Tired Girl - Beauty

This is a blog post in pictures tonight.  It's all about one of my favorite colors - GREIGE (grey-beige).  Kind of brown, kind of grey and now this sounds entirely lame. But whatevers (whatevers is the new term for people with a lot of time - instead of shortening a word we make them longer by adding esses and things to the end).

Blurry greige toeneails

Greige boots and greige Tom's - I was trying to be creative with this shoe shot. These shoes look good with every color.




Here is an outfit featuring a greige tee.  I googled "how to take fashion photos for a blog" and read LOTS of EXCELLENT info. Stuff about side lighting and a short focal length (or was it a long focal length) and how to edit the background, etc - really quality information. But then instead I just took this photo with my phone while standing on my tip toes because I am more of a Tired Girl and less of a fashion blogger.  And Yes, these are the same yellow jeans from the first photo and I do wear other things, but I just like these. The scarf I used to wear with this outfit was in my purse when it was stolen from me.  So I have revamped it with the blue.


Here is what happens when you try and have a photo shoot with a puppy - what you don't see is one of my sandals in his mouth.


Greige clothes - a tee and a cardigan (two of m favorite things)


Obviously I have a greige sweatshirt - it actually used to be yello but was such an ugly yellow in the end I dyed it "black" and black and yellow mixed to create a greige sweatshirt. It was meant to be.
Greige nail polish - I use the "gel" version.  Another blurry photo for your pleasure.


In closing I will share that many of the walls in my parenst house are "greige" the paint color was called "Starbuck" and we stinking love it. In my old house I had a lighter tone called "Quahog" - like a clam color - equally warm gray and pretty but just lighter.
A beautiful color.
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It will not be a surprise, I am sure, to hear that - as a Tired Girl - I like comfortable shoes.  But as a human woman sometimes I have to wear heels. If it's a fun event with gorgey shoes to match a gorgey dress then it feels worth it, but otherwise it just feels annoying.  

I bought one like this at Target for about $10.
I will cut to the chase today - in case you are in a hurry. I bought a shoe stretcher and it works - the shoes are quickly made more comfortable.  Done.  

Here is more if you are avoiding doing something else:

There is a long story to tell you why I ordered a pair of shoes on ebay that are exactly like a pair I already have. I ordered these in a different color though and without eight years of breaking them in they - shocker - didn't fit as well. 

As usual I hit the internet and discovered a "shoe stretcher." I found several nice looking ones, but they needed to be ordered and more money than I anticipated was required. 

Cut to me at Target (a typical scene), and I bought a Kiwi Shoe stretcher for about $10.  I really don't see how this one isn't as good as the $22 dollar ones from Amazon and Zappos.  Ebay has some from China and you can a set of two for $12, but I had to WAIT for them to arrive and I wasn't in the mood for that.

So I jammed these things in my first set of ill-fitting heels and I hoped for the best.  I could tell you all minutiae of how I put them in each shoe in a very organized schedule to properly "stretch" them the same but you can piece that together.  


on their way to slightly less miserable feeling
In the end -- it worked!! I have "stretched" two pairs of heels and both are as comfortable as eight year worn in heels.

All stretched and ready to be worn. 
Who knew?? I didn't.  And I am so pleased to have a way to make heels more comfortable without sacrificing my feet.  There are lots of tricks out there to breaking a heel in further - heating up the shoe with a hair drier and wearing them around in your socks, etc.  That's awesome and all - no judgements or comments if that works. 
Could be interesting - it is a TWO-WAY stretcher - from Amazon.

I think if you are going to wear heels you need to be able to walk in them - looks so dumb to stumble and clod along.  So here's to wearing and walking in heels! 

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2014/03/shoe-stretcher.html
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Today I have a Tired Girl Mullet. It’s not business up front and party in the back.  Instead it is clean and dry up front and pulled back in a messy weird half ponytail in the back.  Sometimes it is not even all that clean up front but more just “neat” in front and pulled back in a messy weird half ponytail in the back.  It counts as a “do” because I gave it a name.  I bring it up though because it buys me more time on a busy day and for that it is an integral part of my life. 

Beware- DO NOT google "easy updo" as you will see lots of very uneasy dos.

DO NOT watch videos on youtube for ideas of ways to put your hair back in a "fast" or "easy" back-do as you will see complicated configurations or girls whose hair looks so perfect to begin with that anything they do will look great.

DO NOT feel bad about yourself.

What does your real human Tired Girl Mullet look like?  Send me pics or a description. I can block your eyes out if you want.  


I choose not to post unrealistic photos (today only) of gorgeous and definitely NOT easy back-dos.  Especially on 20-year-olds with professionally done makeup.  Also I think bad news (like banned content) is more palatable in Tired Girl pink.  And also, yes I am grumpy.
Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2014/03/tg-mullet.html
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I wouldn't make it four minutes on the show SurvivorI drink a lot of water, I use chapstick and handlotion 11 times a day and I have to pluck and shave my body hair daily. I would not be camera ready with all that eyebrow hair, and they wouldn't want to show me plotting and scheming and swatting away mosquitoes looking like a wolf contestant.

One of my favorite past times, though, is to think about what my one "luxury item" (
 they used to do that, don't know if they still do) would be if for some miracle I was on that show.  This thinking has morphed in to wondering what products I really need to look nice enough to be on TV (or really just hanging out in real life).  I have decided on these four things: 

 - Clear skin (which I cannot control so this list already sucks)
 - Clean hair
 - Lip Gloss
 - An in-shapeish body (this is all relative and we all have different ideals for our bod)
 - A smile (ick what lame bumpersticker idea- you just need a smile and your whole dang life will be awesome). 
My most favorite lipgloss -
Buxom in "Clair" - a magic color.

There is something wrong with each of these items, but what I have decided (I always have to decide something) is that ultimately these are the best accessories a woman can have. Jeans, suits, pj's, a cranky mood, whatever, all look better on someone with these specifics.

So, while I often don't have some or most or any of these (today I have clean hair and a smile
 and that's all folks), maybe I will have some combination. The goal would be to have all of these every day.  I hope this doesn't sound vacuous (oh wait it totally does).  


My mom  can go a long time with out washing her hair, if needed, and it still looks great.  So that may not be on her list.  Obviously everyone's list is different. The other day I had 12 minutes to shower and leave my home.  It was interesting (to me only)  what was most necessary that day.   
This is as survivory as I get - with my Rafa Natural Dead Sea Mud Mask -
trying to get my skin glowing as "clear skin" is on my "most necessary" list.
As I have mentioned - I am terrible at selfies - probably
because I choose moments where I am half awake and covered in mud
to take some shots.
What is on your "most necessary" list?  You don't have to tell me or anyone else, but for some reason I think it's fun (ish) to know what's on my list. 
Though having perfect eyebrows is not on my "most necessary" list and having perfect eyebrows is not attainable for me,  but these are very good tweezers - and they come in "Tired Girl Pink"

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2014/03/survivor-tired-girl.html
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This is not new, but I love it. 



Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2014/02/should-you-shave-your-legs.html
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Food porn, I guess, is photos of yummy food - right? I don't really love that saying for whatever reason, but I think that this site I came across, is fashion porn. Or porn for your eyes - maybe that is what regular porn is actually.   Anyway, whatever -  I came across this photo blog and went ahead and wasted about four hours (in separate increments) this week. I could have read a whole book, or worked out a lot, or something. 

Instead I just scrolled and scrolled and scrolled through this site. Which, though I understand is kind of a waste, it's still going to keep happening. 

there's me, just blogging in sequins
These girls make me want to wear lipstick - not in the amount and in the colors that they do so casually, but maybe some. These girls make it okay to be a girl - like all things girly are worth posting and looking at - just for the beauty of it -  AND though my life doesn't regularly call for this amount of fashion in one outfit, I think it's like the idea of the fashion we see at Fashion Week, in magazines, and from Rihana. 

Of course, we girls, are not going to wear a tartan plaid men's suit and hot pink heels to work.  But, we will add a little more hot pink and a little more plaid to our wardrobe. That's the take away - as I understand it - from the catwalk. 
I actually will copy this exact outfit - it does entail a sweatshirt.

So this super beautiful site does that for me - it inspires me to be a little more of something around my home and on my body. 

Enjoy.  Hope you make it in to work tomorrow and aren't found by your children with your hand cramped and eyes glazed in the living room looking at this site instead. I feel like I have already said too much and maybe ruined this fun site. 

