Influenster Makeover!

Now you all have seen my post before this about my fall 2012 Naturals Vox Box (thats the name for these boxes).

Let me go into more detail about what a Vox Box is and how Influenster works, with a little help from them of course - I don't want to mush any of this up! ^_^

There are 4 major changes to the new relaunch of the Influenster brand. Before it was as simple as sign up, fill out your profile, do a few reviews and fingers crossed that you get one in your mail box. This is all shiny and new. Here are the biggest changes:


Influenster Score:
Your score is the biggest measure of your standing within Influenster and will determine your qualification in programs. Scores go up by connecting your social channels and showing your social influence. 

LifeStage & Expert Badges:
We're introducing two new types of badges - LifeStage & Expert. LifeStage represent where you are in your life, while Expert Badges are all about what you know, and are scored to show off your expertise in various areas. Leave reviews and complete other tasks to raise your scores and get higher chances of qualifying in programs. Influensters can earn up to five Expert Badges to start. 

Reviews:
We know you’ve loved reviewing VoxBox products, but what about the millions of other products you use and love? In October, you'll be able to add any product to our review pages and leave reviews on everything!

Invite Only:
Our trendsetting community just became more exclusive. New members are now required to request an invite to join. Prior members will retain their memberships and can invite up to five few friends. The more influential your referrals, the higher your Influenster Score will rise.



I really do enjoy the new changes! The interface looks much better, more streamline. As for the changes with the Badges and your score, it is a great way to make sure you get boxes that are more aimed towards your preferences. As you do reviews and share items your score will go up, and that will help with the chances of getting a super awesome Vox Box!

The ablity to share your item reviews, photos of products and link through social media, it is a great way to get your voice heard! This is definitely more blogger friendly :-D


Another new thing that I like about this new Influenster is that it is more exclusive. Not only do you need an invite to join the site, but you earn your Vox Boxes as well. The more you participate, the bigger the reward! Well earned and well deserved rewards.


I'm looking forward to more fun treats from Influenster and to see how these changes equate to more streamline experience for us testers. Well I'm off to work on my score, but if anyone needs an invite, let me know or go to INFLUENSTER and signup yourself!  ^_~
























Influenster

Naturals Vox Box 2012!

yeah yeah, I know. Same story, weeks later, but I come bringing goodies.

This time it  is all about my Natural's Vox Box 2012!


Let me tell you about all of the fun stuff in my box!

Here is a list of items, each will get their own post in the following week. One a day until I get to share them all. ^_^

The Original Dish Drying Mat ($4.99)
LypSyl Intense Prtection LypMoisturizer ($2.87)
EBOOST ($28 - box of 20)
Clean Well Individul Hand Sanitizer Wipes ($29.99 - 50 pouches)
DEODEO ($5.99)
Nectresse ($3.99 - 40 servings)
SheaMoisture Raw Shea, Chamomile &Argan Baby Bar Soap ($4.99)


I think that this is a great box full of natural goodies.

All week I will be updating with little bits about what I got! see you all real soon! ^_~

NOTD for the week of 9/9

If you could see the drafts I have in here you would think, 'Hey girl, I know you're busy but you type a lot and people want to read these. I'm not worried though, I know you want to make them the thorough and informative. I cannot wait to see what you show me.' I can see a cute Ryan Gossling photo to put that on, lol.

Here is my week in nails!

Monday

Sinful Color - Cream Pink, Color Club - Lava Lamp, Zoya - Phoebe & Zoya - Mitzi

I have been in an 80's mood lately and this takes the cake. Funky angles and fun colors, that is what it is all about!

Tuesday

China Glaze - Stone Cold, Zoya - Phoebe & Zoya - Mitzi

Not so 80's but just as funky, Stone Cold is one of my new loves!

Wednesday

Nails: Deborah Lippman - Footloose & Lips: OCC Lip Tar - NSFW

I snagged this OCC Lip Tar while getting some retail therapy this weekend and I am HOOKED! This really is the perfect shade of red for my skin tone, and it matches my hair too! I was in a red mood this day.

