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NOTD: Sephora by O.P.I. Let's Do Lunch

Honeymoon!

So we FINALLY decided on our honeymoon.  I don't know why, but this was the hardest decision of all.  Here's the basic itinerary:

3 Days on the Amalfi Coast

3 Days in Rome 

2 Days in Venice

4 Days in Milan 

4 Days in Santorini, Greece

(We might extend it a day or two; not sure where yet)

We'll be going to 2 soccer games - one in Rome and one in Milan - and also going to the opera in Milan.  Hopefully there will also be plenty of shopping, eating, sightseeing, and relaxing too!

Sephora Haul

Got some exciting new goodies from Sephora yesterday!  

I'm on this quest for a holy grail under eye concealer.  See, most concealers are all about dark circles.  Me, I'm looking to cover my very visible blue/green veins.  So I need heavy duty stuff.  But the thing is, the heavy duty stuff tends to settle in my fine lines.  Since my sought-after MUFE HD concealer is unavailable in my color for another couple of months, I decided to try Smashbox HD Concealer.  So far, I'm finding it offers decent, build-able coverage.  I plan to try out Bobbi Brown's and do an all-day comparison test.    Supposedly, BB's is a creamy, peachy concealer that works great for bluishness and fine lines.  I'll let you know how it goes.  

If I could tell everyone in the world to use a foundation primer, I would.  It keeps foundation from oxidizing (turning orangey), and seriously fills fine lines and pores.  I usually use Laura Mercier's, but decided to try Smashbox's best selling Photo Finish Foundation Primer.  Again, I'll keep you posted.
Got a couple of Urban Decay shadows.  Top is called "Blaze."  It's a peachy-champagne color.  Bottom is "Twice Baked," a deep, rich brown (much less pink than the pic here shows).  UD shadows have tons of pigment, and not a lot of binders holding the shadow together, so it goes on really satiny.  

Finally, picked up my usual Clinique Repairwear Intensive Night Cream in the very dry skin formula.  My skin loves, loves, loves moisture.  This night cream leaves my skin feeling really supple and hydrated.  I can't say this is the holy grail for me, but there's nothing I DON'T like about it.  I've tried so many and keep coming back to this.  
By the way, Mom, I've started some research on long-lasting lip color that isn't drying.  I'll post soon.  And if anyone else wants makeup recs, let me know!

NOTD

NOTD: Sephora by O.P.I. Mr. Right Now

A Great Day!

On September, 17, 2009, we welcomed to the world Martin Jeffrey Wayman, Jr.!

AND...

A big congratulations to Brad and Katrina who got engaged!  

Sunset

How unbelievable is our sunset from last night?

Prettiness

Enough of the car talk... time for some prettiness!

Aren't these kind of adorable?  They've definitely got a vintage thing going on.  And they make me feel so girlie!

I picked them up yesterday at Anthro.  I needed some new earrings to go with my hairdo!

Earring of the Day:

Slime

In no way, shape, or form do I care about anything related to cars.  I love my car - it's comfy and gets me around - but I don't like taking care of it.  I detest getting oil changes and car washes, and I loathe pumping gas.  It all feels like this big huge inconvenience.  Call me old fashioned, but I feel like taking care of cars is one of those things the guy is supposed to handle.  Or maybe I don't really believe that so much as I use it as an excuse...  Anyway, I'm trailing off topic here.  You get the idea.  

So yesterday when I walked out of the mall (where I got my hair done and purchased the cutest little pair of earrings that I'll post about later), while thinking to myself what a nice night it was, I was dismayed to find one of my tires as flat as a pancake.  Of course I called Joseph, who, by the way, never ceases to amaze me with his calm - and even enthusiastic - attitude when crappy stuff like this happens.  

To make a long story short, we ended up at Target with this little kit called "Slime Smart Spair."  I was amazed at how simple this little kit made repairing my tire.  No jacks or tools required.  Just a little sheet of directions.  You fill up the tire with the Slime, plug in the pump to your cigarette lighter, and fill the tire.  15 minutes and you're done.  After all was finished, I thought "I could have done that!"  

I was able to make it all the way home before my car starting telling me the pressure of the tire was getting low.  This morning, the tire was low, but not flat.  The Slime definitely holds long enough to get you to a repair place.  

