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Free for Haul Friday, Volume #363
Share any beauty goodies you may have picked up in the last week or so, or maybe what’s on your way or on your wish list for next week or month. 🙂
- Haul: A few more holiday sets, but I’m not sure if I’ll review them yet so I don’t want to say!
- Weekend plans: Catch-up! I visited my parents in California last week for a few days, so I’m a little bit behind on what I need to do for next week and really need to organize and prioritize. Aside from that, probably curl up on the floor with Mellan 🙂
- When was the last time you traveled?: Last week, haha! I went to California for a few days.
Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group! 🙂
Aw, all dressed up!
Haul:
Illamasqua: Radiance Veil, Skin Base Foundation (06), Lip Set (Nude Pink). I am rapidly becoming a big Illamasqua fan!
Laura Mercier (25% off): Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder (Fair), Deluxe Samples: Translucent Setting Powder, Tinted Moisturizer (Nude). Never tried this and it’s being delivered tomorrow I think. It was just too good of a deal to pass up on.
MAC: Spellbinder Shadow (Higher Power, Dynamically Charged, Aphrodisiatic), Nutcracker Sweet: Sweet Copper Face Compact, Lipstick (Leap of Delight). I have to thank Katherine for alerting me to the release of Nutcracker. I would have missed the Copper Compact had I not ordered when i did since it was already sold out everywhere by the time I got the email and text from MAC.
Weekend plans: Somehow I got volunteered to assist with doing the concrete patio earl, early tomorrow morning at my daughter’s house. I have no clue what anyone thinks I’m capable of doing! Not doing my regular mani tonight bc…concrete. Will probably do it afterwards though. I had planned on heading to Ulta and Target to check out some brands in person but now not really sure. I also want to try to figure out what other products I want to get by the end of the year. I think it’s time to plan that out and save for the upcoming promos from Ulta and Sephora.
When was the last time you traveled?: August of this year on my basically overnight trip to Maine. Left Saturday at 8 a.m. and home by Monday at 7 a.m. I’m feeling it’s time to get out of Dodge again…
Illamasqua has some great products! I wish they had a stronger presence in the U.S. I can never remember who sells them or if they still sell them…
I spoke with them about just this. They said currently they are not in the US. The retailers that did carry them no longer do. Their shipping is pretty good from London though. With a $75 purchase you get free standard delivery and with a $90 purchase you get free express delivery. My first order I paid, $7 I think to upgrade to express, and this order I got the express for free. From the day I ordered to the day I had it in hand was 3 days. Much better than many US retailers! The only catch is that they require signature on delivery (it comes DHL)…so you have to be home. They told me they’re working on “coming back” to the US though.
No problem Michele! That’s what makeup buddies are for 🙂
Hi Michele: Have you had any time to try your Spellbinder shadows? If so, which is the fav of your picks?
I’ve only swatched them for my social media. I plan on using them this weekend though so I can come back and update. I do think, though, that Dynamically Charged and Higher Power (which has a lovely plum shift under flash) are going to work well together so I plan on pairing them most likely tomorrow. My swatches of Aphrodiasiatic and Gravity’s Pull were somewhat darker than Christine’s so I will most likely only wear one at a time. I would suspect that Dynamically and Higher will be the ones I get more use from. I would also note that 2 out of the 4 in my shipments came drifted to one side. It didn’t seem to effect pigmentation/the product but I will say it made one heck of a mess!
I looked at those new MAC shadows today and was a bit tempted but had to admit they were awfully glittery (and I LOOOVE me some glitter). I got some of the NARS Hardwired shadows a month or 2 ago and that pretty much has me covered for glittery beauties, though I may still go back and get Mysterious Influence (need it like a hole in the head), Dynamically Charged (ditto) and, to my surprise, Retrograde. Mind you, when I swatched them all on my hand, I was really surprised by how easily they just wiped away (except for Retrograde…least, I think it was Retrograde that I tried).
In the past I have mainly purchased the Illamasqua nail polish from Hautelook but this last time I ordered the eyeshadow quad in ‘Complement’. I just got it yesterday and am blown away by the formula, pigmentation and blendability. One of the pans is actually more of a cream, I thought uh-oh when I saw that, but it works with the other shades so well. I am still trying to be sure that this really is THAT good or if I am especially delighted because I have come to expect so little from Hautelook purchases that I haven’t researched. (It is $48 on Illamasqua.com and I paid $19.)
I would love to get a chance to sample Illamasqua products. I’ve been seriously tempted to order the Zygomatic cream blush sight unseen. What are your favorite products from them? I’m most tempted by bright and unusual eye and lip colors.
I haven’t tried their blush yet. The Demise palette is very good. I’ve heard good things about the other palette but also criticism that it’s in cardboard. The Demise palette is a gorgeous compact and the shades are pigmented and last forever on the lids without creasing or fading. I have a Lip Lure in Dusk and the lip set I just bought. Both are superb. The lip pencil is creamy but doesn’t budge! Their online customer service is also very very good. Their response is pretty quick and they are willing to assist with any questions. Like I said, the only catch is someone has to sign for the package; although DHL allows online re-routing to a different address and/or pick-up at a depot (assuming there’s one near you).
Zygomatic is on my Wish List on their site. I just placed another order for the Skin trinity (as backups) and the Pure Pigment in Axolotl. I’ll probably get Zygomatic along with some other color products on my next order (read as next paycheck!) If you mention it on the Free for Haul, I’ll remember to touch back and let you know how it does.
Just a couple of sale items from kiko,. I’ve got a major shopping itch right now but i’m trying to be good and hold out for the VIB sale & ulta’s fall platinum reward coupon.
You can do it, Moja! I’m sure the sales are just around the corner!
Haul: I bought a gently used MAC Fast Play lipstick, and my Nordstrom Rack order came in, as well as my beautiful navy suede Corso Como pumps!
Weekend plans: More cleaning and I hope to toss out some old furniture.
When was the last time you traveled?: Last year in December. I went to Washington DC and Virginia.
What did you like most about your Washington DC/Virginia trip?
Seeing my friends Jess and Noah. Jess and I have been friends since 2001. I also really like Mitsitam Cafe. It’s one of the few places in the country that serves Native American cuisine.
Mellan looks quite dapper!
*Bite Lip Duo in Pepper/Bronze -its’ pretty alone or together. I like it, but don’t think it’s worth $14 since the tube is super tiny and the colors are dupe-able. MAC Nutcracker is coming today, so will post that next week
*Weekend- have another staycation coming up next week, so spring cleaning the garage/office, a swatchfest at stores to check out new goodies, relax
*Travel -went on business trip to Southern California, wasn’t too exciting, but we had a little free time to do some shopping, so that was nice
They are small, but when I did the math, it worked out to be more than $14 worth of lipstick? Did I do that wrong?
No, you did the math right, but since the colors are fairly dupe-able, I think I can buy each one in full size for $7 each, or $14 total. I think the other duos are more unique in color, might check out the Gold/Red one, since I already have Opal and enough dupes for Jam. But BITE has a really nice formula, so will keep. It might be a lippie I can actually finish LOL
Ahh, gotcha!
Haul: I got a new Le Creuset and my TF Lipstick finally came in.
