leah tackles – Page 8

DIY CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!!

December 1, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!!

I hope that all of my American subscribers had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and families! Can you believe it is DECEMBER?! I am having an especially hard time letting that sink in since it means my baby turns 2 this month, we have Christmas of course, and our newest addition is due in early January.

Because we have so much going on this month, I have been trying to get as much Christmas shopping and crafting done early as possible, and today I want to share two simple but adorable Christmas gift DIY projects.

Christmas Sock Coffee Cozy

I love this and am planning to keep one for myself! Too fun : )

What You’ll Need:

A Pair of Christmas Socks

A Travel Coffee Mug (*Tip: Starbucks has the *cutest* holiday mugs this year!)

A glue gun or other strong glue of your choice

Optional: Chocolate to fill the cup with or a giftcard to hide inside : )

Step 1:

Cut the sock so it will be long enough to wrap around the mug (make sure to not use the heel part of the sock).

Step 2:

Glue the two ends of the piece of sock together so that you form a coffee cozy.

Step 3:

Put the cozy on the mug and fill the mug with chocolates, a giftcard, or whatever else you’d like!

Pretty Nail Polish Gift Bag:

I love the way these turned out and plan on making several more!!

What You’ll Need:

A Small Cellophane Bag

A Stapler

A Piece of Plain Paper or Christmas Scrapbook Paper

A Red Pen

Crinkle Paper or Confetti

Chocolate or Christmas Candy of Your Choice

Nail Polish

Step 1:

Fill the cellophane bag with the crinkle paper or confetti and then add in your chocolates and nail polish.

Step 2:

Measure the paper so it is the length of the top of the bag and fold it in half lengthwise so it will fit over the top of the bag, and then cut your paper. Write a note or greeting on the paper and then staple it to the top of the bag.

Step 3:

Pass out your cute little bags! These also make great stocking stuffers, and you can put other items like giftcards or lip gloss.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post! Please “Pin” it to your Pinterest account! It’s easy, just scroll over any picture until the pink “Pin” button appears or use the share buttons at the bottom of this post. Have a wonderful start to your week and MONTH! It’s time to get holiday ready!!

Easy Reindeer Candy Cane DIY and Elf On the Shelf Ideas!

November 26, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday! And Happy Thanksgiving Eve (that is SO a thing! promise) : )

My 3 year old, Hailey, and I have so much fun making crafts together, and during the holidays it seems extra special. Today I want to share a very simple and very fun craft that we did last week together on one of her snow days home from school.

Because Thanksgiving is TOMORROW (already!!!), I know a lot of homes will have their Elf on the Shelf returning to visit on Friday or soon after, so I have enough Elf-y ideas for Black Friday through Christmas Eve to get you ready! Our elf, McJingle Toes, was VERY popular in our house last year, and now that our oldest is really into it, we have to up our game this year ; )

EASY REINDEER CANDY CANE DIY:

What You’ll Need:

Candy Canes

Pipe Cleaners

Tiny Googly Eyes

Small Red Pom Pom

Glue

Step 1:

Wrap the pipe cleaner around the top of the candy cane and shape into antlers.

Step 2:

Glue on the googly eyes and red nose.

Step 3:

Enjoy your cute little craft! These make great add-ons for holiday gifts or baked goods, and you can really make them your own! I think next year we will add some ribbon, brown noses for some of the reindeer…who knows what else!

ELF ON THE SHELF IDEAS:

1) “I’m Back” sign with door decorated like a present or balloons and if it’s your first year doing it have your Elf ask for name!

2) Elf head first into a holiday M&M bag

3) Googly eyes on fruit with “I’m watching you” sign that Elf is holding

4) New toothbrushes as gift with a note or smile written in toothpaste by Elf

5) Red noses drawn on picture frames with dry erase markers or small pom poms

6) Mustache on frame with dry erase marker and paper mustache on Elf

7) Elf hanging off Keurig or coffee pot to help make mom or dads coffee

8) Elf in a rocket ship made out of toliet paper tubes

9) Elf making a micro marshmallow (in hot cocoa section of grocery stores) or mini marshmallow snow angel

10) Make “Elf Milk” with green food coloring in fridge

11) Sled going down the coffee table

12) Elf playing Candy Land or similar game with “friends” like Barbie or stuffed animals

