Lipstick and Candy Cigarettes

Annie Montgomery Pure Designer Jewelry

2012-02-16T18:41:00.000-05:00

Annie Montgomery Jewelry makes amazing pieces that are edgy with a hint of tribal flair. She creates beautiful one of a kind earrings, necklaces, and rings. I just adore the modern feel and raw style of her jewelry. Annie hails from Portland, and definitely has an artistic spirit. She creates each mental piece by hand and uses a variety of organic shapes and sizes. I adore her God's Eye Earrings, they are made to order and come in a choice of three sizes, small medium or large. Each pair is made of hammered sterling silver and chain, and are a modern take on the native "Ojo de Dios", or God's Eye, which is meant to bring protection. I love these earrings, and recently got them...they are even nicer in person!

The earrings come beautifully packaged in a cardboard box, and tied with a tulle ribbon. The earrings are so pretty! The silver body of the earrings is hammered for texture, and the earring hooks are made of silver as well. There is a sterling chain wrapped in the center of the earrings, to build the "eye" design. So gorgeous! The silver has a oxidized look to it to make it look more rustic and raw.

Here are some of my other favorites from Annie's collection:


Long Brass Waterfalls Earrings

Stacking Armor Rings


Delicate Chain Necklace

Gorgeous pieces, that mix romance and femininity with a edgy and modern twist. You can check out Annie's entire collection at PureDesignerJewelry.com or you can check out her Etsy shop. Annie is really nice too, and offers wonderful customer service!

Kristel's giveaway

2012-02-09T11:46:00.005-05:00

http://heartkristel.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-mac-faves-giveaway.html

Etsy Spotlight: FawnSpots Jewelry

2012-01-28T17:24:00.002-05:00

I'm a huge fan of native inspired designs, so I was instantly drawn to the Etsy shop FawnSpots. Their motto is "Fashion for the Free Spirit", which I just adore. Rachel, the creator of the shop, uses pretty feather, beads, and metal findings to create each jewelry piece by hand. Growing up, her stepfather was very much into native american designs, and owned his own leather shop where he would often stamp leather with native patterns, so he taught Rachel, and the rest is history! Rachel has a really nice and fun personality and she was so friendly and helpful when I asked her questions about her jewelry. Her prices are extremely fair also, as most pieces are under $50. One of her best selling products is her Single Feather Earring. She also makes custom pieces if you ask! She was kind enough to make me a custom single feather earring using turquoise that I requested, and she also made me a gorgeous custom pair of Native American Inspired Beaded Earrings!

Pretty, huh? The detail is so nice, that each piece definitely must take a lot of time to make. I also like that she was nice enough to use turquoise colors! I love how dangly the beaded earrings are, and the feather earring is a single earring meant for just one ear. Very unique and pretty! The feather earrings also have turquoise nuggets attached to the chain. She also makes really pretty Native American Inspired Feather Headbands and other native inspired items. Here are a few of my favorites from her shop:

DISCOUNT CODE:
Rachel was kind enough to give me and my readers a discount code! From now until Valentine's Day, you can receive 10% off your purchase with the coupon code FALLINGBRANCH01
Just enter the coupon code at checkout and the discount will apply. She will also refund the shipping prices on any purchase over $50! Happy shopping!

FawnSpots on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fawnspots-Fashion-for-the-Free-Spirit/

Fawn Spots Shop on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FawnSpots

Gorgeous earrings from RavynEdge

2012-01-15T18:02:00.002-05:00

I found these beautiful Shining Fate earrings from the Etsy shop RavynEdge. Tiffany, the jewelry designer, creates lovely pieces that have both a gothic and neo-victorian look. She uses crystals, silver, and brass, and creates pretty pendants, rings, and earrings. Each piece is handmade and is so unique! I really like this pair of earrings because of the aqua stone, and I like the way that it looks as though the wing starts to go up the top of the earlobe. So pretty!

I adore these earrings, and they are even nicer in person! They come in a cute little black plastic glittered case for safe keeping, and they were packaged very nicely. Tiffany is also really friendly and offers fabulous customer service, offering customers their choice of stone color if they prefer a different color than what she has pictured. Here are some photos of the earrings I received:

You can check out Tiffany's shop at Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RavynEdge

Tight Tigers Milli in the Hood Hoodie

2012-01-15T17:40:00.002-05:00

I first found this awesome Aussie fashion brand called TIGHT TIGERS sometime a few months ago, and instantly loved their cute line of fashionable hoodies, shorts, and tops. Fun colors, cuts, and even sequins! I got the fully adorable and fun (and sequin-y!) Tight Tigers Milli in the Hood Hoodie, pictured above. Cute, huh? Its heavy and plush and quality and doesn't feel cheap or flimsy, and it's chock full of sequins, offers a rounded hood and double sided front pocket. I didn't take photos of me in the hoodie yet, but here are some product photos I took:

TT storage bag!

Tag!

Front

Back

It's even nicer in person! I really like the style, it's like a glammed up version of a modern comfy classic. This is one hoodie you won't look frumpy in. Check out the entire line of TT at TightTigers.com!

Lipstick Ring from Emi.ko

2012-01-10T10:57:00.000-05:00

How cool is this ring? I am a lipstick addict, obviously. It's my favorite beauty product. I wear it every day, and my two signature colors to wear are red and bright pinks. So this adorable Lipstick Ring from the Etsy shop Emiko totally got my attention. The ring is laser cut out of acrylic, it's sturdy, and fits on two fingers. Super stylish and definitely will get noticed. I got this ring in a Red lipstick shade with a Clear mirror tube, but it also comes in Pink lipstick with a Gold mirror tube. It looks just like a lipstick! You can even choose your ring size so that it fits your fingers just right. I love the shape and the ring fits my fingers well.

So cute, right? I adore this ring! The other cool thing is that the acrylic mirror part that makes up the "tube" on the lipstick doubles as a mirror! It actually reflects light and you can even use it as a mini mirror, so you can check your own lipstick in your reflection without needing to pull out a mirror compact. So this ring is like two fashionable accessories in one! ;)

Emiko has a lot of cool products like customizable name rings, necklaces, and earrings. They take custom orders too!

I also like this cute little Anchor Pin:

and this Lightning Bolt ring:

Emiko has great prices, with most pieces being $20 or less, pretty good for customized jewelry! They also ship promptly and they have really friendly customer service. They were also cool enough to hook my readers up with a discount code! Deets below.

DISCOUNT CODE: Save 10% off any order from Emiko! Use the code "CANDY10" at checkout!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/emikoshop

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T16:00:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year, lovelies! I hope 2012 is full of amazing things for you! :)

OttLite Natural Makeup Mirror

2011-12-30T15:56:00.001-05:00

I love putting my makeup on in natural sunlight so that I can see the true colors and how it will look when I am out and about. Thats not always an option though, so when I found this super cute makeup mirror that has a natural makeup light, I was thrilled! The OttLite Natural Makeup Mirror is pretty, it's pink, and it's multi-functional! The mirror also comes in blue, black, and white color for thos who aren't a fan of the pink. The base of the mirror has a slightly swirled detailed design, and it features a one-click button. One click of the button turns the natural light on to give you a natural way to apply makeup without the use of natural light from outside. I have this one my makeup table, and it's awesome! I love all things pink, so to find a makeup mirror in this color was a plus. I also like the design and style of the mirror, it's stylish and modern. The lighted sides on the mirror really help to give an accurate view of your makeup and application.

The mirror is double sided, one featuring a standard mirror, and the other side features a magnified view. The magnified view is perfect for tweezing eyebrows and applying faux eyelashes! I aso love the sturdy design of the mirror, and the ease of turning the double sided mirror. The mirror stays in place, and the natural lights are on both sides of the mirror for even lighting. This is the first makeup mirror that I've really liked using in awhile, so I love the magnifying features of the double sided mirror. It offers a nice close-up view for foundation application, and even offers a great light for airbrush makeup application! This mirror is fabulous when used as you apply your makeup using the TEMPTU airbrush system. This is definitely a really cool makeup mirror for anyone who is looking for a pretty and affordable new lighted makeup mirror. It retails for $99 and is available at Jo-Ann, HSN, and at OttLite.com, right now it's on sale at OttLite.com for $69.99! Highly recommended for all of my beauty fanatics! :)

Green Tree Jewelry Earrings Haul 2

2011-12-26T21:54:00.001-05:00

My second haul of Green Tree Jewelry earrings that are eco-friendly and made of sustainable materials! I have a few more pairs of wood earrings to share. I recently got 10 pairs of earrings from Green Tree and am beyond impressed. I'm already thinking about what other pairs I plan on buying soon. I recently got the Ascending Circles earrings, High Heels earrings, Guitar earrings, Los Angeles earrings, Las Vegas earrings, and Mermaid earrings. How cute are these? I love that they are earth conscious since they are made of recycled wood. The wood is thin but very firm and strong. These feel like they are very high quality and you don't have to worry about them breaking because they are made of many layered wood. So pretty! I also like the bright colors and appreciate the fact that they use natural dye rather than icky colors made with chemicals. I highly recommend this company and can say that I am totally planning on getting several more pairs soon!

Close up of the detail on the Las Vegas earrings:

Check Green Tree Jewelry out on Etsy, or at GreenTreeJewelry.com, you can also follow them on Twitter @Grntreejewelry

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-26T21:54:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and soon the new year will be here! Many thanks to all of my blog followers and those who comment and read my posts! :)

ghd Gold Classic flat iron

2011-12-22T13:38:00.000-05:00

I was quite sad when my 2" CHI flat iron broke just recently, so while shopping around for a brand new shiny flat iron, I saw the beautiful ghd Gold Class Flat Iron. It comes in a nice black/gold box along with a user manual, flat iron, and protective plate guard. The guard is a sleeve for you to slide over the flat iron when not in use. The smooth ceramic plates help to create flawless and sleek hair. The plates are 1" and the straightener has a sleep mode, which will shut the flat iron off automatically after 30 minutes of non-use. No more having to freak out worrying whether you unplugged your straightener or not. The ceramic plates are treated with a trademarked technology called Nanosilver which works as a anti-bacterial agent to help keep the plates clean.

This Gold series also offers 50 degree cooler-to-the-touch temp, and offers smooth and snag-free hair straightening. I love the pretty gold/black color, and the sleek slim style of the 1" flat iron. The cord swivels at the base where it connects with the straightener, so it's easier to use, and the cord doesn't get caught or tangled when trying to use the straightener. I also like the added shine that my hair has after using this flat iron! This would make an awesome gift for a friend or yourself.

You can get the ghd Gold Classic styler for $225 (with free shipping!) at ghdhair.com

Green Tree Jewelry Earrings Haul

2011-12-21T15:46:00.002-05:00

I received my package from Green Tree Jewelry today! I had been obsessed with all of their handmade laser cut wooden earrings that I ended up find around 20 pairs that I wanted. I got 10 pairs, so I plan on buying some of the other ones that I liked in the future. These earrings are even nicer in person than they were on the Green Tree website! I am totally impressed with the quality, designs, and colors. All wood is colored with a non-toxic natural dye, and the earrings are made from 100% wood and have nickel-free earring hooks. I love these earrings! Even my mom and sister loved them and wanted to know where I got them!

As pictured above, I got the Phoenix earrings, Surfboard earrings, Wave Surfboard earrings, and the Harry Potter Deathly Hallows earrings. Super cute! Can't wait to wear these! This is just my first haul of earring photos, I'll be posting my second set of earrings in a few days! I also just want to say that Green Tree's shipping was super fast, it took about 2 days for my order to get here! Nice!

Close up shot of the detail:

GreenTreeJewelry.com

Green Tree on Etsy

Eco Friendly Gift Idea: Green Tree Jewelry

2011-12-19T13:53:00.001-05:00

Check out these cute wooden earrings! They're both unique and eco-friendly and come in a variety of fun designs from animals to initials to shapes. I adore these cute little Green Tree Jewelry Little Hoot earrings, you can even choose what color wood that you'd like the design in. They use eco-friendly non-toxic dye to color the wood. They have everything from pink to red to brown and blue. These make a fun and affordable gift for the holidays! To check out all of their designs head on over to GreenTreeJewelry.com

Juliette Has a Gun Purse Bullet Fragrance Set

2011-12-18T14:32:00.001-05:00

How cute is this perfume set? Juliette Has a Gun is the perfume brand from Romano Ricci, who visualized a 21st century Juliet from Romeo and Juliet with a gun instead of a dagger. This perfume set comes with a silver bullet shaped perfume atomizer, and three perfume vials, that feature the pretty Lady vengence scent that smells like vanilla, rose, and patchouli. Pretty, feminine, and long-lasting. This gift set retails for $75 - JulietteHasAGun.com

Lalicious Peppermint Sugar Souffle Scrub

2011-12-17T20:12:00.001-05:00

This festive peppermint scented sugar scrub by Lalicious is awesome! It's moisturizing and leaves your skin feeling silky and smooth. The pure peppermint scent is both uplifting, relaxing, and refreshing. Made of white sugar and softening butters, it offers a softened whipped texture that is easy to scoop out and apply directly to wet skin in the shower. The sugar exfoliates and scrubs away dead skin cells while also hydrated your skin. After scrubbing, wash your skin with your favorite soap to remove any extra sugar residue. Dry off and feel how smooth your skin feels. Works great on dry feet, knees, and elbows. You can get a 16 oz tub of Lalicious Peppermint Sugar Souffle available for $34 at Lalicious.com

Want to purchase as a gift? Lalicious has a gift set that is ideal for the holidays. The Lalicious Collection Gift Set comes in your choice of scent, including peppermint, and comes in a cute gift box. You get the sugar souffle scrub, as well as other Lalicous products such as the body butter, whipped soap, and body oil. Available for $95 at Lalicious!

