Getting Organized! Make up round up, part 1

Hello Lovelies~

 Now that my room in getting organized to the point that I may eventually be able to set up my vanity and before I can do that, I have to organize my make up. Figure out what I want to keep and what I don't. So while I do that, I thought I'd share what I have with all of you ^_^

So this will be a picture heavy post, just a warning.

 First I'm going to show off my lipstick collection!

So here is the whole collection, minus the stuff in my personal make up bag which I'll be showing off later.

These four were part of a giant set of make up that I got for Christmas years ago, I've never used them, so most likely I'll be getting rid of them....

From left to right, we have Brown, Mauve, Red, and Pink. Nothing more fancy than that. but the thing about cheep lipstick is that you get what you pay for.

Cheep colors stain. This picture is after the lipstick was removed and an hour later I was still off color. The pain of cheep colors.

          Next we have some of my more favorite colors.  Some newer, some older, but all still use able.

From left to right, we have Raspberry Ice from a company I can't remember, Rose Gold from Covergirl, Ruby Luster from Maybelline, and Pink Chic by Rimmel London. Pink Chick is my favorite of the four and it's so creamy! Lasts for hours. Rimmel is a great company.

                                     Next we move on to the glosses and stains...

From left to right we have Bianca from Buxom, Best friends from Bareminerals, Covergirl Outlast lips stain shade 435 and 415, and a cute baby pink from Sally's beauty supply.

                     More gloss, though I don't wear these as much as the colors above.

From left to right we have a clear gloss, a watermelon flavored chap stick that can not be seen, but tastes great, Tinted lip gloss from Bath and Body works color 1137, and Loreal Color Shine : Back up Dancer.

last but not least, we have a creamy nude gold color from an on line shop called Aromaleigh. She does a wonderful line of Lolita colors and while this didn't look that great on me, I would get more of the other colors if they were still available.

As you can see, it's a super light nude gold, It's called Creampuff!

An Easy Hime Hairstyle

Hello Lovelies~

 Have you ever had one of those days in which you just want to feel like a princess? I have those days all the time. Just the other day, my mom saw a tiara at Hot Topic and said it screamed my name, so she got it for me.

Purple and Black gems make this a great Gothic tiara. The final cost was $18, so it wasn't terribly expensive.

As you can see, I took a good two inches of hair at my temples and gave it a twist, then held it in place with a bobbie pin. The look framed the tiara beautifully and with a little hairspray, stayed all day with no issues. A very easy and simple look for a Hime Lolita look.

I was in a rush when I took these pictures, so please for give the weird look on my face. Only a few more weeks until I get my new camera ^_^

Cupcake Cravings

Hello Lovelies~

 Here in Omaha we have a great little bakery called 'Jones Brothers Cupcakes'. They came in second on 'Cupcake Wars' and truly, they deserved to win. I tried four of their signature cupcakes and I had mixed opinions on them. So here we go~! My review of Jones Brothers Cupcakes.

First, lets get a picture of all of them together....

From left to right we have the Red Velvet with real cream cheese frosting, The Vanilla Bean with buttercream frosting, The Sweet and Salty, and the Black and White.

                                                           The Red Velvet

This was a wonderful cupcake. Moist, but not to sticky. Just the right amount of red without being to much that it stains your hands and mouth and tongue and teeth. The frosting is a rich, sweet cream cheese and while it was a bit to much frosting for me, I really enjoyed this cupcake.

                                                           The Vanilla Bean

Of the four, this was my least favorite. I honestly don't think this cupcake was cooked all the way through. The top was sticky and while most of the cupcake was really good, the very middle was thick and tasted as if it were a pudding, but it was only in one spot and there was no mention of a filling for this cupcake. The buttercream frosting was good, but nothing to write home about. All in all, it was not the best cupcake I've ever had and I wouldn't get it again.

                                                           The Sweet and Salty

This was my FAVORITE of the four! This was a dark chocolate cupcake with dark caramel and sea salt frosting. While there was a lot of frosting to cake ratio, but this was the most...decedent...sinful treat I've had in a long time. I highly recommend this cupcake to anyone who likes chocolate and caramel. The sea salt really adds an extra layer to this wonderful delight.

                                                       The Black and White

This wasn't my favorite of the four, but it wasn't the worst. I liked the dark chocolate cupcake, I liked the chocolate sprinkles, but I didn't like the frosting. The up side of the frosting is that is has Godiva white chocolate liquor in the mix. The down side is that it's a very strong liquor and I don't think it blended well. But other than that, it was an ok cupcake.

Over all, I would go back to check out the rest of the flavors. Even if you are not a frosting person, the cake is WELL worth the trip. And if you like frosting more than cake, Jones Brothers delivers well in that area as well.

 I give the a 8 out of 10.

