Ebay Auctions

Alright, I've finally taken the plunge and put items up on Ebay. I'm quite nervous/anxious for the end of the auctions. I feel like I'm either gonna screw something up or get screwed by a buyer, lol. Only because this is my first time.

To see my complete listing click here. Right now, I have up only few things - Victoria's Secret PINK sweats & a hoodie. I will be adding Versace sunglasses and MANY bags (I have a bunch of Kathy Van Zeeland & several Dooney & Bourke, plus accessories)!

I will be adding more once I get the hang of this Ebay selling thing, lol.

a piece of me :)

A lil' bit about me ... I have a feeling I'm gonna pull this down after a bit. I didn't wanna post it after I filled it out - too myspace feel for me


1. What is your favorite item of clothing?
Now aka Winter – Victoria’s Secret PINK boyfriend sweats, t-shirt layered with tank underneath, my desparately in need of retirement UGGs (once were baby blue now look like something pulled up from the bottom of the ocean floor), hat, scarf, hoodie, long sleeved t-shirt

2. What are your biggest obsessions?
handbags, makeup (obsessive)

3. Who inspires you?
is it bad if I really don’t have anyone that jumps out??? I’m not really a follower of anyone and I don’t mean that snotty like it comes across

4. Who is your favorite designer and why?
lol, no clue … I live in sweats!

5. What is your favourite song ever?
always loved Fancy by Reba McIntire or Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter … never get sick of Sugarland or Spill Canvas – gotta love my hometown band

6. What is your favourite song right now?
oh wow, right now love to sing Gunpowder and Lead at the top of my lungs in my car and I like Britney’s new one … "one, two, three … "

7. If you were a sweet what would it be?
nice question, some kinda truffle in dark chocolate with carmel in side with red stripes on top

8. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet- what words would describe your rainbow?
makeup, shimmer, handbags, flips, sunshine, flowers

9. Whats your favorite film?
always love Disney’s Sleeping Beauty

10. Who's your favorite actor?
Johnny Depp – fell in love back when I was like 5 yrs old watching Edward Scissorhands

11. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
Disneyland!!! I love California though in general

12. What are your three favorite smells?
Victoria’s Secret SuperModel, Pure Seduction, & sugar cookies

13. What are your three favorite tastes?
Strawberry (actual fruit), Cherry (hate actual cherries but like the artificial taste) and this orange, peach, mango juice – yumm!

14. What is your most treasured possession?
well, right now I’m still pretty much loving my Madison Audrey Ocelot … I don’t really consider people a possession but I’m very happy to have my mom, grandparents, Ben, & Tay

15. What did you always want to do/be when you grew up?
I wanted to be the First Lady PRESIDENT! Seriously! I had a shirt that I would wear a lot! Funny now because I don’t get into politics nor do I understand it in the least!

16. If you were an ice cream what flavor would you be?
Cookies n’ Cream

17. If someone made a short film of your life, who would play you?
I don’t really care but it sure as heck would NOT be Angelina Jolie – can’t stand her and find her funny looking … YOU CAN NOT BE A HUMANITARIAN IF YOU STEAL SOMEONE’S HUSBAND!!!

18. What would your perfect afternoon consist of?
being outside, perhaps a hike with Ben, lil’ shopping @ an outdoor mall and then s quiet evening at home watching movies til I fell asleep

19. If you were a flower, what would you be?
daisy

Tell me a random thing.
I do not know how to burp

Question for ya ...

Any advice on how to get my Sigma SS187 clean? I have washed my Sigma brushes several times but I wonder if my new foundation (Maybelline 24 hr stay) is the cause of my dirty brush.

This morning after applying my face I decided to quickly rinse it out so it would be ready for tomorrow morning but the brush would not come clean. Tried shampoo (my usual go to cleaner) & some hand soap (naughty) but the tan tone remained on the lighter bristles :(

Maybe this foundation is just not gentle on brushes??? Any advice??? Oh, and have you taken a peek at Urban Decay's latest - Alice in Wonderland palette, check it out here @ THE NOTICE.

25 Subscribers & a lil' more ...

Woo Whoo! I've reached a blog milestone - 25 subscribers. Not bad, I don't feel like any makeup-maven. For that many bloggers wanting to follow me means a bunch to me :)

I'm thinking of doing a follower giveaway sometime soon! I wanna have it be fun to enter so I will think of something!

On other thoughts, I broke my promise to myself and bought a new foundation BUT ONLY BECAUSE I felt like my current foundations are a bit warmtoned for me at the moment. I shed a couple of tears earlier this week and well, when I was pulling myself together I took a look in the mirror and WHOA! It looked like a mudslide - lol, when water runs down a hill of dirt and leaves a trail of where the water dug into the soil, that's how I felt and looked.

So, now I'm using Maybelline 24 hr Stay Foundation in Nude. I have to say, so far, so good! (Quite impressed with the shade selection actually. The boy helped me out) Has anyone else tried this? Any other drugstore suggestions???

Was also curious about a plumping lip gloss in the line @ Target called Soap & Glory (or something on that note) - Mother Pucker ... any testers out there??? Let me know your thoughts!

The Currents

Not necessarily my Holy Grails but products that have been my "go to" lately (been using for over a month). MANY of these will soon be added to my Holy Grail list!

FACE

• Jergen's Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer
• Laura Geller Tinted Spackle UnderMakeup Primer
• Laura Geller Phenomenal Foundation in Medium
• Benefit Pressed Powder Get Even in 02 Medium or Stila's Sheer Pressed Powder in Medium
• Laura Geller Ethereal Rose Baked Powder (blush)
• Stila Illuminating Finishing Powder in Rose GoldBenefit High Beam

EYES

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara or CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara

LIPS

• NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Lollipop & Tea Rose

EXTRAS

• Sigma Pro Complete Brush Set
• & of course Clean & Clear Oil Blotting Sheets :)

p.s. I'm a tad over excited for tomorrow ... it's a do what I want makeup day! I don't work @ the mall tomorrow there for I don't have to do subtle makeup, yay! Maybe some Kat Von D??? Try out more of my NYX haul so I can update on that! It's not that you can't wear beautiful makeup it's just that I play it very safe with subtle/basic/neutral colors b/c I know how they will turn out

You can be a SuperModel in seconds ...

