Monday Music Loves #7 New Horizons

Twas the day after Christmas and whilst perusing iTunes, I came across the 7.99$ "bin" and noticed a Flyleaf album clicked on and realized I didn't have it and it was ....NEW! (ok so that didn't rhyme but any who) New Horizons came out late October how did I not know this!?! I previewed about half the songs and was like I need to buy NOW.

FOTD: Tropical Face On A Snowy Day

The other day I was perusing photos on Beautylish  and came across this one photo that caught my eye. It was by Olivia D (click for photo) it was your traditional neutral with winged liner but with a twist. It had green under the eye and purple brows. Well with my love for purple brows I had to try it. Plus I'm down for anything that goes with purple brows.

 Oh yeah did I mention it goes with my new purple hair!

Merry Fur Children Christmas

If you didn't already know my animals are like my kids. At work they are affectionately known as the Fur Children. And of course they got Christmas presents and I video them opening them and playing. So for your animal loving viewing pleasure here is my Christmas with the fur children.

Merry Christmas From Marvin, Goken & FeFe

Monday Music Loves Christmas Edition

It's been a while since I have done a Monday Music loves but since it's Christmas eve I thought I would share some of my favorite Christmas songs.

Kenny & Dolly I Believe In Santa Clause

Dolly is one of my favorite people, in face she's on my people I'd like to meet. she always seem so kind and happy and such a positive person. Like she is the epitome of the Christmas spirit. I can't go through a Christmas season without watching A Smokey Mountain Christmas with he in it. Plus her Christmas songs are different from what seems to be the same 10 that always play. and working in a retail store I hear the all day. So her Christmas songs are a nice change.

N'Sync - Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

This one ends up in the Christmas play list just because it's different and not the cookie cutter remake christmas song.

Judy Garland - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

This is my favorite version of this song and in my opinion no one else should sing it but Judy Garland. Her voice just melts my heart.



What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Hope You all have a Merry Christmas and happy Holidays!

Wet N Wild Comfort Zone Pallet REVIEW & FOTD

Last week Rite Aid had a buy 1 get 1 50% off sale on Wet N Wild makeup so I picked up a few pallets that I had been meaning to try. Two pallets for $7.49 I couldn't pass it up especially after winning 20$ on a scratch off ticket the day before.

Handy Nykkey! My new nail polish shelf.

In preparation for pulling out the Christmas decorations I had to clean the living room and put things away. Well come to find out I had no real home for my ever expanding nail polish collection. Some lived in the bathroom medicine cabinet but the rest were scattered all over the living room nick nack shelf and coffee table. I dicided they needed a shelf of their own in the bed room.

December Ipsy Glam Bag "Haute Holiday"

This months theme is "Haute Holiday".  I am very pleased with this month selections. I have been loving how they give you a lot of different items that can be used together to create a look lately. With December and all it's holidays you have everything you need to create a holiday look. 

November Favorites (BeautySets Style)

I haven't done a beauty favorites in a while so I thought it was about time to share some. And yes It's an other BeautySets. I just love how it looks like a page out of a magazine, I can't help myself.

NykkeyB's November Favorites
with VMV Hypoallergenics, Couture Colour, Wet 'n Wild

Naughty Not Nice FOTD

Ok so First off I made this spread on Beautysets.com, and I am in love with the site! Basically you get to make your own beauty magazine page spreads.It brings me right back to my typography and design classes.

Naughty Not Nice
with smbsi, Maybelline

I'm really digging this format for a FOTD post. I think it adds something more having pictures of the products used instead of just listing them.

Library Autumn Book Sale Haul.

A couple times a year our local Library has a book sale of donated books and this past friday was one of the books sales. Books start at .50 cents. Most of the ones I got were only 1$. You can't beat that. The best part is you never know what your going to find.

I found a coffee table book on Van Gogh ($1) and Anatomy book for figure drawing(1$). The Art section is always the first place I hit at the book sale.

DIY Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub & Tropical Traditions Giveaway

I'm back with another DIY spa treatment, Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub. You can use it from lips to feet and everywhere in between. It will leave your skin exfoliated and moisturized. Plus a chance to win your own jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut oil

Wet N' Wild Cool As A Cucumber Pallet REVIEW & FOTD

last week I was feeling pretty down and in need of some makeup retail therapy so I headed to the drug store. Not much caught my eye of anything that I needed or wanted except this Wet N' Wild Cool As A Cucumber Pallet. I thought hey here are some nice fall colors. I'm sucking every last bit of fall out that I can... it's supposed to snow today, Boo. I'm not ready for the cold weather.

