Laser Time

I went in for laser hair removal on Monday, and I thought it might be a good idea to share my experience with others. Especially since my experience was the ANTI of everything I read before going.

Here's a basic rundown on the information I found before going:
- Don't shave before you go, the longer you let the hair grow, the better.
- The pain feels like a rubber band slapping against your skin, so take Aleve (or whatever you prefer) an hour before going.
- Don't go somewhere that offers a discount. Good places don't need to offer discounts.
- This is a medical procedure. Make sure the place you go has a licensed doctor (aesthetician).
- Laser hair removal treatments can cost hundreds of dollars for each session (recommended 6 sessions).
- Due to the cycle of hair growth, sessions should be 4-6 weeks apart.

Here's what happened at my appointment:
- I was handed a razor because I hadn't shaved.
- I felt nothing. Seriously. Not a thing.
- I purchased a LivingSocial deal for this place.
- She had several licenses in frames around the office.
- My LivingSocial deal was $99 for 6 treatments. $99 total. I added on a small area treatment for $40 a session.
- I was told my appointments HAD to be 4 weeks apart, no more, no less.

So... was I duped or did I have the best laser hair removal experience of all time?

Here's the story (and no, I don't know the answer to that question yet):

I was strangely not nervous about going to get laser hair removal. I knew you were supposed to be a bit nervous and check out a ton of places before deciding on "the one", so I think I even tried to scare myself a bit by doing some google searches of what to know before you go. I found the above information, and while I was slightly skeptical about why this place cost so little, I wasn't running for the hills and canceling my appointment. So, I'm driving down the street this place is supposed to be on and, well, it's all residential. Weird. Where is a "Medical Spa" (part of the name of the place) going to be on this street? Oh, wait, it's that house right there. Ok... I park out front because the driveway's blocked and I walk up the driveway, trying to figure out where to go in. (There really should be a sign on the street or something.) I see a purple sign leaning against the garage out back and a door slightly ajar. Ok, so my mom will probably kill me for this, but I still had no fear and decided to walk into this random door on the garage. There are stairs, so I walk up them. Ta da! Spa-like surroundings upstairs. Well, that's a relief. I also find out they call it a "carriage house". I suppose that sounds better than telling your customers you operate out of a garage.

Next, they hand me paperwork to fill out. Most of it doesn't apply as it asks what kind of stress I have in my life and if I blush easily (for massages and skin treatments I guess). There are also a couple sheets towards the end that say things like "I verify that the procedure and its risks and benefits have been explained to me - [signature here]". So I told the girl, "Um, these haven't been explained to me yet, so I'm not signing this." She was fine with it, and said if I wanted to wait until they were explained to sign, that was fine. Um, obviously I do. Why would I sign something like that before having talked to the doctor? It's asking me to excuse the practice from all liabilities - um, no.

So the doctor comes in (from down the steps, which makes me think she lives in the house) and takes me back to a "room", but not really a room since there's no door, just a curtain. She asks me if I've shaved (no) and then hands me a razor and asks me to do a dry shave of the area. She explains why and all, and seems to have her reasons downpat (something about the laser not picking up the root if the hair is too long, blah blah), so I shave. (I also should point out, most places do consultations to make sure you're a good candidate for laser hair removal. Apparently she knew just looking at me??) She comes back in the room, has me lay back, and starts up the machine. Yeah, that's right. She didn't say a damn thing. Glad I didn't sign that paperwork! But again, I'm still not nervous for some reason. She as a person is very nice and makes me feel comfortable, minus the lack of information.

