Make-up/Music/Money/Me

Time for Five: Things I'm currently into

2012-02-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

1. This little Postal truck figurine: I saw this Postal truck figure at CVS for about $5. It reminds me of my father, rest his soul. My father worked for the Post Office in New York for years. I miss him dearly.

2.Striving for success: This picture sums up my life and thoughts right now. Not that I haven't attained a considerable amount of success in my young life, but I want more. I feel that 2012 has BIG things in store for me:)

3. New Glasses: I recently got new glasses (and a stronger prescription to match it) and love how chic they are.

4. Go the F*ck to Sleep: This book is just so freaking funny that I've been crying out my eyes while reading it!

5. Shadow palettes: I've been having lots of fun playing around with my shadow palettes. Why buy more when I have so many that I can use up?

FTC Disclosure: I paid for the cosmetic products mentioned in this post.

Shopping my stash: Stuff I'm sleeping on

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here are a few products in my stash that I've been sleeping on:

1. Various eye shadows:

As you can see here, I've hit the pan on these babies from Tarte, pur minerals and Physicians Formula. I've been wearing these mainly for work and obviously getting plenty of use out of them!

2. HIP Pigment:

I had been sleeping on this pretty green pigment call Striving for too long. I've been wearing this by itself. It's too gorgeous to wear with any other shadow!

3.Almay shadow singles in Oatmeal and Cocoa:

I've been wearing these Dollar Store finds with nothing but black eyeliner and a red lip.

4. Lancome nude lip liner:

I didn't really appreciate lip liner until I blew the dust off of this baby. It's been keeping my lippies from feathering and is barely noticeable.

What about you? Have you been shopping your stash lately?

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

Gray/purple sponge mani

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

I use sponges to clean my kitchen and bathroom, but on my nails?
Youbetcha!
Sponging is one of the hottest trends in the polish world right now and I recently did a design using the popular method.
Here are the supplies I used:

Supplies included: a broken piece of sponge, Revlon's Hazy, essence's Breakthrough, topcoat and basecoat.

Directions were easy-peasy.
After my basecoat and two coats of Hazy dried, I dabbed a little bit of Breakthrough onto my nails to give them that sponge affect. I did this about two times.
Then, I applied the topcoat when everything was dried and had my sponge nails.
To jazz the look up a little, I added black funky french tips using Borghese' Stellare Noire.
I like the look and predict more sponge manis in my future!

Have you ever done a sponge mani? What are you wearing on your tips and toes?
FTC Disclosure: I previously paid for the products with my own funds.

Wet n wild Eye Bruise Easily shadow review/swatches

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

I picked up this pretty duo called Eye Bruise Easily from the clearance bin at my local Walgreens for about 50 cents. The shimmery brown caught my eye. Thought it would look pretty on me. I was right.

Here's a swatch:

And here it is on my peepers:

I looove the brown because aside from the gold micro shimmers in it, it's barely noticeable. That makes it perfect for doing neutral looks for work.
Unfortunately, the black hasn't been working very well as a shadow for me.
I've been trying to do a smoky eye with the look but I think I'm not blending it correctly or something. One thing I will master this year is the smokey eye with this shadow duo, dammit!!
Surprisingly, the black has been working very well as a black eyeliner. Maybe that's the function of the black in this duo? Where's a make-up artist when you need them?
Anywhoo, I know I'll get more use of out the brown shade in this duo though.
Still a pretty, cheap duo.

What are you wearing on your peepers these days?

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

Rest in Peace Etta James

2012-01-21T23:13:00.001-05:00

R.I.P. Etta James

Time for Five: Things I'm loving right now:)

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a list of things that are making me happy right now:

1. The delicious Edible Arrangements that someone left for me:

2. The purple circle scarf I recently crocheted:

3. The notebook I recently bought to write blog post drafts in. I feel like I'm back in high school or something, lol:

4. The good, sweet honey wine I drank during a recent outing with friends:

5. And the Ethiopian meal that I inhaled with the honey wine with friends:) I LOVE Ethiopian food:

What about you? What's making you happy these days?

New camera and my life in images (heavy pics)

2012-01-17T00:00:00.003-05:00

Santa got me this Canon G12 for Christmas:

Yay! She's a beauty and I've been so excited about her that I've been snapping pictures of everything:

Flowers I crocheted:

I crochet the extra yarn from my circle scarves into cute, little flowers like these. They're so cute. I'm thinking about making them into little barrettes or pins. I'll find something to do with them!

Trader Joe's Caramel Popcorn:

I can't stop eating this popcorn and am therefore convinced that there's crack in it. It's just too damn good.

Beads!

Nothing's making me more happy now than finding beads for my earrings and arts-n-craft projects!

Yarn!

Yarn and beads. Beads and yarn. This is what my life has come to at 26!. Sounds boring but I've been having lots of fun getting my Martha Stewart on. My goal in life right now is to crochet the heck out of a baby blanket for my friend's daughter. She's due this summer so I have some time to get it right.

Polish!

Nothing new here. I counted 109 bottles in my polish collection. Think it's time to go on a chill pill and use what's currently in my polish collection. Easier said than done because I came across Wet n wild's "Give Me a Price Quote" and "Cost is No Issue" on clearance for $1.50 each from Walgreens and scooped them up:

Couldn't pass these two glittery, sparkly babies up. I mean, just look at my nails!

New lip balm and hand creme:

I've been in love with this new-company-to-me called love and toast. Their green tea and mint lip balm ($3) and gin blossom hand creme ($9) are the bee's knees. The packaging is cute, the products are made without parabens and with natural ingredients and some of the proceeds support Girls Inc. of Denver. Good stuff.

Ever sweeter, a recent dessert of chocolate strawberries and wine:

As long as I live, I will always believe in the power of dessert. There's nothing like a chocolate-covered strawberry and a glass of wine to round out Sunday dinner.

How are you doing? What's making you happy these days?

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

One-word Beauty Product Reviews

2012-01-16T00:00:00.001-05:00

It's time for another installment of my one-word beauty product reviews!

1.Softsoap soap and Bodywash: Tropical.

2.Ecotools body butter: Soft.

3. Ulta lipstick in Parisian Pout: Hellno:(

4.Facemasks: Hellyes!

5.Nutty: Neutral

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

DIY: Making my own earrings!!!

2012-01-13T00:00:00.002-05:00

One thing that's made me very happy lately is making my own earrings!
OMG, it's so easy (TOO easy). I use pliers like these:

...and supplies like earring backs and eye pins:

...and beads (gotta have beads!)...

...to make ear candy like this:

...and this:

You can get the supplies and beads at your local craft store for under $10.
I like to support the small man but Michael's has 40% off coupons in the Sunday paper.
The fun part is decorating the earrings. You can slide the beads on any which-way you want.
I usually make my earrings while watching my juicy reality TV shows like Mob Wives and Love & Hip Hop. Don't Judge:)

What do you think? What do you like to make? What's making you happy these days?

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

Time for Five: Things I'm Into Right Now

2012-01-11T00:00:00.005-05:00

Here's a look at five things I'm feeling right now:

1. This picture: I recently got new glasses and a stronger prescription but doesn't it look like there's an angel in this picture? Or maybe I need to go back to my eye doctor?

2. Cooking: I recently made this dinner of salmon and onions, squash and kale, and it was one of the best I ever made!

3. Nails: I take my job as the "neighborhood nail lady" very seriously- and so do my kiddie "clients"! Lol.

4. Bright tights: I bought these tights from Payless for about a few dollars and they've been making my outfits pop!

5. Red skinny jeans: Love these red skinnies from Forever 21!

What about you? What things are you into right now?

Songs I used to jam to when I was a teenybopper

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

I've been listening to a lot of pop music lately mainly because I need to fix the CD player in my car.
When the DJ plays certain songs like the ones below, I sing like I'm auditioning for American Idol and relive my teenybopper years:

Aaliyah's One In A Million:

Dru Hill's Sleeping in My Bed:

Biggie's Hypnotize:

This isn't all of them but the first ones to come to mind.

What about you? What were some of the songs of your teenybopper (love that word!) years?

Buxom's Brooklyn Big & Healthy Lipstick Review

2012-01-09T00:00:00.003-05:00

I love Brooklyn as a name, as a city and now I love it as a lipstick!

Buxom's Brooklyn lipstick has been my work lipstick of choice lately.

Here's a swatch:

And here she is on my kisser:

This is such a pretty lipstick.
The color is described as a fig hue but it comes across as a soft pink on me.
And that's alright. I love it's subtle color.
It's Wearable. Workable. Pretty, too.
Brooklyn plumps, lines and moisturizes.
Like Buxom's Barcelona, Brooklyn can do no wrong.
Apparently, it's one of Buxom's most popular shades.
I see why and I think it's worth every cent of the $18 that you'll drop for it.

What do you think of Brooklyn? What's your favorite work lipstick?

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

Gettin Cazhmerred One-Word Beauty Reviews

2012-01-06T00:00:00.002-05:00

Here's another edition of my one-word beauty product reviews featuring the goodies I won from Gettin Cazhmerred!

1. Rimmel London Smokey Blue Eye Quad: Sexy.

2. Max Factor double-ended eye shadow stick in Pink Cloud: Bright.

3. Wet n wild's Retro Pink lipstick: NickiMinaj-able.

4. N.Y.C. blush: Subtle.

5. Profusion Brightening Eyes palette: Shimmery.

6. Almay intense eye palette: Worksafe.

FTC Disclosure: I won the products through a blog giveaway.

Swatches of my Gettin Cazhmerred blog win (pic heavy)

2012-01-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

I recently won a whole lot of goodies from the beautiful Cocoa of Gettin Cazhmerred.

