It's a Lush Life

I Love Lush!

So, I have this weirdly sensitive skin. I have to be careful about the different things I use because I'm liable to start itching, get welts get red, patchy, etc. I've known about Lush Cosmetics since they first came to my area. I liked their signage and how simple the stores looked with their cool handwritten signs and all their colorful...soap? oil? stuff? They are handmade cosmetics, like bath bombs, soaps, masks, shampoo bars, bubble baths, all that jazz. I assumed that I wouldn't be able to use their products but one day I finally went in with some friends and we got the full intro, and I was hooked. I love smell goods, and their bath bombs are heaven to my nose. I don't really like baths, just the occasional de-stress soak here and there, but I bought a Butterball and a Big Blue and man, I was hooked. If you actually like baths, then this is really for you.

The Butterball bath bomb has bits of Cocoa Butter in it. You drop it in the water and it fizzes until it melts and the water smells all nice and cocoa and buttery, and it leaves your skin nicely moisturized and soft/sweet scented, but my favorite by far is the Big Blue. This bath bomb is huge, and its filled with seaweed and

dead sea salts or something and some kind of essential oils, and when it hits the water your bathroom smells like a spa or an ocean, the water gets buoyant and soft and silky feeling, and it's

all blue and there's little seaweed pieces floating all around and you know that does wonders for the skin. It is very Lush. These don't irritate my skin at all, in fact it's the opposite. They make my soft skin even softer. They

cost about $5 or $6 bucks each but since I don't take baths often, it's worth it. When I take one its almost like I'm giving myself spa treatment. I do it up sometimes and go full blast. I give myself a good scrub with my nutrasonic, then I put on an Oatmeal/honey mask (whatever my kid didn't finish from breakfast works

best) and then the bath, and wow. Lights out!

As a matter of fact, I think I'll have a Big Blue right now :)

Lash Blast Mascara

So, I have short, almost nonexistent eyelashes. I also have kinda smallish eyes. I have reviewed some other mascaras before, but I actually stopped reviewing those because I just kept not finding one that worked. I didn't want to try Lash Blash because I was put off by the obnoxiousness of the big orange tube. I went back to L'oreal Accentuous for a while but it just wasn't cutting it. Since my motto is "never pay retail", I decided to use a coupon I clipped from the paper for $2 off Cover Girl cosmetics in conjunction with a sale that was going on at Walgreens, and I finally got a tube.

I was hooked from the first application.

I'm talking length, curl, silky-shininess, it was all there. I LOVE THIS STUFF. The brush gets every single lash, including those corner ones. 2 coats and they look just like I want them to. For the restock, I sent hubby to the store with a coupon to take advantage of a buy one get one 50% off sale, again at Walgreens. I tell him to get Black or Blackest Black and he comes back with black brown. I decided to try it and voila, holy grail. I mean it. I need to take a pic and post it. I am really impressed by this product, and I can't say enough about it. If you are looking for something to make your lashes pop at for a reasonable price, this is it.

Nutra Sonic

I love my Nutra Sonic. I got it from HSN, my husband bought it for me for our anniversary I think. I had been researching and really couldn't bring myself to shell out $200 for a Clairsonic, and the thought of buying one from eBay was pointless because they won't honor the warranty or some jazz. Plus, something like that you want to just get brand new. It would be like buying a used toothbrush. Anyway, I found the Nutra Sonic on the HSN website for $119 and I read a ton of reviews there and on on Makeup Alley. I just decided to go for it because to me, that price was reasonable and I really wanted to get one. I will not "compare" it to a Clairsonic or other brand, there's enough of that out there that still won't answer the question: does this product do what YOU want/need it to do?

Features: It has the 4 speeds, lo, hi, jitter (for microdermabrasion and deep cleansing) and the body setting. It comes with a charging base that plugs into an ac outlet and 3 brush heads. One soft one for delicate skin and a normal one for regular skin. Although I have sensitive skin, I use the normal brush because the sensitive brush has longer bristles and actually feels rougher to me. The body brush is great for the decollate area, and under your armpits, allover really. I use the low setting which is designated for sensitive skin.

