And Now, A Review

Please indulge me a moment. A year ago tomorrow, Thomas and I commenced filming on The Night Shift.

It was the worst possible first day of shooting.

The ridiculously over-priced lens adapter didn't work. Our cinematographer moved across the state with no notice. It was windy. It was cloudy. My hair fell (I know; the horror). We got zero accomplished--not one useable frame of film. Period. It was a wasted day, and several of the key players ended up in my living room, trying to figure out how to use the [expletive deleted] camera.

Luckily, the second day went much better, and we ended up with a pretty little picture of which we can all be proud.

But you know this already.

Why am I posting today? Why, it's because on this, the eve of our anniversary, the first review came out, and folks, it's a doozie. Seriously, people are going to think we paid this guy (we didn't). It's from A Little Dead Podcast (cute), and starts a little past the episode's halfway mark. If you get a chance, you should listen to it. If you'd rather not, here are some of the finer points:

“I love this film! [Khristian] Fulmer...was likable, affable and relatable. [Erin] Lilley...was equally enjoyable...I absolutely loved Herbie! Story was also very well done with perfect pacing and progression...never gets mushy or lame...really nice chemistry between [Fulmer and Lilley]. Fulmer played the character with just the right amount of humor and seriousness to keep the character real. The oddity, the interestingness, and the affability of the main character; everything comes together and makes for a really good experience. A definite buy. It’s just that good.”

So I'm happy. Hope there are more nice ones to follow. Thanks for putting up with me on this. Love you guys!

Sweet Home Alabama

Photo Credit: Legislative Barbie

Wednesday night, a very bad thing happened. I'm sure, by now, you all know what I'm talking about, but just in case, I'll clarify: tornadoes devastated a good-sized, heavily populated chunk of the Southeastern region of the United States. A vast portion of my home state was pretty much leveled, and to top it off, most of my immediate family was in the thick of it.

I'm in Alabama, but way, way, way down at the very bottom of the state. You know the little piece that sticks out and hooks onto Florida? That's my city. Not only was I not in any danger, but I didn't really even know anything was going on until it was over and the Facebook posts started pouring in. My mother, stepfather, and kid brother, on the other hand, spent the night hunkered down in a bathtub in Birmingham. They'd gone on vacation to visit some more family in that area. I can assure you, Mom was mentally clicking beads throughout the night. My family's fine, but it was scary. They were very, very lucky.

See, what a lot of people don't realize is that another string of storms came through Wednesday morning, and knocked out the power in much of the city. No lights. No phones. No television or radio. In other words, when the tornado came, a serious amount of the population had no idea. Hence, the ridiculous loss of life in the state of Alabama.

There are...what's a nice term...idiots out there who are trying to make this political. Others trying to turn this into a religious argument. Heck, I'd be willing to bet that some jerk out there is trying to say the tornado wasn't a Bama football fan! These are probably the same people who said Katrina was our own fault because we don't have building codes down here (Yes, some...ahem...lovely person actually said that to me, and yes, we have building codes. Darn good ones). The point is, there are people out there who are too busy pointing fingers and acting superior to actually come off their high horses and help. Plus, much as I hate to mention this, a lot of people have a poor understanding of the South, and tend to think of us as a bunch of shoeless rednecks living in vans down by the river. That is most definitely not the case. For crying out loud, this blog is written by an opera singer/actress/filmmaker. We have culture down here, darnit! Please don't ignore us because you think we're too ignorant to warrant help!

People died. Entire towns are gone, and their residents homeless. Alabama needs your help.

For those of you who are so inclined, here's a list of places that would welcome your donation, no matter how small. Any help--even a dollar--would be greatly appreciated:

Red Cross: Text 90999 for an automatic $10 donation, or click here and select Northern Alabama/Tennessee Valley for a custom donation.

Salvation Army: Send your check to Salvation Army Disaster Relief, PO Box 100339, Atlanta, GA 30384-0339.

Heart to Heart: Click here to donate.

Direct Relief: Click here to donate.

Team Rubicon: One-time and monthly donations are available. You can also select and purchase a piece of gear to be sent to the relief effort.

Disaster Relief: You can donate items from this list to Disaster Relief, c/o First Baptist Church of Moody, 902 Church Street, Moody, AL 35004.

There's also a slew of places at Legislative Barbie. Cute name, too.



Thanks to Couponing to Disney, NBC, magnolia, and Legislative Barbie.

I Wanna Soak Up the Sun...Responsibly

Photo Credit: Sephora

I've been on an accessory kick, lately. I've started hunting around for hair flowers, headbands, necklaces, even *gasp* earrings! (Believe it or not, I'm not a big jewelry wearer. Who knew?) But the best and most important accessory you can have for Spring and Summer is cheap, easy to find, and goes with everything: Sunscreen.

I grew up watching my Grandfather deal with skin cancer. The treatments were painful and expensive, and there was nothing pretty about the lesions, bandages or scars. That experience beat all the preaching or after-school specials you could throw at a kid.You will not catch me in a tanning bed, and I don't go to the beach without copious amounts of SPF. Yeah, I still get burned--I'm so fair-skinned I reflect--but not nearly as often or as badly as I would without all that lovely zinc.

Now, I have my favorites: Walgreen's brand oil-free for my face, the sparkly Hawaiian Tropic or Neutrogena Cooling Spray for body, Jergen's Natural Glow for a gradual sunless tan, or L'Oreal Sublime Bronze for a fake bake in a hurry. But that's just me. I've been at this for a while. Newbie bathing beauties might need a little help, and that's where this comes in.

