Myla

Hey, everyone!

I'm at the bridal shower all day today, but I thought I'd post a pic really quickly of the newest addition to our family - Myla!

Her full name is Duchess Myla May - in this pic she's 10 weeks old and completely exhausted from playing with the kids all day. She is SUCH a cuddler and has become instant best friends with my son.

We're very excited to welcome Myla into the family ;)

Urban Decay Presents... The Urban Bride Kit!

We’ve partnered with Universal Pictures to promote ‘Bridesmaids’ in theatres May 13. Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. With so many bride-zillas, it’s a wonder more people
don’t run for the hills when asked to participate in the nuptials of someone near and dear. Well, just in case you notice a transformation in your Mrs.-to-be, dodge her s**t list by giving her Urban Bride, a gorgeously packaged, gift-ready box holding Urban Decay’s best-selling beautifiers.

PRODUCT INFO
• Perfect for a bride, bridesmaid, mother-in-law and anyone else who’s making an appearance in the wedding photos, its contents SET THE BAR REALLY HIGH for products designed to WORK OVERTIME. Leave nothing to chance, prime face and eyes for the camera, make lips more luscious and set your look so it lasts until the final guest leaves.
• Wrapped in pearlized white paper and embossed with a foil lace/flowers/dripping chains design motif, the words “Urban Bride” are featured languidly on the lid as a nod to 19th-century romanticism. Open the box to reveal the products in a removable tray graced with lush watercolor roses. Displaying vibrant sweeps of color, this keepsake box can be used to store anything from makeup and jewelry, to photos and personal mementos.

THE CONTENTS
• Razor Sharp Ultra-Definition Finishing Powder - (3.75 g mini) diffuses lines for a flawless airbrushed look, and the translucent shade suits all skin tones. The photographer and the DJ can flash their
brightest lights her way because she’ll still look AMAZING.
• Eyeshadow Primer Potion - (Full Size) ensures her eyeshadow stays vibrant, true and CREASE-FREE throughout the ceremony, pictures, dancing and well-after her garter comes off.
• Supercurl Curling Mascara - boosts, separates and conditions lashes, while its supersculpting polymers hold the curl. Even if she throws a tirade at some point, no one will be able to hate her with
those lashes.
• Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Midnight Cowboy - (Travel Size 3.6 ml) gives her all the shine she wants without any tacky stickiness. This soft, cushiony-textured gloss endures, and the sheer nude sparkle
of Midnight Cowboy can be worn alone or over any shade of lipstick.
• All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray - (15 ml spray bottle; perfect for her purse!) is a weightless mist that sets makeup for 16 hours. It utilizes temperature control technology to prevent
makeup from melting off when it’s hot and humid outside or from becoming dehydrated when it’s cold and dry.
• Marshmallow Sparkling Lickable Body Powder - (Travel Size 10g) a glistening, edible body powder to highlight her shoulders and décolletage beautifully, as well as treat her other half to a little dessert too!






Urban Bride (SRP $42) is available at ULTA and select Macy’s. Or, online at ulta.com, Sephora.com and urbandecay.com

*** Product information and photos were provided by the manufacturer or PR firm. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.

Guest FOTD ~ Tanya's Royal Wedding Look

My good friend Tanya is set to be married in June and I'm one of her bridesmaids! Check out the bridesmaid dresses! Love! She asked me to do the makeup so we did a trial run last week.

Her main color is Lapis (extremely deep, beautiful purple - if you click the link to the dress above you can check out the color. It's much more royal in real life).

I steered clear of the usual wedding neutral look. She's still understated, but beautiful in light purples on the eyes via colors from the MAC Holiday 2010 palette in Beauties Play it Cool.




