HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

So, first I had a trip to Reno, and then I had some family visit for a week... and then I had a cold!  I'm still suffering the tail end of it with a rather drippy/sneezy nose, but I'm doing better. :)  I plan on jumping back onto the blog post wagon starting tomorrow!

About an hour ago I realized I had a pair of ears in my car from who knows how long ago, and that I could scrounge up a quick costume for when I'm handing out candy.  What do you think? :)

I'm a lamb, if you can't tell.  It's not costume make up, just regular ol' eyeshadow, blush and eyeliner.  My eyebrow also looks like it's trying to wiggle off my face. D:

In any case, HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! :D

Loooove,

Kirsten

My Reno Face

Not that there is anyone for me to impress... but I wanted to get a slightly glam look for my first trip to Reno.  Here it is!

I obviously didn't put any foundation on as I knew I'd be staying up late and i didn't want to be touching that part up.

Milani Eyebrow Kit
Maybelline Color Tattoo
bareMinerals Eyshadow in a Dark Purple-Grey shade I can't remember the name of right now
Maybelline Gel Eyeliner
bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumnizing Mascara
bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipgloss in Rose

This is a little belated, but right now I have family staying here.  Next week I'll work on more posts!

-Kirsten

Last Week's Mail Call

I have been so busy with my trip and trying to catch up with stuff at home!  I meant to post this on Sunday but it completely slipped my mind.

I had such a good week last week in terms of freebies in the mail!  Not only did I get the freebies, but a friend of mine sent me a hand-made choker.  I need to make a post about that soon, too.

Here we go!

Allure October and November issues

Martha Stewart's Living November Issue

Purina Cat Food - Healthy Weight

Mountain Rose Herbs Catelog

The Republic of Tea Catelog with a free sample of Pumpkin Spice tea, which is delicious btw!

Lacoste Perfume/Cologne Samples:

     Pour Femme

     Energetic

     Pure

     Touch of Pink

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Fortifying Shampoo and Conditioner

Physicians Formula Coupon for $10 off any product $10 or more

Living Proof Prime Style Extender

I made out like a bandit!  So far i am in love with the stuff I got.  The tea is delicious with a splash of milk in it.  Living Proof's Prime Style Extender makes me squeal with glee.  The Shampoo and Conditioner made my hair feel amazing and silky (must be true if Kevin said so!).  My cat will eat anything, including spinach, so I'm assuming the Purina sample will be a big hit.

Can't wait to see what I get the rest of this week! :D

Kirsten

My First Trip To Reno!

SO FUN!  We met up with my friend of 6+ years for the first time.  I can't believe we waited this long to meet.  I love her so much!

I also gambled for the first time!  We signed up for the Casino's club and got $5 in free play each.  We went on the penny slots and lady luck was not with me.  She was looking down on the lovely Morgan, though, who was getting great line ups and winning $0.40 - $2.00 at a time!  THENNNN she got $12.00!  We cashed out rich bitches and swaggered back to our hotel room like true ballers.

First gambling escapade a success.  I really hope we can do this again.

My Fall Face

Brr!  It's starting to get chilly around here.  Since things are transitioning, I figured I'd come up with something to fit the season.  This idea became easier after I got the giveaway package I won from KimBai, which had a Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Gold Shimmer.

It's a subtle look, and I realize that it's not much different than what I normally wear.  Oops.  Hehehe.  Maybe I should get some yellow and orange eye shadow and try again.  I was just so excited to try the Color Tattoo.

Eyes:

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Gold Shimmer

bareMinerals eyeshadows from a holiday collection (pink and plum colors)

bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipgloss in Mauve

bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara in Black

I made those earrings and have some up for sale on my Etsy.

My Giveaway Package From KimBai!

Boy, am I lazy.  I've had this for a while and every time I remember to make a post about it I'm too busy.  Here it is!

I won KimBai's Bag For A Season giveaway!  She is so sweet and shipped it fast.  Go check out her blog, she is gorgeous and has an amazing fashion sense.

She also did the most beautiful job packaging all of the items!  She put it in a gift bag with pretty tissue paper, and even sent a little card along congratulating me.  This is the first giveaway I've won from a blogger and I must say this is an amazing first experience.

Click for bigger

Not only that, but every item was individually wrapped and taped in pink bubble wrap!  Even my cat was impressed and quickly began running around the house with pieces of it.

Click for bigger

So far I've used everything but the O.P.I and the candle (which smells amazing).  The bag is surprisingly soft.  Thinking of using it as my travel make-up bag from now on.

Thank you SO MUCH KimBai!  I got so lucky!

Review: Milani Brow Fix

I have always had bold eyebrows.  Thus, I've never given much thought to doing anything fancy to them besides plucking to keep them from turning into a caveman brown.

Milani had a Fall Into Beauty Giveaway on Twitter, and I happened to win something on one of the days!  I got their Brow Fix Brow Kit and Easybrow.  How cruel fate is - I guess it wouldn't hurt to give my eyebrows a little TLC, eh?

