{GIVEAWAY} Win the Darling Ahoy! Dress from Shabby Apple!

{up for grabs...the ahoy! dress from shabby apple}

Happy Friday, my darlings! Do I have a treat in store for you this morning or what?! With the official start to summer just around the corner, this is the perfect time to get you ready for fetes, festivals, and summer fun – why not start it with a giveaway from my newest affiliate sponsor -- the oh-so-fabulous Shabby Apple boutique!

If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting www.shabbyapple.com, I can’t recommend it enough for dresses for little girls and women alike, all vintage-inspired and totally adorable.

So, here it is…up for grabs is this doll of a women’s dress: the Ahoy! dress in pretty green cotton voile.

All you have to do to enter is head on over to Shabby Apple’s Facebook page, ‘Like’ them, let them know that oh my word! sent you, pop back over here and leave me a comment letting me know you did. That’s it! Super easy peasy, right?

Want a few more ways to win? Tweet it (@evereeve), Facebook it (link back to http://www.facebook.com/ohmywordblog), blog it...whatever! For every bit of promo, leave me a separate comment and each will count as a bonus entry!

(Please don’t forget to include your email address somewhere so I can contact you if you win – no spam from me, I promise!)

{Just a bit more of the awesome that is shabby apple}

But wait....there's MORE! Cuz' I adore you, you ALL can be winners and get your own awesome bit o’ vintage loveliness a la Shabby Apple when you use the coupon code “ohmyword10off” & get 10% off your order! So if you’d like some new accessories, a new bathing suit, or even a maternity dress – Shabby Apple has you covered. (FYI: discount expires in 30 days, so get on it!)

The rest of the giveaway details:
• Only open to U.S.residents (sorry, International ladies!)
• The winner will be chosen at random based on the received comments.
• Contest ends at midnight EST on Friday, June 24, 2011.
• Winner will be announced Monday June 27, 2011.
• Once announced and contacted, the winner must provide me their name, address, phone, email address and dress size, so I can make sure the good folks at Shabby Apple get you your dress!
• Sorry – no exchanges will be offered for the winning dress.


Happy summer!

♥ Evelyn

{Bombshell Beauty} Tips & Tricks of the Trade

As I've mentioned in previous posts, my sister (aka Sissy) is an amazing hairstylist. In fact, she's a hair genius, and that is not a partial or exaggeration whatsoever. I'm telling ya, she just knows her stuff!

Over the years, we talk about hair, makeup and beauty products. We tried lots of them, too. Here are a few "tricks of the trade" I found have helped me maintain my Bombshell status over the course of time.

What are your tricks to live by?

Here goes my list:

Tip #1: Volumizer is flat hair's BFF. There are a million out there and I've still not settled on a favorite, but volumizer is a MUST for my hair (lots of body, fine-to-medium texture, color-treated.)

Tip #2: The best time to use hair products, like a volumizer, is after the bulk of your hair is try and it feels just slightly damp to the touch.**

Tip #3: Take the time to learn how to dry your hair properly. Who knew that I've been doing it wrong for, oh, my entire life? You know that beautiful, blown-out look your hair has after returning from the salon? The trick is to gently squeeze out all excess water from your hair before starting to blow dry. Also, a wide-tooth comb is a handy tool to gently work through tangled tresses. Set your dryer to high temp, high air flow, maintain a distance from your hair (about 12-18") and KEEP IT MOVING. No one likes scorched hair. Then, when it is just barely damp (**This is the time to add your products), turn down the heat to warm, pin up the bulk of your hair and, using a round brush, dry small sections slowly (about a 1-2" chunk works well for me.) Slowly work around the non-pinned, then take out a small amount from the remaining hair until it's all dry. *Note: You shouldn't have to keep going over the hair with the dryer using a round brush to get it dry. If you are, then it's not ready for the brush...keep drying on high all over until more of the moisture is out, then start with the brush/warm heat combo.

