Spankedelic

Apologies

2012-01-08T11:00:00.001-06:00

So apparently the last few blog posts I posted are gone :( I had to delete them for now. I've been uploading my posts from my phone since my MacBook is broken. I guess Brendan (my son) deleted my blog pics album from my phone and I think it ended up deleting them from my blogs. My older blogs still have their pics but the most recent ones (uploaded from my iPhone 4s), aren't loading. So...I will redo the reviews sometime :/

Review: Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick Collection

2011-12-30T14:04:00.001-06:00

While I was at CVS a week or so ago, I noticed Rimmel had come out with some lipsticks from Kate Moss. The display was quite small and I only saw a few color choices. Five, to be exact! In reality, there are supposed to be seven shades. The color I chose was shade 14, which is on the nude/taupe side. I always gravitate toward nude colors but this wasn't the average light, pinky nude. It's actually a tad bit darker. All in all, I'm enjoying it and it's pretty moisturizing. Not super moisturizing like the Revlon Lip Butters but not as dry as most lipsticks are. I actually want to try some of the other colors and step outside of my comfort zone. I hope you enjoy the swatches below. Please excuse my dry lips :(

Cute black, plastic lipstick with Kate's signature in red

Number 14 nude/taupe lipstick

Number 14 lipstick swatched with no flash

Number 14 lipstick swatched with flash

Number 14 lipstick on lips with flash

Pros:
•Affordable (I believe it's $6-$7)
•Moisturizing
•No weird smell

Cons:
•Small color range
•Most colors are too bright/bold, especially if you tend to wear nudes
•Lipstick seems to settle into lines of lips so make sure your lips are fairly moisturized
•Only sold at certain drug stores
•No names for lipsticks, just numbers
•Isn't long lasting

Review: Adore Me Lingerie Ellie bra/panty

2011-12-28T13:53:00.001-06:00

A while back, I was contacted by a company called Adore Me If you're not quite familiar with it, it's a monthly subscription-based membership that offers a variety of lingerie, camisoles, and hosiery for purchase. You sign up and answer a few style questions. From your answers, your showroom is created. The showroom gives you many different options to choose from. Don't like what your showroom offers? That's okay because you're not obligated to buy anything. In fact, you can click and see what didn't make your showroom and choose something else. This site is like Jewel Mint, Style Mint, etc. Adore Me asked if I'd like to write about their company. In return, I got a code which allowed me to pick out any set I wanted. I placed my order and received it 6 days later. It probably would've been sooner but it shipped about a day or two before the Christmas holiday. Anywhooo, I picked the Ellie Bra and panty set. When I unwrapped the plastic envelope, I noticed the beat up box.

Don't you love how the postal system throws stuff around? I really wasn't upset, as it's lingerie and unbreakable. Plus, it wasn't the company's fault, you know? Inside the box, there was a little card and the lingerie was nicely wrapped in pink tissue paper.

Below the layers of pink tissue paper was my bra and panty.

How cute, right? The bra is black and has some lacy detail and the panty is black, lacy, and see through - very sexy, if you ask me. I tried the set on and was very impressed by the quality. The pieces were beautifully sewn together. I checked to see if any stitches were loose, which was not the case. The set fit like a glove on me :) The best part is, each set you pick out is $39.95! Honestly, the lingerie is cute and affordable. Of course this is lingerie, so it's not the place to go if you're looking for pushup bra to double your cup size. This is a site for women who'd like to take a little bit of time to get sexy for their significant other or themselves. Who says you need someone to look good for? One thing I really liked about this site was that they had babydolls and slips, which is perfect for women who prefer to be more covered up. All in all, I am happy with the piece I chose. Please be sure to check out my previous post here if you haven't read it. If you'd like to check out Adore Me's website, click here to sign up and get started. You can also check out their Facebook page for promo codes. Click here to enjoy the deals. You can get 50% off at checkout with code FB50. I hope you guys check out the site and take advantage of the 50% off code! It ends in 24 hours do hurry!

FTC Disclaimer: I was not paid for my review. All things stated in my blog are my personal and honest opinion. I wrote about Adore Me Lingerie and was given the opportunity to choose any set to review.

Finger painting

2011-12-07T16:20:00.001-06:00

This is what happened to my brand new Urban Decay 15th Anniversary palette when my 16-month-old got his hands on it.

I died a little on the inside, trust me. Buuuuuttttttt, at the end of the day, he's my heart and soul and I can laugh about it.

