The New Hard Candy Look Pro Galactic Eyes Palette

5, 4, 3, 2,1… blast off with Hard Candy’s NEW Look Pro Galactic Eyes Palette! This one of a kind eye shadow palette combines the mesmerizing glow of the cosmos with the hot trends of the runway. Each shade has a strong color payoff and glides on perfectly for a gorgeous finish. {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

Don't Sweat - Shimmer... With CATRICE!

Fall may be just around the corner, but hot and balmy weather still persists, so you might be inclined to reach for the nearest mattifying products, but CATRICE Cosmetics encourages you to embrace the GLOW with the launch of their sensational, shimmering, NEW Liquid Metal Longlasting Cream Eyeshadow. {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

CATRICE Liquid Metal Longlasting Cream Eyeshadow in California Creamin' and Champagne Shower

Bring on Spring with new products from Sally Hansen and Rimmel London!

Just in time for Spring, Rimmel London and Sally Hansen are adding fresh new products to their collection! Rimmel London is introducing their amazing and first ever Eye Contouring Palette in three amazing color combinations, allowing you to customize your eye look with an array of amazing shades in any hue that suits you! Sally Hansen is adding beautiful new shades to their much adored Miracle Gel Collection in the most perfect spring hues. {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

From top to bottom: Keep Calm and Wear Gold, Grunge Glamour, London Nudes Calling

Merle Norman Shadow Sticks

Merle Norman in Shadow Sticks in Almond Cookie, Watercolor, Bronze Age, and Fortune

A hot launch for fall/winter '16, Merle Norman Shadow Sticks were JUST released in 10 gorgeous shades and make applying long-wearing shadow as easy as signing your name. The fun, easy-to-use stick is crease-resistant and designed for versatility. They're perfect to use as your main shadow, a base or even a liner with a buildable formula designed to go from sheer to full-on color. They even have a special key ingredient, microspheres, which impart a silky texture while absorbing oil to keep lids sebum free. {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

Love in Lace Top Ten Classics from Hard Candy

Feelin' Blue

From classic neutrals to trend setting hues, Hard Candy has you covered with their new Top Ten Classics, a collection of eye shadow shades in a mirrored compact. These palettes each offer chic color and an array of shades to go glam with. Made in portable lace covered case, they are a must have for Spring 2015! {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

Beauty on a Budget: NYC Color Sparkle Eye Dust

I love a good beauty splurge as much as the next product junkie, but with 3 daughters who appear to be following closely in my cosmetics loving footsteps, finding budget friendly items is definitely a must! Plus, I'm always on the look out for products that are age appropriate and suitable for Peyton's burgeoning foray into the world of wearing makeup. NYC New York Color's newly revamped Sparkle Eye Dust {retail for $2.99 each; sent for the purpose of review} are the perfect product for her {and I'll admit they make a cameo appearance in my makeup bag from time to time as well}!

April 2013 MAC Matters Purchase: Almost There!

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.

There's Nothing Like a Good Friend with Good Taste! AKA- My Swap with Cafe Fashionista

My lovely, lovely FIB (Friend In Blogging-yeah, I think I just coined a term), Erika Sorocco, or Cafe Fashionista and I decided to do a SWAP!!! You know, like the ones that YouTube beauty gurus do? I just love those videos and I couldn't think of anyone better to do it with than Erika! She has been a loyal friend and supporter wince I began blogging, way back when. I read her posts almost daily (and backtrack when I happen to miss a few) and I always try to take the time to comment (that's one way we bloggers show support for each other). She has impeccable style, incredible taste, and like me she's obsessed with reading, writing, fashion, and coffee! Though we have never met, I have developed a deep affection for Erika over the years, and I am so pleased that we were able to do this swap together.

So, on to the swap! I approached Erika with the idea of a swap a few weeks back-that we set an agreed upon price limit and then exchange packages of goodies and share it with our readers. I suggested that for us, instead of focusing on just cosmetics, we could include books, accessories, nail polish, and coffee. She loved the idea and away we went!

Initially we set a price limit of $100, but we both soon found that that was not quite enough money. We were having too much fun shopping for each other! One of the awesome things about doing what I do, is that I'm exposed to such great brands and products and I was super eager to share my loves with my friend. But a lot of my faves are not on the budget friendly side (honestly, I purchased two items and was well over $50), so we went back to the drawing board, first agreeing on $150, but finally settling on $200.

As exciting as it was to be shopping for Erika, I was even more excited about what she was getting for me! Here is the package she sent: