Free Tote for Mother's Day from Ulta!

Teehee.  Anytime a company has a gift with purchase, I get super excited.  Currently, Ulta is giving away a super cute tote bag (you can choose from 7 different colors!) when you spend $30 or more on any fragrance purchase.


Fabbity-fabulous, right?


But that's not all.  Ulta is guaranteeing shipment by Mother's Day, AND shipping is free! All you have to do is enter the code 54321 at checkout.


I can't think of a mother out there who wouldn't love this gift.  And of course, since it's such a great deal,  I promise not to judge if you end up getting it for yourself!


If you're unsure about which fragrance to buy, DKNY's Be Delicious is a great universal scent that works well for everyone (plus the bottle is shaped like an apple--how can you pass that up?)


The GWP is only around for a limited time, as is the free shipping, so get your shopping done stat!

ELF 100 Piece Eyeshadow GIVEAWAY!!

So it's been a while since I've done a fab giveaway--so I figured I should do one for you ladies!!

I have one Limited Edition ELF Studio Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette to give away to one super lucky reader!!

I absolutely LOVE this set.  I actually have one of my own and it's perfect for trying out new looks.  The shadow is also highly pigmented, so it lasts all day.

Enter the giveaway below! Good luck, gals!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fashion Faux Pas: The Vagina Tote Bag

Umm...yes.  This is a real product.


ReForm School has come out with this "cutting edge" Evolution of the Muff Tote that really shows the evolution of pubic hair throughout time.


SERIOUSLY??!  I just can't even begin to imagine carrying this thing around!  And I'm not a prude or anything...I'm just not a huge fan of displaying images of vaginas on my tote bags (or anywhere else, really).


Here's a close-up of the "evolution":

Okay.  I get that this is somewhat funny.  But it's simply bad taste.  This is just one more occasion in which I would punch someone repeatedly if they were carrying this ridiculous bag.

If you feel the need to showcase vagina differences over time, you can purchase this hideous bag for under $30.

But I'm literally begging you not to.  I might have to ban the crazed peeps who enjoy this tote from my site. I am not overreacting. It is that serious.

You've been warned.

Super Cute Mother's Day Gift!

Mother's Day is rapidly approaching.  This year, take a break from buying your mom candles and random bath gift sets (she won't use them anyway).


Treat your fab mom to a trophy just for her!  This ultra fab Mom Trophy from Fred Flare is perfect.  Let your mom--or any mother figure in your life--know that she's #1!  Reward her for her kick-ass radness.


I absolutely love this trophy.  It not only makes me chuckle, it also looks like it'd be a great addition to any lady's trophy shelf.  And if she doesn't have a trophy shelf? She can rock it on her mantle! Or right next to her bed!


Each trophy is $15.

Fashionable Foldable Flats

I've seen oodles of foldable, portable flats.  They're fabulous.  The only issue I have with them is that there aren't a bunch of color or design options.


I mean, I love the idea of keeping a pair of chic flats in my purse for when my heels betray me.  I'd just like more options.


Enter Newport News' Foldable Travel Ballet Flats.  They come in an adorable lace and satin design and I'm absolutely in love with them!


Though the design is a bit different and more flashy than other travel flats, it's done in neutral colors so the flats actually match nearly any outfit.


The best part? These flats are currently on sale for $29 a pair! Not bad for a super chic pair of flats!!

Man Mishap: The Rise of the Man Bun

Sigh. The latest hair trend with male celebs is quite unfortunate.  Apparently, the man bun is "trendy" in Hollywood.


I don't get it.  I'm not sure who started this horrific trend, but I would love to personally punch them in the 'nads.  Repeatedly.  And that's not me just being mean and selfish--it's to remind the men of Hollywood that they are actually MEN.


A chic ballerina bun can be absolutely adorable...on women.  A grungy, disgusting bun on dudes is simply unacceptable.


I've always hated men with long hair.  The man ponytail is right at the top of my most hated men's hairstyles.  That said, the man bun has actually surpassed it.


