Freebie Alert!!!

I came across this site from Shelby at (Not) Making It Up -- Vault Marketplace -- at http://bit.ly/10K0Oey. If you sign up, we BOTH get $25 to spend -- and there's TONS of stuff for under $25. BTW, did I mention the free shipping and free returns? I haven't made my purchase yet, but hey, free is free! If you hover over the "shop" tab, you can look at the stuff that's $0 to $50 in several different categories. It's not just cosmetics here gals. There are phone covers, bracelets, and stuff for the kiddos, men, and even the home!

Let us know what you bought, OK?

EDIT: I just found out from Shelby that you have to spend $35 to get this offer. Still not a bad deal, right?

Contest Heads Up!

I can't think of any woman who wouldn't want to win free eyeshadow! The Mystery Formulator contest is now posted and running here (see the contest post for links to colors available). Do enter, won't you?

Mystery Formulator Contest/Giveaway :-)

OK, here is the Rafflcopter-powered Mystery Formulator giveaway (starts tonight at 12:01 am), which is related to my posts here, here, here, and here. I've kept the entries short and simple, and the contest will run for 10 days. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just a Little Press for a New Young Beauty Blogger

The niece of an old high-school classmate has a cutely named blog here: Bunny Approved Beauty. Won't you please visit her page and follow if you can? If it had been on Blogger, I would have followed her blog, but it's on Wordpress and doesn't seem to have a "follow" icon. 

Here is the bio from the blog:

"My name is Maddie and I’m a vegetarian teenage girl that loves makeup and beauty! This blog is completely dedicated to sharing, reviewing, and doing tutorials using only cruelty-free brands. About a year ago, I learned the hard truth about most cosmetic and beauty brands. Many brands still use the cruel practices of testing their products on animals, whether it’s direct or through a third party/manufacturer. I want this blog to be a resource for anyone interested in buying/learning about cruelty-free brands. Thankfully, there are a growing number of brands and products for shoppers just like you and me! Have a great day! :)"

I love to support young beauty bloggers whenever I can. After all, they are the future of beauty blogging! And cruelty-free cosmetics and skin care are a hot topic. You can support her by mentioning her blog/linking to her blog on your blog. Maybe I'll try to get an interview with her if I can think of some good questions :-)

Mystery Formulator: Fourth and Final Pre-Contest Post

Greetings, everyone. Hope you all had a nice Christmas, Hanukkah, or solstice celebration. Mine was probably one of the nicest I've ever had, due in part to the fact that we had "new" people (not old, used-up, worn-out people, LOL) at our Christmas gathering: a niece's boyfriend and a nephew's girlfriend. Both are welcome into our family as far as I'm concerned (just in case wedding bells start ringing). Very nice and funny young people!

Here is the fourth and final installment of the Mystery Formulator series. I had hoped to have this post up before the end of the year, and the accompanying contest -- to win five full-size pots of your choice from the Mystery Formulator -- to start 2013, but, well, you know . . . crap happens.

I should tell you that the Mystery Formulator does not plan at this time to sell her creations, so this might be the only chance you get to try these beauties. If you win the contest, you get to choose five full-size jars from all of the colors I posted here and in the three previous Mystery Formulator posts here (part one), here (part two), and here (part three).

This last post contains all neutrals. The color names match with the photos in the following order: top to bottom, left to right. I had the pleasure of naming these four colors (as well as a few in the previous posts). Sorry, but I forgot to get a video of these, but you've been able to tell the quality of these shadows from my previous posts, so you can go by them (see above) links). I hope you enjoy these. Now get to choosing which colors you want if you win the contest!

Mitzi, Lanie, Minka, and Brianna under natural light

Slight close-up of Mitzi, Lanie, Minka, and Brianna under natural light

Just a Wee Pre-Christmas Post

Hi, everybody! Are you all ready for Christmas (Christians that is)? I still have to wrap gifts (my least favorite part of the pre-holiday process), so of course I'm putting it off by finishing this holiday bracelet for myself (it'll double for both Christmas and New Year's Eve):

The set is made of four bracelets: One each with  brown, light blue gray, and burgundy-reddish glass pearls inset with a strip of faceted glass iris AB crystal beads and a fourth one a mix of the three different-colored glass pearls interspersed with the Czech crystals.

