Peacocks and Treasure

Hey!

Here is another quick post. I haven't posted any nail related stuff in a while and I didn't even notice! The manicure I have for you today is American Apparel Peacock with Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure on top of that. Click on the pictures for a closer look!

Review: Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal

Back for another quick review!

I received a Quaker Real Medleys Peach Almond Oatmeal cup in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012.

Here is the product information from Influenster.com:

"- The best oatmeal ever - made to-go

- Packed with wholesome multigrains and chunks of real fruits or nuts
- Portable single-serve cups

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+ is simply the best oatmeal ever – and you can enjoy it on the go! Whole grain oats, rye, barley and wheat are mixed with large chunks of real fruit & nuts in a convenient single-serve cup. Just add hot water or microwave and you can have a delicious breakfast anytime, anywhere. Enjoy all four delicious flavors – Apple Walnut, Cherry Pistachio, Peach Almond and Summer Berry."

I love the packaging for this oatmeal. It is so sturdy and convenient. I really love that you can travel, prepare and cover it to save it for later, all in the same package. 

The flavoring was pretty good. It was barely sweet which I prefer over overwhelmingly sweet, although I did add a bit of brown sugar for more taste.

What I did not like was that there were way too many nuts in this cup. A few mixed in would have been nice but I felt that it put the peaches and oatmeal on the back burner.

If you are someone who is on the go or someone who loves an abundance of nuts in their oatmeal, then this may be just what you are looking for!



*I received this product for free in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012.

Review: Goody QuikStyle Paddle Brush

Hey!

I received the Goody QuikStyle Paddle Brush in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012. After having used it a few times, I am still on the fence about it!

Here is some product info from the Influenster website: 

"The GOODY® QUIKSTYLE™ Paddle brush works like a towel and brush in one. The super absorbent (and antimicrobial) microfiber removes 30% of water from wet hair to help speed your drying time! You can effortlessly detangle right out of the shower and continue using it while you blow dry!"

When I first saw this brush, I was completely confused. It looks ridiculous! How can I brush my hair with something that has microfiber bristles in between the regular bristles?

 The main function of this brush is to dry your hair faster by running this brush through your wet hair. I was surprised when I did notice that it dried my hair much faster than if I were to only towel dry my hair. I also was surprised that this brush is able to detangle my hair, even with the microfiber bristles included.

My main concerns with the Goody QuikStyle Paddle Brush were cleanliness and frizz. The packaging claims that the microfiber bristles are anti-bacterial and are easy to clean. I found this brush to be very easy to clean. I was able to pull away loose hair in the bristles very easily and the instructions on washing the brush are simple. In terms of my hair becoming frizzy, I notice that the texture of my hair is much softer after using this brush but I notice my hair appearing more frizzy on the top of my head. This could also be due to the high humidity the past few days.

Overall, I would say that the Goody Quikstyle Paddle Brush is more useful than gimmicky. If you are a person on the go and can't deal with hair dryers (we shouldn't use them anyway!) then this might just be the right brush for you.

*I received this product for free in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012.

Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012

    (sorry about the crappy photo - I used my cellphone camera because boyfriend still has the DSLR!)

Hey guys!

I received the Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012 to try out these new products! Here is what I received:

-Quakers Real Medleys Oatmeal ($1.79 USD per cup)
-NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine ($2.49 USD)
-KISS Nail Dress ($6.99 USD)
-Goody Quiksyle Paddle Brush ($11.99 USD)
-Sole Society coupon (Use the code INFLUENSTER25 to receive $25 off your first purchase. Expires 1/31/13)

I was also supposed to receive a EBOOST sample but it did not come in my box. I guess it is not meant to be for me to try it out because in my Beauty Bloggers VoxBox my sample came already opened!

I will be doing individual reviews on the items I have received in the coming days so keep an eye out for that!

Winner of OPI 007 Skyfall Mini Set Giveaway

Hey guys!

I know I have been missing for the past couple of days but life has been a little hectic. Between school, work  and social functions, I have had no time for anything! I have a few posts planned for this week and I should be back to regular posting soon enough.

Anyway, check below to see if you are the winner of my giveaway! I just emailed the winner and I am waiting for a response!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

EcoTools, Milani and Marshalls Mini Haul

Hey guys!

Today, I have a little mini haul for you all. This is all stuff I ordered/bought within a week after Thanksgiving. 

EcoTools Bamboo Powder Brush (Retail Value: $7.99) - On Cyber Monday, all products on ecotools.com were 50% off. This ended up only costing $3.99! If you haven't tried EcoTools brushes, they are super soft and what makes it better is that they are cruelty free!

