So You Think You Can Type?
Typewriter
bookends available at Restoration
Hardware
You're totally going to
hate me for telling you about this site, because it's
just that addicting and you'll need to ask
your doctor to call in an Adderall prescription to
help you re-focus on the more important things you
probably have to do. Typeracer is a game that
measures how fast you type and then tells you your
words-per-minute speed.
It's not as simple as it sounds! I don't know about
you, but I haven't practiced proper typing skills
since fourth grade and I'm rusty as shiz. What makes
Typeracer so irresistible is that you can compete
live against other players. I swear, you can't stop
trying to win. I first read about the site last week
on Wall Street
Journal's Buzzwatch before it popped up on
GeekSugar just
yesterday. Glad to know I'm not the only dork
concerned/ competitive about my wpm rate.
Today's headlines:
Attention, Nine Inch Nails fans! Trent announced
yesterday that their new album is "on him." (Billboard)
Stephen Colbert wins a webby for "Person of the
Year." (CNN)
Spielberg gets in on the Wii with Boom Blox.
(Wired)
Brit has a child custody hearing today, and it's
expected to go well. Here's hoping! (AP)
Tagged By Steeping Beauty
There's a meme creeping through the
Total Beauty blog
community.
I've been tagged by Delphine over at
Steeping
Beauty!
Here are my answers:
My Five
Must-Not Have Beauty Items
1) Perfumed face
moisturizer, lipstick or blush. The kind
that smells like the bottom of your Granny's purse,
where the stench stays with you long after you apply
it. I swear nothing makes me more nauseous.
2) Lipliner. Even if it's the most
neutral shade on earth, I look like the joker when I
wear it. Also, I can't stand when people go
above their natural lip line. Like, who are you
kidding? Please. Unless you're at a photo shoot
starring you, don't do it. And even then, let someone
else do it, because you're not doing it right.
3) Home Haircolor Kits. Ummm... never tried
it, never want to. Honestly. No offense to those who
have sworn by the same shade of 'Shingleberry #13' or
whatever since they were twelve — I raise my glass to
you and your at-home hair care talents. For me, hair
color is just one of those things I'd much rather
leave to a pro. Because I'd screw it up majorly. End
of story.
4) Loose powder. Hate the stuff with a
passion. If someone gave me canister of loose gold,
I'd (politely) return it immediately. It makes such a
mess and I can't even deal. I've used pressed powder
since I was thirteen and it works just fine, thank
you.
5) Pewter Eyeshadow. Silver lids were a
popular trend when I was in high school, and it still
pops up every now and then on the red carpet. In my
experience, it always looks like it's creasing, even
if it's not — no matter how fab the quality of the
product. Besides, it's just shiny and fugly.
My Five
Biggest Beauty
Crimes
1) Sun
worshipping. After spending as much of my
life as possible on the beach and working as a
lifeguard throughout high school and college, I've
been known to go a little overboard with the basking.
I swear this summer will be different (I kind of have
no choice because I'm starting to run out of room on
my body for sunspots. Ew, right?).
2) Sleeping with makeup. In a word:
lazypants. No excuse.
3) I had acrylic nails from 1994-2000. I
don't think i need to elaborate on this one.
4) I'm a nail biter. Still better than
rockin' acrylics, I say.
5) From Memorial Day to Labor Day, my
hairdryer gets zero action. This might not
seem like a crime, but I promise it is. Air-dried, my
hair is a frizzy mess. I tell myself that I'm "making
up for all the heat styling I do throughout the
winter" but its more like the lazypants thing again.
So I wear a headscarf every day in the summer (see
avatar above) in the hopes that no one notices my
actual hair.
Yo! Agostina
from Makeup2Beauty...
Tag, you're it!
Customize Your Happy
Look what you
can do with your Happy now!
Talk about getting personal. Clinique's cheerful
floral scent is now available in a one-of-a-kind
bottle that you can design yourself. It's so easy —
just upload a pic of your choice to their site and they'll take
care of the rest. This was a great gift idea for
Valentines Day (ha... ooops, sorry about the
timing) but it's also perfect for a birthday or if
you feel like sending some random mid-winter
happiness. (Lets face it — who doesn't need
that?)
JT: More Hospitable, Fragrant Than Ever
So we went for a few drinks, and it was aiight — the music was really fun and the bartenders did this Spring Break-ish fire show with bottles of whisky. Interesting. At one point, J and I felt very 1) old, and 2) under dressed. We agreed that every 24-year-old Jane from Kansas who moved to Manhattan within the last month was there, dressed to the nines, in the hopes of scoring bragging rights to a JT sighting.
