Mom's Got a Brand New Bag

Excited to announce... I'm a new Independent Consultant for Scentsy!

2012-03-02T16:49:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to announce that I'm a new Independent Consultant for Scentsy!! I've loved using my Scentsy products, and you can say that I was "hooked" from the moment that I tried them! Starting in March 2012, I am an Independent Scentsy Consultant and would be happy to answer any questions you have about Scentsy!

I've dedicated a new blog to Scentsy reviews, product information, and information about promotions I'll be running in the near future! Please stop by when you get a chance! Also like us on Facebook!

Wickless Candle Scent Blog

Wickless Candle Scent - Facebook Page

I will keep my posts on 'Mom's Got a Brand New Bag' focused on fashion, beauty, bags, and babies... as always! I may sneak a post here and there about Scentsy when I'm particularly excited about something (like an older post I had about their cupcake warmer!!) - or when I share things like my Scentsy collection, that are relevant to both pages!

Stop by my personal Scentsy webpage to browse the new March 2012 items!

https://dihughes.scentsy.us/Home

Updated Louis Vuitton Collection video! 2012 HD style!

2012-03-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

I finally did an updated Louis Vuitton collection video... my first ever in HD! Hope you enjoy the update!

Thanks for watching!

It's Leap Year Wednesday!

2012-02-29T21:45:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I did have pink polish on today... but it wasn't picture worthy because it is chipping and I haven't had time to redo it. I have on Zoya Brie though, which is a gorgeous, creamy deep pink. Pictures will be posted eventually... once I have decent nails again.

I did a fun video for Leap Day though, kind of a "I just wanna talk about whatever I wanna talk about"... and did a video on Sephora free gifts and beauty insider rewards. I also showed the 100 point Dior gift that I received back in January and hopefully will eventually have 500 points saved up sometime in 2012 to get the Dior 500 point gift that is a charm bracelet and deluxe perfume sample.

Hope everyone had a great Leap Day! It was cute that all of the birthdays on Sprout today were for 4 year olds!

Louis Vuitton Empriente Lumineuse PM in Ombre!

2012-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

So DH offered to get me a bag as kind of a late Valentine's/early birthday type of gift... after having a hard time mulling over what to get - this Lumi popped up and I grabbed it. The Ombre color is the Empriente color that I had been considering, and even though I previously had mentioned the Empriente Artsy in one of my posts - I decided that the Lumineuse might be even more versatile. (Especially with kids!)

So it arrived this week and I'm still figuring out whether I love, like it, or am just neutral about it? I seem to kind of be wavering all around and my opinion changes from minute to minute. In any case, it is a very pretty bag and what may be making me balk more than anything could be the price tag (eek!!)... but the leather is just divine and the color is lovely too...

What do you think - a keeper? :)

New Shoes! Tory Burch Tumbled Leather Revas in Peacock Blue

2012-02-23T13:55:00.000-05:00

I love, love, LOVE these shoes... they are fantastic! A turquoise-toned blue is one of my favorite colors and these shoes did not disappoint my love of blue! I cannot wait until the weather gets better and I can wear these things!

I'm also going through a bit of a Tory Burch obsession phase right now... so I'm also wanting the Miller sandals in Love Pink, another pair of flip-flops, and the Revas in the Royal Tan tumbled leather for Spring. Can we say obsessed much??

(So obsessed in fact, that I did a video about these shoes!! Love!!)

Pink polish Wednesdays... Zoya Uma!

2012-02-22T16:17:00.000-05:00

Today's pink is kind of more of a beige-y, peach-y, pink. I didn't have much time to do my nails and had zero time to do any clean up around the edges... so I needed to use a neutral flesh color polish so that my mistakes weren't as noticable. I'm planning on wearing a brighter pink at the end of the week or this weekend, when I have more time to do my nails.

Still love this color though... Zoya 'Uma'!

One of my favorite every day looks from the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette so far!

