I'm a Slacker, Blame my Computer!

I haven't been posting nearly as frequently as I want to, or should, for that matter. In addition to traveling a lot recently, I have been having major computer problems.

My current laptop is an out of date Dell. It's about five years old and past its prime. For the last few months I have been trying to decide what type of replacement computer I'd get. Unfortunately--but mostly fortunately--other expenses have popped up such as: recently buying a new 2009 Scion TC, paying a year's worth of car insurance, splurging at a bachelorette trip to Palm Springs (which I hope to tell you about soon), planing on going all out for my 25th birthday celebration in West Hollywood, (happily) assuming the maid of honor responsibilities in a wedding, and traveling to San Diego to enjoy a weekend at a beach house.

Yeah, so it's mainly my fault that the laptop buying has been delayed. However, today I am going to the Apple store to look at a MacBook. I'm a bit nervous because I've always been a PC kinda gal, but after being convinced by my good friend and co-Beauty Chatter, Sarah, I think I have committed to the change.

So, hopefully you'll soon hear that I am the new owner of a MacBook. And then the posts will flow thereafter =)

PS...the earthquake yesterday hit in my neighboring city if Chino Hills, California, I live in Chino. Luckily there were no major damages reported with this quake. It was pretty big though, reports says it was a 5.4 and others say 5.8...so I say somewhere in between.

Photo courtesy of: Mac

Accessory Bug: Great Deals on Purdy Purses

The perfect compliment to any outfit is a purse. Whether it be a clutch, hobo, tote, or satchel, the right handbag can make all the difference. And while I do adore my designer names--let's be realistic--they aren't always within my spending limits. The solution: Accessory Bug.

They do an amazing job of finding the styles women adore, with price tags that we can relate to. Take, for example, their "steal her look" from this month: Eva Longoria.

Above we see the starlette pictured with a stunning clutch that undoubtedly retails for big bucks. But below is a comparable style (Black Evita Ruffled Faux Patent Leather Clutch) that goes for only $34.99. Pretty impressive!

Want this clutch? Or another great steal from the Accessory Bug? Start shopping! Another great incentive to visit this site: the additional 10% off any purchase that they are offering to you, my readers. Use the coupon code summer08 by September 30th for your discount.

Photos courtesy of: Accessory Bug

Ed Hardy Swim 2008 Makes a Splash at Miami's Fashion Week

A few days ago Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Miami wrapped up and one highlight is still being admired by many, Ed Hardy Swimwear. Here are some of my top loves from the collection:

Fifth Look

Sixth Look

Eighteenth Look (Last Look)

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images)

in(fus)ium 23: the (moistur)ologie collection

Another one of my vacation must-haves: in(fus)ium 23. Whenever going to the lake, river, beach--pretty much any body of water--you need a good hair care line that will keep your locks healthy. There are far too many disgusting items floating around in the water to not take any action. My secret to maintaining silky smooth hair during water activities is the (moistur)ologie collection.My hair is long (it sits just below my bra strap on my back), and the sun and water increase the amount of tangles I get, creating that dreaded "mop" look. To prevent major breakage, as well as a scary look, I adhere to in(fus)ium's three easy steps: renew, replenish, restore. In other words, I wash and condition my hair with the (moistur)ologie products, then follow up with a leave-in conditioner from the same line. Not only does this make combing my hair an easy task, but it also results in extreme softness.

While I am addicted to these products mainly when my hair is at its worst, I recommend using them everyday for sultry strands. in(fus)ium products can be purchased at drug stores like CVS and Walgreens and run at about $6-$7. So you're lookin' at less than $25 for the whole collection, not bad!

This hair care brand also offers (repair)ologie, (frizz)ologie, (colour)ologie, and (volum)ologie collections, covering just about any needs you may have.

(Photo courtesy of: CVS.com)

Christian Bale Arrested?!

Reports are swirling that the Brit, who plays Batman--Christian Bale, is in police custody stemming from an assault against his mother and sister. The actor was in his native England for the premiere of "The Dark Knight," after which he turned himself in to the authorities in London, where it is reported he still remains.

Just one night before the incident (which is still a mystery), TMZ reported that Bale was showing signs of fatigue at LAX. Could this be the cause of the assault(s)?

UPDATE: According to E!, Bale was released from police custody and denies any wrongdoing against his mother or sister. It's reported that he was cooperative throughout the investigation and has not been charged.

Photo courtesy of: The StarPhoenix

RAWSkincare Ambiaty Concentrated Serum and it's Many Uses

As promised, I am here to review the products that couldn't be lived without during my vacation a few weeks ago. This review is actually one that revolves around my mom and her use of RAWSkincare's Ambiaty Concentrated Serum.

