Ohh Fekkai, How I Love Thee!

I've always been a Frederic Fekkai junkie, ever since I tried a sample of their Brilliant Glossing Creme.  Everything I've ever tried from the line has been amazing.

This week, I received a lovely little package with some of the products from the Fekkai Coiff collection.  Of course, I immediately got to business and washed my hair to try out the new styling products, despite the fact that it was 11am on my day off and I had literally just finished my morning hair ritual.

The products I got to try were the Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel and the Perfecteur Anti-Frizz Silkening Crème.

The anti-frizz cream was perfect for me, as upon drying my hair, it eventually ends up in full-on afro mode, which as a tiny little white girl I cannot quite pull off.  After towel drying my locks, I used a couple pumps of this stuff and could definitely see a difference.  My hair felt a lot more silky and manageable.  It worked almost like a detangler, but with the added bonus of defrizzing.  And what's not to love about that?

What impressed me even more was when I added the spray gel into the mix.  I had just combed through my freshly-silkified hair and sprayed a bit of this in it, and scrunched it (as you would with any gel or mousse).  The results were great.  I had pretty ringlets that were neither frizzy nor overdone-looking.

To buy bottles of your own, check out the Fekkai site.  The creme is $25 and the gel is $23. A bit more than I'd spend on any other product, but as with all Fekkai products, the quality is amazing and the products last forever.

 Disclosure: This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

How to Look Pretty When the Entire World is Against You

This is more a blog about the horrific day I had yesterday, but I thought that maybe I could share with you guys some of the things I did to make it less awful.

Here are the main points of my morning:

• I had no power
• Could not see anything (apply makeup, do hair, etc)
• I did not have hot water, so no shower
• The bus I took to commute to my job in Boston broke down and I was late for work
• I lost a mitten

Okay, so of course I overreacted.  My boyfriend took the opportunity to smirk at me and tell me to settle down, but as you guys know, I am a sassy fashionista, so "settling down" isn't really my thing.

My boyfriend and I were staying at his parent's house (dog-sitting) when we lost power on Thursday night.  When we got up Friday, and saw that there was still no power, I demanded to drive to our apartment which is in a larger city, assuming that there would be a better chance of power.  No, there wasn't.  Apparently the entirety of New Hampshire shut down due to a crazy storm.

I had picked out my outfit the night before, thank God. So I threw that on sans shower, piled on the perfume and deodorant.  There was the tiniest bit of sunlight, so I had just enough to halfway do my hair (I put it up in a bun and slicked it back with hairspray--not ideal).  But there was no way I could apply makeup without proper lighting.

And if you know me at all, then you know that I simply cannot go in public without makeup. So I had quite the dilemma. Here's what I did:  I applied the basics while parked at the bus station facing away from the sun.  I stuck with neutral colors and very simple techniques.  Basically, I only used concealer, a tiny bit of bronze eye shadow, mascara and a swipe of blush.  It still wasn't great, but at least I could walk around in public.

When I got on the overly shaky bus, I tried to fix my look even more. Luckily I have a couple of emergency products in my purse for weird occasions like this...unfortunately, my entire bathroom does not fit in my handbag.  I went into the bus "restroom" to work my magic.  I didn't end up having any sort of hair mousse or gel for my curly hair, so I opted for some hand lotion.  It actually tamed my curls, and ended up looking pretty good.  By this point, the slicked-back portion of my hair had dried, so I combed it out with my fingers and my bangs were straight and flyaway-free. So I did a cute side ponytail and moved on to makeup.

With me, I only had dark brown eyeliner, a shimmer powder and more mascara.  I applied the eyeliner to the top lids.  I made the lines fairly thick so that I could smudge them in with the bronze shadow I had previously used.On the bottom lashline, I applied only a fine line to the outer half of the eye.

The shimmer came in handy.  It was a very light pink shade--I used it on the inner corners of my eyes and also on my cheekbones for definition. As for the mascara, I added a second coat. 

I went back to my seat on the bus looking almost like my normal fabulous self, and feeling a whole lot better.

