Head on over to Vera’s blog, www.luxuryreading.com, to read my review of Barbara Forte’ Abate’s The Secret of Lies! Be sure to stick around to check out the rest of great stuff happening over on her blog while you’re there!
http://luxuryreading.com/secretoflies/
Not really : )
My friend Todd sent me this and I thought it was silly and cute. My name is Pretty Gumbo Hopkins. 
What’s yours??
xoxo
Happy Tuesday everyone! Versace’s latest fragrance, Yellow Diamond is now on Facebook and by clicking the link below, after you like the page, you can fill out a form and get a free deluxe sample! Supplies are limited so hurry! Have a great day and enjoy!
xoxo
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Versace-Yellow-Diamond/231877880226242?sk=app_331146416906890
The weekend was great, Friday night cavs game with some of my faves, a new sparkling fridge on Saturday and a super fun wedding. Where I had too much to drink and then ruined my Sunday but who’s judging. 
Sunday was spent at a home remodeling show which was ehhhh boring and then homemade pasta sauce and couch lounging. I was up late finishing up freelance work and then couldn’t sleep even though I was exhausted. I need a night to decompress and I plan on that being tonight. I’m currently in the middle of two books and need to finish them both to move on to another I’m looking forward to reading. I’m enjoying not being in class, but I’m going to have to start my thesis and independent study before this month is over. Need a research day. And even thinking about research excites me. Nerd alert! Hope everyone has a great week xo
It disgusts me that Jersey Shore clips hit way over a million views easily and this clip hasn’t even broken one million. Watch. Remember. And learn. We always must learn. For if we stop learning, in any aspect, we stop living.
NYC New York Color has been a trusted brand of mine for a LONG time. So when I saw that it was included as one of the showcase products from Influenster in my Holiday Voxbox I was pumped. I was sent a sample of Nude York City Liquid Lipshine, a nude color, that wasn’t overly shimmery or too matte. Nude is a tough color to wear and I can honestly say that this shade worked well with my coloring. I didn’t look like a zombie and I didn’t look like I had frosted lips. Perfect. I prefer to dress nude lips with super dramatic eyes, and Nude York City is perfect for this pairing. 
The Liquid Lipshine retails for around $2.49 a pop and is available at major drugstores and retailers nationwide. The gloss is packed with Vitamin E and is not sticky, goopy and comes in both bright and subtle shades. Ten shades to be exact. For more information on this product and other awesome and affordable goodies from NYC New York Color, check out www.newyorkcolor.com
Disclosure: I was provided this product for free in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
xoxo
I have already mentioned in a previous post how I received a set of imPRESS Press-on Manicure nails in my Holiday Voxbox from Influenster. The product, one I had never tried before is by Broadway Nails and is super cute and super easy to use. 
I was sent Wink Wink and while the design wasn’t exactly my style, I had an easy time putting on the nails and definitely recommend the press-ons for anyone looking for a quick, easy and affordable manicure in a pinch. I hardly paint my nails anymore because they seem to always chip immediately, so I was very pleased that not only did these nails not chip, they stayed put for a few days straight. I also was not CONSTANTLY aware that I was wearing press on nails, a feeling I associate with glued on manicures and even salon sets. 
The packaging is cute and clever, the press-ons come in a WIDE range of patterns, perfect for any style or event and they fit any budget. Solid colors run around $5.99 a pack while patterns are $7.99. Each package of the 36 available shades comes with 24 different nail covers and are so easy to just match, peel stick and GO. The sets are available at drugstores and major retailers nationwide and if you check out the product at www.impressmanicure.com you can virtually test all shades and download money saving coupons as well! You will also be able to search for retailers nearby.
Check out shades you can wear in the office or at a party! There really is something available for every possible occasion.
xoxo
Disclosure: I received this product for free in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
It is Thursday yes?? What the hell is with this week. I have been non-stop, even considering I was without car most of the week. I am bursting with motivation, get home and BLAH. Want to do NOTHING. Tonight I changed the towels in the bathroom. HOW’S THAT FOR SUCCESS. Anyways, I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday. This weekend stands to be packed with plots, plans, art, outings and some of my very favorites. A few things on my mind today and this week are listed below. xoxo
**When you are just about to pay off your car, it will break. I have one payment left, this month actually, and I had to replace my brakes. Typical.