I recommend this wonderful bakery to anyone that wants a delicious treat!

Metamorphose Spotlight!

Hello Lovelies~

 Another Spring season has almost arrived and it's time again for another Metamorphose Spotlight. This year, Meta has presented us with a beautiful collection that is....more than stunning. Usually, I'm not one for Boarder prints, but the 'Brilliant Princess' series is on the level with the 'Swan Lake' print!

This print comes in three colors....

                                                                  Cream

                                                                      Pink

                                                                   And Navy


 First up is my favorite dress of the whole collection. The 'Brilliant Princess Flared Sleeve Dress' Is offered in all three colors and is made with 100% cotton fabric, chiffon trim, satin ribbon, and lace.

Front...

And Back....

Pearl accents down the bodice...

And lace wedges down the sleeves make this dress decedent and fit for a princess!

And here it is in Navy...

 The 'Brilliant Princess Flared Sleeve Dress' is great for those of us with Hime Lolita leanings. The cream color is gorgeous and luxurious, fit for tiaras and triple strands of pearls. I have not seen the pink or navy versions of this dress, but so far, I am loving the cream version the most.


Next up is the 'Brilliant Princess Frill Pinafore Dress'

Front....

Back....

And a close up of the satin ribbon lacing up the bodice...

 I think my favorite part of this dress is the straps crossed across the back and the double layer of chiffon along the bottom of the dress. It makes for a cute summer dress and a great fall or winter dress when paired with a good blouse and a cute pair of tights.

The next dress has just been made into a prototype, from the drawings, it looks adorable.

So let's see it all done!

It looks a little rushed, but it is very beautiful.

Other than dresses, there will be two skirts. One high waisted....

Personally, I think this skirt looks frumpy and to long, but it is just a prototype so I'm hoping the final product looks much better.

And for the second the skirt, it is a fully shirred, it is said to fit up to a 35.5" waist.

As far as accessories go, there are three additions to these pieces that are very cute.

 We have a set of socks, a Half Bonnet, and a double sided bow.

So, in conclusion, I really like this collection and I hope it is a BIG hit.

Day Off, Day Out!

Hello Lovelies~

  The other day was my day off and I decided to go out with friends and see the new Sherlock Holmes movie!

An outfit shot!!!! Oh my goodness! They are hard to come by with the lighting in my house, but this one turned out nice. I am wearing a skirt I made myself a few years ago, a top from Walmart, and socks from Forever 21.

Speaking of the socks I wore one black and one purple! I love wearing two different socks and it really went with the outfit.

A shot of my makeup. My favorite part of this picture, and of the make up of the day, was my lips! I love how the pink looks on me. This was done with two different shades and it comes out to the perfect pink!

Where I am at a great new treat shop in the local mall called, 'Toppings'. It is a great place that weighs the frozen yogurt by the ounce. You can get as much or as little as you like and put on your own toppings. $.39 cents an ounce and it is SO worth it!

This was after dinner and I took my lipstick came off when eating, so I put on a light pink gloss, but it wasn't the same as when I started the outing.

Here was what I got. Strawberry cream yogurt with fresh strawberries, granola, and sunflower seeds. It was so so good!

So next came shopping while waiting for the movie to start!

Look! Bear Ears!!!! I so want to go back and get these...

My friend Shelly found the wicked cool glasses at Claires. They have the cute little mustache attached by two chains. These were the best find of the day.

Next, I found these glasses, I love glasses! Bow attached. So adorable and I am getting these as well! They are on my 'Next paycheck' list.

 So, that was my day, other than the movie of which I have no pictures. Go see the new Sherlock Holmes movie! It'll make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with men in dresses ^_~

Book 2 of 50 : Part 2

Hello Lovelies~

 In my previous post, I told you I'd just finished 'The Duke is Mine' and was starting 'The Son of Neptune', but I was informed by a wonderful reader that I hadn't told you what the books were about! How can you get excited about what I'm reading when you know nothing about it!

I hadn't wanted to give anything away in the books, but! The synopsis and my thoughts.

 'The Duke is Mine'

"Tarquin, the powerful Duke of Sconce, knows perfectly well that the decorous and fashionably slender Georgiana Lytton will make him a proper duchess. So why can’t he stop thinking about her twin sister, the curvy, headstrong, and altogether unconventional Olivia? Not only is Olivia betrothed to another man, but their improper, albeit intoxicating, flirtation makes her unsuitability all the more clear.
Determined to make a perfect match, he methodically cuts Olivia from his thoughts, allowing logic and duty to triumph over passion…Until, in his darkest hour, Tarquin begins to question whether perfection has anything to do with love.
To win Olivia's hand he would have to give up all the beliefs he holds most dear, and surrender heart, body and soul…" ---- As written by Eloisa James.

