The Colors of the Rainbow on Your Nails Mood: lazy Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
Moi had heard a lot about Zoya nail polish, especially when I was pregnant three years ago. Because it is free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor, it is reported to be safe to use while pregnant. I doubted anything that was so free would have staying power like Zoya claims. Well, Zoya proved me wrong.
Recently, I was able to get three free bottles of Zoya nail polish because of an awesome coupon code. I was excited. The first color I tried was Jinx, which is copper-penny brown metallic nail polish. (Zoya's website describes it as a "Deep red bronze with golden metallic shimmer.") Jinx is also one of it's more opaque polishes. With just 2 strokes, I covered my entire big toe nail. Only habit made me add a second coat, but it was very light. I didn't use a traditional top coat, but a sheer coral-orange-glittery Zoya shade called Gabrielle. It gave my pedicure an extra dose of sheen.
The smell of the polish wasn't as strong as other polishes, and dried a little bit quicker. I was expecting the color to chip in three days. It didn't matter if i wore open-toed or close-toed, the color didn't chip or rub off. As a matter of fact, after nearly 3 weeks, I got sick of looking at the color. lol. I'm kind of lazy, so I usually wait until my pedicure starts to look bad before I begin again.
In these tough economic times, you want to get your money's worth with all your products. At normally $7 a bottle, Zoya is worth every penny invested in it.
Help Me Win! Mood: not sure Now Playing: The Fashionable Gal Is Having A Contest
The amazing people atTJX/Marshalls & Rocket XL are offering one lucky Fashionable Gal reader a $25 Gift Card to Marshalls to score some goodies of their own! This contest is open to US Residents only and will run until August 30, at midnight (EST Time). Good luck!
Mandatory Entry: Visit the Marshalls website and use the store locator (top right corner) to find the closest Marshalls to you, then come back and comment with the location.
Extra Entries (1 entry each):
~If you’re a Marshalls shopper, tell me about a great shopping experience you’ve had there!
~Share an awesome bargain you’ve scored recently (or a fave that comes to mind).
~If you haven’t shopped at Marshalls before, tell me why!
Won Over By Makeovers Mood: cool Now Playing: Making Over America with Trinny and Susannah Topic: TV: The Soft Blue Glow
I love televised makeovers. I loved them when they had stylists remake audience members on the Ricki Lake and the Jenny Jones shows. So when the makeover became a whole genre of reality television, I was right there with the exception of Extreme Makeover. TLC has cornered the market on making folks over although I do get a kick out of Jay Manuel's celebrity look-alike makeover show on the Style Network (Style Her Famous). I'm very loyal to The Learning Channel and there's not a Friday night when I'm not watching What Not to Wear. I was also big fans of 10 Years Younger (with all their hosts); and Cover Shot. Now, TLC has added a new contender to the stable. It’s Making Over America with Trinny and Susannah.
Some may know Trinny and Susannah as the hosts of the original What Not to Wear, which they created in the United Kingdom. Over the years, they have created quite a styling empire with books and television appearances. Now they are taking a stab at their first American stateside series, where they travel from state to state in a trailer to help those trapped by bad fashion choices.
After just watching the first episode, I am convinced that this is now my favorite makeover show even above What Not to Wear with Clinton and Stacy. Trinny and Susannah may come off as intimidating, but they show us they are as real as you and I by the end of the show. They reveal their stretch marks, lumps, and bumps to those they are trying to help to prove that anyone can look great with the correct foundation garments, confidence and well-fitting clothes.
Along with fashion advice, Susannah and Trinny give a good dose of tough and body confidence-building lessons. There are no hidden cameras, there’s no one making fun of you, and there are no flights to major metropolises. Trinny and Susannah encourage the women to look at themselves in a new light, and to dress in a way that’s flattering at the stores in their area.
The only thing that is slightly off-putting is that Trinny and Susannah are very touchy-grabby. In the premiere epi, they grab makeover contestant Jennifer’s bottom to show her how voluptuous and sexy it is. They also cup one of her breasts to demonstrate how poorly her bra is fitting. I’m sorry. I don’t want two strangers grabbing my bum on national TV no matter how great they think my ass is.
I will be setting the DVR for this show, though. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Is Breaking the 9th Commandment, Yet Again Mood: celebratory Now Playing: More Shoes I love From Zappos Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
I have a dilemma. I am considering packing up this blog and focusing my interests elsewhere. Over the past couple of months, I have gotten involved with a website called We Heart This. At this site, I have started a mini-blog examining how society views fat people (and some issues of the feminist variety). I have also become a reviewer for WHT, where every month I will have one major post and a few comments.
