May Favorites

Currently listening: LDN by Lily Allen
Currently reading: Glamour
Currently feeling: poor...I need money!

These are my top products for May. Obviously it's hard to pinpoint and narrow it down to these, but I use them everyday. They are my babies! :) Not sure why I only chose seven, but I think seven is a great number so there we have it!

1. Coastal Scents Blush & Contour Palette - This is amazing! If you have a round face like I do, you could probably use some contouring. It's a simple process. Come to think of it, I might just try to explain it in a future post!
2. Coastal Scents 88 Piece Eyeshadow Palette - One of the best makeup purchases I have ever made! There are so many combinations you can make. And for around $22, it's a great deal!
3. Urban Decay's Clean & Sober makeup remover- This is gentle enough for everyday use. And even after accidentally getting some into my eye, it was just a little uncomfortable. It's really gentle and works really well even for that stingy last bit of eyeliner and mascara!
4. Bare Escentual's Handy Buki brush - I love this brush. I use it instead of the brush in my Bare Naturale foundation. It's much easier to hold onto than the shorter kabuki brushes.
5. laura mercier egg-shaped sponges - I got these instead of the beautyblender sponge. I'm quite happy with them. I use one at night to take my makeup off with my Clean & Sober. TIP: To use them when putting on foundation, dampen it first. It won't suck in as much product.
6. L'Oreal's Bare Naturale foundation - This is probably my favorite foundation. It works extremely well for me. TIP: The best way to apply is to start at the apple of your cheeks. Buff out in circles.
7. philosophy the present clear makeup - I partly got this because I just did not want to spend so much money on the Smashbox primer. I'm pretty sure that I'll stick to this one. Like most philosophy products, it has not let me down. It moisturizes the skin and works great as a facial primer. My makeup stays on all day. A little bit goes a long way!

XOXO ♥

It's like you're a drug.

Currently watching: SYTYCD
Currently wearing: pj shorts and an orange lace cami
Currently feeling: cold

I went shopping today at Bath & Body Works, Old Navy, and Sephora. Here's what I got at Old Navy today. It's to wear to my husband's other birthday get-together on Saturday. :)

1. white boyfriend cardigan
2. color-blocked ruffle dress

XOXO ♥

Nail Polish.

Currently listening: I Will Survive by The Puppini Sisters
Currently excited: to spend tomorrow w/my husband
Currently feeling: extremely fatigued

I love OPI nail polish. My addiction for OPI just started last year so I only have a few colors in my collection. I really like the colors that they offer at Sephora. With summer just around the corner, I have picked out my top three shades that I have my eyes on. The thing I love the most about these are that I can see myself using them on my toes and/or fingernails. I find that I actually paint my toes a lot more often than my actual fingernails. That's partly because I have one of the world's worst habits- I'm a nail biter.

To me, summer should be all about bright colors! So tell me, what are some of the colors of nail polish that you are wanting to get this summer? They don't have to be OPI!

XOXO ♥

I love shoes.

Currently watching: Mental
Currently reading: Glamour mag.
Currently feeling: full from dinner

I went shoe shopping this weekend, because besides flip-flops I feel as though it's been awhile since I got a pair of shoes. I really needed some black pumps and some cute summer shoes.

Predictions black bow heels from Payless. They are pretty comfortable, but I will be adding some of those Dr. Scholl's gel pads. I really recommend those because they take a lot of shock from your step. I won't wear flats or heels without them. My only problem is that they have the tendency to slip off of my heel mid-step.

Champion slide-on sneakers. They are so comfortable. I really wanted something simple and comfortable. I think they have a slight nautical feel to them, which pretty much sealed the deal for me.

XOXO ♥

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope all of my fellow Americans have a fabulous Memorial Day! Enjoy some burgers and/or hotdogs and fireworks! As always, party safely. Have a great one! :)

Not worth it.

Currently surfing: Flickr
Currently drinking: water
Currently feeling: annoyed

So last week I rented Jillian's Fitness Ultimatum Wii game. I am so glad that I rented it, because this game took the "Weeeee!" out of the Wii. I had high hopes and expectations for this. I mean...it's Jillian Michaels, one of America's best trainers! I did not think that she would just slap her name on anything, but I guess I was wrong. The game rarely read the movements I made with my arms and the Wii balance board. It's unfortunate, because the activities would have been a lot of fun. Activities include monkey bars, canoeing, tire run, and more.

After two minutes of rowing my arms off, my game avatar had barely moved on the screen. I could not even get the avatar to move during the tire run. The only game that was somewhat responsive was the paint grenade one. Until they fix some bugs this game is not even worth the rental fee. It was on my birthday list, but I have since scratched it off. I'll review a few other games later to give you better options for a fitness game. /5

XOXO ♥

A Miracle!

Currently watching: The Simpsons
Currently wishing: it was another holiday weekend here in Canada
Currently feeling: sore

Another product review! This time it is for Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle. It's a deep conditioner and I absolutely swear by it. I use it once a week, because I have oily hair with dry ends so I don't need too much moisture. I use it the most during the summer when I go swimming. It completely wicks out all of the chlorine. 3 Minute Miracle takes out tangles and makes your hair absolutely manageable. It's my favorite conditioner. Please try it! :)

XOXO ♥

Brush Guard

Currently watching: SYTYCD premiere!
Currently reading: Flare magazine
Currently feeling: happy about SYTYCD

Sorry I was MIA yesterday! Time escaped me!

