KBShimmer Summer Collection, Available 6/20!

KBShimmer is excited to announce the addition of 12 new colors to their 3-Free polish line. The Summer 2014 Collection includes 10 glittery shades, and two bold creams. “When designing our summer collection, glitter was on our mind. We were inspired by summer treats, bold colors, and summer flowers. We translated those into 10 glitter packed polishes and 2 fun creams,” KBShimmer Owner, Christy Rose, says.

“We adore glitter top coats” Rose says. “With almost a dozen creams in our collection it was time to bring more glitter pairings to our line. We are adding 4 new glitter top coats that pair well with many of our cream polishes. In addition, we are bringing in two new cream colors, including a near neon peachy orange ideal for pedicures, and a cream inspired by the 2014 Pantone color of the year, Radiant Orchid. We are also bringing in more creally and jelly polishes to round out the summer collection.”

In addition to polish, KBShimmer is branching out into nail art products with 6 varieties of nail vinyl decal sheets. “Nail art is a booming area in the fashion and beauty industry” Says Rose. “Even so, nail art is not always easy to create for the home polish lover. With these nail vinyl decals, it is a breeze for the home user to create wearable nail art that looks professional.”

Nail vinyl decal sheets will retail for $5 each. Each glitter polish will retail for $8.75 per 15 ml bottle, while the creams will retail for just $7.50 per 15 ml bottle.

The Glitters & Holos:

 

Mixed Peelings – A creamy off white polish with citrus and fruit colored glitters in neon green, lemon yellow and watermelon pink.

Look High And Holo – A raspberry jelly with a rainbows worth of holographic glitters in hexes and squares.

Peak My Interest – A melon pink colored polish with triangle glitters in white, pink and dark aqua.

Sea You Around- This deep emerald green near teal jelly features fuchsia and silver circle glitters, light blue squares hexes in a base with scattered fuchsia micro slivers and micro sparkle.

Mint-al Vacation- This light aqua seafoam has two personalities. In low light, is has a beautiful white shimmer, but in the sun or bright light, you can see a holographic rainbow of color.

Periwinkle In Time – A periwinkle colored creally polish loaded with holographic glitters in aqua, navy blue, sliver and violet.

Glitter Top Coats:

 

Scribble Me This – A graffiti inspired glitter top coat featuring mini stars, triangles, and neon glitters.

Sweet Wave – A Bright pastel candy inspired glitter top coat with white, mint, periwinkle and watermelon colored glitters.

Red, White & Blue-tiful – A limited edition top coat with mini red, holographic sliver and holographic blue stars. Small red, silver and navy blue glitters along with micro holographic sparkles complete this patriotic polish.

Happily Ever Aster – A floral inspired glitter top coat with purple, lavender, light aqua and white glitters swimming in a sparkling base.

The Creams:

Radiant Orchid – Radiant Orchid, 2014 color of the year, is the ideal shade to transition nails from spring to summer and even fall.  This pink toned purple has fuchsia and mauve undertones.

You’re So Shellfish – Near neon peachy orange perfect for summer pedicures.

Nail Vinyl Decals:

 

KBShimmer products can be found at Http://www.KBShimmer.com. For sales outside of the US visit http://www.HarlowandCo.org.

Tarina Tarantino is Back on Hautelook Today

If you haven’t signed up for Hautelook yet, I suggest you do! The site is a Nordstrom affiliate, which means it brings you killer fashions, accessories, beauty products and more but for a lot less than if you went to Nordstrom or other major retailers.

Tarina Tarantino Cosmetics is back on Hautelook today at 8 am PST! I had first heard of Tarina Tarantino back when the brand was carried at Sephora but never tried any of the products until I ordered them through Hautelook. It was love at first order, and ever since I’ve been going back for more Gem Glosses and to try other parts of the line every time it pops up again on Hautelook (because I’m not going to pay full price through Tarina’s site when I can just wait for it to be on sale. Pssh).

Image credits: Hautelook.com

In non-makeup related news, Lucky Brand and Jessica Simpson dresses will also be featured sales today. Remember, the sales only run for a limited time, so don’t dawdle if you’re interested.

