Disney Villains Halloween Tutorial Series: Ursula

She was conniving, menacing, manipulating, devious...and stole poor Ariel's voice! Ursula was 
the epitome of a smooth criminal. Her evil laugh, bright red lips and sneaky eyes always made 
me uncomfortable as a child. Re-creating her look was fun and a bit of a challenge since her 
look  (other than purple tinted skin) is basically very simple and human like. But here goes! 
Check out Andee  and Maria's blogs for more creative and menacing looks!

PRODUCTS USED:

Face
-WnW Fantasy Makers Painter's Palette (Pixie Princess)
-Ardell Bow Pencil (Soft Black)
-L'Oreal 24HR Laquer Liner (Blackest Black)
 

Eyes

-NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (Milk)
-Maybelline Color Tattoo (Tenacious Teal)
-Maybelline Color Tattoo (Edgy Emerald)
-Maybelline 8 Pan EyeShadow (Twilight Rays)
-Revlon  PhotoReady Eye Palette (Muse)
-Pixel Liquid Liner
-Rimmel ScandalEyes (Blamed Blue)
-Rimmel ScandalEyes (Guilty Grey)
-Rimmel Volume Flash Mousse Mascara
-Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara

Lips

-L'Oreal LeLaque (Lacque-onic)
-ELF lip liner (Bitter)

So how do you think I did? What other looks are you interested in seeing? 

Who was your most feared Disney Villain growing up? 

I hope you enjoyed the pics and don't forget to check out my YouTube channel for 
more tutorials. I'm having a blast bringing these characters back to life!

XoXo,

 A

Follow @adrianarr9



Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 107: Orange Fall Nails

Yearning to embrace pumpkin season, I wanted to paint my nails some kind orange--but not too orange. I've had L'Oreal's Mango Mamma for some time now I decided it was time to break it out. But I knew the jelly formula wouldn't be opaque so China Glaze's Flying South made the perfect topper. 

Mango Mamma makes for a great bright but appropriate seasonal base. I did have to apply 3 coats but was satisfied once I I applied Flying South. I loooove the mix of orange and gold glitter with the orange and white bar glitter. It sparkles, shimmers and adds so much dimension. 

I love this combo! Sure, these textured or glitter polishes can be hard to remove but I think the beautiful finish is worth the extra effort. What do you think?

Don't forget to check out Katherine's Corner, Sew Crafty Angel and guest blog Cuddle Bug Cuties to see more great blogs and Thursday a Favorite Things!

XoXo,

     A

Follow @adrianarr9

Wednesday Extravaganza: Kielbasa with Peppers and Rice

I loooove me some kielbasa, but I like to at least try to eat a bit healthier here and there. So I picked up some turkey kielbasa to sautée with homegrown yellow and red peppers with a side of plain white rice. This literally took about 15-20 minutes (mostly waiting on the rice) which makes it a perfect for those after work dinners when you're exhausted and can't go 'all out.'

"Wednesday Extravaganza" w/ HungryLittleGirl

I love how colorful the peppers are, they really jazz up the plate, don't you think? Just looking at it makes my stomach growl!

What're you guys eating tonight? What's your favorite recipe? The temperature here is dropping pretty quickly, do you have any slow cooker recipes you'd like to share? Let me know!!!

XoXo,

     A

Follow @adrianarr9

EOTD: Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition "Jewel of an Eye" Eye Couture

Oh. Em. Gee. I can't speak, can't breathe. The angels sing as the heavens open to reveal 

the  most beautiful jewel-toned eye shadow palette my brown eyes have ever seen. Okay, okay, 

all dramatics aside, the "Jewel of an Eye" palette is a gem, I swear! 12 gorgeous jewel-toned hues 

range from a cool deep plum,  rich vibrant garnet, glistening emerald, and the most gorgeous 

navy I probably have ever laid eyes on.

Retailing at $19.99 at Target, it's definitely on the pricey side for drugstore makeup and although 

I consider it a must have you should really check out your makeup stash before making this investment. But if you're a makeup junkie like me, and if you're reading this I think it's safe to 

assume you are, just the online description of this palette will hold you captive:

"Get gorgeous eyes with this enchanting palette of 12 stunning shadows... Highlight your eyes with a wash of jewel toned color or create a smokey eye with rich shades of eggplant, emerald and wine-colored shadows. Three shimmery neutrals complete the palette to perfectly complement the eye-catching shades."  (www.SoniaKashuk.com)

Um, yeah, talk about hypnotic. Someone give the copy writer a raise!

