What's Your Makeup Lingerie?

All my makeup fits in a small Kama Sutra Honey Dust tin... with room to spare. No, I don't have much makeup. Not anymore, at least. In my 20s, I experimented a LOT. I lived in Hawaii (you can get stuff in the US you just can't get in Canada) and Vancouver BC (you can get stuff in Vancouver you just can't get in Winnipeg) at the time. My bathroom counter was lined with every skincare and cosmetics line you can imagine!

But when I hit my 30s (and once again living in Winnipeg), I realized that sinking half my paycheque into an RRSP (registered retirement savings plan) rather than the local M.A.C. counter would probably be better for my future. Around this time, I started to adopt a more natural look, just enhancing what I already had.

Thus evolved what my friend Jen at Mythbuster Beauty calls my "makeup lingerie".

What is "makeup lingerie"?
It's the bra and panties of the face. It's what you would never leave the house without putting on first, just in case you run into an old high school rival or the ex who dumped you, or heaven forbid, you get hit by a bus (hope you have clean underwear on too!).

So, what's YOUR makeup lingerie?

Here's mine:

mascara - Avon Astonishing Lengths waterproof (black) - and my lashes must be curled!

brow gel - Rimmel Style & Shine

tinted lip balm - Aveda (coco plum)

tinted moisturizer - PF Organic wear (Natural to Tan) - used as concealer around the eyes

Okay, now you! :)

The Sun Comes Out and the Snow Boots Come Off

It'll be 9C today, if the weather people are to be believed, and since it was warm enough yesterday for Mini to forgo wearing her jacket, I figured we should start to make the transition to spring outerwear.

So, I went into the bowels of my home and brought up the spring/summer jackets and shoes. They all still fit for the most part, except for Lam's rain boots. Too small. Bummer, really, because his not wanting to wear his snow boots to school anymore was actually the catalyst for this event. Again, bummer.

Mini, on the other hand, is in rain boot heaven. Her yellow boots finally fit, and she's been wearing them around the house. "Look, Mommy, my boots fit! I'm a big girl, right?!"

You know, it's transitions like these - going from winter to summer and vice versa - that frustrate me. We now have two sets of outer wear in our closet because Winnipeg weather is very fickle until about, oh, June, when it allows us to put our parkas in storage.

Meh, I should just stop complaining. It's getting warmer, and the snow drifts on my front yard are melting. Happy happy. :)

Friends south of the equator are experiencing their seasonal transition too.

So, are you all suited up for the new season? Not yet? Have been for weeks already?

Is it Ever OK to Eat Lipstick?

Photo: Experiment in Lipstick

No, I don't think it's ever OK to eat lipstick.
I don't open my purse while running errands and think "I only have time for a bite of my Aveda". It's been a long time since I bought lip product for its scent and/or taste... although cherry-flavoured lip balm still makes me smile.
But I know I still end up eating it... while eating my tasty poached eggs, drinking my cups of green tea, smooching with Roomie...

In fact, the average woman eats over 6 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime (that's over 500 tubes!)... so maybe we should be buying lipstick based on its edibility.

In Cindy Mortimer's article in the November 2007 Issue of Alive Magazine, many ingredients in drugstore lipsticks are known to cause irritation and UV sensitivity, are known pollutants, and are known to be carcinogenic. Yum..

For truly yummy lipstick, reach for the natural stuff containing Vitamin E as a preservative, ingredients like cinnamon or shea butter as antiseptics, and emollients such as cocoa butter or beeswax.

Check out Cindy's charts of natural vs. drugstore lipstick ingredients at:
http://alive.com/6408a15a2.php

Is your lipstick harmful or healthy? Find out at:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ (Thanks again for the link, d!)

Roomie just suggested that the next post should be "Is it Ever OK to Eat Glue?" Good grief...

January 2008 - My Makeup Case

Photo: Me

Okay, so I've made some changes to my makeup case based on the companies I found that do/don't test on animals, as well as other cool new makeup stuff I've stumbled on, or read about.
Because I like trying new things, I'll be doing an update post like this every once in a while.
Here's the latest...

