In which we have bits and pieces

So today is just general tidying up, the sweeping up of various bits and bobs.

*Check out the Q&A I did for the charming Rosy at The Review Diaries in honor of her first blogiversary!

*Tiny deliciousness from Sephora. The OPI Glimmer Wonderland sampler of minis. Six tiny nail polishes that are PERFECT for the holidays. There's a white that will be gorgeous paired with the sheer silver glittery option, a black flecked with teeny gold glitter, a bodacious in your face gold, a luscious shimmery holiday red, and a perfect bronzy-silvery glittery option that defies description. At $22 it is a divine present, perfect for secret Santas or stocking-stuffing, or better yet, a treat for YOU since the holidays can be demanding and everything is better with a fun mani. The best part is that the polishes are small, so if you only wear glitter at the holidays--like me--you have six options but aren'ts tuck with masses of polish leftover.

*Chunky lip crayons. Seriously the best lippy ever. I've bought three lately--two from Sephora, Tarte and NARS. The third is a Sonia Kashuk I bought at Target, and all of them are fab. The beauty of the chunky crayon is that it is EASY. Easy to apply, easy to wear. Tarte offers glittery versions, but I choose matte. The simplest way to wear them is to slap on one of the lovely dark pink shades and pair it with your favorite gloss. (I am smitten with Sephora's own glosses. Not sticky, no icky taste. Big tubes, long-lasting.) And I'm choosing dark pink because I've given up the nude lip. With my hair color as dark as it is, I'm finding the nude lip just washes me out, especially in pictures. I usually only ever wear red or neutral for my lip, and now my neutral is more "lip-colored" and less beige. I do love a nude lip, but I just can't pull it off. Now my neutral just looks like my own mouth, but better, if that makes sense.

*Sephora Smoky Kohl Eyeliner. I swear Sephora isn't sponsoring this blog. I will go six months without setting foot in one, but then I get obsessed and go back half a dozen times in a month to pick up just one more thing. Yesterday I discovered the Smoky Kohl Eyeliner, and it's beyond cool. It comes in a variety of quirky colors--alhtough I opted for black, of course. And it's the size of a lipstick. It's chunky and thick and smudgy and fun and I can't wait to play with it. It's also only $12, so a great fit between department store spendiness and the drugstore.

*Duck boots. I finally broke down and bought a pair from Target. They're mid-calf, and since I don't need them for duck-hunting, they don't have to be top-of-the-line, just suitable for running errands. These are lined with red and black buffalo plaid and are perfect for a day like today--rainy and cool. I loathe running errands in this kind of weather and I have the dentist today too. Wearing an amusing boot just helps. A few weeks back I mentioned threading a scarf through the belt loops on my trench coat just to add some color--today it's out with the leopard and in with a faux-Hermes that has Parisian landmarks on it. Bonjour, mon chickens!