2012-02-21T09:00:00.016-05:00

I've started to really enjoy playing with the Naked 2 eye shadow palette and trying to blend different colors together. I occasionally also mix colors together from the original Naked palette as well. Once I really started using the colors in different ways, I found that there is definitely enough difference between the two palettes to justify owning both! They both have some unique colors that are still neutral enough for every day and having the additional palette to pull colors from has been great!

Here's a look I'm loving as a nice, neutral every day "stay at home mom on the go" type of look...

Verve across the lid up & to the brow, Tease across the lid, Pistol in the crease blended out, and a bit of Busted in the center of the crease to darken it even more. (Virgin from the original Naked palette was used to highlight.)

Fun!

My Sephora & Ulta "semi-haul" video ;)

2012-02-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

I hate the word haul... but here are some recent purchases that I made in January & February from Sephora, Ulta, & Narscosmetics.com.

What was in my Louis Vuitton Brea MM for Valentine's Day!

2012-02-18T17:30:00.000-05:00

I did a Valentine's Day week "What's in my handbag video", because I was using my Louis Vuitton Vernis Brea MM and thought it was very festive! :)

Still on a Valentine's Day high with Pink Polish Wednesday...

2012-02-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'm very into pink this week, with it being Valentine's week and all... so I changed my polish to Zoya's Dana for pink polish Wednesday! It is bright and perfect for Spring & Summer... but also works great for this holiday week as well!

Ohhhh Room Time - How I love and loathe you, all at the same time...

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

So we do something at our house with our toddler called "room time"... it is basically independent play time in her room to gain independence and also works well in the mornings for Mommy to take a quick shower. We did a sleep training method with Cupcake called "Babywise" by Gary Ezzo, and the idea behind room time or independent play time comes from the follow-up book - "Toddlerwise", also by Gary Ezzo.

Basically, as your toddler gets older you put some structured independent time into your daily schedule to bolster their independence. Ideally, I believe they suggest you start working on room time (having previously had independent time on a blanket or in a play pen previous to this) around ages 21-24 months. I had to start Cupcake slightly earlier though, because with the arrival of Peanut... and Cupcake's new found ability to climb out of a crib and play pen around the same time - I had to come up with some way to take a shower on a daily basis. Cupcake had always excelled at independent time in a play pen, which I used when she was younger to do chores during the day or make dinner... so I figured - what the hey, we will give it a go.

We started the week after Christmas, so that Daddy was home to help keep watch and ease her into the transition. You start with a lower time limit, around 10-15 minutes and the goal is to work up to a time length as long as 45 minutes of independent play time in their room. In the book and on other blogs you see an image of a well behaved child, quietly playing with some non-electric toy, in a pin neat room for the entire length of independent play time.

This is not my child.

Cupcake is a... spirited toddler. And very creative. She can find the delight and humor in the most simple of things. Like throwing clothing that used to folded neatly in her dresser drawers into the air while yelling, "Wheeee!".

So while I delight in the fact that Cupcake has taken well to independent time in her room in the mornings, and worked up to the 30-45 minutes that I need in the morning to get in the shower... I also never know what I'm going to walk in to when room time is over. Some days it is not too bad, some toys here and there - books strewn through the room... other days... it looks like a hurricane of Q-tips and clothing has swept the room.

Let's not leave it up to me to give you a written description though... They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so for a week I brought the camera up to her room after room time to capture what room time means at our house.

1/25: This day's theme was apparently "Q-tips"...

1/25: Looks kind of annoyed that I crashed her party!

1/26: Room time must have been so exhausting this day, that I came in to find her taking a bit of a rest!

1/27: Pretty tame day...

Then we had a few uneventful days... she was saving it all up for the finale...

1/30: The Grand Finale... empty drawers, Tah Dah!!

"Nevermind cleaning up this mess, Mom! Let's get straight to reading books! "
(We have reading time after room time.)

I will say, she's getting better. Messes are not as frequent - and this was a particularly "spirited" week when I took the pictures. She's still a few months away from being 2 years old... so I think as she gains a bit more age, it will keep getting better and better. For now, I will keep perfecting my folding skills...

