STACKED

Bulky isn't necessarily a bad thing, like the bracelets I have been wearing lately - single strands in different shapes and texture but the same color scheme and materials, stacked together to create a lovely bulk.

Like this one that is gun metal colored and tied by a cute, little ribbon.

And these black and white ones tastefully put together.

How about some silver bangles piled on top of each other?

Truth is, I'm not a jewelry person at all.  But for dress up, I do like to decorate just a little.  And these bracelets, stacked and bulky, is just the perfect company for a dressy outfit.

PRODUCTS I'M LOVING NOW

Once in a while we all discover products that make us happy.  And I believe that as women, if we learn to love something, we should all share.  Here are some products I've discovered latedly and am loving now:

1) Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

 For a matte effect, this is the best foundation I have ever tried.  It doesn't make me oily and provides great coverage.  After a long day's wear, my face is still matte, clear and evenly covered.  An entire bottle can last about a year, which is totally worth the $33.00 I spent.

2) Dior HydrAction Moisturizer

I love the way this moisturizer made my skin feel.  It glides on smoothly and is not a bit greasy - a great product for daily use with just enough moisture to provide a youthful feel.

3) Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser

I liked the way the foam felt and loved how clean my skin was after wash.  Like its counterpart, Aveeno's Clear Complexion Moisturizer, this face wash left my skin even-toned and clear.

4) Lo'Real Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Conditioner

A friend of mine, who is a hair dresser, introduced this product to me as "the best drug store hair product".  So I gave it a try and I completely agree with him!  It left my hair soft and glossy, just the way I like it.  For someone with an extra abundance of hair, a good conditioner is hard to find.

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

It's a girl!!!!  No, it's really a miracle!!!!  I never thought that I'd be lucky enough to get pregnant, especially after 3 years of trying.  But it's true, not only am I going to be a mom, I'm going to be a mom to a beautiful, little daughter in August.

Of all the things that I dream and hope for her, I hope she finds happiness and love, just like mommy and daddy did.

Thank you to all who stopped at The Girlie Blog to read this special post and allowed me to share this very special news!

Sincerely, Tris1978ton

BLUE SHADOWS

I've always had a soft spot for the hue of blue.  It's the color that I learned to apply eye shadow with, when I was fourteen and had stolen mom's makeup palette.  

All grown up, though I gravitate more to other colors, I'm once in a while still drawn to blue eye shadow, especially when I want to have fun with makeup.  I guess today was one of those days.

For highlighter, I used the lightest color in Revlon's quad colors in Blue Smoke.

 

On the crease, I applied blue ocean by L'oreal.

 

  

For the lids, I used Revlon's Riviera Blue.  To make eyes bigger, I applied outward in.

 

And then I used my favorite blue liner, Shu DeVit in Victoria Falls, to rim upper and lower lines.

 

Curl lashes and apply a generous coat of mascara, and my blue shadow is done.

I must admit, I do a much better job now than when I was 14.  It's fun to wear colorful shadow, especially if it makes me feel like a carefree teenager again.

DOUBLE THE EXTEND, TRIPLE THE GLAM

Lately we've seen a lot of break through technology in mascara to lengthen and thicken our lashes.  Each formula is different and full of promise, but really, which ones are worth your money?

When I was introduced to L'oreal Double Extend, I could not wait to write a raving review!  This mascara lived up to its claim of elongating lashes without clumping.  And for less than $10 at the drug store, I'm so in love!

This double-ended tube comes with a white base coat to both protect and fortify the lashes, with little microfibers that extends at the tip of each lash.

 

 Kind of hard to see, but each lash has a white tip.

On the opposite end, the tube contains regular mascara that you can coat over the white base coat.

With this 2-step application, you can see the result below, where 1 eye has longer lashes than the other.

Left of the picture (my right eye), double extend.

Right of the picture (my left eye), regular mascara.

Great product at a fair price is far and few in between.  And I am thrilled to find L'oreal Double Extend Mascara.  1 thing to remember is curl your lashes before applying the base coat.  Curling afterward kind of crimps the formula, making it jagged.

Hopefully you'll give this product a try and also find it lovable like I did.

HAIR HELP STARTS WITH DEEP CONDITIONING

Despite a few random strands of copper, my hair has finally become one, single color.  A couple of years ago?  Not so much.  From honey-tinted blond to rich caramel to the deepest midnight black, my hair has been through a cycle of spectrum.

Hehe.  Posing after caramel highlights back in 2006.

Experimenting with colors may have been fun, but it does a lot of damage to the hair, leaving it dry and dull.  To help, I use Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask 2 - 3 times a week.

Just less than a handful of product rubbed all over damp hair and wait for 3 minutes to rinse, this hair mask makes my hair shiny, healthy and lively again.  The results can be felt right after rinse - smooth and silky.


So if your hair ever needs a little TLC, you should give Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask a try.

FAKING IT

I swore off the tanning bed for health reasons, but can't help worry about getting that golden glow.  Luckily, there are a few products out on the market to help with a faux tan.  

First there is Clarins  Self Tanning Instant Gel.  

It costs a pretty penny (okay, more like $32.00) but the effect is near instant (less than 30 minutes) and the color is almost believable.  Just today, I dabbed some on the face and neck and my co-worker complimented me on looking "not so pale".

Another great product for "faking it" is bronzer.  Here I am using Cover Girl.  I swipe a bit on with my foundation brush before applying foundation all over the face.  It gives my skin a gentle glow and looks quite sun-kissed.

Faking it instead of baking it - I like that healthy concept.  And one thing that I DEFINITELY will NEVER fake... ...is love :O)

I LOVE SWEATER DRESSES!!!!

Lip gloss, face cream, push up bras... ... I love all things girlie.  But lately my affection has been stolen by sweater dresses.  Ever since the temperature fell, my fashion craving gravitated towards thick material, warm neckline, and fun shapes that won't give away style.

Here are a couple of my personal faves to share...


This one is a present from hubby.  It's a knitted mix of lovely grays.

How about a splash of color for the dark winter days?  And cap sleeves to make it even cuter?

 

Staying warm and keeping stylish can be so easy when we have cute things to wear.  That's why I love sweater dresses!