Gorgey V-Day Bracelet ON SALE!

As I've written about 432897434 times this week, Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday, without a doubt.  I love giving cute gifts to my lady friends, and of course sharing a day of love with my main squeeze!

If you're looking for a super cute gift for just about any girl out there (even yourself!), this Purple Murano Glass Bead Bracelet is perfecto.  The heart clasp is utterly adorable, yet it doesn't scream "Hi, I'm a cheesy, predictable Valentine's Day gift!" 

I've seen bracelets like this selling at ridiculous prices. Trollbeads and Pandora bracelets immediately come to mind.  Those bracelets can cost hundreds of dollars.  First you buy the actual bracelet, with nothing on it, for about $40.  Then you add the beads (which are all sold separately) for anywhere from $20-$100 and up! 

This bracelet looks almost identical to the pricey ones, and it's currently on sale for $29! The price is only available for a limited time--usually it goes for about $200.  Shipping is included and the site guarantees delivery by Valentine's Day!

LOVE it!!

Why I HATE to LOVE Shopping

As a self-proclaimed fashionista, shopping is one of my absolute fave things to do.  I'm basically addicted to shopping! 

The downside? I actually have a really hard time finding certain clothing.  I'm only 5ft tall and am somehow crazily curvy, but still quite thin, at the same time. This poses a problem when I try to buy pants in particular.  I have two really annoying issues with pants.

1. Length.  Most pants come in one length--especially the fashionable ones--and I'm either forced to shop elsewhere or get them hemmed. I actually learned to hem pants myself because this has been such a huge issue for me.  Sure there are a few stores that cater to my needs, but often the pants are too short or simply aren't flattering.
2. My curves. Often times when I finally find a pair of pants that are the perfect length, the sizing is an issue.  Most pants that are cut for tiny women are cut almost completely straight, leaving no room for my hips and bum.  That means that I either need to buy pants that fit my legs and deal with a muffin top (and I'm a size 4!!!), or I have to get a pair that fits my curves, but is baggy around my legs.

Another shopping problem I have is buying shoes. I love accessories, so buying shoes is something I practically salivate over.  Unfortunately, I'm a child's size 3.  I can sometimes buy a women's size 5 and stuff them full of foot pads and such, but that rarely works.  Most of the time, I just have to buy kid's shoes.  Sure I can get adorable Hello Kitty sneakers, but no matter how much I love Hello Kitty, it just doesn't cut it.  This really sucks when I'm looking for a cute pair of heels.  I can usually get decent-looking flats, and yes they are cheaper than adult shoes, but most of the trendy footwear is not in the children's section. 

It's super frustrating to find something in a store that I absolutely love, only to find that it doesn't fit me. It usually means that it takes me longer to shop than the "average" woman, and I still generally walk out of stores without what I was originally looking for.

However shopping isn't a total bust.  I can usually find tops that fit me perfectly, and I stock up on scarves, handbags, and jewelry like crazy! Thank God for accessories! They don't discriminate, no matter what your size is and they can totally change the look of any outfit.  Without them I would be completely lost.

To hear about another fashion-lover's woes, check out Glossy Gurl's shopping post!

Beauty Boo-Boo: Maybelline's Color Tattoo Shadow

Okay. I'm pretty heated, so bear with me. When I hear the words "color tattoo", I tend to assume that whatever the product is, it should be well-pigmented and last for at least 24 hours.

Sadly that is not the case with Maybelline's Color Tattoo eye shadow. I was actually insanely excited to try this stuff out.  The bright purple hue was practically calling my name! And I'm always a fan of donning purple eyeshadow, so how perfect would it be if the effect could last for a whole day without touch-ups?!

Well, I never found out.  I eagerly bought a few different colors (purple, blue, and white) to try because I was pretty sure I'd love them. I mean the site praises the product by stating, "The ink technology creates 24HR wear shadow for our most intense, long-lasting color saturation" and that, "The cream formula glides on without creasing and keeps color vibrant". Hmm. Sounds pretty awesome to me...

