tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-361462622012-01-23T15:07:13.433-06:00Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.comBlogger1211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-8681403096507578462012-01-12T12:43:00.000-06:002012-01-12T12:43:52.995-06:00

As Senya requested, here is an updated routine.  As an aside - Several readers over the years have written in claiming that SD is caused by only one thing and all you have to do is _____ (whatever they are shilling) to stop your problem.  I disagree.  I think it is pretty obvious from most of my reader responses, that SD can have several different root causes and you have to work it on your own

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-60717824352534148882011-09-29T22:38:00.000-05:002011-09-29T22:38:06.169-05:00

Grandma Got Conned ... My grandmother and I are fairly far apart in miles, but we keep in touch by phone. We'll play message tag for a couple of days until we get to have a voice to voice, so to speak.  Last weekend and week went about typical.  She called over the weekend, but I was unable to respond to her call until that following Tuesday. We caught up on the latest happenings, the family

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-45798601126040431912011-08-24T09:21:00.000-05:002011-08-24T09:21:50.559-05:00

OPI DS Jewel ... an elite designer series lacquer, guaranteed to make your mouth water in some nail polish induced joy ... right??? Wow. This is once seriously ugly nail polish.   DS Jewel has a streaky, corpse pale, smokey base that causes the first coat to give you slightly shimmery dead nails. The second coat does not improve things much. The third coat does give it some depth

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-88517990717578567232011-08-24T09:07:00.000-05:002011-08-24T09:07:35.090-05:00

I placed my last Barielle order in late September of 2010.  Which is about when I opened my newest bottle of Barielle Hydrating Ridge Filler with Silk Fiber for Dry, Brittle or Ridged Nails. It has been my go to base coat for well over a year now.  This is my second bottle.  It is moisturizing to a point, and has a protein compound to help strengthen nails.  However, I did not get very far

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-46178518927967191922011-05-19T13:19:00.000-05:002011-05-19T13:19:09.694-05:00

Apparently the great blogger outage is only going to repair certain posts ... I would choose the day before the outage to upload four posts of information. I thought Zoya Faye was going to be my color from the collection. A beautiful plum with gold glitter,  just perfect.   However,  it just does not grab my eye.  I'm not sure how a semi-translucent base with gold glitter smorgasbord can be

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-51553812014724489032011-05-14T15:31:00.000-05:002011-05-14T15:31:35.175-05:00

Top Left to Right: Cocoa, Clay Bakin', Apple Plum Second Left to Right: 24K Pumpkin, Pumpkin Eater In bright sunlight. In the shade. Cocoa is almost a my lip shade color, peachy beige, fairly easy to apply.  But I'm really not looking for a nude lip. Clay Bakin' is a bit darker and a bit pinker than Cocoa.  Also fairly easy to apply.   Apple Plum is almost a warmed berry color.  A bit too

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-35714880357877421922011-05-14T13:48:00.000-05:002011-05-14T13:48:19.432-05:00

I do have far too many lipsticks.  But I wear most of them.  Not that I will ever hit the base of a lipstick, but I'm getting close with a couple of my Korres Mangos. Korres lipsticks are usually very light, and very natural looking.  But every once in a while, I want a lipstick with more pigment.  I have a couple Laura Mercier, Stila Long Wears, and Primitives.  I'm always on the lookout for my

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-75851175291838711552011-03-05T19:51:00.000-06:002011-03-05T19:51:59.124-06:00

After my high dungeon speech about OPI turning on its customers and requiring full price sales only, I was inundated by Burlesque swatches. I was grabbed and shaken about by "Take the Stage" a strongly red copper almost glass flecked shimmer.  Being that I also came across a sale, I purchased it ... and perhaps "Rising Star" and "Tease-y Does it!" came along as well. Now that I have applied

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-68894265238758397962011-03-05T19:09:00.000-06:002011-03-05T19:09:54.754-06:00

Since Halloween fell on a weekend in 2010, AND it was Renaissance months at the Texas Renaissance Fair (it runs for about two months in the Fall), I needed something fun to wear to our Sunday fun day at the Renaissance for the 31st of October. The festival, as most of them seem to be these days, is a chest fest.  You've never seen so many pecs and so much cleavage in your life!  A cell

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-13740082720170540062010-11-15T14:02:00.000-06:002010-11-15T14:02:07.239-06:00

In my search for less toxicity and better health, everything has come under scrutiny.  Including my polish collection.  I started collecting more than the typical bottle or two of polish about four years ago. When the 3-free (toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate free ... perhaps it goes to show my own obsessiveness that I didn't even have to look up the spelling for those) craze started

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-37101194308176491712010-11-15T11:37:00.000-06:002010-11-15T11:37:50.976-06:00

I've just about killed my lemming for NARS Mash with China Glaze's new "Peace on Earth." A true medium Olive green with gold shimmer, it is the much lighter brother of Wagontrail. It applies beautifully in two coats with lovely coverage.  Exactly what I was hoping for.  Now I need a color in between POE and WT.  :) It has no Avocado leanings.

