My Rack

Anybody in the market for a garment rack? No? Just me? Oh well, I feel the need to scream from the rooftops now that I found a good one. Or at least type it on my blog. As you probably know, I moved recently. As you also may know, my FH lives in London. So, that means I'm setting up our entire house. I'm pretty sure he's MORE than ok with that. Anyway, it's a 3 bedroom place, and I told him he could have the closet in what will be our bedroom, if I get the entire room next door. :) So basically I'm turning it into one big walk-in closet. I call it my "getting ready room" but totally need something catchier. Any ideas? Anyway, the getting ready room does not have a closet, so I've been going through some trial and error with garment racks.

Take one was one of the metal adjustable ones from Bed Bath. Just a basic one, but looked sturdy enough (to me). When we put all my clothes on it (Bridesmaid Amanda helped me put it together), it leaned, BIG TIME. Like at an unnatural angle. So I went out and bought another (take two), bigger one that cost a bit more. Bonnie helped me put that one together. Seemed all well and good, until I went upstairs and found it in a HEAP (and broken, to boot). I set the other metal one back up (take three) and put a LOT less clothing on it. Still leaned. I tied it to the wall, but decided I'd go check out Ikea anyway. I was planning on biting the bullet and buying one of those big wardrobe things that I knew I'd never be able to move again. I found a metal garment rack instead, and I hope I'm not speaking too soon here (fingers crossed!!), but it looks as though take four was a success!! I can even go in and grab the bar and push it a little and it doesn't seem to be loose or swaying or ready to collapse or anything!! So, Ikea, in the past I haven't been your biggest fan, because I like my furniture old and sturdy (I get most from thrift stores, and that's the way I like it. They don't make things like they used to!), but I give you credit on this. Your Portis rack is my savior.

Ikea Portis Rack

In case you're wondering, it's made of steel and has a very "wrought iron" look to it, which I love! Looks like I don't have to find places to fold some of my clothes after all - they may just all fit! This thing is STURDY. I also bought the matching "hat rack" to hang on the wall and put purses or something on.

Ah organization. Ah being able to find my clothes again!!

-C
xxx

Goldfinger

I have a new obsession - "hammered gold" spray paint by Rust-Oleum. I bought it to paint my table name frames with. Then I sprayed a couple other wedding things with it. The other day I decided when I move I'm going to paint my headboard with it, too (my bedroom is green, brown and gold). I... can't... stop. Everything is going to hammered gold soon.


I took my coffee table outside to repaint it last night. I'm moving on Saturday and decided I needed to paint it before I move because once I get there my backyard is down a flight of stairs, whereas in the house I'm in now I can just roll it out the back door and paint it. Anyway, I took it out back just to touch up the scratches because I still had the brown "leather texture" paint I painted it with like 3 years ago (um, are you supposed to keep spray point that long?? oops.), but I had to touch up one of my frames with the gold first. When I turned to the coffee table I was like "what if..." and next thing I know, my table is gold.

Aaaand I love it. Oh, and yes it is laying sideways. Use your imagination (or just block out everything in the background). Due to the move, I'm lacking space. Plus I had to move it inside pretty quick because it started raining. Figures. It rains every time I spray paint. Looks like she'll be getting another coat tomorrow!


Oh right, so goldfinger? Seriously, every time I spray paint my "trigger finger" turns gold. I even wear latex gloves when painting and somehow the paint still gets in. *sigh* Oh well!

-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.

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!