Ally's Favorite Christmas Songs

Rochelle and I have so much music over several i pods it is quite ridiculous. We love to sing in the car. We are actually pretty good. There is not a trip whether its five minutes, or hours that we are not singing or listening to movies on our i pods. This week I am going to give you some insight into my favorite secular Christmas songs! I am very excited about this list, it will be hard to consolidate it!!

1) The entire Nutcracker Soundtrack, from beginining to end, and it must be the full ballet version, not just the popular excerpts everyone knows.

2) The White Christmas Soundtrack, especially "Blue Skies" and "Snow" haha wait and I love "Count Your Blessings"

3) Good King Wencelas (this may be religious) I am  not sure.

4) Feliz Navidad

5) Santa Claus is Coming to Town

6) Frosty the Snowman

7) Winter Wonderland

8) Sleigh Ride

9) The SheDaisy Christmas album, the whole thing is just great

10) The Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack

11) We're a Couple of Misfits from Rudolph

13) You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

14) Ballad of the Christmas Donkey....this one gets me every time. This one is religious too, but not known as a carol or hymn or anything.

15) Gingerbread Man by the Yo Yo Kidz-if you have kids this one will crack you up.

16) Bill Anderson's Po Folk Christmas

17) Here Comes Santa Claus

18) Sugar Rum Cherry by Duke Ellington-really cool take on the Sugar Plum Fairy

19) Holly Jolly Christmas

20) We'll Have a Good Old Fashioned Christmas Down on the Farm from the Garfield Christmas Special.

This list doesn't tip the iceberg of Christmas songs I love, but it sure makes a good party playlist!

For at look at Chelle's visit her blog and read today's post!

What to Wear to Your Holiday Party

Any holiday party deserves festive attire. I, personally, love a well fitted black turtle neck with a shimmery skirt. Glitter shoes are always appropriate (not with a glitter skirt, unless you are Charro). A sweater dress with tights and ballet flats is a more conservative choice. I especially love a sweater dress with boots.
I'm a really big fan of jeggings because they are so comfortable and can be dressed up or down. if it is a casual party you can wear them with a solid colored top and colorful scarf with boots or ballet flats. Christmas parties are a great excuse to pull out your glitter and sparkliest accessories. I love a head band with embellishments. I also love big earrings and bracelets.
The important thing is no matter how you dress, have fun and wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
For some good party outfit ideas check out the following websites:
collegefashion.net
jcrew.com
cupcakesandcashmere.com

Holiday Trivia

Don't  worry, we will get to the beauty later. But what better month than December to have a little fun! Today I thought it would be fun to test you on your holiday trivia. Anyone who thinks they know the answers should leave a comment below!

1) What was Jimmy Stewart's character in "It's a Wonderful Life" named?
2) What was the name of his guardian angel?
3) What three gifts did the wise men bring baby Jesus?
4) Where was the candy cane first invented?
5) What the heck is marzipan?
6) What is the name of Rudolph's elf friend?
7) Why does a Menorah have 8 candles?
8) What do the children put on their doorsteps in Holland for Santa to fill?
9) What is Kwanzaa a celebration of?
10) What does Ralphie want for Christmas?
11) Who wrote "A Christmas Carol" and why?
12) Who was the last person to chase the Gingerbread man before he got to the river?
13) Who was the first ever Santa in the Macy's Day Parade?
14) What venue did Martha Stewart help decorate in NYC this year (besides her studio and home)?
15) Who was the narrator in Frosty Returns?
16) Where did the song "The Holly and the Ivy" come from?
17) What is wassailing and how did it get started?
18) How many different Christmas Oreos are there?
19) How did the tradition of having a Christmas tree in your home get started?
20) What special animal was chosen to take Mary to Bethlehem?

Have fun!! Let us know what you find out?

Ally's Favorite Holiday Flicks

So Chelle just did a post on her other blog about her favorite movies to watch at Christmastime. While she and I have a lot of the same favorites and have made it a tradition to watch them together.....we also share a difference of opinion about a few of them. I have many favorites WAY more than ten. But here are my favorite favorites. First off, I need to say a word about It's a Wonderful Life. I could not possibly be a bigger fan of Jimmy Stewart! I adore him. However, what most find to be a fantastic holiday classic, I find depressing and unbearable to watch. I hate seeing my Jimmy as the rather d-baggish George Bailey hang with an angel who likes bars. So while Jimmy always tops the list...."It's a Wonderful Life" does not.

1) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer-Folks it doesn't get any better than this. This is Rankin and Bass at its best. I FREAKIN LOVE this movie. I watch it on TV every year, I watch it with Chelle every year. I watch it when it is not Christmas. Hermey forever. P.S. Build a Bear has the CUTEST Rudolph stuff ever right now, especially if you are a fan of the Misfit Toys!!!

2) White Christmas-I cannot say enough about this movie. It is on my IPOD, it is my go to movie when I am feeling upset or anxious. I watch it in my car, in the airplane, sometimes at work. I cannot get over the beautiful costumes and wonderful dance numbers. And few songs will ever be as awesome to me as SNOW...snow snow snow snow!!! And who cares if Bing Crosby was a deadbeat dad...he still rocked the crap out of White Christmas!!!!!

3) Santa Claus is Coming to Town-Here is another classic by Rankin and Bass. I like this one because it has some pretty trippy songs and its very similar to Rudolph in that they made the characters very likable. This is one I save for Christmas eve because it is the story of how Santa became Santa Claus. My favorite part is when his girlfriend Jessica whips her bun out and shakes around while an acid trip happens behind her. Highly entertaining. Plus Fred Astaire...come on!!!

4) The Nutcracker- So Rochelle and I have loved this for as long as we can remember. We have seen every version....scary Malculy Kulkin one, Barbie in the Nutcracker, cartoon nutcrackers, the Bristol Ballet nutcracker with our humanities class, but our favorite is Maurice Sendak's take on it. In this version Clara has a creepy seemingly incestuous relationship with her crazy meth lab making Uncle Drosslemeyer (the meth lab was a euphemism). The story is basically the same with the addition of a peacock and the human version of the Nutcracker is an old guy with 70s porn hair. The music is beautiful. I can't think of a piece of music more beautiful than those in the Nutcracker. To me it is Tchaikovsky at his finest.

5) I'll Be Home for Christmas-So for those of you who were living under a rock in the 90s, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was super smokin HOT. I wrote him a letter in 7th grade professing my love, but only got a picture back, no date offers or anything. Anywho, this is the story of Jake who is trying to get a car promised to him by his father if he makes it home by dinner time on Christmas Eve. Throughout his cross country trip Jake meets many strange characters and learns it is time for him to start thinking of others instead of himself .This movie is full of 90s stars we all grew up loving and amazing music to get you in the holiday mood.

