About Me

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Middle of Nowhere, Home base in Northeast, United States
My passion is in traveling, however when I am not on some distant shore, I can be found in the nearest mall or online perusing Sephora, Smashbox, Ulta and Ebay sites for the latest color combinations. I use Smashbox exclusively, Philosophy, and OPI nail colors...but am willing to explore others if there is something spectacular that I feel I HAVE to have. *I am not affiliated with, nor work for, smashbox....I only enjoy using their products - listings are from smashbox, comments / reviews are from me*

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day Weekend....Smashbox had their friends & family sale and I went a bit crazy :) but that should not be surprising.  Newest treats for me include the camera ready foundation in F0, the suntan kissed bronzer (fake sun in a compact is only sun to "kiss" my skin), a new nude lip pencil (gotta love 1 pencil that works with ANY color i put it against), and finally I took a spin around ebay and replaced a few old favorites that have since been discontinued.

tip of the day? when your in the mood to splurge...set a budget :) I probably overdid it AGAIN on my ebay spree but when I can find my fav eye shadows for 5.00 including shipping? hehehehe can't resist.  Located a Limitless Eye shadow in shade of Long Beach.  ...back in 2008...Smashbox offered a few sets...
Waterfront series....The colors are a bit MUCH for them, but there are tricks to making any colors work.

For the On the Waterfront - Hermosa (Hermosa limitless lid, skin tint - heat, lip gloss -melt) I use the Hermosa applied with a brush, lightly up to brow. then pack on lid, line lower lash lightly.  the heat is applied lightly with a foundation brush then blended using blending brush from decadent series, sweep up and out as if a bronzer (and apply just as lightly as you would a bronzer), the gloss - use a liner pencil in nude for your skin (fair for me), then brush apply lightly to upper lip, press together, dab little to lower to finish filling in lines.  result is a lightly sun and sand ready look.

Long beach is trickier :) too much of it and your resembling a show girl from vegas! Take a brush and lightly apply a cream shade from base to brow.  Then lightly with liner brush, line the lid with the Long beach and smudge up to blend it into the lid segment but not fully up to crease, can then lightly line lower lashline with the Long Beach to the mid-pupil point. (when lining only go to mid-pupil top and bottom - it will make eyes appear wider and give a younger look to your features)  because your using a more attention getting eye shade, go light on the blush - skin tint in tint or a soft lights powder is good for this.  finish with a brush applied gloss that is not over the top shiny, just enough to keep lips moist and to give a slight amount of color.  if you dont feel need to use liner, don't worry about it...it's all about the eyes this time :)   another tip while I am thinking of it...part of what makes pretty girls look trashy? if your playing up the eyes, use a neutral lip color or just gloss...if playing up the lips? go easy on the eyes.  too much working of both areas will give impression of your working something else later :D can't have that   so...enjoy the tips...if any one has some to share..feel free to add them!

Until later, Enjoy the weekend!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Friends and Family Sale...and other news

Smashbox site is having their friends and family sale this week...20% off any purchase with code FF2011 -ends 5/27 at midnight pst. (3am saturday morning for those on the east coast).  Cant use it on "curtain calls" nor on "let's do lunch" grrrrr but okay 20% plus the 4% from ebates.com plus the points I get from my credit card...not bad :)

Other news...Philosophy is no longer my go to skin treatment :(  I started developing a reaction to the ingredients and switched over to Mario Badescu.  According to the site, the products are made with all natural ingredients and the prices are amazing...much less then philosophy.  Can get it online or in Ulta..not sure where else it is carried at the moment, but I will find out!  Ashley and Marla at Ulta tested some on me and no tingling, itching, irritation at all (seaweed cleanser, strawberry facial scrub, ceramide eye gel, kera moisturizer)  forgive spelling errors- too lazy at moment to go in bathroom to look at bottles.  Anyway, will be testing out each of their products for dry and sensitive skin and will post the good and the bad of it all.

Until later, Enjoy the day!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Let's Do Lunch - Thursday!

