Friday, January 29, 2010

New Erykah Badu:)

Erykah Badu released the official first single to her upcoming "New Amerykah Part II."
It's called "Jump Up in the Air" and features 'Lil Wayne.
You can here it at her Web site here.

And here's the track from P-Funk All Stars that inspired it, "Hydraulic Pump:"



Apparently, Badu said Part II's release date might be March 30. We'll see. I'm soooooooooooooo salivating right now:)

CVS Haul

So apparently CVS is having a major beauty clearance on lots of make-up items.
Since I'm trying to do the natural and organic thing, I stopped by my local store to see what I could find.
Here's what I got (all for $2):



-Physicians Formula lip veil in organic spice: very nude. I found it to be sticky.
-Physicians Formula eyeliner in black night:very creamy and glides right on.
-Physicians Formula lip gloss in super rose: I liked the shine and lasting power.
-Physicians Formula eyeliner in black woods
-Physicians Formula lip veil in organic nude

I will be giving away these goodies:


-Physicians Formula eyeliner in black woods
-Physicians Formula lip veil in organic nude
**note: the Yes to Carrots lip balm and Sally Hansen polish were not part of the haul. They will be part of a giveaway with these other Physicians Formula items soon. Stay tuned!

Sephora by OPI nail colour drying drops



     I usually do my nails right before I go to bed to avoid messing up my polish.
     I recently bought Sephora by OPI's nail colour drying drops to help me be flexible when doing my nails.
     The promise is that it will completely dry your polish in five minutes.
     Did it work? Meh.
     I gave the product the benefit of the doubt and waited about ten minutes before I applied a little "nic" to my freshly-applied polish to see if the drops had worked.
     And do you know that little "nic" was visible:(
     After paying $14 for this product, I expected better results.


Photo courtesy of www.sephora.com.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

NOTD: Greens!


I couldn't wait to use the polishes I received from Danielle at Project Danielle last week.
All three included:

-Essie's "Mint Candy Apple" (on my thumb and ring fingers) which is a soft green that reminds me of spring and Easter. It makes me want a Peeps marshmallow treat.
-Zoya's "Envy" (on my index finger) which is a dark, almost black kind of green. It has a goth feel to it.
-Zoya's "Midori" (on my middle and pinky fingers) which is another springy green with gold undertones. Gorgeous.

Aren't they all puuuuuuurty??
My fave is Midori. It's a happy color and I just love the gold in it. Pretty.
Plus, Zoya is a vegan-friendly nail polish line. These are my first Zoya polishes and I'm looking to try more of their products.
Thanks Danielle!

Glamarazzi Weekly Round-up

 Glamarazzi finished 

Edited by Keedah

We're rolling right along and bringing you yet another edition of links to get you beautified and dressed to the nine's. Welcome our newest member Luxe Glam and remember..if you think you're fab enough to join the ranks of our extroidinary fashion and beauty bloggers you can find the info here.

 



  • K is for Kinky shows us how to invest in a pair of the most flattering leather pants

  • ProActiv may miss Blaq Vixen Beauty but Blaq Vixen Beauty doesn't miss ProActiv. Found out why Blaq Vixen Beauty is singing, "All I wanna say is that they don't care about us!"

  • The Style Aficionado is playing Dump or Marry with over the knee socks.

  • Makeup Music Money Me is teaching you how to make your own body scrub. Easy and fun!

  • Does perfection exist in beauty products? Retrodiva says yes. Find out what products made her a believer

  • LiAnn at Sparklecrack Central is launching a beauty-blog interview network and invites you all to check it out!

  • High End for Your Rear End checks out Mimi's Runway music.

  • Project Danielle is window shopping plus sized fashion's on Etsy and likes what she sees.

  • Get your makeup brushes ready! Luxe Glam is giving us the 411 on Mac's spring color forecast.

  • Krasey Beauty takes you out of this world with an amazing line of glosses from Thierry Mugler Beauty

  • Have questions that only a celebrity makeup artist can answer? Temple of Glam is taking your questions straight to the experts

  • From The Glamour Whore..Paul and Joe Beaute's "Daydream" and "Fantasy", their Alice In Wonderland inspired collection looks dreamy in reality or down the rabbit hole...

