Sample Test #4

Day four of sampledom: Shower Fresh eau de parfum by Clean

Again, scents are so personal, and will change based on the chemistry of the person who wears them. But the overall impression is, well, clean. 

A hint of floral, but not over saturated, this scent gives me the feeling of hopping into clean sheets. I wore it on my wrists and neck, and was pleased to see that it was still going strong after the end of a none to stationary work day. I did think it lacked a little spice, but it lived up to it's name perfectly.

Grade: B

Buy the eau de parfum here in the range of $20-$69 in a variety of applications.

Clean as a whistle.

Sample Test #3

Test number three could prove to be eye popping.

It's a Sephora's own brand of eyeshadow in a neat little palette.

Now, I want to like purple, but it's just never really done it for me. But. Intrepid tester that I now am, I'll own the hue today.

First Impression/Application:
*Really have to load up the brush to get a good swath of color on my lid with the purples.
*The light and dark purples came across about 2 shades lighter than they look on the card.
*The top color, "Tender Pink No.27", appeared to be shimmery, but surprisingly didn't transfer that way at all. Much flatter than expected.
*The bottom color, "Tiny Bubbles No.12", surprised me by having actual teensy bits of glitter in it. Seemed like a lot for the office, but great for evening. A kind of platinum blonde gold tone, it highlights perfectly and could be dusted on the collar/cheek bones easily.

Overall:
Super impressed with the staying power - Didn't budge all day (with use of Almay eye base previously covered). I'd purchase Tiny Bubbles and use it regularly, but the others I can do without.

Grade: C
Not what I expected in terms of color or texture, but solid staying power and 1 out of 4 was a winner.

Buy it here on Sephora.com for $12 per color pot.

Flash Sale!

I'll continue with the sample review tomorrow (I've tried 3 more since my last entry), but had to alert the masses:

One of my fave web and catalog shoe sources - Alloy - is having an up to 50% off all boots sale on their website for the next 4 days only.

Alloy has that Forever21 malaise of having to really pick through to find the gems that aren't in the only-appropriate-for-a-14-year-old genre (granted, that's their target market), but their shoes have always treated me right. They carry a wide range of sizes, heel heights, and have proved to be durable, comfy, and stylish every time I've purchased... Which is at least twice a year.

These are my current faves:

Quinn Boot - Image courtesy of Alloy.com

I bought an extremely similar pair last fall at full price (still a fairly good bargain) and have worn them multiple times a week for months on end two years in a row now.

These boots were made for walkin' - Get you some!

Sample Test #2

Today's test could leave me with a major headache by the end of the trial.

Its Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette by Aquolina.

A mix of spicy and sweet, the sugary package's pink and white stripes are topped with a bright red chili pepper to show it's not all fluff.

Overall:
Scents are so personal, but my take was while Pink Sugar definitely lived up to it's name, the undertones kept me from smelling like a bakery. It also seemed to linger longer (say that five times fast) than most Eau de Toilette's have in the past, which I appreciated. Light and airy with a hint of earth, I like it. However, it's a scent I'd rather use in my home than on my body.

Grade: C
Too sweet for my tastes, but I'd use it again in the right mood, or stick it in a corner of my sock drawer cracked open a bit for some scented tootsies.

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

Full Size Info:
Buy it through Sephora at the price of $29-$54 for a 1, 1.5, or 3.4 ounce selection. The scent also comes in body mousse, rollerball applicator, hair perfume, body scrub, and deodorant, among others.

Sample Test #1

Here we go - I'm using my own face as a guinea pig.

Test #1: Cover FX Camouflage Concealer in Light

First Impression:
*Scary orange color, even though it's second to lightest and the spectrum of offerings ranges from X-Light to X-Deep.
*Strange odor: Semi-herbal, semi-medicinal, overall weirdness.

Application:
*A little thick, but goes on smoothly and blends quickly and easily. No more orange (phew!).
*Covers like a dream - I'm instantly flawless.
*A little goes a long way - Just how I like it for $$$ purposes when looking at a new product. I used maybe a quarter of the sample and got all the major areas on my entire face.

Wear:
*Lovely matte finish.
*Didn't do my dry skin any favors - Flakiness showed through, but was squashed with a light moisturizer application over the top. To it's credit, make-up stayed put.
*A little heavy. I don't notice it moment-to-moment, but my face feels way different than normal to the touch (the company calls this "velvety". Hmm.).

Grade: B+
I'd buy it and use it, but not every day. Too heavy. Super fab special occasion coverage.

