This will alleviate my winter woes!

Look at this M.A.C Summer collection posted on http://www.temptalia.com/:

I just died. And this is heaven. Not only do I love the bronze, coral, green, and pink makeup...but how cute is the beachy packaging? And i'm never really that into a product's packaging. The collection launches late in May, and I have a feeling I am going to splurge as my graduation present to myself ;)

~Pictures courtesy of the amazing Temptalia. You can see more product information here~

Red Rose Cardigan: OOTN

Hey girls, this is just a quick OOTN from Friday. I have been itching to blog lately, but my last semester of college is proving to be much more time-consuming and stressful than I had originally thought! All I want to do is blog, as well as read other blogs, but I have to start managing my time better. Anyways, Friday night was rainy and cold here but I wanted to wear my new rose cardi from Forever 21. I love it so much. Its pretty pattern teases me and leaves me wanting more Spring-y clothing. I was never much of a floral wearer, but this one in particular caught my eye as soon as I entered the store. 

 

Sorry for the headless picture ;) My boyfriend is letting me borrow a tripod so that I can take full-length pictures for these type of posts, but I haven't had the time to use it yet. I think you get the idea though.

I am wearing: Rose Cardigan: Forever 21

Black T-Shirt: Forever 21

Stella Jeans: Express

Black Pumps: DSW (Kenneth Cole Reaction)

Bracelets: Charlotte Russe/a boutique in San Diego (the black one)

DSW What?!!

I ventured to Orange County last weekend, the sole reason being I wanted to buy some shoes from DSW. It's unfortunate that it is over an hour away from the town where I live, but as soon as I walked into the MASSIVE warehouse, I knew the drive had been totally worth it. A real shoe addict's dream: rows upon rows of heels, flats, wedges, and boots. Peep-toe, round toe, pointy toe. Black patent leather, red satin, bright blue. Any shoe a girl could ever want I swear can be found at DSW. I definitely plan on going back. It's probably a good thing I don't have one in my area though, or else I would be broke! Not to mention, I wouldn't have enough room for them in my closet. Here are the two pairs that I bought. I would have gotten more, but because I wear a size 6 1/2  or 7, many of the others I had my eye on were sold out in my sizes.

Nude patent pumps, Steve Madden. I have been searching everywhere for nude heels! They make my short legs look much longer. I have a feeling I'm going to wear them to death in the summer.

Black, suede and leather, round toe pumps by Kenneth Cole Reaction. These are so comfortable. And I just love the chain detailing on the toe. I die for these.

 

So cute =)

Just to show you what I mean about not having enough room for shoes in my closet...as well as not having enough room for clothes either! Ugh, I so wish I had a large walk-in! One day...

I try to keep everything organized, but it still looks a bit messy. If you guys have any storage ideas, let me know! The boxes on the right contain shoes I don't wear very often so maybe I'll get rid of some.

I probably won't be able to post again until Sunday, so have a happy weekend! Thanks for reading ♥

Essie Spring Polishes

Lately, I have been craving softly colored nail polish. Don't get me wrong, I still love my dark purples, wines, and greys. In fact, I am currently wearing O.P.I.'s "Lincoln Park at Midnight" which is a beautiful slightly shimmery dark purple...the cousin of the infamous "Lincoln Park After Dark." There's just something so undeniably sultry about dark nails that I have grown to really appreciate. There used to be a time where I only wore pale pinks and nudes. That was it. Well I am happy to say that I have ventured over to the dark side, and it couldn't be better! Except, I'm kind of growing tired of staring down at dark nails, made even darker in contrast to my pale skin. I think I'm just sick of Winter in general! I want warm sun, bronzey makeup, and a tan! Oh, and I also want to start moving away from the darkside and into the light. I am hoping these three Essie nail polishes will help move things along. They were buy two, get one free at Trade Secret. One is called Luscious Lips, which is a very sheer peachy-pink. The second is called Neo-whimsical and it is such a pretty lilac color with just a hint of pink. The third is actually my favorite. It is called Van D'Go and it is the prettiest true peach polish I have ever seen.

