Makeup By Kera

A Quick Look and Update

2010-07-31T13:03:00.001-04:00

Hey Ya'll!!

How has everyone been? I have been super busy and haven't been able to update this blog for a while. Its just too darn hot outside, and I haven't been wearing much makeup at all. I do have a FOTD that I took a while ago, but never uploaded. Until I get back fully, I'll leave you with this look. I will be back very shortly. I have a July Favorites coming up real soon. Have a good weekend!!

Products Used (All MAC unless noted)

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Bronze Hero Lustre Drops

Cheeks:
Tippy Blush
Marine Life Highlite powder

Eyes:
TFSI
Victorias Secret purple palette (forgot the name, but it was limited edition)
Femme Fi e/s
Lancome Artliner Noir
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner Zero
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Ahoy, There!
Pink lipgloss

Here come the pics.....

Hope you enjoyed this look. I will be back up and running very soon. Until next time....

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

Vegas Nights

2010-06-17T15:23:00.001-04:00

Hey Y'all,

So here is a look that I did while in Vegas. I was going out on the town for a night and loved the way this turned out, so I took pictures of it. I also used the lip products that I bought at Sephora. I am loving Obey lipstick with dark eye makeup looks. I got inspired while watching this tutorial from whatstyleistonickel on YouTube. This is a look with reflects teal glitter and grape pigment. I didn't use all the products he did, but I absolutely love the way this turned out. I will definitely do this look again. The reflects glitters are the best!! Anyways, onto the look.....

Products Used (All MAC unless noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Liquid
Lustre Drops Bronze Hero

Cheeks:
NARS Casino Bronzer
NARS Super Orgasm Blush
Belightful Iridescent Powder

Eyes:
TFSI
Charred Mauve GPS
Black Tied e/s
Grape Pigment
Vanilla e/s
Femme Fi e/s
Transparant Teal Glitter
Lancome Artliner Noir
Stila Eye Kajal Onyx
YSL Faux Cills Mascara

Lips:
Illamasqua Obey l/s
Illamasqua Divine l/g

Here come the photos...

Hope you enjoyed the look. Until next time...

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

Project 10 Pan Lush

2010-06-16T23:26:00.001-04:00

I finally finished my Lush Project 10 pan. On my last post, I had used up 4 products. I used up the remaining 7, and i'll give a brief review of what I used.

Karma Bubble Bar

Karma bubble bar smells amazing!! It is one of my favorite Lush scents. This one has orange and citrus notes in it. It also is a huge bubble bar, and lasted me about 4-5 baths. It is one of the more expensive bubble bars, but when you think of how many baths you get out of it, its a winner!!

B Electro Shower Gel

B Electro is my absolute favorite Lush shower gel. I was so sad that it was limited edition. I love that it looks like the green slime they use on Nickelodeon. It feels slimy too, and it lathers really well. The best thing about this product is the scent. It combines the smell of grapefruit and flowers, and the scent lingers on the skin for hours after showering. I literally can't stop smelling my arm after I shower. It smells so good, and all the Lush fans I talk to love it. The Lush sales lady even told me she was sad it was limited edition.

Space Girl Bath Bomb

This is one Lush product that I really didn't like the smell of. The smell is described as that of blackcurrant sweeties. I honestly bought it because it was purple. Now, I actually didn't know the smell of it because I ordered it online before it was available for purchase in store. Now knowing that I don't like the smell, I probably won't repurchase. I actually have one left, and I'll probably include that in a big giveaway that I have planned.

Blackberry Bath Bomb

This one is absolutely my favorite bath bomb ever!! I love it because it turns the water a deep purple color. It also smells great. The smell is very fruity, and truly smells like blackberries. I absolutely love this one. I'll keep on buying it.

Two Timing Tart Bubble Bar

This product is actually what Lush calls a Retro product. This means that it was a product that Lush had previously sold in stores but doesn't anymore. Retro products are only available online. Also, Lush shipping rates have been lowered if anyone was thinking of ordering online. If you are ordering online and love fruit smells, I totally recommend this one. This product combines the scents of geranium and jasmine and smells completely amazing. I use this one in combo with the Blackberry Bath Bomb. They look so pretty together. A must if you are gonna order Retro products!!

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

This is another one of my favorite Lush shower gels. This one is limited edition too, and is usually released with the holiday collection. It smells like bubblegum, and is cotton candy pink. It also has light glitters in it, but its not noticeable on the skin. I love this product so much that when Lush has it annual buy 1 get 2 free after Christmas sale, I bought 2 bottles. So I ended up with 6 total. I have to date went through 2 of them, so look out for me possible giving one of those away (hint hint).

Creamy Candy Bubble Bar

I admit I am a total girlie girl, I love all things pink and purple. I think I must have bought one of every Lush pink bubble bar and bath bomb at some point. I really like this one. It smells very similar to Snow Fairy, but a little different. This one goes great with Think Pink bath bomb and Snow Fairy shower gel for a pretty pink bath. Also goes great with Melting Marshmallow Moment Bath Melt.

So these are the Lush products I have used up to complete my Project 10 pan. Honestly, I may start a new Project 10 Pan Lush to use up more items. I still have so much left!! I haven't bought anything new in a while, and thats a good thing. Matter of fact, think its time for a Lush bath right about now...lol I absolutely adore Lush, and I can't wait to use up 10 more products. Until next time...

Happy Lushing

Collective Haul: Vegas and More

2010-06-15T22:02:00.001-04:00

Hey ya'll

While I was in Vegas I got a chance to go to two of my favorite stores, Sephora and MAC. The Sephora I went to is at The Venetian Canal Shoppes. The sales lady said it was the biggest Sephora store in Vegas, and I sure do believe her. It was the biggest and nicest Sephora I have ever been in. It was a makeup lover's heaven!! I finally got to check out Illamasqua in person, and that's mainly what I purchased. Although, their selection of brands was out of this world, they were out of a lot of things. Also some of the things I picked up thinking it was what I wanted, when I got them back to the hotel it was a different color. That's partly my fault for not checking to see that I had the color right, but they also didn't have things in their right spot. Here are some pics of the store and my haul.

So here's my haul from Sephora

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream #22 Emerald Green: I totally didn't mean to pick this one up. I thought I was getting the purple one #18. This is one of Make Up For Ever new products. It is a creme texture that is supposed to be really blendable and non-budging. I haven't had a chance to really test it yet, only on my hands. I can say that it took a while for the product to be washed off my hands. It seems like it may be a great product, but the green one may go back.
Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss Divine: I have always wanted to try an Illamasqua gloss, and I now know why. I like the sheer ones because they go on top of lipstick really well. They aren't uber sticky like other brands, and that's why I really like it. This color is a sheer pink that goes great with most of the lippies in my collection.
Illamasqua Lipstick Obey: This lipstick gets lots of praise on message boards that I read. The color is a nice peachy pink, and it is a matte. I'm not really into matte lipsticks alone yet, but this one looks great with the Illamasqua gloss I purchased. I used this lip combo in a look that I'll be uploading later in the week, and as you will see it goes great with dark eyes.
Illamasqua Nail Polish Loella: This nail polish is described as a shimmering candy pink, so I knew it would be right up my alley. I absolutely love pink nail polishes. This one is gorgeous!!

So that was my haul from the Las Vegas Sephora. Onto the MAC Pro store.....

This store is located in the Caesars Palace Forum Shops. I had heard great things about this store. How the people were so friendly and knew a lot. Well, the people were kinda friendly, but I only had two issues. The first thing was that they were out of mostly everything I wanted. Now, I know that's not the fault of the SA's, but they were things I really wanted. I had a list and everything. I'll just call the pro number and order what I need. Also, the lady tries to tell me that Lustre Drops are a totally new product and have never been released before...UMMM NO!! I calmly try to tell the lady that I use the freaking product everyday, but she still insisted they were new. Whatever!! Anyways, here's what I walked away with....

Reflects Transparant Pink Glitter: I absolutely adore reflects glitters. My goal is to own every color they have. They are gorgeous when applied over eyeshadow. This one looks like Pearl in the container, but when applied wet it turns a gorgeous pink color. I used this one over Vex, and it looked amazing. I will do that look again soon, and upload the photos.
Reflects Pearl Glitter: This is another one of the glitters. It is a pretty shimmering white color. This looks great on the skin. Haven't tried it on eyes yet, but I think it will look fabulous. Don't forget to use these with caution on the eyes because they are not eye safe. However, I have had no problems using reflects glitters on my eyes.

So that's all I purchased in Vegas makeup wise. Before I left, I ordered a couple of things from Sephora. Here's what I got.

NARS Bronzer Casino: This is a dark bronzer that fits my skin tone very well. It gives my skin that sun kissed glow without using self tanners or lending myself to wrinkles. Loves it!!
YSL Faux Cills Black Mascara: I have always said that I have problems buying a mascara that was high end and pricey. It still bothers me a bit, but not as much and this mascara is the reason. I only bought this one because Nordstrom was having a buy 2 get 1 free sale. I can't resist those kind of sales especially with pricey mascara. Knowing Nordstrom was having this sale, I went to my twitter diva's and asked if anyone has tried it and liked it. I got an overwhelming response that this mascara was great, so I decided why the heck not and purchased it. Boy, am I glad I did. This mascara is truly worth the money, I am completely in love. It gives me the effect of false lashes when I'm not wearing any. I haven't noticed any clumping also when applied. It goes on smooth, and its overall a great mascara. At $30 a pop, I may not buy this one unless there is a sale but I will definitely re-purchase at some point. For those looking for a cheaper alternative, Rimmel Sexy Curves is and will always be my pick for drugstore mascara.

So, that's the things I have purchased over my vacation and the past couple of weeks. Next post will be a look using the Illamasqua lip items I purchased. Until next time....

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!!

My First Pin Up Look

2010-06-14T17:09:00.001-04:00

Hey Ya'll,

While I was in Vegas I decided to do a look I haven't tried before...Pin Up!! I have always wanted to try one, but never really got up the nerve. Well, except for the Sexy Devil look I did for Halloween. I decided to try this because its Vegas, and anything goes. I was going to a Barry Manilow show, and I decided since he is an older artist that I might as well go with classic red lips. I absolutely love the way this turned out. I'm not as scared of red lips anymore, and I think I'll be wearing them out on the town more often. Here comes the look.....

Products Used (All MAC unless Noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Liquid
Lustre Drops Bronze Hero

Cheeks:
NARS Casino Bronzer
NARS Deep Throat Blush
Belightful Iridescent Powder

Eyes:
TFSI
Vanilla e/s
Sugarshot e/s
Dark Brown from Kat Von D Beethoven Palette
Lancome Artliner Noir
Stila Eye Kajal Topaz
YSL Faux Cills Black Mascara

Lips:
Cherry Lip Liner
Ruby Woo l/s
Love Alert d/g

Here are the photos....

Hope you enjoyed the look. I will have another look I did in Vegas up very soon. Also the haul will be posted soon. Hope everyone is having a great start to their week.

Later

Where Have I Been?

2010-06-14T01:00:00.001-04:00

Hey ladies,

I have missed ya'll!!! How is everyone doing. I have been very busy, and I hate that I haven't had time to devote to this blog. Things will get better, and I am gonna start getting these out faster. So, what have I been up to? I just got back from a week in Las Vegas, and that was so much fun. I had a fabulous time. I got to meet lots of famous people..lol I also did several looks while there, and I took bunches of pictures. I also have a haul to show you from my time in Vegas. I will get those looks up later in the week. For now, here are some random pictures from my trip. Hope you enjoy....

Hope you enjoyed the photos. I will get the looks uploaded this week. Until next time....

Peace, Love, and Happiness

Kim Kardashian Inspired Eyes and FOTN

2010-05-03T18:15:00.001-04:00

Hey ya'll

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. I've got a FOTN coming to ya today. Over the weekend, I went to a Musical at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. I chose to do a smokey eye and re-create one of my favorite makeup looks. One of my makeup inspirations is Kim Kardashian. Her makeup always looks great, and I love her signature smokey eye. I was watching the tutorial that her and one of her makeup artists Stephen Moleski did on YouTube, and decided to re-create the look. I had recently ordered Contrast eyeshadow which they use in the video, and I really like it. It is a dark purple-blue color, and it looks great in the crease. My look doesn't look exactly like hers, but its pretty close. I didn't go as dark on the eyes. The tutorial is a must watch for anyone that likes Kim Kardashian's makeup. The video comes in four parts, so I will link it at the end of the post. Here come the products and pictures....

Products Used (All MAC Unless Noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Lustre Drops Sun Rush

Cheeks:
Stark Naked Blush
Belightful Iridescent Powder

Eyes:
TFSI
Femme Fi e/s
Creme De Mille e/s
Contrast e/s
Carbon e/s
Stila Kajal Onyx Eyeliner
Lancome Artliner Noir
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Ahoy, There!

Here come the photos....

The Video...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Hope you all enjoyed this look. I'll be back very soon with my April Favorites, and a *Gasp* Lush haul. Hope ya'll are having a good week, and as always....

Love, Peace, and Happiness!!

Birthday Weekend FOTN's: Smokey Purples

2010-04-26T17:38:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Over the weekend I celebrated my 26th birthday. Friday night was girls night, and we went to see one of my favorite bands. Saturday night was my birthday party, and that was fun even though the weather was crappy. Sunday was my actual birthday, and I was so tired from the weekend that I just had a relaxing day at home. My makeup look for each night definitely had a theme....smokey purples!! I love my purple eyeshadow, so I knew my looks had to have purple in them. For my party look, I spiced it up a bit and added glitter. As you know, I love my glitter. I didn't get to take too many pictures for Friday night's look as I was in a little bit of a rush. However, I do remember what eye shadows I wore and I'll post a full break down. Also in these pictures you can see my new hair color. I chose to go a little lighter for Spring, and I am loving it!! Overall, I had a nice birthday weekend and I'm looking forward to a great new year!! Here are some pics from both nights.

Friday Night

Products used (All MAC unless noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Sun Rush Lustre Drops

Cheeks:
So Sweet, So Easy Cremeblend Blush
Azalea Blossom Blush Ombre
Perfect Topping MSF

Eyes:
TFSI
Charred Mauve Greasepaint Stick
NYX Jumbo Pencil Milk
Digit e/s
Violet Pigment
MUFE #92
Parfait Amour e/s
Femme Fi e/s
Lancome Artliner Noir
Urban Decay 24/7 Zero and Flash
Urban Decay Flash Eyeshadow
Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Ahoy, There!

Some Pics from the night....