Here's what I received:

-Bath & Body Works Twilight Woods hand sanitizer
-Mini Revlon nail polish in Winter Mist
-Max Factor Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duo
-4 mini shadow pigments from Mac and Micabella
-Cute brown earrings
-2 nail clippers
-4-piece mini make-up brush set
-False eyelashes!
-Rimmel London Smokey Blue shadow palette
-Profusion Brightening Eyes shadow palette
-Almay intense i-color for green eyes
-N.Y.C. Blush Gleamer Multi-Colored Powder
-Make-up bag
-Almay Peach lip gloss
-Wet n wild lipstick in 525D (Retro Pink)
-Jordana Mousse lip liner
-A journal

Here are some swatches:

Rimmel London Smokey Blue shadow palette:

Mini Revlon nail polish in Winter Mist:

Profusion Brightening Eyes shadow palette

4 mini shadow pigments from Mac and Micabella:

Max Factor Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duo:

Wet n wild lipstick in 525D (Retro Pink):

N.Y.C. Blush Gleamer Multi-Colored Powder:

Almay intense i-color for green eyes:

I love all my beauty goodies; thanks so much Cocoa!
Look out for reviews soon!

FTC Disclosure: I won the products mentioned in this post.

Thing's I Like to Do in Pictures

2012-01-03T00:00:00.005-05:00

In the past two years that I've been single, I've grown to really enjoy my time alone.
It's been a blessing, a relief and a pleasure to get to know myself.
I really appreciate this time to figure out what I want for myself and also to find out what makes me tick. Taking time out for you really is underrated.
Lately, I've been enjoying different kinds of activities. By myself.
Here's a picture list of things that have been bringing me some joy!

1. Paddle boarding: This was one of the funnest things I've ever done and will be my hobby next spring and summer!

2. Hiking: I love hiking! This is a great way to stay fit and experience nature.

3. Horseback riding: I hadn't done this in ages, since I was in grade school and rode Rocky, this cute show horse. Boy, did I have fun!

Side note: I look JUST LIKE my mother in this picture. Scary.

4. Painting: I recently took a painting class and had a blast! I promise you that I painted this photo. It was so easy. I felt like Basquiat or Picasso!

5. Chocolate: O, and I love to eat chocolate. Had to post this pic because it's something I like to do:)

What about you? What do you like to do?

My 2011 product faves/Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T00:00:00.002-05:00

This year, I bought so many beauty products that I fell in love with. Here are some of my faves (in no particular order):

1. CoverGirl Natureluxe Gloss Balms:

I bought so many of these babies that I lost count! They were moisturizing, long-lasting and affordable.

2. Pacifica Indian Coconut:

I couldn’t resist this yummy coconut scent! Even better that it’s made with natural and organic ingredients.

3. Deborah Lippman’s Glitter in the Air Nail Polish:

This was my favorite nail polish release this year. Hands down. Deborah is a guru when it comes to polish formulas and this sheer, glittery formula proved why.

4. Urban Decay Roach Eyeshadow:

This beauty is my favorite eye shadow of all time. Hands down.

5. The Body Shop’s Satsuma Body Butter:

This smelled so good that I was two seconds from eating it. It was better served on my desert dry skin, though.

Honorable Mention: Tarte’s Amazonian Blush:

The blush in this picture added a pop of rose to my cheeks. A little goes a long way.

What were some of your beauty favorite this year?

And have a happy and prosperous New Year!!!

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

Glitter Polish Week: Essie's A Cut Above

2011-12-30T00:00:00.003-05:00

I'm on vacation this week but since New Year's is a few days away, I wanted to celebrate by showing you some glitter polishes I've been wearing this season.
Here's a newbie from Essie!

Essie!!
Where is she?
Who is she?
Whomever she is, she needs to come here and lemme congratulate her for a minute because she really has hit a home run with her Luxeeffects collection.
I recently raved about the magnificent Shine of the Times and I'm now raving about A Cut Above, which I recently scooped up from Ulta for about $8.
It was worth every penny.
Now I usually don't do glitters but A Cut Above has me feeling like a pretty, pink unicorn sipping purple Kool-Aid and eating baby blue cotton candy:)
The polish is made up of large and small rose-colored glitter.
If you look closely, you can see bits and pieces of red glitter in there too! I think the red pieces of glitter make the nail polish so cool.
The formula is a bit thick, though, and I've been using it as a topcoat.
I put one coat over Maybelline's Mod Mauve. Hello Kitty's Blueberry is on my ring finger. Take a peek:

The bling from the glitter blinded me so much that I had to put a pair of sunglasses on. Not really, I just added one thin coat of Sally Hansen's black crackle and got this:

Cute, right? I think so.

I ought to invite Essie over to my place for brunch or something one day so we can discuss her next nail polish collection.
She sure has stepped up her game with the Luxeeffects collection.

FTC Disclosure: I paid for the product with my own money.

Glitter Polish Week: Revlon's Facets of Fuchsia

2011-12-29T00:00:00.006-05:00

I'm on vacation this week but since New Year's is a few days away, I wanted to celebrate by showing you some glitter polishes I've been wearing this season.
Here's a newbie from Revlon!!

I've been on the search for this baby ever since Revlon announced its arrival not too long ago.
Couldn't find it in CVS.
Wasn't available at Walgreens.
But luckily, Target had several bottles left for about $4.
I would've been stupid to not buy Facets of Fuchsia, which is a dupe for the more expensive Bad Romance from Deborah Lippmann.

Facets of Fuchsia has a black jelly consistency with large and small pieces of hex fuchsia glitter.
Have a another look:

I used three coats but two gave me full opacity.
The polish dries a little gritty, but very quickly with Revlon's Quick Dry.
This is nice. Very nice.
It's not goth like other black polishes.
This is just mature and super chic.
I think I have a new polish favorite!

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

Glitter Polish Week: Sally Hansen's Rockstar Pink

2011-12-28T00:00:00.006-05:00

I'm on vacation this week but since New Year's is a few days away, I wanted to celebrate by showing you some glitter polishes I've been wearing this season.
Here's an oldie but goodie from Sally Hansen!

Sally Hansen's Rockstar Pink is next up for my glitter polish showcase this week.
I've had this baby in my collection for some time but really have been ignoring it.
I searched my archives and couldn't see where I swatched it and I don't know why because this polish really is an underrated beauty.
Rockstar Pink has a clear base with tons of pink, blue and purple pieces of glitter suspended in it.
It can come off as a dark pink or purple polish, depending on what kind of light you view it in and how close you are to it.
It took me about three coats to reach full opacity and the polish didn't dry gritty like other glitter polishes.
I thought removal was going to be a pain but surprisingly, the polish peeled off in chunks after a few days.
This polish is part of Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear collection and can be found at drugstores and big-box stores for about $3.

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

Glitter Polish Week: Wet n wild's Sparked

2011-12-27T00:00:00.005-05:00

I'm on vacation but since New Year's is a few days away, I wanted to celebrate by showing you some glitter polishes I've been wearing this season.
Here's an oldie but goodie from Wet n wild!!

Wet n wild's Sparked is a cutie in a bottle.
Originally, I thought that the glitters in this polish were all one color but upon further inspection, I see tiny light and dark pink glitter.
Silver glitter's in there, too!
All the glitters form together nicely to give this polish a lovely dimension.
Take a peek:

OMG it's pretty, and for 99 cents, a steal.
Three coats gave me full opacity and then, I did a Funky French Mani using SinfulColors' Black on Black to give the polish some more edge:

This was a beast to get off though!
I ended up using the foil method to get this off because it didn't come off in chunks like my beloved Coloricon polishes did.
That's alright, though.
Sparked has got my tips and toes smitten:)

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

Glitter Polish Week: Wet n wild's Ice Baby

2011-12-26T00:00:00.010-05:00

I'm on vacation this week but since New Year's is a few days away, I wanted to celebrate by showing you some glitter polishes I've been wearing this season.
Two goodies from Wet n wild's Ice Baby Collection are up first!!

I can’t tell Wet n wild how much I love them, so let me count the ways:
First, they’re affordable.
Second, they’re quality.
Third, they’re always on the cutting edge of beauty trends, especially with their new Coloricon Ice Baby nail polish collection.
The collection features eight glitter polishes and I recently scooped up two from my local Walgreen’s for about $3 a piece.
Just look at these beauties!!

I can’t take my eyes off of them:

Now, glitter polishes and I don’t have the best relationship but I’ve given these babies a pass because they are just too lovely to pass up!
Back Alley Deals has a glittery purple base with larger red glitter.
Believe Me, It's Real has a glittery blue base with purple glitter:

The formula was very thin and took about three to four coats for full opacity.
But they're sparkly!! Check out this video showing their glittery goodness:

Only thing is these polishes can suck the heck out of a topcoat:
I got major chippage the next day so don’t expect to wear them for an entire week:

I can look past those negatives though, because these glitter polishes have me intrigued.

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

Merry Christmas and a holly, jolly mani!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.005-05:00

Merry Christmas!
Hope Santa got you all you asked for. He sure looked out for me this year:)
Here's a holiday mani I recently wore featuring different representations of the holiday season.
Look closely and you'll see a candy cane on my ring finger, a gingerbread man on my middle, and Santa's coat on my pointer.
I used polishes from SinfulColors (Under 18, HD Nails, Snow Me White), Revlon's Chocolate Truffle and Sephora's Cherry Popsicle.
Hope you have a happy rest of the holiday season!!!

