Fashionable Heart

In My Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Do any of you have that obsession that I do where you love to see what is in other people's showers? I don't know why, but I love it as much as I love seeing makeup storage posts and videos. Anyway, I was taking out scents that remind me of winter with ones that I like for summer so I snapped this picture. Do you do that with your bath scents or am I just strange? Maybe you shouldn't answer that latter part. ;)

Here's a few shelves of my organizers. I did a massive overhaul of some products that weren't getting used enough to take up space in my shower and kept the things in there that I love. There are some items not shown, but they consist of my husband's things for when he chooses to use my shower over his (mine is bigger) and shaving items. In other words, the products below are the prettier and the more fun things!

-I have a few different shampoos to use at all times, because they are all different types- clarifying, volume-boosting, etc. For conditioner, I typically only use Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle! For shampoo brands right now, I have: John Frieda, Neutrogena, Kiehl's, and Bumble and bumble.

-I also like to have different scents to choose from with my shower gels. In the lower right, I just have two Lush products that I'm trying to use up and my Soap and Glory body wash (LOVE). I also put in two of my favorite scents of Philosophy's 3-in-1s, a coconut one from Body Shop, and Country Apple and Charmed Life from Bath and Body Works.

-I keep some of my skincare in my shower. Not pictured is my Cetaphil. On the lower rack with most of my shampoos, I have some face and body exfoliators. A strawberry one from The Body Shop, a papaya one from Caryl Visage (Toronto based, I believe), and a St. Ives apricot scrub that is almost used up. Happy to see the St. Ives one go, because I am not a fan of it at all. I much prefer the Aveeno Positively Radiant cleansing pads!

-Then, of course I have my various loofahs and such below. There's an exfoliating cloth from The Body Shop, a few loofahs, exfoliating gloves, and a comb. I know I have loads of items that exfoliate, but it's pretty much necessary with my extremely dry skin.

If you want to do a post like this, link me to it. I'd love to see what kind of products you like to keep in your shower!

May 2012 Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:52:00 +0000

May has been pretty good. It went by quickly! I've started another Project 5 Pan and put myself on a bit of a shopping ban, so it was all about shopping my stash. I haven't been that tempted except with the MAC Hey, Sailor! collection. I have a gift certificate to a department store so if I buy any new makeup in the next little while, I'll probably use it. Gotta love gift cards!

So here are my favorites for this month:

MAC Studio Careblend powder- So smooth!
NARS Laguna bronzer- It's that time of the year where the sun is shining and the bronzer comes out!
MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow
Revlon Sweet Tart lip butter
Essie Peach Daiquiri- A perfect color for a bright pedicure!
ELF powder brush- Puts finishing powder on like a dream.

I didn't post for the past two days, because we took a mini-vacation on Tuesday and Wednesday to go to Niagara Falls to celebrate my husband's birthday. I found a great deal that included breakfast, dinner, hotel, and a tour of a chocolate factory. I never get tired of Niagara Falls and I love being only about two hours from it. The chocolate factory was a pretty cool experience of seeing the chocolate being made and I never would have thought to do it if it had not been included in the package! Below is the view from our hotel room of the Horseshoe Falls. We had a fantastic trip!

Hope you are all having a great week so far!

5/27/12 OOTD and NOTD!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:22:00 +0000

We went out yesterday to run some errands and to have the family dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. We went to this really kitschy local German restaurant and it was a lot of fun.

Dress: Old Navy
Cardigan: Old Navy
Necklace: Tiffany & Co.
Shoes: I honestly can't remember, but maybe American Eagle.

Nails: Essie's Brooch the Subject with As Gold As It Gets topcoat
Accent nail: LA Colors' in Seashell with Milani's Jewel FX in Gold

And just randomly wanted to share this picture from my Instagram. I just really like how it turned out. :)

I'd like to wish all of my fellow Americans a safe, wonderful, and reflective holiday. While you enjoy the fireworks and cookouts, I hope that the true reason for the day does not go unnoticed. And though I'm not in the US today, I'm still celebrating in my heart. Enjoy your holiday! ♥♥

Garnier BB Cream Review- Light/Medium Shade

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:36:00 +0000

I got it in the lightest shade that they offer, because I'm pretty pale. I was afraid it would be too dark, but it melts into the skin well. I find that it does oxidize minimally. I just make sure to use the smallest amount possible and set it with a light shade of powder and that seems to do the trick. I can't say that I've noticed much of a difference in my skin. This does tend to get a little "shiny" during the day, so I would not recommend this to those with very oily skin.