Saturday Night

Products Used (All MAC unless noted)

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Bronze Hero Lustre Drops

Cheeks:
So Sweet, So Easy Cremeblend Blush
Azalea Blossom Blush Ombre
By Candelight MSF

Eyes:
TFSI
NYX Jumbo Pencil Milk
Digit e/s
Violet Trance e/s
Satellite Dreams e/s
Parfait Amour e/s
Fuchsia Glitter (adhered with fix+)
Femme Fi e/s
Lancome Artliner Noir
Stila Kajal Liner Onyx
MAC Carbon e/s
Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Ahoy, There!

Makeup Pics....

Pictures from my birthday party.....

Well, that's it for now. Be back soon!!

Later.....

March/Mid April Favorites

2010-04-19T21:17:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone,

Did everyone have a good weekend? This weekend I actually got to relax since the presentations I had to do are now over and I can breathe again. Now I can get back to regularly posting. This March favorites post is way overdue, so I am calling it my March/Mid April favortes. I figured since I had the photos to not waste it and still show you what I've been using. So, here it goes.....

NARS Blush Deep Throat: Nothing compares to NARS blushes. They are the King of blushes in my book. They aught to be when you pay $25 a pop. NARS blushes are so pigmented, and show up great on my skintone. They don't look ashy at all. This is such a pretty pinky-peach blush. It is similar to Orgasm, but I like it better. I think this one shows up better on me than Orgasm which I also own.
MAC Joie-De-Vivre: This is one of the Cremeblend blushes that came out earlier this year. It is a bright coral color, and it is perfect for springtime. It looks great alone or layered. I wear this alone or with Ripe Peach Blush Ombre over it.
Coppering: Coppering is a permanent shadow in the MAC line. It is a pretty color, and I have been getting more use out of it lately. I mainly use it with the next favorite.
Paradisco: This is a shadow in the permanent MAC line. It is a peachy color. It looks great on the lid with Coppering in the crease. This has been my everyday look for a while.
Urban Decay 24/7 liners: I pretty much use these pencils every time I do my makeup. Shown in the picture are Flash and Zero, my two favorite colors. I think I used Zero in every single FOTD post I have made on this blog. I absolutely love these pencils. They are so creamy, and once applied they do not budge. These are essential in my makeup stash, and I will be very sad if Urban Decay were to ever stop making them.

So that's it for now. I'll be back very soon!!

Later......

Vacation Photos

2010-04-15T10:10:00.001-04:00

This will be my last vacation post. Here are some random pictures from my trip. I'll be back very soon with more posts. I think I am gonna post that March favorites since I have pictures for it. So that will be coming up next. So until next time, here come the photos.....

The view from the pool..

At the Ocean Deck....

My dad and I at Ocean Deck for night 2.....

The view from the beach....

Me on the boardwalk.....

Vacation Haul

2010-04-15T09:52:00.001-04:00

Whenever I go to Daytona, I must stop at the CCO in St. Augustine on the way. They always have a great selection there, and this time did not disappoint. I picked up a few things that I had wanted previously, but didn't get the chance to get. Here is what I got......

Perfect Topping MSF

Perfect Topping came out last year with the Sugarsweet collection. That collection had two MSF's with it. This one and Refined. At the time I chose to buy Refined. Honestly, I don't know why I bought Refined instead of Perfect Topping. I hardly ever use Refined, and I can see me using Perfect Topping a lot. PT is a gorgeous pink and purple swirl MSF in the pan, and when applied it gives the skin a nice pink glow. I used it at the beach several times, and I love it!!

Naked Honey Salve

This came out with the Naked Honey collection last may. Its a salve that can be used anywhere the skin is dry and needs a little moisture. I use it on my lips, and it is great. It stays on and makes my lips feel very soft. The pan is huge with a lot of product in it, so it should last me a while. I'm glad I waited on this one though.

Golden Olive and Push The Edge Pigments

Golden olive is a permanent MAC pigment. It is a gold-green color, and it is very pretty. Whenever I see permanent MAC pigment that I like at a CCO, I pretty much always buy it. There is a reason though. Those of you who are MAC fanatics like me should know that MAC decreased the size of the pigment jar and the amount of product in while not dropping the price. This for me means that I usually won't buy a pigment for full price because its just not worth it. I have to really really love it!! I'd rather wait to get it in a CCO where the price is cheaper.

Push The Edge was released last year with the big fall collection. I wanted to wait on that one too, because I really like buying pigments cheaper than $19.50. I think I payed 13.75 for these. Anyways, PTE is a nice purple color. I love purples, so I knew I wanted it.

So, that is it for my haul. I think I got some cool things. Has anyone found anything good at a CCO lately?

Later......

Update and Vacation FOTD

2010-04-15T09:42:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!!

How has everyone been? It's been so long since I've posted an entry. I have been so bogged down with work from grad school that I haven't had much time for the internet and blogging. I had so many posts planned, but two presentations I had to do just took over my life. I had my march favorites as well as Lush project 10 pan, and a lush haul. I'll try to get these up as soon as possible. As far as weight loss, this month I lost 3 pounds. Not the best, but not the worst. I'm still working at it though. Trying to lose a few more by my birthday at the end of April. I did try on the skirt that I blogged about earlier that I wanted to wear and.....it fits!!! I was really happy about that because I haven't been able to wear it in years. Anyways, that was a great moment for me. I have been working out on my Wii fit, and i find that really helps. Its a great workout! I also bought the Wii Active, but I haven't had a chance to try it because I took a little trip to get away. Oh, I also got a new camera!! I got the Samsung tl225, and I absolutely love it. It takes great pictures. So much better than my last one.

So that's my life in a nutshell since I last blogged. Last weekend, I took a mini-vacation to Daytona Beach and it was so relaxing. I figured that I'd take a few pictures of my makeup at the beach so that I'd have something to post here when I got back. As far as makeup is concerned, at the beach I like to have simple makeup. It's so hot that I usually don't wear foundation at the beach because it just melts off. I love the look of glowy cheeks at the beach. Usually when I go on vacation, I bring everything I own (okay not literally!). This time I tried my best not to do that. I just brought the Urban Decay Alice palette and a few mac shadows. The FOTD I am about to show you was pretty much the look I did for each day of the vacation. It is using scatterays Solar Bits with a colored liner on the bottom. I really liked this look, and I'll be doing it more often. Solar bits can be a little funky to adhere, but I've found that applying it with a finger is so much easier!! The pictures aren't that great, but they'll do. Onto the pictures.

Products used:

Face:
Strobe Cream

Cheeks:
So Sweet, So Easy Cremeblend Blush
Azalea Blossom Blush Ombre
Cheeky Bronze MSF

Eyes:
TFSI
Scatterays Solar Bits (Adhered with fix+)
Jabberwocky from the Alice in Wonderland Palette
Lancome Artliner Noir
Urban Decay Liner Flipside with Alice e/s over it (The blue liner pictures)
Urban Decay Liner in Flash with Flash e/s over it (The purple liner pictures)
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Ahoy, There!

Here come the photos. First, the look with blue liner......

With purple liner......

So that is it for now. I will be posting a few more vacation photos, and a vacation haul very shortly. Until next time......

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

Project 10 Pan...Lush

2010-03-21T00:23:00.001-04:00

So, I pretty much admit that I'm a Lush junkie.......

Ever since I discovered it about a year ago, I have been hooked. Their bath products are amazing, Well, I have come to the conclusion lately that I have way too many bath products. I was reading on allthatglitters21's blog one day, and she has started a project 10 pan Lush edition. Basically what project 10 pan is that you have to use up 10 things before buying something new. Bloggers usually do this with makeup, but some have started with Lush products. I decided recently after going into Lush wanting one thing and coming out spending $50+ dollars that I needed to start a project 10 pan of my own. I have a box full of things, and I really need to use things up before buying more. So three days into this project, I have used up 4 things. The Lush products I have really aren't that hard to use up, but I need to use what I have so I don't keep spending money. The bubble bars i can stretch into 3-4 baths, but the bath bombs are used up in one bath. Here's a little mini review on what I have used up so far.

Satsumo Santa Bath Bomb

This was part of the holiday collection (see how long I've had it). It smells very citrusy. It turned the water a nice red color, and it was very soft on the skin. I love bath bombs for this reason. Once you add it to the water, the water becomes almost like silk. I don't know how to describe it. It's just simply amazing. I like to mix bath bombs and bubble bars together to make the bath extra luxurious. The scent of this one lingered on my skin for a while. Love it, and I'll be repurchasing if it comes back out for holiday 2010.

Gnome Name Bubble Bar

This is another holiday 2009 product. It has a citrus smell. I really liked the bubbles that it produced. I'd buy this product again if it is released in the holiday 2010 collection.

Christmas Eve Bubble Bar

This was one of my favorite holiday products. It is probably one of my favorite bubble bars period. It has a great floral smell. I love the color that it turned my bath water. Such a pretty blue color. I will repurchase this one most definitely.
Waving Not Drowning Bath Bomb

This is actually a product in the regular line. I received it in a gift set which I got as a free gift for spending a certain amount of money. It is a light lavender bath bomb, and turned the water a nice purple color. I don't really like the smell. I don't think I will actually buy this one.

Well, that's it for now. I am four products in, and I'm really liking this project. It makes me look at what I have instead of always wanting something new. I am trying to get these 10 products finished because the new Easter products have arrived, and I want to be able to get something before they sell out. Limited edition products have a way of selling out fast at Lush, but I will use up the remaining 6 products before I purchase.

St. Patty's Day 2010

2010-03-17T21:55:00.001-04:00

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

This is the makeup look I did today. I wasn't really going anywhere special, but I like the way it turned out.

Products Used (All MAC unless noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Transparant finishing powder

Cheeks:
Ripe Peach Blush Ombre
Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmer Brick

Eyes:
TFSI
Springtime Skipper (Juxt in the regular line is similar)
Soft Brown
Gorgeous Gold
Gesso
Urban Decay Green from Alice Shadow Box
Lancome Artliner Noir
Urban Decay 24/7 Zero
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Victorian l/s
1n l/g

Here comes the photos....

Hope ya'll enjoyed the look....Later!!

Quick Weight Loss Update

2010-03-17T14:41:00.001-04:00

Well, I went for my latest weigh in last week.....

Gained three pounds. Boy am I happy that it is just 3 pounds and not 10, but I still am not where I wanna be. It seems like weight loss is a cycle with me. I'll be very gung ho for about 2-3 weeks, and then lose momentum. During those weeks, I'll be eating and exercising like i'm supposed to. I'll see the results as I am doing what I'm supposed to. I guess then I get cocky. I stop tracking what I eat, I exercise less, I drink more alcohol, and I eat the wrong foods. As a result, I do not see the results on the scale that I want. Then, I get a wake up call and the cylce starts all over again. Does anyone go through this?

My question for those that do, is how do you deal with getting into a dieting rut? I have got to find some way to get past the three week mark. I know that I want to, but something in my brain just isn't clicking. I see people around me that can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound, and I want that to be me. No matter how much I want that, I know I'll always deal with this for the rest of my life. I don't know what to do to keep me on track. I guess I'll just keep trucking on, and accept the three pounds. I think that I am going to start setting mini goals for myself. Hopefully these mini goals will help. So for the first one....

Lose 10-15 pounds by April 8. Why April 8th?

That's the day I leave for vacation. There is also this certain article of clothing that I want to be able to wear on my vacation, and I know that I need to lose at least 15 more pounds to get into it. So today starts my journey. I vow to track what I eat, eat the right foods, limit alcohol, and exercise. This date is three weeks from today, so lets see how I do. I can do this!!!

I might have lost a battle, but I will win the war!!!

I Knew You'd Take All My Honey

2010-03-15T17:26:00.001-04:00

You selfish mother f**ker.......Love that line in the video!!

This is my first look inspired by the Lady Gaga Telephone video. It is inspired by the look Beyonce is wearing in the diner scene. I love the look of the yellow shadow with the extreme liquid liner. It isn't exactly like the video, but it is pretty darn close. I think if I would have used Chrome Yellow the look would have come out better, but I don't have that shadow. I took a screen shot of the look I'm going for, but if you've seen the video you probably know which look I'm going for. I really like the way it turned out. Onto the look....

Products Used (All MAC Unless Noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Med/Dark

Cheeks:
Springtime Blush Ombre (Contour)
NARS Deep Throat
Refined MSF

Eyes:
TFSI
Bright Future e/s
Wedge e/s
Soft Brown e/s
Texture e/s
Gesso e/s
Espresso e/s (Brows)

Lancome Artliner Noir

Urban Decay White Liner
Red Cherry #1 Lashes
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
1n l/s
2n l/g
Bare Necessity d/g

Here come the photos....

First, the look we are going for...

My Version...

Hope you enjoyed this look. I really like it, and I'd totally wear this out and about. I plan on doing two more looks from the video. One where Gaga is in jail with the coke cans in her hair, and her blue look from the diner scene. Plus, I've got more exciting stuff too.

Later!!!

Saturday Night Out

2010-03-14T21:44:00.002-04:00

Hey Ya'll,

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I went out last night to Two Urban Licks in Atlanta for dinner and drinks with some friends. I really liked the makeup look I did. I went for a grey/blueish smokey eye. I modeled this look after Kara Dioguardi, the judge on American Idol. I always love her makeup on the show. I think it turned out pretty much like the makeup she wears. The eyes were pretty easy to do, even though I used a lot of products. I also used the Hello Kitty Lash that I included in my CCO haul. I really like the lashes. I think a half lash suits me better because I have naturally long lashes. These were really easy to apply, and I wanna go back to get a few more pairs. Onto the look....

Products Used (All MAC unless noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Select Moisture Cover nw37

Cheeks:
Springshine Blush Ombre (Contour)
Peachykeen Blush
By Candelight MSF

Eyes:
TFSI
Black Greasepaint stick
Wedge e/s
Electra e/s
Knight Divine e/s
Scene e/s
Carbon e/s
Femme Fi e/s
Blacktrack Fluidline
Hello Kitty Lash
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Ahoy, There!
1n

Here come the photos...

Hope ya liked the look. Until later....

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

Lady Gaga Telephone Video

2010-03-13T15:38:00.003-05:00

I can't say enough how much I adore Lady Gaga. I've written about her a couple of times on this blog. What I love about her is that she is constantly topping herself with her music, fashion, makeup, and most of all music videos. Her newest one is for the song Telephone featuring Beyonce. If you haven't seen the nearly 10 minute long mini movie, you are surely missing out. This video serves as a continuation of her "Paparazzi" video, and is absolutely fabulous. The makeup is so fabulous, that I want to create a few looks from it. Hopefully I'll be doing that real soon. For anyone who hasn't seen it or wants to watch the fabulousness again, here it is.