6) Elf-This movie is hilarious. "I'm SINGING...I'm in a store and I'm SINGING" Cracks me up every time. This is the story of Buddy the Elf who finds out he is human and travels from the North Pole to NYC to meet his biological father. Buddy has a host of friends including some that are parodies of those in Rudolph. Buddy's childlike behavior in the adult business world makes you pee your pants laughing. And what is better than NYC at Christmastime?

7) Ernest Saves Christmas-So just when I thought you couldn't top "Ernest Scared Stupid" they came out with this one. This is a really funny story where Ernest ends up meeting the real Santa Claus in a taxi. Through a random twist of television fate a young runaway, Santa, and a children's hospital end up turning to the dim witted Ernest for help. This movie is very silly and reminds you just what a genius you are...Know what I mean Vern?


8) Frosty The Snowman-Haha, okay so Rochelle hates this one. But I LOVE it. To me this is a classic right along with Rudolph. They are tradition I always watch them. I like Frosty except I think they gave him creepy eyes, and I am not sure why they made him an idiot. The children make a snowman, just like in the song and the town's loser magician's hat ends up containing the magic that helps Frosty come to life. I like this because of the songs and because I have always wondered how Frosty at two minutes old knows how to talk fully and is already aware of what temperature he will melt at. He also knows who Santa Claus is...that's pretty impressive for a newborn. Maybe he is not an idiot after all.

9) A Charlie Brown ChristmasWalmart is stocked with Peanuts Christmas merchandise right now?  It is Linus who reminds everyone that Christmas is really about...remember...Jesus? I do agree with Rochelle that without Snoopy, I would not watch the Peanuts. Why watch depressing cartoons, when I could just watch Jimmy in It's A Wonderful Life?

10) The Santa Clause 2-okay so this is my wild card. I love this movie because it shows how Santa and Mrs. Claus hooked up. The snow, all the homes with the Christmas lights, the North Pole. It is all really well shot. I love how Tim Allen gives a group of disgruntled teachers childlike toys. It made me feel less insecure that I still buy and play with puppets and Silly Bandz.

I also really enjoy those movies that highlight the birth of baby Jesus. Nestor the Long Eared Christmas Donkey is sad, but also a beautiful perspective of how God often chooses the underdog. Another good one is The Little Drummer Boy..and don't worry. BaaBaa makes it, because when that part came on I got really mad and almost threw the dvd in the trash. :)

For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas there are many good alternatives that are just about holidays and family.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Hello lovelies! I think that it is safe to say that Ally and I have been FAILING at this whole blog thing! To make up for it we are giving you a GIFT! Since we love this time of year, I had an idea. Over on my blog, I am blogging the Advent, with blogs full of seasonal things. I thought it would be nice to do the same thing here. So, we are going to blog the Advent season here for all of you. One of my favorite things about Christmas when I was younger was my Advent calendar. I loved moving my marker and getting a piece of candy each day. The anticipation and the small treat made the Christmas season even more special. I actually spent WEEKS tracking down an Advent calendar for Ally a few years ago because she lost (or her family trashed) her old one. Our love of Christmas and the anticipation leading to Christmas was a big part of our inspiration. We are going to count down to Christmas HERE with all of you. We will share insane Christmas traditions and memories, give gift ideas, have Christmas related lists and party ideas, and so much more. We hope that you all enjoy this small peak into why we love this season so very much. 

Happy Holidays from Ally and Chelle!


**Disclaimer: In no way are these blog entries meant to offend if you do not celebrate Christmas for whatever reason. Regardless of your stance on Christmas we hope you enjoy the time you have with your family, whether you are celebrating a religious holiday, Santa, or just time off from work and school.

What's That? A Beauty Update?

Just a quick entry, about irony really. I'm pretty sure that Ally and I discussed our eerie ability to pick trends and how it doesn't really make much impact since we live in a small mountain town in southwestern Virginia where 80's hair and teacher rompers are considered fashion. However, we do enjoy it when we spend an entire season scouring the market for grey nail polish, and then break down and buy cheap black and cheap white nail polish and make grey polish ourselves, only to have grey FLOOD the collections come spring. That makes us feel good about ourselves. Especially since a LOT of people in our area don't really follow the trends.

Recently we have been into metallics, but especially gold. We actually had a conversation about gold being a neutral just last week. I have been using gold eye shadow for awhile now to offset the other crazy bright colors that I wear, and Ally just bought gold nail polish. We are LOVING gold. So imagine my surprise when I opened my e-mail this weekend to find that Sephora is encouraging me to "Try Something NEW!!!" only to find a page full of GOLD makeup suggestions. Apparently, gold is the IT color for Fall. So, grab some glitter flats (Ally's personal favorite) or a pale gold lip gloss and be spot on for Autumn.

Mondo Is My Hero

It has been WEEKS since I've posted a Project Runway review. It's sad really, because some of those episodes really gave me the opportunity to make some GREAT snarky remarks. However, today's review will be a little different, because I'm WAY to soft-hearted to be sarcastic about episode ten of Project Runway.

The challenge for this episode was for the designers to create a textile that represents who they are as a person and a designer. I knew when the designers walked in and saw photos of their family members on their fancy HP tablets, that this was going to be a TEARJERKER episode. I always get emotional when the designers collectively talk about missing their families. Yeah, they made a choice to leave and Project Runway is a fantastic opportunity for them, but I am the girl who cried at college because she didn't get to see her family everyday. It is HARD to be away, especially if you are surrounded by only your competitions. Once the designers started designing their fabrics I KNEW that I would get emotional. Micheal C talked about being away from his son, April talked about her parents' divorce and how she felt split in two, even Gretchen tugged on my heart strings when she talked about how she rarely sees her mother because of her step-father's disability, and then there was Mondo. Mondo talked about his sexuality. About how difficult it was for him to come out to his mother, how she encouraged him to keep it a secret. He talked about how much that hurt him. However, no matter how sad he was, or how much his story hurt him, he still handled himself with grace and beauty. Then in one of his video diaries Mondo revealed the inspiration for his fabric-he is HIV positive. Watching him tell millions of viewers this extremely difficult news broke my heart. I was so sad for him, but still inspired by his strength. He didn't tell anyone in the workroom what inspired his fabric, just that it was deeply personal.