Left to Right: Luscious Lips, Neo-Whimsical, Van D'Go. I know the first and third look the same but they are actually very different. Van D'Go is much more peach and also more opaque in person while Luscious Lips is very sheer and is more pink in comparison.

I plan on doing NOTD posts with these pretties, so stay tuned!

♥ Noelle

Valentine's Day Makeup

For the past week or so, I have been pondering what my makeup will look like for Cupid's Day. I know, I know. I agree it is a bit of a manufactured holiday. Hallmark thrives on pink and red candy-colored hearts and semi-cheesy phrases of "I Love You" and "Soulmate" written across endless cardboard cards. I for one used to loathe Valentine's day. I detested it. But that was before I met the boyfriend and discovered that maybe I actually like candy-colored hearts and semi-cheesy phrases. I really do. The fact that we celebrate our anniversary on V-Day also helps. We can't exactly remember if Feb. 14th is actually our anniversary, but we did meet on a blind date around that time. I was a scared 18 year old, he was an experienced older man of about 21 ;) Then we broke up, then we got back together a couple of long, painful years later. And once we ran back to each other, we knew it was for good this time. This year marks our four years back together, and I couldn't be happier. So anyway, now that I have officially bored everyone with my sappy little tale, I just wanted to share a couple of makeup looks that I found on-line and am contemplating wearing for the love day. One is classic and beautiful, the other is more fun and girly.

Penelope Cruz wearing neutral eyes and the classic red lip.

The latest ad for Smashbox Cosmetics. She has purple liner, pink cheeks, and pink lips.

I really love them both. I'll probably end up doing Penelope's look because it will better suit the Rodarte dress I am planning on wearing. ( I hope the boy doesn't read this!) But even if I do, I am going to wear the Smashbox look sometime soon! It looks great for Spring.

What makeup look are you doing for Valentines? Happy Sunday ♥

My MAC Pinky-Nude Obsession

In case you girls haven't noticed, I like pinky-nude lipstick...a lot! While going through my collection today, I realized that not only do I have a lot of lippies that are variations of the same color, but I also have a lot of MAC lipsticks. I can't really explain my little obsession, nor can I completely justify it either. I just love them! I think the main reason is that I love nudes, but I need some pink in order to avoid looking washed out or chalky. I'm secretly envious of all the girls out there who can pull off a truly pale lip. Kim Kardashian immediately comes to mind. With her beautiful tan skin and dark features, she can do a nude lip like no other! I personally am a bit on the lighter side of the complexion spectrum, especially during the winter months (Is it Summer yet?) A pinky-nude is a perfect solution to my problem. A bit pink, a bit nude. Extremely wearable. It looks great with smokey eyes, or with more natural looks. In a word, Perfection.

~With Flash~ Left to Right: Way to Love, Plink!, Blankety, Nude Rose, Myself, Semi-Annual, Bare.

~Without Flash~

Swatches, same order as above from left to right. Sorry about the lighting, this is with flash.

~Without Flash~

See, they all look sort of similar. But different enough I guess =)

I want color!

For the Golden Globes last weekend, I posted a couple pictures of actresses that looked lovely. Well, this past Saturday night were the SAG Awards, and I couldn't help but take note of all the beautiful, bright colors that swayed down the red carpet. This got me thinking that I need more vibrant pieces in my closet, things that will transition my neutral wardrobe right into Spring. I want gorgeous, saturated, notice-me color in the upcoming months. I'm not normally comfortable with notice-me anything, but maybe it's time that changed ;)

Diane Kruger in mustard yellow Jason Wu.

Anna Kendrick in fabulous fuschia. I'm not sure who the designer is...

My personal fave: Lea Michele in Catherine Malandrino. ~sigh~

Aren't these dresses to die for? And it's all about the dramatic color. I don't think these would be as note-worthy in black. But mustard? Fuschia? Emerald? Candy colored confections dancing around in my head. I can't wait for Spring and warmer weather! Bring it on.