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-6736784442459205952010-11-15T11:26:00.001-06:002010-11-15T11:38:19.951-06:00

CND's new "Urban Oasis" polish is a pretty, though dark, blue-green/teal leaning further to the blue side than green. I expected to dislike the polish once I saw how much blue it had, but I've gotten several compliments and it is beginning to grow on me.  Kinda like a fungus actually ... but I'll still switch to CGs "Peace on Earth" when it arrives. After adding the second coat, I almost

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-27540484693088016612010-10-25T13:16:00.000-05:002010-10-25T13:16:21.062-05:00

Christine Jonson website http://www.cjpatterns.com/ Christine Jonson's Travel Trio One Pattern was on clearance at Nancy's Notions when I purchased a software title. Drawing from Christine Jonson website. I decided to take the plunge because I like the idea of having elongating seams on all pant pattern pieces, and at clearance price, I could not pass it up.  Even though I had a rotten

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-56618730873819258242010-10-25T12:18:00.000-05:002010-10-25T12:18:29.975-05:00

OPI, I am very disappointed!  (Fifth Element Oldman flash!) Who the Shrek are You? is so ugly, you want to like it for that alone.  You want to reassure the color, "While others may turn away, I will wear you with pride!"  Except, WTSAY? is not just the green monster, but the green pigmentless monster!  RUN AWAY, RUN AWAY!!! Probably the worst balding color I have ever seen, except for a

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-29488547283858516552010-10-25T12:12:00.000-05:002010-10-25T12:12:44.530-05:00

"While the last rays of the sun lay dying ..."  I feel like I'm writing my dime store novel. It is that time of year where the media is hyping Fall!  Fall color, fall texture, fall temperatures. Houston does not feel very fallish, mid-summer perhaps, but NOT fall.  Not even fall anticipatory. So I'm caught in a Fall mood, without a Fall environment with which to back it up.  Enter, China

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-7095522894684136032010-10-25T12:10:00.000-05:002010-10-25T12:10:14.689-05:00

I made this pattern when it first came out many, many years ago.  I used a transparent deep turquoise rayon and have worn the kimono top when I remember it.  Being that it located in a drawer and not hanging in the closet, it is a bit easy to forget about. Forward to the last year or so, when I kept saying to myself, I need a summer robe.  And after checking and re-checking all the robe

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-75120387596322961872010-09-17T15:35:00.001-05:002010-10-25T12:17:19.507-05:00

I have a first look at Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) new lacquer, Chlorophyll.   As if I could turn away from something with that name ... though I originally placed the order for Swamp Thing.  The new Chlorophyll just jumped in the cart to ride along ... They have very low toxicity, some really unique colors, but still a fairly narrow color range in toto. My first order arrived

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-58732302368070647402010-07-28T20:06:00.000-05:002010-07-28T20:06:53.936-05:00

Pattern Link to Burdamode.com The photo above is from Burda's website, as is the description, "This blouse comes in the new cut, ready for your fashionable appearance next summer! Broadly curved panels, particularly decorative in contrasting fabric, cleverly shape your figure. The blouse is easy to put on and take off due to its back zipper. Recommended fabric: Viscose, crêpe fabrics,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-76597573855172122010-07-25T17:20:00.001-05:002010-09-13T21:03:10.960-05:00

I placed a ten piece order with Flossie Diamond Cosmetics.  I've seen lots of reviews of their polish, and the price is a bit hard to ignore.  While adding my choices into the cart,  I decided to test the "dupe" quotient of two polishes for myself, so I now own Don't Teal My Heart Away (listed as a possible dupe to Ginger + Liz's "New Money" on several sites) and Not So Evergreen (listed as a

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-10462160027260803552010-07-18T22:55:00.000-05:002010-07-18T22:55:27.919-05:00

For those who like orange and pink together. OPI DS Treasure has a sheered mid-pink base with a suspension of gold and orange microglitter.  I think you would need three plus coats to start tackling VNL. The above smear shows the base pink color on white paper.  You cannot see the glitter in the poor shot. My ring finger has one coat, the middle and pointer finger have two coats.  An

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-76388247518730663112010-07-18T11:16:00.001-05:002010-07-18T11:17:44.394-05:00

OPI's Meet me on the Star Ferry (MMOTSF) was in my last OPI purchase.  Really, the last one I will ever make.  Since they have decided to only sell full price, I have decided to take my money elsewhere.  Their polishes are not worth $8.00+ a bottle to me. And I suppose this is a very good example of why they aren't worth it - pretty color, too cool.  The glitter in this is silver.  Which

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-67834374009105432032010-06-03T22:52:00.000-05:002010-06-03T22:52:09.362-05:00

05/18/2010 cont. - We reach our destination and just marvel at all these islands held together by mangrove forests. We have the first cabin but it is still pretty far from the main road.  This is probably the place that frustrated us most.  Through no fault of either our own nor the proprietess, actually.  The Saturday before we leave on Thursday (and two days before I give my finals)

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-60093939275854092132010-06-03T22:49:00.000-05:002010-06-03T22:49:18.360-05:00

05/13/2010 - Headed out at o'dark thirty for the wilds of Mississippi - Stopped at several places along the way, checking the girls regularly, they seem to be settling quickly - stopped for subway at New Iberia, friendly people and adequately staffed ... Regular huge lunchtime crowd - BH walked the girls and we drew a small crowd, I always forget how much attention the girls garner -

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-81631729572197048982010-04-21T22:35:00.000-05:002010-04-21T22:35:12.026-05:00

Shades by Barielle Spicy This was three coats of lacquer, but this formula is amazingly quick drying.  So while I usually can't stand a three coater because of the dry time, this was lightning fast! What else surprised me?  How many thread fuzzies I picked up while these coats were speed drying!!!  I have several strands of black winding their way through my lacquer

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-38544270088204986382010-04-15T10:28:00.003-05:002010-04-15T10:31:08.841-05:00

SpaRitual Hush is a dark warm brown, this is three coats. I did a thin first coat, very streaky. Followed by a heavier thick second, but had to finish with an inevitable third coat when two didn’t give me quite enough coverage. This, like all SpaRituals and their parent company Orly, was very slow to dry. Fairly hidden denting three hours later (even with Diamont top coat).