I can honestly say I had no interest in the actual runway show. Some pieces were great, like April's tree dress, others were blah (Christopher's pant suit), and some designers just got lost-like Andy who created a HORRENDOUS shorts/vest hot mess combo. Nothing impacted me the way Mondo's video diaries did. I was nervous about judging, because the fabric and the outfit would both be judged. I was afraid that without his back story, Mondo's fabric would just be seen as a colorful geometric fabric. Nina Garcia's quiet "I wish I knew the inspiration" comment, paired with the other judges discussion of his outfit; seemed to spur Mondo to movement, and he told the judges, the other contestants, and all of TVdom that he was HIV posititve. I have rarely been so inspired.

Mondo was the challenge winner and I was elated for him. I have really liked his ideas from the beginning, even if they haven't always panned out on the runway. I respect the way he puts his issues with Michael C. aside when they were paired for a challenge and became friends with him, and I love the way his designs have moved to the front of the pack. I truely hope he wins this season, because I really think his talent is AMAZING and his attitude is wonderful! He is the kind of person who TRULY deserves to win.




*I know that this is a random entry. I wrote it over the course of a few days, so it kind of skips around. I hope it made sense though.

Project Runway Episode Five aka Chelle RANTS

I can honestly say that I am not really a huge fan of this season of Project Runway. I have said before that I really miss the excitement of the first few seasons, where the designers were challenged to create dresses out of flowers, merchandise from Hershey Park, things found in a supermarket, design looks for Banana Republic, give one of the designers a makeover where you showcase their style and your design ascetic. THESE are the Project Runway days that I miss. Now it is filled with lame challenges, backstabbing, and whiny b1tches who cry because Tim tells them to rethink their directions. I have a few words for the current designers: GROW A SET! Do you think that Anna Wintor is going to hold your hand or pat your back while you cry because they don't like your dress? Fashion is a competitive business and it changes all the time. Yes, you have to be true to yourself but you also have to go with the trends. While you CAN be a trend setter, you have to be willing to go out on a limb and risk being ridiculed for that. I'm sure things weren't always easy for Michael Kors, Yves Saint Laurent, Coco Chanel, or Alexander McQueen and yet they all have managed to make lasting impressions on us all. Even small town girls from southern Virginia.

Now, on to the actual episode. I was really excited when the episode started. This week was a team challenge, and those usually have all kinds of drama, more challenging challenges, and usually really show us what the designers are made of. Unfortunately, this team challenge left me wanting. Since Michael C was the winner last night he was allowed to first choice in a team member. Then April's name was drawn from a bag as the first member of the second team. At this point each person chosen picked the next member of their team. Team 1 aka Team Luxe consisted of Micheal C., Gretchen, A.J., Andy, Christopher, and Ivy. Team 2 aka Team Military/Lace was April, Peach, Michael D., Casanova, Valerie, and Mondo. The most interesting thing is that all of the challenge winners were on Team Luxe, while Team Military/Lace was made up of designers who have been consistently in the bottom three. Now, here is my problem with this. I don't believe in allowing the contestants to choose their own teams. I think things are MUCH more interesting when all names are drawn from a bag and assigned randomly. But that's just me.

THE CHALLENGE
The week's challenge was for each team to design a six-piece collection which would showcase an upcoming trend. Each team got to choose their look and also a fabric inspiration. Which brings me to my second problem. By allowing teams to choose the look/fabric inspiration they are allowed to pick items that they are comfortable with. Or at least flat out reject themes that are not part of their normal routine. I don't personally think that's challenging. That would be like one of you to challenge me to wear eyeshadow every day or to read a book over the weekend. It isn't a problem! Now, if you were to ask me to incorporate maroon eyeshadow into my daily make-up routine, that would be a little different. I digress, Team Luxe chooses to design a "Menswear for Women" collection with "camel" as their fabric inspiration. Team Military/Lace (obviously) decided to create a military inspired collection with lace accents.

INSIDE THE WORKROOM
The action inside the workroom wasn't really blog-worthy. The most exciting thing that happened was that Casanova had a complete breakdown where he wanted to quit because Tim said that his outfit looked "Old Lady." This isn't something Casanova hasn't heard before, but apparently he decided that with five other people depending on him he would not finish his garment. After multiple pep talks and a phone call to his auntie, his team mates and model were able to coax him back to finish his dress. During the coaxing Valerie had a particularly great zinger with "Casanova needs to put his panties back on and finish his dress." Casanova returned to the studio and promised his team mates he was back. He also had some words of comfort for himself, saying "I guess I design for sluts and old ladies." Sadly, these were the only two great lines in this episode. Usually there are many more *gigglesnort* moments for me when I watch this show. With little to no other drama in the workroom, I was a little bored and spent much of the episode looking longingly at "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins and wishing I was lost in Panem instead of watching this show. 

THE RUNWAY
I wasn't really overtly impressed with either team's collection. Team Luxe's collection was more cohesive, but many of the pieces looked like the model had overslept and just grabbed something off of their boyfriend's bedroom floor and rushed to Parsons. I know that a lot of times menswear inspired collections are composed of slightly over-sized pieces, but I felt like Team Luxe went a little too far. Also, I missed the cute details that menswear inspired collections have. There were no neckties, no mens watches, I don't recall seeing boots on the models. A.J. put an ascot on his model, but it was completely lost in the horror that was his "men's size 3X button down with the sleeves rolled up and a belt around it" dress. There were some really nice pants and one blazer that could have been good if it were a little smaller. Actually that's how most of the collection was, if it hadn't been SO over the top it may have worked.

Team Military/Lace was ALL lace and very little military. Personally I don't think that tassel=military. They certainly help get the point across, but I don't think that it is possible to make a super cute v-necked top and add tassels to the shoulders and call it military (Mondo.)  I was really disappointed in the lack of military inspired jackets. The lace tops were COMPLETELY SEE THROUGH! I was horrified. I understand that lace is not opaque, but you need to put a nude liner underneath it. One nude bra does NOT make an outfit acceptable, Michael D! Modesty really is a virtue. I really did love Peach's outfit. I thought she absolutely shined in this challenge. Her high waisted skirt with brass buttons paired with her LINED lace top was spot on. Casanova's outfit was decent. White skinny pants with brass button detailing down the side and another mostly sheer lace top was what he managed to produce.

JUDGING
Team Military/Lace were declared the winner of this challenge and were praised for their accents and attention to detail. The judges were also impressed that they managed to showcase their individuality in the collection. Some of the team members were asked who they thought the challenge winner should be and Valerie and Mondo both said CASANOVA! I was completely and utterly disgusted. First, he tried to quit the competition and go home. Second, you had to take time away from your own work (both of which received some questionable comments from the judges) to talk him out of his funk. Third, his outfit wasn't really stellar. The judges did ask Casanova who he thought should win, and he had the decency to say Peach. The judges dismissed Team Military/Lace so that they could deliberate.

