Never really thought of it this way:
Fab Finds In July!
31 Jul
Usually when I find a skin care product that I really like, it will take a lot of convincing for me to try something different. I guess that explains why I have been using the same line of cleansers, day creams, night creams, and eye cream for almost a year now. I like the company, love the results from the products, and they don’t irritate my skin at all. Makeup, on the other hand, is something very different. I’m always in search of the newest, the best, the hottest items on the market. I probably try at least 8-10 new things each month, either through product testing, freebies, samples, coupons, or just curiosity. A few are great, some just good, and an epic fail here and there. Let’s just say my glamour collection is extensive!
This July, I didn’t try as many new things as I usually do, but what I did try I was quite happy with. I can see myself being loyal to a few of them for quite a while. A few others I can see being used once in a while when the mood hits. Either way, there wasn’t any disappointments this month.
So what few things went into my “absolute fave” section of my makeup drawer this month? Here’s what I fell in love with in July:
Maybelline’s Dream Bouncy Blush – I have been using mineral powder blushes for almost 3 years and still love them. But a few weeks ago, I needed to add a touch of blush to my look and the only thing I had nearby was a pink cream eye shadow, so I used that. I was pleasantly surprised how well it looked and stayed on. So then I went in search of a good cream blush. I had seen advertisements in magazines for Maybelline’s new blush for a while now, but I thought it might irritate my skin or make my face oily & shiny. I was so wrong. This blush goes on light, is totally buildable, and doesn’t make my face greasy at all. It goes on like a creamy gel and dries to a powdery finish. And it LASTS…. all day! I picked “Pink Plum” for my shade and it gives my cheeks the perfect light, rosy glow! (Found in most drug stores and retail stores, approx. $6.50)
L’Oreal Visible Lift Serum Absolute Makeup – Usually I’m not a big fan of liquid foundations, especially in the summer, since I have a tendency to shine up in the heat. But the mineral foundation I had been using just wasn’t lasting and giving me the coverage I wanted. So I decided to take a chance and search out a liquid foundation. After testing several on my wrist, I found that L’Oreal’s colors matched my skin better than most others. When I saw the Visible Lift Serum, I thought the product had a good goal in mind: a foundation that didn’t just reduced the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and age spots but also contained Pro-Retinol A and Vitamin C which would help reverse the signs of aging. The SPF of 17 was an added plus too! Although putting it on straight from the bottle seemed to look a bit “thick” on my skin, applying it with a damp makeup sponge gives me the coverage I like. Not only do I have a foundation that looks good but also prevents the increased appearance of aging. Perfecto! (Found in most drug stores and retail stores, approx. $13.50)
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner – It’s no secret that heavily lined eyes are in style right now. Cat eyes, smoky looks and rocker eyes are all over the runway and glamour field. There are all kinds of products to give you these high fashion looks, and honestly, I think I’ve tried almost all of them. The only liner I can’t seem to master is the liquid liner look for the top lid. It either looks too thick, goes on crooked or “melts” into the crease. Many times the brush was too short, too fat, or the liner dried out too fast. I just couldn’t get it mastered. One day, while picking up another skin care item at Sephora, I stumbled upon Urban Decay’s liquid liner. What I REALLY liked about this product is that dries almost instantly (so being precise is a necessity!), is totally waterproof and wears true all day. I also love the brush because it is the perfect length and super thin for a really sharp look. Now I am having a blast wearing all kinds of funky eye looks with my new liner. U/D’s liner makes it so easy. Available in 11 colors including carbon black. (Found at Sephora, $19.00)
Red Apple Lipstick in “Flirt With Me” – Everyone who knows me knows that I am a contest-entering fool. I try to win all kinds of things, especially makeup, glamour and fashion items. This month I entered a contest to win a variety of items from a brand I never heard of. I did a bit of research and loved the premise of the company. Red Apple Lipstick makes lipsticks, glosses, liners, and eye shadows that are completely free of gluten, paraben, soy and allergens. They are vitamin E enriched to keep your lips soft and the color long lasting. It definitely sounded like something I would use. So I entered the contest… and I won a lipstick! Yeay Sassy! Free makeup is a good thing…. free makeup that I LOVE is a GREAT thing! I love the color of this lipstick since it is a light, neutral shade with pink, peach, bronze and gold hues. It went on smooth and easy—no tugging!—and lasted a long time while keeping my lips moist and conditioned in the hot summer weather. I’m already planning my next shade since I just love the way it wears. If you want nice cosmetics made by a company in the USA that is safe and free of unnecessary additives, check out Red Apple’s. They guarantee you’ll like them! (RedAppleLipstick.com, $17.50)
That’s it for July, fashionistas! Summer has one more month of heat and sun, then we will begin to get ready for fall and back-to-school. Wow, where does the time go? Well, I’ll worry about all of that when it gets here. For now, I’m going to enjoy my new makeup items, start searching for sale items, and enjoy the warm weather as long as I can. Because I know it won’t last too much longer!!
Yes, Be “Blue” This Summer!
27 Jul
Have you ever had something that you’ve had to do—like laundry, dishes, vacuuming, etc.—and you just stare at it, like you are waiting for it to do something by itself? Yeah, Ive been doing that with my laptop lately. I know my blog has been neglected. I even have things I want to write about, but the “oomph” just hasn’t been there. Every day, Mr. Sassy can’t wait to go out with his camera and take photos that move him. Why do I need a kick in the arse to get going? Do they sell bottles of motivation at the drug store? I guess if they put them next to the nailpolishes, I would have found them by now. Sigh.
Well, this week I did do something that was a bit out of the ordinary for me. I spun the color wheel and found myself a new shade that I chose to wear that wasn’t predominant in my closet. It was way out of my comfort zone, yet still looked good with my red hair! What color is that? Sea Blue! It is such a fun color because you can mix and match it with other bold colors such as neon yellow or hot pink to create a head-turning look. And you can accessorize it with chunky chains, bows and bangles to really make your look pop. So what are a few of my new blue hues that I’m jazzing on? Take a peek:
L.E.I. Junior Colored Skinny Jeans – Don’t miss out on this fashion fad—everyone needs at least one pair of brightly colored skinny jeans. And these ones fit the job perfectly, pardon the pun. Available in five different colors, I decided to go with a pair in “Lake Blue” since it would fit nicely into my wardrobe. The material is a bit lighter-weight than traditional denim, but has a lot of stretch to them. They can be worn casually with tennies and a graphic tee, or dress them up with a pair of spiked platforms and a long cami. No matter how you pair it, don’t miss out on this hot fashion trend this summer! (Walmart, $15.88)
L’Oreal Paris Infallible Eye Shadow – It’s summer. You want to look good for as long as possible without your makeup running down your face from the heat and humidity. If you are in need of an eye shadow that can go the distance all day without creasing, fading, or running, this is THE eye shadow to wear. To match my skinny jeans, I grabbed a one of these long-wearing cream shadows in “EndlessSea” which goes on bright and beautiful! Wear it as a bold liner on top and bottom lids, or give you eyes some pop by applying lightly from lashline to brow bone on top. However you wear it, you will really like this color and love its 24 hour wear! (Walmart and other retail distributors, $6.97 and up)
Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Color – The newest accessory this year is decorated nails and Sally Hansen has all the items you need to bling out your manicure and pedicure. I love this nail polish in “Bling-tastic” which is a multi-hued blue jammed with glitter and sparkle. Wear several coats alone for nails with pop, or use it as a top coat over a shade like coral or yellow for a colorful mix. Keep your nails looking their best in blue and make them an attention-getter with this bright blue Gem Crush nail color!! (Walmart & other retailers, $6.24 and up)
In your mind, you might be thinking that the summer is half over because it’s already the end of July. But don’t let that make you “blue”. Take that flashy color and put it in to your closet and makeup drawer to give your look a bit of an edge this season. From head to toe, you can brighten your ensemble and turn some heads with a blast of blue that will be sure to turn heads as you strut your new bold look and fun burst of color!!
Do You Prepare For Your Mani?
15 Jul
Tonight, my family and I decided to go out to a nice dinner. Mr. Sassy selected a nice restaurant which wasn’t too fancy but still very classy. I chose to wear nice capri jeans, a patterned “cut out” shoulder top, and strappy sexy sandals. I added a nice smoky eye look with some bright wine-colored lips and I was working it in a good way. Err, well almost. I realized my latest manicure was chipped and splotched, and I had no time for a touch up. When faced with this situation, a fashionista knows it is better to go with NO polish then a sloppy manicure. So I took off all my neon pink polish and thought I was good to go….
…till I got outside in natural sunlight.
My nails were yellow–almost orange!–from dark polish stains. In addition, they had ridges & rough edges and my cuticles felt like bunions. Ewww….. not good. Thank goodness the restaurant was dimly lit so you couldn’t really tell my “clean” nails were stained and uneven. But I knew they were. And I couldn’t wait to get home and get them cleaned up.