Unfortunately when I ran home to try these bad boys on, I found the cream shadow to be severely sheer.  It was actually difficult to see which color I was even wearing! That said, after about five layers, the color ended up looking like any other cream shadow out there.  Kind of plain and definitely not "intense" or "highly saturated". 

It also felt sticky on my lids. For a long time. Maybe it's because I needed to add so many layers to get some color, but it just felt like it was never going to dry.  So I threw on a powder shadow on top to speed up the process.

In its defense, the shadow did last all day, and I actually think it would be great as a base, or eyelid primer.  That's what I'm using the white color for, at least!

The moral to the story? Don't stock up on beauty products until you know they work!

Trend I'm Loving Right Now: Printed Blazers

 

I've always loved blazers.  Even in high school, I'd throw one on with a pair of jeans to go to class.  There's just something about wearing a crisp blazer that can totally pull any outfit together.

It's a little early to be thinking about spring, but printed blazers are an upcoming trend for the season.  That doesn't mean that you can't wear them now--most of them are lightweight enough to wear underneath your winter coat.  Or you can pile on a ton of scarves for extra warmth!

These fab blazers from Forever21 are absolutely gorgeous. There are oodles of them to pick from; I just fell in love with the ones pictured above.

The best part?  You can get your hands on a blazer (or if you're like me, five) for under $30 each!

My V-Day Wish List!

I know all of you lovely readers are just dying to buy me some fab gifts for Valentine's Day.  I can just tell these things.  So I figured the least I can do is give you a little list of my top gifts for the holiday! Isn't that sweet of me? Hahaha.

In all honesty, these are pretty awesome gifts for any lady on your V-Day list. Even if it's a gift for you (which I'm constantly guilty of), check out these fab products.

Clinique's Kiss and Be Happy Valentine's Day Set ($36): Okay, so the super cute bag obviously grabbed my attention first.  What's not to love about huge pink flowers?! But what comes in the set is also crazily fabulous.  You get a bottle of Happy perfume spray, Happy body creme, and a Chubby Stick lip color in Chunky Cherry.  I'm obsessed with their Chubby Sticks already and love the Happy scent.  So this is clearly at the top of my list.

Hello Kitty's Bling Compact Mirror ($35): Umm...how cute is this?? I'm obsessed with Hello Kitty, compact mirrors, and bling. This is the perfect combo.

Stila's Love at First Blush Set ($20): At a $41 value, this set has everything a girly-girl could want:  a cutesy heart-embossed blush that's almost too pretty to use, and two gorgeous pink lip glosses! Love love love it! Also, Stila's products are always of the best quality, so spending $20 on a set like this is really a huge deal. Huzzah!


Of course there are plenty of other adorable gifts out there.  But this should get you guys started!

What a Smashing Idea!

I'm a scrapbook lover.  I'm also journal-obsessed.  The problem with most scrapbooks is that they're super expensive.  First you have to buy the actual book itself, then all the tiny little accessories that are ridiculously priced.

Journaling is fine, but it lacks a certain amount of creativity.  You can't really clue pictures and cards in a journal.  It's not quite as cutesy.

Luckily, my lovely blogging friend, Nicole from Glossy Gurl, introduced me to the fabulousness that is the Smash Folio.

This thing is amazing.  It combines the idea of a journal and a scrapbook without being expensive.  The book itself is adorable. Each page has a different design to aid with your creative process.  Also included is a double-ended pen/glue stick.  You can use it to write or doodle whatever your heart desires, and add pictures or doodads galore. LOVE it!  Also, the actual book comes in a bunch of different colors.  You don't have to be all girly like me and go for pink unless you want to!

You can also purchase some accessories separately (for super cheap)! This is seriously my fave thing ever.  I've already completed five pages and I literally just got it this afternoon!

