Mom and me, circa 1979
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by CoverGirl.
Mother’s Day is this Sunday and I’m so excited. Not just because Mr. Spoiled Pretty and my son, Westley, are treating me to a decadent brunch. But because it’s an opportunity to celebrate my hero, Andrea Stamps.
I must admit that until two years ago, Mother’s Day was just another CONTINUE READING
At Christmastime, I agonized over what to get my son's daycare teachers. There are 12 of them - and even though he has his two main teachers, they all have interaction with him and take excellent care of him. So I needed to buy 12 gifts to show my appreciation, without breaking the bank. $10 each seemed doable, except CONTINUE READING
As a beauty expert, I’m embarrassed by how late I am to the BB Cream party. In the past year, so many friends and colleagues have asked me about BB Creams—what’s the buzz, which brands are the best, etc. —and they would look at me funny when I admitted to not having tried BB Creams yet. I mean, they CONTINUE READING
I’m very fickle about my fingernails. Before I paint my nails or get them professionally did, I spend a inordinate amount of time pondering my polish options. I consider the season, recent trends, my wardrobe that week and anywhere special I might go. But despite all of this planning, I’m usually over my polish choice before it even dries.
Not CONTINUE READING
After beauty products, handbags are my secondary addiction. But when it comes to arm candy, I have discriminating taste. For me, the perfect handbag seamlessly marries fashion with function, is handcrafted from high-quality materials, has really unique hardware and is classic but edgy - all at the same time. I don't like to carry the of-the-moment "it" bag. I CONTINUE READING
Earlier this month, Kate Spade (aka creator of cuteness and the reason why I can't seem to keep money in my wallet), launched a brand new line called Kate Spade Saturday.
Kate Spade Saturday is a new global lifestyle brand created to channel the spirit of Saturday seven days a week. This younger, more accessible sister to kate spade new CONTINUE READING
I normally wouldn’t advocate spending more than $15-20 on shampoo or conditioner; but when you have hair with behavioral problems like mine, well, sometimes you’ve gotta pay the cost to be the boss.
Philip B White Truffle Shampoo and White Truffle Nourishing Hair Conditioning Creme impart moisture, elasticity, and shine to chemically processed, dry, or damaged hair. The miracle broth of 23.2% pure botanical extracts (white truffle, lavender, comfrey, thyme, hops, and nettle) instantly disciplined my mane. Usually when I use a new hair product, I need to blow it dry and style it before I notice any difference. With this shampoo and conditioner, I felt the difference in the shower! The only thing I can liken it to is Ritalin for your hair.
At $54 and $75 – stay with mehere – these products cost 3 and 4 times what I, a beauty junkie, would typically spend on shampoo and conditioner. But considering how much I generally pay for hair serums, lotions, and potions promising to make my hair behave – I will gladly dig deep into my pockets to fund this addiction.
Y’all wanted some J.R. Watkins prizes, huh? Well, the time has come to announce the winners. Looks like the new year is off to a beautiful start for Nancy J. She is the brand new owner of the Lemon Cream Dream Kit. Equally lucky is Beth (bethersparker) – she will receive the Treat Your Hands & Feet Kit.
Thanks for doing your part to make 2007 such a memorable and special year for me. I appreciate your support of this blog more than I can articulate. So please accept my most sincere thanks.
The last five months have been fun, but the next twelve are going to be fierce. I’m just getting warmed up! If there’s any way I can enhance your reading experience, don’t hesitate to let me know. I welcome your suggestions and feedback.
Be sure to come back and visit me regularly – I so enjoy your company. Bookmark the site, or subscribe to receive updates in your email – so you can get spoiled every day! And don’t forget to tell your friends and family…I guarantee you all know a beauty addict who would also enjoy this site.
I wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous, and pretty 2008. Make a resolution to live every day to its fullest!
Thanks to a tip from the Beauty Blogging Junkie, I took a trip to a kiosk at the Montgomery Mall, outside of Philadelphia. This stand sells Obey Your Body, a complete line of skin care and spa products that are made in Israel using original Dead Sea minerals, water, and mud.
If you’re in the Philly area, I highly recommend that you pay this kiosk a visit. But don’t plan on drive-buy (your visit will take 10-15 minutes) – because the salesman is all about showmanship. He’s going to do demonstrations, tell jokes, and enlighten you about the healing powers of the Dead Sea. The routine almost takes on a magic show-esque quality. But trust me, it’s all worth it…because when you get the products home and try them for yourself, that’s when the real magic happens.
My mom, sister, and I all purchased The Ultimate Nail Care Kit, which contains a nail file, buffer, cuticle oil, and hand & body lotion. But the standout of the bunch is the nail buffer – which is unlike any other I have ever used. In the time that it usually takes for me to locate my bottle of clear polish, I buffed my way to super-shiny nails.
I took some before and after photos (left) – and while impressive, my digital camera could not accurately capture how reflective my nails look. Unfortunately, it can only be appreciated in person.
Don’t live anywhere near Philadelphia? No problem. You can still Obey Your Body by visiting the website.
It’s the last day of the year, so it’s only fitting that I summarize for you the products that spoiled me prettiest in 2007. For your convenience, I’ve linked each product to the corresponding review.
If a product does not have a link, this indicates that I have not had an opportunity to write a formal review just yet – but look for those posts in the near future. These products are listed in no particular order – it was hard enough narrowing it down to seven in each category!
Thanks for your support in 2007. I hope you find something on this list to spoil you pretty in 2008!
I still don’t have any plans for NYE. It might be a quiet, romantic dinner with my hubby. Or a raucous celebration with friends at a bar. Or I might just sit on the couch and blog my way into the new year. Whichever it is, here’s the makeup look I will be rocking.
I didn’t have a particular look I was going for. It really just started with Diane Brill’s Liquid Eye Liner in Lace Diamonds – and evolved from there. I didn’t expect to go so over-the-top. But once I started, I found it hard to stop…hence, my glittery glamtastic eyelids that rival the Times Square Ball in sparkle.
Once I finished piling it all on, I was afraid it was a little too Amanda Lepore for my liking. But it has since grown on me, and I hope you’ll agree that it looks quite pretty in pictures.
(top photo – naked eye lined with Diane Brill Liquid Eye Liner in Lace Diamonds; bottom photo – finished eye, after step two)
Step Three – Cheeks: Dot DuWop Blush Therapy (in Hug) on apples of cheeks, then blend with fingertips.
Step Four – Highlighting: Dot Freeze 24/7 Freeze & Go down the bridge of the nose and on cheekbones, then gently tap with pad of finger until blended.
Step Five – Lips: Finish off the look with a few swipes of MAC Lustreglass – I used Budding, but I think it’s been discontinued. Venetian is somewhat similar, but tad bit deeper – though still sheer.
That’s the recipe. I hope you had as much fun reading about the look as I had creating it! If you’re looking for more NYE makeup ideas, my friend Marina at Makeup Loves Me has a bunch.
So with that, I’m going to conclude this post with the immortal words of my man, Prince. Every NYE, you’re bound to hear “1999” at least a couple times, so allow me to introduce you to another oldie, but goodie – a little ditty Prince recorded with Sheena Easton. Remember her? “Sugar Walls”? Okay, now I’m showing my age. Just watch the video.
