Better than good Friday!

This Friday is a great Friday because #1, I'm feeling better! My antibiotics must have decided to kick in because I can breathe through my nose and the solid block of congestion that took up residence in my chest almost three weeks ago is dissipating. I'm so relieved I don't even have the words to articulate it...I'll settle for a nice deep breath *breathing deep*

Thanks Apothica!

#2, I got my Apothica order today! I am really really impressed with how quickly this order arrived...I mean, I just placed the order late Wednesday afternoon. I can't wait to test the Sheseido moisturizer and play with the Stila Color Wheel tomorrow. I'll make sure I do a FOTD post tomorrow using the Stila palette.





The two products actually arrived separately; the Sheseido moisturizer came via UPS (from Cosmetic Mall) and the Stila Color Wheel came via USPS Priority (direct from Apothica). That was kind of disconcerting because had I not been home, the Sheseido product would have been sent back to the UPS sort facility for redelivery. I'm assuming that Apothica may outsource for products they don't have in their warehouse at the time. Though I understand things happen, I'm hoping next time I place an order my products will be shipped via USPS Priority as stated on the Apothica website. Other than that, I have no beef! Both packages were securely shrouded in bubble wrap, arrived undamaged and sooner than I expected.  

In other news....

Two coats of Foxy Lady by Milani

My third Milani of the month didn't turn out so well. I applied it last night and today it looks like this...













The other hand looks even worse. Though I love the colors, the brushes and the smoothness of the formulas, I just can't deal with how long it takes for these polishes to dry. Perhaps this is why they have sat for so long unused on my nail polish rack. I'll either have to learn to be completely still for an hour or two after I do my nails or stop buying Milani polishes. Does anyone else have an issue with Milani polishes?




My other issue is with NYX eye shadows.


*Begin rant*


I haaaaaaaate NYX eye shadows sooooooo much! They are chalky, way too soft and too many of them have horrible color pay off. I have tried with NYX, I really have, but they just can't have anymore of my money (for eye shadows anyway). I bought 43 of their single shadows during a sale they had back in 2008 ($43) and bought their box of shadows a few weeks ago ($35). I wound up giving the singles to my daughter in 2009 because I couldn't do anything with them. She in turn gave them to her cousin because she said the colors didn't look good and barely showed up on her dark skin. I'm not sure what I'll do with the box of shadows because my daughter has enough of my cast off makeup, lol.


You may wonder why I gave NYX more of my money in the first place....well, I thought perhaps my first experience was a fluke. Perhaps those single shadows were sold off cheap because they were part of a bad batch. No dice. They're just crap shadows. Sorry NYX, no bueno. I love NYXblushes and glosses, but their shadows are worse than Coastal Scents if you ask me. 




Despite the poor quality of the shadows, I still created an okay FOTD...

I used three different shades of purple eye shadow for this look. I lined my waterline with Sephora's Flashy Liner in Deep Black and smoked out my lower lashline with the same shade of purple that I lined my upper lashline with. My cheeks were treated with Milani's Mineral Blush in Sunset Beach and my lips were covered with Mabelline ColorSensational Lipstain in Plum Flushed (topped by a Revlon gloss called Bronze Sensation). Even with my Sigma brushes, this was a chore to pull off. Not bad looking though if I do say so myself :-)

That's my Friday thus far....how was yours? Any big plans for the weekend? 

I'll holla ;-)

On the mend...

Source

I just looooove cats don't you, lol? So yesterday I finally went to the doctor, hooray for me! I've been sick with a terrible upper respiratory infection for two weeks and it has been the most miserable two weeks of my life since 2000. I was sick like this back in 2000 for three weeks. I had just switched jobs and my insurance hadn't kicked in so I had to suffer through. Since I stuck it out back then, I thought I could do it now too, but I didn't seem to be getting better. I tried several home remedies, nearly drowned myself in teas and chicken noodle soup and even tried sleeping my way through the sickness; all to no avail. I had to see a doctor....and so I did. The kindly doctor told me I could have avoided all this had I been using a humidifier as soon as winter started. She said that dry air aggravates the mucous membranes thus causing the risk of infection to increase. So for all you out there in winter wonderland and dry air, get a humidifier STAT! Along with her stern motherly advice, the good doctor also prescribed a course of antibiotics and a very strong prescription strength cold syrup. I took the syrup last night before bed and was out like a light. Though I'm supposed to take it three times a day, I probably won't. I don't much care for drugs and the way they make me feel. At any rate, I'm hoping the antibiotics will kick in soon so I can get back to my old self.

