Birthday Haul

I am so excited!!!! I got so many fun gifts (and gift cards) from my family and have a lot of ideas for future posts :)

Something I'm really excited to try out are a set of nail pens. I had seen these on QVC during the holidays but every time I even considered ordering they'd sell out. I honestly have no clue as to how these will end up but I can't wait to try them out!

I also got a set of sprays and a "bath spa" set which consists of gel, bath salt, lotion, etc.

My sister gave me a two-part gift....the first was a scarf which I think will look really cute in the office(couldn't get a good enough picture of it), and the second was a couple of very tasty cakes-we ate them so quickly that there wasn't time to get any pictures...lol

With some gift cards that I was given and had managed to save up, I went to Sephora where I got the Too Faced Natural at Night Palette and was given my VIB gift-a set of two lip balms from Bliss.

The Bare Escentuals boutique was a lot of fun! The sales associates let me try out the skin care products that I had been curious about and really took the time to explain all the details about what they do and how to use them. I walked out with the Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser, Deep Cleansing Foam, and the Purely Nourishing Moisturizer. I also picked up the Ready Touch-Up Veil along with one of the 2.0 shadow duos in The Scenic Route.

Last but not least, my fiance surprised me with a really pretty gold chain necklace that I had wanted. It's quite long and can be worn in multiple ways (I've been having a ot of fun with it for the past few days :)

I'm really looking forward to trying all of these products out, along with posting all of my reviews. Keep an eye out for upcoming posts!

Birthday Nails!!!!!!

For my birthday I wanted to go girly and glittery so this week I chose Ulta's Sweetheart Pink and on my ring fingers used Wet N Wild's The Gold and The Beautiful. I absolutely love this look and think the added gold is subtle until it catches the light.

So far today I've had a lot of compliments on i this look :)

Coming up....Birthday Haul!!!!

Are Those Tree Branches In Your Ears?

Over the weekend I picked up a new pair of earrings over at Kohls and they are quite different from anything else I have...they're gold toned tree branches!
At first glance my initial thought was "these are so dumb...who would want to wear something like this?" I guess I did because I kept coming back to them.

They're from the LC by Lauren Conrad collection and I believe were originally priced around $15-$20 but were on sale for $9. The rest of the jewelry looked pretty cute...a lot of pearls and flowers...very girly. I think I'd like to get some more pieces but only when they go on sale again. Most of it cost around $20 which for me was a little much.

I haven't seen these earrings on the website so I'm not sure if they're available anymore but I urge you to check it out!

Review: Too Faced In Your Dreams

I bought this palette a few weeks ago and wanted to play around a bit before I did my actual review.
As a whole I think it offers a nice amount of product for the price, not to mention it's so pretty!

~Packaging~

The packaging is adorable and what I really like is the fact that it's flat so I can just stick it in one of my makeup drawers. I was surprised by how sturdy the "door" is but it looks like it would be nice for travel as it's magnetised so I don't think there's a risk of any product being lost or broken in transit.

~Looks~

Inside you get options for three different looks consisting of three different shadows, a blush, and lip gloss. Note: everything has shimmer in it.

*Natural Beauty:

Silk Stockings: Ivory Beige shadow

La Cage: Bronze shadow

Rapture: Deep brown shadow

Wanna Play? Peachy pink blush

Give It Up: Pale pink gloss

*Feminine Flirty:

Pink Peacock: Light pink shadow

Swing: Silvery taupe shadow

Fishnet: Charcoal grey shadow

Girly Show: Petal pink blush

Pink Ice: Dusty rose gloss

*Seductively Flirty:

Full Moon: Silvery light blue shadow

Dream On: Royal purple shadow

Seduce: Deep blue shadow

You Hold The Key: Pink beige shadow

Heart On: Rose gloss

~Swatches~

I apologize for the quality of this picture...I tried sever different lighting options but just did not give these colors justice.From top to bottom:

-Natural Beauty

-Femenine flirty

-Seductively Flirty

~Overall Opinion~

I think this kit is so much fun and the colors are all so gorgeous. The quality of the blush and shadows are so silky and easy to apply and blend. I was a little nervous to use some of the darker colors but they all work so well together. The only complaint I had was the glosses and that's only because you can't take it out of the package.