Before facing the judges Gretchen rallies her troops and has them pinky promise that they won't turn on each other and that they will support the vision of their team. I guess afterwards whoever was left would meet up to braid each others hair and whatnot. Team Luxe grimly filed out to face the firing squad and at first, they really did stick to their promise and didn't throw anyone under the bus. Gretchen gave a rousing speech to the judges about how they had decided as a team not to sell each other out, that they had formulated their designs together, and worked together 100% to complete the collection. She then asked the judges to base their decision on who the designers are and what they have seen so far. The team remained united as the judges criticized the fabric choices and discussed how the collection had no individuality. The judges also talked about how GIGANTIC everything in the collection was. Eventually the judges forced the team members to name their weakest link. Everyone but Michael C. (who wasn't asked) and A.J. (who said all he could say was that he did not stay true to himself as a designer) named Michael C. as the weakest team member. The judges weren't happy that everyone picked the Michael C. as the worst player, even prompting Heidi to say "It's always easy to blame the one person who can't go home." Eventually the disgusted judges sent Team Luxe away so they could decide who to send packing.

WINNERS AND LOSERS
Winner: Casanova. I was NOT happy with this choice. I thought that Pearl's outfit was more military inspired  and her lace was MUCH less tacky. I realize that the judges aren't necessarily aware of what goes on during the design process, but I think that it is terrible that someone who was willing to walk out on their team is deserving of a win and possible immunity in the next challenge.

Loser: A.J. Poor A.J. I really didn't expect him to get far in this competition, and his outfit was atrocious, but I think it's awful that he was the only person who admitted he didn't represent himself and he was also the only person who didn't point the finger of blame at a team member. I think that his integrity alone should have earned him a chance next week. Gretchen stated she loved their collection, then stated that it was a hot mess, she convinced everyone to be united, then turned on another team member. I don't like Gretchen, I don't particularly like her designs, and I certainly don't like the way she played A.J. in this week's episode.

BITS AND PIECES
I felt really bad for Michael C. after the judging session. His team mates slaughtered him in front of the judges. Not once during the creation process did any of them offer him help or tips on how to improve his work, yet they were willing to toss him to the wolves. He was genuinely upset that they other designers were so mean to him. I was really glad that the judges stood up for him on the runway, something that doesn't happen often. I think this episode will make Michael C. because he will have to prove himself next week.

Rarely does Tim comment on the judges decisions; however, this week he had PLENTY to say to the members of Team Luxe. Tim told the team that he was ashamed that they let Gretchen steam roll them all, and was disgusted that A.J. paid the price for that poor decision. I don't remember seeing Tim that angry before and I have watched almost every episode of Project Runway that has ever aired. I was really glad that he called Gretchen out and I was in no way fooled by her teary vlog afterwards about how she was trying to do her best.

I was also REALLY unimpressed with Ivy. I liked her when the show started, and I thought she had potential. However, as the show goes on her snarky attitude has grated on my nerves. This week took the cake though, when she did a vlog about how Tim was right and Gretchen did screw their team over. Ivy was one of Gretchen's biggest supporters. Actually, Team Luxe was behind Gretchen one hundred and seventy percent. They were so Team Gretchen that it wasn't funny. None of them bothered to contradict her and even when other team members tried to add ideas (Michael C.) they were ignored in favor of Gretchen. I don't really feel bad for Team Luxe for losing, I think they needed that wake up call. I do feel bad that A.J. was led like pig to slaughter and was forced to take the fall for his team's bad choices.

I'm really sorry this is so long! If you made it this far THANK YOU! Also, have some virtual cookies! A lot of things about this episode bothered me and I just felt like I had to get them out. 

In Which Chelle Is a GROWN-UP

Seriously! I am an ADULT! I know I don't always act like it* and I know that my recent book purchases** CERTAINLY don't make me look like an adult, but I PROMISE that looking 27 in the face makes it apparent that I am, indeed, an adult! The fact that I spend the majority of my time with my eight year old, eleven year old, and two thirteen year old cousins, who all wear larger shoes than me isn't generally an issue. However, it is an issue at my new job. And by new job I mean same job, new school. Basically, seventh graders are HUGE! Like seriously huge. They tower over me ALL DAY LONG! The problem? Well, in seven days I have been mistaken for a seventh grade student on five of them. My boss thinks this is hilarious, my aunt (who works at the school) enjoys my stories with quiet disbelief, and the aforementioned cousins LOVE hearing the stories.

So it comes down to this. HOW do I look like an adult without turning to Teacher Jumpers? You all know what I'm talking about...those "dresses" that are hand sewn and are made of material that has building blocks and farm scenes on them. Because let me tell you. I will be mistaken for a middle schooler EVERY SINGLE DAY before I wear one of those things as anything other than a Halloween costume.*** I wear skirts, dresses, and dress pants with nice shirts or polos. I don't particularly look like the kids, but I also don't like the teachers. SUPER nice dress clothes aren't really and option either at my school, because then I would stick out like a sore thumb. So that is my dilemma. Any suggestions? We would LOVE to hear them!


*Example: Participating in water balloon fights, blowing bubbles, dancing in the rain...
**Linger, Mockingjay, The Iron Daughter, To Kill a Mockingbird, Demon's Lexicon, etc
***Seriously, mere words cannot express my hatred of these jumpers. Even worse? The matching Mother-Daughter ones! Do people hate their kids these days?

In Which We Attempt To Dress For Work

Hello!!! So as you probably already figured out. I have been a huge slacker lately.  I got really busy with the beginning of the school year and working on paper work, files, etc, and neglected by duties of blogging everyday in August. (maybe we’ll do better in April) We have also sort of been slacking on our beauty and fashion stuff. Although, I think any good blog has a little bit of everything! One thing that I look forward to when school starts is getting new fall clothes for work. This year one of my New Year’s resolutions was to dress in a way that looks more grown up and put together, but still quirky and fun. So I have been looking through a ton of magazines and fashion blogs to find things that are me but also work appropriate. The first trend I noticing is that menswear is coming back. I have seen so many cute blazers in the ads for Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. I really want a blazer to wear to work. In the newest issue of Glamour magazine, they show several blazers. Some are plaid, black, brown, even yellow…but the one thing they all have in common is they all have broaches on them. Most of the broaches have some kind of jewel element to them, but some just look like they were pulled out of Grandma’s jewelry box. I feel that it is a very cool way to add a feminine element to something otherwise a little manly. I also really love all the men’s vest I am seeing. I think they look great over tank tops and with button up shirts. I have also seen pictures where girls are wearing neckties with them. At first, they reminded me of the waitresses at Olive Garden, but now I am really enjoying them. I went and grabbed a bunch of my grandpa’s to try. Another trend I am liking is the revival of military jackets. Everything from soldier jackets, to Nutcracker type shorter jackets to Michael Jackson are coming back. I plan to try all three. I also love all the new fall lines at Target and Wal-mart. Gotta love cheap!!!! What are some trends you are excited about trying? What the heck do you wear to work? 