Mr. Sandman by Milani

Other than that, I've been practicing applying makeup (i.e. eye makeup/blush, I no longer wear foundation) and resting my sickly body. I'm nowhere near close to making my January goals (sad face) due to my illness, but I'm going to do my best to knock out as many as I can. In the meantime, here is a pic of the second Milani polish of the month...



I'm not a fan of this color but I have to say, I love Milani nail polish. The formulas are almost always smooth, they're usually opaque in two coats, the brushes are perfect to me and they have some really beautiful colors. One thing I do dislike about Milani polish is the fact that they take FOREVER to dry. Even with the miraculously fast drying Poshe base and top coat, this polish took forever. Mr. Sandman actually smudged and dimpled because I didn't wait long enough for it to dry before I went to bed. C'est la vie.




And just for your viewing pleasure (and some constructive criticism) here are some makeup looks I created...

Products unknown. Shades of gray smokey eye.

Milani Eyeshadow in Flare on the lid, ELF shimmering dark brown shadow in the crease/outer corner, Mabelline shimmery beige shadow on browbone, Sephora Lash Plumper Mascara in Black on lashes, Sephora Flashy Liner in Deep Black smudged on waterline, NYX blush in Copper on cheeks, Mabelline ColorSensational Lipstain in Bit of Brown topped by ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Maple Sugar on lips

Sephora's Flashy Violet liner on the waterline with a smudging of black shadow underneath. NYX Jumbo pencil in Iced Mocha on the lid blended with 2 ELF shadows on the inner corner, outer v and crease. Sephora's Aspen Summit on the browbone. NYX Vixen on the lips and Mabelline's Lash Discovery in Very Black on the lashes.

Another really sick day. Sephora Flashy Liner in Flashy Violet on the upper & lower lashlines, Sephora Flashy Liner in Black on waterline, Mabelline Full&Soft Mascara in Very Black on lashes, Sephora Aspen Summit on Brownbone and Milani Mineral Blush in Sunset Beach lightly dusted on cheeks, clear gloss on lips.

I really don't like this look and I was feeling especially sick the day I did it. NYX blue on lid, NYX gold in crease, NYX cream on browbone, Mabelline sapphire liner & Mabelline Crazy 4 Coffee on lips.

Lancome 4Passion on lid, Lancome Pink Veil on browbone, Mabelline Black Smoke in crease/outer corner, Mabelline Unstoppable Liner in Onyx on upper lashline/ smudged on waterline, Mabelline Crazy for Coffee on lips, L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara and NYX Desert Rose on cheeks.

Dark shimmery orange NYX shadow on lid, brownish wine NYX shadow in crease/on outer corner, light shimmery orange NYX shadow on browbone, dark brown matte ELF shadow on upper lashline, Sephora Flashy Liner in Flashy Ultra Brown smudged on waterline/lower lashline, Maybelline Full&Soft Mascara in Very Black on lashes, NYX Copper blush on cheeks and Mabelline ColorSensational Lipstain in Bit of Brown topped with ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Maple Sugar on lips.

Products unknown. Shimmery neutral eye with winged liner.

Products unknown. Shimmery neutral smokey eye.

Products unknown. Pink and purple smokey eye.

Those are the looks I did when I wasn't too sick to apply makeup, otherwise I was bare faced and in bed. So what do you think? Any tips or pointers? 

That's all for now folks. Adieu!

Dear January...

I have a few plans for you...


#1 - I have 96 nail polishes, most of which have never been used. 7 of my 96 nail polishes are Milani. This month will be a month of Milani and I will use every single Milani polish I have at least once. Here's the first one...

Ruby Jewels by Milani - Opaque in two coats, went on smooth, nice brush and the formula is just right.

#2 - Start my new Vision Board.

#3 - Upload all the videos I shot last year but never uploaded *shame face*

#4 - Finally see Burlesque.

#5 - Put together a completely thrifted outfit.

#6 - Do a blog give away.

It's good to have mini goals :-)

Snowy lazy Sunday

 

Yeah, despite the blizzard here in Chicago, I had an easy Sunday. Per my usual, I slept as late as possible, took a long leisurely shower, pampered myself and did laundry. Dinner consisted of leftover spaghetti and the evening saw me curled up on the couch with a cup of herbal tea watching Sense and Sensibility. It was a very nice Sunday :-)

I tried a sample of Boscia's Luminizing Black Mask after my normal face cleanser and I was very impressed. I'm not sure I'll drop $34 at Sephora to buy the full size bottle, but the sample was nice. Here's what the product description on Sephora says about the mask:

What it is:
A groundbreaking, mineral-rich mask that peels off to deliver powerful detoxifying, purifying, and brightening effects.