Here it is:

Southern Charm

Also, if you click on the photo you like on the site, there will be photo info - brands, sites, etc.

sure
I'll wear this tomorrow.

And I'll wear this the next day, and I am seriously going to buy some leopard flats.
And this can be my kid.



okay, yeah


And I'll live here.
 Anyone else have a site that makes them want to call in sick to work? 

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2014/01/its-okay-to-be-girl.html
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Here is the deal with eye cream. It may or may not work and we will never really have the answer (once we are wrinkly we may think, "Oh crud that stuff didn't work," but maybe it DID and we are less wrinkly than we would have been - and maybe not, or maybe if we had used a better brand or more or whatever and this goes on forever).  

I don't think it can hurt to use it though. Lotion seems to soften things and softer things mostly look nice.  So here are the Tired Girl's tips for eye cream:

1) Use it - it doesn't matter what brand, just put some kind of cream around your eyes before bed at night.  Don't get it in there though.

2). Use your ring finger and tap the cream on and around your eyes - so that you don't mess up your eyes by putting too much pressure on them and all that - it's just the most gentle way to do it.

That's it. 


Well one more thing - I keep eye cream by my bed (because I like to hurry and lay down in the evenings, so it's one less thing to do standing in the bathroom, that I can instead do lying in bed). I also keep some by my computer in my office and in my travel bag. I have different brands everywhere, but I think if I have access to the stuff I will use it. I talk about that idea with other supplies - here. 

There is some dog slobber hiding here in places too, so don't look too close.



Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/11/eye-cream.html
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I like to shop for what I like to shop for and lots of things do not fit in to the "I like to shop for this" category. I know that a product is truly important to me if I actually leave my house to go buy it - especially if the product is NOT sold at Target.  Any boring item is less boring if you get to look at clothes or nail polish or throw pillows or clearance duvet covers at Target.

I know that I can not go more than a day or two without foil (I just can't quit you, foil) or
q-tips. But I will improv like crazy for many other items. Olive oil in brownies? I should I have gone to the store for that one - that was not a good substitution.  But, I ran out of shaving cream years ago and have never replaced it - soap works fine for me.

Tired Girl Ashley sent me a Tired Girl tip and brilliant switcharoo substitution. Here are her words:

What can do an awesome job cleaning your toilet and face? Baking Soda!!!

I was being the ultimate tired and cheap girl and when I ran out of facial cleanser, I was too tired to go shopping (even online).  I had intended to by the recommended Rafa Natural (I still intend to do so) but I am too tired to even look up another thing on the internet! So I had a face full of make up because I had tried our regular Dove and suffered a major breakout reaction with no way to wash it off... I decided I had to look in my cabinets. I was going to use my coconut oil but I couldn't get it open, then I saw the unopened, forgotten about box of baking soda. I went for it, and...it was awesome. I went for it again, this time used my Clarisonic, even more awesome!



Then I had to look it up on the internet to make sure I wasn't killing my face and Clarisonic actually has a blog where they recommend using it on the face as an exfoliator!
So I have used no soap and no cleanser except for baking soda for over a week now and I love it! Clear and smooth skin!! I still do want a simple cleanser for the morning wash since the soda is gritty. Apparently baking soda is non abrasive, good for the environment, fights bacteria, and costs .99! Hoooray!
 Also, when using it with your Clarisonic is truly feels like a spa micro derm treatment and leaves your skin super smooth! I'm in love. For a good time you can rub it in your hair, on your teeth and all over your body, heck even on the shower floor while you are showering to remove the tile soap scum!! :) ( I guess cleaning your shower and your face with the same product is not super classy, but baby soft skin is!)
I will add that I would use a moisturizer after using baking soda wash, it can be a tad drying thus causing more oil production...

Soon I will be trying my coconut oil to moisturize -after Pat opens the jar for me. :)
Here is a simple recipe:
Mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of warm water in a small bowl. Use a clean finger to stir the ingredients until a soft paste forms.
Splash your face thoroughly with warm water. Dip your fingers into the baking soda paste. Apply the paste to your wet face using a gentle circular motion. Cover your entire face with the paste.
Rinse your face thoroughly with warm water, splashing the water over the skin repeatedly until your face rinses clean. Pat your face dry with a clean towel.

Or you can do the Tired Girl way and dump some in your wet hand and rub on your wet face...
Some people just mix the soda with their favorite cleanser too.
Baking soda cleanser!!!

Please send me your brilliant Tired Girl substitution. tiredgirl.notes@gmail.com


Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/11/beauty-substitution.html
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I love black and white shirts.  As a Tired Girl they are easy and classic and go with whatever happens to be on the bottom half of me.  You can add fun shoes or basic shoes, jewelery or nothing and you either have a nice pallette to work with or you have a simple and classic (again that word) outfit.
me in a black top - that's about it.
The key, to me, is to have interesting black and white tops. A plain white tee and jeans is -wait for it - classic!  BUT I feel a little more put together if my white or black top has some texture or something interesting.  It still goes with anything from dressy black pants to khaki shorts to yellow jeans to a patterened skirt, but the having the details  makes me feel not like I picked out these cool yellow jeans and then lamed out and didn't know what to wear it with so I put on a plain white shirt. Bleh.  I am awar of how poorly that sentence was written but had to get that idea out.
I have high standards for clothes and the white and black shirts that make it in to my collection must be:
easy to wash,
require little to no ironing,
make me look skinny or atleast not large,
and appear to be good quality. 
These outfits are all from J.Crew at some point or another. I am actually not a big fan of the button up style in the middle - classic yes but I just don't love on me.

One top I bought recently I found at Marshall's, but earlier that day I tried on the mostly exact same blouse at J. Crew. It is a heavy cotton black peplum (just a slight edge - not a big ruffle) top with cap sleeves. The Marshall's no name fit me better and was like $50 LESS - that was fluke though.  I am open to spending money on interessting black and white shirts though.  Mostly because of the list of criteria they have to have.
One of my more expensive past times is getting on ebay (a fave Tired Girl website) and searching black or white tops from J.Crew, specifically.  I have gotten some great deals. Marshall's is also a top black and white shirt shopping spot. Cheapy brands with trendy details for cheapy.
The tops have good details or pretty lines and are all from J. Crew again I think.
A black top or shirt goes with anything - did I already mention that like 10 times?  I also love the monochromatic look - all black or all white. 
And I think this is my last word on this topic. I look better in white white and not cream, but for many cream is a hit - so be open minded for yourself. 
And some good news about black - does it show off tons of dog hair? Why yes it does, but that is not the good news. The good news is black is TRULY (for real) slimming. Cheap black tops look more exepnsive than tops in other colors too. 
As a Tired Girl this look really works for me. I am always on the lookout for a cool black or white top.
Just a whole bunch of photos of me wearing some of my favorite black or white shirts.

P.S.  If you are bored at work, or waiting in a doctors office or something - here is more:
Before I wore my Tired Girl Bra all the time and I shopped for regular bras,  the young and sweet lady at Dillards was helping fit me for a bra. I told her I wanted a nude bra (the only color a Tired Girl wears, because you don't have to think - it just works for whatever you have on - who has the energy to coordinate a teal and polka-dotted bra??). The girl sweetly wrinkled her nose and said "Ewww - why?"  I told her basically what I just wrote - about it going under everything. She told me that it's only necessary under white.  And I said "Yeah - exactly," or something similar. And she asked if I actually wore white shirts.  And I mentioned that I wear them all the time and her  nose went to wrinkle again and probably to ask "Ewww - why?"  But then I think she realized she just needed to sell me a bra and zipped her lips. Incidentally if you do not wear the TIred Girl bra you can still find really pretty nude colored bras. Tired Girls can be pretty too.

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/10/black-and-white-tops.html
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When I posted the Tired Girl tip:
"De-puffing puffy eyes" my friend and fellow Tired Girl, Jenny, sent me the idea of using witch hazel.  I had never done much with witch hazel, but knew some of its effects as it was in some of the products I used on my dog. 

Recently when I had to travel I knew I wouldn't be able to use my frozen de-puffing beads. It's not exactly feasible to cruise around with a medical cooler filled with eye beads; implying something important is in there like a liver or something. The eye beads had to stay at home.  I doused some cotton pads in a ziploc bag with tons of witch hazel, zipped it up and hoped for the best. I had never tried the witch hazel on my eyes before so it could have gone badly. 
I got mine at Wal-Mart or Target.



