Christmas Joy???

I have been trying to get into the Christmas spirit for the past few months and with today being Christmas (plus a sneak attack toothache), I'd say I've failed...I kinda feel bad but oh well, I'm glad it's over!!

Anywho, many new posts to come in the upcoming weeks so be on the lookout for those!

Merry Christmas!

                     Dani, xoxo

IKEA Holiday Party 2011

I know I'm late, but our holiday party last Thursday was sooo much fun!!! Mostly everybody was dressed nice, good food, my boy Kerry on the 1's & 2's, great raffle prizes (even though I didn't win a thing!) and lots&lots&lots of dancing!!

Here are a few of my favorite pics from that nite:

*kisses*

*Dwan Peace Dance*

Joey and Muffin

Joey and Brandon

 

Muffin

*The Crew*

For anybody wondering, here are the products I used:

EYES:

*Primer Potion, Urban Decay

*Medium Brown, Bronze & Champagne Eyeshadows, Flirt!

*Eyeshadow in Brun, MAC

*Eyeliner Pencil in Phone Number, MAC

*Smoky Cream Liner in Must Have, Sephora

*BadGal Lash, Benefit

*Lashes #106 in Black, Ardell

LIPS:

*Lip Pencil in Cork, MAC

*Multiplex 3D Lipgloss in 3D, LORAC

FACE:

*High Beam, Benefit

*All Firm Makeup (Foundation) in Level 5 Warm, Good Skin

*All-Over Face Stick in Golden Peach, e.l.f.

*Harmony Trio Bronzer in Bronze, Sephora

*Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Peach Twist, MAC

Sephora inside JCPenney

First and foremost, everybody knows that I HATE the Sephora inside JCPenney stores but I have been warming up to them a little as of late for small things (plus they just had an amazing 20% off Friends & Family sale!). Now, I understand that these are not REAL Sephora stores and I can appreciate the progress they've made since opening a few short years ago but I am rather disappointed that they STILL can't get their point collecting system down!! I am so close to getting my 500 point reward I can taste it but EVERY time I shop at one of these stores, I NEVER get my points!! Thank God for 877-SEPHORA and their wonderful customer service agent that helped me today, Melody! I am now back on track and probably one purchase away from my reward...all is well once again!!

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Just wondering...

Hello, Sunday!

Feeling a tad bit bright today and decided to make my eyes match my mood! This is what I came up with:

EYES:
*White Eyeshadow Base, NYX
*Fishnet, Ransom, Peace and Shag Eyeshadows, Urban Decay
*Smoky Cream Liner in Must Have, Sephora
*Sky Rise Lengthening Mascara, NYC
*Bad Gal Lash, Benefit Cosmetics


LIPS:
*Lip Glass in Luxuriate, MAC


FACE:
*CG Smoothers Aqua Tinted Moisturizer, CoverGirl
*High Beam, Benefit Cosmetics
*All-Over Face Stick in Golden Peach, e.l.f.
*Harmony Trio Bronzer in Bronze, Sephora
*Powder Blush in Style, MAC

OCM Update

So I've been doing OCM for a few weeks now and I'm really seeing a difference in my face. A lot of nights I can actually feel the hardened sebum that comes out of my pores! Sounds gross but it just feels like a few grains of sand or salt. What's really gross is while doing OCM the other night I actually saw blackheads coming out of my nose...LOL!!! Muffin says this sounds like "some icky oozy worm shit coming out of my face..." LMAO!!! I promise it is NOTHING like that at all!! :)

OCM Journey-The Beginning

So I've been doing OCM (Oil Cleansing Method) for 10 days now and overall I'm pretty satisfied with it. Since I'm just starting, I followed the websites recommendation of using Castor Oil and Sunflower Oil. I'm still working on the ratio but right now I'm cleansing with about 15/85 followed with a Cocoa Butter/Vitamin E/Jojoba mix as an added moisturizer (I get the WORST dry patches, especially in the colder months).

I do OCM every night before bed. Even though the oils don't smell bad, I added a few drops of Lavender EO and find that I sleep better. In the morning I use water only, rub a little of my moisturizer in and I'm set to go.

The first few days of doing OCM, I got a couple pimples and a few whiteheads. I didn't put anythng on them and found that they just went away on their own. My face feels soft and I can really tell that the discoloration I have is fading. I can't say that my skin is glowing or that the blackheads in my nose are 100% gone but I can say that my face feels amazing, looks beautiful and I feel better NOT using all the chemicals and man-made solvents on my face!

