Every year since like 2006, Seattle’s own Mike and Jerry of Penny Arcade have put on an increasingly massive video game fan convention. This thing started for fans by fans (as opposed to for developers by developers), and the turnout in fantastic. Both literally and figuratively. PLUS, my work is throwing a big party for [...]]]>

Every year since like 2006, Seattle’s own Mike and Jerry of Penny Arcade have put on an increasingly massive video game fan convention. This thing started for fans by fans (as opposed to for developers by developers), and the turnout in fantastic. Both literally and figuratively. PLUS, my work is throwing a big party for our game’s expansion launch, so things are OFF THE HOOK for me this weekend.

I always see a lot of cosplay, creative hair and makeup, and crazy clothing at PAX (in addition to more handheld consoles than I ever saw in my two years working at Nintendo). The doors aren’t even open yet, and the geeks have already flooded the site — which is smack between my home and my workplace. Geeks get mad creative with their looks — I mean, how do they get those prosthetic Link ears to stay on? I have enough trouble with false lashes!

I’ll post pics later once I’ve caught a couple amazing fashion or makeup moments! But fow now, allow me to wax geeky on my own PAXed up beauty tricks. Geeky conventions are kind of an excuse to oomph up the goth/punk/nerd/rebel chic, which isn’t my usual look. But I leaned hard on Smashbox’s Heartbreaker liquid liner pen to ensure a nice firm goth-y eye well into tonight’s Wonder Girls concert.

And today seemed like the perfect day to rock my cement gray (“DWS”) Illamasqua nail polish. Slightly edgy and different, plus it matches my gray Aion shirt that I’ll be wearing to help promote the game and show my support!

In closing, check out the vid we made to promote our launch party tonight. Seriously, isn’t this adorable? Even if you’re not a gamer, you have to appreciate the creativity of the in-game dance moves! I cannot WAIT for this show. ^_^

But [...]]]> I went to a new hairdresser recently, because my pre-wedding life has gotten to a point where everything must be reliably transacted over email or not at all. Sarah taught me lots of good tricks, and gave me a smashing flat-iron for my trim-but-not-cut, since she insisted I needed the length for my wedding style.

But I think the MOST interesting thing I learned was how to flat-iron my hair better. She insisted that, instead of doing it in layers, I buy up a bunch of little claw clips, separate into many sections, and then straighten each one. MAN, does this tip work! I just got cheapo Scunci clippy thingies with silicone to help them hold, and it’s a much better process now. I will try and update this post with a pic next time I’m all Björked out. And at my next cut with her, she’s going to teach me better tricks for wearing my hair wavy.

Glad she let me keep all my extra length, and that the prenatal vitamins I’ve been sporadically popping seem to be working — my hair is getting quite long! Just in time for my trial run with Carina next weekend. Fingers crossed!

I can’t believe how long overdue this is. A recent Daily Candy newsletter pinged 3floz.com, a new website that only sells TSA-approved toiletries. For months now I’ve been scratching my head when I see 2- or 4-ounce bottles of “travel” shampoo at the drugstore — didn’t anyone get on this and think, gee, [...]]]>

I can’t believe how long overdue this is. A recent Daily Candy newsletter pinged 3floz.com, a new website that only sells TSA-approved toiletries. For months now I’ve been scratching my head when I see 2- or 4-ounce bottles of “travel” shampoo at the drugstore — didn’t anyone get on this and think, gee, maybe we ought to capitalize on TSA’s restrictions?

The main thing I love about 3floz.com is that they carry higher-end stuff that can be much harder to track down in travel-friendly portions. That and the little travel-friendly quirks, like shipping your stuff internationally to have it waiting for you, or waiving the overnight fee if you prove your urgency with an itinerary. So cool!

My only complaint so far is that they ONLY carry the high end stuff — sometimes a girl just wants a (travel-friendly) stick of Secret, ya know? Hopefully they will continue to expand their offerings as they gain popularity… especially since TSA has made it clear they plan to keep the restriction on for the foreseeable future.

Yep, hats almost never fit me unless they’re adjustable or [...]]]> Ever since I grew up, I haven’t been able to wear headbands. Fabric ones like we rocked in the ’80s, perhaps — but not the cute hard plastic ones that other girls can sport. Why, you ask? Because I have a giant head.

Yep, hats almost never fit me unless they’re adjustable or made for men, and headbands just don’t work on me. I even bought one a few months ago and dipped it into boiling water to try and re-mold it into a head-friendly shape — all I got was carcinogenic-smelling water and a misshapen headband that still didn’t work on my head.

So imagine my joy when I came across this nifty new headband with flexible tips, designed so that the bottom bits can be bent so that they don’t stab into your giant cranium behind your ears. I think I giggled out loud in Target, I was so delighted. But guess what?

IT DOESN’T FIT. The part BEFORE where the tips become flexible is still too tight on my skull. CURSE YOU, GOODY! Please don’t ever consider making a line of plus-sized clothing — I hate to think of what you’d do to a gal’s self-esteem in that department!

Unfortunately, the article doesn’t appear in the online mag, but I’ve uploaded a [...]]]> I was very excited to pick up this month’s ELLE magazine, even though it’s not one of my typical reads. On page 111, there’s an article on do-it-yourself skincare, and ELLE writer Maggie Bullock quoted me twice (including an ending quote, yay!).

Unfortunately, the article doesn’t appear in the online mag, but I’ve uploaded a PDF (with permission) here, in case anyone wants to check it out. (And no, it wasn’t printed that way — my boyfriend ever-so-subtly highlighted the parts with me in it.)

Many of my reviews and tips need a bit of an updating pass, but at least [...]]]> It’s been a VERY long time since I’ve updated this page, but I think we can finally officially say we’re out of the “Under Construction” phase. This is thanks in large part to my awesome new web hosting company, Dreamhost.

Many of my reviews and tips need a bit of an updating pass, but at least the pages are up and the theme works and the whole things is finally converted to WordPress! What a relief. Now I can finally go back to writing about skincare instead of editing php files, hooray!

–Virginia