Friday, June 16, 2006

Prego Fashion Gone Awry

Last night, I awaited with patient hope, to discover some kind of redemptive quality in Mrs. Britney Spears as she was interviewed by Matt Lauer for Dateline NBC. Unfortunately, I turned off the television disappointed and in pity for the washed-up pop princess. It's not her devotion to K-bum or her unfortunate baby snafus that let me down. It's her taste in clothing (or lack thereof) that leaves me wondering if she's a couple of french fries short of a happy meal. Call it a desperate plea for attention and acceptance, her pregger-enhanced fashion efforts have only succeeded in ostracizing her in the tabloids.

Let's start with the hair. Why does it always look like a bleach-fried, matted ball of twine? Matt said that Britney's worth an estimated 100 million dollars. If this is true, why is she still sporting fried locks? Surely Jessica could loan out lil' Kenny for the day to show some TLC to Brit's extensions.


Moving on to her attire... It is a fact of nature, that when one is with child, the ta-ta's enlarge to a mass proportionate of size. At times like these, it is necessary for one to increase the size of clothing worn, appropriately covering any indecency. Unfortunately, Mrs. Spears went the other direction and chose a size smaller than she normally would wear, providing the grossest display of 5-inch cleavage that I've ever seen. I even think Matt was repulsed.

Brit also must have borrowed her kid sister's cutoff denim skirt for the interview, because Matt was afforded more than one opportunity to see her you-know. C'mon Brit---It's Dateline, not Access Hollywood.

Mrs. Spears has a history of bad maternity clothing choices. If it's not too short or too tight,

it's either too long (clearly the reason she tripped so easily in NY and fishtailed Sean P. backward),

or too large (i.e. the ever-falling shoulder strap).

Perhaps if her clothes actually fit her for her body type and activity level, she wouldn't attract such unscrupulous attacks by the paparazzi.

Then again, displaying your black bra and pink thong under a kitchen apron always did seem like a good idea...

Photos courtesy of SFF.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Product Review: Oil of Olay Daily Regenerating Cleanser

I bought this cleanser (about $7 at Drugstore.com) because it was cheap and looked good.

It's a great cleanser! I have dry skin with a tendency to show fine lines. This cleanser has noticeably softened my skin. My cheeks and forehead are much smoother since I started using this product.

It's a cream-based cleanser, though, so it's probably better for dry skins. The only other downside? It doesn't cleanse that well--especially the eye makeup. Maybe use a makeup remover first before washing your face. Overall though, it's a great product and I highly recommend it, especially for the price.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Overexposed in more ways than one

Okay, honestly, I've been on Eva Longoria overload. She is omnipresent. She's the top pick on Maxim's Hot 100 for the second year in a row, and her smile is plastered on every magazine from Elle to Lucky to Vogue. It's kind of overkill, you know? You would think she learned a lesson on overexposure from the OLD (Original Latina Diva) herself, J-Lo, but apparently not.

I'm sure she's happy with all the publicity she is getting (especially considering her resume isn't all that impressive), but why make yourself for a walking billboard for ACT II buttery popcorn?


I seriously don't understand this outfit, but I do like her shoes. They prove the timeless maxim of how leggy a short girl can look in a pair of barely-there, strappy sandals. But speaking of overexposure, um, where's the camisole for under that top? And why am I suddenly way over-acquainted with Eva's clavicle, side cleavage, and abs--all at once! Gah!

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

A Perfect Ten

While it may be a splurge to get a manicure in a fancy salon, it doesn't mean you have to walk around with raggedy nails in the meantime. Devote time to a do-it-yourself manicure that rivals salon quality care, at a fraction of the cost.

Start by removing all traces of old nail polish with a non-acetone nail polish remover. It will take a bit more time to remove your polish, but by using non-acetone, you won't strip your nail bed of vital proteins, called keratins, that safeguard against brittleness.

Wash your hands with a mild soap in warm water, using a nail brush to thoroughly cleanse any dirt under your fingernails.

While your hands are slightly damp, use a new orange stick to gently push back your cuticles. Orange sticks come in many varieties. Plastic sticks will be tough on cuticles, but will provide the most sanitary tool. Wooden sticks are the most gentle, but should be tossed after you complete your manicure, because bacteria loves a porous substance.

From time-to-time, your cuticles will catch a snag and you will be tempted to cut them back. It's a gamble to cut your cuticles, because you set yourself up for a risk of infection or sores. If you must trim a stray cuticle, use a professional-quality cuticle nipper like this one from Sephora.

Decide on a nail shape based on the size of your fingers and the shape of your cuticles. Slender hands with long, graceful fingers can pull off most any nail shape, especially oval, but smaller hands with shorter, fuller fingers look best with rounded or squared nail beds. An easy way to decide which nail shape will look best on you is to view your cuticles. If your cuticles are rounded, a round nail shape is ideal. If your cuticles are squared, a flattering nail shape is squared.

When you decide on a nail shape, cut your nails at an even length, straight across, to prevent ingrowns. Then, using a fine-grained emery board, file your nails in one direction, gently forming the nail into the desired shape. Filing in a back-and-forth motion weakens your nail bed and increases the potential for future nail snags.

Natural and bare nails are hot this season and high-shine can be achieved without the use of a nail polish. Purchase a multi-sided buffer to eliminate scratches, ridges and imperfections from your nail bed. Don't forget the underside of the tip of your nail for the ultimate smoothness. Nail polish won't adhere well to freshly buffed nails, so skip this step if you prefer polish.

For supersoft hands and healthy cuticles, massage a rich lotion into hands and vitamin e oil or oil-based polish treatment into cuticles. If you have extra time, wrap hands in cellophane and steam in two damp washcloths, microwaved until warm. Be careful not to burn yourself! Before you polish, dip a q-tip into nail polish remover and swab on each nail bed, removing excess oil. Nail polish won't stick to an oily surface.

Utilize basecoats and topcoats that double as a treatment. Try one of the following:

Unfortunately, nail ridges are genetic and you will never be able to get rid of them. But the good news is that you can disguise them. OPI Ridge Filler evens out the nail surface, enabling a smooth palette for painting.

For strong nails, start and finish with Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Instant Nail Hardener. Not only does this potent formula reinforce weak and brittle nails, but it leaves a brilliant shine that is fabulous when worn on top of colored polish or alone.



Choose nail polishes that are formaldehyde-free, like OPI or essie polishes. Formaldehyde formulas chip and fade easily. Polishes that are formaldehyde-free are generally three times as expensive as typical drugstore brands, but are gentler on your nails and last much longer.

Never shake a nail polish bottle. Excessive shaking creates air bubbles that dry in a pod-like pattern on top of nails. Instead, roll the bottle of nail polish smoothly between palms to evenly mix polish.

Begin by painting a wide strip down the center of the nail, quickly following with two side strips to complete nail surface. If you accidentally miss a spot, wait until the first coat dries and follow-up with second coat. Give plenty of time to dry, at least five minutes between coats, and 15 when finished.

With a little TLC, you can create a perfect ten, boasting your own fashionable personality!

Monday, June 12, 2006

A How-To Guide from the cast of The Omen


How not to dress if you want people to think you’re not really the Son of the Devil. Unless…



How to make your shoes stand out in a not-good way. (I'm not saying you have to be matchy-matchy, but...ugh. His shoes look like anchors. I'm not a fan of the skinny-leg pants either. He kind of seems like he's channeling Wolverine here...anybody agree?)



How to look like you just rolled out of bed in your smooshy-boobed nightgown. (Still, she doesn't look completely horrific, and the color of the gown is...nice. Boring, but nice.)