Haiku Wednesday

I got a pumpkin
and I put my cat ears on,
Happy Halloween!

XOLily

You look beautiful.

Purples and reds for fall. How iconic.
Photo by Charley Praither.

Skin is in.

Radiant skin, that is.
Glowing skin.
Bright skin.

(Not shining, though. Use powder to get rid of shine.)

The big trend at Nordstrom's Fall Cosmetic Trend Show was radiant skin.

Fresh, young and flawless skin matches the wintery air along with a crisp red lip. And maybe an ombre eye shadow.







The trend show, like always, was enourmous amounts of fun. Liz, Charley and I woke up before dawn and headed down to rainy Seattle. We enjoyed the rest of the day learning makeup tricks, gathering our free samples, getting facials and having our makeup done.

Liz and I and Grace Face. (Pre make-over)
Photo by Charley Praither.

Charley getting his Philosphy oxegyn peel.
Photo by Charley. 

The loot. Red patent leather goody
bag loaded with free samples.

Makeup done by the lovely ladies at the
Yves Saint Laurent makeup counter. 

We ended the day with pork buns at Pike Place, Cupcake Royale and a little shopping.
It was fabulous.

XOLily

Haiku Wednesday

There's a grumpy cat,

famous on the internet

and adorable.

I wish my kitties

had a constant frowney face.

I want grumpy cat.


tardthegrumpycat.tumblr.com


XOLily

Two TV Shows, One Consulting Detective.

London vs. New York City.

John Watson vs. Joan Watson.

Sherlock Holmes vs. Sherlock Holmes.

The UK and the US have both recently made modernized TV series versions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous "Sherlock Holmes" mystery novels.

The UK version, called Sherlock, came out in July of 2010.

Set in London, Benedict Cumberbatch plays a brooding,  smart-alecky and easily bored version of Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock and John. 

 In the first episode he meets John Watson (played by Martin Freeman) who is an army doctor recently returned from Afghanistan.



  Sherlock and John become flatmates at 221B Baker St. and, though Sherlock may never admit it, crime-solving best friends.

Sherlock and Joan.

The US version, called Elementary, was released this fall. It is set in New York City.

Johnny Lee Miller plays an ex-addict, incredibly hyper and slightly lovable version of Sherlock.

Joan Watson (played by Lucy Liu) is Sherlock's sober companion and is living with him for six weeks to help him stay on track after rehab.








(I'm anxiously waiting for the romantic tension between Sherlock and Joan, but there has been none so far.)







Cumberbatch and Miller play very different versions of Sherlock Holmes. Both, however, excellently portray the brilliant deductions that the detective makes.

The intensity of the shows are also very different. Sherlock has gotten deep with plot lines, making an overarching story of Holmes' battle with his archenemy Moriarty and creating a modern version of the heartbreaking Reichenbach Fall.

Elementary has just started, but it is easy to tell  that it is styled like an American crime show. It doesn't have an overarching plot line (yet) and the characters develop a little more each episode.

So, which is better?

Or are they too different to tell?

So far, both are great modern representations of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. As more episodes of Elementary are released, it will be continually compared to the British show and it might become easier to find a favorite.

In the show Elementary, will Sherlock meet Irene Adler? What about Moriarty or Sherlock's brother, Mycroft Holmes? How will the Reichenbach Fall be interpreted, if it at all?

If Sherlock were around, he could probably deduce the answers for us.

But I guess the rest of us will just have to keep watching to find out.

Are you a diehard Sherlock fan or a new Elementary fan? Or, like me, do you think both are fab? Share your thoughts in comments.

XOLily

Five Things

1. Best new TV show.

2. J. Crew's fall pastels.

 3. Making collages.

4. H&M rainboots.

5. Knitted socks.

XOLily

Political Haiku Wednesday

Who wore it better?
(Photos from Getty Images)

This week, my haikus
are reflecting the debate
and last nights outfits.

The wives both wore pink.
I can't decide which was best.
I love pink too much.

The debate showed me
both the candidates' passion
and their theatrics.

XOLily

Haiku Wednesday

Getting pedicures,
like going to the dentist,
is slightly scary.

Wednesday comes too soon,
and also not soon enough.
The weeks will fly by.

When December comes
you will find me underneath
stacks of late homework.

XOLily

Pizza = Power

"I am a breeze through the air!" "I am strong! I am a winner!" "I'm too young to die!"

Motivational phrases make the runner.

This weekend a group of my family members and I headed to Leavenworth for the Oktoberfest Half Marathon.

A family of runners. 

Leavenworth is beautiful this time of year. The leaves are turning orange and the air is crisp and cool. All around mountains reach out of the haze and into the clear, blue skies.

The scenery made the run enjoyable, as well as running with family. I finished my first half marathon in two hours and thirty minutes.

Shirt, medal and number. 

Before the race my aunt gave us goody bags with
motivational phrases written on the side.

I must say I'm quite proud of myself and my family members.


XOLily

Haiku Wednesday

Please do not ask me
what is right and what is wrong.
Because I don't know.


The best time to wear
a striped sweater is never.
Also turtlenecks.


Today it was cold.
Chilly fingers, a red nose.
Genuinely cold.


XOLily

When in Doubt, Go Shopping!

In the first week of school my planner goes from being completely empty to looking like this:

 So by the time Saturday came around there was no better way for me to relieve the stress of the first week than to go wander about aimlessly at the Alderwood mall.

And I happened to run into these lovely shoes and bring them home with me:

I admit, it was an impulse buy.

But sometimes an impulse buy is best:)

XOLily