BlueGala Designer Gown Giveaway

GO here
to enter to win a dress from BlueGala, a webstore devoted to selling glamorous gowns of all styles!

Current Deals at Haute Look

They just keep on making me love them more and more. They just sent out $10 gift certificates to all of their members!

It's free to join, so check 'em out! (Mom, I know you'll wet yourself over this site!) 

That link is HERE 

How to read the numbers on your produce

On all produce you should find a small sticker with some numbers on it .What do the numbers on fruit and veggies mean in the grocery store?
A little education on the numbers:

Four digit numbers starting with 3 or 4 mean:
non-GMO, conventionally grown

Five digit numbers starting with 8 mean:
the produce is GMO

Five digit numbers beginning with 9 mean:
organically grown

Which one is the best?

USDA organically grown/local: best
Conventional: 2nd best
GMO : not enough research done on genetically modified organisms.
However; animals, if given the choice will not eat it...hmmmm...sound scary? Yes, it is!

In my opinion, beauty comes from within, and i'm not just talking about your soul! I mean by eating healthy foods that haven't been irradiated and filled with chemicals, too!

Philosophy giving away free samples of their scent- Eternal Grace

Click HERE
and enter your address to receive the newest Philosophy fragrance, Eternal Grace.

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eternal grace

perfumed spray fragrance

leave a timeless impression. eternal grace spray fragrance was created to take a woman on a sensory journey and leave her feeling forever young. this fragrance is a contemporary blend of philosophy's classic clean, crisp notes, along with delicate florals and bright citrus for a fragrance that is youthful and uplifting. a graceful heart is forever young.

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you need this product if...

you want to feel forever young

you love crisp, contemporary fragrances

you want a fragrance that is youthful and uplifting

you want to leave a timeless impression

Invite To Join Swirl Designer Sample Sales For Free

Click here to join the Daily Candy Swirl Sample Sale! They have a constantly rotating stock of hugely discounted designer clothes that are hip and super cute. Sometimes it's more expensive stuff, and then sometimes it's stuff that's Target price with a Rodeo Drive label!

AN example of some of their current sales:

Today's Weapons

There is this AMAZING website

where you can get CRAZY deals on big name cosmetics. I mean, REALLY crazy. Like Urban Decay for five bucks instead of twenty five crazy. I've ordered from them and the products were exactly as described, fresh, legitimate, and a steal. 

SO I checked on there, because I had purchased previously a department store tester sized bottle of Shiseido Benefiance energizing essence there for something like $30 (an ounce retails for sixty bucks, and this was a 3.3 ounce bottle) but those are long gone. Sorry. They do have tons of other amazing deals though, so go check 'em out!

So back to the Energizing Essence. Oh, mama! The scent is divine. It's meant to energize your skin, but the scent energizes my whole being. It makes my face feel like it just had a great workout or something! It's another one of those serums that really helps pull your skin out of the doldrums. It brightens up your whole face and has a lifting and firming effect. I like to use it on my throat and chest as well. I had never used Shiseido skincare before, just a few of their makeups, but this was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up, and boy am I glad! I LOVE this stuff.

I finally used up all of my IQ Derma cellulite gel, so now I'm trying Bliss Spa's Fat Girl Slim. While I do realize that they're making a play on the DJ FatBoy Slim, I'm not too crazy about being called fat by my beauty products. It's like that Strivectin logo that says "Got Turkey Neck?" I think their ad campaigns must have been designed by men (or skinny people).

I don't know how well to tell how it works, as I already had such good results with the IQ Derma cream and so this is being used over the results of the first. Since I'm not seeing a retrograde in my cellulite's status, I will take that to mean that it's continuing the job. Now with these creams you HAVE TO use them EVERY DAY, TWICE A DAY or they will not work. I decided to try this one out since it's a cheaper alternative, and I figure I already let the other cream do the heavy lifting (har har) so I'm using this as maintenance. It's available at Dermstore, where they have a money back satisfaction guarantee, so you can always try it and send it back if it doesn't work for you.

