It's alive!!!

I mean I'm alive! I just saw how neglected my poor little blog is and have decided this needs remedied. Stat! So I'll start with a random tag to help ya get to know me better :)

1. What's your favorite color?
Purple, hands down. I love all the beautiful colors of the rainbow but let's be honest. Ya gotta have a favorite.

2. What's your favorite number?
I know it sounds cliche but honestly it's 13. It has been forever, before I knew all the bad luck juju muh gumbo about 13. It's even stranger to know that it's my favorite number considering how anal retentive I am about even numbers. I have to take an even number of steps. I always have my car radio volume on an even number. I know, it's a bit wonky.

3. What is your dream career?

I really don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Yeah, I'm aware I'm 33 but I'm still waiting on the whole grown up bit.

4. Where do you see yourself living when you're on your own?

Um, I'm technically a grown up so...

5. Where is your favorite place to travel?
I love to go to the beach. Destin, Florida to be exact. Nothing compares to the sugar sand beaches and crystal clear blue water.

6. What do you do in your free time?
I play World of Warcraft, read, sing, watch way too much British tv, ya know, the usual.

7. Favorite stores? 
Ulta, Sephora, Sally's Beauty Supplies

8. Dream car?
I used to always want a Volkswagen bus when I was a teen, and every time I see one on the road I drool. But that seems like a crappy dream car so I'll go with this.

E71 BMW X6 SAV

9. What TV shows can't you live without?
Here's where you'll learn I'm a nerd. Doctor Who, The Vicar of Dibley, Home Movies, Archer, Psych, Being Human (U.K.) ummmm, I may need to come ad to this list later!

10. 3 things you need in your life are...
God

Family

Coffee

11. I can't sleep without...?

Distractions. I love to listen to a sermon, or the Bible or even a tv show on my iPad just so I have something to ignore.

12. If you were given 1 million dollars all for yourself what would you do with it?
Start a homeless shelter in my county. There isn't one and we have a very real homeless problem. Our county just chooses to ignore it and send them off to Atlanta.

13. I have a celebrity crush on...?
Just one?! I have a top ten list on Pinterest but I'll just say Johnny Depp so I don't seem like a floosy!

14. What is your favorite treat to eat?
Anything peanut butter and chocolate.

15. My favorite wild animal is...
Frogs! I have a red eyed tree frog tattoo on my foot. I've had an thing for frogs since middle school.

16. What is your favorite season?
Fall. Not too hot, not too cold, allergies aren't "quite" as bad and I just love the crisp feeling in the air when you walk outside on fall morning.

17. My favorite childhood shows were...
Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, The Smurfs, Gem and the Holograms, Rainbow Brite. Yeah, I was a child of the 80s.

18. Why did you start blogging? 
I started way back on MySpace just doing notes. It was a way to get my feelings out there and off my chest. I was encouraged by friends to keep it up when they said my posts were inspirational. Now it has kind of morphed into this makeup/ spiritual/ pointless thing that gets NO love :(

19. What do you hold close to your heart? 
Family and memories. Having lost my mother and my father in law at young ages, I appreciate how important it is to treasure the time you have with the people you love. They may or may not be related to you. I have chosen "framily" whom I love dearly and consider myself closer to than some people I'm related to. And I think that's okay. God gives us what and who we need when we need it!

20. What is one music artist that you are in love with?
Tori Amos. Duh. My obsession with her began in 1992 with the release of Little Earthquakes and I can't tell you how many times I've seen her live. Her music always has had a way of speaking to me right where I am.

So that's it. Some random stuff about me. If you want to tag yourself do it!! Let me know, I'd love to hear more about you too!!! 

Go Dawgs!

Recently Zoya had a promotion where you could get three polishes and just pay $10 shipping. So naturally I jumped at the chance. I ordered Storm, Blaze and Aurora. I put Aurora on my toes but will spare you pics of my feet, because feet are just nasty. But here's the mani I did using Storm and Blaze.

Also, my nails are pathetic typically. They're thin, peel and break like nobodies business. So I bought a $7 Kiss acrylic kit at WalMart and tried my hand at it. I've still got a lot to improve on, but in general the kit was easy to use, fairly decent instructions and hey, now nails aren't nubbins!

So whadya think, are you a natural nail girl or acrylic/ gel manicure kinda gal? 

Love is in the Air

Our latest challenge in the best makeup group ever is red and pink to go along with Valentine's coming up. So I threw together this look using Geek Chic Cosmetics "Dream of Large Women", Sugarpill "Decora" and "Love+" and the white from Wet N Wild's I Heart Matte palette.

So what's your opinion on Valentine's Day? Do you celebrate it or just take advantage of the delicious candy that bombards you in every store??

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Influenster Beauty Blogger Vox Box

I am so excited to share this with you guys! Influenster has done it again. I recently received the Beauty Blogger Vox Box and was very impressed with the contents. In it I received

NYC IndividualEyes shadow palette "Dark Shadows"
Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit (haven't used them yet, but I love the look of them)
Bath and Body Works Mini Candle "Cider Lane" (my favorite candles ever, and this scent is heavenly)
Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin (I LOVE this, makes a quick bun when I'm in a hurry, it's easy and looks adorable!)
EBoost Daily Health Booster orange flavor (I'm nervous to try this, I have a thing about artificial flavors. I'll let ya know once I try it out).
Not Your Mother's Smooth Moves Frizz Control Cream. (Haven't tried yet on me, but didn't see much difference in my daughter's hair. Maybe I should straighten her hair ?) Here's a review of the palette and a quick EOTD I did with it.