The first morning though I placed one saturated cotton round on each eye while I laid flat on my back on the hotel bed.  I tapped my eyes and the area and bones around my eyes and laid there for about 2 minutes.  Not long. I felt the witch hazel going in to my eyes just a little and it burned a tiny bit, and I hoped I wasn't blinding myself.  

I put the cotton rounds back in my ziploc, patted my eyelids dry and surveyed myself in the mirror. It could have been the idea of hope coming through, or it really did work.  My eyes looked less puffy and a little tighter everywhere.  The tapping and lying on my back didn't hurt, but the witch hazel brought it home I think. FYI, witch hazel is in hemorrhoid cream which is why you have heard to put Preparation H on your eyes - skip that, and just go for the witch hazel.. 

This is a nice option, especially if you travel or don't readily have access to a freezer (maybe you camp a lot or something - I don't know)  and may this works even BETTER than the frozen bead thingys.  I am still thinking about that.


Thanks Tired Girl Jenny! 



I also read recently that the big hipster glasses that everyone wears these days are great for camouflaging eyes.  

This is an option if you are going to be interviewed on TV or have some big presentation coming up - and you'll look all smart.

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/10/another-and-maybe-better-way-to-de-puff.html
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*I hate that I had to use the word "zit "in the title of this one.
Sometimes I have mega skin breakouts and I still have to go out in public. Why do I have tiny eye wrinkles of a 35-year-old and blemishes of a 15 year-old?  I don't know, but I can't wast energy on that.

source
As you know I work from home, but recently I had to make a good impression with people I don't know very well.  As Karma would have it I was also due for a serious face breakout (I knew I should have been nicer to someone as some point - that Karma is picky). Like the kind of breakout where the "blemishes"  actually throb and hurt. Gross, I know.  Having the good life is not for the feint of heart.  So a spot on my chin and jawline  (thank you hormones) decided to erupt 2 days before I had to exist in public. Blurg.



After I tried a few attempts to make them disappear I realized I was in deep and this was happening no matter what, and I better just settle in or make a plan. I'm pretty sure other people do not notice my skin imperfections - probably everyone is thinking about their own bumps or whatever to notice other people's.  But since I believe that when "you look good, you feel good and when you feel good you do good" - I knew I needed to make a plan to still feel good with my face in this condition with the inability to hang out at home.  Who can call in "zitty" to work anyway?

So I thought about all the things that, in my opinion, improve a breakout (or some face imperfection) when you can't actually fix the blemish. Please note that I have no formal training in blemish camouflage, but lots of experience. Please follow these ideas at your own risk and know that if you google "how to cover up a zit" you will get completely conflicting advice from what I am about to share.
She doesn't look very happy about this dress, but I would be.
I am open-minded to this color block trend and I LOVE Trina Turk
This would make me feel better about a breakout.
1) Clean hair - always my plan for when I need to feel better.  I feel infinitely more confident, smarter and shinier, in a good way, with clean hair.

2) Make your hair look simply nice-   no complicated up and back do's or sideways braids on these days, no messy bun - just very simply washed and done. Some people belive in distraction - I do not.

3) Less make-up.  This seems counter-intuitive I know.  But in my opinion the only thing worse than a big chin zit is tons of make up all over that face and concealer gunked on a big zit. I think it looks messy and low-class and kind of dirty. Unless you have a professional do your makeup, chances are things can sometimes shift and smear and such.  Less is more on zit days.
I just use my usual base or BB cream, a very small amount of blush or bronzer, and a teeny bit of my lightest eyeliner. I do touch up my eyebrows and curl my lashes every day, and on these days I would add a little mascara.

4) A concealer that matches your skin (easier said than done) and use it sparingly.  I have two - one is a Mary Kay something or other that is very light. I would rather go too light than too dark - dark looks dirty and as I mentioned clean is always my goal. I dab a smidge of that cream stuff on and gently work it around the blemish - it's important to use a sponge or something to get all in there.  Zits are 3-D afterall.  This is such an uncomfortable subject for me.  

Then I have a Sonia Kashuk Take Cover concealing stick in "Daylight."  It matches my skin color perfectly (harp music) and I take a q-tip or my clean finger to work this over a blemish as well.  A very little bit. I would rather show up looking really nice, healthy and simple and have a big red zit on my chin, rather than a big red zit on my chin and gobs of makeup to try and cover it.  There is no covering. It is there and big and red and you can't really "hide" it - in my opinion. The smidge of concealer just makes it a smidge less red.

kind of a creepy drawing,
but also kind of interesting
5) A really nice outfit. Frankly, something more simple and more expensive is put on on days like that.

6) Small or no earrings - less attention at the face; less is more.


7) A 1000 watt smile (that never fails actually - just do that all the time).

8) Being friendly, keeping the topic on the other person, never mentioning the unbelievable thing(s ) residing on your face.

On a side note - this product, in my opinion does NOT work: Neutrogena Skin Clearing Blemish Concealer.
 It works the first two days - shrinking and covering up the zit, but even if you stop using it the zit turns to a dark spot - like a scar - and also the area is so dry that it then peels. So then instead of a zit you have a a peeling brown spot that lasts longer than the zit.  That's my experience with it and so no thanks.


I am all over 11, 12 and 13 - Thank you hormones - you jerks.
If you have to pop it (for many reasons we just really won't discuss). I recommend wetting a clean washcloth and zapping it in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds. Then holding the warm towel on the spot until  the cloth gets cool. Then unfold to find the hidden inside warmth and press some more.  If you have a magnifying mirror crank that up and see if it is easy to pop.  If not then let it go, and if so then do it gently.  I recommend doing this at night before bed obviously so it can heal and de-swell overnight.  

What an ick topic this is.

This girl is so stinking cute I'd probably listen to anything she shared.  She has several vlogs about covering blemishes, but I liked this one the best.  She believes in more makeup to distract which obviously works for her - again with the cuteness. 





On a last side note, my breakout last week was so heinous I actually chose seating at my conference where people had to sit on the OTHER side of me. I am not totally neurotic, I just want to have nice skin. I can be a out of shape or grumpy or self-deprecating, or not the smartest person in the room. I am cool with my Wal-Mart top or disorganized nature - but I want clear skin dammit. And now I am on the floor in the fetal position.
Seriously if you have a miracle product you better stinking share it.

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/09/how-to-deal-with-serious-zit.html 
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"If you look good, you feel good -  you feel good, you do good."  I like to say it real fast.

My high school friend, Cissy, shared this famous quote with me a long time ago.

Obviously the proper grammar is to say "you do well," but that would ruin the rhythm.

In college there were a few times that I forgot to actually prepare, and instead I rolled my hair up, put on some lipstick and headed out to bomb a test - looking good.  So it doesn't ALWAYS work - sometimes you have to know stuff.

But I actually do think this theory is pretty powerful. As a Tired Girl, sometimes I don't have what it takes for certain tasks, but frankly if I look good, then I do feel good and when I feel good - you see where this is going.

Looking good is all relative of course. I bet I look pretty similar on most days, but sometimes I definitely feel like I look better.

My point that I am slowly making is that, as Tired Girls, we sometimes have to approach a situation with less than is in us that day, and we have do well at it anyway.

Here is my list of looking good resources (just to share, but obviously yours may be way different):

- Clean hair (even if I don't have tons of time to make it look great). When my hair is dirty I feel ick, and I feel like I look ick.

- Clear skin. This is not always possible (thank you hormones) so I can't rely on this at all

- Clothes that fit well - not too tight; not too loose; accentuating the good.  I would rather choose something overly simple, less trendy, or less appropriate (a tad under-dressed) and wear clothes that fit my body that day.  

- Accentuating  my eyelashes. I say yes to mascara when I want to do well at something.  Don't judge or over think this one for me.  Find your superpower that you can accentuate.

- A special piece of jewelry that has sentimental meaning that makes me feel awesome. 

Here is my list of I-feel-good clothes that I like to have on hand:

- Jeans that make me feel great - especially if I feel bumpy or swollen (and thank you hormones again).

- Atleast one fantastic professional ensemble. (Presentation, interview, trial, award recipient, observation, or kick-ass worthy).

- A cocktail dress that I can wear normal underwear and tired girl bra with, sit down in, don't have to suck my stomach in, and no matter my current weight, swelling or hormone levels I feel good in. (This can be a tricky find, but it's worth the hunt).