Tarina Tarantino Magical Palette - Review and Look Idea!

2012-02-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

I picked up the Tarina Tarantino 'Magical' eye shadow palette at Sephora the other day because I wanted a bit of color to mix up my eye look. I tend to use mostly neutrals that are in the Naked or Naked 2 palettes on a daily basis - so when I walked past this palette with beautiful purples I knew I had to get it! There is a great pewter color that works with brown eyes really well, and the bottom deep purple color actually looks like a purple against fair skin... unlike some purples that look like a dark gray or charcoal eyeshadow once you have them on.

I've been using the matte white shade in the Magical palette for highlighting and colors from the Naked 2 palette as a base. I've found that the Tarina Tarantino eye shadows are long-lasting and feel very smooth when you're applying them. I use Too Faced's Shadow Insurance eye primer, so I'm sure that helps the shadows stay on longer as well. The darker purple color in the palette does tend to "shift" on my crease after about 4 hours, and when I get home it looks like I put more of the darker color above my lid than I actually did... but it is very minimal and doesn't look horrible. Just a more noticeable shift than I've seen with the Urban Decay shadows that I'm more used to.

This palette is priced at $32 at Sephora right now, I think it is a great buy to add a few additional colors into your eye shadow rotation. The packaging is beautiful and travel friendly. While I don't think that this palette is going to replace my love for my Naked palettes anytime soon... I do think it is a keeper!

Watch the video for the look I've liked with this palette here:

Here's what it looks like on:

Pink polish Wednesdays... Butter London!

2012-02-08T13:11:00.000-05:00

I had been wearing Zoya's Julieanne at the beginning of the week (gorgeous purple color!)... but decided to change it up today to a pink for Pink Polish Wednesdays and also to try a nail polish that is going to be a part of my upcoming haul post. (I haven't done one of those ever, so I thought it would be fun to try & show you some of the new things I've gotten recently!)

Today's pink is Butter London's 'Fairy Lights' and it may be one of the most appropriate polish names I've ever seen! The instant I put it on, I thought to myself, "That reminds me of fairy wings for some reason." Ha! It is a nice foil polish that goes one smoothly and coats evenly (unlike 'No More Waity Katie', which I returned because of its blotchy application & got this color instead)... and the pink is a sparkly light pink that isn't too baby-ish.

It actually pops a bit more than I thought it was going to - thinking it would be a subtle color that would blend into my skin tone. I really like it though, it is a keeper for sure!

Whoo hoo for Naked 2!

2012-02-06T21:46:00.000-05:00

It's late (in my world), I'm tired... I'm rhyming.

However I am excited that I finally picked up the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, follow-up to the Naked palette... my practically every day eyeshadow palette for about the past year! I was actually concerned that the Naked 2 might not be different enough from the original to justify having both - but I was pleased to find that they are actually a great compliment to each other.

Naked 2 palette on top, Naked palette on bottom

There are thousands of reviews out there on these two, I'm sure - so I will just touch on the highlights for me personally... I love the neutralness (is that word?) of each of the palettes and I appreciate the subtle differences in the Naked 2 version, with more taupe and gray based colors.

Naked palette on left, Naked 2 palette on right

My go-to combination from the Naked palette has been Sin across the lid up to the brow, Toasted across the lid, Hustle in the crease, and Virgin as a highlight.

My go to Naked palette combination for every day

I'm loving a few combinations of colors from the Naked 2 palette so far, and I've also been mixing some of the colors of the Naked 2 palette with my Tarina Tarantino Magical palette.

Some favorite combinations so far from Naked 2...
- Bootycall across lid up to brow, Tease across lid, Pistol in crease, Busted in crease
- Verve across lid up to brow (Pewter from Tarina Tarantino palette across lid, and Deep Purple from TT palette in crease, White from TT palette as highlight)
- Verve across lid up to brow, YDK across lid, Busted in crease

I'll be sure to upload pics of combinations as I get to try some more...