Mo Money-Mo Problems!

I was rummaging through all the magazines and I read and I decided I would start pulling pages for inspiration.  I found my collection of J. Crew catalogues and got pretty inspired. I loved all the layered necklaces over turtlenecks and high waisted plaid pants. And if these things sound crazy, you can always make them more wearable. You could do just the plaid pants, or turtleneck with necklaces-you don’t have to have all three. I get really excited about all the new fall catalogues I get from J. Crew, Anthropologie, Sephora and on and on, because I look at them for inspiration and the things  I can’t afford  I go and find and lower budget places like Ross, Marshalls, or T.J. Maxx. I buy a lot of things that look like what I see in the catalogues but are different and cheaper brands. One of the kids in my class knows I like fashion and today she came and showed me these really cute gladiator sandals (she has rockin style for a second grader) and said “Miss Anderson! I got these at Ross for four dollars!” I was so proud. It is also a good idea to do this for makeup. Look to magazines for ideas on trends you might want to try then go buy the stuff from the drugstore until you know it is something wearable and that you will wear it more than one time. I LOVE Sephora and Ulta and department store makeup, but I cannot justify paying for something I know I will only wear once. (Lesson learned=maroon eyeshadow) This afternoon is new magazine day and new catalogue day so I did my paperwork early so I can go home and pour over them and make lists of all the stuff to look for at the discount stores over the weekend!! Wish me luck, if I find anything awesome I will be sure to report back. Where do you draw inspiration from?

BEDA August 17

So much for me rocking this blog entry. I have a ton of notes from the last two episodes of Project Runway, but with school starting tomorrow and the stress that comes with school starting, there is no such thing as a funny Chelle. So my Project Runway post will have to wait until Thursday, when hopefully I will be calmer.

On a school related note, today I went shopping for work clothes. That was a total fail. My question is this...when did simple clothes become SO expensive. Now, I don't actually have a problem paying for nice clothes, but I have a HUGE issue paying ten dollars for a white tee shirt. I mean, I can get cute printed shirts from Threadless for ten dollars. And they will totally work as work attire because they have like, flowers on them, which work well under a cardigan. And don't even get me started on pants. Where are simple black dress pants? I mean, I don't really want to wear mom pants, and even if high waisted pants are coming back in style, they don't really work for people who are kind of chubby and only five feet tall. So pants are almost impossible. This may be one reason that I am a big fan of YA author Maureen Johnson's "No Pants" regime. Or maybe it's just that dresses are more comfortable when it is nearly 100 degrees out each day.

Regardless of why I am Team No Pants, or how expensive clothes are in relation to my paycheck...the main point is that I will be spending the weekend scouring the internet for affordable clothes and my closet for various combinations so that I can be comfortable and profession during the upcoming school year.

Failing at BEDA

Ally and I failed BEDA. I'm actually surprised we lasted as long as we did. We will return Monday with regular Monday-Friday posts with the possibility of weekend blogs as well. We aren't sure what we will do when BEDA is over, blogging everyday is hard, even when there are two of us. We really intended this to be kind of a beauty blog, with small looks into our crazy lives and friendship...it kind of veered off course though. Not that we mind! We just aren't sure what direction this blog will take come September.

So I'm currently gearing up for tomorrow's double Project Runway entry, hopefully you are all gearing up to read it!

High Times at the Pretend Orthodontist

So today didn’t exactly go the way I had planned. I was going to go to the orthodontist out of state (long story) and go to the mall to buy some new fall clothes and accessories for work. First, I was up all night sick with my allergies. Then, my bosses decided to have a Staff Appreciation day, and we were afraid if we didn’t show up we would have to use sick time. So we went and they had us playing games and had hired a massage therapist for us. So that part was really cool and very thoughtful of them. While we were there the delivered some news about our job, including staff changes, work place changes, and the fact Rochelle will be in a totally new place, with new people she doesn’t know. FUN. So I left early and we headed to NC. On the way we stopped at Burger King and I got my usual kids meal. I was trying to put the toy in the backseat (it was a large plastic satellite from the movie “Planet 51”) and I whacked Rochelle so hard in the head with it that I left a mark. After leaving Burger King, we were on the interstate when I large piece of flying cardboard hit the windshield. We called the orthodontist to confirm my appointment and they told me it was NEXT Wednesday. So we just went to the mall. Upon arriving my favorite Toy Store had been turned into a Halloween store. We found the actual toy store somewhere else. We did however find a pet store that sold “quality ferrets.” Then I got really sick from allergies (so did Rochelle) and so I bought generic Sudafed which made me super high and semi incoherent. On top of that there was no affordable or cute fall stuff out yet. So back to school Fall Fun shopping day…was a massive allergy ridden fail. 

Haircuts and Emma Watson

Recently a picture of Emma Watson aka Hermione Granger circulated the web. All kinds of people were like "OH MY GOSH!!! Not her HAIR!" and completely freaked out. Rumors are circulating that she cut her hair for an audition, and maybe she did. Personally I think she needed a change. Emma Watson needed to say goodbye to Hermione Granger. I think she did a bang up job. Their is no doubt that Emma Watson is crazy pretty. Like so pretty that I am frequently in awe of her. I don't really get why people are so worked up about her lack of hair. Yeah, it's different, but it's her head. And it works for her. I wish I could pull that cut off.

Speaking of haircuts, I think we have ALL done something drastic to our hair at some point. I know that when I need a change I start with my hair. I mean, ultimately, it's just hair. It grows back, you can re-dye it, if it is truly horrible you can pay for extensions or wear a hat. I used to have long hair. I'm not really sure why I ever wanted long hair. I have super fine hair, but I have a LOT of hair. It tangles really badly and if it gets longer than my shoulders I have to wear it up all the time or brush it every fifteen minutes. However, a few years ago I thought I was going to get married, and I found this amazing hair style where the girl had a low, curly ponytail with an old broach in her hair instead of a veil. So, I decided that THIS would be my hair style for my wedding. Long story short, I didn't get married. Also, I hated my hair. It was a CONSTANT reminder of everything that I didn't want to remember. So I called my cousin (who cuts hair) and asked her if she could cut my hair. When I got to her house she asked me what I wanted and I said "I don't care as long as you cut it off. I don't care how short it is, I don't even care what it looks like. As long as it is easy to take care of it." She looked at me like I was crazy and tried to talk me out of a mental breakdown. Eventually I was able to explain that I didn't want long hair because it reminded me of the fact that I was growing my hair out for a wedding that didn't happen. Then she cut my hair.

