Vacation!

Hey Lovelies! I just wanted to let you know that I will be going on vacation so I won't be posting for the next few days. I will update you with all my holiday fun when I get back!

Changes

Hello! You may have noticed that I haven't been posting much recently, and the reason is because I am working on some upgrades to the blog. I am hoping to have things up and running in the next day or so. I am hoping the new site will be a better experience for you, so stay tuned!

XOXO

What Really Matters

I have been having a rough day. Well, what most of us would consider a rough day. Until I saw this video. I saw it on TheGlossGoss (yes, she is back to blogging!) and it really put things in perspective for me. Sometimes we just take things for granted and think our personal issues are the end of the world, but they really aren't, when you compare what other people are going through. I hope this video moves you as it moved me.

I hope this inspires you to keep your head high and remember the big picture in life. Things are always better than they seem. 

Me On A Makeup Bag

If you have been following my blog for awhile you will know that I am ADDICTED to mascara. I can't leave the house without it. So imagine my excitement when I saw this:

Image Source

Isn't that the most appropriate makeup bag for me? Now I need to track it down....

Getting Worked by Skechers Shape Ups

I know you have all heard of the sneakers and flip flops that supposedly tone and shape your butt. I admit I have both sitting in my closet and never wore either of them until recently when I wore my Skechers Shape Ups to the gym. And let me tell ya....I think these magic shoes might actually work!!

Yesterday I did my normal workout wearing the Shape Ups and today I am definitely more sore than normal in the thighs! I don't know if I will actually see results from wearing these regularly, but I am going to try and I will let you know in a few weeks if I think the shoes are helping me get from flab to fab. 

The above photo was taken with the Hipstamatic App for the iPhone. I am addicted to this App and get carried away...especially when outdoors.

Have you tried any of the toning footwear?

Happy April Fools!

Happy April Fool's Day!!!!

Have you ever been tricked? What was the best trick you ever played on someone?

I'm just glad it's Friday and I will have some time to rest this weekend. Every weekend for the past month has been jam packed for me and I just want to sit on my couch and watch a few good movies. Ahhhh.....

Traveling....I need help!

Hey darlings!!! I need help.

I am traveling for a few days and attending a couple weddings. I have decided to take only ONE blush with me and I can't decide which one! Right now my top contender is Sunbasque by MAC.

I use mostly MAC blushers, so can you help me and let me know which shade to bring? BTW I am an NC30. What is your number one MAC blush shade?

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to wish you a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! 

If you have someone special in your life then I hope you enjoy a sweet evening with him/her. If not, then I hope you have a great day hanging out with your friends and keeping positive about how awesome you are! 

Glimpses of Costa Rica!!!

You dolls are lucky....you are the FIRST to see photos from my Costa Rica vacation! I haven't even posted them on Facebook yet! These are just a few glimpses.....enjoy!

 Sunset on the beach

 We saw sooo much wildlife....a lot of which is unique to Costa Rica and Central America....and we saw all the animals in their own habitat....not in a zoo or anything! These monkeys were playing on a tree about 1 foot in front of us!

Me lounging in a hammock....I am absolutely OBSESSED with hammocks!  

 A frog with crazy red eyes! 

An old tree with new trees growing around it

A view of the green (inactive) side of the Arenal Volcano. It was foggy on the day we went to the black (active) side

I'm Back!!!

Hey Lovelies, I am back from vacation! It is a little bittersweet because it was very warm in Costa Rica and the hubby and I had a great time there and are sad to be back at work and in the snowy Philly weather. However, it was a crazy busy adventure through the rainforests, mountains, and beaches and we are glad to be home and sleep in our cozy bed.

I will definitely post a few vacation pics when I upload them to my computer, but in the meantime, you can take a look at what makeup I took with me:

• Smashbox Halo powder
• MAC Cremeblush in Uncommon
• MAC Technakohl eye liners in Smoothblue and Graphblack
• MAC Moistureblend concealer
• MAC Plushlash mascara
• MAC Pro Longwear Foundation
• Shu Uemera lash curler
• MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect
• MAC Lipstain Marker in Sunset

Believe it or not, this was waaaay to much! makeup Costa Rica is a laid back country that calls for nature adventures....hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, whitewater rafting, and other sweaty sports.....and makeup isn't quite suited for those activities. Thus, you can understand why I barely wore half of these products! At most, I used the face primer, foundation, lash curler and mascara. 

Makeup or not, I had a great trip, but am glad to be back home and look forward to catching up with you lovely ladies and discuss some great makeup....after all, I haven't really talked about or worn much for the last 10 days so I am in withdrawal!

Stranded on a Desert Island

Hey lovelies!!! So if you were stranded on a desert island, what single makeup product would you take with you?

To find out my answer check out my recent guest post on MakeandBeautyBlog.

Hope you all had a great start to the week! I am feeling super motivated so I hope I can keep up this positive energy all week!

Top 10 in 2010: Looking Forward to the New, Remembering the Old

So you already know that I am obsessed with the new Mickey Contractor collection for MAC, and although I know 2011 will bring other new fantastic products, I can't forget the wonderful beauty discoveries that I made during 2010. Some were released this year, some are older but new to me in 2010.

