The Beauty Bar

Barbie Loves Mac!

2010-08-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Remember that gorgeous Barbie Loves Mac Collection that was released in 2007? How could you forget Emanuela De Paula and her beautiful green eyeshadow? I wish they would rerelease the collection, I hardly snagged anything as I wasn't so into Mac at the time.

Anyway, this isn't an exact recreation, but I felt like playing with color and I decided to post. What do you think?

What a Difference a Camera Makes...

2010-04-12T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Just a quick tutorial and review on more products that I bought recently. Took the first two pictures with my webcam and the last pic with an HD Sony camera. What a difference, eh? You can really see the makeup, subtle as it is. I want to post video tutorials soon, but I think I will invest in a camcorder. Webcams really deprive you of quality...

The products that I used in the makeup look I'm rocking are from Josie Maran Cosmetics. Josie Maran Cosmetics is an organic makeup line founded by--wait for it-- model/actress Josie Maran! You may know her from Sports Illustrated, Dancing With the Stars or from her Maybelline ads.

Anyway, I bought Finger Paints in Lovely ($15 at Beautycrunch.com!), Precocious lipstick($20) and Happiness lipgloss($18). Lovely is a creamy neutral quad and works for all skin tones. Although the product is organic, there is no funky smell and it blends really well, no creasing at all. Its a multi-use product and can be applied on eyes, cheeks and lips. Lovely consists of chocolate brown, peachy pink, gold and copper colors. They are so shimmery and pretty! Really happy with this. The bad? The price. I paid only $15, but $36 for this seems steep to me. Also, you MUST apply a primer onto your lids or risk it fading after a few hours.

Precocious lip and Happiness are rose toned lip colors and they look beautiful on everyone. I tried it on my mother who is lighter than I am and a friend who is darker and they looked absolutely gorgeous with both. Highly recommend, but they also fade without precaution. To make it the last I applied foundation to my lips and lined my mouth with a lip pencil.

What I am wearing:

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Barcelona

Nars Blush in Orgasm

Stila Kajal Eyeliner in Onyx (Rad black eyeliner pencil!) on bottom lid only

Josie Maran Finger Paints in Lovely

Josie Maran lipstick in Precocious and lipgloss in Happiness

On eyes apply some primer and add a thick layer of the pinky peach color using a large shader brush (you don't need to use a brush with this product but I think it works better) . "Press" it in from lid to the brow bone. Next, apply a generous layer of the copper color on lid only. The chocolate brown shade should go from mid crease to the outer crease and blend it well with the copper color. Finally, use the gold shade as a highlight on the brow bone. Line bottom lashes with black eyeliner. Skip or add mascara if desired.

Apply foundation to lips or you can fill them in with a lip pencil of the same color. Line them if you like. Apply Precocious lipstick, then add Happiness lipgloss. All done!

My New Favorite Blush! Tarina Tarantino mini-haul

2010-04-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys! Long time no see, eh? I've been a busy girl lately and am very behind on updates :(

I will probably be breaking up my hauls in the near future. There will be a lot of hauls... a lot, I tell you!

Recently, I purchased two products from the Tarina Tarantino makeup collection. It is sold online at TARINA TARANTINO at Sephora or you can find it in a few select Sephora stores. I bought Dollskin Cheek Powder in Carved Rose ($25) and Dollskin Powder in Translucent Tulle ($32).

First, the packaging...wow..so gorgeous! I can't wait to just pull it out in public! My Macbook camera does the compacts no justice! The compacts are silver with a pink plate in the center and lined with crystals. They come in a pink drawstring pouch. Very glam...

But is it worth it? Yes, yes, and yes. The blush consistency reminds me of Nars (only $1 cheaper!). In fact, Carved Rose is a perfect dupe of Nars' Angelika blush. It is a beautiful bright rose shade, much more vivid than Sephora's website color swatches lead you to believe. I'm wearing a very light layer of it that I applied with a Too Faced mini Flatbuki brush (awesome, super soft, great for layering, portable and only $12- highly recommend).

