Clothing Review: Herve Leger vs. Pleasure Doing Business

Just a few examples of my bandage collection

The first two are Herve Leger. The last one is a Pleasure doing Business top and skirt.

So, yesterday, I received my Neiman Marcus order of the Pleasure Doing Business top. I originally bought this because the Pleasure Doing Business skirts are very nice.

Pleasure Doing Business skirts really really squeeze you in. In fact, they hold you in more than Herve Leger. Also, Pleasure doing Business skirts sizing is somewhat inconsistent. However, usually BCBG xs is the same as Pleasure doing Business xs. Sometimes, especially when the PDB skirt has a knit pattern, it runs smaller than BCBG.

So, in short, I really like Pleasure Doing Business skirts.

However, the Pleasure Doing Business top did not meet my expectations. :( It was extremely difficult to get on even though it was the right size, AND the fit just was not comparable. It smooshed down my chest unflatteringly, and had some extra room around my rib cage in the front EVEN though it was tight on....

If you want a killer bandage dress, my conclusion is to stick with Herve Leger or BCBG power dresses.

Charlotte Russe Special Jewelry Happy Hour $2

TOMORROW, from 6-7 pm, Charlotte Russe will have happy hour on their jewelry. $2 a piece! Don't miss out! Not sure what timezone as it was not stated in the email. :(

Tip: I get all my makeup for FREE

I get all my makeup and then some for free. Wonder how I do it?

Well, I transfer my prescription every month to a different pharmacy. It goes from CVS, Walgreens, RiteAid, Target, Kmart, etc. Each time I transfer, I take a prescription transfer coupon that gives me a (usually $25) giftcard. So each time I get my prescription each month, I also get a $10-$25 giftcard. With this, I purchase any makeup, shampoo, brushes, etc I may want to try.

Now, sometimes, it's difficult to find these coupons. Below is a tip:

1. Goto Bing.com 2. Search for: w-content/images/pharmacy/ site:riteaid.com

It will list coupons posted by riteaid all the way to 2008, just look through the search results, the latest one is usually on the 3rd page.

Best of all, CVS takes competitors prescription transfer coupons. So, you could just switch from RiteAid<--->CVS repeatedly.

The $25 giftcards rack up pretty fast. In fact, I still have over $100 in giftcards for drugstores in my wallet!

Great Find: Excellent priced Orange Lipstick

Milani Orange Gina on the left, Milani Mandarina on the right!

I don't know how long I've been looking for a lipstick that is very orange but costs less than $10. Either way, last week, I FOUND IT!

The problem is that most makeup companies just don't produce a color like orange. It's usually a muted coral, or a pinkish coral, or it's really sheer. And, the few companies that do: Like MAC Neon Orange or Bobbi Brown Orange are expensive.

Milani Orange gina is a true orange color, not sheer and has lasting power. Milani Mandarina is a BRIGHT orange color, not sheer either and also has lasting power. I got each of these for under $5.
Color applied matches the color that you see from out of the tube.

I love orange lipsticks. It somehow gives me a very healthy bright glow.

I believe Mandarina is being phased out; I cannot find it at all online. But, I was able to buy it from CVS just last week.

Shopping Haul: BCBG Bandage Power Skirts

So, this is just to show my BCBG bandage/power skirts collection or shopping haul. I bought all of these very recently. I love these skirts a lot. They hug your body beautifully.

BCBG makes them in sizes xs, s, m, and l. They are supposed to "hold you in" as well, and are supposed to take a little effort in putting them on.
Anyway, I would guess the xs is around a size 2. But, if you are smaller than that, don't fret, because this will still work due to how stretchy they are.



Here are just a couple of ways to wear them. Also, these can be pulled down to a few inches above the knee. Or, you can stuff a cropped shirt and pull the skirt all the way up to the bust line. They are VERY versatile and look so polished yet sexy!

These bandage skirts are very different from other bandage skirts from BEBE or Forever21. These are much higher quality, and you can tell just at a glance. The material is the same thickness and composition as my Herve Leger dresses! <-- By the way, I will be making a post about these later as well. :) 95% of my clothes cost less than $15. But the remaining 5%, I splurge on stuff that's WORTH it. These skirts are one of those things. For instance, both of those shirts in those pictures were each less than $7! 6pm has BCBG [power skirts at good prices. Check it out: 8/16-8/20 offer! BCBGeneration Up to 60% off! 6pm is usually the best site to go to where you can get all size options available and at SALE prices.

p.s. Had to crop my head out. JUST got out of the shower.

