Naked 2 palette PLUS Essie, shoes and other goodies!!!

It may be cold outside but I've been getting ready for spring!  Since I've been doing a little shopping lately, I wanted to share some things I've picked up that I am currently impressed with.  I could not hold out any longer on the Naked 2 palette and I just HAD to have two new shades from Essie's Spring 2012 collection.  Of course I also picked up some more leopard print items...I can't get enough of leopard print lately! 

When the last Naked palette came out I ordered it immediately online via www.sephora.com and I probably was one of the first to get it.  Even the Urban Decay rep at my local Ulta didn't have one yet, lol.  This time when the Naked 2 palette came out I decided to wait.  Well...last week I broke down and purchased it.  I purchased it as a reward for surviving a stressful week at work and I'm glad I did.  It's really a great palette with 5 brand new shades and yes I do believe there is enough room in everyone's collection to have both palettes.

Each Naked 2 palette comes with a sample size of Lip Junkie gloss in Naked and a double ended brush.

If you are not familiar with the first Naked palette, please read my review and tutorial here.

The first difference you will notice about the two palettes is the packaging.  The first palette is a velvet covered box with a magnetic closure.  The Naked 2 palette is made of metal and securely closes by snapping shut.  I personally like the packaging on the first palette since I have found the Naked 2 harder to open and close.  The metal packaging however does protect the eyeshadows better.

The only repeat shade is from the first palette is Half Baked (which happens to be one of my favorites!).  Half Baked is a warm toned gold with an incredible sheen.  The 5 new shades are Booty Call, Tease, Snakebite, Pistol and Busted.  I have found that the Naked 2 palette has more "cool toned" shades whereas the first Naked palette has warmer shades.  I personally love Booty Call, Suspect, Pistol and Busted.  I actually based my decision to purchase the Naked 2 palette on the swatch I made of Pistol in the store.  You can purchase the Naked 2 palette (and the original Naked palette) at Ulta, Sephora or www.urbandecay.com for $50 each.  Pictured below are some close-ups and swatches of each color.

#1- FOXY- a warm, vanilla colored matte shade

#2- HALF BAKED- a warm, golden shimmer

#3- BOOTY CALL- shimmery champagne shade

#4- CHOPPER- shimmer based bronze with slight glitter

#5- TEASE- cool toned, matte brown

#6- SNAKEBITE- cool toned brown with bronze and gold

#7- SUSPECT- golden beige with shimmer

#8- PISTOL- cool toned shimmery gray

#9- VERVE- shimmery "mother of pearl" shade

#10- YDK- cool toned bronze, similar to rose gold

#11- BUSTED- deep brown with a sheen finish

#12- BLACKOUT- black with a matte finish

~~~~~~~Swatches~~~~~~~

Booty Call, Chopper, Tease and Snakebite

Suspect, Pistol, Verve and YDK

Foxy, Half Baked (repeat from 1st Naked palette), Busted and Blackout

Close-Up Shots of the Shadows

L-R- Foxy, Half Baked, Booty Call & Chopper

L-R- Tease, Snakebite & Suspect

L-R- Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted & Blackout

Swatch of Lip Junkie gloss in "Naked"

~~~~~~~Spring Nail Polish Picks~~~~~~~

L-R- Essie's A Crewed Interest, Sally Hansen's Gem Crush in Be-Jeweled and Essie's Ole' Caliente

In addition to the Naked 2 palette, I picked up two shades from Essie's Spring 2012 collection plus a lovely polish by Sally Hansen.  A Crewed Interest is a creamy, peach shade that is really unique.  Ole' Caliente is a bold, orange-red that would look phenomenal against tan skin.  Sally Hansen's Be-Jeweled is currently on my toes and it sparkles very nicely.  If you are a purple lover like myself, you will love this shade!  Essie costs $8 each and Sally Hansen's Gem Crush shades are about $6.50 each.  You can find Essie and Sally Hansen at Ulta or your local CVS.

I also picked up a new blue polish by Milani in honor of my son's recent blue belt in karate and a new bronzer.  Bolting Blue is a nice bold, blue shade that goes on smoothly.  You can find Milani nail polish at Target, CVS and Walmart.  Park Ave Princess is a smooth, medium toned bronzer that has no shimmer.  I really like this bronzer since it goes on smoothly, doesn't fade throughout the day and gives me a nice glow.  You can find this bronzer at Ulta for $29.00.  Did I mention it is waterproof too?! 

