Sometimes Yaya

In the Spirit of Parian

I am beyond backlogged on posting and many things in life in general, but lo and behold, I am nearly out of debt! Woot for me!

The first thing I knew I needed to tackle on the beauty end was a major cleanup. My brushes and my blender were undoubtedly cussing me as much as an inanimate object can, at their angriest point in life. They were filthy!

The tops of the brushes had all shades of blush, bronzer, and bright shadows – all sorts of purples, greens, and yellows staring back at me. Quite honestly, there probably were two or four pairs of microscopic eyes staring back at me, but we won’t think about that right now…

I broke out my not so recent Makeup Show purchase of Parian Spirit brush cleaner. The completely organic, citrusy cleaner guaranteed to clean your brush.

About Parian Spirit:
“[CLEANS] oil based makeup, adhesives (spirit gum, medical,etc.), oil based clays, acrylics (after drying), latex (after drying)

[CONDITIONS] rejuvenates hair after cleaning

[DISINFECTS] kills bacteria better than any brand cleaner

[FAST DRYING] Parian Spirit Brush Cleaner is the preferred brush cleaner among professional film and television makeup artists. It is an environmentally safe product that thoroughly and gently cleans sable, squirrel and other fine brushes. This unique cleaner dissolves all types of makeup products (powder, liquid, wax based and adhesive) while conditioning and disinfecting brush hair. No artificial colors or fragrances are added. Our product is made from citrus spirits and leaves a clean look and smell to the brush. Also Parian Spirit will not damage the paint or wooden handle of a brush.

Parian Spirit is perfect for cleaning makeup and adhesives off the lace of wigs and hairpieces. ” (source: site)

At the show, I bought the set that came with the jar, the cleaner liquid, a glass jar, and a plastic sifter. The sifter is magical y’all. It goes on the bottom of the jar to grab at the dirt on your brush as you glide it along the bottom.

The water starts to change colors and your brushes become magically clean. I especially like to see the brushes that came in one color (i.e. the skunk ones or the beige ones) go back to their original color, despite much bright colored powder abuse. The liquid still smells like fresh oranges throughout the process. When done, you just drain the jar and wash it with soap. I like to wash mine with dishwasher liquid.

Ta da!

How do you clean your brushes?

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Sale Notices

This summer has proven to be a quite eventful one. At times it is hectic and I am incapable of getting to a phone or computer, at other times, it is as slow and patient as I hope to be as I progress through life.

This past weekend, I hosted a “clearance sale” in my friend’s basement to get rid of all my excess possessions. The sale wasn’t as ginormous as I hoped it would be, but it should bring me a pretty penny.

Though this sale was a clear indication of my shopping habits getting out of hand, the extra space in my apartment can only mean that my window shopping can include a purchase once in a blue moon. And with my inbox overflowing with awesome requests for my hard earned dollars, I am passing the sale notices to you as well. Sort of a shopaholic’s misery loves company kind of thing…

Vincent Longo Cosmetics starting at $13 at Rue La La. Click for your invite!
Also on sale at Rue La La: Rich & Skinny denim, Cass shapewear, Salvage menswear

Some other sales:
Free People, London Fog, Rachel Pally all on sale at Hautelook. Click for your invite!

L.A.M.B, Charles by Charles David footwear, Cia Maritima swimwear, MM Couture at ideeli. Click over for your invite!

Sonoro, Polaroid, Sheila Fajl jewelry, Young, Fabulous and Broke at Gilt. Your invite!

Oliver Peoples sunglasses, and Erica Anenberg jewelry (killer two finger rings!) at Billion Dollar Babes. Your invite!

Gucci, Emilio Pucci, Disney, Erno Laszlo skincare, Halo by Shoshanna hair accessories at Beyond the Rack. Your invite!

If your funds are aching, sign up to these sites so that you know which sales they have. Who knows – maybe your dream brand will have a clearance sale similar to mine once. Don’t pay retail when you have sample sales!

Planning to get anything? Let me know!

