Bachelorette Party

Here are some pictures from my friend's bachelorette party. We stayed at a great hotel and had a lot of fun (me, a little too much).

The banner in our hotel room

All the goodies for a successful party

The champagne chillin

The bride and I dolled up for the evening

Howl at the Moon and their infamous liquor buckets

The bride onstage doing something

Great shot of her near the end of the night

I was not my classiest self that evening (the liquor buckets were a bad idea) but I recovered on Sunday and still looked back at it being a successful party. One tip I would leave you with is this; do not eat sushi before going out drinking!

Bridal Shower - A Trip To Italy

As promised, here are the photos from the bridal shower I threw last weekend at the bride's house:

My centerpieces (G is her new last initial)

My attempt at melting wax onto a wine bottle :)

I used travel books she bought as decoration

One area of the room

The other side of the room

The wine tasting station with our hand-painted glasses

The caprese salad I made

Delicious Italian desserts

The bride and I

The party was a success and everyone loved their hand-painted glasses. We played Guess the Herb and Famous TV couples games and the bride had a great time. I am so glad everything went smoothly and that it's over but I had a great time preparing for it.

Beauty Questions

How many times do you wash your face daily?
Once
What skin type do you have?
Normal/Combination
What is your current facial wash?
Generic Cetaphil
Do you exfoliate?
Every other day
What brand do you use?
St. Ives Apricot Scrub
What moisturizer do you use?
Olay Complete All Day
Do you have freckles?
Yes, a bunch of them
Do you use eye cream?
Yes
Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
A little bit
Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ?
no
What foundation do you use?
Clinique Suberbalanced in Alabaster
How about concealer?
Sephora
Do you know your undertone color?
Pink
What do you think of fake eyelashes?
Used them once, they scare me
Did you know you were supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yes.
What brand of mascara do you use?
Maybelline, Cover Girl
Sephora or Mac?
Both :)
Do you have a Mac Pro card?
I do not
What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?
Brushes, fingers, sponge
Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?
yes
For the face?
yes
What is your favorite eyeshadow?color or shade?
My MAC Grand Entrance, perfect gold champagne color
Do you use pencil or liquid liner?
pencil
How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
rarely
What do you think of pigment eye shadows?
Haven't tried them
Do you use mineral makeup?
Sometimes
What is your favorite lipstick?
My MAC in Plumful
How about lipgloss?
Sephora in Hot Coral
What is your favorite blush to use?
MAC in Cubic
Do you buy your makeup on Ebay?
no
Do you like drugstore makeup?
yes
Do you go to CCO's?Cosmetic Company Outlet?
No, 'cause I live in the Romania......
Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?
Yes
Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
not usually
Name a makeup crime that you hate?
Too much blush
Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick or eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
colorful usually
Which celebrity always has great makeup?
Heidi Klum
If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use?
Mascara
Could you leave the house without any makeup on?
Yes
Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
Not really
In your opinion what is the BEST makeup line?
I am really loving MAC right now
What do you think of makeup?
I love it!

Day of Recovery

I am happy to say that the bridal shower was a success! I would post about it today but I had a little too much fun at the bachelorette party and spent all day Sunday in bed recovering. Thank god for my husband, he is very good at taking care of me :)

As soon as I get home from work, I will upload all my pictures and share them with you tomorrow. Until then, I will enjoy reading everyone's blogs to see what I've missed over the weekend. Have a great Monday!

Science Sunday: Disputed Island Disappears Underwater

An island that India and Bangladesh have been disputing  control over has disappeared into the Bay of Bengal. Rising sea levels in that area have claimed the island and others before it, worrying scientists that this could happen again.

Other islands in the Bay of submerged, making residents relocate to the mainland. The island, New Moore Island, was not inhabited and housed no structures, just an Indian flag. The island measured 2 miles long by 1.5 miles wide and sat in a precarious demarcation line between the two countries.

Oceanographer Sugata Hazra said it best when he said ""What these two countries could not achieve from years of talking, has been resolved by global warming."

Photo and Article: Yahoo News

5-5-5

 Thanks to yellow.handbag for tagging me on this one!

Question 1: Where were you five years ago?

1. I was 20
2. Going to school at USF
3. Participating in sorority functions
4. Trying to make good grades
5. Had not met my future husband yet!

Question 2: What is (was) on your to-do list today?

1. Spray painting letters for centerpiece
2. Picking up Italian wine and champagne for this weekend
3. Setting up for bridal shower at my friend's house
4. Going to an adult store to pick up bachelorette party items (haha)
5. Paying the bills

Question 3: What five snacks do you enjoy?

