Product Review: Berkshire Tights

I wear a lot of tights.  I mean, a lot.  They are basically my go-to for winter, stemming in part from when I used to ride my bike to work.  Tights just dry so much faster when rained on than jeans do.  And although I'm not close enough to my current job to ride to work (also, why no bike lanes, people?) I still love wearing tights.

But, I have to say that while I love wearing tights, I don't always love how it feels to wear tights.  A lot can go wrong with wearing tights.  If they're too short in the leg, they will inch down into Hammer pants by the end of the day.  If they're too tight in the waist, they will give you what Sal over Already Pretty calls "segmented worm syndrome" which is both uncomfortable and unsightly.  And, if they're too tight in the thighs, your thighs bitch and moan and call you names all day.  (No?  Is that just me?  Damn thighs).

If any, or heaven forbid, all of those things happen to you when wearing tights, then I have one word for you: Berkshire.  As in Berskshire Hosiery, as in makers of the most comfortable tights I've ever worn:

These are the Easy On! Tights and not only were they easy to get on, they were comfortable.  All day long.  I mean: All. Day. Long.  I couldn't believe it.  No pinching, no binding, no rolling, and no mutinous mutterings from my thighs.


I paired the tights with a pleated skirt and geometric print cardigan, because if you can't be paired with a pleated skirt and/or a cardigan, you probably don't belong in my wardrobe:

Cardigan: Target (similar)  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)
Tights: c/o Berkshire Hosiery  Shoes: Shoes of Prey (similar)

I'm happy to say these tights worked very well with my pleats and cardigan.  Basically, Berkshire tights are amazing and I can't say enough good about them.

Well, I guess I can say a few more things.  One, they're made in the USA, which is fantastic.  Two, they have an amazing selection of styles and a great size range; petite, regular, plus and even maternity.  And definitely long enough for us tall gals; again, I'm wearing the Easy On! Tights in size 1X/2X and they are more than long enough. And it's not just the basic black tights that are long enough; this particular tights is available in six different colors.  Even fun tights are available for giants; I also tried out the Berkshire Trend tights in Fishnet, and those also fit fabulously.

If you want to know more about Berkshire, or want to try them for yourself (you should, they're great!) visit their site at eberkshire.com and, you can get 15% off of your order with the code blogger15, now through December 16th, 2016.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Product Review: Pam Neri Necklaces

With the exception of a few delicate pieces, I tend to like my necklaces like I like my thighs: chunky.  So, it's no wonder that I love the line of chunky beauties created by the talented Pam Neri.  Chunky beauties like this one:

It's the "Blueberry" necklace, which you can find here, and after much, much deliberation, it's the necklace I chose to review on the blog.  Ultimately I went with this one because I am unable to resist anything blue.


But, let me just say that it was not an easy choice.  Pam's necklaces are absolutely beautiful.  For necklaces like the "Blueberry", the individual wire strands are crocheted and then woven together.  You can see the technique better below:

I love the sense of movement in the necklaces, but also that they look raw, and have an almost "found" quality about them.  Part of that appeal is in the materials used.  The above necklace is the "Aruba" necklace and includes both coral and sea glass among the materials used.  I think it's a brilliant mix.

All of Pam's necklaces are beautifully made, and, best of all, she also takes custom orders.  I love the idea of a custom-made necklace to take with you on, say, a cruise.  When you're traveling with a limited wardrobe and limited color palette, why not have a necklace designed to compliment that wardrobe/color palette?  It's also a great option for wedding jewelry.


You can find Pam's necklaces, and place customer orders, on Instagram (@pamnerinecklaces), Amazon and her website (pamneri.com).


I'll share the outfit I wore with my gorgeous "Blueberry necklace" a bit later, but, in the meantime, go ahead and visit Pam's sites and treat yo'self to some swooning over some truly gorgeous necklaces.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Shoe Review: LTS "Bali" Block Heel Sandals

These are my new sandals, courtesy of Long Tall Sally:

LTS "Bali" Block Heel Sandals

And, I have to tell you, they are perfect.  I know they don't look like much, just a simple leather sandals with a low block heel, but these are, hands-down, the most comfortable sandals I've ever worn.  I've worn them several times already with nary an ache or a blister.

