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!

Bohemian chic

It's finally starting to get cold here...so today I went for my best version of bohemian.

Comfy and cozy at work. What else could a girl ask for - well a mimosa would be nice.

Another sample tried and tested

Just busted out my mighty leaf green tea tropical for an afternoon pick me up. By just opening the pouch my senses were full of a bouquet....it almost smells like some exotic candy!!

The package makes reference to guava and pineapple and I can definitely smell those notes.

The taste is a light green with no after bitter taste. Smooth and a but fruity. This is some yummy tea.

Lips - love the natural look?

I bought this Clarins lips gloss while in Paris a couple years ago. I had forgot about it since it was tucked away in my camera bag, but it has since resurfaced and I remember how much I love it.

The gloss is sheer enough to look natural while providing a nice shine and moisture to my lips. It's Clarins Paris #13 so hopefully we can find this one stateside!!

By the way this is my first mobile post - yay!! Up next....what's she reading now??

Paint your fingers..and toes

I love buying nail polish. There are so many brands and options at every store you go to.  I was in Sephora last month and happened to buy this polish on a whim (the brand/color I wanted wasn't in stock) for 9.50. 

The color went on smoothly, the brush application was perfectly shaped (what's with the weird brushes in nail polish now) and two coats was more than enough to cover the nail completely. 

The bottle top is a little "chubby" and short so it was a bit difficult to paint certain fingers since there was decreased visability but I love the polish.  Here's a look after 4 days....

New day - Fresh face

I just sampled Miracle Skin Transformer which I found to be an amazing product.  It is tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 that leaves your face with a beautiful matte look.  It's also super light on my face and looks very natural.

I don't wear powder or foundation a lot but I definitely like this stuff.  It's also full of antioxidants and it's oil/synthetic free.  I looked on a few sites and it retails for 48.00 on birchbox for 1.7 ounces or on Amazon for 35.  Sephora prices are also about the same and directly from Sara McNamara's site is also 48.00. 

Beauty in a box....

I got my Goop Birchbox and so far I like the two products that I've tried - Luna Fiber bar and the Lip Perfection Gel from perfektbeauty.com

Goop Birchbox

The Lunar Fiber bar in chocolate raspberry was actually really good. I was skeptical that it was going to be too sweet or too "nutra grainy," but to my pleasant surpise it wasn't too sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. 

I also tried the lip perfection gel.  Though in the package it looked pretty dark (color:Melrose), but once I put it on my lips it was a very pleasant nude color.  And my lips were already a bit dry but instantly mousturized!  Some lip glosses like those from Bathy and Body, Victorias Secret, etc. tend to look and taste great but make my lips dry out and peel.  So far so good with this one though, I think I'm going to have to buy it!!! Apparently this stuff also some great stuff in it - details from their website below:


Peptides help stimulate the production of collagen.
Jojoba moisturizes the lips and does not evaporate like water based moisturizers.
Antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid, vitamins A and E help protect the surface from free radicals.
Natural spearmint adds a slight cooling sensation, great taste, and helps the breath feel fresh!
With Smart Color Technology, each of the 5 shades is universally flattering - yet look different on everyone. Also available in Clear!


Will post more pics and reviews....

Lovely Nails

I used Sally Hansen's Nail Effects and LOVED IT.  There are a ton of fun, trendy styles that cost about 9.00 for a set. 

Putting them on your nails is super easy.  Find a size that fits the nail, buff the nail, place the sticker on and file away the edges.  I put them on while I had really long nails....and about a week 1/2 later the edges of my nail started to show. 

So...I cut down my nails and filed down the edge.  I was able to war these for a whole other week.  I received lots of compliments about my nails from people at work down to the lady's at the salon. 

Final thoughts....I loved them!  I even bought a few other sets and can't wait to put them on.  Just want to grow out my nails a bit so I can put them on longer nails again. 

Feet Treat

So as part of my VoxBox from Influenster I received the Dr. Scholls for her - shoe pads for high heels.  I put them into a pair of my favorite work shoes and walked away.

I'll start out first by saying that I probably wear heels once a week, so this was going to be a true testament to see how long could I go for a one day. 

It took me a couple times to figure out where to put the pads that were most comfortable to me, right around the pad of the foot; too close to the toe and it will feel tight, especially in an open toe shoe.  So how did they fare?

I got through the day!!  I even took a walk at lunch with no problem, but I will admit that by the end of the day, my feet were still pretty tired.  Would I normally have been able to go for a lunch time walk in heels. NO, so they definitely added to my heel longevity for the day.  And they're really comfortable.  I plan on getting another pair of my favorite heels...definitely worth a try.

One spritz at a time

So I tried Bath and Body Works Moonlight Path from my Influenster VOXBOX. It's a light scent perfect for a light summery day.
It's a very subtle smell that's a little lavender, flowers, and sandalwood.  I wanted to take my body spray up on a hot air balloon but the ride was closed down for the day due to high winds, so I took my bottle on the carousel again...fun with Bath and Body works....making the world smell better, one rider at at time :)

Bath and Body actually has a number of new fragrance mists.  The great thing about any of these mists is that they're light and subtle.  So you might want to carry around a travel size to give yourself a couple spritzes during the day to keep update your fresh scent.  Otherwise, it tends to fade a bit by the end of the day but it's still there, just a bit more subtle than before. 

More samples tried and tested

So I tried out the Shadow Duo concealer from my Influenster box and loved it. I got the medium shade which has two different colors you can blend together based on skin tone. 

I applied it with a concealer brush but got the best results after I used my finger to dab it in.  The color was perfect, light, and natural.

It's 3:23pm, I've worked out and still no creases...I believe it retails for 29.99.  And since you can mix the color yourself I'll have no trouble using it as the summer continues and I get slightly darker from all that running in the sun!!

I also tried the Le Palais Des Thes tea..you can get it at birchbox.com for 15 a box...and its so worth it. I had the Thé du Hammam and Thé des Alizés.  Both were smelled incredible - delicate and flowery.  They tasted even better than they smelled.  Very refreshing without any bitterness that you get with some green teas.  TRY IT, BUY IT...it's so good.

http://www.birchbox.com/shop/lifestyle?limit=all

Spring 2012 Goodies Box - Influenster

I got my first Influenster Box!!!  The products include: Soy Joy, Shadow Duo eye cream, Chapstick, Sally Hanson's Salon Effects, Dr. Scholl's Ball of foot, Aveeno body wash, and Bath n' Body works mist.

So far I've tried the Soy Joy - DELICIOUS.  I've never had one before but I always wanted to try it.  I was happy with the taste of the product.  It was a lot better tasting than I expected.  Will I buy the product in the future? Yes!  I sometimes see coupons for these tasty little treats and so I do plan on adding it to my repotoire of snacks....move over granolas and make some space for Soy Joy! 

I also tried teh new SPF chapstick. It was really nice to put on and not too heavy!!  I actually had a little bit of a chap lip from lickin' the lips from running.  It's a really nice chapstick - no color, no fragrance, no flavor.  I definitely like it better than some of the other chapsticks I've tried from ChapStick brand.  Not to mention its SPT 30 and way better than my current SPF chapstick.

Lastly - I've also tried the Moonlight Path Bathy and Body works body spray.  It has a very light floral fragrance.  There are subtle hints of vanilla and spice but the overtones of this are very floral - rose, lilies...its like spraying yourself with a bouquet.  It smelled great on my skin but of course seeing as its a body mist, it doesnt last all day so you definitely need to get a travel size and pack it for a midday spritz. 

I'll keep you posted about the other reviews....happy shopping.



Series - A Game of Thrones

I finished reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.  It took me a good part of the book to get into it but once I was - couldn't put it down!  The book is a bit science fiction based - covering various families in the Seven Kingdoms.  Every page there's a new scheme for love, war, power, and ultimately the throne.  The book is broken down by each main charater's storyline - the Starks: Sansa, Jon Snow, Eddard, Bran, Robb, and Arya....the Lannisters - Joffrey, Jamie, Cersei and King Robert.  You also read about the last of the Dragons...though that story line wasn't as interesting to me.  I could never tell what where the plot was gonig to lead...who would live or die.  Great book!  I'm not a sci-fi fan but I was REALLY happy that I checked this series out. 

So now I'm on the 2nd book A Clash of Kings....again this one started out a bit slow as it started with new characters but its picked up pretty quickly and I'm enjoying this one just as much. 

Since writing this I've read A Storm of Swords, a Feast for Crows and now I am on A Dance with Dragons.  I enjoyed A Clash of Kings and a Storm of Swords A LOT.....A Feast for Crows was slow. In the 2nd and 3rd books we move quickly through the story - favorite characters come and go....lives lost while small victories are gained.  I mourned the loss of a few characters that I really enjoyed watching.  But the stories...they're so dynamic and entertaining. 

Where does RR fall short? Well I could have done without a Feast for Crows.  In this book we stick mostly to Kings Landing....watch the power struggle for the Iron Throne continue but it's so focused on the Lannisters, Little Finger, a bit of Arya here and there..as well as Bri's quest for the Stark daughters.  I read page after page just wanting to finish.  I really did not enjoy the book but 1/4 ain't so bad right? Now I'm on a Dance with Dragons and the book runs at first parallel with the timeline from Feast for Crows...so all those characters that went MIA in Crows show back up here and we get to see what they're up to.  At some point in the book we return to a timeline for all characters and I can't wait.  The only problem is - there's no book to move onto after this one!!!  Hurry up Martin, I can't wait forever.

What's she reading now?!

It's been a little while....so what have I read since my last post? Hmmm.....I remember dropping something off to the library - BUT what was it? It can't have been that great if I can't even remember it but to my credit - I've had A LOT going on lately.  

As part of my recent visit to the library I did however notice a new book by George R. R. Martin.  It seemed to be "Dragon" related so I went back and got the first book in the series - "A Game of Thrones." 
It's about a mythical land where winters last for years and the supernatural exists.  I haven't gotten too far into the book yet but the plots thickening to include royalty, conflicts, and war.  I'm still up in the air about this one.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at some point I'll find myself totally engrossed. So the jury is still out on this one.  Come back soon to see what I think.....