Love at first cleanse

Eve Lom cleanser how I love thee....

Since I started my new job at Space.NK I have recently been exposed to some great new brands I am not too familiar with. This Eve Lom cleanser caught my eye because I felt it was so convenient to use. I am totally not into spending hours on my skin in the morning or at night, but I still want my skin to look glowing and glamorous. This product will do that for you in a short period of time.  Not only is this cleanser a makeup remover and toner but it exfoliates too!!!! It comes with the famous Eve Lom muslin cloth which helps to exfoliate the skin as you remove the cleanser. So my point here is....if you want your skin to look radiant and feel amazing without the hassle you will try this product. Try it and you'll love it, but don't forget to come and see me when you want to buy it!

Calm for your hair

So, I recently cut my hair short because I was tired of it being way too long. The only reason i hesitated so long to cut it was because I have super curly hair and its hard to manage. I got a sample of  the Marrakesh Kahm: daily smoothing treatment at a beauty supply store, tried it and now I'm hooked. This product has ingredients like argan, hemp, and vegetable protein which mimics keratin and leaves your hair super straight which i think is something we all want when blowing dry our hair. Its not expensive at all either and a little goes a long way so you ll have it for a while. I payed $16 but you can get in on amazon.com for like $10 or $12.

Dip Da Dip Da Dip

Although this is not a makeup post, as most of you know I am a complete foodie. I spend most of my down time watching the food network and trying to replicate half of the recipes that Guy fieri eats on diners, drive ins and dives lol. I actually had a chance to visit over the weekend one of the places he went to called Defontes sandwich shop in Redhook, Brooklyn. That's just a side note but its definitely a place you should visit if your in the mood for a good sandwich. You'll want to try the steak pizzaiola, I promise you wont be disappointed . Anyways, back to my story....

I made this clam dip for Easter Sunday and it was a big hit. I cannot take all the credit for this since my friend Patti was the one who introduced this to me. I promise you though if you enjoy clams or cheese or baked bubbly goodness you will enjoy this dip. The best way to describe the taste is if you've ever had a baked clam before. The stuffing to the inside of the clam shell is what this tastes like, except you use a cracker or bread to scoop it out.

 

Recipe:

3 cans minced clams

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup chopped onion (I didnt use onion I used garlic)

1/2 cup butter ( melt the butter before mixing with other ingredients)

pinch of pepper

1 cup dry bread crumbs

1 (8oz) package of sharp chedder cheese.

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the clams, lemon juice, onion, butter, pepper, and bread crumbs in a mixing bowl, and stir until blended. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, and sprinkle the top with Cheddar cheese. Bake until the mixture is bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

Romance

 



 "When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew."

-William Shakespeare

 

I've been searching lately for new eye shadow colors to try since I always wind up doing the same shades of colors on my eyes just from different brands. I came across this Too Faced palette called Romantic Eye which really had everything I wanted. Soul mate is my favorite color in this palette. It can be used as a highlighter for under the brow or you can use it all over the lid for a natural look. There are more palettes just like this one but with different themes, so cute! check them out: http://www.toofaced.com/c-110-eye-shadow-collections.aspx

Blue over you

In my previous post New goodies I had wrote about the new Laura Mercier cobalt gel liner. I wore it the other day for the first time to work and it definitely was a big hit. As I described in the previous post it does not move off your eyes and sure enough a whole day at work and didn't move an inch. I paired it with Aqua matte shadow on my lid and brown down in the crease both from MAC. Just a little tip... this eye liner can be worn alone for sure because its so vibrant you really don't have to pair it with anything else but some black mascara.

All that glitters...

My favorite combination to wear on my eyes definitely has to be this one. I've searched the high heavens to find a gold shadow that is truly a gold. A lot of gold shadows can be a bit orange or yellow but this one from Urban Decay called Baked is by far the best one yet. I've paired the baked shadow on my lid with a dark brown from MAC called showstopper. I literally put this brown with a lot of my smokey combinations because its a matte and it had a really rich color to it. I've also been trying my best to grow out my brows and I find that the best eye brow filler is the one by Anastasia called brow powder duo. I use the brunette/dark brown one and you can find this in Sephora.

Pink to make the boys wink

This cold weather can really put a damper on how you feel. Your skin is dry and chapped ( well, at least mine is) and you're longing for the warmer Spring/Summer months. I always find that wearing my favorite makeup, especially a feel good makeup like a bright pink lip can change your mood.

I am wearing Candy Yum-Yum from Mac on my lips, Beautiful Iris on my lid and shadowy lady in my crease, both from Mac.

New Goodies

Its been a while since I've blogged and I think right now is a great time for me to come back and share some of my amazing discoveries.

The first on my list is the new Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner. Comes in 6 shades: Conard, cobalt, espresso, indigo, black, and violet. My personal favorite is the cobalt which is a vibrant blue. Super creamy and goes on so smooth you will have this eyeliner on literally all day. I rubbed my hands over it to see if it would come off and it did not budge. I even put water over it and it didn't move a bit! At $22.00 its very affordable and you wont be reapplying it all day so you will have this for a while.