Tip #4: Cetaphil is the best face wash I've ever used. I have oily, pimple-prone skin. I tried everything...Mary Kay, Proactiv Solution and just about every drug-store brand out there. In nearly every case, I didn't get a clean-feeling face OR I was felt too dry and my dry skin would break out my face. Finally, I read somewhere that Cetaphil was worth a try. Less than $10 and a few weeks of daily washes later (in WARM water only, please) my skin has never been better. Even my momma swears by it now. She had areas that a dermatologist couldn't smooth out...Cetaphil worked like a charm. Great for all skin types and ages, it's affordable, gentle and leaves your face feeling very clean. The daily face lotion is great, too!

Tip #5: 99-cent drugstore nail polish remover is just fine. I like a non-acetone formula, personally, and for anyone wearing artificial or acrylic nails, it's a must (unless you want to melt your nails!) Best way to take it off is to soak a cotton ball, hold it between your pointer and middle fingers and thumb, put the polished nail place between the cotton and your thumb and hold for a few seconds. Then, after the remover starts to break down the polish, gently rub the cotton with your pointer/middle fingers holding the cotton. No more wasting remover or having to buff out your nail bed to remove polish remnants!

Tip #6: Daily lotion is a drink of water to your skin. In addition to keeping hydrated, moisturizers and lotions are a great helper for your skin, especially in cooler weather when indoor heating saps skin's moisture. I love cheap cocoa butter lotion, but Bath & Body Works' Body Cream and Body Butter are dreamy, too. When's the best time to apply? Right after your bath or shower, but not until after you're dry. Despite popular belief, applying moisturizers onto damp skin only waters down the product. Towel off before slathering on!

Going to the Probate Court and...

Gonna get a marriage license! (queue The Dixie Cups backing track.)

Today's a big day for wedding-related happiness. We are venturing off to Probate Court with documents in-hand to get our official marriage license. One huge ginormous check off of The List. Then, later this afternoon, we get to meet with our minister to go over the ceremony, vows and details. *squee!*

Oh yeah...and did I mention that yesterday, I had both my hair and makeup trials? Both HUGE, MAJOR successes? My. veil. is. perfect. Want to post photos so badly it hurts, but I just can't ruin the surprise. Soon, very soon! /happydance

There is only one teensy problem with the make-up. Hello, M·A·C. Why on Earth do you cost so much? It caused physical pain when I saw how much my dream face was going to cost me, but we axed all but the essentials. I'm going to take an assessment of my brushes and see if I can make do. I think when it's all said and done, it will be about $200 spent on makeup and a couple brushes. Right then, I'm fairly certain I threw up in my mouth a little. I'm thrifty. I have never in my life bought a face-full of high-quality make-up, as I generally opt for the "make do with makeup on the cheap" philosophy. Let's just say that cheap beauty products are not always kind to a 30-year-old face. And into my life walks M·A·C Cosmetics...

Ladies. OH MY WORD. I don't care what I have to do to get this M·A·C makeup. Fo riz. I wore it all night. Over night. Just to "test". The eyeshadow smudged a little. That's it. As featherlight as the foundation/powder combo was (with amazing coverage), I had to scrub to get it all off. Skin never looked better. Not a single blemish and I have crazy oily skin. Let me just mention the sales rep/makeup genius Angela was completely fantastic. She deserves a Starbucks on me for the magic she worked, I'm telling you what. I'm 100% sold.

M·A·C was recommended to me highly from an old colleague of mine who was married over the summer. She had gone to the M·A·C counter, was all dolled up for free and bought everything they used, taught her how to put it on and everything. My bridesmaid/future cousin-in-law swears by it, too, and has my FMIL send it to her in England. That says something, people!

I had been toying with the idea of airbrush makeup, which was recommended on my local board on The Knot. I checked out the top recommended airbrush makeup artist in my area and her services cost $120 for bride day-of-wedding makeup application. That's just silly to me. Sure, wedding=markup, but if you charge $50 for the bridal party makeup application, how do you justify the bride's face costing 140% more? Nonsense. Justifying spending so much on makeup at all is hard enough for me...but if I'm dropping serious cash, I'd at least like to have it for my honeymoon and the holidays! Merry early Christmas. This year, I'm giving myself the gift of beauty and confidence. Who knew it would only cost $200?

