Singin' the Blues

Wow, there were so many cheesy and cliche titles I could have come up with for this post.

As previously mentioned about a gajillion times on my blog, I'm kind of a sucker for the Next Hot Thing.

My name is Capitol Hill Barbie, and I'm a trend whore.

All together now, "Hi Barbie."

Sometimes this pans out, other times, not so much. So when I recently hightailed it to Sephora to try out the latest rage, blue mascara, I was anticipating a minor disaster. More George Bush referring to the web as the "internets," less Britney exiting a car on a Saturday night.

I was surprised with the result that it looked kind of cool. I sampled Benefit BadGal Blue, which is apparently EXCLUSIVE to Sephora. I noticed that it made my eyes a little brighter and whiter. I layered it over the existing mascara, so the look was subtle, meaning that my fiance looked at me like I was an escapee from St. Elizabeth's when I asked him how it looks.

Whatever! He was wearing sandals with socks when I met him!

So I was pleasantly pleased with the results. However, I had a little sticker shock when I checked the price tag. So I scoured Sephora for some other options, and found that their house brand (which I've been hot and bothered about lately. seriously, it's like Wet n' Wild for the yippie set.) makes a few options like the Triple Action Mascara and the Mascara Fantastic Color for a much more reasonable cost.

While I liked the effects of the blue mascara, I considered carefully that it doesn't really fit into my (working in a ridonculously untrendy environment) lifestyle, and I passed it up. And then I think I bought my 30th pink lipgloss.

Hi, my name is Capitol Hill Barbie and I'm a lip gloss-a-holic.

Once more, and with feeling..."Hi, Barbie."

photo courtesy of sephora.com

Invasion of the Swedes!

I think I could really do pretty well in Sweden.



I'm blond, I'm pale, I have 85 Allen wrenches from Ikea, and I love Marimekko.

Love it.

So, when I was invited to the opening of the new Marimekko store in Silver Spring, I was so excited. Then I realized that I would be an indentured servant to my boss until the end of days.



But as luck would have it, fortune smiled upon me and I was able to go to the opening!



Let's just say I was a little embarrassed the next day as to amount of champagne consumed. Embarrased and reeling from a pounding headache.



However, I did get some insight before I went loopy.



Marimekko is an adorable label, which was trendy in the seventies, yet remains totally relevant today. The patterns are bright, sweet, and fresh. It could punch up the most boring Pottery Barn apartment. I actually have a wall hanging in the pattern on this handbag which certainly livens up my sandstone living space.




The store is bright and airy, and the best part is actually the baby clothes and the housewares. Seriously, if any of my friends move or pop out a kid, they are getting a present from here.



The stores are rapidly expanding, so there might be one coming to a corner near you. If not, check out the goods at Marimekko.com and then when one does open, you can tell everyone you already knew about it.



P.S. With the opening of Marimekko and the existing American Apparel (LOVE love LoVe American Apparel t-shirts), Silver Spring has become a hot destination. There's even a Cakelove. Actually... that's how you know it's over, huh?

UPDATE: Okkkaaayyy...I'm a moron. Officially. Marimekko hails from FINLAND, not Sweden. But that's ok! I like Finland a lot too! Mmmm, vodka. I apologize for my stupidity.

They tell me I write a blog?

Ok. I have not fallen off the face of the Earth (although during my prep session yesterday I wish I could have) but I have extraordinarily lax about keeping up my blog.

But the forecast is looking sunny, and I hope to fill you in on the few bright spots in my life lately...makeup and store openings!!

Coming up, on Capitol Hill Barbie:

• New stores! Coming to the US! Coming to DC! Cool stuff! How! Many! Exclamation! Points! Can! I! Use!?
• A review of some of the oldie but goodies that have gotten me through the tough times when I lived far from a Sephora or was chained to a 1000 page bill (yes, Farm Bill. I'm looking at you.)
• Some products that will help you pretend that you've seen the sun in the past three months.
• A primer for newbies to the DC life, politics, and all the fashion conundrums that accompany life on the Hill, in government, or anywhere bureaucracy, short sleeved suits, power and copious amounts of alcohol collide.