I do find that it covers up the redness in my cheeks quite well and I do not have to use as much concealer. The shade collection is not the best, with Garnier only offering two shades in Light/Medium and Medium/Deep. I also do not care for the smell. I don't mind it in the tube, but the scent lasts all day on my skin. One day I forgot I was wearing it and I kept wondering who around me was wearing such strong perfume when I realized that it was my face!

Hand swatch. I have NW20 skin.

I understand that they are two different types of products and while I don't mind the Garnier BB Cream, I still prefer my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. I'm not sure that this product is completely worth the hype, but I do not hate it. I just don't think I'll repurchase it.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

On My iPod Pt. 17- Exercise Playlist!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:55:00 +0000

I started Couch to 5K this week and it's killing me. No seriously, I haven't jogged since high school. I have muscles aching that I forgot I even had! I usually rely on walking, dancing, Yoga, and Pilates as my workouts, but I find that I've gotten too used to them and needed to find a new way to challenge myself. I found an app for my iPhone called C25K Free and it offers a count down of each step and when to switch from walking to jogging.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some of the songs that help me keep me grooving and moving! :D

Warm Up:
Hush Hush; Hush Hush - The Pussycat Dolls
Love You Like a Love Song - Selena Gomez
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall

Full-On Exercise:
Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5
Knock on Wood - Amii Stewart
Domino - Jessie J
Part of Me - Katy Perry
Runaway Baby - Bruno Mars
Boogie Shoes - KC and the Sunshine Band
Born This Way - Lady Gaga

Cool Down:
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
I'm Still Standing - Elton John
Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye

I have plenty of alternates that also get played, but these never seem to fail me. Do you have a song that you love to exercise to? I'd love to add some new ones to my playlist!

Sorry to make this a short entry kind of day, but it is my husband's birthday! So I'm off to get ready for our plans tonight. :)

Victoria Day OOTD via Instagram!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:48:00 +0000

Yesterday was a holiday here. We celebrated Victoria Day! It's not celebrated everywhere in Canada, but it is in most of the provinces and all of the territories. It's similar to Memorial Day as far as how people enjoy cookouts and fireworks. Ah, I love being an American in Canada. I get to celebrate all kinds of different holidays! :)

I went out for a coffee at Starbucks with my husband and a friend that was visiting from Ottawa, before coming back to my condo to enjoy the fireworks. Being on the 19th floor gives us quite a view, so my husband and I watched about thirty different firework displays! The photos are from my Instagram. I'm "wendybanner" on there, if you want to add me!

Cheese!

Who doesn't love mint and leopard? Together? Even better!

Mint v-neck: Target
Leopard print scarf: H&M
Skinny jeans: Paris Blues
Shoes: I have no idea! :(

Spring has bloomed!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:38:00 +0000

I love this time of year! The weather isn't hot yet, but the sandals can start being worn. I especially love this time of year because the flowers start to bloom and even though I'm allergic to some flowers, I can't help but want to be around them. They give me inspiration in makeup and fashion with all of the various colors and shapes. Don't you love when you get inspiration from your surroundings?!

So don't forget to stop and smell the flowers...unless you're allergic like me. Then, just rely on a handy camera zoom lens. ;)

*Pictures were taken in my MIL's garden. These are of her lilac tree! So lovely to take pictures of each year.

Affordable Spring Clothes Wishlist

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:00:00 +0000

I've put myself on a strict budget for the upcoming months, because my fingers are crossed for a Chicago/St. Louis trip for my birthday in July! And I just booked a one-night trip to Niagara Falls for my husband's birthday this month. :) With that said, that's probably why I've been obsessed with making wishlists lately. I have to get my shopping addiction in some form! The best part about the pieces that I am loving below is that they are easy on the wallet. I'm all about chic pieces of clothing that won't break the bank.

