The Color on my Cheeks will Signify if Warm Weather is Here to Stay

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Vegas-Goers Beware: Carnival Court = Get-slipped-a-roofie Court

This is a tale of caution.  Its a tale about a someone very close to me who had something very scary and strange happen to them when in Vegas for a friend's stag. For privacy purposes, I'll call him "Devon".

The story takes place at Carnival Court.  For those who haven't been to Vegas, or haven't stumbled upon Carnival Court, its an outdoor casino located at Harrah's.  Its just like any other fabulous Las Vegas casino, except for the fact that the tables and games are all outside.  That means there are few to no cameras in the area to monitor what goes on.
Devon and his friend, the groom, were just sitting and playing blackjack at one of the tables.  Devon remembers that he was up quite a bit.  They had a waitress taking their orders at the table, and bringing them drinks, as per the Vegas culture.  Neither of them had the slightest buzz, and hadn't consumed that many drinks.  The groom recalls that him and Devon were having a regular unabnormal friendly chat, and out of no where Devon got up from his seat, walked a few steps, and then fell face forward towards a set of cement steps, hitting his head on one of those steps, and cracking his brow open.  When he fell it looked as though he was already out pre-fall, because he didn't try to stop himself from hitting the ground.  He was out, cold.  The groom had no idea what to do, he just grabbed Devon's chips, and managed to hail an ambulence to take Devon to a nearby hospital.  The groom said that while he watched Devon in the ambulence, and during their visit in the hospital.  Devon was alive, but unresponsive.  Like in a deep sleep.  The attending physician was "Stitch", the one of the official UFC medics.  They said they couldn't give Devon any painkillers while they stitched him up because they didn't know what his condition was.  While the doctor was stitching Devon up, he didn't even so much as flinch.  As soon as the doctor finished, Devon sat up from the bed, looked at the groom, and said. "What's going on?  Where am I?"  He had no idea about the events that had just transpired.  The groom asked him what the last thing he remembered was, and Devon said that he vaguely remembered playing blackjack back at Carnival Court.  Stitch noted that, unfortunately, this story wasn't the first he has heard of this happening.  He made the suggestion that at places like Carnival Court, where the tables and drinks can't be monitored, that stuff like this happens all the time.  How odd.

When people are warning others to be careful while in the hustle and bustle of Vegas nightlife, its usually telling young women to watch their drinks, and to be careful and weary of strange men.  Of all people, if this can happen to a grown man, who is not even at a bar or nightclub, sitting right next to his friend, it can certainly happen to anyone, in any situation. 

The only explanation of what happened had to have been that someone who had access to his drinks, slipped some sort of sedative into that drink or drinks.  How could this have even happened?  Could it have been a collaborative efffort?  How does one person get away unseen with putting enough something into a drink to sedate a full grown adult male for hours?

Since it was just the two of them, no one else on the trip really bought the "drugging" story.  I think everyone else came to the conclusion that Devon must have been wasted, and not have known it.  But from the groom's recollection, that was not the case.

What is even crazier is that, a friend of Devon's co worker who was just recently in Vegas said that the EXACT same thing had happened to him at Carnival Court.  Same story, was up quite a bit of money at a table, and then blacked out.  Unbelievable!

And because there is no video surveillance, who's to say that anything illegal or out of the ordinary happened at all?

Does this story sounds familiar?  Has this or something like this happened to someone you know?  Tell me about it in the comments section below.  We need to get the word out there.  Vegas isn't all fun and lollipops.

My Decade Long Love Affair with the Cat-eye

What is the "cat-eye"?  Well like the above photo suggests, its an eyeliner technique where one would extend the black liner past where your lash line stops, in a sweeping motion to create a winged effect.  I'm not sure why its called a cat-eye, I personally don't think it resemebles a cat's eye, but some may see it that way.  It reminds me more of like a sultry Egyptian goddess, like Cleopatra.  She was a sexy (sexy was a term that was used very loosely during her reign; paleo-osteology has recently revealed that she had a hooked nose and was actually quite hideous) Egyptian royal who slept her way to the top.  A young Madonna would have been a modern day Cleo.

As a forewarning, the following is just my opinion of what works for me.  Of course I'm sure all of you out there have had much success with whatever products, techniques, or styles that you choose, and in no way am I downplaying, or telling you that your way is incorrect.  Your way is very much correct if it works for you.  Everyone is entitled to their own way of doing things, so just relax, and have a fun read.

I'm ashamed to admit that my make up application routine hasn't changed very much since my younger days.  My techniques have gotten cleaner, and more precise.  The way I apply colour, should I choose to, have been perfected.  And the type of coverage I choose to wear on a daily basis, or for an evening look have evolved with time.  What has stayed the same, is my choice to use jet black liquid eyeliner to create a cat-eye look.  Its simple, its timeless, and I've been doing it for so long I'm a total pro.  I guess its true what they say about women who are stuck in the style of the year they graduate high school.  I'd like to think I've come a lot further since then. 

This make up style is clean, crisp, and is always trendy (or so I believe, at least).  It can be made to be built upon from a casual look, to an evening look, to a dramatic over the top look.

The cat-eye will suit almost everyone who attempts it.  For me, I think that it really opens up my eyes, and elongates the edges, creating a big opened wide doe-eyed look.  Without it, I can see that it looks like my eyes are smaller, less defined, and tired looking.  Maybe its because its the way I've done my make up for so long, I can't picture myself without it. 

How my cat-eye has been so successful for me for so long:

Its definitely endured the test of time, and I believe its all because of the product I use.  The only liquid eyeliner I use, and have used for the last decade is CHANEL Liquid Liner in onyx.  Not the one in the stylo pen, I'm talking the one that consists of a little pot filled with liquid coupled with an ultra fine paint brush.  The finest brush I believe that's out there.  I know when you hear CHANEL, you're thinking, "Oh come on, I'm sure I could get an eyeliner just as good for less."  Well, for about $35 a tube, I suppose it is pretty pricey, but if you're an eyeliner perfectionist who expects a lot from their eyeliner, like staying power, along with the blackest of black color, then its not too much.  Over the years, I've strayed a few times, wanting to try out different brands, or different eyeliner products, but none have come even close to the quality you get with this product.  I don't know if its still listed as a product on their online make up site, or if its still displayed at the CHANEL make up counters, but if you ask for it, they certainly still have it. 

What I've tried:
Pencil -- With pencil eyeliners you don't get the sharp edge.  You don't get the easy glide on.  You don't get the staying power, and you certainly don't get the dramatic black color.  You pretty much get a smudged greyish line over your lid.  And it definitely makes a terrible cat-eye, because the edge is dull, you don't achieve that sharp winged effect.

Liquid Pens -- With some pens you do get a very fine tip, allowing a clean sweep for a cat-eye.  But what I found with all pens, no matter what the beauty expert preaches, is that you don't get the black-out black color.  Again, its just a diluted black, which is still black, but when compared to something that is actually black, its not up to par at all. 

Gel -- My experience with gel eyeliners has only been recent.  My understanding is that its pretty new, but that's just because I just found out about it.  It could have easily been around for just as long as all the others.  This gel one by Maybelline was the worst of the bunch.  You get a little paint pot full of gel, and a not fine enough brush.  The idea is that you dip the brush into the gel, clean what extra globules you get off of the sides of the brush, and apply.  Easier said then done.  The liner goes on inconsistently.  You get like a clumpy line that's too thick, or once the clump has completely rubbed off of the brush onto your eye lid, you get no line at all.  I powered through, and managed to do both eyes.  Again, the color wasn't dark enough.  And as an added bonus, because its a gel, it never really sets or dries.  So all day long, its slowly being smudged and rubbed around, creating not a cat-eye, but more of a raccoon eye.

Other Liquids -- The problem with other liquid liners have been the brush size.  If its not fine enough, its not good enough.  And of course again, the inability to create a long lasting jet black.

The solid routine:
My cat-eye wouldn't be a success without all the other products I use as a part of my make up routine.  It is truly the sum of its parts. 

1. Never too much mascara. 

If anything is just as important as the eyeliner, its the mascara.  I can cake this bad boy on, because I need to.  Being of asian decent, I suffer from what is known as being eyelash challenged.  They are short, and scarce.  I've been on a long search for the perfect mascara.  A mascara that can build and build and build if needed, adds length, adds volume and thickess, keeps the lashes separated and doesn't clump, and doesn't form a hard crust and fall onto my face during the day.  I know that's a lot to ask of for a mascara, and up until now, I've always gotten so close.  Today, and for the past year I finally found the perfect mascara.  Its by Benefit and its called "Bad Gal Mascara".  This mascara has everything that I just listed.  Its even soft when it drys, so when you run your fingers across your lashes its not hard and crumbles.  I glob on what I can to achieve my desired look, and then clean the mess around my eyes off with a q-tip that I dip in eye make up remover.

2.  The eyeliner:

I dip my brush into the pot, and just apply the liner as close as I can to the lash line.  Once I get to the edge I continue on, until its as far and thick as I'd like it.  I'm not worried if its not perfect and kind of sloppy, because afterwards I just run a q-tip under a very small amount of water, and clean off the excess and shape the cat-eye into the look I'm trying to achieve.  Now, I know this convention may not work if you're someone who prefers to put their eyeshadow on before the liner, so unfortunately this technique will only work if you put your shadow on afterwards, or like me, you don't usually wear shadow at all.  I've got what they call a "monolid", another unfortunate asian attribute I inherited, where you don't have the double fold on the eyelid where eyeshadow can be placed.  I just don't bother most of the time.

3.  The rest of my face:

As I mentioned, the rest of my make up regiment has changed a lot over the years, and even recently it has.  Up until last year, I was wearing full coverage everyday.  Sounds crazy for me now when I look back, but it was actually a part of my daily make up routine.  I didn't realize how much it attributed to my face breaking out until I made the switch to transculent powder.  Full coverage is heavy, and although it covers up your entire face creating a smooth consistent canvas, it also creates a very unnatural look.  For me at least.  It looks great on everyone who wears it of course, and that's the whole point.  If you have mild blemishes, or skin imperfections, I find that transculent powder and concealer does the trick.  I use Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage (to the right).  Its an award winning concealer, that consists of two concealer colors that you blend together with a brush right before application.  This dual color system allows for a more precise color match, and also an easy transition from your winter complexion color to your summer one, all in the same compact.  Its creamy and smooth, and if you've got the right color match, it will conceal the shit of your imperfections.  No lie.  Its a work in progress though, so if you decide to try it out, be willing to work at it.  As for the transculent powder, I use Laura Mercier Transculent Powder (to the left).  Its the finishing step to her "Flawless Face" routine (the Secret Camouflage is a part of that routine too), and its the finishing step to mine as well.  I do the full Flawless face, with full coverage and all, if I'm going out for the evening and need a solid-stay-all-night-and-never-smudge-or-crease look.  I just take the Laura Merceir powder puff to apply the powder and I'm done.  I little Palmers Cocoa Butter for the lips, I'm ready for the day.  Light, fast, and simple.  Oh yes, I'm that person applying what appears to be a gluestick to their lips.

A decade is certainly a long time, and its crazy when I look back and think that I've been using one product everyday of my life for so long.  Man, I feel old.

My Own Tulled Journey

So I'm sure you're all (and by all I mean its likely that its only my two friends who are reading this, and those same two friends already know the story because they were there most of the time) dying to know how I came about finding the wedding dress of my dreams.  Well now you can stop biting your nails in much anticipation, because I'm about to get into all the nitty gritty details.  Step by step, I will take you back in time along my journey to find the dress of my dreams.  I warn you, this story is not for the faint of heart.  And its really long.  I'll indicate where you can take a quick refreshments breaks.

1. Online Browsing

I began browsing for dresses long before I got engaged.  Its something that I've been doing probably since high school, just for fun, aiding in my youthful daydreams of what my actual wedding day and dress would be like.  It was such a far away fantasy.  But now, its real.  I remember going through bridal websites, picking out all the ones that I loved, and thinking, "I love this dress so much, I really hope this dress will still be around when I actually get married."  But as with all fashion designers, and fashion lines, every season the styles change, the times change, and your own opinions about fashions evolve.  So I'm sure what I loved then, probably isn't what I would love now.  That's the beauty of fashion, it evolves, and you evolve alongside it, or vice verse.

2. Choosing a Sillouette

I consider myself very fashion forward, without going over board.  I have simple tastes.  When looking at wedding dresses, I gravitated towards a simple sillouette.  I like dresses that hug the body, and show off what slim figure I have.  I knew that I didn't want a big poofy ball gown, or an obnoxiously long train.  I liked the idea of lace, and off white colors like ivory, or blush, or champagne.  I picked out gowns that were a-line, sheath, or trumpet. 

An a-line is fitted at the bodice and flows out to the ground, with an unbroken line (resembling the outline of an uppercase A).

This cartoon drawing is kind of the extreme of a-lines.  The one I had in mind falls closer to the body, but you can definitely build up the "A" shape with as much crinoline as one needs.

 Sheath fits very closely to the contours of the body. It has a straight skirt with no waist.

Trumpet fits closely to the body until the midhip and then widens gradually to the hem (resembling the mouth of a trumpet).  Often confused with mermaid, but trumpet flairs from mid-hip, whereas mermaid flairs below the knee.

3.  Deciding on a Budget

Budget is one of the most important aspect that must be hashed out with the bride, bride and groom, or bride and bride's parents BEFORE you start shopping for dresses.  One of the cardinal rules that they preech on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" reality show is that you should never try on dresses that are above your price range.  If you do, it will only result in heartarche and dissappointment, always.  Especially if you cannot stray from your original budget.  I understand its hard to control your dress trying on urges, but its really best to lay down a maximum price point, and stay there. 

I learned very quickly that there is that perfect dress for anyone at any price range if you're willing to look.  When it was my turn to decide on what my budget would be, I realized that it would be quite low.  I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find those fabulous gowns that I've had my heart set on since I was a teenager.  But alas, I didn't have a choice.  I had to start looking at dresses that I knew I could afford.  So I had to say goodbye to the ideas of Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang.

I first started off by finding bridal salons in my area.  Most bridal salons have websites that list which designers they carry, and some even list what the price ranges are.  Once I had some designer names, I went to almost each designers website to look are their wedding gown collections. I came across so many designers that had such memorial dresses at reasonable prices.  All unique in their own way, and all intricate with so much detail they could easily be mistaken for high end priced gowns.  I couldn't believe how beautiful some of the dresses were.  I was no longer discouraged.  Some designers that stood out and were available at the bridal salons in my city were Pattis, Pronovias, La Sposa, Lazaro, Blue by Enzoani, and my favorite, Watters. 

4.  Narrowing Down the Dresses

So after months of browsing for dresses online, I finally narrowed down my favorites.  My first place choice was a beautiful Lazaro sweetheart a-line, with the perfect lace accents in all the right places.  There were also a few Watters gowns that I had in mind, but there was one in particular that stood out, and that I deemed a very close second pick.  It was a straight across strapless trumpet gown.  The bodice had english netting that criss crossed across the front, with lace underneath.  The bottom was simple tulle, that just flowed outwards from your hips.  Its very difficult to explain such intricate detils of such a dress, so I know it'll be hard to picture.

Now that my choices were narrowed down, I called the salon that carried both gowns, S2, to see if those dresses were in stock.  To my surprise and delight, they had my first pick Lazaro gown there.  I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get in there to try it on.  The dress of my dreams at my disposal.  She quoted me a price of around $3000 I think.  I don't remember, it was so long ago.

5.  Time to Hit the Shops

I didn't actually get into the store until about a few weeks later.  A friend and I stopped in there one afternoon, they don't take appointments, and luckily for us there was no one else there.  I asked about the Lazaro dress, and the lady told me they had just sold the sample a few days ago, and wouldn't be getting in another one.  Womp-wahhhhh.  Dreams, crushed.  She said they could still order it, but that's if I was willing to full out buy the dress without trying it on, and not be able to return it if I didn't work out.  I was not willing to do such a drastic thing, especially considering that this was my first time at a bridal salon, and I hadn't even tried any dresses on at all yet.  Okay, so that Lazaro dress was now out of the running.  I still had those Watters dresses I liked too.  The lady then proceeded to tell me that most of their Watters gowns, including the ones I wanted to try on, were away at a trunk show and wouldn't be back for a few weeks.  So far, this day wasn't going as planned.  We still pulled a few dresses and I did end up trying some on that day, but didn't leave with any emotional connection to any of them.  As you'll soon find out, retailers selling samples, and dresses being away at trunkshows will be the theme of my dress buying experience.

Next Up, S2's sister store Sonia's.  S2 stands for Sonia's second store, I presume.  Sonia is this amazing seamstress who is well known for her ability to alter wedding dresses. or so the legend goes.  What's really great about both of these stores is that when you purchase a wedding dress from either of them, Sonia will alter the dress at no cost.  Now that's a good deal.  Sonia's had a smaller selection than S2, but the designer names were all still there.  I pulled a handful of dresses, and had my bridesmaids pull some that they liked too.  All were just okay.  Then I decided to take a look at their clearance rack.  Everything on that rack didn't look like much to be honest, probably why they were on that rack, but for some reason I was drawn to this one champagne colored lace dress hanging there.  It didn't look very flattering on the hanger, so I'm not really sure why I even wanted to try it on.  When I did, it fit like a glove.  It was everything I wanted in a dress.  It was form fitting, had a lace overlay, and the color was fantastic.  The neckline was a lace halter, and was so different and unique.  I loved the way it made my figure look, and I was very drawn to it.  Plus it was on sale!  I was almost ready to walk away with the dress.  So very close.  The price was perfect on top of the fact that it seemed to be the perfect dress.  Although I really loved it, I decided to still sit on the idea for a bit.  I asked the lady to give me a call if someone else was showing any interest.

6.  Saying "Yes"

The next day, I was still thinking about the champagne dress.  But I also knew that I wanted to try on those Watters gowns that were away at that trunkshow.  I decided to call S2 just to see when they'd be back.  When I phoned, they said that they were already back.  It was mid afternoon, and so I rushed downtown before the store closed to finally try on those much awaited dresses.  Again, no one else was there, so I was able to get into those dresses right away.  I tried my second dress pick, and fell in love.  It was the one that I had wanted and it looked great on me.  I loved it so much from the pictures, and the fact that I had so much want attached to this dress made my decision very easy.  I tried on a couple more dresses, but that Watters one was the one.  The price was smack dab in my price range, so really it couldn't have got any better.  And so I told told her I was ready to say, "Yes."  I came back the next day with one of my bridesmaids to get measured, and to show her the dress.  She loved it so much, she cried.  I had to put down a 50% deposit to have the dress made to order, and had to pay the balance when the dress came in.  This is a standard for most bridal salons, I believe.  They gave me an estimated arrival date of early January.

7.  Its Finally Here!

After waiting only 3 short months, (short because I am a full student, and so that 3 months just flew by)and not having looked at any more dresses, I finally got the phone call saying my dress had arrived.  I was so excited to go pick it up, and actually put on the dress in a size that is closer to mine, without having all those clothespin holding it on. 

When I got to the store, and she brought out the dress in its nice package, I was so antsy.  I got to try it on before we fully packaged it up, and when I put it on, it was still a little too big, but that's expected, and that's what alterations are for. I stepped out onto the podium, in front of the floor to ceiling mirrors, and looked at myself with the dress on.  The salesclerk asked , "So, do you still love it?"  And I remember saying, "Of course," but also remember thinking, "I guess I don't have a choice now..."

8.  The Second Guessing

The second guessing was all my fault.  After a few months of having the dress in my possession, and trying it on a few times at home, I for some stupid reason decided to go onto the Watters website.  I'm not sure what I was trying to accomplish, and I certainly didn't have any type of motive or goal in mind as to why I wanted to visit the website, but I went.  I stumbled upon an absolutely stunning wedding gown in their more expensive line.  This dress literally blew me away and back, and cast doubt on my original dress decision.  This dress was so powerful!  It had all these amazing elements that my dress didn't even come close to having.  Compared to this new dress, mine was a plain jane.  I was now in a state of panic.  What was I going to do?  I already had a wedding dress, yet I loved this one so much more than I remember ever loving the one I have.  I could really picture myself walking down the aisle in this dress, and I felt that when my guests would see me in this dress, they would be in awe at how intricate and unique this dress was, and how its like nothing they've ever seen.  I thought this dress embodied everything about me more than the other one.  Boy was this quite the dilemma.  I frantically messaged my maid of honour telling her what a pickle I was in emotionally, and physically with this dress situation.

She settled me down, and helped us both to come to the solution that I should go and try this dress on, to get it out of my mind.  It wasn't so much that I thought I may want it more, it was more of a psychological torture for myself, wanting to know if this dress could look better than the dress I already have.  It haunted me, and I needed to just try it on!  She assured me that if I did choose to get the new dress, we could somehow work out a way to sell my first dress.  And if it didn't look good, at least I'd finally know and could go on happily. 

S2 had the dress in stock, and so we went to the store a few days after I called to finally try on this monster.  When we got there, and explained to the lady who had sold me my first dress that we were there to try on this other dress, said that the dress we were looking for was away at a trunkshow.  Surprise, surprise.  She was wondering if I was looking to purchase a second dress, and I told her I wanted to try this dress on because I loved it so much, and I might want to buy it.  She said it'd be back the following week, and to stop by then.  Damn!  I have to wait another torturous week.

So a week goes by, and I call just before I'm headed out to door to go downtown to the store.  The lady says she'd have to check to see if the dress came in and would call me back.  I went for a coffee while I waited anxiously, because I was ready to go.  I even told my friend to meet me there.  I finally got a call back saying that the dress was still away, but that it would be back the next week.  I was frustrated, but there was again, nothing for me to do.

So another week goes by, and I call again only to have the store clerk tell me that it will now be gone for another month.  She said she had my phone number, and would give me a call as soon as it came in, which would be in early February.  That was the last time I ever heard from her.  I felt like they were kind apathetic and brushing me off because they knew I already had a dress, and so they must have thought I was just being annoying, and wasn't really a serious buyer.  That's just how I felt.  Although I'm pretty sure you all think I'm bat shit crazy at this point.

What did come from this experience was that I could no longer stand the wedding dress that I had.  I realized now that I just settled.  I had a very narrow view and idea of what I wanted, and thought that that was the dress because it was the only one I was looking at.  When looking back, I don't know if I really did have the "wow" moment.  Maybe that's just what I think to make myself feel better about getting a dress that I no longer like, I don't know.  All I knew was that I couldn't walk down the aisle feeling the way I did about the dress. And so...

** Refreshment break **

9.  The Search Begins Again

I was now on the search for a new wedding gown.  This time, I wasn't going to settle.  I don't really know how the situation escalated, but I was now browsing at dresses that were 4 or 5 times more expensive than my original dress, and I wasn't ready to back down.  I now had my heart set on this amazingly beautiful gown (not the one to the right).  The did some research and found out there was one store in town that carried this dress.  It was Evalina Couture.  This shop carries higher end designers, as mentioned in a previous article. 

10.  New Wedding Gown >> Chanel Handbags

The next few weeks I was doing all sorts of crazy things to try and accomodate my new budget.  It especially sucked, because I was still sitting on my old dress that I had already spent $1300 on, and now I was trying to get another dress that was 5 times more.  I made the radical decision to get rid of some of my most beloved possessions in order to afford this dress.  I figured that I only get one wedding day and one wedding dress to wear, and I can purchase a designer handbag at any point in my life.  That was my own justification at least.  So the wedding dress trumped everything else, and although I hated having to sell some of most favorite items, I decided that it was for the greater good. 

I made an appointment when I was ready, and when I called the store, Evalina told me they had sold the sample of the dress I wanted to try on!  Oh my god!  I went into extreme panic mode, and couldn't believe my luck, again!  She said it was an emergency, and bride had come in looking for a dress to wear for her April wedding, and so they sold her the sample so she could have it in time.  Evalina said should would have done the same for anyone else, including me.   I was driving home, on the phone with my fiance with tears streaming down my face.  I didn't have the dress I wanted, and now I didn't have the items I had to sell to get that dress.  I was discouraged at this point.

11. Off to the Shops for a Second Run
I kept my appointment, and went anyways.  I wasn't sure what I was going to find, if anything at all.  I had even contemplated flying out to Vancouver to a store that carried the gown that I wanted out there.  That wouldn't have been a very smart or budget friendly idea, and as understanding as my fiance was being, that may have been pushing it.  My two bridesmaids came with me, and having already been through this before, I was expecting the same old go around.  But then I got to the store, it was totally different.  Evalina created this totally different dress shopping experience that I wasn't aware was possible.  She greeted us at the door, and walked us into her beautiful artfully furnished boutique decorated with vintage furniture, floor to ceiling mirrors, and racks of beautiful wedding gowns.  We sat down, and she asked me how I pictured my wedding.  I got the feeling that this was going to be a very personalized visit.  Not like at S2 or Sonia's at all.  She pulled out all of these gorgeous dresses that she thought would fit the concepts and ideas that I told her about.  The gowns were stunning.  The salon was unreal.  It was really a wonderful experience.  I tried on a total of maybe 5 or 6 dresses. 

12. The One
The second dress that I put on wasn't like anything I had ever even thought about.  The sillouette was completely different from what I pictured myself in, and it truly took all of us back.  It was elegant, simple, understated, modern, yet had minimalistically unique features that all together made this dress so much more than anything I could have ever dreamed up.  I didn't know dresses this beautiful existed.  She gave me a veil, and bouquet, and that totally sealed the deal.  Evalina said we could change the proportions of the different sections of the dress so that it flattered my height better, and would of course add a bustle.  I tried on the other dresses we pulled, but in the end, it was that dress that truly gave me the feeling of true bridal beauty.  It was a feeling that I had never encountered before with a wedding dress, and so I knew this dress was the one. 
She told me I didn't have to decided right away, but I knew deep down inside that this dress was the one I'd been searching for.  Its the one I picture myself walking down the aisle with, its the one I pitcure my guests just being comepletely blown away by.  It embodies me, my style, and my personality.  It is truly a vision.
I told her I was ready to buy it, and because it was my first visit to the salon and I decided on a dress, she gave me a 10% discount.  They like decisive brides.  Plus, she said that's about what the cost of alterations would be, so its just a way of them to help out with that.  They have a seamstress in house too, and Evalina herself is actually a wedding gown designer, so you know you'll get what you want in the dress alterations.

I'm so happy that I finally got the dress that I wanted, and I can assure you that this will be the last.  All I do is look at the pictures of this dress, and honestly no other dress can compare.  I've still been browsing, but I don't have that insecurity I did with that other dress.  When I look at dresses now, I think that none of them come close to my dress.  Its a great feeling, and I can't wait to wear it down the aisle.  I would have loved to desribe the dress, but I don't want to give anything away for people that may be at the wedding.  You'll just have to wait and see.

And now for the Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses plug:
I mentioned earlier that I was trying to sell my first wedding dress, and I still am looking for a buyer.  Click on this link, and it will bring you to the listing.  If you know someone who is getting married and looking for an inexpensive wedding gown, please direct them to either me or this ad.  I need all the advertising I can get!  Remember, this dress has never been worn or altered.  Its still got the tags, and still in its original packaging.

Get the Wedding Dress of Your Dreams

Ahhh the dress.  Some might argue its one of the most important decisions a bride must make.  Each bride is different, and everyone or every couple have their own ideas as to what they want their wedding day to be like.  Some brides want it all.  Elegance, extravagance, bejewelled tiaras, and septors.  Okay, maybe not septors, but you know what I'm getting at.  Others couldn't give a rat's ass.  And then there are many inbetween.  I haven't decided which bride I am yet, but I'm pretty sure my fiance and friends would say I'm the bride that wants it all.  I want perfection.  I want my one wedding day to be a day where all of my dreams come to fruition.  One of those dreams is to look a true bride.  What does that mean?  Well, it means different things to different people, and for me it means that I want to look like true beauty.  The most beautiful, elegant, and sophistocated I could ever look.  My hair, my face, and of course, my dress need to be the pinnacle of what the human mind can concieve as wedding bliss encapsulated and projected onto a woman's body.

Its easy to look at wedding dresses.  You flip through the magazine pages, scan website photos, and point your figure at the dresses you love the most on the bulimic model bodies as tall as skyscrapers.  Simple.  Well, I guess if you have a bulimic skyscraper model body then it is that simple, but most woman don't.  Most woman are anything but, so it actually isn't as simple as seeing a dress you like in a photo and thinking that you'll look the same in the same dress.  If that were the case, no one would need to go from store to store trying on hundreds of dresses until they found the one.  Ever watch 'Say Yes to the Dress' on TLC?  They make it look so easy.

Here's my advice from my wedding dress search experience.  Some of this won't be new, and most of it will be a reiteration of what many have said in the past. 

Keep an Open Mind

Don't trust the pictures in the magazines.  You MUST try on a wedding dress.  I'm guilty of contemplating at one or two points in my wedding dress search to just buy the dress that I think I love that I saw online.  I'm one of those people who are constantly looking through pictures of dresses.  I was looking at dresses before I even got engaged.  Oh like you don't do it.  So when I got engaged, I thought I knew what kind of dress I wanted.  I brought this idea that I thought I wanted around with me everywhere.  When trying on dresses I kept thinking, "No, I need this certain look.  It looks the best.  I like it the most."  When looking back, I've realized what a blindfold it was.  Just holding me back from trying on dresses outside the scope of what I thought I wanted.  I don't want to be too desciptive about what I did and didn't like because I don't want to give anything away about my actual dress.  So bare with me if you think it sounds like I'm being too vague.

Bridal Salons

Walking into a bridal salon can be very overwhelming at first or second, or even third.  There are so many dresses just hanging there, waiting for you to try them on.  Keep an open mind, and don't hold yourself down to a certain theme or concept.  If you truly want the dress of your dreams, you must be willing to work for it.  There are gowns for every body type, and every budget type.  You want to go somewhere where they take appointments.  This may sound like kind of a bummer, but this is the only way you'll be gaurenteed one on one attention from a bridal consultant.  And trust me, it makes a huge difference.  Why wouldn't you want the focus of your wedding dress buying experience to be all on you?  Its just you, your friends, and an experienced bridal liason to take your words and transform them to something you can put in your body.  They are there to help make all your wedding dress dreams come true. 

Of course, if you need to look absolutely everwhere, you've got to visit the salons that don't take appointments too.  I wouldn't suggest going to a non appointment salon on a weekend.  If they don't take appointments, its a zoo.

I visited three salons.  S2, Sonia's (the sister store to S2), and Evalina Couture.  Here were my experiences at each location:

S2 - Very posh store, with beautiful dresses.  It is here, and at Sonia's where you'll find brands like Watters, Lazaro, and Pronovias, just to name a few.  I found this place, because it was listed as one of the only places in western Canada to carry any Watters, or Lazaro gowns.   They operate by walk-in basis only, and are not open Tuesdays or Sundays.  You can imagine why Saturdays are bridezilla Saturdays.  Of course there is more staff on a Saturday afternoon, but it can be a bit of a wait of you've got bad timing.  That goes for during the week too.

Sonia's - Its that homely little two storey house in Bridgeland that you drive by on Edmonton Trail.  It doesn't look like much, but they actually carry some very high end designer gowns there too.  Since Sonia's and S2 are sister stores, they share most of their inventory.  They only accept walk-in clients as well, so its the same deal as S2. 

Evalina Couture - This store is known for carrying the higher end names in bridal fashions, such as Nicole Miller, Melissa Sweet, Badgley Mischka, Priscilla of Boston, and even Claire Pettibone! Another brand her store houses is the infamous and synonamous with all things wedding dress -- Vera Wang.  The only store in Alberta to carry Vera Wang, and one of the very few in western Canada.  This is an appointment only store.  You get one hour with Evalina herself.  The store is beautiful.  Its got this vintage feel, with rustic furniture, and artistically places racks of dresses, with wall to wall mirrors that stick out from behind the dresses every now again. 

There are of course a myriad of other bridal salons in the Calgary area and for me, I didn't need to shop any further, but again I say, each bride is different.  All salons carry completely difference dresses, but you're gaurenteed to find what you're looking for if you're willing to look deep into the depths of those racks.

Budget

Don't think that you can't look amazing because you don't have a dress that costs the same as a car or a house.  Its ridiculous.  Designers know that brides are on budgets, and most have an expensive line and an inexpensive line.  What's the difference?  Well I read on the Watters website that for their two lines, the difference in price is due to the different materials used.  But style is never sacrificed, and if you go to their website, you'll see it first hand.  Most of their most beautiful gowns are in the inexpensive line.  Even Vera Wang has realized the state of the economy, and had just introduced her White by Vera Wang collection.  Its her signature bridal style but at only a fraction of the cost.  And when say 'a fraction', I mean a fraction.  These dresses range from only $800 to maybe $1300 at the most.  Considering most of her gowns from her actual collection start at $5000 and only increase exponentially from there, her White collection will be a steal.  Only available at a David's Bridal of course.  I think the closest David's Bridal to us will be in Spokane Washington.  There might be a few opening up out in eastern Canada too.

You Can Get That Expensive Gown!

What could I be possibly talking about?  I was just ranting for the last several paragraphs about how you don't need to spend a gazillion dollars on a wedding dress.  And my previous statements still hold.  You don't.  But, there's a way in which you can, if you really really really are dying for that dream Vera Wang-esque gown.  There are two options (that I am aware of) to do so:

1) Ever thought of selling your wedding dress after your wedding day?  Well you should if you want that expensive gown.  I understand that there is a lot of sentimental value that is attached to something like the dress that you got married in.  Its an emotional keepsake to have with you forever, tucked away inside of a vaccuum sealed box that you can never open to look at, or expose to the light of day ever again once it gets professionally drycleaned.  Your daughter may some day want to where that same dress.  Okay...let's put you in that daughter's position.  Let's be completely honest, and normal.  Would you want to wear the 80's inspired turtleneck, full sleeved, puffy shouldered white wedding gown that your mom sported back in the day?  Really?  With that hook/loop like thing that's connected to the end of the sleeves where you put your middle finger through?  Really?  No.  So sell it!  There are tons of accredited popular used wedding dress websites out there for brides looking to sell or buy wedding dresses.  Give the dress of your dreams to someone else for half the cost.  Sure it has sentimental value, but its also got cash value.

2)  Buy a used a dress.  See above sentence.  There are tons of pre owned dresses that people are looking to get rid of.  By no means are they cheap, old, classless, or dirty.  Most are expensive designer ones, almost half off or more, where the previous owner is looking to sell for the same reasons I mentioned earlier. 

And in saying so, my favorite used wedding dress site is Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses.  This by far is the most popular used wedding dress site out there.  Tons of dresses from all designers, at all price ranges.  Get rid of that negative used dress stigma.  Its the smarter way to buy or sell.

The Final Decision

How do you know when you've found the dress?  Well, most brides will say that when they knew, they just knew.  Okaaaaay.  Articulatively, that doesn't really help.  Is 'articulatively' even a word?  Doesn't matter.  Again, this is just from my own experience.  Never settle.  If you ever get even the slightest inkling that you're not sure, or you might as well just get this damned dress because you're too tired of looking.  Stop!  Hammer time!  Then walk away.  The best thing to do is walk away from the situation.  Don't ever feel like you have to settle for a dress.  Love the dress.  Try to picture yourself without the dress.  Can you see yourself walking down the aisle in the dress?  Feel 100% confident that is it truly the dress.  When you're there in the moment, its extremely difficult to tell how you're actually feeling about the dress, so thats why its so important for you to take a breath elsewhere if you're confused, and unsure. 

If you have that 'Say Yes to the Dress' moment, where you and everyone else starts crying its probably the one.  Know your emotions, and know when to say 'no'.  NEVER SETTLE.  Settling will leave you having to fork out more money that you probably shouldn't spend on the dress that is actually the dress of your dreams, and also leave you stuck with a dress you can no longer stand.  Nothing feels worse than realizing that you hate your wedding dress. 

When you do find that dress, another very important pseudo step to follow is to STOP LOOKING!  Erase all the photos you have in your 'Wedding Dresses' albums on your computer, and never browse through wedding dress sites ever again.  That's it.  You don't want to poke the bear, and start second guessing your decision.  Stay confident, and feel confident. 

If You're Not in the Business of Running Over School Children...

One of my ultimate supreme pet peeves are people who do not slow down in school zones.  I, being someone that lives on a road where the school zones are in effect all day long, witness the sheer ignorance of drivers during 95% of the drives I have whilst in this zone designated for school.

 There are an alarming number of misinformed drivers out there that think that school zone hours are still the same as when they first wrote their drivers test.  WRONG!

According to the City of Calgary Traffic Tips Booklet, school zones are in effect for the full 730 - 1700.  That's 8.5 hours, Monday to Friday during the school year.  Not those three separate times in the morning, during lunch, and when schools out.

So for those who have been confused, may know someone who is confused, or would like to bring your car to an abupt stop to step out of your vehicle and tell the person behind you who is riding your ass to go fist themselves because you're going 30 km/h, now you are fully educated on this matter can be confident that it you who is in the right.

Goodbye Waxing, Hello Threading

Okay, so I lied at the end of the last post.  I'm going to take a wedding discussion detour and talk about threading. 

Strands Hair Design and Esthetics says:

Basic factsCalled kite in Arabic and fatlah in Egyptian, it's a less common method in the West for removing hair at the root, used primarily on facial hair. Rows of stray hairs are yanked out with twists of cotton thread.

Historical overview
The history of threading is not clear; with some claiming it begin in Turkey. Threading hair is so basic to women in the Middle East and India that it can be compared to girls learning to braid each other's hair as children. Traditionally, threading is used on the entire face, including upper lip, chin, eyebrows, sideburns and cheeks. Here in Calgary, salons performing it can be found in the neighborhoods. Most Canadian cosmetologists are not trained in the procedure.

Description
The practitioner holds one end of the cotton thread in his or her teeth and the other in the left hand. The middle is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The practitioner then uses the loop to trap a series of unwanted hairs and pull them from the skin. There are also devices made that can hold the thread during the procedure.

Advantages
Inexpensive, fast, neat, considered less painful, less red skin than plucking for many. Good for eyebrows and facial hair. Good for ingrown hair. Results can last up to two to four weeks.

Disadvantages
Hard to find a professional practitioner outside large cities. Can be painful and cause itching afterwards. Skin reddening or puffiness can be experienced by some.

Just keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their opinion and each individual has their own personal preference in terms of their own personal hygiene.  I've tried waxing, plucking, and dare I say, shaving my eyebrows!  I know!  You can foreshame me right meow.  To be honest I actually haven't waxed or plucked my eyebrows in over a year.  My sister introduced me to these little razor blades on an end of a stick, where their purpose isn't actually for using on your entire eyebrow, but just to get rid of those little hairs you miss or can't get after plucking.  Well, I took advantage of this, and used it to shape my eyebrows.  I got lazy, and didn't feel like plucking.  This seemed to take a lot less time, and do the same trick.  I am learning now, that allowing myself to let my eyebrows go was a giant mistake.  My eyebrows were a complete disaster up until this morning.  I was in desparate need of an eyebrow overhaul.  My friend Eleese, who has the best eyebrows I've seen recommended I try what she does.  She says she gets her eyebrows maintained by having them threaded every few weeks, and doing the occassional tint to keep them in top shape, literally and figuratively.  She suggested the salon Strands, as mentioned above, and said this lady named Pam is the best. 

My first session was today, and I think it was a success.  Pam was outraged that I had been shaving my eyebrows, and so our long journey to eyebrow recovery will begin.  She told me to never touch my eyebrows ever again, to leave it all in her hands.  Will do!  Whilst threading, she gave me all sorts of pointers and was spilling out facts about threading and why is it the better option.  I don't remember what she said, because I was too busy trying not to cry from the pain.  She warned me that this first session I would feel the most pain, because I had been shaving my eyebrows, and because it was my first time having this done.  She assured me that the following sessions would become less and less painful because after threading the hair grows back finer.  Maybe I misunderstoof her, so that may or may not be true.  After the threading, she tinted my eyebrows just to fill in the patchy spots and create a more of a consistent color thoughout the eyebrow.  I'll need to come back a few more times before she can achieve optimal eyebrow awesome-ness.  I'm looking forward to great eyebrows.