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-34673230772805066562010-04-13T14:16:00.010-05:002010-04-14T22:37:21.952-05:00

Jalie's Stylish V-Neck Top Pattern http://www.jalie.com/v-neck-top.html The Original Muslin - cut size V (37" bust and 31" waist) to W at hips (41" hips) - lengthen the upper bodice by 1" for long torso - 5/8" sway back adjustment (add back seam) I pretty much put this together as directed. This first muslin was extremely droopy at the neckline. I know other people have

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-58517518711010016042010-04-13T12:49:00.006-05:002010-04-13T13:24:51.518-05:00

Cirneco dell'Etna - Italian rabbit (and squirrel and bird and frog and turtle and ...) hunting breedThe little ones decided to bed down and bask for half an hour this morning.Their squinty-eyed mien was irresistible. I had to take a shot ... or ten.And over to the left ...And look at me ...And bow ...Thank you to our participants, Delta ... on the left, a youthful 9 years old and Massimo ...

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-21202696647998505302010-04-13T11:35:00.005-05:002010-04-13T14:05:38.214-05:00

As Matt, a reader, requested ...here is an untouched closeup of my formerly Seborrheic Dermatitised face. As a reminder, it was the nasolabial folds and the area around my chin where the dermatitis was localized.This picture was taken last month, and is two months short of the two year mark from when I began "curing" my last Seborrheic Dermatitis outbreak.For the most part, my uneven texture and

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-48706061873036724012010-04-13T10:46:00.007-05:002010-04-13T11:35:24.864-05:00

My youngest dog Massimo, 8.5 months and maturing, loves to play with clods of dirt. He crouches and barks at the menacing clumps. Hops forward, picks up the bit, and throws it into the air. His game can stretch for hours.Unfortunately, turtles resemble clods of dirt. I can't decide if Massimo thinks they are the same thing as his bits of dirt, or if he knows they are animals and therefore

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-14599437380552849032010-03-22T17:56:00.011-05:002010-04-20T14:27:30.870-05:00

A glittery metallic smorgasbord of pink. Copied from Ginger+Liz website Swagger description "So what you strut like a “rooster in a hen house”. Why shouldn’t you? You’ve got it, flaunt it! Swagger is a sexy, tough luxe metallic with rose gold undertones. Rock Glam, Casual Chic and Bohemian styles of dress are perfect contenders for

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-87723807178076082392010-03-05T09:52:00.050-06:002010-09-16T16:10:18.986-05:00

Skin Deep Toxicity Levels for Polishes taken from the Environmental Working Group's CosmeticsDatabase.com CND - 3Nfu-Oh - 3Sephora by OPI - 3 American Apparel - 4Misa - 4Revlon - 4Shades by Barielle - 4Zoya - 4 BB Couture For Nails - 5China Glaze - 5Color Club - 5Nubar - 5OPI - 5Rescue Beauty Lounge - 5RGB - 5 Diamond Cosmetics - 6Ginger+Liz - 6Illamasqua - 6NARS - 6 Orly -

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-73506860111685437432010-03-04T22:30:00.009-06:002010-03-08T19:12:16.656-06:00

Simple princess seamed knit dress with keyhole bodice.The keyhole is not at all deep, and perfectly wearable to a variety of functions.I made the dress pattern with sleeves for a work appropriate outfit ... for those throw and go days.A Vogue wardrobe pattern, this had a mix of pieces that appealed to me. But now that I've made up the dress, I am less impressed.The shaping of the princess seams

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-45473740779400477882010-03-04T22:12:00.004-06:002010-03-04T22:26:22.099-06:00

China Glaze's Peachy Keen is awfully, uh, bright.Barielle Hydrating Ridge Filler Base3 coats lacquer1 coat CND "Air Dry"Not streaky so much a wash when applied thinly. After two applications, I still had some funny washed looking nails along with some bright nails. A third coat gave them all a bright evenness.I had some tipwear at day three, but it did hold up remarkably well during a

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-75569245550915566222010-03-04T17:13:00.018-06:002010-07-18T14:54:29.800-05:00

Update - I wore this on the first half of my Florida Vacation as a Pedi color.  And it just doesn't cut it when you can't get it close to your eyes to ooh and aah. The bling just isn't there when it is 5 feet from your head.  I just ended up with a dark muddy green on my toes that just did not thrill me at all. I would recommend this as a mani color ONLY!  

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-48858494703276809532010-02-25T08:58:00.007-06:002010-04-14T22:43:28.614-05:00

I've had a recent hankering for teals. I like the idea of blue-green toe nails. I've watched for this year's "shade," the warm aqua that Pantone has released as Color of the Year - Pantone 15-5519, turquoise. I would say that China Glazes's "Passion in the Pacific" is closest. I have VNL at two coats, so some lacquer ladies would not approve. From Left to Right

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-23029599815073679232010-02-23T10:27:00.004-06:002010-04-14T22:44:11.156-05:00

I'm not against light or "neutral" polishes. But I am strongly opposed to boring polishes. And most of these are boring neutrals that don't work for my skin tone. Too orange a lot of them. The next two photos are of SpaRituals "Solid as a Rock" Not exactly a bad color, but the silvery undertone blew it for me. If Solid had been gold or copper undertoned, we'd

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-36214525784486444722010-02-23T09:57:00.010-06:002010-04-14T22:45:42.148-05:00

Another high priced polish with lackadaisical longevity. Some tip wear and cracktastic nature revealed before two days were up. Beautiful application and fairly quick drying ... though not too. It was amazingly easy to fix boo-boos. This is a gorgeous, though dark, color. A deep rust, or orangey-red color. It dried darker on the nail than the bottle color. Layers: 1 OPI

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-31286663448541664532010-02-23T09:31:00.016-06:002010-04-14T22:49:29.139-05:00

