Merry Christmas!

Just a sampling of recent holiday nail designs. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Merry Christmas!

Shopping (and saving) for the Holidays

Holiday shopping can be a drain on resources- both physical and financial! It's getting late in the shopping season, so here are a few tips to remember:

Check sites such as retailmenot.com and freeshippingday.com to get the most up to date coupon codes and offers. Some sites are offering free shipping to ensure you get your items before Christmas!

Also, be sure to use a site like ebates.com to get cash back on your purchases. I use it for every purchase I make on line and usually end up getting around $20 back after the shopping season. You can use ebates all year to build up some cash. If you're interested, there's a link to sign up at the side of this page, or ask a friend to refer you so they get a bonus!

Missed the shipping window? That's ok! You can still get great deals in store. Sign up for emails or texts from your favorite stores, like Walgreens and Target, and you'll receive periodic messages with coupons and discounts. Apps such as retailmenot can help you access in store coupons right from your phone.

Don't know what to buy? For that hard-to-gift person, try thinking out of the box. Beer of the month club, concert tickets, movie tickets, a spa gift certificate- something you know will make them happy! Still stumped? Pick a theme! Its the easiest way to shop for someone. Pick a theme you know the person likes and find items to fit that theme. For example, if you know someone likes movies, buy a dvd, some candy, gourmet popcorn, and a cozy blanket- now you have a movie night gift! Other themes can include Home Spa Day, Family Game Night, Date Night, Game Day, or just about anything you can think of.

I hope some of these ideas have helped! Happy Shopping!

Happy Halloween!

I hope this post finds you safe in the company of people you love! Today is Halloween, but for many of us in the path of Hurricane Sandy, it is just one of the first days of recovery. I hope that each and every one of you is safe and sound. I was lucky to have only lost power, though many others have lost so much more. I will keep them in my thoughts. In times like this, we must work together to rebuild.

I had planned Halloween makeup and nail tutorials and vlogs (pictured above), but I was without power for 2 days and unable to upload anything in a timely manner. Below is a picture of what I had planned (silvery eye look with a cute witch hat). Again, I hope all is well! Be safe.

Big News Coming Soon.....

:D

BBW: Late Fall and Early Winter Test Scents

 I bought:
Sweater Weather - cool and soothing. Its hard to explain, but it does remind me of cool days and sweaters lol.

Cedarwood Oak- I can't place specific notes in this one, but it's just so nice. I guess I smell the oak, but really its just a smooth, pretty fall-ish scent. I'm sorry that's not a good description.

Pumpkin carvings- awesome pumpkin pie goodness.

Blueberry Pumpkin Patch- like blueberry muffins! Its supposed to be blueberry, pumpkin, and vanilla praline. I think the blueberry and praline notes are what combine to make it smell like muffins. The pumpkin is not noticeable on the surface, but there is an underlying spice note that could be the pumpkin. Its very nice.

Cinnamon Frosting (holiday collection)- butter cream, cinnamon, and cloves. The butter cream is the top note, strong and buttery. Then you smell sweet cloves and a bit of cinnamon. Its not really spicy. I would eat this by the spoonful if it was real lol

Things I sniffed but didn't buy-
toffee popcorn, twisted peppermint, winter candy apple, vanilla bean noel, evergreen, mocha peppermint cookie, hot buttered rum, and nutmeg and clove- they all smell exactly like those things. I'm sorry I don't have great descriptions, but they just smell exactly like what they say they do. Very straightforward.

Holiday- exactly like cinnamon red hot candies! sweet notes with hot cinnamon. I'm definitely getting this when it comes out. SA said they think its a definite.

Fireside- amazing. fireplaces and incense and just SO GOOD. also a definite.

sandalwood vanilla- smells like both these things, but warm and heavy.

cashmere- I couldn't get a good read on this one. I think maybe vanilla? by then, my nose had stopped working lol.

sugar and spice- cinnamon/clove spice with a sweet sugary scent. not a baked scent. not too strong.

peach bellini- this was a fizzy peach smell. nice, but I don't really think it fits the theme.
 Tis the season- sweet, berry or candy smell, slight hint of something earthy like fir or pine tree

vanilla snowflake- a cool vanilla

frosted cranberry- enough like cranberry woods to not justify buying it again. maybe a bit sweeter.

farm apple cookie - oatmeal cookies and red apples

I may have forgot or messed up things, but I was in a frenzy and I apologize lol. Test store listed a few posts back.

I am definitely going back for Holiday and Fireside, and maybe Tis the Season and Sandalwood Vanilla.

Hope this helps!

Poll and Giveaway!

Help me pick what I should wear to a friend's wedding! It's an outdoor reception in September at a ranch in California.
Dress 1

 Dress 2


Dress 3 You decide! Do you have ideas, suggestions, or just hate the other options? Let me know! Another option could be the black dress featured in the banner at the top of this blog. Comment on my YT video and tell me what you think! One comment will randomly be selected as the 'winner' and will win a package of Barielle nail polishes!

 Rules:
1. Must be a subscriber.
2. One comment per person.
3. Winner will be chosen at random.
4. Voting will end on Friday, August 24, 2012.

Check out my channel and let me know what you think!

Camera and Bag

I wanted to take a minute to talk to you guys about my camera and camera bag. For still shots, I use the Canon T3. I cannot explain just how much I love this camera. It was a gift from my boyfriend for Christmas and it has quickly become my best friend. It is easy to use, excellent quality, and just amazing. I bring it everywhere! There should be a picture or link to the camera in this post. I think he bought it from Target, but I can't be sure.

Canon T3 12.2MP Digital SLR Double Zoom Lens Kit - Digital SLR Cameras

As for my camera bag, I use the Millie from Jo Totes. I bought the teal version because I thought it would be a fun color that wasn't too over the top. It is a lovely material, well made, and so versatile. No one would ever guess it was a camera bag! It makes it very easy to tote my camera around with me.

Jo Totes bag can be found at:
http://www.jototes.com/collections/all

Check out my video on youtube for my review of the bag!

Thanks for reading!