FALALALA Giveaways @ Sparkling Reviews

2011-12-16T13:15:00.000-05:00

Win a Samsung HDTV: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-60in-samsung-smart.html

$1000 Visa: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-1000-visa-card.html

iPad 2: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-64gb-ipad-2.html

Panasonic Toughbook: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-panasonic-31.html

Nikon D5100: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-nikon-d5100.html

LORAC Bejeweled Lip Gloss Collection

2011-12-12T17:16:00.000-05:00

LORAC Cosmetics came out with a super cute lip gloss collection for the holidays! This lip gloss set comes with six lip glosses that range in color from pink to nude to a shimmery red. All of the colors are quite sheer and buildable.

• Rich Garnet (Dark Cherry)
• Hot Pink Sapphire (Bright Pink)
• Pink Diamond (Opalescent Lt. Pink)
• Rose Tourmaline (Medium Pink)
• Peach Moonstone (Peach)
• Red Ruby (Red)

This gloss offers shine and hydrates your lips, while it's also infused with antioxidants for smoother and healthier lips. Each lip gloss tube also features tiny little jewels scattered all over the cap! Super cute. This LORAC Bejeweled Lip Gloss Collection has a value of $132, but you can get it for $25 at Sephora or LORACCosmetics.com!

Shoe Obsession: Ruthie Davis

2011-12-12T15:43:00.001-05:00

Ruthie Davis shoes! Sigh, oh the beauty of a couture shoe. I'm currently lusting over some gorgeous RD pumps, check out the fun colors in the above photo. Move on Diamonds...shoes are a girl's best friend! Check out some of these hot Ruthie Davis shoes spotted on celebs galore.

X Factor's Nicole Scherzinger rockin' some Ruthie Davis

Nick & Norah actress Cat Dennings feet looks stellar in RD

Katy Perry looking fierce in her Ruthie Davis booties

Lucy Hale - Pretty Little Liars get pretty in Ruthie Davis!

As for me, I'm currently swooning over these Ruthie Davis Avatar pumps, I can totally visual them on my feet! ;)

Santa, are you listening?? I've been a good girl this year. Ruthie Davis rather than coal please.

FALALALALA giveaways at Spakling Reviews

2011-12-12T13:14:00.003-05:00

Sparkling Reviews is having awesome giveaways this month for the holidays, go enter to win!

Panasonic 31 Toughbook: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-panasonic-31.html

iPad 2: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-64gb-ipad-2.html

Toshiba Thrive Tablet: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-toshiba-thrive-tablet.html

KitchenAid Stand mixer: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-kitchen-aid-mixer.html

Nikon D5100: http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/12/falalala-giveaway-nikon-d5100.html

TEMPTU Limited Edition Everyday Luxury Holiday Set

2011-12-11T15:04:00.002-05:00

Have you seen the new TEMPTU holiday airbrush gift set? It comes with a re-vamped look on TEMPTU's original aribrush system in white, plus a cute silver zip storage pouch, a instructional DVD, a user manual, an airpod holder, and a complimentary TEMPTU airpod foundation in your choice of color! Everything the makeup maven, or airbrush newbie could want in an airbrush package. The thing that I adore about the TEMPTU airpods is that they are super easy to use, and the foundation comes in a wide variety of colors, so that no matter if you have warm, neutral, or cool undertones, you can find a shade that fits your skin tone best! TEMPTU's system is also great because there is no need to fill a stylus with airbrush makeup...the airpods do that for you! Simply attach a airpod to the stylus and go! Perfect for makeup thats fast, flawless, and versatile.

I love the beautiful texture of TEMPTU's foundation airpods, it doesn't feel cakey, drying, or heavy on the skin. The foundation also makes it a snap to cover problem areas like undereye darkness, facial redness, and uneven skintones. TEMPTU works on skintones of every shade and texture, any ethnicity, and any age. The TEMPTU airbrush system is easy to use. Simply plug the TEMPTU system into an electric outlet, attach the stylus to the system with, attach an airpod of your choice, turn the system on, use the dial to choose the amount of coverage you would like, and then gently press the lever on the stylus and apply the makeup to your face (or someone else's if you're doing their makeup) while holding the stylus a few inches away from the face. The foundation dries quickly without feeling sticky or stiff, and because the color doesn't come blasting out in only one pressure, you can use sheer coverage, medium, and even go over areas for maximum coverage. The color is buildable and has a long-lasting effect that can last you all day. My skin gets oily throughout the day when I have foundation on, but I didn't have that problem when I used the TEMPTU system. My foundation stayed put and didn't fade like most other foundations that I've used. The airbrush quality really allows you to use your face as your canvas, and create the type of coverage that best fits your needs.

Silver TEMPTU zip case opened

Adapter and storage bag

Stylus attached to the TEMPTU system

Stylus resting on the System and ready for use

TEMPTU up close and personal

Power button on top of system

Pressure dial

TEMPTU AirPod Foundation with the cap off

TEMPTU AirPods resting in the TEMPTU Display Stand

Gorgeous looking system, huh? The entire gift set retails is available at TEMPTU.com for $275! You can also find it at Sephora for the same price! This would make a great gift for any ladies on your holiday shopping list. If you're unsure about what foundation shade you would need you can check out the TEMPTU Shade Finder to see which shades matches your skintone best. Alternatively you can go to your local Sephora and ask them for a TEMPTU demo and they can help you find the shade that matches your skin best.

Video demonstration from TEMPTU:

A photo of Amber's (my sister) finished look after using the TEMPTU airbrush foundation and then applying her usual eye, cheek, and lip makeup on top:

I adore my TEMPTU system and now Amber wants one too! The airpod works really well, the coverage is fab, and I like the feel and texture to the foundation. I want to try more of their airbrush blush airpods and highlight airpods in the future. This Limited Edition gift set is highly recommended, and I even love the cute silver case, perfect for storage when traveling with your TEMPTU system!

little chief honeybee's december giveaway

2011-12-11T13:08:00.000-05:00

The ultra sweet and super awesome Kaelah over at Little Chief Honeybee is giving away an iPad2...for real! http://honeybeeinthecity.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-giveaway-apple-ipad-2-16gb.html

Senna Cosmetics Holiday Gift Picks

2011-12-10T01:40:00.000-05:00

I adore Senna Cosmetics and wanted to share a few of my suggestions for Senna products as holiday gifts this season. I recently got the Senna Cosmetics Face Sculpting Kit after taking a look at the colors. The trio of colors is meant for sculpting the face beautifully, and the cream-to-powder texture is awesome! I have light skin, so a lot of time contour colors are too orange or brown on me, but the pretty grey-brown that is matte and it works on all skin types. The kit also comes in a Shade 1 and Shade 2 kit, to accommodate different skin tones. It also comes with two highlight shades along with the contour color. The formula is smooth and pigmented, you only have to soft graze your finger over the sculpting shade and you'll see how pigmented it is. The colors are ease to blend and the kit also comes with Senna Cosmetics own Foundation 20 brush and a face chart to show how to accentuate and sculpt your face. The colors in this kit were hand created for the TV show Desperate Housewives, but people liked the shades so much that Senna decided to release the colors for purchase. The formula is oil-free and silky smooth and can work on a variety of skin textures both young and old.

I also recently tried the Senna Cosmetics Totally Transforming Concealer that comes in different shades and offers redness coverage as well as blemishes and other skin discolorations. The formula comes with a doe foot applicator, but you can also apply it with a brush such as Senna Cosmetics Concealer 12 brush. This concealer formula has a special ingredient called Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract that helps to reduce puffiness under the eyes as well as reduce the appearance of under eye darkness.

Here are swatches of all of the colors, both the Face Sculpting Kit in Shade 1 as well as the Totally Transforming Concealer in the shade Cool Light:

Topstyler by Instyler Hair Curling System

2011-12-09T12:47:00.000-05:00

I wear my hair wavy/curly pretty much daily, my hair is naturally wavy, so after washing it I usually apply styling product and allow it to air dry. I heard about this fun hair curling system called Topstyler, that almost looks like a hot curlers set, but much cooler! The set comes with a DVD to show you how to use the system, it comes in a zip storage case, and comes with a kit full of 10 C-shell cases that you wrap your hair in and allow to curl. The C-Shells are ceramic tourmaline, much like flat irons or higher end curling irons, and give gentle and even heat to your hair while it dries and curls. You can have loose waves with this set, or set tight curls, it's up to you and how you use the shells. Pretty easy!

The Topstyler has even been used by stylists in movies and TV shows to create luscious curls and waves. This system is supposed to be less damaging to your hair, and the shells hold your curls in place until the shells completely cool, giving your hair extra volume as well. The shells are heated after you plug the shell holder into an outlet. Once heated, you can wrap your hair using one of a few techniques, then allow the shells to cool completely on your hair.

"Using the TOPSTYLER couldn't be easier. It's just a few simple steps to get unbelievable curls, waves and volume. Simply wrap hair around fingers into the shape of a curl. Use small wraps for tight curls, or more loose wraps for larger curls or sexy volume. Then apply the C-Shell over the curl formed. Let hair cool inside the C-Shell to set the style for a short time, then allow hair to drop gently from the C-Shell revealing amazing curl and body. It's that simple!" - TopStyler.com

You can find the TopStyler for around $100 at ULTA, QVC, Macy's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohl's and other retailers that carry hair tools.

Australian Fashion: TIGHT TIGERS

2011-12-08T22:26:00.000-05:00

Have you all heard of the ultra cool Aussie fashion brand TIGHT TIGERS? No? Whats up with that! This brand is so hot. Created by the seriously awesome Claire, TIGHT TIGERS has been releasing mega sexy and unique threads for all of Australia. They are going to be selling to boutiques and shops in the USA in 2012, so I hope to see/hear a LOT more from this fashion line. TT fuses style with fun patterns, sequins, and sexy cuts and patterns. They recently just had their Christmas party where models paraded their cute bottoms around showing off all of the sleek and serious fashion pieces. These tigers are tight yo...rawr! Check their Christmas Party fashion vid:

You can check out their entire collection at TIGHTTIGERS.COM and don't forget to show them some love on Twitter/@tighttigers and Facebook/http://www.facebook.com/tighttigers! You can also peep their blog @ http://blog.tighttigers.com

Haughty Cosmetics Limited Edition Brush Set

2011-12-08T19:25:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of Haughty Cosmetics? They have a line of pretty lip gloss shades, as well as cosmetic brushes. For the holidays they created a lip gloss set as well as a holiday brush kit. I recently got the Haughty Cosmetics Limited Edition Brush Set that comes with a collection of makeup brushes with fun names. You get: Go Big Or Go Home Big Powder Brush, Put Your Game Face On Blush Brush, Fear No Evil Shadow Brush, Draw A Hard Line Eyeliner Brush, Find Your Angle Sculpting Brush, and Increase Your Advantage Crease Brush. The brushes feature a red handle with the name of the brush on each handle, and the bristles are soft to the touch. It also comes in a cute little faux leather croc zip pouch! Totally cute!

Haughty Cosmetics also donates 50% of it's profits to help fight domestic violence! The brush set is $85 and you get free shipping also. Really nice brushes, cute bag, and helping a great cause! For more info or to order, check out HaughtyCosmetics.com

Makeup Travel Bag: My Face Case

2011-12-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of the My Face Case cosmetic travel bag? My Face Case is a woman run business and they create really cute storage bags for cosmetics and beauty items. Sonja and her niece Bonnie work together to create portable makeup storage solutions for beauty lovers. Each bag is handmade, and with 10 different colors and patterns to choose from, it's not too hard to find a bag that's look works with your own personal style. Each bag has a drawstring closure, so it's easy to open, but also can close and keep your makeup organized even when traveling. There are also pockets inside the lining for you to add products to. You can also use it to bring along books, lotions and perfumes, and other makeup bag essentials.

I recently got the funk bright pink/black zebra print My Face Case Bonnie bag and it's so cute! The material is sewn together really nicely, and the bag is strong and secure. The drawstring is easy to pull, and you can tie the ends to ensure your bag stays closed tightly. The canvas material is soft but sturdy and the little pockets inside are really great at holding things like lipstick, moisturizer, and foundation! I even use it for my makeup brushes!

This bag is really cute! I also like that I can just fill it with makeup, close the bag, and toss it into my suitcase or travel bag. I also like the bright pattern because it's fits my personality and love of vibrant colors. This would make an awesome holiday gift for any makeup lovers or makeup artists on your holiday list! Each bag is only $29.99 at MyFaceCaseStore.com

Mama Mio Gift Ideas

2011-12-02T21:56:00.000-05:00

Mama Mio offers some great picks for moms and moms-to-be for the holidays. Ladies deserve to splurge on their skincare, and Mama Mio offers affordable ways to ensure your skin stays healthy and revived. They offer skin tightening serums, stretch mark relief creams, firming creams and more. They've also been in countless magazines, and the likes of celebs like Jessica Alba are huge fans of the brand as well. I recently tried their Nexercise program that helps improve the elasticity in the skin, chin, and neck. I also tried their Mama Mio Skin Tight serum that helps to smooth and tighten the skin on your belly, arms, legs, and anywhere else you need some smoothing and tightening action. They even have a product called Boob Tube that helps to firm your breasts! They also offer a cream called Mama Mio Goodbye Stretch Marks that can be rubbed into your stretch marks to help minimize the appearance of stretch marks on your stomach, breasts, and legs. All of these products are great even for women who have yet to have children, it's never too early to start a skincare regimen!