GAP online Sale

Additional 40% of your entire GAP order when you enter in code GAPMAGIC20.

Cat Fashion Show

This is funny... boy, do those cats look unamused...

Pictures are of a cat fashion show and are from The Gothamist. More pictures can be found there as well. They have an entire gallery.

To get a FLAT stomach

Everybody knows about sit ups and are so focused on the muscles: rectus abdominus and the external obliques. These muscles create those six pack patterns. But doing a hundred sit ups may still not give you a flatter stomach.

That's because the muscles that actually give you a flatter stomach are the transversus abdominus and lumbar multifidus. These internal muscles play the largest role in creating a flat stomach.

I personally don't like the look of a six pack on a girl, but a flat tummy is a must. And, the key to this is to exercise those internal muscles that I talked about earlier. It's called the vacuum exercise.

How do you do this? Well, it's REALLY simple.

1. Exhale all the air that you can.

2. Pull in your stomach as much as you can.

3. Hold for 10-20 seconds.

4. Repeat 3-5 times.

That's it!

Beauty Tricks

Can you imagine using this ordinary lipstick as a storage after you're done with it? Super chic, right?

So, I'm going to be sharing a few tips today that can save you some money!

Nails:
1. To dry nail polish in a hurry, spray nails with PAM Oil Spray.
2. To revive some old nail polish, put a few drops of nail polish remover into the bottle. Swish the bottle and you can use the nail polish!
3. Use hydrogen peroxide as an inexpensive nail bleach.

Skin:
1. To balance out PH, use a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar after washing your face.
2. Full strength witch hazel can be used as a toner or astringent.
3. For a great lotion, mix half lotion and half vaseline. It's better than plain lotion because vaseline is a moisture sealer!

Hair:
1. To prevent hair pins from falling out, bend one prong in a "V" about halfway up and insert in hair. It will stay.

NEAT: Finding a way to recycle fashionably!
1. Old lipstick tubes, thoroughly cleaned, are great for purse-sized pill boxes or for pins.

The Body Shop Sale: Today Only

Today only, the body shop online will offer free shipping to any order $15+. Also, use code: SCHOLAR for $5 off!

Neiman Marcus Online Sale: Extra 30% off Sale Items

Neiman Marcus is having a sale until midnight tonight, ONLINE only! Every sale item you buy will also have an additional 30% off applied during checkout. HURRY HURRY! It ends soon. If you're looking for a brand that rarely goes on sale, now's the time to browse!

I purchased the above Pleasure Doing Business top just last night. Some of the best prices for Pleasure Doing Business RIGHT NOW! If you love bandage clothing, check it out!

I love lemons!

mmm... I love lemons. For as long as I've remembered, I've loved eating lemons. They're the one food that almost ALWAYS makes my mouth water when I think about them.

Most people certainly don't feel the same as me.

However, no matter if you don't like eating them, they are still a wonder fruit! Not only can you use a lemon to get rid of pit stains by mixing it equal parts with white vinegar, or getting rid of that pesky cold sooner than later by eating a wedge, you can use it for beauty! I especially like it to get rid of colds. Homeopathic AND very organic. For me, and my hubby, it works WAY better than any of the stuff we get over the counter. Lemons and raw garlic are great to eat to get rid of a cold faster. Anyway, I'm getting way off topic. Back to beauty...

Now, I know the acidity level is high in lemons, but Reader's digest has confirmed that lemons are ok to apply directly to the skin.

Here are the beauty tips with LEMONS:

1. Lighten age spots, acne scars, freckles by dabbing directly on the spot and let it sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. Lemons have lots of Alpha Hydroxy and it can really freshen the look of your face.
If you have oily or combination skin, you can make a mask by mashing cucumber and lemon juice together. Using the juice only, apply over the face and let sit overnight. Then, rinse in the morning!

2. Dab lemon juice on blackheads daily to draw them out.

3. Get a manicure for whiter nails! Squeeze juice from 1/2 a lemon into one cup of warm water. Soak fingers in this for 5 minutes. Rub lemon peel back and forth on nails.

4. To get rid of dandruff, you can massage 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat this daily until your dandruff disappears.

5. For dry, scaly elbows: Mix baking soda and lemon juice to make an abrasive paste. Then rub the paste into your elbows for a soothing, smoothing, and exfoliating treatment.

6. Remove warts! Nothing seems to work? Next time, try this: Apply a dab of lemon juice directly to the wart, using a cotton swab. Repeat for several days until the acids in the lemon juice dissolve the wart completely.