She has me put on these goggles (think tanning goggles but without the holes, so you can't see anything), and tells me the naked eye can't be exposed to the laser. I feel her put this cooling gel on me, and she tells me I may feel a bit of heat, but no pain. What?? No pain?? That's not what the interweb says! So I'm skeptical, waiting for the pain to come. She says "how was that?" I say "how was what?" If you're following, I can't see anything she's doing. But apparently she started and I didn't feel a damn thing. Ok, a bit of a lie. I could feel what felt like basically a roll on deodorant stick being rolled around on my body. So I felt THAT, but I felt NO pain, NO heat, nothing related to lasers. What the H-E-double hockey stick is going on here? I can hear the laser machine on, but I feel nothing that feels like I would imagine a laser feels like. I had to have fungi lasered off my foot once, and let me tell you, that HURT. AND they put about 13 shots of numbing stuff in it beforehand. Lasers = not pleasant. So... why does this laser feel so awesome? In the middle of it all, she asks if I want another area added on at all. I ask her how much, she leaves to find out, comes back and tells me $40 a session. Seriously? Done. So she does it. When she's all done she has me wipe the gel off, put some cortisone cream on, and meet her at the front desk for payment. The receptionist must only work til 5, because she was gone and the doctor herself was checking me out. Apparently they didn't have their credit card machine up and running yet because in order to use my credit card (I don't even THINK to carry cash anywhere these days), she had to send me a PayPal invoice and have me log onto her computer to pay it. Awkward? Sure. Did someone walk in and think I was the receptionist while I was doing it? Of course.

What I really think is happening here is there's this young doctor who lives in the house the carriage house is behind and is trying to build a medical spa from the ground up. Like I said, the actual inside looks all spa-like, it's just really tiny and happens to be in a garage. Weird? Yes. Does it probably scare a lot of people off? I'm sure. They may just be offering this awesome discount in order to build up their customer base. 589 people bought this deal - I checked! And there were other normal looking potential suckers patients there while I was there.

Yes, there are about 50 red flags in this post, and I'm sure you've all raised your eyebrows (or maybe even gasped out loud) at least once while reading it, but... I'm oddly optimistic? Hey, it's only 100 bucks, and I totally wouldn't pay $500+ per session anywhere else.

So I've either been duped or had the most awesome laser hair removal experience ever. The beauty of it is that I won't know for at least a couple weeks (until the hair falls out, or it grows back in the same spot I shaved). I'll keep you posted. Oh, and if this turns out to not be a scam I'm totally doing like every hair on my body. Except my head. That would be weird.

-C
xxx

New Year Resolutions

Via Google Images

Every year people make resolutions for themselves when the new year begins. Well, I didn't actually come out and tell myself I'm going to do certain things, but for over a month now I have taken up what I can only call "bettering myself". Maybe the new year inspired me? Don't think so. I think it was that I had a couple months after the wedding that I just stopped doing everything I did before the wedding and I finally realized that my little "post wedding break" needed to be over. What am I talking about? Well, mainly the fact that my clothes weren't fitting right anymore due to mass comsumption of food. Yeah, I'm blaming it on the hubby. Not that he force feeds me or anything, but I guess it takes some getting used to (for me at least) to NOT eat everything, or the same quantity, that he eats. It's a proven fact that men need to eat more calories in a day because they (somehow, MIRACULOUSLY) burn off more. My hubby also goes to the gym, A LOT, so he needs to eat even more. I used to be all "screw the whole men eat more than women thing!" Um, yeah. At least 10 lbs. later (I won't step on the scale), I realize that they can, and they should, eat more than most women, and that I need to get over myself. Lol.

I get that I'm pretty much in the minority these days since we hadn't lived together until 2 weeks before getting married, and most people live together for a year, or a few years even, before tying the knot. So you probably all have a leg up on me. And you all should have warned me and given me this wisdom. For that, I blame you. :)

So since I like to think that writing things down will make them actually happen, and that my readers/friends will hold me accountable if I actually blog about it, I'm listing my "resolutions" below. It's kind of sad that my "resolutions" are things I did to better myself in the months before my wedding, but my problem then was that I had the end goal (our wedding date) to look forward to stopping all these things. Which is kind of stupid when you think about it. Were they painful and horrible to maintain? No! Now I have no end date by which to stop and I think that's good.

