Beauty by Arielle

Make Your Pinterest Style Board Come Alive part 2

2012-02-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hello lovelies!

In part 1 of Make Your Pinterest Style Board Come Alive I discussed looking at your inspiration and figuring out what pieces you have in your own closet to recreate the look. Now I want to discuss what pins you're actually pinning.

Here are some snapshots of my style board:

Take a look at your board too and start asking yourself:

Is there any pattern to what I'm pinning?
For me, I noticed I pinned a neutral palette of layered outfits.

Are there types of outfits I am seeing over and over?
Structured jackets, jeans, boots, sweaters and scarves.

Do I have these kinds of pieces in my own closet?
Not enough-I pinned several structured jackets and I do not own many myself. I also pinned some ruffled shirts and structured dresses that I do not have in my closet either. I do have some elements but if these are the styles I know I like then I need to fill my closet with those types of garments.

How can I make this style board part of my own closet?
Fill it with the pieces I'm missing.

You don't need to go out and buy copies but you can find items that have the same elements. For me I need purchase more:

structured jackets
structured dresses
ruffled blouses

I took a look at Kristen of Glitter, Gloss, and Glaze's 'Cute Stuff' and 'I Want" board which had some style pins on it:

Is there a pattern?

Neutrals with layers and a pop of color.

Are there types of outfits I'm seeing over and over?

Jeans, neutral sweater, white tee, flats and a colored accessory (shoes, scarf, or jewelry).

From here, Kristen would take a look at her own closet to see if she has similar elements. From looking at these boards it appears she leans towards:

grey or white t-shits
neutral color cardigans
jeans
shoes with a pop of color
accessories in a coordinating color to the shoe (necklace, earrings or scarf)

Now that you have an idea about what your style boards look like start evaluating your own closets to find similar pieces or figure out what's missing!

Make Your Pinterest Style Board Come Alive

2012-02-27T06:55:00.000-06:00

Hello lovely readers!

How often do you hop on Pinterest, pin a handful of style inspirations to your boards and never try them out for size?

This girl is guilty as charged.

So, I made the decision to make an outfit I pinned come alive using elements from my own closet. I have seen several outfits from Lilly's Style pop up on Pinterest, including this pin from yesterday:

image via Lilly's Style

When I saw the look I immediately starting thinking of items in my closet I could pull together to achieve this style...

Solid color sweater: check

Button down: check

Waist belt: check

Jeans: check

Boots: check

Obviously my outfit is not exactly the same but it has the same elements. The idea of fashion inspirations are to bring in what you already own to create something similar.

Here we see Kate Middleton in classic pieces that most fashionistas probably have in their own closets. Look at the fashion inspiration and start asking yourself: do I have any similar pieces?

image via ES Fashion Style

Do I have a structured jacket? yes

Do I have a solid color sweater? not quite but I do have a striped one

Do I have have a white undershirt? yes

Jeans? yes

Boots? yes

Since my jacket is lighter than Kate's I could substitute the sweater for something darker like the purple one from the last outfit or a navy blouse. While I do not own her exact pieces I do have different sweaters and jackets I could swap out to achieve a similar look.

Next time you see a Pinterest outfit you like start going through your closet to see what elements you can incorporate to make it your own!

Check out part 2 coming later this week!

How will you make your Pinterest inspirations come alive?

Click here to join the Monday Beauties Blog Hop!

Review: Goody Get Smooth Volume

2012-02-25T10:34:00.000-06:00

Hello lovelies!

I am excited to share with all of you this fantastic round brush I found a couple months ago. I am totally in love with it! It is the Goody Get Smooth Volume Natural Shine Boar Bristles.

When I blow dry my hair I do so until it is 70% dry. I then use a round brush to style and smooth. I have not been completely happy with most round brushes because the brush somehow gets stuck or little hairs would get caught where the handle and brush meet.

With this brush I have had NO problems whatsoever. Before I purchased it I was using a paddle brush in lieu of the round because of reasons stated above. The oval shape of this brush I feel like prevents those issues. The boar bristles do not get caught up in my fine hair. Instead they smooth my hair beautifully. This brush is like the offspring of a paddle brush and round brush combining the best of both worlds! It is especially wonderful for long hair with layers. I am able to get a smooth, volumized look without a lot of hassle.

If you couldn't tell I am totally head over heels for this brush so I rate it:

I found this brush at Target a couple of months ago for about $8. I have not seen this particular style at any other store and I could not find it online either! Here is the closest brush. I was at Target a couple of weeks ago and checked to see if it is still available and it is.

Have you found a hair brush you are absolutely in love with?

Review: Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow

2012-02-21T17:30:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

I have been pretty MIA because I became very ill starting on Friday (my birthday WTH) until yesterday. I went to the doctor and they are unsure of what the problem is. Yay!

Anyway, I have been meaning to do a review of the Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow for quite a while. I should have done it sooner because Revlon has recently re-released the product with new packaging and with a new 16 hour claim!

I'm very pleased with these quads so if the 16 hour quads are similar formulation then I will be happy! If you happen to see the 12 hour out there on sale I encourage you to pick up a couple on the cheap before they disappear completely (hopefully they don't).

Gems and Jewels

Dusty Rose

Sterling Rose

These are now one of my favorite drugstore shadows. As you can see, I have three of these quads. They have all performed with great results. These have beautiful pigmentation and a soft texture. The color lasts all day with no creasing plus they are blendable. Blending is important to me because I do not find many drugstore shadows that actually blend well. The color combinations are well thought out. The packaging is nice and compact as well. I only used the shadows with a primer but I did notice they still lasted longer than other drugstore shadows that I have used with primers. All of the colors have shimmer but they are not frosted.

I will admit the black in Sterling Rose is not as intense as I would like but that is the only color I was not too pleased with. My favorite quad is Gems and Jewels. Just last week I was wearing Dusty Rose and when someone asked the brand and I told them Revlon they were surprised!

I rate the Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow:

Have you used the new Revlon ColorStay? Are they similar?

Bridal Bound: Bachelorette Party

2012-02-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hello lovely readers!

Today is my birthday so last weekend three of my favorite ladies and I celebrated with a low key bachelorette party!

I didn't intend to have a bachelorette party but I saw that one of my favorite 80's cover band would be at my alma mater so I checked in with a couple of my friends to see if the weekend would work for them. Since it was right before my birthday I thought let's knock out two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, one of my friends could not make it but she was there in spirit!

I would consider myself a pretty low key person. The idea of a stereotypical bachelorette party didn't sound like me at all. We kept it low key with the four of us and began by getting pedicures. We headed back to the hotel after to get ready and have a champagne toast. Then we headed to a fantastic restaurant, Global Gourmet (it's where my fiancé and I had our first date), and then to a martini bar. Around 10 we headed over to the bar to dance the night away to Wedding Banned. I really had a fantastic time and it was so great to have everyone together! My friends are literally all over the state so I do not get to see them very often!

When I arrived to the hotel I was totally surprised because Beth and Lisa had decorated the room:

Beth had also made these adorable cookies she found on Pinterest:

Beth & I

I met Beth through our Social Work program at SIU. I even lived with her and her now husband in my last year there!

Hannah & Lisa

I met Hannah through a Habitat for Humanity trip freshmen year at SIU and we became fast friends. Lisa and I have been best friends since high school. We were in everything from color guard to the musical together.

I got to wear that cute little Bachelorette sash but unfortunately I left my crown and wine glass in the car. Whoops on my part! Beth passed along a bachelorette party tradition (aka the ugly light) that I get to pass along to my next friend who gets married!

Thank you for such a wonderful weekend ladies!

Birchbox Month 2

2012-02-15T19:22:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!

You may remember (or not!) that I received a year subscription to Birchbox from my fiancé! Here is my second box...

This is the outer box that it is shipped in. I really like this packaging!

The box is basic cardboard. It is about the size of a book. The inside had the products in a sheet of silver tissue paper.

Violent Lips Temporary Lip Tattoos, full size, Value $15

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, .07 oz, Value $1.56

Orofludio Beauty Elixir, .17 oz, Value $1.49

beautyblender, full size, Value $12.97

Nail File, this was a free "~~worthless~~ lifestyle extra"

TOTAL: $31.02

Impressions

I received my second box on Monday, which was after many other bloggers did, and about four days later than last month. This didn't bother me but I was patiently awaiting!

Birchbox sent me an e-mail letting me know my box had shipped plus they included a tracking number. They did not do that the first time. I was very pleased that they let me know this time.

Other bloggers reported that they received a Stila eyeliner so I was a bit disappointed that I did not.

The beautyblender itself paid for this month's box so it well exceeded the $10 price.

I will never use the temporary lip tattoos. Sorry but who wants silver glitter lips?!

I'm looking forward to trying the other products!

I am not impressed by the sample sizes. Last month I laughed at the size of the Jouer lip gloss and again this month the Jouer product (and the Orofludio) are TINY. I mean the size of a dime tiny. From seeing other bloggers talk about Beauty Army I'm thinking they may turn out to be a serious competitor solely based on the sample sizes you get from them.

What did you get in your Birchbox this month?

Guest Blogger: Kristen of Glitter, Gloss, and Glaze

2012-02-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

My guest blogger for February is Kristen of Glitter, Gloss, and Glaze! We are participating in a blog swap today so you can find my post on her blog.

image via Glitter, Gloss, and Glaze

Kristen has been an awesome and supportive blogger friend (we tweet often)! I have really enjoyed her blog. I recently saw that Kristen ~~courageously~~ started participating in a weekly nail challenge and this week is of course for Valentine's Day!

Take it away Kristen!

First off, a special thanks to Arielle for letting me write on her blog! I was so excited to do a swap with her today! (make sure you check her post on my blog over here)

Valentine's Day is here and everyone is doing something red or pink with hearts or kisses and getting ready to celebrate the day of love! Whether you're single, attached, married, or whatever, you can still have fun with your nails!:)

Colors Used:

OPI Base Coat
Sinful Colors GoGo Girl
L.A. Girl French White
Konad Pink
Konad Purple
Konad white
Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat

Supplies Used:

Shany Plate SH20

Shany Plate SH19

Konad Stamper

Konad Scraper

After applying the base coat, I did two shades of the red on all my colors but my ring finger; on that one I used the white. Now, there is something so sexy and classy with the right shade of red on your fingers. I have tried sooooo many different shades that just didn't seem quite right. GoGo Girl from Sinful Colors is now my go-to red! It just says, "I'm hot like a 1940's pinup model, but I'm not a trashy girl" lol:) (and the fact it's only $1.99 makes it an even better polish!;)

After the polish was fully dry (very important), I went and stamped over it. For those of you who haven't tried stamping yet, I'd highly recommend it! It's one of the easiest ways to do nail art and have people think it was professionally done! You take the stamping plate with the image you want, put some polish on it, scrape it of, stamp the stamper on it then roll the stamper on your nail and BAM! Design!:)

I did a line of hearts on the tips of the red nails and some kissy lips on the white nail.

without flash

with flash

I think it actually turned out pretty well! I'm definitely ready to celebrate Valentine's Day now!:) What about you? Have you done any special V-day manis? Tweet them to me @GlossandGlaze on Twitter or post them on my Facebook Page:)

Kristen's blog Glitter Gloss and Glaze is a smattering of reviews, hauls, nail art, and some other random life thoughts. She loves anything that's pink and sparkly! And has a special place in her heart for shoes and purses:)

Thanks so much Kristen!

