Monday, March 30, 2009

Secret Fantasy



I have a secret fantasy but before I tell you all what it is I'll set the scene up for you.  I'm not the best writer so bear with me....here goes.

A hot guy spots you across the room and you can feel your knees buckle just a bit.  For a split second your stomach feels like someone unleashed a thousand butterflies from within.  A heat flash makes its way up your body starting from your toes and ending with leaving your cheeks and chest flushed.  As he approaches you and sits beside you, you look into his eyes and then he leans over and whispers into your ear, "tell me your secret fantasy?".  His voice, his breath, its all too much for me to bear.  I gingerly lean over and reply back in my sexiest of voices....."being left behind and locked in Sephora"

Girls, I've got serious problems and I don't think its going to get better anytime soon!!! This is what this mommy thinks of during her children's nap time.  Instead of mopping floors or doing laundry, Nadia thinks about things like this.  The fact that I'm documenting this, well......  Lordy, lordy I better make an doctor's appointment and soon!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

My Girl & Me Stylin' with Rain Gear


My daughter's boots and HK rain coat
My rain boots

Its raining non-stop here and there are mud holes and puddles everywhere.  I feel like crawling back into bed and having a nap or watching a girly movie, no such luck.  Unfortunately, I'm still on mommy duty until bedtime at 7:30pm.  My little ones are getting restless so we're venturing out wearing rain boots, raincoats and umbrellas.  I like to be stylin' even when it rains. Here are pics of my rain boots and some of my daughter's rain gear.  I'm jealous because I want a HK black raincoat and pink boot with cats on them :)  She is two years old and has much cooler clothes than her mom.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Clothing and Shoe Haul: Favorite Buys for March 09




It was a gorgeous day today with the sun shining and the smell of spring in the air.  I woke up in a great mood and decided to take it easy today and accomplish only one or two things instead of the mad dash to get twenty things knocked off my 'to do forever from hell list'.  I wore my favorite new buys of the month which is a silky longer top that i purchased at one of my favorite stores in Toronto called Trove.  I paired the top with J Brand straight leg dark denim jeans and I also wore a new purse from Trove in cream, I adore it.  I walk into that store any chance I get without my children and I never walk out without a purchase.  I also wore my brand new girly patent leather and cork wedge shoes from Betsey Johnson, Betseyville.  They give me the lift that I prefer without compromising on comfort and I really adore the hearts in the front.  Yes, I did notice that I put the shoes on the table but they were brand new, just out the box and never worn.

I didn't have my husband or children today and I had no agenda.  It felt really good but weird at first.  I felt like I was doing something wrong or I was forgetting something.  Once in a while us moms need days like these to ourselves.  They are few and far between and we savor every minute because it reminds me that I'm still a woman and not just mamma or wife.

Today Was A Pink Day: FOTD





Today I was in the mood for pink and purple makeup.  My inpiration for the pink and purple are from my two new purchases that I made in the last 24 hours.  First was my Estee Lauder Signature Silky Eyeshadow Duo in Amethyst and my Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #042 'Just So'.  I tried to find the lipstick color Flirt, a referral from pixiwoo on YT but, I don't think Canada carries it.
What's on my face:
Foundation: Korres Ginger and Vitamins Foundation in LF2 (referral from Sardun1 on  YT)
Cheeks: Touch of Peony cream blush from Mac, Chanel Bronzer universal for contour, So Ceylon MSF Mac on apples of cheeks and MSF Perfect Topping for highlight.
Lips:  Rimmel Long Lasting Lipstick in 'Just So' and Stone Lip Liner Mac

Links of London Bracelet & Charm: My First!!!


Yesterday I received my first Links of London Sweetie bracelet with the red heart charm.  I love it, its my first piece from them.  The bracelet is flexible and almost elasticized if you will.  Charms can be added and these charms from Links of London are adorable. I first heard of this company from lizzclare on her blog when she posted a pic of her necklace that she got as a birthday present from her other half.  I fell in love with it right away.
I bid and won my necklace form ebay.  It took about two weeks to arrive and I'm very happy with my purchase.  I already bought another bracelet with two charms from Links of London and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival.  Next I want to buy the starfish charm. I've left the Links of London booklet on my husbands bedside table and I'm hoping he'll actually pick it up and look at it.  Could I be anymore obvious?!!!! lol

I went on the Links of London website and I really want this necklace named Watch Over Me Purity Pendant its very organic and simple, reminds me of my vacations in Italy and the salt water and hot sand.