Most of my free computer time is dedicated to WHT or updating my statuses daily on Facebook and on Twitter. I have not been posting here as often as I would like, and, although it is a hobby, I don't want to cause a diservice to my regular readers by being behind. On the other hand, this is the only outlet I have where I can post my movie, book, and TV reviews as well as give my thoughts on all the world's "lighter" moments.
I haven't decided. Give me some feedback.
In the meantime, I covet this Keds rainbow sneakers. (The color kind of reminds me of a pair of shoes my college buddy bought back in 1993 that were lime, pink, yellow, and maybe had a dash of peacock blue.) I don't know if I have anything in my wardrobe to match them except maybe some black on black ensembles.
Win A Free Pair of Shoes! Mood: caffeinated Now Playing: Win Free Shoes from Savvy Mode Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
Savvy Mode is sponsoring a shoe giveaway. The lovely people at Paris Hilton Footwear will give away 4 pairs of stylish heels to Savvy Mode readers. Savvy Mode has picked 2 styles to give away, 2 pairs of Destiny (retail $93) and 2 pairs of Senorita (retail $93).
Simple rules to win a pair of Destiny:
1. Let me know what is your favorite Destiny color by visiting here and what will you wear with Destiny. The 2 winners will have a chance to pick the color of her choice. How exciting is this giveaway! 2. Earn an extra entry by following or subscribing to Savvy Mode. 3. Earn a 3rd entry by blogging or tweeting about this giveaway and let me know about it.
A simple rule to win a pair of Senorita:
1. Open to those who blog about this giveaway and let me know about it. This is my way of thanking those who take the time to share this giveaway with their readers. The 2 winners will be able to pick the color of her choice.
Every Step You Make, I'll Be Watching Mood: caffeinated Now Playing: Tayrn Rose Shoes Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
If there was ever in my life when I seriously, seriously desired and considered parting with more than $100 for a pair of shoes, these patent leather wedges below by Tayrn Rose would be the pair to do it. I am incredibly frugal and cheap. The most expensive pair of shoes I own is a pair of black Timberland winter boots that I've had for nearly a decade. The second most expensive pair are a pair of black knee high Bandolino boots I got from DSW for $70.
While on vacation in Florida, I visited one of the outlet malls. Normally, I don't get excited for trips to the outlet mall because 1. the stores rarely carry my size and 2. the prices are still too expensive for me. However, a trip to Saks Off 5th with my sister in law and mother in law proved to be a fruitful trip. I racked up on some pretty costume jewelry earrings that were marked way, way done. (They were marked $17.99 but had a red tag, and I was able to get it for an extra 50% off!) I was also able to try on, strut around in, skip, bounce, jump, prance, and sashay in a pair of 3" wedges without feeling off-balance, uncomfortable or in pain. As a matter of fact, I was so comfy in the shoes that I could have ran out the store with them on my feet.
But, I chose not to shoplift in the presence of my mother-in-law. lol. On Zappos.com, these Taryn Rose wedges are on sale for $231. At Saks' outlet store, they were $242. I could not pony up that much money (or credit card) without extreme buyers' remorse or a huge fight with my husband. So, I'm a bit of mourning.However, I will bookmark these shoes and continue to look at them daily because I found something that I never thought I could find: high heels that I could walk, dance, and work in without pain.
Fashion Extremes Mood: a-ok Now Playing: Marie Claire Hurt Me, Hurt Me! Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
I am a fashion moderate--stuck in the middle of several different styles. I am a mash up of looks. I'm neither a sex pot nor am I androgynous like Tilda Swinton. I prefer pants over dresses, and consider myself more Katherine Hepburn than Audrey Hepburn but I do have my girlie girl accotruments like lip gloss, dangly earrings and manicured toes. I am a New York City girl with a strong penchant for wearing black and other neutrals, but I do love my colors. For example, I rock a baby blue peacoat in the winter and a red fur Kangol newsboy cap in the fall. (I even have turquoise shoes and a pair of orange sandals!)
So, with all these fashion ingredients that make up my syle, I was utterly baffled and scared by the extreme and singular fashions featured in the August 2009 issue of Marie Claire magazine (U.S. version). (It was as terrifying and domineering as MC's fashion director Nina Garcia's television persona.) There was a fashion spread featuring all black and hardware laden shoes and purses. Another fashion story revealed a growing trend (I hope not) of studded accesories that makes Pinhead from the movie Hellraiser look downright cuddly. $700 leather gloves covered in safety pins? Round toe flats with pointy grommets? Really? Into S&M much?
Check out the Iron Maiden pictorial on page 36; the frightening shoe hybrids on page 44; and the letters C (chains), G (grommets), M (metal heels) and Z (zippers) in the A to Z accessories story.
I am wondering why there's extremism in the August issue? Are these harsh accesories supposed to protect us from the harshness of the recession. Perhaps it is a backlash agsint the feminine yet classic fashions of first lady Mrs. O? Probably a little from all of the above. But no thank you MC. I'll stick to my tomboyish slacks, ultra fem blouses and bright colors.
Posted by Kiki Shoes
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Updated: July 14, 2009 1:11 AM EDT
June 26, 2009
Michael Jackson, RIP Mood: sad
Yesterday, we lost one of the world’s greatest musical entertainers. He was a beloved child performer who grew up to be a premiere pop artist.Personal scandals and relationships aside, Michael Jackson was brilliant shining star. He entertained us and he enlightened us. He gave us songs to dance to and songs to weep to. Even when we made fun of his unique sense of style—the one glove and the white sparkly socks & black penny loafers, we (somewhat) secretly tried to emulate his style. (In middle school I wore white slouch socks and black penny loafers, and had a glossy photograph of Michael Jackson taped inside the back cover of my assignment notebook.)
To say I grew up with Michael Jackson’s music would be an understatement. There wasn’t a time in my life, from when I was an infant, that Michael Jackson’s music wasn’t in my life. My age 5, my brother and I used dance around singing“ABC, it’s easy as 123….” I even vaguely remember my brother I creating a dance routine to one of the Jackson 5’s songs and performing it for our mom. We watched the Jacksons’ variety show as a family, and thought it superior than Cher & Sonny’sor the Donnie & Marie’s shows. (Not to know those variety shows, because we liked them too.) How about the Jacksons’ cartoon? I’m pretty sure the Harlem Globetrotters guest appeared on it at least once. Lol.
Anything related to Michael Jackson was required viewing in my household. It was a night for family time around the TV. Michael Jackson brought us together. I remember when The Wiz premiered on television, my aunt, grandmother, brother and I gathered around the television set. We snickered at how old Diana Ross was too old to play innocent Dorothy but we loved MJ as the lovable & brainless scarecrow. The movie was heralded for it’s Technicolor New York sets but we had a black & white television. We had to imagine the rainbow colors. My aunt, in an attempt to provide color, draped a rainbow color scarf over the television!
We waited until 1 a.m. for the Thriller video premiere. Bad, Black & White, and Remember the Time videos were also memorable moments in my home.
However, the most memorable television moment had to be Michael Jackson performing at the 25th Anniversary Motown special. At that time, MJ was no longer on Motown and there had been rumors about whether or not he would even perform. (BUT HE HAS TOO!) When he came out with those smooth moves, tossing the hat into the audience, and singing “Billie Jean,” we were in awe. But when he started moonwalking, a dance move we had never seen before, we lost it! We started screaming, jumping up and dance, clapping and high-fiving. We called friends and family. “Yo, did you see Michael?” The next day at school, we couldn’t talk about anything else.When’s the last time the whole of society had shared such one common television memory—same show, same time, same channel? Michael Jackson unified us. He seared himself into our collective consciousness with his talent.
From squeaky clean Motown tunes to rarely played funky foot stompers to discofied dance hits to touching ballads to cross over R&B and Pop music, Michael Jackson crossed genres, generations, races, nations, and socioeconomic status. He was born a little poor black boy in a town that is still basically poor to grow up to become our very own King of Pop. There will never another like him nor would I want there be another Michael.
I love you Michael Jackson. Thank you. Despite what they said about you, I always believed that you were pure and good at heart.
