SEPHORA VIB 20% OFF SALE: RECOMMENDATIONS

Holy moly, is it really November already? I can't believe that I've been away for so long! I had computer problems and needed to send my laptop to the doctor. Eight long, torturous weeks later, it came back and has been working well ever since. Right around that time, lots of big, exciting changes began to happen in my personal life. Lots. I'll explain everything in another post because after such a long hiatus, I want to get right down to business!

Like many of you, I was a little upset to learn that Sephora's 2012 Friends & Family sale was going to be considerably more literal this year than in the past. (Basically, it was open to the Sephora family and those who know the staff well.) After years of purchase after purchase, I would have thought that Sephora and I were, in fact, good friends. No matter, because as it turns out, Sephora thinks I'm very important. Super. After the amount of business I've given them over the years, they'd better!

So what am I getting at? Sephora's annual 20% off VIB sale hits stores and Sephora.com tomorrow and ends on November 12th. Not a VIB (Very Important Beauty) Insider? Unfortunately, you can't enjoy this deal, which bothers me immensely considering Sephora already cheaped out on the F&F sale this year. If you are a VIB, use the code "CELEBRATE" at checkout. And if you use Ebates, you get an additional 4% cash back. Not an Ebates member? Join now and thank me later.

I always use Friends & Family and the VIB sales to stock up on essentials and grab some holiday gifts, but I will do a blog post or video entirely devoted to gift ideas in a few weeks. In the mean time, I want to recommend some great products (only a handful of which I haven't tried) that you might typically shy away from given the initial price tag, but that may seem more reasonable with the sale and Ebates.

What I Might Get:

Beautyblender Set
     * Worth the hype?
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
     * A winter weather staple
Josie Maran Moroccan Bazaar Argan Set
     * Staple (Argan Oil) + new products I want to try
Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes
     * Does natural nail polish remover actually work?
Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick
     * To soothe cracked, winterized skin
Make Up For Ever High Definition Foundation *OR*
Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
     * To get "perfect" skin

My Recommendations:

Benefit Sexy Little Stowaways Set
     * 10 travel-sized bestsellers
Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System
     * Holy Grail product and worth every penny
Clarisonic Brush Heads
     * Suggested replacement: every 90 days
Fresh Sugar Addiction Mini Lip Collection
     * 6 mini tube varieties of this bestselling lip balm
Ghd Classic Straightener/Styler
     * Curl, wave or straighten with ease
Guerlain Meteorites Powder
     * An iconic product; I haven't tried it
Josie Maran Argan Oil
     * One of my skincare staples
Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover
     * By far my favorite eye makeup remover
Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara Collection
     * All you need to define your eyes
Kate Somerville Exfolikate
     * Very expensive, but makes skin glow
Make Up For Ever Complexion Starter Kit
     * 4 items to make a flawless face
Nars Blush or Bronzer
     * Iconic powders
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar
     * Great lip stains; make sure to apply precisely
Philosophy Shower Gel
     * Candy Cane is my personal favorite
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser
     * Removes makeup with ease
Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder
     * Mix with moisturizer to gradually even out your skin tone
REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask
     * Naturally resurface your skin (I've heard great things; on my wish-list)
Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Collector's Set
     * 16 mini bottles for the nail polish junkie
Sephora Collection Premium I.T. Brush Set
     * For face and eyes; comes with a stand
Sephora Fragrance Sampler
     * Find your new favorite fragrance; great gift
Sephora Lash Stash
     * Find your new favorite mascara; great gift
Sultra 1" Bombshell Curling Iron
     * Makes tight curls or loose waves with ease; my favorite curling iron
Sultra Seductress Curl, Wave & Straight Iron
     * Easily straightens, curls or waves; varied heat settings
Urban Decay Naked 1 or 2 Palette
     * Iconic eyeshadow palettes for the girl who loves neutrals
Urban Decay Ocho Loco 24/7 Eye Liner Set
     * 8 waterproof eyeliners and fantastic double-barrel sharpener
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
     * Radiance in a tube; not meant to replace your concealer

Boy, do I wish that Sephora still sold Chanel and Mac makeup. (Am I dating myself?) I would stock up like crazy! *Sigh* Anyway, this list is not exhaustive, so feel free to add any product recommendations that you have in the comments section below. Happy shopping!

TEASER: NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE HAUL

Now that Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is in full swing and my wallet has dropped a solid 10 pounds – a situation where weight loss is really, really bad – I thought I’d tease you with my new goodies. (I seriously cannot wait to play dress up and show you what I come up with!) My lighting is terrible because it’s raining, but I think you can see well enough to get a general idea of what everything is. I have been really good about not shopping over the past few months, but I got a little carried away this time around! My shopping trips were spread out over a few days, so I didn't realize how much I had actually purchased until I started to put this post together. Yikes!

Right to Left, Back to Front: Arcona Triad Pads
Cle de Peau Concealer, Nars Joie de Vivre, Chanel Sable Emouvant
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Chanel Giggle, Dior Amazonia, Chanel Vertigo

Right to Left, Back to Front:
Frye Melissa Trapunto, Ugg Fabrizia, BP. Rally
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12, Sam Edelman Petty, Indigo by Clarks Heath Harrier
(The black Ugg Fabrizia boots are definitely going back. They're very uncomfortable!)

Frenchi Vanity Tweed Jacket, Halogen Collarless Tweed Jacket, Olivia Moon Ruched Sleeve Jacket

Joie Pearline Blouse, Halogen Pin Tuck Pleat Blouse, Twenty Leather Panel Tee

Halogen Pleat Front Check Skirt, June Rabbit Fur Vest, Hinge Fitted Leather Jacket

I’m either going to do a video or more detailed post that shows you the items in better detail. In the meantime, if you see something you like, get a move on to Nordstrom or the online store before it’s all gone! Keep an eye out for styling ideas and beauty reviews coming in the next few days. Don't forget to subscribe to my blog for updates!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

NAIL NEWS: MERMAID TO ORDER

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of nail polish on my fingers to make me feel instantly…well, polished! The right coat of varnish conveys my mood and pulls any ensemble together, even if it’s really casual. I like to try bolder, more vibrant colors in the summer (shocking, huh?) because the sun and sand tend to yellow paler hues into sickly-looking shades.

Speaking of the sun and sand, I’ve been trying to get to the beach as much as possible during my free time because I love, love, love the ocean.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to take too many day trips this summer because my weekends have been unusually busy. Undeterred, I decided to bring the beach vibe to me! Sephora by OPI’s “Mermaid to Order”  ($9.50 at Sephora) is the closest thing I can think of to having the beach in a bottle. The stunning metallic teal is aptly named and it’s so different from what I normally wear that I get happy every time I look at my fingers.

As such a bold and unique color, “Mermaid to Order” may not be one of my go-to nail polishes for a manicure, but I’ll definitely grab it here and there for a pedicure. The color lasts for about a week on my fingers (with a top coat) and two weeks on my toes with only minor tip wear, so I'm pretty pleased. My only real gripes with this shade are that it needs two coats for full opacity and I can see visible brush strokes when dry. Other than that, I adore this playful hue!

Natural light. With flash.

Natural light. No flash.

Sorry for the somewhat sloppy application. I distractedly painted my nails while watching “Firefly” on Netflix. It's Ed’s new TV obsession, even though we haven't finished the second season of "Game of Thrones" yet. (I don't know why considering it is intensely riveting!)