Let's not pretend you even noticed I was gone ;)
But the disappointing fact is that I have been away for quite a while!
I won't waste time giving you all my reasons & excuses. They aren't that great anyway. Pretty run of the mill and boring!
But I really, really want to get back into it. I have been MADDENINGLY behind on blog reading so that takes away from the motivation for blog posting.
But it's time to say screw it and just dive right in again.
If I keep waiting for "the right time"- I may never come back!
Another reason I have been hesitant to start again is because I really want to change the name of my blog. So if I suddenly switch it up on you- don't say I didn't warn you!
*starts singing Taylor Swift in my head*
Anyway, I'm back bitches!
Well, almost.
I have to wait for my laptop to get out of the shop (I told you the reasons were boring!)
But once that happens- I am really not holding back anymore.
Blogging makes me happy, and I want to be happy again. So I hope I still have at least a few readers out there!
See you soon!
Ember aka Amber aka Nicole......have I mentioned I am having an identity crisis??
(I currently use a pen name and am considering doing away with that when I rebrand my blog- what do you think?)
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Last chance! Red Coat Tuesday GIVEAWAY
You probably know by now that I am obsessed with Pretty Little Liars and sometimes join in the #RedCoatTuesday link up.
Well we've been holding a giveaway for a few weeks and it ends TOMORROW along with the season of Pretty Little Liars (tear!)
So I just wanted to give you guys one last chance to enter before the giveaway ends tomorrow!
And wish all my followers good luck!
This is my first ever giveaway so I'm really excited!!
My prize contribution is a Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio called Three's a Party & has red, black, and white shadows - perfect for Red Coat Tuesdays!
I also will be including a small PLL prize pack with some promo goodies I was given from ABC Family at the beginning of the season!
Some of the ladies of #RedCoatTuesday have pulled together and are bringing you a sneaky little giveaway! We have been bringing you #RedCoatTuesday for three years now, and we think it’s time to celebrate!! Why not do so with some Pretty Little Presents!!
Well we've been holding a giveaway for a few weeks and it ends TOMORROW along with the season of Pretty Little Liars (tear!)
So I just wanted to give you guys one last chance to enter before the giveaway ends tomorrow!
And wish all my followers good luck!
This is my first ever giveaway so I'm really excited!!
My prize contribution is a Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio called Three's a Party & has red, black, and white shadows - perfect for Red Coat Tuesdays!
I also will be including a small PLL prize pack with some promo goodies I was given from ABC Family at the beginning of the season!
Some of the ladies of #RedCoatTuesday have pulled together and are bringing you a sneaky little giveaway! We have been bringing you #RedCoatTuesday for three years now, and we think it’s time to celebrate!! Why not do so with some Pretty Little Presents!!
First up, let’s talk about the ladies that are hosting this fantastic giveaway and then we will show you your PRIZES! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway and of course check out the Ts and Cs. Those are always important!
#RedCoatTuesday RED Polish and Makeup Prize Pack
2 Full Size Red Polishes, 1 Red Shadow and 1 Red Lippy
Happy Hands Prize Pack
Full Size Bottle of January and Warrior Spirit from CDB Lacquer
Blue Eyed Girl Lacquer
Full Sized Bottle of Polish
Water Slide Decals
Budget Splurge Beauty
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++ PLL Prize Pack
Blue Eyed Girl Lacquer
Full Sized Bottle of Polish
Water Slide Decals
Budget Splurge Beauty
++ PLL Prize Pack
So for a couple details. All prizes will be available to US followers only (sorry international folks, next time). The giveaway will run for one month and will end on 3/24 at midnight. All the fun Ts and Cs are at the bottom of the Rafflecopter, so be sure to check them out when you are entering. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself or any other the other ladies. We will help you out!
Most of all… GOOD LUCK!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Red Coat Tuesday GIVEAWAY!
If you know me you know I'm obsessed with Pretty Little Liars....so I love partaking in #RedCoatTuesdays a linkup created by Color Me So Crazy.
I can't always link up but I still love looking at all the looks all the ladies create every week.
To celebrate the end of this season, some of us ladies have put together a giveaway!
And in case you didn't know, this is my FIRST giveaway!!! So that's really exciting for me!
So be sure to enter and check out all the other ladies blogs and good luck!