CCO Haul

2010-03-13T15:16:00.001-05:00

Hey Ladies,

Sorry I've been M.I.A.!! Its midterm time in grad school, and I've been super busy. Anyways, I went to the CCO a couple of Saturdays ago, and I picked up a couple of things. For those who have never been to one, CCO stands for Cosmetics Company Outlet. They sell Estee Lauder brand products for a reduced price. There are two in my area, and this time I went to the one at North Georgia Premium Outlets. They had a lot of good things, and I had to control myself from not buying more. I got some good MAC eyeshadows and lip products. Here's what I picked up.

Eyeshadows

(In Order starting with the blue one)

Clarity- This is a bright blue eyeshadow that is similar to electric eel. It is a matte2 finish. Its a really vibrant color. I used it in a MAC Studio Talk event one time, and I really liked it. I used with Expensive Pink, and it totally turned purple on me. I'm gonna try to recreate it soon.
Smoke and Diamonds- I have no clue why I don't have this already. This originally came out I believe in 2008 with the Starflash collection. Although it may have been 2007. It was released again last summer with another bunch of Starflash shadows. I hear all the time how great this color is, and I never got a chance to get it. Its a really nice gunmetal grey color.
Graphology- I believe Graphology is a permanent MAC shadow. Whenever I see permanent eyeshadows in a CCO, I always pick them up. Hey, why not pay a reduced price right? This color is a dark purple. It goes great as a crease color.
Wedge- This is also a permanent MAC color. It is a Matte brown. I use it for blending out the crease.
Idol Eyes- Also a permanent MAC color. It is a lustre, so it is kinda hard to use. The color is a purple greyish color, and it is pretty.

Lip Products

Way To Love- This color was released last year with the Rose Romance collection. It is a nice nude pink lipstick. It looks fabulous with a smokey eye.
Ahoy, There!- I had to get a backup of this lipstick. It's my absolute favorite pink lippie. Since I'm almost out of my first tube, I didn't mind getting a backup. Normally I don't get backups, but this lipstick is just so fabulous.
Petite Indulgence Cremesheen Glass- Really nice pink lipgloss. I really like the formula of the cremesheen glass. The regular MAC lipglasses are so sticky, and this formula is not sticky at all. It goes really well with both of the lipsticks I purchased.

Lashes and Brushes

272 Brush- I think if the 239 and the 217 had a baby, this brush would be the outcome. It looks like it could serve the purpose as a crease or lid color brush. I haven't used it yet, but it seems nice.
Hello Kitty Lash- These lashes were released with the Hello Kitty collection last year. The only reason I didn't pick them up then is that I wasn't into lashes at that time. These are a nice half lash that give the wispy effect. They are cool.

So that's it for now. Be back real soon.....

February Favorites

2010-02-27T22:54:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody!!

First off, I wanna say a hey, hi, hello there, and how ya doing to my new followers!! Thanks for taking the time to stop by!! Looking forward to talking to you all. Here is my February edition of favorites. After looking at what I took photos of, I realized that I chose a lot of MAC. I definitely admit to being a MAC junkie. I am starting to branch out to other brands. Next month, I'll make more of an effort to include more products of different brands. Onto the products....

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Syracuse: I started looking for a new foundation this month, and the beauty message boards I read lead me to NARS Sheer glow. I also had seen some great reviews on youtube about this product as well. As a person who likes their foundation to be glowy, I was intrigued when I first heard about this product. I was also a little worried because I have a problem with breaking out from new foundations. I had previously tried Make Up For Ever HD, MAC Studio Sculpt, and Maybelline Dream Liquid and they all broke me out. I also have a problem finding the right color. So trying this out was a little nerve racking for me. I've been using it for a couple of weeks, and so far so good. I really like it.
MAC Jest Eyeshadow: I got this at a CCO in December. Its a really nice peachy color. I use this for mostly everyday looks, it is my go to shadow. This with soft brown in the crease is a perfect natural look.
MAC Gorgeous Gold: I must admit that I'm bringing my spring eyeshadows into my makeup rotation a little early this year. I'm getting to the point where I can't stand this cold weather anymore. Spring colors are just so pretty. Purples, pinks, golds, greens and blues are so pretty in the springtime. Gorgeous gold is a perfect mix of gold and green.
MAC Strobe Cream: I use strobe cream absolutely everyday. I mix this in with my foundation to get a nice glowy look. This is a product that I will keep on repurchasing after I've used up the bottle. If MAC isn't your thing, Benefit has a version of this called High Beam. I have this as well, and it is a very good product.
MAC Digit Eyeshadow: Digit is a go to color of mine when I wear purples for a night on the town. I use this with my Make Up For Ever #92, and BAM...smokey eyes!! Its a great lid color.
MAC Expensive Pink Eyeshadow: Another one of my all time favorite MAC eyeshadows. It goes with so many colors. I use it with purples, pinks, corals, and sometimes yellow. I have been wearing it a lot this month with my purchases from the Spring Color Forecast Collection.
MAC Trax Eyeshadow: Trax is also a permanent MAC color. It goes great with the next color.
MAC Sketch Eyeshadow: Sketch is a color I think every person who likes MAC should own. Its a plummy brown color, and can go with so many types of looks. It can be paired with pink, purple, coral, or brown eyeshadow looks. It is a great crease color.
Lancome Artliner Noir: I purchased this last weekend at an outlet store, and I am already in love with it. It is perfect for creating a winged eye look. A cheaper alternative to this eyeliner is the Loreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black which I also have. It is a great alternative to it. The only difference in the two is that when I use the Loreal one, the black liner gets on my lashes and the Lancome one does not.

I also have two honorable mentions....

MAC Viva Glam Gaga: I absolutely adore Lady Gaga!! She is one of my favorite artists. I love her music, style, and makeup. I also love the fact that she is so positive. The message that she sends to her fans is one of love and equality for all. When I first found out that MAC was going to release a Gaga lipstick, I knew I'd have to have it even if I didn't like the color just because I love and support Gaga. Plus this lipstick is a Viva Glam lipstick, and the funds from the sales go to AIDS research. The color is absolutely gorgeous. Its a blue pink, and although it is very bright, it can be sheered out for daytime wear. I love it!
Lush Blackberry Bath Bomb: Lush has become one of my obsessions over the past year. I love their bath products. This is a bath bomb, which fizzes when you drop it into the tub. I love how their bath bombs and bubble bars turn the color of the water. This particular one turns the water purple, so I was all over it. I love purple!! Plus, it smells so good. When you drop it in to the bath, your water turns purple and feels so silky. Get out of a Lush bath, and there's no need for lotion. You're skin is instantly moisturized, and stays soft all day.

There are my favorite things that I've been using this month. What are your favorite makeup products of the month? So until next time......

Love, Peace, and Happiness!!

Beauty Survey

2010-02-25T21:15:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

Hope ya'll are having a good week. I've seen this beauty survey on a couple of blogs, and decided to post it on here. If you like this survey and decide to post on your own blog, link me to it. I'd love to read your posts!! Have a good weekend!! Here goes....

SKINCARE

-How many times do you wash your face daily? Most times twice, if not then once

-What skin type do you have? Combonation

-What is your current facial wash? Avon Immediate Response Acne Cleanser or Estee Lauder

-Do you exfoliate? Yes

-What brand do you use? MAC Volcanic Ash Exfolatior

-What moisturizer do you use? Olay

-Do you have freckles? No

-Do you use eye cream? Not at the moment

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin? I get the occasional blemishes

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? No

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use? MAC Mineralize Satinfinish, NARS Sheer Glow, or Bobbi Brown Skin

-How about concealer? MAC Select Moisture Cover Up or Make Up For Ever HD

-Do you know your undertone color? No

-What do you think of fake eyelashes? Love them!

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months? Yep, and I do

-What brand of mascara do you use? Rimmel Sexy Curves

-Sephora or MAC? I'm a MAC Girl

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card? I wish!!

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application? Brushes

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? Too Faced Shadow Insurance or MAC Shadesticks

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)? I love purples!!

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? Both

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? Hardly ever

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? I like to use them, but only when I am not in a rush

-Do you use mineral makeup? Yes

-What is your favorite lipstick? At the moment, MAC Ahoy, There!

-How about lipgloss? MAC Dazzleglasses

-What is your favorite blush to use? MAC Tippy or NARS Deep Throat

MAKE ME CHOOSE

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay? Nope

-Do you like drugstore makeup? Mascara, yes

-Do you go to CCO's? Love them!!

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? Only the Studio Talk one's MAC offers

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? Nope

-Name a makeup crime that you hate? Dark lipliner and light lipstick/gloss, unblended shadow

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup? Yep!

-Which celebrity always has great make up? Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Leona Lewis

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use? Mascara

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? Yeah I do

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? No, not really

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line? MAC

-What do you think of Makeup?? Can't live without it!

That's it for now....

Random FOTD

2010-02-22T15:30:00.001-05:00

Hey y'all

Hope you had an awesome weekend!! I did this look a couple of days ago, and I really liked it. I used some more products from the Spring Color Forecast collection including Fresh Salmon lipstick. I didn't really like Fresh Salmon when I first applied it, but it is slowly becoming a favorite lipstick of mine. It is perfect for spring as is the blush. The blush gives your cheeks a healthy glow, and lasts all day long. I don't know why I waited so long creme blush, but I really like it. Also in this post, I tell you where I applied which eyeshadow I used. If you like the post better this way, please let me know. Have a great week!!

Products Used: (All MAC unless noted)

Face:
NARS Sheer Glow Syracuse
Strobe Liquid
Bronze Here Lustre Drops
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Med/Dark

Cheeks:
Springshine Blush Ombre (Contour)
Joie-De-Vivre Cremeblend Blush
Warmed Mineralize Skinfinish

Eyes:
TFSI
Nanogold Eyeshadow (inner 3rd of lid)
Expensive Pink Eyeshadow (Outer half of lid)
Hot Hot Hot Eyeshadow (Crease)
Lala Eyeshadow (Crease)
Sketch Eyeshadow (Outer V)
Femme Fi Eyeshadow (Highlight)
Urban Decay Liquid Liner
Urban Decay 24/7 Zero
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Fresh Salmon Lipstick
2n Lipglass

Here come the photos.....

Hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks for reading.

Later.....

Valentine's Party FOTN

2010-02-17T14:18:00.001-05:00

Hey Ya'll!!

How's everyone doing? Having a great week so far? Hope you had a great Valentine's as well. I actually had a great Valentine's Day. I'm usually the girl who hates Valentine's Day because she's single and bitter. This year I didn't have a man either, but I actually did stuff. I didn't sit at home and mope around wondering why I'm still single. I went out with my single girl-friends for a movie, shopping, and dinner. I had a blast, and I'm gonna make this a yearly tradition. Here's a look I did on Saturday night for a Valentine's party I went to. I used some new products from the Spring Color Forecast Collection. I went out the day before and bought a few more things that I'll show you next. With the purchase, I bought the Lady Gaga Viva Glam Lipstick. I absolutely love this lippie. The haul and review will be up very soon. Anyways, here are the photos...

Products Used (All MAC unless noted)

Face:
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Syracuse
Strobe Liquid
Bronze Hero Lustre Drops
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Med/Dark

Cheeks:
Springshine Blush Ombre (contour)
Azalea Blush Ombre
By Candelight Mineralize Skinfinish

Eyes:
TFSI
Crushed Metal Pigments Stacked 1
Lala Eyeshadow
Very Violet Eyeshadow
Femme Fi Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Liquid Eyeliner
Feline Kohl Power
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Viva Glam Gaga
Electric Fuchsia Lipglass

Here are the photos...

Hope you enjoyed the photos. Until next time....

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

Spring Color Forecast Haul and Review Pt 1

2010-02-12T23:14:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone,

How's your weekend going? I'm snowed in!! It is once in a blue moon that Atlanta gets snow, so when we do its pretty much shut down everywhere. And on Valentine's weekend to boot. I didn't have major plans, but it still sucks being in the house. Especially when I'm off of work for 4 days. Oh well, being inside the house gives me the perfect opportunity to finally show you all my Spring Color Forecast haul. Its every year in February that MAC releases a big spring collection, and this one has been the biggest one I have seen since I've been using their brand. This collection is set up into four mini collections, each with their own separate color theme. The color themes were Pink, Coral, Plum, and Amber. Each mini collection came with their own set of products. For this part of my haul, I bought products from the Pink and Coral collections. I also included in this haul two products released with other collections released recently.

Here's what I bought:

Spring Forecast Lip Products

Fresh Salmon l/s
Bubblegum l/s
Ember Glow l/g
Victorian l/s

The lip products in this collection were very pretty. There were so many to choose from, I was a little bit overwhelmed. I do think I got the best looking ones in the collection. They seem to also be the most popular. Fresh Salmon is a nice corally color. When applied to the lips it looks like a nice peachy pink. Bubblegum is a really nice purple pink lipstick. It is very pretty on the lips. Ember glow is a nice coral color. It looks very similar to Queen Bee which was released in Summer 2009, so I might be returning this one. Victorian is a gorgeous color. The only problem I have with it is that it is a frost. I normally don't like the finish of a frost lipstick on myself, but I do like this one. It does look quite nice with Queen Bee on top. Overall, I liked the lip products in the collection.

Eyeshadows

Lala e/s
Very Violet e/s
Straw Harvest e/s

The eye shadows in the collection were gorgeous. There was something for everyone. There were single shadows, quads, and pigments. The eye shadows I bought came with the Pink and Coral collection. Lala is a nice magenta Frost color. It is very similar to Romping eyeshadow, but I like it better. Very Violet eyeshadow is LOVE in a pan. I love purples, so I knew I was going to scoop this one up. Straw harvest looks like an orange shadow in the pot, but once applied to the skin it looks much lighter. Its very pretty. Overall, these shadows were awesome. There is one more that I wanted to purchase so it will be included in part two of this post.

Blush Ombres

Ripe Peach
Azalea Blossom

Blush Ombre's are a new finish to the MAC blush family. Each shade is comprised of a gradient of two colors. The peach color is Ripe Peach and it goes from a bright orange to a nice coral color. When swiped together, you get a nice coral color. The formula makes the skin look very glowy. There is an obvious shimmer in the pan, but when the color is applied to the skin the shimmer is not noticeable. This type of blush is more expensive than the other MAC blushes, but it is also bigger in size. The pan size is equivalent to an MSF, so you get more bang for your buck. I also got Azalea Blossom which has a gradient from purple to pink. The outcome color is a nice pink that gives my skin a flushed look. It is absolutely gorgeous, and perfect for spring. They have two other blush ombre's, one looks like a bronzer and the other a deep purple color. I am in love with this formula.

Warm & Cozy and MAC In Lillyland Products

2N l/g
Joie-De-Vivre Cremeblend Blush

When I ordered the Spring Color Forecast products from the MAC website, I also decided to order a couple of products that I didn't get to buy from collections released earlier in the year. 2N lipglass was originally released with the N collection in 2008 and re-released this year with the Warm and Cozy collection. This color is a pink nude color. I've heard rave reviews ever since this product came out. I totally skipped over the N collection when it came out, so I missed out on this beautiful color. It goes great over Victorian lipstick to tone it down a bit. The blush is Joie-De-Vivre and it was released with the MAC in Lillyland collection in January of this year. This color is a nice peach color, and it looks great as a base for Ripe Peach. I'm gonna be saving this blush for springtime. Corals are very in for springtime, and I love it on my skin tone.

This is it for now. I do have a couple more products to show you, but I have to photograph them first. I got a chance to pick up the Lady Gaga Viva Glam lipstick, and I am totally in love. I'm going to be showing that really soon. Possibly tomorrow since I'm snowed in, but we'll see. Until next time.....

Love, Peace & Happiness!!

Random FOTN

2010-02-10T22:26:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone,

I haven't done a makeup post in forever, so I looked through some old photos that I haven't gotten a chance to post yet. I did this look on a night out recently and I love the way it turned out. This look is my go to purple look when I don't have an idea of what makeup look I want to do. My favorite purple to use on a night out is the Make Up For Ever #92, and this is the star of this look. Here come the products and photos.

Products: (All MAC unless noted)

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

Cheeks:
NARS Deep Throat Blush
Irridescent Powder Belightful

Eyes:
TFSI
Digit e/s
Parfait Amour e/s
MUFE #92 e/s
Carbon e/s
Femme Fi e/s
Blackrtrack f/l
Urban Decay 24/7 Zero
Sexy Curves Mascara
Ardell 111 Lashes

Lips:
Ahoy, There! l/s
Steppin' Out d/g

Here come the photos....

Thanks for looking. Up next should be my Spring Color Forecast haul or the Lush haul.

Later.....

Weight Loss #2: Fight The Fat!!

2010-02-09T23:47:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

It's been forever since I updated the ol' blog. How have ya'll been? I've been super busy with school and work. I hope to get back in the full swing of things very soon. I just got in my items from the MAC Spring Color Forecast Collection, so I should be making a haul post soon. Plus I have some great Lush goodies to show you. Since its still in the beginning of the year, I figured I should update on my weight loss adventures. It's been a long time since I updated on my weight loss. Its going great now..... Confession time!!

I must admit that over the holidays, I completely stopped watching what I was eating and exercising. With holiday parties, finals, and work I was totally not paying attention to what was going in my stomach. Not to mention, my family loves to eat the non-healthy items during the holiday season. Professionals call this mindless eating, and that's definitely what it was. I honestly was not caring what I put in my mouth. I saw the eating come full circle when I went back to doctor in January for my first weigh in of the year. I gained and I gained a lot!!

I was 10 pounds heavier means that my 30 lb loss was now 20!! To tell you I was devastated was an understatement. But how could I really be devastated when I wasn't putting in the effort to keep my weight loss going? To add insult to injury, I was dealt another blow. This one I can't really speak of because its painful to talk about. But talk about a wake up call. The event that happened clicked something in my head that I must lose weight, and I have to do it now. From that moment on, I was on a mission. I have started doing what I'm supposed to in order to keep my weight loss going. I've started watching what I eat, limiting alcohol, and exercising. I got a Wii Fit for Christmas, and it has been a lifesaver. I now look forward to working out. Its a great tool for people trying to lose weight.

Fast forward to a month later (Feb 2010), it was time for me to go back to the doc to weigh in. 10 pounds are off my body!! To say I was excited wasn't the half of it. I was literally over the moon. No one could keep the smile off my face. Now my total weight loss is back to 30 pounds!!! These 30 pounds are awesome, but I want more!! I'm on a mission to get to 100 pounds loss before the end of the summer. I'm trying my best to keep focused, and that means celebrating wins and losses. Plus, I have a great group of people behind me. Some girl friends and I are starting a weight loss support group, and I think this will help immensely. Just knowing there are people behind you that have struggled and are struggling like you is a great comfort. I'm so glad to be back on the train, and it feels amazing!!

Until next time.....

Winner of the Anniversary Giveaway

2010-01-13T21:47:00.001-05:00

Hey Guys,

So, its been a week and I'm here to announce the giveaway winner. I'm happy to announce that the winning comment was made by jackieg02. Congratulations girl!! Email me your contact info and you're color choice, and I'll get your shadow to you very soon. I hope to do more of these in the future. Thanks for reading.

I'll be back soon..

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

Top 10 Products of 2009 + Blog Anniversary + Giveaway

2010-01-05T15:30:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year Friends!!

How has your year been so far? I've been having a 2010. Today actually happens to be a year since I started this blog. It's been a great first year for me. It started off slow, but Makeup By Kera has been growing over the past couple of months. To celebrate a year of blogging, I'm gonna post the top ten things I've bought over the past year that I love. Stay tuned to the end of the post for a chance to win a MAC eyeshadow. Here comes my top ten:

1. MAC Smooth Merge MSF:
This came out in the summer time. I forgot which exact collection it came out with. I absolutely love MSF's. This one has three separate colors that you can use individually or swirl all together to make one color. I mainly use the two colors on the sides for a highlighter. Once in a while I may use this as a blush. The gold side in particular looks great on top of the cheekbones.

2. MAC Hello Kitty Eyeshadow Quad Lucky Tom
This was a part of the MAC for Hello Kitty collection. This quad has great colors in it. The colors are Creme Royale, Paradisco, Stylin', and Lucky Tom. I use Creme Royale almost everyday. It has a big dent in it now. For days when I don't want to wear much eyeshadow, Creme Royale goes on the lid with Paradisco in the crease. A little liner and mascara and finished.

3. MAC Mineralize Shadow Young Punk
Young Punk came out with the Style Black collection later in 2009. The collection was one of my favorites of the year. All of the mineralize shadows they released in it are gorgeous. They are so dark and glittery, so it is perfect for a night out. The glitter in it is fabulous. It goes great with the next part of my top 10.

4. MAC Greasepaint Stick
The new product also released with the Style Black collection is fabulous. It is a great black base for smokey eyes. It can also be used as a liner, although I mostly use it as a base. I don't know if you've heard or not, but MAC is releasing 7 or 8 new shades of their greasepaint sticks in an upcoming collection. I'm so obsessed with this product, that I'll probably buy all the ones that look half way decent. I really love this product and use it whenever I do a smokey eye.

5. Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara
I have found the perfect mascara for me! In addition to being in awesome packaging (I Love the purple!!), it does a great job lengthening and volumizing lashes. Its the perfect drugstore mascara. As I've said before, mascara is the one product I won't spend lots of money on. Why, when it only lasts three months? Sexy Curves is a great product!!

6. Red Cherry Lashes
I absolutely love using lashes for a night out. Well, once I actually learned how to properly put them on I loved them. For months I struggled and struggled to get these puppies on. I watched countless youtube videos on applying lashes. One day after trying and trying I finally got it. Once I finally knew how to do it, I use them all the time. Mostly for nights out. Red Cherry lashes are fabulous. A close second favorite brand is Ardell.

7. MAC Shadesticks
This is my other favorite base from MAC. The one pictured is Lemon Chiffon from the Sugarsweet collection. These can be used as a creme shadow or a base. I sometimes use Lemon Chiffon or Butternutty as a shadow on days when I don't wanna put a full face on.

8. MAC Lipstick Ahoy, There!
This is my absolute favorite pink lipstick. I use it almost everyday. This is yet another limited edition product that was released in 2008, but I did buy it in 2009 at a CCO so I included it in this year's favorites. You can probably still find this at your local CCO. I know mine still has some, and I plan on buying a back up because I love it so much.

9. MAC Lustre Drops
I use this product every day with my foundation. I like my foundation to be dewy, so I make a "cocktail" of my foundation, strobe cream and lustre drops. The one pictured is Bronze Hero, and it leaves my skin with such a glow. This product was released with the Style Warriors collection. Try and find it at your local CCO as I've seen Style Warriors products popping up lately.

10. Morrocanoil Treatment
Once I bought this product a few weeks ago, I have loved it. I use it before blowdrying my hair. When finished my hair is soft and shiny. I have really noticed an improvement in my hair when using this product. I have to use it sparingly because my hair gets oily easy, but I absolutely love it. I'll be using this for the forseeable future.

Well, those are the top ten products I have purchased over the past year. I totally didn't notice when picking these that 90% of them were limited edition. I didn't mean to pick them that way, its just what I use on a day to day basis. Some of the MAC products may still be at your local MAC store. Sometimes if you have a favorite artist and they have things they haven't sent back to MAC yet, they will let you buy them. Also check the CCO because you may be able to get these products at a cheaper price. I know I've seen some MSF's and the Shadesticks at my local CCO.

Now to celebrate the 1st anniversary of my blog....

Thanks for sticking around for a whole year!! As a way of saying thanks for reading my blog, I'm gonna be giving away one MAC eyeshadow to one reader of my blog. I'm starting off with a small giveaway, but as I gain more momentum the giveaways will become more frequent and more things added. I really appreciate all of you!! Now for the rules.

1. You must be a follower of my blog. (Although why wouldn't you be..lol)
2. Leave a comment telling me what you would like to see from this blog in the upcoming year. Whether it be hauls, FOTD, Weight loss stories, anything. I really read all of these and take each one into account.
3. Entries will be accepted until 1-12-09 at 11:59 pm est
4. You get to choose one eyeshadow that will be sent to you.

Easy isn't it! I'll choose a winner by using random.org and post of the 13th of January. Again, thanks for reading and have a great 2010!!!

FOTN For Lady Gaga Concert

2009-12-30T00:11:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Last night I went to the Lady Gaga concert, and it was absolutely the best night I've had in a long time. She may be a little crazy, but the lady is mad talented. Plus she seems to be really down to earth. . I had so much fun at the concert. There's just something about her music that is so freeing. Its such great dance music. It was the one time I truly let my hair down and just danced. I seriously had the best time ever!! Since Gaga is known for doing everything over the top including makeup, I knew i could get away with something more fun. I went for a dark smokey eye with a glitter twist. I had glitter everywhere, and I loved it. Here's how it came out plus a few pics of the show.

Products Used:

Face:
MAC Mineralize Satinfinish nc 44
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Med/dark

Cheeks:
MAC Tippy Blush
Illamasqua Pure Pigment Furore

Eyes:
TFSI
Greasepaintstick black
Cinderfella e/s (Foiled)
MAC 3-D Silver Glitter
MAC Typographic e/s
MAC Magic Dust
Loreal Liquid Liner
UD 24/7 Liner Zero
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips
YSL Rouge Volupte Frivolous Pink
Urban Decay Doug

Here are the photos of the makeup:

Plus a few from the show

Hope you enjoyed reading this post. Up next is gonna be my top products of 2009. I'm gonna try my best to get it up before the new year. Have you all got cool NYE plans? I can't believe that we're about to be a decade into the 2000's. That's so cool. I'm ringing in the new year with a bang this year. 2010 is gonna be my year. Stay tuned....

Happy New Year Monsters!!

Merry Christmas + Holiday Makeup Look

2009-12-24T21:56:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody!!

Wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas before the holiday. Hope you all get everything you wish for this year. Enjoy!! Here's a holiday look I came up with today.

Products used (All MAC unless noted)

Face:
MAC Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish natural med/dark
Transparant finishing powder

Cheeks:
X-Rocks
Benefit High Beam

Eyes:
TFSI
Jest e/s
Sweet Chestnut e/s
Sketch e/s
Heritage Rouge p/m
Magic Dust e/s
UD Perversion Liner
UD 24/7 Liner Zero
Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Ahoy There L/s
UD Doug l/g

Here come the Pics:

Hope you liked it. Here's a bonus picture. I'm probably crazy for posting this, but hey its mah blog.

Happy Holidays everyone!! Much love!!

Until next time....

My Christmas Wishlist 2009

2009-12-18T17:24:00.002-05:00

Hey guys,

Wow, its only 7 more days until Christmas. How fast did this month fly by? Crazy I tell ya. How's everyone coming along with their shopping for the holidays? I've still got some shopping to do, but I hope to be done by the end of the weekend. Thought since I had to make a list for my parents, I may as well include it on my blog. Usually Christmas for me means one or two big gifts, and a few small other items. Here's what I'm asking for this year. I'd love to know what is on your list, both makuep and non-makeup items.

Wii

Oh, how I wish they were pink!! I've been wanting a wii for a while now. I love playing old Mario games, and you can download it to the game system. I also want a Wii Fit board for workouts. Does anyone have them? Has it helped or hindered weight loss?

Samsung TL 225

As soon as I saw this camera, I knew I had to have it. Its great for me because I'm the one taking pictures of my makeup for the blog, and it would be awesome to be able to set up a shot. The camera window in the front is genius.
Plus its in purple, an added bonus. Plus this camera has so many great features.

The Hangover

Such a funny movie. If you haven't seen it, go out and rent or purchase it. One of the best movies of 2009!!

Sephora Gift Cards

MAC Gift Card

That's about it. Note this is just a wish list, I probably won't get everything I'm wanting. I hope you're holiday is fabulous!!

Until next time...

Holiday Party Looks

2009-12-17T22:31:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone!!

How have you all been? It's been like forever since I posted a new entry. Its the holiday season, and with finals, work and parties I have been pretty busy. I am posting two looks that I did for holiday parties that I've been to. The first one is for my school's holiday party and the other is the annual holiday party my family throws. I must admit, these sets of pictures didn't come out as good as normal, but they'll do. I really loved the look I did for my work's party. I used the MAC holiday pigment set Cool Capers. The second look is using NARS shadows. Both looks involve my favorite element for the holidays....glitter!!

For both looks:
Face:
MAC Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Strobe Cream
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Med/Dark
MAC Finishing Powder

Here are the looks!!!

School Party Products Used:

Eyes:
TFSI
Vellum e/s
Grape Pigment
Pandamonium e/s
Reflects Transparent Teal
Urban Decay Perversion Liner
Stila Kajal Liner Onyx
Ardell Lashes
Sexy Curves Mascara

Cheeks:
NARS Super Orgasm
MAC Belightful

Lips:
MAC Ahoy There l/s
Urban Decay Doug l/g

2nd Look: "Shots For The Holidays" 2nd Annual Party

Note that these pics were taken during the party. I didn't have time to take photos before I left.

Eyes:

TFSI
MAC Butternutty Shadestick
NARS Silent Night e/s
Urban Decay Eldorado e/s
NARS Mekong e/s
MAC Reflects Gold Glitter
Urban Decay Liner Perversion
Urban Decay Zero Liner
Ardell 106 lashes
Sexy Curves Mascara

Cheeks:
NARS Deep Throat
Benefit High Beam

Lips:
Nothing

Thanks for looking!! I'll be back very soon!!

November Favorites

2009-11-29T22:35:00.001-05:00

Hey Everybody!!

Did you all have a nice holiday? I ate way too much and spent way too much money, but its all good. Anyways, November is coming to a close so its time for favorites of the month. I've picked a couple of things that I've been loving this month.

MAC Greasepaint Stick: This has been my go to base for smokey looks. It is perfect to make dark shadows pop. Also it doesn't budge once put on the eyes. Love this product.
Urban Decay Liquid Liner: I just recently bought the UD liquid liner during the FF sale, and I immediately fell in love. I got the black one called Perversion. It is very easy to apply, thats what I like most about it.
False Eyelashes: I recently got the hang of applying false lashes, and now I can't stop using them. I admit it took me a very long time to learn to apply them. I got frustrated many times while trying to apply, and I usually just gave up. I had watched so many youtube tutorials on applying falsies that I lost count. Finally one day I got the hang of it. My favorite lashes are Ardell, although I have recently discovered red cherry. My one tip to applying false lashes is to keep trying, if I can get you can get it!
MAC 217 Brush: The 217 is my all time favorite MAC eyeshadow brush. If you could only afford one MAC brush, this is the one I would suggest. I use it absolutely every day. It is great for applying a lid color and a crease color. Its even great for applying bases. Its such a multi-use product, that I can't imagine my makeup stash without it.
Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel: I know this isn't a makeup product, but I absolutely adore lush. The Snow Fairy gel is a part of Lush's holiday collection. It smells like candy. Its a pretty pink gel, and it has iridescent sparkles all throughout. For those that like Godmother soap, this smells almost exactly the same but better. I'll stock up on this gel so that I'll have it when the holidays are over.

Well, that's it for this month's favorites. Would this be more helpful if I added pictures of the products? Let me know.

Later!!!

Hair Product Review: Moroccanoil

2009-11-22T21:40:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone,

I'd like to share with you a recent discovery of a holy grail hair product. Anyone that knows me knows that I love hair products just about as much as I love makeup. I'm always looking for new and exciting products to try. I recently found the hair product that changed my life. I was in the hair salon the other day when my stylist introduced me to Moroccanoil. I had heard about this product from various beauty bloggers and websites, but I never tried it. My stylist told me that it would be perfect for my hair type which is coarse, curly, and frizzy. Boy, he wasn't wrong. This product has changed my life.

Moroccanoil is made from Argan oil. Argan oil is used by women in Morocco to treat their hair and nails. Their claim is that hair will look and feel healthier after just one application. I have to agree with this statement. I usually have to use three or more products in my hair for it to be tame, and when my stylist used just this oil treatment I was skeptical to say the least. All I knew at that time was I loved the smell. Well, I walked out of that hair salon with my hair more silky, movable, and manageable than ever. Needless to say, I walked out of the salon with this in product in my pocket.

Little over a week later, and this product has replaced all of the 3-5 products I usually put in my hair. I still love the smell, but better than that I love the way it makes my hair feel. It has a very nice consistency that doesn't weigh hair down. My hair tends to get oily at the roots, so I mainly focus this product on middle of my head through the ends of my hair. As a result, my hair is more shiny, silky, and soft than it has been in a long while. I think that every curly girl needs this oil treatment in their life.

Has anybody tried Moroccanoil? Let me know what you think of it? Also, if you have any products you would like reviewed, let me know. I always like trying new things.

Until next time....

Sephora FF Haul Part 1: Illamasqua and NARS + FOTD

2009-11-12T21:25:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone.

I am finally getting around to taking photos of my recent Sephora Friends and Family sale purchases. As I said in a previous blog, I was taking the sale opportunity to start my love affair with Illamasqua. I made a few orders, and this part is gonna feature the Illamasqua products I purchased plus a NARS blush. I also used them in a FOTD today, so you can see how the shadows look. So, here's what I got.

Illamasqua
Fatal Eyeshadow
Slink Eyeshadow
Furore Pigment

Packaging:
The packaging of these shadows is so cute. Although, I was a bit baffled when I first opened the box because I always thought they were much bigger. Every time I see the shadows in pictures and videos, they appear to a little bigger than they are in person. I really like the way the pigment is packaged. The top has a plastic cover and a small hole, so the product won't end up all over my carpet. Overall, the packaging is great. Isn't it cute?

Colors review:
I have used the eyeshadows a couple of times since I purchased them, and they did not disappoint. Fatal is a matte dark purple, and it is very pretty. I usually don't use matte shadows because they tend to be hard to blend and not pigmented. That criticism doesn't apply to this eyeshadow. When you swipe the shadow, you can tell that it is very pigmented. When I applied it to my eye, I did not have to keep building up the color as I have to with many other mattes. It was also very easy to blend. Slink and Furore are both more natural colors. When I got them home, I realized that they look pretty similar. Slink shows up a little better on me, and Furore is more sparkly. However, I like using furore as a brow and inner corner highlight.

Overall, I really like what I purchased. This purchase definitely makes me want more. Probably won't purchase more any time soon because I'm saving up for Christmas. For now, I'm gonna enjoy what I have.

NARS
Deep Throat Blush

I absolutely adore NARS blushes. They are very pigmented, smooth and sparkly. I have a few, and I love each and every one of them. Deep Throat is a peachy pink blush with gold sparkles. Its a darker version of the Orgasm blush, which I also own. This one shows up on me more than the "big O" blush. Its mainly a daytime color for me, but I love it nonetheless. What are your favorite NARS blushes?

FOTD Time
Since I knew I was going to make this blog post today, I went ahead and took pictures of my look for today. This way you can see a look with the products, and kind of what I do from day to day. Most days, my eyeshadow look isn't this intense but I really do like it for everyday. I used all the products previously mentioned in this look.

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Mineralize Natural Med/Dark
Select Moisturecover nw35

Cheeks:
NARS Deep Throat
NARS Albatross

Eyes:
TFSI
Illamasqua Slink Eyeshadow
Illamasqua Fatal Eyeshadow
Illamasqua Furore Pigment
MAC Soft Brown Eyeshadow
MAC Femme Fi
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner
UD 24/7 Zero
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara

Lips:
MAC Cutester l/s
Pink lipgloss

Here come the pics:

Whew, that was a long post. Are ya tired of reading now? Well, that's it for now. I'll be back in a few with my first comparison. I bought the new Maybelline Lash Stiletto liquid eyeliner, and I'm gonna compare it with the Loreal liquid eyeliner. See you all soon!!

Until next time...

Halloween 2009 Makeup

2009-11-01T20:29:00.001-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

Hope you had a safe and Happy Halloween!! I went out to hear a great band last night, and I took some pictures of my face makeup. I went dressed as a Lusty Devil, so I went with a dark smokey eye and a red lip. Hey, who says you can't wear a bold eye and lip at the same time? I used my Style Black Eyeshadow in Cinderfella, so you can see how gorgeous it looks on. It was also the very first time I wore red lips out in public. I absolutely love the way this turned out.

Products Used (All MAC unless noted):

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44 (mixed with Strobe Cream)
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
Prep and Prime finishing powder

Cheeks:
Peachykeen Blush
Iridescent Powder Belightful

Eyes:
TFSI
Greasepaint Stick
Cinderfella Shadow (Applied wet with Fix+)
Carbon e/s
Soft Brown e/s (to blend out crease)
Femme Fi
Loreal Liquid Eyeliner
Urban Decay 24/7 Zero
Maybelline Mascara
Ardell Flirty Lashes

Lips:
Cherry Liner
Ruby Woo L/s
Love Alert d/g

Here Come The Pics:

And a couple of Bonus shots:

Me and My Madre

Trying to be a Pinup..hahaha

Hope you enjoyed looking a the pics. Up next should be my Sephora Friends and Family sale purchases. I just have to finish taking pictures of everything.

Until next time.....

Favorite Product of the October

2009-10-27T16:06:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone,

So, in addition to my ins and outs post every month, I thought I would start a section where I feature one product every month that I use quite regularly. It may be something that I use in my everyday face or something that I have recently purchased that I absolutely adore. Hope you like this. Here goes:

The first product I have decided to feature are the Style Black eyeshadows. I have talked about these shadows over and over again, but I can't stress enough how absolutely gorgeous they are. Ever since I purchased these, I have grabbed them when I am going out for a night out on the town. Sadly, I don't have any photos of the looks I did, but I will take some the next time I go out. They are so soft and pigmented that they are absolutely gorgeous when applied on the eyes. The glitter fallout is pretty minimal when the shadows are applied wet, so this is how I use them. I will make sure and post photos of a look very soon, but until then...

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

A Question for all my Readers?

2009-10-27T15:47:00.001-04:00

I need you're help. As I'm getting more and more views, I want to make posts that you like to read. I feel like all I ever do is write about hauls, and that just gets pretty boring. So, here's what I need. You can leave it as a comment to this post or shoot me an email. Let me know what types of posts that are interesting to you. Whether it be more fotd or fotn looks, favorites, reviews, weight loss accomplishments and setbacks, collection posts, whatever. This would really help me know that I'm reaching someone out there.

Thanks a bunch...

Up next should be Favorites of the month!

Weight Loss Update 1

2009-10-20T21:30:00.001-04:00

Fact, I've been overweight almost all my life.
Fact, I've been one every kind of fad diet one can think of.
Fact, I have lost and gained back pounds so many times I have lost count......

Yes, I am fat. I've been fat as long as I can remember. Do I like being fat, no. Does anyone like being fat, don't really think so. Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that this is not an easy process. It takes hard work and determination. Unfortunately there isn't a quick fix, because if there were I would have done it already. I finally got fed up and decided I had to do something about it. I've been on this journey for about three months, and this is my story:

I have lost about 23 pounds, and it hasn't been easy. I, like a lot of people I know started off gung ho about my adventure. I was going to the gym almost everyday. I was eating the foods that help the weight come off. And the scale was showing the results I wanted. Then life got in the way. With starting grad school, family problems, colds, and other issues, my weight loss has suffered. I have completely stopped going to the gym. I have slowly added back foods that I had stopped eating. In other words, I failed....

Well, in my mind I failed. Then, I think of what I have gained. With each pound lost, I feel better both physically and emotionally. This is what keeps me going from day to day. I have learned that yes, I am going to mess up. There is no overnight fix. Every time I get off the horse, I get back on again and keep trying. It all came full circle today, when I went to my monthly weigh in. The scales said I have lost 5 pounds this month. This is what keeps me going.

I keep going because I don't want to fail again. I won't gain every single pound back like I have done in the past. I keep doing this because I want to wear trendy clothes. I keep going because I am tired of being the "You have such a pretty face" girl. Anyone who has had this said to them knows how bad it feels. Yes I may have a pretty face, but I want the rest of me to be pretty too. In other words, I just keep going.....

Until next time....

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

Sephora Friends and Family Sale

2009-10-19T21:35:00.001-04:00

So the time has come around yet again. It's time for Sephora's once a year online sale where everything is 20% off online. Many makeup enthusiasts like Moi wait all year for this sale. You need a code to get the discount which is FF2009. I have heard rumblings from various websites that Sephora is sending a mass email for V.IB.'s that has a printable coupon to take into stores. Until this is confirmed or not, to use the discount in store, one must know a Sephora "Cast Member" to partake. The sale starts today and runs through November 2nd.

I have started making a preliminary list of things that I might purchase. I'm not buying everything on this list, because as you see it is rather long. If you have any of these items, please let me know if you like them or not.

Urban Decay Liquid Liner Perversion
Philosophy "Best Of Sephora" Set: Includes Hope in a Jar moisturizer, Purity cleanser, and Grace shampoo and body wash
Illamasqua Cream Blusher Rude
Illamasqua Eyeshadow Fatal
Illamasqua Eyeshadow Moonflower
Illamasqua Eyeshadow Poem
Illamasqua Satin Primer
Illamasqua Liquid Metal Solstice
Illamasqua Pigment Furore
Illamasqua Pigment Involve
Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss Divine
MUFE Eyeshadow #26, 116, 142
Stila Liner in Topaz
YSL Lipstick Lingerie Pink

Yes, I know its a long list. Just trying to jot down things I have been wanting. I also have been wanting to try Illamasqua products, so I made sure to wait until FF to do so. Again, if you have any of these products let me know what you think.

Ta-Ta for now....

Getting to Know Me Tag

2009-10-11T16:25:00.003-04:00

Here is a tag that I found on one of the blogs I read. I thought it would be interesting to do some posts about my life, and not just about makeup all the time. I thought this tag was very interesting, so I decided to give it a try.

1. What time did you get up this morning? About 9:15

2. How do you like your steak? Medium Well

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Fame, it was great!

4. What is your favorite TV show? Grey's Anatomy. Although, I am still mad they killed off George.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Cali

6. What did you have for breakfast? French Toast Sticks and Bacon

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Mexican

8. What foods do you dislike? Beans and Peas

9. Favorite place to eat?

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Toyota Camry

12. What are your favorite clothes? Simple and Classic...Jeans and Tshirt. I love dressing jeans up for nigh time with accessories and shoes. Don't really wear skirts or dresses.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Hawaii, Paris, Italy, Jamaica

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Usually 1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire? On an island, but probably just close to home

16. Favorite time of day? Afternoon and nights on the weekends

17. Where were you born? Atlanta, GA

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Don't really watch sports, but if I had to pick one it would be football. Even if I don't have a clue what goes on

19. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? Everyone, Please comment and link me to your post if you do this tag

20. Bird watcher? No, not really

21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night definitely

22. Do you have any pets? Yep, this precious buddy

23. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Nope

24. What did you want to be when you were little?

25. What is your best childhood memory? Family vacays to the beach

26. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog.. i love dogs!!

