Goodbye 2011!!

This has been such a great year for me, both personally and professionally. I'm so blessed so have met so many new friends in my life and also reconnect with some old ones. 2011 was definitely my year and I cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store! I wish you a very, very HAPPY NEW YEAR and I'll talk to you guys soon! *MWAH*


P.S. I haven't settled on a resolution yet [if I make one], what will be yours?? Let me know in the comments!


**Update: One of my blog resolutions is to do more reviews. I haul a lot of stuff, but never tell you guys what I'm thinking! Is there something I've hauled that you want to know my thoughts on?**

A Slight Hiatus

Hey guys! I just wanted to let you know that I wont be blogging this week and that I'll be back on Monday to announce the winner of my Mystery Giveaway, along with the prize!! I hope you guys are having a great, great holiday! Also, I now have a YouTube channel, so make sure you check it out, comment, rate, and subscribe[please please please]!! My username is PrettyPisces88. Thats it, I'll talk to you guys in about a week!! *MWAH*

FOTD: Sleek & Glamour Doll Eyes

This is the makeup I wore when I went to a karaoke lounge. I wanted to use my thrifted goodies I picked up last week. I put Lover's Lane on my lid, and to my surprise it turned into a pretty orange color, and not the burgundy it swatched to be on my hand! I used the red from the Sunset palette in my crease and blended it out using my favorite matte brown from WnW's I Heart Matte palette. On my cheeks I used WnW's Mellow wine blush and on my lips I used my lip butter in Tutti Frutti [you can see a swatch here].

I hope you guys had a great holiday and Santa brought you some great goodies like he did me! Thanks so much for reading!!

Thrifted Goodies: Sleek, GDE, Miss Jessie's

Ya'll already know [or if you're new and don't know] I like to shop blog sales! There aren't many out there that have good things, but when I see something I want, I try to snatch it up asap. Well on twitter I asked if there are any blog sales going on and my twitter girl Chrys asked if I was looking to buy something. she doesn't have a blog sale up yet, but she let me see what she'd be selling and let me get first pick! How awesome is she?! Anywho, here are my goodies!

Sleek Acid Palette and Sunset palette

Miss Jessie's Samples!!! I'm so excited to try these!! =D

Glamour Doll Eyes Samples: "Jailhouse Jumpsuit","Boyfriend Sweater","Backstabber","Lovers Lane"

Swatches of the pigments in the same order as above

Have you guys bought anything good from a blog sale lately?! Thanks for reading!

NOTD: Velvet Bow

***Click the MYSTERY GIVEAWAY tab to enter my current running giveaway!***

This color is so pretty! China Glaze's Velvet Bow is apart of the Holiday 2011 collection. It's a deep vampy red color and I love it on my nails. And *gasp* no bling finger this time! I loved it all on its own.

It's closer to the index and thumb finger color

Do you wear reds around this time of year? 


Thanks for reading!

Product Rave: Maybelline Baby Lips

Hey Yall!! Ok, I want to share with you a product that I've been using non-stop since I got it! You already know what it is by the title, and its. . .BABY LIPS!

First of all, if you don't know what Baby Lips are, you've been living under a rock they are Maybelline's version of tinted lip balms. Their claim is for you to have "visibly renewed and reborn" lips after using them for 4 weeks.


I got the "flavor?" Cherry Me. It looks really red in the tube but it comes off somewhat sheer on your lips. It feels really good on your lips and this is truly a lip balm, just with slight color. There are 3 other tinted ones and 2 clear ones. 


What Do I Love About This Balm?

• The smell is so amazing! It's like fruit roll-ups, seriously!
• I like that it's visible on my lips, which is hard feat for lip products sometimes.
• The packaging is super cute. Some think it's ugly, but it's retro and adorable in my opinion.
• It feels light on my lips.
• It's super shiny.
• It doesn't have a bad taste. Well, it doesn't really have a taste at all, but that's alright with me.
• It has SPF 20!

What Do I Not Love About This Balm?

• It doesn't last a long time on your lips. The claim is to have 8 hour hydration and I maybe get an hour.

SWATCHES:

Grease face >.<

Overall I would, and will, buy more of these. Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading!!

I Took The Kind-Hearted Blogger Pledge

I haven't been in a rude blogging situation, but I know there are lots who have. I promise to never be that "blogger bully" so I took the Kind Hearted Blogger Pledge, that is found on Em Jay & Me's blog. if You take this pledge, link up here and tell them. It's refreshing to see some many names already on the list. [thanks so much Kelly for bringing this to my attention!] AS A KIND-HEARTED BLOGGER I PLEDGE TO: -create, inspire, and admire rather than compete with fellow bloggers -be understanding of each other-- in the blogging community, as well as in the world -stay away from internet/blogging bullying -speak my opinion freely, while still being mindful of other's feelings-- be tactful. -make an effort--no matter how big or small the gesture, to spread kindness or joy to others -acknowledge that I will make mistakes, (I am only human) but remember to learn from them -know that at times I will post about the negative stuff in life, and maybe even some complaining (I am only human) but I will always follow up with something happy/positive too. -believe that this world is a good place, filled with good people.

Victorian Disco Cosmetics: Review & Swatches!

Hey guys!! I wanted to share with you an awesome Indy cosmetic company. The name is Victorian Disco [that just sounds cool, right?] Cosmetics and its ran by a really sweet woman named Ashley [awesome name]! She put up a post on Beautylish.com announcing that she was starting her own makeup line and need some people to test and review her products. Well, of course, I jumped on the opportunity! I'm probably one of the last ones to swatch though, but I e-mailed her about the situation and she was so sweet about it! So... without further ado...here are the samples I was sent!

