New necklace! So excited!

I am so excited about this fantastic new necklace that is on its way! 

Got it on ebay (craftyqueen)

Girls-Night-In: with the Vampire Diaries

The CW's Vampire Diaries is giving me a whole new excuse to look forward to Thursday nights!!! My girlfriends and I seem to have set up a trend of getting together (rotating houses) for good tv nights. This summer it was TrueBlood at Kelly's...and now that Fall tv has started, it is Thursday night with Vampire Diaries. Yes, my husband will occasionally walk through the room with an eye-roll towards the tv and will mumble something like "is this another one of those shows where all the actors look like Abercrombie models?"...and the answer would be, um, yes! I mean, lets face it, the male cast is *ridiculous* (in a good way!).



Just a fun excuse to get together and giggle/swoon over some cute vamps on TV. Yes, we are definitely bringing the maturity level down to middle school...but, we don't care. We love it!!! Its fun and silly...and after a hard week of work/school...so stress relieving! Plus, throw it a bottle of wine, and we are golden!

Just being silly...FYI: I am team Stephan

Jamie's team Damon

Kara and Kelly are not converted fans yet (we will turn them!), but I will post a team Eric (TrueBlood) photo for Kelly (and, well, for me too!)

What team are you??? :) LOL! :)

Here's to girls nights!

Me, Jamie, and Kelly

Love you, mean it!!!

P.S. In honor of the vampy theme here...Picked up Revlon's new "Just Bitten" (love the name!) lipstain in Frenzy...that review will be coming soon!

P.P.S. Who else loves Elena's Vervain Locket? Me? Love it, mean it!

Makeup Lesson: Winged Liner

Here are my tips and how-tos for getting this dramatic liner look (shown here on Lauren Conrad): 

• Apply desired shadow to a eyelid. I think that light colors/or subtle shadows look best paired with dramatic liner(like a sheer wash of a shimmery champagne color across the lid). 
• Use a gel or liquid liner (in black or brown-I usually go for brown as I am blonde/fair). Gel is easier to work with as it takes longer to dry and you can blend it and fix mistakes easier. Liquid dries extremely fast but gives you such deep color. Both with wear all day/evening without smudging. 
• Hold liner brush (for gel) or wand (liquid) horizontally.
• Make "dots" (or really dash-lines) along base of lashes on lid. 
• Connect the dots/dashes while holding the brush or wand horizontally.Fill in with sideways strokes. Try not to tug on your eyelid (many people stretch out their lid to apply the liner, but you can apply without doing this. Be gentle on your eyes!).
• Go over the line with product at least 2 times to darken and thicken the line
• The liner will look best if it is slightly thicker in the middle and then tapers out on the ends
• Make a light dot outside the corner of your eye. This is where you want your wing tip to end. Connect your lined lid (with your liner) to the dot. That is your wing! You might want to experiment with where you put your dot to get the best angle for your wing (and this will depend on your eye shape). 
• Finish your eyes off by curling your lashes and applying mascara. 
• Ta-da! That's it! You have dramatic winged eyes! Very classic and glamorous!
• I love this look paired with a natural pinky-peach blush and a bold pink (or red, if you dare! Vavoom!) lip.  

My Product Pics for Gel and Liquid Liners

Gel: (you will need to apply these with a liner brush, see my picks below):

• Bobbi Brown Long-wearing Gel Liner  (Bobbi Brown's liner brush is my fav to use with all my gels, sold separately)
• Stila Smudge Pots
• Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel eyeliner (comes with a really decent brush)
• L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Liner (I would not recommend using the brush that comes with this)

Liquid:

• L'Oreal Lineur Intense 
• Cover Girl Lineexact Liquid
• Physician's Formula Eye Definer Felt-tip

Liner Brushes (the ones I use for gel liners):

• Bobbi Brown Ultra fine liner brush (my fave, give an ultra fine line): 
• Maybelline Expert Tools Angled Definer Brush (this brush is a BARGAIN!!! and works great, but gives you a thicker line that then Bobbi Brown brush...but sometimes you want a thicker line)

Hope these tips helped!!!

This is how I want to get my hair cut...should I do it?

