, chic bag for spring and summer.

I love the fact that this bag can match a wide array of styles. It can be preppy, it can be boho, it can even be edgy.

I can easily see myself throwing a water bottle and some sunscreen in this bag for a leisurely morning at the Capitol Market.