Actual pieces shown:
Paris Blues colored jeans (offered in four colors) - Alloy
Havaianas flip flops - Roots (I live in these during the summer. So comfortable!)
Off Shoulder t-shirt - Asos Curve
Jersey romper - Asos Curve
Chambray skirt - Old Navy
Belted utility dress - Old Navy
Printed tunic - Old Navy
Ruffled dress - Old Navy

Do you have anything in particular that you're craving for your spring wardrobe? Once it hits spring and summer, I always feel like I need more sandals and dresses!

Designer Accessories Wishlist

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:55:00 +0000

It's been so long since I've done a wishlist post, so I thought I'd share some designer accessories that I have on mine. Some have been on the list for ages and some are newcomers. They range from inexpensive to ridiculously expensive (at least for my wallet!).

Shashi Rose Gold Nugget bracelet
Alexander McQueen skull scarf
Longchamp Le Pliage tote
Birkenstock Kairo sandals
Henri Bendel bangle
Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC (in any color!)
Tory Burch Reva flats
House of Harlow Sunburst necklace

What's on your designer wishlist? Is there a bag that you're drooling over? Some shoes that you just have to slip on your feet? I love wishlists! :)

Met Gala 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Sorry to take so long to post again. What I thought was a cold turned out to be another sinus infection. My second one this year...blah! I'm still getting over the body aches, a raspy voice, and a little congestion, but I can finally breathe through my nose again. At this point, if I never see another Kleenex again, I'd be a happy camper. I must have went through around eight boxes! Thank you for the get well wishes!

I thought I'd share my two favorite looks and my least favorite from the red carpet of the Met Gala. I always love looking at the arrivals to this particular event each year. Celebrities get to play it up a notch that they normally might be too afraid to do at any other red carpet event! Love it!

Carey Mulligan in Prada. Definitely my favorite of the night! This was the first dress to truly capture my attention in all of the right ways. The makeup, hair, and shoes were styled just right. Gorgeous!

Kristen Bell in Tommy Hilfiger. While this isn't really a costume ballgown, it's absolutely stunning. I saw a lot of tangerine on the red carpet, but I think this color suits Kristen perfectly. She looks glowing and radiant.

Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen. I know that Alexander McQueen's line is the master of costume dressing and all, but I just don't like this. Seriously, I don't like anything about it. I know Florence is one to often dress "out there", but this? Perhaps it is just a little too avant garde for my taste. It reminds me a bit of a Christmas tree! I love that she takes chances, though.

Sick. :(

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:30:00 +0000

I had every intention of blogging today, but my husband decided to share his cold with me. Isn't that sweet? Sheesh! :P So I'm down and out right now. Depending on how I feel, I may not post anymore this week.

Above is a picture from my Instagram (you can find me as "wendybanner") account and my plans for the day/rest of the week. Hot green tea with honey, Vitamin C, throat drops, and cold medicine. My plans also include vegging out on my couch or in bed while watching Netflix and/or sleeping. Well...at least I have an excuse to be lazy. Too bad it's because I am sick! :/

Hope you all have a great week! ♥

April 2012 Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:12:00 +0000

Is it May tomorrow already? Wow! I swear it feels like April just got here. Honestly, I'm glad to see it go. April was not good to me, so here's to May! :)
Juicy Couture friendship bracelet and just friendship bracelets, in general!
NARS Deep Throat blush
Revlon Jaded nail polish - great mint green
MAC's Satin Taupe eyeshadow
Revlon's Cupcake lip butter
my new iPhone 4S and Lilly Pulitzer case - Just got the phone and I'm so hooked!

What were some of your favorites?

Blogger Appreciation Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Christine awarded me with this! So sweet! I absolutely adore her and her blog, which I do believe I have said on here before. I absolutely recommend her blog. :)

As OCD as I am, I just can't let an award post not have some color, graphics, or something. So I added my own titles to spruce things up. Nothing against the creator of the award, I just like my posts to have some color when they can! And if you do this award and want to use my graphics below, just click, save, and use. :)

So the rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award with their blog link on your post.
2. Answer the following 4 questions.
3. Award the Blogger Appreciation Award to as many others as you'd like.
4. Let the blogger know you've just awarded them.