Okay, so, I am thinking of cutting my uber-long hair...This is the style I am thinking of. But, I would need to grow out my bangs first, etc, etc...But, what a cute style! I actually had my hair cut pretty similar to this about 10 yrs ago (shorter in back and angles down to below shoulder length in front)...I don't know...just thought I would post it! Very chic! And, PS. Love her on"Mad Men"

NYX: Nude on Nude-Natural Look Kit

Its review time! While searching in vain at Ulta a few weeks ago for the infamous Urban Decay Naked Palette (which was, of course, out of stock...shocker), I came across a display of adorable little NYX palettes. Since I struck out on the UD Naked...I thought I would try the NYX Nude on Nude: Natural Look Kit because it has such a wide array of neutral shades plus 2 lip colors as well. Plus, this tiny palette would be perfect for travel!!!

Let me tell you these colors are *beautiful*! They are highly pigmented, apply well (I used elf's mineral eye primer as a base), and were easily blendable. The shadows stay put all day! The palette on a whole, leans towards warm colors, but there are a few neutral/cool shades. The top row is all matte. With a good lid, crease, and liner shade. The color on the upper left-is a nice vanilla shade, great as a brow bone highlight. The rest of the colors are all shimmer shades with the two darkest shades containing some glitter. The Bronze shade in the very middle is my favorite of the palette. Beautiful in the crease and it wears as a lovely coppery bronze. Perfect for bringing out blue eyes. The shimmery champagne shade (middle left) is beautiful on the lid. I like the middle right glittery dark brown color for the "outer v" and the upper right matte dark brown shade as the liner color. That seems to be the color combination that I apply most often from this palette, but there are certainly other combinations! :) The shadows I applied with my own brushes (I never use those little sponge applicators).

Here are the swatches in exact order of the palette.

The shades are not named. Sorry for the poor photo quality. 

My swatches don't do these colors justice!

Note: the pan size is *very* small, so you may chose your shadow brush based on the size of the pan. Some of my eyeshadow brushes were too big.

The lip shades are in a little drawer underneath. One is a darker copper shade and the other is a light barbie-pink shade. I tend to reach for the light barbie-pink shade more as I like a lighter lip with a bronze eye. The lipstick is creamy and applies pretty well with the tiny applicator in the kid.

Overall, I *love* this kit!!! It's so nice to have all the shadows you need in one place as you don't have to dig through your makeup stache to find the colors you need to create a dimensional eye. Also, great to have the lipsticks included! The small size makes it super portable. You can just toss this tiny palette in your purse for touch-ups, although, the shadows wear so well that it is likely that you won't even need to retouch them.

So, check the NYX website for the full line of products or try your local Ulta for a limited range of NYX products (Tip: check online for sales, NYX is frequently on sale and Ulta emails/mails a ton of coupons) Cherry Culture is a good site for NYX as well. I believe mine retailed for $10.99. There were 3 total (I think?) including a bronze smoky look and a purple smokey look.

Love this little palette!

Art Opening: Spruill Arts Center

Spruill Gallery:

Michael David Murphy and Margaret Fletcher

(source)

Do you ever find yourself at an event or outing thinking "I should do this sort of thing more often?". Feeling "in the moment" and knowing that it is a good moment? That is exactly how I felt at this art-opening last Thursday! Living in a large city, there is so much opportunity to explore art and culture. It felt very "The Artist's Way" to enjoy a lovely Fall weeknight by looking at beautiful art, being with a good friend, and enjoying great wine and food.

I am a big believer in "girls night out" (and "girls night in" for that matter). I am so lucky to have such awesome girlfriends in my life!!! We all need a little girl time, right! So, this was our "outing" for the week. My friend Jamie is an artist herself and works for the Spruill Center.

