Green with awesomeness

Hey you guys, how's it going? As you have probably noticed, I have been a total slacker when it comes to posting. Part of it is because... well, I'm a slacker. But another reason was that I was just getting kind of bored. I mean, don't get me wrong, I will probably love, wear, and hoard makeup until the day I die. But I guess my attention span is too short to keep talking about it exclusively.

So I'm going to try a new spin. Or maybe an old spin. This blog (waaaaay back in the day) originally started as a "whatever I feel like posting about" blog, and I'm going to give that concept another try. Don't worry, product lovers, I'm sure there will still be lots of posts on makeup (because let's face it, my life is not THAT interesting). But I also foresee a lot more talk about food, health, fitness, food, TV shows, food, movies, fashion, food... I think you get the drift. Hopefully you guys will come turn this proverbial page with me and enjoy the ride! (Also the mixed metaphors!)

In light of this new M.O., now might be a good time to rave about one of my new favourite things: The Green Monster.

Do I mean:




?


No, I don't mean monsters that go OM NOM NOM. But rather a drink that makes ME go OM NOM NOM. A green monster is a term affectionately bestowed upon a fruit smoothie that has spinach or some other green vegetable involved. Sounds horrific, right? Notttt!

In fact, aside from the vibrant (and I think, really really cool) green hue of the smoothie, you can barely tell there is anything wacky in there at all. Honest! I like spinach anyway, so maybe I'm a wee bit biased, but dozens of others have sworn that there is no spinach taste in these smoothies, and see it as a great way to "sneak" some veggies into kids and loved one's diets. (I have some issues with 'sneaking' food into people, but that's another post. For this purpose, I can agree that more veggies = good thing)

It is so delicious, and so quick and easy to make (even just using my little immersion blender) that I have had 1 a day for the past 3 days. Plus, it keeps me full for at least a couple of hours, so it's a great breakfast or midday snack. Other Green Monster advocates claim that after regularly monster-mashing it up, their skin looks nicer and they have tonnes more energy. Which, hey, for a person who would sleep 10+ hours every night if she could, sure sounds appealing.

This smoothie is infinitely adaptable: just throw in about 2 cups or more of spinach into whatever fruit smoothie you're feeling. But for kicks, here is my recipe:

- 1 frozen banana, cut into 4 or 5 chunks. (Non-frozen ones work too)
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 cup Silk soymilk (I usually cut this with a bit of water)
- apx. 2 cups washed spinach, snipped up a bit with scissors (to make things easier for my poor immersion blender)

Throw everything but the spinach into your blender (or, if using an immersion blender, into a tall, wide glass. My blender came with a smoothie-making cup, so I use that. Just be sure to use something safe for your immersion blender.) Blend blend blend until smooth.

Add spinach. Blend some more, until the spinach only shows up as little flecks. Your drink should be a lovely, creamy, slightly frothy blue-tinged green at this point.

Drink it up!

This makes about 2 cups. Aside from the virtuous feeling of eating 2 whole cups of dark leafy greens, plus getting all the lovely vitamins and antioxidants and iron and calcium, it just tastes damn good. Like, I could easily drink this as my dessert good. And the whole thing is only about 250 calories! (For comparison, if this were a smoothie you got at the mall, 250 cals would be about 2/3 of a "small" smootie...)

So if you've got some spinach waiting to be used up, and have some fruit hanging around, why not give these a shot? Let me know how it goes, I'd love to hear of new and tasty combinations. But for now, I need to go buy more spinach. I've already blown through the bunch I bought on Saturday!

Product Review: Eco Tools Travel Kabuki Brush

OMG you guys, is everyone drowning in exams/grading/spring cleaning/filing tax returns/fearing layoffs around here or what! April has traditionally been a crazy time in my life -- since my parents are both accountants, my Aprils of Yore have been filled with 10pm dinners and sneaking in from the bar* at 2am trying not to make noise, not realizing my parents weren't even home from work yet.