Pretty Gucci Dress

I saw it on an ad for a famous Chinese actress and since then I've been wondering. It was my luck to bump into the exact dress today. I now know that it was part of the Gucci Spring 2007 collection.

Clothes From France

These are pictures from my trip to France... I must say that people there care a little bit more about fashion. The most popular shoe for women were knee-highs. And, the most popular pant were skinny jeans.

I took some pictures of the mannequins there.

Americans just don't care as much, it seems. We see a lot of regular t-shirts with ill fitting jeans. Some people in Monaco have a lot of $$$, and fashion was the MOST obvious there. It was hard to find a store that did NOT have Gucci.

Useful Phone Number

Don't have a smart phone, and trying to find a store?

Enter The Google number- Get FREE google right on your cell phone.

Are you looking for a particular store or a type of store, etc and don't know the area well enough?Here's the number you need--- Dial 800-GOOG-411

Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Gel VS. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

The most coveted primer of all time is the Urban Decay Primer Potion. But at $18 for one tiny .34 ounce bottle, it's also not exactly cheap. Plus, there are complaints that you can't get to all .34 ounces with the bottle design. You really can't find this product for less that $18 except for Ebay. But, Ebay can be shady for beauty products (expiry dates, already used eeww)

There IS a very good alternative. INSERT: Monistat Soothing Chafing Relief Powder Gel. This stuff works exactly the same. What makes Urban Decay Primer Potion and Monistat Soothing Chafing Relief Powder Gel work so well as a primer? Dimethicone. This ingredient is found in both of them and is the reason for why they are excellent primers.

I know, I know... the Monistat product is not intended for a primer.. but I tell you it WORKS and WORKS AMAZINGLY.

The Monistat product comes in a 1.5 ounce bottle. That is almost 4.5 times more than what comes in the Urban Decay. Plus, in such a large bottle at less than half the price, you don't feel like you're overindulging by using it all over your face.

I used this at my wedding last year. First applied the Monistat "primer", then my foundation, eyeshadow, etc. My blush lasted and never faded. My T-zone which is usually VERY oily did not require blotting AT ALL. And, my eyeshadow which always creases within 30 minutes stayed until I washed my face at night. My makeup looked like I had just applied it all throughout the night. oh, and on top of that, the air conditioning at my venue did not seem to be working!

The powder gel goes on so smoothly and velvety. It's hard to describe. The best price I found it for is on Amazon for $8.68, including shipping. Amazing price for how well it works. Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel 1.5 oz (42 g)

Diet Tips: Become and Stay Slim

These are tips to follow that I try to obey when I can to stay slim. Unfortunately, my job requires me to eat out a lot and in large portions (my industry is mostly male), and my husband really likes carbs for dinner.

Either way, these are very good tips to follow to get and stay skinny.

1. Keep your metabolism up: Get plenty of sleep, at least 8 hours a night.

2. Don't let your metabolism slow: Always eat breakfast. Try to never skip meals. And, treat yourself to indulgences every once in a while.

3. Avoid preservatives. Try to have freshly cooked items as much as possible. Freshly cooked items does not change to fat as efficiently as food with lots of preservatives. It's a common misconception to just count calories. Not all calories are created equal. Eating 500 calories worth of spinach is processed way differently by your body than 500 calories of cookies. It's a combination of quality AND quantity.

4. If you ate REALLY badly on a day, that night before you go to bed, boil a cup of water and squeeze the juice of a quarter wedge of lemon into it. Drink while still hot/warm. This lemon tea also does wonders to your skin if done for 3 days in a row. I don't advise doing it everyday. For an unfounded reason, I just don't feel comfortable doing this. Although, I know people who drink this every morning.

5. Eat 3 servings of veggies, 2 servings of fruit a day. Having citrus in your diet every day is beneficial if you are trying to lose weight. Grapefruit is especially effective.

6. Exercise. Even if it is 30 minutes once a week, it's good for your body. If you are trying to lose weight, it's best to do something aerobic and at a constant pace. For example, jogging at the same speed for 20 minutes. Also, for weight loss, it has been shown that running, ellipticals, and this sort of aerobic exercise is more effective than swimming.

Having more muscle/fat ratio produces a higher metabolism. Also, muscle has a greater capacity to keep the body hydrated. People with less fat stay hydrated easier.

7. Eat less at dinner than you do at any of your other meals. Only allow a small portion of carbs at dinner. No sweets for dinner either.

8. Eat till 80% full and STOP. Do not wait until you are very full to stop. 80% full feels like your stomach is comfortably satisfied (if this makes sense).

