I'm such a slacker!

i know, i know.... I realize i suck at this blog thing. I just get so busy and dont get to update it. hell, i get so busy and dont have time to do any looks. I've just been settling for boring work looks, same thing every day. This is so unlike me :-( but i vow to do better in 2010.

here's a look I did for a girlfriend's birthday party a couple weeks ago. I've got this bold lippie obsession going right now. I convinced myself over Thanksgiving that I needed a fiyah red lippie in my life. So I went to Mac with intentions of getting Viva Glam 1 but got side tracked and started looking for hot pink..... The original look was to contain Mac Funtabulous dazzleglass on top of this Magenta lipliner but I chickened out and just did the Magenta all over for this look.

Check me out! I"m really digging the look! i'm always doing nude lips and bold eyes so this was a fresh new look for me. Let me know if you like it!

face: mac studio fix fluid
milani bronzer duo for contouring
mac Rose Quartz blush
NYX blush mosaic (just on the apples)

eyes:
TFSI
mac naked lunch
mac trax
mac sketch
mac shroom
ardell lashes--dont know the number...same old pair.

lips:
mac magenta l/l

Neutral Purple Look

Just a neutral look I did for a bridal shower this weekend. I don't know if it's my camera or what but I can't get neutrals to really show up well on film. It really does make me sad. this look was more rich in person but still very neutral. And it was all done using my new Coastal Scents 88 warm neutral palette! The picture of the palette on their website really doesn't give a good color reference--especially the colors on the far left which are some really pretty steel blues, greens, and greys that I can't wait to use. If you are new to makeup, I would highly recommend this palette because the looks are endless and very wearable. And the payoff is really good too, especially for the price ($24.95)!

What I used.....
*all Mac unless noted*
FACE:
NC45 Studio Tech foundation (brush was sprayed with Fix+ prior)
NC45 liquid concealer
Slave to Love blush

EYES:
88 warm palette
-9th column; second from the bottom for the lid
-10th column; 5th from the bottom blended up from crease
-7th column; 6th from the bottom for highlighter
-last column; 3rd from the bottom for outer V
Mac equivalents: Trax, Wedge, Brule, Embark, Seedy Pearl

LIPS:
NYX Toast l/l
NYX Lala l/s
Frozen Dream l/g

HOT DEAL!!

ok so you know I just hauled at www.nonpareilboutique.com and bought a ton of NYX stuff thinking I got a fiyah deal. Well I was doing some reading over the weekend and realized the REAL deal is on www.mscuppycakes.com . She has the same NYX palette in my look below for $7!!! you know I feel like crying right now, right.... She also has the NYX round lippies for $1 and 25 freakin' cents!!! i got mine for $1.90 each *sobbing*

Anywho, just thought I'd pass on the info. I know we're all looking for a way to save a buck on our addictions these days.

have a good day!

NYX Blue Grey LOTN

ok so I hauled AGAIN last week after my Coastal Scents order *hangs head in shame*. I have a real problem ya'll. I'm sick!! I will never in 10 lifetimes ever be able to use all the makeup I own. NEVER! But yet I keep buying more. If i watch another youtube video with a 'fabulous haul', i'm just going to click the little X and log off for the night so i dont get tempted.
This most recent haul is TheIslandBeauty fault. She is super talented so check out her tuts. She posted a http://www.nonpareilboutique.com/ haul where the NYX round lipsticks were $1.90!!!!! HOW THE HELL WAS I SUPPOSED TO PASS THAT UP????????????? not possible.... Everything I used in this look totalled $13! (not counting foundation/base)
Anywho, I'll do a haul video on that order in a few but in the meantime, here's a look I did using some of the things i got. Products listed at the end

*smooches*

What I Used:

FACE:

REvlon Colorstay in Caramel

Mac NC45 concealer

MSF in medium

MSF in deep dark

NYX Cinnamon blush---a must have! it gives a nice warmth to the look. it's a bit intimidating in the pan though...it's hot orange but goes on sheer if applied with a stippling brush.

