2012 Best in Beauty

Like so many others have already expressed, 2012 has been a big year for me; I graduated from college, started a graduate program, moved across the country by myself, became a mom to a wonderful little kitten, got a new job, met wonderful new people... and so much more that I can't even begin to list!!

One of the biggest changes in my life though has been creating this blog and my YouTube channel. I have met and gotten to know so many lovely people who share the same obsession and love for all things beauty and thrifting.

I've been loving reading posts about people's favorite products of 2012 so, to jump on the bandwagon before it passes me by, I wanted to share my holy grail products from the past year; it'll give me time to reminisce, babble, and hopefully inspire you all to go out and nab some goodies in 2013!! :)

Let's take one last jump together in 2012... hup!

NOTD: Revlon Whimsical

Like I said in my last post, I'm a bit under the weather at the moment... bugger!!

That being said, I still wanted to do a quick post for you all today on my current nail polish; I've been getting boatloads of compliments on it so I hope you like it too :)

Take the usual jump below for details!

New Video Up On YouTube!!

Check it out if you haven't already!!

I've wanted to address the horizontal stripe controversy ("I'm way too fat, too curvy, too constantly pregnant with food babies, too etc.") for a long time now so I'm happy to present to you this video! 

I'm also happy since it's fashion related; they're my least favorite videos to film but I think I like them the best (oh drama diva self... keep eating your emotions and deal with it).

Let me know what you think!

I'm also happy I already filmed and edited my Best & Worst of December video (I'll put it up either tomorrow or Monday!) because I think I'm coming down with something!! :( 

My throat is quite sore, I've got a headache, the slight sniffles... great way to bring in the New Year, huh? I haven't been sick since I had The Swine a few years ago, ughhhhh!

xoxo - Cassie

NYX Eye Shadow Base: Swatches + Review!

I feel like I've been on vacation from blogging for months now (reality check: it's been two days) so I'm excited to get back into it with this post!!

I had made a special trip to ULTA the other week (special in the sense that I avoid cosmetic stores at all costs because I'm an addict and know I can't control my needy hands... it would be the same as putting me in a chocolate factory. Which has happened [I'll put a photo at the end of this post]) because not only did I have a coupon for 20% off my whole purchase but there was also a BOGO deal on NYX products (which is one of my favorite drugstore brands); it was the same ULTA trip in which I purchased the festive polish I just reviewed.

I've had enough time now to test out this Eye Shadow Base so take the jump below to find out what I thought about it!!

Holiday Wishes

I just wanted to do a really quick post to say happy holidays to all of my lovely readers.

Having you here truly warms my heart and I appreciate all of your kind feedback and support; my little plot of real estate in the world wide web wouldn't be half of what it is now without YOU!! :)

Mushy sentiment aside, I put together a really quick get ready with me video for you all to (hopefully) enjoy so give it a watch if you'd like!

What have you been doing to celebrate the holiday season?

Any big plans for New Years?

Do tell!

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: china glaze Pure Joy

Try and tell me that this isn't the most gorgeous holiday nail polish you've ever seen.

Seriously.

I WON'T BELIEVE YOU.

I popped into Ulta the other day to bank in on BOGO NYX products as well as a 20% off of my total purchase coupon that I had. However, I am almost convinced that Ulta knew I was coming, read my emotions, and knew I was a nail polish hoarder (or should I say: WHOREder?); so they strategically placed the nail polish near the check out isle (I couldn't ignore it in that long holiday shopping line wait) and made sure that there was only one of these polishes left to make it feel like fate for me. 

FINE, ULTA.

FINE.

You got me... 

Take the jump (like I did) to see more dazzling photos and verbal expressions of pure joy (see what I did there?)!

Old Habits Die Hard...

... I'm such a flake; I forgot to upload my last YouTube video here on Blogger =__=;

But oh well, here it is if you haven't seen it and, in addition, here is a brand new one that just got done uploading!!

The first is a really simple yet pretty hair tutorial and the second video is the Winterlicious tag!! 

Usually I get SO sick and tired of seeing the same tag over and over again but for some reason this one hasn't bothered me at all; I've actually really enjoyed seeing everybody's different versions. I suppose it's due to the merry mood the holidays put me in :)

OH!!

And by the way, upon request of one of my lovely readers, I'm now on Bloglovin'! So if that's an easy way for you to keep updated with my posts then feel free to click the button on my sidebar (right above my GFC followers).

I hope you're all well!

Have you done your own version of the Winterlicious tag?

Love it? Hate it?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

MUA Haul Part 3... "Heaven and Earth" Eyeshadow Palette: Swatches + Review!!

Here you have it: the final installment of my MUA haul!! 

If you missed out on Part 1 or Part 2, don't fret!! I embedded the links for your convenience (ahhh, internet magic).

Galileo is at the vet right now getting neutered so I'm hoping that writing this post will take my mind off of things (I watched the procedure on YouTube last night [because yes, I'm that kid])... I know that the procedure is done all the time but you know how moms are when it comes to their babies.

Anyways, on with it!!

Jump with me people!

NOTD: O.P.I. Black Cherry Chutney

Over the past couple of weeks I have painted my nails this color three times. 

THREE TIMES. 

That may or may not be all the reason you need to go out and get your hands on this polish so that your hands can then put this polish onto your nails so that your nails can then rejoice to the heavens.

Or, you know, you could just take the jump below instead so you can salivate and weep simultaneously; (in the sing-song voice that Kitty uses in that one episode of That 70's Show) pick your baaaattlessssss...

ALMAY intense i-color liquid shadow + color primer: Swatches + Review!

Hi everyone!! 

I've got a quick minute here between real life obligations (my eyes are only just starting to de-dilate from the opthamologist this morning, I somehow managed to cook lasagna while half blind and Galileo trying to eat the delicacy that he thinks my toes are, and then I have to pop over to work this evening) so I thought I would share with you a little gem I recently picked up at Target!

It's not perfect but if you're on the lookout for a good eyelid primer you may want to give this one a go.

Take a jump for the usual details! :)

December '12 Birchbox!

I didn't have the greatest day (I won't go into it, but let's just say tears were shed and emotions were eaten) but thankfully I had my December Birchbox waiting for me in my P.O. when I got home!!

And since this was the holiday box, I had big expectations for this one...

What was inside?

What was the verdict?

Judge Galileo will tell you after the jump!!

Doesn't it look like a gavel belongs in one of his paws? "ORDER ON MY COUCH MEOW!!!"

MUA Haul Part 2... "Undressed" Eyeshadow Palette: Swatches + Review!!

When companies name their products things like NAKED (Urban Decay) and UNDRESSED, I feel like they're just begging for one liner headers that say "let's get NAKED" or "I just love getting UNDRESSED in the morning"!!

So there you go MUA; I'll do it for you since I'm pretty much in love with you right now (how easy do I sound?)... you know, since you've put out (heh) some incredibly beautiful neutral palettes for me to get all hot and bothered over (you see what all of this innuendo does to me? It never ends).

How about you all?

Are you ready to get undressed?

(I promise I'll stop this verbal abuse nonsense after the jump)

NOTD: A Unicorn Puked On My Nails...

...and I don't care one bit!!

I know I've been saying that last week was my last week of classes, but technically today is my last day; I'm just not counting it since we're going to nap (secretly), eat pizza (publicly), and critique everyone's work in my program (shamefully) all day. 

So I decided to whip out one of my favorite grey shades of polish plus two newly acquired sparkle polishes for my nails in celebration!

Take the jump for the usual details and some bonus pictures of Galileo at the end ;) 

MUA Haul Part 1... "Innocence" Trio Eyeshadow: Swatches + Review!!

Ever since I started getting into the world of beauty on both Blogger and YouTube, I have envied those who live in the UK because of the access they have to certain drugstore makeup brands. And while I realize I could always order things online at the brand's website or eBay, I just COULD NOT handle the prices I would have to pay for overseas shipping and stingy seller inflations!!

Thankfully though, MUA must have been listening to my inner woes and weeping sessions because a few weeks ago they had a massive sale going on as well as FREE SHIPPING TO THE U.S.!!!!!!!!!

So you KNOW I picked up a few things for myself; I mean come on!! These three palettes only cost me a total of $11!!!!!!!!!!! It's okay, you can glare at me and show off those jealous eyes... I would too if I missed out on the deal of the year.

To break things up, I've decided to do separate posts reviewing each of these palettes individually so that we can all take the time to really ooo and ahhh over their beauty.

Today's palette?

The smallest of them all: MUA's Trio Eyeshadow in "Innocence"!

Now jump with me people! You're in for a treat :)

New Video Up on YouTube!

Just got done uploading this week's outfit video... 

not much else to say other than I just got home from one of the busiest weekends at work this season and I couldn't be happier; nothing better than kicking your feet up, munching some Crunch Berries (dinner of champs, I'm tellin' ya'), and D.I.Y.-ing (I'm sure I'll post a picture when I'm done) with a purring Galileo by your side.

Enjoy!!

I'll have up a makeup review posted tomorrow for you all :)

xoxo - Cassie

PS: If you haven't already, be sure to enter my giveaway (here!) worth $500... it ends a week from today so hurry if you want a chance to win!!

Maybelline the Falsies FLARED Mascara: Swatches + Review!!

Long time no blog, people!!

But now that my week of finals (aka week of h*** and sadomasochism [us college students are paying for this torture, after all]) is FINALly (heh) over I've got blog posts planned for this weekend and videos I'm hoping to make in the near future so I'll be around more often :)

So, to start things off I've got a review on the recently famous and hyped Maybelline the Falsies FLARED mascara. How did I feel about it?

Take the jump below, as usual, to find out!!

Latest YouTube Videos... One Fashion & One Beauty!!

Happy Sunday evening everyone... OR IS IT!?!?!?

Tomorrow marks the first day of the last week of my first semester at my first year of art school (what a sentence, huh?)!! I can't believe how much the time has flown by, how much I have learned, and how much I still have left to do! One of my best qualities is probably my utter denial of reality... which makes me the perfect student ;)

So, true my denial-centric persona, I took the time to film, edit, and upload a makeup tutorial for you all!! 

And, since I was posting that here on my blog I figured I should probably include my latest weekly outfit video as well since I just plum forgot when I uploaded it last week.

I may be in denial, but at least I'm honest!!

The makeup tutorial was based on the look I did in my review of the e.l.f. single eyeshadows (you can see it here if you haven't already), with the addition of my stila all over shimmer liquid luminizer (review and swatches here if you haven't read/seen that post) aka my new love, since so many of you commented on how much you loved it!!

So I hope you enjoy!

Let me know if there are any other YouTube videos you might want me to make in the future; I'm always up for ideas/inspiration :)

xoxo - Cassie

Here's a funny picture of Galileo shnoozin' in my arms while I was editing the makeup tutorial for your viewing pleasure/to get you through finals... hehe :3

NOTD: Contrasting Triangles + A Sleepy Galileo

I've got some more nail art for you guys today!! Because:

1.) It's FINALLY the weekend (this is how I celebrate), and

2.) Next week is the last week of classes aka h*** (this is how I relax and ease the heat of Satan's flames).

And speaking of relaxation, I've got some photos of a pretty cute and sleepy kitty waiting below, so take the jump if you want to see :)