 This book dealt with body image, over coming mental handicaps, and above all, finding Love when you weren't even looking for it.

It was a fun read for a lazy afternoon and it made me think about the 1800's in a whole different light. I mean, Eloisa James is bringing out the fact that not every debutante was stick thin and perfect. Some liked to eat or had freckles or even wanted to do more than debut and get married, just like we do today.

 As for my new book, 'The Son of Neptune', here is the synopsis for that....

" In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a blood-chilling quest:



Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,

To storm or fire the world must fall.

An oath to keep with a final breath,

And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.


Who are the other four mentioned in the prophesy? The answer may lie in another camp miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea. . .

With an ever-expanding cast of brave-hearted heroes and formidable foes, this second book in The Heroes of Olympus series offers all of the action, pathos, and humor that Rick Riordan fans crave."

 I'm about halfway through the book now. With any luck I'll be done later in the week ^_^

What are you reading? What types of books do you like to read? Are you a fast reader? or a slow one?

Book 2 of 50

Hello Lovelies~

 I finished the first book of 50! It was a very good book and well worth the read! Now, for my next book, I'm going with....

I liked the Percy Jackson series well enough, so I thought I'd try out his new book focusing on the Roman Gods in the same verse as Percy Jackson. I fell in love with the first book, 'The Lost Hero', and I am so excited to read the newest book in the series!

A New Challenge Accepted! Book 1 of 50...

Hello Lovelies~

 Today while browsing LiveJournal, I happened across a community called 50 Book Challenge. A community dedicated to reading 50 books in a year. My inner bibliophile  squeed and bounced around with glee at the thought, so I joined the group and decided to share my progress with all of you!

I hope to read all types of books, but I'll be honest, I love romances the best. I will not be including Manga in this challenge listing because it's not a challenge to go through 50 manga in a year. I do that in a month. ^^; Nor will I include novel length fanfiction. Both would be a bit of cheating and not compliant with the goal I am setting.

So here we go!  My first book will be Eloisa James's 'The Duke is Mine'. This is a new telling of the classic 'Princess and the Pea' story. I am very much looking forward to diving into this book feet first! I love Eloisa James as an author and based on what I know of her previous work with my favorite fairy tales, this book will be sure to delight!

 Wish me Luck!

2012 Long Term Resolutions!

Hello Lovelies~

 Happy New Year! It is now officially 2012 and before I get to the main post, I wanted to thank all of you for sticking with me and reading my blog. It's an ever evolving undertaking and the fact that ya'll want to read about what I think, or things that I'm doing....it warms my heart. So thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Ok...on to the main post!
This last year was hard and it had it's ups and its downs, like a roller coaster that gives the rider whiplash, but I know 2012 is going to be better! So I thought I'd reflect on the last years changes and share with you some resolutions I've made and will try my hardest to keep.

So, reflections.....In 2011 I held a job for a full year! I was so proud of myself. I grew my make up collection and started experimenting with my colors. I doubled the number of blog posts I made from 2010 and branched out from doing more than strictly Lolita posts, like make up reviews and a few general life updates.

 While I know I should, I don't feel like reflecting on the down side right now, so I'm going to move on to my resolutions.

Resolution 1: Blog more often!

 I love blogging and I've found that each year I write, I double my posts. So this year, where I wrote 63 posts, I'd like to do at least 120 in the coming year with posts including Outfit snaps, pictures of my outings with friends, event photos and reviews, more make up reviews, and a few tutorials. Think I can do it?

Resolution 2: Take more pictures!

 I love taking pictures and find that I tend to be the one behind the camera a lot, but in 2012, I'd like to not only be the one taking pictures, but have tons of pictures taken of me! I am going to save up for a good camera so I can stop taking phone snaps. That will be step one.

Resolution 3: Attend more meet ups!

 I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to be the perfect lolita. I host all of the meet ups around Omaha and I'll admit, I tend to set myself in the 'mother hen' roll, always making sure others are happy and enjoying themselves, so it's hard for me to relax and have fun or make new friends with the girls because I feel responsible for everything. So this year I am going to attend more meet ups and enjoy myself more. I'm going to let someone else run around like a 'mother hen'.

Resolution 4: Clean out my Closet!

 I have a lot of clothes, I mean A LOT of clothes! Not all of them Lolita either, and they are taking over my room! So in this next month, I plan to go through all of my clothes, see what I wear, what I don't wear and donate everything I haven't worn in a year to the local women's shelter.

Resolution 5: Add more beauty to my life!

 This one is a bit ambiguous. It has lots of meanings. I intend to achieve this through both acts of kindness and material objects...I don't know how I'll do it just yet, but it's a concept I like to strive for every year.

So those are my main resolutions. I have some monthly resolutions I'm going to tell you about later, but for now, those are my long term goals!!!

 I hope all of you enjoy the new year!