Sunday, June 26, 2011

fotd: mix of oldies and newbies

First of all I want to say thank you - I can't believe I'm nearly at 300 followers! It blows my mind. You guys are the best.  I'd like to do a giveaway at some point in the upcoming month as a more tangible thank you - so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Okay, onto the FOTD (from last Sunday - oops!)... 



FACE: Tarte Smooth Operator Illuminating Serum (applied first), Boscia BB Cream, Dior Aurora, MAC Something Special cremeblend blush, Dior Amber Diamond

EYES: NARS Nepal & Lola Lola e/s, MAC Sand & Sun e/s, LORAC Front of the Line Pro, Sephora Jumbo Liner in Beige, MAC Lingering brow pencil, MUFE Smoky Lash mascara

LIPS: Guerlain Rouge Automatique #143 Nahema


nails are Essie Too Too Hot, Target ring ($3!) & bracelet 

I took a lot of face pics during my trip, so I'll be posting those as well in an upcoming post. And I need to do one using my new beloved, TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer (possibly my new HG cheek highlight). Stay tuned!

Hope you're all having a great weekend! :)

xoxo,
<3 Jess



Wednesday, June 22, 2011

vacation haul + swatches (sephora, ulta, target, nordstrom, aldo, etc.)

Sephora:
Sephora cleansing pad (love this!!), theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Carol's Daughter Tui Moisturizing hair sheen, MUFE Smoky Lash, YSL Volupte Sheer Candy #06 Luscious Cherry, Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp cool cleansing oil, Boscia BB Cream, Sephora tinted body mist

YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in #06 Luscious Cherry

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

ULTA & Drugstore:
Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo (colorless) - free w/ULTAmate Rewards pts, Revlon Colorstay Aqua setting powder (Revlon was BOGO 50% off), Revlon New Complexion one step makeup (like this to set my makeup, actually!), Wet 'n' Wild Gilded Age palette, Sonia Kashuk blush in Sunset, Philosophy Microdelivery exfoliating cloths

Revlon Craving Coral, Essie Too Too Hot, OPI Guy Meets Gal-Veston, Sally Hansen Without a Stitch

Sephora Favorites In the Glow kit - total steal!

Sephora Favorites In the Glow kit -
I'd been wanting to try almost ALL of these products for a while, so I couldn't resist this set!

Burberry Lip Cover in Nude Beige, Guerlain Rouge Automatique in 143 Nahema, YSL Rouge Pur Couture #23 Coral Poetique

Burberry Lip Cover in Nude Beige

 Guerlain Rouge Automatique in 143 Nahema

YSL Rouge Pur Couture #23 Coral Poetique 

MAC Cremeblend Blush in Something Special, Stila Convertible Color in Petunia ($4.99 at J.Crew!)

MAC Something Special, Stila Petunia

Unlike the other Stila Convertible Color I own, Gerbera (which is too dry for lips, in my opinion), Petunia also works really well as a lip color. Love it!

FREEBIES and SAMPLES! Score!

I actually had more samples, but I used a few - Kate Somerville Exfolikate Gentle and Ojon's new color-treated shampoo & conditioner (two packs of each) were notable ones!

The DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew was a 100pt perk at Sephora, and I was surprised that it's a full ounce - the full size is 1.7oz! I've been using it daily and LOVE it so far - no breakouts to speak of, yay!

The Nordstrom tubs are the Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator and MAC Studio Sculpt foundation (which I'm too scared to try - MAC foundations scare me!).

Trina Turk for Clinique makeup bag (GWP - Mom got this w/the Pore Refining Solutions serum she purchased, and she gave it to me - I love it! Each bag's design was slightly different)

(back view)

Jewelry from Aldo and Target (ring)

Aldo necklaces (the feather one and the one pictured above were BOGO free)

Aldo braid headband, Nordstrom animal print headband/wrap, J.Crew flip-flops ($9.99!), and Target belt

Aldo "Kemfort" tote

I actually got this tote for my Mom as part of her birthday gift, and seeing her use it on the trip made me realize how fab it is - so I bought one for myself, too! haha

Okay, so last but not least, I got this little piece of fabulousness:

Peacock pillow from Pier1 (rosette pillows from Target)

And since I posted that pic above anyways, I thought I'd share these other pics I took recently of my bedroom, for inquiring minds!




Okay, I suppose that's all for now! I'll be back soon with some recent FOTDs. Oh, and there will absolutely be a June Favorites post this month - I already have my list made! ;) 

As always, thanks for reading!

xoxo,
<3 Jess

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

hello again! and hello to KITTIES!

Sorry for my absence the past few weeks. I was out of town for two weeks visiting family in Chicago and Cincinnati! I feel weird about saying I'm going on vacation on the internet (you never know!), which is why I didn't say anything at the time.  And two days after I got back home, I picked up my sweet little monster kitties! I've named them Sammy and Mouse, and I am totally obsessed with them and their crazy, cuddly ways.

I have loads of things to post, including lots of FOTDs from my trip and of course the inevitable vacation haul, but first I thought I'd share some pics of my new babies. :)  I'll be back tomorrow with one of the other posts, though!

Sammy (orange/white) and Mouse (black) their first day home

Sammy taking a nap on a pipe in the wall - no joke! 

Yeah, Sammy was pretty scared of all the new-ness the first day, and within two seconds of coming in the door, he found his way up a hole under the bathroom sink. He didn't come out for an hour, and I was flipping out! Imagine my surprise when I took a flash pic of my phone and saw he was just calmly napping on a pipe! You better believe I blocked the holes under the sink after this!

Sammy <3

Mouse <3

Sammy likes to sleep on me... (Pardon the PJs!!)

Making it hard to write up my June Favorites list... (they ARE my June Favorites list, I guess!)

Yup, definitely male!

Mouse has brown eyes - unusual for a black cat!

Sleeping on me again...

Mouse snuggling up to... a pink flamingo garden decoration?

I think Sammy has a crush on Karen @ makeupandbeautyblog.com

Okay, #endcrazycatladyrave. Back tomorrow with the usual stuff! Yay, I've missed you guys!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,
<3 Jess