Here's where I think some people get it wrong. Yes, it says so gentle you can use 2x a day, but do you REALLY need to deep clean your face like that twice a day, or even every single day? They use the CS in dermatologists offices and high end salons as part of a facial or cleaning treatment, so to me, that's not something we need to do twice a day, unless you have really oily skin or something. The point is, you will know if that's you. Use common sense! Your skin is not the same as the next person's skin, so you may have to make adjustments to get the results you want. I did.

The first time I used it, i fell in love. My face felt delicious, but I didn't go over the recommended time. You just don't need to. A minute or 2 will do it. For me, once, maybe twice weekly, and my face looks noticeably better. Brighter, i would say. No breakouts, the few bumps I may et go away after using it, and it is silky smooth soft. I highly recommend this if you want all of these benefits for a reasonable price of around $100. You can buy it from hsn.com, and they offer flex pay.

Get one today!

A Few of My Favorite Things for 2011

I got my last relaxer in December 2010. I have a wonderful Stylist, Lashauna, the proud ownner operator of Salon One11 (www.salonone11.com) where I have been going to get custom color and a ceramic press. I love it. She has introduced me to Paul Mitchell products, as she owns a Paul Mitchell Signature Salon. Here's what i'm using.

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Not only does this smell delicious, but it makes it easy to blow dry my now-natural hair. It provides a nice amount of shine, makes it smooth when I flat iron it, and keeps it from being all bushy. Since I have not relaxed in months, my hair is in its natural state and this helps tame it down so i can press it or get it pressed. This serum runs around $15 at Ulta. I tried something similar by another manufacturer and this beats that hands down. Did I mention the smell? Kinda apple-y.

Clinique DDML Gel

So, I have super sensitive skin that I recently discovered

is also oily. I always thought it was dry because of the patches I get, but really I have an oily t zone and dry cheeks. When the derm told me I told her she was wrong (don't judge me!) but once she explained it, it made perfect sense. Sensitive Combination. She prescribed Clindamycin lotion, but since I ran out and can't remember the prescription I recently bought some Clinique DDML Gel. Also, the Clindamycin is a little too strong for me to use every day. It's bonus time at Macy's so I got a nice 7 piece gift, 2 bags, a gloss/lipstick combo, a blush/eyeshadow combo, a small mascara, eye makeup remover and a small ddml lotion. The first 2 days I used the lotion it burned my cheeks at the top and left red patches. After the 3rd or 4th day, the burning completely stopped and now it's all good. I notice my face isn't getting as oily during the day, could be because the gel has no oil in it. I've always thought I needed to put more oil in my skin but it looks like that's what was causing the breakouts I was having. All in all, I like it. No cons. At $21.95 plus a GWP, it's a nice sized bottle that lasts forever using 2 pumps at a time, it is a good buy.

Later: Nutra Sonic, Clinique Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser, Paul Mitchell Super Charged Moisturizer, and Lash Blast Mascara.

I know, I know...let's just get on with it shall we???

I'm back. Had a baby, got a job, getting my MBA.

You are officially caught up.

Now...

Sorry for the hiatus but really, you all know what's been going on. Now, let's get blogging, shall we?

Missed you much,

Yo

30 Minute Ribs

That's right. I said 30 minute ribs.

Well, I guess technically it's 45 but who's counting? I'm talking about the 30 minutes it takes for the Ronco Showtime Rotisserie oven to churn out a rack of sizzling, deliciously tasty baby back ribs. No joke. I'm blogging about it at 9:40 am on Memorial Day. This must be something special.

So, last night, we were sitting around, I was on the net and PC was "golfing". I looked at the recipe for the ribs one more time and then I decided to go see what I would need to do. The first issue was that I had neither the kabob rods nor the rib basket accessory. I needed to first figure out how I was going to pull this off, because I was determined to make it happen, plus, I knew if it could happen, then they would no doubt have to be tasty. The rotisserie is the deal. I'll talk later about the Mother's Day chicken that had both mothers in the kitchen pinching off of the bird and licking their fingers. Anyhoo, I go in and get the rotisserie basket and after much trial and error, I decided to cut the slab in half and put the half in the basket and load that onto the spit rod. Basically, it wasn't going to happen any other way. And it was GOING to happen.