Anyway, I have unofficially resolved to:
** Getting into a going to the gym routine. 2 days a week is better than my usual 0. If I hit 3 times every now and then, even better! Also, using my Shake Weight while watching TV, etc. That's right, I own a Shake Weight. Don't mock it til you've tried it and have felt that burn under your arms - it works, I tell you!
** Eating better/less - as in, stop eating like my husband! First problem - I need to accept that I should not be eating the same quantities of things that he does. There's no reason to stuff yourself (I'm talking to myself here) just so that you both eat equal amounts. I've started giving him double from the getgo and only eating til I'm full - then he gets what's left on my plate (and loves it). I also try to trick myself by eating slower and then by the time I would get 2nds it's all gone because he's already eaten it! So there's one way to do it! Next problem - I usually make dinner for us at least 5 days a week, and have gotten into the pattern of making things that he likes - aka things with a ton of meat in them. Everything has to have meat in it! Now, I'm no veg, but this is ridiculous. I mean, mac and cheese has to have chicken, ham, or some sort of deli meat in it (gross, and no, I don't put it in mine. nor do I even eat mac and cheese to be honest - that's hubby's specialty for when I'm out of town). Really?? That's not necessary. For this problem there's a sub-resolution:
**Eating more vegtables; trying to eat vegetables in lieu of meat when hubby's not around. I've always like my veggies, but I'm starting to like them a lot! I'm not on my way to becoming a vegetarian or anything, but if you throw a vegetarian dish my way I'll definitely enjoy it! And definitely broadening my horizons with them as well. My favorite veg of the moment: orange peppers. YUM. Hubby definitely looks at me funny sometimes and asks, with disgust, "You're not going to become a vegetarian, are you?" I think he fears that I will stop making him meaty lasagna. Have no fear, hubby, lasagna just isn't the same without meat sauce.
** Making my own lunch more often. I've always done the pack a lunch thing, but usually only tops 3 days a week and want to start doing it more. Not only does it save money, but you control the portions. I have this problem where I have a really hard time leaving things on my plate... so controlling my own portions versus letting a deli or someplace do it, is probably good for me. You know what I'd like to see? More packed lunch vegetarian recipes. I'm on the hunt for these! Salads can get boring! (Let me know if you have one!)
** Flossing on a regular basis. I know, it sounds like I'm a 7 year old but for some reason I always forget/always tell myself I don't have time. Really? It takes less than a minute to floss. (This is the conversation I now have with myself when I try to talk myself out of flossing.)

So here's to a new year and to bettering myself!

Oh, and maybe I should add "blogging" to my resolutions. My bad...

-C
xxx

Wife Chop

In case you're unaware, a "wife chop" is when, after getting married and usually having grown one's hair for many many months for the big day, the now wife basically just goes crazy and chops off all her hair. Ok maybe not that extreme, but a lot of times it involves chopping one's hair off by, at least what she'll consider, a lot. I like my hair long, so I didn't think I'd get the urge to do it, but it all of a sudden hit me the other day that I know what I want my wife chop to be! It's not going to be super drastic, but I feel like I haven't had a "styled" haircut in a while, if you know what I mean. So without further ado, I give you, my future wife chop.

The Rachel. Yup. THE Rachel. Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about. It even has its own wiki. Kate Moss and Emma Watson have even gotten them in recent years. I mean, you know it's cool when other celebrities get it. The Rachel may not be as popular as it once was *cough* I totally had one in 7th grade *cough*, but it's still around, and, personally, I think it still rocks.

StyleFrizz.com

So, done and done. I'm not chopping off all my hair, but I can't wait to have a fun new 'do. Anyone else getting a wife chop?