Adore Me - Personalized lingerie

2011-12-05T11:55:00.003-06:00

Hi, everyone. I just wanted to post about a fairly new, up-and-coming lingerie company called Adore Me. If you've never heard of it, it's a subscription-based membership where you take a quiz and for the price of $39.95 (per set), you are sent a set of lingerie or hosiery of your choice. It's pretty similar to Jewel Mint and Style Mint in the sense that everything in your showroom is put together based off your style quiz. After you answer the quiz, your showroom appears and you are shown an array of sexy lingerie, hosiery, and even slips/baby doll sets. Don't like what you see? That's okay because you're not obligated to buy anything in your showroom and can also see different styles that weren't included in your showroom. I think this is an awesome idea because lingerie costs so much and ONE piece (like a bra) already costs more than $39.95! So buying a set from Adore me is relatively cheaper and is actually a steal! I also like how the lingerie caters to all women. It's not just over-the-top sexy. There are pieces for woman who want to be more covered up, yet look sexy. I think the slips are perfect for that! Below are some of the styles in my showroom.

Aren't those cute? If you like Jewel Mint, you should sign up and give Adore Me a try. I mean, really, it doesn't get much better than $39.95 per set! Click on Adore Me to get started. Spoil yourself or your man :) You can also follow their
Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/adoremeofficial

FTC Disclosure: I was not paid for my post from company mentioned above. I was asked if I would like to post about the company. These are my honest opinions and thoughts on the company.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A sneak peek of my special day..,

2011-11-24T20:17:00.001-06:00

My Cinderella moment

2011-11-24T16:51:00.001-06:00

November 12, 2011 - the day I became a real life princess.

Review : Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Moisturizer

2011-06-01T13:25:00.003-05:00

Summer is here so it's time to combat that oily complexion! While browsing at Wal-Mart, I came across a "new" product by Clean & Clear. It was called Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Moisturizer. I saw the word mattifying and grabbed the product. I was a little hesitant to buy it since I had tried another product from Clean & Clear in the past that left my face greasy. Since this was a new product, I thought, what the hell? It wouldn't hurt to try it. I used it the next day and fell in love with it. It had a nice, pleasant smell - kinda like flowers. The consistency was not too thick and did not feel greasy/oily at all. Unlike the previous moisturizer I had tried from Clean & Clear, this one did not have a pump to dispense the moisturizer. Instead, you unscrew the lid and squeeze the product out. I went shopping with my mom and noticed that my makeup stayed on and my face didn't get oily - keep in mind I live in Texas and it's not abnormal for the temperature to be in the triple digits. My forehead/t-zone area never needed to be touched up. I was amazed, actually! This moisturizer isn't what I'm used to. I'm accustomed to moisturizers being thick and feeling too heavy and greasy. This was very spreadable and didn't have that oily finish to it. It was also absorbed into my skin instantly. Did I mention this product also has SPF in it? The only bad thing was that the moisturizer is VERY white and can give you a white cast. I think it's a good idea to apply a setting powder on top if you don't want to look pale. All in all, it was a good investment and I was not disappointed. I believe I paid $6.99 for it. You can see my comparison pics to see how the moisturizer gives a whitish cast.

Keep in mind there was no flash used

Below are more specific details of the product, according to Clean & Clear:

All Day Shine Control
Oil-Free & Lightweight - Won't Clog Pores
Super-Absorbing
Mineral+ Complex
SPF 15 Sunscreen with UVA/UVB Protection

Clean & Clear® finishes mattifying moisturizer SPF15 contains a super-absorbing mineral+ complex and control shine all day. The exclusive long-lasting mineral+ complex attracts and captures oil, to help prevent shine from appearing on the skin's surface. Its lightweight formula also give your skin the hydration it needs. Say goodbye to shine and enjoy the look of a naturally beautiful finish!

Pros:
Feels lightweight on my skin
Has a flower-y scent
Absorbs into the skin almost instantly
Doesn't leave an oily residue
Has SPF 15
Helps combat shine

Cons:
Because it absorbs into the skin instantly, your skin doesn't really feel moisturized
SPF gives the face a whitish cast
The flower-y scent may be a turnoff to certain people
Consistency may be too "liquidy" for some

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate (7.5% Sunscreen), Titanium Dioxide (3% Sunscreen)

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Squalane, Fragrance, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein (Rice), Capryl Hydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Red 33 (CI 17200)

**The picture posted was taken from Drugstore.com and so was the info of the ingredients/description**

Review : Lashes (A26)