Translucent Tulle is a basic finishing powder and is $32 (!), but I love the way it feels on my skin. It is very silky and I love using it to set makeup. It comes with a sponge for touch ups, but no place to store it in the compact. From what I've read on beauty sites this seems to be the biggest gripe about this product, but I don't really care as I carry a set of mini-brushes with me. However, this might annoy you so be forewarned!

Love, love these products and can't wait to try more...

Oh, before I split...for those of you who have no clue who the hell Tarina Tarantino is, let me give you the skinny. Tarina is a former model turned jewelry designer who's work adorns celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Kelly Osbourne. You can check out some of her pieces here: : : T A R I N A T A R A N T I N O : : . Cute, no?

I'm Not Pissed Off!

2010-02-03T18:34:00.001-08:00

Don't let the pictures fool you! I've just been under a ton of stress lately. Mom had her leg operated on and is pretty immobilized. Lots of stress and worrying on my part. She does so much for everyone, its hard to fill her shoes. This is also the reason for no updates, which I am trying to be more on top of for 2010!

Anyhoo, I bought the Victoria's Secret Sultry Look palette for Christmas (its on clearance for $9.99 now) and this is the result. Its a lot darker and vampier than my camera picked up, but its basically the same dark colors you would get in any smokey eye kit. I adore the lid color and the lipstick is my favorite..sooo pretty!!! What do you think?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2009-12-25T10:47:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOURS TRULY! *MUAH*

P.S> PLENTY OF UPDATES TO COME!!!

Dr. Hauschka Product Review

2009-12-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

Nicole Richie, Dr. Hauschka fan

What do stars like Madonna, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt have in common? Divorcees, yes, but they are also big fans of Dr. Hauschka products. Dr. Hauschka is a holistic, organic skin care line that is quite costly, but less than La Mer. People rave about the products and that's all good, but what got me to pony up for some products was Rachel McAdams. Besides being my favorite actress and other girl crush, Rachel has gorgeous skin. She never looks sallow or oompa loompa orange like some other starlets *ahem Lindsay Lohan*.

I bought the Rose Day Cream and Cleansing Clay Mask. I'm only going to review the Rose Day Cream, haven't tried the mask yet.

The Rose Day Cream is great. I haven't used it for long, but I noticed my skin is softer and less dry. It smells pretty much like your average organic product, woodsy even though it's suppose to be derived from plant extracts. It feels a little greasy too, which I don't like. Do not make the same mistake I did and squeeze out too much. A little dab, no bigger than a dime size is sufficient enough. It is also more cost effective! If your skin is oily, do not use this product as it is very moisturizing. Also, I would not recommend using this product in seasons or locations where the weather is hot. Your skin "drinks" this product. If you apply it in the summer you're going to look like a sweaty meth addict.

Other than that, two thumbs up for the Rose Day Cream!

Brittany Murphy, RIP Baby Girl

2009-12-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Brittany Murphy(on the right) with Alicia Silverstone in Clueless

Last night, I finished watching a movie on Netflix called "Love and Other Disasters". I watched it to see Orlando Bloom in it for all of five seconds, but Brittany Murphy starred in it. As I was watching the film I marveled at how far she had gone in her career. She's done voice work for King of the Hill and the movie Happy Feet, plus starred in tons of her own movies. However, she will always be Tai to me, the stoner girl who is given a makeover by Cher and Dionne in Clueless. So imagine my surprise when I check my email on Yahoo and found out that she passed away. Ms. Murphy was only 32.

Everyone that has worked with her has said she was lovely and her fans have said she will sign anything you put in front of her and was incredibly nice. Warm, talented and a little kooky, she was one of the few stars that hadn't allowed commercial success to go to her head.

My condolences to Ms. Murphy's family, friends and fans....

UPS > USPS

2009-12-19T18:20:00.000-08:00

"No, I don't have your f*&%ing mail"!

Yeah, I said it. UPS is a million times better than the United States Postal Service.

What draws me to this conclusion? Well, let me explain. Let's do a side by side comparison, shall we?

First, and this is a general statement, UPS workers tend to be a lot friendlier. You may have met a few nasty ones, everyone is different after all, but I notice that the majority of the UPS workers I have encountered were pretty nice. USPS- not so much. Regardless of season, USPS workers always seem to have a stick up their a**. There is this one particular douchebag that works at my local post office- let's call him Bob. Bob is incredibly rude to every person that steps in front of his counter. I ordered a package from Amazon.com and USPS said they delivered it. Mind you I was off from work and home all day waiting for the package. They didn't attempt to deliver it, lazy bastards. Instead they left a pink slip on the front door of my building. Anyone could have knocked it down and had my neighbor not seen it, I would be giving Amazon all kinds of hell right now. Anyway, I went to pick up my package and Bob was there, being nasty to some old lady. I handed Bob my slip and waited for him to find my package-and the line was long. Twenty minutes and nothing... Finally he finds the package on a redelivery stand. Bob snapped "Next time, why don't you tell me that you scheduled a damn redelivery"? I snapped back, "Thank you for fetching my package a-hole. You sort mail. It is not that serious."

I should have asked for a manager, but I wasn't thinking. That's not even the biggest reason I hate USPS. The biggest reason I hate them is that their online delivery status checker sucks. If you have ever tried to check a package on USPS' Track and Confirm, you will receive one of three messages...

1.) There is no record of this item- Great, so I paid for something and have a label number and you don't recognize that you are telling me it doesn't exist in your system.

2.) Electronic Shipping info Received- USPS has been notified to expect your package for mailing, but does not indicate receiving it or a mailing date. F-U.

3.) Delivered- They only update the Track and Confirm to acknowledge a delivery, and sometimes before the package has arrived and been signed for. What a joke.

I'm not alone, as apparently there are 2,370 web pages bitching about USPS' Track and Confirm. Will update soon.

Gift cards are the greatest thing since sliced bread...

2009-12-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season... and I know exactly what I'm getting the people I love... gift cards. Some might find this offensive. They think gift cards are impersonal, lazy or lack imagination. Well, I say screw them.

Remember when you were a child and all you wanted were Barbies or G.I. Joes? And you ended up getting some ugly ass sweater? Or in my case a massive parka that was booger green and purple with a matching head set. Seriously, that coat is rotting in a landfill somewhere, or making a colorblind person very, very happy right about now.

Don't get me wrong, I've bought gifts that don't require scratching off or a magnetic swipe, mainly for the younger ones in my family. That's because children are easy to shop for. Adults require a bit more contemplation.

The primary problem is that most folks think they have great taste and they don't. I know, I know: The cardinal rule of gift giving is "it's the thought that counts." I agree , but not when its a gift that won't be put to use. To me, that's worse. It should be understood that my taste may differ from yours and that sweater,necklace, robe thing might be sitting collecting dust somewhere. What for? Why be wasteful?

That's why gift cards are the bomb, baby. You can allow the person to do their own shopping and most online retailers like Home Depot, Victoria's Secret, and Best Buy do not charge for taxes or shipping . Some retailers even offer e-gift cards that you can send directly to your intended's e-mail!

Sephora, M.A.C. and Victoria's Secret gift cards are my favorite to receive. The absolute perfect gifts for me! Even if there is nothing I feel like buying now, these shops are always releasing new products that I'm dying to try. Having a gift card just makes it so much easier. :)

Lockerz Invites

2009-12-11T13:09:00.000-08:00

Yup, Shameless plug. Lockerz.com is a cool web site that rewards prizes for doing basically nothing. You do not have to give a credit card or anything. Most of these sites seem hokey, but I think this is the real deal. The catch is that it is by invitation only. If you need and invite you can email me at gorgeouslatina83@yahoo.com

I Want This!!!!!!

2009-12-07T14:33:00.000-08:00

I've wanted this for a long, long time. It's the limited edition Juicy Couture sidekick. Sadly for us fans who hoped they would come out with a new Juicy Couture phone, it doesn't seem likely. Even though a Sidekick II is considered outdated, I love this. Its just so girly and feminine, like me! Love the pink and the signature terriers.

This model sold out in three months and you'll probably have to scavenge ebay for one. They are not cheap either. A used phone costs nearly the same as the retail price when these phones first went on the market! Am told that all you need is an unlocked phone and a Sim card and it will work. That is the only reason why I haven't bought it yet. Compatibility issues. Don't really need the phone for internet use. Just calls and text.