If you sign up, I would appreciate it if you would use my invite  🙂  – http://www.hautelook.com/short/3MYw6

 

Happy shopping!

My First Stitch Fix!

Sorry if I’ve been blowing up your Twitter with little excited snippets about my first Stitch Fix being ordered, but I was so stinkin’ excited…and it came today! Yay!

Well, maybe we should start at the beginning. So what is Stitch Fix? Stitch Fix is a retail site that does some personal shopping for you and delivers it right to your door. You fill out a Style Profile (which entails some lifestyle questions, fit preferences, and selecting photos of clothes you like. You can also link your Pinterest if you have a Style board) and choose the date of your Fix. Then a personal stylist handpicks a Fix made up of five pieces of clothing and/or accessories that fit your profile. You get to try everything on at home with the things you already own, buy what you like, and return the rest in a prepaid shipping bag. Easy!

You pay a $20 styling fee up front – if you buy anything from your box, this credit gets applied to your purchase; if you return everything, Stitch Fix keeps the $20 as a fee for styling and whatnot. If you keep everything in your box, you get a 25% discount on the total. You have three days to try on everything and make your decision, which is ample time to see what you already have that goes with each piece, consult your girlfriends, etc.

I ordered a fix late last month and was expecting the box to come tomorrow. I stayed home from work sick today and was totally pumped when this morning I saw that my Fix was out for delivery. Every time I heard the downstairs door, I threw open the door and peeked around to see if the FedEx guy was here and probably frightened my neighbors a lot in the process (sorry neighbors!). Finally, this little gem was waiting…

This makes my sick day a lot better! Here’s what it looks like when you open your box –

A reminder on the process

The letter on top of the package is from my stylist, Avery. She gave me some suggestions on how to mix and match the pieces in the box and included styling cards for each item to show me different ways to wear each piece. Sorry these photos are a little blurry – maybe it’s because I was excited? I’m not sure, but I didn’t realize until I looked at them on my computer…oh well.

Beneath the papers is a little white bundle. Inside are all the goodies, folded up neatly in a way that I will never be able to replicate.

Item 1: Tullah Mini Link Pattern Bangle Set by Pixley ($42)

A shaky close-up on the clasp

I’m not much of a bracelet gal, but I actually really like these bracelets. I like that they’re not matchy-matchy but are close enough that they go together and, more importantly, with many different things. They feel heavy and durable. The bracelets open on a hinge and have a fitted clasp so that they won’t just pop off your wrist (especially if you have skinny wrists like me). They’re also very summery but can still be worn in other seasons. Still, $21 a bracelet seems a little much.

On a side note, I have these bracelets on in every clothing picture below except for the pictures for Item 3.

Verdict? Undecided

Item 2: Janet Embroidered Hem Swing Skirt by Under Skies ($58, S)

 

This angle is what killed this item for me. Yikes.

Detail on hem

I loved this skirt when I took it out of the box, although apprehensively loved it because I seem to spill things on everything I own that is white. It has a stretch waist and beautiful detailing along the hem (although it does  looks a little table cloth-ish). The skirt material has a slight textured look to it but is smooth and soft to the touch. The elastic waist cinches in at my natural waist, so I decided to tuck a tank into it. From the side? Beautiful and perfect for work. From the front? Eesh! It makes me look a little thick in the middle. My fiance started laughing when he took that shot and was like, “Man, you are going to hate this photo.” He’s right, I do! For $58, I couldn’t justify purchasing it when I only like how I look from the side.

Verdict? Return

Item 3: Lexis Chevron Print Henley Tank by Papermoon ($48, XS)

Generally speaking, I hate horizontal stripes on me. They look super cute on some people, but they tend to make me look wide (horizontal stripes draw your eyes outward). I’m very picky when I do purchase stripes, so it’s a rare occurance. Even so, there is something about a simple chevron print that I really like, so I didn’t check off “No stripes” on my Style Profile and just explained my pickiness in the comments section. Welp, Avery ran with it and put chevron right into my first Fix. Keep in mind, I like simple chevron – simple chevron this tank is not. I pulled it out of the box and was immediately like “Ick!”

