Hair Spray And Perfume

Is it pouring again?

2011-11-18T04:01:00.000-08:00

So....theres been stuff going on again in our lives.

As most of you will know, Freya has been sterilized last week and yesterday the sticthes were to come out. We had some little scares in the meantime, because on monday, she had this weird bump all of a sudden beneath her stitches. Like she swallowed an egg. We called the vet, and they told us that could happen, nothing to worry. Then, we got home on tuesdaynight and i found a bit of blood on her belly, and some stitches in her fur. The end of the stitches were a bit open aswell. Called the vet in the morning and we decided to just wait for thursdaymorning to take them all out.
So There I was at work on wednesday, a bit worried that Freya might have found a way to get to her stitches, and worrying she might find a way to take off her cone of shame ...again. Then there was this disturbance in the force of cardpayment, nationwide, so that was a lot of 'fun'at work aswell.
And when I had a little break and ate something...a corner of my molar suddenly broke off.
What a FUN day! So I called my dentist and I had an appointment for the next day.

On thursday, I went to the vet, and freya's stitches were removed. BUT they were a bit worried about the bump. They thought it might be a 'navelbreuk' or that she had some weird reaction tot the (3 layers of) stitches. So now we have to see what happens with the bump the next 4 weekes, otherwise we have to go back(and prolly need another operation). Her temp was fine though and she looked good for the rest of it. Hopefully the bump will become a bit smaller and less hard, and it will just be some reaction. They also told me she was a very gorgeous cat :)

So today is friday, and I went to the dentist yesterday. They reconstructed the corner, which took less then 10 mins. And then came the bad news. Since I have small molars, and really large fillings in them, there's not much molar left surrounding the filling. My dentist found a breakline throughout the whole molar including the filling. She really recommended that I would decided on a crown. (not sure of thats what its called in english though). Anyway, the crown is a sort of cap that will keep the molar together. Ofcourse I dont want to loose a molar at the young age of 30, so I said, ofcourse! well...the costs are 450 euro! yeah, thats right! FOUR HUNDRED and FIFTY euro!
Now, I have a wonderfull insurance, BUT they are doing a reorganisation and getting a diff name and diff coverage. So now, im thinking it might not be insured the way I always was. I'll have to call them today, to found out. *sigh*

And to top that, I found a letter on my doormat today from the police, saying that there was a burglary in our neighbourhood and they wanted to see if there were any witnesses.

FUN FUN FUN!

Oh well, at least I found one of the last snowboots at action for only 9,99 euros, and we are going to see Breaking Dawn soon. Let's just hope the public transport doesnt break down or anything. *sigh*

NOTD: Golden Rose Holographic Color no. 120

2011-11-16T15:01:00.000-08:00

This is a holographic polish By Golden Rose. No. 120 is a very nice pink, with lots of shimmer.

The flash makes it a bit brighter than it really is, but in daylight (without sun) it's more toned down. So the reallife colour is somwhere in between:

daylight (no sun)

indoors (with flash)

It's a nice and sparkly polish, it applied really easy and it doesn't chip fast either. It is holographic, but not in the rainbows-on-you-nails-way. All in all a really nice polish, and there are a lot of colours to choose from in this holographic range.

EOTD: Zombie Drakon with Evil Shades

2011-11-15T15:01:00.000-08:00

This is a simple EOTD with 2 Evil Shades eyeshadows, but the eyeshadows in itself are so pretty, that it doesn';t look as simple. Awesome!

I applied Drakon on my moving eyelid. DRakon is such a beautifull, colourchanging, miraculous colour. I can't stop watching it, moving my face from side to side.

In and above the crease I applied Zombie, which is a dark winred. I thought of this colour after I dyed my hair, and thought it would be fun to use it in a first EOTD with this hair.

With Zombie next to Drakon, the golden colour tends to change to a bit of red as the light hits it. I can;t get enough of this colour.

I used Essence Black gelliner next to my lasline and created a wing at the end.

I love the way it sparkles and changes with the light :)

Below the eyes I used Gosh velvet touch eyeliner Black Ink.

LOTD with:
Inglot conealer next to the nose
Light Burgundy Blush by Catrice
Gosh Lipgloss 0064

Review: Ici Paris Xl, Mini Perfume Sprayer

2011-11-14T15:01:00.000-08:00

I've had a mini perfume spayer by Ici before, but you had to spray the perfume into it, and that way, you waste a lot of product. Since I'm a big fan of (expensive) perfumes, I think that's not a very smart idea. Still, that sprayer was 3,95 and was for that price, filled with your fav perfume on the spot. Now that one is empty, I decided I wanted one that wouldn't waste as much product and found this one:

It's 9,99 euro if I remember correctly and I think there were a silver and a pink one aswell. It has a small opening at the bottom that works like the top of a sprayer on a perfume bottle. It won't open, unless you press it with a perfume sprayer, so it won't leak either.

It has an opening on the side, so you can see how much product is left in it.

I used my Cartier Delices EDT, to fill the mini sprayer. It's so handy to have an EDT in your purse, especially if you're not a morningperson and tend to forget to spray on something when you leave the house.

Filling the sprayer is pretty easy. You just pull the spraycap off the bottle and then put the bottom of the sparyer on top of the little tube on your perfume bottle. All you have to do than is press it down repeatedly as if you's spray on some perfume. This way it'll fill up nice and easy.

There is almost no waste, just a tiny bit of wetness between the two bottles, and probably only because this was the first tme for me doing this. Afterwards, you don't need to do anything to the sprayer, it closes up by itself, and you only need to put the spraycap back on your perfume bottle.

I think this is a great product, without any waste of perfume and it's not that expensive either, because you can use it over and over again. I'm really glad I bought it.

A Change of Hair

2011-11-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

I've dyed my hair black since 2002, and have been thinking about dark red ever since. I even had a couple of dark red locks in there at first. But having to decolour my hair was just too much trouble, and also, knowing my hair, I didn't want to go bald. I also thought red might be too harsh for my skintone.

I'm a natural blonde(middle, ash, dark, etc all in one), and apparantly, when you dye my blonde hair black, it gives out a lot of red pigment. Which is why the ends of my hair looks like this:

It looks kinda brownred, but when the sun hits it, it becomes an honest red. weird huh, my hair does this all by itself. I only dye my roots every month and maybe every 6 months or more I dye the ends black again. Just to kake sure my hair doesnt turn into a ropey kind of structure.

When I saw a picture of Blix her hair on her blog, I felt that it was a great possibility for me to change my hair a bit. I could just dye my roots a different colour!

I got a bit scared when the dye was in my hair, because it became BRIGHT ORANGE, and I was like NOOOOOOOOOOO!, but when it started drying, it got darker and darker red.

After washing out the dye, my hair looked really bright under the light in the bathroom. In the living room however, it looked like this:

Which isn't that weird, because the dye was called middle brown red. The hairdresser and me decided on that one, because we didnt know how bright it might become on my lighter roots. And we don't really use bright lights in the livingroom. (they give me headaches.)

But...this is how it looks in daylight(without sun):

I know it's not much yet, but I really needed to dye my roots, because my lighter hair, makes it look like I have bald spots when I put my hair up, because it's so close to my scalp colour.
I think it'll look really nice, when Ive dyed my roots again next month.

I've tried to make pics, but the red just didn't show because of my flash, so this is all I was able to conjure for you right now:

It's not exactly the reallife colour, but you can see where it it in this pic at least.
So what do you guys think? Keep going with this next month, or go back to black?

Freya haz a sad & Change of hair

2011-11-11T03:57:00.000-08:00

Last wednesday, Freya had an operation. She was to be sterilized, so we were both a bit nervous. I had to get up at 6:15 to make sure she was at the vet in time.
I got to pick her up around 15:00, so it was a looooong wait.

Sleepy Cat

Not a Happy Cat

Im-Not-Happy-And-Im-Going-To-Kill-You-When-This-Is-Over Cat

Sitting in the Skyrim box, taunting Loki already.

Look how big she's gotten! Loki looks small here but hes somewhere between 6- 8 kg!

More sleep

And still more sleep

She's doing really good, but she's still really drowsy and sleepy. She also gets these shivers, so I put her inside a blanket all day. But she's Freya so she wants to wander around..and gets cold again. *sigh*

She sleeps on our bed in a little nest of blankets, between sid and me, that way we can watch her if something goes wrong.
The wound looks good, and hopefully our two other cats will stay away from it. Next thursday the stitches will be taken out.

On a diff note, I have been wanting to do something diff with my hair for quite a while, but I was in doubt for sooooo long. Yesterday, we dyed my roots a different colour. I was anxious at first, because the dye looked like a peack flavoured yoghurt, and on my hair it turned flaming orange! But when it dried it turned darker and darker red.
I'll post pics later on how it turned out, but its not really that noticable under normal lighting, because its a brownred. Under brightlighting though, its VERY darkred.

Don't mind my lack of sleep face :P My hair looks NOTHING like this now, it's not as big a change as I thought. More on that later!

Giveaway winners!

2011-11-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

And here are the long awaited giveawaywinners!

For the first giveaway there were not a lot of entries. I really think this is a shame, everytime you try to ask people to really -DO- something for a giveaway (not just clicking a like button), people just dont want to bother. Since I buy almost everything myself for every giveaway, I think it's not too much to ask to really do something for a prize. Sending a birthdaycard/email, make an EOTD or NOTD: apparantly, people think it's too much work. But I put a lot of work in collecting and buying the prizes aswell, and it's nice to 'receive' something in return. But maybe that's just me... I honestly have to say, that I doesnt really make me excited to do other giveaways though :(

The second giveaway had over 200 total entries, which was a lot more that I expected. Took me some time to go through it all, as you can see. But, I didn't really ask for much either, just some tweets and such, so maybe thats it. (I'm a bit dissapointed in that, but hey, I'm weird that way) I do had several comments on changes for the blog and I will keep them all in mind. For everyone who took the effort in givimg me a comments on the blog: Thank you so much!

That being said, on to the winners!

The winner of the peacock jewelry and the Sugarpill Pigment samples is:

Shi (greeneyedbbw25)

and

The winner of the big giveaway with Sugarpill, sleek, etc is:

Silke - (Het is klein en het blogt.blogspot.com)

Don't forget to mail me your choice of hairflower!

Make sure to contact me with your adress, so I can ship the goodies to you. If you have not contacte me within a week, I will choose another winner!

EOTD: Tyr's Dark Fantasy

2011-11-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

Another EOTD with just two Fyrinnae pigments: Tyr and Dark Fantasy.

I applied Tyr over three quarters of the moving eyelid. Tyr is a very beautifull mossy green with lots of golden sparkle.

Sparkles!

On the outer V, I applied Dark Fantasy. This is another Arcane Magic eyeshadow. It's a beautifull darker forsetgreen, with a lighter green sparkle.

I applied the same two pigmets below the eyes, for more sparkle.
I love greens, and these are definately a favourite of mine!

NOTD: Hema Diamond Nailpolish no. 12

2011-11-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

This is a beautifull Hema nailpolish, that caught my eye in the store.

This is a lovely rosey lilac polish with a blue shift. But wait, that's not all!
It also has tiny golden flecks/shimmer in it! Unfortunately, I couldn't get those on cam, but trust me they are there, and visible too!

The flash brings out the blue shift, but above you can see the colour change a bit.

It applied easily enough, dries pretty fast aswell. I was pretty surprised by this one. It's not just any plain polish.

EOTD: Meerkat's Sequined Master

2011-11-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

This is an EOTD with 2 Fyrinnae pigments: Meerkat and Sequined Master.

I applied Meerkat over three quarters of the moving eyelid. Meerkat is a wonderfull lilacpurple with golden shimmer. This makes the purple almost g to a gold, or a rosegold when the light hits it, beautifull!

On the outer V, I applied Sequined Master. This is one od the Arcena Magic eyeshadows. It's a purple with silver and blue shimmer. This makes the colour shift beautifully to a bluesilver shine when the light hits it.

Above the lashes, I applied some Gosh liquid eyeliner, Black Brasse, wich has some gold in it. For a change I did a chunkier wing that I usually do. Below the eyes I applied some Gosh eyeliner Metallic Brass, which also has some gold in it.

It's a very simple EOTD, but with the shifting colours of the lid, it looks like it's much more complicated, I love it!

EOTD & LOTD: Military Grey

2011-11-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

This is an EOTD that was inspired by my new shoes and military jacket. There's also a LOTD :)

First I used Hema eyeshadowbase, and on top of that I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Then I applied Evil Shades' Double Barrel on the moving eyelid.
On top of that, I applied some Pixie Epoxy, to make sure, the glitter of the pigments I wanted to use, would stay put.

Then I applied some Fyrinnae's Dinosaur Plushie on the inner eyecorner, and some Immortality on the outer V. I applied the same pigments over Gosh's Hypnotic Grey eyeliner, that I used below the eye.

Sparklies!!, unfortunately, the cam doesn't always capture all the sparkle, but this shows a little at least.

Then I played around with my curlingiron and while letting the curls cools off, I applied Chanel's Fatale on my lips. I also used some Inglot concealer on the sides of my nose, and some Sleek Rose Gold blush on my cheeks.

And this is the final outfit, I went to my father in laws birthday like this:

Yea, I suck at posing :P

Extreme Look: Medusa Makeup with Sugarpill & Outfit Pics

2011-11-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

This blog has been a draft for way too long, I just kept forgetting about it, oops.
This was the makeup that I used for Castlefest, including the costume I made.

Prepare for Picture Overload!

I made these EOTD pics when I got home, after a VERY rainy day. Calling it rain doesn't even begin to describe how the weather was eventually, it was more like a bucket of water thrown down, but constantly. Still, the makeup held pretty good!
The EOTD was not a nice as the try out makeup that I did before, but I'm not a morning person, and I only had so much time before I had to go to the trainstation.

Products used for the eyes:
Gosh waterproof eyeshadowbase
Gosh vellvet touch eyeliner Woody Green (eyebrows)
NYX jumbo pencil Milk
Sugarpill Absinthe
Sugarpill Junebug (for the eyebrows aswell)
Sugarpill Goldilux
Dollywink eyeliner black
Barry M Kohlpencil black
False lashes with black glitter from KKcenterHK

Look at all those sparkling colours!

The stones are nail art stones from Born Pretty Store.