Rescue Beauty Lounge's Bruised Swatch and Wear Bruised is just gorgeous in so many ways. Beautiful reddened deep plum color. Much darker than I expected from other swatches. No pulls and very little streaking. You could get by with one coat IF you were in a hurry. I had excellent coverage with two light coats. Awesome formula, crappy brush. This is only the second or so

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-32903606864399068312010-02-12T15:01:00.008-06:002010-02-12T16:14:51.610-06:00

For lack of great swatches, rotten to non-existent descriptions, and/or manufacturer blobs, every polish order inevitably reveals some OhNos upon package opening.OhNos are polishes that make you want to cry because they either: 1) are so totally NOT your color, OR 2) are so close but still lots-o-ugly on the nail.I'm packing up my latest OhNos collection for delivery to the local nail salon, so

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-91116258808543813052010-01-29T21:24:00.008-06:002010-01-30T01:17:11.722-06:00

Ottobre Dress - "almost" a dumpy dancer's dress ... needs work for this pear shaped body.I described this as a Japanese/Norwegian fusion pattern. It does remind me a bit of Japanese minimalism (Miyake perhaps?) and Van Den Akker's designs. I guess Japanese/Dutch fusion would be more appropriate.It looks really cute in the drawings and photographs, but it has problems. Part of it is the changes

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-80730798618964610592010-01-15T11:41:00.006-06:002010-01-15T12:03:52.793-06:00

Fam's comment, "Did you have to pay extra for that?"Revlon Sheer Nude (thumb)CND Desert Suede (pointer)SpaRitual InnerSanctum (middle)Revlon Totally Toffee (ring)Nubar Milk Chocolate Creme (pinky)(Really bad bathroom light pic in an attempt to get all the fingers in one shot!)I wore this gradation for three days before anyone noticed the oddity.It blended well enough that I'd almost consider this

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-32689815239454119132010-01-15T11:06:00.006-06:002010-01-15T11:39:57.572-06:00

Here's another polish that seems to defy other bloggers' descriptions.I purchased this because the color card seemed to suggest 62 was a peach shade, even though many word descriptions described this as a silver holo. I took a chance.What is it? Peach.62 is a highly reflective polish, and the difficulty comes in seeing more flash than base color. The direct light hits a beautiful peach shade,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-65457631476688263122010-01-15T10:56:00.002-06:002010-01-15T11:05:45.224-06:00

Robotika had an awesome application for a chrome. It went on smoothly, and dried quickly.What came in my bottle does not seem to match a lot of the descriptions I read, and I pulled out my color card, because I don't see a lot of brown in this polish.What I get is a light plum. Located between purple and red, it is comfortably situated in the red-violet portion of the color spectrum.Definitely

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-6058509790006947562009-10-23T12:37:00.011-05:002009-10-23T13:26:08.349-05:00

Once you start polishing your nails, you kinda need to keep up with it. Even the "safest" polishes stain my nails a rather sickening yellow color.In all my 'net searches for "how do I keep polish from staining my nails," the gurus say use a base coat. In my experience, it doesn't work. I've never gone without a base coat, and I still have staining. Maybe you need two coats of base, but that's

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-52072520269538802392009-10-23T12:20:00.007-05:002009-10-30T22:28:17.817-05:00

Zoya Jinx is a lovely medium chestnut brown.I've had it for quite a while, but the paper swatch didn't do it any justice.On the nail it has a fire that is completely missing in the bottle. It makes me wonder how many other wonderful colors I've written off due to a poor bottle show.This mani is approximately four days old and starting to show slight tip wear, no chipping or breakage.My current

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-55133050222445130582009-10-04T00:17:00.006-05:002009-10-04T00:34:23.700-05:00

To all my future college students,Saying, "It's the way you word your questions that cause me to fail your test," is not the way to endear yourself to a professor.If you can't be bothered to study, just own up to the fact. Your professor needs the truth to make suggestions ... lies can't help us pinpoint the underlying problem.When I have students aceing the test, while you are flunking the test

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-4505596239231586952009-10-03T23:17:00.011-05:002010-04-14T22:59:58.147-05:00

Yes, I have a sun allergy. I developed a funky rash on my lower legs after spending a couple minutes reading while my dogs romped around outside this summer. It went away, but the next time we did the same routine, the rash came back. My culprit was the sun. Only the lower legs were exposed and the rash stayed around for several days to weeks, and then disappeared as if never there. It

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-59563717524076873732009-08-10T01:51:00.003-05:002009-08-10T01:59:06.500-05:00

Nubar Cinnamon. Looks nothing like.Depending on the lighting, two coats of Nubar Cinnamon look yellow, gold, or beige. And the microglitter mixes gold and light red. It is not a duo, just very susceptible to light changes.It is not a very attractive color with my skin tone. Perhaps it would be better as a top coat or in a frankenpolish. It did seem to have staying power. Even after four days

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-70962223970673814092009-08-10T01:36:00.005-05:002009-08-10T01:42:50.619-05:00

I'm not a big fan of the basic french or american manicure. I think they are boring, predictable, and utterly passe. However, I do like a funky french on occasion, and my first trial in a very long time is below. The tip color is China Glaze Yee-Haw and the nail color is Nubar Mon Amour. The Nubar is so colorless that I see no difference between a painted nail and a non.China Glaze Yee-Haw is a

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-82533368746101973182009-08-10T01:08:00.004-05:002009-08-10T01:20:59.270-05:00

For the first couple of days wear, I swore that China Glaze "Oh How Street It Is" was too orange. But it has grown on me.It is right on that line of being a more reddened orange than an orange-red. Definitely one of the most orangey colors I have.Unfortunately, I can't recommend the longevity. I have obvious tip wear by day three. Which is when these photos were taken.In an attempt to make

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-86564736661207116032009-08-10T00:13:00.006-05:002009-10-30T22:50:21.758-05:00

