Imagine if you could go to a place - a happy place - where you could learn about and try the latest products from some of your favorite (affordable) brands that help make your life easier. Some marketing genius at Proctor & Gamble decided to create just this - a pop-up experience bringing products released in the past 6-18 months from brands like Olay, Cover Girl, Pringles, Bounty, Charmin, Tide and Febreeze together under one roof.

The Have You Tried This Yet pop-up experience is open on the corner of 57th & 6th Ave from now until October 31st. Not only can you learn, try (yes, samples!) and experience the products featured in the pop-up, you can even get your hair colored using Nice'n Easy by expert stylists! *Note: you must visit the experience two days prior to have an allergy test administered.

If you can't make it to 53rd & 6th, check your local newspaper this Sunday, October 31st, for a brandSAVER, full of over $113 in savings.

What are the best P&G products you've tried? What are you eager to try?

Lucky Shops, known as "the ultimate shopping event", lives up to it's name. In case you haven't known (or have somehow misplaced the savvy shopping portion of your brain), Lucky Shops is an annual shopping event thrown by the magazine best known for shopping, Lucky.

This year on November 4, 5, and 6th at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC, you (yes really, you) can enjoy up to 70% off retail prices from some of the hottest designers in the industry.

Shop at the event from designers like:

• DVF
• Charlotte Ronson
• Milly
• Nicholas K
• Rebecca Taylor
• Tracy Reese
• Botkier
• Kooba
• Nine West Vintage America Collection
• CC Skye
• Dannijo
• Cosabella
• ...and many more

A variety of ticket options are available, from an early pass to a two day pass, plus tickets to the VIP Shopping Party (won't you join me?). Prices range from $30-185.

However, if you are a ZYNC from American Express card holder, you can snag 15% off select ticket prices, a gift with purchase, plus one hour early access to both days of shopping. ZYNC will be hosting an on-site boutique, offering items from Alex Woo, Tucker and more.

See you there!

Curel Sensitive Skin Remedy Lotion for Dry Irritated Skin

$7.99$5.99 by Curel at Walgreens

The fall season has just barely begun and I'm already consistently reaching for lotion at least twice a day. For some reason, my skin is flaking and cracking in the strangest of ways. Sometimes, I feel like a reptile.

Curél, a brand I associate with good drugstore lotions, recently released the Sensitive Skin Remedy for Dry, Irritated Skin. Unbeknownst to me, sensitivity is caused by weakened skin. The team at Curél found that by replenishing Ceramides, skin's protection mechanism, that they could actually help strengthen skin and reduce future sensitivity.

All of these scientific facts sound great - but what does that mean...exactly?

I haven't tried the formula for an extended period of time, so I can't comment on the future sensitivity. However, the product is surprisingly thin and effective. Whenever I think of a healing lotion, especially for the winter months, I think of a thicker formula. When you first squeeze the product out of the tube, it resembles shampoo - but a little goes a long way. There isn't much of a smell either (the packaging says it is fragrance & dye free). *Note, there is also an original, fragranced formula*

The ultra moisturized result is long-lasting and isn't tacky, plus it helps to smooth and heal any existing imperfections. If the other products in the Sensitive Skin Remedy line are anything like the lotion, I just might have a new favorite. The collection also includes Daily, Ultra Healing, Itch Defense and Skin Nourishing lotions, Hand & Cuticle Cream and a Foot Therapy Cream.

While attempting to relax, I found myself browsing Lane Bryant's new arrivals, looking for anything that might light a spark in my wardrobe. I wasn't feeling too inspired, until I found these Over The Knee Riding Boots. There isn't much to say about them, because it's plain to see - they're complete perfection.

Recently, I purchased a pair of flat over the knee boots from an unnamed brand that completely fell apart after the first wear. Part of the reason that they fell apart (which I knew at the point of purchase and told myself wouldn't happen) is that the heel was basically non-existent. While a completely flat boot is great in theory, in practice you end up walking on the boot and very quickly wearing a hole into your heel.

Since I purchased a pair of boots during Lane Bryant's recent sale, I'll have to add these to the holiday wish list. Santa (or mom), are you listening?

While out at market appointments and previews yesterday, I saw my Twitter timeline blowing up with comments, outrage and disbelief over Maura Kelly's article on MareClaire.com. After finally reading the piece on my tiny iPhone screen, I was, as to be expected, horrified. Although I didn't appreciate her comments, I also wasn't shocked by them.

Each day, not only am I a plus size woman living and loving New York City, but I am an active part of the fashion and beauty community - an industry that many would effusively claim is the root of our country's body image issues. I'm surrounded by models, celebrities and notables who look impossibly stunning, even on the most stormy nights. Sometimes it feels like I'm in a pressure cooker, combining the industry events with the men on the train who enjoy making comments and slurs (like "fat bitch") at my expense.

I've never been small (and even when I was, I never thought that I was). I was 6' tall by the time I was in the 7th grade. Now, for the purposes of transparency, I'm 6'2", a size 26/28 and by definitions, morbidly obese. I know that I don't fit into my own industry's standard of beauty, but that doesn't stop me from feeling that I am a small, yet valuable, part of changing how we all see ourselves.

Back story: several months ago, I knew that I wanted to begin posting outfit photos because I felt that I had something different to offer (with much prompting from my peers). I wasn't comfortable with how I looked on camera, but I was determined to overcome my own insecurities. I signed up for a DailyBooth account and pushed myself to take photos nearly every day until I liked what I saw. Since then (along with the help of photographers like Lesley and Kimberley), I have transformed the way that I think about how I look.

