EUREKA!

I am a hardcore Jeopardy! viewer. I play along every single day- never miss an episode! Tonight, one particular contestant stole America's heart and even trended on twitter. Now, a two-day champion, allow me to introduce you to Eureka Nutt, a paralegal from "the Valley" (LA, California). I wonder if "paralegal" is her cover. We all know what goes down in the Valley. She talks about becoming a star on Jeopardy! on her online video but we all know with a name like Eureka Nutt she already is one!


When something is of particular excitement, my friend Valerie and I always say "Yahtzee!" with an accompanied hand gesture. But I think "Eureka Nutt!" might start moving into the rotation of my most used catch phrases! Thank you, Jeopardy- and Eureka, I'm sure you've dealt with this your entire life. Congratulations on ending up on the small screen- but not as a porn star or anything.


Now Playing: "We Own the Sky" by M83

Nail Polish of the Moment: Quarter of a Cent-Cherry by OPI

Quarter of a Cent-Cherry by OPI
My 25th birthday is tomorrow & since I didn't want to spend it painting my nails, I gave myself a manicure this morning. I fittingly chose "Quarter of a Cent-Cherry" by OPI. It's a beautiful, deep, cherry red hue. It would also look great on Valentine's Day! I can't believe I'm going to be 25 tomorrow- scary! I'm starting to feel like an "adult". But I digress. This polish really impressed me. You can get away with one coat (great for on the go) but for a perfectly, opaque finish, I went with two. I definitely recommend this one! :)

Quarter of a Cent-Cherry by OPI


Now Playing: "The Funeral" by Band of Horses (One of my favorite songs of the past decade)

SAG Awards 2011: Best Dressed

Joan Crawford's No Wire Hangers Award
I kind of forgot all about the SAG Awards last night. So, I didn't see any of the gowns on screen. This list is based off the pictures I was able to find! :)

BEST DRESSED:

The Golden Wire Hanger goes to Mila Kunis in Alexander McQueen

January Jones in Carolina Hererra

Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta

Claire Danes in Louis Vuitton

Rosario Dawson in J. Mendel

Notable Mentions:
Eva Longoria- She always looks great on the red carpet but I wasn't feeling the hair.
Kim Kardashian- Not sure why she was there but her hair and makeup looked great. I liked the color of her Marchesa gown but didn't find the cut very flattering. It also seemed a little dated- been done too many times before.

...WHAT THE?!
Christina Hendricks- Joaney, oh, my Joaney. There are no words.
Angie Harmon- Such a stunning beauty but the SAG awards was not your wedding day nor the Oscars. Take it down a few notches. Was she even nominated?



Now Playing: "Intro" by The xx

Twitter Talk (More Beauty Questions)

Here is a quick Q&A that I got from MissGlamorazzi's YouTube Vlog Channel! I love sharing knowledge, so here is my answers! :)

Celebrity Crush: Aside from the obvious Sidney Crosby, I really like guys who are funny and smart. I like Bill Maher (if only he were 20 years younger), Gerard Butler, Paolo Nutini, Jack White and Andrew VanWyngarden. If JFK Jr. were alive today, I'd definitely be into him.

Favorite Milky Nude/Pink Gloss: I try to avoid milky or nude lipglosses because it washes my fair skin out. But I do LOVE pink gloss. I have too many to name. "Slice of Heaven" from Beauty Rush (Victoria's Secret) is one of my many go-to shades.

What is one quality you like most about yourself: Physically- my red hair. I used to resent it as a child but all the adults were right! I did grow up to appreciate it. It makes me unique. Emotionally- I'm pretty intuitive and have never had a problem with knowing what I want or formulating opinions on things. I guess that's an around about way of saying I know myself very well.

Did you ever have braces: No. I didn't need them when I was little but now I do. My teeth are too big for my mouth. They are crowded and a little crooked. Some days I want to get them fixed and other times I feel like my not-so perfect teeth give me character.

What is your favorite drugstore product: CoverGirl's Liquid Powder Makeup (3-in-1 Foundation, Concealer, Powder). I love it's texture and have been using it since grade school. I'm sure there are bettter products out there but this one has worked well enough (and for so long) that I'd feel really sad to quit using it.

