fabulous but evil

Stila In The Know Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatches!

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

this palette is set of 10 beautiful matte shades. it also includes a smudge stick waterproof eyeliner. it retails for $39.

the following 10 shades are included:

air - matte beige
wind - soft matte peach
desert - soft matte tan w/warm undertones
clay - matte warm light brown
earth - deep matte chocolate brown
driftwood - mid tone brown
fire - matte brick
rain -matte brown
smoke - matte charcoal grey
ebony - matte black

believe it or not, this is my first fully matte eyeshadow palette! for years, i have worn shimmery eyeshadow 99% of the time and very rarely would a matte look make an appearance. with a little prodding from my friend meg, i decided to embrace matte eyeshadow and that's when i ordered this palette. to put it simply, i am in love! the colors are gorgeous and are everything i would want in a matte palette. as i said in my in the light eyeshadow palette review, the staying power of stila's eyeshadows is good, but not the best. despite that, the shades and pigmentation of the eyeshadows in this palette make it a new favorite of mine! also included with this palette is a matte charcoal gray eyeliner. i highly recommend this palette the anyone looking for a great all matte palette.

do you prefer matte eyeshadow?

the nail files- week 72

2013-05-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

i am in LOVE with this mani, but the sad news is that i have no idea what the name of this OPI color is! any ideas? oh, and the accent nail is a sally hansen nail strip!

join the fun and link up!

Sam & Libby for Target.

2013-05-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

I am normally on top of my game when it comes to Target designer collaborations. Seriously, I was all over the collabs with Missoni, Jason Wu, The Webster, Prabal Gurung, and even the collab with Neiman Marcus. It pains me to have to admit that I had no clue that a Sam & Libby (Edelman) line for Target was even happening!

I just happened to be browsing the shoe section on Saturday when I was suddenly staring at about 10 pairs of shoes that I absolutely needed to add to my closet. I urge you to ~~walk~~ ~~drive~~ RUN to your nearest Target. I am not kidding. You will want to buy ALL THE SHOES.

See?

Sam & Libby, brand shop: Target

i'll take one of each. please and thank you.

the nail files- week 71

2013-05-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

china glaze- flip flop fantasy

julep- rebel

join the fun and link up!

subscription box share! (april 2013 boxes)

2013-05-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

on the first tuesday of every month, come link up and show us what you got in your most recent subscription boxes!
shout-out to my fab co-hosts, katie and meg!

i'm currently subscribed to TWO monthly boxes: birchbox and julep.

in case you've never heard of birchbox, the whole premise is that you pay $10/month and birchbox will send you 4-5 deluxe samples based on the beauty profile you fill out when you sign up.

here's what i got in my april birchbox:

Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-on

(MALIN+GOETZ) bergamot body wash

Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

Supergoop!® Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream

Nexxus® Youth Renewal™ Rejuvenating Elixir

this box was just okay, in my opinion. i enjoyed trying the products but i didn't really fall in love with any of them. i do really like the revitalizing eye roll-on and was excited that it was full size!

***

Julep Maven is a monthly nail polish box! for $19.99/month, you receive nail colors and beauty products selected just for you. the best part of Julep Maven subscriptions is that you can preview or switch boxes each month and also have the ability to skip months without having to cancel your subscription!

the april julep maven box was full of brights and an awesome nail and cuticle serum! i ended up adding on two additional nail polishes (the two on the right), too.

if you want to try out julep's monthly nail polish subscription, you can sign up for Julep Maven now by clicking HERE and use promo code: FREEBOX to get your first box for free!

what did you get in your subscription box this month?

the nail files- week 70

2013-05-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

LOVE these incoco nail strips!

join the fun and link up!

how to highlight and contour your face with the urban decay naked flushed palette!

2013-04-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

blush, bronzer, and highlighter have been staples in my makeup bag for a long time, but i wanted to add the urban decay naked flushed palette to my collection because it includes these 3 essentials in one palette. that and the fact that it's urban decay. i don't think i have to remind you how much i LOVE urban decay, right?

before i start taking about how to use this palette, let me just say that i love all 3 parts of this palette. the colors work well with my skintone. the bronzer is light and buildable, but is probably too light for medium to dark skintones. the blush is highly pigmented and such a pretty rose color. and the highlighter is a perfect soft pink champagne shimmer. this palette retails for $30 and i think that is very reasonable for the amount of product you're getting. the only thing i wish i could change about this palette is that i wish there were equal amounts of blush and bronzer.

contouring with bronzer emphasizes the natural shadows on the face and give you a more defined look. highlighting enhances the areas of the face where the light naturally hits. contouring and highlighting are the key to enhancing your natural bone structure and drawing attention to your best features. it can also help balance out the parts of your face that you may wish you could change. contouring and highlighting can make your nose look slimmer and your cheekbones more pronounced. it can also make your jawline look stronger and your eyes look bigger. contouring takes a little bit of practice, but once you have perfected it, it will make all the difference in the world. though this is not something i do every single day, i definitely take the time to do it for special occasions or any time i expect to be in pictures.