MamaMio.com offers free shipping and they offer a variety of body products that range mostly from $30-80! So far I really like their products and even my mom is now using their products! You can also feel good about using their products because they're free of harmful parabens, synthetics, and gross skin damaging chemicals. These skincare products would make awesome gifts for female friends and family this season.

Anastasia Kisses on My List Lip Gloss Set

2011-11-28T15:05:00.000-05:00

This cute lip gloss set features sheer lip colors that flatter just about any skin tone. The Anastasia Kisses on My List kit comes with Anastasia' Hydrafull lip gloss in a variety of six colors: Barely (nude beige), Nectar (pale pink shimmer), Lychee (sheer pink with gold shimmer), Pink Sugar (bright petal pink), Guava (pink nude with opalescent shimmer), Cameo (pearl with silver shimmer). All of the colors go on very sheer, so it's not a lot of bright pigmented shades, so even those who don't wear makeup often could find a use for these glosses. The formula is smooth and glides on nicely, and the applicator is one that I've never seen before...it's not a brush, it's not a doe foot applicator, but a flexible flat plastic tip! Some may not like this, others might find it interesting, but it's definitely a different experience when applying with the flat plastic tip than with doe foot or brush applicators. The set is available for $30 at the Anastasia online shop or Sephora.

Lavanila Pure Vanilla Luxury Set

2011-11-27T19:14:00.002-05:00

This beautifully packaged Lavanila gift set is perfect for holiday gift giving! It comes in Lavanila's Pure Vanilla fragrance, and features the body wash, perfume, and body butter. The scent is light and sweet with a real vanilla fragrance. You can get the Lavanila Pure Vanilla Luxury Set exclusively at Sephora as a limited edition holiday gift set! The vanilla scent is really pretty, almost slightly spicy made with Tonka bean and Madagascar vanilla. The body spray comes in a pretty glass spray bottle, and he body wash is thick and creates luscious bubbles, while the body butter is creamy and very hydrating. Best of all it's free of synthetic fragrances, icky chemicals, or drying sulfates. A pretty gift you can feel good about sharing this holiday season! ($40 at Sephora.com)

LUSH Christmas Delights Gift

2011-11-23T15:40:00.000-05:00

I like the cute and delicious smelling LUSH wrapped gifts that they come out with every Christmas season. Some of their gifts are wrapped in gift wrap and others come in a sweet little holiday tin. The LUSH Christmas Delights gift comes in a little tin that can be re-used and features a snowy holiday illustration. Right now when you purchase items at LUSH they're having a promotion that gives Golden Tickets, when you get a Golden LUSH Ticket you can scratch off a code and see if you win a LUSH prize. It's a fun little promo for the holidays!

This gift tin comes with: LUSH Vanilla Dee-Lite lotion, Snow Fairy Shower Gel, Sugar Babe Sugar Scrub, Heavanlli Massage Bar, Candy Cane Soap and Angel's Delight Soap. These items smell wonderful, sweet, and remind me of the holidays. The gift tin holds the items nicely, and each item is individually wrapped in plastic. This would make an awesome gift for any LUSH fan, and it's an awesome way to sample various LUSH products all in one little gift tin! You can get the LUSH Christmas Delights gift at LUSHUSA.com for $54.95!

LUSH A Few of my Favorite Things Gift

2011-11-22T16:42:00.000-05:00

LUSH always has really fun bath and body products, but I especially like the gift sets they come out with during the holidays. This wrapped LUSh gift is perfect for holiday gift giving. The LUSH A Few of my Favorite Things gift set comes in a super cute Christmas themed wrapping paper including a gift tag. Cute! It comes with some really fun holiday products from their seasonal line, you get: Olive Brand shower gel, The Jilted Elf Shower Jelly, Sugar Sugar Scrub, Snow Globe Soap.

Each item is individually packaged rather than naked products, so you could even get a gift set and divide the goodies as stocking stuffers or different small gifts for multiple friends. The Sugar Sugar Scrub is a permanent product, and so is the Olive Branch Shower Gel, but The Jilted Elf Shower Jelly and Snow Globe soap is limited edition for the holiday season. The entire box smells lovely, and the scent make my house smell nice just from opening the package. This make a super cute gift for a friend, family, or even a co-worker. You can get this gift at LUSH.com for $29.95!

EOS Limited Edition Organic Lip Balm Gift Set

2011-11-21T16:54:00.001-05:00

Fun stocking stuffer!

Evolution of Smooth has created a super cute limited edition lip balm set that comes with three of their popular smooth spheres. The packaging comes in a silver cardboard container, and the balms come in Strawberry Sorbet, Sweet Mint, and Passion Fruit. EOS makes it's lip balms using 95% organic grade ingredients, and their products are free of petroleum and parabens. So you can have smooth hydrated lips without any synthetic ingredients or harmful additives. This cute set would make a great stocking stuffer! Each lip balm comes in the round EOS sphere, with easy to twist cap and fun lip balm that is rounded in shape, rather than a stick. The rounded shape makes it easy to glide over the lips. The balm isn't greasy or uncomfortable, and the moisturizing benefits keeps your lips hydrated, soft, and kissable...New Years Eve, anyone?? ;)

This gift set is $9.49 and is available for purchase at EOS online or at ULTA, Walgreens, Riteaid, and CVS.

Banish the winter skin blues!

2011-11-19T12:27:00.002-05:00

FixMySkin is a range of moisture intense and healing skincare products, they offer two lines of products: Prevent, and Repair. Prevent offers balms that can be used on lips, face, and body, that are meant to soften and nourish your skin. Repair offers the same great products, but with Hydrocortisone added for aiding in healing the skin. The products come in both unscented and vanilla. Products range from $10-$12.

BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz offers a line of products meant to exfoliate, moisturize, and cleanse the skin. They offer topical serums, and even wipes for the face that offer green tea extract and work as an anti-acne product as well. Products range from $25-$75, and they also have skincare sets that come with different products to help with common skin problems like Anti-aging, Dry skin, and more.

Revaleskin is a line of moisturizing and anti-aging products for the face. They use caffeinated CoffeeBerry in their products to help plump and smooth out wrinkles and lines without harsh procedures. CoffeeBerry works as an antioxidant as well, and helps to improve the texture of the skin, and hydrate which is especially important during the cold dry winter months. Revaleskin Replenishing Eye Therapy is available at SkinMedix.com for $69.

Firefall Studios Artisan Jewelry

2011-11-17T18:00:00.000-05:00

I recently found this beautiful jewelry shop on Etsy called Firefall Studios, that is run by a really nice husband and wife team George and Jean. They create lovely artisan jewelry such as rings, earrings, and necklaces out of sterling silver, gemstones, and unique and fun textures. Each piece is handmade and cast from a design that is created by the couple. They use beautiful textures like tree branches, waves, flowers and more. I really like that each piece is handmade, and that it's a family run business. With all of the Occupy protests going on, myself and a lot of other people are looking to handmade items and small businesses rather than constantly shopping through "big" retailers. So I definitely recommend shopping with this company, they're a small business, ship quickly, and offer great jewelry at affordable prices. Also, because they made each piece handmade, each piece is not mass produced, so these jewelry pieces are much more unique than jewelry you'd find in your local low-end Claire's or high-end Tiffany's.

I got this super pretty Little Waves Sterling Silver Ring that looks like the tide rolling in foamy white waves, so delicate and unique looking. I love the ocean, so to me, this piece was really stunning. You can feel the high quality of the silver, and the thickness of the band is very comfortable, not too thin of a band and not too thick. Firefall Studios Jewelry can also re-size their selection of rings, so if you like a ring and need a different size, they can accommodate that. Each jewelry piece also comes in a little silver gift box, so they're perfect for holiday gifts. Here is my pretty Little Waves ring:

These are a few of my other favorites from the shop:

Gold Petal Flower Ring ($78.50)


Silver Tempest Earrings ($58)

Make a Wish Pendant Necklace ($43)

Vintage-style Ring with Amethyst ($85)

Kiss Ring with Pink Tourmaline ($40)

They have a nice variety of earrings and necklaces as well as rings, rings are my favorite and they have some really fun and pretty designs. A lot of lesser quality brands that you can find in specialty stores sell for much more, so these are really quite affordable for the nice quality. If you want to check out the shop and see what other goodies they have, you can see the entire collection at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Firefallstudios

Demeter Fragrances

2011-11-16T17:03:00.000-05:00

Looking for fun and affordable gifts for the fragrance lover on your holiday shopping list? Demeter Fragrance has a line of exclusive holiday scents! They come in a variety of types such as roll on scent, splash and go scent, sprays, and even shower gels. I recently tried a few of the limited Holiday scents including: Snow, Gingerbread, Egg Nog, Christmas Bouquet, Fireplace, Mistletoe and Mulled Cider. Each scent is relaxing, yummy, not-overly sweet or artificial, and has really nice staying power. I sometimes use the cologne spray as a room mist, which makes my room smell very festive and fun.

Each fragrance comes in a cute glass bottle with a metallic cap and metallic spray pump, with a simple yet pretty Demeter logo on the front. 1 oz cologne spray is only $20! So these would be ideal for stocking stuffers, secret santa gift, gifts for co-workers, or friends on a tight budget. The Mini Splash scents and roll On perfume scents are even more affordable at only $6 and $10. With this price range it makes it easy to pick up multiple items in different scents for all your friends! The Demeter Fragrance Egg Nog Spray was my favorite from the Holiday collection, it just smells yummy! Not too eggy or spicy, it smells warm and comforting and definitely reminds me of holiday parties. Demeter Gingerbread is really spicy and fragrant, I can smell clove and cinnamon and nutmeg along with the fresh heat from the ginger. Demeter Snow is very clean and fresh, while Demeter Fireplace is much more whimsical and features a smoky scent. Demeter Mulled Cider smells richly of apples and spices. If holiday scents are't your thing, they also have fruity scents, food scents, and other fun fragrances.
Definitely a budget friendly gift thats both unique and smells fab.

Holiday Gift Idea: Wild & Chic Best of Make Up For Ever Kit

2011-11-15T14:00:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Make Up For Ever. I definitely keep up with all of their new products. Sephora recently released a fun new gift set for the holidays called the Wild & Chic Best of Make Up For Ever Kit. This kit comes with some of the best selling MUFE products including: HD Microfinish Powder, Aqua Cream in 13 (Warm Beige), Aqua Eyes in Mat Black, Lab Shine gloss in Star Collection, HD Microperfecting Primer, and Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara. This kit is a great way to sample some of MUFE"s best sellers for a fraction of the cost. This set would retail for over $100 if you bought the items separately, but as a kit through Sephora you can get it for $55.

The HD Microfinish Powder and Primer helps to set your makeup and create a more flawless finish, while the smooth creamy Aqua Eyes liner goes on nicely and is waterproof so it stays put. The Aqua Cream is a gorgeous shimmering beige color that can compliment all skintones, and the Smoky Lash mascara is a dark black mascara to help lengthen your natural lashes. The Lab Shine lipgloss comes in a super pretty Star Collection color that is a pinky-beige with a slight greenish shimmer!

Aqua Eyes in Mat Black, Lip Shine in Star Collection, Aqua Cream in Warm Beige

Lip Shine in Star Collection

This kit definitely makes an awesome gift for any makeup lover, and for only a little over $50 you can to sample six of MUFE's best sellers. This would make a hot gift idea for any friends or family who adore makeup or who have yet to try Make Up For Ever and want an affordable way to sample the products!

Paperself Lashes

2011-11-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of Paperself Lashes? They're fake lashes, made of, yes...paper! Crazy, cool, fun, trendy, and high fashion. These delicate lashes can be applied just as you normally would apply faux eyelashes, using your favorite lash glue. They are lightweight and pretty easy to apply. They also come in full strips of lashes, or small strips, depending on how dramatic of a look you're going for. The lashes look unlike any other lashes I've seen before, they don't simulate real lashes at all, these are fun fantasy lashes with fun shapes like horses, butterflies, and flowers.

I recently tried the PAPERSELF Peacock Lashes, which are available for $19 at Sephora.com. Paperself is a UK based company, but they sell in the US through Sephora. $19 might be a bit pricey for lashes made of paper, but they're pretty and unique and offer a fun shape, so for occasions where you're looking for something bold and trendy, these lashes are it. The lashes are super cute, but are pretty long and I decided to wear them by cutting the strip and using just a piece on the ends of my lashes. You could just buy smaller strips of the lashes if you don't want to use the full strip, I'll probably do that next time. However, if you have the full strip and feel that it's too much, simply trim it like you would any other fake lashes.

PAPERSELF Peacock lashes, full strip in package

Picture of me wearing a strip on ends of lashes

Lashes made of paper, definitely not something I would rock every day, but it's definitely fun for once and awhile! I'd like to try the Under the Sea lashes next time. Would be fun to wear for a cool Christmas or New Years party!

Jon Renau Party Girl Wig review: Pink, it was love at first sight...

2011-11-12T11:11:00.001-05:00

I thought a line from the Aerosmith song "Pink" would be a fitting title for this post.

Wigs are my newest obsession. I have tried colors like blonde and black and blue, but pink is my favorite color. I have been curious about hot pink hair for a long time and even considered dyeing my hair hot pink. To save myself the mess and committment, I opted for a hot pink wig (from the brand Jon Renau) from Wigs Online! The style is called "Party Girl". I love the style; the blunt bangs, the long length, and the vibrancy of the hot pink color. This wig color also comes in other bright colors like blue and bright red and fuchsia (to name a few). This is my first Jon Renau wig and I must say; I am VERY impressed with it! The Jon Renau Party Girl wig arrived in a sleek black Jon Renau box, the wig is covered in a black mesh protective cap so that the tresses don't get messed up in transit. My order from WigsOnline.com came very quickly and was packaged nicely. As soon as I saw the hot pink, I couldn't wait to put it on!

