Dry shamp! Get ready to judge me.

You know what I stopped doing recently? Washing my hair every day with real shampoo. And I'm never going back.

Dry shampoo, you guys. Dry shampoo. It's not new, but I've only discovered it over the past couple months and it has revolutionized my routine.

Don't say ew! Really. Your hair isn't supposed to be washed every day, anyway. Give this a shot.

And before you go saying that your hair can't handle it, your hair is different, justtttttt consider it.

I have very fine hair. It's so soft and smooth that it's slippery, and it doesn't take product well, and for most of 2009, I was wearing a Bump-It. I didn't even have enough hair to COVER the Bump-It, but whatever.

My hurr gets greasy pretty fast. I used to wash every day, but it took time and effort. (And I don't even really style my hair. It was just all the blow-drying that was driving me cray). 

For years, I had crutched on baby powder if I had somewhere to be with no time to wash. It's a pretty good hold-over for a few hours or so. Sprankle some in the roots, blow-dry for a hot sec if you need, voila.

But then I finally tried the dry shamp.

GAME-CHANGER!

I've sampled many brands at this point, and I now swear by Batiste. It's the best. It's fresh, it has staying power, it gives your hair volume and it smells nice. My fav kind is probably the "rich and elegant paisley." (Because I love packaging, really.) 

Now that I think about it, I have no idea why this kind is rich or elegant. You know what actual rich people are doing? Getting blowouts 'eeryday. And do you know what "elegant" people AREN'T doing? Spraying their hair with bullshit in order to avoid the GD blow-dryer. (Am I going against my own post here? I gotta stop.)

                                                 Oh now THAT packaging looks elegant!

I will warn against the "hint of color" kind -- you just have to know what you're in for, really. I have dark brown hair, but I'm not necessarily trying to cover up grays. (Not denying their existance, but.)

Anyway, this shit really does have color in the actual spray, which is nice that it doesn't come out all white-looking (that's always annoying to have to rub in against dark hair), but like ... it's kind of gross on your fingers and clothes. It doesn't stain, but I still manage to get it all over the place. Maybe I should stop being a Khloe Kardashian and touching my hair all the time, but I can't. Not today. Buy with caution.

I've also tried the original, the blush, fresh and "wild" varieties. (Again, packaging).

HOW DID YOU KNOW I WANTED A CHEETAH PRINT ON MY DRY SHAMP BOTTLE?

Batiste just gets me.

So, again, I am not selling the stuff or at all in bed with the company, but if I've convinced you in my 300 eloquent words that it's a must-have -- and it is -- you can purch at Ulta for about $7-8 and it lasts about a month, depending how often you use, obvi. 

I JUST FOUND OUT KROGER HAS IT, TOO! I miss Krog$z.

I'd also like to go on record with the following: I usually do real shampoo every 4 or so days, and use DS in between.

All of that is thrown out the window if I'm doing lots of bikram. There's just no avoiding a complete shower/scrubdowns after one of those sessions. By the time we've finished the warm-up series, I'm already drenched and there's no turning back.

So yes -- dry shampoo. So much texture. No more flat hair.* Happiness. Definitely one of my favorite things/products.




*OK, flat hair sometimes. You can only fight nature so hard.

Tell me that my hair looks greasy. I dare you.

 

(I do happen to recall that this was before the Tracy Morgan show at Thunder Valley and my hair hadn't been washed properly in like, five days).

Brother and sister weekends. Necessary.

"Table for two, brother and sister weekend?"

Um, and the hostess at Buffalo Wild Wings was like, whatttttt!? "Ohmygahd, are you guys seriously brother and sister? That is SO. Cute."

Well, yeah. No one really lies about being siblings, do they?

I tried to snap some pics! Robby was in town from Colorado from late Wednesday night through Sunday evening. Long trip, actually. We did a newsroom tour -- which made him the happiest person of all time -- a trip to Tahoe/Reno and plenty of Irish car bombs. (Like, PLENTY).

Oh, and he went swimming in the Truckee River. We saw a HUGE basebrawl at the Reno Aces game. And then he proposed to a stranger in the casino and decided it'd be a good idea to swap shirts with some big, muscular guy. Didn't witness that one in person.

Who knew, oversized tanks aren't a good look on a brah with NO muscles. I honestly think I could have filled out that tank better than he did (actually, I know I could have). And I don't think it was supposed to be oversized.

ANYWAY. Had a really great time with my older brother! He told everyone he was six years older than me, so we'll stick with that.

"I feel like I'm dying of cancer and this is my Make-A-Wish weekend. It's like all my old friends came out for one last drink and to put together all these activities! You guys are taking me to all my favorite places and buying me beers and shots. Can I take a picture with the Aces mascot now? Or run the bases or something?" -- Robby

Makeup removal. Just got better!

I wear some stubborn eye makeup. Revlon Colorstay eyeliner? It really colorstays.*

But at the end of the day, I don't want to be wrestling my eye makeup off. I feel like tugging at the skin around the eyes is probably damaging as F. So I test out eye-makeup removers like it's my job. (That would be a really fun full-time job, actually).

So, I can whip through a packet of those wipes in a couple weeks, and not to be cheap, but it sucks that some of those packs are like, $10-12. Are they $10-12 in Michigan? (Why do I get the feeling EVERYTHING is more expensive in California?)

So, trying to be all economical and shit, I started buying the liquid remover (thinking it'd be cheaper in the long run), but then I realized I'm less likely to take off my makeup at all if I have to scrounge around for cotton balls or something else to use with the liquid. Sorry! At the end of the day, I'm exhausted. I've usually had a 10-hour workday, some hot yoga and a glass of wine under my belt by 2 a.m. or whenever I get in bed. (Not in that order). And yes, I realize that statement makes me sound like every 20-something girl everywhere. And moms everywhere are rolling their eyes. My life isn't that hard, I know. (But I'm still tired).

Butttttttt as I was saying, as a 27-year-old, I feel like I HAVE to stay in the habit of removing my shit. This isn't college anymore. (I'm even trying to use eye cream! So mature). But if a liquid remover isn't in my best interests, I'm not going to force it. Paycheck be damned.

SO, I've tested a lot of brands -- mostly of the remover-wipes.

Best bang for your buck? Elf! Or is it e.l.f? Who cares. You guys know Elf. Sold at Target? The packs are $3. One wipe will kill alllllllll your eye makeup, no wrestling needed. And I have pretty sensitive skin -- but these won't dry you out or irritate your eyes at all. Plus, the packaging is pretty solid, too. There's a snap compartment on top so that the wipes won't dry out/go bad (which is so much better than the sticker seal, which gets unhinged way too easily).

The Elf wipes are by far a superior product, in my opinion. 

And as for the best liquid, I'd have to say generic/Sephora brand (in the blue container) and Mary Kay ... but honestly, I'm really over the liquid. (Not to mention, if you go the MK route, you have to find an MK salesperson who will stalk you). No offense, I understand you guys are trying to make Ds, but like, how about I call you when I need something and that's all the correspondence we have? Again, sorry.

And while we're on the topic of Elf -- Has anyone else tried the Elf Studio Lip Exfoliator? I don't know exactly why I need lip exfoliator or how often to use it, but I bought it once after reading a Buzzfeed list of makeup products that actually work (I'm a sucker for shit like that. The ultimate consumer). Anyway, I will say -- that stuff is also $3 and whenever I use it, my lips do feel pretty soft and nice. I've never compared it to another lip exfoliator, so whether you take my word on this is on you, but  -- for $3, I feel like you can't go wrong.

I trust Elf because I trust Target.

Target just gets me.** (Again, said all 20-something women everywhere).

*Sidenote: Do I need new eyeliner? I've tried a few others, but I don't seem to like many. Too smudgy or thick. If anyone has a recco, please let me know in the comments! I've used gel before (it's OK), I am not coordinated enough for a liquid, and prefer a solid.

**Oh, and in case I haven't made this clear: No one reads my blog. My posts aren't sponsored. I genuinely love all these things. I'm not opposed to sponsored posts, so if Urban Decay wants to send me the Naked Palette3 or MK wants me to review a new bag -- I'm all for it! But until then ... this shit's real. That's why I'm writing about $3 wipes. Kbye!

Temple Coffee.

Apologies in advance to my friends who live outside Sacramento: You don't have Temple Coffee -- and for that, I'm really, really sorry.

I'll start by saying I'm not really a huge coffee person. I drink it on a pretty regular basis (and REALLY needed it when I worked at 6a every day), but that doesn't mean I'm a die-hard. It's just necessary to drink some in order to survive most work days. I'd rather have a Monster. But those give me heart palpitations (at least, that's what it feels like), and I'm scared I'll seizure if I keep downing those on the regs.

So, coffee it is. At least it's natural, right? I swear, we're going to find out in 20 years that Monsters are like cigarettes, and I'm gonna be all, "but we didn't KNOW how bad they were!" And people will be like, "inhaling smoke into your lungs? ... Drinking god-knows-what with HOW much caffeine?! Duh."  So. Coffee it is. With a lot of cream and sugar. (Still trying to get off the Splenda).

And in case that last part is confusing -- I don't smoke cigs. Never have (really. Ever). And I never would.

But anyway, fun coffee drinks? Those are another story. I can get behind those. I try not to buy them too often -- for reasons involving my checking account and my waistline -- but I do splurge from time to time.

The Temple Coffee latte (and vanilla latte!) is like, one of the most incredible things I've ever had. It's thick -- I believe making it with whole milk helps : ) -- and it's the perfect amount sweet. And it fills me up like, for at least a few hours. Meal replacement, boom.

Try to go back to the Starbs latte after this and you're so doomed. It's gross. To tell you the truth, everything at Starbs is a little lackluster once you've had Temple.*

Even Temple's plain coffee is just on another level. I can almost drink it without cream and sugar. Almost. After a couple sips of appreciation, I still want to add just a little of each.

So ... all of a sudden I'm a coffee snob? I really didn't want for this to happen. I'm certainly not one of those people who TELLS OTHERS that she's a coffee snob (or a wine/beer snob, really. Even though I can appreciate good vino and brews). That's just weird. We get it, you're super cultured!

Anyway, Temple. I can't even.

The final thing I'll mention is that it's also more expensive than Starbs, which is another reason I don't go every day, but when I do, it is just so perfect that it hurts a little. Keep doing what you do, Temple Coffee.

**Not sure if I'll feel this way about Caribou and Biggby once I come back to the Midwest. We have neither in NorCal  : (  I've always been more of a 'Bou person, myself.

Chambray!

I am too low-rent to know how to pronounce this. Google tells me ˈSHamˌbrā,-brē/.

But I love these shirts! What a great staple.

I'm not ballsy enough to pair with denim (I don't want to Canadian tux up in this B) -- even if Kim Kardashian does; really not the time to start following in her footsteps anyway -- but I love to match with my other fav summer staple: Neon shorts!

I'm in middle school.

(Bad lighting, I know). Snapped at Apple Hill!

Anyway, I heard really great things about the Madewell chambray, ordered one months ago, and was a little let down. I mean, for $30, it wasn't an awful decision. I ordered a size smaller than usual (went from a medium to a small), but it still felt really baggy and mom-like. I still use it as backup, but my No. 1 chambray shirt is made by TARGET.

Two top buttons recently fell off in the dryer, so I'm working to get them reattached. Can I pay a tailor to do this? And until then, I'm wearing unnecessary scarves up top so my Ts don't fall out.

But the fit, the length, the material ... all those things are surprisingly on-point. For like, $20!

Match it with skirts, pants, shorts or over a summer dress ... I'm hooked. You can wear this almost anywhere, and it's fun to accessorize, too.