Weekend Plans: It’s my birthday on Monday, so I have a dinner with friends on Saturday and a massage/facial for Monday as I took the day off work.
Travel: I’ve not travelled in a long time, last time it was from Germany to the USA to move back. Before that it was Venice from Germany.
NEW LE CREUSET? DO TELL!
Happy birthday, Erin!!
I got the newer Buffet Casserole, if you like LC, you need it bad. It’s the perfect everyday pan, my husband picked Juniper out.
Nice! I like Le Creuset – and I can attest that they have good customer service as one of mine (it was one of their bakeware items, not the cast iron) had a hairline crack through it after a few uses, and they replaced it after seeing photos (but no hassle at all).
Happy Birthday!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday Erin ! Hope you’re enjoying Velvet Orchid
I just got it, it’s a really nice formula!
Happy birthday!
Thank You!
Happy birthday! Which TF did you get?
Velvet Orchid!
Happy birthday to you, Erin!
Thank You!
Happy birthday Erin! I would love to know what you think of that TF lipstick?
I’ll be reviewing it soon, my first impressions are get it if you are on the fence and have the cash cause it’s LE.
? Happy Birthday! ?
Thank You!
Happy Birthday!
Thank You!
Happy birthday, Erin 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying your new lipstick!
So far so good, it’s a nice formula!
I hope you have a great birthday, Erin!
Thank You!
Happy Birthday Erin and I hope you love your new TF lipsticks and enjoy your day off.
I’m enjoying it! I have a massage and a facial planned, my first massage in 6 years and first facial in almost 10!
???? you know the tune. Are you over the cusp into Scorpio??. Emojis. Ww made me do it. Mine was the other day. Plans crashed, but are resched for Sun. Getting TF is real similar to getting an oriental rug. Can we still use that adj that way? Now you are really an adult. Happy orchid! Our TJs have no wine, but certainly enough other things to indulge in. Where were you guys stationed in Germany? When I studied there in the 70s, there were more American soldiers than Germans in Frankfurt aM. we used to pretend we were echt Deutsch, bec they were hell on American girls.
I’d hope I’d be an adult at 38! What state are you in? They usually have a separate wine store squirreled away somewhere! I lived in Wiesbaden, very close to Frankfurt. As for my astrological sign, I’m a Scorpio. On the cusp yes, but in the “Danger Zone”. With a Leo Moon and Capricorn rising, but most of my planets are Scorpio as well. My ex-husband used to joke about my astrological chart quite often, singing WH “I’m every woman” or saying my Leo moon was the pink-clad cheerleader I kept locked up in the center of my cold black heart.
Happy Birthday!
Thank You!
♪ღ♪░H░A░P░P░Y░ B░I░R░T░H░D░A░Y░░♪ღ♪
Happy birthday! A day off is the perfect treat! Enjoy your Creuset and TF lipstick too! 🙂
Hi Mellan!!! You are a smile-making machine!
Haul:
Picked up the Tarte Pro Palette. I talk a lot about makeup, but don’t have millions of products. (Just half a million. 🙂 ) There are some subtle differences in neutral tones, and some purple shades that I don’t have. mI think it’s very pretty. I’m leaving it untouched until Christine’s review. I’ll keep it if there is a decent quality behind it.
Nudestix — Stumbled upon an event in Sephora last Saturday. Picked up two products:
1. Concealer — I’ve been really happy with EL of late, but this is even better. I apply it over the Becca under eye brightener, and it really lights things up.
2. Skin gloss pencil — with all the back and forth (love/hate) I’ve had with highlighters, I figured it out. This product is what I have been looking for. It adds a lovely, lovely highlight and only that. There is no shimmer, just a glow. I have not been able to capture this with any highlighter I’ve tried, powder, cream or liquid. Other highlighters with shimmer just seem to make my eye troughs look deeper, and never looked great on me. It’s been frustrating. This works.
If you try the gloss pencil, do know that the finish is a little tacky. I don’t mind it at all, but some might.
I am also pleased that the line is completely cruelty free. Vegan too for those who are interested in that.
WEEKEND:
My son’s 25th birthday, and my husband just finished his third degree from MIT. All my boys are coming home on Saturday for a lobster bake to celebrate. Somewhere in the middle of all that, we have got to get the house in order. These are two crazy weeks at work for me, and my husband was on a project in Aruba for almost two weeks. I swear the house looks like a dorm room. We have got to do lots of tidying and regrouping.
TRAVEL:
Paris in August. We also went to Mont St, Michel and Chartres Cathedral for two side trips. It was my second trip to Paris. The only thing on our bucket list is to live in that beautiful city for at least six months.
Here’s hoping the Tarte Pro palette is good, Linda!! It is their spring collection and permanent, so fingers crossed… 🙂
Happy birthday to your son! What degrees does your husband hold?
Hi Tammy —
He has a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering, and an Exec MBA. Because of my makeup love that, as you can imagine he rolls his eyes about :), one of his nicknames for me is “Blendy.” LOL
I have been liking Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color sticks. A lot of cream shadows crease on me, but theirs don’t. I wish they had a wider range of colors!
I totally get the Dorm Room look – when I have my two grand children over our place is completely re-organised, especially now that Olivia (nearly 3 years old) is into trying out all my shoes!.
Olivia can come and try on my shoes and make a mess here anytime. <3 You must love it. No grandchildren here yet.
We really do! I had two boys myself and having a girl in the family is just fabulous. She likes getting into my scarves and turning them into capes as well as exploring my jewellery boxes. At the same time, she is into climbing and running around. Yesterday she told me that I was her “darling, angel girl” So sweet.
Haul: nothing but I need to make a trip to Ulta this weekend cause I’ve run out of makeup removers and I only wear waterproof mascara!
Weekend Plans: spending time with family and friends 🙂
When was the last time you traveled? In August when I went to California for the first time…San Diego and it was such a lovely trip!
What makeup remover will you be getting, Jennifer?
I’ve been using a sample of Benefit They’re Real eye makeup remover and it’s so great at removing everything so am considering buying a full size of that. I also need to buy an eyeshadow primer but not sure what to buy, thinking a MAC paint pot
Nice! Love when samples turn out to be worthy full-size purchases!
I’m a big fan of the MAC/Smashbox 24-HR Primers (I can’t tell the difference) if that helps!
Oh, Mellan is such a dapper gentleman!
Haul: I was in denial about the Ultimate Glow Kit- I bought it despite the poor reviews and really wanted to love it, but I will be returning. The glitter fallout is so bad I can’t even use it as eyeshadow. Such a disappointment. I did score some MAC Nutcracker Sweet goodies that I’m excited about, though- Sweet Visions powder and the Copper face palette should be arriving today!
Weekend plans: We are in full Fall mode here in Chicago, so it’s time to pull up my veggie garden ? We need to start cleaning up leaves too- I’m kind of looking forward to that, though, because our dogs LOVE jumping in the piles and it is hilarious to watch!
When was the last time you traveled?: Last week I went to Charlotte, but that was for work. For pleasure I guess it was my birthday day-trip up to New Glarus, WI back in August.
