So when I was decided what to buy from the Flower Beauty line ( available exclusively at Walmart ) this particular duo jumped out at me. For one things, despite the Shimmering Goddess name, both shades are matte. I feel like drugstore doesn’t always do matte very well so this would be a good test in case I wanted more right? Right! I’ve been on a definite blush kick & for a whopping $10 I figured I might as well try a bronzer too.

About Drew Barrymore & Flower Beauty Cosmetics:
You no longer have to spend a lot of money to get the quality cosmetics you want and deserve.

How do we do it? We do not pay for advertising. Where other beauty brands spend a vast percentage of the cost of their products on ads, we do not. Drew, as an owner of the brand, takes pride in promoting Flower, which in turn allows us to put all of our resources into the formulas and packaging, and not into advertising.

Custom-formulated with the same ingredients used in luxury make-up, our exclusive botanical-infused Soft-Focus Complex illuminates for a lit-from-within effect. All products are proudly made in the USA and are never tested on animals. So be em-FLOWER-ed. The best make-up isn’t only found in high-end stores any longer. Available at Walmart and Walmart.com.

About Flower Beauty Ready, Set, Glow! Blush & Bronzer Duos:

• Ultra-smooth pressed powder combines superlative wear, comfort and color purity
• Smooth application and supreme blendability
• Contour with bronzer and add color with blush

Sounds good right? I agree! I wanted to pick up a matte duo like I said & Shimmering Goddess (still a silly name for this duo in particular!) was the only one I thought both had matte shades.

The packaging is beautiful & it looks like they took a lot of time. This came sealed…kind of. It has a sticker that is a line that closes the package. Unfortunately this could easily be tampered with & at my Walmart ….psh they will be messed with.  The good thing is the top is clear so you should be able to see if it is untouched.

This has sleek white packaging, a clear quilted top window, rose gold accents which are so in right now, & a magnetic closure. The overall shape is a square pinched on all sides so it resembles a bit of a flower. No brush & also…..no mirror. I won’t be throwing this in my bag clearly.
 

These shades are super pigmented, gorgeous. If you’re fair, use a light hand with the bronzer especially! The blush is a medium warm toned pink…maybe with a hint of coral. The bronzer is a nice mid shade without too much orange. Both look really nice on!

What do you think of this duo? What products are you interested in seeing from Flower Beauty?

When it comes to soap, I’m all about the scent. Of course I want to get clean & not have to fumble but it really is all about the scent. Very rarely do I still with one specific type, just go by smell. Soap Cartel totally has me covered. Not only are these super pretty to look at, smell great, & feel wonderful on the skin but they also have loads of ingredients I like using on my body.

My soaps arrived packaged in a waxy paper then placed in a small burlap sack with “Soap Cartel” printed on the outside. Each bar of soap has the name pressed into the bar & the type of soap is around the closure of the bag. You can see them next to each bar below. Each bar is between 4.5-5 oz.

From Soap Cartel:  

Our rustic soaps are made using the old-fashioned cold-process method and cure for a minimum of 4 weeks. Every one of our handmade soap bars is created using oils of olive, coconut, palm, castor, & avocado along with skin-nourishing mango and organic African Shea butter.

All of our products are made in small batches using 100% natural, sustainable and many organic ingredients. Every one of our items is hand crafted and unique. We take pride in our products knowing that we have utilized high-quality ingredients such as essential oils, clays, butters and herbs. We do not use any synthetic ingredients in our products.

Lavender Muse Soap Bar: This is a nourishing vegetable soap made with African Shea butter and scented with pure French Lavender bringing a classic aroma to an entirely new level.  Enhanced with Mediterranean Sea Clay and avocado oil; this soap gives you just the right amount of soothing pleasure and moisturizing qualities.

Egyptian Rose Soap Bar: Pink soap has arrived! This is a beautiful blend of Egyptian rose, mint & Italian bergamot with just a hint of delicate spices. This soap was fashioned with pink rose clay to create an indulgent bar that detoxifies and clears the skins impurities. A perfect complement to an amazing blend of nourishing oils and body butters used to craft this soap.

Detox Campaign Soap Bar: Soap Cartel’s activated charcoal bar will take care of those pesky impurities and will bring you the right amount of detoxifying properties.  Bursting with the proper amount of luxurious oils and the right blend of Eucalyptus and Australian Tea tree oil to satisfy many skin complexities; this natural soap goes deep into the skin to revitalize the pores and awaken your senses.

I’m a big fan of these clearly, wonderful. Really something special. These make amazing soaps for myself & would be perfect gifts for any occasion. You can purchase Soap Cartel items on their website. They also sell items for skincare, hand soaps & more. I would really love to try their bath tablets, Gentle Giant Soap, & skincare items!

**Items provided in consideration of review. All opinions are my own. Not a sponsored post.

This was a shade I picked up recently from the Cirque Collection from China Glaze. Originally, I passed it up & went for the glitters ( I swatched Whirled Away, Water You Waiting For, & my favorite shade It’s a Trap-Eze! here) because, well, they’re glitters. I actually picked up Def Defying & Hanging in the Balance which I’ll show you later on. How I passed up Def Defying I don’t know…I am a green fanatic especially when they lean lime-y.

