Monday, December 16, 2013

Christmas Countdown: Gifts for Her


How adorable are these little ornaments
holding a Ciate nail polish?

These  are perfect to hang on your tree with
the names of the 'giftee' (adorable name
tags are included). And the bows make it perfect!

I, myself, have been wanting to try this
brand so I thought this was perfect. I'm giving
each of my girlfriends one along with the Soap & Glory body butters below.







Now here's something I got for myself. The set I purchased actually had a red color
instead of white.I love the formulation and the balck is literally the blackest polish I have
ever owned. For $9.99 this is a great little stocking stuffer!




Soap & Glory is well known for their luxurious body butters. I had to force myself NOT to keep this all to myself. $9.99 for the smaller sized tubs makes a wonderful gift to pair with another beauty item, like either of the ones above.

I love the cute packaging, they smell amazing, and you know you're giving good quality. I may just have to repurchase...for me!








What are some of your favorite stocking stuffer gift ideas?
I personally love getting a ton of little special things like these, what about you?


XoXo,
A
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Friday, December 13, 2013

The Lipstick Tag!

The Lipstick Tag!

This tag has been going around for a few months now and it's taken me forever
to film and post just because...well....I'm ashamed! I can't believe how much I own.

And this doesn't include lip balms or glosses :(

I have since done a clean out and donated a bunch of lip products
to women's shelters - but I'm still left with an unthinkable amount.

Check out my video and let me know some of YOUR answers!!!



As usual, I like to link to some other blogs so you can explore!
Stop by Sew Crafty Angel and The Pink Momma's blog hops.
They're awesome and link to some truly amazing blogs.

XoXo,
A


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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Giving the Gift of Glam: A Tag That Gives Back!

'Tis the Season to GIVE BACK!


I was tagged by GlamMoms2013 on YouTube to do something truly meaningful...
give to those less fortunate than myself.

How often do we think we're just going to die without that new blush or
lipstick? So silly, right? This tag calls for us to go through our makeup, toiletries, hair
products, etc. and find things we don't like, use or just doesn't work for us and
donate it to women who truly need it.

So I went through my collection several times and parted with a crazy amount
of makeup, skincare, haircare...and was still left with an amount I'm ashamed of.

But the point is, we live in this world of abundance. And what for? I clearly don't
need 10+ blushes (and that's a low estimate!).

Check out my video below to see what I was able to pull from my 'collection'
to donate to women who have so little. Thumbs up and share to spread
word and get this tag going!



When you have very little, or nothing, the last thing you're going to do is indulge
in a lipstick. Especially when you need a place to sleep or dinner or your
child needs something.

This tag was designed by GlamMoms2013 to help
these women feel beautiful again. To give them a small part of normalcy and that
little something special they can call their own.

I'll be making my donations to The Women's Lunch Place. Please check out their site
and look up shelters in your local area. Every little bit counts. 

And there a few Blog Hops you should definitely chck out:
Katherine's Corner Thursday Favorite Things
and
VMG206 Brag About It Linky Party 

Make this Season count!

Stay beatiful, stay blessed!

XoXo,
A
Instagram






Monday, December 9, 2013

Anastasia Lavish Palette GRWM & Review

New video is up live on my YouTube Channel. Check it out below!

If you guys have seen my November Favorites, or any of my recent videos,
I have been going on and on about The Lavish Palette. I personally think this is an
amazing palatte filled with stunning mattes and gorgeous unique shimmers.

The brow pencil, bursh and tweezers that are included put it over the top
for me. Such a wonderful combination of makeup and tools.

Check out my look and review here!


XoXo,
A

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

My Holiday Decor, Part 1

'Tis the Season to decorate! Get ready, you're going to
be bombarded with holiday post after post after post!

Yesterday I showed you Pinterest ideas I found and loved and last
night, true to my intention, I put one of those ideas into effect.


I love the way the ribbons dress up the kitchen cabinets and it took less than
5 minutes for 4 cabinets! I just wrapped the ribbon around the door and
used a glue gun to seal the ends to eachother. Tie a bit of silver and gold ribbon
and glued a fabric white pointsettia in the centers. 
Here are just a few more ways I spiced up my living room for the Christmas season. That gorgeous gold glittery reindeer was purchased for $12 at TJ Maxx, I think it adds some much needed height and glamour to the area.


 For something super quick and simple (and cheap) I just filled a bowl I already had with some scented pinecones (Michael's $2.99) and different sized red and gold ornaments (Dollar Tree, holla!). I've gotten so many compliments for something under $5 that took about 2 minutes to assemble.


And who doesn't love a string of lights, garland and a bow? Below are some crafty
bits I've put together and my neice and nephew made us.

