Life, Love, Beauty

2011-04-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

hello beautiful's.

just wanted to do a post to let everyone know i'm still kickin' lol.

I have just been extremely busy with school and life. But I'm hoping I can start back blogging now, I have ton's of new goodies to share and review.

Oh yeah, got a new tattoo 2 weeks ago! It's Rihanna inspired, my roman numerals translate into my daughters birthday. Speaking of my lil one, she is getting soooo big, throwing temper tantrums and everything >:o She's the cutest though.

so there's my new tat, kinda hard to see fully in this picture, but I love it! It didn't hurt at all and only took the artist about 15 minutes to finish everything.

my monster. lol

Talk soon,
love!

Revlon Lipstick [Crimson]

2011-01-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I wore this lipstick out. It's Revlon's "Crimson". I bought it because I saw an ad for the lipsticks with Jessica Alba wearing the same shade and thought it was a beautiful deep red.

out that night wearing the lipstick. (below)
the flash makes it look somewhat brighter... in reality it's a little deeper as seen in the pictures above.

Hope you liked
xoxo ♥

Hair Products I use *

2010-12-18T13:53:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you ladies but I always get sucked into buying whatever I think will be the next miracle product for my hair that I have been looking for my whole life... here are some things have actually worked for me :)

Moroccan Oil -
Revives hair
Strengthens and conditions
Reduces drying time

Anyone can use this oil, it is non-greasy, helps keep hair healthy and has a nice smell. I would not recommend buying this from amazon, I have read reviews that it isn't authentic the majority of the time if you do. You can find this at local beauty salons in your city. Around 40USD

Yellow bird Hair Dryer -
I found out about this dryer after one of the hair stylist I went to used it on my hair. It has four different heat settings, comes with a straightening comb (which is what I use to blow dry my hair) and a concentrator nozzle as well. This works amazing on my THICK CURLY hair. So if you have remotely thinner hair than mine, and not curly I'm sure this would work for you well too. The straightening comb makes it SO easy to blow dry your hair in a way that it's not going to be all over the place and tangly. After you use this it's going to be much easier to flat iron. Price ranges around 30-40 USD.

Denman Hair Brush/ Goody Ouchless Hair Bands -
Love this brush, really the only brush I use unless I want a smooth look. Those hair bands are the only kind I like... they aren't too thick or too thin, and they don't damage my hair seeing as they don't have those dreadful metal clasps.

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny -
I would recommend this line of products, especially if your someone who uses a lot of heat on your hair. This will cut down your blow drying time, as well as make your hair look healthy. Another product I was introduced to from the stylist who used the yellow bird on my hair. Price is around 15 USD I think.

Herbal Essences Conditioner -
These are my HG conditioners. They are very affordable and they NEVER let me down whether I want to wear my hair curly or straight. They come in ton's of different smells and uses, I like to switch up... which is why I have two right now.

Redken All Soft Conditioner -
This is one high end conditioner I love. I think it would be suitable for any hair type. It makes me and my daughters hair super soft and manageable. Definitely Recommend. The shampoo from this line is also nice I just didn't have any more to picture. Price Ranges. Sometimes you can get them on special shampoo/conditioner for around 36 USD I believe.

Biosilk Silk Therapy-
I love this. It's just as great as Moroccan Oil to me. It works great on my hair you can find it in Target and plenty of other places. It is suitable on all hair types... adds instant shine, and you will literally notice a difference in the feel of your hair as well as look after you put some of this in. This little bottle is about 14 USD.

Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide -
I love to use this product for protecting my hair from heat. I will not use anything water based, I tried the Tresemme one some people rave about and it was NOT for me. This product is awesome, I really feel like it does the job... it makes my hair easier to flat iron, and adds a nice shine. Price is around 18 USD.

Ion One Stroke Perpetual Heat Flat Iron -
I have tried plenty of flat irons but so far this one is working the best for my hair. It goes up to 450 degrees... which is the setting I like to use. It does NOT lose heat while you are flat ironing your hair. Plates are not damaging to your hair. Retails around 80 USD.

♥

Smokey Eyes ♥Pink Lips

2010-12-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

Products Used:
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - Barcelona (I finally got it!)
MAC MSF - Medium Deep
Random Pink Blush

Eyes:
Urban Decay - Black Dog
Urban Decay - Last Call
HiP Pigment - Intrepid
UD 24/7 Zero
Lancome Double Wear Lengthening Mascara

Lips:
Lancome Color Design - Love It! Creme LS
MAC Pink Nouveau

♥

Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette Review/Swatches

2010-12-12T18:31:00.000-08:00

During Coastal Scent's Black Friday sale they offered 33% off of their entire site, so I got the item I had been wanting from them for the longest, the 88 Warm Palette. This palette is originally 24.50 USD, but with the discount I was able to get it for around that amount once shipping had been included. So basically it was like I got it shipped for free.

What Coastal Scents says:

A true favorite whether your a professional or a novice, this set provides matte, shimmer, smokey shades and neutral shadows. The huge plus about this palette set is that it has been created in a way that all skin tones can will be a able to apply multiple fashion looks. We have combined matte with shimmer and pearls, there are 42 matte shades, the rest are shimmer/pearl.

Colors contained are in Silver blues, camo greens, earthy peach and stone, rich plums and so many shades of brown (everyone's favorite!) There are plenty of highlight colors for below the brow line and inner eye that will work with any look you create.

What I say:

Overall, I really love this palette. For starters there are some colors in there I really love which are the plums and peach toned shadows. I think that the silvery blues are unique and nice to have as well. There are SO many browns, you probably will never run out of a brown eyeshadow if you own this palette (nice matte browns to fill your brows with!). With that being said you probably will also never run out of a highlight shade. That was one thing I was a little disappointed about with this palette, the fact that there are SO many highlights, I feel like some of those shades could have been replaced with more warm toned shadows...olives...bronze shades... gold shades... etc. Seriously, how many highlights do you possibly need? But oh well, like I said that was a con and pro, if that makes sense. I feel like this palette is great for work, school, and everyday natural looks. It's great to use if your lazy one day and just want to quickly apply a pretty neutral all over your lid. I've been doing that quite often since I got this palette. The shipping from Coastal Scents was pretty fast, I think it took maybe 5 days? So that was definitely a pro.

Is it worth getting if you don't have it?!
I'd say so. Although there are more browns and highlights than you will ever need, there are a lot of great colors too. I do suggest using some type of base!! Some colors are a little on the chalky side, but I'd say overall most of them had a nice finish.

Swatches:

Sorry but I didn't swatch all 88 colors... however, I did a few swatches just in case anyone was interested. These are just to give you a general idea of some of the colors and their finishes, no primer was used, I was too lazy to go grab it ;)

(below) Sorry i couldn't get the picture on the left to rotate; basically I just used one color for my lid and crease and then added some falsies, my eyeliner had kinda started to fade by the time I took the picture. On the right I used the silvers and dark greys to create a smokey eye with a sharp edge. Looked better in person.

I hope you all had a great weekend!
♥

Milani Brow Fix

2010-12-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago while I was browsing the cosmetic aisles at Target I came across Milani's Brow fix. I had seen one of my favorite guru's use this in one her videos... and I wanted to try a new brow product, so needless to say it ended up in my cart!

The product comes with two brow powders giving you the option of a more natural lighter brown, or a dark brown for a darker brow. It also comes with a little fixture that flips up containing mini tweezers, angled brush, and a sponge applicator for the highlight; when you flip it up there is a small mirror under. What I like about this kit is that it is small and compact containing everything you need to fix your brows! I believe the price was around $5 dollars.

(wearing the darker brow powder)

step by step instructions (I got my kit in "dark" ; also available in "light" and "medium"

highlight color, "Brow 2", "Brow 1"

Overall I would recommend Milani's Brow Fix! I have been using it pretty much everyday since I purchased it and I really can say I am pleased, I feel like it helps to define my brows just how I like them and it's really easy to use as well. The two different shades to choose from is great, some days I want to go for a darker brow so I use "Brow 1", other days I just choose the "Brow 2". I actually really like the highlight too. It's a nice color that goes well with my skin tone, not too shimmery at all. Edit >> The only thing I will say that wasn't that great in this kit are the tweezers! I didn't have much luck with them... so I would recommend not counting on them for your everyday use.

Hope everyone's had a great Thursday!

♥

Click here to enter my giveaway! ~~(ends tomorrow!)~~ Extended until next Tuesday, Dec. 7th. (read below why)

EOTD

2010-11-29T11:19:00.001-08:00

I used my Urban Decay Book of shadows 3 today, I really liked the look I did... i just couldn't get a good shot of it on my camera. (Sony Cybershot 12.1) Does anyone have any camera recommendations? I really want a new one soon.

I used NYX jumbo pencil in slate (midnight blue color) on my lid as a base; then Loaded from the palette on the entire lid; perversion in the crease; uzi in tear duct; and a Milani highlighter; Elf dramatic lashes cut in half.

Revlon Colorstay in Natural tan 330; Revlon Powder; Sunny bronzer on the apples of my cheeks and temples. Milani Brow kit (review on that coming soon!)

Hope everyone is having a great Monday
♥

P.S -- Feel Free to enter my MAC Pink 4 Friday Lipstick giveaway below... if you don't want that color and you are the winner you are free to choose a different shade.

In the mail today. . . ♥

2010-11-24T18:56:00.000-08:00

So today I had a nice gift in the mail waiting for me when I got home. My sister bought me two new pairs of jeans, one are by Seven for All Mankind and the second pair are by Citizens of Humanity.

Nothing compares to a good pair of jeans when it comes to clothes. You can buy your tops from just about anywhere, but a good pair of quality jeans that have a nice fit are hard to find (if you want to spend cheap that is). I believe my sister got both of these pairs at some kind of outlet store a few days ago in Oklahoma city.

^_^So here are my new jeans... of course I tried them on as soon as I ripped the box open ~

Have you ever tried either of these designer jean brands? I'm loving them, the denim is great quality and gives perfect fit.

♥

E.L.F Holiday Kits at Target *

2010-11-23T18:28:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well :) I wanted to share with you all a palette I picked up from Target a few weeks ago. If you check your local Target, in the cosmetics section, you will most likely see a small section of Eyes Lip Face products ranging from $5 dollar eyeshadow palettes and kits, to $1-3 dollar eyeliners, lipglosses, etc.

I decided to try out the 32 eyeshadow palette ($5). I previously only owned two ELF eyeshadows which were from the studio line, they weren't very impressive but I think it may have had a little to do with the colors I chose (white and light tan). I've been using my new ELF palette frequently since purchasing it, and I must say I am impressed. Five dollars is a great deal for the what you are getting out of these shadows, they aren't all the best glide on texture or most pigmented shadows you will ever try, but you get what you pay for. In this case you aren't going to lose.