That's me and my friend Jamie :)

The art was amazing...and we even ended up with a photo of us taken by Michael David Murphy, one of the artists on exhibit, (photographer)...so, this begs the questions...does this make this photo of us art? We like to think so! We actually both wanted to take a picture with the artist (but, were both too shy to ask LOL...Barbara and Kelly, where are you girls when we need ya!?!?):) We loved Michael David Murphy's quirky sense of finding humor and irony in urban landscapes. As Jamie expressed, there was a serendipitous quality to his photos. The works by the other exhibitor Margaret Fletcher were amazing too. She uses a really cool technique called encaustic painting or hot wax painting...it was amazing and beautiful and hard to describe. The great news is that you can see it for yourself! This exhibit is on display until Oct 31st. Also, please be sure to check out the artists' websites (linked under the Spruill Gallery heading).

Lets all strive to find a little more beauty in our everyday lives...and as always, enjoy our time with good friends!

And, if you have never read: "The Artist's Way"...then, you must!!!

Yummy Scent for Fall: Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods

Yes, i admit, I was initially drawn to the products because "twilight" is in it’s name, but it was the yummy woodsy-vanilla scent that got me in the end.

I got a Bath and Body Works (BBW) gift-card for my birthday this year. And, I admit, I hadn't been to a BBW in years. So, I was excited to check out all the "new” scents. Of course, they were having a fabulous sale (Buy 3 get 3 free, summer sale)…so, I was able to try 3 new scents! Twilight Woods, Butterfly Flower, and Rainkissed Leaves. While it has been hot out, I have been alternating wearing the Butterfly Flower and Rainkissed Leaves scents (also very yummy fragrances).

I am so excited that Fall weather is starting as I can finally wear this scent!!! I have the fragarance mist and the body cream. I find it way too rich and warm to wear in hot weather. But, perfect for the cooler months.

Love this smell so much that I would like to go back for the Twilight woods perfume and some candles so that I can scent my whole house with this!

Do I feel like Bella when I wear it? Does it evoke the very essence of Edward (swoon!)…well, no (haha!!), but I still love it. And with this rainy fall day...yes, it does make me want to re-watch my twilight DVDs.

P.S. Tip: Want coupons? Sign up for BBW’s emails and they will periodically email out coupons.

Stila Travel Palettes: Review

For some reason (probably because I am an incurable over-packer), I am always in search of the perfect travel-sized, all-in-one palette. I like the idea of being able to toss one or two palettes into my bag and having everything I might need for a long weekend away. These palettes fit the bill!

As a long-time fan of Stila, I am so excited that they are offering these "limited edition" low-priced set of travel palettes. I mean, $10 each...what a bargain for Stila! These palettes each contain 4 shadows and 1 convertible color (blush and/or cheek color). Typically the Stila shadows run at $18 each for a single plan and $25 for a convertible color single. Hopefully this is a sign that there will be more economically priced options from Stila in the future.

I picked up these cute palettes at my local Ulta, but they are also available on the Stila website. I purchased both the "road to radiance: across the USA" and the "trendsetting in Tokyo" palettes. I passed on the "pretty in Paris" (just because I have a convertible color in that shade already). I believe that Stila is releasing one new one per month or season? The newest one..."make an impression in Moscow" looks beautiful (bronzy neutral shadows plus a pretty sky blue shadow and a peachy-pink convertible color)! Its available already on the Stila website and I will likely pick that up at Ulta next time I am over there.

On top: Road to radience,

On bottom: Trendsetting in Tokyo

These palettes are fashioned in the typical Stila cardboard style with cute graphics and colors listed on the back. The inside is black and contains a mirror and a convertible color and 4 (small) eye shadows. If you are not familiar with Stila's convertible colors: they are a cream based product that doubles as a lipstick and a cream blush. So, you literally have everything that you need for color cosmetics for your face. 

FYI: I included swatches on my hand (and I apologize for the poor photo quality!). Road to radiance is on the top and Trendsetting in Tokyo is on the bottom. I swatched the CC's first and then the shadows in the darkest to lightest in range.

The Road to Radiance is more of a day palette with neutral shadows and an eyeliner color and a more neutral convertible color. The e/s colors are: Snow Bunny (shimmery champagne/taupe, shimmery valley girl (pinkish taupe), southern belle (shimmery medium pink), and city chick (a beautiful very pigmented dimensional purplish taupe-bronze...the best of the palette). The CC is Hibiscus. This palette is worth it for the city chic shadow and Hibiscus alone! Hibiscus applies as a beautiful pink with a plumish undertone. This is a great natural palette for everyday for work or school. Shadows apply pretty sheer but are build-able. City Chick is very pigmented but blends beautifully. Great palette! I have been wearing this for work/school very frequently!