I'm including lizzclare's blog address if anyone wants to see her beautiful necklace and her cute mug :) http://lizzclare.blogspot.com/   She too has the Links of London Sweetie bracelet but with many other charms, lucky girl.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend.

Mac Cosmetics Sale: Estee Lauder Employee Sale


Once every three to four months Estee Lauder and its umbrella companies which includes Mac, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Prescriptives, Origins and more I'm sure, have an employee sale that takes place on a Friday and lasts until Sunday.  There is a $1000.00 purchase limit per person and you cannot buy more than four of the same item per person.  The venue is on a huge farm property which is called a Fairground and they have many events there, including livestock fairs, etc.  The building had three large warehouse rooms and each room held so many discontinued and limited edition and current products it was indescribable.  They had a lot of buy three get one free for compacts, blushes, eye palettes, concealers, cleansers, makeup bags, including Mac's Fafi collection of bags.  Basically, you name it they had it.  They also had about 30 bins of small travel size items which they probably include in gift with purchase for $3.00 per item.  They amount of perfumes and brands that were for sale was incredible.

This was my fourth time going so I knew to get there early and on a Friday.  I wouldn't be caught dead there on the weekend because it would be like lining up for a Madonna concert.  On the weekend the lineup goes out and around the building!  For me, no amount of discount is worth waiting over two hours to get in. You can almost smell the growing impatience and animosity that is in the air.  I simple don't do lineups.  Anyway, I went yesterday and doors opened at 10am and I arrived at 9:50 and already there was a lineup of about two hundred people ahead of me and I was okay with that because once the doors open and they punch your ticket the lineup moves fast.  I got in at 10:30.  I decided to take my mom with me but, that's another story in itself.  I usually go by  myself or another mac girl and we don't dilly dally we just go to it and get out.  We bring hand sanitizer and tissue and a bottle of water, small purse that you wear crisscross and cloth bag so it helps to hold the products as you go from station to station.

Since I had been there before I knew what I didn't want and what I needed for my kit. When you go to these sales for the first time you want to buy everything and I can't even bring myself to tell you just how much I spent the first time I went because I'm embarrassed.  This time I brought cash with me and I allowed myself a $60.00 over budget credit card surplus.  And yes, of course I used up the surplus! lol. 

There were so many people that I socialize with online that I wished I could have taken that would have gone nuts in there, I wanted them to experience this because its fun and almost like you died and went to makeup heaven.  Because I had an extra ticket that I didn't want to go to waste I asked my mother who is a lovely, wonderful mom but she doesn't get my passion... correction, my obsession with makeup.  My mother is always the voice of reason whispering, 'don't you have that already?' or 'do you really need that', or 'you're renovating your kitchen, does Daniel know you're here?'  I wanted to yell at her (please excuse the swearing).... shut up! why the fuck do you think we came here?!! we came to buy makeup!' But of course, I just nicely but firmly told her she was killing my buzz and to go look at something else.  My mother only bought TWO items.  We're not that far apart in age and we act like sisters sometimes.  Enough said.

The people I wanted to come with me that are my online makeup buddies you know who you are.  I would have done anything so that you could have come with me.  I kept thinking to myself this person would love this blush and that person would die for this lipstick. It was crazy and fun and I'm looking forward to the next one sometime this summer.  I need to buy some more storage, yikes!


Saturday, March 21, 2009

IPL Laser Day 18 & Microdermabrasion: Photo of the Day


This is a photo I took today and its been 18 days since I had my fifth IPL (intense pulse light) laser on my face.  I've gotten much paler since a lot of sun spots and melasma have faded. My skin is still on the mend.  I'm still trying to get used to how pale I look and sometimes it catches me off guard like in this picture. I'm having to practice adjusting my makeup techniques and colours.

A couple of days ago I had a microdermabrasion and it really brightened up my skin and made it nice a smooth however, it also aggravated my rosacea on my cheeks especially on my left side.  The rosacea is somewhat irritating and I have red bumps which I have tried to cover up with foundation. Hopefully it clears up soon.  It takes about 3-6 wks for skin to fully heal from IPL Laser so, I'm still waiting..... patiently.

What's on my face......

Foundation: Chanel Pro Lumiere

Eyes: Annabelle Chocolate Brown Kohl Liner (smudged all over lid) & Kid in the crease, Vex in the inner corner and Vanilla as brow bone highlighter. Mascara is L'Oreal Telescopic in black

Eyebrows:  Shu Uemura Hard Pencil #9 Seal Brown and Lingering brow pencil MAC

Cheeks: slight contour with Chanel Bronzer and then Ladyblush cream blush MAC with a touch of Perfect Topping MSF from MAC on top of cheekbones as highlighter

Lips: Beurre Creme stick liner Mac, Viva Glam VI Lipstick Special Edition MAC with a hit of HK Sweet Strawberry Gloss overtop


Tiffany & Co. Man in the Moon Teether Baby Gift

Today, my husband and I spent the day together without the kids and we snuck in a lunch date and then went to pick-up our godchild's christening gift at Tiffany & Co.  The piece we chose is the 'Man in the Moon' Teether.  We had it hand engraved and its just gorgeous.  I know his parents will put it away and keep it for him for when he has babies of his own one day.  The christening is tomorrow and we can't wait for them to open the little blue box.

Every time I walk through those revolving doors I feel like I'm floating.  So many pretty, shiny, sparkling, pieces of art and the smell of Tiffany always makes me smile.  Of all the jewelry designers at Tiffany, Elsa Peretti and Frank Gehry are my favourite.  Their creations are mini sculptures.  I am fortunate enough to have several pieces from Tiffany and I cherish each one of them.   These gifts are from my wonderful husband and all have marked special events in our lives.  Recently, I lost one of my charms on my bracelet and I was so torn up about it my stomach was in knots for days.  My husband gave me the bracelet as a gift when our daughter was born.  I kept getting teary eyed thinking about that small heart locket lying somewhere all alone without an owner.  Miraculously, the hostess of the party that we attended found it.  I cried when she told me it was found.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Breil Watch: New Purchase from ebay


I have always had an attraction to men's wrist watches and I've had my eye on this brand for a while now.  One evening a couple of weeks ago I was browsing ebay and I happen to see this Breil watch and the bidding was down to the last hour.  I was patient and placed one bid at the last moment and I won!!! yay.  I remember seeing Breil for the first time several years ago on one of my trips to Italy and I liked this brand of watches immediately.  These tickers are sturdy and sleek and oh so european.  The price range typically starts from €150 to €700.  I won this watch for considerably less in CDN $. 

I was smug and proud of myself for winning the auction since I hardly bid for anything because I just use the 'buy now' feature instead.  A few minutes later the high of winning wore off just a tad because I remembered that I promised myself no more purchases for the rest of this month. I'm such a failure...lol!!  C'est la vie.  I took it to a jewelers and had three links removed.  I will be admiring my wrist for the rest of this month, I'm sure.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Photorejuvination - IPL Laser: FOTD...Day 9



This is day 9 post IPL laser on my face.  I still have brown spots on my forehead, cheeks and chin.  My skin is much improved compared to the first week. I have to wait until the spots are ready to dry up and flake off on their own.  Did you ever have a white head that is staring at you between your eyes and you arent' suppose to touch it?  That what it feels like looking at my dry flaky spots that I'm not suppose to touch.  I'm starting to get tired of looking at them, I want to pick!! I feel like my face looks dirty. 

This is what makeup I wore wearing today.  I actually wanted to try a sample of Bare Minerals in medium beige that I recently received with a purchase order.  Only half of my face in Bare Minerals and the other half with my new 'bfff' (best friend forever foundation!!) Chanel Pro Lumiere.  They sides look the same in the photo but, the left side of my face which has the Bare Minerals foundation is kind of itchy.  I really wanted to like this product :(  I like the way it covers and the way it feels, but I feel like pawing at my face.

On the rest of my face:
Cheeks - Chanel Bronzer #01 and Dainty Mineralized Blush MAC, Bonne Bell Glow Loose Powder Bronzer as highlighter

Eyes - Mac Painterly Paint Pot all over lid,  Mac Artifact Paint Pot on the lid, closest to lash line, Mac Malt e/s on top of lid, Kid in the crease and then Espresso Brown as darker crease shade, inner corner and brow bone Benefit Cream Shadow in r.s.v.p., lined eyes in Boot Black with mac liquid liner, bottom water line in Mac stubborn Brown.

Lips - Boots liner #17 In the Buff, Mac Buoy o Buoy lipstick, HK Mac Mimmy lipgloss

Yes, I know I have big unruly hair, can't help it. My hair is frizzy, wavy and has a mind of its own and I always have flyaways.  I work with what I have.  Truthfully, with how busy my day is I don't spend that much time on my hair, what's the point.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

IPL Laser -Day 4 Post Laser:A little more presentable



This is my fourth day post laser and my face is getting better. I used the usual one pump foundation and blush, and a touch of concealer. The brown spots on my forehead and chin, cheek are still noticeable, but they are fading. 
Off to meet my sister! YAY! Hope I can keep my spending under control, when I'm with her we feed off of each other and we get ourselves all in a dither and the next thing you know......well, you know what happens, you try making a graceful entry into your place and up to your bedroom and quickly into your closet hoping no one will notice the 10 shopping bags under your arm.  Life can be stressful sometimes. LOL!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