Pros:
Great price
Nice color selection... plenty of neutrals and a few bright colors if your feeling adventurous
Some of the shadows are nicely pigmented as well as have a nice texture
Compact case, sturdy, small mirror included in case

Cons:
Some shadows have poor pigmentation
Matte colors are harder to apply as far as seeing pigmentation
Shadows require a little more packing on than you probably have to do with some of your fav. shadows

Overall: I recommend this if you are someone that doesn't have many shadows in your collection. There are some fun colors that have decent pigmentation, could be a nice practice palette for beginners, especially if you aren't wanting to invest much money into makeup. This isn't really a must have item or anything, just bought on a whim, and for fun.

Swatches:

First Row excluding two highlight colors I couldn't get to show up on my arm. . . I love that gold♥ probably the best pigmentation of them all. *Swatched over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk*

Second Row, as you can see the first color on right wasn't very pigmented. . . I think they actually looked a little better in person.

Third Row... pretty much all the fun colors... I could barely get the light purple to show.

Final Row... as you can see these silver and gray's aren't the best pigmentation but the matte black wasn't too bad.

Have you picked up any of these ELF Holiday kits from Target?

♥

Lust Haves ♥

2010-11-14T09:14:00.000-08:00

I'm in the midst of packing up (moving) but I wanted to do a post about a few items I am lusting at the moment. The holiday season is right around the corner (black Friday is the Friday after this coming one, wonder if the sales will be good?!) and I'm making my wish list. Here are a few things I have come across that I really would like to try out, this post will be somewhat random so bear with me :)

(all product images found on google image search)
Urban Decay Naked Palette $44 USD - I have to have this. This product has been raved about by all beauty gurus who were lucky enough to get it while it was in stock. It is not limited edition, so don't worry if you can't get it right when they stock back up, it isn't going anywhere!

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer $42 USD - I think this would be nice for day's when I don't want to wear foundation but still want an even skin tone (Which happen to be most days for me). It has great reviews. One con I already see is the price, very expensive for a tinted moisturizer.

Laura Mercier Loose Powder $34 USD - I've seen plenty of beauty gurus use this product and say it's great. Its translucent so you don't have to worry about picking the right shade. The reviews on Sephora are all pretty much rave reviews, they claim you can just use this alone and it will even out your skin tone. I really want this setting powder.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation $42 - This is a must have product for me once I get past the price tag. I tried this while I was visiting my sister, and I absolutely loved it! It give my skin such a pretty glow, it didn't feel heavy at all, and it was easy to apply and blend out just by using my fingers.

Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick Set $28 USD - I happened to see this while browsing Sephora's site. I think the shade's in this set look amazing and are such a great combination, those all look like wearable shades (for my skin tone at least, some may complain about them being too dark) . I think this a great holiday set and a great way to add colors you may not have in your collection without breaking the bank buying them all individually.

Moving on. . .

(images from kim's blog)

I was browsing Kim K's blog and came across these photos she posted about a new hair chain she designed for her new line Belle Noel for Pascal Mouawad. I think this is really cute. I read some of the comments and some people posted they thought that it wouldn't be a hit, and that they thought it would be too heavy/damaging to the hair. What do you think?

So what are some products you ladies are lusting over right now?

♥

Fall Trend ; Plum Lippies *

2010-11-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

As I was browsing in Ulta about a week ago I noticed all NYX products were BOGO 50 % off, seeing as I don't need any new eyeshadows right now I figured I'd pick up some new lippies. For some reason I was very drawn to the darkest lipstick I saw, Medusa.

Medusa is a beautiful deep plum lipstick, if you have ever tried NYX round lipsticks you would know that the formula on these are very pleasing. When you apply these lipsticks it's almost as if your applying chap stick. There is no drying feel, just smooth gliding.

I picked up another round lipstick as well, Peach. In this case the name does not really suit the color, but I thought the shade was beautiful. It's somewhat of a medium rosy shimmery color.

these were just random trying on my new lipstick . . .

Plum shades are very beautiful for the fall season. . . not to mention, trendy! Take a look at a few celebs and models rocking plum shades . .

So push away those nudes and pinks and come on over to the dark side ;)

♥

Weekend Recap

2010-10-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, and Monday! This past weekend was pretty much a girls getaway weekend for me. I visited one of my friend's who lives in a city near me and we went out to a very nice little restaurant/dance club. It was the kinda atmosphere that makes you feel good just being there. Dimmed lights, old movie playing on a big screen, DJ playing all your favorite songs, candle lit tables and booths, dance floor, great food and drinks. So needless to say we had a great night talking, eating, and dancing!

The next day followed up with visiting the State Fair (NC). All of you know about the fair and the wonderful joys it entails I'm sure. Turkey legs, candy apples, freshly squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes, Philly cheese steaks ... ok enough of the food.. haha, rides, animals, crafts, pig races, very strange things to see most of them being a hoax (mermaid girl, rabbit with two heads, etc.).

I loved my weekend, here are some pictures I was able to snap ! :)

Tried to self-portrait my outfit! haha.

My friend and her hubby had just got a new kitten that day!

Us at the amazing restaurant/dance place

Fratira's dinner, Greens, Mashed potatoes, and Filet Mignon... Delicious!

Wings, they were soooo good!

Yummy Mixed Drinks

At Cracker Barrel for breakfast

exactly what I was talking about when I said seeing different things at the fair. . . this lady didn't look happy at all to be in there... but then again I can understand why. I honestly only wanted to see cause I thought it was fake (actually wasn't though). Still not sure If i believe she IS actually the smallest woman in the world . . .

So I hope you enjoyed my post, Until next time

♥

Update on my Baby Girl!

2010-10-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies, sooo when I was gone I obviously left out on keeping all of those interested updated on how my little one is doing! Kailei turned one this month, on the 2nd. It seems as if the time flew! I can't believe that my little baby has grown so big and seems to do new things every day now!

Her hair curls like this just by me twirling my fingers around her hair, lucky girl!

This was Kailei on her birthday in the photo above!

Little Chunk!

The picture above was actually taken today, we both love the park!

Trying to drink my coke, wasn't open though ;)

A few milestones Kailei has reached since my last post of her:

2 bottom front teeth!
Crawling
Walking!
Saying more syllables
Shakes her head "No"
Claps her hands

Wow right?! She is my angel 0-:)
Hope you enjoyed this post of her and pictures as much as me !

♥

MAC Flirt & Tease Blush

2010-10-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I was on the search for a new blush, can't say I'm not still looking for the perfect one. . . but I did find one that was nice for now.

I went to the MAC Counter after I saw a YT Guru use Flirt & Tease blush. I loved the way it looked on her in the video. I like the way it looks on myself as well but it's nothing too different from my Bare Minerals blush in "True". They both look a lot the same (Sorry I didn't take a picture of that blush for this post but it is somewhere on my blog already).

So Flirt & Tease is a sheertone shimmer blush. It looks somewhat dark in the pan, reminiscent of a beautiful shade of plum. Applied it is exactly what it says, sheer and shimmery the color applied comes off somewhat rosy gold with a hint of plum. Overall I'm satisfied with this blush I think I'm just on the search for one that it is a little more matte and not so sheer. I'm sure I'll reach for this blush plenty though, I have been ever since I bought it everyday I apply my makeup. The good thing about it is it goes well for an everyday look, not overpowering at all.

Any recommendations for a good blush??

♥

Jumpin' Jade - Favorite Fall/Winter Nail Polishes?

2010-10-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

Every season brings a long new color trends, new smells, new holidays, new feelings, new clothes, a time for change.

As I was shopping for a few household goods etc. this morning I happened to spot some beautiful dark polishes on one of the beauty aisles... from dark plums, deep burgundy's, browns, and finally the one I personally picked "Jumpin' Jade" A beautiful emerald green color. It's pretty for fall and beautiful for winter. The shade actually reminds me of a Christmas tree.

This is a Sally Hansen Insta-Dri (Fast Dry Nail Color) Polish. I already own a couple of these and my experience is always great. I literally only have to put on one coat to achieve the color I wanted. The apply so smoothly, dry fast, and have a wide range of beautiful colors to choose from. The price at Wal-Mart was $4.50 (USD).

Now on to a few pictures.. *I went a little picture happy* haha.

What are your favorite shades for fall and winter?

♥

Urban Decay Book of Shadows lll

2010-10-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Dolls.

I have ton's of things to post about, but I'd like to start with the most exciting (to me anyways) my newest edition to my makeup collection - the Urban Decay book of Shadows III! Yay!! I finally got got one of these palettes, it is my first book of shadows I've gotten my hands on. . . all thanks to my lovely sister. She gave it to me as a gift for my birthday - I turned 23 Yesterday! And.... my little girl turned 1 years old this past Saturday! (Pictures soon) Time flies!!!

Onto the palette -

Beautiful detailing - This is a LE item so if you want it, hurry! Cost: $54 USD

The mirror actually has two little lights on each side! You can't tell from the pictures though.

I think I need to adjust my camera settings because this picture(s) do these colors NO justice. They are so POW in your face *haha* in real life. This picture however is making them look a little too dull!

I'm sure you didn't have to guess these colors would be very vibrant and pigmented!

Beautiful gift box =)

,

When you look at this palette it's hard not to see the infinite possibilities of looks just waiting for you to create! I think Urban Decay is known for their bold beautiful colors. This palette definitely doesn't leave you wanting more because it includes great colors, two 24/7 glide on pencils (Ransom (beautiful purple) and Zero (Black), Mini UDPP, and a mirror! The only thing you do need that is not included is of course, eyeshadow brushes.

Look forward to me doing looks using this palette in upcoming posts!

Did you get this palette, if so what do you think?

P.S

Look for a Falsies giveaway in my next post! I was contacted by a PR and sent False lashes to give away ages ago, so I really want to get that up for you all!

Montagne Jeunesse Facial Masks

2010-07-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a great product I love purchase from Ulta when I get the chance to...

Montagne Jeunesse facial masks... these little packets are amazing... the first one I tried was chocolate... it smells AMAZING the texture and smell actually kinda remind me of a whipped cake frosting... yummy right? If you are not a chocolate fan this would not be for you... the smell could be overwhelming to those who are sensitive to certain scents... but to me I loved it... which I didn't have to wash it off.

The face tonic mask as well as the anti stress mask were very nice as well... they both have nice scents... as well as a delightful cooling sensation.

They are reasonably priced at around $2-3 dollars each, not bad for a at home facial, huh?