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

Daphne Guiness for MAC cosmetics swatches/review

2011-12-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

One of my co-workers recently gave me some items from the Daphne Guinness for MAC Cosmetics collection! Woo hoo!
The items included two polishes in Hyperion and Endless Night, Approaching Storm lipcreme and Nebula pigment. Here are some swatches:

I am loving everything about this cool-toned collection.
The lipstick is not too dark but comes off vampy and sexy on my lips. It’s definitely not for work.
The polishes are pretty, too!
Endless Night is a pretty light blue and Hyperion is a lilac of sorts.
They are both nice contrasts to the dark, jewel-toned polish hues you usually see this season.

Here’s Endless Night on its own:

And here it is with Wet n wild’s Sparked on the tips:

And here is Hyperion on its own:

And here it is with Borghese' Stellare Noire:

The pigment Nebula is nice, too. Looks very natural on my peepers.
Overall, I’m impressed with this collection and will be getting some more use out of it!

FTC Disclosure: These products were gifted to me.

I wouldn't go 'Into the Woods' with this scent on

2011-12-23T00:00:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite things to do is to hike at my local state park.
I love the workout I get from the zillion mile walk and yes, I'm one of those "Earth Momma" ladies who likes to be "one with nature." LOL.
I usually have to apply bug spray all over my body before hiking so the mosquitoes don't get me though.
That's why I don't get this Bath and Body Works Into the Woods scent:

Don't get me wrong. This is a nice body cream and spray!
It smells sweet, richly moisturizes my dry skin and lasts a long time.
The name of the body butter is killing me.
If I were a bug in the woods and smelled this scent on someone, they'd be breakfast, lunch and dinner. For real!!!
Would I ever go into woods again? Yes, of course I will.
But will I be wearing Bath and Body Works' Into the Woods into the woods? Heck no.

FTC Disclosure: The products were gifted to me.

Recent nail designs I've worn

2011-12-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here is the SinfulColors edition of some recent nail designs I've worn:

SinfulColors' HD

What a beautiful emerald green! Very timely for the holiday season too!

SinfulColors' Black on Black:

Basic black. I will be using this as a base for some of my glitter polishes.

And with a coat of wet n wild's Hallucinate:

SinfulColors' Snow Me White

Basic white. I'll also use this as a base for some upcoming nail designs.

And I used Sephora's Cherry Popsicle for Vampire Fangs:

This was a Halloween leftover and I'm just now getting to post it! Loved this look. Got lots of compliments!

What's on your tips and toes?

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

I got my hair did!!! Yeah!!

2011-12-21T00:00:00.008-05:00

I recently got my locs tightened up and they look so good! I get asked questions from time to time about my locs and loc maintenance so I wanted to give you all a few answers to some questions you may have wanted to ask but were embarrassed, scared, etc.

Q: OK, so exactly how many locs do you have?

A: 183. Yes that's right, 183. I was bored one day and counted, lol.

Q: How long have you had your locs?

A: I've had my locs for about 9 years now.

Q: How much does it cost to maintain your locs?

A: It costs me about $100 when I get them tightened up at the shop. I'll throw in an extra $20 if I'm getting it styled.

Q: How often do you get them tightened up?

A: I get them tightened up about three times a year. Usually around springtime, then for my birthday, then around the holiday time.

Q: Why did you get locs in the first place?

A: I used to run long distance in high school and needed something conducive to my athletic lifestyle. I wore relaxers for the longest time but I would sweat them out daily so I needed something that I would not sweat out.

Q:. What color are your locs?

A: Now, they're like an ombre black/brownish color. They've been red, auburn, black, brown.

Have any more questions to ask me about my locs?

Recent nail designs!!

2011-12-16T00:00:00.004-05:00

Here's a sample of what I've recently worn on my tips and toes!!!

Toxic Purple from Brash:

What a gorgeous royal purple!!

Revlon's Fuchsia Fever:

This hot pink is a pretty color!

And here with Borghese's Stellare Noire:

nails inc.'s trafalgar sqare magnetic polish:

This is the latest trend in nail polish. There are magnetic particles in this polish that activate when you place the in-cap magnet over the polish. What a cool concept!

What's on your tips and toes??

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

New winner for my Holiday Beauty Giveaway

2011-12-15T20:41:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I had to pick a new winner for my Holiday Beauty Giveaway.
Unfortunately, I didn't hear from Micah, nor did she have a way for me to contact her so the new winner is Sarah.
Congrats Sarah!
I'll be in touch with you so I can send out your package ASAP!

One-word beauty product reviews

2011-12-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

Haven't done the one-word product review in a long time so here ya go!

1. Village Naturals bathe shoppe body wash: Economical!

2. Burt's Bees baby oil: Sweet

3. Pacifica Island Vanilla body butter: Mediocre.

4. Poshe Topcoat: OK

5. Almay lavender shadow: Pretty

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

Holiday Beauty Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-12-13T00:00:00.002-05:00

And the winner of my Holiday Beauty Giveaway is...

MICAH!!!

Micah said, "I would love a clarisonic :D"

I used random.org to pick the winner and was trying to get the HTML code to post here to show you ladies the official drawing, but apparently I can't post the results because the contest is private. Next time, I'll make the drawing public so I can post the HTML code, but you can verify that you were entered in my contest by putting in contest #8,499 on random.org. I'm new to random.org and am still navigating it; bare with me and thank you in advance for your patience.

Micah, please e-mail me your address at msbadu2003@yahoo.com within two days so I can ship your prize out ASAP! If I don't hear from you, I'll pick another winner.

And don't worry if you didn't win this time around. I'm going to have a warm and fuzzy giveaway coming up soon! You're going to love this one!!

As always, thank you so much for supporting my blog and I hope you have a positive and productive rest of your week!

Giving my eyes that "sun-kissed" glow with lip balm

2011-12-12T00:00:00.012-05:00

I read on a blog that some make-up artists apply lip balm to models' lids to create a sun-kissed look. Sounded interested to me so I thought I'd try it.

I used my CoverGirl Naturluxe in Tulip:

Here's a swatch:

It's barely there, which makes it perfect for that sun kissed look I'm going for.

And here it is on my eyes:

See, it's barely there but it is there. Gives my eyes that "glow."

What do you think? What are you wearing on your eyes?

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

Clever love songs

2011-12-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Forrest Gump is one of my all-time fave movies. I remember seeing it when I was like 9 and then seeing it years later really understanding what happened to some of the characters, especially Jenny.
I do the same thing with songs and have been thinking about some of my fave love songs lately.
I won't get too explicit with details but some lyrics are both dangerous and safe at the same time, especially in these three songs:

Minnie Ripperton's Inside My Love:

Aaliyah's Rock the Boat:

Sade's Your Love is King:

What about you? Is there a love song you listened to years later and a light bulb went off? LOL. If so, what is it?

School's in session with this pretty e.l.f. palette

2011-12-09T00:00:00.006-05:00

My friend Elena gave me some more make-up, the e.l.f. beauty encyclopedia shadow palette!!! And lemme tell you, I've have fallen in love with it!

Here's a picture of the palette:

This shadow palette contains 12 powder shadows, 2 creme colors and a double-sided brush and a black liner.

Here are swatches (no primer):

And here are some looks I tried using the shadows:

The shadows are very blend-able, long-lasting and wearable for both work and play.
I've been using and loving the brown and other neutral colors for work.
Even been rocking a smokey eye with the brown and black shadows!!
Most were shimmery, which do the same thing for my lids as metallic polish does for my fingers, so that's a plus.
The only thing I didn't like were the creme shadows. They just did not work with my eyelids. Or maybe I didn't know how to blend them in? **scratches head**
Where's a make-up artist when you need one?
Either way, the creme shadows looked like colorful Vaseline on my lids. Not cool.
Other than that, I liked the palette.
Not bad for an inexpensive lesson on beauty.
Thanks again Elena!

FTC Disclosure: The product was gifted to me.

Finally mastered the art of shaping my brows! Yeah!

2011-12-07T00:00:00.003-05:00

Products used in this picture include a nameless gold tarte shadow and Milani's Flashy on my lips.

It's taken me a good four years but I've FINALLY done right by my eye brows!!
This is good news because I've been walking around with one brow that was either too thin or another that was too thick.
One night, I had enough.
Too cheap to pay someone, I just started plucking and plucking and plucking until I finally got the brows JUST RIGHT.
And I did. And I'm excited.
Think I'm going to buy me a cupcake.
Or a cakepop.

What about you? How do you maintain your eyebrows?

FTC Disclosure: I previously paid for all products in this post with my own funds.

Songs I sing in the car, regardless of who's looking (I know you do it too:)

2011-12-06T00:00:00.003-05:00

I have a confession to make but you'll have to promise that you won't tell anyone.
OK, here it goes: I sing this song at the top of my lungs when it comes on my car radio:

Don't judge. You know Kelly Clarkson was the bomb when she first came out. Plus, this was the jam and still is, at least to me. LOL.

Here are some other songs I sing to that come on the radio when I'm in the car:

Natasha Beddingfield's Untitled:

The Hills put this song on the map and I've been hooked to it ever since!

The Pussy Cat Dolls' Dontcha:

Pretty much anything by Britney Spears:

And yea, I do like some pop music. Not everything I listen to is old school:)

What about you? What songs do you sing to at red lights regardless of who's looking?

Day and Night: e.l.f. swatches/review

2011-12-05T00:00:00.010-05:00

My friend Elena recently gifted me with some very pretty e.l.f. shadow trios!!
I was so excited to use these because they were so bright and gorgeous.
The names of these palettes are Night and Day.
Reminds me of that Al B. Sure song from back in the day. LOL.

Here are swatches of Day:

And take a look at Night:

Here's Night my eyes:

And Day on my peepers:

I like Night a little bit better than Day because of the bright pink and purple shades. Funny thing is I'm actually a night owl and am more alert after hours.
Honestly, I think I'd be scared to rock Day during the day because the combination of green, black and white intimidates me.
Either way, I like these e.l.f. palettes and I consider this another win from e.l.f.
O, and thanks for these pretty palettes Elena!