Click here to participate in the Monday Beauties Blog Hop.

Bridal Bound: Let's Talk About Bridal Shoes part 2

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hello lovely ladies!

As I reported a couple of weeks ago, I was very frustrated with the selection of flat bridal shoes available. On a stop at TJ Maxx I stumbled upon a suitable pair. They were blue, which was not what I thought I would go with, but I loved the idea of have my shoes as my something blue!

Adrienne Vittanini via TJ Maxx

I thought, "I'll purchase these and if something better comes along I can just return them." Well, it just so happens a week later something better and more fabulous did come along.

I found these beauties at Dillard's at 65% off!

Steve Madden via Amazon

Unfortunately, they were a bit snug but I bought them anyway. Then, I scoured the internet for the half size up. It was nearly impossible to find them in a 9. Luckily, I was able to find the shoe on Amazon for just $10 more with free shipping. You can't really tell from the photos but they sparkle like crazy!

So there you have it...the girl who thought she might find no shoes became a two shoe bride!

Check out my guest blog on Beauty Obsessed! It is all about eye cream!

New Rules of Lifting: End of Phase 1

2012-02-08T16:44:00.000-06:00

Hello lovelies!

It feels like it was so long ago when I started phase 1 of my new fitness routine. As you may recall, I am following the book The New Rules of Lifting for Women.

After the past two months I don't look like this:

image via Iron Magazine

But I do look like this:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

I'm going to admit that until I saw the photos I did not notice much difference visually. But then again, I see myself everyday so it is hard to tell. After seeing the photos I certainly notice a difference, especially in my abs.

Other differences I've noticed:

My muscles are much harder
I can lift heavier items without a struggle
The cellulite on the back of my thighs has reduced
My arm muscles are beginning to look more defined without flexing

What I liked about phase one:

The workouts could be completed in about 30 minutes
I only had to go to the gym 2-3 times a week
Variety

What I didn't like about phase one:

I had to do the workouts 8 times each for a total of 16 times and it seriously felt like forever
There were certain moves on day A and day B I absolutely dreaded doing
I began to miss doing cardio

The book suggested that phase one is completed in about 8 weeks. It took me a bit longer because over Christmas break there was a week I didn't make it to the gym at all. The book also suggests to eat a protein bar or drink a protein shake after each workout and I didn't always do so. I have been fluctuating my weight up and down 2-3 pounds, this is pretty normal for me though. I also didn't do the bonus workouts at the end. These are to show you how much progress you have made but I feel like I'm already aware enough that I'm not going to waste those days.

I am now moving on to phase 2 which is only 8 total workouts and on day B I get to add cardio! I looked at the names of the moves and they sound intimidating...

What fitness goals have you set for yourself this year?

January Favorites

2012-02-06T12:42:00.000-06:00

Hello lovelies!

Time to post my five favorites from January!

Sephora Collection Makeup Studio Blockbuster

I received this gem for Christmas and absolutely love it! Sephora releases a yearly blockbuster kit and this past years was a hit. The quality and number of products is fantastic. Unfortunately these are no longer available online.

bareMinerals foundation

My sensitive skin responds extremely well to bareMinerals. I have been using this foundation almost daily for the past year.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

This mascara makes my sparse lashes look thick and beautiful!

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio Nude Eyes in Pewter

This eyeliner is part of a trio and I especially love the Pewter. It is a nice alternative to using black everyday.

Odwalla Berries GoMega Bar

On busy mornings I have reached for these delicious bars. I've tried several flavors but the Berries GoMega has been my favorite.

Have you tried any of these products?

Monday Beauties Blog Hop click here.

Haul: Sephora and TJ Maxx

2012-02-04T19:33:00.000-06:00

Hi lovelies!

I made a stop by Sephora today because I received an e-mail that I could get my Beauty Insider birthday gift plus I had a $25 gift card that was burning a hole in my purse! I have perused the aisles of Sephora and bought nothing in the past couple of months but this time I saw the Sephora Favorites Lashtash (released around the holidays) reduced to $32 so I had to get it. My favorite beauty product is mascara so I jumped on the opportunity to try several high end varieties.

One thing I probably haven't shared is that I live in a small town and the nearest mall is over an hour away so I don't get the opportunity to indulge in Sephora or high end beauty products very often so I'm very excited about this collection!

In this kit you get two full sized mascaras, eight sample size and one sample sized Clinique makeup remover. Brands include Stila, Sephora, Urban Decay, Too Faced, Make Up For Ever, bareMinerals, Hourglass Film Noir, Josie Maran, Tarte and Fairydrops.

Last year's Sephora Beauty Insider birthday gift was Philosophy body wash in Vanilla Birthday Cake. What I appreciate about the free birthday product is you do not have to make a purchase to receive it. You can just stop by the store and request it at the check out counter, as long as you are Beauty Insider member. This year the gift are miniatures of Fresh lip treatments in Sugar and Sugar Rosé.

I also went by Tj Maxx and they had a mini brow kit with Tweezerman tweezers. I have wanted to try them out for some time but I was not willing to pay over 20 bucks for them. This kit was only $12.99 so I picked it up! Finally I'm in the Tweezerman club!

This last TJ Maxx find was something I have been searching for since YouTube guru emilynoel83 recommended it.

The Mircofiber Hair Turban from Spa Sister, $5.99, is a towel specifically designed for your hair. Instead of having a giant towel resting on top of your head this reduces the weight and is suppose to absorb more moisture.

Have you found any great deals lately?

OOTD: Dinner with my Hunny

2012-02-03T07:39:00.000-06:00

Hello beautiful ladies!

Just a quick Outfit of the Day to post...

Sweater: Lauren Conrad, thrifted

Jeans: Gap, thrifted

Boots: Fossil, Macy's

The FI and I went to dinner at the local Mexican restaurant, which is ironically named El Mexicano. We go there several times a month because it is oh so delicious. I always order a bean chimichanga!

photo via Your Next Shoes

Quick comment on the boots. I dropped by Macy's and all of their boots are 50-75% off so I got an awesome deal on these. Now is the time to pick up a pair of boots since the department stores are starting to put out the spring merchandise! I also happened to see some Coach bags for 50% off (whoa!)

NOTD: Zoya polish in Kristen

2012-01-31T19:23:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

I posted about my first Birchbox arriving and in it I received this Zoya nail polish in Kristen.

I absolutely adore the color! While I was out shopping a woman said to me, "I like your Tiffany Blue nails!" Up until that point I had not thought about the color but Tiffany Blue is the perfect description.

Have you tried Zoya polishes before? How did they work out for you?

Guest Blogger: Kelly of Beauty Obsessed

2012-01-29T09:07:00.001-06:00

Hello lovely beauties!

I'm excited to begin the Guest Blogging series here on Beauty by Arielle. Each month, a fellow beauty blogger will be writing in and sharing the beauty love!

I'm excited to have Kelly of Beauty Obsessed as my first guest blogger! Kelly's blog was one of the first I discovered after beginning mine and she has been extremely supportive and wonderful! She is also one of the co-hosts of the Monday Beauties Blog Hop.

image via Beauty Obsessed

In this post, Kelly will be blogging about nail files. Take it away Kelly!

Hi, my name is Kelly and I have a beauty blog, Beauty Obsessed. I’m extremely honored to be able to do a guest post on Arielle’s blog today! I'm really into nails, nail polish, nail art, the whole nine yards. I am in no way a professional nor do I claim to be, however I have learned a lot of tips and tricks from doing my nails over the years. In this post I want to talk about nail files, all the different ones out there, which ones are actually useful and which ones aren’t. Included with some tips on how to properly file your nails.

I believe that everyone should own a good quality nail file that is categorized by a grit number. A grit number is the roughness of a nail file. The lower the grit number the rougher the nail file is. For example; Nail salons use a 100 grit file for acrylic nails, that is way too rough on natural nails even if you have thick nails. The grit number I use is 240 and my nails aren’t really thick but there not thin either. Grit numbers that are safe for natural nails are 240, 300, 400, 600. A nail file with a 600 grit could be used on any natural nail and would never rip or tear your nails. So you get the idea, right. They sell these nail files at Sally’s Beauty Supply and other beauty stores. I haven’t seen them at drugstores though. You want a nail file that suits the type of nails you have. You can usually find ones that have the grit number right on the file like mine.

METAL FILES

All I can say about these files is that if you own one then throw it out lol and if you use it PLEASE DON’T! This file is as useful as a brick, seriously! These are the types of files that come with manicure sets, so we've all probably owned one at one time. There way too rough and all they'll do is damage your nail plate and cause peeling.

DECORATIVE FILES

These are the files that you can find at the dollar store or basically anywhere and there probably no more than $2. There pretty to look at and I have a few that I've gotten for presents and that I bought a while ago. But truthfully, there not made out of good quality and they wont file and shape your nails very well. They wear very quickly so if they did file your nails chances are it would only be one time.

THE 7-SIDED NAIL FILE:

I really like these files and find them very useful. You can get these at any drugstore and I like how each side is labeled for you.

1- Coarse Grit

2- Medium Grit

3- Fine Grit (to neaten edges of nail)

4- Even Out

5- Smooth Out

6- Buffer

7- Shiner

Number 3 is probably equivalent to the 240 nail file I use. Number 1 & 2 are a little too rough (for my nails anyway). I like # 3 a lot and use it after to smooth and even out the tips of my nails. You can definitely use # 5, 6 & 7. However, I prefer to buff my nails with a nail buffer block because I find it a lot easier. # 7 is good for a natural look with no polish. The one thing I did notice about these files are that they don’t last too long for some reason. I find myself buying a new one every 6 months or so. But there not expensive , you can probably get one at any drugstore for no more than $3.

CRYSTAL/GLASS FILES

These files have become really popular lately. It’s not a nail file you would use if you wanted to file down your nails, but it’s a file you would use to shape your nails without having to worry about it ever tearing your nails or causing peeling. The grit on a crystal file is probably between 400 and 600. (Remember when I said a 600 grit would file natural nails without any tearing or peeling). After I have filed my nails with my grit file, evened them out with the 7 Sided File, I use this to file them into the shape I want. These are a little more expensive depending on where you buy it but I feel like it’s a good investment. I think I paid around $8 for mine but they do last a while

NAIL BUFFER BLOCK:

There is actually a wrong way and right way to buff your nails. First off, buffing is for smoothing out ridges you have in your nails or to get rid of any residue from when you filed your nails before hand. It’s really not necessary to buff your nails every week or every time you give yourself a manicure. Too much buffing can cause your nails to weaken or cause peeling. When you do buff your nails start at the cuticle and work your way down to the tip in one gentle motion. Don’t buff your nails using a back and forth motion, this can cause damage to your nails. If you plan on not using any nail polish, use the part of the buffer that smoothes or shines your nails. They do really make your nails look polished.

