Taking Matters Into My Own Hands

What Happened?

It's now been 7 weeks since The Haircut from Hell.   I went with the second of two options after the incident happened, letting it just grow out and dealing with it looking weird.  I could have cut it even shorter into a bob, but my hair doesn't like to be short-it's pretty wavy and thick so it just looks kind of like a mushroom and not like a cool French ingenue.  To re-cap, I basically went from having nice, long-ish, blonde hair past my shoulders, to a poorly highlighted Jennifer Aniston circa 1995 shag.  It was not my usual stylist, she was out on maternity leave, and I tried something new.  I paid the price!

As part of the growing out process I invested in an "herbal supplement" called Biotin (its just a vitamin from Rite Aid!), that is supposed to help hair grow (thanks Google).  I have never been too big on that kind of thing, but, hey, why not try it?  It cost $8 for a bottle of 60, and I say it was well worth it.  Measuring my hair from the line of demarkation (where the awful highlights begin), it appears that my hair has been growing an average of almost 1" per month.  That is about double the norm of 1/2".  I think my hair does grow pretty fast naturally, but I have to admit, I'm impressed. I feel like my hair is noticably longer than it was after "the incident".   

Since the way my hair was cut made it so that the top layer was blonde and the bottom layers a dark blonde/light brown (I shudder), I knew I would probably have to dye it before I was ready to cut again.
I have already scheduled my next hair appointment for a month from now with my regular awesome stylist, but since she might as well start her highlights from scratch, I figured I would dye it at home a color that closely approximates my natural shade.

I am really impressed with this stuff!

 Over the weekend I stopped at Ulta, where I had a coupon (of course!) for $3.50 off $10.  The exact shade and type of dye that I decided on is this L'Oreal Sublime Mousse, and it was on sale for $7.  I haven't dyed my own hair for awhile, not since all of the new mousse formulas have come out.  I found that it covered much better than I rememebered other types of dye, and, as you will see, I think the color was pretty true to shade, #70 Pure Dark Blonde.

NYX Concealer

 Since I had to get my total up to at least $10 for the coupon (I know, I know) I also got these (they were BYGO). So, my total was $12.  I tried this maximum coverage concealer, and although I like the shade, I don't know if it quite has the staying power advertised.  The other, the stick, is another concealer that I got in a luminesent lavender shade to put in the corners of the eyes.  So far, I like it!  I need to see how it holds up with different eye looks.

 

Before & After

Here is the before/after for my hair.  Not too shabby for $7!  It also looks (I think anyway) a lot better than that awful overgrown obvious highlights look.  I'll keep you posted as to how it holds up!

After!

Before...

Did I Hit the Dress Lottery???

Superbowl FUNday

I hate football.  Actually, let me be more specific: I hate watching sports on TV.  Something about the scuffing and the background noise just hits my nerves in a way that either puts me right to sleep, or gives me the "I gotta get outta here" feeling.  So far in my 33 years on this earth, this sentiment has not changed.  However, I very much enjoy going to a live sporting event and I enjoy playing sports!  

So this week, instead of watching the Superbowl (no really, I didn't see even one second of it), I went to the mall!  Really, if you hate the usually crowded L.A. malls, Superbowl Sunday is the day to go.  I even noticed a fair amount of last-minute online Superbowl flash sales. I went to the Glendale Galleria and Americana at Brand, a usually intolerably crowded weekend experience.

You know those shopping trips where you find items that are on your to-get list and you get such a good deal on them that you are, quite literally, dumbstruck?  Well, that is the kind of experience I had on Superbowl Sunday, a shoppinggasm shall we say.

$10 H&M Clearance

I have a few big events coming up.  One of them is a fundraising formal dinner with a 1920's "Great Gatsby" theme. I have been looking for a dress I could wear that would encompass this event, but not be so costume-like that I couldn't wear it again.  Low and behold I found not 1, but 2 items at H&M that would work for this and any other formal event. 

The 1st dress is PERFECT and has a total 1920's vibe.  You can't see from the picture, but the back dips down into a low V with beading.  I GOT THIS FOR $10 on clearance.

Also at H&M for $10

The second dress that I purchased at H&M was also on clearance for $10.  The 2nd one could also be used, although it is not quite as "vintage" in feel.  But for $10? Why not have a nice black cocktail dress that could be used over and over? 

H&M basic T for $9.99

Both dresses were a little big, but for $10 I don't mind getting them altered.  Inevitably I will need to anyway since my event is more than 2 months away.

