Weekly Giveaway Roundup

Makobi Scribe is giving away a Sony Bloggie HD Sport Camera.
Baghaus is giving away their Urban Expressions Tres Chic Bag.

XOXO, T

Project 18 Pan: Real Talk

Bre recently reminded me that I'm "supposed" to be on project pan.  I think I kind of forgot about it during the blog move a few weeks back.  But excuses aside, I really need to stop blowing all my money on cosmetics, toiletries and the like because I'm obviously out of freakin' control.  So, as of today, I'm on a strict, serious beauty budget.

My Rules:

1. I will not buy any cosmetics, toiletries, or other beauty-related products until I finish the contents of every item on my list.  (Notice I said finish, not simply hit pan on.)

2. The only exception is if I finish a necessary skincare or shower product that I don't have a backup/replacement for.

My Products:

Cosmetics

1. Benefit Realness of Concealness Palette

2. Pixi Sheer Cheek Tint in Natural

3. Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion

4. NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss (1 tube, any color)

5. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain (2 sticks, any color)

6. e.l.f. Studio Golden Bronzer

7. e.l.f. Studio Translucent Mattifying Powder

8. e.l.f. Studio Translucent Loose Powder

Skin Care & Shower

9. the Body Shop Cucumber Cleansing Lotion

10. the Body Shop Cucumber Water

11. Yes to Blueberries Eye Roller

12. Jergens Natural Glow Daily Facial Moisturizer (Fair to Medium)

13. Gud by Burt's Bees Body Wash

14. Up & Up Shaving Cream

Hair Products

15. Redken CurlConditioner
16. Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Shampoo

17. Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Intensive Moisture Mask
18. Organix Moroccan Argan Curling Perfection Defining Cream

Don't worry; this definitely doesn't mean I won't still be posting reviews, swatches and the like, as I have tons of products I've scarcely (if at all) touched, much less blogged about.

Do you adhere to a beauty budget?  Have you ever participated in project pan?

If so, do you have any advice for me?  If not, would you ever do it?

Wish me luck.

XOXO, T

P.S. Stay tuned for pictures of all the products I plan on finishing, in the next day or two.

What's in My Cross-Body Bags?

I've recently acquired a veritable slew of cross-body bags.  I bought myself a purple Target one back in early May then received two more for my birthday.  (Great Terminally stylish minds think alike.)  My mother surprised me with this petite white one from Coach over my birthday breakfast of homemade french toast, and my gorgeous ex-roommate Ashlee gave me the blue elephant-print Vera Bradley during my belated birthday dinner at Bone Fish Grille.

While it may sound a bit excessive to need three of the same style bag, I've managed to find specific uses for each of them.

1. The Coach one is tiny--I mean, tiny--and thus perfect for brunch, coffee dates, and the like.  I can pretty much only fit my iPhone, the absolute makeup necessities, my keys (and keychain i.d. thingy), and  a pack of Orbit Sweet Mint gum.

2. The Target one is essentially the same size as the Coach, but I prefer it for going out, in case I drop it, lose it, spill my drink on it, etc.

3. The Vera Bradley is close to double the size of the previous two, making it perfect for extended daytime outings.  It easily fits all of the above mentioned as well as my wallet, makeup bag and Kindle.

Do you have a cross-body bag?  Do you want one (or more)?  What do you think of my bags?

XOXO, T

Collective Beauty & Random Target Haul

 I typically go to Target at least 1-2 times a week.  I mean, seriously, it's out of control.  Here's the random stuff I got on my last trip to Target (clockwise from top): green Glow Necklaces (which I typically wear as headbands), a super necessary Little Miss Princess notepad, Sharpie Pens, a six pack of assorted stud earrings (which I'll probably be allergic to), a three pack of small purple baskets (for makeup storage), Krazy Straws, and a little cardboard book called Pinkie Pie Throws a Party (for my cousin's little girl, who is almost as obsessed with My Little Ponies as I was as a kid still am.)

Then we have the beauty products and toiletries I've amassed over the past few days, mostly from Target (though a couple things are from Walgreens).  I have (from left to right): Schick Hydro Silk blades (which I got for crazy cheap--printed out Target coupon + manufacturer's coupon), gud by Burt's Bees Natural Body Wash in Vanilla Flame (smells amazing), BioreTrial Pack Deep Cleansing Pore Strips,  e.l.f. Studio Small Angled Brush, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Darling, Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion (which Liz swears is a dupe for Benefit High Beam), Yes to Carrots C Me Shine Lip Gloss in Cocoa Loco, Sinful Colors Professional Nail Enamel in Neon Melon, Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Purparazzi, NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny, and Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel in Natural.

What do you think of my haul(s)?  Do you want/have any of these items?

XOXO, T

Weekly Giveaway Round Up

1. Birchbox is giving away $200 worth of Summer Essentials from Supergoop!

2. The ladies over at Beauty Crazed in Canada are giving away a big bunch of makeup.

*Image belongs to Beauty Crazed in Canada.

Trendy Tuesday #1: Summer Brights

A lot of bright colors have cool undertones, which is part of what makes them so beautiful with a bit of a tan.  If we tried wearing neon in the winter, it would completely wash most of us out.

The key to incorporating brights into your look, whether in the form of clothing, accessories or makeup, is pairing a single pop of color with an otherwise very basic, neutral look.  The most surefire way to pull off a bright lipstick, eyeshadow or blush is by wearing almost no other makeup.

It helps to wear a white base underneath brights to help the color pop, especially on darker skintones.  For example, I typically apply NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk under bright eyeshadow or liner and a white nail polish before a bright (or dark or weird) nail polish, to keep it from staining my nails.

These are a few of my favorite bright cosmetic items:

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Lollipop and Tutti Frutti

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Shangri La

Wet n Wild eyeshadow singles in Fuchsia and Lagoon

Milani Liquif’eye Eyeliner in Aqua

Wet n Wild Lipstick in Fuchsia with Blue Pearl

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Pink Passion

July It Girl Julep Maven Unboxing

My Julep Maven box arrived yesterday, and this month it contains four polishes instead of the standard three.  Apparently the bonus polish is an Independence Day gift from the ladies at Julep.  (I believe Canadian mavens received a Canada themed glitter instead.)

Julep's packaging is usually impeccable, but it arrived a bit disheveled this time, as the ribbon had slid off and the cute star tissue paper was unwrapped (I hope the mailman wasn't playing with my nail polish).

Anyway, the polishes I received are:

Mila: charcoal, multi-colored glitter

Kate: soft white pearl

Daphne: fresh seafoam green creme

America: shiny red with royal blue glitter and sterling silver stars

Kate, Mila, Daphne, & America

XOXO, T