The awesome folks at Sephora have come out with 2011's Sun Safety Kit. No, they don't hand you an umbrella and some goop for your nose. For a scant $25, you receive eleven (11!) trial sized sun care products ranging from Bare Minerals veil and Smashbox primer on to Philosophy and Murad sunscreens. Something in there is sure to tickle your fancy. There's also a bonus deluxe sample of Tan Towel Plus. It all comes in a cute box with an adorable hot pink beach bag. Best of all, 100% of the profits (every last darn penny) will go to benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. This is also a terrific Mother's Day gift. Nothing says, "I love you, Mom," quite like saving her life.

This Might Get Me Divorced

This time last year, my house was filled with duct tape. No, nothing was broken. Thomas and I were in production on The Night Shift, and the duct tape was for, well, everything. It held up the green screen. It was used as marks for the actors. It kept Herbie's head attached to his body. Basically, it kept the production from falling apart. God bless duct tape.

One of my favorite uses, though, had to be dummy-making. We needed two full body dummies for the film, but obviously didn't have the budget to buy them. Heck, we didn't have the budget to even order a catalog to look at them. Instead, Thomas and I hit the thrift store and bought two sweatsuits. Then, he'd pull one on over his clothes (it got a might warm), and I'd completely cover ever inch in duct tape. It was less entertaining than it sounds. Well, for us, anyway. The bickering between the two of us was probably pretty popcorn-worthy.

Anyhoo, once he was taped up, I cut the suit off of him. We were then able to tape the suit pieces together and stuff them for a pretty convincing body. If nothing else, I can say that I was very nervous driving around with it in the back seat. Some cops have good senses of humor...some don't...

Point is, for about five or ten minutes, my darling husband was stuck on the floor, unable to move (but sure as heck trying to, bless him), and completely covered from neck to ankle in shiny silver. That, in and of itself, is a funny mental image. Now, imagine how much more hysterical it would be if the duct tape had looked like this:

Photo Credit: Kitty Hell

That is all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go place an order with Target...

Don't tell Thomas.

Royal Makeup Drama...For Those That Care...

Yeah, yeah, there's a big fat royal wedding this weekend. Yada, yada, yada. We get it. The media has shoved it down our throats. Sure, I'm tickled pink for the happy couple, and I'll be sure to check in on the dress and cake and whatnot, but this morning, every other segment on CBS's The Early Show focused on the upcoming nuptials. There were even segments on how to choose a hat for your viewing party and on what Ms. Middleton might have purchased for her honeymoon.

And then I read this: Katie-dear is going to do her own makeup for the wedding. My first thought was, "Whoop-dee-freaking-doo. How is this news?" quickly followed by, "Is she out of her mind? She's the future QUEEN!!! She's going to be on half the television stations in the world, and these pictures are going to be aired in perpetuity and turned into merchandise! For crying out loud, some are going to end up in history books!! Hire an artist!!!"

But then I read the reasoning behind the decision. She'd had an artist do her makeup for the engagement photos, but had been very unhappy with the results. She had wanted a fresh-faced, natural look, and had, instead, been coated down with pancake makeup. Middleton washed off all the spackling and re-did her face herself. You have to admit, the finished product was stunning.

The Happy Couple
Photo Courtesy of the NY Daily News

Honestly, I can relate with the bride-to-be. I went to a fancy-schmancy day spa/salon and had a professional artist do my makeup for my own wedding. While the makeup photographed fairly well, I still felt like a painted hussy. The eyebrows were too dark, the foundation was caked on, and my eyeliner ran down my cheeks by night's end. The first thing I did after we checked in at the hotel for our wedding night was run in the bathroom and wash my face. Another time, I was in a wedding fashion show, and the makeup artists (from the same spa...hmmm...) forgot concealer completely. I had horrible dark circles! Luckily, I was able to scrounge up some undereye cover and fix the problem before the show, but I couldn't believe that a "pro" would skip something so obvious! So, yeah, while I now have friends who are amazing artists that I trust completely, I can totally understand how this young lady might not want to trust something so important to anyone else. She will have someone teach her how to apply makeup for HD cameras. If you want a job done right, you've got to do it yourself.

As a fun little aside to this story, I found an old article from Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Seems she wasn't a big fan of piled-on makeup, either. Keep reading for a great story on the design of the Queen's coronation gown, and a whole bunch of awesome 1950s newspaper ads. It's a kick!

Challenge: A Toast To Magnolia

In the comments section a couple of posts ago, my lovely friend and reader, Magnolia, mentioned how pretty champagne golds can be. I happen to agree with her 100% and, knowing what a MAC girl she is, thought I'd dig up as many of the company's different champagne gold options as I could for dear Mags. Here's what I came up with. Enjoy!

Eyeshadow ($14.50 each)

*All Photos by MAC Cosmetics

The traditional choice for color, and definitely the easiest to apply. Easily brused or smudged onto the eyes for looks that vary from polished to smokey.

Clockwise From Top Left: 

Brule: soft creamy-beige, satin finish

Ricepaper: peachy gold with shimmer, frost finish

Motif: gold peach with pink pearl, frost finish

Mega-Metal Shadow ($19.50 each)

This is a traditional eyeshadow, but with a rocker-chic metallic finish.

Dalliance: light champagne

*From here on out, nothing is limited to the eye area. Have fun playing around with these beauties!*

Pigment ($19.50 each)

Pigment is a little trickier than traditional eyeshadow, but the color pay-off is well worth the extra effort. You can use a brush, sponge or fingers, but remember--a little dab'll do ya. This stuff is potent!

Melon: soft bright golden peach

Paint Pot ($16.50 each)

This is a cream shadow that dries to a long-lasting, powder finish. Can be worn alone or as a base for traditional shadows. Brush, sponge, or fingertip application.