When did you become so interested in makeup and what advice do you have for girls who are looking to expand their small collections: I've been drawn to makeup since I was in grade school. I would always ask to get the big makeup sets at the drug stores or places like K-Mart, lol. I didn't start actually wearing makeup to school until about 7th grade but I practiced applying it at home for years. YouTube and the internet wasn't really around back then, so what tips I got were from fashion/beauty magazines or on televsion. My mom isn't a big cosmetics person so she never taught me how to apply it. I've always been pretty artistic so I enjoyed experimenting. I'm a girlie girl through and through. My advice to younger girls who are building their collections is to use the internet to their advantage! Research products before you buy them so you know what will likely be a good buy & save you the disappointment and money of a regretful purchase. You don't need a vanity full of make-up! Stick to what works for you and if you want to experiment with color, invest in a large pallette from a company like Coastal Scents- it's relatively affordable for what you get! If you put a quality primer/base on your lids, just about any eyeshadow from any company will be instantly improved. But I still believe in quality over quantity!


Now Playing: "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House

Nail Polish of the Moment: Playa del Platinum by Essie

Playa del Platinum by Essie

Today, I'm wearing Playa del Platinum by Essie. I expected this polish to be your typical light grey or a sandy beige hue but after applying it, I was pleasantly surprised. It actually has a hint of "shabby chic" green to it! It's very unique. After 3 thin coats (it dried pretty quickly), it was opaque and glossy. I really love this nail polish! I was going to wait until Spring to wear it but curiosity got the best of me. I actually think it's pretty wearable for year 'round. I definitely recommend this polish :)

Playa del Platinum by Essie- 3 thin coats


Now Playing: "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire

Beauty Tag: Random Questions

1. How did you get your youtube user name?
My parents. It's just my first & middle name :)

2. If you could change your name to anything, what would it be and why?
My middle name, Selene. It's more unique and fits my personality a little better. It was going to be my first name but my Dad said it was the name of a bridge in Pittsburgh. I like to use it for my internet usernames as much as I can.

3. If you could go back in time and give your younger self advice, what would it be and why?
Hmmm. I've always been pretty sure of myself. I don't think I've changed very much since I was little. But I guess I would reinforce the importance of being yourself and not caring what others think. I wish I could get that answer today (from my future self). I'm sure I have a lot of life lessons left to learn.

4. How old were you when you first learned to blow a bubblegum bubble?
I have no clue. Probably around 5? This question is kind of lame.

5. What did you want to be when you were little?
I was always playing school and wanted to be a 1st grade teacher. As I got older, I really gravitated towards writing and the news. I wanted to be a news reporter (which is what I went to college for) or work for a fashion magazine/own a bouqtique.

6. What do you order at starbucks?
Nothing! I don't drink coffee. I don't go there.

7. What's the hardest you ever laughed?
I laugh quite easily but one instance comes to mind. I believe I was in college at the time and home for break. I was at a restaurant/diner (Eat 'N Park) with my cousin, my sister, her friend and a few others. We were there really late after leaving the bar. It was like a scene from a comedy. My cousin was drunk and proceeded to go up to the cop on duty and ask if he could take our picture- she asked him not to give her DUI because she had driven there. I only remember a few details and nothing specific but the whole situation was hilarious. A "random" person from my sister's past showed up and my drunk cousin made it unintentionally awkward for her. I don't even remember what all went down.

Another instance was in elementary school my best friend, Carley and I would sit next to each other on the bus each day. We hosted a fake talk show "The Krista & Carley Show". The premise of the show was to make fun of clunky cars that we passed and make up stories of the people who drove them. We would laugh so hard to the point of tears. We were so young yet so vain. lol.

8. If you could play any musical instrument, which would it be and why?
I'd love to play the piano because I enjoy classical music but the acoustic guitar is far more portable. It would be fun to whip one out in front of a camp fire and surprise people (that's what she said).

9. What's your favorite thing to do when you're upset?
Eat junk food, listen to good music, watch a funny movie, call a close friend.

10. What's your favorite movie?
I have a few favorites from various genres. I'd so Clueless is up there. I really think it impacted my social development- probably not for the best but it did. It's one of the reasons I'm such a girlie girl.

11. What's one food you can not live without?
French fries. They are so bad yet so good. I try to only eat them once a week now that I'm trying to drop some weight.

12. What's your favorite dessert?
French vanilla ice cream with a little bit of chocolate syrup. But I'm not a dessert person. If I go out to dinner, I'm always too full to think of eating another bite.

