Sometimes Yaya

Shecky’s Girls Night Out

Have y’all ever heard about Girl’s Night Out? It’s a beauty and fashion event that goes on in many states all over the country (see? not just NY this time!) with beauty and fashion vendors vying for your attention in one space.

Here are the locations they are in so far (you can recommend cities as well):

The best thing about it is that it’s basically a specialty mall for you, with nothing generic and a new find around every bend. In addition to that, they make sure to get you all liquored up, and have tickets that include goodie bags. Tell me that’s not the perfect Girl’s Night Out!

Go ahead and click on the banner below before you wait too long. Click on the image on my site and Shecky’s will know that yaya sent ya!

There is one coming up in New York though:

Date: Mon.-Fri., Oct. 19th-23rd, 2009
Time: 5pm-10pm
Place: The Puck Building
293 Lafayette St. (@ Houston St)

Continue reading to see a video from a past Girl’s Night Out.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4664402&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ff0179&fullscreen=1

Shecky’s Girls Night Out from Shecky’s on Vimeo.

Let me know if you’re coming, I’d love to meet y’all!

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Talk It Out Tuesday!

I don’t know about you guys, but my inbox is always bursting at the seams with sales offers and notices. Most of these I can certainly do without, but who wants to miss a sale, right? A lot of people offer the great advice of separating e-mail addresses so that you have one for sales and one for personal use, but I must have missed the memo on that one. The only separation for my e-mail addresses are personal vs blog (and even there I have spillover).

Recently though, there has been a new phenomenon in my mailbox. The apology marketing strategy as I’ve come to see it.

Companies will send out mailers, and follow up a day or two with an apology and a new offer. Most of the time they say it was due to a typo or an improper code. The best one was an apology for high traffic and a resolution to the dilemma with a sale extension. All of which at one point or other seems okay. But now? It’s a bit too contrived and just feels like another marketing ploy.

What about you? Have you received an apology sale invite? What do you think about them?

Talk it out!

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Schooled In Style

As time continues to tick and tock away, it is better to make the most of your time, than to lament on what is already lost. That in itself is such a huge waste. But sometimes – okay no, a lot of times, something comes out and you wonder why it wasn’t around when you were younger.

You know – like our parents with computers? Our grandparents with cell phones? Our ancestors without tvs and cars? We’re a spoiled bunch, humanity. But we may only enjoy and bask in all its glory while we have it, no?

With that, I was pleasantly surprised about the Penguin Deluxe Edition prints of classic books such as The Scarlet Letter and Pride and Prejudice with the cover designs by famed fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo.

I’ve always been a fan of his illustrations (check the main image if you need a refresher) because he took it to a new level for me. There was no major concern for dimensions (the heads are almost always in Bratz dolls size), and the lines were more curvy and drape-y than strict illustration, but were also chock full of more artistic attitude than generic curves. Hopefully that makes sense on paper equally as much as it does in my head. 🙂

What ya think?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

NOTD Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

Keeping up with the nail challenge y’all. For day two I’ve got a drugstore friendly polish. I got this one at a BOGO deal at CVS, and frankly, there is always a deal on these babies. Good, too – because they’re grrrreat!

You can probably see from the pictures that the polish I’m raving about is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri. These buggers have a different shape for the bottles than any I’ve seen before (but totally great for swatch shots for the blog!). The brush is also a little wide and flat, a characteristic not too many people are happy with, but honestly that is among my favorites. The brush usually lets me finish one nail in a single swipe, rarely needing a second.

I usually snatch up the clear polish bottles in Insta-Dri for on the go applications. I carry them in nearly every bag, because I like to have at least clear polish on my nails if there is no color. Between how fast they dry and the size of the brush, clear application is done in under a single subway stop (y’all know I’m always doing my nails on the train in NYC!).

This color, Teal Takeoff is a new addition to the line for Fall 2009. I love that roughly 90% of the Insta-Dri collection is so thick that one coat can be enough to complete your mani. That also means they are great for using with Konad!

left: flash, right: no flash

pretty true to color too

Like the color? The challenge? Let me know!

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

NARS is 15 & Nail-a-day Challenge

NARS, a brand that needs minimal introduction or background, no? Well they’re getting close to their sweet 16 by hitting their 15 this year.

To celebrate, Francisco Nars is publishing a book with a collection of photographs & makeup, covering his friends/muses (and aren’t they sometimes the same?). The book 15×15 is due out mid November, and will only be available for 30 days.

