Neutral FOTD

Happy Sunday, lovelies!

I just wanted to pop in to show off the new hair! I got it cut REALLY short (for me anyway) and this morning I tried a new hair color.

I always use L'Oreal Preference to combat those stubborn EVIL grays that pop up on my way too young head. I used to use 4AR (Dark Brown - Warmer) but never liked the reddish cast it left on my head. While getting my hair cut on Tuesday I asked my hairdresser why it was doing that. She said it was because I was using a warmer color, and to try something that says neutral or natural. I went to Rite-Aid and bought 4 (Dark Brown - Neutral). WOW is it dark lol I think next time I'll go for just a brown. This may just be too dark for me.

The beauty of the cut, though, is that I can't pull it back. So I HAVE to dry it after the shower. It's forcing me to stop being lazy with my hair!

Onto the face! I had no intention of doing my makeup today, but we may have visitors later and I wouldn't want to scare them silly with a bare face. If I could switch up anything on my face it would be the lip. I think I would have rather gone with something a little more peachy. Apparently English Accents, while gorgeous, isn't as pinky as I thought!!

Breakdown (all MAC unless otherwise marked):
FACE:
Studio Sculpt Foundation NW25
Studio Sculpt Concealer NW25
Lancome Duel Finish Powder (Matte Bisque)
Chanel Nude Joues Contraste

EYES:
Groundwork Paint Pot
Patina e/s
Modlette e/s
MUFE eye liner 24L
Plushlash Mascara in Black
Anastasia Brow Powder - Brunette
Clear Brow Gel

LIPS:
English Accents Lipglass

Great Friends Mean Great Times!!

No makeup or nail polish news today!

**Although I will say that Blue India np has been holding up FABULOUSLY!

Today I went to my friend Janels bridal shower. Janel and I were friends in high school and roommates at Pitt! I'm so excited she is getting married, the wedding will be beyond beautiful!

She had her bridal shower at the Hard Rock Cafe. Who knew they did stuff like that?! Where else in one day do you get to attend a bridal shower, meet a Gene Simmons imposter, and see a guy riding his bike on his back? Only at the Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh!

Yes. We really DID meet a Gene Simmons imposter. The middle aged ladies at my table were going wild. Turns out he's the impersonator in the area. Who the heck walks around ALL day dressed like Gene Simmons?! I'm thinking he LOVES the attention. Yes?

I went down with my friend Megan. AKA the M-Mza. She is hilarious, and we always see crazy things together. Some friends from Pitt that I haven't seen in TEN years were there too. We had a blast celebrating Janel and reminiscing.

I, of course, being the genius that I am, left my camera in the car, so we had an impromptu photo shoot in the parking garage... my makeup looks whack... but I didn't refresh before we did this ;)

Happy weekend everyone!

MAC Give Me Liberty of London Haul

Happy Thursday to my 14 followers and anyone else who may pop in ;)

The Nordies order finally came in and I now have in my possession Birds & Berries eye shadow and Ever Hip Lipstick from MAC's Give Me Liberty Of London collection. The only two left on my want list are Bough Grey Eye Shadow and Summer Rose BP. One day they will be mines!

On to the haul!!!!


I'm totally enamoured with this packaging. MAC has had some REAL doozies of ugly in the past... (Neo Sci-Fi... sorry, that bright orange just didn't do it for me, Heatherette... I understand the designers are loud.. but yowza, Dame Edna... well that collection as a whole was just an epic fail. And who could forget those lovely eyeglass stickers falling off almost immediately. etc) but I think with LOL they really made it nice. Not too garish, but enough going on so that it looks fancy. I am in LOVE with everything that I bought from this collection. So there will be nothing negative beyond this point!

Shell Pearl BP - It shows up decently on my NW25 skin. I'm wearing it in the FOTD below. It's better suited to go under or over a more pigmented blush. But you could use it alone just to brighten up your face and stay minimal.

Prim & Proper Blush - extremely pigmented. I think with both blushes from this collection you really need to use a light hand. It's a Satin finish, which is one of my faves. They seem to have better lasting power than the sheertones.

Ever Hip Lipstick - a creamsheen.. usually not my cup of tea, but it seemed to apply more like a lustre on me. The color is to die for and exactly the coral I've been looking for. No wonder it was the first thing to sell out on the website!

Give Me Liberty Of London Eye Shadow - I've been off and on about wanting a nice matte pink. None of the others have been what I wanted. GMLOL hit the nail on the head. I love to use this as an all over lid color and then to put something fun in the crease. A MAC MA used this along with birds & berries on my cousin and she looked AMAZING.

Birds & Berries Eye Shadow - This is mostly compared to Strike A Pose Eye Shadow but more teal. B&B is definately more teal. It's everything Strike A Pose isn't. I really couldn't fall in love with SAP... B&B has captured my heart. How could you NOT want to wear this everyday?!

Frankly Fresh Lipglass - This is just a gorgeous nudish color. I love using it with Brave New Bronze Lipstick (Style Warriors). You could use it to jazz up anything really. IMO it is the number one lipglass from this collection and should not be passed over.

English Accents Lipglass - This was not an original contender on my list. I mentioned before that my cousin had her makeup done. This was the lipglass that the MA used on her and it just looked phenomenal.. that was what made my decision. It looks really good with the Viva Glam lippie from Lady Gaga.

Blue India Nail Polish - I wasn't too impressed with this one on paper. It was a maybe on my list and swatches had me going back and forth. In person, this np will floor you. It sold out quickly as well, if you find it, do yourself a favor and GET IT!