13. Favorite pizza topping?
Extra, extra cheese. I really like jalapenos and ranch dressing as well (on the side).

14. Would you rather have the superpower to read minds, or the superpower to be invisible?
Invisibilty! I'm a creeper like that. I'm far too sensitive to want to know what other people are thinking. Our thoughts are private for a reason.

15. What did you do for your last birthday?
My 24th birthday- I sat near the ice at the Penguins-Sabres game. My favorite player, Sidney Crosby scored a hat trick and we won! Then I went to my favorite bar. My 25th is a week away- 2/1! :)

16. If you had one personal "selfish" wish, what would it be and why?
Hmmm. Wealth- enough to live comfortably and not have to worry about work, bills, etc. When that burden is off your shoulders, you have so much more freedom to experience all of what life has to offer!


Now Playing: "Friends" by Band of Skulls

Beauty Tag: This or That

MAKEUP:
blush or bronzer: Blush! I'm naturally fair-skinned so I have a difficult time "bronzing" without looking like I escaped from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. My favorite blush is Shimmer Pink Pool by Lancome.

lip gloss or lipstick: I love lipstick but I rarely wear it without a gloss over top. Gloss is much easier and I can throw it on without fussing. So, I guess that forces me to pick lipgloss.

eye liner or mascara: Eyeliner is like a close friend but Mascara is your boyfriend. Friendship is lots of fun but nothing suits the face better than the look of love. Make sense? Yeah, I didn't think so. You can always create the look of liner with eyeshadow. Mascara!

foundation or concealer: I have used a 3-in-1 forumla (foundation, concealer, powder) from CoverGirl (Ultimate Finish Liquid Powder Makeup) since grade school. It's my best friend and so cheap! In addition to that, I also use MAC's Studio Fix which also works as a concealer for my fair skin. I hate feeling like I'm wearing a mask, so I avoid pure, liquid foundation. I definitely need concealer bc I suffer from breakouts and redness around the nose. I am looking into choosing a tinted moisturizer and finding a stronger concealer. I'm still relatively young (I avoid the sun and don't smoke), so I try to keep my coverage as light as possible. So, my answer is concealer. Now, I confused myself.

neutral or color eye shadow: Neutral! The vast majority of the time, I'm wearing golds, peaches, browns, taupes, bronzes, etc. The most color you'll see me wear is purple. It's seldom that I branch out with color. I have such fair skin that I can easily look like a drag queen.

pressed or loose eye shadow: Pressed! I find loose eyeshadow to be extremely messy. It leaves fallout and it takes more time to apply. I'm not a fan at all.

brushes or sponges: Brushes for eyes & cheeks, sponges for foundation/powder. I don't use either for lips.

NAILS:
OPI or china glaze: OPI! I love the colors, quality, packaging, names. I only have a couple China Glaze polishes and they cracked really quickly. I don't like the name of the brand either.

Long or short: Short. It looks elegant- not to mention my nails never stay long.

Acrylic or natural: Au-natural. I generally don't have the time, patience or money to get my nails done professionally. I prefer to be "real".

Brights or darks: I like bright toes but dark hands (or neutrals).

Flower or no flower: None! I think it looks a bit tacky and childish.

BODY:
perfume or body splash: Perfume! Chance by Chanel has been my "signature scent" since high school ('03-'04) but I have a growing collection.

lotion or body butter: Lotion. I don't own any body butter. I like Vaseline, Olay and good old Cocoa Butter.

body wash or soap: Body wash when I have it but soap doesn't bother me. I really love the smell and feel of Neutrogena's Rainbath.

lush or other bath company: I'm not familiar with Lush. I used to like Bath & Body Works until it changed its packaging. Victoria's Secret works for me.

FASHION:
jeans or sweat pants: I wish I actually put effort into my appearance but unless I'm going "out" or somewhere important, I stick to sweats. So comfy! You'd never look at me and think I knew a thing about beauty or fashion. Don't judge a book by its cover, haha.

stripes or plaid: As a child of the 90s and a Catholic school girl for 13 years (K-12), I'm a fan of plaid!

flip flops or sandals: Flip Flops! I have distorted feet- "Haglund's Deformity". Sadly, this isn't a joke. I live for flip-flop season. They are the only shoes that don't give me blisters.

scarves or hats: I love both but if I had to choose one, I'd go with hats.