13) Make “Super Elf” with cape and badge

14) Elf inside a “snowglobe” made from Pyrex bowl and mini marshmallows

15) Elf hanging from a slinky

16) Elf with supplies to make Jesus a birthday cake or birthday party

17) Elf with directions for a shoebox donation or similar charity project for kids

18) Elf making a snowman scene out of marshmallows, frosting, tooth picks, etc

19) Elf being a pointsettia in a flower pot with construction paper around face to make him the flower

20) Elf setting up a fun craft project for kids like a gingerbread house kit

21) Elf making a pancake breakfast! This one is great for weekends. Make snowmen pancakes with bacon scarf, blueberry eyes, marshmallow snow, etc

22) Elf on a sleigh made out of 2 DVDs and 2 plastic candy canes filled with candy

23) Elf sitting on canned goods and a note to take them to a food bank or collection center

24) Elf with paper to write a letter to Santa

25) Elf laying on the beach with sunglasses, sun, and water made out of paper and sand made out of brown sugar

26) Elf in sink with water dyed blue with food coloring and aluminum foil boat or fishing in the sink for Goldfish Crackers

27) *Note: If you started the day after Thanksgiving and did it everyday this day #27 would be Christmas Eve

Put Christmas Eve PJs into a box with candy, popcorn, and Christmas DVDs to watch as a family that night and a goodnight note or sign from your Elf.

As always, if you have found this post helpful, interesting, or liked it PLEASE share it and “pin” it to your Pinterest account! All the buttons you need are at the bottom of every post!! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones! Please travel safely! Oh, and be kind to people on Black Friday, especially the retail workers!!

MUAH!

IPSY GLAM BAG NOVEMBER 2014!

November 24, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! My husband dressed up like Captain America for a Comic Con event and I was so proud watching him interact with people and take lots of fun pictures! He is super supportive of this blog, and all of my other ideas and endeavors, not to mention my photographer for outfit posts, and I try to be as supportive of him as he is of me <3

Today I want to go over my November Ipsy bag, which I am very happy with this month! If you don’t know, Ipsy Glam Bag is a $10/month subscription where you get 4-5 deluxe size samples or sometimes full size products in makeup, hair, nails, and skincare. Do you subscribe to Ipsy? I would love to hear about what you thought of your bag this month!!

November Ipsy Glam Bag:

Bag and Theme:

I really like this bag! It’s so fun and girly, and it reminds me of a bag that you would find at Victoria’s Secret even though this months bag says Forever 21 for Ipsy. I think the theme, Girl Meets Glitter, is really fun for the holidays coming up!

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in Submissive:

I was really excited to see this in the bag! I love using M.A.C Paint Pots and Maybelline Color Tattoos for an eye shadow base, and this looks very similar to those. I think the color is beautiful, and although it feels a little more slippery and thin that what I expected, I think it will be stunning with lots of eye looks.

J Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion:

This immediately reminded me of a lip tar, which I have never tried but have always been interested in, and I am intrigued to try this. I did find the applicator to be only okay, and I did end up using a lip brush, but the color I did like! It was a bit darker, very vampy, but I could apply it with a light hand and get a more everyday wearable fall/winter color. This wore nicely on my lips and lasted well. It was a bit of a pain to apply, and I would be interested to try another color that I might prefer, but I did like this.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray:

I love little travel size hairsprays because we do tend to travel for nightaway trips pretty often. I am loving that this has argan oil, and am going to try this out first but will very likely pack this in my hospital bag for baby #3.

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Ultra Orchid:

Usually eyeliners with glitter bother me because they can tug when you use them, but this is very soft which I really like. I think this could be very pretty for holiday looks. I like that I don’t have any liners in this color.

Temptu S/B Highlighter:

I have always been interested in the Temptu airbrush systems, but I didn’t know that they had products that could be used without the system. This is a very pearly white/pink highlighter, and I think that it would apply nicely with a small stipple brush. I love a good highlight, and I have high hopes for this!

Overall I am very happy with this months glam bag! I think that these prodcuts will definitely get some use and I think they’ll be fun things to play around with! I LOVE that a lot of these products are things I haven’t played around with much, like the J Cat Wonder Lip Paint, and that is awesome as a beauty blogger who wants to learn about new things! If you would like more information about Ipsy or would like to subscribe, you can find the information you need here.

