Honey - Miracle or Myth?

I am an avid Pinterest junkie. I admit it. I stay up late at night and pin everything from fashion pictures to food. After finally learning how the damn website actually worked, I have come to love the maze of pictures and links that show me my dream outfits, impossibly high calorie foods and even some great beauty tips. I have even purchased some great beauty products based on pins that I have posted.

One evening during a marathon pinning session, I came across a pin on the "miracles" of honey when used in skin care. We all know that honey is the one product that will never go bad and probably be around another million years (well, that is if the honeybees don't die off). This pin touts the "miracle" of what honey does for your skin, particularly if you have acne. That caught my eye. As a teen, I had terrible acne and sadly, I never grew out of it. My skin is EXTREMELY sensitive and make-up was always trial and error as to what would break it out. I cannot tell you how many products I have tried over the years. Not to mention, the medication that I have tried. So...I decided to give this "miracle" product a try based on what I've read (knowing damn well that it is probably not a tried and true theory).

Last Sunday, I dragged my poor husband to Wal-mart (this man LOATHES Wal-mart) for a bottle of honey. I didn't mention my reasoning except that I HAD to have honey right then. After searching the aisles for 10 minutes, we landed right back where we started and found it tucked behind a bunch of jellies and jams. Who knew!!! I grabbed my coveted bottle of honey and we proceeded to the check out which by the way - does everyone and their uncle wait until 10pm at night to go shopping at Wal-mart??? WTF!!! I dashed through the self checkout and we rushed home to begin the experiment.

Now the pin I had posted said that "your skin will feel gloriously smooth" (okay, maybe I ad-libbed a little but you get the idea) after slathering on the honey and letting it sit for 5 minutes. I quickly washed my make-up off (the pin at least pointed out that honey does NOT remove make-up) and put my headband on. I opened up the beautiful bottle of "miracle" and proceeded to squeeze out the nectar and rub that sticky goo all over my face. This is where I am discovering long hair is NOT fun. I had honey in my nose, on my ear lobes and I had strands of hair stuck to my face and forehead. But it's for a good cause - right?

Well...today is Friday and I have diligently been slathering on the nectar of the Gods every night. What have I discovered??? This shit really works!!! My skin IS much softer after I wipe it off. It is also tighter and firmer feeling. My pores are not as obvious as they were before I started using the honey. I had a couple of blemishes that have cleared up quickly as well. I had a large pimple on my jawline and it was red and angry from me "extinguishing" the head. It left a scab and was not pretty. That scar is disappearing after using the honey. I had two other large pimples on my chin and they are healing up as well. Now some may say - Amy, that is probably your body's natural healing powers. Well I'm hear to say - my body's natural healing powers against acne are not worth a dime. Wearing a helmet several times a week means the straps lie against my face while I am sweating balls out on the track. This creates a build up of bacteria on my face and my jawlines are ALWAYS broken out, as are my teammates. We bitch about it constantly. I am about to introduce them to honey and the "miracles" that it can bring to them. Be warned - the photos below are scary. I NEVER post photos of me without make-up so this is a huge step for me. And yes, I know I need a wax. :)

So...as of now, this little Pinterest experiment is working and I am really enjoying the natural moisturizing benefits and healing powers that honey has done for my skin. I've been reading about other homeopathic ways to treat ailments and may venture down that path at some point, but in the meantime, my $1.98 bottle of honey has replaced my $13.99 bottle of moisturizer.

Lotsa Dots

Patterns scare me at times because they draw attention to whatever area of the body that you are wearing them on. I try not to wear them on my bottom half because Lord knows I do NOT need any attention to that half of my body. But...this past spring, polka dots made a comeback and I really did like a lot of the different styles. Some were pin dots, others were in your face polka dots. When my mother was visiting this past winter, I found a gorgeous fitted red jacket and another yellow fitted jacket. I knew immediately that I wanted a polka dot top to go with them. Before the day was over, I managed to snag a cute black/white patent leather polka dot tote and my version of the perfect top. This blouse (by Target) is a sleeveless scoop neck with a slight ruffling at the neckline. It is made of a lightweight cotton so it went perfectly under my jackets and will carry over in the summer when the weather turns warm.