studs or dangly earrings: I have tons of chandelier earrings but they aren't really in style any more. They aren't really wearable for every day and do tug at your lobes. Studs are understated and more my personality.

necklaces or bracelets: I don't really like necklaces bc I have a large chest. They get in the way. I also hate the feeling of having something around my neck. I have a few statement pieces that are the perfect length but 95% of the time I don't wear necklaces. I love the look of a bare neck. Bracelets can be pretty but they get in the way too much. I'm very simple in my jewelry. I usually just wear a ring and a pair of stud earrings.

heels or flats: I'm usually wearing flats because they are comfortable but when I go "out" it's stilletos all the way.

cowboy boots or riding boots: Riding boots! So chic and sophisticated.

forever 21 or charlotte russe: Forever21- One of my favorite stores!

abercrombie or Hollister: Abercrombie bc they make decent sweats but I don't shop at either store. That California surfer style turns me off. It screams "high schooler" or "frat guy from the suburbs" to me.

saks 5th or nordstrom: For me, Nordstrom is at the mall in the suburbs about 10 minutes north and Saks is downtown. I'm a city girl but I can afford more at Nordstrom. So, Nordstrom.

HAIR:
curly or straight: My hair is naturally wavy/straight. I don't really style it. I blow dry it, throw my fingers through it and go. I let the color do the talking. It's so thick and usually pretty long. I don't have the patience or skills to style it. I also don't really like the way I look when my hair is too styled. I like the look of natural, bouncing locks.

bun or ponytail: I throw it up in a twisty little bun and clip it when I'm around the house or tie it back in a pony tail if I'm going to be in public, lol.

bobby pins or butterfly clips: Clips. My hair is so thick, I'd need too many bobby pins to secure it properly.

hair spray or gel: I don't wear hair spray often but if I put my hair in a sleek pony tail, I'll use it.

long or short: I've always had long hair. My hair is a huge part of my identity. I don't think I'll have short hair for a very long time.

light or dark: I'm a natural redhead. I have bright hair? lol. It has golden strands mixed with reds, coppers, browns... even a few white strands (I've had them since I was little).

side sweep bangs or full bangs: Neither flatters my face shape but side swept bangs can sometimes look all right on me.

RANDOM:
Rain or shine: I love the rain! It doesn't bother me unless I'm driving or have outdoor plans.

Summer or winter: Winter- Christmas, hockey, football, my birthday, St. Patrick's Day, fresh air, NO HEAT!

Fall or spring: Fall is my favorite time of the year!!! Spring is usually nice in Pittsburgh as well but nothing tops Autumn leaves, Halloween, football season, etc.!

Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate for chocolates lol


Now Playing: High Violet (Full Album) by The National

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCKIN' ON 7'S DOOR!

My beloved Steelers just beat the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game! We are heading to our third Super Bowl in just the last 6 seasons! We've been to more AFC Championships (15) than any other team (8-7 record) and will be playing in our 8th Super Bowl come February 6th. The only bowl we lost was to DALLAS! It would be sweet revenge to win an unprecedented 7th title in their house!

My lucky nail polish! "Licorice" by Essie (Black), "Lets Meet" by Sinful Colors (Yellow)
This time, we'll be playing one of the other legendary teams in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers! I have nothing but respect for the pack (so far) and I think this is going to be a classic! My birthday is on the 1st so I may be going to Dallas if I can score a good package! Regardless of the outcome, I feel so spoiled to be a Pittsburgh sports fan. In my 25 years, this will be the fourth Super Bowl (2-1) I will watch my team play in. The last time we won was on my 23rd birthday! What an amazing gift that was! The pearl & diamond ring I have on in the photo above was my gift on my birthday. I call it my "Super Bowl" ring, lol. I've also seen my other team, the Penguins go to four Stanley Cup finals (3-1). There are countless other accolades to mention but I don't want to brag. In the wise words of Wiz Khalifa, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS ;)

With that, GOD LOVES PITTSBURGH! DOUBLE YOI!


Now Playing: "Steelers Fight Song (Pittsburgh's Goin' to the Super Bowl)"

Water Fast Update: Day 5

I'm unfortunately going to stop my water fast this morning. I felt really sick and ended up throwing up a little while ago (TMI but it's true). I was only planning to stick it out until tomorrow so this makes me proud of my first cleanse! I will definitely try out several more this year. I'd like to complete a week but random 3 day fasts conducted incrementally until June should definitely speed up my weight loss. I fasted for over 100 hours and I'm very happy with my will power!

