Recommendation: Foundation

For the last 2 years or so, I've been using Laura Mercier's mineral powder  as foundation, and I really liked it.  However, lately my skin has been getting much drier and, after doing some online research, it ends up that mineral powder is just about the worst type of foundation for dry skin.  It ends up just collecting in wrinkles and emphasizing them.  Soooo off to Bloomies I went in search of a brand new foundation!

Okay, is it just me or is choosing new makeup kind of intimidating?  I mean there are just SO many options and no definitive source to go to for recommendations.  I did a lot of online research and came up with a short list of foundations to try but I guess there's no substitute for going to store and trying them out.  Here is what I ended up buying and I LOVE both.  Though pricey, totally worth it and I think they'll be mainstays in my makeup routine going forward.

For lighter coverage, I use this everyday at work:

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Ultralight Skin Perfecting Makeup

Provides just the perfect amount of coverage to even skin tone but maintain a natural, dewy look.  Seriously, go get a sample of this at the makeup counter.  I like to combine it with a drop of this bronzer-like liquid and then apply with my fingers to get a glowy look.

For medium coverage, I use this when I go out at night:

Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat

Combined with this YSL under-eye concealer, this makes my complexion look flawless.  The other day hubby was in the bathroom when I applied this and he literally was like "wow!".  Haha if only boys knew how much makeup can do ;)  What's nice is although it covers a lot, it doesn't look at all cakey or even like I have makeup on!

Z'yummm

We spent the first weekend of August back home in Houston to attend 2(!) weddings on Saturday.  Seeing both our families, including both our parents, was just so nice and happy.  California is lovely and we've got some great friends out here, but there's nothing like home for me.  I ate my fill of queso, tex mex, and kabob (hubby's Persian).  

Speaking of tex mex, I made the greatest discovery a couple weekends ago...  Z'Tejas is in the OC!  Ever since I moved three years ago*, I've been lamenting the fact that there's no queso or Tex Mex -- in fact, it's probably the food I miss the most from home.  Well hubby and I were just walking through South Coast Plaza (the mecca of malls) and stumbled across Z'Tejas.  This was one of my favorite places in Austin, I ate at their location on 6th street all the time and the same person who started it opened one of my other faves, Jack Allen's in Oak Hill.  My favorite items are the dumplings, queso, and ancho fudge pie (it's better than it sounds, believe me).  MMMmmmm delicious!

does it get any better than free cornbread with every meal?

It got me curious, so I did a little google searching and apparently Z'Tejas was purchased by the same private equity investors who purchased and grew Flemings.  They're expanding, which is only good news for those of us outside of Texas without access to queso.


*Wow, can't believe it's really been 3 years!

Bachelors and tarts

Ok, I know I'm late to the game but I've just gotta discuss what happened last Monday on the Bachelorette finale.  Like most people (at least those I talked to), I was expecting Brooks to come back, say he made a big mistake, and propose to Des.  The fact that he didn't do so makes me SO happy!  I really liked Chris the whole way through - he seems very mature, open with his feelings (which Des said was important to her) and playful (albeit a tad on the boring side).  I think the 2 of them make a great couple, unlike Brooks and Des.

It reminded me, though, of how often I see women attracted to guys that don't return their feelings to the same degree.  It's almost like we're conditioned to think any guy who doesn't make us feel unsure and insecure is "lame" or boring.  Why??  I guess the thrill of the chase?

On another note, my dinner party last week went really well!  Here's the one photo I took -- half eaten slice of strawberry tart :-)

MBTI

Have y'all ever heard of MBTI?  It's a personality assessment instrument that's used quite frequently in the workplace (including my own).  Basically, each person has a four-letter "type" that's supposed to describe general personality inclinations along 4 dimensions:

Extroversion (E) vs Introversion (I) -- where you get your energy
Sensing (S) vs Intuition (N) -- how you gather and interpret information
Thinking (T) vs Feeling (F) -- how you make decisions
Judging (J) vs Perceiving (P) -- orientation towards outside world

In the past, I never gave much credence to MBTI but that's all changed!  Because of a recent training I attended, I reevaluated and changed my type and can now confidently say that I'm an INFJ.  I googled INFJ and reading the descriptions of INFJ personalities is like reading about myself!  I totally identify with the "type" and it's actually helped me to better understand why I react to different circumstances in the way that I do.

There are lots of free online tests (click here for one) to help you determine which combination you are... I recommend taking one of these as a starting point, but then reading through the different type descriptions to really pinpoint which type you are.  (Don't be surprised if it's different from your test results, since the questions can be interpreted very differently)

Next step... get hubby profiled :-)