How long have you been blogging? September will be five years for FH! :D

What are 1-2 reasons you started blogging? I was over Xanga, Myspace, and other similar sites as I just didn't enjoy them anymore. I started this as a bit of a personal blog to talk about just random things, but it quickly evolved more into what it is now. There's still a touch of randomness in there, because beauty isn't all I enjoy. That's why you get random updates, recipes, music I'm enjoying, etc.

What type of blogs do you like to follow/read? I follow several different types of blogs. Most are beauty, fashion, and style related. I also enjoy blogs about: music, travel, food, DIY, home decor, technology, and photography. Even better when I find a blog that offers all of those things!

What is one thing you would like to improve on as a blogger on your blog? I am my own worst critic and always think something needs to be improved. What I've been trying to mostly improve has not been on my blog, but on my level of commenting on other blogs. I get to that point where I'm lazy and read everyone's blogs and then...I just click out. Shame on me! I've been trying to comment a bit more. I also always try to get back to comments left on here!

- Eager Emily
- Gaby's Beauty Blog
- Intrinsically Florrie
- Life as a Southern Girl

Ah, I love our little world of bloggers. If you're reading this post and own a blog, please feel free to do this and link me to it. The truth is that I appreciate anyone who takes the time to start their own blog and keeps at it! ♥

Giving Back & Blogger Rant!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:20:00 +0000

I don't think there is a greater feeling than giving. Sure getting is great, but giving is good for the soul. I just feel like it sticks with you longer. With that said, I was cleaning my bathroom and I came across plenty of products that I never got around to opening or using. Some are backups, some were bought during sales to be future gifts, and some I just completely forgot about.

I'll be giving all of the above to a girls' home and hopefully they will benefit a lot of younger girls. I know that these items will get the love that I never got around to showing them. :) If you are a beauty product hoarder like me, think about giving some of the products to those that it could truly benefit. Every little thing counts!

Now on to the superficial part of my post- Blogger's new interface! It is horrible, flat out horrible. I switched a month or so ago to try it out and switched back to the old one right away. Pictures were always formatted differently, code was being added to my entries, text was all over the place, and the dashboard was hideous. I even hate editing my pages because I know they use the new format!

I loved that Blogger had it where you could choose between the two, but now they are taking the old one away completely. I feel like they are going from something that is easy on the eyes and to use to something the complete opposite. Who does Blogger think it is? Facebook? Perhaps I'm in the minority to say that I hate the changes, but I can't say one good thing about it. Oh Blogger, how could you?

How do you feel about the new interface?

Nail Polish Storage

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:30:00 +0000

The way I store my nail polishes and accompanying items is nothing special. I might purchase one of those wall racks one day, but none have yet to tickle my fancy. Plus the fear of it falling off the wall and breaking everything worries me!

While I had a few polishes from before, my true addiction started when I finally kicked my nail biting habit last year. I still have some bad days where I bite, but I'm really proud to be rid of my worst habit of 20+ years. The double-edged sword is that I got rid of one habit and started another with buying nail polishes! Oops!

^ Everything together fits on one shelf of my "beauty" bookcase. I'll show it all in a future makeup organization post.

^ I keep everything in colorful little trays. I keep my mini sets of polishes in the back (OPI's Muppets Collection and Sephora's Glee Collection). The box on the left came from the dollar store, the one in the middle is from Ikea (and I just put flowery wrapping paper around it), and the one on the right is from Target. I have them organized by brand instead of color.

All of my OPI and China Glaze polishes are in the left box. The middle one contains Revlon, Sephora by OPI, and Barry M mostly. There is also a mug at the back that holds my nail art brush/dotter and nail art pens. At the back and middle of the right tray, I have mostly brands that I may only have one or two polishes from and also my Seche Vite base coat. In the front of that same tray is my Essie shades.

^ I got this little box at Target last month. It holds all of my removers, my cuticle cream, Salon Effects polish strips, and my manicure kit.

If When my collection grows, I'll probably change my organization around. For now, this fits my needs and I can easily find which colors I want to use. I'd love to know how you store your nail polishes!