Products used for the face:
Gosh waterproof eyeshadowbase along the hairline
Sugarpill Absinthe
Sugarpill Junebug
EDM Soft Butter Peach Original Glo
Sleek Rose Gold Blush
Morgana Cryptoria Absinthe lipstick

Here are some pics of the outfit I made. I had so many ideas, and in the end too little time. I couldn't decided on what to do, so I ended up with a simple costume, inspired by a Greek peplos. I was not really happy with the outcome, but hey, it worked. At least, this time, I didn't have to take off half my costume when I needed to pee ;)

In the train applying my lipstick, after having eaten my breakfast.

My costume consisted of:
A black wetlook snakeprint legging
A silvergrey snakeprint skirt, with 8 slits at the bottom (selfmade)
A black wetlook top that I pimped with silver clasps and a diff neckline (pimped)
A black leatherwaistcorset with buckles
A silvergrey snakeprint bolero with silver clasp. (selfmade)

The sleeves were wide, and were supposed to flow around my arm, but my handbag and the weather made sure, it didn't most of the time. Same with the neckline of the bolero, my handbag made it shift to the side a lot. I've made a similar skirt before, and the slits make it really flowey when you walk...unlees the fabric is all wet...and heavy. *sigh*

I also had a killermigraine, and the hair on my head weighed to much aswell. Still, it looked fab.

Already wearing a wetlook bolero against the cold:

Wearing a fluffy jacket against the cold, together with Sid, who is almost never cold:

After we went home, at trainstation Haarlem at the BurgerKing:

Usually I look on the internet for pictures that were made of me. This year, a LOT were made, but I just haven't had the time and patience to search for them. I did however receive some of some photographers... Not all of them unfortunately though. But almost all of them complimented me on my makeup and wanted to take some pics.
These were made on my way to the toilet, and I really needed to go..can you tell? HAHAHAHHAHA

I should have placed the snakes more in the front, instead of at the longer side of the hair. Now, you can barely tell that there are lots of them in my hair. Oh well, I guess this is my least fav costume, even though it was one of the more comfortable ones. I really do like the makeup though, and the hair.
What do you think?

The Results of A Day of Shopping

2011-11-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

A week ago, Sid and I decided we had worked hard enough, and it was time to spend some money. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself to something, when you've had a busy month :)
It was a really fun day, especially because everything we wanted was in stock. SOmething which -never- happens when we go shopping.

I have been keeping my eyes out for laced up boots for several years now. I had victorian style boots, but they were kept upstairs, and for some reason, that thin fake leather, strats tearing all by itself after a few years. Which is truley a shame, but it could not be helped. Ive been searching for laced up boots ever since. I dont have the easiest feet to buy shoes for, so I still hadn't replaced those.

I spotted these boots in a flyer earlier, and was afraid they would be gone when I was going to the store. My size is the first to go out of stock usually, but this time only 37 (my size) en 40 remained!

Might had something to do with the fluffy lining of the boots, which made them a lot smaller than usual. Which is perfect for me because I have really small (width) feet. And they are warm 2! Also, they are water-repellent, which I saw on the lable when I was spraying them against spots and water and such. Oops.

A military style cardigan/jacket. They also had pale green, which I loved, but it did not look good on me. I bought this at the market for only 15 euros! It's lined ith satin and even has small shoulderpads.

I had been drewling over these ankleboots ever since I saw them in the shopwindow. They are made from black suede/velvet, have a tiny platfor n the front and 9 cm heels. The front has military style buttons and hoops instead of laces and it has a zipper on the side.
I adore the buttons and I though they were simple, but yet very different from other ankle boots that you see in store now. Love them!

We also found shoes for Sid, which is pretty hard. Sid has to have good quality shoes with enough room in the front for his toes, because of his diabetes. Most shoes that he likes, tend to have a too small front. When we saw these, he liked them a alot, and they fit too!. We are both really happy with these:

We also went to Ici Paris XL, to buy me some eyecream. I had used the one by Clinique before, as a sample, and really liked it. This package was the SAME price as the eyecream by itself. Score!

I also bought a perfumesampler that you can fill with your own perfume. I already had one, but you had to spray the perfume in it, which made you waste a lot of product. This one can be placed on top of you bottle and sort of drain it. I'll blog about it, when Ive figured it out myself ;)

At Inglot(we have one inside the V&D in Alkmaar), I bought 2 concealers. They are pretty creamy and are the best Ive tried so far. Ive bought two, because my facecolour shifts in color. I mostly bought these for the sides of my nose, which are redder than the rest of my face, which makes it look much paler than it really is.

At Kruidvat I bought this bodylotion, which is supposed to work so fast, it doesnt make your skin sticky. I hope it works, because I dislike sticky skin, which is why i never really use a bodylotion. I bought the Gosh cream primer to see if it'll make my concealer stay on longer. And because it was a 35% discount on makeup if you bought two products, I also bought a Gosh Eyeliner in Black Brass.

A while ago, we went to the dentist and they recommended us an electronic toothbrush instead of a normal one. They gave us a disocunt flyer for 25%, so that's why we bought this brush. Sid loves it, I have to get used to it, because Ive been brushing with a normal brush for so long, it takes a while to break the habit.

All in all, we bought some great stuff, and we are both really happy with our haul :)

Avoid These Chemicals In Your Hair

2011-10-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

October 29,2011

Free yourself from harmful chemicals.

*Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl), is used to extent the product life, has been linked to Breast Cancer. These are disruptive of normal hormone function.
*DEA and TEA are highly acidic and can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and add dryness to your hair and skin.
*Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate are harsh detergents used in car washes, engine degreasers, made from petroleum and can cause eye irritation, scalp irritation,and tangled hair.
*Propylene Glycol or Butylene Glycol is derived from petroleum and is an active ingredient in industrial antifreeze. These penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure.
*Synthetic Colors and Dyes (FD&C, D&C), derived from coal tar and heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing irritation. Synthetic colors and dyes are carcinogenic.

If your goal is living a natural non-toxic lifestyle, then try to avoid theses products in your hair.

- Iodopropynl butyllcarbamate - Lecithin - Resorcinol - FDC yellow 6 - Parabens - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, SLS, SLES - Iocopheryl Acetate - Fragance, Parfum - Disodium EDTA - Isoproply Alcohol - Mineral Oil and Petroleum - PEG, Polyethylene glycol - DEA, TEA, MEA - Chlorine - FD, C Color Pigments - Imidazolidinyl Urea - DMDM Hydantoin

Try my Face Serums......free from all those toxic chemicals! Keep your body healthy ...it's the only one you got!

100% Organic, Anti Wrinkle, Chemical Free, Water Free, Face Serum
Go To:
www.ilovemybotanicals.com

Actors use Chemical Free Products

2011-10-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

October 29, 2011

I’ve been busy working on a Feature Film in Vancouver, Canada. Elysium (aka, Asgari), is a futuristic, science-fiction movie starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, and Sharlto Copley (District 9). The director is Neil Blomkemp. He is best known as the co-writer and director of the movie, District 9. Many of the actors are concerned about chemicals in professional makeup and hair products. So I have researched and found hair care products that are organic and free from all or most chemicals.

Nearly all of the professional shampoos still contain cleaning agents such as Sodium lauryl sulfate and Sodium laureth sulfate that strip away body and color, leaving the hair dried out and dull. Other harmful chemicals used in hair care products include Propylene glycol, a cosmetic mineral oil, which is also found in brake and hydraulic fluids, anti-freeze and airplane de-icers. Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl) are preservatives that inhibit microbial growth and extend product shelf life. Most cosmetics use synthetic colors and dyes, which are made from coal tar and contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin.

Studies have shown that 40% of what you put on your skin can be absorbed into your system. Some researchers believe that 85% – 95% of cancer can be traced to environmental exposure from the foods we eat, the air we breathe, and the chemicals we are exposed to.

Onesta is one of my favorite professional hair care products that are natural, plant-based, free from Parabens, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Sodium laureth sulfate, Propylene glycol, DEA, TEA, colors, dyes, animal-testing and animal ingredients. Since there are no preservatives, it is best to by these products in small bottles and containers. Onesta is made in the USA and can be purchased at professional hair care stores.

Alcove shampoos and conditioners are another one of my favorite products. They are Sulfate free, salt free and Paraben free. Alcove products work well on color treated hair. Their shampoos offer a very rich and thick lather and are enriched with Oligo’s exclusive microcapsule technology. Microcapules Technology is a system that provides the hair with precisely the nutrients it needs. As the hair is dried, either naturally or with a hair dryer, the microcapsules disintegrate and release a dosed selection of essential nutrients. Alcove is a Canadian product that can be purchased at a salon or at a professional hair care outlet.

To learn more about Onesta go to: www.onestahaircare.com

To learn more about Alcove go to : www.oligoprofessionnel.com

Changes...

2011-10-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the layout of the blog has changed.
A lot of you wanted to have a wider screen for the blogposts and pics, and unfortunately my template did not have that ability.
Im now using a different and customized template, and this one is a lot wider.
Don't mind the header and such, I need time to make a good new one, for now, this is it. :P

If anyone has tips on how to create different pages for the 'about me', 'links', etc, so the layout will be even more spaceous and a lot less cluttered, please let me know. I'm not sure if I even have that option in Blogger.

At least now Ill be able to post bigger pics, which I think is a lot more fun. Even though the pics were always clickalbe to a bigger version, it's such a bore to do that with all the pics.

Anyway, feel free to leave me some tips or criticism, because it's not finished yet...I think.

♥ REVIEW: Agape & Zoe Naturals, Sugared Crush Eau De Parfum Spray ♥

2011-10-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

Goal: To find a perfume that smells like candy, made completely from natural ingredients.
Brand: Agape & Zoe Naturals
Product: Eau De Parfum Spray in Sugared Crush
Description: The original Sugared Crush! Same sweet, sugary smell, more goodness and wholesome ingredients. Cotton candy and bubble gum combine with pure vanilla essential oil to create the unique scent of Sugared Crush. Phthalate free, Paraben free, Petrolatum free, Not tested on animals, Cruelty-free, VEGAN and Gluten-free.
Ingredients: organic flavor oils, organic grain alcohol*(*USDA certified organic grain alcohol).

Price: $ 29.99

Size: 1 oz. (30 ml.)
Texture: Spray
Scent: Like candy :)
Visual Attractiveness: Cute! Label print could be a tad darker.
How Much I Needed: Just a spritz or two.
How Long I've Used It: About two months.

Where to Find: Agape & Zoe Naturals

Sample Sizes: Not sure what your signature scent is? Try a sampler set here.
Acquired: Sent to me to be reviewed with my honest opinion.
Customer Service: Patricia is so sweet and super helpful! Great Customer Service!
Loved: The ingredients and the scent!
Hated: That the scent doesn't linger as long as I'd like (most naturals don't though... but see my comments below).
The GG's Final Thoughts: Finally! A natural perfume that smells like candy instead of all the usual, you know - hippie scents! I think companies sometimes forget that just because we want natural ingredients doesn't necessarily mean we want to smell like a Tree-Hugger =) Ha ha. So in other words, I'm more than happy to welcome this to my new, totally natural perfume collection. The sweet, candy-licious smell of this sort of reminds me of one of my toxic, old flames... Victoria's Secret's Strawberries and Champagne Body Spray sans the headache. Only complaint? I wish the scent lasted a bit longer. What I've noticed from testing several different brands of natural perfumes, is that the alcohol based ones tend to wear off more quickly than oil based ones. Now, this is just my experience and every body's body chemistry is different. When I had last spoken to Patricia, the owner of Agape & Zoe Naturals, she mentioned that they were possibly considering switching over to an oil-based formulation, if she does- that would be a HUGE plus! I really hope they do. In the meantime, I've found that the currently sold (grain alcohol-based version) works a teeny bit better if I spray it on my clothes versus just directly on my pulse points, and it hasn't ruined anything so far. I would just test a small area first to be safe though. Thanks Agape & Zoe Naturals! xo

EOTD & LOTD: Red Coral

2011-10-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty simple EOTD with some lightpinks and coralreds. I really like the combination of these colours and I think it makes my eyecolour pop more.

I don't really know which products Ive used for this one anymore, but you can use any brand you like, the colours speak for themselves.

I used black eyeliner to add a bit of black to the look. Since I don't own a lot of lashes, this is a way to pretend I do. ;)

With some Catrice Light Burgundy on my cheeks, and Sleeks Cherry lipstick on my lips:

hair spray and perfume

2011-10-27T00:47:00.001-07:00

hello. welcome fellow friends from around the world

NOTD: Red Velvet

2011-10-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is a NOTD with Color Club's Red Velvet. This is a beautifull black polish with gorgeous red glitter in it.

The pictures really don't do this polish justice, because the sparkles are amazing. The red really lights up from the black

This is a bit tamed down version of my christmas nails with Ruby Pumps over a black base.

I like the polish a lot, but as said above, I can make something similar with the polishes I already own.
This will find a new home, and I think I already know who Im going to giving it to. :)

EOTD & LOTD: Eighties Steampunk

2011-10-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

When I did this look, I was going for a bit of steampunk feel, but I ended up with an 80's twist.

The colours were darker in reallife, but my flash just decided to annoy me..it does that sometimes...well..a lot of times actually :P.

I used the Oh So Special palette by Sleek for the browns, to make a simple EOTD. As I've said above, the browns were much deeper and darker.

Then I added the Coastel Scents gelliner 24K, which is a pretty gold colour, which in combintion with the brown gives that steampunk feel.

Below the eye, I applied Gosh's Metallic Brass, which is a brown with golden shimmer in it. But the camera really failed me on this look :( It was much prettier in real life.

Then I asked hubs which lipstick I should use, and he pointed to Sleek's Paint Polish Port. Which is a much brighter pink on the lips then it looks like in the tube.
I also wanted a vintage hairdo, but when I was trying to make a poofy front, it decided to stay in this hairstyle that I myself had when I was 10 orso.
All in all, it really gave me that 80's vibe, and I just went with it.

Normally I would have gone for some shade of red, so this bright pink with these colours, aswell as the light eyeliner, really felt weird to me.

I wore the brown/gold skirt that I posted last week with this vest, to create that steampunk look.

I also wore a black tight shirt with poofy shoulders, a black legging, and wedges. And my awesome Octopuss necklace that I bought on ebay for less than 2 dollars, score!

In the end, it turned into something totally different than I was going for, but when I went to the mall, I got a LOT of compliments on it. :)

EOTD: Simple one with new Catrice eyeshadows

2011-10-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is a simple EOTD I did with 2 of the new Catrice mono eyeshadows:
C'mon Chameleon! and My first Copperware Party.

C'mon Chameleon is like a duochrome colour, it's a brown with a very pretty green shine over it when the light hits it. It reminds me of MAC's greenbrown, but is still different. (and a lot cheaper!) I also think this brown is much warmer and prettier than th brown of Greenbrown. But that's a simple matter of taste I guess.