Milani's Bolting Blue nail polish and Tarte's Park Ave Princess bronzer

Close-up of Tarte's Park Ave Princess (notice I am wearing Ole' Caliente by Essie on my nails).

~~~~~~~Shoes & Dresses~~~~~~~

I've been hunting down some leopard flats and look at what I found at Target!  Run...don't walk to Target for these super-cute leopard flats!!!  They are only $14.99!

I needed some nude pumps for a new suit I bought recently...how about these?  I found them at Target for only $29.99!  They are comfortable too!  Nude pumps go with everything!

Since I've been on such a leopard print kick lately, how about this scarf that I found for $14.99 at World Market?  I also picked up these earrings and bracelet which were both $4.99 (plus 20% off).

Finally I want to share two dresses I picked up this weekend at my favorite store...Belk!  Belk always has incredible clearance racks and these dresses were a steal!  The black dress was originally $110.00 and I got it for $26.00!  The purple print dress was originally $98.00 and I got it for $11.99!  I plan to wear the black dress to an evening wedding I am going to in March.  It has a tiered skirt (hard to see in this picture) with a bodice lined in nude under lace.  The purple dress will be perfect for work! 

Black lace dress-$26!

Purple print dress-$11.99!

As a side note...I've been playing this song on repeat this past week :) 

How to clean makeup brushes!

I wanted to stop in for a quick blog on how to clean your makeup brushes.  Dirty makeup brushes carry bacteria that can lead to acne and eye infections.  It's important to lightly cleanse brushes after each use (I use makeup remover wipes) but even cleaning brushes after each use doesn't replace a deep cleaning that I recommend once a week.  Deep cleaning your brushes helps to reach the makeup (especially foundation, blush and bronzer) and bacteria that rests deep inside the brush hairs causing the most trouble. 

I promise that cleaning your brushes using the simple technique below will save you money and is more effective than any brush cleanser I've ever bought!

Here is what you will need-

Dishwashing liquid and olive oil

You begin by distributing half of the olive oil and half of the dishwashing liquid onto a saucer.  I prefer scented dishwashing liquid since it leaves behind a pleasant smell on my brushes.  The dishwashing liquid helps to rid the brushes of any stubborn makeup and the olive oil helps to moisturize the bristles and to keep them soft.

Once the saucer is filled, you take the brush head and twirl the bristles evenly in the olive oil and the dishwashing liquid.  Coat the bristles and rub them either on the palm of your hand or between your fingers.  

The last step is to simply rinse.  I prefer to rinse my brushes in the kitchen sink so I can use the sprayer to ensure they are completely free of any soap residue.  Avoid spraying water on the brush beyond the brush hairs.  

After washing your brushes, wipe them down and squeeze out any excess water.  Lastly lay them down on a paper towel to air dry.  It can take up to 24 hours for larger brushes (kabuki) to dry.  It's important to remember to lay your brushes down flat to dry.  You don't want to dry your brushes standing with the bristles facing up or you will end up with damaged brushes like this one-

When brushes are allowed to dry standing up, excess water in the brush head seeps down and eats away at the glue holding the brush together.  The hairs will begin to shed then finally separate from the handle and you will end up with a brush that looks like this one!

I have found cleansing makeup brushes using olive oil and dishwashing liquid has been effective for natural and synthetic brush hairs alike.  I've tried many different cleansing methods but this is the simplest, cheapest and most effective there is! 

 



Favorite Winter Polish Picks PLUS Essie's New Luxeffects Topcoats

If there is one thing I do differently in the winter versus the summer, its that I wear darker nail polish.  In the spring and summer I usually stick with bright colors like hot pink, pastels and corals.  In the winter I tend to gravitate towards metallic polish, berry colors and deep shades. 

Last summer I blogged about my favorite summer nail polish colors with an entry you can read here.  I thought it would be appropriate to mention my favorite winter polish shades since we are right in the middle of cold weather.  So without further ado, here are my favorite nail polish picks for the winter months.  If the polish I chose was from a special collection and/or is not available, I've listed that below.  Most of the polishes are still available online and/or in stores.