I’m glad you are going to return it, Julia! Doesn’t sound like it is going to work for you at all 🙁
I was eyeing the ABH Ultimate Glow Kit b/c of all the yellow golds, but was worried about the mixed reviews, thanks for info
It seems like a completely different formula from all of the prior releases. Lots ‘o glitter, very dense 🙁
Hi Mellan 😀 Look at that handsome boy.! Love your bow tie ❤
Haul: MUG haul arrived this week with a handful of shadows and Puppylove blush, Sephora haul: drunk elephant hydration gel and Glycolic night serum, DrDGross FerulicRetinol eye serum (replacing Zo retinal eye cream), KVD trooper (finally), and Bite Beauty Cava ❤
Weekend plans: Trying to get down time; cuddle with the dogs, probably make more soup
When was the last time you traveled?: It’s been far too long, but I would find it very difficult to leave our animals (275 adult goats, 150 kids ranging from 3 weeks old to a year, 2 cows, 3 horses, a dozen chickens, 4 dogs, 1 barn cat) in the care of someone else even for a week. Who could possibly be insane enough to take it on anyway (plus the 2 x daily milking). That is the sacrifice we make for our lifestyle. Pretty certain Hairball would go mental and be on the phone the whole time. No one would take care of them the way we do. Despite the numbers, we know them well. know what to look for on a daily basis to eyeball their health status.
meant to ask: Anyone has a sub for Omorovicza thermal cleansing balm. I freaking love it, and have never used anything better, but it is so expensive. Big jar 3.5 oz = $220
It’s not a dupe per se but serves the same function: do you like the Emma Hardie cleansing balm? I think it’s amazing and not nearly as ouchy for the wallet.
It sounds exactly what I am looking for and I have an existing cultbeautyuk acct.. Thank you for the recommendation, Shelley 🙂
Hope you love it! It’s on Evine too and they periodically send coupons.
I’ve been trying to use the Drunk Elephant Hydration Gel, but that stuff is too pricey to do when I know I’ll be removing product off my face 5 times during the day, lol.
I thought I was incapable of leaving my job/life, but your situation really puts mine into perspective! But it seems to bring you a lot of joy, and I think that’s the important part. Besides, I know your property is so beautiful that hopefully it feels a little like vacation when you have a moment of stillness and can enjoy the beauty.
I spent most of my 20’s and 30’s on a plane, so my travel bug has been mostly assuaged. Now I get ‘lost’ in my own woods with the dogs when I need space 😀
Christine – With what you do for a living, I can see why it wouldn’t be worth it during the day; but what about at night for your final cleansing routine?
I’ve thought about it, but I have some other things I’m using in the evening at the moment! 🙂
Leaving our two dogs when we travel is hard enough! And my boys take them so they’re with family, but it still feels like a betrayal. Guilt. 🙂 I can’t imagine trying to organize what you have. Love the critters!
I hear you Linda. My professional business life was entirely the opposite. I used to be very restless and would regularly pick up and fly somewhere for a weekend at the drop of a hat, never really feeling much emotional attachment to my home base as a result. I never had children so my eventual domestication came from the fur variety. Once I had animals, it settled me down immediately and turned me into much more of a homebody.:D
All I have (now) is 2 cats, and the thought of leaving them in the care of someone else for more than 1 or 2 nights freaks me out totally. So I get what your saying, and your level of responsibility is way more involved than my own, Wendy. Because yours is also your livelihood, as well as just loving them. While Pookie was still alive, I didn’t even dare take time away unless I knew my son would come over and tend to them.
My sister returned home from a holiday when she found out that her beloved cat was not eating because she was fretting too much. So I can understand your attachment to your darling cats.
Nancy/Genevieve: You just made me think of another reason we cannot go away. We had an experienced relief milker cover us one night when we absolutely had to be away and it took us a week to get our animals back on track milk wise. They do not like strangers handling them.
The answer to “who” is my daughter would love that! She’s been a goat fan for as long as I can remember! She kept talking about getting goats but since she’s bought a house in town it’s not possible. She is trying to negotiate with a friend who has some land to keep some goats there. She’s trying to get the city to pass an ordinance allowing chickens in town. A neighboring city has already passed one. She’s been horseback riding since she was in junior high (she’ll be 28 in November). She loves animals of all kinds though and has had: cats, rats, hamsters, gerbils, parakeets, fish, hedgehogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, turtles, lizards…currently just a hedgehog and cat. 🙂
I used to competitively ride dressage. This farm was built in the late 90’s and the house in the early 2000’s as a vet facility/horse farm. I bought it in 2008, put up a giant riding arena in early spring 2009.. By September same year, I could barely walk. Autoimmune took me down and put the kibosh on my ‘retirement’ plan for riding and training up young horses. So yeah, goats and running a dairy are definitely a serious case of Plan B. I know animals will always play a very important part of my life. It sounds like your daughter has a similar passion.
I would love to meet all your furry friends!
c’mon over 😀 Bring ear plugs if you show up at feeding times. LOL Guaranteed you’ll be belly laughing at some point during your visit.
Old Cava (luminous cream?) or new Cava? The old one truly was unique, being correctly described as a lilac beige. Don’t think bite should have named new cava, cava. Noticed that S had old cava ….by itself…but it was sold out. Love goats, but 275 is far too much thinking and outsmarting capacity for me. I swear, in their few nanoseconds of inertia, they are planning their next practical joke….or coup. I assume you raise big guys for milking. Cannot stand the cute factor on the pygmys.
New Cava. dammit. Kick. Now I want old. dammit. Kick.
Yes, Dairy goats. We have Saanen and Alpine breeds. I’m partial to our groups of purebred Alpine. Harald likes the Saanens, they tend to be sweeter, calmer. I like the little sh*ts.
Haul: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Set!
Weekend plans: Do some ministry volunteer work and go to a family gathering! And actually clean my house like I have been saying I will do but always find something more fun to do.
Last time I traveled outside of North Carolina was probably to Guatemala in May. That is where my parents are from and it was my first time taking my hubby so it was a fun trip!
LOL! I say I’m going to organize/put away stuff every other weekend, and I still haven’t made much progress there. I feel you!
Haul: The Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics palette for my mom for her birthday, the Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette for myself, and MAC Liptensity in Ambrosial.
Weekend plans: It’s my weekend to work so I’ll mainly be working and at some point squeezing in a trip to the grocery store.
When was the last time you traveled? A couple of weeks ago I went to go see my mom for a few days.
Hope your mom loves her new palette, Brittney! 🙂 Does she have any of the other Naked palettes?
My mom loves a good neutral palette so she does already have the original Naked and original Naked Basics palettes and really likes those a lot. I think she’ll like this new one.
I have to share this story…I was at the dentist’s yesterday and I was showing the dental hygienist my swatches from Full Spectrum (she claimed to be into makeup and wanted to see what swatches I had on my phone). Anyway, she looks at the swatches and then says, “Do you actually wear those shades?” Uh…yes…
Hope you enjoy your haul!
I can’t wait to try it out. There’s so many bright colors that I’ve never worn but it such a pretty looking palette that I couldn’t not try it. I’m planning on using it when I go in to work tomorrow.
Some people are not very adventurous when it comes to makeup colors, are they?!!
