Archive for October, 2010

(more…)

I’ve been pretty obsessed with Pinkberry ever since the first time I tried it – as evidenced by the fact that on more than one occasion (okay, more than ten occasions) I’ve waited in line for over 30 minutes just to get my fix.  I was beyond excited when one opened within walking distance of my apartment and I’m constantly using it as motivation to go run boring errands that I really don’t feel like taking care of because I always treat myself to it when I’m done.  That’s why I was super excited when I got a chance to preview their new Pumpkin Pinkberry holiday flavor.  I was a little scared that it was going to be the flavor that broke my Pinkberry obsession because I just wasn’t sure how well Pinkberry and pumpkin would go together, but I was totally wrong.  It’s the perfect blend of sweet and tart, very light and refreshing, but with a pumpkin tang that lingers on your tongue.  Delish!  Pinkberry is pairing it with a few new toppings – crunchy honey graham crackers, their new Pinkberry Swirly Whip (a fluffy whipped cream they make fresh daily) and a dusting of cinnamon to finish it off.  I usually get the original flavor with strawberries and chocolate chips, but this is such a different taste combo – the crunchy graham crackers go really well with the pumpkin flavor and the whipped cream is light and full of flavor.  I’m going to be obsessively stopping to pick this up, especially since it’s only available through the end of the year.

In addition to the new Pumpkin flavor, Pinkberry is also bringing back Pomegranate Seeds as a topping for the holiday season and they’ve just introduced Pinkberry Take Home containers, so you can stop at any of the stores and bring it home with you.  (So, so dangerous for me!)  To find a Pinkberry location near you, visit www.Pinkberry.com.

(more…)

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Glidden. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was presented this opportunity to try Glidden’s Ready-To-Go Paint Testers, I immediately accepted because I’m just in the middle of helping my boyfriend renovate his apartment. When it comes to big projects like redecorating, it’s really hard to base a purchase decision off of just a test strip. For example, you can’t always tell how a color looks in the different lighting of the day- or what it really looks like contrasted against your carpet or furniture.  Glidden makes it easy by allowing users to purchase sample size containers of all of their 282 colors.  Each tester, which retails for under $3, comes with a built in brush and paint to cover 3 square feet-  enough to get a true sense of how the paint would look on a wall, touch up any scrapes, or even enough to finish a small project such as painting a decorative piece. (more…)

There is seriously nothing more fun than all the holiday makeup palettes.  I know I’m like a broken record because I say this a lot during this time of year, but I can’t help it.  Every time I walk into a Sephora or an Ulta, I get excited all over again.  Brands just really go all out and it’s so much fun.  This weekend, I tested out a few of LORAC’s new products and I highly recommend both of them.

The Box Office Sensation is a HUGE value.  You get $660 worth of products for only $56 (even less if you use a coupon) and it all comes packaged in a totally cute faux-crocodile train case.  Inside, you’ll find a whopping 36 (I know!) eyeshadows, 9 lip glosses, 3 blushes and a bronzer.  I really like the variety of shadow shades – there’s everything from a subtle creamy champagne shade to a bright, bold turquoise color.  You could pretty much create any look you could ever want with the shades in here.  I’m not a huge fan of lip palettes (just because I like to take my shade with me when I go) but there are enough shades in here to make me change my mind.  The only tiny drawback is that the case is big enough to make it kind of hard to travel with, but it fits perfectly in my bathroom and I already know that I’m going to get one for my mom as a gift because she will seriously love it. (more…)

Move over Michael Kors… 16-year-old Canadian teen heartthrob Justin Bieber is apparently looking to add beauty mogul to his resume (you know, because pop singer, dancer, actor, hair icon, “Bieber or Die” comedian, and rumored MTV “Punk’d” host apparently wasn’t enough).

The new face of Proactiv, Justin has also joined forces with Etoile Nation Beauty to launch “My World,” a unisex fragrance slated to hit Wal-Mart stores on Black Friday. (The $10 scent, embedded in resin, comes in four different, mix-and-matchable designs of dog tags and wristbands, with top notes of bergamot, lychee, an pomegranate, a heart of cedar glimmers, and a drydown of musk, according to WWD.)

Add a bright, glittery, Bieber-inspired line of Nicole by OPI nail polish aptly titled the “One Less Lonely Girl Collection,” coming out in December and January at Wal-Mart (then Sears, Target, and ULTA), and seriously, what’s next… fashion? (Actually, just wait. That’s coming.)

To get a firsthand look at Bieber mania (OK, fine, I’m guilty), I will be joining a host of giddy beauty bloggers tonight at the Proactiv VIP suite for his L.A. concert at the Staples Center. Stay tuned to Twitter @Proactiv and #ProactivVIPSuite for real-time updates!

When it comes to nail polish, I definitely like the bright, colorful shades that are everywhere in the summer, but my absolute favorite colors are always the ones that appear in the fall and winter.  I’m just more of a dark shade kind of girl, at least on my fingers.  (I tend to like the funkier shades, like glitters, on my toes no matter what season it is).  Essie’s new fall collection is a really interesting mix of  shades – ones that I wouldn’t necessarily have pictured together, but they really do complement each other remarkably well.

According to essie’s Founder, Essi Weingarten, she was inspired by what she saw on this season’s runways.  “This fall, designers are mixing it up, combining sheer fabric with leather along with lingerie as outer wear in deep, muted tones and bold color palettes which is very alluring.  I drew inspiration from the range of elegant, sanguine hues and camouflage tones.”  It’s so funny because normally I hate the thought of camouflage tones, but between this collection and Chanel’s Les Khakis de Chanel, I’m developing a serious love for them.  Here are the six shades: (more…)

In New York City, time goes by too quickly.  Whether it’s time before a deadline, the time you get to spend sleeping, or time for a work day lunch- the truth is, a New York minute really does go by in the blink of an eye.  That’s why a few weekends ago, I decided to head to The Lodge at Woodloch, one of the Northeast’s premiere resorts where time is meant to be savored and enjoyed and cherished with a loved one- a best friend, a significant other, a parent.

The Lodge at Woodloch, located in Hawley Pennsylvania, is only a short bus ride but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.  It’s the distinctively “grown up” arm of the Woodloch family- an adults only resort which focuses on food, spa, health and wellness.  The focal point of the resort is a 27 room indoor spa and salon which offers an extensive range of hair, body and facial treatments.  The spa is open from 7am to 10pm on weekends, ensuring that all guests have ample time to experience the treatment they want.  My personal recommendation? Book a massage the night you arrive.  It’s a wonderful way to wind down after a long day and will immediately put you in the right mindset for the rest of your stay. (more…)

I know I’ve said it in probably the last three pieces I’ve written, but I love the holiday makeup collections.  Love, love, love!  They’re always the best values and the colors are so fun and usually sparkly, which I know I should’ve outgrown by now, but dammit, it’s the holidays.  I want to sparkle!  This year, Smashbox is continuing their tradition of the WISH sets.  It’s a collection of different makeup sets for eyes, lips and face and with each purchase, Smashbox will donate $1 (up to $25,000) to Children’s Miracle Network, which is a nonprofit organization that helps to provide medical care, life-saving research and education to help children overcome diseases and injuries.  So you’re doing good while you shop, which is usually enough to convince me that I “need” whatever product I’m currently coveting.

There are a bunch of different sets, but I’ve only tried out a few of them so far.  (more…)