Smooth Sailing

Holy Hearing Hell.

That's basically all I have to say about what's been going on with my life. Well, that and scotch.

My schedule has actually gotten so bad that I have to get up at the ass-crack of dawn to get to the gym. Otherwise, my daily exercise will consist soley of running from office building to Starbucks at Federal Center SW to office building to Starbucks on Pennsylvania Avenue to office building. While that may sound like it burns a lot of calories, I more than make up for it in sugary milky caffeine tainted goodness.

So my daily routine now consists of waking up from dreams where I am forced to enter a hearing and tell the Chairman that I am going to take over the gavel and put the government on strike, getting to the gym and sleep-ellipticizing through a workout, showering and finally dashing out the door to get to work on time.

You'll notice that this leaves exactly zero time for hair styling. However, since the weather finally decided to act its season, I can face the elements without worry that I will end up with icicles for locks. But it certainly doesn't mean that my hair won't be frizzy, fluffy and all kinds of whacked out wavy.

Biolage smootherapie Smoothing Gel to the rescue! A tiny dab of this worked into the ends of my hair before I bolt from my apartment and by the time I get there I have smooth, shiny waves. No blow drying, no irons, no nothing. Which looks much better on C-SPAN in my dreams when I burst into a hearing room screaming "Stop the madness!!"

Whiteout

The white shirt is a classic piece in any woman's wardrobe. Button-ups (or downs, depending on where you grew up) are also a staple in a starched town like DC. But so many of them leave you wanting for something a little more out there, a little unique, and a little special.

One of my most favorite places for a shirt with a little zip is Anne Fontaine. I'm also a little mad for anything French. While the woman behind the label is actually Brazilian, the style is classic French. The entire store is nothing but black and white shirts in the coolest, chicest styles imagineable.

The problem is that most of them are way beyond my staffer's budget. Even when they are on sale. Let's face it, even if I sold my soul to the Devil, they would still be out of my price range.

But I love the idea of a crisp white shirt with a little bit of a twist. Which is why I was super excited when I heard that Gap was partnering with three up-and-coming designers to do limited edition white shirts.

Seriously, I ditched work 15 minutes early yesterday to hightail it to a Gap.

Each designer; Doo.Ri, Thakoon, and Rodarte; took a basic white shirt and put three different spins on it. This sounds so much like a Project Runway challenge. The results are awesome, and quite affordable.

I tried on all of them, and, while the Thakoon ones look great on the models and the hangers, they looked ridiculous on me. The puffed sleeves were just too silly, but I could see them looking better on someone taller and more broad shouldered. The Doo.Ri shirts were very cute, much more angular, but the real winners for me were the Rodarte shirts.

I've been a fan of Rodarte for a few seasons, especially their work with big fabric rosettes. I snagged all three of their shirts, a little sleeveless trapeze top with a pleated mock turtle, a dress in a similar shape with pockets in the front, and the tank top adorned with what look like farfalle pasta bows.

All in all, I really think it's nice for Gap to jump on the designer bandwagon and put out something more interesting than a ribbed tank top, but given their history with fashion-fowardness (cough...SJP and Lenny Kravitz...ahem...no one wears their Gap jeans with Louboutins...cough) it might not fly.

So, until I actually sell my soul (know any lobbying groups hiring?) and can afford Anne Fontaine, I certainly plan on wearing my shirts...just as soon as the sun decides to ever shine again...

Also, next up from the Target Go International line...Paco Rabanne designer Patrick Robinson. I loved his revival at Perry Ellis and am eager to see what he turns out for Target.

P.S. Mom, despite the way the shirts look, I SWEAR they are not maternity clothes.