  • Diary of a Style Addict is making all your entertaining dreams come true with her Hip Hostess givaway.
  • Alba Lotion & Body Cream Reviews



         I used to always walk past the alba line in stores but never tried them until recently.
         The products are 100 percent vegetarian, paraben-free, and hypo-allergenic.
         I'm currently using the cocoa butter hand and body lotion and the papaya mango body cream.
         The lotion was surprisingly effective on my skin.
         I usually can't use products that smell like baked goods, but this lotion is the exception.
         I really, really loved the cream though.
         Not too light, not too heavy.
         The lotion was about $8 and the cream was around $10. Not bad pricing for natural products.
         I've found a new line that I admire and am looking forward to using more alba products.

    Wednesday, January 27, 2010

    10 tips from the IRS




    Just because the tax deadline of April 15 is three months away, the IRS says that people should start preparing to file for their taxes now. Here are 10 tips from the IRS about what people can do to get ready this year's tax season:

    1. Start gathering documents or forms like receipts and canceled checks that you'll need when filing your taxes.

    2. You'll need your W-2s and 1099 forms to file your tax return so be on the lookout for them.

    3. Try e-filing your taxes. The software will calculate the math for you. If you use direct deposit, you will get your refund in about half the time it takes when you file a paper return.

    4. Check out Free File if your income is $57,000 or less. Free File is for taxpayers who want reliable question-and-answer software to help them prepare a return.

    5. Consider other filing options such as preparing them yourself or going to a tax preparer.

    6. Consider Direct Deposit because you'll receive your refund faster than waiting for a paper check.

    7. Visit IRS.gov because it's a good place to find everything you'll need to file your tax return: forms, tips, answers to frequently asked questions and updates on tax law changes.

    8. Check out Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax on IRS.gov. It's a comprehensive collection of information for taxpayers highlighting everything you'll need to know when filing your return.

    9. Don't rush the process because you can make mistakes when you do. Double-check all information before submitting.

    10. Don't panic. If you run into a problem, visit IRS.gov or call customer service 800-829-1040.

    For more information, visit IRS.gov.

    Photo courtesy of iplanretirement.com.

    Tuesday, January 26, 2010

    Carol's Daughter Almond Cookie set review



    The Beauty Santa was good to me last month.
    I was blessed to get everything on my beauty list:)
    One of my fave gifts was the Carol's Daughter almond cookie gift set that my fave aunt got me.
    I usually can't use products that smell like a bakery, but this gift set was the exception.
    I've loved Carol's Daughter products way before she blew up on the Tyra Banks show several years ago because of the memories that they bring up.
    Me and my dad used to visit the flagship store in Brooklyn and buy products.
    CEO Lisa Price started the company in 1999 and named it after her mother.
    Now the line boasts fans such as Jada Pinkett-Smith and Mary J. Blige. Add me to that list (smile).
    The almond cookie gift set was a dream.
    I found the shower gel to be soft and creamy. And the shea soufflé was light and fluffy on my skin. The spray was soft and sensual.
    One thing that I love about the company is that the products are natural which is good since I'm using more natural and organic products.
    As for my almond cookie gift set, I've been using it little by little because I don't want it to run out:)


    Photo courtesy of sephora.com.

    Monday, January 25, 2010

    Betty Davis' "Is it love or desire?"



    Last month, I ordered a copy of the hard-to-find-but-be-damned-lucky-if-you-do Betty Davis album, "Is It Love or Desire?"
    This is going to sound crazy as heck but it is an honor to own and be able to listen to this album.
    You see, Betty Davis was a trendsetting risk-taker who was largely ignored by her generation.
    She's inspired so many people in different musical genres like Grace Jones, Prince, Madonna, Erykah Badu, Ice Cube and Redman.
    Davis is best known for marrying Miles Davis in 1968, but Betty forged her own musical path after divorcing and heavily influencing the legendary Miles.
    "Is it Love or Desire" was Davis' fourth album and considered by her band to be some of the best work she made.
    The album went unreleased for 33 years until the Seattle-based company Light in the Attic Records reissued it a few years ago.
    I'm glad they did.
    The album has a very strong rock element percolating throughout it, like Betty's first and third albums, "Betty" and "Nasty Gal," respectively.
    Most of the lyrics on "Is it Love or Desire?" are mature.
    Typical Betty.
    Just look at a few of these song titles: "Whorey Angel," "For My Man," and "It's So Good."
    Can't get any more risqué than that.
    But the musicianship of Betty and her band is still supreme.
    There's a lot of honesty in "When Romance Says Goodbye" and in "Stars Starve, You Know," which I recommend any aspiring entertainer study.
    And "Bar Hoppin'" is a comical song about getting drunk.
    One of my fave songs is "Bottom of the Barrel," where Betty airs out her dislike for disco music. The song has a smooth bass line and other soaring instrumentals that compliment Betty's husky voice.
    Overall, this is another gem for Betty.
    "Is it Love or Desire?" is a lesson in originality, love and life.
    Excuse the bias, but Betty can do no wrong in my book.
    To order the album, visit "Light in the Attic .



