Aromaleigh's New Hi-Fi Matte Collection

I've had the privilege of being sent a sample set of Aromaleigh's 20 new retro colors. Now when most of you think of matte colors, you think of simple and neutral day looks, but these colors are bright and vivid! The colors remind me a lot of my childhood, when I would draw on the driveway and sidewalks with chalk. However, it is ONLY the colors that remind me, these do not feel chalky whatsoever! My swatches are below, starting from the left: Spaz, Cranked (hint of shimmer), Got Dibs, Kookie, Supermurgatroid, Big Tickle, Flip Your Lid, Train Wreck, What's Shakin'?, Heels On Fire, In The Mix, and Fake Out.

My second photo below, which is swatched on the top of my forearm (my skin is darker here than on the photo above) includes the following(right from left this time LOL): Cats Pajamas, Real Gone, Smokin', Ankle Biter, Radioactive, Cool It, Daddy-O, and In Orbit (hint of shimmer).

I am not that experienced with makeup so I often shy away from mattes because Ive found them more difficult to work with, and some of the ones I have tried were disappointing. Because of this I usually gravitate towards shimmer. However a good matte color is always useful, even if just used as a base for adding the sparkle! I am a fan of Miss K and Aromaleigh, and have tried a couple samples of her other matte collections, but with my lack of makeup knowledge and with only one semi decent eyeshadow brush, I was lost as how to apply them well. So for awhile I gave up, even though I loved the colors she offered. But given the opportunity to be sent this new collection, I decided it would be worth another go. And I am glad I tried them, because they are gorgeous and wearable. I am not sure if the formula is the same as her previous matte collections, but I am finding these ones much easier to work with. Perhaps its because they are so darn bright and lovely, that I just cant screw it up! LOL So far I have worn Kookie and Spaz, and I really like both. I am also very fond of purples, so I cant wait to try all the of the purples that are in this collection!

I really think that this collection has a color for everyone. There are some dark yet bold colors, as well as light and bright ones. There is even a hint of sparkle/shimmer to a couple colors! They apply smoothly, and it does not take much product to get the desired look. With a good primer, they stay well. I have oily lids so worn alone I did get creasing, but that may not be an issue for everyone. This collection makes me want to go back and try out her previous matte collections to see what I was doing wrong. I am thinking I just need to invest in a better set of brushes! So would I recommend this product? Yes! If you love bright and bold then you'll enjoy these. If you love Aromaleigh, you'll enjoy these. Or if you are willing to try something new, I am betting you'll enjoy these! They are fun and perky, which is great for the dreary winter ahead. I wouldn't call them my favorites (who can really have a favorite when there are nearly 500 colors to choose from!) but I'm really glad Miss K made these rather than sticking to the normal holiday shades. You can find this collection, as well as many others, at Aromaleigh.com!

Thanks again for reading. I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving (or if you dont celebrate, I hope you enjoyed the break!) and I wish you all Happy Holidays and a warm, safe winter!

Pink Orchid Look Using Limited Edition Collection

As promised, here is my look using Aromaleigh eyeshadow from her L'Orchidee collection which was for sale again for a limited time during the end of October, but is now no longer available (the best of 2009 will be chosen from each of these limited edition collections though...so stayed tuned!). If you like my look and want to check out the products for yourself, go to Aromaleigh.com!

All I really did for this look was my eyes. I was at home for the evening so I wasnt going to get completely dolled up. So please excuse the messy hair and overall incomplete look! The above photo also came out with high contrast, I look a bit odd but I just wanted to give you the general idea. Im also wearing creampuff lip color from Aromaleigh as well. For my eyes I used the following:

seed pearl - upper/inner eye and lower eyelid

pink fingers - upper lash to brow

heart - upper and lower eyelid

showy - center of upper lid

mariposa - outer V

I also used the Indelible Gel Liner (also available at Aromaleigh.com) in the color Blackout, as well as my lash blast mascara. I blended the pink shadows pretty well, and my camera is pretty crummy, so in the picture you cant really make out each shade distinctly but the overall look on my eyes was really pretty, and complemented my blue eyes without clashing with my new reddish blonde hair! I cant recall if Id added purple to the crease yet, and the photo is leaving me unsure. If I did, it was from the same collection, the color jewel I believe.

And lastly is the picture of my arm with swatches of all the L'Orchidee colors. I wish they all showed up better in the photo, because all the colors are gorgeous in real life! I am attempting to name them in order but if I mess up and any of you notice, let me know!

Starting from my wrist (these are my own descriptions):

Bumblebee - Its right at the left edge of the picture. A lovely golden yellow.

Wild Coco - It came across as a silvery green to me with kind of an earthy look to it

Jewel - A very lovely purple, reminds me of Amethyst (thus the name jewel?)

Moonset - A very smokey purple with a bit of blue

Moth - A light shimmery sheer purple/grey

Orinoco - A satiny peachy pink

Pixie Cup - Similar to Moth but more of a lavendar purple

Shadow Witch - A dark, midnight smokey blue/purple with more glitter than the others

Tangleroot - A gorgeous deep earthy green

Tigrilla - A perky golden orange

Unicorn - A much softer yellow than Bubblebee

Cascade - Looks like a deep purple in baggie but came out a rich wine like red/purple

Chatterbox - An earthier purple

Cricket - A bright green (looks yellow in photo -_-), actually a very wearable gorgeous color!