Remember when I spoke about The Brush Guard here? Well, I ordered them a few weeks ago and received my combination pack from Coastal Scents this week. I only had one problem with package I ordered and that's because one of the eyeshadow guards was split at the top. I can overlook it for now, but I'm hoping the split does not spread further down rendering the guard useless.

I tried them right away! I have to say that I am quite impressed. My contouring brush looks better now than it even did when I bought it! I swear! Obviously with often use, your brush is going to get out of shape. This product absolutely brings it right back to its natural shape.

I'll share the process and products that I use:

1. I spray my brush with a makeup brush cleaner. I use one by Sephora.

2. They say to use a towel or tissue to clean off the makeup from the brush. TIP: Instead, I actually use makeup remover wipes from Sephora. I find that the double dose of cleanser and remover really gets pretty much every bit of makeup off of the brush.

3. You slide the bottom of the brush into the Brush Guard and slide it up. Put the brush in a cup bristles down and allow it to dry overnight.

4. Never slide the Guard off the way that you put it on. That pulls the bristles back and causes flaying.

5. Fluff your brush a little and voila! A nice clean and properly shaped brush. :)

XOXO ♥

My addictions run strong.

Currently watching: Rachael Ray Show
Currently eating: a 100 calorie carrot cake..and it's soooo good :)
Currently feeling: ok

I got one of those summer passport cards from Old Navy that you get stamps for certain purchases. My SIL gave me her card with a stamp already on it. So this weekend I got two more stamps with my flip-flops and shorts purchase. Only two to go before I get 40% off of one item. It's not that I would not buy this stuff anyway and it's helping me get that dress I want for almost half off! :D

1-2. ruffle tanks in safari olive and atomic purple
3. boyfriend cardigan in tan (one of my best purchases of late!)
4. flip-flop sandals in cool floral (so comfy)
5. PJ shorts (not the print I got- I got the Cayman Pink Geo ones, which is pink flowers)

XOXO ♥

Short Hiatus

Currently watching: Tyra
Currently excited: Holiday weekend! :)
Currently feeling: ready for lunch

Don't worry! It's just a short hiatus for today and Monday. It's a holiday weekend here in Ontario. The holiday is Victoria Day that is in honor of Queen Victoria. It's always celebrated on May 24th (if a Monday) or the Monday before. My husband was actually born on Victoria Day, so it's double the celebrations when his birthday falls on that day! :)

It is kind of nice to have a holiday at the end of May because it kind of makes up for not getting to celebrate Memorial Day every year. If you're in Canada and you are celebrating Victoria Day, please party carefully! See you all again on Tuesday!

XOXO ♥

Coastal Scents

Currently watching: Law and Order: SVU
Currently drinking: Coke Zero
Currently feeling: aggravated

I bought the Coastal Scents 88 Piece Palette and Blush & Contour Palette about a month or so ago. Here is my review of them!

Coastal Scents 88 Piece Eye Shadow Palette- They also offer this in a shimmer palette. I might get that sometime down the road. For now, I wanted a more matte finish. These are great! They are highly pigmented and go on smoothly. You can apply them with a sponge-tip applicator, but I do prefer using an eyeshadow brush for them. There are countless looks that you can make with these. TIP: Add a little saline to your eyeliner brush and dip it in any of them to make some great eyeliners and bright looks. Or use it on all of your eyelid to foil the shadow and make it more vibrant!

Coastal Scents Contour & Blush Palette- The top left corner is a white shade that is great for highlighting. The top middle is great for correcting skin tone. The two right ones are the blushes. I don't use the bottom one too much because I prefer lighter pinks. The top one is a great shade! The bottom one is also a good highlighter. The bottom middle is your contour shade. It may look like a really dark color, but don't let that fool you. The color is completely universal and will work on all skin tones. The trick is in the application. You want to apply it lightly, buff it in with your contour brush, and if you need more, than apply another layer. TIP: After using the contouring brush, go back over it with a kabuki brush to get rid of any lines.

XOXO ♥

Alloy

Currently watching: Bones and American Idol
Currently reading: Cosmo with Leighton Meester on cover
Currently feeling: mad

I recently ordered four items from Alloy to take advantage of a 20% off code. I only buy my jeans from there because it is one of the only places I can buy the brands that I like. My favorite brand is Paris Blues, but I ordered two pairs of them last time.

1. v-neck cardigan in black
2. Savannah ruffle tee in navy
3. Bliair cardigan
4. Truck Jeans essential skinny jeans

* I ordered the Paris Blues skinny jeans and they ended up being more straight-legged than actual skinny fit. So I have my fingers crossed for these to do the trick!

XOXO ♥

Havaianas

Currently watching: The Simpsons
Currently planning: my husband's birthday
Currently feeling: sore

I am so excited because over the course of the weekend, I finally purchased a pair of Havaianas flip-flops! I was going to get the peacock design, but I don't know how often I would wear them. I'd really rather fork over money for something that will get more use. I stuck to a classic brown color and plan on wearing them out!

