Under the Arch

I was channel surfing a couple of days ago, and I saw a commercial for a new mascara. Now, usually, I snicker at the claims, (Curl activating! No clumps! Won't smudge! Lifts and Separates! Er, wait.) but I was intrigued by this idea. Mascara made with natural ingredients. Hmmm, ok, I'll give it a shot. So, I went to my neighborhood Target and picked one up.

Something you should understand up front is that I wear mascara every day. Other than some concealer and the occasional lip gloss, it's the only thing I put on my face. My requirements for a good mascara: stays put when my allergy eyes act up, doesn't irritate my contacts, will stay put all day, yet come off when I ask nicely, and inexpensive. (I spend my money on books and clothes, not makeup.) I can usually get one or two of those, but never all of them. So, I'm willing to give a new product a try, but I'm pretty skeptical to their claims, especially if there are "sciency" words involved that make little to no sense.

Intrigued? I bought Loreal Bare Naturale Mascara.

The verdict? Awesome! I expected it to be a nice color and I even thought it would leave my lashes soft and natural feeling, but I was sure I would be wearing it on my cheekbones by the end of the day, if it didn't rub off altogether. I was wrong.

I put it on this morning at 9:30am when I got to work. (I slept late and didn't have time for much of anything this morning.) What sort of test did it pass? My allergies were acting up something fierce, I had itchy eyes and throat all day. I had 2 hormone-induced crying jags, and it was so hot, at one point I was afraid my shoes would melt. Let's just say that there was a lot of sweating and leave it at that, shall we? When I finally got home at 8pm, (yes, 12 hours after I left), it was still there and where I left it. Touching my lashes, I can hardly tell it's there, and it only cost me $7.99. All requirements met, can't beat that. So, here's what I say....if you like the natural makeup look, this one is for you. It's my new favorite for every day wear. No kidding.

This is my first attempt at Fashion Friday, what do you think? I'm also cross posting this at BlogHer's BeautyHacks. Every day women, talking about their favorite products and tips, the brain child of the lovely Susan, who I had the delight to meet at Blogher '08.

More stuff in my apartment, yay! This is the second installment of My favorite Things, you can find last week's post on the left side of your screen. These are just some of my favorite things that have been sitting around my apartment, many of them I have had for years and my apartment wouldn't be a home without them.

The blue chair which has been my background for many pictures lately. Years and years ago, I helped a friend move....she had a shopping problem...a vintage furniture shopping problem. Her attic was a treasure trove of fabulous furnishings. This was her thank you for my help. My boyfriend at the time refused to let me bring it home, insisting that we had no room for more furniture, even free furniture. Spoilsport. We broke up less than a year later. We didn't break up over this chair, but I think it illustrates the differences between us. I asked my mom to take it back to her house, where my brother enjoyed it until I moved into my own apartment, with my own furniture, chosen by me. We've been together ever since. Love me, love my chair.

I've had this candle longer than the chair. I love candles, even candles that I would never light. This little guy is the only vaguely religious symbol you will find in my home. I haven't been able to find another that I like so much, but I'm always on the look out for a fat, happy Buddha. They make me smile. I bought it in a store at a local mall that no longer exists, but I did find one similar here.

These are a small part of my collection of glass. My St. Louis apartment has these window sills built into the wall that make a perfect display shelf for all things that need to be protected from the cat. I've been picking up pieces here and there for years, different shapes and sizes and colors...just ones that draw my attention. (cheap helps, too) I picked up the red and blue ones at an auction, the green one was a gift.

This is just one of the many things I love about my apartment. Growing up in a 100 year old farm house, I've been surrounded by old things my entire life. All those little old world details mean home to me, so imagine my delight when I saw these doorknobs in my apartment. I'll probably always be drawn to old things, whether it's furniture, glass, or just the tiny details like a doorknob. They are just some of my favorite things that make my place, my home.

Over the last 10 weeks, you've been privy to some of the weird things about my personality that make me...uh, me. Tonight is no exception.


The following is a photo of the products I use after a shower in the same order, in the same way, every. single. day.


So, what do we have here? (And are you bored yet?) First, hair product, Biosilk silk therapy, then lotion, using a a daily moisturizer with self tanner for a subtle glow, then eye cream for the dark under eye circles (a constant battle), then face moisturizer with spf, tweezers to tame the eyebrows, and the tiny bit of makeup I wear every day; concealer (again with the under eye circles), mary kate and ashley sparkling powder to brighten the eyes and lash discovery mascara with the tiny brush. After all that, Dove Antiperspirant/Deodorant which sits on my bedside table.