Thursday

Orly - Buried Alive

Did you know that Thursday was National Chocolate Day? Yum! I walk into work and there was Pocky and other chocolate goodies to munch on, it was a good day.

Friday

Zoya - Mitzi & Funky Fingers - Sand and Stilettos

I fought with myself on this one, I like it but I am not in love. Getting ready for work I was hoping for more sun to get the full effect of the holographic, but I was welcomed by clouds and rain for a few hours. Gotta love Florida weather. This was a great pick me up to the dreary day it turned out to be.

---

This week I used the CRAP out of my Zoya Mitzi & Phoebe. I have had them for over a year now and I really enjoy them, but sometimes it is hard to work in a neon, and a matte neon at that. 

These are always posted to my twitter, instagram, and tumbr first. I think it is nice to see them all together like this though. Makes me feel somewhat accomplished about taking the time to get it all done and have something cute for work.

These weekly posts make the week go by fast, even if I am not getting reviews out. It makes me feel like I am getting something done, and giving you all something to check out. Hope to see you all soon and working on Doctor Who nails as we speak ^_~

NOTD - for the week of 9/2

Getting back in the swing of things, and I really REALLY love nail art. Something subtle to the more complex. Here is a journey through my week, and I hope to keep snagging photos of fun art, or just random colors I pick for the day!

Sunday

In honor of the Asylum of the Daleks

(Nerd Laquer - I think you call me...Sexy, Finger Paints - Primary Color, & random black striper)

Monday

Getting into the Halloween spirit early, rawr!

(OPI - Chopsticking to my story, China Glaze - Stone Cold, random black striper)

Wednesday

Just a touch of sparkle!

(Zoya - Phoebe & OPI - Last Friday Night)

Thursday

Everyday is good for leopard print!

(China Glaze - Fast Track, black striper, & various neon colors) 

Friday

Dots! Dots! Moar Dots!

(Zoya - Dove & about 6 other colors ^_^ )

Saturday

Secrets, secrets don't make friends!

(Color Club - Lava Lamp & Fantasy Makers - Go with the Glow)

I only missed one day, *pat on the back* I really hope you enjoyed the week, and I will see you all soon! ^_~

Birchbox!

As you've noticed I have not been posting my boxes. A mix of horrible timing and me being lazy, my box posts have suffered. Do not fret, while I don't have my pictures. I will give a whole rundown of July and August.

July 2012 - (sample - brand - full size price)

• Hello (perfume) - Harvey Prince - $55 (50ml)
• Sunscreen Serum (2 packets) - Supergoop - $42 (1.6fl oz)
• Bamboo UV+ Color Protector - Alterna - $24 (2.5 floz)
• Liquid Eyeliner - Eyeko - $15 (0.07fl oz)
• Earbuds - Birchbox Exclusive - $10 **Extra Treat**

There are a few things that I really enjoyed in here. The ear buds are fun neon colors and work great. Hello, is a great perfume. The sample came with a pump top, and the scent on top is a nice blend of citrus and floral, very light, and under I pick up the vanilla and musk notes. It is something that I could wear on a semi regular basis and not get tired of it, I would not even keep it strictly as a seasonal scent either.

I received the Eyeko eyeliner in Black, the color was a little on the thin side, but there was good staying power. My roommate received the Olive color, we both were excited to get a full size product but she does not like green that much and I have a few black eyeliners, so we swapped. The olive is much thinner, needing a couple layers, and even using a finishing spray to lock in the colors on my eyes the green still wore off on my upper lid and did not last that long. Not thoroughly impressed by the product but I would give the brand another not if I had the chance.
July was overall a good month and now that I have insanely red hair the hair protector will come in handy, seeing how summer will last another few months here in Florida. 