    Photo courtesy of www.amazon.com.

    Sunday, January 24, 2010

    O ish!!! Rare Lauryn Hill performance!!!



    Apparently singer/rapper Lauryn Hill performed in New Zealand on Saturday at the Raggamuffin Film Festival (gotta love that name!)
    Wyclef Jean was supposed to be there but stayed in the U.S. to help with Haiti relief stuff.
    Still, this performance of Hill gives me (some) hope that home girl isn't completely MIA.
    Good stuff and thanks to the YBF for the tip.

    Make your own body scrub

    I've always wanted to make my own body scrub so when I came across this post on Prissy Green via Domino Sugar, I finally did.
    It was so easy.
    All you need is one cup of sugar, vegetable oil, a few drops of essential oils and an empty jar.

    As always, I used what I had in my pantry which were the sugar and vegetable oil. This jar originally had almonds in it. Something told me to save it. Glad I did:


    The steps are simple. After gathering your ingredients, mix them in a bowl:


    Then pour them into the jar or container:


    Here's the final product in my hand:



    And in the jar:



    Again, in the jar:


    Although the sugar exfoliated my skin, I wasn't too pleased with the after smell. I guess that's why they wanted you to put essential oil in the mixture in first place. (Duh!) I scoured through my smell goods and found a small bottle of "Usher" fragrance oil that my fave aunt got me several years ago. I put about three drops of "Usher" into the jar, tried the concoction again and liked it much better the second time around because of the feel and smell. I'm always trying to cut corners but cutting the essential oil part will not work in this project.

    This project was so fun that I made another body scrub using a bottle of Bath & Body Works' Jasmine Vanilla massage oil. I've owned this bottle since college and have not been able to throw it away or use the entire bottle. Don't know why I've kept the bottle so long but I thought it would be perfect for this project.

    I used brown sugar and massage oil:


    The final product. I really liked the jasmine vanilla smell and feel of this scrub:


    Making my own body scrubs was fun and something that I will try again. I want to experiment with different essential oils like lavender and tea tree. I'd also like to use olive oil, since that's good for your skin. Looks like I won't have to buy body scrubs anymore. Move over Lisa Price:)

    Saturday, January 23, 2010

    Sephora Haul:)



    Sephora had been calling my name all week so I trekked to the beauty wonderland Friday night. Here's what I got:

    -$5 Sephora by OPI polish in "Lagoon-a" which I'm going to take back because I don't like it:(
    -two $7 Korres shimmering shadows in silver and sky blue
    -Free sample of Dolce & Gabbana perfumes

    Since I have to be responsible and pay my rent, my Sephora budget was $20.
    With help from a 10% off coupon, the price tag came to about $18.
    Sweet deals.
    I also made it to The Body Shop and picked up a sisal wash cloth for $2.
    Reviews to come soon.

    Friday, January 22, 2010

    Glamarazzi Weekly Round-Up


    Edited By: Iggi
    It's about that time... Glamarazzi time! This weeks roundup is filled great links as usual. Thanx Ladies. Keedah and I are thrilled with the progress of Glamarazzi and are very proud of the blogs involved. The Glamarazzi is great group of bloggers and if you would like to join us simply click on the badge and you find all the info you need.
    The Glamarazzi (Small)
    Now let's get started...
    Make-up/Music/Money/Me shows us her fierce $1 manicure and is kind enough to share where she got it...a recessionista with a heart!!