I applied C'mon Chameleon over my whole moving eyelid, over Hema eyeshadowbase.

Justn look at that pretty green! It's hard to catch on cam, but it's very obvious in real life.

Above the crease, I lightly applied My first Copperware Party, which is a really softlooking copper that is close to a metalliclooking brown.

I added a bit more green to the EOTD, by appluing Essence gelliner I love NYC.
I think this is a very pretty combination, even though it's very simple and easy to accomplish.

I seriously recommend these two new colours by Catrice!

Fashion and Jewelry Haul

2011-10-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

Most of you will know that I work in a clothing store, I've also been making clothing since 2002, so it's not really strange that my clothingcloset is pretty stuffed. I still have tops that I wore when I was 14 orso, but when I love something, I won't part with it. Especially not when it still fits. I do clean up from time to time, and sell some, or give it away, to make room for new stuff.

I also love sale, I find it really rewarding to score something in a sale for only a fraction of the original price. Having said that, I also have a discount at work and we have so many special sales and discounts, that it's sometimes hard NOT to buy something, hahaha.
Anyway, this is once again a haul from MONTHS (most was bought in the summer), so it's picture heavy!

All from Takko:

A cute black pleated skirt, I love pleated skirts, one of my favs is the one I made years ago. And I keep making variations on it. :)

A cute tutu like skirt made from chiffon with polkadots. All layers are trimmed with lace.

Another lace skirt, yeah, I love skirts and I adore lace :)

A bit of a polit like fake leather coat. I bought this for the inbetween time, when its to cold without a jacket, but to warm for my fall/winter coats. We had this is a steampunk brown aswell, unfortunately brown does NOT look good on me.

A simple longshirt/dress with lace and a print with roses.

Awesome (and heavy) belt.

Dress with skullprint. I has a small black belt aswell, but I removed it to take in the waist. Normally I can't wear white, but the print makes it wearable for me.

Those above were all from Takko, and most of them are on sale again right now, so check it out!

A very Tim Burtonesque dress, in a bodycon styled stripe. I adored this dress ever since I saw in in the window at Lake Side. BUt I thought it was too expensive and that the white and stripes wouldn't look good on me. A long time later, I was browsing the store's sale, and I found exactly ONE left of this dress. It was a lot cheaper now, and even though it was a big size, I still tried it on. I LOVED it immediately, and even though I have to take it in allover and even shorten it a bit, I'm really happy that I still could score it. Yes, my butt looks enormous in it, but I love it so much, I don't really care :P

A simple skirt that reminded me a bit of steampunk, it was only 10 euro's at McFibre, so I took it home with me. It looks awesome with my steampunk-like shoes.

They also had this one hanging in fron of the shop. With Sid being a big Star Wars fan, and it only costing 1 euro(!?) I had to buy it :)

All from Action:

Very Sapph like tops, which was between 3 and 4 euros I believe. The colours are much deeper/darker and warmer though.

And a simple lace top. I love layering tops wtih lace tops, so this will probably be paired with a black top.

In search of flat shoes/bootd that I could walk on longer, I found these. Most flatheeled boots look well..dull. So these still have a heel, but I can walk on them much longer without pain than other heeled boots I have. I like the bands with the clasps at the side, makes them look a bit tougher. These are from Van Haren.

Below all from Takko again:

Simple grey knitted dress that folows the bodies cruves. I have to take in the waist though. I love simple dresses like this one.

Some jewelry:
A bracelet with some roses and stuff hanging from it. A brooch with a skull that Sid really liked. A silver ring, and some hairclips.

Close up of the ring, I love the way the leaves bend around my finger. It was only 2,99 I believe :)

And one of my already fav bracelets, a wraparound which is formed by two leaves.

I know it looks like a lot, but this was over a time period of 4 or 5 months, so I think it's not that bad. :)

A fun weekend at my parents' house

2011-10-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

I'm behind on so much, so I need to cramp in some personal stuff otherwise ill be getting behind evern worse :P

These are pictures form the weekend I spend at my parents, to celebrate my 30th bday with family. (Who I hadn't seen for almost a year! :( )

Let me start by saying that Sid made all the pics, and he has a knack for taking pics when I'm in the middle of a sentence, which makes for weird pics :P

Trainride to Brabant, me eating. im not a morning person, can you tell?

my mom printed these pics and hung them in the kitchen..awww

me talking to my mom, no idea what about

eating from the garden, missed that!

first fresh walnuts of the year, woohoo!

aftr just having eaten my moms famous tomtatosoup, hence the apron

sid being silly

me, looking drunk. in reality, sid cam has the brightest flash EVER, that hurts your eyes

i love this pic from my mom

looking for my toothbrush or something

The next day we went to a big market with anything ranging form antique to rubbish in Belgium, a tiny carneval in a really small village, and the Abbey of Postel, to eat fries.

mon and me looking at jewelry

me, trying on jewelry, as usual, nothing fit.

just bought Pink Floyd's The Wall

loving this pic of sid and my dad, LOL

me and mom

quess what we are doing, hahaha

waiting for our drinks

us, looking dead tired

cant go and eat at the Abbey of Postel without a beer form them aswell?

my sweet parents

at the carneval, lookin for a prize

we didnt win...obviously

Eindhoven trainstation, waiting for our train to go back home.

We had a wonderfull and fun weekend, with great weather and a lovely party. It was great to see everyone again. Especially after so long. Going home afterwards is always a sad and joyous occasion. I love going to my own home, to hug my cats, to sleep in my own (much softer) bed. But weekends like this also make me miss my parents that much more, so it always has a sad tinge to it aswell.
Still, I'm glad I was able to see them again, and we had a lot of fun :)

♥ EVENT: Healing Cancer World Summit ♥

2011-10-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

Free Online Event starting October 25th, 2011 for 5 Nights Only!

The Healing Cancer World Summit will feature some of the TOP Alternative Cancer Treatment Experts on the Planet... meet Cancer Doctors, Nutritionists + Advocates who say Cancer may be treated successfully + Naturally - without excessive use of Drugs, Surgery, Radiation + Chemotherapy... Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, Dr. Francisco Contreras, Charlotte Gerson, Burton Goldberg, Mike Adams, and more!

Healing Cancer World Summit Topics Include:
♥ Simple + affordable natural therapies doctors are using to prevent + treat Cancers + other diseases.
♥ Herbs + supplements that are scientifically known to prevent cancer.
♥ Scientific + documented proof that natural cancer treatments work.
♥ How to detoxify + cleanse the body naturally + safely.
♥ Amazing stories of patients who've been healed naturally + are still thriving today
♥ Plus soooo much more!

If you're impressed in the least bit by how I've changed my lifestyle, you will be BLOWN AWAY by the speakers brought together for this event! Even if you’ve never heard of them, believe me... they are the real deal! These are the pioneers, heroes, and superstars of natural and alternative Cancer treatment!

What I want you to know is... that there ARE options!

Many of you who follow me know I've searched outside the realm of conventional Cancer therapy since I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at 31. After two Surgeries and 33 Radiation Treatments my doctors gave me the option for Chemo and Tamoxifen in which I refused both. I just didn't feel that breaking down my immune system, especially when I needed it most or exchanging one Cancer for two other types was the way to go. I also couldn't afford $60,000 + to freeze and store my eggs. With the amount of Pink Ribbon money poured into Breast Cancer Research I was furious that none of my conventional doctors could tell me what caused Cancer... or how to prevent it from coming back!So I took it upon myself to look into what the causes of Cancer were... after all, my life depended on it. I discovered that Cancer for the most part- is a Lifestyle Disease (only 10% is genetic, mine wasn't).

I've since chosen the road less traveled in terms of treatment, and do everything differently than I did before, because well, obviously- the result was Cancer. I'm not going to lie... when I first entertained the idea of alternative options, I totally didn't believe they hype! If they were so effective, why didn't anybody know about them and more importantly why weren't they being offered to me by my Cancer doctors? But as I started hearing success stories and saw their results, I was convinced that options outside of drugs, chemotherapy and radiation do in fact exist - options that can save me, you or your family members from the pain and suffering that comes with a diagnosis... and the conventional treatment of cancer.

If you want to learn more about what I've learned in my own exploration of this topic, you can listen (at home, as I will be too) to the stories of these amazing experts as they explain specific, simple, affordable and healthy ways to prevent Cancer. They will also share the treatments that are working in their clinics around the world. These doctors are the visionaries who are researching cutting edge scientific documents to determine what really works. This is not a theory.
Please, please, pretty please share this important info so nobody else has to go through what I've been through! You Can Sign Up HERE! THANKS! xo

NOTD: Golden Rose Holographic 119

2011-10-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is an NOTD with the beautifull dark grey colour by Golden Rose.

It is said to be holographic, and it is. Just not all over, but more of a holographic glitter effect, which is still pretty!

I love the way it sparkles but still remains that somewhat darker colour.

It's hard to catch the holographic effect on cam, because it won't give that one big rainbow on each nail. But when you click on the pic, you'll see it well enough.

This is the colour without lighting, it reminds me a bit of an LE polish by Essence, which was also a holographic darker grey.

I don't remember what it costs, but it's available at Enchantra, and there are several colours to choose from.

Born Pretty Store: 1 Year Celebration

2011-10-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

(I got this in the mail, thought I'd share with all of you :) )

---

BornPrettyStore 1 YearAnniversary Celebration

BornPrettyStore.com was set up onlast October, now, it's the 1 Year's Birthday of BornPrettyStore.com!

Thank you all for accompanying BornPrettyStore's growth, we'lloffer the following specials for you all!

1, BornPrettyStore 1 Year Anniversary Celebration will belasted from 16th, Oct. to 30th, Oct., and therewill be many kinds of Celebration Activities !

2, During the period., you can use the 12% off coupon code topurchase all the items in BornPrettyStore.com apart from special area. The 12%off coupon code is: BPS12.

3, All the people register during the period can get 100 BPS points (equal $1), the points can use tocheckout, no minimum order limit.

4, During the period, everyday we offer 2 items with discount 50% OFF in the Specials area.

5, In the Anniversary Celebration period, we still offer free shipping, for the order amount is larger than $45,we offer tracking number for free!

6, During the period, anyone orders from us can get a special gift from us. ( everyone can get only one freegift).

7, BornPrettyStore.com will host giveaways/conteston Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blog, everyone have chance tojoin in, we will update the news on both our website and Facebook, Twitter,YouTube and Blog.

A fun day at Artis (zoo)

2011-10-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

My collegues gave me and hubs tickets to go to Artis, something we both really liked. SO on one of the last days with amazingly good weather, we went to Amsterdam.

applying lipstick in the train, after eating breakfast

sid looking bored

Impossible Astronaut anyone? ;) (at the planteraium)

in this section monkeys were walking all around you

these baby monekys ran above our heads

these were not the only ine in the oark who were in the mood...it almost seemed contagious, so many animals were..busy..

Merlijns favourite animals

In the butterfly garden, me exclaiming, did you see THAT?

this was just amazing, hundreds of them just fluttered around you (mom you NEED to see this!)

big ones, small ones..some as big as your head..

these were dull brown on the outside, but bright blue on the inside!

peacock with a baby!!!

all the monkeys were outside, this was the indoor part.

across rom the penguins, lunch

i had to sit down in this awesome stone chair

We had a wonderfull day, it was sunny all day, we saw a lot of beautifull and weird animals, it was a perfect bdaypresent!

NOTD: Simple Halloween Nails

2011-10-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

I wanted my nails to fit the theme at the halloween party last sunday, but I also had to work on fridaynight and saturday. So I decided to do a very simple version.

I applied Collistars Bordeaux Perlato, which is a beautifull red.

Then I took some halloweenstickers from Coloclub, and applied 3 of them on one nail to create a halloweenscene.

I think the effect is simple, yet effective. I really liked it. I got a compliment on my nails from a customer aswell :)

♥ REVIEW: Annmarie Gianni Skin Care Anti-Aging Eye Cream ♥

2011-10-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Goal: Tofind a truly natural under eye cream that moisturizes without irritating mysensitive eyes.
Brand: Annmarie Gianni Skin Care
Product: Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Description: Anti-Aging Eye Cream is a hydrating,regenerating and soothing cream for the thin, delicate skin around your eyes.This cream is a gentle blend of cucumber for cooling and restoration, green teafor antioxidant protection and herbs like echinacea and gotu kola to tightenand firm tired and damaged skin It takes only one application to feelrejuvenated, energized and ready to look your best. Softens fine linessurrounding your eyes, soothes and reduces redness and irritated skin andlessens dark circles and puffiness around eyes.
Ingredients: Love, Herb-infused *Rose distillate (*Aloe vera,*Life everlasting, *Gotu kola, *Gingko, *Chamomile, *Green tea, *Milk thistleseed, *Eyebright, *St Johns wort, *Echinacea, *Shavegrass, *Lemon balm,*Lavender, *Butchers broom); Olive butter; *Shea butter; Herb oil (*Jojoba oil,*Life everlasting, *Green tea, *Gotu kola, *Rosemary, *Calendula, *Lavender,*Milk thistle, *Lemon balm, *Licorice root, *Roobibos, *Hibiscus, *Rhodiola,*Gingko, *Plantain, *Amla, *Ashwaghanda, *Acai, *Goji berry, *Horsetail,*Comfrey leaves, *Comfrey root, *Rose petal, *Echinacea, *Ginseng, *Lotus,*Boswellia, *Blue violet); *Brown rice protein extract; Wheat protein ext;Cucumber distillate; *Rose hip seed oil; CoQ10 & Olive Squalane; *Castoroil; *Carrot oil; *Tamanu oil; *Blueberry oil; Vegetable wax; Aspen barkextract; Phytoplankton extract; Tocopherols; *Lecithin; *Raspberry oil;*Seabuckthornberry oil; *Acai oil; Sodium hyaluronate; Superoxide Dismutase(SOD); *Jasmine sambac; *Rosemary oleoresin.

Price: $ 49.95
Size: 10 ml.
Texture: Lotion.
Scent: Sweet!
Visual Attractiveness: I like the pump bottle.
How Much I Needed: Just a few drops.
How Long I've Used It: About 3 months.