Sorry my "happy marriage license day" post morphed into "blab about makeup" post, but I'm telling you. M·A·C Cosmetics must be that good to trump my marriage license! Ha! With that said, I'm going to get in my Shred for the day, make a hazelnut iced coffee, get cleaned up and get started on our day. If I don't pop in later, enjoy your weekend :)

{Bombshell Beauty} The Lipstick Effect

{source}

Maybe you've heard the buzz on what's being called the "Lipstick Effect" and perhaps you have not. Nonetheless, there is some truth and common sense behind the idea that women, during (wait for it...) "economic uncertainty" drop the frivolities of ultraluxe goods and opt for high-impact, low price-point items, like the classic red pout circa the 1930s and 40s.

There is something to be said for spending $5 on a new tube of lipstick, isn't there? And if you're only spending $5, why not go for broke, so to speak, and go with a high-impact color like red?

Not all of us is willing to gamble on which shade of red to buy, however (and goodness knows there are a million and a half shades out there.) Nothing irks me more than buying the wrong shade of lipstick and never wearing it again. What a waste!

To help you on your journey to becoming a bombshell yourself, here's a few hints to choosing (and wearing) the perfect shade of red.

1. Know your skin tone. This one is a biggie in knowing how to select complimentary makeup colors and shades. Not sure if you have warm or cool undertones? Head to your nearest makeup counter for an assessment or use helpful online sources for guidance. Generally, bright, classic red looks great on pale complexions, but here are some general rules:

· Cool Tones: Berry reds, pink tones, blackberry, plum and other blue-based reds

· Warm Tones: Tomato reds, orange-reds, corals, tawny or golden reds

2. Outlining is essential. To prevent feathering and keep your color on your lips, outline them! Many use a coordinating red to carefully outline your lips, but I prefer and recommend a nude or neutral liner. I've also filled my lips in entirely with a nude liner prior to applying a bright red to my lips to maintain color for longer.

3. Powdering & blotting. One thing I don't hear often enough are the powdering and blotting tricks, which are nearly essential to wearing red lipstick. If you really want your color to stay put, apply your liner and lipstick carefully, then dust on a little translucent power (with a cotton ball, so as to not ruin your powder puff), then reapply a second coat of lipstick, then blot. The best way to blot without ruining your clean lines is to take one slip of toilet paper and roll your lips over it gently or slightly pucker your lips and kiss.

4. Everything else. The general rule of thumb is to keep the rest of your face pale in comparison to your classic red lips. In most occasions, that's a safe rule. Go easy on the rouge and eye shadows, maintaining a clean, bright complexion is more than enough. If you're feeling daring or have a date night, black eyelashes and a bit more eyeliner may be in order. Nothing is as sultry as a smoky eye and a red lip! But apply makeup with caution because there is a fine line between looking like a classic beauty and a harlot. When in doubt, go for the less-is-more look.

And remember...you're never fully dressed without a smile!

Best. Contest. Ever.

Atomic Mama is having the best contest ever in honor of her blog making it to 100 followers (yay, AM!!) The Vintage Hairstyling book, a darling flower hair pin, wave clamps, pin curl pins...ahh!! This is one to-die-for giveaway!

If you've never visited her blog, it's a must see. Such an inspiration and a Bombshell through and through :)

{Bombshell Beauty} Summer Essentials

I don't know about you, but I love just about everything to do with summer. The BBQs, sun-kissed skin, swimming, fresh fruits and Ohio sweet corn. What's not to love?!

Oh yeah. That would be sweat, mosquito bites, sunburns...yeah, the not-so-lovely things about the summer season.

So what can we do to still be bombshells amidst all these perils? Be prepared!

Shoo Skeeter, Don't Bother Me!

Mother Nature has bestowed upon us some fantastic essential oils to repel my biggest summertime nemesis: the mosquito.

Want to mix up a mixture of your own? Here's what you'll need:

· 10-25 drops (total) essential oils
· 2 tablespoons carrier oil or alcohol

Essential oils: cinnamon, lemon eucalyptus, citronella, Castor, rosemary, lemongrass, cedar, peppermint, clove and geranium.

Carrier oils/alcohol: olive, sunflower or any other cooking oil, witch hazel or vodka.

Mix together the oil and the carrier liquid. Rub or spray onto skin or clothing (test for allergic reactions and what it may do to fabric first!) You may find that you have to reapply the natural solution more frequently than it's more chemically-processed cousins (after an hour or so.) Be sure to apply after swimming or sweating/exercise. Larger amounts of the repellent solution can be mixed and stored in a dark bottle away from heat or sunlight. I suggest an amber glass jar from The Container Store and storing it in the fridge or medicine cabinet.

Compiled in parts via about.com here, here and here.

Soothe Your Skin

Sunburns are painful, unattractive and dangerous. Overexposure to UV-rays can lead to skin melanoma, skin damage (like wrinkles and premature aging) and, in extreme cases, sun poisoning. Care should always be taken before going out in the sun!

But if you happen to find yourself with a bit of a burn, here's a few handy tricks to help ease your discomfort.

· Milk Compress:
Cool compress of equal parts milk and water. Gently wring out a cloth and lay gently onto affected area for 15-20 minutes. Refresh cloth every couple of hours.

· Aloe:
Applying the inside of fresh Aloe plant leaves is great, if you have it. If not, your local pharmacist should have lots of Aloe products available. We keep ours in the fridge for extra cool relief.

· Water:
As in cool (not cold) baths and re-hydration. Be sure to drink lots of water while your sunburned to help thwart the effects of dehydration (headache is a tell-tale sign.)

Compiled from several sources here and here.

Sweat isn't Sexy (But it's Natural)

Sweating is your body's natural means of regulating body temperature. The same way a dog wags its tongue to cool off, humans sweat. Yay, right? Now, there are lots of debates on deodorants, antiperspirants and natural versus unnatural, but I'm mainly interested in how to minimize sweat (or the appearance of) even just slightly, for the average sweater (hee!). We're all different and our bodies are different, so nothing is a blanket solution unfortunately. All I can hope to do is make our sweat slightly more discreet!

· Talc/baking soda: I am a huge fan of both, especially in the summer. I have found that a cool bath and a bit of dusting onto the body of either a talcum powder or baking soda can help keep things a bit drier (such as under arms or breasts.)

· Clothing: Cotton or specifically-designed fitness clothing certainly can help with sweat. You want to make sure your clothing isn't the problem (hello, Polyester!) Synthetic fabrics which don't let your skin "breathe" could be making your sweat problem worse. Stick to natural fabrics or specialty fitness clothing designed for such things. Also, thin cotton camisoles work wonders under dresses and shirts in the summer, just like a men's undershirt would. Dark clothing helps disguise sweat marks more effectively, as well.

· Bra liners: I came across BraMates recently and I've been really interested in giving these a try. I like that it's a chemical-free, washable and reusable product, too! From what I understand, they are bra liners and inserts which are placed between the bottom of the breast and the bra and are supposed to wick away sweat from the area, thus reducing unsightly "boob sweat" marks (wow, do I hate those.)

Do you have any summertime tips for other Bombshells that you'd like to share? Please do! I can't wait to read how everyone else maintains their fabulosity during the hot months!

{Bombshell Beauty} Hints from Heloise

I've always been a huge fan of Heloise, with all of her hints saving me money, time, energy and follow "green" philosophies more often than not.

This month, I wanted to share with you some Hints from Heloise that I love and hope they translate into keeping us the fab-b Bombshells that I know we are!

