Review: Zoya Pepper, Louise & Maria Luisa

Hi Y'all!!  Happy Monday!!  Since I'm running late and have 40 things to do this afternoon, I'm going to get right to the review!

A few days ago, I went to Ulta and they had the new Fall collection, Cashmere and Satins.  I picked up three, Pepper, Louise and Maria Luisa.  First up is Pepper:

I loved Pepper just from the swatches I had seen and new I had to have it.  Pepper is a rusty, red leaning brown crème.  The formula was fantastic!  No issues at all.  It went on beautifully.  The pictures show two coats with top coat.  I do suggest wearing a base coat for both natural and acrylic nails.  There was just slight staining, but it disappeared after the next polish and removal.

Next up is Louise:

Louise is a pretty chocolate brown crème.  It's perfect for Fall.  The first coat does go on very blotchy, but the second coat will smooth it all out.  Other than that there were no issues with it, it worked and looked beautiful.  Pictures show two coats with top coat.

Last, but not least is Maria Luisa (over Louise):

Maria Luisa is a top coat with gold irregular shaped glitter in a clear base.  Pictures show one coat of Maria Luisa with top coat.  This polish is packed full of gorgeous gold glitter and dries to a smooth finish.  I can not wait to try this out with other colors!!!

These, and the rest of the collection can be found at Zoya website and Ulta for $8.00 each.

Hope y'all enjoyed these and I'll see you tomorrow with one of my biggest lemmings that is finally mine!!  Happy Polishing!!!

Snow Leopard

Happy Friday Y'all!!  Anyone have big plans for the weekend?  Other than the now-a-teen's dance class on Saturday, our weekend is completely open.  That's rare. I don't know if we will go do something fun (I really want to get back to Saks during their Master the Look event) or if we will just have a quiet weekend at home.  Pretty sure I know which one the hubby wants o_O

I told you I went to the Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show (it was all over my twitter page) and I wore this cute gray/silver/black leopard print sweater and I wanted my nails to match:

I Used:
China Glaze- Hook and Line (dark silver/pewter shimmer)
Orly- Liquid Vinyl (black crème)
China Glaze- Gossip Over Gimlets (silver ultra shimmer/glass fleck)
Dotting Tools

Click here for my step-by-step tutorial on leopard print :)

So for my thumb, pinky and index finger, the base color is China Glaze Hook and Line, a sort of brushed silver.  For my middle finger, I used China Glaze Gossip Over Gimlets and for my ring finger I used Orly Liquid Vinyl.  Then alternated the three polishes for the spots.

I so love these!!!!

And to the utter amazement and awe of one of the young ladies at one of the make up counters, my nails matched my sweater perfectly...she asked, "What are the chances of that happening?"  Bless her heart!!

I hope y'all have a safe, fun and love filled weekend!!  Happy Polishing!!!

Saks Fifth Avenue: Master the Look

Hi Y'all!!!  Happy Thursday!!  I'm so excited about this post, I have to get right to it.  Yesterday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers (click here for links to all of our blogs) were invited to a sneak peek at Master the Look at Saks Fifth Avenue that starts today and runs through October 5th.

Now first, get the idea out of your head that there's no way for you to shop at Saks Fifth Avenue!!  It's every one's store!!  Seriously.  No matter what your budget is, there are fabulous products for you there.  And the staff couldn't be more wonderful.  They were all so courteous, helpful and informative!!  There's not a question they can't answer.  They know their products!  And you know that old saying, "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it".  Forget that!!  The staff was very helpful and willing to help you find what you are looking for at any price, from Clinique (yes they carry Clinique!) to Clive Christian (The World's Most Expensive Perfume). 

The beauty department is absolutely beautiful.  Open and airy yet each brand has their own section that feels intimate.  And during this fabulous ten days, they have make up experts to help you master whatever style you are going for:  smoky eyes, fresh and natural, night out...they will teach you. 

Did I mention the gifts with purchase??  First up, from Saks Fifth Avenue is this fabulous tote with deluxe samples free with any beauty purchase of $100 or more.  And with any beauty purchase of $150 or more, they will add the matching cosmetic bag:

It comes in the white above or navy blue.  See the size of the samples?

And if all that is not enough, there are over 75 gifts with purchase.  Here are just a few samples:

 

And did I mention how gorgeous their beauty department is?

Look at those awesome black chandeliers in the Dolce & Gabbana section!

And be sure to go by the perfume section.  There are wonderful and affordable ($125 and up) perfumes and colognes.  And the stories that come with them are fascinating!  Like Bond no. 9 New York, started after the tragedy of 9/11 and named for different neighborhoods in New York:

And Clive Christian, the "World's Most Expensive Perfume" ranging in price from the low $300's up to $250,000:

If any of you want to buy me a bottle, let me know!!!

There is so much going on at Saks Fifth Avenue for the next 10 days, it won't begin to fit into a blog post, but I hope this gives you an idea of all the awesome things taking place!  Remember it starts today and runs through October 5th!  Be sure to visit!!  I promise they will take good care of you!!

Mish Mash Challenge: Blue

Hey Y'all!! How's your Hump Day going?  If you follow me on facebook you know I'm having a crappy day!  But enough about that junk (or as we spell it here in the south, junque).  Today is the Mish Mash Challenge and today's prompt is blue!  I had several ideas, but after watching the Emmys Sunday night, I realized I just HAD to copy Sir Elton John's coat:

Isn't it just fab???  And here are my nails:

I Used:
Orly- Shockwave (bright royal blue crème)
Finger Paints- Colorful Collage (scatter holo glitter top coat)

I used two coats of Orly Shockwave, a gorgeous bright blue crème.  Then, just using the brush that came with the polish, I applied two coats of Finger Paints Colorful Collage in a kind of ruffian style.  Finally, one coat of top coat.  Very easy to do, but it packs a lot of bling!

I hope y'all have a fabulous rest of your day!!  I think I'm going to go to bed and start this day over again!!  But not before checking out all the fabulous blue manis in the links below!!  Happy Polishing!!

MABB Bi-Weekly Question

Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun! This week's question is...

What makeup items are you more likely to splurge on?

There isn't that much I'm really going to splurge on, really only two items.  But when I splurge, I really splurge, lol.  For the most part, my make up comes from everywhere from Dollar Tree to drug stores.  But one thing I have always splurged on is my foundation:

It's Lancôme Tient Visionnaire.  I LOVE this stuff!!!  It is fabulous for those of us that are older and may have dark spots, uneven coloring, sun damage, etc.  As much as I love it (and the entire Visionnaire line), I'm a little embarrassed by the price...$60.  But it does last a really long time.  I just bought this and probably won't need anymore until the end of the year at the earliest.

The other thing I splurge on is skin care: lotions, serums, anything that promises the fountain of youth in a bottle, lol!  I do love Lancôme's Visionnaire line (there are two I really want), but at about $100 each, I'm just not ready to splurge that much!  So I'm trying to find something new now.

The only other place I sometimes splurge on is with nail polish.  But I think that depends on what you would consider a splurge, I think OPIs at $9 is average and Chanel at $27 a splurge.  P.S. I only own one Chanel polish and the hubby bought it for me)

What about you?  What do you splurge on?

Please join me in checking out the other fabulous ladies to see their splurges.  I can't wait to see their answers!!


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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' blogs!
Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Brittney from BellBelleBella
Christine from Simply Stine
Dawn from Ritual Beauty
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Kaitlin from Blushing Beauty
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

TIOT- Sephora by OPI Here's Lilac-in At You, Kid

Hey Y'all!!  Happy Tuesday!!  I'm so sorry I missed posting yesterday, but I have a lot of things in the works for you, a stamping plate, lotion, shampoo....  And I still have to tell you about the beauty trend show at Nordstrom.  Busy, busy week!!

But it's Tuesday and that means it's time for Try It On Tuesday, and I have OPI by Sephora Here's Lilac-in At You Kid:

Here's Lilac-in At You, Kid is a dark blurple jelly with a dark lilac shimmer.  I was really surprised by this polish.  In the bottle, it just looked like a purple shimmer.  I basically bought it just because it was purple and I needed three for Sephora's 3 for $10 sale.

It's actually much more navy blue with a dark lilac shimmer to it.  I actually really liked it.  The formula was great.  The first coat was streaky, but the second coat evened everything out perfectly.  There was some very subtle visible brush strokes.  The pictures show two coats with top coat.

I'm kind of sad that Sephora is discontinuing this line.  I really like it.  If you go to Sephora, they are just about out of these polishes.  There is really just the crackle polish left and they've put up the signs for their new polish, Sephora X I think it's called??  I can't remember. 

Be sure to go to Sassy Paints facebook page to see the other TIOT manis!  And I'll have two posts up for you tomorrow, MABB Bi-Weekly Question and Mish Mash Challenge!   Happy Polishing!!!

Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show- Sept 21!!

