Tuesday, November 23, 2010

How I've Been Procrastinating

This weekend I was simultaneously working hard on my take home final, and working hard to avoid it. The good news is that I turned in the completed version yesterday, and I feel like I did a great job on it (finger crossed the teacher thinks so too!). For lack of anything better to write about, I thought I'd share my recent favorite means of procrastination:

The Tudors Season 4:
Oh Henry (okay, Johnathan Rhys Meyers), what will I do with my life when I finish all the discs for this, the last season! I just completed episodes 1-4, and there are only 6 episodes left. Thus far I'm enjoying this season immensely! Season 3 kind of dragged in the beginning, but Season 4 starts out fast and strong and sucks you in straight away. Also, I never cease to be amused by how they "age" Rhys Meyers to play a middle-aged Henry. Reportedly Rhys Meyers was too vain to wear a fat suit (b by the time of Henry's marriage to wifey #5, Katherine Howard, he was about 300 lbs), so instead they just added lots of facial hair and almost imperceptible amounts of grey around his temples.

The Tale of the Vampire Bride:
Okay, admittedly the cover is dreadful. I have it on Kindle thank god, so I don't need to see it at all. But the story itself is great! It's a true historical horror/romance hybrid written in diary format, detailing the transition of Lady Glynis Wright from English rose to the rebellious bride of Vlad Tepes, more commonly known as Dracula. It's a bit more verbose in parts than it needs to be, but that's due I think to the fact that the author is self-published, and didn't have an editor to guide her. Despite this, I was really sucked into the story, and was pretty devastated when it came to an end. (Cue Nelly Furtado's "All Things Come to an End," *weep*)

Youtube: Cupcakeonawire



There's something about her mannerisms I find endearing and since I make beaded jewelry for a hobby (when I find that elusive thing called time), I enjoy watching her craft oriented vids. Plus she's as obsessed with kawaii things as I am.


And lastly, coming up with my dream Christmas wish list:
Diane Von Furstenberg Designer Kindle cover for generation 2
Fred & Friends Babushkups

Alexander McQueen clutch. Only a mere $2265. This is my dream list after all :-)

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

NARS Junkie Sephora Set


My internet is having a moment of uninterrupted connectivity, so I will take advantage of this time to post my new(ish) NARS goodies.

Junkie is an appropriate name for this set, for if I'm a junkie for any brand, it's NARS. On those makeupalley polls that pose the question, "If you could only wear one makeup brand for the rest of your life, what would it be?" I always answer "NARS
." So far, it's really the only brand that I could literally pick something from each category, and be satisfied with each product. Though I buy a lot more from MAC, there are many products from that line (foundation, for example), that I avoid. Now having enough money to buy everything from NARS? Ya, not so much happening for me now.

Which is why this set is so great - it gives you a bit of everything, in amounts that are somewhere between sample and full-sized. For m
e, the siren call of this set was really the eyeshadow palette:
(Top row, left to right = Unconditional Love, Night Star, Galapagos
Bottom row, left to right = Nepal, Ondine, Thunderball)

I was so excited about this, because I never buy NARS single eyeshadows on their own. They are a bit pricey at $23, even though you get a lot of product for the money. My problem is that I have a hard enough time finishing a $14 MAC eyeshadow single, let alone a NARS-sized one.

Also in this set are a lipgloss and multiple:The lipgloss is in Ophelia, the multiple is in Orgasm (of course, it's their favorite shade to promote). The lip gloss is actually full size, which is great, because lipgloss is one product I use up easily! And Ophelia is a beautiful color, a soft, warm pink. I think it will look nice with paired with the new Melusine duo.

The set also comes with a mini Laguna bronzer, which is about the size of a regular sized NARS eyeshadow single. No pictures though, because I swapped it away - bronzers have never really been my thing.

That's all for now folks, happy Friday!


Would You Rather Tag

Hey all! My home internet has been on the fritz, so I haven't been able to put up any of my planned posts this week. I took some photos of items from my NARS junkie box set, plus my new NARS Petite Monstre lippie, so once my internet issues have been solved, I'll hopefully get those up soon.

In the meantime, I'm doing this fun tag questionnaire from GYC's blog.


So would you rather...

1.Be extremely beautiful or extremely intelligent?
Well, as much as I'd like to answer the politically correct way, I've noticed through observation how much better those in the extremely beautiful category get treated compared to us plain janes. So for once, I would love to know what it's like to be extremely beautiful!

2. Go without brushing your teeth for a year or go without washing your hair for a year?
Oh yuck, this is a hard one! I'll say teeth, because I guess I could chew lots of gum and floss. My hair is super fine, and if I don't wash it every day, it's not a pretty sight!