Here are a few of the fab products you can get (look how amazingly well-priced they are!):




Not bad, right?! Time to get creative, ladies!!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for review consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Prep Yourself For V-Day!

I know it's a tiny bit early to think about Valentine's Day, but since it's one of my fave holidays, I'm getting started early!

There are a few things you can do before the big day to get yourself ready.  Here are a few fun and fabulous ideas:

• If you're going to be touched, you def want to prep your skin with some ultra-hydrating body butter. Tip: anything vanilla scented is total man-bait!
• Stock up on some minty lip balm.  Not only with it moisturize your lips pre-Valentine's Day, you can also use it when you're giving your main squeeze a smoocharoo for a yummy mint sensation.
• If he loves to bury his face in your tresses, make sure they smell ahhh-mazing. This mango-scented shampoo is beyond heavenly. 
• A little bit of shimmer will give you just enough glam to make you look special in a way that he won't be able to figure out (as long as you don't go overboard and look like a disco ball). Use some shimmer on your collarbones and anywhere else you want to stand out. 
• Grab some massage oil (duh) for a bath or for a V-Day massage! 

Once you get some of these lovely goodies, you should be all set for a romantic day!

Fashion Faux Pas: Junderpants for Men

Yes, this is real.  Apparently, wearing Junderpants is an amazingly hip trend that's come our way from Tokyo. Exactly what we were missing in men's fashion! Basically, Junderpants are boxer-briefs that look like jegging cut-offs.

Umm...This is way worse than jeggings.  Any man who wants to don a pair of these bad boys has some serious issues.  I mean, would you run around the house in these? Word to the wise:  these jean briefs may seem more appropriate to wear on their own since they have a denim print. But it's actually worse than wearing briefs on their own. They just look like super tight cut-offs that show off your junk.  Kind of creepy.

The site to buy them off of is currently under construction (clearly because jundies are so popular that they're having a tough time keeping up).  You can sign up to receive an email when the site is up and running.  I do know that each pair of Junderpants costs about $50...which is pretty ridiculous, no?

I did a quick search online and found a few alternatives, in case you just can't bear to wait!!

P.S.: NO, this is not a good Valentine's Day gift to get for your main squeeze!

That is all.

"Like" Sassy Fashionista on Facebook!

I've had my facebook page for a while, buuut I thought it'd be fun to remind all my lovely readers that it's there waiting for you! It's a great way to instantly see my latest updates, AND I'm also thinking of doing some "facebook fan only" giveaways in the near future.

So what are you waiting for?!  Click here, here or even here to "like" Sassy Fashionista on facebook! You know you want to!

Smooches!

Coasters That Say it Like it is!

I have a weird obsession with coasters in general.  I love finding them in flea markets, or even at my good ol' friend, Goodwill!  Even though I'm not really used to spending more than 30 cents on a stack of coasters, I'm absolutely in love with these Douchebag Indelicate Doily Coasters from Knock Knock.

Umm...what an awesome way to force people to use coasters in your home! Plus, the faux doily look is super appealing to me.

Currently the site is out of stock until April...I know, very disappointing. You can have the site automatically notify you when they're back in stock.

OR take advantage of my crazily awesome search skills and buy them right now, ON SALE  on Amazon.com! You can get a pack of eight coasters with assorted sassy sayings for about $8!

They are AMAZING!!




Huzzah for having a clean and fabulous home!

How To: Ombré Nails

Ombré nails are an easy way to spice up your nails without too much effort. You literally just dab and go! I was taught this effect by the lovely Glossy Gurl.  Once I tried it out for myself, I became obsessed!  I tried out tons of colors, but so far, blue hues create my fave look by far.

To create this look, it took me about 45 minutes.  It's the perfect thing to do while watching a movie, or even when you're just bored and want to try something new.  The end result is gorgey and looks like you had your nails professionally done at an expensive salon!

