Sometimes your instincts are just right. For instance, the voice inside me that said, you must go to the Holt Renfrew Beauty Event and, you must buy that $75 dollar brush and, you mustn’t be afraid to ask the La Mer lady for an extra sample.

In fact, all bad life-decisions aside, I’m glad I’ve always been an enthusiastic instinct follower. I was certainly hearing that familair inner-stirring when I bought the Fekkai brush just knowing it would change my life (It did). And I was most definitely tuning in when I chose Yew as our meeting place (we ran into Duran Duran). Even when I passed up that dreamy hand massage from the Chanel man and let Sarah sit down instead, I was listening. Really listening.

Bet you never thought I could wean so much meaning out of a beauty event? Well, I am trying! I had a lot of time to reflect while I stood outside Holt Renfrew in a very long line-up trying to defend against savage line-cutters. Beauty event? Maybe. Pretty sight? No.

Anyways, I’ll leave you with that image. Take a peek at my loot above. I particularly love the Creed sample of Virgin Island Blue. So Cote D’Azur. And the packaging of the Prada sample, even though it gave me a headache.

Oh, let me say this one last thing: I had a great time with Sarah, Kari and Kat. It was a meeting of ladies that was the true reason behind dragging them to a scary sample-fest on a Tuesday night. The free drinks and Opus catering were just a bonus. Who doesn’t love a nice gift with purchase?

Total damage for attendance: $93.67.

Not too bad.

Jen

PS: The artsy bookmarks are mine. I thought the whole “beauty montage” above could use a touch of something gritty. I picked them up in San Francisco at Rex Ray Art + Design.

My calling cards from Moo have finally arrived! For only $19,99, plus $7 or so for the white mini-card holder, I get 100 glossy images about half the size of business cards. On the front, various pictures from my blog and travels. And, on the back, the words, “Watch for your review,” along with the Champagne Wednesdays address. What can you do with Moo cards? Flickr has some ideas here.

Tonight, the lovely ladies and I are meeting at Yew for a G+T before heading over to Holt Renfrew for their Beauty Bash. The event is free (you can rsvp on their website) and it’s really all about two things:

• The pre-event drink with friends, and
• Bringing a good sized bag to fill up with free samples of things you’d never actually buy…

…expect for me, a total sucker for a good salesperson, who came home last year with Bobbi Brown lip gloss and blush as well as the very dear Stella McCartney skin care line.

Both of which, I still love, by the way.

Jen

I seem to be on a celebrity kick today. There’s really nothing better than a good old fashioned air-brushing exposed. I work in a casual office and sometimes I just look at myself and think, how did it become o.k. to leave the house like this? When did the Shopper’s Drug Mart hair-claw become my fashion statement of the year? So, while I sit here desperately needing a hair cut and colour and stylist, it makes me feel so much better to know that all I really need is a friend who’s good at photoshop.

Take a look. It’s Faith Hill (before and after air-brushing) on the cover of the new Redbook. They’ve done her nose, back, facial lines, hair line and thinned out her arms.

Link from www.Jezebel.com

Or, at least feel that way. And doesn’t it seem like Vancouver is about to get pretty again? The other day I broke my new umbrella outside of IGA and it didn’t even phase me that much. You know why? Because I knew it’s almost time to go sans unbrella again. Yes, I can see myself on a heated patio very, very soon. And right under the heater, too. Because I  like to pretend I live in an equally pretty place with better heat potential.

And that’s why it’s critical that I take some time to get pretty. I know, I know, pretty is surely a pereception. And being pretty can probably be acheived by simply being in the pretty (for example, driving to work down 16th instead of 12th because the trees are better). But, there are a few essentials I cannot do without:

• Eyebrow shaping… I suggest here
• A summer jacket… I wish I knew where. Any suggestions?
• Feet care…no playing peek-a-boo toes without getting yourself here
• And a little of this never hurt either

Now, just to find some time for any those things. Not to mention creating the all-important summer soundtrack, which I will be releasing in an upcoming post. Stay tuned.

Jen

ps - what’s really on my mind today is my sister. It’s her first day back at work after having the most exceptionally beautiful little boy (the actual act of which was anything but pretty). But that’s kind of the point here isn’t it? The pretty is absolutely surpassed by the beautiful. Beauty with a capital B. So, in addition to the list above, make sure you seek whatever makes you feel beautiful too. For me it’s: Joni Mitchell when I’m driving, cooking with fresh herbs, veuve cliqout anytime, whiskey when she runs, a good book on a good patio, and writing.