Red Hot Tacoma

I can't believe I have gone so long without talking about one of my favorite places in Tacoma - The Red Hot. I am pretty sure that I have been going to The Red Hot at least 2 or 3 times a month since they opened just over a year ago and I just don't seem to get tired of it.

I proudly admit to loving hot dogs. I grew up on Fenway Franks and Kasem's natural casing hot dogs. I made the trek out to Nathan's on Coney Island whenever I could. I'd get a hot dog from street vendors in Central Park when guests joined me for my 'walk the tourists feet off' tours. The Red Hot has made it unnecessary for me to keep hot dogs in my fridge.

When the eatery opened, they had a menu of about 13 dogs (including turkey dogs, not dogs, bratwurst and polish sausage), and a handful of sides.. Now, there 13 dogs, 3 sausage/ bratwursts, 2 vegetarian options, and Italian beef sammies (the sides remain).

You can order a hot dog any way you like or add or subtract as necessary to their existing dogs. I like to mix it up by getting.a 6th Ave Strut (cream cheese, tomato and onion) with bacon or a Tacoma Boys BLT (bacon, lotta tomato and some mayo) with onions. I also love the Ruston Ragin' Cajun just as it is (andouille sausage, BBQ sauce, coleslaw and cayenne pepper), but I know MANY who love to throw a little bacon on that sucker.

Going 'low-carb'? Get the Naked Narrows (2 hot dogs on sticks served over a pool of ketchup and mustard). The Not Brat is a little mushy, but tasty. Overall, I'd always rather the all-beef hot dog they serve. Turkey dogs may have less calories but there's more sodium (also why I skip the turkey bacon). A hot dog or two a month won't kill you, but I just can't see how some folks have been able to survive The Gauntlet - all 13 hot dogs on side one of the menu eaten in order (a total of 15 hot dogs and 13 buns). Done it they have- one person completed it in less than 90 minutes!

Not only does this place have great eats, they're also a great spot for micro brew snobs. They rotate their handles a fair amount , but you'll.always find Vitamin R on one (Rainier Beer, for those not in the know). They also have a good bottle selection. In these trying economic times, the Red Hot is one of the best deals in town!

Brush-a, Brush-a, Brush-a!

In my early product slut-dom, I used whatever tools came with my cosmetics. If they didn't come with a brush, I used cotton swabs or my fingers. While I still rely on both of those tools, I have ditched the teeny travel brushes and too small blush brushes for the Real Deal. Now, my brush roll is as necessary to me as my small Chanel make-up bag (the current Desert Island collection, if you will).

As promised, here's the dirt on my new NARS brushes. First up is the large dome eye brush. It's good for doing a soft wash of color over my whole eye lid or you can load it up with dark shadow for a serious evening eye - one my friend Matt Brown refers to as "Hey, goth girl!" I love using this brush to blend after I do a multiple color application. It breaks up that powdery finish and gets any excess off before it migrates to your cheeks.

NARS has a new collection of Kabuki Artisan brushes. I saw the Yachiyo brush and had to have it, if only for the aesthetics of it. The handle is wrapped in black wisteria and the bristles are deeply rounded. I love the way it feels in my hand and on my face. I use it to apply powder blush mostly, but it's also good for highlighting, bronzing and blending. The $50 price tag may put most people off adding this brush to their collection, especially since I can't say this is better than every powder brush I've ever used, but it's SO pretty and it does grab color nicely while remaining soft on my skin.

I've saved the best for last- the smudge brush. Up until recently I had assumed that smudge brushes were all foam/sponge based. As I get older, I find those types of applicators drag on my lids - and we all know tugging on your eyelids is bad for them (at least I hope we all know that). This brush looks like a normal eye shadow brush, but the bristles are very short and rounded. It is so easy to use and allows me to get liner shadow really close to my lash line. It never skips across my lid or leaves blank spots in the teeny wrinkles. It's great for both precise application and for its intended purpose of smudging. Since I bought mine, I have seen that other companies make similar brushes (Smashbox comes to mind), so if you only purchase one makeup brush this year, get one like this!*

*Unless you're opposed to using animal fur in any form. These brushes are made of squirrel, goat and horse hair respectively. NARS cosmetics say they don't test their products on animals, but the jury is still out if the hair on their brushes is harvested humanely. If you're looking for good synthetic brushes, check with Urban Decay or Aveda. The Body Shop also makes synthetic hair brushes, but I find the bristles too smooth to grab color properly.

Are you still indulging yourself?

I got an email from one of the beauty message boards that I belong to asking if I was cutting back on my beauty spending due to the economy. I'm not, though I am cutting back on other luxuries so I can continue to spend what I do on products. I can spend almost $2000 a year on once or twice daily lattes OR I could buy one lipstick or mascara a week for the same money. (I know my friends with kids/houses are gagging over that amount right now.)



I guess I have economized on my cosmetic shopping by no longer buying color cosmetics anywhere except department stores and Sephora. I do dearly love the cosmetics aisle at Bartell's and Walgreen's, but ever since I found a skin care regimen that I both love AND use daily, I find myself blithely ignoring the siren call of the pre-pack displays and the L'oreal wall (and stunning my boyfriend by doing so). It's not that there's anything wrong with drugstore makeup- it's just that I am a sucker for the personalized service at the cosmetic counters of Nordstrom's.



As far as other beauty purchases go, I have always been pretty low-maintenance. I have never had. a blow-out, I don't do body-waxes, I only get facials twice yearly and I don't want or need Botox. I love to look at fashion but I don't need to buy it. .



What's your indulgence that you would never give up in a million years?

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Who's a NARS girl now? I am!

I've dabbled in NARS cosmetics about three times before now. I loved the color of my lip gloss in Scandal (a clear, juicy red) but didn't love the stickiness. My single eye shadow in Nightbreed is a versatile sparkly black, but I didn't like how the shadow seeped out of the case into my makeup bag. I saw this amazing red lip in a Sephora holiday catalog and had to have the lip stain/gloss combo in Indian Red/Moonfleet. Not only is this my absolute favorite lip stain ever, but the gold Moonfleet makes it easy to create a sexy little pout.

In fact, I loved this product so much, I was inspired to make my other NARS purchases work for me. A little lip balm under the lip gloss lessens the sticky factor without diluting the gloss color. Also, never chuck the protective film that comes with your NARS shadows and blushes. I know they are only meant to protect the product prior to purchase, but they work really well at eliminating product seepage and keep the included mirrors clean.

At the cosmetic trend show back in November, I decided to try the NARS counter for my makeup application. I had one instruction for my makeup artist: no Oompa Loompa line from the foundation. She assured me that she'd take care of me and indeed she did.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I am a natural dark blonde who currently rocks black hair. I love the makeup color options this hair color affords me, but I must admit that I'd been ignoring the warm colors other than peaches. My makeup artist revealed my error by giving me the most stunning smoky eye using coppers, bronzes and chocolates. I am 100 percent hooked on these colors right now!