~~~~~Red~~~~~

Sultry, sexy and just a tad sinful.  Red polish is a great choice for a girls night out or even the office.  Make a statement with a classy, creme shade or steal some looks with red glitter that is perfect for next Christmas!

L-R- Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Lava Red, Milani Nail Lacquer in Hot Flash, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Stiletto Red, Essie in Size Matters, OPI in Color So Hot It Berns, Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Burgundy Frost and Milani One Coat Glitter in Red Sparkle.

 

• Lava Red is a deep, almost black shade with slight red shimmer throughout.
• Hot Flash is a shimmery orange/red shade that can even appear gold in some light.  Hot Flash seems to be discontinued but is still available at different retailers online.
• Stiletto Red and Color So Hot It Berns are creamy, classic red shades with blue undertones.  Color So Hot It Berns was part of OPI's Swiss collection but is still available online.
• Size Matters is a deep, purple red with a creamy finish.
• Burgundy Frost is a shimmery cherry shade and Red Sparkle is a fine, red glitter polish.

 

~~~~~Pink~~~~~

Girly, fun and playful, you can't go wrong with pink nail polish.  Here are a few choices that cover the many different shades of pink that are frosty enough for cooler weather.  I've even thrown in a pearly white shade that would look great paired with pink polish!

L-R-OPI in A Rose at Dawn, Broke by Noon, Revlon Scented Polish in Coconut Crush, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Hot Cocoa, Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Pop the Cork, OPI in The One the Got Away and Loreal polish in Whimsical.

 

• A Rose at Dawn, Broke by Noon is a frosty pink that is definitely in the mauve family.  It was part of the OPI Las Vegas collection but can be found on Amazon still.
• Coconut Crush is a pearly white and Hot Cocoa is a brown-based pink that appears mauve too.
• Pop the Cork is a super-glittery polish which incorporates silver and pink glitter.  It was part of the Holiday 2011 collection but is still available.
• The One that Got Away is a deep berry shade that has gold and berry shimmer throughout.  It was part of the Katy Perry collection but it's still available online.
• Lastly, Whimsical is a super-shimmery shell pink that also has subtle silver shimmer.

 

~~~~~Purple~~~~~

From the deepest shade to a cheerful purple, winter doesn't have to be boring at all!  If you love purple like I do, then these may be for you too!

L-R-OPI in Lincoln Park after Dark, OPI in Purple with a Purpose and Milani Nail Lacquer in Black Cherry.

 

• Lincoln Park after Dark is a very deep purple that almost appears black.  It's similar to eggplant but darker.
• Purple with a Purpose is a shimmery purple that has blue undertones.
• Black Cherry lives up to its name.  It is a shade lighter than Lincoln Park after Dark and has more brown undertones as well.

~~~~~Metallics~~~~~

I love metallic polish year-round.  Silver and gold are perfect for the holidays and New Years Eve.  Gunmetal stands out and is edgy enough to make a statement no matter what time of the year!

L-R-Loreal polish in Valiant, Orly polish in Shine, OPI in Glitzerland and OPI in Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous.

 

• Valiant is a gunmetal shimmer with silver flecks. 
• Shine has super-fine shimmer and appears to look similar to tin foil in the bottle.  Shine was part of Orly's Foil FX collection and can still be found online.
• Glitzerland is a gorgeous gold that has fine glitter like Shine.  Both appear to be similar in texture, the only difference being the color.  Glitzerland was part of OPI's Swiss collection and can be found easily online.
• Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous is a deep gunmetal with shimmer.  Its more black than Valiant (which appears more brown).  It was part of OPI's Swiss collection and can be found on Amazon.

 

~~~~~Wild Card Colors~~~~~

Rusty orange, pale neutrals, deep browns and multi-colored shades define the different choices and creativity you can express.

L-R-Wet n Wild nail color in Rustic, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Gold Silk, Milani Nail Lacquer in Ms Milani, Essie in Mink Muffs and Hard Candy nail color in Beetle.