So go buy expensive clothes and makeup!  (said in that high pitched Oprah way).  Not really, but it is great - no matter our body shape or current skin condition or sleep deprivation - to have an outfit, a lipstick, a pair of shoes, a hair style, whatever - that make us feel good. Make sure you have some resources like that.

So that when you want do well at something, you will make sure and feel good, and one step to feeling good is looking good.

I am interested to hear what your "I need to look good and feel good and do good" resources are.  So spill it.  


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I don't tan and I don't like skin cancer so I don't spend too much time trying to get tan. I do love the tanning bed a lot, but it is not good for me, so I put it in the category of doughnuts and wine and candy and things on infomercials, and maybe things that are even worse - something I want, but I do not do.

"Tan fat looks better than white fat" is something I wish I didn't believe, but I do.  I feel prettier with more glow and less doughy whiteness - don't judge.  So I have my own Tired Girl tanning regimen.  It's dumb, but that rarely stops me from sharing.

I have a tube top type swimsuit cover up that I use to work in the yard. I wear it as a shirt and loosely stick it in to the top of my work shorts, just so it doesn't hang down long.  It creates a blousy top so if my stomach feels like sticking out this way or that while I am in some weird weeding position (like twister without a spinner, but with bugs) I don't worry about it.  It also creates a lack of lines across my chest and arms.  The tube topness is cool, let's the breeze (if I am so lucky) be enjoyed, and creates a bareness for getting nicely sun-kissed.

I do spray my body with spray-sun-screen (I want tan not burnt), I grab my work gloves,  I enjoy the AC for a last fleeting moment, I think about how Princess Kate never has to do competitive weeding, and then I go out to get a mini-tan.

20 minutes on the timer and my yard and I look better and I have liquid (sunshine) energy pulsing through me.  It's a twofer which is this Tired Girl's goal always.

I have one like this - mine is from Wal-Mart, but this one is from Target. I highly recommend one with ruffles across the top - the ruffles are great camoflage if you know what I mean. If you don't  know what I mean, then you are probably a boy.  I also like the hot pink "Tired Girl pink," because if I go down in the yard my body (my awesome tan body) will be easier to find. 

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/09/tired-girl-tanning.html
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One reason some of us are Tired Girls - 

"Every girl is expected to have caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama and doll tits. This is why everyone is struggling.” -Tina Fey


Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/09/tina-fey-is-right.html
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I read all the Twilight books and couldn't wait for each movie to come out. I'm Team Edward. I loved the books not because I actually have anything to do with being in love with a vampire or being crazy awkward in high school or also having werewolves protect me, but I like to read about people falling in love.  Then the movies allowed me to watch characters I liked in a book, be played by beautiful people, and then act out said book. I like to look at beautiful people falling in love. I also like to look at house magazines and admire a kitchen that is very different (and cleaner) than my own, and peruse the style section of the New York Times and wonder where I would wear those super high heels if I owned them. 

Sometimes it's just fun to observe.

There is a new trend that I am enjoying observing and unless I locate pajamas that fit this description I may never wear it. It is simply the style of wearing RED and PINK together. Who knew?  Not me, but I love it.

Here are a bunch bunch of beautiful people doing it - 
I took this montage from a fun site - this site that is targeted at younger girls - source

And this pretty dress is discussed on this site - source2

And all of these came from another fun site - source3.  I especially love the top left photo of the girl with the clutch - she has a Kendri Everyday type blog, but more high fashion and I can't think of her name.  If you know it write me so I can acknowledge her as well.



I would have happily added links to glamour mag articles about this trend and other time-wasters, but all the articles were super lame, so never mind.  You can google "red and pink" if you feel like it and see what I mean, or share if you find a worthwhile tidbit. 

I prefer the big, bold statements, like the ones I have shown here - rather than a dress with simply a red and pink combined motif.  I like the gutsiness of red pants and a hot pink shirt.  Yeah! Take that world!

It would be really fun if you Tired Girls emailed me your Tired Girl version of this trend.  I have added a photo of pajama pants (also known as "work pants" in these parts) in pink and red - but they are not as edgy as what Sarah Jessica Parker has going on.  It's okay though - like I said, sometimes it's just fun to observe, and that may be where I find myself with this trend.  Just watching for it from the comfort of my sofa.


The point of this is not to create my own look, but I am sharing my Tired Girl version anyway.  


If you have a Tired Girl version of the Red and Pink trend please post it on my FB page, tweet it to @thetiredgirl or email it to me at tiredgirl.notes@gmail.com.

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I have gained some weight. My secret exercises, six minutes on the treadmill and vacuuming hasn't been enough lately to fight my love of gluten-free brownies, gelato, and sitting around.  Quite simply the clothes I like to wear feel tight.  So I am doing Weight Watchers online.

I  had some success with Weight Watchers in the past and like it enough to try it again.  I like it because if I really want a cinnamon roll or if I am going out to dinner I can account for that in my points throughout the day.  I do not feel too deprived.  I sometimes feel hungry, because I have trained my body to want more than I need, but I don't feel deprived.

I don't have anything too interesting to say about this, but just thought I would share my review of Weight Watchers and weight loss.

When I first signed up I got some kind of 3 months for the price of one or something, but now I pay $18 a month for access to the site and tracking capabilities.

I like being able to put in my exact meals (brands, etc)  and amounts and learn the point value associated with them. I  am often surprised at how many points some foods have or don't have.  The good thing about WW is once you use it enough, you have an idea about how many points certain things are.  So whether you are are consciously using WW that month or not, it does give you a concept.

I don't know if WW is really for Tired Girls as it absolutely takes more energy then I really want to use.  I have to THINK about what I am eating, ADD up stuff in my head, and TRACK on the computer, each meal.  Bleh.  But I believe studies have shown that when people keep a food diary they are healthier and more successful with their weight goals - and obviously all that stupid tracking is a diary of sorts.

It takes me a long time to gain weight. I happily put cinnamon rolls and beer in my mouth and when nothing happens for months I am not inspired to stop and then BAM! I'm 6 pounds up.  Ugh.  So the same goes for the loss - it takes me a long time of being conscious of it to lose anything - sometimes I think how well I have done the last three days and I am sure I will see big results on the scale - ofcourse I do not.  It took me about 3 weeks to lose any weight (according to my temperamental scale, the first time I did it, but I did feel less puffy earlier I guess.)

Oprah says to not weigh yourself for a LONG time (like a month or so) if you are working to lose weight - if you lose weight according to the scale you will possibly feel like you are doing great and slack off a little, if you don't see any weight loss you will get discouraged and slack off a little.  What this says about our psyche I am not sure, but for me, I think she is right. 


The key is to finding what works for you.

So, I am working on WW and some times being good at it and sometimes not, and sometimes pretending like cinnamon rolls don't count for any points, and sometimes accidentally not eating anything much most of the day to save up for an evening event, and then feeling like crap and realizing the point is not to use all your points on one meal and not eat otherwise, but to eat SENSIBLY - oh duh.  
This is not my dog, he belongs to a friend. I like his attitude.


 So Weight Watchers is not perfect, not for everyone and not a lot of fun, but I am trying it.

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Clarisonic Update - Six months later - 

My mom bought me the Clarisonic Aria face scrubber for Christmas (thanks mom!!), and my friend has the Clarisonic Mia. We both review the Clarisonic here:  Clarisonic Review

Six months later I want to update you on what I think about it.

I look younger, am thinner, and have more money thanks to this thing!  Actually none of that, but six months later I can tell you that I still LOVE it!!

I have used it almost every day (except for a few weekend get-aways where I made the mistake of not packing it), and I believe that my skin is improved.  I definitely have had less breakouts and am completely off of Proactiv.

I have oily, combination  and temperamental skin and I feel my over all skin quality is improved because, as Tired Girl Ashley says in her review,  "if my skin is completely clean of makeup and dirt at the end of the day, then the less likely my pores will clog up and combine with my hormones causing acne."

Tired Girl Ashley is on to something for real.  Having skin cleaned in the right way is where it's at for me.  As I mention in my review I partner my Clarisonic with an all natural face wash, which I believe has also been beneficial for my skin. (Rafa Natural Clarifying Skin Cleanser, $14) 

Six months later I still highly recommend this pricey purchase.  I may be tired, but my skin doesn't look it (well sometimes we all look like crap - but you know what I mean).  

