Holiday 2008 FOTD

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

 
My Charlie Brown Christmas tree... 

I decided to do a green and gold look. Though you really can’t see it in the pictures. There was some gold in there.

 
  
  
 


On eyes: 
Two Faced Shadow Insurance
HIP Paint in Nervy
Sephora Safari Eye Shadow Palette in Giraffe green (– lid)
Lancome Eye Powder in Golden Sunrise (inner corner)
Sephora Safari Eye Shadow Palette in Giraffe brown (outer corner & crease)
MAC Magnetic Fields (outer corner)
Lancome Color Design in Duo in Sparkling Plum (light side – highlight)
Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line)
Lancome Color Design Eyeliner in Sparkle Black (waterline)
Clinique Lash Building Primer
Loreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Clear (eyebrows)

Face and Lips:
Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep (concealer);
Borghese Hydro-Minerali Crème Finish Makeup in Espresso (concealer);
Valana Minerals Cheeky Cheek Pot in Red Hibiscus (blush)
Loreal lip liner in Blackberry
Stilla Lip Glaze in Raisin

New HIP, New HIP, New HIP

Well I don’t know how new it is exactly but it was new to me so I figured maybe it was new to some of y’all too.

I was in Target trying to find some hooks so I can hang some ornaments on my tree which they did not have. Target apparently got a memo no one else did and started to break down the Christmas section early. They had no hooks what so ever so I’m trying to understand why sell ornaments if you’re not going to sell hooks to hang them with. Luckily I’ve watched enough HGTV so I MacGyvered a solution.

As I always do I made a quick stop to the makeup aisle to see what they had to offer and low and behold what do I see...


HIP Color Presso- Customize your own lip gloss shades





It comes in 10 shades - Swanky, Trendy, Chic, Fashionista, Snazzy, Classy, Spunky Ritzy, Stylish and Posh

Concept is simple enough, squeeze either side of the little tube until you get the color that sets your heart a flutter or layer it with another Color Presso to seriously get your motor running.

We also have...





These loose powder liners come in Navy, Brown, Gold, Teal, Black and Burgundy

I’m very leery of any brown HIP liner since the crème one literally looks like dried poo. The gold, teal and especially the burgundy are very pretty colors.

Both retail for 11.99 and can be found at Target, Walgreens and at some point CVS. Now if they’re 11.99 at Target I’m guessing they’ll be 13-14 elsewhere. Now if only hip would add some new shadow colors...





Pics Courtesy of the Drugstore Paparazzi

FOTD HIP Metallic


This was from some time last week. Out of all the Metallic Duo's this one is my fave. I also called myself flat ironing my hair that week. Of course it decided to rain that week. I know I checked the weather report before hand.  I need the weather people to stop lying. 



On eyes: UDPP; Maybeline Unstoppable Crayon in Persistent Pink HIP Metallic Shadow Duo in Sculpted (light side lid dark side outer corner& crease); Lancome Color Design in Duo in Sparkling Plum (light side – highlight); Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line); HIP Liner in Navy (waterline); Clinique Lash Building Primer, Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara

Face and Lips: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep (concealer); Borghese Hydro-Minerali Crème Finish Makeup in Espresso (concealer); MAC Lovejoy blush; Ulta Super Shiny Lip Gloss in Honey

Yummy, Yum, Yum

Saturday night I got my face beat by Miss Yummy411 herself, Kia.  She wanted to practice on darker skin tones and I more than happily obliged!

I learned a few things:

1.  The world does not end if you apply foundation with your fingers
2.  I don't really need a concealer.  A little concealer is good but the right foundation will do just fine.  The chick at MAC told me the same thing but since she stays making me look ready for my casket close-up I dismissed her with a quickness. (I have since stop letting her touch my face with a brush and any type of makeup what so ever.  I simply give her my list and keep it moving)
3.  Cover Girl Queen Collection in True Ebony is the truff!!! It went on smooth and didn't feel heavy.  Of course True Ebony is not available at the 2 CVS's I went to.  The whole collection is the business!!  Don't sleep on drug store cosmetics y'all!
4.  Think before you give things away. I gave away my Iman powder and now I wish I had it back. I'm hoping that the 2 Target has or the 5 Ulta keeps in stock are my shade.

Now on the the pics...

 
   
  

Eyes: Make Up For Ever #92, that purple I'm slightly obsessed with, some MAC Deep Truth; some other things I can't remember.