Hi my Lovelies!!!  I have something extra special for all my Metro Atlanta peeps today (and anyone in driving distance...seriously)!!  Have you ever wanted to know what the upcoming beauty trends are before everyone else??  And I'm not talking about what all the teens and tweens are doing, but what the grown up women are doing.  How great would it be to be in the know about what the classic beauties are doing in the spas and at the cosmetic counters for this Fall?? 

Well now is the time to rejoice then, because I have the event for you!!!  This Saturday, September 21st Nordstrom at Perimeter Mall will be holding their Cosmetic/Spa Beauty Trend Show!!  I can't tell you how excited I am about this event!!  I can hardly wait until Saturday!!

 

Here are just a FEW of the highlights from Nordstrom's website :

VIP Spa Experience

Makeovers from Professional Stylist

The Spa hosting a Dr. Gross Lifestyle Event including Complimentary Treatments:

Professional Peel, Steam and Mask

Hand and Scalp Massages

Mini Nuface Lifts

Jane Iredale Makeovers

Hand & Arm Exfoliation and Massage by Whish Body Products

Speakers

Live Models

 

And if that wasn't enough, look at these goodies:

Light Catered Breakfast at 7:30

Gift Bag

Giveaways

Live DJ

Happy Hour (You know I'll be at that!)

 

Oh my goodness!!!!  I think I just found heaven on earth!!  And the cost???  Only $20 a ticket AND THAT IS REDEEMABLE TOWARDS YOUR BEAUTY PURCHASE!!!! (Think of it as more of a $20 off coupon!)  So you actually can get ALL this for free!!!!  I think  Nordstrom has just become my favorite store!!!

So do you want to join me??  All you have to do is call (770) 350-4802 to purchase your ticket!!  And click here for the website.

With this much to do, I'm so happy about the time....this kicks off at 7:30 AM and goes until close at 9:00 PM.  If you go, be sure to let me know, I would love to see you!!

Mish Mash Challenge: Cold

Hi Y'all!!!  Happy Hump Day!!!  I have to take the now-a-teen to an oral surgeon a long way from home, so I'm gonna get right to the post!  Today's Mish Mash Challenge theme is cold.  I actually had a hard time with this!  Back in December, 2012, I did a post of Mr. Heat Miser & Mr. Snow Miser and I couldn't think of anything else.  I really liked the icicles I did and that is what my brain got stuck on :(

Finally, I decided to go simply:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- Snow Me White (white crème)
Color Club- no name (very light blue shimmer)
OPI- Last Friday Night (blue jelly base with AB small glitters)

On three nails I used this pretty, shimmery light blue Color Club (sorry, I tried looking it up) that reminded me of frost.  Then on my middle and ring fingers, I painted two coats of Sinful Colors Snow Me White.  Once that dried, I painted two coats of OPI Last Friday Night, a pale blue jelly with aurora borealis glitters.  That really made me think of frosty or snowy mornings.

So that's it for Cold!  Be sure to check out the wonderful ladies below.  There are some AMAZING manis going on today!!  Happy Polishing!!!

TIOT: Sparitual Deep Shimmer

Hi Y'all!!!  It's Tuesday, so that means it's the now-a-teen's and my busy day.  I also must mean its Try It Own Tuesday sponsored by the incredible Gini at Sassy Paints!  So I'm going to get right to it!

We have a new TJ Maxx in town and I had to go check it out.  I had heard that they have nail polish and they do!!  I bought several, but the one I was most anxious to try was Sparitual Deep Shimmer:

This is my first Sparitual, so I don't know if they are all like this, but it's name seems to just be Deep Shimmer.  Deep Shimmer is a medium dark gray with a subtle purple shimmer:

And when I say it's a subtle shimmer, I'm not kidding.  It is so subtle it might as well not even be there.  Which is a shame since, although it's a pretty gray, the main reason I bought it was for the purple shimmer.

The formula was wonderful, no balding, no dragging.  It has great pigmentation. The pictures show two coats with top coat. It really is pretty, I'm just disappointed about the purple shimmer not showing. Other than that, I'm happy with it.  Luckily I like gray.  Sparitual usually retails for $10.00, but I bought this for $3.99.

I will still be checking out my TJ Maxx (in fact, Tuesday is my day to visit it) and will probably buy more Sparitual!  Be sure to visit Sassy Paints facebook page to see every one's TIOT manis.  And remember you can join this challenge by just loading your mani on her facebook page (just no spamming please).  See y'all tomorrow for the Mish Mash Challenge!  Happy Polishing!!!