EcoTools Bamboo Buffing Brush (Retail Value: $6.99) - I also ordered this on Cyber Monday and it cost only $3.49! 

Milani Brow Fix Kit in 02 Medium (Retail Value: $6.99) - On Cyber Monday, milanicosmetics.com had 20% off sitewide. I was kind of disappointed because last year they had 50% off sitewide!! Anyway, I still couldn't pass this up so I picked up this brow kit. It comes with a highlight shade, two brow powders, a mini angled brush, mini applicator, mini tweezers and a mirror. This is perfect for traveling with. Normally, I use a dark brown eyeshadow from my elf 100 eyeshadow palette to fill in my brows but that is such a hassle to travel with. I paid $5.60 for this brow kit. 

Accessory Street Ultimate Work Tote - I am not sure of the retail price because when I ripped off the clearance price sticker the original price came off. I got this on clearance from Marshalls for $20. It is pretty big and also comes with a laptop sleeve. This will be perfect for day trips. Hopefully it does not wear out too quickly because that tends to happen with lower quality/no name bags like these.

Hope you all are enjoying your week. Don't forget to enter my OPI 007 Skyfall Mini Nail Polish Set Giveaway! It will be over in a few days.

Review: Barielle Total Foot Care Cream

Don't be alarmed! I WILL NOT BE SHOWING YOU MY FEET IN THIS POST!

Now that we have that all cleared up, today I will be reviewing Barielle's Total Foot Care Cream (4 fl oz. Retail Value: $19.50 US). Everyone who knows me in "real life" knows I have crusty ass feet lmao. Seriously though, the heels of my feet get super dry and no matter how many times I scrub and apply lotion, nothing every works.

The box reads:
"Total Foot Care Cream for Callused, Chapped Feet - An award winning, luxurious, conditioning formula that softens and helps to eliminate calluses while moisturizing chapped areas of the feet. Contains no harsh peeling ingredients, acids or camphors, so it will not irritate the sensitive areas of your skin. Leaves your entire foot feeling soft and silky."

Directions:
"Massage into feet twice a day - once in the morning after bathing and once again in the evening before bed."

For Best Results:
"Put plain socks (100% cotton) on feet after applying cream. Leave on overnight to seal in moisture."

I have had this for a few months but never really used it more than a handful of times because I never remembered to! However, lately I have been using this quite regularly and I have to say, this stuff is pretty darn amazing. It smells like baby powder - a little strong at first but then fades away to a comfortable scent. The texture is not too thick and a little goes a long way, which is great for me because I hate heavy lotions. The best part is that it doesn't leave my feet feeling greasy at all!

I only remember to apply this at night and it would be a miracle if anyone could get me to wear socks to bed. However, I do notice a difference in the heels of my feet, especially now that it is winter and my skin tends to get much drier.

I have really been loving this and I am glad I have added it to my routine.


Enter my OPI 007 Skyfall Giveaway!


*Funds to purchase this were sponsored by SkinCareRx.com months ago. All opinions are my own. I really do have crusty ass feet. 

Review: NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact

Hey guys!

This will be the final review from the Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012. I received the NYC IndividualEyes Custom Compact in Dark Shadows.

Product Information:
"Straight from the city that never sleeps, NYC New York Color offers products with uptown style at down-to-earth prices, from $.99 - $4.99. The energy, style, and color of New York City shines through the wide range of shades, textures and innovative products. NYC always delivers the most on-trend products & shades hot off the runway!

NYC New York Color's all-in-one compact gives you everything you need for a complete eye look: primer, illuminator, applicator and complementing shadows. With four vibrant colors designed for your eye color, you can create a look as individual as you are!"

My swatches suck!

The highlighter shadow (farthest to the left) is my favorite from this compact and I have been using this as my main inner corner highlight ever since I received this.
The second and third shadows (all over lid and crease/contour) are a bit too powdery for my liking.
You can see that the darkest shadow (2nd crease/contour and shade farthest to the right in both photos above) is the least opaque out of all the shades.

The primer is okay but I wouldn't use it if I am going to be wearing eyeshadow for more than a few hours.

The illuminator (swatched above) is a bit too sparkly for my liking but if you are into that this can be used as a cheek highlight or inner corner highlight.

I have definitely been liking this compact and for the price you cannot go wrong!

Don't forget to enter my OPI 007 Skyfall mini nail polish set giveaway :)


*I received this compact in the Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012.

Review: Kiss Ever Pro Lash Starter Kit

Hey guys!

If you read this post, you would know I received this Kiss Ever Pro Lash Starter Kit in the Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox.