I don't know if this is still available but if you can find it I highly suggest picking it up! This collection is perfect for the ultimate girly girl!

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a review. For mor information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Check In Time!!!! New Haircut

I styled my hair for the first time last night since getting it cut and I think that I actually like it. The problem was when it was blown out you couldn't really see the different layers but now that it's been straightened, it looks a little choppier.

When I go back next month for a trim I'm going to see if she can make the "stacks" stand out a little more.

Spotlight: Hands of Hope

My favorite hand cream that I've been using ever since fall has been Philosophy's Hands of Hope hand and cuticle cream.

Here are some reasons why I love it so much:
*Not Greasy
*My hands "drink" it in
*Keeps my skin soft
*Does not interfere with my perfume

At $10-$18 it is a little on the pricey side but I've noticed that I don't need to use as much anymore so for me it lasts a decent amount of time. I fully recommend you try it out!

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a review. For mor information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Favorite Winter Lip Products

Just like everyone else, I spend the winter fighting the war against dry, chapped lips. Here are some products that I've found to be quite helpful and effective in keeping a kissable pout.

Laura Geller's Lip Makeover Kit

The Lip Strip is a great scrub that contains organic Brazilian sugar cane along with peppermint and spearmint oils. It feels soooooooo good and is quite tasty too! I use this every other night and the result is nice, soft lips. The second part to this kit is the Heal and Seal Gloss which has soothing ingredients such as Shea, aloe, and jojoba butters. This gloss gives off a nice comforting and cushioned feel.

Philosophy Lip Glosses



I collect these like a kid would collect baseball cards. Their scents are wonderful as everything else they make. I like to use these at night over my Heal and Seal-what amazes me is not only do they lock in moisture but they stay on through the night!



Laura Geller Italian Marble Lipsticks



I love these sooo much! They're a lot like her baked products with swirls of different colors and contain wild mango butter so they feel like a lip balm. I've been reaching for these more than any product because their so comfortable on my lips and the colors are all very pretty. 

Revlon Lip Butters

These feel quite similar to the Italian Marble Lipsticks. I don't reach for them quite as much because for the most part I like to have a more natural look on my lips where as these are a little bolder.

EOS Lip Balm

I finally tried out these lip balms over the summer and really like them, especially before bed. Not only do they smell nice but they're fun to apply...and they have actually made a difference in my lips since I started using them.

Between the cold air outside and the dry heat indoors, your lips really take a beating. I feel like I have a little more of a handle on the situation in using these products.

I'm Feeling Blue

I decided to go with a color I rarely use for my nails: blue.

Initially I thought it would be darker, closer to a black, but in my opinion it dries like a navy. I really like the fact that it's still a subtle color and when the light hits my nails they look like there's green shimmer mixed in.

I have to say, I didn't expect to like having blue nails but I'm actually enjoying this color. The only downside I had with this is it took a little longer to dry but even that wasn't so bad.

I topped this with my L'Oreal Paris top coat (love it!)

My New Addition

I am so excited! A couple weeks ago I found this great storage container in the corner of one of our empty offices literally forgotten about and collecting dust. After permission from my boss, I took it home with me over the weekend.

It's a six-drawer container that fits perfectly next to my little make-up table and is such a dream! Everything has it's own place, doesn't get knocked down, and can be easily accessed. I organized the drawers by what I use first (face, shadows, lipsticks, etc). What I really love is that there's space for my beauty magazines and diary.

Upon looking this up online, I found it retails for about $30...I got it for free :)

New Hair!!!!

It's funny, I never liked getting my hair cut which I why it was always long. Now, especially with my two year old, I look forward to it. It's a rare hour that I can sit back and close my eyes.

I honestly have no opinion on the length as of yet. some moments I like it and others I feel it was a mistake to get it this short. Basically it's chin-length in the front, and a little shorter in the back. The stylist "stacked" it, meaning the under part of my hair is longer.
What I do like is how quick and easy it is to style.

OOTD

(Sorry for the blurry picture)

This has got to be my go-to outfit when I need a boost of confidence. I reach for it on my "unattractive mommy" days, along with moments when I feel absolutely amazing. To be blunt, it makes me feel super sexy.