Hahaha, no they aren’t Fran! I actually have on the Full spectrum shadows since I’m going back to the dentist today. I’m planning on showing the hygienist how wearable they are. 🙂
Haul: Nada other than 2 pairs of contacts lenses.
Weekend plans: err, more resumes… probaby also contact my old work at Tim Hortons and ask for 4 days a week. after a month of no work I need money! (Most places are saying they won’t hire juniors till January)
When was the last time you traveled?: To Toronto at the beginning of the month.
I hope you can get your old job back!! Good luck 🙂
The Tim’s I worked for is always looking for bodies. It’s usually never hard to get back in. lol
Haul:
MAC Star Trek Collection: Trip the Light Fantastic Powders in Strange New Worlds and Highly Illogical, lipsticks in LLAP and WNMHGB, and presssed pigment in To Boldly Go. I already had pressed pigments in The Naked Time and Bird of Prey. I love everything I’ve gotten, and am most especially loving the Trip the Light Fantastic Powders (so pretty!), the Naked Time and Bird of Prey pressed pigments, and the lipstick in LLAP (mesmerizing). This is definitely one of my favorite collections of 2016. If there is anything left in November, I may pick up a couple more pieces.
Sephora: I bought the Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Gloss in Canary to go with MAC lipsticks in LLAP and WNMHGB. WOW! What a fabulous color and formula! I freshened it up after gym last night and did not want to take a shower when I got home because it was too pretty to take off my lips.
Weekend plans: We are watching the sixth season of The Walking Dead. Maybe it’s just me, but this season is so much better than seasons 3,4, and 5. Really enjoying it. I might also make pizza bread this weekend (homemade bread rolled up sweet roll style with garlic butter, mozzarella, and pepperoni).
Last time I traveled: Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington, IL, in August. We will be going to Chicago on October 30. This will be my chance to see all the high end holiday collections and smell the new fragrances. Any suggestions for what I should include on my Chicago rounds?
Hopefully someone who has been to Chicago (for longer than sitting in the airport) can help you out! 🙂
How long will you be in Chicago for?
Just a day or two. We live three hours away. I go up twice a year to get my hair cut and do some shopping.
Went to the drugstore so Cheap thrills haul today:
Catrice Nude Illusion Transparent Matt loose powder- it’s transparent, matte, blurs pores, sets my make up for $7!
Catrice Blush Artist Palette in Corall I Need- no coral but a cool mauve-y pink with gold shimmer, a warm dusty rose matte, and a rose gold highlighter shade
Essence Pure Nude Highlighter powder- it’s a nude, warm, gold/apricot highlighter that looks & performs as well as my Cle de Peau luminizer
Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liners- Eastend Snob: nude pink & Pink a Punch:bright coral pink, a bit waxy but not as drying as EL Double Wear lasts about 4 hrs & feels great
Gosh BB cream in 01 Sand- blah. a mediocre primer at best
Always love a good budget find, Bibi! How funny that the blush palette isn’t coral 😉
Mellan is being cute as always!
Haul: Huge.
Sephora: Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow in #25; I have #15 and feel like it’s too golden on me. Love Aqua Brow. A Caudalie lip balm that actually does not feel good on my lips and will probably get returned.
Nordstrom beauty trend event:
At the MAC counter, I tried and purchased a new foundation (MAC Studio Waterweight SPF30), some pigments (full size Golden Olive, minis of Chartreuse and Kitschmas), and lipstick (liptensity in Hellebore), and picked up a Paint Pot in Tailor Grey. The foundation: I’m really pleased that my rosacea is under enough control that I can wear sun protection that combines zinc oxide/titanium dioxide with octinoxate, so that I have more options; I love the texture, finish, and application, but the shade (NW20) looks too peach to me; adding a teeny drop of the blue pigment from MUFE helps, but I think it’s a hair too dark, so I’m going to try it in NW18 as well — I also need the water-based blue pigment, and Sephora is currently out of stock 🙁 LOVE the pigments; Kitschmas looked less pink and more silver in the store, but it’s not too pink for me; they’re easier to work with than I thought they would be; they also wore like iron over the primer the MUA used (the MAC Pro Longwear eye primer), so I’ve ordered that, too, since creasing is such an issue for me. Hellebore: I like, but may return in favor of Leap of Delight, or exchange for one of the other liptensities. Tailor Grey: a great crease/hood/blending shade for me when I’m wearing cream eyeshadows.
At the Anastasia pop-up, I learned that I’ve actually shaped my eyebrows rather well 🙂 The artist used the one of the stencils to refine the shape a bit, and I purchased them, but she forgot to write down which stencil she used on me, lol! So I guess I get to experiment a bit. I also bought the powder duo in Ash Brown (because, well, I don’t know, I just don’t feel like breaking out Aqua Brow every day even though I love it; have Medium Brown, but it’s a bit red for me) and the Highlighting Pencil Duo — the colors aren’t perfect for me, but close enough, and it is handy. Already have the tinted brow gel to go with it to color those pesky white eyebrow hairs.
At the Tom Ford counter I purchased the lipstick in Violet Fatale (love! it’s a really beautiful color for me, and lasts and lasts and leaves a stain even though it’s quite emollient) and consulted with a rep from the company about perfume, since I can never find a modern perfume that I like. I don’t even like the modern version of scents I used to wear. Everything smells too sweet and too synthetic to me, and wears off my skin in about an hour. I came home with samples of Vert des Bois and Vert d’Encens and have actually decided to purchase Vert d’Encens. Not only do I like the way it smells, it stays with me for several hours 🙂
At the trend event they heavily promoted, and had reps for, the PMD Personal Microderm Pro, and, after consulting with them, I decided that it’s worth a try even with my sensitive skin, considering Nordstrom’s excellent return policy; I feel like I can take my time testing it on myself before making up my mind. I would like to use it for forehead lines, jowl lines, and my neck and decollete, even if it turns out I can’t use it on my cheeks and nose, where my rosacea is the worst.
ULTA:
NYX Liquid Suede lipsticks in Foul Mouth (love!), Alien (black may actually be a bit dark for me), and Jet Set and Oh, Put it On!, which I have to fully try yet, but think I’ll like a lot. Stila Stay All Day liquid lipstick in bacca, which I haven’t tried yet but should try soon, because it may be too matte/drying for me and have to be returned. The NYX Liquid Suedes are really nice that way.
And the biggie — even bigger than the PMD: my local ULTA had the new Dyson hair dryer in stock, so that I could actually check it out in person. Instead of waiting dutifully for the Sephora sale, I couldn’t resist. This feels extravagant because I already have a really good (and light-weight) brow dryer that I bought during Sephora’s sale last year. But the nozzle on the thing is so long that it’s a problem for me to use it for more than a few minutes because of my weak/destroyed rotator cuff, so I only dry my hair part-way with it, let it air-dry for a while, and usually forget to get around to finishing up with the blow-dryer, because by then I’m involved in something else. It still gave me better results than my old dryer, but to actually style my hair with it is too much of a project for me. I am pleased to report that the Dyson was so much more comfortable for me to use that I actually was able to blow-dry my hair until it was completely dry, getting smooth and silky results with a bit less product than usual, and — drum roll — wonder of wonders, and something I did not expect, somehow this complete blow-drying process made my tailbone-length hair less tangly, which is super-awesome because that means that I can wear it loose. I was actually considering getting it trimmed back up to waist length so that I could wear it loose more often, but now I don’t need to!