FTC Disclosure: The products were gifted to me from a friend.

More fun with circle scarves!!!

2011-12-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've been making more circle scarves and having lots of fun crocheting!

This one is probably my fave:

I like the rainbow colors. They kind of remind me of spring. I miss warm weather during the cold winter months.

Here it is rolled up around my neck for a different look:

Me being silly:

Say cheese!

What's making you happy these days?

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

I'm now on Bloglovin!

2011-12-02T22:12:00.005-05:00

Hi ladies,

Hope your holiday season is off to a merry start!
I read on the Socialite Dreams blog that Google is getting rid of its "Google Friend Connect" service in March because it wasn't popular.
As a result, I've recently signed up for the awesome and user-friendly service Bloglovin.
Follow me on Bloglovin and I'll follow you too.
As always, thank you so much for supporting my blog!

P.S. And please don't forget to enter in my holiday giveaway! Ends December 11.

DIY: Making Circle Scarves!!!

2011-12-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

After seeing this YouTube video by the awesome MsVcharles, I've been making circle scarves left and right:

I crocheted these yarn balls using a 9 mm crochet needle:

Got the yarn from the dollar store and the needle from Michael's for about $4.

After crocheting, I got this cute little pink scarf:

Here's a close-up of the scarf:

Isn't it pretty? I thought so too. I've made about five now and will be giving them away as holiday gifts.

What about you? Have you tried making a circle scarf? If not, you should because it's so easy.

FTC Disclosure: I bought the products with my own money.

NOTD: SinfulColors' Under 18 and a sponge mani

2011-12-01T00:00:00.005-05:00

OK, I say this all the time when I swatch red polishes so here it goes: "I don't do red nail polish but..." SinfulColors' Under 18 has me thinking otherwise!

Just look at this pretty:

It's a beautiful shimmery red that has holiday season written all over it!!
Reminds me of brighter version of L'Oreal's Queen of Hearts.
Here, have another look at Under 18:

I've been wanting to do a sponge mani for a while so I did a mini one using Ulta's Glam Session. I only did the ring finger because I wanted to see how it would look. I think I'm going to have to play around with some more sponge manis because I like the look in the picture below:

What do you think? Whats on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I paid for all nail polishes mentioned in this post with my own funds.

Tom's natural soap review

2011-11-30T00:00:00.005-05:00

Tom's is my toothpaste.
It's also my deodorant.
And now, it's my main bar of soap.
I've tried many bars but Tom's soap has got me sold.
I love that the soap is natural and smells like oatmeal. For some reason, I really like oatmeal-y smelling soaps. I think it's beacause the scent is mild enough to be layered with a stronger scent.
The lather from the Tom's soap keeps me feeling so fresh and so clean.
The bar cost about $5 for a two-pack but I got a dollar knocked off with a coupon, which appear regularly in my Sunday circular.
Think I've found a new soap buddy!

What about you? What's your fave soap?

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

Essie's Shine of the Times is a winner!

2011-11-29T00:00:00.004-05:00

I’ve never been a big Essie nail polish fan because I find her polishes to be too thin and her brush too small.
But this Shine of the Times from her luxeeffects collection has me smitten!
It’s a clear base of iridescent flakies that make any polish pop.
The polish changes from green to gold to orange to yellow.
Essie needs to cut me a check for public relations because I recommended it to the ladies at the doctor's office yesterday!

Here it is over SinfulColors' Black on Black:

Shine of the Times kind of reminds me of Sally Hansen’s Hidden Treasure, which I never owned but always wanted.
Shine of the Times cost me about $8 from my local Walgreen’s and I already know that I will get a lot of wear out of this cutie!

Have you tried Shine of the Times? If not, what's currently on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I bought the product with my own money.

Time for Five: Things I'm into right now

2011-11-28T00:00:00.004-05:00

Here are five things I’m really into right now:

1.Cupcakes: If I could be a sweet treat, I’d definitely be a cupcake. I mean, look at them! They’re just so cute and delectable and pretty and tasty! How could you not like them? There are several cupcakeries in my area, two of which competed on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” Yes, I am crazy about my cupcakes. You want to make me happy, buy me one. Fortunately, most of my friends already know that!!

2.Whole Body and Soul magazine: I love this magazine. It features articles on healthy and balanced living, healthy eating and happy living. I like how the writers write their articles in a down-to-earth way. And I also love how they have natural and holistic approaches to medicine, in addition to the traditional forms of medicine. My subscription cost me about $20 a year and I’ve been a subscriber for about 3 years now. It's been worth every penny.

3. Arm Parties: I've been having lots of fun stacking bracelets on my arms! Been getting lots of use from my bracelet by doing this too.

4. Timer: This little gadget that I got from the dollar store has been keeping me from burning my kitchen. The small things in life really matter. I swear they do!

5. Flowers: This was a belated birthday gift from a dear friend. Made my day. Flowers are so underrated!

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

A convo with Santa and a giveaway!

2011-11-27T15:45:00.004-05:00

So I recently had a long conversation with Santa (because he IS a real person:]) about what I want for Christmas and he said that since I've been a very, very good girl this year, he'll get me anything I want! Yay! I've been thinking and here's a list of some of the things I want for Christmas:

-Pacifica Magic Carpet Ride Body Butter Set

-The entire Maxayn discography on vinyl

-That new As Seen on TV Salon Express Nail Art Stamping Kit

Now, it's your turn to tell me what's on your Christmas wish list with my latest beauty giveaway!
I'll be giving away one Covergirl lipstick and mascara, three Revlon nail polishes in Powder Puff, Vintage and Pink Again and a few extra goodies. All you have to do is tell me what you'd like from Santa in the comments section so I can personally tell him myself. We have another follow-up conversation soon:) To enter in the giveaway, you must be a Google follower. The contest will end on Sunday, December 11. I'll ship to Canada and U.S. only. Thanks for entering and happy holidays!

Photo sources: www.sephora.com and www.nouveaucheap.blogspot.com.

Happy Turkey Day!!

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you have a great holiday filled with love, laughter and fun times.

Here's one of my fave songs about gratitude from Earth, Wind and Fire. Enjoy!

The latest beauty products I've used up

2011-11-23T00:00:00.002-05:00

Short post today. Wanted to share pictures of the latest beauty products I've used up:

That's a whole lot of products, right??!! I feel SO good when I use up a product because I feel like I got my money's worth and didn't waste anything.

What about you? What products have you used up lately?

NOTD: A very sweet, pretty Skittles mani

2011-11-21T00:00:00.007-05:00

I've been wanting to do a Skittles mani since forever and finally got my chance!
A Skittles mani consists of multi-colored polishes, hence the name "Skittles."
Check out my colorful tips!

From thumb to pinky: L'Oreal Queen of Hearts, N.Y.C. Fuchsia Shock, Wet n wild's Inferno, Sephora by OPI Teal We Meet Again, Wet n wild's Rustic.

I wanted to use jewel-toned colors to reflect the season. Honestly, I think jewel toned polishes might be some of my favorite polish colors because they pop against my skin and are so versatile since they can be worn year-round.

What do you think? Have you done a Skittles mani before? What's on your tips and toes these days?

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

Four beauty products I will not buy

2011-11-18T00:00:00.003-05:00

I was perusing Sephora's website recently and came across some things that I just couldn't see myself buying. They included:

1. Lip scrubs: I've sampled the fresh sugar lip scrub in Sephora and while it's nice, I just don't see why I should buy something I can make at home. Mix some sugar, honey and I have some lip scrub.

2. Body scrubs: I don't buy body scrubs at all anymore because I love concocting my own versions in my kitchen with sugar, salt, oil, spices and honey.

3. Brow gels: I try to keep my brows touched up myself and just don't see the point of brow gel. No disrespect to Anastasia. I respect her body of work, but I just wont invest in brow gel because I don't have a need for it.

4. Hair spray: Why buy when again, I can make my own? I usually concoct my own version by mixing oils and water. The mixture does my scalp and locs justice.

What about you? What products would you not buy?

Easy Dinner: Sardine Tacos

2011-11-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've been obsessed with sardine-filled tacos.
They're the perfect, easy, no-mess, five-minute dinner.
I usually have mine with olives, avocado slices, lettuce, salt and pepper.
Chips and water round out the meal and as Emeril would say, "Bam!"
Dinner's done.

This Deborah Lippmann beauty is truly a 'Brick House'

2011-11-14T00:00:00.006-05:00

Look at my nails! Just look at them, and sing with me because they're a BRICK...doot, doot, doot, doot...HOUSE!!!

That's how I feel with Deborah Lippmann's aptly named Brick House polish on my nails.
This lacquer is from the polish guru's fall line. It looks like the kind of color you'd get if a metallic orange and brown mixed together.
I think the hue is perfect for autumn and looks great against my skin tone.
Take another look:

This baby cost me $14. I got a $2 discount because the sales associate only had one other bottle in stock that she was holding for another customer.
I was NOT complaining about my little discount though!
I wore this baby for about a week, which is a LONG time for me to wear one nail polish color.
Nice formula. Pretty color. Deborah Lippmann. O what a winning hand!

What's on your tips and toes these days???

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

Meet my new blue (silk) shoes!

2011-11-11T00:00:00.003-05:00

I recently bought these Lela Rose pretties from Payless's BOGO sale and they have been making me feel like a lady!!!
Fell in love with the white and blue graphic silk print during a visit to the store.
I did not (I swear!!) intend to buy them but kept running into them as I browsed the discounted shoe selection.
They ended up costing about $44 and you know what, I don't even feel bad about my purchase.
I love them!!

FTC Disclosure: I bought these shoes with my own funds.