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Another Zoya NOTD

As promised, here are some more images of the six NOTDs from the Zoya Flash color collection. Again, this was during a time of my nails requiring mending so I used falsies to swatch colors. I am loving these bright colors and have the six on quick rotate for summer manis and pedis.

Robyn is a bright light blue. Does that make sense? It’s a pumped up upgrade to Yummy.

Perrie is a sweet lavender, which again, is an amped up upgrade of a past Zoya polish. Want to take a wild guess which one? Malia! If you look at the photo on the right you will see that the colors inside the bottle were settling into a lava like effect. Made me giddy because the dark blue brings me back to my kindergarten days of figuring out that red and blue make purple. Just me then?

Do you have a favorite from the Flash collection?

Disclaimer: This product was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

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Dressed up for…

Day Dresses by BCBG Max Azria at ShopStyle

The who came first; chicken or the egg discussion’s equivalent in the fashion world is Who do women dress for? The answers are always different depending on the gender of the respondent, along with their age.

I used to think that women dressed for themselves, or that at least I did. As I grew up, I started to see how perhaps it could be true that women dress for women, as well as for men.The kind of school you went to can be a major deciding factor for this conundrum. Notice how children are less competitive about whose clothes are cooler or fancier when there is mandatory uniform? We are a tricky race of humans!

This recurring thought came to mind when my honey mentioned my new favorite one shoulder dress. He said one shoulder dresses are more puzzling than they are attractive, because it kind of seems as though something is missing. Sure we gals look in the mirrors with the goddess trends in mind, and the bicep and shoulder exercises a sweat bead away, but all others think of is that Ms. Pac-Man took a bite out of our outfit?

I thought about it at length and then came to the realization that when I want to dress for me I’ll wear my new favorite one shouldered dress, and when I want to dress for my honey, I’ll keep it symmetrical, I guess when it comes to visualizations on dates, you prefer things to be symmetrical ;). Maybe the balance is making the choice of who to dress for and what to wear?

Are you a fan of one shouldered dresses? Who do you dress for?

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Summer usually means ‘time to break out the shorts!’. I have seen a variety of shorts on the streets recently. Some have a length so scandalous I can’t help but raise an eyebrow, and some are even appropriate for work.

My summer essential shorts are bermuda shorts. They reach down to the knee and offer a whole lot more air transfer for my overheated self with none of that “look at what she’s wearing” to go with it.

Though there has been a pleasant breeze in the air recently, I have seen a lot of brow raising getups recently.
Is it just me or are us gals getting real bold with the lengths and colors of our shorts? I have even seen short shorts in the workplace.

If you feel good in ’em, more power to ya!

The following widget of styles of shorts that I’m lusting after is acting funky, so I apologize in advance if it doesn’t show up. It’s taken me almost all day and it still seems to want to poop out on me.

In any case. What’s your favorite style of shorts? What’s your summer staple?

http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid4724-679582-60&look=1909443&width=3&height=3&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0

More Topshop…

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Sales!

The weather in New York is absolutely splendid today. I am always really sensitive to the heat because I start sweating as though under a heat lamp, so these breezy interruptions are godsends.

I wanted to put up some sale notices so that no matter your location, your day could be just as breezy!

Laura Geller Cosmetics starting at $12 at Rue La La. Click for your invite!
Also on sale at Rue La La: Judith Ripka Jewelry, Prairie, Surrey, Jack Victor

Some other sales:
American Apparel (womenswear, menswear, handbags), Judith Lieber sunglasses, Hazel&Harlow Jewelry all on sale at Hautelook. Click for your invite!

Marc New York, Walter (the cutest womenswear ever!), Olivia Care body products, Blush lingerie, Yochi designs jewelry, White Watches (white accessories) at ideeli. Click over for your invite!

Vera Wang Collection, DKNY shoes, Derek Lam, Keds, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas for men, Diesel shoes for men at Gilt. Your invite!

Planning to get anything? Let me know!

