When I'm Feeling Blue...

All I have to do is 

take a look at you

then I'm not so blue.

When I'm in your arms

Doesn't seem to matter

 My whole world would shatter, I don't care...

What I love about your bloggers is when I get to that point 

 (you know, you've been there)

I open up your blog and find you, going about life,

dealing with the crap;

telling me about your hopes and dreams;

making a delicious meal;

making me cry;

making me laugh;

making me remember;

giving me beauty to listen to;

and to look at

giving away angel wings

and taking care of the animals.

...wouldn't you agree, baby you and me, got a groovy kind of love?

thanks Phil for the song.

Moving Right Along...

Okay...let's talk hair products.

V. and I were both blessed with full, thick heads of hair.

Not only thick hair strands, but also a lot of hair per square inch.

Mine is mostly straight, V's has a bit of a curl.

Over the years, I've done pretty much everything

one can do to one's hair...remember those perms mum gave us when we were

little V?...Yikes!..except shave it all off.  It's been every length from short-short

to so long I could sit on it.  In all modesty, my husband says most people would kill for my bad-hair days.

Right now, my hair is highlighted to lift it's dark ash-ness

and just brushing my shoulders.

Let's start with shampoos.

I wash it about every second or third day with any kind of light shampoo

this one...

or this one...

sometimes this one...

(pretty much, whatever is on sale)

and once a week with this

I'm told it's probably not the best thing for maintaining

my highlights, but I find they fade anyway and this shampoo does

remove the buildup that other shampoos seem to leave behind.

I only use one conditioner.

I've tried just about every other one on the market...and

nothing works for me like this one.  First I massage it into my hair and then I comb it through and leave it on for at least three minutes.  

I know hairdressers hate it...but there you have it.

When my youngest daughter got married, I went with her to the hairdressers.  She has inherited my thick, straight, dense hair.  The girl who washed her hair was rushing a bit and only put a dab of conditioner in it.  When she tried to comb Jessica's hair, it was a tangled, mangled mess.  Jessica kept insisting that she needed more conditioner, but the girl just kept tugging away.  Daughter had a complete melt-down (it was her wedding day after all).  Enter stylist, who after a brief aside with mother-of-the-bride, took her back to the washing station and proceeded to massage the conditioner into her hair.  This was the result

Since that day I have always taken the extra two or three minutes to massage the conditioner into my hair...lesson learned.

I've just recently (thanks to my darling elder daughter) started

using the tiniest bit of this

to help deal with some split-ends that need removing

and it's gorgeous...stupidly expensive, but gorgeous.

However, darling neice (remember the one that works at Sephora) tells me that I should be using Argon Oil

which is in Moroccan Oil, but is more pure and seems to cost less.

You can also use it on your skin and nails so the instructions tell me.

Once I've finished the bottle of Moroccan Oil, I'm going to see if I can find Argon Oil

and I'll report back.

Then there is the once-a-month

Sophia Loren hair treatment.

1/4 cup of olive oil massaged into the hair

and left on for at least a day.  If you can stand the smell, it works!

Good enough for Sophia...certainly good enough for me!

Now onto tools.

I have four old, white, bigger-than-a teatowel-but-smaller-than-a bathtowel 

towels.  I've had them for years and years.  I don't use fabric softener when I wash them.

They are the thirstiest towels in the world and I love them.

Out of the shower and wrap my hair in one of these.  Then I let my hair air-dry as much as possible and break out the tool-bag. 

I have a regular old hairdryer...

a Corialis flat iron...

silly expensive at the store, but I found mine on e-bay for a fraction of the price,

a set of hot rollers

and a curling iron.

Obviously don't use all of them together, mostly just the hairdryer and the straightener (did I mention I have this funky double crown?)

Two brushes

a flat paddle style

and a large-barrel round brush, both by Aveda, only because I happened to be getting my hair done there and bought them at the same time.  I don't think there is anything magical about this brand, and they are quite pricey.  Having said that though, I've owned both of them for quite some time, so they have lasted.

I don't use products in my hair...never have liked the way they make it feel (other than the Moroccan oil of course).  I might use the tiniest bit of hairspray if my hair's being a bit unruly, but that's about it.

So...how do you groom your locks?..what are your hair-secrets?

Loved what's in J's...now here's what's in mine!...V.

Smashbox Photo Op.

While my daughter Katie helps to keep my inside in great health, my daughter-in-law Trisha

helps to keep my skin and hair in the very best of health too.

This Christmas she gave me this product from Smashbox, which I LOVE.

It really does all it claims. Brightens, moisturizes, Illuminates and conceals the under the eye area.

It contains Vitamin E, red wine extract, peptides and marine collagen.

I know peptides are amino-acids, but I'm praying the marine collagen is plant based not animal.