Beauty Products I've Been Sleeping On

2011-11-09T00:00:00.006-05:00

Been shopping my stash lately and coming across things I've totally ignored for whatever reason. They include (in no particular order):

1. NYX lipstick: I've been OD-ing on my Buxom Barcelona lippie for too long that I forgot how much of a beauty this Tribute to Marilyn NYX lipstick is. Geez, it's sexy, and shiny!

2. Burts Bees Cuticle Cream: OK, where have I been? This cuticle cream has been doing wonders for my cuticles. Keeps 'em soft, moisturized and nurtured.

3. Stila lip and cheek stain: I'm not a fan of this a lip stain, but it's a winner as a cheek stain. Score one for Stila!

4. Tempu illuminator: This pretty potion adds a little bit of shimmer or glimmer to anywhere you want. Highlight your face, or even your decolletage with it!

5. Jaguar Luxury liners: I've had to stop showing my Urban Decay liner some love to spend some time with these Jaguar Luxury liners. They're long-lasting, bright and contain Vitamins E and A.

What about you? Any products in your beauty arsenal that you're sleeping on?

FTC Disclosure: I previously paid for all products in this post with my own funds.

What's on my tips: ombre/gradian nails (pic heavy)

2011-11-07T00:00:00.004-05:00

I've been wanting to try this ombre nail trend for a long time and finally had my chance!
Ombre-painted nails are when you paint your nails with the polish colors in the same color family that go from light to dark from nail to nail.
It can also involve polishes on one nail flowing from light to dark.
I’ve been so in love with the look that I decided to ombre my nails using goodies from my polish collection.
Here’s what I came up with, over the course of a few weeks:

Purples(from pinky to thumb): Sally Hansens’s Mystic Lilac, Wet n wild’s Wild Card, Sally Hansen’s Lacey Lilac, Essence’s Breakthrough, N.Y.C.’s Prince Street Purple.

Reds: Mary Kay’s Coral Stone, Sally Hansen’s All Fired Up, Revlon’s Fire Fox, Loreal’s Queen of Hearts, Sephora’s Cherry Popsicle

Pinks: Maybelline’s Mod Mauve, Borghese’s Pink Paradiso, NYC’s Fuchsia Shock, Borghese’s Raspberry Sorbetto, Borghese’s Bellisima Rose.

Oranges/Corals: Wet n wild’s Club Havana, Revlon’s Siren, Sephora by OPI’s Lost Without My GPS, Borghese’s Capri Coral, Mary Kay’s Coral Stone.

Greens: Essie’s Mint Candy Apple, SinfulColors’ Mint Apple, Sula’s Kelly, OPI’s Don’t Mess with OPI, Revlon’s Emerald.

Grays: Revlon’s Hazy, Maybelline’s Gray-T-Glamour, Ulta’s Smoke Screen, Ten Second’s Rollback Prices, Revlon’s Steel Her Heart.

Browns: Maybelline’s Iced Mauve, Rimmel London’s Dessert Beauty, Wet n wild’s Goldmine, Revlon’s Copper Penny, Wet n wild’s Rustic.

Blues: Hard Candy’s Sky, Hello Kitty’s Blueberry, Pixel’s Turquoise the Noise, Ulta’s Blue Streak, Revlon’s Midnight.

What a fun trend to try!
I saved money by using nail polish I already own and I fell in love with some lacquers all over again!
Even got a few compliments too.
I’ve had so much fun with this look and plan to do it again soon!

Have you ever worn ombre nails before? If so, how was your experience?

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

Halloween mani: Candy corn Nails!!

2011-10-31T00:00:00.003-04:00

There's no other Halloween candy I heart more than candy corn!
I love the color of it, the taste, how it melts in my mouth.
So, the silly side of me had to pay tribute to this fabulous morsel of tri-colored sugary goodness with what else but a candy corn mani!!

Here's a closer look:

Directions were simple. I first used Sally Hansen's "Mellow Yellow" as a base.
Then, painted three fourths of my nails with Ruby Kisses' "Tangerine."
Finally, I topped things off with Revlon's "White on White" and had my candy corn nails!

But wait there's more!
I loved this mani so much that I had to do it again! Here's a pic:

This time, I used Maybelline's "Sunshine" as the yellow base followed by the sexy orange that is Revlon's "Siren." (This aptly-named polish is one of my fave lacquer oranges ever!)
Again, I topped things off with Revlon's "White on White."
I like this second look better. "Siren" just pops more here.
I wore this for a few days and the little girls in my apartment complex loved it so much that they asked me to do candy corn nails for them.
OK, none of them sat still (all under 7!!!) but their nails came out so cute!!
They were excited and so was I.

Well, what do you think? And what Halloween manis have you done as of late? And
O, and Happy Halloween!!!

FTC Disclosure: I previously paid for all nail polishes mentioned in this post with my own funds.

Song of the Day: "Rainy Night House"

2011-10-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today's Song of the Day comes from legendary singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell and is named "Rainy Night House."
When I first heard this version of the song, I listened to it for like three straight months. Then I gave my ears a break, then I obsessed over it again.
I love the soft instrumentation, the lyrics and Joni's sweet voice.
I swear, they sure don't make artists like Joni anymore.
Dam, I sound like my mother, but it's true.
Hope you enjoy this song as much as I do.
Have a nice week!!

Healthy (and not so healthy) foods I eat (pic heavy)

2011-10-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty healthy when it comes to my food...well, for the most part!
Here's a sampling of what I eat on a regular basis in pictures:

Spinach, salmon, garlic and onions:

OMG!!! I HEART garlic!! It's super healthy for you and is supposed to be a carcinogen.

Quinoa, black beans and corn:

I think I eat more quinoa, a whole grain, than anything!! It's so versatile, plus it's backed with lots of protein.

Quinoa and white beans:

Quinoa, bananas and berries in almond milk:

See what I mean about quinoa!!?? I got this recipe from my Whole Body magazine and wanted to switch things up for breakfast. It was so yummy!

Lentils, spinach, onions and garlic:

Lentils are my second fave bean, after chic peas, of course! I love lentils paired with spinach.

Avocado, carrots and olives:

OMG I love avocado! And carrots are a really good snack for me to munch on and I love olives alone or in a salad.

Corn and edamame:

Indian Chana masala (chic peas and potatoes) and brown rice:

I tried my best to replicate this recipe from my favorite local Indian restaurant, and I didn't do too bad with it!

That's what I eat most of the time, but I also indulge because I believe in the power of desert. And cupcakes:

I think I've had like every cupcake in Virginia! They're so good and make me so happy!

Snow cone:

I ate a lot of snow cones when I lived in Maryland and missed them. Why did I pull over in front of the ice cream truck the other day and order one like I was 10 years old!? The ice cream truck man just looked at me and laughed.

What about you? What do you eat a lot of? What do you indulge in?

Recent nail designs I've worn

2011-10-24T00:00:00.002-04:00

Here's a sampling on what's been on my tips and toes:

SinfulColors' Vacation Time with black dots:

Revlon's Poppy with more black dots:

wet n wild's inferno with tiger stripes:

Revlon's Metallic half moon with Borghese's Stellare Noire:

Revlon's Jelly:

Checkered nails featuring Borghese's Pink Paradiso and, um...forgot the blue:

Borghese Stellare Noire and ten minute's Rollback Prices:

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

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

My DIY mini lip brush

2011-10-22T00:00:00.003-04:00

I desperately needed a mini brush for the DIY lip gloss palette I recently made.
Searched Target. Didn’t have one.
Neither did Sephora.
So I stopped in my local beauty supply store to see if they had any.
Of course they didn’t.
But the cashier suggested making a mini lip brush out of the many nail brushes they had in stock.
Sounded like a good idea to me so I shelled out a buck fifty for the brush, took it home, and measured it to fit in the palette:

Then I got to cutting:

It took about a minute or two for me to cut the brush, but afterward, I had my lip brush:

Works fine on the lips too!

What beauty DIYs have you done recently?

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

Fall facial cleansing/Boscia black mask

2011-10-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

I wanted to change up my skincare routine since fall is here so I’ve switched back to the Oil Cleansing Method.
Afterward, I’ve been steaming my face with hot water:

OMG this has helped my face SO MUCH!!
My pores have shrunken, my skin’s firmer and softer. And I’ve been able to get more dirt out of my pores.
I then use Boscia’s Black Mask:

This baby is preservative and alcohol-free. I use it once a week. It cost me about $34 but it's been worth seeing my face look like this:

After this, I moisturize with my Queen Helene Cocoa Butter stick.
For $2, it sure beats the price of my precious Josie Maran solid Argan oil stick. I'll buy the latter when I run out of the cocoa butter.
So there ya go…my fall facial cleansing routine.
What’s yours?

FTC Disclosure: I previously paid for the beauty products mentioned in this post.

Song of the Day: "Ain't No Love"

2011-10-16T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today's Song of the Day comes from Bobby "Blue" Bland and is called "Ain't No Love."
Man, I have nothing but love for this song.
It has this hard edge and vulnerability to it that I like.
Jay-Z sampled it, I think. (Sorry, too lazy to Google right now.)
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do and have a nice week!

My Urban Decay liner's found her prince!

2011-10-14T00:00:00.002-04:00

Once upon a time, I used my Urban Decay Stesh eye liner so much that it became a nub.
Stesh, the princess of my eyeliner collection, desperately longed for a “prince”- or better yet- a sharpener that would bring the rest of her liner to light.
So one day Stesh’s beauty godmother introduced her to this cute little sharpener fellow from Sephora.
O, he was a sweetie! Slim and at $2, he was a cheapie too.
He brought the rest of Stesh’s color to light by easily sharpening her so her beauty godmother could rim her eyes with the rest of the liner.
In true fairytale fashion, the sharpener and Stesh ended up living happily ever after in faraway beauty land.
Or more accurately, in her beauty godmother’s make-up collection!