Moisturizer: Avon Solutions Hydra-Radiance
Foundation/Concealer: Aveda Tinted Moisture - Sweet Tea
Brow Gel: Rimmel Brow Gel
Mascara: Avon Astonishing Lengths Waterproof - Black
Eyeliner: Aveda - Cacao
Eye Shadow: Aveda Uruku - Tagua (comes in a tube)
Lipliner: Aveda Uruku - Morena (I often use this as an overall colour)
Lip Colour: Aveda Lip Tint SPF15 - Coco Plum (If I'm using this, I don't use the Morena.)
Lip Balm: Aveda Lipsaver SPF15
Hair Styling: Aveda Confixor
Shampoo: PM Tea Tree
Conditioner: PM Tea Tree
Scent: Fruits & Passions Jasmin Body Milk

Tools:
lash curler
MAC retractable lip brush
makeup pencil sharpener
tweezers
hairbrush
blush brush
cuticle stone
nail clippers

Cute Fuzzy Animal Testing...

I was reading Jami's blog the other day, and I was really happy to see that her newest entry that day had a link to Caringconsumer.com's Companies That Do/That Don't Test on Animals.

This came at a good time as I was planning to do a makeup case audit again... part of my 100 Things Challenge... and my mascara was due to be pitched again.

I was so surprised to still see so many big names on the Do Test list, but I'm also very happy to see so many more names on the Don't Test list. At any rate, I'm just glad to know which to support and which to boycott.

Question for my readers: Is testing on animals a factor in your cosmetics/grooming product purchases?

Fruit-Designated Clothing...

Photo: Strawberry by sigusr0

I don't have the typical pear-shaped figure most women have.
In my late teens, I hated that. While my girlfriends would lament their rounded hips and bootilicious booties, I'd be green with envy, cursing my boyish hips and flat bum.

To make matters worse, I started developing (oh, horror!) a monstrous bustline! At 17, I truly had no concept of the womanly power I had growing in the shirt of my school uniform. All I knew was that I didn't enjoy playing sports like I used to, like my A-cup classmates still could, I hated wearing an industrial strength bra, and my back hurt!

That was then...

This is now...

I absolutely love my body! Should come as no surprise - I wrote an article about it. My physique is best described as strawberry-shaped: broad shoulders, large bust and a short waist that tapers down to small hips/butt/thighs.
When my body is healthy and strong, my waist gives me a more hourglass look. My beloved squats and warrior poses lift and shape my butt. And a great professionally-fitted bra makes my 32Es look even more spectacular!

Now that I've come to appreciate - and obviously, brag about - what I have, I've also come to accept that there are some looks I could never pull off. One ensemble of note is the "baggy top and skinny pants" look. The top drapes over and hangs down making me look about 6 months pregnant, and that, paired with the emphasized thinness of my legs (thanks to the skinny pants), makes me look like a chicken.
A sad-looking, 6-month pregnant chicken.

So, during a recent purge, I removed all the tent-like baggy tops, high-waisted pants, and high-necked shirts. And I have kept the clothes that skim the waist, jeans/pants that ride low on my hip bones, and v-neck/scoop-necked shirts.

You should see the number of clothes I've already shipped out in Goodwill boxes! And I didn't have many clothes in the first place.
According to the Pareto Principle, we wear "our 20% most favoured clothes about 80% of the time". I think I'm on my way to wearing 100% of my clothes 100% of the time, and little ol' strawberry me is very happy about that.

Guilty Pleasures...

Roomie refused to get me anything on my Wish List for my birthday this year. Actually, it's like this every year.

Why? Because my list is populated with things I want for the house... a new credenza for the dining room, a new grill machine, a new storage ottoman/coffee table for the livingroom, etc. He says that gifts should benefit the recipient alone, not his/her spouse or kids.

Okay, he's got a point.

So, after thinking long and hard, I asked him for the latest issues of my favourite girlie-girl magazines, In Style and Allure.

I love these suckers! They're fun, inexpensive, and something I wouldn't normally buy for myself. I love seeing what's on the runways this season and how the hottest celebs are wearing their hair and makeup on the red carpet.
I used to buy them all the time, but these days I just can't justify the expense. I can't imagine spending $6 months every month for a book of advertisements that will ultimately end up in the recycling box! Argh!

So, they will forever more be a birthday treat.