Listen guys, I get that throwing your long locks into a bun can seem like a good idea.  It gets your hair out of your face, and is easy to do.  But you know what else keeps hair our of your face?? A G.D. HAIRCUT!!!


Stop trying to be trendy and cool, and just get a haircut like normal people.


Thank you. That is all. 

For Fickle Fingers: Sula Pant and Peel Polish

When I was around six, my mom got me my very first set of nail polish.  I think it was included in a little Barbie makeup set, and what I loved the most was that the polishes peeled right off.  It was fabulous, because I couldn't ever decide on a polish color to stick with, so I was able to constantly paint, peel, then repaint, to  change looks depending on my mood!


Not much has changed since then.  I still constantly change my nail polish hue, sometimes more than once daily.  What can I say? I get bored easily and I like to try out different colors!


The good news is that there are some new gorgey paint and peel polishes out there.  Sula Beauty has some adorable nail duos (one end is a color, the other a top coat) that peel right off whenever you feel like it.  The quality is way better than my old Barbie polishes--the color can last for up to a few days if you want it to.  And the color options are phenomenal.


Here's a peek at the different hues:

Cute, right?! The polishes are also totally portable, so you can change up your mani on the go!

LOVE it!  You can buy yourself a duo (or buy 'em all!) for $9 each.

Fashion Faux Pas: BEING SICK!

Sorry, fashionistas!! I've had the most ridiculous cold/fever/possible flu for the past couple weeks, so I haven't been writing.  I know you've been missing reading up on the latest trends, but don't fret! I'm better now, so look forward to some fab posts starting tomorrow!

Side note: I've come pretty close to writing myself a few Fashion Citations during this time...and I'm not proud of that fact!!

Fab Flats for $15!

Even though I'm only 5ft tall, I tend to gravitate towards flats on a regular basis.  Heels are great, but since my feet are so tiny, I have a hard time finding any that fit me. And let's be honest--flats are much more comfy!


No matter what season it is, or what I happen to be wearing, I can usually depend on a good pair of stylish flats to get me through the day.


A couple years ago, I had a pair of AMAZING leopard print flats.  I basically wore them everyday.  Somehow, they managed to go with nearly every outfit I ever wore.  The downside was that they literally wore out after about a year because I wore them during all sorts of crazy weather (hey, a little bit of rain isn't going to stop me from wearing leopard print flats!)


I've been on the lookout for a replacement pair for a while and I finally found one!!


Target has this great pair of Leopard Print Ballet Flats that I am absolutely in love with.  They are super comfy, and totally gorgeous!


The flats are only $15 per pair, and come in a few different colors and patterns.  There's a really pretty pair of patent leather nude ones that I want...and will probably get.  But really, nothing beats leopard print, in my book (or blog)!

My Virtual Makeover Obsession!

I've been using this awesome website, Taaz.com, for a while now so I figured I'd pass along the fabulousness to my lovely readers!


Basically, the site allows you to upload any photo of yourself and add makeup, whiten your teeth, and even try out different hair styles! You can actually even try out complete celeb looks to see how it would look on you.


The coolest part, in my mind, is that the makeup you choose is actual makeup.  The site tells you what product you're using so that if you like the way a certain color looks on you, you can run out a buy it.  It's super helpful for when you don't feel like trying out a million different eyeshadows at a makeup counter, but still want a new look.


The result is a fairly natural-looking picture with whatever products you picked over it.  That said, you can also get crazy and creative with it if you want.  It's totally up to you.  I can literally spend hours trying different makeup on my "face".


I also have to admit that I love using the site to touch up some of my own pictures (like adding a little mascara and blush to a pic that makes me look washed out).


It's really a great resource, and best of all it's free! Huzzah!

Fashion Faux Pas: Underwear for your Bra

So I was going through some of my grandma's catalogs the other day and found a crazy amount of weird products that shouldn't really exist.


The worst? Gold Violin's Absorbent Bra Liner.


Now I realize that the product is meant for older women, but still I feel like it's totally ridiculous.  I mean, it's like wearing a panty liner underneath your bra. Even the name tells it like it is!