10 Things I Hate

People who listen to their voicemail on speakerphone;

Men who have shoes that make more noise than mine when they walk;

That I can never seem to really clean my coffeemaker;

That the perfect pair of shoes on sale for next to nothing is always a full size too small;

People who can not figure out how to use their SmartCard properly;

Anyone who says "knock, knock" outside my office instead of actually just knocking;

Girls who think it's cute to wear dresses that barely covers their asses, get sloppy drunk, and dance around slamming into people, saying crude things and touching other people's boyfriends (yes, table full of drunk girls at Blue Gin last weekend, I mean you);

That the shadows in the NARS duos are not available individually;

People who ask and answer their own questions as a form of conversation;

That the storm of the century totally derailed my plans to spend a leisurely afternoon in the Barney's beauty department this weekend.

Jumbo Jet Liners

Eyeliners are awesome.

Okay, fine, I say this about just about every beauty product, but I really mean it this time!

Seriously though, they can define your eyes, enhance your lashes, wake up a look, and what other product, when applied with the hand of a third-grader with the shakes can be smudged and then called a look?

I'm not even going to try to say that I'm good at putting on eyeliner. But I've got Q-tips, and, contrary to what Paul McCartney says, that is all you need.

Lately I've been intrigued by brightly colored eyeliners. Since my "going out makeup" has recently look a whole lot like my "work makeup" and my "waking up having forgotten to take off my makeup because I was working on a briefing book last night makeup" I decided it was time to branch out.

While I wandered, weak and weary, through Sephora, nothing was really grabbing my eye and was about to give up and check out the Sephora brand nail polishes, when I noticed their Jumbo Eyeliner pencils. They come in a multitude of hot metallic shades and cost a jaw dropping five dollars.

No, really, I think my jaw dropped, which was unfortunate because I think I was inhaling a latte at the time. Those little cotton pads are not quite as good as Bounty for mopping up spills, let me tell you.

I picked up an emerald green and a dark violet pencil, both of which I have worn out on the town to great effect. Well...at least I felt more dressed up than when I go to work.

They aren't the softest of pencils, so I might recommending warming the tip with a hair dryer (ON LOW!!) for a second or rolling between your fingers to aid in application. But for trying out a color that you are not so sure of, this is the way to go.

Next up...I might try a blue mascara. I know! I know! I'm such a trend whore. I'm like the sucker kid in an afterschool special on peer pressure where Rachel Zoe is playing the pusher.

Also, a killer idea, DuWop has a pencil sharpener with an antibacterial blade! Yes! Cooties begone! No pink-eye for this girl.

photos courtesy of sephora.com

Ask CapHillBarbie: Cutting the Losses

That's right! After an absurdly long hiatus, here another edition of "Ask CapHillBarbie!" But this time I need all the locals in the house to pipe up to help out Delia who writes:

Being a Washingtonian for most of my life, I've borne witness to the trials and tribulations of the hairstyles of politicians, their wives, and other transplants while laughing to myself. The joke was thus: I already had a stylist. A stylist to end all other stylists. Colorist to color all others jealous. Then, three years ago, the joke was on me and he packed up and moved to Arizona under cover of night, and I have been lost ever since. Do you have any recommendations, or could you poll your beauty colleagues of DC to help me find one?

I totally understand the pain of losing a stylist. I used to trek up to NY for the most fabulous hair cuts until my stylist decided to pack it in and move to Iowa. Seriously? Iowa? What is going on here? Is there something in the corn there that makes people want to leave a place like New York? Can't we have it shipped? I mean, my strawberries probably come from Mars, what is so great about Iowa?

Wow, I was seriously bitter about that.

However, through lots of deep breathing, soul searching and alcohol, I have finally come to peace with it. I have fallen in love with my current stylist, Paul at Serenity Day Spa in Tenleytown. He gives a great cut, fantastic color and he's an awesome gossip. I have referred many a friend to him and no one has come away disappointed.

But I believe that there are many other talented stylists who have loyal clientele out there, so speak up! Help out a sister in need and let us know if you have a hair stylist who you can bear to part with, for even one open appointment...

question was heavily edited as I am a little punchy this early in the morning. And yes, I mean 10:30 a.m.