I didn't post any of the "before and after" photos here because I can't verify their accuracy, but if you feel like it, or are procrastinating doing something else then google image search "clarisonic before and after" and you will see lots of great shots.





Messy Bun Update - 

I finally talked my camera in to photographing me not looking quite so angry so here is an actual day that I threw my hair up in to a "messy bun" and this was the result.

I also want to acknowledge the girl on youtube that used bobbypins in her messy bun and I said I didn't want any part of that.  Sometimes when I have my hair up and am actually going to leave the house for a long period of time I use two or three bobbypins to secure the messy bun so it doesn't go all wonky on me in an hour.  

I feel the use of occasional bobbypins does not compromise the overall ease or laissez faire attitude of the messy bun. 































Eyeliner damn it.  I am so stinking sad about the loss of my sweet dog, and it feels forced to do anything besides slump around and be morose, but I am pushing myself to just be a Tired Girl and not a Sad Girl so I am going to tell you about the best eyeliner ever.

I have had a long, hateful relationship with eyeliner.  It is one makeup that I actually use all the time. If it is a day that I wear makeup then eyeliner is involved - just a little, and I feel human and feminine.  

My problem has been finding one that stays on until I want it to come off. I have tried more that don't do this, than do.  "Raccoon eyes", "smudged all over", "completely gone in an hour", or "permanent marker" seem to be my eyeliner-look choices until now.  

I have emailed girl friends to see what they use and if they like it, I have stopped co-workers in the hall and women I don't know to find out what they were wearing.  The consensus has been this, basically:  This is what I use and I don't really like it, because of this and this and this reason.  Many women I have asked don't wear it at all because they haven't had luck with it and it looks worse than nothing, so they skip it.

Eyeliner is a non-negotiable to me, so I have pursued.  I recently ordered Bobbi Brown's Longwear Gel Eyeliner after watching her use it on QVC one evening.  But before it arrived I grabbed a new eyeliner at Target that I had never seen before, and I was hooked.  

I borrowed this photo from the awesome
website: http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/
 Covergirl's "Ink it! Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner" ($5.99 ish) has really worked for me - I am pleased to say that I love it!!

It does this weird thing where I put it on, it looks good, it stays on all day and at night it almost completely comes off while I wash my face, and the rest is easily wiped off with my eye makeup remover. I hear harp music - do you? 

I conducted a non-scientific experiment.  I put this eyeliner on (in the chocolate color) one morning, then took lots of awkward photos of my eyes, and then took more photos of my eyes late that night to show you the difference.  I should have just photographed my whole face so you could see the overall effect, but whatever.  I also drew a line on my hand for you to see the look up close, then wore the line around all day to show the wear. 

Here are a some photos of stuff.  


Not the best representation, but you get the idea.  You can tell - I hope - that the eyeliner
wore off a little and is the teeniest bit smudged by the time I went to wash my face before bed.
Not bad though.


Here is a photo I took of myself, experimenting with the aquamarine and black eyeliner.  Boy, was Joe surprised when he got home that evening.  Not really - this is a stock photo of the product.

Again, not very scientific. I drew this line with the chocolate eyeliner on my hand. I obviously washed my hands a lot throughout the day and don't generally wash my eyes several times a day, but I actually think this is a pretty accurate representation.  The area where it is still dark is where I went over it twice. I like that there is still some left, but not a lot and that it's not smudged.



If any one has an eyeliner they love, then I would love to know what it is, for backup.  

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/08/best-eyeliner-ever.html
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I am not a very good napper, but as I am whooped by the end  (or middle) of the day I have been trying to teach myself how to Power Nap.

In the past it took me so long to come down and turn my brain off, that once I went to sleep I stayed asleep for an hour or more, and then felt worse afterward.  And I felt super lazy.  
An old picture of Ralphie dog who took his nap into the bed this day.  It's easy to get in the nap mood with this guy around.

Short naps are beneficial for lots of reasons and as I have been getting better at them I have found that I feel good (not gross and groggy and angry) after a SNAP (short nap) of about 15-30 minutes, and I am way more productive throughout in the day.  I still sleep well at night, but don't have that overly tired-my-body-weighs-a-thousand-pounds-I'm-going to-die-if-I-don't-get-to-sleep-this-instant feeling.


Since I work at home I can SNAP at any part of the day, though the 2 o'clock hour calls my name.  When I taught school I would often get home, do a few things and lie down for like 15 minutes and close my eyes.  Even that little bit was beneficial for the rest of my evening.

Some days don't even allow a 15-30 minute break - I get it. Some days go by and I wonder if I brushed my teeth.  

But on the days that do allow a short break, here are my thoughts to get you going.

1)  Don't feel guilty - this is going to make you more productive, and probably nicer.

2) Turn the ringer/sound off on all phones (All it takes for me is one small bing somewhere in my house and I assume the best news of my life has just been emailed to me and who can rest then!)

3) Find a good nap spot - I like napping in my bed, but many people prefer a sofa or guest bed or their desk chair.  It's helpful to have one spot you always nap in.  

4) Get a blanket - even when it's hot - just in case. Your body can rest better if it's a little warm.

5) Get the right audio- I like quiet, but my husband likes sound.  Noise canceling headphones with spa music could be good.

6) I think it’s a good idea to nap in a different sleep position than you normally sleep, so I make myself lay down on my back.  It’s comfortable, but a less deep sleep for me.

7) Don’t get too comfy - stay in regular clothes, don’t have it too dark in the room, etc. 

8) Have a thinking strategy to turn your brain off. This is vital for me. I count backwards slowly starting at 40. Sometimes I don’t make it past 30, but if I get all the way to zero then I just start over from 50 or something.

To me the hardest part of a nap is to concentrate on relaxing and to NOT think about what else I should be doing or what I need to remember to do when I get up and oh yeah I have to email that girl and oh crap I have to get those clothes out of the washer before they get stinky and I wonder if I bought feta cheese when I went to the store and oh man this lame nap is over and I didn't even rest.  I HAVE to turn my brain off. 

Here are a few ideas from the internet that I don’t love, but found interesting enough to share.

 - Drink a few sips of a caffeinated drink before you power nap. It will take a smidge to kick in and help you wake up and feel alert when the power nap is over.

 - Hold on to your car keys while you nap. When you go deeper asleep you will drop them and ideally wake yourself up. OR, my Dad's "good idea,"  to hold a cup of water on your chest when you lie down and... I think you see where his plan is going.  

In a perfect world, that I do not live in, I would like to exercise AND power nap every day without exception.  A short nap, on the days it is possible, help me feel human though.  I can make it to 9:30  at night this way instead of eyeing the clock at 7:30.  

I think Tired Girls can relate - when we get too tired (or too hungry actually) - we are all Robin Williams in this Snickers Commercial - we get a little loopy.  My thoughts make about as much sense has his idea for balloon animals. A power nap could help this guy.  And a Snickers always sounds good as well. 


 



 Any good tips for successful power napping?

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/06/how-to-power-nap.html

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Sometimes 10 minutes is all you need.  
I often give myself 10 minutes to do something.  10 minutes on the microwave timer to clean up the kitchen and family room for the afternoon, so I can enjoy a clutter-free evening. 

I can get a lot done in those 10 minutes.

10 minutes to clean the whole downstairs.
10 minutes to neaten up my bedroom, bathroom and closet
10 minutes of ebaying (this can easily turn in two hours if I am not careful)
10 minutes to lay down and close my eyes
10 minutes to spruce myself up in some way
10 minutes to make myself move around the house, walk up and down the stairs, get on the treadmill, use my hand weights, or do an ab workout
A 10 minute dog walk

Obviously most the time you need more than 10 minutes to do any of these things well, but on those days when you have gone in every direction, or you are pooped from just being alive a 10 minute kitchen clean up is more than sufficient.  

Most of the time I use my microwave timer, but in other spots I have a little handheld timer leftover from my days in the classroom.  

If the timer goes off and I don't feel done then a couple more minutes pulls me home.  I trick my brain to believe that if I need more time I can have it - but I rarely need much more.  Most of the time whatever doesn't get done in that time is fine with me.

If you google "10 minute workout" you will get more than enough work out information to ignore.   

I have also been giving myself 10 minute face lifts.  Don't get too excited - it's good, but it's still hyperbole.