Check out the countdown on the website here: www.15x15project.com

WWD.com has some great tidbits about the book (featuring everyone from Marc Jacobs, to Amber Valletta). The images are most interesting because of the way that the concepts tie in together. Nars did the makeup on each subject and showed the inspirational photograph as well.

Yet one more reason to show ya makeup isn’t just a pressed powder/color you put on your face!

Read on to check out my Nail-a-day Challenge.

As you may have heard me rambling on and on about polish purchases gone mad, you can assume that I have plenty a polish to show you. I had suggestions about doing a NOTD week, and other similar series, but I also wanted something that would get the most bang for the buck.

I hate buying a polish, wearing it once, and then never using it again. So my pre-New Year’s resolution is to wear a polish a day. I already do this because I get chip happy on the ride home from work most days, but this time I’ll be sharing all of it with you.

If you want to join the challenge with me, let me know and I will post your images up along with mine!

Be ready for heavy weekend nail polish posts, or seven NOTDs for the week. As I go through the swatches, I will take suggestions for my next mani(s).

Additionally, I am thinking, in the efforts of being green, I will give away a couple of bottles come the end of the year (oh yes this challenge is until 12/31!!) that have been swatched once.

To kick off the challenge, we have a much appropriate NARS in Tokaïdo Express (check out the rest of the NARS colors here:

The color is described on the website as “Black amethyst infused with gold.” It is pretty hard to capture the shimmer of the polish. The above two pictures are with no flash.

the pics might look identical but you can play “spot the difference” and see that it is a slightly different angle 🙂

with flash

close up – true to bottle color

What do you think? Are you up for the challenge?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Hautelook Vincent Longo Sale!

I miss when Vincent’s brand was available at Sephora, but if you too don’t get a chance to come across the brand much, now is your chance to snatch it up for at least 60% off!

Come join HauteLook for your sample sales and cheap designer duds.

Click here for your special invite!

Don’t forget that when you when you sign up through this link, you get a $10 credit to spend on whatever you please!

If the link is not working, copy and paste the following link in your browser: http://www.hautelook.com/invite/missyaya

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

It’s a Gray Field…

Black is the color that generally is worn most. In the winter it is of optimal choice for it’s simple ability to pull in light and retain warmth, it shows much less stains or dirt, and of course, it has a slimming effect. It’s no wonder that almost every person in the world has a pair of black pants or black shoes lingering around the household.

I remember the first time I had to go to a school event and our uniform included black pants. When someone said they didn’t have black pants, you could swear I was reacting to news about the earth not being round. If you don’t have ’em. Get ’em!

Being a New Yorker, I find that a lot of the city dwellers here often find shelter in the color black and sometimes dedicate their whole wardrobe to the color. If you’ve had a chance to make it to NYFW, you’ll find that many a fashionista is clad in all black.

I’ll admit that I’ve resorted to an all black wardrobe when too lazy to match things together. When you start buying too many of the same color, you even start to forget they could be paired with others. God forbid we forget ROYGBIV! Other times, I’m a punk. Who wants to risk their hard earned cash on a red sweater with rainbow polka dots, when a black version looks smarter for the long run? Sure, it’s safer than magenta, and will outlast any leopard print trend, but it becomes a monotonous and if I dare say, mundane, practice.

So wouldn’t Yaya be surprised that as soon as the first leaf fell off a tree, that there was a dime a dozen a New Yorker rocking the gray jacket, cardigan, and scarf (not necessarily all together though…).

Gray is equally as durable in outlasting trends y’all. Between white and black, all the shades are ones that can magically travel on through time and through wardrobe without dating your style. That’s just the color though.

If you are looking for something that will last more than a season, steer clear of super trendy embellishments (ruffles, feathers, ribbons, etc.) or cuts (asymmetrical, batwing sleeves, etc.) unless you have the confidence to wear it as if there was no expiration date in sight.

Gray works well in breaking up your closet collection and presenting a color variety in the selection.
The color works well as a complement to all light and dark colors (try to pair with a grape/burgundy color and a yellow/mustard color – each combo will look just as good!).
The deeper shades of gray are also equally as successful in creating a slimmer silhouette.

So what are you afraid of? Go try something gray now!

Check out some style options all under $100:

What do you think about the color? Is this old news, or are you running out of the house to try it now?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Bare Escentuals Sale at RueLaLa!