Cake Walk

I've honestly never really been a fan of cake. Love icing, just not the stuff underneath it.

I was always the weird kid at birthday parties who begged for the slice with the frosting rose, then ate all the icing and left soggy cake wedges behind and ran off in a sugar induced frenzy. While I'm a decent cook (with a kicking manicure, thanks Giada!) I've never been a good baker. And I really only got into the cupcake craze for the cute accessories and the high icing to cake ratio.

So I was totally psyched when I got a moisturizer that sounded like it was made from icing! Buttercream, from DuWop promised to be dessert for my body. Yum. Who isn't into that?

But when I smelled it I noticed it didn't quite smell like icing. It actually smells exactly like cake batter. Coffee cake batter, to be exact. Which is good, because my one big exception to the cake-hating rule is for a really good coffee cake.

The lotion goes on smoothly and sinks in really fast. While the smells lingers, it's not over powering, and given the cold snap, I only notice the smell occasionally and I don't have hungry co-workers following me around waiting to pounce.

Little known fact: government workers are vultures when it comes to cake, especially free cake. It turns into Shaun of the Dead around here when it's someone's birthday. Actually, that's probably pretty widely known.

So I'm soft and pretty, smell nice, and am safely protected from cake-eating zombies. The only problem is that I sometimes get a hankering for a slice of cake...

photo courtesy of duwop.com

Stop It! I'm Blushing!

I've never been one of those people who ever thought I would wear blush. I would turn fuschia when I got called on in law school classes, I have been asked by numerous spin teachers if I have a medical condition since I turn purple after 10 minutes on a bike, and I get sunburned by the light of the moon.

Well, let's just say that none of those looks are particularly attractive. So, in lieu of Mother Nature, I rely on that other goddess of the Earth, Sephora.

I have always stuck to powder blushes, namely NARS in Sin and Orgasm.

But lately, I have been drawn to alternative forms of blushing. I haven't discarded my beloved powders yet, but I'm certainly becoming a fan of something fast and dirty that I can apply with my fingers. Is that weird?

First up, I broke down after my Peter Som lip induced craze and bought the Lancome Magique Blushes in Pink Softness and Feminine Rose. The former is a hot pink, more suitable to going out on the town and deserves to be the center of attention on your face, but the latter is a pale pink with gold sparkles which plays well with others. The texture is kind of like chocolate mousse, it melts onto your fingers and can also be applied with a blush brush. However, sometimes it can be hard to control how much you pick up when you dip into the jar, leaving you open to drastic over-blushing.

Second, I had picked up a tube of Delux Beauty's Flush Stick on sale when Sephora was phasing it out. I was worried I would have to tell you that it was no longer available, but it seems to be all good on their own website. Which is nice, because it's one of my favorites. I wear Fuschia, which isn't nearly as bright as it sounds. It goes on sheerly and gives me a nice natural flush. Not like I sprinted to catch a Metro or anything, more like a brisk walk in the tunnels between House Office Buildings.

Third, the most recent option to enter my life is the DuWop Blush Therapy. It smells like aromatherapy and looks like a Push Pop. What's not to love? It comes in some great pretty shades and goes on lightly and blends easily. I've been using Elixir, which is an almost bricky red, which gives me a sunkissed look, but I've got my eye on Retreat, a soft berry color.

So...I hope I've inspired you to look beyond the compact and get all alterna on your blush's ass. I just wouldn't suggest walking around with your skirt tucked into your tights to acheive that oh-so-cute-aren't-I-embarrassed natural glow.

photos courtesy of lancome-usa.com, duwop.com, sephora.com and deluxbeauty.com

Happy Birthday to Me!!

HAPPY BLOG BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Yup, that's right. One year ago today, my little baby blog was born.

Honestly, I'm kind of astounded that I have lasted this long, what with my gnat-like attention span, minor idiocy and ridonculous working schedule. Also, I'm still flabbergasted that anyone actually wants to read anything I write. But I have loved writing every post (by the way, this is also post number 150) and loved being able to try so many beauty products and learn so much from all of you.