Despite my initial reaction, I decided to follow Avery’s advice and try on everything in the box, regardless of initial impressions. I actually liked it a lot more once I tried it on. The first thing I tried the top on with was my bootcut jeans, but I felt that the boxy cut of the tank would go better with skinnies. My style card suggested mint skinnies, but I don’t own them in that color. However, I do own peach skinnies and they go well with the peach in the shirt. The tank is lightweight but feels well made and would look good with a cardigan for work or the fall. The tank grew on me more when I saw it in pictures – it’s actually really cute! Now the question is, is it $48 cute?

Verdict? Undecided

Item 4: Selfridge Cowl Neck Long Sleeve Top by 41Hawthorn ($48, XS)

This top was just a struggle for me from start to finish. When I grabbed it out of my box, it felt really nice – super soft and comfy. Then it struck me how thin the fabric was and I started being a lot more gentle for fear of tearing it. That is, until I struggled to put it on. There is a panel behind the cowl so that everything can drape and it’s like you have a cami in the front, but somehow I kept getting my arms under it as I slid it on. Then I had issues adjusting the cowl neck because it kept looking like just a huge mass of extra fabric (which I guess, technically, it is). As I adjusted the cowl, I kept finding spare strings gathered in the folds, like the top was already unraveling. I can see where this top would look nice on certain body shapes and builds, but it does nothing for my figure. I felt like it bulked me up (and not in the way a cozy winter sweater does).

Verdict? Return

Item 5: Wrenn V-Neck Jersey Top by Pomelo ($44, XS)

I really liked this top when I pulled it out of the box. The fabric felt great and the top seemed well-made. The color is fun and punchy, and the v-neck design is pretty unique in that it’s draped. I have a love-hate relationship with jersey though and this was no exception. It felt so nice on, but it skimmed my natural waist and then highlighted the part of my belly that I like shirts to skim across. It would be a great work shirt, but I honestly don’t think I’d wear it outside of that capacity. Avery suggested I try it with my Swing Skirt and ballet flats, and that was just a horrible combination on me.

Verdict? Return

 

In total, my box retails at $240. If I were to purchase everything in the box, which means my $20 styling fee applies plus 25% off, I’d pay $165. However, I will not be purchasing all five and am still undecided on two. I think this was a good start for Avery. I lean towards more classic clothes that I can dress up for work or style casually for everyday things (dinner dates, hanging out with friends, etc) and this Fix fits that bill. The great thing about Stitch Fix (besides the fact that a personal stylist sends you a custom box to your home!) is that you give lots of detailed feedback on each item at checkout. This means that I let Avery know what I think of the style, fit, cost, quality, etc. and she will take that all into consideration for my next Fix. I can make my fixes monthly or just sign-up whenever I’m in the mood for another.

What do you think of the two items I’m undecided on? Keep or return? What about my return items – should I reconsider before sending them back?

If you’d like to sign up for a  Stitch Fix account, I’d love it if you used my referral link! http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3438864  Signing up for an account is totally free – you don’t get charged $20 until you order your first Fix. Don’t feel obligated to use my link, but doing so earns me credit when you sign up for your first Fix and I’d really appreciate it!  http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3438864

 

Josie Maran Hits Hautelook!

If you follow my blog, you know by now that I love Hautelook. The online retailer has flash sales for a wide variety of brands and is a Nordstrom affiliate. I am always on the look-out for my favorite brands so I can snap up good deals (Tarina Tarantino, theBalm, Urban Decay…you name it), and I was so excited to find out that Josie Maran would be debuting on Hautelook today for the first time.

For those of you unfamiliar with Josie Maran, she’s a model whose skin/hair care and makeup products are eco-friendly and infused with good-for-you argan oil.

“In 2007 I started Josie Maran Cosmetics, with 100% Pure Argan Oil as my signature ingredient. Today, JMC is a global brand with the motto, “Luxury With a Conscience.” We use pure, Fair Trade Argan Oil, grown and harvested responsibly by co-ops of Moroccan women who earn a living wage. We partner with earth-loving, women-empowering organizations, use eco-friendly packaging, and we never stop striving to improve our products and our impact on the world.”