Todays Let's Do Lunch is the double ended lip color in shade of Amaretto...this was found in the Reign Collection (fall 2009) but I love the color for late nights out and yes, mainly a fall-ish shade, it does complement my dark hair / pale skin looks if out for an evening...though a bit bold for daytime use.

Was in my "local" Sephora 2 days ago ..(local being a relative term as it is 1 hour 15min from my house) and was playing with the new Smashbox lip stains/ balms.  hmmmm ok...guava is definately NOT a shade for me in the stain (though I do love it in the double ended lip color pencil).  Very bright and pigmented in a corally shade...  Petal seemed pretty in a light pink and Nude seemed a bit too brown for my taste.  Berry was another very deep shade and so was Sangria.  Will be waiting for them to show in a kit before I invest in them..they seemed nice but a bit drying unless using a constant application of the balm thats included. (I easily see running out of balm before finishing the stain and then needing a gloss to come to rescue)  Remember..Kits might run more in cost, but if your replacing favorites or don't have and want the products in it...kits are a great investment as your getting the items for less then if bought separately.  If your like me though, most kits contain duplicates of things I have plenty of and are not that good of a deal unless I plan on pawning off my duplicates to others :)

Anyway...take care and enjoy the day!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

New Kit release....kind of

The Luminous Summer kit is on the Smashbox site as new for this summer...ok then...

  • Its a face and body highlighter in Allure (previously released)
  • mini artificial light luminizing lotion in Flash - guess this is offering a purse size..
  • eye beam double ended brightener - great but I prefer the poured photo op
  • lip shine in Melon Drama (heartbreaker collection)
  • jet set waterproof eye liner in bronze - only "must have" in this kit...IMO

See...nothing new :(  but it gives a new combo to try using old fav's...

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tuesday Let's Do Lunch special

For those who need it or just plain want it...todays Let's Do Lunch they are offering a creamy cheek color in "untamed".  For those interested...keep in mind it is the cheek color from the Untamed Collection (2009). Color is Terracotta.  Recap of that collection is :

  • waterproof shadow / liner trios
    • exotic
    • savage
  • lip gloss
    • flesh 
    • raw
  • untamed creamy cheek color - terracotta
  • double ended eye brightener (with tiger stripes on it)
  • shadow liner duos (these were released along with the collection but not always mentioned as part of it)
    • goddess
    • smolder
    • slate
    • cashmere
Think fleshy earthy tones with some exotic purple blended in and that sums up the collection.  pretty and long wearing....todays LDL is from it and if needing replacement is free with any purchase :)  me? I am passing...I like the collection but rarely wear it enough to need duplicate blush

Take care and enjoy the day!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mail today = goodies!!!

Well my entering contests paid off again! Courtesy of the April Contest by "the nerdy fashionesta" I received in the mail today a benefit Radiant Skin Care 3 piece set, pair of Aldo earrings (will have to gift them since I think the nickel content in posts will be too high for me), a gorgeous Zora nail color, and .....SMASHBOX lol ..the "perfectly polished lids" set. I am in heaven :D

So...when I post contests for everyone to enter (from other sites) ...you can be assured I only post ones that I know will actually pay out goodies :)  Take care all and enjoy your Monday!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Followers :)

Okay everyone...up to 389 clicks here :) Thank You!!!  Followers = 4 though...and all men ..so Ladies? if your out there...please click follow. Reason is simple...once I gain 25 followers, I can start to do the contests and things other bloggers are able to offer.  Some of what will be up for grabs includes gift cards and delivered through email...so...just waiting on this to become more interactive then me just posting :)

On another note....smashbox faq's collection hit qvc and I posted the contents in the 2011 link.
Nerdyfashionista is offering contest 3 contests : a diamond up for grabs, a 50.00 sephora card, and a mother's day contest.  those on my facebook can find the link on my wall for the diamond one :) but will post here too http://engineershavemorefun.blogspot.com/  just go to her giveaways link...it is another google supported blog (same domain / format as here) and uploads/ download free... enjoy!