FOTD: Sayanythingbr00ke's Royal Drama Eyeshadow

The other day I was catching up on my YouTube subscriptions and watched Sayanythingbr00ke do this amazingly bright blue eye and I had to try it out! I'll never know why I don't wear blue eyeshadow more often it's so muck fun. Lashes on the other hand are the bane of my existence. maybe someday I will be able to apply them easily and make them look good. I guess it's going to take a lot of bad practice to get it right.

Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin REVIEW

The Spin Pin does the work of 20 bobby pins! Easily achieve chic updo styles; simply twirl your hair up and spin the Spin Pins in for a perfect top knot, undone bun and side bun!
Steps:
1. Gather your hair at the nape of your neck (no ponytail holder needed)
2. Twist your hair into a tight bun and tuck in the ends
3. Spin one pin in from the top and the other from the base, taking care not to interlock pins.
Influenster.com Description

Kiss Ever Pro Lash Starter Kit REVIEW

I was very excited to see this in my Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox. I love the look of false lashed but I always have such a hard time applying them, and when I saw the applicator I couldn't wait to try them out. 

Made from highest quality human hair. Use with Kiss adhesive for optimal results. Latex free, odor free, waterproof, flexible formula for 24hr hold, easy applicator.
Influenster.com Description.

 The kit comes with a pair of lashes, Lash applicator, and Lash Glue. Everything you need to get started.

FOTD Sugar Skull

Halloween is a little less than two days away and I can't help but to keep trying out different Halloween makeup looks. I keep seeing all of these amazing Sugar Skulls on all the beauty sites and realize I have never tried to make one. Plus seeing as we are in the midst of hurricane sandy here in the Berkshires I have nothing better to do than put makeup on my face. It's what I usually do when I get really bored. Hey who knows it might scare the hurricane away. Wishful thinking.

NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact REVIEW

NYC New York Color's all-in-one compact gives you everything you need for a complete eye look: primer, illuminator, applicator and complementing shadows. With four vibrant colors designed for your eye color, you can create a look as individual as you are!
 Influenster description. 

The color that I received in my Influenster VoxBox was 0156-08 Dark Shadow. I like the concept of having a primer included in the pallet of eyeshadows it makes it convenient. 

Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012

I got my Influenster beauty Blogger VoxBox a couple of days ago. Still in the process of testing things out but I wanted to share what I got in the box. I'll have full reviews on everything, but for now here is what came in the box.

October Ipsy MyGlam bag. Hello Bombshell!

This months MyGlam Bag theme is Hello Bombshell. Let me say they were spot on with all the  things to make a bombshell look.

Maybelline dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Profector Review

After my disappointment with the Garnier BB cream I wanted to give another BB cream a go. I like the concept of them but with oily skin I needed something that was less greasy than The Garnier BB cream, and since Maybelline was B1G1 1/2 off at Rite Aid a few weeks ago I decided to give this one a try. 

Maybelline Color tattoo 24hr Eyeshdow #200 Mossy Green Review/FOTD

 Maybelline Color tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow #200 Mossy Green is apart of the Limited Edition Fall 2012 fashion Week Collection. It is one out of 4 of the Color Tattoo shadows in the collection. It's the perfect color for fall if you want a fall color but don't want to go with the browns. 

Monday Music Loves #5 Zombies & Rant

So in honor of World Zombie day coming upon the 13th this week I have some of my favorite zombie songs for you. I'm so excited about The Zombie Pub Crawl and dressing up and doing my makeup like a zombie. I have been making zombie prognostics like crazy, I want to be really gruesome.  I also have a rambling song rant this week.

The Pretty Reckless "Zombie"

Natalia Kills "Zombie"

Serendipity Pages & Fall Art Journal

It's been an other busy week of art journaling. I have been working on my regular journal and this weeks Art Journaling assignment, Make a theme specific mini journal. I love looking at Aaron & Jenny's weekly class it gives me such great ideas and inspiration.

Serendipity

September MyGlam Bag Review

MyGlam has expanded it's website. It is now called Ipsy. It's now a full on Beauty Community social networking site, where you can post photos and videos. The sample subscription service still functions under the MyGlam Bag name with the service remaining the same they just added the  community forum that was advertised and intended in the beginning. I feel like the site could use some more organization to make specific things to find easier instead of one big jumble of a timeline.