My mom has a weird reaction to the sun every time we go to the lake or river and her face swells up in the area between her eyes. It's pretty scary because she kind of looks like a lion when it happens. Her dermatologist recently told her that she's allergic to the sun when extremely exposed.

Well, while she doesn't keep out of the sun like she should, or take other precautions, like wearing a hat or sunscreen, she did accidentally stumble upon a cure to her king of the jungle-sized problem: Ambiaty Concentrated Serum.

More concerned with wrinkles than skin cancer, my mom used this product more than sunscreen over the course of our week-long vacation. She was surprised to discover that this beauty product has a little secret, it prevents inflammation caused by allergic reactions to the sun!

Although recommended to rejuvenate the skin and help it appear more youthful, it makes sense that it would actually work the way it did for my mom. The RAWSkincare cream is also designed to reduce pore size, improve hydration, promote healthy cell turnover, and increase the growth of collagen.

So, I can see how this product effectively kept her face looking fresh, and for lack of a better word, normal. In addition to all of the amazing benefits of the Ambiaty Concentrated Serum provides, it also boasts 100% natural certified organic ingredients.

Photo courtesy of: Raw Natural Beauty

"The Dark Knight" Breaks Records as Predicted

Over the weekend I committed myself to seeing "The Dark Knight." The reason I say committed is because it was no easy task. As you probably already heard, the film broke all sorts of records, including the biggest film debut in history. With numbers like $158.4 million (according to the AP), it comes as no surprise that actually getting to catch the flick was an obstacle. (I bet Katie Holmes is kicking herself in the butt right about now!)

On Friday my friend/co-worker and I bought tickets early to see a nighttime screening of the latest Batman saga. We arrived an hour early and even stood in a line outside, only to be disappointed to find that other moviegoers felt the need to save entire rows of seats for their companions that weren't even at the theater! Needless to say, we weren't sitting in the front row and got a refund.

So persistent as we are, we tried again the next day. This time we arrived two hours early which landed us perfect seats.

Without spoiling the movie, my review is that it wasn't all that I'd expected. Now, don't get me wrong. It was a great movie, well-worth the money spent, but maybe not spectacular enough to warrant a two-hour wait in line.

The performances were good, however; I feel that there was far too many expectations placed on the late Heath Ledger's shoulders. His acting was superb--eerie and funny--but all of the publicity surrounding his death and this film made me assume that it'd be the best acting I'd ever encounter. In no way is this a disrespectful opinion of a deceased actor's skills, I really thought he was magnificent as The Joker! But, I also think that because he's no longer with us, the film did much better than it would have if he were still alive. I also feel bad for all of the other actors invloved because they haven't really received the praise they deserve.

Can I just say though, I really liked The Joker's wardrobe! I loved the look, not gonna lie.

Without giving the movie away to those who haven't seen it, what do you think? Do you feel Ledger will get the Oscar nom?

Photos courtesy of: PopMatters and Beauty Chat

Preimo Award Nominations

Glamouricious of Share My Fashion Addictions (one of my favorite blogs/bloggers!) graciously nominated me for the Preimo Award! Now it's my turn to pay it forward. I want to recognize my favorite reads, which include:

1. Share my Fashion Addictions


2. Diary of a Personal Shopper


3. For the Love of Beauty


4. KDC Events


5. The Indian Make-Up Diva


6. Beauty Tyrant


7. Fashion Addict

Show your support and nominate 7 other blogs for this wonderful award.

Thanks to everyone who reads my blogs, it means so much more to me than you know!

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Rock the Hollywood Bowl

Due to my vacation, this blog is a bit late, almost three weeks tardy in fact. However; because the concert that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers put on at the Hollywood Bowl was so amazing, I figure, better late than never!

June 25 I attended this marvelous show at the famed Hollywood Bowl. If you haven't been to this magnificent outdoor amphitheater and you ever get the chance--do so. Nestled right in the busy city, yet far enough in the hills to seem like you're a world away, the setting is serene for a summer concert. This was my first time at the venue. Although the place gets packed, the experience is well-worth the far away parking and the climbing of small "mountains" before taking your seat possibly so far from the stage that you have to watch the TV screens (yeah, I had bad seats!).

It was definitely a night of firsts for me, as I had never seen the band perform live before. If I had to describe the event in one word, breathtaking is most certainly appropriate. To hear "I Won't Back Down" live gave me chills. The emotion in Petty's voice is remarkable. You can feel exactly what he's feeling as he belts out the lyrics to this empowering song.