I'm posting this because I think everyone - especially women and those people living in crappy weather - needs to keep a kit of this stuff in their trunk.  If my tire were flat and I was far from help, I don't think I could manage changing it myself (although I like to think desperation would kick in and I'd figure it out).  But I COULD do this Slime stuff.  Easily.  

Here's a link to the website with a list of retailers:

www.slime.com

NOTD

NOTD: Sephora by O.P.I. Nonfat Soy Half Caff

Countdown: 236 Days

Joseph and I made some progress this holiday weekend.  It's amazing how much you can get accomplished when your brain isn't drained from working all day.  

First, we nailed down the guest list.  So at least I have a guest count.  Now comes the hard part - getting addresses.  

Second, I did some centerpiece prototypes.  I took some pics and will post as soon as I'm finished debating whether it sucks or not.  I love the mason jars with the stones at the bottom.  Some will hold candles and some will hold single-stem flowers.  I'm doing little paintings on canvas for the table numbers, and that's the part I'm not sure about.  It's so hard to tell whether my own work is great or terrible.  Oh, and I found a girl on craiglist selling a lot of mason jars that she used for her own wedding.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they're still available.  I'd be getting them for less than 50 cents a piece.  

Lastly, we chose a linen.  It's an ivory embroidered overlay with ivory satin tablecloth underneath.  Chairs will be natural wood folding chairs.

Here's the linen:

I'm still hoping to make a final decision about the honeymoon before the end of the night tonight.  I'll keep you posted...

Aaaaaaand They're Off!

We had such a good time at Del Mar, "where the surf meets the turf," this weekend!  We won a couple of times, and we were sooooo close to winning the pick 4!  

Whether it's Michigan or California, my Dad is in his element at the track...

Showing off our picks...

It was a beautiful day...

Update...

I don't have the energy tonight to write about this weekend and my dad's visit, or to post all of the pics, but you all have something to look forward to!

For now, just wanted to say hello and share some pics of a gorgeous sunset from the other night and my cat.  I know I'm biased, but I swear I have the most handsome cat I've ever seen.  

Dad's Visit

How excited was I that Dad was coming out to visit me AND I got to take him to work with me every day?  So excited!  

He got in on Tuesday night and we've been doing the work thing every day.  I've also been forcing him to take Bodhi for walks with me in the evenings, and I think he's missing the flat ground of Michigan.  (Watch out Mom - after all this hardcore incline training, he's going to whiz past you on those easy Michigan walks!)

The thing I'm most excited for is visiting Del Mar tomorrow.  I'll be sure to take lots of pics.  Dad and I - us early birds - want to make it there for breakfast to watch warmups, so we'll see if we can pull Joseph out of bed in time.  Apparently Dad has a couple of horses in, so I'm planning on bringing home some cash!  

Here's Dad at work:

  

Here's Dad looking busy at work (a la George Castanza):

You've seen a lot of my sunsets, but isn't the moon so dreamy?  One of the perks of getting up before daybreak is seeing the moon shine on the ocean like this:

NOTD

NOTD: Sephora by O.P.I. Madame President

Countdown: 241 Days

I've been reluctant to share details about the wedding here.  I didn't want to ruin the surprise I guess.  But I've been thinking about it.  First, the 5 or so people who read this blog already see the details anyhow.  Second, I've learned that planning is a big part of the whole wedding experience.  And lastly, it's kind of fun to watch the details as they come together.  

So I'll be sharing more about the wedding here.  But that doesn't mean there won't still be some surprises!

Today I'm revealing my most recent little detail with which I've fallen in love.  A cake topper!  We weren't even going to have a topper, and I'm not normally into such whimsical things, but these charming love birds stole my heart.  Joseph and I often say to each other "If you're a bird, I'm a bird" (yes, the cheesy quote from The Notebook...), so these little birdies had extra meaning for us.  And when it comes to wedding stuff, the more personal it is, the better.

They are from the Esty seller RedLightStudio, and will be custom-made to match our colors.  They will also be inscribed somewhere with "If you're a bird" on one and "then I'm a bird" on the other.  Aren't they just too sweet?

                                             (Copyright 2009 Vanessa Preziose) 

NOTD

Nail Of The Day: Sephora by O.P.I. Matte Metro Chic