Rouge Bunny Rouge: I wanted to try their eye gloss, which is supposed to be less of a sticky mess than MAC’s, but no counter near me 🙁 Checked the web site and they were having a sale — ordered the eye gloss and five eyeshadows ($50 off $152) — they are here and beautiful, I’m planning to give some of the products a whirl today 🙂
This is a massive amount of stuff, but I actually feel really happy about most of it 🙂
Weekend plans: continue my bit-by-bit efforts to get my life re-organized and launch the next phase! Very, very slowly getting my energy back, at least now I’m able to accomplish at least a little bit almost every day 🙂
I don’t even want to say how long it’s been since I’ve traveled… the traveling itself is so tiring for me, that it’s hard to get enough enjoyment out of it to make it worth the effort and the money. If train travel was less expensive I think I’d travel a bit more often — I find it more relaxing than going by car or plane.
I’m thrilled to hear your energy levels are improving, Fran! That must be motivating and encouraging every day where you are starting to get more things done and feel your life coming back into your control 🙂
Tom Ford’s scents tend to linger on me quite well! That is probably one of my favorite things about my favorite scents from the line – some of them I can still detect 24 hours later!
I’m humming and hawing over the Dyson dryer, but your review is selling me on it!
I think it’s worth a try to see if it makes drying/styling your hair less of a chore. I used it again last night, again was able to dry my hair completely with great results and without much discomfort in my shoulder/arm, and was reminded that one reason is that I wasn’t re-wetting my roots by sweating by the time I was done, lol! Somehow the Dyson seems to dry my hair more quickly while using less heat and a slower wind speed (and being quieter) than my BioIonic 10x. The sad and somewhat embarrassing thing is that my year-old BioIonic is a seriously good hair dryer. But, the nozzle is too long for me, especially with an attachment on it, and I am getting sweaty by the time my hair is mostly dry.
If blow-drying my hair wasn’t actually painful, and the weather wasn’t too cold to let my hair air-dry (which takes hours and hours, and if I put it in a braid or bun it never completely dries at all), I would have waited for a sale/coupon, though. The price seems over-the-top to me, even though I’m sure they did put a lot of research into the thing. But the prices of other high-end blow-dryers seems over-the-top to me, as well, and I would say that the Dyson is that much better than the others.
I’ll probably get it eventually – but am trying to hold off for SOME sale, haha. I have my T3, which I love, and it’s actually a few years old – never had a T3 die on me yet!
I usually put my hair up in a towel for about an hour or two, then blow dry for five minutes and that’s sufficient (but not totally dry) for me. If I braid my hair or put it in a bun, like you, it will be damp even by the next morning.
Yeah, I really like my tailbone-length hair, even though it’s a bit of work to maintain. It’s become kind of a signature for me, and I get frequent compliments on it. Even going through two or three microfiber towels first, air-drying takes hours and hours if the weather is even a little bit humid. And, even with the microfiber towels and a premium dryer, blow-drying takes 20 minutes or more. I can get it to the point where I’m not freezing in wet hair in 5-10, but I get better results if I dry it completely. There’s evidence that blow-drying, done properly, isn’t damaging to your hair the way direct heat tools are. It turns out that leaving your hair swollen full of water is also damaging to hair, quite possibly more so than blow-drying. The Dyson is light enough, and has a short enough nozzle, and dries my hair quickly enough, that I can dry my hair without actual pain in my shoulder/arm with the damaged rotator cuff (just some discomfort), so I’m happy 🙂 But, if I didn’t have the pain issue, I would have waited for a coupon/sale. I’m not sure the Dyson is worth it to someone who doesn’t have some kind of issue with blow-drying their hair that it might solve. Depending on what they’re currently working with, of course. If someone is looking to upgrade from a really lousy dryer to a premium dryer, I would say wait for the coupon/sale and then try the Dyson. Someone who’s already getting good results in a reasonable amount of time with their current dryer? I don’t think it’s *that* revolutionary.
I am seriously eyeing the Dyson dryer. Thank you for the review!
•Haul: I was bad and hauled 5 (GULP) Tom Ford cream eye shadows. I also picked up the NARS duo in Isolde.
•Weekend plans: Taking my son to a Touch a Truck event tomorrow. I also have a midterm due tonight and another one due on Sunday so any other free time will be spent studying, testing and writing. Oh, and I have to deep clean my kitchen and bathrooms now that the cabinets are redone!
•When was the last time you traveled?: In July we went to Minnesota for 10 days. Such a great trip!
Oh, what was the best part about Minnesota?
I love TF cream shadows (have Opale, Platinum, and Burnished Copper). Which ones did you get, and how do you like them?
Mellan has that puppy-dog love going on in his eyes. You just want to cuddle him.
Haul: Finished up buying the lumbar and supplies for the garage conversion and we have the wall up and windows in so getting ready to lay the floor and then the construction part will be over and I can get to the fun stuff, the decorating !!
Just an update on the Heimish cleansing balm that I purchased awhile ago from Style Korea. I am really liking it. It is pretty solid when you scoop it out and I was skeptical that I would be able to wash it off without leaving a greasy mess on my face but it really does liquefy nicely and when I wash it off my face feels clean, really smooth and very soft. It gets all of my makeup off and I use waterproof mascara.
Weekend Plans: Work on the garage conversion.
Last Trip: I am blessed with the opportunity to travel quite a lot. Over the summer when my daughter was home from Uni, we took three trips. The first was up to Vancouver BC and then we traveled down the coast to Crescent City. Less than a month later we made the trip to Sacramento where we lived for many years and still have a lot of friends. We spent 3 weeks there and then because we had had such a great time in Vancouver BC we went back there and spent another week in Seattle/Vancouver BC.
How exciting! It sounds like your project is really coming along 🙂
Haul: from Sephora: Ardency Inn “Hell” modster pigment, Sephora collection “Tiramisu” contour eye pencil, Too faced “Rosy Glow” highlighter deluxe sample, Viktor & Rolf “Spicebomb” deluxe perfume sample, perfume minis in Elizabeth & James “Nirvana Bourbon,” Histoires de Parfums “1899,” and TokyoMilk “Novacaine.”
From ColourPop: lippie primer, “8 Track” shadow, “Femme” ultra satin lipstick.
Notoriously Morbid Vanishing Cabinet for October.
Weekend Plans: Tomorrow is our anniversary (11 years) so tonight we’re going to a local production of Little Shop of Horrors and tomorrow we’re going to Ditka’s for dinner.
Last time you traveled: We went to North Dakota in August to visit my family.
Love Tiramisu eyeliner! It goes with so many things 🙂
Happy anniversary, Alice!
Thanks!
And yeah Tiramisu is really nice! I bought it based on looking at swatches here 🙂 I didn’t have a brown liner, and I figured I should since I’m getting more into using rust, copper, and warm/antique gold shadows with my olive and khaki shadows.
Happy anniversary!
Thank you!
Happy anniversary!
Thanks!
