Challenge!

Call it mission impossible, but I am issuing a challenge: It's 30 Days Of Creativity, a call to all willing minds and hands to dive in and think outside the box  for the month of June.

I've been on a bit of a crafty kick of late - sitting at a desk drooling over blogs will do that to you - and have found this line of the 30 Days challenge to be true: "Your brain is like a muscle. The more  you exercise it, the stronger it gets."  I'm going to add increased flexibility to that too - Once I get going on a project I find I'm already thinking about my next, and how I can stretch it and make it better!

 Image courtesy of TheBookAndItsCover.blogspot.com

Now. I have friends who say (*ahem* EKD.) that they're not crafty. Lies! Crafty doesn't mean you're able to make a store-ready creation that the world will be clamoring for.

Far from it.

You can get crafty by adding a different spice to your tried and true recipe. Or by figuring out a new way to hang up your pile of necklaces. Try a new hairstyle. Eye makeup. Refrigerator magnet configuration. Or - my current obsession - by hacking up t-shirts to make them customized. Anything goes, and 100% counts as creativity if it's off your normal beaten track.

Image courtesy of rossauction.com

Go forth and create! If you want to share your work with the creators and followers of the project, feel free to email photos to submit@30daysofcreativity.com, or follow them on Twitter: #30daysofcreativity.

 

Image courtesy of Wikepedia.com

Closet Case

One of the blogs I frequent, Just B, had a recent post citing a few basic goodies every girl should have in her wardrobe arsenal. I've seen a million of these in magazines, and I always seem to find them so... blah. You know the drill: White Collared Shirt. Khakis. Black Dress. Yes, I know these are good things to have, but why-oh-why do they need to be so dull?!

With that said, I appreciated B's take on things, as she shifted her list more towards shapes then a list of colors. Here is her list, and some easy-on-the-wallet visual aids gathered by yours truly:

1) Every closet needs a great blazer, classic dress, and a pair of jeans that make your butt look great!

 

Blazer by LoveCulture.com ~ $22.90

Dress by OldNavy.com ~ $39.94

 

Jeans by Citizens of Humanity via Nordstrom.com ~ $154 (but wear them for YEARS)

2) Take the time to find the perfect fitting denim for your body type. Denim is that piece you can wear with boots/flats or heels - day or night. A stretch fabric can also help you avoid pinching areas you don't want to be accentuated.

 

3) Choose a well-fitting coat like a belted trench, and look for styles that are slimming and comfortable.

Gallery Trench Coat by Michael Kors for Norstrom.com ~ $98 (secret hood!)

4) A piece that can be a classic choice to make any outfit is a basic v-neck top. A 'v' neckline is universally [flattering]. It helps elongate the neck and make you appear taller.

V-Neck Tee from Forever21.com ~ $6.80

5) Don't forget that LBD (Little Black Dress). Dress it up or dress it down - You'll never know when  you may need to grab your classic for a night on the town!

 

Sateen Dress from Target.com ~ $27.99 

So there you have it, a Just B/Wore Room combo post that will hopefully help you get your year-round closet together. My fave thing about all the visuals I found: Just think of the accessory options! You could take any one from grocery store to glam with the change of a jewel and shoe.       

Eye of the Tigress

Raise your hand if liquid eyeliner is or was ever a scary prospect. Nearly everyone? Yes? Let me qualm your fears and lead you into the land of Cleopatra with ease.

 RIP Liz ~ Image courtesy of SelectSpecs.com

Now, let it be known, I can take z-e-r-o credit here.  The ever-fashionable and intrepid makeup guinea pig LBD turned me on to this, and even gifted me my first one. I'll kill the suspense: It's InColor FauLiner. A liquid eyeliner contained in a FELT TIP MARKER. I cannot make this up. Genius.

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I was nervous about liquid eyeliner for years before trying it out, but once the spell was cast I could never go back to a regular pencil. I was fairly adept at my mini-cat-eye swipe*, but the trouble was the inconsistency. Sometimes thicker, sometimes thinner, a q-tip fix often took up some of my precious morning getting ready time.

At $1.99 - seriously - FabuLiner is a steal and a half. It comes in your basic brown and black online, and I've seen it in navy and dark green in Walgreens. Quick tip: Find it almost always at the cosmetics counter. It's not on the wall or down an aisle like a major brand (Cover Girl, etc.), and the only thing sold under the brand name is eyeliner. Period.

Image courtesy of AccordingToNoes.com

I do wish they would come out with a waterproof version, but at a price of under $2, I can afford to reapply if needed (actually haven't really had to ever - fab staying power on the upper lid!)

Walk like an Egyptian.

*My fave pre-FabuLiner find was always Almay. If your a traditionalist when lit comes to liquid liner, try it out. Optional waterproof formula, soft brush, and easy on the eyes (literally and figuratively).

Like Buttah

Had to get a quick post up about this - On sale through the weekend at Walgreens.

 Image courtesy of Wallgreens.com

I've been meaning to procrastinating getting a new flat iron for, well, years actually. I bought a semi-expensive one literally almost 9 years ago (really?!) and being the thriftonista I am, wanted to eek every penny out of that guy. However, upon closer inspection, the daily use (confession: sometimes more than once a day), the 'oops-I-forgot' long-term heat up sessions, and the repeated product removal (ie: scraping with a metal emery board) has taken it's toll. I even found cracks on the plastic surrounding the metal heat plates.

Structural Damage + Overall Mange = Time For A Newbie

Image courtesy of Wallgreens.com

Lucky me (and therefore, you), the Revlon Perfect Heat Ceramic Straighteners 2-Pack is available at Walgreen's, and is on sale this week for a rock bottom $17.99. Not only is it nicer on the locks (ceramic vs. copper), but it comes with the cutest mini version of itself which is perfection for this carry-on-only traveler. Over the top bonus: Hot pink plates. Swoon.

I've found it heats up super fast, has a 20-range heat setting, straightens in a single swipe, and my hair is shiny and healthy. Okay, I know that healthy part is an illusion, but this tool is making me believe.

And not to worry - Even if you find this post too late for the sale, it's regular price tag only reads $29.99. Steal!

Making My Own Sunshine

In my corner of the world, Old Man Winter will just not unclench his miserable, waterlogged grasp. As of this May 13th, I could see my breath as I walked into work swathed in my fleece and pashmina. Unacceptable!

 Image courtesy of IndependentTraveler.com

So what's the remedy? Well, as jetting off to some island locale is off the table at the moment, I'll settle for sunny, flashy nails.

 I recently discovered Savina nail polish at Nordstrom Rack, and it - Like Mary Poppins herself - is practically perfect in every way. I picked up "Golden", and the perfect metallic that is coating my digits right now is almost as good as seeing a break in the clouds.

Almost.

Image courtesy of VeganGoods.com

 But to boost my morale, Savina also ticks these must-haves off the list:
*Has the ever-coveted perfect application brush (only a couple swipes to evenly coat the entire nail)
*Only two coats necessary, and a quick dry time on the first.
*Earth (& human) friendly formaldehyde and toluene-free formula (say that five times fast.)
*Under $4/bottle for almost 100 colors on VeganGoods.com

Now if only Mother Nature would catch up to my sunny mood.

Follow-Up (5/19/2010): Although this note will force me to come clean on a bad habit, this nail polish (paired with OPI's Chip Skip and Wet n' Wild topcoat) was a dreamy peeler - Came off in sheets when my picking fingers got to it. What fun!