NEW! "Lovatics" by Demi Lovato for NYC New York Color

**press sample ** From its Press Release - "As N.Y.C NEW YORK COLOR’sambassador since January 2015, Demi Lovato is celebrating her first anniversary by launching the highly anticipated “Lovatics Collection,” as a thank you to her loyal fans, the Lovatics. Demi seamlessly manages to emulate her cool and fashionable lifestyle through the collection allowing fans the ability to create their own unique city approved looks. “I am so excited to share my first makeup line with N.Y.C NEW YORK COLOR. The Lovatics collection is a true representation of my bold style and provides endless opportunities to rock your own individuality. One of my personal favorites, the Palette Eyeshadow, is a must-have that allows you to create your own unique look with 12 versatile nude shades!” – says Demi Lovato.

The new fashionable Lovatics by Demi Eyeshadow Palette ($4.99) features 12 nude shades and allows you to channel Demi’s confidence all while showcasing your natural beauty. Your eyes will look naturally effortless with theNatural shades."

As for me, I love it!  All the quality of a nice palette without the price tag.  This my friends is beauty on a budget!!!  Here are the first four colors swatched.  Tune in later for more ;)    I love that some are shimmery and some are matte in a complete array of neutral/natural shades for day and night.   The tints are surprisingly cool!  I'm still weird-ed out about the fact that they come in little nail polish  type bottles and applicators.  I did not expect that at all!  But tints perfectly in beautiful shades.  Also helps with precision in case you have issues staying inside the lines when applying your lipstick! I cant see myself applying it in the car as easy as with regular lipstick.  This is liquidy.  Blends very well as blush.  Call me old fashioned but I like lip"sticks" but I can give this another chance, although this one is staying at home and not in my mobile make up bag.   The shape and groom pencil is perfect to add shape and fill my eyebrows which are the most rebellious part of me and need major work.  That one has been added to my go-to-makeup bag.
Here's my look for a night out on the town.   I will definitely be featuring this palette again which has also been added to my go-to-makeup bag, so stay tuned.  
What do you think??

OPI New Orleans Spring 2016 Collection

** press sample **
"From the filigreed iron of its balconies to the jazz and jambalaya that permeate its air, New Orleans personifies grace, gumption and joie de vivre. The city’s indomitable spirit is the inspiration for OPI’s spring 2016 collection.
New Orleans Collection by OPI features 12 gorgeous new nail lacquers and matching GelColors that take nails and toes from beignets at Café du Monde all the way to nightcaps on Bourbon Street in style. Sweet, spicy, soulful and vibrant, the palette is perfect for a town where parades pop up everywhere, and dancing in the streets is de rigueur.
The New Orleans Collection retails for $10 each ($12.50 CAN) and will be available in February at professional salons, Beauty Brands, beautybrands.com, Chatters, Dillard’s, Regis, ULTA Beauty and ulta.com"   Meet my swatching assistant: Maya  who will be carrying through these pretties.
 
First up is Humidi-Tea a nice pale rose with slight shimmer.
  
I Manicure for Beads: A deep purple would surely make you want it. 

Spare Me a French Quarter?  A deep fuchsia creme

I'm Sooo Swamped!  Bright mardi grass green.

Rich Girls & Po-Boys It looks brighter on the lense but it's a gorgeous deep blue. 

Suzi Nails New Orleans:  A staple pink creme

Got Myself into a Jam-balaya.  A coral/pink.  A year-round keeper.

She's a BadMuffuletta: Deep red/pink.  another spring perfect color that can carry you through the year.

Show Us Your Tips:  A shimmer burple (blue and purple) with micro glittery shimmer.  This was a nice surprise as it looked pale and blah in the bottle but has a gorgeous hue once happily applied on your tips! 

Crawfishin' for a Compliment: a light coral screaming spring!

Let Me Bayou a Drink:  Yes Please!!! 

Take a Right on Bourbon.  Having been to New Orleans before I know this is the first stop to fun.  However, the color application is streaky.  Not my fave.

Lastly, some fun nail art for this fun collection.

All shades provide full coverage with 2 coats and are super fun spring and mardi grass colors.  The possibilities are endless and is made up of several nail polish collection stamples.  
What do you think??

Rimmel London's Lipstick Revolution

**press sample**
Rimmel London has released a new era of lipstick, The Only 1, Rimmel London claims it to be "a unique multi-tasker, it exccels in everything you look for in a lippie".   For what I experienced first hand, it lives up to the set standards of quality and wear of Rimmel London.  I'm unsure about a lipstick revolution, but definitely not to be underestimated. 
"...everything you look for in a lippie."  Let's break that down: I want color.  What's a lipstick without an intense color-pop! my lips are naturally red-ish/pink-ish in color, so I need a highly pigmented lippie that will say to the world! "hey, look at those lips" and allows for long wear.  I dislike re-applying after every sip of wine, or coffee.  
Comfort - I need a formula that's light weight and gives me a gorgeous glide.  
I also dislike lippies that feel rough/dry after my dry lips have absorbed all of its moisture, almost like it's going to crack!   This ones leave my lips feel moisterized even after hours of application as it contains vitamin E. 
And of course, I look for wear.  I need a lippie that goes on and stays on! 
Comes in 12 shades in a nice array of lip colors to perfectly complement any skin tone and are available is mass retailers like Walgreens, Target, CVS and the like.
and here they are:

Swatch-a-thon while enjoying a nice glass of wine!
 
with my mom, and hello kitty blanket on this fine snowy night. 
 
