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.

NYC Trip Pictures and Fun

I had such a blast last week in NYC!  We went there on a mission to see and show and visit a store and we achieved our goals.  We arrived in the city around 3 or so and got settled into the hotel about 4.  Since the Prince concert started at 7:30 we had an early dinner at the Ginger House.  It is right next to The Fashion Inst. Of Tech and was 3 blocks from our hotel.  Their food is so good.  I had yummy tofu in brown sauce with white rice. 

Once we were done eating my parents went back to the hotel and I went to the TD Bank to close my account that I haven't used in over 2 years.  I got my money, joined my parents, and we made out way to Madison Square Garden.  We got there around 6:30 because my mother told us that we should arrive an hour early) and Prince didn't get on stage until a little after 9.  That was a long wait.  

 Once the show started it was AMAZING!  The stage was his symbol and were right in the front.  He came out onto stage after about 4 and a half minutes of screaming , and he stood on top of his piano and let everyone take pictures of him for a good 45 seconds.   

Once they actually started playing everyone freaked out even more.  The band played snippets of their hits and each song got the crows going more and more.  It was such a good intro.  Here is a video of the show.  He is singing his hit Purple Rain.

After the show we went back to the hotel and went to bed with ears that were ringing just a bit.  Not too bad.  In the morning we had a nice low key breakfast in the hotel, packed up, and made our way to Tokyo Rebel.  We got there right at opening time and boy was it amazing. I have never been to a store that sells brand and I was so excited to see so much Angelic Pretty up close in person. Sorry about the pictures with a haze.  I used my phone to take them and they didn't come out super great but you can still see everything.

Deco goodies!

Socks.

Angelic Pretty

Mags

I had such a great time looking around Tokyo Rebel.  The shop had such nice things.  A good selection of dresses, socks, bags, and a small selection of jewelry and accessories.  I really didn't have much money but I wanted to get something so I purchased a pair of Innocent World socks and a pair of Angelic Pretty wrist cuffs.  I will post pics tomorrow.
I really want to head back to NYC and Tokyo Rebel this year so maybe I will plan to take a trip with my husband.

I am at the Prince concert!

This is not going to be a long post because I am using my phone but I just wanted to say that I am at the concert and it is going to start  in 10 minutes and I am so excited!!!!!!   I will have pics and videos in the next day or so.

NYC Trip

  Tomorrow I am going to New York City (which is about 3 hours away from me) to see a musical artist that I love and have loved for a long time.  Prince!  I am going with my mother and father.  We are all huge fans of his and he hasn't been near us in a long time so when we found out that he was going to be at Madison Square Garden we jumped at the tickets.  I am hoping that he plays Raspberry Beret and When Doves Cry. 

Since the show isn't until 8ish we have the afternoon to bum around the city and what would be more fun for a Lolita to do in NYC than to visit Tokyo Rebel?

   We East Coast Lolitas don't have a whole lot of shops to go for for Brand like the West Coast girls have with Baby and Angelic Pretty.  I have never been to Tokyo Rebel but I read their blog, web site, and Facebook.  It looks like a great shop with all types of goodies.  I might have to try some things on.  I might also be in the market for some AP  lace wrist cuffs.  We'll see. 

We are also staying at a super cool hotel but I will keep that a surprise until I have some great pics.  Since I am going to be out of town there will be a hiccup with my A Dress a Day project.  I also most likely won't have a post until Wednesday evening once I am home again and work is over.  But, I should have lots of great pictures, videos, and stories.

A Dress a Day -12

This dress is all about the heart on the bust.   The shape of a heart just fits so perfectly on top of a woman's bust.  The rest of the bodice will have ruffly lace along the seams and follow down the front of the skirt.  Tiny cap sleeves and tiny bows on the bottom of the sleeve will make you want to show off your arms. 

A Dress a Day -11

 

I know this most likely cheating but I ran out of time for a couple days so I flipped through old drawing and sketches and chose to put them up.  I did this design when I was super in love with crowns and the like.   Even though I did this a while ago I still really like it. 

The skirt is just so light and floaty looking.  If I made this it would have to be made of super light fabric.  I am not one to make or design a standard blouse but this one if nice.  The open collar would be flattering on many body types and the sleeves are kind of cool.  I know the body shape of the above girl is unrealistic but I really like it.  The long willowy legs and tiny waist show off the outfit well.  That is one thing I like and still use from my schooling.  Make your model about 8 to 9 heads high.  It allows you to show off the clothes better and more accurate.

A Dress a Day -10

I know this dress might not look like much at first glance but I think it could be quite special with the right fabric and lace.  I like the idea of two shoulder straps that you tie on top to make a cute bow that sits on your shoulder.  The above picture just illustrates the idea of the two straps.   The front bodice has stretchy shirring behind the ribbon corseting. 

I see this being a winter/fall dress with nice think fabric.  Perhaps a fabric with a texture to it like a light wool.  I think a print would be a good idea as well.  The lace that is along the hem and on the bodice would be nice if it was a woven or knit lace.  I see this dress having an antique feel to it. 

A Dress a Day -09

In this dress I wanted to do something different for the sleeves again. The strap along with the off the shoulder sleeve is pretty cute.  If you wear a blouse underneath it with puffy sleeves they will peek out in between the strap and sleeve.  This dress makes me think of a Victorian teenager.  Elegant but still youthful.  I want to layer fabrics for this dress.  I am thinking of getting a fabric with a subtle print and then laying a chiffon on top of it.  

The gathering for this skirt should be very tiny and fine.  No chunky gathers.  This is a lovely and delicate dress. 

A Dress a Day -08

I know this dress looks as if it is all straps but once you tie them up you will have a nice set of bows along your back.  I wanted to do a dress that was focused on scalloped edges.  The top of the bodice, at the hips, and the bottom of the skirt haves strong scalloping.  I think a fun and kicky print will make up for the semi plain design.  I don't want a lot of lace on this piece.  Ribbon should be enough with the scalloping and printed fabric.