Sugar is Sweet

I am a 25 year old woman who just recently (like we're talking really recent, months ago) started wearing lipstick. I've always hated the stuff. I thought it was too sticky and smelly and if I got even a bit of it inside my mouth I would gag for an hour because of the awful taste. I was starting to think that maybe I was missing the lipstick gene. In all other aspects, I was totally female but where was my appreciation for lucious red lips???

Then, the cosmetic companies started coming out with long wear lipstick, which was more of a stain that dried, rather than a wet, beeswax feeling goo. I got into that, definitely. But once it dried, there was no kissable gloss or shine to my puckers. Not very sexy at all.

We recently had an event at work, and one of the items in our gift bag was a gloss called "Taste Like Sugar" by a brand called..."Sugar." Hmmm, I thought, I sure do like sugar. So I experimented with this little tube of gloss (which came in a pack of 12) and was pleasantly suprised at first. It actually smelled at tasted like sugar, the actual sugar that you put in your coffee. I put it on top of my usual lip stain, and that seemed to be the cherry on top of my lipstick sunday. Now, not only did I have lips with some color on them, but a lucious shine that didn't make me want to lose my lunch. A pleasant suprise turned into an addiction, and now I do not leave the house without one of these little babies.

The pack of 12 is available at Sephora, and come in beautiful shades of pink. They are small enough to keep in your pocket and deliver just the right amount of shine. They taste so good I could almost eat them...but I won't.

I'm Addicted to You

Now here's music to my hears... an addiction that's actually beneficial.

Addiction Cosmetics is my new favorite mineral makeup line. I use everything from the pore perfecting primer to the mineral bronzer. My favorite, however, is the Mineral Wear Tinted Moisturizer (it comes in porcelain, medium, and deep). This miracle in a tube is like calorie free velvet chocolate cake for your face--just too good to be true. It is made of minerals, contains SPF 20, and gives you enough coverage when you wear alone. No joke, this stuff literally transforms your complection. It's thick enough to cover your entire face with only a dab. One tube will last you at least 3 months, if not longer. Short on time in the morning? A perfect day look--a layer of primer, a layer of tinted moisturizer, a coat of mascara and some gloss--takes only a couple minutes. Check out the website, www.addictioncosmetics.com. They have a whole line of products which I assume are just as great as the ones I've tried. Add this rage to your beauty regimine and you'll definitely be thanking me.

Champagne Cosmopolitan

I happen to be a huge fan of happy hour, sophistication and pretty looking drinks. I also happen to not be a huge fan of hard alcohol which most pretty looking drinks are made of. What's a girl to do?

If this sounds a bit like you as well, you have to try this Champagne Cosmopolitan. Shake 2 oz. Champagne, a dash of Grand Marnier, 1.5 oz. Cranberry juice, and a dash of line juice over ice and pour into champagne flute. You can garnish with a lime for that extra beauty. Drinking with your pinky out and discussing men is totally optional.

It might not be exactly the version that the gals from Sex and the City spend their nights sipping, but it tastes much better to me than if it were made with vodka.

Bottoms up~

A Date with the District

If the state of today's economy has you pinching pennies more than usual and cleaning dust mites off your treadmill is an everyday occurrence, this rage is for you.

I’ve found the perfect combination: bargain shopping and exercise. I invite you to make a date with the district – the LA Fashion District, that is. No matter what you are looking for, the LA Fashion District is bound to have it. The “Hot Spot” however, is definitely Santee Alley. This haven is located between Santee and Maple street, and Olympic and 12th Street. Santee Alley, while a part of the Fashion District, is like its own little fashion universe. Bargain hunters beware: you might have a heart attack due to the overwhelming low price tags. Santee Alley offers dozens of designer knockoffs and the first Friday of every month is home to many sample sales. Men, women, children, etc. will benefit from this spot. The Alley is open every day, and offers a very “festival” like atmosphere. Get there early though, crowds tend to grow towards the afternoon hours.

Here are a couple helpful hints to make your date with the district extra special:

1. Wear comfortable shoes. I wasn’t kidding when I said it was a combination of shopping and exercise. 90 blocks, and that doesn’t count the standing while you’re in the shops.



2. Bring cash. Although ATM’s are located all throughout the District, you don’t want to be in line at a store and have the embarrassment of putting everything back because that particular store doesn’t take credit cards.


3. Leave your modesty at home. Some stores only offer one large room for try-on’s, so you’ll be changing in front of others.



4. Don’t make rash decisions. A lot of stores do not offer exchanges or refunds.



5. Download an LA Fashion District Map from the website before you go. That way, you know where all the bathrooms are located in case of an emergency. (They are located sporadically throughout the 90 block radius). You don't want to have a "Charolotte" moment...