Usually when I go to these trend shows, I already know what I am going to buy and usually get my planned purchases and perhaps one new thing that the makeup artist suggested. Not this time! Sadly, I committed the cardinal sin of the Product Slut and left my credit card at home (quelle horreur!) I asked my artist to write out all the products she used. At home, I went to NARScosmetics.com and dutifully ordered eye shadow duos in Isolde and Cordura, blush in Orgasm (though I swore I ordered Deep Throat instead) and an assortment of brushes.

Let's talk about Orgasm for a moment. I had long avoided this cult product for no other reason than I like to search out new stuff for myself. Well, like Benefit's Dandelion and Benetint, there is a reason that Orgasm is a cult product. This pretty peach perks up my complexion with ease. A little Orgasm, mascara and Scandal gloss gives you a freshly tumbled out of bed (you know-not after sleeping) look that I find irresistible.

I haven't even begun to go on about the brushes I got, but I'll save that for another day.

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Smashbox, you devil!

You know I go on and on about the cosmetic events at Nordstrom's. Well, I urged a friend to participate in their recent Smashbox photo event. You got your makeup done and if you spent $100 on Smashbox product, you could your picture take by the Smashbox professional photographer. I went with my friend for both emotional support and to help round out her purchases.

I really enjoy Smashbox products. They have the most comfortable lip glosses on the planet, but I hadn't tried any of their other color products. I went to their website to check out their current collection and stock items. I would be remiss if I didn't share that their Radiance eye shadow kit and lip gloss sets are screaming deals. If you have any holes in your eye shadow or gloss wardrobes, those would shore it right up!

At the event, they tried hard to get me to participate as well. Normally I would be all in, but I had to work all night afterwards and didn't want as much of a face as they would have given me. I was content to watch my friend get painted and try to convince a woman to skip pantyhose with her new peep-toe purchase.

My favorite moment of the day came when my friend's artist finished and handed her the 3x magnifying mirror. The brief look of shock and abject horror as my friend saw how much makeup (albeit really beautifully done) had been loaded on was priceless. I know we gave the artist a complex because we were laughing so hard, but it had nothing to do with her.

While my friend purchased a kit that came with cream liners, I bought a Lip Brilliance trio in Transparencies (nude, sheer cranberry and sheer brick) and an eye shadow trio in Viewfinder (peach, olive and champagne). I have huge love for the Lip Brilliance. The double sided lip-brush that comes with it is a cute idea, but they are so stiff that they get too much product on them. I am finding fingertip application to be the best method for getting that soft-but-shiny pout. The eye shadows are also lovely - I especially like the peach as a base color or for just an easy day eye.

By the way, my friend's photos came out fabulous.

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I guess it's rubbing off on him...

The other night, a friend of ours asked me how long it would take me to spend $100 on cosmetics. I said that I could do it in less than 15 minutes (truth? I could do it in 2 minutes). My boyfriend chuckled and said if I came home from a cosmetics shopping trip having spent ONLY $100, he felt good about it. Fortunately for me, he's the type of guy who LOVES painted ladies and complains that I don't wear enough cosmetics at once.

There are other benefits to dating a marketing slut. For instance, I'd seen a new product on the shelves of my grocery store Cough and Cold aisle that I just HAD to try. Sudacare Shower Soothers are these tablets that you put in your shower. As the hot water hits them, they dissolve and fill your shower with mentholated vapors - making your stuffy head and body aches from colds feel LOADS better.

My boyfriend is always getting colds and has chest congestion. He usually just whines at me about how bad he feels. Since I'm much more solutions-oriented when he's sick, I made him take a shower with one of the Soothers. He was a total convert after one shower. I didn't feel the same way. The tablet dissolved too quickly and did not supply near enough menthol aroma to work on my stuffy head. A week or so later, I noticed a very strong menthol scent while I was showering. Looking down, I found that my boyfriend had put the tablet on the inside tub ledge. Since it didn't dissolve as quickly, it worked so much better. In fact, one tablet can last through 3 showers if you keep it out of the bottom of the tub (a much better deal since it's $6 for 3 tablets).

If you're like me and you don't like to take medication unless absolutely necessary, I can tell you these Shower Soothers and then chicken soup for lunch work great at making me feel better. My boyfriend loves them so much he stocks up on them AND he insisted I review them on this blog. There - I've told the world for him!

Part two of the Sephora trip Reviews

In an earlier blog, I raved about Kat Von D's new lipsticks and how a friend bought her True Romance eye shadow palette in Beethoven. Well, I still love the lipsticks and my friend LOVES that eyeshadow. After admiring her eyes every Tuesday night Girl's Night since she purchased the palette, I decided I MUST have it myself. It's a gorgeous array of cool tones and sexy neutrals (navy blue, black, dark brown, a couple of purples, gray and a great pale yellow called Tequila). The entire top of the palette has a great mirror and it comes with two double-ended brushes for easy application. I don't usually like the brushes that come with palettes, but these make it easy to line your eyes and/or to amp up your day eye to a sexy smokey eye while you're on the go. They're not really ideal for covering your whole lid with color, but that's what fingers are for!

I'd also been admiring her Rock and Roll eye shadow duos, but finally got sucked in when I read the color name of one duo: Sixxshooter. My boyfriend is a life-long Motley Crue fan and Nikki Sixx is his man-crush (although he's a little taken aback by Nikki dating the very much younger Kat, but I guess that's rock and roll for you). I did buy it just for the name, but I would recommend it to anyone. It's a glittery grey and a silky gunmetal duo. Grey is THE eye color for this season, so it's a good buy. Again, there is a fantastic mirror in the lid of the duo that's as good for shadow application as it is for touching up your lips. The duo and a lipstick would fit in your pocket or tiny purse and you'd be good to go for the night!

There were also a bunch of new glittery lip glosses added to her collection. The Lightning Lip Glosses looked almost as glittery in the tube as Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Eyeliners, but like the eyeliners, they don't have a whole lot of glittery payoff. (Thank you, Sephora, for lip gloss testers!) I guess they're ok as lip glosses go, but I didn't feel the need to buy one.

Let me confess that I'm a lazy lipstick girl. I prefer a softer looking mouth to a sharp, precise lip. Therefore, I don't buy many lip liners (with the notable exception of my one Chanel lip liner that I bought because of the attached lip brush). Since I get weekly emails from most of the cosmetic companies, I've been wondering about the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On lip pencils. Since I have so many red lipsticks, I thought the brick red Gash would work well for me. Well, it sure does - there's quite a bit of pigment in the color and it does indeed glide on. It lasted through 2 ciders, a hot dog and three cocktails before I saw fading - and that was just me wearing the lip liner with lip balm to soften the color! I can't wait to see how it supports my lipsticks!

