OMG!!! Colour Pop!!! My First Order Came In Today!!

        I've been hearing about Colour Pop all over the internet. All the Beauty Gurus on YouTube have been talking about it, swatching it and reviewing it. Well, even though I have more than enough make-up, I had to order some. I love me some shimmery eyeshadow. :) Here's what I got:

        Girly Metallic Eyeshadow- Creamy vanilla with a flash of pink and gold duo chrome finish.
        Bae Metallic Eyeshadow-  Rich eggplant purple with an emerald, and turquoise, glittery duo chrome    metallic finish.
        Fringe Metallic Eyeshadow- Shimmering champagne with gold and silver glitter.
        Tea Party Metallic Eyeshadow- A versatile soft peachy pink with gazillion silver glitters and subtle hints of pale pink glitter.
        Lumière Lippie Stix- A dusty mauve pink in a matte finish created by the lovely @KathleenLights
        I Heart This Lippie Stix- Red based fuchsia in a matte finish.
        Bichette Lippie Stix- Deep red wine in a matte finish.

        I haven't gotten a chance to play with them yet, so I will put up swatches and a review for them as well as pics, etc,. in a day or two. But I was so excited that I had to share that my order came in. And how Sweet was that they even sent me a handwritten note?!?! Now that's customer service after my own heart!

        If you are interested in ordering from Colour Pop, sign up for their email subscription and you get $5 off of your first order. Plus if you spend $30 you get free shipping. So my totaly for all of the above was only $30. All of their eyeshadows and lippies or lipliners are only $5 each. So really affordable.

        If you have ordered from them already or order in the future let me know what you got and how you like them. We'd all love to know!! But for now, Over and Out!!! Huge Hugs!!

        Blessings Always,
        Jewel S. ;o)

My Nails Polish for This Week! Peacock Green with Pastel Glitter and Glittery Gold Accent Nail

        This week I wanted something a little different. I'm not really a green kind of girl, but I love this polka dot polish from Sally Hansen called Samba that I got probably almost a year ago and never wore. It's iridescent hex glitters in pastel yellow, pale spring green and turquoise. I have several of these types of polish and it really is hard some times to find a base polish to put them over because you want something that goes with it but that shows them off as well. So I thought this peacock/olive green would make a good base coat. What do you think? I like it, I think it came out cute. But you know me, I still have to have some bling so gold glittery accent nails were a must. :)

        Here's the polish list if you're interestedly:

        Clear Base Coat- Finger Paints "Base Coat"

        Green Base Coat- Finger Paints "Be-Leaf It Or Not!"

        Polka Dot Glitter- Sally Hansen "Samba" 730

        Gold Base Coat- L.A. Colors "Deluxe" CNP551

        Gold Glitter- China Glaze "Medallion" 830

        Top Coat- Seche Vite "Top Coat" 83005

        What's on your nails this week? I'd love to know. And let me know if you'd like to see all of my polishes. I have well over 200 and I believe almost 300, but don't tell my husband. lol

        Huge Hugs,

        Jewel S. ;o)

My Small Beaty.com Haul! Hey, That Rhymes! :)

        So, a few posts back I told you all about the big sale at Drugstore.com and I wanted to pop on for a few and tell you what I got. Also show you how you can save some cash. First let me show you what I got and then later I will tell you how much I saved and how I did it. So without further ado Here's My Small Haul!

        So I know it's not much, but there are a lot of products in the bareMinerals "The Big Top" box, so really it's quite a few products. Now for how much this all cost me and how I did it. All of this only cost me $30.68. Let me tell you how. First of all I went through Ebates and clicked on the link there for 4% cash back at Beauty.com. I then had a coupon from Beauty.com for $10 off of a $50 or more purchase from my last shopping trip with them. Every time you shop with Beauty.com/Drugstore.com they send you one these coupons. Now I recently found out that you can only use 1 of them per account/household per cycle of them, but that's still $10 off every month or two. And like I said before we pretty much by all of our personal care items through them when they have the items we use on sale. And when they do I stock up, save now so you don't have to pay later, it what I say. Anyway, so I also had an instore credit of $13.95. Did I forget to mention before that when you shop with them you also get 5% instore credit that you can use at either site? I think I did, but now you know. You can spend it every couple of months when they credit it to you account. I believe it's every 3 months they credit your account and then you have 30 days to spend it or you lose it. Anyway, onward ho. So I picked out this bareMinerals The Big Top set because I don't really own a whole lot of bareMinerals items. I have mostly E.L.F. mineral makeup, such as eyeshadows, blushes, etc,. so I wanted to try them out. And I had to spend $50 on their site to use my coupon, so this is what I picked out. It was on sale from $79 down to $49.