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H&M NOTD

H&M quickened the pace from inexpensive clothing store to designer collaboration mastermind (think Madonna, Jimmy Choo, and Sonia Rykiel), to beauty brand, and now they are becoming an E-commerce presence (just wait my darlings – September is not that far away).

Though I’ve always said they need to have their clothes available online, their gigantic market makes me wonder at what capacity their stock will be and how often will you see sold out items online. Additionally, I’d be impressed if they offered free shipping of any sort.

But back to the matter at hand! I ventured out and got me some store brand polishes and lipglosses. I was expecting something cheap and fab, much in line with the rest of the store.

My first choice for the polish (sorry for the blurry photo) is Bella’s Choice. It’s a fab Tiffany’s blue mixed with a little more seagreen. The polish goes on pretty smooth and doesn’t really need a second, and certainly not a third coat. The other plus was the square shape of the bottle. Something about right angles on nail polish bottles makes me want to grab one of every color. Weird?

Left is with flash, right is without (how color looks in reality). I wasn’t thoroughly impressed with the gloss, and didn’t find it amazing enough for a review. It does what a gloss inherently is made to do. Maybe I made a faulty color selection.

The polish though was pretty good, except for the price. The polish is $5. Yeah I know I’ve bought plenty items that are exponentially more expensive, but this is how I look at it – a place that sells shirts from $5, shouldn’t the polish be a bit cheaper? No? Maybe it’s just me.

Have you tried any H&M beauty products yet?

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Riri’s Burning Red

Gossiping and paparazzi shots can get you only so far. I can’t be concerned with who ate where and dodged whom through which back exit. Okay I lied. When it comes in a magazine I indulge sometimes. Online though? It’s strictly beauty and fashion for moi. Too much good stuff online to waste it on gossip, no? I love seeing candid shots of celebrities as their styles change before magazines get their hands on it.

Check out your girl Rihanna leaving Maestros Steakhouse with red hair. The red lip and red hair from the front evokes Jessica Rabbit to me. The extra shots of the back are a thumbs down for me, but her style is her style! I’m totally appreciating the ensemble though. From the fire engine lips, to the proper cleavage (hey man! She’s on a date!), to the open shoulder mini, and the neutral pumps. The absence of heavy jewelry or accessories is also a definite win for me.

Do I have anyone with me?

Photo Credit: HotCelebsHome

What’s Your Verdict?

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Hot Mama!

My honey and I have a running joke that pregnancy is as contagious as the flu. When we are at family functions he jokes about holding too many children and when we go to Babies R’ Us to buy gifts for showers we kid about something being in the air. So you wouldn’t find it hard to imagine that watching the BET Awards was full of storytelling between us!

Miss soon to be Mrs.Kasseem Dean (Swizz Beatz) aka Alicia Keys is Miss Baby Bump performer of the moment. She hit the stage in a minidress and high heels that I would think twice about rocking and I have no bun in this oven.

Alicia Keys rocked out to her own songs, followed by a tribute to Prince and got on top of a piano no less! If you asked me, the first dress was a bit too short for that belly, but being that she looked so darn gorgeous, I’d say this is one of those times when the preggo lady is always right!

Check out some other gals who didn’t let any trimester mess with their showtime:

(Photo Credit)

(Photo Credit: left and right)

Did you watch? Any favorites?

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Zoya Flash NOTD

As promised, here are two of six NOTDs from the Zoya Flash color collection. This was during a time of my nails requiring mending so I used falsies to swatch colors. I’m loving the collection as a whole. My only qualm being that a top coat is necessary to maintain the shine. It doesn’t dry matte, but it doesn’t dry shiny either. Then again, almost everyone uses top coats anyhoo, so what’s the problem, right?

Jancyn my favorite shade of tangerine orange. Creamy and mostly opaque in one coat, but optimally two coats are necessary. Flash on right and none on left.

Jolene is a cute bubble gum pink that is unlike any pink shade I’ve ever had. It’s also a darn good true to bottle color match.

Do you have a favorite from the Flash collection?

Disclaimer: This product was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

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