I know this is ridiculously late on the bandwagon but basically, I didn't know much about Tokidoki back when Smashbox teamed up with them to create some really cute cosmetics. Over the course of the last couple of years I have really come to fall in love with the whole Tokidoki aesthetic. After seeing the Smashbox Tokidoki Soft Lights & Brush Set in "Dolce Vita" on beautyticket.com (which I did another small haul from, eep! will post it soon.) I decided to scour eBay to see if there was anything lingering around from the LE collection from 2007.

Lucky for me, I did stumble upon a few things here and there including an auction with this whole lot. Included is the Soft Lights & Brush Set in Dolce Vita, lipglosses in Drammatica and Dolcissima, eyeshadow quad in Modella, and the Stellina makeup mirror and pouch. Total retails for $146 and I got it for just over $40! I also got a Smashbox cosmetics pouch as a freebie from the seller Dexter Trading Cosmetics, which fits everything nicely.



Probably my favorite item in this haul is the Soft Lights in Dolce Vita. It's a nice luminizing blush that looks like a pretty, rosy sweet-plum color. It's not as warm as in this picture... closer to the previous one. It came as a very generous size and has the Tokidoki heart-and-crossbones stamped into it. The brush is also very full and actually feels nice to use, which I don't usually expect in "limited edition set" items like this.


The packaging is totally amazing!



Even the inside of items had more Tokidoki detailing. Very cute stamping on the mirrors.


Here are swatches. Top row: lipglosses in Drammatica and Dolcissima
Bottom row: Soft Lights in Dolce Vita, Modella eyeshadow quad

this is in natural light indoors

in more direct sunlight


Overall, the collection that I've tried is very cute and well-packaged. I was a bit let down with the eyeshadows because obviously they aren't too pigmented on my medium NC30 skin but I think they would make a lovely wash on someone with lighter skin than me (let me know if you'd be interested in buying). The blush I LOVE and the glosses are super pigmented which is great in my book. And of course, what can I say, I'm a sucker for cute packaging!

If you want to check more out, try ebay since there are a few things going for less than retail. Let me know if any of you guys got some of this collection back when it came out and how you like it. :)

And do remember we are still giving away some fantastic goodies from Mineral Magic Cosmetics here! Please enter and get awesome free stuff. :D

This is just going to be a quickie fashion post. I know a lot of you petite girls keep asking about how it is that I make myself look taller than my GIGANTIC 4'10.5" stature. The truth? As much as I love how platform heels make my legs look longer, it just isn't reasonable for wearing to work everyday. Proportion is the real key. I know I've said it so many times, but it's simply the truth. Proportions can trick the eye to see more flattering or unflattering body shapes.

I'm using a couple of recent outfits as an example. (Please excuse the very messy bathroom, by the way.) Here I chose to make my flashy liquid leggings look more wearable with a feminine tunic (worn dress-style for me) and a long open cardigan. The "dress" nips in at the natural waist and also creates a shorter torso proportion, giving the appearance of having longer legs. Lacey detailing at the neck draws your eyes to your face so the flashy leggings don't compete as loudly.

tunic top - 579, cardigan - Forever 21, leggings - Target, leopard peep-toes - Vaneli

The leggings also go down to the ankle so there aren't any extra lines cutting the leg line shorter from, say, calf-length leggings. Sturdy heels give an extra couple inches too, but they aren't too high to be uncomfortable.


The second outfit showcases another beloved oversized-tee. I tucked the top into my high-waisted denim pencil skirt to help define the waist. The puffy top doesn't hurt in the bust department either, and gives a more hourglass-shape illusion. The cropped cardigan further accentuates the high waist-line and makes the bottom half of the body seem longer. These shoes only have a 2" heel but seem taller because it is low-cut at the toe. There are no ankle straps to cut the leg line.


Without the cardigan, the look still works but is probably best for those with narrow shoulders. A big chested woman might look top heavy with this look!

yellow tee - Wet Seal, cardigan and skirt - Forever 21, shoes - Nordstrom kids


Hope that helps a couple of you shorties (or anyone) dress with your proportions in mind. You know where to leave any other fashion questions: comments, comments, comments!

Oh, and don't forget. The Mineral Magic Cosmetics giveaway is still going on! Enter and get nice things for free!

I know tons of you ladies have been asking for this so, as promised, I recorded a bridal makeup tutorial video for you all! It is very, very similar to how I did my makeup for my wedding last year. I just had better skin and I think the brow-highlight color was probably less intense for the wedding, since I used a different brush.