        Now I know that it's not $50 but let me tell you how great Beauty.com is. I had several of the $10 off coupons laying around and I had already used one a while back on some Juice Beauty products (my new love. If you want to know anything about them let me know and I'll do a blogpost about them). This is when I found out about the 1 coupon per cycle. I kept putting in the coupon codes for the $10 off after making sure I had at least $50 of Beauty.com products in my cart. I think I had thrown in a cheap lip balm or something. Anyway, the coupon wouldn't work. So I called them to ask why. That's when they informed me about the one per household per cycle thing. Now I have been shopping with them for many years now and I had had the issue happen a few other times where the code wouldn't work, but just figured that it was some sort of error and blew it off. I had called one other time about it but it was during the holidays so I got busy and by the time I went in to order what I had wanted to order they were sold out of the product so I never placed the order. Then when I had an issue with a product after the fact and I called about that and told them the story of my coupon not working they never told me about the one per household per cycle thing, but of course they probably didn't know the whole story either. Anyway, so I called to say, "Hey, why isn't this coupon working?". That's when she told me, but is how great their customer service is. She said, "You know what though, you are such a good customer, I'm just going to give you an instore credit for $10. So just refresh your cart before you make your purchase and it'll be there". That is why I say that I love to shop with them. If there is ever a problem, they are so helpful and fix it for you right away.

        Ok, so I got a little off track. Sorry, I do that a lot when it's something I'm passionate about or something I love or something that I'm excited about. So on with the discounts. Ok, so now I also have an instore credit for $10 so I use that. Now for my other two purchases, the CoverGirl mascara and the Maybelline Color Tattoo, I got them off of Drugstore.com. The Maybelline Metals Color Tattoo in Electric Blue is on sale for 42% off making it $4.09. And the CoverGirl Lash Blast Waterproof Mascara in Very Black is still on sale for 30% off and then also an instant coupon for $2.00 off making it $3.49. Then I paid with my credit card where I get 2% cash back on everything I purchase, for more savings. So I guess I should stop blabbering and give you the quick and dirty run down.

        bareMinerals The Big Top ($241 value)

                                                                         Reg price $79
                                                                          Savings -$30
                                                                        Sale price $49
                 Instore credit (or if I would've used the coupon) -$10
                                                                           You pay $39

                                                             For a savings of $40 on this item so far


        CoverGirl LashBlast Waterproof Mascara

                                                                Reg price $7.79
                                             On sale 30% discount -$2.30
                                                               Sale price $5.49
                              Subtract also the instant coupon -$2.00
                                                                  You pay $3.49

                                                     For a savings of $4.30 on this item so far


        Maybelline Color Tattoo Metals Gel Shadow

                                                              Reg price $7.00
                                            On sale 42% discount -$2.91  
                                                                 You pay $4.09

                                                  For a savings of $2.91 on this item so far


                                                                                    My total was then $46.58
               Drugstore/Beauty.com cash back rewards for previous purchases -$13.95
                                                                         Ebates cash back rewards -$1.30
                                                                  Credit Card cash back rewards -$0.65
                                                                                        I paid a total of $30.68

                For a total savings of $63.11 with all coupons, discounts and cash back

        That's a 200% savings my friends and that doesn't even take into account the savings that you originally get for The Big Top set of it being a value of $241 for $79 to begin with. Best thing is that I ordered it Friday evening and literally got it Saturday afternoon. Now that's some fast shipping.

        That's just a little window into how I shop and save money on the items we need or want. So if you have any questions at all on how I shop or get good deals on the items we buy, don't hesitate to ask. I'm always willing to help others save money as well. And these items are still on sale now as well speak, so if you want to get in on the deal, I would head on over to Ebates and sign up if you haven't already and then follow the link to either Drugstore.com or Beauty.com (either one as they are combined so you get the same cash back for both/either).

        So if you go shopping and find great deals or if you go there and save some money, come on back and let me know in the comments. I'm curious how much you save and what you got. And don't forget if you want swatches or reviews, let me know as I'd be more than willing to do that for you as well. Might even make a video review/tutorial for it if you ask nicely. :) lol But for now I'm going to say Toodles and sign off. Chat with you all soon!!

        Huge Hugs,
        Jewel S. ;o)

Remember to Love yourself above all else because no one will ever Love you like you!!

Easy Peasy Honey Mustard Sauce

        My kids love honey mustard sauce on almost everything from hot wings to sandwiches. You name it, they'll put it on it. Here's my quick and easy recipe for delicious Honey Mustard Sauce.

Honey Mustard Sauce

   1 Cup Mayonnaise
2/3 Cup Honey
1/3 Cup Mustard of your choice

        Just put it all in a bowl and whisk it till it's smooth and creamy. It's that easy.

        Try using different types of mustard with this sauce such as spicy brown, wasabi (my youngest sons favorite), chipotle, southwest, champagne dill, etc,. There are so many mustard flavors on the market today that you can literally make it different every time you make it. Try it and tell me what you think or share your favorite honey mustard recipe. Hope you like it!

        Hugest of Hugs,
        Jewel ;o)

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Make-Up Look/Tutorial!