Having a perfect home manicure needs to start BEFORE the colored polish even comes out. And I have learned this from experience. So what do I do to prep my nails before the mani begins? Here are some tips you can follow to keep your nails looking just as good bare as they would with color:
- Have yellow staining from dark polishes? Base coats can help but not completely. If you have some yellowing, brush on a light coat of Clorox Bleach. The Bleach Pen works awesome! Leave a light coat on for about 5 minutes. Then give your nails a good brushing with some whitening toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Bleaching your nails often can make them soft and irritate your cuticles if you do it often so try to only do it every few weeks. Brushing them with the toothpaste, however, will help keep them clean and also stimulate growth.
- File and buff! When your nails are at their cleanest, that is the best time to shape them and shine them up. File them so the tips are even, cutting down any super long ones and smoothing out any jagged edges that can get caught and tear. Use a buffer to even the tops out getting rid of any uneven ridges or rough spots (this includes any rough spots on the skin around the nails too.) Finally, use a polisher to give your nails a nice, healthy shine. Want a great tool that does all three? Sephora’s 3-Step Ergo Buffer is the perfect tool to get the job done!
- Use a moisturizer made especially for hands and nails. I’m absolutely loving Sally Hansen’s Nails and Cuticle Hand Cream. It is infused with shea butter to help keep the delicate skin around your nails soft and your cuticles pliable. If your hands are super, super dry, coat them with the Hand Cream then soak them in warm olive oil for 10-15 minutes. Once a week, exfoliate them by adding a teaspoon of white sugar to the olive oil and rub it in on the backs and palms of your hands, and in between the fingers. Then rinse with warm water. This will help removed the dead skin cells that keep your hands from looking young.
- Keeping your manicure fresh longer will allow you to change and/or remove polish less. That, in turn, will keep you from having to paint your nails more often which can cause staining. Wear gloves when doing dishes and housework, moisturize every morning and night, and protect them if you plan on working outside or with harsh chemicals. If you can keep your mani looking fab for a week? That will keep your nails from staining as much and also keep them strong!
Now I’m relaxing watching TV and taking care of my nails before I put on my next coat of polish. I have removed the yellowing from old colors, brushed under and over the nails to remove any dirt and chemicals, and softened the cuticles and ridges by deep moisturizing my hands–coating them with hand cream and putting them into warm socks for several minutes. Now, I don’t have to be ashamed to go without polish. If my fingers want to take a vaca from polish for a while (which is a good thing now and then), I can make sure they look their best when they are “naked”!!
When The Student Becomes The Teacher….
11 Jul
A while ago my husband found that writing relaxed him after a rough, stressful day. Then he realized that he couldn’t get the right words from his mind to the paper and instead of easing his soul, it caused him more anquish. That is not a good thing.
So, for Father’s Day last year me and the family gave Mr. Sassy a camera to take nice photos with. It took him a while to get into it, but now he ventures out into the unknown taking photos of anything and everything that jazzes him. He’s very fussy and very self-critical about his pictures but I think his work is fabulous! Plus it is still a way to channel his “down time” so he doesn’t go insane from boredom. Although what he calls boredom, I call relaxation. C’est la vie.
I think when I first started writing, I too did it to relax me and keep me focused on things other than the ones that stress me out. I didn’t think about family issues, I didn’t worry about money, I didn’t concern myself about my health, I didn’t get anxious about my mother. I could submerge myself completely in my writing and get lost in the world of fashion, glamour and makeup. It was a dream world for me and I was loving every second of it. Every day, I’d walk the red carpet…. even if it was in my own mind.
Today, while at CVS getting a new top coat for my nails (I am no longer using my previous fave due to certain reasons). While there, I found a mom and her daughter in a dilemma about which mascara they should get since they were going to a water park tomorrow. I couldn’t help but chime in with my two cents. I told them that currently, my favorite waterproof mascara was Covergirl Lashblast 24 Hour Mascara. Lasts all day with no smudging or flaking. The mom said she had used that before, but didn’t like the brush too much. She was also hoping to take advantage of the Maybelline sale that was going one—Buy One Get One Half Off. Okay I can work that. I said that my favorite Maybelline mascara, by far, was their Illegal Length Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black. It stayed put no matter what you put it though. She asked if it would withhold the torments of a waterslide park and I said no problem! With the BOGO sale, she wanted to take advantage of another waterproof eye product but didn’t know what to choose. I told her that I absolutely loved Maybelline Master Drama Eye Studio Cream Eyepencils. I said they were smudgeproof for up to 16 hours and I found them to be very waterproof myself–so much so, that I had one in every color! I loved the way it went on easy, had the intensity of a cream, but was convenient in a pencil. She decided that she would give that a try in Bold Brown. She seemed happy with her selections and even continued to browse at a few of the other products I had pointed out earlier that I had liked and why.
