HIDDEN TREASURE PRIZE!!!!

An EXTRA big thank you to Ms. Tina over at TheFancyFace for her Hidden Treasure pt.1 game.... that I won!!!!! 

I received my package from Tina in the mail a few days ago & have swatched my beautiful prizes from MAC's Venomous Villains collection: "De-Vil" eyeshadow and "Violetta" lipstick. De-Vil is a gorgeous rust color that appeared rather shimmery/metallic when swatched... can't  wait to use it! And Violetta is a down right BEAUTIFUL violet shade of lipstick that applies creamy and highly pigmented... I've never really worn a purple-ish lip before, but this is so cute that I'm certainly going to find a reason to rock the hell out of this lipstick LOL

Thanks for stopping by & Hope you enjoyed the swatches!

-Miss Brina

Stila & Urban Decay Mascara Review

I've got a favorite mascara... it's magical. Not only does it make my lashes longer, fuller, darker and curlier... it also makes me an all around happier person when I'm wearing it LOL Am I reviewing that mascara? Sadly, no... but I did get the chance to test out two new mascaras, as it never hurts to have a backup (or even find a new #1)

The 1st mascara I tried was Urban Decays Skyscraper . Let me just say that the packaging was absolutely ADORABLE!!! Honestly, that's why I wanted it. The brush is nothing new or original, but helps to comb out and separate your lashes abit. As for the formula itself, I didn't notice any clumping or flaking, and it was very light on my lashes and left them flexible (although lashes started "grouping" together after additional coats). 

 

Two coats of UD Skyscraper

I also tried Stila's Lash Visor (which is a steal at $12.50). The brush, while large, is nothing to write home about... but this mascara is pretty great. It gave me soft, nicely separated lashes, added a bit of length while holding my natural curl, but was lacking in the pigment department. If you're looking for a nice and defined natural looking lash, Lash Visor is definitely for you. Out of the 2 mascaras, this one comes out ahead in my book. 

 

One coat of Stila Lash Visor

Both mascaras are nice in their own right, but I won't be ditching my all time favorite Kevyn Aucoin mascara just get. Hope this was helpful!

NYX 10 Color Palette Review & Swatches

I own more makeup than I could ever use in a lifetime. Do I use a quarter of it? No. Do I have a place for all of it? No. Will any of that stop me from acquiring more? Of course not. Hell, I just ordered some Lorac lippies on Hautelook this morning... but that's a whole different post. Today, to my absolute pleasure, I recieved my NYX 10 Color palette in Champagne & Caviar AND 3 single shadows in HIGH LITE, BROWN, and MOROCCO.

First off, I LOVE this palette!!! The shadows are sooooo soft & apply creamy. I've heard NYX shadows were pretty nice, but I just never got into the brand, so I was a bit surprised at the quality for the price. As its name suggests, the palette contains 10 coordinating matte and shimmer shadows that can be used to create amazing day, night or smokey looks. I definitely believe this is a palette everyone needs to have in their stash... it contains all the staple shades as far as I am concerned & would work well on ANY skintone. I'm still learning how to create eye looks, but I'll be posting a look using this palette just as soon as my baby lets me... newborns run the show!!! ;-)

The single shadows are just as soft and creamy as the shades in the palette, but I did find that I had to do a bit more building to get the pigmentation you see on the swatches. I really like Brown, it's a great matte shade for blending on deeper skintones. High Light is a nice, warm beige color that would look great as a brow highlight or inner eye brightener. And my FAV so far has to be Morocco, which is this beautiful jewel toned blue... it appears to have some purple shimmer in its undertone... I LOVE it so much.... it brings out the green in my eyes like you wouldn't believe!!!! 

Hope you enjoyed yourselves & the swatches!

*ALL swatches done with NYX jumbo pencil in Milk as base.*

NYX Round Lipstick: Review & Swatches

During the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy, I became suddenly obssessed with lipstick. I've always been a pretty faithful lipgloss girl, but for some reason I found myself wanting to buy lipstick everywhere I went. Now that I have had my daughter and am pretty much homebound until she has her first shots later this month, I've re-discovered the joys of online shopping... and cherryculture.com! After hearing some pretty great things about the Nyx lippies, I decided to give them a second chance (I'd purchased Frappaccino before at Ulta and it was dry, plus the color didn't suit me). SO glad I did, because I am seriously in love with them. I bought 8 shades (all but one fairly neutral), and am pleasantly surprised by how pigmented and creamy they are. They also apply pretty darn even, and at $2.25 each, I will definitely be trying more shades in the very near future. Check out the swatches below.

     

  DOLL

                            

HERADES

TAUPE

URANUS

MARS

STONE

ECHO

                            

CREAMY BEIGE

So far, I am really loving Uranus and Herades. I've also recently purchased Hermes, which I will swatch and add later. Have you tried any of the NYX Round lipsticks? What's your opinion of these?

TAG: MY FIRSTS
This oughtt to be fun...

Do you still talk to your First love?
YEP... WE'RE BEST FRIENDS NOW
What was your First alcoholic drink?
IT WAS A SIP OF BUDWEISER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER
What was your First job?
FOOD VENDOR
What was your First car?
MITSUBISHI GALANT
Who was the First person to text you today?
MY HOMEGIRL
Who was the First person you thought of this morning?
MY DAUGHTER
Where did you go on your First ride on an airplane?
TO TEXAS TO VISIT FAMILY
Who was your First best friend & do you still talk?
MY 1ST BEST FRIEND WAS ADELLA, AND YES WE STILL TALK
Where was your First sleep over?
MY AUNT STEPHANIE'S
Who was the First person you talked to today?
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
Whose wedding were you in the First time?
MY COUSIN ALLISON
What was the First thing you did this morning?
ROLLED OUT OF BED
What was the First concert you ever went to?
NEW EDITION
What was your First broken bone?
NEVER HAD ONE... AND I PRAY I NEVER DO
What was your First piercing?
MY EARS AT ABOUT 3 MONTHS OLD
First foreign country you've gone to?
NEVER BEEN TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, JUST U.S. TERRITORIES
First movie you remember seeing?
LAND BEFORE TIME
When was you First detention?
I THINK IT WAS 1ST GRADE FOR SWINGING MY BACKPACK
Who was your first roommate?
MY BROTHER WHEN WE WERE KIDS
If you had one wish, what would it be?
TO HAVE UNLIMITED WISHES
What is something you would learn if you had a chance?
LATIN
Did you marry the First person to ask for you hand in marriage/you asked to marry?
NOPE
What was the First sport you were involved in?
TRACK
What were the First lessons you ever took?
BALLET & TAP SIMULTANEOUSLY
What is the First thing you do when you get home?
SIT MY PURSE DOWN
Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
I HAVE NO CLUE

The end is near....

So, I originally started this blog with all the hopes and expectations of delivering makeup reviews and general chit chat... then found out I was PREGNANT!!! Now, this was exciting news for me, and I couldn't wait to blog about it.... until the MORNING SICKNESS hit... which actually lasts ALL DAMN DAY!!! But now I can say, that after 7.5 months of one of the greatest experiences of my life, I am actually motivated to get back on this thing and start this blog rolling. I've got about 6-7 weeks before my little girl arrives and a whole lot of energy, so stay tuned for what that turns into LOL....

Black People These Days....

Alright now, I've just finished reading my latest issue of EBONY magazine and can't seem to shake this feeling of irritation that is sitting on me. Basically, certain folks took offense to Reggie Bush being on the cover of last months magazine spotlighting our fantasy black men... so much so that they wrote countless emails and letters, which resulted in a full article addressing the issue in THIS month's issue. WHY, you ask, was there such an uproar? He's dating a NON black woman. (OH THE HORROR) lol Most of the letters were down right ridiculous, even spouting such crap that refers to Mr. Bush not appreciating black women or being a proud black man because he is involved in an interracial relationship. So let me get this straight, Reggie Bush is a disgraceful, black woman hating, black heritage loathing man.... all because the woman he's currently dating is NOT black like him? And this is such a serious offense (as one woman wrote) that black women should not consider him a fantasy man? LMAO They even went as far as to blame him for the low self image of black women in today's society... he must be a powerful ass dude to single handedly bring down the self esteem of the entire community of black women in the world. Fact is, I am a black woman, who has a VERY high level of self esteem... and while I appreciate the fineness that is Mr. Reggie Bush... could care less about who he's giving it to in his personal life. I don't know him personally nor do I have any hopes of dating him in the future, just like the idiots writing these dumb ass letters.... so why the hell does it matter that is woman is not black like him? It almost embarrasses me to be black when I read comments about this man being unworthy of being recognized as an accomplished and positive black male because his woman is not black. How that draws the conclusion he hates black women and black people completely baffles me. The article was to praise positive black men, the type of man most women fantasize about... and his relationship does not take away the fact that he IS a black man, he IS accomplished, he IS a role model in the community and he IS fine as hell LOL. You'd think that since these folks believe themselves to be so damn perceptive they'd be able to see that they are only strengthening the stereotype of the angry and bitter black woman. To these women I would like to say... relax, because REGGIE doesn't want your ass anyway!!! LOL NOT because you're black, but simply because you're IGNORANT. I notice that no one has a problem with Paula Patton being  recognized as proud black woman and role model in the black community.... and she's married to a WHITE man. And just so we get it correct, I have no issue with her or her cutie pie husband ROBIN THICKE... just trying to prove a point. Anyway, had to get it off my chest, but I'm still a bit amazed that people these days can still be so closed minded and misinformed.