If you want some drama, like evening looks or experimenting with color...go for the Tokyo palette. I was drawn to the beautiful hot pink of the convertible color in this palette (Sakura)...it is beautiful on the lips. The eye shadows are vibrant and fun. The eyeshadow shares are: sake (gorgeous shimmery gold), kawai (a beautiful shimmery rose pink), shibuya (a deep matte midnight blue), and peace (a shimmery deep black). I love using sake all over the lid with shibuya on the outer lid/corner and lined with peace. Beautiful!

These palettes are worth it in price for the convertible colors alone! The CC's of both palettes are absolutely beautiful applied as a blush (and I must admit, of cosmetics, blush is a particular fav of mine...especially cream blush). As a lippie, the CC are great..and best with just a tad of gloss on top. :)

Overall a big rave!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

Sunscreens: My Picks for Ultra-Sensitive Skin

This is a topic you will see frequently on my blog, and a topic that I would love to get reader feedback on. I am ultra-pale with very sensitive skin that is normal-dry. My (facial) skin is "allergic" to chemical sunscreens and product fragrances. The main sunscreen ingredient that I have identified that I can *NOT* use on my face is Avobenzone (trade name Parsol 1789). It causes red/rash-like bumps on my skin. It is unfortunate because *most* drugstore or inexpensive facial sunscreens contain Avobenzone/Parsol 1789. This totally limits what is even available for me to try. Also, on a personal note...I have a family history of skin cancer and have lost a dear friend to Melanoma. As a girl living in sunny Atlanta who loves the outdoors, my need for a daily facial sunscreen is  essential. Not to mention the fact that sunscreen is the #1 ultimate anti-aging product.

My #1 Pick: Skinmedica TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer SPF 20:

This is the product that was recommended to me by my Dermatologist for my sensitive skin. I have purchased it at his office, skinstore.com, dermstore.com, and ebay (be careful-check for a reliable seller). It retails for $80 for 2 oz (whew! pricey). But, check for sales, coupon codes, and discounts. I never buy it full price. 

This product has gone through a number of reformulations over the years. My favorite formulation was when it did not have the "TNS" (and it was WAY less expensive then). I have been using this version: for the past few years. 

BUT, as I am writing this and adding links for you guys, I have noticed that they have reformulated/repackaged yet again...and it looks as if they have added "Parsol MCX"...oh no!!! I am assuming this is another name for Parsol 1789/Avobenzone??? Okay, OMG-I am freaking out! I will have to email the company to check and update you guys. If this ingredient is in fact a version of Avobenzone (which I suspect that it is)...then I can no longer use it. Nooooo! Why must companies change and reformulate products that we love??? Well, I will continue this review on the old formula (that you can still find online, just make sure to ask the seller to tell you the stamped expiration date, as I have had to return expired sunscreens that I have purchased online before). Either way, while I love it...it is way too expensive-IMHO. 

What I love about this sunscreen:

• no irritation
• lightly moisturizing
• does not clog pores nor cause breakouts
• leaves a nice finish on skin (not too greasy or dewy)...perfect base for makeup

When I know I am going to be outdoors, I up my SPF and wear Skinmedica Environmental Defense SPF30+. The finish on this is not nearly as nice as the TNS SPF, nor is it as moisturizing. But, it is worth it for the additional SPF when outdoors for sports activities or if you are just going to be in the sun for a few hours. FYI, it leaves a white-cast on your face (I am sure that the white-cast is way more apparent for people with a darker skin tone than me). 

Drugstore Sunscreens that have worked for me:

Eucerin Q-10 Sensitive Skin Lotion SPF 15

Eucerin Sensitive Skin Everyday Protection Face Lotion: SPF 30

These both work great as far as they do not irritate my sensitive skin nor cause breakouts...but, I still prefer the Skinmedica as it is more moisturizing and leaves a nicer finish (less greasy). But, on the pro-side...these are WAY cheaper than the skinmedica. 