-C
xxx

Hairy Situation

Grow hair grow! I suppose maybe I shouldn't have chopped my hair off up to my chin last September knowing I'd want it to be long for my wedding a year later huh? "My hair grows so fast - it'll be long enough!" It's true - it will me long ENOUGH, but I wish I hadn't caved to my cutting urge so it'd be longER. At the moment it's already a little past my shoulders, but I love when my hair's super long and it would've been great to have that length at my wedding. Oh well, not like I can stretch it or anything! And yes I know, I could wear extensions if I really wanted to but I don't think it's necessary since it will technically be long enough. Anyway, I found my perfect hairstyle in my Summer Martha Stewart Weddings mag!

I've had in my head that I wanted something Carrie Underwood would have. Her hair always looks awesome. Plus, I always wanted something half up. And I'm sure my stylist would have done a great job off of just me telling her what I wanted, but I'm so glad I found these pics of a Carrie Underwood-esque style to take with me!

Next up - bridal party hair. I decided I wanted my bridal party to have the same hairstyle, hair length permitting. They're all wearing the same dress, but different shoes and probably different accessories, so I thought it would pull it together more if the hair was all the same. I don't care if they come to the stylist with me, have a friend do it, or do it themselves. It's just a low side bun, nothing too fancy. I don't think that's too much to ask, do you? I got a couple comments that that seems "bridezilla"-y of me. I don't think it is at all. I didn't demand it, I just said that's what I'd like. I don't see how that would really make me a bridezilla. Brides have demanded much more of their bridal party. I like to think I'm being pretty easy going by A- picking a hairstyle that's easy to do yourself or have a friend do if you want B- not forcing people to go to a stylist and spend money if they don't want to and C- if anyone's hair is too short, I've already said we'll figure something out, not a big deal. Anyway, here are a couple pics of what I'm thinking:

haircuthairstyles.com - Scarlett Johansson

shoppinglifestyle.com - Becki Newton

Google Images - Michelle Williams

Bridesmaid Lela already has a jump on this... she did it as her wedding hairstyle! (Yes that awful looking person I tried to cut out on the left is me. TERRIBLE picture of me!)

Anyway, also in Martha's summer issue was a tutorial on how to do a low side chignon. In my eyes, same thing. So bridal party - check it out!

Martha Stewart Weddings
Ok how creepy is this? She looks like she's going to stab somebody.

Also got an email from Daily Candy the other day with a how-to video on the look! Perfect timing Daily Candy! Check it out here http://www.dailycandy.com/all-cities/video/84231/How-to-Create-the-Perfect-Messy-Side-Bun?refcd=email:457432:10.

What do you think of the hairstyles?

-C
xxx

Bridal Buffness

Maybe not "buff" so much as "slightly more toned", but I like kitschy titles. I get sad when I can't think of one...

So update on my bridal buffness - I went to the gym, wait for it... wait for it... 4 times last month! WOW! Look at me! Ok I know it sounds pathetic but 1 - I did my workout videos way more, so just not going to the gym doesn't mean I didn't work out and 2 - my new realization is that I don't hate gymS, I just hate gym equipment. And, unfortunately, the gym in my building is mini so all there IS is gym equipment. Not to mention I really do think people watch you there, and I don't like that! FH says "No one's watching you, that's all in your head!" But my response is that I watch people! So why would it be so far-fetched to think they watch me?! I am what you would call a "people watcher", though. Like, everywhere I go, not just the gym.

Last weekend when I visited MOH Ryann in Kansas/KCMO (it's all like the same area), she forced me into taking a turbo kickboxing class with her at the gym. Ok fine, I went semi willingly. And then I almost died. That class was HARD. BUT - if my gym were able to have classes like that? I'd probably take them. I also realized that her gym is huuuge, and that if I went there, I wouldn't feel like people were watching me as much because it's so big. I'd feel much more comfortable in a big gym. Plus there was a pool. I'd totally swim as my workout if I had a pool handy. That's what I did back in high school! I just swam all day, all summer long (I was a lifeguard), and ate constantly, probably because I burned it all off so quickly. But, alas, I do not belong to a big gym, nor would I join one where I am due to the whole "I don't drive my car ever" thing.