 

• Rustic is a glittery orange/brown shade which reminds me of fall leaves :)  It does appear to be discontinued and you might can find it on ebay.
• Gold Silk is similar to rose gold but is lighter and more neutral.
• Ms. Milani is a pewter, champagne color.  I can't find it on their website but I still see it in stores.
• Mink Muffs is a creamy, purple-brown that has cool undertones.
• Beetle is a multi-dimensional shade that changes colors depending on how the light hits it.  Sometimes Beetle appears purple, green, pink, blue, yellow or orange.  It's really a fun color to wear.

 

~~~~~New Essie Luxeffects Topcoats~~~~~

I adore Essie nail polish.  Almost every color is smooth, doesn't bubble and dries to a creamy finish.  At $8 a bottle, it's still .50 cheaper than OPI and I personally think Essie's brush works better for me.  Essie may not have the color range that OPI has but when it comes to creaminess, brush size and pastel shades, Essie has OPI beat hands down.

Recently Essie came out with five different glitter top coats.  Usually Essie shies away from glitter polish but the brand is now branching out to help Essie lovers get that glitter effect whenever they want.  I personally like glitter nails but there is a HUGE difference between obnoxious glitter and tasteful glitter.  Essie hit the mark with their topcoats because each one has just the right amount of sparkle without looking like you experimented with the your moms nail polish at 10 years old.  Below you will see two of the five that are part of the new Luxeffects collection.

Pictured here is Essie's topcoat in Shine of the Times.  It is one of five new glitter topcoats that Essie has recently released.  It is full of glitter flakes that reflect light and appear red, orange, pink and even blue.  Shine of the Times is applied in this picture on top of a pink polish called Viva Pink by Avon.  Unfortunately the camera does not do the look justice.

Pictured above is Avon Nailwear Pro in Viva Pink and Essie's Shine of the Times

The second member of the Luxeffects topcoat line is Pure Pearlfection which is pictured above.  Just a touch of this great topcoat over almost any polish looks amazing.  It gives a pearly glow to pastels and an edgy sparkle to jewel tones.  I really liked trying this color over purple and periwinkle blue.  This topcoat would also look amazing over white nail polish similar to Coconut Crush by Revlon mentioned earlier in this post.

Both topcoats can be found at your local drugstore or Ulta for $8.00/bottle.

"Get Running" in 2012!

Okay, I'm the first one to admit I hate to exercise and my pant size reflects that, lol.  I've always struggled with my weight.  I can fluctuate 2-3 sizes just based on how I eat alone.  In high school I was on my school's cheerleading squad year round, played softball in the spring, swam a lot in my pool and I still was a size 10/12.  Right before my senior year started my father passed away and the stress from losing him brought me up to a size 16.  Ever since then I've dropped down to a 14 and I've been as high as a size 22.  Currently I am a size 14/16 (14 on a good day...a REALLY good day).  I don't care how tall I am (I'm 5'9") or how "big boned" I am, a size 22 doesn't look that great on me!  I remember being a size 8 during my sophomore year in high school and I weighed 175 pounds.  Sounds crazy but my height combined with my body frame has always been a threat to my scale.

Sooo...all this talk about weight leads me to the reason for this blog entry.  I wanted to drop by and say 2012's resolution is not to lose weight but to live healthier.  Each year I say I am going to lose weight and sometimes I do but by the end of the year I lose sight of my goal and I feel that living healthier as a whole is more important than losing weight.  Of course the healthier you live, the more likely you are to lose weight.  I feel that if I make a post about my goal, then I will stick to it better.  I lost 50 pounds around 5 years ago and I've struggled over and over to keep the last 10 pounds off.  Some days I feel huge and other days I think I look good.  I know eating right alone will no longer do the trick.  I always try to eat sensible and I avoid soda like the plague.  Ask any of my friends at work and they will tell you that I always have my seltzer water with me, lol.  The problem is that the older you get, the more effort it takes to lose those pesky pounds.