Haul: 2 of the Chanel Rouge Allure Ink matte lip colors: I think 152 and 154. These are really bold colors for me and in a matte formula which isn’t typical for me either so really out of the box! I’m curious for the Armani Lip Magnets to come to Nordstrom so I can try those out. I don’t think I’ll ever be crazy for liquid lips but trying a few is fun. Also finally got some Makeup Geek shadow pans — have been hearing about them forever and finally ordered frappe, creme brulee, country girl, barcelona beach and lucky penny. It’s possible that I just placed another order this am for a few more because I like them that much ;).
Weekend plans: Relaxation. Some house cleaning. Maybe a movie. My favorite kind of weekend.
When was the last time you traveled? I travel quite a bit for work so it can get old in a hurry. I’m happy to have been home for a few weeks straight!
I saw the Lip Magnets and thought someone resized photos for Lip Maestros, LOL!
I know, right? They are teeny!
Haul: Sephora: Play!, Burberry Festive Box set, Ole Henriksen skin care.
Ulta: ABH MR, Nieva sensitive shave balm, EOS shave cream, Tarte empty palette
Weekend plans: movie date tonight and possibly follow up date tomorrow. I’m actually kind of nervous
When was the last time you traveled?: Last weekend. I went to upstate NY to hang out with the best friend. Although we didn’t go anywhere, we had a great time drinking wine and cooking for a night in.
Yay! Modern Renaissance!
Good luck on your dates 😀
Happy National Dog Day to you, Mellan’s! You cutie, you! ?
Haul: I did receive UD Snow and Gash eyeshadows late last Friday, LOVE both! Yesterday after reading your review for Bite Gold Creme lipgloss, it was available in Sephora @ JCP @Tempe Marketplace has it! I went and got it last night. Still waiting on a shipping notice for a Colourpop order I placed on Sunday evening….almost a week. Ordered: Barracuda Ultimate Satin, Wolfie and Crystal Ball lip glosses, Seeker and Sailor eyeshadows, and Perilune Highlight. Getting impatient!
Weekend plans: Same old same old. Hair, nails and meeting. Some food shopping later today.
When was the last time you traveled: 12 years ago with my then teenage kids. We took a 2 week vacation back to visit NJ and NYC . Spent 4 days down at the Jersey shore. Wish I could get back there again! Something about real pizza and the beach and the NYC skyline at night!
Pizza and the beach? Seriously, how could that go wrong? 😉
I think colourpop gets behind filling orders when they have a sale or coupon, and then doesn’t inform people of their increased TAT. I ordered when they had free shipping on the 15th and my order still hasn’t shipped either :/
I think so, too, Alice. They get seriously overwhelmed and then everything runs at a snails pace. Although I found the “free domestic shipping” thing to be a rather odd promotion as orders over $30 ship free anyhow? Too bad I can’t tack on something else to my order while waiting!
Yeah $30 is a low threshold. I was glad though because I placed an order a few weeks ago and realized when I got it that I forgot to order a new lippie primer, so the free shipping was perfect for me to get that without having to either fill my cart to $30 or pay $5 shipping.
Nancy, how do you like that BITE gold gloss? Is it really OTT or can it be toned down?
When I wore it yesterday, I only dabed on a few dot (it’s pretty thick), and smoothed it out over my lipstick. Done like this, it is daytime wearable, yet still gives off a noticeable golden effect. Next up, I’ll wear it like that over a red!
Katherine, when I wore it yesterday, I only dabed on a few dots (it’s pretty thick), and smoothed it out over my lipstick. Done like this, it is daytime wearable, yet still gives off a noticeable golden effect. Next up, I’ll wear it like that over a red!
Haul: My birthday! Lorac Mega Pro 3 and Makeup Geek eyeshadows in Voltage, Latte, Petal Pusher, Bake Sale, Sidekick and Bandwagon.
Weekend plans: Tomorrow I’m hosting a meetup and celebrating my birthday with the women in my meetup at a cafe, and Sunday is my big birthday dinner event with all my friends!
When was the last time you traveled?: Went out of a state a couple months ago.
Happy birthday, Cat!!!
Thank you 😀
Happy birthday Cat!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday!
Haul: MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pink Lipstick Kit and the Sweet Plum Eye Bag.
Weekend plans: Study all the weekend, cooking tomorrow and maybe a brunch with my husband tomorrow morning.
When was the last time you traveled? To Toronto a couple of years ago.
Good luck studying, Nicole! 😀
Mellan looks so adorable!
Haul: I got my Lancome Audacity in London palette on Tuesday! Just to update, I actually really like it, and it’s getting close to becoming a love the more I use it. I was so apprehensive about how the shadows would perform, but with a primer they’re fine (I use Lancome’s Aquatique Waterproof Eyecolour Base in Beige Ivoire). The colors are definitely not in your face-they’re very muted, which I think goes really well with the whole London theme. In particular the greens are very cloudy day/almost murky, but not in a gross muddy way. The colors stay distinct from each other, even within the same color quad. So far I’ve used the green quad, the gray quad and the brown quad and they all performed well, although I think the gray quad is actually my favorite so far. That creates a really beautiful night time smoky eye, especially with the sparkle shade on top. I actually got a compliment on that look, lol. One thing that I’m really pleased about with this palette is that the sparkle “topping” shades are actually pretty good. I don’t think they’re as reflective or glittery as Charlotte Tilbury’s pop shades, though still very pretty, but when I pat them on my eyelid (with my finger) I don’t get fallout for hours and then when I do it’s just a few little random glitters-most of them are still on my eye. I’m very happy that I got it, although I do think the price is too high, especially when you can buy a Viseart palette for $11 more. I bought mine from Lancome with a discount code and Ebates and ended up only paying about $56-$57, so way better. If I hadn’t gotten it then and I wanted it, I would be waiting for another sale from Lancome or the VIB sale.
So for what I actually bought this week: I ended up buying the Besame mini lipstick set and the Burberry $35 “mini” set from Sephora. I just got them in yesterday and I’m SO EXCITED about all the lipstick, but I’m even more excited about the Burberry set. It came with a mini Military Red lipstick, a mini mascara, a mini fresh glow base and a full size!!! Pale Barley eyeshadow single. I had no idea that was going to be full size. The size in the info box is listed as 0.02 oz travel size, but the actual shadow that you get is 0.09 oz, which is their full size. Sooo happy. And the case for it is so lovely. I’ve always heard people talk about how lovely Burberry packaging is, but I had no idea. It’s magnetic and heavy and so pretty.
Weekend plans: Nothing that I know of. I might be going to early vote today, yay! Oh, I do have a return that I need to take to Ulta this weekend, and because I moved the closest one to me for now is about 45 minutes away. So a semi-long drive in cool weather. Not bad, really.
When was the last time you traveled?: Well, if traveling within a few hours counts, the week before last. If not, last year in September to get the rest of my stuff that was in storage from the last time I moved.
I’m glad you are enjoying the new Lancome palette, Nicole! 🙂 I still haven’t gotten to testing that one yet, but you are giving me hope!