MUFE Mat Velvet +

Click to browse/buy from Sephora

I just wanted to do a quick review of the Makeup Forever Mat Velvet + Foundation that I purchased a couple of weeks ago. A few people wanted me to try it out and report back on whether it really is a good  foundation or not. At $34 U.S. dollars, it is definitely the most expensive foundation I have ever owned. It is also my first (but not my last!) product from MUFE. I actually don't even know what color I have it in, because there is no label on the bottle! Wait a second, so I'll have to get color matched all over again? I'll have to put that in my "Cons" section. I just noticed that! I believe I am either a 30 or 35, but the best way to choose your shade is to have one of the MUA's test a few colors on your jawline. I find the salespeople at Sephora to be really helpful, so don't ever be hesitant to ask for assistance.

The main reason why I chose to buy this foundation in the first place was TiffanyD from YouTube. She did a review of it on her channel and I was convinced that it would work for me as well. I had been using Clinique's Perfectly Real Makeup for years, but because I've had issues with breakouts lately, I wanted a foundation that provided more coverage. Mat Velvet + is a medium to full coverage liquid. I was afraid that it would be too much, and that I was going to end up looking like a mannequin. However, I use my Sonia Kashuk blending sponge to apply a tiny dot on each of my cheeks, my chin, and an even smaller drop to my forehead. It covers beautifully girls! I have a few left over acne spots on my chin, and this conceals them quite well. I don't feel like it gives an unnatural appearance at all. Because it is oil-free, I have no worries that it will cause more acne flare-ups either. It is a matte foundation that still lets your own skin come through. My combination skin still needs a little bit of blotting after a few hours, but I don't look greasy with this stuff, even after wearing it all day long. So here's a quick wrap-up of my overall thoughts and impressions:

~PROS~
* It covers skin tone discolorations and imperfections brilliantly.
* Although it can be full-coverage, it is also very buildable and natural looking. Full to medium coverage doesn't mean you have to look like a mask! A very small amount of this product is needed.
* Great for combo-oily skin. Not sure about dry skin though. I've read some reviews on MakeupAlley from people with dry skin who do not like this product because it makes the dryness more pronounced. I cannot of course attest to that because my face is anything but dry normally!
* Oil-free, won't clog pores, water resistant.
* Wide color selection, including people with yellow undertones, pink undertones, beige...etc.
* As far as I have been able to see, it lasts all day. I'm talking at least a good eight to ten hours.

~CONS~
* The price. I was lucky that I had a gift card. It's a shame too, because now I am always going to want this over anything else, even more than my beloved Clinique.
* The amount of product you get (1.01 Fl. Oz.) is a bit small. But as I said before, you don't need a lot.
* The fact that the actual bottle isn't labeled with your particular shade number! Am I missing something?
* I've noticed it can be a little hard to blend at times. You have to work it into the skin.

~OVERALL~
I love this! I give it a solid A for performance, coverage, lasting power, color selection, and for keeping my skin matte, but not overly so.

I hope this review was helpful! Remember, this is just my opinion and experience with this product. If you have any more questions or comments, let me know.
♥ Noelle

Spotlight on the Golden Globes

I unfortunately did not get to watch the 2010 Golden Globe Awards last night. No, I was too busy watching the San Diego Chargers get creamed by the New York Jets. Being that I live very close to San Diego, I was crushed ;(. However, the heavy beer drinking that followed the game helped a bit. I woke up early this morning and logged onto EOnline to catch up on the latest fashions that graced the red carpet. I must say, overall, I was not really impressed. In my opinion, many of today's brightest actresses looked a bit blah. Maybe it was the rain? There were only two that caught my eye, and I just wanted to share them with you in case you didn't get to see them last night.

Drew Barrymore looked divine once again. Here she is wearing Atelier Versace. Champagne silk never looked better.

Jennifer Aniston in Valentino. Yes, she normally wears black. But a thigh-high slit showing off those glowing gams? Anything but boring! I think she knows herself, and she wears what works for her body.

What starlets caught your attention from this years Globes? Here's hoping that the Oscars are more exciting!

Not everything is black and white...