Never thought I would use this type of thing EVER! I've fallen in love with Benefit Cosmetics High Beam (I always wanna call it Moon Beam for some reason, so if I have a random reference to "Moon Beam" you won't be confused).

*after checking on Benefit Cosmetics' site I see that they do have a product called Moon Beam - NOT THE SAME PRODUCT

It's a luminating complexion enhancer - like a highlighter! Benefit calls High Beam - "Supermodel in a bottle" and I have to agree after adding a couple dabs of this stuff as a finishing touch to my makeup I feel like a Victoria's Secret Supermodel straight off the runway - angel wings & bra ;)

This is what Sephora says about High Beam: Benefit High Beam is an ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion. For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow.

I use it as a spot highlighter, applying it to my cheekbones, brow bones and inner coners of the eyes (cheeks are a must and so are the inner corners of the eyes - perfect for both of these!)

Cost: $24

Size: .45 fl oz

Pros: I feel like this is what I have been missing from my makeup collection

Quick and easy to apply just a lil' dab on cheekbones, inner eye, brow bones, cupid's bow (above lip) and blend with fingers

Since you use so lil' everytime this will last FOREVER

Heard that the best lighting to look your best in is candlelight or dimmed lighting??? Well this gives that effect all day long no matter where you go :)

Cons: None, SERIOUSLY

Conclusion: ***** 5 stars out of 5 :)

Heart-broken ;(

I have decided (very last minute) that I will not be using my Sephora $20 off Gift Certificate. Really don't know how I am allowing myself to walk away from such a great offer.

*ah so just to let y'all know, I did mess around on Sephora.com and tried a few things in my cart. When I went to check out, my offer was not working - didn't say not valid, it's not even the deadline yet. So now even though I wasn't gonna use it, I'm pissed and have written to Sephora.

I'm gonna try and satisfy my beauty urges with drugstore brands. I definitely have my own mini-Sephora in my bathroom, or at least my collection of products will last me for quite a while.

The only thing is that there is always new advances in makeup - different products, techniques, looks, etc that it's gonna be difficult but I'm making a vow to not buy anything until at least my birthday @ the end of February. The whole idea that was discussed in an earlier post about finishing a product/hitting pan and then being able to buy something else @ that used up product's retail value isn't going to work for me - I just have too much!

I'm bummed that I have let myself indulge too much, although I love all my lil' beauty goodies I could do without many :(

A brightside to all this fuss, MORE REVIEWS, COLLECTIVE HAUL PICS : ) This blog will still be a-buzzin' & I will post like crazy - especially with Holiday break coming up! My afternoon job is with an elementary afterschool program so if school's out I have more free time!

I feel like I've been slacking ... and unfortunately I still am :(

It's been a long while since I've blogged on here. I haven't been busy with tests/schools and such although I did get another job :) If you followed my posts about a month ago you read that I had an interview that I nailed with Coach (if you didn't see the posts then you never will b/c I took them down - long story) and I have been loving it and very busy working there during the holiday season - Black Friday was CRAZY FUN working @ Coach :)

Anywho, I have an outrageous NYX haul from CherryCulture.com I think it was 20 items (really went out there on a lim b/c this was my first ever NYX purchase and I had never seen/touched NYX products). I have only tried/swatched some of the eye palettes and lip gloss (the gloss smells FANTASTIC and the swatches are amazing).

I will go into more detail in a future haul post (have yet to take a pic) but one of the palettes "for brown eyes" is labeled on the outside as "for blue eyes" and another eye palette has a random shadow in place of what is suppose to be in that place, and I opted for "Pop" lip gloss which apparently is a Halloween orange glitter gloss which was not at all how it appeared to be on my computer screen.

Also got a new Coach bag that is a lil' cutie and maybe some more Coach this weekend ;) And then there's Sephora's $20 "gift card" that I would love to use but as mentioned in a previous post I am trying to use up what I have before buying new (with the exception of my NYX haul).

Hope all is well with everyone during these pre-holiday season :) Anyone using their Sephora "gift card" email??? What ya getting???

Neutrogena Wave Duo

I've been meaning to do a review on this for months, especially after seeing a youtuber rant about it. And now, e.motion in: motion has done a review (click here) and although, I don't wanna seem like a copycat I have a totally different review than her. I know, right - chaotic mess of disagreeing reviews, how does one decide ;)

So I bought mine after watching commercial after commercial of this face cleanser vibrator & on a trip to Target I discovered that not only was the Wave Duo on sale but so were the replacement pads! So I purchased it and have been using it about 3x a week ever since :)

I have to say that I like it. I knew it was not going to do wonders for my skin (come on, it's from a drugstore and it's no Clarisonic for heaven's sake) but I use to use just a makeup removing towelette and then move onto my Proactiv set & when using a toner I would notice makeup residue on the pad. Leading me to believe that maybe using a makeup removing towelette was not getting off all my makeup and therefore, Proactiv was not able to do it's job.

Now, I notice far less (if ANY) makeup residue after using my the Wave after the makeup removing towelette and before applying Proactiv. I don't use it everyday because I find that it could be a little too harsh on skin (rub it in circular motions on face for 60 seconds).

To use I simply wet my face, apply the pad to the Wave and wet the Wave. Then I start rubbing on my face and splash some water on my face to get the foam going. I get LOTS OF FOAM from doing this. It even gets in my hair, lol.

It leaves my face SOOO SOFT & not a bit dried out. I tend to use it at night but I've used it in the shower too.

There are several different kinds of pads that you can get. I have tried the original (my favorite) and the shine free ones that are suppose to reduce oil - the only reason why these aren't my favorite is because the texture is a bit rough and definitely wouldn't recommend for everyday use.

Overall, it's much cheaper option than the Clarisonic and I'm satisfied at around $15 full price (you can find them on sale often).

Gotta Show Some Love ...

I am still relatively new to the makeup world. I really got my hands dirty with makeup in spring of 2008 when a friend started working at Estee Lauder's makeup counter @ my Macy's. From there I was led to Lancome, next Bare Escentuals, Sephora.com, etc.

A makeup Guru, I am not (maybe someday) but I do know a thing or two about some of my favorite products. These products that I am going to share for you are my sorta "Holy Grails" if you will. Though @ times I get caught up in all the new sensations in the makeup world and overlook my "go to" products.