China Glaze Def Defying- Vivid chartreuse/lime green creme. Perfect & shiny in two coats. No top coat.

This is a pretty pic heavy post because wowie, these are lovely. Along with the Sugar Rush Collection I swatched yesterday from Sinful Colors, these are the current Sinful Colors Collections. You’re going to see some nice variety here along with a few really unique combinations. Keep reading to see swatches of each shade!
So all of these glitters are swatched over the Sinful Colors Sugar Rush collection. Shade names will be listed under each set of swatches for reference. None of these swatches are with base coat. Amount of coats varies so read the descriptions! Also…my very favorite polish is at the end!

Lush Life- Turquoise micro, small, & medium hexes in a clear base. 1 coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Cotton Candy.

Poparazzi- Small purple hex glitter in a clear base. Dense, a bit irritating to clean up. One coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Orange Cream.

Fantasy- Purple fine glitter, holo shimmer dust, & a rainbow of small hexes in the shades blue, silver, green, gold, orange, purple, & fuchsia. 1 coat of absolute gorgeousness. Seen here over Sinful Colors Candy Coated.

After Party- Bright blue micro & medium hexes in a clear base. 1 coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Sugar N Spice.

Show Stopping- Square holo micro glitter, light pink micro glitter, & small holo hexes.  I think this one would be tough to get opaque but it is a stunning topper. Even coverage seen here in 1 coat. Seen here over Sinful Colors Sweet Tooth.

Star Dust- Purple tinged base densely packed with purple micro hexes & small fuchsia hexes. This has a hidden purple shimmer that is really faint. 1 coat was patchy & a bit awkward so this is 2 coats which is obviously quite thick over a base color. Seen here over Sinful Colors Unicorn. Next time I’d put it over a purple or black base. Could be opaque on its own.

So overall, this collection is awesomely varied & quite different from anything else I’ve seen from Sinful Colors. There are some awesome rainbow glitters in here along with some staple glitter shades. Did I need them all? Well considering they’re currently on sale for $1 each with the Walgreens coupon…yes, yes I did.

What do you guys think of these shades? Don’t forget to check out the Sugar Rush Collection from Sinful Colors too, that’s what these are swatched over! What is your favorite shade?

So this morning, a bit of a different kind of post! I received a few items from a Grace Adele consultant & I’ll be sharing them with you today. Also, the whole way that Grace Adele works…because it is totally different from anything else I’ve ever seen!

So looking at the http://graceadele.com/ site…this is definitely a new concept. Basically you choose different pieces of your purse & put them together like a puzzle. You pick your base bag then add onto it.

Here’s their equation- 

So you get to pick your fabric, style, wallet, other bag accessories, & similar jewelry. Neat concept.

I received this Daisy necklace which you can see in a photo above in red. Not quite my style (but I LOVE their Laguna necklace!) but very cute. Easy to wear because it is black & white. I really like their packaging though, with the matte & glossy polka dots! Super cute.

I also got a little wallet in red & black. This is very cute, I imagine it is meant to be hung on one of the bags because that seems popular in the Grace Adele photos. I love the quilting & this is the perfect size to travel with. It also has a nice feel & zipper, both important to me in a wallet!

To purchase Grace Adele items, you have to go through a consultant like EdieAnne. Contact her below to purchase items, become a consultant, or just to ask some questions! To check out more items from Grace Adele & other fun stores, check out the contact information below!

Beauty n’ Scents & More
EdieAnne
http://beautynscents.net
http://facebook.com/beautynscents

I am a Career Coach, Mentor and Director
An Independent Scentsy Family Director
Been in business for about 2 years and teaching for 20+
Look me up on Youtube @beautynscents

**Items sent in consideration of review.

So when I started reading A Good American by Alex George I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’m not huge on historical fiction…unless there is loads of horrible romance thrown in. Or supernatural something. This isn’t that type of book though…. & yet still, I loved it. The beginning was wonderful & so that I won’t give away too much, here’s the basic description.

This has a great “pull you in” beginning & while the middle is a little bit here or there it all comes together in the end. The twist is totally worth it. Although I didn’t feel the flow as much as I would’ve liked, it didn’t stop me from wanting to read it. With a lot of sweetness & a lot of soul, this book hit all the notes expected. Pun intended.

Interested in reading A Good American? Join in on our discussion over at BlogHer here, we’d be happy to have you! I’d love to heard what you’re reading right now, care to share? I’m always looking for a good read!

**This book was provided for review. This is a compensated post. All opinions are my own. 

I’ve been holding off on this review because, well, I’m sad. I was so excited about the Fergie Centerstage collection (I do love the Fergie Black Gel Eyeliner & lots of other items!) but these eyeshadows are definitely not what I was expecting. I love the Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadows, they’re beyond exceptional. Ultra pigmented, wearable, buttery, & I could just go on & on. Fabulous. These, unfortunately, are not the same formula.

When looking at the palettes available, I went for Dutchess Lounge because it looked like a hard rock glam smoky eye palette. Seriously pretty. The packaging is plastic & has 5 shades. It comes with a curved eyeshadow applicator.