For today's look, I decided to pair my polka dot blouse with a ruched 3/4 length sleeve cardigan by Talbots and my DKNY skinny trousers. Because I am trying to avoid heels until my MRI is done tomorrow, I went with cognac flats. I was a little concerned about pairing black/brown, but I tied this outfit together with my leopard print scarf. I finished my outfit off with simple gold hoop earrings, a gold bracelet, my favorite boyfriend watch, a burnished gold statement ring and a neutral colored ostrich skin purse. I feel put together, yet comfortable. I also did something I have never tried - pattern mixing. I've never mixed patterns before because I am not confident in doing it the correct way, but I feel like I hit a decent stride with this outfit.

Purse by London Fog; Shoes by X-Appeal

Scarf from Marshalls

Ring by Avon; Bracelet by Charming Charlies, Watch by Charming Charlies

Fun with Hats

Hats are really on trend right now and they actually do serve a purpose besides a whimsical touch to an outfit. Living in Arizona, the sun beats down on my head and let me tell ya - sunburn on the scalp is so not fun. This year, the fedora seems to have taken hold of the fashion world and women are rocking all different colors and styles. I personally love the fedora, but I also have to be selective on the style. 

My first foray into the world of hats was at Old Navy. They have a few different styles and I snagged this great summer hat on sale. While mine has a soft coral band, I am kinda digging this neon. Would be a great pop of color to brighten an outfit. What I love the most about this hat is that it is soft and not rigid on my scalp. I can wear it tilted forward more or bend the brim up so that my peepers show.

This next hat is my new one by Calvin Klein. The banding is a gorgeous bright orange that is really hot right now. I love this hat because the brim is so easy to play with - sides up, sides down, front up or down, back up or down. Each time I play with the brim, it gives me an entire different look. This one will be great for sitting poolside at my team staycation in July.

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Hats are a great way to jazz up an outfit and provide a functional accessory to your wardrobe.

A break from the norm...

I'm back after an awful bout with either food poisoning or the flu. I'm going to go with food poisoning because the thought of salsa now makes me dry heave and that is what I believe triggered my near death experience over the weekend.

Anyhoo...figured I would throw a curve ball into the mix. As I mentioned in my intro post, I play roller derby...banked track roller derby to be specific. The sport has evolved over the years and most obvious - our uniforms. When I first joined derby, my uniform was a purple tutu with fishnets and a tank top. For someone who has played softball the majority of her life, donning a tutu was excruciating. When I moved to a different league, our uniforms were plaid skirts (the theme of the team was Catholic schoolgirl). Now I really loved my skirt, but over the last several years, it has risen quite a bit in length as my body has changed. This year, our team went with a more athletic uniform, but in keeping with the Catholic schoolgirl bit, we had custom made plaid shorts done for the girls. I was already familiar with the style of shorts (they are called "Lift & Separate" by Iron Doll Clothing) so I'm quite happy with our new look. It is comfortable and easy to move around in and given the nature of our sport - that is critical. For the vain side of me - they make my ass look damn good. :) (Photo courtesy of Richard Kimsborough)

I just finished my seventh season of roller derby. I love this sport. To me, it is the ultimate venue for acceptance. I can show up in virtually anything - t-shirt, men's boxers, bathing suit bottoms - and I will fit in. We practice several days a week and in Phoenix - in the summer - that equates to practicing in 115 degree weather. We play with broken bones, sprains, strains and pains. We get hit, knocked down and pushed about. But the fact is - we love this game and in addition to an outlet for us, roller derby has brought a group of people together and made a family - albeit a somewhat dysfunctional family. I have become friends with girls that I would never had met until I joined this sport. I have also discovered a lot about myself since joining. The bonds that we have made here are incredible and I look forward to continuing the journey with these girls once we have moved on from the game. I would be remiss to mention the skater in this picture with me - Nurse Ratchet (yes, we have skate names). We have been through a lot together and she has become one of my closest friends and confidants. Ratchet skated her last game with me on May 4th and has now retired and will be bench coaching next season. I will miss her on the track, but I know that I still have her as a friend. (Photo courtesy of Pxy Styx)

