Nails: Two Cents Nail Polish from Sonia Kashuk Swatches + Review

November 24, 2012 By StephanieLouise 645Leave a Comment2012-11-24+15%3A08%3A00StephanieLouise

So as I hear Christmas music playing & switching out my Fall candles for holiday ones…I know it is time to show you guys one of my absolute favorite Fall shades. Two Cents from Sonia Kashuk is incredible & fulfills my lust for copper.

Two Cents from Sonia Kashuk: A rich metallic copper with a slight golden bronze tone in sunlight. Opaque in 2 coats.
This is love. Copper fire. Copper polishes were so in this year & being on of my favorite shades period I was psyched. But SO many of them were silver toned, too bronze. This is just right, not too red or too orange. True copper. This is a limited edition shade available from Target.

What do you guys think? Love it? What were some of your favorite shades this Fall?

Happy Thanksgiving! + What I’m Thankful For!

November 22, 2012 By StephanieLouise 646Leave a Comment2012-11-22+15%3A02%3A00StephanieLouise

As gimmicky as it sounds & as thankful as you should be every day, I still like to do this every year. I have always loved Thanksgiving because my family traditions are…very different. Since getting married 4 years ago, we’ve spent a Thanksgiving with his family & with mine. Spending it with mine, I thought his head would very possibly explode. I’ll explain more…

#1. I’m thankful I grew up doing a non-traditional Thanksgiving. Weird right? But I really am. As much as I love Thanksgiving food ( I really do!) tamale Thanksgiving ranks high on my list of wonderful memories. So does “learning how to use our RV oven” Thanksgiving & our “let’s try this random place in the middle of nowhere that says they will be open” Thanksgiving. We did have some traditional Thanksgivings but although tasty, I simply don’t remember them as well! If I could spend every Thanksgiving in California with my family, I would.

#2. I’m grateful I can cook. Ryan is horrified every time I bring up how much I miss Tamale Thanksgiving. I mean, in horror. He is from Texas & ultra-traditional. When I took him home for Thanksgiving & explained “In the afternoon we spend Thanksgiving at a park & pretty much just eat pie then go home & eat food a few hours later” he just looked at me. He still thinks it is weird but had a lot of fun. I now cook a traditional Thanksgiving, last year when my mom was visiting & this year for us & a friend. If I didn’t know how to cook (& cook well) he’d honestly probably still eat it. But I’m glad everything is tasty even if they aren’t super creative dishes.

#3. I’m grateful my husband is home. We have spent a lot of time a part, especially in the first 3 years of our marriage. It is what the military does. Each holiday he is home, I whisper a little thank you because you never know where they’ll be next year. Our friend coming over for Thanksgiving this year is all by herself for this Thanksgiving because her husband is deployed. I plan to help her drown in gravy & pie.

#4. I’m so thankful for you guys. I know it is tacky & lots of people are saying it, but it is true. I try to let you guys know by thanking you randomly, hosting giveaways so you can win, & putting up good content. But in case no one says it to you today… I’m so thankful to be a part of your lives.

#5. I’m grateful for my family. Cliche? Don’t care. My family is the best. The first Thanksgiving Ryan was gone, my parents drove up to me. We went grocery shopping (we were so poor back then!) & then I cooked everything up in the kitchen then layered it in a laundry basket. We then drove it to their hotel & had Thanksgiving in the hotel on paper plates with plastic forks. & it was amazing. I talk to my dad almost every day & my mom multiple times a week. There has never been a time when my parents weren’t there for me (& Ryan) so I can’t help but single them out. They’re just the best.

To those celebrating Thanksgiving, I wish yo a happy, safe, fun one. If you’re cooking it this year (like me) take the time to breathe. Make your husband to the chick…ahem turkey dance for his food, & have a great time. & to those who celebrate, Happy Black Friday. There’s no way I’m posting on here at midnight! I wish everyone a full belly & a comforting day.

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving memories? Are you doing Black Friday this year?

Caress Endless Kiss Creamy Vanilla & Sandalwood Body Wash in Review!