But my latest fashion picks are. I just wanted to share a few things that I have purchased recently. I haven't posted a fashion haul in a long time so I thought I would do a tiny one today. I am really loving all of the things I picked out. Yes, they are black...and white...and gray...with a little splash of tan ;) I don't know why I gravitate towards neutrals this time of year, but I can't help myself. Don't get me wrong, I love color! I swear I do! But there is something so appealing about buying pieces that will work with the things I already own in my closet. Neutrals are great because you can incorporate them with anything. Mix a little this with a little that, pair this new jacket with an old tank, belt this dress over a cardigan I've had for months, and Viola! Adding some basic neutrals can really create endless possibilities. And they don't have to be boring either. I like to play with color, print, and texture when it comes to shoes and accessories. Or, as Rachel Zoe likes to call them, EXCESSories. Oh, how I ♥ you Rachel.

Long tank from Nordstrom. I just love the print. It is a bit sheer so a cami underneath is a must.

This cardigan is from a store called Cutesygirl. I think they have a website as well. I like the herringbone -type detail and the 3 quarter sleeves. Looks great with dark jeans and really high heels.

This dress is so pretty! The top half is a bit blousy because I am lacking in that department ;) But I plan on wearing this with a cardigan and a wide belt, so I think it should work out just fine. I really love the lacy pattern on it, smaller at the top and then gradually getting larger towards the bottom. And the neckline is trimmed in black chiffon. The Go International line is a great way to get designer pieces for a fraction of the price. I can't wait to see what designer Target will feature next!

This is my favorite purchase and this picture does NOT do it justice. I have been lusting after a tweed/boucle jacket for months now. I even blogged about it a couple months ago. Well, this one from Arden B took my breath away when I tried it on. I had that tingly feeling just holding it at the register! Problem? Yeah, I know.

~Thanks for reading~

A Tale of Two Hair Savers

By now, I'm sure everyone knows that I'm no hair genius. In fact, I really have a love/hate relationship with my brown locks. At times, I am tempted to chop it all off and just start fresh but I know I would instantly regret that decision. I just wish it didn't have a mind of its own! During the colder months, my hair gets extremely dry and static-prone. However, my roots are also oily so I don't feel comfortable going more than a couple days without washing it. I know all the hair gurus out there claim that you should only wash your hair two to three times per week, but that just sounds impossible for someone like myself who has a lot of hair, albeit thin. If I went more than a couple days without shampoo, I would look like a giant grease ball. So I continue to wash and condition the hell out of it in hopes that after a good blow-out, my hair will actually obey me. Two products that have really been making a difference for me are Moroccan Oil and the Kerastase Oleo-Relax serum. While my hair is still damp, I mix a dime-sized amount of each into my palms, rub my hands together to warm the mixture up, and then I apply it to the ends of my hair before blow drying. These products are amazing. I bought the Moroccan Oil about a month ago after my hairstylist begged me for months to give it a try. The only reason why I ever held off was the price tag - $39. A little steep in my book. I'm in trouble now! I love it so much that I can't imagine not having a bottle on hand. It smells like the tropics, coconutty and delicious ♥ And a small amount is all you need. The Kerastase was actually a gift from my boyfriend's sister who happens to be a hair stylist. She uses it in her salon and swears by it. Again, I never purchased any Kerestase products because they are quite expensive, but I know the Oleo-Relax serum will last me a long time as well. If it works for Jennifer Aniston, it works for me! Using these two products together has really tamed my frizziness, and my hair looks and feels softer and shinier than ever. Yes, these hair savers aren't cheap, but I could honestly throw out all of my other hair products and just live with these two. I would rather invest in a handful of things that really do the trick than buy a bunch of products that may be less expensive, but don't work that well for me. I guess that's how I'll justify it from now on ;)
Has anyone tried these?

Kirkland Signature Brushes and Update

This is a review (more like a rave!) of the Kirkland brush set I received for Christmas. I got a few requests to do this, and I apologize for the late post. This set can still be found at your local Costco to my knowledge. Because this was a gift, I do not know the actual price, but I was told it's around twenty dollars which is amazing! Here is a reminder of what the entire set looks like:

It comes with eight full sized brushes, a black quilted brush roll, an eyelash curler, and a mini four piece brush set with a tiny roll to travel with, or in my case, to keep in my purse!