Face & Lips: Cover Girl Queen Collection in True Ebony,  a little Black Radiance 6806; some MAC concealer;  powder that I can't remember but liked a lot; MAC Lovejoy and Blunt blushes; Black Radiance lip gloss (don't know the color)

I loved the entire look and kept stealing glances at myself...

And of course the gang was all there...

 
  
 

NOTD OPI Chicago Champagne Toast

Chicago Champagne Toast is from the Holiday in Toyland Collection. Very pretty pinky color...which I don't care for in the winter. I'm not a really light shimmer color on my hands kinda gal. The only light colors I like for my manicures are creams. I knew this when I bought it so I'm trying to figure out what possessed me to wear it. This color is now strictly a pedi color. I will be rocking it come spring and summer. So it is off to the rest home until brighter days.


FOTD 12/14

A purple with a hint of blue look.




On eyes: UDPP; MAC Paint in Mauvism; HIP Shadow Duo in Charisma (light purple-lid dark purple, outer corner& crease); MAC Deep Truth (outer corner & outer crease); Lancome Color Design in Duo in Sparkling Plum (light side – highlight); Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line); HIP Liner in Navy (waterline); Clinique Lash Building Primer, Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara

Face and Lips: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep (concealer); Borghese Hydro-Minerali Crème Finish Makeup in Espresso (concealer); MAC Lovejoy blush; Ulta Shuper Shiny Lip Gloss in Honey


Tag...I'm It!!

The lovely Makeup Fiend, Erin tagged me! This was fun!

where is your cell phone? On my desk, directly in front of me. The blinking red light is my precious…

where is your significant other? Out there thinking sweet thoughts of me…but until that fateful day when we meet I ain’t got one...

your hair color? Right now it’s black/brown with red tips. January 09 it will be blue black.

your mother? Brooklyn, NY

your father? Miami, FL

your favorite thing? Chips and dip, ice cream. I’m so serious about some ice cream…

your dream last night? Don’t remember, I’m sure it was something odd

your dream/goal? Get a license, get a house, kill my debt, sew faster than turtle speed, master a sharp outer corner v, get my meeting planner certificate, start a ministry at church, build a super savings, dabble in real estate

the room you’re in? My cubicle

your hobby? Sewing, makeup, wine, reading and soon to be knitting

your fear? Failure

where do you want to be in 6 years? Married with kids, certified in meeting planning, blogging, chilling, sewing and knitting my life away in my fab house that has concrete floors with my malitpoo

where were you last night? At home trying to fight the itis

what you’re not? Selfish

one two of your wish list items? Sony Vaio laptop and an external hard drive.

where you grew up? Where Brookly, at, where Brooklyn at, where Brooklyn at!!! *regains composure* Brooklyn, NY

the last thing you did? Looked for a colored Christmas tree

what are you wearing? Black and white skirt, white blouse/black sweater combo, black pantyhose and black heels with silver accessories

your tv? Off

your pet? Don’t have one yet but in my mind I have a black maltipoo

your computer? Dell laptop at work Vaio at home

your mood? Happy and full of glee

missing someone? Let me think…no…

your car? Chevy Malibu waiting for me on the lot but until I get my license DC Metro is my ride

something you’re not wearing? Watch

favorite store? Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Target, Borders, any fabric store

your summer? Pretty good

love someone? God, fam and friends

your favorite color? Blue

when is the last time you laughed? This morning

last time you cried? Saturday, while watching Inside the Actors Studio. WTH!!!!

are you a b*tch? 3 weeks out of the month no. Catch me on that forth week and you’ll hate me.

favorite position? Ummm…don’t know you like that…

favorite past time? Sewing, makeup, shopping, reading and eating

are you a hater or a lover? A lover

are you genuine or fake? Genuine

any vices? I get really annoyed really easy and really quickly

pro life or wire hanger? NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!! I had to say it... Pro-choice over here.

mccain or obama? Umm…really...surely you jest…Obama.

pro plastic or natural? Depends on what it is

dream job? Meeting planner by day blogger/super seamstress extraordinaire by night

Everyone I want to tag I think has been tagged, but if you haven’t been tagged consider yourself tagged now!

FOTD 11/23

Seymone was so sweet to send me some pigment samples. I'm in love with Tan Pigment so I did a look with it.