Couldn't get Michael Kors if you were (banging) Michael Korsssssssss

So, until last week, I'd never owned a designer purse.

(My mom right now is like, "so?!?!?" and some of my friends are floored).

I'm just not really a purse person.

Now that I really think about it, I've had clutches -- one Coach and the other Dooney and Burke (a gift from HS graduation. Thanks, Aunt Carol!)

But as far as like, a full-sized bag that cost more than $100, I've just always felt that I had better shit to spend my money on. Shoes, dresses, DRESSES MOSTLY and cute tops. I could never get over the steep pricetags -- and usually ended up spending my money on an outfit or something that would be on my body all day. Not a lousy bag that would get thrown in a corner anyway. And that Coach logo is actually pretty ugly, no?

I'll say this: I have a brand new Michael Kors bag and I would NEVER throw it in a corner EVER.

I had anxiety over putting it on the dirty-ass plane floor under my seat on the flight from Detroit to Sacramento. I had it there briefly for takeoff and landing, then kept one of the straps dangling over my knee so that it would stay clean and nice. (I'm a psycho, I know. I realize this is going to be one of those things like, when I get a new car or a new pair of running shoes. For a week I'll be like, removing my Starbucks cups from the holders and refusing to wear the tennies outside ... then the next week I'm not even breaking for animals, or going on a mud run with the new kicks).

ANYWAY.

I had been shopping specifically for an MK bag for, no exaggeration, a year. I actually received one as a gift last Christmas and returned it because it wasn't perfect (because tassles, really), then proceeded to forgot what it looked like and then I attempted to re-buy it a few months later. (Again, I'm a psycho. And I figured I could remove the tassles). Should have just kept it in the first place. Especially because it was a gift from someone with no experience buying purses and wasn't that so nice? 

ANYWAY.

You know why I didn't like most of the MK bags? And all the other labels I shopped? Well, I think it was because I knew I needed a basic, standard-ish everyday type purse. You know, like, brown, black or gray. But they were all soooooo boring! I'm not really a brown, black or gray type person. Sometimes I'll force myself to buy staples like that and I will wear/use them, but like ... I just couldn't make myself fall in love with a seemingly boring purse.

Then this guy called to me from across the MK outlet last weekend:

OMG, hey!

Aren't you the prettiest pretty?!

I briefly flirted with the idea of buying a basic white bag. But Yellow just kept looking at me with those eyes! He was so bright next to the other boring guys. And on sale! I loved him. The sales girl even told me, "you could totally like, wear this in the fall because it's not BRIGHT bright yellow, it's actually more of a gold, ya know? (gum smack)." I was like, "helllllllllll yeah and I live in California so it's never really WINTER WINTER, ya know? (gum smack)."

Then she was all, "throw in a wallet and it's basically free!"

And I didn't need a wallet. But she got me. #problemspender

 And then there was only one periwinkle one left! And it matched but not in a super matchy-matchy way and then I got SOMEONE to buy both for me for my birthday!

It had all my requirements: Soft leather, big enough, but not too big.

Which is not until August 30. But it's an early gift.

I promised this blog wouldn't get bougie. This will probably be my bougiest post. Sorry, mom.

But this bag ... and now the wallet ... have my heart.

 I would post a link but I can't find one : (  Makes sense, right? I basically Google things all day for my job and I can't find a link of my own bag. Probably because it was from the outlet? Who knows. I only wish I could link up so you could see the actual colors of these things. I feel like newsroom lighting is no good.

I did learn while Googling that MK makes an orange-y CAMO tote. Bleckkkkkk, excuse me while I go vom.

Until next time!

"Michelle, will you please just not put honey in there like last time? That was seriously gross to clean up." --Anon

(I seriously have no idea who would steal honey packets from Starbucks and let them explode all over her purse.) 

(There's a reason I usually go cheap).

