Drape me in leathers & feathers

As summer is ending and all of the Fall collections are hitting the stores, I'm feeling somewhat uninspired. This is rare for me. I completely thrive on this season as with it usually comes sweaters, boots & jeans - my favorite uniform. Lately though, I'll look in stores and see racks filled to the brim with florals (hell no), wispy fabrics (no thank you) or neon colors (kill me). I was missing that smack-in-the-face of the fall fashions I've come to love.

Then...I saw it. The new collaboration between model Erin Wasson and Zadig & Voltaire. You guys, I just about fell to the floor when I saw this. The collection channels everything I want my fall wardrobe to be - from the loose, flowing hair with feathers peeking out, to the skinny jeans + flannel shirts, to OMG THE LEOPARD BLAZER. There's a witchy/70's rock n' roll vibe to the whole thing and I am so feeling all of it.











source: whowhatwear.com

Well.

Just felt the 5.8 magnitude earthquake here in Baltimore. Scared the living shit out of me, to be frank. Hope you're all safe n' sound.

What Makes Me ME

Throughout people's lives, they will all have experiences and things that will make them who they are. For those of us interested in fashion, I think this stands true even stronger. Gals who dress in vintage styles can remember the first time they had their hair pin-curled & the way it made them feel. Dapper guys can remember the first time they got complimented on their suit. Everything has to start somewhere.

I thought I'd give you guys a little glimpse into what makes me me...with a little bit of fashion thrown in there, 'cause that's how I do.



1) Rock n' Roll: I know I'm like a broken record in this blog, but at the very heart of me is a dirty, 80s rocker chick. From the first time I heard Appetite for Destruction as a kid to now, that sleazy cock rock is what really gets my blood flowing. I feel younger, more alive when I hear that shit. It's what makes me want to be the bad girl who wears red lipstick, leather and ripped fishnets...and the stuff that will always make me want to learn how to do cartwheels across a line of sports cars while my hair is teased to the sky.

2) Rocky Horror Picture Show: From 1996-1999, I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight every single Saturday night at the Harwan Theater in Mt. Ephraim, NJ. Even though that was approaching 15 years ago, I still regard those years as some of the best times of my life.

My fashion took an interesting turn at that time, and some of it still sneaks into my wardrobe every now and again. I realized that instead of cursing the fact that I looked younger than I was, I should just roll with it. Therefore, I dressed like the biggest Lolita you've ever seen - schoolgirl uniforms, pigtails, lunchboxes. Hey man, judge all you want, but I looked adorable.

3) Beauty/Makeup: I don't know when my makeup obsession started, but I think it was somewhere around 2004. I was thick into Live Journal at the time, and I found a crew of ladies & gents who were so talented at the art of applying makeup that it sucked me in instantly. With them, I practiced, learned, succeeded, failed and just became generally addicted to makeup. Much of my obsession fell with MAC for the first bunch of years, but I've since spread out to other brands. To this day, I have a "makeup area" in our small one-bedroom apartment that my husband has dubbed The Makeup Command Center.


EVERYONE is shaped by experiences in their life, and I bet if you look away from the computer screen and down at what you're wearing, some of that has to do with how you grew up. Now tell me - what shaped YOUR fashion stylings?

Mixed Signals

I know, I know. I'm the worst blogger ever. Truthfully, it's because I'm trying to get my ducks in a row to revamp this blog a bit and start taking it in a bigger direction! We'll see if it gets there...or if I decide to just sit on the couch and eat more pizza. No, I kid I kid. It'll get there.

For now, I'm actually giving you *gasp!* an outfit post! I haven't done one of these in a hella long time, and the location isn't the best, but I felt cute yesterday and had to take a few pictures.







I bought this dress when I was in NYC in April, and I'm only just now getting to wear it. It's made of the softest cotton imaginable, which makes it great for the OMG Balls Hot(tm) weather that Baltimore has been plagued with lately. I think next time I wear it, I might swap the ribbon "belt" for a real belt...maybe in red. Hmm...

I originally had some black sandals on with this, but they made my 5' tall self look even shorter/stumpier, so I strutted on in my leopard wedges by Candies. I LOVE these babies, but unfortunately, they're nearing the end of their lives. There are currently Band Aids (yes, literal Band Aids) inside the shoe to make it so my toes don't fall through the holes that wore thin in the lining. Ew.


I paired the dress with my all-time-favorite boobs necklace from Missy Industry on Etsy.