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

Time for Five: Five Things I'm Feeling

2011-10-11T00:00:00.002-04:00

Here are five things I’m really into right now:

1. Teavana Tea’s White Chai and Ayurvedic Tea: OMG this is like my fave tea of all time!! My big brother bought me this ($16!!!) for my birthday in July and I’m almost done with the tea already because I drink it just about everyday. That’s how good this stuff is! Go get you a cup.

2. Using up my pantry/fridge food items: I’ve never been a wasteful person but have found lots of pleasure in using up things before buying more of the same stuff. It’s worked on the beauty product side. And now it’s working in my kitchen. I mean, how many bags of frozen broccoli do I need? Plus, it’s been fun being creative and coming up with meals using what I have on deck.

3. Funky rings: I’ve recently been in to collecting/buying funky rings. I recently bought these two cuties from an accessory store at my local mall. My relationship with rings has been up and down like an elevator. There was a period in my teen years when I wore a ring on every single finger. It went like that for a few years or so, then I got tired of rings. Then, I fell back in love with wearing them again in college. Now, I only wear two, or one at a time on each finger, like I’ll do with these metallic rings.

4. Adventure sports: Man oh man! Whoever invented the rock climbing wall was a genius!! I’ve found a new stress burner by going to my local rock climbing gym. I’ve also enjoyed kayaking and paddle boarding. Watch out now, you might see me climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro one day. I’ve always had a little adventurous side to me.

5. My Happy Book: This book is so awesome and has definitely helped me with self-assessment. There’s something different on every page. One page will tell you to write down what excited you as a kid. The other page will tell you to go outside for a walk, come back and draw what you see. My favorite promps are the ones that ask you to write down what makes you happy. I can be a little ungrateful at times so reading what makes me happy has put a lot of things in perspective for me.

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

Make-up brushes: Cleaning your bristles

2011-10-09T00:00:00.002-04:00

I always keep a clean house. My kitchen is forever spotless. The closet stays tidy.
And when it comes to my make-up brushes, they get cleaned after Every. Single Use.
According to experts, you're supposed to clean your make-up brushes as often as possible.
If not, you risk skin infections and acne breakouts. Eww.
I use Sephora’s brush cleanser to clean my brushes.
I’ve had the bottle for about two years and some change now.
I usually just use a pea-sized squirt for each brush.
Cleans like a charm.
I’ve read online where make-up gurus (I’m pointing at you Sam Fine) use dish detergent to clean their brushes.
Sounds interesting. I might have to try that out when I use up all my cleanser.

How often do you clean your brushes? And what do you use to clean them?

Fall 2011 nail polish trends

2011-10-07T00:00:00.002-04:00

Fall is here and there are several seasonal nail polish trends making waves in the beauty world. Here’s a look at some of them:

-Metallic: Revlon's Metallic

-Purple: N.Y.C.'s Prince Street

-Navy: Revlon's Midnight

-Military Greens: OPI's Don't Mess With OPI

-Nudes: SinfulColors' Vacation Time

My favorite trends are definitely the metallic and purple looks.
But isn’t purple always a fall/winter polish trend? Just asking.

Which are your fave fall 2011 polish trends? And what launches are you looking forward to?

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

Videos of the Day: 70s funk band Maxayn

2011-10-04T00:00:00.003-04:00

Ever hear of Maxayn?
Yeah, me neither.
I love discovering new things, especially new music and came across this group while listening to funk music on Youtube.
Maxayn (pronounced Max Ann) was the name of a funk soul outfit that put out several albums during the 70s.
To confuse people even more (a la Sade) the lead singer of the group's name was also Maxayn, whom the group plastered on all its album covers.
The group didn't have a lot of commercial success but has a cult following among rare groove record collectors.
Count me one of them.
I've been enjoying their music for the past few weeks.
Here are several Maxayn jams I've been really loving:

Tellin You:

Gimme Shelter:

The Answer:

Doin Nothing Nothing Doin:

Bail Out:

Love is Near:

Now, all these videos are making me really practice my bass guitar because they are funky, funky!!

My brother on nail polish

2011-09-30T00:00:00.001-04:00

My brother, the former Marine, is a man’s man.
He’s into guns and those McFarlane military figurines.
And football. And guns.
So it wasn’t a surprise that he expressed his disgust when I told him that I spent $16 on a bottle of Deborah Lippman nail polish.
“It’s Glitter in the Air,” I told him. “There’s nothing like it on the market!”
He wasn’t impressed.
“16!?” He asked. “You better be able to sniff your nail and get a high.”
Men.

Song of the Day: Aerosmith's "Dream On"

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Aerosmith's "Dream On" is one of my fave rock songs ever and that's why it's today's "Song of the Day."
I'm a big dreamer and believe wholehearteldy in becoming your dreams, no matter how difficult they might be to accomplish or what other people say.
So, dream on and enjoy today's SOD!!

Salma Hayek Nuance shadow and liner review

2011-09-26T00:00:00.003-04:00

I love Salma Hayek as an actress and was delighted to know that she recently launched a new cosmetic line.
The line, which is called Salma Hayek Nuance, is sold exclusively through CVS and was inspired by Salma’s grandmother.
Products include make-up, skincare and haircare.
I scooped up an eyeshadow duo ($10) and a gel eyeliner pencil ($10) through a BOGO free deal CVS had a few weeks ago.

Here are swatches:

And after a water test:

And here's are a couple of FOTD's using the shadow and liner:

I used the plum shade and a light brown from a discontinued Physicians Formula shadow duo.

The products feature some natural ingredients, are fragrance-free and are not tested on animals. I like, I like.
The gel liner was OK. (Urban Decay’s 24/7 liners have spoiled me so nothing will ever be as good as them!)
But the Nuance liner did stay put all day and is waterproof.
The shadow duo was another story, though. I loved the plum shade. LOVED it!!
But not the other shade, which was too light and came off too easily after my water test.
Overall, I’m not sure if I’ll buy any more Nuance products. I found the line to be mediocre for a drug store brand.
I will be wearing the heck out of the plum eyeshadow this fall, though.

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

Time For Five: Things I’m into right now

2011-09-23T00:00:00.002-04:00

1. Philosophy Grace: This was a birthday gift from my big brother. He knows I like Philosophy products. And he knew I’d like this. How can I resist the floral notes? It’s very feminine and mature. Good pick, Keith. You get brownie points for this gift.

2. Colorful pens: I’m a writer and I love writing in colorful ink. I just makes the words on my notepad look pretty. Sounds weird but I’m a color person. I’m NOT afraid to wear bold hues and when I purchase a house, I'll paint every room a different color. Man, I love colorful writing utensils. I don’t care how corny this sounds but they make me happy!

3. Trader Joe’s Seaweed Snack: Ok, I’m convinced that Trader Joe’s (who is he anyway??) put crack in his seaweed snacks because I’m hooked (read: HOOKED!) I usually have a package with a cup of tea because they're so light. Originally, I started out buying a couple packages but now I buy about ten. They only cost a dollar and must last me for two weeks!

Source: Amazon.com

4. My Lippie Collection: You’ve seen my prized nail polish collection, now let me introduce you to my lippie collection. I own lots of lip glosses and lipsticks, all of which I’ve come to appreciate in recent years.

5. Tree Hut shower gel: I’m a sucker for almonds and honey in my tummy-- and on my body! That’s why I was excited to try out Tree Hut’s new moisturizing shower gel. Got this baby from Ulta for about $7. It smells divine! Almost too good to eat. Works just as well, too. Going to buy another bottle soon because I’m almost done with this one.

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

Ulta haul: Pixel and essence polishes

2011-09-21T00:00:00.003-04:00

I haven’t been to Ulta in a minute, but I recently raided the store as soon as I got my monthly brochure, which always comes with a $3.50 off $10 coupon.
Ulta had lots of new products on their shelves, including a new nail polish brand called Pixel. Yay!
I bought two Pixel polishes, an essence polish and pencil sharpener.

The Pixel polish line is DBP, toulene, and formaldehyde-free.
It features 72 shades at $2.50 a pop.
I bought “Turquoise the Noise” and “Blue Ray Baby.”
“Blue Ray Baby” is a first cousin to my fave polish of all time, Sephora by OPI’s “Teal We Meet Again,” but it has a little less green in it.

“Turquoise the Noise” is a pretty medium blue that’s a few shades lighter than Sally Hansen’s “Blue Me Away.”

Here's a swatch:

The Pixel formulas were creamy but a tad streaky.
The polishes lasted for about a week.
I love how cute and little the bottle is.
Who finishes a big bottle of polish anyways?

And I had to scoop up a bottle of essence polish because I’ve been seeing good things about it all over the beauty blogosphere.
Plus, I’ve never bought any of their polishes before.
I like the formula on this one too. And at 99 cents, the price is A-OK with me.
“Breakthrough” reminds me of a Barbie purple or pink. It’s OK. I’m not in love with it though.

Here a “Breakthrough” swatch:

Which polishes do you like? When was your last Ulta haul? Have you tried Pixel or essence polishes before? If so, what were your experiences?

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

Coffee on my lips? Sure, if it's Rimmel London's "Shimmering Coffee"

2011-09-19T00:00:00.002-04:00

I don’t think I’ve ever owned a brown lipstick.
Hold on for a sec. Lemme think. Nope, no brown lippies in my past.
So I was excited to come across Rimmel London’s “Shimmering Coffee” lipstick that I recently found in Target’s clearance section.
I got it for free with a coupon. Not bad for the price. Now let’s see how this baby performed.

