29 July 2014

SUMMER GIVEAWAY COLLABORATION




We have a special giveaway to kick back up the summer spirit, and it's brought to you by Sabrina Faith, myself, and several other beautiful ladies! There are so many amazing summer-inspired gifts that we want to share with you, so if you're interested, enter through the Rafflecopter below. Don't forget to check out all the beautiful ladies that helped put this giveaway together for you! Good luck!




ONE WINNER WILL WIN  
Anchor Me Bracelet
Necklace, Earring, and Bracelet from HELLO FELECIA
30$ Design Credit (Designs by Emily F)
Pink Pewter Headband (Bethany #5)
Hempz Lotion
Lavender body scrub sponge
Mint / Teal Essie Nail polish
Flat Iron Spray
Rimmel BB Cream
EOS Lip Balm AND Essie Nail Polish
25$ LUSH gift card

Giveaway Terms
US Residents Only
Must be 18 years or older to enter OR have permission from a parent or guardian to enter and receive prizes.
If you have any questions, feel free to send us an e-mail or leave them in the comments below.

 
Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


ZOEVA ROSE GOLDEN LUXURY BRUSH SET

ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set. I'll be the first to admit that along with my lipstick and eyeshadow palette addiction, I also have a makeup brush addiction. There's just something about soft and silky bristles that just glide across your face, while the craftsmanship of the hardware is something to be admired. ZOEVA is a brand that I've come across through blogs and Youtube videos recently, and while I know to keep a wary eye out for blatant product promotions, I figured this brush set was too pretty to ignore. The pretty lady that enabled this purchase was none other than Kristina, from Pretty Shiny Sparkly. Thanks, Kristina!

ZOEVA ROSE GOLDEN LUXURY SET
The brush case is a stunningly rich chocolate brown faux leather pouch with rose gold hardware and embossed zipper pull. It feels sturdy in the hands and is even large enough to use as a clutch or makeup bag. This set also comes with a larger satin bag as well. I'm not quite sure what the purpose of this bag is, but I'm sure I can find use for it. 
The Rose Golden Luxury Set includes 8 beautiful brushes:
  • 102 Silk Finish
  • 106 Powder
  • 110 Face Shape
  • 127 Luxe Sheer Cheek
  • 142 Concealer Buffer
  • 227 Luxe Soft Definer
  • 231 Petite Crease
  • 317 Wing Liner
Every ZOEVA brush is crafted with a sturdy wooden handle and ferrule with the brand, brush numbers, and names embossed onto them. On the other side of the handle, the phrase Color. Love. Makeup. is also embossed. The bristles are so soft and don't feel scratchy during application, and so far I haven't experienced any shedding, even after washing. 

The Rose Golden Luxury Set ($68) is designed to look and feel luxurious, and the rose gold accents and warm chocolate brown handles look absolutely stunning on the dressing table. This set is my absolute favorite right now. I just can't get enough of its beauty. I also ordered a few brushes from the main line, and their quality is just as great, so I'm probably going to order a few (or several) more. 

Have you tried ZOEVA brushes? What is your favorite makeup brush brand at the moment?

Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


28 July 2014

STACEY'S BATTLE #TeamStace | SUNDAY SIT DOWN

#TeamStace. The past week was a rather somber week for some, but mostly for one of my sweet blogger friends, Stacey from Expat Makeup Addict. You see, Stacey has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, and she has written a post all about it here, but I must warn you, your heart may hurt after reading it. 

I wanted to take some time out today to talk about cervical cancer awareness, because let's face it, most of us are women, and we all are at risk for cervical cancer, some of us more than most. If you're like me, you dread going to the doctor's office for your routine women's exam. It's uncomfortable, and it feels gross, but it's something we must be sure to stay on top of. I'll admit now, that I haven't gone this year, but as soon as my new insurance kicks in next month, the gynocologist will be my first stop. I haven't had any cervical cancer prevention shots either, so I'm going to go get that as well, asap. You should too, if you haven't already. I know it sucks, but it might save your life. 