Problem: Stains...particularly blood stains. Sorry, gents. This has been a problem for us ladies at one time or another at least once in our lives. I'm all for Mother Nature blessing me with working plumbing, so to speak, but I'd sure like it to not do so all over my clothes.

Solution: For clothes that you launder, soaking the bloodstained garment in cold water for about 30 minutes will usually remove it. However, if stains are visible, mix a bit of water with unseasoned meat tenderizer (which breaks down the protein in the blood) and apply to the area. If the garment can’t be laundered at home, take it to the dry cleaner right away and identify the stain. Let the professionals save the clothing.

Problem: Split ends.
Solution: Try a secret of the stars....castor oil on hair ends after drying can help smooth split ends.

Problem: Stinky car.
Solution: Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in your car trash bag or in the ashtrays.

Problem: Weak, brittle nails.
Solution: Put decolorized iodine on the tips of your nails every night for one week, then once a week or less often just to maintain hardness.

Other helpful hints, tricks & formulas:

Milk Bath Soak: Pour a cup or more of powdered milk under running bath water. The lactic acid in the milk will remove dry dead skin and leave you baby soft. Powered milk is quite reasonably priced compared to those expensive bath oils and soaks. Just add a drop or two of some scented oil if you want a really dreamy bath!


Puffy Eyes: Preparation H was used by beauty pageant contestants, put under the eyes takes down puffiness due to the anti-flammatory ingredients, dermatolgists don't necessarily recommend this home remedy but admit it isn't likely to do any harm. Preparation H also contains: shark liver oil ( a highly regarded moisturizer); a yeast extract (some believe, promotes the growth of new skin cells and creating firmer skin).

Healthy, Fresh Hair:Grandma’s hair always smelled great and had a wonderful shine. Her secret trick for healthy hair was a Rosemary rinse. Grandma would pick about 1/4 cup of fresh Rosemary and pour 1 cup of boiling water over it. She would let it sit for about three minutes and then she would strain off the water and use it as a rinse on her freshly shampooed hair. Grandma’s rinse works best on brown or auburn hair.

{Lucky 13} Giveaway: Beauty Alert! Labels - CLOSED!

UPDATE: CONTEST IS CLOSED! Thanks to all who entered. Winner will be contacted shortly via email. Thanks everyone! - Evelyn

Boy do I have a great surprise for you! Remember this month's {Bombshell Beauty} post -- The one about makeup exiration dates? It featured Beauty Alert! labels - one of those rockin' products every woman should have. Well, guess what? Now you can try to win your own for free!

Stacya, West Coast Beauty Alert! Rep Extraordinare, is a fan of Oh My Word! and was kind and generous enough to send over Beauty Alert! labels for a {Lucky 13} contest. Wasn't that nice of her? I think so! Just one more reason to love this company!

Up for grabs: The packet contains 24 labels, each color-coded and month-marked depending on shelf life, and instructions for use and application. All you need is a permanent marker and some brand-new makeup and you're ready to go!

How to enter: Just leave a comment below (with a valid email address) sharing with us your favorite beauty-related product and a bit about why you love it.

All comments posted before Friday April 17 at Midnight EST will be considered and one will be selected at random to win!

*The contest is limited to U.S. residents only.

Good Lucky!

{Bombshell Beauty} Makeup Shelf Life

OK, ladies. Let's be honest. We've all been guilty of holding onto at least one bit of makeup longer than we should have...maybe a favorite shade of lipstick that was discontinued (a la my dear Grandma Gladys), a now-too-sticky-to-use bottle of nail polish you try to thin with remover for one last touch-up, mascara that flakes off or foundation that may be causing more of those blemishes than covering them up? Yeah. I've been there.