Anyway, I was flipping through my lovely InStyle, and on the last page, was their regular feature on Guilty Pleasures. November's was Keri Russell's. I was inspired.
So, because I'm still sick and still too cranky to write anything too deep or profound (that would be too painful), you get another glimpse into the fluffy side of Nenette's brain through my own list of guilty pleasures...

Accessory Addiction?
I'm not really into bling but I rarely ever leave the house without my bracelets -- a dark green jade tortoise woven bracelet, a gold teddy bear charm bracelet, and a gold watch bracelet -- all worn on my left wrist. Bracelets on my right wrist bug me when I write.

Fashion Passion?
My sarongs! They're a cool, airy skirt in the summer and a soft, warm scarf in the winter. Everyone should have at least one of these babies! I got turned on to them when I started teaching hula again. Now, they're my summer uniform here in my hot and humid town.

Karaoke Song?
Donna Summer's Last Dance and anything by Barbara Streisand. My girlfriends and I have spent many a drunken night singing "You don't bring me flowers"... ah, good times...


Bad Movie?
Grease 2 holds a special place in my heart - although Roomie would say that my favourite bad movie is Mr. Baseball. Michelle Pfeiffer is super cool in this movie. I knew every single song and would sing to them. I don't know how many times I've seen this show.

Midnight Snack?
Garlic Fried Rice. A yummy, yet high cal, way to use up last night's leftover steamed rice. My ultimate comfort food that reminds me of my lola (grandmother) who raised me my first 3 years on this earth.

Beauty Binge?
Fruits & Passion's Jasmin Body Milk. I use this in place of perfume, and smooth it on my neck, wrists, and cleavage. Reminds me of my other lola who used to grow sampaguita bushes in her front yard in the Philippines.

Celebrity Crush?
Guess. (Hint: If you don't know, you need to read more LifeCandy!)

Okay, now, your turn. What are your own Guilty Pleasures? Hit Comments and let us know!

Ways I've Spent Money to Save Money... and look GOOD!

I will be 38 on Monday, November 5. And I'm happy to say I don't look it. In fact, I've been asked for ID countless times, which always gives me a little bit of a giggle and an ego-boost.

Is it all in the genes? A good deal is, but not entirely. As for the rest, no, I haven't made a deal with the devil, taken some weird placental-lining based concoction, nor do I apply make-up with a trowel. In fact, if you've read what's in my makeup case, you'll know I don't put on much.

No, I don't think it's necessary to spend a fortune to look good. But I'm not cheap either. I do think you have to spend big money on some things, so that you can save on other things. Not sure what I mean? Okay, let me show you how I do it...

Great skin means less makeup. Really, why do we use makeup anyway? To showcase good features and cover up bad ones, right? If your skin is a good feature, would you really want to slather on the makeup to hide it?!
For great skin, I scrub with water and a nice thick soft wash cloth. No cleanser for me because it strips my skin too much. Then I put on good quality moisturizer. I currently love Olay Total Effects, which is also the least expensive I've used. I'm always changing my moisturizer, but I'll never go too cheap with it. Thanks to this regimen, I have very few wrinkles, blemishes, and discolourations.
With a great canvas, I can make my eyes stand out with just drugstore brow gel and mascara on curled lashes. No eyeshadow required. Then I slick on lip colour (okay, I splurge a little on this because I love the smell and taste of Aveda lip stuff). And I look like I've spent a fortune on my face! (Sorry, JD, still no blush!)

A great haircut means less styling time and product. This is SO true. So, when you find a good hair stylist, NEVER let that person go! Some are lucky and find their dream stylist at Magic Cuts or some other economy salon. Most are likely to find theirs at an upscale salon that hires only well-educated and much-experienced stylists, which means $$$. But that's okay... Believe me, they're worth it.
No one else will touch my hair except my stylist Jane... okay, so she's expensive, but she always gives me haircuts that ALWAYS elicit unsolicited compliments.
Jane was the one who told me that with a great haircut - one that suits your hair texture and thickness - you won't need a lot of product to make it go where you want it to go. And this also cuts down styling time resulting in virtually wash-n-go hair.
Well, she was right. I just wash with an inexpensive grocery brand, and just before drying, I slick a very small amount of Aveda Confixor (because it just smells so good!) through my hair. When my hair is almost all dry, I twist it up into a scrunchie to boost my natural wave. Perfect.