Second on my list is the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour. This too will stay on all day. I tried wiping it off with my hands and it did not budge either. It goes great with the Crème Eye Liner. So many great shades to choose from, 17 to be exact with the "mint snow" being my favorite color.

Third MAC has once again come out with a new and fabulous line called  "Archie's Girls." The entire collection is great but the one thing that stuck out to me was the strawberry malt lip gloss. I am a sucker for any lip gloss, but this one especially is my favorite. Its pinky red in color and has a high shine. Makes your lips look plump and juicy.

Last but not least Clinique has finally come out with new shadows and they are well worth a try. Chubby stick glosses were all the rage last summer and now Clinique has come out with chubby sticks for eyes!!! Comes in 12 shades and they are cream shadows. They range from a very neutral beige called Bountiful Beige which can be worn under the brow or all over the lid to a dark blue called massive midnight. Very easy to apply, great for someone on the go. So many colors you can take your day look to a night look with just one extra color in the crease. At $16.00 you cannot beat that.

 

Tis The Season...

With fall being my favorite season I decided to make a fall inspired cupcake. What better way to be festive then to make a pumpkin spiced cupcake. This simple easy recipe from Betty Crocker will have you making pumpkin cupcakes all year round!                                 

                                                                                                                            

3 tablespoons sugar

 

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix

1

cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1/2

cup water

1/3

cup vegetable oil

4

eggs

1 1/2

teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1

container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting



Young hearts be free...

My main reason for this post is to prove that you are never too old for a little magic. After I turned 29 last month I worried everyday that I was old, unmarried and without children. Now, I know many of you will think I am crazy because I am only 29, but to me I felt my life should have been different when I approached that age. I always wanted to be a young mother and be married by my late 20s. Unfortunately that is not the path my life has taken me. Its not easy to meet prince charming anymore in this world, and you try to put yourself out there and things fall apart and you get disappointed. I've realized maybe in this past week that I was being too hard on myself and sad and worried all the time over things out of my control. I work with a lot of women and we compare stories of our dating experiences and they are all very similar. I am happy to know I have friends whom I can share and compare my stories with and we can laugh about them. So my point here is, I decided to do my makeup in a look that was magical, young and free spirited. No matter what your age is or where you are in life, there is always room for fun, and when life gets you down surround yourself with people you love and who will make you happy.

Pink For A Cure

October is breast cancer awareness month and some of our favorite lines are featuring products that help donate part of the proceeds to breast cancer awareness research. These products are specifically for the month of October and you wont feel guilty after you buy them because a portion of the money goes to a good cause!

 

1.Bobbie Brown Cosmetics is launching a limited edition set featuring a Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzer and Mini Face Blender Brush.

 

2. Clinique's Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Plumped Up Pink paired with a cosmetic pouch adorned with a pink ribbon zipper pull. $3 of each purchase is donated to the breast cancer research foundation.

 

3.Pink of Hearts 2012 duo set, is OPI’s Breast Cancer Awareness promotion. This set contains two nail lacquers – I Think in Pink and the new You Glitter Be Good to Me.

 

Dont forget to donate and help find a cure...$50 donated to the breast cancer foundation goes to an hours worth of life saving research.

Extreme

Once again I had to share this amazing new product from Clinique. I love dramatic eyes and this mascara is by far the best I've tried to really pump up my lashes so they look extra dramatic. The brush is what makes your lashes extreme bc its completely over the top. It adds volume and thickness so lashes look hot! Comes in black and extreme black, obviously I wear extreme black and so should you.

www.clinique.com

Miracle Product

Working for clinique for several years now I've had the chance to try new products the minute they come out. This product is probably one of the best and most effective I've tried. How amazing is it that Clinique has developed a product to target something that most people now a days suffer from.  I think everyone whether a little or a lot have dark circles, just from lack of sleep, not drinking enough water or its just hereditary. This product will hydrate and visibly lighten dark circles by 30% in 12 weeks!! There is a cooling massage tip that reduces the look of puffiness and it illuminates. Try it and you'll love it for only $39.50, you cant put a price on beauty.
www.clinique.com

Unicorn cupcakes

I have been dying to make these cupcakes for months now and finally decided to do so. I am so happy I made them because not only were they a big hit at my friend's party but they were so much fun to make and so pretty to look at. The recipe is very simple, I used store bought duncan heines vanilla cake mix and vanilla frosting.

Cupcake:
-1 box duncan heines vanilla cake mix
-Prepare cake mix according to box
-Food coloring: red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, green

Set aside 6 medium sized bowls and place vanilla batter into each bowl about half way. Put individual colors in each bowl and mix.
Start layering each different color batter into cupcake wrappers.
Bake cupcakes according to box instructions.

Frosting:
Divide frosting into 3 individual bowls. Use red, yellow and blue food coloring. Layer frosting side by side in a frosting bag and pipe out the frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

Enjoy!

My Beach Essentials

Moisture surge face spray thirsty skin relief from Clinique.

 This spray is a must have in your beach bag this summer. So refreshing on dry tanned skin, its bursting with moisture and active aloe which helps soothe skin.