To learn more about OCM or to read about the journeys of others visit: www.theoilcleansingmethod.com

Ahhh!!!

Dear All,

        Help!! So it seems that I have a blind date on Sunday and I haven't the slightest clue what to wear! Should I go for bright and bold? Or perhaps ruffly and romantic? I did just buy this awesome dusty mauve transitional jacket that has ruffles on the front and sleeves... Suggestions please! Have you ever been on a blind date? How did it go and what did you wear for the occasion?

Overwhelmed,

Dani        



Happy Halloween!!!

This Halloween has probably been the best one yet! I don't wanna talk too much but I wanted to pop in show the 3 looks that I did this year...
LOOK #1

Muffin and I went to Brick's Halloween party Friday night and this is what I came up with:

Yes, somehow in all the chaos of getting ready I forgot to black out my nose but so what, it still turned out cute!

LOOK #2



Sunday Melissa had a Halloween party and this is what I did:

The lovely Melissa!! And finally...

LOOK #3



I just had to do something for the little ones coming into IKEA that nite:

Make-up Used (by face):

*Split Personalities: UD Primer Potion, NYX Eyeshadow Base in White, cheap white Halloween make-up, Sephora Cream Liner in Must Have, Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Chrome No. 02, UD Eyeshadow in Honey, MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, CG Tinted Moisturizer in Medium-Dark, Benefit Cosmetics High Beam, Sephora Harmony Bronzer Trio in Bronze, Sephora Colorful Blush in Sunbaked, Sephora Lipgloss Pencil in No. 06, NYX Lip Liner in 849 Beige, Sephora Lip Gloss in In The Buff, Ardell Fashion Lashes in 106 Black

*Colorful Masque: UD Primer Potion, NYX Eyeshadow Base in White, Sephora Cream

Liner in Must Have, Sugarpill's Buttercupcake, UD's Graffiti, Fishnet, Ransom and Peace, CG Tinted Moisturizer, some no-name bushy lashes

*Butterfly Face: UD Primer Potion, NYX Eyeshadow Base in White, Sephora Cream Liner in Must Have, Loreal HIP Eyeshadow Duo in Brazen (pink side), Sephora Colorful Momo Eyeshadow in Chrome No, 02, Loreal HIP Eyeshadow in Showy, Sehpora Long Lasting Eye Liner in 11 Crystal, Ardell Fashion Lashes in 106 Black 

Hope you liked the looks!!

Boom!!!

I wanted to try a plum-y  *burgundy lip but wasn't  sure how I'd like it...I decided that starting off sheer would be best. So I went to get Sephora Brand's lip liner in Pleasantly Plum and their lipgloss in Night Out. Everyone knows how much I hate Sephora inside JCPenney stores but there's no way in hell I was driving all the way to Novi...so off I went! I hit the sale wall first and that's when I saw them: $15 tokidoki Brilliante Glitter Eyeliners on sale for $2.77!!!!! I could NOT pass this up!! I bought 3 of the 5 colors they had: Adios Apple (purple), Skeletro (navy) and Liberty (teal)...#SuperCute

*****UPDATE*****   *****UPDATE*****  *****UPDATE*****  *****UPDATE*****

Since this post I have worn the liner and gloss on a nite out for martinis in Ann Arbor...paired with a teal blazer, simple black dress and grape suede pumps, I was called stylish by our server!! *cheeze*

In Search Of...

I need help quick, fast and in a hurry! So Muffin and I are going to the Detroit Opera House to see our friend perform on Saturday! :) But neither of us know what to wear...:(. We're both pretty funky dressers who like to stand out and revel in our own uniqueness (I have no idea if that made ANY sense...LOL!!! Anywho...) but for the opera, we don't want to draw any undue attention away from the performance or the reason that we're there: Our friend's big night! Any suggestions??

Also, who has a good palette of pastel shadows??? I'm in need of one BAD!!!!! I keep seeing all these looks I want to try but I simply don't have the right colors!

Any and all help is greatly appreciated...thanks! <3

OH SNAP!!! I almost forgot: I have a cake order for a baby shower coming up this weekend so a post should be up shortly after that with all the pics!!

Quickly...