Pink polish Wednesdays... (Yes, I realize it is Friday)

2012-02-03T13:42:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a hectic week and getting near a computer with a moment to write anything sane has proved to be harder than usual.

I participated in my first "Pink Nail Polish Wednesdays" for On Wednesdays We Wear Pink... and was so busy I couldn't get pictures until today. I was wearing Zoya's Anaka at the beginning of the week, which is a gorgeous fuchsia pink... but decided to tone it down a little bit on Wednesday because I was going to tour a day care I'm looking at having the girls go to a few days a week. So I thought I would go with something a bit more subtle.

I put on Zoya's Reece... I just love this color! It is a gorgeous shimmer pink, that has gold highlights throughout. It's a truly unique polish and just one of those colors that makes you happy when you look at it! I did a little touch up today to take a picture, so it is still on my nails.

Zoya Reece

In other news, as I mentioned above - I'm looking into child care for the girls a few mornings a week so that I can take Cupcake to classes again while Peanut is at day care, and then have Cupcake get some socialization time with kids her same age a few mornings as well. It is a truly nerve-racking experience. I've been a SAHM since the start, so looking into part-time day care has been a big decision for us... but a necessary one. Not only do I think my sanity will benefit from having some 1 child mornings (and one glorious child free morning on Fridays!) - but to get Cupcake into swimming and gymnastics classes that I have to participate in... I have to have some sort of care worked out for Peanut. So it just seemed like the right way to go to work out a combo situation of days that they are both going.

I will keep you posted on how it goes... This SAHM is nervous about putting the girls into someone else's care, and also a bit miffed that I could get a new Speedy every month for the price of day care. I just need to keep repeating to myself: Sanity, sanity, sanity. Sanity is priceless.

Update! Britax B-Ready Double Stroller Review - Infant & Toddler Configuration

2012-02-01T09:00:00.040-05:00

I've been using our Britax B-Ready double stroller for about 10 months now, so I figured it was time for an update on how I'm liking it. I used it for a little over 7 months as a single stroller - and now of course I'm currently using it as a double stroller, in infant bottom & toddler top configuration.

Here's my You Tube video review:

I really loved using the stroller as a single stroller. It folded up neatly and only took a bit more space in the back of our Honda CRV than the Chicco Cortina I was previously using. Cupcake had a higher riding position, so she liked the vantage point and being able to get into the bottom storage area from any angle with the zippered entrances was a definite plus. The larger wheels in the back make it incredibly easy to navigate tough terrains or to "ramp" the stroller onto a curb - however I do still get caught on doorways more often than I probably should. Operator error?

Britax B-Ready in Double Configuration: Infant bottom, Toddler top

When we transitioned it to a double stroller, it felt very odd for about a week - but then after I had a chance to get use to it, it was very user friendly again. We purchased an adapter to be able to place the infant carseat on the lower level from Buy Buy Baby. (Also available for purchase on Amazon HERE.) Our Britax Chaperone carseat snaps right into the adapter and after a bit of practice you can practically do it with one hand.

Carseat adapter for lower level

Speaking of one hand, most operations on the stroller DO take two hands to operate it - closing it you have to simultaneously pull levers on both sides of the push handle. Opening it also takes two hands to open the lock and kind of balance the stroller as you open it. However for the loss in being able to easily open or close the stroller with one hand - I would much rather gain the smaller footprint that this double stroller has, compared to other double strollers.

It is very similar in size to a single stroller and has a similar footprint when folded and when open. My biggest concern was that it didn't take up the entire back of our Honda CRV - or possibly even not fit. (When I looked at the Chicco Together in the store, I took one look and first thought, "Would that thing even fit in the back of my car when it is folded???") When you have the second toddler seat on the stroller, it folds up with both seats still in place, likewise - you can also fold it up with the lower infant carseat adapter still in place as well.