Products are available through Josie Maran, QVC, and Sephora…and Hautelook for the next few days at deeply discounted prices! I ordered several argan balms, a mini trio of argan whipped body butters, and the argan brightening face balm. Now I just have to be patient and wait for all these goodies to arrive at my doorstep.

 

Other brands of note on the way?

Wed., 4/30: alice & olivia, Jeffrey Campbell, Oscar Blandi

Fri., 5/2: Donald J. Pliner

 

If you are not already a Hautelook member, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for – get signed up! It’s easy; just click on this link – http://www.hautelook.com/short/3MYw6  – and sign-up is quick and simple. Then shop your heart out (at least that’s what I do). Happy shopping!

Zoya Celebrates Earth Day

Zoya has the best Earth Day promotion, hands down. If you are a nail polish lover but you have old bottles that are not 3-5 Free and you just don’t use them, what do you do with them? They’re not supposed to just be chucked in the trash, but what are your options? Zoya is your option come Earth Day week, hosting a polish exchange from 4/21-4/28!

Details below –

What is the Zoya Nail Polish Exchange?

Exchange your old nail color for BIG5FREE** ZOYA Nail Polish and let us properly dispose of your unwanted bottles.  Only $4.50 per bottle OR $5 for PixieDust and special effect toppers. Shipping and handling fees apply.

How it works:

1. Visit www.zoya.com and add at least 6 bottles and no more than 24 bottles of polish to your cart. Excludes ALL Summer 2014 Collection shades.
2. Apply the code: ZDAY2014

3. Your order value will be adjusted to reflect a 50% discount (we use these funds to properly dispose of the old nail polish).
4. Complete check-out, review and submit order.
5. Zoya will ship out your NEW polishes right away. The exchange runs on the honor system, which means offer is not contingent on customer returning polish.

The Exchange

1. Once you get your order – ship back the equivalent number of bottles you received to the return address below (ie. If you ordered 6 bottles of Zoya – you would send us 6 NON-ZOYA polishes).

– See more at: http://blog.zoya.com/Moment/Announcing+the+2014+Zoya+Nail+Polish+Exchange/?Moment=1388#sthash.kdfCPXhh.dpuf

 

Happy polish shopping!

 

Beautiful Article – Beauty Advice from a Father

If you have the kind of Facebook friends I do, they share a bajillion articles on Facebook. As a collective group, they are posting stories, photos, and links all day, every day, about everything. I used to click around and read things to see what my friends found interesting, what was new, etc – then I found myself wasting a lot of time looking through a lot of crap articles and wondering, “Why did so-and-so post this again? How did I end up reading this?”

Last night my laptop was being difficult and, like a child, I smacked at the keyboard in frustration. When I did,  I accidentally clicked a link to “QuickMeme,” a site I usually am sure to avoid because…well, just because. Anyways, I’m so glad I clicked it because it opened a beautiful article about beauty from a Father’s perspective. A father describes the terms found in beauty aisles, like “age defying” and “brilliant strength,” and writes a letter to his young daughter about how she can find all these different descriptions of beauty in herself as she grows instead of on a shelf. I have a niece who’s a toddler and I’m trying to make it a point to tell her things like “You’re so smart” and “You can do it, let me see you try!” way more than I say things like “What a pretty dress” and “Aren’t you just so beautiful” – because everyone will tell her she’s beautiful, with her golden curls and bright blue eyes, as she grows up, but I want to make sure she never forgets that she’s also smart, sweet, cherished, capable, and so on. So this article hit close to home for me and I just loved it.

If you want to check it out, you can find it at –  http://www.quickmeme.com/p/3vug8k

Lorac & Tarina Tarantino on Hautelook!

Oh Hautelook…how you empty my wallet but fill up my makeup stash with beautiful little gems. It’s a bittersweet catch-22. Well, I think it’s more on the sweet side, my fiancé does not (“Do you actually need another brown eye shadow?” “It’s not the same brown.” “…it’s brown.” Guys don’t get it).

