The 2nd Annual Obligatory Twilight Post

Coke or Pepsi? Around here, that question not only determines what drink goes into your cup, but can actually factor into friendships, jobs, and possibly who you'll eventually marry. I kid you not.

Liberal or Conservative? Again, a polarizing question that can have major consequences if your views don't mesh with someone else's.

Boxers or Briefs? Not necessarily polarizing, but incredibly personal, and quite frankly, a little bit rude. Seriously, if you have to ask, you don't need to know.

When I write this blog, I try extremely hard not to write anything that could possibly offend anyone. That's not to say that I write pithy product reviews to keep companies happy--anyone who's read this blog for any length of time knows that I hold no punches! What I mean is that I try to avoid anything too controversial. This is a fun, safe place to visit. We're here to discuss makeup, fashion, pop culture, and all things cute and adorable (hence the name of the blog). There's no need to delve into anything ultra-personal or divisive...

...except for Twilight.

Twilight is that rare bird that touches all of the subjects we discuss here. There's Twilight makeup, Twilight clothing, Twilight movies and books, Twilight action figures...the list goes on. It's everywhere, and on top of that, it's Halloween, so it has to be addressed on the blog. Unfortunately, people tend to either really, really love Twilight, or really, really hate Twilight. There is practically no middle ground. You either want to stake Edward or marry him, end of story.

With that, I will not divulge my feelings toward the franchise or its characters. I am simply going to present to you with some stuff I found that you may or may not wish to either peruse or destroy. It's up to you. Just keep it clean in the comments, okay?

So, last year, we talked about glitter options and DuWop's Twilight Lip Venom. This year, we're focusing on supporting character, Alice.

First up, here's a really well-done, easy-to-follow makeup tutorial for an "Alice Cullen" look by Pixiewoo. In it, you'll see some really good tips, like remembering your ears and covering redness. The young lady in the video uses Make Up For Ever, but you can use whatever brands you prefer. Even if you hate Twilight, watch this for the eye makeup. It's amazing, and really easy to do.

GAH!!! The Embed Code didn't work!!! You can view the tutorial here!

I am now addicted to the Pixiwoo channel. I hope you're all happy. My productivity is shot for the rest of th--oooh, look! A Corpse Bride tutorial!!

Yeah...this could be bad...

Anyhoo...next, I found a beautiful, Alice-inspired palette from the DuWop Luna Twilight collection. It's a mini-palette (about the size of a credit card), but it packs a big punch with two coordinating eye shadows (silver and blue), two lip glosses (bright pink and hot pink), and a pinky-beige blush. Other palettes are available for fans of Victoria, Rosalie, and Bella (my personal favorite of the palettes), and all can be found at a fantastic discount at Beauty Ticket. The regular price is $28, and Alice is priced at only $16. Plus, right now you can save an extra 15% with the coupon code Halloween15.

I hope at least a few of you found this helpful. If there's something else in the Twilight world you'd like to see covered, please let me know in the comments. If there's not...well, then please remember to play nice. Thanks!

The Most Contested Cruise That Ever Sailed

I'm a Disney girl.  I get it from my parents.  We watched the movies, visited the park (a lot), and I even worked for the Mouse for a short while after college.  Then, I had to go and marry a guy who's as much a Mickey freak as I am.  Our kids have no hope.  We're planning a trip to Disney World right now, and are seriously considering a trip to Disneyland next year.  Neither of us have ever been to the park in Anaheim, so I thought I'd do a little advance research to see what's different, new, or exciting.  I had no idea what I was walking into.

Talk about controversy!  Back in February '09 (yeah, I'm late to the party), it's a small world (no, they don't capitalize it) re-opened following a massive overhaul.  Mechanics were repaired, dolls were cleaned up, costumes were laundered and pressed, sets were painted and re-glittered, lighting and sound were upgraded, boats were slightly re-designed...you know, the usual, but all fairly unnoticeable changes.  One thing, however, that is noticeable, is the Rainforest characters have moved to the South America room.  This was to make room for a new "Spirit of America" display, featuring cowboys, farmers, and Native Americans frolicking through the countryside, with an exit through the Hollywood Bowl.  Um...okaaaay...

Whatever.  Here's where things get interesting.  The addition of 29 characters from Disney and Disney*Pixar films has been made to the ride.  That's right.  Twenty-nine characters are floating (some literally) through it's a small world, making it a 15-minute game of Where's Waldo.  Also, the music was remixed to include snippets of movie themes.  This has caused some fans to get their Mickey ears in a bunch.

Purists are crying foul.  Many are saying that it's just Disney trying to advertise (although, if you're already in the park, I think that job is done), and protest groups have formed.  Seriously.  Think about that for a minute.  People have joined protest groups against it's a small world.  I'd link to one, but they all seem to have disappeared.  If anyone finds one, please send it to me.  I'd love to get their side of the story.

Now, I can't post any pictures here, due to copyright, but here's a link to some fantastic shots.  You can also find more here, here, here, and here.  I'd like to know what you guys think.  Personally, I'm a little mixed about it.  Some of the characters fit in beautifully, and a few even blend into the background.  I'm a little sad that my surfer boy is gone, but Lilo and Stitch have replaced him, and I'm okay with that.  The Three Caballeros seem a little too far centerstage, and Cinderella seems completely out of place.  I'm really not sure how I feel about it.  I love when rides are renovated--really!  Like anything else, rides grow stale without freshening up.  In this case, though, I don't really see the point, and I'm afraid it's detracting from the overall message.  On the other hand, little kids sure seem to like it, and really, isn't that what it's there for?  Let me know your opinions in the comments section.   

Well, I messed up this morning, and forgot to pull anything out of the magic bag o' samples.  I was running late for my hair appointment, and coffee trumped experimenting.  Please forgive me.

Anyway, so as to not leave anyone hanging (in the event anybody even cares about the sample of the day), I thought I'd tell you about the cool stuff Jessica, my stylist, put in my hair.  I don't own this, and therefore don't use it everyday, so you could argue that, technically (love all the commas!), this might be considered a sample.  Sort of.

Jessica sprayed my damp hair down with Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment.  According to sleekhair.com:

This spray treatment is ideal for applying to longer hair lengths for ease in coverage, enabling protection from heat appliances and a smoother comb through. Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment instantly repairs and adds elasticity to dry, damaged, frizzy hair. It hydrates, conditions, smooths and shines.

Yes.  Yes, it does.  My hair feels amazing, my curls are shiny, and there is not one single frizzy hair on my head.  It's not the first time she's used it on me, and the results are always the same.  Retails for $23.99 for 5.1oz, sleekhair.com, and I highly recommend it.