My prize contribution is a Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio called Three's a Party & has red, black, and white shadows - perfect for Red Coat Tuesdays!
I also will be including a small PLL prize pack with some promo goodies I was given from ABC Family at the beginning of the season!
Some of the ladies of #RedCoatTuesday have pulled together and are bringing you a sneaky little giveaway! We have been bringing you #RedCoatTuesday for three years now, and we think it’s time to celebrate!! Why not do so with some Pretty Little Presents!!
I can't always link up but I still love looking at all the looks all the ladies create every week.
To celebrate the end of this season, some of us ladies have put together a giveaway!
And in case you didn't know, this is my FIRST giveaway!!! So that's really exciting for me!
So be sure to enter and check out all the other ladies blogs and good luck!
My prize contribution is a Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio called Three's a Party & has red, black, and white shadows - perfect for Red Coat Tuesdays!
I also will be including a small PLL prize pack with some promo goodies I was given from ABC Family at the beginning of the season!
Some of the ladies of #RedCoatTuesday have pulled together and are bringing you a sneaky little giveaway! We have been bringing you #RedCoatTuesday for three years now, and we think it’s time to celebrate!! Why not do so with some Pretty Little Presents!!
First up, let’s talk about the ladies that are hosting this fantastic giveaway and then we will show you your PRIZES! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway and of course check out the Ts and Cs. Those are always important!
#RedCoatTuesday RED Polish and Makeup Prize Pack
2 Full Size Red Polishes, 1 Red Shadow and 1 Red Lippy
Happy Hands Prize Pack
Full Size Bottle of January and Warrior Spirit from CDB Lacquer
Blue Eyed Girl Lacquer
Full Sized Bottle of Polish
Water Slide Decals
Budget Splurge Beauty
++ PLL Prize Pack
Blue Eyed Girl Lacquer
Full Sized Bottle of Polish
Water Slide Decals
Budget Splurge Beauty
++ PLL Prize Pack
So for a couple details. All prizes will be available to US followers only (sorry international folks, next time). The giveaway will run for one month and will end on 3/24 at midnight. All the fun Ts and Cs are at the bottom of the Rafflecopter, so be sure to check them out when you are entering. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself or any other the other ladies. We will help you out!
Most of all… GOOD LUCK!!
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Dali Museum Date
Two weeks ago my boyfriend and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary.
We decided to do something that we have been wanting to do for quite a while- the Dali Museum.
One thing that made us want to do it NOW, and stop putting it off, is the temporary Picasso exhibit that was on display as well, showing their works side by side.
We decided to do something that we have been wanting to do for quite a while- the Dali Museum.
One thing that made us want to do it NOW, and stop putting it off, is the temporary Picasso exhibit that was on display as well, showing their works side by side.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Seattle Seahawks Superbowl Makeup
I may not be a huge football fan, but I love the excitement that surrounds the Super Bowl each year.
Between the rivalries, delicious food, top notch commercials, beer, and entertaining half time show, I think there's something for everyone. If nothing else it's a good excuse to get together with some friends, eat some good food and drink some cold beer!
Even though I don't follow football closely, I do enjoy watching it. I don't have any favorite teams so I just choose my favorite team out of whichever 2 are playing in the game I'm watching.
However, I have a huge soft spot for Seattle because I have plans to move there within the next few years. I consider it my future home and for that reason, I am a supporter!
So this year I thought I'd show my support by doing my makeup in Seahawks colors.
Unfortunately as we all know by now, the Seahawks ended up losing in a nail biting ending. I was disappointed but then flipped my tv to the Puppy Bowl and let's be honest, it's pretty hard to be upset after that!
I think my favorite thing about this look is that it's almost entirely budget-friendly products!
On my eyes I first put down a base of Nyx jumbo pencil in Milk to make the colors pop
I put a mid tone teal blue from the BH cosmetics 120 palette (1st edition) all over my lid, leaving the inner corner bare
I put a dark navy blue in the crease from my Profusion black jewel palette (swatches here )
I added a bit more depth in the outer corner with the matte black from the Wet n Wild I <3 matte 8-pan.
I mixed some neon greens from the BH cosmetics 120 palette and applied it to the inner corner, bringing it down on my lower lid and blending.
The last step I did that I regret is I used the shade Sabbath from the Urban Decay The Black Palette to line my lower lash line.