**Somehow, you end up with people in your life that make you go WTF.
**Planning travel can be almost as fun as actually doing it.
**I gotta get out of this city. I’m long overdue for a getaway.
**November and December really threw a wrench into budgeting and saving. It’s LOCKDOWN time in this house.
**I cannot stop reading. Awesome.
**I enjoy that I set 2012 goals instead of resolutions and I’m glad none are non-realistic. I also like that I seem, for whatever reason, to be actively thinking of and working on them daily.
**Made a personal list of “things I need to do” and put it in my notebook. Nice crossing that stuff off.
**When there are packages, creativity, work, events and travel to look forward too, everything seems a bit brighter.
Hello hello and happy 2012! 2011 was a blur! Looking forward to the coming year!
I was super pumped to find out that I was selected to receive the Holiday VoxBox from Influenster. I had been a member since October and was ready to get my hands on my first assignment and try everything out. The cute little box came in the mail and it was PACKED with goodies. 
There were brands that I was familiar with and currently use such as SoftSoap, New York Color, Mentos and Montagne Jeunesse. There were also items from Larabar and Broadway Nails as well. It was the perfect mix items! My Holiday VoxBox contained: 
*A package of ImPress Press-On Manicure nails by Broadway nails (I was sent Wink Wink)
*SoftSoap Coconut Scrub Bar Soap
*Montagne Jeunesse Face Mask (Kelp and Seaweed)
*New York Color Liquid Lipshine (Nude York City)
*Mentos Pure Fresh Gum (Fresh Mint)
*Larabar Chocolate Chip Brownie
I’d have to say that the ImPress manicure, the SoftSoap Coconut soap and the Montagne Jeunesse face mask were my favorite products out of the Holiday VoxBox. I will have a few more in depth reviews up in the next few days, but in the meantime, check out www.influenster.com for more information on the program.
xoxo
Merry Christmas Eve! For whatever reason, possibly because there is no snow in Cleveland, it does not feel like Christmas time. But what better way is there to get in the holiday spirit other than getting glammed up and throwing on your best party dress? The new holiday collection from Rimmel London will help me do just that. The collection includes foundation, blush/highlighter, eye shadow, mascara and lipgloss. The products are all perfect for going all glam or for day time as well! I was sent a few of the Stay Glossy Lip Glosses and a few of Glam’Eyes Mono Eye Shadows to review for the holidays.
From the Stay Glossy line, I tried Stay My Rose, Fabulous!, Timeless Allure and Jewel in the Crown. The glosses are a nice size and retail around $4.99 each. The Soft Extend lip-sculpting wand is a nice size that makes application easy because it helps you to evenly coat your lips instead of a blob of gloss just bursting out. The colors are all shimmery and pretty, and have just enough sparkle to provide a playful look. The shimmer does not overwhelm and the gloss is smooth and remains in place, without drying or being sticky. Out of the four I was sent, my favorite was Timeless Allure, which is a rich berry color that actually looked nice with my fair skin, without overwhelming my face. The Stay Glossy Lipgloss comes in 13 different shades and range from soft and light, to dramatic and bold. If you are looking for a gloss that is sleek and pretty for the holidays, I highly reccomend you go out and give Stay Glossy a try. 
I was also sent a few of the Glam’Eyes Eye Shadow Collection to try as well. The shadows are smooth and rich and most importantly FUN. I tried Posh Peacock, Spicy Bronze and Jet Black. The colors stayed put, did not crease or turn oily. The pigment is crisp and just thick enough that a light application is noticeable. Apply more if you want a bolder look, like with Posh Peacock for example. Each shadow retails for around $3.49 at major retailers nation-wide.
For more information on the rest of the Holiday line or other great products from Rimmel, check out www.RimmelLondon.com
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!
xoxox
Disclosure: I was provided these products for free in exchange for review. All opinions are my own.