Here’s a swatch:

And on my lips:

This lippie is not too loud, which I like. That makes it perfect for work. Fall, too.
I found the lipstick to be moisturizing, durable and it surprisingly smells sweet.
There is subtle shimmer in the lipstick but it’s very faint, which isn’t a bad thing.
Overall, this is another decent little lippie I recently bought.
I’m defintely a tea girl but have gone “googoogaga” over Rimmel London’s “Shimmering Coffee.”

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

Check out my cheap, chic coupon pouch

2011-09-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

I NEVER leave my apartment without my coupon pouch.
Hey, you never know what’s gonna be on sale or clearance and I like to be prepared for most situations.
With that said, I got tired of carrying around the same, tired, old, tattered pouch.
Here’s what it looked like:

In it’s previous lifetime, the pouch contained thank you cards and envelopes.
I bought it from Marshall’s for several dollars a couple of years ago (if I remember correctly).
It was time for a change so I upgraded to this pink cutie from Target.
Only cost me a dollar. And came with lables.

Here are my coupons in their new home:

Doesn’t it look better? More organized?

How do you organize your coupons?

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

My fave Nick Ashford songs

2011-09-14T00:00:00.002-04:00

Recently, the world lost one of the greatest songwriters ever when Nick Ashford died from complications of throat cancer.
He and wife Valerie Simpson penned some of the most beautiful songs ever for Ray Charles, Dianna Ross, Marvin Gaye and Chaka Khan.
They even wrote classics for themselves.
I remember listening to their radio show on WBLS when I was a little girl and living in New York.
They played old school jams and had this chemistry that was apparent even on their radio show.
Here are some of my fave Ashford and Simpson songs and RIP Nick:

"I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan:

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell:

"Solid" by Ashford and Simpson:

Origins’ ginger soap is alright with me

2011-09-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

I love all things ginger: Cookies. Beer. Candy.
Now, I’ll add soap to the list.
No silly. I don’t eat ginger soap!
But I do like Origins’ ginger soap on my body.
I recently picked up this bar from Marshall’s for about $10.
Man, this soap is huge. It’s bigger than my hand!
And it packs a whole lot of punch in the shower too.
Thoroughly cleanses. Smells good. Also lasts a long time.
I like that the ginger smell doesn’t overpower me.
It’s not tested on animals. I also like that the soap is formulated without parabens, phthalates, paraffin and synthetic colors and fragrances.
It all works for me!

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

Using up my products and a "No/Low Buy" challenge

2011-09-09T00:00:00.002-04:00

I've been on an unofficial "No/Low-Buy" beauty product challenge lately.
I did it with nail polish in May and am trying to see if I can do the same thing with my other beauty goodies.
So far, it's been working out pretty well.
Over the past two months or so, I've been able to use lots of stuff I've had lying around in my bathroom and bedroom and save some moolah!
Here's a list of what I've used up so far:

-EfaGold Coconut Oil
-CoverGirl Natureluxe glossbalm
-Burt's Bees' lip balm
-Pacifica Coconut Body Butter (LOVE this stuff!!!)
-Kat Von D "Cathedral" lipstick sample
-Carmex Moisture Plus lip balm
-Roland Avocado Oil
-Target brand nail polish remover
-Shea Moisture's Shea Butter
-Burt's Bees' Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme

Here's a picture of some other products I've been able to use up:

These include:
-Neutrogena naturals' fresh cleansing makeup remover
-The Body Shop's Satsuma body butter
-Josie Maran's Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick

I'm going to continue this challenge for the rest of the month and I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Have you ever attempted a "No/Low-Buy Challenge" before? If so, how was your experience?

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

Song of the Day: "Brick House"

2011-09-07T00:00:00.004-04:00

Every time I'm driving around, this song comes on the radio.
Every. Single. Time.
I swear!!
So that's why the Commodores' "Brick House" is today's "Song of the Day."
Plus, I've gotten curves since I've blossomed into my mid-20s and want to give a shout out to all my lovely lady lumps.
The curves I have are ones I didn't have when I was a distance-running twig in high school.
I've always thought that aint nothing wrong with a little bit of meat and I'm proud of my body.
No complaints. At all.
So cheers to all of you lovely ladies "...built like and Amazon..." because I'm one of them:)

I’m madly in love with red, matte-lips

2011-09-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

Call me "Tardy for the Party" but I’m just now appreciating matte red lips.
There’s something so powerful, sexy and fierce about them.
The look says a lot without saying a lot.
It's bold. Scary. Daring.
I love a cherry-painted kisser with minimal make-up, black eye-liner and mascara, and a touch of blush.
Usually, I wear red lipstick when going out to the movies or dinner.
I’m too scared to wear it to work. I ain't ready yet.
I own three tubes of red lipstick in my beauty arsenal: Buxom's "Barcelona," Sally Hansen's "Golden Berry," and NYX's "A Tribute to Marilyn."
Now let's take a look at these scarlet lippies in action on my lips!

First up, we have Buxom's Big & Healthy "Barcelona" lipstick:

Next is Sally Hansen's "Golden Berry" lipstick:

And last but not least, "Tribute to Marilyn" from NYX:

My fave is Buxom's "Barcelona." I wear this lippie the most and I think this red is more complimentary against my brown skin than the others. Plus, it has a cute little sharpener hidden at the end-cap of the lipstick tube.

Are you a fan of the red, matte lip too? What’s your fave red lipstick?

FTC Disclosure: I previously paid for all products in this post with my own funds.

Song of the Day: "You and the Music"

2011-09-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

I love me some Donald Byrd and always find comfort and escape in his music.
His tunes have been sampled by so many people, including Erykah Badu, Naughty by Nature, Ludacris and Madlib.
"You and the Music" is one of my favorite songs by him.
It's hard, urban and very hip hop to me.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Tips and toes: Recent nail polish designs I've worn

2011-08-31T00:00:00.003-04:00

Hi beauties,

Hope your week's going well.
What's on your tips and toes?
Here are several looks that I've recently worn on my nails:

Pixie's "Turquoise The Noise" layered with random topcoats:

Ten Second's "Roll Back Prices," a polish I got from an airport on my way to Cleveland:

Revlon's "Wind Fall" and Sally Hansen's "Commander in Chic" half moon mani:

Revlon's "Lava," such a pretty hot pink:

Revlon's "Lava" and "Silver Dollar" half moon:

Hope you have a great week!

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

Song of the Week: "Higher Ground"

2011-08-30T19:32:00.003-04:00

"Lord plant our feet on higher ground."

That's all I need to hear right now and that's why Doug Carn's jazz beauty is really resonating with me.

Hope you have a positive, productive and prosperous week!

Laura Mercier lipstick review

2011-08-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

Plum. Raisin. Violet. Lilac.
However you say it, I've always been a member of the purple fan club. Always loved purple-hued lipsticks too.
That's why I was excited to discover Laura Mercier's "Violet," a plum lipstick that is perfect for fall!
At the time, I was in Sephora looking for a darker lipstick and swatched many lippies. This one warmed my heart.
And it's funny because I always walked past the Laura Mercier display.
Not this time though. Something told me to swatch her lippies and I'm glad I did.
"Violet" goes on very creamy and lasted for several hours.
The formula is lightweight.
The lipstick made me feel sexy but not in a vampy kind of way, like other purple lipsticks can come across as.

Here's a swatch:

"Violet" on my kisser:

What a beautiful color!
I've been wearing this baby to work and elsewhere.
My only caveats are the ingredients and pricetag.
The lipstick is not made with natural ingredients, but is made with anti-oxidant and anti-aging ingredients. That'll work for me.
And "Violet" set me back $22, which is really, really high for my pocketbook.
It was worth the splurge though!

Are you into purple lipsticks too? If so, what's your favorite?

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

Where do you get your inspiration from?

2011-08-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Another random question but what inspires you?

For me,it's:

-Blogs

-Magazines

-Neighborhood walks

-Mannequins

-Strong people

What does it for you? What inspires you?

Image Source: gd-wholesale.com

My DIY lip gloss palette

2011-08-21T00:00:00.003-04:00

I've never been a huge fan of lip palettes but had to make my own version since I had all the supplies!

I used an old Sephora eye shadow palette and a tiny spoon. (Um, yeah...I keep random things like old eyeshadow palettes. Don't judge.) When I get to the bottom of my lip stick and glosses, I scoop the extra product out into sample jars so I can use all of the product:

I've seen where some people actually melt their leftover lipstick and pour it into the pots, a process called depotting/decantering, but I didn't do that. All I did was scoop the lippies into each palette pot and voila:

Now I have a new lip palette and I'm not wasting product! Who'd want to waste CoverGirl's NatureLuxe balms anyways??

Have you ever done this before? Would you?

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

Maybelline COLORsensational lipstick review

2011-08-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

I was browsing Target's clearance bin and came across Maybelline's "Mauve Me" lipstick from their COLORsensational line of lippies.
This sure is a pretty color.
I'd describe it as a pink/purple hue, that's perfect for wear at work or a low-key event.

Here's a swatch:

And here it is on my kisser:

"Mauve Me" applied like a dream, very creamy and matte.
I found it to be very moisturizing, even without applying balm to my lips.
It lasted too. I got a good four hours of wear out of this baby.
And I was out in the rain interviewing people for work and the lipstick still lasted.
The lipstick normally retails for about $9 or $10 but I paid a little under a dollar for it after coupons. I'd buy another lippie from this line at full price though.
Overall, I like this lipstick. It was a good hit with my pocketbook and lips!

FTC Disclosure: I paid for the product using my own funds.

Song of the day: "The Thrill is Gone" by B.B. King

2011-08-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

This is doing it for me right now!!