First off is Avon's Satin Gel Eyeliner in Black Pearl (black with itty bitty flecks of gold).

***** 5 stars better than any other eyeliner!!!

Avon describes it as "Avon's darkest, richest, most intense eye liner. Soft gel color glides on easily for long-wearing definition." I would have to agree :)

I am NOT AN EYELINER FAN, especially pencils. I just find that they are too harsh for everyday wear. I line my eyes in shadow instead for a softer look. But when I use Avon's Satin Gel Eyeliner I can make it dramatic or soft and this stuff does not budge. I have used Smashbox's Jet Set Eyeliner and although it does the job I like the texture of Avon's better, sometimes Smashbox's tends to flake a tiny bit.

The size of Avon's pot is comparable to Smashbox's but it's a fraction of the price. Avon sells a bent brush to apply with their eyeliner and I find this works amazingly well! Sometimes you can even get the brush included with the eyeliner depending on the promotion.

Avon's Satin Gel Eyeliner offered in Black Pearl, Black/Brown Pearl, & Brown Pearl $7

Avon's Bent Eyeliner Brush $1.99

Next, is Laura Geller's Balance N Brighten

***** 5 stars

Fell in love with Laura Geller when I was watching QVC one night. Granted, I haven't met her and she was on tv trying to sell her products but this woman seems so remarkably GENUINE! I can't even describe. I have a lot of her products and I still continue to watch her whenever I see she is on QVC, even though I probably have the products she is talking about!

Her Balance N Brighten is what launched her line I believe and it's a baked foundation. It is swirls of pigments that are created to match almost any skintone. It is for light to medium coverage and evens out skintone effortlessly. I also recommend using the Baked Powder Brush - it's my favorite to use with Balance N Brighten and works best!

If interested I would highly recommend purchasing the Baked Powder 6 piece Indulgence Set off QVC (I have 2 sets) where you can try:

• Balance N Brighten foundation

• Bronze N Brighten powder

• Ethereal Rose Baked all-over face powder

• Baked Marble eye shadow duo in amethyst/lagoon

3 Pound Haul :)

So, I know that in my last post I said, I am going to save money. No more buying makeup until I have hit pan AND finished a product :( Sad but I waste too much money and this isn't helping me achieve my goal (apartment with the boy).

BUT I did however, take advantage of Cherry Culture's 20% off code and purchase my first NYX products - always heard GREAT THINGS! I went a lil' overboard - just went to check to see where my package is at and it mentioned that it's 3 POUNDS!!! WOW, I knew I ordered a lot but WHOA! So excited to say the least, talk about going out with a BOOM ;)

I also ordered (probably my last) Laura Geller products through QVC (I just get so pissed with their OUTRAGEOUS shipping and taxes charge on EACH ITEM). I need to rave about those products too b/c 2 of the items are repeat purchase.

Anywho, very excited for the end of the week when my package/packages (I also had the highest bid on ebay though I will rave about that after I get it) are going to be sitting by my door just waiting for my lil' hands to rip it open - early Christmas!!!

Spending Habits

I'm completely copying smiley13tree @themakeupobsessed in her quest to use up products before getting new ones. I have a lot of unused/half used makeup piling up in my bathroom cupboards ... plus, my checking account could be a lil' fuller ;)

Smiley13tree had such a good idea to make a list of things that needed to be used up, along with each product's retail value. Then next time I decide to place an order or walk into Sephora I know how much money I can spend (based on how many prodcuts I have used and their total retail value).

Seems simple enough, now I just have to stick to it!

So far, nada thing is used up and I have a feeling it's gonna be a LONG TIME :( No shopping for me for quite a while ...

Fall Favorites

Instead of doing a September, October, November favorites blog I'm doing a Fall Favorites post. Pretty smart, huh?! I would love to say I planned this out but I just never got around to doing the past months' favorites and my favorite products just all blend together as to when I started using/loving them.

*** I do not have pics up and I know that's a major perk to have pics up, especially when they are your own personal pics but I have linked every product (which actually took more time than I originally thought)

Face:

• Moisturizer - Jergen's Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer been using this since April & it does not add oil to my already oily face nor does it make me breakout
• Primer - Stila's Hydrating Primer SPF 15 & Laura Geller's Spackle Under-Makeup Primer been using LG longer, it has a "wet/moisturizing" feel while Stila is still new to me and the product feels thicker
• Foundation - Stila's Natural Finish Oil Free Foundation & Stila's Illuminating Liquid Foundation still a lover of LG's Balance n Brighten, I'm loving Stila's liquid foundations to add some moisture to my skin during the winter months P.S. LOVE using my Sigma SS190
• Powder - Stila's Sheer Pressed Powder AMAZING, put on after foundation and my skin stays matte and very lil' oil
• Blush - Benefit Dallas, Physican's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush & Highlighter in Rosy Glow Dallas is a bronzer/blush without the shimmer, very warm look. Physican's Formula was hard to use at first but sooo many colors you can use
• Luminizer - Benefit High Beam Never tried anything like this, it really brings out cheekbones

Eyes:

• Primer - Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Shadow - this varies as I pull out forgotten palettes and try new shadows sorry I'm not more specific but it's been a lot of natural colors because of work
• Liner - I do NOT LIKE pencil eyeliner & most generally use shadow to line use darker shades from eyeshadow palettes
• Mascara - Maybelline Lash Stiletto & CoverGirl Lashblast Volume Lash Stiletto makes my lashes exremely long, classy, and sophisticated (if lashes can look like that!) & Lashblast Volume adds not only volume but also makes them long

Lips:

• Lipstick - Estee Lauder Pure Color Lasting Lipstick in Pinkberry "go to" lip color, nude/pink & I LOVE the SCENT of Estee Lauder lip products
• Gloss - Benefit I'm with the Band a warm, shimmery pink

Sets:

• Benefit Celebutante Set
• Stila's Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe
• Sephora's Blockbuster Palette 2009
• Benefit Glitz Glam & Gloss Set
• Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection this works so well for work, can only wear natural eye

Listing on Ebay

Over this nice holiday break coming up I will be taking the time to mess around with Ebay. I have been and bidder on Ebay for years but only recently have I put serious thought into becoming a seller.

