VOTE for my kids!!!!

Ok people, I need your help!!!!

Emily is having an AWESOME contest that both of my kids have been entered into. PLEASE go HERE and vote for Owen or Lydia to win.

If one of my kiddoes wins I'll have an AWESOME contest for my followers ;)

Voting is until January 4, 2011!

I would appriciate it SO much! Thanks, everyone!!

Laura Mercier Mini Kohl Update... Sad News

On Dec 14th I posted a review of a set of Laura Mercier Mini Eye Kohls. I'm back with an update. Some bad news. These things RUN like no other. I've never in my life had raccoon eyes like this. I normally wear Kohl liner from MAC and have never had anywhere near this issue. This blogger wore her glasses today too, so there wasn't eye watering going on or anything like that... didn't do anything so no sweat....
I'm sad to report these are going back. It's a shame, because the colors of them, especially the black turquoise on the eyes, are extremely beautiful =(

Chanel Black Pearl Le Vernis Nail Color Review & Swatches

Here it is... the soon to be 2011 Holy Grail, no one can find this, jack the price up on ebay, item!

That may have been a little dramatic, but Chanel Black Pearl IS still available and launching at counters as early as TODAY. My Nordies said they got the shipment last night and were unpacking for the counter at some point today, so I put an order in for the grey liner and the Pearl Drop polish.

This beauty I got on Chanel.com the day they launched it on there. I did NOT want to miss out. Ebay prices are already ridiculous IMO and probably going to get worse. Get this ASAP. The buzz is HUGE.

The pic is 3 coats of polish. Sorry I didn't prep my nails AT ALL before trying this... I seriously was too excited.




The color is like a murky grey green goodness. I've truly never seen anything like it. Sometimes it looks more green... sometimes more grey.... sometimes I'd swear it was a blackened turquoise.... it's just super neat. I really just said super neat.

Black Pearl is available at Chanel.com for $23 plus tax. It is LIMITED EDITION.

Laura Mercier Mini Kohl Eye Pencil Set Review & Swatches

(please click pics to enlarge)

GREAT DEAL ALERT!!!

Recently Sephora sent out $20 gift cards to their VIB's and $15 Gift Cards to their Beauty Insiders. What to get with my $20 GC? You had to spend $40 to use it and $50 gives you the free shipping... so I had $50 to think about. I didn't really NEED anything (whoa, right?) but who could let $20 off go to waste?!

I have been on a MAJOR hunt for a grey eye liner. I am not happy with the shades that I've tried from MAC so I had to check other brands. I didn't see any I was into from Chanel or Dior (tho some will be launched with the Spring lines) so I started to look through liners on Sephora's site, starting from the top rated. Of course Urban Decay was up there, but I didn't like theirs either (tho there IS one I'm interested in, UZI, from their Spring line as well.. grrr).

Then I saw the Laura Mercier Mini Kohl set. A year or so ago I saw swatches of LM liners and thought they looked gorgeous. I had been wanting to try a few but could never decide which one. I eventually forgot about them until just then. Here's a SET with all of the ones I wanted to try! For only $32!

ONE Laura Mercier liner is 0.04oz and is $19. This set has FIVE liners at 0.03oz each and is $32. GREAT deal.

The colors you get in this set are (in order from left to right and top to bottom in the photos) Black Gold, Black Turquoise, Brown Copper, Black Violet, and Stormy Grey.





I tested the Stormy Grey on my eyes today and it's a great not quite black color. Perfect for what I was looking for! I didn't use primer or shadows or ANYthing underneath it today and so far it's stayed put. No reaction either! WOOT! I REALLY had to scrub to get this off of my arm after swatches too. So, while my arm looks like I have a rare rash disease, I'm impressed with the staying power. The liner went on smoothly and did not drag or skip on my lid.

This set IS Limited Edition, so I think it would be wise to jump on it while you can. Retail price is $32, you can check out the GLOWING reviews and purchase at Sephora.com.

Chanel Soho De Chanel Highlighting Powder Swatches & Review

This is definately a pretty. Worth the price tag? Probably not. You can definately achieve this cheek with something a lot cheaper, but then you wouldn't have this amazing collectors item from the Chanel Soho collection.

The Chanel Soho De Chanel Highlighting Powders and Blush is a mash of 3 shades making it the perfect highlight. Or for my NW25 coloring, the perfect flush! As you can see from the swirl swatch, the colors blend and suddenly the palette isn't as pretty. In addition to the classic chic Chanel packaging it also comes with a brush, which I won't use for this lol One thing I didn't like was that there was no protective plastic between the powder and the mirror =( At least not on the one I purchased.

It's a fun thing to own, and wearing Chanel always makes me feel mature and fancy. I wouldn't re-buy if it was perm, but I definately think I'll go for a cheaper highlighter next time.




The Chanel Soho De Chanel Highlighting Powder is LIMITED EDITION. It retails for $65 plus tax and is available at Chanel.com as well as finer department stores.

Chanel Stupendous Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow Swatches & Review

One of the things I love most about my girl Natalie is her ability to make me spend money lol I really shouldn't like that.

Natalie is on a Chanel kick lately, so with her order, comes my order. Recently I picked up the Chanel Stupendous Eye Shadow Quad and the Soho de Chanel Blush Lumiere, both from the Chanel Soho Collection. The blush will be featured in a later post.



The Stupendous quad is gorgeous. Pictures do NOT do it justice. NO pictures that I have seen (even mine) have come close to the actual beauty of this quad. Murano is my fav Chanel quad but this one is seriously close to knocking that one out of the water. The shades of Stupendous are smooth, easily blendable and pigmented. Yes, even for the lighter shades, pigmented.




A Chanel Quad REALLY has to be special for me to shell out the $56. Hence why I only own 2. That should tell you something ;)

The Chanel Studpendous Les 4 Ombres is LIMITED EDITION and is still available at Chanel.com and several fine department stores for $56 plus tax.

Urban Decay Friends & Family Sale!!

Get 25% off at UrbanDecay.com now through December 12,2010.
CODE: 1FFNF
Plus shipping is FREE on orders over $15!!!



Unfortunately this discount does not work on the UD BOS III, the Naked palette (which isn't in stock anyway) and the Zero and Bourbon 24/7 liners. I have no idea why... but I guess it is what it is, and you can still stock up on some GREAT items. I would definately jump on this quickly, stuff seems to be selling out like crazy! Half my cart is gone already =(

Chanel Jade Rose Swatch & Happy Birthday To Me!

My bestie from down under, Natalie, is THE best Aussie artist. Period. This past week I got my birthday prezzie in the mail from her - not only did she send me the worlds most GORGEOUS Nail Polish:


(top: Missha Crystal Nail Polish, bottom: Chanel Jade Rose)

You can see the Chanel Jade Rose polish bottle here.

As for the Missha - I've never heard of it, but am totally enamoured with it. It applied so nicely, and the color is unlike any I've seen. I definately NEED more. PS - I have no idea what this color is called... the back says HKHO1... but who knows?? It ALSO says against animal testing. So thats a big YAY.

Natalie also made me (in my fav color, no less!) a gorgeous pendant and earring set. Totally my style, tailor made!! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love the jewelry she made. I told DH I need a date night to wear it so my daughter doesn't try to hang off of it!



also seen in that picture is Lucas' Papaw Ointment. From the back: "A local topical application for boils, burns, chafing, cuts, cracked skin, gravel rash, splinters, open wounds, insect bites, and nappy rash." It is to help relieve and cleanse.

I plan on using it for my horrid dry hands in the winter. I'll keep you updated on how it compares with the millions of other hand creams I've tried! Between this and my new China Glaze Peppermint Cuticle oil my nails should be back in shape in no time!

Chanel Polishes & Packaging

ok... how PRETTY does Chanel package their items?!

Recently I placed an order with Chanel for a friend in Australia. This is the special gift packaging that everything came in for the holidays:



I only ordered a nail polish, Jade Rose, with the order, but Natalie picked up Riva!



(enlarge the photo to see the sparklies of Jade Rose and Riva... such FINE glimmers!)

Swatches do NOT do Riva justice. In person it is to die for. I'm sad I didn't get one too =( I'll post swatches of the Jade Rose but sadly Riva won't be included.... perhaps I'll have to order one of my own!

Jade Rose is available at Chanel.com for $23, for some reason Riva is $27?!

MAC 'Tis Noble To Give Viva Glam Lip Bag Pictures, Review, & Swatches

(click pics to enlarge)

One of the things I look forward to the most about the holidays are the holiday cards that MAC sells as part of their Viva Glam and HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. These are now sold out online (but I've still seen them in stores) - however you can click HERE to take a look at what I'm talking about. The program is called Kids Helping Kids and ALL proceeds benefit the MAD AIDS funds. I hope if you see these at your local MAC counter you will pick them up =)

And now, for the Holiday 2010 Viva Glam Lip Bag!!! I absolutely LOVE the style of the bag. The Viva Glam V lippie and lipglass included are perm, but the bag is LE. The formula and wear of the lip items are the same as you'd get from your usual MAC.... but I wanted to feature this bag on my blog because it ALSO 100% benefits the MAC AIDS fund.

From the MAC site:
"The VIVA GLAM holiday kit goes full-out tartan in a bag featuring a clash of red. M∙A∙C crest and the complementary duo of VIVA GLAM V Lipstick and Lip Gloss. This truly is noble to give - and receive! All proceeds go to the M∙A∙C AIDS Fund to help support people living with HIV/AIDS. Bag Measures: 5.25 " x 5.25"."



VGV Lipglass on left, VGV Lipstick on Right

This awesome bag retails for $36 plus tax, and like I said, ALL proceeds benefit the MAC AIDS Foundation. If you don't know, now you know ;)

Wordless Wednesday ~ Because This Pic Speaks For Itself

(please click to enlarge, it's better bigger lol)


I copied Wordless Wednesday from Emily because this picture was perfect for it! And while I have you here Emily is doing an AWESOME contest. If you have kiddies with awesome styling skills you definately want to head over to her blog and check this one out. It's on like donkey kong!!!