Gossip Girl: Seder Anything

This episode began with a Ralph Lauren attired dream sequence inspired by My Fair Lady.

Seriously, if anyone under the age of 15 who watches this show isn't getting an education on the complete works of Audrey Hepurn, well, they are not paying attention and should just concentrate on school or some other useless skill.

At least Man-Bangs up there slicked them back in her dream. Dig the ascot, bro.

In a far less anachronistic setting, Blair gets ready for school in a silk D&G blouse. WANT.

I'd also like to think of this episode as the clash between WASP culture and Jewish culture in NY society, but I don't really think there is that kind of subtext here.

So, I prefer to think about Blair's D&G printed halter dress.

Mmm, yes. That's much better. Thinking makes my head hurt. Probably just like Serena's.

Until the next recap....stay classy and keep your bangs out of your eyes.

Gossip Girl: Remains of the J

(desperately trying to catch up on my Gossip Girl posts)

This episode revolved around Jenny. Which means that it was TERRIBLY boring and frought with bizarre class controversies and social hierarchy.

Well, there will be no mention of Jenny's bang-mullet or whore eyes here.

But! They covered Serena's boobs!

With this gold Phillip Lim Racerback tank. Wow. She actually looks mildly age appropriate.

But, once again, Blair's outfits take the cake. First, in this Milly back bow shift (currently unavailable on the interwebs except ebay.)

Then in this DVF Little Ann dress in blue (altered for straplessness) and a gorge necklace of unknown origin.

Later, for a bizarre scene which melds the worst of Catcher in the Rye, Sleepless in Seattle, and Romeo and Juliet, Blair berets it up with a fab pair of Sperry Top-Sider Pelican Wedge Sadie Rubber Boots.

I dare you to say that ten times fast.

Then, in a display of shockingly poor judgement befitting a teenager, she gets back together with Nate.

Right, let's move on, shall we?

Hot N' Kohl

Don't you love my terrible cliche post titles? I'm like the cheesiest person ever.

Here's the thing.

I really wanted to like the L'Oreal HIP Kohl Eyeliner. Like, for realz, I wanted to like it.

The shadow itself was a great intense navy blue with shimmer and I was having all kinds of fantasies about my smoky eyes and whatnot. The applicator was interesting, basically a conical stick to which the loose powder sticks and then you apply it to your eyelids.

Well.

Let's just say it was a big FAIL.

Normally, when I go out with my husband, I'm given maybe ten minutes to apply makeup and if I start futzing around with a new product, let's just say the questions never end.

Men seem generally confused by makeup. Why is that? Every woman uses it. There are ads everywhere. Yet they still seem baffled by the fact that you have to put it on every day and take it off every night.

Anyways, I was going out with a girlfriend and decided it was the perfect time to try this out.

Let's just say it's a good thing I started early, because I got so much blue eyeshadow on my face it looked like I went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.

I actually had to wash my face and try again.

Eventually, I managed to get a nice smoky eye, but it involved many Q-tips, eye makeup remover, and a reapplication of blush. And I'm still not sure people didn't think I was secretly involved in a fight club.

So, bottom line?

Not worth the hassle. Although, being a suspected fight clubber is pretty badass.

Unless there is a secret to kohl liner that I was never taught in my school of beauty hard knocks.

Plus, don't even get me started on how confused my husband was when he saw blue sparkly powder all over the bathroom sink.

You Be the Fudge: Battle of the Brownies

You know that time in the afternoon when your stomach feels particularly empty?

The grumblies take over and you begin to wander over to whatever interest group is having a reception in Rayburn (sure, my boss is interested in the National Association for Pencil Pushers who wear Green on Tuesdays!) and graze on the non-outside caterer crudites to stave off certain doom.

Then you see it.

A brownie.

It looks awesome, but once you grab it you realize that it is a chocolate looking triangle of not-worth-it.

Disgusted that you wasted the calories on that crumbly mess, you drown your sorrows in four glasses of white wine and wind up at home sitting on your couch eating toast with mustard for dinner.