Britax B-Ready folded up in the back of our 2008 Honda CR-V

All in all... it gets good ratings from me still. The only issues we've had with it were Cupcake being able to chew pieces of the foam off of the bar that goes across the front of the upper toddler seat. (Which thank goodness is removable.) The five point harness straps on the toddler seat can also get kind of "fumbly" sometimes, since the top strap is removable from the waist strap - and if they detach when you're not wanting them to, that gets frustrating. Also, we've had one seam starting to come undone in the footrest area of the toddler seat... I haven't decided what to do about that and I may even contact Britax about it to see what they say. I will get back to you guys on that one.

Area my daughter chewed on the toddler safety bar

Loose seam on upper toddler seat

With these things in mind, I still think that its issues pale in comparison to issues I would be having with different larger, harder to fold, and bulkier to push double strollers that are on the market. I think this has been a great option for us!

My $0.99 earring finds!

2012-01-31T09:00:00.005-05:00

I honestly feel cheap even just writing that title - ha! I had to share though, because I was pleasantly surprised by some super sparkly finds I came across on Amazon.com recently for only 99 cents! I'm into revamping my jewelry collection right now and I thought that a few pairs of fun earrings would be a great way to change up my usual day-to-day look.

I thought I would try out a pair of cubic zirconia studs for a two-fold reason, one I was thinking of upgrading my real diamond studs at some point in the future and I thought it would give me a frame of reference for what size diamond earring I thought I would want to save for - and two, they could just be a fun bit of sparkle on days when I didn't want to wear my plain sterling silver earrings!

I was randomly searching through Amazon one night when I came across this pair of well-reviewed cubic zirconia, set in sterling silver, stud earrings:

For $.99 (plus $6.95 shipping, but that is still less than a pair of these would cost you from Target!) - I thought it was worth a try!

Shipping was quick and I really was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box to find a lovely, seemingly decently made pair of earrings! They are stamped .925 for sterling silver and I was skeptical when I ordered them (because of the price) that they would actually be sterling silver when they arrived... but they do seem to be solid material and akin to other sterling silver jewelry that I have. The setting is firm and the posts are sturdy as well.

They have sparkle to them that catches the light at appropriate times, and while this size is WAY bigger than I ever would be getting or would like to get in a "real" pair of diamond earrings (so I still need to find some smaller CZ studs to figure out what size I want there)... it is a great size for costume jewelry. Just a fun pair of earrings!

So if you've been looking for a fun pair of CZ earrings, these could be the ones for you!

My updated Spring 2012 wishlist...

2012-01-29T15:10:00.002-05:00

I decided it was time to update the wishlist, with the things I'm currently stalking on the Net!

Makeup &Beauty

I've loved all of the perfumes that I've tried over the past few months, but other than finally getting a full sized Bond No. 9 perfume... I think I'm pretty complete on perfumes right now. I'm back to focusing on nail polish and have a few "must haves" that I'm eyeing at Dior.com!

Dior Metallic Silver polish, Dior.com, $23

Dior Graffiti Pink polish, Dior.com, $23

I'm also loving the OPI Muppet collection!

OPI Muppet Collection in Divine Swine, amazon.com, Prices vary.

Don't ask me how I stumbled upon the Bond No. 9 fragrance brand, but as soon as I saw the bottle for Madison Square Park I knew I had to track down a sample. As predicted when it comes to these things, I received the sample and really liked the scent as well. As soon as I can reconcile myself to the price... it will be mine. (It comes with jewelry, with the cute little green bracelet/brooch on top - so that has to count for something, right?)

www.saksfifthavenue.com, 1.7 oz. Bond No. 9 - Madison Square Park, $180

Shoes

I'm totally obsessed with Tory Burch right now! I would love another pair of Revas and also a pair of pink Tory Burch sandals for Spring!

Tory Burch Reva in Royal Tan, toryburch.com, $195

Tory Burch Miller Sandal in Love Pink, toryburch.com, $195

Accessories

I went Tiffany & Co overboard for Christmas (which is never a bad thing!) - so my current Tiffany & co wishlist is fairly (well, relatively) short...