This is what I received in the mail!

I'll admit that before this giveaway I hadn't given much thought to Milani. I've seen the section in Target and no colors really popped out at me, so I didn't give it much more than a passing glance. :(  I've instantly already got a little love for this company because they had the forethought to include a  couple different color ranges!  This entire package, in my opinion, should cover most skin/hair tones, except for maybe ebony black hair if you're trying to fill in completely.

Next, I opened one f the Brow Fix Brow Kits.  it has a fancy little push-release button so I don't break my nails trying to get the damn thing open! (/swoon)

BAM!  The tools are firmly held in place, and if you lift the holder up there is a mirror!  Perfect travel kit.  Sponge applicator, angled brow brush, and tweezers.  The tools and mirror are a little tiny for my personal taste, but it's still handy to have along.

The tweezers - omg.  They grip amazingly.  Getting a hold of them, because they are about half the size of the normal tweezers that I use, was a little tough, but when I got it I was very, very happy.

Swatches --

Click For Bigger Image

Brow Fix Brow Kit 02 Medium

1. Hi-Lite

2. Brow 1

3. Brow 2

Brow Fix Brow Kit 01 Light

4. Hi-Lite

5. Brow 1

6. Brow 2

7. Dark Brown

8. Natural Taupe

02 Medium has a more golden hue to it.  01 Light is pinker for the Hi-Lite, and the brow colors are a little ashier.  02 Medium Brow 1 is my favorite for a natural look, but Brow 2 is a dramatic look.

The Natural Taupe pencil is my favorite.  I have a feeling it's supposed to be for people with lighter colored brows, but it sets a nice back drop for mine without looking harsh.  Dark Brown, like Brow 2, is super dramatic.  I love how these pencils have brow brushes attached to them.

Conclusion:

This company makes outstanding brow products.  I don't have much to compare them to, but after receiving these products I don't need to try anything else. They are also super affordable!  At Target, the Brow Fix Brow Kit is $6.49 and the Easybrow is $4.99. (I'm pretty sure, at least)

These were won through a giveaway and not given to me through the company with any kind of review expected.

Two Day e.l.f. Halloween Treasure Hunt! [Now Over]

This morning I got an e-mail to e.l.f.'s Halloween Treasure Hunt!  I've been wanting to try e.l.f. products for a while no, so I took a look through the site.  While I didn't find anything that particularly jumped out at me, I figured why not make a list of the things I found for other people so they don't have to scour the pages like I did?

If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, just go to www.eyeslipsface.com and get your hunting on.  If you'd rather see a decent but by no certification complete list of the things that are in sale, keep reading. :)

Remember, when you're on a product page and you see this, you've gotten lucky!

Property of e.l.f. 

Tools
Mineral Kabuki Brush  $3.50 ($8.00)
Mineral Smudge Brush 1.50 ($5.00)
Mineral Flat Eyeliner Brush $1.50 ($5.00)
Mineral Lash & Brow Comb $1.50 ($5.00)
Mechanical Eyelash Curler $0.60 ($1.00)
Essential Powder Puffs set of 4 $0,60 ($1.00)

Eyes
Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer$1.50 ($3.00)
Cream Liner in Copper $1.50 ($3.00)

Mineral Eyeshadow Primer in Sheer $1.50 ($3.00)
Mineral Eyeshadow in Outdoorsy, Dreamy, Beachy, Smoldering, Flirty $1.50 ($3.00)
Essential Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in Blissful Blush $0.50 ($1.00)
Essential Eyebrow Stencil Kit $0.60 ($1.00)
Essential Dramatic Length False Eyelashes-Limited Edition $0.60 ($3.00)
e.l.f. Essential Dramatic Full False Eyelashes-Limited Edition $0.60 ($3.00)

Lips

Studio Pout Perfecter $1.50 ($3.00)

Essential Plumping Lip Glaze in Baby Doll $0.60 ($1.00)

Mineral LIpstick in Runway Pink, Rosy Tan $2.50 ($5.00)

Essential Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Ruby Slipper, Maple sugar $0.60 ($1.00)
Essential Soothing Lip Balm $0.50 ($1.00)


Face
Essential Shimmering Facial Whip in Camilia $0.60 ($1.00)

Studio Translucent Mattifying Powder $1.80 ($3.00)
Studio Corrective  (Neutralize and Conceal) $1.80 ($3.00)
Studio Shimmer Sheets $1.50 ($3.00)
Face Line Filler $2.50 ($5.00)
Essential Shine Eraser $0.60 ($1.00)

Nails
Essential Nail Polish in Cranberry, Royal Purple, Dark Glitter Purple, Plum, Party Purple, Pearl, Mango Madness, Purple Dream $1.00($2.00)



Gift Sets
Essential Silver Box Eyelash Kit - Limited Edition $1.20 ($3.00)
Mineral Glow Kit $9.00 ($15.00)

Bags
Essential Signature Bag in Black $4.00 ($8.00)
Essential Train Cases $6.00 ($12.00)

Halloween Decorating

I've started~!  I'm so excited.  While my boyfriend went to pick up the kids I did a quick decorating job so they would be surprised when they got home.