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

Full Size Info:
Buy it online through Sephora at $27 for 0.5 ounces. The sample is 0.05 ounces, so I'm pretty sure 1/2 an ounce would last for quite a while. Wide range of colors

Samples Are A Girl's Best Friend

Samples, how great are they?

A world of possibilities to find the next best thing in a palm-sized package. I have a stash of all kinds of goodies just waiting... and waiting... and waiting... for me to find the perfect moment to try them out and use them to their full potential. Maybe because they're free, or maybe just thinking I might need just exactly that size of that thing at some specific future moment, but I never actually use them.

This changes today!

I recently placed an online Sephora order, of which every one you get to choose three of their offered samples for that time period. I also (through RetailMeNot.com, posted about here) found a web code to get a slew of other free samples with my order in a tidy little travel case. Here's the stash:

So now my objective is to try each and every one, and give a little review here. Who knows, I may just find the next best thing.

Oh, the possibilities...

Gorgeous on the Go

Trolling Sephora.com one day, I found myself scoping the "Value Sets" section. As a rule, this section of the site offers fantastic little snack packs of all sorts of beauty brands, allowing you to test drive a multitude of colors and categories.

On this day, I found this gem I've come to love:

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

It's the Too Faced Glamour to Go 2 Pack, and my only disappointment is that I missed number one. Containing eight semi-sheer and shimmery eyeshadows on the top level and four glosses and a blush on the second slide-out tray, it's topped off by the mirror (underside of lid above shadows - not seen in photo), and the fact that it's all about the size of a 1/4 of a pack of cards. Magical! My faves in the pack: The yellow looking shadow in the bottom right corner is actually the perfect shade of glimmery gold that I find myself using nearly every day in some capacity, and the nude lip gloss in the top left corner of the bottom tray is almost obscenely perfect.

Downside: No applicators come with this guy. To me, not truly a problem as I'd rather use my own brushes or fingers anyway, but if you're used to the brands that come with their own you may be dismayed.

Priced at $19.50 it may seem spendy, but when considering a regular size Too Faced singular eyeshadow is around $16 a pop... Well, you can see the value.

Further Lip Service

As mentioned yesterday, since getting hooked on Covergirl Outlast Lipstain I've had a bit of an extra drying factor happening on my lips. Thought I'd share my fave ways of nipping that in the bud:

Image courtesy of Yun.Shop.blogspot.com

Favorite Chapstick:

As many of my pals will confirm, I'm a bit of a chapstick snob. I've tried a boatload, and my winner comes from a place you may not even know makes the stuff: The Gap. Yep, Great American Pants (did you know that's what Gap stands for?) should actually be Great American Chapstick... but Gac just isn't that catchy. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

*Zero stickiness.

*Sheen like a light gloss.

*Long-lasting.

*$4-$5.

*Actually good for your lips.

*Yummy flavors/scents that change periodically (I currently have Sugar Plum and Pomegranate in my purse).

Image courtesy of mythbusterbeauty.com

Favorite Gloss:

Lots of the same high points I look for in a chapstick factor into my gloss as well. I don't wear it super often, so I'll put up with a teeny bit of stickiness, but other than that I want an easy, comfy wear. I'm not the girl who wants to reapply either, so it's gotta have a bit of staying power. Winner: Too Faced. There are several different styles, from uber-shine to just-a-hint. Find it at Sephora.com

Givin' Some Lip

New must-have alert!

Image courtesy of makeupandbeautyblog.com

Pretty much all the drugstore brands are jumping on the bandwagon with the lip stains in marker form, but I decided to try Covergirl Outlast Lipstain... Mostly because it was the one in front of me in the aisle, and on sale to boot. It seemed like a safe bet to try (regular price: $8.99).

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I chose the color 'Flirty Nude', pictured above. Based on some staining trials in college with actual markers, I knew to choose slightly brighter than I would in a lip gloss or lipstick as stains are sheer as sheer can be, and are easily layered for higher impact. The options for the Outlast stain line are fairly wide - From the lightest pink 'Everbloom Kiss', to the darkest mauve 'Saucy Plum', you'll find a shade for you.

Bonus: This little guy is currently available for the buy one get one 50% off program on Walgreens.com (good for a multitude of Covergirl goodies - Mix and match style), so if you need a super easy stocking stuffer, carpe diem.

My only issue with it is the little bit of a drying factor, which I've found to be easily remedied with a little swipe of gloss or chapstick over the top. Pucker up!