Where to Find: Annmarie Gianni Skin Care

Sample Sizes: I wish they did! For some reason, they have samples of everything but the Eye Cream... you can find them here.
Acquired: Sent to me to be reviewed with my honest opinion.
Customer Service: I really heart the philosophy behind this company! Annmarie, Evelyne & Lisa have been awesome! You can tell that they all really LOVE what they do!! FAB customer service all around.
Loved: The ingredients, the scent and that it didn't irritate my eyes like almost all other eye creams.
Hated: The price, ouch!
The GG's Final Thoughts: As always, I absolutely adore the unique, natural scent of all of Annmarie's products and this one's no exception! I've been looking for a natural eye cream for such a long time and am happy to have finally found it! In the past few years I've noticed some teeny tiny little crow's feet creeping up on me... but for now- that's the least of my worries. When it comes to my eyes, I seem to have more issues than Vogue. I have super sensitive eyes, so this has been quite a challenge. My main issue with so many eye creams (and makeup removers, face washes, etc., even the truly natural ones) is that most tend to make my eyes really blurry, watery and itchy for several days after using them- so I have to be careful. I also have something called GPC, meaning that I'm allergic to the material in my contact lenses. On top of that- all the different, fun, new products I get to test out in the name of blog-a-licious "research" don't really help my case either. It's like playing Roulette with beauty products. Annnd... while all that's going down, the skin around my eyes can get dry and flaky. Ugh! Not a pretty sight. So this eye cream has been a blessing ;) Glides on smoothly, calms my skin and has softened my little lines. I LOVE this stuff! Thanks Annmarie! xo

EOTD and Outfit: Halloweenparty at Enchantra

2011-10-12T04:23:00.000-07:00

When Enchantra decided to throw a halloweenparty, I was immediately excited: I love dressing up and halloween is one of my fav holidays. Even though it's not celebrated in the Netherlands :P

Linda had asked if Siney wanted to do tarotreadings for everyone who was coming, so he would be part of the entertainment. I decided to go for a simple outfit, because all of my Fantasy costumes have wings and such and are NOT suitable for indoors. And besides, I wanted to be comfortable in the train, which we have been in for 7 hours total!
Anyway, I thought it would be fun for me and Sid to go as matching outfits, so we went for gypsies, since it would look good with the tarotcards :)

I totally forgot to take ANY pics, so these are all made at home around 22:30 at night, when I was really tired. So don't mind the halfrubbed off eyebrows and the without-using-a-mirror-applied-lipsick. ;)

Most of my outfit came fom my own closet. The ausbrenner velvet skirt was selfmade years ago, aswell as the satin underskirt that made it a bit more poofy.
The top, I made the friday before the party, because I decided that bare shoulders would be a bit cold in octobre, even though its more of a gypsy style.
The corset is from my own closet. The scarfs, both came from my work, Takko.
The silver necklace and the silver bells hip[chain were both from my own stash, I bought the silver hooprings, because Ive never worn any earrings like those before.
Oh and I had a little silver hoop in my nose, from my own stash aswell.

Simple, but it worked :)

When we just sat in the train to go to Enchantra, the ticketguy told us two other people that were dressed up were in the same train. So around Amsterdam Sloterdijk, we got together with Agnetha and Linda. (It's also where Sid discovered Starbucks!)
They were both dressed in pretty selfmade dressed and did their makeup in the train.(And for some reason a little kid wanted to take a pic...of Sidney!?) It's fun to watch other people doing their own makeup, because everyone used different techniques.

My own makeup was pretty simple, I had to go out of bed pretty early, so I didn't want to have to do too much that early. I'm not a morningperson :P

Products used:
Hema eyeshadowbase
NYX jumbo pencil Black Bean
Sugarpill loose powder Stella (moving eyelid)
Gosh effect powder Fox (all the red, also as a highlighter)
Morgan Cryptoria Zombie Tramp (above the crease)
Dollywink eyeliner
Sleek kohlpencil
Born Pretty Store nailart stones
Eyelure fake lashes.

For some reason, Fox really liked Stella, which made my moving eyelid a mix of the both. I didn't really mind, because it still looked good. Also, when I was home, I saw that my other eye's fake lashes was loose in the middle. No idea how long ago that happened. Oops! :)

On my lips I has Sleeks true colour lipstick Cherry, and some Light Burgundy blush by Catrice on my cheeks.

I found some pics online of us, mostly Sid, because I did my best to avoid cameras :P You could have taken your pics by a proffessional photographer upstairs at Enchantra, which I was asked to do a couple of times, but I'm not someone who loves posing for pics. Most of the time I end up looking really werd, hahah.
I'm not sure where I found every pic, so If one of them is yours, please let me know and I'll share your name/blog.

http://www.whatabeauty.nl

http://www.enchantingbeauty.nl

http://agnethavdk.blogspot.com

I want to thank Linda and Robert for a great party, and ofcourse everyone else for the amazing company. I had fun talking to all of you :)
Agnetha and Linda made the long(er) trainride back seem a lot les long and it was a lot of fun meeting them and talking to them for hours.
I think everyone had a great time, and it's definately something to be repeated.

Oh, and some last scary stuff: I didn't buy ANYTHING! :P

8th year anniversary

2011-10-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, it was our 8th year anniversary! We had a busy busy weekend, I had to work on saturday, had to go to a bday at night and the next day we went to the Halloweenparty in Zeeland. So we didnt really have a lot of energy left on monday to celebrate.

2004

(I dont have a lot of digital picks of back then, because my old harddrive crashed with 5 years worth of pics, incl our first years together)

We both had to work, but my wonderfull hubby came to pick me up, and had a beautifull red rose for me, the same rose I used as flowers for my wedding. So sweet of him!

These feel like velvet and are a deep red colour:

We are definately going out to dinner at the Hielander to celebrate, but we decided to do that when we have some more time to enjoy it :)

Giveaways Update

2011-10-07T03:47:00.000-07:00

I didn't expect so many people to participate in the giveaway(s)!!
I really need some time to sort through all of them, and make sure everyone gets the right amount of entries.
I'll be posting the winner as soon as I know, but gimme some time (I still have to work and have a life ;) ). I also want to do something wih all the comments about the blog, so I might change some stuff, which also need stime. Something I usually dont have a lot of lying around ;)

One of the comments that was written most, was about the width of my text and pics. I totally agree, but unfortunately, this template can -not- be made wider. Which is a shame since I totally customized it. I have to search for a diff template and customize that one, which will need lots of my patience and time. But I -am- looking into it.

Also, some people don't like the colours Ive used(most do though, thanx!) Unfortunately for those people, I will NOT change to the recommended pinks and similar colours. I'm not -just- a makeup blog, so I do things my way. And I happen to like green...a LOT. Also, I don't want to look like all the other blogs out there. Just be gratefull I havent used my fav colours red and black, that would really have made your eyes hurt ;)

Anyway, I really appreciate all the comments, and I'm sure going to use them to make the blog more interesting. That being said, I'll be posting more about personal and other stuff aswell. I like blogging about anything, and I've decided that this is the way to go for me. I'll still post EOTDs and such, but not just everyday. I'll try to mix it up as best as I can :)

Castlefest Haul

2011-10-05T16:13:00.001-07:00

This post should have been posted ages ago....oh well...

Sid loves leather bracelets, and he loves wolf/cat paw prints.

We both love The Nightmare before Christmas, but still didn't on the soundtrack on cd. That's fixed now. :)

Sid's new steampunkstyle watch

I love the way you get to see inside and watch it tick!

Leather bracelet for me, it's one of a kind. The guy who made this makes beautifull leather corsets, armtcuffs, neckcorsets, etc. He told me he had only a small piece of this special leather and he had used it in patchwork style in some long armcuffs. Unfortunately, those were to small for Sid. But then I found this little bracelet and it fit me! (Usually they are wayyyyy to big for me)

I love venetian masks, and this one reminded me of them.

Another tarot deck for Sids extensive collection.

A makeupmirror for my mom. I own a sililar one with a peacock(see caslefest haul of last year), and since she adores butterflies, I had to buy it.

Some leatherpieces for Sod to see if he can tattoo them and make armcuffs out of.

We also bout another big Nerf gun for Sid to pimp and two beautifull The Nightmare Before Christmas mugs. I;ve somehow misplaced those pics *frowns*
Sids a big one in green and black with Sally on it, Mine is a white one with a black inside and a black and silver print of Jack on it. On the back, theirs a big silver J with an inlayed black stone. :)

♥ REVIEW: Jane Iredale Eye Shadow Kits ♥

2011-10-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

Goal: To replace my MAC with eye shadow that has cleaner ingredients.
Brand: Jane Iredale
Product: Eye Shadow Kits in Daytime, Nighttime, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, and Perfectly Nude.

Daytime Eye Shadow Kit
Description: The Daytime Eye Shadow Kit's five colors work together to create beautiful, delicate shading. It contains Almond, a color that’s ideal for that daytime glow. The Oyster shade can be used not just for the eyes but for highlighting the top of the cheekbone as well. Includes five colors: Oyster, Almond, Cappuccino, Dark Suede and Charcoal. Use each shade alone, layer or blend together. Formulated with minerals, botanical extracts and silica. Creates gorgeous, natural-looking eyes. Packaged in a mirrored compact with application brush.
Ingredients: Mica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Pine Bark Extract, Pomegranate Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Price: $ 48.00

Nighttime Eye Shadow Kit
Description: Nighttime is as versatile as our Daytime Kit but with a lot of shimmery oomph! There isn't a party you won't be ready for if you keep Nighttime in your purse! Includes five colors: Kiss, Supernova, Khaki, Dusk and Merlot. Made with pure, good-for-the-skin minerals. Colors can be used wet or dry. Includes an eye shadow brush and compact mirror.
Ingredients: Mica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Pine Bark Extract, Pomegranate Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Manganese Violet, Ultramarines, Chromium Oxide Greens.
Price: $ 46.00

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Eye Shadow Kit
Description: Five sultry hues to enhance and define your eyes. Includes five shades: Nude, Violet, Aubergine, Sizzle and Sheer Gold. Use each shade alone, layer or blend together. Formulated with minerals, botanical extracts and silica. Creates gorgeously smoky eyes. Packaged in a mirrored compact with a soft application brush.

Ingredients: Mica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Pine Bark Extract, Pomegranate Extract. May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Manganese Violet, Ultramarines.

Price: $ 48.00

Perfectly Nude Eye Shadow Kit
Description: Finally, a beauty secret that private eyes can keep to themselves. This bewitching palette features five shades guaranteed to draw attention to your eyes, instead of your makeup. Choose between Cream, Foxy, Cappuccino, Antique Gold and Copper, or create your own combo for a bright-eyed spring look.
Ingredients: Mica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Pine Bark Extract, Pomegranate Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Price: $ 52.00

Size: 9 g / .32 oz. (1.8 g / .06 oz. each eye shadow).
Texture: Pressed Powder
Visual Attractiveness: Palette cases are nice, but not practical for me.
How Much I Needed: A tad more on the lighter shades than I did with MAC, usual amount with everything else.
How Long I've Used It: About 5 months.

Where to Find: ShopJaneIredale.com

Sample Sizes: No, but I wish they did!
Acquired: Sent to me to be reviewed with my honest opinion.
Customer Service: Awesome! Everyone I've dealt with at this company has been amazing and answered any questions I had!
Loved: The variety of colors, how well they wear!
Hated: That there's dimethicone in these shadows, wasn't a fan of the brushes included in the kits either- they're shaped like lip brushes. I also wished the cases had an all transparent cover so I could see the colors without having to open them.
The GG's Final Thoughts: LOVE these, but let me just clarify my stand on this... is this the cleanest as far as ingredients in eye shadow go? No. But, it's a step in the right direction from what I was using... MAC. I was a loyal, 15 year addict. I have a HUGE passion for makeup- (especially eye shadow) and have a laundry list of things I look for when shopping for it. I'm really picky! I only like pressed powders (no loose powders, creams, etc.- so this is a huge challenge when looking for naturals) I also prefer a variety of shade / color options, all highly pigmented, with great coverage and no harmful ingredients. Color payoff is also an absolute must. The ingredients can be as clean as a whistle- but if they don't show-up on me or wear well, it's a total deal breaker and I'm not going to use them, bottom line. In my experience, it's been difficult to find truly natural makeup with a lot of color options, so this is where I allow myself to bend certain ingredient rules if I have to. It's pretty difficult to get some of the brighter colors without Carmine and other not so snazzy ingredients. All in all I really love these and the way they perform! I also love that they offer matte shades (another difficult thing to find with naturals). When I've tried other natural brands in the past, I had a really hard time trying to get the lighter shades (creams, golds, whites) to show up on my slightly olive skin (I'm not dark at all BTW). On the other hand, the darker shades were never an issue in that way- but often looked like dirt on my face by the end of the day. Not the case at all with these, so that's a plus! Overall I'm not a huge fan of the kits like this though... I noticed I have a tendency to favor certain colors more than others and am then left carrying around a whole kit for just one little, lonely eye shadow. I would definitely purchase these again in the future... but individual colors next time, for sure. Thanks JI! xo :)

NOTD: Ms Hautie isn't so hot

2011-10-04T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is an NOTD of Colorclubs Ms Hautie.

It's a grey which has a beautifull pink shine over it in the bottle. But on the nails this shine unfortunately does NOT show.

The glitter are chunky and after applying it on my nails, they look like I dippd them in sand before I painted them.

I'm not often dissapointed in a nailpolish, sometimes I'm not very fond of a colour, but almost never do I find a polish absolutely rubbish. Well, this one kinda is. Don't get me wrong, some poeple might really like this one, it's just not the right polish for -me-.

Luckely, I have all kinds of topcoats in my stash, so I turned to my Hello, Holo by Essence, and this is what I got:

In your face sparkle!

World Animal Day!

2011-10-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

Today it's World Animal Day, on which we take extra good care of our pets. Well, actually, my cats are spoiled enough already as it is, but you know what I mean :).

So I thought it would be fun to put my cats in the spotlight once again, i thought kittenpics would be more fun, enjoy!

Loki and Odin as kittens, and their mom Sophie

Loki, my little monkey

Odin as a kitten

Brothers

Loki was NO normal cat

Not normal at all..

He was from the Matrix!

Closeup

Odin and Sidney, 2 Vikings doing what they do best....Sleeping!

Loki was, and is, one of the most playfull..

Sweetest....

And Social cats I know.

Odin just wanted (and still does) to sleep, didn't matter where

Arent's they adorable?

That mouse I captured was THIS big!

I told you,. Loki is not a normal cat...

Let's not forget some kitten pics on Freya:

Golden little fluffball

First babysteps

Still fluffy

With her mother Sophie

Starting to get a bit darker here

Eyecolour slowly changing

Becoming a Diva

And how is Freya doing now?

She acts like she owns the house

And I think she wants us to pay rent...in catnip

And shoes...preferably smelly ones..

She always looks at us, as if we did something WRONG

Or if we are edible..

