My First Thirty-One Haul

A friend of mine hosted a 31 party and being the curious person I am I decided to check out what this company had to offer. I had looked through a catalog many years before and wasn't super impressed but they have some irresistible new patterns and offer things other than bags so I definitely found some things that I needed in my life.

I spent $44 and ended up with one giant tote, two storage baskets, a zipper pouch, and an adorable fox file. 

Let's start with the tote since I feel this is what the company is known for.  I actually wasn't planning on getting a tote but they had a special where if you spent a certain amount you could get a tote for $10 instead of $28, because I'm not a person that pays more than like $15 for a bag this was an exciting offer that I couldn't refuse. I got mine in the pattern Vintage Damask and oh my it is so gorgeous! I actually like it more in real life than in the product photo, the purple is darker and the damask pattern is more of a grey than a tan like I thought it would be.  It is very beautiful and I wish more things were offered in this pattern. 

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As you can see this has a ton of space inside! The two baskets sit comfortably next to each other and with the wallet sticking straight up it is only halfway to the top.

I tote stuff back and forth between my apartment and my house all the time and some of my reusable shopping bags are getting holes in them, so this will be great for carrying a ton of stuff.  I may also use this as a bookbag from time to time.  It feels very sturdy so I'm confident it won't be breaking anytime soon. 

Look at this. It's a nail file. A fox nail file.  There was no way I could pass up this adorable little guy.  For only $2 I'm so excited to have this! I filed my nails with it earlier and while it isn't a heavy duty file it definitely does the job.  I'll probably be keeping this in my new fox print wallet. :D

Speaking of fox print wallets, I am obsessed with this Fox Trot pattern and have been looking for a larger wristlet anyway so this purchase was a definite yes.  My current one is too small and It is getting annoying trying to fit everything I need into it. The wrist strap is also from 31 but I had received it as a gift from my mom for use with another wallet, but because I need to have a fox wallet like immediately, I have transferred it to this.

I don't even know what to do with all this space! Everything in here barely fit in my old wallet and now there is so much room for things! I can keep my phone, some makeup items, and a change purse in here and not be pushing for space. I think this was a decent deal at $12.

And last but not least the hanging baskets! These are called Oh-Snap bins and are honestly the exact thing I need in my tiny limited storage apartment.  I am allowed to make nail sized holes in my walls so these are perfect hangable storage for me.  I just have to hammer in a nail, hang, fill, and I'm good! I wanted to get like 6 of these but my budget limited me to two.....

I decided on the pattern Fox Trot to match my zipper pouch and nail file as well as in Playful Parade...er....well it doesn't look like this print exists anymore...awkward......which is a huge bummer because this is the pattern I would have gotten another basket in as it was the only other one I liked besides the foxes that was also bit more mature. Why isn't the Vintage Damask available in this product?! Anyway these were $10 each and the pretty black and white flower pattern is no longer available, so sorry if you liked it as much as I do :(

This is how I ended up using my snap bins.  The floral one is in my kitchen hanging by my window holding coffee, tea, and herbs.  The fox one is beside my vanity holding my 3 favorite palettes! 

They look so cute and add flair plus storage!

I am definitely pleased with everything I bought! :)

Want to get some cute things but don't know a consultant?  Here is the lovely lady I purchased from!

Rediscovered Love: MAC Violetta

I bought Violetta at least 2 years ago and it was seriously my most worn lipstick for a long time but with all the new purples that have come out lately it got pushed to the back burner for quite some time.  Well I woke up one day, had my clothes picked out, then sad down to do my makeup.  I did my eyes in all matte with my Blackbird Cosmetics shadows and just got this sudden desire to pair it with Violetta.  Oh my am I so glad I did!  I was really digging my overall aesthetic that day.  Violetta just went amazingly well with the matte eye, purple jewelry, and black top.

The best thing about Violetta is that its a very wearable purple.  It is definitely more pinkish purple than true purple and the slight shimmer just really makes it stand out when paired with a dark outfit.  I always feel confident when I have this lipstick on and I really need to pull it out more this Fall.