I'll be wearing red and gray with these bracelets, burgundy-reddish crystal earrings, and probably DEC Silvered on my lids and Peppermint and Evergreen as a wash from crease to brow bone.

How about you? What will you be wearing on Christmas day?

We Interrrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Programming . . .

. . . . for a DEC Christmas treat (and, BTW, that should be the British "shed-jeweled" pronunciation, LOL :-) I didn't feel right having Christmas come and go without (1) thanking you for following/reading my blog this year, commenting, and participating in fun contests, one of which is coming up soon (our very own Mystery Formulator) and (2) sharing with you that I won the set-naming contest that Dawn had for her 2012 Christmas Collection, which is now monikored "Winter Wonderland" by yours truly.

The prizes in these contests are quite generous. I got to choose 5 full sizes -- Peppermint and Evergreen, Mistletoe Kiss, Pecan Pie, Walnut, and Sugared Plums (guess you all by now which colors I gravitate to the most, right?) --  and I also got to choose 10 samples -- which were Butter (x 2), Silvered, Christmas Tree (x 2), Three Kings, Wreath, Sweet Cream (x 2), and I got Golden Garland as an extra. 

I didn't get to try all of the colors yet because I wanted to get this collection (or at least the colors I have from it) up before the actual holiday it's named after :-) So, here they are, shown over several pictures and (as always) in alpha order from left to right and top to bottom:

Colors I Chose: Web site descriptions (my take in italics) (favorites/potential favorites in bold red type)

Butter, Chestnut, Christmas Tree, and Golden Garland under natural light

• Butter: Delicious light gold lit up with golden sparkle, simple and elegant Not sure about this color, but I will give it a try. I can't usually wear anything that throws a true yellow, but this color is very low-key. 

• Chestnut: Bronzy semi-metallic satin spiced up with color-shifting sparkle that goes blue to purple to pink I'm just gaga over this color; over the moon and back. Love Dawn's rich browns and other neutrals. Won't rebuy because I won a FS jar, but i *am* sharing it with some good friends :-) 

• Christmas Tree: Deep forest green glittering with a rainbow of sparkle, gold, silver, green, pink, purple, and blue Boo-hoo; this green was too deep and too cool-toned for my taste, so I won't buy more :-( 

• Golden Garland: Deep yellow-gold bordering on orange, loaded with golden shimmer and pink to gold color-shifting sparkle I hate to break my guideline by never judging a color by it's shade in the sample baggie, but this one got to me. It scares me like a carnival like clowns scare me, but that's so subjective. Try it; you might like it!

Franken, Mistletoe Kiss, Pecan Pie, Peppermint and Evergreen, and Silvered under natural light

 • Christmas Tree/Wreath Franken (at top): The best of both words; deep AND bright! 

• Mistletoe Kiss: Medium pink pearl with a coral shift and bright sparks of pink and green I looooove pinks, so I'm sure I'll take to this one, too, like a baby to a boobie :-) 

• Pecan Pie:  Lush deep brown satin with plenty of golden, copper, and pink glitter Nom, nom, nom . . . oh, hai; did you want to speak with me? . . nom, nom . . . can't speak right now . . nom, nom  . . my mouth is busy -- nom, nom . . . mmmmm, pink sparkles. No need for a rebuy; I already have a FS of this pie . . . er . . . I mean eyehsadow 

• Peppermint and Evergreen: Bright white satin with a subtle pink tinge and a soft green shift, dancing with red and green sparkle Although I can't usually wear a stark white base, this has just enough pink to warm it up for me. Love my FS jar of this color! 

• Silvered: Stunning metallic silver, opaque and dripping in golden and holographic glitter I'm most excited to try this color because it's not a straight silver shade, which I don't wear very well; the gold appeared to be well-blended in hand swatches, again warming it up for my use.

