Save the Bubbles!

I LOVE CHAMPAGNE!! It's no secret. But often I want to enjoy a nice little sip of champagne without polishing off an entire bottle. Afterall, a bombshell doesn't need an excuse to drink it. Just relaxing on my couch with Mr. Bombshell after a long, productive day, is reason to celebrate. However, Mr. Bombshell, and our kitty sidekick, B., don't drink it, so unless I'm ready to seriously indulge, I need a way to capture the bubbles.

Enter Mr. Bob Sholes from Arroyo Robles Winery in Paso Robles, CA. I recently visited his fabulous shop for wine tasting and, of course, shopping. During the very generous tasting, we sampled two wonderful sparkling wines, a classic California Champagne, and an amazing almond flavored variety. I noticed these fabulous little silver toppers that allowed the sparkling wines to remain, well, sparkling, even after they were open for a bit. And guess what? Mr. Sholes genius-ly sells them in his shop! I found something similar online, Superseal Champagne Stopper. "A metal stopper provides a pressure tight seal to hold in the fizz."

Hurray! Now I can have as much or as little of my beloved bubbly as I like.

DO Believe the Hype!

Confession time: I have purchased yet another lip gloss. Smashbox Lip-enhancing Gloss in Hype! It looks very peachy-nude in the tube, but is actually slightly pink and 'me-only-better' on the lip. I tried this shade on one day at Sephora. I was having a rough day and decided to perk myself up with a lunch time trip to my little oasis in the mall. I'm not sure what drew me to it, it's not a color I would normally gravitate towards, but I tried it. I loved it. But I didn't buy it because, frankly, I just have too many glosses. Upon nearly every subsequent visit to Sephora I tried it. I kept loving it, but kept telling myself that I should NOT buy an $18.00 lip gloss until I have used up at least ONE of my current lippies. But the color is so pretty and the formula is very smooth and super long lasting for a non-sticky gloss. I resisted about one month. I caved this past Friday afternoon. And I don't regret it!

Here is what Smashbox has to say about it:

"TRUE COLOR– Vitamin E and sunflower seed oil nourish with a touch of creamy color. Velour wand perfectly contours lips. 8 stay-true shades."

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I love the holidays! My 'holiday season' starts October 1 with Halloween decorations and continues through the New Year. Between marking all the upcoming events on my calendar, decorating my bombshell abode (first for Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and the grand finale- Christmas!), and just enjoying the rush, I can't get enough!

Tonight my house smells like the ultimate Holiday Haven because I made a big batch of chocolate chip cookies and I have a few decorative arrangements filled with cinnamon scented pine cones! The aroma combination is fabulous. I cannot stop inhaling!

Not all bombshells are domestic, but a beautiful, cozy, and stylish home-base is essential to the bombshell lifestyle.

The easiest way to make your place smell like the holidays? Fill any fabulous bowl or tray (a silver cocktail tray would be perfect) you have on hand with scented pine cones. I picked up a generous bag of them at my local grocer for less than $3. I filled a little cornucopia-shaped basket with them (I love the kitsch factor of a cornucopia at Thanksgiving!) on my mantel, and put some on a tray in my entry way. Guests get a wiff upon entering, and then another as they make their way into the living room.

No domestic skills needed to put out pine cones. Now, if you want the added deliciousness of smelling fresh-baked cookies...you may have to turn on the oven.

lola et moi

I love the phrase 'et moi', possibly because it is one of the few French phrases I understand, but none the less...

I came across the most adorable line of clothing for little girls called lola et moi. This line is designed by a Lebanese woman named Rania Tohme and her pieces are fabulous for bombshell-ettes!

According to the lola et moi website, "Entering the world of "lola et moi" is getting back to the colorful, sparkling and candy-like world of childhood. Designed for girls from ages six months to ten years, the Beirut-based line creates vibrant separates inspired by retro patterns and traditional silhouettes and updated with fresh, unusual fabrics and whimsical adornments. The result is a playful, yet sophisticated, look that is equally chic at school or at play from a California beach town to urban metropolis."

Is this not The Bombshell Biker in a nutshell? I almost want to have a baby JUST so I can dress her in lola et moi...

I've Got Good News & Bad News, part 2... sweet tartes!

Now for the good news...

Report # 2 on my recent trip to Sephora:

I picked up something fabulous. Tarte Rise & Shine lip stain & lip-enhancing gloss. I am a huge fan of the Tarte gel cheek stains, which I have been known to wear on my lips even though they don't taste great. So, with the lip product, one end is a nice berry stain. You apply this with a wand and wait for 15 seconds. Then proceed to the other end where you will find a light pink gloss that seems to cause some sort of chemical reaction when applied. As soon as you touch it to your lips it begins to tingle. As it tingles it begins to darken the lip, creating a crushed berry hue with nice shine and oomph. Oh yeah, and it tastes good.

I may have to get another tube so I can keep one in my train case and one in my handbag.

After perusing the Sephora website I came across a cute little set- Lovin' the Fast Stain- which is a mini cheek stain and a mini lip stain. I don't recall seeing this at my new Sephora so, darn, guess I'll have to keep checking back in with them until it arrives...

Bombshell-In-Training

I spent a fabulous Saturday afternoon visiting Sephora and Bath & Body Works with my BSS (Bomb Squad Sidekick), S. and her super-fun little girl, J.

We spent over an hour sampling glittery stuff and perfumes. Little J and I have very similar taste in fragrance. We both are drawn to the sweet, food-y scents. J. couldn't get enough of the Britney Spears In Control Curious in the classic black atomizer with pink sprintzer thingy. I have to admit- it smelled awesomely chocolately, sweet, and was not over-powering. It would look perfectly at home on any mirrored vanity.

I smelled something new, Lawrence Dumont Vanilla Orientale. Oh it was so light and yummy with spicy undertones. I was going to purchase, but after wandering the store for an hour I re-smelled my wrist to find that the dry down was pure vanilla. Not even a hint of the "orientale" left. So disapointing. It still smelled good, but I have a Bath & Body Works vanilla perfume that smells just as good...

J. decided on a Sephora Girls coin purse/compact. It's pink with a cute little kitty cat and unzips to reveal a small collection of perfect eyeshadows and lip glosses for Bombshell-ettes.

S. finally chose a Tarte Blushing Bride blush gel stick. The color is so pretty and I can't wait to see her rosey cheeks next time we get together.

I made a small purchase that I'll report on later...

I've Got Good News & Bad News, part I

I guess I'll start with the bad news first.

Last night on my trip to the new Sephora, I picked up a fat tube of Sephora Collection Lash Plumper mascara. It has a HUGE brush on the wand, which was what drew me to it immediately. It is similar in size to the DoirShow and Benefit Bad Gal brushes.

This is Sephora's own description:

"Lash Plumper- What it is:A volumizing mascara. What it does:Fatten your flutter with this lash-plumping formula. The larger brush, with slightly tapered edges, reaches from root to tip, for truly bat-worthy volume and glamour. "

I put on many coats. It didn't really 'fatten' to my liking. I was forced to augment with the no-fail L'Oreal Voluminous.

What I DID like was the truly black ink-y-ness of the Sephora mascara. My lashes are dark anyway, but now they are soot-like (in a good way).

I am off to do some Bombshell buffing at le gym, so I will test out the staying power and report...

Final Verdict: I will add the Sephora mascara to my ever-growing family of mascaras, but it won't be a go-to on its own. It will have to be relegated as an 'ingredient' in a multi-mascara cocktail.