    The Informed Makeup Maven has a fabulous and unique Valentine's Day Giveaway/Competition
    Sparklecrack Central has a birthday coming up and to celebrate she is giving away great goodies for Week 3 of her Birthday Contest.
    Diary Of Style Addict has created some amazing nail art with Rescue Beauty Lounge No More War with Gold and Sparkles ...the girl is talented!!
    Read all about Project Danielle's diasterous madcap day at the mall in "Rant: What happened to Jersey Gardens?"
    Blaq Vixen Beauty has a step by step, product by product breakdown of Mo'Nique's Golden Globe look. A wonderfully detailed post including pix of Mr.Sam Fine creating the actual look.
    High End For Your Rear End gives you the best glossy covers of the month in "Cover Girls"
    K is for Kinky has a honest and informative product review for us: : Revlon Photo Ready Foundation
    Glamour Whore gives you a sneak peek at Chanel's upcoming "Coco Rouge" line of lipsticks.i

    Thursday, January 21, 2010

    C. O. Bigelow lip tint review



    Ever bought a product that grew on you?
    That's the case with this C.O. Bigelow vitamin mentha lip balm in "Brown Betty Mint" that I bought last year from Bath & Body Works for about $.75.
    At first, it made my lips look like Ashy Larry.
    But the more I used it, the more I liked it.
    The lip tint contains healthy lip complex and peppermint oil, which I can say I felt the tingling sensation after application.
    Now C.O. Bigelow has pretty decent lip products.
    I heart their lip shine and would recommend it to others.
    But as I found out, the lip balm works best as a substitute for a nude lipstick on my pout. It looked so much better with a lip gloss than alone.
    Glad I didn't give up on the balm.


    Photo courtesy of amazon.com.

    Wednesday, January 20, 2010

    My $1 manicure

    Last week, my co-worker Sue tipped me off about this new nail salon in town offering $1 manicures and pedicures.
    I didn't believe her until I saw this sign on Main Street:



    Still skeptical, I checked out the place and there it was at the top of the Old Firehouse Building: Top Floor Nail Salon.
    It's a cute little shop, small enough to be someone's office.



    The owner James is a former truck driver. He got into cosmetology while dating an ex-girlfriend, he said.
    We talked about products and beauty tips as he worked his magic on my nails.
    He clipped. He filed. He massaged. He painted.
    I relaxed.
    James used a shade from OPI's suede line. Sorry I don't have the official name but it's a sparkly dark blue that goes on matte-like and looks fantastic with top coat.
    It's a pretty color; sometimes resembling dark denim. It also has deep purple tones to it too.
    And OPI polishes don't use a lot of toxic chemicals so I really liked using this brand on my nails.
    Overall, I was happy with my $1 manicure, that ended up looking like this:



    The special goes on through the end of February. And James said that you're allowed to get one $1 deal in one day. Call 410-245-2775 for more information.

    Tuesday, January 19, 2010

    Oooooo polish goodies:)


    So I received the Essie "Mint Candy Apple" package that I recently won in the mail today from the lovely Danielle over at ProjectDanielle.
    Little did I know what other goodies came with it:

    -Zoya polish in "Envy"
    -Zoya polish in "Midori"
    -Coastal Scents sample of Mayan Gold Shadow

    Yay, yay, yay!!!!
    These are my very first bottles of Zoya polishes, which are free of chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and DBP.
    I've always read good things about this brand on other beauty blogs so now I'll finally get a chance to try Zoya out.
    And I've also heard good stuff about Coastal Scents' make-up, especially their shadow.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you Danielle for all the goodies!
    Expect swatches and reviews soon.

    10 Things to Do for Free



         Money's tight in my corner, especially since I'm trying to pay off my credit card bill.
         But I'd still like to have some kind of fun, just at a cheaper price or even at no cost at all.
         I recently came up with a list of ten things (mainly around the house) that you can do for free.
         Some of them are obvious. Others might seem weird or different.
         Either way, these ideas-which are in no particular order-are timely because some people are more than likely to stay inside their homes as a result of the cold temps:

    - Read: There are some books on my bookshelf that I have yet to read. This winter, I'll be curled up with my blanket, a cup of tea and a book more often.

    -Write: I write so much at work that when I get home, I just want to chill. But this year, I'm looking forward to write more personal essays and maybe even a novel.

    -Arts 'n Crafts: I've been doing this since I was a little girl in summer camp and Girl Scouts. There are actually several craft projects that I would like to do. I'll blog about them when I get a chance to do them.