TIPS FOR FILING YOUR NAILS.

-You can use a nail file if you need to take down some length, but if you want to get rid of more than 1cm long I suggest using nail clippers. Otherwise a nail file is fine.

- Make sure your nails are not wet or damp when filing, because your nails are at there weakest point when wet.

- Filing your nails should be the first step in your manicure, that means filing with your nail polish still ON. Why? The nail polish acts as an adhesive on your nails reducing your chance of splitting or breaking your nails while filing. It will also help you see the tip of your nail better bc of the contrast between the color of the polish and your actual nail. I find that my nails are so much easier to file with the polish still on.

- If you file under the nail at a slight angle it will give you more control because the tip of your nail will be visible the entire time you're filing.

- Determine whether your nails are thick or thin, this will help you determine which grit number is best. Thicker nails can use something around 220 and thin nails would need something like 300 or higher.

- For the most part nail filing should be done in one direction. The only way I would say that you can go back and forth was if you were using either a crystal file or a grit number of 400 or higher

- Keep filing in one direction until you reach the length you want. Once you have the desired length, finish by sealing the edge of your nails. Run the file from above your finger down the nails edge. This makes the tips smoother.

Kelly, is the author of Beauty Obsessed. A blog where you can find tons of beauty tricks & tips, product reviews, DIY treatments or projects, basically anything beauty related. On twitter you can follower her at @kellabel. You can check out her blog here or contact her at kelbananas14@yahoo.com.

Thank you so much for guest blogging today Kelly!

Sephora Perfecting Eye Primer Review

2012-01-25T16:04:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

I must say the best beauty discovery I have had is primers. When you find the right one it is such a holy grail product because they really make your makeup last all day-which is important for this combination skin girl!

However, the Sephora Perfecting Eye Primer is not one of those holy grail primers-it is actually a product I regret buying. I am giving it a:

The tube states, "Eye primer. Base for long lasting eye shadow and concealer. Contains anti-wrinkle activities."

The website has more to say, "This first step to smooth, lasting eye makeup works beneath shadow to make it more vibrant and crease-proof, and gives concealer extended, flawless wear. Formulated with a special blend of filling spheres that draw moisture to plump fine lines, it also contains anti-aging actives help to reduce fine lines with continued use. Meanwhile, light reflecting chromospheres minimize skin imperfections, brightening dark circles, de-puffing, and creating an overall soft-focus effect."

Sephora, $14

Unfortunately, this product was a big disappointment. It literally did nothing for me. I wanted this to work and make my eyeshadow last longer but it didn't. My eyeshadow creased and the color was not more vibrant although the tube promises otherwise. I do not have fine lines so I can't reflect on that part of this product but I know it did nothing for de-puffing or brightening dark circles. I completely gave up on this primer after using it for a couple of weeks.

One thing I found strange was that the product comes out of the tube white. Any other eye primers I have used are nude.

What really bothered me is when the product is rubbed in it left my eyes looking more oily. I already have oily lids, thus the need for a primer. The fact that it does this is quite frustrating. Also, the primer is very wet, something I do not desire in a primer.

Rubbed into my hand

The price tag is almost laughable (at least that is how I feel after using it-had it worked then it might be reasonable for the quantity). You can buy a tube of Urban Decay Primer Potion for $5 more or the NYX HD Eye Shadow Base for half the price. Both of those products are amazing primers.

Sorry Sephora but you need to reformulate this primer.

Bridal Bound: Let's Talk About Bridal Shoes

2012-01-22T09:57:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

Shoes are very important to me. I fall in love with shoes. So my bridal shoes should be the same way, right? Apparently I'm wrong.

I have literally been scouring the internet for months to find shoes. I have entered department store upon department store in hopes of stumbling upon the perfect shoe.

First, let's get something straight. I'm about an inch taller than my fiancé. I do not wear heels when I'm out with him. I have heard people say "oh who cares it's your wedding day you can be tall." ... I would like them to wear heels that make them 5 inches taller than their significant other and then we can talk. BTW when I wear heels I'm about 6 feet tall.

Needless to say, I'm wearing flats.

I'm not really sure why, but designers out there in the bridal world seem to think that just because you are wearing flats you don't want to be fabulous. This shoe, or some form of this shoe, is the ~~unfortunate~~ norm:

image via David's Bridal

Then I see shoes like this and drool:

image via DSW

See the difference?!

If you go to the Wedding Shop of the Zappos or DSW website and select flats this is what you get:

image via Zappos

Really 3 choices?! One of those is a kids shoe! This is the only choice in the DSW wedding shop:

image via DSW

The bow shoe is cute but it is the only choice. I am frustrated because I know I am not the only bride looking for fabulous flats. Why are these shoe designers not giving us more choices?!

I expanded my search far beyond the wedding section-I look at all available flat choices. Still nothing. I am now considering DIYing my shoes by purchasing something like this:

image via Payless

And then adding a shoe clip:

image via Etsy seller Nylora

I have also thought about saying screw it and going for a less than traditional choice like these just because I like them:

image via Amazon

Shoe designers I am begging you to give us some fabulous bridal flats!

Click here to get in on the Monday Beauties Blog Hop!

Cute Blog Award and Versatile Blogger Award

2012-01-20T10:38:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

In the past couple weeks I have been given two awards by Kristen at Glitter, Gloss, and Glaze! Her blog is fantastic and you should all go check her out!

For this award you:

1. Link back to the person who awarded you.

2. Answer the award questions.

3. Tell something about yourself that you haven't told anyone on your blog yet.

4. Award as many blogs as you think worthy of this award.

5. Make sure to let everyone you gave this award to know that you awarded them.

1) What is your go-to make-up brand?

bareMinerals! I have sensitive skin and I've found that their products improve my skin.

2) What was your favorite fashion trend of 2011?
I enjoyed the comeback of the Sperry Top-Sider. I bought myself a pair with cheetah print and they are extremely comfortable and cute!

3) What is your favorite dessert?

Anything chocolate!!!

4) Favorite color?
Purple

5) What is your middle name?
Elizabeth

6) What's the last song you listened to?
When I'm driving I don't listen to music. I have satellite radio and am addicted to Cosmo Radio!

7) Cats or dogs?
Dogs!

Something you didn't know about me is....I hate feet.

Who I award this to:

Coming Unstitched

Fix Your Face by Maryam Maquillage
Secret Diary of a Fashion Journalist
The Cosmetics Kitten

Rules

You must thank the person who gave you the award, including a shout out with a link on your blog.
Share 7 random facts about yourself
Send the award on to 15 other bloggers whose blog you like to read, and let them know about it.

These are always so difficult to do!

1. I really don't care for Spotify. Pandora forever!

2. My high school graduating class was over 400 people.

3. My college mascot was a Saluki which is an egyptian dog.

4. I went to a completely different school for graduate school.

5. I just started watching How I Met Your Mother and LOVE it!

6. One of my favorite movies is Saving Private Ryan.

7. I have a love for The Beatles and own all of their albums.

Who I award this to:

Beauty Smarties Blog

Discovering Beauty

Beauty Blarg

Her Late Night Cravings
Rockin Roll Doll

Disclaimer: I wanted to give these to bloggers I had not awarded in the past. I also tried to make sure to not give the awards to bloggers who had already received them!

Thanks again Kristen for the awards!

NOTD Gold Tips

2012-01-19T13:28:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

Here's a quick nail of the day! I decided to do a twist on the French manicure and used gold instead.

Wet n Wild Fast Dry in The Gold and the Beautiful

How do you experiment with your nails?

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder in Catwalk Pink

2012-01-16T11:49:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

It's time for another review!

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder in Catwalk Pink

$3.99, Drugstores

I'm just going to get right down to it. I rate this product:

This is a holy grail highlighter. At $3.99 you just can't beat the price. It works perfectly to highlight your cheekbones, down your nose and anywhere else you normally highlight. I have used it everyday since purchasing in October and see no need to go for the high end highlighters now.

I swirl a contouring brush or my index finger in all of the colors and this is what you get from that combination:

While there is a bit of shimmer, it will not leave you glittery or shiny. This highlighter will give your face the subtle dewey glow that you are going for when using a highlight. The name Catwalk Pink is misleading because it does not come off pink at all but more of a sheer with a hint of bronze.

I must say I am truly impressed by this product. I had pretty low expectations when I bought it but I'm very happy with the results.

Have you found drugstore highlights that you're impressed with?

Here's the link to the Monday Beauties Blog Hop!

Breakfast Smoothie

2012-01-14T13:24:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

With New Years weight loss resolutions swirling about I thought I would post this recipe for a breakfast smoothie. Shockingly part of the recipe calls for spinach! Not only will you get your fruit in-but veggies as well!! Such a healthy way to start your day!

I found this recipe from The Frugal Girls but I modified it quite a bit. I found that it's best to make a huge batch that way you don't waste the ingredients. Plus, spending 30 minutes or so making them all will reduce the time you spend making breakfast every morning. I was able to get about 12 servings.

This smoothie was delicious and satisfying. You do not taste the spinach at all-it just tastes fruity. My first thought after sampling was that it tasted like an Orange Julius smoothie!! My fiancé walked in when I added the spinach and looked at me like I was crazy but when he tried it he thought it was very good too.

What you will need:

4 large handfuls spinach (I bought a 10 oz bag and used nearly all of it)
2 cups plain Greek yogurt (an entire 17.6 oz package)
1 bag frozen blueberries (mine was 15 oz)
1 bag frozen strawberries (mine was 16 oz)
4 bananas, sliced
4 cups light soy milk
4 cups orange juice
2 packets of sweetner (optional)

Depending on the size of your blender you will have to split this into smaller batches. I did two batches in a 6 cup blender but I really should have split it into 4 because it was almost overflowing. However you plan to split up the batches divide the recipe into equal parts. Let's say you're going to do this in 4 batches...you would blend 1 handful spinach, 1/2 c yogurt, 1/4 bag of blueberries & strawberries, 1 banana, 1 c milk, 1 c orange juice and 1/2 packet sweetner.

These are easy to make. Start by adding the spinach, yogurt and fruits into the blender. Blend until all parts are broken up into smaller pieces. Then, add the liquids and blend until everything is well mixed. Pour into sandwich sized plastic baggies in 1-1 1/2 cup servings (I just eyed it). Freeze the portions and when you're ready to drink one place one baggie in the fridge to thaw!

Tip: place the baggie in an empty cup for easy pouring

This is what they look like frozen and yes I know they don't look appetizing but they really are delicious!

I used Greek Yogurt because it's packed full of protein, which satisfies hunger. When I looked at buying regular yogurt it only had 11g of protein per serving while the Greek had 23g. There's also less sugar. You can substitute fat free plain yogurt.

Light soy milk has less fat and calories than low fat milk. You can still use low fat milk if that's your preference.

If you would like more protein, these smoothies have about 7g, then add scoops of Whey Protein powder. You can also add some ground flax seed (which I totally forgot to do!)

My calorie guesstimate is: 139/serving
This is just a guesstimate based on the quantities and the calories on the packages of each item used. If you use different yogurt or milk this will have an affect.