here's a good diagram i found on pinterest that shows how i like to highlight/contour my face:

Source: fashionfreax.net via Tara on Pinterest

ps- my friend meg did a video tutorial on how to use this palette, so stop by and check it out!
are blush, bronzer, and highlighter staples in your makeup bag?

the nail files- week 69

2013-04-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

OPI- suzi and the lifeguard

(sorry for the horrible pic!)

i had my nails done for my sister-in-law's wedding and she chose this gorgeous soft pink that has a pearly finish! love it!

join the fun and link up!

100 in 2013- Books 31-45!

2013-04-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

i'm still moving along at a great pace toward my goal of reading 100 books in 2013! many of the books i've read recently are of the new adult genre, which happens to be a new favorite of mine. it takes you a step past young adult books (which i still love) and incorporates more adult themes and situations that you experience between the ages of 18-25ish. i tend to go through books pretty quickly, so i'm always looking for more book recommendations. let me know if there are any must read books you've come across recently!

FIVE STARS:

Requiem (Delirium, #3) by Lauren Oliver

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #2) by Michelle Hodkin

FOUR STARS:

Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles, # 3) by Kami Garcia

Beautiful Redemption (Caster Chronicles, #4) by Kami Garcia

First Time For Everything by Aimee Carson

Delirium Stories: Hana, Annabel, and Raven by Lauren Oliver

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1) by Michelle Hodkin

Never Too Far (Too Far, #2) by Abbi Glines

Fallen Too Far (Too Far, #1) by Abbi Glines

Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding, #1) byK.A. Linde

Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding, #2)by K.A. Linde

Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand

The Edge of Never (The Edge of Never, #1) by J.A. Redmerski

THREE STARS:

Fall Guy (Youngblood, #1) by Liz Reinhardt

TWO STARS:

One More Sleepless Night by Lucy King

what have you been reading lately?

Smile Brilliant LED Teeth Whitening Review + GIVEAWAY!

2013-04-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

i think it's safe to say that we all want to have a pretty, white smile. am i right? i have tried several different at home teeth whitening systems and though some have rendered decent results, none have been as amazing as this at home LED whitening system that i received from smile brilliant! not only are the results impeccable, but it's so easy to use!

this system includes:

High intensity Ultra-Blue LED activating light (batteries included)

Protective trays (top & bottom)

4ml Professional whitening gel pen (22% concentration)

all you have to do is use the pen to paint the whitening gel onto your teeth. then you pop in the protective trays and then put the LED light into place and let it work it's magic for 20-45 minutes a day! the LED light accelerates the whitening process to yield better results faster.

i noticed significant results after only a week of use! i never experienced any sensitivity in my teeth and i very much prefer this method over using frustrating whitening strips!

smile brilliant and i are partnering up to give you the chance to win an LED whitening system of your own! enter using the rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

the nail files- week 68

2013-04-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

julep- leila

this is such a pretty color but it is way out of my comfort zone! after all this time and of all the different colors i own, yellow is still the one color i'm very uncomfortable with. what do you think about yellow nail polish?

join the fun and link up!

the nail files- week 67

2013-04-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

julep- eden

eden is described as a bright violet creme. it looks darker on than it does in the bottle, but it is still a really pretty color!

join the fun and link up!

some more recent beauty faves!

2013-04-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer- when they say heavy duty, they mean it! this product is thick and a little goes a very long way. the coverage is really great. i've heard this stuff will even cover tattoos! warning: it does tend to settle into fine lines so it may not work well for everyone!

Avon Clearskin® Pore Penetrating Invigorating Scrub- this is my FAVE exfoliating scrub! it leaves my skin feeling so fresh and clean. it does an amazing job of removing dirt and oil and unclogging pores.

The Face Shop Clean Face Oil-Free Blemish Balm- i have had this for a while now, but i don't think i've blogged about it! this is the bb cream that i reach for most often. it is not heavy, but it provides good coverage. it gives my face a bright, matte finish and it works well with my oily skin!

OCC Lip Tar- gorgeous colors. highly pigmented. long-lasting. it goes on creamy, but once it dries, it feels just like you've got lipstick on. you use the tiniest drop and get plenty of color. i'm looking forward to picking up more colors! ps- this product is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. i posted a pic here if you want to see what it looks like on!

Incoco Nail Strips- i have tried a bunch of different nail strips and i really like these! not only do they have a ton of awesome designs but they have strips in solid colors that look exactly like regular nail polish. these strips last well over 7 days and are my go-to for vacations, special occasions, etc. when i need a mani to last!

what beauty products have you been loving lately?