Stand Out In A Crowd. (Art journaling)

The past week I have been retreating to the kitchen table for some tunes and art journaling, making new pages and finishing up some stated a few weeks ago. when the inspiration hits its best not to stop it.

These pages were solely inspired by the photo on the left. I had taken it while on vacation in NYC last year. I took it looking from the window of our hotel and the lights inside combined with the city lights gave such a fun effect. I started the paged with a gradient of acrylic paint and while it was still wet I crumpled up some news paper and pressed it on to the pages and the news paper took off some of the paint giving it a bit of a tie dye look. I love the effect it gives and can't wait to use it again. I also added lots of paint splatters and drawn stars to the background. I used some grey paper and cut out a city skyline and added a dark paint wash to it;s edges. I also added some confetti garland That Jenny of Every Day Is A Holiday showed us how to make last week.I used it on the building and it reminds me of  strung Christmas lights.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer Downtown Brown Review

I was perusing the fall collections at the local drugstore and just glanced by this color at first but at a second look I had fallen in love. I'm not usually one for brown colors but this one had something special, Duochrome! Yep I'm a sucker for any nail polish with duochrome.

Monday Music Loves (#4)

It's been a while since I have shared some tunes with every one. So here is what's been on constan rotation lately.

Lana Del Rey "Radio" (Born To Die)

I had been listen to Land Del Rey radio on Pandora a lot and it had been on my iTunes wish list for a while. I finally got the album a couple of weeks ago and as usual whatever is new is on perma play on my iPod. I love her music it's calming, mellow and powerful all at the same time. Of course the defining factor of a favorite song is if it fits into a movie scene. I'm always imaging up movies in my head and the music that would be there sound track and I could totally envision this backing the story. I love her mix of deep sultry voice with the higher girl like tone.

FOTD (September 16th)

Oh boy do I love being able to pull out the Fall makeup colors again. You can never go wrong with a neutral pinup eye look and some plum/berry dark lipstick. The leaves are already starting to change here so que up the fall inspiration. It's time to have fun with the warm tones and vampy lips.

Helping Abandoned Kittens

Today seemed like a normal day. Take FeFe for her usual mid day walk around the block. I was feeling a bit lazy and decided to cut through the park and I'm glad I did. As we entered through the small gate FeFe saw a cat and wanted to chase it, and at a closer look I saw the cat was with 3 kittens. It wasn't a feral cat, no some one had abandoned this poor mama cat and her kittens leaving them with only a towel bowl of water and pile of food on the ground. I quickly picked up the dog so she wouldn't scare the cats and ran home. I got some phone numbers to our local shelters and ran back to sit with the kittens.I didn't want the kids in the park or any other animals to mess with them.

My Hands Can (Art Journaling week 5)

It's been 2 weeks since I posted any pages. You ever start an art project and half way through have a brain fart of where to go next? Well that was me. Sometimes you just need some time to stew on something before it feels right again. I also have to say that Pinterest has become a great source of art journaling inspiration for me. If I need an idea poof there they are. I could spend hours looking through photos of art and art journals.

Fortune Coockie Soaps Fall Soap Box Review.

Autumn is by far my favorite season. Some of the leaves have already started to change here in the Berkshire's and I've been pulling out the grandpa sweaters.  A lot of my love for fall has to to with the smells though, that's why I'm supper exited to try out all the products from the Fortune Cookie Soap's Fall Soap Box.

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In Love With Scroll Work (Art journaling Week 4)

I have been a busy art making bee this week. I have fully commandeered the kitchen table as my art area, but let's face it we almost never ate dinner at the table anyway. Plus it seems that my cake decorating has overflowed into my artwork because my new favorite thing to add is scroll work. I usually do it on cakes as vines but I really love drawing them and adding them to pages.

Sample Sunday #4

This Weeks Samples

• Circus By Andrea's Choice (Ringmaster)
• Dr. Jart WaterFuse BB Cream
• NuMe Hydro Punch Hydrating Conditioner.

There is Always a Bright Side (Art Journaling Week 3)

It's been a buys week of work all day, come home and art journal till bed. I really hate that I get my second wind right before bed time. I want to stay up late and finish what I'm working on. It doesn't make it easy to get up at 4 a.m. to go to work in the bakery. c'est la vie. When you love what you do the lack of sleep is worth it.