    -Listen to music: I have tons and Tons and TONS of records in my collection. There are still some albums that I haven't even listened to yet. And then there are artists who's music I really want to digest and study. Nothing beats chilling in bed and listening to music on a cold, lazy day,

    -Fill a photo album/Make a scrap-book: OK, these two can kind of go under No. 3 but they can be fun on their own. I used to be addicted to scrap booking in college and am behind now because I don't have the extra time to do it. Also, I have envelopes of pictures that need to either go in a scrapbook or in a photo album. I'm sure you have some lying around too.

    -Pray: This is more than something to do for me. It's a huge part of my life. I'm not a crazy religious person or anything but I just strongly believe in the power of prayer because it's helped me throughout my life. And prayer is definitely needed during these times.

    -Meditate: Here's another different one but I thought I should add it to the list. Meditation is hard to do. It takes time, concentration and relaxation but can be mastered with practice.

    -Stretch: Stretching is good for your entire body because it loosens you up and gets rid of tension. You can do it anywhere and it doesn't cost you anything but your effort and energy.

    -Call a friend: Times are busy and sometimes we look up and it's been ages since we've talked to a friend. Call them. (E-mail and Facebook messages don't count.) There's nothing like hearing a long-time friend's voice on the phone.

    -Volunteer: I believe in volunteering but aside from mentoring, haven't done much volunteering since I've lived in Md. I'm looking at participating in local volunteering opportunities this year. Sometimes giving yourself and your time is more valuable than giving your money. Click here for more information.

    Photo courtesy of seopositions.net.

    Thursday, January 14, 2010

    R.I.P Teddy P.



    I'm so sad to say that R&B icon Teddy Pendergrass died last night after a battle with colon cancer.
    He was 59.
    My adopted mother used to blast his records all over the house.
    I grew up on songs like "Turn off the Lights,""Close the Door" and "Love TKO."
    I loved how the Philadelphia native was honest with his feelings and raw with his emotions.
    There will never be another like Teddy P.


    Photo courtesy of www.rollingstone.com.

    Glamarazzi Weekly Round-up


    Edited by Iggi

    Glamarazzi is growing in leaps and bounds!! Keedah and myself would like to welcome all new members, thank you for joining us and contributing!! We have a great roster of blogs participating and it's only going to get keep getting better and bigger. If your are interested in joining, as we are always happy to consider new members, you may find out how to do so HERE
    Now let's get started...
    Save money on gas by walking to the kitchen instead of driving to the salon... Project Danielle has the perfect recipe for super shiny hair I can't wait to try this!!
    Even a glamazon has to eat... and K Is For Kinky introduces you to The Tasting Table , a free service that will keep you informed of the hottest restaurants around.
    The Style Aficionado will show you how to look fashionable and workplace appropriate in below freezing temperatures in The Working Girls Guide to Winter Clothes.
    $50 for a set of minx nails? Only if you don't read Diary Of A Style Addicts post "Do It Yourself Minx Manicure" on how she saved herself $34 by giving herself a minx manicure for a mere $16
    Looking for more dramatic eye make up ideas? Hot Beauty Health shares over 21 hot looks including tutorials!
    Mimi from High End For Your Rear End takes you down the rarely beaten style path to the worldly wardrobe wonders of retailer eryn brinie in Ery(n) Apparent
    Make-up/Music/Money/Me is wondering what fab products you're carrying around in your bag...and shares the contents of hers in "Beauty in Your Bag: What beauty products are you carrying around?"
    Blaq Beauty Vixen breaks down Taraji P. Henson's ultra-fab retro look from the movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" in Flyy Girl Gone Bad: Rock Steady Beauty Breakdown
    Sparkle Crack Central is one with the wind and you can be too... She breaks down the look in "Look: Qualities - the Wind"
    Retro Diva has the scoop on a uber-talented former Project Runway contestants return to New York Fashion Week in Korto Momolu Is Back at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week!
    It's Krasey Beauty's 1 year Bloggiversary (Happy Anniversary!!) and she has a seriously FABULOUS giveaway for a lucky individual... Submit your entry and get all the deets via her "Giveaway Time- Krasey Beauty's One Year Bloggiversary Giveaway!!" post. Good luck!!
    Polish Swatches introduces you to OPI's new "Designer Series" a fab collection of nail polishes infused with diamond dust for out of this world sparkle!!
    Temple Of Glam has a great post on Urban Decay's new "Stardust" eye colors: "Well, Paint My Eyelids and Call Me Ziggy!" ... And that's an order!! So damn fab...
    The Glamour Whore has a touch of spring fever anticipating "NARS Spring 2010" makeup collection...inspired by Catherine Deneuve. The colors are AMAZING...