Ok, I'm done being sappy...I think as a birthday present to myself, I might go pick up a new mascara, maybe even pre-order Tim Gunn's new book (seriously, I'm buying whatever he is selling) and kick back tonight with my mini bottle of Cava and celebrate.

Love you all!

photo courtesy of confetticakes.com

It's a Lash-Off!

About a week ago, while perusing my local CVS, I noticed a fire sale on mascaras. I instantly snagged a tube of the Cover Girl Volume Exact as I thoroughly enjoyed the tube of the Lash Exact that I reviewed last year, and the endless takes of the Top Model girls flubbing their lines.



But the more time I spent in the cosmetic aisle, the more I wanted a competitor. The new plastic porcupine applicators are all the rage, and I wanted to see if they were all the same. After checking out the Maybelline version (and seeing that it wasn't on sale) I picked up L'Oreal's Telescopic. Perhaps I was just intrigued by Penelope Cruz's accent.




And the Cosmetics Deathmatch was born.



First up, the Volume Exact. And let's just say I was unimpressed. Clumps, clumps, some smearing on my eyelid, and barely noticeable lashes. That sums up the experience. I threw it back in the makeup bag.



Next, the Telescopic. Better darkening, but again with the clumping! I ended up having like three big lashes. I looked like a knock-off anime character. But, it seemed better than the Volume Exact, so I kept using it.



A day or so later, my annoyance with the Telescopic reached a fever pitch. Much like my annoyance with Penelope Cruz's dismal acting in American movies. The mascara is so wet. Although I heard once that wetness is the essence of beauty. And clump-inducing. And difficult to wash off.



I reached again for the Volume Exact. This time, I was careful when applying so as not to smear and ended up with decent lashes. Not that voluminous, but I could actually tell that I had more than four lashes between my two eyes. As I continued to use the Volume Exact, I found that my lashes looked natural and pretty, but lacked something at night.



With that in mind, I tried out the Telescopic again. For the last time. I just don't like it. This time, my lashes were actually spiky, instead of soft and flexible.



And we have a winner! Kind-of.




I can't really recommend either, so I would advise everyone to keep moving, and pick a more traditional time-tested variety, like L'Oreal's Voluminous or Cover Girl's Lash Exact (for some reason better than the Volume Exact. Go figure.)


I'm still searching for a new mascara to love, so if you know of a good candidate, let me know! Also, has anyone tried the Maybelline version?

photos courtesy of walgreens.com and covergirl.com

Spring Has Not Yet Sprung: So Buy Cashmere!

While the weather enjoys its little schizoid episode down here, I find myself dreaming of spring days where the air is balmy, I actually feel like wearing shoes with soles as opposed to sneakers, and people suggest going out for drinks on a Tuesday just because.

Of course, even during these mythical spring days...I will need to stay fashionably warm, which is where Uniqlo comes in!

Uniqlo is a Japanese import which has alternately been called the H+M or the Gap of Japan. This past winter, they assaulted New York with a variety of pop up stores and massive flagship on Broadway in SoHo. They are known mostly for the candy store-esque variety of high quality cashmere and wool sweaters at totally reasonable prices. Seriously, walking into this store is amazing...just colorful sweaters stacked as far as the eye can see. I could hear the Oompa Loompas singing in the background (actually it was probably just Japanified emo).

I picked up an eggplant cashmere turtleneck and and pink merino sweater over New Years in New York and barely broke $100. I was also dying to pick up a pair of skinny jeans that I had tried on previously but hadn't been brave enough to buy at the time, but they were gone! Hell hath no fury like skinny jeans scorned, I guess.

Oh well, this spring Uniqlo is making like every other cheap and chic line (et tu, Target and H+M) and collaborating with a few well known designers for capsule collections.