On Sale Now!

Discount alert:

Image courtesy of VictoriasSecret.com

The Victoria's Secret cotton-cashmere wrap I wrote about in August here is now on sale for $39. Not only that, but sweaters are 20% off using the code SWEATER20 at checkout, bringing the total to under $32. 

Image courtesy of BizRate.com

Just wanted to pass on the good news.

Signed, Personalized, Delivered - It's Yours

One of the most successful gifts I've ever given was a personalized sign from Meissenburg Designs.

All images in this post courtesy of OldWoodSigns.com

A homespun company with high end results, Meissenburg Designs offers a plethora (literally.) of vintage poster art you can choose to personalize with your own text. My choice was for my favorite skier, and after choosing my art, the size of my sign, and even the material (I chose metal), had the perfect "logo" applied featuring my skier's fave spot.

This is the art that's on my sign - I changed "Stowe" to a different city, and "Vermont" to a different locale.

I was blown away with the personalized service - I wasn't sure which version of my text to use, so my consultant whipped up images of both and emailed them to me for decision making. I had an estimated time of arrival of 2-4 weeks. I got it in one. I knew exactly what it would look like when it arrived. It looked even better in person.

All of this makes the bang for the (semi-big) buck oh-so-worth it. Each sign is priced based on size, material, and personalization preferences. Mine was over $100, but has been on the mantel for years since, and even elicited a little bit of a misty eye upon giving (score!).

How To Be A Football Cheerleader (Without Showing Extra Skin)

Football season is in full swing, which means if you're female and attached in any way to someone male, you're feeling a little lonely.

Image courtesy of fezzart.com

Personally, I dig it. Love the college ball, and have finally made my foray into the NFL Fantasy Football madhouse this year as well. I wear the jersey, I don the colors in public places with other crazies, I yell at the tv.

So I thought I'd offer a few basics so maybe - just maybe - it gets a little more interesting for the ladies out there. And if not, at least you have a phrase to whip out and sound impressive.

Image courtesy of globalodyssey.blogspot.com

Basic #1: Downs
Each team has 4 tries to go 10 yards. If they don't make it, other team's ball. So when you hear something like "third and seven", that means they're on their third try and still have seven yards to go to make the ten happen. If the 10 yards are made within the 4 tries, First Down has been achieved. They then get 4 more tries to go 10 more yards, and so on.

Basic #2: Extra Point(s)
After a team scores a touchdown (six points), they have a choice to either kick a field goal for 1 point, or try to score another touchdown beginning from the two and a half yard line (which is the same place the ball is snapped from for the kicker if that road is taken). That's called a Two Point Conversion, and is much riskier, making both the point and glory payoffs higher. Here's the tricky part: Field goals can also be kicked apart from TD scoring to earn 3 points. This is usually chosen when a team is close to scoring a TD, but can't get it together. Rather than risk not making first down and turning over the ball with no points at all to show for it, they call in their kicker to try to get them 3 points before handing it over to their opponents.

Basic #3: Safeties
One last way to score points. Here if a team gets flattened in their own end zone, the team that did the steamrolling gets 2 points and possession of the ball.

Image courtesy of conferencecenteratnorthpointe.com

Of course there's an infinite amount of other things to decipher, but that should get you started. Games of any sort are much more fun to play or watch if you know what's going on.

 So tag along to the sports bar and if it still doesn't do it for you, at least there'll be snacks.

Image courtesy of foodnetwork.com

Mop It Up

Oil. It's gross, but it happens to the best of us. Face gets shiny, hair gets dull, nothing a girl can do but begin again, right?

Nope.

Tried and true brand Clean & Clear to the rescue:

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

Their blotting papers hit all the high points:
*Remove oil.
*Don't disturb makeup (even my powder bronzer stays put - magical!)
*Allow the grossly satisfying visual of the paper turning clear when the oil hits it.
*Once that strange plastic package is off, the papers live in a slimmer-than-a-gum-pack case and are non-crinkly and silent to use.
...And here's one they don't advertise:
*Run it down tendrils of hair or rub on your roots for a quick oily hair pick-me-up.

That last one's my new favorite.

Walgreen's also makes a what's-the-difference knock off that will save you a few bucks too ($4.50 vs. $6):

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I've taken quite a shine to these.

Banish the Belt Bump

Trick of the day:

Image courtesy of New York & Company

In this time of tunic length everything, how's a girl 'sposed to hold her pants up without creating an extra roll?