Definitely try these if you get the chance!!

Having healthy skin isn't an option when your trying to get the best makeup application, so start with the right products. With clean moisturized skin, you can't go wrong!

I Like it Like That *

2010-07-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Long time no post once again... I do apologize, I guess it's the summer heat that has gotten me into a little bit of a lazy mood. But I do have some more post's planned in the near future of products I recently purchased, look's, and a giveaway! So hopefully I'll have a couple up within the next few days!

On to what this post is about, as you can tell by the title "I Like it Like That" it's going to be about MAC's new In the Groove collection.

The MAC counter I went to was already sold out of Stereo Rose, the one item I guess was super hyped, so everyone made sure to pre order, therefore I wasn't able to get my hands on it. I am however happy with what I did get, not sure if I'll go back for more from the collection yet or not.

So the two items I picked up yesterday were of course the lipstick "I like it like that" and "Chillin" lipgloss, both are creemsheens.

I loooooveeee the shade of the lipstick. I saw "Jazzed" (one I know a lot of you are likely to pick) but I choose to lean more towards the lilac tone. The formula of course is so creamy and smooth goes on perfect, and the color is BEAUTIFUL! If you can get your hand's on this do it while you still have a chance.

"Chillin" was actually purchased by my sister for me, I wasn't going to buy it right away, but it was super sweet of her to go ahead and get it for me :) The MUA who worked with me said it's perfect for toning down pinks, purples, red's etc.

(me wearing my new lippies)

What did you or do you plan to get from this collection??

Bath & Body Works Haul

2010-06-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies :) So today I thought I would just quickly share a few things I picked up yesterday at Bath & Body Works. They are having their Semi Annual SALE so pretty much everything I got was a steal.

Orange Sapphire Cooling Mist - Sale price - around $3

This spray is new to me. It is described as their signature cooling mist with soothing Aloe Vera - the perfect way to cool, refresh, and condition summer skin. Sounds great right? The scent Orange Sapphire is supposed to be insipred by the beaches of Brazil. To me it smells like a sweet yet tangy orange fruit. MmmmMmmmMMm, I love it! I wish I would have picked up the body scrub in this scent, I may go back to grab it while I still can!

Mentha Lip Tint in "Pink Mint" - Sale Prince - around $1.80

This is just a very nice lip gloss that feels soooo nice when applied to your lips. It has that perfect minty cooling sensation, and leaves your lips feeling conditioned and not sticky like other glosses may.

Aromatherapy Sleep Pillow Mist - Sale price - around $ 3.50

O-m-g. I have seen this in their store multiple times but never thought to pick it up. I am so glad I did now! I LOVE this stuff. Just a few sprays of this before you lay your head to your pillow and boom, it's like heaven while you are falling to sleep. The scent I picked up is "Warm Milk & Honey" it smells soooo nice.

Lastly I picked up two candles. One I think is just the Bath and Body Works brand, in the scent "Nectarine Mint" it smells delicious. I can't wait to burn this but I have a few I need to finish off first. Sale price - $ 11

The one I lit up when I got home is a Slatkin & Co Candle in the scent "Pineapple Orchid" this is somewhat of a sweet & fruity scent. I have it burning in my living room which is a very big room since the kitchen and living room are not separated by a wall. I believe these candles will burn better in a smaller room. I have had one of their candles before that I burned in my bathroom I really loved. This time I'm not picking up the scent as well when it burns. Sale price - around $5

MAC Coral Crepe Paint Pot - Massive Update

2010-06-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hello!

So I have been away from blogging for what feel's like forever, but I'm back, and hopefully will have more great posts to share with everyone.

UPDATE:

So over the past few weeks I actually have been up to quite a bit! I went to visit my sister who is in the Air Force stationed in Enid OK. It was my first trip flying by myself so I was pretty nervous... I'm not big on traveling by airplanes. I flew into Dallas TX, and then Wichita Falls Kansas, from there my sister picked me up and we drove up to OK. The occasion was my sister was going to find out her next assignment, and she actually got her first choice which was to fly KC-135's and be stationed in Hawaii, so happy for her! Over the course of the weekend we drove back down to Dallas and spent the day at Six Flags Hurricane Horror Water park and I got the chance to see Downtown Dallas as well as it's night life. The next day in Dallas we went to The Galleria (Mall) which is by far the most AMAZING MALL I have been to. They have every store you could imagine... we only covered about 1/3 of the mall in the time we were there and that was about 4 hours! Unfortunately I forgot to pack my camera for the trip :(

On to Beauty

I recently purchased MAC's Coral Crepe Paint Pot.
I absolutely am loving ittttt! It's such a beautiful coral color with hint's of shimmer. it's going to look great with a look incorporated with some neutrals! This is my first paint pot and I can tell it's going to be an amazing base amazing base and added piece to my little collection. I can also tell that it's going to have to be removed with a makeup remover, water won't do the trick. It stained my wrist a little yesterday when I swatched it.

Summer Day's...

Lately me and Kailei have been hittin' up the pool with my friend Ashley and her son Tysin! I've been enjoying soaking up the sun's ray's and then cooling off in the water with my little girl. It's so much fun to play with her in the water and watch her reactions -- she loves it!! She is scooting herself forwards now as well as pulling herself up!! >:o I can hardly believe she will be 1 year's old in four more months!~

I painted my nails the other day.... OPI's You Don't Know Jacques. Excuse the sloppiness. I also found my one of my favorite rings that I thought I was lost and gone, it's a beautiful snake ring by Guess I bought a couple of years ago.

Kailei at the pool!

Kailei and her boyfriend Tysin, hehe :)

She loved the pool Stairs!

Chillin' in her floatie and sun hat!

♫ Can it be I stayed away too long... did I leave your mind while I was gone..? ♫

2010-05-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hello all :)

I've been MIA from posting for over a week now.... I have a million excuses *cough*laziness*cough* but I won't get into them! I'm back today to share some new lipsticks and lip glosses I have added to my mini collection from NYX Cosmetics. I also wanted to share my first ever eyeshadow palette with you guys. When I first got into you tube videos I saw a couple of guru's working with the 120 color palette from ebay, since I was new to playing with eyeshadow's it really appealed to me with all of the vibrant colors and variety. The price was great even with shipping, so it definitely seemed like a must have for me as a beginner.

Lately I had been thinking about the 88 color palette Coastal Scents has, but I don't think it'd be worth me buying right now because:

1. I'm on a budget and makeup hasn't been making the cut lately :o
2. Recently I have been working with my 120 palette more and more and it's actually pretty good! I wasn't giving it enough credit and neglected it wayyy too long.

Oh. Another thing. My lips have been SUPER chapped lately >:( so wearing lipstick is a big no go for me right now. Therefore, I couldn't show what most of these looked like on because it wouldn't be a pretty sight right now. peeling dry lips, ew. Any suggestions?

So here is the 120 Beauties Factory palette.

The only things I don't like: Some of the colors are chalky, some are harder to get to show up on the lid, but on a positive note... a lot of great colors are there and not hard to work with when using a base or a little fix+ and a good brush.

..as you can see, some colors are chalky, ie the highlights and lighter blues, but others are very nice and pigmented

Here are two looks I did using a few shadows from the 120 palette:

I have nothing negative to say about NYX Round Lipsticks and their Mega Shine Lipglosses, I love them! Especially the smell of the lipglosses and the fact the color you see in the tube is what your gonna get on your lips! They aren't too sheer, they apply very nicely and they feel moisturizing. A+

Colors: Tea Rose, Pumpkin Pie

Lipglosses: Beige, African Queen, Smokey Look
And my favorite pictured below, African Queen!

-Edit- My mom emailed me this and I wanted to share it with you ladies ~

Words for Women to Live By

1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.

2. If the shoe fits - buy them in every color.

3. Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.

4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!

5. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).

6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.

8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here.
9. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.

10. Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.

11. When life gives you lemons in 2010 - turn it into lemonade then mix it with vodka.

12. Remember, wherever there is a good looking, sweet, single or married man
there is some woman tired of his bullshit!

13. Keep your chin up, only the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest.

14. If it has Tires or Testicles it's gonna give you trouble.

15. By the time a woman realizes her mother was right, she has a daughter
who thinks she's wrong.

'Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know
they are always there' 'Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live
for today'. Now smile and send to any girl wasting time at work, suffering
from a hangover, or just suffering from life, who might need a reason to smile!

Thats all for now!

♥

Kailei's 7 Months!

2010-05-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

May 2nd my baby girl turned 7 months old! I can't believe time is going by so fast. It truly is a blessing to have such a wonderful little (although she's not so little now!) bundle of joy! It still feels like yesterday that I was pregnant sometimes, and I still have the signs to show in some places! :( Anyhow, She has been such an angel and made every day so bright since the day the nurse placed her in my arms.

This post is all about Kailei :)

She is so full of play!! We got her the Kai-Lan doll from Wal-Mart since she smile's everytime she see's her on TV!

This was a day that she was fussy, once I gave her the pacifier she started falling asleep while still sitting up, lol! Sleepy baby!

Kailei with Daddy taking a bubble bath!

Look at that hair! Lol, she's enjoying the bubbles :)

A lady I work with gave me this doorway bouncer, she love's it!

Alway's into something!~

Trying hat's on at Wal-Mart

My little beauty! Holding her hair brush ;)

I'm sleepy mama!!

...So happy together :)

Thank you all for the sweet comments you have left about her in the past! I'm a very proud mama :)

finally! Coastal Scents 42 Double Stack Shimmer Palette Review & Swatches!

2010-05-04T10:26:00.001-07:00

Hey ladies!
So I'm back for another palette haul/review. This time it's for the Coastal Scents 42 Double stack shimmer palette. I actually bought this from a blog sale that UmaPreve was having. I was so ecstatic that I was first to ask for it. You know how you see blog sales and go to look and your like oooo I want that, but then you see in the comments someone(s) already has requested it! Boo.
She was actually moving and couldn't take a few of her palette's a long, so I got this for a pretty good deal considering the Singaporean to USD conversion, I ended up paying $17 bucks USD (including shipping) Thats a great deal!

Review

This palette comes with 32 beautiful shades of shimmer eye shadows and 10 blushes. This pigmentation of the colors are very nice. If you were to touch your hand to one of the shadows or blushes you would be wow'd at the color payoff you'll see! Love it. Not to mention the texture is nice and silky to the touch. I didn't notice any problem with these being chalky. The one con I found is that applying the shadows to get a good color payoff can be tricky. You definitely want to pull out your UDPP or whatever your base of choice is when working with the shadows. It also depends on the brush you use. If you have the ELF eyeshadow brush ($1) that will work great. They blend easily and keep in mind that this is the shimmer palette... but don't think that your going to get a glittery shadow that's hard to work with or overpowering shimmery look. You may want to pull out some matte shades from your collection when doing a look with these if you don't like your eyelid color, crease, and highlight to be shimmer obviously.