Cost: about .97/serving
I tried to buy the generic brand of what I could. Brands will affect cost.

To put this into perspective, if you're on the Special K Diet you will spend $1.25 on each protein shake with 190 calories. Plus you only get 4/pkg. Making them this way saves money and calories plus you get the bonus of added nutrients!

Hopefully this recipe is just as tasty for you!

EOTD Date Night

2012-01-12T19:26:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

Saturday night Ryan and I went on a date. I was wearing an outfit that was lacking in color so I decided to add it to my makeup.

Sephora Collection Makeup Studio Blockbuster

Recently I read that brown eyes should use navy liner or shadow to make eyes pop. I was intrigued by this and used the navy shadow as a liner! I think next time I may skip the blue colors and do something more neutral with navy liner.

What colors do you like to play with?

First Birchbox

2012-01-09T19:02:00.001-06:00

Hi beauties!

For Christmas the fiancé gave me a year subscription to Birchbox and my first box arrived today!

Jouer lipgloss in Birchbox Pink

Zoya nail polish in Kristen

Harvey Prince Yogini Perfume

Eboost Daily Health Booster

VMV Hypoallergenics Re-Everything Face-Hand-Body Lotion

In case you don't know, Birchbox is a subscription service that sends you 4-5 beauty samples each month. I've been hearing about it for a while and after seeing reviews of the various subscription services I decided Birchbox was the best option.

First impressions:
The packaging is really nice. It's like opening a present!

I really thought these boxes were about the size of a shoebox but it's the size of a book. Is that the normal size?

How in the HECK is the Jouer lipgloss considered a legitimate sample? It's the size of a quarter. I already tried it and am quite disappointed. There's 0 color to it.

I am really excited to try the Zoya nail polish and I think I will tonight!

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? Which do you like?

You can still get in on the Monday Beauties Blog Hop! Click here.

Bridal Bound: Engagement Photos

2012-01-08T10:30:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

In world of weddings the norm is to have engagement photos taken. Did I want to? No. Did I do it to please the mamas? Why yes, yes I did.

My fiancé's mom has a good friend who is a photographer. Since she was in the area, I contacted her and she offered to do our engagement session for free. So of course I took her up on this! We were engaged in September and knowing the temperamental fall weather that is the midwest we had our photos done soon after.

Here's the ~~anal~~ funny part of the story: I sent her two photos of what I wanted (can't you tell how much I didn't want to have these done?!). Yes, I told her all I required was two photos and that they had to look like this:

Mario Testino via The Huffington Post

Mario Testino via People Magazine

I even scoured stores to find a shirt similar to photo one. Crazy much?! (I found it at Kohl's in the Lauren Conrad designs. Who knew she had talent?!)

Anyway, we decided to do the photos on my fiancé's grandparent's property. It is out in the country with a beautiful pond and wild flowers. It only took 30 minutes to do our photos and I got exactly what I wanted!

Dorothy Vaughn, Natural Touch Photography

Because the session was free, I contested to having some more creative photos done for her to promote on her website. A tidbit:

Dorothy Vaughn, Natural Touch Photography

After it was all said and done, Ryan realized he locked his keys in the car. The other set was in my car. Problem was the only set of my keys were in my purse locked in his car. It was just a never ending cycle. Luckily he had another set in the house...problem solved!

Today starts the Monday Beauties Blog Hop. Click here to get in on the fun!

Coastal Scents Go Palette Review

2012-01-07T10:37:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

In the last 24 hours I hit 50 subscribers! I'm very excited! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog!

A little over a month ago I posted some photos of the Coastal Scents Go Palettes I had purchased but I did not do an in depth review. After using them for over a month I feel like I can provide a solid review.

The Coastal Scents Go Palettes come in a variety of seven palettes of twelve shadows each. Each palette retails for $8.95 or you can buy the entire collection for $59.95. When I purchased mine, Coastal Scents was having an amazing sale so I was able to get 40% off of each. I ended up buying Paris, London and Moscow.

PACKAGING
These palettes are meant to be portable. They are about as long and wide as a lipstick tube.

pictured next to a Revlon LipButter

When you open up the palette the entire top has a mirror.

There are twelve shadows in each palette and they are about the size of a dime.

I like the size of the palettes and the giant mirror. I also like that you get twelve shadows. However, there's a problem-I dropped one palette and it pretty much destroyed the shadows. Given that these are suppose to be portable the packaging is not conducive for throwing in your purse and it rolling around. I understand that when you drop a shadow palette there will breakage. However in this case, half of them broke in chunks, not pieces, creating craters in the shadows. Also, several pots fell out of the packaging. Then, when I tried to clean the pieces up they crumbled in my fingers and now have mixed with other shades.

SHADOWS

*PARIS*

*MOSCOW*

*LONDON*

Photos taken with no flash in a combination of natural and artificial light.

A look I did using Paris and Moscow. Tutorial here.

Pros

You get twelve shades to try in an array of colors
The shades are pigmented after layering
Colors will last all day

Cons

The color combinations seem out of place. Look at Paris, there are mostly plums and then a random navy and sky blue. In Moscow the red and purple make no sense.
There is absolutely no highlight shade in any of these. You cannot do a complete look because all of these shades are medium to dark. Therefore, this palette has to be combined with something else.
The color swatches Coastal Scents provide on the website are not even close to reality. They swatch beautifully on your finger but when you transfer them to skin they do not look the same.

I rate the Coastal Scents Go Palettes:

This product has its good and bad. The shadows themselves are good quality, however the packaging durability and combination of colors need to be improved upon. Also, at least one highlight needs to be added to each palette.

At Home Facial Waxing Tips

2012-01-05T16:03:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

I recently posted my review of the Satin Smooth waxing system and I wanted to follow up with some waxing tips.

I've been waxing my upper lip and eyebrows at home for about four years now. I do not go to the salon because the cost adds up very quickly. I was using drugstore products until April, when I decided to invest in a professional system.

I really like this video for how to wax your lip:

Now for some tips to achieve great results at home:

If you use Retin-A, usually a cream used in conjunction with acne medications, DO NOT wax the area until you have stopped use for at least 48 hours. When I know I'm going to wax I keep the Retin-A away from my upper lip and eyebrows for two days. Retin-A makes your skin more sensitive and vulnerable to skin tears from the wax. I kept having this happen to me until I researched and figured out the problem was my Retin-A.
Clean the area you intend to wax. Generally, I swipe a cotton ball with Tea Tree Oil or toner on the area.
Lightly dust the area with pressed powder. This creates a protective barrier between the wax and your skin.
Use a very thin layer of wax. If it's too thick you won't get ahold of the hairs.
Using the hand you won't be removing the strip with, pull the skin taught in the same direction of hair growth.
Never wax the same area twice. This will damage the skin.
Sooth the area with Vaseline-this will also help remove any wax residue and/or stickiness.
If you did tear the skin place a little Neosporin on the area.

December Favorites

2012-01-03T16:12:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

Already a new month and a new year! When my parents complained about time going by quickly I didn't believe them...but WOW did 2011 fly by. I guess mom was right!

This means it's time for my five favorite products from December!

L'oréal Magic Smooth Soufflé Foundation, $14 Drugstores

My skin was in a state of disaster last month and this foundation covered it ALL. Such a lifesaver! I did a full review back in November.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles, $8 Drugstores

I was suffering from some dermatitis on my eyes and this concealer helped hide it!

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in Mellow Wine, $3 Drugstores

This blush is a beautiful color and very pigmented. I found myself reaching towards it several times this month to give me a subtle glow.

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, $8 WalMart

I picked this product up a couple months ago and it is my go to primer. At $8 it's a steal and works as good as the high end primers!

Carrington Tea Peppermint, $1 WalMart

Now I know this is kind of random, but I love Peppermint tea in the winter! This is a major steal at $1/box and oh so yummy!

Satin Smooth Review

2012-01-02T13:14:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

I hope you all had a fabulous New Years!

I'm an at home waxer and I've tried lots of different drugstore products with average results. Back in April, after being completely fed up, I decided to invest in a professional wax system in hopes of better results. I purchased the Satin Smooth Professional Single Wax Warmer ($59.99) and the Satin Smooth Tea Tree Wax ($14.99).

image from Folica

I paid $35 for my warmer by shopping on ebay and the wax was still $14.99 but I was able to get free shipping. I also bought muslin strips for $2.99 on ebay and popsicle sticks at Wal-Mart.

The reason for my frustration with drugstore products was not all of the hairs were being removed. Also, some products are just down right bad and damaged my skin. By buying this system my hope was to get salon results and complete removal of hair.

I wax the area above my eyebrow and my upper lip. Removal of all the upper lip hair is extremely important to me. Say no to the stache!

After the first use of my Satin Smooth I noticed a difference immediately and had excellent results to which I was very impressed. I've consistently had excellent results. That's why I rate the warmer and wax:

Folica, where you can purchase these products, says this about the warmer:

"Satin Smooth Professional Single Wax Warmer is an exclusive design created for small places and precision heat-up. The thermostat is designed to create an even temperature throughout the day. The state-of-the-art appliance is made with durable housing that will not crack or discolor."

I would agree that the warmer is a compact size and easy to place in your makeup area (about the size of a Harry Potter book). The warming process heats the wax evenly. My only complaint is the time it takes to heat up the product. This is not a situation where you can just turn it on and go to town. You have to turn the warmer to hot for 15 minutes and then to ready for 30 minutes before it is ready to use. However, this ensures it's not too hot so you won't burn yourself. The dials are straight forward and easy to use for non-professionals.

This is what they have to say about the wax:

"For use on all skin types. Therapeutic formula with Eucalyptus. Ideal for application to delicate areas.

Made with 100% pure natural essential oils
All-purpose wax that can be used on all skin types
Tea Tree oil is a natural antiseptic
Calms and repairs sensitive skin
Making it ideal for delicate areas"

Satin Smooth carries an array of wax choices. I purchased the tea tree because of its claims. I have sensitive skin and the upper lip area is very delicate so I wanted to use a product that would do minimal harm. This wax has a nice clean scent. When using it on my eyebrows I experience very little to no pain. On the upper lip, of course there's pain, but it's less than other products I've tried. I feel this wax is great for sensitive areas and it does calm the skin. There's a cooling sensation after use. Most importantly, this wax removes all of the hairs. At times I have a few strays but that's because of user error, you have to make sure you use a very thin layer. Usually I have a little bit of residue but it's not extremely sticky and easy to remove with Vaseline. Also, the container is going to last a long time if you're using on small areas. I've had mine for 8 months and have at least 95% of it left.

Are you an at home waxer? What products have you had success with?

Today is the Monday Beauties Blog Hop! Click here to get in on the fun!

Bridal Bound: Blinged Out Hangers for Dresses

2011-12-29T17:00:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

I consistently see this type of hanger popping up on wedding websites:

image from theoceansidebride

I sincerely pondered about making these, but with all of my other DIY projects piling up I thought I should go for something easier.

Then, I saw these on pinterest (which BTW is amazing for wedding planning):

image from etsy seller delovelydetails

I really love these because I thought they were more reusable than the others. But when I looked at the cost they were a little out of my price range. So I DIYed my own!