1. Chocolate
2. strawberries
3. Cheetos
4. Oranges
5. Hummus

Question 4: What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Pay off our mortgage
2.  Buy my mom a house and car so she can live better
3. Donate a good amount to various charities
4. Make sure my whole family is taken care of
5. Put the rest in savings for our future family

And 5 bloggers to pass it on to...

1. Blondie at Blonde Episodes
2. Erika at Cafe Fashionista
3. Annie at Our Little Family
4. K at The K Closet
5. Sue at The Zush

Busy Weekend!

The weekend I have been planning for is finally here! My best friend's bridal shower is tomorrow and I want to make it an Italian feast she will never forget! This theme has been a lot of fun to work with because decor and food for it is so easy and fun! Here is a sneak peek of what she'll get tomorrow:

Venetian invitations were the first window into the theme

We'll start off with a delicious caprese salad

Lasagna will be one of many dishes served

What's an Italian feast without cannolis?

Italian wine will be tasted...

...using these hand-painted wine glasses, which guests will take home to keep

One of the games will be "Guess the herb"

I am really excited about the centerpieces I will be creating. I am burning red taper candles on old wine bottles to create a look similar to ones found in Italian restaurants. I will be placing vines and fake grapes around the bottles and bringing it all together with a letter G in the middle, for her new last name. 

So wonderful readers, I will be MIA this weekend but I have set my Science Sunday to post as usual so make sure to look out for that. I will be back on Monday with pictures of the bridal shower and bachelorette party. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and Viva la Italia!

What Should I Buy?

Yesterday, I found out I was the lucky winner of a $25 Neiman Marcus gift card from Savvy Mode! Thank you Savvy Gal!

I am lucky that there is a Neiman Marcus in my city (especially when poor Jill is so far away from her favorite store, Nordstrom). I am also lucky that NM houses some of the best beauty brands a girl could find. However, with all that choice comes confusion...  I don't know what to use it on!

Here are some of the brands that can be found there:

Chanel
Clinique
Yves Saint Laurent
Trish McEvoy
Nars
Laura Mercier
Estee Lauder
Dior
Lancome

So, dear readers, I need your advice and expertise. Please tell me what I should spend my gift card on and why (especially if you've had experience with the product). Should I own a Chanel lipstick or try the popular NARS Orgasm? Any advice would be great!

Wedding Pictures: The Ceremony

Makeup Products That Scare Me

I loooovvvveee makeup. The way it looks, the way it makes you look, the way it makes you feel, all the pretty colors... love! However, there are some products that I'm scared to use. Why? Because I don't know how! In a world full of how-to YouTube videos, I should be an expert at applying some of these products but I think I have a fear of the unknown. Here are the products I just haven't dared to try yet:

1. Liquid eyeliner -Ok, I lied. I have tried liquid eyeliner before, but I suck at it. There is something about applying a thin line of liquid above my eyes that I just can't master. Half the time, the line is either too thick or I get liquid in my eye. Can't I just fake it was a great retractable eyeliner??

2. Red lips - In case you haven't seen a picture of me, I am pale. Like, second palest shade of foundation from Clinique pale (also known as Alabaster). So, the thought of walking out in public with bright, red lips scares the crap out of me. Draw attention to myself much? I love the look and the sexiness it imbues but I just don't know how to pull it off without looking like a) a pinup model from the 50s or b) Dita Von Teese, who I look nothing like but I think she is gorgeous. I own red lipstick... I just haven't worn it out yet.

3. Fake eyelashes - Technically, I have worn them before, but I was 17 and participating in a beauty pageant, so it doesn't count. I see some people wear them to parties, weddings, and all sorts of shindigs but I just couldn't see myself gluing lashes on for something other than a pageant. I should want to, my lashes are thin and short, but I figure it makes it obvious that I am faking it.

4. Liquid eyeshadow - I seem to have a fear of any liquid makeup, aside from foundation. I love eyeshadow and color but for some reason, I am scared to try liquid. I guess I think it will come off easily or I'll have to wait too long for it to dry. It could be just ignorance on my part :)

5. Black nail polish - I own a dark navy polish, which is the darkest shade I've ever worn, and I love it. However, as popular as black nail polish has been, I just don't feel like I could pull it off. My style is more classic and preppy and I feel like I would become an alter-ego of myself if I busted out with black nails. One of my friends would probably ask me if it's already Halloween again. I might just stick to my dark navy.

6. Glitter anything - Glitter was fun when I was in middle school. Put it on your nails, your eyes, your whole body basically (remember glitter lotion? Boy, my parents hated me back then). Now that I'm older, whenever I think of glitter, I think of youth and sleepovers, not adult makeup. I'm sure there are subdued ways to wear glitter without looking like a early 90's prom date but I don't know if I could try it.

What are some makeup products that you are scared to try?

Science Sunday on Tuesday: Science on Twitter

Some of you have asked me what I read to keep up to date on science news. One of the biggest platforms to learn about groundbreaking science discoveries and research is Twitter. Here are some great organizations that I follow:

@Nasa - Keep track of NASA's latest discoveries and launches.

@SciNewsBlog - Great articles on science subjects in different categories.


@oceancensus - The Census of Marine Life follows scientists as they track the diversity and abundance of life in our oceans

@usoceangov - The NOAA's Ocean agency, who release data and articles on ocean research.


@WoodsHoleSeaGnt - Marine research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

@Scripps_Ocean - Research updates from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, including video and maps of research vessels on location.


@protectoceans - Cherilyn is a Marine Biologist that posts news and articles to make awareness about problems concerning our oceans.


@science - Science news of all kind, from the weird to the extraordinary.

@donttrythis - Adam Savage from Mythbusters, who is funny to follow but also fills you in on special projects he is working on.


@twisst - One of the coolest things on Twitter. When you start following the Twisst ISS alerts, it will make note of your location and alert you when the International Space Station will be passing over your location in the sky, including date and time. The ISS shows up as a bright object in the sky and is clearly visible with the naked eye.

@smithsonian - Gives you updates and articles from the Smithsonian


@sciam - Scientific American magazine, links to articles and news

Bridal Shower and Bachelorette #1

Firstly, I want to apologize to all my loyal readers for me not keeping up with my Project Runway reviews and Science Sundays. Wedding season has arrived and this past weekend was the first of a very busy month for me. That is no excuse, though, so I will be posting a Science Sunday and some reviews this week :)

My friend L's bridal shower and bachelorette party were Saturday and it was a lot of fun! I decided to wear my Shabby Apple 90 words per minute dress that I won from Cafe Fashionista and I think it turned out nice.

You can't see it in the picture but I am wearing my favorite Nine West shoes that I talked about here.

I got the bride a nice robe and lingerie from Marshalls (never underestimate some great deals) and a Tarte cosmetics kit from Sephora that I really want to try out for myself!

After the bridal shower, we headed to downtown Tampa and got ready at our hotel. Here is the bride and myself about ready to hit the town:

That dress actually used to be a spaghetti strap but I thought it looked too young so I cut the straps and made it into a halter. Much better! The lipstick I am wearing is my new MAC lipstick in Plumful and I am in love! My first MAC lipstick ever and I loved the longevity and texture of it. I will be wearing it in both weddings.

Her sister made her a big ring with a checklist on it that she had to wear and she ended up completing every task!

We ate at Taverna Opa, which is an amazing Greek restaurant that has authentic Greek food and a belly dancer. The food was amazing and we got the bride to dance on her chair!

 After dinner, we hit up Splitsville for some big drink bowls and got some shots bought for us at Bennigans. We ended up at Howl at the Moon and Stumps for the rest of the night, consuming their 86 oz bucket of liquor goodness.

All in all, it was a successful weekend. The funny thing is that I get to do it all again this weekend. The same hotel, the same location, just a different restaurant for dinner. I have all week to finish up getting ready for the bridal shower I am hosting Saturday so I will definitely be stressed. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

The Tudors

I don't know how many of you have seen this show before, since it's on Showtime, but we recently got the channel and heard good things about the show so we've started watching it. We just got done with Season 2 and have Season 3 to go before the 4th and final season premieres in April.

I've always been intrigued by this time period, and putting attractive faces on it makes it more intriguing. This show has got it all... violence, humor, passion (in some soft-core ways... it is Showtime after all.) and crazy drama. What I noticed is even though I know the history and story, I still found myself wondering what happened next. They include subplots with lesser characters that are still as interesting as the main story.

Henry VIII was powerful and determined. He wanted a male heir and was going to do everything in his power to get it. If it meant separating from the Catholic Church, sentencing wives to death for not producing heirs, and annulments, he was going to get his heir. Even after his only male child was born, he still went through several wives before his death.

Watching this show has made me really want to read more about it, both in fiction and non-fiction. I've seen the movie "The Other Boleyn Girl" and enjoyed it but heard the book was much better. I also have heard that Alison Weir is one of the best experts on the Tudor dynasty and has wrote many non-fiction books detailing Henry VIII and his wives.

Who else is fascinated with this period in history?

Liberty of London For Target

One of my wishes this spring was to wear more florals. Well, Target is making it easy for me with their new designer line from Liberty of London. These are the pieces that I would love to get my hands on!

PVC Tote- Jennifer Blue

Pareo Scarf - Poppy Blue

Sateen Shift Dress - Pink Garla

Ruffle Halter Dress - Multi Color Sixty Print

Poppy Print Rain Boots