I meant to take a picture for you ladies, but by the time I got home, I was so exhausted that I could not function.

My main advice for all of you is to keep a tiny bag of essentials with you at all times; especially products that can do more than one thing, like the shimmer I have.  Another good product to have is a pink or coral lipstick.  You can always use lipstick as a cream blush, and blush is really one of the most important makeup items to have (lipstick is too).  A small eyeliner is good to have also, and perhaps a tiny tube of concealer.  Be creative and think of new uses for small trial products that you already own.

Take it from me:  You do not want to find yourself stranded without a way to beautify yourself.  Keep an emergency kit with you at all times!

Adoring Dior Compact

Dior is notorious for have pretty powder compacts.  And for charging crazy amounts of cash for said compacts. The Dior Lace Poudrier Dentelle Illuminating Lace-Effect Powder is a steep $55.  That's more than my makeup budget will allow.  Sadly. 


But how gorgeous is this? The powder basically illuminates the entire face, giving you that "glow from within" look that we all strive for.  I love the "lace" detail too.  Everything about this compact is super chic.  If you've got the cash, run to Sephora and buy it.


Otherwise, try Revlon's ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powder in Brighten for a similar effect.

The Wonder Bra For Hair? Flexi-8 Hair Doodads (and a GIVEAWAY!!!)

 I know that a lot of you ladies out there are looking for ways to make your hair look thicker.  Everyone wants to have the appearance of full, gorgeous hair.  I may have just found a product that can help you out.


Have you gals seen the horrible ads for Bumpits?  They're these ugly pieces of plastic that you insert under your hair to get more volume.  Here are the problems I have with them:  they're not pretty and are often visible, and the look fake.  Honestly.  Shoving a huge piece of plastic in your hair is not going to help you, or anyone who looks at you.


The Flexi-8 works differently.  Rather than being inserted under the hair, it works like a hair clip and stays on top. Since the clips are visible, they are all adorned with gorgeous stones, metals and all things lovely.  The clip is a flexible "8" shape that comes with an interlocking stick that holds everything together.  These are great for updos, or even to secure a ponytail.  


These clips come in about a gazillion different styles and in six different sizes. Surprisingly, the clips are very reasonably priced; they generally run for $10-20, depending on the size and design. 

  But for my fabulous readers, I have five Flexi-8 clips to give away!  They're all in different sizes (take a look here to find out what size you should go for).  To enter, email me at SassyAlana@gmail.com with the subject line "Flexi-8".  In the email, be sure to specify which size suits you best.

Good luck, ladies!!


Disclosure: This post contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Say "I Hate You"...With a Card

How cool are these note cards?!

BUST's Boobtique sells these delightfully sassy [read: bitchy] Go F*ck Yourself Note Cards for about $17.  And I'm pretty sure that I'll be needing to purchase them in the near future.

The set comes with 20 blank cards and envelopes.  The cross stitching is simply printed on--no need to bust out any fancy sewing skills here! There are five different malicious card designs (you'll get four of each):  Go F*ck Yourself, Irony Is Not Dead, Love Stinks, Bite Me, and Happy F*cking Birthday.

What's not to love? You can choose to send one of these to someone that you actually hate, or to someone who has a sense of humor.  Hopefully you know someone who has a sense of humor.  If not, find someone with a normal sense of humor and befriend them for the mere purpose of giving them one of these cards.

I can't think of anything better than receiving a  "Happy F*cking Birthday" card at a family birthday dinner.  

I'd really like to send the "Go F*ck Yourself" card to quite a few people.  They'll def come in handy.

Supernatural Blush

There's no guessing with JK Jemma Kidd's Cheek ID Colour Adapt Blush.  It's magical and literally works on every skintone.

I love this stuff!  It's a soft-gel-ish texture, which makes it super easy to blend.  Just use your fingers, dab a bit on the apples of your cheeks, and let the product do the rest of the work.

It adapts to your personal body chemistry to create the perfect, natural shade of pink for you.  It can be such a hassle to run around all over the place trying to find the right blush color and texture.  I probably own well over 20--no joke.  This product makes it a lot easier to achieve a natural flush while saving you the extra time and trouble.