What you need:

• a base coat (I used OPI's Ridge Filler.)
• at least three polish shades varying from light to dark (I used Essie's Coat Azure, Mezmerized, and Sally Hansen's Navy Baby.)
• a shimmery polish (I went with Essie's Pure Pearlification.)
• a top coat (Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat is fabulous!)
• a makeup wedge

Once you have everything set up, you can start creating this amazing look!

The first thing you want to do is apply your base coat.  The ridge filler is great because it creates a smooth base for the design.  Next, paint the entire nail bed with the lightest polish shade. 

Once that's dry, take the medium hue and paint it onto the smallest edge of the makeup sponge (the little end).  Take the sponge and stipple it onto your nails, covering the top half of your nail.  You basically want to dab the sponge in order for it to look blended.  Even after the color stops coming off of the sponge, keep dabbing for maximum blending.

Next, take the darkest shade and do the same thing, only to the tip of the nail.  Use the side of the makeup wedge to paint the color onto.

Once the nail looks blended, apply the shimmery polish.  This makes the colors look even more blended and beautiful.  Also, how can you go wrong with a little shimmer?!

Finally, apply a thick layer of the top coat to seal everything in.

Personally, I had to try this a few times before I got the hang of it. You can try it with even more colors to intensify the ombré effect. 

I love love love the result!  Try it out for yourself--I think you'll be surprised at how easy it is!

AMAZING Valentine's Day Collection from ELF for $2!

Eyes Lips Face (ELF) is one of my fave makeup brands.  The products are crazily cheap and the quality is top notch.That's pretty rare in the makeup world.

Right now, ELF has a crazy sale going on in honor of Valentine's Day.  Their adorable Sweetheart Collection is only $2, with any $20 order. Really.  A whole collection.  I almost passed out from sheer delight.

The collection itself is fabulous.  It's full of great makeup products for the season and comes in a super cute bag (which is always my biggest weakness)!  

Here's what's included:

• Studio 32-Piece Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Cool
• Essential Eyelid Primer in Champagne
• Mineral All-Over Eyeshadow Brush
• Studio Shimmer Palette
• Studio Glossy Gloss in Pink Candy
• Essential Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Ruby Slipper
• Essential Nail Polish in Fair Pink and Medium Red
• Dump Storage Bag

The set is usually $30, which I would gladly pay for such a pretty set of makeup.  All you have to do is spend $20 on the site, and you get it for $2. That's a HUGE savings! It's like getting tons of makeup for free!! LOVE it!

Need some ideas on what to buy? Check out their new Shimmer Sheets and stock up on some new brushes!

Once you have $20 in your cart, enter the code SWEET to get the deal.  This is only going on until 1/30, so get this fab set now, ladies!!

Fashion Faux Pas: the [Not So] Trendy Top

I'm so sick of the ridiculous products I keep seeing on TV.  My hatred for the Trendy Top is probably similar to my hatred of Crocs.  That says a lot, as Crocs basically make me want to vomit all over the place.

First of all, any piece of clothing that has the word "trendy" in its name simply isn't trendy.  When something is actually trendy, it isn't advertised in the name itself!  FYI: calling something trendy does not legally make it trendy.

I'm also bothered by the fact that this product is called a top.  It's literally a band of fabric that goes around your waist.  Last time I checked, a top is a shirt (which is confirmed by Thesaurus.com).  A shirt is defined as: a long- or short-sleeved garment for the upper part of the body. The Trendy Top does not fit that description. At all.

Soooo it's not trendy and it's not a top...  Basically this product is just a huge, fat lie!!

Now beyond that, the whole idea of the Trendy Top bothers me.  I get the concept.  You can wear it under another shirt to avoid the horrible embarrassment of showing some skin between your shirt and your pants.  But guess what?? You can wear a cute cami or tank top instead!! AND you don't have to worry about it moving around or falling off your hips since it's an actual shirt!

Another point?  The fact that you can order these at the low price of $10 (for four "tops") shows me that it is not a quality product.