Review: I Love Nail Polish Birefringence & Cygnus Loop

Happy Monday Y'all!!  And yes, I'm determined that today is going to be a happy Monday!  So the radiator on my van is busted, and that's an expense we don't need (but then who does, right?), the now-a-teen has two dance classes, and for some reason I can not stop sneezing!!!  But it's going to be a good day, dang nab it!

Anyway, today I have two polishes from I Love Nail Polish's Ultra Chrome collection.  These went on presale about a month ago and I was lucky enough to get the two I wanted most...which was a feat!  It took me over an hour to get on the site and they sold out fast!  But they are back in stock now!!!! They are $12.50 each, click here! 

The formulas on both of these are great, a little thicker than normal, but not too thick to work with or need thinner.  There aren't any visible brush strokes.  The first coat will be streaky with some balding, but the second coat will clear that all up...just be sure to allow the first coat to dry.  The shifts in these polishes will knock you out!  All the pictures show two coats with top coat.

Bierfringence

Birefringence is mainly a shimmery blue chrome that shifts to purple (the most obvious shift), green, red and gold:

Isn't this incredible???  The picture above and the two below were taken under water because it seemed to be the only way to capture the shift with my camera.  But it is there in real life, promise.  I was able to get it with Cygnus Loop.

 

Cygnus Loop

Cygnus Loop is a purple based shimmery chrome that to blue, red, gold and green.  For me, the shift in Cygnus Loop seemed to be more apparent in real life, it just seemed to shift a little more.   Or it could just be that because the main color is purple, I liked it more, lol.

I know this is a bit picture heavy, but these polishes are gorgeous!!!  It was all I could do to cut it down to these!  As far as my experience with ILNP, it was fabulous!  They kept me informed as to the delivery and status of my order and it arrived in gorgeous packaging.  I wish I had a picture of the tissue paper and boxes, but I was so excited over these Ultra Chromes, I kinda of ripped into it to get to them.

 

If you want your own, they are available now for $12.50 on the I Love Nail Polish website.  But hurry, they won't last long!  Happy Polishing!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 









Army Camouflage Nails (& Tutorial)

Happy Friday the 13th!!!!  How is everyone doing??  The now-a-teen and I have hair appointments in a few, but I wanted to get this posted for you first.  The wonderful and fabulous Kay, after seeing my Navy Camo nails (which I'm redoing this way soon), requested Army Camouflage nails:

I Used:
Spoiled- Steel The Show (taupe crème)
China Glaze- Exotic Encounters (olive/green crème)
Orly- Chocoholic (brown with silver shimmer)
Salon Perfect- Ivy League (dark green shimmer)
Fine Detail Brush
Super Fine Detail Brush

I didn't have the perfect shades for this, but I love how my Army camo nails came out.  This was done by me playing around trying to figure it out.  I so loved these, not only am I going to redo my Navy camo (my most popular post ever), I'm doing these in every color!!

I started with one coat of Spoiled Steel The Show. Then using a round detail brush and China Glaze Exotic Encounters, I started the first layer of camo by basically painting shaky C's and blobs:

Then, using a very fine and thin brush, I just filled in with the remaining two polishes.

I hope you enjoyed today's post!  Thank you to Kay for the request and so glad you liked them!

Y'all have a fabulous, luck filled day today....and if you see anyone approach you with a hockey mask and machete, RUN!!!!!!!   Happy Polishing!!

Mish Mash Challenge: Cheapest

Hey Y'all!!!  Can you believe it??  THREE POSTS in one day!!!  If you haven't already, please check out the other two.  And if you are a blogger, be sure to check out our blog hop!!

Ok, since this is my third, straight to it.  Today's theme is Our Cheapest Polish and while I know I have cheaper, these two were pretty darn cheap....they cost 99 cents each.

And the polishes:

They are:  Nanacoco Surfer's Dream and Wet-n-Wild Who Is Ultra Violet?

Then to make the design, I just used striping tape which is super cheap.  You can find it on Amazon for about $2.00 for 10 rolls.  I started with two coats of the Nanacoco (I've never heard of this polish before, but found it at a new beauty supply store in my town and had to try it).  Then place the striping tape:

It did take two coats of the Wet-n-Wild.  Just leave the tape in place while the first coat dries.  Then immediately after painting the second coat, remove the tape.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Mish Mash Challenge.  Be sure to check out the other fabulous frugal ladies in the links below!!  Happy Polishing!!