When I tried this, I felt that the application was fairly fool-proof.  When I say that it's blendable, I mean really blendable.  If you apply to much, you can easily rub it off.  Apply too little?  Build up another layer from what you've already applied.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants an easy way to brighten up their look.

You can pick this delightful product up at Target for about $18.  Kinda steep, I know, but well worth it when you think of all the money and time you'll save.

Fabbity-Fabulous Gift With Purchase at Macy's!

Spring is right around the corner and you know what that means:  oodles of GWPs from our fave makeup brands!  And I don't hate it.

The latest one out there is Lancome's gift from Macy's.  Spend $32.50 and here's what you'll get:

• DÉFINICILS Mascara
• BI-FACIL Eye Makeup Remover
• 2 JUICY TUBES in Fifth Ave Frosting & Tickled Pink
• and a LANCÔME Signature Cosmetics Bag

Spend $55 and also receive:

• your choice of COLOR DESIGN Eyeshadow quad
• 2 COLOR DESIGN Lipcolors

The retail value of these freebies is over $160. You also get free shipping on your order of $50 or more (no coupon code needed for either deal).

Personally I love the makeup bag--like with most GWPs I come across.  I don't like the fact that you have to spend $55 in order to get the full set though.  The 7-piece kit is great on it's own, don't get me wrong, but I certainly don't see myself shelling out $50 on anything just to get the extra "freebies".  Seeing the upgraded version is so tempting to me, though.

If you're looking for ideas on products to buy in order to get this cute little set, I highly recommend buying their Sun Kissed Bronzing Powder (it's around $37), since Summer's on it's way.  It comes in three fab colors and, let's be honest here, everyone looks better with a little bit of bronzer on their face.

Fashion Faux Pas: Disembodied Barbie Jewelry

Pretty necklace, huh? Well, SURPRISE!!! It's a boob pendant. A Barbie boob pendant.

Maragaux Lange sells tons of jewelry pieces like this...and I find it all a little disturbing.

I used to love Barbies when I was younger...actually I still do now, judging from how many random Barbie accessories I own (this, of course, not being one of them). The thing about Barbies are that they remind us of our childhood. Though they are not anatomically correct, we love them just the same.

But that doesn't mean I want to wear a necklace festooned in severed, plastic breasts.

Oh and for you dark-skinned chicas out there, don't worry--there's a necklace for you in a lovely chocolate shade:










This gal is constantly coming out with creepier pieces; and they aren't just limited to plastic-breast-baubles.

Check out her Etsy site to see more. Oh, and by the way, if for some ungodly reason you'd like to buy yourself one of these gems, they run for about $200.

Really.

The Beauty Beat: with Eb: Everyday Glamour

Recipe for Everyday Glamour
Guest Post by Ebony Looney

Everyday glamour doesn’t have to be complicated. Use colors that work with your natural skin tone. Greens and bronzes look great on most skin tones, and add color to your face, without making you look overdone. I decided to use lipstick for this look, but if you prefer gloss, then choose a natural color to top off your look. Try colors on online to see what they might look like on you.

Ingredients

• Mary Kay Foundation (I use Medium 600; use what is appropriate for your skin type and tone).
• Mary Kay Golden Copper Mineral Cheek Color
• Mary Kay Golden Olive Mineral Eye Color
• Mary Kay Lemongrass Mineral Eye Color
• Mary Kay Amber Blaze Mineral Eye Color
• Mary Kay Black Ultimate Mascara
• Mary Kay Downtown Brown Crème Lipstick
  

Tools

• Foundation Brush
• Cheek
• Eye applicators
• Compact that can hold 3 eye colors, cheek color, lipstick and lipstick
• Makeup bag that can hold all the above and fit in your purse

Step 1

Use the foundation brush to apply the foundation of your choice to even your skin tone and hide any blemishes.

Step 2

Usea powder brush to sweep the Golden Copper Mineral Cheek Color on cheeksand all over face for glistening glow. Be careful to not go crazy withthe bronzer.