All have a nice glossy finish and stay glossy through application but not a "greasy" look as if you had just eaten fried chicken.
First Class Nude #710  classic nude  
Coral Brittania #630

Ringa Ringa Roses #170 (who thought of that name?) also has an expected, but beautiful hint of shimmer
 
Latino #200 I fell in love with this one since the first time I applied it.  Kuddos to the name!

Rose Blush #190 More of blush than a rose but a more appropriate name than "Ringa Ringa" (above) 
 
Dusty Rose #220 Nice chololat-y shade.
 
and last but not least... the yummy  Back to Fuchsia #310 I love hot pink lippies and this is the perfect combo, lightweight, longwear, easy glide and AAAHHMAZING color! 
 
They also ALL smell divine! The lippie fairies should be proud! 
What do you think??

Midnight Nails

It was midnight about three weeks ago! 
Came home after dinner, a glass or two of wine later, and I got the sudden urge of doing my nails.  Interestingly enough, I was melancholic and went back to my very first Zoya nail polish ever! Anaka.   Paired it with OPI's Pearl of Wisdom  and gave roses a try!!!
I like the end result.  I think I should get another bottle of THAT wine ^_^

Cheers!!! Happy Friday! 

Cat-mom tips to better organize your drawers

Good evening pretty ladies and handsome gents!  I am currently hanging out in my new space... my new little escape place that I've created, my little cat-mom den, enjoying the sound and melody of my favorite spanish rock tunes on Pandora with a scratchy throat and a runny nose wishing I was sipping on a nice golden glass of a neat scotch.  But I'm not!  Instead, I am trying to type this post with a cat, Milo, trying to either lay on my lap or on my keyboard.  He seems indecisive but he's great company.   As I look around I am reminded of my every-year resolution: To become more organized and declutter.  declutter declutter declutter.  However, I blog for fun, I highly enjoy product reviewing and unfortunately, or fortunately, clutter comes with it and I must say, I like it! 
So anyway.  It was a Thursday afternoon, my designated cleaning day which back in happier days (like a few months ago) was always followed by some "me-time" you know, bubble bath, full detangling of hair, removal of other unwanted hair, pedicure, wine/champagne/scotch (mood-dependent decision).  It's not longer followed by "me-time" it seems to be followed by more and more cleaning and decluttering (darn! new year resolutions). 
In an effort to de-clutter, I found my second ever BABY BLANKIE!!!!!  (don't know what ever happened to a first one which I am sure existed) which has been naturally inherited by my very own BABY.  I tried hiding it, so I put it inside my blog-drawer and well, if you're a cat parent, you already know, cats LOOOOVE drawers, it's in their genes, it's a life purpose 
Cover everything in the drawer in CAT
So I figured, what a better way to get organized than a cat drawer.   and I do NOT mean a drawer for their things.  I mean a drawer for HER, for THEM! 
and viola!!! no more fighting over drawers everytime I want to wear a different top.  No more multiple expensive cat beds that they won't use anyway because your coats are much nicer. No more wondering where am I going to put the cat bed when visitors come over.  Just closer the drawer

However, I can't tell if she likes it. 

Or just wanted to make a statement, something like "my slave found me a blankie"
   
Or is she upset there are no shirts in this drawer?
 
Milo on the other hand is chilling in his 3-story condo with terrace (not seen in the photo)  he mostly hangs out on the terrace and on the ground floor, conveniently located in the vicinity of the baseboard heating apparatus.
  
Maya is .. ummm... M.I.A. while I get dressed, and I wore a black dress for work today for the first time in a couple of years (true story)  because well... lint rollers are overrated so early in the morning and honestly, I just dont want to "groom" my dress when I can wear something that's not black. If you have a white cat, you understand.  If you don't, don't mind me here.  Enjoy the photo of Maya when I finally found her.  Yes!!! IN her drawer.
 
The next morning...
 
and that night!!! 
 
Milo.... is starting to think that he's missing out.  He doesnt remember having so much fun in mommy's dresser since he got ALL of my the socks out of the sock-drawer.

I think he decided to join in the fun.  My baby blankie was intended for him anyway.

Uh Oh... this is Maya realizing she now has company

It's been a few weeks now, and this is predominantly Maya's drawer.  Bad news is that Maya, and often Milo, sleep in the same bedroom with me (who cares, they're so cute) and better news is that I no longer have to fight them to get off of my bed, this is going to be especially GREAT news during shedding season. 
So anyway, this post was supposed to be about organizing drawers, so long story short, de-clutter, throw away or DONATE DONATE DONATE things that you don't love, things that don't make you money and things you haven't been using, chances are that once you throw them away, you will need it but you'll think of an alternative, once you do that, repurpose your drawers and your cats will be happy! 
Happy cat happy life!!  
Milo finally decided to lay on the desk and I've gotta go, I need to blow my nose!

2016 Spring Sprints - featuring oldies

Wow!  It's 2016 already!!!  Did you see that coming??  I was still living in November, talk about living in the past.  I didn't even get to show you my Christmas decor and DIY ideas but hopefully you followed through sneaky-peaky on Instagram and Facebook as well as the new fitness journey I have embarked on and noooo!!! it's not a new year resolution thing wherein I'll be done in two weeks.  This has been going on for about a month now and it seems like it is going to stick... wish me luck!

Today, I decided to go with some of my favorite oldies and they all happened to be from Jessica Cosmetics.  I'm kicking 2016 butt and this is how we went about.

Ocean bloom for a base color and accent color with Surfer Boyz 'N Berry, Tangerine Dreamz and Lime Cooler.... ahhh such summery names for my winter-loving spring-y state of mind



What do you think??