But lately, all my craziness seems to have been stuffed inside a suit case. In that I've been traveling rather a lot. And while I generally love traveling, I don't like not having my *stuff* around me. You can imagine that being the person I am, and writing the blog I write, I have approximately a metric crapload of beauty *stuff* that I consider "essential". And while travel versions are all fine in theory, I secretly hate that they are so inferior to the real deal. Short stubby makeup brushes that poke and scratch? Who cares if you fit in my carry-on clutch if you're going to make makeup application such a painful, tedious process?

Thank goodness there's EcoTools. I'd hear that they came out with a retractable kabuki brush a while back, but due to the EcoTools shortage in Toronto, I had to wait until a Buffalo trip to pick one up. But oh boy is it ever worth the wait!





Housed in a cute, neat, aluminum shell, this kabuki is both compact and luxurious. It feels just as good as my regular Lumiere kabuki, with soft, dense, gentle bristles that are perhaps just a titch "floppier" than Lumiere's. No perceptible difference in performance though -- mineral powder glides on smoothly and effortlessly, and when I'm ready to pack up and go, the bristles slide neatly into their case. No dusty brushes, no bent hairs. Love!

Aside from the awesome functionality, EcoTools have come to be known for their environmentally-minded practices (the aluminum casing is recycled) and great value (an amazing kabuki for $8 USD!!!!). The low price tag doesn't come with a low-class look though... this brush would look as much at home sitting on your vanity next to your Chanel and Dior goodies as it does in your travel makeup case (they also have a full travel set that looks to be of good quality). And the eco-mindedness makes it appropriate for, oh, I dunno, an Earth Day makeup splurge or something. ;)


EcoTools can be found at drugstores & discount department stores everywhere in the US, and at London Drugs in Canada. [EDIT: Thanks to reader E, who noticed that Zellers in Ontario carries EcoTools. I've also seen them in Wal*Mart in the past little while. Selection tends to be a bit picked over, but they're definitely there, hooray!] Check out their website for a full list of retailers.


* Actually untrue. I was (am) a nerd, so if anything, during Aprils of Yore I was sneaking in from late-night cramming sessions or frenetic data analysis. The bar trips happened in March and May!

Best PSA Ever: Sephora 15% OFF Coupon!!!

Hello lovelies, here's a sweet deal to kick start your weekends! If you're a Beauty Insider at Sephora, you can get 15% off your entire purchase until April 21, 2009! They never do sales like this! Awesome!!





This offer is good for in-store purchases only for us Canadians, but for those in the US, you can get the discount for both online and in-store purchases.

For an in-store purchase, all you need to do is print off that coupon above and present it with your Beauty Insider card (your registered email address will probably work too). For an online purchase, you have to enter a code at checkout. Check your emails to see if Sephora's sent you your own code. If not, one lucky reader can use mine: BD2T9CB5. The email code seems to only work once, so shop fast, my friends!

The in-store coupon, as far as I know, can be used on multiple purchases, though I have not personally tried this. Everyone gets the same in-store coupon bar code, so we can all use that one! You do need to have signed up for the Beauty Insider program prior to April 14, 2009 though.

Whoooeeee! Best Friday present ever!

Product Review: Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe Mascara

They say a girl can never have too much shimmer in her life. And well, not to be a snot, but obviously that is untrue. Frosty 90's shimmer is rarely a good thing. Shimmer lotion spackled on so thickly it rubs all over your fancy little black party dress making you look like you had a run-in with a deodorant stick -- also not good. Shimmery* sequined tights a la Jason Meyer's atrocity on the Project Runway Canada finale? *Shudder*

But generally speaking, a little shimmer is a good thing. It adds depth, interest, and sparkle. It's fun and girly! So a little shimmer should help pretty much any product, right? This must have been what the folks at Cover Girl were thinking when they came up with Lash Blast Luxe Mascara. Shimmer in a mascara? Why not? People luuurve shimmer. Right?