These were SO easy to make and the price difference was significant! I bought a 5 pack of wooden shirt hangers at Walmart for less than $5. The stickers and rhinestones were $2.99/pkg at Michael's.

The only issue was there wasn't a huge selection of small letters to choose from. They only had one type of small purple letters and there were not very many packages that included numbers-and I really wanted to put the date.

For this project, I counted out the number of letters in each name and centered them on the line where the two parts of the hanger meet. For example, Lisa was 4 letters so I made sure the line was centered between the 'i' and 's'. For 'bride', the 'i' went right on the line since it was an odd number of letters. I started with the middle letter(s) and worked outward. Instead of using the dots for the 'i's' or 'j's' I replaced them with the rhinestones. Then I centered the date to the name. These letters are very sticky so I'm not worried about them falling off. When I had to fix a couple they were very hard to remove. I am slightly worried about the rhinestone so I may super glue them.

*BIG MISTAKE: I put the wrong date on mine and the MOH's and had to fix it! LOL*

The girls will be ordering their dresses in the next month so I'm going to give these to them soon so they have the hanger when their dresses arrive!

Kreativ Blogger Award

2011-12-27T11:44:00.002-06:00

Hello beauties!

I am so excited and honored because Kelly of Beauty Obsessed has given me the Kreativ Blogger Award!! This is my first award!!

Here are the rules you have to follow when receiving this award:

RULES:

Link back to the person who gave you this award
Complete the form below
Award 10 other blogs and let them know in a comment or email
Share 7 random thoughts about yourself

FORM TO BE COMPLETED

1. NAME YOUR FAVORITE SONG:

Tiny Dancer by Elton John

2. NAME YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT:

Literally anything with chocolate!

3. WHAT TICKS ME OFF:

People who show no compassion for others.

4. WHEN I'M UPSET I:

If it's a situation with another person talk to them about it, otherwise workout or write.

5. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PET:

I love my little Lucy! She's a 7 lb bich-poo who stole my heart!

6. BLACK OR WHITE:

Black

7. BIGGEST FEAR:

I don't really have fears of things like falling but I am afraid of being alone!

8. EVERYDAY ATTITUDE:

I'm a glass is half full kind of person. I have a positive outlook on life and try to treat all people with dignity and respect.

9. WHAT IS PERFECTION:

I'm a perfectionist. So to me, it's doing whatever the project is to my satisfaction.

10. GUILTY PLEASURE:

Seriously, online shopping and finding good deals. I probably have a couponing problem.

SEVEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME:

I pretty much jumped for joy when I saw that Ever After was on this morning

I live in the midwest and hate snow

I moved from a city to a smaller town for my undergraduate degree then moved to an even smaller town to be with my fiancé-it's quite the transition

I changed majors 3 times

One of those majors was French Education and until two years ago I considered myself fluent

I drink too many cups of coffee in the morning

Toes really freak me out

WHO I GIVE THIS AWARD TO:

(in no particular order!)

Nykki's Mane Blog

Cup of Tea

Blushing Basics

The Closet Intervention

Isabel D. Velaquez

Mina Slater

Your BFF

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

There are so many fantastic bloggers out there! In fact, some of the bloggers I was going to award this to already received it! Thanks to everyone for so many wonderful posts and I enjoy reading your blogs!

Celebrity Fashion Inspirations

2011-12-26T09:17:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

When I posted my outfit of the day (OOTD) I was thinking about celebrities who's style I admire. In the past, I just kind of threw outfits together but now I am going for a certain style. My fashion inspiration is Kate Middleton. I pretty much started obsessing over her style after the blue engagement dress (which by the way I found a "replica" of it at TJ Maxx and bought it!!):

image from Chick Lit Plus

I adore how Kate knows how to dress her body and keeps things structured and simple. I've never been the type to accessorize, and neither is Kate, so I appreciate that she pulls outfits together without adding much to it. I also love to wear dresses!

I mean seriously, if I were famous and had fabulous events to attend I would wear ALL of these. I'm particularly envious of the purple dress on the far right:

image from US Magazine

I see Kate's style as sophisticated, well put together and structured. She never goes for bold pieces-rather classic touches that are versatile.

image from Australian Women's Weekly

I've found myself lately gravitating towards structured jackets with straight leg jeans à la Kate.

Another celebrity style I've been loving is Kyle Richards. While she may not be my favorite Real Housewife she knows fashion.

images from Kyle Richards website

Kyle adds more bold pieces than Kate so I like to take from her and add something to my outfit like a animal print shoe or something sparkly.

Who is/are your fashion inspirations?

Today is the Monday Beauties Blog Hop. If you would like to join click here!

NOTD: Holiday Cheer

2011-12-23T13:55:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

I finally decided to bust into the Wet n Wild Color Express kit I talked about in my haul several weeks ago. It had some perfect colors for the holidays!

Wet n Wild Fast Dry in SaGreena the Teenage Witch

Wet n Wild Fast Dry in Party of Five Glitters

Don't you just love the names of these polishes? So cute! I've never done the one nail different look but I'm really liking it! My flash kind of took away from the intense glitter, none of the sliver is showing.

I bought this 8 piece nail polish set at CVS for $5.99 and I would have to say this is a great last minute stocking stuffer!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!

The Kind Hearted Blogger Pledge

2011-12-21T13:34:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

This is something very near and dear to me so I was very happy when I saw Kelly post about The Kind Hearted Blogger Pledge. She found this through Em Jay and Me and I am taking the pledge as well!

AS A KIND-HEARTED BLOGGER I PLEDGE TO:

create, inspire, and admire rather than compete with fellow bloggers
be understanding of each other-- in the blogging community, as well as in the world
stay away from internet/blogging bullying
speak my opinion freely, while still being mindful of other's feelings-- be tactful.
make an effort--no matter how big or small the gesture, to spread kindness or joy to others
acknowledge that I will make mistakes, (I am only human) but remember to learn from them
know that at times I will post about the negative stuff in life, and maybe even some complaining (I am only human) but I will always follow up with something happy/positive too.
believe that this world is a good place, filled with good people.

Bridal Bound: Dress Regret!

2011-12-19T12:37:00.001-06:00

Hi beauties!

In November I posted about the excitement of my wedding dress arriving. Well, now I hate to admit it but I have a case of dress regret.

The day after the engagement I went dress shopping with two of my bridesmaids. I just wanted to look at styles and see what was out there. I only tried on four dresses and the last one I fell in love with. A few weeks later I went back with my mom and grandmas to try on dresses they picked. None of them were really my style so when I tried on the dress from trip one I still loved it. There were other dresses I had wanted to try on but they were not in stock.

We went to order the dress several weeks later and when they had me try it on again it didn't feel the same as the first time I wore it. I went ahead and ordered the dress and chalked the feeling up to wedding stress. Then it all started. I began to wonder did I not try on enough dresses? Is this the right one? Then I started looking at the photos and felt uneasy about my decision. I kept seeing a-line dresses that I loved and felt as if I had made the wrong decision in choosing a fit and flare.

I called David's Bridal last week and asked about their exchange policy. The manager is willing to work with me and exchange for equal or greater value. I made an appointment and tried on some new styles. This was to make sure I wasn't going crazy, had that opportunity to try on more and see if I had made the right choice.

The dress I have is a gorgeous dress but I'm feeling uneasy. I loved the dress at first but now I have a case of dress regret. I'm not sure if this is common to brides or not, but I'm full blown!

Here's the dress I currently have:

Here is the dress I tried on last week and love:

These dresses are complete opposites of each other! I'm leaning towards the exchange but I just need some opinions and would love to hear from you all!

***UPDATE***

I put a poll up on the Weddingbee boards and several people commented that the silhouette of the first dress was great on me. I still loved the bottom of dress 2 so I picked a dress that had elements of both! I am going to make a slight change to it by making the neckline a sweetheart.

Bridal Bound: Wedding Pomanders

2011-12-14T16:08:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

Since Christmas break is here I have started tackling those DIY projects that have been piling up for the wedding. What I've started working on are the aisle runners. I'm looking to achieve this:

image from Weddingwire

The first thing I've (half) done are the pomanders. My colors are purple, red, black and gold. I plan on using red roses as my flowers but since the carpets in the church are red I've opted to do the aisle runners and pomanders in purple.

Here's how mine turned out:

I often see people posting their pomanders on wedding websites and many of them opt to use tissue paper. My friend who was married in October did hers with tissue paper and she said they took hours upon hours to make, which is the common complaint. So I thought I would do this:

image from holiday-crafts and creations

In my mind, these were going to be less time consuming, since the flowers are larger. They are made entirely out of coffee filters and I loved how real they look. Then reality hit me. I made one flower and it took at least 45 minutes just to make the ONE flower. I love to DIY, but I don't love it that much.

To make my pomanders took less than 15 minutes each. I opted to order silk carnations from efavormart and 3" styrofoam balls from ebay. While this option can be more expensive than using tissue paper, the time savings and lack of DIY stress is worth it because it's still cheaper than the florist making them with fresh flowers. Plus, after the wedding I plan to sell them to other brides.

The size of the styrofoam ball will affect how large the pomander is. Many people order 4-5" balls, but I used 3". This made the pomanders about 5" with the flowers, which is an acceptable size for my runners. The bigger the ball the longer it will take and the more flowers you will need to cover it.

What you will need:

silk carnations
styrofoam balls
pen
hot glue

Start by popping the flowers off of the stems. This is a good job for the fiancé! Some of them will pop off quite easily while others put up a fuss. All you have to do is hold the flower at the base and tug away from the stem.

The easiest (and fastest) way I found to make these was to poke holes with a pen in a triangle shape and then squeeze in hot glue.

Place the flowers in the hole until the base of the flower is flush with the ball. Then poke three more holes and repeat the process until you cover the whole ball.

With the flowers I ordered I was able to cover 5 1/2 balls. I ordered additional flowers because I will need 12 pomanders for my aisles.

Hope this helps any brides out there wanting to make a quick pomander!

OOTD 12/13/11

2011-12-13T13:27:00.001-06:00

Hi beauties!

I haven't done an Outfit of the Day in quite awhile so I thought I would post what I wore to finals today...

Cardigan: American Apparel, thrifted from ebay

Blouse: JcPenney, last season

Belt: Forever 21, came on a jacket

Jeans: Gap, thrifted from Plato's Closet

Flats: Payless

I'm not the type to "dress down" to class and I guess it's from watching so many episodes of What Not to Wear. Sometimes I can't get Stacy and Clinton out of my head!! Honestly, when I dress well I feel more confident.

The sweater just arrived yesterday from ebay. I actually buy quite a bit of clothing on ebay because you can get brand name clothing for dirt cheap! This sweater was only .99 plus shipping!

Do you thrift any of your clothing?

One Minute Review: CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain

2011-12-12T15:00:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

My first One Minute Review is on the CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain!

#415 Teasing Blush

The CoverGirl website states:

The water-based colorants of Outlast Lipstain give lips a beautiful, lightweight flush of color that won't come off, lasting for hours without the heavy look or feel of an ordinary lipstick. Its pen-like precision applicator makes it easy to define your lips — just draw on color without any hassle!