Bare Study: soft beige with gold pearl, frost finish

Paints ($16.50 each)

High pigment concentration in a pearly cream. Squeeze tube packaging. Can be worn alone or as a base for traditional shadows. Brush, sponge, or fingertip application.

Bare Canvas: champagne with shimmer

These are colors that look amazing with Summer tans...or without! Hope this helps anyone in search of a great neutral. Happy shopping! 

A Dilemma...Now With Extra Sparkles!

Photo Credit: Beauty Advisor Lounge

Hawaiian Tropic has a new product out, just in time for Summer. On a lark, I thought I'd give it a shot and fill you in on the results. So, I did, and here they are.

I'm torn. There, I said it. I really don't know how I feel about this stuff.

The Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Lotion Sunscreen with SPF 20 ($7.99, Target) was designed to give you plenty of sun protection, while at the same time imparting a subtle shimmer to highlight your skin tone. Talk about a win-win. You get to stay safe and look pretty doing so. Twi-hards, you can actually sparkle in the sunlight. How cool.

And you do. The sunscreen is chock-a-block with itty-bitty mica flakes that practically coat your skin. This is not chunky glitter, mind you. This is very finely-milled, so your skin glistens. You gleam. It even looks beautiful in low-light. In fact, I daresay I like it best in low-light. The highlighting effect is gorgeous, and this should be my very favorite body product ever. I'm already a huge fan of Olay Ribbons Tone Enriching body wash, and this puts it's mica quotient to shame.

Here's my problem: I hate the smell. Totally. It's not that it's an unpleasant smell. It's just very persistent, and after a while, ennervating. It's one thing to get the occasional whiff of your floral perfume or fruity body splash. That's nice. That's welcome. It's a whole 'nother bag of cats to be constantly aware that you are, in fact, wearing a very chemically-smelling sunscreen. It's supposedly coconut-scented, but I've smelt a coconut before, and you, dear sunscreen, are no coconut.

So, I ask you, dear readers: What's a girl to do?

Final Verdict: Right now, I'm going with 8 out of 10. It's fantastic, and Hawaiian Tropic is a brand I trust, but the smell is really killing me.

Now, That's My Idea of Hiding Eggs!

Happy Easter! I hope you all have a truly blessed day, filled with family and friends. And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. And water balloons. Lots and lots of water balloons. Oh! And some hard lemonade! Can't forget that...I'm starting to wonder about my family and our traditions.

Anyway, have a wonderful holiday, and I'll see you tomorrow! In the meantime, here's an idea for dealing with all those leftover Cadbury eggs you're bound to have lying around.

Photo Credit: Zoey Cakes

Cadbury Egg Cupcakes!! Apparently, the trick is to freeze the eggs before baking them into your favorite chocolate cake recipe (read: boxed mix). I'm dying to try this with the caramel-filled eggs. If you're so inclined, here's a fabulous buttercream icing recipe that's sure to catapult this from "cavity-ridden sugar shock" right on over to "diabetic coma". Enjoy!

BUTTERCREAM ICING (adapted from this recipe at Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Up to 4 cups confectioner's sugar
2 tbsp. milk

Cream together butter and vanilla. Add confectioner's sugar one cup at a time (I usually use a little over 2 cups, honestly. Depends on how thick you want the final product). Beat in milk, then continue beating till light and fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to decorate. Yields enough to frost 12-24 cupcakes.

The "It" Factor

Last year, Stila put out what they called the "It Girl" palette through Sephora. For about ten bucks, you got three large, coordinated eyeshadows, including their best-seller, Kitten. It was awesome. The colors were beautiful, the packaging was high-end, and the whole thing was so nice I gave one to a friend for her birthday. The amazing cocoa, bright gold, and champagne hues have earned their place on my counter, and also managed to find their way onto my eyes almost daily. This was seriously one of the best $10 purchases I've made.

But enough about that. It's gone. No longer in stock. Unavailable. What's a girl to do? Why get the "It Girl Eyeshadow Palette #2!" The price has gone up slightly ($14, Sephora), and while the colors are different, they're in no way disappointing.

Photo Credit: Sephora



This year's version focused on neutrals. You still get my very most favoritest eyeshadow ever, Kitten--a pale champagne pink that instantly brightens the entire eye area (I have three pans of it, now!)--but now it's paired with a shimmering gold-flecked coffee brown--aptly named Americano--and a surprisingly striking matte nut-brown, Eve. The shadows are soft and creamy, blend on like butter, are well-pigmented and have serious staying power. I use mine over a primer, but I've forgotten my primer before, and noticed little to no creasing. Stila makes a good eyeshadow. No doubt about it.

The packaging is identical to last year's. It consists of a sturdy, black plastic shell with a clear viewing window. The Stila logo is printed on the front in silver, surrounded by little stars. It's cute as pie, folks.

What's really impressive about this year's palette, though, is the versatility is affords. Right now, I'm sporting a day-appropriate smoky eye, created solely from this palette. Eve on the lid, Americano in the crease and as a liner, and all-over Kitten to soften and blend. By darkening up a bit, that becomes a night-time look. Playing around with these colors, you can create everything from an easy weekend style, to an elegant look befitting Princess-to-be-Middleton. These are colors and textures that I'm thrilled to wear, would look amazing on my fifty-something mother, and I'd feel comfortable giving my 14-year old cousin. They're classic, timeless, and ageless. Pick up a palette before they're gone. Heck, wrap one up for Mother's Day while you're at it.

Final Verdict: 9 out of 10, simply because a brush would have been really nice. Fabulous, darling!

Mavel-ously Silly

Hahahahahahaha!!!! These are silly and made me giggle, therefore, I had to share. You know how the kiddie clothing departments carry pajamas that look just like superheroes' costumes, complete with capes? How about the "young men's" t-shirts that mimic comic and movie characters' iconic outfits? Well, this one's for the ladies...