There's always the iPhone. I like Apple products, but I am not sure after seeing this video below.

Jump to about 2:05 mark to avoid having your ear talked off by the chatty Cathy:

Changed my hair... again!

2009-12-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

I have bangs now! My sister-in-law cut them for me and I love them!

I'm also wearing my new favorite lipstick. It is Fanfare by Mac. Fanfare is a described by the Mac website as being a "mid-tone yellow pink and is a cremesheen lipstick". I don't own many lipsticks nor am I a fan of them. I prefer glosses because you can be a bit more imprecise. Plus, most lipsticks that I have tried are to drying or to thick.

Fanfare isn't like that. With a little nude or peach gloss it is mega pretty and wearable for a variety of different skin tones. What is your favorite lipstick?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

Spend it with people you love! . :)

Best Black Friday Sites on the Net!!!

2009-11-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

God, I cannot wait until Friday. The shopping, the madness... can't wait! Here are some of the websites that I have found have the best black friday ads- leaked or not....

1.) Black Friday Ads - The Official Black Friday 2009 Website

2.)Black Friday 2009 Thanksgiving Day Black Friday Ads at Black-Friday.net

These are absolutely the best sites to comparison shop. Good luck, and remember to have fun!

More Louis Vuitton Love!

2009-11-25T13:46:00.000-08:00

Louis Vuitton has changed their site for the holidays and it is truly adorable. I love the music to the Wonderland collection. It's haunting, yet endearing at the same time.

They haven't added much, but I love all the new pieces. These shoes are my fave, classic black calf skin leather pumps with a golden plaque sole. So pretty!

They are also doing something especially fabulous for charity. 10% of the proceeds from an bag will go to the American Cross, but only until the end of November. This offer only applies to the the Alma, Speedy, Noe and Keepall bags from the Monogram Canvas collection. If you can afford it (lucky you!) why not get it. Here is a link to the Louis Vuitton Charity Bags.

Update: Okay so the link just takes you to the flash site. To access the Red Cross charity page, click on E-Shopping in the upper right hand corner. It will take you to another page and you can see the proper link on the lower left hand corner.

Joico review

2009-11-23T10:25:00.000-08:00

As a girl with Sahara desert dry hair, I am always on the hunt for that miracle hair product that will make my naturally undefined curls look runway-esque.

Joico K-Pak Reconstruct, promises to be that product. After reading a ton of great reviews on amazon.com and raves from celebs like Mila Kunis and Taylor Swift (who doesn't love her? well, maybe not Kanye West...)I decided to try it out.

First impressions: The scent. It smells like an overly ripe platano. Platanos are bananas in Spanish. Some people like the scent. I don't care for it, but that's just me.

It is a deep conditioner that is actually not a deep conditioner! It is a protein complex and protein complexes that are left in your hair for too long cause damage to hair! So no more than 5 minutes tops for this product. Also, do not skip your regular conditioner. Shampoo your hair, use the K-Pak, then use your normal conditioner.

The results: Overall my hair was softer (easier to take out those post-shower hair tangles!), shinier and my color looked more vibrant. The banana fragrance did not overpower my yummy shampoo and conditioner. It was barely detectable. I am going to continue using this product and I recommend you give it a try.

Black Nail Polish and a Review :)

2009-11-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

I love Fall/Winter. Not only are we allowed to eat disgusting amounts of food guilt-free, shop like crazy (Black Friday, Hello!) and be spared from the icky Summer heat, we're allowed to wear richer makeup and nail colors.

In 2006, it was very in Vogue to wear black nail polish. Celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie and Mischa Barton have rocked the dark hue. And guess what? Its baaaackkkk!!! Normally, I would think that black nail polish is reserved for Goth chicks who listen to Joy Division and write morbid poetry. Not true!

I bought a bottle of Revlon's black nail polish in Black lingerie and it is so refreshing and sophisticated looking. It makes your hands look very vibrant and clean!

The only problem I have with it is that it tends to chip really easily. And chipped black nails look gross in my opinion. Also, I would not wear red lips or white makeup because you can end up looking like Morticia Adams when you do so.

Next on the agenda is a review for Chi Silk Complex.

