A Just Peachy Day

Ray, Lena, and Amy

I had such a great day yesterday. I spent the morning taking care of business (Pilates, haircut, blog things). My neighborhood was buzzing with delivery trucks, film crews (lots of TV shows and movies film on location here), and people going about their day. In the afternoon, I had the pleasure of hanging out with two of my girlfriends that I don't see nearly as much as I'd like. On the docket: a concert, some drinks, and a good old-fashioned girls night out.

First Aid for Dummies

You know those days where you forget to apply sunblock to an odd-shaped triangular patch on your arm? Or you burn your hand on the tea kettle while boiling water for tea after a bad day at work? Or you scratch your leg on that same stupid corner of the coffee table? You know those dumb days?

Putting My Best Beach Face Forward

I apologize in advance for a post that might seem a little vain: makeup for the beach. There is something sort of wrong about putting on a full routine of makeup just to go to a place where, potentially, your face is going to get salty, sweaty, wet, and maybe even a little sandy. Some days, however, I like to have a little something on. So bear with me as I outline what I think is a fairly modest account of what I put on for the beach.

Ten Polishes for Neon Pink Nails

My friend, Kathryn, recently showed up wearing this neon pink nail polish and had one small complaint...

Holding All the Cards

Besides your run-of-the-mill playing cards, there are lots of different card games available nowadays. I found these four card games at my local drug store, some of which are adaptations of popular games that many would recognize. Card games like these are great because they are portable, easy to play, and fun for all ages.

Blocking Out the Noise

What?! I can't hear you! Did you know that a NYC subway is about 95 decibels? A rock concert can be even louder, reaching up to 115 dB. Need some ear plugs for all that loud noise?

Lip Balm

Some of my stash of lip balms

I am a lip balm girl. I must have one with me at all times. I have them stashed in my purse, jacket pockets, work bag, nightstand drawer, and in various places around my apartment. Even if I wear nothing else on my face, lip balm is a must for me before I leave the apartment.

Here are some favorites:

Renaissance de Mousse

Giovanni Natural Mousse Hair Styling Foam

Lately, I've been reaching for this hair mousse more than others. Yes, hair mousse. (Does this mean I am trapped in the 90's?) I like this one because it provides good hold, gives my hair some volume, and leaves my hair feeling soft not stiff. It adds just a bit of texture without leaving my hair too sticky. The non-aerosol pump dispenser is easy to use. Plus, it's made of natural ingredients that I can actually pronounce.

Confession: 99% of the time I blow-dry my hair, I only do my bangs and the hair on the crown of my head. It's okay, my hairdresser already knows. She has eased my concerns and assured me that no sin was committed in this case.

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Wicked

 

This is one of my all-time favorite nail polishes. Described as "a deep and dark creamy sinister red," Essie's Wicked is the perfect vampy red polish. This is a perfect color to wear when the weather gets chilly, but it is classic enough to wear year-round. Great for hands and toes. Applies in two coats to a creamy opaque finish.

Pictured here with a Harding scarf in the squash color from Pendleton's 2011 Portland Collection (no longer available) and a deep v-neck tee from American Apparel. 

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Honey Cough Drops and a Thank You

 

Last week, I came down with a bit of a cold (sore throat, cough, congestion, and the other usual ick). These Burt's Bees Natural Throat Drops came to the rescue. Tasty honey flavor (with a hint of menthol and eucalyptus), soothing, and all natural. Individual wraps seemed unnecessary at first but it was nice to be able to throw a couple in my coat pocket when I needed to run out for more cough syrup.

A quick thanks to John who gave me a nice shout out on his blog simply-american.net last week. For other blogs about American-made products, see my blogroll in the right sidebar.

Lemony Cuticles

The winter can be especially harsh on skin and hands. Recently, one of my cuticles cracked and bled. It was painful and annoying and I couldn't wait for it to heal. The remedy: Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. The all-natural cream worked it's magic in just a couple of days, helping to soften and moisturize my cuticles back to their normal state. The lemony scent is not overpowering and doesn't last very long.

My only complaint is that the tin can be sometimes difficult to open, especially if you have longer nails. Burt's Bees, if you're listening, I would love some packaging that's easier to open. Thank you in advance.

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Gift Wrapping

As I previously mentioned, I use sheets of my Stendig calendar from past months for all of my gift-wrapping needs. I didn't realize until recently, though, that the scissors and tape I use for wrapping gifts are also American-made. Who knew that Scotch tape was made in the USA? I like this Matte Finish Magic tape because it's pretty invisible against the gift wrap. These American-made DuraSharp scissors are old so I'm not even sure if new versions are made in the USA anymore. This website shows a similar pair as such but I'm not sure if this is universally true.

For those gifts that are USA-made, you can even make a gift tag that boasts about it. I made these for last year's gifts:

This year, I got lazy and didn't even include labels or gift tags. There's always next year.

Bordeaux

In yesterday's winter travel outfit post, you may have noticed my red nail polish. It's one of my favorite nail polishes, Essie Bordeaux. Described as "a deep red wine," it's a color that I can wear wherever and whenever. It looks just as fitting with a tee shirt and jeans as it does with a tailored suit. A true classic.

Pictured here with my Harding scarf in black and tan from Pendleton's 2011 Portland Collection.

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In the Cards

In high school, I used to play cards with my friends almost every night. Don't worry... this was after I finished my homework. Or, at least, that's my official story and I'm sticking to it. Although I don't play as often as I used to, there's something that I just love about a round or ten with friends or family. No computer can match the feel of the cards in your hand.

Bee Playing Cards are just one of the iconic brands made by the United States Playing Card Company. They have that classic diamond design, are available in both red and blue, and even come in a jumbo index version. For just a few bucks at most drugstores, it's an easy way to keep a group entertained.

Tip: I often make to sure to have at least one deck with me on any long trip. I can occupy myself for quite a while with One-Handed Solitaire and it can be played almost anywhere.

A Mask Fit for a Queen

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

With the word "Masque" in the product name, you might expect to pay $50 for the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. Nope, it costs less than $5. Even so, it works better than most clay-based masks on the market for just a fraction of the price. This is nice to have on hand when my skin has decided to revolt and erupt into an acne chaos. If used right before bed, I usually can see a visible difference by the next morning. It can also be used as a spot treatment. Yes, it really is minty. No, it's not as tasty as a real mint julep.

PSA: Avoid product contact with any silver jewelry; due to the sulfur content it will oxidize it almost instantaneously. Not that I would know anything about that.

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Batting Lashes

Maybelline Full 'N Soft waterproof mascara

No matter how many fancy-pants mascaras I've tried in the past, I always return to this drugstore staple. I am partial to the waterproof version in Very Black. This mascara has a nice formula that gives my lashes some much-needed volume and doesn't make them stiff or clumpy. It also doesn't undo the curl from my eyelash curler (which non-waterproof formulas tend to do). Lasts all day, all night. Apply one to 10 coats, depending on the occasion.

Mascara-wearers, is yours made in the USA? If so, please share in the comments.

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