EYES:

NYX Supermodel palette (pic above)

Red Cherry lashes

LIPS:

NYX Toast l/l

NYX Hermes l/s

Look and a Mini Haul

So I did this look last weekend. I've been on this neutral kick lately...maybe because that's what my makeup life has resorted to since i have no free time :-( I mini hauled last week when Mac had their 25% off and i've been itching to try out my new stuff.

They're old for most people but i'm just getting them or rebuying for whatever reason:

Ricepaper e/s--talked myself out of this one too many times. it's mine now!!

Vanilla e/s--i likey. i see this becoming a quick go to highlight

Cranberry e/s--mine crumbled a couple years ago and i'm tired of trying to not get it everywhere ...eventhough i don't use it.

Corduroy e/s--my first ever Mac purchase...back when the eyeshadows had screw off tops! lost this one so i rebought it. i'ts a must have matte brown

Prussian e/s--eeeehhh....i'm nervous about this, as it is a matte2. i don't care for the texture but i need this color in my life! i'm determined to make it work

Fig.1 e/s--matte2 as well. again, i need this to work! its a really pretty color

Twinks e/s--I keep seeing this used in looks and loving it played up or down. I'm excited about this neutral

Spiked pencil--this is more for my kit than for me. Many use it for their brows

Prep and Prime skin--this just continues my never ending search for a primer. and especially one that i like in conjunction with airbrush foundation

Here's a look i did using my stuff from this last hit. Mac is my crack!!!

i'm not liking it really but i post the good with the bad.

FACE:

Mac Studio Mist Foundation--yes i still have one. never use it and this is why...looks terribly ashy in pics. beautiful in person though! i like the buildable coverage on this

Rose Quartz blush

EYES:

primed with TFSI mixed with concealer---DONT EVER DO THAT! I was hoping more was better but it still isn't

Ricepaper--lid

Vanilla e/s--highlight and inner tear duct

Cranberry e/s--creasae

Corduroy e/s--outer V...i should have defined this more.

LIPS:

Hodgepodge liner

Chic l/s--photos more red/pink than in real life

Viva Glam 6 l/g

Oh Em Geeeeeee!!!!!!

I got an award!!! I got nominated by Yinka (Vexin The City) AND Patience (Miss Virtue) for the Adorable Blog Award!!! YEAH!

First of I'd like to thank God and the Academy....

ok serious time, this really means alot to me. It's always nice to hear that you inspired someone. I feel like i'm always looking for inspiration and just hoping and praying that someone is inspired by something I do.
I like the idea of this award so I'm following the rules and passing it on.

The Adorable Blog Award Rules are:

Include the award logo in your blog or post.

Nominate as many blogs which you like.

Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award

I nominate the following:
1)Tam (Get it Girl Style)--this chic has style!! from clothes to home decor. All together just classy

Kimberly (Fab Finds Under $50)--this is my new obsession. I stalk her blog daily for what she puts together. She's turned me into a belt junkie in less than a month

Chic Chocolate--Love this blog! great source for review, cool items, and high fashion stuff

Erika (A Pretty Girls' World)--We go waaaay back, like from last year- LOL!, on Makeup Geek. She's got great looks and reviews. check her out!

There are loads more I love and would like to nominate, but I fear I may be here all day if I do! :-)

I'm feeling a little blue

I'm determined to get my makeup mojo back so I wanted to do a bold look this weekend for a wedding we were going to. I usually go alot softer for a wedding ...especially since this was my old boss' wedding....but this is what Sabrena wanted to do so.....
My first idea was to use MUFE 92 in the look but then at the last minute decided on using Mac Electric Eel. The last time I wore it was about 6 years ago and my mom said 'o that's just way too much blue' when she saw me *insert sad face here*. Well since that day, i've been scared to wear it out...much less to a wedding.
In the pan it looks very blue, but when you put it next to another blue (Mac Deep Truth), you can really see the green in it come through.