Product information:
"Ever tried applying eyelashes but became frustrated when they didn’t position correctly? Only to remove them and start over? Kiss Ever PRO Lash Starter Kit provides everything you need for amazing lashes instantly! Each kit includes 1 pair of Eyelashes, 1 3g Adhesive,and 1 PRO Lash Applicator. The new PRO Lash Applicator allows for a flawless application every time! Kiss lashes come in a variety of styles that are perfect for everything from day wear to a formal evening event. 

To Use: Simply apply glue to the lash band and let set for 30-60 seconds for adhesive to become slightly clear and tacky. Using the PRO Lash Applicator, apply lashes along the natural lash line. Hold, allowing adhesive to dry completely. Do the same to the second eyelash. Both lashes have a perfect fit!

Kiss Ever PRO Lash Starter Kit retails for $4.99 and are available at Walgreens stores nationwide. For more information and how-to videos, visit EverEZlashes.com."

This kit is perfect for someone learning how to use false lashes. The best thing about it is that it is very affordable at just $4.99. What threw me off a little is that these lashes are 100% human hair. It weirded me out a bit but that is exactly why these lashes look so natural in texture and blend in with your own lashes.

If you are looking to add something bold to your look for the holidays or for a special occasion, you should definitely try these out.

*Received these lashes to review from the Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox. 

November 2012 Ipsy (MyGlam) Bag

Hey guys!

I recently signed up for Ipsy (formerly MyGlam), a monthly sample subscription. For $10 a month, you are sent a few beauty samples and a makeup pouch. I have been wanting to subscribe for a while but was a bit iffy after reading reviews and comments on their Facebook page. However, after hearing that the October bag had shown improvement, I decided to subscribe and try it out. 

I am definitely pleased with the samples I got and I will be continuing my subscription for now. Along with the items below, I also received a coupon for $20 off a JustFab.com purchase and have been receiving coupons for %'s off in my email. 

Here are the samples I received:

Name: Nailtini Nail Laquer in Millionaire

Size: .5 fl oz.

Value: $13

-The value of this nail polish alone covers the cost of the entire November Ipsy Bag!

Name: theBalm Meet Matt(e) matte eyeshadow in Matt Batali

Size: .03 oz

Value: estimated $5

-This eyeshadow is actually part of a palette sold by theBalm. The full palette costs $34.50 for 6 eyeshadows. 

Name: bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Dare Devil

Size: .07 fl oz.

Value: estimated $9 (Full size costs $18)

-The color in the photo above is pretty accurate. It is a wine colored gloss. 

Name: Benefit they're Real! beyond mascara
Size: .1 oz.
Value: estimated $8 (Full size .3oz costs $23)
-I have heard so many great things about this mascara so I can't wait to test it out!

Name: Starlet Intense Eyeliner in Black
Size: .05 oz
Value: $11
-This eyeliner is super black and pretty creamy.


I received around $46 worth of product in this bag for just $10. What a great deal!!
Sign up for your Ipsy bag at Ipsy.com. November bags have already shipped so if you sign up now, you will be starting from the December bag.

OPI 007 Skyfall Mini Set Giveaway

As a thank you to all who have stuck around and a welcome to the new readers of my blog, I will be doing a giveaway of a OPI 007 Skyfall nail polish set. This set includes 4 mini OPI nail polishes: Goldeneye, The Spy Who Loved Me, The World Is Not Enough & Live and Let Die. 

Rules:

• This giveaway is open to USA and INTERNATIONAL.
• Fill out the form below.
• Must be a follower via GFC (Google Friend Connect).  This is the only required entry (which includes your email address).
• Giveaway ends December 9, 2012 at 12:01 AM EST.
• Winner will have 48 hours from the time I email them to reply back. Otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*UPDATED WITH REGISTRATION CODE* Lower Prices...Limitless Rewards! (SwagBucks)

*UPDATE* Registration Code worth 70 Swagbucks until 11:59pm PT on Friday 11/16: HOLIDAY100S

Hey!

If you guys aren't already familiar with SwagBucks.com, you can check out my prior posts here and here. In basic terms, SwagBucks is a website in which you earn points for rewards by doing offers, watching video, doing surveys, etc.

Since the holiday season is starting up, SwagBucks has decided to lower the point value needed to get gift cards and eliminate the monthly limit until the end of the year.