This last photo is me jamming. It has been my primary position since joining derby. As a jammer, I am the points scoring skater on the track for my team. It is basically like wearing a target though because the opposing skaters are trying to stop me - visualize a minimum of 4 larger skaters knocking you around as you try to duck, dodge and dip around them. It ain't like playing dodgeball though - it's 150+ lb skater hitting you, not a damn rubber ball. I love jamming, but as I have become older, I have lost a step or two and am hoping to transition into a blocker role this next season. I still love to jam, but it's time to let the young guns step up and take the hits. (Photo courtesy of Jenn Abdulla)

 

 So...as you can see, I have a Jekyll/Hyde lifestyle. During the day, I am Amy - a legal professional whose wardrobe is somewhat trendy, somewhat professional, somewhat eclectic. By night, I am Mizz Nashty - a derby diva whose wardrobe is somewhat athletic, somewhat risque and somewhat fun. I should really post a picture of my closet one day - it's quite interesting to say the least.

The Elusive Boyfriend Jeans

Boyfriend jeans are all the rage right now. I have seen them in all shades of denim and color. I pin picture after picture on Pinterest of looks with these jeans knowing full well that I have no damn hope of ever fitting into them. So what's a girl to do??? Well, I purchased a pair of jeans from Old Navy and made my own version. These are my go-to jeans of the moment. Comfy, lightweight and with the "worn out" look that I love.

For this casual look, I added a simple white t-shirt from Target and topped it off with a canvas belt that I found at the Goodwill store. I added a pair of Oxfords by Not Rated that are made with a girly lace and cognac toe cap and piping. These shoes are so on trend right now and to keep a slightly more feminine look, I left the grosgrain ribbon shoe laces in (they also come with standard shoe laces. For jewelry, I went with the simple gold chain and gold hoops. I added my cognac and blue ostrich skin purse to finish the look.

I had a training seminar on Thursday with a local orthopedic clinic on knee injuries in sports. This was casual and comfortable.

Can I just say again - I LOVE these shoes!!! So completely different for me and OMG comfy!!!

Black is Back

Have I mentioned that I had a closet filled with black, black and more black? It has been my go-to color for work attire. I used to purchase the same pair of black pants in three sizes since my weight was always up and down. How sad is that??? I bet I had at least 20 pairs of black pants at one time in my closet. Now, I have weeded out the pants I no longer fit in or do not wear any longer and I think I am down to maybe 6 pairs - some are ankle length so technically that doesn't count (at least in my book it doesn't). This pair I am wearing are new and I loved the structure - they are tailored along the "skinny" pants style, but are more form fitting which I love. I paired them with this Calvin Klein sleeveless blouse that has swirls of orange, poppy, and blue throughout. I topped it off with my poppy heels. I accessorized the outfit with a simple orange burnished pendant necklace and matching earrings that I purchased at a craft fair. Add my neutral colored ostrich skin bag and I am ready for work.

Ahhhh...hello Wednesday!!!

Half way done with the work week and a nice holiday weekend ahead. I am so looking forward to sleeping in a little bit with the hubby and fur kids and not having to be somewhere. I need a break and this is great timing for the holiday. 

It is only 97 today in Phoenix - perfect for a breezy skirt and sleeveless top. I love days like this because the humidity is so low that the heat does not overpower during the day. We won't have many more days like this as we have already hit the 100 mark earlier this month. I have begun packing away my sweaters and boots and am moving my summer clothes to the front of the closet.

 

Today, I am wearing one of my favorite jacquard skirts by Duro Olowu from JCPenneys paired with a white top that has gold and silver beadwork on it (sorry, I bought it at Marshall's on clearance and do not know the brand name). The picture really does not do this top justice - it's very pretty without being over the top blingy. I finished the look with a wide belt by XOXO and my favorite Kenneth Cole flats (similar here). Because the embellishing on my shirt is so prominent, I decided to go minimal on jewelry - silver boyfriend watch, my Tiffany & Co. necklace and a jade/black chain bracelet that I won on ibidz.com). I added my patent leather polka dot purse to finish the look. I am comfortable and ready for summer.

Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona Wine Tasting

This past Sunday night, I was fortunate to attend the Seventh Annual Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona Wine Tasting and Silent Auction. One of the attorneys in my firm is the President and my boss was generous enough to give me his tickets. Having never attended a function like this before, I called ahead to confirm the attire - I was told "you'll see everything from shorts to cocktail dresses". Ooookkkaayyy!!! That narrows it down for me. 

