Fab Friday: August 28

I am a make-up lover from way back. While I profess to being open to trying new things, deep-down I am a creature of habit & I tend to cling to what works. For years and years, my go-to mascara was Maybelline's Great Lash (waterproof, black-brown). It's an award-winner, a long time fave of many make-up artists, and worked great.

But one day I got a wild hair to try something new. I was ready to explore my options, but I am really picky when it comes to mascara. I need a waterproof formula, and one that is not clumpy, runny, gloppy, or smells weird. Yes, I smell my mascara. Don't ask. After reading through the slew of magazines delivered by my friendly neighborhood mailperson (thank you e-rewards for providing my household with a significant pile of marginal reading material at no charge to me), I decided to give this a whirl:

Can I say "Wow"? Wow. I wanted a little extra volume, but didn't want spider eyes. This stuff delivers. After practicing a time or two, I have the application down pat, and I really like the results. I have small-ish eyes, and my lashes are not as thick as I'd like, but this magic formula lengthens, thickens, and now my lashes frame my baby blues beautifully. A dab of tinted moisturizer, a swipe of mascara, and a smear of lip balm & I feel pulled together on even the worst of my stay-at-home days.

PS - if I had an unlimited budget, I'd love to try out this bank buster:

Hello Dior, are you listening?

What's YOUR favorite makeup product?

Because I Am A CopyCat....

Do you remember when being called a copycat was about the worst thing ever?

You might as well have told a child they would never grow up to be a useful member of society.

Give up now, ye copycat! No good can come of your copycattery.

I believed that for a long time, but no more.

Copying is a form of flattery, and let's face it, there are no truly original ideas out there.

Consider copycatting an homage.

And in that spirit, I steal an idea shared by my good friend S, and announce Fab Fridays!

Fab Fridays will be the days when I share something good from the week. Perhaps a recipe, a quote, a book, a find, a photo. Whatever it may be, I say enjoy!

For the launch of Fab Fridays, I give you my find of the week:

The Dirt Devil Kurv hand vac. It's got 9.6 volts of sucking power, wrapped up in an sleek, elegant champagne-colored body. Designed by Karim Rashid, this little beauty is the perfect device for chasing down wayward glitter, thread, dust, or baby food embedded in the dreaded highchair. This example of design + function can be yours for less than $20 at Bed, Bath & Beyond. On sale now, get 'em while they last!!

Etsy Mania

As a result of stumbling upon a number of design-y, craft-y blogs (many with more great links inside), in the last few days I have been spending an inordinate amount of time clicking and reading. And while I have found much to inspire me, I get VERY excited when I find things that combine some of my favorite elements:

• Good quality


• Handmade


• Inexpensive


• Accessible
  

My heart skipped a beat today when I found a link to the Persimmon & Pink store on etsy. Seriously, how cute would this be in my kids' room?? (btw, it's a print).

(sigh)

I heart etsy.

The Big Reveal

I am blown away by how clear these pictures are. And how easy it was to take them. I am also stoked that my 4GB card will hold 1,000 pictures at the highest resolution!

Good thing, as I many need all 1,000 to catch the perfect photo (due to my poor photography skills, not lack of subject).

If anyone can recommend a good book on digital photography, suggestions are appreciated.

PS - it's a Nikon D80. Way too much camera for me right now, but I'm hoping to grow into it.