DILEMMA- Opinions please!

Ok, this isn't life or death....but you ladies are beauty addicts, you understand ;)

So my last post was about the Longchamp purse and how much I LOVED that bag. A week later, I still do, if not more. There's just something about it. It's sleek (can bags be sleek? haha), it holds all I need to stuff into it, it doesn't way down my shoulder. I can go on forever(I promise this isn't just another musing about this amazing bag).


So my dilemma: I mentioned that I was saving up for the LV Neverfull MM. I have been in love with that bag for months now. It's chic, classic, roomy. Hm. Sound familiar? In my previous post, someone mentioned that they were happy I found an alternative to the Neverfull, however my intention was to have the bag as a filler bag until I buy my Neverfull. Now, the more I think about it...aren't they really similar?

OBVIOUSLY, it's different material, brand, name, etc...but, let's observe:

They're shapes are kind of similar even (anybody also think so?)

So, I know you're thinking...what's the dilemma you need an opinion on?? Well, do I really need both?

Here are some neutral facts: 

1. I was looking for a sturdy, roomy bag I can use for everything (school, life, etc.), and I found one. 

2. I was dying to be able to save up for the Neverfull and have that pride of having earned it on my own. 

3. I HATE switching up bags. I get so used to a purse, and ....bond with it haha. Also, I ALWAYS forget something in the bag I take things out of. So when I get the Neverfull, I just know I'll neglect my Longchamp. That'll hurt it's feeling, won't it? (lol)

I'm a little confused (and sorry if I've confused you now haha). I would love your opinions and inputs. Do you have both? How do they compare? Do you have one of them? What's your favorite thing about it?

<3

Purse Love!

I have never had a good quality purse that has lasted more than a year or so. I LOVE big bags and always fill them to their breaking point (LITERALLY!). I use the smae purses and totes for school and everywhere else so a heavy duty one is much needed.

My regular one was reaching its end so I decided that now's the time. I have been lemming for the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM!

I've been saving for this bag for a long time and hope to buy it on my birthday (May 29th). In the meantime, I needed a bag for school and I've heard very good things about this one. I've always thought it was a bit plain but owning one has definitely changed my mind. Ladies (and gentlemen), I introduce to you, my newest addition:

The Longchamp Le Pliage Large ($145) in Black

This bag is PERFECTION. I'm sure you've seen them before, in NY they're VERY popular ("go to 4 stores because it's out of stock" popular haha)

Pros:
1. It's HUGE! I stuffed it so much and it still has room for more!
2. Perfect for school, with textbooks, notebooks, makeup bags, etc. a big bag is much needed.
3. It's durable. I've heard this this is rainproof and breakproof. The straps seem very strong (leather) and the bag itself is Nylon. I've read of people having it for years and still being useable. That's great for me!
4. It's very lightweight. As much as I've stuffed in it, it feels amazingly light and doesn't weigh me down one bit.

Cons:
1. I guess you can say it's plain. I love my shiny and bedazzled bags, but this is definitely classic. So as much as that is a con, I can use it when I'm a little too old for bedazzlement, if that happens ;).
2. No side pockets. My favorite old purse had two side pockets. One that held my keys, and the other my phone. They were VERY convenient and I got so used to that. This bag has one small front inner pocket so that's where my phone/key have migrated to.

Do you have this bag? Do you love it? How has it treated you?

<3

New Year's Eve FOTD

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVES!

I hope you all had a great New Year's Eve celebration. I spent mine with my family yet still dressed up because it is a CELEBRATION after all =]

2009 seriously passed by in a blink of an eye. Some of its highlights for me include starting my new relationship (Jan 9th will be 1 year), starting my youtube/blog/twitter, starting my new job. A year of many beginnings haha.

My new years resolutions include:
1. being more diligent with my youtube/blog- this semester/work has been so crazy and busy and my youtube/blog has definitely reflected that. I vow to post on my blog AT LEAST once a week, and post a video AT LEAST twice a week =]

2. using what I have and only buying what I need- I dont have a HUGE collection by any means but i do have quite a lot of makeup,I plan to focus on using up rather than buying things which end up very similar. i want to only buy things that are MUST HAVE and things thatI really need

3. appreciate the great moments- I believe we all can relate to this. 2009 passed by so fast I barely had time to appreciate it =\

I wish you all a GREAT 2010, may it only bring happy things.

I twitpiced my FOTD (face of the day) for New Year's Eve but I decided to make a blogpost on it. I decided to go with a blue-toned silver eye.



Face:
-BE Matte- Fairly Light
-MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer- NC20
-Benefit Erase Paste- Medium
-NARS Laguna Bronzer

Eyes:
-Too Faced Shadow Insurance
-NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Black Bean (I took the product with my 217 directly from the pencil)
-Maybelline Duo in Grey Matters- the lighter shade, which is a silver with blue tones to it (Applied with a MAC 252SE sprayed with Fix+)
-NYX Black (applied with MAC219 to the outer V and blended with a Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush)
-Jordana Incolor Fabuliner in Black (applied to the upper lashline)
-MAC Feline Kohl Power- (applied to the water line and set with NYX Black with a MAC 212SE
-Covergirl Lashblast Mascara
-Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara
-Harsh edges blended with MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Medium Plus with Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush

Lips:
-MAC Close to Real Lipstick

<3

Mourning the Loss of a HG Mascara

Yes. It's time.