I'm a little sad that my glow in the dark cobwebs don't actually glow in the dark, but what are you gonna do?

I cut out some pumpkin/skull/bat shapes from construction paper and drew faces on the smaller ones.  I'm going to have the oldest kid do some, too, and put them in the windows.  We have a couple other tinsel things to put up, probably in the tree.

I should probably put more cobwebs up too, maybe over that window. :)

Kevin says the cobwebs over the doorway are too low and he has to duck... but that's how I like them. :D

Sunday Snuggles!

I love Lacuna. <3 She's getting so big!

Friday Freebies Haul 10/5

About a month ago I started signing up for freebies, and this week I finally got some!

I requested all these samples from their respective companies.

 Gucci smells good, but definitely not my kind of fragrance.

I really like the Scotch-Brite Botanical disinfecting wipes!  It smells like I grabbed a handful of herbs from a garden and started scrubbing the counter with them.  Not only that, but even though it's not a 'scrubby' cloth, it got the coffee and food spills off my counter with no problem. (I get a little excited while pouring my morning coffee, okay?)  I will most definitely be using the coupon they provided to buy myself a container of these.

I've tried Eucerin and it's one of my favorite lotions - not sure I've tried this specific variety of it, though.

So excited about these.  Hoping to get more this upcoming week. :)

3M gave me a free sample of scotch-bright botanical disinfectant wipes t to evaluate.

Smokey Plum

Feeling sassy tonight. :)

bareMinerals Eyeshadow in May (Part of a set, probably closest to Berry Flambe)
bareMinerals Eyeshadow Liner in Onyx
bareMinerals Big and Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black
Maybelline Lash Stiletto in Black
bareMinerals 100% Lip Gloss in Rose

Review: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Secret Service

On my birthday I went to the nearest Sephora to pick up my present.  I wasn't too happy with it in the end, and I even made a review on the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment.  To update, both of the sticks did end up falling apart on me despite it being in a bathroom drawer the entire time and me pushing it up only slightly to use it.

Ignore the cat scratches!

While I was there, I also picked up and Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Secret Service.  I was looking for a subtle brown and the consultant and Sephora led me right over to the new Urban Decay eyeshadows.  I've only ever used one other eye shadow from them and that was before their reformulation.  I think the color I have  is called Ecstasy, a shimmery light purple.

The packaging is great.  I loved their old packaging, but the "chrome" gives it a little oomf.  I like that the inside edge is raised around the shadow like a little retaining wall.  It's good for tapping my brushes on and holding the extra loose powder.

The pigmentation is great, too.  It's easy to get a soft or loud look with the shadow.  The consultant definitely pointed me to the right shade - I love it.  I am definitely interested in getting more Urban
Decay shadows. :3

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Secret Service
bareMinerals Big and Bright Eyeliner in Chocolate
bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara in black
benefit Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Foxy Lady (Fitting name in my opinion ;] )
The cream-colored "crease" shadow in the Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette

Zip-zip-zippers!

I ordered some zippers from Zipit Zippers on Etsy on the 26th and they got here yesterday!  Zipit shipped it out the next day and they got here fast.

The zippers were mailed in a bubble mailer.  The items were SEALED in a plastic bag!  Not only were all my zippers there, tied together in a lovely orange ribbon, but they sent along a couple little trinkets!  I got a fortune teller fish and a zipper pull.

This was definitely a great experience.  I recommend this seller to anyone who is in the market for zippers.

I'm so excited to start my new projects.  I've already started on the roll-up cases, and now that I have my zippers I can start on the make-up bags!

Review: Aussie Hair Insurance

As my hair gets longer, it's getting harder and harder to manage.  I usually keep it shoulder length, but at the encouragement of a couple parties, I've decided to try growing it out.

I decided to try a leave in conditioner.  Aussie Hair Insurance was relatively cheap at WinCo, about $4, so I grabbed it.

Pros:  It smells delicious.  It's a little tropical party in my hair.  It's also moisturizing and does make my hair manageable!

Cons:  I have so much hair that it takes forever to get it worked through evenly.  To make things worse this kind of spray pump is awkward when you have to use it as much in one sitting as I do.  Tired fingers.  I've also noticed no lasting results; unless I apply it that day my hair is still super frizzy, tangled and dry. I have used almost the whole bottle, and while I'm a little disappointed, I can't say I expected this to work miracles.

Overall, I'm not regretting buying it, but I'd like to try something new instead of re-purchasing this product.  I'm looking for something within the same price range.  I know it's hard to get quality products for only $4, so maybe something under $20.

Do any of you have any suggestions?  I'd really appreciate them. :)  I want a mane of gorgeous flowing locks!