Which isn't really what this blog was supposed to be about. My main point is that sometimes you need to say goodbye, and sometimes you need to do something drastic in order to do that.

Old French Guys and A Pack of Rolaids

So Rochelle just wrote a really sweet and lovely blog about me. And how cool I am. I feel the same way about her, but I have decided to write about that when you are not expecting me to because writing it now would seem like I did it out of obligation, and that’s lame. Instead I am going to write about the end of my summer which has little to nothing to do with beauty. All of last week we were finishing up our summer camp that our super secret job has before school starts. It was very challenging. Rochelle and I came home and were completely exhausted every day. I was grumpy and did not want to talk to anyone but her or my boyfriend (and that’s a stretch!). After our program’s end and a field trip I went to a nearby city to visit my boyfriend where he lives. His brother and sister-in-law came and so we actually went out to restaurants for dinner and took them to the city’s sketchy Wal-Mart. This place is so bad they keep razor blades, condoms, and baby formula locked up. My first question is, what could you even do with all three of those things? I was happy to see everyone. I really like my boyfriend’s brother he is a really amazing guy. He has struggled with AIDS his whole life, due to a blood transfusion when he was much younger. You never hear him complain; he just lives life to the fullest and inspires everyone around him. I have learned a lot from him. He just looks at things in a different way than everyone else. He oozes compassion and understanding. He helps you to become closer to God through example. His wife is great too. She is a sweetheart. She helped a child who had her skull ripped off in a car accident they saw on the side of the road. She didn’t even flinch just ripped off her sweater and put it on the girls head and kept her calm. Talk about super woman!! And she’s fashionable too. She is always so put together and makes you want to immolate her style. And as if I didn’t like her enough the girl brought me Silly Bandz this weekend!! I don’t know if I have mentioned this or not, but I love silly bands. And she matched them to her outfit, which I had not even thought of yet!! We went to a really popular and trendy restaurant and all the waiters and waitresses were wearing bands.  AND I read about how Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Ripa, and Mary-Kate Olsen all wear them. Very cool. In other news, I was wearing my awesome silly bands when we went out on a speed boat in a lake. To most people this sounds fun. To me it is terrifying. I had kind of a messed up childhood, which we won’t get into yet because this is a fun blog, but I never learned how to swim or was on a boat. So deep choppy water freaks me out. And cruising fast in a tiny boat on choppy deep water-even worse. I am sure I made a tool of myself the whole time, holding on. Then I got sick and had to go throw up. LOL, I am beyond cool. And who do you think I was texting about my plight the whole time…..that’s right. Rochelle. And since I am already rambling, while with Rochelle today I adopted an orange kitten and named him Maurice Chevalier….now I am thinking I should have named him something for fallish. Haha obviously my brain is fried. 

Chelle Has BEDA-Block

What is BEDA-Block? Pretty much the same thing as writer's block, only BEDA based. I have certainly learned something this year, and that is NOT to do BEDA on two different blogs. I am OUT of topics! So maybe I'll just talk about Ally, myself, and our longtime friendship.

I can say I'm oddly melancholic right now because summer program is over and in little more than a week school will start. This means Ally and I will not be seeing each other everyday. Now, I know it isn't like she is moving across country or anything, but it will be a pretty big change. For the last six weeks we have spent every week day together, which hasn't happened since we worked at the library together. During the school year we tend to lose track of each other. We talk every day either via text or AIM, and last year it got to where she would call me a few days a week after school so we could just decompress. But that isn't the same as SEEING each other. We tried hard but with work, families, and her boyfriend, it was hard to get together a lot. So I'm really hopeful that this coming year we can do a better job of SEEING each other. I know it sounds silly. I know people who don't see their best friends like ever really, but it's hard for us. We have known each other since we were in fifth grade, which is when Ally moved to Wytheville. We became close friends in high school, and got extremely close in our junior year. We spent our first two years of college at community college together, taking most every class together or should I say passing notes and skipping to go buy magazines? That was probably what cemented our friendship. It has had its ups and downs. We have had small fights and HUGE fights, which have resulted in us not speaking for YEARS. However, we have loved each other for a LONG time, and we always overcome the bad stuff.

I can't think of a single bad thing that I have dealt with since I was sixteen that Alissa wasn't there for. My grandmother's death, being locked out of my dad's father's house in the blazing heat, my granddaddy dying, The Big, Bad Breakup, deciding to quit my first real job...she's been there for it all. She is the person who told me that my first real boyfriend was seeing someone in town while I was away at college, even though at that point we hadn't spoke to each other for almost two years. She is my family. She's more than my best friend, and honestly even through the petty crap we deal with, I'm glad I have her.

Wow...sappiest blog post EVER! Obviously I shouldn't blog when I am full of ennui.

It's The Great Freakin' Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

So this year I feel like we got teased with a Spring that only lasted like a week. It went from snowing two week in February, to Dry Gulch heat starting in April. Spring is one of my two favorite seasons and I felt like I got scammed this year. I am a little bit fearful about my other favorite season, Fall. I LOVE fall. I start gearing up for fall mid-July. I love everything about it. I think the changing of the leaves is something only God could have designed. Just amazing. And here in VA, we have an especially beautiful transformation because of all the trees on the Mountains. I love fall colors, purples, dark greens, oranges, reds, golds, black. I love the return of turtleneck sweaters and cute over the jeans boots. I have these pirate ones that I am obsessed with! I love that Target gets exclusive fall flavored candy like Pumpkin Spice Hershey kisses!!! I am getting myself all excited. I also love Halloween. This year I am trying to decide whether to be Wednesday Addams or Teen Wolf. I have been Pippi Longtocking and Eddie Munster in the last two years, and people have come to expect greatness out of my Halloween costumes. It’s a lot of pressure. Another thing I love about fall is that all the new Fall makeup and nail collections come out. I actually just got my China Glaze Vintage Vixen nail polishes in the mail today! I will try to get a picture of them up soon. I ordered most of the OPI Switzerland collection too. I am loving the grays and teals that are in for fall. I am also really curious about two of the new Mac Collections coming up, Mac Fabulous Felines and Mac Disney Villains. The Fabulous Felines collection is filled with a lot of nice neutrals and a few surprise greens. And the Disney Villains has Cruella Devil, my all time favorite, so I am already on that. I cannot wait, all my hard earned money working for the school system will be spent on nail polish and makeup! I am also pumped to go to the Pumpkin patch again. They have this awesome tour where you get apple cider at the end and a ghost pumpkin. I am rambling tonight. LOL speaking of rambling, I also love to go apple picking, watch “Beetle juice” and my all time favorite “Addams Family Values.” I love that movie!! And you’re not cool unless you watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” gotta love Linus and his schizophrenia! What are some of your fall traditions?