My big revelation has been that for me, it's unrealistic to think that I'm going to actually go to the gym regularly. Why do that when I actually despise going? I talk myself out of going a lot because I'd much rather go home and do a cardio/pilates/yoga workout there. So why shouldn't I? I'm still working out, and actually enjoying it! And nobody can watch me except my guinea pigs :) Alright so my new plan is to start going to bed earlier (like before 11:30), and getting up just a mere 20 minutes earlier every day to do a quick workout. I will go to the gym once a week and run/bike/elyptical. Yup, just once. And I will do home workouts after work a couple times a week, too. I love that Comcast On Demand offers free Exercise TV workouts. There are so many to choose from, and you can also choose from 10-30 minute workouts if you want. So I will do one of their AM workouts before work, and another workout in the evenings. My goal is to do the AM workouts every weekday morning, but I'm going to start out with trying to just do a couple a week so I can get into a routine. I am a night person, so this is going to be pretty hard for me to change!

I know it doesn't seem like much, but I don't necessarily need to lose weight, I just want to be in the best shape my body can be in. I know I'm small, but in my mind, I want to look better, and I don't see anything wrong with wanting to better yourself unless you want unrealistic things.

Basically, I'm just putting this in writing so I have to do it.

-C

xxx

Everyone Has a Secret...

Psst

I've got a secret.

I'm going to share it with you all because I love you. Don't say I never gave you nothin'.

I call it... my secret weapon. My miracle worker. My must have product on event days. My must have product on some non event days. But what it's actually called is Dr. Scholl's For Her Miracle Shield - Anti-Friction Stick. I recommend this to brides for sure, but also anyone who is on their feet a lot or just anyone who ever experiences "shoe rubbing". I guess I can't speak for everyone, but my feet hurt like every day of my life. Yeah, sure, I admit it - it's the shoes I wear. But hey, my shoes are damn cute (and totally worth it).


My boss thinks I'm insane to wear heels everyday. I'm not wearing like stilettos or shoes that hurt the second you put them on, but I do wear heels I'd say about 95% of the time (at work). I'm short! I have to! Plus they're cute. Ask me how many pairs of shoes I have under my desk! Ha, you don't want to know (15). Ask me how many pairs of shoes I have at home! Ha, I don't even know the answer to that one. Anyway, I am not even kidding, if your shoes EVER rub you the wrong way, you need to go out and get this stuff right now. I got it on a whim from a drug store and now can't imagine what I'd do without it. It's not a cure all, but it really is a miracle worker. Some of these products it's like once you put it on the damage has already been done, so really you have to anticipate having the problem ahead of time and use it before it happens. This thing? When my shoes are rubbing me in a certain spot, and I just KNOW by the end of the day I'm going to have a blister (sometimes I already do), or, shoot, maybe even a bloody shoe, I just remember I've got this stuff at my desk, rub it on, and done. It's not a pain reliever, but it stops the rubbing. Maybe it's kind of like the stuff they put on boxers cuts above their eyes? So the fist kind of slips off and can't open the cut anymore than it already is? I really don't know the science of it, but trust me, this sh#& works. And, no, I'm not a paid spokesperson, but TOTALLY would be.

-C
xxx

Beauty Update

I know you're all dying to know what I got at the BARKS sale this weekend but... well, I was busy unpacking all my crap from the weekend last night and didn't have time to upload pics! So next post will be all my fabulous finds, promise. In the meantime...