Here are some swatches with and without flash so you can see for yourself 

just how gorgeous these shadows are!

 

Here is just one of the many Autumn inspired looks I came up with using "Jewel of an Eye":

Watch my video here:

Hope you guys find this post helpful and enjoy the look. Have you tried this palette?

Are you as in love as I am or do you find this a bit too pricey?

Let me know what you think!

XoXo,

A

Follow @adrianarr9

Disney Villains Halloween Tutorial Series: Scar

"As far as brains go, I got the lion's share. But, when it comes to brute strength... I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool." (The Lion King)

It's Disney Villain Monday and today I recreated Scar with Andee (http://winkforpinkblog.blogspot.com/) and Maria (http://www.agapelovedesigns.com) and hopefully a bunch of other bloggers. Last week we stepped into the eerie world of Maleficent and now we're delving into the deceptive, conniving, evil world 
of Scar, the traitor, the tyrant, the...horrible brother/uncle!

It was definitely more difficult to recreate the look of an animal over a person but I tried my best. 
What do you think?

PRODUCTS USED:

Face

-L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder (328 Sun Beige)

-Maybelline Coverstick (Ivory)

-Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer (Bronzed & Chic)

-BH Cosmetics 10 Color Palette Professional Blush (mix of mauves and oranges)

Brows/Scar

-Revlon Kajal liner (Carbon Cleopatra)

-L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner (Blackest Black)

-Maybelline Coverstick (Ivory)

-Jordana 12Hr Made to Last Eyeshadow Pencil (Continuous Almond)

-BH Cosmetics 120 Color Palette Eyeshadow (mix of light pinks and reds for scar)

Nose

-Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Stick (Guilty Grey)

-L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner (Blackest Black)

Eyes

-Maybelline Color Tatto (Bad to the Bronze)

-BH Cosmetics 120 Color Palette Eyeshadow (mix of brown and coral)

-Jordana 12Hr Made to Last Eyeshadow Pencil (Tenacious Brown)

-Maybelline the Falsies Colum' Express Flared Mascara

Lips

-J.Cat Lipstick (HoneyComb)

-L'Oreal LeMatte (No Matte-R What)

(watch tutorial here!)

Hope you guys enjoyed! I'm getting a kick out of scaring my husband with these looks! Let me know what you'd like to see and I'll try to do it! Don't forget to check out Andee and Maria. Stay blessed!

XoXo,

       A

Follow @adrianarr9



My Favorite Fall Nail Polishes!

I don't know about you, but I love Autumn. Even the name is beautiful. The mere mention of Autumn summons visions of leaves changing colors, breezy sunny afternoon strolls, hot cider and apple picking. At least where I live! I'm also hit with the sudden urge to paint my nails rich hues of amber, violet, ruby and emerald.

I'm not that girl that limits herself to certain colors, whether it
be eyeshadows, lipsticks or nail polish, depending on the season. But I
can't help but embrace the mesmerizing colors of Autumn.

Below are my top nail polish picks (um, 18 to be exact :/ ) for Fall. Let's go!

Let's start off with the reds! As you can see below, Essie's Ole Caliente is a vibrant, fun, bright coral-red. Maybelline Color Show Red Relic is from the new Vintage Leather Collection and I'll be honest, some of the colors are hit or miss. This, my friends, is a hit. It's a matte orangey-red with some flecks that give that distressed leather look. On the opposite end...Julie G's Sugar Rush is rich and bright and sparkly and textured! (can you tell I love this color?) I personally like textured nails and this one didn't fail me. It's a firey red with orange undertones and gold shimmer.

Unlike the above colors, Sally Hansen's Lustre Shine in Lava needs 2-3 coats to be somewhat opaque but boy is it worth it. This duochrome is gorgeous with multi-hued shimmers that change from gold, orange, red, violet and pink. Sinful Colors Leather Loose is my most recent fav. This is from their new Leather Luxe Collection and is a matte espresso brown with brownish-gold shimmer. This also works with a clear top coat which makes it stunning in the sunlight. Zoya.com describes Flynn as lush camel brown nude cream. This is my go-to office appropriate polish.

OPI Don't Talk Bach To Me (I LOVE their names) is a yellowy-lime. This is a color that I initially didn't like at the store but kept going Bach to (har har) and must admit I really like. It's definitely different from anything I own. Color Club's Abyss is a really pretty vivid green that leans toward

teal and is super opaque. I got the above swatch in one swipe! Like Leather Loose, Strapped is

from the Sinful Colors Leather Luxe Collection and again, I adore their matte opaque

polishes. This is a dark turquoise with more green. Love this as a matte.