Easy. If you have to wear a functional belt under that long-length shirt, simply turn your belt to the side, and fasten normally. This creates the illusion of a flat front to your pants, and by nesting the buckle to the front or back of your hip bone, the lump all but disappears.

Magical.

An Apple A Day Finale

The grand finale!

Personally, I think I saved the best for last. And it's a newbie on the scene, so I get to do a little introduction.

Friends, meet the Stop Motion Recorder.

Image courtesy of 148apps.com

No sneaky moves with the name - This guy does just as promised, and with panache. Snapping still photos every 1 to 20 seconds (or by using the stop/resume function if you need more time), your movie is created claymation style, complete with all the jerky charm. And it doesn't even have to feature Rudolph.

Image courtesy of us.catchapp.net

Choose your effect (from black and white to mirror image), and enjoy using the on-screen grid and 'shadow' of your last picture to perfectly line up the next shot. Pick your frames-per-second speed and save for easy sharing and all 'round entertainment.

Did you have a flip book as a kid? Well here it is, all grown up.

Image courtesy of edibleapple.com

Thanks for stickin' around for the series - Enjoy your new toys!

An Apple A Day #4

Day 4 and it's a shorty, promise.

It's not that I don't have a lot to say about this app, it's just that at this point you have probably already heard about it in some way, shape, or form. That fact doesn't make it any less great.

It's Pandora.

Image courtesy of chictech.com

This ubiquitous office and dorm room friend has found it's way into easy touch-screen form. If you're not familiar, basically if you have internet access (built in if you have the iPhone, optional for the other devices), you can create your very own radio sation(s) built around your song title/artist/genre preferences.

Image courtesy of cache.gawker.com

For instance: Type in Britney Spears and get a mix of that piece of work, plus Christina Aguilera, Rhianna, Backstreet Boys, etc.

Rogers and Hammerstein? A mix of tunes penned by them plus other musicals.

You get the picture. Er, hear it, I suppose. Fave feature: Vote the song playing up or down by tapping one of the thumb icons on the screen. Turn it down and the app moves on to the next option. The only downside of this guy is that to keep it free (oh right, it's free!), you hit a limit with your 'skips', and sometimes just have to tough it out through a song you'd rather not hear.

A small price to pay.

Image courtesy of geekschwag.com

An Apple A Day #3

It's day three in the series! No game changer here though. Just another fab app f.y.e. (for your entertainment).

Today's pick: Project 365

Image courtesy of find.macworld.com

This app allows (and even reminds, but we'll get to that later) you to take a photo each day of the year, add a caption, and create an ever evolving scrapbook right there on your iDevice.

Image courtesy of image.macworld.com

There are two versions of this guy: A freebie and a 99 cent-er, and I highly recommend busting out the coin purse for the paid-for version. That reminder I alluded to earlier? That's an included feature by way of a push notification every day (something I really need if this whole 365 program is going to stand a chance). Your near-dollar also gets you a slideshow feature for month in review purposes, cropping, and the option for online back-up.

And you don't need to pay to get the essence of this app - Even with the free version you still get to take the photos and caption each.

Daily documentation at your fingertips.

Image courtesy of thepirata.com

An Apple A Day #2

Number two in the series! I know you've been holding your breath. Sit back, relax, and begin the download.

Pick number 2: Hipstamatic

Image courtesy of iphone.appstorm.net

This is the most-used app I've downloaded on my phone, simply because it's so much fun. The Hipstamatic camera offers an unpredictable, analog-y feeling to any scene you snap. A multitude of lenses, films, and flash effects, I feel like I could take 20 pictures of the same thing and have a different, creative result each time.

Image courtesy of 3.bp.blogspot.com

Fantastic!

Bonus features: An easy button to upload to Facebook for sharing the ones that you feel rival Ansel Adams, and every-so-often themed photo contests for Hipsta-users.

Image courtesy of farm5.static.flickr.com

The $1.99 download comes with 3 lenses, 3 films, and 2 flashes - Plenty to be happy with. If you love it and want more options, you can purchase 'Hipstapaks' for $0.99 each, which also come with several lenses/films/flashes, and can be previewed before purchase. I have to say, I've absolutely zero complaints about this one.

Image courtesy of pocket-lint.com

Oh, snap.

Image courtesy of geeky-gadgets.com

An Apple A Day...

In the spirit of some of my own favorite bloggers, I'm going to try my hand at a little series.