 

My initial thoughts on the NYC palette is this would be great for a night on the town. This is an all in one with primer, illuminator, high light color, lid color, crease color, and a definition color. The shadows feel a bit powdery but for $4.99 retail, you can't beat the pigmentation and blendability. I don't own much NYC, but if this is any indicator of the quality, I may have to pick up some more :) Perfect for a sparkly smokey eye if you ask me. Pair this with a bold red lip and va- va- va- voom, you're good to go! I wasn't going on the town, but having a Bible study at my home, so I wore a nude lip to balance out the drama I had going on on my eyes!

When you wear a smokey eye, do you prefer a bold lip or nude? I think I like them both depending on the time of day and what I'm doing/ where I'm going.

Tori Series Part 2: Girl Disappearing

Thanks for coming to see my second look in the Tori Amos series. Today's girl is Clyde, she appears on the American Doll Posse album and I just loved her bright eyes.

 

To create this look I used :
Eyes:
UDPP original all over the lid
Tick Tock Cosmetics Eyeshadow base in Milky Way and Supernova
Sugarpill "Decora"
Geek Chic Cosmetics "Yes, Sir"
Moi Cosmetics "Haunted"
NYC highlight color from "Dark Shadows"
MAC "Smolder" to tightline upper water line
Elf Cream Eyeliner "Plum Purple" under lower lash line
Sugarpill "Paperdoll" under lower lash line
Clinique Mascara as always

Cheeks:
Darling Girl Cosmetics "Doll Face"

Lips:
OCC Lip Tar Anime
OCC Lip Tar Grandma

Here's Clyde's blog from several years ago, if you want to get to know her more. My favorite quote from her bio is "But if no one sees their potential then they may not ever see it themselves and that would be tragic." If you want to hear the song this blog title was taken from click here. See you next time!



*Some products were sent to me for my consideration. All opinions are my own, like them or not :)

Tori series part 1...on account of those rattlesnakes

Awkward title, I know, but let me explain myself. Today marks the first installment on my series based on different character created by Tori Amos. A friend suggested I go with the woman who represents "Rattlesnakes" from the Strange Little Girl album. Neil Gaiman wrote mini- stories to go along with each character and here is hers.

She doesn't know who owned the jacket originally. Nobody claimed it after a party, and she figured it looked good on her.

It says KISS, and she does not like to kiss. People, men and women, have told her that she is beautiful, and she has no idea what they mean. When she looks in the mirror she does not see beauty looking back at her. Only her face.

She does not read, watch TV, or make love. She listens to music. She goes places with her friends. She rides rollercoasters but never screams when they plummet or twist and upside down.

If you told her the jacket was yours she'd just shrug and give it back to you. It's not like she cares, not one way or the other.

This is a very wearable neutral look with a touch of glamour in the super shiny lip. While it appears simple, I used a butt ton of products. The glowy look her skin had in the photo was hard to achieve so here's the list. Long list is long!

The arsenal:
Face:
Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundation in Fair
Philosophy Divine Illumination in Love at First Light
Philosophy Amazing Grace Shimmering Powder
Cheeks:
Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Beauty's Touch
Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
MK Signature Eyesicle in Vanilla
Sephora 5 in 1 Color Play Palette
Urban Decay Virgin
Urban Decay Darkhorse mixed with Smog
MAC Smolder eye kohl
Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara
Lips:
Avon Perfect Wear lip liner in Neutrals W
MAC Viva Glam V
NYC Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City



So tell me,did I do the look any justice? Any suggestions for my next character?

*I do not own or claim to own this video

SparkleCon 2012!!

 I alluded in my last post to a trip I recently took out west. Well let me tell you, I had a blast! I flew in to Denver and my sweet friend Sam picked me up at the airport. The following day, we Thelma and Louise-d it down to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a beautiful drive down, and I personally had a great time. I even saw antelope!

 Once we got there we were greeted by huge hugs from Wendi and Megan. Even though we had never met in person, it was like reuniting with old friends. That night we had dinner at a local Mexican restaurant where I got the biggest bowl of guacamole in the history of man.

 The next morning kind of snuck up on us, so after much rushing around, I did a quick makeup job at Wendi's mother in laws dining room table. After that, it was a flurry of delicious food, makeup and laughing till my sides hurt. I met wonderful women who share my obsession with all things sparkly. Goodie bags were provided by Milani Cosmetics, Tick: Tock Cosmetics, Chinovi Cosmetics and Dorian and Dahl Perfumery (reviews all to come soon).

 I also had my first experience at MAC. This adorable guy Ricky gave me a mini makeover when all I was expecting was a color match. He was so sweet and cute, I just wanted to bring him home and sit him on my shelf.

Me, Ricky and Sam

I'll sign off with one last pic of the whole gang!

L-R Wendi, Sam, Megan, Angela, Me, Meredith Jia