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Five Things 11.30.10

If you've gotta go, maybe surrounded by pretty goodies is the best way!

How is everything today?! I'm thankful to be beyond Thanksgiving andofficially into the holiday season! And I'm having great fun browsing for items for the gift guide. It does, however, leave me with some serious Wish List items of my own (mostly fragrances)!

What are your Wishes this season?

xoxo,
*jen

 

1. Am I just a very easily led person? Because nearly every perfume review I read has me dying to try it! Take, for example, this review of Dawn Spencer Hurwitz's Three Kings. The opening burst of citrus, the bright floral heart, and the mystical base... I want this seasonal yumminess, STAT!
   
   
2. The WAH Nails site has me wishing I were more talented at nail art. Have you seen it? Polka dots, accent nails, patterns, colors... So much fun!
   
   
   
   
   
3. Think Katy Perry is selling out, what with her upcoming nail polish collection and her new fragrance? So what?! So does she.
   
   "I want to sell out! That’s the thing. I’m a businesswoman, and selling out sounds good to me.    — Katy Perry
   
   I appreciate her refreshing honesty
   
   
   
4. Buy these shimmering undies and help the victims of Haiti's earthquake. Each purchase results in the donation of a handheld solar LED lantern to victims in Port Au Prince.
   
   
5. These crack me up! They are tiny little hand-shaped soaps. The creator made 2500 for a graduate school project. You can buy a set of seven for $28. I love 'em!

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Five Things 11.23.10

1. Pink Friday is a new lipstick at MAC, with a twist. It was designed by hip hop queen Nicki Minaj. (No, I won't even try to pretend I know who she is - it's the lippie I'm about) Expect a creamy bright pink lip (satin finish). The twist? You have four (4!) shots at it. Four (4!) Fridays, actually. You can only buy it online, and only Friday, Nov. 26th (Black Friday) and the next three Fridays.
   PS: This coincides with Nicki Minaj's new album release; it's called Pink Friday. Duh.
   
   
2. I'm in lust with this scrummy yummy black cowl neck shirt from Athleta. Look at the sexy (and surely flattering?) cabling! $64 _via
   
   
3. The Muse is leading the search for the missing Lambie. Any clues or tips are appreciated!
   
   
4. Dear, lovely balyage, does the bell toll for you for the last time? Word from down under, from the inimitable Zoe, seems to suggest it is. She's ushering in the era of "Dessert Hair". Are you going to give it a try?
   
   
5. I'm addicted to the inspiring words and pretty lettering at the notebook doodles. Bookmark it or put it in your feed reader. You can thank me later.

What are your five things for today?

Five Things 11.16.10

Lady Gaga is getting a fragrance. Of course. It may or may not be called "Monster;" that's unconfirmed - not to mention predictable. Coty, who will be producing the scent, says the ad campaign will be "unprecedented and groundbreaking". Doubtless.  The packaging will apparently reflect the singer's "artistic sensibility". I can't wait... for the trainwreck.





Angel. The scent puts fear into the hearts of many. But many others disagree, which is why you smell it everywhere. Those of you in the latter group can rejoice! Thierry Mugler has dressed up the controversial scent in various wrappings as a present to fans. Collectors will want to snap up the solid perfume in a star-shaped, Swarovski-bedecked ring, a leatheresque-dressed star flacon, and a Swarovski-clad oversized perfume extrait (13oz of gourmand goodies). That last one, the Deluxe Superstar, will hurt the wallet, though (nearly 3k!).  (Shh... I kinda want that ring!!)

Oh, Gio. You're killin' me here with these amazing new mottled eyeshadows. You say they give 24-hour wear, which is perfect for hanging out all night with international men of mystery (or hitting up the company holiday party). I don't even mind your choice of spokeswhore (much).



Wake me when it's over. Essie isn't actually working the shock and awe angle with their Winter collection. I just can't get excited about a green (looks like a darker version of Fall's Sew Psyched, which was gorgeous but geez!); a brown; a plummy-brown; a dark reddish-brown; a red; and a grey. At least it's not all sheer pinks...






Like many girls, I always loved those little dolls within dolls. Lush has released a holiday Matryoshka Nesting Doll that Will let us play like a kid on Christmas morning! Unwrap the doll to get your hands on a So White Soap, a Cinders Bath Bomb, and a So White Bath Bomb. Adorable!! (get it)

Five Things | 11.8.10

1. As much as The Nail Ninja dislikes the crackle finish top coat that's coming out with the Katy Perry - OPI collaboration, she may still buy from the collection. The pink glitter, Teenage Dream, and the "sultry silver", Not Like the Movies, have potential.
   
   
2. The new La Prairie Life Threads scents are named after precious gems: Emerald, Ruby, and Sapphire. I wonder if the lilac in Emerald is discernible and if the whole thing is just too floral?
   
   
3. The Clarins holiday '10 collection, Barocco, looks so pretty! I am so into golds right now, which is weird for me, but this collection will let me take that and run with it! And a deep purple Rouge Prodige lipstick in a limied edition case with a lovely scroll?! I'm dying over here...
   
   
4. Illasmasqua now takes Paypal. More major brands should take their lead.
   
   
5. I'm having a lot of fun following Vintage Beauty, a new blog that is about, well, vintage makeup. Liz, who comments here sometimes, had a box of the stuff tucked away and recently rediscovered it, and now she's sharing it piece by piece. If you were a makeup wearer in the 80's, this site will be a kick for you!

Five Things - Beauty

  

1. I'm completely amused by this ad for a new tv show on kid's channel, Sprout. It features Pat Monahan, from the band Train, who is the voice of Driver Dan on the Story Train. Train... Train.... Get it? Anyway, that's not what I think is so funny. We all know networks heavily promote their new shows, so I get a jillion chances a day to laugh as Pat says "I'm really excited..."  with his frozen, heavily Botox'd forehead (about the 28 second mark). Is it just me?
   (embedded video ~ come to BSB to see it.)
   
   
   
2. Here's a genius idea: predict beauty trends by investigating what actual consumers are buying. Crazy talk!
   
   
3. Pop Quiz: What's the difference between the angsty Young Alannis Morisette and equally angsty (but less melancholy) Taylor Swift? Trick question, of course. There are a ton of differences, not the least of which is that teen country crooner Swift is getting her own fragrance. I've never seen eau de Alannis. Isn't it ironic?
   
   
4. Bee trendy! Burt's Bees is now selling four solid perfumes, which are all the rage with youngsters today. Naturally Beautiful, Naturally Fresh, Naturally Happy, and Naturally Sensual are only $10, made with natural ingredients, and paraben-, phthalate-, petrochemical-, and SLS-free.
   
   
5. Promise Me you'll keep thinking about breast cancer awareness even though October is now in the rearview mirror. One easy way is trying Susan G Komen for the Cure's first fragrance, Promise Me. It's a "floriental" that will make its appearance in April 2011.