As stated earlier, I do buy many products based on their color name. I am a total sucker for a clever name and a good color. Nail polishes get me EVERY time. Now that Sephora has gone back to offering nail color in a big way with their Sephora by OPI Nail Polishes, I knew I was a goner. I bought It's All About Me (a softer hot pink), Opening Night (a dark, luscious navy shimmer), Never Enough Shoes (black with multi-glitter) and their base coat and top coat. Honestly, I'm not thrilled with them. It takes FOREVER to dry and too many coats to get the color that's in the bottle. I know I will keep buying them, but China Glaze Nail Lacquers are still the best value around.

Last, but certainly not least, I grabbed Stila's Convertible Color compact in Poppy. It's an orangey-red cream color that goes on easily. I loved the sheer wash of color on my cheeks and that I could build the color up deeper on my lips. Again, it has a great mirror in the lid so it's perfect for the girl-on-the-go.

I want to take a moment to talk about Sephora's Beauty Insider program. Like any frequent buyer program, you earn one point per dollar spent. Up until recently, you could only 'spend' 100 points at a time on a 'deluxe' sample. I like samples, but there hasn't been one that wowed me since I got the Hard Candy eye shadow single in Buttered Popcorn. Also, I NEVER spend less than $100 at Sephora (either online or in-person), so I kept my 'Beauty Bank' topped up all the time. Since I'm obviously NOT the only one who has a product problem, Sephora upped their game. Now, with a 500 point balance, you can spend it on a new 'gift'. I got a bare Escentuals travel palette with two brushes, a lip gloss, eye shadow, Mineral Veil and blush on this last trip to Sephora. I can't wait to save up more points!!

New Reviews from my latest Sephora trip! (part one)

Hooray! I have a bunch of new products to review! I had a blast with my girlfriends yesterday - we brunched and cocktailed and got into some retail therapy. None of them had ever been in an H&M before, so they had a great time discovering all the cute clothes with great prices (it made me nostalgic since I worked for H&M for 3 years). I did resist the temptation to buy tons of adorable accessories so I wouldn't interfere with my cosmetics lust money. Without further ado - the reviews:

Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter: I remember being excited when The Body Shop made lip butter versions of their popular Body Butter moisturizers. I wanted to love them; they tasted great and really moisturized. Unfortunately, they also turned your lips white. This would be cute if you were always rocking a 60's mod look, but who does that every day? The Greek company Korres has solved the problem by providing sheer or clear lip butters. The Pomegranate flavor is a sheer coral. The flavor isn't too overwhelming and it is VERY moisturizing. Because there is some tint to it, be careful to apply when using a mirror. Only the clear Guava flavor can be rubbed liberally over your whole mouth like a Chapstick.

Philosophy's Not The Pits Cherry Cola Shower Gel: Philosophy has the yummiest smelling bath/shower gels. They smell as real as Jelly Belly jellybeans taste. I know I've smelled every scent they have in the store, but it ended there since there wasn't a fragrance that I thought I could tolerate for a month or so in the shower (I'm talking to you, Egg Nog Latte and Licorice!) Then I smelled this cherry cola shower gel and was hooked immediately. It smelled like a cherry coke from an old-fashioned soda fountain, not like Wild Cherry Pepsi or Cherry Coke. In my shower this morning, a small amount gave mountains of creamy lather in my bath pouf and my skin feels very soft even hours later. I may have to go back and get the lotion, but I think I'll skip the lip gloss version. Philosophy lip glosses look lovely on but taste plasticky to me. Bleargh.

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil on the Go: As promised, I DID get the Mineral Veil on the Go. As I'd hoped, it DOES solve all the portability problems I've always had with bare Minerals. The cap seals tightly, the flow-through brush dispenses product easily and it doesn't leak powder all over my purse. It's very exciting. Word to the wise: the product's box states that the product is non-refillable. This is NOT TRUE (and shame on Bare Escentuals for saying so, especially on a product with 'limited edition' status). The sales associate assured me at the time of purchase that it was indeed possible to refill it by turning the product brush-side down, tapping it against the counter to shift the powder to the bottom, then carefully unscrewing the clear plastic bottom in a counter-clockwise motion. Voila - a new beauty tool!

Tomorrow: More from Kat Von D, Stila and Sephora Nail Lacquer by O.P.I.

Did they really listen?

Ages ago, I complained about the lack of true portability with the bare Escentuals products. Well, they may have come up with something!

Sephora and bare Escentuals announced a new product: Mineral Veil On the Go

I am cautiously optimistic. I hate powder leaks in my purse more than anything. This Saturday, I'm heading to the new Sephora at Southcenter. If Mineral Veil on the Go is available, I may have to purchase it and get back to you.

I hope I'm not like them....

I don't know who reads this, but if you've ever clicked on any of the blogs I read, I hope you've noticed notalwaysright.com. I swear that this site is as necessary to me as my morning coffee. I read the stories of customer/sales associate interaction gone awry and think, "Well, at least my day won't go like theirs did!"

Since I've been a product slut for as long as I can remember, I started working as soon as I was old enough to earn money for my Kissing Slicks and Raw Silk Designer Imposter perfumes. My early experiences in customer service involved working in a Hallmark store, then scooping gourmet ice cream. It was at the ice cream store that I first dealt with completely irrational customers.


It was tedious explaining to tourists that a milk shake in New England is just syrup and milk; you need to order a frappe if you want ice cream in your beverage. I could tolerate the 10,000 times I was asked "What's in creamcycle ice cream?" (orange sorbet and sweet cream ice cream). But to have someone throw a cone of pistachio ice cream at me because "It's not green! Pistachio ice cream is green!", well - that was just ridiculous. I threw the cone in the trash and told him, "Pistachio ice cream is only green if you put food dye in it. We don't use artificial colors and flavors in our food. If you would like GREEN pistachio ice cream, you are free to go to Brigham's next door and get it - but you might like to know that their pistachio ice cream has only walnuts in it. "


A woman who always wore gloves would come into the drugstore I worked at about once a week. She'd hold all her purchases in her arms and read the prices to you. If you touched ANYTHING, she'd put it back and get a different one. You couldn't put anything in bags for her, either. I just couldn't understand it - every single item in the store was handled by tons of different people. Why were only the cashier hands too dirty to touch her items?


The weird customers were always good for a laugh, but the rude people and the thieves were really hard to take. Women would leave their kids in our drugstore while they went to the grocery store without them. Other women would let their toddlers knock all the pantyhose eggs out of the display while they shopped leisurely on the other side of the store. I can't tell you how many times lost and crying children would come to me to find their mom, then we'd find the mom in a store ACROSS THE STREET.

At a home store job, one woman specifically told me that she was buying these fancy sheets for her 'hot date' that night. She brought the sheets back the next day in all their hair-covered, wrinkled glory and was angry that we wouldn't let her return them. Another woman tried to return a toilet seat that was broken - after she'd been using it for a whole year (according to the date on her receipt)! When I called my boss to explain the situation, he freaked out and screamed "Don't touch it and don't let it touch anything else!", ran downstairs and let the customer know in no uncertain terms that she could take her used toilet seat right back to her house.

