It's Good To Be Back!

I'm back! I'm back on Obagi C Rx skin system that is. I've been on it for about 5 years with breaks of a few months or so and always seem to go back on it. This past break from Obagi C, I started using the Cindy Crawford Meaningful Beauty day and night creams as well as a couple of other things I use before applying makeup. My friend L loves CCMB and is on the automatic mailing system of the product so she receives it every month whether she's out or not. She's accumulated tons of it so she gave me a couple of the products to try.

Since I was out of the Obagi C tretinoin cream (Obagi's retin A), I found an almost entire tube of a Retin A cream that the Boy had tried a few years ago for acne and never finished. I finished the tube off and then it was time to get another. I try to never go without a Retin A product. Bad things happen to my pores and skin when I do.

While we were in Birmingham this week, I headed over to Spa 119 to finally restock my Obagi products. I had planned on getting the C serum without the added skin lightener, hydroquinone, since I am a little suspicious of long term use of it even though it really works to get rid of age spots and freckles. I had freckles all over my chest that are now gone from using the night cream on my chest for a while a few years ago to give my face a break from it. Totally works!

I like the Cindy Crawford Meaningful beauty cream as a moisturizer with added sunscreen, but I still needed something stronger. My skin started breaking out (only minor, but still!) probably more from the drug store sunscreen I was using and my skin was flaking. Dry, yet breaking out! It was a mess!

Get Obagi C Rx System 20% Here with code May2013

I ended up purchasing the entire Obagi C starter kit since it is less expensive to buy it that way and I was out of everything anyway. The C serum in the kit had the hydroquinone so I went with it this time, but when I need a refill I'm going with the non-hydroquinone despite the fact that I was reassured that the 4% in the product was very mild and didn't cause any problems. It's still a chemical that I don't really need year round.

And I got the .05% Tretinoin Cream.

Obagi C Rx system also available for Normal to Dry skin Here 20% off with code May2013

Now Obagi C Rx has SPF 50 sunscreen instead of 35. That is much needed these days since I'm in the sun a lot. I'm going to avoid the drug store brand so hopefully the breakouts will stop.

I can already tell a difference in my skin after only two days of use. It is not peeling, seems more moisturized and the break outs are clearing up.

It's good to be back! Back on Obagi and back at the beach!

White dress: Free People; Black Jog Bra: Lululemon; Flip Flops: Juicy Couture; 

Necklace: Free People Here

Fashion Friday - A Little Floral

On toes: China Glaze - Pink Voltage here

Dress: Free People old, but newer floral bodycon version with lace here

Sandals: BCBG MaxAzria

Bracelets:(silver) David Yurman here,  (black) Avon

May Day Fashion And Time For A New Cat Yoga Pose

 Dress: New Romantic from Free People, old;  Shoes: Christian Louboutin, old;  Bracelets: John Hardy Bracelet similar Here and David Yurman Bracelet Here;  Lips: MAC Girl About Town, Here

Jacket: Soho, old;  Tank:  Helmet, Here;  Shorts: American Eagle, old;  Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell;  Lips: MAC Girl About Town, Here

A couple of my favorite pairs of shoes! I got the Louboutins on sale during a trip to Atlanta a few years ago. They are my most comfortable pair of Louboutins. I can barely walk in the Christian Louboutin black pumps I bought several years ago so they don't get worn much, but I still love to look at them.

The pink Jeffrey Campbell shoes were purchased last year. I love them mostly because they're pink!

Also, happy May 1st and time for another kitty yoga pose for the month of May!

This pose is called Pip Triangle Pose Variation and Ms. May does it so well! I'm going to have to pass on this one though. Looks like it requires to much balance and coordination.

Fashion Friday - Lace

Dress: Victoria Secret;  Shoes: Carl Madden;  Necklace: old;  Bracelets: old; Nails: Pink and White acrylic gel with one sheer coat of OPI Kyoto Pearl (here)

The other day I did a post about the black and white Spring fashion trend 2013. Another Spring fashion trend I love is lace. The Murph purchased this dress for me a couple of years ago. I also have several lace shirts I love but seldom wear because of my three cats. Two of which are not declawed.

I love this dress with lace sleeves. I have been wearing this one a lot and so far, no snags from kitty claws!

Dress: Free People (here);  Booties: Carlos by Santana (here); Leggings: old, but Express (I think);  Nail Color: OPI Lincoln Park After Dark (here)

Another lace dress I've gotten a lot of wear our of is this one. I got it online from Free People. You can't see from this picture, but it has a sheer lace cutout in the back.

Dress: Free People (Nightcap);  Shoes: Zigi Soho;  Watch: Geneva (old, but similar here);  Bracelet: Avon (Mark) old

Does lace ever really go out of style?