Here are some my top 10 of 2010 in no particular order:

1. Powder: Smashbox's Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder. This powder gives the most flawless coverage and I love how you get the coverage of a loose powder but in a pressed powder package. Read my full review here.

2. Lip Products: MAC Lipstain Marker and Stila Lip Glaze glosses

I have used this lip stain every since it was released and it is a staple for me now. I like using this to fill in my lips to wear on its own, or before applying lipstick or gloss. The stain lasts all day so I always have some color to my lips. Read my full review here.

I now know why lip glazes are a cult fave. They are long lasting, glossy, non-sticky, and come in a great selection of sheer and opaque colors. What's not to love! Read my full review here. 

3. Face Mask: Lush's The Sacred Truth. This face mask made my skin soft, moisturized, and glowing. This is one I will definitely continue re-purchasing in the future. Read my full review here. 

4. Concealer: MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. This new formula has been a hit at MAC, and I can see why. It provides excellent coverage, is natural looking, and lasts ALL day. The only thing I don't like is the pump, but I will deal with it because I like the concealer so much. Read my full review here. 

5. Face Primer: Stila One Step Correct Primer. Another new product for 2010 that I absolutely love. It is silicon-free and makes my skin luminous, reduces pore size, and creates a great canvas for face makeup. Read my full review here. 

6. Blush: MAC Cream Color Base in Vintage Rose. The best color for any skin tone, blends like a dream, and looks natural. Read my full review here. 

7. Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Double Duty. This combined base coat and top coat saves space in your nail bag and it works so well it can rival even the best high end base/top coats. Read my full review here. 

8. Home Fragrance: Slatkin & Company Candles. These come in a HUGE assortment of fragrances, burn clean, and are potent enough to add a nice scent to an entire room (even a living room and kitchen). Read my full review here.  

9. Lip Liner: Urban Decay 24/7 Lip Pencil in Wallflower. This pencil is as good as the 24/7 eye pencils and is the perfect base shade for any lipstick. Read my full review here. 

10. Accessory: Forever 21 Jewelry. I have found some amazing earrings, necklaces, and rings at Forever 21, and the best part is how reasonably priced they are! Granted, Forever 21 isn't quality, but they will definitely last through a few seasons, if not longer, and it is a great place for trend pieces. I found the following earrings for $1.50, and have worn them several times without any problem. 

There you have it! What are some of your top picks from 2010?

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year my lovelies!!!! Cheers to good health, happiness, and prosperity in 2011!! I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting Kajal Couture.....everything I write and each pic I snap is for you! Without your support this blog wouldn't exist and I want you to know I appreciate each comment, each question, each email, and each time you read a blog post. Thank you!!!!

2010 was a year of major changes for me (my wedding, my move to the East Coast, etc.), and I feel so fortunate for every positive event that has taken place. I think 2011 will be a calmer year for me but I am still excited for the new adventures the new year will bring! I also hope to keep growing the blog and getting to know you better. Cheers to 2011!!! What are you looking forward to?

Holiday Present Packaging? To Keep Or Not To Keep?

Ok, so this was a present to myself from myself.....the Philosophy Gingerbread Man and Gingerbread Girl body washes....and the packaging is absolutely adorable!

The front opens up and it is like a little dollhouse:

How cute is that?!?! The material is a thick cardboard so it is pretty sturdy and if I keep the box closed I could easily use it to store small pieces of makeup or other tid bits, but where would I display it? Do I keep it hidden and use it just for storage? Do I display it all year round even though it obviously looks like it is for the holidays/winter? Do I chuck it? What would you do?

Happy Holidays and Other Tid Bits

Hello Lads and Lassies! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I didn't get much chance to check in with you because I was with family all weekend. I experienced many firsts in the last few days:

1. My first Christmas as a married woman

2. My first Christmas with my in-laws

3. My first Christmas away from my family (sniff, sniff)

4. My first snow storm

This is the snow piled on the ledge outside our window.

5. My first time attending a Blue Man Group Show

This show was AMESOME! I didn't know what to expect and even now I can't describe it, but it is hilarious and super entertaining. I HIGHLY recommend it! After the show we met the 3 blue men and one of the guys touched his blue head with his thumb and stamped my playbill. Yes, it was real blue paint!!

What were some of the highlights of your Christmas weekend? What are you doing for New Years Eve?   I don't have any plans yet but I always prefer house parties over going to a club....somehow on NYE going out becomes so overrated and expectations for fun are too high. 

New Fave Website and Win Two $25 Giftcards for Skincare!!

Hey lovelies!! I want to tell you about this new site I discovered, Apothica, which has tons of cosmetics from many brands all in one site!! The cool thing about this site is that they are partnered with SkinCareRX, which has just about every skin care brand you’d want and is currently (until Dec 1) having a 25% off Friends and Family discount with code FF25 (better than the Sephora discount, eh?) and they are also partnered with my personal favorite, Skin Botanica, which carries natural and organic beauty products, and is currently running a 20% off sale…just click on the Skin Botanica link. How great to shop from 3 stores and get everything in 1 shipment!! 

I know many of you are like me and like products from a variety of brands, and I love that you can order say, one Bobbi Brown shadow, your fave Michael Kors fragrance that is running out, and whatever else you need (they also carry skin care, candles, body care, and hair care) in one order, for one shipment (did I mention free shipping over $49?), and not have to mess with other sites and multiple shipping fees!

Some of the cool brands featured on Apothica are DuWop and the popular Moroccon Oil, and one of my faves Japonesque! For awhile now I have been wanting to try their lashes and instant eyeshadow...yes instant eyeshadow...honestly I think it sort of takes the fun out of applying shadow but it’s so unique I just have to try it! Their products are pretty affordable too. Have you tried anything from them?

Smoky Eye Instant Eyeshadow

Now for the fun part:  Apothica has been gracious enough to give away a $25 giftcard to one of the fabulous Kajal Couture readers!! And if you are lucky, you can win an extra $25 giftcard for a friend!! I’m secretly jealous because I could totally use that to try those instant eyeshadows. Anyways, back to the giveaway. Here’s how you can enter:

1.     One entry for becoming a follower by clicking on the "Follow" button on the right hand toolbar

2.     One entry for following me on Twitter at @kajalcouture

3.     One entry for following Apothica on Twitter at @Apothica

4.     One entry is you "Like" me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kajalcouture)

5.     One entry if you become a fan of Apothica on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Apothica)

6.     Two entries if you tweet about this giveaway

7.     Two entries if you comment about Apothica and/or Japonesque in the comment section of this post

8.     Two entries for signing up for the Apothica Newsletter (found at the bottom of the Apothica website)

9.     Seven (yes 7) entries if you blog about this giveaway on your blog (your post must have a minimum of 100 words and include the word Japonesque and have it linked to http://makeup.apothica.com/Japonesque.html)

10.  IMPORTANT – If you do any of the above, make sure you comment on this post and let me know which entries you have completed.

In the spirit of the holidays, wouldn’t you love to be able to give a friend a $25 Apothica too? Well, if you do #9 above and blog about this giveaway and you win, you will win an extra $25 Apothica giftcard for a friend!!!

This giveaway starts today, Monday, November 22, 2010, and runs until midnight, EST, on Friday, December 10, 2010. http://apothica.com

Halloween Makeup Kits

I know I have been a bit MIA this past week, but I was out of town for a few days and have just been busy with work and life, and getting over a cold. This week is Halloween week. I know tons of other bloggers and people who absolutely love Halloween and all the fun and ghouls it entails, but honestly, I am just not a Halloween person. Yes, I love dressing up and I love fun, costume makeup, but I refuse to spend tons of money on an outfit that will be worn for a few hours of my life, especially one that shows more skin than a Dancing With the Stars outfit. That, and I feel like Halloween is always so hyped up, and it never is as fun as it is made out to be.

So what am I doing this year? I am going to a party, wearing an old devil's costume from previous years (one that covers my arms and legs), and not having any expectations.

That being said, I wanted to let you know about fun Halloween makeup kits I saw at Sephora last week. With the Friends and Family sale going one now, it is a great time to pick one up! They have ones for Vampires, Devils, Cats, and more!

What are you doing for Halloween?

Joe's, Giotto's, Jacque's, Ming's.....This Trader Has it Going On!!

This is totally unrelated to beauty, but I think some of you can relate. Especially my mom...

The hubby and I made our first trip to Trader Joe's after moving to our new city, and we went a little crazy (and this doesn't even include refrigerated or frozen foods):

I love everything about Trader Joe's! The sauces, the breads, the pastries, the cheese, the tofu....EVERYTHING!

Where do you "trade"?

Secretly Excited!!!

So girlies, guess what!!! I am secretly (ok, not anymore) very excited about something and had to tell someone who would actually care!!

Drum roll please....

There is a MAC store and a Lush store within 15 minutes walking distance from my new place!!!!! Woooohoooo! Jumping for joy! Eeeks! Yayyyy!!!

If the hubby is reading this, he is probably pouting because now he knows where all the money will be going....hehehe.

The hubby and I moved in to a new place in Philadelphia (yes, that's where I moved to) and we are in the city, meaning lots of things to do and places to see, and best of all....we can walk to a lot of them! We can even walk to the theater that shows all the Broadway musicals here!! Yes, I am not-so-secretly very excited about that too! This will probably be the closest to the living-in-NYC experience I will ever get, but I don't mind because it's pretty similar and NYC is only a hour and 15 min train ride away. I have always wanted to live in NYC and living in center city Philly is very similar, and with each new cool hangout (or shop) that I discover, I am becoming more and more happy to be living here.

And for your viewing pleasure...a photo of the Philadelphia skyline:

(photo from askville by Amazon)

MIA

Hey!!! Soooo sorry I have been missing in action (MIA) for awhile. My hubby and I are moving in to a new place and we have been so busy with the move. Not to mention we are still getting adjusted to East Coast living and all the madness that entails....hello jughandles!?!?

Anyhoo, I have sooo many things I want to share with you, including my take on the new MAC foundation and concealer being released this week, so stay tuned...cuz I'm back!!!! =)