The middle shade is the only non-smoky non-shimmer color. It is a very cool toned purple & has pretty poor pigmentation. I will have to seriously pack this onto a primer to get it to even show up. The silver shade also has weak pigmentation but it is a bit buildable. It leans a bit metallic. The blackened re-toned burgundy is pretty & has okay pigmentation. The bottom two shade are black with the addition of shimmer. One side has purple & blue while the other has silver. Pigmentation on these is okay.

Pretty much all of the shades are a bit patchy & sad. I’m sad. I’m disappointed. I feel like they cheated on me with a cheap knockoff. For one, this palette needs an eyeshadow primer, no ifs, &s or buts about it. It costs more than the wonderful 8 pan palettes but is significantly inferior quality. Not impressed. In fact, I’m still a bit shocked which is why it has taken this long to write. I bought another palette (Metropolitan Nights) & returned it immediately to see if I got a dud. I didn’t, they’re just duds.

Not happy with this outcome. Have you tried the Fergie 5 pan palettes? Better response? Same? I’d love to know!

I really love my nails today. I feel like I’ve been swatching so much that I’ve been seriously lacking nail art. I love this so much! Below you’ll find lots more pictures including photos of the polishes used in bottle shots & shade information.

Thumb: Base of Zoya Shelby, hearts are Sally Hansen Cherry Red, & glitter topper of China Glaze Fairy Dust.

Index: Base of Zoya Shelby,Light pink stripe is Nicole by OPI in Studio Mama, Red stripe is Sally Hansen Cherry Red.

Middle: Base of Zoya Shelby, glitter topper is Milani One Coat Glitter in Pink Flare.

Ring: Base of Zoya Shelby, heart is Sally Hansen Cherry Red.

Pinkie: Base of Zoya Shelby,glitter topper is Jesse’s Girl in Pink Tiara.

I used a base coat of Essie Grow Faster & a top coat of Seche Vite.

So that’s what I’m rocking today! Feel free to link your Valentine’s Day mani in the comments below, I’d love to see it! What are you wearing today?

I’ve been listening to loads of audio books so sitting down to physically read Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner was a real treat. I’m going to try to explain the book a bit but it will be strange. This is a thriller with a plot that involves kidnapping…now that I know who it is I just want to tell you so bad! I’ll do my best to resist!

This story follows Tessa the detective as she searches through a very strange story. Justin & Libby were a happy couple, at least in theory. When they disappear along with their daughter… Maybe things aren’t so happy? This is a story about sifting through smiling faces expecting to find something very dark beneath. Often the people who smile the most are hiding lots of skeletons.

Spoiler: Their marriage is definitely not picturesque. In fact, it is a really sad state of living. Pretty stinking sad & mad my husband & I look like a shiny unicorn.

With lots of twists & turns, Touch & Go is worth a read. You’ll be fascinated & enthralled if you like thriller mysteries. Tessa is likeable while still facing adversaries. You get to delve into her job, dealing with seriously sketchy suspects, & lots of fear. I was definitely happy for the read.

Interested in reading Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner? Join in on our discussion over at BlogHer here, we’d be happy to have you! I’d love to heard what you’re reading right now, care to share? I’m always looking for a good read!

**This book was provided for review. This is a compensated post. All opinions are my own.

If you’re around my age (23 by the way) you’re at that weird point where high school is starting to get a bit hazy. Who did you have 2nd period of sophomore year? What was that project where you eye twitched uncontrollably? What was the name of that guy you regretted totally blowing off? Well if you ever wondered what I was like ( & looked like!) just keep reading!

There are definitely some things you don’t forget though. Fashion mishaps…. That one girl who always tried to make you feel horrible… The first time you accidentally hit something with your car….

What if you could go back? What if you could change things? What….if? Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster examines what happens to the mean girls of our pasts. In high school, I was kind of a mean girl here & there. There’s something about finding your footing in those 4 years that helps shape who you are. I’m happy to say that although I’m not all that verbally filtered & I’m quite sarcastic I definitely grew out of that. I did have one girl in high school though…that one girl who pretty much tortured me. I’m happy to say she has since tried to contact me & become friends which I declined. Growing up is awesome.

This book gets you thinking about the past. What if I went back & didn’t do some of the stupid things I did? What if I could take back some of the hurtful things I said in anger? Or some of the things I did out of spite? What about the times when I was mean just because I could be? This is a great book that thrust me back into the world of proms, gossip, & lots of reminiscing. I haven’t read a book I liked quite this much in ages.

Follow along with our discussion on BlogHer.com if you want to know more to learn more about this book! I loved it & will definitely be on the lookout for more. After being home for a few weeks & feeling like a kid again this was an awesome escape. Sometimes, I was a mean girl. I totally admit it. This book definitely puts that kind of thing in perspective because even mean girls get theirs. I know the one I dealt with did!

Would you go back & change some things from high school? What were you like? Does this sound like a book for you? You’ll notice I omitted all photos of my exes but I’d love to hear what you think looking back of your high school love life!