Tanya shows off her silly side:


Then we darkened her eyes up a bit for the heck of it... she never ever wears makeup and I wanted to see what she'd look like lol





I posted this today to sort of honor the Royal Wedding. I'm not crazy in to this hoopla over it, but even I have to admit that the balcony kiss was too cute (I saw it on People.com). They are a beautiful couple and I wish them every happiness and lots of princes and princesses running around ;)

Clinique Graped-Up 08 Chubby Stick Review & Swatches

Singing to the heavens that these are NOT limited edition. At least that's what my counter said lol They haven't had stock on the new Clinique Chubby Sticks since for as long as they've had them. The minute they get a shipment in, they all sell out. Which led me to ask if they only get 5 or 6 per shipment... they laughed... I was serious =\

In any event, I've been dying to try these out! I was a lover of the original Clinique Chubby Sticks, which were matte and in thick silver pencil form. This was back in the day when you still had to sharpen makeup yourself. My go to lip look for YEARS was the Clinique Chubby Stick in Vanilla Brownie and Estee Lauder Spiced Cider lipstick. Ahhh... the 90's.

After asking multiple counters at the various malls I visit for my first choice, Chunky Cherry, only sadly to walk away empty handed each time, I broke down and bought Graped-Up. Which was always in stock everywhere and last on my personal list. Desperate times call for desperate measures.





It's like it was meant to be. When one hears the name Graped-Up one literally would think, ok well it is going to be a dark purple. Negative. Look how shiny and light this shade is (see swatches below).




I have nothing else on in the lip swatch above other than Graped-Up. No lip balm or any extra gloss. That is ALL Graped-Up.

Since Graped-Up was last on my list it only proves that I need ALL of the shades that were placed above it. If I love the most hated shade THAT much... wtf am I going to do when I see the shades I've been totally dying for?!

The Clinique Chubby Sticks are lusciously glossy, hydrating, and pretty. Of course the staying powder isn't all that great, but they're super easy to apply and give off a flirty look for Spring/Summer. I hope to have more for you guys to see very SOON.

These retail for $15 and are available at department store counters (if they have the stock). Your best bet for getting the shade you want is to shop at online department stores, Sephora.com or Clinique.com.

*** this post contains an affiliate link... for more information please read my disclosure policy.

Chanel Mimosa (577) Le Vernis Nail Colour Review & Swatches

Chanel Mimosa (577) Le Vernis Nail Colour was recently released with the Summer 2011 collection.



It's a beautiful, sunny yellow with very fine yellow gold micro-shimmer. You can actually see the shimmer better in the bottle, but as you spread it out on the nail it becomes less visible unless you're in direct sunlight.

I used 3 coats for the swatch photo, just because there were some uneven spots. I think if you put this on thickly enough you could do it in 2 coats, but I doubt it would last as long.



Chanel Mimosa is limited edition and retails for $25 at fine department stores and Chanel.com.

Clinique Smoke Grey (03) Brush-On Creme Liner Review & Swatches

A little background... last week I did my friend Tanya's makeup as a trial run for her wedding in June. Of course, being extremely nosy, I dug through her makeup bag to see what she brought with her... which, ultimately, ended in me running to Macy's to make a purchase to get the gift with purchase.

One of the things I picked up was the Clinique Brush-On Creme Liner in Smoke Grey (03). Before this I had no experience with a gel liner made by Clinique. It just looked SO taupe and SO gorgeous. I'm a sucker for a taupe.





The next day I put it on just using UDPP and MAC Grain Eyeshadow, since I wanted to be able to photo the full prettiness of the shade.



Please note, I normally don't do my liner THAT thick... but here's why it's like that. I found this liner to be extremely soft. TOO soft. (For reference I'm used to working with MAC Fluidlines and Bobbi Brown Gel Liners.) It was hard to get on evenly without it wanting to move, so I had to do it thick to even it out. You have to watch and wait for it to dry (which is not instant) because when it IS that thick, if you open your eyes it will transfer to the top of your lid.

It did stay on all day on the upper lid, on the shadow side AND on the side where it was not set with the Satin Taupe. However, it flaked a bit from the waterline during a tear fest in the evening (if you follow on Twitter you may have read how my daughter likes to smear poop.. third time in a week gets to you! But at least it was good timing for wear! lol). So I do not recommend this if you're trying to go waterproof for a funeral or other sad event.

And the brush it comes with just does not work. I feel like it's too tiny to maneuver well. My primary brush for a gel liner is the MAC 209. However, the 266SE actually worked the best for this product.

How did I fix it? Blended some MAC Satin Taupe in, of course!