27. Are you married? Nope, far from it

28. Always wear your seat belt? Yep, I always wear it

29. Been in a car accident? I've been in a fender bender.

30. Any pet peeves? Drivers that don't use blinker when turning, drivers that don't wave when I let them out in front of me

31. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Peperoni, Beef, Black Olives

32. Favorite Flower? Lilacs, pink & white roses

33. Favorite ice cream? Blue Bell Pistachio, Strawberry

34. Favorite fast food restaurant? Chick-Fil-A

35. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None....passed it the first time

36. From whom did you get your last email? Facebook

37. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Torrid

38. Do anything spontaneous lately? Nope

39. Like your job? Yes, its great

40. Broccoli? yummy when its cooked

41. What was your favorite vacation? Vegas 21st birthday

42. Last person you went out to dinner with? Mom and Dad

43. What are you listening to right now? Grey's Anatomy DVD

44. What is your favorite color? Purple

45. How many tattoos do you have? One, A butterfly that I got when I was 18

46. How many are you tagging for this quiz? Anyone that wants to do it

47. What time did you finish this quiz? 4:45 pm

48. Coffee drinker? At times

There ya have it, a look into life with me. Hope if you do this tag, you will link me to it so I can read or comment. Also, if anyone has any suggestions on topics you would like me to talk about feel free to drop be a comment or email. I feel that all I ever do is post about hauls and ins and outs. I want to diversify this blog. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Have a good one!!

Collective Haul and Review

2009-10-08T22:24:00.001-04:00

Hi Ladies,

I finally got my MAC box in the mail yesterday, so I can post my Style Black haul. I picked up a couple of things from the MAC store in my area, and a few things I ordered off the MAC website. I also got a couple of things from the DSquared collection, Makeup Art Cosmetics collection, and the regular line. This is probably going to be a long post. Here is a picture of everything that I purchased:

From Style Black:
Young Punk e/s
Cinderfella e/s
Guilt By Association e/s
Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
Bat Black CCB
Greasepaint stick Black

From DSquared:
Greasepaint stick V
165 Brush

From Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection:
Violet Trance e/s

From the Regular Line:
Creme Cup Lipstick
Soft Brown e/s

Now onto the Review:

Mineralize Shadows:

Oh, the glittery goodness. I am absolutely in love with these shadows. For any girl or guy that is a fan of glitter, these shadows are a must have. A plus with mineralize shadows is that you can use them wet or dry. They look good both ways, but they really shine when applied wet. I use a spritz of Fix+ on my brush, dip into the product and then apply. They also shine over a base. That is why I bought the greasepaint stick because it is a perfect base for these shadows. Just a tip, if you do use them wet make sure to leave the top open for the shadow to dry because you don't want to catch any bacteria that may have been on you're brush. I picked up three of the four shadows released with this collection, and I may go back for the fourth one to complete the set. Although, its a blue one and I never wear blue eyeshadow. But sometime I may right? Someone stop me....

Violet Trance and Soft Brown Eyeshadow:

I mentioned in my Makeup Art Cosmetics collection haul that I was probably going back to get Violet Trance eyeshadow, and boy am I glad that I did. It is such a pretty color. Yes, it does take some work to get it to show up but I will make it work. As for Soft Brown it is in the regular line of colors. I see people on Specktra and Youtube all the time use this color to blend out the crease, and it does not disappoint. Its a new must have for me.

Greasepaint Sticks:

The Greasepaint sticks are a new limited edition product that MAC has released. I heard rave reviews about this product, so I knew that I would be purchasing at least one. I bought the black one first. These can be used as a shadow base or as eyeliners. However, if used as an eyeliner they are not waterline safe. When used as a shadow base, it works really well. I used the purple one as a base for Young Punk eyeshadow, and it stayed all day. Once this baby dries it will not budge. It is sold out in a lot of places, so if you're thinking about getting one you may want to do it quick. I absolutely love this product.

Volcanic Ash Exfoliator and 165 Brush

Both of these products are repromotes that have been released with previous collections. The 165 brush came out with the BBR collection last January. It is great for highlighting and contouring. It is so soft, and it seems like its gonna be a great brush. The Volcanic Ash was released with a collection that I can't remember the name of. I wasn't quite the MAC junkie back when this was released as I am now. Many people love this product, and I must say that it is pretty cool. The smell is something that I had to get used to, and to be completely honest I'm not sure I have yet. I only like this product because it makes my skin glowy. I'm slowly getting used to the smell, but at first I thought of returning it. The jury is still out on this one.

Bat Black CCB and Creme Cup Lipstick:

Bat Black CCB was released with the Style Black collection. I have not used this product yet, but CCBs are meant to be worn on the eyes, lips or cheeks. Because this is a dark burgundy color, I'll probably just use it as a base for shadows. I saw a MAC artist that used it as a base for Young Punk and it looked spectacular. I also think it would go well with Sketch and Beauty Marked eyeshadows. Creme cup is from the regular line. Some compare it to Angel lipstick and that is partly the reason why I bought it. Angel is a frost lipstick while Creme Cup is a cremesheen lipstick. Because frost lippies and I do not mix, I knew that this was the one that I wanted. I bought this primarily to copy Kim Kardashian's lipstick of choice. I am a big fan of her makeup looks, so I really wanted to try something similar. I used it today, and I really like it. It goes great with smokey eyes.

Overall, I really liked everything that I purchased. I know it is a lot, but I did not buy all of this at one time. I was looking forward to this collection for a while, and I was very happy with it. I passed on the lippies for this collection, and that was because I just can't do darker colors. The advertisement images were lovely, but I just can't justify buying a black lipstick that I will never use. The dsqaured collection was awesome as well. I probably will not purchase any more items from the collection though. I am trying to save up for holiday, which is right around the corner. As for the things I bought, I must say my favorite of the bunch are the shadows. They are just too beautiful to pass up. Up next should be a look using the shadows.

Until next time.....

Ins and Outs 3 and Update

2009-10-07T22:36:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone!!

How have you all been? I know we're already out of September and into October but here is my new installment of Ins and Outs.

Ins:

Natural Makeup: It seems that lately, all I have been rocking makeup wise is foundation, blush, and mascara. With working in a school, dramatic makeup really doesn't work. Plus I like to sleep in, so this is usually my routine during the week. On those days when I do put on eyeshadow, I use a minimal amount. I think an upcoming post will be my everyday makeup look. Also, I'm thinking about doing day to night looks possibly.
All of the Style Black Shadows: The Style Black collection was on my ins and outs list last time, and this was before the collection actually released. With seeing it in person, and getting my items this collection did not disappoint. In fact, my next post will be a haul and review of Style Black.
Hello Kitty Quad in Lucky Tom: On those days when I do use eyeshadow, this quad is what I reach for most. I use the lightest color Creme Royale on the lid and Paradisco in the crease. Add black eyeliner and mascara and that's it.
Being sick: Working with the little one's isn't the best for you're immune system. This month I have spent over half of it with a cold. The kids are awesome, but when you teach preschoolers and kindergarteners, they don't know what covering your mouth means just yet. Anyways, their a joy to be around but sickness just comes with the job title. This takes me to my first out of the month.

Outs:

Exercise: Starting a diet regimen most always mean exercise. When I first started trying to change my eating habits, I was doing well. I would hit the gym 3-4 times a week, and now that I have started working and grad school I seem to never have time for it anymore. Add the fact that I've been sick, and you get not going to the gym for over a month. Somehow I have managed to keep off what I have lost, but I know that I'm not going to without getting back into the exercising bit. Ok, enough blabbering I will save that for another post.

I can't think of anymore outs at the moment, so I am going to end here. I've been thinking long and hard about the fact that when I started this blog I was going to make it about my weight loss journey too. To date, I only have one post about that and its the starting post. I really need to get in gear, but lately I have been so uninspired. When I actually have time to sit and blog, I can't get the words out. I'm seriously gonna start my weight loss blogs this month. Come with me on my journey of getting healthy while looking fabulous. I want and NEED to do this....

Until next time.....

No Mascara a Trend for Spring 2010?

2009-09-15T11:57:00.001-04:00

Hi Ladies,

I saw this on Twitter, and caught my attention today so I had to comment on it. Glamour Beauty provided a link to something that is catching on at Fashion Week in NYC this week. They say that a big trend for spring 2010 is going to be wearing no mascara. Here is the original link to the post on Glamour's website:

I don't know about you, but I could not go without mascara. It is an everyday staple in my makeup stash. Some days I have forgotten to put mascara on, but I would always head to my nearest drugstore to pick up a tube. I just don't think that this is a trend that will catch on. I have seen some trends that I absolutely love, but this one...not so much!!

While on the topic of mascaras. I have a question for all my (10) readers.....What is your favorite mascara? Also, do you think drugstore mascaras are better than high end? I personally love my drugstore mascaras, and I don't see the point in spending big bucks for something that I have to throw away in 3 months. I would rather spend my money on eyeshadow. That's just me, what do you think?

Until next time...

Love, Peace, and Happiness!!!

Small MAC Haul

2009-09-13T00:25:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Hope you all are having an awesome weekend. For me its a laid back weekend with nothing really planned. This past week I got a chance to finally check out the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics collection. I know I am like a month late (not really), but I just got the funds I needed to buy things. I knew from looking at specktra that I wanted the Photo Realism quad and Fuchsia glitter. I also wanted the Violet Trance eyeshadow, but when I swatched it, the color was kind of chalky and not very pigmented. I had heard that you have to work with this shadow to make it really show up. I still may pick it up at some point, but for now I left without it. I just picked up what I planned. Here are some photos of both of these items.

Photo Realism Quad:

The Colors in this quad are:
Photo Realism - Gold shimmer with gold pearlized pigments (Frost)
Fresh Approach - Cool mint green (Veluxe Pearl)
Image Maker - Mid-tone grey green (Frost)
Grey Range - Deep blue green (Veluxe Pearl)

Fuchsia Glitter:

My Thoughts:

I really like both of these items. When I first used the quad, I honestly thought I was going to be returning it. I just was not impressed initially. I had seen all these great looks with the quad, so I was dissapointed that I didn't like it. Today I decided to give it one last shot, and I am glad I did. I made a complete 180, and the quad has grown on me. I'm not really used to wearing green eyeshadows, but its growing on me. Even though, I don't really consider this quad to be true green colors. I used the shadows in a different way than I had at first, and that made the difference. The colors are really pretty, and I can't wait to do a smokey eye with the quad.

As for the glitter, I have not used it yet. I do love the color though. The only problem I have with it is that I do not understand the name. The glitter clearly is not a fuchsia color. It looks completely purple to me. I think MAC missed the ball with this one with not naming it purple glitter. I think its going to be fabulous for a night out though. Its a great glitter!!

This collection was huge, as most of the MAC fall collections are. There are a couple of things I still want from this collection, so I'll be back with another haul soon.

Until next time.....

Ins and Outs #2

2009-09-09T22:59:00.001-04:00

Its time again for Ins and Outs. Its a little late now that August is over, but better late than never. So here it comes.

Ins

Glitter: I absolutely adore glitter. Lately, I have been obsessed with buying MAC reflects glitters. I'll admit that though I don't use them everyday, I buy them because they are so pretty to look at. Glitter is perfect for a night out, and I love using it for a smokey look. Just a note that the MAC glitters are not eye safe, so use with caution. However, I have never had a problem with using them on the eyes. Here's a recent look where I used Reflects Very Pink:

Fall TV Premiere's: I for one am a Grey's Anatomy fanatic, and I'm so excited about it coming back for its new season soon. There are also several other shows that I am excited about, but its too much to list. Don't get me wrong I'm sad to see summer go, but fall represents my favorite shows are coming back on.
Pink Lipsticks: Pink has become my go to color for lips. My lipstick collection is just beginning to grow, as I used to be strictly a lip gloss girl. I love the look of smokey eyes, and light pink lips. Its hot!!
Style Black Collection: This collection of all things black looks amazing. Now, not the black lipstick but the eyeshadows look great. I must pick up that purple eyeshadow Young Punk. Also, Volcanic Ash Exfoliator is coming back, and I will not miss out on it this time around. The visuals are stunning for this collection. It's gonna be a hot one!!

Outs:

Summer: So sad to see summer go. It was a great one!

That's it for now. I racked my brain to think of more outs, but I couldn't think of one thing. I'm thinking I may change this up to "Favorite Products of the Month", or I may do both. Haven't quite decided yet.

Until next time....

CCO Haul and FOTN

2009-09-08T18:05:00.002-04:00

Hey Ladies,

How has everyone been? Its been a busy couple of weeks for me. I've started grad school, and between that and my everyday job I have been super busy. I went to the CCO a couple of weeks ago, and picked up a couple of things. I got two glitters and a lipstick.

Here's what I picked up:
Reflects Antique Gold
Reflects Purple Duo
Ahoy, There! Lipstick

Reflects Antique Gold: I absolutely love this glitter. The color is described as a Sparkling taupe, and it is absolutely gorgeous. I use this in two different ways. One as an eyeshadow, which I'll post as a FOTN later on in the post. Also, I can use it with lotion, and it makes my skin sparkle.

Reflects Purple Duo: This color is described as a sparkling rich purple, but it looks more blue to me. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it is a pretty color. I'm thinking that I am going to use this with Cobalt eyeshadow. I don't know yet.

Ahoy, There!: This is a gorgeous bubble gum pink glaze lipstick. It has quickly become my favorite lippie for smokey eye looks. It's also great for daytime. I work in a school, so I can't wear makeup that's too extreme, and this lipstick is perfect for me. Does anyone have any requests of colors that are similar? Trying to build my collection of pink lipsticks

FOTN

Later on that night after my trip to the CCO was my dad's birthday party. I used my new products for this look. I got the idea for the eyeshadow from itsjudytime on youtube. I really like how this turned out.

Products Used:

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Mineralize Skinfinish Med/Dark
Prep and Prime Translucent Powder

Cheeks:
NARS Super Orgasm Blush
Irridescent Powder Belightful

Eyes:
TFSI
Reflects Antique Gold (Foiled with Fix+)
Carbon Eyeshadow
Femme Fi
Loreal Liquid Liner Carbon Black
UD Zero
Rimmel Sexy Curves

Lips:
Ahoy, There!
Steppin' Out d/g

Here come the pics:

Thanks for looking!! This was one of my longer posts, as I didn't want to separate into two posts. I have some great posts lined up for the next couple of days. Up next is Ins and Outs #2!!

Stay tuned....