As you can see it looks much more purple in the tube than it does on the lips.  It is a beautiful pinkish purple with blue shimmer and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

For my eyes I used all Blackbird shadows with Figment on my lid, Gravity in my crease, Smudge as definition, and Vintage under my eye.  

Also if you can see my earrings I made them by wire wrapping the pearls that came in the Fall Fortune Cookie Soap Box.  They were just too cute to throw away so I decided to turn them into something useful!

tldr; GET MAC VIOLETTA. SERIOUSLY.

Colourpop Lippie Stix in Feminist

With my latest Colourpop order I also purchased a single Lippie Stix.  I already have small ones that I got from a friend for Christmas so I knew I loved the formula and wear time.  I decided on Feminist because it was much darker than any of the Lippies I already had and also I do not own a matte purpley black.  With fall coming up I figured this would be a great purchase!

So when I swatched this on my hand I was nervous because it applies fairly patchy and not super opaque, especially when next to the new Ultra Matte lippies. Luckily the lip application is another story!  This glided on so smoothly and covered wonderfully.  It goes on very opaque and pigmented.  It also stays nice and creamy on my lips without just sliding off all over the place. I do have to say...the website said it was matte but it definitely has a satin finish, but no matter I still love it!  I think it goes amazing with my hair, and I'll definitely be pulling this out as the weather gets chillier.

Where to buy: colourpop.com

Price: $5

Colourpop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Lipstick in Tulle, Trap, Koala, and Mars

I was super excited for these Ultra matte lipsticks as soon as I heard about them for the first time.  I LOVE matte lipsticks, especially in a liquid formula, plus they are only $6! You really can't go wrong.  The only thing that could make something like that more perfect was if they were super opaque and lasted for hours.......oh wait! ;P

This formula is the bomb.  The lipsticks go on opaque and completely even for the lighter colors.  There is a bit of uneven color for the darker ones but another coat would fix that right up! Its honestly not even that noticeable in person so I don't bother with a second coat. These stay put on my lips for hours.  The only time they start to die is when I eat something greasy, but even then they hold up really well! I had the Pizza Hut lunch buffet and Mars was faded in the middle of my lips but from a distance, you could barely even tell I just devoured way too much greasy pizza goodness. Also they are transfer proof! I can kiss my boyfriend on the cheek as much as I want to and he won't get covered in lipstick! For $6 these are 110% worth every penny.  My only complaint would be the dryness, I may have trouble pulling these off in winter.

Tulle is a gorgeous deep brownish red.  It is absolutely gorgeous and will be amazing for fall. I could see this pairing with almost any of my fall outfits and I'm sure in a few months it will be an every day lipstick for me.

Trap is a very interesting slightly purple nude.  In yellow light it looks brown but in natural light the purple comes out a lot more.  I really adore it as a nude and can see wearing this with a dark smokey eye often.

Koala is a light pinkish purple.  This is honestly one of my least favorites because based on swatches I though it was be a bit more purple on me and less pink.  I think it makes my skin tone look a bit weird so I'm not sure where and when I'm going to be able to wear this. I don't mind how it looks in the pictures I took however so maybe I'm being too negative about it and it actually looks just fine, haha!

Mars.  An absolutely stunning deep pinkish red. I am in love with this shade and it is probably my favorite.  I wasn't even going to get it initially and just threw it in my cart last minute. I love this shade because it is bold and in your face but also goes with a lot of outfits.  I've worn this with all black, light green, purple....just....it somehow looks awesome no matter what I'm wearing.  I'm in love.

Overall I would recommend these, they have a great formula and the quality is fantastic for the price! <3

Where to buy: colourpop.com

Price: $6

A Break From Makeup: A Girl Named Katie Kimono Style Studio Jacket

Reviewing clothing....this is definitely a first! 

DISCLAIMER: I am not a fashion blogger and do not possess the necessary materials to take decent fashion pictures.  Please excuse the full body shots! :P

I tend to spend my money on makeup and as a result I shop at thrift stores or the clearance section of H&M or Loft.  It is very rare that I will spend my money on expensive clothing, but this time I made an exception. 

