I'm a Bahama Mama! (Ok, not a Mama, but I did just return from the Bahamas!)

Hello dear! How are you? I am back from my vacation and it was WONDERFUL! My husband and I went on a Bahamian cruise with another couple who are good friends of ours here in Philadelphia. It was so nice to get away from the cold and enjoy the warm, sunny beaches of the Bahamas. Here are a few pics from paradise:

The beautiful lounging area on a private cruise-owned island

My friend and I testing the temperature of the Bahamian beach water

Akward photo yes, but the water was so clear you could see my feet!

Outside the MAC store in Nassau...I was surprised they had a MAC so I had to take a photo of course!

The towel monkey our cabin steward left for us! This is made of one bath towel and one hand towel. Everyday we had a different towel animal waiting for us.

I absolutely LOVE cruising because it is so relaxing and the food is so delicious! No worries about carrying around money because everything is charged to the room, no worries about food because you can eat whenever you want and don't have to search around for a good restaurant, and everything is convenient.

In other news, if you are still thinking about getting the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, right now it is discounted on the Urban Decay website from $64 down to $44, and if you use code SEVENTEEN11 then you save an additional $15. That means the $64 palette is only $29! 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2012 brings you and your family lots of happiness, love, prosperity, and laughter! Personally, I don't have any resolutions because they are so hard to keep, but I wish you lots of luck with yours!

Did you do anything fun for New Year's Eve? I went to a friends place for a intimate party with good friends. Here is the look I wore for the evening:

Almost finished look, i.e. no lipstick and hair undone

Face: 

• Stila One Step Primer
• MAC Face and Body Foundation
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer under eyes
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer on red spots and blemishes
• MAC Cream Color Base in Bronze to contour
• Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Citrus Spark 
• Victoria's Secret All-over Shimmer Powder in Candygirl to highlight

Eyes:

• Nars Primer on lid
• Laura Mercier Foiled Eye Colour in V.I.P. Gold on lid
• Victoria's Secret Shimmer Shadow in Golddust on browbone
• MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack to line upper lash line
• MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved to liner outer half of lower lash line
• Victoria's Secret Triple Drama Mascara in Blackest Black on top and bottom lashes

The above photo is the finished look, with MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Most Wanted on my lips. I didn't do anything too fancy or complicated, just a bit of gold on the eyes and a peachy-maroon lip. 

How was your New Year's Eve? What are your resolutions for 2012?

2 Gifts or 10 Gifts - Smashbox Holiday Gift Ideas

I have professed my love for Smashbox makeup sets in the past, so I was super excited to try out some of the brand's holiday offerings: the Life is Your Set Holiday Pencil Kit and the Snap You're Fab Holiday Lip Gloss Set:

Top-Bottom: Sapphire, Espresso, Emerald, Black, and Gold

L-R: Lip Enhancing Gloss in Radiant, Pout, Luster, Infamous, Pink Sugar, and It Girl

Since I am an eyeliner-aholic, I was really excited to try out the pencil kit, until I read and re-read the box to find out that the liners in the set are NOT the Limitless Eye Liners that Smashbox is famous for. These are just regular pencil eyeliners. Still, the colors are gorgeous and highly pigmented:

Natural Light L-R: Sapphire, Espresso, Emerald, Black, and Gold

The Holidays

In my last post I mentioned that I have been super busy. So, to fill you in here are a few pics of my holiday adventures from the past few weeks:

Baking chocolate shortbread cookies

Washington DC's Union Station - It has my favorite store Express in the station!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!!!

I <3 the holidays. And with Thanksgiving about a week away the grocery store shelves are full of holiday treats and retail stores are stocked with gift-giving goodness!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know I have an addiction to anything Trader Joes. Combine TJ's with the holidays and what to you get? One really happy hungry blogger!!

These Dark Chocolate Stars are one of my latest holiday finds during my recent trip to TJs.

Cookies? Check.

Chocolate? Check.

Healthy? Check. (Well, it is dark chocolate...hehehe)

Delicious? Double check!

They even come in a plastic container with a lid so you don't have to worry about using a chip clip or transferring to another box to keep them fresh.

On another note, I wanted to show you MAC's holiday gift bag from this year because I am a big fan:

When you buy a gift at MAC they will give you this gift bag for free! It is metallic white and silver and made of thick paper...not the cheap stuff. MAC has special gift bags every year during the holidays but more often than not you have to ask the sales associate for the bag because they don't always offer it. Not only does it save you the trouble of having to wrap your gift, but who wouldn't love to receive such a cute bag?

What are you excited about this holiday season?

Two Cream Shadows Perfect for the Holidays: Bobbi Brown Beach Bronze and Galaxy

It's beginning to feel like the Holidays and that makes me sooo excited! I love the spirit in the air, the decorations, holiday parties, not to mention all the delicious sweet and savory foods that are a part of this season. The holidays are usually associated with sparkly gold and silver makeup looks, and I wanted to share two of my favorite cream shadows that follow suit: Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Cream Shadows in Beach Bronze and Galaxy:

Ok, so Beach Bronze isn't gold, but I think it is an easier shade to work with than gold, and is perfect for the holidays and year round.

L-R: Beach Bronze and Galaxy

These cream shadows are so easy to work with and they really are long-wearing. I went through a phase when the only shadow I was wearing was Beach Bronze on the lid and nothing else. Both shadows are pigmented, but can be blended for a more sheer look. I usually wear these on their own, but they also make good bases in lieu of a primer.

My Halloween Devil Look

I don't like Halloween.

There, I said it.

I know most beauty fanatics love this spooky holiday because it gives them the freedom to go cra-zay with makeup, and don't get me wrong, I like that too, but I hate the build-up around Halloween parties. Everyone always has such high expectations over Halloween party and inevitably, the party ends up being just ok. I did go to one really good Halloween party last year, and I think it was great because we didn't have any expectations and it was at my cousin's house so I was just excited to see my cousins.

In any case, I did end up going to a Halloween party this weekend and I wore my standard issue devil costume. This year I decided to do more of a beauty look with a little funky twist. 

Happy Diwali!!!

To all my lovely readers who celebrate Indian holidays, HAPPY DIWALI and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Wishing you a year of good health, happiness, and prosperity!

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. 

Holiday Spirit!

Fa la la la la, la la la la!!!

I am such a cheeseball when it comes to the holidays!! I love the decorations! I love the spirit of giving! I love time with friends and family! I love the cheer! I love the music (yes, that's me with the Mariah Carey Christmas album on repeat)! I love the sweets!!!

Oh and I love the shopping! But I tend to shop for myself just as much as I shop for others. Shhhh.....don't tell Santa!! =)

In the spirit of the holidays, I enjoy baking all sorts of treats, but occasionally I can't help but get ready made ones. Look at the amazing treats I found at Trader Joes the other day:

I never had a whoopie pie before, but this is the start of a new treat addiction!

Yes, these are even more delicious than they look!

I am OBSESSED with gingerbread. Even to the point where I have gingerbread pajamas!

What are your favorite things about the holiday?

I Love Shoes and Other Current Faves

If you are like me, in addition to beauty products, you probably love other girly things like shoes and purses. Look what I found at Walmart the other day:

It's a high heel ornament! And it was only $1!! We don't have a tree up yet, so it's part of my end table decor, but I just love how it glitters when the light hits:

You may remember awhile ago I mentioned my fixation for Bath and Body Works candles. Well, I recently got these cute little candle holders that you just drop the candles in:

There are a few different designs but I just love this one for the holiday! And it makes your candles look fancier:

I am also addicted to home fragrance oils! They are just so much stronger than candles and I especially love how they cover up the smell of cooking...and use a lot of onions and spices....so I need these oils in my life!

Have you found any new home decor items?

My Honeymoon Makeup Bag

I recently found a couple pics on the makeup I took on my honeymoon, and realized I never posted them. For my honeymoon, I was determined to pack light, at least in terms of my cosmetics, and I am so proud of myself for actually sticking to that!! This is all I took with me:

Here is a list of the products:

Black Friday 2009: Beauty and Fashion Deals

I love shopping on Black Friday. I used to think Black Friday shoppers were crazy, but then I turned into one of them. There is something so thrilling and exciting about waking up at the crack of dawn to go shopping and wiggling your way through the mazes of shopping carts and mad shoppers. Yes, sounds painful, right? Trust me, try it once and you will realize how fun it is. I even got my mom into it! Most malls will even have free coffee stations set up to keep shoppers up and alert. So what do you say, will you join me this year in the madness that is Black Friday?