Book Review/GIVEAWAY! i can barely take care of myself by Jen Kirkman!

2013-04-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

i've got a copy of Jen Kirkman's new book i can barely take care of myself up for grabs today! this book will be released on 4/16/13, so that makes this an advanced copy! get excited!

Jen Kirkman is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actress well known for the award-winning short series, Drunk History. She has two comedy albums, Self-Help and Hail to the Freaks, and writes for and appears as a comedian/panelist on E’s Chelsea Lately and After Lately.

about the book:
"You'll Change Your Mind." That’s what everyone says to Jen Kirkman— and countless women like her—when she confesses she doesn’t plan to have children. But you know what? It’s hard enough to be an adult. You have to dress yourself and pay bills and remember to buy birthday gifts. You have to drive and get annual physicals and tip for good service. Some adults take on the added burden of caring for a tiny human being with no language skills or bladder control. Parenthood can be very rewarding, but let’s face it, so are margaritas at the adults-only pool.

i can barely take care of myself is a beacon of hilarious hope for anyone whose major life decisions have been questioned by friends, family, and strangers in a comedy club bathroom. And it should satisfy everyone who wonders if Jen will ever know true love without looking into the eyes of her child.

*****

in my experience, the moment you get married, everyone wants to know when you're going to have kids. for over 3 years now, my answer has been: "not anytime soon!" i DO want kids, but right now i just really enjoy being lazy and selfish and being able to put my dog in his crate and leave the house alone whenever i want. i've been told that you can't put kids in crates, so yeah. this book was hilarious. it's definitely not just a book for people who don't want kids. anyone looking for a good laugh will enjoy jen kirkman's new book. it's also the perfect book for anyone who has been told "you'll change your mind" when you know that's not the case!

enter to win an advanced copy of this book using the rafflecopter widget below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*disclaimer: i was provided an advanced copy of this book to review and one to give away. all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

the nail files- week 66

2013-04-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

julep- simone

julep- shenae (accent)

join the fun and link up!

subscription box share! (march 2013 boxes)

2013-04-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

today's the day for you to come link up and show us what you got in your subscription boxes this month!
shout-out to my fab co-hosts, katie and meg!

i'm currently subscribed to TWO monthly boxes: birchbox and julep.

in case you've never heard of birchbox, the whole premise is that you pay $10/month and birchbox will send you 4-5 deluxe samples based on the beauty profile you fill out when you sign up.

here's what i got in my march birchbox:

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Primer

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream

Madewell for Birchbox Nail Emery Board

Evologie Intensive Blemish Serum

Caldrea Body Lotion

i really liked this box! what makes this box great is that all of these products are all very practical. my favorite sample was the blemish serum! i would definitely buy it in full size! the primer was pretty good too! i liked the shaving cream and lotion also, but those aren't products i'm willing to splurge on! and seriously, how cute is that nail file?

***

for the march julep maven box, i ended up upgrading to the full collection ($50)! included in my box was 8 bottles of nail polish, a hand cream, a hand scrub, and a lip balm! i was very very happy with the box! love the pastels!

if you want to try out julep's monthly nail polish subscription, you can sign up for Julep Maven now by clicking HERE and use promo code: MAVENINTRO to get your first box for A PENNY!

what did you get in your subscription box this month?

my easter dress from eshakti!

2013-04-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

i was recently contacted by eShakti and was given the opportunity to review a dress from their spring line. eShakti is a website that sells beautiful customizable clothing for women size 0 to 26w. each item can be customized to fit you perfectly. when ordering, you have the option to either chose a standard size or enter in your measurements. you can also alter the length and neckline. all these customizations create a dress tailored specifically to your body.

needless to say, i was really excited because i love the previous two dress (here and here) that i have received from eShakti! i decided to use this opportunity to order a dress i could wear for easter. for the past few weeks, i have anxiously been waiting for easter to roll around so i could wear this dress!

just like my previous experiences with eShakti, i received a gorgeous dress that fits me perfectly. the ordering process was quick and easy and their shipping is very fast. there's just something so awesome about receiving a dress that was made to fit your body! this particular color is no longer available in this dress, but there are several other colors in this same style.

want to learn more about eShakti? follow them on facebook and twitter!

**disclaimer: eShakti sent me this dress to review. all opinions are my own. i was not compensated in any other way for this post.**

the nail files- week 65

2013-03-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

incoco sent me some nail polish strips to try and omg i love them! they have a HUGE selection of colors and designs and are very easy to apply. they also last a long time! i'm currently on day 7 and they still look amazing! i will definitely be using more incoco nail strips in the future!

join the fun and link up!

link up ch-ch-ch-changes!

2013-03-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Link up news!