A Girl Named Katie is a handmade clothing and accessory store owned and operated by a very talented woman whom I went to high school with.  If you missed my coffee post she also owns Fellowship Coffee Co.

Her bags are absolutely adorable and I'd love to own her Orchid Suede Town Bag but unfortunately I don't use purses enough to justify the purchase, so instead I went for the purple Kimono Style Studio Jacket.

I'm taking this image off of her Etsy site because her pictures are way better than mine could ever hope to be. This jacket comes in four colors, Black, Eggplant, Blue, and Pumpkin. As well as 2 sizes, S/M and L/XL.  I bought the S/M jacket in Eggplant!

And here is my embarrassing attempt at photographing it.  

It is a very beautiful reddish purple with a cute light purple lace trim on the sleeves.  The sleeves are wide and the jacket has a nice length to it.  If I was shorter I could probably wear this with a pair of leggings. The fabric is really interesting and wasn't what I was expecting at all but I love it! It feels very heavy and sturdy to the touch but when on feels light and very comfy.  It is unlike anything I've experienced before.  On her site Katie says its made from a ponte knit. The neatest thing about this fabric is that it doesn't wrinkle. My biggest issue with going back and forth from my parent's house to my apartment is that my clothes end up wrinkly, but this was stuffed in a bag all weekend and when I pulled it out, it looked perfect!

But the absolute best thing about this jacket is....IT HAS POCKETS!!  I adore pockets. :D 

Here is a close up of the detail. I love lace so this little addition made me very happy.  

And here is a close up of a pocket.  They are sewn into the side and very roomy.  I can easily fit my apartment keys in one pocket and my phone in the other with room to spare.

And now for my attempt at modeling.

Here is one way the jacket can be worn. If you want to rush out to the store or are feeling a bit chilly you can quickly throw it on over a tank top or t shirt and instantly become fabulous.  

Also sorry for the state of my mirror. It is incredibly cheap.  I wiped it down twice with Windex and I still couldn't get the smudge off of it..so I gave up. :(

My personal favorite way to wear it is belted with a nice pair of skinny jeans. I bought this with the intention of wearing it casually but I actually like it way more as a fancy top.  

Pockets!!!

Anyway...as far as fit I am 5'5" with a bust/waist/hip ratio of 35/25/36 and this fits a tiny bit big on me, especially in the shoulders.  I catch the one side trying to slip down every now and then, but its really not a big deal at all.  Therefore if you are a bit smaller or bigger than me the S/M should fit you perfectly fine.  Also if you are going to belt this I would not recommend wearing this dancing as your arm movement is restricted somewhat just because of the nature of the sleeves.  I can see wearing this often to fancy dinners or nights out on the town.

This is a close up of the tags pinned to the jacket and sewn inside.

As you can see this top is machine washable which I would not doubt at all because of how sturdy it feels.

If you love handmade clothing and accessories and supporting small businesses I highly recommend checking out A Girl Named Katie.

Where to buy:

http://www.agirlnamedkatie.com/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/agirlnamedkatie

Price:$35

NYX High Voltage Lipstick in Playdate

As soon as NYX revealed they were releasing a pure lavender lipstick I knew I HAD to have it. It was sold out at my "local" ULTA so I had to order online and it has finally arrived!

This color is so so so so so beautiful.  Sometimes lavenders do not work well with my skin tone but this one must be more blue toned than yellow because I do not feel like it makes me look dead or washes me out at all.  It just looks very nice and beautiful.  It covers opaquely, evenly, and easily.  It doesn't dry out my lips and lasts for a decent 3-4 hours depending on if I'm eating anything.  A lip liner and/or gloss may be able to extend the wear even further.

Overall I love this color and will be getting a lot of use out of it this summer.

Where to buy: nyxcosmetics.com, ULTA, Drugstores

Price: $6

NYX Cosmetics White Liquid Liner

I've been looking for an affordable white liquid eyeliner for a long time and to my glee NYX delivered!! As soon as I saw this at ULTA I had to grab it.  No more are the days of attempting to awkwardly get a thin white line with a not so thin white pencil liner. 

