Chap Sticks and Lip Gloss

  I love chap stick and lip gloss.  One of the things that I need is moist and healthy lips.  I go crazy when my lips feel dry and chapped.  Most days I would say I put it on 20 times.  Perhaps more.  I have tubes and sticks everywhere I go.  They are at my work, in my bag, by the bed, at the living room table, kitchen, bathroom, sewing room, and probably more.  There are ones under the couch and chairs because of the cats stealing them.

My husband used to never use chap stick and his lips were so chapped.  They used to crack and bleed they were so bad.  I bought his own Origianl Chap Stick and he has never looked back.  His lips are now nice and soft and he always has one on him.  It is great!  

When I go shopping most of the time I come home with a new lips product.  I never really buy anything expensive.  One, there is not place close to me with name brand make-up and Two, I don't see the need to spend tons of money on them.  I figured I would share my love of lip products with you.  This is a small sample of what I have.  these are just the ones that I have in my bag everyday.  I will start with the boring and move onto the more fun ones.

Original Cap Stick

 

This is one of my favorite ones.  It is pretty standard but it keeps my lips very moist and stays on for quite some time.  It is also very cheap at about 1 dollar a piece.  

Mint Chap Stick

This is practically the same thing as the above Chap Stick except it has a nice clean and minty flavor.  I always feel like I am chewing gum when I wear this.  It is nice.  My husband does not like this one because he hates to have his lips tingle from chap stick.  This does not do that but he thinks it does so he refuses to use it.  Silly man!

Burt's Bees Passion Fruit Flavor

I kind of have a love hate relationship with Burt's Bees.  Sometimes I like it and sometimes not so much.  The smell and consistency of the chap stick is a little strange to me.  It is a harder feel and takes a bit of effort to get it on my lips well.  The smell is also a bit off to me.  I can't really explain it.  Right now I don't really like it but next month I most likely will.

Chap Stick Red Plum Fortify Pot

I just bought this from the grocery store this week for about 3 dollars.  It is a little pot instead of a stick and I like that.  It has a nice light  plum flavor and smell.  It is soft and feels nice on my lips.  I also like that my finger smells nice after I put it on.  The color does not really show up on my lips but that is okay.  I usually don't wear a color on my lips on my days.

Chap Stick Ultra Shimmer Radiant Dew

Oh my god!  The smell of this one is sooooo good.  It has a Honey Melon thing going on.  It goes on nicely and has a little sparkle to it so your lips look dewy, just like the name.  This one was about 3 dollars as well so it is not too expensive.  I am sure there are other flavors but I highly recommend this one.

Hello Kitty from Target

My sister in law got me this for my birthday last week because I am a big Hello Kitty fan.  It came in a pack of 5.  It has flavors like Bubble Gum, Strawberry, Raspberry, Mint, and more.  I really like the way the stick looks but other than that I am not really blown away.  The chap stick has a nice consistency to it but it does not stay on very long and it is a little waxy.

Little Mermaid from the dollar store

One of my friends got this for me because we are both Ariel fans.  The tube is so cute and looks nice in my purse.  The flavor is Watermelon and it smell very nice.  The texture of the chap stick is fine but nothing great.  

Wet n' Wild Mega Sticks

This was a dollar from my local Walmart.  It looks pink but is for all intensive purposes clear.  The wand is nice and applies the gloss nicely.  The gloss is sticky and feels a little strange on.  It gives a really nice shine though.  The smell has a kind of fake sugary thing going on but it is not bad.  This is a good product for Lolita.  The shine that it gives is very nice and adds to the pretty look that a lot of girls are going with when they do their make up.

N.Y.C. Color Lip Glider - Park Ave. Pink

I bought this a week ago from the local Target for 3 dollars.  I didn't get to smell it before I bought it because it was sealed so I a little worries that I wouldn't like the smell but I love it!  It is sweet and happy smell.  The color is slight but it is there on our lips.  It just adds a small pink tint.  Along with the tint it is full on SHINE.  It even says on the back, "Vibrant color & smooth, glassy shine.....the ultimate "lacquered" look for lips!".  I really like this one.  I am going to go back and see if I can get some more colors.  Last time they were almost out and I guess I know why.  Highly recommended.  A+++

Weight Loss

  I will do my best to sum up a long story into a nice and neat package.  2 years ago I graduated and in this two years I gained 35 lbs.  Blaaaghh!  I can't fit into a lot of my Lolita dresses so they hang waiting for me in my closet. I got fed up with it and in the past month I have lost 10 lbs.  Not bad, 10 lbs in one month. 

  How did I do it?  The old fashioned way.  Diet and exercise.  I know that I am not an expert on the subject just because I had a good month but I just wanted to share my achievement and give my advice to anyone who might also want to lose weight.  

First off.  It really sicks losing weight, at least it does for me.  I used to eat out a lot and eat things that were not good for me.  Friday night used to be our Chinese take out night and how I loved it.  I would get Egg Foo Young with gravy, an egg roll, and fried rice.  I can't even imagine how many calories were in that.  Also, my in laws love to host large dinners and take everyone out to eat every week.  It takes oodles of willpower to order a grilled chicken salad when all the people around you are eating pizza, Chicken Fingers and French Fries, coconut cream pie, and Chocolate Cake.   MMmmmmmm. 

As far as diet goes I keep a food dairy.  I carry around a tiny day planner that I write down the calories that I eat when I eat them.  I just do it when I am eating so I don't forget.  But, this does include whipping out my tiny blue book out at restaurants and getting made fun of a little by my husband and his family.  (They tease me in a nice way, not mean.)  I allow myself up to 1,000 calories everyday.  I have found this to be the best amount for me.  I am not tired, I stay pretty full all day, and it allows me to lose weight at a nice pace.  

Most day I have soup, nuts, dried fruit, a granola bar, a fruit snack, salad, lots of water, a low calories pudding cup, and yogurt.  I go low on carbs. but not obsessively so, and just make sure I don't eat anything horrible.

When it comes to exercise I don't have a job where I am very active so I have to make up for it after.  I have a gym membership at a gym that is only 5 minutes away from my home and place of employment.  Right after work I drive right on over, get changed, and work out.  I love the elliptical so that is what I use most.  In about an hour and 45 minutes I burn 1,200 calories.  I use the weight machines for about 15 minutes and am done for the day.  I am going to be doing some Boot camp classes in the coming month to change it up.  Since almost two hours on the elliptical is a lot I use my Zune and listen to music and watch episodes of True Blood.  (So good!  I just love Eric.  He is such a hottie!)  

I realize this is not a great workout for everyone, it might be too much or not enough.  It is just what I am doing now and what works for me right now.  When I am done and have reached my goal I will have lost 60 lbs.  This will give me a weight that is ideal for my height and will allow me to not only fit into all of My Lolita clothing but might even make me purchase some new and smaller dresses.  

Coming down to my ideal weight will allow me to regain my confidence, feel better about myself, look good at my class reunion, and more.  Even losing 10lbs. I feel better, dresses are fitting better, and I am excited for more weight loss.

I hope perhaps me talking about my weight loss will inspire someone else to start.  I know I needed a boot in the butt to get me going.  So if you need to and want to lose wight, go for it!  Sign up for a gym membership, buy some fitness DVD's. play DDR, dance around your room, go running, do whatever you want and can do.  In another month what I check in again with my weight loss it would be great to hear from someone who also kicked it into gear and lost some weight.  Will it be you that I hear from?  I hope so.