I have no clue what I am getting myself into - anyone on here a seller on Ebay??? Any advice is GREATLY APPRECIATED :)

Things I will be selling:

• Dooney & Bourke handbags and accessories from the IT collection
• Victoria's Secret Pink Boyfriend sweats
• Victoria's Secret Pink hoodie

If anyone is interested, let me know and I will keep you posted on when I list and the links :)

Anyone who would like to throw some tips my way about selling on Ebay I would love forever!

Thankful for an Amazing Man

He would probably kill me if he knew I put this on here ... but too bad ;)

This is my Mr. & I'm so happy to have him in my life. We definitely compliment each other and keep one another in check! I know this isn't the best pic of him but that's just the thing - he hates taking pics.

The look on my face in this particular picture is priceless and captures how he makes me feel :)

On our way to a wedding reception ---

Whoa! Talk about Bang for Your Buck :)

Review: Stila Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe - Medium

I give this somewhere between 4 & 5 stars. The only reason why I hesitate to put 5 stars is because I didn't like the two tinted moisturizers in this set BUT to be fair, I have NEVER LIKED TINTED MOISTURIZERS. So given that I knew I probably wouldn't like the tinted moisturizers, I still purchased the set and am overwhelmingly happy with everything else included :)

I'm modeling this review from the review I left on Sephora.com



First off, when I went to Sephora on the way home from a trip to Branson, Missouri I somehow ignored this foundation set. I gave it a look over and honestly saw that it had liquid foundation and thought "Hell, no!" Never been a fan of liquid but this set has won me over!



I am absolutely IN LOVE with this sampler set! I was looking for other options for coverage besides powders - lover of Laura Geller's Balance and Brighten but I wanted to try a liquid formula for the winter. Oily during the summer months, my skin turns dry in the winter months and liquid coverage just sounds like it would be more appealing due to the change in weather.



These are very GENEROUS SAMPLE SIZES. I have yet to use one up!



My favorites are the Natural Finish Oil Free foundation and the Illuminating foundation. I have yet to "run low" and have used both SEVERAL TIMES. The coverage of both are simply amazing - "like butta" but in a good way, just blends effortlessly :) I have been using my Sigma liquid foundation brush for application.



Natural Finish Oil Free gives a matte look and probably the one I will repurchase fullsized. I find that the Illuminating foundation is just as good but it leaves a dewy glow - which I like, but I tend to pat on Stila Sheer Powder after foundation application to "set" my makeup and prevent premature shininess ;) Sooo, to get to my point - the Illuminating finish is gone after I have applied powder on top and looks the same as the Natural Finish Oil Free foundation.



The blush is even bigger than what I would consider a DELUXE SAMPLE and it's easy to apply and blend! Oh, and although I was a bit skeptical, I tried it on my lips - I like it! Not moisturizing (it doesn't claim to be) but I apply a clear gloss and it's beautiful!



In love with the primer too! Will buy full size soon! It's white, which I haven't experienced before but I like it! Just a pea size is all you need :)



As far as the tinted moisturizers go, I am not a fan but I don't hate them either. I just like to have more coverage when I put something on my face. I will use it when I'm being lazy or on weekends though. It's good quality.



All the products have SURPASSED ANY EXPECTATIONS I HAD (we will just leave the tinted moisturizers outta this).



I have even contemplated getting another one or 2 sets!!! But I figured that I had better sit down and decide on one or the other and just buy full size because I know I can't go wrong! Very happy I decided to try this!

*** Forgot to add, it says it's $40 value and it's only $18

Sooo Bummed & Any Swappers?!

So just read on my dashboard that TiffanyD will be having another blog sale tomorrow (click here) - but I will be just getting off work :( Looks like I'm missing another one.

I'm gonna just throw this out there --- If anyone has a MAC mineralized blush in Love Rock and is interested in selling or swapping please let me know. I'm on the hunt for one, checked MakeUpAlley but not too sure about it.

What Color, What Texture ... It's gotta be Kat Von D!

Ahh, I'm sooo excited to talk about Kat Von D's Eyeshadow Palettes. I only wish I would have swatched these babies for you :( I will add swatches later!

I fell in love with Kat way back before she teamed up with Sephora to start her own makeup line. My mom and I watch her on TLC's LA Ink and Miami Ink (before she had her own tattoo parlor). Her taste and style is admirable and eye-catching. Something if I only had the balls to attempt I would. Her tattoos are so detailed ... and her eyeshadows???

Just as amazing!!! Like her sense of style, her shadows appear to be just as in your face and out there. I thought the picture I took of the shadows captured the pigmentation and texture rather well but when I look at the picture below I feel they are represented true to person but perhaps a lil' washed out.

I was hesitant to try out her shadows because even Urban Decay can be a bit overwhelming for me at times but I "earned" enough points @ Sephora through the Beauty Insider Perks to cash in for Kat Von D's Rock N Roll Eyeshadow Palette and thought, "why not?" Let me say, that if you have the Rock N Roll palette or have heard reviews on it - the palettes from Kat's line are completely different in a good way!

The Rock N Roll palette consists of only 4 yet generous pans of color. 2 pearly ones & 2 with shimmer. The texture is a bit silky but nothing to go crazy about. I have worn it for a day and wasn't super impressed but wasn't really bummed either. Was it worth my hard spent cash, er "points"??? Well, I was excited to try it and wasn't interested in Sephora's lil' palette that was also offered so I'm satisfied.

As far as the other palettes of Kat's that are pictured. Three were on a whim with Sephora's Friends & Family Discount and Metal Orchestra (the one I was uber hesitant about) was purchased with the winning bid of $29 on Ebay :)

The True Romance palettes from Kat's beauty line @ Sephora (click here to see) are AMAZING! The texture is super silky which makes them fun to apply! There are mattes and shimmers and most include one cream shadow. All include Lucifer - a matte black that is GREAT for LINING & CREASE/CORNER. Which brings me to the thought that goes into these palettes! Each palette has it's own unique name and each color has it's own name as listed on the back of the palette. Quite interesting lil' names too, I would name them off for you but I don't have a palette near me. The palettes also have 2 lil' double-ended brushes. I find that they WORK GREAT for LINING but that's it.