Wear a god damn tank top under your tee if you're so worried about unwanted skin popping out!!

That is all. 

Glossy Gurl Giveaway!!!

One of my absolute fave beauty blogs, Glossy Gurl, is having a fantastic giveaway that I just had to share with you ladies!

First of all, the site itself is super adorable and is chock-full of reviews, tutorials and fun beauty loveliness.  It's definitely worth checking out.

If you need an actual reason to go, I've got the inside scoop on the site's latest giveaway.  It's an early Valentine's Day set, perfect to get you in the mood for some lovin'.

Here's what's included:

• NYC Big Red Apple Creme polish
• Mini Dove revive pomegranate and lemon verbana body mist
• Revlon lip butter in Red Velvet (sooo pretty!)
• Mini Softsoap Juicy Pomegranate and Mango Infusion body wash
• Fabulously cute makeup bag

All of the products are really great to have.  The red products included are perfect for the season and look perfect on nearly all skinetones.  And the makeup bag is, of course, phenomenal. You know me--if there's a cute bag involved, I'm in!

Check out the post for details on how to enter.  All entries must be in by February 1st, so get to it!

Get Your Glow on Year-Round!

I'm crazily pale.  Like see-through white.  In the summer, I sometimes tan, but usually I end up just getting tons of freckles and turning beet red.  Not fun!  That's why I really love St. Tropez. The products they offer are amazing and you don't need to bake in the sun to look bronze and fabulous!

My skin has severely pink undertones, so usually when I use any type of self-tanner, my skin ends up looking bright orange and hideous.  But the St. Tropez products really cater to that and leave all skintones with a goegey bronze hue.

I am love love loving their Skin Illuminators.  They're perfect for wintertime, if you don't want to go full-on bronze, but still want your skin to glow.  The Gold Illuminator, as it really packs in the shimmer and delivers a glowy look that is perfect no matter what the season is.

Currently, the brand is selling this fabulous Golden Glow Kit at Sephora for a limited time.  

The set includes:

• 4 oz Self Tan Bronzing Mousse
• 1.67 oz Gold Skin Illuminator
• One Application mitt

I can tell you from my own experiences that the products are amazing!  This kit is just the thing to keep your skin glowing, even though it's totally freezing outside.  You can buy your own set for $35, which is awesome since it's actually a $59 value!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for review consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Luxury Lust: MAC Jeanius Eyeshadow

Even though I'm all about finding deals and cheap ways to look fabulous, there are some pricey products that even I can't resist!

This is totally the case with MAC's Jeanius Eyeshadow.  It comes in four colors that replicate different denim hues.  My fave is Motorhead; the color is just like my fave pair of jeans.  The color is bright, but it's really worth trying out because it surprisingly goes with most outfits (especially if you're wearing denim).

Now logically I know that this adorably-crafted shadow won't hold its shape forever.  After a few uses, it won't even resemble a piece of denim.  So in all honesty, this might be one purchase that is bought merely to have in my collection just for show.  But there's nothing wrong with that, right?!

Each shadow is about $20 and is part of a limited edition collection, so if you want it, get it now!

Dr. Carlo's Corner: Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures

Dr. Carlo Honrado, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Hello all!  Alana was kind enough to ask me to stop by and give you a quick primer on something just a bit different: some of the latest minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.  Mind you, this isn’t a post about face lifts or anything of the sort – these are a few quick things you can get done in an afternoon if you’re looking for a quick “refresher” that falls somewhere between daily makeup and a permanent procedure.  Hope it helps!

Fillers
No, this doesn’t refer to the things we say when we’re beating around the bush.  Cosmetic fillers include things like
Juvederm ™, Restylane®, and Botox® – you know, those blockbuster quick fixes you see all over makeover shows.  Want to know how to tell them apart?

