Posts from — March 2009

Talk about a bargain!  An Indian car manufacturer called Tata Motors just unveiled the Nano — a small 10 foot long, 5 foot high car for only $2,200.  The car, which kind of looks like a Smart car, can be had for a mere $70 down payment!  Apparently the car has been 6 years in the making and will be available sometime this summer.

The car tops out at about 65 mph and gets a whopping 47 miles to the gallon.  The basic model does not have airbags or anti-lock brakes but the manufacturer is claiming that it follows all safety standards.  It also has no air conditioning or stereo in the basic model.

While popularity grows and 1 million applicants wait for the first round of cars to come off the assembly line some people are concerned that so many cars on the road are going to add to already busy roads and also be an environmental concern.

Curious about your thoughts on the new Nano?

My sister just lost 12 lbs!  I am so proud of her.  She did it all by cutting back on carbs and junk which I know was hard (we heart bread and pasta).  But now none of her clothes fit and being a full time grad student she can’t really afford to get a whole new wardrobe.  We ended up at Marshall’s together this weekend trying to at least get some of the clothing essentials, like a great fitting pair of jeans.

We ended up getting some great buys in The Cube.  The Cube is a boutique section in Marshall’s, great for twenty-something women.  This used to be their juniors section but has been revamped a little recently.  There are racks of designer clothes at great discounted prices and a few tables of stylish accessories and bags to go with all the great outfits you find.  My sister got a great pair of jeans for $15.99, and two super cute Roxy dresses for $20 a piece.  I got myself a cute American Eagle tank for only $7.99.  I hadn’t noticed Marshall’s had such great designer items available as well.  They even had a few Vera Bradley purses in the Cube at a great discounted price.  For all the ladies on a budget right now, the new Cube boutique is definitely a good place to hit up when you want good quality at a reasonable price.

Last week the esthetician who waxes my eyebrows suggested I use a clay mask to reduce the size of my pores since I am having my engagement pictures this weekend.  My skin has been a wreck the last month because Mother Nature can’t decide if Florida is still in winter or moving straight to summer (if you have ever been here you know that we skip the comfort of spring altogether).  Anyway, the only mask I have on hand at the moment is a peel-off alpha hydroxy one so I went to Ulta to get my tried-and-true-favorite Queen Helene’s Mint Julep clay mask.  But then I saw  Freeman’s Avocado & Oatmeal one that honestly smelled a little more appealing and was about $.50 cheaper (yes, I am that cheap).

So I slathered it on me and on Mr. Juicefairy (I want him to look his best too … and now he is going to kill me for sharing this) and he says …

“This burns a little.”

Me: “I don’t feel anything. Its only oatmeal and avocado how can it burn?”

Mr. Juicefairy: “Are you sure there is nothing else in here?  It feels funny.”

… I look at bottle …

Me: “Oh.  There is a lot of other stuff in here.”

… pause …

Me: “Whoa!  This burns”

Mr. Juicefairy: “I told you!”

Yes, now I know trying a new skin product right before my engagement pictures are taken is sooo stupid.  Luckily when we removed it our skin was unaffected and it actually did feel a little smooth.  But I certainly don’t recommend this product. Apparently I am not the only one that had this reaction as well.   Anything that is so harsh it burns cannot be good for your skin.  And btw, I called Ulta and they are willing to exchange the product for something else.  Thanks Ulta!

Actual conversation between my sister and I…

Sister: So someone told me yesterday I look like Buckwild from I Love Money.

Me: I have never seen that show.  Hold on let me Google her.

… pause … typing …

Oh yeah.  She does kind of look like you.

Sister: What!?!!  She is crazy, you can barely understand what she is saying, and her teeth are jacked up. 

Me: Wait.  Her mouth is closed and I can’t see her teeth. And obviously I cant tell her personality from the picture.  It looks like a yearbook picture.  I said I never saw the show.

Sister:  I can’t believe you said that to me.  I am so insulted.
*click*

… I am now staring at the phone in my hand, dumbfounded.

Which one of these things is not like the other?

Actually, it’s a trick question and nothing is different.  They are all wearing a “bandage dress” from Hervé Léger by Max Azria.  Apparently the bandage dress is a throwback from the eighties that has resurfaced because celebs are loving the way these dresses hug every inch of your body and leave little to the imagination.  I actually don’t mind the dress that much and think every one of these ladies looks great in it (okay, Kim looks wide in hers but everyone else looks great), however I am wondering when they are going to realize that they are all wearing the same thing?  Yes, they may be variations, but they are pretty much all wearing the same thing.  I think the fad may be close to over though.  I saw Alex McCord rocking a purple and white one in an episode of Real Housewives of New York.  I think that is a sure fire sign that the dress is done.

In case you are slow on the uptake though and just have to have one, Budget Babe posted this post about where you can get a budget version.  The really smart girls will note that the post was dated July 2008.  Not sure if a fad like this can last a whole year?