Ronco and everybody else recommends parboiling the ribs for 15 minutes. From what I've read, skipping this step will have bad results so I went one better. I lightly seasoned the ribs and cut up some onion over them and in the water, with a little chopped garlic. I then covered and simmered for 15 or so. PC's nose perked up about 5 minutes in. When they were done, I put one half slab in the basket and loaded, then sprinkled with some McCormick's grill mates and garlic powder. And then I set it. But I couldn't forget it! We drooled the whole time. We could barely get them out before we were ripping ribs off and scarfing them down. They were tender, perfectly seasoned (of course) and DELICIOUS!!!!!! A little crispy but not burned, juicy, just plain good. I had to hurry up and put the other half in there. Praise God, my mom made a fresh batch of sauce and gave me 2 bottles yesterday.

PC ate a whole slab of ribs last night.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND everyone invest in this appliance. Everything I've made in it had been great, but the ribs were over the top. PC went to sleep and woke up talking about the ribs. I have to make another slab today, because by 11:15 last night, that slab was history.

And I started at 10. That's crazy.

Products I use FAITHFULLY

Okay, let's talk about some of the things I can't live without. I won't mention Astonishing Lengths (I just did, didn't I?)

Doo-Gro Oil

I don't really remember how I found out about this, but I am glad I did. I started using it in about 2000. I stopped for a minute, but I eventually went back. I like the anti-itch formula because it has tea tree oil and is very light. I LOVE the fact that it's in an applicator bottle with a nozzle. After drying, I simply oil my whole scalp by lightly squeezing the bottle around my head, just letting the nozzle tip do the "parting" for me.

I know there are plenty of people who don't oil their hair. That's ok for them, but not for me. My hair DRINKS oil, especially by my scalp, and I don't like that tight, dry, itchy feeling, because all it is is dry scalp. So, when your body is dry, you oil it up, don't you? Same difference. The oil is lighter than Kemi oil or something similar, and therein lies the difference. I highly recommend this, and it does help with growth. $5.99

Origins Checks and Balances Foamy Face Wash

My overly sensitive skin is the worst, but it looks the best. The key to nice skin is not makeup - the real foundation is SKINCARE! I have tried many cleansers in a quest to find something that would remove dirt and makeup and not strip my face dry. Some products actually burn, and leave little burn patches on my face (Neutrogena, Clinique) but never this. I have been using this religiously since it's debut. I was working for Origins at the time, but I didn't try this until later, after Toni (hi!) used it and didn't complain. Actually, I was at her house and I used hers. Don't tell! I can't really use a separate makeup remover, but this gets every trace of mascara, powder, whatever. With ingredients like Bergamot, Lavender, Wheat Protein (for dryness), Konjac powder (for oil), and spearmint, how can you go wrong? $17.99

Optimum Care Products

For the life of me, I don't know WHY Optimum had to go and mess up a good thing. This is truly my HG shampoo and Conditioner. This line has been changed twice in the last 3 or 4 years, for no apparent reason. They DISCONTINUED this particular shampoo and conditioner and all hell has broken loose in my life. WHY???? I can't even find any at the you know what beauty supply stores! I went in 4 yesterday, thinking someone would have a bottle. NONE. Now they are pushing the anti-breakage therapy line. But, what if you don't have breakage? (I do, but I don't want that!) This so called new and improved, well first off the packaging is condensed and the price rose! These normal 12 oz bottles have been replaced with an 8 oz. squeeze tube of conditioner and a 10 oz bottle of shampoo. Previously sold in Wal-Mart for $3.65, the new crap is starting at $4.99. this is a conspiracy and a rip off. The formula of the conditioner isn't even the same. I'm writing them a letter. I can't even find any on EBAY!!!!!!! This is a conspiracy!

Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter w/Vitamin E

This is the smoking bomb. It keeps me smooth, itch free and hydrated. I used to be a Palmer's addict, but you get so much more of this for the money and it stretches farther. I really can't say enough good things about it, and there's nothing bad to say. Even the price point is great. My skin looks beautiful. $5.99

Isoplus Oil Sheen

To me, this is the best oil sheen in the world. I've been using it since I was 14. I love the smell, the big blue can, the shine, the everything! Surprisingly, I don't really use any other Isoplus products. I used to use Hair Polisher but I haven't used that in a while. $3.79

So, there you have it. I probably have to think about some of the other things I use. Off the top of my head, these are the things I use daily.

All of these items are available at your local Walgreens, Wal-Mart, CVS, or whatever you have, except the Origins Checks and Balances, which is available at any Origins store, Macy's, Dillards, or Origins.com.

What are some of the things you can't live without?

Mine eyes have seen the glory...

In my search for a new Holy Grail mascara, I have been trying some new things. We've discussed my love for Avon mascaras, and how DISAPPOINTED I am at them for discontinuing Astonishing Lengths mascara, which is arguably the best I've ever used on a daily basis.

I asked Toya from Life of a Ladybug how she liked the new Avon Super Shock mascara and she said it was nice and reminded her of Cover Girl's Lash Blast, which I keep saying I'm going to buy.

I ordered a tube of Super Shock from Damita, my Avon rep, along with Avon's mineral foundation and mineral blush, which I have not used yet because I need to purchase a MAC #182 kabuki brush. I don't have to, but I do. And I'm not paying $45 for one, but I will pay $20 on E Bay. But I digress. When the order came in, I ended up with a tube of Avon's Longest Lashes Ever, something I NEVER would have ordered because I am not a fan of primer then mascara. So, thanks to that error, we will review both today!

Longest Lashes Ever

So, this is one of those mascaras that has a white primer that is used before you put on the mascara. I was first introduced to this concept with Origins (who has nice mascara and EXCELLENT skincare, btw) and I didn't really like it then. Like I said, I didn't know that this is what I was opening, so imagine my surprise when I pulled the wrapper and saw this white tube on top.

Since I didn't want to use the Lash Out anymore (it feels like gel) I decided to give this a try. I did not use the primer, I just skipped it and went straight for the mascara. I liked it! My lashes looked similar to how they look with Astonishing Lengths. Long, separated, and nice. Not as black as I would have hoped, you know, they didn't have that sooty look. But overall, they looked nice, and the formula is wet, which I love.

Drawbacks? The tube is too heavy! Especially if you coat as many times as I do. You either have to use it with one container still on, or take them both off like the picture, but then you'd have to hold it in the middle, which is awkward. I used it another day with the primer, which wasn't bad, but I found that the mascara went on much smoother without it.

My vote? Yes. I would use the mascara but not the primer. It's a keeper, and they are currently $2.99 at Avon.com. But if I'm not going to use the primer, couldn't I just get something else?

Finally, Super SHOCK!

Now, I waited and waited for this and I finally got it last night at choir rehearsal, so after I did skincare last night I decided to try it out. I don't know why they show it with the brush outside the tube, (which was MUCH bigger than I thought it would be) because when you get it, the brush is in there. Probably so you can see what you're getting into. I was really surprised at how big this tube was, and like LLE, the tube is heavy. I don't know what's the deal with making these things so big. Don't they know, you barely have room for the stuff in your makeup bag already, plus, this is HEAVY!!

Anyway, the mascara - it was ok. First, the brush was big, so I kept hitting my lids, which felt odd because the bristles were not as soft as I thought they would be. Anyway, I was kind of twisting the wand to make sure I got everything. This wand is interesting. It grabbed each of my lashes, to the point where it was pulling my lid up with each swipe. Then the formula seemed to kind of dry a little as I was applying, so I had to go back in the tube, which I normally don't do. It did layer a lot of product. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about it. My right eye looked amazing but my left looked flat, so that means I need to work quickly and precisely, but come on, this is mascara application not rocket science, so I shouldn't have to do that. After it dried, it felt kind of heavy on my lashes, like as I was blinking, I could feel my lashes bumping, which never happens.