Friends of mine are always raving about Chi products so I decided to test drive one myself. I used the product after washing and conditioning my hair. I applied it and combed it through my wet hair and braided it before going to bed. When I woke up my hair was ridiculously soft, tangle-free and smelling great. The product smells like a guy's cologne to be honest, but I am a sucker for yummy smells so whatever!

It didn't tame my frizz as well as it suggests but bear in mind I used it at night and it could be bedhead. Also, do not use to much as it can be a little greasy. A pea sized amount is perfect.

It is also slightly cheaper than Biosilk and you receive more product. Hmm. I might be a convert!

Favorites!!!!!

2009-11-14T17:55:00.000-08:00

Like Fergie says "I be up in the gym just working on my fitness...". Yup, I have been sticking with my workouts and diet and I find it hard to commit to the blog as much as I would like to, but I have also been buying tons of beauty products and am planning to post some reviews as soon as I can. Right now I just want to share two of my favorite hair products with you! :)

Maybe I am just a sucker for products that smell wonderful. Perhaps that is why I love, love, love TIGI Catwalk's Oatmeal and Honey Shampoo! Not only does it smell like a slice of Heaven, but it works very well on my hair. My hair tends to be dry because of color treating and everyday wear and tear styling. This product works very well.

Besides the tons of compliments for the scent, I noticed that my hair was shinier and softer. You also do not need to use much of the shampoo as it lathers very well.

Now for the cons: For one, these products are meant to be used in conjunction with one another. So for brand mixers like myself, I wouldn't recommend it.

The conditioner bottle is paltry when compared to the shampoo. Women with dry frizzy hair like myself need to deep condition our hair regularly and to have to buy an extra conditioner per shampoo bottle is really inconvenient. Also, the price tag is rather steep. At a discount beauty supply store, I paid $29.95 for two jumbo bottles. That is a lot for fundamental hair care!

Oh well. At least my hair smells nice. More of my favorites and my Christmas wish list later. Also going to try the CHI Silk Infusion reconstructing complex. Just dying to see if it can hold up to my Biosilk. Later, Bellas!

My New Hair!

2009-09-30T19:47:00.001-07:00

Tada! It's a reddish brown. And I'm trying the pinup girl look thing.

Wii Fit and Halloween

2009-09-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

Been very busy. Haven't been able to update as frequently as I like. Coloring my hair and typing as we speak!

I've been using the Wii Fit for two weeks now and I must say that it absolutely works! So far I dropped 8.2 pounds! I use it about 1 hour to 1 and a half hours a day and I haven't changed my diet radically or anything. Of course, there is no substitute for going to a gym or old-fashioned sweating it out outside, but this is a fun alternative. I'm going to continue to do it and keep the blog updated.

For some strange reason, I am really excited about Halloween this year. I can't decide what I'm going to be. I think I want to be a pinup girl a la Bettie Page.

I'm going to do another makeup tutorial soon, I've just been really busy. Also going to publish pics of my new hair color.

Happy Happy Joy Joy & Makeup Tutorial!!!!!

2009-09-16T15:43:00.001-07:00

Something must be in the air because I am feeling ridiculously jazzed! After months of feeling in a rut I just have this sudden feeling of overwhelming optimism. I am feeling so pumped I felt like doing a quick makeup tutorial, in spite of my assy camera. This is a very easy, "pretty" look and requires minimal tools and time (10 minutes max!) to mimic. So here it goes:

After cleansing my skin, I applied Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NW35 under my eyes, on my lids-from tear duct to brow bone and a little on my cheeks for spot concealing. Any concealer brush will do. I use a Clinique concealer brush, which works fine. If you have severe undereye circles, stippling a wedge-shaped cosmetic sponge may work better to neutralize darkness, but remember that sponges also tend to waste more product.

Next, I applied Mac Studio Fix in c4 to set the concealer. Then I applied a light dusting of the gorgeous Nars Outlaw Blush to the apples of my cheeks, chin, nose and temples. Any large powder brush will suffice for application.