Katie and I have decided to transform the Birchbox Brag link up into something that allows more people to participate, so Tuesday April 2nd will be the first official Subscription Box Share link up! The premise is the same, but this link up will be open to any and all subscription services that you may be a member of! It does not have to be beauty related. Just write a blog post about your most recent subscription box(es) and come back and link up your post! Don't forget to add our Subscription Box Share button to your post! This will be a monthly link up that will take place on the first Tuesday of every month. Along with a name change, we are also adding on an additional co-host! Please welcome Meg from Meg O. on the Go!

I hope you'll join us on Tuesday for the first Subscription Box Share link up!

i heart eyelet!

2013-03-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

Eyelet Tube Dress
Eyelet Skirt
Mixed-Eyelet Dolman Dress
Mixed-Eyelet Dress
Eyelet-Trim Top

one trend i'm looking forward to wearing this spring/summer is eyelet! there's something so simple, yet feminine about eyelet patterns that i just love and there are so many fun ways to wear it. i think it's fun to mix such a feminine pattern with something more 'tough' looking like a leather jacket or a wide belt or boots. i also love the look of a white eyelet dress with tan sandals and a pop of color in your jewelry or handbag. old navy has an excellent selection of eyelet tops, skirts, and dresses that are all extremely versatile! i can't wait to add some to my closet!

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (Rose) Review!

2013-03-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have wanted a shimmer brick for years! When I stumbled across it at The Cosmetics Company Store in the outlet mall, I just knew I had to have it. (PS- If you have one of these stores near you, get to it ASAP. Basically they sell MAC, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Smashbox, etc. at 30ish% off!!) The fact that it was only $28 (normally $42) sealed the deal.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is a set of five bars of shimmering colors for lids and cheeks. This product can be used in several different ways. It can be used alone to highlight/add shimmer to the cheekbones or it can be used in addition to blush. The individual bars can also be used to highlight eyes and as eyeshadow. My favorite way to use it is to sweep a brush through all five shades and to dust it lightly on my cheekbones after applying blush to add a shimmery, rosy glow to my cheeks.

I love this product so much. It instantly adds a beautiful natural glow. It is not too glittery or shimmery at all. The color is very buildable. The price is high but this product will last you a very long time and the quality is excellent. I'm so happy to have finally added this to my makeup collection!

the nail files- week 64

2013-03-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

essie- mojito madness

julep- oscar (accent)

join the fun and link up!

how to wear a denim vest!

2013-03-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

a few weeks ago, i was wandering through target and saw this adorable denim vest! my husband thought it was hideous but i was in love. i left without the vest but kept thinking about it all throughout the week. after doing a little bit of browsing on pinterest, i was convinced that i could pull it off! i went straight back to target to get that pretty little denim vest!
this is how i wore it last weekend:

Xhilaration® Juniors Denim Vest (not pictured: leopard loafers)
and here are some looks i'm hoping to recreate with my denim vest!

Source: obaz.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Janessa on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Callie on Pinterest

Source: whippedstyle.com via Von on Pinterest

Source: girlcrushblog.blogspot.com via kelley on Pinterest

Source: what-id-wear.tumblr.com via Camilla on Pinterest

Source: bodycentral.wordpress.com via S t e f a n i on Pinterest

am i crazy for loving this vest so much?

tutorial: how to get perfect nail stripes!

2013-03-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

i got a few requests for how to do perfect nail stripes, so here goes! it's not hard at all. it's just a little time consuming!

what you'll need:

2 different colors of nail polish
top coat + base coat
striping tape or really any kind of tape if you want to cut it up into small strips. (i got 10 rolls for $2 on amazon. just search for nail striping tape)

instructions:

apply base coat and 1-2 coats of first color of nail polish.
let it dry completely
optional: apply top coat before adding stripes
apply nail striping tape (the number of stripes and width of stripes is up to you)
make sure the tape is firmly in place and is tucked in at the corners (you don't want nail polish to seep under it)
using your second color of nail polish, paint within the lines of the tape. (this is why you learned how to color within the lines when you were a kid)
if necessary, paint a second coat within the lines
when polish is completely dry, remove the striping tape
finally, add a top coat!

here's a visual tutorial:

the nail files- week 63

2013-03-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

welcome to the nail files link up!
shout-out to my co-host, vicki!

come link up and show us your nail polish purchases or recommendations, pictures of your manicured nails (whether done at home or at the salon), your
nail polish tips and trends, etc.

**please, please, please: if you are linking up either use our button or link back to our blogs!!!**

nails of the week:

julep- teri

julep- debra (accent)

If you want to try out Julep's monthly nail polish subscription, you can sign up for Julep Maven now by clicking HERE and use promo code: MAVENINTRO to get your first box for A PENNY! Yup, only $0.01!

join the fun and link up!