I have tried a new product from my favorite skincare line (that is sold in Lakeland, Florida - though I buy it online as well) - Rafa Natural

It is a "Glycolic and Rose Masque", it's $15, and it works.  




I like to use this if I am about to go somewhere - so my new uplifted face gets use.  So before an evening out, or if you have time in the morning (I have never heard of this personally), or if you have time on a Saturday.  It is good for your skin though - that's the point - so use it whenever.  

I use the Rafa Natural Clarifying Cleanser with my Clarisonic for a quick cleanse - but you can use any mild face wash - and then I squeeze two or three pumps of this glycolic mask in to my hand to spread on my face. 

It soaks in to my skin and then I clean my bathroom or put my clothes away for 10 minutes.  Then you rinse it off with water and apply moisturizer.  The directions say to only leave  on for 5 minutes the first time you use it, but then I leave it on longer after that.

My skin looks extra smooth and subtley uplifted - it looks tight in a good way.  I look rested.  I look thrilled!  I look wealthy!! Well I look rested anyway.  The rose of the mask is also a  pretty smell. 

The only two glycolic products sold at Neiman Marcus are $90 and $300.  Nordstrom's has a alot of "glycolic" products of ranging prices, percents and uses.  This mask has 10% glycolic acid which is the amount you want as well, AND it's all natural. Sold! 

My mom, who is in her sixties, uses this as well and gets the same results. Her skin is very dry to my oily and we are both pleased with our glycolic mask.

Here are some women who probably had more than a 10 minute glycolic acid facelift while they clean up their bathroom or something.  Whatever they have done is working for them though - they are aging well and beautifully.  



I chose these photos, because they were snapshots from events, and "appeared" to be not too edited.


























Sometimes 10 minutes is all I need.  Maybe I will become an accomplished woman in just 10 minute increments of my life. 

Here is info on glycolic acid if you are procrastinating doing something important and would rather read this:


"Glycolic Acid is an exfoliator. It safely removes the outer layer of dead skin cells on the surface your skin, bring fresh new skin to the surface. This is beneficial for those who are looking for ingredients that help with anti-aging. Glycolic acid can also help lighten discoloration of the skin, such as sun spots or age spots and help those with acne-prone and blackhead-prone skin."  http://skincare.about.com/od/skin101/qt/Glycolic-Acid-Skin-Benefits.htm

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/06/ten-minute-rule.html

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I am tired (lazy), but I want to look put together.  It's getting to be that time of year where I like to have my hair up and away from me most of the time. Makeup-less, two day old hair and a lack of hair skills has me feeling super duddy though.

I SEE girls with their hair pulled up and it looks so cute and not horrible, so I know it's possible.  I went to my favorite resource - youtube!!! (sung in that Oprah high at the end kind of way) and watched several how-to videos on "messy buns."  I finally landed on this girl.  She shows how to create three different messy buns, and consequently my around the house hair immediately improved.

She's cute as a bug and clearly not professional, but the best part is the way she shows and describes how to put your hair in to a messy bun made it easy to do.

 


Here are some images I came across recently that inspired my obsession with easy, but cuter updos than what I was previously sporting around the house. I posted this first pic on the Tired Girl facebook page.


This sweet little bird  looks so worried about her adorable hair do. 


I mean I am not a fan of KK, but I like this hairdo.  (source)


Too cute  and just what I am looking for in a "messy bun." This girl's tutorial was good, but her bun required bobby pins and I'm not interested in that (source) 


(source)


I would happily have posted photos of my own messy updos, but it looked like I had gotten in a fight with my camera when the photos were shot - just chaos and eyebrows and hair and  half closed eyes.  Just no. 


Original post -http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/06/tired-girl-messy-bun.html

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I painted my finger and toe nails over six weeks ago with my Sensationail and Sally Hansen at-home gel nails kit.  Here is the original post:  http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/04/diy-gel-nails-at-home.html

I do not recommend the Sensationail brand polish for fingers, as it hardly lasted four days, but my toes have done so well. I won't buy more of that brand, because if I am going to spend money I want it to work well on my finger nails too. 

You can tell that my toe nails have grown and these could use a touch up coat to fill in the lack of color and worn look along the base of my nail.  All in all though I am fine with the way these look with such minimal effort, and money 6 weeks ago. 

Sometimes when I work in the yard a lot I am tempted to take my polish off, soak and scrub my feet, let my toes breath and put on a fresh coat of polish after a few days of bare toes.  These will probably go another week and then I will do that, although I may let them go as long as possible just to see truly how long they last before they really HAVE to be redone. 

I still give a Tired Girl thumbs up to the Sally Hansen Gel Nails Kit.  


Is it weird that I am updating you on the way my toes look? Have I crossed a line? 
Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/05/at-home-gel-nail-update.html
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Put money under your eyes. My friend Vanessa gave me this Tired Girl tip. Here are her exact words from an email “My tired girl tips are to spend money on good undereye concealer. I tried going cheapie on it for a while there, and everyone would ask me if I was feeling okay, because I looked so rough. Lancome makes a good one. I use the Lancome Effacernes as my concealer. It's the best I've found, although sometimes it's still not quite powerful enough, so I have to add a layer of Benefit Eye Bright Stick underneath.”
She is a new mom, and she’s gorgeous, so she knows her stuff. 

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2012/11/put-money-under-your-eyes.html
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Bangs and wrinkles and airbrushing. I have literally had three people in the last two weeks tell me they got bangs to cover up their foreheads (and possible forehead wrinkles). This is not a bad idea if your face, hair style, and hair type can work well with bangs. I also use this photo editing program and there is a place where you can blur and smudge or whatever - so I can blur my one forehead wrinkle in a photograph – instant youth! Hopefully people I am in person with will be so overjoyed with my wit and charm they won’t notice any wrinkles, but bangs are something to consider and thought I would pass that on. The photo editing site probably does lots of other great stuff. If my husband and I suddenly show up on facebook looking like body builders you will know I have been experimenting with photo editing. http://pixlr.com/editor/

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2012/11/bangs-and-wrinkles-and-airbrushing.html

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Not ALL makeup is necessary.

I dont use eyeshadow or powder, but I can’t live without eyeliner and my eye lash curler - pick your battles.
The best makeup is clear and clean skin and that’s another whole issue. 

Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2012/11/not-all-makeup-is-necessary.html

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You might be a Tired Girl if... You email yourself a to-do list and then get excited when you hear the distinctive "bing" on your phone somewhere in the house indicating you have an email.  Der! I emailed myself.

You also might be a Tired Girl if the idea of washing your hair some mornings makes you want to cry.  You choose possible ugliness over spending any extra energy getting ready.  This is me about every 3 days.  

I have slightly oily hair (feels icky admitting that - you jerks with your dry hair!). I have tried a few different types of “dry shampoo” (two words that strangely are so right together). My favorite is, luckily, the cheapest.  It is baby powder and even though most of the time my hair is dark (I am occasionally more blond) the white powder works great and does not make me look like Kelly Osbourne and her weird purple/grey hair situation. 

I sprinkle a smidge (scientific term) in the palm of my hand over my bathroom sink and rub my hands together, then I flip my head over and rub my powdery hands along my roots. Front to back and back and forth and all around (scientific term).  I flip up and take stock of myself.  Usually I add just a smidge (again with the science) more to my hand and concentrate on the hair right around my forehead and the back of my head (bed head area). Every so often I use too much and I can see a powdery haze on my hair, but as it turns out I have exceptional powder skills ( who knew?), so I rarely have to adjust.  My tip to you is to start with less – you can always add more, but you don’t want to look like you sprinkled powder on your head and cruised out the door ready to take on the day.

I’m not going to lie, it doesn’t always look gorgeous, but I don’t always care, and it never looks worse than it did before I used the powder. For me it saves the day (every three days, or, honestly, every other day).  

How would you finish this sentence – You might be a Tired Girl if…

I'm pretty sure my hair has never looked like either of these photos - I guess I am fine with somewhere in the middle.  Sorry Kelly O - no offense.
 Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/01/you-might-be-tired-girl-if.html

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This Tired Girl has enough energy to become addicted to the Ryan Gosling "hey girl" images.  So I made this one about hair because I pretty much feel this way a lot of the time. 