Makeover Time: Oni

2009-08-12T21:48:00.001-04:00

Hello All,

Recently I've started giving makeovers to friends and family so I can improve on my skills. On this set of photos, I am using my friend Oni as my muse. We were going out to the clubs one Saturday, so she let me do her makeup. Oni is just getting into wearing makeup. She doesn't wear much except eyeshadow, so I couldn't do a full makeover on her. I decided to give her a smokey purple eye. It brings out her eyes, as I think purples look amazing on darker skintones. Well onto the pictures:

Products Used:

Eyes:
TFSI
MAC Mancatcher
MAC Lotusland
MAC Top Hat
MAC Carbon
Blacktrack Fluidline
MUFE 92
Sexy Curves Mascara

Cheeks:
Style Demon Blush

Lips:
Steppin' Out d/g

I really liked the way this turned out. As I do more makeovers on people, I find that my skills are getting better. Its pretty easy on myself, but doing others is a challenge. Its a great learning experience. Thanks for looking!!

Stay tuned for more....

Random Vacation FOTD

2009-08-04T18:57:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone!!

I was recently going through some old vacation photos from earlier this year, and I came across a FOTD that I wanted to share with you. I really liked these photos because of the background. They were taken on the balcony of our hotel. Not only is the view amazing, but since there is natural light, the colors really pop. I just hope that I can remember everything that was used.

Products Used: All MAC unless Noted

Face:
Satinfinish Foundation nc44
MSFN Med/Dark

Cheeks:
Eversun Blush
NARS Albatross

Eyes:
TFSI
Shore Leave
MUFE #92
Some other purple which I'm not sure of
Magic Dust
Loreal Liquid Eyeliner
UD 24/7 Pencil in Zero
Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
Pomposity l/s
Fantabulous d/g

Here are the photos:

Thanks for looking!! Any comments are appreciated!!

XOXO

My New Obsession: Illamasqua Cosmetics

2009-07-31T23:02:00.004-04:00

Move over MAC, a new brand is coming to America!! Illamasqua has officially landed in the United States. I found out about this brand through the fabulous pixiwoo on youtube. For those of you that don't know about Pixiwoo, it is two sisters that are makeup artists, and they demonstrate that talent through their blog and youtube channel. Back in April they introduced the world (and me!) to the new UK brand called Illamasqua. From then on, I was on a mission to find out more about the brand because I was so impressed by the products they were using. The colors are all very vivid, pigmented, and all around gorgeous.

What is unique about Illamasqua is that most of their products meaning the eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks are matte shades. Me, I'm usually a shimmer girl, but I am being converted into a matte girl per this brand. What is so cool about Illamasqua you ask? Well, let me show some of their featured looks. Their visual impact is amazing.

Are you impressed yet? Yep, me too!! The slogan for this brand is "Make-up for your alter ego", and I absolutely love it. I love it because for me, makeup is such a good way to express myself. If I wore browns everyday, I would go mad. Don't get me wrong I'm known to rock a neutral look, but my love is color. With this brand's bright, vivid, pigmented colors, I knew it was going to be a favorite of mine once I get my hands on it.

Fast forward 4 months, and Illamasqua is now available in the states. It is going to be exclusive to 27 Sephora stores and Sephora online. Don't you know I was one happy lady when I found out I would now be able to try a brand I've been lusting after for months. I'm trying to not go spending crazy, and I'm waiting until the first swatches come in until I make my first order. I will be making an order very soon. When that happens, you will be the first to know my impressions of the brand.

Until then....

Peace, Love, and Happiness from me to you!!

Ins and Outs 1

2009-07-30T19:06:00.002-04:00

Okay, so i've totally neglected my blog once again. I'm gonna try my best to not do this anymore. Slowly getting new followers (Hi!!), so I must give you something to read. Let's start a monthly feature. This a staple of many beauty blogs that I read, so why not. May I kindly present: Ins and Outs for the month!!

In:

New Hair: Just got out of the salon and got my roots done a little lighter. I'm in love!!
MAC MSF in Smooth Merge: One of the new msf's from the colour craft collection. It's gorgeous, and gives my skin such a pretty highlight. Its not glittery like msf's can have the reputation of being, but instead it gives an ethereal glow.
Real Houswives of Atlanta: Starts on Bravo tonight, and i'm super excited to watch. It's nice to see my city of residence featured in a television show.
Tax Free Shopping: Oh yes, its tax free weekend in Georgia. Lots of shopping will be done.
Illamasqua: My new obsession. A product focus will be up soon on this new brand to the states. Looking to make my first order soon.
Weight Loss: When I first started this blog, I was gonna feature a weekly blog about my weight loss endeavors. Well, I totally never did. I recently started a regimen, and i'll be getting those updates going way soon. Helps me to be accountable.

Out:

Fall: Well, technically its not really out but its coming. I love summer, and it just went by way too fast.
Pigments: Now I do love my pigments, but lately I could not be bothered with using them. With the summer heat, and the work it takes to apply pigments I've been going for something more simple. I'll get back on a pigment kick soon cause they are gorgeous.

Well, that's it for this addition. Another blog to come soon.

Xoxo

The MAC Tag

2009-06-21T21:41:00.002-04:00

I saw this tag on one of my fave blogs, and immediately knew I wanted to do it. My favorite brand is MAC, so of course I'm all over about telling about my favorite mac products. I tag anyone who wants to do it.

How long have you been using MAC?
For about 2 Years

What was your first MAC product?
It was Waternymph Eyeshadow that I picked u at a CCO that started my obsession

What's your all time favourite MAC product?
Gosh, there are so many. I'm gonna have to say the MSF's because they make the skin appear so glowy. LOVE!! Also can't forget eyeshadows

What's your least favourite MAC product?
Haven't found a MAC product that I didn't really like yet

Do you own a Pro Card?
No, trying to work on that though

Your MAC foundation shade?
NC44 or Med/Dark in powder

What's your favourite MAC foundation?
Mineralize Satinfinish is great for the dewy look that I like.

Blusher:
Stark Naked from the Red She Said collection. It was limited edition, but I have seen it showing up in CCO's lately

Powder:
Mineralize Skin Finish Natural- It's awesome

Eyeshadow:
I don't know if I can pick just one. I love all of my MAC shadows equally.

Lipstick:
Lollipop Lovin': I have to admit that when I first got this lipstick I didn't like the color. After not returning it I found a great way to use it, and now its my fave lipstick to wear. I love it with a smokey eye, and its perfect for daytime.

Lipgloss:
Viva Glam VI Special Edition: The perfect pink lipgloss. Oh, and I can't forget my beloved dazzleglasses.

Liner:
Blacktrack Fluidline. Perfect for making winged liner

Brush:
217 for eyes, its the perfect blending brush. 109 for the face, its just awesome!!

Nail Laquer:
I've never tried one

Pro Product:
Eyeliner mixing medium. It's perfect for adhering glitter

Comment on the following MAC product; Have you used them? If so, give feedback.

Prep & Prime Skin:
Haven't tried it

Full Coverage Foundation:
I have not tried full coverage foundation, as I am into the dewy look

Studio Sculpt Foundation:
I liked it until I started breaking out. Had to return :(

Face & Body Foundation:
N/A

Mineralize Satin Finish Foundation:
My go to foundation...LOVE!!

Studio Fix Flux:
N/A

Hyper Real Foundation:
N/A

Select SPF15 Foundation:
N/A

Studio Tech Foundation:
N/A

Studio Fix Powder:
N/A

Studio Stick:
N/A

Hyper Real Pressed Foundation:
N/A

Beauty Powder:
N/A

Sculpt and Shape Powders:
N/A

Loose Blot Powder:
N/A

Pressed Blot Powder:
N/a

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural:
It's the perfect compliment to the Mineralize Satinfinish Foundation

Mineralize Skinfinish:
Love them. They give my skin such a glowy look

Bronzing Powder:
It's okay.

Powder Blush:
Awesome colors.

Blushcreme:
N/A

Mineralize Blush:
Nice product

Gel Blush:
N/A

Cream Colour Base:
Really great product, and its very versatile. I use mine for everything from highliter, eyeshadow base, blush base, lipstick.

Studio Sculpt Concealer:
N/A

Select Cover Up Concealer:
N/A

Select Moisturecover Concealer:
N/A

Studio Finish Concealer:
My holy grail concealer - full coverage yet not drying.

Studio Stick:
N/A

Lip Erase:
Concealer is just as good

Tinted Lip Conditioner:
Very moisturizing product......LOVE!!

Lipstick:
So many colors to choose from. Just really now getting into my lip product obsession. By the way, I'm looking for some new suggestions on lipstick. Leave suggestions in comments...Thanks

Lipgloss:
Really like them, but they can be sticky. Looking forward to the new Dazzlecremes because they are supposed to be really moisturizing.

See Thru Lip Colour:
N/A

Dazzleglass:
The best ever. I use them alone and over lipstick.

Cremesheen Glass:
N/A

Lip Gelee:
The ones I have I don't really use, but I guess they're ok

Lip Pencil:
Haven't used one yet

Solar Bits:
They take some work, but once applied they look awesome. Love the shimmer they give off.

Nail Lacquer:
N/A

Shadestick:
Just purchased shadesticks for the first time a couple of months ago. I had heard both good and bad things about them. I really like them though.

Paint:
I prefer paint pots.

Paint Pots:
Love them!!

Eyeshadow:
Great colors. My favorite MAC products. I must say I'm addicted to their eyeshadows

Pigment:
Nice pigmentation, but I tend to not use these as much as my regular eyeshadows,

Glitter:
LOVE!!

Eye Kohl:
N/A

Chromaline:
N/A

Liquid Last Liner:
I tried these in the store one time, and literally could not get the stuff off. I won't buy this product. Nice colors though

Lustre Drops:
Really great product. I love using these with my foundation and as a highlighter.

False Lashes:
Nice, but I can get way cheaper lashes at Sally's.

ProLash Mascara:
N/A

Zoomlash:
Ehh, its ok

Plush Lash Mascara:
N/A

Fibre Rich Lash Mascara:
N/A

Dazzle Lash Mascara:
It was okay.

What has been your favourite MAC collection to date?
Hello Kitty was a great collection. I loved the packaging and colors.

Which MAC collection in your opinion do you think was disappointing, if any?
Can't really think of one.

What products do you think MAC are missing?
I don't really think they are missing anything.

If any of you readers do this tag, please leave a comment so I can look at yours.

Later.....

Style Warriors FOTN

2009-05-26T19:53:00.002-04:00

As soon as I got home with my style warriors purchases, I knew the kind of look I wanted to create. I recently saw a youtube video of Makeupbytiffanyd, and she did a look that was really awesome. Since I got the colors, and was going out on the town I decided to try it out. It didn't come out exactly like hers, but I loved the end result.

Here are the products I used (All MAC unless noted)

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44 mixed with Strobe Cream
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Med/Dark
Eversun Blush (From Style Warriors collection that I already had)
Sun Rush Lustre Drops (LOVE!!!!)

Eyes:
TFSI
UD 1999 Liner (Used as base)
UD Yeyo Liner
Bright Future
Vibrant Grape
Tempting and dark Brown from Tempting quad
Shroom
Magic Dust
Blacktrack fluidline
UD Zero Liner
Lash Blast Luxe

Lips:
Sweetie
Bare Necessity

Here come the photos:

Thanks for looking!!

Style Warriors Haul

2009-05-26T19:30:00.004-04:00

Okay, I admit it. I'm a sucker for a MAC limited edition collections. Their latest to be released is the Style Warriors Collection. This collection has a lot of awesome colors, and I love the animal print theme. The collection contains an array of eyeshadows, lipsticks and lipglosses, and blushes. Their is something for everyone in this collection. There are amazing neutrals and vibrant bolder colors. Also they came out with a new product called Lustre Drops, and a new to me product called skinsheen. I really like this collection, and I think its been the best release since Hello Kitty.

I picked up:
Vibrant Grape Eyeshadow
Bright Future Eyeshadow
Bronze Hero Lustre Drops
Sun Rush Lustre Drops
Blacktrack Fluidline

Here is my haul all together- I love the packaging!!

Vibrant Grape and Bright Future Eyeshadows- These colors are both amazing. They yellow color does take some layering to get it to show up good, but it is gorgeous. The purple color is just the opposite. It goes on beautifully. I'll be uploading a FOTN using these colors shortly

Lustre Drops in Sun Rush and Bronze Hero- Lustre Drops are liquid highlighters. They can be used with foundation or even moisturizer to give an all over glow. They can also be used as a highliter over blush. I picked up two of the three colors, and I must admit they do the job. When mixed with foundation and a little strobe cream, my skin looks awesome. Its not glittery at all, it just looks very glowy. So far, I am in love with this product and I'm debating on getting the third color.

Until next time...

Saturday Night's White Party

2009-05-18T20:17:00.003-04:00

Here are some photos from the party I went to on Saturday night. I had a really great time this weekend. Here come the pics....

Thanks for looking...

Glittery Party Eyes

2009-05-18T19:05:00.003-04:00

Hey All,

Here is a look I did recently for my cousin's 25th birthday party. I really wanted to shake things up, so I did a look with glitter. I really liked the outcome.

Products Used (All Mac unless noted)

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
MSF Natural Medium Dark
NARS Super Orgasm
Belightful Iridescent powder

Eyes:
TFSI
Lemon Chiffon Shadestick
Gorgeous Gold
Manor
Handwritten
Magic Dust
Sephora Gold Glitter (Adhered with eyeliner mixing medium)
Loreal Liquid eyeliner
UD Zero
Lashblast Luxe

Lips:
1N
Bare Necessity d/g

Here come the photos:

Thanks for looking!!!

Pictures from the party are coming next....

Springtime Eyes

2009-05-12T19:03:00.006-04:00

Hello All!!

Here is a look I did recently. I really liked the way it turned out, so I decided to share it with you.

All Products Mac unless noted

Face:
Mineralize Satinfinish nc44
Benefit Coralista Blush
Other Worldly
Prep and Prime Powder

Eyes:
TFSI
Lemon Chiffon Shadestick
Gorgeous Gold
Parfait Amour
Shadowy Lady
UD 24/7 Zero
Lash Blast Luxe
MAC lashes

Lips:
Utterly Frivoulous
Steppin' Out d/g

Here come the pictures.....

Thanks for looking, and until next time....

Peace, Love, and Happiness!!

What I'm Using Right Now

2009-05-01T18:23:00.003-04:00

What I'm using right now Tag!!

Tag taken from Various Beauty Blogs

So I've seen this tag on a lot of blogs lately, and I really like reading what beauty products different bloggers use. These are my favorite products that I'm using lately.