If that is not your cup of tea, here are some deals to fulfill that shopping bug on Black Friday and through the weekend. I will update as I find out about new deals:

• Korres: With any purchase over $50, get a FREE cherry lip gloss trio ($48 value) AND FREE shipping. Ente code FREEGIFT at checkout. Valid Nov 25-Nov 30. Also, if you visit Korresusa.com on Sunday Nov 29, you will be able to take an early advantage of the Cyper Monday specials
• Origins: Get a set of 6 bestsellers: Checks and Balances (150ml and travel size 50ml), Ginger Souffle (200ml and travel size 50ml), and Modern Friction (125ml and travel size 50ml) for only $55! This set is valued at $111.50, so you are getting it at half price. Valid Nov 17-supplies run out. They also have free shipping on any order through Dec 18 3pm EST.
• Lancome: 20% off your entire order plus free shipping. Enter code HOLIDAYJOY2 at checkout. Valid Nov 24 to Nov 30.
• Too Faced Cosmetics: FREE Beauty Addict Palette ($29.50 value) with purchases of $75 or more, while supplies last. Also, get free shipping with purchases of $50 or more. While supplies last.
• Bliss: 30% off create your own gift sets with code GIFT30. Also, get 30% off a gift or 2 or more items with code GIFT30. Both offers valid now till Dec 1
• Philosophy: Free Shipping, no minimum, plus up to 40% off select Philosophy favorites. Also get 40% off on select philosophy favorites. Enter code holidays at checkout.

Now for some non-beauty related deals:

• Express: 20% off your entire purchase online. Enter code 4389 at checkout. Valid PRE-Black Friday only, Nov 25-26
• H&M: 25% off item of your choice from opening - 10AM on Black Friday, Nov 27th only. All day long enjoy Fashion Finds from $5.
• GAP: 50% all women's and men's sweaters, and 50% off kid's and baby fleece styles. Valid through Nov 29
• The Limited: 40% off everything in-store and online, plus a FREE Pleated Ruffle Scard with $75 pre-tax purchase. Valid Black Friday Nov 27 only. Also, get free shipping on everything Nov 26-Nov 30.

If you know of any more great discounts, please share them in the comments. Some of the offers above last through Cyber Monday on Nov 30, but there might be more that will sprout through the weekend, so if I find out about new deals, I will do my best to post them for you. Happy Shopping!

MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief Blush and Nail Lacquer Review

With the MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief collection launching this week (in stores this Thurs Oct 15th), I thought I would review the two products I purchased from the color collection. The first is the Mineralize Blush in Superdupernatural. This color is so lovely and will complement EVERY skin tone! It is a bronzy peach color with a hint of shimmer. I have been wearing it all weekend and I know that it will be my staple blush this holiday season. I love it because it provides a good amount of color when blended and buffed into the skin, but can also be layered to get a more opaque color. Here is a swatch:

Right: Blush color applied straight to the skin

Left: Blended out a bit

Here is a look I did with the blush, blended into the skin for a subtle glow:

I really like the mineralize blushes because they go on flawlessly and really do last awhile. If I want more staying power, since blush is the first product to fade, I apply a cream color base under a powder blush.

The second product I purchased is the nail lacquer in Lucky Number:

It really is a beautiful unique color that will be a beautiful contrast to the dark, trendy shades of fall, while still being in the same color family as the fall purples and blacks. It has such a beautiful shine and looks amazingly bright and glossy when the light hits it, as in the photo below:

I also purchased a couple of the shadow palettes from the holiday collection, and I got them as gifts for others, but I am soooo tempted to use them on myself! I probably will go back and pick them up for myself. If you read my previous post about the holiday collection launch party, you know that it was so dark in the party room that I could not see much, which is why I did not pick up more from the collection. I will definitely be going back to my local MAC to check out the mineralize sets and the other sets.

Do either of these products tickle your fancy? What are you planning to pick up?