Mood:  not sure

Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo (and illustrated by Julia Denos) is an adorable children's biography of film star and human rigts activist Audrey Hepburn. In a scant 32 pages, Cardillo presents the life of Audrey Hepburn as a collection of qualities that children should strive to achieve--hard work; kindness; helping others; and self-acceptance. The illustrations are soft-colored and almost dreamlike. It is a beautiful book for every Audrey Hepburn fan (like myself) to own or a beautiful book to gift every children who ever felt as though they were too awkward (or untalented) to fit in.

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Taming Blackhawk (Secrets!) by Barbara McCauley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I finished Taming Blackhawk last night, and boy was I ever pleased! It was a brisk and sensual love story featuring a modern working girl and her cowboy lover, Rand Blackhawk. The family secrets of Rand were wrapped up quickly and tidily, and gave the book a little more gravitas. I was a bit disappointed that the heroine was a virgin, and felt her life would be incomplete without a husband and a "passel" of children. However, I forgive the book for those characteristics for this is a romance novel not a post-modern feminist theory text book. (Hmmm, I suppose, as a feminist, I would say that it is okay for a woman to chose to want to have a family.)

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Mood:  chillin'

Motherhood is a bitch, because it eats into all of your "me time." It gets even harder when you have a child in school, because that child has to be at school a whole hour earlier than you have to be at work. Essentially, I've been spending the last 5 months awaking a "not-a-morning-person" kindergartener while trying to get my own motor running. Once I've gotten my daughter completely ready for school, I have 20 minutes to be work ready from shower to coat. This has turned me into a grumpy and a bland-faced miss, but I've resolved this by putting on my "face" at work which isn't so bad since I now arrive at least 20 minutes earlier than needed.

I hate that I have to apply make-up at work, because I'm really the only one in the office who wears it and I feel like this little feminine ritual might dimish my credibility with my co-workers. Yet, I persist because if all it takes is a little mascara to separate them from their respect for me, then I never really had it at all. *ahem* But, I digress. 

This new desktop make-up routine has taught me to appreciate the smaller and more portable products, which I will now review.

1.E.L.F. Essentials Eyelind Primer is a miracle prodcut that costs only $1. I couple of swipes of this primer will sop up the oil on your lids and provide a smooth and mattified canvas for your favorite eyeshadow colors. The liquid to power formula does take a little longer to dry than most cream eye shadow bases, but it works for hours! I literally get no color fading after 5 hours. Just one tip, a little goes a long way. 

2. 32 Endless Eyes Studio Eye Shadow Mini Palette is a perfect purse-sized palete that includes an array of eye shadows in matte, shimmery, dark, bright or neutral colors. Even better, it was only $5!! Use with the primer and you have a banging eye look. The only downside is that the included sponge-tip brushes are incredibly cheap. Use one of your travel eyeshadow brushes or disposable eye shadow sponge-tip brushes. (Hint: the sponge-tip brushes will give you a bolder cool which I like.)

e.le.l.f. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette

3. Wet n Wild's Mega Length mascara gives me nice, long, defined lashes all for $2 and it fits in the palm of my hand! Wnw beauty has certainly stepped up its game and I'm benefitting. Besides their new nail polishes, beautiful eye shadow palettes, they also have a a slew of mascaras for you to chose from depending on your lash needs. I have to get another tube to keep in my house now.

4. WnW ColorIcon Eye Shadow Palette in Cool as a Cucumber is my favorite goto green shade. (I'm a huge fan of green eyeshadow.) The included brushes also work very well. For $3, it's a steal! 

As the year comes to an end and the second decade of the 21st century begins, I decided to come up with my 2011 list of goals. I'm going to go with the word "goals" because resolutions seems too restrictive. Goals are fluid.

Find a new church/spiritual home closer to my house that is inclusive--one part Christian and one part Unitarian Univeralist.

Buy more fresh cabbage because I like eating cabbage, and I'm good at cooking it.

I want to eat better--more vegetables, less cola.

Find an indoor exercise to do Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings until it gets warmer and I can start walking outside again.

To remember to take my daily multivitamin every day.

To yell less at my children.