As thrilled as I am with the comfort aspect of these sandals, what I like best is that they don't make my large feet look even larger.  Perfectly flat sandals can often make feet look bigger, which, at a size 10, is not something I need.  The slight, oh-so-walkable heel on these sandals keep my feet from looking even bigger.

Additionally, thin straps on sandals can make toes look long, which, again, can make your feet look bigger.  The front strap on these sandals is just wide enough to keep my toes from looking too long.  And, the ankles straps cross at the perfect place on my leg so I'm not sacrificing any of my well-earned (okay, genetically gifted) height.

This last bit is important to me not because I'm afraid of looking shorter, but because I wear a lot of clothes that are proportionally challenging which can be stumpifying.  Like my beloved midi dresses and skirts as well as my new go-to, wide leg crops.  The strap placement on these makes them perfect for all my potentially leg-shortening looks.


Like these cropped pants:

Tunic: LOFT  Pants: Old Navy
Scarf: thrifted (similar save, splurge)  Shoes: "Bali" Sandals c/o LTS

See?  Perfect.  Because of the strap placement, I'm still showing "enough" ankle that I don't end up a victim of what I like to call "The Crisco Effect" (i.e. artificial shortening).



In addition to my crops and the Bali sandals, I'm also wearing a striped tunic and a thrifted scarf:

Not for nothing, but white-on-white is a tricky as black-on-black.  I think this only works because the tunic is slightly sheer.  Otherwise it's totally a mismatched mess.



But even then, it wouldn't have been a total loss because, you know, cute sandals:

Just one of, I might add, several very cute pairs of shoes introduced as part of Long Tall Sally's "If the Shoe Fits" campaign.  As I'm sure most of you know, LTS specializes in cute, wearable, stylish shoes for women who wear sizes 10 to 15.  Sizes that, at most other retailers, can be impossible to find.  If you are large of foot, I strongly recommend you stop by Long Tall Sally for your spring footwear needs.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Trench and Slouchy Beret

Since moving to a much, much colder climate, I've become a bit of a collector of winter hats.  So, when offered the opportunity to try, and review, a slouchy beret from Scala Pronto, of course I accepted.  And I'm so happy I did.

I chose the oatmeal colorway and I love it.

This hat is perfect for fall because it pairs well with my trench coat.  And also because it covers less of my head than a beanie so it helps keep me warm but not over-heated.


It's also offered in gray and both colorways have a subtle metallic yarn running through the knit and a mix of stitches to add interest:

Scala Slouchy Beret via Village Hat Shop

As I mentioned, I chose the oatmeal color and yes, I chose it specifically to wear with my trench, because it's my go-to coat for fall:

Although, now that I think about it, I might need the gray as well.  If only to match my suede boots:

Hat: c/o Scala Pronto  Trench: Banana Republic (similar, hooded, cape version)
Skirt: Gap   Tights: Gap  Boots: Circa Joan & David (similar)

Because, really, in Western PA, you can't have too many knit caps.  Happily, these hats are only $32 a piece and you get free shipping at Village Hat Shop.  Definitely worth it to have two, I think.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Jamberry Nails Review and Giveaway ***CLOSED***

You may have noticed that I don't talk a lot about beauty products on my blog.  I don't wear a lot of make-up, except mascara, I wear a heck of a lot of mascara.  And I love a red lip, of course.  I will paint my toenails on occasion but am usually content to let it chip off.  I never paint my finger nails and I sure as heck never got into the whole nail art trend.

Why?  Well mostly because I'm lazy.  And because I don't want to take or make the time to do my nails.  And painting little designs on them?  Yeah, there's no way that ever could or should happen; I can barely just put plain color on.  Oh, and my nails seem to hate polish; they chip within three days of being painted, if not before.

So, yes, I have plenty of excuses.  But, Jamberry Nail Wraps blow all of those excuses out of the water.  For example, the designs are already on the wraps and they are gorgeous designs too.  This design is one of  the many I love:

Jamberry Double-Crossed

I mean, can you imagine trying to paint that yourself?  What?  You can?  Well, you are, respectfully, a show off.


