Wednesday, May 30, 2012

NOTD: L'oreal's Now You Sea Me



I knew I had to have L'oreal's Now You Sea Me when I first saw it on shelves.
It's a lovely gray-ed out blue and is perfect for spring.
I just love this color on me!
But I kept looking at it and looking at it because it looked so familiar.
Here, take a peek:


I got to thinking: This color looked so familiar because NYSM is a dupe of butterLONDON's Artful Dodger!
These two look so identical that I can't tell them apart.
Here they are side by side:


Look at my nails again:

Artful Dodger is on my ring finger. Couldn't tell? Neither could I. If you look closely, Artful Dodger is sliiiiightly darker than NYSM.

And here's some nail art I did with NYSM as a base:

I used Deborah Lippmann's Glitter in the Air and a black nail art bottle.

NYSM applied streaky and thin. It took about three coats for full opacity.
Artful Dodger is definitely the expensive version of this color and has the better formula but I'm not a fan of butterLondon's brushes.
NYSM retails for about $6 at drugstores.

What say you? What's on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I paid for the polishes with my own funds.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

NOTD: Deborah Lippmann's Mermaid's Dream


Deborah Lippmann. Mermaid's Dream. Spring/Summer 2012 collection. $18.

I'll start off with the basics here because this polish let me down something terrible.
It has a frosty aqua base with blue and gold specs of glitter in it. It is unique.
And it really does look like something a mermaid would dream of:

But it doesn't look good on me. Too light, I think.
Plus, the formula dried bumpy. I thought that my Poshe topcoat would somehow smooth out the four coats I applied for full opacity, but Mermaid's Dream is bumpier than a toad's back:
Finally, Mermaid's Dream chipped on the second day of me wearing it:
I gave up an Andrew Jackson for this baby and it had thee absolute nerve to chip on the second day??!! Deborah Lippmann, you ain't right for that one, girl!

I'm usually a Deborah Lippmann fan: Glitter in the Air is a milky marvel and Brick House is a bronze beauty. But Mermaid's Dream just made me want to scream.

Have you tried Mermaid's Dream? If so, what did you think about it?

FTC Disclosure: Sadly, I paid for the polish with my own funds.

Monday, May 28, 2012

What I've been eating (and doing) lately!

Happy Memorial Day!

Here's what I've been eating (and doing) lately in pictures:

Edamame and Cranberry snack mix:

I got this from my Whole Body & Soul magazine and it's so yummy!

Cupcake:

I've been trying to scale back on processed sugar but it's nice to have a cupcake every now and then.

Crocheting:

This is going to be a baby blanket for a friend who's expecting.

Brown Rice Tea:

I thought this was going to be nasty but surprisingly, it was good.


Frozen Yogurt:

Frozen Yogurt has been my little treat as of late.

What about you? What have you been up to lately? And have a happy Memorial Day!

FTC Disclosure: I paid for the products with my own funds.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Here are a few of my favorite make-up brushes!

I talk about my fave nail polishes all the time so I thought I'd switch things up a bit and share some of my fave make-up brushes!

1. Tarte double-ended brush: This is one of my fave shadow brushes because its bristles are soft and nicely place pigments and shadows on my peepers. The other side works well for getting into my crease.


2. Lip brush: I read that it's better to apply lipstick with a brush than from the tube or with your fingers because the lipstick lasts longer. I do this when I have time and like the results.


3. L'Oreal's Mini shadow brush: I'm graduating from applying shadow on my lids to doing so on my under eyes. This mini brush has been helping me achieve that goal.


What say you? What are some of your fave make-up brushes?

FTC Disclosure: I paid for these brushes with my own funds.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

NOTD: SinfulColors' Cinderella



My fave Disney princesses were Ariel, Jasmine and Tiana. Never was a Cinderella fan.
Not sure why. But I'm loving Cinderella as a nail polish!
SinfulColors recently released the pretty Cinderella, a light blue with orange/pink flecks.
This has been a blogger fave lately, and I see why.
This color is very flattering.
It's a bit sheer and went on opaque in about three coats.
It was perfect as a base for nail art:


Colors used for the dots include Revlon's Mysterious and Posh and N.Y.C.'s Fuchsia Schock.

And it pairs well with a coat of the lovely Glitter in the Air from Deborah Lippmann too:


SinfulColors has a place in my heart because they are affordable and high quality, like Sally Hansen.

What say you? Have you tried Cinderella or anything like it? What's on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I paid for this polish with my own funds.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

One-word Beauty Reviews

Hi, hope you're well!

Here's another installation of my one-word beauty reviews:

1. Freeman Cucumber Peel-off Mask: Cooling.


2. Covergirl's Burgundeep: Vampy.


3. Physicians Formula Lash Boosting Mascara: Clumpy.


4. Olay Shea Butter Body Wash: Smellsgood.


5. Yes to Carrots Melon Lip Balm: OK.


FTC Disclosure: I paid for the products with my own funds.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

RIP Donna Summer

Confession: Sometimes when I'm in my "listen to my record collection mood," I air guitar to Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby" like I'm the female Bootsy Collins:



Don't judge. The bass, guitar and her croons in this song make this tune so hypnotic.
That's why I was so, so, sad to learn today that Summer, the Queen of Disco, had died from cancer at the age of 63.
She lived a full life, had a successful music career filled with No. 1 songs and sparkly disco albums and had a loving family. My condolences go out to those close to her.
I'm thankful the music gods blessed the world with her talent, voice and her artistry.
I listen to her album "Hot Stuff" when I'm getting ready for work.
Thumping songs like the title track and "Bad Girls" help me wake up in the morning:




The Queen of Disco will truly be missed.
RIP Donna Summer.

