It’s Sunday. The snow is melting. The Sun is shining. And it is still cold AF outside.  Today Bonaparte and I will embark on a three-minute journey up the street to the Oaks Convention Center to attend the Sugarloaf Crafts Fair.

Hopefully, after we leave, we will make our way to J. Crew. Even if I am on a no-buy, I can dream. Can’t I?

Anyway, this morning I was thumbing through the latest issue of “In Style” magazine. I look forward to my subscription expiring because I  relate less and less to this publication. And there was a time when this was practically my bible.  

In the magazine, I came across an ad from L’Oréal. In this ad was a pull-out sample of a product. The product is a two-parter in one step.  Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Skin Revitalizer.

Read the clinical result. In just three days skin will be firmer. In one week wrinkles are visibly reduced. So then, why did I not get a one-week sample rather than three days?

Promises. Promises.  Everyone these days is an expert at false promises!

On one side of the sample card is the serum and on the opposite side of the sample card is the Revitalizing Moisturizer—and it contains 2 % vitamin C.  As if that matters in the broad scope of things.

It’s bad enough to have to open ONE of these things–but two?? Good times.

The ad states 3 DAYS TO VISIBLE RESULTS. On Day 1 it will Replenish Moisture. On Day 2 it will Refirm Elasticity and on Day 3 it will Resurface Texture (But will it resurface my chin hairs back to the top of my head?)

Naturally, I can’t pass up a challenge like this.  I want truth in advertising. Trust me the value system of advertising beauty products is as bad as the politician’s ability to perfect the ability to lie!

I washed my face.  And eagerly, excitedly, aggressively tore open the products.

The moisturizer, which has a slight tint, came out a lot faster than the serum!

The directions read to dispense both pods simultaneously and mix well.  The moisturizer flowed out quickly. It took forever to squeeze the serum out.

Mixed and ready to use.  I still have two days to go.  How can this firm my face and replenish moisture?

Result of Day One’s promise to “Replenish Moisture”?  It didn’t. The skin around my mouth felt taut.  In fact, my entire face felt taut. And dry.

This did nothing for my face. In fact, I had to use moisturizer AFTER I applied this. Look how dry the bottom of my face is. Ugh! I need a lift. A surgical face lift!

A half-hour later I still did not feel the moisture.  I ended up using my Olay and my SkinActives collagen serum.  My face felt better.

This is gonna be a fun, three-day challenge.  I will keep you posted!

I’m so tired of Winter; and Spring arrives tomorrow.  I don’t want to wear boots. But I can’t wear ballet flats or any shoe with even the hint of a heel because I’ll slip and slide and break something.  Instead, I opted for what has to be my most worn shoe of the season.  Loafers.

My OOTD.  The Campbell pant from J. Crew is now too loose but I love these pants.  I’m tired of Winter but Spring’s coming in frigid tomorrow. 

Here’s what I wore today. And at the end of this post I’ll tell you what I wore this week.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when we arrived at the crafts fair.  Some of my stereotypes were spot on.  Like the Medieval theatre play in the back of the huge floor filled with vendors.

I have to say, the admission price of $10 at the door was well-worth it. The crowd was very mellow and it was a nice way to spend a part of our day!

Lots of jewelry. Tons of jewelry, in fact.  But there was nothing that struck my fancy.

There must have been a hundred jewelry vendors. And I didn’t see one pair of plain gold hoops in the bunch! What’s up with that anyway?

The clothing was all very flowing and Stevie Nicks. Basically, is wasn’t my style. But that’s ok. I like to look and it was nice to people watch.

I stopped at an interesting booth. Melanie Moore Hair Designs.  She was selling very nice hair “prongs” and snoods.  I didn’t take a photo but they were incredibly beautiful and pragmatic.  Well, just my luck.  The vendor asked me to model so she could demonstrate how to use one of these. She liked my thick hair.  I explained that I was wearing fake hair over my real hair—and an awkward moment turned into a fun one as I started to laugh and went for it anyway.

She did an outstanding job with my hair and off we went to scope out some treasures.

Here’s a sampling of what we saw and what we ended up purchasing.

Roxie’s Studio.  OMG. Her lamps were gorgeous.  So were her ceramic wares.  That lamp reminded me so much of a set of lamps my parents had in the house. I wanted to buy it, but at almost $300, I passed.

Black Bear Leather. (You HAVE to click on the link!). OMG.  My one regret was that I did not go to this crafts festival by myself.  Bonaparte curbed my spending the way people in cities curb their dogs.  I am so happy that Black Bear Leather has a site and is made not too far from where I live. I’m thinking Christmas gifts for the boys this December. I went on their site and saw leather bags. Be still my heart.  This company has BEAUTIFUL leather goods. I. Am.Coveting!

I lost the card from this guy but his stuff was so quirky and fun. This is some cool shit! I I owned a gallery, I would definitely put his pieces in it!

The amount of cheese I sampled was gluttonous. I’m so ashamed. I must’ve wolfed down 18 Weight Watchers points.  Actually, I’m not ashamed!  Farm Fromage.

Hands down this next vendor, In my opinion, was the best in show.  Holy Cannoli and a plate of macaroni if Bonaparte was not with me, I would have spent hours in her little alcove. I would have spent a small fortune as well.  Purses made from old books!!!!

Look at that, will you?  I just about fell in love. Who doesn’t love an old book? Who doesn’t love a purse?  What a great conversation piece!

Kathleen Scranton, the creator of these fabulous bags.  You need to check out her site: BeezbyScranton.com  Look. The Clue in the Old Stagecoach. The Hidden Staircase. I read those books. OMG. I wish Bonaparte would give me my credit cards back and soon.  Look at the shoulder bags.  These are epic! And Kathleen was really nice too!  She was so welcoming to all who came into her little alcove and trust me, all the women were in book bag heaven!

YES! She made purses out of old books!  I died.  I wish Oprah and I were besties because I would have phoned her and told her that she must add these purses to her “Favorites” list.

I’m so in love with the shoulder bags and Kathleen makes wallets too!!!  I’m dreaming of a library of book purses!

Sadly, my phone’s battery died and I was unable to snap more pics. But my two faves of the day were the Book Purses and Black Bear’s leather.

I did manage to make a couple of wise purchases.  I purchased a small cross-body cell phone purse. It’s perfect for going away. There is a zippered compartment where I can keep money, credit cards and ID. And the front pocket is the perfect size for my cell phone.  At a price of $10, it was too good to pass up!  I also picked up a ring rest. My rings get filthy with bread dough in the crevices then harden and Bonaparte becomes upset. This was the perfect solution. We also picked up a small bottle of good olive oil.

L to R.  The little cell-phone bag. I like the dark neutral because I’m a natural born slob. In the center is the ring rest and to the right, the olive oil. And boy–is it ever good!

A card from the little bag vendor…

…and from the ring rest man!

My inner child could not resist the Randy’s Candies.  I took a trip down memory lane and bought bubble gum cigarettes and wax lips.  After all, I DID get my lip waxed yesterday!

Looks like I CAN wear a red lip after all! And the nails match!

After the crafts fair, we headed over to J. Crew.  I’ve been eyeing the Ruffled Chambray pants that match up with the Ruffled Chambray Regent blazer that I purchased last month.  Too bad they weren’t on sale or I would have made the purchase.  I was not ready (I stand corrected. Bonaparte was not ready) to spend full price.  I hope they go on sale soon.

At $89.50. I did not feel these pants were worth full price. They are nice but not that nice at full price!

Sizing is so convoluted. The pants I wore today are a Size 8 and are falling down past my hips—they are that loose. The pants I tried on in the store in an 8 were a perfect fit.  That’s why it smart to try before you buy!

In a nutshell, it was one of those days where we did a little of this and a little of that and are now relaxing before the work week begins tomorrow.

What I wore this week:

I thought about loafers on Monday but went with the burgundy heels. I wore my favorite plaid pants with a green turtleneck.  Thankfully, I got one day of heels in this horrible weather!

Skip to Wednesday because Tuesday was a snow day and I didn’t get out of my pajamas. That’s just the way I roll!  I went with snow clothes. Hunter boots, which are not comfortable at all!  Blue Marti pants from J. Crew, a navy sweater from J. Crew and wore my Tony of Beverly Topper in a messy bun!

We all know I wore this easy-to-take-off outfit for my doctor’s appointment on Thursday. I need to do a post about cardigan sweaters because, I’m sorry, but they don’t look good on me. They never lay right. For some reason they look sloppy on me. I need to write about that!

BTW, the band aid fell off and my “thing” of AK is healing nicely! It’s in a perfect circle!

St. Patrick’s Day ensemble. My dad’s favorite sweater–I take it out every St. Patrick’s day and I’ve worn it every year since my dad’s passing. His scent is gone from the sweater but I feel his spirit.   Jeans and high boots kept me warm on the freezing cold tundra day!

Yesterday’s outfit was my favorite outfit of the week. I found the jeans at the bottom of a pile in the garage. I was cleaning the garage out! I don’t even know how they got there. I don’t remember buying them. Anyway, they were super-long so I turned them up to a high cuff. I wore my favorite plaid schoolboy blazer, loafers and a green Tippi Sweater. Someone stopped me in Wegmans to compliment me on the outfit.  I was so happy!

So how was your weekend!

Craft fairs always bring to mind Renaissance Faire” type music.  Hey nonny nonny and all that stuff. I give you “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” by Simon and Garfunkel instead. Hey Nonny Nonny!