I decided that for once, I'd let my hair do its thang and I left it straight and loose. It's getting so long that I don't even know what to do with it anymore!


So that's it for now! Coming up, posts on: my first impressions with a new (to me) makeup brand and...well, I suppose I can talk about it. I'm going to try to start having more "street style" on this blog. I have business cards on the way, and I'm going to start snapping the looks of people in Baltimore...and beyoonnnnddddd! It'll be hard for me to get used to just walking up to strangers and asking for their pictures, so wish me luck!

xox Linda

Edited to add: Oh holy crap, please ignore how gross my floor is in these pictures. Behind that door is my cat's litterbox, and when she leaves her box, she likes to do a fancy, gymnastics-esque dismount and kick litter all over the freaking place. It obviously made it into the picture.

We'll see...

Remember that post I wrote about Beauty.com's sale that they were having? Well lo and behold, my order came in less than 3 business days. I had never ordered from them before, but I sure as HELL will be ordering from them again.

Here's what I got:


On the Left: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm with Natural Mint & Shea Butter
Hi, my name is Linda...and I'm a lip balm addict. *breaks down and weeps* I blame it on being little and wanting SO badly to wear makeup, but only being allowed to laboriously apply Cherry Chap Stick. I ALWAYS have lip balm on me. After reading a few reviews, I decided to give this Jack Black balm a shot. My first impression of it is that it is THICK. You really feel it go onto AND sink into your lips. We'll see how long before I have to reapply, but right now, I'm liking it.

In the Middle: Bliss Fat Girl Slim Firming Cream
Bliss describes this product as so:
"This advanced-technology adipose antagonist (which, in layman's terms, means it visibly diminishes those dastardly dimples) features QuSome-encapsulated caffeine molecules for quick and targeted delivery of the skin-slimming stuff of choice of supermodels, spokespeople and other celebs.

clinical studies show:*
87% saw a firming effect
85% felt a slimming effect
73% noticed a reduction in the appearance of cellulite

*Results reported from an independent clinical study conducted over a 28 day period."

Now, before anyone gets their haunches up, no, I don't think that I'm hugely fat or something. HOWEVER...I ain't gonna lie...there's a pinch of somethin'-somethin' back there that isn't what it used to be. I read a bunch of reviews on this product and there are so many that seem to give this a favorable review. I'm going to start using it tonight and see where I go from there. Expect a full review...though WITHOUT pictures. I figure that the worst case scenario is that I'll have the most buttery-soft thighs in all the land.

On the Right: John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo
I wish I didn't like this shampoo. I wish I could just be content buying the same White Rain or Suave 99¢ stuff I bought in high school. When I went to a new salon and they used this, I was SOLD. You guys, this smell is pure heaven. I hate the price, but I can't live without this smell in my life.


So now that I got these three items, I have to ask....
1) What is your favorite lip balm?
2) Have you ever used any kind of moisturizer similar to the Bliss one I bought? Did it work for you?
3) What's your favorite over-priced, guilty indulgence - be it for beauty or otherwise?

SALE ALERT! Act now...srsly.

Okay guys, I have info on one HELLUVA sale for you, but you have to act quickly. If you're into any beauty products at all, listen up. No, I'm not just talking about makeup here. I'm talking about shampoo, face cleansers, shaving stuff, perfumes - anything.

Beauty.com is a pretty awesome site.

It's a lot like Sephora, except for a few factors:
1) They have more brands.

2) There are actually two stores in one - Drugstore.com and Beauty.com. Drugstore.com has some of the lower-end stuff that you love, like Suave, Neutrogena, etc., while Beauty.com has the higher-end stuff, like Urban Decay, Tarte, John Masters, etc.

3) Oh, did I mention that in a lot of ways, it's CHEAPER? Not only do you get free shipping once your order hits $25, but you also get a 5% credit towards a future purchase. Awesome.

Now, if that wasn't awesome enough, they're having a FRIENDS AND FAMILY SALE, but only through Friday, May 13th (that's tomorrow). You get a whopping 20% off your whole purchase!

If that's not enough incentive for you, I HIGHLY encourage you to also try Ebates.

Ebates is a shopping portal, really. EVERY TIME you're going to do some online shopping, go to Ebates first, and find what store you want to shop at, and click the link through Ebates. When you do that, you shop as you normally would on the website, and Ebates will give you a certain percentage of CASH BACK. Yep, it's legit. They pay you quarterly, and the money can go right into your Paypal account like mine does.

