Thursday, March 31, 2011

Rain Check

Wet N Wild Wild Shine in Rain Check (2 coats)

with Essie base coat, Fill The Gap (perfect for filling ridges),

&

Essie Top Coat, Good To Go (the fastest drying and toughest top coat around!)

Love most shades of blue nail polish, including this one!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Hot Deal Alert ... Nelle & Lizzy

Who remembers when I finally purchased my Nelle & Lizzy ring back in 2009 after drooling over it forever? My blog receives lots of hits in search of Nelle & Lizzy promo codes (according to my trusty Google Analytics reports), and I am happy to share an amazing deal that is only being offered for the next 12 hours!
Nelle & Lizzy creates hand-stamped, high quality jewelry that even the celebrities adore! I wear my ring every.single.day. I sleep and shower in it, too. The stamping has not worn down in the slightest, and I always get lots of compliments on it.
^^ My ring the day it was delivered ^^

Nelle & Lizzy offers custom rings, necklaces, bracelets and one-of-a-kind gifts for men and women! Perfect ideas for Mother's Day coming up, or any other special occasion!

So here is the killer deal ... a new Groupon-style site just launched this month called Social Dish. This site stands out among the many similar to it with the fact that they offer you money to get people and businesses signed up with them! Yep! A potential to earn money and save money all in one spot! It's free to sign-up, you get a daily deal emailed to you, and you'll earn a percentage of your referral's purchases! Sounds great, right? Sign-up now so you can take advantage of the limited time offer for Nelle & Lizzy, and spread the word to all your friends and family so you can start earning some $$!!


Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Saving My Favorite Jeans ...

I was mixing hair dye one night and got a glob of the dye on my favorite jeans. I just about had a heart attack. After pre-treating them and washing them, it was obvious that black hair dye was not going to come out. Instead of tossing them, I decided I was going to distress them. What did I have to lose, right? Here's how I did it and how they turned out ...

First up, I had to try to lighten the stain, so I used a Clorox Bleach pen and layered on the bleach gel. I let the bleach sit for about 20 minutes, then washed and dried as usual.


Next up, I went into our garage to find some sandpaper. No such luck, but I came across this steel-bristled brush. This was definitely rough enough to tear into denim. I then slid a small cutting board into the pant leg of my jeans (to prevent distressing of the back side of the pants), and went to town grinding and rubbing the steel brush on top of the now bleached stain. This took a little while ... apparently denim is actually a tough fabric. Ha ha!
Eventually, I rubbed a couple holes into my jeans and seperated the fabric enough to achieve the desired look. This look was great for the first few times I wore my jeans. Unfortunately, the holes I created stretched and merged, so now I have one big hole ... too big for my liking (you'll see it in Friday's fashion post). So, I think I am going to get a patch to put under the hole. If I ever distress jeans again, I will be sure to create only 1 small hole, so that the ripping and shredding will happen more gradual. Bottom line, I am glad I saved my jeans from being sent to Goodwill.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Monday, Monday ...

I am detoxing for 48 hours, starting this morning. I am jump-starting my metabolism and re-directing my brain to quit craving the comfort foods I enjoy so darn much. I gotta get bikini ready real quick, cuz hubby and I have our plane tickets booked ...
... to Las Vegas, Baby!! I am turning 30 this year (woot!!) and hubby and I are also celebrating our 10 year anniversary (double woot!!), so we are going to go play without the kids for a week in one of our favorite vacation spots! I am so very excited ... we leave May 15th!!


The weather man keeps getting my hopes up for sunny and WARM weather by the end of the week, but of course Oregon weather-people can never get things right. They change their forecast predictions almost hourly. Let's hope we see some beautiful spring weather this week!
I guess I shouldn't be complaining too much though ... they predicted rain on the coast this last weekend, and we got gorgeous sunshine for 2 of the 3 days we were there. It was cold, but I ain't complaining! We BBQ'd and had a great time with friends!
Spring Break is officially over ... while my 7-year-old is bummed he has to get up at the crack of dawn (yeah, I am hating that part, too), I am glad to be back on a normal schedule again. Maddox has to be at school at 7:30am, but its always nice that I can go back home and sleep a little longer until my 4-year-old is ready to start his day.
Happy Monday!!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Fashion Friday ... Date Night with My Man!!






