i n • p u r s u i t

You may have read my review of Addictive Cosmetics a few days ago in which I didn't have anything nice to say about their  FixIt  spray. Well, despite the bad review, I didn't want to give up on this spray! After a little trial and error, I've found the secret to making it all work--at least in my makeup kit! How I got this look: Apply  e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer all over the lid. This keeps the shadow from creasing. Spray  Addictive Cosmetics FixIt into the palm of your hand. Dip a finger into the FixIt and apply to the lid. This makes the Addictive Cosmetics shadow POP. Apply a satiny ivory shadow to your brow bone and tear duct. I used one of the shadows from the 32 piece e.l.f. Warm Eyeshadow Palette that was available in Target during Christmas. Using a crease brush, apply a matte brown in your crease. I used a matte brown from the same  32 piece e.l.f. Warm Eyeshadow Palette. Using a flat, firm brush (I actually use my SOHO concea...

This is one of the few photos I actually sat and waited for. These ducks were hanging out, sometimes ducking their head underwater for who knows what. So I focused and waited, eye to the viewfinder, for something interesting to happen. This is much better than getting a photo of a duck butt. Canadian geese. I tried to make some noises to get them to look at me, but they were too busy.

I was thrilled to have spend the past few days at Imaging USA in Atlanta. It's the annual Professional Photographers of America conference. The conference wasn't about fashion at all...but that doesn't mean I didn't carefully pick out my outfits specifically for a SMP post! There are several "What I wore to WPPI" posts, but not many for PPA! So, here's what I wore: Saturday: leather & Lace:  I was so excited to finally be wearing this outfit! Wearing a leather skirt is definitely a little out there for me, so I softened up the look by adding my floral tights and lavender lace cardigan. You can tell these photos were taken when we first got to our hotel room because there isn't a bunch of crap all over the place! Four girls in a room can get pretty crowded! Outfit details: Cardigan from Target ($15), white shirt from American Eagle (via thrift store, $3), leather skirt from thrift store ($5), floral tights from Target ($5), boots f...

Want to know a secret? I LOVE drugstore fake nails! They've come a loooong way since Lee Press-On nails! They look good and they are so easy to do at home! I've tried other Kiss nails, but never the Featherlight line. So, when I saw these for two bucks at Ross I snatched them up! The nails fit and looked beautiful, but they barely lasted more than 24 hours! I had done my nails on Saturday night and by Sunday dinner, two of my nails had popped off! :( This was especially annoying since the box claimed "stronger, longer wear." I will say that my last set of Kiss nails lasted a lot longer than these ones. Aside from the nails on my nails already, this is everything that was in the box. I feel like there is a lack in variety of nail sizes and the mini-emery board is missing. By Monday, my left hand nails still looked great. But my right hand nails...not so much. On Sunday night, my pointer finger nail chipped and my thumb & pinky nails ...

Yay! I got my first Ipsy Glam Bag today and it is full of fabulous goodies! What is Ipsy? Well, it is a beauty subscription service. It costs $10 a month or $110 for the year (getting you one month free). I was hesitant to subscribe, but I finally decided to go for it. Then, I toyed around with regretting my decision. I didn't want a bag full of foil packets, perfume samples, and other little things that you can often find for free.  But Ipsy isn't like that. Each month you get "a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products." This month's bag is fabulous and I'm pretty happy that I subscribed! The January 2013 bag is the Super Stars bag. To go with the "star" theme, the bag has a starry pattern inside. It the type of fabric that you'll be able to wipe clean when it gets dirty. So, it's pretty and practical! Available at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens or www.sohobeauty.com for $7.99. ...

At the end of every post, there is a little thing that says "Reactions." I'm guessing that no one knows it's there because it is extremely rare that any of the options move higher than (0). But, I thought I would share it. I know you don't always feel like leaving a comments, so you can just do this instead. Click "LIKE", "DISLIKE", or "LOVE." Let me know what you think about my blog posts! :)

This kit was one of my black Friday purchases. Actually, it may have possibly been my first Sephora purchase ever! It has definitely been my first foray into high-end skin care. This was one of the $10 Sephora's door busters. I can't find it on the Sephora website anywhere, but I saw it on  Amazon for $21.99 . Purifying Gel Cle anser (1 fl oz. Valued at $5.20 based on the price of full-size product.) This was my favorite product out of the whole box. You only need a tiny drop for your whole face which means it lasted for a long time. It's gentle and smells great. Also, I did a great job getting all the dirt and makeup off my face. I balk at the price of $26 for 5 ounces, but since such a tiny bit goes a long way, I am considering buying this. Oil Free Nightly Hydration (0.5 fl oz. Valued at $12.86 based on the price of full-size product.) My least favorite product of the box. I think this might be better for someone with oilier skin that mine. It just di...