After I helped her with her choices I decided to take advantage of the BOGO sale as well and picked up two of Maybelline Color Tattoo by Eyestudio Eyeshadows since I am totally loving long-wear cream shadows lately. With coral being my new hot color in my wardrobe, I got two shadows that would match this color perfectly: Fierce and Tangy and Bad To The Bronze. With my auburn hair, these colors should look ultra fab! Plus… hello?…. we all know this year’s color of the year is Tangerine Tango and these eye colors should enhance any outfit with that shade! With those shadows plus my new top polish, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, my beauty shopping was done for the day.
Just as I was about to leave, the mom and daughter came running after me as I headed to the door. She once again thanked me over and over again. She didn’t just thank me for giving her my opinions but also educating her on a few different products and brands. I just smiled and said no problem–the honor was mine. And truly it was.
I realized something while helping the mom and her daughter out in the drug store today. My love and knowledge of the fashion, glamour, and makeup industry is not just something I do when I’m bored or when I need to do something to ease my stress. It now has become a part of me. I’m trained, educated and informed and can actually help people when it comes to these loves. It’s not just a case of “This is a jazzy color!” anymore. It’s become a “I really like this product because…” which gives me a good feeling inside.
I know I don’t know everything there is to know in this industry, and that what makes it so interesting. It is always changing and that means I am always learning. I challenge you to find something you’d like to know more about, then start learning. Ask questions, read books, talk to experts. Anything. And keep learning, keep asking, keep reading. Become an expert on something, and just when you think you know it all…. go learn more. Like the great Eartha Kitt once said:
“I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.”
And My Scent Is….
27 Jun
Man, I am a writing slug. I will write blog posts every day for a week, and then disappear for a month. Of course, life has been ruling everything lately. I’ve had birthdays, holidays, my baby girl’s high school graduation, doctor appointments, car repairs, you name it. Right now, I’m watching an episode of “America’s Next Top Model” and Mr. Sassy is napping next to me. That is actually the best time to watch shows like that because Mr. Sassy says that engaging in the viewing of senseless reality shows just eats your brain. I’m not sure if he is right or not, but it gives me writing ideas and that in turn gives me blog ideas, which helps me on my dream of being a big-time writer someday. So we’ll just call this reality college. Nice.
Today on ANTM, the contestants had to choose a fragrance with notes that represented them and their personality. And that got me to thinking: If I had to create a perfume that represented me, what would it be like? What notes would it contain? What would the bottle look like? And WHAT would I name it??
So let’s go through these questions. First, what would it smell like? Well, I probably own over 25 different perfume scents right now. I wear something different every day. Depends on my mood. But there are some things I know I don’t like in my fragrances. I don’t like heavy notes of musk, and I don’t like heavy notes of rose. I like things that smell light and fresh. With that being said, my perfume would most likely have floral notes of magnolia, peony, jasmine, apple blossom and/or gardenia. To keep it fresh, I would add hints of things like berries, pear, peach, mandarin or other citrus notes. Of course, I would want some under notes of vanilla or caramel for a bit of warmth. I’m sure if you checked, all the fragrances in my collection would have one, two or more of the aromas I like. Now even I know that all of those scents I like, mixed together, would probably smell like muck, but with the right guidance and noses, I’m sure I could blend up something that would be to my liking.
Now, the packaging. I vowed if I ever made it famous, the color pink would NOT be on anything with my name. I’m sticking to that. It’s hardly in my wardrobe, and almost never on my lips. I think I would want something that catches the light… a narrow bottle that is made from yellow glass that lightens as it tapers down. And the cap? Hmmm. I’m a fan of silver and I love disco music, so I think I would want to top to be in the shape of a mirrored disco ball. Bright fading yellow bottle with a disco ball cap. I’m liking this so far.
Oh, onto the name. I thought that would be the hardest. I could call it “814” which is my anniversary. Hubby would like that. I think. With the disco ball cap, I could go 70’s and call it “Le Chic”, “Stayin’ Alive” or “Superstition” but young kids wouldn’t have a clue to the references. I could be a wiseass and call it “Stink Pretty” showing my humorous side, but I could see me having difficulty getting stores like Saks or Macys to carry it.