Now, here's the kicker: If you do your Beauty.com shopping today by going through Ebates, not only will you get 20% off your whole order (immediately), but you'll also get 12% cash back from Ebates!! I just bought $77.50 worth of stuff for $50.84. High-end, amazing stuff.

So go NOW!! Seriously..you won't regret it.

Hurr

This weekend, for the third year in a row, I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED to be going to the M3 Rock Festival here in Maryland. Basically, this festival is what Rocklahoma used to be like...before they started adding bands like Disturbed. *shudder* I mean, look at this lineup!!



Now, I'm well aware that for some, this lineup looks like the soundtrack to what they would hear if they went to hell. I know not everyone is like me and thrives on the scent of Aqua Net as much as they survive on oxygen. I know not everyone owns a teasing comb (though you should. Trust me..). Whatever. All I know is that this is my Woodstock. My Bonaroo. My Coachella.

Naturally for something like this, I start planning my "look" pretty far in advance. While I wasn't sure of the outfit yet, I was sure about the hair for the longest time. I envisioned...



Long, flowing, feathered, messy locks. It would be a bit of careless rock n' roll in a venue where there will be so many that are perfectly coiffed. And if I may digress for a second...I'm not a "fan" of Vanessa Hudgens really. I haven't even seen High School Musical...but OMG, you guys, how CUTE did she look at Coachella this year??


The loose hair, high-waisted acid-washed cutoffs, the fringed purse? Adorable.

ANYWAY. So yes! All was well and good in the world of hair. That is, until... (*cue dramatic music*)...


WHAT?! BUT NOOO!
Okay, so I realize it's not that big of a deal. It's just going to be a little frustrating being at an all-day concert in the rain.

Oh well! That'll make for some great pictures and mudslides, eh? ;) This does mean that my idea of long, flowing locks would also quickly turn into "drowned rat". So I changed up my idea a bit! I'm thinking of going with something like this, but I'll take any advice I can get.



I'm thinking...Lolita. Messy. Braids. Slightly Boho. How would you guys wear your hair on a day where you KNOW it'll be rainy?

I'll give a full report on the concert next week!!

pictures all found by Google Image search, but some sources are: examiner.com, hollywoodcelebritygossipnews.com, vanessa-hudgens.org, pinterest.com/blahdaf, fredsegalsalon.wordpress.com, myfemalecelebrities.com, queenhairstyles.com, starandstyle.com, modahairstyles.com

The Lust List

I'm convinced that if tested, it would be a scientific fact: You are more likely to window-shop & find things that you "have to have" when you don't have the money to get them. I have a running list going of "Things I Will Buy Someday". Some of these items are not unreachable. They're even pretty attainable. Others are to be filed under the "If/When I Win the Lottery" file. (C'mon. You know you have one of those lists, too. I'm sure most people put cars/houses on that list. I put shoes & bags. DON'T JUDGE ME!)

With that being said, here's what's currently on my list.

Reachable



Ever since my friend, Sara (from Waitin' Round to be a Millionaire) introduced me to Blood is the New Black, I have lusted, drooled & even pet the screen looking at the t-shirts they carry. The designs are SO damn unique and badass. Their prices, while not unreasonable, are just out of reach of what I can afford to spend right now, so I hope these beauties will wait for me someday.

1) Owl Jacket Women's Crew ($44): Like they say on the store page, this shirt seriously makes me want to find a mini leather jacket for my cat. She'd hate me for life, but it would almost be worth it.

2) No War for Heavy Metal: Faded Black ($10): Obviously, $10 is NOTHING for a shirt, but they only have size XL left. I'm keeping an eye on this one to see if it comes back in stock in my size. If it doesn't, I might snag this & slice it up to fit me.

3) Wood Holly Women's Crew ($44): YOU GUYS. I CAN'T EVEN. This is the mother of all shirts. This one WILL be in my closet someday. It's too fucking amazing NOT to be.


Not Really Reachable



Yes, I understand that to be a fashion blogger, you have to like ugly shoes. Well, guilty as charged. Ever since I saw a picture a long time ago of the Olsen twins rocking those Balenciaga boots, I've been determined to have them. Obviously, that's not in my price range. BUT! These Sam Edelman "Zoe" boots aren't completely out of the realm of possibility someday! The price keeps dropping (albeit slowly) so maybe, someday, if I'm really good...