Photo Credit: Spencer's

SUPERHERO JAMMIES!!!!!!!!! The above is Captain America, but they also have girly versions of :

SPIDERMAN!



BLACK WIDOW!

EMMA FROST!

AND THE HULK!

I have to say, Captain America is my favorite, but that Hulk one is a close second. Are they tacky as all get-out? Absolutely! Do I totally and completely want one? You bet your sweet bippy, I do! $24.99, Spencer's.

There! Art Thou Happy?: UNII Palette Review Part II

Do you guys know how I much I love you? Do you? I bought a UNII Palette ($29, UNII) just so I could review it for you. That's how much I love you. Don't say I never did nuthin' for you.

As you probably recall, exactly one week ago, I informed you of the existence of the UNII Palette, and linked to a video blog review of it. Well, curiosity, a sense of duty, and just the slightest twinge of guilt joined forces and compelled me to purchase a palette of my own, so I could thoroughly vet it before making my recommendation. Here's the breakdown:

Punctuality Will Get You Everywhere
When I ordered my UNII Palette, the estimated delivery time was anywhere from 2-6 business days from the ship date. It took one. Monday evening, there was a happy little brown paper package (not tied up with string, darn it) on my doorstep. 10 out of 10.

Different Strokes For Different Folks?
Hopefully, you all watched From Head to Toe's video review of the palette. Those of you who did (totally rock) would have seen the very large, very detailed instruction sheet, and the nice big set of scored magnets that come with every palette. Um...yeah...they don't. I still received really cool origami-style instruction sheet, but it was quite a bit smaller and nowhere near as detailed as the one in the video. While I did receive a sheet of magnets, it was a much smaller sheet, and not pre-scored. This is not a huge deal, and I'm sure the changes were due to results from beta testing and market research and all that jazz. I'm just confused because the original is still pictured on the website, and I find that just a little bit misleading. 6 out of 10. The packaging is adorable, and the magnets are a very thoughtful touch. It just wasn't what I was led to expect.

The Main Event

Here's my palette next to my curling iron, for sizing.

Once I had a chance to sit down and really examine the UNII palette, I was very impressed. The body appears to be very durable. I mean, I haven't thrown it across the room...yet...but it looks capable of handling air travel punishment, and that's saying something. The snap closure blends in with the overall design, and extends the length of one side. It closes very snugly, and takes some effort to open, so there's no worry of the palette popping open and spilling eyeshadow all over the inside of your purse or suitcase. The floor of the palette is painted steel, and a rubber gasket lines the inside edges. A mirror fills the entire inner portion of the lid, for ease in makeup application. A small, moveable, magnetic thumbgrip completes the setup. My UNII is called "Snow", and is a pearlescent white encased in clear plastic. When Thomas saw it, the giggled, gave me one of those, "really?" looks, and mentioned that it looked like my Mac. I like my Mac. So there. 10 out of 10.

Putting It Together
Now for the hard part: deciding what to put in the palette. I don't own any refills, so anything that went into the palette would have to be de-potted, and that meant work, and I don't like work (end of whining). I decided to go with a fairly neutral, travel-friendly set-up. See, I have a beautiful set of Stila shadows, but they came in horrible cardboard packaging that I've been holding together with a rubber band. I also have a fabulous, very well made travel palette that, unfortunately, came with one super-duper glittery shadow I detested that went and broke on me and infected everything else in the palette, and the inner workings of the case itself! This stuff was going to make up the bulk of my UNII palette.

I decided to go with the hairdryer method of de-potting. With the dryer on low heat, I warmed up the back of the cardboard palette to loosen the glue that holds the pans in place. Then, with a butter knife, carefully pried each pan from its slot. I'm not going to lie; this ain't easy. I came very close to breaking some shadows, and ended up wearing a lot of blue and purple shadow on my fingers. I had wanted to depot a couple of LORAC shadows, but had to give up the goose because the pots were so deep that I couldn't get any leverage with the butter knife. However, this is pure incompetence on my part. I'm no expert at de-potting. It, in no way, reflects upon my review of the palette. In other words, it's not the palette's fault I'm inept.

Anyhoo, moving on. Once my makeup had been freed, it was time to magnetize the pans. The instructions said to try to cover as much of the bottom of each pan as possible for best adherence. I carefully measured, cut, and applied each magnet, while remembering to label them with the brand and color of each product. Start to finish, I think the whole de-potting/magnetizing process took between thirty and forty-five minutes. Once that was finished, I went about arranging my palette.

I had sort of kind of already worked out how things were going to fit before I started de-potting. That way, I didn't de-pot more than I could chew, so to speak. I ended up fitting six full-sized rectangular Stila shadows (they're normally round, just so you know), two tiny travel-sized Urban Decay shadows, three UD lipgloss pans, and a larger travel-sized Urban Decay blush. Even with all that, I still had room for a small lipliner, lip brush, sample-sized eyeliner (thank you, Smashbox), and a deluxe sample tube of Kat Von D eyelid primer. You may applaud if you so choose. I won't stop you.

Here's what fit.

Basically, when I go on vacation, all I need to toss in a bag with it is some foundation, mascara, concealer and powder. If I feel really fancy, I can throw in a primer and some eyebrow wax, but even that's not totally necessary. I normally travel with a stuffed-to-the-gills makeup bag, and even then I've usually forgotten something. To even think that I may not have to do that again tickles me greatly. Plus, all of my "in mortal peril" makeups are safe and sound in an airtight case. 10 out of 10.

Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. If you travel or have makeup you need to save from its packaging, this was made for you.


***Update!***
When UNII emailed me my shipping notice, they asked that I submit a picture of my filled UNII. Well, after I posted this, I sent them an email with the snapshot (same as above) and a link to the review. Before the end of the day, I received this:

Hello Erin,


Thank you for taking the time to write to us and send in a picture of your filled palette, it is adorable! If it is okay with you, we would love to feature it in our gallery page (Erin S., Mobile, AL ). Also, thank you for featuring us on your blog, we really appreciate all of your feedback. We apologize for the unclarity on our website about the box. We changed our box and unfortunately have not updated our website yet. We loved our logo shaped box but as our orders increased, we were unable to keep up with folding them. The boxes were hand folded and finding skilled origamists was proving to be too difficult. It is still very important to us to package our products in interesting boxes and we hope to continue to do so. In your blog post you mentioned that you travel, a helpful travel tip that we recommend is to fold some tissue paper and lay it across your makeup before closing it to prevent all of your makeup from "swimming" around in your palette. I hope you are enjoying your palette, please don't hesitate to contact us anytime if there is anything we can do for you!
Kindest regards,

Jamie

How cool is that?! I didn't really expect a response, and certainly not a personal one that addressed the few tiny issues I had with the product! On top of that, there's even a little added travel tip thrown in. I have to admit, I'm impressed. The product is amazing, and the customer service is top-notch, as well. What can I say? I'm a fan.

Hunting Season

"Strut on a line it's discord and rhyme
I'm on the hunt I'm after you"

Okay, so maybe that's a little melodramatic, but ever since I started my search for the perfect eyeliner, I've had Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf stuck in my head. Why should I suffer alone?

Photo Credit: Sephora

It all started with my Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen ($22, Sephora). I loved it. It was amazing. It dried up. Fabulous as it may have been, it was also a little on the expensive side, so I didn't replace it. Then Smashbox sent me a sample of their Limitless Liner ($19, Sephora) pencil. It was pretty good, and I liked it okay, but not as much as the liquid. Considering it was about the same price as the liquid, I decided to keep looking.

Enter today's contender: Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black. This came as part of a "Bright Stars" sample set from Bare Escentuals and Buxom, which also included a mini Buxom lipgloss in Dolly (dusty mauve), and an exclusive B.E. eyecolor in Starlight (light champagne rose). For $10 at Sephora, I couldn't resist.

I'll get to the rest of the set in a bit, but for now, let's focus on the task at hand and test out this liner ($14, Sephora), shall we? First of all, for a sample, the packaging is primo. You get a thick, black, easy to handle pencil with a black snap-on cap, all made of heavy duty plastic. The pencil also employs a self-sharpening twist mechanism, so you never have to worry about a dull tip. Unfortunately, I think mines twists a little too well. It managed to twist itself into the cap, breaking a piece off the pencil off in the process.

The makeup itself is very soft and creamy, which would make you think that it'll glide on easily. Not so. In fact, it more skips than glides. There's no tugging, but the line is not even at all. It does smudge nicely, but the trade-off is that it also transfers to your lid, even with a primer. While the color is that true black I wanted, I think I'll keep looking. Final Verdict: 4 out of 10. Bottom line, I'm not a fan and can't recommend this.

Next on the chopping block, Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Eyecolor in Starlight ($13, Sephora). Um...it's glitter. It's really pretty, finely-milled, not-even-slightly-teeny-boppery glitter, but it's glitter. Now, that's not a bad thing, if you like glitter (and I do), but I was expecting a pink champagne eyeshadow. There's almost zero color to this, much less anything you could call "rosy". Instead, I have a pot full of what can best be described as loose Urban Decay Stardust ($20, Sephora), but without the pigmentation. I happen to like Stardust, and UD doesn't have a transparent version (they have a nude and a white), so I can brush this over whatever shadow I want and make my own custom "Stardust" shadows. Beware, though, the fallout is strong with this one, so wear a good primer. Final Verdict: 7 out of 10. If you like glitter, you'll like this. Just don't expect any color.

Last in the package is Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Dolly ($18, Sephora). Now, I won't bore you with a review of this one. I took a look at this lipgloss back when the magic bag o' samples still existed. The gloss is, in a word, gorgeous, and I highly recommend it. However, the packaging for this mini-version is so tiny that the first time I used it, I lost the darn thing in my couch cushions. Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. The gloss is a knockout, but the eensy-weensy bottle is a joke.

As a package, Bare Escentuals Bright Stars seems like a good deal. For $10, you get to sample a liner, shadow, and gloss. Unfortunately, the only thing really worth having (unless you love glitter for glitter's sake) is the gloss. Final Verdict: 6.7 out of 10. Not a horrid deal, but I suggest skipping it. Grab a full-sized lipgloss for $8 more and call it a day.

Um...The Dog Ate My Blog Post?

Please bear with me, guys. It's been a crazy weekend, so I wasn't really able to prepare a post for this morning. See, we finally finished the movie (I know! For reals!), so this weekend was filled with printing, paperwork, disc burning, and a ton of mailing. My tongue may never recover from licking so many envelopes. Anyway, I've got some fun stuff planned for this week, so stay tuned! Until then, I leave you with the latest teaser trailer for my movie, The Night Shift. Enjoy!


The Night Shift Teaser Trailer 2 by FightingOwlFilms

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful

A week, or so, ago, the folks at BzzAgent asked me if I would like to try CoverGirl's new NatureLuxe line. Well, sure! Sign me up! I'd been considering tinted moisturizers for Summer, and while this was technically a foundation, it was supposed to be as light and silky as a moisturizer. Really, the texture was the main point of switching, anyway, so bring it on! As a bonus, I got to try a Gloss Balm, too. Sweet!