To get my hair cut professionally more often. (I got a hair cut about 2 weeks ago, and I've been getting lots of compliments. Holla!)

Mood:  rushed

I've been a bit on a mini-spending spree. Something about money being tight makes me want to spend more rather than less. My attitude is better get stuff now before I don't have any more money to get anything. I try not to get too silly or exorbitant with my spending, but to find something that is expensive and will bring me joy. This, ladies and gentlemen, is where E.L.F. (Eyes Lips Face) Cosmetices comes into the picture. Besides the awesomely inexpensive prices, they also have really excellent coupon codes and deals.

Here's a tip, follow their blog!If you're one of the first 25 blog registrants to post a comment to a story, you'll score a $5-off coupon. Depending on what you buy, it's almost like getting a free piece of a make-up. This is what I experienced last week when I scored this mini eye shadow palette filled with an array of 32 colors. It is only $5 although it looks even more expensive. The case sleek and black, and contains a mirror that's perfect for at your desk touch-ups. It's also very light and slim. It fits into my handbag without adding bulk.

On my bare eye, the shadow lasted about four hours before creasing since I have oily eyelids. If I had used a primer or base, I'm sure I could have eked out another couple of hours. The colors are bit darker than they appear in the palette so don't be too heavy handed. Also, ditch the eye shadow brush included and use one of your own. (I recommend Smashbox's Crease Brush #10 or E.L.F.'s All Over Eyeshadow Brush.)

I also recommend using it over their $1 primer. I did a skin test on my inner wrist and it lasted for hours, even after I washed the dishes. Imagine how it will handle the shadow. Go on, splurge yourself for a little money. If you spend $10 by October 25, you'll receive a free E.L.F. Studio 27 Piece Mini Make-up collection that contains 9 eyeshadow shades, 1 cream eyeshadow shade, 1 blush, 1 bronzer, 10 lip gloss shades, 1 brow powder, 1 eye liner pencil, 1 dual ended eyeshadow applicator and brush, 1 face brush and 1 lip brush. The hardest part of this offer is figuring out how to accumulate at least $10 worth of products since the prices are so damn low. lol. (I'm thinking about their translucent studio HD powder, $6, and another eye shadow palette for Christmas presents.)

Mood:  mischievious

Now folks, I've heard of everything. But when BzzAgent sent me an introduction to try out the new Facebook app, Otrib, my jaw hit the ground. It was too surreal for me not to sign up. Besides allowing you to honor a loved one's life and help plan and manage your final arrangements on the internet and off, Otrib will help you create a "virtual will." In other words, name someone the executor of Twitter, Facebook, blog and other online presences when you die. They will be responsible for closing or continuing the account.

In my honest opinion, when I die, my Facebook account will not be "carrying on" without me. However, who will remember to closeout my accuont in the middle of mourning me? Although the application requires too much access to my Facebook account for my maintaining my privacy levels, I do see how it could be a good service. If you take a look at it or sign up, please tell me what you think.

The best part of my 4-day Labor Day weekend, besides not having to work, was catching up on all my September 2010 fashion magazines. Whew, I swear each year those issues get bigger and heavier! (I still have the September issue of Harper's Bazaar to get through, and I've already received the October issue of Lucky!!!) Well, what's bad for me is good for you. I've complied a list of fall fashion trends to look out for and how to achieve them on the cheap. You can achieve these looks by shopping at the following eRetailers: Old Navy; Fashion Bug; Payless Shoe Source; and Target. Are you excited yet? I know I am. Shall we begin?

5 Fall Fashion Trends

1. Mad Men Era Retro/feminine shapes: Think nipped in waists, full skirts, and defined shoulders. It's Dior's New Look for the 2010s, like Target's take on it with this nifty shirt dress. It comes in red and black, and is less than $40.

 4. Gray: To hell with the washed out, heathered looks of your gym sweats. These grays are dark enough to replace your black staples, but bright enough to give your wardrobe a lift. Soft pale grays will give your white blouses a break, and allow your jewel tone accessories to pop! (Check out Target's Dolce Vita studded oxford in gray, and those shoes are three trends in one! Me likey!)

5. Studs/ornamentation: Everything from shirts to purses seem to have a hint of metal ornamentation. However, you will not be channeling Sid & Nancy's punk rock days. These studs a flatter and faceted.

6. Chunky knits: Nothing screams fall like wrapping yourself in a big warm knit sweater. This year, they will be coming in all shapes and sizes. Replace your trusty blazers and suit jackets with hip length chunky cardigan for a twist on your career wear. Also think about rocking a sweater dress with your knee-high boots and a sexy waist-cinching belt.

Sweater Links:

Old Navy

Fashion Bug

Target

Mood:  happy

My Fall Clothing Wardrobe.

Look who figured out how to use Excel! 

Mood:  blue

Dear Followers,

As most of you know, I love entering contests; answering surveys; and giving reviews. Basically, anything where I can get something for free! Most of the time, I'm entering for products I don't know much about or have not previously used. Not this time. One of my fav blogs, The Fashionable Housewife, is having a Philosophy Skin Care QVC Giveaway worth approximately $80.

I have been a fan of Philosophy for at least a decade. They made one of the moisturizing lip balms I ever used, and they have deliciously scented body washes. (I was a fun of the gingerbread body wash.) I am also a huge of QVC. I watch it with the same regularity that people watch the news. (*SMH* I know, I know.) With that said, it would really please me to win this giveaway. If not me, than you. (I only say that half-heartedly because I REALLY WANT TO WIN. LOL.)

So....

As part of The Fashionable Housewife's Philosophy celebration, they are giving away the Philosophy Eternal Grace spray fragrance & shower gel duo ($45) and Philosophy Your Best Skin 3pc skincare classics collection ($35).  So why don't you head on over and enter at: http://bit.ly/philosophyqvc

Good luck!

Mood:  down

This morning I had some extra time, so I decided to do a full face of make-up. In retrospect, I think I should have gone with my CoverGirl Queen Collection Bronzer in Ebony instead of the CoverGirl Simply Ageless Cream Blush in Berry. I should really, really, really find a spot in my house where I can work in direct natural light. Actually, there is a great place but it is also a very inconvenient space--my living room. If I ever buy a roll top desk that I could transform into a vanity, it might work because I can hide my make-up works when I'm not using them. But, I digress.

Below is the full face.  How do you like the vibrant golden yellow eye courtesy of Nicka D and N.Y.C. color?

1. I dusted my eyelid with E.L.F.'s Studio line translucent powder; 2. I dotted on a very thin layer of Ultima II base; and, then, 3. applied the yellow (the highlight side) from N.Y.C. Color's latest eyeshadow duo Upper Zest Side from brow to lid. (The yellow is much more vibrant when you dampened the brush, which I did. I used a tapered eye shadow brush to stipple on the color.

Finally, from crease to lid, I applied Nicka K Duo Eyeshadow in Toasted Almond. I swiped across both sides for a sunshine golden color. This picture came out dark, so it's not doing the vibrancy of the colors justice.

On my lips, I'm wearing CoverGirl ShineBlast in 880 underneath Black Radiance Liquid Lip Color in Coral Kiss. I used CoverGirl for moisturizer, because it really isn't highly pigmented. I used a light swipe of Black Radiance. Their coral is more pink than orange. It's a subtle hint of color. (I suggested using Black Radiance or any brand geared towards African-Americans or Latinos because you'll always get more color vibrancy.)

As a librarian and a fan of the Old Spice commericals, this parody commercial floored me. Enjoy.

Mood:  mischievious

I haven’t done any FOTDs in awhile. It’s just a little too hard for me to do it whilst my little ones are running around trying to get my attention before I go to work. However, I’ve still been doing my make-up each morning. Glamour magazine was right, a little bit of waterproof mascara and tinted moisturizer make it easy to do a flawless face during the heat and humidity of the summer. Goddess bless Kiss My Face’s tinted moisturizer and CoverGirl’s LashBlast Mascara.