The liner claims to make wearing your bra less painful, while also absorbing any sweat you may accumulate throughout the day.  Honestly, if you sweat enough to need this product, you should see a doctor.


Another point? How do you explain this if you're about to..."get intimate" with someone??! Do you just flat out say that you have sweaty boobs? Or make something up on the spot?


If for some ungodly reason you want to try these out, you can buy a pack of three washable liners for $20.

Happy Easter!!

In honor of Easter, I found this adorable Bunny Ring.

I'm absolutely in love with it. Not only is it the perfect Easter accessory, it also works for spring and summer in general. 

I also like that the ring has a bit of a vintage feel to it and looks rather unique.

But the best part? It costs a mere $9!

How can anyone pass that up??!

Simply Divine and Under $39!

Makeup sales are my weakness.  Well, really any sale on general.  But makeup is def my addiction.

Currently, Ulta is teaming up with Smashbox for a fab sale.  Basically you get a set of makeup (it's about a $150 value!) for $39!  The set is called Beauty Exposed and contains a bunch of ultra-wearable makeup hues that work with nearly all skintones.

Here's what's inside:

• The Beauty Exposed eyeshadow palette (with four shadows in Bare, Carmel, Marble, and Oak and a soft lights highlighter in Moonstone)
  
• Lip Enhancing Gloss in Starfruit
  
• Blush Rush in Peony
  
• Limitless Eyeliner in Stone
  
• Photo Finish Foundation Primer
  

Pretty fabulous!!  If you need to stock up on some basic makeup goodies, this is really the set to get!

Stowaway Shower Curtain

I live in a studio apartment.  One of the downsides is that my bathroom is tiny.  I don't have tons of room for my plethora of hair and body products (to be fair, I probably own way too many products than is socially acceptable).


Anyway, I found this fabulous Stowaway Shower Curtain from Urban Outfitters.  It has POCKETS!  For real.  I'm loving this.  I can actually store oodles of things right inside the shower curtain!


I'm also a huge fan of the color.  The light blue hue is fabulous.  But if you aren't a fan, the curtain also comes in a light grey.


Each curtain is $44, which I think is reasonable for a good quality shower curtain that doubles as an organizer.

AMAZING Guess Jewelry SALE at Burlington Coat Factory!

On a recent jaunt to Burlington Coat Factory, I stumbled upon the most ridiculously awesome deal EVER.   A ton of their boxed Guess jewelry sets (including a necklace, bracelet, and a pair of earrings) are currently on sale for under $3!!  I bought the sets pictured above. Gorgey, right?!

Seriously.  This is not a joke.

Guess jewelry is amazing and the quality is always great.  So this is kinda a big deal.

The gift sets are originally $60.  That's right.  I know this because the original price tags are still on the inside of the boxes.  This is the best sale ever! I actually think I totally freaked out the sales girl when I checked out because I was so obsessed and giddy.

I'm not sure how long this sale is going on for, or even how long they'll have the gift sets since they're so crazily cheap...SO definitely make a point to pick up a set (or two...or three!) They make fab gifts for anyone in your life--especially for yourself!

How To Pronounce Beauty Brand Names

I don't know about you ladies, but I have a ridiculously hard time pronouncing beauty brand names.  And it can get pretty embarrassing when I claim to be a beauty guru, then say the name of a brand incorrectly.  Below are a few of the most common beauty brands that people mispronounce.

Borghese
How to pronounce it: bor-gay-zeh (NOT bor-gay-zee)

Bourjois
How to pronounce it: boor-jwah 

NYX
How to pronounce it: nix (NOT N.Y.X.)

Shu Uemura
How to pronounce it: shoe oo-eh-moor-ah

L'Occitane En Provence
How to pronounce it: lox-ee-tann uhn pro-vaunce

Sheiseido
How to pronounce it: sheh-say-do

Stila
How to pronounce it:  stee-lah

Rimmel
How to pronounce it:  rim-l


Chantecaille
How to pronounce it:  shan-tuh-kigh


Guerlain
How to pronounce it:  gerr-lahn (the n is silent)



Helpful, no?  I must admit, I was definitely pronouncing some of these incorrectly.  But now I can talk about beauty brands with confidence! Huzzah!