Out of all of the wigs I have tried so far, this wig has the most realistic feel - almost like real hair! Very silky and smooth. It was very easy to put the wig on, I sometimes have trouble sliding the wigs on (even with a wig cap) because my natural hair is very very thick. There is a lot of stretch to this wig cap, so I imagine it would fit all head sizes with minimal effort.

I also considered the Party Girl Stripe wig. I guess Nicki Minaj was seen sporting the Party Girl Stripe wig and although it is awesome, I didn't want people to think that I chose the wig for that reason. Hot pink is much more "me" though, and I really couldn't be happier with my choice!

After trying this wig, I LOVE it! It's definitely one of my favorites. I'm looking forward to trying more Jon Renau wigs in the future. The quality is great, and the price is very affordable ($46.50 at WigsOnline.com)!

DISCOUNT: The folks at WigsOnline.com created a discount code for my readers! You can get 15% off any order of $50 or more! All you have to do is use the discount code "LIPSTICK" at checkout!

Review: Candy Stripper from Arda Wigs

2011-11-08T20:02:00.001-05:00

I think that life would be so much more interesting if everybody had an awesome hair color like hot pink or blue. This wig immediately made me think of mermaids and a Candyland princess when I first set my sights on it. It's the Candy Striper style from Arda Wigs!

This style is heat resistant, and made of hiperlon fiber. I am very impressed with the quality of the synthetic fibers, it feels very similar to real hair! The color is a gorgeous blend of complementing colors. It was so cool to look at myself in the mirror with a non-conventional hair color! I have had blonde hair, brown hair, red hair, black hair but never anything as awesome as blue! Besides the color, the style is stunning and a style that I would wear with my regular hair as well. One of my favorite things about this wig is that it's a high fashion twist on an otherwise effortlessly glamorous style. This wig has an impressive price tag as well: $35 plus shipping which is a *steal* for the quality! The selection available at Arda Wigs is great - the perfect amount of variety! The company website is easy to navigate and you can search wigs by color/style or character (if you're a cosplay fan)! Arda Wigs also has excellent customer service, always at the top of my list when choosing a company to become a customer of, as well as featuring them on my blog.

And just for fun, I decided to turn myself into a cartoon/anime girl!

I love the beautiful curls on this wig, the pretty bold color, and the fact that the streaks of purple really pop and look awesome against the blue color. I also really like the feeling of the Hiperlon fiber, it feels similar to real hair. Also, these wigs are NOT mass produced. They are handmade from a group of gals who like fun wigs and create each lace caps and hair color/style. Also, the inner lace cap inside the wig, the part that secures the wig to your head fits nicely, it has a good amount of stretch, and it didn't fall off my head. Also, the lace cap was very high quality. I've tried a few wigs from other mass produced brands, and while they were awesome, they cost more than the wigs from Arda yet the Arda wigs quality was just as good if not better. I also really liked the quality, fit, and style of the lace cap from Arda Wigs. This wig is affordable, but it's anything but cheap! When it comes to quality Arda Wigs is really top-notch, and the wigs are filled with hair, rather than having blank spaces from not enough hair being used, these wigs are thick and luxurious. I could see these wigs being used for fun events like parties, Comic-Con, and more! I hope to try more Arda Wigs in the future.

V Nunes Jewelry: Two Brothers ring

2011-10-24T16:20:00.000-04:00

Veronica Nunes is a new jewelry artist I recently found out about. I saw her Two Brothers ring online on a fashion website and was completely smitten. Veronica is from Brazil, who now lives in NYC, and she mixes both styles into her jewelry. She creates gorgeous rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces all with their own unique shape and texture. V Nunes Two Brothers ring is based on a beautiful rocky backdrop on Ipanema Beach in Rio, the rocky peak sits just behind the beautiful Brazilian beach and ocean waves. She created a Sterling Silver and Sterling Silver with 18k Gold Plate version replica of the pretty shapes of the rock. So gorgeous and unique, I knew I had to have it! I'm a ring fiend, so I will thrilled to own my first piece of V Nunes jewelry.

The ring came beautifully packaged in a V Nunes little cardboard box, it also came with a V Nunes sticker and cardboard insert. It was wrapped delicately in tissue paper and placed on a soft white padding. The ring is gorgeous, the shape and fit of it on the finger is fantastic and I love the pretty shape even more in person than I had in the picture! I love the story behind the ring's shape, and it's definitely not the kind of ring you see in any run of the mill online jewelry shop. I feel like it's a little piece of art for my fingers. I got a size 7 and it fits wonderfully.

Veronica also just released a new Architecture collection that features jewelry in shapes that resemble building and structures in NYC. Here are a few of my favorites from the new collection:

Veronica Nunes "Build" ring


Veronica Nunes "Brick" necklace

Right you can find V Nunes on sale at her website Vnunes.com - she has a few pairs of earrings, rings, and a necklace on sale for as low as $55-$200. Veronica also has a blog on her website that shows the design process and process of making her jewelry, pretty cool pics! You can also find V Nunes Jewelry on Twitter and Facebook.

Wig Salon Review: I feel like Joan Jett!

2011-10-20T14:59:00.000-04:00

I have always wondered what I would look like with black hair. I thought about dyeing my hair black a few times but decided against it when I realized how hard it would be to restore my hair back to red (the color I usually dye my hair) if I didn't like it. That's partly why I have taken such a recent interest in wigs: fun and fashionable styles without the commitment and upkeep of hair coloring/styling. The Runway Fashion wig by Forever Young from WigSalon.com caught my eye almost immediately; a slightly choppy layered wig with bangs. True Black was on the list of available colors so I thought this would be the chance to try out black!

I posted some of the pictures to my personal Facebook page and my friends LOVED it. A few friends even asked me if I dyed my hair and kept telling me they couldn't believe I dyed my hair black and that they loved it! I would say that equates excellent quality of the wig! I did grey/black smokey eyes with sparkly purple lips, and then I switched to a deep berry lip color later on. I felt super cool sporting my "new" black hair and a leather jacket, my mom said I looked "completely different" but she loved it.

The wig is made of synthetic fiber, but it feels pretty close to real hair. It doesn't look or feel cheap, you can even brush it! It can also be washed with a mild shampoo in lukewarm water, but must be air dried. However, excessive exposure to heat could damage the synthetic fiber. This wig is amazing for the price, and WigSalon shipped promptly and the customer service was top-notch (something I look for in any type of company/business). This style also comes in other natural colors.

You can check out the Runway Fashion wig at Wig Salon for $37.95 (it originally retails for $70.00), oh and they also offer FREE SHIPPING!

Review: Wigs-Us "I wanna be Wanda Woodward!" (Cry Baby inspired makeup/wig look)

2011-10-17T19:55:00.001-04:00

I have a huge love for the movie "Cry Baby". Wanda has always been my favorite character. So when I saw this wig, I immediately thought of Wanda and creating a similar look. I have been interested in trying out wigs for awhile now, it's the perfect way to try a new look without the commitment. They're also great for photoshoots, costume parties, Halloween or just for fun! I recently found this awesome store Wigs-US.com that has a variety of awesome wigs at really good prices!

I got the Julienne wig by Nirvana Wigs from WigsUS. There are many natural shades to choose from, such as auburn, brown, platinum blonde, black, etc. I thought the golden blonde shade would have a retro/vintage feel to it, and it's made of 100% Kanekalon! Kanekalon is a synthetic Japanese fiber that feels very similar to human hair. These wigs can also be washed with a mild shampoo/wig shampoo but they have to be allowed time to air dry. The inner cap on the wig is a net cap, and it is stitched very securely. There is an adjustable strap for a better fit. It was a little bit snug on my head (even wearing a wig cap, a wig cap is definitely required!) but I have a lot of thick hair. This wig is no ordinary "costume wig", that you might find at a generic Halloween shop, this is the real deal. This wig is available for purchase at the price of $39.95 too, which is really good for the quality.

I went for a Wanda Woodward (my favorite Cry Baby character)/50's inspired look and here are my results:

I was trying to do a "Wanda face" from this scene:

This was my first wig experience so it took a few tries to get the wig on properly but I had a blast and I think wigs might be my newest beauty/fashion obsession. I used to have blonde hair before I dyed it red, but I've always wanted to try a brighter shade of blonde. I have really really thick hair so sometimes it can be hard to style so I usually just scrunch and go. With the texture/natural body my hair has, this style may have been difficult to achieve with my natural hair so it was really fun and easy way to have a ready-made style. I also like that this wig comes in other natural hair colors, as well as brights such as pink and yellow - how cool is that?! This definitely made me want to try more wigs in the future!

Deanna Burasco Jewelry Review

2011-09-15T21:21:00.001-04:00

Have you heard of Deanna Burasco Jewelry? Deanna creates unique jewelry pieces cast in resin with fun and interesting designs. I recently got a pair of Iced Oak Branch Resin Earrings of the Iced Collection, which features a frosted resin in natural shapes, created and molded from real twigs. Cute huh? The earrings are lightweight, pretty, and fun. They come on a hook earring back, so they dangle slightly, and look cute worn casual or dressed up. Perfect for the coming fall and winter months!

You can check out the entire collection at DeannaBurasco.com, or buy pieces from her collection at http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/deannaburasco

Twin Syndrome High Rise Panties

2011-08-27T18:49:00.001-04:00

I love browsing Etsy for fashion and beauty, and I recently found these awesome and unique high rise panties and thongs from Twin Syndrome. Each pair of panties is handmade using a comfy stretchy bamboo jersey and stretch cotton that hugs your curves. I love these cute panties because they remind me of pin-up style lingerie. They offer High Rise Panties and High Rise Thongs. They come in sizes Small through Large and fits up to a 47" hip. The material is soft and smooth and feels great on the skin, and it comes in cute colors like Red, Purple, and Gray.

I recently got a pair of the Twin Syndrome High Rise Thong in Purple, and they are super cute! They are cut really well and fit like a glove, without being too tight or bunching up. They're great for layering under a T-shirt or top so your panties don't stick out the back of your pants, and they're also comfy for lounging around in.

Front

Back

Each pair of this stylish panties are $21.93 and they offer really fast shipping. Twin Syndrome is a Canadian brand and they offer wonderful customer service as well. You can even buy a 3-pack of thongs or panties for just $53! Check out all of the designs are http://www.etsy.com/shop/twinsyndrome

SALE: Hurry! They have their discontinued Striped color on sale for only $16 right now!

Lidabri Cuturally Inspired Handbags

2011-08-16T17:10:00.001-04:00

I adore browsing Etsy for creative shops and fashionable pieces that stand out from the crowd. I recently found this beautiful shop that carries culturally diverse handbags with a modern twist. Lidabri uses latin, carribean and african culture to design pretty pieces that are both stylish and fun and make great accessories for fashionistas of today while also staying true to flavors of ethic heritage. They make crossbody bags as well as clutch handbags using authentic colorful Mola (fabric that is used to create clotching that Kuna women in places like Panama wear). No two Mola fabrics are the same so each handbag is one of a kind! Here is the beautiful clutch bag that I got from Lidabri handbags.

Front of the clutch

Inner part of clutch and metallic snap closure

Inside of clutch pouch and a zipper picket with Lidabri logo

I adore my bag. The black with the fringe and the metal studs adds a modern flair, while the stitched Mola adds a gorgeous ethnic touch. The creator behind Lidabri, who creates each piece, was nice enough to tell me a little bit about her products and the feeling behind her brand.

"My inspiration is derived from my personal Latin, Caribbean & African culture blended with contemporary elements. It's important to introduce different cultures to people while making it fashionable. Being born & raised in Miami's diverse melting pot has also had an essential impact on my creativity. As far as prints go, I am intrigued by the Mola and it's dynamic history.

The Kuna Indians of Panama's San Blas island hand make this colorful, reverse embroidered art. I am mostly drawn to the Molas with the black backgrounds; the colors definitely pop more with such a strong contrast! Each Mola print is one of a kind & each collection can be considered a limited edition. These Mola handbags are more of a collector's item as well as conversation pieces.
It's all exciting for me to share & design into the Lidabri line!"

These beautiful bags are quite a eye catcher, I've even had compliments when others have seen my bag. Lidabri's bags are very affordable too, with clutch bags priced at only $40 and crossbody bags for only $60. Lidabri also offers fast shipping, and the customer service is wonderful! I am so impressed and highly recommend this shop to anyone who adores handbags and who would love a fashionable piece that will stand out from the crowd.

Check out what richly cultural and beautiful bags that Lidabri has for sale on on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LIDABRI

My lip gloss from Cliche Cosmetics is still for sale!