~Individual Pieces~

*Purple sundress from Old Navy purchased about 2 1/2 years ago

*Black sweater that was given to me by my sister

*Black calf-length boots that were also from my sister

Because the sweater has a pretty draping in the front I wear a simple necklace and either pair it with zebra print hoops (for a funky touch) or some classic looking studs.

Have a happy Friday everyone!!!!

:)

The Story Behind The Nose Ring

My nose ring was my first major piercing done when I was fourteen. No one knew I was going to get it except for my dad, who probably paid for it dearly when my mom saw it.

I know that's probably a young age but considering I had just had major back surgery just a few months earlier, he obviously couldn't say no.

Ah...the back surgery. I was thirteen when we found out I had Scoliosis and by then it was too advanced for a back brace. Instead, I had to endure a seven to nine hour surgery....just two weeks shy of my birthday. That will be exactly ten years this coming Sunday (Jan. 15th). I look back and it makes me feel so old considering I was so young. I will always have the scar running down my back and am proud of that. It's almost like a war wound.

Back (no pun intended) to my nose ring, I love it so much because it was a bonding experience for my dad and I, not to mention it reminds me of a time in my life when I needed a lot of strength.

Something I'll never forget was the one and only time I cried about the situation and my aunt told me that I have strength running in my blood. She was right. The women in my family have been through hell and back over the years and it's only made us stronger.

So here's a toast to nose rings and strong women.

First Impressions: BE Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser

*Photo courtesy of http://www.bareescentuals.com/

I received a sample of this product and finally tried it out last night. The benefits from the scrub are supposed to be similar to that of their foundation-if that is the case I think that'll be the perfect one-two punch. ...you can find the rest of the product information HERE

The powder has a nice, fresh scent and the consistency reminds me of cream of wheat. I used it as a mask and upon applying I really wasn't too sure about it because it didn't feel like anything but applying water to my face. I left it on for maybe 20 minutes and was actually pretty pleased with the results. I didn't expect a dramatic change to my skin since this was my first time using the product, however, my face felt as smooth as when I use my Philosophy Microdelivery Peel and did look a little brighter. The only downside I found was that my face felt a little tight.

This is definitely a product that I want to keep looking into. I would like to use this again as a mask and morning cleanser before I go shopping later this month. As much as I love my Philosophy (and I do!) I'm interested to see what these products can do to help my skin.

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a review. For mor information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Me Thinks I Like

~ELF $1 Eye Primer Review~

There's been a mix of opinions on this product so I wasn't sure what to expect. I have to say I really like it. The consistency was a little greasy which made me nervous but surprisingly this works really well, in fact, better than some higher end brands I've used in the past. My eyeshadow stays put all day long! I'm interested to see if this works the same way during the warmer months.

To be continued this summer...

 

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a review. For mor information, please check out my Disclaimer.



Non Beauty-Related Vent

Ok...between the coffee I had this morning and my stress level, I think it's safe to say that my nerves are shot. I need to calm down. I'm about to try anything...chanting, burning candles I don't know at this point.

Bad enough I come to find I've become the grouch of the office and no one likes that. I need to think positively, be calm, and happy.

To quote Finding Nemo "Find a happy place! Find a happy place! Find a happy place!"

"Joey and Janice's Day of Fun!" {...a haul story...}

My mom and I decided to have ourselves a girls day this past Friday. It was really nice to be able to spend time together...especially when everyone else was at work!

The dangerous part: having off on payday. The result:

First stop: Goodwill

We happened to be driving past and were curious so we stopped in. I didn't know what to expect but was really surprised by how organized it was...they separate their clothes by color! It was a shock to see the name brands there as well In the bag section alone I saw Vera Wang, Gucci, and Kate Spade all priced under $25. Unfortunately, I held off on a new purse even though they were super cheap. I ended up walking out with a cute pair of sapphire chandelier earrings and Andrea Jovine sunglasses. Upon further investigation, these glasses, in which I paid $3, retail for $85!

Sephora!

Since I started using BE, my mom has been curious about it so we went to check it out. To my complete shock she actually decided to by a kit just like I had. I was really disappointed, though, because the sales associate didn't help her out with how to apply or anything. In fact, she didn't seem to have a lot of knowledge about the product.

I came out with BE's Pure Radiance and the Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner.