From SwagBucks: "Starting on November 1st, for the rest of the year the Swagbucks Swag Store will be bringing you lower prices and limitless rewards. To break it down for you, all $5 gift cards will now be 500 Swag Bucks, $10 gift cards will be 1000 Swag Bucks, $25 Gift Cards will be 2500 Swag Bucks and so on. This excludes the $5 Amazon.com, which remains the bargain price of 450 SB. 

Now you get more bang for your (Swag) Bucks, and with your leftover Swag Bucks, you can now snag even more rewards, because our old monthly redemption limits (except the $5 Amazon.com Gift Card) will be gone. You’re still limited to 2 rewards per day, but you don’t have to worry about which prizes you’re redeeming, because Swagbucks just expanded your monthly SB budget!"

They have phased out $5 and $10 PayPal gift cards but you can now get a $25 PayPal gift card for only 2500 SBs! That is money that you can transfer from PayPal to your bank account!!

This is a great way to purchase gifts for your family and friends if you do not have the spare cash to do so. Since joining SwagBucks, I have racked up for $440 in Amazon gift cards since 2010. I have used it to buy many beauty items and gifts for family and friends!

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below or send me a email and I will get back to you as soon as possible :)

A Little Sparkle

Hey guys!

The manicure above was done using 2 coats of a polish by Bettina in #138. Then, I painted on the design with a olive colored magnetic polish by a no name brand. On top of that I used Revlon Gold Coin to add a little sparkle!

ELF Eyes Haul

Hey! 

First, I want to send everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Sandy well wishes. Hope you all are safe and getting your lives back together with ease. 

I just got back my internet and I have been itching to do a blog post!! Today, I have a ELF (eyes.lips.face) haul to share with you. I made an online order about 2 weeks ago when they were having a 50% off all eye products sale. 

I ordered four brushes: contour, angled contour, flawless concealer and concealer.

I ordered two pigment eyeshadows: Golden Goddess and Tropical Teal

I also ordered 2 pairs of their natural black false eyelashes. I got these for my best friend. I have seen her wear these lashes before and they look super natural! Unfortunately, I get too frustrated to apply lashes to my own lol.

Lastly, I ordered a Waterproof Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara. I have been using this almost everyday and have been LOVING it!!!

That is all for now. Make sure you click the social media buttons on the side bar and follow me for updates!

Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012

Hey guys!

Today, I have a review on the Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012. If you are not familiar with Influenster, it is a program similiar to a subscription box with samples and full sized products. The difference is that it is absolutely free and you are chosen to receive one mainly based on demographics and how big of an influence you have in social media and in real life. 

Not Your Mother's Smooth Moves Frizz Control Hair Cream with coconut & silk extracts (1.5 fl oz sample - 4 oz bottle retails for $6.00) - I have been using this hair cream since I received this box and I have to say that I have been loving it! Almost any beauty product with coconut in it is a win for me and this product smells amazing. The scent is not overwhelming either. I run a bit of the product through my hair after I wash it and I let it air try. My hair can be super frizzy and this has been taming it a bit more than the other products I have used in the past.

Goody Simple Styles: Spin Pin (Google Affiliate Ad) (Retail Value: $7.29) - I have to be honest here. I have not even attempted to try out these pins yet. Mainly because I am afraid that I will do it wrong and get it stuck in my hair. The instructions on the back of the packaging seem simple enough though. These seem great for if you are in a rush but want to but your hair in a neat bun. 

Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit (Retail Value: $5.99) - This kit comes with one pair of eyelashes (the item number is 56732 KPLS01 if anyone is wondering), a lash applicator and clear lash glue. These lashes are 100% human hair. If anypne has tried these, let me know in the comments below!

NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact (Retail Value: $4.99) - This is my absolute favorite thing in this entire box! This compact (0156-08 Dark Shadows) comes with two crease colors, one all over lid color, a highlighter, a illuminator and a eyeshadow primer. The highlighter and illuminator are amazing! They brighten up the eyes and make any makeup look stand out. The shadows are very pigmented and the primer is not bad at all. The price is definitely a steal for this eyeshadow compact. 

I may do a more in depth review on this compact so keep an eye out for that!

Bath & Body Works Mini Candle in Cider Lane (Retail Value: $3.50) - This candle is perfect for the fall months! The description reads, "As sweet as the trip to the local apple orchard each year, a delicious fall blend of mulled cider, warm caramel and sweet cinnamon". The description is pretty accurate on this one. These mini candles do not give too much of a scent throw when lit in a big room but these are perfect for bathrooms and smaller rooms in your home.

The box also came with a coupon for a $10 3-wick candle from Bath and Body Works, which I did not get a chance to use before it expired.