I always keep an eye on Hautelook sales because while I love prestige makeup brands, I don’t really love to pay prestige makeup brand prices. That’s where Hautelook comes in handy. I just snapped up a bunch of sweet little sales today and now will be watching my mailman like a hawk, waiting for that little brown box to show up at my door. So what’s good today? Let me give you the scoop.

1. Lorac! Hautelook’s sale of the day is a small eyeshadow palette, perfect for trying new shades or the girl-on-the-go. Each palette features five shades and mix matte with shimmers for many looks. You can get the palette in Get Hot or Stay Cool for just $12. This is a quick sale of the day item though, so get it while you can!

2. Tarina Tarantino…my girly heart be still. I had never heard of this brand before I saw it on Hautelook and tentatively ordered a Gem Gloss the first time it appeared (Bobby Pin). I fell head over heels for the gloss and may or may not have purchased three more the next time Tarina was back on the site (Neon Vanity, Nouveau, Carousel). I’ve been thinking lately about how I was hoping Tarina would show up on Hautelook again so I could get another Gem Gloss shade I wanted and the makeup gods answered my call. I might have splurged today. Okay, I totally splurged and got myself three Conditioning Lip Sheens (Pink Elephant, Watermelon Wow, Queen Alice), two Gem Glosses (Pom Pom and another Bobby Pin) and a Fleur de Lash mascara. And that’s after I restrained myself in the lip product department and made myself remove the Dollskin Blush palette from my cart (so if anyone out there needs any gift ideas, I still really want those blushes…hint, hint). But everything was a good deal and I will use it all so I’m completely okay with the fact that I got six things. I’ll try to get swatches up of the products I already have sometime soon and do a follow-up once my new goodies arrive.

If you haven’t signed up for Hautelook yet, I suggest you do! The site is a Nordstrom affiliate, which means it brings you killer fashions, accessories, beauty products and more but for a lot less than if you went to Nordstrom or other major retailers. If you sign up, I would appreciate it if you would use my invite  🙂  – http://www.hautelook.com/short/3MYw6

Happy shopping!

KBShimmer Spring Press Release

KBShimmer is excited to announce the addition of 16 new colors to their 3-Free polish line.  Owner Christy Rose says, “Spring has inspired the KBShimmer staff to create two collections filled with fun, vibrant color.  For the first time, we will also be offering cream polishes.  These polishes pair wonderfully with many existing KBShimmer polishes, but are also wonderful alone.”

The Spring 2014 Glitter Collection includes one glitter top coat, one sparkling jellies, four glitter creally polishes, and two holographic polishes.  “Spring is such a fun time, with flowers in bloom, warmer weather, and Easter.  Though the snow is still around for many, we were inspired this spring by the thoughts of warmer weather, and the many different flowers that come with it.  Easter also played a part, with us borrowing many of the tones and colors you find in Easter candy,” says Rose.

The Spring 2014 Cream Collection offers 8 polishes in opaque, cream finishes.  Rose states ,“We are very excited to offer up polishes in cream finishes.  Not only can each of the 8 new colors be worn alone, those creams are ideal for layering.  We use creams not only for glitter top coats, but for under creally and jelly polishes too.”  Both collections are set for release March 14, 2014^st at KBShimmer.com.  Polishes in the Glitter Collection will retail for $8.75 per 15 ml bottle, while polishes in the Cream Collection will retail for $7.50 per 15 ml bottle.

* Descriptions below are those of owner Christy Rose, not my own.

The Glitters & Holos – For quick dry time and smooth feel, follow with KBShimmer Clearly On Top.

Full Bloom Ahead– This white based polish is loaded with small, medium and large hex glitters in fuchsia, navy, teal, gold and orange; colors reminiscent of those floral tones that signal spring is near. Best in 3 Coats.

Belle Of The Mall– This coral toned pink polish is a fun color to brighten your day. This jelly like polish is loaded with holographic silver hexes in various sizes and is stunner in the sun.  Best layered in three coats, or worn over a coordinating cream.

Rush Flower Traffic– A metallic glitter top coat with fuchsia, gold, green, sapphire, and aqua glitters in hex and dot glitters fill this polish. Ideal as 1 coat over our Chick Me Out or Honeydew List creams, this topper can be worn over so many colors!