I was pretty bummed that its in a brush cap type packaging instead of a marker pen.  However I am decent at using their glitter liners in the same type of packaging so I was hoping it would not be a big deal.

So here is a pretty over the top look I attempted.  For anyone interested on my lid is Cosmic and in my crease is Eclispe, both from BH Cosmetics Galaxy Chic Palette. For the liner I put down the white liquid liner first then went over it with a black liquid liner.

I'm going to review this liner using a Pro and Con type of setup...

Pros:

Goes over dark eye shadow with no problem whatsoever

Dries quickly

Stays all day

affordable

Cons:

A bit watery

cracks a bit

hard to evenly apply another color of liquid liner on top of it

gets all over lashes

hard to control

The cons do outweigh the pros but I think this eyeliner has a time and a place so I do not regret buying it.

Here is a close up of how it gets all over your lashes making them stiff.  Mascara application becomes difficult because of this and its hard to cover up.

Overall this would be a nice liner for little white accents but because of its unfortunate cons I will not be attempting difficult and extravagant white liner techniques with this.

Where to buy: nyxcosmetics.com, ULTA, drugstores

Price: $7

NYX Cosmetics Prismatic Shadow in Punk Heart

I don't know how I missed the release of these beautiful pigmented shimmery prismatic shadows but somehow I did.  I stopped at ULTA and my friend snagged a bunch so I decided to pick up Punk Heart.  I went into using these knowing absolutely nothing about them so I had no idea what to expect. 

So the packaging is super cute.  NYX took the traditional bow clasp design and made the lid silver which I think looks awesome.  However the color in the pan looked much pinker in store.  When I bought it I thought I was getting a raspberry shimmer, not a purple one.  After bringing it home I noticed that in indoor light it looks a bit more pink while in natural light it is very very purple.  

Because of the interesting prismatic effect I decided to swatch this a few ways to determine the best way to wear it.  The top swatch is over my Mary Kay eye primer, this is also how I ended up putting it on my lids.  Next I put it over NYX Milk.  I think this really took away from the prismatic shimmer and instead made it a bit more matte.  For some this may be a good thing, for others...don't put it over Milk.   Finally I used it wet with no primer.  It looked pretty similar to the dry over primer swatch however it did not last as long.  Therefore to get the best color payoff and longevity definitely use it over only a primer.

What I love best about this shadow is that I can throw it on all over my lid and pull of an interesting smokey eye, making it look like I actually tried. It naturally looks darker on the deeper parts of your eye and lighter on the parts that stick out, creating a natural halo effect. This is perfect for lazy days when you want to look like you put in effort. It is very easy to blend and I also I did not experience any creasing or fading when placed over primer.

On my lips is City Color Cosmetics Creamy Lip Stain in Flirtini.

Overall I really like this shadow and I may get another one.  I'm thinking either Mermaid or Golden Peach, I haven't decided yet. I'm such a sucker for pretty shimmer shadows.

Where to buy: nyxcosmetics.com, ULTA, Drugstores

Price: $6

Valentine's Day Nails

Ok yeah I know Valentine's Day was a while ago but with my camera dying I kind of have a backlog of posts. Oops! So even though its past here are my nails that I did for Valentine's Day!

For the base I used Formula X in Voodoo which is a absolutely gorgeous light metallic pink.  Then I took Demi by Zoya which is a dark berry shade and tipped each of my nails except for my ring finger where I instead drew a cute little heart.  I couldn't take this picture until a few days after Valentine's Day so I had to do a bit of touching up, that's why they look a little less than perfect.  Regardless I love my nails and I love these two polishes. Combined they make the perfect cute girly nail design.

Indie FOTD With Hello Waffle Cosmetics Hisster Prynne and Detrivore Cosmetics Livor Mortis

Alright! So I've been using Indies for quite some time but for whatever reason I havn't been using them much lately.  I think its because since getting the Urban Decay Electric Palette I've been basing a lot of my looks off of the colors it contains.  Well not today! Today I wanted to do a look featuring two Indie samples I have not tried before.