EBOOST (Retail Value: $28 for a box of 20 powders) - EBOOST claims to be a daily health booster. I have not tried this because my packet came with a hole in it. Has anyone tried this before? What do you think?

Influenster is currently invite only. If you would like to receive an invite, I have 5 invites to give away. Leave a comment below with your email and I will email you an invite on a first come basis. 

Guest Post: Starlight Radiance

Hello everyone! I'm really excited to be guest blogging for TheVEROBlog today! I've been a follower of hers for at least a year now (probably way longer than that) and really love the fun nail art she does!

I thought that I would share with you one of my favorites! With purple being my favorite color, I thought that Zoya - Dannii would be great! Dannii is a soft lilac with pink and gold shimmer. It is such a pretty and feminine color!

So shimmery!

And check out all of the shimmer in that bottle!

I really love pink and purple together, and Dannii shows it off very well. This actually ended up being my base for my monochromatic nails! Purple everywhere!

Thanks to everyone for reading, I'm glad to be sharing with you and giving TheVEROBlog a hand as well. Keep on painting!


Note from TheVEROblog:
Thank you so much Sarah for guest posting on my blog! I know it took me forever to post this up but I am so appreciative. Her nails look gorgeous up there, don't they?!
Although Sarah is currently taking a break from blogging, check out her blog Starlight Radiance and leave her lovely comments!

For Audrey with an edge

Hey guys!

So here are the nails that I did before I went on vacation. I used China Glaze For Audrey as a base for every nail except for the pinky nail, in which I used China Glaze Tinsel Town.

For the thumb, I added a layer of Funky Fingers Stage Dive. I left the index finger with only For Audrey. On the middle finger, I used tiny beads in a very similar color to For Audrey. The beads didn't last very long but I loved the overall look of it! On the ring finger, I added a nail sticker from Kiss nails.

Once again, I am happy to be getting back into the swing of things and I hope you all are looking forward to more posts :) The next post will be a guest post.

Let's Get This Thing Going Again!

Hey everyone!

It has been months since I have done anything blog related but I am ready to get back into the swing of things!

Just an update about what has been going on in my life since I last posted. I worked and went to school all summer. That took up quite a bit of my time and whatever time I had left was spent with my boyfriend and my family.

This fall, I am still working and in school. I recently got back from a much needed vacation in Florida. I will be posting my manicure from that time here on this blog within the next few days!

As I have said in the past, I am not only going to be posting nail related stuff but also a lot of other beauty reviews. The first official post on here should be up by Wednesday the latest and then there will be a guest post which I was supposed to put up so long ago.

Thanks for all who have stuck around and I will definitely be making it worth while, as I am working on a giveaway :)

A Royal Wedding

A couple weeks ago, I attended a wedding of a friend. It included all the festivities of a traditional Hindu wedding, including the mehendi night! That explains the henna on my hand :)

The manicure was done using a Love & Beauty polish which I do not know the name of because I can't find the bottle :(

The gems are from Kiss Nails and you can view the package I used by clicking here. I don't really recommend them though because they did not last very long on my nails. 

On the accent finger, I tried out those beads that have been very popular in nail art recently. I ordered a pack of 12 from here for $2.33 ! I really do like it and I am looking forward to trying other looks with the different colors.

I tried to match my nails as close as possible to the colors of my sari! 

Quick CVS Haul: $30 Worth of Stuff for $11

I just got back from CVS and I decided to post a small haul for you guys.

1. & 2. Ardell Fashion Lashes #137 Black - On clearance for $2.99 each. (Originally $4.99 each) - I have never really worn fake eyelashes except for last summer when a friend and I decided to try individual lashes. These seem to look pretty good and they were on sale so I don't feel too bad for buying them if I don't end up liking the way they look.

3. Dr. Miracle's Deep Conditioning Treatment  $1.99 - I have used this before and although I can't tell you if I saw much of a difference in my hair, I can tell you that it has an amazing cooling feeling that makes my scalp feel loved lol

4. Duo Eyelash Adhesive Clear $6.49 - I hear this is one of the best eyelash adhesives so I decided to give it a try.

5. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep (yes, it really is spelled that way on the bottle) Conditioner $5.29 - There has been huge buzz about this product and finally decided to pick it up after seeing it disappear from a lot of store shelves.

6. Dove Hair Therapy Extra Hold Hairspray $3.50 (Originally $5.49) - Pretty interested in how this will work. Plus, I admit I mostly picked it up because I love the packaging on this haha.

Coupons: 

$5 Beauty Rewards ExtraBucks

$5 off $20 purchase

30% off entire purchase (ended up being around $2.48)

Total: $11.73 including tax