This is a pussywillow I'm keeping for my mom
that I jazzed up with some Dollar Tree multi
colored feathers. Cute right?

And to the right is a cone tree I picked up at
Marshall's for about $10. I centered it inside,
you guessed it, Dollar Tree merch! (wreath, red
table runner, glittery sprigs and flowers)


Hope you enjoyed the first peak into my Christmas crafts & decorating
journey. This is the first year I've really gone all out.

I still have lots of little crafty things to share so check back next week! And don't
forget to visit Katherine's Corner for her Thursday Favorite Things Linky
Party for more great ideas!

XoXo,
A



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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

NOTD: Revlon Parfumerie Bordeaux


Is anyone else obsessed with the new REVLON Parfumerie polishes? At this point I know I own more than 10 :/

Bordeaux is a gorgeous deep red wine color and is completely opaque in two thin coats. I did use a base and top coat and I'm glad I did. Any wear is obvious since it is such a deep color.

The scent it not something to swoon over, it does smell faintly of red wine but it's not very strong-which is good if you're not a wine lover! But the scent lasted about 2 days, although not strong.

I used my dotting tools (Amazon) to create a festive spray of gold, camel and shimmery pink dots cascading from top of the nail to the base. Zoya polishes have a special place in my heart.

I love this combination, what about you? Have you tried any of the Parfumerie polishes?


And don't forget to check out the Brag About It Tuesdays Linky Party host BeBetsy and co-host VMG206. These wonderful ladies, along with countless others, have the best posts, ideas and crafts I'm sure you'll love!


XoXo,
A


Instagram




Monday, December 2, 2013

Holiday Pinterest Decor Ideas

Is any one else obsessed with Pinterest? Please say I'm not the only one. I literally
browse pins for hours, drawn in by people's creativity and resourcefulness.
Especially around the holidays. I've found so many great
decorating ideas I just had to share with you guys!

This idea is so simple I can't believe I didn't come up with it myself. Amazing right?

All you need is a little ribbon, a bow and if you want to jazz it up, a snowflake or in my case, I'm going to add a small ball ornament.

I can't wait to do this tonight!





I love the above ideas. Again, all things I probably already have in my house yet add
creativity and elegance to any decor. Love, love, love!



 
Now if I could get either of these done I would be the happiest woman in the world.
Yes, I'm serious.


Now this last Pin was sent to me by LittleMissAndee via text last night. I can only dream
that one day I can have a spread like this. I know my limitations. They land wayyy before this!

So those are a just a few of my current loves that I thought you might be able to enjoy. 
Please send me any pins that you love or think I might love, too!

Merry Christmas!

XoXo,
A




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Thursday, November 21, 2013

RELAX....That's an order!



Is this you???
 A lot of my girlfriends, specially now during the holiday season, find themselves swamped with work, errands, parties, housework….and the list goes on! How can we fit it all in?

The answer? WE CAN’T. When was the last time you sat down and just admitted that you didn’t want to have that catch-up coffee with an old friend, or attend all 7 holiday parties 2 weeks prior to Christmas? We don’t admit it because, well, it just sounds so mean to say you no. So here's my friendly little reminder that sometimes the best thing for you is NOT to do it all.


Me time doesn’t always consist of bubble baths and face masks. Actually, it rarely does! 
Why is it that we feel so guilty saying no or just being honest that we’re tired. “No, I don’t have other plans but I’m actually really looking forward to going home, taking off my bra and watching Scandal.” Is that really so difficult to say? I mean, those are legit my plans tonight. For reals.

So every now and then when I start to get grumpy because the household chores are piling up and the fridge is empty and my bones ache because I’m just that tired…I remind myself it’s okay to make plans to ‘not have plans’.

A friend might ask, "Hey do you have plans tonight?" "Actually, yes. I have plans to stay home, have a glass of sangria and wash about 3 loads of laundry." End of story. No apologies necessary.

 
It may sound selfish, and that’s not my intent, but sometimes we have to be just a tiny
bit selfish. What good am I if I’m running around like a crazy woman but too tired to make
dinner or spend time with my husband?

We have to remember that this is the season for giving but we have to also give to ourselves.
Let’s not forget to give ourselves peace of mind, give ourselves a chance to breathe,
give ourselves a break. And don’t forget, it’s okay to focus on you at least a little bit!

The reason you’re so busy is because you’re so great and everyone wants a piece of you.
Just make sure there’s enough of you at the end of each day that you still feel whole!

So RELAX! Don't stretch yourself too thin this season and just enjoy life. Make every day
count but for the love of chocolate...kick off your shoes & have some hot cider!

And while you're at it, check out Katherine's Corner so you can see her Thursday
Favorite Things and see what everyone else is enjoying today!

Happy Holidays!!!


XoXo,
A






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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

BB Cream Breakdown: Rimmel vs. Garnier

It's no shock to anyone that watches my YouTube videos that I LOVE BB Creams.
I can't stand thick, cakey foundations that leave me dry or irritates. I just want something smooth
and light, helping me out just a bit ;) I've been wanting to do a series comparing my favorite BB Creams
and it's taken a while but I really wanted to make sure I was giving each one it's fair share.

So today, we're starting off with Rimmel London BB Cream 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting Super Makeup vs. Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination to Oily Skin.




$10.99-12.99
 2 FL. OZ.

-Hydrates
-Evens Tone
-Protects SPF 20
-Controls Shine
-Renews
-Brightens
-3 shades








$4.99-$6.99
1 FL. OZ.

-Primes
-Moisturizes
-Minimizes Pores
-Conceals
-Covers
-Smooths
-Mattifies
-Brightens
-Helps Protect SPF 25
-3 shades





So here are my actual thoughts. Over the Summer, I actually loved both of these BB Creams equally. They provided a smooth even texture to skin while moisturizing and protecting. I loved them! But alas, the cold Winter months are approaching and I've already noticed a huge difference in application.

Garnier is a super thin consistency that can be very messy if you're not careful. But I love the ease
of blending whether with my fingertips, Beauty Blender, or brush. I only need one layer but you
can easily dab on a second layer for extra coverage if you need. I don't think this BB Cream provides
enough moisturization and I always apply a face cream prior to putting on my makeup. But it doesn't
oxidize, has a radiant glow -- not dewey at all but not matte and it does actually help to control shine.

Rimmel has one of the thickest consistencies I've seen in a BB Cream. Over the Summer months I
didn't mind but I do now :/ It dried a bit patchy on my dry spots and actually made my pores
more noticeable. To me, that's unforgiving! I do like the color although since it's a big warmer and
more orange-toned, it suits me better in Summer. Another downfall is that it stays tacky on the
skin for quite a while. Even after putting on all my makeup, I could still feel the tackiness in certain
areas. Coverage is buildable and it does a great job concealing any little blemishes you may have.



The winner for me is definitely Garnier! Although super runny and messy, it was easier to blend, a
great color and most importantly, didn't bring attention to any of my flaws. It doesn't necessarily
mattify but then again, it doesn't claim to. It does control shine which is great for me because I
need that help! I really love and recommend this BB Cream to anyone, oily or dry skin.

Have you tried either of these BB Creams? I'm hoping to review and compare 2 BB
Creams every 2 weeks. What are your favorites and which ones would you never
touch again? I thought I loved all the ones I've been using but I think now that the
cold weather is here, that will be changing.

I'm putting it to the test. What do you guys think???

XoXo,
A


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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

NOTD: Revlon Parfumerie & Finger Paints

I think it's obvious that I'm obsessed with nail polish. My newest obsession?
Revlon's new Parfumerie line. I have a ton of colors from this line and I'm somewhat
 ashamed to admit it...okay, not really! Here's a quick little NOTD and review for you guys.





















Apricot Nectar is a gorgeous corally orange, bright, somewhat pastel and truly opaque-- with three coats! I've tried Autumn Spice and adore the color, finish and opacity. This cream finish is beautiful however, it does apply a bit streaky despite the thick consistency.

I decided to try Apricot Nectar without a base or top coat, basically naked! It dried pretty quickly and after 3 days there's no chipping but, of course, there is some wear on the tips. I'm sure wear time could be extended by at least 2 days with a good top coat (I love Out The Door).

What about the scent? That's what you really want to know. I've heard some people complain the scent isn't strong or doesn't last. I can't smell it a mile away but I can smell it when my hand is near my nose and it lasts about 2-3 days (Autumn Spice lasted 5 days!). According to my husband, Apricot Nectar smells like Skittles.

 

Finger Paints Hue Left Me A Message? is the most beautiful rose gold glitter I own, not that I have a billion but I do have a few. It's by far my favorite. Very easy to apply, the glitter goes on evenly in one coat but two coats is perfection.

The base is a clear polish that isn't thick and goopy like most glitter polishes. And there's an abundance of super fine glitter that sparkles but isn't obnoxious and chunky. Some glitters come off tacky and loud. This is classy and sophisticated.

And over Apricot Nectar? Don't get me started. Be still my heart. This is my first Finger Paints polish but I already know it won't be my last!
All in all, I love these polishes alone but especially paired together. I wish Apricot Nectar 
was easier to apply and less streak but the color and scent are awesome. I have no complaints
when it comes to Hue Left Me A Message? Gorge, just gorge. Of course I'm going to tell
you to run and get it!!!

XoXo,
 A



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