MEET MY SON HAYDEN

Haven't blogged in almost a year, because my family & I have been busy preparing for the arrival of this little one. Meet my son Hayden, born on March 4. There's nothing better than spending every moment him and experiencing everything as a first time mom. It's amazing how much love in my heart this little guy fills. With this new beginning, I think I might continue to be MIA for a bit until I get everything settled down and have more time on my hands. Here is my son at his newborn photo shoot at exactly 1 week old.

NYX Matte Lipstick Swatches (Tea Rose, Whipped Caviar, Natural, Sierra)

I am back with a few swatches for you ladies. I've recently been loving matte lipsticks & one of the girls that I follow on Instagram had this gorgeous matte lip color. I asked her what it was & she told me she mixed NYX Matte Lipstick in "Sierra" with NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in "San Paulo". Ulta had the BOGO  50% deals on both Matte Lipstick & Lip Cream, so I decided to get them in other colors. Haven't really played with them yet, but here's the swatches for you guys. Enjoy!

NYX Matte Lipstick

 L-R: Tea Rose, Whipped Caviar, Natural, Sierra

L-R: NYX Round Lipstick "Tea Rose & NYX Matte Lipstick "Tea Rose"

"Tea Rose" was one of my favorite from their Round Lipstick collection, so I wanted to see the difference between the two. Of course, the Round Lipstick has more gloss and the colors are a lot different. The Matte lipstick has more of a deeper pink color, I was hoping they'd be the same.

I wish it could be Christmas all year long!

LOL, I wish! Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday and I really wouldn't mind it being Christmas every day. I love the warm feeling of Christmas, the decorations and the smell, I love love love the smell of the Christmas tree and all the Christmasy scent like cinnamon and peppermint. But most of all, I love how it brings all of my family together. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and have a new year full of love, peace, and happiness.

Every year, we put our coins in a vase and then around late November or early December, we take it to the Coin Star machine and whatever money we make from it, we use it towards our Christmas tree. I'm not sure how much trees cost in the mainland, but here in Hawaii, it ranges from $70-$90 for a 7 ft. tree. This year we made $107.47 from our coins and our tree was about $85, so it felt like we didn't need to dig deep in our pockets for a tree. And we still had leftovers to buy more ornaments for the tree.

It seems like every year we have a different theme for our tree. I've already decided since last year that our tree was going to be country/rustic inspired. I usually buy the decorations the day after Christmas from the previous year since everything is 50-60% off, but a lot of my ornaments this year I bought at regular price. But I did score all the poinsettias from last years after Christmas sale at Ben Franklin and I got the burlap ribbons for 40% off at their Black Friday sale. I think I've collected enough ornaments, so no more shopping for those. I love how our tree looked this year, so it looks like we'll be using the same one next year.

Unfortunately we don't have a chimney to hang our stockings, but our TV stand did the job :)

My bf had me write out my Christmas Wish list since he needed a little help this year and I had him do the same. I got almost all of the things I had on my list except the MK tote since they sold out of it. It's ok though, because he still managed to surprise me with some SpaFinder gift cards and the perfume I really wanted. Undies for days, Lash Stash from Sephora, Third Season of the Vampire Diaries, Flawless perfume, SpaFinder gift cards, and a Naked2 palette...I am definitely one happy girl :) I didn't expect him to get all these things for me since making the list was just to give him an idea of what I wanted, but I am truly grateful for everything he has given me.

And since everyone else knows how much I love my makeup, my sister and her bf got me the Lorac Eye Candy Full Face Collection that I cannot wait to try out. Bestie James got me a Hello Kitty Brush Set and my cousin Cherry got me Stila In The Know Eyeshadow Palette. I can't wait to play with all of these! Next year, I might have everyone buy me a single MAC brush each as a gift so I can get a full collection :P jk, although it wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

GIVEAWAY WINNERS

And the winners for my giveaway are:

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JoJo

WyoSparkles

Tiffany

Congratulations Ladies!!!

Please check your emails :)

JUST A FEW MORE HOURS UNTIL MY GIVEAWAY ENDS!

Please join and good luck!

Holiday Giveaway: Sparkle Jewelry (US followers only) [CLOSED]

Be one of the three to win one of these lovely Sparkle Jewelry by Laurie bracelets! I loved the one I was given to do a review on so much that I wanted to share them with you for the holidays. As you can tell by the pictures, they're just beautiful! Unfortunately, this giveaway will only be for my US followers. I want to be able to send it to the winners before Christmas and with the little time we have before then, this will be a very short giveaway. Don't worry, there will be more giveaways coming for all of my followers! Who knows, maybe I'll include more of these lovely bracelets :) End date for this giveaway is Sunday, December 16, 2012 and 3 winners will be chosen.

The winners will receive their prize in the order they're chosen. 