HAIR

Shampoo - Redken Smooth Down

Conditioner - Redken Smooth Down

Hair Mask - None at the moment

Styling Products - Bumble and Bumble Tonic Lotion, Styling Lotion, Thickening Spray, Does It All Spray, Pantene Root Lifter, Sebastian Potion #9, CHI Silk Infusion and Keratin Spray

BODY

Body Wash - Caress Evenly Gorgeous or Tahitian Renewal

Body Moisturizer - Victoria's Secret Love Spell

Anti Perspirent - Avon Sport

Fake Tan - Don't use it

FACE

Makeup Remover - Mac Wipes or Neutrogena

Cleanser - Avon Acne Treatment

Exfoliator - St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Mask - Lush Seaweed Mask

MAKEUP

Primer - Avon Magix, MAC Prep and Prime Skin Refiner

Foundation - MAC Satinfinish SPF15 in NC44

Concealer - MAC (forgot the name since I don't use it that often)

Powder - MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Medium Dark or My new love Prep and Prime Translucent Powder

Blush - MAC Hot Planet Duo, NARS Sin, NARS Super Orgasm, MAC Stark Naked, MAC Cantaloupe

Bronzer - MAC Refined Golden

Highlighter - NARS Albatross (HG!!!) MAC Refined, MAC Iridescent Powder Belightful, MAC Petticoat

Eyebase - Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Paintpots and Shadestick in Lemon Chiffon

Eyeshadow - MAC Digit, Top Hat, Shore Leave, Stars N' Rockets, Amber Lights, Hello Kitty Lucky Tom Palette, Springtime Skipper, Shroom, Knight Divine, Silverthorne, Nocturnelle, Sketch, Milk Pigment, Vanilla Pigment, Carbon, Reflects Gold, and MUFE #92

Eyeliner - Loreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner.. LOVE!!

Curler - Don't use one

Mascara - Covergirl's Lash Blast and Rimmel Sexy Curves (LOVE!!!!)

Lipstick - MAC Lavendar Whip, Sweetie, Lollipop Loving, Strayin' and Fashion Mews (HK), Utterly Frivolous

Gloss - MAC Dazzleglasses and gloss

Nail Varnish - China Glaze

I'm Tagging......You!!

Oh, and I love doing tags!! If you'd like to tag me, leave me a comment.

My Birthday Weekend!!

2009-05-01T15:10:00.006-04:00

So as I said in the last blog, I recently celebrated my 25th birthday. I had an awesome weekend planned of partying planned out, and I had the best weekend ever. It started out on Thursday night with dinner and drinks with some friends. Friday night, was my official birthday party at Black Bear Tavern in Atlanta. I was surrounded by great people and lots o' shots. On Saturday my actual birthday, I had dinner with family and friends and then danced the night away at my favorite bar in Atlanta. Needless to say, I was pooped for the rest of the weekend. Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend.....

Me whoring in front of the camera before leaving....

Hanging out at Black Bear Tavern

Mom, my cousin and I

Dad and I

Mom and I

Those are just some of the pictures that I took on my Birthday weekend. Hope you enjoyed them. I will be getting back to the makeup posts very soon. Up next, my vacation haul. I've got a lot of new products to tell you about. Reviews on some of the Mac items soon too. Until next time....

Much Love!!!

I'm Back!!

2009-05-01T14:39:00.002-04:00

Hi guys,

It's been way too long since I've posted a blog. I've really been neglecting this site, but I'm gonna try and get at least three blogs or more a week. It's been a pretty busy couple of weeks, but I'm back and hopefully better than ever. So what's new with me you ask?

Getting into grad school along with working as a substitute teacher is taking over my life right now. I'm trying to get into the masters of teaching program right now. I also celebrated my 25th birthday last weekend, and I've been busy with planning my weekend of parties. So the next blog I post will be pictures of my birthday weekend.

Until next time.....

Hello Kitty FOTD

2009-02-15T19:30:00.006-05:00

Hey Everyone,

So I finally go to try out all of my Hello Kitty items and I am in love. This collection in my opinion has been one of the best from MAC in awhile. I guess that's why I made another order, and am going back to the store tomorrow. Oh well, I've been saving for a while for this collection. Plus that free Hello Kitty tote will be mine!! Onto the look!!

Products Used:

Face:
Smashbox Photofinish Primer
MAC Studio Sculpt nc44 (LOVE!!!!)
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Med/Dark

Cheeks:
Tippy
NARS Albatross

Eyes:
TFSI
Bare Study Paint Pot
Lucky Tom Quad
Penultimate Liner in Rapid Black
Urban Decay 24/7 Zero
Zoomlash Zoom Black

Lips:
Avon Pink Liner
Strayin' l/s
Hot Frost l/g

Let me know what you think...Here are the pics

MAC Hello Kitty Haul

2009-02-13T17:25:00.006-05:00

Hey There,

I finally got my Hello Kitty package in the mail yesterday, and I wanted to share what I got with you. So far, I am loving everything I got.

I ordered:
Lucky Tom Eyeshadow Palette
Strayin' Lipstick
Big Bow Lipstick
Popster Tinted Lip Conditioner
Nice Kitty Lipglass
Tippy Beauty Powder Blush

Here's everything laid out:

Big Bow Lipstick- I love this color. It applies sheer, but its a beautiful color. Since I'm just getting into wearing lipsticks, its perfect for me.

Tippy Beauty Powder Blush: This color is gorgeous. It's bright pink in the pan, but when applied on the skin, its a really pretty color. I think I finally found the perfect pink blush for me.

Lucky Tom Eyeshadow Palette: This one of two palettes in the collection. I think they are both very pretty, but this one appealed more to me. I think it's more wearable than the Too Dolly palette. The colors from left to right are Creme Royale, Paradisco, Stylin', and Lucky Tom.

Strayin' Lipstick, Popster Tinted Lip Conditioner and Big Bow Lipstick: Strayin' is a really bright barbie pink. At first I didn't know if it was going to work for me because I've been reading that other people with my skintone hate the color because its so bright. I tried it today on my lips, and I'm in love. If applied lightly, this color is awesome. As for the Popster tinted lip conditioner, its a really nice coral pink. I'll wear this everyday.

Not Pictured: Nice Kitty Lipglass
This color is really pretty. It looks super bright in the tube, but applies very sheer. It looks perfect over Big Bow lipstick.

Overall, I love everything I got from this colllection. I had been looking forward to it for a very long time, and I was not dissapointed. All of the colors in this collection are fantabulous, and I think there is something for everyone. I'm still debating on another order, and this time it will probably be some of the accessories because they are so adorable. Also I'll be uploading a FOTD probably tomorrow using all the products.

So until next time....

Peace, Love and Happiness

Lush Haul and Review

2009-02-09T16:28:00.004-05:00

Hey guys,

It's been a long while since I've posted a blog. I've been kinda busy lately with work and whatnot, but I'm gonna do my best to update this blog more often.
So, I recently discovered a new Lush counter at a mall where I live. Up until now, I don't think they have had many stores around. I just really became familiar with this brand by YouTube videos and on message boards within the past couple of months. For those of you who don't know what Lush is, its a store that sells bath products. I was so excited when I finally got to look through the store and purchase some things. So I recently went back to the Lush counter and got some new things that I wanted to share and review with you. On a side note, if you don't really know what you are looking for at Lush, the sales associates are really knowledgeable and friendly. Seriously, they are some of the nicest retail associates out there. They also give really nice samples, so all you have to do is ask. Onto the review and what I got.
Frosty Gritter Bubble Bar
Bubble bars are bars that you put under running water and it creates bubbles and turns the water a pretty color. This one smells amazing. It had hints of vanilla and lavender, and it turns the water a pretty pink color. You only need to use about 1/4 of the bar at a time because it creates so many bubbles. It also leaves your skin very soft. Bubble bars are by far my favorite products.

Sexy Peel Soap
This was the first time I've tried Lush soap. They have many different smells, so one can choose their favorite. I picked the Sexy Peel soap because it smelled wonderful. If you like citrus smells, then this is perfect. It will be the perfect energizer for rough mornings. It also has orange peels in the soap, so it is exfoliating as well. Just a tip for soaps, in the store they have soaps already measured. They can tend to be kind of expensive, but if you have a set amount of money you want to spend, they will cut off a piece that meets your needs.

Avobath Bath Bomb
Bath bombs are used in the bathtub as well. When you put them under running water, they fizz up and release oils into the bath. The oils make your skin incredibly soft. The only real difference between these and the bubble bars is that it doesn't make bubbles. The sales girl told me that you can use both the bath bomb and the bubble bar together to make your bath that much better. These things are awesome.

Overall, Lush has many great things to offer. They have many things to look at in the store, so just go in and check them out. The girls there are so helpful, and they have some amazing products. This store is for any woman who likes to pamper themselves. Once you give their products a try, you'll be coming back for more just like me.

Finally, while in the mall I purchased to new MAC foundation Studio Sculpt, so expect a review for that within the next few days. I tried it for the first time today, and I'm thinking its my new favorite. So until next time.....

Love, Peace and Happiness!!!

Me as a redhead

2009-01-12T14:43:00.001-05:00

One Of My Favorite New Artists

2009-01-08T11:50:00.000-05:00

When I first heard of Lady Gaga, I just knew I wouldn't like her type of music. Then she comes out on a song with New Kids On The Block. I really liked that track on their album. Then, suprise she's on tour with them. So this is my first real taste of her music. Some of the songs were catchy, but I really wasn't all that impressed. So I take a listen again on itunes, and bam I'm hooked. She's got a really different and unique sound. Her album is one of the best albums I've heard in a while. She does have a different look, but I think its cool. You can say what you want to about Lady Gaga, but she's freaking talented.

Hello Kitty Product Photos

2009-01-08T10:31:00.000-05:00

Here are the Hello Kitty Collection Product Photos:

Credits to:
http://www.temptalia.com

Mac for Hello Kitty

2009-01-08T10:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, so as anyone who's been around me within the last couple of weeks knows. I'm totally excited about the Mac Hello Kitty Collection that's coming out in February. From the pictures I've seen, this is going to be a huge collection. I don't know if my wallet can take it. Gotta start saving now.

Here's the Color Story:

LIPSTICK

Cute Ster Sheer peachy pink with pearl
Big Bow Sheer bright intense blue pink
Fresh Brew Creamed coffee
Fashion Mews Sheer pale lavender
Strayin’ Frosty midtone mint
Most Popular Sheer deep berry

Lipglass

Sweet Strawberry Sheer berry with blue pearl
Mimmy Light creamy pink with pink and gold pearl
Nice To Be Nice Sheer bright intense orange with pearl
Nice Kitty Sheer neon pink with blue pearl
She Loves Candy Pale blue pink with gold pearl
Fast Friends Sheer bright intense purple with pearl

Tinted Lip Conditioner

Popster Lively coral pink
Pink Fish Soft neutral pink

Eyeshadow x 4: Lucky Tom ($38.00)

Stylin Midtone violet blue with multi-dimensional pearl
Lucky Tom Dark charcoal brown with gold pearl
Creme Royale Yellow wheast gold
Pardisco Soft bright pinky coral with golden shimmer

Eyeshadow x4: Too Dolly

Too Dolly Frosty midtone mint
Stately Black Rich blue with silver sparkle
Yogurt Soft pale pink
Romping Rich magenta with pink pearl

Glitter Eye Liner

Her Glitz Blackened gold with multi-dimensional glitter
Glitterpuss Orangey bronze with multi-dimensional glitter
Kitty Power Pink with with multi-dimensional glitter
Girl Groove Clear/white teal reflects and with multi-dimensional glitter

Pigment

Milk Frosty pale silvery pink
Deep Blue Green Rich, deep bluish green

Reflects Glitter

Reflects Blue Sparkling blue
Reflects Very Pink Sparkling fuchsia pink

Nail Lacquer

Something About Pink Blue pink fuchsia
On the Prowl Light creamy grey
Vestral White Creamy white

Plush Lash

Plushblack Black

Beauty Powder Blush

Fun & Games Soft orange peach
Tippy Midtone blue pink

Beauty Powder

Tahitian Sand Soft coral peach
Pretty Baby Soft sunny pink with gold

Lash

Hello Kitty Lash Half lash with overlapping hairs to emphasize outer

Accessories

Hello Kitty Tote ($45.00)
Hello Kitty Petite Makeup Bag ($22.00)
Hello Kitty Makeup Bag ($35.00)
Hello Kitty Soft Vanity Case ($55.00)
Hello Kitty Purse Mirror ($22.00)
Hello Kitty Brush Collection ($49.50)
Hello Kitty Mirrored Key Clip ($16.00)
Hello Kitty Beaded Bracelet ($34.00)
Hello Kitty Plush Doll ($42.00)

Available: February 12, 2009 in North America.

Credits to:

http://www.temptalia.com/mac-cosmetics-hello-kitty-collection-information

Pictures to follow.....

The "Not Diet" Diet

2009-01-07T16:34:00.001-05:00

Hello Bloggers,

So, this week I'm starting on a Diet that's not really supposed to be a diet. I've heard that to truly stick to a "Diet", you have to call it a lifestyle change. So, as of Saturday I'm officially on a lifestyle change. So how is this going to be different from all the other "lifestyle changing" changes I've tried before. Beats you and me. To be truly successful on this journey, I guess I have to change my mind set. Its always hard picking yourself and trying again, but to officially change my lifestyle, I'm going to have to admit mistakes. So this is my arena to admit mistakes. I've learned from previous successes and mishaps and am ready to start this long journey again.

So over the next few months and hopefully years, this is going to be my output to celebrate successes and admit mistakes. I'm thinking if I have to be accountable to my blog, than I can be honest with myself about my struggles with weight loss. So the journey begins....

Until next time...

Ok So Mac Never Does This....

2009-01-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

25% off of EVERYTHING online!!! Woohoo, I think Mac's only done this like one other time last year. Just in time for the new collection Brunette Blonde Redhead. Miss Kera knows she's excited. Oh, one must need the code....

MACFF9

Update: Mac is postponing the launch of BBR until Friday. Crap!!

Intro

2009-01-05T23:07:00.000-05:00

Hello...
First off, my name is Kera. I'm addicted to all things beauty and music. I'll be using this blog as a way to upload fotd's, hauls, reviews, and other randomness. I'm a mac fanatic, so most of the beauty entries will be dedicated to that brand. Other brands I like include Urban Decay, NYX, Too Faced, and Napoleon Perdis. I'm also using this blog as an effort to track my weight loss journey. Trying to start the new year off right. Also, random pics of the only man in my life (My Shih Tzu Mojito) will be uploaded often. So until next time...

Peace, Love and Happiness

Oh, and this is me: