Beauty Product Review: Nicole's OPI Nic's Sticks

After Mother's Day Brunch with my family, Mom pulls out a sample she had received and asked me to review it: Nicole by OPI - Nic's Sticks. At first glance, it looks like a magic marker. With a shake-pump-and-paint action, I magically painted my nails with ease. The color -- Text Me (sixth pen from the left) -- was a Ballet Pink does Mauve.


Sitting at the table having tea, I did one coat on all ten nails in a matter of a minute. I am more ambidextrous than most, but I think anyone could successfully paint their nails with Nic's Sticks -- even tremendous tremulous Mom. I intend to purchase other colors. This is magic in a pen.

Walter Goes To Summer Camp: Due to limited space in my apartment, my six-pound chihuahua, Walter The Farting Dog, is vacationing at my parents' house this summer. He packed his little backpack, jumped in my parents' car, and never looked back. I am sure I will see him modeling the latest garb on this site. Walter and Bentley, The Haute Dog, are very patient with my mom's photographic sessions.

Keep moving,

Jamie

DVF's Wrap Bag Is an It Bag Without Being an It Bag

Word-Association Test: When you say Diane von Furstenberg, what immediately comes to mind?



The Wrap Dress, you say? You are absolutely correct.


Diane has created another soon-to-be icon, the Wrap Bag ($900). We are in love again. The soft Italian leather, the superb functionality, the way it hugs your body, and the adjustable strap that wraps around the bag screams, "It bag" without being an It bag. The Wrap Bag is classic without being pompous.





If you follow what the celebs have hanging from their arms, the Wrap Bag has been wrapping the bodies of Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon. Jennifer Lopez custom ordered a $10,000 crocodile version. This is yummy arm candy without being too sweet. Low in calories, too.

Do you girls likey?

How to Burn Off McDonald's Free Sandwich on May 15th

If you are like us, we can't pass up a free offer, but freebies often get us in fitness and nutritional trouble. We know we will be hitting the drive-through at McDonald's tomorrow for our freebie. Seriously, who can pass up a free breakfast or lunch from McDonald's?

On the morning of May 15th, participating McDonald's restaurants will offer a free Southern-Style Chicken Biscuit with purchase of a medium or large drink. If your stomach is still growling at noon, stop by and you will get a free Southern-Style Chicken Sandwich with the same drink purchase.

We won't malign this free offer, although we have already heard through the grapevine that McDonald's chicken sandwich is a blatant ripoff of the Chik-fil-a chicken sandwich -- which has been part of our diet for 15 years -- and not nearly as tasty. But it's free!

Let's consider the caloric intake. With the free sandwich weighing in at 420 calories, plus a drink - let's just say you ordered a Diet Coke - you would have to walk three hours at 4 mph to burn off your lunch.

Is it worth it?

It's free! We will see you at McDonald's tomorrow.

Stay moving,

Jamie and Beckie

Bang! Pow! Wham! Comic Book Couture: Trendy or Dead-Endy

Bang! Pow! Wham! Comic book couture: Trendy or a Dead-Endy? Would you wear it? In Batman- and Robin-esque, Girl-Woman tries to sift through the evidence with some comic relief.

Boomerang Girl: "I came as soon as I received your text message. It was really most propitious that I happened to be dusting the Batgym when you sent it."

Boomer Woman: "I counted on your love for your work. "

Boomerang Girl: "What is on the fashion radar today?"

Boomer Woman: "SpongeBob SquarePants for Louis Vuitton and Luella for Batman are coming up as a street style trend."

Boomerang Girl: "Holy Cripe, Boomer Woman. We must save fashion victims from themselves. Vamanos! "

Boomer Woman: "I'm glad you're up on your foreign languages, Boomerang Girl. They come in handy when fighting fashion crimes."

Boomerang Girl: "Si, si, Boomer Woman."

Boomer Girl: "Before we set brain and sinew to this perplexing case, let's review all the facts, Boomerang Girl."

Boomerang Girl: "I think the comic book tee look is fun and colorful. You know I love wierd things. It's a younger woman's cup of tee. It's definitely not a good choice for boomers! No offense, Boomer Woman."

Boomer Woman: "No offense taken, Boomerang Girl. But is this comic book chic cheap?

Boomerang Girl: "Holy stupidity. I am stumped."

Boomer Woman: "It is said that Balenciago created this tee. At a 100 batbills, it's not cheap chic."