Daisy About You– A pale green creally, this spring polish features neon green hex glitters swimming among purple and lavender hexes and a scattering of lavender daisy glitters.  Best in 3 Coats.

Laugh Myself Lily– A muted jade creally with holographic hexes in gold, pink, sliver, lavender and blue.  Pink and light aqua dots complete this muted polish.  To allow the glitters to shine this polish more sheer and is best layered in three coats.

Quick and Flirty– Every girl needs a good violet colored polish in their collection, and what better than one that comes with a rainbow!  This linear holographic offers full coverage in 2 coats, add a third for a deep lilac color.

Make My Gray – A pale shade of gray sets off glitters in turquoise, gunmetal, pale aqua and coral. Wear alone in 3 coats, or layer this over a grey like My Life’s Porpoise for a unique spring manicure.

Prism Break– This linear holo top coat was designed to bring maximum rainbow bling, while still allowing the color below to shine.  One light coat over any cream will turn your color into a holographic lover’s dream.

The Creams – Ideal for wearing alone, under glitter polish, or for nail art.  For quick dry time, follow with KBShimmer Clearly On Top.

Life Rose On – This is my perfect pink, bright cheery, and it covers in 1-2 coats.  This vivid cerise polish has blue undertones, making it wearable for many skin tones.  Pair this with your favorite glitter topper or use in stamping for a girly manicure.

Chick Me Out– This bright yellow cream is the ideal shade to welcome warmer weather.  Full coverage in two coats, I love this under Rush Flower Traffic.

Honeydew List– Just like ripe honeydew, this dusty pastel green is perfect for spring or summer.  This is the ideal color to wear under Rush Flower Traffic, or pair with Ice Queen for a sparkly spring manicure.  Full coverage in just 2 coats.

A Touch Of Glass–  This light aqua mint cream reminds me of tumbled sea glass.  A pastel green with blue undertones, this color is covers in 2-3 coats.

Sky Jinks– I love those days, the ones when there is not a cloud in site, and the sky is the most stunning shade of bright blue.  This medium blue cream with a hint of dustiness, reminds me of those perfect days.  Sky Jinks covers in 1 coat with careful application and is perfect in two.

Pansy-Monium– This pansy purple cream offers full coverage in just two coats.  With a slight red undertone, this purple will look great even on warm skin tones.

My Life’s Porpoise– No matter if you spell it gray or grey, this pale shade is a neutral that is fun to wear alone, or under bright toppers like U Rock My Heart.  This creamy shade covers fully in two coats.

Eclipse– Black is a fashion staple, not only in clothes, but on your nails!  This is a true black cream, covering in 1-2 coats.

KBShimmer products can be found at Http://www.KBShimmer.com.  For sales outside of the US visit http://www.HarlowandCo.org.

___________________________________________

I definitely am going to snag Make My Gray! We’ll have to see about the creams, as I already have quite a “staples” collection. What do you think of this spring line? Any must-haves?

Updates & Alerts!

Hey strangers!

Remember how I thought my life would be calmed down by now? It hasn’t calmed down at all. I’m still clawing my way out of the hole that I buried myself in at work and the two weeks that I had time to upload, my computer decided that it didn’t want to work or show any pictures in the system. Pretty standard for how things go for me, haha. Anyways, I’m working my tush off trying to get caught up and get my life back and get back to you beautiful people. Deepest apologies for leaving you all hanging, but I had to put on my big girl pants and focus on career before hobby and leisure (yuck).

Some updates for you in the beauty department before I get back to working (yes, on a Saturday night. Life is super lame in the buried-myself-in-work-hole):

1. I stumbled upon a fabulous new site/program for fashion lovers who are looking to expand or build their wardrobe or just get out of a fashion rut. Stitch Fix is like a beauty box but is a personal styling service for clothing and accessories.