Body SPFs:

For poolside (try to find some shade!) or outdoor sports:

Coppertone Sport Spray sunscreen SPF 30

I love the convenience and ease of application with a spray. Just be careful to cover all areas and rub in.

For my everyday body lotion:

Eucerin Everyday Protection Body Lotion with SPF 15 

Coming soon: Biore Skin Preservation Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF 30 review

I just purchased this and will be testing it for the next couple weeks. I have high hopes for this product (and fingers are crossed that I will love it as I have a feeling with the re-formulation of the Skinmedica...that I am going to need to find a new daily sunscreen). So far, so good with this one, but want to test it a bit longer before posting a review. 

I would love to hear what is working for other sensitive-skin people.

XOXO! 

Pammy

P.S. Please show support to the Skin Cancer Foundation

Can a hairbrush change your life? BrushLab review

So, can a hairbrush change your life? Probably not (I got your attention, right!); but, this brush sure will make drying and styling your hair easier and faster! After watching a glowing youtube review (thanks Michelle and Lisa), I had to try this out! In this case, the brush does live up to its hype!

This is the BrushLab Thermal Round Jumbo Hairbrush. I found my Jumbo brush at my local Ulta (with a coupon of course!); but, it is also available online at brushlab.com and amazon. This brush is HUGE (10 1/2 inches long, barrel diameter 2 1/2 inches not including bristles...I literally just whipped out the tape measure here). But, that is the beauty of it! I am someone with fine, yet very thick long hair. So, it normally takes *forever* for my hair to dry. Also, my hair is highlighted and somewhat dry and damaged. I really try to minimize the amount of heat that i put on my hair by air drying till about 80% dry and then finishing up with the blow drier and a brush.


Things I love about the jumbo brush:

• This brush probably shaves about 10 mins (at least!) off my total drying time. It does this because the brush is so huge and well vented. I can pull through large chunks of my hair when drying. 
• The ceramic core smooths the hair cuticle, provides great volume, and a nice "bend" to the hair. 
• I also love that this brush does not "tug" the hair. Your hair will glide through the bristles of this brush with ease. I believe this has minimized the breakage when compared to other round brushes that I have used because with this brush hair doesn't get "stuck" in the bristles.
• The grip: The handle has a rubber grip...no slippage when styling and very comfortable to hold and manipulate

I loved the jumbo brush so much, that I had to go back to Ulta for the (smaller) BrushLab Medium brush for my bangs. While the jumbo brush is great for the length of my hair, it is way too big for my bangs. The medium brush is perfect for styling bangs. The ceramic core retains heat; so, as I am styling my bangs, I let the brush "sit" in my bangs for a moment after brushing through to set the curve of my bangs. I have so much more volume with this brush rather than a standard round wooden brush.

FYI-my previous fav brush was the classic Aveda wooden paddle brush. I still think this is a great brush, but when I want volume and speed of drying...I will always reach for my new BrushLab brushes.

Honestly, I think the only drawback to the Jumbo BrushLab brush is that it is so huge that it would be extremely bulky to travel with. I also have had to get a bit creative with storage to get it to fit in my brush basket in my tiny bathroom.

Just had to share my raves for these brushes!!! Who doesn't want to simplify their morning routine and get their hair dry faster and with less damage!

Pammy :)

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Movie Trailer...

(Source)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: Nov 19th...Are ya'll ready for this??? OMG!!! I just got total chills watching this! Seriously! While I am eagerly anticipating this release...it marks the "beginning of the end"...my fav book and movie series is drawing to a close. Best. series. ever. period. As you Harry Potter fans know, there are dark times ahead! Stay tuned...I am sure I will have MANY Harry posts as the time draws nearer to the movie!

I need to get going on all my books that I am reading so that I can plan a FULL re-read of this novel as well as a full listening of the audio books narrated by Jim Dale. If you haven't heard Harry on Audio, those are a must!

Couldn't resist posting this tonite!