Thank you as always so much for being here!! Please subscribe if you haven’t done so already and find me on social media!!

PopSugar Must Have Box November 2014!!! BONUS POST!

November 20, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy THURSDAY! Or Happy Friday Eve ; ) Because that sounds much nicer to me!

I usually post on a Monday and Wednesday schedule but when both my PopSugar Must Have Box AND My Ipsy Glam Bag showed up I knew I had to squeeze one of them in right away for you guys!!

If you don’t know, the box contains full size items in all different categories: food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too! *Usually* the PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box.

November 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box:

The Secret Recipes by Dominique Ansel from Simon & Schuster:

This is such a beautiful baking book! This is written by the creator of the Cronut (YUM!) and has recipes for everyone, no matter your skill level so it says. It looks complicated honestly, but I still want to try some recipes out! I really enjoy baking, and I do have some baking books but none as fancy smancy as this! I think it would look gorgeous sitting in your kitchen or on a table, but with little kids mine is up with all of my other cookbooks.

$35

Saffiano Wallet On a Chain by Sorial:

I love this! I think it’s a fantastic idea and although I usually am carrying a big bag or diaper bag because I have little kids, this could be great for a girls night out or date night!! One concern is that I do *not* think this will fit larger phones like the iPhone 6. Quality wise this seems nice, but someone told me that the zipper on theirs came broken : / I am sure PopSugar will get it replaced quickly, but it does make me question the quality a bit. Still, very cute and functional! *Note: Lipstick shown in picture is for size reference!

$49

Ambergis Shea Butter Cream by K. Hall Simpatico:

I say this every time PopSugar sends luxury lotions…I LOVE IT! I don’t splurge on lotions but I definitely love them! The packaging of this is very luxe, but I don’t like the metal style tube because sometimes when you squeeze it they can crack…basically it is stylish but just doesn’t seem as functional this way to me…is that just me?! I opened this right away, but I had to do so with a pen because it doesn’t have that little part some caps have to poke it open. I love the light scent of this and have already been enjoying it!!

$22

Thoughtful Heart Stationery by Tiny Prints:

I just mentioned in a recent post how much I love sending snail mail to loves ones! And I *adore* pretty stationary, so this will definitely get used.

$15

Custom 3-Pack for POPSUGAR Must Have by Wine Glass Writer:

Oh my goodness! These are fantastic!! I am super pregnant, so I’m not currently consuming any wine, but I love wine and all the little accessories to go along with it! These are so much fun!!

$9.95

Chicago Mix Popped Corn by G.H Cretors

THIS. IS. UNREAL!!!! Are you paying attention?! UNREAL! Seriously!! I saw it an was kind of “meh” about it at first. I knew I would eat it, I do like carmel corn and popcorn, but it isn’t something I gravitate to if I’m in a chocolate shop or anything. But this?! Stop, seriously, stop! It is THE BEST SNACK I HAVE TRIED ALL YEAR! Hands DOWN! I know I sound sort of like a crazy preggo, but both my mother in-law and my friend who are also PopSugar subscribers have confirmed my feelings, this is the bomb.com! My husband doesn’t like carmel corn, and isn’t much of a snacker (it’s truely unfair actually!), but even he thought this was pretty amazing. I am buying a case of 12 bags on amazon for $35! That should last me a good two weeks ; )

$3.69

TOTAL BOX VALUE:

$134.64

After feeling lukewarm about the October PopSugar Must Have Box I am so happy with the November box! I love everything and everything will get used! I am super excited for the December box and hope that it ships plenty early so we can enjoy the goods before Christmas!

Do you subscribe to PopSugar? If you would like to you can sign up here for $39/month! I love subscription boxes and will be reviewing my November Ipsy Bag next week!! If there are any other subscriptions that you think I need to try, let me know in the comments or find me on social media! It’s always LeahTackles : ) Have WONDERFUL weekend my loves!!

Too Faced Everything Nice Palette Review and Swatches!

November 19, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Thank you for being here! It really does mean SO MUCH to me!! : )

Today I want to review the Too Faced Everything Nice Palette now before it is totally gone because it keeps selling out on Sephora.com BUT it is still avaliable in the Sephora stores I have gone to recently. It is also avaliable on eBay, but be careful that you don’t end up paying well over retail! Look for the deals! Also, sign up on the Sephora.com waitlist because it has restocked a couple of times so far : )

Last year Too Faced released the Favorite Things palette which was very similar but I didn’t snag that one, so this year I knew I wanted to pick this baby up ASAP and was able to do so during the Friends and Family sale! This is a limited edition palette for Holiday 2014 that comes with 20 eye shadows, 2 bronzers, 2 blushes, and 3 small brushes. It retails for $56 dollars.

REVIEW AND SWATCHES:

Packaging:

How cuuute is this packaging?! I absolutely love how girlie and festive this is!! I love the heavy cardboard style palettes because they wipe clean and are very durable. I think Too Faced does holiday packaging right! It is always oh so adorable! HOWEVER, I think that the hot pink sparkly cosmetic bag is a lot of fun but I would have prefered something else…why? For one, the glitter is gorgeous but it does come off (remember those dresses in the early 2000’s that girls wore to homecoming? anyone?) which isn’t great for tossing in your purse or a suitcase, and the bag isn’t big enough to fit the palette! It LOOKS like the palette should fit, but it doesn’t fit : / I tried to demonstrate this in the pictures included in this post.

Eye Shadows:

These eye shadows are true Too Faced quality and absolutely STUNNING! Some of these shades are limited editon, but some can be found in other palettes from Too Faced. I love the way the rows are organized because it makes it easy to put together an eye shadow look with complimentary shades.

Row 1:

Turle Dove, Dream On, After Hours, Fawned of You, Knockout

Row 2:

Paper Roses, Kindess is Free, Mauvelous, Be You, Secret Lovers,

Row 3:

Heaven, Shiny Happy, Honey Pot, Don’t Settle, Girly

Row 4:

Totally Fetch, Live It Up, Too Glam, Head Over Heels, Chocolate Moon

Bronzers and Blushes:

The blushes, Sweet Pink and Papa Don’t Peach are GORGEOUS! The bronzers, Chocolate Soleil a Too Faced cult favorite is gorgeous and great for contouring, and Inner Light is beautiful also but definitely a highlighter and not a bronzer! I love that they included a highlighter so that this really can be an all-in-one palette.

The Brushes and How-To Booklet:

The brush quality isn’t bad, they’re pretty soft, but I probably would only use these in a pinch or while traveling. They are adorable though! How cute is that gold handle?! The booklet is really nice and helpful for creating looks! I am intimidated by some of these more bold or sparkly colors, so having some examples is really nice!!

Overall:

This is an AMAZING value! I think just for the eye shadows this would be fantastic, but having the blushes, bronzer, and highlighter make this such a steal!! I think this would be an especially great travel companion for those heading home (or away!) for the holidays!!

I hope that you have enjoyed this reveiw and be on the lookout for several more in the coming weeks!! I hope you all have a fabulous week! Please don’t forget to subscribe!! XOXO

Hair Curling Tutorial with NUME 25 MM Wand

November 17, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!!

Today’s blog post goes out to my sweet friend and subscriber, Tammy, who just welcomed a sweet baby girl (congrats again girl!!) because she asked me for my Hair Tutorial-Easy Everyday Curls for Beginners. That tutorial is great for quick, everyday curls, but today I want to share my faaaavorite curls that take a little longer, but I can also get two days wear out of them.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED:

1) I took these pictures about a month ago and almost didn’t upload them because I’m in a lounge top, but hey this is real life!! : )

2) I do NOT show myself using a glove but these curling irons are EXTREMELY hot and when I first used mine I would wear the glove, and sometimes still do. BE CAREFUL!

ABOUT MY HAIR:

I have naturally straight hair, it doesn’t dry completely stick straight like it did before kids, but it’s still very straight naturally. I have very fine hair, but a lot of it. My hair can sometimes be dry at the ends, and I use dry shampoo in the roots to avoid any greasiness on second day hair.

PRODUCTS I USED:

Nume Classic 25 MM Curling Wand (this is AMAZING! I absolutely adore Nume products, they are worth the hype!! Never pay full price for these though, google coupon codes because you can get them for way less!!)

The “Wet” Brush This is the most amazing brush EVER! It puts my old stand-by, a large tooth comb, to shame.

It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product Amazon has the best prices for this!!!

Got2B Gaurdian Angel Heat Protector

Sectioning Clips (I don’t like mine and can’t find my good ones, but the ones I linked are great!)

It’s a 10 Miracle Styling Serum

STEP 1:

Spray your hair with a heat protectant and then begin sectioning your hair. I try not to worry too much where exactly I section, but do the sides and middle in 2-3 sections each. If you would like to see exactly how I section, let me know in the comments and I would be more than happy to do a post on that as well.

STEP 2:

Choose one of the bottom sections and take a 1 inch section from the back. Hold the curling wand upside down with the OPPOSITE hand as the side you are curling and curl the section around the wand. I like to keep the hair flat to the iron and wrap the hair away from my face. To wrap away from your face start with the hair up and over the wand. Continue doing this around your head letting section by section down as you go.

STEP 3:

I let my hair set for a few minutes & spray it with a little hairspray. I then put my head upside down, shake it around and spray it with a little more hair spray. I like to finger comb through some of the curls, but be careful not to do it too much so you undo your pretty curls! I then put a little oil on the ends of my hair.

I know this may seem intimidating, so *pleasepleaseplease* feel free to ask any questions in the comments or on any of my social media. I seriously didn’t know how to curl my hair well until I turned 25!! This may take a little practice, but it is a great style to be able to do! I love this because I can wear it on the first day, sleep on it, and then comb through the curls a little for loose, big volume second day curls.

Have a WONDERFUL week : )

DIY Holiday Wreath Tutorial!!!

November 10, 2014 & 3 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!!

I hope that you all had a great weekend! We had our first “real” snowfall here and Hailey is pretty sure it’s because of the snow dance that she did ; ) Last year my friend posted on Facebook a picture of a beautiful wreath that she made, and I have wanted to make my own ever since. I am super excited to be sharing this tutorial with you today!! I love this project because you can absolutely make it your own and use it for any occasion! You can put bulbs all around the wreath if you prefer that look, and you can use different ribbon, like a burlap style, to completely change the feel of this wreath!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED AND WHAT I SPENT:

*Note: I purchased all of my supplies at Hobby Lobby but did it when all Christmas was 50% off…never buy stuff at Hobby Lobby full price!! The next wreath I make I plan to try getting supplies from Dollar Tree

Styrofoam Wreath $5

Red Ribbon $5

Wooden Letter $3

3 Different Sizes of Plastic/Shatterproof Bulbs $11

Holly and Pom Pom Accents $4

Hot Glue Gun

Total Spent: About $30

Step 1:

Wrap the ribbon around wreath and secure as you go with hot glue.

Step 2:

Begin gluing the bulbs with the part that you would use to hang the ornament facing the back of your wreath. Glue the first few bulbs on the inside of the wreath and then the outside. I glued the bulbs to the wreath and also to the bulbs they were next to. I used the largest bulbs for this step.

Step 3:

Start fitting more bulbs into the gaps and glue them as you go. Do not panic if it doens’t look great right away, I was really worried about mine but ended up LOVING the end result.

Step 4:

Glue your letter (or whatever other embellishemnt you like!) to the wreath and add your accent pieces. I had to cut my accent pieces with wire cutters before gluing them onto my wreath.

Step 5:

Hang up your gorgeous new holiday wreath!!

If you make this PLEASE PLEASE post a picture to Instagram with the hashtag #LeahTacklesChristmas or share it on my Facebook! And definitely, pin this post! It would mean a lot to me : ) Have a wonderful week!!

Requested Fall Makeup Look with 90’s Lip!

November 5, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

When I posted my Family Clothing Haul a few weeks back it was requested by a sweet subscriber that I share my makeup from those pictures. I re-created the look to share with you today with some close up pictures and will also share the products that I used. Thank you so much to Jaime for her comment and participation! It means a lot to me : )

The Look:

I love this look for fall because it is really easy!! A statement 90’s lip with a winged eyeliner is really all there is to it! I love doing a slight wing and a bold lip because it looks very put together, but in fact takes wayy less time than a more complicated eye look.

Products Used:

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner

I really like this as a primer around the sides of my nose and you can use it for any areas where you have larger pores. I used this a couple of years ago and then decided to try it out again.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 1C1 Cool Bone

This is my ultimate favorite foundation! This doesn’t budge, even on my longest days and on my combo/oily skin.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush On Glow BB Highlighter in 1N Extra Light

I love this to conceal and brighten my under eye circles.

