SD Review - Emjoi MICRO-Pedi

I am a pretty skeptical person when it comes to gadgets, especially beauty gadgets.  I don't buy into the infomercial sales pitch so I don't have anything like Ped-eggs, face trainers, or the like.  So when I received this Emjoi Micro-Pedi to check out, I was about to laugh it off as the typical nonsense.

But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with how will this worked.

I have pretty sensitive feet (I never ever walk around barefoot), I wear heels a lot and my feeties tend to get kind of dry but I don't want to sleep in lotion and socks.  So I have a few buffers on hand to use in the shower or when I'm giving myself a pedicure, but they never quite do the job. I've even used those razor deals, which is dangerous for me because I have a tendency to injure myself all the time.

I decided to give the Micro-Pedi a test right out of the box... and it worked amazingly!

The Micro-pedi acts like a rotating buffer (almost like a large dremmel, actually) with two different rollers  - coarse/magenta and extra-coarse/blue) - that snap in and out at the touch of a button. I turned it on and ran  the roller over my heel.  No pressure is needed, the roller does all the work.

In just a minute or two, my heels were perfectly smooth and soft. I put on a little lotion and it was as if I'd had a full on pedicure. 

A week later my feet are still smooth without any dryness, which is not typical for me. I am a full on fan!

Right now the Micro-Pedi is available online and it retails for $39.95.  They'll be in stores, like Ulta and Sally Beauty, in September.

It's definitely the most effective (and for me the safest!) option I've seen.

Up for Grabs

I'm selling these two amazing pieces on Market Publique. 

The first is a simply stunning and pristine sheer Victorian summer "suit".  It's an unstructured sheer plaid cotton jacket and long skirt.   So breezy and romantic.  Perfect for combining with modern pieces for a unique outfit

These pieces look unworn and pristine and are really loose, so they can be worn by Small, Medium or Large.

Victorian Jacket and Skirt - starting at $85

The second piece is also a stunner.  Deep smoke grey velvet and sheer wrap with tons of beading and tassels.

The beadwork throughout is just gorgeous. This could be worn to a formal event or a unique piece in a casual outfit.   Never used.

Smoke grey velvet beaded wrap - starting at $25

These are both so special, I want them to go to good homes.  Check out the links for info and to order.

Bits and Baubles and Birthdays

Next Friday is my birthday. And I'm going to be oldy-old-old.   Yep... 39, baby!

Not an official "big" birthday but supposedly a traumatic one, right? 

NAAAHHHHHH!!!

Personally I don't think much about my age, but hey, I'm willing to leverage it for nice gifts, right?!?!

There are always a million things I want but if I had to pick what's top of mind right now, I'd say these lovely things:

First off, I MUST have these heeled bunny slippers from Streetzie, preferably pink and black.

Gah!  Cuteness!

Also, cupcakes.  I'm really really dying for a good (vegan) cupcake. Sure cupcakes may be ubiquitous to some, but there isn't a vegan bakery on every corner here in the South.   Please ship me some Babycakes love.

I'm totally into Spotify and really want to get an upgrade. Need to make that happen soon. I work in advertising, I don't want to hear ads all day.

A Cartier Love Bracelet in gold or rose gold... yeah, it's a few grand, no biggie right?

Or, you know, nail polish (or some Tinker Toys, heh heh)... I'm particularly smitten with this China Glaze Party Hearty glitter polish.

A little bit of Memento Mori (ala Wendy Brandes) might be appropriate

And of course, I'll always take SHOES (or Bergdorf gift cards, dontcha know)

But, all this list-making aside, I'm most excited because I will already get to spend a few days in a lovely hotel with a lovely spa massage scheduled. My Sweetie and I get to enjoy time in one of our favorite cites and I'm super excited!

Yeah for birthdays!!!

Instant Access - 7/11 - 7/24

You want shoes, I've got shoes!

Kate Spade Luggage Stripe mules (circa 1998)

 Lela Rose for Payless Grosgrain ribbon peep-toes

Miu Miu Fall 2010

Oh, Deer! Pistachio

Bass x Rachel Antonoff Odette Saddle Shoes - Pink & White

Bass x Rachel Antonoff Aurora Tassel Loafers

Odettes again - so cute!

Oh, yeah, manicures too - Essie Topless & Barefoot plus gold glitter

The tiniest watercolor necklace pendant.

I like white.

New tools - a wireless keyboard for my iPad

Colorful words from Kate Spade.

Happy Week to you!

Vintage Beauty

Dreamy...

A sample of some of the earliest color motion picture film you will see.

Visit Kodak's A Thousand Words blog for a post about the video: http://1000words.kodak.com/post/?ID=2982503

Music: Killer Tracks CD entitled: KT223 (Inspire). First track used is called "Breath," the second is called "Kindle."

This footage is from the George Eastman House collections. Preservation was completed by the museum's Motion Picture Department, a project of Sabrina Negri, a student in Eastman House's L. Jeffrey
Selznick School of Film Preservation and a recipient of the Haghefilm Foundation Fellowship.

Featured Shoes: Bass Loves Rachel Antonoff Wendybird and Aurora

Bass and Rachel Antonoff brought back memories of growing up in parochial school but made the cute, saucy and cool.  I'm so excited to have been able to get my hands on these awesome loafers.   My wardrobe of flat shoes is growing much faster than the number of heels.

They're so pretty....

The Wendybird heart penny loafers and the Aurora tassel loafer are still available on the Bass website, but I also saw them pop-up on ideeli the other day, so check the sales sites!

Le Sigh - Vivienne Westwood Skyscraper Seditionary

I have a new, probably unrequited, love - the Vivienne Westwood Skyscraper Seditionary boots.

I don't need them. I'm no steampunk princess. But look at all their buckle-ly stiletto-y glory.

Look at that heel... damn!

So yes, I'm in lurv.  Ah, well. Maybe someday!

Vivienne Westwood Skyscraper Seditionary boots from Zappos Couture on sale $540

SD Review - Dior Color Awakening Lip Balm

Dior's Color Awakening Lipbalm may be the prettiest lip balm I've ever experienced. I'm totally smitten with it's feminine presentation and just want to use it all the time because it's so pretty. Luckily, the balm itself is actually pretty amazing as well.

Dior describes it as:

A made-to-measure lip balm that beautifies and durably enhances the lips’ natural color. A customized color result : thanks to its Color Reviver technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its color ingredient. Lips seem revived from within, amazingly fresh, full and radiant. In addition, its SPF10 formula enriched with wild mango and luffa cylindrica continuously protects and moisturizes. A universal balm for all lips.

I have to admit that it works. My lips are soft and rosy.  This isn't a gloss but a soft balm that leaves you with a bit of sheen and a flush of pink.

I've always heard (although I didn't put much credit in it) that wearing lipstick fades your lips over time.  I haven't seen that but, even if it's true, this does the opposite.  It leaves your lips worthy of a book heroine description. Who doesn't want that?