Why am I sharing this utterly boring part of my day as a Naked Monday? Because to truly understand the crazy mind of Bri, you need to understand my neuroses. I am easily distracted. I need strictly regimented routine to prevent this inner dialogue, "Wait, did I wash my hair? It's wet. Did I wash it or just condition?" I always, ALWAYS check my pits before leaving the house. I don't want to talk about the number of times I've forgotten deodorant. But, if I follow a routine and use the same number of products in the same order EVERY day, I start the day ok, and not as a frazzled mess. In many things, I have to be organized so that I don't lose my mind.

Scared yet? ;)
So, that's me...Naked....at least a small part of me.

Today is Naked Monday! And the people rejoice! Wheeeeeee!

Tonight is my belly button....not that I think my belly button is terribly interesting (in fact I know at least one person who will read this who is seriously squeeed out by belly buttons) but something that you may not know about me is that I had my belly button pierced two years ago. Even though this photo is terrible, you can see the scar the piercing left just over my belly button. There's a matching one inside. (Are you freaked out yet?) I had it for about a year before I finally got annoyed with it getting caught on my pants and took it out. I don't regret having it done, in fact, I wish I had done it many years earlier when I first had the idea. I am annoyed with the scar, but I'm sure it will go away eventually.



So, there I am, naked, at least a little part of me. ;)


Something else I wanted to share is a nail polish color that I found recently. I just lurve it, if that is possible. It's a very dark plum, which didn't show up very well in the photos. It looks very lush and sophisticated with just a touch of emo.

I forgot Naked Monday! Sorry about that , I had a nasty headache and went to bed early. Naked Mondays will return next week, I promise.

I realized today that I'm going to have to eventually come up with other ways to be naked for you without exposing any naughty bits. Hmm, maybe you would like to see the hair bunnies under my bed? No? Humph! Well, I'll think of something, I guess.

Here's some updates on my life since I know that you're dying to know!

I heard from my friend Dan, he's fine and managed to survive his first few seconds in Afghanistan. (He would often tell me that the average life expectancy for his job is 9 seconds or something. Yes, he's an ass.) Since my life is often terribly boring and he promised to email updates, I'll pass along any non-sensitive information I get.

The Bunny job ended the day before Easter and I start a new one tomorrow at the same mall. I was looking for something part time so that I could start substitute teaching and one of my favorite stores was hiring. Forever 21 called me back, I had the interview monday and orientation is tomorrow. It won't be much money, but helllooo employee discount! Hopefully everything will work out, keeping my fingers crossed.

My blogging friend MP is going to Aruba (lucky bitch lol) and I offered to guest post. I'll put a little reminder over here when I do.

The spring cleaning is going well, I sorted out a ton of clothes for good will, and I'm even getting rid of shoes and books, believe it or not. I also threw out a bunch of craft stuff that I keep hanging on to and I hung up pictures! I also hung up an old window frame that I've had for years. I found it in my parents' barn, painted it and intended on hanging it on a wall, but never did. It's been in storage in three apartments, but now it's on a wall!

Some pictures I've taken recently....

Hayden, my nephew, at the Galleria a couple of weekends ago.

That's me in the bunny suit.

Angel was tired of me knitting and refused to get off this hat I was making.

The pictures I put up and the window frame that used four picture hangers to get up there.

The front room of my apartment didn't come with lighting...at all. I didn't think much of it when I viewed the apartment in daylight, but in winter, when I have to keep the drapes closed to hold in the heat (or keep out the cold, depends on how you look at it)...anyway, it's freaking dark in here. I spend my evenings working on art projects or knitting in front of the tv, and with inadequate light, that can be difficult. This is my third lamp in the room, I'm planning on hanging two smaller ones next to it. That corner will soon house an easel and a rolling drawer unit with paint and such. I love my drapes and the lamp, I bought both at IKEA. Now I just need to make it hang straight.

I've lost my train of thought...freaking ADD. Ooh, shiny!

I Luuurrve my new phone, the Samsung Blackjack.....I was finally eligible for an upgrade if I re-upped my contract for the next eleventy billion years and sense my old phone would randomly die at the most inconvenient times, usually when I'm a metrolink and bus ride away from home, I decided to bite the bullet and get a new phone. (I'm not even talking about when it has a low battery, it just arbitrarily dies for no reason that I can see, usually when I have an incoming call. gah!) So, here's what I spent my hard-earned student loan money on.....oooooo! Ahhhhh! She's so pretty....I will love her and pet her and call her.....uh....she doesn't have a name yet. Any suggestions?