Dragon - A smokey greenish purple, very layered/multi-dimensional

Seed Pearl - A great highlighter color. A very light nude with pink shimmer

Pink Fingers - A satin sheen pastel pink, looks great with my blue eyes!

Mariposa - A deep pink with a reddish tone, very wearable in crease or outer V

Heart - A rich sexy pink with a bit of gold

Showy - Just what the name implies, lots of sparkle to this lovely light pink!

Well that sums it up. I really love this collection and hope that my favorites (which Im still debating on) end up becoming permanent additions! All I have are samples, and Im pretty sure Id love to have a few in full size! Luckily Kristens samples are so generous, and I have so many, that each baggie should last me awhile! Thanks for reading! Until next time, stay safe and warm this fall. ****Id also like the extend my thoughts and support to those who were affected by the shooting today on Fort Hood, Texas . That area is no stranger to mass shootings/killings tragedy (Killeen 1991). I was also born there (both parents were Army) so I hold the area and its residents near and dear to me!

~ I was not paid for this review/endorsement of Aromaleigh products. All of it was paid for with my own money, and I just happen to love this company and want to share my joy!

Steilacoom Dog Park

Hi everyone! Sorry its been so long, there just hasn't been much to write about. I just wanted to check in. Tomorrow/later today Ill be posting an eye look using some pink colors from the Limited Edition L'Orchidee collection from Aromaleigh.com

I also wanted to share with you some pictures from the dog park a couple day ago. We try to go on my husbands days off as long as its not raining. Its been in the 30s morning/night and 50s during the day with some wind, but the sun has been out so its okay! I really enjoy the dog park. It feels good to get outside and run around, and my son and dog love making new furry friends! They also just finished putting in a new bench and gazebo cover!

My dog Zippo is always so happy when he gets to go to the park. And everyone loves him and are constantly asking me about him and his baby blue (and one half brown) eyes. We adopted him about a year and a half ago at the approximate age of 6 months. Hes a real sweety, and not too jumpy as long as he gets out to play (which is why the park is great!). He passes out afterwards exhausted. We are exactly sure what mix of breeds he is, but hes cute and loving and that's good enough for us! Adopting pets is so amazing, I recommend to anyone who reads this to please do the same and save a life or two :) it'll feel good! I could go on and on about the subject but that's for a different post. Anyway, that's all for now! Thanks for reading, stay warm and safe this fall!

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Just checking in!

Just wanted to let everyone know I finally received my Amazing Grass supplements, as well as the rest of my Aromaleigh order. I was going to try out the Amazing Grass this evening but I have no milk, and no blender to make a smoothie. :) Soooo I will try to take care of that problem tomorrow, and then I will post my review. I'm also on the lookout for a better camera so that I can get some more photos on here. A lot of times I slack on posting because I cant get a decent image!

I also need to try out some more eyeshadow looks and share them. I ordered samples of a few more colors, including the Le Mystere collection. They are one of a kind, unable to replicate colors that Kristen creates with the 'scraps' from creating her other collections. They are in limited supply so I thought I might try some samples and see if they are worth ordering full sizes before its too late! I also received the fragrance sample collection, indelible gel eyeliner in blackout, a free Rocks! glitter in rebelrebel. So far I'm liking the looks of everything, and have a feeling Ill be very pleased with my purchases!

The last thing I wanted to mention was that along with the usual 3 free eye shadow samples with every Aromaleigh order, I also have been receiving a free sample of a lipstick! I just wanted to express how awesome that is, and what a nice surprise. I'm not used to all this wonderful treatment from a company! Aromaleigh is really wonderful though, and one of a kind in not only its products but its customer treatment, etc. I am so glad I stumbled upon this company!

Well, that's all for now! Thanks again for reading. I hope everyone's week is going well, have fun and stay safe!

Aromaleigh Makeup Haul

So yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon I checked the mail and there was a bunch of junk advertisements of course. But there was also a small package! At first because it was so small I thought it must be my Amazing Grass supplements (I also ordered those first, so it made sense) but it turned out to be my Aromaleigh Mineral Makeup samples, yay!!! I guess since it was all samples its pretty easy to get them all into a small package ^_^. So here's a picture of the envelope (bubble wrap padded). The itemized purchase list with free samples stapled to corner is under it, and the tissue paper wrapped samples on top.

I really, really love how they wrapped up the samples. Its so cute! Inside of the tissue paper were all the individual zip lock samples, which were in one big zip lock bag to keep them all together. So far they've made a great first impression!

What iced the cake for me was the handwritten thank you. Its thoughtful, and just goes to show you how much better small businesses are compared to corporate owned. Also, Kristen (the owner) has personally responded to comments Ive left on their Facebook. She is very much involved! Plus to top it all off they have amazing sales, free samples with EVERY order, and customer incentives. So not only are you getting a great product, you are getting it at a reasonable price, as well as being rewarded by them for no other reason than to say, "thank you for being a customer!" If I made a checklist of all the features I look for in a company or in makeup, they nearly fulfill them all!