Step 3

Use eye applicators to apply the eye colors. Apply the Amber Blaze Mineral Eye color right under your eyebrow, the Golden Olive Mineral Eye Color in the crease of your eye, and then the Lemongrass Mineral Eye Color right below that, but right above your eyelash. Blend the Amber Blaze and the Golden Olive with your finger or your eye applicator brush. The goal is to have the colors look seemless.

Step 4

Apply the mascara to the top and bottom lash. Be careful to not overcoat with the mascara.

Step 5

Finish off with the Downtown Brown Crème lipstick.

The completed look!











Ebony Looney is the founder of Make Me Over Eb. For more fabulous insight, check out her site at www.makemeovereb.com.

Hair Happenings: Fekkai Events

I'm a huge lover of all Fekkai products. They work amazingly and though some are a bit pricey, they last an extremely long amount of time, so the cost is well worth it. Your hair is the one accessory that you never take off--usually, so it's really important to treat it like you would a diamond ring (too cheesy?)

For those of you in the LA area, there are a couple of fab events going on. Since I'm currently in Boston (sadly), I won't be able to go. But I figured I'd pass the info along to you lovely stylish ladies who can make it.

Here are the details of the events:

WHO: Frederic Fekkai Melrose Place Salon invites you to join us for our February events!

WHAT: Come mingle and enjoy champagne and hor d’oeurves with our Beauty Expert Panel including skin experts from Kate Somerville and P&G Grooming Director Teresa Wheeler. Guests will be invited to an hour panel discussion following with complimentary nail and make-up touch ups and a chance to win a Fekkai makeover and ultimate Kate Somerville Package! Also, the monthly So Chic So Fekkai event which includes a blowout, polish change and make up touch up for only $75.

WHEN: 360 Degrees of Beauty
Thursday, February 18, 2010
6:30pm-8:30pm

So Chic So Fekkai
Friday, February 26, 2010
4:00pm-6:30pm

WHERE: Frederic Fekkai Melrose Place Salon

8457 Melrose Place
West Hollywood, CA 90069

I'm super jealous of you ladies who are able to attend these events! Who wants to buy me a plane ticket so I can go to LA?

If you have any questions, contact Claudia at clee@fullpic.com.

Take Your Nails on a Trip: OPI's New Hong Kong Collection (And a GIVEAWAY!)

Oh OPI, how I love thee. I probably own over 30 of their adorably-named hues, but I still get excited when a new collection comes out.  

OPI's Hong Kong collection for Spring/Summer 2010 tickles my fancy to the extreme. The colors are bright, unique and surprisingly wearable.  

Here's the lineup: 

 

 

Top Row Left-Right

Lucky Lucky Lavender, Jade is the New Black, Dim Sum Plum, Bling Dynasty, Hot & Spicy, Meet Me On the Star Ferry

Bottom Row Left-Right

A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find, Pearl of Wisdom, Suzi Says Feng Shui, Chop-sticking to My Story, Panda-monium Pink, Red My Fortune Cookie

Here are my top picks:

Jade is the New Black:  Green has been in style for a while now, but personally I'm a bit tired of seeing pale mint green hues all over the place. This color is a deep, cool green with the slightest hint of blue to it.  It applies amazingly (like most OPI polishes), and I found that even after one coat the color had evenly distributed over my nail bed. For you weaklings out there who are afraid to go this bold on your fingernails, this shade also looks fab on toes!

Dim Sum Plum:  Basically the perfect magenta hue.  This is probably my fave of the whole collection (what can I say?  I'm a pink gal!) Again, I found that it applied super smoothly.  I love the fact that this color almost looks electric or neon, but isn't.  Neon pinks were all over the place last Summer and, quite frankly, I'm over it.  So this shade is like the new and improved version of that, which I really like.

Red My Fortune Cookie:  It's basically a tomato-red, with a tiny bit of extra orange thrown in for fun.  And you really can't go wrong with that.  Red nail polish in the Spring and Summer is unexpected.  It's def more of a cold-weather staple.  That's what drew me to the shade.  Because it is warm-toned, you can actually wear it anytime of year and look fabulous.  And as I like to say: "Red nail polish makes everything better".

