L.L. Bean has...Cute Shoes?!

As I was catching up on some of the latest fashion news, I came across L.L. Bean shoes.

I haven't really paid any attention to the brand, other than when I was in elementary school and everyone had those ugly backpacks with their initials embroidered on them.  But apparently now, they have a few pretty items!

I'm in love with their Haven Skimmer flats in gold.  Though the metallic trend looks like it's on its way out, this hue is here to stay.  The color of the shoe is a soft, almost brushed gold.  It doesn't look too shiny, which is a constant problem with anything metallic.

This shoe surprisingly works as a neutral, so you can wear them with virtually anything.  Plus, L.L. Bean is known for their comfort, so no cursing at your shoes when you get home from a long day.  These are just snuggly, warm, and delightful.

Each pair is $64.

Tweeze With Ease

I'm obsessed with these pretty Glam Girl tweezers.  I hate plucking my eyebrows, but it simply has to be done.  These cuties make the job a heck of a lot easier.

They aren't just cute; these tweezers actually work amazingly well.  Each set is fine-tipped, which is perfect for eyebrow grooming or removing splinters. 

Each pair retails for about $2. I think I might buy all 6 with a price that good!

Fashion Faux Pas: The Stained [ish] Shirt

In honor of Halloween, here's a ridiculous sweater I stumbled upon.

Autumn Cashmere's navy stripe palm cashmere polo sweater boggles my mind.  Okay, I get that the graphic on the shirt is supposed to be a palm tree.  But why is it red?

When I first looked at this sweater, I honestly thought it had some sort of fake blood on it.  How...attractive?  If I hadn't read the item description, I'd have no idea what the graphic was.

How is this okay?

If you're into the whole looking-like-you-have-blood-all-over-you look, you can purchase the sweater for a steep $165.  Or just take an ugly shirt that you already own and spill red paint on it.

Luna Twilight Color Palette

I'm not a fan of the Twilight movies...it's just really not my scene.  That said, I get that most people are obsessed with the whole vampire thing.

However, something amazing has come to the beauty world courtesy of Twilight.  Luna Twilight Color Palette is simply splendid.  I'm a sucker for palettes anyway, but this one is pretty cool.  It includes lip, cheek and eye colors.  

The colors are loosely-based on the characters from Twilight.  I'm not quite sure how that works...but I'm happy with the outcome!


There are four different palettes in the collection; I like the Rosalie palette.  The lip gloss looks bright and fresh, the eyeshadow is natural-looking, yet packs a bit of shimmer, and the cheek color is just plain pretty.


You can grab one of these bad boys for $28.

Beauty Boo-Boo: Lipstick Covered Teeth

Since I wear an insane amount of lipstick, I've had my fair share of discovering lipstick on my teeth.  Usually hours after I applied my lipstick.  Pretty embarrassing.

Even if you wear the most flattering shade, your look can be ruined if it travels to your pearly whites. Here's what you can do to avoid this:

Always prime and set:  make sure to apply a lipliner before putting on lipstick.  Once the lipstick has been applied, place a tissue on your lips and some translucent powder on it.

Remove excess lipstick:  once you have applied the lipstick, put a finger in your mouth, close your lips and gently slide it out.  This should remove any lipstick that you might have on your teeth, or anywhere in your mouth.

And there you have it; gorgeous lips without the embarrassment!

Pink Me Up!

Victoria's Secret always has fabulous makeup.  Their new Pink Me Up line is no exception.  Everything in the collection is shimmery and pretty; probably more for younger gals, but it's really too cute to pass up anyhow.

Currently, you can purchase any three Pink Me Up products for $15! That's a pretty good deal. 

My fave products are the Lip Gloss Ring (who doesn't love a cute plastic ring with lipgloss inside??) and the Chubby Eye Crayons.  The eye crayons come in a bunch of colors and are great as a liner.

I'm lovin' it!

Breast Cancer Awareness: Coach Floral Scarf

First of all, how pretty is this scarf?  Pink and purple are my favorite colors (yes, I know--I am practically Barbie), so I love it!

Also, 20% of proceeds from Coach's Multi Floral Scarf will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Each scarf is $38. I normally don't indulge in scarves that are more than $10 or so, but this one is SO cute.  And it's for a good cause, right?

Techie Accessory: Robot USB Key

Ummm...how cute is this USB key?

Swarovski has come out with this adorable Robot Naughty Raymond USB Memory Key.  I'm basically in love with it.  Even if I didn't need to save files, I'd probably carry it around just for fun.

This little robot has a 2 GB USB key integrated with a high-speed 2.0 interface. The black body is set with crystals in the Pointiage technique.