With that, I'd like to take a minute to explain some customer do's and don'ts - at least as I see them.

Don't raise your voice, curse at the staff or threaten violence. The minute you start yelling, the staff stops hearing you and is less likely to help you.

Do politely ask for a manager or supervisor immediately if you're trying to get a refund. This will save you and the underpaid cashier from unwanted stress.

Don't poop in the fitting room. Don't pee in the fitting room. Don't leave your used feminine hygiene products in the fitting room. I know it's a small room with a door, but it is NOT a bathroom.

Do pay attention to your bodily functions and use a public restroom BEFORE you have an emergency. This especially goes for mother's with small children who are potty training. If your child is saying "I have to go potty!" twenty times in a row, drop the items you're shopping for and get that kid to a potty before he goes on my floor.

Do return faulty merchandise to the store within 10-30 days of the original purchase. If something is still under warranty and breaks after 30 days, then DO contact the manufacturer about getting a replacement. Most times, the store didn't manufacture the product that you purchased, so they are not responsible for long-term maintenance.

Do read and make sure you understand the store's return policy/the warranty rules/terms of use etc. etc. It will save everyone headaches if you know what you're responsible for.

If you are unhappy or disagree with a company's policy, don't harangue the underpaid cashier/customer service agent. Do ask for a manager or write a letter to the head of the company. As long as your request is reasonable, it will almost always work.

Do plan your time well when shopping. I promise you that you would not like it if I prevented you from leaving work for 30 minutes to an hour after you were supposed to stop working. Please have the same respect for other people's schedules.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Nordstrom's Fall Cosmetic Trend show is here! For those not in the know (or who haven't read previous blog entries), Nordy's does two cosmetic trend shows per year. For a very reasonable $15, you get the runway show, a tote bag or cosmetic trunk filled with breakfast and free samples, and a free makeover at the cosmetic counter of your choice (by appointment). Sometimes, if you time it right, you can get a mini-facial from the Philosophy people before you get your makeup done. Then, they'll take $15 off your cosmetic purchases that day. It's lovely!

This year, I'm getting my makeup done at the NARS counter. While I am passionate in my love for their lip stains, blushes and eye shadows, I'm a little nervous about their foundations. If they are as pigment-heavy as MAC foundations, I don't think I'm going to be happy. Ah well - one must experiment!

My new toy!

I finally bit the bullet, cashed in my upgrade rebate and bought the dataphone I've been coveting: the new Blackberry Curve 8310 in Sunset Red. (Of course, I did this and a few weeks later T-mobile finally releases info on the G1, which incorporates all the features I orginally wanted. Oh well, such are the risks of being too grabby!)

Despite the lack of a touch screen and a sliding keyboard, I love my Blackberry. Now that I have one, I don't know how I lived without a full QWERTY keyboard for so long. There was little to no ramp up time for me to figure out how to use this phone, although all the phone numbers bunched up on the left side of the phone took some getting used to. (Hey, I'm left-handed. I want everything to be on the right side of the phone!).

I love the media capabilities of this phone. Do I miss that I can't take video? Not for a second. I have a fancy DSLR that can record oodles of video that I never use for that purpose. I've never used the video feature on any other phone, either. The photo quality is pretty good (although you need a VERY steady hand), but again, I don't take all that many photos with my phone. I am most excited about the MP3 player and the expandable microSD memory. I was finally able to reuse the old ringtones I created for my beloved Motorola V360 that I lost a couple of years ago. Now when my boyfriend calls me, I can hear 'Stare Too Long' by Corrosion of Conformity - which you'll never find on any ringtone service provider. Still, I appreciate the immense variety of pre-loaded ringtones that came with the Blackberry - specifically Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor (my all-time favorite classical piece). Also, the phone actually came with stereo headphones instead of one monophone earbud. Handy!

I noticed that the batteries were draining REALLY quickly - a fully charged phone in the morning was dead by the end of my workday. I started carrying a data cable so it could be charged up from my CPU, but just changing one setting really saved my battery life: I keep the backlight brightness at 10 instead of 100 (even though the screen looks so sharp and pretty at 100). I also make sure I actually turn apps OFF instead of just backing out of them. Now a fully charged phone keeps a charge all day long - even with all the phone calls/email pushes/text messages/game playing/music listening I do, I come home with a phone that doesn't need to be charged until bedtime!

Of course, the Product Slut in me would be remiss by not talking about my most favorite 'feature': the color. It's the most perfect nail-polish-esque red. Online, it looks like it might be orange, but it's really a metallic red that I am completely smitten with. Even though I protect it with a silicon case, I can't resist pulling it off to show off the shiny red back. It's divine.

Maybe I can wait for the G1 to evolve a little more. After all, it's a functional black. Maybe by the end of my 2 year contract they'll have one in Sunset Red!

Someone knew I was a product slut...

... so they sent me something I was actually coveting to review! I knew if I kept myself pure that good things would come to me! (Well, relatively pure...) I actually gasped when Allure magazine wrote that they were sending me a sample of the newest Chanel mascara for my review. Joy!!!

Chanel 'Exceptionnel' mascara is touted as providing 'intense volume and curl'. They have a new six-sided brush. Three sides of the brush look like very short eyebrow brush bristles and they alternate with three tiny combs. The specific instructions for applying it are similar to my own method for applying mascara: put mascara wand at base of lashes and roll out to the end of your lashes (I've always done this to make my lashes look incredibly long.)

Now, I love curling mascaras as I don't always have time to use an eyelash curler. I also love Chanel Inimitable mascara, so I felt sure I would adore Exceptionnel. Sadly, I was really underwhelmed by Exceptionnel. One coat gave okay coverage and okay curl, but two coats became a glommy Tammy Faye-esque look. I had to attack my lashes with a comb to de-gunk. When I'm spending $26-27 dollars on a mascara, I don't expect to have to wipe off most of the product. It just seems a waste.

Also, I'm not a fan of these huge brushes anymore. I just don't find them handy. They don't get the tiny inner lashes well at all and I seem to accidentally brush my eyeball instead of my lashes at least once during the application process. (I would just like to point out that this NEVER happens with my Chanel Inimitable.)

I still love Chanel, but I'd suggest you spend your hard-earned mascara dollars on Inimitable over Exceptionnel.

Would you like some cheese with that wine? (Yes, please!)

Who knew that one day I'd covet a stainless steel cookpot as much as the new Givenchy mascara? Or that I'd lust after a Cuisinart electric kettle? I guess I just love all things new & shiny...

My equally product-slutty friends and I are always on the lookout for something fun to occupy our time. Thanks to some word of mouth, we discovered cooking classes at the Urban Gourmet - specifically a Soft Cheesemaking class! The first session filled up so quickly that a second session was added. We jumped on that second class as soon as it was posted!