I am also officially in love with Avon’s Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel which go on great and last more than just two days on my fingernails. Without a base coat but with a Seche’s quick dry top coat, their polishes last at least 4 days before it starts to show some wear. Two of my newest colors are complimentary shades of green--Jade (see color below) and Olive Green. I heart Olive Green (picture left) for it is a dark and sexy shade that is an excellent alternative to those who are addicted to dark opaque shades like chocolate brown, blood red, and black. Olive Green reminds me of the dark green industrial trash bags. If the pastel trend is what you’re looking for, Jade is an excellent alternative to the lilacs, blues and pinks that have been crowding the shelves.

A buy one get one free sale at Rite Aid this week led me to finally buy CoverGirl’s Outlast Lipstain in Plum Pout and Wild Berry Wink. I never used a stain before and I was very excited as I tore off the protective plastic and pulled off the cap. The marker applicator slide over my lips easily without dragging or drying. My lips looked pouty and sexily stained as though I had just eaten a cherry ice pop. However, the look didn’t last long. After a morning diet soda and mid-morning snack, the stain had disappeared leaving only a faint ring around my lips. I might try it under lip gloss to give my mouth that extra pop. On a scale of 5, I give it 2.5 stars. Buy it on sale, for sure.

Mood:  spacey

Late last year, I purchased two Max Factor Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duos and one MAXalicioius Lip Gloss at a deeply discount price at my local drugstore. It was 75% off! It was a great deal, and I was giving myself major kudos for buying such great products. The Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duos went on smooth; blened well; and lasted all day. (I purchased the colors Sulty Sage and Smoking Rose.) The lip gloss was vibran, shiny, and highly pigmented. It wasn't until a couple of weeks later did I find out that Max Factor was no longer selling in the U.S. market hence the deep discount. Now, I was kicking myself for not racking up on such a well-performing gloss. You can see it below on my lips. That, my friends, is only one swipe on the top lip and one swipe on the bottom lip without liner.

Face:

Formula D Minerals Ultimate Vegan Face Powder and Primer, $9 on Etsy

Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer in Branch, $9, drugstore.com

Formula D Minerals Vegan Blush in Flushed, $7, on Etsy

Eyes:

J2 Double-Sided Eye Liner and Shadow in Black/Silver, $3, beauty supply stores

Nicka K Duo Diamond Eyeshadow in Debut, $4, beauty supply stores. (It's hard to tell on the computer screen but darker color is a soft black with silver shimmer.)

Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara, $9, drug stores

Lips:

Max Factor MAXlicious Lip Gloss in 810 Vegas Nights, various online sites, not available in United States drug stores, about $8.

Mood:  sharp

Susie has a son, and her son is in a band called  TYRADE. Tyrade has a chance to open for the legendary rock band KISS! In order to be interviewed by KISS, Tyrade needs to be in at least 5th place. After the interview, KISS will then pick the band they want to open for them. Right now, Tyrade is in 7th place right. So, why don't you go over to Susie's website, vote her son's band, and enter the chance to win a great basketful of make-up.


To enter this giveaway, you need to vote and also blog about the contest on your website. 

1. Go here to vote: http://tinyurl.com/32bs6fb. Enter the zip code 14040, and your demographic infomation.

2. Then blog about the giveaway featuring the photo below so others will be encouraged to join Susie's giveaway and vote. Finally, leave ONE comment on Susie's blog that you voted with your email address and the link to your blog where you posted.

One winner, which will be drawn in early August, will receive:

• Elf Nail Polish Remover Pads
• Essence Nail Art Stamper Set
• LA Colors "Bright Pink", "Amethyst", & "Pink Sizzle!"
• ELF Polishes "Mint Cream and "Lilac!" (remember my reviews)
• Lint Free Nail Wipes
• LA Colors Intense Collection "Amp'd!"
• Sally Hansen Nail Quencher and a
  

Elf Mini Makeup Kit:27 Pc Mini Includes: 9 eyeshadow shades, 1 cream eyeshadow shade, 1 blush, 1 bronzer, 10 lip gloss shades, 1 brow powder, 1 eye liner pencil, 1 dual ended eyeshadow applicator and brush, 1 face brush and 1 lip brush.

(HOW FREAKING COOL!!! Remember, you can also buy the kit for $15 at ELF and receive a Free French Manicure Kit.)

 

 

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