She can be really cute..

When she sleeps!

And she LOVES the xbox, always sitting in front of the game..being a big nuisance to Sid, haha

Looking so different from when she was born!

I think Freya is about 2,5 kilos now and she is still growing fast...she might even get as big as Loki or Odin!? Oh dear....

Birthday Haul

2011-10-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Finally spend my birthday money. Took some time to look at stuff that I really liked and was a bit special aswell.
Now I just have to wait for all these beauties to get here....

-Alchemy's Venetian Death Mask

-Black Tie Neck Top from Attitude Holland:

And then I came across this one, it was not on my list, it's a new release from Alchemy:
-Poison Ivy:

I think this one is gorgeous. Maybe not daily wear, but I'll make it work. I wanted some special things for my bday, and I think this one is pretty special :)

Then I ordered some stuff with some help from the lovely Wendy (thanx again hun!):

-Too Faced Shadow Insurance:

And some samples and stuff from Fyrinnae:
-Pixie Epoxy (twice):

-Meerkat Loose eyeshadow:

-Arcane Magic: Faerie Glamour:

-Arcane Magic: Dark Fantasy:

-Arcane Magic: Sorceress:

-Arcane Magic: Madame &Eve's:

-Arcane Magic: Velvet Vampire:

-Arcane Magic: Sequined Master:

-Arcane Magic: Conjuror:

-Týr Loose Eye Shadow:

-Shinigami Loose Eye Shadow:

-Immortality Loose Eye Shadow:

-Dokkálfar Loose Eye Shadow:

-Fyre & Ice Loose EyeShadow:

-Wicked Loose Eye Shadow:

Gift from my Beloved

2011-09-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

Now some of you may not know this, but my hubby is a real gentleman (and a romantic), he opens door for me and such. When we first met, he even gave me a handkiss. Hahahaha.

Anyway, my beloved starts an hour at work earlier than me and is home an hour earlier aswell. Since I'm working in a mall, in a little sidestreet that is pretty much dark when we close, he always comes and picks me up. Might seem a bit extreme to some, but we don't have security walking around when the stores are open in the evening for nothing. It's a great mall, but when everything closes and it gets dark, a LOT of people are starting to hang out there and there have been many fights.

Sidney, being the gentlemen that he is, doesn't want me to walk alone there in the evening, so he always comes and picks me up. He's sort of become ''furniture'' to our store as we like to call him. My collegues don't mind at all :)

Anyway, a while ago, we walked home through the mall, and my eyes fell on a window with these amazing earrings in it. I immediately loved them, because they contained lots of things that I like and were pretty unique. Ofcourse I wasn't able to buy them, because I had to work when they were open.
So what did my awesome hubby do? He bought them the next day and gave them to me! So Sweet!

The victorian style upperpart, the lace over the black stone, the length, the silver feathers...*sigh*.
I absolutely adore them and I think they will look awesome with my birthdaydress!

Thanx again My Love! *sm00ch*

(BTW, sorry, apparantly some scheduled posts were turned into drafts for some weird reason and weren't posted on the days they were supposed to)

Castlefest Tryout Makeup: Medusa with Sugarpill

2011-09-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

This post has been long overdue, so I won't talk too much about it. This is the tryout makeup I did for Castlefest this year (which was in the beginnng of August). The makeup that I finally did was pretty similar to this one. That one will be online soon aswell.

This is just a tryout for the makeup(just one side of the face), and the hair. To see what I wanted to do with it all, and see if what I had envisioned would work.

On with the pics!

I used mostly Sugarpill loose powders, Absinthe, Junebug, Stella and Goldilux, but I also used a little of some Morgana Cryptoria samples.

Look at those glittery green lashes!

Products used:

Face:
Every Day Minerals, Soft Butter Peach (Orginial Glow)
Catrice Highlighting Powder, Fairy Dust (LE)
Sleek blush, Rose Gold

Snakeskin was made with fishnet fabric and Absinthe with on top of it Junebug.
(At Castlefest I wore Gosh Waterproof eyeshadowbase underneath the snakeskinprint, because it would be raining that day. On these pics I used NO base.)
Nail Art Stones

Eyes:
Gosh Eyeshadowbase
NYX jumbopencil, Milk
Sugarpill loose powders, Absinthe, Junebug, Stella, Goldilux
Morgana Cryptoria, Pharaoh's Curse, She Creature, Underworld.
Black Dollywink eyeliner
Manhattan Black eyeshadow
Gosh Extreme Art Eyeliner, 22 (glitter green/gold)
Gosh Extreme At Eyeliner, 18 (glitter gold/copper)

Eyebrows:
Gosh Velvet Touch Eyeliner, Woody Green
Sugarpill Loose Powder, Junebug

Lips:
Morgana Cryptoria Lipsick, Absinthe

10 ways to use perfume samples from magazines

2011-09-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

What do you do with all those perfume samples from magazines? Give them a quick sniff? Toss them in the trash? Collect them? Perfume samples are handier than you think. Here are 10 ways to put them to good use.

1. Dress up your drawers. Tuck a few of your favorites in your underwear drawers as well as your other clothes drawers.

2. Stow them in your suitcase. Before hitting the road, toss an unopened sample into your suitcase. The sample won’t leak on your clothes and they will smell great for the duration of the trip.

3. Store them in your shoes (not while wearing them, of course). Your friends will think you have the best-smelling feet around. Not to mention your closet will smell much better. (See No. 6.)

4. Stash them under your car seat. Who needs one of those cheap, stinky air fresheners? Place a perfume sample under your seat and you’re good to go.

5. Put them in your purse. With all the stuff we load into our purses, it’s no wonder they sometimes smell a little stale. Nothing a perfume sample can’t fix.

6. Keep them in the closet. (See No. 3.)

7. Give gift bags a little extra something special. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter. Adding a perfume sample to a gift bag not only makes it smell great, but it also adds a personal touch.

8. Sleep tight on scented pillows. Toss a perfume sample into your pillowcase for some fragrant ZZZZZs.

9. Line your coat pockets. If you’re storing your coats during the summer months, placing a perfume sample in the pocket will help to ward off that musty smell. If you’re wearing your coat, even better. You’ll smell great the moment you enter a room.

10. Wear them. This is why they are in the magazines in the first place, right? Collect the perfume samples and try out different scents over time. You can test which fragrances you like before splurging on them.

View the original article here

I'm Nuts about it!

2011-09-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

This blog is about one of my obsessions, one that I have t wait a whole year for and it only has a tiny window of time. No idea, what I'm talking about? Hahahha. Okay, Let me explain.
Growing up, almost everyone around me had a walnut tree. So I was used to eating walnuts when it was the right season. And with right season, I mean, the moment when they fall off the tree and are still fresh. Fresh enough to peel open en pull the skin off to reveal all of it's white glory.

Unfortunately, nowadays, only my parents still have a walnut tree, but it does have one of the best walnuts there is. Since I live in the north now, I can't get ANY fresh walnuts around here, because noone has a walnuttree in their backyard.
Luckely for me, I have the BEST parents a Nut like me could have.
So a week ago on thursday, my parents send me a box of this:

They look wet, because they came straight from the tree, fresh walnuts are also known as wet walnuts.
I only eat them fresh, because the taste is really different from dry ones. Also, dry ones make my throat hurt, it's the little skin that does that. When I have dried ones left, I use them to make bonbons, or french toast and such. They dry pretty fast, so theres only a small window of time in which I can eat them. And I eat A LOT! (last year I ate 3 or 4 full boxes *grins*)

When you stick a small sharp knife in the darker little center at the top, you can easily pop them open, to reveal this. I only use a walnutcracker if I can't open them this way, which almost never happens. A cracker isn't fun to use, because it ruins the nut inside into little pieces. That way its too much trouble to remove the skin anymore.

This is WITH the skin, that I always peel off, this skin can make your throat hurt. I also don't really like the taste of the skin, it's too bitter.

And this is without the skin, the whiter the nut, the fresher it is. And these were superfresh!
On sunday, the box was empty, oops, hahaha! My parents just send me a new box on thursday (awesome!), so I'm good to go for a few days again. Thanx mom and dad, you're the best! :)

These always kep my winterdepression at bay, it's something to look forward to after summer has ended. And after this summer I really needed my walnuts, hahaha.

I read that walnuts are pretty helathy and are considered a superfood. Ofcourse thats when you eat 7 a day orso. Since I eat several KILOS in about a months time, I just hope it helps me through the year, hahaha.
Anyway it seems these are pretty good for people with a high bloodpressure, which is good news for me. They also have a lot of other healthy ingredients, so try them out sometime!

EOTD: Yellow and Purple with Sugarpill / Sleek

2011-09-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is an EOTD I did when I still had a fever and had to go to work. I only needed to work 3 hours in the evening, so I decided to just go and take them time in the weekend to get better. What's 3 hours, eh?

When I don't feel well, I tend to use bright colours to lighten my mood or make me feel better. Doesn't always work, hubby calls it compensation. :)

So this time, I used yellow and purple....

For this look I wanted to use the Sleek Curacao palette. Matte colours tend to become really light on my eyes, so I decided to use Sugarpill colours a s abit of a coloured base.
So I usd Buttercake and Poison Plum on my eyelid, and later applied Sleek eyeshadows over it. Ofcpurse you can do this look with just the Sugarpill eyeshadows only ;)

Here you can see the diagonal shape I used to apply the shadows. I have no idea why the eyeliner looks chopped ot in the middle of the wing though.

Anyway, on with the Sleek Curacao palette: I applied Martini below the browbone and towards the crease as a highlighter.

Then I applied Screwdriver in the inner eyecorner and towards the middle of the eye. Then I applied Purple Haze in the outer eyecorner and with a diagonal line towards the middle of the eye. I also applied Purple Haze into and above the crease. Leaving some yellow pointing towards the outer eye corner.

I used a black eyeliner above the eyes and for the wing, and Gosh Black Ink below the eyes.
My hands wre itching to do more colour below the eyes and to apply fake lashes, but I had to go to work. So instead I did the simple eyeliners.

With some Light Burgundy blush by Catrice and some Soft Touch soft n shine by Gosh:

Can you tell I'm having a bit of a fever and feel like crap? :P

I seriously have to do something like this again with fake lashes and purple lipstick..

NOTD: Colorclub Masquerading

2011-09-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is one of the polishes I bought at Auryn last time I visited.

This is a beautifull colour that seems to change colour with the right lighting.

Here it looks like a sort of greyish blue, but with diferent light it looks like a green masquerading as a blue.
Maybe a seagreen, you know, with lots of blue in it?

I have to say I'd have loved it to be even more green, but still, this is a beautifull colour, and as most of the polishes I won by colorclub, it's easy to apply aswell.

Birthday Presents

2011-09-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, people seem to have a hard time getting me a birthday gift. I don't really know why, because I like everything, it's the thought that counts. But apparantly people seems to think they might dissapoint me or something, awww. :)

Anyway, here are a few of the gifts that I got for my bday, next to a lot of money that I still need to spend on nice stuff. :)

My beloved took me to this small boutique that I told him I wanted to go to for my birthday gift. It's really small and has all these special dresses from Paris. I like simpel things with a twist, and I love the stuff at this store. But since it's pretty expensive, I decided it would be perfect for a bdaygift.

I tried a few dresses, but this one stood out the most, its simpel, yet elegant. It flows around me and clings to my curves without feeling and looking too tight. It's really different from anything I own, and I absolutely adore it. The lace somehow lays on top of the fabric, without having seems at the back of it. I think it's part of this beautifull fabric.

Then he also bought me these FFING awesome shoes. This is the kind of shoes I love, but most of the time they are too wide or too big. These fit perfectl, which is kinda hard with my small(in width) feet. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the black suede fabric, the silver bucckles and the SNAKESKIN platform. *sigh*
Aren't they to die for?

Yeah, my hubs has got some great taste!

From others I also got these beautifull earrings:

A gift card for The Hielander, the Scottish reataurant, where Sid proposed.
Everything we need for a day for two at Artis a zoo here in NL, bonbons, lollypops, lucky hearts, etc
And lots of money, that I have to decide on what to spend it on......

Latest Auryn Haul

2011-09-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

When we went to Auryn in August, I had lots of stuff on my wishlist, and decided not to order stuff so I could just get it at the shop itself.
Here's what I brought home:

Sleek Pount Paints: Cloud 9, Mauve Over, Port and Pin Up.
I don't have a good experience with the OCC liptars, but I can tell you that the one Ive tried so far was way better. I need to get the blue one to make some nice purples....and Sleek needs to make a black one!

Color Club: Masquerading, Ms Hautie, De-Lux-cious, Red Velvet
Swatched 3 of these already, so they will be on the blog soon.

Colorclub: Snakeskin, and China Glaze: Gr8

I just love those colorclub polishes with that duochrome/shine effect. And ocourse I needed the holo from the OMG collection.

Sleek cream lipstick: Grape
I absolutely love Sleek lipsicks and I def need more of these.

Inoje: Pure Peeling Gel and Foam Cleansing.
Peeling for me and Foaming for the hubs.We both love this stuff. i needed some time qetting used to it, and after realising I just needed the peeling, my skin thanked me.

For some reason I forgot to make a picture of the Sleek Curacao palette, so heres a pic from the Enchantra site:

From the sale boxes:

Konad: Nail deco Diamond Glitter, Coastel Scents gelline: 24k Gold and Sexy Pink
, some more glitter and some kitty nail art thingies:

And some lipsmackers that cracked me up, I just had to take these with me:

When I saw these, my hands were itching to give these to people who deserved them, hahahaha.
I also had skittles but these are already in use, Ive never used lipsmachers before these!

EOTD: Oh So Special at Auryn

2011-09-16T03:20:00.000-07:00

This is another EOTD with the Sleek Oh So Special palette.l I did this when we went to Auryn again, the day before my birthday.

I don't remember which colours Ive used exact;y where, but I mostly used The Mail, Gift Basket and Celebrate.

This is such a great palette to have, especially if you love bright lips and I do.
It's always a perfect combo.

No idea what happened to my hair here, hahaha.
This was when we were in the train, going back home. I was wearing a black lace bodycon dress and a black knitted bolero. Also, AWESOME shoes my hubs bought me for my bday, which I'll show soon in a different blog :)

On an even more personal note, hubs is finally doing a bit better, but nowhere near healthy yet. And the loss of sleep has broken me, so Ive been having a fever since wednesday. Sid said he could fry eggs on my feet. I like to point out that my feet are always ice cold, so that's pretty hot. Anyway, I probably have a troatinfection or a light flu or something, and hopefully, this will be over soon.
My mom send me something that helps, more on that later :)

Review & Swatches: Laushine Nail Polish

2011-09-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

When I first had a crackle polish from Born Pretty Store, it wasn't what I expected. When I spoke to them about it, they told me they had another brand now and asked if I wanted to try it out. I was curious to know if this one was better so I asked for a green one.