And, for good measure, an arm swatch:


All in all... dry time too long... flaky... no bueno. Darn, too... because the color is totally gorgeous and exactly what I'm looking for in a gel liner. Basically, if you don't mind it flaking if you get misty eyed and you have the patience to wait for it to dry and to work with it so it goes on evenly, buy it. I don't have that kind of time.

Does anyone have any recs for something similar in color that is an awesome product?

China Glaze Island Escape Summer 2011 Review & Swatches

Available now is the China Glaze Island Escape collection for Summer 2011, which released with six shades earlier this month.


(L-R: 108 Degrees, Papaya Punch, Electric Pineapple, Cha Cha Cha, Blue Iguana, Senorita Bonita)

108 Degrees



108 Degrees is one of those shades you see in the bottle and you're like... yay another fuchsia, over it. It's so much MORE. The above swatch pic was taken with only TWO coats. No matter what angle, room, height I shot from I could not get a picture that was worthy of the beauty of this shade. 108 Degrees is packed with shimmer and microglitter.

I thought 108 Degrees would be my least favorite and it's in my top 3 from this collection! (and doesn't it remind you of 98 Degrees the group from days of yore lol I can't get them out of my head now. If you're around my age you'll know, if you're a lot younger you're probably looking at this screen like... WHO?!)

Papaya Punch



My FAVORITE of the whole collection. Which is shocking, because I'm not one for oranges, especially bright ones. It comes off a shade darker on the nails than in the bottle, which I think makes it work better. The above pic is with three coats, though it did cover well for a creme. It's pretty thick, I just get worried about cremes and looking uneven. Even though it's a Summer shade, it reminds me of pumpkins and orange julius.. which are more of a Fall thing lol

My biggest gripe about Papaya Punch is the STAINING. Even when I removed the shade the color leaked and stained my fingers. =\ It removes easily, so that's a plus!

Electric Pineapple



Electric Pineapple hit in my bottom three, which kind of surprised me. I just wasn't a fan of the color and I had a hard time getting it even. The brush came out of the bottle cap while I was applying, which I'm sure was a fluke? I couldn't push it back in so I just painted sans cap. A little weird, but it worked. The above pic is three coats.

I don't think this shade looks anything like pineapple. With the popularity of yellows this summer I would have thought ChG would have went with a yellow creme for a pineapple, rather than a lime creme.

Cha Cha Cha



This shade was pretty sheer and drippy. It's also in my bottom three. Probably coming in last. Mostly because of the drip. It might do better over a creme of the same shade. After 3 coats I still had VNL.

Blue Iguana



When I first saw Blue Iguana on my nails I thought, this shiny, glittery blue should have been what MAC released for Wonder Woman. Then, as I took the pics and saw how visible the nail line was, and how uneven and sheer the shade applied... I thought, no.. not strong enough for Wonder Woman.

Blue Iguana is a really REALLY pretty shade of shimmery blue, but the above pic was three coats, and the coverage just was not good. It wasn't as drippy as Cha Cha Cha, so that's a plus. It's foily and you can see some purple sparkle in the blue, which was hard to capture on camera.

Senorita Bonita



Senorita Bonita rounds out my top 3 shades from this collection. Another shocker for me! It's purple with a pinkish red micro-glitter. You cannot stop staring at this on your nails.

I used 3 coats for this one and couldn't be happier with the color and application.

***Overall I'm pretty happy with this collection. I love that it's BRIGHT (which normally I don't like) and the color spectrum is all over. I would have liked to have seen a yellow, but I guess everyone else is doing it, so why should ChG have to ;)

In order from favorite to least favorite I would rank them as:
Papaya Punch, Senorita Bonita, 108 degrees, Blue Iguana, Cha Cha Cha, and Electric Pineapple


I leave you with this song, so you'll know what has been running through my head as I went through this whole collection... and maybe you'll recognize the song and I won't feel so old lol


*** Products were provided by the manufacturer or PR firm. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.

Dior Summer 2011 - Electric Tropics

DIOR Summer Look 2011

Dior Electric Tropics Summer Color Collection
The house of Dior invites us on an exhilarating journey to the Tropics for his Spring/Summer 2011 Collection: floral motifs, dresses, with sun-steeped prints, feathers and exotic embroidery, ensembles that explore the borders between masculinity and femininity with fresh sensuality. Sailor uniforms get sassy with lace, shagreen prints and crowns of hibiscus, orchids, and South Pacific palm trees.