   

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August 2012 - (sample - brand - full size price)

• Viva La Juicy La Fleur - Juicy Couture - $70 (2.5 fl oz)
• Moisturizing Summer Glow - Comodynes - $20.98 (1.35fl oz)
• Self-Tanning Towelettes - Comodynes - $13.99 (8 towelettes)
• Makeup Remover Swab - Beauty Fixation - $5 (24 applicators)
• Razor - Schick - $9.99 **Birchbox Find**

August was a little funky for me. This was not the box I was expecting to get (insert sorta bummed face here). I took a sneak peak at my box because it didn't get shipped out until the 11th or so, and the products I saw and got super excited for were not ones that I received. I did contact customer service, and all I got was thanks for the heads up. Usually they are more accommodating or friendly for that matter, but I just did a baseline review for the products I was supposed to receive just to get my BB points.
A main reason that I was really bummed was that in my original box i was meant to get a TILI Lip Blush, and really I got self tanner. If you all knew how pale I was you would know I cannot really use either product without it looking wonky on me. Yes, I know I live in florida, but I hate the beach and I work indoors. I have a slight florida sun kiss but it does not last long lol.
The makeup remover swab/q-tip things, are great! they're one time use and perfect if you wake up after a long night and you may have passed out without cleaning your face before you had the chance too. I am really paranoid about getting soap in my eyes, and these get in the little corners to clean up the stubborn eyeliner that doesnt want to budge.

The Birchbox Find, their new must have selection that EVERY box gets one of, was the new Schick Hydro Silk razor. It is nice, it is a razor, it shaved my legs, lol. If you didn't use yours, keep it for a back up or if you are going on a trip. I did not think that it was anything special, but it did the job it was meant to do.
Overall, August was a little meh. Not the best, and not the worst I have ever received. If anyone is looking for some high-end self tanner I can send you these lol.

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There is good and bad news to wrap up this post.

The good news is that I have been selected to participate in the Naturals Vox Box coming out in a month or so. I have had a chance to participate in this before and it was great! the products were fun to test out and I am really looking forward to sharing with you guys all the fun natural goodies I get.

Bad news is at the moment I have bowed out from receiving my next few boxes. I'm taking some time off from a lot of my subscriptions, to save up some money for a possible move. There is a great opportunity for me to become 28 year old freshman, lol. Okay, it isn't as bad as it sounds. I really want to get my MLS, and there is a college up north that offers a 4 year program to work through your BA and get your MLS at the end of it. It works with the schedule I have set, I am already working in the field I am just looking to get the degrees to back me up! ^_~

Not quite a cheeseburger..

..but it is Almost Paradise. This is one of those colors I was raving about getting a great deal on back in June.
Here is a look.

This is Deborah Lippman's Almost Paradise. It has a great formula, two coats and I am out the door. While I am not a big fan of pastel colors, this is one that I will put in my Keepers drawer. It is like the perfect color of a yummy slice of key lime pie! Here is a picture with some more indirect light, you can see more of the green in it.

If you have been following me you know that I love my green polish, and this is no exception! Not exactly a fall color but any other season this would fit in nicely.

Hmmm, now I could go for some pie ^_~

Good morning sunshine!

Why hello there!

I'm not going to go on beating myself up for taking a short jaunt away from my blog again but I just need to give myself a good kick in the ass and get moving! Things have been busy lately, and on the good side ^_^

I'm going to take all of this positive energy and spin it into motivation and push myself to get back into my art, and polish. You know...after a cup or two of coffee I could really be a morning person, lol.

You know that super awesome convention I was going to head to this weekend? Well I couldn't go last minute but I still have all of this time off! Right now I have pictures that I am currently editing and I will work my butt off to get a bunch of things ready. I know, I know, you've heard this story before but now I actually have time off to relax and enjoy the process.

OOH! and I just went back to bright red hair! Think Ariel, the little mermaid, hair. I was red for most of last year and to get a job down here I went for a more conventional look, but my job is kind of awesome and allows hair of ANY color. I tried out the purple/grey thing back in May, and that was fun! And now I am really comfortable with the idea of being all grey one day and not wasting time and money on constantly dying my hair. My adventure into hair color has been a very interesting experience and something I am glad I have taken the chances I have. The way I look at it is, if my hair falls out...I can always get AWESOME WIGS! lol

Alright, off to my last day of work but I will see you shortly. For those that are going off to the con this weekend, Have a Frackin Blast!! (and bring back lots of pictures)




P.S. on a side note - I'm thinking of turning this blog into a group blog. Like me and a few girlfriends posting once or twice a week about makeup finds, Nails and Outfits of the day, and other fun things. Also if I have any mommy friends that want to post too, they could give tricks or share how they treat themselves after a long day ^_~

Oh there you are!