Hope you like it!


***I did a tutorial on this look. I still need to edit it though so look for the link on here or on youtube in the next couple days :-)

me and the hubby at the wedding

What I used:

all Mac unless noted

FACE:

Studio Fix Fluid in NC45--i was scrapping the bottle on this

Slave to Love blush

Blunt blush

EYES:

TFSI

Electric Eel e/s

Deep Truth e/s

Sally Girl Taupe e/s (from Sally's beauty supply)

Sally Girl Brown Black e/s

Naked Lunch e/s

Carbon e/s

LIPS:

Hodgepodge l/l

Baby Pink Mint l/s---new lip fav! they're $2 this week at Bath and Body Works!!!

Hot Neutral Look

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Coral Summer Look

At The Makeup Show in New York a few weeks ago, I discovered a makeup line called Powder Puff Beauty that had ALOT of really nice colors. For some reason I had passed it up on day 1...probably because I was going crazy over all the airbrush stuff around me. But day 2 when the show was almost over, I went to the Powder Puff table. They even offer a pro discount so you know I was immediately all over them. haha



Check them out: http://www.powderpuffbeauty.com/



I will also say that their neutral palette is GORGEOUS in person and my sis has used it and loves it. I will be ordering another one!



I also did a tutorial on this look. check me out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjNBXKI9pz4&feature=channel_page



Indoor lighting....I like how the sheen of the blush looks indoors

Different lighting...natural light

What I used:

PPB= Powder Puff Beauty

FACE:

Kett foundation--airbrushed

Kett foundation--for cheek contour

PPB blush in Tart--the brightest coral/pink color

PPB in Sunrise--the shimmery coral color

EYES:

PPB Venice--on lid

PPB Creamsicle in crease to brow bone

PPB Demure--highlight and inner tear duct

PPB Zoe--crease

Bobbie Brown Rich brown--crease

LIPS:

PPB--Mocha Mauve l/l

PPB Tart (it's a blush)

Mac clear lipglass

Calgon, take me away!

ok so I know i've been M.I.A. for the past month or so. But not because I don't love you guys but because i've been working like a Hebrew slave!!!! Between being a new mom, old married woman, and a coworker, the 'fun' part of my life has taken a back seat. I so miss doing looks and tutorials and have been just having time to do boring day to day work looks. boooooo..... :-( But I'm determined to get back my Brena time!!!..before I go crazy or kill somebody.

i'm so sorry!! to all my subscribers, i've seen all the messages you've sent me. I just flat out haven't had time to respond. i know, i suck.

So, to make up for the time i've been gone, I'm going to be doing quite a few posts in the next couple weeks and we'll call it a truce. cool? good.... ;-)

Upcoming posts:
New York Makeup Show 2009--I was there!!!!
New York Makeup Show 2009 Mega Haul--I need to be beaten for this one. you'll see...
Coral/Salmon summer look
Hot Neutral look--yes it's possible. HA!
Lush reviews--(Sweet Japanese Girl, Herbalism, Tea Tree tablets, various bath bombs, various bath soaps)

stay tuned!!!!

Jewels!!!

Besides a black smokey eye, jewel tones are my favorite eyeshadow colors. So you know when i saw the Mac Hello Kitty pigment in Deep Blue Green I almost passed out, right??!! it's a GORGEOUS deep blue green color (they were right on the money with naming that one...haha). It's now my favorite color--not only because of it's uniqueness, but also the versatility. This color can literally be combined with almost anything--peach, green (it would look so fab with Bitter e/s), golds (mulch, all that glitters), silver (silver ring).....

In the look below, i combined it with a violet and hot pink e/s to get a very dramatic party look. don't ask me what the sparkles are on my eye on that one pic..... my camera does funny stuff some times.
hope you like it!!! I'm not done editing the tut but there IS one so stay tuned :-) also, I will be uploading some more pics later with better angles so you can really see the colors.

Here kitty kitty kitty....