If, like me, you can't paint teeny tiny multicolored designs on your nails, then like me, you will love Jamberry. Not only do they offer tons of fabulous designs and colors and colorful designs, they last a lot longer than three days.  And, the best part?  They are a cinch to put on.

I tried a green snake print wrap, a blue glitter and a gunmetal glitter and then painted my other nails a pewter color:

On my left thumb above, you can see the only con I found with the Jamberry wraps; they are made for people with more narrow nail beds than on my giant hands.  But, it's really not noticeable unless someone is staring at the side of your thumb, as we're doing here.  Stop staring!


As you can see, I put the Jamberry wraps on my pointer fingers because I'm hardest on those nails and I wanted to see how they held up.  Here they are on Day 3:

As you can see, the Jamberry wraps are lifting a little bit, but I'm pretty sure that's my doing; I didn't blast them a second time with the blow dryer.  But, for the most part, they look pretty good and a lot better than the plain polish on my other nails.


And here we have Day 7:

My standard polish continued to chip like crazy, but the Jamberry wraps are still going strong.  A bit faded at the tip, especially the dark, gunmetal wraps, but all in all, pretty amazing for a week on my hands.


I took them off after the seven days and the removal was as easy as the application.  I blasted them with the blow dryer for 15 seconds and they peeled right off without taking any of my nail with them!


I definitely recommend Jamberry, both for everyday wear and for special occasions; they have every kind of design you can think of.  They make wraps for both finger and toe nails and even make smaller wraps for children's hands.


If you'd like to try Jamberry yourself, you can find and buy them here.  But, I'm also giving a set of Jamberry nail wraps away!  To enter, just visit the Jamberry catalog and let me know in the comments below which wrap you'd pick.

As for the fine print, the giveaway will close next Friday, September 11th and I'll pick the winner at random from the comments.  Also, the giveaway is open to readers in the US, Canada and New Zealand only, so make sure you live in one of those places.


Bon Chance, All!

Gracey

Stripes, Loafers and a Lindi Skin Review

Although it snowed yesterday, the weather is much, much better today.  While it's still not exactly warm, it is warm enough to venture out with bare ankles:

Shirt: Gap (similar)  Sweater: Gap
Jeans: Old Navy  Loafers: Gap

I figured stripes and loafers were the way to go for a casual Saturday.  It feels especially appropriate now that winter is over.  Probably.


Even if winter hangs on a little longer, the weather really has gotten better.  And all of me is relieved by that fact, but my face is probably most relieved. Because this face?

That face right there has been pissed ever since we moved to Pennsylvania.  I have somewhat sensitive skin anyway, but the combination of sub-zero temperatures and high-winds dried my skin out something horrible.  And made my poor eyes water almost constantly.  So, when I was offered Lindi Skin products to try, I was thrilled.

Lindi Skin products were designed originally for people undergoing cancer treatment, which means they were designed to be extremely gentle and extremely effective.  Lindi Skin understands that anything applied to the skin is absorbed by the body so they only use the most carefully researched ingredients.

I've been using several of these products over the last few weeks so that I could provide you all with an honest review.  And, let me tell you, there is a lot to like about these products.  I like that they're made right here in Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, to be exact.  I like that Lindi Skin donates their products to non-profit cancer organizations, hospitals and caregivers.  And, frankly, I like the packaging.

Here's how the individual products broke down for me...


Lindi Face Wash

This was my least favorite product.  It doesn't foam and I'm one of those people who really, really likes foaming products.  My current shampoo doesn't foam either and it drives me crazy.  In spite of the lack of foam (by design, by the way), this face wash works pretty well.  My face is literally squeaky clean once I'm done.  But, given the lack of foam and the fact that I don't really like the scent, I don't think I'll re-order this once it's gone.


Lindi Eye Hydrator

I've never used an eye cream before (I know, I know, I'm a heathen) so I have nothing to compare this too.  All I can tell you is that this product has worked very well in soothing the skin around my eyes that gets so very irritated by the cold wind.  I can also say that it absorbs well and it only takes a tiny bit to be effective, which is wonderful.