I thought I lost you!

After a surprisingly long hiatus I think I'm back. I really had a few weeks there where I hated my computer and did not even want to sit down and even just browse the web. It actually made me nauseous to think about sitting here for a little bit to make a post. I know it sounds bad, but things were just kind of getting away from me. I blame my birthday, I still face that 1/4 life-crisis mentality and disappear for a while to regenerate and refresh.

The good news is that I am still accumulating nail polish and fun makeup while I've been gone. I still need to post my Birchbox stuffs! The bad news is, I will no longer be going to Dragon*Con, BUT I will recruit friends to bring back photos and great stories about it and I will share with you all of their fun. This last thing I am quite bummed about, but that gives me a whole year to get things ready for 2013!

I am getting ready for a gathering of old friends, but I am here and I will be back shortly. Keep an eye out tomorrow night for my favorite new lacquers ^_~

My inner geek is about to explode!

Every Labor Day weekend there is a gathering of the geeky masses in Atlanta, GA. For the past 25 years it is an event that is growing and the last few years I have attended the numbers of the masses looks like this, 2010 the attendance was right aroung 40,000 attendies. In 2011 it jumped up to 46,000, and this year they are projecting more that 50,000 people converging onto a 9-block radius in downtown Atlanta.

This event is known as DRAGON*CON!

No this isn't a ComicCon, or some anime convention, it is kind of the best of both worlds minus the big industry backing. You won't find Sony, EA, HBO, NBC, or any other BIG industry names. Dragon*con is more fan backed, it is the hard work of thousands of people, fans, geeks, whatever you want to call them, I personally like 'Those super awesome people that put on a super amazing convention that I would like to help out with someday' ^_^

When I say that this is a convention for everyone I really mean it. Whether you are into Star Wars, StarTrek, Zombies, Doctor Who, MMOs, Comics, Robots, LARPing, Sci-Fi books, Art, everything in between, this is for you! It is always a blast to go and see the costumes and the parties and all the AMAZING panels.

You can feel my excitement right?!

On top of all the fun thing above, each year they have a massive blood drive and each year they select a charity to donate to. Last year there were 2,900 blood donors resulting in, 2,750 units added to the Red Cross inventory. The charity Dragon*con donated to last year was the National Inclusion Project, the donations from convention goers reached over $40,000! This year they have selected the Georgia Chapter of the ALS Association. Both are a great way for the convention and attendees to give back during an awesome weekend, see it's not all about the parties!

I will be back to post more on past costumes and all the fun that is planned for this year coming up! ^_~

America...F*** YEAH!

Getting into the spirit of July 4th, here is a new twist on the stars and stripes...only there are no stars.

This art technique I came across by accident, and that is how the best things are found. Looking for sweet fishtail braids, I ran into fishtail nails! Yes it is as cool as it sounds, just think of braiding your nail polish.

This is work, but it is SO worth it!! the first time I attempted this it took about an hour to get it just right, but now I think now I have it down to a quick 15 mins including clean up and prep. It looks intimidating but just give it a shot! Do it for America! ^_~

Kick off your Sunday shoes!

So I know I keep raving about this deal I scooped up. Let me elaborate on that. A while ago I came across some nail polish in an unlikely place, HSN. I don't know why but I just did not imagine shopping for polish there. Anyway, I went back to see what they had and see if there was anything on sale. I was happily surprised to find that there were a few sets in the clearance section, and even a few pairs for just under $10!! If you are not familiar with the Deborah Lippmann brand, these usually are sold in high end retail stores and sell for around $16 each. Now you don't get a choice of colors, but thankfully I had nothing that was so close to these and I will take what I can at that price! All in all I ended up paying around $25 for four colors and shipping, AMAZING right?! I have to say I am a little proud of this, can you tell?

