New nails and razor burn.

So i caved back around Valentine's Day and got my nails done again. I'm happy - and will be until i'm tired of them and remove them to expose thin, bendy, brittle nails. ah well. whatevs.

I did get really WILD and instead of the standard french manicure with white tips, i've had black glitter, red & black glitter and now purple/multi-colored glitter. i feel so rebellious. pfft!

So, i went to get a fill last weekend and wasn't going to get a pedi. Well, at the last minute, i decided i should, and asked my nail girl if my usual toenail girl, Mary, could do it later. She said of course, blah blah.

Well, a few minutes later i remembered that i hadn't shaved my legs in a few days. I told the girl maybe i shouldn't do the pedi that day, and she insisted Mary wouldn't mind. But i super mind-ed. So after a little discussion, we stopped my fill mid-way thru. My nail girl went to take a long overdue lunch break, and I ran around the corner to the drugstore to buy a razor. She knew my plans, so when i got back and headed for the bathroom, she said "Whatever you do, don't get your nails wet!"

Great. So other than running the razor itself under some warm water, i dry-shaved my legs in about 15 seconds. The burn started while my fingernails were still being finished. By the time i started the pedi and stuck my feet and legs into the super hot water, i was in agony. It took a freaking week to recover!!!!

What is the hanging deal with razor burn!!!???!!! And BTW, don't EVER use a "Noxema" brand disposable razor. EVER. i hacked my legs to bits.

You big FAKER!

So, i've been itching to get my nails done. I used to get them done regularly. It was like, oh, between $35 and $40 a month for fills, and then of course i'd want to get pedicures while i was there. But I HATE when i have my nails done (with acrylics) and then like, my leg itches. i swear scratching never satisfies with those big thick fakes on. So i have to ask hubby or go find a comb. It's really lame. And then the underside of the nails get dirty and gunked up and i can never keep them as clean as i'd like...

And then i'm tired of the french mani (glitter or no) and decide i want purple or fuschia, but i WILL NOT paint bold or bright colors on long ol' nails. So then i start itchen' to ditch the nails, and i have to wait a month and a half for the crappy torn up bendy-weak acrylic aftermath real nails to grow out. Do i really want to commit to all this right now?

NO.

So, i revisted yesteryear, my childhood, one of my most fave things as a little girl - PRESS ON NAILS! Woot! They aren't made by "Lee" anymore, the ones i got are by "Kiss". But oh my god they're great! And my commitment is only for 7-10 days. As soon as i put them on i felt 10 times prettier. and i swear you just do things different when your hands look great with any kind of manicure. For example, you pick things up more gracefully. Like you're about to display them to the crowd on the Price is Right.

So, inevitably, in a few days i'll be tired of them and be ready to wear a short purple mani, and it'll be all good! If you want a quick lift of your spirits, or you haven't time to get a mani before the office xmas party, glue on some fakes! LOL! You'll be pleasantly surprised.

(ETA: Sorry. i don't know why my hand is such a weird color in this pic! Kinda creepy.)

My Fave Things

These are a few of my favorite things...

1. Smith's Mentholated Salve by Rosebud Perfume Co.
Awesome stuff. The only cure for chapped lips. Also good for bug bites, irritated skin or dry nose when you have a cold. I even used it on my tattoo while it healed. Comes in a tin that is about 2 in. across and a little under an inch deep - one tin lasts a long LONG time.


2. Clean and Clear Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser
I used Clinique 3-step for most of my life, but i felt like my skin became immune to it or something. After trying products of all kinds, i found that i really like Clean & Clear. It doesn't burn my eyes out or taste like I've swallowed anthrax if i accidentally get some in my mouth. I use it every day and one bottle at about $3 lasts for months!


3. Clean and Clear Daily Pore Toner
See above. This stuff is also awesome and doesn't burn like some astringents. I love it!

4. Q-tips.
Do i need to explain why? Accept no imitations. I hate generic Q-Tips. Can't live, if livin' is without Q-Tips.

5. (Anything by) Soap & Glory
Very distinct scent that isn't too soapy and isn't floral/sweet. I just love their Righteous Butter. Their Body Scrub is the perfect thing to use to exfoliate before putting on your sunless tanning products..

6. Bare Minerals Foundation
The key ingredient to a flawless yet natural looking face. You don't need all that heavy liquid stuff and cakey powder. Seriously. And best of all it's the fastest of all my beauty routines. Getting my face on in under 5 minutes means more time to play with my eye makeup!

7. Loreal Telescopic Mascara
I've used so many mascaras and i love this one best. (plus, i'm not spending over $10 for mascara when i go thru it so fast!) the brush takes some getting used to but it's the best stuff.

8. My Shower Cap
Okay I don't have a link for this because a shower cap is a personal choice that i just can't begin to make for you. lol. I used to use one that i had from a hotel stay and it actually lasted me a very long time, cheap as it was... During the great NYX/Big Lots event a few months ago, I picked up two caps for $0.80 each and they are super cute. Very girly and not old-lady-ish. I am an every other or every 3 days shampoo-er so I can't live without my cap.

9. Manicure Buffing Block
Besides cuticle removal (and well, painting them like you AREN'T drunk) using a good buffing block is the best way to get a good salon finish for your nails when you manicure at home. I especially like how now they have the order of things numbered right on the block itself. Buffing smoothing and shining your nails is literally as easy as 1-2-3.

10. The RockSTARR FAM
once upon a time, before I was a ROCKSTARRMOM, i was just plain old Cara Starr. Sometimes i miss how easy Cara had it back in the diz-ay, but i always wonder if i could be anywhere near as fulfilled without my little fam. So, here they are, my sexy hubby and my rockstarr kids. Make up and beauty stuff is to stay attractive for one, and in spite of the others. It's my "me-time" stuff. :)

My Hunny.

Caleb

<--- Riley & Tyler --->

*Update* Herbal Essence Free Mani/Pedi

I picked up two specially marked bottles of Herbal Essence products (Color Me Happy Shampoo & Conditioner) and went to the H.E. website to get the skinny on the deal. I had to go to another page, tlc-rewards.com, and enter the UPC codes off of both bottles. When i did so, it first came back telling me that both numbers were not eligible for the offer. I sat here scratching my color treated head for a moment, because there is a big HUGE advertisement on the front of both bottles. As it turns out, they are only interested in the main and bigger printed number, directly below the bar code. Not so much the 2 smaller corner numbers that flank the main one.
Anyhoo, once it accepted both UPC's, it instructed me to download and print a pdf redemption form. As it turns out, you need to mail this form in along with your ORIGINAL receipt. No copies accepted. So, if you are purchasing, say a new plasma, and your shampoo & conditioner all in one trip, your best bet is to make them separate purchases. Luckily, my receipt is a mish-mosh of baby formula, mascara and Windex. I'm not having anxiety about giving up the original.


Now I'll take a moment to be a bit of a Debbie-downer. TLC Rewards is a "concierge" service for other companies wishing to run these types of promotions. When I was in the hospital after having Caleb, (my just-turned-one year old. *sniff*) I received a gift diaper bag from Similac, full of samples and coupons. Along with all the loot, was a voucher from Similac, for a promotion run thru this TLC company, and it was meant to treat me to some pampering. The rewards varied from haircut to massage. I chose a massage, OF COURSE, and called the 800 number to set it all up. They said they would call me with a list of participating salons. Weeks went by. I called back. I got a pre-recorded message saying that TLC was very busy and re-organizing their system and to try back 2 MONTHS LATER! As I'm sure they'd anticipated, i got too busy with my newborn, and then eventually lost the voucher. boo hoo. So i'm hoping to have a better experience this time, but I thought I'd pass on the dirt I have on this fantastic concierge service. < / sarcasm>

FREE Mani or Pedi!

Even though I am very devoted to Pureology shampoo and conditioner for my color treated hair, my "back-up" shampoo is Herbal Essence! (The one in the pink bottle.) It smells so good, and never hurts my demi-permanent hair color. Well, Herbal Essence is running a promotion where if you purchase specially marked bottles of their product, you can redeem a voucher good for a free manicure or pedicure! Go HERE for all the info!

Got my nails undone

Finally got the acrylics off. Whew. Don't get me wrong - i love a perfectly "polished" acrylic french mani, and I was having WAY fun trying out all the glitter powders, but... I could not type, and am I the only one who cannot get a good itch to my scratch with those fake things on? Anyway, I wish i could have brought my camera to show you guys the way and HOW FAST they got the fakes off! It was amazing. I've removed my own in the past and once pulled my own real nail off so far down into the quick that i bled all over and almost passed out. LOL! The way the salon did was WAY better and then i got a nice bright fuschia pink mani afterwards. And guess what? My nails are still kinda long-ish!

Of course I caved and got a pedi too... oooooooooohhhh did it feel wonderful. The massage is so awesome, and because "Mary" knows I'm a good tipper, I notice i often get a bit extra EVEN when they are packed with people waiting. When it comes to your beauty treatments - Hair, nails, waxing, etc. ALWAYS tip good (unless of course they suck!) and it will always make a difference. I worked in a salon for a while and let me tell you - they remember a good tipper vs. a so-so one. When they have to change their schedules, good tippers get right in, and measly tippers get to have dark roots for weeks.

Hoping to get some new tutorials up this week and trying to get a contest together too!!!!! Watch for details!

DIY French Mani/Pedi

This video shows you how i achieve a nice, even, french mani/pedi at home, without using those weird little sticker strips and without having to get the white painted on perfectly across my nail tips. Makes it SO easy!