First up is the line from cashmere designers Lutz & Patmos who are known for luxurious million ply sweaters emblazoned with skulls and pot leaves on them. The sweaters for Uniqlo appear DEA cleared, chunkier knits in mostly soft neutral colors with architechtual silhouettes. Yuh-mee. Check out more info about the sweaters at The Shophound and Elle.com for more photos.

The store is also carrying designs from two lesser known designers (at least on non-rising sun shores) Kino and HALB. From the picture I've seen of the Kino stuff (HALB is menswear), they look feminine, delicate and cool. Color me interested.

I'm headed up to the city this weekend and plan on doing more than a little damage at Uniqlo, but what I'm most excited about is the next wave of capsule collections, expected to hit shelves in mid-April. One of my absolute favorite designers, Philip Lim is helming one collection, while Alice Roi fronts the other. Check out more with pictures and drop dates for more collections at nitro:licious, who seems to have all the scoop.

In the meantime, I'm off to learn Japanese and try to send Uniqlo nasty messages about bringing back some shipments of skinny jeans and asking them why New Jersey seems fit for stores, but not our Nation's capital? I mean, Menlo Park? Seriously?

So, I've Got this Bridge...

I simply don't get it.

And by "it" I am referring of course to "smart makeup" or makeup which adapts to your unique skin tone and changes to match it perfectly. All the magazines and Sephora stores have been hyping one product in particular. That's right Smashbox's O-Glow, I'm talking about you.

Now, let me be frank here. I am a HUGE sucker for all things new, cool, in nice packaging, etc. But this really smacks of the Emperor's new clothes.

The Sephora web page touts "the first intuitive blush, this clear gel reacts with your personal skin chemistry to turn cheeks the exact color you blush, naturally in just seconds! O-GLOW works on every skin tone, from the lightest to the darkest, to give everyone a naturally gorgeous glow. "

Uhhhh...okaaay.

It's intuitive. Like a pyschic. Or a mood ring. Or maybe a clear fuschia blush gel???

But you don't have to take my word for it. Check out personal experiences from The Beauty Addict and The Non Blonde.

Also, I'm skeptical of anything with goji berries. I once saw a Law & Order: Criminal Intent where a serial killer ate them for energy. I'm just saying.

Oh, and Almay Smart Shade? This post applies to you too. You are totally on notice.

Don't Make Me Choose!

If I had to play Sophie's Choice with my beauty products, I think I would pick lip gloss.

My list of praises to sing is long: it's cute, it's fun, there are endless choices, and it wipes off easily.

But I could never choose just one lip gloss. NEVER. At my most recent count, I was carrying precisely six lip glosses around with me.

No yelling, Mom!

I actually like to wear different lip glosses during the day and my newest favored gloss (yes, "favored status," like a concubine) is the Balm Shelter from TheBalm. The cute names of the glosses make it easy to adapt each gloss to a personality or mood.

Right now, I'm digging on Girly Girl, a peachy shimmery gloss that feels very spring in light of the actually appearance of the sun and temperatures above Arctic levels. It translates well to a late afternoon briefing where I actually like the people in the room or when I went for my very first caffeine pick me up of the season without a scarf.

My next favorite of the bunch is Daddy's Little Girl, a sheer sparkly berry color. It looks like my mouth, but better. Perfect for those times I like to look polished but not wanting to attract too much attention (re: skeevy member on the loose) or simply want to be authoratative without everyone staring at the my mouth.

The neatest part about the glosses is that they smell exactly like Hubba Bubba bubble gum. It took me the longest time to figure out exactly what that scent was. Also, you can pick up a limited edition set of three glosses at Sephora and keep swapping glosses all day long!

What about you? Any preferences for lip glosses for certain times of day? Any good luck glosses that you wear before an interview, big presentation or date?

photo courtesy of sephora.com

Glory Days

There is something magically and frustratingly chic about Britain. Brits always seem to have a cool streetwise sense of beauty and fashion that simply doesn't transfer over to the US. Maybe it's a lingering sense of inferiority as a former colony, feeling related to a country yet not able to participate fully in their sense of patriotism.