This is the first of those four colors...allow me to share with you, Footloose.

This is a easy to wear orange-red creme. It is almost coral but not quite there. The formula is smooth and nice to apply, but it is on the thin side. Even after three coats you can still see the smile line on a few of my nail, you can see that below. When I wear this again I will probably put a white base under the layers, that way it will hide the lines. This is a great color and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do, art wise with this one.

As you can see there is a change in my nails too, hehe. I had a little mishap with uploading some photos and needed to take a few more. The good and bad of what happened over the week was that I had an interview for a position a step up from where I am right now, and way closer to home, but that down side was that due to nerves I kind of lost my pinkie nails. So fingers crossed and give it a week and she will be back to normal ^_~

Well, Hello there!

Alright, lets get hopping!

Okay so I know I have not been the most present, and I really have no good reason other than I have been lazy. A long work weekend, then a week without the roommates. There were many a chance to post but I did not, and I promise I will not disappear like that again, unless I have a really GOOD reason, hehe.

So how have you all been? Things that have been going on with me, I picked up on an amazing!! deal  for 2 pairs of Deborah Lippmann polishes, grabbed me a lizard (of the OPI brand), and took advantage of some high quality pool time! Keep tuned in, because tonight is going to be a whopper ^_~

Everyone has a little something to work on

I have figured out my weakness in my ability to blog seven whole days in a row. The end of my work week currently consists of close, open, open. I know that does not seem hard to get a post in there, but by the time my days off roll around I am already three days down and sad that I haven't shared anything. So I will set a goal to post every other day, or if I get ahead of myself I will schedule posts for the weekend, lol. This is just a title snippet for tonight, but I did receive the Deborah Lippmann nail polish I ordered for super awesome mega discount. I cannot wait to share those with you guys ^_~

''And lips, the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss'

As I showed you yesterday, I received some amazing products in my Birchbox. Today at work I am wearing the Clark's Botanicals ultra rich lip tint, and it is very pleasant. Keep reading for more detail on each product.

Clark's Botanicals Ultra Rich Lip Tint in 02 - Carlotta Pink

Look at all that shine! On top of that shine, it feels amazing on my lips. Although not a thin formula, once it was on and I pressed my lips together a few times it felt very watery. Not in a bad way, but in a way that my lips felt super hydrated. The smell is a little sweet, and there is hint of vanilla in there too. The color is subtle and this is definitely a keeper, in my purse it stays!

theBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen

The Staniac is another great product. It is almost like a red jelly, and when blended in it creates this hint of tint. The color builds fast, and is super easy to apply. In the pictures above I only used a few little swipes of the wand, which created a warm glow. The stainiac will for sure be used as a lip stain, but using it as a blush will be something I will have to work with. I don't use much blush, so it is something I look forward to trying it out.

Flash // No Flash

The quote is from Romeo and Juliet (5:3:122). You will see my love for Shakespeare creep up here and there. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but I just like his work. Love him or hate him, you have to admit there is something amazing about the staying power of his words and the influence he has had on popular culture in the past, present and future. ^_~

Birchbox June 2012

Well hello there ladies, and the occasional fella, it IS that time of month again. The best pink box a girl can buy, Birchbox!

I have to give myself a little pat on the back this month, I didn't peak at any videos or blogs about what they got until I had a chance to rip mine open. It only took me eleven months to gain this self restraint, lol.

Ladies, what is just as good as getting mine? Watching all of my friends who I have convinced to join get theirs and post all of the goodness. My roommate finally caved, so if I can sneak a peek I will let you know what was inside.

The June 2012 theme is Jet Set, products for the beauty maven on the go. The first thing I noticed about this box was the inside of the outside, if that makes sense. Here let me show you...

Fun, right? Now the items I received, other than being mini/sample/travel sized, are not overly jet setting but they are still great. A little bit of everything, including a fashionable zip-top bag that could be used at airport security...but it isn't clear, so it will stay at home holding some loose odds and ends. On that note, let me show you what else is inside.