November 21, 2012 By StephanieLouise 647Leave a Comment2012-11-21+14%3A29%3A00StephanieLouise

Time for a body wash that smells like…warmth? Indeed! Caress Endless Kiss Creamy Vanilla & Sandalwood Body Wash smells so warm & inviting, perfect as the weather starts to cool way off.Scent wise, this is exactly what I have been looking for! I love using this in the shower before bed & then burling up with a good book!

With sophisticated scents developed by top fragrance experts at Givuadan, NEW Endless Kiss™ offers an alluring scent that lets women feel fabulous everyday.

This contains some scattered beads (which you can see above) but it also has some golden shimmer! I don’t really notice it on my skin at all after I wash it away but it is pretty to look at! My skin is super soft afterwards though. It is left moisturized but without any residue. Love! The only downside of this body wash? There isn’t a candle to match!

Do you love Caress body washes? Can you think of a body wash that is warm or comforting smelling like this one?

**This body wash was sent in consideration of review.

SoFlaJo Hidden Gem Nail Polish Swatches & Review!

November 20, 2012 By StephanieLouise 648Leave a Comment2012-11-20+21%3A02%3A00StephanieLouise

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m sharing a polish from the brand SoFlaJo..in fact it is my first ever! There is a Black Friday exclusive at the base of this post so make sure & check that out! I’ll have lots of winter/holiday polishes coming up so stay tuned for that! Remember you can make each photo larger!

What SoFlajo says about Hidden Gem – We’re rocking this party! I find fascinating rocks on my walks and break them open at home to reveal glittering treasures inside.

Sun

Shade

Flash

SoFlaJo Hidden Gem (from The Party Time Collection): A steel blue packed with rainbow ultra fine holo, blue shimmer, & green shimmer. This has a teal aura about it in certain lights around the base. Opaque in 2 easy coats.

I love this polish! This looks so mysterious & even somewhat ethereal on the nail. This is a nice density which I prefer. The 2 coats were easy to achieve without dragging. This reminds me of ice skating at midnight with lots of twinkling lights in the distance & sparkling snow. This screams winter to me!

SoFlaJo will be having a Black Friday Sale! This sale will include free shipping with a minimum $20.00 purchase and must be purchased from her main site http://www.soflajo.com/?page_id=381. ALL collections are included as long as the purchase total is $20.00.This sale is open to both domestic and international customers.

On Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/Soflajo & here is the SoFlaJo Party Time NP Collection: http://www.soflajo.com/?page_id=1452
If you prefer to buy through Etsy, here is the link. NOTE: Free shipping is NOT included when you buy through Etsy! http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoFlaJo

I Won A Sweet Coterie Prize Package + Mini Reviews!

November 20, 2012 By StephanieLouise 649Leave a Comment2012-11-20+15%3A00%3A00StephanieLouise

So if you think back to when I first introduced Coterie to you, then you know I wanted to learn some more information. I am a member of IFABBO & was lucky enough to be able to participate in an online chat with one of the creators along with other beauty gals. Catherine Magee was so much fun to learn about, from her background in beauty (much like the other staff!) to their plans for the future. This is definitely a group of people who know their stuff!

I was randomly selected as the winner of a Coterie gift basket! Man was a I suprised & excited! They have featured some of my favorite brands such as butterLONDON & Peter Thomas Roth. So I awaited my gift to share with you guys!

There were some shipping issues (all the postal service, not on Coterie’s end) but it finally arrived! I went ahead & used each product so I could provide a little bit of a review for each. I plan to review each full so make sure & let me know what you want to see first!

Coterie is an exclusive, members-only site featuring an ultra-selective collection of the newest and most sought-after beauty products. In collaboration with top makeup artists, stylists and industry trendsetters, Coterie provides the woman on-the-go access to everything she needs to know, all in one place.

Pink Sugar Hair Perfume by Aquolina: I have the perfume version of this scent so I was thrilled to receive the hair perfume! This scent is just so yummy & is often viewed as quite sexy. I’m pretty sure it is because it smells like warm sugar…& guys seem to love that as well! This scented my hair without leaving any residue. Smells great & was a great addition to the perfume!

EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner: This duo arrived just in time! My hair is drastically turning toward to the dry side. Stupid winter. I read up on these & they are supposed to be some of the most hydrating hair products in the world. With lots of moisture & fatty acids, this left my hair nicely hydrated! My hair was left shiny & frizz free, loving it!

Chella Mattifying Hydrator SPF 25 Day Cream: If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, then you know I’m an SPF freak. With freckles like mine & a history of cancer, I’m pretty much a freak about it. I love that this is both mattifying AND has SPF. This goes on smooth & isn’t too thick to put makeup over. This also smells nice & fresh!

HighTech Cosmetics Instant Lifting: This was definitly the most intimidating of the bunch! Why? This claims to give me results in only 15 minutes! My skin has kind of been freaking out lately (I had a horrible allergic reaction to a Clinique product boo) so I haven’t given this one a fair shot…yet!

Susan Posnick ColorEye Define in Sapphire Liner & Ametrine Shadow: I’ve never tried anything from Susan Posnick so yay for trying a new brand! The liner side isn’t a super rich color. It is pretty waxy which makes it great for the waterline. Applying it to my skin itself was a little bit tougher. I absolutely love the eyeshadow side, the color is gorgeous! This also looks great patted atop a liner for a lot more pop.

Peter Thomas Roth Clini-Matte All Day Oil Control SPF 20: I’m in love. This is amazing. Not only does it have SPF & mattifies…but it has a pump which I love too. After application, it almost looks like I’ve applied a primer, my skin looks & feels fab. I am so crazy impressed!

Colbert MD Heal & Soothe Night Cream: This comes in chic silver reflective packaging & has such an organic scent, not chemical-like at all. This was nicely moisturizing & not greasy. It was comfortable for nightly wear!

I think this is a great way of showing you brands that have been/will be featured on Coterie! I suggest signing up for their newsletter to stay updated, that is the key to sites like this. Sites that offer discounts or specialty items have to be watched or else you’ll miss what you’re looking for!

** This prize was provided free of charge. I was not asked to write about any of these products, I chose to. Referral links have been used.

TARTE The Big Thrill Limited-Edition Color Collection 2012 Review, Swatches, + Video

November 19, 2012 By StephanieLouise 650Leave a Comment2012-11-19+23%3A55%3A00StephanieLouise

When I was waltzing through ULTA I settled upon the The Big Thrill Limited-Edition Color Collection…Palette…Box…Set? Whatever it is, it had both glosses & blushes…the things I was looking to buy. There were tons of sets to choose from but for $48 I figured this one was the best value for me. That is less than 2 of the blushes on their own! Considering I can’t even get close to hitting pan on the mini TARTE Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollhouse…I figured this was a better deal.

I think you can see from the review my overall opinions so I won’t go on & on much. I’m still experimenting with these wet but so far, the dud shades are still duds. Bummer man. The blushes & glosses though? Superb! Really impressive! I love a few of the shades which I’ll note after the swatches.

Let’s start at layer #1 which is the 16 of Tarte’s signature square eye shadows infused with Amazonian clay. In the package, we’ll go left to right from top to bottom.

Row #1: Shooting Star, Giant Peach, Totally Taupe, & Brilliant Bronze.

Row #2: Cloud 9, Pop of Pink, Amazed by Amethyst, & Pumped About Purple.

Row #3: Silver Burst, Next Level lilac, Intergalactic Metallic, & Jump For Juniper.

Row #4: Clay Crush, Rush of Gold, Go for Green, & Exquisite Emerald.

The shades I still need to work with are definitely Cloud 9, Next Level Lilac, & Clay Crush.
Favorites for both pigmentation & shade in general are Exquisite Emerald, Brilliant Bronze, Go For Green, & Jump For Juniper.

Layer #2 is the cheek products also left to right.

Left to right: TARTE Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess, TARTE Amazonian Clay Blushes in Angelic, Curious, & Thrilled.