Coming soon:
Art Opening (Spruill Gallery) /Girls Night In (for Vampire Diaries)
Brushlabs review
Stila Travel Palettes Review

XOXO!
Pammy

Cheap Thrill: Essence Cosmetics (mini haul and review)

Looking for a "cheap thrill" makeup line? Check out Essence Cosmetics at your local Ulta store

I was soooo excited when I stumbled upon an Essence cosmetics display at my local Ulta a couple weeks ago. I believe this is a new line to Ulta (possibly within the past few months?). I am so excited that Essence is finally available in the USA!!!

Years ago a friend from makeupalley sent me some Essence cosmetics from Germany (an eyeliner and some shadows). Apparently, Essence has been a leading German cosmetics brand for many years (similar in quality and price to, say, Covergirl or Wet n Wild). The eyeliner that my MUA friend sent me (Kajal Pencil in the color 08 Teddy) quickly became my go-to eyeliner (that I reached for more than my MAC and Stila pencils). It was just the most perfect medium bronzy brown that applied and wore extremely well. So, needless to say, I used that eyeliner until it was so small I couldn't even sharpen it! I searched for a similar brown in other brands, but never quite found it. So, you can imagine my GLEE when I stumbled upon this Essence display at Ulta!!! AND...most of the cosmetics were 50% off, score! The line typically runs between the $1-$4 price point, which is great, but even better at 50% off! So, I grabbed my beloved brown Teddy Kajal liner, the mosaic powder, a few eye shadow quads, an eye shadow single, and two lip glosses. All the items together totalled to less than $10.

Check out my haul: Kajal pencil in Teddy, Quattro eyeshadow quads in Summer Love, and So Cool, XXXL Shine lip glosses in Super Girl and Glamour to Go, Mosaic Powder, and Eyeshadow single in Go All Girly

Thoughts on Essence Cosmetics:

-Inexpensive

-cute packaging, it is somewhat flimsy (but, hey, for the price, I am not complaining), but it the packaging looks very sleek

-Good quality for the price! I would compare to US brands Wet n' Wild or Covergirl

-nice selection of colors and products

-cant wait to try some other things from this line like the mascara (great MUA reviews) and the smokey eye kits (which contain a dark smoky shadow as well as a gel liner)

Preliminary review of products:

-Shadows are pigmented and apply and blend well (some are somewhat chalky, but generally a big LOVE here for the shadows). Great color selection. Tip: apply an eyeshadow base before shadows to help them adhere (I like the Mineral Shadow Primer by elf).

-Eyeliners: I have only tried the Teddy Brown Kajal liner...and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!! I will never buy an expensive eyeliner again. These pencils are perfect: creamy, blendable, and long lasting. And, what beautiful colors! Cant beat a $1 eyeliner that is high quality!!!

-Mosaic face powder: LOVE this one too! I swirl the colors together and apply as a bronzer with my EcoTools mini bronzer kabuki brush. It provides a subtle bronze glow to my face. There is a slight shimmer that is extremely wearable. You can also use an fan brush (i love the elf fan brush) to apply the cream/highlight color on the tops of your cheekbones for a highlight. It provides a beautiful finish for your face.

-Lipglosses: XXXL wand-style gloss: Nice texture, thick, yet not sticky and also moisturizing. The Super Girl color applies sheer and gives a nice pink glossy sheer color. The Glamour to Go color has a pigmented and metallic finish.

Cons:

-One of my shadow quads broke as soon as I opened the package, the pans were not glued in and came flying out and broke on my bathroom floor. I was able to return the product to ulta with no problem, but did not repurchase that particular color as I already had plenty of neutral quads from other brands. So, just a warning, open new products carefully and check the glue. If the pans hadn't shattered, then I would have probably just hot glued the pans back in myself.

-This may or may not be a con depending on how you feel about lipgloss scents. The lipglosses have a very fruity scent. I typically prefer no scent or a light vanilla or mint scent. So, this was a con for me. But, I will still continue to use and will likely purchase other shades despite the fruity scent.

Also, Essence has an online beauty forum that you might enjoy checking out: Essence Beauty Friends. It appears from browsing the Beauty Friends Board that the Europeans have much more selection! Lets hope that essence expands their US line!

Coming soon:

Stila travel palettes review

Brushlabs review

Art Opening/Girls' Night In!

