Countdown to 2006...

I'm getting a little antsy about my No-Buy Challenge. How can I possibly fill the shopping void in my life? Will I survive an ENTIRE month? It's like an alcoholic quitting the booze cold turkey. Only... this is WORSE! So, I made a final bon voyage trip to Target. Sadly there was nothing good in the clothing department. Here is the final tally:

• Red chemise nightgown on clearance $5.48
  
• 3 pack washcloths $1.48
  
• toilet paper $3.44
  
• Listerine $4.09
  
• Navy blue opaque tights (they didn't have black waaah!)
  
• 2 packs of Oral B Floss (I keep losing my floss like nobody's business)
  

I was looking at the pens because nothing cheers me up better than a lovely Uni-ball Vision Elite after a tough day at work. Of course, there was NOTHING but PaperMates. And I can't stand PaperMates! It was like a conspiracy against me. I find this new monoply they have in the pen aisle most distrubing.

Now I must get ready for tonight's soiree. Lets see.. shall I wear my feather boa? Or my best furs? Rancho Cucamunga is indeed an up and coming, glamorous city. Right there next to Norco and Fontana. Naturally, dahling.

Cheers!

Best Of 2005 Awards

And the winners are...

Bath & Body

The Body Shop Cocoa Butter scrub
Almond shell powder and crushed rice suspended in a creamy cocoa butter base. Exfoliates like a dream and doesn't leave an oily residue behind. I just adore the almond play-doh scent.

Fresh Sugar Body Oil
Warm brown sugar & citrus scented. Used right after the shower on slightly damp skin, it leaves a slight sheen before sinking in. Use any left over oil on palms by running them thru the ends of hair.

Soap by Wyldeivy.com
Wylde Ivy makes the nicest cold processed soaps! Getting a package in the mail from here always makes my day. I just love browsing the site even if I'm not shopping for anything.

Skincare - Face

Lush Ocean Salt scrub
Smells exactly like a margarita! Lemon-lime & salt, it works like a dream.
From the website:
Everyone can (and should) give Ocean Salt a try. If you have oily skin you can use it every day; if you have dry skin then once a week should be enough. We use ocean salt granules in this one which scrub away dead skin cells then dissolve to rehydrate and soothe the skin. The grapefruit and limes in Ocean salt tone and refresh your skin; organic coconut and avocado butters polish and soften it.

Almay Oily Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Stinks a bit due to no added perfumes, but these pads work great and won't break the bank. I love the darling new retro look. Makes me think of something Marilyn Monroe would have had in her medicine cabinet sitting next to the Ponds cold cream.





Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55
I LOVE THIS SUNSCREEN! There is nothing else quite like it. Smoothes on evenly with no sticky or shiny feeling. The texture of my skin is amazing with this on, leaving an almost matte finish. I usually hate sunscreen but this makes it a pleasure to use. Highly recommended for daily summer wear :)

Neutrogen Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Cleanser

(this is pretty much self explanitory)

Scents

Skin Musk perfume oil

Sandalwood, musk and florals. Cheap and has an amazing "your skin but better" scent.

Hair

Bumble+Bumble Creme de Coco shamp & cond.

This is expensive but soooo worth it. Smells like coconut milk with a hint of lime. You only need a tiny bit of the shampoo to get a creamy lather going, while the condish leaves hair soft & hydrated without frizz, flyaways or heavy buildup. Heaven in a bottle.

Aveda Brilliant Damage Control spray

Helps protect hair from thermal & UV damage and reduces breakage. Just spritz on towel dried hair and you're good to go. I notice whenever I use this my hair shines like crazy.

MakeUp

Nars Blue Angel eyeshadow duo - the shimmery lavender-grey color is so pretty! It's just dark enough to look smoky, but not muddy. Use the matte navy wet to line, and you've got a gorgeous look with minimal effort.

Stila Capri eyeshadow trio - this was released in the Summer of 2002. No longer in production, I've been known to search ebay for a back up from time to time. The shimmery plums are simply stunning.

Smashbox Smashing Starlit - Shimmery mink grey. Perfect as an all over wash on lids.

Laura Mercier Brown Copper kohl eye pencil - next to LM cake liners, this slightly metallic shade of copper brown is the best! Smooth application, long wearing, just enough smudginess for that sex kitten look.

Very Honerable Mentions

Origins Salts of the Earth line - Dead Sea salts with peppermint, spearmint, rosemary and orange oils. I am addicted to the scent.

Max Factor 2000 Calorie mascara - why pay over $23 for diorshow when you can have this little gem for less!

Thanks for playing! See you all next year :)

Let's cut to the chase, shall we?

Pulp Journal to record my lusty sagas, naked truths, and gritty details of my film noir lifestyle.