What it is formulated to do:
This jet-black, mineral-rich mask creates a unique peel-off effect that delivers powerful detoxifying, purifying, and brightening results. Made with a premier-quality clay, its deep-cleansing properties draw out dirt and oil. Other natural ingredients go to work exfoliating skin and refining pores. Powerful antioxidants shrink pores, firm skin, and reduce inflammation. Once dried, the mask strips away dead skin, impurities and excess oil to reveal immediate and visible results.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin. Avoid eyebrows, hairline and lips. Avoid eye area by applying below orbital bone. Leave on 15-20 minutes or until completely dry. Gently peel off mask from outer edges. Rinse off any residue with warm water. Follow with moisturizer. Use once or twice a week.

 

 

Did it deliver? For me, yes. My skin felt smooth, soft and matte and my pores were noticeably smaller. I perused the reviews for this mask before using it and noticed some folks saying it was next to impossible to remove and that it caused them to break out afterward. I will agree that removal was quite cumbersome but it wasn't next to impossible. If I wake up with a pimple or two tomorrow I won't be surprised or angry because the mask states that it detoxifies and removes impurities. What that means my dears is that nasty little yuckies lurking in the innermost depths of your lower dermal layers will be brought to the surface. Hence, pimples. Don't be mad, be glad, that's the mask doing its job. Again, I liked the mask but I'm not sure I'll be dropping $34 at Sephora for it anytime soon. But if you're interested, here it is...

More Boscia...

 

Though I hid out in the house today, I also did eye makeup and my nails...

Close up on the eyes

Panned out so you can see the nude lip...and ashy looking skin, lol

I primed my lids with Two Faced Shadow Insurance and dusted a sparkly lavender shadow from the ELF Beauty Encyclopedia (Sparkle Edition) on my lid. On my outer corner, I used a sparkly dark purple from the aforementioned ELF BESE. For my highlight/browbone I used Lancome's Pink Veil from the Pretty Pretty Quad. I lined my lid with L'Oreal's Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Liner in Black, dusted Pink Veil on the inner corner and first 1/3rd of my waterline and smudged the last  2/3rds of my waterline with Mabelline's Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx. On my uncurled lashes I'm wearing two coats of L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes in Very black. I primed my lips with Carmex Moisture Plus and went nude with Mabelline's Crazy for Coffee.

All in all, I think I did pretty good. My eyeshadow technique is getting a little better since I apply every day and I feel good about that. Next I'm going to rectify that ashiness and my dark under eye circles and acne scars. No foundation though, I hate that stuff. I think some of that ashy look is due to the new moisturizer I'm trying out. More on that later though.

On to my nails...

 

Per usual, my application is kinda sloppy but the color? The color is GORGEOUS! Two colors actually. I did an every other finger comparison with Barry M's Dusky Mauve and Revlon's Perplex. You know what? They're both great dupes for Chanel's Limited edition Paradoxal (click to see pictures). Do you know folks are selling Paradoxal for $40? Insanity. You'll have a difficult time finding Revlon's Perplex too since everyone knows it's a dupe for Paradoxal. I bought mine off of Ebay (two bottles for $16 and some change. Click to buy, she only has two bottles left). Or you can order Dusky Mauve from Barry M's website. Barry M is a UK brand so be prepared to pay about $5 per bottle of polish and whatever they charge for shipping. I bought mine a while back before I realized it was a dupe for Paradoxal. Also be warned that once the word gets out about BM's DM it may sell out.

That's pretty much it for my Sunday, how was yours? Feel free to do some shopping for the products I used via the hyperlinks above or the Shopstyle links below. Cheers!

 

More Too Faced...

 

More Lancôme...

More L'Oreal...

More Maybelline...

More Maybelline...

More L'Oreal...

Mixing Mediums...sorta :-)

Soooo, since I haven't done a LOTD post in a minute (I blame my lack of a photographer), I thought I'd share...because you care, lol.


Today was real blah. The weather was mild for the most part, but the day was so very gray and dreary. I probably should have gone bright with my outfit but I was in a more neutral mood. As I am prone to do, I played it safe, not really taking any chances, not doing anything overtly exciting. I blame it on the anal retentive straight laced Virgo in me, lol. One thing I am enjoying though is mixing different patterns. I'm actually proud of today's outfit because though very casual and neutral, I played around in a way the old me would never have done. There's hope for me yet :-D




Without further ado...like to see it, here it is...