        So I decided to again try out my Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette today. I'm just not impressed with it at all. The colors are not pigmented at all and they just don't blend well. They're patchy at best if you can get them to show up. But since I paid for it, I decided to give it another try. This is now my 3rd time using the palette and again, I'm just not impressed. For the money I paid for it I really and truly expected so much more. But I honestly have to say is how I feel about all of the Too Faced Palettes. They are so pretty to look at that they make you want them. But in my opinion, the quality is just awful. I have many of their palettes, so don't think that I have only this one and that it's just a bummer, it's ever one that I have. I do like the lashGASM and Better Than Sex mascaras, if you layer them in said order (lashGASM for length first and then Better Than Sex over it for volume), but again for the price I can find better ones at the drugstore that don't cost as much. With that said here are a few pics of the look I came up with:

        I know the pics aren't the greatest, I shot them on my phone and the lighting wasn't the greatest so they're a little grainy. But if you read on I did an eye chart with more description of what I did down below.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Tutorial

         1. Milk Chocolate- I used this for my transition color using my Sigma E35 as well as swept it under the eyes with my Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush for a smoky effect. This color was very patchy and took several times of going over it with a clean blending brush to get a smooth finish. But when I was blending it out it was disappearing so I had to keep re-applying it as well.

        2. Champagne Truffle- I used this on the inner two thirds of my lid as well as in the corner and beginning of lower lash line with my Sigma F70. This was not pigmented at all so I had to keep going over it and over it to get a smooth color payoff.

        3. Candied Violet- This I used on the outer third of the lid using my Sigma F70 and blended it into the Champagne Truffle on the rest of the lid. This color looks gorgeous in the palette, but again it is patchy and not pigmented. I had to re-apply and re-apply it and the color is not as purple as it looks in the palette either. It looks like a nice dark purple, but when applied it looks more like a brownish grey with a hint of purple. And the glitter does not show up at all.

        4. Black Forest Truffle- This I put in the crease area with my Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush but not all the way to the inside. I kept it to the outer two thirds of the crease area. Again, this shadow was patchy and I had to keep dipping in the product to get a decent color payoff.

        5. White Chocolate- I used this as my browbone highlight with my E.L.F. Studio Eyedhadow C Brush. Then I went back over the transition color with my Sigma E35 to smooth out the edges of the crease and brow bone color. This really had no color at all. I was tempted to use my favorite highlight color from the Wet-N-Wild Walking On Eggshells palette, but I did not. I was bound and determined to just use my Chocolate Bar palette.

        6. NYX Eyebrow Pencil EP06 Taupe- When doing my brows I really hate the look of the lightest part of the brow being in the beginning of the brow. I know they are being called the "Instagram Brows". I have never done my brows that was and I personally don't like it. My brows naturally start out dark in the thickest part of the brow and then get lighter as they taper out on the ends. So that's how I like to do my brows when filling them in. I personally have always done it this way and feel that it looks more natural. So I fill in my entire brow with the taupe pencil. 7. Then I go in with NYX Eyebrow Pencil EP05 Dark Brown and go over the first half of my brow and blend it in for a smooth transition. I also set my brows with a little translucent powder and then brush them out for not only a more natural look but staying power.

        8. Last but not least, I first lined my lower lash line with NYX Glide on Eye Pencil in SL10 Purple Blaze. Then I blended it out with my Sigma F70. Then again using my Sigma F70 I smudged it out with Candied Violet.

        Here is a list of the other products I used in case you are interested. I do put my foundation, concealer, powder, etc,. on first before I do my eyes. And I always use a lid primer that I blend not only on my lid but also in my brows to help them stay all day as well.

* Primer- Laura Geller Spackle & NYX Shine Killer in my T-zone

* Foundation- CoverGirl + Olay 120 Creamy Natural

* Undereye Concealer- CoverGirl + Olay Concealer Balm 310

* Facial Concealer- CoverGirl + Olay Concealer Balm 320

* Rimmel Stay Matte Powder- Translucent. I use this to set my concealers since I'm olive complected and concealer always oxidizes on my skin. This prevents it from doing so.

* All Over Face Powder- Laura Geller Blance-N-Brighten Foundation in Medium

* Eyelid Primer- E.L.F. Mineral Eye Primer

* Mascaras- Too Faced lashGASM first for length and then Too Faced Better Than Sex over top for volume.

* Winged Eyeliner- Physician's Formula Eye Booster in Ultra Black

* Contour- Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. Now I do totally love this Too Faced product, still don't think it's a good price, but I do love it.

* Blush- Laura Geller Baked Blush in Bali. I absolutely love Laura Geller blushes. My other fave is Boysenberry.

* Highlighter- Laura Geller French Vanilla

* Demattifying Powder in T-Zone- Essence All About Matt!

* Lip Liner- NYX Retractable Lip Liner MPL12 Dark Red

* Lip Color- Manna Liplocked Priming Gloss Stain in All of You

* Lip Gloss in center of lips- NYC Liquid Lipshine in Prospect Pink 576

        Overall the Chocolate Bar Palette is just not pigmented, goes on patchy and is so powdery. Now I will give a little tip I learned a long time ago. If you are using an eyeshadow that has glitter in it or is powdery or has a lot of fallout, use a stiffer brush rather than a fluffy brush. Use a brush like the Sigma F70 or the E.L.F. Studio Concealer brush. They give you more control to pack the eyeshadow on as where as the fluffier brushes have a tendency to cause the shadow to disperse more and get everywhere. If you have the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette and you love it, then that's great. It just really doesn't work well for me. If you have any pics of eyelooks using the Chocolate Bar Palette feel free to send me some pics. Or if you have had success using it, then please give us some pointers as to how it works for you. I would love to hear and I'm sure so would others.

        If you would a like a review or make-up look using certain colors or palettes, please let me know. I would love to do some for you. I'm still waiting for my studio to get done so I can start doing actual videos. So this will have to do for now.

        Hugest of Hugs and Blessings Always,

        Jewel ;o)

My Rose & Gold Glittery Nail Polish for The Week!

        So this week I wanted something sparkly and pink on my nails. This is what I came up with, glittery rose on all of my nails except my accent nails which are glittery gold. I think it's girly, flirty and fun.

        The polishes I used are;

For the rose nails:

        L.A. Colors "Dazzle" as my rose base color

        Pure Ice "Spit Fire" then

        Finger Paint "Hue Left a Message?" On top

For the gold nails:

        L.A. Colors "Deluxe" as the gold base color, and

        Sally Hansen Extreme Wear "Set the Stage" glitter on top

        So what's on your nails this week? I want to know, post me some pics and product descripts.

        Big Hugs to You All!

        Jewel ;o)

theBalm On HauteLook Right Now!!!

        Just wanted to pop on and let you all know that theBalm is on HauteLook right now. I just scored a backup NUDE'tude palette for $18 (retails for $36.00) and the new Balmsai palette for $19.50 (retails for $39.50). They also have tons of other palettes, lipsticks, glosses, blushes, concealers, foundations, cleansers, toners, etc,. etc,. etc,. So check them out just follow this link to sign up if you aren't already a member: HauteLook

        I love this brand and I think you will too. So if you are interested in trying a few things, now is the time to do so with such great discounts that will save you money. And on top of that if you go through Ebates you can get an extra 1.5% cash back or FatWallet and get and extra 2% cash back on your order. So if you have not signed up for them yet, follow these links to sign up with them as well to get cash back on all your online purchases:

        I don't know about you, but I never pay full price for anything if I can help it. With 4 children, you have to do what you have to do to save money. So what you do is follow the HauteLook link to sign up. Then come back here to click on the link to sign up for Ebates and/or FatWallet. Once you have signed up for Ebates and FatWallet, then go to them and search for HauteLook in the search bar. Once you have searched then follow their link to the HauteLook site and make your purchases. It's that easy!

        And yes, I know that I keep bringing up Ebates and FatWallet, but like I've said before, I personally live by them. I'm always trying to get the best deals on items and I want you to be able to get the best deals as well. I don't mind sharing my tips and tricks to save money on items. That's how I can afford the things that I do. And I have to admit that it's also sort of high as well to get the best deal. I can't race or bounty hunt anymore, so this is how I get my adrenal rush these days. LOL And if you have any questions at all about how to save money, please feel free to ask me. I will post deals that I myself find, but if you find any deals you would like to share with others, please also let me know and I will spread the word. We all love a good deal, so why not share?

        The Hugest of Hugs to You All and Thank You so much for following me, commenting, asking questions and your support. It truly does mean a lot to me.

        Many Blessings,
        Jewel ;o)

Some Things On Sale You Might All Be Interested In

        So I went to pick up a few things at my favorite online drugstore and found some things you might be interested in as well. Now let me tell you how I shop. First of all I don't do any online shopping until I check Ebates and Fat Wallet. These are cash back for shopping sites that actually work. I use them and live by them. I will even order from Lowe's, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, etc,. through them and then do instore pick-up with the items already in my cart. Not only do you save money by getting the cash back through these sites, but you also only have to pay approx. half in taxes as you only have to pay state and not city taxes doing it this way. Anyway, so for maximum save-age, make sure you click on the Fat Wallet and Ebates links to sign up, in case you aren't already, for these AWESOME sites to get cash back on your online purchases. I also check both of them before I make my purchase as sometimes one will have better cash back rates than the other one.

        So at Drugstore.com you can get:

        * Covergirl Mascaras are already on sale for 20-30% off and then there's an instant coupon for an        additional $2.00 off

        * Vidal Sassoon shampoos and conditionors are 20% off plus an instant coupon for an additional $1.00 off

        * Herbal Essences, Head & Shoulders and Aussie products are also 20-33% off with a $.50         additional off coupon

        * Gillette Male Disposable Razors are 6-36% off plus buy two get one Free

        * Pantene shampoo and conditioners are also 20-36% off with an additional instant coupon for an         additional $1.00 off

        * Pantene styling products are also 20-43% off with an additional instant coupon for $2.00 off

        * Pantene Expert Collection is 20% off with an additional $3.00 instant coupon

        * Olay some products are 20-47% off with an instant additional $2.00 or $3.00 off coupon

        * Gillette Male and Female Disposable Razors are 7-20% off with an additional $3.00 instant coupon

        * Secret Deodorant is 17-25% off plus buy 2 and get an additional $2.00 off instant coupon

        That is just to name a few of the items on sale right now at Drugstore.com with additional coupons. I really do the majority of our household personal care items from them. I stock up when items are on sale. Between the cash back I get through Ebates and Fat Wallet and there's no taxes to pay when ordering from Drugstore.com and Beauty.com and the cash back rewards I get from my credit card company, I save like 15% there. Then getting items on sale and with their instant coupons as well... The amount you can save is awesome. Plus if your order is $35.00 or more you get frees shipping. And I'm not joking when I say that I always get my items literally next day. They are so on top of shipping, it's incredible. Also, make sure you sign up for their emails because they always send out additional 20% off your order promo codes and other promo codes or sales that they don't advertise on their site that's for subscribers only. And I would also like to say that their customer service is A+++++. I have never dealt with a company that is as friendly and helpful as they are. If you have a problem they take care of it and then some.