Havaianas means Hawaiians in Portugese. The shoes are made in Brazil and have a reputation of being the most comfortable flip-flop sandals. Stars (such as Lindsay Lohan) swear by them. I can't wait to get my pair in the mail. If there is anything that I love about summer, it's getting to wear flip-flops! Any chance I get that I don't have to wear socks, the better! :)

XOXO ♥

MAC

Currently watching: select Youtube videos
Currently craving: a white sand beach
Currently feeling: tired

So I did a little bit of online shopping this weekend that I will share with you during the week. First up, I took advantage of the free shipping at MAC and ordered two new lip colors. I was going to get another Hello Kitty lipglass, but all of the colors that would work with my skintone and style were sold out. Because I enjoy going crazy with eyeshadow most of the time, I prefer a nice light pink or neutral lip. I'll do a full review when I receive them!

XOXO ♥

Metropolitan Costume Gala

Currently watching: The Simpsons
Currently nursing: a stiff neck :(
Currently feeling: achy

Here are my top choices for best and worst. This year's theme of the gala was Models as Muses. I find that some people confuse costume with tacky, because every year the tackiness seems to outweigh the fabulous.

Kate Beckinsale looked fabulous!

Eva Mendes

Elizabeth Hurley. I love how the embellishments are not overdone.

Kanye and his girlfriend, Amber. Not only does she rock a shaved head, but she always dresses fierce. This is red hot!

Renee Zellweger

Victoria Beckham. I love that she always takes risks, but unfortunately they rarely pay off.

Rihanna. WUT IS THIS MONSTROSITY? :/

Kirsten Dunst. Grandma dress.

Anna Wintour. As the head honcho of Vogue, I wish she had picked a better dress.

Ashley Olsen. It's hard to make an Olsen twin look fat. This shapeless dress did the trick.

Leighton Meester. You would never catch Queen B wearing that on Gossip Girl! I really wish that I could un-see this.

XOXO ♥

Two Great Looks!

Currently watching: Rachael Ray Show
Currently annoyed: I can't check my college email!
Currently feeling: hungry for dinner

Miley Cyrus attending the Rome premiere of the new Hannah Montana movie wearing Missoni. This is such a great dress in that it is so universal as far as age goes. I can see someone 16 wearing it just as much as I can see someone in their 40s wearing it. And this color is absolutely gorgeous on Miley! When she is casual, her style is not that great. Lately, her red carpet looks have been beautiful!

Emmy Rossum attended the New Yorker's For Children dinner party in this Dior dress. Some people said they did not like it, but I do! I think the belt is a great accent to the dress and at drawing attention to her waist. It also prevents the tiers and ruffles from taking over. I love the color, as well. I love that she took a risk and I think it paid off!

XOXO ♥

Forever young. I want to be forever young.

Currently watching: NCIS rerun
Currently drinking: water
Currently feeling: awake...at 2am

So I bought some more stuff from F21 last night! Ahh, I love online shopping. Anyway, you know what they say...a girl can never have too many accessories! The only problem I have is with their new Faith21 line. It's a plus-sized line they have just introduced. The only problem is that there are only a few items and the size only goes up to around a US 14/16. They can do better than that to accomodate curvier girls. Even Old Navy carries up to a size 20 in their stores!

*click to make larger

XOXO ♥

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Currently listening: Did You by Kelly Clarkson
Currently doing: editing photos
Currently feeling: lethargic

Today is May 5th, which is also Cinco de Mayo. The holiday is not just about having some tacos and drinking a margarita (or several!), though. It's a day of pride and remembrance for those of Mexican heritage. We all can celebrate it with them, but let's all know what it truly is that we are celebrating.

May 5, 1862 is a day that the Mexican army took down the French army. They were outnumbered and did not have the best weapons...the underdogs of the battle. The French army took them lightly and were the bullies on the battlefield. The Frenchmen had not been defeated in a long time! It made the victory all the more sweeter!

May 5th is not the Mexican Independence Day like so many think. Some people view it as a day to celebrate the Mexican Heritage, which I think is a great way of putting it. I'm not saying that you should not go out and enjoy your taco and margarita. I'm just saying to sit down and think about the true reason of the day. It's exciting that they have a day like this to celebrate! Let's celebrate their heritage with them! :)

XOXO ♥

I'm back!

Currently listening: Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Currently reading: Nylon magazine
Currently feeling: lazzzzzy

Sorry for the unexpected hiatus! My husband was home for three days last week with his bum ankle, so I spent a lot of time taking care of him. Now, I'm back! :)

Cricket Metallic Satchel

It's been rare lately that I have seen any bag at Coach that I really love (except for the Sabrina bag). And this is no such occasion! What have they been thinking in the past year or so? I can see a few things wrong with this bag. First off, I hate the quilted Cs all over it. Secondly, I really dislike the quilted Cs and shiny material combination happening. Thirdly, the shape of the bag is that of a grandmother's bag. This bag is retailing for $458.

So what do you think? Take it or leave it?

XOXO ♥