IPL Laser - Photorejuvination Day 2&3




This is what my face looked like on day two(top) and day three post laser. My skin doesn't burn but I feels itchy on some spots and my skin is slightly warm and still visibly swollen.  My doctor gave me a cream called Lyderm to apply, its cortisone based. I applied an gel eye mask every 15 mins and it really did help with the swelling, wish I had known that on my 4th session.  I know, I know, the photo is pretty frightening.  I look like I took on a heavy weight boxing champ and lost!  

I included another pic to show how it can be covered up with makeup pretty easily. I am actually wearing one pump of Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation with no concealer.  You can still see the brown spots but it you are still able to leave the house if the need be and not cause people to run off the road with their cars if they glance over at you. My son asks me why I have a dirty face.

I'm impressed with myself that I would even think of posting a picture like this.  I don't leave the house without makeup let alone posting for all to see.  I'm hoping these pics will help someone who is thinking about getting laser done on their face but wasn't sure what the effects were.  I'll post more pics as the healing process continues.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics Haul



I received a package from Afterglow Cosmetics the other day but I haven't tested it yet. I'm waiting until I my skin renews itself after my recent session with laser a couple of days ago.  The items that I received are not the actual size of the mineral jars.  I chose the smaller, sample sizes that they put together for you. The kit includes two shades of foundation, a blush and a finishing veil.  It came in a lovely silver case with a buffer brush and concealer brush.  The ingredients are all natural and the brushes are vegan.  This makeup is free of Bismuth Oxychloride which is a very popular ingredient in mineral makeup and can make your face feel very itchy.  I've heard many complaints about this.

The reason I bought this, apart from the fact that I'm curious and a product junkie was to have a natural, light coverage for summer.  The last thing I want to do is put liquid makeup on my face during those hot, muggy, humid days.  I do have several shades of MAC Studio Fix Foundation but my skin looks somewhat chalky when I wear it.

I'm a skeptic when it comes to powder or mineral makeup.  I've always used foundation in a liquid format and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the concept that a buffing of minerals is going to last all day.  The one thing I hate is touching up my foundation and concealer, once you start doing that its downhill from there.  The only exception is when you need to redo your face in a hurry before heading out for the evening.

Although I haven't used this on myself, I did try this out on my mother twice and she loved it.  The blush is a beautiful colour.  Coincidentally its her perfect shade and I know she's eyeing my new haul.  We'll see in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

IPL Photorejuvination: I'm getting darker by the minute

Its late and I'm tired but I can't sleep.  I just joined Twitter. Just looked in the mirror and yikes!  I'm getting darker by the hour.  I'm afraid of what I'll look like in the morning.  No pain, no gain, right?  No more tea, too many trips to the loo.  Crap!! I'm hungry....mmmmmm hummus with crackers.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

IPL Laser Photo: Day 1


I have recently returned from the dermatologist's office for my last laser treatment on my face. It was a series of five IPL (intense pulse light) treatments and with each session the intensity was increased. Since this was my last session the laser potency was the most its ever been. Tomorrow I will swell pretty bad and I will look like I ran into a wall at full speed....lovely *lol*. At least this time I'll be expecting the swelling to be bad. The last time I had a treatment I did not expect the swelling to be as significant as it was and when I woke up in the morning and looked into the mirror I was frightened. I didn't recognize myself. So, in preparation of what is to come tomorrow morning, I made sure to shop for groceries and complete any errands and my freezer is stocked with ice packs and gel eye patches.  I'll be housebound for the next 3-4 days except for when I take my little munchkins to preschool. I'll pretend I'm a posh mom and leave my large sunglasses on and wear a Kangol cap. I'm looking forward to the microdermabrasion in 10 days because that's when the new, smooth and glowing skin underneath is revealed.

I took a picture of my face for the sake of being forthcoming. Don't ask me why because this picture shows me sans makeup and the sun damage and the melasma which is brought out by the IPL treatments. These brown patches will get darker as the week progresses.  I find that no amount of makeup can cover this so, why bother putting any on.  The skin sheds and flakes off in about 10 days and new skin appears without any marks or brown spots or less of it, anyway.  I must be insane to do this, I didn't even pencil in my eyebrows!.... who says I'm not courageous.

On another note I bought a new eye cream today and I received a package in the mail with some goodies that I ordered. Can't wait to try them out.