pretty please

As Requested: More photos

I'm enjoying the new 'do.  Here's my cut flipped out. 

The Great Hair Update II: I did it!

Well - I finally got up the nerve to cut my long hair!  Last week I decided that if I was so completely resistant to cutting my hair that maybe I was holding on to it too hard.  I also read the quote "Do something each day that scares you."  So - I did!  The best part about it was that I surprised Chris.  On Friday he came walking in our apartment on the phone with his mom and just stopped dead and said "OH MY GOSH, Mom - I gotta go - Kate cut her hair and I just need to look at her for a while!"  He la-oves it.  Yay!  I must admit, although I'd like to do some tweaking to the cut (it feels super thick and I want it maybe another inch shorter so it doesn't try to flip out in the back - I do feel a lot freer and well, more empowered having shorter hair.  I don't know if I'll keep it forever, but it certainly makes me look a little older and more professional.  Here's the before and after shots!  What do you think? 

Fabulous Fall Fashion

I know, I know - it's July but stores are getting their fall collections and it's making me anxious for the next season.  Banana Republic has some gorgeous pieces for work especially.  Don't you love the gray and blue?

Thank You, Sephora!

Sephora just introduced "The Lash Stash" - a collection of seven trial mascaras for $50 so you can try each out and decide which is the best for you!  It includes mascara from Benefit, Lorac, Kiss Me, Smashbox, Stila, Sephora, and Too Faced.  Maybe this is the answer to my mascara search!  Plus, I can review them and let you all know what I think.  I think I may pick this up tomorrow....

How Do You Store Your Shoes?

I'm embarrassed to admit that Chris and I have a serious shoe storage problem.  We make sure our closet door is securely closed before we invite any guests in the house.  We do this because I think we fear what our friends would think of us if they saw our closet - particularly the bottom of it.  I'll let you in on the secret - it's just one huge pile of shoes.  No order whatsoever - just shoes.  Oh, yes, we have a hanging shoe rack which is half-full of our least favorite and most seldom worn pairs, but the majority is just scattered about on the closet floor.  My most dreaded morning activity is getting down on my hands and knees in that dimly lit space hunting for my shoes.  I hate this.  It drives me crazy...but I honestly don't know what to do about it.  Our closet is pretty small considering that there are two of us using it and well, considering the fact that I have just an awful lot of clothes.  I feel like even if we got a larger rack it wouldn't fit all the pairs.  What do you do?  I recently heard about clear shoe storage boxes that you can stack...but I think then we'd just have a jumble of boxes and I can't picture myself actually putting my shoes into boxes every night.  Can you?

What?

I was quite impressed with Givenchy's Eye Fly mascara but I've got to admit that I'm a bit perplexed by their latest mascara edition: Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara with a crazy new spherical brush.  I'm sorry, but doesn't this look like it could be used as an instrument of torture?  Apparently, the "high-tech, patented round sphere at the tip of the precision wand ...reaches every lash and adapts to all eye shapes."  Isn't this just another way to say "Look, we changed the shape of the brush - it's smaller so you can move it around more."  I mean really.  What do you think?  Could this brush really make a difference?  Should I try it?

Summer Shape-up: Getting Ready at the Gym

Last week I was very brave.  I worked out at the gym in the morning and then...got ready at the gym rather than drive home.  This was a big step for me.  I've discovered that I'm rather modest (my college roommates could have told you that), and I'm especially awkward in a room of naked women and lots of mirrors.  Now, I must admit that I haven't actually showered at the gym yet - that would be too big of a step all at once - especially with the size of the towels they provide.  Seriously, you have to choose which part of your nakedness you want to expose with those things.  Anyway, I've made several observations while trying to desperately avert my gaze. 

1.  A lot of women seem to think they need to put lotion all over their body after showering (and I do mean all over).  Personally, I haven't experienced the dry skin anywhere but my legs and arms before - does anyone else need a dose of all-over body lotion every morning?  Don't you stick to everything afterwards?  I am perplexed by this behavior. 

2.  There was a lot of wet hair leaving the gym.  Now, these women were obviously heading to work - they got dressed up in suits and dresses...but then walked out the door having just run a brush through soaking wet hair.  I think that seriously diminishes one's professionalism. 

3.  Everybody is interested in my fav - Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo.  Now, you all should know that I lah-ove this product.  Here's my past review if you didn't.  This is particularly handy at the gym if you are modest and not very sweaty because you can just rub it in around the forehead and eliminate any sweaty hair and completely freshen up.  I got a lot of questions about this from wet-haired ladies.

4.  I need a gym bag.  Chris' old backpack will not do.  Any suggestions?

Hope in a Jar Update

You may recall that I first tried and reviewed Philosophy's famous product "Hope in a Jar" several weeks ago.  I initially was not impressed with the packaging but found that after just one use, my skin was more even and smooth.  Now, after nearly a month of once-daily use I can report that my skin continues to be nearly completely clear and smooth.  The only downside has been the smell - Chris recently told me that I seemed to have the aroma of...dog food.  Since I've been fairly consistent about every other product I use, I must conclude that it was the new lotion that was causing the stench.  However, it may be dissipating - today Chris told me that I smell more like a baby.  I'm choosing to take that as an improvement.  Nevertheless, I am sticking with "Hope in a Jar" because of the dramatic and consistent results and will be upping my use of body spray.  Geez.

Garnier Fructis: Strength and Repair

I put my hair through a lot.  Not only do I blow-dry it, but I always flat iron or curl it everyday.  Basically my hair receives a daily baking at 400 degrees.  No wonder the ends are split and the strands feel brittle.  I'm always looking for some product to help my poor, mistreated hair.  Now, I know that the only thing that can really help split ends is a trim.  That's a known fact.  However, there are some products out there that can help moisturize and nourish your hair and I think I've just discovered one of them.  Garnier Fructis has a new "family" of products called "Strength and Repair" for over-processed, extremely damaged hair.  I picked up the shampoo last week when I ran out and so far am really quite impressed.  After only one wash, I could tell a major difference in the softness of my hair and that was with only using the shampoo.  My ends feel a lot smoother and my hair is definitely silkier.  I highly recommend this product for those of you who fry your hair on a daily basis like me! 

Summer Shape-Up Update

Yes!  I'm at that point where I am starting to see a change in my body and that completely motivates me to keep hitting the gym!  At a recent board meeting, I caught a couple of the female board members whispering and looking at me and finally one of them said, "Kate, did you lose weight?"  The honest answer is I really have no idea - I choose not to weigh myself because I'd rather judge by how my clothes fit and how long I can last on an elliptical machine than what the scale says (as Jill Scott says about the scale "she's no friend of mine").  But, I do feel great and don't mind my reflection in the gym mirrors as I do my weight-training.  My husband has remarked that I just keep looking better and have more angles - which I guess is a good thing...anyway, nothing helps me stay motivated than that kind of encouragement.  The biggest change has come from upping my work-out frequency to at least 4 days a week and incorporating weights.  However, I still need to follow through on my goals and take a yoga class and a dance class.  I don't know why classes make me nervous - probably just because I've never taken them before.  It's time to be brave!!  Pretty soon that will be me on the left....