I'm wearing it today and I don't think it looks as good as it could. Again, I can feel it on my lashes. It is, however, nice and dark and sooty, which is good because I don't wear eyeliner. There's something to be desired, though. I almost feel like my lashes look stiff.

Verdict: Nah. I probably wouldn't buy again. I guess I'm still searching! Both mascaras were ok, but I still haven't found my HG to replace Astonishing Lengths, so guess what?

I'm buying them off of E Bay, 3 for $10. Hooray!

Don't Believe the Hype!

Hello divas of the world!

I have quite a few things to discuss today, so let's get down to business.

I have a lot of hair. Not too thick, not too thin, not too long, just...a nice amount. I do not go to hairdressers, mostly because I haven't found one that I think is reasonably priced in Detroit, and I'm VERY tenderheaded, and VERY picky about my hair. I normally don't let people touch it. And really, I'm more than qualified to do it myself, thank you State of Ohio : ) Anyhoo, I take really good care of my hair and I am always looking for something that will make the process easier, or make my hair look nicer.

That said...

I finally broke down and got a Chi Turbo 2" Ceramic flat iron. I've been lusting after this iron for quite a while but could not bring myself to drop over $100 for an iron (it's covered in red felt!). The iron is currently selling on Folica.com for $119, 65% off the list price, $130 at BeautyGalaxy.com, and $180 at Ulta.

Yeah right.

So, I got mine off of Ebay for $65. Good deal. Well, if you say so.

I normally use a Jilbere 1" tourmaline iron (also felt-covered). I shampoo my hair every 4 or 5 days or so, unless I'm really busy. I can never take it to 7. Well I could, but I don't like the smell of dirty hair. So, I shampoo, condition (more on the discontinuation of my favorite 'poo and conditioner LATER), blow dry, oil, and flat iron. I curl my whole head with the flat iron, to the point where no one can really believe I used a flat iron because it's so curly. People, it's all in the wrist! I don't curl again until I shampoo again. I can't stress this enough - if you do it right the first time, you do NOT need to curl your hair every day. I haven't done that in YEARS. I use Isoplus oil sheen and wrap it in a circle every night. The curls look better each day, they may not be as fluffy but they keep their pattern and fall into a deep wave. Beautiful and so convenient! This is just how I do it, and honestly, yes, it will work for you.

So...I used the Chi Turbo iron this past Sunday, and I was less than impressed. I don't think it got hot enough, it took forever to get hot, and my hair just looked blah. It looked very full, but I expect so much better. Truthfully, it didn't do as good as my old Gold n' Hot 2" flat irons, which I used faithfully until I got the Jilbere. Seriously, I had NO CURL. I had a lot of volume at the roots, but not a curl. That's never happened before. My hair looked like I had been wrapping it for 2 days.

I guess my point is, don't believe the hype. Chi irons are touted as the best thing since sliced bread, but I beg to differ. Mine will be on EBay this weekend. That Jilbere (and even the old Gold n' Hot) works 10 times better than that, and the Jilbere was $40 with my Sally Pro card. The Gold n' Hot as only $10.

What beauty tool failed to live up to YOUR expectations?

Aphogee Protein Treatment

This is hands down a #1 staple. My hair is very temperamental. It breaks easily and sheds a lot. It reacts to product however IT wants to react! Well with this cold dry weather, the breakage has been crazy. I decided to revisit an old friend, Aphogee. Instead of investing in the full sized bottles, I opted to purchase the handy pak containing the shampoo, treatment, and balancing moisturizer. I did this because I wasn't sure if I wanted to make the investment again. Well, I do. for one, there wasn't enough shampoo in the pack for my hair, and for 2, I need to do this every six weeks or so. My hair looked silky and radiant after I finished. I got a LOT of compliments on it at church yesterday. Even my hubby said it looked really pretty, twice! I could feel the difference as soon as I had done it. After blowdrying, it looked 1000% better!