Thank you! =)
I saw Christine’s swatches and crossed Lancome London off my list, but you are giving me some hope! IDK, I’m sure primer helps, but maybe some batches are better than others. I think after all the glitz and glam of the holidays, it will be great to have some fresh, muted colors for spring. Will swatch in store, and if it’s decent, maybe I can grab later if it gets marked down
Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if the batches are different. I don’t know why, but it seems like I have good luck with Lancome-I know last year’s Audacity in Paris palette wasn’t well received and I could never figure out why, because mine is by far one of my favorite palettes. Like top two favorite, if not #1. I can’t get a bad look out of it. Maybe it makes a difference that I order most of my Lancome products directly from the Lancome website? I don’t know if that makes a difference as far as what batches you end up getting. Yeah, definitely. I would absolutely recommend buying it at a discount and only from a store that you can return to. If you do end up getting it I hope it works as well for you!
Haul: I’m kind of happy to say nothing! Not that I didn’t already know it, but I really don’t need anything new at this point! I’m putting myself on a no-buy for an indeterminate amount of time. There are a few things I have my eye on that are still to come out from Armani and skincare replacements for the Sephora sale, but I feel happy with what I have at the moment, so I’m going to focus on shopping my stash and trying to use up the bajillion samples I have in my linen closet. It sounds so much easier than it is in reality – it’s annoying to have little packets everywhere, but I’m determined!!
Weekend Plans: Continuing to work my way around the house doing a deep clean. It’s not overly thrilling, but it has to be done.
Last Time I Traveled: Last month for work; a day trip to Chicago and a few day trips to my office HQ in NY. Last trip for fun was up to see my in-laws back in August.
Good job on the no-haul, Lea! 😉 I get excited when nothing comes in during the week, lol!
Haul: Morphe 35F Fall into Frost. Love it! Been wanting it for ages then the waitlist at Cult Beauty opened up and I was able to buy it. And it’s not expensive! It’s even prettier in person than on screen.
Plans for weekend: Tomorrow my fiancé’s giving me a bit of a break and taking our daughter to his dad’s, she’s still fighting bedtime and naptime. On busy days she’ll go down ok but on a day when I’m too tired to go out like today she plays up and won’t go for a nap. The more tired she is, the more naughty she gets. She is stubborn and I know where she gets it from, I was the same ?!
Last time I travelled: August, I went with my daughter to my parents’ in the west of Scotland for 2 weeks, she loved it, it’s a very outdoorsy lifestyle. My fiancé had to stay back at home as he had to work and I missed him. I grew up with that lifestyle but I’m much more of a homebody than my parents are.
Scotland! That is so, so cool. What were your top three favorite things to see/do/eat in Scotland?
I live in the beautiful city of Edinburgh so I’m biased lol, there are loads of things to do and see there. Must eat place: The Witchery next to the Castle, it’s an experience in itself! I like to visit the museums and art galleries and take strolls in the city gardens and parks.
Must see: the west coast of Scotland, it’s so beautiful and feels so isolated. My parents live near the Isle of Skye and that is a stunning isle. If you like hiking, the Cuillins and Trotternish/the Old Man of Storr are worth seeing. If you’re able to take a trip around the Western Isles, do so, you won’t regret it. A highlight is seeing the scheduled flight land on the beach on the isle of Barra.
HAUL-MAC Spellbinder shadows in Higher Power and Blue Karma, and the Copper face palette, and I got the 750 point perk from Sephora, the Burberry With Love from London Bronzer. Very lucky as Canada had 30 up for grabs and I have the blush which I love. I bought the Lipstick Queen Frog Prince blush (I was in NYC) which ironically, while made in Canada, can’t be bought in any stores I know of here.
Weekend Plans-nothing beyond the usual household chores. DH is doing the housework as I speak so it will be a relatively relaxing weekend.
Last Time I travelled-Was in NYC for 4 days over the past weekend. Had a great time with my mother and sister. Took them to the Beauty Floor at Bloomingdales and they had as much fun as I did.
I have a yellow lab of the same vintage as yours. Every Friday I see his picture and think of my Ebby at home.
How do you like the MAC eyeshadows? I’m SO curious how people will like them!
LOL, same vintage! 😉 Labs are love!
I love the Spellbinder shadows I received . I have hooded eyes with high brows. I use them as a crease colour and they are vivid with the right amount of shine.
Haul: for my birthday, a friend gave me an amazing Elizabeth Arden gift set. Except for 8 Hour Cream, I haven’t used EA in years. There are a lot of things in the gift…4 lipsticks, 2 glosses, eye makeup remover, mascara, lip and eye liner pencils and 2 really fabulous eye shadow palettes. I was wearing 2 shades from the more brown toned palette the other day when I went to be fitted for new eye glasses and the optician even commented and asked what eye shadow I had on as she liked it so much (and I’m sure she sees a lot of eyeshadows in her job!). I also picked up (just today) the Anastasia Mario palette. Not entirely sure about it – it looks a bit on the muddy side and there’s that issue of it not having a suitable highlight shade for fairer skins. I also picked up some Becca Back Light Filter Primer (or whatever the heck it’s called) – just got a sample because I need some to get me through til the VIB 20% off sale, when I’ll repurchase a full size. Got a Sized to Go MAC Strobe Cream and with my Sephora points, a small Tarte Rainforest of the Sea moisture cream.
Weekend plans: make potato leek soup, make chili (large amounts of both which I freeze in single servings to take for lunches), to to the gym, maybe clean up some of the fallen leaves (if they dry up).
Last time I travelled – NYC in early August. Planning to do a cross border shopping trip in a few weeks, if we can manage it (weekend away, nice meals, nice hotel deal and shopping)
Happy birthday, Mariella! 🙂 I’ll be curious to hear how the Elizabeth Arden products work out for you and if you end up buying more products from the line!
I love potato leek soup! So good!
Happy Birthday!
Haul: Just got the Lorac Mega Pro 3! I love it so much! I’ve been eyeing the Studio 1400 quad from colourpop though. And I have my basket all loaded up for the Sephora VIB sale! Hoping to pick up a couple of too faced baby love, becca blushed with light palette, KVD double dare studded kiss lipstick, and estee lauder double wear light foundation.
Weekend plans: I count friday as part of my weekend because I’m done with school by 11 am. And I really want to mention that I put more blue in my hair today!! The dye is sitting in my hair as we speak. As soon as I’m done typing this, I’m going to go rinse it out. Also, its parents weekend at my college, so my folks are visiting me. Should be fun!
Last time I travelled: Jeez! At least over 2 years ago. I actually don’t even remember the last time I left California…
Studio 1400 quad is SO good if you like ColourPop’s cream eyeshadows 🙂
Haul: ColourPop pencil liner in Exit (the white one, it hasn’t arrived yet though), NYC liquid eyeliner which I got at Target on sale. I’d heard it was good and when I had a coupon, I figured for $2 there was no reason not to try it. It’s actually the best liquid liner I’ve ever used, and I’ve tried liners 10x the cost!
Also, I saw that MAC released some new shades in its Studio Fix Fluid formula, so I hope to get my hands on NC10 this coming week. It’s one of my favorite foundation formulas (and definitely my favorite full coverage formula), but NC15 is a shade or so too dark and oxidizes on me, so I was super excited to see a NC10 shade.
Weekend plans: Just studying! Also trying to sort out financial aid. I was supposed to get a major refund from my school when the semester started (at the end of August) but at each step of the way there’s been some kind of issue, so there’s still no end in sight. I’m kind of hoping to get it back in time for the VIB sale but I doubt I’ll make it in time.
