Monday, July 25, 2011

Things I Love: I Enjoy Being a Girl (or Summer Beauty Favorites)


1. Vichy Dermablend makeup: I've become obsessed with Lisa Eldridge's make-up videos lately - girl is a capital-P Professional! One of my favorites is this amazing video, where she basically real-life Photoshops away a model's acne. I've had acne issues on and off for the past three years (as teenager, nothing; I hit 23 and all of the sudden, it's zit central on my jaw bone) and this video was so amazing that I had to buy the magic makeup Ms. Eldridge used. I just got it last week and I'm in love - it works just as well as it does in the video.
2. "That Gal" makeup primer: I love Benefit cosmetics. Every item I've tried from them has become a favorite. I ordered a sampler that included That Gal makeup primer, PoreFessional primer, and Stay Don't Stray eyemake primer and already know that I can't go without That Gal. Not only does it smooth over any dry spots, it adds a bit of brightness. My makeup goes on so much better now.
3. Sephora foundation brush #47: Really love how soft this is, as well as how small it is. It makes it easy to get smooth coverage. Plus, makeup brushes are fun.
4. Kiehl's lip balm, coconut flavor: Best lip balm ever, no contest. Instead of constantly applying it throughout the day, I only need to use it 2-3 times a day. It's magic.
5. "Hello, Flawless!" powder foundation: The name pretty much says it. Another Benefit product I love to bits. And combined with That Gal primer, it doesn't look powdery or cakey at all.
6. Kate Spade Twirl perfume: a fresh summery scent. I haven't bought new perfume in awhile, so it's nice to have something to switch between from my standard Daisy (though I will never get rid of Daisy, it's my absolute favorite ever).
7. High Beam highlighter: The last Benefit product on my list, but one of my all-time favorites. It's good for days when I don't want to wear much makeup: a bit on the cheekbones and a bit on the browbone brightens up my complexion enough that I don't look tired. It's pretty great stuff.
8. Bumble and bumble Surf Spray: LOVE this stuff! It's meant to give you wavy "beach hair," but it also makes your hair a bit matte, so it covers up second (or third) day grease. It also gives my super-straight hair texture. 

Friday, July 1, 2011

Shopping Local, pt. 1: Of Dust, Steele, and Nurses in Foreign Lands

Ages ago, I mentioned Books of Yesterday, a used book store in Logan that I love dearly. I attempted to describe the stacks and stacks of the printed word that live there, but didn't provide any pictures. Fortunately, I had the afternoon off last Thursday and decided to spend it in the basement of my favorite local book shop.
This is the tower of books sitting in an "employees only" area of the basement (I've never seen an employee down there, so felt safe taking a picture). They seem to be books on their way out - even the amount of books headed to the recycling bin is kind of amazing.

The section that always transfixes me. How can there be so many Harlequins? How can there be so many sub-categories of Harlequins? How can I possibly find the most hilarious covers when there are several thousand to go through? It blows my mind to bits.
This is the shelf I concentrated on most - it had the most vintage Harlequin covers. Lots of nurses in foreign lands. A surprising amount of nurses in foreign lands. Nearly every other book about nurses in foreign lands.
A collage depicting my contempt for Danielle Steele: this is the reason the lowest Cover Judging grade awarded is called the Steele Pendant. Not only do these covers display no originality, their sheer volume (three very full shelves) indicate how much "Danielle Steele" cares for her writing. The cover's color may change, but I doubt the stories do (although, as previously noted, I've never once read any of the books I feature in Cover Judging).

This is the front quarter of the basement - it's quite long and narrow (and fittingly, the horror section is placed in the poorly-lit corner at the very end). Even with pictures, it's hard to display the magnitude of this place. It's seriously crazy. In the best possible way, obvs.
And less you think I wasted all my time in the romance section, I came home with The Complete Book of Sewing, copyright 1943! Along with about ten 1960s Harlequins, but that hardly matters, right?

**Update: I just found this video that shows parts of the top floor (sadly, no basement).