As a base I used Rimmel's Jaded Glamour, which I thought would give a great contrast with the darker green. The crackle polish is a little bit darker in real life, the flash of my cam lightened it a bit.

The Crackle polish is called Laushine Nail Polish. This is number 15 and it contains 15 ml of product. This bottle costs 4,91 dollars which is around 3,5 euros.

I love love love this crackle. It doesn't need a thick coat as some do, and because of it, it doesn't really need a topcoat either. Lots of crackles dry in thick cracks which feel gritty and can catch on you clothes and such so you generally put a topcoat over it to make it smooth.
This one doesn't really need a thick coat as you can see, even a really thin layer already gives a nice(see indexfinger) effect. A bit thicker gives a darker and more crackled effect (see thumb). But it is nowhere near a thick coat like other crackles Ive used.

This crackle is definately much better than the brand they selled before, and I think it's even the best crackle I've used so far :)

Born Pretty Store Coupon

2011-09-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

The nice people from Born Pretty Store have created a special coupon for Oh My Gosh readers!

This is a 5% off coupon which is valid till december 31st 2011.

And if this coupon is used over 20 times, they will sponsor a giveaway!

the coupon is GMK31

So be sure to use it when you order something form their website :)

EOTD: Spiced Red

2011-09-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

A lot of people are a bit afraid to use coral or red eyeshadow, because it can look really harsh, or makes you look like you've been crying. But these colours can be really gorgeous, so I tried to make a wearable EOTD with one of them.

On my inner eyecorner I used Gilbert's Grapefruit by Catrice, which is a soft loking pink with a really nice shimmer in it. Perfect to tone down the red I've used.

On the rest of my moving eyelid I applied Spiced Red, by Catrice, which is a LE.
It's a beautifull darker red, which always reminds me of wine. To make the red a bit less harsh and to tone the colour down, I applied some black eyeshadow in the outer V. It makes the red look a lot softer than it really is.
Above the crease I blended a tiny bit of Berry Fairy by Catrice, which is also a LE. It's a burgundy colour with a lot more purple in it.

Then I applied some black liquid eyeliner above the lashes, and a tiny bit of black eyeliner below the eyes. This way I could apply some more eyeshadow below the eyes, without it looking like I've cried for hours on end.

Don't mind the shirt, I changed clothes after the pics, I eventually wore a black halterdress with a studded belt. ;)

I applied some Light Burguny blush by Catrice on my cheeks. I aplied Evil shades Devilista on my lips, which is a very nice shade that somehow ends up between red and orange. And on top of that I applied Spiced Red lipgloss by Catrice (LE).

I think that these colours are really wearable this way, and that they give a great contrast with the colour of my eyes. It also makes the white of your eyes looks really really really white :)

5 surprising facts about essential oils

2011-09-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being. There are a wide number of essential oils available, each with its own healing properties.

Here are five things you may not know about essential oils:

1. Neroli oil, or “orange blossom,” is one of the most expensive essential oils on the market. It takes 1,000 lbs. of orange blossoms to make one pound of Neroli oil. This semi-precious oil is used to ease anxiety, depression, insomnia, and given its wonderful aroma, it can be considered an aphrodisiac.

2. Captain James Cook first mentioned Tea Tree oil in 1772 during his voyage to Botany Bay, Australia. He and his crew made a tea from the leaves to prevent scurvy. Tea Tree’s healing properties are abundant. Not only is it a natural immune booster, but it also fights all three kinds of infection. It works to heal skin conditions, burns and cuts, and also works as an insecticide. In addition, it helps to soothe and treat cold sores, respiratory conditions, muscle aches, the flu, Athlete’s foot and dandruff. Its uses are vast and its healing power is quick.

3. In the 1920s, French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse coined the term “aromatherapy.” The story goes that during an experiment, Gattefosse burned his hand and had nothing nearby to soak it in except lavender. Apparently the lavender quickly healed the burn, spurring him to begin research on the science behind essential oils.

4. Our sense of smell is the only sense directly tied to the limbic area of the brain, which is considered the emotional control center. This means that when essential oils are inhaled, they go directly to the brain. Our other four senses — taste, sight, touch and hearing — are first routed through the thalamus before reaching designated areas of the brain.

5. Essential oils are beneficial healers because they transport oxygen to the cells, which trigger great healing effects. It is safe to say that all of them are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-infectious, anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic on some level.

View the original article here

It definately pours.....

2011-09-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I've been offline for quite some time.
It was super busy at work, and lots of stuff happened, which I am NOT going to talk about. :P

But my laptop is working again, without me needing to do bad things to it, or threaten it. And I was supposed to be online a bit sooner, but I just didn't have the energy and time.

My dear beloved is now, while I'm typing at least, sleeping beside me, and I'm hoping he can keep it up for a few hours.
He was feeling very sick a few days ago and stayed home. And in the night from friday to saturday, he got a severe pain in his ear due to an ear infection. For those who've never had such a thing, it might sound like nothing special. But trust me, the pain is unbearable. With Sid's diabetes, he is prone to infections, and will heal much much slower than other people.
So he was awake all that night from pain, and I bought eardrops the next day. But unfortunately they did nothing to eliviate his pain.
It kept getting worse and worse, untill finally, he just couldn't take it anymore and completely broke down. We called to the emergency doctors that are available in the weekends, and even though it was -really- busy (they were already scheduling 4 hours ahead), we got to go in immediately.
Sid got antibiotics and new eardrops and I really hoped it would help. They told him to use asperin for the pain, but it did nothing for him and it kept getting worse. So finally when I couldn't take it anymore seeing him in so much pain, I called the docs again, and they prescribed a milder form of morfine. Hopefully, that way he could at least get some sleep. We went there through a big rainstorm and lots of lightning that had been going on for hours on end. Almost seemed appropriate.

In the end, he got maybe 2 hours of sleep before waking from the pain, and he had to wait in agony for the hours to pass before he could take the medcine again. Now, in the afternoon he finally sleps a bit more peacefully, probably from sheer exhaustion. It pains me to see him like that, knowing there's nothing I can do for him. So my mind is once again preoccupied with other stuff.

Having said that, I am going to pick up blogging again, and hopefully this time, nothing will stand in my way :)

When it rains it pours...

2011-09-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

Sid and I tend to have bad luck with things, especially when we go somewhere. So I'm kinda used to going somewhere fun, to have it 'ruined' by rain, missing my grandmothers birthday(and going out to dinner with the family) because the trains don't go when its snowing, one of us getting sick when we were supposed to go to see my parents, and so on and on. I'm not really sure why this is, but it's happening a bit too often to just be a coincidence. Now I can start a whole blog about this, but I won't, because it's not that interesting.
I just needed a n intro, so you'd understand the rest of this blog ;)

So, I've been working a full week where my boss is on a holiday. That means that a lot of her work has come to rest on my shoulders this week. It's a bit much, but nothing I can't handle, just a lot o new things to concentrate on. But ofcourse this week everything had to come all a once. I won't bore you with all the things that happened, but let's just say that for some reason the this-has-never-happened-before stuff tends to happen on these kind of days. It's kind of funny when you think about it....kind of ;)

Anyway after the full week we went to see my parents last weekend, and other than a train that was already gone when we needed to switch nothing bad happened this time. We had a great time, the weather was the best I had all summer and we spend the evening outside with my family. There was lots of thunder after we went to bed, which I really don't like, but at least we were inside. Besides a bit of sleep abrivation, nothing bad happened. The next day, we still had pretty nice weather and went to some markets. Not just the markets with only junk, but these also have antique stuff and such. ( I adore old stuff, like victorian pictures, old silver jewelry, old books, etc) Sid bought some old comics and we found Pink Floyd's Off the Wall on vinyl. We had another fun day, and the trip home went smoothly aswell, the cats didn't even bring the house down.

So today, after work, I wanted to write some new blogs, after not being online for a few days....and all kinds of programs have errors. Without any obvious reason, when it all worked fine the last time I was online. I have no idea what happened, but I can't get my browser to work properly.
*sigh* It feels like I have to 'pay' for a great weekend. Might seem a bit weird to most people, but we have stuff like this happening everytime we go somewhere or have something new/nice. Sid and I always joke that we are too happy and that it has to be balanced out with bad luck. Hahahaha.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know, that I can't post a proper blog right now, because my laptop doesn't want to cooperate. Since I'm having another busy week at work, I don't really have the time to look at it properly, so please bear with me, and I'll try to fix it as soon as possible.

EOTD: Sleeky Green

2011-08-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

I made this EOTD with 3 different Sleek palettes.

I don't remember exactly which colour I used where, because I did this one right before work. But I'' tell you which palettes I used and which colours. :)

I used the palettes, Original, Safari and Bad Girl.

I used 3 shimmery greens from the Safai palette, and I think the gold colouir came from this palette aswell.

I used the 2 greens on the right side from the Original Palette on the middle of the eye and the outer corner.

For the outer V, I used darker greens from the Bad Girl palette.

Above the lashes, I used a green gelliner by Essence and below the eye a liquid eyeliner from and LE collection by Catrice. Which looks much greener in real life btw.

With some Soft n Shine: Mocha on my lips and some Essence Psuchedelic blush(LE) on my cheeks:

Really Small Ici Paris XL Haul

2011-08-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Since I got a discount voucher for my birthday from the Ici Paris XL, I decided to there and buy my new favourite eyecream by clinique. I've used it a while, because I'd gotten a tester before at the Ici Paris.

But, when I walked in the store, there was this display of perfumes that were all with a 50% discount. SInce we both looooooove perfumes, we decided to check them out. And what caught my eye?

This is a Limited Edition Eau de Toilette version from one ofnmy favourite perfumes: Delces de Cartier.

I normally have the perfume version which has a red bottlecap, but this was the eau de toilette. Even though they're (as far as I know) supposed to smell the same, I still think they smell a bit different, the same with the Eau de fruitee. I'm normally a perfume kind of girl, because I like thise better. But perfumes are expensive and an eau de toilette version could come in handy.

So I tried the scent, liked it, and then asked myself what the limited edition part was. Well....there actually was a gorgous solid perfume version of the scent inside!

And this was all with a 50% discount! So I decided to buy this, instead of the eyecream. After I told the saleswoman about this, she was really sweet and made me a sample pot of the eyecream. So now I can wait a while before I have to buy it. Beacuse I certainly will :)

I love the bottle, but I already own a similar one...the solid perfume though, isn't it exquisite? It slides open, to reveal a round pan of solid perfume. I was going to use it for my bag, but I'm scared it might flip open and get dirty. So for now, untill I decided to put it in a pocket of my bag, it's having a special place on my makeuptable :)

In the end, with the discount voucher and the 50% discount, it was just a bit above 20 euros, which is a bargain!

REVIEW: Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation

2011-08-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Goal: To find a truly natural Liquid Foundation that has good coverage and wears well!
Brand: Vapour Organic Beauty
Product: Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation
Description: Vapour raises the bar for revolutionary performance and purity with Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation. Effortlessly achieve the look of radiant, healthy skin and a more even complexion. The Soft Focus line is designed to balance all skin types, including combination and oily skin. Soft Focus leaves a smooth base for color makeup application while achieving a natural soft satin finish.
With Vapour’s Light Reflective Technology the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pores are diminished. Skin becomes instantly smoother, softer and more even. Made with 70% Certified Organic ingredients and 30% natural mineral pigments & vitamins. Nourishes with Organic Pumpkin and Papaya complex and brightens skin with Organic Camellia. Infused with Vapour’s face specific infusion of anti-inflammatory Frankincense, antioxidant Tulsi and moisturizing and calming Lotus flowers. 100% Natural, Chemical Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Made with Wind Power, Biodegradable ingredients, Inner & Outer Packaging Recyclable, No Nano Particles, No Irradiation. All the performance of a professional luxury foundation with none of the chemicals!
Ingredients: Organic/Bio Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil, Organic/Bio Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Organic/Bio Lecithin, Organic/Bio Cera Alba (Beeswax), Silica, Essential Oils and Natural Fruit Essences, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense)*, Organic/Bio Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil), Organic/Bio Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus Flowers) [+/—: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica (CI 77019)]
*Wildcrafted . Contains 70% Certified Organic Ingredients & 30% Minerals and Vitamins.

Price: $48.00

Size: 1.14 oz

Texture: A thick, creamy serum.

Scent: Pleasant citrus-y scent.

Visual Attractiveness: Like the simplicity of the packaging.

How Much I Needed: About 1-2 pumps for entire face.

How Long I've Used It: Off and on for the past 6 months.

Where to Find: VapourBeauty.com

Sample Sizes: YEP! You can find them here!

Acquired: Sent to me to be reviewed with my honest opinion.

Customer Service: Originally, they were out of stock in my shade (s120) for several months. They told me I could choose between s115 and s125 until it came in, so I choose s125 (which was a tad too dark for me). It took many emails for me to finally get the s120 (which was a little frustrating), but it was worth the wait, and I'm really happy that I finally have it!

Loved: How it makes my skin GLOW, feels like air and has amazing coverage!

Hated: How pricey it is... OUCH! That I can't find it in a store near me and how long it took them to send me the correct shade.

The GG's Final Thoughts: My FAVE Concealer is also from Vapour, so of course I was totally intrigued to try their other products. Initially, I was really on the fence about this foundation... not because it didn't have amazing coverage (which is usually the case with truly natural foundations), but that fact that I needed to learn to embrace glow-y looking skin. I know that sounds weird, but I've always been more of a matte person when it comes to everything but my eye shadow and lipstick. At first I was afraid it was a little greasy and heavy since it has an odd texture for a foundation... sort of like a serum. It was just something different to get used to though, and once I gave it a chance- I realized the my new love affair! This foundation makes my skin look amazing... even with occasional breakouts! I can't believe how many compliments I've gotten on the health of my complexion... nobody believes that I'm even wearing any makeup! It blends really easily leaving your skin feeling soft and incredibly silky once it sets... (the key is to let it set for a minute) almost like it's melting into your skin. It keeps my skin hydrated (which is unusual for most natural brands), wears well, evens out my skin tone, and feels like I'm not wearing anything at all. I really wish Vapour made a pressed powder foundation to set it though. Are you listening Vapour??? Since they don't... I use this one. I'm also a firm believer in switching shades of foundation with the seasons... I don't wear the same shade all year around. I use one for summer and one for winter- buying a lighter or darker shade, depending on season... and mixing the two during spring and fall (*please note that I only mix different shades of the same brand as not to create a chemical cocktail). I've been alternating between the s120 and s125 and honestly feel that a mix between the two is probably my true match. If I had to choose one that it would be closer to... it would be the s120. Thanks for making such a flawless foundation Vapour! I would definitely purchase this again! xo:)

Warning: The Dangers of Perfume and Cologne at Your Interview

2011-08-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

Many job search sites will warn you about the importance of good presentation. It is vital that you wear appropriate clothes and maintain an attractive appearance so that your first impression with your interviewers is the best it can be. However, there are warnings that come with making a good presentation as well. The best known issue is that of fragrances.