2011-04-07T11:05:00.003-05:00

A few months ago, I was contacted by Maggie of kkcenterhk.com to review some eyelashes. Some lashes these days are not named, so they are identified by letters and/or numbers. The particular style I chose were the A26 ones. I chose these because they reminded me of my beloved Shishem XO lashes. Shishem lashes are a Korean brand and are very hard to find. I love that they are a criss cross design and really accentuate your eyes when worn. Because they are hard for a majority of us to find/buy, I was really excited when Maggie contacted me to try these lashes. Shishem lashes cost about $6.00 online and that's w/o shipping and handling! Some bloggers and other companies have been known to sell Shishem lashes but to me, it's almost not worth buying them because $6.00, PLUS shipping/handing, is A LOT to pay for ONE pair of lashes. When I went on kkcenterhk.com, I was blown away by their selection! They have sooooo many eyelashes and they also have makeup and hair pieces! The best thing is that their merchandise is very reasonable! Some of their lashes come in a set of TEN and cost the amount of ONE pair of lashes! They also have lashes that are for fun, dramatic looks. Did I mention they have nail polish, makeup, and hair pieces?!?! I really want to get their clip-on hair bangs and try their nail strips. Anyhow, the lashes were applied on a freshly washed face, and most importantly, eye area. As with all my eyelash applications, I apply my lashes at the end of my eye makeup application. These lashes felt light, not heavy like some lashes tend to feel. I used Duo eyelash glue to apply my lashes. I wore the lashes for a few hours and they lasted all day! I wore the lashes because my son was getting baptized that day. I also applied lashes on my sister. The lashes definitely aren't something you'd wear if you're going for a natural look but they are fun for going out. I had actually done a review prior to this but Joey deleted my pictures from his iPhone! Because I don't wear lashes on a regular basis, I had to wait for the right occasion! if you're ever looking for eyelashes that are a reasonable price, you should definitely check out this site! There are tons of cute stuff besides eyelashes =) I hope the pics do the lashes justice.

With flash

Without flash

Pros: VERY affordable and last all day. The "spine" is sturdier than other eyelashes I've tried in the past. These also add length and accentuate your eyes.

Cons: If you're not used to wearing lashes, and even if you are, these felt a little "heavier" to me - probably because the "spine" is studier than regular lashes I'm used to. Because the "spine" is this way, if you're not used to it, it may be a little hard for you to apply the lashes.

Beauty Budget : Clarisonic

2011-04-07T06:35:00.002-05:00

I know you're wondering how investing in a Clarisonic is a beauty budget, but trust me, it IS! Normally, buying one online or at Sephora would cost you about $200, but on QVC, you can purchase it for THREE easy payments! That breaks it down to one payment every month for 3 months. You would be spending $65.00 a month for 3 months. For college students or just anyone that doesn't want to spend too much money at one time, that's a great deal. A while back, QVC had the Clarisonic MIA for sale for 3 easy payments. I was lucky enough to buy one at that time. When I purchased it, it was for $142 and there was an option of 3 easy payments, which broke it down to about $47 dollars a month. Then, later on, I saw that they had an additional discount off which put the MIA at $119! I purchased my MIA in December and during that time, QVC offered all of the crazy, fun colors and also the animal prints =) I chose the pinkish purple color in Berry, I believe. Even though the MIA isn't available right now, you can still get the original Clarisonic on QVC in white or pink. Simply put, it's still a great deal for anyone that's wanted a Clarisonic but couldn't justify paying $200. Yes, you're still gonna be paying that much BUT...not all at one time! Both the Clarisonic (Original) and the MIA are the SAME exact thing! The Clarisonic is just a little bigger and has a cradle to charge it. The MIA, however, has a magnetic charger and is smaller and more travel friendly, in my opinion. If you've been eyeing the Clarisonic system, you should definitely check into buying one. I love my MIA and it does a great job purifying my skin and removing excess makeup off my face. To purchase your Clarisonic from QVC, click on the link =) And no, I am not getting sponsored or paid by QVC for this post. I just wanted to help you guys out, because I really love my MIA and think every girl should invest in a good skincare product/tool. I love QVC and have purchased makeup there before and other things. It's a great site and I love how some of the products are on easy pay. It's so convenient for people that can't afford to spend too much money at one time and it's great for when holidays roll around! Again, here is the link for the Clarisonic =)

Image linked from: www.salonskincare.co/uk

Review : Broadway Nails stick-on wraps

2011-04-05T11:14:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty sure many of you are pretty familiar with the stick-on nail polish wraps sold at all the major retail stores. Avon, Wal-Mart, HEB, etc...sell these convenient "polishes." This is actually my second time applying these strips myself. The first time was using the Sally Hansen brand. I had done a zebra print design on my nails. This go-round I am using the Broadway Nails brand. I chose a multi-colored leopard print one. Very cute, in my opinion! Anyhow, the strips of nail polish come in a tiny box. Inside are two sets of polish strips and a double-sided nail file. I should've taken pics BEFORE application but wasn't thinking.

Each strip is a different size and there are several sizes to match your fingers to. Only ONE of my fingers didn't match perfectly but it's not too noticeable. Basically, the instructions say to start with your pinky finger and work to your thumb, which is what I did. For longer application, I washed my hands and nails, dried my hands, and took a cotton ball with polish remover and wiped each nail off. Your hands and nails have natural oils so it helps to remove any excess dirt/oil prior to application. I also find it helps to file your nails to even them out before application, as well. After you're ready to begin, remove the appropriate sized strip and match it to your pinky. Put the strip at the base (cuticle area) of your nail bed, making sure not to overlap it on your cuticle because you don't want the polish to lift as your nails grow. After the strip is on, use the soft pink side of the file OR your finger to push the strip on and blend out any creases.