The package arrived yesterday, and contained the foundation in the shade of my choice, Aspen. The gloss balm was a random pick on their end, and I wound up with Muscat, an orange-tinted red that, luckily, is very flattering with my coloring and newly-coppery hair. There were also some lovely coupons enclosed, in case any of you in my immediate area would like one. I think they take $2 off the cost. I know I've blogged about BzzAgent a few times before, but for those just joining us, it's a word of mouth advertising company. They send me stuff. I try it. If I like it, great. If not, that's fine, too. Then, I share my opinions (good, bad, and ugly) with whomever I so choose. In this case, you guys. Aren't you lucky. I receive no compensation for my reviews, other than the products themselves. /End of disclosure.

Anyway, I decided to give them a whirl this morning, completing my usual makeup routine with the role of Erin's foundation played by CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation, and the role of lip gloss played by CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm.  

Photo Credit (this and all): CoverGirl

The foundation is really nice. I mean, it's world's better than I expected. My experience with drugstore foundations has been spotty, at best, so I really didn't hope for much out of this. To start, I prepped my skin with moisturizer and my favorite primer, Benefit That Gal. Then, I smoothed on the foundation. At first, I was afraid it would be too dark, but by the time I finished applying, the product had absorbed into my skin, and I had a perfect match. Honestly, the only way I could tell I had anything on, at all, was the eveness of my skin tone. This product covers well, but is sheer enough to let your skin show through with zero cakiness. That earns major points in my book. As an added bonus, the foundation is SPF 10, which eliminates the need to apply sunscreen and saves me a step in the mornings. I also really like the light cucumber scent. Packaging is similar to a tinted moisturizer, in a pretty sage-green inverted squeeze tube. 14 shades, $9.74, Walmart. Final Verdict: 10 out of 10. I really can't think of a reason to deduct any points. This is a real winner.

The gloss balm reminds me a lot of my Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Balm in Bora Bora. I mean, it's almost a dead ringer for it. The long-lasting color is nearly identical, and my lips feel super hydrated. The Buxom plumps, while the CoverGirl does not. However, the CoverGirl comes in a tube for more precise application, where the Buxom requires you to either use your finger or carry a separate brush. You just have to pick which characteristics are more important to you. The resulting color and overall feel on your lips will be pretty much the same, either way. For those of you not familiar with the Buxom: this is a full color balm. The color is still sheer, but much more pigmented than a tinted balm (like Burt's Bees). Because it's a balm, it moisturizes and leaves your lips feeling soft and healthy. The color is glossy and, unlike most balms, visible. SPF 15 (not found in the Buxom, by the way) keeps your lips protected from the Summer sun. Crisp, clean packaging in clear plastic and sage green. My only real gripe is that it's so small it gets lost even in the compartments of my purse. 16 shades, $6.48, Walmart. Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. It's making me second-guess my Buxom love, but the small size is a major turn-off. 

Don't Go Breakin' My...Er, Makeup?

Photo Credit: UNII

You know what I hate? Traveling with makeup. First of all, I never know what to bring, so I always overpack, then have to go around with a huge, heavy bag. Secondly, while I have a beautiful train case, it's ginormous (it's more for storage), and impossible to travel with. I end up throwing everything into a dump bag, then having to root through it to find what I need. Thirdly, stuff breaks. It's inevitable, especially if you've checked your makeup bag with your luggage. My last trip to Disney, the bag ended up tossed in a backpack. You can imagine how well that worked out. Fourthly (really? Fourthly? Is that a word?), I want to look nice, since vacations tend to be photographed and posted on Facebook for all the world to see, so I don't want to bring the cheap stuff. I'd like to be able to bring my nice, expensive makeup and not worry about it getting lost or broken. What's a girl to do?

A girl can get a UNII Palette. Well, maybe. I haven't personally tested one, but I have done quite a bit of research on them, and I must say, I'm impressed. I'm planning to order one next paycheck, and if that happens, I'll gladly post my own review in a "Part Deux" to this post.

Basically, the UNII is an empty makeup palette. Unlike others (such as MAC or Stila), there are no pre-made, pre-sized compartments for you to place one specific type of their particular brand (i.e. a palette that only holds MAC eyeshadows and nothing else). The UNII features a blank steel plate in the bottom, and comes with thin magnets to go on the bottoms of your favorite eyeshadow pans. That way, you can put whatever you want in the palette, and it will stick securely. You can also remove items as necessary. You can add eyeshadows, blushes, pressed powders, lipglosses, whatever. You can even throw in a brush or two, if you're space saavy.

Aside from the customization aspect, I am highly impressed with the construction of the case. It's a hard plastic shell, and looks very similar to those flat wallets that have been so popular as of late. Inside the case is a large mirror and a plastic gasket to ensure an air-tight closure. There's also a moveable thumb-grip, in the event that you want to apply makeup straight from the case while looking in the attached mirror. That's incredibly handy. I'm a klutz, so every little bit of grippage helps. The case snaps shut with a heavy-duty snap-closure that goes down the length of one side of the case. In other words, nothing is getting in or out, and it's not going to be battered to death in transport.

The overall look is similar to an Apple product. This would be right at home next to an iPad, with its bright colors (or pearl white or black) and shiny transparent outer coating. In addition, the palette comes with clear instruction on how to de-pot your makeup pans (take them out of their plastic packaging), and the enclosed magnets allow for you to label color names. *Note: UNII does not recommend de-potting makeup. They would prefer you use refill pans, instead. However, as that is not always an option, they have included de-potting instructions with the palette, and also have instructional videos posted on their website. There are also instructions for repairing broken powder makeups. They are not responsible for any damage to your makeup or palette, or for any injury to your person. Just so you know.