HA! Us New Jersey/ Westchester natives are so much more savvy than those star-thirsty hicks. I mean... duh... JT doesn't actually go to his own restaurant, right? Wrong. We are such freaking losers.
BTW, JT also has a Givenchy fragrance coming out this fall. I'm psyched to check out that ad campaign. (WWD)
Roll your mouse over
here!
The Fairest Nano of Them All...
Did you see the pretty new nano,
just announced
today? Yum, right?
The Spice Girls are in
talks with L'Oréal to become new spice-people.
(People UK)
Here, the 80th Annual Academy Awards nominee list. I'm sick of that
Juno chick already. It's like, we get
it... you'll never let fame get to your
head. And you're proud to be from good ol'
Halifax. You're so chill, I can't even take it.
A movie about Mac fanatics? Shut up. (MacHeadstheMovie.com)
I've totally been wondering
where Adnan Ghalib's alleged wife has been hiding.
Apparently, she's been waiting for Brit to give him
the boot so she could kick him while he's down.
(People)
Speaking of Brit... I know this is old
news... but can someone please tell me what's up with
the Eliza Doolittle impression? I really don't get
it. And where does Britney go when Eliza comes out to
play? (TMZ)
New Skin Resolutions
Tarte's 'We Wish You Health' Skinvigorating™
Gift Set, $30,
available at TarteCosmetics.com,
makes it a cinch to honor your skin care promises—and
keep them— well into '08.
Last week, the
Times health blog referenced
a poll that said one-third of people who make
New Year's resolutions aren't truly committed to
their goals, and will most likely break them
before February. The obvious answer to why this
is: we set our standards unrealistically high,
make our proclamations too broad and subsequently
let ourselves down and get discouraged when we
don't see results. Bettering yourself shouldn't be
this stressful... should it?
I never like to make New Years resolutions, and if I
do, I never make them out loud. (Who needs
your lunch buddy calling you out when you order a
cream-based soup instead of vegetable? No thanks.)
This year—since it's YBLAG's first New Year's
celebration— I've decided to make a resolution to be
extra good to my skin. Read: Wash, tone, treat
every morning, every night, and
totally eliminate all sun worshipping. Gulp. Ouch.
Omg.
I know it sounds easy enough, but I've been known to
fall asleep with a full face of makeup (lazy!) and
bask in the sun with minimal SPF in the summertime
(dummy!).
As you can imagine, I was psyched to discover the
above gift set from Tarte while I was looking through
my Christmas goodies. It has four of the brands star
makeup products—each with an awesome skin care
benefit. My absolute favorite part is the Clean Slate
Primer, which hydrates my mug with avocado oil while
keeping it calm and healthy with echinacea, rosemary
and hibiscus oils. I'm obsessed.
The gift set is a perfect companion to my stellar skin products, and it's
making my New Years resolution totally easy to
stick to. I'll let you know how it goes.
(...As if I'd tell you if I break it
before February.)
YBLAG's 'Vote or I'll Cry' Campaign
I'm in desperate
need of a new wallet, and I'm having trouble deciding
between these two.
Can you help me, please?
Hobo
Architectural Wallet, via Anthropologie
(left).
It's classic, practical and doubles as a wristlet.
OR
Kate Spade Pasadena Taryn Wallet, via
Neiman
Marcus (right).
It's perfectly compact and is as cute as a pair of
brand new Mary Janes.
YBLAG's Breast Cancer Picks
For
more on how you can fight breast cancer, visit
Susan G. Komen For the
Cure
Also, visit the American Cancer Society
website for
info on early detection, Mammograms, and support
groups.
October has become
synonymous with walking, glossing and ribbon-ing in various shades of
pink. Breast Cancer Awareness Month
makes it easy to support breast cancer research
with its seemingly millions of limited-edition
products made exclusively (or partially) for the
cause. Below, I've listed and linked out my
favorites.
Tory Burch Canvas Tory Tote, $195, toryburch.com
Belkin Remix Metal for iPod Nano, $30, Belkin.com
Smashbox BCA Blushing Pink Fusion Soft Lights &
Brush Set, $59 ($82 value), sephora.com
I Need This Roberto Rodriguez Jacket...