Scents are one of the primary causes of a good or bad first impression. If you smell bad, the employer is going to immediately think poorly of your appearance, presentation, and even your ability to do the job. Smell good and you appear to be a clean individual that takes care of yourself. Clearly there is a good reason to care about how to smell, since your scent can make a tremendous difference in how you appear to others.

In order to smell decent, many men and women put on massive amounts of perfumes, aftershave, and colognes before their job interview. Logically this makes a lot of sense. If you put on great scents, chances are you will smell great and make a great olfactory first impression.

Here is where the risk comes into play. Many adults, especially women, are massively allergic to the strong smells that come from these perfumes and colognes. So much so that they may not be able to be in the same room with you, let alone shake your hand. When you go to the interview, you risk running into someone that is allergic to these smells and ultimately harming your interview.

There are a variety of tools you can use to still smell your best during the interview without risking these allergies. The first is to use unscented soap and rely on your natural odor to help you out during the interview. Another is to look for hypoallergenic fragrances. You can also put just a light amount of these sprays on a single part of your body. Then, if your interviewer mentions an allergy, simply tell them you can easily wash it off and go clean that spot in the bathroom.

This is not to say that you should avoid perfumes and colognes before your interview. The chance that you will run into someone that is allergic is not too high. However, before you go to any job interview you want to do whatever it takes to maximize your chances of landing the job, so just be aware that if you decide to splash on a large amount of perfume or cologne, you may run into someone that cannot handle your presence.

[Source:everydayinterviewtips.com]

Halloween Party at Auryn Beauty

2011-08-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

There isn't a better holiday than Halloween to use as much makeup as you want. To get creative, to use colours you'd never dare to wear to work, or just to finally be able to use those weird colours and lashes you adore and have people appreciate them. And ofcoure, we get to dress up! *claps hands and jumps around* I love dressing up :)

This year, we are going to celebrate Halloween early at Auryn, on october 9th.

You can check out the (Dutch) information of the event at Facebook or check Enchanting Beauty for the details.

If you come in costume, you'll get a 15% discount! Also, the best costume will get a 25 euros giftcard.! There will be special Halloween food, and I'm proud to announce that MY hubs, will do tarot reading for anyone who wants one. People tend to pay him to do those for them, so grab you chance to get one for free! ;)

So we both definately will be there. I just don't know what to wear though, because my costumes aren't easy to wear indoors(wings and tails and such). I've considered going as Morticia, because Ive never done so, but I'm also thinking it might be a bit too simple and been-there-done-that. I'm usually not the one to go for the easy solution...

There's also another DARE, which is on location this time!. Check out the flyer below for details....and a very familiar looking picture ;)

You are all welcome to join the fun between 13:00 and 18:00 at October 9th, and ofcourse: spread the word!

EOTD: Birthday Girl gets a Paperdoll

2011-08-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is a very simple EOTD, that I did before I went to work.

I only used Birthday Girl and Paperdoll by Sugarpill. With these I really want a different base, because you can see that they become matte when blended and the shimmer is almost entirely gone. Boo!

I definately need a better base that sticks the glitter to my eyes.

I used Essence Gelliner: Berlin Rocks above my lashes and below my eyes I applied some Gosh eyeliner Purple Stain.

I love how these colours make my own eyecolour pop!.

With some Evil Shades: Bane on my lips, and some Catrice Wild Rose blush on my cheeks.

Birthday Giveaway with Sugarpill, Sleek, etc!

2011-08-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Today it's my 30th birthday, and that should be celebrated...or so I've been told ;)

I've put together some products that I really like and/or use a lot myself. I'm hoping you all like it :)

Let's take a closer look at all the goodies:

The Sleek Monaco palette, because every girl needs a bit of colour in her life, and Sleek is my favourite pressed eyeshadow!

Sugarpill Loose Powders Goldilux and Weekender, my favourite loose powders and two of my favourite colours among them.

Goldilux is THE best gold out there, I even named our kitty after it, and Weekender is the most gorgeous purple/lilac out there. It has an amazing multisparkle which I cant catch on cam.

Gosh Soft n Shine lipstick, Angel. These are my favourite lipproducts and I'm seriously pissed and sad that Gosh kicked them out jf the collection. This is a soft lipbalm with a sweet pink tint, that even has an SPF. What more do you need?

Sorry for the bad picture, I don't know why it did that, multiple times.

Claires nailpolish wihth gorgeus reed sparkles(reminds me a bit of Ruby Slippers) and Essence: Where's the Part? a gorgeous duochrome that shift from purple to green. Just because I'm a sucker for red, green and purple, and I adore glitter and duochrome.

NYX Mosaic Powder: Love, a gorgous powder is all kinds of peach/orange tones. I love NYX and I adore peachtoned blushes, so this fits perfect in the giveaway.

3 dfferent kinds of false lashes. These can really make an eyelook pop! First one is from the Action and has it's own glue added in the box. The two other ones are from boxes from my own stash, bith new as you can see from the extended lashlines. You can use these to help them curve the right shape before you cut them off and put the lashes on.

I've never had a lipschmacker before, but these made me laugh so hard, I just HAD to add one to the giveaway.

A sample from a Skin 79 BBcream. I got this with the BBcream I bought for myself, and since that one is perfect for me, I'd like to give this to someone who hasn't found a right one or has never used one before.

I love this design. Unfortunately, this doesn't work on my nails, but maybe it does on yours?

One of my favourite pendants! I purchased this one at Castlefest, especially for the giveaway! It always reminds me a bit of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, hahah.

And last but not least, you can pick one of the flowers above and I will make a hairflower for you in that colour :)

What do you have to do?

Make sure you do the following and post it all in ONE comment:

-You MUST be a follower with Google Friend Account.(1 entry)

-Follow me with Bloglovin and 'like' this post (1 extra entry)

-Tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry)

- Blog about this giveaway (1 extra entry)

-Comment about the blog with something you miss, would like to see changed, etc. Make it something usefull otherwise it won't count! (1 entry)

So you can get a total of 5 entries!

This giveaway is open internationally and will end at september 28th, exactly a month from now.

All products are bought by me, except the 2 sugarpill loose powders who were kindly given by Linda from Enchantra.

Don't forget to enter the other giveaway!

Born Pretty Store Facebook Giveaway

2011-08-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Taken from the Born Pretty Store website:

Facebook Free Giveaway - Cute Hello Kitty Nail Sticker!

Hi everyone, we will offer free giveaway on facebook at 2:00pm GMT on August 26 , if you want to get this free giveawayhttp://www.bornprettystore.com/hello-kitty-chanel-logo-nail-sticker-p-1365.html, please read the below text:

1. The simple rule is, you should like us on Facebook @ BornPrettyStore2010 at first, and post “ enter me ” below this post

http://www.facebook.com/BornPrettyStore2010/posts/142147942543809

2. We will offer 1000pcs Hello Kitty Nail Sticker, the coupon will be announced at 2:00pm GMT on August 26, you can use the coupon to order this free giveaway then.

3. Only
the first 1000 people who use the coupon successfully can get this free
giveaway, so, if you want to get it successfully and smoothly, you can
post “enter me” below the post now, and Register on our website now, avoid too many people visit our website cause the server crashes while you using the coupon on our website.

4. If more than 1000 replies below this post before
2:00pm GMT, we will offer another 1000pcs, that means if we can find
1001 "enter me " there before that time, we will offer 2000pcs giveaway.
And if more than 2000 replies, we will offer 3000pcs giveaway.

If we get more than 15,000 likes before 2:00pm GMT, we will offer 2000pcs giveaway too.

Giveaway:

Hello Kitty & Chanel Logo Nail Sticker

NOTD: Hello Kitty Nails

2011-08-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

For some reason, I'm always in a hurry when I do my nails. I have to go to work in a few, or I'm just doing them right before I go to bed. Whatever the cause, it makes me o for the more simpler nails. So last week, I decided to finally do some real nail art again.

I took a Konad imageplate, an imageplate by Born Pretty Store with Hello Kitty on it, and some nail art stripers by Essence, and created this:

I used Rimmel's Black Out as a base, which is a nice glossy black, that needs only one thick coat and dries pretty quickly.

Then I stamped the circle pattern on some nails with silver konad special polish, and on the other nails a Hello Kitty image.

To give it something extra, I used a silver striper to apply some diagonal stripes on the Hello Kitty stamped nails.

I liked the result, even though the circles weren't stamped that well. I got a lot of compliments on this mani :)

Moving on with Blogging

2011-08-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hubs had his last day off yesterday, so life goes on as before. I will go on with blogging as before, but I'm thinking about doing it 5 days instead of 6.

I'll be pretty busy at work, since collegues will be having days off, so I won't have as much free time as I usual do. I want to keep blogging fun, instead of something that is obligated, so 5 blogs a week, might be better for me.

What you can expect in the next few blogs: castlefest makeup, haul en costume pics. fashion buys, auryn buys, eotds, notds, birthday giveaway, etc

If you think 5 days instead of 6 is a bad idea, let me know. Or if you have any other ideas ot criticism, let me know aswell :)

REVIEW: Yarok FEED YOUR HOLD Style Sustaining Hair Spray

2011-08-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

Goal: To find a truly natural hair spray that works!
Brand: Yarok
Product: FEED YOUR HOLD Style Sustaining Hair Spray - Medium Hold.
Description: Ever wonder what the best way is to sustain your style without weighing down your hair? Or weighing on the planet?

Finally, there’s a way with this all natural, non-aerosol, non-sticky hair spray free of alcohol, parabens, sulfates and cruelty. Now you can sustain your style and the earth's atmosphere at the same time with medium-weight control.

(i.e. just enough to keep your style going all day long without gunking up your hair or punching a hole in the ozone.)

Ingredients: Structured Vitamin Water Concentrate, Organic Non-GMO Corn Extract, Vegetable Glyceron (water soluble and hypoallergenic, helps heal and nourish stressed hair, locks moisture in), Plant Sourced Kosher Vegan Xanthan Gum/Potassium Sorbate (all natural preservative), Natural Plant Sourced Vitamin A (antioxidant that aids in the making of healthy sebum in the scalp), Vitamin C (maintains hair health), Vitamin E (deeply nourishes the scalp), Organic Essential Oils of Rosemary (nourishes the scalp, promotes hair growth, strengthens hair) and Litsea Cubeba (tones the scalp and adds pleasant scent.)

Price: $17.00 or $22.00

Size: 4 oz or 8 oz

Texture: Liquid / Spray

Scent: Fresh... like Lemon Italian Ice!

Visual Attractiveness: Love the clean labeling look!

How Much I Needed: Just a spritz or two.

How Long I've Used It: About 6 months.

Where to Find: YarokHair.com

Sample Sizes: YES! The 4 oz size!

Acquired: Sent to me to be reviewed with my honest opinion.

Customer Service: Awesome! Super fast shipping, everyone I've dealt with at this company has been amazing and answered any questions I had!

Loved: That this keeps my hair in check without being hard, the lemon-y scent and how clean the ingredients are!

Hated: That it didn't give me quite as much volume as the conventional, crunchy hair laquer I was used to... can't hold that against the brand though... I don't think it's possible for completely natural ingredients to compete with the copolymers found in conventional brands.

The GG's Final Thoughts: In Jersey, we live by the mantra "the higher the hair, the closer to God"... so you can imagine how drastic giving up conventional hair spray has been for me. So much... that's it's taken me over a year to write my first hair spray review. It is by far- one of the most difficult product transitions! While I've come to terms with the fact that there will NEVER be a natural alternative to Aqua Net (Nana's FAVE)... truth be told that I still have a red hot can of Alberto VO5 Extreme Style Max Hold Hair Spray stashed... just in case. Separation anxiety for a Jersey Girl and her aerosol? Perhaps. Don't judge, don't ask me why- haven't used that sh*t in about a year or so. Most likely due to my horrific experience with many of the natural brands I've tried. They all had at least one (if not more) of the following characteristics...were super sticky, never dried, flaked, left a white film on my dark hair, smelled like a health food store or didn't hold anything at all. Ugh! After all the hair nightmares... I finally found Yarok (Thank God, Lol!) I'm REALLY happy to tell you that this product does in fact hold... just a little differently than what I'm used to- and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I actually LOVE that this isn't sticky! It gently holds my hair in place without all the coating or crispiness, keeps my frizzies at bay and my Snookie-Poof in check (which I was rockin' waaaay before she was famous, Lol)! Oh, and FYI- the smell is totally intoxicating! I've used FEED YOUR HOLD on both wet and dry hair. Either way it helps my hair feel soft and shiny instead of dry & dull. I have to admit that aside from this, I've made a lot of crazy changes in terms of hair care in the past year that I never thought I would be able to make. I was married to my hair products just as much as I was to my MAC. I now wash my hair before bed- letting it air dry overnight in order to cut back on the electromagnetic radiation from my blow dryer (for the most part)... and have made the switch to ALL completely natural hair products (minus Hair Color). I've found that my curly, frizzy hair has calmed down, looks healthier, feels better and has become much more manageable... in turn allowing me to use way less product. That in itself is a miracle! Bottom line: I would definitely purchase this again! Guess it's safe to say that I'm finally getting a grip on the whole natural hair spray thing... it's just a softer, silkier one... Lol. Thanks to Yarok! xo

REVIEW: Yarok FEED YOUR ROOTS Volume Enhancer Hair Styling Mousse

2011-08-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

Goal: To find a natural hair styling / volumizing mousse.
Brand: Yarok
Product: Feed Your Roots, Volume Enhancer Hair Styling Mousse
Description: Now there’s a way to transform thin, limp, damaged or lifeless hair into voluminous, healthy hair. Feed it what it needs, wants and craves at the roots, and watch it flourish and lead a much fuller life. Raise your hair to new heights with Yarok Feed Your Roots while you lower your carbon footprint with this 100% vegan, cruelty free. all-natural eco-luscious mousse for all hair types.
Ingredients: Nourishing Vitamin Water, Certified Organic Aloe Vera (ultra healing, vitamin and nutrient packed), Organic Non-GMO Corn Extract, Vegetable Glycerin ( heals and seals in moisture), Organic Herbal Extracts of Black Currant (high concentration of gamma-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid important for Maintaining elasticity of the scalp), Beet Root (strengthens hair), Kham Thai (UV protection) Blueberry (aids in cell rejuvenation),Vitamin A, Natural Plant-Sourced Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C, Organic Shea Butter (deep hydration), Organic Oils of Avocado (increases natural collagen, high in vitamin E), Olive (heals damaged hair, tames frizzy, dry or tangled hair), Coconut, (high in vitamin E, helps with styling), Palm (deep conditioner), Jojoba (makes hair silky, helps prevent hair loss), Vegetable Castor Oil (helps repair hair and stimulate healthy growth), Grapeseed (helps prevent hair loss), Apricot (conditions, softens hair), Evening Primrose (moisturizes hair and scalp, high in essential fatty acids, helps prevent hair loss), Organic African Black Soap (deep conditioner), Wheat Protein (improves body and shine), extracts of Organic Peppermint (helps relieve dandruff, soothes and cools scalp), Wildcrafted Yucca (helps prevent hair loss/dandruff), Wildcrafted Horsetail (packed with fatty acids that help prevent hair loss), Organic Nettle (helps control oiliness), Organic Melissa (helps to clean hair and adds aromatherapy scent), Plant-Sourced Kosher Vegan Xanthan Gum/Potassium Sorbate (all-natural preservative), Vitamin E (deeply nourishes the scalp) Organic Essential Oils of Rosemary (nourishes the scalp, promotes hair growth, strengthens hair) and Litsea Cubeba (tones the scalp, adds pleasant scent.)