I always use Too Faced Shadow Insurance but these have great staying power. I tend to not take my makeup off til after midnight (I'm a night owl), which means my makeup has been on for 12plus hours - this is even hard to get off when swiping it with a makeup removing cloth!

I have tried the purples in True Love (last four on the right), Gypsy (first four on the left), and the browns in Ludwig (last four on right) and have been beyond pleased.

Ludwig - kinda your neutral/natural basics ... definitely could be worn to work depending how light of a hand you have

Gypsy - the color between black (first color on the left) and the shimmering pink is very iridescent and beautiful on it's own or blended with other colors

True Love - the purples are VERY PIGMENTED! The purple next to the white leaves kinda a sheen. Oh, and the whites in the palettes are more of a sheen of color, sorta iridescent - plays off of whatever color is blended near it.

Metal Orchestra - this is your "rockin' the blues" palette. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but am excited to say the least!

These shadows are very forgiving too! I was sweeping on a color and it had way more payoff then I thought it would but with my blending brush it just worked its way in with the other colors.

The outside packaging is beautifully decorated with sketches of tattoos. You can see a picture of them in my previous post below.

I say a definite must try even if it means only going to Sephora to swatch the colors for yourself. The palettes are $34 but you can find them cheaper on Ebay. Even for $34 you are getting 8 eyeshadows = $4.25 each ... WOW!

Anyone else tried these?

Haul-Lights of September forward ...

Good Lord! Let me just say, I absolutely love following all beauty bloggers on here - what they do is a heck of a lot of work! Trying to keep up to date with everything and posting reviews/rants/raves in a timely manner is a job all in itself!

These are the majority of my beauty hauls from September to the present. As I'm sitting here typing though many drugstore items seem to be popping into my head. Oh, well.

Here goes:

Victoria's Secret

• Smokey Eye Palette
• Shimmering Eye Palette
• Heidi Klum Eye Shadow Palette ... click here for review

I think Victoria's Secret is overlooked as far as makeup. I liked somethings in their old line but this fall they came out with new formulations and the eyeshadows are SUPER SILKY!

Urban Decay

• Urban Ammo Eye Palette
• Wallpaper Shadow Box
• Book of Shadows Volume II

MANY, MANY reviews on these already but let me know if you would like me to do one too or just swatches

Sigma

• Complete professional brush set ... click here for info - Review COMING SOON!

I'm in heaven ;)

Sephora

• Ultimate Blockbuster
• Round-A-Pout Beach Ball
• Makeup Palette To Go - Warm Tones

Benefit

• Celebutante Set
• Glitz Glam & Gloss Set
• Coralista Box o' Blush
• Thrrrob Box o' Blush
• Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Sippin n' Dippin
• Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans
• Silky Finish Lipstick in Thrillin' Brazilian
• Silky Finish Lipstick in Ladies Choice
• Lip Gloss in I'm with the Band
• Automatic Lip Liner Pencil duo in Naked Ambition

With the exception of the Celebutante Set, all were purchased off Ebay for a FRACTION OF PRICE! Still playing around with these

Too Faced

• Natural Eye Neutral Eyeshadow Palette - Review COMING SOON!

I believe this will be PERFECT FOR WORK - going to use tonight for first day @ Coach :)

Stila

• Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe - Medium

I'm loving all the options Stila offers for coverage :) Review COMING SOON!

Kat Von D

• Rock N Roll Eyeshadow Palette ... Insider Point Perk
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in True Love
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Ludwig
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Metal Orchestra
• True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Gypsy

AMAZING!!! Full sized palettes an absolute MUST TRY!!! Review on ALL COMING VERY SOON!

Whew! I believe that's it! I have my work cut out for me. Seems that by the time I get around to reviewing something there are already enough brillant reviews out there that it would just be overkill for me to do one too.

Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts?

Stila Gift of Appreciation

I swear, this lil' set has been in my hands before it even came out on Sephora's website. I got this set when I was returning from my trip to Branson, Missouri on a whim @ Council Bluff's Sephora. In September, it wasn't even on Sephora's site yet.

It totally caught my eye due to the INCREDIBLE VALUE! For ONLY $38 (a $192 value) - you can't even purchase 2 of these items separately for the price of the set!

Just take a second to take it all in if you aren't familar with the set:

***ALL FULL SIZED PRODUCTS!!!

• 0.17 oz Eye Shadow Trio in Gold Glow (gold/ bronze/ ivory)
• 0.32 oz Illuminating Finishing Powder in Rose Gold (peachy pink sheen)
• 0.31 oz Sheer Pressed Powder in Medium
• 0.04 oz Lip Rouge Liquid Lip Satin in Pucker (bright pink red)
• 0.04 oz Long Wear Lip Color in Flushed (deep rose sheen)
• 0.28 oz Lash Visor in Black
• 0.08 oz Plumping Lip Glaze in Minty Mint (soft gold)
• 0.04 oz Kajal Eye Liner in Topaz (apricot nude)
• Pencil Sharpener

Honestly, I don't believe I have EVER USED STILA BEFORE THIS SET - & now I'm a Stila Lover!

Eyeshadow Trio

• Adds a shimmery "POP" to your basic neutrals
• Very GENEROUS SIZE

Illuminating Powder

• @ first I wasn't sold on it ... I don't think I really knew how to use it as a highlighter at first
• It is very subtle but gives you a nice gleem (is that a word?)
• HUGE, this will last a VERY, VERY, LONG TIME

Sheer Pressed Powder

• My FAVORITE PART of the set
• Put on AFTER PRIMER and BEFORE FOUNDATION and OIL-FREE ALL DAY (I have very oily skin but also dry in areas)
• Only comes in MEDIUM in this set
• ALREADY BOUGHT ANOTHER

Lash Visor Mascara

• Can't give a reveiw because I haven't even opened it yet (have WAY TOO MANY mascaras waiting to be used)

Kajal Eye Liner

• Undecided - It's FLESH TONE
• "wide awake" look not quite achievable

Long Wear Lip Color

• LOVE IT!
• Powdery pink tint
• NOT DRYING

Lip Rouge Liquid Lip Stain

• Great for PIN-UP DOLL LOOK
• FELT TIP like a sharpie
• Major STAYING POWER
• VERY RED, just sucked on a popcicle red

Lip Plumping Glaze

• DIDN'T find it PLUMPING :(
• MINTY SCENT
• BEAUTIFUL when LAYERED ON TOP of LONG WEAR LIP COLOR
• SHIMMERY NUDE
  
  *I didn't include the pencil sharpener in the pics ... just your basic metal sharpener, though I heard that it's especially meant to sharpen the Kajal Pencil
  

Swatches of the Eyeshadow Trio - VERY PIGMENTED!