Finding an exercise plan that is right for me is crucial to the success I want.  I work long hours at a stressful job (I supervise a team of social workers) in addition to being a mother and wife.  Each day begins at 5:30am and doesn't end until I come home (which is usually after dark).  My husband usually helps get dinner on the table and then before you know it, a new day starts.  The problem is that I sit most of my day behind a desk.  I don't get to move as much as I would like which is not an ideal situation.  When I get home I move somewhat but usually my brain is fried and I just want to lay down and go to sleep.  I find that if I exercise right when I get home, I won't have a chance to get lazy.  

Since my work hours don't allow time for a gym membership and my weekends are all about my family, I have turned to running as my exercise of choice.  I remember running during cheerleading practices in high school and that I liked the way it made me feel.  I hate running short distances but I love running longer distances so I could have time to think to myself.  Now that I have an iphone full of my favorite songs, it should be easier to run.  I also have a great neighborhood and I need some motivation to go buy some great workout clothes, lol.  

The icing on the cake was an app I found last week for my iphone called "Get Running".  Basically you run every other day with the help of a coach.  The coach tells you how long to warm up, how long to walk and how long to run.  The goal is to build up your endurance so by the end of 9 weeks you are running for 30 minutes straight.  Another cool feature about the app is that the coaching voice and time left prompts fade in and out of your music so you can still run to the beat of your choice without slowing down.  I tried the app on Sunday and I am proud to say I made it through!

  The first week you walk for your warm up, then walk for 1 and 1/2 minute intervals between 1 minute running sets.  You end your workout with a cool down of about 5 minutes.  The total time is 30 minutes.  As the weeks progress, the running sets get longer and you will walk less.  I hope to finish my 9 weeks (end date is March 15th-as long as I don't miss a day) by running for the full 30 minutes.  My biggest goal of all is not actually losing weight but to live healthier, find a new hobby and run in a 5k at some point this year.  My lifetime to-do list always had a 5k run on it (written way at the bottom) but I've been too scared to try it...hopefully this is the year I finally go for it.

If you are interested in running or if you have some tips you can share, feel free to leave me a comment.  You can find "Get Running" on the itunes app store or you can visit the creator's website here for more information about the app.

  

Cheap Finds!

I love a good sale.  I'm not going to lie...I get a rush from knowing I picked up a great bargain.  I've braved the crowds on Black Friday, dug deeply in sale bins and I've been known to rummage through boxes of clearance makeup at my local K-mart looking for that "perfect deal", lol!  I'm just as comfortable shopping at the dollar store as I am Nordstrom. 

Since I love a good buy, here are some of my favorite stores that tend to sell discounted and/or cheaper items for much less than other retailers.  Beside each store I listed my favorite items to purchase when I shop there.  Some stores have a better selection of particular items, so it is important to know what you are looking for BEFORE you leave the house to shop.

• Marshalls-shoes, rugs, small furniture, sunglasses, mens big & tall, ladies tops/dresses
• TJ Maxx-handbags/luggage, scarves, jewelry, housewares, childrens clothing
• Dollar Tree-soaps/lotions, school supplies, gift bags, plastic storage boxes/bins, wine/martini glasses, aluminum foil pans/bakers, birthday decorations, balloons
• Tuesday Morning-home decor, kitchen utensils/bakeware, outdoor decor
• Dollar General-makeup, shampoo, seasonal decorations, candy, small toys, decorative lamps
• Sally's Beauty Supply-nail polish, combs/hairbrushes, conditioners, some makeup
• Cato-fashion jewelry, shoes, layering pieces
• Big Lots-seasonal decor, baby items, pet items
• Local "hair" store-jewelry, scarves, accessories, makeup, shoes, lotions
• Sav A Lot grocery store-basic grocery items, paper towels, frozen foods 