Tiffany & Co Notes earrings, tiffany.com, $125

www.tiffany.com, Daisy Key on Oval Chain, $300

I have a never ending handbag wishlist from Louis Vuitton... but here are the bags I'm currently stalking. (And deciding between.)

Louis Vuitton Alma, louisvuitton.com, $1550

Louis Vuitton Empreinte Artsy MM, louisvuitton.com, $2670

Louis Vuitton Damier Westminster GM, louisvuitton.com, $1260

A girl's work is never done!

My Happy 2011 present!! Tiffany & Co Elsa Peretti Curved Wedding Band!

2012-01-28T09:00:00.007-05:00

I cannot believe I haven't posted about this yet!

I was so excited to receive a "Happy 2011" present at the end of December from my hubby. I mentioned in the past about the upgraded wedding ring that I've been wanting forever from Tiffany & Co... and I guess I finally wore him down enough about it - because hubby gave me the green light to go ahead and order it! I've been eyeing it for years, so I was super excited!

It was kind of a happy "5 year" anniversary (even though we were married 6 years this year - but we were kind of busy around the 5 year mark and it came & went...), along with "happy new baby", and just "happy year" to commemorate 2011 with his new job and all of that good stuff...

Here's what my set looked like before, I never felt like the plain 2mm platinum band suited my engagement ring, because of the gap under the trillion diamonds.

Without further ado, the Elsa Peretti platinum curved wedding band!

And with my engagement ring! (After it had been cleaned at the jewelry store!! Sorry its so dirty in the before pictures! I didn't realize it until I saw the pictures after it had been cleaned! Whew!)

I absolutely love it! This is definitely an upgrade that will last me a long time and I think it works as a great "frame" for my engagement ring! Love!

(Nail polish color on my nails is Zoya Pandora.)

You Tube Video: Comparison between Louis Vuitton Accessories: Pochette, Eva, & Cosmetic Bag - What fits inside

2012-01-27T09:00:00.020-05:00

This is a video that I got the idea for after I took some photos trying to show the size difference between the Eva and cosmetic pouch. I thought it would be helpful to show the size difference and difference in what each can carry for the pochette accessories, Eva, & cosmetic pouch.

I use them for totally different things, but if you wanted one item that served multiple functions - these are all great options. The pochette is an easy going grab and go bag, that would also work great down inside your purse to hold cosmetics (or other essentials... like a Nintendo DS). The Eva is the ultimate grab and go bag, that can be used as a clutch with the attached gold chain or cross-body with the longer strap that is included in it. And the cosmetic pouch is perfect for its intended use as a cosmetic bag, but also would work great down inside a diaper bag or as a quick grab clutch to hold your essentials to run into Starbucks or something of that nature.

Side view of the pochette, Eva, & cosmetic pouch

Front view of the pochette, Eva, & cosmetic pouch

Interior of the Eva & cosmetic pouch

Front view of the Eva & cosmetic pouch

Featured in the video are the Louis Vuitton pochette, Eva, & cosmetic pouch.

What's in my bag? You Tube Video: Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM

2012-01-26T20:32:00.000-05:00

What I carried in my bag today!

I carried my Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM and inside I fit:
- Louis Vuitton Sarah wallet in Violette
- Louis Vuitton Cles in Violette
- Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Cosmetic Pouch
- Juicy Couture card case
- Chanel sunglasses case
- Canon SD1200 digital camera
- iPhone
- Keys
- A scarf

... all with lots of room leftover! This is a great every day bag that doesn't disappoint!

Nars Lipsticks: Neutral Pink Comparison (Dolce Vita, Mayflower, Cruising, and Sexual Healing)

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

I've expanded my love for NARS from their long-wearing blushes to their lipsticks as well. I've tried a few NARS lipsticks in the past, but it had been a while since I had picked up anything from their lip lines so I decided to give them another try.