2011-08-09T16:38:00.001-04:00

My limited edition lipgloss from Cliche Cosmetics is still available for purchase! $10.50 a tube!

get yours now @ http://ashley.clichecosmetics.com

Made Her Think Pointed Tears Earrings

2011-08-09T16:36:00.000-04:00

How cute are these earrings? I've been interested in Made Her Think jewelry for awhile now and recently got my first piece from their jewelry line. The Pointed Tears Earrings are beautiful and unique, with a Swarovski crystal inverted into a metal prong with a danging gunmetal tear drop shaped pendant. Cute, edgy, modern, and pretty all rolled into one. These can be dressed up or down, paired with a cute mini dress, or even a top and jeans. Made Her Think also makes rings, necklaces, handbags and even jewelry for men. MHT is also a favorite among celebrities. These earrings retail for $97 and you can find them at MadeHerThink.com

Makeup Diary's Thank You giveaway

2011-08-02T20:07:00.000-04:00

JC's awesome giveaway!

http://www.makeupdiary.org/2011/08/makeup-diarys-huge-just-because-thank.html

Violet Gum Drop Bestie Buds PB&J Best Friends Necklace

2011-07-31T19:37:00.000-04:00

How adorable are these best friend necklaces? Best friends necklaces have come a long way from little hearts that were popular back in the day. These days fun bestie necklaces are available to showcase just how great you and your bff go together! I recently got this handmade Peanut Butter and Jelly Best Friends Necklace for me and my best friend Ashley. The necklace comes in a set, one necklace features a large Peanut Butter sandwich half and a little Jelly half, while the other necklace comes with a large Jelly half and a small Peanut Butter half. Cute, right? You and your bff go together like PB&J, so your necklaces might as well too! These pendants are hand made from polymer clay, they're pretty sturdy, totally adorable, and super affordable at only $19.95 for the set! They also have other BFF sets like...

Milk & Cookies Best Friend Necklaces

Cake & Ice Cream Best Friend Necklaces

Adorable huh?? You find can these necklaces and other cute accessories at Violet Gum Drop! I love the name of the shop, and they carry jewelry, handbags, tanktops and more. They even have these cute Best Friends Hats:

Burger and Fries Bestie Hats

So cute, and all original Violet Gum Drop products! Check out VioletGumDrop.com to see what other goodies are in stock. You can also check out the Violet Gum Drop blog, follow @VioletGumDrop on Twitter, or Like Violet Gum Drop on Facebook.

Miss Fashion beauty's 700 followers!

2011-07-30T20:02:00.000-04:00

Holly is celebrating 700 followers with an awesome giveaway!

http://fashion-beautyx.blogspot.com/2011/07/700-followers-big-mac-giveaway.html

Erica Anenberg Love is Blind Ring

2011-07-30T19:56:00.000-04:00

Erica Anenberg creates beautiful jewelry utilizing fun and unique designs with classic mediums like gold and silver. Fashionistas and celebs alike both fall in love with her pieces. Her collection of earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces have been seen on Katy Perry, Pink, and more. I like her collection of braille rings, and recently got the Love is Blind Braille Ring. It comes in either Silver (pictured above) or Gold (which I got, pictured below) and features a Love Is Blind inscription on the inner band and then spells it out in Braille on the outside of the band. Beautiful and unique!

The ring also comes with a pretty gold metallic drawstring bag for storage. I think Braille is really pretty to look at even though I don't know how to read it, so when I saw the combination of English written paired with the Braille detail I was smitten with this ring. The gold is really pretty and you can clearly read the inner inscription, though while the ring is being worn only the braille shows which I think is cute because it can be felt (and read by those who read Braille).

I also really like these other Erica Anenberg pieces:

Foxy Earrings

Heart Bracelet


French Kiss Twosome Ring

You can check out the entire collection of Erica's jewelry at EricaAnenberg.com or you can follow her on Twitter @ericaanenberg and Facebook.

My lip gloss now available at Cliche Cosmetics!

2011-07-28T17:27:00.000-04:00

http://ashley.clichecosmetics.com

The awesome bright pink lip gloss that was made for me (and named after me!!) is now available for purchase at Cliche Cosmetics! Each tube is $10.50 and this is a limited edition color! If you like my blog and you'd like to support this product launch, or heck, if you just like the color, feel free to purchase a tube! Thanks guys!!

Jewelry Showcase: Stuart Breidenstein Design

2011-07-28T15:49:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of Stuart Breidenstein? If not, you should have. Stuart runs Breidenstein Design, which is a collective of his unique and fun jewelry designs. Stuart uses mediums like recycled wood, plastics, resin and more to create unique pieces that are both beautiful and modern. Stuart even has his own shop in Oregon, Stuart's of Bend, where his line is sold. His jewelry pieces are like mini works of art, in my opinion. Each piece is handmade and so brilliantly crafted and one of a kind as each piece will have unique properties. Stuart has a collection of jewelry called Go Robot that fuses art, science, and music in each stylish piece. I got the Mochi Earrings and they are seriously so pretty that they have become my new favorite pair of earrings. Stuart uses recycle cocobolo wood as the base of the earring, resin for the beautiful blue sphere and sections of manzanita twigs as the inner accents. I've been learning to surf lately, and so I'm obsessed with the pretty thin wooden earrings and the bright blue of the resin, they also remind me of a vintage surfboard.


Mochi Earrings in their gift box

Ready to wear!

How awesome are these?! LOVE them. The colors look fabulous together, and I already got compliments my first day wearing these out and about. I love the natural feel of the wood and the smooth texture of the resin and the attention to detail of the beautifully sculpted design. The Mochi Earrings are only $48, which is an insanely affordable price for a piece that is essentially art for the ears.

Here are a few of the other Breidenstein Design pieces that I have my eye on:

Nerd Belt! Yes, it's made with real Nerds candy!


Barbarella Ring made of chunky resin


Dangling Urbanites Earrings made of sterling silver

You can check out Stuart's website Breidenstein Design to see more of his work, or shop online for his jewelry. You can also like him on Facebook, and if you live in the Bend Oregon area you can check out his brick and mortar store.

Pretty awesome news!

2011-07-22T20:37:00.002-04:00

Okay so I didn't mention anything on my blog about this, I wanted it to be a surprise...but months ago, the awesome brand Cliche Cosmetics agreed to let me design my own color available for purchase!!!!

I'm so excited to have my own shade! It's been a fun process, and now the product is ready to be launched!

So I wanted to give a HUGE thank you to Cliche Cosmetics for letting me design my own color! I chose a wearable shade of bright pink, and I named it after me, haha! It's sheer but buildable. I wanted to design a color that anybody could wear, whether you're a fan of brights or not. It's a light wash of pink with one layer, but build-able to a brighter pink. It's also a great top coat to any hot pink lipstick! I usually use my favorite hot pink lip liner (Make Up For Ever 16C Aqua Lips lip liner) and then top it with some "Ashley" gloss and I'm good to go! :)

Here it is!!!

Here it is!!!

I'm going to do a swatch post probably by the end of the weekend. I just wanted to share this with everyone!

Thank you so much, Cliche Cosmetics! Check out the awesome brand that made this possible!
Cliche Cosmetics - "Ashley" gloss
Cliche Cosmetics -official website
Cliche Cosmetics - Facebook
Cliche Cosmetics - Twitter
Cliche Cosmetics - YouTube

-ash

Review + Giveaway: INPINK.com super cute fashion jewelry

2011-07-17T15:21:00.004-04:00

Look at this super gorgeous cubic zirconia ring that I recently got from INPINK.com, I love their selection of pretty and unique fashion jewelry, they have rings, necklaces, bracelets, and they even have nail polish. Cool huh? I got the Vintage Cut Cubic Zirconia Sterling Silver Ring, it's pretty and sparkles so lovely. The style and cut of the ring and the cubic zirconia has a pretty classy vintage appeal paired with a modern stylish flair. INPINK even gift wraps each order very nicely. Check out some of the pics of the ring below!

Here is a close-up of the bling on my finger ;)

They also carry a bunch of other cute stuff. Most of their cute rings are under $20! The ring that I got was $66, but some of their rings with adjustable beaded bands are $16, other rings are $24 and they have some pretty chunky necklaces for $48 and bracelets for $30. Here are a few of my picks that I think would be awesome for summer!

These Multicolored Dangling Earrings are only $18, I like the pretty colors

This Multicolored Sealife Rhinestone Bracelet is $44, I like the turquoise and coral!

This Multicolored Ceramic and Stone Wrap Choker and Earring Set is only $29!

They also have FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50! Their shipping is super fast and my package arrived neatly. They also have gift cards so you can buy a gift card for a friend, makes a fun gift that they can choose their own affordable jewelry with. They also have a blog and you can sign up for an account and make your own wishlist too.

http://www.inpink.com

GIVEAWAY

The awesome people at InPink have offered up a $50 gift card to one of my readers!

To Enter: (Mandatory entry)

Become a Fan of INPINK on Facebook- Leave a comment below to let me know that you liked them on Facebook!

Want extra entries to win?

Follow INPINK on Twitter - leave a comment below to let me know that you did!

Subscribe to INPINK's YouTube channel - Leave a comment to let me know!

Check out INPINK.com and let me know your favorite product - Leave a comment below!

Share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook (1 time, not daily): " Enter to win a $50 gift card to @InPinkStyle! http://bit.ly/qfZq7S " - comment below with your tweet.

Giveaway begins now and ends on July 23rd at 11:59pm eastern time. You must live in the USA or Canada. You must be 18 years or age or older to enter. Good luck! :)

Current Jewelry Obsession: Ghost & Lola

2011-07-11T14:09:00.001-04:00

I'm currently crushing on this really awesome jewelry brand from Australia called Ghost & Lola, I've been a fan of their collections for awhile now and their unique jewelry is on my current wishlist of accessories to own. Here are a few pieces of jewelry from their current collection. One of my fav pieces from the S/S 2011 collection is the The Addiction necklace, pictured above, it features a beautiful silver bird, studded cones, and various other metal charms.

The Luminous ring pictured above is another favorite of mine. I love chunky jewelry, and this cute ring features a large natural stone set upon a sterling silver etched ring band. Gorgeous! I also really like their earrings, the Constance earrings, pictured below are really feminine and pretty featuring pink glass and wooden beads with vintage little roses and filigree in these drop earrings. I love how G&L incorporated vintage designs into the modern jewelry, very pretty and unique.

You can check out the entire collection of Ghost & Lola jewelry at Ghostlola.com.au!

Sole Society

2011-07-06T11:56:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of Sole Society yet? It's a monthly shoe clue that asks you a bit about your personality and style, then creates a customized virtual closet for you each month with 6 pairs of hand-picked shoes that they think you'll like best. Then you can choose whatever pair or pairs you'd like for a low price of $49.95! It's pretty fun so far, I just signed up, and one of the pairs that was in my virtual closet were the cute ruffled pumps pictured above. WANT! They also have designer handbags for discounted prices. Sign up here!

Love Mode Review + Giveaway

2011-06-24T00:04:00.000-04:00

LoveMode.com has some super cute dresses and tops for summer time! I recently got this adorable Black Red Sweetheart Dress, that's made of nylon, polyester and rayon. It's fitted and shapes to the curves of your body, with a cute red satiny material at the bust. I can't wait to wear it this summer! Did I mention that it only costs $20? Crazy huh? Love Mode has some really cute accessories and bottoms too. They have this cute cocktail ring that I like:

and they also have this rainbow stripe mini skirt:

Adorable for summer! Right now they are having a sale where you can get 30% off your purchase, which is a lot considering most of their items are around $20, plus you can get free shipping! Check it out at LoveMode.com

*GIVEAWAY*
The cool people at Love Mode are hosting a giveaway for me and they're letting me give away a $25 gift certificate to one of my readers! Wanna win? Just leave a comment below!

Giveaway begins right now, and ends on June 30th at Noon eastern time! One entry per person.

Rules:
- You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
- You must be a US resident.

Fashion Crush: Nicole Lee USA Sade Handbag

2011-06-18T23:57:00.001-04:00

I love handbags, so when I saw this cute Nicole Lee Sade Handbag I knew I had to have it on my arm this summer ;) The Sade bag is a cute oversized satchel that comes in a cute blue color, a teal green, black, and brown, which is the color that I have. It's really roomy inside and is perfect for shopping trips, a beach trip, or just hanging out with friends. It features two pouches inside, one that has a zipper and one that is perfect for a cellphone or iPod. I love this purse so much! I just got it last week and I've already been taking it everywhere I go. Even my mom loves this bag!

The front of the bag features a pocket with flap that locks with the Nicole Lee closure. This pocket is roomy too, the whole bag is great for those who like purses that are spacious inside. The lining inside of the purse features the Nicole Lee logo, and the sides of the purse on the bottom feature large silver eyelets. I like the wide area where the zipper is, the wider area makes the bag opening larger when you open it up which makes it easier to dig through if you lose your sunglasses or your lipstick ;) I love the quality of the bag, it feels like a luxury item. Most bags of this quality retail for a couple hundred bucks, but this bag is only $89 at NicoleLeeOnline.com! I really love the leathery feel of the outside of the bag, and it feels sturdy and well made. Some purses I've had in the past, including my Betsey Johnson hobo bag, make me feel like I need to be fragile with the bag, but this bag made me feel confident that it would hold up to being carried around and traveled with. I adore this bag so much! I might have to get another one as a back up, or try one in another color. What do you think? Are you a fan of Nicole Lee handbags?

My bestie's blogging!!!

2011-06-04T23:01:00.000-04:00

Okay so my bestie started her own blog, and it's sooo cute!

It's called "Paint Me A Love Story" because it combines two things she loves: the song "Love Story" by Taylor Swift, and nail polish. Just like my title reflects something I love now (lipstick) and something I loved back in the day (those minty sticks that are packaged in what looks like a cigarette carton), hence the name "candy cigarettes".

Anyway, please check out her blog Paint Me A Love Story!