Original post - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2013/01/gorgeous-pony-tail-thingy.html

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I have a few sweatshirts, lounge pants and slippers that I live in when I feel most tired, (which as you know is most the time).  When I worked away from home these clothes were on me within minutes of my arrival home.  They are the kind of clothes that their sheer existence relaxes me, and yet their style simply does not exist. They are perfectly wonderful for wearing in the presence of people that love you, or when you are alone, but they are the type that  you hope no one drives by when you slough out to get the mail in them.  Now that I work from home there are days that these items are worn all day as my actual "outfit" (yikes). 

Sweatshirts seem to be the key for me. I would wear a sweatshirt that read " I heart sweatshirt" instead of any cool band or prestigious college,  if it had been properly washed, worn and was ill-fitting (way too big), to look almost offensive. 

I did branch out and buy a few "cuter" sweatshirts this fall.  They are my special occasion lounge wear, my "I feel especially gorgeous" sweatshirts.

I have added a blurry photo of my sweatshirt today. I did not add a photo of  my Ugg's (which I also incidentally am attached to), because even though they are only seen on my feet in the photo they are still especially unphotogenic. 

Does anyone else out there tear their clothes off when they get home and put on lovable, horrible, comfy clothing?  

Sweatshirt love

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When my friend Gabby moved to Florida she decided to buy expensive sunglasses  polarized.  
The salesmen asked her if she “wanted her future son’s friends to hit on her?”

Of course she answered yes – if for no other reason, but to hear more.  He went on to explain how the right sunglasses don’t make you squint, and if you don’t squint you don’t get wrinkles, and if you don’t get wrinkles – well you know where this is going.

Sold!!

So when my friend Ashley shared this Tired Girl beauty and skin tip with me I thought of the idea that salesmen was selling – you can’t put a price on looking young.
Here are her words:

I recently broke my tendency to be cheap with beauty products and splurged on the Clarisonic Mia 2 facial brush. Around $140 on Amazon. I have tried the Olay spin brush - no comparison, don’t waste the money.  My skin was great during pregnancy, but terrible before! I was always fighting the hormonal breakouts. Now that I am no longer pregnant and my skin started to turn back to the dark side, I needed something quick! Being a new mom, I no longer have time to fuss around with the war on acne, makeup and multi-step skin care. So I bought the brush, my reasoning was, if my skin is completely clean of makeup and dirt at the end of the day, then the less likely my pores will clog up and combine with my hormones causing acne.
So far I am right! With this brush, once a day (evening shower) for a few seconds with a mild cleanser, is all it takes to improve your skin! Pat has even noticed my overall skin improvement acne and texture. The other plus, is that my skins texture is so improved, that putting makeup on is also a breeze and only takes seconds. I also look forward to and enjoy the feeling of getting my skin super clean.  I used to fuss around with products to help my skin, taking so much time cleanse, cream, mask, facials etc. not to mention nit picking my makeup and concealing techniques!  I no longer waste time on all these steps, although if I had time I would enjoy a facial :)

I received a Clarisonic for Christmas and I agree with Ashley. Just 100% agree. I use this wash with my Clarisonic:  http://rafanatural.com/clarifying-cleanser.  The Clarisonic is a bit pricey – maybe has gone down after Christmas – but you can’t put a price on your skin care.  Well you totally can, but this is worth it. Sell something to buy this.  Don’t you want your future son’s friends to hit on you?  I know that is totally creepy – but you get the idea. 

Don't BE a Mrs. Robinson, but just look fabulous forever. I wanted to find a  fun picture, but I had to do my actual work. Booooo.  This is a stock image of a Clarisonic.

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My Friend Vanessa sent this to me - I think we all need one!  

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I feel like if you have all the basics of your body healthy then you can look tired, or be wearing something whackadoodle, or have skipped your make up, or have doctored your hair up, and you still look pretty good.  
Healthy skin, healthy hair, healthy body, healthy teeth.

I never had acne, but do have breakouts (sometimes pretty bad) and I have combination skin which just means your skin is never happy no matter what.  Cranky skin.  

I have used Proactiv for years and had success with it.  Proactiv is possibly quite toxic  - maybe – I don’t know!!  But just in case, I did not want to be addicted to any one product so I have worked to wean my face off of it.  I still use it about once or twice a week just to keep my face happy.  I love to barely put on makeup on a daily basis and the key to this for me is having lovely, clear, healthy skin.  I would like to add radiant and glowing skin, but as Tired Girls know – we don’t always get to claim a glow.

If some brilliant person out there wants to invent a acne fighting and wrinkle reducing skin care line then sign me up.  How jerky is it that I should have to think about both wrinkles and breakouts at once. 

On the days I don’t use Proactiv, I use a Clarins orange scrub, an all-natural toner and/or a face wash ( http://rafanatural.com/clarifying-astringent  ; http://rafanatural.com/clarifying-cleanser, and the “Say Yes to Cucumbers” daily moisturizer. 

P-90x is all about “muscle confusion” – keeping your muscles guessing. So I am all about “skin confusion” my skin doesn’t know what’s going on so it can’t break out or look old.



And this way I can run to the store and not need much makeup to cover up too many trouble areas. Looking nice when I feel tired makes me less tired.  



When I was in college and lived with all girls for four years it was so fun to see what products everyone used and you could easily try something without having to buy.  It's not quite so fun to look around my husband's products as mostly there aren't any. These are the things that work for me - just sharing:
my three face washes - I use the Rafa Natural Clarifying Cleanser with my Clarisonic

my toners and moisturizers - the Clarins Hydra Quench is wonderful

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The best Tired Girl bra -


I won’t go in to all the many reasons why this bra is the BEST.  I will let you infer it all – just to be ladylike in an almost public forum. But I will say that I have spent $60 on a bra before and they have nothing on this one.

Comfort, cuteness, price, comfort, shape, comfort, washability, versatility, comfort.  Done.  



Here are some bra jokes:









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Jeans make an outfit.  That is a totally dumb sentence, but I strangely think about it often.

Are you wearing comfy clothes (read: pajamas) at 2pm and your dog is barking and you have to go get him in the yard, but the people he is barking at will see you have comfy clothes (pajamas) on at 2pm and this feels embarrassing? No?  This happens to me all the time. 

My solution is: jeans make an outfit.

A sweatshirt*,  lounge pants,  uggs = pajamas.
A sweatshirt*,  JEANS,  uggs = outfit.

Have to run to Target? Let the cable guy in?  Look like an adult who is ready to take on the day?
How to look immediately presentable? Jeans.

Inane I know, but I am sharing anyway.  This is where the pajama jeans come in I suppose. 


These girls have it all figured it out.  Luckily I don't wear fur vests or tiara headbands that often - so I don't have to worry about working that in to my pajama outfits


*bra optional


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You hair is an accessory that you wear every day.
This is an accessory I like to ignore for possibly days at a time and since I still want to look cute and not like a wild animal, I take the time to get a really good haircut.  

I highly recommend a good haircut (and color if you are in to that - which I am) and when I say “good” I mean “quality” which could then translate to “pricey.”

I have had a “good” (read: “pricey”) haircut at times and even though it looked great when I washed, dried and did it – if I didn’t do all three of those things each day it would look like crap. And since I am known to choose ugliness over doing my hair some days I have learned to get a more “wash and wear” hairdo. 

So now my “good” haircut really is. It is versatile – looks nice clean or not so clean, looks nice when I “do” it, and looks nice simply just washed – not even dried.  It hangs well and is acceptable at any stage. For me, having a little bit longer hair (past my shoulders), makes for lower maintenance - so don't assume shorter or simpler is necessarily easier.

I have also had cheapy haircuts – even in the exact style that I know works for me – and sadly, it just never looks quite as good – the ends don’t look as nice as long and need more attention.

I would rather spend more, get more, go less and look better longer. And my stylist gives me wine so that's worth a smidge too.

P.S. I also highly recommend skipping the idea of highlighting your own hair.  Just go with me on this. Coloring all your hair at once – may be okay, but highlights? No.  Is this a job for professionals? Yes.



This lady may be my new Ryan Gosling "hey girl".  If you haven't seen the original video of her or the autotunes one it's worth your time.  Here is a link to an all-in-one video: http://youtu.be/Nh7UgAprdpM

This is an oldy but a goody - this is me in the Summer. 



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With the luck of the draw I get to have really puffy eyes in the morning.  I could give you the reasons my eyes are puffy, but the bottom line is that they are - pretty much every morning.

