Friends,

I cannot say how happy I am today is Friday! I really thought I would lose my mind, my job or both.

This week I have been working like a Hebrew slave, seriously, I think I have done more in 72 hours than I have in the last 20 years. I don't mind the physical aspect; I wake up, take the dog out, get ready, go to work, go home, take the dog out, unwind, rinse repeat times three. I haven't eaten properly, I'm living off caffeine and little sleep and I look a hot mess. My colleagues think I'm going through a rough patch because I look so bad and I haven't responded to their e-mails, gone for walks during break time and they have offered me lunch and it sits. Whew!

The good in it, I have lost a bit of weight, and that's always a plus. The bad is, what good is weight loss if you look a mess? The reason...my boss is working on the one bit of sanity I have.

Imagine, if you will, having someone reminiscent of Cruela DeVille as a boss. In time you get used to the demands, the callousness, the curt statements, short deadlines, and can begin to read their thoughts about how insignificant, worthless and pathetic a subservient you are.

Just when you have that all sorted, they become friendly. What gives? Why the change? Seriously, I can deal with any personality, people truly are curious to me and studying their behavior is interesting to me. I figure out what motivates them and what p*sses them off and adjust accordingly and all remains good in my world. My co-worker is an example. She is blunt, direct and can be pushy; however, she is driven, focused and would never intentionally hurt someone. She is working to eventually get the position as head of the agency and she's focused. This means, I don't expect small talk, drag my feet with her needs so she can beat deadlines, and keep everything professional and work related. Another co-worker is a bit of a prankster, a tad insecure and needs praise. I let him think he knows more than me, laugh at his silly jokes and listen to him brag about his latest "conquest." Simple.

This week my boss has been extraordinarily mean to me. She has said maybe three sentences to me, and they were to tell me I should know....by now, as ...I should be able to complete projects without her need to oversee, etc.

Today, she decided to play the "mom" role with me. WHAT?! I have been wound up all week ready to my a doll with her name on it and be quite unkind to it, and then she gives me the motherly "talk" about, "I hope you find love, you are such a kind, sweet, girl and as you get older you will...." I agreed and felt like I was supposed to hug her but this is the same woman who looks at my makeup, style and hair and thinks I need to look more "conservative." After all, she only shops at Anne Taylor and for casual attire J. Crew. Okay...works for you, but I like setting my own style and I don't have trousers for work, I like skirts and dresses and it's not as if I am wearing club clothes or revealing anything. I love retro styles and when I checked the calendar it was 2009 and I think we have advanced as a society beyond perennially preppy.

I don't know friends, I feel dead guilty for not liking her, and wishing she would disappear since she said such warm things to me.

My colleague heard the chat and sent an e-mail giving me the piss about it, but I wrote back, "Is she going through her womanly changes?" Then it hit me, she's a Gemini! That's not a bad thing, it lets me know not to take her mood swings personal, she means no harm, she can't help herself. That was a well learned lesson, this evening calls for a spa/manicure/pampering time. I love learning but not at my own expense.

Hey Kittens,

I got another lovely e-mail from Stila, and this time they are launching the smudgepots. If you remember a few weeks back, they launched the Barbie loves Stila Lipglazes.

They have the cutest names: Cobalt Cluch, Purple Pumps, and my favorite piece, the Little Black Dress.

Sure the names are a bit campy, but so is my makeup obsession. After all, it's all about simple pleasures, n'est-ce pas?

The smudgepots retail for $20.00 USD and are waterproof, smudge proof and crease proof. This means you can use them for a base or alone as an eyeshadow. I might add these colors are shimmery so if you are thinking of using them on the waterline, or as a liner, it might be better to pass for said purpose, unless that's the look you are going for.

I have a small percentage of Stila in my stash; however, it is growing largely due in part to the discount offered at stores like Marshall's and Nordstrom Rack. I'm loving the pigmentation of the eyeshadows, and I really can't wait until they launch the lip glaze in Giggle this fall. It's an in your face bubblegum pink, but looks quite pretty on.

If any of you reading this enjoy Stila, why not apply to be a Stila girl of the week? You only live once, why not? Click here for more details. Give it a go, let me know if you are selected. Good luck!

xoxo

Hello Gorgeous!!!
I am really excited for British soul songstress Beverly Knight's decision to give it a go and take on the cosmetics industry. Due to frustrations with the limitation in foundations for darker skinned women, she took the problems into her own hands and thus became her signature line. Her line launches into Selfridges on September 17 followed by other retailers and online from October. She told Hello! magazine, “There’s always been a schism in the cosmetics industry when it comes to meeting the needs of darker skinned women,” she said.

“If you were black, your choice was Bobbi Brown, MAC or Iman - and even that’s almost impossible to get hold of now. You’d end up having to mix up your own from what’s out there or having to go to companies who do custom-made make-up. Whichever way you do it, it’s expensive. So you make do.”

“As a black woman, you feel like you’re outside of the beauty loop,” Beverley continued. “Before Naomi Campbell, the only black models were very light-skinned so you never felt part of it.”

Hopefully her line will be a huge success and we in the US will be able to try it out for ourselves. Granted, Sephora has made enough room on their shelves for other "new" lines, so maybe ULTA would be willing to give it a go. The industry is so saturated but I am really *taps wood* hoping this line is well received.

To read more go here and find out more.

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