As luck would have it, it was also the first Seahawks breakfast of the season at the Beach Tavern. They only serve breakfast on days that the Seahawks play early away games on the East Coast (10:00 am PST). They also make the best chicken fried steak I've ever eaten in my life! The 5 of us that took the class met there first for breakfast (and for Seahawks trouncing) and then went on to class.

The teaching kitchen at Urban Gourmet is really fantastic. Huge cement counter, comfortable seating for at least 15-20 people, mirrors and closed-circuit flat screens to see the chef at work and a warm atmosphere. We were handed two packets when we checked in; one held cheese recipes and the other was a glossary of cheesemaking terms and other tips and tricks.

Chef Hope Sandler taught the class. She was very personable and really determined to educate a group of people who could easily have disintegrated into foodie discussion. Not only did she demonstrate cheesemaking, she gave real tastings of cheese she'd made herself. We smooshed, tasted, smelled and enjoyed her Farmer's cheddar, mascarpone, cottage cheese, ricotta and chevre. Wine, fruit, breads, salsa and preserves were also served to bring out the flavors of the cheeses.

As a class, we made three soft cheeses. One team made Farmer's Cheese (a very citrusy dessert cheese) and the other made Queso Blanco (a very mild white cheese). They were ridiculously simple to make and tasted heavenly. She also started a mozzarella cheese for us, but due to the over-pasteurized milk it was a little difficult to get a stretch on the cheese. (It still tasted good.)

Now that I have a recipe and the skillz for making ricotta, I am next taking a pasta making class so I can make a completely-from-scratch lasagna!

If you're interested, visit www.urbangourmettacoma.com for class schedules.

Gari of Sushi is back!

I sometimes miss the sushi dining options I had when I lived in Manhattan. I had my favorite sushi delivery place, my favorite 50% off for dining in sushi place, the place I lost my sushi virginity to, and oodles of other options. Now, Tacoma is no slouch when it comes to sushi (Twokoi, Sushitama, Fujiya, etc.), but less sushi shops equals more expensive sushi for all. This is all the more reason why I'm thrilled that Gari of Sushi has opened for business once more. It's not that Gari is less expensive than other local sushi joints. It's that their rolls are so spectacular you don't even bat an eye at the price!

We made our triumphant group return to Gari for a friend's birthday dinner. I don't miss the old McDonald's yellow-and-red paint job. The new dining area that replaced the tatty old bar is really lovely. The new menu is free of poor typos and full of mouthwatering pictures of special rolls. Do not miss the Geisha Roll or the Tokyo Rose roll! They are as heavenly to look at as they are to eat! I was able to fill up on as much plum wine as I wanted (and still be able to walk out unassisted).

If you love raw fish - or are an adventurous foodie - please visit Gari of Sushi. You won't be disappointed.

Mmm... beer!!!

Part of being an inveterate collector is keeping a running inventory of things you've tried. I'm getting older, so these things move in and out of my brain at random, but they're all in there. Sometimes you just have to stir the pot.

I didn't try beer until I was twenty. I know that there's a picture of me sucking on a beer bottle at age 1, but forgive me if I don't recall the taste of that Michelob. Part of growing up Mass-hole means drinking tons of Bud Light - is it any wonder that I stuck with Bartles & Jaymes and Seagram's? As soon as I was legal, I started drinking hard liquor. I was the queen of Tequila, but I'd been known to dabble with vodka and bourbon as well.

When I visited England right before my 22nd birthday, a new friend asked what kind of beer I drank. I made a face and said that I stuck with hard liquor. We were on our way to a pub, so he told his son what to order for me. At the pub, I was served a half-pint of John Courage Director's Bitter and a shot of clear whiskey. From that first sip of bitter, I was a beer convert. I then downed two pints of Tetley's 6X and had to be helped to the car when we were leaving.

At home, I discovered Sam Adams, Bass, Harp and Guinness. Nothing could compare to the warm, malty beverages I drank in England. I tried Belgians but couldn't get past the baked bean taste (yes, everyone else tastes bananas. I taste baked beans. Chill.) I did like the lambics and could put a serious hurt on them. A bar in NYC carried my beloved John Courage, so I could get my fix now and again.

Throughout this time, I was still pretty much on cocktails. My standard was bourbon and ginger, but I would try any girly cocktail on a menu. Then I went to visit the PNW.

Fortunately for me, I arrived just in time for Christmas in July. All the local taverns had their strong winter ales on. Ebenezer, Jubelale, Jolly Roger - here were the caramelly, malty ales I loved so well. I drank my fill, but also furthered my beer education. I discovered IPAs, browns, stouts with real flavor and barleywines. I learned that craft beers can age and get better. I discovered Stone Brewery, which makes all my favorite beers now. I learned that ciders don't have to be inspid and flavorless. My cup runneth over, literally.

That's why I look forward to the annual beer fests at my favorite tavern, the Parkway. Every April, there's the monster Barleywine fest. Every August, the huge IPA fest. The night before Thanksgiving, they put on all the biggest winter beers they can find for 'Honey, the Parkway Ruined my Thanksgiving' event. Every month there's something new and every month I add a new taste to the index of flavors in my mind. This past Saturday was the 3rd Annual IPA fest. While I was disappointed that my favorite IPA wasn't on (Stone Brewery's Ruination), I was more than pleased with the hop-tastic Russian River Pliny the Elder and the honey-licious Full Sail Son of Spot. Round that out with some spit-roasted prime rib and/or pulled pork sandwiches and you have a perfect day.

Really, I'm spoiled for drinking opportunities in this town - not only for beer, but for cocktails, wine and coffee. I do collect everything. You'll have to read more about one of my favorite collections - opportunities for fun and tastiness in Tacoma.

Allure Magazine... you cunning temptress!

I've always loved magazines. Allure, Marie Claire, In Style, Cosmo, Glamour... I can't miss a single one each month! Allure has consistently delighted me with their devotion to products, but they've really outdone themselves this month!

First, a whole month of delicious giveaways? Are you trying to thwart my work ethic? Then, telling me that there are new adorably packaged Harajuku fragrances by Gwen Stefani, a new mascara by Givenchy and previously-only-available-in-France Chanel cosmetics up for grabs? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

Get ready for my madly clicking keyboard, Allure!

Holes in my cosmetic wardrobe...

My sister always gets mad at me because I make a huge Sephora trip right before my birthday and she ALWAYS gets me a Sephora gift card. I explain that there are ALWAYS more cosmetics to buy!

Sometimes I get in cosmetic purchase ruts. I do feel that one can never have too many lipsticks or lip glosses. I don't buy blush too often because my cheeks are naturally pink. I'm committed to my foundation brands. What am I missing? Portable eyeshadows!