If it weren't for the side effects (headaches, muscle aches, blackouts, nausea, vomitting, bad breath, chest pains, breathing difficulties, etc.) I'd definitely keep going. It's not the eating or food cravings that stopped me. This makes me feel positive about my regular diet and exericse plan and confident in my abilities to stick to my goals in all aspects of my life! People who are capable of fasting for weeks and months at a time truly amaze me! I don't think that long of a fast is what my body needs- regular diet and exercise is the remedy but small fasts will surely benefit my plans!

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am not weighing myself but I can definitely see that my stomach is flatter and my face is slimmer. I can always tell and feel when my body is becoming thinner. I feel this fast truly benefitted me and while not everyone agrees or even understands fasting, I am happy with it. My guess is that I lost between 7-10 lbs. I'm sure this isn't permanent but with a regular diet and exercise plan, a couple may stay off. The point was to get the motivation to start eating less and I think I succeeded.

I'll be sure to keep this blog updated with any future fasts that I plan to do. I'm thinking after the Super Bowl I may do a 2 or 3 day fast and definitely at the end of February and throughout Lent!

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "The Fear" by Lily Allen

Polish of the Moment: InStyle Red by OPI

(Not my hand or photograph)
When my InStyle magazine subscription ran up, my Mom generously gifted me with a year renewal. Part of the promotion included a free subscription for a friend and an OPI polish exclusive to the magazine. It was my kind of deal- a new year of one my favorite reads, a gift to a friend AND a new OPI polish! But it has been a couple months and I completely forgot about it!

InStyle Red arrived in the mail today (I was expecting a few other goodies so I was surprised to get it) and I'm very pleased. Believe it or not, I don't have any "true reds" from OPI. I would consider InStyle Red to be somewhat of a true red but it's more of a strawberry. Very chic and wearable!

Hand Swatch of InStyle Red by OPI
I'm painting my nails black and yellow for the AFC Championship game this weekend (GO STEELERS!). Otherwise, I would have tested it on my nails but it looks great (especially for free)! I'll most likely wear this on Valentine's Day <3


If the promotion is still ongoing, I highly recommend getting your hands on this polish! InStyle is one of my favorite magazines and it's well worth the cost to subscribe!


Now Playing: "Cult Logic" by Miike Snow

As If?!

As I was reading one of my favorite sites, DListed.com, I came across a post that mentioned actress Stacey Dash turned 45 today. This stopped me in my tacks. Stacey is best known for playing Dion in the 1995 movie, Clueless (and later, in the television series).


Clueless is one of my favorite movies of ALL time! The fact that Stacey Dash was playing a high schooler at 30ish should have garnered her an Oscar. She's 45 and looks unbelievably good. By the way, Cher AKA Alicia Silverstone is pregnant and Brittany Murphy had a tragic, untimely passing last year. I'll be 25 in twelve days. I now feel like time is slipping by. Pass the moisturizer!


All of these reflections on age made me miss my large and fabulous collection of fluffy pens (I was the envy of every fourth grade girl). I recently tried to find some online but I didn't come across any that weren't "toe up." To cheer me up, here is nice little montage of Dion's best Clueless moments. Enjoy! :)




Now Playing: "Kids In America" by The Muffs (Kim Wilde Cover)

Water Fast Update: Day 3

I'm very proud to report that I have stuck to my water fast! Yesterday (Day 2), it was very tempting to quit. I went to a bridesmaid get together for my friend's wedding. There was plenty of my favorite snacks in front of my face and the wine was flowing! I'm pretty positive this was the first time in my life that I turned down wine. But I stuck to my plan and only drank water.

My acai supplements came in the mail today! I did take one this afternoon and will take another in a couple hours (I am awake at really odd hours so this is relatable to someone's breakfast and lunch). I have plans to go out Saturday night, so I may give up the fast that morning. I would be satisfied with 5 days! My next fast I will definitely go for 6 or 7 days!

As far as cravings go, my sense of smell seems heightened. At the moment, we don't have too many of my favorite foods at the house, so temptations have been limited. I felt a bit tired today but nothing too extreme. I am experiencing some slight muscle aches but again, nothing terrible. I'm thinking the accai supplements will help me with my energy levels. My stomach is growling but I actually enjoy the feeling of being hungry when I'm trying to lose weight. It's like getting an alert from your body that what you're doing is working. I feel lighter and my skin looks better!