Lightweight color that won't come off

Water-based colorants last for hours

Precision application pen

The website also shows that it is a 2009 Shape of Beauty Winner.

I give this product and here's why:

Extras!

Today is the Monday Beauties Blog Hop! Click here to sign up!

I'm selling some clothes (Lucky Brand Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger sweater, etc) and a pair of Born leather boots on ebay! Here's my store.

Dry Feet Solutions

2011-12-10T10:20:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

This is an oldie but a goodie beauty tip....

My feet are notoriously dry...so much so I'm embarrassed to say my fiancé said something about it (I'm not upset at all-I had neglected my feet)!! So, I did this trick for the first time and it really does work.

image from Real Beauty

Slather a large amount of Vaseline all over the bottom of your feet before bed, then wear socks over them. To clean the socks just turn them inside out before washing.

After 1 night I did notice a difference. I continued 4 nights in a row before my feet were nice and supple. Now I'm following up with Bath and Body Works Shea Cashmere & Silk Hand Cream-it's amazing for feet. It's only $6 right now (usually $10)!

image from Bath and Body Works

Besides dry feet I also have a callous on each foot that I can't remember not ever having. My mom has them in the same spot-I'm guessing it's due to the way we walk. I found this tip to reduce the callous and it helped! While my callouses are not completely gone they have become softer.

The "recipe" calls for 5 aspirin, 1/2 tsp of water and 1/2 tsp lemon juice. However, I found that it would not form a paste with this method. Instead, I used 8 aspirin and 1/4 tsp lemon juice 1/4 tsp water.

What you will need:

aspirin
water
lemon juice (bottled kind is fine)
plastic wrap
wash cloth
pumice stone

Crush the aspirin by placing it in a zip lock bag and roll a rollin pin over it (or use the back of a spoon). Add the water and lemon juice, then stir until it forms a paste. Put a layer of the paste on the callous and wrap in plastic wrap. Then place a warm washcloth on the spot. After 15-20 minutes wash off the paste and use a wet pumice stone on the area.

NOTD OPI Black Shatter & Samoan Sand

2011-12-09T11:19:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

Today's NOTD is using two OPI colors-Black Shatter and Samoan Sand!

I love how Shatter looks with light colors. I really think the color you use under Shatter has a huge affect on the overall appeal. I have tried it with reds, purples, pinks, etc but this is still my favorite way to wear it.

OPI's Samoan Sand is also my favorite neutral color to wear. It's very subtle. I think it looks classy no matter what. I actually wear it quite a bit because in professional settings I cannot sport a loud nail. I think a neutral nail polish is a necessity in every collection.

I bought Black Shatter soon after it debuted and I've always loved it. I thought it was extremely creative when they came out with it and now Sally Hansen has jumped on board (I have not tried their version). I love that it never looks the same and it is very unique. However, there are things I really do not like about Shatter. Since I've had my bottle it has started building up near the top, drying out and flaking. Another issue is you have to be careful about how much product you use on the nail. If you use too much it doesn't "shatter" and if you use too little it looks strange. It's kind of hard to find that happy medium. Also, as soon as you put it on there is ZERO shine. I put a topcoat when I wear it so my nail isn't matte. But really overall I love how the product looks...it just has some downfalls.

What are your thoughts on Shatter or even the Sally Hansen version? Are there any differences?

Extras!

Emily of Beauty Broadcast always raves about NYC Sunny so I finally bought some for myself!
A thanks to Buzz Beauty! I bought some bronzer from her blog sale and it arrived yesterday!

Christmas (Beauty) Wish List

2011-12-08T21:26:00.000-06:00

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is:

XOXO,

What beauty products are you dying to receive this Christmas?

Get the Green Eye from the bareMinerals commercial!

2011-12-07T16:13:00.000-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

Have you seen this commercial??

Ok seriously, how beautiful is this model and how much do you love this eye look?! Well, since I've seen this about 100 times I decided to try the eye but without the bareMinerals products. In fact, I'm not really sure which duo or quad they used because when I looked at the colors online I couldn't decide for sure which one it was. What I'm guessing they used are the duo palettes in The Scenic Route and/or The Paradise Found.

What I used to achieve this look was a gold, a medium Christmasy green, a pine green, taupe and a charcoal. Most of the colors were from the CoastalScents Go Palettes in Paris and Moscow and a taupe from E.L.F. You could use any brands from your collection to achieve this look. The process is really just building up the color and blending!

The model's eye

screenshot taken from the commercial

My look

To see how to achieve this look here's my youtube video with a complete tutorial.

Bridal Bound: New Fitness Routine New Rules of Lifting

2011-12-06T18:25:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

With the wedding in t-minus 8 months it's time for me to get my booty in shape. Most wedding timelines suggest 6 months before but the new routine I'm trying takes 6 months to complete so I started last Tuesday.

I'm not trying to lose weight BUT I don't want to gain weight and I would kill to have Michelle Obama arms for my strapless dress....

image from the Huffington Post

I found a routine after reading an inspirational story on my favorite wedding blog, Weddingbee. The contributor had lost 90 pounds and had killer arms! So I decided to try this for myself!

The plan is from the book The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess. I've read the whole thing and it's pretty straight forward. I really enjoyed the way the author writes-even making fun of the grunting men at the gym!

I've been working out fairly consistently for about two years now but I never really reached my goals. Yes, I toned up and kept my weight stable but I was really hoping to actually be able to see some muscles without flexing! The philosophy of the book is to lift and have muscles but you are not going to look like a body builder-just a goddess-like lady!

The workout plan is split into several phases and suggests you lift 2-3 times a week. Right now I'm doing 2 days/week so phase 1 is going to take about 8 weeks. There are 16 total workouts in phase 1 with workout days A and B. So on Tuesday I did workout A and Thursday workout B, I will switch back and forth until I complete the 16 workouts. Then, I'll move to phase 2.

I bought the book on my ipad and I wish I would have just bought the hardcopy up front because the workouts are very specific and I need to be able to see the photos to be able to complete. Plus, on the digital version the worksheet with workouts do not match the pages the routines are on. So I ended up ordering the hardcopy too.

I'm posting my before pictures and will post updates after each phase so we can all see the progression! Ok so here we go.....

After workout 1....I woke up sore for sure. The most difficult move was the Prone Jackknife. I was suppose to do 2 sets of 15 reps. I could only get 2 sets of 5! I thought my core was stronger than that! Workout B had routines I've done before but I was still sore from Tuesday so I could barely do the lunges!

Prone Jackknife

image from Women's Health Magazine

I'm really looking forward to seeing some results! I've googled other people who have done this and it appears they were successful!

Monday Blog Hop (12/5)

2011-12-05T11:25:00.001-06:00

Hi beauties!

Every Monday Nykki of Nykki's Mane Blog & Kelly of Beauty Obsessed are hosting a beauty blog hop!

This is a supportive way for each of us beauty bloggers to spread the word & follow each other!!

If you found me from the blog hop please comment on a post with your URL & I will follow you back!

If you would like to participate here is the blog post to find out more or here is the link to add your name to the list!

Haul 12/2/11

2011-12-04T17:33:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!!

I stopped by CVS to just get some nail polish but ended up finding some new Physicians Formula products!

Both PF products I bought retail for $11.29. The Wet n Wild polish set is $5.99 or 2/$10.

Here's my haul video:

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio in Nude Eyes

Top: Champagne

Middle: Pewter

Bottom: Black

I've used the black twice now and it works well. I'm really loving the other colors!

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Shadow & Liner in Smoky

Top: Dry

Bottom: Wet

I feel like using the shadow wet makes the colors darker. Upon swatching I'm not that impressed with the pigmentation. Will have to try on my eyes and hopefully it will be better!

Extras!

My giveaway for a Coastal Scents Go Palette in Paris is still open! All you have to do is subscribe to my youtube channel!

Beauty Website-Bloom.com

2011-12-03T10:17:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!!

I want to thank Jess of Tales of a Beauty Addict for sharing this website! She even recently blogged a haul from the website! It is bloom.com

image from Bloom.com

The website recommends products based on your profile...i.e. your skin type or beauty concerns! All you do is create a profile, you can even connect through facebook, and answer a few beauty questions about your skin, hair, etc. Then the website creates a Best4You recommendation list. You can even review products. The best part is when you click a section, such as cleansers, it will recommend several products based on Best4You, best for a budget and even natural products!

I thought you all would love to check this out too!! Hope you all have a great weekend!

November Favorites

2011-12-02T11:56:00.001-06:00

Hi beauties!

How on earth is it already December?!

Here's my November Favorites Video:

I decided to narrow it down to five things for the month...because I could go on and on about products!! Featured this month are:

Urban Decay Naked
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles
Revlon Lip Butters
Coastal Scents Go Palettes
NYC Sky Rise Lengthening Mascara

Extras!

Kelly from Beauty Obsessed did an interview with me and posted it today! Thanks so much Kelly!!

Urban Decay Naked 2 is here!

2011-12-01T12:37:00.001-06:00

Hello beauties!

Yesterday I blogged that the new Urban Decay Naked palette would be released today but did not know the exact colors. Well lucky us...it's here and now you can finally see for yourself (or maybe even order!)

Kandee Johnson did an extensive blog post and video about the palette because she was one of the few to preview it. Her post even has swatches!

The new palette is retailing for $50 and includes a double ended brush, naked lipgloss and you get a free sample with the order. They only have 5,000 available so they will likely sell out! In fact, when trying to access the site it must be pretty overloaded because I can barely get anything to load!

Urban Decay Naked Palette 2

photo from the Urban Decay website

Just to give you an idea of what the new palette is like compared to the old:

Top: Original Naked Palette

Bottom: Naked Palette 2

photo from Kandee Johnson

After now seeing the swatches, I really do not see much of a difference. It's likely I will not be ordering this palette. I think Toasted and YDK look the same (as well as many other colors). In fact, they kept Half Baked in the new palette. According to the website there are five "new" shades. Kandee Johnson said on her blog that the Naked 2 has more matte shades including a matte black.

What do you think? Will you be ordering?

Urban Decay Naked Palette 2

2011-11-30T09:21:00.001-06:00

Hello beauties!

In case you haven't heard Urban Decay has a big announcement tomorrow. They are releasing the Naked Palette 2! I've seen some of the suspected colors...you can see them here. However, as Wendy wrote she doesn't know for sure if the photos she has are the real thing!

photo from the Urban Decay facebook page

Get on their e-mail list to find out more (and you can get 10% off your first purchase!)

Do you think you think this palette will be as successful as the original Naked? I would like to say I'm not going to give in and buy it-but I probably will!

bareMinerals Light Up the Room Review

2011-11-28T17:56:00.001-06:00

Hello beauties!

The only deal I picked up on Black Friday was a doorbuster at Ulta the bareMinerals Light Up the Room box. I got this steal for $10!! You get two bareMinerals products so that's only $5 a piece!! The box regularly retails for $15 (still only $7.50/ea).

I think these products are an excellent Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. They are especially great for someone who wants to be introduced to bareMinerals products.