I've decided to share with you girls my favorite brushes from the collection: Sorry for the appearance, they are a bit dirty at the moment from using them this morning!

The HUGE fluffy powder brush is so soft! All of these brushes are super soft, much softer than any of my EcoTools, Essence of Beauty, and even my MAC brushes! The powder brush is perfect for applying...well, powder of course! I use it to set my makeup. I could touch it to my face all day long, it feels so nice and soothing! The flat top brush is great for contouring and applying bronzer. The flat eyeshadow brush reminds me very much of MAC's 239 brush, which I have always wanted to own. Not so after this kit! Similarly, the crease brush is THE PERFECT crease brush for my small lid space. I find a lot of crease brushes to be too fluffy, but the one here is small enough to be precise. It fits right into the creases of my eyes. Lastly, the double ended angled brush with spoolie works for taming my brows, as well as applying gel eyeliner.

Now on to the brushes I don't care for:

The angled brush is just a bit strange. It is very flat. I guess I could use it to apply a powder highlight to my cheekbones, but I never find myself reaching for this brush. It feels kind of flimsy to me. The sponge tip applicator is a waste in my opinion. I would have much rather prefered an actual smudger brush, like MAC's 219 instead. The sponge tip is a total filler item in this (almost) perfect set.

I also want to mention the brush bag and the mini set of baby brushes. The bag is really nice, and I am currently using it to store old brushes that I have no use for at the moment. Brushes of all sizes fit nicely into it. This will come in handy when I travel. The mini brushes I keep in my makeup bag are sort of flimsy, but they are perfect for mid-day touch ups .

 ~Pros~

* Great value for everything you get. Just one MAC brush costs more than twenty dollars, and in this kit you get eight!

* The quality of the brushes is amazing. They are so soft and well-made! I have not noticed any shedding whatsoever with any of them. I want to mention that these are synthetic. They are not skunk brushes. The tips of them are just dyed white.

* The handles are sturdy and the black makes them look very chic.

~Cons~

* I just don't particularly care for the two brushes that I mentioned. But...that is my only con!

~Overall~

If you are in the market for affordable, yet well-made brushes, then definitely go to your nearest Costco and at least check them out! I reach for these now more than any of my other brushes, and I am so happy with them.

In other random news, I got a few requests in my last haul to post swatches of my new lipsticks as well as the Sephora by OPI nail polish in Nonfat Soy Half Caff.

Here are the lippies:

                                                                                

                              

  Left to Right: Make Me Pink, Pink Please (Maybelline) and Myself (MAC)

And here is a NOTD featuring the polish. I must say, I am not thrilled with the color. I thought it looked much more beautiful in the bottle. On my nails, it just looks a bit orange. Plus, I needed three coats just to get any semblance of actual color. I might return it, since Sephora is so lenient on their return policy. What do you girls think? Be honest!

 

Wow, that was a long post! I hope my review was helpful. If you guys have any further questions, please feel free to ask! And let me know what you think about the polish!

♥ Noelle

~New Makeup~

Hey Girls, I just wanted to do a quick post featuring some new makeup I bought recently. I went to CVS, MAC, and Sephora. The best part is I used gift cards at the MAC counter and Sephora, and CVS was having  a buy one get one 50% off on Maybelline products. I am so excited to use my new finds. If a product doesn't meet my expectations, or if a product exceeds them, I will let you know!

All of my goodies ;)

Maybelline Color Sensational Lippies: Make Me Pink (Left) and Pink Please (Right)

From MAC's New Collection "All Ages, All Races, All Sexes." Beauty Powder Blush in Personal Style and Lustre L/S in Myself. Love these natural, go-with-everything neutrals! I am wearing the l/s right now and it is my new favorite aside from Way To Love and Nude Rose ♥

From Sephora: NARS Albatross Highlighter (a cult fave), MUFE Mat Velvet + Foundation in 30, and another (yes, another) Sephora by O.P.I. polish in Nonfat Soy Half Caff ( perfect nude-pink).

