polish
Each time I leave Los Angeles I think, “There are so many pretty girls here. I should really make more of an effort.”
My trip a few weeks ago was no exception, and I returned to NYC thinking:
– I really need to buy some makeup.
– I should stop being lazy and get a professional to regularly blow dry my hair.
– Maybe I should go shopping? It wouldn’t kill me to wear a dress once in a while.
Stopped by Saks…bought nothing but took this pretty picture…
And so, all full of inspiration and motivation (plus it’s Ramadan and I have nothing BUT time), I set aside a few hours last weekend to do all of the above. Here’s what happened:
– I stepped into Sephora. I immediately felt overwhelmed. I asked an employee to direct me to the lipsticks with the fewest chemicals. She vaguely pointed to the opposite end of the store. I walked a mile through mascara feeling more overwhelmed. I tried on a few lipsticks praying that people didn’t double dip. Everything seemed garish on me. I needed an expert but couldn’t find anyone available to help. I decided to stick with my $2.99 Eos lip balm.
Conclusion: I tabled the makeup for another day.
– I decided to get my hair done. But then I realized I had nowhere important to go, and the humidity would surely ruin any attempts to tame my frizz. Did it make sense to subject my hair to such torture? Do girls get their hair done just because? Should I take the $50 and buy books instead?
Conclusion: I tabled the DryBar visit for another day. And went to Barnes & Noble.
Stopped at Rockefeller Center…bought nothing but encountered lots of people and pretty palm trees….
– I went shopping. I hit Bloomingdale’s and after what seemed like hours I finally found a cute Vince shirt. It wasn’t a dress but it contained color so it seemed like an acceptable substitute. I couldn’t get myself to pay $325 for it though so I hung it back up. I found a pair of Theory pants that fit perfectly. I loved them. They were black. I decided I needed another pair of black pants like a hole in the head.
Conclusion: I tabled the clothes shopping for another day.
– I decided to look for a new bag instead. Something low-key. One that didn’t scream a logo. I found a bag fairly quickly! I wondered if I’d found the bag too soon. Was I settling? Should I look at other stores? I tried it on 50 different times. I carried it around the store as I contemplated. I nearly pulled out a pen to write a list of pros and cons.
Conclusion: I bought the bag.
My new, hands-free bag…don’t let my hair fool you in this picture. As soon as I stepped outside and into the humidity I could see it in my peripheral vision…
I’m hoping my new bag will help camouflage the circles under my eyes, the melasma that seems to get worse each day (the dermatologist said I can thank Maya for this lovely gift), my hair (I have no words in this humidity), and my all-black, all-the-time ensembles.
I’m headed to L.A. again in a few days so maybe more inspiration is in store?
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
I’d opt for books and handbags too… 🙂
Especially handbags that can accommodate books! 🙂
I feel your pain with the hair. I have crazy hair too. The humidity kills it. After a long 1+ month of not being able to wash or fix my hair (shoulder surgery), as of yesterday I can finally put my arm up to fix my hair. Thankful for my hairdresser taking care of me once a week and neighbors and friends filling in the blanks. I would kill to have a dry bar locally 🙂 The 3+ hour trip to NYC wouldn’t have worked out. Not wihstanding, I couldn’t drive til last week 🙂 Love the bag, I’m always up for a new purse.
I can’t imagine how I’d deal with my hair without two hands…I think if I had three hands I’d probably be able to tame it down a bit better.
Hope the shoulder is healing nicely S! I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with that.
You will hate what I have to say but inspiration comes from within. You are a beautiful lady so there is no need to compare yourself to anyone else. Sorry.
Agreed. You are a beautiful woman whose worth is so much more then looking perfectly groomed. However, if thats what will amke you feel good then by all means do it.
@Ayala You are so right – I don’t hate you for saying this. My habit of comparing is getting better but I’m still working on it.
@ForkInPage – Thank you so much for the kind words. Means a lot!!
I loved this entry. Girl, are we twins seperated at birth? Often times I feel like wow – I’m not the only one.
I hate Sephora for this reason, but you know what I learned? I’m the customer and I’m always right. I stopped letting these “it’s over there” girls make me feel like I’m lost. A little bit of research before I head puts me in the spot to tell them what I want. Frigg you people!
Also try the Plum Perfect app. You’ll love it!
Bags rock! Totally and always.
Get the hair done did, for yourself! Not just because – but because you deserve it.
And did I mention bags rock!
Can we go shopping together!? Can we be the pseudo Hot Brown Working Housewives of Ny/NJ?
I see a show potentional. I really do. HBWH franchise.
Plum Perfect? I am intrigued. Thank you for the suggestion.
We can totally go shopping together – would love to meet. Do you come to NYC often?
I work in TV – I can pitch our show. 🙂 Seriously though, I think a show on desi people would be a hit!!
I come to the city very rarely, I’m a jersey girl thru and thru but we will definity do the shopping bit! Like you my wardrobe needs some new items.
I’ll start writing the scrip for our show. Ha! 🙂
I don’t like the ‘look’ of most L.A. girls anyway 🙂 Spoken by a true East Coaster haha Also, LOVE the See by Chloe bag. I’m a Chloe fan girl forever x
This is my first Chloe and so far I love it! Totally low-key, which I love.
“I need to put in more effort” –> I think this all the time (living in Miami didn’t help!). And then I actually do it and realize it’s too much of a hassle!
Miami may be the only city with prettier girls than LA! Seriously…I can’t even imagine.
I love this! I’m so similar in always thinking I should make more of an effort but then always talk myself into my usual lazy routine by thinking where am I even going. Basically I stink as a girl. I’m incapable of spending an hour round brushing and curling my hair unless there is a really, really good reason. Oh and don’t get me started on melasma, thank you twins, I’ve got plans to get my cheetah spots lasered off my face at the end of the summer despite the derm telling me they will likely come back. You look chic in all your pictures so your low key routine is working for you.
I’m sorry you share my melasma issue…my cousin did the laser and it didn’t help so I’ve just resigned myself to dealing with the spots. They look terrible in certain light. It’s the weirdest thing.
If you find a solution let me know!!
PS: Love your defined curls. You have no frizz! That’s the key.
I can relate. I always feel so frumpy…perhaps because I so rarely leave the driveway. If you stay at home all day and see no one other than your family, is there a point to wearing makeup and clothes without stains?
I feel frumpy when I’m in sweats but sometimes getting out of them (especially on the weekend) seems insurmountable.
Lovely post. That’s what I always think. When I go out and see all my female friends looking perfect, and I look nothing close to them. I have some make up but it makes me look weird.
I love the bag. I call such bags ” sling bags” & I’m obsessed with them. So easy and a syou coined it ” hands-free”
And…my hair. Well…I can relate.
Hope the rozas are going well.
Be well.
Hope the rozas are going well for you too! Just a few more to go.
Buy yourself a nice bag for Eid. That’s what I did. 🙂
I LOVE the bag. I also love that you went to Barnes & Noble. I hope you got yourself to spend that $325 on books instead. 🙂
I don’t buy TOO many books anymore because I have no space (tiny NYC apartment). Instead I buy a few and BookMooch them, and the rest I get at the library.
Maya on the other hand is keeping B & N in business…
Oh man, I’m here in LA and an actor to boot so I always feel behind on these things. And I’m terrible at shopping as well. What about nails? I don’t even try. I’ll paint them for a shoot occasionally and they are chipped immediately…
I could never be an actress…I admire that you can handle it!
You don’t want to see my nails…
I feel like I could have written this post! 🙂 Every time I think about clothes shopping, it’s like preparing to get braces tightened (last time which was 15 years ago, which tells me how much it’s stuck with me). Besides, you don’t need makeup! I love your new bag 🙂
Thanks for the compliment Jessie!
You really are gorgeous with your perfect skin by the way…you don’t need makeup or clothes to help out.
That bag trumps all the makeup in the world! It’s like the perfect blend of casual and fancy. And as for big hair, don’t care? (gosh I wish that were true, mine’s fried because I’m constantly trying to flat iron the frizz out) 🙂 Happy almost-done-fasting, friend!
Less than a week A! I’m excited for Eid.
Don’t even get me started on my fried hair. 🙂
Ah, my friend, you always make me smile. I love the bag too, but since I just carry around my phone and CC in my back pocket, I have no need for one (stuff just gets lost in there anyhow). I’ll settle for admiring yours from afar.
I admire that you don’t need a purse! I would love to carry just my wallet but I usually have my laptop charger, and my reusable bag, and Maya’s X, Y, and Z.
One day, when I get older, I imagine a bag-free life!
i get inspired by my friends too because they are amazing at makeup, hair, and fashion stuff. im happy with my shorts and tshirt..in an attempt to look more fashionable, i go to sephora every month or so but i always leave with makeup remover or something totally unrelated. i love that purse..anything beige, nude, white, black, grey is my favorite as well 🙂
So you have The Best Hair. Which means that you don’t really need to do anything else to look gorgeous!
And thanks for the compliment – so far I am thrilled with my new bag!
too funny!! that is a fantastic bag so there you go. the humidity right now is killer!
Thanks Daisy!! Hope that you are doing well!
This is hilarious because I so often wonder if I should make more of an effort too. I am over shopping and I barely even wear make up anymore! What has happened to me? Anyway, there is definitely an upside to not giving a damn about all of that “stuff.” I’d rather put the money towards savings and vacation. We just have different priorities!
All of our money goes towards travel…best way to spend it!
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I would hate to go shopping with you. But my wife would love to. I think you were twins separated at birth. I would love you to go shopping with my wife too – so I didn’t have to!
But I don’t like to shop! Not sure I’d be a good shopping partner. Lol
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