Sheer Top ... Forever 21
Tank Top ... American Eagle
Skinny Jeans ... Flying Monkey
Booties ... Charlotte Russe
Earrings ... Target (and a gift from my 4-year-old)
Necklace ... Forever 21
Make-Up
Erase Paste Concealer in Medium
Lancome Star Bronzer over concealer to blend
MAC Black Eyeliner
MAC Painterly Shadow Base
e.l.f. Drama shadows (grey, silver and black)
Avon SuperShock Mascara in Black
MAC Angel on lips

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Casting Call

I was recently contacted by RJ Larese, a Casting Producer for TLC, and was asked to share this exciting announcement! TLC is currently looking for families to interview for the upcoming Season 2 series of "Outrageous Kid Parties". If you are planning a big event, TLC wants to be there! If you mention that you saw this announcement here on dot...dot...dot..., I am told that you will receive a priority interview! Interviews are currently being held all over the country via SKYPE. The details are in the flyer below, please click on it to enlarge.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Scentsy, anyone?





Hi Girls! I am hosting a basket party for a very good friend of mine who is a consultant for Scentsy. For those of you who are already familiar with Scentsy, you know how FABULOUS these warmers and scents are. For those not quite aware yet (its okay, we forgive you), Scentsy is a safe way to make your home smell amazing with decor inspired warmers that melt fragrant waxes. The scents are incredible ... my favorites include French Lavender (if you want your room to smell like a spa, get this one!), Guava Nectar (a sweet scent that reminds me of summer) and Satin Sheets (so very sexy and clean, a fave amongst many!). These warmers are safe to have around pets and children ... they heat up with a light bulb! No flames to worry about ... and I cannot express enough how much these scents fill your entire home! One full size warmer placed in a central room (like your kitchen) will linger the scent of your choice throughout your surrounding rooms! Scentsy also has plug-in warmers to place in your bathrooms or smaller rooms!
You will LOVE these products ... I promise!! And if you are interested in ordering through my party, please click HERE to browse the new catalog! As a hostess, I get certain credits based on my total sales (you would be helping me out in this department by ordering). I would love to have a giveaway here on dot...dot...dot... to share my perks, so please order through my party link up until Sunday night. I want to close the party on Monday, so that we get our products before Easter.
Thanks so much for your support, girls!! xoxo

Monday, March 21, 2011

I was tagged ...

The fabulous Brooke, from Blushing Noir, tagged me to play along in this handwriting tag. To play along, the rules are as follows ... answer the following questions in your own handwriting, tag a few peeps to play along and post. Simple enough.
1. What is you name? And your blog.
2. Blog url
3. Write: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
4. Favorite quote
5. Favorite song
6. Favorite band/singers
7. Say anything you want
8. Pass it along to a few bloggers

I probably could have written in a darker pen, but I love writing in color!! Co-workers at my job had to get used to my using highlighters and markers so much. Hopefully the pic will blow up bigger when you click on it. I only noted a few peeps Marina, Jenn and Mayra), but if you haven't played along yet, consider yourself tagged!! Happy Monday!!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Fashion Friday

Don't be fooled ... it is pouring down rain here today ... these pics were from a few weeks ago.
These are my fave jeans ... they are AG's ... and I had to destress them due to a staining accident ... more on that process later.
I swapped clothes with one of my besties and snagged myself this striped top from Old Navy.
Tank is from Nordstrom B.P.
Earrings and necklace from Forever 21 ... Zoya nail polish in Cheryl ... lipstick is MAC Angel.
And my beloved Uggs ... had them over 3 years now and they get worn every.single.day.
Happy Friday!!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

I tried it ... Benefit Erase Paste


Last week, I reviewed the Creaseless Cream Shadow by Benefit. Along with the shadow came a small little version of Benefit's Erase Paste. Now for those of you who are new around here, the majority of my make-up collection is MAC products. I adore MAC and have for several years now. It is a rare occasion when I will buy outside of my beloved brand, so trying these Benefit products to compare has been fun.
The concealer I use around my eyes is MAC's Select Cover-Up in NW20. I love the formula because it is light-weight and sheer with great coverage. It blends nicely and stays put throughout the day.
The Erase Paste sent in the kit I purchased from Sephora is the No.2 Medium shade. While I normally purchase medium beige shades for my olive skin, this color looked pretty warm in the jar and I thought it might be too pink for my tones. As you can see in the swatch (Erase Paste on left), there really isn't a huge difference though once applied to skin. The textures are definitely different - Erase Paste is thicker and creamier than MAC (although that may not be a fair comparison being my concealer is older).
I swapped out MAC for the Erase Paste this last week, and overall I L.O.V.E. Benefit's concealer! It blends nicely, covers well, and lasts all day. I add a little bit of bronzer over the top to match my skin tones (being I do not use foundation or powder on my face), and I heart that the warmer pigment has a softer glow compared to MAC.
The only downside is that Erase Paste (.15 oz jar) costs $26. MAC's Select Cover-Up (.33 oz tube) is $16.50. I am hoping the smaller kit size (.11 oz) lasts a while. A little bit goes a long way, so we will see.