My Latest Obsession: Magenta Hair Mascara

Every once in a while I get the uncontrollable urge to do something crazy with my hair.    Because I also like to look professional at times (oh the woes of being a journalist!), I cannot permanently color my hair bright purple, no matter how much I want to.

That's where Claudia Steven's Hair Highlighter comes in.  It comes in oodles of colors (black, bronze, mocha, gold, blue, and of course my personal fave, magenta).  As a side note, my lovely friend Nicole over at Glossy Gurl opted for the cobalt blue hue and it looks absolutely fab on her.

Now I have to say that the actual product looks much more pink than the picture leads you to believe.  It's a true magenta and somehow looks great with my newly dyed red locks.  Here's a picture with some of the magenta mixed in:

It's a little difficult to see the full effect in the picture, but you can get the basic idea. I like to do only a few highlights on the top of my head and then do multiple strands of "peek-a-boo" highlights underneath so it looks as natural as magenta hair can possibly look.

The only "downside" that I've found so far is that it's a little tricky to wash out.  I put a ton of the stuff in my hair for a night out and it took about three washings for it to completely disappear.  That's not really a bad thing, and I still consider it a temporary look.

What do you ladies think?

The best part is that you can get a tube of the hair mascara for under $5.  I'm definitely going to stock up on a few of the other colors (the gold color is def on my list!)

Fekkai Complementary National Blowout Day!

I'm practically hyperventilating while writing this, so bear with me.  To celebrate spring, two of my absolutely fave companies, Ulta and Fekkai, are hosting a Complimentary Blowout Day on April 5th 1-8pm!!


The only thing better than getting a blowout, is getting one for free! There's no purchase necessary (awesome, right?!), but if you do spend over $25 on Fekkai products, which I highly suggest you do, you'll also receive a 1.6oz Brilliant Glossing Cream.  This is honestly one of the best products that I use daily.  It works on all hair types and makes hair look shiny and fabulous, without looking greasy.


For the blowout, you can choose from two different looks:
Silky Straight or Full Blown Volume.  The Full Blown Volume style utilizes products from the Fekkai Advanced collection to add some volume and extra oomph!  The Silky Straight look uses products to make hair look effortlessly smooth, straight and chic.


Sounds incredible right? I'll definitely be headed over to the closest Ulta for this!  To find one near you, check the site's store locator.

What to Keep in Your Emergency Makeup Bag

I think it's safe to say that I have a makeup obsession.  I probably love makeup more than is socially acceptable.  So I generally carry what I call an "emergency makeup bag" with me everywhere I go.  I usually carry a huge handbag and throw a small cosmetic bag in there with the essentials. And while my obsession causes me to include a full eyeshadow palette and about five lip glosses in there, I also like to think that I carry some great products that can revive any look all day long.


Here are the top five products I keep with me at all times:


1) A good eyelash curler. Seriously, you've got to see the difference it makes. Insane. A portable one is great because they're super tiny and can easily fit into any makeup bag. 
2) A dark eyeliner. Black or brown or both. Non-negotiable. 
3) Mascara. It can be thickening, lengthening, volumizing. Whatever, really. Just pick your poison. Dramatic lashes just make you look more awake and "with it." Plus, it keeps focus on your eyes and not on, say, a big pimple. 
4) Concealer that exactly matches your skintone. 
5) A subtle sparkly eye shadow. Beige works. So does champagne. Just look for something light that shimmers. You can put it in your lids for a soft, girlie effect, in your inner corners to open your eyes up or along your cheekbones to make them look higher. So versatile! An acceptable substitute: Highlighter.


Of course, there are lots of other great things that can be handy to have on hand, but those are the five I think everyone should have. 


Although now that I think of it, putting together an emergency makeup bag is the perfect excuse to buy a fab new makeup case!! One with a mirror inside it is a great added bonus!

Where to find your emergency supplies: