Finding the perfect one...red lipstick, that is!

I am always on the search for the perfect shade of red lipstick. Something about the color and the combination of light skin with a contrasting, dark lip always draws me in. For someone with a light complexion and very dark hair, locating said red lipstick has been tiresome in the past. The shades that I found were either too orange, too little blue undertones, or I simply didn't like the feel of the lipstick. Is it too much for a girl to ask to find a red lipstick that moisturizes, looks good, stays in place, and wears well? Over the years my search led me to ultimately finding Mac's Viva Glam I, which has been my favorite up until now.

I recently purchased and tried out Revlon's Just Bitten lipstain and balm in the shade of Gothic, which is a classic shade of bright red. The stain comes in a handy, all-in-one stick with the lipstain felt-tip applicator at one end and the clear lipbalm at the other end. What I like about this lipstain, besides the beautiful color, is the fact that you can get a pretty precise application with the tip, it contains Vitamin C, is lightweight, and provides protection for a good majority of the day without major touch-ups. I applied it first thing in the morning after getting ready for the day, and only had to do minor touch-ups after eating during the day.

This lipstain has become one of new favorite red lipsticks and I plan on using it indefinitely. The Just Bitten line has several other shades, ranging from pinks, to browns, to red. You can use the lipstain with just one application for lighter coverage, or build up with a few applications for a darker shade, as I typically do (just make sure that you let the lipstain dry for about 30 seconds before applying the balm once you've achieved the darkness you desire).

Please see photos below of the application process that I did.

To view Revlon's Just Bitten line, all the shades that are offered, and information about the formulation of the lipstain, click here.











Coming up soon...a review on Boots No 7 lipstick in Cherry!

Sincerely, Crystal

* I have, in no way, been paid or endorsed by Revlon, nor asked to do a review for their product line. This review is simply my own opinion of the product.

Overhaul and Updates on Vintage Loving Mom

I would like to let my followers know that I will be updating the Vintage Loving Mom blog shortly and plan on doing some beauty tips, how-to's, and reviews in the near future. I also plan on doing some giveaways if time allows, so long as I gain more followers. So, if you have a love of the vintage life, want to channel the inner pin-up within, and adore everything rockabilly, then stay tuned and follow the Vintage Loving Mom!

Love, Crystal

M.I.A.

Yes, I have been Missing In Action, but I have a really good reason...I'm in the very early stages of starting my magazine.

I knew this was going to be a lot of work, for one person to get off the ground, and it totally has been. I know though that it will be worth every minute of it. All of my years doing fashion styling for editorial has been very fulfilling, but extremely difficult due to life and money. I loved every minute of it, but alas, there is only ONE Rachel Zoe.

My life has always revolved around magazines since as far back as I can remember. As a little girl believing I was going to live as a forest ranger in Yellowstone National Park, I had a subscription to Ranger Rick and Highlights. As I got older I became very involved in fashion and in my mothers Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar subscriptions. The rocker girl hit me with puberty and after receiving my own subscriptions to my favorite fashion magazines, I also received Metal Edge, Rip, and Circus.

In a nut shell, I am one of those people out there that has ink running through my veins. Logically the next step in my life is to start my very own magazine that just oozes everything I am about.

Below is the link to the early stages of my website, but I hope you will follow and eventually add my magazine to the list of the others you look forward to receiving each month (or in this case 4 times a year). I will keep you posted, and try my damnedest not to let my blog fall into the shadows. Until next time!

www.pistol-magazine.com

The Girl Code

HELLO! No, I didn’t fall off the face of the earth. Life has bent me over and sodomized me repeatedly, not fabulous when you are an unwilling participant, if you catch my drift. So I haven’t exactly found myself in much of a writing mood lately, my apologies!

I’m here to tell you about a silly book I heard about, and just ordered. It’s not directly about fashion, but it does contain a little fashion bit in there. The book is called, The Girl Code: The Secret Language of Single Women (On Dating, Sex, Shopping, and Honor Among Girlfriends) by Diane Farr. I have recently found myself single again, and after all these years, “The Girl Code” is emblazoned on my brain. There are so many women out there that don’t have a conscious and are out for themselves. They don’t have any appreciation for the real friendship one should have with girlfriends. I’m positive you have run across a few and know exactly what I’m talking about.

Some women think they know the girl code; some simply don’t give a shit. If you are a female and you find that you have at least a handful of girlfriends that have been around since high school/college and you have never had a fight over a man or even a dress…you all know The Girl Code and you live by it. If a majority of your friends are guys (with the exception of the girl you met at work a year ago that never hangs out) you need to run out and buy the book, download it, Kindle the damn thing and learn it inside and out!

It really baffles me how some women can be “fine” without really deep female friendships. There is no way in hell that I would be the woman I am today without the support and advice I have gotten from my dearest friends.

So here is about the book, I think I’ll do a Part 2 with the "Girl Code" my friends and I live by. Anyway…the Table of Contents and an excerpt from the book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How Do You Know a Single Girl's Home When You See One? 9

Introduction: Get On Your Broom and Go 11

I. Speaking in Code
Titles 20
Types of Dates 29
Stages 38
Long-Distance Operators 47
Seasonal Lovers 56
Before, During, and After 65
Hairy Situations 72
Fighting 78
Gifts 86
When the Fat Lady Sings 95
II. The Code of Behavior and Ethics
Girls' Night Out 106
Making Your Move 114
First Date Forget-Me-Nots 121
Rules of the Wild 128
Shopping at the Mall 133
Wedding Party Politics 139
Lines to Never Cross 145
Tests 153
Kinds of Love 158
Chick Tricks 164
III. The Boy Code
What They Say 170
What They Do 178
IV. The Mother Code
The Top Five Laws of The Girl Code 188

In Closing: One Sentence of Advice 192

AN EXCERPT

I. Speaking In Code

You know those little disclaimers on the sides of cigarettes and alcohol? Well, if your next date came with a warning label, it would contain the following information down the side of his leg. This is the common language of girlfriends who've been there.

Titles: "We don't see things as they are,we see them as we are."- Anaïs Nin

THE BOY: If you change suitors so fast that they rarely achieve name status, a man must be around for at least six weeks before you make your friends bother to learn his first name. Until such time, he should be referred to by this generic title.

For Women Who: Need to explain to numerous people what's going on in their love life, are between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one or over twenty-seven, have overbearing mothers and aunts in their life, have called off more than one engagement.

As a Modifier: "It's been two months now; I think the boy has reached name status: his name is Dick, and I'm pretty sure he isn't one."

MR. RIGHT NOW: This is the guy friend of yours who doesn't have a real job, and is always ready and available when you want to party till dawn, and do things you wish you didn't remember in the morning. He's not "Mr. Right," but he may be good enough to be "Mr. Right Now."

When to Retire Him: Immediately after college,when you're not so afraid of a real man,When he asks you for cab fare home, after a particularly lonely holiday season.

As an Excuse: "It's not that I'm afraid of a committed relationship; at the moment all I need is to find a new keg and to pull Mr. Right Now out from underneath the empty one."

THE [fill in the blank] GUY: When you've just met a man and know little to nothing about him but you need to identify him during girl talk, so you use one example of who he is, something he has, or what he does, and he becomes... that guy.

Best Types of References: The kind of car he drives (The Camaro Guy), his occupation (The Personal Trainer Guy),where you met him (The Four a.m. in the Taxi Guy),the way in which he behaved in the morning if you've already woken up with him (The Cuddle Guy, The Bad Breath Guy, The Up and Run Guy, etc.).

As an Object: "He's the guy that slipped the maître d' twenty dollars for the table, spoke to the waitress like a human, and never had to use his napkin through all of dinner-you know, the Good Manners Guy."

THE TAKE-HOME PROJECT: When you feel like ignoring some larger issues in your own life, so you invest in a fixer-upper guy-who will cost you nothing but time, money, energy, and happiness. Inevitably, you learn that someone else has recouped his resale value. Hello!

You Will Never: Fix him to your liking, change anything but the window dressing, turn him into the guy who got away, build the bionic man (...Farrah tried and she couldn't do it, even with all that hair).

As a Reminder: "Forget him, he can't even dress himself and you don't have the patience for a take-home project."

A BENEFACTOR: This is a polite title for that 35-45-year-old man who dates 19-25-year-old women. Having one always seems so original (and economical) at first, because he takes you to many more exciting places than guys your own age do and, of course, he pays for everything. (But don't think you invented this: In the old days they just called him a Sugar Daddy.)

Things to Look Out for: A wife, some kids,the fact that you're a grown man's Barbie doll, that anyone who can hang out with someone who's fifteen years younger than him is a loser.

As a Reprimand: "No, he's not my father... he's my benefactor; and who cares if he's bald, he pays!"

P.D.A. BOY: The guy you go out in public with and agree to hold hands with, kiss, hug, sit on the same side of the booth with, or show any other Public Display of Affection, before determining boyfriend status.

Usually Causing: Your friends to abuse you, your feelings for him to escalate unrealistically, one person to suspect the other likes him or her too much too soon, an inappropriate use of the boyfriend title or "I love you" phrase.

As an Error: "So there's me and P.D.A. boy making out in the pizza place, and in walks my boss: Kill me now."

A WELCOME MATT: his is what your friends call you when you keep taking back the guy who only comes a-knockin' on your door for one thing: sex, drugs, or rock 'n' roll. (We could have just called you a doormat, but you're always so damn friendly when he shows up.)

When Did You Decide: To act like AstroTurf? That he's so much better than you are? That you didn't need therapy anymore? That the girl who tortured you in grammar school was right? As a Wake-Up Call: "Yeah, I'm sure he meant to call you, because everyone wants to check in on a welcome mat after they tread on it."

LUGGAGE: After you or your man has told the other to get lost and you keep finding each other at events of mutual interest. If you tossed him, he's the luggage, and what's required is a game of ditch. If he tossed you, then you're the luggage, and this is a game of looking as though you're having a good time without him.

Necessary Requirements: At least one ally to help you ditch or save face, A mineral water because alcohol will kill you here, A good seat for viewing or hiding, a ladies' room to escape to if the game gets too intense.

As a Plea to God: "I must have 'Samsonite Customer Service' stamped right on my forehead, because I cannot lose this luggage for the life of me."

Copyright (c) 2001 by Diane Farr

Please email or comment YOUR "girl codes", I'd love to add them to my list.

Thee Mascara To Have

A whole blog about one mascara? YES! I have always loved to experiment with different brands of makeup, but have held true to M.A.C for so long. They have had the best mascara I could find for my specific lashes and I have always loved it.

When I was a young gal, I had gorgeous long black lashes, the kind people ask if they're real. At the time it wasn't a big deal, but now that I'm older and they just aren't the same, I wish I still had them.

Anyway, when I'm not wearing falsies, M.A.C. Zoom and Pro Lash have been my tried and true. Yes, both of them. I have had to layer my mascara with different types to achieve these lashes. I need lengthening and thickening and curl and the blackest black ever! There have been times when I have worn 4 different brands at once. Which was complete HELL when I got Conjunctivitis, that was a lot of cash to throw in the trash! At any rate...you can see what I go through for my lashes from my adolescence.

Just recently I went into Sephora to pick out some birthday gifts for myself (someone else was footing the bill), so it was my opportunity to try new shit. I have always heard of Make Up For Ever, but it always just seemed so Pro/Special FX to me (I don't know why...silliness). Not long ago I picked up the perfect red lipstick by Make Up For Ever and I adorrrrred it! Granted it was a little pricey, but really, for the right color, it's worth it. So on this shopping trip I wanted to grab a new mascara and thought I'd try their new Smokey Lash. For some reason my expectations were low. They only had one kind of mascara, only one color, and it was only sold at Sephora. When I got it home and opened it I wasn't to impressed with the brush, but it was worth trying.

When I put on that mascara the heavens opened and the angels sang!!! Thee most magnificent mascara I have EVER used!!! I am so hooked!!! It gives the lash volume, length, curl, and super black pigment. I only had to use ONE mascara to achieve my 16 year old lashes! Now I will say, it does get a little flaky at the end of the day, but I have a nervous habit of playing with my lashes, so if you don't you're golden!!!

If you are interested in trying this fantastic product, like I said it's a bit pricey, but worth it! It is Smokey Lash and its $22 and you can find it at www.sephora.com exclusively. Happy lashing!!!

FEET!!!!

Based on the photo you see, you probably have a good idea what this post is about.

Lately I have had some other activities going on in my life and have neglected my blog. I apologize! At any rate, I've been racking my brain to come up with some great topics to post about. I have noticed that my posts about the "rockabilly scene" often get the most hits, so that was something to touch on again. Today, I thought I'd have lunch and start my post, but THEN, as I wait for my salad a woman walks in to pick up her take-out, with horribly dry cracked heels. ACKKK!!! That's when I knew I had to make a plea to all of you out there that neglect your feet. You are human, you should not have hooves!!!!

Okay, lemme just tell you that dry, gross, cracked feet are not only extremely disgusting, but a major pet peeve of mine. I don't like feet to begin with, so this is thee worst! I just don't understand how people don't see how gross that is! And they are the ones that are always walking around in fucking sandals!!!