I've mentioned it before, but I will say it again, here are a few tips to keep in mind for makeup during your wedding:

* Photography is so important and will last longer than the day itself, so keep in mind how your makeup will look behind the lens
* Avoid anything that is too reflective like makeup/lotions with spf (including mineral makeup), and avoid glitters and shimmers if possible
* Use a matte brow bone highlight color and matte blush (you want the shine in your eyes, not your brow bone)
* A classic makeup look is always going to look good in photos, now and in the future
* Avoid anything that makes you too uncomfortable (eg. lenses if you don't wear them daily, eyelid tape if you aren't used to it, brand new untested foundation, etc)
* PRACTICE ahead of time, especially if you are doing your own makeup. With a makeup artist, set up a practice run before the wedding day to make sure you are going to get what you want.
* Use a new tube of WATERPROOF mascara!
* Long-wear lipcolor (I like Maybelline Superstay Gloss) can be really useful for not giving your husband a lipstick smear! ;)

I recorded this a couple days ago when I wasn't feeling well and was home sick, so please forgive the less-than-perfect skin. New cam records in HD!! Scary!! If you like the video, please comment, rate, and subscribe to my Youtube channel.



Here's a rundown of everything I used:

Face
- Graftobian concealer and hi-def foundation
- Everyday Minerals blush in Apple
- NYX Mosaic Powder in Highlighter
- MAC blot powder

Eyes
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in Deep Brown (as a base over the tape and blending into skin)
- Covergirl Lash Exact waterproof mascara
- MAC fluidline in blacktrack (lining both top and bottom lashlines)
- Criss-cross and tapering style false lashes
- Nyx single shadows in dark brown and white
- Revlon 12-hour eyeshadow quad in Copper Spice

Lips
- Maybelline Superstay Gloss in #160 Glass Rose

A few pics of the finished product:



And a bit further away to get the overall effect.



Hope it is helpful to you brides-to-be out there! Let me know if you have any wedding-specific questions and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability. I am doing makeup for a wedding in just a few weeks, so this was a fun little refresher for me. :)

I also wanted to add a little reminder that the Mineral Magic Cosmetics Giveaway is going on RIGHT NOW so please be sure to enter! I'm stoked to share some of their brushes with you because I really love the ones I own.

Okay, hopefully my cam battery is charged enough that I can take pics of these Ben Nye swatches on my arm. Haha. See you guys next time~

Hey guys, today was a sick day and while home from work, I visited my mom and saw some adorable hummingbirds in the back yard. This reminded me of my trip that I took for my anniversary to the famed Omaha Zoo. As the hubs and I are both huge animal lovers, we absolutely had a blast and definitely want to visit again. I thought I'd share a few pics with you all!

Here is just me being bored during the road trip. Don't cars have the best lighting? Very flattering! It hides all flaws!


And here is my look that I wore on zoo day. I didn't want anything too heavy or dark so of course I went with one of my favorite oversized-tees! I wore one of those lacey tube-bras underneath for modesty without adding extra layers.


My makeup was very, very natural. I slathered on spf 70 sunscreen on my face so heavy makeup was NOT an option unless I wanted everything to slide off. Concealer, blush, and a simple neutral eye worked well which was set with translucent powder.


Here are the zoo pics. This is a manly peacock doing a sexy dance for his lady friend.


This is what happens when lady peacock is wooed. Baby peacocks!


Hilarious otter pooping


Gorilla lady is chillin' on top of the viewing bubble


Sunbear is my favorite. His tongue is hanging out and I'm pretty sure he was twitching. 20 feet up in a tree.


happy tiger?


No-neck bird is sreepy.


Goooooooooorgeous hummingbird! I love so much!!!


Tapir looks kinda dumb.


Love the color


This giant fish was craaaazy big. It looked fake, and there were many of them.


I don't think this leaf mantis liked my pink shirt much. He did this when I got close.


Pretty seahorse!


And there's no zoo without elephants



And just because we LOVED this restaurant so much I wanted to share. It was called Blue Sushi Sake & Grill and they have the best frickin' food in all of Omaha. I need to go back just to go there again, I think. Yum yum!


Food porn. Coconut Tempura Chicken. Sweet-son-of-a-gun! I love the cucumber slice in the water, so fresh.



Ahhh, I love reminiscing over good photos and good memories! Speaking of memories, REMEMBER to enter the big Mineral Magic Cosmetics Giveaway I'm holding. It's some really great stuff, that I actually do use myself.

That's all I got for now, but I have lots of good things to share coming up including new lenses and jewelry, and a bridal makeup video tutorial. I shot the footage yesterday, now I just need to edit everything! Talk to you guys soon!


xoxo