Lindi Lip Balm

I didn't really love this product, for a few reasons.  One, I don't really like lip balm you have to stick your fingers into; I prefer my balm in tube form.  Two, it wasn't very soft so you kind of have to work to get it out and get it on.  Once it was on, it worked okay, but it's not my favorite lip balm by any means and I won't re-order this item either.


Lindi Citrus Face Serum

The face serum is by far and away my favorite product.  It comes in lavender too, but I chose the citrus because it's more of a unisex scent and my fiance uses it as well.  It smells great and is very concentrated so you don't have to use hardly any at all.  I used three small drops at night after I wash my face and it's great.  I'll definitely be ordering more of this.


If you're interested in ordering any Lindi Skin products of your own, you can find them on their website. And, if you use the code BLOG25 at checkout, you'll get both free shipping and 25% off through May 31st.  In addition, Lindi Skin will also make a donation to the American Cancer Society's "Look Good, Feel Better" program for every purchase through this date.


Happy Saturday, All!

Gracey

Stripes and a Sylca Designs Review

I was recently contacted by Sylca Designs with the offer to do a review of one of their pieces of jewelry.  And once I visited their site, I knew I was going to take them up on that offer.  Their jewelry is everything I like in my accessories: big, bold and bright:

Best of all, though, the jewelry is designed by the mother and daughter team of Sylvia and Camila Echavarria to be made from recycled wood, natural fibers and coconut shell so it's very lightweight.  I really do love chunky necklaces, but sometimes they can be too heavy to wear all day, especially when paired with another chunky piece.


But, not this necklace.  This necklace is the perfect weight and I wore it easily all day long:

I love that despite the necklace's light weight, it's still substantial.  It's a very striking piece and one that more than held it's own against the combination of stripes and faux leather I wore it with:

Necklace: c/o Sylca Designs

Bottom line, I love this necklace and I'm probably going to wear it all the time.  You've been warned.

Striped Shirt: Gap (similar)  Faux Leather Tee: LOFT (similar) (similar)
Jeans: Gap Stretch & Recovery  Flats: Nine West (similar)

Looking for a wearable piece of statement jewelry of your own?  I whole-heartedly recommend Sylca Designs.  They have a ton of pieces to choose from, including pendant necklaces, bracelets and rings.  And, you can get 20% off by using the code CV2013 at check out.  Seriously, go check them out, you won't be disappointed.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Branching Out

I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to buying clothes.  I stick with the stores that I know (so much so that my dad asked me the other day if my blog was sponsored by Nordstrom - he's very funny) because I know how they'll fit me.  This is especially true when it comes to brands that carry "tall" clothes.  Because, as all tall women know, there is tall and then there is "tall."

Unfortunately, due to this reliance on the brands I know, I haven't really tried a lot of other tall lines.  But, today I am branching out.

You see that wonderfully stripe-y tunic?  It's from Chadwick's of Boston.


I know!  I had no idea that Chadwick's carried tall clothes either.  But, they do.  Like this tunic:

When Chadwick's offered me an item to review, I was a little hesitant because their "tall" starts at 5'7" which isn't always long enough for me.  But, as you can see, this tunic is plenty long, covering my bum and everything!

Tunic: c/o Chadwick's  Leggings: c/o metrostyle  Jacket: Kenneth Cole Reaction (similar)
Scarf: c/o FRAAS (similar)   Boots: Naughty Monkey (similar)

Which, given how my bum resists coverage by most tunics, is a miracle.  A Chadwick's miracle!


Now, I can't say how Chadwick's will work for women taller than myself, but if you're between 5'7" and 6', I'd say give them a try.  They don't have a huge selection, but they carry good, classic pieces.  I especially like their basics, like my tunic, and I'm drooling over this fabulous plaid blazer!

What about you, Reader Friends?  Are you creatures of habit when it comes to purchasing clothes?  Or do you like to branch out?