Sam Edelman 'Zoe' Boots from Zappos ($198.98)


Ain't Gonna Happen



What Is Reality Anyway has always been one of my all-time favorite fashion blogs. Always. Krystal Simpson is seriously a freakin' inspiration to end all inspirations. In a world where chiffon & "flowy" things seem to be the norm in the fashion blogging world, Krystal takes edginess to a new level. She can rock out a pair of jeans, a blazer, boots & feathers in her hair like none other.

When she announced she would be collaborating with Coach to design a bag, I was hesitant. I HATE Coach bags. The logo is everywhere and they just bore me to tears. Then, she released this beauty. You guys, I literally almost cried when I saw it. The buttery-soft leather, the heart & feather charms, the knee-length LEATHER FRINGE?!?!?! It's just...it's me. I'm not going to lie - seeing it depresses me a little bit knowing that paying $500 for a purse just isn't something I can ever do.

But a gal can dream, right? (I pray for sales. Seriously.)

Krystal Simpson for Coach Black Fringe Shoulder Bag via Hillary Rush ($498)


We all have those pipe dreams. What are yours??

Patience, Young Grasshopper

Some people get high off of the adrenaline of exercise.
Others feel a rush when they take that first bite of their favorite food.
Me? I get so freaking high off of a good SALE.

Yes, I know that sounds completely lame, and maybe even like something that Cher Horowitz would say, but it's true. I can be a cheap bastard, so when I know that I've gotten a crazy good deal, I feel empowered. I feel like I can conquer the world, one shirt/purse/pair of shoes at a time. HUZZAH!!!!!!

*ahem* As I was saying..

In December, I got a fabulously pimp present from my boss - a gift certificate for Betsey Johnson. Since I was a kid, she has always been my favorite designer. Her fun use of color, shapes and her love of leopard print makes her a girl after my own heart. I saved that gift certificate, convinced that I'd find JUST the right thing to use it on.

In February, that "right thing" appeared. This dress popped up on the website:



I might have shrieked or perhaps shed a tear when I saw it. I was in lust...but at a price tag of $268, I just couldn't swing it. I made a pact to myself to stay strong. Be patient. Hope that it would go on sale.

And it did! Within about a month, the price dropped to $186. Good, but not where I needed it to be. Still, I waited. About a week ago, the price dropped again: $134. I (literally) chewed my knuckles on this one, forcing myself to wait. "Slow down, Young Grasshopper", my inner voice commanded. (What? You guys don't have an inner voice?) I held my breath.

Today, I opened up my email to see a special offer. 40% OFF ALL CLEARANCE! Within the span of approximately 3-5 minutes, I had bought and paid for the dress.

$268 (original price)
$186 (1st reduced price)
$134 (2nd reduced price)
$80.40 (40% off sale price)
$30.40 (Price after using my gift card & all discounts!!!!)

Yep. I snagged my dream dress for $237.60 off the original price. Pardon me, I'm still up on my cloud.

Now comes the best part: Basing an outfit on it! What would you guys pair with this dress?

Badass on Etsy: Dreampop Designs

Ladies and Gentlemen! Boys and Girls! It's time for the next installment of...



When I look at my friends, I realize that I am damned lucky to be surrounded by style at every turn. We all have different styles and ways that we look/dress, but I truly believe that I have the greatest, hottest & most talented friends in the world. One friend whose style who I've always admired is my friend, Nicole. She looks like a completely fabulous mash-up of Louise Brooks, Victorian-sensibility and edginess. I don't think that just anyone can pull this off, but she manages to do it and damn - she makes it look good.

When she started designing jewelry under the name Dreampop Designs, I was completely blown away. She mixes metals, textures and shapes in ways I could never dream of, and her pieces are beyond unique. They're feminine, yet hardcore. All of them have this antique-looking quality to them. I feel like all of her jewelry looks like priceless family heirlooms handed down through generations.

Here are some noteworthy pieces:



1. Pearl Tree Necklace with Aqua/Gold Damask Design ($60): What's not to love about this piece?? I love the delicate, almost rosary-like pearls, and how amazing is that hand-clasp?

2. Bird Skull Bottle Pendant ($80): This is one of my favorite pieces. The little bird skull is hand-shaped out of polymer clay, so No Animals Were Harmed In The Making Of This Necklace. I love the copper wiring at the top, the jewels, the moss - pretty much all of it.

