pretty pretty spreads

Today I am loving two very different photo shoots.
First these adorable shots of Jayma Mays by Angela Kohler: And also these quirky yet swanky shots of Dita von Teese for Max Italy:

The two shoots have opposite feels to them, but they are both fun and flirty.

Happy weekend!

The things I love Thursday: April 29, 2010

1. Cute gold jewelry from postcards+love's Etsy shop:2. Weather.com is now offering a beauty forecast:
How adorable is that?

3. Stella McCartney fruits of the week panties!

Random images I like today

I'm a Pantenologist (& an EWP Giveaway!)

Today I was greeted by this ginormous box. I was so excited!
What was inside, you ask? Why, my Pantene Scientific Hair Test Kit, of course!

The folks over at Pantene identified four distinct hair structures and started developing products for these different hair types.

1) Curly - I can tell you right now this is me. No testing necessary.

2) Color - hmmm.... maybe I'll need this since I got my new highlights...

3) Medium-Thick - Oh, but I have medium-thick hair, too!

4) Fine - Okay, this one I for sure know is not me.

And to make this whole process very official and scientific, the folks at Pantene included these handy scientist glasses...

.....and a lab coat! I can tell you right now, I'm going to wear this lab coat everyday.

Don't I look very smart and sciencey? I'm a pantenologist!

Let the testing begin! Pantene sent me some tests to conduct to figure out my hair type.

First up, pull my hair in a ponytail and see if it's thicker than this coin they sent me. Check! That means I have medium-thick hair.

Then I brought out the curly card for the curly hair test.

I yanked a hair out and placed it on the card. I think this means I have tightly wound curls. Definitely not a surprise.

Testing complete! [Note my husband's penchant for taking pictures from a seated position leading to super unflattering pictures. What a jerk.] Now all I have to do is use the shampoo/conditioner corresponding to my hair type(s).

Want to try Pantene's new line for yourself? You can find it any local drug store or grocery store or wherever Pantene products are sold. Or you can go to Pantene.com for a free sample.

And to make things even more exciting, Pantene has provided me with a $25 gift card to Wal-Mart to give away to one of my lucky readers!

Just leave a comment with your email address or not if I know who you are and let me know what you think your hair type is:

And, no, I will not judge you for wanting to win a Wal-Mart gift card. My favorite pair of underwear is from Wal-Mart. "WHAT?" Long story involving flat tire in the middle of nowhere and killing time at a Wal-Mart til my tire was fixed which resulted in the purchase of many random things, including a pair of Halloween boy shorts that glow in the dark. I love them and wear them all the time.

Winner will be announced next week Monday when I get back from DC.

This is a compensated giveaway. Pantene has provided me with the Pantene Scientific Hair Test kit, information, and a $25 Walmart gift card to giveaway through MyBlogSpark.

Texture Tuesday: April 27, 2010

Urban Outfitters sequin cardigan:Doo.Ri dress:Ports 1961 geisha sandals:

From Chest to a Desk

On Wednesday night, my friend Ashley and I went to the filming of America�s Got Talent with judges Howie Mendal, Peirs Morgan and Sharon Osbourne. While the show itself was really funny and entertaining, it seemed all of the reporters and press at the filming wanted to know about was what Osbourne was going to be doing with her 34DD breast implants.

Osbourne recently revealed to the Today Show on NBC that she plans on having the removed and is apparently even giving them to her rock star husband Ozzy to use as paper weights.

Here are some tips about how to go about removing silicone or saline breast implants:

Carefully make an educated decision to remove your implants based on your health, self-esteem, economic situation and advice from your medical professionals.

Consider the option of an implant exchange: a procedure to replace older implants of the same size or to a smaller size.

Ensure that you are economically secure to afford the cost of surgery.

Prepare yourself mentally for the change in your external self after you have the surgery.

Old-In Young-Out

It has always been a challenge to keep up with the constantly changing dos and don'ts of life. Who can forget when eating anything non-fat was all the rage, giving all of America a false sense of how to stay slim regardless of portion size. Did we really think eating the ENTIRE one pound bag of twizzlers was going to be good for our waistline? So America gets fat and what's the solution...low-carb! Overnight being within 10 feet of a piece of bread would up you a size.

It has been the same with exercise over the years. I remember a time when fitness experts everywhere promoted cardio until you were literally blue in the face. Then all of a sudden if you weren't lifting weights to build muscle mass you didn't stand a chance of losing weight. First it was heavy weights and now it's light weights at high repetition. How is one supposed to keep up? Which changes are based on scientific breakthroughs and which to avoid moderation (something Americans seem to do at all costs)

As presented in a great article in the New York Times Styles section yesterday, the latest society 180 is that celebrities should be 'less tucked' than the current crop of Hollywood actresses. Casting directors have grown frustrated with actresses auditioning for the part of a middle aged woman when they look 30. The same goes for the young sector when someone with Heidi Montag's breast size shows up to play a character in a period piece. Breast implants didn't even exist before the 20th century! One casting director is replacing the old fashioned head shot with required bathing suit shots, regardless of what the role calls for the actress to wear. This helps avoid any surprises in the bust area after casting is complete. Movie producers want their movies to be an escape from life for a few hours, however they also want their actors to be believable in the roles they play.

I sympathize with the women of Hollywood...well most of them anyway. For years they have been told to stay looking young or they would be washed up before their 35th birthday. Women didn't want to wait 20 years for their next role as somebody's mother so they fought back with needles and scalpels. Some of the results we've seen have been better than others, but for the first time there are lots and lots of leading roles going to women over the age of 40. A generation ago this was unheard of. Of course just like with anything else, moderation has become a problem (remember that bag of Twizzlers?). The people of Hollywood have had a hard time stopping after the right amount of "tucks" and plastic surgery restrictions are now being placed by casting agents. Women who have had work done are being sent away without roles they would've otherwise been given, and often times are not told the reason why. The word is now getting out and it will be interesting to see how Hollywood reacts. I mean, is Meryl Streep really going to stop getting Botox? Not a chance.

My theory is that we will start to see fluctuations in age on and off the big screen just like we do with weight. Actors and actresses temporarily gain and lose weight for roles all the time. Renee Zellweger didn't exactly decide to keep the weight on when she was done playing Bridget Jones. She must of gone straight to the gym after the wrap party because she was back to a size 2 in no time. I think we will see the same pattern in the Botox department. Actresses will time their injections to be worn off by the time shooting begins. If you want Susan Sarandon to look like a Grandma then so be it, but you better believe she will be at her plastic surgeon's office the second her last line is delivered. As always, Hollywood will conform to get the role, but being skinny and young will always be required outside the editing room. Hopefully one day societal standards will be more attainable, but I won't be giving up my gym membership in the hopes of this happening anytime soon.

Until we can sit down and eat a handful of chips, request a "Full B" at a breast augmentation consult, and not use the whole vial of Botox at one visit, we will be faced with rule changes without warning. I guess it will keep us on our toes...doesn't that at least burn calories?

*To read the New York Times article I am talking about click on the title of my blog. Feel free to comment with your opinions on the subject!

love this...

Rebecca Taylor sundress:Micheal Antonio sandals:

Kate Spade picnic quinn bag:

weekend update

This weekend I went to Oklahoma for a surprise party for my cousin's husband (cousin in law?).Of course I had to pick up some Sprinkles Cupcakes first!It was a blast!This picture of my boyfriend Brian is total creepsville:Very "seven days" from the ring, amirite?pretty azaleas outside of my cousin's house
and of course, birthday cake icecream on the way home. I'm going to have to work out a lot this week!