FYI: I'm doing a giveaway for a bundle the three polishes I just described (The best ones in the collection--in my opinion)!!! All you have to do is email me at sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line "OPI HONG KONG" to enter.  I will alert the winner via email.  The giveaway ends in one week (2/23) Good luck, ladies!

For those of you who want the shades now, or the whole collection, you can buy a bottle (or 12) at Beauty Mart for about $8 each.

Disclosure: This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Clinique Gift With Purchase at Bloomingdales!

I'm such a sucker for gifts with purchases. I fully realize that you need to spend money in order to get one. But Clinique always has the greatest gifts that are well-worth the spending you have to do to get it.

The latest GWP is a Milly for Clinique 8-piece set that comes "free" with any $25 Clinique Purchase. It's about a $75 value and the products included are phenomenal. And really, in the grand scheme of things, is it really that difficult to spend $25 on Clinique products?

Here's what comes in each set:

Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder with Brush

High Impact Mascara in Black

Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent

Clinique Foldover Mirror

Clinique Key Chain with Long Last Lipstick Mini in A Different Grape and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Clearly Pink

Of course, I'm mainly excited about the Milly bag it all comes in. How gorgey is it?!? I'll probably end up using it as a clutch for nights out, per usual, but for those of you who only use makeup bags for their intended purpose, it'll be great for that too.

You've got to work quickly though; this GWP is only available until the 21st. So hop over to your local Bloomies, or place your order online asap!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, all you lovely ladies out there! I thought that in the spirit of the day, I'd share a picture of my boyfriend and I at our most romantic: sharing a drink with two straws (which I made him do for maximum cuteness). I hope you're all lucky enough to have someone as wonderful as I do! And if not, just spend the day eating loads of chocolate!

Stay fabulous!

Just Say "Yes!" to Cucumbers

Being the lazy girl that I am, I tend to avoid the nightly routine of washing my face with a bottle of facial cleanser and a washcloth. It takes too long and, because I am a huge klutz, it usually makes a huge mess.

So, I've taken to using makeup remover towelettes. You can pick 'em up just about anywhere. But most of them are just that: makeup removers. They do absolutely nothing for your skin (and sometimes even harm it)!

Yes to Carrots has come out with these fabbity-fabulous Yes to Cucumbers Natural Glow Facial Towelettes that I am extremely in love with.

Not only do they remove makeup, sweat and general dirtiness, they also help your skin in the process. Each wipe is infused with organic ingredients (including cucumber, of course). Other key ingredients include aloe vera to hydrate, green tea to protect and dead sea minerals to exfoliate. These all work together to make your skin the healthiest it can possibly be.

The wipes work so quickly that it's hard to believe that they're actually jam-packed with all these skin saving elements.

Oh, and did I mention that they smell amazing too? Post using a wipe, my boyfriend kissed me and said I smelled "yummy". So, I'm pretty much on board with these.

You can grab a pack of 30 disposable towelettes at Walgreens for about $6.

Disclosure: This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Beauty Babble: Q&A sesh with Ebony Looney

Ebony Looney, from Make Me Over Eb, is clearly a beauty guru. She's got a lot going on, from podcasts and webisodes to blogging. And she really knows her stuff. I picked her brain for a bit to see just what it's like to be her (probably fabulous) shoes!

Sassy Fashionista: How did you get started in the beauty industry?
Ebony Looney: As a way to make extra money I started selling Mary Kay products. Many of my regular customers loved the way I wore my own makeup and would always ask me for application advice. Shortly after that I began doing makeup applications for some of my customers. 4 years later I started blogging which led to my bi-monthly podcast Make Me Over Eb where I feature professionals in the beauty industry.

SF: What's the one beauty product you can't live without?
EL: Lip-gloss is something I can’t live without. It can be used to re-hydrate lips when they have become chapped, a tinted lip-gloss will always upgrade a plain look. It’s like icing on an already sweet cake.

SF: What should every girl have in their makeup bag?
EL: Chap stick, a mirror, and safety pins.

