What’s my cheap secret to soft, supple skin?

Cocoa-Butter, bitches!!!

I get a HUUUUGE bottle of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula (in a pink bottle–Palmers donates to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for each pink bottle sold) that lasts me almost a year for less than $5 at any local convenience store.

It’s seriously my dirty little cheapy skin care secret.  I like it better than anything else I’ve tried–and believe me, I’ve tried every expensive moisturizer (and every cheap one, too!) that’s out there.

Cocoa Butter is the only thing that actually feels like it’s actually nourishing my skin, not clogging my pores, and healing my skin when it’s irritated, sun or windburnt b/c it’s all natural!  Plus, it naturally smells like chocolate!

Get some and when you get compliments on your glowing skin, tell everyone you’ve been spending hours at some poshy posh day spa.

If I know one thing, it’s lipgloss.

I own literally more than 100 different lipglosses, lipsticks, lipstains, etc. 

My favorite ones by a MILE are my Chanel Glossimers.

My favorite colors are “Pagoda” and “Paillettes.”  The colors are shimmery, beautiful and multi-faceted.  Best of all, you won’t look like a porn star wearing these glosses because the colors, while they are definitely noticeable, are flattering because they seem to go well with nearly all skin tones b/c of their multi-faceted shimmers.

Honestly, the colors stay on all day and yeah yeah yeah each one costs $26 but each one lasts literally forever.

Step up to the Chanel counter, brave the snotty counter ladies, pay up and get ready to pucker up!!!

Pete Wentz, king of the douche-bags has decided not to wear eyeliner anymore. Why you ask? Perhaps because it’s strange for “men” with children to wear eyeliner and tighter pants than their wives?

Nope, try again, the midget (seriously I towered over him when I saw him and I’m only 5″6!) has decided to be Eyeliner-Free in 2009 because he believes it became too expected of him. Uhhh no one expects anything of you babe, I can’t even name one song you sing? What do you even do in that band? What is it Fall Out Boy? How did you snag my girlfriend, Ashlee! I love her! And her last album kicked yours’ butt!

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Snap! Take that, Petey pie!

Don’t make the mistake of a Forever-21-night stand!
Buy clothes you’ll keep-It’s cost per wear!

So even though when I went through the Winter Lookbook on Shopbop.com I came close to vomiting from all the mismatched plaids and scratchy furs paired with huge bags tattooed in sequins with JUICY COUTURE on them, I did manage to find one cool pair of jeans! They are to die for!

Not on Sale but Jeans are the place to splurge since you’ll wear them probably 50 times. I’d definitelly spend on the jeans so you have a good base to pair perhaps a less expensive top. This pair by Current/Elliot run for $216 but how could you not want to take them home with you.

Since these days the only thing any of us can afford (especially from ShopBop) are Sale items here are a few items on Sale:

This fantastic dress by Foley & Corinna used to be $405 is now just $121! I wore this in red to like 4 weddings and I was the belle of the ball! Snatch this up if they have it in your size! Rock the winter white! That’s Haute!

This shirt by Mint Jodi Arnold was $297 is now just $148.50. This will totally make you look stylish but you can also stuff yourself at dinner and wear your super tight skinny jeans and look hot even though underneath your 4 helpings of mac-n-cheese are showing. Btw I realize $148 is still expensive but I am finding you real keepers you won’t want to pitch like your shirts from Forever 21 that you wear once and never want to see again. The inevitable Forever 21-night-stand! Never to be brought out again.

Want to feel beautiful every night you go out? Half of looking glamorous is just feeling glamorous. If you’re painting on your makeup with Q-tips and sponges from the drug store that’s not gonn cut it! The easiest way to look beautiful when you step out on that special date or to that fabulous party this holiday season is to feel confident! Confidence is all you need! These brushes will make you feel like you’re Paris Hilton with enough money to spend on fancy-schmancy brushes.

Getting ready to go out is half the fun for me and when I do it with clean, pretty brushes I feel like the girly-girl I have always aspired to be!

6-pc. Set Includes Case with Mirror, Angled Eyeshadow Brush, Foam Applicator Brush, Large Eyeshadow Brush, Medium Eyeshadow Brush, Smudge Brush

This is the essential eye set. It’s also available in a purse set for the girl on the go.

Includes blush brush, eye shadow brush, angled eye shadow brush and smudger

Get ready like the glamorous celebrities with these brushes for just $9.99 (eyes) or $12.99 (purse set).

My one caveat is these brushes are not as soft as a brush that sells for say $28 per brush (like Bobbi Brown’s soft brushes). So if you’re really looking into splurging for the holiday season then check out Bobbi Brown’s brush sets which are definitely pricier but still reasonable and definitely a good investment.

These brushes are super-soft and still a steal for $65 (including the case)

Now I’m not dissing Sonia’s brushes, those are amazing and actually super soft considering their price tag, but if you’re like me sometimes too much of a bargain isn’t one at all because you’ll end up thirsty to shop sooner than you would have been if you just bought the pricier item in the first place. So that’s something to think about.

My advice is to buy brushes around the holiday season. They always have matching sets for far less the cost of each brush individually. And just one more added bonus for the anal freaks out there like me, they’ll all match!

Great gifts for your friends! Snag a pair of hanky panks at the Sample sale and pair it with some brushes! Perfect for your girliest friends!

JUST IN TIME FOR SOME HOLIDAY HANKY PANKY…

Finally a sample sale your boyfriend will be smiling about!

Get ready girly girls!!!  Hanky Panky is having their annual sample sale in NYC starting December 2 and going through the 5th! I love these babies! They are so comfortable but when I see them in boutiques I nearly cringe at their price tag. Way too expensive for something that most people don’t see. But they are well made and super comfy–so what I do is usually run over to Loehman’s or Century 21 where I can find the same colors carried in stores for only $11 (normally priced at up to $30 for holiday colored thongs or $42 for boyshorts!). I know you may think that’s still a tad exorbitant for underwear…well you may be right–but if you’re going to get ‘em, at least get ‘em cheap!

Hours:

Tuesday 12/2      8:30 am- 8:00 pm

Wednesday 12/3 8:30 am- 8:00 pm

Thursday 12/4     8:30 am- 7:00 pm

Friday 12/5         9:00 am- 1:00 pm

Address:

260 5th Ave (b/n 28th and 29th)

Cash and Major Credit Cards will be accepted!

Great place to stock up on holiday gifts for your friends! These thongs and boyshorts run nearly $20 a pair usually! The sample sale is claiming to have undies for up to 70% off! I’ll be there bright and early opening day so I’ll let you know if they hold true to their word!

A LATTE MORE MOCHA,

LESS ‘BUCKS!

McDonald’s recently set out on a path to sell coffee to it’s bazillion customers. Turns out there was a tiny snag in their plan to start the coffee war…their customers don’t like coffee! (just anything deep fried and nutritionally lacking!) The expected success of Starbucks-esque beverages haven’t been getting their customers buzzed.

What’s wrong with us!? ! People, their lattes, mochas and cappucinos are definitely buzz-worthy!

Barista bitches be warned: according to a survey in Consumer Reports magazine, McDonald’s coffee was rated higher than Starbucks! And want to know the best part? It won’t sear a hole in your wallet like the burnt, sludge that Starbucks serves!

Listen I’m not the biggest McDonald’s fan either usually, though I’ve been known to enjoy some McNuggets every once in a while. However, their coffee is actually delish! Not to mention, for all you fellow weight-watchers, out there they even have sugar free options!

So for less than three dollars for a latte what are you waiting for? Just one last question? Do you want fries with that!?!