3. Antiqued Octopus Necklace ($125): The detail on this one is breathtaking. My favorite parts are the green glass "drop" at the bottom and the netting around the beads near the top of the pendant. Plus, it has another one of those hand-clasps I love.

4. Copper & Turquoise Bird Nest Necklace ($35): So freaking OMGprettyandadorableandOMG. I love the delicateness of the eggs/beads buried in the rawness of the copper wire. I die.

5. Bird Cuff Links for Women ($25): You guys, how ADORABLE are these?! I can just see these being that final touch on a pretty, silk blouse...or hell, even for a feminine touch on a badass leather jacket. Why not?? And for $25, how can you resist?

6. Lightbulb Pendant ($50): I saved the best for last. This is by far my most favoritist thing in the shop. Cracked lightbulb? Check. Moss INSIDE the lightbulb? Check! A freakin' treasure inside the moss?!? I'm sold.

You can also follow her blog here.

I'm not bad...I'm just drawn that way.

Oh my god, you guys. I swear that I have the most talented friends on earth. When my girl Sara (of Waitin' Round to be a Millionaire fame) started sketching pictures of herself in various outfits, I asked her if I could give her some money to make one for me.

All she asked for was a few ideas for clothing vibes I was feeling right now, and she came up with this:



Topshop jacket, Amplified Vintage tee, Girlprops fringe earrings, All Saints ring, Cheap Monday studded-knee jeans, Jeffrey Campbell platforms, MAC lipstick

Seriously. Not only did she NAIL my style, but she gave me damn good ideas for things I want to snag for myself! (I'm 100% buying those Girl Props fringe earrings next paycheck. I'm also trying to figure out how to DIY stud my own jeans at the knees without hurting myself.) Plus, she's only charging $10 per person for these! That's cheaper than a few gallons of gas at this point, and oh so fun. ;)

She's taking requests, so if you're interested, hit her up on her blog and request one!

IMATS NYC

I had a VERY good Christmas this year. Amongst the amazing presents I received was a gem of a gift - a two-day pass to IMATS (International Makeup Artists' Trade Show). I had heard stories from online friends about how amazing IMATS was in LA and London, and now that they were doing one in NYC, I could finally go. Being that this blog is about both fashion and makeup, I'm going to give a review of IMATS and how I felt about everything.

First, there was the line. If you go, be prepared to wait in line for 30-45 minutes at least. Everyone in the line was so happy and excited to be there, though, that the time flew by for me. Once I was in, I immediately became a moron. I walked into a sort of..hmm..let's call it a "museum". There was a display of a bunch of pure GORE and movie magic. While it looked fun, I was anxious to shop my ass off. (We'll ignore the fact that it took me a good 5+ minutes to figure out how to get to the shops. haha)

Once I was in the vending room, you couldn't beat the smile off of my face with a damned stick. It was nuts-to-butts crowded in there, and I was able to keep my claustrophobia mostly in check, but it was hard. There were people pushing and straining to get to each table. Once you got to the tables, though, it was SO worth it. The prices of everything were SO discounted, it's not even funny.

The first day, I got to meet Lauren/Queen of Blending and was pretty much floored by her. She knew who I was from Twitter (which still surprises me) and was just AWESOME in every way. We won't even talk about how absolutely stunning she was, too.


Lauren's makeup was obviously bangin'.

Shortly after that, I was walking around and got to meet the BEAUTIFUL Beth (uk_beth on Live Journal). We've chatted on the MAC Community online for years, and it was so great to finally meet her. Such a sweetie! We walked around and shopped together, snapped a few pics outside and parted ways.




The beautiful Beth!

I decided to go again the next day, but only because there were a few things I wanted to pick up, and a lot of people I wanted to see were going. Namely, these people:


Left to right: Josh/Petrilude, Lauren/QueenofBlending, Brooke/SayAnythingBr00ke, and Joy/JoyMeetsWorld.

It was funny as hell to watch Josh getting stopped every 30 seconds by another adoring fan. ;) I have to admit that I'm pretty impressed with how friendly he still is to every fan, though.

In all, I got...
- 2 glitters & glitter sealant from LA Splash
- 9 brushes & a brush belt
- 6 (!!) lip tars & a loose shadow from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
- 8 shadows in a palette from Mehron
- 1 mixing palette
- 8 pairs of eyelashes from Miss Adoro

Would I do it again? YOU BET YOUR ASS.