My husband is not fond of dressing up so we decided to go with jeans and a dressy shirt/blouse.  I just purchased a new pair of jeans that I am so in love with - the Old Navy Rockstar Demi Boot. I bought them in a dark rinse and let me say - these jeans make my ass and legs look good. I have long legs to start with and these really elongate them even further. What made this the score of the century is that they actually fit at my waist and do not gap which is a HUGE problem for me with jeans. I topped the jeans with this shirt from Old Navy and added my Nine West Karoo sandals in Midnight Blue (similar here). For accessories, I wore a royal blue statement necklace which really popped off of the stark white blouse. I added my new royal blue clutch to tie the outfit all together. I felt very confident and chic. I also won a bottle of wine, two CD's and a baggy of truffles. I'd say the night was a success.

Spring Green

I have never been into the color green. I can't say it's a color that evokes happiness and sunshine. "THE" color this year is Pantone Emerald. I fell in love with that color. This spring, the racks were filled with every conceivable article of clothing with this stunning color in it. While on the hunt for some summer clothes, I came across this cool and comfy maxi dress at Charming Charlies. It is a lightweight cotton with a rope belt. Very loose fitting and perfect for summer brunch on the patio. I paired this dress with a pair of black shell flip flops and my new favorite purse from Charming Charlies. I went minimalistic with my jewelry - simple sterling silver lock necklace by Tiffany's, men's watch from Charming Charlies and a pair of sterling silver earrings from TJMaxx.

I have also ventured out of my neutral color palette and tried a beautiful eye liner that is similar to the Pantone Emerald. Wet n Wild Mega Liner in Turquoise is a beautiful metallic liquid liner that goes on really smooth and adds a nice pop of color to my eyes. Don't let the inexpensive price tag (I paid $1.79 at Walgreens with my Rewards Card) fool you. This liner packs a punch and has staying power that rivals my favorite eye make up by Urban Decay. This is worth a try if you are looking to experiment with color out of your comfort zone without breaking the bank.

Casual Friday

Working at a law firm usually requires the utmost professional attire. Living in Arizona where the summers can reach 118-120 degrees means that most businesses tend to have some leeway on clothing. My firm has an unspoken policy about Fridays - everyone dresses causal, but it is not written down as policy. One of my attorneys is extremely casual - khakis and a polo shirt most days (except for hearings, depos, etc.). The other attorney - he is a true fashion plate. He has one of the best wardrobes of any man I have ever met. Any time I have a question on what to wear to an event - he's my guy. He also notices any new article of clothing that I wear. That being said, he NEVER does casual Friday. For awhile, I did not dress down, but after that first summer - yeah, screw that!!! I try to stay semi-professional - jeans with heels, jeans with boots, etc. Today, I went a different path. Maxi dresses and skirts are on trend right now so I thought I would give my maxi skirt a test run to see how he would handle it. He seemed to take it pretty well and I was very comfortable all afternoon. The skirt is Mossimo by Target, the tank is by Old Navy, the shrug I scored at Goodwill of Central Arizona, the belt is by XOXO, the purchase and jewelry are from Charming Charlies and the sandals are from Target.

Pinky Swear

I love bold bright colors. Just looking at them makes me smile. Wearing them - now that is another story. The majority of my closet used to be made up of black, black and even more black. Sure, I had a few other colors tossed in there, but that mainly consisted of camisoles or sweaters. Last year, I joined Missus Smarty Pants, a great blog/forum that is run by a stylist who creates weekly style guides from everyday stores like Kohls, JCPenneys and Coldwater Creek. They also offer seasonal coloring for an additional nominal fee. I am what they consider a "Winter" (sorry the photo is so tiny).

With this palette in mind, I have been trying to purchase clothing that not only suits my pear shaped body, but also stay within my color ID. I think I managed to nail it with these pants. I have never been one to accentuate my lower half because of my rather large posterior, but these pants fit my waist and my hips (a win-win for me) so I couldn't resist. I also purchased them in a very bold color called orange blaze. These are made by Jones New York and they are the Battery Park Ankle Jeans (although they really do not look like jeans in my opinion).






 

I (like so many others) associate pink as a "girly" color and therefore, I tend to shy away from it, but the rich fuchsia color actually gives it more teeth. Bonus - I have several items already in my closet that will go with both pairs of pants. For today's outfit, I added a black lacy tank by Max Studio and a chunky gladiator sandal by Merona. To accessorize, I am wearing sterling silver earrings (no brand name), boyfriend watch from Charming Charlie, a silver/orange/fuchsia beaded necklace by New York & Co. and a pink bangle by Avon. I finished the outfit off with a black handbag by Mundi (purchased at Ross).

Foundation Fun

Growing up, I had really sensitive skin and problems with acne. Probably from not washing my face properly - what, wiping your makeup off with a wet washcloth doesn't count???

As I got older, my skin really did not improve much. A lot of the makeup that I used to wear was now causing my skin to look like a teenage nightmare. I was getting desperate until a friend mentioned Bare Minerals. I checked it out late one night on QVC (told ya I was desperate) and decided to give it a try. It really did live up to the hype. Great coverage, did not break me out - what more could I ask for?? Well...maybe a cheaper price tag. Fast forward to three months ago - I was home watching TV late one night (I see a dangerous pattern forming here) and a commercial came on for Almay Smart Shade Mousse Makeup. There was Kate Hudson sporting glowing beautiful skin. The commercial went on to explain that as you blend it into your skin, it turned the proper shade that your makeup should be. Hmph!! Okay...that caught my eye. So I got up the next morning and went straight to Target and purchased a jar.

Hello new best friend!!!

I absolutely LOVE this foundation. I blend it in using my Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush and lemme just say - it is one of the best foundations I have ever used. The big test was - will it break my skin out. I am ecstatic to say that my face has accepted this new foundation. I use the light medium shade and it blends into the perfect shade for my skin tone. What is really cool is that as you put this on your skin, it is a white color and you are able to see where you are blending this in. It is not too heavy and provides decent coverage in my 8 hour work day. I have received a lot of compliments on my makeup since I changed to this foundation and it really makes me feel confident when I leave the house each morning.

Ipsy - May Glam Bag

A friend of mine posted about Ipsy one day on her Facebook page and she was so excited to receive her "Glam Bag". Naturally I was curious so I looked it up on Google. I seem to have been behind on things because I was had never even heard of Ipsy. For those of you unfamiliar with Ipsy, they are a company that sends out monthly bags with samples (many are full size) of beauty products based on a quiz that you take upon joining. There are a few companies out there (another I looked up was Birchbox), but Ipsy is only $10 per month. Hell, I spend $10 on a lipstick or a mascara and half the time, I find that it does not quite work for me so why not spend my hard earned money on something that allows me to try several products to see if I like them. Seems logical to me.

I joined a two weeks ago and received my first bag yesterday. Ipsy packages their products into a cute cosmetic bag and then sends them out to us in a bright pink bubble envelope. I was like a kid in a candy store yesterday waiting on mine to be delivered and let me say, Ipsy did not disappoint. 

The first product that I received is the Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia Rollerball. It is the perfect size to toss into my purse (or my derby bag). I had never heard of Pacifica before until a co-worker told me about them. This particular blend reminds me of summer - in particular, laying on the beach in Hawaii. The gardenia is prominent, but not overwhelming. It has a subtle tropical undertone to it.

The next product is Zoya Nail Polish. I received a nude color called Jacqueline. First of all, I do not have nails. They are chewed to the quicks. Second...playing roller derby is not conducive for nails because they tend to break when getting slammed into the handrails. On the plus side, I do like painting my toes since that is the only cute (for lack of better words) thing about my feet (side note - derby does NOT give you cute or pretty feet either). While this nude color would not be my first choice, I am excited about the possibilities - undercoat for a darker color, undercoat with a glitter polish mixed in, ombre effect, etc. This month's Glam Bags offered it in four other beautiful pastel shades, but I think this one will have some versatility.