When you open the box the blush and lipgloss are in tissue paper (very nice)! There are two choices for colors and I bought the box with the lipgloss in Cassis and the blush in Precious Pearl.

I am loving both products and have been using them since I made the purchase. Both are beautiful colors, excellent for the holidays! What's even better is that you are getting full sizes of both products-not just some dinky little travel size!

Lipgloss in Cassis (I love the gold flecks!)

Blush in Precious Pearl (perfect rosey color!)

For a more in depth review checkout my youtube video!

Cleaning Fine Jewelry

2011-11-28T10:15:00.001-06:00

Hello beauties!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!

I think it's important for ladies out there to know how to clean their fine jewelry, for example a wedding or engagement ring. But this really applies to any diamond jewelry (diamond studs, necklaces, etc). DO NOT do this with pearls, they require other products.

I often hear friends talking about needing to take their ring to be cleaned, but maybe they haven't realized it's extremely easy to do at home! Let's say you drop into a Kay Jewelers (or really any mass jewelry retailer) to get your ring cleaned, they either do 2 things

Take it to the back and do some sort of cleaning
Or put it in that machine at the front of the store

When they take it to the back they are just using a basic cleaner that they sell in store. When they put it in the machine to soak they are using a cleaning solution, scrubbing with a toothbrush and then wiping off (once I saw them use a paper towel to do this, which is a little abrasive in my opinion!)

Some places will steam clean which is great if you can find someone to do that!

At home you can get the same results and in some cases better results. Plus, when you clean your fine jewelry it actually helps prevent it from tarnishing. If you wear a piece daily, throughout the week a lot of gunk builds up on the band and around the stones. That gunk is what tarnishes your jewelry and keeps it from sparkling! I actually clean my engagement ring once a week with a jewelry cloth and deep clean every other week.

My grandma always told me to use an old toothbrush and toothpaste...but don't do this-the toothpaste is hard to get out of pieces with a lot of detail (but it does make your diamonds smell minty fresh!)

The cleaning product that Kay uses in the store is the Connoisseurs brand, which you can pick up at Wal-Mart. No matter what method you choose to use you will need a Jewelry Polishing Cloth for gold jewelry, which Connoisseurs also sells. These are soft enough to dry your jewelry on and can be use to clean dirt off bands. In addition, you will also want a soft bristle toothbrush (save old toothbrushes for this).

Method one

Connoisseurs Quick Jewelry Cleanser (the brush is provided) and their jewelry polishing cloth

It's best if you do this in a sink that has a stopper to prevent you from dropping the ring down the drain.

Using lukewarm water wet the brush and apply the cleaner like you would toothpaste. Then use the brush to clean the ring. Clean the inside and outside of the piece as well as under any exposed areas. For example, my engagement ring the diamond is set above the band instead of in it so I am able to clean the undersides of the diamond. Then, rinse off and dry on the cloth. Use the white side first then the colored side to clean any other residue.

Method two

Baking soda, soft brush and jewelry polishing cloth

Again...its best if you do this in a sink that has a stopper to prevent you from dropping the ring down the drain.

Place about 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a small bowl. Add 1/4 teaspoon of water. Stir with your finger until it forms a paste. If it's too watery add more baking soda, too thick add a bit of water.

(this is how it will look in paste form)

Wet the jewelry and pack on the paste.

Then using the brush, clean the band and around the stones. Rinse under water (be sure to wash off all of the paste, use the brush to get any stuck on paste) then dry on the jewelry cloth. Use the white side first then the colored side to clean any other residue.

*In my opinion, the baking soda method cleans better than when I take it to Kay or use the Connoisseurs products! My diamond sparkles like crazy when I use baking soda!*

Another tip to keep your rings sparkling...

Take it off when you do the dishes, shower or put on lotion!

Also, when you take off your ring always place it in the same location so you do not lose it! I bought this mint box at Claire's for $2 and I always place my ring in it when I remove it.

Happy cleaning!

DIY Pedicure

2011-11-23T08:33:00.000-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I recently posted the at-home mani, so here's the at-home pedi!

What you will need:

nail file
nail clippers
nail buffer
pumice stone
cuticle trimmer
foot lotion
nail polish remover (and cotton balls)
bath salt (optional)
polish of your choice & clear coat

Start by removing all polish. Then, fill your tub with warm water (enough to just dip your feet into). If you do not have a tub, you can pick up a basin (they are usually in the same aisle as dish drying racks) or there are blow up and electric foot soakers. Throw the pumice stone into the water. Soak your feet to soften the skin and then use the pumice to slough off dead skin. Concentrate on areas that are more dry or callused. You can also use the bath salts to slough off dry skin on your feet, ankles and calves.

Next, pat dry your feet and use the cuticle trimmer to remove the dead skin around the nail. The "pusher end" can be used to push back the cuticle itself. Then you can move on to trimming and filing the nails. Remember to file only in one direction-filing back and forth like a lumber jack can damage your nails. Also, remove the dirt and yucky stuff that gets under the nail!

Buff your nails in a circular motion (go in the order of your buffer!) Then, use a generous amount of lotion on your feet, ankles and calves. Rubbing makes it feel all the better! :)

The last step is to paint the nails and use a clear coat! If you need them to dry fast, use your blow dryer on the cool setting at a low speed.

Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Red Red (even thought it looks hot pink)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Monday Beauties Blog Hop (Nov 21)

2011-11-20T18:07:00.000-06:00

Hi beauties!

Every Monday in November Nykki of Nykki's Mane Blog & Kelly of Beauty Obsessed are hosting a beauty blog hop!

This is a supportive way for each of us beauty bloggers to spread the word and follow each other!!

If you found me from the blog hop please comment on a post with your URL and I will follow you back!

If you would like to participate here is the blog post to find out how you can participate!

Coastal Scents Go Palettes & Giveaway (Closed)

2011-11-20T10:32:00.003-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I recently purchased a few of the Coastal Scents Go Palettes. I've never used their products, but have seen their popularity amongst youtube gurus. I made the purchase Wednesday morning and they were already here by Friday afternoon.

The palettes are $8.95 each. But until November 24 Coastal Scents is running a great sale! I was able to get 40% off of each of each palette!

This photo is to show the size of the palette. The length and width is that of a lipstick tube.

The shadows are about the size of a dime

LONDON

PARIS

MOSCOW

I'm also doing a giveaway on my youtube channel. Once I hit 250 subscribers I will pick a subscriber at random to get the Go Palette in Paris!

***Official rules***

A subscriber from my YT channel or blog will be chosen at random using a random number generator. All subscribers have been added to an excel spreadsheet that has everyone numbered.

For extra entries, you can follow my YT channel and/or twitter. With this option you have the opportunity to have your name on the list three times. To make sure I do not miss you, comment on my blog or tweet at me with your youtube name!

**UPDATE**
A winner was chosen on December 25. It was Makeupisloveforever on YouTube!

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Review

2011-11-18T15:39:00.000-06:00

Hello beauties!

I purchased two of the Revlon Lip Butters a couple days ago and wanted to share some swatches and initial thoughts with all of you!

Sweet Tart Red Velvet

Red Velvet

Sweet Tart

As the photos show, there is definite color in the lip butters. They swipe on like a chapstick but have the color of a lipstick. I've heard some of the other colors are not quite as pigmented but the two I purchased certainly are. They also have some nice shine to them. If you want to keep your lip simple, I think this is a good product to do so because they are so similar to a chapstick but have some shine and color!

I decided to purchase two contrasting colors, light and dark, to see how they performed. I really love both colors and the Red Velvet is just dark enough without being overly dramatic. Sweet Tart is close to my natural lip color and is a very pretty shade of pink.

As for staying power, I applied Sweet Tart at around 6:30 am and it was gone by 9:30 am. In those three hours I drank out of a to go coffee mug, out of a water bottle and ate a banana. So, clearly they are not going to last through normal eating and drinking. But when they did wear off, there was no residue or color still around the edges of the lip (like lipsticks do sometimes).

bareMinerals foundation Review & Tutorial

2011-11-17T13:50:00.001-06:00

Hello beauties!

If you are curious about using the Bare Minerals Foundation here's my youtube video which includes a tutorial and a review...

I've been using the customizable kit since February and love it! To me, it's the best foundation I have ever used, thus far. I have had compliments on how great my skin looks on many occasions when wearing it! I will keep buying Bare Minerals for years to come!

Deal! Wet n Wild Wild Shine Nail Polish .69 at CVS!

2011-11-16T08:59:00.000-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I shared this on twitter a couple of days ago, but this week (until Saturday night) CVS is selling the Wet n Wild Wild Shine Polish for .69! That's a steal!

I have four of the polishes right now, but I'm going to go buy more since they are so cheap right now. I posted in a Nail of the Day about the eggplant and overall, for such an inexpensive polish, they are quite good. Two that I am really loving to use together are:

Left: Red Red Right: Sparked

Now, I know that left color is called Red Red but it is absolutely not. It is hot pink. Not sure what they're trying to pull-but it's still a lovely color. When used in conjunction with Sparked you get a great effect!

(the flash from my camera does not show the great sparkly affected you get from this polish...it brought out a lot the under color which you cannot see with the naked eye)

If you are going to use Sparked you will need to use a color under it. It is pretty concentrated but it still needs a base color-also it takes a lot of work to remove!! I've found its easier if you dab it on rather than paint it on, if you want a ton of sparkle.

Bridal Bound: My wedding dress arrived!

2011-11-13T09:22:00.000-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I ordered my wedding dress last month and was told it would not arrive until December but I received a call on Monday that it had already arrived & would be at my door by the end of the week!

Friday, while running some errands, the FedEx man dropped off a giant box-as soon as I saw it I was giddy!

When I ripped open the box it was only half full so I thought maybe they had not included the dress! So I panicked!

But then, at the bottom of the box, wrapped in tissue paper was my beautiful dress. Seriously tearing off the tissue paper to your wedding dress is better than the excitement of Christmas when you're 5!

To all my fellow brides-I hope you have or get to experience a dress moment like this too!

(I'm not posting a photo of the dress because I don't want my fiance to see it!)

Beauty Website-TotalBeauty

2011-11-11T08:21:00.004-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

Before purchasing a new product I like to see what other's are thinking, especially on big ticket items. I discovered a great website for checking up on products, TotalBeauty. Users review products on scales of 1-10 with comments. Usually they will list the best to worst by brand. They also do top 10's on specific products like hairspray based on the reviews. Check it out! You can become a reviewer too or see how your favorite products match up!

Hope this website will help you find some great products!

*after Monday's blog hop a lot of the people I subscribed to are not showing up! I'm trying to go back through and fix that so I'm sorry if I commented that I subscribed and you didn't see me!*

DIY Manicure

2011-11-09T07:44:00.000-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

With an upcoming wedding it is important as ever for the fiancé and me to be saving our money! So, instead of going to the nail salon for a mani or pedi I am doing it at home. Today's post is all about the mani (I'll do a pedi post in the future).