Things I love…in no particular order

2011-08-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

This is so random but here's a list of things that I love:

-cupcakes

-children

-Brussels sprouts

-oxfords

-vintage clothing

-reality tv

-arts n crafts

-Girl Scout cookies

-garlic toast

-open minds

What about you? What do you love?

Image Source: www.marthastewart.com

NOTD: Revlon's "Fire Fox"

2011-08-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

"I'm not usually a red person but..."
I feel like I say that every time I wear red nail polish and said it when I applied Revlon's "Fire Fox."
It's a pretty red with gold shimmers in the formula, and I'm so in lurve with it.
The matte gives it an edge but the polish is just as nice with a topcoat over it.
It reminds me of L'Oreal's "Queen of Hearts."
I bought the polish on clearance for 87 cents from Target.
Definitely a super buy!

What's on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I was not paid by Revlon for this post. I paid for the products with my own funds.

Time for Five: Random things I'm feeling

2011-08-11T00:00:00.001-04:00

This is so random but here are five things I'm liking, doing or into now:

1. NYC's "Fashion Avenue Fuchsia":

Fall is right around the corner and lacquer-wise, I'm ready for autumn. This polish is so pretty; the perfect jewel-toned color for fall!!

2. My new record holder:

I bought this baby from my fave local boutique, B. Original. It holds my most beloved records so I don't have to go searching through my stack anymore. Perfect!!

3. Sephora Nail Art goodies:

I love Sephora's new line of stickers, glitter, dotting tools and other goodies. The dotting tool has a special place in my heart. It's made my manicures so much more fun!!

4. Me:

Yeah, I do silly things like this because I'm worth it. And I'm so thankful that I have all this time to self-assess and figure out what I want and need. My next relationship is going to be so good because of it:)

5. Using every last drop of my products:

As The Wu-Tang Clan would say, "Times is rough and tough like leather!" Don't judge.
Plus, this is a Lancome Juicy Tube. It's against the beauty law to waste any of this gloss!! Lol.

NOTD: Pink nails and black dots

2011-08-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

I've been having so much fun with my nails lately!
Sephora recently launched a new line of nail art and I recently picked up some goodies from there.
I'd been in the market for a nail dotting tool and the one I bought from Sephora cost me only $7.
I wanted to create a nail look using dotting tools and here are the supplies I used:

To create the look, I painted my nails with Maybelline's "Mod Mauve" and poured Wet n wild's "Black Creme" in a bottle cap. Then I dipped the dotting tool into the black polish and dropped black dots over my nail. This was the final look:

It's so cute. I'm definitely going to do it again with different colors.

What's on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I was not paid by any beauty or cosmetic company for this post. I paid for the products with my own funds.

A beauty haul and Helter Skelter

2011-08-07T18:59:00.007-04:00

Hi there!

I had a super busy week at work so I treated myself by going to...Sephora!! And Target.

In addition to the many samples I always get, I bought some Laura Mercier lipstick, Carol's Daughter hair oil, Sephora nail art stickers, CoverGirl lipstick, Rimmel London lip gloss, and polish remover.

Expect reviews soon.

In the meantime, here's what's currently on my nails:

I barely wear red but this one, "Cherry Pop," was a buck from Sephora. The blue is Hello Kitty's "Blueberry."

And for some reason, I can't get this song, "Helter Skelter," out my head:

I recently saw "Across the Universe" and it was awesome!! This song stuck out.

Hope your week is productive and positive!

My Fave Amy Winehouse songs

2011-08-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

"Tears Dry on Their Own"

"Back to Black"

"You Know I'm No Good"

What a voice, what a talent. Sorry to see her go. RIP Amy.

Neutrogena face wash review

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

I decided to change up my facial cleansing routine for summer and Neutrogena's new line of natural cleansers is part of that process.
The line is formulated without parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, dyes and phthalates.
The line features a lip balm, soap, and two facial cleansers.
I recently bought the fresh cleansing/makeup remover cleanser.
I liked the smell and the drug store-friendly price but sadly, the product didn't live up to its hype.
My skin didn't feel as clean as I thought it should've felt after using the cleanser.
Maybe that's because I've been so used to hot water steaming my pores with the Oil Cleansing Method.
And Neutrogena's cleanser bills itself as a make-up remover. Lies!!!
The cleanser did not get off all my make-up. Hints of eye liner and shadow were still visible on my lids after I washed my face with the cleanser.
Overall, this product is just mediocre but I wish I would've saved my money.

FTC Disclosure: I was not paid by any beauty or cosmetic company for this post. I paid for the products with my own funds.

One hairdo, three looks

2011-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

I recently got my hair done for my birthday and originally asked for crinkles.
Then I wanted a bun.
I couldn’t make up my mind, but I knew I wanted something different.
So after washing, coloring and twisting my locs, my loctician Michelle styled my hair in a cute bun!!

Here are pics of what my bun looked like:

I got lots of compliments on the bun and never felt so regal!
The bun lasted for about two weeks so I took out half of the braids and left part of my hair cornrowed:

Here's what that style looked like:

After about a week or so, I took the pony tail down and finally got my crinkles!

Here's a pic:

I love my locs and how versatile they are!!!

A hello and swatches of my recent NOTDs (pic heavy)

2011-07-31T15:31:00.002-04:00

Hey beauties,

Hope you're all well.
I've been swamped at work and haven't any had time to blog, hence the lack of posts.
However, I have had time to do my nails:)
Here's a sampling of what was on my tips and toes recently:

I did this design using the new nail art collection from Sephora:

I used Hard Candy's "Sky" as the base and Sephora nail art stickers. It's one of my fave nail looks ever!!!!

These were my birthday nails:

I used Sephora By OPI's "Teal We Meet Again" and Wet n wild's "Rustic."

One of my new fave polish colors is Revlon's "Windfall," seen here:

This is a truly a beauty!!

Here's Mary Kay's "Coral Stone"

Here is Ulta's "Smoke Screen," a purple-based gray:

And here is Ulta's "Blue Streak," a nice medium blue:

And now here's "Blue Streak" with a topcoat of N.Y.C.'s "Love Letters" over it:

This topcoat, Sally Hansen's "DVD," was birthday gift from a friend:

Love & Beauty's "Light Green" over OPI's "Don't Mess With OPI" is a pretty combo:

What's on your tips and toes?
Hope you have a positive, productive and prosperous week!!

FTC Disclosure: I was not paid by any beauty or cosmetic company for this post. I paid for the products with my own funds.

Another nail franken: "Amystichaze"

2011-07-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

Made another polish franken using eye shadow.
I crushed up an old shadow called "Sage" by Almay (thought I had a picture pre-crush but I don't), mixed it with some clear wet n wild polish and voila!

And here's a Sally Hansen crackle over it:

What do you think?? What's on your tips and toes?

FTC Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I paid for the products mentioned with my own funds.

Ruby Kisses "Tangerine" review

2011-07-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

I've been on this orange/coral nail trend this summer and thanks to the lovely Danielle of Project Danielle, I have another orange polish hue to add to my collection.
Danielle sent me Ruby Kisses' "Tangerine," a color that's very true to its name.
It's a bright orange that kind of reminds me of an orange sun.
This hue is fun. Bold. Happy. Spirited.
Perfect for the hot, hazy days of summer!!
The formula was a dreamy and creamy.
It went on smoothly and opaque in two coats.
Not balding, streaking or bubbling.
I'm going to look out for Ruby Kisses polishes.
I need more than "Tangerine" in my collection.

Toe separators

2011-07-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

I only own three toe separators and the colorful Sally Hansen one is my fave.
I'm a sucker for a good toe separator, since I'm big on giving myself at-home pedicures.
My toe separators have to be soft and colorful.
I only own three in my collection and my fave is the Sally Hansen one I recently bought from Target for 90 cents.
It's soooo soft and pretty.
Sometimes I forget they're on my toes when I put this baby on.
What's your fave toe separator???

FTC Disclosure: I was not paid by any beauty or cosmetic company for this post. I paid for the products with my own funds.

I can't be the only one who cuts up lotion bottles...

2011-07-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

...like this...

...to get the "rest" of the lotion out of the bottle...

...so I can get ALL of my money's worth of the product.

The economy is still bad and I don't have money to waste so don't judge me.

I'm sure you may have done it or thought about doing it at some time too:)

Album review: Adele's "21"

2011-07-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Musically, I've been really feeling Adele's latest album, "21."
It sounds like the British song bird basically poured her heart and soul into the album, which is filled with songs about love.
I see why the album quickly went platinum.
It's raw, emotional and just real.
And, Adele can clearly SANG.
I broke down and bought the album after falling in love with the lead single, "Rolling in the Deep."
The album, her second, is really making me wish I had a boyfriend.

Here are some other cuts I like:

"I'll Be Waiting"

"Lovesong"

"One and Only"

Have you listened to Adele's new album? If so, what songs do or don't you like?

FTC Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I paid for the album with my own funds.

Physicians Formula Jumbo Lash Mascara Review

2011-07-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

I recently scooped up Physicians Formula's new Organic wear jumbo lash mascara because I've seen good reviews about it over the beauty blogosphere.
Plus, I got it for free with a company rebate.
I've used their products before and I think they are a good company with quality products at reasonable prices.
The jumbo mascara is made without parabens, synthetic preservatives and harsh chemicals, which I like. Score one for a green beauty product.

Here is the mascara in my hand:

I like the leafy shape of the bottle. That green would make a beautiful nail polish color.

Here are my lashes before using the mascara.

And here they are after:

Overall, this is a pretty good mascara. I didn't see any clumping or flakes, which was good. But I did wish that the brush was a little bit smaller.

Have you used Physicians Formula's jumbo lash mascara? If so, what was your experience??

FTC Disclosure: I was not compensated by Physicians Formula for this review. I paid for the products with my own funds.