I love it for its kind-of-boyish but -still-girly feel... and because I'd probably live in it throughout the fall, along with my favorite skinny jeans and James Pearse beater. (via Intermix)
Armani Taps Into Geek Chic
Samsung's Armani
Phone. Photo: Gizmodo
Check out the latest from
Armani: an
"As-hard-as-it-may-try-the-iPhone-will-never-look-luxe-like-me"
credit-card-sized cellphone. Officially released
yesterday during fashion week in Milano, the phone
has a vibrating touch screen (duh), supports
basically all music files, and boasts a full internet
browser. If only it didn't cost $900 bucks... then it
might be as cool as it thinks it is. I'll save my
drool for this guy,
thank ya!
Here's what the guys at Gizmodo have to
say about Mr. Armani's new Samsung gadget.
Spot Check: What's in My Makeup Bag?
When I do wear makeup, I've been known play "Make Believe: The Makeup Artist Edition." I love experimenting with colors and techniques and new products. Here's a shot of what my "primary" makeup bag looks like at the moment:
Fascinating, huh? FYI,
the whole
overflowing-with-makeup-and-won't-zipper-look isn't
for dramatic effect, I've been too lazy to either
switch to a bigger case or transfer some products
into my "secondary" stash.
Click below for a list of what's inside and
why.
She's theBalm
Above:
Marissa Shipman,
Founder & CEO of theBalm
Wanna hear one of my
all-time favorite stories? Cool, here goes:
Once upon a time, in the very late 90's, a beautiful
twentysomething girl from Connecticut was going
through a typical quarter-life crisis. She had just
graduated college with a degree in theatre, wasn't
sure what she wanted career-wise and landed a few
great jobs that didn't really suit her. Then, a bad
breakup with a bf was added into the mix. OY. So she
did what any normal girl would do in her sitch—she
packed up her shiz and moved to Cali.
Wait, it gets better...
Wi-Fi @ my McDonald's? I'm lovin' it...
This
is McAwesome!
Look what I just picked
up when I went on my second (third?) coffee run of the
day. My local McD's just announced they have
Wi-Fi! Um, cool! For some of you, this may be old
news— the company has been building up their
network for a few years now. This article reports that, as
of August, McDonald's offered Wi-Fi in 8,500
restaurants, making it "the largest out-of-home
provider of wireless internet."
I wonder if they'll ink up a Starbucks-style deal
with Apple for the iPod touch?
From now on, I think I'll blog from the indoor
playground instead of making so many trips...
To find a hotspot near you, click here!
I have no words...
O.M. to the GEEE!!!
Live Feed of Steve's Big News
Post-Season Skin Saver
Has
summer left you with sun-parched skin? Behold, a
sprouting secret weapon: my very own aloe vera
plant
I rarely (slash never) have the patience to get all organic in my beauty routine, despite knowing full well that preservatives found in some makeup, creams and cleansers can really beat up your mug. About a month ago, however, I was forced to re-evaluate my behavior after facing two harsh realities:
⁃ I have visible sun spots, and maybe a few fine lines. On my face.⁃ I do not, at the moment, have the cash for laser skin renewal.
I did some product research as a first step to see what was new on the anti-aging/skin lightening front. Not surprisingly, everything I would have tried had aloe vera extract as a main ingredient. We all know that aloe helps calms burns and heal cuts—but did you know the same healing acids in aloe extract (alpha hydroxy, malic acid) can also be put to work on dry skin, sun spots and wrinkles? I swear. Ask these guys.
So, I went straight to the source— I headed to a local florist to purchase an aloe vera plant. (It was about seven or eight bucks.) Every other day, I slice off a small section and stick it in the fridge for about twenty minutes before I scoop out the gel and apply it topically. My sun spots aren't totally gone, but they're lighter, no doubt. Lines? Definitely less noticeable. Plus, my skin is softer and I get to feel like a tree-hugger, which I enjoy.
The Original Dapper Dan
Photo: Polo.com
In honor of fashion week, which
kicks off tomorrow, I feel compelled to praise my
favorite man of the runway. This Saturday, a
black-tie affair will be held in Central Park's
Conservatory garden, in honor of the 40th anniversary
of Mr. Ralph Lauren's empire (birth name: Ralph
Lifschitz). Below, highlights from his recent
sit-down with WWD:
On how he got
started:
"Someone lent me $50,000 to start the business, and I worked out of a drawer at Beau Brummel. The salesmen all laughed at my ties. They laughed until I had a business."
On his flair for classic pieces:
"Twenty years ago I did this black luggage to go with my Porsche that was all black. That car, it's ugly-beautiful. It's not a Bentley; it's not one of these old masterpieces. It's a utility car that by its nature is about the engine and the technology. That was an inspiration to me, because it never got old. It hasn't changed for 30 years. It's got integrity of design. That's been the philosophy, that beautiful things never lose their appeal."