Drawing inspiration from this collection, which plays up flamboyance and sunny retro refinement, Creative Director of Dior Makeup Tyen presents a collection inspired by paradise. This makeup look highlights the contrast between audacious neon colors and sun-kissed skin.

Electric Nails

Dior Vernis introduces two new must-have fluorescent shades straight from the Dior runway. To amp up their shine, each fashion-forward shade comes with an ultra-shiny top coat for a dazzling mirror effect.
* Dior Vernis Electric Tropics Nail Duo in Paradise Pink #558 (Saks and Dior.com) MSRP $26.00
* Dior Vernis Electric Tropics Nail Duo in Aloha #638 (not Sephora) MSRP $26.00

Dior Addict Crystal Gloss

This breakthrough gloss coats the lips in incredible crystal summer shine. The translucent or iridescent shades waver between fruity or tangy peach and pink effects that offer an instant radiance boost. Enriched with a polymer gel, the vinyl texture immediately delivers volume to the lips, backed by long-lasting comfort and optimal hydration.
* Dior Ultra-Gloss Crystal Nude in Luminescent Peach #037 (not Sephora) MSRP $27.00
* Dior Ultra-Gloss Crystal Nude in Sweet Peach #047 MSRP $27.00
* Dior Ultra-Gloss Crystal Nude in Luminescent Rose #077 (not Sephora) MSRP $27.00
* Dior Ultra-Gloss Crystal Nude in Sweet Rose #037 MSRP $27.00

Diorskin Healthy Glow Powder

This couture-style summer powder is the must-own accessory that will be coveted by all Dior addicts. Woven like the Lady Dior Avenue clutch, the powder brings a new sparkle to the eyes and flatters the complexion. Each harmony mixes four shades that individually capture a facet of light to reproduce the "healthy glow" of sun-kissed skin.
* Dior Nude Healthy Glow Powder in Aurora #001 MSRP $46.00
* Dior Nude Healthy Glow Powder in Sunset #002 MSRP $46.00

Diorskin Healthy Glow Fluid
Diorskin Nude Glow Fluid recreates the dazzling illusion of sun-kissed skin. Amber prisms act like color filters that delicately warm up the complexion, creating a strikingly natural effect. Its sorbet texture is concentrated with Mineralized Water for instant and lasting skin-refreshing action. When applied, it transforms into a powder and offers a light, velvety finish for a "bare skin" look.
* Dior Nude Healthy Glow Fluid in Rosy Nude #001 (Specialty doors) MSRP $46.00
* Dior Nude Healthy Glow Fluid in Honey Nude #002 (Specialty doors) MSRP $46.00

Also launching in this collection:
* Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Rosy Nude #534 (not Sephora)MSRP $58.00
* Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Rosy Tan #754 MSRP $58.00
* Dior Addict Lipstick in Fire #545 MSRP $28.00

Availability: Dior counters nationwide (except where noted) and Dior.com

*** Collection information and photos were provided by the manufacturer or PR firm. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.

BlushingNoir thinks... "I absolutely love the sound of this collection. I'm all about nudes and natural for my day to day looks, so the powders, glosses and 5-Colour's are right up my alley. For some reason I can't seem to find swatches or pics of that lippie, but it sounds divine for a night out on the town! Can't wait to get to the store for this one. This collection is popping up NOW. It's online for sure and Bloomingdales in Philidelphia told me May 1 it should be at their counter. Keep your eyes peeled!"

Easter Giveaway WINNER!

As you may or may not remember the EASTER GIVEAWAY ended yesterday, on Easter, at Noon EST ;)

Between last night and this morning I compiled all of the entries (which took a bit longer because I was also keeping track of the "what you want to see more of" question) and FINALLY I was ready to put the numbers in at random.org.

The numbers ranged between 1 and 780! Random.org generated #344 which was SUPERHOTFEMALE from Finland!


(you can click this photo to enlarge it)

I sent her a message to her email as well as on Facebook and she has confirmed her win! SHF will be receiving MAC Perfect Topping MSF and L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow in Playful for Brown Eyes.