Uma had decorated her palettes, of course I didn't mind this! I love butterflies :)

The palette was sent to me almost brand new! Of course I have been putting my fingers/brushes in it though playing with the colors! :P

I love the blushes... this is a great way to add some new color blushes to your collection and try out a few different ones to see which shades work best for your skin tone. One of the shades can even double as a bronzer.

Overall, I would say these are worth checking out, they even have a 42 double stack matte palette... as well as other palettes. This is my first Coastal Scents palette (I know I'm late) and I'm very pleased with the quality of their cosmetics.

♥
Lastly, I won a contest (second time winning on blogger, I won one a few weeks ago as well for Skin MD Lotion)! Que Linda recently held a $15 dollar MAC Gift card Giveaway, and (newly) lucky ole me won! Woohoo! Thanks So much Linda, make sure to check out her makeup blog!

I think I'll be using this towards MAC's To the Beach Summer 2010 Collection! What will you be getting from this collection?

♥

Giveaway Winner!

2010-04-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

As you may know I hosted my first giveaway for my followers, it started about a month ago, and ended yesterday! (April 29th)

I didn't want to waste any time in announcing the winner... so after going through all the entries to check that everyone followed all the rules for fairness of those who did... I finally came up with the numbers to put in random.org!

... and the winner of the Too Faced Natural Eye Palette +other goodies is... *DRUMROLL* ;)

Silvia @ http://beyondmysweetestdreams.blogspot.com/
(look forward to receiving an email from me!)

I'd like to say a BIG thank you to everyone who entered! And another big thank you to all that follow my blog!

Those who didn't win, I will have more great giveaway's in the future, so no worries!

♥ you all!

Piggy Polish Flop, and Natural Smokes

2010-04-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello dolls,

Have any of you tried the Maybelline Natural Smokes quad? I'm sure a lot of you have seen these quads, or own one of them, they have been out for quite a while now and they are actually pretty decent. When I first started getting more and more into makeup I had tried a drugstore brand single shade... can't remember if it was Cover Girl or Maybelline, but there was absolutely no pigmentation, with these quads however that is not the case!

I think it's hit and miss with some of the shades... for my quad I find that the "Lid" color is a little harder to work with than the other shades. So just keep that in mind! The price for ranges from $5-7, depending on where you look for them.

Here is a little step by step tutorial (notice I put a few of the steps together, next time I'll try not to do that, lol), but I really like the outcome I get using the Natural Smokes Quad.

Yesterday I went to Ulta, I had a $5 dollar off coupon so I picked up Piggy Polish in Tic Tac TOES, and I also got Seche Vite Fast drying top coat. I loved the color of Tic Tac Toes in the store, but when I got home and applied it, not so much... Don't you hate when that happens? Firstly I found it very hard to apply to make it look decent. It was very streaky, and somewhat runny. It would definitely take patience. The Seche Vite however, I like so far... I've only had it on since yesterday, but so far no chips, and I did notice my nails dried much faster!

I couldn't stand the way that Piggy Polish looked on, not to mention it started rubbing off? So I picked out an older polish that I am really loving now. This is Savvy Polish in Cotton Candy.

And lastly a picture of my little girl! I got her a new onesie that I love! So I had to snap some pictures of her in it. It's so hard to get her to stay still for pictures now!!!

If you haven't entered My Giveaway, make sure to check out the link in the upper right corner!

♥

NYX Bundle Sale...

2010-04-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

(click picture to go to site)

Hey Ladies!

Just wanted to do a quick posts to share this,
NYX has some great bundle buy's... so if you love this brand, or you are interested in trying it out... you could get a whole bundle of whatever it maybe your interested in... (i.e. lipsticks, pigments, lashes).

I may get the Lash bundle set, it looks awesome!!

♥

Essence Cosmetics Review!

2010-04-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies!

I have a haul from Essence Cosmetics I wanted to share, I've had this stuff for about a month now... at first I wasn't going to include it on my blog because I was unsure how I felt about all of it, but.... ! I wanted to go ahead and show you all, just in case you run across this brand and are wondering about the quality or you haven't heard or seen anything from this brand, and may want to check it out yourself.

Recently Essence Cosmetics became available at Ulta; I saw Miss Natty blog about this brand, and that was the first time I had heard of them.

I picked up a pair of eyelashes (99 cents), 3 eyeshadow quads (2.99 each?), and three eyeliners (99 cents each).

This quad is "Aqua Flash"

"Sixties Reloaded"

"Sooo Cool"

The black one is a felt tip liquid liner, it reminds me of a sharpie...

Eyeshadow Quads Pros & Cons:
+OK pigmentation
+Cheap
+Pretty Colors
-Can be chalky
-Easy to blend away the color

Eyeliners: After swatching them on my wrist, my wrist got a little red and itchy :/ So i haven't used them on my eyes. I will say the lilac and grey ones seem like they would tug at your eye.

Lashes: Haven't used these yet, but I couldn't resist the cute packaging!

Wearing colors from the quad "Sooo Cool"

Overall ... I would say try out these if you are just looking for some inexpensive shadows/cosmetics with OK quality to play around with. They have a variety of things and colors to choose from. They also sell single shadows, not sure if they are any different.

Click here to enter my giveaway.

♥

Mini Haul - Ulta & CVS

2010-04-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies,

I have a small haul to share with you all. I had a 20 percent off coupon for Ulta, so I here are just a few of the things I got last week. I didn't really see too much that I wanted (surprisingly) probably because I have been trying to limit my spending lately. I actually got the HiP cream liners from CVS, they were all on clearance for five dollars each (yay)! I previously had their black cream liner but it's a few months old so now it's not as creamy as it was before, so I figured why not get a new one while it's on sale... I also picked up the shade "eggplant" which I am loving as well.

Here are the two lipsticks I picked up at Ulta; Revlon's Soft Nude, and Revlon's Paparazzi Pink. I LOVE Soft Nude. I urge you to go get this if you are a fan of nude tones. In the past I stayed away from nudes because I felt like they would make my lips look ashy against my tan skin.... but this one is perfect, love it. Paparazzi Pink applies quite sheer, it's not my favorite, but I'll still use it. I think it would be great for anyone who has naturally pink undertones in their lips.

I decided to try a new mascara, for the longest time I have been stuck on Cover Girl Lash Blast. But I saw Rimmel's Sexy Curves was cheaper and I liked the packaging so.. .why not, right? I love this mascara! It really does seem to curl my lashes as well as lengthen and thicken. A+ from me.

If you have tried these cream liners before, you probably already know how great they are. They are easy to apply, versatile use, nice creamy texture, and there are a variety of shades to chose from! I was hesitant to get the eggplant shade because I thought purple? I'm not going to use that much, right? But actually it's such a deep purple (which makes sense when I think of an eggplant)it can be worn for day or night without looking silly.

Well that's all for now!

If you would like to enter my giveaway and haven't already click here!

♥

Sephora Color Play 5 in 1 Palette Review

2010-04-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies,

So sometime last week I went to my local Sephora with a mission; to buy their new palette, the color play 5 in 1.

I had seen it on one of my previous strolls through their store, and knew it was something I possibly wanted to get, but decided to wait. Well, obviously I finally got it, and I'm really happy that I did :) The palette had a lot of great reviews on their website, and I have been wanting a new variety of shades for my shadow collection. So right now this is this is the perfect addition. The colors are nicely pigmented, they are not too hard to blend... and best of all, you are getting 50 shadows for 30 bucks; plus a few blushes and lip glosses. I'm not too sure about the blushes yet... I feel like there is only one that is not too light for my cheeks.

Love the names of each individual palette!

the palette comes with another smaller case that will allow you to put one of the five to take on the go!

they are not just pigmented to the touch of the finger, they will show up on your eyes pigmented as well :)

If you love what you see, you can get it for 15% off, what a deal! I'm pretty sure that you can use this coupon for lots of other goodies as well.

If you would like to enter my giveaway and haven't already, click here.

♥

Online ELF Order; Haul & Review

2010-04-08T14:36:00.001-07:00

Hey lovely's.
I have yet another ELF haul to show you all (i promise this will be the last one for awhile!). I guess I've gone a little crazy purchasing from this brand recently... (first time from Target) but I can actually justify this purchase, not only is ELF Cosmetics cheap to begin with, I found a 50% off all studio products when you order online. You can't beat that! So here is my haul...

This kabuki brush is really nice for 3 bucks! I must admit I did think it would be bigger :/ This is like a mini kabuki... I placed it on my hand so that you could see its a little smaller than the size of my palm.

The ELF High Definition powder is somewhat hard for me to review at the moment. I'd have to use it more to really tell you the results. I will say that it is not very translucent so people who have tanner/darker skin... be careful!

I got two ELF Studio shadows... one is the color Sand Dollar, the other is Wild Wheat. The pigmentation on these is OK. Not the best, but not bad either. As with any other shadow maybe they can be enhanced with a primer/shade stick/applied wet.

The two blushes I got are in the shades Fuchsia Fusion and Mellow Mauve. In the packaging the Fuchsia Fusion is beautiful... it looks very pink and sparkly. They apply OK. You can build the color, the sparkles were not too much for me. Mellow Mauve is more matte.

Up next are the Complexion and Powder Brushes. These are not bad for 3 bucks! The complexion brush is still somewhat small for me to use as a powder brush for my mineral foundation. But I still think it's a great deal,and great for those who don't have many brushes. The powder brush not as round as it looked on the site. The only difference I see between these two is that the powder brush has a flat top. I thought it would have been more dense at the top.

This lip stain is in Birthday Suit. It is once again OK. I don't dislike it. I think I need to use it a few more times (along with everything else) to give my true verdict. I will say I found it applied best by putting a little clear gloss first, then the pigment gloss, and then a little more clear!

Here I tested the products out. I wasn't able to pick up way the blush really looked on with my camera very well... sorry!

LASTLY
I was given the beautiful blogger award by Taj Acosta. Thanks love!

Rules
Copy the award and place it on your own blog
Post a link to nominator
Express 7 things about yourself
Nominate seven other bloggers
Link them

1. My favorite color is pink
2. I have read all seven Harry Potter books
3. I am a retired violinist
4. I am still best friends with my BFF's from middle and high school!
5. I hate scary movies. I don't watch them and turn my head when previews on TV come on. Lol (seriously though).
6. I've never been much of a party girl. But as I'm getting older I feel like I need to start going out more while I still have my youth.
7. Three years ago today I officially became apart of the first and finest black female Greek Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. We are the pretty ladies in pink and green.