The third product was a lip gloss by Mirabella. I have never heard of Mirabella and other members appear to have received sheer lip sticks. Somewhere in my beauty quiz, I must have mentioned bold lip colors and glosses as a preference because they managed to nail both of those with this gloss. The color is a deep ruby shade and it is a very thick gloss. I tried it out last night and decided it was not quite for me. Plus, when I washed my face, there was a stain on my lips after. It is a beautiful color with a lot of shimmer, but I think I'll be trading this up with my co-worker (she also joined Ipsy).

The fourth product was a small palette of concealer by Yaby. Not sure where I went wrong when I listed my skin tone, but the color I received (Honey) is way too dark for me. I am very fair skinned and this just will not work. Maybe if I get some sun on my face this summer, but right now, it's delegated to my drawer.

The last product is my favorite -  Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Body Lotion. Like the rollerball I received, this has a wonderful tropical/coconut scent to it and the color is a light beige with shimmer. I tested it on my wrist and it blends into my skin beautifully and leaves just a hint of sparkle/shimmer. This will be perfect when wearing strappy tops or a maxi dress in the summer.

All in all, I was very pleased with my first Glam Bag. I really do like the idea of trying various products before purchasing them. The cool thing about Ipsy is that you get a link to all of the companies who have provided the samples and each link offers discounts on the companies' products. It is well worth the $10 I am spending each month (my husband might disagree with that statement if he knew I was even a member of Ipsy). I am really excited to see what the June bag will be with summer quickly approaching (well, summer for everyone else - it's already in the 100's here in Phoenix). One other cool tip - for every two friends that you refer and after they sign up, Ipsy will send you a bonus in your Glam Bag. This month's offerings are an Urban Decay Moondust Eye Shadow or a beautiful bracelet from Baublebar. Who doesn't love free stuff????

Hello...

Hey everyone...and welcome to "Fun, Flirty and Fashionable". My name is Amy and I am 42 year old legal assistant who just happens to love fashion and beauty products. I am working on getting a new website up and running and will hopefully be able to transfer all of this with me.

Growing up, I was the quintessential tomboy. I hated dresses. I was more comfortable in a pair of jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt. I hated make-up. I could not understand what the purpose was of "painting" one's face every month. I remember watching my mom get ready every morning and pulling out the various little bottles and sticks and sponges as she dabbed this and that on her face in the mirror.

I think my first foray into the world of real make-up occurred when I was about 13 or 14 years old. Aside from the obligatory stocking stuffers of flavored chapstick and maybe, just maybe, a bottle of nail polish, I never owned make-up. Then one Christmas, my grandmother got me a make-up kit from Estee Lauder. I still remember that plastic tray that was filled with an eye shadow palette, lipsticks, blushes, lip liners, mascara and eyeliners. It was a huge booty of cosmetics and the colors seemed to draw me in. I had no clue how to put any of it on properly, but I was excited to try everything out. Compound this lack of knowledge with the fact that I wore glasses with lenses the size of the Hubble Telescope and you can imagine the awkward transition that was coming.

As an 80's baby, make-up was a huge deal for girls. The brighter and heavier it was, the better. Add the big hair (I think we probably should have owned stock in Aqua Net back then) and I was slowly becoming a woman. I began to pay attention to what other girls wore (yet, I still marched to my own beat). I began taking time to do my hair and make-up every day. I went from being the girl who wanted to beat all the boys at sports into the girl that wanted those boys to notice her. I wish I could say that they did, but alas, I was not part of the "cool" crowd. All good - I got my karma 30 years later.

Fast forward to 2013...I am obviously older, wiser (and slightly heavier). Over the last 20+ years, I have discovered a lot about myself. Shopping has become a hobby for me (my bank account does not agree with this sentiment). I love to experiment with new make-up, hence the reason why I have scored so much free stuff through the Ulta Rewards Card program. Goodwill is a freaking awesome place to find clothes at a fraction of the price. Six years ago, I discovered roller derby. Welcome to the world of fishnets, muscular thighs and booty shorts. I found a confidence within myself that I did not know I even had. I am finally comfortable in my own skin. (photo courtesy of Joe Rollerfan)

Well that is a little bit about me. My main reason for this blog is to just have fun sharing my shopping booty and plethora of make-up that I have accumulated (and still continue to accumulate). I will post outfits and make-up reviews and tips. I will let you peek into my small corner of the world. Hope you enjoy!!!

~Amy