Sugared Plums, Sweet Cream, Three Kings, and Wreath under natural light

• Sugared Plums: A pretty plummy purple with blue, gold, pink, and violet sparks  Yummy, yummy, yummy, I've got love in my tummy -- that's what this rich buttery pigmented color makes me think of :-) Won't repurchase since I won a FS jar :-) 

• Sweet Cream: Beautiful bright metallic, a pale champagne littered with gold and silver sparkle I haven't tried this yet, but if it's like Dawn's other liquid golds and champagnes, I'm sure I will. The hand swatches alone were stunning! 

• Three Kings: Deep mysterious black-based purple, dancing with silver, gold, blue, and violet glitter Black-based colors really do a number on me. I usually look like I've been kicked in the eye by a not-so-talented back-street Balanchine. Not a rebuy :-( 

• Wreath: Bright satiny medium green with flecks of pink and purple sparkle Way too bright a green for me, but if that's what you're looking for, then slap it on, sistah!

FYI, the Mystery Formulator series will resume after Christmas :-)

Mystery Formulator: Part 3

Hi everyone! OK, time for some more mystery-formulator colors :-) I have quite a few more that I won't photo or post here. I'm showing you only my personal favorites. And these five are the favorites of my favorites, LOL.

As with nearly all loose mineral shadows, these shades work best with a sticky primer to bring out the colours and to ensure that they stay on all day. All of these swatches were done over Hi-Fi Cosmetics High Impact Shadow Fix, but they look good overt Art Deco's primer, which is my current favorite because it goes on like UDPP but has slightly sticky properties. The best of both worlds in my humble opinion (review to come at a later time).

Here are the colors in order of left to right, top to bottom, as usual:

Lianne, Petra, Silvia, Stella, Susie

Lianne, Petra, Silvia, Stella, Susie

And here's a short video clip (pardon the heavy breathing; I keep forgetting to narrate):

Mystery Formulator: Part 2

Well, I've had a good couple of days in a row where I could get some (weak winter) sunshine, so I have more swatch photos of colors from our mystery formulator. In general, these are all "well-behaved colors," mainly satin/frost finish, and are suitable for wearing at home, to work, to school, and to church or other place of worship. These shades and finishes probably won't be first pick for clubbing, but then again they won't freak out your grandmother either, LOL. These are "go-to" shades and suitable for all occasions. From left to right, top to bottom, and swatched over Hi-Fi  Cosmetics High Impact Shadow Fix, are the following shade names: Hayley, Heidi, Lily, Maggie, and Mashup #1 (from her Crown Jewels collection [the ruby, gold, and silver colors]).

Don't forget, you get extra entries into the Rafflecopter contest (just a few posts away) to win some of these babies! Just leave a guess in the comment section of this post!

Mystery Formulator colors group 2 under natural winter light

 Here's another photo that shows the color-shifting of Lily much better:

Mystery Formulator colors group 2 under natural winter light

And here's a quick video:

Mystery Formulator: Part 1

Helllloooo, everyone! Long time, no blog, huh? Well, things are calming down from my jewelry sale just long enough to segue right into the holiday-frenzy season, and despite that I am determined to put up a blog series about a "mystery formulator."

I'm not going to write much at this point except to say there will be a Rafflecopter-based contest to win some samples from this formulator at the end of the series. I'll be providing more photos of different eyeshadow swatches when I can get some decent winter sun. If you're willing to take a guess (or several guesses), each guess will earn you an extra entry into the contest. Guesses must be in response to this post only. The contest will have its own set of entry requirements, but you can start earning extra entries right . . . now!

I'm giving you only photos, videos, and color names to go by :-) All names match the swatches from top to bottom, left to right. Swatches done over Hi-Fi primer. Sorry to expose you to my deformed wrist in the video. Handicapped is the way I "roll" (literally). I also apologize for the somewhat sloppy swatching. It's been a loooong time.

Alison, Bella, Gayle, Goldie, and Kelly in sunlight

Alison, Bella, Gayle, Goldie, Kelly in slight shade

 

OK, guess away :-) More clues to come.

Super Busy!

Just a quick check-in to say that I haven't dropped of the face of the Earth! I managed to wangle a vendor spot in a local Girls' Night Out and have been very busy making bracelets so I actually have some stock to sell. Testing and reviewing eyeshadows is taking a back seat right now on my list of priorities (imagine that!). I'll leave you with some photos of bracelets I've made so far . . .