I refuse to weigh myself when I'm dieting- atleast not until a month or so into it. I can notice the difference in the way I feel, how my clothes fit and what the mirror tells me. It's not about a number on the scale. My weight is constantly fluctuating and I think weighing-in everyday would only be detrimental to my longterm success. I don't want to get discouraged and give up! I'll be sure to post again on Friday and/or Saturday to share how I'm feeling! :)


Now Playing: "Hang Me Up to Dry" by Cold War Kids

Water Fasting

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Yesterday, I started my first of hopefully many water fasts. I'm aiming for 6 days. I'd go for 7 but the AFC championship game is Sunday and I know I'll want to enjoy a few drinks. If I plan on drinking, I'll have to consume some type of food to avoid getting sick!

I was able to control what few cravings I had by drinking plenty of H2O. After 24 hours, I did have a peppermint. That's technically 20 calories and considered cheating but I figured rules are meant to be broken. The peppermint helped with my stomach and gave me the sensation of actually eating. I'm going to purchase some sugar free gum for future fasts. Chewing gum is a great trick because part of the desire to eat stems from our bodies' habit of having something in our mouth. It's the same with people who try to quit smoking. The hand to mouth sensation is a major contributor in addiction.

I'm doing the water cleanse to jump start my diet. I'm trying to lose the weight (and then some) that I put on over the past couple years. I'm not happy with the way my clothes are fitting and I just don't feel like myself. I'll probably never be a size 2 and I'm fine with that but I do want to be healthier! How we look is in sync with how we feel! Hopefully by summertime I'll be back to my normal, healthy weight!

Wish me luck!

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "Will There Be Enough Water" by The Dead Weather

Nail Polish of the Moment

West Village by NYC
Today, I'm wearing West Village by NYC- a beautiful, midnight blue. It almost looks purple in the bottle but it's actually a deep, navy. I absolutely love this polish! Not only does it have a quick dry formulation but it also leaves a nice shine. Best of all, it's only about $2 at the drug store! I believe I picked it up last year at Rite Aide for either $1.99 or on sale for .99! This nail polish is just as great or better as any from my OPI or Essie collections. I highly recommend it!

West Village by NYC

West Village by NYC (Natural Lighting)



Now Playing: "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire

File Sharing

While listening to London's NME radio (Lord, I love the internet), I discovered an amazing band- I Am Kloot. I'm about 10+ years late in finding this group or 6 months tardy for the party in terms of their new album (Sky At Night). But better late than never! I was really impressed and wanted to share some tunes with you on my blog. I hope you enjoy. It's the perfect music to listen to at night!


Northern Skies by I Am Kloot


Proof by I Am Kloot


I Still Do by I Am Kloot


To The Brink by I Am Kloot

Golden Globes 2011- Best Dressed

First Annual Joan Crawford's "No Wire Hangers!" Award

I found myself flipping the remote back and forth from fashion to football! Between the Jets-Patriots game and the red carpet for the Golden Globes, I was under a lot of stress, lol. I didn't want to miss out on any big plays or beautiful gowns. Fortunately, the Jets came out on top and the AFC Championship game will now be played here in Pittsburgh!

Here is my best-dressed list! Enjoy :)

BEST-DRESSED Olivia Wilde was recently in a movie that filmed in my neighborhood (The Next Three Days). She is channeling Carla Bruni with the hair and the makeup!

Anne Hathaway, nominated for Love and Other Drugs which was filmed in Pittsburgh!

Catherine Zeta-Jones looking like Hollywood royalty in emerald green

Jennifer Lopez's gown was so unique! I loved the neckline- definitely in line with current runway trends (70s, white)

Megan Fox presented and looked amazing!

Angelina Jolie looked beautiful in this emerald green number- nice to see her in color

Kyra Sedgwick looked effortlessly elegant in this tangerine frock. I love the earrings with this dress!