Well, maybe it's just me, but the shimmer in Lash Blast Luxe does absolutely nada. I got the blue shade (it's called the very dramatic Black Royale), which, as far as I can tell, is a black base with blue shimmer. Once it's on the lashes though, I can barely see the shimmer at all. I certainly can't tell if it 'brightens' my eyes or whatever. If I look super closely, I can tell something's there, but it sort of just looks like I was messy when applying my shimmer eye shadow and got some on my lashes. Hmm.

Despite the shimmer having little-to-undesirable effects, I actually quite liked the forumla. It seems a bit drier than the original Lash Blast, which means that while it didn't create quite as much volume for me, it was much better at getting that soft feathery look. A bit softer than the regular Lash Blast, but also easier to deal with (Lash Blast original got a little clumpy sometimes, and my lashes would stick together). It stays on well, is smudge free, and I can wear it with contacts on no problem.

So would I recommend this? Well, if you love Lash Blast already, then you probably don't need this. But if the original Lash Blast was a bit too wet for you, or if you haven't tried Lash Blast and like the idea of having (barely-perceptible) shimmer in your mascara, then go ahead and grab a tube. It's definitely not a bad product, just don't go expecting Liza-Minelli-crossed-with-Vegas-showgirl lashes from this!



* Okay, technically I guess that's more "sparkly" or "blingy". It was horrific however you slice it. Also, I totally want the Jessica Biffi Winner's dress now! Oh to have $100 extra. Or $400 extra, so I can get it in all those colours. Mmmm... sherbet-y.

Product Review: Ms. Manicure & Ms. Pedicure

Hey, did you hear it's a recession out there? No kidding, huh. Even being the news-shy person that I am (I prefer the Emu Approach to dealing with depressing/alarming world events, i.e., stick my head in the sand until it's all over), I can't ignore the fact that everyone's trying to tighten the purse strings. But I've always believed that you don't have to spend a lot of money to look and feel good, and Ms. Manicure and Ms. Pedicure are here to prove my case.


These adorable new lines offer a plethora of manicure and pedicure essentials that equips you with everything you need to give your hands and feet the pampering they deserve, and lets you save your pennies at the same time. I took the Handy Dandy Mani manicure kit with me when I went away on vacation, and it truly was just the handiest thing. This cute fold up, zip-up case comes with a (are you ready for this*?):

Nail clipper, cuticle clipper, scissors, tweezers, orange wood sticks, nail file (durable and *much* better than those orange emery boards), 4-surface nail finishing doohickey, and a nail brush.

Phew! There's lots of room on the other side to hold a bunch of your favourite polishes and treatments too ('cuz you KNOW I can't go away for a week without bringing at least 4 polish shades with me. Obsession, I has it. But not the CK kind. Um, anyway...). Normally when I travel, that stuff is just chucked in a plastic bag, and I just pray and hope things won't knock around and explode. With this kit, everything is kept orderly and neat, and I can tuck it in securely between my shirts and shoes in my luggage. Oh, and did I mention the entire thing is only $10 US? TEN BUCKS! I've spent more than that on coffee in a week!

I also got to try some of their pedicure accessories too. I love the Smoothy Groovy (a pumice stone/scrub combo) -- perfect for use in the shower, or to achieve a Pedicure in a Hurry. The heel cream is surprisingly good too. I honestly wasn't expecting much out of a $3 product, but it out-performs some of the higher-end drugstore creams I've tried. Creamy, sinks in pretty quickly for a foot cream, and has a subtle herbal/mint smell that isn't overpowering or stingingly fake (here's looking at you, Calgon!). And the bottle will last for months.

Effective, economical, and pink... doesn't get much better than this! Seriously, if you are a nail-polish kind of girl, pick up a manicure or pedicure kit before your next trip, or even just to keep your tools organized at home. I personally think that the kits would make really cute bridesmaid or shower gifts as well... fill 'em with your friend's favourite polish goodies, maybe throw in a cuticle balm or a spa gift certificate... it's a present that is endlessly customizable. Plus, if you're a control-freak kind of bride, this can be a "subtle" way of telling your bridesmaids which colours you want them to wear on your big day!