Food I've been eating lately (pic heavy)

Hey there!

Hope your week's been positive and productive, like mine:).

I used to be totally obsessed with the Food Network back in college.
I'd come home from a long day of school and work and do my homework while watching Emeril, Sandra Lee or The Neelys.
Had to stop watching those peppy and sexual (I'm looking at you Neelys!) food shows because I'd get the urge to try "recreate" what those chefs were cooking, even though my "creations" never came out like the TV versions.
I still cook because I have too and I also find it peaceful and comforting. But I don't watch the Food Network anymore.
That said, here's a sampling of what I've been inhaling food-wise lately:

Water... in a glass:

...I didn't cook this but agua is healthy for you and I like to drink mine out of a wine glass sometimes because it's classy-and I haven't been drinking wine that much lately.

Whoopie pies:

This was so good that it made me want to scream, "Whoopie!" LOL. I bought a package of about six of these from Trader Joe's. I ate half the package and gave the rest to my neighbors, who are from Pennsylvania, where the Whoopie Pie originated.

Rice and Squash:

I love summer squash and sauteed this batch from Trader Joe's. The rice was leftover from takeout, I think. I don't waste food!

Tea:

Bought these two teas from Marshall's for about $2 apiece. I love tea. Any kind of tea. This is how I wind down before going to bed.

Burritos:

I like meals that have 20-minute cook times because I am usually ca-pooped when I get off work. You can never go wrong with tacos for dinner because they're so easy to make!

Veggie burger and kale:

I have yet to find a veggie burger that knocks the socks off my taste buds. This brand from Trader Joe's (see a theme here?) was OK. The kale was the bomb.com, though.

Kale, mushrooms, garlic and onions:
I'm obsessed with kale. And I love it even more with garlic, onions and mushrooms.

Beets and orange salad:
I saw this in a magazine and wanted to try it out. It was so good. I felt running to California, climbing up an oak tree and living there after eating this.

More burritos and Miso soup:

More burritos! They can do no wrong in my kitchen! And Miso soup from my local Asian grocer.

What about you? What have you been eating and enjoying lately?

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

NOTD: Revlon's Electric Pink



If neon is in for clothes and nails this season, then I’m totally on trend with Revlon’s Electric Pink.

What a pretty color!

Revlon's Copper Penny is on my ring finger.

It’s bright. So bright that I had to put on sunglasses to save my eye sight.
OK, OK I’m just kidding but this baby is definitely a neon polish.
I like this color and Revlon’s polishes just keep on impressing me.
I picked up this baby on clearance for a few bucks from my local Target not too long ago. I think it’ll be a mainstay on my tips this summer.



What say you? And what’s on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I paid for this polish with my own funds.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Random NOTDs

Hi there!

Hope you're week's going well!
Short post today. Lots going on at work so I wanted to share some recent NOTDs with you:

Revlon's Not So Blueberry:

This is an oldie but goodie in my polish collection. It's soooo beautiful and smells so good!

Ulta's Blue Streak and Essie's Shine of the Times:

What a gorge combo!

butterLONDON'S Artful Dodger and Brash's Toxic Purple:

Can't go wrong with polka dots and this mani proves why!

Revlon's Coastal Surf and various nail art lacquers:

I think I went overboard here but I wanted to have a little bit of fun and do something different.

SinfulColors' Crackle Topcoat:

I ran out of my coveted OPI Crackle topcoat and picked this up as a substitute. It cost me only a buck and a quarter and is a nice dupe!


What about you? How are you? What's on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I paid for these products with my own funds.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

NOTD: Essie's Trophy Wife

Take a good look at this bottle of polish:



Is it green? Teal?

I don't know so I'm going to describe Essie's Trophy Wife as "greal."
That don't sound right but she sure is one puuuuuuurdy bottle of polish.
I'd been lemming for Trophy Wife for months.
I'd pick it up in the store and put it right back down, since it wasn't on my shopping list.
That went on for way tooo long and I had to stop, so I finally bought this beauty from CVS for about $8.
Not bad.

Here it is on my tips:


And here she is with a coat of Essie's Shine of the Times:


I love the shimmer in Trophy Wife and it reminds me of my fave polish of all time, Sephora by OPI's Teal We Meet Again.
That's why I'm so confused about what to call Trophy Wife.
I don't even know if that matters because after wearing it for about five days nonstop, I'd call this color boss.

What say you? What's on your tips and toes?


FTC Disclosure: I paid for this polish with my own funds.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

My life in pictures!

Hey everyone!

How have you all been? Me? I've been busy, but in a good way. Haven't had much time to post as I'd like so I'll show you what I've been loving in pictures:

My new Michael Kors wedges:

These were a summer investment because I needed a nice work shoe. Ain't they cute?

Girl Scout cookies:

Can't go wrong with Samoas and Trefoils! Reminds me of my Girl Scout days. Aww. I'ma cry now. Sniff. Sniff. LOL.

This giveaway I won from Style.Love.Repeat.:

What an awesome giveaway! Thanks Janell!

Chevron Nails:

I used my Hot Ticket nail polish from the above giveaway and a silver from Revlon.

This red, sweater shirt:

My BFF gave me this cutie for my birthday a few years ago and I it's become a fave ever since. It's the perfect spring short-sleeved sweater. (Try saying that five times!)

I let my nails air out for a couple of days:

As obsessed as I am about polish, there are a few times a year (maybe one or two) where I will wear no polish. The proof is in this picture:)