I love nail polish. Fun colors that catch the light and brighten your day. Dull colors to calm a wild wardrobe choice. Deep, dark shades that give winter mystery. And the unending search to find the perfect orange-red for that bit of pop when I'm feeling down.Nail Polish companies, on the other hand, make me want to tear my hair out in frustration.I've emailed CND once for suggestions

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-54509832260105325372009-06-02T20:19:00.007-05:002009-08-10T01:49:36.920-05:00

MOISTURIZERI've been using La Roche-Posay Toleriane moisturizer for over a year now, a moderate 3 on the Cosmetics Safety Database website. It works great during the summer months, but once the second month of winter hit, I realized that LRPT couldn't handle the dry. My skin was so tight!I found Toleriane's boosted brother, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche, by looking through the propaganda

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-31427731621182453412009-05-29T15:04:00.005-05:002009-05-29T15:16:27.924-05:00

My go to soap is ALL TERRAIN's Wonder Wash ... I have two backup bottles.It is:- fragrance free (of course)- pH neutral (which makes it a multi-purpose soap)- biodegradable (it is advertised as a Hiker's soap) ... it probably isn't environmentally friendly/neutral, but biodegradable is a good start- filled with eight ingredients ONLYI've used this to: clean my makeup brushes, degrease my body,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-87635939627159005872009-05-29T14:39:00.005-05:002009-10-23T12:37:38.703-05:00

Another JASON Naturals products with a thumbs down ...UPDATE -Even the hubby, who describes himself as an oily beast, had drying problems with this soap. He liked it best on days when he had been working outside and really needed a good detergent for a single soap and rinse. JASON Fragrance Free Body Wash is simply too strong to use as a daily soap.I won't be purchasing this product

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-77529170400352048772009-05-28T23:01:00.007-05:002010-04-14T23:06:27.803-05:00

I guess I've been following a Vegan diet for about a year now. It's difficult only when going to restaurants and grocery shopping. I don't have much trouble "denying" myself (let's not talk about the chocolate), and I don't miss much from my previous dietary life. I don't even miss cheese itself. Sure, the smell of a block of Swiss or Colby or Mozzarella on the counter can make my mouth water

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-14610351745451773092009-05-28T21:26:00.007-05:002009-05-29T00:45:51.479-05:00

Expanding on our restaurant problems:I went to a new middle eastern kabob restaurant a couple of weeks ago and ordered the mixed appetizer platter. I requested that the waitress ask the kitchen what on the appetizer I couldn't eat due to the dairy allergy (I was expecting her to tell me the Tzatziki yogurt sauce was the only thing off limits). Well, lo and behold the hummus and babaganoush had "

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-16000573259086850762009-05-15T12:20:00.024-05:002010-04-14T23:11:34.245-05:00

I am so thrilled that you have found my SD thoughts useful. Don't we always feel like a spotlight is trained on our SD breakouts and just know the whole world is thinking strange and disturbing thoughts about our little known disease problems? Now we have a small forum for sufferers with similar experiences. It feels good knowing that I've brought the information to a wider public. I think

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-92117169946579907282009-05-15T10:23:00.007-05:002009-05-29T00:40:37.360-05:00

From the website, http://www.jason-natural.com/products/fragrance_free.php:"Fragrance Free Nightly Facial Moisturizer Cucumber Extract, Shea Butter and Organic Jojoba Oil alleviate feelings of dryness and tension associated with sensitive, extremely dry skin. This nightly treatment seals in moisture for hydrated, balanced and even skin tone NET WT 4 OZ

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-53267844186384978042009-05-15T09:26:00.003-05:002009-05-15T12:02:14.457-05:00

I have just completed my first semester teaching Anatomy & Physiology to pre-nursing and other pre-medical students at a local community college.Whew, thank the goddess I made it out alive, healthy, and sane (or at least as sane as I was when I started). I don't think I have worked harder in my life!The student evaluations trickled in, and I am reminded at how un-prepared our high-schoolers are

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-63029630098457026882008-12-12T01:17:00.010-06:002010-04-20T14:29:43.275-05:00

"Standing at IAH, ready for our big trip to NYC" ... Friday the 5th - I'm heading into the terminal with Kathleen, and security tells me I'm in the wrong line, so we rapidly part as I race for the other side ... I'm only minutes from boarding - the flight to Cincinnati is short, but on a little commuter plane where the over head is miniaturized, and we had only one attendant -

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-59322226487143023342008-12-12T00:32:00.003-06:002008-12-12T01:16:56.284-06:00

One of my closest sewing buddies, who is literally halfway around the world from me, emails somewhat out of the blue, "I'm thinking about a trip to the U.S., do you meet up with online friends?"And I say, "Yes! You, of course." And she begins planning a stop by my place. I suggested she take in another city while she was in the U.S. ... I put out Las Vegas, either of the Disney monstrosities,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-64094559562371823902008-08-10T11:53:00.002-05:002008-08-10T12:26:55.473-05:00

I've been writing back and forth with a friend who's trying to plan a visit. Her question went something like this, "How can you have been in only 10 airports, when you can't fly directly to Houston from anywhere?"And I responded, because I always go to the same places. And then I started adding up my airports, or the cities at least ...Anchorage, AK (ANC - Anchorage International Airport)Los

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-40480422990030113182008-07-25T13:30:00.002-05:002008-07-25T13:33:29.545-05:00

07/05/2008- the airports have not been packed, but it was impossible to sleep well on the plane, and we are starting to experience heavy exhaustion ... it is now six o'clock a.m. our (old) time, and we've had no more than three hours sleep; our skin is extremely dry, and our eyelids are sticking to our eyeballs- breakfast was an energy bar and most of Bill's grapes- we wander concourse B,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-87368144730517513752008-07-25T13:20:00.004-05:002010-04-20T14:29:23.683-05:00