Old Navy stripes & tiny hearts cotton shirt with key hole puff sleeves. $14.50

Bali Smooth Compliments underwire in Rosewood. (It looks more of a vintage beige if you ask me). Seamless cups & camisole straps. Only $13.50 because Mervyns was having a very kind sale on underpinnings today.

Fin!

Happy Boxing Day!!!
My second favorite holiday next to Dia de los Muertos.

Unfortunaly this Boxing Day is off to a rough start. I woke up extra early this morning with the beginings of a sinus headache, the apartment is in complete chaos, and Holly won't stop begging for the tuna flakes she got for Christmas. She looks pittiful.

At least the music is good. Radiohead on the Left of Center channel. :)

Things to do today:

1. stumble into Walgreens for some Aleve sinus
2. my traditional trip to glendale Borders for a '06 month-at-a-glance desk planner
3. catalog the remaining xmas gifts
4. did I mention coffee at Borders?
5. feebly attempt to clean up the apt

Woah. I forgot to eat didn't I?!

Next year's to do list:

1. Take the train to Santa Barbara
2. Eat a shrimp cocktail from the Vallarta Supermarket deli
3. Visit the first west coast H&M store in San Fran (sort of like Forever 21, but from the UK)

I know there is more, but I can't remember just now. I'll get back to this list later.

Okay I better get moving...

Merry Christmas!

Survey of the damage thus far:

From my secret santa:
Set of 5 feng shui candles
ceramic tea set- so pretty in a simple, zen kind of way
Nordstrom gift card :)

dave's family:
beautiful handmade silver & rose crystal necklace & matching earrings
AMC movie tickets
popcorn tin & bottle of wine
cute tiny stocking with my name on it

dave:
Giardino Italiano Apricot & Amond bath soap in a wooden soap dish, tied together with a pretty peach bow.

Two Lather soaps. One in passion flower, another in geranium. They smell so good! And I'm so excited to try a new soap place. Dave is so hip to the game.


passion flower
The soft lather of this olive oil soap is formulated with passion flower, a striking white flower with pink centers. Indigenous throughout tropical regions of South America, this plant is know world wide as a natural sedative. It is used to treat insomnia, anxiety and even migraines. Formulated with essential oils of geranium, ylang ylang, eucalyptus and lanvender, this is truly an exotic, seductive soap in aroma and appearance.




geranium
Due to the high content of geranium essential oil, this soap is mildly antiseptic and great skin-soother. A perfect face soap for people with either dry or oily skin, geranium is known for its "balancing act." With its delightful sweet rosy scent, it's also perfect to put you in a good mood, induce sleep, relax or energize. Produces a rich and moisturizing lather.


<------A bar of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas soap from Lush. Blackcurrant & Lavender. beautiful


World Market bath confetti set. Lavender, freesia, peppermint, rose, & grapefruit.

Philips Sonicare toothbrush.

Sirius satellite radio kit & the coolest little speakers for my desk at work.

The website was slow this morning with activation. I suspect many lucky people received this for Christmas!

Now time for breakfast at the only place I can think of that will be open.
Egg McMuffins at McDonalds! yum

New Shoes! Yay I LOVE THEM!! 3 inch heel, but very comfy w/ flexible sole.
Aerosoles Cot Machine (weird name) in Tan.
(not rose as shown in pic)

New books coming my way...

Bohemian Manifesto : A Field Guide to Living on the Edge









Inventing Beauty : A History of the Innovations that Have Made Us Beautiful

Both for only $25, free shipping and no tax!!!

I love Amazon :)

Bohemian Manifesto was written by Laren Stover, who also wrote a fave of mine:

The Bombshell Manual of Style

Ramblings

Oh I'm really tired right now and david just said I stink like a rabbit.
Umm, What the heck?

Today was Howard Stern's last terrestrial radio show.

The living room is playing The Pixies on cable radio. The kitchen radio is blaring a talk show. Why are there two different radios on at the same time?! Which one should I listen to? I'm so confused.

My eyes are tired and strained. I took Aliene to the street fair today. I think she liked it (I hope). It was coooold and I wasn't wearing any socks. I didn't see the Tote Bag Lady so I couldn't get an Audrey Hepburn tote bag the way I had planned. So sad. Instead I got some dried fruit (mango with chile & papaya sweetened with honey) and some honey sticks for tea. Two in blackberry, two in almond, one in orange. Mmmm orange honey. They were 5 for $1 but the honey salesman called us "big spenders" when we handed over our dollar bill. I bet he thought he was being clever.

This weekend better not go by fast!! There is so much to do before Christmas Day. Like get a tree, for starters. I still need a few more presents, but the Burbank traffic is just killing my soul. It takes damn near half an hour to travel 3 miles to Target. I bet the city planners were Cal State LA graduates. And don't get me started on the Glendale Galleria. Those shoppers will MOW YOU DOWN if you don't step out of their way. The parking is just as horrendous. The employees have to park at the Los Angeles Zoo and get shuttled in. (There's a joke in there somewhere). Just thinking about it all makes me want to hide under the covers until St. Patrick's Day.

Have I mentioned my proposed moratorium yet? For the entire month of January I am going on a self imposed shopping hiatus. Primarily because I've been going a little overboard the past few weeks. I also think it will be an interesting experiment to see how well I fare. Only groceries, fuel for the car, and bills will be allowed.


This ought to be good...

dave made me so furious yesterday! grrrr...
He was mad because I wanted to watch tv while he studied.
So he drags out titanium headphones and makes me wear them to watch tv.
So here I am wearing these huge KOSS headphones that weigh 6 tons, and I'm lying on the floor close enough, because the cord is only so long, and here comes Holly sauntering her sassy self over to me and stands by my head, just STARING because I look so ridiculous.

I was livid!!!

(But now that I think about it, it was pretty darn funny...)

...and this weekend's shopping list thrown in for good measure:

a bottle of Tilex Mold & Mildew remover (ew!)
black tights
Regis salons Olive Oil shampoo & condish (hear its good stuff!)
Choxie

Speaking of which, check out this candy blog. It rocks!

http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/category/choxie/

a Gorey cat to accompany an Xmas survey

Gift card or actual gift?
Really and truly? Whatever is easiest for you.

A personal gift item for you or something for your house?
Yes.

Costco or Sams?
I am no longer a member of these exclusive clubs. So I shall say: Target.

Coke or Pepsi?
Rum & coke, if you will.

This one is just for Marie….A shot of tequila or a mojito?
I'll answer this one anyway. A mojito. I think.

Do you like to go to the movies or do you like to stay home and watch movies?
Ugh. Neither. Nothing is tickling my fancy these days in the movie department. Except maybe the TMC channel on cable.

Do you enjoy cooking or going out to eat?
Trader Joe makes my dinner.

Favorite store(s) Sephora & Target & Trader Joe's. I spend obscene amounts of time at these places. It's bordering on the obsessive.

Favorite restaurant(s) Momotaro in Burbank, IHOP for the crepes and Saigon Noodle in Pasadena for the BEST spring rolls in the world!

Favorite place to get gas Any place that serves beans.

Favorite snacks Ummm.. Pistachios? But they are so fatty, huh?
:( Cheese. Sometimes brownies from 7-11. Mostly salty things. Ooooh! These olive oil and sea salt potato chips by Terra called Red Bliss.

What is the funnest place you have recently gone to and would you like to go
again? Is funnest a real word? Recently... I'll say the Paris hotel in Vegas. I like pretending I'm a brooding Parisian art student sketching nudes by the Place De La Concorde fountain. Hmm.. Which reminds me, I should post some of those pics!!

If you haven't had any fun lately, what would be a place you would like to go to?
Overseas travel. Just about anywhere, except the Middle East or the Philippines.

What is the best Christmas gift you ever got? I appreciate just about everything I get. Except clothes that are too big or too small, and I have no idea where I can return them to.

What is the worst? Ha! I once received a little basket filled with brown Easter grass, that held three porcelain figurines. One was a cross, another an angel, and the third a little boy praying and on the bottom of that last figurine were the words "Alejandro Baptismo, 1998" written in black permanent marker. I couldn't stop laughing for days!
This was from the same person who a few years earlier had given my a bottle of Designer Imposter's Perfume of Jovan Citrus Musk. Which is like getting an imposter of an imposter!
I can't wait to see what I'll get this year :D


What do you reeeeaaallly hope to receive this Christmas?
In all materialistic honesty: Sirius satellite radio. Which I'm making dave look into for me. This will be a godsend at work. It will help me tune out all the crazy people, I can listen to Howard Stern, have commercial free, static free music at my desk. Right now I can only get the Mexican stations to come in clear.

I wish someone would send me some email.
I'm bored.
Maybe thats what I get for Lemon Party -ing everyone.


I did a little xmas shopping today. It went over very well. The trick is getting there right when it opens. The galleria, that is. Easy parking & not very crowded. I had coffee at Gloria Jeans in a Cranberry Brulee flavor. Unfortunatly, I was very heartbroken to hear about my shoes. A pair of darling Betty Page peep toe heels with a bow at Aerosoles, that of course, were sold out of my size. They were so comfortable too. :(

Enclosed is a picture, so we can all lament together.

Ugh! Please don't ask where I've been lately, because it hasn't been pretty.
Lets move on to happy Pro Shopping blogging, shall we?

Today I am thrilled to report I finally got around to getting (...drumroll please..)
Crest Pro-Health Rinse. It is an antigingivitis & antiplaque oral mouthrinse formulated to kill germs that cause plaque, gingivitis, and bad breath. All WITHOUT alcohol! No, dear readers, I am not on the bandwagon on the road to AA meetings just yet. I just hate the burn of Listerine. Now pass over that bottle of Night Train...