Now fold the excess polish over the tip of your nail and file it off with the coarse black side of your file

Continue this process until all fingers are done and reshape nails, if needed. Top coat can be applied but isn't necessary.

I really like the nails and think they're cute and fun, especially if you like fun designs. I believe I paid about $5 for this brand. For Sally Hansen I paid $8.50. SH has waaaaay more designs (solid colors and funky nail art) than the BN. You have enough strips for at least TWO applications for both brands. To me, if you're gonna get a solid color, these strips aren't worth it! For $5-$8 you can buy a polish and do your own nails. However, if you like nail art, I think purchasing these are worth it. Honestly, If you went to a nail salon and got a design drawn on all fingers, it'd cost you a good amount. Nail designs are normally $3 and up for ONE nail! I think they're fun and easy to apply. They're kinda like stickers so if you don't get the placement right, you can always peel it off and start over again!

Edit: After doing my normal, everyday errands, I've noticed the nail strips are lifting at the tips! These strips feel thicker than the SH ones. The SH ones lasted on me for more than a week! I have a feeling these will come off in a few days. I already lost one strip yesterday!

Pros: Cheaper than other brands, cute designs, easy application.

Cons: Started peeling a few hours later, feels "thicker" than the SH strips, started peeling at the nail base and finger tip. 2 of my strips came off. Also, this kit didn't come with a cuticle stick to push back the cuticles, which would've come in handy!

Will I repurchase: Probably not. SH did a much better job and stayed on longer!

Rating: 2 out of 5

XOXO - Trinh =)

Blog Sale

2011-03-02T11:16:00.002-06:00

I've decided to do a mini blog sale. Most items are brand new and some are hard to find. The "used" stuff has been used once and at the most, 10 times. I wanna sell what I can so I can put my earnings in Brendan's bank account. You know I gotta do what I can to get my little man extra money. Plus, he deserves nothing but the best and I don't need to keep splurging like this. Email me at spankedelic@yahoo.com for orders. In the subject of your email please put blog sale. Paypal is the only method accepted! If you're gonna pay with a credit card through Paypal, please let me know, as it charges me a fee when you pay that way. Shipping is $3.00 and additional items purchased are $0.50. Only open to US buyers.

Brand new N.Y.C Blue Eyes palette ($5)

Brand new N.Y.C Green Eyes palette. 2 for sale. ($5 each)

Brand new N.Y.C tiny neutral palette. ($3)

Brand new Wet n Wild Sugar Plum Fairy palette. ($5)

Brand new Wet n Wild Night Elf palette. ($5)

Brand New Wet n Wild Snow Sprite palette. ($5)

Wet n Wild Blue Had Me At Hello palette ($8)

Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette. ($8).

BNIB Urban Decay glittery white cream eyeliner. ($3)

BNIB Urban decay pigments in Baked and Graffiti. Sold separately for ($5) each or ($8) for BOTH.

Used 1 time OPI Texas polish in Austin-tatious Turquoise. ($4)

Used 1 time OPI polish in Sparklelicious.

Brand new China Glaze Crackle in Crushed Candy. I bought 3 of these so this is my extra one. ($5)

Used 6 times MAC Rubenesque paint pot. ($10)
Used 4 times MAC Cashflow paint pot. ($12) I believe this is LE. You can get BOTH for ($20)

Used once Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner. From Left to right: Busy Signal (bronze), Strut (gray) and Gossip (light purple). ($10 each) or ($25 for ALL 3).

Used 4 times MAC Frost pigment in old packaging. ($10)

Used 10 times MAC eyeliner in Brassy. ($5)

Brand new YSL Touch

Brand new Estee Lauder lipsticks from their collaboration with Coach. From left to right: Pinkberry and Sugar Honey. ($6 each) or BOTH for ($10)

Brand new Estee Lauder Pure Gloss in Wired Copper. ($3).

BNIB Sleek Acid palette. ($14)

Please look online if you'd like swatches. After I send your invoice, you have 24 hours to send payment before your items will go to the next interested buyer.

XOXO - Trinh =)

Review: Wet n Wild Blue Had Me At Hello 8 pan palette

2011-02-19T12:21:00.001-06:00

If you're like me, you're probably a makeup enthusiast - in other words, a makeup whore :) Makeup enthusiast is just the "nice" and "proper" way to term people like us. Anyhow, when most people think of quality eyeshadows, drug store products don't normally come to mind - until now, that is. Lately, the Wet n Wild eyeshadows have impressed me. Not only is the pigmentation amazing, the textures are smooth and comparable to MAC and Urban Decay eyeshadows. People online are talking about how hard the new Wet n Wild 8 pan palettes are hard to come by, but I was fortunate enough to find them at my local Walgreens. Since I've seen reviews and swatches online for the Comfort Zone palette, I thought I'd skip that for another day and focus on the Blue Had Me At Hello palette. This palette has the perfect ratio of blue, teal, black, and silver tones. Some of the colors are quite similar to MAC colors, in my opinion. The best part? Each palette (there are 3) is a whopping $4.99! Amazing, eh? Below are some swatches. Sorry for the horrible, less-than-adequate pictures/swatches. These were taken with my iPhone 3GS.

These eyeshadows have no names, unfortunately, but do tell you where to apply them :(

The left side swatched

The right side swatched

The left side silver toned eyeshadows are very velvety and creamy in texture - very Urban Decay-ish, if you ask me. The two left side darker tones were more finely milled and VERY pigmented. The rest of the shadows on the right side were creamy in texture, too.

Now time for MAC dupes

Top black glittery eyeshadow is MAC's Black Tied and the bottom is the Wet n Wild glittery shade. Both are similar but MAC's version is a little grittier in texture.

Top bottom black (or 3rd black down), is MAC's Carbon. The one below that is Wet n Wild's matte black color.

Now for the almost-but-not-quite dupes

When compared side to side in the palette and pan, MAC's Blue Flame (the circular pan on the right) and the Wet n Wild shade look very similar but when swatched, the WnW one looks more bluish-indigo.

I hope these swatches and the descriptions were thorough enough. If you have any questions, feel free to ask :)

XOXO - Trinh =)

To the one that saved me...

2011-02-16T11:16:00.005-06:00

This post won't be like my usual ones (when I actually DO post). It's actually on a more personal level. I know I've said several times that I'll be back soon, but I've been extremely busy with work and most importantly, being a MOM. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy almost 7 months ago. His name is Brendan. I'm sure if you followed my blog or followed me on twitter, you knew about that already. Work has been extremely busy. I've been working 40 or more hours a week. When I'm not at work, I'm with Brendan 24/7. It's been a very hectic time for me. It almost kills me to be away from him, but I want to work, you know...it's kinda like a double-edged sword. I go to work and then I cry on the way home, because I forgot to kiss him good bye or wondering if I hurt his feelings because I didn't get to hold him much because I had to sleep for work. It's silly, I know, but I love my baby and I think waaaaaaay too much. There are days I cry because he wakes up crying at night and Joey is the one that tends to him. Joey makes me go to sleep, because I have to wake up at 4 am for work and he wants me to get my rest. It makes me feel extremely guilty, because I should be the one to comfort him, right? But anywhoooo, he is so much fun and keeps me occupied. I couldn't ask for a better baby. I love waking up and seeing him. He rolls over and he cups his hands around my face and always gives me the BIGGEST smile. He's never really been in a bad mood. He only cries when he's hungry, sleepy, or has a wet diaper. He's an extremely EASY baby - always happy and smiling at everyone. When I got pregnant, I would type Brendan letters. I just wanted to chronicle as much as I could and I wanted to put it in a scrapbook for him. I'll share my first letter with you guys...

hi Babe!
It's me, your mom. You can't read, of course. You're not even here yet but you will be in 7 more months. I have decided to write you a letter every week to let you know how special you are and so that, one day when you grow up, you can read all of this. i am at work right now. Yes, work! I know when you get to be about 16 and you have to work, you will feel like me - very lazy! I know you will probably be lazy and not want to work. I can't blame you. If you are lazy, you have probably inherited my genes and your daddy's genes. I'm just playing. I'm not that lazy - just sometimes. Anyhow, I can't wait for you to come! This is my first letter to you. I'll start with when I found out. I found out I was pregnant on december 21st. I didn't think I would be pregnant but when I found out, I cried. I didn't cry because I was sad. I cried because I was alone. Daddy was at work and I didn't have anyone I could talk to. I also had to go into work that day. I was emotional and a little overwhelmed. I know how to be a daughter and a friend. I know how to be a sister and a cousin, but being a mother is a new experience for me. It's not like you can take classes and you become prepared to be a mom. It's just a life lesson you have to experience. I don't even know if I am a good daughter or sister. How will I be a good mother to you? you're not here yet but I will promise you that I will try my hardest to be the best mother for you. I know that you're going to change my life and I'm gonna change yours. This is an exciting time for me. I am also scared because I have never gone through this before, but I know that when you are here, it will all be worth it. So far, you've been good to me. I haven't been sick or anything bad - just really tired. You wear me out and you're not even here yet. All mommy wants to do is sleep. I can't wait to find out if you're a boy or a girl. Grandpa and
Daddy had a dream you were a boy. I just want you to be healthy. Of course girls are more fun to dress up, but if you're a boy, I'll be happy. on 1/13/10, i got to see you. I was hoping that you would be inside my tummy. When I saw you, I was so happy. I cried a little bit. I was even happier when I heard your heartbeat. That is when I knew you were okay. I have been working a lot lately and sometimes I get tired and overwhelmed, but then I pull your ultrasound picture out of my purse and I remember why I need to work harder. I am saving all my money up for you. I want you to have the best life ever. Grandma and Grandpa (my parents) have been very supportive. They already talk about you and grandma is already buying you clothes like crazy! Grandpa said, in his dream, you were such a cute baby. Daddy tells me that he is excited to sleep at night, because he wants to dream about you and see you in his dreams again. So far, I haven't dreamed about you yet, but I'm sure I will. I'm sure that whenever I see you, you will be as beautiful as Daddy and Grandpa say you are. Daddy's parents have been very supportive and happy, too! They can't wait for you to get here. Mommy is such an impatient woman. I don't know how people say that pregnancy goes by fast! I can't even imagine waiting 7 more months. You are going to be a summer baby =) You are coming at a perfect time. You will be here for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Did Mommy tell you that I love Christmas and Thanksgiving? Daddy loves those holidays, too (mainly Thanksgiving for the food!). I can't wait to share you with everyone for the holidays. It will be a new and exciting experience for me and Daddy, as well as both of our families. I know that everyone will love you very much. I just wanted to let you know that I can't wait to see you and that your birthday is going to be the best day of my life. 31 more weeks and 1 day before you should be here! I'll try to be patient until August 24th. Love, your Mommy.

Brendan has made me a better person. He makes me want to better myself. I don't have the option of being immature or selfish anymore. I am a mom and his provider. He has changed me.

I LOVE YOU, BRENDAN. YOU'RE THE REASON WHY I BREATHE <3

Winner announced =)

2010-12-29T11:08:00.002-06:00

Thank you to all of you that joined my giveaway. The winner is DEE! DEE, I will be emailing you soon. I will be having more giveaways/contest in the future. I know you guys have heard me say this time and time again but I WILL be posting regularly and very soon.

Just a quick update

2010-12-28T13:56:00.001-06:00

Thank you to everyone that entered my giveaway. I'm at work and I'm crazy busy. I'll try to announce the winner late tonight or early tomorrow. Please check back later. Sorry for any inconvenience. I'm working a 12 hour shift at the hospital and after work I gotta head to the other hospital to update my tuberculosis shot and get a new badge for work. Ugh...craziness!

XOXO - Trinh =)

Too Faced Lip Injection Review and GIVEAWAY!

2010-12-14T09:04:00.010-06:00

Hey, guys! Sorry I haven't posted lately. I've been super busy at the hospital. Anyhow, I just wanted to share with you guys one of my favorite products by Too Faced Makeup. Too Faced Lip Injection is my favorite lip plumper of all times. I honestly don't need any plumping agents, as my lips are pretty full but for some weird reason, I like the "stinging" sensation. I remember one christmas I had it on for church and my mother-in-law asked me if I got collagen injected into my lips. To me, I really don't think the lip injection makes your lips look overly done, but you can definitely see a difference, or at least I think you can. I think the only thing that may bother some people is the stinging sensation. Honestly, the first time I used it, it stung me and it hurt me a little. After the 2nd time, it was more like a slight throbbing sensation and it wasn't unbearable or anything. I think you get used to it =) this is a really great product- you can find it and other great makeup products at Apothica. The nice thing about this lip plumper is that it comes in a few different colors so it's very convenient for people that are on-the-go, like me! There are times I am in a rush and don't always put lipstick or lipgloss on but I always carry some Too Faced Lip Injection in my purse. Lip plumpers are very convenient for people that want fuller lips but don't want to get botox and the great thing is you don't have to wait months for the botox or collagen to wear off! Just give it a few hours and your lips will return to normal size. With any beauty product, you should do your research. To me, this lipgloss does plump my lips up some but I'm sure it won't work on everyone. But hey, you can always give it a try and like I said, it's not gonna be permanent =) You can see my before and after pics and decide for yourself. The changes are subtle but I think my bottom lip looks a little plumper after using the Lip Injection. Enjoy the swatches.

Techno Kiss

Swatch of Techno Kiss (light clear pink with flecks of glitter)

Before applying

After applying

Since the holidays are just around the corner, why not spoil yourself or a loved one with a $25 gift card to Apothica? I've teamed up with Apothica to host a little giveaway and one lucky person will win a $25 gift card to buy cosmetics or skin care items on the site! All you have to do is follow the rules posted and a winner (hopefully you) will be drawn. To enter, please follow these rules:

1) You must be a follower of my blog
2) For 1 additional point, "LIKE" Apothica on Facebook
3) For 1 additional point, follow me on twitter
4) For 2 additional points, retweet or tweet about this giveaway! (maximum of 3 tweets a day until contest closes)
5) For 2 additional points, leave a comment about a certain brand you'd like to try from Apothica
6) For 7 additional points, you can write a blog entry (maximum of 100 words) about a brand you've tried or would like to try from Apothica. Please highlight that particular brand and link it to Apothica's website

**Please leave me a comment with your name and email address that says you want to join and comment with what you've done for entry points**

Contest is open to everyone and will end on December 28, 2010! Winner will be randomly drawn. Remember, the more things you do, the more points you get! Please know that your information will get turned into Apothica if you win (your name, email address, etc.)

Blog Sale

2010-11-12T10:51:00.002-06:00

I have a BNIB 20 piece Bare Escentuals Women of BE kit. It comes with 20 beautiful pigments. It has not been used or swatched. I am only selling this because I bought this for myself but my mom saw it and wanted it. Last night she looked at the colors and said they weren't for her. Because my mom took this from me, I had re-ordered myself another one, which has already been shipped and sent out. I bought this online and paid $93+ for it and am selling it for $70! I never got to do swatches for it, so if you'd like to see all the colors, please refer to The Shades of U blog. She did a fantastic job swatching the colors. I think $70 is reasonable since I'm losing $20 or so on selling it at that price. That would be shipping included! It'd be great for an Xmas gift or you could keep it for yourself OR you could split the pigments up and give them away for stocking stuffers. If anyone is interested, please email me at spankedelic@yahoo.com or get a hold of me on Twitter!

Review : Tokidoki Robbery Palette

2010-10-28T15:57:00.018-05:00

As you all know, last week was the Sephora Friends and Family 20% off sale. If you're a beauty enthusiast like me, you probably went to Sephora online and started filling your virtual shopping cart up! I only bought 2 things - YSL Faux Cils mascara and the Tokidoki Robbery palette. I'd been eyeing the palette for a while but decided to wait for the 20% off code to purchase it. Anyhow, online it was originally $49.00 but with the 20% discount, it was $39.20. I'm not sure if the sale is still going on but if it's not, head over to www.qvc.com and purchase the palette there. I was a little saddened to find out that QVC carried some Tokidoki products on their site. I thought that Tokidoki makeup was mainly sold on Sephora. I remember trying to purchase a palette before and even the main site didn't carry the palette I wanted. The Robbery palette is actually CHEAPER if you purchase it from QVC! The price is $35.00! So if you have been eyeing the palette and it's the only thing you want from Sephora, you should purchase it from QVC instead and save yourself a few dollars =) Anyhow, if you've seen the palette, it is basically a tin box with the crazy Tokidoki robbery design. (CLICK TO ENLARGE PICTURES AND TO SEE THE FULL DETAIL OF EACH PALETTE).

When you open the lid you will see a mirror and there will be a magnet stuck on the tin box. You will see 3 separate palettes on the inside. Each palette is removable.

When you remove a palette, the artwork changes. Once you lift up the palette and take it out of it's place, you will see a Tokidoki character behind bars. Very cute, if you ask me.

To break it down, each palette comes with 4 0.02 oz eyeshadows and a 0.16 blush, bronzer, or highlighter. The names of the palette and description are as follows:

Royal Pride palette (brown, neutral hues)

Lion Papa - shimmery, frosty brown
Savana - shimmery gold
Ercolino - shimmery, dark copper
Bulletto - shimmery, dark gray/black
Royal Pride - shimmery, tan color (bronzer)

Arlecchino palette

Soya - shimmery, neon green
Candy Cane - frosty silver white
Ninja Dog - shimmery violet blue
Meteo - matte navy blue
Momobella - light peach color (blush)

Rapina palette

Liberty - shimmery hunter/forest green
Bullets - frosty, shimmery gray
LA Gun - frosty, gun metal gray with hints of dark green/blue
Adios - matte black
Polpettina - sparkly, pinky mauve (highlighter)

A lot of the colors have itty bitty teeny tiny flecks of glitter, so I would imagine you would have a small degree of fallout. The consistency of the shadows are smooth and very much similar to Urban Decay eyeshadows. All in all, I really like this palette. My favorites are: Ercolino, Bullets, Adios, Lion Papa, and Savana. If you want to purchase the palette from QVC, just click here.

**Pictures taken with iPhone 4 since I misplaced my Nikon camera =( Please don't use my pictures w/o permission**

Afterheelz review and giveaway!

2010-10-15T10:30:00.002-05:00

Hello, my fellow beauty bloggers =) I know it's been a VERY long time since I've last updated. For those of you who follow(ed) me, I graduated college with my degree and still work at the hospital AND I also gave birth to my beautiful baby boy, Brendan. That's a different post, of course. Anyhow, I decided to start over and start focusing on doing more reviews and tutorials. I decided to delete all my previous posts and start fresh and what better way to celebrate a new beginning than a giveaway?!?! Yes, a GIVEAWAY! Two of you will be the proud owners of your own Afterheelz flip flops/ballet flats =) What exactly are Afterheelz shoes all about? Basically, I ran across their website when I was desperately searching for some comfy, yet "portable" shoes for New Year's Eve. My cousin is getting married on New Year's Day and his rehearsal and New Year's Eve is the day before that, of course. I am pretty sure we are going to go out and celebrate. The last New Year's that I went out, my feet and heels were torn up at the end of the night (well, actually early morning). I did my research online and several websites popped up but Afterheelz caught my eye. Afterheelz is a company based out of Las Vegas that makes foldable/rollable ballet flats and flip flops that are meant to provide relief for your aching feet. The concept is pretty much genious, if you ask me! I mean, how many times have we (women) gone out dancing, partying, or shopping and had sore/aching feet afterwards? Afterheelz developed the shoes after seeing women walk around w/o their shoes on, due to aching feet. The flip flops are rollable and come in a drawstring bag. The ballet flats come in a little clutch and when opened, they reveal the shoes. The cluth then unfolds to become a tote bag that you can throw your heels into! How convenient! I LOVE the concept of these shoes! I ordered 2 pairs of the black ballet flats - one for me and one for my sister. No, I don't go out partying BUT I am a respiratory therapist and I work 12 hours shifts sometimes. My feet end up hurting from walking around all day. I used to have to take off my shoes as soon as I got into my car, but now I can put on my ballet flats and not have to worry about having "naked" feet. Brian, from the company, has been generous enough to give 2 of my readers a pair of FREE shoes. The winners will get to pick which type of shoe they want and they will also be able to pick the color they want (if in stock/available at that time). I've been able to try on the flip flops and they are very comfy! Actually, BOTH styles are comfy, in my opinion. To me, the ballet flats feel like I am wearing socks. You have to remember that these shoes are not made to take the place of your every day shoes. They are meant to provide RELIEF to your feet after a long night or partying, dancing, or shopping =) I can honestly tell you that I don't see any cons with these shoes. And no, I am not saying this because I was sponsored a giveaway. I will always be upfront and honest with you guys. Below is a description of the two styles of shoes and you will see my pros and cons.

The ballet flats come in 6 colors: black, silver, chrome (looks like a mixture of silver/gold to me), red, pink, and white.

The flip flops come in 3 colors: black, silver, and pink.

Sizing for both styles are as follows: S (5-6), M (7-8) L (9-10) XL (11-12)

Pros for the shoes: Affordable at either $19.99 for ballet flats or $14.99 for flip flops, ballet flats comes in a small clutch which transforms into a tote bag, flip flops come in a drawstring pouch, feel comfortable, come in an array of different colors, available for purchase online and at certain Las Vegas Hotels and clubs, and the company donates to breast cancer organizations!

Cons: Sizing may be hard for some people. In my opinion, if you are between two sizes, I think you should go for the bigger size. For example, if you normally wear a size 6 or 6 1/2, I'd say get a M. People also might think the material of the shoes are "thin" but like I said, these shoes are meant to provide QUICK RELIEF and are not meant to take the place of your normal ballet flats or flip flops.

Everything mentioned above is my honest opinion and personal experience. So now for the good part - how do you win? Follow these simple rules:

1) Must be a follower of my blog
2) Must be a follower of the Afterheelz blog
3) For additional points, retweet this giveaway on Twitter (Add me so I know you retweeted)
4) For additional points, "LIKE" the Afterheelz Facebook page
5) For additional points, blog about or link this giveaway on your blog
6) For additional points, follow me on youtube
7) Leave me a comment with your shoe size and what style you are interested in and tell me why these shoes would benefit you =)

Please let me know which step(s) you did and provide me with your usernames for your accounts, etc so I can keep up with your points and to make sure the rules were followed. The giveaway will end on Monday November 1, 2010. The winners will have 48 hours to reply back to me after they have been contacted. If not, a new winner will be chosen.

That's all you gotta do to win! The only reason I ask for you to follow my blog is because there are people out there that make a page just to enter contests. I want everyone to have a fair chance at winning. I don't think it'd be fair for people to win IF they made a page just to win, you know?

I hope I've given you guys a thorough enough review. Please click on the Afterheelz link to see more pictures and find out more information, if you have any questions.

**Pictures were taken from Afterheelz's Facebook page since I lost my camera**

You can watch my review, if you'd like

Will be back shortly

2010-09-17T18:51:00.000-05:00

I deleted everything. i just wanted to start everything over. New post/review/giveaway to come very soon. I'll let you guys know as soon as I'm done =)