When I first got into bare Minerals, I bought a whole bunch of their eyeshadows. I love their versatility, but loathe that they're not very portable. Eyeshadow singles are also not ideal for me, but sometimes I can't resist the packaging or the color. (Urban Decay and Hard Candy, I am talking to YOU!) I'm trying to resist carrying 30+% of my makeup wardrobe in my purse all the time (really not easy for me). What's a girl to do when making the work to play switch as often as I do?

Bless Pop Beauty for coming to my rescue! I first saw their eyeshadow wallets when a girlfriend purchased the 'green eyes' kit. I looked at all of the kits they had and was finally seduced by the "Day to Play" palette. (How handy!) 24 eyeshadows in mattes, sheers, shimmers and brights for any possible look I could want, all secured in a shiny silver wallet. It fits perfectly in my purse and came with a double-ended brush suitable for lining and blending. I also loved that the packaging came with a couple of paint-by-numbers-esque looks for people who are too hesitant to blend colors (or just new to the whole 6 shades of eyeshadow application method). It hasn't left my bag since I bought it and even came in handy on my friend's wedding day! I've also finally realized my dream of carrying less than 10 beauty items in my purse! Go me!

OH, I so can CAN-CAN!

As promised, I need to tell you about the Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret located at 1st and Pike (downstairs from the Crumpet Shop) in Seattle. I'm all for trying new things and it's even better when they involve happy hour!

I am somewhat of a Francophile and am not ashamed to say that 'Moulin Rouge' spoke to the weakest part of me. Yes, I love Toulouse-Lautrec. Yes, I got the Green Fairy. Moving on, the Can Can looks like a basement bar in the Place de la Pigalle. Cosy, dark, maroon fabric every where and a tiny stage for the cabaret/burlesque shows they do. They open at 4:30pm and happy hour is in the bar from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Reservations for dinner and the show are strongly recommended. All the small plates on the happy hour menu are $3.99 each. There are drink specials, but I'm famous for ignoring them in favor of an appetizing cocktail list.

The rule amongst my friends is that no one can order the same cocktail for the first beverage. This is so we can taste all of them. Repeat orders are allowed after the first round. I am ashamed to say that I remember none of the names and only have vague impressions of them because I was captivated by the extensive bottles behind the bar. Really, who carries madeira on a regular basis? I ordered my first beverage purely because they used egg whites in it and I've always wanted to see what the bartender bibles were on about. I spied a bottle of Pimm's No. 1 and ordered a Pimm's Cup for my second round. The bartender further impressed me by asking if I took my Cups with ginger ale, 7-up or soda. I LOVE them with ginger ale and was completely satisfied with the very spicy ginger ale they chose.

We were so pleased with our experience that we're planning to attend dinner and a show with our SOs later this summer. Hooray for Can-Can!

New Acquisitions

Ever since I moved out to the PNW, I've celebrated my birthday by heading into Seattle with my lady friends and spending loads of money at Sephora. This year was no different, although I did outdo myself.

Kat Von D (of L.A. Ink fame) has a new eponymous cosmetics line that's exclusive to Sephora. She's got a set of makeup brushes, liquid eyeliners in 6 shades, 2 eyeshadow palettes and 4 lipstick shades. One thing that I've always noticed about pretty rocker girls is that they have the BEST lipstick shades. I was not disappointed when I tried her Painted Love lipsticks at Sephora. Creamy and slightly matte, they wear well and actually have enough pigment to make a really good lip stain. I purchased the blood red Hellbent and the brick red Misfit (it's described on Sephora as 'rum raisin', but there is quite a bit of red in it). The packaging is great, with silver tattoo-style roses against a black tube. I feel they're well worth the price of $18, especially since they're as pigment-rich as the $24 NARS lipsticks (NARS does have MANY more colors, though). My friend purchased one of the True Romance eye palettes in Beethoven - 8 pans of gorgeous blues and purples with jet black and pale yellow thrown in for good measure. I was unimpressed with the Autograph liquid eyeliner shades and their $16 price tag. I prefer more versatile products and would rather get $4 Prestige liquid liners from the drugstore.

Am I ever going to be too old to appreciate Urban Decay? This line seems to cater to teeny bopper goth chicks like my 17 year old cousin, but I cannot help loving some of their product! Their Deluxe Eyeshadows ($18 each) come in the most adorable packaging with a great mirror for applying. (Similar to NARS single shadows, great mirror but no applicator.) With deep turquoise blue being my signature color of the moment, I snapped up the tin of Peace in a hurry. Each tin has a different design. Who could not want to collect them all? As for the shadow itself, I've found it easy to go subtle or bold with the amount of product I apply. Too much fun!

Speaking of being too old for things, I know I shouldn't be buying glitter eyeliners at my age, but who can resist the Too Faced glitter liners? They're infinitly better than the Urband Decay Heavy Metal liners because Too Faced cared enough to make the carrier gel the same color as the glitter (see my earlier blog regarding the amazing 'Drunk Dial'). I just HAD to get the fantastic pink 'Super Freak' liner!

My boyfriend co-opted my Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, so I was entirely out. I decided to try the Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair Beach Waves Spray ($22). I'm digging it because of the UV protectant and that it's slightly less sticky than the Surf Spray, but I am definitely NOT digging the coconutty fragrance that reminds why I stopped using that John Frieda Ocean Waves Sea Spray. Bleargh!

I grabbed a new set of red Tweezerman tweezers so I can send my silver pair in for sharpening. I also purchased a wire hairbrush which they say is good for superfine hair that tangles easily. So far, so good.

Checkout at the Sephora is always tedious, but their new Maze O' Impulse Purchases is the Devil incarnate. I resisted the small size tubes of Smashbox Photofinish and the travel sizes of Frederic Fekkai Glossing Creme only to be struck down by the on10 Dr. Pepper Original lip balm with SPF 15 tin. The metal tin holds tons of product and since there's no print to wear off of it, it'll be ideal to refill with lipstick ends or homemade gloss.

Whew... not only did I acquire tons of new product, but I found a new place to drink in Seattle. More on that tomorrow....

Do I buy EVERYTHING I see?

Astonishingly, I do have some limits. My boyfriend would raise his eyebrow at this, but it is true. For example, I'm not an extreme technology hound. I don't own an MP3 player or any video game systems. We're still using the same TV set that my boyfriend's had since he was 18. An entertainment system is something we'd like 'someday', but it's currently ranked lower than getting a new sofa or a new bed. Our desktop is ancient and desperately needs upgrading, but it's just not the number one priority. Since we love to take pictures of the bands we go to see, we bought a very nice digital camera with our Christmas slot machine jackpot. It's already not the most state of the art camera, but it will last a long time and can grow with us. I do like cell-phone technology, but I cannot bring myself to pay more than $250 for a phone - and I haven't even done THAT yet!