Here's all of the video footage I took over the two days (Warning: it's a bit long):

Badass on Etsy: Missy Industry

I'm starting a new feature here on Wrapped in Pink. I'm calling it...



That's right. I'm looking for the most badass things that Etsy has to offer. I'm determined this year (and every year following) to buy as much handmade stuff as I can. There are so many hidden treasures on Etsy, and once you sign on, you're sure to be browsing for AGES. I mean come on! Where else can you find turkey leg earrings or a necklace pendant with a boob on it? BUY HANDMADE!

For my first feature, I didn't have to think twice before I decided on Missy Industry. About a year ago, I purchased a necklace from her, and since the day I received it in the mail, it has been my #1 favorite piece of jewelry OF ALL TIME. (I suppose I should offer an apology to my wedding ring, but oh well.) The craftsmanship is amazing.

In her profile, she coins her creations as "Rockin' Bling for hip boys n girls". I love how all of her pieces are completely unisex! Also, she crafts all of her jewelry out of hardcore sterling silver, so they're sure to last. My necklace has taken a beating with how many times I've worn it and it still shines.

Here are some noteworthy pieces:



1. Misfit necklace ($58): This is the necklace I own. It's hardcore, heavy metal, but it's not so heavy that it hurts the back of your neck. Completely badass and amazing construction! (Plus, I have to mention that when I met Slash, the FIRST thing he commented on was this necklace.)

2. Cameo Skull Necklace ($90): You guys, how freaking adorable is this?! It has an edge and a sweetness all at the same time.

3. Champagne Ring ($90): Whenever I see this ring online, it makes me inexplicably happy. I blame the bubbles.

4. CARDIO Silver Anatomical Heart Necklace - Mini Version ($52): The normal heart-shape on a necklace is so played out. I love the twist of having this one be anatomically-correct. I would sit and poke the aorta all day.

5. Bull Skull Necklace ($74): I die. I completely die. This is next on my "to buy" list. I MUST HAVE THIS NECKLACE!!!

6. Chainsaw Necklace ($68): Am I the only one who'd clutch this little chainsaw, make "The Chainsaw Noise" (y'all know what I'm talking about) and run around terrorizing people? Anyone?

7. Sugarskull Ring ($82): Since I started looking at her shop, this ring has ALWAYS stopped me in my tracks. The details are ridiculous.


I'm going to be featuring Etsy shops I love regularly! Let me know what you guys think!

Sugarpill!!

By now, the name Sugarpill has become synonymous with OMG FABULOUS AND BRIGHT!! shadows. If you like a touch of color in your eyeshadows, or you like to rival the fanciest drag queen out there, you need to have Sugarpill in your life.

In truth, this entry is copied-and-pasted from one that I did about a year ago, but with a few updates (and a few better pictures).

(from February 2010)
When Amy/Shrinkle's new makeup line, Sugarpill, went online, I think I literally SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!ed outloud. I clicked on that link in a manner that people passing me might have thought I was insane. (Clicking, maniacally giggling, huge grin on my face. Yeah, I'm sure I looked insane.)

If anyone thought *that* looked like Crazy Town, they should have been there when I got my package in the mail last Friday. This is seriously the most amazing makeup line I've seen in years.

Everyone likes pictures, so I'll give my reviews to go along with the pics!


First of all, even the box it came in was adorable!! It was stamped with the cute Sugarpill kitty logo and had a bunch of stickers on it. Everything was packaged really well and nothing was rattling around.


I think that opening the box was the point at which I actually started clapping little claps and bouncing. Yep, I'm that lame. Again, everything was neatly and securely packaged with hot pink tissue paper. And the packaging...oh, the packaging. Every box that an item came in was BEAUTIFULLY and artistically done. The drawing is adorable. Plus, I have to admit that I liked seeing items in boxes like this. So many smaller makeup lines just throw things into little plastic baggies nowadays. The packaging alone of this line helps to make it look high-end. I'm a loser and love this packaging so much that I plan on keeping everything in the boxes.


Here are some cute promo items that came in the package. I got a GORGEOUS, glittery Sugarpill logo sticker and two "business cards". The photography on the business card is stunning.


The individual packaging is great, too! The lids of the shadows and the Chromalusts (loose shadows) all have the Sugarpill logo STAMPED on them. No stickers here, folks! And really...LOOK AT THIS PURPLE!! There's a slight hint of shimmer, but it's not overpowering. One swipe with your finger and the color is nearly opaque. It's brilliant.