For day to day wear, I wear a neutral pink lip - think MAC's Blankety or Too Faced's Free Love with a gloss over them. NARS has a number of gorgeous lip colors with a pink neutral base, so I decided to give them a try!

Featured in the same order in each picture... Dolce Vita, Mayflower, Cruising, & Sexual Healing

Dolce Vita - This is probably the deepest color of the neutral pinks I've featured, but it is still a pretty one. It is more matte than the other more shimmery colors, and is close in tone to Mayflower when it is on my lips. It is still a great option for days that I want color, but I'm keeping it low key.

Mayflower - This is the first lipstick that I bought on my venture back into NARS lipsticks, searching for the lipstick featured at the top of Sephora's website. This has more of a raspberry tint to it and coincidentally is not the color featured. It is a pretty color though, and has some shimmer to it. I wear this when I want a bit of subtle color that shines.

Cruising - This is THE lipstick! Cruising is the best neutral lip lipstick shade I've found and even ranks above MAC's Blankety in my opinion. It is a true neutral and plays up the natural color of my lips. I always wear a gloss over my lipsticks, so I can choose a neutral shimmery pink gloss to make my lip color just compliment the rest of my look and not stand out. This one is LOVE!

Sexual Healing - Name I can't say in front of my parents aside... This is an awesome shade! This is the shade actually featured at the top of Sephora's website for NARS lipstick. I'd been admiring this color for quite a while now, and had tried some of the other shades above thinking they were the colors that Sephora had featured. I finally stumbled upon an answer directly from Sephora one day while reading reviews, stating that this was the color featured at the top of the page. I bought it immediately! It is a nice shimmer color, more of a neutral beige with a pink undertone in my opinion. The Sephora website makes it look pinker than it is in real life, but I still think this is a great option for every day.

All in all, NARS lipsticks are great lippies, the only complaint I have is that they are slightly dryer than some lipsticks I use. The colors are gorgeous though, and I begin my day with NARS lipsticks on my lips. Whether it is because of the shape of my lips, I'm unsure... but I do have a problem more so than most people of lipsticks or glosses lasting on my lips. I do have to re-apply multiple times a day, no matter what brand I'm using.

NARS lipsticks last a few hours before I have to re-apply and the colors are gorgeous, so these are definitely keepers in the makeup collection!

Diaper Bag Review: Coach Op Art Baby Bag in Dark Merlot

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

What fits in a Coach Op Art Baby Bag from Coach?

Enough items to go out for a day trip with an infant & a toddler!

This You Tube review shows what I carry in my Coach Op Art Diaper bag, and shows how functional it is.

The size is 21 inches long by 12.5 inches high by 4.25 inches wide. I would classify it as a "medium sized" diaper bag... bigger than the bag that diaper bag that I used as a quick grab and go bag with only one child - but smaller than some gigantic diaper bags I've owned or seen. (Most notably, the Coach Signature Stripe Diaper bag that I originally bought when I was pregnant with my first. It was so gigantic... I couldn't justify keeping it and sold it. Now of course, I'm wishing I would have held onto it - because it would have been a good diaper bag for those days when having "just a bit more" would be appropriate. Like for trips into Chicago.)

It works great for two children in diapers though, one still using bottles and one using sippy cups. I place the larger sippy cups on the outside. (One for milk, one for water.) And on the interior, there are two elastic banded areas that can fit bottles. (We use Tommee Tippee bottles and the 9 ounce size fits fine in this area.)

It came with a portable changing pad that works fine for infants and smaller toddlers. I honestly prefer to use a larger JJ Cole changing mat with my older daughter who is just shy of 2 years old. (The JJ Cole changing mat came with a quick change bag that I use now, which I will review and show in a separate post. It is super handy to hang from the stroller handle for quick changes!) For infants however, the changing pad that came with the Coach bag is good enough, and fits conveniently in the front snap pocket of the bag for easy access.

On the back there is a zippered area that would be good to hold items for Mommy, but I use this area for travel table placements and other odds & ins, since I always carry a handbag for myself.