Jacket and jeans = Gap


Infinity scarf and headband = F21


Green henley = Delia's

Sparrow ring = F21

Keyhole ring = Crossroads Trading Company

Brown plastic sparkle ring = Charlotte Russe

Nail polish = You Hue by Finger Paints

I love shirts with thumb holes

DIY key necklace


Bag = Delia's

Olive, khaki & yellow Converse One Stars = Alloy




And there you have it. Basic, comfy, neutral but still cute IMO. I loved putting the black/white plaid bag with khaki and Leopard and denim and oatmeal and olive....it gave me a real thrill, lol. What do you think? Progress?

Just Call Me Easy

For me Sunday is bum day. That means I dress in sweats and do housework, read, watch tv, etc. I also tried to cleaned up a really wack nail job from the other day. Lately I've not much been into my tips, but for lack of anything better to do, I painted my nails. This was the result...

In my mind this looked all kinds of awesome but it came out really less than spectacular. I had no intention of taking it off and starting over however, so I just left it as is. This was done late Saturday night. By today, I was still less than thrilled with the look so I edited it. This was the result...

 

I'm still not all that thrilled with how it looks but it looks less wack than it originally did...I guess, lol.

Products used:

Orly Nail Armor (1 coat)

Sally Hansen Wet Cement (2 coats)

Sally Hansen Lightning (2 coats)

Sally Hansen Blue Me Away (2 coats)

Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat (1 coat)

Barry M. Instant Nail Effects Black Magic (1 coat)

I love the way Wet Cement and Blue Me Away go on, both of these polishes are smooth and dry pretty quickly. Though I didn't have to, I used two coats of BMA. It was opaque in one coat but I went with two. WC needed two coats because it was thinner and lighter colored. Neither of those colors streaked nor was there drag. Love them! Lightning is an Insta Dri color and thus, has a harder to work with brush. It went on a little streaky with a tiny bit of drag and required two coats (three would be better, but I refused). Though I'm no longer a fan of the Insta Dri's, I love Lightning, it's a very nice yellow. The Barry M. nail effects crackle polish was a tad bit difficult to work with for me. It's kind of thick, dries very quickly and doesn't spread well. If you go over the same spot twice you get streaks and drag. This will also affect how the crackle looks (shape and size of the crackle). I more than likely will not but the Barry M. again. I'm waiting for the OPI crackle polish to come out. Cannot wait! And that my dears, was a mini review for you ;-)

Sadly, this was the highlight of my weekend. I did little else other than housework, read books and watch shows I recorded on my DVR. What'd you do this weekend? Are you ready for Monday? I hope you remembered to set your clocks back an hour!

XOXO

Bornmonth Buys and Shop Therapy

Been a long time. I shouldn't have left you, without a new blog to...oh never mind, lol.



How is everyone? I'm pretty good and getting better all the time :-)


Today Chicago was sooooo beautiful! It was warm, sunny, easy, breezy and all around wonderful. It's hard to believe that soon October will be over and we'll be that much closer to the biggest shopping season of the year. Are you ready? I must admit that I did a lot of shopping (didn't pay full retail for ANYTHING) at the end of the summer, through my birth month and right on into October. I caught some great sales, found some damn good deals and did very little damage to my wallet. I'm right proud of myself :-) Add to that, I deserved to splurge because the past 18 months have been pretty difficult. All the more reason to treat myself (and my children) and not cheat myself...right? I knew you'd agree, lol. At any rate, would you like to see what I got? I know you do ;-)

Slithering serpent ring and serpent encased Ankh ring from Ebay.

Cocktail rings from F21.

Cocktail rings from Charlotte Russe.

More F21 cocktail rings.

Medusa cuff & scissor necklaces from Lulu's. Studded cuff from Delia's. Earrings from F21.

Infinity scarves & headbands from F21.

Wedges from GoJane. Black suede Converse from Delia's.

Oversized sheer black cardigan, splatter patterned tank dress, shirred skirt (I got it in purple) & zebra tank with cropped tee from Yesstyle.

Broken stripe F21 top.

Barry M. Crackle effect & Dusty Mauve nail polish.

Sephora complexion brush, L'occitane Red Rice skin care travel set & Giovanni Dtox soap.

Mabelline CorlorSensational Lipstain, Mabelline Falsies Mascara & Sephora small eye shadow brush.

$4 one year subscription to Glamour magazine.

And thus concludes the things I bought myself over the past few months and for my bornday (which was September 6th).

Last but not least are the very awesome bornday gifts My bestie got me...

Sleek Original & Storm Palettes.

Okay that really is it, lol. Until next time, ciao bellas.

XOXO