Are you drooling yet?! Left to right: Buttercupcake, Poison Plum, Afterparty, Flamepoint (my favorite thus far!), Midori, and Love+. Truthfully, I've only swiped these shadows so far, but every.single.one went on smoothly and with such high-pigmentation that I was stunned. Makeup Forever? You have a serious competitor here.


Midori


These loose shadows - Chromalusts - I can't say enough about them. Even though I DROPPED ONE OF THEM seconds after opening it (and yes, I almost cried), there is so much product in these that it's not even funny. No dumpy little sample jars here, folks! You get a FULL 5-gram jar of these babies. The colors are...god, can I say "stunning" again?? I personally prefer to use these with mixing medium because it makes the colors THAT much more vibrant and opaque. If you use these dry, though, the color and shimmer still comes through like crazy! Left to right: Absinthe, Magpie (the one I dropped. *sniffle*), and the shining star of them all - Goldilux.


I have NEVER seen a more brilliant and perfect gold pigment in my life. When used wet, it literally looks as if you had melted gold and applied it to your eyelids. Since ACTUALLY melting gold and putting it on your skin would be, yanno, BAD, everyone needs this loose shadow.

Here is a pic from when I wore Goldilux to my work party:

(And in case you were wondering, yes. That pizza was delicious.)



Sorry that this is so wordy, folks! I just wanted to get the word out there about how amazing this line is.

Bucket List

Since I had taken a hiatus from this whole "blogging" thing, maybe there's something I should fill people in on who don't know me too well.

When I was a youngin', more than anything, I looked up to my best friend's sisters. She had three of them, and all of them embodied what I think was awesome about the 80s. Their hair defied gravity, they wore anything that was rock n' roll, and the music they listened to was loud. I wanted to be them. Naturally, when they made 7-year old Linda a mix tape, I listened to it like it was my bible. I remember one song standing out to me in particular: "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns n' Roses.

The second the song started playing, I was sold. I remember running into the oldest sister's room and thanking her, telling her that I loved that one song. She pointed to a poster of them on the wall behind her...and my eyes zeroed in on one person in the poster.

The mess of black curls. The leather tophat. The mirrored Aviators. The lone cigarette. These are all things that a 7-year old should NOT EVER be attracted to...but oh, I was. That's when my love for Slash started. As I got older, the admiration just grew. The way the man played blew me away all through my teens and into my twenties. It became an item on my Bucket List to someday at least shake the man's hand. The respect I had just grew and grew.

In August of 2010, I was just about to delete my My Space account when I got an email: "Send us a video saying why you should be picked to see Slash in concert in Seattle and meet the man!" I figured 'Why the hell not?' and carefully made a video. Then...I got the call. I.FUCKING.WON. They were sending my husband and I to Seattle, WA to MEET THE MAN.

It was the best moment of my life to date. To know me is to see my love for Slash & rock n' f'n roll.

Cheap Thrills

It's funny to me sometimes. You can buy a dress that costs you $400, a pair of shoes that cost you $200, jewels to line your neck and wrists, and a tiara to top it off. You can have yourself dripping in diamonds and expensive fabrics. Sometimes, though, it's not the most expensive or luxurious items that make you feel like a million bucks. Sometimes, it's that t-shirt you bought on a whim.

I snagged this t-shirt from Forever 21 online a few months ago. I was putting together an online order, and I needed to add one more item to throw my over order to the point where I would get free shipping. I threw a t-shirt into my shopping cart and went on my way. When I got all of my items, though, this shirt stuck out.

It fits me like a glove. The neckline flatters my "decolletage", if you will. The sleeve looseness & length sits perfectly on my upper arm. Not to mention the fact that the cotton the shirt is made of is the OMG SOFTEST THING EVER.

Basically, putting this shirt on makes me feel awesome. In it, I feel comfortable, fit, and...yes, just a bit sexy. (gasp!) It makes me feel like a badass...and all for only $12.






I suppose it also doesn't hurt to throw on some red lipstick and a fresh coating of red hair dye to make a gal feel firey.






So I ask you: What is your "item"? What seemingly ordinary item makes you feel like a million bucks the second you put it on?

GIMMEH FREE STUFF!