I adore each one of these, absolutely no cons here. I only wish I owned more!

& the last layer is a drawer with 3 glosses tucked inside.

Left to right: TARTE Vitamin Infused Lipgloss in Strawberry Sensation, Apple-A-Day, & Abra-Cad-Apricot.

Great shade variety while still being super wearable shades. Each one smells like their name as well, a bit plus for me! Great feeling on the lips & decent lasting power as well.

I stick by the pros. This is a great value with amazing products. I will find a way to use every single one. However, the cons are relevant. This is a bulky package & besides the glosses nothing is detachable. I think it is safe to say I won’t be traveling with these shadows or blushes which is a real shame. It is also not the easiest to store. Even with those issues, I don’t regret buying it at all & am happy to make room in my stash.For only $48, you get a set worth $435…so my complaints are pretty much nil in that shadow.

The Big Thrill Limited-Edition Color Collection

What do you guys think of this set? If you want to pick it up, I urge you to do it quickly, I don’t know when they will sell out & it is ULTA exclusive. Out of all the sets I have seen at Sephora & ULTA, this is still my favorite. I would have loved to have grabbed the For The Love Of Lipgloss 15-Piece Maracuja Lipgloss Collector’s Set & a few more things. If only I were able to afford to swatch it all right? Let me know if you want to see eye looks with this set or anything else, I did these swatches fast so you could get a peek!

**I purchased everything in this post with my own personal funds. Affiliate links have been used. Buying through them helps to support this site!

Maitri Garden Handcrafted Jewelry Review +INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!

November 19, 2012 By StephanieLouise 651Leave a Comment2012-11-19+15%3A01%3A00StephanieLouise

So today I’m showing you some products from Maitri Garden…& you can win some at the end! This is an INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY! Finally right? I’m so excited to give EVERYONE a chance to win!

About Maitri Garden:

Maitri Garden is an inspirational apparel company dedicated to fostering
mindfulness, loving kindness, and compassion, to help heal one another, and thereby help
to heal the world. From powerful quotes throughout history, to wise sentiments
from some surprising sources, we love empowering words! And even more, we love
combining them with powerful art. Something as simple as what we choose to wear can
plant the seeds of change–so join us in the Maitri Garden.
Let’s grow something beautiful together!

Our mission is to inspire one another to express ourselves and live life with
passion,purpose and positivity. We believe that practicing mindfulness and loving
kindness throughout daily life can enhance our whole being – body, mind and spirit.

First, let’s look at these beautiful “Garden Gami” Crane Earrings in the option Purple & Green. I love these SO much! How pretty, how delicate, & how absolutely cute! Every earring made to be completely unique. There is just something so amazing about having something no one else does! You can pick these up from Maitri Gardens for $20.00.

Each of these amazing origami earrings from our “Garden Gami” collection are handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. The earring are sealed, so they are water resistant. Size of bird is approximately 1″x1″. These make a great conversation piece to wear or an amazing gift for a special person.

Now, the bracelet! I have totally fallen for wrap around, stackable bracelets. I had a small obsession this summer & it seems to still be alive & well this fall! This bracelet is so pretty & comfortable to wear. You can pick up a similar bracelet from Maitri Gardens for about $28.00.

This is a triple wrap bracelet; the leather is white and the beads used are natural glass. It has 3 adjustable closures that measure at 21″, 22″ & 23″. It is approximately 3/8″ in height. If you have any requests or would like something similar but with your custom changes, just let me know!

Now, onto the International Giveaway! This obviously couldn’t have been possible without Maitri Gardens, a huge thanks to them! They will be shipping the winner their prize as well which is worth nearly $50! Enter on the Rafflecopter Widget below. Don’t see it? Wait a few seconds for it to load or try to refresh the page. Remember, the more ways you enter, the more chances to win!