The 1st prize is Hello Kitty mini nail kit, earrings, 2 MAC sample pigments in circa plum and vanilla, lancome lipstick in vintage rose, lancome mini definicils HD mascara, lancome mini booster xl mascara base, 2 lancome sample packet of Primordiale serum/moisturizer, lancome leopard makeup bag + more extra goodies :
The 2nd prize is Hello kitty mini nail set, earrings, 2 Rimmel eyeshadow duos and a pink makeup bag + more extra goodies!:
To Win:
Easy access to these freebies if you are 1. Subscriber to Lauren's blog 2. Must be crazy in love with make up! 3. You need to repost this on your blog and then leave Lauren a comment below saying that you want in on the give aways and 4. Tell your blog friends about it, put a link back to Lauren's blog!
Posted by Kiki Shoes
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Updated: June 24, 2009 8:53 PM EDT
June 17, 2009
More Contest Fun Mood: not sure Now Playing: Nurse Mommy Contest
SWAK Designs is a very cool eStore featuring hip and fashionable plus-size clothing. SWAK is short for Sealed With A Kiss, and they describe themselves as trendy affordable plus size fashions up to a size 6X. (The accompanying SWAK blog is also very inspirational.) Fan and fellow blogger, Paige of Nurse Mommy, is offering a contest where you can win beautiful ombre scarf from SWAK Designs.
Pros: Good Fit, Comfortable, Nice Colors, Soft, Breathable
Best Uses: Everyday, Sleepwear
Describe Yourself: Comfort Driven
I absolutely love the comfort bloomers, because it makes it possible for me to wear skirts and dresses in the summer time without "chub rub." I used to wear bike shorts and shapers, but they were hot and uncomfortable. I didn't want to wear split skirts anymore nor did I want to spend the whole summer wearing light weight pants that covered my legs. These bloomers fit over my regular panties; aren't tight; are breathable; are comfortable; and the elastic doesn't cut into my thighs. The only downside is they do slide up a bit when walking but not so much so that you feel like you're wearing a diaper or have to constantly pull it down.
(The sizing is also easy. Just chose your panty size!)
If It Is Free, It Is For Me Mood: mischievious Now Playing: The Big Bloggerversary Contest for ELF Cosmetics Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
Within the past two weeks, I got a full size cKone perfume and body lotion set; a 2 ounce bottle of Chole perfume; and an eco-friendly skincare line including a full size jar of eye cream/moisturizer, lip balm, and face reviver. I love coming home and opening packages to find free free and usable items for me. The downside was that I don't remember entering contests for any of those products. I vaguely remember a contest for the eco-friendly skincare line, but I couldn't tell you from which blog, magazine, or prodcut site I entered. I am a fashion and beauty contest addict. I only keep entering, several times a day, because I ocassionally win. One of the first things I do when I get on the computer at work each day is go to BeautyBlitz.com and enter their daily giveaway. I'm starting to feel a bit guilty with my giveaway successes.
Oh well, guilt or no guilt, here's a link to a new giveaway I'm entering. You should give it a try!
Hair Begone Now Playing: Review of Sally Hanen's Spray On and Shower Off Hari Remover Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
I don't know if I've mentioned it to you before, but Moi is one hairy woman. There is not one area of my body that doesn't have excess hair. I'm always looking for ways to remove hair from my legs, bikini line, chin, jaw, neck, eyebrows, arm pits, and toes. (EWWW, yes toes.) Mostly, I get anything on my face waxed and use a safety razor & electric clippers for everything else. It is time consuming especially when you're planning to hang out on the beach. (Normally, I only shave my legs up to the knees.) By some luck of the cheapie gods, I found Sally Hansen's spray on/shower off hair remover on sale 50% off at Walgreens. I had seen ads for it last year, but since I don't like to spend money, I resisted trying it.
The product promises to be remove hair and stubble after 3-minutes; to have be drip free; and smell like vanilla. It also to spray on at any angle. It lived up to its promise except for smelling like vanilla. It smelled like eye-burning chemicals and my bathroom stank of it even after I rinsed off the product. I sprayed my entire legs from hip to ankle, and waited the minimum three minutes. (My hair is naturally coarse, and I usually wait the maximum amount of time for chemical hair removers but I did only 3 minutes because I didn't do a spot test for an allergic reaction.)
Aside from the smell, the product did work. It rinsed off easily without my rubbing it off with a washcloth and it removed 90% of my leg hair. It probably would have been more if I had left it on for another minute or two. I plan on using it on my armpits as well, because I look to have the smooth pits. It's my thang. I will probably buy this product again in the future even when it isn't on sale.
Spring Wrap Up Mood: on fire Now Playing: My brief reviews and rage
FUCK!!!!
Why is it that every time I write a long post where I bring you up to speed, I aways accidently close the fucking window before I save it? Fuck. I'm so angry. I"ve been working on this post for an hour. I had video game reviews, nail polish views, blog mentions, book reviews, and dvd reviews. It was written so eloquently too. Shit.
Well, here is quick and dirty:
1. Star Trek: Want to see still haven't seen.
2. Terminator:Salvation: Want to see but will wait until video.
3. Wii and Wii Fit: Love it, use it 3 times a week! It's a video game system for women and girls who hate video games.
4. The Secret Life of Bees was hokey and a bit shallow.
5. Taken was over the top fun.
6. Lessons from the Fat-O-Sphere is a kick-ass book that will get your fat activisim and self-love into gear.
7. Who You Calling Fat? The First Fat Fiction Anthology includes gems and clunkers. Borrow from your library.
8. I'm eschewing the matte pastel nail polish trend of summer and sticking with dark and shiny colors like Sally Hansen's Xtreme nail color in Gun Metal and Emerald City.
9. I've become a nail polish and mani-pedi fiend by subscribingn to such fun blogs like Getcha Nails Did on blogspot.
Snikt! Mood: not sure Now Playing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine Topic: Movie Reviews
There are probably very few comic book heroes that evoke such a fanatic following and worship as Wolverine a.k.a. Weapon X a.k.a. Logan. In the Marvel Pantheon, he must rank in at least the top 3. Wolverine existed for nearly 25+ years in the comic book world before they even delved deeply into his origins. So, you can imagine the problems that 20th Century Fox and Hugh Jackman must have had in bringing such a legendary character to the screen. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is going to be a polarizing film to the most hardcore fans to the passer bys.
Since joining the X-men franchise nearly ten years ago, Hugh Jackman has done justice to the Canadian-born, cigar chomping, enigmatic anti-hero. Jackman and Liev Schreiber do a good job of bringing some emotional depth to the mutant brothers Jimmy and Victor (Jackman and Schreiber respectively), who grow-up to become Wolverine and Sabretooth. Most superhero movies are not successful in bringing 30, 40 or 50 years of characterization to the screen without weighing down the action that the movie going audiences want to see. Spider-Man 1 and 2 and Batman Begins is a perfect example of how to create that balance. Superman Returns is an example of how not to do it.X-men Origins: Wolverine errs on the side of conventionality, and gives you a straight story without plowing too deeply into souls of Wolverine and Sabretooth. They give you just enough to set up the action.
Aside from Jackman and Schreiber, the acting is a little stilted especially from Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.I.Am as a teleporting mutant. (Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the sarcastic, buff and crazy mutant swordsman.) Luckily, Schreiber is the one who gets to deliver the best lines and sneers. Unlike most summer blockbusters, this flick doesn’t weigh itself down too heavily in CGI, car crashes, and aerial dynamics. Most of the action is the hand to hand (or is it claw to claw?), and it is easy to follow. Most action movies nowadays have a blinding number of action sequences that are harder to follow than the spin-offs of Marvel X-men comics.
Jackman and Ryan Reynolds give a nice show of their chiseled bods (WOO HOO!), and a luscious lipped actress Lynn Collins give the lads something to fantasize about when the fighting is done. The lack of emotional connection that made me a fan of the X-men comics and the first two X-men movies left me with a bit of a hollow feeling. Hugh Jackman can do no wrong, and even his worst movies are still entertaining. And, Wolverine is still my favorite anti-hero.
lazy
not sure
cool
I love televised makeovers. I loved them when they had stylists remake audience members on the Ricki Lake and the Jenny Jones shows. So when the makeover became a whole genre of reality television, I was right there with the exception of Extreme Makeover. TLC has cornered the market on making folks over although I do get a kick out of Jay Manuel's celebrity look-alike makeover show on the Style Network (Style Her Famous). I'm very loyal to The Learning Channel and there's not a Friday night when I'm not watching What Not to Wear. I was also big fans of 10 Years Younger (with all their hosts); and Cover Shot. Now, TLC has added a new contender to the stable. It’s 
celebratory
caffeinated
On 
However, I will bookmark these shoes and continue to look at them daily because I found something that I never thought I could find: high heels that I could walk, dance, and work in without pain. 
a-ok
sad
mischievious
on fire
There are probably very few comic book heroes that evoke such a fanatic following and worship as 