Why hello my lovelies! Do you remember me? I haven't forgotten about you! I'm going to be starting this blog up again, as I've really missed it. It's nice to have a place where you can talk about things like fashion, makeup and savings, and all the while, you're talking about it with people who actually CARE. It's refreshing, yanno? ;)

Today, I wanted to give you guys a head's up on a certain topic.

HOW I GET FREE SHIT
Some people I know have called me the "Queen of Finding Deals"(tm) or something equally as amusing. While I don't claim royalty status, I will admit that I'm pretty damned good on getting the free/discounted stuff that the internet has to offer! Here are some tips of the trade I've learned over the years:

1) Look for online survey sites.
I've been doing online surveys for YEARS now. You take a few minutes out of your day, answer some questions online about what you bought/are planning to buy/think of a commercial and you earn points. After earning enough points, you trade them in to get rewards! Yes, it really is as simple as it sounds.

My favorite site for this is E-Rewards. They're pretty good about not making their surveys too long to take, and the rewards tend to add up really quickly. I just got my second $50 Target gift card in the mail today from them. It's completely legit and I love them! I also use E-Miles (to earn A+ credits with Air Tran Airways), and NPDOR. All awesome.


2. Save those soda caps
Coke (and all Coke products) have been running a program for years called My Coke Rewards. Every Coke product has a code on it. If you have a bottle, the code is on the cap. If you have a case of soda, you'll find it on the cardboard box. You put these codes into the website and save up your points! (And no, you don't have to save all of your caps. Once the code is in the system, you're good to go!)

This is another one that I've been doing for years. All of my co-workers and friends have even started saving the codes for me, so they add up quickly, too! I've gotten movie tickets, skins for my phone/camera, gift certificates, and a TON of magazine subscriptions. (Seriously, one year, I got all of my friends magazine subscriptions solely through using Coke points.)


3. "Like" your favorite companies on Facebook/Twitter

So many companies (including the one I work for) do special giveaways only to their Facebook/Twitter friends. If you keep an eye out, you can get some amazing deals. I've snagged free tickets to the drive-in movie theater, free bottles of Zoya nailpolish, a makeup bag stuffed with goodies from Target and a lot more.


Maybe a lot of people would be too proud to sign up for a lot of these things to be able to earn incentives, but hell - I'm not too proud! Very little gets me more high than snagging an amazing deal or something for free that I know is worth something.

What are your favorite sites/methods for snagging free stuff??


I look forward to chatting with you all again! I miss you guys! (Anyone still out there?)

Higher Ground

Lately, I've been feeling that age-old emotion of the "need to purge". I look at my closet and very little in it inspires me anymore. The few pieces that DO inspire me and make me feel like a rockstar are over-worn at this point.

I was going to call this a New Year's Resolution, but let's call it a NOW Resolution. I will purge whatever I do not wear in my closet. This goes for you, hot sweater that I swear I will wear and never do. You're not exempt, gorgeous boots that I had re-soled, even though they never fit me in the first place. You too, t-shirt that the style is HOT, but I haven't worn you once.

My plan is to use the money I make from Ye Olde Purging (tm) and put it towards a new batch of clothes - ones that are of higher-quality. This means I will have to ban myself from looking at Forever 21 for a while. *sniffle* I'll make do somehow.

This picture has been inspiring the hell out of me lately.



We'll see where it goes from here...

Well hello!

Hello there! I suppose after not posting on here for SO long that I figured this blog would sort of fade into the mist of every other fashion-type blog out there. I have to admit, though - I'm still surprised when once every few weeks, I get notification that someone has commented on a past blog!

I am thinking of starting this little baby back up again. Seeing where it takes me. I miss writing, and I think it might be time to get back into the swing of things.

*waves*

Hello, hello! Oh, it's been so long since I've posted anything. I haven't forgotten about this blog. I suppose my "fashion endeavors" just haven't been very exciting as of late. I haven't bought too much new stuff, but that might be picking up again!

Last night was my work's annual Best of Baltimore party. I had a complete blast and dressed up like crazy. It has been so long since I've gone out anywhere that it was appropriate to go all out, so I took advantage.



Shirt: Forever 21, $13.90
Shorts: Forever 21, $19.80
Boots: Steve Madden via DSW, $69.99
Hat: Fredericks of Hollywood, $4.95!! (One helluva clearance find.)

And some of my completely fashionable friends!






I will really try to update more! I know that when I was putting more effort into this blog, I was also putting more effort into my outfits. Time to get back in the swing of things. ;)