Revlon Lip Butters: Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:55:00 +0000

I own twelve of these. Yes, perhaps excessive but I only buy them when they are on sale. While I like these enough to buy so many shades, I would not pay full price for them. I will go into why in this post and share my swatches of the ones I own.

^ Left to Right: Cupcake, Cotton Candy, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart, Lollipop, Peach Parfait, Creamsicle, Creme Brulee, Tutti Frutti, Cherry Tart, Berry Smoothie, and Sugar Plum.

To see more pictures, please keep reading.

Why will I not pay full price? Because these can wreak havoc on my lips if I forget to wear a thick layer of lip balm underneath. The days that I forget to apply my Nivea Kiss of Moisture lip balm under them are the days that my lips start peeling. My lips will be fine that morning, but by that night it is a different story. I'd really suggest wearing a balm underneath to provide moisture. That's my biggest criticism.

Another criticism is that I found the nuder shades (Creme Brulee, Creamsicle, Peach Parfait) to have a bit of a hard layer on top. Maybe it was just the batches that I got, but once I broke through the top layer it seemed to correct itself.

These are meant to be on the sheer side, but I find them easy to build up in color. Some are much more pigmented than others, such as Lollipop and Tutti Frutti. I do love the color options and think that there is at least one shade that will catch your eye. My favorites are Lollipop, Cupcake, and Creamsicle. Also, I do not detect a smell on these.

I think these are worth a try, especially if you like just a sheer wash of color on your lips. I don't think that they are as moisturizing as Revlon claims them to be. They do glide on smoothly. Worth the hype? Not completely.

New layout!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:45:00 +0000

My weekend was horrible. My personal email got a virus and my father took it upon himself to delete my whole account, because apparently AOL allows the "head account holder" to do that. I'm estranged from my father due to numerous reasons and AOL will only open my account back up if I talk him into doing so. Are you kidding me? So I have been accepting the fact that I have lost all of my contacts and important emails dating back to over a decade ago. Let's just say that the two parties stated above are not (and won't be) in my good graces any time soon.

Where am I going with this? Oh yeah...to get myself into a zone where I could forget about my sorrows for awhile, I worked on a new layout for Fashionable Heart this weekend. Sometimes when you get emotional, you just have to let the creative juices flow and take over. I worked on graphics for the Warm & Fuzzy Knits business that I run with my MIL and got this new layout up and running. A great hour or so spent on just worrying if the HTML code was right for this and if the graphic is loading properly on that. It sounds silly, doesn't it? But, oh how sweet it is to divulge in a hobby or senseless task and put all of your energy into it and let the anger melt away.

That brings me to a question. What's one of your favorite hobbies to get lost in when you're angry or depressed? I either do like above and work on graphics or editing pictures or I sing really loudly along to emotional songs. This post was a little more personal than usual and I do hope that is ok. I'll be posting some Revlon Lip Butter swatches in my next post!

P.S.- Please tell me if something is not loading properly for you on the layout! And today is a happy day for me as I celebrate eight years (six of them being married) of being with my husband. Yay! So we're going to treat ourselves to a nice dinner, a decadent dessert, and then veg out in front of the TV for the night. Sounds perfect!

On My iPod Pt. 16 + Adding Links

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:55:00 +0000

I don't know why, but I just really enjoy doing these. I like to share what I've been listening to and I love giving you the chance to tell me about some songs or artists that I may not be familiar with. :) So share some favorites!

You Lie - The Band Perry
Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye
Blue Jeans - Lana Del Rey
Love You Like a Love Song - Selena Gomez & the Scene
We are Young - Fun ft. Jenelle Monae
Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
Safe & Sound - Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars
How Come You Never Go There - Feist
Domino - Jessie J

Also, I'd thought I'd share links to a few newer/not-so-new sites that I'm on. I'll happily add you back. :)

Instagram (Apple/Android app)- search for "wendybanner" or go here.
Pose (Apple app)- wendybanner
Ownza (formerly ShopSquad)- fashionableheart
GetGlue- fashionableheart
Pinterest- wendybanner
8tracks- wendyisastar

Hopefully your Friday the 13th went off without a hitch! Hope you have a fabulous weekend! ♥

Sephora + Pantone Universe Eyeshadow Quad

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:38:00 +0000

I was good this time during the VIB 15% off sale! I bought only one thing that was on my wishlist and that is the Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Eyeshadow Quad. I actually originally wanted the blush duo, but it was sold out. This quad was next on my list.