(Sorority Picture... this was me two years ago, thank God I don't fry my hair anymore, now it's much longer & healthier)

I tag any of you beautiful lady's who haven't received the award yet and would like to do it!

Also If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, be sure to, two posts down! :)
Oh yah, if you want to use the ELF Studio 50% off discount code: EGSTUDZ

♥

Just a few Kodak Moments

2010-04-05T00:13:00.000-07:00

Hyacinth's I bought my mother for Easter, they smelled soooo nice.

A few years ago I begged my parents for a cute small dog....

Here is Saja...
here is her sister, Mischa...

Here is Milo... *edit* above that is..

Decided to do a mini manicure on my nails last night. OPI's Venus Di Violet is one of my favorite polishes... I may do a NOTD when I can show them in natural light.

>>>I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe weekend. My Easter was spent quietly with my family... Me and Brian went to Mi Casita's Mexican Restaurant for dinner (not very traditional, I know). Mexican food has long been one of my favorite dishes. I always get the chicken burrito and rice, no need for a menu. I didn't bring my camera in to snap pictures, but it was Kailei's first time sitting in a high chair at a restaurant. She turned 6 months old on Good Friday. Time really flies, but then again it always has, even before I had her. I know you've heard the saying "they grow up so fast".... but honestly isn't life just fast? I thank God everyday I'm alive :)

Oh, and if you haven't already feel free to enter my mini giveaway below ;)

♥

CLOSED

2010-04-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

Hello beauties.

Today was the beginning of a new month; three months ago I decided to start this blog. I started watching makeup tutorials on you tube March 08'. I have been deeply in love with makeup and all other beauty related things since. ^_^

I decided to hold my first mini giveaway as a thank you to all that have shown interest in my blog; as well as those that have inspired me.

♥Prizes include:

Too Faced Natural Eye Shadow Collection
China Glaze Lemon Fizz from the Up & Away Collection
Salon Perfect Lashes # 301
Charlotte Russe Earrings
(everything is unused, brand new, bought with my own money)

Here is what the shadows in the Too Faced Palette look like:

great for everyday or night time looks, very beautiful pigmented shadows!

Here are the Rules:

1. You must be a follower of my blog.

2. Open Internationally

3. Be 18 or older, or have permission from guardian

4. Blog about this giveaway including a picture of prizes and link back here, or you may include it in your sidebar!

5. Tell me who your favorite beauty guru is in your comment below

5. Also in the comments, leave your email, and link back to this post on your blog

This giveaway will end April 29th.
Winner will be picked using a random generator.

♥

April Showers .. bring May Flowers

2010-03-31T17:45:00.000-07:00

Two favorites. Bare Minerals Powder Foundation has always been one of my favorite go to foundations... it gives a pretty natural coverage. I also have been using this blush regularly this past month. It is Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless creme blush in Plush Peach. The brush is a Sonia Kashuk powder brush.

Maybelline Color Sensational Peachy Scene Lipstick; MAC Lustreglass Pinkarat lipgloss. I love these two together... soo pretty :)

>>> Today I brought boxes out of my storage of years past spring and summer clothes. Since I was pregnant last summer, I didn't get the chance to wear any of them, nor did I even look at them... ha. So now when I see them I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe of pretty clothes :) .... Only problem is I can't fit into them :( Size two to size 4 dresses... small tops... size 3-5 jeans... all too small :/ I now have hips ... as well as flab I need to lose. I am determined to lose the weight to fit into my old clothes again. I had a couple of girlfriends comment on my facebook status I made about it, one recommended i try the master cleanse diet... I'm going to research that.

This is my new bikini I bought recently from Target. It is going to be one of my motivations to tone up... ;)

♥

A drugstore dupe for Too Faced Shadow "Label Whore"

2010-03-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Today I wanted to do a post about some things I have had in my makeup collection for quite some time, but are often neglected. Do you ever feel like you don't want to buy more makeup until you can really say .. "I'm using most of the products I have already bought?" Don't get me wrong, I love buying new things to try and I visit my local Ulta almost every week, but this can be an expensive addiction! And I know there are so many great things in my makeup storage I have never used or only used once or twice. So lately I have been limiting what I buy, and not buying anything pricey until I can really say I'm using what I have already.

Anyways...The other day I did a look with my Too Faced Glamour Revolution palette my sister bought me around Christmas time. One of my favorite shadows in the collection is called "Label Whore"

I found a dupe for this shadow while I was at Target about two months ago, it's the L'Oreal HiP High Intensity Pigment in Intrepid.

It is such a BEAUTIFUL color! To the eye it looks like a bluish, greenish, brownish red color.

To the left is "Label Whore" the right is "Intrepid"

Lastly.............

I was given the Cherry On Top Award by Ann at The Real Deal Reviews. Thanks for my first blog award! :)

Rules
1. Thank the person that gave this to you.
2. Copy the award and put it on your blog.
3. List 3 things you love about yourself.
4. Post a picture you love (e.g a person you adore etc.)
5. Tag 5 people you wish to pass this award on to.

Three things I love about myself are:

*I love that I am a Mommy. It came at an unexpected time for everyone in my life, but it really is the best thing that ever happened to me hands down.
*I love being the middle child. I have an older sister and younger brother.
*I love my eyelashes. They are naturally long and I can't tell you how many people have asked me if I am wearing fake lashes when I wasn't.

Picture of a person I adore:

My sister/best friend Nikita. She is currently a pilot in training for the USAF. She recently decided to start her own blog @ Graffiti Renegade

I would like to pass this award on to:

Rai @ Glam Morena
Miss P @ missp-princess-life
Melissa @ PrincessLisax3
Caitlin @ Chrysanthemum
Miss Kimmy @ Strawberry Stiletto

♥

Quick Post - ELF @ Target!

2010-03-25T02:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the lovely Miss P I was delightfully informed that Target is now carrying more ELF products, even some from their studio line. Since I live pretty close to a Target, I had to go check it out asap (aka) the next day lol.

I picked up their Studio Powder brush, the studio blushing and bronzing duo, a shimmering facial whip, and one luscious liquid lipstick. I tried them all out yesterday afternoon and I must say I am really impressed! These products are so wallet friendly and I really feel like the things I bought are quality things that didn't break the bank. I will do a FOTD soon using the products.

The blush from this duo would honestly look great on any skin tone. I know this is supposed to be somewhat similar to the NARS duo that everyone loves (i have yet to try that one, but have stared at it plenty in Sephora) and now I can see why so many people would love shades like these.

The shimmering facial whip I bought is in the color "Toasted". So far I really like this, i only used it on my cheekbones, but you are supposed to be able to apply it pretty much anywhere. It worked as a nice highlighter and did give that pretty "dewy" look. Only 1 buck!

The luscious liquid lipstick I bought is in the color "Pink Lemonade". This is another color that I think would look great on any skin tone, especially those that have fair skin. When applying these you get a tingly sensation like you would if you had put on burts bee's lip balm. Very nice. They also smell kinda minty. I really loved this, it wasn't really sticky at all and made my lips feel smooth and moisturized. Again only 1 buck.

The studio powder brush is a little smaller than I thought it would be after seeing the online pictures from the ELF site, but i still really like it, the handle is nice and sturdy... and overall it does the job.

So go check out your local Target. I think these ELF products are a great buy considering the price.

♥

New buys and a few photo's ♥

2010-03-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

Studio Secrets™ Professional Magic Perfecting Base

This base is supposed to reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines. The product claims to provide a flawless matte finish that makes your skin look smooth and resurfaced. I have only used this "magic base" a few times since a bought it... so far I honestly am not sure if I really am finding it useful. It doesn't really make my makeup look any different than it does when i just use my Cetaphil moisturizer. I will try it a few more times though. It does feel incredibly velvety and smooth though to the touch.

I also bought a few new LASplash pigments: Russet and Lovely. Russet is a pretty brown with gold shimmer/reflects pigment, and Lovely feels more like chunky glitter to the touch. It is a pretty white with fluorescent pink; nice for highlight or inner corner, or for using over another shadow.

Here are a few pictures, the weather has been beautiful the last few days :)

Recent pictures of my princess

she just recently started being able to sit up by herself... she can only do it for a minute or two right now though without toppling over, hehe ;)

♥

The "Shampoo Myth Comes Clean"

2010-03-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

Ever since I can remember I have been on the search for that "miracle hair product" ... the one that will leave your tresses looking healthy, shiny, and manageable. You know... that product that will make your hair feel like silk to the touch, the one that will give you the experience the ladies feel in the Herbal Essences commercials. I'm not so sure I have found it yet... but on the journey to it I have found a few great products that are wallet friendly.

It is rumored that your hair can get "used to" certain shampoos and conditioners and therefore you should switch up which ones you use every now and then. I was reading my "Prevention Magazine" (one of the bold fonts was "walk that belly off" and after having a baby, that's something I need to do so I purchased it, lol) and found that only 33% of people stick to the same shampoo brand. I know I'm not apart of that percentage. The truth is that your hair cannot get "used to" any product because hair is dead, which leaves it unable to adapt. But there are certain shampoo's that work better for different things... such as if you color your hair you may need a shampoo that is more moisturizing, or sometimes your scalp may need a clarifying shampoo to clean out any products your strands are holding on to.

With this being said I went to Wal Mart last night and picked out some new hair products! Lol. ;)

On first impression I am very satisfied with my new Garnier hair care products. They left my curls feeling very soft. I got the feeling of a squeaky clean scalp with the shampoo. The deep conditioner that is supposed to be great for dry hair & it really did make it easier for the comb to slide through my otherwise tangly hair. I used the leave in conditioner and wave enhancing spray after wards and i love how they are working for my hair so far too. They all smell wonderful to me as well.

The best thing is these products were about $2.75 each. I have tried Redken, Chi, Tigi, Mizani and other more expensive brands, but honestly for my hair, the cheap stuff works just as well if not better.

A close up of my natural curls after using these products:

What are your favorite hair products? ♥

♥

Going Green for Saint Patty's Day

2010-03-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Happy Saint Patrick's day!

Here's a look I did for the holiday. I'm wearing the dream matte mousse foundation and powder from my last blog post. Other products listed below.

Face:
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Liquid
Dream Matte Powder
Milani XL Bronzer
Ulta Blush, forgot which one

Eyes:

Bloom Eye Colour Cream "Moss"
Ulta Mineral Eyeshadow "Jade"
LASplash Pigment "Dragon Dust"
Lineur Intense Liner
Hip Black Cream Liner
Cover Girl Lash Blast

Lips:
Rimmel Lipstick "Heavenly"
Ulta Lipgloss "Sugarplum"

Do you remember looking for four leaf clovers as a child? *sigh* sometimes I really miss being a kid.