-ash

Holly's giveaway

2011-06-04T19:35:00.002-04:00

The very lovely Holly over at Miss Fashion Beauty blog is having a giveaway!
http://fashion-beautyx.blogspot.com/2011/06/who-loves-mac-mac-giveaway.html

Deuce Beauties giveaway

2011-06-03T10:55:00.000-04:00

The awesome blog Deuce Beauties is having a giveaway to celebrate 200 followers! You can enter here:
http://deucebeauties.blogspot.com/2011/05/opengiveaway-200-followers.html

Vila Acupressure Mat

2011-05-31T17:14:00.001-04:00

Vila may be the coolest Swedish invention since ABBA! ;) I had been hearing a lot about acupressure mats lately, so I was interested in trying one out for myself. What is an acupressure mat? It applies the the Swedish practice of healing and relaxation through acupressure, similar to acupuncture, except no needles, just pressure applied by safe and hygienic ABS plastic "crowns'. To use the mat, you lay back on it, so that your back and neck/shoulders are resting on top of it. You are supposed to do this topless, but you can lay a thin sheet or shirt over the top if the sensation is too intense for you. I was thinking that it would probably hurt, but honestly it only feels pokey for a moment of two, then quite warm and relaxing. You can lay back for 10-20 minutes to more if you'd like. The warm sensation is the natural flow of blood through the body as is releases endorphins (the body's natural happy!) and increases circulation and blood flow. It's good for relaxing, and can even help those with back or head pain. You can even stand on the mat to feel the same sensations on your feet.

I've been using this mat pretty regularly, and most times I get so comfy on it that I nearly fall asleep. I can go longer than 20 minutes now. When you get up, your back will be red-pink in color and will probably show some pokes from laying on top of the crown, but thats normal and the color and poke marks will fade within a few minutes of getting off of the mat. You can check out a tutorial of how the mat works here.

You can check out the Vila Acupressure Mat at VilaNow.com, the mat comes in a gray or blue color and it costs $40 which includes shipping!

Just a quick update!

2011-05-27T13:57:00.000-04:00

Right now, I'm planning a few features coming super soon!

One of my features is going to be about professional quality products for the fairly new to trying out pro makeup artistry (like me!) or the makeup artist veteran looking for some updated products to add to their kit.
The other feature is going to be about "beauty on a budget", some great picks that can be found at your nearest drugstore! So stay tuned!

-ash

I'myourLush iPhone giveaway

2011-05-21T17:28:00.000-04:00

Tasha and her boyfriend are giving away a iPhone in White. How nice is that?! Go enter:
http://www.imyourlush.com/2011/04/iphone-4-in-white-giveaway.html

I'myourLush giveaway

2011-05-21T17:20:00.000-04:00

The awesome Tasha from I'myourLush is having a giveaway!
http://www.imyourlush.com/2011/04/600-worth-giveaway.html

Twitch & Rock Paper Vintage giveaway

2011-05-20T10:07:00.000-04:00

The awesome folks over at Twitch Vintage and Rock Paper Vintage are having an awesome giveaway where you can win $150 worth of vintage clothing of your choice from their shops! Hot, right? Go enter!

http://twitchvintage.blogspot.com/2011/05/rock-paper-twitch-150-vintage-giveaway.html

OCC Lo-Fi S/S 2011 Lip Tar swatches

2011-04-19T18:25:00.000-04:00


L to R: Analog, Interlace, Tone, Lo-Fi, Beta, Reverb

One of my favorite cosmetic brands Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics recently released their new line of makeup for the Spring season, the collection is called Lo-Fi and it features new shades of lip tars, loose color pigments, and nail polish. I have the entire new collection of lip tars and I wanted to share a few swatches and my opinions of these pretty new colors!

Swatched on white paper

Swatched on my hands L to R: Analog, Interlace, Tone, Lo-Fi, Beta, Reverb

Analog is a nice brown shade that can be mixed or worn alone (on deep skintones). Interlace is a peachy-beige color that could work on a variety of skintones. Tone is a very pale lip shade, that could be used to customize a nude lip shade. Lo-Fi is a definite standout, it is a pale green that is ideal for mixing. Beta and Reverb are my favorites; Beta is a bright tangerine orange. Bright oranges have been dominating the runways and I think Beta is a great way to bring this runway trend to everyday life. Reverb is a bright red that comes out neutral on me, it's very different from NSFW and Stalker (my other two favorite OCC reds). Definitely a cute collection of colors that would be great for this Spring and Summer!

Check out the entire collection at OCCMakeup.com

Illamasqua Toxic Nature - lipstick & gloss swatches

2011-04-15T14:29:00.000-04:00

Here are a few swatches and product photos of the just released Toxic Nature collection from Illamasqua! I'm loving the pretty bright colors, perfect for both Spring and Summer. I recently got Flare and Atomic lipsticks, as well as the gloss in Torture. Flare is a yellow-based bright orange, and Atomic is a bright pink with a blue pearl iridescence. Torture gloss is a part of the sheer lipgloss formula from Illamasqua, and it's a peachy-orange color. Flare lipstick and Torture gloss look really nice layered together.


Illamasqua Atomic lipstick up close


Atomic swatched on my neutral toned skin


Illamasqua Flare lipstick up close


L: Flare lipstick Top: Torture gloss R: Flare w/ Torture

In the swatches above, you can see Atomic lipstick swatched on my skin, which is more neutral in skintone, while Flare and Torture are swatched alone and then paired together on my sister Amber's warm toned skin. Gorgeous colors that are great for Spring and the coming Summer months!

MAC Delft Paint Pot Review + Swatch

2011-04-15T13:55:00.000-04:00

I recently got this really pretty discontinued MAC Paint Pot "Delft" from the shop Indulge N Spoil. They sell a variety of older collections of MAC makeup that are no loner for sale. I've shopped with them in the past also and their MAC products are authentic. This gorgeous color is a blue-ish green spiked with gold. It looks great on brown eyes, making them pop. It can be used as an eyeliner, and it's awesome for a base for green or blue eyeshadows. Here is a swatch of it, on my sister Amber's warm skin tone:

The color looks nice on my cool-neutral tones, but when used on warm toned skin the gold in the color really pops! MAC Delft Paint Pot is sold out on Indulge N Spoil right now, but they have a lot of other MAC goodies, like MAC Silverstroke Fluidline and MAC Moon River Mineralize Blush. They also sell products from Clinique and Bath & Body Works. Indulge N Spoil also offers FREE shipping on every order in the USA! Their shipping is fast and my products always come wrapped nicely. I highly recommend this shop to those who want to purchase older MAC items that you may not be able to find at your current CCO.

IndulgeNSpoil.com

Misikko.com HANAair Professional Hair Dryer review

2011-04-03T22:35:00.001-04:00

I recently got a really great professional hair dryer from Misikko.com, it's the HANAair Professional Hair Dryer, and it is awesome! It's imported from Italy, and it features a sleek black finish. An extra long salon quality power cord, and an easy to grip handle. The design is stylish and modern. It also comes with a 2 year warranty. This dryer features two speeds, low and high, and comes with 3 heat settings, including cold. The ceramic heater uses infrared technology and Tourmaline crystals that boosts the shine of your shine. The motor is pretty quiet too, this is the most quiet dryer I've ever used before, my usual dryer drowns this one out in the noise department. This dryer also comes with a concentrator that fits on the end of the barrel.

Hana Salon Air Hair Dryer Features:

Ion Technology- condition hair & reduces static electricity
Tourmaline & Titanium Oxide Technology- natural ions promote healthier hair
Silver Nanotechnology- for antibacterial Protection
Scratch Resistant Shell with black metallico finish adds durability and is easy to clean
Long life motor with low noise
Gyroscopically balanced for easy handling
Fiberglass concentrator
Italian Design

This is hands down the best hair dryer I've ever owned. I feel like I get a salon quality blow out each and every time that I use it. Not to mention, as someone with long hair, my hair can take awhile to blow dry. With this dryer, my drying time was cut in half, at least. I noticed my hair dried quicker, and my hair looked more shiny and manageable. The dryer was comfortable to hold in my hand, and the buttons were easy to use. There are two switches a blue Off/On and a red Off/On one powers speed and the other powers temperature. My sister used this dryer and thought that it made her dry damaged hair more manageable and she noticed that she got fewer knots and snarls in her hair while using this dryer. When it comes to my hair, which is pretty thick and long in length, I tend to spend a lot of time blowing it straight and often end up with waves in my hair where my hair was still damp because I had given up on drying it. This didn't happen with the HANAair Professional Hair Dryer, it felt like all of my hair was dried in a fraction of the time it usually takes, even when using a flat brush to blow dry it straight.

I highly recommend this hair dryer to anyone who is looking for a good product that is quality and gets the job done. My hair feels better and I just enjoy using this dryer in general. It's a little more costly than a drugstore blowdryer, but once you use it, you'll see, you really do get what you pay for. This dryer retails for $314.99 but you can buy it at Misikko.com for $194.95! They also offer FREE shipping and super fast service. They are a family run company and they really put a lot of time and energy into each order. They even sent me a bunch of freebies such as a flat iron case, nail files, hand sanitizer, and more. Misikko really cares about their customers and that makes me feel good about sharing them with my readers!

Check out the HANAair Professional Hair Dryer, which was picked as a Customers Choice product from Misikko customers, at Misikko.com - they have a wide variety of hair dryers to choose from. Looking for a Hair Straightener? Youll find a wide variety of those there too!

Rococo & Caffeine giveaway

2011-04-02T14:14:00.000-04:00

Rococo & Caffeine is having a fun LUSH giveaway!

http://www.rococoandcaffeine.com/2011/03/lush-life-giveaway.html

Shahada's giveaway

2011-04-02T13:52:00.000-04:00

The lovely Shahada is having a fun giveaway on her beauty blog. Check out her blog she has great swatches and her opinions and makeup advice is great!

http://shahadakarim.blogspot.com/2011/03/giveaway-mac-quite-cute.html

Gumballs.com Gum Ball Machine review

2011-04-02T13:05:00.002-04:00

Look at this cute gumball machine I got from Gumballs.com! I am going to be having a candy themed party soon, and I really wanted to feature a fun centerpiece, so what better than a cool retro looking old fashioned gumball machine, right? This antique gumball machine comes with a stand, so you can put it in the corner or anywhere else in the room you want. The stand along with the machine stands at 37" tall. The entire machine and stand is made of quality material, and there is nothing "cheap" about it. It's sturdy and doesn't teeter or fall over, the stand is firm and easy to assemble. The machine fits on top with ease. The King Carousel Gumball Machine fits gumballs of .62 size, you can even fill it with candy or nuts. I love my machine, it's so fun to use and all of my friends get a kick out of it. It's perfect for parties too. Heres what it comes with:

King Carousel Gumball Machine Features:
• Real glass gumball machine globe
• Cast metal gumball machine base, lid, and coin mechanism
• Accepts any coins (quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies)
• Includes instructions for "free spin” to work without coins
• Works as a gumball bank - retrieve coins when full
• Anti-spill gumball chute door cover
• Dispenses small gumballs (.62" or smaller), candy, or nuts
• Gumball capacity: 5 lbs. of .62" gumballs
• Machine comes fully assembled in a gift box
• Includes all-metal pedestal stand (assembly required)
• Dimensions: 37"H x 8”W (with stand)
• Weight: 13 lbs.
• Color: Classic red finish
• 30-day money back guarantee

I got a 4 lb box of refill gumballs to fill up the machine. The cool thing is that you can let the machine accept coins, OR you can set it to a free spin, where coins aren't needed. Gumballs.com also has bulk candy, other candy machines, gumballs, and even bouncy balls. I want to get a few more of these gumball machines to make a "candyland" or "willy wonka" themed party this summer. You're never too old for candy! :P

Gumballs.com offers super fast shipping, great customer service, and they packaged my order with care. My machine came in perfect condition, and it was a snap to put together. I really like this store and that's why I'm sharing my experience with them on my blog, for any of my readers who love sweets just as much as I do.

What The Rock? shop review

2011-03-26T13:32:00.002-04:00

I love rock n' roll music, and I love jewelry. So when you put the two together, naturally it would catch my attention! Allow me to introduce you to What The Rock?, a cute etsy shop I found that features fun and fashionable accessories inspired by rock n' roll music and anything bad ass.

I love Betty Boop and Jessica Rabbit, but Betty Boop is the original animated sex symbol!

I'm obsessed with guitar pick jewelry, I think it's so creative to make hip and edgy jewelry with guitar picks. Sporting guitar pick earrings or necklace will earn you instant 'bad ass' points.

This is perfect for any Beatles fan!

I love anything with animal print. It's so chic and fashionably classic; everybody loves a little bit of zebra or leopard print! So you can imagine how awesome I think these zebra print earrings are. Most people tend to wear animal prints on their clothing, so it's always cool (and maybe even a little bit unexpected) to wear them on guitar pick earrings.

Seriously, how awesome are these?! I have never solved a Rubik's Cube before, but this necklace makes me want to try!

Or what about the Nightmare Before Christmas fan?

This is a real working harmonica...on a necklace! Instant bad ass points.

"Ooh look out, you rock n' rollers!" - David Bowie, Changes

Check out What The Rock?

SkinMedix.com Derma Roller Micro Needle review

2011-03-16T23:31:00.001-04:00

What is the Derma Roller Micro Needle, you ask? Good question! It's a super snazzy little contraption that is used by skincare professionals, and you can even use it from home. It's basically a small roller with fine micro needles. It's meant to be rolled over the face, it leaves small microscopic pinholes in your skin's dermal surface. What would you want to do that, you ask? It helps your skin absorb nutrients and moisturizers, helping to improve skin texture and skin health. The process is called "skin needling" and is safe and easy to use when used properly. Here are some of the great things about the Micro Needle:

"Research has demonstrated that the effectiveness of the active ingredients in topically applied skin care products (such as Vitamin A and C) is greatly improved when an intervention allows those ingredients to reach below the outer surface of the skin."

"Rollers are proven to increase the absorption of the active ingredients in creams, lotions, and serums by up to 1000%."