^ The packaging is really durable and nice, though I do feel it's a bit bulky and a waste. They could have downsized and saved a lot of material. The actual quad packaging is just like Inglot's. It has a frosted magnetic cover that you twist and lift off. Don't pull up directly or you'll have a difficult time removing it. It's easy to twist off, so I would not necessarily call this travel-friendly.

^ I especially like the colors on the left. My issue with these are when they are applied dry. They go on sheer with more fallout than even Fall Out Boy would be comfortable with. Used wet, there's much less fallout and they go on much more opaque. I'm not sure how much use the tangerine shadow will get (regardless of it being the color of the year), but the other three are easy to build looks around.

^ Wet swatches. Used MAC's Fix+.

Gaia Natural Products Goddess Kit Review

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:35:00 +0000

I was sent this around a month ago, but I try to wait a good while before reviewing skincare items because the skin needs time to adjust. I now feel that an adequate time has passed and I can properly review Gaia Natural's Goddess Kit. They also have a blog! Gaia is based in Mallorca, Spain and focus on eco-friendly and natural products.

^ Everything arrived safely and was packaged beautifully, especially the Goddess Oil.

To see more pictures and to read my review, please keep reading.

^ Palmarosa Facial Polishers. I'll admit that it took me a moment to figure out how to use these. I tried them wet first and that didn't work. That's when I realized that you should heat these up with your fingertips and the product melts with the heat. It's then easy to massage into the skin. These are really gentle and do not turn my skin red as a lot of scrubs tend to do to my sensitive skin.

^ The Flower Water toner is my personal fave of the trio. It has a delicate smell and easily rinses the scrub from skin. It does not feel as harsh as some other toners can feel and my skin does not feel tight afterward.

^ They package the Goddess Oil beautifully in a tin with dried flower petals. The oil is easy to apply with a dropper.

This kit is dedicated to dry and sensitive skin by adding moisturizing ingredients and being gentle in the process. In using this, my extra dry and dull spots from the winter have nearly vanished and my skin feels soft to the touch. The only thing I don't like so much is the heavy floral scent, which is completely based on personal preferences. However, I use the kit right as I'm going to bed so it doesn't bother me as much.

If you are hooked on skincare items from The Body Shop, Lush, etc., I'd suggest you give Gaia Natural Products a look. I love the handmade and natural aspect, because sometimes it just does not get better than what nature provides. They even have kits geared towards men! I'm happy to have had a chance to try these products, as I might never have come across them and I do like the results that this kit gave me.

* This product was sent to me to review. I am not being paid, nor does the fact that I got it for free change my thoughts about this product.

Michigan: CCO Haul + Garnier BB Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:15:00 +0000

Here's what I picked up at the CCO in the Birch Run Outlets. I also forgot to include the BB cream in one of my earlier haul posts, so I'll show it here because it fits in with the makeup anyway. :) I'll be reviewing it after I've tried it for awhile!

^ MAC: Let's Skate Paint Pot, Carbonized eyeshadow, Studio Careblend powder in Light, and Snowglobe eyeshadow palette (Winterscape, Magical Mist, Patina, Buckwheat, Gaelic Gold, Midnight Flurry). And a Michael Kors rollerball duo with Michael Kors For Women and Very Hollywood.

^ Garnier BB Cream in Light/Medium. It took forever to find a store not sold out in this shade. I finally found it at Meijer.

Reviews and swatches are coming even though some of the MAC stuff is LE, we all know they recycle shades often enough. I'm going to try to update tomorrow, but it's not set in stone because I'll be baking with my MIL all day. If I don't get the chance to update before Monday, I'd like to wish you all a happy Easter!