You sign up and tell Stitch Fix your style, size, lifestyle, and budget preferences. The site shows you different outfits that you rate and you describe your personal tastes. The company matches you with a stylist who chooses items for your box that fit your profile; you can even link your Pinterest account to your Stitch Fix account so that your stylist can get a better idea of your fashion tastes. You sign up for a shipment date – no monthly plan here, you choose your own schedule! – and your stylist will send you five pieces that they feel suit you with suggestions on different ways to wear/style each item. You try everything on at home, decide what you want, and send back what you don’t want (return shipping is free). There is a $20 styling fee for each Fix. If you decide to keep an item, the $20 goes towards it; if you don’t keep anything, you lose the $20. However, there is bound to be something that you fall for and you get $25 off if you keep all five items. When you go back to Stitch Fix to purchase or pass on the items you were sent, you provide your stylist with feedback on each piece so that they can do an even better job on the next box. What an awesome way to be introduced to new brands and get stylish new wardrobe staples that you can try on from the comfort of home! I’m getting a Fix soon and will keep you posted. In the meantime, you can sign up for Stitch Fix too – let them know I referred you!  🙂  https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3438864

2. Hautelook continues to empty my wallet with a great array of beauty offerings. The site just had Sephora by OPI polishes for $3 a bottle and I forgot to tell you guys – beauty blogger fail. My bad. But the good news is that everyday brings new beauty goodies. Current sales include Crown Brush and a Beauty Bag, and Pur Minerals, Argan Magic Haircare, and Sibu Beauty are going live within the next few days. Sign up today and you get access to these killer sales! http://www.hautelook.com/short/3MYw6

3. I’m still getting Ipsy but haven’t been able to post my bags lately with my hectic schedule and stupid computer issues. My November and December bags were so-so, but Ipsy really brought it back to what I love with my January and February bags, so I think I’ll keep my subscription. For $10, it’s a cheap way to try new products that I might not have picked up on my own. Plus I feel like you definitely get your moneys worth – my last bag included a full-sized Zoya from the new Naturals line, which retails for about $8. This means just my polish alone was almost the cost of the entire bag, which included 4 other products plus the bag itself! Good deal. There is a waitlist for Ipsy, but sometimes the company puts up “Waitlist cuts” on Facebook where you get to skip the line, so keep an eye out if you’re interested.

Let me know if you sign up for anything and discover any new goodies that I should try! I’m hoping that I’m all caught up with work soon and can come back here with a vengeance; I’ll keep you posted along the way, so don’t forget about me!

– Jay

Oh, hi!

Hey strangers!
It’s been awhile, huh? I got an email about some potentially spam comment (of course it was) and all of a sudden it hit me – I haven’t posted in a trillion years. Holy mother of not posting. My bad guys, my bad.

As you know (or maybe not, but now you will), I teach and work at a beauty retailer on the weekends, sometimes week nights. I teach Language Arts and Reading, which means papers…which means not-so-basic grading. Have you ever read something written by a 6th grader? Generally speaking, it’s a slightly painful process. (Excerpt from a paper on trying out for band – He was like OMG, and I was like What?! And he was like nuthin, ur dumb. I smacked him silly and my teacher was like Hey guys, for real, stop! I saw my friend come in and she knew right away. I thought about my homework for the night and then was like o wait, I have a quiz tomorrow. The guy next to me was like Ummmm, pay attention. – and so on. Cue me banging my head on the desk). I am currently swamped in said-grading. Like buried alive in it. Plus meetings have successfully wiped out all my planning blocks. And I have after-school meetings and tutoring sessions. Oh, and my school is having my department take a graduate course that requires oodles of professional and YA reading.

No planning + after-school sessions + class = papers, reading notebooks, and quizzes to grade + course work come home every night + working weekends at my other job = no time for blogging. No time for swatching. No time for anything! Oy vey. My game plan was to catch up some over my baby Thanksgiving break, but the kids got sick right before break…which meant that I got sick over break. Womp, womp. My new game plan is to get as caught up as possible by the end of my baby winter break. Fingers crossed.

Anyways,  the point of my rambling is to let you know that I have not thrown in the towel on blogging and I have certainly not forgotten about you. I have so many new beauties to show you, I just need to dig myself out of this hole I’m in first. Hang in there! I promise I’ll get caught up and come back to you – pinky swear.

I hope you’re all having a fantastic holiday season! I can’t wait to catch up with you all.

xoxo,

Jay