9. No eating 2.5 hours before bedtime. Sumo wrestlers actually eat a VERY large meal and immediately nap afterwards to build body weight. To be slim, there should be a good amount of time between food consumption and slumber.

10. Weigh yourself every morning. This will make you try harder to be healthy each day.

11. Drink lots of water. Forgo the juice and soda.

Most of the time, I'm not following these rules because my job/lifestyle do not permit it. But, if I see a pound creeping on, I refer back to these tips and keep my weight in check.

Outfit of the Day: Zoe Saldana and PAIGE JEANS!

This outfit is simple but looks REALLY cute. It includes a tight fitted shirt topped with a scarf. Every stylish girl has some nice heels. But, what makes this outfit look amazing are the JEANS, some perfect fitting tight straight or skinny jeans. Perfect jeans are hard to find and are a true necessity to any person's wardrobe. My very favorite brand of jeans are Paige. After discovering them, it has convinced me to donate all of my other jeans to Goodwill. Well, except for Frankie B. and J&company (both are dangerously low hipped jeans-- very sexy if worn with a shorter shirt) Yea, Paiges are that great and my FAVORITE!

The most noticeable thing about Paige jeans are that they make your butt look AMAZING! The jeans are not loud with a lot of pocket embellishment. You wouldn't know how amazing they are just by looking at them on the rack. The key to their success is the tailoring. They are made to make a woman's body look... like well, a WOMAN'S body! I always get compliments when I wear these jeans! :)

I've also had quality issues with Seven for Mankind, Joe's, etc. These jeans just stretch out over time (particularly Joe's), and I'm not going to spend designer prices for stuff that doesn't last. A five year old pair of Paige's have the same fit, and look of a new pair! Just make sure you don't change sizes! It's the best way to keep your weight down: Own Paige Jeans! lol
Even if their quality wasn't as good, their fit is superior for my body.

RATING for Paige Jeans:

Favorite Purchase: Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System

Last Christmas, my in-laws gave us a set of Sonicare electric toothbrushes. They work FAR better than traditional manual toothbrushes. My teeth feel as if I had gone to the dentist afterwards. I was so impressed that it convinced me to purchase the highly rated Clarisonic Mia.

If you follow any beauty blogs, I'm sure you've already heard about this brush. You should feel a difference from the very first use, eliminate any need for toner after washing your face, allows more effective absorption of all your skincare products, create a glowing effect, and the list goes on and on. In other words, get ready to have the best skin you've ever had since your toddler years! I even read from one woman that she loves her Clarisonic brush more than her dishwasher!

The first time you use it, you will realize that you have never truly washed your face... UNTIL NOW. The brush will be a light BROWN. eewww...
Just use this with your regular face wash and results should be apparent after just a few uses!

There are several different models. Mia, Classic, Pro, and Plus. Mia is a single speed. Classic is two speed but most owners only use one speed (the same speed offered on the Mia). Pro and Plus can not only be used on the face but also the body. But considering how lazy I am (probably will not have the time to use it on my body), I chose the Mia! Also, if you purchase a pink brush, a portion of your proceeds benefits breast cancer research. This is the one I picked because of this reason, and I'm hoping that the pink will deter my husband from ever trying my face brush. Get your own!!!

In the past, I've purchased the Pretika SonicDermabrasion. This brush feels very different than the Clarisonic Mia, and somehow my skin does not feel as clean using this. But, it is a cheap alternative and does do a good job exfoliating the face. The brush is quite a bit harder/rougher than the Clarisonic and the movement is more "bumpy", if that makes sense.



If you can lay down the dough ($135 and upwards), I'd highly recommend getting the Clarisonic brush over any other electric face brush. I've realized over time that some things really are worth their HIGH prices. I'm very frugal with my money, and I don't buy things without heavy research. I even research my $5 lipstick purchases! I figure things take up room and cost money; better to buy things carefully!

I bought mine from Dermstore as it was the best price. They will give you an automatic 10% off for setting an account with them and adding the item you want into your favorites before you purchase! Shipping is free and no tax on the Clarisonic facial brushes from Dermstore. OH! And, for a limited time, you get a free one year subscription to Vogue with any order.



My Favorites – save 10% every time you shop from you’re My Favorites list on DermStore.com

Rating for Clarisonic Mia Facial Brush:

Small Buy of the Week: Cost $1.79

I got this item on Ebay for a grand total of $1.79. That's including shipping mind you. It was a buy it now for a set of two tea steepers!

Many asians, including me, drink loose tea. This cancels the need for special cups and prevents tea leaves getting into your mouth.