I read once about the shelf life on makeup -- how long we should keep it before tossing and replacing anew, but I still can't remember the expiration on every piece at any given time. So, here's a handy list of quite a few common items in our beauty arsenal, along with their respective expiration dates:

• Mascara: 3-6 Months
• Oil-Free Foundation: 1 Year
• Moisturizing, Cream or Compact Foundation: 18 Months
• Concealer: 12-18 Months
• Powder: 2 Years
• Powder blush: 2 Years
• Cream Blush: 12-18 Months
• Powder Eyeshadow: 2 Years
• Cream Eyeshadow: 12-18 Months
• Eyeliner: 2 Years
• Liquid Eyeliner: 3-6 Months
• Lipliner: 2 Years
• Lipstick: 2 Years
• Lip Gloss: 18-24 Months
• Fragrance: 18-24 Months
• Nail Polish: 1 Year
• Makeup Brushes: Clean weekly with a mild detergent
• Makeup Sponges: Replace weekly
  

{List compiled from articles here, here and here.}

And this should go without saying, but if it smells or has an odor, THROW IT AWAY!

Want to really organize your beautystuffs this spring? Check out the Beauty Alert! stickers. It's bad enough that the FDA doesn't require expiration dates on makeup (even though the ingredients found in most cosmetics spoil)...let these handy labels help you keep tabs on those dates. Seriously. Expired makeup is just gross.

{Courtesy: Beauty Alert!}

Here's your homework for the evening: Take an hour, clean out your makeup bag, under your sink and in your medicine cabinet. Toss out the yuckies and clean up the keepers. Give your makeup brushes a bath and let them dry overnight. Wipe out all of your makeup bags. Make a list of what you need to replace and be off for a little self-indulgence at CVS. Pick up some Calgon while you're at it...you deserve it.

What Classic Pin-Up Are You?

I came across this quiz and couldn't resist! Have fun, ladies! Be sure to drop me a comment with your results!

Me? I'm a Betty...a Betty Grable, that is ;)

Vintage Manicure Spotted!

I went to see The Watchmen last night with D. You can only imagine my utter surprise and joy at seeing (the original Sally Jupiter) Silk Spectre rocking a perfect vintage half-moon (aka reverse French) manicure in the movie! The scene where I best noticed it was maybe about 1/2 way through, when a group photo is being taken. She moves her hand up to her eyes and laughs. Take note of her hands - her nails look amazing! Red polish with bare moons AND tips. Simply stunning. What a fantastic detail to include in the movie. I'm impressed!

For those who are curious about how I enjoyed the movie, I liked it, but didn't love it. Great intro, costuming, some great acting and cinematography, but I felt it was too long and dragged a bit.

{Bombshell Beauty} Vintage Half Moon Manicures

This is probably my favorite vintage beauty trend (next to pin curls, of course). Especially popular in the late 1930s, the half moon manicure (aka the reverse French manicure) is a chic option for nails of any length in just about any color. If you want to read further about vintage manicures, The Painted Woman has a very in-depth post on the subject and has great old ads illustrating the style (one shown below.)

{source}

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Now, People touts Dita Von Teese as 'reviving' this style of mani, but true Golden Era girls around the world all know that she may just be the first famous person in quite awhile to do it...with many, it didn't need reviving! Though it's been a popular manicure style for years with vintage lovers, it is great to see it become more mainstream. What a great manicure alternative for vintage brides, too!

Bombshell Beauty *COMING SOON!*

{Courtesy Alberto Vargas via Allposters.com}

Who doesn't love a little beauty advice now and again? Sure, we all don't always put on our best face forward, so to speak, but we all know a thing or two about a thing or two, right? Right!

To celebrate all things helping us all becoming beautimus maximus, I'm going to be posting a feature every month or so called Bombshell Beauty. This will be a culmination of all things beauty (both vintage and modern)...hair, make-up, nails -- going to dabble a little upon it all. Have an old-fashioned remedy for sore feet or a recipe for an organic face masque? Let me know and I'll post it! After all, it's all about celebrating our inner bombshell!

Who knows? Maybe I can talk my fantastic sister into sharing tips and tricks on hair care! (Did I mention she's the most talented hair stylist and colorist I've ever known?)

Keep an eye out, ladies (and gents, too, of course)...Bombshell Beauty will drop March 1st!