This isn't my usual "how to" post, because once someone allows their feet to get this bad, there is nothing I can do...they need a professional! I have (because I'm extremely curious and not afraid to ask) asked people whats going on with their dry ass feet. Why not get a pedicure and do some at home up keep? They always respond, "I can't go in for a pedicure, it's embarrassing!", and walking around town in flip flops isn't?! Man, swallow your pride and get it done!!! If you are reeeeally that self conscious about going to the little Asian lady down the street (who will no doubt talk shit about your nasty feet, in Korean, to all the other little gals there) why not head down to your local beauty supply or even Target and get a good deep penetrating foot balm and a heavy duty pumice stone and work all that shit down a bit?

I personally don't get pro pedicures, it's a waste of money. Every time I've gone, they never do a great job and not only does it piss me off, but I'm afraid of getting infections and fungi. Besides, its kinda therapeutic for me to do my own mani/pedi at home. Yes, I'll admit that I SUCK at the polishing part, but I figure it out. Anyway, I guess I'm lucky because I don't get all that callusy grossness and hardly ever have to pumice my feet, but none the less, I still scrub them and lotion them!

Listen, if you have gross feet, take care of it, or at lease wear sneakers or something! If you have heels like the person in the picture above and you are afraid to go to a professional (I really don't even know if they cando anything for you, you might have to see a Podiatrist), then here are a few things that you can purchase and use to help the situation out. I said this wasn't a "how to", but I can't help it. Keep in mind, once you get this under control, spend the $50 and go to a really good salon and get an extensive pedicure. Take care of it, then do the up keep with these supplies and no one will ever throw up on your feet again!

TWEEZERMAN Sole Mate Pedicure Tool $20
This is a cool little invention. The "cheese grader" part is used to grade off all that dead skin and it's all contained inside like a pencil sharperner, so there's no mess! The metal part is a file to use as well. This is what you want to use to get all that rough stuff off.

TWEEZERMAN Pedicure Solutions $50

This little kit comes with all you will need to fix your feet and all the up keep. Toenail clippers, cuticle nippers, files, cuticle pusher, callus stone, wooden pedi sticks and a case. So you'll clip your nails, clip any hang nails, push back your cuticles and sand down any calluses.
BLISS Softening Socks $48

These socks are the Cadillac of socks. The have a moisure gel pad inside that delivers all this great stuff to hydrate and soften your feet and calluses. They're good for like 50 uses. Keep in mind newbies, you can pretty much get the same results (for less) by using a great moisture balm and regular socks. The best time to do this is before bed and wear the socks over night.

BLISS Foot Patrol $18
This is just an example of a exfoliating and softening cream. You can get this and wear your own socks at night. You can also moisturize with it after you shower in the morning. The key point is to moisturize constantly, that is whats going to help.

Alright nasty foot people, get to work!!!!! NO SANDALS until you have human feet again!!!

All products available at www.sephora.com

A Week Away From My Birthday

Now that my birthday is only one week away, I'm starting to think about how one year older is going to feel. When I entered into my 30s it was the worst feeling ever! I have never been able to see myself as anything other than old (oh and chubby, but that's another post). I think now as time progresses, I'm starting to get comfortable with my age. Which is a good thing, but also bad, because now that I've accepted my 30s, in the blink of an eye I'll be looking down the barrel of 40!!! Let's not get ahead of ourselves...so I haven't changed any regimens or anything. I think I take care of my skin less as well as I used to in my 20s. I still wash and exfoliate and use a wash with salicylic acid and benzoil peroxide and I still use SPF everyday, but I'm not using body lotion as much, and spreading out my usage of eye and neck cream. I hardly ever use hand cream and that's become a huge fear of mine...old lady veiny hands! Maybe I'm subconsciously rebelling. I don't want to become a slave to age! As it is everyone that meets me never believes how old I am. You should see the reaction when someone (guy or girl) finds out. rather a bit dramatic it tends to be. I guess its because I don't feel old, I don't "act" it, I haven't any children to wear me down to old lady town, so maybe that's it. At any rate, I was thinking about myself and then about others my age. I thought about celebrity women that are in my age group, and I think I'm pretty damned good company! See for your self....

ANGELINA JOLIE

ALI LARTER

AMBER VALETTA

DREW BARRYMORE

CHARLIZE THERON

DIANE KRUGER

EVA LONGORIA PARKER

KATE WINSLET

LIV TYLER

EVA MENDES

MILA JOVOVICH

PENELOPE CRUZ

REESE WITHERSPOON

SARAH MICHELLE GELLER

SHAKIRA

PAZ VEGA

VICTORIA BECKHAM

So I think, after looking at these women and realizing that they have tons of money to keep them looking this good (even the ones with kids and husbands), I'm not half bad for just being your average bitch on the block. I guess I should be happy that I'm holding up well, now if I could only motivate my fat ass to get in the gym! Oy!