Speaking of cell phones, I am a T-Mobile girl. I'm hooked on their customer service for sure. Since my town house is the black hole from which no T-Mobile signal is available, I rely on the HotSpot@Home service so that I a) get cell phone reception, b) don't have to have a land line, and c) can call 911 from my cell phone while I'm in my home and actually get found. My only wish is that the selection of the data phones compatible with this service would improve. I know I'm lame, but I'd rather have a T-Mobile Wing or Sidekick that worked with HotSpot as opposed to the three Blackberry phones that are currently available. I guess a girl can't have everything!

Hmmm... what else don't I get sucked in to? Oh - digital books! Ok, the Amazon Kindle is a cool idea, but I don't think I will EVER be able to get into reading in a purely digital format. I like to read blogs and articles online, but 600-1000 page books? No thanks. I want the heft of that book in my hand. I want to smell the paper and turn the pages with my fingers. The Kindle is ONLY good for downloading books. It doesn't do anything else. If it were a phone or had crossword games on it or could play music, I'd be a lot more interested. Until that day, Amazon, you can keep your Kindle to yourself!

Purchases gone horribly awry...

Earlier in this blog, I spoke of my family's failed experiments with the infamous Epilady. There's another funny story involving this same Nameless Relative that still brings me to my knees with laughter.


NR was home watching television when an infomercial for the Abtronic came on. Intrigued and dangerously bored, he decided to order this device. For those not in the know, the Abtronic is one of those electronic muscle stimulators that's supposed to help you tone up while you're just lying in front of the TV. After the promised 3-4 weeks, the Abtronic arrived. NR greedily opened the package, glossed over the instructions, assembled his Abtronic, applied the contact jelly and wrapped it around his stomach. The instructions said to start at a low setting until you figured out the best setting for yourself. NR blatantly ignored this and set it to one of the higher settings. WHAM!!! NR immediately doubled up as he felt like he was getting kicked in the stomach over and over. He tried to pull off the Abtronic, but all that did was get his fingers covered in contact jelly. He started to panic. "Oh no, she's going to come home and I'm going to be lying electrocuted on the sofa!" Finally, he was able to wrench the little motor off the Abtronic (which detaches for just this reason, I believe) so he was able to breathe again.


Of course, after hearing all of this, I had to try the device myself. (I know-brilliant, eh?) He set it on a very low setting for me. It barely vibrated my stomach but tickled so much that I keeling over with laughter. He slowly increased the setting. I told him I failed to see how it could have made him seize up so. With an evil grin, he set it to the Karate Chop setting. OW! It literally felt like a doctor using his reflex hammer to hit you in the middle of your stomach. That was the first and last time I used that product, though NR tried to use it for a while longer.


In another bad move involving infomercials (and hair removal; see Epilady above), I purchased a product whose name now escapes me. It was a tube full of a soft, waxy product. Ostensibly, you squeezed out some product, rolled it in a ball and then spread it over the area you wanted hair removed from. You were supposed to firmly yank off the product, re-roll it and then spread it on the next area.


We all know women who've had bad experiences with home waxing. It seems to me that we all attempt waxing on the most horrible place first - either bikini area or armpits. So of course I spread my little ball of wax over my armpit and attempted to yank it off. YEOWCH!!!! Oh my - that was the worst pain I've ever felt! The product was now firmly attached to my skin, since I was all heated up from the pain of removal. I tried to melt the product off by soaking in a tub. No dice. I tried scrubbing it off with soap and HOT water. Still no dice. I ended up having to pull gobs of this taffy-like substance off my armpit. It hurt so much I had to keep taking breaks so I could face the pain again. I finally got it all off - and ALL of my armpit hair was still firmly attached to my body. Grrrr.... Now, I leave waxing to the professionals.

The Product Slut is born...

I've loved products since I was a little kid. My grandmother would buy Avon tchotchkes by the truckload for my mom and myself. I had hundreds of plastic pins that held solid perfumes. My first really memorable lip gloss was shaped like a chocolate chip cookie. It held a dark brown chocolate flavored gloss and a tan cookie flavored gloss. It tasted terrible but I loved it. In those more innocent times, my mom could park me in the cosmetics aisle and I would be entertained for ages by making sure that all the lipsticks were in the correct color slots (ahhh, bless Revlon for their lipstick displays).

For my first dance in 5th grade, my mom gave me an Avon compact that had six different eyeshadows, mascara, lipstick and blush. Out of the house, I was not allowed to wear anything but the two palest eyeshadow colors (a light purple and an ivory) and I could wear all the Maybelline Kissing Slicks I wanted. In my house, that compact was used to educate myself in different makeup techniques. I owe a lot to my mom for teaching me about 'Less is more' - even though I do love to indulge in the MORE now and then - especially when I was a pre-teen.

The '8os were a blissful time for the product-obsessed. Everything was BIG! Full faces were de rigueur (mascara, shadows, heavy blush, lips, foundation, cover-up). I started experimenting with color thanks to the Cover Girl eyeshadow quads, and the new Max Factor compacts that you could fill with different shadow pans. I would wear emerald green shadow on my lid and bright yellow shadow from the crease up to the brow bone and black eyeliner on the insides of my eyes. I was sooo cool. (Insert sarcastic eyeroll.) I practically bathed in Love's Baby Soft and Love's Baby Soft Lemon. I owned many different colored hairsprays, hair mascaras (remember L'oreal Zazu?) AND hair glitter. I was always about the accents, though - never a full head of hot pink or blue. I swore by Clearasil, Seabreeze, and Noxema to get rid of all the makeup - even though I was never really acne-prone. At 15, I got my first perm, which led to buying every curl enhancing product on the market. At 17, I was desperate to change my hair color and used my 'farm girl' halloween costume as the brilliant excuse to become a red-head. I pouted when my best friend's mom wouldn't let me buy the gorgeous L'oreal Preference Medium Auburn because it was semi-permanent. She made me buy Clairol Loving Care Light Auburn so it would wash out. Everyone was shocked at how good the red hair looked, so I rocked varying shades of red (strawberry blonde to burgundy) for the next 13 years.

At 18, I got a job working as the unofficial 'cosmetics merchandiser' for a chain drugstore. I was a cashier, but also responsible for setting up and maintaining all of those plastic displays (a.k.a pre-packs) that companies use to advertise their newest products. I spent more than half my weekly paycheck in the cosmetics, skin care and hair care aisles. I bought deep-conditioning packs like crazy (even though my super-fine hair didn't really need it). I was completely hooked on L'oreal Studio Pumping curls (used to amp up my spiral perm) and I bought every shampoo and conditioner we sold at least once. I began using moisturizer with SPF in it when I was 19 (smart move on my part, even though I bought it purely because it was new). I experimented with AHAs in my early twenties (not that anyone that age needed it). Working there, I also read every fashion magazine I could get my hands on, a habit I've never broken since.

Now, as I struggle to turn my obsession into a full-time job, I continue exploring new products and services. Every Saturday around my birthday is spent shopping at Sephora with my girlfriends. I am constantly on the lookout for new things to try and new places to go. Someday it will become clear, but I'm certainly enjoying the journey!