On the interior the bottom area is ample enough to hold two shirts and one pair of pants for a toddler, one sleeper for a newborn, and two burp cloths. On top of that, I fit two snack containers - a hard plastic snack container from Innobaby that I featured HERE - and a smaller toddler hand held snack container. Also in the middle I've shown a travel formula container from Munchkin. Occasionally, I will also toss in an additional 5 ounce Tommee Tippee bottom on top of these things, and there is room for that as well.

Overall, I would rate this diaper bag 4.5 out of 5 stars. I appreciate that it is subtle and doesn't have a crazy print all over it. Not that I have anything against prints, but some days I would just like something more neutral. The color is beautiful, a burgundy - purple color that isn't flashy, but is more special than a black or gray diaper bag. The space is perfect for two children if you pack just the essentials, and I would imagine would work great for one child on longer trips or if you want to carry a bit more on a day to day basis.

Despite its 21 inch length, the bag doesn't look overwhelming against a short frame. I actually thought it was going to look a lot bigger when it arrived, but it is definitely not what I would classify as a "large" diaper bag... I've seen much larger bags, especially from Coach. (I would consider a JJ Cole Mode diaper bag a smaller diaper bag, for reference.)

All in all, it is a great diaper bag that is well worth its $298 price tag. (Especially if you can a PCE discount on top of that!)

Dior Diva Reward Club

2012-01-20T14:03:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for rewards clubs... I absolutely love them! Sephora's Beauty Insider & VIB program is one of my favorites, but I have a case full of "store loyalty" cards that proves - if it's free and involves some sort of reward... I'm in!

I love the idea of getting something free on a good day - but getting something free as a reward for something you were going to buy anyways is a win-win for me. I stumbled upon the fact that Dior has exactly this sort of program for beauty purchases!

I've used Diorshow mascara for years, and Dior Addict Ultra Gloss lip glosses are also some of my favorites. So when I found out that there was such a thing as a reward program for Dior beauty purchases - made at any authorized retailer (not just at Dior.com) - I was psyched!

How it works is you send in your receipts from any Dior beauty purchases you've made within a 12 month time period (or shorter time period, if you've saved up the appropriate amount of points for the reward you are wanting) and mail the receipts in the the Dior Diva Club redemption center. They send you a free gift based on the amount of points you've accumulated! This seriously has to be one of the best kept beauty reward club secrets ever!

After I found out about the program in December 2011, I sent in a few receipts I had from purchases in 2011 for the 100 point gift. The program redemption form states that you should receive your products within 6-8 weeks, but I found that they had a super quick turn around time and received my free gift a mere two weeks later!

It was presented beautifully in a Dior logo lined box:

The 100 point gift is a deluxe sample gift bag, with deluxe samples of J'Adore perfume, Capture Totale, Diorshow Mascara, and a Dior lipstick mini.

They also have reward levels for 250, 500, 1000, 2500, and 5000 points as well. I'm planning on saving my points up for the 500 point level next - the "Charming Diva" level - which gifts you a Dior charm bracelet and perfume deluxe sample. (Which I've been dying for since I missed the Sephora 500 point gift that was out in November 2011 and sold out in two days while I was off busy having a baby... that was also a Dior bracelet & perfume sample. I'm hoping the Dior Diva gift will be similar.)

I see myself wearing a few extra coats of mascara in the future to work towards getting my 500 points!

You Tube Video: Technology items that fit inside of a Totally MM

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a viewer request video that I put together, to address the question of whether a 10 by 13 Mac Book would fit in a Totally MM. I unfortunately do not own a Mac Book, but I was able to use a 10" by 13" by 1" frame to compare the size placed inside a Totally MM. That size frame easily fit inside the bag when placed in east/west, and had a bit of space left on either side so that it easily slid in & out of the bag.

I've also shown an iPad 2 inside the Totally MM, so that you can see there is a generous amount of space leftover with one of those inside.