*Updated to add swatches (per request):

This is the So Cool palette on the left and the Summer Love on the right

I underlined each palette with a Teddy Eye Kajal pencil

The colors show up really true-to-color on my *white* arm! LOL!

Oka-b Shoes Review: Love them!!!

I am so excited to be reviewing Oka-b shoes! Here are the most recent additions to my growing Oka-b collection:

They are the Stephanie, the Malia, the Lucy, the Annie, and the Madison.

These are my absolute favorite everyday casual shoes. And, literally, I wear them everyday. While my workplace is professional, the attire is casual and flip-flops are allowed "if they look like you purchased them at Nordstrom's" (my boss's rule: "Look cute"!). So, if you want comfortable and cute, these shoes are for you! Especially in the 90+ degree Sept heat in GA!

Interesting facts about Earth-Friendly Oka-b shoes:

• They are made of 20% recycled materials
• They are eco-friendly
• They are recyclable! Just send your old ones in to the company and they can grind them up to make new shoes!
• The messaging footbed is based on the principals of reflexology
• They are made of a microplast material that resists bacteria and is very easy to clean: actually, they are dishwasher safe!
• The shoes smell like vanilla...seriously! It is some sort of by-product of their production. Even after washing and wearing, they are still vanilla scented! LOVE IT!
• The shoes are very resistant to dirt...so, go ahead and go for those white flip-flops...they really will stay white!
• Oka-b shoes are durable...I have been wearing this brand for about 2 years now and have yet to have a pair show any major wear.
• All pairs retail between $20-$40: Available online at their website shoesthatloveyou.comor locally in fine spas and boutiques.
• They offer both flat and wedge type styles in thong or slide styles.

Best of all: they are Made in the USA!!! Right here in Atlanta, GA!!!

Here is the pair that I wore today!

and here are some "surprise" shoes for Mom (thanks Kelly!)

Clearly, I could go on-and on about these shoes. They are comfortable and cute. They are appropriate for work as well as dressier occasions. Oka-b even has a bridal line. The Madisons are awesome because you can change out the ribbon to match your outfit.

Check out Oka-b's blog!

Opportunity for free shoes!

Check out the Oka-b website: www.shoesthatloveyou.com and the facebook page as they are doing a pair-a-month giveaway, and frequently offer discounts when you subscribe to their facebook page!!!

Thanks again to my friend Kelly for introducing me to these great shoes!

Upcoming book release: Torment by Lauren Kate

I am so excited about this upcoming book release. I am a self-proclaimed "dork" when it comes to supernatural fantasy fiction! I just can't seem to get enough of this genre. What can I say, I blame growing up on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (which is still, IMHO, the best vampire series! Although, I do *heart* Vampire Diaries -swoon for Stephan!, Twilight, and True Blood!). Okay, I digress...I read Fallen a few months ago...and there was such a cliff-hanger, that I have literally had my iCal marked for the upcoming release of Torment on 9/28!!! As you can see below, I was drawn in by the cool cover art...but, beauty is not only cover-deep for this story. What a compelling and interesting read. And, certainly not what you expect...be prepared for some twists and being left with open-ended questions....this is not your typical vampire story, but something entirely different...you will be guessing...

Here is the cover art for her new book...hard to resist those fantastic dresses, right?!?! I don't want to say too much...as I don't want to post spoilers to Fallen...but, just know that I *can't wait* to read Torment.

Here is a link to Barnes and Noble for those of you who like to

order online. For me...I love browsing the actual store. :)

There is nothing like getting home with a fresh new book that you can just

lose yourself in for a few hours. Blissful!

I only have one promise to myself before I go out and buy this book...I MUST finish reading the Millennium series, by Steig Larsson (The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest) before I buy my next book! The Millennium series is *fantastic*...best literature that I have read in a long time, but way outside my usual genre. I will post my thoughts on that series as soon as I am finished. I am also in the process of viewing the Swedish films...so be on the lookout for upcoming posts! Definitely an intellectual read...compelling and dark.

You can find the Steig Larsson series here :

Link

Getting off my Steig Larsson tangent...you guys must check out the Fallen and Torment books by Lauren Kate!