So that's my haul. I never, ever buy this much at once but then again, that's the beauty of gift cards. I am really hoping that the MUFE foundation works for me. I have heard really good things about it and the girl who helped me at Sephora said it's good for combo/oily skin like mine. We shall see! If you guys have used it, please let me know what your thoughts are. If you want any reviews or swatches, also feel free to ask!

♥ Noelle

♥ Awards ♥

Gosh, I have been so busy the past few weeks that I haven't quite had time to thank three lovely bloggers who have nominated me for their awards. I apologize that this is so late girls! But thank you so much for including me amongst your winners. It is always a heart-felt honor.

1. The first comes from Cynthia: Thank you so much!

2. The second award comes from Natalie. I believe I have received this before, but am unsure if I am allowed to accept another one. Any thoughts girls? It is still appreciated anyway!

3. Lastly (whew!), the third comes from Kate Gene. I love reading her blog!

Again, if you don't already follow these three beautiful bloggers, definitely check them out. You will love reading their posts as much I do, I'm sure. I'm supposed to nominate more blogs for these three awards, but I want to award all of my new readers instead. You know who you are!

♥ Noelle

Rachel Zoe's Style Book

One of the best gifts I received this past Christmas came from my future brother-in-law (it's only a matter of time ♥). A Barnes & Noble gift card and a nerdy girl like myself is good to go! So of course, a few days after Christmas I made a beeline for the fashion and beauty books. Nothing was really catching my eye until, lo and behold, I saw Rachel Zoe's Style A to Zoe. Now, I don't know about you, but I am seriously envious of the famous Hollywood stylista to the stars. With clients like Eva Mendes, Anne Hathaway, and Kate Beckinsale, Rachel Zoe is at the forefront of all that is glamourous. I have watched her show on Bravo from episode one, and I even have all of this past season on my DVR so that when I'm lacking inspiration I can quickly be guided back to fashion fantasy-land. Her book is absolutely a must. The gorgeous photography on its glossy pages is reason enough to run to Barnes & Noble. Her tips on putting yourself together for every occasion and event in your life is equally insightful. I dunno guys, maybe I'm just a big fashion dork. Maybe I'm just a hopeless dreamer. Maybe I want to own a closet full of stunners that I "just die" over! I read it in one night and am still skimming the pages just like I do with an old magazine that I can't put down. I keep searching for a paragraph, a single word that I might have hastily skipped over. But I can't. Nope, I've read all of it, cover to cover. It's that good.

You can find it online here

Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale

My first post of 2010! I hope you all had a wonderful New Years! I just want to remind everyone that the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale officially kicks off in stores today. I believe the sale has been online for about a week, but it wasn't going on in stores until today. I personally am very excited to purchase some "sexy little things" for myself...and for the boyfriend too I guess ;) Here are my picks:

The 100-Way Bra: A bra for every outfit because the straps are interchangeable as well as removable.

How pretty is this little number? Hmmm, note to self: Do more squats!

 

One of my favorite perfumes. Ever.

Any of the cotton VS PINK panties, 5 for $25. I really like this yellow pair. "She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini panties."

Happy Shopping!

My Favorites of December

I cannot believe that the month is almost over. Tomorrow is New Years Eve, and I am so excited to celebrate! I have a feeling that 2010 will be a good year for me...I am graduating college in May, and my boyfriend is taking me to New York City and Ohio to see his family as a graduation gift. Two huge events to look forward to! Speaking of the boyfriend, it is his 28th birthday today. He would kill me if he knew I mentioned this because he thinks he is getting old. I think he is ridiculous!
Anyway, I wanted to do my last post for 2009, my monthly favorites. There aren't very many this month because I am still using a lot of the same products that I did last month. However, the few that I have chosen to include can be considered holy grail status, and I'm sure I will continue to love them as the winter months drag on ;)

Makeup:
* Mac Tendertone and Korres Lip Butter: With the weather being so dry here, I have been relying on these two products to save my smackers from becoming too chapped. The mac tendertones are discontinued, but I see them every single time I go into a CCO. I hope Mac brings them back again next summer because they moisturize like nobody's business. However, the Korres lip butter I recently showed in my Sephora haul is just as moisturizing, if not better! I have been using it religiously before bedtime, and I can still feel it lingering when I wake up in the morning.
* NYX Eyeshadow in Geisha: This is such a pretty shimmery white. I think in some lighting it also has hints of gold as well. I have been pairing this lately with red lips and black eyeliner, and it really keeps the look clean and focused.
* Stila Long Wear Lipcolor in Paramour: This has quickly become my favorite red. I never imagined I could pull off a blue-based red because my skin has a lot of yellow undertones. But Paramour comes off so wearable, and the blue tones in it make my teeth look insanely white! The staying power is great too. Even as it starts to fade, it leaves behind a crimson stain like you have just eaten a cherry popsicle. What more can I say? I am  a FAN!
* E.L.F. Eyeliner Pen: I purchased this a few months ago when E.L.F. debuted at Target. It was exactly $1! You can't go wrong with that. I neglected trying it for awhile, mainly because any sort of liquid liner scares me a little. This pen is pretty goof-proof though, and it gives a perfectly straight line.

Hair:
* There is only one hair item worthy of praise this month...can you guess what it is?
    My new CHI tool! This iron is my new love. It gets hot in seconds, and my ever-annoying and yet ever-so-present frizziness has really diminished since I started using it.

Fashion:
* I have been obsessed with scarves lately. I guess if there's ever a good time for this sickness, it is now when the weather is cold. I like to throw them on with anything and everything, but they look especially nice tucked into a jacket.
* Beaded Tops: Shiny sequins and beads are gracing every store I roam into. Blame New Years Eve if you must, but I personally love all the glitz and glitter. It is unabashedly girly.

~My honorable mention this month goes to champagne: For all your bubbly goodness...and for getting me safely and securely through the Holidays...Thank You Champagne!~

And here's a toast to all my beautiful readers. Thanks again, and Happy New Year!
♥Noelle

Christmas Surprises

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Holiday! I just wanted to share a few special gifts I received, completely out of the blue too. But first, here is my FOTD, Christmas edition:

I wore: ~Clinique Perfectly Real Foundation

~Prescriptives Site Unseen Brightening Concealer

~MAC Conjure Up Blush

~UDPP

~NYX Geisha and Bare Escentuals Moss e/s

~ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

~MAC Teddy Eyeliner on lower lash line

~CG Lash Blast

~Stila Long Wear Lipcolor in Paramour

~All makeup set with MAC Fix+

I was so excited to get gift cards from my family, especially one for Sephora. You can never go wrong with gift cards, even though they are a bit impersonal. I am so incredibly blessed, my family spoils me! Here are my favorites:

                                                           Kirkland Signature Brushes

NARS Pleasures Of Paris!!! Ok, so this is the perfect palette.

Lovely things from my best friend. She knows me so well.

This BCBG purse was a complete surprise! It's so beautiful, it reminds me of a Chanel ;) I love the chain straps and the dove gray color.

I am still shocked by my gifts! Especially since all I really wanted was a gift card to the local mall ;) Were any of you surprised with a special gift this year?
♥ Noelle

Merry Christmas and Thank You!

~Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful day spent with family, friends, and good food! And as always, THANK YOU SO MUCH for reading. You guys make my day!~

Sephora by O.P.I. "Meet for Drinks"

Aside from the saucy name, "Meet for Drinks" is my go-to nail color for festive occasions. I wore it to complement my sailor costume on Halloween, and I am definitely going to sport the lovely lacquer on Christmas and New Years Eve. I just love dark, vampy, wine colors on short, manicured nails. In fact, I had a glass of Merlot immediately after polishing my nails and I couldn't help but notice that my polish matched my sparkling glass of vino.

~Without Flash~

~With Flash~

What color are you wearing for the Holidays?