Every time I use something from The Black Palette I am reminded that these colors just do not work for me. They go muddy immediately and the color blends away leaving just a blackened mess. This application was no exception.
The Black Palette was actually my first experience with Urban Decay, and I got it on clearance. I'm glad I didn't write off the brand after that experience because I read several reviews that echoed the problem I had.
Shades marked with a daisy were all the ones I used from this palette.
I really like this look.
To complete it I wore my favorite lipstick combination that I can't get enough of lately. More to come on that soon! It is also bargain brands, but unfortunately they were limited edition products.
So that was the look I wore to bring some team spirit into the game. Sadly it wasn't enough. Maybe next year!
As for the rest of the game, I enjoyed Katy Perry's half time show, especially Missy Elliot's guest appearance!
I also loved how everyone on my twitter feed was live tweeting the half time show. My favorite part was the fireworks and when Katy rode off on athe-more-you-know shooting star.
I think my favorite commercials were the Budweiser puppy commercial (of course!) and the Liam Neeson commercial. I will admit though I did miss quite a few, including the girl-power tampon commercial but I did hear about it and loved what I heard!
What was your favorite part of the Super Bowl? Who were you rooting for? Let me know in the comments!
Between the rivalries, delicious food, top notch commercials, beer, and entertaining half time show, I think there's something for everyone. If nothing else it's a good excuse to get together with some friends, eat some good food and drink some cold beer!
Even though I don't follow football closely, I do enjoy watching it. I don't have any favorite teams so I just choose my favorite team out of whichever 2 are playing in the game I'm watching.
However, I have a huge soft spot for Seattle because I have plans to move there within the next few years. I consider it my future home and for that reason, I am a supporter!
So this year I thought I'd show my support by doing my makeup in Seahawks colors.
Unfortunately as we all know by now, the Seahawks ended up losing in a nail biting ending. I was disappointed but then flipped my tv to the Puppy Bowl and let's be honest, it's pretty hard to be upset after that!
I think my favorite thing about this look is that it's almost entirely budget-friendly products!
On my eyes I first put down a base of Nyx jumbo pencil in Milk to make the colors pop
I put a mid tone teal blue from the BH cosmetics 120 palette (1st edition) all over my lid, leaving the inner corner bare
I put a dark navy blue in the crease from my Profusion black jewel palette (swatches here )
I added a bit more depth in the outer corner with the matte black from the Wet n Wild I <3 matte 8-pan.
I mixed some neon greens from the BH cosmetics 120 palette and applied it to the inner corner, bringing it down on my lower lid and blending.
The last step I did that I regret is I used the shade Sabbath from the Urban Decay The Black Palette to line my lower lash line.
Every time I use something from The Black Palette I am reminded that these colors just do not work for me. They go muddy immediately and the color blends away leaving just a blackened mess. This application was no exception.
The Black Palette was actually my first experience with Urban Decay, and I got it on clearance. I'm glad I didn't write off the brand after that experience because I read several reviews that echoed the problem I had.
Shades marked with a daisy were all the ones I used from this palette.
I really like this look.
To complete it I wore my favorite lipstick combination that I can't get enough of lately. More to come on that soon! It is also bargain brands, but unfortunately they were limited edition products.
 |
| with flash |
As for the rest of the game, I enjoyed Katy Perry's half time show, especially Missy Elliot's guest appearance!
I also loved how everyone on my twitter feed was live tweeting the half time show. My favorite part was the fireworks and when Katy rode off on a
I think my favorite commercials were the Budweiser puppy commercial (of course!) and the Liam Neeson commercial. I will admit though I did miss quite a few, including the girl-power tampon commercial but I did hear about it and loved what I heard!
What was your favorite part of the Super Bowl? Who were you rooting for? Let me know in the comments!
Friday, January 9, 2015
2014 Wrap Up Video
On the last day of 2014 I made this video of the past year.
I originally made it to just share on my facebook but I thought, eh, why not share it here!
I hope you all had a good 2014, a wonderful new year, and that 2015 brings you nothing but happiness!!
Enjoy~
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Red Coat Tuesday: Holy Grail Red Lip?!
Finally!! Pretty Little Liars returns tonight for season 5B after a grueling wait.
Which means, the #RedCoatTuesday link up is back!
For the premiere I decided to focus on lips since I am currently wearing acrylic nails (for the first time in my life! More on that later).