Sure, there are things about the way I look that I don't like. Can I change them? Some of these things I have control over and are changeable, but others aren't. Does this impact the way that I think about myself? Absolutely not.

It's funny to think that we're all in this together, but we're all in it alone. What I mean is - if we don't start by loving ourselves, then no one is going to love us. If we don't love who we are, what we are and what we stand for as individuals, how can we impact or influence a change in our society that goes beyond fitting into sample sizes or airbushing away a body's natural curve.

You can disagree with what Maura wrote in her article (and should), but talking in circles about how she feels or why she feels that way isn't productive. Everyone has their own opinions and their own experiences - even Marie Claire's Editor-In-Chief supports Maura's piece - and we're all entitled to our own opinions.

Respond to Maura's piece by shouting your own messages of self love and confidence, whether you're a size 2 or 32. We all know that she isn't alone in her opinions, but that doesn't mean that those opinions are right. After all, opinions are like assholes - everyone has one.

Photo by Lesley Forrester

Each morning, I look at myself before I apply my makeup. I stare intensely into the mirror, examining every pore, every bump, scar and patch of discoloration. The other imperfections can be dismissed and easily concealed, but for the life of me, I cannot spackle away my dark circles. Whenever a skincare expert takes a look at my skin, they swear that they cannot see them, but they will always be my first point of insecurity.

For about 30 minutes after I apply my foundation and concealer, I'm perfectly happy with how my eyes look. There's no puffiness, no hint of dark circles and I look as awake as I would if I had spent the entire morning attached to the coffee pot via IV. There are so many products on the market designed to treat this area, but it's always about finding the perfect mixture, a cocktail of sorts, that works best with your skin. Just 15 minutes ago, while reapplying my makeup in Starbucks, I found my magical combination.

Smashbox Halo Yellow Color Correcting Hydrating Powder

$39.00 by Smashbox at Sephora

Smashbox's Halo Yellow Hydrating Powder sat in my powder drawer for many months. Sure, it's great to correct redness, but I rarely have any red areas on my face. Recently, it hit me - why didn't I try using it to set my concealer and for touch-ups throughout the day? This thought ended up being the magic ticket to help conceal my dark circles and especially balance out the purple/grey tones that are often made more prominent when I wear these shades of eyeshadow. How is this hazel eyed girl supposed to not wear purple?!

The container is a bit bulkier than I might want to carry in my makeup bag every day, however with the powder shaving applicator, I can easily shave off a bit of the powder into a portable container for my on-the-go needs.

Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener

$18.00 by Smashbox at Sephora

There are those products that you "hear" about - and question whether or not they work the way it seems everyone is gushing about. For me, Smashbox's Photo Op Under Eye Brightener was one of those products. I've used so many highlighters and concealers that I wondered how this one could be different. Boy, was I wrong.

Highlighter formulas seem to fall into one of a few categories. Either the formula is a little too thick, or the "luminizing effect" comes from massive chunks of glitter that end up down your cheek or the formula is so thin that it ends up being watery. Photo Op doesn't fall into any of these categories.

The formula is thin and effective. A couple of swipes of the flexible brush tip applicator under each eye offers fantastic coverage and helps bounce light away from anything you might be trying to conceal. Set the area with the Halo Yellow powder, and you're ready for your close up.

Do you struggle with under eye circles like me? How do you treat them?

Wednesday, October 20th was one of the busiest non-NYFW days that I can remember. I began the morning at the Just My Size fashion show, then saw Aeorosole's Spring 2010 styles, amazing jewelry at the Moderne Press preview, fell in love with Cole Haan's Spring 2010 styles and ended the very long day backstage at Grace Sun's Spring 2010 presentation.

Since I had so many events, I decided that my best bet would be to be overdressed. After all, you can't go wrong with sequins and leopard - can you?

Cropped jacket: IGIGI (no longer available)

Sequined tank: Lane Bryant

Ruffle-front skirt: IGIGI (no longer available)

Men's silver watch: Kenneth Cole

Blue leopard flats: Nine West (color no longer available, other colors available here)

Photo by Jahn Hall

While sitting at Le Pain Quotidien waiting to meet CeCe of The Big Girl Blog, I looked at my hand and realized that while the nail color I was wearing wasn't one of the trendy shades for this fall, it is an absolutely gorgeous mulberry. Call me crazy, but it took a couple of days of wear for me to fully embrace how classically chic Perfect Formula's Deco really is.

In the craze of trendy colors and vampy darks, it's easy to forget the mulberry shades - those that sit somewhere between raspberry and plum. For the fall and early winter, these work-appropriate shades look good on every skin tone.

Do you have a favorite classically chic nail color? Share in the comments below!

It seems like everyone is doing a pop-up of some sort these days, from pop-up sample sale locations to pop-up retail stores from online retailers or magazines. pureDKNY & SHFT.com have teamed together to bring something unique and exciting to New York - a gallery filled with over 50 pieces of sustainable art from artists around the globe.

Actor Adrian Grenier and producer Peter Glatzer have teamed their passion and celebrity with eco design expert Lauren Gropper to create the gallery and SHFT.com.“SHFT aims to take sustainable designs and ideas and position them in ways that are culturally relevant to the way we live,” says Glatzer. It’s about the day to day choices we make, whether it’s what to eat, what to wear, or what gadget to buy – we are nudging the culture into a direction that isn’t “environmental” necessarily in the older sense of the word, it’s just the way we need to live today.”

The gallery is located at 112 Greene Street, between Prince & Spring. The space will be open for public viewing on October 22 & 23.