I know it's after the fact but I am BEYOND excited!!! LimeCrime had a 24 hour appreciation sale yesterday and were giving 55% off all of their Magic Dust Eyeshadows and Primers. I have yet to try anything from them but have only heard good things! Their shadows are loose and come in little jars. I love the names of each color and on the website have fables to go with each one. The shadows usually run for $14 but with the discount I got two at $6.30 each, plus $5 flat rate shipping, I spent a whopping $17.60!!! I can't wait to try them out but in the meantime and inbetween time, here are some swatches from their site:

Diva, a warm metallic bronze

Dragon Scales, terracotta with green duochrome

*love*

Scratch One Off The List

So after seeing COUNTLESS ads...

Sephora

Sephora

Target

Cosmo

...finding the PERFECT orange lipstick/gloss became sort of an obsession of mine and instantly became #1 on my list! (And YES I do keep a running list of cosmetics I want! LOL!)

Well I am happy to say that after months of (half-ass) searching, I finally found it!!! Urban Decay's Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Punch Drunk and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!

$18 @Sephora

Glides on smooth... Glossy, but not 'I-just-ate-a-tub-of-Vaseline' glossy... Long wearing: I wore it out to a bar the night I bought it, ate, then danced til 2 in the morning and NEVER touched up!!! Didn't wear it with a liner and absolutely ZERO feathering!!! I really can't say enough good things about this great product!

Le Thrifty Madre & I

I don't care that it's Fall now, I will wear my bright lips whenever, where ever so HA!! LOL!!!

Next, I'm thinking blue...

Double Dose!!

I don't wanna do a bunch of talking but I really feel like sharing the two make-up looks I've done so far this week. So without further delay...

HERE'S MONDAY:

EYES:
*Brun, MAC
*Retro Speck, MAC
*24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero, Urban Decay
*Smoky Cream Liner in Must Have, Sephora
*Faux Lashes in Diva, POP Beauty
*LashBlast Fusion in Very Black, CoverGirl

LIPS:
*Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm in Guava, Smashbox

FACE:
*CG Smoothers Aqua Tinted Moisture in Medium to Dark, CoverGirl
*High Beam, Benefit Cosmetics
*Harmony Trio Bronzer in Bronze, Sephora
*Colorful Blush in Golden Spice & Rose Petal, Sephora

AND HERE'S TUESDAY:

EYES:
*Neutral colors from the Limited Edition Eyeshadow Set, Flirt!
*Flashy Liner Waterproof in Flashy Black, Sephora
*Smoky Cream Liner in Must Have, Sephora
*ModLash #108 in Black, Andrea
*LashBlast Length in Very Black, CoverGirl

LIPS:
*Super Glossy Lip Gloss in Mango Madness, ELF

FACE:
*CG Smoothers Aqua Tinted Moisture in Medium to Deep, CoverGirl
*High Beam, Benefit Cosmetics
*Harmony Trio Bronzer in Bronze, Sephora
*Powder Blush in Style, MAC

SCORE!!!

Ask anybody that knows me about my feelings towards SEPHORA inside JCPenney and they will tell you that I hate it! I only go in there for emergency essentials and by emergency I mean "My black liquid eyeliner died a week and a half ago and I forgot until now (since I'm going out tonite) that I need a replacement and have exactly one hour to get ready!!!" (<--- emergency). A similar reason is what brought about a recent trip. Because I love the SEPHORA BRAND Waterproof Smoky Cream Liner in Bewitch Me (metallic deep violet), when my liquid liner died I went to get it in Must Have (matte black).

I grabbed the liner and made my way towards the SALE wall for some quick disappointment before heading home and that's when I saw it!

Originally $24 (steal!), on sale for $15!!!

This kit was made especially for their JCPenney mini stores and includes 6 items, 4 of which are FULL SIZED!!!!!

(Clockwise from top) Mini Mono Eyeshadow #23 (Aspen)

Ultra Shine Lip Gloss #15 (Cute Pink, reg. price: $14)

Atomic Volume Mascara (color not specified, reg. price: $15)

Waterproof Flashy Liner #01 (Smokey Black, reg. price: $8)

Mono Eyeshadow #03 (Catherine, reg. price: $12)

Mini Waterproof Makeup Remover

(L-R) Lipgloss #15, Flashy Liner #01, Eyeshadow #03 & #23 

MY THOUGHTS:

I love SEPHORA's eyeshadows so it's no surprise that I'm pleased with the two that I got...soft, pigmented and fall-out free. They both are shimmer shadows with silver undertones. Nice!!