I also got a classic white-T.  I really like the t's and tanks at H&M.  I have several and for $6-12 a pop, they are a great deal.  I use them for PJ's, Yoga wear, or under workwear.


 Check out this simple, inspirational look:

http://breakfastatyurmans.tumblr.com/

Oh, did I mention I also had a 30% off 1 item coupon? That means my total H&M haul was $27!

JCPenney $8 Clearance!

 I also stopped at JCPenney, a store that I usually only go to 1-2 times a year.  (I'm not sure why--perhaps its because it is not really a destination store?) And I hit another dress jackpot!  I have some summer events coming up (weddings, parties, etc) and this dress will be perfect!  It may also need to be altered on the top, but for $8?  I can afford the alterations.  It can also be accessorized up or down. 


I also found 2 cute sweaters on clearance for $7 each. 

JCPenney "ANA" $7 Clearance

JCPenney "MNG Mango" $7 Clearance

They are both that baggy look, so it really doesn't matter what my weight is, it can fluctuate and these will work indefinitely. My total JCPenney purchase: $22

 One of the items on my "to-buy" list as of late, is a grey knit shirt. 

GAP Knit Shirt $17 w/coupon

I had a coupon for $5 off a GAP purchase and, low and behold, they had the most perfect grey knit shirt, that completely fit the bill. I really really love this shirt.  It is so simple, but can go with so many things! And for $17 it will be a long-time fave.

    Here are a few of my grey knit shirt "Pin"spirations: 

Forever 21, $8.80

Last, but certainly not least (and no real mall extravaganza is complete without it) was a trip to Forever 21.

This time around I focused on accessories.  I was looking for something pretty specific- and I found it in this blue-green bejeweled necklace for $8.80.

In addition, I bought a gold locket necklace.  I have been looking for some kind of a gold pendant necklace, and for $5.80, why not?

Forever 21, $5.80

My total at Forever 21:  $14.60

Whew!  What a shopping whirlwind. Even though I went over my weekly budget, I got some things that were what I like to call "can't pass up!" deals.  You know, stuff you need in the far-future and find at such a steal you feel like you won the lottery!

My total for the week (and this shopping trip): $80.60

Oh so sick...

*Quick Re-cap*--My apologies for not having been up-to-date the last couple of weeks.  I was really sick, like Urgent Care sick, so I wasn't able to post for a bit.  I'll make it up to you and fill you in on all the style stuff from last week AND the week before.  

Before I got sick, I made a trip to Target, and was able to score this pair of printed pants for $12 on clearance.  Printed pants were on my list of must-buys, and even though I wanted to wait until I lost a bit more weight, for $12, who cares? 

I got these at Target for $12.98!

Target Clearance $5.98!

 I also scored this super-cute clutch (it's hard to tell, but it's oversized).  It was also on clearance for $5.98.
This was one of those purchases you know you will use eventually.....

I bought 2 for $2.50 each!

Since I was sick, I had to go to Rite Aid a few times and ended up purchasing a few cosmetics items on clearance.  Can I just say that I LOVE drug store finds?  And did you know that you can return cosmetics to Rite Aid?  Here is what I got:

On my first trip of the sickness I got this CoverGirl Natureluxe Mascara on clearance for $2.50.  I tried it out and liked it so much that I got another one on my second trip! (the color was all black, of course!)   On my second trip I also got on clearance a Physicians Formula lip gloss ($2), a Wet n' Wild lipstick ($.75) and some L'oreal eyeshadow ($3). 

$2, $3, & $.75.  The Wet n' Wild wins!

The lip gloss and eyeshadow were total busts.  The gloss was super pink and quite frankly, looked stupid.  The eyeshadow had hardly any pigmentation and you could barely see any shade.  However, the Wet n' Wild lipstick was AMAZING.  The color was a bright plummy red (no. 423 I believe...) and for $.75, are you kidding me?!!! Run, don't walk, to buy one of these, even at regular price (which is $2.99). 

Even though the last week of January was filled with sickness, I found a few great items.  My total for the week: $24.71

Remember how I said that my goal was to spend only $40 per week or $160 a month?  Well, if you look at the calendar, January actually spans 5 calendar weeks.  I am tallying my weeks from a Monday-Sunday perspective, so please bear with me, but I really want to tabulate on a weekly basis and do my tally over a 4-week period.  So, that means January came in right at $160.  February starts off at $24.71