Fall Garden

It must finally feel like fall because my hands and lips are chapped like crazy.  Well, as much as it can feel like fall in Florida, I guess.  The lack of seasons down here is a little frustrating, but the silver lining is that you can have a colorful garden year round!  I'm so not a serious gardener, and the best way to describe my yard is "whimsical," but I still took some pretty pictures this morning I would like to share!      

That's lavender under the window, to the left.  When the wind blows, Huckle can smell it!

Embracing the Cat Lady in Me

It was National Cat Day a few days ago, or at least that's what the Internet told me.  I just wanted to share some photos of my cat lady house since I haven't really shared a lot of "house tour" photos in the past.  There's some cat themed treasure everywhere you look around here.  I also included some vintage photos of Mina, Holly, and Huckle.  Enjoy! 

    

"Love one another."  Awww.

NOTD: Julep 'Daria' and SOPI 'Traffic Stopper Copper'

Hello, Internet.  I'm back!  I didn't plan on taking a month long hiatus, but I've seriously had the month from HELL.  Like, it was really bad.  I can't even begin to explain how I've been feeling lately, but the short version is that I was starting to feel like I was losing control over my life.  I'm still not even sure where all of my anxiety was coming from, but I know it started with my work and then just kind of overflowed into everything else.  I even had a vacation and saw DEPECHE MODE but remained so stressed that it kind of just came and went.  (They sounded awesome though.)  I got some good news this week, and I'm finally starting to feel like myself again.  Things will definitely remain crazy going into the holiday season, but I think I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get through it.  Woo hoo!

Anyways, on a lighter note, I really like this combo of grey and copper I've been wearing this week.  Julep's Daria is from the September Cityscape collection.  My last grey crème dried up on me because I left it in my car and the bottle swelled or something weird like that, so I'm glad to have another one.  I forgot how neat grey looks under a pretty topcoat!  I got Traffic Stopper Copper in my Sephora by OPI clearance haul.  Enjoy!       

Julep Daria with SOPI Traffic Stopper Copper top coat.

Can you see how gorg it was outside this morning?

See you next time!

BaubleBar August Mystery Makeover!

One thing I can't ever have enough of is jewelry!  Jewelry has acted kind of like a security blanket for me for years, even before I was comfortable trying new lipstick colors or wearing different styles of clothing.  I doubt I'll ever leave the house without earrings, usually large dangly ones, unless I'm going to the emergency room or something like that.  Matching up coordinating jewelry to all of my clothes is an arduous task when I am packing for a vacation or just going out of town for a couple of nights, which is why I really liked this month's Baublebar Mystery Makeover! 

My August BaubleBar Mystery Makeover.

August Ipsy 'Glamour Academy'

Hi there!  I received my Ipsy bag last week, on time!  August's bag's theme was "Glamour Academy." Overall I like what I received, even though it is necessary to point out that a Nailtini polish was offered again, and for the second month in a row I did not get one!  WTF.  Anyways, I think Ipsy did a nice job of giving us a bag that will transition us from Summer to Fall!

August Ipsy Glam Bag, "Glamour Academy."

July Starlooks Starbox

Hey there!  I'm super late at posting my July Starlooks review, but I already took fancy pictures, so here it is!  I think most of these products are self-explanatory, and my overall impression is that it completely smoked June's box.  Seriously, I'm so glad I gave Starlooks another chance; and did you see my SWEET birthday gift I posted last month?  Anyways, let's take a look at July's contents!  (Before I continue though, I do want to give June's box a little more credit, because I have been using the white eye pencil and black precision eyeliner like, every day!)  Okay, moving on...

(I'm hoarding all these boxes for Christmas gifts!)

OOTD: ASOS Curve Review

Happy Sunday night!  I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend!  We had a tax-free holiday here in Florida, so I was at work.  It's amazing how many people were at the mall Friday and Saturday just to save another six percent!  Anyways, speaking of saving money, I ordered a few clearance items from ASOS Curve last month.  And, even better, ASOS has free international shipping both ways.  This skirt was only $11.88!

ASOS Curve Pencil Skirt, available here.

NOTD: Julep 'Julia'

Hey guys!  Today I am showing you Julep Julia.  I think the pictures speak for themselves; even with my sloppy application, this polish is stunning!  I passed on this during the Julep Maven window in December, but I was able to pick this up for two dollars during the warehouse sale last month.  And I got FREE SHIPPING!   