SF: What is the worst makeup blunder you've witnessed?
EL: Too much foundation! Foundation can be the best and worst thing that can happen to a woman when not applied correctly. It’s like putting too much sugar or salt in a cake recipe. The goal of foundation is to make a complexion look even and toned. Too much will have you looking like a clown which is never a good look. Try viewing foundation as an enhancement and not as a mask.

SF: What do you love most about your job?
EL: I like being able to connect with women and see what’s going on with them. It’s encouraging to hearing other women’s stories of strength and humor.

Thanks Ebony! To learn more about Make me over Eb, check out her site, or contact Nadia at nadia.murdock@gmail.com.

Fashion 101

Why spend time studying for med school when you can use that time to learn about fashion? Box Girls' Fashion 101 Box of Answers (oddly enough found at Bath and Body works) is the perfect study tool for those who, lets say, are "fashionly-deficient".

The box is filled with actual flash cards that cover fashion basics: what to wear for certain occasions, how to wear a dress--well, what designer designed what, and a ton more. It's great for people who have literally no fashion sense, but are brainy and like flashcards. Or for anyone looking to step up their look a bit.

Personally, I plan on using this as a cruel gift for the know-it-all b*tch I know who dresses like an idiot. But you're probably not as mean or sassy as I am, so refrain from doing that. Unless you really hate someone.

The box is also great for someone in high school/college; it's that pure age in which we become our unique fashionable selves and it's a good molding tool.

Each box of fashion tips is $23. Each person who buys one will be one less fashion disaster in the world, so I totally approve.

Seduce Your Main Sqeeze this V-Day

Valentine's Day is...ummm Sunday! To me, that means sexy lingerie. And chocolate. But mainly lingerie. Camilla Constance Lingerie is the place to go for unique, utterly gorgey intimate apparel.

Camilla's pieces are extremely unique. Each item has something intriguing about it, which is exactly what you want in sexy lingerie. In fact, each piece in hand-sewn, and is truly one of a kind. The quality's great--french lace galore, and each garment definitely gives off that come-hither look that we all crave.

My fave piece is the "She grabbed his hand, and..." teal lace skirt. The names of these garments are probably the thing I enjoy most about the whole site!

Made in the UK, you can only order online. But lucky for us, they ship to the US!

I can't wait to throw on some of these alluring frocks and let the seduction begin!

But first, off to the store for some chocolate...

The Winter Issue of Applaud Women is up!

Just a quick note to let you ladies know that the latest and greatest issue of Applaud Women is up and running. Find my article on pg. 36 for some fab fashion tips!

Stay fabulous!

Something's Fishy...

Normally, this would be one of my "Fashion Faux Pas" posts. But, c'mon. How weirdly cute is this Unique Hand Made Leather Throwback Fish Purse? I mean, you can literally throw your stuff into a fish's mouth. Umm...sign me up.

Something about the bag just draws me to it. I feel like I need one, despite the hefty $78 price tag.

Here are my top five reasons why everyone needs this fish purse:
1.) It is a fish bag. 'Nough said.
2.) The colors are all neutral, so it'll go with everything you wear.
3.) You can name it, as I do with most of my handbags, without as much ridicule.
4.) The bag is actually made of high-quality materials; it'll last for years and is completely seasonless.
5.) Did I mention that it's a fish bag?

So, I think that proves it--grab a fish handbag at Unique Vintage. And check out what else they've got; it's a pretty delightful site.

I'm Wearing Five Mascaras Today!

I've recently just been obsessed with making my eyelashes look as amazing as possible sans wearing faux lashes. (Messy glue is not my thing and I simply suck at applying them). A while back, I tried using a lash/eyebrow brush in between coats of mascara. But I couldn't ever apply more than two coats; the brush just didn't get in there to remove enough. It still looked great--but I wanted more.

So I thought back to a de-clumping tip I've been hearing for years about wiping your mascara wand with a tissue before applying. That sounded like a huge waste of mascara to me, so I opted out.