DON'T LET THE VICIOUS CYCLE CONTINUE.

(this had never happened to me. i swear.)

Bliss Spa, which realizes that you should waste your time on a brownie not worth the calories, is inviting DC to vote for the brownie supplier who gets the Royal Warrant.

The brownie squad will be stationed around town giving out samples! Voting is open now (I'm partial to Baked and Wired) and will continue until June 30th.

Vote early and often! Don't let anyone at a spa ingest a brownie of regret and shame.

For All the Dudes in the House

The following is a totally true story.

I arrived home one day to find one of those UPS "we tried to deliver a package, but you weren't home in the middle of the day because you have been working like crazy and don't live in a nice doorman building like your mom and dad wanted you to, so we'll just leave this message instead of the package so your crazy neighbors don't wank your stuff.  Sorry for the inconvenience, but yeah.  That happened."

Having not ordered anything, I asked my husband.  And he confirmed that he had been waiting for a package.  Assuming it was a new set of Family Guy DVDs or an Ovechkin jersey, I asked what it was.

"Ummm, just stuff.  Face wash.  You know, from Sephora."

At which point I almost hit the floor.

Yes, my darling manly non-aesthete husband spent one evening in my absence perusing and placing an order for men's cosmetics stuff on sephora.com.

But hey, who am I to judge?

So, the loot?  Zirh Wash Mild Face Wash.  And with Father's Day right around the corner, I offer it up as a suggestion for a gift!  Because, if my husband takes time out of his busy Stanley Cup Finals/NBA Finals/regular baseball schedule to wade through the eyeshadow filled website of Sephora, it must be good.

Also, here are some other Zirh products which he might like!

Show Face

Cleansing your skin is one of the first steps in any skincare regimen and ZIRH makes the experience a refreshing one with Clean, an alpha hydroxy face wash that cleanses skin without stripping it of necessary oils. For a deeper clean, Scrub is a gentle, aloe based exfoliator that works to remove surface dead skin cells to reveal newer, younger looking skin. Lastly, Refresh is an invigorating astringent that not only tones and cools skin but helps to reduce excess sebum.


Protect Skin With SPF

Protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays is necessary for protecting a healthy complexion. ZIRH facial moisturizer Defend is light for everyday use and suitable for sensitive skin types. Defend contains an SPF 15 while also helping to maintain skin’s natural elasticity. For the ultimate lip protection with SPF 15, ZIRH Lip Balm is made with beeswax and natural oils to maintain a hydrated pout. Available in four flavors: Vanilla, Black Cherry, Peppermint and Unscented.

The Ultimate Shower Gear

Summer days require the need for a revitalizing shower and ZIRH has the perfect gear. ZIRH Warrior Shower Gel Collection features five gels based on ancient warriors – each offering a sexy, yet masculine scent. Try Julius Caesar – this blends citrus notes with sweet almond fruit extract.



The ZIRH Cocktail Bar Collection can make any shower a happy hour. A classic body bar with a fun twist! Each bar is formulated after a signature cocktail – whether he fancies a Long Island Iced Tea or a Sake Bomb, his skin will feel detoxified and nourished. The light scents and vibrant colors make the perfect summer body pairing.

Insert Obvious Bliss Joke Here

Hello.

I'm Capitol Hill Barbie.  And I'm a bad blogger.

Yeah, but seriously?  Healthcare reform.  Oh, she is a cruel cruel bitch.

And very bad for the health of all the lobbyists in DC.

There are other reasons for my recent hiatus, a vacation, a massive project at work, generally just feeling yuck and not in the mood to write about beauty.

So, consider this my peace offering...

BLISS SPA IS OPENING!!!!!

That's right chicas!  Almost three thousand feet of pure relaxation pampering awesomeness!

This summer!!!

And there will be brownies!  

(A total overuse of exclamation marks!!!)

Are you doing the Charlie Brown happy dance yet?  I am.

Check out Bliss World for a preview of the services and budget accordingly.  There is something about a 75 minute massage that sounds like it will be perfect after the week of July 27th.

more to come, I promise!!