Notable Mentions:
January Jones- the classic beauty looked hot in a daring red Versace gown
Amy Adams- the feisty Fighter actress rocked a beautiful navy number
Helen Mirren- presented in an age-appropriate gown fitted for a Queen
Eva Longoria- always one to get it right on the red carpet, a beautiful black gown
Piper Perabo- looked sleek and sophisticated with hair pulled back, black gown w/ bow

...What The?!
Michelle Williams- A home-economics project from 1975 gone wrong, atrocious
Natalie Portman- Most disappointing, a sex motel bed sheet with a glued on flower
Helena Bonham Carter- scarier than the red Queen herself, was this a joke?! She also shot Melissa Leo (The Fighter) a dirty look during her acceptance speech (Carter lost)
Halle Berry- One of the most beautiful women in Hollywood with one of the best bodies I've ever seen- not even those attributes can explain her dress. Too short! Save it for the Grammy's!
Heidi Klum- Yet another gorgeous woman with an amazing body- this dress was hideous! While I like Rachel Zoe, it reminded me of something she would wear to the beach. Yuck!
Julianne Moore- A wonderful actress (I once auditioned to be her hand double in a movie, lol) but a terrible dress! Girls with pink undertones and red hair should avoid wearing pink, especially in this capacity. Terrible!

I'm looking forward to the Academy Awards- aka The Oscars! Joan Crawford's "No Wire Hangers" Awards will continue on!


Now Playing: "Only Girl (In the World)" by Rihanna

PLAYOFFS!

The Terrible Towel!

In less than an hour, my beloved Steelers will host the dirty birds...cough, the Baltimore Ravens! The winner will head to the AFC Championship either at New England or here in Pittsburgh (depending on the outcomes). It has been a great season and I'm looking forward to this matchup!

To show my Steeler spirit, I painted my nails black- I wasn't in the mood to paint them yellow or gold this week. I chose Essie's Licorice which is a beautiful, opaque black. Below are a couple snapshots from my webcam. Licorice only took 2 coats but it was opaque after just 1! I first heard about this polish in a magazine. Makeup creator and icon, Bobbi Brown listed it as her favorite!

Licorice by Essie

Licorice by Essie

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!


Now Playing: "Black and Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa

The Look For Less: NAIL POLISH DUPE ALERT!

(Please forgive the quality of these pictures. My digital camera and cell phone are both not working properly. I captured these on my webcam.)

As stated in a previous post, I have acquired an addiction to nail polish. I was in the mood to add to my Essie collection, so I searched the net for suggestions. A few things factor into my selection process- color, quality, price, ratings, name of product. Essie is known for having a lot of beautiful pinks. I liked the name Lily Pond, so I ordered it. I expected it to be a pale to medium toned pink- a natural look that wouldn't wash my fair skin out. I was happy with the polish that showed up in the mail (I bought it on Amazon.com) but it looked a bit different than I expected. It also looked familiar.


When I painted my nails, it turned out a bit brighter than I would have liked but Lily Pond still manages to compliment my extremely fair skin. I kept looking down at my nails and realized it looked really familiar. I went into my room and grabbed the box that houses my nail polish collection. Sure enough, I knew I had an exact dupe in Sinful Color's Beautiful Girl. Sinful Colors is one of my favorite brands for nails. It only runs $1.99 at the drugstore (Walgreen's, Rite Aide). Sometimes you can even get Sinful Colors for .99! Essie is much more expensive at $8 dollars (Ulta, Target).


Both polishes have a cream formulation. To get a perfectly opaque finish, Essie (notorious for its thin compositions) required 3 coats. Sinful Colors is much thicker and only called for 2 coats. The similarities between these two polishes are striking. I am so confident in calling Lily Pond (Essie) & Beautiful Girl (Sinful Colors) dupes that I could easily wear one on my right hand and the other on my left- I guarantee no one would ever be able to tell they were two different polishes. This is the best dupe I have ever seen from any type of makeup product!

Lily Pond (Essie), Beautiful Girl (Sinful Colors)

Lily Pond by Essie

Beautiful Girl by Sinful Colors

Left- Beautiful Girl by Sinful Colors, Right- Lily Pond by Essie

The webcam is picking up the colors a bit differently. Both are prettier in person and are close to being exact matches. If you were planning on purchasing Lily Pond by Essie, save yourself the money! :)


Now Playing: "Zephyr Song" and "Scar Tissue" (Live at Slane Castle) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Beauty Alert! Birchbox Edition

As a total beauty and fashion junkie, I love to read magazines and blogs to keep up-to-date on the latest trends. I follow quite a few beauty gurus on YouTube and subsequently read their blogs, tweets, etc. One particular guru, MissGlamorazzi, has a dailybooth account. As I was checking out her pictures, I noticed in one photo, she was holding a beautiful box and had a huge smile on her face. The girl has great taste and I knew whatever was inside was likely pretty cool. I was struck by the beautiful packaging and read the words on the box, "Birchbox".