This protein treatment would EASILY set you back a pretty penny in the salon. This product retails for...$2.79. THAT'S IT!!!! This is easy enough that you can do it yourself! I don't go to the salon, but I am a former hairdresser. I choose to take the time and research what works for me. You can too! I really don't have the time and prefer to do other things with my money...especially since I shampoo often. There's no one to blame when it doesn't work, and there's no better feeling than saying "I did it myself!" After all, who can take better care of you...than you?

L'Oreal Lash Out

Hello divas!

I know it's been a while but here I am! I have been trying a lot of new products lately. don't you hate it when you finally find a product you like, only to have it discontinued? Some thing are better left alone. You know there's a new mascara revolution now, too. Everyone is going for that funny plastic brush and adding those crazy fibers to their mascaras. I can't use that wacky brush, and the fibers always end up in my eyes! Since my HG of mascaras (Avon's Astonishing Lengths) has been discontinued, I've been on the hunt for something new. My lashes are thin and sparse, and without lots of mascara, it looks like I don't have any. Seriously.

I am currently trying L'Oreal's Lash Out mascara. So far, I'm pretty satisfied. It does make my lashes long and fanned out, but there isn't much in the way of volume. The tube is pretty long, too. That took a little getting used to. It features what they call the "teddy bear" brush, meaning the bristles are full and they catch mostly all the lashes. The formula itself feels almost gel-like. As I am coating my lashes, I almost feel the weight of the product as I pull the brush through. Surprisingly, I have had NO problems with flaking, smudging, or excessive tearing. It's okay. I will give an update after it has been one full week.

Tonight, I will be purchasing a tube of Cover Girl's Lash Blast. I've heard rave reviews but I have yet to try it, particularly because I was so disappointed with that Lash Exact. Next to mark Make it Big, this was the driest formula I ever used. I have a $1 coupon, courtesy of the Sunday paper, and it's on sale at Walgreens for $6.99. So, we'll see soon!

Every day I'm hustling...

Diva - The term was originally used to describe a woman of rare, outstanding talent. It derives from the Italian word 'divina', meaning "divine" (feminine form), which, in turn, derives from the feminine form of the Latin word divus/diva, meaning "divine one."

I am a Diva, and my brain is the sexiest part of my body. With that said, today's tip is cut from a different cloth.

Being a diva is more than just looking hot. It means you are on top of the game. YOU are in control! Today I was reading an article on the MSN Money Boards. If you're not familiar, Liz Pulliam Weston and MP Dunleavy are talented writer-divas who host a "Women in Red" series focused on helping women eliminate or greatly reduce their debt. Today's article was about becoming debt free in 1 year, and 5 steps to fix your finances. In this article there was a link to ING Direct. In case you didn't know, your bank is probably paying around 0.25% apy on a savings account, contingent upon your balance and relationship. ING is currently offering 3.45% apy. Yeah, let that sink in. Open a savings account and have at least $10 transferred monthly. You won't even miss that money but you will love it once it has grown.

So...ING has this program called share builder. This allows you to purchase a part of a share, using automatic transfers or however you set it up. Weekly, monthly, etc. You get the idea. Instead of waiting to purchase a full share, or pooling your money (like in a mutual fund, where you have no control over the portfolio), you know exactly how your money is working for you. You buy what your money allows, but it actually owns something as it grows toward the larger goal.

ex. Shares of The Everyday Diva are trading at $200 each. You are investing at $25 weekly. At the point of that investment, you now own 1/8 of a share of this stock. If the price of that stock increases, so does your piece of a share. If the stock increases to $300 a share, your $25 is now worth $37.50. Of course, you are subject to the same fluctuations of the market, but you can be a player in the big boys game.

I know this will work for some and not others. To me, it's basically foolproof. Instead of trying to save up to buy that one share, you own a piece of it, making it a more reasonable and achievable goal to get to that $200. It is an alternative to doing it the old way, which never worked for me. I could act like I want to save $200 to buy a share of something, but the reality is I will pinch off of that money. Besides, why not let it work for you? I just told you, $25 sitting in my Chase account isn't doing anything anyway, compared to that same $25 sitting at ING, or better yet, that $25 turning into $37.50, and then eventually $200.

The Virtuous Woman did more than just look good. She ran things. Ask ANY man - That is the most attractive quality of a woman...And the TRUE definition if a diva!