3. Be Rich or Famous?
Rich. Rich and happily anonymous

4. Have an amazing shoe collection or an amazing makeup collection?
Well that's obvious, given the theme of my blog. Makeup all the way!

5. Be able to sing or be able to dance?
I'll say dance, specifically ballet. I admire the grace and litheness that is inherent in all ballet dancers. And once I see the new movie Black Swan, I know I'm going to want to enroll in a ballet class pronto (especially if I have a teacher as hot as Vincent Cassel) On a random note, here is the awesome trailer:



6. Be stranded on a Desert Island or in the Desert?
Well thanks to my boyfriend, I've watched enough Discovery Channel survivor shows to deduce that island living is a bit easier when you're stranded.

7. Have a Computer or a TV?
Computer, since you can still watch TV on the computer (provided of course your internet isn't jacked up like mine!)

8. Wear spots or stripes for the rest of your life?
Easiest question to answer by far, as I am a stripes devotee! I must have 10 striped shirts alone. I like how French they look :-)

9. Drink out of a Teacup or a Mug?
Teacup! So much more romantic! I actually used to collect teacups for awhile.

10. Receive a bunch of Flowers or a box of chocolates?
Though I love flowers, I'll go with chocolate since I have a sweet tooth and need a nightly truffle before bedtime.

11. Have a hug or a Kiss from someone you love?
A nice bear hug! My favorite are when you are close enough to smell the fragrant detergent of their clothes (weird, I know)

12. Wear Converse or Stilettos?
Converse, I went through a high-heel stiletto phase in college, and I'm over it, save for special occasions.

13. Meet Johnny Depp or Robert Pattinson?
Dude, seriously? If you don't pick Johnny, something is wrong with you! I don't have a huge crush on him, but he has got to be the coolest actor around. I want to thank him for Edward Scisscorhands, Benny & Joon, Gilbert Grape and countless other movies!

14. Be a Fairy or a Mermaid?
Fairy, I actually hate the ocean. Plus I want wings!

15. A Coffee or a Cup of Tea?
Strong Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk

16. Pink nails or Blue nails
Either, I love both

17. Live somewhere sunny or somwhere cold?
Sunny. As much as I find cloud cover romantic, I can't live in it if I have to drive to work everyday in rain and snow.

18. Have an amazing house or an amazing car?
House...who seriously answers car?

19. Be kind or funny?
Eh, I'd have to flip a coin on that one

20. Eat Sweets or Cake?
They're not the same thing?

21. Hold a Tarantula or a Snake?
Snake, they feel so cool!

22. Wear a necklace or a ring?
Necklace, rings actually end up annoying me, especially if I'm typing a lot.

23. If you had to choose, lose your sight or your hearing?
Hearing..how else would I be able to oogle upcoming makeup collections!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Currently Coveting: Helen Ruth Russian Doll Scarf

Um, anyone have approximately $210 to lend me? Because I really need this Matryoshka-themed piece of loveliness:
I stumbled upon this by the kind of accident that only happens when you can't sleep and start trolling the internet at 2 AM. I love scarves, and have always dreamed of owning a Hermes one some day. I even bought the book on all the different ways you can tie one (I thought it would be coolest to turn it into a halter). But after discovering Helen Ruth, I think I would gladly forgo Hermes for one of her colorful creations (if I couldn't get the Russian Doll one, Titania comes in at a close second)!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Snoozefest: The Sephora 2010 Holiday Catalog

I received my new Sephora Holiday catalog today, and I have to say it was extremely underwhelming. Not necessarily in terms of the products advertised (though this one did seem to focus very heavily on their own brand, even more so than usual), but in its general theme and choice of makeup colors.

To have a better understanding of what I'm talking about, let's travel back to the year 2007, when they published a truly marvelous, and in my opinion, collectible catalog:If you remember this one at all, it was very whimsical in nature, and each model had a very distinct theme. A large array of makeup shades were showcased.

For example, there was the Sorceress...

And the Snow Sprite...

...to name just a few. Both extremely love and unique, right? Well to contrast, let's now take a look at some images from this year's boring offerings:

Bright eyeshadow, red lips.
Ibid.
Ooh, now we threw some glitter on the red lips - that's variation, right?
And now the glitter is on the eyes, wheeeeeee!!

And seriously, red lips for holiday? How revolutionary. I can understand showcasing them in one image or so, but it is seriously repeated ad naseum throughout the whole catalog. I'll happily recycle this thing in the morning after I use it to put myself to sleep tonight.