Brainstorm

So I'm sitting here on a Saturday night watching Andy Griffith, playing with my makeup, and brainstorming ideas for next months blog topics. I was thinking it would be pretty neat if you guys (my cupcakes!) suggested topics you would like to read about next month.

Here are a couple ideas I had:

• On trend fall lipstick colors for 2015
• Makeup (or personal, if you guys care to hear) Q & A
• ColourPop fall line swatch/review

Let me know if those sound like something you'd care to read about, I'd love to hear your feedback! And please do feel free to comment any ideas for a "beginning of fall" blog topic you'd be interested in. 

Jamberry review

Jamberry

First off, huge thanks to Becca for sending me this awesome Jamberry kit. I have never, ever tried Jamberry before and I was super stoked to get this kit in the mail! So let's get down to my thoughts!

The process took me a good 30 minutes from start to finish. I applied them using the method called "Jamberry "cold" application and baggie method." Here is the process I followed to apply mine:

• Push back your cuticles and use the Jamberry nail prep wipe.
• Match the correct size nail wrap to your nail. Use tweezers to remove the wrap. (Tip, if you touch the wrap with your finger the oils will be make the wrap unusable.)
• Cut the wrap down the approximate length of your nail and position it onto your nail.
• Using a cuticle pusher (or similar tool) gently apply pressure to the wrap to help with the bonding process.
• Put your finger inside a plastic baggie, and apply the heated rice pack on top for about 30 seconds. 
• Trim and file down excess wrap.
• Apply heat once more just to make sure it is bonded well to the nail.

And that's it, rinse and repeat. To be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this product working but I was pleasantly surprised. The nail wraps are a lot thicker than the ones you buy in stores, and I believe this is a good option for growing your nails out. Mine are pretty long right now and I feel like the wraps will help protect my nails from breaking. (And look super cute in the meantime.)

I have only had the wraps on 24 hours but so far they have held up well, and I have cleaned the house...done laundry...all those Mom duties. I will come back in a week and edit this post to let you know how they are doing, but I like them a lot so far! If you'd like to try Jamberry for yourself, please visit Becca's Jamberry store by CLICKING HERE. 

Until next week,

August Contest Winners

And the August contest winners are....

For the Fortune Cookie Soap fall box

JENNIFER C! Check your email because Fortune Cookie Soap has contacted you about your prize. Congratulations!!

The winner of the Fortune Cookie Soap from the fall box is 

PAULETTE HAIR! I will be sending out your cookie within the next week. Congratulations! 

Thank you all so much for entering. Please join me in congratulating our winners and make sure you follow this blog. Who knows, the next contest winner could be you!! :)

Birchbox vs Ipsy [August]

Birchbox vs Ipsy

Birchbox

• Supergoop! Forever Young hand cream [Appx. $2] SAMPLE
• Coola Makeup Setting Spray [Appx. $7] SAMPLE
• Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle leave in conditioner [Appx. $5] SAMPLE
• LAQA & Co lip crayon [Appx. $6] DELUXE SAMPLE
• Harvey Prince Hello perfume [Appx $6] SAMPLE

This box contained 2 items I will use (the perfume and Coola setting spray), and all sample sizes. 

Total bag value $26

Ipsy

• Starlooks eye liner pen [$19] FULL SIZE
• Marc Anthony argan oil of morocco [Appx. $5] DELUXE SAMPLE
• Clear Clinic clear spot treatment [Appx $9] SAMPLE
• Hikari cosmetics lip gloss [$13] FULL SIZE
• AILA nail polish [$17] FULL SIZE

This bag contained 3 products I will use (the eye liner pen, spot treatment, and lip gloss) and I got three full sized items and only 2 samples, plus the cute houndstooth bag!

Total bag value $66 (If you figure the bag itself at $3 which is what I've normally seen them go for)

So yeah...per usual, Ipsy dominated. The retail value of Ipsy is nearly three times higher than the retail value of Birchbox, plus I got more items I will use in Ipsy AND most of my items are full size. Both subscriptions retail for $10. Birchbox really needs to step up their game. 

ColourPop silver metallic look

Hey cupcakes! Today I'm bringing you a new makeup look using ColourPop cosmetic products. I hope you enjoy!

This look is very out of my comfort zone but I like it! It's silver metallics on my eyes with a nude lip.  It's created with ColourPop products almost entirely. The two shadows I'm using are these two:

 

Liberty                                                   Deck   

This is the highlighter I'm wearing:

Lunch Money

And finally this is the lip stick I'm wearing. It's an ultra matte.

Midi

I hope you all enjoyed this look and are having a happy Thursday! Don't forget, visit Colourpop.com if you like any of these products, and use code "THANKSBABE" for $5 off your first order. 

ColourPop Neutral Swatches

Neutrals 

I ADORE ColourPop shadows and yesterday my husband gave me my birthday gift (which was ColourPop shadows) so I finally have enough to do a large neutral swatch for all my cupcakes! I hope you guys enjoy the swatches. Comment below and tell me if you own any of these and which are your favorites!

• Cop A Feel-matte-creamy beige
• Hanky Panky-matte-taupe
• I Heart This-no finish-silvery taupe with multi-colored glitter
• Plunge-pearlized-beige with a golden sheen
• Get Lucky-metallic-true gold
• Birthday Girl-no finish-medium brown with gold and bronze shimmer
• Nillionaire-metallic-bronze with gold and multicolored glitter
• 3-metallic-silvery bronze with multi-colored glitter

To get yours, visit ColourPop.com and use code"THANKSBABE" for $5 off a first time purchase. 

It's my BIRTHDAY!

Today I am mourning my twenties as I turn 29. I can safely say 28 has been my best year thus far, so maybe 29 won't be so bad! This year, well...2 months ago to be exact, I started this blog. In just two months over 14,000 have visited this page and that is the best birthday gift I could ever ask for. I love what I do.

My husband threw a birthday dinner for me yesterday with our families and I got some pretty amazing stuff! My mother in law got me a Polaroid camera and some cute new clothes, my parents got me a tank top from NYC and a mani/pedi, my husband got me a bunch of ColourPop products I've been wanting, my brother and sister in law got me tickets to a show I've been wanting to see, and my sister in law and her husband got me a batman cup, zombie car decal, and a gift card. I feel very spoiled and loved!

So this post is somewhat relevant, I took a picture of my makeup look I wore to my birthday dinner.

Here's a list of the products I am wearing:

• Dr Jart dis-a-pore BB cream
• Physicians Formula translucent mineral powder
• Tarte blush in "thankful"
• ColourPop highlight in "lunch money"
• IT cosmetics brow powder 
• ColourPop shadow in "Birthday Girl" 
• LA Girl shadow (natural palette, darkest shade)
• Jesse's Girl liquid liner pen
• Tarte "Lights Camera Lashes" mascara
• Stila lipstick in "Beso"

The only product I used I have a complaint with is the lipstick.  It was all over my sandwich I ate, my straw, my husband, and my face. I should've worn ColourPop "Creeper" but I wanted to try something new. From now on I'll definitely stick to my ColourPop for dinners...and you know, everything else in life.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and thank you to everyone who has wished me a happy birthday! It definitely has been :) If I can call in one more birthday favor, if you aren't already, please click that "follow" button on the right hand side and follow this blog. 

-Sammi Cupcake