What did you haul from Give Me Liberty Of London?

Last but not least... my FOTD (sorry for the extreme close up.. I think it's quite obvious by now that I rarely do my hair)

Breakdown (all MAC unless otherwise marked):
FACE:
Studio Sculpt Foundation NW25
Studio Sculpt Concealer NW25
Lancome Duel Finish Powder (Matte Bisque)
Shell Pearl BP

EYES:
UDPP
Birds & Berries e/s
Shroom e/s
MUFE eye liner 21L
Plushlash Mascara in Black
Anastasia Brow Powder - Brunette
Clear Brow Gel

LIPS:
Ever Hip lipstick

MAC Blue India - Liberty Of London

Hey there Guys and Dolls! It's been awhile. My kids are keeping me so busy lately with all of their growing up and what not ;)

For the first time in a LONG time MAC has floored me with their new collection, Give Me Liberty Of London. Bravo, MAC! If I had the funds, I would have bought it all.

I picked up:

Ever Hip lipstick
Frankly Fresh Lipglass
English Accents Lipglass
Give Me Liberty Of London eye shadow
Birds & Berries eye shadow
Prim and Proper Blush
Shell Pearl Beauty Powder
Blue India nail polish

I'm still seriously lemming bough grey and summer rose bp. I'm not a BP fan by any means but the ones with this collection seem a lot more pigmented. I've been able to use Shell Pearl on it's own and I'm NW25.

Frankly Fresh looks awesome overtop of Brave New Bronze Lipstick (from Style Warriors), and English Accents looks amazing over Viva Gaga.

Here is a NOTD with Blue India... it's by FAR the best MAC polish I've ever owned... opaque in TWO coats!


Here is my FOTD - it's really not Saint Patrick's Day inspired... but I wanted to try out MAC Beautiful Iris eye shadow, and it includes some Liberty of London!

Breakdown (all MAC unless otherwise marked):
FACE:
Studio Sculpt Foundation NW25
Studio Sculpt Concealer NW25
Lancome Duel Finish Powder (Matte Bisque)
Prim & Proper Blush
Shell Pearl BP

EYES:
UDPP
Beautiful Iris e/s
Shroom e/s
MUFE eye liner 4L
Plushlash Mascara in Black
Anastasia Brow Powder - Brunette
Clear Brow Gel

LIPS:
Mouth Off Lip liner
Costa Chic lipstick
Bendel Girl lipglass




I do hope to post a lot more. My goal is to start posting with every MAC or nail polish haul that I do. Please excuse the hair and brows in the pics... brows need done... hair needs cut...
WOW I really let myself go when I had kids lol

NOTD ~ Barielle Blackened Bleu

New from Barielle - The All Laquered Up collection - is Blackened Bleu. The ALU collection is what introduced me to the Barielle brand. I've never tried their polishes before. I must say, I'm impressed!



The first coat was super sheer, and left me a little worried. The second coat brightened my spirits considerably and the third coat... WOW. I'm head over heels in love with this polish. In the pic, you can see how it can be dark, and then in the light it has the beautiful blue glitter... I am super impressed with Barielle as a brand and will definately be ordering more in the future!

On a side note - SO sorry I've been away.... We had one crazy weekend and it ended with my son getting some sort of stomach virus. That was not a fun time, poor little guy. DH also hurt his knee pretty badly. He just went to the ortho surgeon yesterday and will NOT need surgery unless he reinjures it. At worst he'll need a cortisone shot. Phew. That would have really hindered a lot of upcoming projects here at the house!

It feels nice to finally polish my nails again. There was nothing on them for a week!! OY!

Juicy Couture - Honest Opinions

Ok, guys & dolls, I need some honest opinions here.

I need to carry a TON of stuff with me all of the time. I saw this huge bag at Juicy Couture yesterday and thought it would be perfect to throw all my stuff in, plus diapers, snacks and what have you for the kids. It won't show stains either, which is always a plus.

Myself and my dad's fiancee love the bag, so does my BFF Tracy. DH thinks it's old lady and ugly. PLEASE let me know what you think. Be honest and don't worry about hurt feelings or anything. I'm on the fence about it now because of DH lol he's such a turd.

DuWop Twilight Lip Venom

Yesterday during my super duper mall excursion I saw the Twilight DuWop Lip Venom at Nordies. I am totally Team Edward so I decided to give it a go.

This version of the lip venom DOES contain cinnamon. When I chew cinnamon gum my tongue swells like a balloon. I was hoping for the same effect on my lips, and really I think it did give it a nice plump. After the first application it is PAINFUL. More so than the tingle of the original lip venom. Like it REALLY hurt for about a minute. But then it felt sort of cool.

I definately give this 4 out of 5 stars. Here is why:

PACKAGING


APPLICATION ONE

It looks like something is wrong with my mouth. The stain in the tube is minimal unless you swirl around and dig in there. This was the first application where I got very little stain. As you can see, it sort of settled in areas. Anyway, seeing as how I experience issues when I chew cinnamon gum I grabbed a MAC wipe and removed the lip venom. I happily note that the weird discoloration went with it. I decided to try again....

APPLICATION TWO

On the second dip I got quite a bit more color and it shows. You do still have to be careful, as it still went on a bit uneven. I wouldn't recommend applying this without a mirror. After I took this pic the baby woke up and began to cry, I didn't want to smooch her with the venom on so I wiped it off & was met with...

AN AWESOME LIP STAIN

I have almost NO pigment in my lips. It was nice to see a bit here to add some color on my face.

I say.... go buy it! It's pretty cool! Retail $16.00 at Nordstroms.