        So let me know what deals you got in on or let me know if you find any deals and I'll share them for others as well. Let's help each other save money!!

Big Hugs to You All!!!
Jewel ;o)

Hoping Everyone had a Merry Christmas!!

        Well, Christmas Day is officially over. I'm So tired but I just can't sleep. I'm so excited!! I have the Best Woobie (for those of you that don't know, that's what my hubby and I call each other) in the world!! He bought me so many gifts for filming and taking photos of my creations. He got me a camera that also does video, lighting, monitor calibrator for my graphic design work, tripods, Gorilla whatever their called tripod, a color balancing thing that you use to take a picture of before you take pictures so it automatically adjusts the image colors, photo and film editing software, etc., etc,. I honestly didn't get a chance to even look at anything though because I was too busy cooking and taking care of everyone else. So once I get a chance to play around with it all I will post some more info about it all. Now if we can get my studio done so I can get started that would be awesome!

        He of course bought me other things, like a Pandora necklace and matching earrings that are Gorgeous. I got him a faux ivory handled safety razor and matching shave brush and stand along with other various shave creams, balms and lotions, etc., just to name a few items. The children (although 3 of them are technically adults) had a good Christmas as well. The oldest three children just wanted clothes and the youngest wanted Portal and Minecraft gear. So they got their wish as well. Not that presents are the most important thing about Christmas, but I don't openly discuss the religious aspects of Holidays. Not because I'm embarrassed or anything, but because I feel religion is a personal choice  and you should be able to worship in your own way.

        I just wanted to hop on and give a little update since I haven't been on in several days, or maybe even weeks for all I know. The past few weeks have been so busy it's all just a huge blur. I will be back though. I have a few more recipes I want to share that I've recently made up and some hauls, when they finally come in, as well as some reviews of some new makeup I purchased. Let me know what you got for Christmas or for whatever Holiday you celebrate in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you. Also, I need to start trying to figure out what videos to film first, so let me know what you think. My very first one will probably be a studio tour. I may do a makeup tour as well. I don't know, I have so many ideas not sure what to do first. lol Well, it's late and I think I may be able to finally fall asleep. I hope I have a few minutes to at least upload a recipe or a quick kitchen tip tomorrow, or today actually. :) So until then I bid you all a Farewell and Sweet Dreams and hope your Holiday was as happy as ours! Blessings to All and to All  a Goodnight!! Huge Hugs!!

        Sincerely,

        Jewel ;o)

The Battle of the Eyeshadow Primers

        Eyeshadow Primers are everywhere. Almost every cosmetic brand has one in their line-up. But which ones to use?!?! There are expensive ones and cheap ones and ones with shadow built in and ones that shimmer and some are clear and some are flesh tone. So many choices and prices ranges. Are you confused yet by the hype of this one or that one? Do you remember a time when no one had ever heard of them because they didn't exist? Ugh!! What to do, what to do!?!?

        Well, to begin with, let's be honest. Do you use it because you really need to or because everyone else is and you feel like you have to as well to get your eyeshadows to stay put and not crease? And honestly for me I have only been using them for a couple of years now and I never had an issue with creasing or with fading of my eyeshadows. But I do find that for some shadows, because we all know that all eyeshadows are not created equal, they help them if they aren't quite as pigmented as they should be. They will make the shadows darker and give them a little boost, if you will.

        I am by no means an expert on eyeshadow primers, but I have been doing make-up for many years. I have used high end brands and low end brands and drugstore brands, etc,. I have to say that I have found that there are some drugstore/low end brands that are actually better than some of the high end brands. One brand in particular that I literally have been using since high school when I had no money and I still love their products today is Wet-N-Wild. I am a huge fan and love the quality of their eyeshadows, mascaras and lipsticks especially. And it goes to show that you don't have spend $20+ dollars on lipstick to get a good quality lipstick, etc,. So getting back to eyeshadow primers; which have I used and which do I prefer? Well, let me tell you.

        Here is a list of ones that I have tried and you tell me which you think I love and use on a daily basis. Spoiler alert, I tell you after this list. :)

   ~ Covergirl - Intense Shadow Blast Primer & Rich Shadow in one

   ~ Too Faced - Shadow Insurance Eye Primer

   ~ Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion

   ~ Lorac - Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

   ~ Smashbox - Photo Finish Lid Primer

   ~ e.l.f. - Essential Eyelid Primer

   ~ e.l.f. - Mineral Eyeshadow Primer

   ~ And a few others over the past few years but I don't really remember which ones. These are just the ones in my arsenal as of right now.