When I get to lead a life of pure leisure - wake at my chosen time, be worked out by a personal trainer, and have breakfast served to me on the veranda, I bet my eyes will de-puff naturally, but until that happens I figured out a way that helps me de-puff when I need to be presentable.

I love sleeping on my stomach and consequently my face, which is the first step in not looking like an alien, but sometimes I can't fight the need for face/mattress time. So that could be step number one in preventing – but I often skip that step.  

So that misstep aside - here is what I do:

I have taken the little beads out of an eye mask and put them in a small ziploc bag and I can keep the bag in the freezer.  Any morning I feel extra puffy I pull them out and lay completely flat on my back on the sofa or wherever for just a few minutes. I lay the bag over my eyes and right underneath my eyes (the areas I am most swollen).  The beads warm up quickly and once they are warm – I am done.  I usually will lay there an extra second and, using my ring finger, tap the area all around my eye – to get that fluid moving out of there. The whole process takes a minimum of 2 or 3 minutes – longer if I have time to just lay there.

I have tried a lot of other things in the past – tea bags, cold spoons, different products, and this is what works for me. I cut open the mask these beads come in, because the mask fits around the eyes not right on, it is too stiff to maneuver, and the frozen cold on my forehead was unpleasant and unhelpful.  I also tried to use rice once and that didn’t work for me – didn’t get cold enough even when frozen. I like these little beads because they easily fit into all the little areas of my eyes (inside the bag) and are frozen, but not painful.

If any of you Tired Girls have a plan or product that really helps you de-puff I would love to know what it is.  These puffy eyes are REAL and not me just being hard on myself, and I suspect they won’t get better as I get older. 

I wanted to take a before and after pic of my eyes, but the idea of using a camera at that point in the morning is also unsettling and unhelpful.

Here is a pic of the eye mask I am talking about – this one is at Big Lots for $2.  Buying two would be a good idea – more beads for surface area or pressure.

cut the mask open, put the beads in a ziploc, freeze, put on your eyes in the am and even if you feel like a Tired Girl, you will look like a young, rested girl. 


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I have a love hate relationship with my nails. 
I love to ignore them and hate to spend time making them look nice, but then I hate when they look ugly and feel cuter when they look nice.  I rarely do anything too them except keep them way short.  I do keep polish on my toenails most of the time though. 

A few months ago I bought the Sally Hansen at-home gel nails kit - 

Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Starter Kit


This is not the nail "strips" kit - it is the nail polish kit.

  
I paid $50 for it on Ulta.com (got $10 off with a coupon and free shipping - I think the price has gone up a little now). They had it at my local Target, but there are three color choices that come in the kit and they only had the color I didn't want so I did my research and found the best deal at Ulta.


Here is the Tired Girl review:

PROS:

 - For $50 this kit would pay for itself if I only used it twice (on my fingers ad toes each) and so far I have used it 4 times in 4 months.

 - There is no dry time (!!!) which was my biggest hang up in painting my nails at home - I love to lay around, but only on my terms, and there never seemed to be a good time to paint my nails and let them dry -- I almost always smudged them.

 - It is easy and fast.

 - My painted finger nails last over a week - sometimes more than two full weeks - so the energy I put in is made up for because they look nice for so long - a good bang for my buck in my opinion.

 - My toe nails last even longer of course (because I don't wash dishes with my feet) and I even put a touch up coat on them after a month and they still looked great.

 - The polish is easy to take off - no remover necessary -- you work up a corner of each nail and the whole thing comes off in one sheet of color. I don't use any remover - so less drying and chemicals.

 - I think they look nice - especially now that I am getting better at the polishing.

CONS:

 - The UV light is not good for you and is rather controversial -- UV= cancer (I am soooo not into cancer).  

 - The "gel" polish in any brand is a little pricier than regular drugstore polish - these are $11-$12 for a small bottle.

 - Because the color will come off in a sheet, once it does start to get bumped and chipped there is a chance your whole nail color will come off of one finger, which can be a bummer if you are not at home. 

 - They don't look as great as when someone professional does them for me -- because I am not great at polishing my nails. But since I am not going to have them done anyway, it's this or nothing. 

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 So, in the end I am way happy with my purchase and the idea that my nails look nice sometimes. Why is this a Tired Girl recommended product?  I save energy and money  while having nice looking and long lasting painted nails.  

 Here are a couple of extra thoughts - if you are still interested in this:

 - I like that Sensationail has more colors than Sally Hansen at this time, but I DO NOT recommend this brand for fingernails.  It lasted great on my toes, but only lasted a couple of days on my hands - started pulling up on finger nails the very next day.  Major boooooo. 

 - If you are NOT an expert nail-painter (as I am not) I recommend painting your nails the day before any event - it gives them a day for the little extra over paint areas to come off. They look best on day 2 or 3 I think. 

 - And finally, I have never had a gel nail polish manicure done professionally and probably won't (it's just not my thing to go to a salon and have them done - I spend all my time thinking about what else I could be doing for fun or money - http://www.thetiredgirl.com/2012/11/know-yourself.html ), so I cannot accurately speak about how this kit compares to a professional manicure.  I hope that doesn't make you angry. 

- I am going to try using the gel base and top coat and  UV light with a "regular" polish and will let you know how that goes. 

If any one has something to add I would love hear other Tired Girl's thoughts - 



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I don't wear much eye make-up, but I still have the joy of removing eye make-up.  As you know I often have puffy eyes in the morning as well - so there are times when I am greeted in the mirror with smudged and puffy eyes - which is cruel really - because I am such a nice person and everything.  

Supposedly smudged "smokey" eyes are hot on the catwalk and red carpet, but I can't pull off using my leftover eye makeup as an intentional good look - so I have to remove my eye make-up. 

I wear mascara about once a week or for a special occasion (mascara and pajama-wearing-work-from home-days just don't mix), I wear light eyeliner almost every day and I don't wear eye shadow at all, but I do put base/concealer/whatever around my eyes so that kind of counts. 

Washing my face every night does take a little of my eye make-up off, but obviously I am not going to soap up the nooks and crannies of my eyelids to get my eyeliner off, so this is where eye make-up remover comes in.

I have tried several eye make-up removers through the years only to be met with blind and oily eyes. Oily eyes IS a thing and if you have tried enough eye make removers you know what I mean. But I found an eye makeup remover that I LOVE - no blindness, no pain, no oily eyes and the make-up comes off easily.  I  use the Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover. It is pricier than drugstore removers (it's about $26), but in my opinion it is totally worth it.  I feel relaxed about spending more money for good skin -- especially eyes! For me, this remover will last a long time - over a year - because it doesn't take much to remove the amount of eye makeup I wear. 

Do NOT get the Clarins Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover - it' so gentle that it doesn't work - that stiff stinks - be sure you get this: Clarins INSTANT Eye Make-Up Remover.

After I have washed my face in the evening I squeeze some on a q-tip and very gently run it around my lids wear my eyeliner is. If I use a lot I dab it off with a kleenex and then put on my night time eye cream, but sometimes it doesn't need to be dabbed.

On mornings where I have worn my more makeup the day before the leftover eye make-up has worked its way around and creates the tiniest shadow around my eyes. So I turn on the shower, squeeze more onto a q-tip, wipe it all around my eyes, and then get in the shower - which will take it all off along with the remover so my face will be ready for makeup. 

Is this like way too many words about a good eye makeup remover? Yes!  The bottom line: 
The Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover- is a Tired Girl recommended product, because it works and makes me look (and feel) less tired. 


Here are a few words on buying Clarins products if you are interested:
I do not order from Amazon because my amazon prime doesn't apply. I will buy at Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstroms or Bloomingdale's if I am in a pinch, although I usually really plan my Clarins purchases so I am not scrambling.  Over the holidays the Clarins site - http://www.clarinsusa.com/ - will give gifts of full sized stuff when you buy online.  I also have been known to buy on ebay, but my Clarins ebay lady has retired (what about ME ebay lady! Don't make me pay full price!) I like to go into Neiman Marcus and purchase - it's the same price, but is fun to make purchases at Neimans and they usually throw in samples.  Finally, if you live in the Orlando area there is a new Clarins outlet store at the Premium Outlets on Vineland (the one where Tory Burch's place is). The outlet has actual significant savings there, but they don't carry every product - so be aware of that. 

Thanks Gaga for making me feel better and thanks Olivia Wilde for being so super cute that it sort of makes me feel like crap.

Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover $26



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