A little (actually big - 20 ft long?/6 meters?) piece of driftwood. This is what Alaska feels like to me: a little sparse and a little lonely. Perfectly representing my view of the entire state. 07/04/2008 - going home, eventually! - eat at hotel (granola and oatmeal), check out, and store stuff with them - walk down to the parade grounds for an 11:30 parade that doesn't get

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-46941905093171504782008-07-25T13:15:00.003-05:002008-07-25T13:20:37.840-05:00

A totem in the new Anchorage Museum ... we ate lunch way below this raven.07/03/2008- Granola and green tea for breakfast, and tv watching- we eventually amble down to the Anchorage Museum, BH remembers the old museum in its old location, in his words "It did not amount to much" ... the new museum is much larger ... it even has its own restaurant "The Marx Bros. Cafe", which is doing a fairly

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-47434662488753423332008-07-25T12:30:00.006-05:002008-07-27T00:25:43.063-05:00

A close up of Denali, aka Mount McKinley.Denali (on the right) with his fellow peak buddies: Mount Hunter (in the middle) and Mount Foraker (on the left).Apparently this is the clearest the mountain has been since May 12th. The travelogue by the RR mentioned (ad nauseum I might add) that Denali makes its own weather and is usually cloud covered. The smaller mountains at the base are what is

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-72499508762033526162008-07-25T12:07:00.006-05:002008-07-27T01:06:52.389-05:00

A composite in miniature. This little dude is about 4 inches tall (10.16 cm).Follow along with our walk again: we caught the Taiga Trail out of the visitor's center, Horseshoe Lake Trail to the north end of (what else) Horseshoe Lake, and went off trail down the Nenana River, which found us back at the Wilderness Access Center ... which found us back on the bike path, and then the red (Jones)

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-39101964030025494932008-07-25T11:40:00.005-05:002008-07-27T01:03:49.660-05:00

Shortly before we arrived in Denali, two hikers went missing in the park for ~a week. My MIL was panic stricken that BH and I would encounter the same fate. But, looking back on it now ... how can someone get lost in this?Newsminer ArticleAnchorage Daily ArticleWe were only a couple of miles from where these two lost their way, and I'm sure the terrain isn't all that different. Map of Entrance

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-172667336693530792008-07-25T10:17:00.002-05:002008-07-25T11:40:01.647-05:00

Alaska heading north toward Denali National Park - short, scrubby, stubby, dry, but with many glacier lakes, streams, and rivers. Its an odd world.06/29/2008- breakfast at hotel, oatmeal! Yeah! How happy I am is indescribable- check out, hoof it down to the train station, check in, and wait- we've paid for gold star service and are in the dome cars with no storage, but great views ... I think

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-56433692572484929172008-07-25T10:10:00.004-05:002008-07-27T00:20:39.573-05:00

Bye-bye Baby, bye-bye!06/28/2008- this four year old ship has a worn, shabby appearance with chipped and broke pieces all over the place- typical breakfast- call Mom and talk to Dad for a bit, call bro but not in room, and call Grandma (the only awake one) and thank her for the vacation- meet at 6:15 am in lounge to begin waiting game- we head out to board the train and finally find a guy to tell

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-17780644847655507752008-07-25T10:02:00.003-05:002008-07-25T10:09:53.548-05:00

Some of the floating ice pieces are sculptures in megature, all by themselves.06/27/2008- thirty years + one day- I eat two biscuits from last night and down excedrin- I watch TV as BH checks us out and I finally rouse myself for lunch which we share with bro and SIL, and along comes Grandma and Aunty and some cousins ... we chat- I get pizza for lunch and then we all head down for tea, Grandma

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-24380075486447869002008-07-25T09:54:00.004-05:002008-07-25T10:02:15.598-05:00

Eagle on a floating chunk of ice. If you keep your eyes pealed on the far horizon while cruising, you see the most amazing things.06/26/2008- my bday, 30 years old, say goodbye to my twenties (do I have to grow out my hair and give up my flapper dresses?)- Mom calls and sings me happy birthday and we make plans to eat at the buffet- BH and I make it first and we've really made inroads into the

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-42961015801713398572008-07-25T09:18:00.004-05:002008-07-25T09:54:04.671-05:00

Flora in miniature on the coastline walk to Yakutania Point in Skagway.06/25/2008- wake up in Skagway- find balloons and a happy birthday note on my door, a day early- breakfast of granola and fruit (can I hear another groan, that's right)- BH grabs bird food, and we are ready for today's adventures- head out for the trails leading to Yukatania Point and Smuggler's Cove, we didn't see any seals

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-6901333340815558672008-07-25T08:57:00.004-05:002008-07-25T09:16:09.800-05:00

Juneau, a very little city in a very big stateThe Corvids in Juneau hang around the docks. They are the gulls of the north, and they will take off with anything. (Esp. when one tosses them pieces of bread ...)06/24/2008 - Juneau- we sleep in and hang out together in our room trying to work up the energy to do something- we head down to passenger services to figure out how we get to our hotel

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-5342138431773182342008-07-11T11:53:00.006-05:002008-07-27T00:21:40.669-05:00

Ketchikan and it's boats, through the trees06/23/2008- Ketchikan this morning, up for buffet breakfast- meet the family late and head off the ship; we are a slow, ponderous group with some people improperly dressed for the drizzly cool of 52 F; we break up for half to shop and the rest of us to head off on a totem hike- BH and I drop in on the local grocery store, Tatsuda's Supermarket, where I

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-60884608957341475682008-07-11T11:51:00.007-05:002008-07-27T00:23:47.376-05:00