Recent custom order

Magatama beads!

Leaf and drop beads

Stripey "Tigger" bracelets :-)

Flat glass beads -- my favorites

 

 

 

The whole kit 'n' kaboodle (so far)

Not Cosmetics: Bracelets Already Sold and Bracelets For Custom Order

Hi everyone! I just thought I'd show you some new beads I'm working with lately. Aren't they pretty? Feel free to place a special order if you like. I have tons of beads in gobs of colors :-) Stretch bracelets like these below (i.e., larger, themed beads) are $6.00 each. Seed-bead bracelets (photos below) are 3 bracelets for $10.00 :-) Scroll all the way down for my contact information.

The stretch bracelets below were made for a non-sighted woman, for whom shape is more important than color for obvious reasons. I hope these bracelets "feel" pretty to her :-)

Custom order for non-sighted friend who likes pretty things :-)

Close-up for custom order for non-sighted friend who like pretty things :-)

Custom order all wrapped up and ready to go!

And here's a double custom order (below) of stretch seed-bead bracelets (x 6) for a customer who lives on the West Coast and who wanted a denim-and-neutral theme.

Here is a link to the stretch bracelets I made for Helen of BBFF* as a gift for such a nice swap package she sent me! This is another example of seed-bead bracelets:

Photo from BBFF* blog.

I also use Czech fire-polished beads in my stretch bracelets, some of which look like this (very sparkly [this is called a "vitrail" finish, which means stained-glass in French]):

I also have started working with magatama beads (mah-gah-tah'-mah), which give a slightly spiky/tribal look to the bracelet: 

And here's a photo of the stretch magatama bracelets (below) blurred so you can experience the sparkle. Cool, huh?

If you're interested in ordering a custom set of bracelets, please contact me here to make arrangements re: color, style, and number of bracelets. All proceeds are going to purchase to buy a new custom wheelchair I need to get around more independently :-)

The CLA "Story-Building" Contest has been Extended . . .

 . . . until tomorrow (August 29) and now includes Al Roker, a squishy hot dog, Central Park, Gram's necklace, David Bowie, a drooling toddler, Rockefeller Center, Iman, a horse with a carrot, and a Chequered Cab among the story "bits."

Here's the official announcement from the CLA's Facebook Page:

"I'm extending the contest for 1 more day, it will end tomorrow, August 29th, so get your entries in! And for all the new friends we've made, WELCOME! ^_^ you can find the contest by scrolling down. We've done so well that I'm adding single full size containers of the prize colors to the prize pot, 1 of each color. If we can get 5 MORE LIKES [emphasis added by moi] by tomorrow night, I'll add another prize. ^_~"

Wouldn't you like to be one of the five "likes" that puts the prize over the top? Then head here, "like" the CLA, and play along!

See my blog post here for some CLA eyeshadowcolors . . .

Awww . . . C'mon Guys!

Spellbound (glitter) from the CLA

I know from my stats that you are peeking at my posts. Please enter the Chequered Lily Apothecary contest I posted about earlier because the prize gets bigger and better the more people who enter! Here are the instructions for the contest: http://thechequeredlily.blogspot.com/2012/08/contest-news-pictures-and-exclamation.html. 

Stormbringer from the CLA

The CLA makes some of the most beautiful eyeshadows I have ever worn and is one of my three go-to cosmetic indies, the others being Dawn Eyes and Black Rose. You can check out the shadows and their accompanying stories here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thechequeredlily.

Charlotte from the CLA

Now get on outa here, like The Chequered Lily Apothecary on Facebook, and enter the contest already, LOL! The more people who play along, the better the prize!

Broken Link for CLA Contest Has Been Fixed :-)

I am soooooo having one of these contests on my blog sometime! Enter here: https://www.facebook.com/TheChequeredLilyApothecary. Come and join us, won't you? The more the merrier (and funnier) :-)

Really Fun "Story-Building" Contest Over at Chequered Lily's Facebook Page!