Rue LaLa is having a Bare Escentuals sale! The items are all mostly kits and start at $25! Check it out and let me know if you get something!

Click here for your invite!

If the image/link isn’t working, copy and paste this into your browser:
http://www.ruelala.com/invite/missyaya

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Talk It Out Global

I have spent the last couple of days in different environments. I will let you guys in on the photographical journey I embarked a bit later on in the post countdown, but I can discuss things now.

Being from NY, I am much more used to climate changes, higher humidity, and generally “whatever goes.” Our weather switches with seasons and then within switches as well. Sometimes it won’t make sense why it’s snowing in April or hot in December, but you roll with the punches and make it work a la Tim Gunn with whatever your closet holds at the time.

The same applies to your makeup and skincare stash. My NY self arrived in Florida to the definition of southern hospitality from the ClumpsofMascara fam. But I also arrived overpacked. There was much less humidity and wind factor, so my hair behaved a bit more than usual (and I wasn’t expecting it to be so hot in the fall because I am a New Yorker, but that’s besides the point!), and my skin didn’t need as much support with the various options I usually have (moisturizer, SPF, etc.).

Which got me thinking about how much my global positioning has to do with what my makeup and skincare stash holds.

Does your geographic location have any impact on what products you need or use? Talk it out!

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Sephora Makeup Brushes

I recently posted about makeup brushes, and how to find good ones. To recap, check out the post here! That post was a long time coming thanks to my neverending search, but it was also because I needed an intro to my current Sephora obsession.

Over a week ago, I went to the HBA Global Expo in New York. Admittedly, being that the show is for product development, there was only so much a blogger can find out. What I did find was a plethora of innovation, and my favorite was my last stop.

A lot of the companies at the Expo were manufacturers and co-packers. What does that mean to the average consumer? These are the companies that make someone’s ideas come to fruition. If you want to sell cosmetics and need someone to make the cases, packaging, etc. these are the people you call.

The whole show was full of products that I can’t wait to see companies pick up. The benefits of going to an Expo like this is too have the aha! moment when you see a product on a shelf that you knew was coming.
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002FOAX2Y
Enough of the chit chat though, which one was my fave? Magnetic brushes. These are brushes that have one base and interchangeable brush heads. There were sets from a couple to plenty. I begged one woman to sell me a sample set but she wouldn’t budge. 🙂 Hey… I tried! She did give me some scoop though. She showed me that Sephora jumped on the bandwagon and I could get it from them.

The set includes three face brushes that has a metal look to it. I’m not sure what the casing is made of, but I’ll let y’all know soon (as I have already ordered mine – don’t judge!). The brushes are super soft and are interchangeable into the main case with magnets. It comes with a case and is size friendly & saves space, being that it is halves of brushes.

Non HBA related, are other brushes that Sephora came out with. These are the double ended makeup brushes that are for face and eyes (or whatever else use you can find for it). Disclaimer: I am not a big fan of always defining a brush by a title. I feel that a lot of brushes can serve multiple or different purposes than the original intention, and don’t like to pigeon hole them with a title. Again – this is because I am My Own Judge & I strongly urge you to be your own as well! 🙂 They kind of remind me of seesaws, with a big brush and a flip to a small brush.

The brushes come in some fab bright colors and given that they are basically two for one are not overpriced for a Sephora brush. That hopefully explains that this does not mean that they are cheap, but expected. Just like you wouldn’t expect a Prada bag to magically cost $20.

This is a picture of the brushes on display at the store. The names and prices are exactly as they are in store. Thankfully this pic came out quite clear!

These brushes are very cute and I adore the bright colors. The fact that they are double ended serves as a blessing and as a curse in my eyes. It’s nice that they are double the duty for the money and the space, but unless storage is horizontal, I imagine ruining the shape of the brush at one point in time. Also – at first try, these brushes were too brittle for me. I’m not much of a one time judge though, so I visited these brushes over a period of time and came to a conclusion that though they are not the softest, the feel is actually not so bad. My verdict for these is that if you had the extra funds, they’d be a great addition b/c the colors have plenty attitude. But if you need a good super soft brush that you can tote anywhere, I wouldn’t recommend these.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002EHCZ00 http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002EHF0PW http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002EHH59G http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002EH9EIQ http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002EHCYVU

Have you tried them? What do you think?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js