"Rollers create thousands of micro-channels in the skin that allow nutrients to absorb; the channels close after several minutes, locking in the anti-aging nutrients and anti-oxidants."

"Skin Rollers stimulate collagen growth that results in the improvement of the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and stretch marks."

Micro needle therapy is used in Europe and is making it's way to the states. It's also been featured in Elle Magazine. I recently got to try it, and it's pretty easy to use! The needles are very small, so it isn't leaving real visible "pokes" in your skin like you may be imagining. There are different needle lengths, all of which work to help the skin in different ways. For example, the 0.2 mm Micro Needle helps to improve product absorption, and helps improve skin's texture. The 0.5 mm Micro Needle is great for anti-aging benefits, acne scars, and even some other scars. 1.0 and 1.5 mm Micro Needles helps to reduce deep scarring and stretch marks, and cellulite. The needles are sterile, and shouldn't be shared, obviously. The process can be done twice weekly also.

I thought it was an easy way to help improve my skin, and it's unique in it's application. It's painless! You might notice after using it that when you apply product to your skin, your skin slightly tingles or feels like it's truly absorbing the product. Each needle roller costs $28. Check out the entire line of Micro Needles at SkinMedix.com

Shine Candy & Co.

2011-03-15T12:12:00.001-04:00

Ugh my wireless connection has been in and out for the past week, but I should be back until it decides to stop working again! haha.

Since I'm all about promoting the works of art made by some very creative people, here is yet another store I think you all will love: Shine Candy & Co.

This is the pair that first caught my eye and brought my attention to Shine Candy & Co.

Lady Gaga guitar pick earrings
I loved the glam feel/style of these earrings and Candy created a custom pair with my initials on them! And she is offering the same offer to YOU, you can have your very own pair of customized initial earrings!

Personalized guitar pick earrings - you can get your own pair!

These are so quirky! Definitely a conversation starter.

Mustache earrings

Red is one of my favorite colors to wear. These glam earrings are available in many other colors.

Glam Candied Guitar Pick Earrings

Shine Candy & Co also offers sugar lip scrub and tangerine bath bombs!

Tangerine Kiss Sugar Lip Scrub

Clarisonic Opal for SkinMedix

2011-03-07T10:58:00.000-05:00

I recently got the Clarisonic Opal, and having already been impressed with the Clarisonic Skincare Brush, I was really excited to give it a go. Unlike the Clarisonic brush, the Opal system is more of a treatment than a brush. it doesn't scrub or exfoliate, instead it does something that pretty much every woman in the world would appreciate - it helps to improve facial texture, giving younger looking skin, moisturizing, *and* helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I'm in my 20's so, wrinkles aren't a super huge concern for me at the moment (knock on wood!) but I still like taking care of my skin and using proper measures to ensure healthy and youthful looking skin. The Opal is fully rechargeable, it's dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, and it's safe for every day use. Women of all ages can use this product with confidence to help rejuvenate their facial skin and thus helping to improve confidence. I know for me, when I look good, I feel good. Nice looking skin is one of my favorite accessories! The Opal uses sonic fusion and anti-aging sea serum to treat the skin around the eyes and help to reduce the appear of fine lines and wrinkles that develop with age and stress. You can also use it around the lips, brows, and forehead. Sounds good, right? Right!

You uncap the Opal, and insert an applicator tip where you fill it with the sea serum, and you're ready to go! It's pretty darn easy to use. It's easy to charge too, simply attach the charger and plug into any wall outlet. The Opal uses a magnetic charger, so you don't have to worry about getting water into the system or ruining the charger. It's a breeze to use over and over again. Each sea serum cap provides up to 45 days or use, with a 30 second application twice a day. You can buy a replacement Opal Sea Serum Cap too when the other cap runs out of use. When you're done using the system, you can moisturize with your favorite facial cream of choice. The entire system is high quality, professional, and offers spa quality anti-aging right from your home! I've recently been using the Opal, especially around my eyes and my lips (smile lines, anyone?) and it's been awesome! My skin feels really great! I've noticed smoothness and suppleness that I hadn't seen or felt before. I've decided to get one of these systems for my mom soon! I've heard a lot of reviews of the Opal from women who have more lines than I possibly could have and have heard great things. The Clarisonic Opal is another great product from Clarisonic, and I'm going to continue using it. My skin loves it, and it pairs so nicely with the Clarisonic Skincare Brush!

You can find the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System at SkinMedix.com for only $210!

20% Discount at Beauty Power!

2011-03-06T11:33:00.000-05:00

All you have to do is use the coupon code LIPSTICK20.

The offer expires March 31st.

I seriously cannot get over how beautiful these are. My best friend and I (her name is Ashley too) are having a double birthday bash this Summer to celebrate our birthdays that happen to be 2 weeks apart (she's turning 21, and I'm turning 22!), and I'm going to be wearing my Beauty Power necklace! I can't wait!

I love Beauty Power.

Beauty Power - high fashion statement pieces-

2011-02-21T00:52:00.006-05:00

Okay, so first of all, I love anything bright and colorful that makes a HUGE statement. That is EXACTLY what I find in Beauty Power necklaces. Of course one can never have too much jewelry, and these pieces are so unique and beautiful. I have never seen pieces this gorgeous and fashionable, they truly are one-of-a-kind. I can't wait to show this off! These necklaces are perfect for everybody: whether you love flamboyant and high fashion jewelry (like me!), or even for the shy woman who is trying to tap into her inner fashionista.

Isn't this one of the most stunning things you have ever seen?!

This is Carol's birthday week, so she is offering 20% off in her store until 2/20/2011 at 11:59PM. All you have to do is use this code at checkout: HAPPYBIRTHDAY20

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAROL!

Check out these other amazing necklaces:

Fabulous Turquoise and Cotton Candy Pink necklace

Pretty In Pink necklace

It's Tutu Time necklace

To see some of Carol's other amazing creations, check out Beauty Power

"I envision a world where every woman feels beautiful. God has made us each unique. We all have different attributes that make us shine. Find your light, find your style! I hope that wearing a piece of my jewelry will enhance your own beauty and confidence." - Carol from BeautyPower

Product RAVE: Urban Decay Setting Spray

2011-02-11T14:58:00.004-05:00

Ohhh my goodness. Urban Decay has managed to make me fall in love for the millionth time. I have been scouring the cosmetic market for a few years looking for the perfect setting spray...and here it is:

Urban Decay's All Nighter Long Lasting Setting Spray!

The Spring and Summer seasons are especially humid in the Midwest and I used to find myself frequently having to check my makeup in my compact every half hour or so to make sure I didn't manage to sweat everything off. Those constant "Is my makeup still on?!" moments are over. What a relief it is going to be able to actually have fun this Spring/Summer without worrying if my makeup is still in place! I love that Urban Decay's All Nighter setting spray keeps makeup from melting in the heat, and dehydrating in the cold! The Midwest has severe weather conditions (Spring/Summers are very humid and Fall/Winters are very cold), but I haven't had to worry about it since I found this amazing setting spray. Celebrity makeup artist Kandee Johnson also mentioned this setting spray awhile back, and that peaked my curiosity. Even my mom loves All Nighter setting spray!

I have worn this setting spray for an impressive number of hours without my makeup looking less than fresh! I once fell asleep in my makeup (total makeup no-no!) because it was late and I was too tired to wash my face and when I woke up, my makeup was still completely in place. I could not believe my eyes. It was INCREDIBLE. After admiring the staying power of All Nighter setting spray, I washed my face with my Clarisonic skincare brush and used a good moisturizer to pamper my skin for having makeup on it overnight! ;P I do not recommend or suggest that anybody does the same of sleeping in their makeup (haha) but I thought the story was relevant in sharing just how awesome this setting spray really is!

Urban Decay also has a nice selection of other setting sprays: Dew Me (moisturizing makeup setting spray), De-Slick (oil control setting spray), and Guardian Angel (moisturizing spray with 24 hour time release technology)! There is an Urban Decay setting spray for everybody, which is why Urban Decay remains one of my favorite brands.

So how can you get your own Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray?

Your local Sephora
All Nighter Setting Spray (UrbanDecay.com)
All Nighter Setting Spray (Sephora.com)

Urban Decay, we have another winner. A+ + + + + + +

-Ashley

Check out my friend Reyna's blog!

2011-02-05T18:46:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite people recently started a blog and I really think everybody should give it a look! Reyna is an amazingly beautiful person, and an extremely talented makeup artist! She is currently working on starting her own cosmetic line, and there will be lots of posts on that when she launches her first products! I can't wait to see what she comes up with, I love when people make their dreams come true and I support her 100%!

Check out The Life & Times Of A Makeup Addict!

-ash

The Crazy Bitch Beauty Gazette

2011-02-02T11:42:00.000-05:00

The lovely Adrienne from The Crazy Bitch Beauty Gazette is having an awesome giveaway! Go check it out!

http://thecrazybitchbeautygazette.blogspot.com/2011/01/febuarys-ultimate-mac-giveaway.html

Tamara's blog

2011-01-31T21:10:00.000-05:00

The super cool Tamara from the blog The Collective Musings of Tamara is having a giveaway!

http://facesbytamara.blogspot.com/2011/01/giveaway.html

Hot Handbag: Mary Frances Graceland

2011-01-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

I have been lusting after Mary Frances handbags for awhile now, so when I got this super cute bag above, the aptly titled Graceland, I was beyond thrilled. I love cute bags, and Mary Frances is known and loved for creating unique and exquisite handbags that are both eye catching and versatile. Each hand bag is handmade and beaded and jeweled until it resembles something that you'd LOVE to wear on your arm. When I saw the Mary Frances Graceland on the website, I thought it was so pretty and I liked the cute little playful Elvis tie-tin with the name, but once I saw the handbag in person I literally gasped. It truly looks like a work of art! I took a few photos to try and give you an idea of what this bag looks like in person rather than in a stock photograph.

With the shoulder strap that looks like a guitar strap!

See the beautiful shine an sparkle of the beads and jewels!

Looks just like a guitar - notice the jeweled pick-ups, the strings, the tuners.


Inside view of the bag, comes with sleeves and plenty of room for goodies to take for a night out on the town!

The bag is beautiful, it's very intricately designed, and each jewel and detail is so pretty. I feel really luxurious when i use this bag and everyone comments on it. The bag comes with an Card of Authenticity to show that it is indeed an original Mary Frances bag, it comes with a Mary Frances dust bag to store the Graceland, it comes with a small packet of beads just in case one of the beads on the bag falls off. The back of the bag, you'll find a magnetic closure that is hidden by what is supposed to be the neck of the "guitar". If you open the magnetic flap, the bag opens up to give you plenty of room for your wallet, makeup, and other essentials. It has a pocket inside too, which is perfect for storing your cellphone or cash, concert tickets, or metrocard. I adore this bag! I am seriously hooked on all things Mary Frances now. She really goes beyond making handbags, in my opinion, she makes wearable art! Check out a few of her other bags below. I've yet to get any more Mary Frances bags, but when I do I'll be sure to share photos and my opinion with all of my fashion loving readers. By the way, Mary Frances also makes mini handbags and accessories like belts and necklaces.


Mary Frances "Social Butterfly" Belt

Mary Frances "Rockin Romance" Necklace

Mary Frances "Mini Random Act" Mini Handbag

Mary Frances "Happy Hour" Handbag

Super cute, right? Unlike any other hand bags on the market. I love all of the detail that goes into making each bag a one of a kind piece of art. Fashionable, stylish, and ahead of it's time, Mary Frances designs are stunning! I want to collect them all! ;) Mary Frances bags are big with celebs too, with celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears wearing her bags.

Check out the entire Mary Frances Handbag Collection at MaryFrances.com, the bags are in the hundreds price range with most being around $200-ish. Honestly for how amazing these bags are, they are worth it. I've seen bags on the market that are a lot less artistic and unique go for double that, so Mary Frances, you now have a new fan. My wardrobe thanks you!!

http://www.maryfrances.com

Clarisonic Pro review

2011-01-08T15:55:00.000-05:00

I've had my eye on the Clarisonic line of skin care brushes for awhile now. Lets face it, ladies, our skin could use much more pampering than we give it. We put makeup on it, we moisturize it, but it needs some good deep cleansing also that is both gentle and effective. That was the main reason I was interested in the Clarisonic skincare brush. I have a thyroid condition that gives me some facial redness on my cheeks as well as some dry facial skin. I've tried nearly everything to help improve the texture and color, and have even gone to the dermatologist about it, and was given some useless cream that didn't do a darn thing. So what's a girl to do? Clarisonic was my last hope at this point. So I recently got my hands on the Clarisonic Pro Skin Care System, which comes with the Clarisonic Pro Brush, Charging cradle, Clarisonic cleanser to be used with the brush, and three brush heads including sensitive, gentle, and Spot Therapy Brush. This specific model of the Clarisonic Pro can be used on the face, and then while using the Spot Therapy brush, it can be used on rough patches of skin on the body like knees, ankles, and feet. I love the brushes! The Delicate brush head is soft to the touch and is great for gentle cleansing on the face for more sensitive or gentle skin types, and the Sensitive brush head which works great on the most hard to please skin that is normal or sensitive. The Normal brush head is a little bit firmer and is good for skin prep, and even for men pre-shaving! This Clarisonic Pro system is the newest model, for 2010, and this specific Clarisonic brush offers a 4th speed (which is only available through skin professionals and spas/salons!). Awesome! Here are a few photos of the brush.


The Clarisonic Pro, Skin Refining Gel, and the charging cradle with the Spot Therapy Brush head.


See how soft the bristles look?