First up: My fave smart phone applications. I'm an iPhone drone, but with so many jumping on the iPad, and the iPod Touch being practically everywhere, apps are pretty approachable even if you don't want to sign a contract with AT&T.

Image courtesy of blog.crowdspring.com

Being... thrifty, I try to stay in the Free-99 cent range as much as possible, and it has served me well.

Number 1 in the series? Shazam.

Image courtesy of AppScout.com

This amazing little technological snack allows you to, with the touch of a button, secure the artist name and song title through any speaker playing music. Simply open the app, click the screen to "shazam" the song, and the iDevice will 'listen', analyze, and produce the info complete with album art.

And of course offer a button to take you directly to iTunes to purchase. It is an Apple product, after all.

However, it will keep a catalog of the songs you've 'zam'd if you don't want to purchase right away. The only drawbacks I've found are minor: The free version of this app only allows 5 tags per month. If you want more prepare to shell out $4.99 for the "Shazam Encore" to receive unlimited tagging. Also, if there is any ambient noise the analysis can stutter a bit and need to be retried.

All-in-all a fab app that has nailed down new music, hard to find remixes, and even some songs from tv commercials for this gal.

Image courtesy of EndlessSimmer.com

Summer Drink for an Autumn Day

Happy first day of fall!

I don't know about you, but I was ready for a little bit more summer (although I am loving busting out the knee-high boots again). I found myself some indoor sunshine courtesy of the (massive) September issue of InStyle magazine.

So without further adieu, the Salted Plum & Vodka Tonic:

Ingredients for one drink (Large. Could easily be split into 2 shorter glasses.):

*1 red plum, pitted and sliced. Reserve one slice (the prettiest.)

*1&1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

*1oz. simple syrup

*2oz. vodka

*tonic water

*sea salt

1) Place plum slices in cocktail shaker, and muddle (wooden spoon handle perfect for this job)

2) Add lime juice, syrup, and vodka.

3) Shake with 1/4 cup ice. Strain (really, really strain) into a glass. Use fresh ice if you'd like.

4) Garnish with a plum slice (set it on flat, otherwise it sinks); sprinkle sea salt on top.

That's it! Delish. And don't feel like you need to go out and buy simple syrup. All it is is 2 parts sugar to one part water. Boil your water, add the sugar until it's dissolved, let it cool, and use it or pack it away in the fridge. Easy peasy.

Bella Candela

I don't really feel the need to scent my home very often, and I'm loathed to purchase anything overly floral or dripping in sugary cupcake scents. But every once in a while, I need a little smile for my nose.

Bella by Illume candles are my favorite. I received one as a gift from my dear PNH last holiday season, and haven't looked back. They always have a balance of spice to sugar, and tend towards the natural side of the olfactory options.

Image courtesy of fringebenefitssalon.com

I'm currently burning the Pink Grapefruit and Tarragon, which is not only a lovely shade of terra cotta itself, but comes in a cute tin that I'm actually happy to leave on the coffee table even when unlit.

The scent of my living room...

I'm struggling to find a link to this scent online, but the Illume website offers a wide (and I mean WIDE) variety of designs and scents, including the one I just found myself being intrigued by: Pink Pepper. If only there were scratch and sniff screens...

I've found my Bella by Illume options most often at Target, where they retail from $10-$30, depending on size and style. Long burning and subtle - Bella indeed.

Umbra-lievably Easy

I love to scrapbook, but sometimes I just don't have the time or motivation to bust out all of my supplies and get down to business. I still tend to hang on to all those little bits and pieces that make a scrapbook live up to it's name, and have finally found something quick and easy to take care of the memory-inducing goodies that tend to start cluttering up my mantle/fridge/dresser.

Image courtesy of PostModernDesigns.co.uk

Umbra, which I'm sure you've seen the aisle of at Target, has always been my favorite for clever twists on photo display. Lately they've been doing a lot with magnetic structures, allowing the user to create a three dimensional scrapbook that can be changed in seconds.

Image courtesy of FridgeDoor.com

This is the Seto Suspension Frame, which I've decked out in my house with sports tickets, a sew-on patch, pinback button, and even an ice cream bar shaped eraser. Each spoke is completely removable, allowing any combo of items to be masterfully staged. I needed mine to be a lower profile, so have no spokes emitting from the top plane, taking down the height shown above considerably.

My own 3D scrapbook results

This frame isn't available on the Umbra site any more, but is at FridgeDoor.com, and retails for under $20.

Blow the dust of those scraps, de-clutter your surfaces, and create a piece of art, all in 5 minutes or less.