A short rundown of the value of my box (product / size / value)

• Ultra Rich Lip Tint  -  0.40 fl oz.  -  $ 19
• Wonderlust Tonic  -  1 fl oz.  -  $ 4.30
• LaFresh Nail Polish Remover  -  2 pads  -  $ 1.12
• Stainiac  -  1.2 mL / 0.04 fl oz.  -  $ 2.54
• tili  -  1 bag  -  $ 0.94

Total Value  -  $ 27.90

Weeee!! Check out my awesome new lip products. Those are the two things that I am the most happy about. The full-size Clark's Botanicals lip tint is the shinning star. Quite literally too, it is very sparkly and the color is not too bright. For me it falls into the lip gloss, but it is still pretty amazing either way.

I have swatches ready of the lip stuffs, and I cannot wait to let you know how the polish remover and Wonderlust work. Have a beautiful evening ^_~

A little bit of sparkle

In March, Birchbox gave each of us the opportunity to opt in for a Teen Vogue box. Basically it was a box of products that the editors of Teen Vogue picked out as great products for everyone to have. This put me into a little bit of a pickle, I wanted my regular box but I didn't want to miss out on this chance for full sized products and I knew Essie as going to be a partner in the Teen Vogue box. I was a little greedy and gifted myself 3 months on an additional account so I could get it and keep my original box, lol.


One of the products that I received was a full size Essie Luxeffects in Set In Stone. Digging through my polish drawer I thought this would look good over Skinny Dip. So I took the plunge, hehehe, and I wanted to see it over a black, a white, and all alone.

This is all silver, large and medium hexagon shaped glitter with itty-bitty rounds floating in a clear base. It isn't too busy, as you'll see it takes about 3 coats to get full coverage.

No Flash  /  Flash

Top to bottom it is ORLY - Skinny Dip (1 coat of glitter), Set In Stone (3 coats), Sally Girl - Pure (1 coat) & Wet'n'wild - Black Creme (1 coat)

My favorite picture. You really get an idea of the density of the glitter. I don't often use a glitter top coat, I like everything easy and if I can get that in one swipe it is even better, but this one is good in my book. Overall I enjoy this whole Luxeffects line from Essie, and I was able to snag the flake top coat shortly after I got this box. 

Mark this off for another reason why I remain a fan of Birchbox, and I cannot wait to get my hand on this month's! ^_~

Lets all go Skinny Dipping!

While out restocking my supply of remover and cotton balls checked out what Sally Beauty Supply had for new colors. The first thing to catch my eyes were all of the neons! It looks like my favorite part of the 80's is back in full swing. Okay...so I was only in the 80's for five years but those were the brightest 5 years of my life, lol.

I wanted to pick up a little bit of everything else I saw, but I did restrain myself. Just with ORLY there was a bunch. The Dark Shadows series, as well as the new Flash Glam FX. It's heavy on the glitter, a good mix of colors, shapes and sizes as well. It looks interesting enough, but I am trying to budget what I spend on polish and a new glitter is not what I need right now. But to round out all of the fun neon colors I do have, I snagged Skinny Dip from ORLY's Feel The Vibe collection.

See, it is not some crazy neon, but it is a bumped up blue. On top of that it has this subtle pearl touch to it. Like most in the Neon category of colors it ends with a satin, almost matte finish. So I used a top coat, and it did go on very thin. All together this is 4 coats, and I could have almost used another one of color if I was being picky.

We have had some crappy weather here the last few days so this is definitely something that brightens my day. This will be a fun color for the summer and I look forward to skinny dipping some more ^_~

KISS this

I have been running a little low on my handy dandy nail polish remover, so I have been getting creative. Last night after much thinking I remembered that when my mother send me a few of my things down she tossed in a pair of these Kiss Nail Dress 'fashion strips'.  I received a pair in my spring 2012 Influenster Box earlier this year in the pattern - Sexy (KDS10), It is your basic light gold/tan base and darker leopard pattern. This second pair I have is Bustier (KDS06)., it is black and silver floral pattern that is very textured. 