The UNII comes in six colors: Pomegranate (a reddish pink), Twilight (baby blue), Lemongrass (chartreuse), Eggplant (a reddish purple), Snow (pearl white), and Coal (black). Prices start at $29, but there is a small discount for multiples.

Now, because I have not tested this out myself, I can not personally recommend you all run out and purchase one today. $29 is not bad for a palette, but it's still a little more than most folks (myself included) can comfortably afford. There is, however, a fabulously thorough review that, while a little long, is pretty darn enjoyable. It might help you decide whether or not something like this is right for you.




I can't embed this because my computer is stupid, so this link will take you to a YouTube page.
Photo Credit: From Head To Toe

 

Break Out the Pumice Stones!

'Tis the season for pedicures!! Down here around the Equator, it's already hot and sticky (at least it's a wet heat, right?) that my feet sweat in flip-flops. For the next five months, or so, you're going to have a hard time catching me in shoes, period, much less anything that might require socks or hose.

With that in mind, let us turn our attention to that glorious innovation in footwear design: the sandal. Ah, the sandal! Dressier than shower shoes, but with about as much coverage. You allow me to stay cool in the evil Spring and Summer temperatures, and still keep my job. Bless your little soles.

Now, my office dress code is waaaaaaaaay less restrictive than most, so I don't dare presume to tell you what kind of sandal, if any, might be appropriate for where you work. I do, however, have a few favorites for other occasions: the Summer wedding, a night on the town, and bumming around at the mall. Let's start with the latter and go from there. All styles are available at Charlotte Russe.

WEEKEND WEAR

Photo Credit (this and all pictures): Charlotte Russe

I love the metallic look of this sandal. There's something TRON-like about the pewter and copper strands looping around each other (or maybe that's just me). This is sleek, sophisticated, and effortlessly cool. $12.50.

Orange is a super hot color right now. It's everywhere from lips to nails, and this tangerine-hued wedge is a showstopping representation of the trend. The braided detail is a particularly nice touch. $25.50.

For the Boho girl (like me, most of the time), we have this embellished t-strap. Picture it with khaki cargo capris or thigh-grazing denim shorts. $24.50.

GOING OUT

This ultra-sexy faux suede cage heel in bright red could really stop traffic! Try it with a LBSD (little black sundress). $32.50.

I'm a little bit in love with this leopard print wedge. The ankle strap gives it a retro flair, while the solid heel keeps me from falling down. That's always a major plus. This is for the pin-up girl in all of us. $32.50.

"All she wants to do is DANCE, DANCE!" She can in this comfy flat embellished sandal. The rhinestone encrusted straps add extra sparkle to an already glimmering gold finish. $24.50.

SPECIAL OCCASION

How much fun is this hot pink ruffled wedge?! The faux leather upper and basket-weave detailing dress this sandle up, and make the perfect match for a taffeta mini-dress. $30.00.

This shoe is just hot. That's all there is to it. The sleek, faux leather curves; the platform; the sky high heel...this is just one smokin' sandal. $35.50.

In sharp contrast to the above offering, is this sweet, ruffled wedge. The peep-toe keeps this from being too precious. $25.50.

Grown-Up Phillies

As you've probably noticed, I rarely post recipes. That's because A) this is a beauty/pop-culture blog (for the most part), and B) I can't cook worth a darn. That said, I found myself in a bit of a pickle the other night, and needed to throw dinner together quickly, and with the few items in the fridge and pantry. Oddly enough, not only did it turn out, but has become one of Thomas' new favorites. I thought I'd post it here, in case anyone else wanted to give it a shot. All measurements are approximate, as I'm really bad about adding a dash here and a pinch there. Feel free to experiment.

Philly Cheese Steak Pasta

1/2 box Great Value Bowtie Pasta
1 small (6 oz) package Tyson Grilled and Ready Seasoned Steak Strips
1 tbsp. light sour cream
Optional:
1/2 onion, sliced or chopped and sauteed
1/2 green bellpepper, sliced or chopped and sauteed

Sauce:
1/4 cup light butter or margarine
1/4-1/2 cup white wine (yes, white. I used a Riesling, believe it or not)
1/4-1/2 cup shredded cheese (your choice, but I suggest a white cheese, like mozzarella or gouda, or a blend.)
2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp. minced garlic
Salt or garlic powder to taste

In a medium pot, add bowtie pasta to boiling water. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan. Add garlic as butter melts. Stir in 1/4 cup of wine, salt (or garlic powder), parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Add more cheese if desired. Simmer, while stirring frequently, until pasta finishes boiling. Add more wine if sauce becomes too thick to pour easily.

While sauce is simmering and pasta is boiling, prepare steak strips according to microwave directions. When done, add to sauce and continue simmering (drippings will also help thin the sauce).

Once pasta has cooked, drain, return to pot, and add sauce/steak to pasta. Add sour cream, toss and serve.

If you wish, while steak is heating up and sauce is simmering, you could sautee onions and peppers in a little olive oil and/or butter. Add those in right before serving.

Serves: 2-4 (depending on portion size. 2, if it's a main dish. 4, if it's a side)
Cooking Time: 10-15 minutes. However long it takes for water to boil and bowties to cook.

If anyone tries this, I'd love to know what you thought about it in the comments. Any suggestions for improvement are greatly appreciated. What I like about this is that it's quick, simple, and has fairly staple ingredients. It looks and tastes fancier than it really is, too, so it's good if you have unexpected company for dinner.

Cheap Tricks: Drugstore Darlings

Last Friday, I had to get ready for work at my mom's house. Thursday night, like a good little girl, I laid out what I was going to wear and packed up all the necessaries for the next day: makeup, hairspray, hairbrush, etc. Of course, once I got to Mom's and started my attempt at putting myself together, I realized that I'd forgotten my concealer and mascara. Bad beauty blogger! Bad!