Benefit Boxed Blush in Rockateur

This is such a gorgeous blush! I have been reaching for this a lot this fall.

NYX Mosaic Powder in 01

I like swirling this & lightly sweeping it on the high points of my cheeks for a little extra glow.

Hard Candy Brows Now! Brow Fiber Gel + Highlighter in Light Medium

I like this brow gel for a quick brow fix, but what I really love about this product is the highlighter! This looks stunning right under the brow bone and in the inner corners of the eye!!

M.A.C Paint Pot in Bare Study

Usually I use this as an eye shadow base, but in these pictures this is the only product on my lids!! It is great for a day when you’re rushing or want a very natural look. I just sweep this over my lids with my ring finger and blend.

L’Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black

I love this! This is super black, a nice felt tip, and great for beginners! I used this for my lid & wing.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black

I wore this in my waterline! I also love this in nude.

Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara Water Resistant in Black

I love using a water proof mascara for my first coat after curling my lashes and this is my go-to!

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

This is a deluxe size mini that I have been reaching for a lot lately, and I really like focusing it on the outer parts of my lashes.

Tarte Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler

All eyelash curlers are NOT created equal! This is my first eyelash curler that isn’t just whatever random one I grabbed at the drugstore, and it is worth EVERY PENNY of that $17 price tag! I love this baby!!

EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet

I love using this before applying lipsticks!

Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Rock N’ Rose

This is GORGEOUS! And if you’re looking for that Kylie Jenner lip everyone has been rocking, this is an AMAZING find because it costs $1-2 and works perfectly!

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 08

I love love love love looooove this! The PERFECT affordable 90’s lip color! I also love the Kate Lipstick in 14 for a slightly lighter version! Stunning! Go buy this!

****Thank you so much as always for reading! Please show me some love by subscribing, sharing, and pinning this post if you enjoyed it!! Thank you!!!****

Also, don’t forget to Enter to Win a Butter London Eyeliner!! It’s easy!! : )

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OCTOBER 2014! AND BUTTER LONDON GIVEAWAY!!!

November 3, 2014 & 34 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Okay, I know it’s November now, but I JUST got my October box last Thursday. If you are subscribed to the PopSugar Must Have Box then you know that they had MAJOR issues this month after revamping their website. People had issues with shipping and also with billing. I am disappointed, but I also understand that things happen. My experiences with customer service have always been good, and that says a lot as well.

October 2014 Must Have Box:

Animal Socks by Happy Socks:

$12

I love fun socks like this for the winter months! I am really happy with these : ) Super cute, and very nice quality.

WINK Eye Pencil by Butter LONDON:

$18

I love this!! I love makeup, and eyeliners are one thing that I don’t have that many of, and I don’t have anything like this. Earl Grey is a beautiful silver gray color and I think it will be wonderful for the holidays (I know, I know I can’t help it…everything can be twisted to be holiday related in my book!)

Would you like to win one of these? My mother in-law is a PopSugar subscriber and she doesn’t wear eyeliner, so she was kind enough to let me have it for a little giveaway for my subscribers! Details will be at the bottom of this post!

Acrylic Frame by Issac Jacobs International:

$36

I like that this is magnetic and easy to swtich pictures frequently! I think this would be great for a place in the home where you’d like to change out the picture frequently, maybe with the seasons.

Chalkboard Candle by Mine Design:

$24

I LOVE candles and I think this is fun because I can write little messages for the seasons, for my husband, for the kids…how cute! I think one of the best things will be depotting this and using it for makeup brushes or pens on my desk.

Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls by Dean & DeLuca:

$5.75

I love trying out fancy candy, and I think these will be nice to have in the evenings when my sweet tooth comes out. *Update: I tried these…meh, they’re okay. It tastes like pumpkin pie filling, but a different texture, and has a lot more pumpkin than chocolate. Still, I ate a couple just for you guys ; ) and I didn’t spit them out or anything.

Halloween Decals by Nailed Kit:

These are cute little nail decals that you can wear over any nail polish you like! I think my daughter will enjoy these as well : ) I would have REALLY liked these had I got them when the boxes usually arrive, and it isn’t a huge deal because I can save them for next year, but I’m not going to put these on for one day! Because to me, Halloween is OVER when it is over, and then it’s full on holiday mode. Checking out the website they have some ADORABLE choices!!