Then it hit me. Duh! I’d call it “Sassy”. I mean, that IS me! It would be exactly like its name… fun, light, and sassy for daytime wear and also warm, sexy and sensual for evening. Versatile-just like me. I mean I am the girl who can wear a pair of $700 shoes with a pair of thrift store jeans and consignment shop sweater and you’d never know! I would have a fine, silver chain that hung off the bottle with a tag that said “Sassy” so you’d know the name of the perfume, and have an interactive bottle to play with. So unique. Damn I’m good.
I think I will go play around with my picture programs and design my bottle right now. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll be able to buy “Sassy” at a store near you. Until then, though, I suggest you pick up and try one of my favorite scents that I really like. Out of all the perfumes/scents that I own, these are definitely some of my faves:
So share with me….. what are your favorite scents? Do you have a “signature scent” or do you have many that you coordinate with your style of the day or the occasion of the night? Have YOU ever thought about making your own perfume? And what would you call it?

Coral Me Pretty!
6 Jun
It’s no surprise that this season’s hot color is coral. In the past, it has been very muted and quiet, but not anymore. Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year is a vibrantly warm “Tangerine Tango” and designers everywhere are loving it. It is SOOOO out of the box. Bold, empowering, daring, and drastic. There are no maybes with this color. You are either going to wear it, or you aren’t. You’re in or you’re out. Nothing in between. Go bold or go home.
Me?… the leader of the most elaborate closet filled with blacks and whites, was deathly afraid of any color in the orange family. I have red hair. That was enough for me. Or so I thought. On a trip to the mall with my daughter one day last week, I found I couldn’t go anywhere in any store without finding this tangerine color being integrated into fashion, glamour, makeup or accessories in one way or another. So, without trying it on, I bought a top in this hot color and it totally changed my outlook for summer. It looked fab, gave me a kicked-up attitude, and it WAS bold! How much did I like it? So much that I went out the day after and bought three other shirts in the same color family.
So I’m dancing the Tangerine Tango this summer. Very, very far outside of my comfort zone. It might not be your color but if you do decide to give it a try, don’t forget to wear it right and accessorize it well. Here are a few suggestions to get you headed in the right direction:
Clothes: If you are wearing an orange top or prefer to dare some tangerine denims, don’t OVERDO the color–break it up by wearing coral on the top OR bottom and a neutral for the other. Orange top and orange pants are going to make you look like the citrus section of your local market. A nice glistening or funky tank with a pair of denim boyfriend jeans is a great casual day look to give you a pop of color that will turn heads. Sassy’s Picks: Juniors Say What? Sequin Tank in coral, $9.99; Grace Elements Top with cascading ruffle in coral essence, $19.99 (Available at Boscov’s stores and Boscovs.com)
Jewels & Accessories: Even if you are going to go the “black and white” route for the day, there is no reason why you can’t give the Tangerine Tango the respect it deserves in the accessories you wear. So many different things ranging from earrings to headbands to purses to even shoes can bring an ordinary outfit to another level. A great store to do this with is Charming Charlie. It is strictly an accessory store, but what is nice is it is laid out according to color. So if you are looking for orange-hued items to spice up your get up, there is a section for that! Sassy’s Picks: Classic Cluster Stretch Bracelet in orange, $6.00; Rhinestone Corners Handbag in light coral, $39.97; Sunny Days Shell Earrings in coral, $4.00; Powerful Patent Peep Toe Wedges in tangerine, $24.97. (All available at Charming Charlie stores and CharmingCharlie.com)
Makeup: You don’t want your skin to look coral with a “fake bake” tan so keep your natural skin tone and emphasize your eyes and lips to catch the wave of the hot tangerine color. Remember, BRIGHT orange on your eyes or lips can yellow out your skin tone so make sure you use a light hand when applying your colors. Also, don’t hesitate to calm down the brightness of the orange hues by muting them with white, beige, or sand shades underneath so they aren’t so overpowering. Sassy’s Picks: Maybelline Super Stay 14 hr. Lipstick in Keep Me Coral, $ 6.99 (most retail locations); LA Minerals Mineral Eye Makeup in Sunset Inferno, $8.95. (LAMinerals.com); L’Oreal Paris Infallible 8 Hr. Plumping Gloss in Plumping Coral, $8.99 (most retail locations).
So you ready to go bold? Go bright? Be daring? Be dazzling? Then hunt down this year’s hottest color, “Tangerine Tango” and make your summer look POP! Take some time to try on some clothes, some shoes, grab a handbag, or test some flashy makeup shades and make this HOT season’s color work for you!