Whatever. I'm a mutt of Eastern European immigrants who came over in 1900. I can't exactly cry "Don't tread on me" with much authenticity.

All the same, there is something about the stuff they have there that just seems better than it is here. Case in point...they totally stole the Bliss lady!!

Marcia Kilgore started Bliss spas in the 1990s and it quickly blossomed into THE spa to visit. Without all the fussy trappings of older spas, it appealed instantly to a younger set and the cheeky (like the witty british slang?) titles of spa treatments and products bolster the hip image.

While Bliss took off, offering a fab catalogue with tons of products and opening spas all over the country, Marcia Kilgore faded into the background of the brand. But recently I read an article about how she was thriving in London and creating a new line of beauty products called Soap & Glory.

Designed to look like tabloid headlines, the names of the products are a riot (i.e. Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss, The Righteous Butter Lotion, and Clean On Me Shower Gel) and it comes in the hottest pink packaging. I got those "new beauty product jitters" for about three seconds until I read that the line would be offered exclusively at Harvey Nichols and Boots stores in the UK and Ireland.

Bollocks.

On my weekly stroll around Georgetown today, I nearly spewed my double tall skim latte all over the Barney's Co-Op. And those salespeople would have been royally pissed about that, major sticks you-know-where on those people. There were those sleek pink tubes! Soap & Glory! In the US of A!

I thought the best thing about the products, besides the hot-ass packaging, was the light scents. I took some big heady whiffs and none of the products made me gag. Sweet. Also, the hand cream was excellent. Perhaps not as intensive as my normal Kiehl's, but it dried completely on contact without any greasiness. Seriously, my next stop was Barnes and Noble and I was able to hold the door open for someone else!

According to the website, Soap & Glory is only being offered in Barney's Co-Op stores here in the States. But check out the merch on the Boots.com website and drool over all the other stuff we can't get over here.

photo courtesy of boots.com.

And yes, I chose a Springsteen title for a reason.

Dedicated Efforts

Recently, I heard that a friend of a friend had taken my advice and bought herself a tin of Smith's Rosebud Salve. I happen to love this product and use it much like Nia Vardalos's family uses Windex in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. However, my friend did not love them smell.



I believe the phase was "granny-smelling."



I understand.



I was at first a bit offput by the smell, but it inured itself to me the more I used it. However, I fully support ditching a product due to smell. Hell, I've ditched jobs for the same reason. Luckily, I have come up with some other options:






First, Smith's makes a Minted Rose Lip Balm. This came out around Christmastime and was prominently displayed at all Sephora checkout counters. Some people raved, but personally, I felt it smelled kind of like your grandmother's purse. You know, her perfume mixed with those old clear mints you find near the hostess station at Italian restaurants that were in there so long that they got crushed up at the bottom? Yeah, like putting your head in there and taking a deep breath.



Not for me.




Second, Smith's also makes a Strawberry Lip Balm. This tin has a different look to it, not quite as old school, but it has its charms. The smell is rather nice, very fruity, and not at all grandmother-y. Actually, I used to have a doll that smelled just like this.




Third, is not a Smith's product at all. My lip balm of choice before the Rosebud Salve was Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. It comes in a handy stick (sometimes the germaphobe in me gets a little grossed out by sticking my fingers in the Salve), has a smooth matte waxy feel, and has the most intense peppermint scent. I used to keep it out for exams and apply whenever I was feeling a little woozy. Perked me right up. I'm actually convinced it help me pass the bar exam.



Well, that, and the constant crying jags, the 4000 practice questions and abject terror as a motivation tool.

Also, as an aside, I want to give a big congrats to the friend in this post and to anyone else who matched today!!

photos courtesy of sephora.com and burtsbees.com

Heebie Jeebies Begone!