Best application is a few dabs under the eye with the brush wand it comes with, then dab into the

skin as you would any other eye cream.

Will I purchase this item again...absolutely...Yes.

Yes to Carrots

Body Moisturizing Lotion

I also received from Trisha, how lucky am I, this wonderful body lotion.

Yes to Carrots.

This smooth moisturizing lotion uses antioxidant-rich foods, including carrot,

pumpkin, sweet potato, and melon to keep the skin soft and smooth.

This entire line is paraben and phtalate free, and the only animal

by product used is organic honey.

The antioxidants in the carrots keep skin healthy and pure, while beta

carotene counteracts age spots, protects skin from over-exposure to the sun,

and smooths problem areas.

LOVE it!

Burt's Bees Radiance Day Creme

This has to be my very favourite face creme.

I have used many, many products over the years and this is the

one that my skin loves.

Anything with the words 'Royal' and 'Jelly' in it...has to be good for me!

A little goes a long away.

I love all of the Burt's Bee products.

Mac's Pro Long Wear Lipstick

Unlike J., I love prolong wear lipstick, and as long as I apply the

gloss my lips don't dry out.

My favourite everyday colour is 'For Keeps'.

Butter, London, Nail Polish

I LOVE nail polish

Colour for my toes and a pale shade for my hands.

My favourite shade for my hands right now is

Cream Tea, from Butter, London

All of their products are...

So here's just a few of mine, I don't wear foundation (probably should),

so I will try a few of J's, recommendations.

What's in Your Wallet...oops Make Up Bag?

Okay girls...

time for a little brainstorming.

With all the millions of different makeup/skin care brands out there

allotting the beauty-budget can be tricky.

So today, I'd like to offer up what I'm using right now, how it's working for me,

and open up the floor for comments, advice, education.

Whatever you have to contribute.

Right...my regime for my normal to oily skin...fairly basic.

Wash my face 2x day.  (I don't use makeup remover.) 

Evening

Oil of Olay Daily Facials




...then moisturize with

This moisturizer is light but emollient enough for my skin.

Finish with a dab of

ROC Wrinkle Correxion

around the eyes 

and a smudge of

Fresh Sugar Plum lip tinted lip treatment

on the lips, and off to bed.

Morning...same, except just water and a fresh,

regular washcloth.

Makeup (I don't wear it every day), but when I do

this is how it generally goes.

Foundation primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

I'm having a bit of a love/hate relationship with this product

at the moment.  I love the way it makes my skin feel, but I don't think it can breathe with this stuff on it...so I'm not using it for a bit.

L'Oreal true match foundation

Right now, sans tan, I'm using a foundation.  I like this one because it's light in texture and matte (I don't like shiny on my skin!)

Again...because it's winter and my face hasn't seen the sun for a bit,

I need a bronzer...

Physicians Formula Talc Free Bronzer

This one seems to be working well for me.

I have a darling neice who works for 

and for Christmas she gave me a wonderful new blush

Nars - Oasis

I love it!

On the advice of eldest daughter, I've been letting my eyebrows thicken

up a bit (she tells me it's more modern).

To tell the truth, I have very, very unruly eyebrows (thanks Dad),

so they require trimming.  I have been using a Bobby Brown eyeshadow in a sort of 

taupe-ish shade to fill in my brows (I've had it so long the name of the colour 

has worn off).

I don't often wear eyeshadow, but when I do, I love 

this set from Clinique called Teddy Bear

fairly neutral.

Now...mascara!!! another love/hate relationship.

I've tried everything from the super-cheap, to the super-expensive,

and truthfully...I can't tell the difference.

I always seem to default back to super-cheap

Maybelline's Great Lash.

If anyone out there knows of a mascara that does NOT leave tiny
black smudges underneath your eyes when you smile, please let me know.
I refuse to give up either mascara or smiling.


Now...lipstick...I love lipstick.
I don't like those permanent lip stain things. They make my lips super dry.  The dishwasher can't even remove the stuff from my glasses and cups, so I dread to think what's in it!
My new love affair is with this beauty given me by above-mentioned niece at Christmas.

Laura Mercier (she went to school with Bobby Brown) stick gloss range in Courtisane.

It's luscious without being sticky and just very lightly coloured.  

Gorgeous!  Did I mention I love lipstick?

And last but not least there's brushes

I have five

Sephora blush brush...paid way too much for this one

and it sheds hairs everytime I use it.  Annoying

I found this brand when I was at my local drug store (SDM).  I bought the bronzer brush
it was reasonably price and it doesn't shed.  When it's time, I will definitely replace
other brushes with this brand.

Bobby Brown angled eyeshadow brush.

and one of these

and these

to keep my wild eyebrows tamed. Both from Sephora.


There you have it...let me know what you think and use.
Anyone want to talk hair now?