Now I've finally figured it out. Spoolies!!! They're disposable mascara wands (though I clean them with my brush cleaner to get a few extra uses out of each one) The best thing about them is that they're super cheap (under $5 for 50).

Running one of these wands through my lashes post mascara application gets every single clump out, and makes my lashes look naturally full; no spider lashes for me! I played around with this idea and I'm now at the point where I can apply about five coats of mascara, with a swipe of a spoolie between each coat, and end up with lashes that look natural, long and lusciously thick.

Each mascara "layer" builds up your lashes a bit. So when you're applying mascara over post mascara-ed lashes, the mascara treats your lashes as as if they were your clean normal eye fringe. This buildup makes them look super thick and adds definite length.

I've been using multiple types of mascara and mixing it up between coats. It's good to use tubes that are formulated for different things: lengthening, thickening, curling, etc. Try it with whatever mascaras you already have (of course I own about 545743897--most normal peeps have around three). But play around with different combos. The results will surprise you!

Something Sticky

I'm pretty excited about these. Pocksie Temporary Sticky Pockets are a divine idea and I can't believe that it hasn't been thought of before.

Basically, the sticky pockets are about the size of a post-it, with an added pocket, and a lot more adhesive (though not so much that it's difficult to remove). They can stick anywhere--I suggest somewhere that won't end up showing through your outfit and look like it's a tag you've left on.

How great it is?! Much as I love my handbags, I hate dragging them out with me when I go out at night and worrying about whether or not I'll lose it. Clutches are good, but can you really hold onto a clutch all night? Even the greatest clutches can be annoying to bring on the dance floor.

The best part is that the pocksie itself is actually made of cotton, not paper or another material that would feel irritating against your skin. Each one has about enough room for your ID, credit card, a little cash.

You can get yourself a pack of six for about $10.

Now Everyone Can Wear Hello Kitty!

You guys probably know from my 543857934 posts about Hello Kitty that I'm a tiny bit obsessed with her. So I frequently browse online for new products sporting her cute little face. Sometimes I find things that are a little bit "out of my league".

Like this Hello Kitty Burqa. While wearing this, your face actually peeks out from behind a netted cutout of Hello Kitty's face. And the rest of the garment is adorned with little appliques with her likeness.

It's kind of cute, but a little creepy and extreme! I do, however, like the fact that no matter where you live in the world, you can still openly show your love for Hello Kitty and wear her clothing with pride. In fact, this is the only company I know that creates clothing for almost everyone in the world. In all honesty, Hello Kitty just might be the answer to all the world's problems and bring us all closer together. Or something.

I think I'll stick to my Hello Kitty pajamas.

[image from Hello Kitty Hell]

Feel Like Stabbing Your Ex?

Sounds a little extreme, but we've all been there. I know I've had my share of bad breakups and have definitely had brief impulses to impale the man who broke my heart.

Well, now there's a healthy way to do it sans actually killing someone. Owning the Ex 5-Piece Stainless-Steel Knife Set is the perfect way to let out your aggression; just picture your ex and stab a knife into this adorable little knife holder. Simple as pie (which you can cut with one of the knives you've just used for stabbing).

The set also comes with five stainless steel knives, so it is actually a legitimate home accessory that can be used for something, not simply a tool for rage (well, not completely).

You can pick up one of these guys for $70.

Fine-Tune Your Memory with Some Style

When I was a kid, I played Memory.  A lot.  And I was pretty damn good at it.  I used to beg my parents to play it with me constantly.

Now that I've grown up a bit, it's high time to find a grown-up version of the game I cherished.  Street Style Memory Game fits the bill.

It's not only a great way to sharpen your mind, the game also contains oodles of fashionable peeps to match up.

Unfortunately, the game isn't available yet.  The site simply says "available soon", but there is a mailing list to alert you when it's out. 

Pretty Polish: OPI's Alice in Wonderland collection

Nothing tickles my fancy more than a new nail polish collection. OPI's newest Spring 2010 Alice in Wonderland collection is simply divine. Maybe I'm biased because I loved the story when I was younger--I would literally prance around in an "Alice in Wonderland-esque" dress and pretend to be her. But back to the polish--the colors are really gorgey.