        I have found that really they are basically the same. They all do the same thing for me. Others may have different results because you're older or younger, have oilier skin or dryer skin, etc,. So not everyone is going to have the same results. But for me there's really only one that stands out, has not failed me, I use it daily, is the one I always reach for and is well worth the money. You may be surprised, but the e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer is the best in overall value, quality and it does the job just fine for me.  Now for the best part it, costs only $3.00.

        I will say that I have and have used the e.l.f. Essential Eyelid Primer and it's also great. The Mineral Primer has vitamins A, E and C in it which gives it an edge over the Essential Primer. But the Essential Primer is only $1.00 so if you are on a really tight budget or would just like to try one for the first time, it is an excellent choice. If it doesn't work for you then you're only out $1.00. Which is why I tell people all of the time that if they aren't sure about something start out with a less expensive item to see if it is something that they may actually be interested in.

e.l.f. Mineral and Essential Eyeshadow Primers

 

        As to why I love the e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer. It is smooth and blends into my skin easily. I also run it through my brows so that when I put my brow pencil on it lasts longer and doesn't smudge. I also put it under my eyes and over other fine lines and wrinkles after I put my foundation on but before concealer or powder and it keeps the concealer and make-up from caking in them. I also feel it adds a little hydration as well. It has a creamy texture and is in my opinion better than the any of the other brands I've tried thus far. I do have an olive complexion and therefore I do tend to get oily very easily in my T-zone and eyelids when I'm wearing make-up. Not so much on my eyelids as in the rest of my T-zone, but they still get fairly oily when I don't have any make-up on. With the fact that it is mineral based and had the added vitamins A, E and C that also makes it that much better. But when you factor in the price...You've got a great deal!!

So the Clear Winner for Me is!!! e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer

        Now again, I will say that out of all of those other primers that I listed earlier in this post, there aren't any horrible ones. The others are pretty much the same as far as the consistancy, how well they help the shadow last, how well they blend into the skin, keep the shadow from creasing, etc,. etc,. they are all pretty comparable and there aren't any other real stand outs for me. Your results may differ because as I mentioned earlier, everyones skin types are different. So tell me what your fave eyeshadow primer is and why. I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

Huge Hugs from Me to You!!!!

Jewel S.

"In the Kitchen Tips" Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Every Time

        After years of making hard boiled eggs I finally came up with a full proof way of getting them perfect every time. The secret you ask......your tea kettle/pot. Here's how:

        Place cold eggs to be hard boiled in your tea kettle/pot then fill to about 1" above them with cold water. Place them on a cold burner and turn heat to medium high. I have a glass top stove where the burners go to a setting of 9 as the highest and I put it on 7. Place lid on tea kettle/pot and cook until it whistles. When it starts whistling remove lid and continue to boil for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes leave kettle on burner, but turn burner off and let them set for another 5 minutes. Next place the kettle in the sink and let cold water run over them for another 5 minutes. Then viola they are done and should be perfectly hard boiled. It may take a little tweaking as we all know that all cookware and stoves are different, but it should be pretty close.

        From here you can use them right away as they should be cooled off enough to handle or you can put them in the fridge for later. Either way this method also helps them peel easier as the quick cooling helps pull the egg away from the shell and membranes.

        Just for this reason my tea kettle/pot is in my top 5 favorite cooking gadgets I couldn't live without. I use it more for hard boiled eggs than I ever have tea. :) Please tell me what your favorite cooking gadgets are or gadgets that you use for other things than their intended purpose. I'm always interested in learning new things and hearing your ideas. And if you try this method, please let me know how it worked for you or what you do to get the perfect hard boiled egg. All feedback is welcome but as always remember only family friendly comments will be posted. Let's keep it clean. :) Huge Hugs and Blessings to You All!!...

        Sincerely,

        Your Friend Always,

        Jewel S.

"Updated" Hard Candy "Top Ten Trendsetters Eyeshadow Palette" in GuiltyPleasure

    Tonight I was out with my stepdaughter and had to run into WallyWorld for some q-tips and other necessities. I came across this adorable palette by Hard Candy and had to have it. It just so happens that I have been looking for some glittery eyeshadow that I can tap over the center of my lid for a little highlight and thought this would be perfect. I have tried several Hard Candy items in the past and so far had not been disappointed by them. So I decided to pick up the palette, like I seriously need more makeup. You do not even want to know how much I have. lol Anyway, I just couldn't wait to get home to try it out. I get so giddy and impatient when it come so new makeup, nail or hair products. So I got it home and immediately swatched it. Ugh! Not what I expected at all. For starters, the glitter is only on the top. What I rip! Yes, I know it's only $6.00, but still, I expected it to run all throughout it. Then upon swatching it the eyeshadow is very cakey and crumbly and not very even. I would say it's chalky, but it's actually very creamy/velvety. I have not actually used it yet, so this isn't a full review, just swatches and first impressions. So here goes the pics:

It's a Gorgeous little palette. It's called Top Ten Trendsetters Eyeshadow Collection in Guilty Pleasure. There are several different ones and I love the colors in this one in particular. I love the rose gold studs on the cream faux leather, which upon inspecting I don't think it's glued on real well. I tried to get a good pic of the glitter on the shadows but it's hard to do.