Even in the darkest of places....

 

FOTD: Summer's Cooling Down

So summer is winding down here in the Berkshires and my favorite season autumn is right around the corner. The days have been sunny and warm but with nice cool breezes. Thank god because I was getting sick of the supper hot days.  I'm just itching to pull out the darker colors. Why hello jewel tones and plums I feel like it's been a while. I'm also excited that I get to wear my grandpa sweaters again in the early mornings and at night. Man I have missed them.

Art journaling (week 2)

The creative bug has bit me! It's becoming a nightly thing for me now. It feel's so good to be back at it, I feel so accomplished when I'm done. I finished 3 sets of pages this week. When I finish it seem that I can't wait to start some more or wait till next weeks Art Journaling class. here is what I came up with this week.

August MyGlam Bag (Phot Heavy)

For the past few months MyGlam has been putting together some really great bags, and this month is no exception. There is a great mix of different types of products. It has skin care, makeup and fragrance. Their customer service has been great too. The site said my bag would come in the middle of the month and I got it Monday the 13th, 3 days after I got my shipping notice.I love a speedy deliver.

$aving Money With Found Around the House Art Materials

Art materials can be expensive. If your someone just starting out or trying to find inexpensive alternatives, here are some ideas of things that can be found around the house that you can use to create with.

 Lets face it we all have a can or two of left over paint lying around. Ceiling paint makes a great replacement for gesso and matte white paint. So go ahead and use it it was just collecting dust in the garage anyway. 

A Quick Apology.

I just wasted to send out a quick apology to anyone who may have left a comment recently who noticed they hadn't been replied to or their comment never posted.

I had the Intense Debate comment system set on moderate so that I would be sure to see and be able to respond to everyone's comments, but unfortunately half of the time when I would approve a comment they would just disappear, and I could never find it. After a little searching I found the problem, I needed to update the comment system from being in a widget to being in the template. Hopefully all is fixed now. Crossing my fingers (I'm not to tech savvy). Sorry for any inconvenience. Hope to hear from you in future posts.

Reuse It: Circus Nail Polish Packaging

As I was doing my makeup this morning and grabbing for a cotton swab, I was thinking I wish I had something smaller to put them in. Then I turned my head and saw in the cabinet the packaging from the circus nail Polish I had gotten in last months MyGlam Bag. I took a couple of swabs and put them in and sure enough they fit perfectly. I didn't want to throw the packaging out because I thought it was pretty and now I have a use for it. I love finding new uses for things that would otherwise go in the trash.

 This would be a great way to carry cotton swabs in a travel bag or in a purse. Or just a neater way to keep them on a vanity instead of the big ugly box they come in.

FOTD: Midnight Smokey Blue

So far it's been a pretty gloomy day. I can't complain though It's the first rainy day of my vacation and we need the rain anyway. I thought I would reflect that in my makeup today. Plus I figured I would branch out a bit I don't do smokey eyes often.

Taking Art Journaling class with Jenny & Aaron (Class1)

So last week Jenny posted on her Blog Everyday is a Holiday that they would be doing a weekly free Art Journaling class every Thursday on her blog.  I was really excited because I love her posts of her art journal, and I have always wondered what exactly she does to make them.

It's also been a long time since I have done anything with art that doesn't involve decorating a cake on a daily basis. I like the Idea of the weekly class it will give me some sense of structure to get back into creating. The consummate procrastinator that I am if there isn't some form of a deadline it wont get it done. That's what I loved when I was in art school. I was constantly creating and there was a deadline.

It surprises my I have never made an art journal before, I love collaging. It's been fun getting back into it.

Neon Ombre/Gradient Nail Tutorial

I have been really wanting to try out ombre nails and since I'm on vacation and my manicure is going to last more than a day it's the perfect time. I chose neon yellow and orange because every time I flip on the Olympics inevitably someone is wearing those neon yellow Nike's. Guess the colors are stuck in my head.

If your inept at nail art like me this is a really easy way to spice up a manicure. It's a technique that can be easily done on short and long nails.

July Favorites

This July has been very hot and dry so the makeup routine has defiantly had to change around that. I have been all about light weight and easy, and things that will last in the heat.