Kanani

Kimi

Gwen

**Please read Requirements carefully**

Open to US followers only

 

REQUIREMENTS:

- ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY

(If you are younger than 18, please have parental consent)

- Follow my blog publicly via GFC

- Follow Sparkle Jewelry's Facebook Fan Page here
- Post this giveaway banner on your blog:

- Post this giveaway banner on your sidebar along with a link to my blog (add a link to my blog or make my banner as a link):

 - Leave a comment below with:

• GFC Name:
• First Name:
• Facebook Name:
• Email Address:
• Link to post of the banner on your blog:
• Link to the banner on your sidebar:

 - If the winner does not have all the requirements and does not respond to my email to notify them of their winning within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

**Once items are shipped to the winners, I will not be held responsible for lost or damaged products. Sorry ;(**

The winners will be chosen via www.random.org.
Giveaway will end Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 11:59 PM HST

and will be announced on Monday, December 17, 2012

Good luck & Happy Holidays everyone!!!

M·A·C HAUL: FALL LIP COLORS

I usually tend to stick to neutral colors throughout the year, but this year, I decided to make a little change. I got me a few lip products from M·A·C last week and love love love the colors! I got M·A·C lipsticks in "Plumful" and "Rebel". And to go with "Rebel", I decided to pair it up with M·A·C Cremesheen Glass in "Loud & Lovely" with M·A·C lip pencil in "Magenta". "Plumful" is a nice everyday lipstick, while "Rebel" on the other gives you bolder lips. "Magenta" can intensify the brightness of "Rebel" and "Loud & Lovely" tones it down a bit. I love how you can play around with colors to get the look you want.

 

 Swatches for M·A·C: Magenta lip pencil, Plumful lipstick, Rebel lipstick, and Loud & Lovely cremesheen glass

1. M·A·C lip pencil "Magenta" 2. M·A·C lipstick "Rebel" over "Magenta" 3. M·A·C lipstick "Plumful" 4. M·A·C lipstick "Rebel" 5. M·A·C cremesheen glass "Loud & Lovely" over "Rebel" 6. M·A·C cremesheen "Loud & Lovely"

SPARKLE JEWELRY BY LAURIE: HEART KRISTEL BRACELET REVIEW

When I was given this bracelet to review for Sparkle Jewelry by Laurie, it was definitely LOVE at first sight! It didn't have a name then, so they decided to name it Heart Kristel. How awesome is that!? My very own bracelet ;] Before I do my review, here's a little something about Sparkle Jewelry by Laurie.

About Sparkle Jewelry by Laurie

"Laurie happened upon designing and crafting jewelry serendipitously when she found and purchased a bead jewelry kit at ROSS Dress for Less. What started as a hobby has turned into a legal business entity in the state of Hawaii, with help from her sister-in-law, as of June 2012. We here at Sparkle want to make jewelry that will help you shine! Sparkle Jewelry is lovingly hand-made on Maui by Laurie. We accept custom orders here at Sparkle, excluding requests for replicas of jewelry that were made exclusively for third party retailers (e.g. bracelets for Cinnamon Girl.)" 

Laurie's online shop, Sparkle Jewelry by Laurie, carries 40 uniquely designed bracelets (pearl & flower charm) to fit your style, personality, and mood. They're great to give as gifts to your friends and family. They also have bracelets available for children. What's great about this company is that it is handmade on Maui and you could customize your order. You can request to have your bracelet designed a certain color, size, or theme at no charge. Now what other shop would let you do that?! I hate finding a bracelet that I really love only to find out that it's too small or too big. With Sparkle Jewelry, you can have your bracelet just the way you want it, just contact Laurie HERE to send her your request. The online shop also carries Cell Charms, Hair Accessories, and Earrings (coming soon). 

 This is one of my favorite, Beauty and the Beast inspired design by Laurie. The color theme is on point!

You could also check out Sparkle Jewelry's Facebook Fan Page HERE to view Laurie's amazing designs in the photo gallery. Don't forget to "like" the fan page to get updates on her new designs. And if you live on Maui, you can find these bracelets at Cinnamon Girl Whalers Village and they will be at Ben Franklin's Craft Fair this coming Sunday, November 18, 2012.

My Review

What I love about the Heart Kristel bracelet:

♥ The color of the glass pearl beads. I LOVE pink, but I don't like things entirely pink. I love that this bracelet has a touch of white pearls to it.

♥ The flower bead cap. On the larger white pearl bead, it has a flower shaped cap. It gives it a more elegant look.

♥ Durability. Ok I have to be honest, I accidentally left my bracelet in the pocket of one of my shorts. I had put it in there so I could wash my hands and so that I won't ruin it. My shorts went in the wash & I found it after my laundry had already finished. To my surprise, it was still in one piece and it did not tarnish. 

♥ Heart toggle clasp. LOVES it! Need I say more? It definitely fits the name :)

♥ No allergic reaction. I don't really wear a lot of accessories because I get an allergic reaction to certain types of metal. But so far, no allergic reaction from this bracelet.

♥ It is inexpensive. This bracelet in particular is $12.00, which is surprisingly a lot less than what I thought it would cost just by looking at it. It does not look cheap at all. Christmas is around the corner, so I'm hoping I could get more of these to give out as gifts.