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Long Tall Coat

As most of you know, I've long been an advocate of thrifting everything I can possibly thrift.  I don't thrift undergarments or swimwear because I'm squeamish like that, but pretty much everything else is fair game, including coats.  But, there are pros and cons to thrifting coats.  Pros: they're inexpensive, the evening coats are in great shape due to minimal wear and you can find plum capes with plum mink collars.  Cons: they often have tissues, pills and the occasional "if I die my husband did it" notes in the pockets and, worst of all, they are not sized for modern giants.

While I love, love, love my thrifted coats (especially the aforementioned cape),  not a one of them works as a true winter coat for me.  They're either too fitted to wear anything but a leotard under (which is unfortunate because during the winter you need to wear more than a leotard!) or they're too short in the arms (and sometimes the torso too!).

Happily, Long Tall Sally is here to rescue us modern giants by offering true winter coats that truly fit.  This is the one they sent me:

Faux fur-lined parka c/o Long Tall Sally

I chose this coat for several reasons.  One, it's olive and I'm obsessed with olive this year.  Two, it has a hood; I love hoods to help keep the rain/snow off my glasses:

Three, it's long enough both in the arms and the torso to keep me fully covered and warm.  Four, this coat has a removable lining so I can wear it now when it's 34 degrees and later when it is, for some hellish reason, less than 34 degrees.


The best part about this coat though is that I ordered it in my regular size (US 14) and it's roomy enough that I can layer under it without feeling like Randy from A Christmas Story:

No way I won't be able to get up if a bully pushes me down.


Now, if you are really, really lucky, perhaps you'll find a Tall coat at a thrift store.  But, rather than hold out for that and possibly freezing to death due to winter leotard wearing, may I recommend Long Tall Sally?  They have a great collection of coats from true winter coats (here's mine (currently on sale!) and I love this one), as well coats for more mild winters (this one is fab and also on sale!) and great dress coats (my favorite).


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Review: metrostyle leggings

As I've mentioned before, it can be difficult to find quality leggings in Tall lengths.  And by quality, I mean leggings that are not see-through and have well-stitched seams; it's bad for my self-esteem when I pull on leggings and the seams pop!

Lately I've been on a serious mission to find leggings I love and I'm happy to say I've been very lucky!  But, it took some work.  I'll share all of my finds later this week, but today I want to talk about the leggings metrostyle sent me.  Apparently they knew of my search and were there to help a sistah out.

These are my metrostyle leggings:

Leggings: Skinny Ponte Knit in Tall c/o metrostyle

And I do love them.  Please to allow me to explain why.  One, they are seriously thick because they're ponte.  And while they're not thick enough to wear as pants (because leggings are NOT pants) they are thick enough that if my tunic rode up a bit, I wouldn't be completely uncomfortable.


Two, at 32.5" they are the perfect length for me to wear with flats, like I did today; as you can see, they hit me right above the ankle bone.  Also, to my eye, the 10" leg opening looks better with flats than a smaller, tighter opening.

And three, they have a nice, wide waistband and are therefore very comfortable.  I don't know about you, but wide waistbands are my jam; I can't even pretend to wear leggings with a skinny waistband.  These also come up pretty high on my waist, which some people hate, but I love.


And, best of all, there was only minimal bagging at the knees after a full day of sitting in them:

Shirt & Sweater: Gap  Leggings: c/o metrostyle  Shoes: Old Navy (similar)

Fit-wise, they fit true to size.  I'm a size 14 and I ordered the Large Tall and they fit perfectly both in my thighs (they haven't popped a seam yet) and my waist.

If you haven't ever tried metrostyle, give them a look.  They carry petite, tall and women's sizes as well as standard sizes.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey


Please Note: Although this item was given to me in exchange for a review, all opinions expressed on this blog are my own.  And that means that if the leggings were not great (Bob) I'd tell you.  Promise. 

Marika Magic

A couple of weeks ago, I received these workout pants from the fine folks at Marika:

They are the Marika Magic Slimming Capri Legging and they are fabulous.  One might even go so far as to say they are magic.

I have worn these leggings for piloxing, pilates and for doing squats, jumping jacks and everything in between, and they've been fabulous.  They are nice and opaque, they have slimming power mesh lining that holds you in but doesn't squish you so they are comfortable, and most importantly, they have stayed put; no tugging them up as I'm doing lunges.  I haven't worn them running because no one has chased me, but I have full confidence they'd stay put then as well.