MayBelline Dream Liquid Mousse & Dream Matte Powder

2010-03-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

The weekend before last I was browsing in CVS just to see what sales they had going on and I didn't really see much I was interested in but... I did remember I had seen a guru on You tube raving about Maybelline Dream Matte Powder. I wanted to try it out because I have problems with my t-zone area looking oily especially in photos. So i grabbed that in my shade Honey (Medium 3-4) and since they were having a BOGO 50% off I bought the Dream Liquid mousse as well in the shade Natural Beige (Medium 2.5)

The first liquid foundation I bought turned out to be a little too light for my skin tone especially since I'll probably be getting darker soon due to the weather... so I went back and bought the Honey Beige (Medium 4); they had sold out of this shade at the first CVS I bought from.

Overall I rate the Dream Matte powder 4/5*
It really works great for getting rid of unwanted shine. You can keep reapplying it throughout the day if you care to w/o it looking like you have over powdered. In my experience from using it the last few days it lasts about 6-7 hours when applied.

The liquid foundation also gets 4/5* stars from me

I don't usually reach for liquid foundation when applying my makeup because I feel like it can look heavy very fast on my skin. But this applies very nicely and gives a good coverage without looking like you are wearing it. It is build-able and will of course looks even better when finished with the Dream Matte Powder.

Here are a few swatches of the two colors... I may return the lighter one because I'm not sure I'll be using it. (in reality I'm probably a mix of both of these shades.)

China Glaze, NOTD

2010-03-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

This week I have been on spring break and so far it has been somewhat boring.. we have had beautiful weather the last two days though , sunny... not too hot.. not cold... sound like spring? Spring is my favorite time of the year... its not hell hot and you don't have to wrap up with heavy layers of clothes. Goodbye Winter, won't miss you.

I picked up two China Glaze nail polishes the other day. I picked out Ruby Pumps because I saw someone else blog about it and thought it was a beautiful color. Overall now that I have it and wore it I think it's just OK. It's not as vibrant as I thought it'd be.

I also got Caribbean Temptation. This color reminds me of my favorite NYX lip gloss African Queen. They have the same kinda thing going on as far as the pink, purple and blue hues.

I think tonight I'll read this cosmo magazine I picked up and watch some Netflix... tomorrow I should be getting season 4 of Weeds in... I love that show... I finally get to catch up with what I haven't seen. Now I need Desperate Housewives season 6 to come out on Netflix!

Target Mossimo jeans

2010-03-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

Here a few pictures of my OFTD... they aren't the best, but I thought I'd share anyhow! I have a Calculus test tomorrow... along with other HW... the joys of being a student. Have a great weekend!

Beauty Secrets - Favorite Icons

2010-03-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

So this morning I was browsing Google image search to look for pictures of Kim Kardashian's makeup looks. I have been a fan of hers for years now and I always always always love her outfits, hair, and makeup.

So I came across this interview I thought I'd share since I know I'm not the only Kim fan out there... it's an older interview on her beauty secrets but I thought I'd share it anyhow because it was my first time reading it.

[Source - www.spoiledpretty.com]

SP: Your complexion is flawless, Kim. Care to share your skin care secrets?
KK: I love using CellCeuticals Skin Care products, and I make sure I moisturize all of the time.

SP: You never seem to have a bad hair day. What products are you using to keep your hair looking so healthy and shiny?
KK: I always change my shampoos and conditioners, anything from Finesse to Pantene. I also don't wash my hair every day so that it stays thick and healthy.

SP: What is your every day beauty routine?
KK: If I'm having a casual day, I put on tinted moisturizer and some blush and I'm ready!

SP: What is your #1 beauty secret?
KK: I always make sure to use a MAC wipe or an Oil of Olay facial cloth to wipe all my makeup before I go to bed!

SP: I am on an eternal quest to find products that help me achieve the signature Kim Kardashian glossy nude lip. Can you recommend a few?
KK: My favorite lipstick is NARS Belle De Jour - it's the perfect nude! My favorite lip liner is MAC Stripdown and I love MAC Gloss in Instant Gold.

SP: I was very excited to learn that you're working on a fragrance. How is it coming along, and have you considered creating your own makeup line? I would buy the entire collection!
KK: The perfume is coming along great! It's been an amazing experience creating it. It's been a lot of work, but I am beyond thrilled with the outcome. I have thought about my own makeup line, and it's absolutely a goal of mine for the future.

SP: How has your look evolved over the years?
KK: I used to love heavy makeup and smokier eyes, and wouldn't really try new looks. Now, I will try anything and love fresh, lighter looks.

SP: If you could only choose one designer to wear for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?
KK: I'd have to go with American Apparel. Their designs are cute, edgy and stylish - but are still SO comfortable at the same time.

SP: What is your most memorable fashion moment?
KK: My most memorable fashion moment would have to be at this year's Oscars when I wore a gorgeous Lloyd Klein gown with my hair pulled up in a slick bun. I felt like a princess.

SP: What fashion trends are you loving and embracing right now?
KK: I'm loving the ripped jeans look! Also, I've been embracing "recession-ista" style which is why I co-founded ShoeDazzle.com. Women need to be able to stay trendy and fashion-forward without having to spend a fortune.

SP: Every time I see you photographed, you are carrying an insanely chic handbag. Which are your current favorites?
KK: When it comes to bags, Chanel is always a classic, but I also love Balenciaga because their styles are fun and edgy - I'll always rock those!

SP: I've got a little junk in the trunk, so what jeans would you recommend for women with a well-endowed derrière?
KK: When it comes to jeans, always opt for styles that have stretch in them no matter what the brand.

SP: Like you, I have a very close and special relationship with my sister. What qualities do you most admire about your fellow Dash Dolls, Kourtney and Khloe?
KK: I love my sisters. Kourtney is the most loyal and responsible person I know and Khloe definitely has the biggest heart.

SP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
KK: Hopefully, married with five kids!

And here are a few of Marilyn's secrets I found a while back on the net... She is another icon of mine, I love her! She is the epitome of a stylish, confident, beautiful, timeless woman!

Tip #1: Setting the Base ♠
Marilyn didn't wear much as far as the base goes but here are a few products that she used as foundation!
1. Anita d'Foged Day Dew Make-up in Ivory Medium
(now known as Anita of Denmark these products are available at this website: http://www.daydew.com/, just a warning though, the website is very illusive and it seems as though you will have to call to get info & there aren't any images).

2. Erno Laszlo

Duo-pHase Loose Powder in Transluscent LightDuo-pHase Loose Powder in Transluscent Light
Still available at: www.ernolaszlo.com

Active pHelityl CreamActive pHelityl Cream
Marilyn used this as a face protector as well as a moisturizer.

Normalizer Shake-it Tinted TreatmentNormalizer Shake-it Tinted Treatment

♥ Application:
Apparently Marilyn washed her face with Shu Uemera cleansing oil and then would splash her face 15 times with cold water to seal the pores. She would then wear Vaseline on her face as a moisturizer and would alternate between thin layers of Vaseline(or you could use Active pHelityl Cream, as she did later in her life) and powder(from the ones above and she also used Elizabeth Arden's Pat-a-creme) to create a base. This is what gave her that beautiful glow. Although she did grow a thin layer of little baby-fine blonde hairs on her face for using hormone cream all of those years, it just added to her glow in the studio lighting.

Star Tip #2: Accenting Her Features

Marilyn was described as a true "artist" when it came to applying her make-up and she definitely knew how to accentuate her features. Here is a break-down of what she did to highlight her face, cheekbones, nose and eyes.

1. ♥ She used blush to enhance her cheekbones and shorten her nose. She would dab the blush on the tip of her nose and then would go over it with vaseline and powder. She probably would do this until the desired affect of the perfectly shaped nose was achieved. This way in photos she wouldn't have a nose that looked too elongated.

2. ♥ Next, she would sweep blush across her cheekbones, underneath the top of the cheekbone(ever so lightly) and this would accent her cheeks. Her blushes were generally pink or coral.

3. ♥ Using a light light illuminating powder and/or a highlighter creme blend around the nose, avoiding the tip of the nose but blend everything else around it! Blend in a highlighting motion above the cheekbones, under the eyes and over the eyelids(I would not recommend doing this part with the powder, never put powder around the eyes it will enhance the fine lines in that area). So use a cream to do this part and then put it in between your eyes(in those dark crevices by your nose). SO the whole idea here is to highlight the whole area of your face that you want to look flawlessly light and also wider, which would be the eye area and the forehead area. Here is a good picture of Marilyn that will kind of show you that the top of her face is highlighted and the bottom is shadowed and contoured.

Star Tip # 3: Eyes eyes eyes!

So, Marilyn would call her own eye make-up "the Greta Garbo eye". She took cues from the sultry star from the Golden Era, and tried to re-create that look. Here is how she did it!

Greta GarboGreta Garbo
1. ♥ She would cover her eyelid with a lustrous white stick shadow, which she would use White Lustre by Elizabeth Arden, which I haven't been able to find but you just need a shadow that is silky and won't crease. She would apply it liberally all over the lid up to the brow bone.

2. ♥ After that she would apply(with a brush) a smoky-toned color into the outer crease of her eyelid. The colors she used were Autumn smoke and Pearly Blue By Elizabeth Arden. So light silvery blue or a soft smoky brown are two options. She also used light green at times depending on her wardrobe.

3. ♥ Eyeliner. So, she would use a black or brown eye stopper Elizabeth Arden eye-liner, or a fluid liner(black liquid liner), to line her eyes. It all depends on your eye-shape, but the idea is to make your eyes look wider.
There are three-steps to this process: the upper lashline, the lower lashline and the gap in between the liners on the outer edge of eye (sound confusing? I know, but hopefully it will make sense below).
♠ Upper lash-line: Marilyn would line the whole top lash-line starting from the inner corner of the eye going all the way to the outer corner and sweeping the line up and out.

♠ Lower lash-line: This is the secret of all secrets to achieving the Marilyn eye. Take the pencil and start at the beginning of where your iris starts and line out and downward (not too far downward but just enough to look like it's a line created by the shadow of your top lashes). This may sound silly but once you get it down it creates the illusion that you have a lower lashline that is to die for! It also opens up your eyes a tremendous amount!
♠ Lastly, the gap between the two lines you created on the outer edge of the eye should be about a millimeter wide. So in that gap use a white highlighter pencil (any white eyeliner pencil will do) or brush (like Benefits High Beam) and sweep a little white line in.

see the white in between the outer corner lines of the eye? see the white in between the outer corner lines of the eye?