On eyes: UDPP; MAC Tan Pigment (lid); MAC Swiss Chocolate (outer corner and crease); MAC Brash (outer corner, outer crease); Lancome Color Design in Duo in Sparkling Plum (light side – highlight); Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line); Lancome Color Design Eyeliner in Sparkle Black (waterline); Clinique Lash Building Primer, Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara



Face and Lips: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep (concealer); Borghese Hydro-Minerali Crème Finish Makeup in Espresso; Maybelline Blush in Almond Love; Ulta Shuper Shiny Lip Gloss in Honey

NOTD - OPI Baby It's "Coal" Outside

I love this color! It's like a blackish grey with blue/grey glitter. This is from the OPI Holiday in Toyland Collection.

No Flash

Flash

Thanksgiving FOTD

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I decided to go for a purple/gold look.





On eyes: UDPP; HIP Shadow Duo in Wicked (light side – lid, dark side outer corner & crease); Iman African Violet (outer corner); Lancome Color Design in Duo in Sparkling Plum (light side – highlight); Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line); Lancome Color Design Eyeliner in Sparkle Black (waterline); Clinique Lash Building Primer, Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara

Face and Lips: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep (concealer); Borghese Hydro-Minerali Crème Finish Makeup in Espresso; Maybelline Blush in Almond Love; Ulta Shuper Shiny Lip Gloss in Honey



Chargrin Valley Soap and Craft Company Shampoo Bar Review

 When it comes to washing my hair I follow a low poo routine. *looks around* Poo meaning shampoo... I primary “wash” with conditioner but learned early on in my naptural journey that shampoo I wanted my hair to be clean I would need to use shampoo. So about once to twice a month I use either Suave Clarifying Shampoo or Pantene Hydrating Curl or Color Revitalizer. shampoo.  I’ve tried the baking soda rinses and it never worked for me.  My scalp still felt nasty and I had residue.  I never tried the apple cider vinegar rinse because honestly I’m too lazy to mix a concoction, I don’t feel like figuring out 2 parts this to 3 parts that.

Shampoo gets the job done but I hate the way my hair feels after.  Damn that sodium lauryl sulfate!! That’s the detergent that actually cleans your hair and can also strip the hell out of your hair. That squeaky clean sound is not a good thing. To compensate I would saturate my hair with a moisturizing conditioner. I’ve been wanting to try some poo bars so the lovely Miss Coup de Couer, Amina, hipped me to Chargrin Valley Soap and Craft Company shampoo bars. Then being the sweetheart that she is she sent me some samples.


Shampoo bars are an all natural conditioning shampoo in a solid bar form. Our all natural shampoo bars are made in small batches using recipes meticulously developed to naturally clean and condition your scalp and hair. Super rich with loads of fluffy lather, these solid shampoo bars contain coconut cleansers and moisturizing oils that leave hair soft, shiny, clean, and most of all healthy.

Our scented shampoo bars are made with natural botanical essential oils. The essential oil blends we use are formulated for their therapeutic value as well as for their lovely fragrance.

Our all natural shampoo bars contain no artificial fragrance, color, preservatives, detergents, alcohol, urea, formaldehyde, sodium laurel sulfate, DEA, propylene glycol - or any of the other synthetic hair care additives.

Each of our shampoo bar selections contains a different blend of natural plant oils, essential oils, and herb infused oils.

No two recipes are the same.


I used the Herb Garden Shampoo Bar and I must say these poo bars are fantastic! Do you hear me, fantastic! My hair actually felt soft and moisturized after I used it. Something I have never experienced in all my years of using shampoo, relaxed or natural. I was able to *gasp* actually run my figures through my hair with shampoo in. I followed with conditioner and detangling was a breeze. The shedding was minimal despite it being 3 weeks since I last detangled. I don’t think I’ll be going back to regular shampoo. Shampoo bars are my new best friend!

Crabtree &Evelyn’s Aromatherapy Distillations Revitalizing - Skin Polishing Ritual Review

I have a serious obsession with body scrubs. I keep a rotation of about 5 at any given time. So you know I was excited when I got to try out Crabtree &Evelyn’s Aromatherapy Distillations Revitalizing - Skin Polishing Ritual
All natural Asian beauty secret blends exfoliating spices with rich tropical oils to smooth and polish your skin to buttery smoothness. Create custom blends to re-texturize and revitalize your body, hands and feet. Use twice a week for amazing results.

• Exotic Spice Medley (5.25 oz)
• Ultra Moisturizing Body Butter (8.8 OZ) with revitalizing lemon and coriander essential oils and conditioning mango seed butter, avocado and coconut.
• Ceramic bowl
• Wooden applicator

Scent: Revitalizing essential oil blend of lemon, spearmint, mandarin, ylang ylang and star anise.