It's hard to see the glitter on the shadows, but it's there. And once again they are lovely shades. It also has a pretty nice mirror as well.

I know the swatches are hard to see. I'll try to get my hubby to take a better pic later on when he gets home.

Here is the palette after I swatched it. You can see the glitter came off the top of the shadows. :(

And here is what the shadow look liked on my fingers when I swatched them. You can see that they are chunky I guess you could call it. But the shadows themselves are very velvety in texture, so time will tell when I actually use them how well they do.

 Like I said this is just a swatch and first impression and as soon as I use them a few times I will be sure and post an update on them and let you know how well or not so well they did. Until then, over and out!! Huge Hugs and Blessings Always!!...

Jewel ;o)

!!!UPDATE!!!

I have worn theses shadows a couple of times now. They go on very well but the darker colors aren't very pigmented. They start to go on fairly dark, but as soon as you blend them, the color fades out. Also the burgundy shade totally faded to nothing after about an hour or so. The lighter colors are very good minus the very first one which I actually thought was a cream color, but turns out is supposed to be a light peachy pink color. I guess it faded in the store to cream!?!? But upon taking off the first layer or so it changed to a pinky peach color. So for $6 it's not a horrible buy, but money probably better spent on something else.

I'm Back!!!

    So I know that it's been forever since I've posted anything on my blog and it's been a few months shy of two years since I've even sold anything. We have had some changes in our life that took me on a different path for a while. I needed to focus on family and my studio was disassembled for some time. It's almost back together and new. We actually had to build another room in the basement to house it. But when it's done it will be so worth it and I can't wait. I will have lighting for filming and video of craft, cooking, makeup, hair, nail art, etc. tutorials. I can't wait to get started. I will let you all know when everything is in place and I'm ready to get back in business again. It will be bigger and better than before.

    So being that I'm creative and all of my craft supplies have been boxed up and in storage I had to find a new or actually an older creative outlet. I used to be heavily into hair and fashion, makeup and nail art, etc. but with my business and the family and all the other things I had going on I sort of got stuck in a rut of doing the same thing over and over again and not having time to do much more than the basics. But with a little more free time on my hands I've been able to rekindle my passion and creativity in these areas again. It's been fun finding me again. I've also realized that I have a vast wealth of knowledge about these subjects that I didn't realize I have. But with talking to other makeup, hair and nail artists and telling them things that I have learned over the years or things that I do maybe differently than others that I have some things to share and contribute or help make someone's life a little easier.

    So from here on out you will find more than just craft, decorating and graphic design creativity around here. I may have to eventually separate them up a bit, but for now they will all be here. I'll be revamping my blog soon as well, but that's another story. And for now you find mostly fashion, hair, makeup and nail reviews and ideas until my studio is up and running.

    Thank You ever so much for your patience and your loyalty through my "vacation" or family issues. You have no idea how much you all mean to me and how much I appreciate your support. Huge Hugs and Blessings to you all!...

Sincerely,

Jewel Simonson

Well.....It's Finally Out!!!!! Romantic Homes Holiday Edition for 2011

So "What's the Big Deal" with this issue of Romantic Homes, you ask?!?! Well, in this issue you will find my Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths and Trees featured in it. That's what the big deal is!!! :) My Tulle Wreaths and Trees are one of my big sellers for the Holidays and they finally got their spot in the limelight. I have been making these for years and years now and their Beauty and Romance still takes my breathe away. I used to create tulle trees when I was younger. You know the ones where you take the different widths of tulle and gather them in circles around a wooden dowel and then layer them from largest to smallest and then decorate them with little tiny ornaments and mercury glass balls? And as much as I loved making them, I could do what I wanted to do to them as they had no substance to them. So I put my twist on them. So I can fill them with all sorts of Vintage Goodies and Trinkets and Glitters and Mica Flakes and.... I think you get the picture.

I have always been passionate about crafting, creating, painting, sewing, cooking or anything that takes a keen eye or an imagination. For the biggest reason is not only my Love Love Love (did I say Love?) of creating, but for the fact that I can bring Joy and Happiness to others through my Creations. It's my outlet when I'm stressed or down. It's a way to bring Beauty to our sometimes mundane world. It's how I express myself and who I am. And through all of that, it is also another way that I have tried to show someone how much I care or bring a smile to ones face. I feel that I have truly been Blessed with my ability to create Beauty from nothing or something that someone else would see as junk or through it away. I can say though that one of the not so pleasant sides to it is that my mind has a hard time shutting down. I see Beauty in so many places you wouldn't expect to find it or see something and want to change it and make it into something else. Another part to the curse is the sometimes sleepless nights because my mind is thinking of my next project. Or even waking up in the middle of the night with an idea and having to down to my studio and start on it right away. Some people call me crazy, I just think I'm me! :)

For my Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths, those are inspired by a wreath that my grandmother made when I was a little girl. She had made it out of clear dry cleaner bags cut into strips. They had yellow writing on them so the wreath had touches of yellow here and there, but mostly looked white. I don't know what it was about that wreath that when I ran up to her door to knock and saw it, it would just make my heart skip a beat. If she had the door open I would just sit in the living room and just literally stare at it for hours. And that is why I love recreating the past with a Romantic Flair of my own. It's not just the nostalgia, but the invokation of the heart. The way those items made me feel when I was a child. Shaking that snow globe for hours to watch the snow fall. Watching the twinkling of the lights on the tree reflecting off of the icicles and ornaments. Giggling at the bubbles as they would float up to the top of those faux candle ornaments. So I take my time and create heirlooms for the future from memories of my past. :)

So, take a peek at my little pieces of Romance in the Romantic Homes mag. I do feel so Honored and Blessed to be asked to do some of them for their Holiday Guide....Blessings to All this Holiday Season and Beyond!!!....Big Hugs as Always...Jewel ;o)

My Aqua Wreath on the edge of the editorial page. Jacqueline was a Doll to work with. She's the one that contacted me to create some for their photo shoot. I had only a couple of days to get them done and mailed to them, talk about crafting through the night, as they each take a full day if not more to make. I at first thought it was a scam when she contacted me so I contacted my friend at Romantic Homes and asked her if it was real and she let me know that "Yes" it was real. But you have to be careful these days. There are so many out there that try to take advantage of people.

Again on the edge of the next page. Doesn't the little bird look so adorable sitting in her little pink nest? She looks so debonair. She just knows she's a star. LOL :)

Here are the two Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths I made and sent in. I think they look so good in the magazine. I wish I could take good pictures of my items like they do. I'm just not a photographer. I do have to say that my hubby is pretty good, so I try to get him to take as many pictures as I can. One of the things I wished I was good at. :)

And the info page about them. They did a great job on the descriptions and quotes. I know they couldn't add in all I had to say about them. When one is passionate what they do they tend to get a little wordy. And I'm definitely not an exception to that. LOL

And then I got a full page for my Vintage Style Tulle Trees!!! That was the most exciting. Jacqueline wouldn't let me see what they were up to, so I had to wait like everyone else to see what it was all going to look like. I am so pleased with it all. And the photos and descriptions really captured my essence and as well as the feel of them probably better than I could. So Thank You Thank You Miss Jacqueline. You are truly a Sweetheart!! :)

New for Halloween 2011 Vintage Style Candy Box Ornaments

I have always loved Vintage Candy Boxes. I love the details, the graphics and the love that went into making them. So over the years I have been designing Ornaments and Displays for various holidays that are inspired by them. I guess you can say it's my twist on them. This year I have some new ones listed for Halloween. I absolutely love creating these. The ones I have made in the past have been huge sellers so if you want to get in on the fun better get them while you can.

As usual I put a lot of detail into them with Vintage German Glass Glitters, Handmade Banners, Vintage Seam Binding, Vintage Style Tinsel and Chenille. The images come from Vintage & Antique Postcards and other ephemera that I have collected over the years. So take a peek and tell me what you think. If you would like some custom ones made for any occasion or theme I would love to make some for you.

Here is a Ghost carrying a Jack-O-Lantern on a stick in front of a Giant Moon

Two Adorable Children hiding behind a huge Jack-O-Lantern

Look at the Owl on the Jack-O-Lantern

Check out the Black Cat sitting in front of a big Orange Moon

Give A Way again at my friend Rebecca's

My friend Rebecca over at A Gathering Place is having another Amazing Give A Way. Head on over and just check it out. :)

French Lavender How I Love Thee

What do I do when I get stressed you ask? Well I reach for one of my French Lavender Sachet Pillows I have around my house, stick my nose up to it and breathe in deep. That always calms me down and helps me destress. I have to admit that when I first found lavender that I wasn't too thrilled with the smell of it. It smelled soapy to me. But not too long after I started working with it I sooo fell in love with it. Of course it took going through a few varieties to find the one that really made me say "Aaaahhh! Now that's more like it!". LOL I have been using imported French Lavender, from France of course, for many many years now. I have made Sachet Pillows, Envelope Sachets, Sachet Pouches, put it in bowls and vases, put it in and on candles (yes you heard me correct, on candles. Dip a candle in wax, or glue if you aren't going to burn it, and then immediately dip it in Lavender. A pretty way to get the aroma and decorate.) and the list goes on. Not only does the French Lavender smell the best (of course it's a little more expensive than the normal lavender), keep a prettier color, the most fragrant but, it lasts the longest as well. I have many sachets around my house that I made well over 10 years ago and they still smell like the day I made them. If I feel the smell is dissipating, then I just give the sachet a gentle squeeze or two to crush the buds a little and it releases some more of the essential oils that make it smell so heavenly.

Lavender has been used used for centuries for many things. Not only do people use it as a stress reliever, but it is used in culinary delights and as teas or in teas. It is a natural moth and bug repellent. It has also been used as a natural preservative. In Victorian times it was common to pack your wedding dress or other linens in lavender to preserve and protect them. It has also been speculated that it has healing properties as well.

Here are a few French Lavender Sachets that I have made over the years. Of course these are just a few of the thousands I have made, but I just thought I would give you an example of how you could use French Lavender to decorate in your own home. :)

I Hope you enjoyed some of my French Lavender Creations. Now Show me Yours! :)