Don't pay for expensive drop-in rates... register for the whole yoga session! This works 2 ways: you get fit faster because you're going to each class, and you're motivated to go to each class because you've paid for it all ready. So, you save by getting more classes, by staying healthy (don't miss work and save on doctor's bills), and by keeping your skinny clothes. This worked for me!

Get a pedicure for a whole summer of nice feet. I always get a professional spa pedicure in the late spring, and it usually lasts for the whole summer... Although summers here in the Canadian Prairies are short, so that's not such an impossibility. By getting it done by an experienced professional aesthetician, it gets done thoroughly and properly, saving time and money. And it really does last longer than if I did it myself. And that means, more beach time for me!

So, what are your "Spend Money to Save Money" ideas?

8 Things I Love About My Body

"My Body is a Temple" ~ Nenette Alejandria Mayor

I love my body, therefore, I practice CRON.

Many CRON detractors would consider that statement an outright lie. Why? Because these uninformed masses claim that CRON is an eating disorder, and an aspect of EDs is the hatred of one's body.

I love every inch of me, and because I do, I want to honour this Temple by eating vitamin-and-nutrient-packed foods in quantities that don't overload me or put stress on my system. And CRON is the scientifically proven way for me to keep this gorgeous body of mine for as long as possible.

So, in this day and age when talking about your own lovely bits could be considered gauche, conceited or offensively braggart, I throw caution and modesty to the wind and tell you the 8 things I love about my body. I will then tag 8 of my CRON bloggers to do the same.

And if you don't practice CRON, that's cool too. Please share your list of 8 Things. It can be anything about your body... from head to toe. Don't be modest! Everyone should have a healthy self-esteem. It may feel weird at first, but you'll be happy you did it. After I did my list, I loved myself even more! :)

So, do it! Be proud of who you are, take very good care of yourself, and love your body.

Okay, I love my...

1. short-waisted torso - it makes my legs look longer
2. breasts that after nursing babies for 5 years straight still have some buoyancy
3. skintone - aka the island-girl perma-tan... a friend once described me as "the girl with cafe au lait skin"
4. broad shoulders - kinda makes my head look small, but they look phenomenal when bare
5. thick black wavy hair, that at times has a mind of its own!
6. posture and how I carry my body, sometimes accident-prone but for the most part quite graceful
7. long piano-playing fingers which, although not used for piano-playing anymore, are great at typing out my thoughts at great speed
8. my lips - not too thin, not too Angelina Jolie, just right

Okay, your turn!

This post inspired by April's CR Blog post "I've Changed My Mind: I'm Ready For You This Time".

100 Thing Update - My Makeup Case

I live with a man. A very cute, intelligent, funny man of Northern European (Brit - Scot - Austrian - Dutch) ancestry... 6' tall, runner's physique... salt-n-pepper hair, green/blue/grey eyes... looks a little like Gerry Butler. No, that's not why I married him... he didn't look like Ger when I met him 20 years ago... eh, maybe I saw the potential. :)

Aside from a shower, a swipe of deodorant, and an occasional beard clipping, he needs nothing to make him look and smell like his cute, yummy self.

And then there's me.

Now, I'd like to think I'm low maintenance. And really, if you compare me to many women, I am. But when I was tallying up the contents of my makeup case, I was astounded! When I counted every individual article, it was definitely more than I thought! Here. Have a look...

1. Olay Total Effects moisturizer
2. Rimmel brow gel
3. lash curler
4. XXL waterproof mascara
5. Aveda eyeliner - cacao
6. Aveda tinted moisturizer (which I use as concealer and eyeshadow)
7. Aveda lipsaver balm
8. Aveda lipliner - morena (which I use as an all over lip colour)
9. Aveda eyeshadow (comes in a tube... don't quite remember the name)
10. MAC retractable lip brush
11. makeup pencil sharpener
12. tweezers
13. hairbrush
14. Aveda Confixor styling lotion
15. PM Tea Tree shampoo
16. PM Tea Tree conditioner
17. Lush Olive Branch shower gel
18. contact lens solution
19. Fruits & Passions Jasmin perfume
20. cuticle stone
21. Dior nail polish
22. nail clippers

No, I don't use facial cleanser or toner... just water and a good washcloth... I've never had a breakout since! :)

So, what do you think? I don't think I'll make it under 100 at this rate. Maybe 200... or 300...