And, they're worth the money.  I'm a fairly frugal person; I do a lot of thrift shopping and rarely buy something full price.  My splurges are generally limited to handbags and sometimes shoes or an item I can't live without.  I don't believe in splurging on workout clothes because I'm just going to sweat, a lot, all over them.  But, thanks to Marika, I've had a change of heart.  Yes, their workout clothes are more expensive than, say, Walmart, but they last a heck of a lot longer.  I received my first pair of Marika leggings two years ago, and they're still going strong.  Marika leggings are also more flattering, more comfortable and they don't droop or sag.  Again, totally worth the money.

If you're looking to upgrade your workout wear, I strongly recommend Marika.  And through August 31st, you can get 30% off your entire purchase at marika.com by using the code MM30.  Trust me, folks, you will not be disappointed.

Gracey

Smile Brilliant!

Some time ago, the lovely folks at Smile Brilliant! contacted me about trying their at-home professional teeth whitening kit.  And, to be honest, I wasn't sure I wanted to try it.  You see, even though my smile is one of my favorite things about myself, I've always been hesitant to try teeth whitening due to my sensitive teeth.

But, the people at Smile Brilliant! aren't just lovely, they're smart.  Because they offer a desensitizing gel along with their whitening gel:

Image via smilebrilliant.com

That gel right there was a life-saver for my sensitive teeth.  I can attest, from personal experience, that it really does help to desensitize your teeth so that you can whiten them.  How do I know?  Well, I tried my first session without the desensitizing gel, you know, for science, and I paid the price.  I could only whiten my teeth for half an hour before it became painful and remained painful for the next day or so.

For my second session, I got smart and used the desensitizing gel before using the whitening gel:

Image via smilebrilliant.com

And it was perfect.  I was able to leave the whitening trays, customized to my mouth, in for an hour.  I probably could have left them in longer, but I wanted to limit how white my teeth got.  I've never been a fan of Chiclet-white teeth, so I only used the trays for a total of two hours over the course of a week.

The result?  Exactly what I wanted:

My teeth are whiter, but not ludicrously so.  (Well, obviously not, if they were ludicrous; they'd be plaid (my undying affection for whomever gets that reference)).  But, if you're into really, really white teeth, I have no doubt that Smile Brilliant! can provide that for you as well.  Again, I only used the trays for a total of two hours; if you want Chiclets, just leave the trays in longer.

If you're interested in professional teeth whitening at home, I highly recommend Smile Brilliant!  They offer their wonderful desensitizing gel and the custom trays at a fraction of the cost you'd pay to have your teeth professionally whitened.

Want more information?  Visit Smile Brilliant! and you can learn all about their products and even view a helpful video.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

A Discussion on Hair & the Emjoi eRase e60

I love summertime, but it definitely brings some trials and tribulations along with the sunshine and barbecues.  It is an especially trying time for me due to my oh-so-special combination of hyper-active sweat glands and equally hyper-active hair follicles.

Because, here's the what, folks.  Below the waist?  Yeah, I basically look like this:

Image via Pinterest

Except with, you know, 100% more clothes.

Seriously though, I have coarse, dark hair and I have a lot of it.  I tend to let it run wild in the winter for the usual reasons of laziness/added warmth/no one sees it anyway.  Unfortunately, during the summer I'm forced to have a less laissez-faire attitude about the whole thing.

Sure, I'm still lazy, but I don't need the added warmth.  In fact, I need to stay cool because, well, sweat.  That means tank tops, shorter skirts & the occasional bathing suit.  And no hair-hiding tights.  All of which eliminates the "no one sees it anyway" excuse.  And so, even for my hippie-raised self, summer means hair removal.

But I don't like it.  It's been my experience that most hair removal methods are messy, smelly and/or painful.  Both my skin and my hair tend to react badly to most every hair removal technique I've tried.  In fact, the only place I remove hair with any regularity is my brows.  Because, let's be honest, only two people have ever pulled off the uni-brow:

Still, with my half-Wookie heritage (how do you think I got so tall?), hair removal is a must and I am always looking for new ways to remove hair that doesn't make me stabby and/or sad.