Random Boat Shot (from Whittier)06/22/2008- today is a cruising day- breakfast in International Dining Room, it was fruit, fruit, and more fruit; so far, I am NOT impressed with the Vegan options on this cruise ship- Totem People discussion - art in totem is 4000 years old minimum, but most surviving totems were carved no earlier than the 1800s; presenter recommends the following in Ketchikan,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-8321111578614599352008-07-11T11:50:00.003-05:002008-07-11T20:41:53.090-05:00

HOME SWEET HOME for the next six nights ...06/21/2008- getting on up and dressed, heading out to find breakfast again, we hit the hotel kitchen for some over-priced fare- It amazes us how late the city wakens, up to 10 am some days- load, checkout, and trudge down to the dock, our ship dwarfs one of the others in port- we drop the bags at luggage check-in, wait (and wade, BH adds) a surprisingly

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-8203544781088051742008-07-11T11:49:00.006-05:002008-07-11T20:40:03.884-05:00

HELP! HELP! HEEEEELP! Godgullable has come to punish Vancouver ...(Here on the NW coast line, all the species seem to come in XXL.)06/20/2008- awakened at 6:45 by little brother, the alarm at the house went off and he is checking it out ... nothing out of place (it seems, hard to tell in our place) and no broken glass; so it must be a false alarm- we walk down to the Greek restaurant for

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-21599102107721096832008-07-11T11:48:00.005-05:002008-07-11T20:31:11.464-05:00

Vancouver backdrop06/19/2008- got up (arose from our slumbers via BHness) much later than planned and lazed around the room watching Canadian politics on TV- ate a bit to tide us over until Hon's opens at 11- walked down Robson, circuited back by the hotel and into a gem shop where we saw two beautiful globes of Chrysocolla, a turquoise and teal mix of unusual color, we will discuss it over dim

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-61201912608065123362008-07-11T11:47:00.004-05:002008-07-11T20:19:32.514-05:00

See how roomy it is?06/18/2008- get up far too early at 5:30 when the alarm went off, and the wake up call shrilled- quick breakfast downstairs and load up- walk the eight blocks to the train station ... we considered calling a taxi due to our load size, but we have a good set of wheels, and we did not want to deal with short ride attitude (i.e. small fare taxi driver attitude), nor loading and

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-58436172132757534052008-07-11T11:36:00.006-05:002008-07-11T20:10:35.063-05:00

Seattle's Space Needle06/17/2008- nice sleep, comfortable room with a TV- inc. breakfast, tea and oatmal for me; not much for Vegans- call mothers' and check-in- head to Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, nice except for the motion activated exhibits, every time you breathed the sound would start up again, ugh ... after hearing the same presentation 4 times in a row, you'd get tired and

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-67714198761444215262008-07-10T11:21:00.006-05:002008-07-27T00:54:56.588-05:00

Sol Duc Falls, on the north center of the National ParkNice walk06/16/2008- check out, turn in door hinges, shampoo dispenser, and shower water to management- drive north (clockwise) around park, passing our 'old' stomping ground, it will be a couple hours before we see anything new- there's this (at first glance lovely) yellow flowered shrub growing along the highway, it's a Scottish invasive,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-42173175068989747802008-07-09T00:35:00.005-05:002008-07-11T20:04:35.618-05:00

This is an impact photo. What you see in the foreground is accessible to humans, the area directly behind in the background is not (at least not easily). Notice the difference? (Yes, Dad, we do affect our environment.)My observations from:06/15/2008- 5:17 am 15th morning, visit the recommended tide pools- onto to 4th beach for some tide pool action, lowest tide of our visit, get up at 4:45 am

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-67776959712937804672008-07-09T00:18:00.007-05:002008-07-11T19:55:38.653-05:00

What might appear to be two lovers gently embracing each other in the moss draped stillness of the Hoh Rainforest is actually a fight to the death in this kill or be killed world. The two trees are growing on a fallen "nursery" log and they are competing for all available nutrients (they don't actually have to compete for water in this area).My thoughts on that day:06/14/08- fairly comfy beds,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-84051513978627166172008-07-07T02:50:00.005-05:002008-07-11T20:01:52.044-05:00

Fish Ladder at Tumwater Falls, WAMy comments from the days:06/12/08- a slightly bumpy take-off and very bumpy descent begins our trip- Sat next to a wonderful Indian gentleman heading to Portland, his nephew just graduated from Boulder- I can count the number of airports I've been to with two hands, and Denver wins the prize for ease of movement; lupper at Wolfgang Puck - cheese-less mushroom

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-28139579140866016942008-07-07T02:35:00.004-05:002008-07-07T03:12:05.772-05:00

Grandma decided to take her family on a cruise to celebrate her upcoming 80th birthday ... and once we got over the shock (Grandma is a depression era child after all), BH and I decided to make a loooong vacation of it.So the final log went something like this:Houston to Denver, Denver to Seattle - flightSeattle to Olympic National Forest to Seattle - driveSeattle to Vancouver BC - trainCruise

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-11362879608412569562008-07-07T02:20:00.005-05:002008-07-07T03:11:19.698-05:00

Dermatitis PhotosHere I am a couple days after discontinuing steroids for the last (latest?) time:02 May 200819 days later after following my "plan"21 May 2008One month of following my "plan":02 June 2008I now have slightly uneven, textured skin on my cheeks and chin, but I look and feel so much better. I still use my Psoriasin gel for occasional outbreaks ... which means once or twice a month

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-44930629517991943352008-05-20T23:29:00.005-05:002008-05-21T14:08:59.332-05:00

I have been living with this scourge for 3/4 of a year. My second experience with the hell that comes with constant skin problems. And, of course, it can't manifest on my scalp, where no one but Emily would see it when I go in for a haircut. No, no, no. MY Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) must manifest on my face, at my nose and chin, so I look like an adolescent in hormonal angst. AAAAHHHH!!!!I

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-2352488587435702022008-05-17T23:49:00.003-05:002008-05-17T23:55:05.589-05:00

I really, really like the Calorie Tracking website My Fitness Pal.Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie CounterIt has cute little, mostly useless things like the tracker above ... BUT ...MPF has the best food database, calorie tracking, and exercise monitoring software that I have yet found. I used another site months ago, but it is not as easy to navigate as MPF.If you have some fat to lose,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-42224418945720441622008-05-07T12:18:00.005-05:002008-05-17T23:55:27.064-05:00

I've been struggling with Ulnar nerve problems and Seborrheic Dermatitis for months now.Here's some suggestions for those with similar conditions.Ulnar Nerve -This nerve runs from the shoulder to the elbow, and along the bottom and outside of the forearm and enervates the ring and pinky fingers.Have you hit your "funny bone?" That's actually the ulnar nerve getting compressed.Copy written http:/

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-90205140873321729882008-03-12T14:18:00.006-05:002010-04-15T00:29:45.575-05:00

Eyeliner The closest thing to HG, yet. Over the last couple of weeks, I've collected a handful of eyeliners that are pretty close to wonderful. They aren't smudgey, but they still creep just enough to end up in my lower crease. Cream/Gel E/L I really like the formulations of the new cream/gel eyeliners. I've tried: http://www.calvinklein.com/ck/beauty.aspx http://www.sephora.com/browse/

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-74874189457809722142008-03-12T11:46:00.004-05:002008-05-08T00:18:17.268-05:00

Movie Review - The Secret Life of Words aka "La vida secreta de las palabras"This is such an odd movie. I don't quite know how to describe it.Sarah Polley plays Hannah a typical factory worker (rote, repetitive tasks) completely cut off from the world around her.Having been forced to take her first holiday in several years, she "offers" to care for a burned man on an oil rig (played by the

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-24805516731481786732008-03-04T01:51:00.005-06:002008-05-08T00:01:08.371-05:00

Review - OPI's Lunch at the DelhiWhile it will not be as long lasting as the famous Zoya Natalie 8 day mani, this is coming up on day seven.At day six, it had two miniature chips, one on each pointer finger.Between the start and end of my workday, being day seven, several large chips appeared, necessitating emergency removal of the polish that evening.Other than that, there was a bit of tip wear

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-72553277007855751752008-03-04T00:55:00.007-06:002008-05-08T00:18:30.366-05:00

Movie Review(s) -The duology "Jean de Florette" and "Manon of the Spring"A French tragedy in the best Greek tradition ...The first part follows Gerard Depardieu's "Jean de Florette" as he attempts to farm the land at his newly inherited property outside a little French town. He automatically has two strikes against him: he is a hunchback and a city boy.Unbeknownst to him and his family,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-85210884500311957742008-02-23T12:13:00.005-06:002008-05-08T00:01:57.357-05:00

Opi Polish Review "I'd Like to Thank"I didn't even get the chance to add a second top coat. This manicure had massive chipping by the second day, especially on the pointer finger, and the polish came off at day three. I will have to admit that following the first round of chipping between day 1 and 2, the application settled out, and I did not have a noticeable wear difference between days 2

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-36925979964986575702008-02-23T00:28:00.006-06:002008-05-08T00:02:36.020-05:00

Vogue 2939I threw, almost literally, together a muslin for this snap front dress shirt. What attracted me to the pattern most was the severely inset sleeves. And I'm really pleased, for two reasons:#1, I've recently had rotten results with Vogue 8323 and Vogue 7799, and I was ready to give up on Vogue patterns#2, I love the pattern, I'm very pleased with the muslin and expect future tweaks to

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-19134951854916517682008-02-20T00:08:00.007-06:002008-05-08T00:10:33.615-05:00

Although the title and description really offend my literary nature ....What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Science/Math Nerd (Absolute Insane Laughter as you pour toxic chemicals into a foaming tub of death!)Well, maybe you aren't this extreme, but you're in league with the crazy scientists/mathmeticians of today. Very few people have the talent of math and science is something takes a lot of

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-85650844039436184422008-02-13T00:52:00.005-06:002008-05-08T00:11:14.948-05:00

Zoya Polish Review - IreneI like warm polish shades. And as much as I like the weird and oddball shades some companies put out, I've never seen a pretty green ... until now.Zoya Irene is this lovely, shimmery, medium olive shade, leaning to the warm side yet still skirting the neutral edge.Base - Zoya Anchor BasecoatPolish - Zoya Irene (2 coats)Top - CND Dry & Shine (requires buffing to shine,

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-24114086888766426002008-02-12T23:51:00.006-06:002008-05-08T00:11:32.393-05:00

Zoya Polish Review - NatalieIf you had told me I could keep a manicure, esp. a medium creme, on my nails for 8 days, I would have said, "You are ODing on a substance (legal or illegal), please stop."I've never had a manicure last longer than 3 or 4 days on a medium to dark shade, much less a creme that shows every little mistake, chip, and wear point.Here's my proof, 8 days (I've got to write it

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36146262.post-89571473876437470122008-02-06T09:49:00.001-06:002008-05-08T00:14:51.147-05:00

Ah, HA! I've found it. A wonderful matte polish that is free of currently known nasty chemicals.Introducing Nubar's Matte Finish Nail ProtectorIt dries quickly and lasts for a while. I recommend it for: when you want a fast protective nail coat with no shine, and when you want to mattify your polish.I also found a polish that I've been searching for forever (meaning at least 10 years). When I

Kirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306346017851920814noreply@blogger.com0