And what better way to kick off the season then to talk about the perfect red lip?
Chances are you know who Kat Von D is, and you have probably heard that her makeup products have steadily taken the beauty world by storm. The Kat Von D line is sold at Sephora and is a little too steep for me. I have been wanting to try her products for quite a long time but the opportunity never came up.
So when I heard that some of her products were popping up in Marshall's and TJ Maxx I knew I had to try and snatch some up!
I got lucky and found one of her infamous Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks which are liquid lipsticks that dry matte. Even better, I found it in the universally flattering shade, Outlaw!
Matte Liquid Lipsticks are probably one of the most popular items in the beauty world lately. Kat Von D's Everlasting line has been compared to Limecrime Velvetines or Stila stay all day lipstick. It applies wet but dries to a matte finish that is supposed to be smudge proof, kiss-proof, and stay on all day!
So, after trying it, is it my new Holy Grail?!
As you can see, I truly got a steal on this one! It was on sale for $6.99! The tag says compare at $14 but it is actually on Sephora's website for $19! So I got it for less than half of the full price!
A sticker on the bottom has both the shade name and the color. I find this helpful since the rest of the box does not give any indication of the shade.
When I opened it I realized it was a lot smaller than I thought it was. It's very skinny. Because of this I would feel even more uncomfortable paying full price, since you're not getting that much product. I found out that the reason this is at Marshall's is because it is the old packaging.
It has a standard doe foot applicator but since it's thin, it has pretty good control. I still think it's a good idea to apply with a brush on the edges to get a crisp line. I did not use a brush but for best results I think you should.
As you can see with just one swipe it is INCREDIBLY pigmented. The top of this swatch is still wet, and the bottom has begun to dry and you can see it become a matte finish. You can also see how it looks like it is part of my skin as opposed to the top of the swatch looks like it is just sitting on top of the skin.
I rubbed the bottom half of this swatch pretty hard and as you can see there is a *slight* pink smear and the color gets patchy. But it was still not completely dry when I did this. When I tried again a few minutes later it was much harder to get to budge!
On the lips it is a beautiful brick red. It is pretty neutral and therefor I think it would be flattering on most skin tones! Since this is a matte lipstick it is best to prep your lips beforehand. However since I'm lazy I did not and I did not experience any of the typical drying you usually get with matte lipsticks. It doesn't cling to dry patches either so it's a pretty nice formula!
I wore this lipstick out to a bar with some friends because I wanted something I could throw on and forget about. This definitely fits that description! Once on my lips I couldn't even tell it was there. While it's drying you don't want to rub your lips together but once it's dry it's DRY and not going anywhere.
OKAY so remember I said I was going to a bar? I'm going to let that explain the face..... I will also say that there were friends in this picture also making silly faces but I cropped them out to respect their privacy.
The point is, this is the lipstick about 5 hours and a few drinks later. As you can see it is still going strong! No smudging or fading at all! In fact when I got home several hours later it was still as bold as ever, and I took pictures of myself again because I was so amazed. To spare myself the embarrassment I won't be posting those pictures haha
I wore this lipstick again on Christmas as it felt like a very holiday friendly shade. It also matched my dress. My lips were a bit dry this day and I should have prepped them first but I ran out of time. For not exfoliating or moisturizing, I'd still say they don't look that bad but they do look dry.
Lastly I thought I would include this picture from after Christmas dinner. As you can see the color faded a bit in the center but it's not awful. This is after a few hours and a meal, and it held up pretty well. I didn't even touch it up after although I probably should have, haha.
So is this my new holy grail?! Honestly...it is for now! I really love that I can throw it on and not worry about reapplying all day. I can also eat and drink without worrying about it smearing everywhere. My boyfriend loves that I can kiss him without leaving behind a big red lip mark. Even though it's quite neutral, if this were just a tad more blue toned it would be a TRUE holy grail for me. As it is now, I do love it and will use it up but I would only repurchase if it were on sale.
Have you tried any of Kat Von D's cosmetics? I have been dying to try the Lock It Foundation and have heard great things about her eyeshadow palettes and liquid eyeliner.
Don't forget to check out everyone else's Red Coat Tuesday and don't forget to watch the season B premiere of Pretty Little Liars!
Which means, the #RedCoatTuesday link up is back!