Special Extra:

Shoreline Shea Butter/ Olive Oil Bar Soap by K. Hall Designs:

I’m feeling pretty *meh* about this. I’m not a big fan of bar soap usually, I know PopSugar has sent out a few in the past and I liked one of them, but this is very nice looking. Depending on the scent, Stephan may like this and if not I’m sure we will use it at some point.

Blue Jean Box by The Blue Jean Bar:

Enjoy $40 off of a box. I LOVE subscription boxes, but I haven’t really been tempted by clothing subscriptions. I probably won’t use this, but it is a nice discount.

GIVEAWAY:

1) Comment on this blog post and tell me your favorite makeup item of the moment!! Commenting is *easy* promise! Just click the link by the title of this post and you enter your first name, email, and comment : )

2) You *MUST* be subscribed to my blog! To subscribe enter your email into the subscription box on the right side of the page! You will then get an email that asks you to confirm that you subscribed and that’s it! You’ll just get emails when I post something new.

EXTRA ENTRY OPPORTUNITIES:

If you’d like to gain extra enteries you can 1) Share this post on your Facebook, 2) Share this post on your Twitter, 3) Follow me on a social media platform you are not yet following me on and you will get an entry for each new like or follow (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Luvocracy, Pinterest)

The support means a lot to us and it’ll get you extra entries : )

RULES:

1) This giveaway is limited to those in the United States and Canada, but eventually giveaways will be opening up to subscribers everywhere!

2) If you are under 18 years old just ask permission from your parents to enter the giveaway!

3) A random selection website will determine the winner to keep things fair.

4) Once the winner is contacted by email they will have 48 hours to respond and after that I will select another winner.

5) This giveaway will end in two weeks!!

If you have any questions please reach out to me and I would be happy to help!! I hope that you are having a wonderful week so far : )

Too Faced Melted Kisses!! Holiday Makeup Review!

October 29, 2014 & 6 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I am SO excited to be sharing my first review of a holiday makeup set for 2014 with you all today!! I already did my Holiday Makeup Sets for 2014 post, as well as my Holiday Makeup Sets: Top Values on “Leah’s Friday Five” on the Pearls and Pastries Shop blog, and actually getting to play with one of the sets and try it out is making me even more excited for all of the holiday makeup goodness!

Too Faced Cosmetics Melted Kisses

When Too Faced launched their Melted Lipsticks I was intrigued but had been putting off buying them because 1) I couldn’t decide what color I wanted to try, and 2) $21 each isn’t crazy for a high-end lipstick, but it isn’t as wallet friendly as other options either. Needless to say I was hoping that they would have a holiday set that included these, and when I saw this Melted Kisses set I knew I wanted it!

Cost:

$25.00

What’s Inside:

Deluxe Mini tubes of Melted Berry, Melted Fuchsia, Melted Peony, and Melted Nude. Each of these are part of the permanent collection of Melted Lipsticks.

Packaging:

Ummm hellllooo adorable!! I love the little nutcracker girls on the side of the box and all of the glittery details! Would make a super cute stocking stuffer or gift!!

Swatches:

Melted Berry:

Melted Fuchsia:

Melted Peony:

Melted Nude:

First Impression:

VERY pigmented! These are NOT a sheer wash of color at all! They feel nice going on the lips, and the applicator is very soft. I do think that I’ll use an anti-feathering clear liner like this one from Too Faced, or line my lips before using the darker colors especially. They go on glossy but seem to change to more of a matte which I actually really like! These aren’t drying at all and finding a comforable lipstick, especially one that’s more matte, hasn’t been easy these days since pregnancy has made my lips *uber* dry.

Thoughts After One Day:

I found that the Melted Berry color lasted through lunch and I didn’t have to touch up until mid afternoon. These do leave a bit of a stain on the lips as well, so even when it was time to reapply my lips still had color. I will wear a lipliner next time, but mostly because it was hard to get the edge of the lips perfect with such a bold color.

Thoughts On All Shades After 1 Week of Having Set:

I love this set!! My favorite right now is the Melted Berry because it screams fall/winter/holiday season and the Melted Peony is perfect for everyday wear. I think this is a great value and I love seeing more affordable holiday giftsets out there!!

Thank you so much for reading!! And don’t forget to let me know what holiday makeup sets you would like to see reviews on in the comments!! Have a wonderful weekend!!! XO

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