Here's the rundown:

Thanks so Muchness- This is a cool-toned red with a little shimmer to it. I'd say it's a tid bit darker than the picture. It looks almost like a low-key blood-red shade. It's a great red for gals who have been too scared to try red in the past! The color is a great "starter" red that isn't too vampy.

Absolutely Alice- My fave color in the collection. It's pure shimmer; mainly blue with some silver and gold specks thrown in. The glitter is a bit chunkier than in the picture, but is still easy to apply. The outcome is fairly sheer, even after two coats, so it makes a great top coat. I suppose if you're more patient than I am, you could get a more opaque look with a few more coats.

Mad as a Hatter- The picture doesn't do this polish justice. As with Absolutely Alice, the glitter is a little larger, and the overall tone is very sheer. What makes this hue interesting, is the number of colors included. From what I can see, the glitter is a mixture of purple, silver, green, gold, blue, red and orange. Purple is the most prominent. Wearing this polish is basically like having a party on your nails!

Off with her Red- This is a very different red than Thanks so Muchness. It's orange-based and very creamy with no shimmer at all. I'd say that the orange almost dominates the shade. While it is undeniably a red, when applied there is a definite orange tone. The polish applies like a dream, more so than the others in the collection. After one coat, I felt like I could have slapped on a topcoat and called it a day.


You can pick up the fabulous polishes here for $9.95 a bottle (there's a 10% discount if you buy all four!)

Disclosure: This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Keep Shoes Organized with the Shoe Wheel!

Yes, this actually exists. And yes, it comes in pink (fine, it also comes in silver, black and white for you pink-haters).  I was so incredibly happy when I stumbled upon this delightful storage device that I ran and told my boyfriend about it and jumped up and down. Obviously, he was not as impressed.

Currently, my shoes live in a HUGE pile under my bed.  I have a long, flat tupperware under there too, but somehow the shoes never make it there as I tend to just kick them off and fling them under the bed.

Anyway, Rakku has created this amazing Shoe Wheel that will change my life (once I can afford it, they're $65). Each wheel holds about 30 pairs of shoes; if you've got the cash, buy a few!  They easily fit into closets, or you can leave them out.  Personally, I think they have a ferris-wheel-with-shoes-riding-on-it look, which in all honestly could be the focal point of any room.

Fabulous, no?

Beauty Babble: Q & A sesh with Tippi Shorter

All this winter weather is wreaking havoc on my hair. It's dry, frizzy and just plain disgusting. So I've been searching high and low for some tips on how to make my hair look decent enough to go out in public without a huge hat. And I think I've found just the person to help me!

Tippi Shorter is nothing short (pardon the pun) of a hair guru. She's been a spokesperson for Pantene and Clairol, she's working on her own hair extension line Get Gorgeous Hair and is working as the newest addition to the Avon hair styling team.

She works with oodles of celebs and really knows her stuff! I had the chance to ask her a few questions and get some much-needed hair help.

Sassy Fashionista: If you could only use one hair product for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tippi Shorter: I’ve tried and tested many amazing products, but the one product I can’t live without is my Mason Pearson brush.

SF: What's the best way to define curls without them looking "crunchy" and being basically untouchable?

TS: Creating touchable curls is all about the product.  Use a curl-enhancing product to hold and control a curl’s shape for up to 24 hours!

SF: What beauty products/tools can you not live without?

TS: My must-have hair products are:

Serum - Advance Techniques Anti-Frizz Capsules

Deep Conditioner - Ojon Restorative Treatment

Pomade - Bedhead Stick

Hairspray - Pantene Ice Shine

In terms of tools, I cannot live without… a great blowdryer and 1-inch flat iron that can be used to straighten or curl.

SF: Last season, we saw a lot of rather extravagant hair accessories with feathers, bows and rhinestones galore.  What will this season bring, in terms of hair decoration?

TS: I hope this season brings many more hair decorations!  I love working with hair accessories, especially extensions. Hair extensions allow me to create any style. I also love using a clip-on pony, faux bangs or stylish headbands for a fresh new look.