Pluots you guys, PLUOTS

I had never heard of a pluot until last Thursday at the farmers market.

I was walking around the Capitol Park FM, on the hunt for some fresh fruits and vegetables -- seeing as I had like, no food at my apartment and had just returned from vacation. I was decked out in cheer shorts, an MSU T, last night's eyeliner and some oversized sunglasses. I felt exhausted and a tad jetlagged, ughhhh. But my body was craving fresh, non-vacation food, so I figured I was getting my Thursday off to a decent start.

So, I stopped at this one stand that was passing out samples of like, everything in the peach family: Yellow peaches, white peaches, tangerines, nectarines, plums, and apparently, pluots.

What?! I love hybrids. Is this like a labradoodle?!

I didn't ask any questions aloud. I just sampled it all -- really, to the point where it got awkward -- and then started loading up my paper bag.

I guess a plum and an apricot got down one night (go home guys, you're too drunk) and made a baby pluot.

All I can say is YUM.

If you're in an area that carries pluots, stock the F up. I've been eating them with like, every meal. Eggs and pluots for breakfast, fish and pluots for dinnz. Get on it! This fruit is seriously delish.

 I don't even know what possessed me to try one -- maybe my jetlagged stupor? Regardless: Game-changer.

****Edit: Not sure if I jinxed them because this blog is SO HUGELY POPULAR but a really legit website (that I happen to write, whatever) tells me some pluots are now getting recalled!
--So read up if you were actually considering a purch. I guess listeria has really good taste and also clings to this tasty fruit: Here you go.

What up! Pimping some sandos

You know what I love reading about? People's favorite things.

So I'm about to share my own! On the regs, yo.

Mindy Kaling had a blog where she did this (although it hasn't been updated in years), and most of my fav bloggers share, as well. I want in! And who's not down with some good reccos, you know?

Mine isn't going to be bougie*, though. Even though I miiiiiiight snap a pic of this amaz Michael Kors bag I just got as a (two months early) birthday present, expect most posts to be like, salad dressings. Yogurt flavors. Coffee drinks. Makeup products. Chipotle orders.

FLIP FLOPS.

I usually splurge on a nice-ish pair like, once every two years. And by nice-ish pair, I don't mean Kate Spades. (I wish). I mean like, Reefs. Something around the $50 mark that won't fall apart on me like the Old Navys. Something I can possibly wear to work -- it's not dressy here -- or to go run errands in. A sturdy flip that won't flop.

K, I'm like, obsessed with my choice this year.

As some of you know, I was on a shopping hiatus (a self-imposed challenge), for four months, just to see if I could do it. I'm an addict. I love spending Ds I don't have.

Anddddddd I did it! Challenge completed. And then I went and spent a ton as soon as it was over. (Mom, earmuffs). But that'll happen when you have an iPhone doc called "things to buy when the drought is over," and you fulfill most of your list once you're allowed.

I still maintain that I saved money in the long run, but whatever.

Clark's is for old man shoes, as far as I'm concerned, but I happen to be hanging out with an old man lately who drags me into Clark's from time to time.

So I bought these!

I wasn't even 100 percent sold as I clomped around in the store, but I thought they seemed like a good staple. And they're usually $50 and they were half off. K thanks.

AND NOW I CAN'T STOP WEARING THEM!

They go with everything. Srsly. A little bit basic, a little bit Sperry, a lot of bit comfy. If you're in the market for some sandos, do it up. I'm contemplating getting another color while they still have size 9s in stock. Mint, anyone? K, mint doesn't match a ton, but I can't get over mint.

I sense this next shot might be an unflattering shot of my feet, but I swearsies I don't have cankles. At least, not yet.

Photo taken at a beach bar in Detroit! Did anyone else know this existed? I was like, in shock when I stumbled upon it during my Michigan trip last week. Campus Martius Park, hollaaaaaaaa.


And ...


*Do you guys know bougie?
[boo'-she] -- A hacked truncation of the word Bourgeoisie.
One of my favs.