The only downside is the price.  Each of these cuties are a steep $180. I'll have to save up for a while!

Review: Anew Reversalist System

This past week, I had the chance to try out Avon's new Anew Reversalist skincare system.


The duo includes a Night Renewal Cream and a Renewal Serum.  The cream is only to be used at night and the serum should be applied each morning (before, or in place of moisturizer), and night.

To work, the system uses activin, a protein complex.  With these products, activin's wound healing powers are triggered, acting much like professional laser treatments. This leads to greater collagen production and, in turn, younger-looking skin.  It's certainly an interesting idea and seems like a healthy way to get gorge skin.

I tried out the system for about a week and noticed a little difference in my skin, which is actually saying a lot given the fact that most skincare products can take months to actually give any sort of result!  


Fortunately, I'm in only my 20s, so my skin is fairly decent.  But I do like to use anti-aging products as a preventative measure.


Upon first application (which was overnight), I did find that my skin was softer.  The next morning, it seemed like my overall skintone was more even, meaning I had to cake on less makeup than usual (huge plus!)  By the end of the week, I simply noticed more of the same; mainly my skin looked like my skin, but a little better.  With continued use, I could def see how it would repair aged-skin.

Also, I have severely dry, sensitive skin and the products did not irritate it at all.


I do have to say though, there was one thing I disliked about the product. For some reason, it seems to leave behind a film.  It feels a bit greasy and might cause certain skin types to break out.  Since my skin is so dry, I didn't have that problem, but it's something to consider.


Overall, it's a good system and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to achieve the look of younger skin.


You can purchase the duo for $59 from Avon.

Cure Cold Weather Skin: Olay Active Hydrating Cream

My skin is constantly dry.  It practically falls off when cold weather hits.  I have a prescription eczema cream, but it's greasy upon application, which is fine for nighttime, but during the day I need something different.

Olay's Active Hydrating Cream is the bomb diggity.  I found it at Target and I haven't been able to stop using it!  I went for the sensitive skin version; it's fragrance free and doesn't irritate my skin at all.

This is a great product to use as a daily moisturizer for anyone.  Though it's called a cream, it applies much lighter than most creams out there.  I apply it right after I get out of the shower, give it a few minutes to penetrate into my skin, then apply my makeup.  The result is hydrated skin that lasts all day.

You can pick up the cream for about $7.

Hard Candy at Walmart!

Hard Candy always had the most best nail polish in the '90s--c'mon, I'm sure some of you were guilty of wearing one of their fun lime green or cobalt blue shades.

Now the brand is back, with a line exclusively for Walmart.  The brand has a new look, and tons of new products.  Plus, everything is in the under $10 range.

My personal fave is the Eye Candy Compact with Mini Glitter Pencil (pictured).  It packs a lot of shimmer, but I would totally rock this look for a night out.

The set is $5--how can you not love that?

I'm also excited to try out their Painted Lady Lipstick.  Basically, I want to get my hands on the entire collection.   To Walmart I go!

Breast Cancer Awareness: Super Shimmer Lip Gloss

Oh Sephora, how I love thee.

For the month of October, Sephora is donating $1 from each sale of Super Shimmer lip gloss in Forever Pink to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The gloss is a pretty pink with tons of shine. Each tube retails for $10. It's a must-have for anyone who is obsessed with lip gloss.

Whoops Bunny Makeup Sticks

I don't care if these makeup sticks are for kids--I love them!  Whoops Bunny's All Natural Makeup Sticks are fab. These adorable sticks can be used on eyes, lips, cheeks...basically anywhere.  All 5 sticks come packaged in a recyclable tube, and they are made of all natural and biodegradable ingredients.

The color combos are endless with these.  I'd like to blend the pink and orange for a coral hue to apply on my lips.

The set is $25.  Oh and did I mention how super cute the entire set is?

$14 LBD from Walmart!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this LBD (Little Black Dress) at Walmart!  They are not really known for having very good clothing, so this is a bit of a surprise.

The Norma Kamali Cap-Sleeve Jersey Wrap Dress is gorge.  It's flattering for every figure.  The dress emphasizes the natural waist of the body (which is usually the tiniest part on any gal).  The overall cut is very timeless and classic.

This is a good dress to have on hand, as it's basically seasonless.  You could wear this with some bright opaque tights and a cardi for winter, or pair it with strappy metallic sandals for summer.

This delightful specimen is $14.  How can you not buy it?  Sadly, the website is lacking in terms of size availability.  However, the dress is so cute that I suggest taking a trip to the store itself and searching for it in the sale section.

Drugstore Diva: Perfect Red Plumping Gloss

It's tough to find a plumping lip gloss that doesn't irritate my lips.  Most of 'em actually hurt upon application and I'm forced to immediately scrub it off.  Luckily, this is not the case with L'Oreal's Infallible Plumping Lipgloss.

I'd already tried the regular Infallible gloss and really liked it, as it has great staying power.  The plumping gloss is basically the same formula with the added benefit of a plumper.  It doesn't flake off or have that "plastic-y" look like lots of other long-lasting products.  It stays fresh and gorgeous for hours.

I really like the Plumped Red shade.  Despite the brightness of the tube, the application is sheer and a lot more toned-down.  This is a great gloss for anyone who really wants to try red, but is too scared to go for the real deal.

The best part?  The gloss is under $10!

My Beauty Prayers Have Been Answered: Shadow Shields

I'm constantly finding fallen eye shadow under my eyes after applying a great smokey eye.  It's very frustrating and requires using a makeup wipe to remove said makeup, reapplying my under-eye moisturizer, then patting concealer on.

Enter Shadow Shields. They are disposable, light-weight adhesives that easily attach under the eye to catch falling makeup residue. The adhesive on the back of the shield is strong enough to hold it in place, yet is also gentle enough for the sensitive skin around the eyes.

Simply place it under your eye before applying shadow and remove when you're done.  The shield catches everything and there's no need for a touchup!

You can buy a box of 30 shields for about $10. 

Fashion Faux Pas: Literally Draping Yourself in Velvet

When I opened my email today, I found a "fashion news bulletin" informing me that velvet is in for winter.  This isn't really news to me; velvet is usually in around the holiday season.  What was alarming was the Velvet Wrap Dress that is claimed to be all the rage. 

Okay...when I first saw it, all I could think of was the episode of Seinfeld when George went on about being draped in velvet if it were socially acceptable.  Even he knew that it is not socially acceptable.  Nor will it ever be.  

The dress looks like a sack.  A pretty sack, yes, but it will do nothing for the body.  It doesn't have any shape whatsoever.  And yet, the dress is SOLD OUT despite its hefty $160 price tag.

If you have money to blow, I'd suggest purchasing the dress and using is as a curtain.  Or just buy a decent dress.

Beautiful Brown Mascara

BADgal mascaras are simply amazing.  The formula is creamy and well-pigmented, the brush applies just the right amount of the product, and the colors are great.

Their latest mascara hue is BADgal Brown.  I. Love. This. Stuff.

Since I'm crazily pale, I can't usually pull off black mascara.  Most of the brown options out there are either too light, or just weird looking.  The brown shade of this mascara is perfect.  It's a deep chocolate brown, which is very flattering for most.

This is a good mascara for daytime.  It makes your lashes noticeable, not over the top.

Each tube is $19, which is a tid bit expensive, but I think it's worth it for a fabulous mascara.

Fashion Savings: Cute Scarf for WAY Less!

To me, the scarves pictured look pretty close to identical.  There are some slight differences, but I'd say that they're both super cute in the same way.

Why then, is the one on the left $400 while the other one is $13?!  The Missoni Sport Chevron print scarf is pricier simply because of the name that's attached to it.  Payless' version, the Zig Zag scarf, is just as pretty.

I understand the fact that everyone wants cool designer accessories, but $400 is a bit much for a scarf that looks like a $13 one, don't you think? Save your money!

Beauty Boo-Boo: Telescopic Explosion Mascara

Ever since I saw Givenchy's Phenomen mascara, I've been intrigued. Unfortunately, it's a bit pricey--$30.  Seems like a lot for mascara that I don't know if I like yet. So, when L'Oreal came out with their Telescopic Explosion mascara, I almost jumped for joy.  At only $9, this appears to be almost an exact replica of its steeper cousin.

Okay, so I hate this mascara. Not to brag, but I feel that I'm pretty skilled with mascara wands--I've tried a bunch of different ones and I knew that this one would be a challege, but figured I could handle it. No matter what I did, the mascara clumped all over the place. Like the directions said, I held the brush vertically at first, but it wasn't working out so I tried holding it horizontally. This basically had no difference, ecept that it clumped even more.

Since the brush is so tiny, applying mascara takes quite a chunk of time. I'm not a big fan of that, especially when the results are not great.

The mascara did seem to give a bit of length, and maybe with a different brush or a lash comb it could work. But the whole point of a "revolutionary brush" is that it's supposed to be amazing on its own.

Don't waste your money when there are so many other good quality, cheap mascaras out there!