Oh Happy Day!

Today, I picked up my long-awaited Girl Scout Cookie order!

Get in my B-E-L-L-Y!

To tan, or not to tan...

Well, while I'm waiting for the "O" (see previous post) I should be productive. In my youth, I was a tanning queen... tanning beds, self-tanner, and the sun were my friends. In the beginning, I mainly enjoyed the sun, spending summers poolside sans-sunscreen spraying afro-sheen in regular intervals (it gave the most gorgeous tawny brown color). In my late teens and early twenties, I worshipped the tanning bed, dutifully attending to my tanning ritual at least three times per week. This kept my skin clear, and made me feel beautiful. At my wedding, it's possible I had close to the most perfect tan I've ever had, achieved by tanning every day for the week prior to the wedding in a stand-up tanning bed that didn't give any lines. It was divine. Post-wedding, however, Frank is not a tanning-fan. He begged me to forego my tanning addiction, and I relented. I have not been to the tanning bed since the day before my wedding, and doubt that I'll ever go again. I was not willing, however, to completely give up my quest to have a gorgeous year-round tan, and succumbed to the self-tanner aisle as a result. I have tried no less than 10-15 different types of self-tanner, and here are my results:

The winner. These tan towelettes are super easy to use, and give believable color. Not orange at all, and the result is buildable. I can use the towelettes for three days in a row, and achieve a nice brown color with no streaks. And it lasts for several days. They are cheap too, and easy to travel with because there's no liquid. And the best part, no sponge to wash at the end, no yucky rubber gloves to deal with, and no chance of spilling the tanning cream or liquid on my bathroom rug. Best yet, they dont smell bad, and don't leave you walking around with the aroma of frying chicken. They are available everywhere, from CVS to Walmart.

The runner-up. Jan-Tana gives buildable bronze color that goes on easily without streaking. The key to Jan-Tana application is a good pair of rubber gloves, and the self-tanning sponge. If you slightly dampen the sponge, the color glides on easily. The lotion is brown in color, meaning that you have a color-guide that helps you to avoid streaks. Buildable color that looks realistic and isn't orange, and is immediate - but develops more over the next four hours. The smell is the only downside, it's a bit chemical and once used is unmistakable. I think the color may be a little dark for most self-tanning novices, and would only be really believable during the summer months when most people (at least in the South) have a slight tan anyway. May be purchased at http://www.jantana.com/ Only the fast tan works well, the competition tan is too dark and streaks terribly.

LOSER. I heard people rave about St. Tropez before I tried it, and I was extremely disappointed with this product. You have to lather it on thickly the night before, sleep in it, and wash off the color guide in the morning. Thus, you get self-tanner stained sheets, pajamas, and undies. YUCK. Smells funny, and when the color guide is removed - the color was gone. Plus, it's super expensive, $40 for this little tube, and just isn't worth the money. There are much better products on the market, don't waste your dough on this junk.

This is the most expensive self-tanner that I've used, $50 for this little bottle. While the smell wasn't bad at all, the color was, well... terracotta... meaning orang-ey. And I had serious issues getting the lotion to go on smoothly, so I was left with streaks. It lasted a loong time too, so I had a very odd looking color on my legs for a while. I'd stay away, not worth the money, not worth the time.

When Frank and I began TTC, I ceased all use of any tanning products whatsoever. So, for the first time since I was about 16, I know the true color of my skin. And it's p-a-l-e. It's not even the pretty pale, either... it's just yucky pale. I've read conflicting stories about whether it's ok to use tanning products while TTC and pregnant, but I honestly don't think I can make it through a summer without using something to cut down on this frosty mess I call skin. So, for those of you who are either TTC, pregnant, or are mommies, did you use tanning products?

I Heart Fashionista....

So the Fashionista blog posted this on Monday:

Hilarious.

http://www.fashionista.com/

My two cents...

When Frank and I decided to begin TTC, I tried to become as "healthy" as possible, meaning that I gave up meat, dairy, and non-organic items from my diet. I also tried to find "pregnancy safe" products that were organic, but still worked well. A few things that I've tried that I really like:

Weleda's Almond Moisture Cream. Prior to TTC, I was an Olay junkie... I've been using Regenerist for about 3 years now, alternating with my trusty Retin-A, and stuck with Patricia Wexler's Eye Cream from Bath and Body Works as a daily staple. Although Weleda's Almond Cream doesn't have the fab anti-aging qualities that Regenerist does, it is 100% organic and safe for sensitive skin, and I feel good knowing that it is free of petroleum based products or other additives that could harm our (potential) little bean.

Belli makes great pre- and post pregnancy safe products... I've had serious issues with acne since I stopped birth control, and it's been difficult to find acne-fighting products that don't include salycic acid, which has not been tested for birth defects. Benzoyl Peroxide, in small amounts, has been tested, and came out ok... but it can be drying. Belli's products are great, have been tested, are pregnancy safe, and work.

And last, I read a review in this morning's paper about a new diaper cream, which I have not used - but because I love my Weleda cream that I already use, I thought it would be worth passing along to the moms and moms-to-be that read the blog:

Weleda makes a diaper cream! This got fab reviews in the paper, and doesn't contain any worrisome pestisides, petroleum products, or non-organic ingredients. Apparently it works very well, and doesn't burn or sting like other creams.

Grammys 2009....

Did anyone see the Grammys last night? I have a message for Natalie Cole...

Al Quaeda called, they want their chains back.

Fashion tip of the day:

Nude pantyhose are gross! They are never, ever acceptable. Ick. This means you.

Hello, world.....

I have thoughts swirling about in my head both day and night... and rather than let them consume me, I figured I might as well share them with the world. A little background: I'm in my late twenties, career-focused, and happily married. I have an obsession with fashion magazines, blogs, websites, television shows, the list goes on and on. I secretly wish to own my own clothing boutique/ line with a salon attached... so that I can join Clinton and Stacey in riddng the world of those horrid souls who think that dirty hair and pajama pants comprise an acceptable public appearance. And even more consuming than my fashion obsession, I am trying to conceive ("TTC") my first child. Instead of incessantly venting to my husband and friends about the trials and tribulations of TTC, I'd rather just share the journey with you, dear reader. We have been TTC for several months now, and have been unsuccessful thus far. I hope you enjoy my often ridiculous tirades about the process, and of course, my fashion tips along the way.