Price: $13.00 or $22.00

Size: 2 oz or 8 oz

Texture: Foam

Scent: Fresh... like Lemon Italian Ice!

Visual Attractiveness: Love the clean labeling look!
How Much I Needed: About 5-6 pumps.

How Long I've Used It: Off and on for about 6 months- when I wear my hair curly.
Where to Find: YarokHair.com
Sample Sizes: YES! The 2 oz size!
Acquired: Sent to me to be reviewed with my honest opinion.

Customer Service: Awesome! Super fast shipping, everyone I've dealt with at this company has been amazing and answered any questions I had!

Loved: The clean, modern labeling, the scent, how clean the ingredients are!

Hated: That it didn't give me quite as much volume as the conventional, crunchy mousse I was used to... but I can't hold that against the brand though... I don't think it's possible for completely natural ingredients to compete with the plastics found in conventional brands.

The GG's Final Thoughts: This is the best totally natural Mousse I've found yet! We all know how much us Jersey Girls LOVE to scrunch our hair... and I'm happy to let you know that it's still possible with this product! Yay! Most of the other natural brands I've tried have been way too sticky, smelled awful, made my hair look dry and dull or have done nothing for my hair at all. What I love most about this besides the really bright, fresh fruity scent- is that it lightly defines the curls... leaving my hair softer than what I'm used to with a styling product. When I want to scrunch it I can... and when I want more controlled curls- I can use it with my curling iron too. I just wish it had slightly more definition, so I use it with a dab of this. To scrunch, I apply the FEED YOUR VOLUME Mousse to damp hair and blow dry (which gives me nice, full curls) For natural wavy curls- I air dry. When I want flippy, voluptuous curls, I use it on dry hair with my curling iron. Hey, if it's good enough for Melania Trump... it's good enough for moi! Wink, wink. ;) Thanks Yarok! xo

Choosing the Perfect Perfume for Your Wedding Day

2011-08-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

It’s finally here – your wedding day. You’ve waited for this day since you were a little girl, playing dress-up and trailing pillow cases, bed sheets, and tablecloths off the back of your head and your mother’s perfume dabbed behind your ears. You imagined the groom would be that little Johnny Johnson next door and never gave a thought to any life beyond your wedding day.

You’re no little girl anymore and Johnny Johnson moved away a long time ago. This time, the wedding is real. You’ve planned every detail: the music, the flowers, the dresses, and the cake. You’ve sent invitations and chosen your bridesmaids. You are getting ready for the most important day of your life. Your maid of honor walks in the room, and… you nearly gag! Her perfume is so strong that you just know it will override the flowers in the church. You honestly don’t know if you will be able to stand next to her during the ceremony. Your perfect day is ruined!

Don’t let this happen to you! So many things need to be done for a wedding and so many accessories to consider, that it’s easy to overlook the perfume. Of course, you aren’t used to deciding what perfume your friends and family should wear, but on your wedding day, it’s so important that fragrances don’t conflict or overpower the room. You need to decide on a single perfume for your bridesmaids and yourself so there is no chance that two scents will clash. So how do you choose the perfect fragrance for your wedding day?

The scent of a perfume subtly changes with every woman who wears it. It also changes over time. A perfume’s fragrance has three layers, called notes. The top note is the one you smell when you put on your perfume. This fades quickly and melds into the middle note. The middle note lasts for an hour or so before it too fades. Finally, the bottom note comes floating up – this is the scent that lasts for the rest of the day.

When you are choosing perfume for your wedding, pay close attention to the middle notes and the bottom notes. You will probably want to apply your perfume just before you walk down the aisle, so the middle note will be most prominent throughout the ceremony. However, during the reception and the party the bottom note will be the one that everyone notices.

It’s a good idea to have all the bridesmaids try the perfume out before the wedding day, just to make sure no one has any sensitivity to the perfume and so you know that the middle note and bottom note on each woman blends in harmony with the others.

Perfumes are also categorized by families. These are the general quality of the scents, like fruity or floral. Many women like a soft floral fragrance on their wedding day for the romantic feel, but you may prefer something else. It’s your day, so choose your favorite.

Just stick with something light so no one winds up with a headache. The perfume from your wedding day will always have a special meaning for you and your husband, so take some time to choose one that fits your special day perfectly.

[Source:weddingandpartynetwork.com]

First Birthday Giveaway!

2011-08-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

I decided to do a little extra giveaway for my birthday, because you only become 30 once!

30? Yes!, the big 3.0. :)

The 'big giveaway' will be on my bday the 28th, but this one will be leading up to it. Be sure to check out my blog then though, because it will be awesome ;)

This time, I decided to make it a more personal giveaway, so it'll be all about products and colours I love.

This first giveaway will include:

A peacockfeather ring and a peacockfeather necklace.

The ring is not adjustable and not that big, but you can do as I did, and cut it at the bottom to turn it into an adjustable one if it doesn't fit. The necklace has a pretty long chain.

And some samples that I made from products in my own stash:

These are some beautifull colours, which you can use to create a peacock look to go with the jewelry.

Sugarpill Darling, MAC Blue Brown. MAC Green Brown, Sugarpill Absinthe, Sugarpill Hysteric, Sugarpill Goldilux.

What do you have to do to win?

Send me a birthdaymessage, but be original! So it can be something you send by email or normal mail. (NOT just a comment!) You can find both on the right in the sidebar. Be creative, and put a smile on my face!

My birthday is on the 28th, which is a week from now. To make sure everything will arrive in time, this giveaway will last untill the end of August.

It is open internationally, because you can use an email aswell to participate.

I'd love fo you to tweet about this giveaway, but it will not give you an extra entry. Just my appreciation :)

I love receiving mail, especially on my birthday, so I'm excited to see what you will send!

Blogging / Vacation

2011-08-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

Since my hubs is having his vacation right now, I tend to spend my free time with him. I don't have vacationtime, but I do have some free days between my workingdays. I really want to spend them with my hubs to do fun stuff and ofcourse relax some.

This means that I have a bit less time to spend online to blog. (And since I don't use internet on my phone bceause I'm oldfashioned, I nalready am not as much online as most bloggers. :P ) I don't intend to quit during his whole vacation, but I'll be blogging a bit less. Don't worry though, it's not like he has weeks to go or anything, a part has already passed. But since hubs only has a vacation once a year, I really want to have some more free time on my hands.

Not only that, my bloodpressure has been behaving badly lately, and it's giving me headaches and not enough sleep. I really need it to get lower, otherwise I'll have to visit my doc again. So some relaxingtime for me, is probably good anyway.

That being said, I'm still putting things together for the giveaway for my 30th birthday on the 28th.

I hope you'll still visit me ;) when I post blogs (bloglovin is great to see when Ive posted stuff), and I'll probably be back bloggin daily soon enough.

Take care!

NOTD: Etos Longlasting nailpolish

2011-08-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is polish number 22. It caught my eye, when I was at Etos. I love greens, and this was one that I didn't really have yet.

It's a nice and bright green with lots of gold in it. If you look closely at the bottle, you'll see the gold in the polish clearly.

It applies smoothly, though a bit stripey. Is pretty longlasting aswell.

I can't remember how much it cost, but it can;t be much more than 3 euros orso. It's a great colour to add to a green collection :)

REVIEW: Bubble & Bee Organic Design-A-Spray- Body Spray, Room Spray & Deodorant Spray

2011-08-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Goal: To find a girly natural or organic Body Spray / Deodorant Spray.
Brand: Bubble & Bee Organic
Product: Design-A-Spray.
Description: Deodorant spray, room spray, body spray or air freshener. Create your own custom blends with your favorite fragrances.
Ingredients: Quadruple-distilled grain spirits (water, ethanol), organic and natural essential oils, organic and natural extracts, and additives of your choice.

Price: $11.85

Size: 3 oz.

Texture: Clear, Liquid / Spray.

Scent: For me... fruity & girly (but any scent you want because it's made especially for you)!

Visual Attractiveness: Blah! :( LOVE the packaging on all their other products though! Stevie B needs to hook this product up!

How Much I Needed: Just a few spritzes.

How Long I've Used It: For about a year.

Where to Find: Bubble & Bee Organic

Sample Sizes: No, but they should!

Acquired: Purchased with my own $.

Customer Service: They have THE best Customer Service! Stephanie is sooooo helpful!

Loved: That it's custom & I can make my own scent!

Hated: That there's no professional (adorable) labeling like the rest of their products... I love that "Bubble" Bee!

The GG's Final Thoughts: I have Raspberry-Coconut-Vanilla Design-A-Spray and I absolutely LOVE it! For the longest time I've been dying to figure out a way to help rub in my Geranium Lime 'Pit Putty Deodorant... but it always stung when I sprayed this directly on my under arms after shaving! Yowch! After TONS of trial, error & arm-pits of fire, I recently discovered (don't ask me how) that if 1. I apply my 'Pit Putty Deodorant directly to my underarms, 2. spray this on my hands FIRST (not under my arms directly) quickly rubbing it around and "airing" them for few seconds prior to applying- that it doesn't sting one bit and still rubs in the 'Pit Putty! YAY ! Finally! So that's my new FAVE way to use it. What's also FAB is that I can now use this as a deodorant alone if I wanted to... especially when I'm in a hurry. Sprays are just so much easier sometimes, you know? This is the first truly natural Body Spray I've found and tried so far. It's a LOVE! The scent stays on for awhile, but as with most natural scents... it doesn't last all day. I expected that though. I have to admit that I haven't used it as a Room Spray yet and don't think I have any future plans to... it's a tad expensive for that, but it's nice to know that I can if I wanted to. Gotta love things that have multiple uses! All in all, this is just my kind of product... where my options are endless AND safe! Lol. Thanks Bubble & Bee! xo :)

EOTD: Bad girl Blue with Magpie eyeliner

2011-08-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

For this look, I used the Sleek Bad Girl palette en Sugarpill's Magpie.

On the inner eyecorner and towards the middle I aplied some Blade, which is a lovely metallic silver colour.

Next to it, I applied Obnoxious, which looks much brighter on your eyes than in the palette.

I also applied the Obnoxious above/in the crease and blended it with Innocence and Gullible which I used for highlighters below the brow. Then I applied Abyss into the outer V.

Above my eyes, I applied Gosh extreme art eyeliner no 10, a bright blue. On top of it I dabbed some Magpie by Sugarpill for that extra sparkly effect. Below the eye I used Gosh velvet touch eyeliner Blue Moon, which is a lighter blue and applied soem more Magpie on top of it.

I really liked the effect of Magpie on top of the eyeliner, I'll probably try this out with other loose powders by Sugarpill aswell.

I also made a boo boo with this EOTD, which you can't really tell from the pics. BUt I totally forgot to use a base!

Castlefest: Cantus Buranus openingconcert

2011-08-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

Last thursday was the openingconcert of Castlefest, by Corvus Corax. It was called Cantus Buranus.

We went there by train, expecting a lot of bad weather.

So I was prepared with my pvc dress, which is waterproof a, a coat and an umbrella.

Look mom, Sid has got new glasses ;)

It was really wet at the concert, but it didn't really get cold untill later.

The concert was amazing, the orchestra was at the sides of the stage and the choir, dressed in robes stood at the back. The bad was dressed in awesome robes, which were from identical fabric, but all in different styles. They changed outfits during the concert.

We went with the bus a bit early to make sure we got there before everyone else would. Also we had to travel 1 hour and 15 mins at least from the station. So we took the spcial bus from Castlefest at around 10 to get to the station. We were the only ones there.

My hair got really flat due to the rain, it looks amazing before I stepped out of my door though.

Makeup: Sugarpills Stella mainly and some Morgana Cryptoria. And Chanel Rouge Noir on my lips.

At the Hillegom station, in the rain, waiting for the train to Haarlem. The bus got there exactly at the time the train left, so we had to wait 30 mins.

When we got to Haarlem station it wasn't even 11 o clock yet, and the next train to Alkmaar was 45 mins later! after a certain time they only rode to Alkmaar once per hour. *sigh*. Sid went to get a bottle of coke to keep us awake, hahah. In the end we were home at 1 o clock.

Stuff we bought:

Corvus Corax girly, I love skulls, and i love this shirt.

Cd with most of the songs of the concert.

A leather bracelt by Covus Corax for Sid.

And 2 of these for Sid.

Maaike has been born!

2011-08-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

On the night of tuesday to wednesday August 3rd, at 0:15 , our new niece Maaike was (finally) born.

All is well with mother and child :)

Happy Birthday Sidney!

2011-08-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

Today it's my husbands birthday!

Congratulations my beloved *sm00ch*

I wish you many more years to come, so we can share even more amazing, funny, sad, ridiculous, happy, irritating, annoying, priceless, overwhelming, joyous and wonderfull moments together. :)

oh and.... w00p w00p ;)

I Love You sweety