4. ♥ The last part of the eye includes curling the lashes and putting on some falsies if you would like to(just put them on the outer corner of the lids, not the whole eye). Add a little bit of mascara and then you're done!

Quick Tip: Make sure that your eyes are highlighted all over! On the brow bone, in the inner corners of the eye and underneath the eye! It really lightens everything up, it takes practice but it's worth it.

Star Tip #4: The Lips

I know I touched on this before but I thought that I'd go-over it again with the information that I now know about Marilyn's lipstick regimen.

She would use a lip brush and she would use five different shades of lipstick to achieve her look. She also would use a white highlighting color of some kind that she would put on the middle of her lips after the layering of the reds were all done. This would give the illusion of plumpness. So it was pretty much as follows:

1. ♥ Red liner(a little dark but not too dark) would go on the outer line of the lips.

2. ♥ She would then apply with a lip brush three different layers of red lipstick. I'm assuming she used Guerlain lipstick, Elizabeth Arden lipstick and Max Factor lipstick. So these were the basic layers that were put on first.

3. ♥ The way she would shadow her lips was to give the effect that they were voluptuous and plump. She shadowed her lips so the darker reds were on the outer edges of her lips and the lighter were in the middle of her lips.

4. ♥ The white highlighter was put in the middle of her lips to soften the middle and leave the edges of the lips stunningly dark.

5. ♥ Her gloss was also added intermittently in this process, so a layer gloss (known as a concoction of beeswax and vegetable wax) and a layer of lipstick, then the shadowing happened and then the last layer of gloss was used. I have no idea what gloss she used but people say it was her own invention and a mix that she would not tell to anyone what was actually in it!

[Source - www.popsugar.com]

So... who are your favorite icons as far as makeup and fashion? I love finding new inspiration.

February Favorites

2010-03-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

So February is done and gone so I thought I'd post some of my favorite beauty products of the month :) I tried to order these in consideration of their importance in my routine for skincare/makeup routine.

1. Cetaphil Deep Moisturizing Cream ($10-12) - This is a fabulous moisturizer. It is supposed to be for every day, every stage, every age, and also suitable for sensitive skin. I find that this is a great face moisturizer to use before applying my foundation or powder. I also use this cream all over the rest of my body. Non greasy feeling, not too thick or super thin, just right. Love it!

2. Nivea Kiss of Moisture Chap stick ($2.99) - The best chap stick I have used. That pretty much adds that one up.

3. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self Tanning Lotion ($8-9) - I have been using this since I posted about purchasing it. It is giving my skin a wonderful bronzed glowing look. I love it so far.

4. MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural ($26) - I love this more than I do the Studio Fix foundation I bought when I got this. I find that this powder evens out my skin tone nicely and does look very natural... so it's great when you don't want to look like your wearing makeup.

5. MAC Studio Finish Concealer ($16.50) - This has been an essential for my everyday makeup routine for brightening my under eye area.

6. L'Oreal Lineur Intense Liner ($7) - This is now my favorite eye liner.

7. Sigma SS150 Powder Brush (12 PC kit $69)- I love this brush. It is the perfect powder brush to apply my MSF.

8. Sigma SS168 Angled Blush Brush (12 PC kit $69) - Perfect for contouring or applying blush.

9. Lash Blast ($8)- Still my favorite mascara.

10. Milani XL Face and Body Bronzer ($8.99) - I love this bronzer it comes with two shades... a lighter shade that is perfect for applying all over the face for a healthy glow; and a darker shade that is nice for the cheeks or contouring.

11. i.d. bareMinerals blush in "True" (22.99) - I love this color. I think this was my first higher end blush. It is perfect for applying on the cheekbones for a beautiful highlight.

beautiful right?

12. MAC Naked Lunch ES ($14.50) - I love this color it is a nice lid or highlight color for me.

13. HiP Jelly Balm in Succulent ($7.99) - I love this for the lips. It isn't too sticky, it provides a nice sheer color... great for moisturizing the lips while adding a touch of color.

And.............. of course the best part of every day of every month... Kailei...

LASplash Cosmetics

2010-02-26T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hello! So the other day while I was at Ulta I picked up two LASplash cosmetics pigments. At my Ulta they now have their own section (like Revlon, or Rimmel), so that's probably why they caught my eye... I notice when pretty much anything is added seeing as I go browsing there all the time! (hehe)

These pigments were BOGO 50% off... so I picked up Matrix (deep black) and Dragon Dust (Black with gold reflects/shimmer). I must say they are very nice! I'm definitely not disappointed with this purchase. They have a nice texture, very good color payoff, they are easy to work with, and there aren't big glitter pieces in dragon dust(I don't notice them to the touch).

I would recommend trying out this brand if you haven't already. If you already have, what was your experience? I may try out a few more of these if I notice any other great colors.

Wearing LASplash Pigment Matrix, NYX Jumbo Stick Pots and Pans (silver)

Update & First * OFTD *

2010-02-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

Hello beauties...
Firstly I want to thank all those who visit my page... and big thanks to those who follow me... or leave comments... it means a lot to me! <3

So here is my outfit for today... a pretty floral print skirt from F21, F21 Sweater, Charlotte Russe black tank top, random belt from Belks, shoes are old but they are from www.solestruck.com

Black stockings and a closed toe black pump would make it more ideal for cold weather...

Me and my sweeties...

I'm wearing a NYX lip gloss I got a couple of weeks ago called African Queen.... I love this color!

I got these Jessica Simpson aviators I thought were cute from TJ Maxx last night for 12 bucks...

L'Oreal Lineur Intense Eyeliner

2010-02-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

This is hands down the easiest eyeliner applicator I have used thus far, and I have tried many... including brushes and cream liners.

"The cleverly designed applicator of Lineur Intense™ Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner allows you to create delicately thin or dramatically bold lines with precision. Fragrance-free formula lasts all day up to eight hours."

It does last all day, and also it is supposed to be suitable for contact lens wearers, which is good, because I'm one. I have had a couple of eyeliners I tried in the past that have irritated my eyes for some reason... this one doesn't. It is sooo easy to apply, I'd recommend this to everyone. Especially if you have ever struggled with getting straight lines or points when applying yours. I'm still not a pro, but after practicing with this a little more, I'm sure I will be.. haha. Maybe.

So here I am with the liner on... and CG Lash Blast Mascara *No Falsies*

Today I picked up these cheapo shades from F21... only $5.50, I love the color.. and the gold accent.. my fiance was like why do you always get the really big shades...? ummmm..... they're cute! lol.

EOTD, China Glaze, Etc.

2010-02-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

So I've still been busy with school... and life in general but I thought I'd do a quick post although it's not really what I originally planned to post about...

Today I made a quick trip to Ulta before work and picked up three China Glaze polishes, L'oreal Paris Sublime Bronze self-tanning lotion in deep natural tan, and two LASplash eye pigments. I'll post about most of that stuff later but I did quickly apply one of the polishes I bought... so I thought I'd share that...

Also I had tried the self tanning lotion before, but I think the first time I tried it I had the medium tan, and that was a couple of years ago; but I do remember that it works. I don't mind getting VERY tan, as long as it's not going to harm my skin. I would recommend this product if your looking to gradually gain naturally tan looking skin. If you don't want your face looking shimmery, dont apply it to your face. The scent of the lotion is also nice.

Arroz Con Pollo I made the other day... gotta love spanish food.
Below I'm wearing salon perfect lashes #301 (they are just the outer corner ones.. don't they wing out perfectly?)

CG Laced Up... a pretty hot pink color. I got this color on Clearance/$3.99

Upcoming Post

2010-02-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to post to my own blog lately, but I've still been reading other ladies posts. It's amazing how much I have been inspired on what beauty products to try out and what I want to look for when I shop for clothes. Blogger and You tube really opened up a new world to me.

I have a lot to post about whenever I get some extra free time, I went to the MAC counter the other day and picked up a few things I want to share... among a few other things I recently purchased from F21 etc. I also FINALLY got in the NYX stuff I purchased online when they were having their $1 dollar sale, so I'll be posting on that too.

But in the meantime I MUST write a 10-15 page paper on the Canadian Health Care System... Although its an interesting topic, I find new lipsticks/foundations/booties/etc. even more interesting... but I have to stop procrastinating so I can pass this class... ugh.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend~ Stay tuned for new posts this week!

Who said kids don't like veggies? hehe; first time eating Sweet Peas

Curly Hair Woes

2010-02-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

So today I was going to get my hair done at Trade Secret in the Mall.... but at the last minute I decided not to in fear that the stylist wouldn't know how to style my type of hair and therefore I'd be wasting my money.

I've had hair way down my back, I've had inch long hair, I've had relaxers, perm's, extensions for approx three days.. lol, and color damage that caused my hair to look like fuzz in different areas...

My hair is finally healthy, and reasonably long.. something I always wanted... but unfortunately now that I have what I want I always seem to wear it tucked away in a bun. -Sigh-

I need a hair fairy... someone who could make my strands look beautiful everyday!

A few MAC shadows I picked up the other day... Honey Lust, Naked Lunch, Woodwinked, Sketch, Mystery, Expensive Pink

Tiff&Chloe, Me&Kailei @ Peace College, Raleigh NC

Sigma Brushes!

2010-02-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

Hello! So I'm sure everyone has heard about Sigma Makeup and how great their brushes are. I have seen tons of reviews on them from various guru's on youtube... and was always interested but hesitant to buy them. Well I decided I finally wanted to see for myself the quality of the brushes.

I received my package in the mail today, like their site says, it only takes approx. 2-3 days to ship. I have to say at first glance, I really am impressed! The full brush kit, which I bought is $69 dollars ($89 if you want brush roll) and comes with 12 brushes. When I ordered mine they had a deal where you get a free makeup bag and blending brush.

They are incredibly soft, and I love the long wooden handles. Some are natural hair bristles while others are synthetic. They have been compared to MAC, and everyone knows how expensive MAC brushes are. The only MAC brushes I own are their holiday kit for applying eye makeup; wasn't impressed with their holiday eye brushes. I'd rather have my 50 bucks back that I paid for them, the blending brush that came with it is hard and scratchy. However, I have used the MAC 217 and the MAC 187 and liked them.

The free blending brush (SS 217) I received with my kit is very similar to the MAC 217 blending brush. Just as soft, white, tapered.