Never fear, Mom is here! She bounded up the stairs, and returned with a Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller and Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies black mascara. Now, being accustomed to my usual pricey products from the magical land of Sephora, I was a little nervous. How were drugstore finds going to compare? Not only that, but my mother and I have completely different skin tones. She and my brother have glowing olive skin that represents the Cuban end of our gene pool. My dad and I share day-glo, lily-white skin, courtesy of the Irish ancestry that makes up the other 75% of our DNA. How was this going to work?

Photo Credit: Garnier USA

I tried the eye roller first ($11.99, Target). Now, I have one of these things at home, but not the type with concealer in it. The one I have just helps with puffiness, but it's one of those rare products I just can't live without. This is basically the same thing, but with a lightweight concealer mixed in with the caffeine gel, and added lemon essence for brightening the eye area. I swiped the metal roller ball under my eye, and immediately noticed a pool of liquid concealer. This frightened me, at first, but once I patted it into my skin, I was amazed with the results. My circles were completely covered, puffiness decreased, and the concealer really did appear to brighten my eye area. On top of that, the color (there is only one to choose from) somehow managed to match my mom's and my skin tones.

The Good: Full coverage in a lightweight, lotion-like formula. Decreased puffiness, increased brightness. Affordable price point.
The Bad: Um...one shade? Seriously? This worked for me and my mom, but I woudn't recommend it for anyone with skin darker than olive.
Final Verdict: I'm picking one of these up for Summer. It'll be great with tinted moisturizer for days by the pool or visiting theme parks. 9 out of 10.

Next on the experiment list: mascara. Again, Mom and I differ greatly. I've been on shows where the makeup designer demanded false eyelashes, only to have them tell me I can skip them if I want. I just need soemthing to darken and accentuate what I already have. My mom, on the other hand, is...lash-challenged. She needs something really volumizing and lengthening.

Photo Credit: drugstore.com

Enter The Falsies ($7.99, Drugstore.com)! I really had no expectations for this mascara. My experience with mascaras that insist they can create a false lash look has generally been disappointing. About the only thing false about them are their claims. However, this mascara does a better job than most. My mother brushed a little on her short lashes, and they were lengthened. They did appear thicker and more voluminous. I swiped on a couple of coats*, and was pleased with the results, as well. While not quite on par with my beloved Buxom Lash (but really, what is? I'm about to start my third tube), it was as good, if not better, than most of the higher-end, specialty store mascaras I've used. Best of all, it's waterproof, so it's perfect for sun, surf, and Summer weddings.

The Good: Volumizes and lengthens, waterproof, curling brush, affordable price point.
The Bad: I'm out on this one. No complaints.

Final Verdict: 10 out of 10. For the price, you can't really beat the results. I'm picking up a tube to keep on hand this Summer.

You know, sometimes Mom really does know what she's talking about.


*Disclaimer: I am not, in any way, endorsing the sharing of mascara wands. That's a great way to give yourself, or someone else, a nasty eye infection. This was a one-time deal with my mom, whose entire medical history is known to me, and mine is known to her. And if she ever gives me an infection, I know where she lives.

You Are Not Saving the World Wearing That, Young Lady!

Photo Credit: The Hollywood Reporter
Left: The new look. Right: The original concept.

"Stop a bullet cold, make the Axis fold. Change their minds and change the world!" But please, first change your clothes. The David E. Kelly Wonder Woman television remake has been in the works for some time, and recently released a picture of the new Diana Prince (Adrianna Palicki) in full Amazonian Princess regalia. The reviews were...mixed, at best. A summation of the major complaints would state that it was an unpatriotic, trampy, hot mess of a cheap party-store Halloween costume. Ouch.

To be honest, I wasn't thrilled with it. The boustier top is fine. It is slightly--okay, extremely--reminiscent of a bad fairy costume I wore to a Halloween party when Thomas and I were dating (Come to think of it, he went as Superman, so maybe we had something there?), but I can deal with that. It does look like it would allow for more movement than Lynda Carter's original bathing beauty outfit. One thing it almost had going for it, though, was the pants suit bottom half. If you're going to be out on the mean streets, kicking bad-guy butt, it'd be nice to not have to worry about a sudden wedgie or getting a run in your hose. Unfortunately, the periwinkle blue clashed so badly, my first instinct was to wonder if they pulled it off of another costume and tacked it on at the last minute. Then, they finished off the costume with matchy-matchy periwinkle boots. I realize that matching your shoes to your tights/hose/skin tone makes for a longer, leaner look, but in this case, it just looked...well, unfortunate is the only word coming to mind.

Photo Credit: Daily Postal
Above: Lynda Carter as the original Wonder Woman

Thank God someone in the costume department saw the light! The new costume is, dare I say, cute! Almost stylish, even. Sure, the bracelets are still silver, causing the actress in me to wonder why Ms. Prince would make the trim on her costume a contrasting color. What could be her motivation (I apologize for that)? Forgiving that, most of the other gripes I had with the suit have been rectified. Gone are the latex leggings, and in their place, JEGGINGS!! Alright, so maybe not jeggings proper, but darker, thicker, slightly more modest, star-studded pantalones. I'm also really digging on the red boots. She now looks less like a fetish model, and more like a young lady hitting the clubs. Sure, there's still a very high probability that she'll have someone ask what she charges per hour, but they'll probably be a nicer caliber of John than the original suit would have attracted. Really, though, it's no sluttier than most girl superhero costumes, and overall, while not perfect, it's a reasonable update to a tricky uniform. Now, let's hope we can say better about the series?