Julep Julia.

A Birthday Gift From Starlooks!

I was thinking the other day about why subscription boxes are so much fun, and I decided it's because I like getting gifts from myself every month.  I mean, I work hard.  I deserve to get pampered with gifts to me from me.  I'm already a mother to three cats, and I have to supervise like seventeen people at work, and it is all very stressful (hee hee).  Who else is looking out for me?  Starlooks!  They sent me a free birthday surprise!  (By the way, today is my birthday!) 

Surprise!

BaubleBar July Monthly Makeover!

Hi there!  I got FOUR packages in the mail the other day.  FOUR!  Best mail day ever!  I don't have time to share everything right now, but I do want to share my thoughts on the BaubleBar Monthly Makeover box!  Um, I took a lot of pictures of this one. 

I love pretty packaging!

July Ipsy 'Beach Beauty'

Hello, Internet!  My Ipsy Glam Bag arrived earlier than both of my coworkers' this month.  Say whaaaat?  The theme for July is "Beach Beauty."  Let's have a look! 

July "Beach Beauty" Ipsy Glam Bag.

Julep 'California Coast' Collection

We're already only two days away from the opening of the Julep Maven window for August!  I have no idea what to expect from next month's collection, but I really hope I don't love it so I can save my money!  I received my box for July a couple of weeks ago.  I honestly wanted to upgrade to the entire collection because all of July's colors were appealing to me.  I changed my selections about a million times before I decided to try the Modern Beauty box with two add ons, Blakely and Tracy! 

Julep "California Coast" Collection.  Aren't they all lovely?

OOTD: Clearance!

I can't believe that July is already half way over!  Fall is around the corner and you know what that means... summer clearance!  I got this dress at JCPenney for $2.11 after all my discounts.  That's like the price of two tacos.  Yay!

Dress: Fynn and Rose at JCPenney.

NOTD: SinfulShine by SinfulColors 'Come Hither'

Hi there!  Today I am showing you Come Hither, from my Influenster Sunkissed VoxBox.  Come Hither is a bright pink crème from SinfulColors' new line, SinfulShine.  SinfulShine With Gel Tech includes 32 shades that are sold exclusively at Walgreens for a limited time only.  These retail for $2.99, about a dollar more than SinfulColors, but I imagine these will go on sale often as the SinfulColors are on BOGO all the time!  Come Hither was absolutely free for me because it was provided by Influenster for me to try. 

SinfulShine by SinfulColors in Come Hither.

Just for Fun!

*Sigh.*  I have about ten minutes before I have to start getting ready for work AGAIN.  I'm so tired of work!  (I'm not always like this, but we've had inventory, two holidays, and now two corporate visits to prepare for over the last month.  Aargh.)  I spent some time in the backyard this morning with my kitty, Mina.  So here's a break from nail polish and subscription boxes.  Take a deep breath, and enjoy!  And do something fun today if you are not working like me.  Grrr. 

Mean Bean.

June Starlooks Starbox

Things have been extremely busy at work, but somehow I found time to join another monthly subscription!  Starlooks Starbox features 3-4 full sized pro-level makeup products each month, plus some "fun" extras.  The monthly fee is $15 plus tax (around $17 total).  I've been following reviews of this box for a few months and decided to join in May, but I missed the sign up date, so June was my first box.  I definitely have mixed feelings about this one! 

I love pretty packaging!

NOTD: Julep 'Alice'

Happy July 5th!  Here's yet another May Julep polish, Alice.  This formula was flawless.  One of my favorites from this collection! 



Julep, Alice.

NOTD: Julep 'Gabrielle' and 'Paris'

Hello again!  I don't have much to say about Gabrielle and Paris from Julep's May collection.  I think the swatches speak for themselves!

 

Julep Paris over Gabrielle.

NOTD: OPI 'Solitaire'

Hi there!  Here is another swatch from the OPI Bond Girls collection that came out this past spring.  Solitaire is named after the character in the James Bond film Live and Let Die.  I wish I could tell you a little more about this Bond Girl.  My dad used to watch these James Bond marathons all the time on TBS when I was a kid, but I never paid attention to them!     



OPI Liquid Sand in Solitaire.

Random Life in Photos

 Taking a break from NOTDs...  



Serious Huckle.