PROS:

• Definitely worth the price even if you only find 2 things you like
• Lip Glaze is $22 & Sheer Pressed Powder is $28 if purchased separately

CONS:

• With such an amazing price I can't think of any :)

Mail, Mail, Mail ... wtf?!

Recently I went on a sorta rampage ordering things online. First of all, I received my beloved Sigma Pro Brush Set and am in LOVE. I own no MAC brushes (that is what everyone has been comparing these brushes to) but I can tell you, these are amazing and I have definitely been missing out - but more on that later :)

I also bought some things on ebay. I have used ebay MANY times in the past and have had primarily good luck ... UNTIL TODAY!

UGGGGHHHH!!! Let me just get that off my chest. I was super excited when leaving the house this morning to see that the postman was taking an extra amount of time @ my mailbox. I knew that I would have a lil' package waiting for me upon my arrival back home. But *scream inserted here* when I did get back home and cut open the package I found a Benefit perfume (something "Lee Lee") inside! I was so disappointed, outraged that I didn't even take a look at the name of the perfume. I wasn't exactly sure yet what was SUPPOSE to be inside the box I just knew that this is NOT WHAT I BIDDED ON AND PAID FOR!!!

So after going through my inbox and connecting the name of the return address to an email I discovered that I was suppose to receive a huge set of Benefit from this seller which only made my blood pressure boil past any healthy level. So here I am, stuck with this dang perfume and waiting for a reply from this brain-dead seller. This just sucks!

Anyone else had any bad experiences with ebay??? Wait - maybe I don't wanna know until my transaction is resolved and I have my beloved Benefit items craddled in my arms ;)

this past weekend ---

--- list 2 things you DID & 1 thing you DIDN'T ---

- Saturday -

-- DIDs --

- pull out my favorite - it feels like snow - vest & feel cute despite having a terrible sinus infection

- watch really good true ghost stories marathon w/ my hun :)

-- DIDN'T --

- dress up or go out for Halloween

- Sunday -

-- DIDs --

- eat @ La Fiesta w/ my mom & Ben

- guess correctly that the Vikings would dominate the Packers (Ben's choice wasn't so lucky)

-- DIDN'T --

- stay awake for the entire game ... oops!

Sephora Friends and Family Order Ideas

Sephora's Friends and Family Discount is almost over and I have ran through Sephora's site and made my list!

Originally, NARS Multiple Coffret Set was on it but after reading the reviews I think I'm gonna have to pass. I absolutely am a fan of the powder blush Orgasm but I'm not too sure about the creamy consistency of The Multiple. Plus, the sizes are itty bitty according to the reviews. About the size of your pinky nail for each tube. Not worth 40 bucks for 3 tiny Multiples :(

I'm wanting to branch out and try Benefit Cosmetics. I saw several holiday sets on Benefit's website that I'm lusting over. All but one of the sets is offered on Sephora. I'm thinking of the Celebutante b/c it has SO MANY "BEST" of Benefit in it. Many trial sizes! And then adding in a CORALista Blush and Some Kind of Gorgeous completion perfector - the Sexy Starlet Set includes both & a mascara but really I don't need anymore mascaras, very much so set for quite a while on mascaras ;)

--- Anyways, it would be cheaper to buy just the two and then there's the discount :)

I would also like to try Benefit's Get Even blotting powder. I have been using Stila's Sheer Pressed Powder and am in love but I really don't wanna reorder it. No cons just wanted to change it up a bit. Maybe I should stock up on it ... hmm

I feel like my order is uber boring but I really don't need any more eye palettes and nothing else is really catching my eye.

Woo Whoo - Friday! aka this month's payday :)

So excited - nonbeauty related reasons, sorry :(

Tomorrow is payday which means:
1. Can finally get my car's oil changed - definitely due and I won't feel guilty driving my car and wondering if it's pastdue.

2. Time to stock up my savings account with some more cushion :) I did a GREAT JOB this summer stocking up my savings account (several thousand, actually) but I have paid several months worth of student loans and when I went to Coach last month I had to dip into the funds a lil' bit.

3. I get paid once a month so each paycheck is well needed and I feel like it's a fresh start! Aaahhh!


Problem is, I have already thought of several makeup "essentials" that I would really appreciate! And there is Sephora's Friends and Family Discount - tough desicions! I held back last month and did NOT purchase the Sigma Pro Brush Set (so many GREAT RAVES on youtube about these brushes! Comparable to MAC?!)

I guess we'll just see how much this check really is before I make any decisions, but I have a feeling tomorrow will be shopping day ;)

Everyday Minerals???

I am an avid user of powder foundation. Liquid just makes me cringe. Thinking about putting liquid foundation makes me feel claustrophobic and heavy :(

I tried Bare Minerals - without success. Here's my experience with Bare Minerals. I guess the one good thing that did come out of battling with Bare Minerals is that I found out Bismuth Oxychloride is NOT MY FRIEND ;)

Anyways, I wanna try Everyday Minerals. It seems like there is no trace of Bismuth Oxychloride. I'm completely clueless as to what kind of formula to purchase though. I have oily skin but around my nose and chin tend to get a lil' dry with powders. Intensive? Matte? Semi-matte? & are the sample sizes worth the $2.50 plus shipping for the amount you get?

Someone please help!

Such a Sucker for Packaging!

I'm constantly receiving giftcards from Victoria's Secret for $10 or $20. Not complaining, just trying to justify my purchases. I'm not an addict of VS makeup, nor do I run to check out their latest from their beauty line. But I have become quite fond of some of their makeup, especially Heidi Klum's Limited Edition (aka: trying to make more people purchase the item) makeup line ;)

I originally walked in to VS thinking I would see if they had any of the blush beads that I had seen in one of the latest magazines ( I would give credit to the magazine but I honestly am not sure what magazine it was. Cosmopolitan perhaps???). The blush beads are very similar to Guerlain's Meteorite beads (Pink Fresh shade) but much more wallet friendly. VS's is only $22.

To my astonishment, the store actually had a full display of the "Heidi Klum Luminous Face Powder Gems". I was beyond excited until I read the list of ingredients (lil' OCD, I know. But I had a horrible breakout/infection from Bismuth Oxychloride) and stumbled upon that B-word! UGH!

The packaging is BEYOND BEAUTIFULLY AMAZING that I actually debated on whether or not to still use my FREE $20 giftcard and pay $2 for the blush beads! Can you believe it, the packaging itself was luring me into possibly having another breakout. I figured for 2 BUCKS I could give it a try but then realized just how "luminous" the beads truely are and decided even if I only paid 2 bucks for something a skin irritation was just not worth 2 bucks.

But FREE MONEY is just that, FREE MONEY that must be spent or it'll burn a hole right through your wallet and most likely through your favorite bag ;) All the items in the new Heidi Klum line are GORGEOUS and I fell in love with the eyeshadow palette. Beyond all else, I am a total eyeshadow junkie.

And drumroll, please. Here are the pics from the much-hyped line :)
My apologies for the poor lighting. I need to figure out the best place to take pics still.

Just the colors alone drew me towards this! Favorite colors, all glammed up with gold and jewels!

The inside: Champagne, Nude, Berry, Violet, Black
The colors are shimmery - especially the berry & violet. The black is the only shadow that isn't shimmery. There was even a card on display that gave ideas on how you could apply the shadow.

The swatches! Don't let my bad picture-taking skills fool you, these are very pigmented and I was really impressed with the staying power. I use Too Faced Shadow Insurance with all eyeshadows b/c I have oily eyelids. I tend to have a lil' less faith with random makeup brands like Victoria's Secret (stores that specialize in something but try and branch out in makeup).

From left to right: (same order as palette) Champagne, Nude, Berry, Violet, Black

I love the colors when blended together. I haven't taken any pics of when I have makeup actually on b/c:

1. I don't feel my camera does the products justice

2. I'm a bit camera shy for now. I'll work on both :)

I really do love this palette the only CON would be the dinky lil' brush it comes with but I'm sure that would be a problem for very few. I actually went back and bought a couple more of their palettes and have my eye on several of their individual eyeshadows. VS's eyeshadow formula is ultra silky, it makes it fun to apply!

So much to blog ... so lil' time!

At some point, I will get my act together and post all my latest.

*Sephora Blockbuster Palette
*Stila Gift of Appreciation
*Kat Von D (Insider 500 pt perk)
*Stila Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe (have yet to try this out)
*Several Urban Decay shadow boxes (including Book of Shadows Volume II)
*Sephora Brand Makeup Palette to Go (warm colors)
*& some Victoria Secret eye shadow palettes
*Plus random drugstore buys :)

I get so caught up reading everyone else's blogs & then think, "oh! I should review this too!" Just easily distracted, lol. They will be coming shortly though!

A Love/Hate Relationship --- UGH!!! Why Can't I GET OVER ...

Bare Minerals. So many women LOVE this stuff and go crazy like it's crack, raving about it. Last fall, I caved and went with a friend (another Bare Minerals user) to a boutique to try out Bare Minerals for myself.

I had been using about 5 or 6 months when I started to develop hard bumps under the skin's surface. Especially on my cheekbones. They would also turn into white bumps sorta like a white head but much worse than your typical white head. I ended up resorting back to Proactiv and having to get on an oral antibiotic to clear the darn mess up.

I used the whole sha-bang: Bare Minerals Foundation, Warmth, Mineral Veil, & the Prime Time make up primer. My friend that had gone along with me to try Bare Minerals only uses the foundation and thought my breakouts could be due to the Prime Time.

I have NEVER had bad acne, even during my highschool days people alway complimented me on my skin. I had been an avid Proactiv user since 2003 (never had "acne" but when you're a teen any lil' blemish can melt your world) but stopped using it in the spring of 2008 because I had heard it was too rough on skin.

Well, now having that scary experience in the past, I would like to keep it there. I use Proactiv again and I am scared to death to use Bare Minerals. I tried using Bare Minerals again this summer b/c South Dakota summers are always so humid and I have oily skin to begin with. I thought Bare Minerals would help absorb some of the oily-ness that the humidity added to my face. After about 2 wks I started to notice some minor blemishes/bumps and immediately threw Bare Minerals to the back of my makeup clutter. And that's where it has remained ever since.

Has any one else had this problem??? I have given it several chances and even for some unknown reason ordered a summer kit off QVC in July. I wanna love Bare Minerals but I have even worn the Prime Time the past two days and have noticed a hard bump on my cheekbone. It could just be a blemish but why take the risk?

Still love other Bare ESCENTUALS products. I have MANY eyeshadows and kits, Buxom Lips, and blushes. After doing some research this past spring, I think I have found that the ingredient "Bismuth" is what sets it off for me. I try and look @ labels now before buying makeup and steer clear of that B-word b/c it's a real Bitch!

Yes, I ran to Walmart too ;)

For quite a while now, my dashboard kept showing me posts about the buzz Hard Candy was making on everyone's blogs. Not too familar to the line but a makeup line that is coming to Walmart and getting such fabulous reviews?! I made sure to make a stop @ my local Walmart ASAP!


The saying, "don't judge a book by its cover" - well, I definitely am drawn to makeup due to its packaging. Total sucker, especially if I only walk down a makeup aisle or browse through Sephora. This line reminds me so much of Urban Decay but everything that Hard Candy offers @ Walmart is under $10. The punk/edgy packaging and the colors are amazing! This isn't your everyday makeup :)

***Click on pic so that you can read the colors
I also bought some Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer but was NOT A FAN :( Naughty, I know, but I returned it after trying it out. Maybe the color was wrong but it looked horrible and showed on my face.




















Alright, the Kal-Eye-Descope Baked Eyeshadow Duos are my absolute favorite! The swatches were very hard to photograph - they are VERY PIGMENTED :) The color payoff is very much like how the shadows look in the pots - INTENSE. And there is A LOT of shadow in each pot. They remind me of Laura Geller Baked Shadow pots only Hard Candy's are probably double the size and raised up like a beach ball.