XOXO!

Pammy

On-Trend for Fall: "Greige" nails

So, while scoping through my pile of fashion magazine...I couldn't help but notice reference to the "Greige" nails for Fall (if you are wondering grey + beige =Greige). So, while swinging into Walgreen's a couple days ago, this polish caught my eye. Its Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Polish. I have never worn Rimmel polish before, but wanted to try just for the unique color (plus, I had a coupon, score!). I love the color...its a true matte "greige"...and totally neutral and wearable. Love, love, love it! The color applies extremely well (no streaks). Love the square bottle-less slippage while applying...and it has the coolest shaped applicator (rounded and flat). Totally recommend this polish...and we will see how long it wears this week (the bottle claims "up to 10 days", which I highly doubt...but, lets see!).

Coming Soon:

Oka-b shoes review...

The Clothing Swap: A big success!

Here are some photos of the swap setup (before the guests arrived)...and some photos of some of the items I scored...

OMG! The swap was sooooo fun! There were about 12 ladies there total and we all left with some great "new" items. If you are thinking about having a swap yourself...you should do it! Clothing swaps are incredibly easy parties to plan/throw. If you would like some good swap party planning guidelines, check out "Buford Betty's" Swap tips. I co-hosted this swap with two friends plus we made use of Buford Betty's clothing racks (thanks girl! And, thanks to Jamie for hosting at her house, and Kara for organizing the evite, etc). I am so happy with the items I got...and I am even more happy about clearing some things out of my closet that I didn't want. Its funny, even though a lot of the girls there didn't necessarily know each other, as soon as you start swapping-it totally breaks the ice as we were all trying things on, "shopping", and drinking.

The snacks were a hit too. Mimosas, sausage balls (YUM! Kara!), veggie tray, and my Cheese Danish Squares. I got some requests for the recipe for that; so, I will post it here.

Cheese Danish Squares

Perfect for: Brunches, breakfasts, or other early gatherings.

Make and Take: Bake the day before and chill overnight. Cut into squares, cover, and carry.

Hands-on Time: 10 mins, total 40 min. Serves: Makes 24 squares.

Ingredients:

2 (8 oz) packages of refrigerated crescent rolls

1 (12-oz) container whipped cream cheese

1 cup, plus 2 T granulated sugar, divided

1 egg, separated

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I used pecans)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease or spray 13X9 inch baking dish. Line bottom with 1 package of crescent rolls and pinch the seams together. In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla. Spread the mixture over the dough in the pan. Carefully unroll the second package of crescent rolls over the filling. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white and the remaining 2 T sugar until foamy; brush over the top of the rolls. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nuts, if desired.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting into squares. Top with cool whip or whipped cream.

YUMMMY!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! I am still trying to figure out how blogger works (and how to insert photos into the text!). What can I say, I'm on a learning curve here. :) We couldn't believe how only 12 girls FILLED 10 clothing racks. There was a TON of stuff there. At the end of the party Kara carted all the leftover swap items to Goodwill.

Anyways great swap...so much fun! It was great to have a "girls" afternoon and hang out with some of my favorite ladies in the world (love you, mean it!). AND...I love the dresses, tops, and bags that I scored! What can I say...I have friends that have great taste! And, I have something "new" to wear to work tomorrow. WORD!

XOXO!!!

Pammy

Clothing swap!!!

I am so super excited!!! Two girlfriends and I are hosting a clothing swap today. Have you ever been to or heard of a clothing swap before? My friend Amanda (Buford Betty) inspired me as she hosts swaps at least once a year. The idea is that each guest brings at least 5 items of clothing (clean/dry cleaned clothing in good condition), shoes, or accessories. You set up your house like a "store" with clothing racks, trays for jewelry, and sort items into tops, bottoms, dresses. You can bring as much as you like and leave with whatever you like. Its not a 1:1 swap...just take what fits! I suppose if two girls want the same item...we could have a "walk off" to see who wins! We are having Mimosas, desserts, and wine for our guests. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! I have gotten some really great items in the past from swaps and have high hopes for today! This is such a great way to try out colors or styles that you might not have spent money on, per se. I will add pictures later to this post.