On having his friends and employees around for the big anniversary bash:
"I care and I appreciate that people have stood by me and done their job and worked in business really hard, and I wanted to say thank you. That's very important to me... This is not about "let's see who's there," because I've never liked that. I would hope that some of the people I'd want to come who are friends would come. But it's not about that. It's a celebration for the people I work with, the people who have taken care of me through the years, photographers and all the people....You know, I worry about everything, I worry about my collection, I worry about the people I work with...."
On being around for 40 years:
"I love it, I love the company. It is growing and moving and I want to make sure it grows and goes the way I want it to....I can run as fast as my sons. I'm in great shape....If I look at 40 years, I say, "God, how old can I be?" You know, I didn't start when I was 10."
On doing it his way:
"What is wonderful is that I have had success doing what I love and what I believed in. I didn't sell out; I didn't wine and dine anybody. I just learned how to kiss on both cheeks. I'm proud that it worked."
Check out WWD.com for the full article. Happy fashion week!
The Man Speaks the Truth
I try to not be deadly serious about
too many things, but the subject of skin care has
always been on my no-kidding-around list. Acne-laden
teen years combined with a lifetime of sun
worshipping has left me praying to the skin gods for
forgiveness.
("I'm sorry. Please don't make me wake up with
raisin-face tomorrow. Amen.")
I was introduced to Dr. Dennis Gross during a meeting
at Cosmo where he took me through MD Skincare
(his product line) and explained his philosophy
behind it: to create multi-tasking products that'll
save you a trip to the dermatologist. Ok, sounds good
to me. Then I tried his Alpha Beta Daily Face
Peel It.
Changed. My. Life. The stuff works wonders on so
many issues: fine lines, discoloration and
breakouts. Don't have major skin concerns? The
peel will keep you lucky ducks glowing and
moisturized.
Dr. G recently added four Truth Serums
to his lineup. Have I
tried them yet? No. But experience tells me that
the man doesn't lie, so you better believe I'll be
testing them soon. I'll keep you posted.
Need An Outfit for the US Open?
I don't. But I kind of wish I did,
because I'm obsessed with all of these clothes. Can
you buy them if you promise to watch the matches on
TV?
(Photo: Polo.com)
Click on the image for a
preview!
The Return of the Mix Tape
One of my favorite platforms for
self expression is playlist gifting. To me, there are
few things more thoughtful than telling a person what
tunes make you think of them, or new tracks you think
they'd dig. In the wake of our iWorld, however,
something about them has become less personable, less
romantic. Even though you can burn someone the
baddest CD, print a realistic cover complete with
personal pictures and present it in an actual jewel
case, modern playlist art doesn't hold a candle to
the coolness that was the old school mix tape. So,
you can imagine how psyched I was to find
this thing
whilst perusing my
favorite gadget sites this morning. Seriously, how
cool? Now, as soon as I download some Color Me
Badd, Salt 'n Pepa, and Kriss Kross, my new mixes
will feel totally
authentic.
Good Morning!
Until about a year ago, if someone
told me I had to try McDonald's coffee, I would have
poo-poo'd the notion, tossed my hair arrogantly, and
pranced my way over to the nearest Starbucks.
(Hopefully, the person I was talking to at the time
would've then knocked me in the grill...) Today, I
basically feed off the stuff intravenously. Being of
the "I take my coffee black" breed, actually
care
if my brew is burnt even
a little... because I'm able to taste it right away,
and it totally ruins my day. While I love Starbucks
for their drinking chocolate, cool mugs and wi-fi,
their drip just isn't consistent enough for me. Moral
of my post: Good Morning, Happy Friday, and try
McDonald's coffee soon. I'm going to get mine now.
P.S: Happy Dublin Day to my girls. Sniff.
The Stuff Works, Clearly
The first item I purchased after I
stopped hanging out in beauty closets was
Origins Clear
Improvement, $20, www.origins.com. You'll learn I'm much more of a
skincare chick than a makeup chick, and I would
spend $20 on a face mask before I would on a tube
of lipstick any day (umm... besides the lipstick
you see here on my layout! I'd TOTALLY spend $20
on that hot shade!)
Charcoal, the active ingredient in Clear Improvement,
works like Drano on my pores. After a day of
walking around the city, it's perfect for (gently)
getting rid of grime. The best part: it gives the
experience of an old fashioned mask—you know, the
thick, non-glamourous mud-like ones all boys think
girls paint on each other at slumber
parties.