The lipgloss is described on the website as "opalescent light salmon" but I disagree. It's exactly what the name says: Cute Pink...almost like a rose pink with a little shimmer, kinda sheer and really pretty. Definitely don't wanna cake this on though.

I'm gonna save the mascara for last... MOVING ON:

The eyeliner is mediocre. I like how soft it is and how easily it glides on, no tugging or pulling. The two things I don't like about it are: 1.) The color! This collection of liners offers 2 different blacks and I would've preferred the other one (#10 Deep Black). I like dramatic eyes and really like for my black liner to pop. There is no pop-ping action with this soft black (borderline grey) liner. Maybe my granny would like this... 2.) It could be because of the color but it doesn't really show up on my waterline! It glides right over it leaving minimal color behind. Maybe I'm just used to my UD 24/7 in Zero, idk...

Now back to the mascara...HATE IT!!! Ok, so maybe hate is too strong of a word...let me explain: It's the brush. Although I really like the fact that the brush is super flexible, the rubber bristles (AKA nubs) are short and spaced way too far apart so (almost) no matter what you do, you end up with about 5 uni-lash triangles protruding from your eyelids! I even tried rolling the brush on a paper towel to remove the excess...no luck! I have a few more tricks to try but something tells me that the only solution is going to be a brush swap...

Overall, I like this kit and love the fact that you get 4 full sized items for the price of the mascara alone! Even though I don't completely love every item, they WILL get used! #PleaseBelieve 

No bells and whistles, just the 5 tems from the box...not bad, huh?



Last Night...

So my PIC Muffin (real name: Danae), better known in the blogging world as Le Thrifty Madre, had a birthday this past Tuesday and she turned the BIG 2-1!!! WHOO WHOO!!! To celebrate we got all dolled up and went to Brick's of Northville (AKA my job) and had a BALL!!! Rum & Cokes, dancing, food and cake, dancing, Ciroc & Cranberry, and MORE dancing!!! Alright, enough with this boring crap...ON TO THE PICS!!!

Me with a CRAZY cat eye...

Look at how cute she is!

Introducing: Brandy, server and friend!

Muffin's birthday dessert that I snuck in the kitchen and made especially for her! *heart*

Random Find at "The Spot"...

Due to my profession, I cannot wear nail polish on my fingernails. On the rare (ok not so rare because I secretly hate wearing shoes) occasion that I have my toes out, I try to keep them done. Problem is my feet sweat (gross, I know...get over it!) which makes most polishes chip within hours (no matter what base or top coat I use)! Over the years I have noticed a few brands/formulas that have real staying power and my favoritest favorite of the favorites is Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color!! Added Bonus: THEY'RE CHEAP!!!!!  Anywho, while strolling through Target (AKA The Spot) with Mujer the other day I stumbled upon an end-cap that had a bunch of different Xtreme Wear polishes on clearance for...(random super hero theme: dunt-dun-a-nuuun)...$1.77!!!!!! I felt like a kid in a candy store! I wanted them all!! BUT because I'm trying to save money, I narrowed it down to 2 and I must say, I'm very pleased with the two I bought!

Meet: Time to Shine and Midnight Sky!

Sorry about the flash lines but I promise they are beautiful! For demonstration purposes only, I painted a few nails for you to see what they look like on. 2 coats each, no base, no topper but look how pretty!

Ok, now I'm excited for Fall!

New Adventure

I...LOVE...FASHION!!!!! But the desire to look good consumes SOOO much money! Sure, I consider myself to be a pretty savvy shopper (Clearance's rack is my bestfriend) but sometimes that's not enough...so a few weeks ago I made the decision to try thrifting!

Yesterday was my first venture into Value World. It was a little scary at first (just being honest) but after a while it became almost like a scavenger hunt...I was bound and determined to find at least one good thing! And then it happened...

My first find was a t-shirt. It has some fading for a slight vintage look. I want to try distressing and cutting it up a little to see how "edgy" I can make it (pics to come). Next I found this vest and I am TOO geeked about it!!!

This, my friends, is a vest made by a little company named LUX...(cheese!). If you shop at Urban Outfitters, then you are well familiar with this brand. Something like this would normally retail for about $50 and I snagged it for: (drumroll, please...) $3.60!!! The metal adjuster in the back is missing but SO WHAT!?!? LOL!! Lastly, I found these cute little kitten heels and I have big dreams for these...

RAMPAGE and only $3.20!! Two small blemishes but hardly noticeable. I'm thinking something floral... :)