~~~~~Cheap Finds!~~~~~

I took a quick trip to my local "hair" store today looking for Macadamia Natural Oil products.  It's called a "hair" store because they sell many different types of hair; either for extensions, weaves or wigs.  They also carry a large selection of accessories, jewelry, body products and makeup at low prices.  Since my local Ulta is ALWAYS sold out of Macadamia Natural Oil products and Sally's Beauty Supply doesn't carry them, I thought it was time to try the hair store just to see if they carry the products or if they carry a cheaper version for me to try out.  I didn't find the Macadamia oil products but I did find an Argan oil hair creme and a Brazilian shine serum. 

I tried out both products tonight and I am pleased with the results.  The Smoothing Hair Creme with Argan oil is made by Hollywood Beauty.  I purchased a 12fl oz pump for only $9.99.  You simply pump a few pumps onto your palms and work through damp hair before styling.  I found the smell to be very nice and it really seemed to moisturize my hair.  It is not greasy and absorbs quickly.  I also enjoyed the Brazilian Keratin Serum Ultra Shine which is made in Brazil.  It is a small bottle (2oz) which I purchased for $4.99.  You simply place a small amount (dime size) onto your hands and work into damp hair before styling.  The serum calms fly-aways and makes your hair shiny.  I really enjoyed the serum but make sure you don't use too much or your hair can become a greasy mess!

Pictured below is Hollywood Beauty's Smoothing Hair Creme with Keratin and Argan Oil and Brazilian Keratin Serum Ultra Shine.  Both products are pictured with OPI's Wocka Wocka nail polish (which was released in OPI's Winter 2011 Muppets polish collection).  I found Wocka Wocka today on clearance for $6.49.  It's a gorgeous, shimmering berry color that I can't wait to use.

L-R-Hollywood Beauty's hair creme, OPI's Wocka Wocka (looks too red in this picture, look below to see a better example of it's color) & Brazilian shine serum.

My hair after using both the creme & serum (without flash).

My hair after using the creme & serum (with flash).

OPI's Wocka Wocka polish-photo is true to color.

~~~~~More Cheap Finds!~~~~~

Of course this wouldn't be a blog post about cheap finds if I didn't include some drugstore makeup!  Walgreens carries Jordana, which is a brand that I've mentioned here many times.  Jordana makes great lip and eyeliners and I decided to pick up their mascara too!  I'm happy to say that after using this mascara for the past few days, I have found it to be great at creating full lashes and that it doesn't smudge or transfer!  For only $2.99 you can't beat it.  It's even cheaper than my Covergirl mascara.  Recently I've jumped on the Revlon Lip Butter bandwagon.  EVERYONE and their momma was talking about Revlon's new lip butters and I was trying sooo hard not to buy one.  I then saw a few swatches online here that helped sway me.  I picked up only one shade but I plan to get a few more (Sweet Tart & Lollipop).  The great thing about Revlon's lip butters is that they go on smoothly, are creamy, very moisturizing and have great color payoff.  For $7.49, you should try them too.

Jordana's Best Lash Extreme mascara and Revlon's Lip Butter in Sugar Plum

Swatch of Sugar Plum (no flash)

While out shopping today I also came across a few other finds that I would like to share.  At the hair store I also picked up a pair of earrings that only cost $1.99!  I thought they were cute and would look nice with a grey or black sweater.  They have clear & grey stones placed on silver dangle hoops.  For only $1.99-why not?! 

I also stopped by TJ Maxx and picked up a great pair of shoes and a nice sweater.  I've been searching high and low for some cute leopard print shoes.  Some animal print shoes look like they belong in a strip club which isn't the look I'm going for.  The shoes I found today are leopard print sling backs with an open toe.  They are by Nine West and only cost $20!  I love Nine West shoes and I can't wait to wear these when the weather warms up!  I also picked up a draped cardigan in a soft camel color.  I think it will look great cinched with a wide brown belt or worn open with a scarf, skinny jeans and boots.  The sweater was only $19.99.

Nine West leopard sling back pumps

Draped cardigan found at TJ Maxx-size large

One more thing...

I wanted to quickly mention two products that I've rediscovered this past week.  It's been so cold lately and my lips are paying the price.  I dug through all my lip gloss and found my Nivea Kiss of Moisture balm just in time.  I love Nivea lip balms and this one has been great.  I have also rediscovered my tube (.2 fl oz size) of Amazing Cosmetics concealer in Medium Beige.  I've been enjoying the coverage over my dark circles it has been providing...good stuff.  You can find Nivea's Kiss of Moisture at your local drug store for around $2.50 and Amazing Cosmetics concealer (.2 fl oz size) for $28.00.

Amazing Cosmetics conceraler in Medium Beige and Nivea's Kiss of Moisture

Favorites of 2011!

Favorites of 2011!

Here is a quick listing of my favorite accessories, shoes, makeup, skin care, nail polish and hair care products that I purchased in 2011.  I've tried to pick items that I've used consistently throughout 2011 and that I thought...

1. Did what they were designed to do

2. Was worth the money I spent

3. Made me happy :)

ACCESSORIES

Nothing completes an outfit quite like a good pair of shoes, handbag or jewelry.  Here are a few of my favorites from 2011.

It was hard for me to narrow down to one favorite handbag so I chose two! 

L-R- Urban Expressions tote (I don't know the style however I picked up mine at a boutique called Persona for $80) and Michael Kors Leopard tote.  Both are eye catching and roomy enough for all the junk I carry around each day!

These boots have been fabulous all year!  They are the Alfani "Bernie" boot.  I picked them up at Macy's but this style now appears to be discontinued.  I really could recommend any black, heeled boot though.  You can dress them up or down.  Alfani makes great boots and I can walk in these all day without my feet hurting.  They look great over a pair of skinny jeans or dressed up with tights and a dress.  Macy's always has great shoe sales and now is the time to buy winter boots!

I LOVE jewelry and scarves but these three items were worn practically every week in 2011 at least once.  I'm still in love with my Swatch watch (FULL-BLOODED - SVCK4032G) which is available for $160.00 at www.store.swatch.com  It's a great oversized watch that I get compliments on each time I wear it.  It's less expensive and less common than Michael Kors watches which makes me love it even more.  My bracelet is the silver bead bracelet by Tiffany & Co.  A lot of people don't realize that Tiffany's sterling silver collections are affordable.  This bracelet can be purchased at www.tiffany.com for $200.  I wear this bracelet almost everyday and it has held up nicely.  My last accessory I couldn't stop wearing in 2011 was my gray scarf.  It's super soft and long which is a rare thing since I hate short scarves!  I picked it up for $9 at World Market.

Makeup

I found some great products this year.  Some I blogged about and others were discovered recently. 

Pictured above are all my favorite beauty products from 2011!

A good face needs color and what better way to get it than bronzer, blush and eyeshadow?  My favorite bronzer is still Laura Geller's Bronze n Brighten.  It goes on smoothly and gives a natural glow.  Bronze n Brighten can be picked up at Ulta for $31. If you want to see a swatch, click here.  My favorite eyeshadow was a tie between Wet n Wild's Dancing in the Clouds palette and Urban Decay's Naked palette.  Both offered unique shades.  I love Dancing in the Clouds because its affordable (costs only $2.99) and provides a unique mix of color.  You can see a swatch and a review I did of this palette and other Wet n Wild palettes here.   I love the Naked palette because of its versatility and quality.  You can find the Naked palette at Ulta for $48 and you can read my review here.  My favorite blush is Lovejoy by NARS.  It has been my go-to color that accents my cheekbones without being too "over the top".  It looks great when applied and is a really nice contour color too.  You can find NARS blushes ($27) and other NARS products at www.sephora.com