Free Gift with Purchase at DermStore.com

Because it's so hot, I've let my bangs grow out so that they're long enough to wear back, having my hair covering my forehead was just no longer an option. Today I went for a cute little baby pompadour created by taking tiny tiny hair clips (the kind made for little kids) and sweeping up and under my bangs and clipping them into position. After a little futzing with it to get the perfect bang pomp, I used Salon Selectives Flexible Hold Finishing Spray to keep it in place, and it has held ALL day. I love non aerosol pumps because I can carry them with me without worrying about them discharging unexpectedly- that's how I wasted an entire can of Neutrogena Spray Sunblock- and they seem to give more targeted application. I know it's a drugstore cheapie, but it works, smells decent and is inexpensive. I can let people borrow this one without having an anxiety attack, so that's why I keep a little travel sized bottle in my purse. It holds well but doesn't look stiff. I just wish the bottle didn't clog so easily!

I have fallen in love with i.d. Bare Escentuals Eye Buki! It's perfect for applying a single shimmer of color or blending together similar subtle colors. If you're doing a color wash on your whole lid, this gets it's all in a few strokes, softly, cleanly and evenly. It's mind blowingly gentle on your lids.

Available from

is what I'm wearing today. I have on their Dew Drenched Moisturizing Lip Color in Toffee Caramel. It's a soft and natural looking color, but what I love about this lippie is the texture and flavor/scent. I'm not sure if it's more of a flavor or a scent, but there's a tingling sensation, like I'd just sucked on a peppermint candy. It has a very stimulating and cooling effect. It's moist, not at all sticky or gloppy, and lasts (well, you do have to reapply after eating, but come one- let's not get too picky!) It's like the soothing quality of a balm but with more color. Sheer and classic. Also wildly popular with reviewers!

I'm also wearing the Citrus Bloom Fragrance Mist, which is a perky and tangy citrus. A little sweet and grapefruity. Crisp and flirty with floral undertones but they're so subtle that it doesn't get too sickly sweet. It makes me feel clean and bouncy!

Sorry that I've been violentally ill!

I haven't made any new posts in the last week, as I've been a wink and a prayer from hospitalization- but it's been decided that I will live to see another day and my constant begging for death was for naught ;-)

SO first of all- THANK YOU to SBS teas for being one of the few things that kept my stomach settled (and quite possibly the only nutrition I absorbed in the space of a week). Oh, the green tea with chamomile saved my tummy! Their Mega Bag Blowout is an awesome way to try out a bunch of different flavors and styles and is INSANELY cheap. Right now they also are having their sachet teas for 15% off. (I keep a bunch of the Earl Grey de la Creme sachets in my drawer at work.)

Another thing that helped me out today was Sunsilk De-Frizz Leave In Cream. After not leaving bed for almost a full straight week, my hair looked like baby squirrels had been burrowing in it. It took ages to get all the knots and snarls out of my butt length hair, but you'd never know it. I used a dab of this and my hair looks smooth and shiny and not at all like it had been in a spontaneous beehive. A great thing about this stuff is that my baby fine hair was not flattened down or made limp, but actually seemed to have MORE body than usual- though that could have been residual squirrel babies.....

3 things that really helped lift my spirits during Barfapalooza was, believe it or not, fragrances. Simple subtle scents that truly made me feel a little less grody. I was spraying them in my hair and on my pillow to help me at least pretend that I wasn't completely disgusting.

I have always ADORED Demeter fragrances. They're like the Jelly Bellies of perfume. Things that you would think that there was no way that an attractive fragrance could be made using the scent gets turned on it's head. One of my all time favorites is Demeter's Tomato Pick-Me-Up cologne spray. To me it smells like a tomato plant that's been sun drenched and the stems are bright green and fuzzy and completely weighed down with deep red, juicy hot tomatoes. It smells like summer and life bursting forth and makes me near giddy. I just wished Demeter scents lasted longer, but if they did the scent would most likely have to be too overpowering to be as pleasant and soothing as it is.

Another spirit lifter was Clean Perfumes Simply Soap. I think you could put this on a hobo and they'd smell like they'd just has a long soak in the tub (hmmmmmm......maybe someone could suggest this instead of patchouli to hippies?) It's another one of those subtle scents that you will need to reapply at some point during the day, but I don't mind as it's so fabu! This is a particularly good scent for those who work in close quarters with others and aren't supposed to wear heavy fragrance to work. They have it available at ULTA Beauty where right now they have an AWESOME FREEBIE DEAL!
FREE 15-piece ULTA Gift w/ any $17.50 purchase of ULTA Cosmetics, ULTA Minerals, ULTA BEAUTY Tools, or ULTA Implements

 PLUS- you can get $3.50 off your purchase with this coupon link, which pretty much covers your shipping.

$3.50 off any $10 Purchase* - use code 42185 (8/1-8/7)

Another lifesaving pick me up was Avon's aromatherapy Refreshing Mint. It's perky and fresh and makes you feel like a York Peppermint Patty commercial. Strangely, when I had my head in the toilet, this scent calmed my nerves and my stomach.  Unfortunately, just like all of my favorite Avon products, it too is discontinued. But, again like all of my favorite Avon products it's all OVER Ebay. It comes in a metal bottle with a sprotzer top, which seems to keep the scent perfectly preserved, so I wouldn't have any reservations about buying it as long as it's an unused bottle. The metal seems to provide great protection against scent deterioration.

When I finally did drag myself out of bed today, I was so very grateful for my Almond Butter Vanilla Soap from Eugene Oregon's Simple Soaps. It's lightly scented so that it doesn't battle for dominance and is nicely unisex. It's gentle enough to be used on your face and has a lovely exfoliating effect. I could feel it sloughing off all of the funk and I felt like a new person! I'm surprised that there wasn't a ring around the tub like I'd just given the dog a bath when I was done!

I've mentioned them before and pointed out their awesome sampler sets. Their guest soap samplers are an incredibly cheap three bucks and would make an awesome gift or simply set out to make your guests feel pampered (my mother-in-law loved the bar I put down in the guest bathroom.) They have great Etsy feedback, so give 'em a shot- you won't be disappointed.

SO since I came back to work today, I didn't want to look like the 'back from the dead' person that I feel like. Before my tinted moisturizer (I've found that if you try to overconceal with a heavy foundation when you're ill, you simply look like you're wearing a spackle death mask) I applied Skinceuticals Phloretin CF. This amazing serum is a broad range antioxidant treatment that evens out your skin and brightens your entire complexion. It's takes dull, dingy skin and and brings it back to life. Don't just take my word for it- it won Allure Magazine's Editor's Choice Award.

about the product

Support the strength of your skin with SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF. It combines potent antioxidant power with cellular renewal and collagen synthesis for a younger-looking and brighter face. The lightweight serum conquers damage without irritating your skin in the process.
1 fl. oz.

who it's for

Ideal for those with sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation who want even-toned, smooth, and soothed skin.

key ingredients

Phloretin inhibits age spots and elastin-loss and is also anti-inflammatory. Ferulic Acid fights free radicals and reduces oxidative stress when coupled with Vitamin C. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) increases collagen production and lightens and brightens the skin.
Available at Skincare RX




Lastly, I applied Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream, since my eyes were puffy crinkly and exhausted. Featured in Redbook, this concetrated eye cream absorbs quickly and gives your eyes an instant boost. It's so soothing, it made my eyes feel instantly better. 

about the product

Dry, scaly skin shouldn't appear anywhere on your face or body, but definitely not around your eyes. Keep the delicate skin firm and plump with the use of Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream. The potent antioxidant moisturizer, Kinetin, replaces lost moisture as it smooths the skin.
0.7 fl. oz.

who it's for

Dry, aging skin with fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area will be soothed and hydrated with this rich cream.

key ingredients

Kinetin improves skin tone and texture while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Citric Acid acts as an antioxidant. Aloe uses its soothing properties to calm the skin.

 Also available at Skincare RX. 

When I came in today, I had a co-worker that said I somehow manage to be the best looking sick person she's ever met! I wish I could say it's good genes, but  you and I know that I get a little help from my friends!