The prize: You will win a set of earrings & a wrap bracelet, both in the black & white theme! My favorite! I love the mini dots on these cranes & the versatile shades in the bracelet! Love them!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream Review

November 18, 2012 By StephanieLouise 652Leave a Comment2012-11-18+21%3A52%3A00StephanieLouise

I am not super familiar with Not Your Mother’s but I love little hair care items so I was happy this was included! Being the only hair related item in my Influenster Beauty Blogger Vox Box it stood out. By just reading the front, I was pretty sure I’d like it. Anything containing Jasmine I am usually in. I just have an obsession.

My con with this product, oddly enough, is the scent. It smells like grape candy…& it just isn’t my thing. I prefer my hair care to smell like hair care or fruity…but apparently that excludes grapes. Also, I don’t like hair care items that smell like candy…so overall the scent is not for me…& it lingers.

Looking past the scent, this product is alright. It didn’t blow me away. Wish it did! Some people say it made their hair crunchy but I honestly think they used too much. This left my hair quite soft & manageable although not more curly. Not even more wavy. Bummer.

Just because it isn’t for me doesn’t mean it isn’t for you! I have really thick fine hair & am quite picky! Everyone likes different things! Have you tried anything from Not Your Mother’s? Thoughts? If you’re interested in trying this out, you can snap it up for only $6.00 at CVS, Walmart, and ULTA among many other retail locations.

My 2 Favorite Dry Skin Finds from Cleanlogic!

November 17, 2012 By StephanieLouise 653Leave a Comment2012-11-17+14%3A43%3A00StephanieLouise

I absolutely love trying new products to combat dry skin & these definitely did the trick! For me, it is all about balance. You have to use something to slough it off but if you use something too harsh daily, it messes up the whole chemistry. I tend to use a dense scrub at least 1-2 times a week & some kind of sponge/scrubber to slough it off manually as well. Here’s what I have been using from Cleanlogic!

Cleanlogic Foam Sea Sponge– $2.99
I absolutely love this sponge! It has a cloth string to hang it up (so it doens’t get all gross) but you can remove it if you like. I find it dries out much better hung up. This gives me just the right amount of slough for day to day & the sponges washes clean. Love it! I’ve been using it over a month & it doesn’t show any signs of wear yet!

Cleanlogic Exfoliating Body Scrubber– $3.19
I usually use something with a handle or a salux cloth for my back & for really dry areas. This worked significantly better! First of all, it is built to be tugged on & moved around. Instead of flimsy handles or unwashable cords, you have nice sturdy plastic grips. Sweet. This also feels VERY similar to my salux cloth, but in a more padded way. This allows me to wash my back without looking like a gymnist. Sweet.

I think I definitely need to check out some more products from Cleanlogic. These were sent to me to try, but these are a steal so I definitely want to check out some more!

Goody Spin Pins Rave + How I Use Them!

November 16, 2012 By StephanieLouise 654Leave a Comment2012-11-16+18%3A15%3A00StephanieLouise

If you look at my hair stash, you’ll find about every gimmick in the book. Often they get pushed to the back & rarely (if ever) used. The Goody Spin Pins are an exception. I received a new pair for dark hair in my Influenster Beauty Blogger Vox Box & couldn’t be happier.

I bought mine in the light shade to match my light hair but honestly…you barely see these suckers once they’re in your hair. I put the “Dark Hair” ones in between my “Light Hair” ones on the left & the “Mini Spin Pins” on the right. They look so wacky, I still play with them constantly.

Here’s the styles they include. I’ve done them all successfully. I also have loads I have come up with on my own like a roll under, twists, & some flippy styles. Lots, really. Let me know if you guys want to see videos on how I do those.

I thought I’d end this review showing how I use them most often: on my thick damp hair. I love these! I hate putting rubber bands around my wet hair & clips often slide around as it dries. With the Goody Spin Pins, I apply some product, twist, then spin. When my hair dries, it has natural body & waves…without tugging at tit to get the band out. LOVE. I didn’t even try to make this pretty…this is just how it looks!

Check out these Spin Pins & other Goody products on their site http://www.goody.com/ & check out your local Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreen’s, Kroger, & Duane Reade. Do you guys use these? What do you think?