Stacey's story has really scared me, and I'm not even the one with cancer. I can only imagine what Stacey is feeling, and it sucks that all I can do is offer her virtual hugs and support from all the way over here. It makes me mad that she has to go through this, and it makes me sad that I know she's scared as hell. But she's oh so strong, and I know she can get through this. I know you can, Stacey. 

Cancer is one of the scariest things to talk about for a lot of people. It's a serial killer, many times silent, and we've lost many loved ones from it. Leukemia and gastric cancers run in my family. It doesn't help that I have low blood pressure, am anemic, and have had digestive issues my whole life top that off with heart disease and diabetes, oh boy. I'm high risk, and that's scary. I know that I have to take care of myself as best I can, and I'm trying. Now, I'm probably going to try harder, since let's face it, I'm getting older. 

Stacey is going in for surgery this week, so if you pray, please pray for her. Send her all the good vibes you can. She's set up a #TeamStace Twitter here. Please, get on top of your health, if you've been putting it off. Don't let it blind side you. Please.

Do you have any experiences you want to share? Please do :).

Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


23 July 2014

LORAC PRO PALETTE 2 REVIEW AND SWATCHES

Lorac Pro Palette 2. I may just be one of the last people to get into the Lorac Pro Palette craze, but for when Lorac released the Lorac Pro 2, I just went for it and purchased them both! Having played with the palettes for the past week, I have to say I am really impressed.

LORAC PRO PALETTE 2
Packaged in smooth gray case, the Lorac Pro Palette 2 holds 16 eyeshadows, 8 matte and 8 shimmer/satin shades. While the original Lorac Pro consisted mostly of warm neutrals, the Lorac Pro 2 contains cool toned neutral shades. Personally, I like the mix of mattes and shimmer/satin finishes. It makes creating different looks from one palette really easy. 
The top row holds the matte shades ranging from a really pale cream to a contrasting black. While all the shadows are velvety smooth and super creamy (yes, creamy powders), the only issue I had was swatching Navy. It looks really pretty when applied with a brush onto my eyelids, but I just couldn't get the swatch to show up smoothly. It really is a great shade though! 
The second row holds the shimmer/satin shadows, and they are all just as creamy and smooth as the matte shades. Their satin texture makes them easier to swatch and work with, but honestly, they are all wonderful. Swatching these shadows was a dream! They are extremely soft, hands down the softest products I've ever swatched, and it was really easy to pick up too much product (see the chunks of product within the swatches). Regardless, that is most definitely not a complaint. My favorite shades from the palette are Plum, Rose, Mocha, and Chrome. I'm really enjoying playing with these shadows, and if you haven't picked up this palette yet, you can do so at Ulta for $42. 

Have you picked up either of the Lorac Pro palettes? Will you be getting this one? 

Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


MY MAKEUP STORAGE

My Makeup Storage. Finally, my makeup organization plan is coming together. I ordered some acrylic storage units from Hautelook (invite link) several weeks ago, and they only just came in today. After work, I made a point to get my crap together, because it was overtaking my entire desk, which is 4.5 ft. x 2.2 ft. I already had one unit that I purchased from Hautelook a while back, and when they came back on offer, I figured I'd give myself a couple more units for my birthday. These units in particular retail for $38 depending on where you buy them. Hautelook sells them for $15-$18, depending on the supplier. Considering they come with 3 drawers and a top unit that holds 12 lipsticks with extra room to store other items as well, I figured $15 is a pretty good deal. 

MY MAKEUP STORAGE
Now that I have 3 units, I stacked and secured all the drawers to create one large unit and placed the attachments around the edge of my desk to open up the center. Also, I store my smaller eyeshadow palettes in another acrylic box, but since I'm not quite satisfied with that, I'll have to figure out what to do with it sooner or later... hopefully sooner!
I think these drawers are a great alternative to some of the more expensive acrylic containers, especially since they are built using a pretty thick acrylic, and I love that the handles are decorative and the edges are beveled, which adds a feminine touch.

How do you store your makeup? Do you have any recommendations to store palettes other than magazine/letter holders? I already have a few of those in mind ;).


Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


21 July 2014

CHRISTMAS IN JULY GIVEAWAY WEEK 3 | BLOGGER COLLABORATION

Christmas in July Giveaway. It's the third week of giveaways, and we're all having a blast. Hopefully you're all enjoying it with us! This week, we're happy to present you with a chance to win a $50 Gift Card to Victoria's Secret! Good luck to everyone, and don't forget to spread the word!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


20 July 2014

BLOGGING FRIENDSHIPS | SUNDAY SIT DOWN

Blogging Friendships. Last week, the topic was rather depressing, and while that reality still exists, today, I'd like to talk about one of the more positive aspects of being a blogger and a Youtuber. The community. Yes, there is the odd troll here and there, but there are so many more beautiful people out there that are some of the kindest people I have ever met in my 28 years of living. 
When it comes to beauty blogger friends, I've come to find that we are so much more connected through our interest in beauty and in blogging. Outsiders think we're crazy for hoarding ridiculous amounts of makeup or for talking to a camera and putting it out there for the world to see. They think we're nuts. We as bloggers get each other, and it's that understanding that draws a wonderful connection between us, even though we are oceans apart. And I love that.

I have made some of the greatest friends I have ever known through blogging and Youtube, and I feel so lucky and so blessed to know you all. Those of you who read my blog or watch my videos and leave comments and interact with me via social media. I love you all. For those of you who are making it huge, I admire you and respect you for still taking the time to talk to us smaller bloggers. You have no idea what that means to me. 

This pair of earrings was given to me by Julie, The Salt Life Wife. She wore these on her wedding day, and in one of the sweetest gestures I've ever known, she handed them down to me. Yes, me. I was utterly speechless when I read her note, and I was in tears, because I felt like someone's daughter for the first time in a long time. Though I love my parents dearly, no matter what, they aren't exactly the lovey-dovey emotionally connected type of parents. My dad is a goofball and my mom is prim and proper. Sometimes it's nice to feel emotionally connected, and Julie, thank you so much for everything.

I really do believe that the friendships we form as bloggers can be lasting friendships, and they may even mean more than our "real-life" friendships. Regardless, I am truly honored to be in the presence of such amazingly talented and beautiful individuals. Every day, you teach me something new, and I am so very happy to know you.

Thank you, all. :)



Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


19 July 2014

ESSIE CUTE AS A BUTTON | NOTW

Essie Cute as a Button. This week, my nails are wearing one of the cutest pink nail polishes out there, and it has the cutest name too. Cute as a Button is a gorgeous coral pink that is perfect for spring and summer, and it's great if you're feeling like a rebel during the fall and winter months as well. As I've stated before, the Essie formulas are hit and miss, and while the last formula was a miss (though a beautiful periwinkle blue), the formula of Cute as a Button is a hit for me. It glides on smoothly and is almost completely opaque in one coat, but I still used two coats topped with a quick drying top coat to ensure longevity throughout the week. I'm really loving this shade. I can't believe I waited so long to get it!

ESSIE CUTE AS A BUTTON
Do you have Cute as a Button or a similar color? I'd love some dupe recommendations or your favorite drugstore nail polishes! :)

Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


18 July 2014

COLLECTIVE HAUL | BEAUTY SHOPPING

Collective Haul. For my birthday, I did quite a bit of shopping, mostly makeup products, and while I'm not going to do intensive reviews in this post, I'll be sharing them in the coming weeks as I try everything out. It's going to be a fun few weeks!

Mini Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer (came with the Lorac Pro Palettes)
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Revlon Precision Clear Lash Adhesive
Koko Lashes in 201, 110, Soho, and 101
MAC Amplified Creme Lipsticks in Pure Heroine and Chatterbox
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, Powder in Diffused Light, and Blush in Radiant Magenta and Luminous Flush
Lorac Pro Palettes 1 and 2

What have you been shopping for lately? Let me know if you want me to review anything in particular. :)

Connect with me!

Meet Alan & Courtney from Southern Life NOLA!
A beautiful couple full of life and happiness, working together to create a sustainable and prosperous life all while helping others each step of the way. After battling thyroid cancer, Courtney turned to NeriumAD which helped lighten and reverse the scarring from surgery, and the results were amazing enough to prompt Alan and Courtney to join the Nerium team. Want to know more about this power couple? Check out their blog here, and their NeriumAD site here.


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