What you will need:

Bowl with warm water, Nail Polish remover, cotton balls, fingernail clippers, a nail buffer, cuticle remover/pusher & emery board (*optional hand cream or lotion)

All of these items can be picked up on the cheap at Dollar General or Wal-Mart. I keep a basket full of nail products in my bathroom closet that way I can pull out the whole things and have access to all of the products.

If you are wanting the natural nail look you will also want a light colored polish such as a pink or taupe. No matter if you are going light or using a color polish you will need a clear coat. Here are my picks:

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Invisible

Revlon Nail Enamel in Sheer Pink

O.P.I in Samoan Sand

Sally Hansen Triple Strong Advanced Gel Nail Fortifier

Start by using the nail polish remover (even if you have no color on your nails it's good to just remove residue).

Then, place your fingernails/tips in the warm water for 30 seconds-a minute. This will help soften up the skin.

Now is the time for filing and/or trimming your nails. I generally don't have long nails so I just file unless I have a broken nail. When filing, only go in one direction (no lumber jack motion!! that will make your tips brittle) If you want a square look, move the file straight across the top of the nail. If you prefer rounded you go in a half circle motion.

Get out your buffer, usually it will have written on it 1, 2, 3, 4 so you know the order to go in. Start with side 1 and do one nail at a time. Again, avoid the lumber jack motion, use a circular motion as you would when you buff foundation on your face. You only need to do each step for 3-4 strokes on the nail. Buffing is great for smoothing out the nail for polish and to make them shine. I always buff before painting my nails.

After, use the water or nail polish remover to get off the residue. Then, using the cuticle pusher (the rounded end) push your cuticles back. You can use the trimmer for hang nails. I do not suggest taking off the cuticle completely.

This is an optional step. Take your favorite hand lotion and give your hands a massage (or have your man do it!). Concentrate on getting some on your cuticles. Make sure you rub in all the lotion before putting on polish.

This is an important step before you ever paint your nails! Use a clear coat...this helps to fill in any ridges or dents making the polish smoother and last longer.

If you like the look as is, then you can optionally apply another clear coat layer or try the Sally Hansen Triple Strong to add some strength. The tips of my nails tend to break easily and this stuff helps keep them intact!

Let the clear coat dry completely, then paint on a light pink or taupe. Finish off with another clear coat to set it. Remember to let the polish dry in between coats! If you have a small fan you can place your nails under to help in the drying process. You can pick one up for $5 at Wal-Mart. Otherwise make sure you let the nails dry for about 20 minutes before you start grabbing at things!

Hope this helps in your at home mani!

My Mac charger bit the dust so it may be a bit before my next video upload!

Shape Beauty Awards 2011

2011-11-07T07:59:00.001-06:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I came across the Shape Magazine Beauty Awards 2011 and was interested in what other beauties thought of their picks. Here's some of my thoughts (on the products I've actually used):

Best Foundation

L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Smooth Soufflé

What they said: "The whipped formula has microscopic air bubbles that make it feel weightless on skin while providing just the right amount of coverage."

I really like this product and I recently did a product review video.

Best Balm

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm
What they said: "Our makeup maven called the lightly pigmented mango- and shea butter–infused formula one of her favorite finds."

This is a decent product. It glides on nicely and I liked the colors to choose from. However, when it starts to wear off it is grainy.

Best Makeup Remover

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
What they said: "Even the most stubborn mascaras don’t stand a chance against this nongreasy formula."

This one I will have to totally disagree. This was one of the worst "waterproof" makeup removers I've ever used. I had waterproof CoverGirl LashBlast and it took using the remover THREE times or more to get it off, which still didn't completely move it. And it leaves an oily residue. For normal makeup it removes fine. I now use the Almay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover pads and love them!

Best At Home Hair Color

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Color Blend Foam
What they said: "Our colorist loved the way this mousse-like dye coats strands evenly—no drips, no fuss."

The last time I colored my hair I used this product. It is very easy to use and I like the foam formula. Like their review states-no fuss.

Best Heat Protector Spray

Panteen Pro-V Fine Style Heat
What they said: "A shot of this ultra-lightweight formula prevents hot-tool-induced damage—without making locks look limp."

I noticed 0 difference after using this product for a month when compared to using no heat protector product at all. There are better heat protectors out there like the Ulta Ultimate Styling Heat Smoothing Styling Serum.

What do you all think?

*photos were all google imaged

L'oréal Magic Smooth Soufflé Foundation Review

2011-11-06T08:47:00.001-06:00

Hello beauties!

I'm back from my conference in Texas and uploaded my latest video which reviews the L'oréal Magic Smooth Soufflé Foundation.

I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I really like it. I have combination skin so it is very hydrating and I love that it's full coverage. In the video I'm actually wearing the foundation. My only complaint is that it's a little pricey for a drugstore foundation.

I am very particular about foundations and in general it takes a lot for me to actually enjoy one. Like I said, I have combination skin but it's also very sensitive and prone to breakouts. I've found many drugstore foundations that I absolutely cannot stand-so this is actually a good product in my opinion.

First video haul

2011-10-31T14:40:00.000-05:00

Hello beauties!

Had another CVS haul today, documented by video!

CoverGirl ShineBlast Lipgloss #805
CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain #415
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume
CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush #220 Royal Plum
Ardell False Lashes #109
Ardell False Lashes in Demure

Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

2011-10-29T10:09:00.002-05:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I was reading a magazine at the hair salon a couple months ago and saw a statistic that around 45% of women never clean their makeup brushes. That lead me to think, uh oh I'm one of those people! I didn't even know it was something you were suppose to do! *shame on me*

While shopping at Target I saw the E.L.F Brush Shampoo, $3, and bought it so I could be amongst the 55% that do clean their brushes.

This is why you should clean those brushes:

it removes bacteria that clogs pores (do you really want that on your face?!)
your brushes will last longer! (you spent all that money on them do you really want them to fall apart?)

So, how often should you clean them?

According to some-weekly, to others-biweekly. I only do it monthly and according the makeup artist Bobbi Brown's book 1-2 every two months is fine.

What can you use to clean them?

I use the E.L.F Brush Shampoo, but you can also use regular shampoo (baby shampoo is best). Also, after using my brushes each day I wipe them off on a clean paper towel.

How to clean:

Wet your brush under lukewarm water
Add a drop of the cleaner to your palm
Swirl the brush in your palm
Rinse under lukewarm water until the water runs clear
Place bristles between index finger and thumb and wring out the excess water
Shape the brushes by swirling it on the palm of your hand so the bristles separate, then use your thumb and index finger to form them into their original shape
Place on the edge on the counter with bristles hanging over to dry overnight
Repeat on all brushes!

Happy cleaning!

mark Miss Glambitious 2011 Week 6

2011-10-29T09:57:00.002-05:00

Hello beauties!

This video is my submission for the mark Miss Glamitious 2011 contest. If you would also like to participate here's the information!

How to stop your curls from falling for fine hair

2011-10-27T11:52:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow beauties!

Here's my latest video...

Nail of the Day

2011-10-26T08:31:00.004-05:00

Hello fellow beauties!

My nail of the day is using the Wet n Wild, Wild Shine in Eggplant:

$1.29, Drugstores

The old formula of Wet n Wild polishes was honestly, not that great. However, they have improved upon it tremendously. I've used several of the colors and I can go days without chipping! I'm pretty happy with their polishes and would buy more.

This polish, in some light, is very dark almost black. In others, it's very bright and obviously purple. There's also a hint of blue. Overall, it's a nice color for fall!

*update*
I painted my nails Tuesday night. It is now Saturday night and here's how the polish is looking (I have not added any more coats since) :

Used clothing and shoes

2011-10-24T10:37:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow beauties!

To keep myself from spending a fortune on clothing and shoes I will often shop second hand at Plato's Closet and on Ebay. On Ebay I have bought a Coach bag and shoes for $30 each and several J. Crew shirts for under $10. Everything in excellent condition!

Many of us ladies out there only wear things 2-3 times so buying used and selling your things helps you stay in style on the cheap! I even sell my nicer clothing on Ebay and turn around and buy other styles with my profits!

I just posted several items on Ebay. My listings even include these leather Nine West boots!!

Happy shopping!

Purple Smokes using Wet n Wild

2011-10-23T09:40:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I achieved this smokey eye using the Wet n Wild Color Icon in Lust and the Wet n Wild MegaEyes Crème Liner in Eggplant.

Hope you enjoy!

Outfit of the Day (OOTD) 10/22/11

2011-10-22T13:37:00.001-05:00

Hello fellow beauties!

I have my college roommate's wedding today (Happy Wedding Day Beth!) and the ceremony is outside. It has turned out to be a very beautiful fall day so here's my outfit!

Silky Shirt Dress Sears

Basic Black Tights Kohl's

Boots Born Macy's

Haul: CVS Deals Galore!

2011-10-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

Each week CVS has different deals & steals on cosmetics. Usually, they advertise BOGO 50% on a certain brand. This week they have Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) on 3 different brands! To use ECBs you will need a CVS Extra Care card, which is totally free. When you buy something with ECBs they print out on the end of your receipt to use on your next purchase. The best way to use them is to split up your transactions. If you buy lots of beauty products from CVS you will also randomly get coupons. I had $2.50 ECBs and a BOGO Free on Wet n Wild from previous beauty purchases (score!)

So of course I took advantage of all of this and have a haul!

I was able to purchase all of this for $40 with all of my ECBs & other coupons.

L'oreal MagicSmooth Soufflé foundation in 516 Nude Beige

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in 10 Fair
Maybelline Fit Me! powder in 130 Buff Beige
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder in 345 Catwalk Pink
Wet n Wild Bronzer in 741A Princess

Almay intense i-color pencil in 01 Midnight Black

Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow in 10 Berry Bloom

Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow in 09 Sterling Rose

I used everything in my Urban Decay video (minus the Revlon) and I really like each product so far. Here's swatches for the shadows:

Berry Bloom

These colors are gorgeous!

Sterling Rose

Can't wait to do a smokey eye!

Here's the deals you can STILL get (until tonight). Tomorrow starts their new ad.

Scan your card at the Coupon Machine & there is a possible $3 off $10 beauty purchase +

Almay intense i-color (shadow, liner or mascara) on sale for $5.99 + $4 ECBs

Revlon buy 2 eye or lip get $5 ECBs

L'oreal spend $15 get $5 ECBs

If you get the $3 off coupon, try splitting up your transactions like this:

Transaction 1

L'oreal $15 in products (use $3 off coupon) ~ $12

Transaction 2

2 Revlon (use $5 ECBs from the L'oreal) ~ $7

Transaction 3

Almay (use $5 ECBs from the Revlon) = .99

Transaction 4

Buy something that is $4 or under like Wet n Wild (Use $4 ECBs from Almay) = free

Happy hauling!

Outfit of the Day (OOTD)

2011-10-21T15:33:00.001-05:00

Hello fellow beauties!

Outfit of the Day 10/21/11:

Sweater: Tommy Hilfiger (Steal! purchased at Plato's Closet for $6!)
Jeans: Old Navy Sweetheart Skinny Medium Wash
Boots: Born Macy's

I am really into horizontal stripes this fall. Caution!! Horizontal stripes can make you look wide...but if you're ok with that then totally rock this look!