For the premiere I decided to focus on lips since I am currently wearing acrylic nails (for the first time in my life! More on that later).
And what better way to kick off the season then to talk about the perfect red lip?
Chances are you know who Kat Von D is, and you have probably heard that her makeup products have steadily taken the beauty world by storm. The Kat Von D line is sold at Sephora and is a little too steep for me. I have been wanting to try her products for quite a long time but the opportunity never came up.
So when I heard that some of her products were popping up in Marshall's and TJ Maxx I knew I had to try and snatch some up!
I got lucky and found one of her infamous Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks which are liquid lipsticks that dry matte. Even better, I found it in the universally flattering shade, Outlaw!
Matte Liquid Lipsticks are probably one of the most popular items in the beauty world lately. Kat Von D's Everlasting line has been compared to Limecrime Velvetines or Stila stay all day lipstick. It applies wet but dries to a matte finish that is supposed to be smudge proof, kiss-proof, and stay on all day!
So, after trying it, is it my new Holy Grail?!
As you can see, I truly got a steal on this one! It was on sale for $6.99! The tag says compare at $14 but it is actually on Sephora's website for $19! So I got it for less than half of the full price!
A sticker on the bottom has both the shade name and the color. I find this helpful since the rest of the box does not give any indication of the shade.
When I opened it I realized it was a lot smaller than I thought it was. It's very skinny. Because of this I would feel even more uncomfortable paying full price, since you're not getting that much product. I found out that the reason this is at Marshall's is because it is the old packaging.
It has a standard doe foot applicator but since it's thin, it has pretty good control. I still think it's a good idea to apply with a brush on the edges to get a crisp line. I did not use a brush but for best results I think you should.
As you can see with just one swipe it is INCREDIBLY pigmented. The top of this swatch is still wet, and the bottom has begun to dry and you can see it become a matte finish. You can also see how it looks like it is part of my skin as opposed to the top of the swatch looks like it is just sitting on top of the skin.
I rubbed the bottom half of this swatch pretty hard and as you can see there is a *slight* pink smear and the color gets patchy. But it was still not completely dry when I did this. When I tried again a few minutes later it was much harder to get to budge!
On the lips it is a beautiful brick red. It is pretty neutral and therefor I think it would be flattering on most skin tones! Since this is a matte lipstick it is best to prep your lips beforehand. However since I'm lazy I did not and I did not experience any of the typical drying you usually get with matte lipsticks. It doesn't cling to dry patches either so it's a pretty nice formula!
I wore this lipstick out to a bar with some friends because I wanted something I could throw on and forget about. This definitely fits that description! Once on my lips I couldn't even tell it was there. While it's drying you don't want to rub your lips together but once it's dry it's DRY and not going anywhere.
OKAY so remember I said I was going to a bar? I'm going to let that explain the face..... I will also say that there were friends in this picture also making silly faces but I cropped them out to respect their privacy.
The point is, this is the lipstick about 5 hours and a few drinks later. As you can see it is still going strong! No smudging or fading at all! In fact when I got home several hours later it was still as bold as ever, and I took pictures of myself again because I was so amazed. To spare myself the embarrassment I won't be posting those pictures haha
I wore this lipstick again on Christmas as it felt like a very holiday friendly shade. It also matched my dress. My lips were a bit dry this day and I should have prepped them first but I ran out of time. For not exfoliating or moisturizing, I'd still say they don't look that bad but they do look dry.
Lastly I thought I would include this picture from after Christmas dinner. As you can see the color faded a bit in the center but it's not awful. This is after a few hours and a meal, and it held up pretty well. I didn't even touch it up after although I probably should have, haha.
So is this my new holy grail?! Honestly...it is for now! I really love that I can throw it on and not worry about reapplying all day. I can also eat and drink without worrying about it smearing everywhere. My boyfriend loves that I can kiss him without leaving behind a big red lip mark. Even though it's quite neutral, if this were just a tad more blue toned it would be a TRUE holy grail for me. As it is now, I do love it and will use it up but I would only repurchase if it were on sale.
Have you tried any of Kat Von D's cosmetics? I have been dying to try the Lock It Foundation and have heard great things about her eyeshadow palettes and liquid eyeliner.
Don't forget to check out everyone else's Red Coat Tuesday and don't forget to watch the season B premiere of Pretty Little Liars!
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