Um so by the way I dropped way too much money at Ulta when I went not this weekend but the weekend before. Thanks MOH Ryann. Thanks a lot. Oh, and by the way thanks for picking up when I called you from the store. I was in panic mode. Yes, this is how makeup handicap I am. Ulta overwhelmed me. I was scared.
Anyway, I didn't even buy what anyone suggested! I ended up having the makeup chick put a couple things on me, admitting to her my own makeup handicaps, and ended up with Urban Decay's Surreal Skin Cream to Powder Foundation. Yeah, I know, I was going for something different, but I was having a hard time going back to full on liquid foundation, and having a hard time committing to just a powder as well. I don't know what it is, powder just makes my face look SO DRY. And hey, guess what! The makeup chick even told me NOT to get Bare Minerals. (What?!) Yeah, you heard me. I know it's all the rage, but she didn't even want to put it on my face. I don't know how, but I'm pretty sure she figured out that I don't like to spend a lot of time on my makeup in the mornings just by a quick glance. Anyhoo - ended up with the Urban Decay foundation (I heart Urban Decay's eye makeup and use it every single day of my life anyway, so was all for their foundation), a foundation brush (who knew such a thing existed?? probably everyone but me...), super shiny lip gloss (HIGHLY recommended by MOH Ryann), and yellow eye shadow. Ok, don't go all "huh??" on me on the last thing. You've surely seen my post on yellow by now, and when I saw the eye shadow I just couldn't help myself because I knew it would go super with my yellow outfits. I have this thing where I like to change my makeup to constantly, and almost exactly, match my outfits. I swear you can't really tell, but I do it. Purple eyeliner + purple shirts, dark blue eyeliner + navy mascara + navy shirts, green shadow + green shirts... trust me, I'm not a freak, nor do I look like one (at least not as far as makeup is concerned), and, no, you don't have to call "What Not To Wear." I'm good, I promise. I just like to match.

Oh, right, so I should probably tell you that so far I love the foundation! It may take a little longer to put on in the morning, and I need to get into a bit of a different routine instead of just doing my makeup on the train (oh, I'll still do the rest, but I'm talking doing foundation at home, the rest on the train), but I love the final product. AND I'm falling truly, madly, deeply in love with the most recent facial cleanser I bought at LUSH (Coal Face). It's just... so... um. Well, the girl at the store described it as making you feel squeaky clean and that really about sums it up to be honest! See, this is what I wanted! To fall in love with products I couldn't live without. THIS is how you create a regimin my friends. Unfortunately you all already know that, so I'm really just talking to myself.

-C
xxx

PS I bought a Shake Weight this weekend! The first time I used it it took about 3 miniutes before my underarm flabby area was sore! That means it's working to me! It says it's not sold in stores, but I totally bought it at Bed Bath & Beyond (where everything that's "Seen on TV" is sold) with a $5 AND 20% coupon. Go me.

Work It Girl

New goal - working out. For real this time. Now, by no means am I going to be crazily working out at all times or anything, but going from not working out at.all. to a couple times a week and (semi) watching what I eat is a big step for me. I know I complain a lot about going to the gym, and in the past it's been complaint followed by not going to the gym... but now it'll be complaint followed by going to the gym! I'm well aware that I'm nowhere near overweight or anything, but that does not stop me from wanting to look my best on my wedding day. Who wouldn't want that? These pics are immortalized in albums, on walls, camera phones, and, obviously most importantly, on facebook*, and I've seen plenty of bad pictures in my day to know that I want no part in that. So now that I've hit the just over 5 month mark (AHHHHH!!!) , it's time to get crackin' on this (especially since I'm not planning on crazily working out - this could be a slow process my friends).

I have to give credit here to my wonderful FH, even though it's really just his impatience that's made me change from slacker to... well, slightly less slacker-ish at least. I guess he was tired of hearing me complain about the gym, and told me that I don't have to like it, but I have to want to go or I never will. (He also said something about stopping saying how much I hate the gym.) No, this is not verbatim, and he has a better memory than me so will remember the conversation better, but what I got out of it was basically "put up or shut up." It helped! I really do hate the gym, but now I think about the end goal and instead of being lazy after work, I've started going. Ok, ok, it's only week two, and I've only technically gone to the GYM twice, but I've honestly been busy every night after work and have been doing my workout DVDs and ExerciseTV workouts on demand when I can't make the gym! I'm serious this time, and I'm thanking FH for it. I don't think he really meant to, but he knocked some sense into me. I must disclose that I'm not giving up things I love (beer, delicious food, etc.), but will be doing certain things in moderation. I'm trying this *new* concept of not eating past full. So far, I'm not doing too bad. Sure, I'm drinking a beer right now... but I did not eat past full tonight and haven't had a beer (margaritas don't count) since Friday night. Plus I love beer. Plus I worked out triple time the past two days. Plus why do I have to explain why I'm drinking delicious beer?? (Magic Hat's Odd Notion if you're wondering.)