A few months ago it was announced that Max Factor would be discontinued in the U.S. by 2010. It is now the last 2 weeks of the year. Sad face. =[

It all happened so quickly, last week the shelves were piled with Max Factor items, now...nothing. *insert moment of silence*

The reason I'm so upset by this (yes, this upsets me this much hah) is because my absolute favorite, HG mascara is Max Factor's 2000 Calorie in Waterproof. The past 2 days I've been checking every drugstore I could find in hopes of buying up backups and have literally found ONE backup (which I obviously grabbed and bought haha).

I've recommended this mascara to everyone I know, and still do. If you love, or want to try, it and are in the United States, I highly suggest getting it while you still can.

Bye bye, MF 2000 calorie...you've brought me much lash happiness <3

Late Night Update & Yum and Yuck 2

Hi, loves!! Long time no...blog! Haha

*insert usual apologizing for neglecting blog* =]

So as I sit here working on a speech for my communications class, I wanted to take a break and give you guys a little update.

Everything's pretty much been crazy busy! It's my last 2 1/2 weeks of the semester, which equals papers, presentations, finals, and all the other gross and stressful stuff. I've just been going to school and working.

Oh,and somehow managed to get sick along the away. I'm not surprised...stress+cold weather+my tendency to ALWAYS get sick before finals= disaster.

But I'm fighting through all this and in 3 weeks, I'll be freeeeee. =]

I have not forgotten about you guys! I do update my youtube often (not as often as I'd like =\) and tweet CONSTANTLY! haha I promise to blog more and post more videos once this madness is OVER!

In the meantime, I've had a request to post another Yum & Yuck post so here goes:

YUM:

1. Highlight colors on the lid. I've been LOVING the effect of this. This with my usual eyeliner and mascara combo is love.
2. The end of the semester being close! Haha I can almost taste it!
3. Loving and supportive subscribers/followers. I appreciate every single one of you and you guys seriously mean the world to me =]
4. Loving and supportive people in my life in general! I have really been learning who's in my life out of love and who's there not so much. I have amazing friends that I care about, my boyfriends amazing, my family's great. I'm very stressed out right now and I really appreciate those little things that brighten my day =]

YUCK:

1. This is a big one: STRESSSSSSSS!!!!! nuff said? ;)
2. The fact that this semester has been one big ball of stress. I feel like I haven't had a free moment since it started. *phew* haha

<3

Face Routine

I like for my foundation to be medium coverage and for only my imperfections to be covered up with concealer rather than my whole face. I like seeing my natural skin through the foundation. This all works for me and I love the overall effect.

I do my face makeup after my eye makeup in case I have fallout or need to clean anything up.

So after moisturizer, I apply primer.



I use Sephora's Anti Shine Primer.



That is what it looks like. I use about that much and dot it along my T-Zone, and blend with two fingers.

Now, onto concealer...



I adore the MAC 217 brush for concealer. It's perfect for blending it out and applying it.



I spray my 217 with Fix+ to help the concealer blend even better and stop it from applying cakey.



I use the MAC Studio Finish concealer for my face, which includes blemishes and scarring.



My shade is NC30 (evidence lol)


The consistency. It is a creamy, full coverage concealer. But it needs the Fix+ to not be cakey.

Next, under eye concealer...



I use Benefit's Erase Paste in #2 Medium.



It is an amazing under eye concealer. It is pinky-salmon toned, which counteracts the dark circles, and also brightens, which helps the undereye area look more awake.

Next, foundation...



I use the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium.



This is a light powder and can be built up to a medium coverage. The powder also sets my concealer.



For bronzer, I use NARS Laguna.



I love this bronzer! It helps give my face dimension and works with the rosy-ness of my cheeks.

The brushes:



from left to right: MAC 182, Sonia Kushuk Highlighting Brush, Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush.

MAC 182 is used to apply the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. It's amazing: soft and dense, and buffs the powder perfectly.

Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush is for bronzer. It's a paddle shaped brush and is perfect for making the "3" and "E" with bronzer.

When I'm done with that, I spray the Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush with Fix+ and dab it along my face, and focus on where I put my face concealer. This is perfect to get rid of the powdered effect and to help give your foundation a dewey, glowy finish.

If you have any questions, let me know =]

GOSH Darling vs. MAC Close To Real

So I've become aware of a DUPE for GOSH Darling! I live in the US and unfortunetly can't get a hold as easily of GOSH as I can of MAC (since I go toschool near one and work near two...oh the tempation!). Out in the MAC High Def Collection is foundations and 4 lipsticks. The foundations are permanent so I skipped. But the lipstick in Close to Real is very close to perfection (haha get it=] )



GOSH Darling is on the left and MAC Close to Real is on the right.


They look very similar in the tubes and when swatched. Close to Real is on top,Darling is on the bottom.

On the lips....



MAC Close to Real (built up).




GOSH Darling (built up)

They look almost exactly alike on the lips! The only difference is that Close to Real is a little more matte.

I hope you check it out if you already haven't! (And I promise to get better with the picture taking lol)

<3