SQUEE!!!

Very rarely do I squee. I might giggle. I might coo. I'll most probably let out an awwwww, but rarely, if ever, do I squee. For this, I made an exception:

OH MY GOD, HOW CUTE IS THAT?!?! I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!! I think it's the tiny curl that grabbed my heart and put it in a choke hold.

I actually saw this little guy on a recent trip to Toys 'R' Us. He's $8.99, and yes, I squeed. It greatly embarrassed Thomas, and I felt silly, but then...well, then I saw his little friend:

SQUEE!!!!!!!!! I HAVE TO HAVE THEM!!!!! I will put them on my guest room bed, and they can protect the room from all sorts of evil. I've had my eye on Thomas' Jack Sparrow action-figure for some time now, and he's bad news. These little guys and the Bruce Campbell figure can guard the Care Bear from danger!

Wow. Um...I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just...OH MY GOD, THERE'S ANOTHER!

I really don't know how much more I can...NO WAY!!!!

That's it. No more Toys 'R' Us. My little heart can't handle it.

Moving on. Ahem. Today, folks, you get a two-fer out of the old magic bag o' samples. Lucky you. To start with, I just received a deluxe sample of Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Blush in Quickie. Apparently, I am never going to run out of samples. They just keep 'em comin'. Anyway, it looked interesting, so I thought I'd give it a go and see what happened.

First off, it's a cream blush that comes in a pump. This is just a sample, but it's in packaging identical to the full-sized product, and I swear, this Make Up For Ever is going to last me forever. All you need is a miniscule amount to start with, and you can build color intensity from there. It's always easier to add than take away, and this stuff is highly pigmented. If you use too much, you might as well see if the circus is hiring.

Secondly, the color is very similar to NARS Powder Blush in Orgasm, which is what I normally wear (sorry, Mom, I didn't name it). If you've used that, then you know where this is going. For those of you who haven't tried the NARS blush, it's universally flattering, won a bajillion awards, and is probably the most natural-looking color you're going to find. MUFE's Quickie's peachy-pink color is so close it's scary.

Now, would I recommend it? That depends. If you want this particular shade, then no. I would suggest going with the NARS. They have it in powder and cream versions, it's the same price, and there's no pump to deal with. While I should note that I had no issue with the packaging, the pump design seems to be a major bone of contention among users who have reviewed the product. It tends to dispense more product than is needed, so you either end up wasting a lot, or you look like Bozo. Neither option is particularly appealing.

However, if you want to try out different shades, just happen to prefer cream blushes, and have no problem with pump dispensers, then go right ahead. The blush is lightweight, buildable, and long-lasting. I forgot to put on primer this morning (bad, Erin!), and my cheeks are still rosy. It's a good blush, and one that I'll continue to use. I probably won't ever buy it, but it's not getting thrown out. $25, Sephora.com.

Okay, Sample #2: Buxom Lips in Amber. It's Buxom, so it's awesome. Smooth feel, tons of shine, and a color that is, again, a lovely peachy-pink. It makes your lips look polished, but not overly done. I can't recommend this lipgloss enough. $18, Sephora.com.

*Photos by Toys 'R' Us