Ladies - this is the time to get in the game. I can't sit on the bench anymore, I want to play with the big dogs! By doing this, I am positioning myself to be an investor, and attract those type of things...because we all know, you attract what you're about.

Okay. I'm out. Gotta go set up my accounts!

***This information is not intended to be a substitute for consulting a financial advisor, nor does it imply that following this advice will guarantee any type of a return on investment.

The Everyday Divas will be taking one day next week to do a personal financial overhaul. We will let you know how that works out!

Happy Feet!

This weekend, I purchased a Ped-Egg Foot File. I saw this on an infomercial a couple of weeks ago, and when I was in Sally's last week I saw some on a rack for $9.49 with my Sally card. The TV deal is better...sort of. You get 2 for the price of one, but you also have to pay shipping. So I guess it kinda works out.

The Ped Egg is cute. Instead of being long like the Microplane (which I originally wanted) it is small, orb shaped and fits into the palm of your hand. The bottong has a little sanding pad that you use after you have scraped your feet with the Ped-Egg. All your foot dust ends up trapped in the little compartment, which you empty later.

Pros: This joker works! It worked better on my honey's heels than it did on my callouses, but at least he isn't shredding my feet in the bed anymore. All the hard rough patches were nicely scraped and buffed away. You don't even feel it, but you can certainly tell the difference afterwards.

Cons: In order for the foot dust to stay in it's compartment, you almost have to exclusively use it upside down, like working under your feet. Using it the opposite way results in the foot dust falling through the holes.

Foot dust - since the little blades are so small, they basically pulverize the dead skin into dust. It looks like Parmesan Cheese. Gross.

I vote yes for the Ped Egg and I think every American should have one. It's a nice product that does what it says it will do. I have tried many an item and never came close to these results. Try one and you will see!

Ped Eggs are available at Sally Beauty Supply for direct purchase. You can purchase online from pedegg.com and HSN. HSN has black ones also, 2 for $19.99 and they come with 10 buffing pads.

Size Matters..or does it?

Over the weekend, Marcita, Aja and I reviewed 3 fresh tubes of Mark's Make It Big Lash Plumping mascara. This product had pretty decent reviews on Makeup alley and was touted as being comparable to BeneFit Bad Gal and Dior DiorShow. I got a good deal on e bay for a few so we decided to try it out.

For those that aren't familiar, Mark is an Avon brand that is aimed towards young ladies. Lots of lip gloss, eyeshadow and eyeliner. Mostly cute stuff though.

Pros: It was cheap.

Cons: Everything. First off, the brush is HUGE. I stabbed myself in the eye immediately. I couldn't really get the brush to grab all of my lashes without bumping my eyelid. The formula is DRY. I had a really hard time even getting my lashes evenly coated and after I did, they looked dry and spiky. My lashes are short and not very full so I need something that gives them major OOMPH. I have been using Avon Astonishing Lengths for years, but to my avail it was discontinued this year. This is not a good replacement. The brush is bigger than my whole eye.

Aja: This mascara is horrible. It didn't do anything for me at all. I poked myself with that big dumb brush. I wouldn't use that again. It will not be in the "2008 Look".

Aja has very lush exotic lashes. This made her lashes look clumpy and tangled.

Marcita: It was okay but it really didn't do anything. That brush is crazy. It was so dry! I tried to work with it but it doesn't have any pop.

Marcita has long, beautiful Betty Boop lashes. On her, this looked like how her lashes normally look without mascara.

So, the consensus is, this mascara did not work for us. Obviously, bigger is not always better. Maybe we got a bad batch? Who knows. We won't be wasting the money again to find out!

-Y

Our Silver Screen Debut!

Hola, everybody!

Welcome to the first edition of The Everyday Diva! This blog has been created to share, vent, review, and entertain. We will discuss how to be FABULOUS on a budget, what NOT to wear, (more importantly) what TO wear, and everything in between.

Feel free to ask questions, give reviews, whatever floats your boat. KEEP IT CLEAN!!

And now...Welcome to...

~~The Everyday Diva~~