WetnWild is one of my favorite brands and ATTENHut! doesn't disappoint. Super shimmery and textured, this forest green is perfect for Fall. The last green I chose is OPE Live and Let Die. Such a gorgeous deep, not overly shimmery, green it makes you wanna slap your momma. Seriously!

 I had to choose some bright blues, I just had to. Sally Hansen Blue My Mind is something I'll wear year round with no apology. How bright is this polish! I love the wide brush it has but it does need a good two thick coats to be opaque. Sinful Colors is on a roll. Alfresco is a medium periwinkle blue and took the nail polish world by storm. If you see this at a store near you, grab it! Then there's SH Black and Blue which is a perfect transition to Fall with its grey, blue, green and purple tones.

 Almost done guys! You guessed it, Sinful Colors AGAIN! Get It On is also a leather luxe polish and I can't help but love it. This matte leather look is what takes it from just a pretty color to something truly unique. This deep wine color is vampy and perfect for a fierce nail. Now take that color, throw some purple shimmer and high shine and you hav Zoya's Mason, ah-mazing!

Hard Candy made it to my list for the first time. I love this milky lavender polish

that is mixed with silver, pink and blue sparkles. What makes this so great? The fact

that the above pictures were with just one coat! The glitter is so easy to get evenly on your nails which is unheard of. Lastly, but certainly not least, Julie G's Metallic Heels

is beyond metallic gold. It's more like a gold foil on your tips. I adore this color and

highly recommend her laquers if you can get yourself to a rite aid.

(Watch my video for a live look!)

What do you want to see? Favorite Fall Recipes? Fall Fashion Trends? How about a Fall Makeup Tutorial? Comment down below your favorite thing about Fall and let me know what you want to see from me the next few weeks!

XoXo,

A

Follow @adrianarr9



"Pink Saturday" Linky Party

Hello again! I found Beverly's "Pink Saturday" linky party today and couldn't resist! Who doesn't love pink? What was really funny was that as I was browsing her site, I was actually swiping my new favorite lip balm across my lips. And it just so happens...one is pink! 

Linking to Beverly's Pink Saturday

(Parfait & Ladyfingers)

Due to not so great lighting, Parfait may seem to be more on the coral side but I assure you it is the prettiest fuchsia. Ladyfingers is a perfect sheer mauve. These are just lip balms so they are pretty sheer with just a hint of color (see pic below). True to their name, they glide on like butta baby and don't disappear right away like some other so called balms. The great thing is that although the swatches aren't super pigmented, they actually show up better on the lips.

NYX Butter Lip Balms come in 8 flavors, I mean colors! Red Velvet (red), Macaron (coral), Marshmallow (nude), Biscotti (Nude with pink undertone), Penna Cotta (pink with blue undertones), and Brownie (beige brown). They retail for $4 and I found mine at Ulta.

Have you tried these? Do you like flavored/scented balms? The names alone are making me hungry!

XoXo,

       A

Follow @adrianarr9



FOTD: Natural & a Pop of Color

Good morning! Here's a quick face of the day :) I was going for a fresh, natural face but glamming it up just a bit with the eyes and of course...a bright lip. I don't always plan my FOTD, I usually just wing it and play around with whatever I have handy. Let me know what's on your face today!

PRODUCTS USED:

Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Powder - light/medium
Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer - Bronzed & Chich
L'Oreal Project Runway LE Blush - The Muse's Blush
Essence Silky Touch Blush - Babydoll
Mac Mineralized Skin Finish - Soft and Gentle
Chella Dazzling Dark Brown Eyebrow Color
L'Oreal Infallible pressed pigment - Bronzed Taupe
Urban Decay eye shadow - Diamond Dog
Maybelline Falsies Flared Volume Express Mascara
Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick - As You Want Victoria
L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick - Fresh as a Rose
Maybelline lipliner - Wine

XoXo,

         A

Follow @adrianarr9

IPSY Review

Ipsy, formerly known as GlamBag, is a program created by beauty guru Michelle Phan. This is a monthly subscription that costs just $10, no shipping! Each month, you get a cute makeup bag with deluxe samples as well as full-sized beauty products.

You basically create a profile and take the beauty quiz so the Ipsy team has a better idea of products you're interested in. For example, I hate perfume samples so I made sure not to select that I liked perfume! You can retake the quiz as many times as you want.

It's also nice because they have challenges, pictures, videos and a blog that you can participate in. It's always nice to get involved and feel like you're being heard, right?

Click on the link below to get started!

Ipsy GlamBag!

September Ipsy Review

August Ipsy Review

July Ipsy Review

June Ipsy Review

XoXo,

    A 

Follow @adrianarr9

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 106

Hey guys, this is my first Blog Hop with Katherine's Corner, Sew Crafty Angel and guest host, Peggy, from Keep Me in Stitches. I thought Thursday Favorite Things would be the perfect way to introduce myself to the blogging community!

I just launched my blog this week which is so exciting but lots of work.  Check out my About Me page for more info. :)

Onto things I love!!!

I have a lot of things so let's jump right in. I'm loving my Prada Candy perfume I got at Ulta a few months ago. It's sweet but not sickeningly sweet, if you know what I mean. Every time I wear it I feel feminine and strong, what a combo! And who doesn't like the "Oh, you smell nice!" Compliments? Speaking of compliments, every time I wear Zoya's Mason ladies at the grocery store, Sephora and even the Dunkin Donuts drive through want to know what I have on my nails! This gorgeous violet polish has a bit of shimmer that is stunning when it catching the light. The color glides easily over the nails and is opaque in 1-2 thin coats. 

Already, my skin is feeling the effects of cooler weather. My Lush Lemony Flutter is a God send for my poor dry cuticles and Soap and Glory's Heel Genius foot cream does wonders for rejuvenating tired, dry feet at the end of the day. My favorite for my face is definitely Retinol Night Cream. I apply this to my face and neck every night after cleansing. My skin just drinks it up! And I don't wake up with parched skin like I have with other 'moisturizers'. I love that I can get this at any store and not hurt my wallet :)

I just got these delicate Lauren Conrad rings from Khols yesterday for less than $4 each! What a steal! I've been itching to get my paws on rings that are simple, minimalist if yet stylish. I'm also kind of obsessing over headbands. I can't be bothered to straighten or curl my hair every day so this is the perfect way to look polished with minimal effort.  Don't you agree? I got the above unique necklace on Rue La La, an online shopping site with dramatically discounted boutiques and it was just $15! So unique with its jewels nestled in delicate lace overlay. I love the silky lace ribbons that tie behind your neck for that one of a kind look.And lastly, let's take a moment to behold the beautiful scarf I also picked up at Khols on clearance for just $5.20! I love how the navy and cream contrast with the bright green neon trim and fringe. This scarf is a blend of classy and funky all in one!

I hope you enjoyed my first Thursday Favorite Things, I know I did! Don't forget to follow me on BlogLovin and subscribe through the link to the right that way we can keep up with eachother.

Let me know what your Thursday Favorites are so maybe I can check them out, any excuse to go shopping!

Stay blessed!

XoXo,

       A

Follow @adrianarr9

Macy's Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15th-October 15th, Macy's Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. I've never heard of this, never saw an ad or commercial, never saw it on the Macy's homepage or received an email...It wasn't until I was flipping through my Latina Magazine and spotted an ad featuring superstar Thalia that I learned of this event celebrating my heritage.

(image from Macys.com)

My father was born in El Salvador and my mother is a proud New Yorican. My siblings and I were born and raised in the United States and although I don't speak Spanish fluently the Latin culture is strongly prevalent in my life. I love the rich savory flavors of ropa vieja and carne guisada followed by some refreshing limber de coco (similar to a coconut popcicle). I grew up with these flavors permeating my home, bachata and salsa music filtering its way through each room as we watched cartoons and laughing at the ever so popular series Sabado Gigante (even though we had no idea what they were saying).

Being Hispanic was more than just a bubble we colored in while filling out paperwork. It was the very essence of a people that had fought long and hard to be heard, to be seen, to be respected. Now-a-days you can see Hispanic actors, singers, producers, musicians, artists of all kinds everywhere--or so it seems. We have so many talented role models we can relate to from Jennifer Lopez and Shakira to Demi Lovato, Eva Longoria and Sofia Vergara. Can we really 'relate' to these stars? Well maybe not exactly, but the pride we possess in our shared heritage makes their successes feel like our successes.

I love reading about strong Latina women advancing in their careers, overcoming seemingly impossible odds, contributing to their communities. I love seeing the various skin tones and body shapes on the fashion pages, figures I can actually relate to.

Being Hispanic is more than a title. We come in all shapes and sizes. Tall, short, blonde and blue eyed, ebony with chocolate brown eyes. In college, everyone thought I was exotic looking which never made sense to me. Looking back, I see that exotic really just meant looking or being something different than the mainstream. Which is fine by me. Different is good. Different is beautiful.

This month, and every month, embrace your heritage regardless of what it is. You can be Colombian, Irish, Iranian or Alaskan. Every color, every shape is beautiful. Vow to at least for one month, cherish what and who you are. No excuses, no apologies. 

We are all gorgeous and should live life like we know it!!!

XoXo,

            A

Follow @adrianarr9

About Me

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by! I can't even put into words how excited I am to have started my own blog. For those of you who don't know me (which is about 99% of you) let me fill you in :)

My name is Adriana, I'm in my early 30s and have been married for almost 3 years. I was born and raised in New England and although I complain about the humidity and snow storms I actually love the fact that I get to experience all 4 seasons. I started filming beauty videos for YouTube last June (http://www.youtube.com/user/MarisaP39) because, well, why not? I love all things makeup and quickly fell in love with the beauty community. I've made a ton of dear friends the past few months who have really supported and encouraged me to take chances I normally wouldn't have.

Like starting a blog! I originally started my YouTube beauty channel with plans to involve all types of videos, beauty, DIY, food, etc. but that just doesn't make sense for my channel anymore. I've been wanting to start a blog for years and finally decided to just take the plunge and learn as I go!

So what is 'Becoming Adriana' all about? Everything! After years of trying to please others and play it safe I feel like I finally embraced who I really am, all I was meant to be. I'm doing things I love for me. 

I love makeup and beauty, like, a lot! Makeup should be fun and used to enhance your own beauty, not as a mask to hide from the world.

I embrace the old lady inside of me that loves gardening, home decor and cooking (admit it, you love it, too!)

I already mentioned DIY and home renovations (my husband is redoing our front stone steps and I'm his trusty little helper). Even though I like glamming it up for no reason I also don't mind getting dirty ;)

See what I mean? I'd love it if you went on this crazy ride with me and gave me any feedback you think might be helpful. I'm all about improving and having fun while I do it.

Check me out on Instagram/Twitter/Pinterest: (@adrianarr9), Keek (adrianapina_567) and YouTube: (Adriana Pina). Don't forget to subscribe to my blog through BlogLovin so we can see more of eachother.

Stay blessed!!!

XoXo,

        A

Follow @adrianarr9



Disney Villain Makeup Series

The gauntlet has been thrown. Andee (http://winkforpinkblog.blogspot.com/) and Maria (http://www.agapelovedesigns.com) have dared beauty lovers to get creative and recreate the most sinister characters of all time in...The Disney Villain Series!  (insert evil laugh here) So excited to team up and to join Bebetsy's linky party with VMG206 for Brag About It Tuesday, I wanna brag about this look because it took forever! So make sure you check out her site, as well.

As little girls we all wanted to be princesses, right? But sometimes being bad is so fun and now we get to live vicariously through these evil personas, even if for just one day. The first task: Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Her mere image petrified me as a child but now as an adult, I embrace this challenge!

(watch tutorial below!)

 

PRODUCTS FEATURED:

Face
-No-name brand foundation palette (green color corrector)
-Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadow Stick (Green)
-Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (Transparent)
-WnW Fantasy Makers Body Crayon (Black)
-L'Oreal 24H Lacquer Liner (Blackest Black)
-WnW Trio (Zero Dark Flirty) - Crease color for sharp contour

Eyes
-Ardell Brow Pencil (Soft Black)
-L'Oreal 24H Lacquer Liner (Blackest Black)- Brows
-L'Oreal Colour Riche (Love to Hate Me)- Purple from crease to brow
-WnW Trio (Zero Dark Flirty)- Crease color in crease, Browbone color on lid
-*Maybelline quint (Muse)- Completely optional, I used to add some *sparkle*
-ELF Natural Lash Kit
-Jordana Fabuliner (Black)
-Jordana 12HR Made To Last Liquid Liner Pencil (Charcoal Definition)
-L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

Lips
-ELF lipliner (Red)
-WnW Fantasy Makers lipstick (black)
-Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick (As You Want Victoria)

Hair
Gurrrrrl....Let me tell you! I stuck a tube of lipstick (Rimmel Kate Moss to be exact) in each hair elastic then wrapped my hair round and round to get this look. Talk about finding new uses for makeup!

So you tell me, how did I do? The green cast on my face didn't come out as well on pictures or video as I had hoped so I feel like I kinda look like a cross between BatGirl and Maleficent, haha! Not too shabby for my first stab at costume makeup.

Let me know what you think and post any pics or videos of looks you created!

XoXo,

     A

Follow @adrianarr9