US readers can find these lines... well, everywhere. Check out their website for a list of retailers, but I've definitely seen them at Tar-jay. My fellow Canadians, I bemoan the fact that I haven't spotted them here, but hopefully WalMart will start carrying them soon. You lucky Brit babes can find the lines at Boots and Superdrug (I think it's such a great fit for Superdrug's decor... so pink!) Final tidbit: these fabulous tools are brought to you by the same folks who make EcoTools. Remember how much I loved their stuff? I freakin' luuurve this company! Also, look out for a new review on EcoTools later this week!


* 90's and/or Bring It On flashback, anyone?

Product Review: MAC Cream Color Base and Paint Pot

The Boy wanted to take a jaunt down to Buffalo a couple weekends ago to pick up some kicks (how balla), and of course you know I can't turn down a US shopping spree. Especially if it involves a trip to the Cosmetics Company Outlet store!

For those of you who don't know, CCO is the outlet store for all of Estee Lauder's brands. This means they'll stock products from Clinique, Bobbi Brown, MAC, and various other brands, including Estee Lauder, of course. While the colours aren't the most current (you won't find the Hello Kitty release there for a few months yet!), the prices are good, the choices are plentiful, and everything has a tester. So basically, I'm like a kid in a candy store there.

This last trip, I picked up a trio of MAC products: 2 cream color bases and a paint pot. The cream colour bases is a soft creamy product meant to be used all over the face. Hush is a neutral-warm pinky-beige shade, and it's great for a subtle shimmer on the eyes, or as a highlighter. Improper Copper is a bit more bold, and leaves a soft golden-bronze tint wherever you apply it. I love it on my lips topped with gloss, it's such a happy, peachy, summery colour! Almost a nude lip shade for me, but a bit sexier. There's a very fine but apparent shimmer in it, so it leaves a gleaming finish, but not it's not so frosty that one looks like a drag queen from the 90's. Can't wait for summer to arrive so I can use it as a subtle, shimmery bronzer!

While the formula is nice and smooth on these cream color bases, the staying power on my lids isn't terrific. It's really not that bad, but after 4 hours or so of wear, I'll start to see some creasing. If you're looking for a die-hard kind of eye colour, you must check out MAC's Paint Pots. The shade I got, Greenstroke, is a murky silvery blue-tinged green that can be worn either smokey or bright. It's got a bit of a futuristic feel to it. I used it on St. Patrick's day under some shimmery teal shadow for a bright-eyed look. Fun for a day out shopping, but probably not the best for work (fortunately I work at a place where your boss never notices -- never mind cares -- what you look like). I can't wait to try it as a smokey eye, smudged up with some black liner and maybe a touch of grey shadow. Paint Pots are a bit tricky to apply, because you have to blend fast before it sets, and you'll want to use a light hand to start, as they are pretty pigmented. But once it's on, this stuff will last and last and last, so no worries about touch-ups while you're traipsing all over town looking like your fierce bad-ass self.

Okay lovelies, I have lots more to talk about, but it will have to wait until after I'm back from a conference in sunny California. If you're jealous, maybe it will help to know that it's probably the most boring part of California. But hey, I'm never one to turn down sunshine & warmth!

Twittery doo!

Hey lovelies, so I finally got on board the Twitter train. I don't know exactly how it all works yet, but Tina Fey, Christopher Walken, and President Obama all have accounts, so I'm pretty sure it's awesome.

You can see my Twitter updates on the sidebar (scroll down a bit). I'll figure out how to make it prettier later, but for now, you too can be privy to random thoughts from my brain! And since I'm so slooooow with reviews these days, I'll probably be "tweeting"
about beauty products too. (I like how I am so un-hip that I need to put "tweet" in "quotes".)

If you want to make me really happy, you could even follow me on Twitter, so I feel loved and everything. Just click the "Follow Me on Twitter" link (you'll need a Twitter account, I promise it's super fun and will take over your life!). Or not, whatevs, but do check it out. Over there! On the sidebar! Mmmmm-kay?

Love you lots, and real reviews coming next week for serious! Including a mini MAC haul from the America!

~G