Friday is full of....

What is your Friday full of? Mine...possibility, promise, sadness, happiness, life, love, beauty, fashion...but no need to get into all of that this post. Lets just focus on the good stuff - makeup and fashion ;)

I received my Birchbox - lots of great things to sample this month.  I received some "dry" shampoo and I can't wait to try it out. I've always seen this stuff but never bothered to use it.  Will it work, will I like it?

I also received the fragrance "Hello" which smells great but just isn't my type of perfume. I handed it over to a friend and she loves the stuff. 

Also got an atonomizer which I'm stoked about as it was on my holiday gift list!!! LOVE IT. Benefits eye crea, and a credit towards rent the runway.  Rent the Runway is a site that lets you rent great designer looks for an event, and then return it..they take care of the dry cleaning.  HOW AWESOME IS THAT? I have yet to find an event where I need a designer dress, but I do have some weddings in 2013 so maybe.....


It's finally chilly in So Cal.  And I mean feet hurt kind of chilly so I'm back in my scarves, boots, sweater dresses, leggings, and LEG WARMERS.  I got these in New York earlier this year and haven't been able to use them until now.  I LOVE THEM....it's so 80's and yet so 2012. 

Is that a red leopard print scarf I see? Why, yes it is.  So as I bid you adieu for now...watch for my next post as I update you on all those life things I have going on.  I don't have a book on tap to read though the book club may be looking to read Divergent this coming January.  Stay tuned!!!

Kitchen House by K. Grissom

Stress...anticipation...sadness...and more stress.  These are the words I can use to describe my feelings as I read this book.  The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom details the life of Lavinia - a young, freckle faced/red headed - Irish orphan who becomes an indentured servant on a southern plantation.  Taken in by the owner's slaves, Lavinia is raised to help in the big house.  As the book unfolds we watch her struggle between "family" and her "place in society." 

This book was passed on to me by a friend and it took me a little while to get into it.  I started the book - got a few pages in and left it by the wayside.  Well I decided to pick it back up the other night and I'm glad I did.  It was a fast read - probably about 2 1/2 days...I couldn't put it down because I HAD to know what happens.  I realized at the end how stressed out I felt while reading the story.  There are times where it just gets pretty intense while you're rooting for your favorite characters. 

So if you're looking for an easy but drama filled read - The Kitchen House will not let you down.

Obsessions don't have to be bad

I used my modelco fibre lash mascara and took a couple pics. The first shows the left side of the photo with the mascara and the right side without....and then both with the mascara.

I swear I love this stuff!!!

Lashes, hair, and perfume

I tried on MCMC's Phoenix which boasts of peach and cherry blossom, gradually giving way to sturdy Tunisian neroli.  At 95.00 a bottle - this one is a BUST!  I put a few dabs on my wrist and though there is a hint of fruit it smells strongly of honeysuckle.  I have no idea what Tunisian neroli smells like but this fragrance did not smell very nice on me at all.  It looks like others have left similar reviews for the product.  I hope some of the other MCMC fragrances will suit me better. 

Also over this long holiday weekend I tried a sample provided to me during a shopping trip to Sephora.  I've tried other Ojon products but never this rare blend oil therapy.  You add it to your wet locks after a shower to protect it from heat damage, boost moisture, and tame frizz.  At 35.00 a bottle I'm not sure I'll be purchasing this one.  I still love my Elemis Frangiapani hair oil which is definitely cheaper (50.00/bottle) when you compare the bottle sizes. 
You can find the frangiapani oil at Nordstrom, QVC, and various stores if you google the product. 

And on Thanksgiving I tried the Modelco Fibre lash mascara.  Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of my  lashes to compare but I did find another fellow blogger that took a photo of her lashes.  I didn't use the primer as she did but as you can see this mascara does work wonders.  I definitely saw my lashes thicken and lengthen with the fibers in the mascara.  It's a definite buy...I think I'm even going to purchase a couple tubes for some friends.  Share and share alike right?

And as an update to my previous post - the One Love Organics Aromatic Body Serum in rose smelled great!  Though its rather strong in the bottle, it ended up being rather light and not too overwhelming.  I wore it after applying Philosophy's Pure Grace which is a new favorite of mine.  For the One Love - at 39.00 a bottle...it might be something worth an investment down the road. So until next time, work off those turkey dinners and try some of these new products!

New samples are in!!

My November Birchbox came much faster than I expected...I was only notified Monday that it left New York. 

I opened my box last night and it was a little under whelming this go around but that's okay.  There is always a month or two where you're not gonna be 100% happy.  And either way you get to sample new stuff!

I did try the Chuao honeycomb chocolate. I thought it would be a little more "airy" for some reason but the chocolate was deep and rich.  I'm not a huge chocolate lover so my opinion is slightly tainted by that...so I let the boyfriend give it a try and he thought it was really good.  SO if you like chocolate, then I would say give this a try.  The ingredients are ALL NATURAL, even the sugars.  For this particular flavor the honey is even crystallized so it provided a bit of a crunch to the smooth chocolate. 

I also received this rose infused body serum.  The sample obviously has some issues as it leaked...the smell is INTENSE. I love the smell of roses but I'm not sure how subtle this oil will be on my body.  I'm gonna give it try anyway and will let you know how it turns out.  In the mean time I'll keep sampling...

As part of this birchbox, we're reminded to do unto to others.  So as we approach this holiday season and give thanks, I urge you to ask yourself - "What selfless act have I done lately?"  How do I improve and contribute to society.....we're all so wrapped up in our own bubbles that I think we forget we're here to make a difference and not simply live from day to day....eat, work, sleep. 

I hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving.....until next time my friends.

Polish time

With a bit of free time this weekend, I managed to paint my nails and I think they turned out pretty good. Hopefully it lasts!!

I used Sally Hansen loves me not as the base, Milani blue and purple glitter polish along with Essie's silver glitter. Topped it off with a clear coat and some dry kwik.

This morning I added a little extra silver and I think my finger nails look like a starry night. Sorta lol.

Book I am going to start - the kitchen house!!

Accessorize or die....

Mornings are cool and crisp while afternoons swelter back up to the 80's...I know that 80 isn't that how but for mid-Novmeber that's a bit too warm.

So dressing for the day can be a challenge, I try to layer it up and keep the toes covered. I put a lot of stuff on today and as Chanel would say...took one thing off and it made all the difference. Accessories make our outfits and highlight our personality.

So add a lil blush to your face and a few bangles and baubles to your person. There are days to be a wall flower and days to work it LOL.

On another note I've been using French cream benta berry g-1 (not previously available in the states) and adding a little Vasanti liquid cover up to it each morning. It offers light coverage that hasn't made me shiny at all!! I think ive used an Oil blotter once this week. Downside there's no SPF in any if the product so I have to add that too - neutrogena anti age 110 SPF.

All these items can be found at birchbox!