The trickiest part of this look is the eyes. An unsteady hand and not extending the eyeliner properly can make you look more Amy Winehouse than you would want. A nice trick if you are going to use liquid eyeliner like I did is to use a powder or pencil eyeliner to make the line as thick or as thin as you desire. Make sure that you stay as close to the lashline as possible. I used Urban Decay in Zero as my powder liner with Mac's 209 brush (great for lining eyes-I recommend it). Then I applied Prestige liquid eyeliner in Black on top.

For the lips, I recommend using a nude, plum or pink based gloss. A vibrant shade, particularly a red will make this look more femme fatale. This is a subdued everyday look. I used Bobbi Brown gloss in Ruby Sugar and tissue blotted it to tone down the color.

So there you have it.Done in 10 minutes or less! <3

Deja Vu Cosmetics Product Review

2009-09-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

Deja Vu Cosmetics is a manufacturer of skin and spa products that specialize in using salts and minerals from the Dead Sea. You can usually find their products at malls, but their website says beauty supply stores and spas carry them.

I tried the facial peel, moisturizer, body scrub and body lotion. My thoughts:

The facial peel is great if not a little pricey (These products are not cheap). It is not to bad, a little tingly, but not overwhelming. You can actually see the layers of dead skin come off as you are removing the peel from your face. Its gross, but to see the product actually working is reassuring,right? The moisturizer that accompanies it is very blah though. It is too greasy. It reminds me of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion. Not a good thing. My skin is dry, but I don't like looking like I rubbed Vaseline all over my face!

After I used the peel I tried the Green Tea body scrub. The body scrub works. The only negative is that it is abrasive on skin. Using it in feels like your rubbing your skin against a cheese grater. Also not crazy about the accompanying moisturizer. I am biased,though. I much prefer using Victoria's Secret's Pure Seduction Body lotion. It doesn't last long, but the smell is divine!

So that is my little review. Until tomorrow bellas. I have to go to the dentist in the AM *groans*.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

2009-09-09T16:11:00.001-07:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Vintage pictures - Family history

Katie Leung, Petra Nemcova, Marilyn Monroe, Bic Runga and Scarlett Johansson are my celebrity look-alikes? WTF? LOL.

Louis Vuitton Love

2009-09-09T01:40:00.000-07:00

People tend to be very decisive in their attitudes towards Louis Vuitton handbags. They either love them or hate them passionately.

My elegant mother, always impeccably put together, cannot fathom spending that much money on a purse. My sister-in-law, like me, appreciates luxury goods but she dislikes anything with tons of recognizable logos stamped all over it like Coach and Louis Vuitton products tend to have. She'd rather have a $2,000 Chloé bag that nobody knows is a $2,000 Chloé bag. Plus, so many women in New York own them that you lose individuality style points.

Nonetheless, I was sold when a friend brought her Louis to my house. The craftsmanship, the sheen of the canvas and even the smell of the interior is incredible. Now I am determined to get one (if I could afford to buy all three I would!), but don't know which to choose.

My favorite so far is the Montorgueil that appears in the first two pictures. It is such a gorgeous shape and also very practical. It can be worn over the shoulder, even with a coat. It comes in two sizes. The Montorgueil PM model is $800 and the larger GM version is $870.

The Neverfull is my second choice. It is the tote-style bag in the third pic. I love that you can cinch it and it has a great everyday practicality like the Montergueil. Not crazy about the straps. Someone told me if you overpack the purse, the straps dig into your shoulders. It comes in three sizes. The PM is $600, the MM is $650 and the GM is $700, cheap for a Louis of that size.

My final choice would be the Speedy. Like the purse shape, don't think I want a top handle bag, though. It comes in four sizes: Speedy 25 that is $665, the Speedy 30 which is $690 and the bag that is shown in the last pic. They also have the Speedy 35 for $ 715 and the Speedy 40 for $740,

Do you own any Louis Vuitton? What do you think about the brand? Which purse would you get?

Victoria's Secret And Juicy Couture

2009-09-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

My aunt Millie did me a great service (or disservice-- depending on how you want to look at it) when she handed my mother a map to the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth, NJ.

The Jersey Gardens Mall really caters to the urban budget fashionista (hello!). I didn't have much time to shop (2 hours only), but quickly found myself parting with my cash and getting some crazy cardio in trying to sprint from store to store. Seriously, the layout of the mall is a little bizarre.