What I don't love about the bracelet:

- Toggle clasp. It's toggle clasp is really cute, but unfortunately it takes me awhile to get my bracelet on with just one hand. I usually go more for something I could just slip on my wrist to save me the time.

- Size. When I first received it, it was a bit snug, so I had to get it re-sized. So if you plan to order, please check the size first. If you need the size readjusted, just contact Laurie and see what she could do for you. 

I'll be holding another giveaway within the next couple of weeks, which will include items from Sparkle Jewelry.

Check out Sparkle Jewelry & leave me a comment with 3 of your favorite items from the shop that you would like to see in my giveaway.

Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!

I want to thank all of my followers who has participated in my recent giveaway and also the ones before that. As you all know, I do many giveaways on my blog, so don't be discouraged if you have not won anything yet. There will be many more giveaways to come for as long as my blog is up and running, which means more chances to win.

I enjoy doing these giveaways, because it gives me a chance to give back to my followers who has kept my blog going. I also love sharing beauty products that I enjoy using. All of my giveaways had been successful and each and every winner had received their products. Each winners is selected randomly, which I think is the best way to select a winner. So please, for those of you who think otherwise, don't ruin this for others.

With that said, more giveaways shall follow :) The holidays coming & it's my favorite time of the year!!!

FOR MY DEAR GIVEAWAY WINNER IS...

The For My Dear Giveaway Winner is...

angelamhiere

 Congratulations!!! Please contact me within 3 days to receive your prizes, if not, another winner will be chosen.

10 MORE DAYS UNTIL OUR GIVEAWAY ENDS!

Click the banner below and enter!  

FOR MY DEAR PROMOCODE

Looking for a wide selection of GEO lenses for only $15, cute accessories, and fashionable clothing? FOR MY DEAR is now giving all my followers 10% off entire site excluding sale items. So hurry and use the Code: HEARTKRISTEL while supplies last.

And if you haven't joined our giveaway yet, 

please click the banner below and enter! 

FOR MY DEAR GIVEAWAY (SPONSORED) [CLOSED]

Here it is, another GIVEAWAY!!! My good friend, Beth, at For My Dear was very generous enough to sponsor this giveaway. I love love love all the prizes, they're all so super cute! We put together a bunch of goodies just for you guys, so please enter this giveaway ;] We will be choosing ONLY 1 WINNER, so don't miss your chance to win these awesome prizes. End date for this giveaway will be on October 15, 2012. And don't forget to to visit For My Dear!

"For My Dear was the brainchild of a of a young Japanese-American woman living in Hawaii. It is our goal at For My Dear is to carry edgy, kawaii, and lovingly hand-made items. ❤❤"

 

The winner will receive:

♥ Spencer Bracelet ♥

This classy bracelet with faux pearls and gold-toned hardware will fit wrists of almost any size because of it's elastic core. The perfect accessory for business attire or casual wear, this bracelet goes will go with everything in your closet! 

♥ Bow-ti-ful Necklace ♥

The bow-ti-ful (beautiful) necklace will add a touch of class and cuteness to any outfit. Chain is about 13.5" long (not including the bow). The bow is about 2" across.

♥ Geo Xtra Flower Pansy Series Green Contact Lens ♥

♥ Telecoil Hair Bands ♥

Benefits of Tele-Coil Band:

1. Suitable for thin or thick hair, long or short hair
2. While adjusting, the band doesn't tightly grab your hair unlike those other bands
3. Make your hairdo as loose as you want like any Korea celebrities have
4. While your hair's wet, you can just pull the pull out the band, without any pain
5. It doesn't break off like any other bands would

♥ Bear-y Heartful Necklace ♥

This very sweet sterling silver necklace features a bear holding a pink heart. The bear charm is about 2.5" cm. At it's smallest setting, the chain is 8" long. It can be adjusted to be larger

♥ Wishing Star Bracelet ♥

♥ Lucy Bracelet ♥

8" long, Glass pearls, silver lobster claw clasp. Made with love in Hawai'i by Sparkle Jewelry.

♥ For My Dear Bag ♥

**Please read Requirements carefully**

Open to ANYONE and EVERYONE ;]

 

REQUIREMENTS:

- ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY

(If you are younger than 18, please have parental consent)

- Follow my blog publicly via GFC

- Follow For My Dear's Facebook Fan Page HERE

- Post this giveaway banner on your blog:

 

- Post this giveaway banner on your sidebar along with a link to my blog (add a link to my blog or make my banner as a link): 

- Leave a comment below with:

• GFC Name:
• First Name:
• Facebook Name:
• Email Address:
• Link to post of the banner on your blog:
• Link to the banner on your sidebar:

 - If the winner does not have all the requirements and does not respond to my email to notify them of their winning within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen.

**Once items are shipped to the winners, I will not be held responsible for lost or damaged products. Sorry ;(**

The winner will be chosen via www.random.org.
Giveaway will end Monday, October 15, 2012 at 11:59 PM HST

and will be announced on Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Good luck!!!