    Wednesday, January 13, 2010

    NOTD: More pinks



    As promised, here are swatches from my most recent beauty haul.
    SpaRitual's "Last Call" is on my thumb. I like this pink, not too dark and very noticeable.
    Nicole by OPI's "Dream Catcher" is on my middle and pinky fingers. It's a pretty of a coral with shimmery undertones and totally made up for the "Tease" letdown from last month.
    And Rimmel's 60 second polish in a hot pink is on my index and ring fingers. This pink is electric and iridescent.
    I think my fave out of the three might be...well...um...I love all of them!!

    Helping those affected by the earthquake in Haiti



    You've seen the heartbreaking images on TV and online.
    Bodies in the street.
    People covered in dirt.
    Folks trapped in rubble.
    They are all victims of a 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday.
    To help those affected please visit:

    -www.yele.org or donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501

    or

    -www.redcross.org or donate $10 by texting HAITI to 90999

    Continue to pray and support the people of Haiti.

    Beauty in Your Bag: What beauty products are you carrying around?



    I'll be the first to admit it. There's a little Walmart store going on in my bag.
    In true lady fashion, I've got all kinds of goodies, snacks and products in there, lol.
    Here's a list of the beauty items I have in my purse:

    -hand sanitizer
    -Maybelline Great Last mascara
    -CoverGirl lipstick
    -Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss
    -Yes to carrots lip tint, gloss and butter
    -a black and brown eye pencils

    That's all for my bag folks. What's in yours? I know I can't be the only one walking around with a mini CVS on my shoulders:)


    Photo courtesy of tanobag.net.

    Tuesday, January 12, 2010

    Free Aveda hand and body wash



    Here's a freebie from Aveda: a travel-size Rosemary Mint hand and body wash. This offer expires at the end of the month. Kudos to Cheapalicious for the tip!


    Photo courtesy of aveda.com.

    Monday, January 11, 2010

    Physicians Formula eyeshadow and bronzer



         I recently received a package of Physicians Formula eye shadow as a Secret Santa gift and I bought a shimmer strips palette for about $9.
         The shadow is 100 percent free of parabens, synthetic preservatives and harsh chemicals.
         It's made of OrganiSoy, which helps even out the eye area and skin tone.
         The shadow is also made with Eco-Olive, which is a natural antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental aggressors.
         The coverage of the shadow was good. It went on very natural, which I liked and is a safe look to wear to work.
         The shimmer strips were all right too. They can be used as a bronzer, blush and eye shadow.
         I loved the glimmer in the shimmer strips but I have to be careful not to apply too much of it or else it will have a slightly ashy look on my cheekbones.
         According to the product packages, Physicians Formula is the first ever organic make-up line in the U.S.
         The line also uses 94 percent less plastic and is pretty affordable.
         Overall, I will be using more of their items because they're on point.

    Sunday, January 10, 2010

    Weekend Beauty Haul:)



    Happy Sunday.
    Went on a shopping spree this weekend and scored several sweet beauty deals:

    -Yes to carrots lip butter in Berry and Carrot for $1.89 each at Walgreens
    -Rimmel 60 second polish in a hot pink color and a top coat for $0.87 each from Walgreens
    -SpaRitual in "Last Call" for $3 and Nicole by OPI in "Dream Catcher" for $1 from Marshalls
    -Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava body butter for $5 from Borders book store.

    Expect reviews soon.

    Friday, January 8, 2010

    100 % Pure Body Cream and Scrub Review



         I recently picked up several 100% Pure Organic products from T.J. Maxx because I'm in love with this line.
         In June, I won a 100% Pure pomegranate shower gel and body scrub set, both of which I love.
         My most recent T.J. Maxx 100% Pure purchases included a $4 jar of peach body scrub and a $3 bottle of Fuji apple body cream.
         Surprisingly, the cream had the consistency of lotion and not the traditionally thick feeling of regular body cream.
         It was light but felt good going on my skin. The cream smelled like candy but moisturized my body in a mediocre kind of way.
         I've used better creams before.
         The scrub is my fave out of the two. It went on light and isn't too oily like other scrubs I've used in the past.
         It smelled really sweet and I felt like it sufficiently exfoliated my skin.
         I'll continue to support this line because I like the products and it's even better that I can find them at my local T.J.Maxx store.