I shopped on the weekend during closing hours and it was a little frenetic, not too bad. In the end, I managed to sneak into Bed, Bath and Beyond, Claires, Juicy Couture and Victoria's Secret.

Victoria's Secret Outlet + Juicy Couture Outlet= Heaven on Earth. I bought the signature pink pouch from Juicy Couture. Retail price was $50. I paid $29.95. Dirt cheap for a Juicy Couture item. I'm storing my Urban Decay Deluxe Shadowbox, Stila mascara and a Victoria's Secret lip palette in there. Still have plenty of room and cannot wait to fill it with more products! Also itching to go back to pick up a shirt and black messenger bag that I had my eye on. Already own a super cute baby blue velour bowling bag from Juicy. Maybe I should start a Juicy handbag collection? What do you think?

My last destination was Victoria's Secret. Shockingly enough, I didn't buy underwear. I bought a beautiful pink v-neck top made of finely woven cotton...ah...so incredibly soft and a pair of brown Intimissimi shorts for $9.99 each. I also bought three lipglosses (Hottie, Wet and Babe), a blush/highlighter duo and luminous touch highlighter from the Very Sexy Makeup line.

Very Sexy lipgloss in Hottie is a very pretty red-fuschia color with gold and bronze flecks in it. Not practical for everyday wear, but is ideal for special nights out and for some events I plan on attending. Wet is a neutral mauve-brown shade, perfect for everyday wear. My favorite, Babe (I'm wearing it in the pic/mugshot above), is a nude pinkish-brown with lots of gold shimmer . Great alone for a subdued lip or mixed with your favorite lipstick or gloss.

The blush duo is in the shade Runway (a duplicate of Stila's Legally Blonde palette #2 blush) and the highlighter in pink shimmer is also pretty and maybe just a tad to subtle to show up on my tan/olive complexion.

Tried to swatch the glosses on my wrist from top to bottom: Hottie, Babe and Wet. My assy camera didn't pick it up too well. Looks like a hickey lol. I promise better swatches in the near future...and to not take pictures so late at night. :)

The Economy Sucks

2009-09-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

And there ain't a damn thing you can do about it. Blame Bush and the Republicans for the Commoditiy Futures Modernization Act or Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats for suing banks not giving people sub-prime mortgage loans. So much finger pointing. Blah blah blah.

Whatever. I don't care. All I know is that in a time when people desperately need jobs or at the very least to keep the ones they have, there is no job security. None.

Remember Ken Karpman? No? Ken Karpman was a CEO who made $750,000 a year. Ken now makes $7.50 an hour delivering pizza.

If you asked me three years ago,I would tell you I'd rather run across a minefield than deliver pizza or work at a fast food place. But now I can't really afford to be proud. Education, one of the biggest instruments in determining the success rate in the working world is no longer a variable.

My sister-in-law and one of my good friends, the marvelous Miss M, is a brilliant designer, experienced and well educated. She could ordinarily get a job wherever she wanted. In this market, however, she has to wait until something opens up. So unfortunate...and infuriating. Hopefully, I can post some of her amazing designs later so you can see what I'm talking about. Ciao bellas.

Adriana Lima Kills Me

2009-09-07T21:33:00.000-07:00

Adriana Lima is nauseatingly beautiful. I mean, everything about this woman screams perfection. Those feline-like eyes, the pouty full lips, the silky dark hair and her naturally lean, but not in an I had two-grapes-for-dinner body. In fact, Adriana is one of the select few Victoria's Secret models that has not had cosmetic surgery (many of them have had work done, regardless of what they or their publicists tell you.)

I'm girlcrushing big-time here. Love, love, love her flirty, feminine style.

Also so glad she is preggers and rocking her natural hair color. Thought the ash brown base with caramel and blonde highlights she sported a while back was pretty, but hated the orangey red hair with the Donatella Versace leatherface tan circa '07. Ugh.

Her makeup is always flawless. Simple, never overdone... always just right. When she does venture into bolder choices in fashion and beauty the result is playful and classy, never garish or crude. Here she is in a sexy black mini dress and YSL heels at the 2008 ESPY awards.