Now these are similar to the Sally Hansen Salon Effects, the one big difference is that Kiss Nail Dress strips have 28 strips, with plenty of sizes and shapes (each size has a square and a rounded edge). I have also noticed that the left overs of the Sexy pattern I have are still flexible, sticky and look like I can use them. They retail around $8 so this is a HUGE plus on saving some money, and almost doubles the value compared to other nail strips.

Bump, Bump It Up!

Positives - 

• Very easy to use 
• Both that I have tried are versatile patterns and can work with many outfits and ensembles
• Layer it over a neon or another color to make it pop
• They stick very well - I'm sure I could get a few solid days out of these (I NEVER get 10 days out of these things but it is a nice thought)
• It is nice that you can save your spares and potentially use them at a later date, they would make a great accent nail.

Negatives - 

• These run on the thicker side which can be hard to smooth on some of the non-textured patterns that need to be neat and clean
• This pattern specifically is going to drive me a little crazy, the bumps on it are a significant size. I like a smooth nail, no top coat will ever fix this
• Another irk about this pattern, it is a mixed pattern. While they are all silver/black/flowers, there are about 4 different patterns in the mix and it all depends on your nail size what you get and you hope that it looks good.

Now I was ready to talk smack about a horrible experience with the Broadway Nails stickers, but surprise these are the newer version of those! When the nail strips were newer on the market I was aching to get my hands on some, so I grabbed the first pair I could find. Well, it just happened to be Broadway Nails Nail Dress in Halter. They were horrible to put on, very stiff and very crease-y. I will happily eat some humble pie today to find out that these are the new/same/better versions of those and would definitely try out another pattern.

Hair stuffs

I decided that I wanted to go back to a more natural hair color. For the last 3 months I took a dive into the purple/grey/blond pool. While it was a lot of fun, and I wanted to go teal next, my roots were coming in bad and bleaching my hair that much, that often, is a commitment I am not ready to make.

This is as close as I have been to my natural hair color since I was 12. I have to admit I am kind of happy about this. If I hit it right on the head I will never have to touch up this dye job again! That is something that makes me a little excited.

So it got me thinking about what I use on my hair to make it stronger and healthier. These are a few of the products that I use on a daily/semi-daily basis for maintenance and upkeep.

In the shower -

• WEN by chaz dean - For my main hair cleansing product. Favorite scent is the Winter Warm Vanilla Mint, it's like mint chocolate chip ice cream ALL OVER MY HEAD! Next in line is the Sweet Almond Mint. For those of you who don't know what WEN is here is some info.
• Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo - I use this when I've noticed that my hair has a lot of build up from the pool I reach for this. It is gentle on colored hair, and is targeted towards people who have hard water or spend a lot of time in salt/chlorinated water. 

After the shower/to style -

• Orofluido - It is everything I said in my last post., and more! This really is the nectar of the gods to me. On top of everything that it does for my hair, I cannot tell you how AMAZEBALLS that fragrance is! They make a shampoo and conditioner too, right now I am happy with what I have. But it is always an option.
• WEN by chaz dean Texture Balm - This came in my starter WEN kit, and it is a great replacement for Bed Head's Manipulator that I used to use. Both are great products, but the WEN balm smells a little better and application is way easier. It comes in a push up tube, I like this better than dipping my fingers in oozy goop.
• Volumizing Dry Shampoo by TRESemme - A cure all for the oily scalp or to get an extra day or two out of your do. When I had red hair last summer I was able to use this and keep my hair super fresh for those times that I only washed it once a week (I know it sounds gross but really it is the only way to keep your hair that red, all the time. It fades like a mother-f-er, and these are the sacrifices that must be made lol. A shower cap and dry shampoo were my two best friends). This is a great, just spray it in and shake it out. If you look around companies like Bumble and Bumble have colored hair powder that works the same but it is red or black or blond rather than just white/translucent powder.

I really do not do too much to my hair after it is dry, outside of these products it is maybe a spritz of hair spray and I am off. I try to keep my hair as low maintenance as I can. It can get out of hand sometimes, and I am always amazed at how many products I own and how few I regularly use.