I got to use my new Hello Kitty Too Dolly palette this weekend!!! and to think i wasn't going to get it........ It's my favorite palette and i'm not even a Mac palette buying kinda girl. I think the colors look good on all skin tones but look especially good on very dark skin tones. So before you count this palette out, go try it on at the Mac counter with a paint pot or some kind of primer on first. When the collection had first launched, I swatched it on my hand, no primer or anything. everything looked a bit chalky and I didn't think i needed Too Dolly (the aqua color)...though i dont have anything like it. And I thought that Stately Black (the 'black' in the quad). But after seeing it on a MUA using a neutral palette and seeing how beautiful Too Dolly was and seeing that Stately Black was actually a blue, i HAD to have it!!!!

here's the look i did with 2 of the colors this weekend. I can't wait to do a look with the pink!!!

all Mac unless otherwise stated...

FACE:
Studio Fix Fluid NC45
NC45 select cover up concealer
Slave to Love blush
Definitive blush

EYES:
Soft Ochre paint pot
Too Dolly
Stately Black---see, you can't get caught up in color names..it will throw you off!!!
Cork--you could just use any neutral taupe-y color
Shroom

LIPS:
Hodgepodge liner
Nars Sand Piper l/g (this is what was on first but i was eating all day and chewed most of it off)
Viva Glam 6 l/g (layered on top of the sand piper after it wore off)

100 things

I ran across this list on Fabulously Broke in the City Blog. looked like it would be fun.

so basically I have to go through the list and whatever's in red, i've done. I added some notes for fun

Let's go!
1. Started your own blog -- You're reading it now
2. Slept under the stars--i dont do outside
3. Played in a band --- flute--4 years; taught myself to play the clarinet for 2 years. never went to band camp though.... LOL
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland--what about disneyworld???
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child--not yet
16. Had food poisoning---ack!! 2 months ago. i thought i was going to meet Jesus
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked--by the grace of God i'm still here to talk about it. just stupid....
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill--i'm gonna bold and italicize this...LOL
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse -- Not the one that hurts your eyes. The other one.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset --- Both.
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors ---i'm Jamaican so sort of...been to jamaica plenty of times but never Africa
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke -i love singing Proud Mary
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing--been twice. LOVED it!
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie--what about a home movie? LMAO! ;-)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma --and this is when i find out i'm anemic :-(
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy--cabbage patch kid
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar --- yuck!
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone--only fractured it
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper ---all the time in high school
85. Read the entire Bible -- like cover to cover?? sadly, no.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -- Does fish count?
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous--Shaq when i was in college...we went to the same school
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one -- Grandmas :(
94. Had a baby--9 months ago
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cellphone---about 4
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

now you try it out!!!

Summer Lovin'--tutorial included

ok so I'm gonna let ya'll in on a little secret....shhhhhh....i'm becoming obsessed with wigs. Any style, color, length, whatever. I think it's just so cool that you can 'be' someone else for just a few hours or even minutes in my case with this tutorial--LOL!

So last weekend me, my sister, my friend Meci and her mom ventured to what seems the place where all wigs are born. my sister had been telling me about this place but i hadnt had time to make it over on that side of town in a while. So imagine my face when i walked in the door---SWEET BABY JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG there were wigs EVERYWHERE. and if you've ever been to a cluttered beauty supply, you can appreciate one that is not cluttered where you can walk freely down the aisles. this one was so organized and uncluttered so i could actually THINK in there. I promise you, there were at least 300 wigs, about a bazillion kinds of weaving hair. OMG i'm still not even able to process it all but I was in heaven i tell you.

After trying on at least 50 wigs (i'm not even exaggerating....), I finally narrowed it down to 3. This Marilyn Monroe meets a toy poodle is one of them. LOL! that's my only description of it...and not a good one at that. it makes me feel all summery and playful when i put it on :-) So i decided to do a whole summery golden look that can be worn with ANYTHING. it's so simple too. watch the tut and you'll see. I didnt edit anything out either so what you see, that's it!!!

and i did a tutorial on the look--its pretty neutral but just sunkissed and golden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sOxy5Roj4I hope ya'll like it!!