I am also disclosing that this video is TRUE inspiration for me. If I could post it on my fridge/forehead so that it could be a constant reminder of what I'm trying to get rid of, I would. I totally feel like Christina Applegate IS ME in this scene. Or vice versa, whatever. (fast forward to the 25 second mark):


In recap, I'm going to start half-ass working out (at least for now) instead of not working out at all. Be proud of me, please??

-C
xxx

PS I finally did my taxes.

*Just kidding, not most importantly.

Curious and Curiouser

I've been thinking about bridal beauty lately (FH, I don't think you'll enjoy this post). It sounds like a pretty trivial detail to think about when there are caterers and tents and all sorts of other things to deal with, but I personally think it's not trivial at all - at least not for me. I know makeup can do wonders, but I want my skin to look awesome on my big day (and I doubt I'm alone in that). You see, I may not look like I have "troubled" skin, per se, but I've never really felt like I've found the perfect skin regimin for me. I suck at the facial product and makeup game. Seriously. I've tried to pick up tips from friends, coworkers... strangers... for years, but I still don't feel like I know jack (do you know jack*?). How is it that everyone has their own products they love or regimin they can't live without, but I missed the memo? Was there a class I should've taken in high school? A secret society I wasn't a part of? How has everyone else figured it out while I'm left scratching my head and continuously trying new products? I've struggled with it forever, but have especially been thinking about it since being engaged. It also doesn't help that everytime I seem to find a product I love, it gets discontinued! (And that is not just beauty-related! Wendy's Pita Sandwiches, McD's Salad Shakers, my favorite chapstick, the only energy drink I'll drink... the list goes on!) I think I've finally found a foundation I love (CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless), so check that off the list! Eyes I can do, but I've been on the hunt for a good, non messy, not too heavy, goes on easy foundation FOR-EV-ER. Next on the list, facial cleansers and moisturizers. Magazines always tell you what super expensive products you can't live without, and it's so tempting because it's like, "Well if it really works that well maybe I should buy it!" But I personally think there must be plenty of cheaper products out there that work just as well. Maybe this is my problem? I'm not willing to shell out the dough? I'm sorry, but I've been through so many products that just don't satisfy me that I can't justify spending tons of money on something that, yet again, may not be the product for me. The most expensive I'll go is Lush products. I don't know, maybe it's the whole "we use natural products and almost everything we use for packaging can be recycled" thing. They suck me in because I feel like I'm doing something green. I also do like their products, but I still haven't found THE products for me. I went in yesterday and got a new cleanser and am crossing my fingers because, well, if this one doesn't work there's only two left that I haven't tried!

(Samantha and her chemical peel...)

Next up, "procedures". I've read many a bridal mag that says to get facials and peels and this and that leading up to your big day. Most of these things scare me (maybe it's the SATC episode where Samantha gets the chemical peel...), but I've been contemplating a facial recently, as that seems the least scary. I asked my waxer about it the other day and she pretty much talked me into it (it didn't take much). She said facials are good and told me I should get one like next month, July, and a couple weeks before the wedding if I wanted to do a skin overhaul. I trust her, she'd tell me if I didn't need one. She's told me before about services I don't need so I don't think she'd steer me wrong this time!

So what's the point of this post? Um... well, A - I need to get back into posting regularly so I don't lose my readers! B - I actually would like to hear how you found your perfect skin care regimin and products and C - If you have any suggestions for me, I'm all ears :)

Ah, the things we do for beauty... men will never understand!

-C
xxx

*Nod to MOH Cassie and my favorite game in high school!