We're Back! October 2013 MAC Matter Purchase

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.
Here are the rules for the MAC Matters Makeup Challenge:

May 2013 MAC Matters Purchase: Time For Glam!

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.

February 2013 MAC Matters Purchase: Give Good Face!

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.

January 2013 MAC Matters: More Than Meets the Eye

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.

December 2012 MAC Matters Purchase-The Eyes Have It Again!

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.

Here are the rules for the MAC Matters Makeup Challenge:

Goal: Build a core MAC Collection using an average of $21.00 per month. (Pam came up with this amount because it is what she was spending on a monthly subscription service that she decided to cancel.)Purchase at least one item a month: If the item is under $21, save the remainder for the next month. While there are many items priced under $21, there are plenty that are over the $21 range that we can save for. Some months, we will be "saving" the $21 to go towards a bigger MAC purchase.
Do a monthly blog post to share what we purchased! The goal is to continue this series for 12 months to see what kind of core collection we each can build! (I also think it will be very interesting to see the difference in the products we choose to purchase and what constitutes a "core collection" for us individually.)

Last month, my first MAC Matters purchase was an empty Pro Palette Eye Shadow x 4 and All That Glitters eye shadow...

Keep reading to see what I purchased this month!

November 2012 MAC Matters Purchase! AKA-It Begins!

Previously on Mama Fashionista...

My fellow Beauty Blog Coalition and Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers member, Pammy Blogs Beauty came up with the *genius* idea of doing a monthly blog series where she would, piece by piece, build a "core collection" of makeup basics from MAC Cosmetics. She set a budget of $21 a month (the fee that she was paying for a beauty box subscription that she was canceling) and MAC Matters was born! I immediately wanted to play when I read her post about it (here), so now we will be coordinating our monthly posts, sharing what we have selected each month to build a collection of basics/staples from the popular brand.

Being the eye shadow fanatic that I am, of course my first purchase had to be a great eye shadow shade that could be worn solo, but also would be great with other shades. With my $21, I decided to get All That Glitters, a beautiful warm, beige with a gold pearl sheen (it's a Veluxe Pearl finish, which means that it is a very pigmented formula, with a metallic/pearlescent shimmer). I also chose the Pro Palette Eye Shadow x 4, because I figure that for a well rounded collection, I need at least four basic eye shadow colors, AND it's $3 cheaper to get the Pro Pan Refills as opposed to the regular shadows (though you can't Back to MAC empty pans like these). So I suppose you can look at this as a bit of a hint as to what at least 3 months' worth of purchases will be.

The shadow cost $12 and the palette cost $9, so I used my whole $21 this month. Some months I will purposely spend under my allowance so that I can carry over the remainder for items to be purchased in the following month(s). I'm not going to lie, I sort of have the whole year planned out, but it's a loose plan, so that I can adjust it to fit whatever suggestions I get from you lovelies, as well as to account for items that may scream out to me as necessities in the many Limited Edition collections that MAC puts out (quite frequently). Part of me feels that I should only purchase products that are part of the permanent collection, that way my core collection will be something that is timeless and easy for someone else to replicate. Another part of me just loves pretty makeup and can't make any promises that an LE item may not make it into the bunch at some point. I guess we shall see!

So what do you think of my picks for this month? What do you suggest that I add next month? What would you purchase if you were building a "core collection" of makeup basics from the brand? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. And don't forget to go see what Pam picked out for her first month in the MAC Matters series! Until next time...

MAC Wishlist: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Edition

MAC Wish List: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Edition by mamafashionist1 featuring lip makeup

Oh MAC! I think the reason that it took me so long to make my first purchase from the brand was because subconsciously I knew that it was a slippery slope that would lead me to want to spend ALL of my money! Plus, I'm a total sucker for anything limited edition, so I'm forever longing for at least a few goodies from the latest collection (that seem to to be popping up faster than I can keep up with). 

I was able to attend a fun little beauty event at my local Nordstrom recently, and one thing I learned was that Nordstrom was actually the first specialty retailer to sell MAC Cosmetics. This established a very special relationship between MAC Cosmetics and Nordstrom and so often times there are items available there that you can't get at other retailers-this latest collection is an example of such.

MAC Wish List: Casual Colour Collection

If I haven't disclosed this already, I love makeup. A LOT! Recently, I've become more and more enamored with MAC Cosmetics. I've heard people complain about how many new campaigns they come out with, but for a beauty junkie like me, seeing all the new colors, formulas, packaging, etc. coming out on a regular basis is pretty darn cool.

One of the latest collections to come out is the MAC Casual Colour Collection for Summer 2012. It's available on line right now, and should hit stores on June 7th. This is how the MAC Cosmetics website describes the collection:

"This is weekend chic, M.A.C.  style. Mineralize Skinfinish, Studio Fix Mascara, Prep + Prime Highlighter, and new all-in-one Lip and Cheek Colour Pots. Effortless and easy, this barely there formula feels like wearing nothing at all."

My MAC Wish List

I had an awesome day out with the hubby and the lil bits today (Peyton is on a road trip to see her great grandmother). We went to see The Avengers (the first time the hubby and I have been to a theater since Knight and Day came out two summers ago), and while it was highly enjoyable (I actually read Marvel comics as a girl and am well versed in the Marvel Universe; I knew who the bad dude after the credits was), my favorite parts of the day were visiting the CCO and the MAC Cosmetics counter at Nordstrom to finally see the Hey, Sailor! collection in real life.

Though I REALLY wanted to go on an all out shopping spree, the hubby's presence kind of hampered that notion. I got to swatch a few gems at the CCO that I hope will still be there when I return, but I had the most fun at Nordies. Initially I just wanted to swatch a few things from the new collection and come back later (by myself) to get a few things, but the MAC artist that helped me was SO nice and SO helpful, I ended up buying something then and there (and have added a few things to my MAC wish list).

Goldilocks...

So I've been MIA (which is so not good since I just started this), but I've been working to figure out what exactly I want this thing to be and what I'm trying to convey. I've been exploring and researching and soaking in so much inspiration from all over the "blogosphere." There are so many awesome blogs out there, driven by such fantastic, creative, intelligent, absolutely stylish women; I've been a little intimidated, because ultimately I really want to join their ranks. So I've been emailing, making notes, checking out blog after blog, site after site to try and shape and hone my view, and I think I'm almost there. Just need to get some photos/pics and maybe some advertisers and sponsors and I really believe I can take this blog thing somewhere.

Meanwhile, I have been in search for the perfect blue liquid eyeliner (something to accentuate my dark brown eyes just right) and it's down to a few contenders:
MAC Fluidliner in Waveline





MAC Liquidlast Liner in Blue Herizon




MAKE UP FOREVER Flash Color in Bright Blue 14
(and no, it's not technically a liner, but look at that color!)




I'm leaning towards the MAKE UP FOREVER color, but in order to find that perfect one, I'm totally open to suggestions. So what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know. I'll post a picture when I choose that "just right" one...


Until next time (promise it will be sooner!)...



Fashion Forever...

Quinn

*Mac Cosmetic Pictures obtained from www.maccosmetics.com Make Up Forever Picture obtained from www.sephora.com