I generally am pretty stingy on products, including my makeup, but I own so much of it. The new and shiny really get my attention. I will take a quick snapshot of my makeup drawers when I get a chance.

But until then,
What are your favorite hair products? Do you have a wierd hair secret that you use to keep it shiny and healthy?

Laquer and Libations

Back before my move I had one of my favorite failed attempts at a blog. It was called Laquer and Libations, fun right? It was beverages and polish, my two loves!

I took a lazy weekend and didn't post at all (but my I did my nails and have many a pictures, so I will catch up!). I really think that the blog was under appreciated, and I did not give it enough support. So let me share with you a top 5 color pick and the beer that was just delish!

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After a split day of work and school, I made my way to the Kroger down the road and made my own six-pack. The first one I tried was the Spring Woodchuck Hard Cider. YUM! I have had Woodchuck before, but this one...hmmm...I could taste something different in it.

The label reads: "This spring cider desplays notes of maple syrup and brown sugar blended with fresh apple character" Not exactly what I would consider a spring flavor, but awesome. As soon as I read maple syrup, I knew that it is exactly the 'odd' taste I could not put my finger on. A little tart, sweet, and maple-y. Delish right?

Inspires by the bottle, and the cute woodchuck, I decided to grab Zoya Shawn. I just got her in the mail, and it is a great olive green. I used 3 coats, the formula on this color seemed a little thin, but other than that I really have no complaints. After waiting so long to actually buy it, it was defiantly worth the wait.
 

  

 



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What made me think of even doing this flashback was that I had an AMAZING beer over the weekend that inspired some nail art and I will soon get that posted.


I know that some people may think that alcolhol has no place with nail polish, but look at it from my point of view. I am 27, and this is a hobby. I expect grown adults to make their own decisions and I do not promote under age drinking. The only thing to beware of if you are drinking and drying, is to remember to put the lids on properly or else you may spill, and that is laquer abuse ^_~

Poise in Purple

I was in a purple mood today. I rummaged through my nail drawers and came up with a smoky and holographic combo. The base color is Zoya Caitlin - a deep grey-purple from the Spring 2011 Intimates collection. For my accent nail I used Funky Fingers, Sand and Stilettos - a light purple/bright holo.

Caitlin is a color that I could wear almost every day. It is that perfect purple, not too bright, not too light. It is a solid cream, one thick coat/two thin and you are out the door. It is a great color for a date night, or just going out for drinks with the ladies. It is far from Lava Lamp that I showed you earlier this week, reasons why my nail polish drawer is continuously growing.

Funky Fingers is a (USA made, 3-free) brand that I came across when shopping at a new funky store, Five Below. While on one of my Sunday Funday beauty shop runs, I went into a new Five Below that had just opened back home. Think of a dollar store, and then forget about all of the horrible things that are inside of it, multiply it by five and BEHOLD THE AWESOME! Te price range is from $1.00 to $5.00 and there is everything from candy, to books, beauty supplies to dorm stuff, t-shirt to seasonal goodies. I am a little bummed that there is not one remotely close to Orlando, soon I hope! Just go check one out, or their site, it's really a good find.

I am off for the next three days and I will be spending some well deserved time in the pool! I'll keep up with the posts and fingers crossed the sun doesn't burn me ^_~

Everyone always picks on Meg!

Whenever I hear the name Meg, I think of her.

I definitely do not think of Zoya Meg, but from here on I will! Check her out.

Meg is part of Zoya's summer Beach & Surf collection. Meg belongs to the shimmery Surf side. She is a light apple green and sits somewhere between a foil and a shimmer. Very opaque, one coat coat just about did it for me, but I did two just to be safe. Along with the foil there is a gold shimmer in there to give it a yellow tinge, and push it closer to my ultimate favorite of any color...CHARTREUSE!

Out of all of the pictures I took, the ones in my car turned out the best. To and from work may be the best place to get this done! Well, I wore this at work all day and I must say the more I looked at it...the more I liked it. I am usually not a big fan of foils, but the color really helps it out here. I cannot say no to a good green. ^_~