When was the last time you traveled?: My mom got married two weeks ago so I traveled home for that. I only live two hours away by car but since I rely on public transportation, it ended up being five hours on three trains.
Five hours on three trains, whew! Hopefully you got some work/reading/studying done, though! 🙂
Let me know if NC10 works for you!
Another beautiful photo of Mellan.
Haul: Nothing really this week. I am saving up for my visit to Sephora next week.
Weekend Plans: Hosting an afternoon tea with some friends and family on Sunday. So today will be cleaning the house, shopping and food preparation. We were going to have a BBQ – but the weather forecast was hail, sleet, cold winds etc. Not exactly BBQ weather.
Last time you travelled: 6 weeks ago my husband and I travelled up north along the coast of NSW to visit relatives. It was beautiful. Everything was so green and seeing my cousins was great.
Have a lovely afternoon tea, Genevieve! What kind of tea (and any treats) do you serve?
I have a selection of teas – English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Lemon Scented, plus coffee and wine.
The food part: ribbon sandwiches with a variety of fillings, home made sausage rolls, bruschetta with a variety of toppings, cup cakes etc. Very yummy.
Oooh, if you have time, I’d love to hear the recipe for sausage rolls 🙂
Sounds like a very lovely spread!
Wow. I really stepped outside of the box this time. I normally stick to nude, lavender, or gray lippies. I’m watching the mail for a Colourpop ultra glossy lipp in Crystsl ball. It looks like an emerald green. I’m eyeing the blendsmart brush system at Sephora for next month.
Oh, that sounds fun! 🙂 I hope you like the new gloss!
And I’m on the hunt for a depotting tool. I need to check Michael’s and Hobby Lobby when I get a chance.
Good luck, Char!
No makeup haul, but my dachshund bedding came. For that price, it ought to have been made in Switzerland (not PRC) by watchmakers and come with a full year’s subscription to the chocolate of your choice. It’s perfect, and Jussi all but disappears on it. Gotta do the bday bit w/ S/U, but trying to save for the sales. Thought about ABHMR, but it’s sold out. Someday. No rush. Love perm. Plans: ssdw. Prob my last fri off for the duration, back to 4 nights. Have to clean up for real. Omg, might have a gentleman caller, as they called it in Streetcar. Kind of scary at my age. I had a hard time dealing with the reunion, forget a…well, I can’t even say it. I haven’t had a can’t say it in ~25 years. I’d rather have goats. Seriously. Haven’t been anywhere in about that length of time except day trips, bec most of the time I had 4 dogs. After my mum died, there was no one to look after them that I trusted, and boarding ran about 1600USD. No dough left over for the vaca, plus then, I REALLY bought makeup. Piker status, now on stashing, thank god.
OH MY GOODNESS, I bet Jussi on the bedding is ridiculously adorable… like melt your heart adorable.
May you find the courage to say hello to your gentleman caller!
Happy Birthday kjh !!
Haul: Diptyque was 50% off on Hautelook and I had a Nordstrom Note so I got the fullsize Oyedo EDP for only $42! I’ve wanted it for ages but put it into the category of “lovely but never gonna happen” so I’m pleased as punch I got it.
Weekend plans: Get a massive NSAID injection from the doc for my pain (I do that on the regular but OMG it helps so much). Put the finishing touches on my gift set for my mom (tea, socks, chocolate as she is a woman of simple tastes XD).
When was the last time you traveled?: It’s been a while. I went down to SF for like a day in August for a doc appointment that sucked, but in terms of traveling for fun while able-bodied, it’s been almost 5 years.
Always nice to score Diptyque on sale, since it is pricey! 😉
Hope you feel better, Anne!
I’m glad you got to visit your parents. 🙂
Haul: ULTA– Birthday gift e/s single of Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy. Also, Tony Moly Cat’s Wink Clear Pact in No. 1, and Too Faced Park Ave Kisses holiday lipstick trio (La Creme Lipsticks in Pink Chocolate and Sugar Daddy, and La Matte Lipstick in Rebel Heart). SEPHORA– Marc Jacobs birthday gift (Minis of Le Marc Lip Creme in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Blacquer), and Bite Beauty lipstick duo in Jam/Opal. OTHER — Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers Color Mascara in purple, green, and blue. (I thought there was supposed to be a hot pink one, but I couldn’t find it). E.l.f. Mist & Set. Ponds makeup remover wipes. Fright Night Crystal Tattoos (for my Halloween makeup).
Weekend plans: Friday night my friend, my hubby, and I went to Choctoberfest and sampled local gourmet chocolates and beers in this really cool warehouse/shop that sells antique lighting fixtures, hardware, furniture, and oddities. Thursday I was in a fender bender (no one hurt), so this weekend I need to work on filling out accident reports and insurance paperwork.
When was the last time you traveled?: In early September we went to Seattle.
Me too! I wasn’t planning on going out another time (I went in February), because they were going to come out in July (and my house is the place for Christmas now, so they’ll be out here in December for a week or so), but my dad couldn’t get the time off so it ended up just being my mom and grandma. Thought I’d make a trip out to see my dad!
How do you like Jam/Opal, Rachel?
Choctoberfest sounds AWESOME!
I like Jam/Opal a lot, though it was even smaller than I expected. I wish Opal were a little more opalescent ala Too Faced Unicorn Tears, but it still gives a lovely finish to Jam or whatever else I put it over. Jam is absolutely gorgeous.
Haul: I ordered the peach holiday face palette by MAC, and L’Occitane’s advent calendar! I haven’t received either yet. I also got one of the new LE lip & cheek color from Dior.
Weekend plans: rest, finally take out the Halloween decoration, take a lot of pictures for the blog, and go for a run.
Last travel: I went to New Orleans last weekend, it was really fun!
As requested, here is my sausage roll recipe – my own kids tell me that this is the best.
Ingredients
3/4 kilo Sausage mince – I get mine from a butcher who makes his own sausages, better quality sausage mince
Stale bread
3 eggs
A couple of tablespoons of mixed herbs
Shop bought Puff Pastry slices (from the freezer section – usually 6 to a pack)
Preheat the oven to 220 c or 420 F
Prepare 2 oven trays with foil and baking paper.
Method
1. Cut the crusts off the stale bread, roughly cut the remaining slices up and place in a bowl, adding hot water to soften the bread and leave for a few minutes.
2. Combine the sausage mince, herbs and 2 eggs in a very large bowl
3. Drain the softened bread and squeeze out any excess moisture, then add to the sausage mixture
4. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly. Your hands are best for this.
5. Place one pastry sheet down, cut horizontally in half and add sausage mixture along the middle of each
half. Roll them up.
6. Keep repeating step 5 until you have run out of sausage mixture and/or pastry sheets.
7. Cut each long sausage roll into 5-6 pieces and place onto the baking trays.
8. Take the remaining egg and whisk it. Using a pastry brush, generously wash the top of the sausage rolls.
9. They will take about 15-20 minutes or so to cook. You may need to turn them over so that the bottom of the rolls cook as well.
It sounds like a lot of steps, but they are pretty easier to make and perfect with soup.
I hope you like them.