I know that MissGlamorazzi lives near San Francisco so I assumed it was from an upscale boutique. I googled "Birchbox" and was delighted. Birchbox is a service that sends you four to five deluxe beauty samples each month for $10. It's a great way to try out new products from high-end luxury companies like NARS, Stila and Laura Mercier.

I'm not sure if I'm going to subcribe for the year but for now, I did sign-up for one month. My Birchbox is expected to arrive on or near February 10th! It will be a nice post-25th birthday gift slash early Valentine's present to myself. I'm obsessed with all things miniature or beauty-related, so this type of company is right up my alley.

I'll hopefully post a haul video next month on my YouTube channel but I will definitely blog about my first Birchbox! :)


Now Playing: "Life On Earth" by Band of Horses and "Out Getting Ribs" by Zoo Kid

Book Update! Chapter 2 Is Finished!

I just finished writing the second chapter of my first book! I'm aiming for each chapter to be atleast 3,300 words. I wasn't sure how difficult or easy this task would be but so far, so good! The second chapter surprisingly turned out a little bit longer than the first. I am at exactly at 6,800 words!

I'll go back to revise and edit tomorrow and start working on Chapter 3! My goal for this week is to surpass 10,000 words and I'm confident that I will be able to do it! If I write roughly 20,000 words per month, I should have my book done by Spring (mid-April, hopefully). It would be lovely if I could have all my query letters out by May. I really hope I am able to find a great literary agent! Fingers crossed! XX

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "Fader" by The Temper Trap

Nail Polish Addiction

Glitzerland
Over the past year, I have developed an addiction- to nail polish. I wasn't always a nail person. In fact, during college I remember running out the door and thinking to myself I probably should have painted my nails. I would grab one of the five or so polishes I had in my "collection", do a quick swipe of color and let them air dry as I sprinted out the door to my usual watering hole. By the time I went for my first bathroom break, I would look down at my nails and notice they were chipped, dented or smudged. It didn't even faze me. Recalling on those lost years of nail care, I can only laugh at my indiscretions.
Over The Taupe
The reason I got into nail polish in 2010 was because I didn't have my healthiest year. I wasn't always in the mood to buy clothing but I still had the desire to shop. I focused instead on buying more beauty products than I needed, including tons of nail polishes. I bought some because I loved the color (Cuckoo For This Color), some because the name was too cute to pass up (Dating A Royal), and others because the shade matched my sports' teams (No Room For the Blues- Pens' throwback color). Dating A Royal
I have the tendency to bite my nails from time to time. They are also somewhat brittle. As soon as they get some sort of length, they split or start to get in my way. I've accepted this fact. But the least I can do is paint them, right? A beautiful shade of polish can brighten your day, add an extra touch to an outfit and ofcourse make your nails look better.
No Room For the Blues
My collection has grown from a handful of polishes to well over 100 bottles. My favorite brands are OPI, Essie, Revlon and Sinful Colors but I have a random bottle or two from more companies than I care to name. Because OPI has such a quality product that many girls love, I thought I'd share my growing collection on my blog!
Ski Teal We Drop
I'm hoping to launch my YouTube channel in a month or two in the beauty community. There will definitely be a video featuring my entire collection. But until I have a camera and I'm a bit more "camera ready", I thought this post would be the next best thing! Enjoy :)
Italian Love Affair

Shorts Story

Manicurist of Seville

Quarter of a Cent-Cherry

An Affair in Red Square

Lincoln Park After Dark

Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow

Cuckoo For This Color

You Don't Know Jacques Suede

Suzi Skis In the Pyranees Suede

Bubblebath

Tutti Frutti Tonga

Rumple's Wiggin'

Lunch at the Delhi

Chopsticking to My Story


While I have more than enough polishes, I want my OPI collection to grow to about 50. OPI is always coming out with new shades that match what's in style and who can resist their names? I suppose there is worse things I could be addicted to, right? I'm finding a lot on Amazon.com but if anyone knows where I can find OPI for less than $5 WITHOUT S&H, I'd appreciate it! I know ULTA has them on sale from time-to-time but I'm always looking for instant gratification :)



Now Playing: "Walking On a Dream" by Empire of the Sun, "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, and "Zebra" by Beach House