Long last gloss wear from Clinique.

Comes in 18 sparkly shades and contains an spf 15 perfect to wear while laying in the sun.

After-Sun rescue balm with aloe from Clinique.

This product is amazing. Not only does it moisturize but it soothes skin that has been exposed to the sun. Put it in the refrigerator so its nice and cold before putting on your skin.

** Dont forget your sunscreen if your in the sun for long periods of time**

Its Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

What Better way to bring you back to childhood then a peanut butter and jelly cupcake? I've always loved a pb&j sandwich and I still do till this day, so I figured why not try it in a cupcake and let me tell you it works wonders. Its like your literally biting into a pb&j sandwich without the crust. Pair it with some milk and your good to go. Simple recipe with big flavor, you'll want to make these all the time!

Cupcake:

-1 package yellow cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare the mix.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare the cake mix according to package directions and bake.

Frosting:

-3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

-1 stick softened butter

-2 cups powdered sugar

-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

-1/4 cup milk

**2 cups strawberry jelly for filling**

Beat peanut butter and butter in medium bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla and beat on low speed for 1 minute or until crumbly. Slowly add milk, beating at low speed until creamy.

Fill a pastry bag with a small decorating tip with strawberry jelly. Insert tip into top of cupcake. Squeeze bag gently to fill center of cupcake with jelly. (Stop squeezing when you feel resistance or jelly comes out of top of cupcake.)



Birthday Cupcakes

In honor of my two favorite little kids Arianna and Salvatore, I made  boy and a girl cupcakes for their birthday party. Salvatore's cupcake consisted of funfetti cake mix and vanilla icing (you can use any kind of your choice, I used pillsbury) dyed blue with an all star flag because he plays baseball. For Arianna's cupcake I made my pink lemonade cupcakes  (http://colourncupcakes.blogspot.com/2012/06/pink-lemonade.html ), because she is a girly girl and added a sugar flower. These cupcakes are super simple to make but have a lot of flavor and are so much fun for kids. I hope you all get a chance to make these, enjoy!!!

Duality

 

So for a few months now I have been going into Sephora and passing this product by. Finally I decided to buy it, which I am super happy I did because it has made its way into my daily makeup routine. This Anastasia Brow duality double sided pencil is definitely something to have on hand. On one side you have the color pencil shell which can be used under the brow bone during the day time. Its also great to wear alone or when wearing natural shadows. The other side is the lace pencil which is a shimmery gold, and this is great to use under the brown bone for a night time look when wearing more makeup. Another great thing is that it wont leave you broke, just $23 at www.sephora.com

Top 5 cosmetic products

1. I never leave home without this eyeliner. Glides on using a thin liner brush and looks like a liquid once its dry. It stays on all day long, and comes in so many different colors you can use it everyday with any eye look you choose.

www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com

2. I know I constantly mention this eye shadow primer and that's because it is just so amazing. Lime Crime's eyeshadow primer makes any eye shadow waterproof. This allows the shadows to stay on all day long, even for the oiliest eye lids and the hottest of weather conditions without creasing...what better then that?!?

www.limecrimemakeup.com

 

3. I am not only saying this because I work for Clinique, but I do believe we have the best mascaras around. This high impact mascara is a staple in my makeup routine everyday. This mascara thickens and elongates your lashes making them look more full and dramatic.

www.clinique.com   

  

4. Super Orgasm blush from Nars is a peachy pink blush with gold glitter in it that looks so beautiful on an olive skin tone. For someone who is a fair skin tone the original Orgasm blush works perfectly. One of the best selling blushes around, its def worth have in your makeup bag!

5. Clinique's new Stay-matte oil free foundation absorbs shine, controls oil, and resists sweat. With a sheer to moderate coverage this foundation is light weight especially for hotter months. I've been wearing it and I'm in love with this foundation. Although I am not oily, I love how great it stays on my face all day.

www.clinique.com

Pink Lemonade

When life hands you lemons you add some pink and make Pink Lemonade Cupcakes!!!

Just in time for summer these cupcakes are the perfect treat to cool you off. I dont know about you but what is better then pink lemonade on a hot summer's day?!? Not only are they super girly and fun but they are full of flavor and so easy to make.

Cupcake:

-1 package of white cake mix without the pudding in the mix.

-1 cup water

-3 egg whites

-1/3 cup thawed frozen pink lemonade concentrate

-2 tablespoon vegetable oil

-About 4 to 6 drops of red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350.

Beat cake mix, egg whites, 1/3 cup pink lemonade concentrate, oil and red food coloring. Beat for about 2 minutes on a medium speed using an electric mixer.

Bake 18 to 22 mins or depending on your oven.

Frosting:

-4 cups powdered sugar

-1/3 cup room temperature butter

-1/4 cup pink lemonade concentrate

-About 3 drops of red food dye or until you reach desired pink color.

Beat powdered sugar, butter, and pink lemonade concentrate using an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes or until well blended.

***Dont forget to decorate these cuties by adding straws and little gummy candies. For mine I used sour watermelons! Enjoy xoxox