This last picture is of all my samples laid out. I have them in piles based on the collection they are from, and their use. The upper left corner are the lipstick samples, the center right are foundation, and the rest are basically eyeshadow. There are also a few blush, a night repair mineral, a foundation primer, and a mineral glow. As I use them I will add pictures as well as naming each product individually! So keep checking in as I add more!

Thanks again for reading! Have a great week, stay safe, and come back soon!

*I was not paid for this review, nor were the products free. I bought them with my own money for my own personal use and enjoyment. I blog about them so that I may share the joy and/or dismay I have in the product.

What Ive been up to & review soon to come!

I haven't posted in a few days. I wouldn't say Ive been busy exactly, just not up at the right time or in the right mood. My husband had finally finished his on the job training for his Air Force job and has been switched to nights/12hr shifts. Huge change in our habits! We are slowing adjusting and at least they make up for it by giving more days off as well as time off on weekdays which is when we've needed it the most! Currently do to our move we have become a one vehicle family so getting anything done while he is working during the week has been impossible...so now we are able to! Yay!

On another note today I was busy busy! I was watching a friends daughter (5 months younger than my son) while she and her hubby were at the hospital. She is due with their second child soon and has been having complications. But they sent her home this evening and shes doing okay. Hopefully she can get a closer to full term before he decides to come out! I really enjoyed watching her daughter, and my son enjoyed finally having a friend of similar age. And shes such a well behaved, adorable little girl!

Anyway, just to wrap this up so I can sleep...I just wanted to let you know Ill be doing a couple reviews on some products Ill be trying. To comply with FTC I just wanna let y'all know I am NOT getting paid for this, NOR were the products free. I purchased samples with my (hubbies) hard earned money!

The first is Amazing Grass. This company makes nutritional health products mostly in powder forms to be added to smoothies/shakes. Ive heard about them before and was impressed by what people had to say so I wanted to see for myself! I bought a sample of their Superfood, Kidz Superfood, Wheat grass, and a few other things. I'm very excited to taste test and see health wise what they might do for my family and I.

The second is Aromaleigh Cosmetics. This company is owned/run by a lovely lady named Kristen and a small handful of ladies (and a couple gentleman Ive noticed!) The majority of their makeup is mineral, and it has some of the purist ingredients Ive seen in a makeup company. She responds to customers personally and is very much involved with the creation process. I'm ecstatic about this purchase and cant wait to try out the eye shadows, foundation, and lipstick samples! Its been a long time since Ive experimented with makeup and I cant wait to get back into it. Ill post lots of photos and if I can muster up the courage, Ill eventually do a video too!

Well that's all for now, I babbled on long enough already. I hope everyone enjoys the coming weekend! And thanks again for reading!

Beauty Reviews

I have had the privilege of discovering many useful tips and ideas through various blogs as well as YouTube videos, but one downside is you have to keep track of or subscribe to multiple people and when you are curious about a specific product there really isn't any way of searching for it that way. And even if there is, one person is less likely to list such a diverse amount of products. So whats a girl to do?!

Go to totalbeauty.com

It lists TONS of different companies and products and you can do a personal review and/or rating, or just check out other what other people think. It allows you to search for products as well so when you see a commercial and go "gee, that looks great, but is it really?" then you can quickly log on to Total Beauty and find out what hundreds of other ladies all over the place think. Very useful, and it has saved me from making what would have been several regrettable purchases!

I must say though, reading in-depth blogs and watching how well products do or don't work is so invaluable. I must commend those ladies (and guys!) who bust their butts keeping up with blogs and vlogs and beauty hauls. You save so many of us the trouble, and the money. Honestly, you all have made such a difference in my life. And I know that sounds corny, but its true!

Whats up with companies and their 'line' of green products?

So here I am, watching a commercial, when one comes on talking about their sulfate-free line of shampoo/conditioner (Pantene I think). If it is so good for you, then why not make the collections you already have sulfate free? It doesn't necessarily mean the formula would be any less effective! Then another talking about how some face washes leave a residue but this new one of theirs doesn't (Olay? lol I should have written these down!). Okay gross, so although you were trying to make other companies look bad, you instead made a mockery of yourself...seeing as all the rest of your products are likely to be formulated quite similar to other companies. So how about giving all your products the 'deep clean' advantage? And then there was the Campbell's commercial with their new line of natural soups....why not nix the nasties you mention out of ALL your soups? So what gives?!

Why cant a company revamp their ENTIRE collection of products, reformulate to be more user and environmentally friendly? Yes yes, I know. Its costly and complicated to switch, but isn't it worth it? And look at all these companies that have been green and friendly all along, and their profits are through the roof! So you would think that it would behoove them to do so. But nooooo. If they could convince me these product lines were just the beginning of a complete company eco-overhaul, then I might humor them.

Until then I shall make my own soups and whip up my own beauty recipes (Ill blog on these later if you re interested!); and seek out companies that are not only greener, but hire more intelligent marketing staff!