Now I asked a question on the Easter Giveaway "What Would You Like To See More Of" - and got some AWESOME responses which gave me some great ideas.

Here is the breakdown:
#1 - Drugstore items with a whopping 57 votes
#2 - Skincare was next with 23 votes
#3 - Tutorials with 11 votes
#4 - MAC (or should I say MORE MAC lol) had 10 votes
#4 - Fragrance also had 10 votes
#5 - Hauls with 6 votes

5 votes - makeup, and reviews
4 votes - giveaways
3 votes - Nail Polish, drugstore dupes, Lush, and hair care
2 votes - FOTD, Bobbi Brown, fashion posts, luxury makeup, Benefit, mascara, and nail art
1 vote - Revlon, Clinique, Swatches, Splurge Items, Liners, makeup tips, NARS, Negative Reviews, Bella Terra/Pierre, more about ME lol, trends, storage, bath items, NYX, Skincare I'd never buy again, Blushes, OPI, collection, and lipsticks.

I loved that almost everyone contributed to this question. It really helps me decide what to buy and what to post. I currently don't get a lot of press samples, so I want to buy things that I'm interested in, but that YOU'RE interested in too! This blog isn't JUST for me. I want everyone who reads to have fun and maybe get a lemming or two ;) I've been branching out to different brands and even drugstore products and am loving all of the different things in my arsenal.

Thank you to EVERYONE who entered and don't forget you can still enter the 500 Follower Giveaway until May 20, 2011.

Chanel Lumieres Byzantines de Chanel Palette - Check THIS out!

This is just a quick post to share a Chanel goodie that popped up in the May 2011 issue of Vogue. The Chanel Lumieres Byzantines de Chanel Palette. You can click the pics to enlarge and read the article.





Obviously this palette is INSANELY expensive... but I am dying to own it lol I know it's not going to happen, unless for some reason I win that silly lottery thing that I don't play lol But isn't it PRETTY and fun to look at? I think if I did own it I wouldn't be able to actually use it.

Will you pick it up? If so you NEED to tweet me your pics. How much do you think this will start showing up for on evil-bay?

BB Couture APHRODITE Nail Lacquer Review & Swatches

It's FRIDAY. This Friday is a lot of things. End of the work week... Good Friday... Earth Day... PAINT YOUR NAILS PINK DAY!

If you haven't heard WHY today is Paint Your Nails Pink Day, please check out this article. I'm sure most have heard the story.

My personal opinion on this is that... what is the BIG DEAL? Mom and son bonding time. It's okay! My son is 4 and he sees me painting my nails ALL of the time. I'm a stay at home mom and am with my kids all day. My 2 year old daughter also loves her nails painted. Granted, my son usually wants his taken off within an hour, but where is the harm in indulging them? Kids this age love paint, they love color... why NOT put it on their nails. I don't think that a little bit of nail polish is going to make your kid play for the other team (to be blunt). Simma down.

ANYWAY! My chosen pink today is BB Couture Aphrodite. The pic below is 3 coats of Aphrodite (the back says to do 2 coats but I could still see some nail, so I went for the three) and a top coat of Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat.


Aphrodite is from the A Touch of Greece collection. This is a gorgeous, bright and shimmer spring color. I cannot wait to put it on my toes. I'm unsure of the wear, I did this today for Pink Friday, but I am SO hoping that it lasts through Easter. I really don't have time to mani again before Sunday lol

More bottle pics:




BB Couture Nail Lacquer can be purchased for $9 at OverallBeauty.com. Normally they're $9.95 so hurry over to get the SALE!!

I tried to find the pics of my son and nephews with their nails painted but they are lost in the world of Wal-Mart photo uploads lol If I can find them later I will definitely share. I also have photos of two of my nephews playing "Hair Stylist" with my daughter. They also play baseball, and like to hunt and play paintball... but so do GIRLS! Why does there have to be a line, especially for kids? Why can't they just be themselves?

Okay I'm done preaching lol and I am sorry if this post offended anyone, but blogs are about opinions and I'm allowed to post mine. You're allowed to post yours too ;) as long as you're respectful about it! All comments are moderated, and if any become rude they will be deleted.

Thank you ;)