And when "Free Fallin'" was being played, it was magical to be located right in the location that the song refers to:

"All the vampires walkin' through the valley

Move west down Ventura Boulevard

And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows

All the good girls are home with broken hearts"

and

"I wanna glide down over Mulholland

I wanna write her name in the sky

Gonna free fall out into nothin'

Gonna leave this world for a while"

One of my hobbies includes going to concerts. Every summer I try to squeeze in at least five, a much lower number since I graduated from college a few years back. In fact, the week of this show I also attended another concert in LA (O.A.R.) and was also supposed to see my favorite band, 311, at least twice (but unfortunately the family vacation ruined that!). Point is...I've been to many concerts, but I can confidently say that this was one of the greatest. If I weren't so obsessed with 311, I'd say that it was in fact the best.

If you are a Tom Petty fan and you ever have the chance to see him live, grasp that opportunity!

Photos courtesy of: The OC Register and Wikipedia

Giveaways!

I, personally love giveaways. Therefore, I enjoy informing my readers when I know of contests taking place. Here are a few that you may want to look into:

• My latest post on Beauty Chat revolves around Anna Carey Jewelry Design, a cool company that has donated a fabulous necklace to be awarded to one lucky contestant.


• Beauty in Real Life is hosting an Elizabeth Grant giveaway.


• Head over to Share my Fashion Addictions to enter to win a hot Guess tote.

And for ongoing contests that are sure to please, be sure to regularly check in with Chic Things Galleria. Their giveaway page is always featuring great prizes that you'll want to win!

Good luck =)

Barton Perreira Eyewear

New to the fashion world is Barton Perriera, a haute glasses line that specializes in sun and optical frames. Less than a year old, these shades have already been spotted on the likes of new mommy Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, and Jada Pinkett-Smith. (Jada is wearing the "Emmanuelles.")

According to the company, they define their brand as:

"Dedicated to pure luxury, Barton Perriera's approach to fashion redefines style and elegance."

Well, they must be on the right track because their creations are sun and celeb-worthy and many are taking notice. In fact, this week the sunglasses even got a nod in a NY Times article. Further proof that they have made it big.

To check out the many fabulous styles that this line offers (my personal fav is the "Erika" style), and to find out where you can purchase a pair of Barton Perrieras, visit their Web site.


(Photo courtesy of: Barton Perriera)

Day Trip: Venice Beach

Today consisted of a drive down to Venice Beach. Living less than an hour outside of LA, you'd think that all of my time is spent there (and I'd like it to be), but it's not. I am pretty unfamiliar with most of the west side, and am only semi-acquainted with the Hollywood region. So anytime that I can explore the area, I'm in.

Before heading down to the seaside city that is often associated with "freaks," for a lack of a better word, I was a bit nervous of what I would encounter. I have heard all of the stories about people who dress up and try to get you to give them tips, as well as Muscle Beach, and the other questionable attractions--needless to say, I was a bit more paranoid than I probably should have been.

To be honest, there wasn't much to see at all. The street was lined with small shops selling pretty much the same things; clothes, jewelry, and bongs. Aside from that, the only real interaction that I had with the locals consisted of numerous people handing out flyers in support of legalizing marijuana and a lady who was clearly on drugs and felt it necessary to take off her shirt and walk in front of hundreds of people semi-naked. Even though I work for a company called PlasticSurgery.com and I see boobs all day long, it doesn't make seeing an exposed woman any more normal haha!

So my opinion: I'm glad I went, but I wasn't moved enough that I'd go back anytime soon.

Has anyone had a better experience, or just a story, related to Venice Beach?

(Photo courtesy of: Answers.com)

My Vaca Recap

I know, it's been awhile since I've written. I returned from my Lake Powell vacation last weekend but have been exhausted getting back into the work routine. Anyways, here's a run down of the trip:

My parents and I headed over to Lake Powell, Utah for a week-long houseboat trip with family. The boat was great--fully equipped with six rooms, three bathrooms, a hot tub, and a slide. We spent our time partaking in the usual lake activities, boating, swimming, riding Jet Skis, tubing, and wakeboarding. And in addition to soaking up the sun, we also took in our surroundings which included Rainbow Bridge, a beautiful national monument.

But now I'm back, so expect some product reviews related to the items that helped me get through seven days at a remote location (the downside of completely taking a week off!).

Oh, and you may have noticed that the color scheme of the blog has changed. Join the Gossip is getting a new look. Soon I will have an updated/graded layout, new graphics, and much more!