The Cute baggie the samples were sent it, sealed with her stamp.

Four pigments and one glitter. [L-R] Yoda's Yoga Mat, Pannier, AC-130[glitter], Revolutionary Ball, and Droids.

I've been told these names have Star Wars references. I'm not sure, because I've never watched it lol ^_^

Her business card

SWATCHES:

Yoda's Yoga Mat: A soft lime green with a slight gold sheen to it

Pannier: A pewter-like grayish purple. Lol its kinda hard to describe, but its such a pretty and unique color. It has really small green sparkles in it. This is one of my favorites!

Revolutionary Ball: A navy blue with teal and green sparkles. This is my favorite one out of the samples! I love it so so much.

Droids: A soft butter colored gold. It's much more yellow than my picture is showing unfortunately

AC-130: A gold and copper glitter. I don't have a glitter base but this stuck to my hand pretty well. I would advise a base though because when I went to wipe it off my hand, it came right out.

Overall Thoughts:


I really like these shadows and I think Ashley is starting off with something really nice! I swatched all of these colors dry and without a base. They are really soft and the glitters don't seem scratchy on my skin. They are very blendable. I'd like to see more matte shadows and I don't know if she has some yet, but that'd be my only "nit pick". Thanks so much for allowing me to test out your shadows Ashley!




You can find Ashley on:


Twitter
Facebook
Her Etsy Shop



P.S. She now has a Sailor Moon collection!! Also, You can use the code MERRYXMAS7 for 10% off until Christmas!




Thanks for reading!

Top 10: Polish Picks For The Fall/Winter

Hey Guys! I wanted to start a series of my Top Ten items and my first installment will be of nail polishes!! I recently got into polish this summer and it's really taken off lol! I put up different pictures because I couldn't get the right lighting for all ten polishes on one picture!! I hope you guys enjoy!

1. E.L.F.- Sunset
2. E.L.F.- Plum
3. China Glaze- Recycle
4. O.P.I.- San Tan-tonio
5. O.P.I.- Suzi Loves Cowboys
6. China Glaze- Velvet Bow
7. China Glaze- Ring In The Red
8. China Glaze- Lubu Heels
9. China Glaze- Twinkle Lights
10. O.P.I.- Gone Gonzo!

My Top Ten!

I felt this picture really showed off Lubu Heels'[8] red glitter

A better picture of the neutrals [3,4, and 5] and Velvet Bow[6]

Another shot of the colors

A great picture of the glitters

What are some of your picks for this season? I like to amp up the glitter and do darker colors a lot this time of the year, what about you? Thanks for reading!!!!

You can watch the video of me talking about these here!!

TESTING

I'm testing a new comment thing, don't pay any attention to this lol =)

Mystery Giveaway!!!

You guys voted and many of you said you would enter a Mystery Christmas Giveaway! I'm very excited about this and I hope you are too! The giveaway will start December 16,2011 and will end on Christmas night[December 25,2011]. The prize is $50 worth of products that will be a secret until after a winner is chosen and the package is sent out! I really like the idea of this and I might do it more often. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter down below and that'll be it!!!

You're Invited!!! To A Purse Party =)

Photo: Dimensionsguide.com [edited by me]

Who: You, of course!!

What: A "What's In Your Purse?" Party

When: Friday, December 16, 2011

Where: On Blogger and/or Youtube [I'm doing both =)]

Why: Because a)It's super duper fun! and b) I love seeing these types of posts/videos and I know you do too!

Here's what you do:

1. Do the Blog Post and/or video on Dec. 16th

2.Leave the link on Reni's[the mastermind] Purse Party post here.

3. Comment, get ideas, and see whats in everyone else's purse!! 

4. Make sure you come back and see who else has added their link!

I really, really hope to see you there! =)

Ahhhh.....Nothing Like Clean Brushes!

Is it crazy I want more?! lol

NOTD: Julep's Helena

I love this polish! I received it in my December Julep Maven box [along with a top coat I've yet to use]. This polish's name is Helena, its a creme, and its a mix between pink and purple. It leans more towards purple, but it kinda looks like pink sometimes; So hard to describe! You do need a shiny top coat because it dries semi-matte. Any-who, it's beautiful and on my *bling* finger I put two coats of Pure Ice's Cheatin. Cheatin is a clear based glitter packed with teal, hot pink, and purple glitters, it's perfect for this polish! 

Thanks for reading! what do you have on your nails today?!

Christmas TAG!

                       

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate! Egg nog is diiiigusting!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps them

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored lights on the tree

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nah

5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the weekend after thanksgiving

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Turkey and Dressing

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Sneaking down before my parents and seeing all the presents under the tree

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nah we wait until the morning

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Colored lights that twinkle with random ornaments and a star on top!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I loove the way it looks out side from my window. But driving and going out with snow outside is not fun at all.

12. Can you ice skate? I can somewhat

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I got a hot pink iPOD Nano!

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pecan pie!!! I know you can get it all the time, but I loooove it at the holidays

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going over my Grandma's.

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?  both.

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? I really like them

20. Favorite Christmas show?  How the Grinch Stole Christmas

21. Saddest Christmas Song? Christmas Shoes is pretty sad

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? I have sooo many! Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, Where Are You Christmas?, Silent Night, Jingle Bell Rock and many others!

I tag all of you to do this!!!! Thanks for reading!