EDIT: Let it be said that Rochelle is obviously NOT cool, because she only watches Charlie Brown when Alissa is driving and traps her in the car with no way out.

Fall, Fall, Fall

Maybe it's because I'm a September birthday girl, maybe it's because I live in the mountains and get to see the country side literally explode with colors, maybe it's because I love Halloween and boots, whatever the reason...I love fall. This year I am really looking forward to so many things. I have a Halloween costume in the works, my cousins are playing volleyball and football, and best of all I can wear jeans without dying of heat stroke. More so than most years, I am really ready for fall to start.

Besides sports, jeans, and Halloween, what else am I looking forward to this fall? New makeup trends? This summer I have been REALLY into fairy makeup. I know this sounds insane, but I've been using really shimmery pastels and bright colors. I've also been kind of risky/tacky and been blending various shades together. However, with all the crazy hot weather we have had this summer, I haven't really been wearing very much makeup at all. Usually it melts off in no time flat. So that's another reason to look forward to fall. Cool weather=actually being able to wear makeup.

Now, I know what you may be thinking..."How is it that two girls who live in a town where CVS sells the most expensive makeup EVER hope to predict makeup trends?"* Seriously, I can't blame you. But Ally and I have an uncanny act of predicting trends. I made grey nail polish winter before last because I couldn't find a color like what I wanted. This fall grey was in almost every collection. I'm not saying this makes us the next Anna Wintours, but generally the things we like end up being popular.

THIS is a beauty expert

Since I generally look like this, I know it is especially hard to believe that I can be fashionable, and when it comes to clothes I'm really not. I am SUCH a jeans, t-shirt, Chuck Taylors kind of girl. Oh, but when it comes to makeup I get all kinds of giddy! I love eyeshadow, bright blush, and lip gloss. Outside of books, lip gloss is where most of money goes. Recently I have become a fan of bronzer. Mainly because my face refuses to not tan, and I am not about to buy four different shades of powder, especially since I can usually only use expensive brands, due to my insane allergies.** Needless to say you can imagine my surprise when I opened my new Sephora catalog early this week and realized that one of the models was wearing the exact same eyeshadow shades as me, kelly green and gold. She even had her makeup done the same way as I did, except since I don't live on a magazine page I had the gold shadow covering my lid and the green in the crease/lining my eye.*** There were a few more trends in that catalog that I really enjoyed. Mainly the purple smokey eye. I really enjoy having lighter smokey eyes, mainly because if the grey/black goes wrong you look like you were punched in the face. In January Alissa spent weeks looking for plum eyeshadow, with no luck whatsoever.

So there ya go. Even though ninety percent of the time I look like I just rolled out of a college dorm room bed, I still love my stuff. That is, I guess, my biggest point on this blog. Just because I don't spend hours getting ready each morning**** doesn't mean that I'm not interested in the trends. You don't have to look like Tyra, Heidi Klum, Emma Watson or Salma Hayek to be into beauty. And you don't have to wear makeup everyday to be interested in the trends.

*We ask ourselves this question all the time.
**Thanks a LOT skin chemistry/allergens.
***I may be fashion forward, but kelly green eyeshadow up to your brow bone is generally a NO!
****I work with kids who have severe behavioral issues, some days I need to sleep!

What I think about when Nickelodeon runs George Lopez instead of the Nanny, like I wish they would.

So tonight I forgot I had to blog for BEDA, and I was prepping to watch "The Nanny" on Nickeloden. Instead they were playing "The George Lopez show" which is/was a massive letdown. In my free time I was thinking about how I hadn't fully wiped off my beard from work today. That's right, I am a drag queen...no really....today was dress up day. I was a sexy cabin boy pirate and Rochelle was a gypsy. The kids thought we were a crack head and a pimp.The costumes made me think about how hundreds of years ago the standard of beauty was a lot different. Beauty trends and what is considered beautiful waxes and wanes like the moon (man, that was deep) one day thin is in, the next day they like big butts( and they cannot lie). I remembered  the movie “Amadeus” about  Mozart’s journey from musical genius to Mel Gibson alcoholic. All of the ladies in that movie have their breasteses pushed up as high as they can go in corsets.. They also painted their faces white and filled their hair/wigs with a white talc powder instead of washing them. A biology video we were shown in high school said that these wigs were often full of lice and sometimes even the occasional mouse. Can you imagine? That’s pretty freakin nasty.   A lot of women had to make their cosmetics at home. Lead based powders were used to whiten faces and rust was used to darken hair. Now if you do that, they assume the product came from China.  I also read about a book called "Secrets of a Ladies's Toilet" ( I don't think that is the exact title) which is a book about attracting a man by looking chesty, having a clear complexion, powdering your wig, etc. I just liked the title. Because lets face it, a lot of secret things can happen in a toilet. Anyways, these are just some things I was thinking about tonight. What are some crazy beauty rituals you have heard of? What is the craziest thing you have ever tried for beauty? (Mine was Sun-In, which turned my black hair Chester Cheeto Orange)

Sun Care Tips from Chelle

So, there are few things that I am like adamant about when it comes to my beauty routine, but one of them is without a doubt, sun care. Skin cancer TERRIFIES me, not to mention age spots, and having to buy new foundation and powder throughout the summer. Now, it is true that I tan. Not lay in the sun and bake, but if I am outside-even with sunblock on-for extended periods of time, my skin darkens. I wear sunscreen, I reapply, I even wear hats and the longest sleeves I can handle. I try to sit in the shade. The point is, you can't avoid the sun, or the shrinking ozone layer, but you can be as safe a possible. So here are some of my sun care favorites.




A cute hat is a must! These are both from Forever21. I have the Patriotic Floppy Hat, which has a great open weave so there is airflow. It may be a little loud, but I wore it to the pool on Friday for work and my face did not get sunburned.

This Straw Cloche is also available at Forever21, but they didn't have it last time I was there. You better believe I'll be purchasing it when I go with Ally to Forever21 next week!

Forever21 has a ton of cute hats, and they are pretty cheap actually. A hat is the number one way to protect your face in the sun! Hats also keep your scalp from burning, and honestly, no one wants a peeling scalp.

Now, my favorite sunblock is from Badger Balm. It is made from natural ingredients, so I don't have to worry about a freak allergic reaction, and I am comforted knowing I'm not polluting my body with freaky stuff. I also love Badger Balm's Bali Balm. It is a great after sun balm, and it smells AMAZING! So that is always nice. I hate when sun care stuff smells funky and you end up smelling like rotten beach. That's not cool, I don't care who you are!