1st Rock N Roll - shimmery, light and dark lilac purples

2nd Rush Hour - shimmery, copper browns

3rd Secret Rendezvous - shimmery, light pink and wine

In the Shadows Eyeshadow Collection in Splendid was a bit of a let down. This palette took me the longest to pick when in the aisle @ Walmart - probably stood there trying to decide on just a palette for 10mins!

The swatches look more in the lavendar family but if you look back to the Hard Candy haul pic, you can see the second color from the left looks like a medium blue and the farthest to the right is suppose to be the darkers color - black. It also comes with a lil' eye primer (I stick with Too Faced Shadow Insurance).

It takes A LOT OF RUBBING to get any kind of color payoff from these and they are kind of chalky like and crumble easily b/c you really have to put some muscle into digging the color out. Would NOT RECOMMEND even though the colors look pretty in this picture.

The Blush Crush Baked Blush in Living Doll is AMAZING! I forgot to do a swatch of this, my apologies :( It looks like the MAC Mineralized blushes (although since I do not have any MAC that is all the comparing I will do). It's a very bright, shimmery pink with flecks of yellow in it. I love it! It's buildable and it says on the back of the compact that you can use it dry for a "soft" application or wet for an "intense, dramatic" look. I have never heard of using blush wet and have only used it dry.

The Walk the Line Liquid Eye Liner colors are gorgeous and Flipside (the metalic navy) has amazing staying power. Does not come off until you want it to! Licorice (black with multicolor glitter) is a lil' harder to apply and get a fine line without gaps due to the glitter.

Overall, I would highly recommend the Blush Crush Baked Blush and the Kal-Eye-Descope Baked Eyeshadow Duos - in fact, I will probably be adding to my collection during the next trip to Walmart.

Kinda like a 1st entry *** a ReBirth if you will : )

Alright so I'm no blogger by any means. I don't even know why I chose to open one of these accounts but anywho, too late to go back now. Even though I haven't posted anything, I am definitely a frequent blogstalker. I follow so many great beauty gals on this thing and it's my guilty pleasure for sure!

Wish List - Christmas is coming up! *I've tossed around the idea of just telling family that I would rather have whatever they were going to spend on material gifts to be given to a _______ what's that word ... foundation, gosh what am I trying to think of ... hmm, that I will come up with later. And if you know me @ all, I will most likely already have purchased this stuff by Christmas. *thought of the word FOUNDATION!

- purse hook I have invested (yes, INVESTED) in several bags in the past year and I baby them like no other. Even named them. Juicy Couture - Juicy Lou and Coach - Zoe. Lil' cookoo, I know. But when you spend that kind of money it's like going through labor to have a kid and you have EARNED the right to name your baby ; )

- several sephora items ... get to that later

Oh, and so excited! On a recent trip to Branson, Missouri I found the greatest lip balm! It's the cutest lil' thing:

http://www.evolutionofsmooth.com/products_lip_sphere.html

***by the way, how the heck do you change the link so it's not the website and just a word??? Back on track, bought it @ a Walgreens and somehow it got misplaced @ work - Most likely, some lil' hands ran off with it but fortunately I have found the website that carries it b/c after checking 2 of the Walgreens I have yet to replace it.

Pledge your Healthy Skin for the Skin Cancer Foundation

Jergens is promoting a HEALTHY GLOW. If you go to http://www.jergens.com/glowinthedark/index.asp and pledge that you will not subject yourself to tanning beds and promise to achieve a safe summer glow Jergens will donate $1 for each pledge towards the Skin Cancer Foundation! How great is that?! It just takes a simple click for you to help donate $1 to the Skin Cancer Foundation : )

I was estatic to hear about this (actually I have a tube of Jergens self tanner on my nightstand)! I'm a fresh 22 year old and I have been thinking about my past bad habits and how to turn over a new leaf. I have tanned for YEARS and only now taking a serious step towards making my skin as healthy as possible - I have stopped tanning - I can't undo the sun damage I have but I can take an active step in preventing future sun damage.

Go pledge! It only takes a second and you're donating to a great foundation ... because everyone's out in the sun!

... the hills (Newton Hills to be precise) are alive!!!

On a random Thursday morning, I woke up with a wild-hair (the best kind) - Let's go hiking!!! The weather was PERFECT - it was just under 40 degrees (I know, still cold but I don't like to sweat) and the sun was out. I think Ben was a bit suprised by my early morning thought but we got ready and headed for the hills! LITERALLY : )

Having never really hiked before, (the only time I can recall 'hiking' was when I was very young and my mom drug me along to the Black Hills to do the volksmarch up Crazy Horse - I only recall stumbling over a large tree branch at the very beginning and then it's all a blur. Mom says I napped at all the designated rest points and that's why I don't remember much of it but I tend to believe there is a reason why it's all blacked out after that nasty, muddy fall) .... getting back on track --- I was very anxious to see how I would do but a lil' apprehensive about this hiking bit. Ben loves hiking and so I thought why not try something new?

Now mind you, I haven't done ANY physical activity since last fall during cheer. Right away I was huffin and puffin and thinking, oh gosh, what have I gotten myself into? Not too much further into the hike, I was told that a steep hill was coming up - oh shit ...

Okay, I didn't mention that it's the beginning of Febuary, in South Dakota. We haven't had snowfall in a while but one wouldn't have known by looking around Newton Hills - snow all over the ground and the trail, and in some places where the sun was trying to prove it's existence through the dense trees; there was ice. So here we are, trying to climb up a steep, ice covered hill (at the time, I would have sworn the hill was a glacier) hoping to not make it halfway to the top only to lose footing and slide down like elementary schoolers on a snow pile during recess. It was a piece of work by the time we made it to the top. One that was rewarded with our first break.

After I had caught my breath and Ben had taken some scenic and candid pics I was so proud of myself. I felt like I had a runner's high : ) (a first-ever, I do NOT run ... my knee clicks - surgery can only do so much) The rest of the hike was filled with continuous laughter and I felt 'on top of the world.' Both of us nearly fell on the ice a dozen of times and even had to do some off the trail hiking due to the icy trails when making our way back down the hills.

Four plus-miles later, I was already thinking about future hikes. I had an absolute blast and loved the fact Ben shared this favorite of his with me : )

Ben would rather be the photographer I guess ...



That ain't a redbull smile - running on pure adrenaline rush!