Trouble With Mr. Frosty And My Favorite Rain Boots

Dress:  Free People,  Rain Boots:  Michael Kors,  Scarf:  Portolano,  Nails:  OPI You Only Live Twice, Lips:  Mac Impassioned,  Bracelet:  David Yurman

I don't like all the rain and general cloudy dreariness, but at least it isn't cold.  I've probably said that a million times the last couple of day.  I also love the excuse to wear my rain boots.  I purchased these almost three years ago and I'm still loving them.  The scarf too!

Most of the Christmas decorations are down, but Mr. Frosty is still hanging out in the yard.  A couple of days ago he was right outside the door to the Boy's "apartment".

Then today he was looking in the Boy's window.  The Boy's going to be really "surprised" when he opens his blinds.  (and the Murph wonders why the Boy has issues!)

I took the wreath off the front door and before I could pack it away properly, Phantom took over and claimed it for his napping spot.  Also, it 's a strategic location to lunge out at the other two cats when they happen to walk by.

Phantom's crafty like that.

We got this as a wedding gift and the Murph's already claimed it as his.

I changed my nails back to OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark.  I really do like it better than red, but I can do red temporarily for the holidays.  Especially if it's sparkly red like OPI's You Only Live Twice.

Nails:  OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

Phantom was ready for dinner and he knows where the food is located.  Look at how intently he is looking toward the food cabinet.

Ed was in on it too.  He's ready to eat, but waiting patiently from a safe distance.

Phantom's looking at me like "okay, okay, your nail color is just great and now you have enough pictures and everything, so would you just please FEED US ALREADY!!"  (those other plates were from breakfast).

Cute but demanding!

Pink Lace

I pulled out this pink lace shirt to wear yesterday to finish up Christmas shopping and shopping for our 2nd Annual Christmas party which is Friday night.  It will be a small party since we are having it later this year and most people have other commitments by now, but we have lots of goodies plus I'm using some of the bottles of champagne we have left over from the wedding to make a holiday punch with champagne, frozen orange juice and cranberry juice.

Skinny jeans:  J brand,  Tank:  Gap,  Pink lace shirt:  Free People,  Boots:  Jeffrey Campbell

Last night I made sweet and spicy nuts and some retro sausage balls.  Reminded me of all those parties we had back in the 80's.  I think I'll do deviled eggs as well since I'm in a retro mood.  That's what the holidays do to me.  This weekend I'm baking sugar cookies in all my favorite Christmas shapes.

The Murph was a little nervous with me taking over the kitchen.  He's a little protective of "his" kitchen.  He was going to take some pictures of me in there cooking since that is such a rare sight around here except for this time of the year.  Cadence was confused too.  He didn't understand why I was in there and not giving him kitty treats.  He kept meowing and coming up right behind my legs when my back was turned.  I don't trust him when he does that.  A bite is sure to follow if I'm ignoring his demands for kitty treats.  This went on almost the entire time until I gave him his treats and he went on his little way.

Demanding little kitty!

I got this Christmas Santa from my grandmother many years ago. One of my favorites.

It's been a busy week and it is going to be a busy day!

Fashion And Cheap Wine Friday

I don't know about anybody else, but I love Free People clothing especially the summer fashions.  I've had this Free People dress for about three years now and these Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals for at least that long.  The Murph asked why I would want to get a picture of me wearing the sandals since they weren't new.   I couldn't believe he actually said that because it just set him up for all kinds of new shoe arguments.  I mean when a woman of her own free will is wearing three + year old shoes (gladly and proudly) instead of going out and buying new ones, a man should be smart enough not to say anything but maybe, "Hey!  Great shoes!!  I LOVE them!  Are they new???"

See what I mean?

                                           
                                      Dress - Free People
                                      Shoes - Kenneth Cole Reaction (old)  :)
                                      Bracelet - David Yurman - find similar here
                                      Sunglasses - Oakley (last photo)

The pool is looking much better after several rounds of algaecide, lots of other chemicals and some vacuuming.   It's still not up to the Running Nazi's standards, but she won't know if she doesn't get to see it.  Right?

Moving onto another very important subject, I have finally found a red wine that I can drink that does not trigger migraines.  I have never been able to drink red wines, especially aged red wines because of this problem and have stayed with white wines, mostly Rieslings.   The guy at the local liquor store, who we call the "Beer Guy" turned me on to this one.  It is very light, sweet, I love it and it's just a mere $6.19!  Seriously though, I wanted to switch to reds for health reasons (of course).  Who wouldn't want the anti-aging benefits of resveratrol found in red wines?  Even cheap red wines!

You can find it here.

As I was trying to find the best spot take a picture of this oh so classy bottle of wine, I didn't notice a certain other something in both of the photos.  I moved the bottle from the counter to the table and somehow the demanding cat ended up in both pictures.  He's a fast, sneaky little bastard who fully appreciates a cheap bottle of red wine.  And kitty Party Mix.

The Beer guy told me I probably wouldn't want to tell any of my wine snob friends that I drink this stuff so if you should want to try it, I would suggest the same for you.

 It's our little secret!