I am soooooo having one of these contests on my blog sometime! Enter at: https://www.facebook.com/TheChequeredLilyApothecary. Come and join us, won't you? The more the merrier (and funnier) :-)

Wowzers: Another Site-Wide Aromaleigh 30%-Off Sale!

Summer’s end… get your 30% off coupon and save store-wide!

Posted on August 24, 2012

As Summer comes to it’s end, it’s time for an amazing discount sale at Aromaleigh!

Save 30% OFF STORE-WIDE!

Sale runs now through 11:59 PST 8/31.

Enter coupon code summer30end at checkout.

A $20 minimum order does apply.

Coupon is applicable to newly placed orders only.

Enter coupon code summer30end in the coupon code box at checkout, press “APPLY” and you will see your discount taken! if you do NOT see your discount taken, try again- don’t place the order without the discount. Orders must be placed with the discount applied.

HAPPY SHOPPING and enjoy the rest of your Summer!

Whatcha gonna get?

Just Sayin' . . .

. . . only 5 days left to enter the Rafflecoptered DEC eyeshadow contest on my blog :-)

The DEC Contest Is Now Live!

Insomnia gives me lots of time to get things done, like finally posting this contest, LOL. I purchased four full-size eyeshadow from Dawn as follows:

Close to Coral

How Sweet the Sound

Rose Gold

Fresh Earth

Well, there you have it: Four lovely neutrals for fall whose beauty I can personally vouch for because I have all of them all! Now on to the sweet and simple Rafflecopter . . . the contest will run for two weeks. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Sense a Contest Coming . . .

. . . as soon as I have time to set up Rafflecopter :-) Stay tuned.

Black Rose Minerals Sale!

From Black Rose Mineral's Facebook page:

Starting Friday July 20th will start a 24 hour 40% off sale! It will start at midnight PST (Thursday night) and end on Friday night at midnight PST. Use coupon code "madness."

Also the rest of the weekend there will be a 25% off sale. This will run from Saturday July 21st through Wednesday July 25th. Use coupon code "superstar."

If you could help spread the word please, I would greatly appreciate it.

So, please do your part by BUYING GOODIES (I know I will)  and SHARING THE SALE on your beauty blog!

Aaaaaaargh!

I like to wear the bracelets stacked a la Bollywood.

Hi everyone. I am so sorry for being such a laggard in posting. There's been a lot going on in my life lately, some of it health-related (insomnia plus lots of doctors' appointments) and some of it work-related (tons of it [not that I'm complaining]). I'm just touching base to let you know that I am here but haven't had a lot of time to test, review, and post. Something I have in the works (of my mind that is) is a comparison of UDPP plus Fyrinnae PE versus Art Deco eyeshadow base.

Also, I've worked my way through testing most of my hundreds of Aromaleigh pots and samples and think I'm going to test my Black Rose Minerals samples next. Just considering testing my way through my huge collection of H-Fi samples strikes me with fear and trembling, LOL, so I'm going to test a smaller sub-collection first. I need to remember to take it just one shadow at a time :-)

Bracelets with flash.

I have broken my no-buy a couple of times with purchases from DEC's Memorial Day clearance (discontinued shades [lots of them] are on sale of 50% off), which, in my eyes, was entirely justifiable considering that DEC is my go-to company for eyeshadow :-)

Plus, when I was doing a second level of inventory-ing recently, I found a lot of eyeshadows from different indies that somehow hadn't been put on the list of shades I'm testing (slowly but surely), so if my list looks even longer than it has, well . . . it is! I also gained some more colors from two swaps with sweet Helen of BBFF* blog. I'm removing colors that I'm not keeping and will be putting in my blog-sale-to-come.

Bracelet photo intentionally blurred to show sparkle :-)

Last but not least, I have become obsessed with collecting beads to make stretch beaded friendship bracelets! Very similar to my obsession with eyeshadow: small, sparkly, and colorful (I sense a theme here). I'll leave you with this photos of bracelets I've made sprinkled throughout this post.

It feels good to be back, and thanks for hanging in there with me! And thanks to all the prolific beauty bloggers who kept me informed while I was too busy to write for my own blog, LOL.