FOTD Feline Safari

A day off means having time to actually play with my makeup. I wanted to play around with an extreme cat eye with a defined inner corner. I'm really liking the combonation of the liner with the olive green it just makes me thing of African safari.

Sunday Is Bathing Day

Every Sunday I give FeFe a bath which she is awesome at taking. She just stands there and takes it no shaking or trying to escape. After the bath however is a laugh fest! Fefe likes to wiggle and roe around on the floor and blankets. This was too funny not to share.

I don't think the cats quite know what to make of her like this.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Review

I'm defiantly a sucker for a Revlon lip product. Their lipsticks are by far my favorite, so when they come out with something new I have to try it. Once  again Revlon has not let me down.

It’s a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood. 

-Lightweight Lip stain + Moisturizing Balm
-100% of women who tried it felt their lips were instantly moisturized with a soft stain of color
-Retractable chubby crayon, no sharpener required
Description from Revlon.com

Turn your Favorite OCC Lip Tar Into Your Favorite Lip Balm

I love Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars. But one of the downfalls is that they are hard to reapply on the go. You need a mirror and a lip brush. That's why I was supper excited when Koren came out with several videos showing how to make your Lip Tars into Lipsticks and Lip Balms. Plus considering I always apply a balm or gloss over the lip tar anyway this was a perfect combination.  I'm so in love with this I had to share.

Fun & Simple 4th Of July Nails

First off I'm not the best at nail art, so when I find something that is easy to do even with my left hand I get excited and have to share. I thought this technique would be fun for a red whit and blue 4th of July look.

FOTD 6/27 Beat The Heat

Summer is here and with the heat and humidity no one wants to walk around with heavy caked on makeup so I wanted to go for something that was as light as possible. Plus being in the sun SPF is a must!

FeFe Is Here To Stay!

So today this little Teddy Bear came home to live with us. Her name is Brandy, or as I like to call her FeFe. She is my Mothers Dag but due to going out of state to help my sick Aunt, FeFe had been staying with a family friend. But FeFe was too homesick for someone familiar so she's coming home to me Dan and the kitties. 

June MyGlam Bag Review

So its been quite a while since I did a MyGlam post because quite frankly I had been pretty unhappy with the service, and rather than give them any bad press I didn't want to wright anything at all. You know what they say any press is good press. So with that aside I feel like MyGlam has been listening to their customers and I'm fairly happy with this months bag.

FOTD June 18, Summer Orange & Gold

Today I was watching a Pixiewoo video with a bold gold and black liner and I got inspired. I thought it needed a little something more so I started with an orange base and added a slightly shimmery peach over top. Plus if your a blue eyed girl the orange is going to make your blue eyes pop!

Monday Music Love #3 All about Deb Talan

So quite possibly one of my favorite singer/song writers of all time is Deb Talan. A friend introduced me to her music about 10 years ago (wow it was that long ago). Deb's music has become a big portion of the soundtrack of my life. Listening to her music and singing along always makes me feel better. Deb doesn't know it but she has been there for the good the bad and the ugly, always helping me through. 

If your a fan of the former WB now CW TV station and it's shows your sure to have herd one of her songs playing in the background. I always get supper excited when that happens being an Indie artist and all.  She is also apart of The band The Weepies which also hold a giant place in my heart. I got to see them play live a few years back as a Christmas present from My boyfriend. still one of the best presents EVER! So here are some of my favorite Deb Talan/ Weepies songs.

Deb Talan- "Thinking Amelia" (Somethings Burning)

Dear Pop, I Miss You

 It's been 7 years one month and 13 days since Pop has been gone, and I still sometimes expect a phone call at 10 a.m. on a Sunday. The smell of old spice still reminds me of him. And every time I go around a cornier fast in a car I think "hold on to your girdle" and laugh to myself because it took over 20 years to figure out what the hell a girdle was. And I still crack up at the mere thought of that sofa bed folding up with us in it and Pop's feet going clear over his head. He could always make me laugh even if it were a silly Fozzy The Bear-esque joke. The man loved himself some Fozzy the bear. He was always a big kid at heart. 

FOTD June 16th Purple Brows

Who says your brow color and hair color have to match! I don't know what it is but colored brows always make me feel saucy. At first this morning I was just going to go with a neutral taupe on the lid and purple on the lower lash line but I felt like the look needed something more, and nothing says a little more like purple eyebrows. And Yes! I dare to wear purple bows to work.