Boomerang Girl: "Holy cripes, Boomer Woman. You never cease to amaze me!"

Boomer Woman: "No time for compliments, Boomerang Girl. We must thwart some fashion criminals. To the Blogmobile! "

Boomerang Girl: "Speaking of our comic book friend, SpongeBob, did you know that Marc Jacobs has a SpongeBob SqaurePants tattoo?"

Boomer Woman: "No. Out of the mouth of Boomerang Girl oft-times come nuggets of news."

Boomerang Girl: "The batcomputer is a little frisky today. Style Eyes is on the fashion radar, too. She posted comic book tights! Holy fashion faux pas, Boomer Woman."



Boomer Woman: "The Joker has to be behind this design! I'm certain this is the first stitch in a large tapestry of fashion crimes. A complicated case."

Boomerang Girl: "Holy complications, indeed. Those are ugly as sin!"

Boomer Woman: ""In the interests of law, order, justice, good fellowship, and good fashion, we must warn our readers to keep our streets safe from evil comic strip tights. Okay, Boomerang Girl. To the batblog"

Boomerang Girl: "What do you Super Women think about comic book couture? Is it comic relief or a trend that you would wear? Is it trendy or dead-endy?"



Images: Bella Sugar, Haute Dog Media, Style Eyes, Senora Cartera

12 Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Sephora's Sun Safety Kit will raise your sun protection IQ by 11 points, ("How do you earn the bonus points," you ask? Keep reading. It's further down the page) but did you ever wonder what an SPF 15 ratings means? Take this quiz to test your sun prevention IQ. Just to let you in on a little secret, I failed abysmally!

A sunscreen with an SPF -- sun protection factor -- rating of 15:

1. Lets you stay in the sun safely three hours without sunscreen.


2. Filters 93 percent of the sun's UVB rays before they penetrate your skin.


3. Prevents up to 15 years of sun-related skin aging.
   
   

Ding, ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

You picked answer No. 2, and you're correct.

A SPF rating refers to a product's degree of protection from the sun's short-wave UVB rays. SPF 15 filters 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 filters 97 percent and SPF 50 filters 98 percent.

Earn 2 Extra Credit Points:

• Sunscreen is best used to protect your skin when you can't avoid the sun (not to extend your time in the sun).
• How well sunscreen protects depends on how well you apply it. Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) to cover your entire body 20 to 30 minutes before going outdoors.
  

Brains on Beauty: No matter what SPF you use, reapply every two hours (even when it's cloudy), or immediately after swimming or getting sweaty. Otherwise, you are unprotected!

Brains on Beauty Pick du jour:

One new product that I had the opportunity to sample added a few points to my Sun Prevention IQ: Sephora's Limited Edition Sun Safety Kit ($87 value for $25!) I am heading south this week, and I'm packing these 12 fabulous beauty products in my suitcase. (For tips on keeping your complexion fresh and moist while flying, click here.)

What it is: A collection of eleven travel-ready sizes of the best and brightest summer skincare products.

What it does: Lets the sun shine without a care this summer. Sephora prepares you for outdoor fun with the ample sun protection found in the Sephora Brand Sun Safety Kit.

It's packed with a travel-size sunscreen and skincare for the face and body.

What else you need to know: The kit contains the following products:

1. 0.05 oz Korres Natural Products Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30


2. 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30


3. 1 oz DDF Daily Protective Moisturizer SPF 15


4. 0.35 oz Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20


5. 0.17 oz Juice Beauty Green Apple Moisturizer SPF 15


6. 1 oz Murad Firming Bronzer SPF 15


7. 0.08 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA + + +


8. Six single-use packs of MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection Pads SPF 30


9. 0.17 oz Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream Ultra Protection SPF 30


10. 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15,


11. 0.098 oz Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer SPF 15, plus a UV indicator card.

Bonus Point:

No. 12: My old-time fave is Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 (Sephora $30). It is truly brains on ageless beauty. It's the smartest thing I've added to my handbag, beach bag, and car since I bought my first Cover Girl Lipstick by Noxema in 1970. Every time I get in the car, I dust this on my face (over makeup) and my pitifully spotted hands. (I should have used a sunscreen on my hands years ago!)

What it is: A talc-free, transparent matte, SPF 30 mineral powder in a convenient brush applicator.

What it is formulated to do: Works immediately to block out the sun's harmful UVA/UVB infrared rays to help prevent sunburn, skin damage, freckling, and uneven discoloration as it creates the illusion of smooth, radiant skin.