Happy Shopping!

Dirty Vinyl Photography

For anyone out there who is into photography, this rage is definitely one that you should get into. Dirty Vinyl Photography is a new company featuring absolutely beautiful photographs. Whether you're a fan of landscapes, people, color or black and white--this photographer, Damon, has the ability to capture the beauty in anything. Like any true artist, he has a passion for not only his end result but the journey he makes in order to make it. As you stroll through his website you will find photos of picturesque scenery, abstract objects, and interesting people that will literally have you in awe. I am a huge fan of these photos and own quite a few already. If I were you, I'd order a large print and have it placed in a black matte frame. There is a photo for every sort of ambiance your home is looking for. I was lucky enough to get an interview with Damon, the photographer of Dirty Vinyl, and learned a bit about his gift.

The Rage Page: What inspires you?
Dirty Vinyl: Almost anything and everything can be inspiring to me. From despair and devastation to absolute euphoria. I find everything beautiful in some way. Through all of the experiences in my life nothing comes easy, and sometimes you have to truly work hard at seeing the light in the darkest of moments. Those light spots are what I try to find and capture in my photographs. Sometimes its conscious, sometimes its unconscious, but it’s always there regardless of what I’m shooting. Those are the moments/things that I’m inspired to capture.

The Rage Page: What about an object makes it photo-worthy?
Dirty Vinyl: Any object is photo worthy. Who am I to judge? But the way the light hits the object is what helps turn the object into something special.

The Rage Page: What do you want people to feel when they look at your photos?
Dirty Vinyl: Anything. If someone looks at any one of my photos and feels anything at all I’d be happy. Even if they hate it.

The Rage Page: Where do you see your art and talent in five years?
Dirty Vinyl: I just want to have a personal feeling that I’m moving in a positive direction. Regardless of what other people think, I want to feel like I’m capturing what I see as beauty. I hope to be to a point where other people enjoy looking at my photographs, but it’s more for me than anyone else. I’d love to be able to make a living at it, but if not, then that’s ok as long as I’m still shooting. I do eventually want to work with other people to concept and create scenes since most of what I do right now is the reality around me. I would like to collaborate with others to create and capture a new reality.

You can view and purchase photographs at www.dirtyvinylphotography.com.

Say it and Spray it

Everyone loves a tan. It makes you feel healthy, thin, and vibrant. I even like one all year round, but don't want to look like an oompa-loompa, even in the summer. I used to be a tanning bed fan, but now that I'm getting older, I actually care more about my health and well-being more than looking good. Then, I got into spray booths. The perks about that were you still could go in the buff to avoid tan lines, and it takes less than a minute to achieve your results. The downside is that is can streak like a mo-fo. No likey. After I exfoliated like crazy to get rid of the streaks, I was turned on to professional airbrushing. The results from this were fantastic. No streaks, and a beautiful, natural looking tan. The downsides of this are that if you don't want tan lines, you are standing naked in a room while a perfect stranger sprays your bod (special places included) with the magic stuff. Definitely not a procedure for the timid. It can also get pretty expensive, at $35-$40 a pop. Not intended for girls/guys on a budget.
Recently, the drug store cosmetic brands have been coming out with their own "airbrush" tan in a can. It comes out in a misty spray, and is meant to reach all spots like the professional airbrusher can, in the privacy of your own home--all for only $10 per bottle. Depending on how often you tan, one bottle can last you up to two weeks. Entranced and blinded by my cosmetics addiction and minuscule budget, I bought a few different brands and decided to try them out. Neutrogena and Loreal's products put up the best fight. In the end, it was Loreal's Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Tanner that absolutely won me over. It didn't streak, stink, or take hours to dry. The results lasted a few days, and it only cost me $9.99 for a bottle. The nozzle gets all spots of your body, even your bank and the back of your legs. End result is totally gorgeous, and you even have enough money left over to actually go out and show it off.

It's available at any drug store, or Loreal.com.

E.L.F~ Not Just a Midget at Christmas

Being a babe on a budget, I have recently been introduced to a wonderful website called E.L.F.-- no, it's not Christmas related. It stands for eyes, lips, face, and it offers great cosmetics for only $1. No joke. Sign in to this website and you are offered an abundance of makeup, soap, cleansers, brushes, etc. and all are either $1 or very reasonably priced. The site also offers newsletters, email updates, and links to other cool sites that may spark your interests. I just purchased a FULL 12-piece brush set for $9!

The only downside to this form of shopping is the length of time you'll wait for your shipment to arrive. Because I'm not the only E.L.F. digger, you may have to wait up to two weeks for your order. But saving loads of change? I think it's worth the wait.