Somerset Collection Haul: Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:10:00 +0000

The Somerset Collection is one of my most favorite malls. I wish I could go there all of the time, though my finances are very happy to have 4+ hours of distance between us! I made out my wishlist before going and stuck to it and it was a hard task to do so. ;)

I went in knowing that I wanted some cute new cases for what will soon be my new phone- the iPhone 4S. Yes, I've decided to finally make the switch from Blackberry. Though I'm mourning the imminent loss of the keyboard and my BBM, I'm really excited. Have you made the switch? I feel like it won't be so foreign to me, seeing as I already have my iPod Touch and iPad 2.

^ All of the pretty bags. Yep, I managed to stick to just going in three stores. I'm honestly pretty proud of myself for that.

^ At Juicy Couture, I picked up this vibrant pink friendship bracelet. It was 50% off and I'm now kicking myself for not grabbing the teal one too.

^ At Kate Spade, I picked out this teal and white silicone iPhone case. I originally wanted one of the polkadot resin cases, but I read a few horror stories of them breaking, not protecting the phone, and the design peeling off rather quickly. This design was put out on the very day that I was there, so it's a brand new design for summer!

^ My first Lilly Pulitzer purchase! I'm not a fan of all of her prints, but I love this "scarlet begonia" print. So pink and girly! I picked up a matching case for my iPad and the iPhone, both made of silicone.

Now to wait until I get the iPhone 4S into my hands! :)

Bay City: Drugstore, Target, Yankee Candle, Nike

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Here is my haul from various stores including: Meijer, Walgreens, Target, Yankee Candle, and Nike. I didn't go crazy, but I did splurge on a few items during my trip to Michigan. Thank goodness for outlets! :)

^ My favorite candle scent in the whole world is Spiced Pumpkin by Yankee Candle. I don't care what time of year it is, I love it! I picked up two candles and room sprays in that scent and one candle in the French Vanilla scent (smells divine, by the way!). The candles were 3/$28 and the room sprays were 2/$10. What a deal!

^ I grabbed these little storage containers at Target in the Dollar Zone. That Dollar Zone sucks me in every time. I also grabbed up some cute notepads, because I go through them so fast.

^ I searched Target and Walgreens first before finally finding these at a Meijer store. Please go out looking for these RIGHT NOW. You will not be disappointed. Layer them over a black nail polish and it is like an instant galaxy nail! You can see how they look on Scrangie. They are limited edition for this spring. Speak When Spoken To and The Crown is Mine are my personal favorites!

^ Revlon's Jaded and Radiant, Essie's Peach Daiquiri, and Milani's Twinkle and Blue Flash.

^ And not exactly a fashionable purchase, but I am embarrassed to say that I have waited way too long to buy something extremely important- new sneakers. My last pair of Nike's lasted me a ridiculously long time, but I have been overdue for a new pair. Your foot changes and it is important to buy shoes that fit properly. I grabbed these at the Nike outlet for $50 and it's probably the best purchase I made on the trip when you look at the benefits. :)

March 2012 Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer - Perfect for those "5 Minute" makeup days.
Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze - Swatch is here.
OPI Tickle My France-y nail polish - a perfect blush pink nude!
MUFE Full Cover concealer - I haven't come across anything this doesn't cover.
Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me Baby - It smells divine.
Hunger Games trilogy - Just finished the first book and can't wait to dive in to the second!

I'll continue my posts on my anniversary trip on Monday. I posted twice today! There are adorable animals in the post below this one. :) Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Detroit Zoo/Sorta OOTD

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:36:00 +0000

Before heading home to Toronto, we visited the Detroit Zoo. It was massive and I absolutely loved it. The Toronto Zoo has a lot of hills to walk up and down and is really spread out, but Detroit's was nice and flat with animals closer in proximity to each other. I much prefer that layout. Though both zoos do have a lot to offer! With my love of animals, I've been to many zoos and my favorite has always been Riverbanks in Columbia, SC, but Detroit Zoo is definitely getting a high rank on my list now.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a few of my pictures, because who doesn't like looking at cute animals?! :)

^ The meerkats were so precious and funny. I especially liked this one!

^ The zoo has three brown bear cubs that are 15 months old. This is one of them. They were so playful and adorable to watch!

^ They are trying to have these two mate together. It might just be working because they were really close and loving with each other. :D

We all know my love of polar bears, so there is no way I was going to just walk past this awesome statue and not get a picture with it! Now...I wonder where I can get one of these for my home...