I don't usually wear accessories for a litany of reasons. Like:

• I have enough frontage with the "girls" that I don't need any more reason to draw attention to my chest.
• I have super sensitive ears, so just about any kind of earrings causing them to get infected.
• I have fat fingers, so it's hard to find rings that fit.
• I have big wrists, so it's hard to find bracelets that fit.
• If I find a bracelet that fits, I don't want to wear it because I type to much & it's annoying on the desk.
• A watch? That's what my cell phone is for. Also: see bracelet issues.
• I have no reason to wear a hat, so the only chapeau you will find on my head is a ballcap on lazy hair days.
• Size 11.5W shoes. Really?
• I drive my mom nuts that I don't change out my purses more often - the one I'm carrying holds everything, why change?

But, besides that, I would wear extra stuff all. the. time. Okay, yeah, not really. But the Fashion Gods are continuing to conspire to get me to change my ways. This past trip to NYC, they brought out the big guns - seriously.

I had the opportunity to attend a tweetup at the DVF "Experience Lounge" where CFDA Executive Director Steven Kolb (*he loves some twitter) moderated a discussion panel that included Harper’s Bazaar Accessories Editor Ana Maria Pimentel, jewelers Alexis Bittar, Dean Harris and Philip Crangi, miliner Albertus Swanepoel and shoemaker Alejandro Ingelmo.

After listening to these heavy hitters discuss how accessories are really a personal thing, in expression and in what grabs you, I was inspired to expand my limited accessories wardrobe when I got home. And this is where I started to get discouraged and would love to get your feedback. Finding plus-size jewelry is hard, and so far I feel that I have been limited to Avenue and I would love some more options - that are *affordable*. I hate feeling like some plus-size products hold my wallet hostage & I give up.

So, can you help a girl who actually WANTS dangly bangles, but is stumped? I would appreciate it!

Today is the last day to help me try to win the "Natural Instincts Hair Color Contest". That also means this is the last day that I will have to harass all of you lovely people via Twitter and Facebook to vote for me. Hooray!

While I hope that I haven't been *too* annoying in my vote begging, I want to take a minute to thank all of the wonderful lovelies that have shown me so much support during this voting period. The following beauties were generous enough to share the contest with their blog readers and I want to make sure that you go over and support them, too:

• Anne at BeautyXpose
• Kelly at Gouldylox
• Amber at Beauty Junkies Unite
• G. at Nouveau Cheap
• D. at Beauty Alchemist
• Kari at Fab over 40
• N. at Beauty 411

And, I can't even *begin* to list all of the wonderful folks that have supported me on twitter by RT'ing my begs and letting me know they voted for me and cheered me on via @messages. I sincerely appreciated every single one of your votes/messages/comments that you have left me on my site & on other folks. Not gonna lie - the warm wishes are a bit overwhelming, yet I wholeheartedly lap up each and every one of them. ;)

So, consider this my final beg for your last daily vote on the Natural Instincts contest page, with a side of appreciation thrown in for good measure. xo

Have you guys heard about Ginger + Liz nailpolishes? They are "a nail polish line that mixes high-impact color with an organic, non-harmful formula." (*They have a fab grey called "Can you keep a secret?" I am coveting.)

If you haven't had a chance to try them yet, I wanna let you in on a deal - they are the featured sale on AHALife. You can purchase one of three select sets of 3 polishes each for $30 or all three sets (9 polishes total) for $80. The available sets are *Metallics* (which includes Got My Groove Back, a cool gold; Swagger, an icy bronze; and Tough Luxe, a glittering green), *Brights* (which includes Boss Lady, a fiery red; Keep Me Interested, a juicy orange; and Heart Breaker, a pink-tinged purple), and *Pastels* (which includes Half Naked, a milky white; Boy Toy, a pale aqua; and He’s Into Me, an opaque lavender).

Not familiar with AHALife? It's what they call a "constantly evolving 24-hour content discovery site" - meaning, it's a short term sale site, but in their case they feature one item, in limited quatities, per day. Think of it as an upscale woot!, where the items for sale are "highly curated finds from top influencers in design, fashion, art, food, lifestyle and more" and not cheap electronics. One item per day.

With limited quantities you know these sets will sell out quickly, so head over now to check them out.

YOU GUYS! Do you remember when I told you about the "Natural Instincts Hair Color contest" and I told you I was thinking about entering? I DID! And now I am one of 5 FINALISTS!!! Seriously!

Now, this is where I need *YOUR* help. Voting is open NOW until 11:59:59pm EST October 14th on the Natural Instincts contest page. You are allowed one vote per email address per day(*one day being from 12:00AM to 11:59PM EST). This includes my lovely International readers, too!! Get that? You can vote DAILY - which I know you want to do, right? ;)

So, be sweet and head over there now and use that first day vote right now, okay? I would really appreciate it! :)

Today is October 1st, which, for the last 25years has been recognized as "National Breast Cancer Awareness Month". It's also the day that my friend say, "Cool - I can get lots of pink things at Target now.". Yep, that's what it has come to, in my opinion - a month known for the proliferation of pink things, but not really the cause behind it any more.

And you know what? I'm kind of okay with that.

Of course, I don't diminish the impact that breast cancer can have on a woman and her family - my son's grandmother is a breast cancer survivor, in fact. Nor do I ignore the need for awareness for a disease that has the second highest incidence rate to prostrate cancer (2006 most recently data available), affecting nearly 200k women directly, each year. I just have a problem with the monetization of the awareness.

Have you guys ever heard of "pinkwashing"? It's a controversial variation of cause marketing that focuses on breast cancer & how *some* of the companies using the pink ribbon & BCA may not be doing it for pure motives. I emphasis *some* because I want to impress that not ALL companies releasing special products for BCAM have ulterior motives - but you know what they say about "bad apples" and all (*did you know that metaphor is actually true?). Anyway...

In no way am I telling you not to purchase a specially branded product - I'm just asking that you educate yourself of the brand's intentions with this marketing. The "Breast Cancer Action" organization has come up with a site, "Think Before You Pink" to help consumers challenge themselves to ask questions before purchasing a pink branded item. I don't see anything wrong with purchasing a product because it is pink and you like it, but please do not say you bought it only as a way to support the cause. Own your purchase and if you are sincere about wanting to help, please donate directly to a reputable breast cancer charity - the most notable being the "Susan G.Komen for the Cure" organization, or give of your time in your local community ANY TIME OF YEAR, not just in October, because we all know cancer doesn't only strike one month a year. And wear your pretty new pink product when you go. :)

(*This post was inspired by this post by Shannon from "A Girl's Gotta Spa".)