Kit includes: SS 150 Large Powder brush, SS190 Foundation brush, SS 187 Duo Fiber Brush, SS 168 Large angled contour brush (inst really that large though), SS 194 Concealer brush, SS 275 Medium Angled Shadow Brush, SS266 Small Angle Brush, SS252 Large Shader Brush, SS 219 Pencil Brush, SS224 Tapered blending brush, SS209 Eyeliner brush, SS 239 Eye Shading brush.

Hope this helped anyone who may have been hesitant or unsure about purchasing these brushes... etc. I think its a great deal for your money. (disclaimer:purchased with own money)

Have a beautiful weekend! <3

Miss P's Guide to All things Beauty

2010-02-11T19:02:00.001-08:00

Miss P's 200 Follower's Giveaway!

http://missp-princess-life.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-first-giveaway-200-followers.html

Prizes include:

* Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Glitz & Glam Travel Brush Set with Case (1 blusher brush, 1 eyeshadow brush, 1 angled eye shadow brush, 1 crease brush and 1 black zippered case)
* Revlon Fantasy Length Lashes in "Flirty"
* NARS Duo Lip Gloss in Boogie Nights/Giza
* MAC Eye Shadow in "Straw Harvest" from the 2010 MAC Spring Colour 2 Forecast Collection ("Straw Harvest" is a gorgeous shade of warm peachy gold in a pearl finish)
* Maybelline Eye Studio Eye Shadow in Ivy Icon

All you have to do is:

1) Be a follower or subscriber
You will be disqualified if you are not a follower or subscriber

2) You must be at least 18 years old to participate

3) Leave me a comment with your email address and also tell me what is the one makeup product that you can not go without (I can not go without my Carmex lip balm...dry lips are not cute)

4) Spread the love!
Blog about the giveaway with a picture of the prizes and include a link back to this post on my blog. You must leave me a link to your post in the comment section as proof.

All participants must follow all of the directions to be eligible. The contest will close on February 28th @ 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

2010-02-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

outfit i got @ my last mini shopping spree from F21, new Revlon :wine with everything: lipstick i picked up from Target that was on clearance; milani XL all over bronzer, acid wash denim leggings, small paul onesie

kailei with my new lipstick lol

Happy V-Day!, Never Dying Fish

2010-02-11T07:53:00.001-08:00

So yesterday.... I went to change my beta's water. I have three beta fish, and they are possibly the longest living fish I have ever owned. Anyhow, two of them are in the same tank (with a separating piece in the middle) and one has his very own tank. While I tried to pour the two that share the tank into their very own little cup while I cleaned their tank... my burgundy beta fell into the kitchen sink... ! I had no idea what to do...for a second I had the faucet water running on him and then I got a spoon and was able to save him. I just KNEW he was going to die, no water... the pressure of faucet water... and then me trying to save him with a spoon... but low and behold he is still alive today. I have had him for two years now, every other fish I had in the past died in like two months.

My amazing fish. lol

Anyhow....so I am expecting my Sigma Complete Brush Kit in the mail any day now... Yay! I can't wait to see what all the hype is about. Hopefully they don't disappoint. I will share what I think on them after I test them out!

Valentines day is around the corner and I hope everyone has a great day full of love. Whether you have someone to spend the day with or your just by yourself at home take the time to appreciate and love you and the ones that matter the most! :)

some of my loved ones
kailei, me and my sister, and me and my man! ♥

2010-02-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been uneventful for me... we got ice and a little snow over the weekend... my parents usually babysit Kailei on the weekends for me when I work; Friday night my mom called me because Kailei wouldn't stop crying (and for her that's unusual), I was really worried and then Saturday she called me because Kailei was throwing up, it turns out that she had the stomach flu, which I happened to come down with on Monday and didn't feel better until Tuesday night. O.m.g. I don't see how I went through weeks of morning sickness... having the stomach flu was like a horrible flashback of what morning sickness was for me. I feel better now! Thank God. People get your flu shots, and always wash your hands... although some things we can't really prevent... I wash my hands so much that they have been looking pretty scaly lately :( ... anyway! Hope everyone is in good health.

>>Me playing around with colors when I was iced in, some earrings I picked up from forever 21, and then Kailei with her daddy/my fiance...

Ulta, Target

2010-01-29T16:56:00.000-08:00

Soo my day pretty much went class, Jason's Deli, Ulta, and Target.
I started putting rice cereal in Kailei's bottle last night... so far she seems to be doing pretty good on it. Today I fed her the rice cereal from the bowl and tried the stage 1 banana's from Gerber. She seemed to like the cereal, but when it came to the banana's she made the funniest little face at the taste... it was really cute though. I'm so excited to be starting her off on actual little baby foods. It's so cute, and fun. I went to Ulta this evening and picked up a few things, I had the 20% off the entire purchase coupon so that saved me a lot. Then afterwards I went to Target and got Kailei a cute onesie and a new scrap book since I got a bunch of pictures developed yesterday.

Beauty mirror, and close curves razor... I picked up from ulta above...Candle I got from Ulta that was on clearance ~ Guava Smoothie

Scrapbook Kit
3 OPI Nail polishes: You Don't Know Jacques (Matte), Venus Di Violet, a Natural nail base. I also got a NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss#129, Smashbox brow tech wax, two nail buffers, and two Queen Helene Face products my sister had told me were really good... Oatmeal 'n honey Natural Face scrub, and Avocado & Grapfruit face masque.

2010-01-27T11:17:00.001-08:00

I have been so busy with school, taking care of my daughter, and life in general that I haven't really felt like blogging lately. I'm still waiting on the NYX Cosmetics i blogged about buying in my last post... but I'm sure the site was bombarded with sales so I'm not surprised.

I'm taking two health care management classes this semester a long with calculus. I love my health management classes.... whenever the teacher is very interesting it's not hard to like the subject... and anyway its dealing with health care a topic everyone should be aware of... so that makes it even more interesting.

I'm hoping to be able to go shopping soon! A new wardrobe is past due for me.

Me and baby girl had a mini photo shoot yesterday and today... oh yeah and I got her ears pierced the day before yesterday!

NYX Cosmetics Sale

2010-01-17T20:23:00.001-08:00

So... today I happened to find out that NYX Cosmetics was having a one dollar sale on their eyes, face, and lip products! $1 dollar! Usually I'm not one to buy makeup online if I could get it in the store... but I couldn't pass this up. The only thing is ... they get you with the shipping. The only shipping option was priority mail... with cost like $11.50 :( That was somewhat disappointing but I guess since the products were on such a great discount it kinda made it somewhat ok to have to pay that much. Sooo here's what I picked out. I can't wait to get them in the mail.

So... there's the stuff I picked..... Dark Brown/Brown Eyebrow duo, Shadows: skin, egg white, dolly pink, beanie, apricot moose, wild flower, creamy, 24 karet, mediterranean, and chai, and then for lip glosses: ginger sparkle, rose sparkle, plum sparkle... and then I also got the highlight from the highlight and contour set. All of these were 1$ each!

School

2010-01-14T17:58:00.001-08:00

Soooo I've started school... so far I really love my health care management classes... I have two, one on campus, one online... same teacher for both, and she's really cool so far! I've always hated math... but I had no other choice but to take calculus this semester in order to move on to my higher level courses I need to be able to graduate.... It's been so long since I have taken math I'm like y=mx+b what?? huh?? lol I feel like I've forgotten almost everything except simple multiplication, addition, etc.

Sooo... I've been watching a lot of makeup videos lately... I hope to practice some more looks soon and post pictures...

My baby girl is sick :( She has her first cold... I'm so sad!

01.08.09

2010-01-08T16:24:00.001-08:00

So the last week of this wonderful break is ending. Ugh. I'm dreading classes on Monday, at first I thought I'd be excited but the more I think about how hectic everything will be since me and my fiance both work and are students and we'll have to flip bk and forth watching our daughter while the other is either in class... or at work... it sounds busy just writing it... I took classes this past semester, but luckily all of mine were online. I knew I wasn't going to be able to do classes on campus since I was due to deliver Kailei.

Life has changed sooo much.... in a great way though. My daughter is the love of my life. I will probably post a gazillion pictures of her on this blog. She is the sweetest baby ever, not too fussy, and really only cries when she is hungry. Not to mention she looks like an absolute doll baby. *sigh*

So... onto beauty! Today I didn't go anywhere... but I decided to do my makeup anyhow.... I used an Urban Decay eyeshadow palette... just played around with some of the colors... I'm not a pro at doing makeup by any means... I just recently fell in love with eyeshadow. In the past my makeup routine consisted of mineral foundation, fix+, blush, mascara, black pencil eyeliner, and bronzer. I had no idea what contouring, highlighting, primers, etc. were. I also didn't know that there were so many brushes that you actually need to apply everything the right way. Anyhow... here are swatches from the urban decay palette I bought for Christmas...

The colors are a little more vibrant in the picture above because my fingers were wet( bottom row of shadows above)

Top row of shadows... would be more vibrant over base.

Over all the shadows are really nice. I think my favorite colors out of the palette are midnight cowboy rides again, flash, and oil slick.

a simple day...

2010-01-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of my daughter when we put her in her walker for the first time... :)

Classes start on Monday, and I feel like I'm ready for the new semester, a fresh start to make great grades. So after this semester, I'll have about 10 more classes I need before I can get my bachelors degree in Business Admin, and minor in Health Care MGMT. I'm so anxious to graduate... but then at the same time, nervous as well. With the recession still not fully underway, I'm afraid that I'll be one of those graduates with just a degree that's as good as any other piece of paper.

I almost bought one of those Maybelline quads today, velvet crush, but I decided to put it back and wait until I get paid next week and just go to Ulta. It's been a pretty laid back day. Overall I just spent the day playing with Kailei (my daughter)... oh yeah and me and my fiance went to Ruby Tuesdays. Which is one of our favorite places to eat ever since they started sending BOGO free coupons every week. I got the crab cake dinner, as always it was very good.

I still haven't got into the full swing of blogging, but I really enjoy it when I do, and I love reading other blogs as well. I feel like blogging will somehow improve my writing skills, so that's another good excuse to blog.... hehe.

FIRST!

2010-01-02T17:18:00.001-08:00

Hello Beauty lovers!

So this is my FIRST blog... I'm so excited. I have decided that 2010 will be the year that I stop procrastinating, and do the things I have been telling myself I want to do, but don't actually get around to doing them. For a long time I have been following various beauty gurus on youtube, and recently on blogspot. I'm hooked! So I figured, why not start up my own blog and post my reviews, hauls, feelings, thoughts on various issues, etc.

Some background info:

22 years young; mother; fiance; student; makeup lover, starting to get more into fashion as far as clothes and shoes, and defining my own personal style.

This is my beautiful little girl !