I don't know about you, but pedicures can really freak me out sometimes. Once, my mom and I watched a Dateline episode detailing how this mother and daughter contracted some hideous incurable disease in their legs from a dirty nail place. We shrieked at each other for about an hour afterwards. So, whenever I see those pedicure chairs with the swirling foot baths, I get a case of the creepy crawlies like no other. Seriously, if I didn't have to operate heavy machinery to get to the salon, a Xanax might be a prepampering necessity.


Most of the time, I try to chose my place carefully, watch for reused instruments, and try to calm my racing heart with Lamaze breathing and wishful visualization of a fictitious autoclave in the back of the salon.


But I think I found a solution!

Last week during the F4 tornado that was my week getting ready to go to my friend's wedding (insert Wicked Witch of the West music here), I made a last minute appointment at the Red Door Salon in Chevy Chase for a mani/pedi. After some mix-up whereby a facialist thought she would have to perform a pedicure (a thought which blanched her with terror) I sat down to what may have been the most sanitary and nicest pedicure ever.



While the salon did have the chairs, my pedicurist brought over a stainless steel bowl (stainless! it can go in an autoclave! or at least the dishwasher) filled with warm water and small pebbles. She proceeded to use all new instruments and files which had stick-on filing surfaces. They were brand new! The woman even wore gloves. I was in germaphobe heaven.



The manicure was equally antiseptic and efficient. I also watched my manicurist use a technique I've never seen before. To clean up the area around the nail, she swiped carefully around the nail bed with a paintbrush dipped in nail polish remover. It worked brilliantly!



My only complaints? The price is a little steeper than my regular place, but for a pedicure that clean and stress free, I could be willing to shell out. Also, the selection of polish colors was not my favorite. They only carry their own line, so if you want your favorite, BYO. Then there was the tickling factor...but that is really my problem, not theirs....

Yogasmic!

I can barely contain myself. One of my favorite stores is opening in DC!

That's right....Lululemon Athletica is finally opening a little outpost right near me...and a bigger store is on the way!

Seriously, there is nothing like cute clothes to make me want to exercise.

For those of you who haven't had the fabulous opportunity to check out a Lululemon yet, let me just say....do it! A Canadian company, I discovered Lululemon while visiting Toronto a few years back. They make the sweetest yoga clothes that can take you from yoga to brunch to shopping to errands and back again. They have a wide selection of sports bras for every level of chestiness, pants to flatter every bottom and colors to make even the couchiest potato fashionista drool...

I have patiently planned every trip to LA to include a stop off at the Santa Monica store (opened years ago, damned healthy earthy crunchy Californians!), and begged my mother to stuff my stocking with their clothes this year (New York got their store this past November!). But no longer!

Another great thing about Lululemon? They do extensive outreach in the community to promote yoga, which means free classes, demonstrations and just general happiness. Hop on the mailing list asap and peruse the website to plan your spring yoga wardrobe!

And we have a winner!

Okay, I had reviewed all comments on the nail polish issue and have made my decision.



Arguments were made that the neutral look was classic and would not end up looking dated in 15 years, like a teal taffeta pouf skirt, that a neutral tone was more appropriate for a wedding, and that a light shade of pink would mesh seamlessly with the chocolate brown of the bridesmaid dress.



There were also a few who suggested a deeper shade of pink (excellent suggestion, I'm thinking maybe Essie Fiji?) Those who suggested a french manicure (normally, I love all things Gallic, but I must admit my deep burning hatred for the French manicure.) There was also one person who wanted to know if I had asked the bride (I did.)



However, on the Go Vamp! side, commenters told me to do what I wanted, that this was chic and stylish. There were also alternatives suggested, like a brown shade to match the gown. Plus, the bride did tell me to do what I wanted...



However, the vast majority of the votes were for the neutral/pinky tone. And while I fully believe in protection from tyranny of the majority (can I get a shout-out for James Madison?) I think neutral is the way to go.




Right now, I'm leaning towards Lippman's Sarah Smile...but feel free to post your favorite Essie or OPI pinky pale shade here!



Thanks for all the advice...and if anyone knows of a great nail salon in Austin, I'm all ears!