Enter the Emjoi eRase e60:

I was given the opportunity to try this adorable little epilator just in time for swimsuit season.  It may look dainty and cute, but this little guy has 60, yes, 60, tweezer action discs in there.


It is cute though, right?

So, how did this little cutie do against my Sasquatchean hair growth?  It did... okay.  Although it has a setting for "coarse" hair, it didn't make much of a dent in mine.  I had to go over the same area multiple times and there were still some hold-outs.  And that was just on my legs.  I didn't dare tackle my bikini line with this little guy; that wouldn't have been fair!

That being said, where it did work, my skin has been soft and hair free for over a week now, which is basically a miracle.  And, on less coarse hair, it's great.  Not too painful and smooth, smooth, smooth.

So, let's look at the pros and cons.

Pros

It's cute.

It's small enough to handle easily.

It works well on fine hair.

It's pretty gentle; not too painful at all.

It comes with a sensitive attachment for use on the face.

Erase Glide Technology allows the it to be used back and forth or in a circular motion.

Cons

It has to be plugged in which limits maneuverability somewhat.

It really doesn't work well on coarse hair, even on the coarse setting.

As you can see, there are far more pros than cons about this epilator.  If you're not half Bigfoot, and are looking for a way to remain hair free for up to 6 weeks, I definitely recommend it.  You can learn more, and get your own, at www.emjoi.com.  I'd also recommend this review of the product; the reviewer has fine hair and it seems to really have worked well for her.

As for me, I'll probably continue my infrequent, half-hearted shaving and just wear my swimsuit only in the privacy of my backyard.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

The Cappelli Pack A Hat

The other day I was offered a Cappelli Straworld, Inc. Pack a Hat for the summer and I was very excited.  I am definitely a sun lover, but I try to limit my sun exposure with sunblock and large, dramatic hats like the Cappelli Pack a Hat.  I have several wide-brimmed hats and was thrilled to be able to add the navy one to my collection.

Of course, what does one wear with a large, dramatic hat but a caftan?  I love swanning about the back yard in my vintage caftans, shaded from the Oregon sun by my Cappelli Straworld hat.  Not a fan of caftans?  You're missing out.  But, the good news is that large, dramatic hats also look fabulous with maxi dresses. For either, you can add simple sandals or a brightly-colored mule for added drama. Caftan or maxi, Cappelli has you covered.

This wonderful hat comes in seven different colors; black, toast, red, navy, turquoise, lime and green.  And it comes in an adorable striped wristlet that you can use to pack your hat, but that also doubles as a sporty little clutch.  And both for only $25!  You can get yours here.

Remember folks, sun protection is important and Cappelli Straworld hats not only protect you, they look great too!

Happy Saturday, All!

Gracey

A Midi and A Moto

I've never been able to figure out how the girls on Pinterest are able to pair a midi, a moto and a pair of ankle boots without looking both stumpy and wide.  Of course, not knowing how to do something doesn't stop me from trying.  Case in point:

I'm fairly certain it has something to do with the ratio of shaft height to heel height on the boots.  Also probably a factor is the length of the dress in relation to the boots.  But, I have no idea what those ratios should be.  That being said, I do think this is probably my most successful attempt at the look:

Dress: c/o MarketPlace: Handwork of India   Jacket: Kenneth Cole NY   Boots: Splendid

And to be honest, what I think makes it successful, if, indeed it is, is the dress.  This dress is beautiful.  It's the perfect color and the print is gorgeous:

It's part of the MarketPlace: Handwork of India Spring Collection and I love it.  I love the fit and I love that it's actually a midi, even on my tall self.  I was actually concerned that it wouldn't be, but I think the length is perfect.  And, of course, like all MarketPlace items, it is hand-printed, hand-embroidered and its manufacturing helps provide jobs and training to female artisans in India.

So, yeah, I'm honestly not sure I'm pulling off a midi and a moto; all I'm really sure about is that I will be wearing the heck out of this dress from here until next fall.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

MarketPlace: Handwork of India "Malwa" dress

Similar mixed media moto (here or here)

Splendid ankle boots