And on the Seventh Day, there was smooth skin (L'oreal Skin Genesis)

I have long been accused of having 'perfect skin'. No, I've never had acne. I get one monster zit at a time with usually months between appearances. I would never describe my skin as perfect - can't you see all the milia (flesh-colored bumps)? The first time I had my makeup done at the MAC counter, I was horrified to see the foundation settle into the MILLIONS of fine lines around my eyes and the tops of my cheeks (this is why I only use bareMinerals or Chanel Teint Innocence). I've been searching for the perfect skin care regimen for ages and I think I've finally got it!

As we already know, I am all about spending needless amounts of money on cosmetics. $60 foundation? Sure! $18 nail polish? I'll take two! But spending more than $40 on ONE skin care product? You're out of your mind! I once got a free sample of Freeze 24/7 and was delighted at the weird numbing sensation that smoothed out my eye crinkles and my forehead wrinkles. It even relaxed the deep 'I want' line (as Stephen King would call it) from between my roomie's eyes. Intrigued, I looked up the full-size product on Sephora.com. $100 a jar? Forget it!

We also know that I still have a deep, abiding love for the cosmetics and skin care aisles at any drugstore or grocery store. I must check out what is new on the market - I can't help it. The sexy packaging of the L'oreal Skin Genesis line has been tempting me for a long time. I started with the Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 Lotion. I love the airless pump which leaves no dried up balls of product on the dispenser. L'orealparisusa.com says that the packaging keeps air from getting inside the bottle and affecting the purity of the ingredients. That may be, but I can't get over how easy it is to get just the right amount of product for my skin. My skin felt lovely after I applied the moisturizer. I also loved that it didn't smell like SPF. (You know that distinct smell that most lotions with SPF15 or higher have? Like sunblock? I don't want to smell that all day!)

After using it for about a week, I was totally hooked and went after the entire regimen: Daily Eye Serum, Daily Treatment Serum concentrate and the Deep-Action Night Complex. I use one firm pump of the Daily Treatment Serum right after I get out of the shower when my face is still damp. That amount perfectly covers my whole face and neck. I squirt two tiny pumps of the Eye Serum and pat each of them over my entire eye area (lid, crows feet, undereye). I let the serums absorb while I get dressed and comb my hair. Then I use 3 firm pumps of the Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 (again, enough to cover my entire face and neck). After a month of the whole regime, my skin tone is more even, the milia is diminished, my skin feels more firm and it's super soft and smooth. The wrinkles are still there, but I don't notice them as much. I'm looking forward to a foundation free summer!

Expensive Taste (Adventures with the House of Chanel)

Earlier this year, I attended the Nordstrom's Spring Cosmetics Trend show. I know I've spoken of this before, but if you have never attended such an event you are really missing out (unless you don't enjoy throngs of women racing for the 'first 20 customers' offers). For me, it's a biannual event I look forward to. For $15, you get admission to the event, a gift tote that contains special offers, a program of events and your continental breakfast and an appointment at your favorite makeup counter for a free makeover. Then, they take $15 off your total purchases that day. It is a screaming deal!

I was determined not to be at the MAC counter this time, so I made appointments for my friend and myself at the Chanel counter. (Hey, if you're going to get a free makeover, why NOT go to the most expensive counter?) I'd already dabbled in some Chanel makeup (I am devoted to their Teint Innocence creme foundation in the dry winter), so I did my research on what products I wanted to try at the makeover. I'd decided I wanted to try the Inimitable mascara that another friend raved about and the new foundation called Mat Lumiere.

During the 'fashion show' part of the day, we learned that one of the new trends for spring was a 'pop' of bright color either on the eyes or lips. (Not both, please. This is 2008, not 1988!) While I waited for my makeup artist to finish with her customer, I found this gorgeous hot pink Chanel lipstick (Splendeur). When I finally got to sit, my artist asked me what I'd like her to do. I told her that I wanted to try the bright lip trend and that she could do whatever she wanted to with my face as long as she incorporated those three products. She was SO excited that I was letting her play that she applied every potion and product she could get her hands on. (I left with a good 1/4" of makeup on my face, but it sure didn't feel like I had that much on!) We had so much fun!

I ended up purchasing the Inimitable mascara (I love the length and volume it gives without adding too much product), the lipstick (so pretty and versatile - I can slick on a lot for an evening look or press a bit on for a bright day stain), the matching lip pencil (tons of product and a handy brush on the end for applying my lipstick with precision or for smudging a pencil-only lip), and two bottles of nail lacquer (Black Satin and Blue Satin. I'm not thrilled with the Black Satin, but I positively relish the Blue Satin!). I didn't really like the effect of the Mat Lumiere foundation and I just cannot bring myself to spend $40 for the eye shadows she used (even though they were lovely). All in all, I was thoroughly pleased with my purchases and didn't entirely wipe out my bank account!

I'm begging you - please attend one of these events before you die. It's an excellent outing with a bunch of girlfriends (or even just one friend)!

I guess it's only a little 'True'...

True to form, I've been lagging in my product reviews. Also true to form, I continue to add new products to my little world at a dizzying pace. Recently, a friend turned me on to True Lemon and True Lime. They're handy little packets of lemon or lime flavoring that you can add to water or tea or even use in cooking. What surprised me is how 'true' they tasted - literally like squeezing a lemon or lime slice in my water. I immediately gave packets to all my nearest and dearest because I love them so much!

Now, these packets claim '0 calories, 0g carbohydrates' and 'no sweeteners'. Well, the True Lemon and True Lime actually contain a bit of maltodextrin, which is a type of sugar. I get that because each packet contains .08g of product, the FDA allows them to claim 'zero'. I was okay with that, especially since one packet flavors a 32oz bottle of water nicely (any less water and it's too much for me, though others may like it fine).

Then I bought some True Orange. Since I loved the other two flavors, I was excited to try this one. That excitement was short-lived. I put a packet of True Orange in my iced tea and was shocked at how fake it tasted. At first, I wrote it off as not being diluted enough in a 16oz beverage (or even just not being the proper flavor tea to carry it off). The nest day, I added a packet to my usual 32oz of water. Bleargh! It still tasted fake - similar to the baby aspirin I took as a child. Because it was weirdly sweet, I read the back of the packet. Hmmm - the VERY first ingredient in True Orange is DEXTROSE. For those not in the know (or who don't remember the old cartoon PSAs that told you to watch out for Fructose, Dextrose and Glucose as being hidden sugars in your cereal), dextrose is one of the two sugars found in honey. I found it weird that it says 'no sweeteners' and then the first ingredient is a sugar - but then I slapped myself silly with the FDA guidelines and the rule of 'less than 1g equals zero'.

Overall, I'm ok with the product because I do love lemon and lime in my water and it's not always convenient to keep wedges of each in my purse. I'm glad there's no sucralose or aspartame in any of the three flavors. I'll keep getting the lemon and lime, but no more True Orange for this lady.