A few other tips! 

• REAPPLY! I don't care if you think it's overrated, it is IMPORTANT! 
• Keep aloe vera gel in your refrigerator, by keeping it cool it will help draw out a sunburn. 
• If you have a really bad burn, don't peel the skin off. Use an exfoliating scrub in the shower. Personally, I love these felted soaps from Lucky LouLou at Etsy. 
• Oatmeal lotion is great for itchy skin. If you have a sunburn, use it with the cool aloe gel to keep from peeling and damaging the raw skin under your burn.
• When applying sunblock don't forget your ears or the back of your neck! They are two of the most commonly missed places!

I know it is later in the summer, but sun care is a year round task! Be safe, and stay cancer free!

Shameful Impulsive Buys-We've all given in to the temptation

So for whatever reason. despite the fact I make less money in the summer...I have been spending more of it. But not for things you have to pay for like your phone bill, or car insurance, instead I have been buying just random stupid stuff. So today Rochelle and I went out on yet another trip to Walmart...which is like the mall when you live in a small town. We had to get a few things for work. My game plan was JUST to get work things. I did okay until we got the toy aisle to look at more work things. (we work for the school system) Then I saw a knock off of "Silly Bands" and it just so happened they have a bag of dragon ones...which I do not own yet. So of course I NEEDED those. Later we went to the Dollar General and as we were leaving I had done so well not to buy anything, and then I saw it....Michael Jackson school supplies....so I felt it was important that I get some of those too. You need school supplies..and I feel like it is my civic duty to pay homage to the kind of pop. There was like 8 dollars spent. Why do they put the coolest silliest stuff right up front, I am telling you marketers are smart. I rarely leave a store without gum, Tic-Tacs, an Us Weekly....or Michael Jackson school supplies....What are some of your favorite or most embarrassing impulse purchases?

Project Runway

The new season of Project Runway premiered last week, and over the weekend I had the chance to watch the first episode. I love fashion, and I really used to love this show. When it first started on Bravo I thought that it was so awesome. The challenges were HARD! The designers had to construct items out of the outfit they had on, make a garden party dress solely out of items from a garden supply store, and so on. I felt like the viewer really got a chance to see how talented the designers actually were. The first few season I really felt like the best designers made it to Fashion Week. However, last season I was completely unimpressed. I don't even know who won. I was really disappointed. I wondered if maybe moving to Lifetime meant that Project Runway had jumped the shark. I wasn't even sure if I was going to bother trying to watch this season. I decided I'd watch the season premiere online and see where it went from there.

So far I really enjoy A.J., Andy, Christopher, both Michaels, and Nicolas. I'm not sure if I like any of the girls or not. Which is odd, generally there is one who stands out. I'm sure that all of these people will be eliminated jiffy quick. That's generally how things go, if I like them it's the kiss of death. Case in point...Spain won the World Cup, not the US, England, Mexico, Uruguay, or the Netherlands. Every team I cheered for dropped like flies.

I am interested in Gretchen, because she works with sustainable materials, dyes her own fabrics, and is basically a green designer. I love that concept, and her work is beautiful and intricate. However, I wonder if the monetary and time constraints of this show are going to compromise her design philosophy. That happens a lot on Project Runway. A designer comes in and is so sure of who they are that he/she has difficulties meeting the challenges. So I hope that Gretchen sticks around. I'd like to see her at Fashion Week so that I can see her process when she designs. I think that it would be different than what we have seen in the last few seasons.

Also, I love the judges. Nina Garcia is a beautiful woman, and I loved Elle when she was the editor there. Michael Kors is a fabulous designer and he knows what he is talking about when it comes to high end and ready to wear designs. I like that they are both firm, and usually aren't mean. It proves that there doesn't have to be a Simon Cowell to get the point across. I also adore Tim Gunn. He is the perfect mentor, and his advice is always spot on.

All in all, I'm looking forward to this season. For now I'm going to continue watching and I'll post my thoughts and feeling here. If you are watching along with me feel free to let us know what you think in the comments!

BEDA=Blog Every Day in August

Hello readers! So, last year Maureen Johnson, YA writer extraordinaire started this thing called BEDA, which means Blog Every Day in April. For some reason this year they did that in April and now they are doing it again in August. Well, MJ isn't doing it, but a lot of the BEDA-ers are. Since Alissa and I just started this blog we thought it would be cool to participate. Our main goal for this blog was to talk about all the random beauty things we are obsessed with: nail polish, makeup, purses, giant earrings, etc. However, we are obsessed with a LOT of random things. Disney, books, classic TV, Harry Potter, road trips, malls...there are a lot of random things that we talk about...and now we have decided to share them all with YOU! I know you are all excited. I mean...I certainly would be if I were you! So here it is...roughly 31 days of getting to know Ally and Chelle. Hopefully we won't scare you away!

Stay Cool Kids

Hey guys! Today I want to talk about something that is very upsetting...trying to look good when its a million degrees outside. I don't know about the rest of you, but here in Virginia we are averaging 92 degree weather everyday. The grass is so dry it is brown. It's the kind of heat you can see rising up from the pavement, not good if you are trying to look dead sexy. I wanted to share some products. First is my Mac Liquid eyeliner. Rochelle will tell you my liquid eyeliner is my crack. This stuff is so good and so long lasting I can actually go to bed with it, take a shower, and just touch up the edges. Its THAT long lasting (although I wouldn't recommend doing that often) It lasts in the pool, the lake, probably the ocean if I had gone their this summer (but I'm not bitter). It is amazing!!! Next is probably a weird one. I really like the Nivea Sensitive Skin cream for men. It is very light weight and does not make your face feel any more greasy during the hot humid summer months. It also has no harsh chemicals so it won't break you out. Another item I am really enjoying is Victoria Secret's New Summer Clean Scent collection. All three scents last all day and don't get that funky sour smell when you've been sweating. Plus with the bulk deals they have you can try them all! Another product I have recently come back to is Cover Girl Powder Foundation. I used it like crack in high school and sort of stopped for whatever reason. I was in Walmart the other day and decided I would try it again and I LOVE it. It stays on a long time and controls oil really well. It totally makes sense why its been a Cover Girl staple for years and years. The last thing I have been enjoying is all of the great Summer Nail polish collections that have come out. I bought several from the Opi Shrek Collection, and I am in deep love with Essie's Pretty Edgy. All these bright Easter egg colors make me think of Spring instead of summer though. Makes me want to eat Peeps and watch "It's the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown." I guess in the meantime I will watch my usual Lifetime Movies and eat Freez-E-Pops. LOL