Bare Escentuals

Had I known there was a boutique in the mall we would have gone there for my mom's kit. I must say that store is nice and welcoming! We were greeted by a very friendly sales associate who helped me pick out a new brush (Flawless Radiance brush). I felt compelled to tell her all about what this product has been doing for me and when she mentioned the skin care she gave each of us samples of a face scrub. I haven't tried it yet but now I'm thinking I might want to look into it during my birthday shopping trip.

Hello Yellow!-Bath & Body Works

We went to B&BW on a whim and I am so glad we did...I didn't know that they're discontinuing Charmed Life. I was so shocked because that's only been out for maybe three months. Unfortunately, all the shower gels and full sized products were sold out but I did grab the rest of their travel sized lotions...along with a couple from Be Enchanted....and a sample lotion of their new Rio Rumberry....and some soaps for my mom....Actually I only paid $11 for all of it!

Harmon

I didn't plan on buying anything from there until I saw travel sizes for Organix shampoo and conditioner. I decided to give it a shot as I've been curious about this brand.

Last Stop: Home

As soon as we got back I did something I've wanted to do for years: give my mom a makeover. We sat in the kitchen and I showed her how to use all of her new products...she looked so great!

I loved spending the day together, especially watching her pamper herself for once, but my favorite part was going to sleep. I was exhausted by the time we came back.

Favorites of 2011

I really wasn't sure if I wanted to do a favorites list until I realized there were a lot of products that were used almost on a daily basis, therefore, I felt they each deserved shout-outs. So without further ado I give you my H.G. items of 2011....

~Lotions~

*Philosophy Hope In A Jar: This was the first facial cream I've used that wasn't super oily. It's light in texture and gives the skin a nice rosy glow.

*Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough Neck Cream: Before using this my neck had these little lines across it. I've been using this product since February and since then my neck and decollete look tight and amazing. I'm in love with this cream and what it's done for me.

~Washes~

*Philosophy Purity Made Simple & Microdelivery Wash: I've been using these washes since Dec. 2010 and have seen such a difference in my skin. My face has a nice glow and is so smooth. The added bonus is that you don't need to use a moisturiser immediately afterwards.

~Treatment~

*Philosophy Microdelivery Peel: I use this on a weekly basis and love the way it makes my face feel, not to mention I think it's helping to lighten my acne marks.

~Eye Makeup Remover~

*Philosophy Just Release Me:Not only does this easily remove eye makeup, it also conditions the eye area and works great when applied after plucking your eyebrows (takes away the redness).

~Face Primer~

*Laura Geller Spackle: This is a product that I use every single day...and have even found multiple purposes for it! Not only does it keep my makeup on all day but it works great at night for locking in any kind of moisturizer, feels amazing after you shave, and works wonders on sunburn!

~Mascara~

*Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes:It gives lashes the same length and fullness with the added benefit of being completely waterproof...or should I say bulletproof. There have been times I've washed my face before taking off my eye makeup and it was still on!

~Eye Shadow~

*Laura Geller Baked Eyeshadow/Eye Rimz Duo in Vanilla Toffee and Black Cherry: I got this in her Vanilla Nudes kit and every time I wear these I get compliments. I just love the pretty colors and the way it makes my eyes look more awake and brighter.

~Highlighter/Blush/Contour~

*Laura Geller Baked Cheek Dreams in Neapolitan: This also came in my Vanilla Nudes kit and I can say that this comes everywhere with me. Sweeping all three colors gives a really pretty blush but on a daily basis I use the highlighter and contouring portions. I use the French Vanilla highlighter to lock in my eye liner and to give my face a little more light . I also love the chocolate colored section to contour my cheeks, nose and chin. Love this!!!!!

~Lip Gloss~

*Laura Geller Lightbeams in Skinny Dip: I love using this to give my lipsticks a boost, especially for a nude lip. I find myself reaching for it at least twice a week. To me it has the perfect amount of shimmer to make your lips pop.

~Lipstick~

*Laura Geller Italian Marble Lipstick in Dolce: This is my perfect pink color. I actually had to try to stop using it so much because I felt bad that I was neglecting my other lip products. It's so pretty, gives a little bit of a glossy look, and feels just like a lip balm. This really is my perfect lipstick.

Well, that concludes my list. I have other products that I used on a daily basis but these were my favorites. If you haven't tried any of these I highly suggest that you do!

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchage for a review. For mor information, please check out my Disclaimer.