• Juvederm ™ is great for adding fullness to your cheeks, forehead and eyes
• Restylane® is usually preferred for the lips because of its organic softness
• Botox®, of course, is the granddaddy of the crew, widely used as a gentle muscle relaxer to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. 

Ultherapy
And then there is a new kid in town: Ultherapy®.  This brand new approach uses ultrasound waves to stimulate the growth of your face’s natural collagen, creating a younger appearance that lasts about six months.  All you feel is warmth, and then you’re done.

Quick, Cheap, Safe
The benefit of these minimally invasive cosmetic procedures is that they go fast, heal quickly, cost less, and last for quite a while.  Plus you don’t get that dreaded “operated-on” look.

Feel free to drop by my blog for a more detailed look at these and other cutting-edge facial cosmetic procedures.  I am always happy to answer any questions!

Dr. Carlo Honrado is a board-certified Los Angeles facial cosmetic surgeon.

Pretty Winter Hands

Eeeee!! I am head over heels in love with this adorable Juicy Couture Nail Polish & Hand Warmer Set.

This amazing set combines two of my absolute fave brands--Juicy Couture (of course) and Deborah Lippman (best nail polish ever!)

Let's start with the hand warmers.  Of course I'm a huge fan of the blingin' bow detail.  It dresses up the hand warmer, so it's acceptable to wear with any outfit.

The nail polish that comes in the set is fab as well.  Not only is the bottle blinged out,  the shade is a super shimmery gold!  LOVE it!

The set also comes in black, which is equally gorge--I have no idea which I like more!  Each set is $44.90 (marked down from about $70).  A little pricey, but just think of it as a post-Christmas gift for yourself!

Lip Balm Made Better

Wintertime for me means crazily chapped lips.  There are a bunch of lip balms out there, but the ones that actually work are never cute.  So I was super excited when I found Maybelline's Baby Lips Lip Balm.

First of all, I love love love the packaging.  I know I shouldn't judge a product based on what it looks like, but I simply can't help it.  The bright colors are adorable and made me want to try each one.  And that's exactly what I did.

The balm works fabulously.  My lips felt really soft after the first use, and after I had been using the balm for a week or so, my lips felt even better.

Here's what the balm boasts:

• Visibly renewed lips and 8-hr hydration 
• Exclusive lip renew formula with SPF 20 
• Protects and moisturizes lips for a full 8 hours 
• After 4 weeks, lips are visibly renewed and  reborn

It also comes in six different shades.  The clear version is nice, but personally I prefer the tinted ones.  Cherry Me is a red tint.  It's super sheer and adds the perfect amount of color while it heals your lips.  Pink Punch is gorgey too.

You can find the lip balm at most pharmacies and beauty stores for under $4.

Get the Look for Less: Shimmery Champagne Eyeshadow

Almost everyday, my makeup routine includes applying a shimmery champagne-hued eyeshadow.  I use it as a base, as well as on the inner corners of my eyes to make them look wider and more awake.  It's a fabulous technique that I've been using for years.

The problem is, to get the desired effect, you need an eyeshadow that is highly pigmented (meaning that you can use a tiny bit of it to get a full burst of color).  Most drugstore shadows simply aren't of the best quality and the pigmentation isn't there.  It's also tough to find something cheap that is packed with shimmer.  And we all know how obsessed with shimmer I am!

Until now, I've been using Stila's eyeshadow in Kitten.  It's around $20, but works amazingly.  I've never had a problem shelling out the money since it lasts basically forever and looks so gorge.

The other day, I saw L'Oreal's Infallible Eyeshadow.  They have a color called Iced Latte that is almost identical to Stila's Kitten. I tried it out and the pigmentation is great--AND it's packed with shimmer!  It's practically the same product!  The only difference?  You can get it for $7.99.

I was pretty shocked at the sheer awesomeness of this.  I think I'm going to try out a few other colors for fun.  That said, I'm pretty sure that I'm completely switching over from Stila to L'Oreal, at least for this product!!