L'Oreal | Voluminous Million Lashes

I don't believe that I've ever done a true mascara review before... Just here and there's, oh yeah, I like this one. You know how that goes. But I think I've found the one that checks off every box in my list. Longevity? Decent. Lengthening? Fabulous. And who can argue with a $7 price point? It's got my cheap little heart singing its praises to all my friends and getting compliments up the yahoo, which is never a bad thing. One thing about it that I love is the ease that comes with application. Some mascaras you really have to work with to get your desired effect. Not this one.

What do you think? Favorite mascara?

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Essie | Avenue Maintain

As always, I've reverted to my old ways and stooped to pick out an Essie color from their spring collection. I promised myself only one and this is what I ended up with. It's described with words such as "parisian" "chic" and "fashionably adroit" -- whatever that one means. I've found myself staring at my nails all day. I filed down my nails quite a bit and with a few slicks of this, a fresh foil, and a mini chop I feel like a whole new girl. A sixteen day hospital stay really can make you feel that way. Brand new. Rejuvenated. And I didn't even need to go to rehab! (Score.)

A formula that's to die for, and a price point that you can't really argue with, Essie continues to be my favorite brand. Definitely the accessibility of their varnishes help to sell them to me, but they're relatively cheap and last a significant amount of time.

Have you picked any new spring favorites? Look out for a whole post dedicated to shopping my stash - as they say - to find some new colors...

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A Statement

While I was away, my appendix decided to burst and then further complications landed me in the hospital on a thirteen day stay (that continues now)... As for the blog, it'll be up and back to it's old self by March. Love to you all. Being sick is no fun.

Topshop Chase

I can see myself wearing this little stunner with a sundress, floppy hat, sunglasses and blasting music during... you guessed it, the sThe first of what I hope to be many more Top Shop nail polishes, I chose Chase. It caught my eye right next to a gorgeous little blue number, although the display was all a little jumbled up in a big bin (hop on that, Nordstrom!) A plethora of beauty bloggers from across the sea (that'd be those precious Brits) rave about the Top Shop beauty section and so I decided it was time to give it a whirl.

Bought on a whim at the counter, $10 isn't too bad for the time it lasts. The wear time on this beauty was four or five days longer than Essie ($8) which last on average up to two-three days on me. I really like this color but I'm excited to try out some others. A little birdy told me that perhaps the full beauty selection will be at Nordstrom counters soon... A girl can hope, can't she?

Monday's Muse #5

One of the world's biggest superstars, it comes as no surprise that she can be our lovely muse for this Monday. She's fierce, sassy, sexy, a mother, a wife, dancer, singer, actress and she does it all with a certain air of class about her. She took a break as her daughter Blue Ivy was born but she's back at it, full force.

At the SuperBowl, her entire set was put on by ladies. From the band to each dancer, the stage was dominated by females. She was powerful beyond measure and that is what makes her a role model.

Who are your muses today?

Valentine's Day Nail Picks

from left to right:

Essie Watermelon

Essie Lilacism

Essie Muchi Muchi

Essie Vanity Fairest

NARS Anardana

Top Shop Chase

I just want to put this out there that I am a HUGE fan of Valentine's Day. Pink is my favorite color, I love everything about love, plus I'm a real sucker for a bouquet and a sugar high. That's not to say that I'll necessarily have a Valentine on this day, but I always get a card from my nan, plus some specials from my mom and step dad. Among other things, I also have a major love for nail polish and this is where the two loves collide to create something.... beautiful.

These are essentially classic colours that I love during spring as well. Light, pastel, girly. I'm a huge fan of Essie because of their accessibility and range of unique colours that most often, you can't find elsewhere. NARS did some great nail colours last spring/summer collection with tons of brights. Chase is the only Top Shop shade that I own (since a Top Shop just came into my area in the last six months) and I caved for this babe. I'm dying to try some others. Two hot pinks, two baby pinks, and two light purples and we've got all the options I thought of for this Thursday, which essentially, is just another day in my world. But filled with candy. Yum.

How are you celebrating this year? Treating yourself (like me) or going out with a significant other? Leave a comment below.

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Stila Kitten

Remember that post yesterday that talked about how I went on a little shopping therapy session? Well, I happened to pick up a lovely little number by Stila. As I went to pay, the lady said that it was one colour that just needs to be in everyone's collection and I could not agree more. I bought it with a gift card in hand and my recently just activated VIB Sephora card (24 points now, holla!) and I haven't looked back since. I've heard way too many people rave about this gem not to have it in my collection. Now, I don't own many single eye shadows (in fact, I can count them all out on one hand) but this is a true winner in terms of pigmentation, color and wear time. I'm a bit of a sucker for a shadow that works on it's own and doesn't need anything else to go with it... I'm pretty sure they just call that lazy... Yep, I'm pretty sure I can now be branded as the Laziest Beauty Blogger That Ever Was.

I thought that perhaps I could find a dupe for this in my drawers but found none. My first thought was that it was just a toned down UD Half Baked (a gorgeous true gold, notoriously found in like, every single one of Urban Decay's palettes. Like every one of them, I'm serious.) But upon swatches, I found Kitten to be a more rose-silver-gold-champagne type. You know what I'm saying. It's kind of like UD's Virgin, Sin, and Half Baked all mixed together. Maybe a more powerful Virgin with a lot of Sin and a little Half Baked. I don't know. Either way, I know that the color is completely unique to what I have in my little stash.

For $18, I expect this little guy to last me a while. It is a gorgeous shade and I'm really happy I purchased it but with most things I post, I'm just hoping it'll stick around for a while.

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