What's your favorite concealer??

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Turn It Up Tuesday!!

I am loving this song right now ... did anyone see Jessie J perform this on Saturday Night Live this last weekend? I think she is a pretty girl, but am sad that she dresses so darn funky. I don't get why artists choose to have such elaborate and crazy fashion attitudes. I understand that they have access to some of the greatest designers (and some of the most hideous) and have the cash to do what they want, but I hate being distracted by their ensembles. Their creative freedoms tend to get a little out-of-hand sometimes. While I have seen far worse, Jessie's look for her SNL performance of this song was just gross and it made her booty look ginormous.
...

Monday, March 14, 2011

Guilty Pleasures ...

I love me some "reality" tv! The glamour, the drama ... the entertainment is endless!

The Real Housewives of Orange County are back. Tamra has gone off the deep end ... she is totally making herself look like an idiot in her new-found freedom. She is annoying. It will be interesting to see where her relationship with her new gal-pal Fernanda goes. Gretchen needs to lighten up a bit and try to let go of the past ... move on girlfriend and show all your haters that you are better than that! Vicki is still doing her thang ... her career is still the love of her life. Poor Donn. Alexis is probably my fave housewife. She is pretty chill and seems to be a good momma. Plus, she is gorgeous! Girlfriend definitely loves her Botox (ain't.no.shame.), but is an inspiration in the looks department. I don't know what to think of Peggy yet, but I want her Hummer H2.

I always get sucked in to The Real World ... MTV knows how to entertain! The newest housemates are staying at the Hard Rock in Vegas. Hubby and I can't figure out why the guys always bring home the ugly girls?!? You would think that with MTV camera crews following them around making them look like supa-stars, they could pick up hotter chicks. Dustin and Heather are a cute little pair, but Dustin's past career choice is ... ewww!! Nany and Adam are bound to hook up ... just wait for it. And poor Michael is so outta his element. He is a good little boy trying to figure out Sin City. That should get interesting.
What smut TV are you watching?

Friday, March 11, 2011

Blog Silence

Praying for the people of Japan and for all those affected by the latest natural events and disasters.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Randoms for the day ...

I need a new ring tone ... maybe a little 50 Cent or Flaka Waka Flame.
Cuz that's how I roll.

This picture makes me laugh out loud every.single.time I see it. I am a sucker for animals, especially when they are funny.

I went on a 2-week slump where my lazy butt didn't hit the gym except to go to work or to tan. I did Zumba on Tuesday night and it felt so darn good! Can't wait for class tonight!

Bethenny Frankel ... LOVE her!! She is hilarious and so quick-witted! I have been watching the new season of Bethenny Ever After on Bravo. I think I need a trip to Barnes and Noble to pick up her books.
Happy Thursday, Peeps!!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Ooooh ... Sparkles!

Doesn't this color remind you of the gorgeous waters off a tropical island?
Aaaahh ... take me away!
Base (one coat) - OPI Get Me To The Taj On Time (a creamy nude)
Glitter Goodness (2 coats) - Color Club Sexy Siren

My latest pedicure ... I love how the nail techs look at me like I am crazy sometimes. They tell me that I pick the colors that barely get used. I adore the bright colors, especially the blues. They make me smile!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I tried it ... Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow

I had a gift card from Sephora burning a hole in my pocket, so I went online and snagged a couple products I wanted to try. Advertised brightly on their site was a set from Benefit that included the Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner. I had never used Benefits cosmetics before, so I'd thought I'd try this set ... I have issues with my shadows creasing no matter what base I wear (I prefer Painterly by MAC, and is what I use daily). By the middle of the day, I always need to re-touch my eye make-up to fill in the gaps that seperated.
The color that was sent with the set is called Birthday Suit. I was thrilled with this, because 90 percent of the time, I wear a cream colored shadow for a clean look (Shroom by MAC is my everyday shadow).
I was nervous at first, because being such a creamy/oily base, I assumed it would only wear off quicker. I decided to wear it alone, without adding any other shadow on top. The look was pretty and had a frosty shimmer that was subtle. I liked it. I had it on for a good 8 hours, and when it was time to wash it off, I didn't notice any major creasing!
I received a smaller size with the set I bought, but these shadows retail for $19 each and are available in some amazing colors. I would definitely purchase a couple of my favorite colors to have in my stash. These would be perfect for a night out being that they last so long and have gorgeous pigments!!
Here's Benefit's description of this product, found on Sephora's website ...
Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner
What it is:
Benefit's creaseless cream shadow/liners are guaranteed to make you gorgeous as they line, shade, and contour your eyes.
What it is formulated to do:
Blendable, beautiful - this do-it-all shadow lines, shades, and contours your eyes with a lovely crease-proof, smudge-proof formula. Mix and match, or go as sheer or as dramatic as you like with layerable, buildable color. You'll love the glass jar - just remember to close it tight to keep your cream shadow creamy and dreamy!


Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Monday, March 7, 2011

Spring Fever ...

I love this time of year ... not because we have beautiful sunny weather and the daffodils start sprouting (ha! not here in the rainy Pacific NW), but because it is getting closer to my birthday!! Spring fashions start hitting the stores and I start to prepare my birthday wish list! So. Very. Exciting!!
This weekend, hubby let me pick up a couple new tops to keep my cravings down. I have been really good at not shopping so far this year, and I don't wanna lose my strength to continue to do so. He knows this, and because he is the bees knees in my world, he rewarded me!

Wet Seal
Oneill at Zumiez


Forever 21

Now, if the weather would just warm up so I can wear these ... sigh.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

You had me at Jewelry!!

I love this wonderful world of blogging! Not only do I get to meet some awesome peeps, but my knowledge of beauty and fashion keeps on getting bigger and better! One of my daily faves blogged about this recently, and it sounded so fantastic that I signed up to join her team immediately. I figured I had nothing to lose and if I ended up not wanting to follow through, there is no obligation or commitment! How fabulous is that? Wanna join us?

Bamboopink is a new fashionable, yet affordable jewelry line made and designed by a famous, high-end designer whose current line is sold in upscale department stores, is all over the red carpet and worn by Oprah! This company is the first of its kind, an internet launched company with virtual trunk shows. There are no parties to host and no phone calls to make.
The company will launch with 100 jewelry items and 100 other items including iphone covers, ipod covers, sunglasses and other accessories.
Jewelry prices are reasonable and will range from $29-$100. There's something for everyone and every budget!
Bamboopink will train us and give us all the resources we need in order to be successful. No previous sales experience needed!
Analysts speculate that Bamboopink will be the largest women's internet start-up company in history. The company has a cutting-edge business model, and the jewelry will be sold through consultants on our personal websites and through "virtual" jewelry parties.
Sign-ups are free, with no risks or obligations. The free signing period is only for 30 days (through March 15), after that you will have to pay to be a consultant. You can sign up here and take part in this AMAZING opportunity: https://www.bamboopink.net/aprilbaker23
What sets this company apart from other direct sales companies:
* GROUND FLOOR opportunity (probably won't ever happen to you again!)
* Strongest comp plan in the industry
* Very successful "designer" multi-million dollar jeweler making/backing this jewelry, so sure to be successful
* Instead of growing one sales rep at a time, this business model using the free sign-up period - we can grow fifty sales reps at a time - but the time to do that is NOW!
This company is going to explode in a few weeks with a national press release and official launch. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So be one of the first to sign up!
Then you can do the same as me and get credit for signing up your friends, which is what we are compensated for with jewelry, cash and/or an ipad. It is not about selling the jewelry at this point, but networking and creating interest. If you decide not to sell, you have lost nothing and your name is dropped from the list.

Thanks so much for your consideration! I hope you will join us and be a part of the Bamboopink team!! ♥

A Fond Farewell ...

Wow! Is December already upon us? Good golly this year has flown right by! I have been a busy girl lately, hence the blog break. Unfortu...