Clarisonic Pro with Delicate Brush head, and Spot Therapy brush to the left. Two buttons, larger is power, smaller is speed.

I love this system, it comes with everything you need to pamper your skin on both body and face. You can also buy the Clarisonic Pro without the Spot Therapy and extra brushes, if you just want to use the brush on your face. Each brush will last you for 3 months, then it's time to toss the brush head and buy a replacement brush head. The Clarisonic Brush is easy to use, easy to charge, and it's waterproof so you can even use it in the shower! I got my entire family hooked on the Clarisonic and my mom even got one now. Upon first getting your brush, you need to charge it over night to fully charge it. Once fully charged it will give you a few days worth of use. I like to use my Clarisonic Pro twice a day, once during the day and once before bed. I also love the feel of the Clarisonic cleanser, it lathers well and it smells nice too. So how do you use the Clarisonic?

After charging the brush, you're all set. Simply pick the brush up off the charging base, attach the brush head of choice, then moisten the brush end of the Clarisonic under the faucet of warm water, once moistened add a little bit of cleanser (you can use *any* facial cleanser that you'd like, but Clarisonic does make some nice cleanser) then press the power button. The brush head will begin to vibrate. You want to hold the brush against your forehead,and move the brush in a circular scrubbing motion, as the brush head vibrates. You'll focus on your forehead until the Clarisonic beeps, then you focus on the nose, upper lips, and chin until it beeps again. It's about 20 seconds each. Then you focus on one cheek, after 10 seconds the unit will beep again so you can switch to the other cheek, then it will beep once more and the vibration will stop, then you're all done! Simply rinse your face off, pat it dry with a towel, and then apply your favorite facial moisturizer. Be sure to wash your brush head after use also. Rinse it well with warm water and a little bit of anti-bacterial soap to remove any icky residue that the brush may have picked up from your face. The Clarisonic is awesome and removing excess makeup. After having washed my face and thinking my makeup was completely gone, I used the Clarisonic and it removed *more* makeup that I couldn't even see! I love the feel of the brush on my skin, it's luxurious and makes me feel like I'm at a spa. I also used the Spot Therapy brush head on my ankles and heels and it makde my feet super smooth and soft. My mom has diabetes and her Clarisonic Pro with Spot Therapy was the only thing that helped to improve the texture of her feet.

So how did the brush work on my face? Pretty awesome! I am seriously impressed. Upon first use, I immediately noticed my skin felt healthier, cleaner, and had a healthy glow. Also, usually after washing ym face, my face is red due to my thyroid, it wasn't red after using the Clarisonic and I am beginning to notice a change in the amount of facial redness that I have. I am going to keep using this system and see how much it improves my skin over time. For right now, I am hooked! This is one of the best treats I've ever used on my skin.

You can get the Clarisonic Pro Skin Care System for $172 at SkinMedix.com, or you can get the Clarisonic Pro Spot Therapy System that I got, which can be used on the body, and has the extra 4th speed for $209. This is an AWESOME investment that I am truly loving right now, so I highly recommend this brush to anyone who was curious about it. Also, SkinMedix.com offers super fast and FREE shipping, great customer service, and they carry the Clarisonic cleansers and brush heads too.

http://www.skinmedix.com

Funny Face Beauty's blog giveway

2011-01-02T18:06:00.000-05:00

Check out the super cute goodies being given away at Funny Face Beauty's blog!

http://www.funnyfacebeauty.com/2010/12/my-big-holiday-giveaway.html

Falsie Love's getting ready for Valentines Day!

2011-01-02T17:12:00.000-05:00

The super cool ladies over at Falsie Love are having a cool giveway for Valentines Day next month, so check it out!

http://falsie-love.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentines-day-giveaway.html

Simply the Sweet Life

2010-12-31T16:07:00.000-05:00

Check out Simply the Sweet Life, the awesome online publication about all things delicious and sweet. They're having a great giveaway too with lots of goodies including a cool apron and a KitchenAid mixer. Check it out @ http://www.simplythesweetlife.com/p/magazine.html

Holiday Gift Guide: Philosophy Melting Marshmallow and The Gingerbread Girl

2010-12-14T19:52:00.000-05:00

I love Philosophy, their products are great and their scents are unique and fun. I always love when they release products for the holidays. Some of their gift sets are so cute. Well, not only are Philosophy products great for pampering yourself, they make awesome gifts too. So I'm going to share two of my favoirte holiday Philosophy products that would make awesome gifts for you *or* your loved ones! First up, the ultra cute and cozy looking Philosophy Melting Marshmallow Gift Set. It comes with a 4 oz bubble bath/shower gel in the limited edition Melting Marshmallow scent, along with a matching 2 oz Melting Marshmallow Lotion, and a 5 oz Melting Marshmallow Lip Shine. The packaging is great, which is pictured above. It looks like a nice toasty holiday photo, but if you lift the top of the box, it opens up to show all of products included! I like the Melting Marshmallow scent, it's not overly sweet. I'm not a big fan of smells that smell sooo sweet that you feel like you're getting a toothache just smelling it, so this scent was good for me. It offered a soft vanilla scented marshmallow cream fragrance that was clean and slightly sweet. The shower gel is rich and thick and creates a great lather, it leaves your skin smelling lightly of marshmallow. By the way, this really smells like *real* marshmallow. Not the typical mass produced marshmallow scent/flavor that we find in grocery stores, it has more of a creamy clean fragrant vanilla mallow scent. Also, it has a hint of some sort of floral note that I picked up too, but that may just be from the lightly fragrant mallow scent. The lip shine is awesome! It's a sheer milky color but has shimmer to it, and looks great on it's own over bare lips, or adds a pop of sparkle over a lipstick. The lotion is thick and smooth, it absorbs nicely into the skin, and it leaves a nice soft fragrance of vanilla marshmallow behind. This cute set would make a great gift, and at only $22 it's a good deal!

Now comes my top holiday pick from Philosophy, Philosophy The Gingerbread Girl. If you're familiar with Philosophy, you've probably heard of The Gingerbread Man scent that they off. Well they recently released the brand new The Gingerbread Girl, which is similar to The Gingerbread Man. How is it different? Well, it offers some girl power with it's name, AND it offers a gorgeous shimmer in the shower gel! This shower gel can be used as bath gel too, or even shampoo! Philosophy Shower Gels are a great multi-tasking product. The formula is rich and creates a wonderful lather, so a little product goes a long way. Now check out this packaging, how cute is that?! A fun little Gingerbread house, with The Gingerbread Girl on the front. Unlike The Gingerbread Man, the formula isn't just translucent, it offers a lot of fine shimmery sparkle. It looks soooo pretty in the bottle! The shimmer will wash away as you use the gel, and the glittery shimmer is so fine that it will wash right down the drain. It smells so awesome too! To me, it smells more like real ginger, rather than gingerbread, but that makes me love it even more! It is slightly sweet and offers a spicy ginger note, smells very clean and crisp, not too artificial or fake smelling. It's awesome, I love this stuff! I would suggest this cute shower gel as a stocking stuffer or a gift for yourself or a friend! You can buy this pretty shower gel at Philosophy.com for $16

Holiday Gift Guide: Make Up For Ever

2010-12-09T14:47:00.001-05:00

Lipstick and Candy Holiday Gift Guide

{Hot Holiday Pick #1}

Here are a few of my favorite holiday picks from Make Up For Ever!

False Eyelashes in 152
Who Will Love It: Any glamorous girl, or the girl who likes to or wants to pump up the drama!
Why She'll Love It: What an outrageously flamboyant pair of lashes! I can't think of a cuter way to frame my peepers at holiday parties! They command attention, they say "Hey, don't take your eyes off of me tonight!" **Also featured on the cover of the Sephora holiday 2010 catalog!** You can find Make Up For Ever false eyelashes at Sephora!

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense #44
Who Will Love It: The avid lover of a bold deep red lip, or the girl who needs more bold lip colors in her lipstick collection!
Why She'll Love It: Such a beautiful deep red shade, perfect for the holidays. This would be a gorgeous lip for day or night! It's so pigmented, one swipe of this lipstick delivers rich and opaque color! Very impressive staying power, definitely justifies the $19 price tag!
You can find Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense lipstick at Sephora!

Eyeshadow #4/Matte Black
Who Will Love It: Each and every person who uses makeup! It's a basic matte black shadow - how can you go wrong?
Why She'll Love It: Make Up For Ever has one of, in my opinion, the best eyeshadow formulas on the market! Super pigmented and easily blendable, ANY Make Up For Ever eyeshadow is an ideal gift...but everybody needs a basic matte black shadow! If somebody asked for the perfect matte black eyeshadow, I would recommend this before M.A.C's "Carbon". Don't get me wrong, I love me some M.A.C...but although it's a bit pricier than M.A.C, you get more product and in my experience, the pigmentation isn't even comparable! You don't need to pack it on as much to get the same color impact. Whether you're shopping for a minimalist (this would be a perfect black eyeliner), or a girl who loves smokey eyes (excellent base color), this truly is a great gift idea for even the most clueless shopper!
You can find Make Up For Ever eyeshadow at Sephora!

Rock For Ever Travel Aqua Eyes Set
Who Will Love It: Anybody! This set includes essential colors - black, grey, bronze, gold and silver!
Why She'll Love It: The packaging is really cute! When the package caught my mom's eye, she said "ooh, I like that!" The package itself is detailed, with a cute metallic raised design that is full of bronze, black and silver spheres/diamond shaped details that spell out the word "ROCK". You could even take the eyeliners out and use the container for something else, it's *that* cute!
You can find Make Up For Ever Rock For Ever Aqua Eyes at Sephora!

Crush Of The Moment: Sephora Collection Sequined Lip Clutch

2010-12-07T20:24:00.000-05:00

How adorable is this?! It's so me!

I voiced my love for it and my dear friend Z bought it for me for Christmas!

Now I'll have a purse to match my blingin' red lips at holiday parties!

Check out the Sephora Collection Sequined Red Lip Clutch!

-Ashley

Check out the newly designed Makeup Talk!

2010-11-21T16:44:00.000-05:00

Clipped from: www.makeuptalk.com (share this clip)

Hey ladies, have you heard of Makeup Talk? It's a an awesome beauty website when you can check out reviews, talk about makeup on the forums, and even check out awesome beauty product swatches and swap makeup. The site just got a new redesign and it looks awesome. I like browsing the forums, everyone seems really nice and gives good advice on product suggestions and such.

Clipped from: www.makeuptalk.com (share this clip)

Makeup Talk also having a super cool giveaway for beauty bloggers, go check it out and you could win 1 of 3 MAC gift cards in time for the holidays! Check out the links below to get started!

MakeupTalk.com website

Makeup Talk MAC giveaway

SOHO Beauty Cases

2010-11-18T14:07:00.004-05:00

How cute are these beauty cases? SOHO Beauty Cases have all sorts of fun makeup cases ranging from small to large. Some look more like a regular makeup traincase and others look more like cases, with a handle on top. You can put all of your little makeup product favorites, skincare products, hair products, and more. I have one of the little cases, and it's great for taking my makeup on the go or while traveling. The cases are made of hard plastic, and they lock really easily also. They range from basic colors like silver and black, to the cute kissy print collection above. You can buy the cases at Walmart and Target. Check out the entire collection and all of the different size cases at SohoBeautyCases.com!

YourzTrulyJess

2010-11-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

The lovely makeup artist Jess from the beauty blog YourzTrulyJess is celebrating 300 followers! Go leave her some comment love and enter her giveaway :)

http://yourztrulyjess.blogspot.com/2010/11/hello-hello-hello-feeling-great-on-this.html

Everyday Southwest's blog birthday

2010-11-06T21:19:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite foodie blogs, Everyday Southwest, is celebrating their blog birthday! Head on voer to their blog, check out their posts, such as this yummy apple chimichangas recipe, and se what they have to offer. Plus they are having a birthday blog giveaway that you can enter. Prepare to drool over their southwestern recipes.

http://www.everydaysouthwest.com

Allure of Cruelty Free Beauty

2010-10-28T14:41:00.000-04:00

Check out the fantastic cruelty free beauty blog by the lovely Karen, she truly cares about showcasing brands that are cruelty-free towards animals. Her posts are definitely worth reading, and on top of all that, she is having a blog follower giveaway. Please check out her blog, follow it, and think about entering to win! :)

http://cfbeauty.blogspot.com/2010/10/200th-followers-giveaway-mac-venomous.html

Shoe Lust: Irregular Choice

2010-10-11T14:05:00.000-04:00

How amazing are these shoes?! I. Want. Them. Now. Love the colors on the wedged heel and the fun dice on the toe.

Yes that is a furry heel. Super unique and fun, I love the colors and the wooden heel.

These booties make me look forward to colder weather! Love the heel and the faux fur trim.

Check out the corkscrew heel, funky right? Love!

What do all of these shoes have in common? They're from the new Fall/Winter 2010 collection from Irregular Choice! Super cute, right? I want them all, the entire collection. Possibly the cutest shoes ever made. What do you all think? Would you wear these? I would!!

Check out the entire collection: http://www.irregularchoice.com

Arm Candy, anyone?

2010-10-08T20:30:00.000-04:00

ROMYGOLD Stud Hobo in Black/Gold

How beyond cute is this bag? Perfect for fall!

Current Crush: R&R Celina Platform Pumps

2010-10-08T19:48:00.000-04:00

How freaking cute are these?! Want. Them. Now. Awesome style and color. Rock & Republic Celina Platform Pumps are $295 at ShopBop.com but from now until Oct 11th they're offering 20% off on purchases for their Friends and Family sale! Enter code INTHEFAMILY20 at checkout!