What I Used:

all Mac unless specified

FACE:

NC45 Studio Fix Fluid

NW42 concealer (under eye highlighting)

MSFN in Medium (under eye highlighting)

Goddess blush (LE)

Golden Bronze loose powder

EYES:

Gold Mode pigment

Gold Dusk pigment

Gold Stroke pigment

Chocolate Brown pigment

Loreal Lineur Intense liner

#36 lashes

LIPS:

Hodgepodge liner

Enchantress l/g

Dramatic look...tutorial included!

HEY ALL!!! i decided the other day that i'd do a tutorial on my old faithful going out at night look. i love it because its soooo easy to do! AND i used very few products. ts just an all around sexy, dramatic go to look

and here is the tutorial to go with it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u4C12s-_74

What I used:

all Mac products unless stated

FACE:

NC45 Studio Fix Fluid

NC42 concealer to highlight under eye

Slave to Love blush

NYC Sunset duo to contour

EYES:

Soft Ocher paint pot

Blackground paint pot

Carbon e/s

Smolder e/l

LIPS:

Hodgepodge l/l

Viva Glam 5 l/s

THAT IS IT!!!

Blue & Grey Look

ok so i did this look/tut yesterday. I tried using my Scandalous Cosmetics eye base AGAIN and it creased on me before the tut even started :o I even let it 'dry', since last time i was in a rush to go out and i thought that's why it had crease on me. uuhh no.... I dont know what it is. I'm gonna give it one more shot and then do a reveiew on it. i wanted it to work so bad! then when i started the tut, i decided that not only was the primer sucky, but so was the Fade e/s!!! you can see it in the tut not sticking at all. ugh! reminds me why i dont use it now. anywho, the whole look looked alot better in person but it took alot of work to get it that way.

What I used:

all Mac products unless stated

FACE:

NC45 Studio Fix Fluid

Rose Quartz blush

NYC Sunset duo to contour

EYES:

Scandalous eye primer--will do review on this soon

Camel e/s

Carbon e/s

Fade e/s

Print e/s

Gesso e/s

LIPS:

Hodgepodge l/l

Beaux l/g

THANKS!!!

I've only been doing tutorials on youtube for 3 weeks now and already, i've come across some really nice people! I'm not really hip to all the blog and video stuff just yet but i've been getting suggestions from people which is cool. My most recent one is to add a 'follow me' tool to this blog. I had no clue how to do this and thought it might be some fancy script that needed to be added that i didnt have. So i figured i'd ask the person who asked me how you get one of those. and you know what, she told me EXACTLY how to do it. So check me out...(look to the right of this post). You can now get up to the minute S.O. S. posts just by clicking on that follow me link!!! WOOWOOWOO!!!!

THANKS RetailMajorStylist20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

Brunette Blonde and Redneck...i mean Redhead LOL

LMAO!! i keep saying redneck instead of redhead. I don't know what my deal is... cant say much of anything right lately. last time this happened was when i was pregnant............................................................................................................................................................................................. Anywho, I went to Mac with Meci on Saturday to 'look' at the new Brunette Blonde, and Redhead collection. everyone has said that alot of the colors can be duped...maybe so. But one i know for sure that can't is Deep Shade. LOVES IT!!!!!! its a pretty blue that has a little purple undertone to it. I ended up doing a tutorial on the look because I like how it came out.
here is the tut!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHOrQdmgvdc&feature=channel_page

Here's what I used:

FACE:

Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC45

Nars Deep Throat blush

Mac Blunt blush

EYES:

Mac Soft Ocher paint pot

Mac Deep Shade e/s

Mac Night Owl e/s

Mac Mylar e/s

Mac Carbon e/s

Mac Blacktrack fluidline

Mac #36 lashes

LIPS:

Mac Plum Soft lip liner

Mac Frozen Dream l/s