When I first got it the bowl and wooden applicator seriously threw me off. You mean I need to mix something?! All the scrubs I use are just open and go.

The way it works is you mix the spice blend with the body butter and rub on dry skin. How much or how little of the spice blend and butter you use is really up to you and depends on your skin sensitivity.  Hop in the shower and rinse and you’re left with seriously smooth, soft and sweet smelling skin. I applied the body butter after and it just added to the goodness. Two days later my skin still feels great.

Two words of caution.  First apply in the shower. Don’t ask me why I thought since it was a dry rub I didn’t need to be in the shower. *blank face*  I got spice rub all over my bathroom rug.

Two – exercise serious caution after applying to your feet. Flintstone feet are not the business and neither is a concussion or head injuries. To say you’ll be slippery is an understatement, so please be careful!!

A totally different body scrub experience but a great one!


pic source

FOTD MAC Smoeky Eye Palette

My church had a retreat a dew weekends back and MAC's Smokey Eye palette from the Passion of Red Collection was my best friend.

 
  
On eyes: UDPP; HIP Paint in Nervy (lid); MAC Satin Taupe and Dark Devotion (outer corner and crease); HIP Illuminating Highlighter- light side (highlight); HIP Eyeliner in Navy (waterline); Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line); Clinique Lash Building Primer, Lancome Defincils Mascara

Face and Lips: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep & Valana Minerals in Amber Dream; (foundations used as concealer); MAC Lovejoy blush; MAC Lipglass in Cherry Blossom

NOTD Sally Hansen Glossy

I'm not sure how to describe this color, it's kind of a mix of black and burgundy but more on the black side. It's one of my favorite colors and I tend to wear it often.

 
I decided to try out Poshe Super Fast Drying Top Coat.  The good - it does dry ridiculously fast and the shine is unbelievable. The bad - it chipped the next day.  I'll use this a little longer and with a different polish before I condemn it and cast it into the makeup graveyard give a full review.

FOTD 11/15

A smokey purple look.

 
  
On Eyes: UDPP; MAC Paint in Mauvism (base); Valana Minerals Eye Indulgence in Royal Butterfly (lid); MAC Carbon (outer corner and crease); MAC Ambiance (outer corner, crease);Lancome Color Design Eye Shadow Duo in Sparkling Plum ( light side); Lancome Color Design Eyeliner in Sparkle Black (waterline); Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line); Clinique Lash Building Primer, Lancome Defincils Mascara

Face and Lips: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep & Valana Minerals in Amber Dream; (foundations used as concealer); MAC Plum du Bois blush; Milani Liner in Black Brown; Milani Lipgloss (I have no clue what the color is the name has been rubbed off)

NOTD OPI Russian Navy

I decided to go with blue to celebrate the election. OPI’s Russian Navy is from the Fall/Winter 2007 Russian Collection.

Wait until you see this deep-sea indigo!

I bought it because I thought despite it saying navy on the bottle that it would actually be purple since that it what it looks like in the bottle. Yeah I know it looks blue in the pics but without flash it’s purple, I swear!!  So you can imagine my surprise when after the first application I saw blue. I was like WTH is this! I wasn’t fond of how it looked on me so off to the graveyard it went. Fast forward to now and I like it. What you see in the picture is a 3 coat application. I’m still searching for that perfect blue though…
  
 

Yes We Can...Yes We Did

 
 
My sentiments exactly!!!!

Change has truly come!! Congratulations to the 44th President of the United States!!

FOTD 11/2

Well…Spiced Chocolate and I have made up.  We realized that NanoGold was coming in between us.  Really now why should 3 other beautiful colors be punished for one rebellious looks pretty in the package but is hard as hell to work with and made every look I tried come out horribly…let me stop I’m having flashbacks.  I was very happy with this look that I did in 10 minutes and it got the seal approval from the BFF who said she liked this one the most.   Enjoy!

 
  
  
On eyes: Not Pictured: UDPP; Lancome Color Design Eyeliner in Sparkle Black (waterline); Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line) Pictured: Maybelline Unstoppable Crayon in Steadfast Suede; MAC Spiced Chocolate Quad; Lancome Definicils Mascara; HIP Illuminating Highlighter- light side (highlight)

Face and Lips: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep & Valana Minerals in Amber Dream; (foundations used as concealer); MAC MSF in Petticoat; MAC Lipglass in Cherry Blossom