Pictured above is my top choices for lipstick, concealer, makeup brush, foundation, nail polish and perfume.  I couldn't choose one lipstick shade so I want to share them both.  I loved MAC's High Tea lipstick and L'oreals Fairest Nude.  Both offered great coverage and a natural finish.  If you want the perfect "my lips but better" look, then these lipsticks are for you!  You can find MAC lipsticks at your local MAC counter for $14.50 each.  L'oreals Fairest Nude is usually priced around $5.99 at your local drugstore, Walmart or Target.

My favorite concealer was one I "rediscovered" this year.  I've enjoyed Maybelline's Super Stay concealer almost everyday.  It works hard and does a good job brightening my undereye area without caking.  You can find Super Stay concealer at your local drugstore for around $7.  My favorite makeup brush this year would no doubt be my Ecotools Bamboo bronzer brush.  It's amazing at applying foundation quickly and evenly.  Just buff into your skin and you are set!  It's soft and doesn't shed.  You can find it at Ulta for $12.59.  My favorite foundation is another drugstore find.  I have gone through many tubes of Rimmel's Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation but I never posted a review about it.  It goes on smoothly, provides full coverage, costs under $8 and stays on ALL DAY LONG.  If you love Estee' Lauder's Double Wear, then you must try this!  You can find this foundation at any drugstore, Walmart, Target or Ulta.

My favorite nail polish this year wasn't very bright or fancy.  I loved OPI's Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous and wore it many times in 2011.  It's a charcoal grey with silver shimmer.  It's perfect to wear when going out or even to work.  I found my bottle at Ulta for $8 and you can see my original thoughts and swatches here.

My favorite perfume was discovered late in the year but I've enjoyed it since the day I bought it.  I discovered it during one of my Ulta "spray and sniff" outings.  I love going there and trying out new scents.  When I tried Oh Lola! by Marc Jacobs I thought it was perfect.  I picked up my bottle for $48. 

Top-bottom- My favorite pencil eyeliner is Urban Decay's 24/7 liner in Baked.  My favorite liquid liner is Jordana's Fabuliner in Black (can be purchased at Walgreens for $1.99).  My favorite mascara is Lorac's Multiplex 3D-it really lengthens and separates my lashes.  You can get a tube at Ulta for $22.  My favorite lip gloss is Beige by NYX.  This shade looks great over so many lipstick colors and on any skin tone.  NYX lip gloss costs around $6.  Last but not least is my favorite brow product.  Milani's Easybrow in Natural Taupe is a great buy.  On one end is a great eye pencil that is retractable.  The other end has a "spoolie" brush which is perfect for brushing unruly eyebrows!  It works great!  I picked up my Easybrow at CVS for around $5.

Skincare

The older I get (I turned 30 this year!) the more interested I become in skincare products.  I try each night to adhere to my skincare routine and I always try to go to bed with clean skin.  I've tried some great products in 2011 but I am still searching for a great moisturizer. 

L-R- Ahava's Body Sorbet Caress in Mandarin Cedarwood, Boscia's Enlivening Amino Eye Treatment, Clinique's All About Eyes Serum, Elemis' Soothing Apricot Toner, Sun Labs Self Tanning Lotion and the Clarisonic Mia 2.

If you want a body lotion that absorbs quickly, is not greasy and has a great smell, then check out Ahava's Body Sorbet.  It's a great lotion and is worth every penny.  You can find it on www.amazon.com for $34 for 12.3oz.  Boscia's eye treatment has been a recent find but I am loving how it moisturizes my eye area without irritation.  It goes on smooth and is not greasy like some eye creams.  I picked up my bottle at Ulta for $38.  I couldn't leave out Clinique's All About Eyes serum.  I apply this each morning to help reduce puffiness.  It applies with a rollerball applicator and it works!  You can find it at your local Clinique counter for $26.  Elemis' Apricot toner has been a great way to soothe my skin after cleansing.  It is not irritating nor does it use alcohol like most toners which can be drying.  It smells lovely and is extremely gentle.  I recommend Elemis products because of their quality.  You can find the Soothing Apricot toner at www.timetospa.com for $33.  You can also read my thoughts on Elemis skincare here. 

Lastly I've enjoyed my self tanner and Clarisonic.  Sun Labs self tanning lotion is a great product!  It doesn't smell like all self tanners I've tried.  The product itself is the color of chocolate which helps you see where the product is going when you apply it.  It absorbs quickly and in no time your "tan" appears.  I find that my tan lasts 3-4 days and doesn't become spotty like some self tanners will.  You can find it at Ulta for $36.50 but I found my bottle at TJ Maxx for $16.99.  I also want to mention my Clarisonic.  It really has helped my skin become clearer, cleaner and brighter.  I use it every night with my favorite cleanser for 1 minute and my skin hasn't looked better.  It was definately an item I thought long and hard about before I purchased but I'm glad I did.  You can purchase the Clarisonic Mia 2 at www.clarisonic.com for $149.00.

Wild Card Item of 2011

There's always that one thing you bought that you thought you would probably use but you didn't realize how much you liked it (or needed it) until after you started to use it.

I didn't realize how much my luggage was in bad shape until this set arrived.  My old set had been with me during many travels and had lasted me all through college and the first 8 years of marriage.  When I saw this set on QVC, I thought I would pick it up.  It wasn't until the luggage arrived that I realized how cool it really was (and how useful).  My old set did not have spinner wheels, hard sides or handles that worked properly.  It was a boring black set that was heavy and REALLY dirty!  I have enjoyed this set and I recommend it to anyone looking for a super cute way to travel in style.  I promise you won't miss this luggage in baggage claim (that is of course if the airline doesn't lose your bags first, lol)!  I found my set at www.qvc.com  It is the Heys 3 piece Hardside Spinner Luggage set (F09494).  It sells for $186.90.