    Thursday, January 7, 2010

    Billboard: Vinyl sales up in 2009 over 2008



    Apparently, vinyl sales were up last year over 2008, according to a recent Billboard.com article.
    This doesn't surprise me, considering all the loot I dropped on records last year.
    Listening to vinyl is a much different experience than popping a CD in a stereo or downloading an album from iTunes.
    There's something nostalgic about placing a record on a record player and hearing it crackle and pop as it plays, then getting up and turning the record over to the other side.
    I'm still going through my record collection; listening, learning and falling in love with new sounds.
    I have an iPod, CD player and even a cassette player, but none of them compare to my precious record player, which can record tapes and CDs.
    That's why vinyl sales are increasing.

    Here's more from the story:

    "Vinyl LP aficionados can also celebrate in knowing that vinyl album sales totaled 2.5 million in 2009, up a whopping 33% compared to 2008 (1.88 million). More vinyl albums were purchased in 2009 than any other year in the history of Nielsen SoundScan (since 1991)."

    Weekly Glamarazzi Round-up

     Glamarazzi finished

    Edited by Keedah

    Notice anything different? The Glamarazzi has added not 1, not 2, but a boatload of new members this week. Give a welcome to Project Danielle, Hot Beauty Health, Krasey Beauy, Sparkle Crack Central and High End for Your Rear End. We're still looking for fierce style blogs so if you are a fashion blogger and think you're blog is glam enough, do not hesitate to join in the fun.


    Wednesday, January 6, 2010

    Three uses for one pot of boiled water



         If you have one pot of boiled water, here are three ways to make good uses out of it:

    1. Make a cup of tea.

    2.Unclog your pores by placing your face over the pot and making a vent with a towel. Do this for about ten minutes.

    3. Pour some baking soda in your sink, followed by the pot of water. This is a natural way to loosen up your pipes.

         There ya go.
         One pot of water.
         Three uses.
         No money spent.

    Tuesday, January 5, 2010

    Korres Eye-liner set


    The product in the package.


    Swatches.


    The product on my face.

         This wasn't even on my holiday list but during my last trip to Sephora, I had to get the Korres Naturally Defined Eyes gift set.
         At $25, it came with five eyeliner pencils and a volumizing mascara.
         What a deal.
         Korres is a Greek company that uses natural ingredients in their products.
         The pencils are infused with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil.      They're also paraben, sulphate and mineral oil free.
         Also, 100 percent of the packaging is made from recyclable materials.
         As for their performance, the liners were creamy and not waxy like other pencils that I've used in the past.
         I love the way that they just glided on my lids and stayed there all day.
         I haven't used the mascara yet but I'm loving the pencils.

    Monday, January 4, 2010

    Song of the Day: "Conscience" by Sun



         I was looking up songs by the Lafayette Afro Rock Band on YouTube and this tune "Conscience" by the Ohio funk group Sun came up.
         I love the strong horns in the beginning and the infectious grove throughout the song.
         And the lyrics can't be any more real: "I know what you're saying//Know what you're doing//Know what you're planning//...I'm in your mind, baby!"
         I played this for my teenage cousins during Christmas break and they looked at me like I had five heads.
         Oh well. They'll come around one day.
         As for me, I know my ears aren't fooling me.
         The message in this song is too clear: "Let your conscience be your guide."
         What a great song.

    Sunday, January 3, 2010

    DIY: Make-up brush holder



    The Bargainista gives a video tutorial on making Sephora-inspired brush holders.


    I made a brush and eye pencil holder. What a nifty idea!

         How do you store your make-up brushes?
         I used to store mine in a cup on my bathroom sink but now, I have a more updated way of doing so.
         I came across this idea for making Sephora-inspired brush holders on The Bargainista's blog last night and figured I'd try it out.
         I improvised a bit by using an old candle jar, a mug and some pinto beans.
         All I did was place the beans in the jar and mug. Then I placed the brushes in the mug and used the jar for my eye pencils.
         What a great, nifty, resourceful idea for brushes and pencils!
         And I didn't even spend a dime:)

    NOTD: I'm in "Lust" with my nails



    While on vacay in Texas last month, my fave aunt got me a bottle of wet n wild's "Lust."
    I love wet n wild's craze line and "Inferno" was my fave color until I put "Lust" on my nails.
    It's a pretty poppy pink. Very vibrant, girly and happy.
    Me loves it!