New blazer! I avoided blazers for so long, but I think I'm in love! They're like cardigans except with more structure...and I wear a cardigan just about every other day. I am particularly in love with my new floral blazer (bringing my closets blazer count to 2.) I had seen a similar blazer that I looked longingly at but never purchased. It was had an indigo background and long sleeves...both of which were turning me off. Well, I was shopping with my Mom at Dillard's when I came across this blazer. The black background makes this one so much more versatile. And I love the ruched sleeves. I bought it but was still on the fence about it. So what did I do? I went home and took off the tags so I couldn't return it! Its rather bold...at least for me. So, I stayed home most of the day my first time wearing it. Just to, you know, get the feel. But the more I see these pictures, the happier I am that I bought this piece! Oh yeah, and while I was recording ...

I really really really want China Glaze's It's A Trap-eze , but I haven't been able to find it. I'm late to the China Glaze Cirque du Soleil game. :( However, Candy Shop caught my eye while I was shopping the other day. It's not like It's A Trap-eze at all, but the reason I bought it is because it kind of sort of seemed similar. You know, it that very vague not really similar kind of way? Candy Shop is really pretty. Pink with glitter? YAY. It applies nice and smooth and is sheer but definitely build-able. I used three coats for this look.  I know its hard to tell in these photos, but I painted most of my nails with Candy Shop over a white polish with the exception of my ring finger which was just Candy Shop alone. Unfortunately for this review, the difference is much more dramatic than the photos convey. The nail polish appears a lot more hot pink when layered over white. It's like... hi-lighter pink with sparkles. When applied alone its...

This outfit was one of my absolute favorites of the last few weeks of 2012. The boots and blazer were both "on a whim" purchases, but I have definitely gotten my money's worth! I feel both comfortable and chic in this outfit and I've actually worn it several times. I never thought much of either blazers or booties before and would have never thought that they'd become go-to pieces of mine! Please excuse the weird pose. I don't think I've had an SMP post since I got bangs, have I? My face definitely looks different with them and I am just lovin' the new look! It does take a bit more to get ready because I always have to do my hair, though. I just love the lace detail on the back of this blazer. It's made me wonder why on earth I don't have more lace in my wardrobe. It's so pretty! Blazer: Eyeshadow from Belk Tee-shirt: Express (gift) Necklace, jeans, & boots: Target **edit** Some better pictures of this ou...

Matte nail polish isn't something that has ever caught my eye for long. But the other day, I was at Target and I spotted the NYC Matte Me Crazy polish. Mattifying polish for less than $2? Well, that certainly cannot hurt to try! This polish is not as matte as Essie and I think it's absorbed some of my lotion since I applied it, thus giving it a bit of a satin-y look. But I'm not that picky...yet! This polish is Wet 'n' Wild Shine nail color in Black Creme topped with NYC Matte Me Crazy. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Hard as Wraps Acrylic Gel + Nylon went on the tips. I really love the look of matte polish and will probably be using it a lot this year. One trick I learned from reading online is that the matte topcoats don't provide much protection. :( So, either coat your tips with a topcoat, like with a french look, or put a topcoat on for protection before you mattify. Oh, and my manicure was, of course, inspired by Chloe's Nails . :) ...

Temptalia is one of my new go-to websites that I discovered last year. By "discovered" I mean that Stargirl had been telling me about it for ages and I finally visited it. And became addicted. It's such a helpful site for reviews of high-end and budget brands. See, I love reading about high-end skin care and makeup, but I can't generally afford it. Or, rather, I'm happy with $5 eyeshadow and don't (yet!) see a reason to buy a $50 eye shadow. The Temptalia 2013 Editor's Choice Awards were recently announce. I definitely recommend checking them out! It's giving me ideas for new things I want to try. I'm especially looking forward to checking out some of the budget winners.  NYX  and Milani  products are on my list. Also, I think I'll give the L'Oreal Nail Laquer another try. :)

I always opt-out for the monthly Julep box. I've been meaning to cancel my subscription ( I really only wanted the cheap intro box ) but I keep forgetting. Well, I ended up not opting out of the January box by accident. Oops! Silver lining--I got a box of prezzies on New Year's Eve! Let me throw in here that I posted a YouTube video reviewing the products. This posted is an updated review. More thought out--you know? The Classic With A Twist (my Maven style profile) box contained two nail polishes, three hair ties, the Hand & Cuticle Stick, and a sheet of swatch stickers. My two colors were  Grace  &  Madison . Grace is described as a "classic 'go-to' light pink sheer" and Madison is described as an "electric neon hot pink crème." Each color had a swatch sticker on top. (See video as how to swatch the stickers that are affixed to the caps.) My initial thoughts were that I'd love Madison and hate Grace. Madis...