Here is Hello Waffle Cosmetics Hisster Prynne and Detrivore Cosmetics Livor Mortis.  Hisster Prynne I got with my first Hello Waffle Order (more about that at the end) and Livor Mortis was given to me by a friend who already had a sample in this color.  Anyway, I love purple and red together so these are the perfect pair for me.  Kinda strange that Hello Waffle doesn't put their brand name on their sticker.  I had gotten some full sizes as gifts for friends and they kept asking me to remind them what brand it was.  Also I just realized both of these are lip safe....awww yes!

They swatch beautifully and as you can see even more so when put over a primer.  Hisster Prynne is a nice bright slightly light red.  Livor Mortis is a deep to mid toned purple.  Both are slightly shimmery but are not filled with chunky sparkle.

And here is the look I did with the two colors!  I decided on a purple and red halo eye because why not. I think putting NYX Milk under these would make the colors even greater!

Oh! Good news! I worked my first day as a teaching assistant for a chemistry lab and two of my students  told me they loved my makeup! :D

On my lips is NYX Matte Lipstick in Tea Rose.

I also decided to swatch these colors against a similar color just for comparisons sake.  Against Livor Mortis is Shiro Cosmetics Not Very Effective, a favorite of mine for use as an eye liner.  NVE is much darker and is filled with very chunky sparkles while Livor Mortis is lighter and more shimmery than sparkly.  Both are great!

I didn't have another Indie red at my apartment so I swatched it against BH Cosmetics Aphrodite from the Galaxy Chic Palette.  Aphrodite is a bit darker and more rusty colored while Hisster Prynne is lighter and more on the pink side. I will be getting a full size of Hisster Prynne because I really want a nice red that isn't confined to a palette.

Thanks for reading!

Final Thoughts:

Detrivore: I have now tried two shadows from this brand and I love them both.  Bruise works great as a special effect kind of shadow for...well..bruises.  Livor Mortis could also be incorporated into zombie or halloween makeup effects and just worn alone of course.  I could see this being used as an eyeliner as well, however I probably won't buy the full size.

Where to buy: shirocosmetics.com/products/detrivore/

Price: $1-$6

Hello Waffle: The shadow I got to try is great and because of this I will be ordering again, but I am a bit bummed regarding my last purchase.  On Facebook before Black Friday she had posted that for a day only she was having a buy 3 get one free sale.  This was perfect as I wanted to get three of my friends shadows and then one for myself because I am totally allowed to get Christmas presents for myself!! Anyway I stated in the comment section that I wanted Hisster Prynne as my free shadow as per the Facebook instructions but instead all I got was the sample size. :(

I'm not sure if I just misinterpreted the Facebook sale or if she didn't understand my note.  Either way it was a sad day opening the package.

Regardless I'll be buying the full size this weekend along with Ethereal Voice and maybe something from the Composers collection.  My friend will be placing a joint order with me so at least shipping won't be so damaging.

Where to buy: Hellowafflecosmetics.com

Price: $3.84-$7.09 CAD,  $3.08- $5.70 USD

USD could change based on the current conversion rate at purchase.

Purple and Teal Graphic Liner FOTD

When I put my favorite flannel on this morning I got the urge to do an eye look to match.  I'm not sure how I got there but I ended up doing a graphic liner of sorts.  I don't have too much experience doing this kind of thing but I still liked how it  came out.

To start I covered my upper lid in Urban from the Electric Palette.  Then I took Blackout by Urban Decay on a small brush and carefully outlined a wing and in my crease.  I only had to use my makeup remover pen 10 times to get this to look decent...Regardless, I then blended Blackout into the purple which looking back I probably should have used a different brush for.  Blending with the flat part of my liner brush was not a good idea.  I finished the look by taking Shiro Cosmetic's Maiden Queen and lining under my eye.

Lip is Mary Kay gloss in Berry Tart.

MAC Rocky Horror Nail Polish in Formidable

So I was lucky enough to get my hands on MAC's Rocky Horror Limited Edition items for my mom and I.  For myself I picked up the blush and the black glitter.  My mom got the Riff Raff palette and both nail polishes. Today I want to share with you the nail polish in Formidable. Excuse the mess I painted these in a hurry.

This color is a duo toned nail polish, shifting between dark purple and a tealish green.  It is very interesting and unique however I feel that sometimes as the purple and green collide it can appear a bit too brown for my taste.  I am so excited to try out the other nailpolish next weekend when I go home.  As for the formula this was my first time trying a MAC nail polish and honestly I'm not all that impressed.  It took 3 coats to build this color to full opacity.  With OPI and Zoya, my two go to nail polish brands I only need one or two. Overall its a pretty nice color but I'm not sure I would ever personally pay this much for a nail polish. This color is part of their perminent collection.

Where to buy: MAC, Nordstrom, Macy's

Price: $12

OCC Lip Tar in Technopagan

Oh yes, I have wanted this lip tar since it was announced.  My mom is a wonderful lady and bought this for me to feed my purple lip obsession. This is also my first full size lip tar!

This lip product makes me feel so amazing.  Its purple with a blue iridescence and it's just so perfect and beautiful and if I wasn't sick I would be wearing this every day. I love the little brush that comes with it too. As with most lip tars it has great staying power and I didn't notice too much bleeding, but I will probably be lining my lips with a clear lip liner when I wear this anyway.

And here is another picture because love. <3

Where to buy: Sephora, occmakeup.com

Price: $18

NYX Simply Vamp Lipstick in Temptress

I am such a sucker for purple lipsticks so of course I had to pick up the purple from NYX's simply vamp collection.  I was a bit wary because of so many people complaining about its patchiness. However I was pleasantly surprised.

The first time I put it on it was a bit hard to work with.  Then later after I actually moisturized and exfoliated my lips it went on perfectly fine.  So if your lips are crap this will be very patchy, but if you try to take care of them you won't have an issue with this lipstick. As for the color, it is super pretty, it applies nicer than Revlon's Shameless but it does not last as long.  It was off after a meal but sometimes I think I'd prefer a lipstick that wears off quickly but looks nice while it lasts. On the skin it swatches as a very true dark purple but once put on my lips it took on a slightly more plum color.  This bummed me out a little but overall I'm a fan of this lipstick and will definitely be using it once the temperature drops.

Where to buy: Ulta, nyxcosmetics.com, drugstores

Price: $6.50

<3__)~

NCLA Los Angeles Accent Nail Wraps in House Of Hollywood Nº 1

Quite a few months ago I got these nail stickers in a beauty subscription box.  I don't remember which one it was from because we have since canceled them all except for Ipsy. If I had to guess I would say Birchbox.

Anyway I had never used nail stickers before and decided to document my first attempt for all of you.

The stickers I will be reviewing today are NCLA Los Angeles Accent Nail Wraps in purple, gold, and pink patterns.

It comes with twelve stickers.  I think there are 2 for each finger except for the ring finger, which gets four.  I think.  Its hard to tell the size difference of the middle ones.  Honestly I'm not thrilled with the look of these, they just aren't my style.  I don't wear gold anything so I probably won't wear these very often. My favorite is the mostly purple and pink pattern so I will be saving those for a special occasion.  The first thing my boyfriend said when I showed him my accent nail was "looks neat, but it's not really you."

Here are the instructions.  Simple enough and easy to follow.

Well right off the bat I mess up somehow.  The sticker would peel cleanly off the paper.  A thin layer of paper came with it.  Luckily there was a small air gap so I was able to carefully peel the detached nail sticker off the paper and get it on my nail. I hope the rest don't come off so difficultly. 

Here it is right after sticking it on.  Looks kind of hillarious :P

After some bending and filing this was the result.  I think it looks cute but for my first attempt I had two air bubbles and it was also unevenly placed on my nail.  Luckily its not noticeable from far away but the little imperfections kind of bother me.

Here is my nail up against the rest of the stickers showing the difference between on the paper and on the nail.

Overall I do like the concept and would definitely buy more stickers but in a style more close to my tastes. 

Where to buy: shopncla.com

Price: 26 wraps for $16

If you are using them for every single nail the price is pretty hefty.  $16 for two and a half manicures....However if you use them one or two nails at a time then I think the price is a bit more plausible.

<3__)~