Time for a "Merry" Opera

Ohhh long time no blog.  Well, it's only been about a week and a half, but it seems like a long time to me.  I'm also behind on reading and commenting on my favorite blogs.  Geez.

Anyhow, my parents, husband, and I went to see The Merry Widow by Franz Léhar at the Detroit Opera House about a week ago, and I thought I'd show you some photos of the evening.

Happy Halloween (Fashion and FotD)

It's finally Halloween!  Time to binge on candy and horror movies!

I didn't do any unusual costume or makeup this year, but I went with a bit of a spiderweb theme for my clothes and jewelry for the day.

I just did some (what I think are) awesome smokey eyes for my makeup.

I used:
     from the Urban Decay Naked Palette--Naked (matte tan) in the crease
                                                                   Creep (sparkling dark gray) in the outer and inner corners
                                                                   Virgin (shimmery shell) under the brows
     from the Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette -- Miss Sparkles (sparkling black) in the outer v
     Fyrinnae loose pigment in Velvet Vampire (sparkly rust red) in the center of the lid
   

I followed the same pattern as the upper lid on the lower lashline.

from left: Naked, Creep, Virgin, Velvet Vampire, Miss Sparkles

Velvet Vampire, Miss Sparkles (swatched dry 'cause that's how it used 'em)

  LORAC Front of the Line PRO Liquid Eyeliner in black along the upper lashes
  Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Perversion on the waterlines
  Mally Voluminizing Mascara in Black

Cheeks: BFTE Babycakes Blush

Lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9

from left: BFTE Babycakes Blush, MUFE Rouge Artist Natural in N9

This photo makes it look like I put my blush on weird and unevenly, but it's just the lighting.  I swear.

I found some cool nail stickers (the kind that are nail polish in sticker form, so they are long-lasting).

I kinda wish I had attempted some "spiderweb" eyeliner.

Did you dress up for Halloween?

P.S. The weather here was miserable for trick or treating (37°F and rainy).  Many of the kids that visited my house were wearing mittens.

April 2014 Favorites

This is going to sound cliché, but I can't believe the month is over.  April just kind of got away from me.  Maybe it's because I'm so busy checking every day what is new in my garden.

Favorites of the past month:

Kat Von D Chrysalis Palette -- I've been wearing this almost everyday since I got it.  The packaging!  The colors!  The quality!  Did you know Kat Von D's line is made by Sephora?

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain in Rendezvous -- A shimmery somewhat sheer orange with a great balmy texture.  Plus, it leaves a light stain on the lips.

Pretty Necklace -- I have no idea what to call this piece of jewelry, so "pretty necklace" will have to suffice.  I bought it years ago, and I don't remember what the stones are (most likely cubic zirconia, but possibly a pink topaz).  It's kind of dressy and fancy with the stones the climb up the chain, but I've been wearing everyday with my casual clothes anyway.

Betsey Johnson Hopeless Romantic Bucket handbag -- I've gotten tons of compliments on this bag.  It's large enough to carry a bunch of stuff, but not so big that it's like a piece of luggage.  I do wish the shorter strap with the studs was slightly longer so it's easier to put the bow back in place after the bag has been opened.

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Fierce Blue -- This is a great eyeliner.  It's incredibly creamy and smudgeable (is that a word?), but once it sets it's not moving.  It a very dark almost black navy blue with blue shimmer.  I wear this frequently on my lower waterline.

Here I am wearing my favorites:

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain in Rendezvous, Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Fierce Blue

A non-favorite: the chilly weather.  It's been at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than average recently.

Thanks for reading!

Little Fashion Haul

I don't know if this really counts as a "haul" because it's just two things, but I had to show-off the new shoes and handbag that arrived this weekend.

The shoes are the brand Zigi Soho, and I bought them from DSW.

The purse is a Betsey Johnson "Hopeless Romantic" bucket bag that I bought from Zappos.

The colors of the shoes kind of remind me of neopolitan ice cream.

And Charlie had to check them out.

I am currently watching a Detroit Tigers spring training game on Fox Sports Detroit.  The Tigers are whomping the St. Louis Cardinals 15-0.  It's the 4th inning.  Too bad it's only a spring training game.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Christmas Gifts

I had a lovely, laid-back Christmas with my husband.  We slept in, opened gifts from each other, parents, and siblings, and went to see "The Desolation of Smaug"  in 3D.

My husband gave me these gorgeous earrings.

Beauty: NARS Nail Polish in Disco Inferno
                Marc Jacobs Lip Gel in Have We Met?
                Benefit Boxed Blush in Dallas
                Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

Marc Jacobs Lip Gel in Have We Met?

Books: Classic Beauty: The History of Makeup
               I Am Malala
               Masters of the Planet: The Search For Our Human Origins (I studied anthropology
                                                                                  and hominid evolution in college.)

The earrings match the emerald ring my parents gave me for graduation from Michigan State (2003).
Green and white are MSU's school colors.

Favorite gifts I gave (highlights only, because otherwise this list would get long) (no pics -- sorry):
    Husband: cool dress shirts with various designs (flocked paisley, metallic pinstripe, etc)
    Dad: a huge book about opera houses their and architecture
    Mom: a collectable Detroit Starbucks mug (this was hard to find -- I had to stalk ebay)
    Sister: a bunch of Lush bath products, Benjamin Britton War Requiem cd
    Brother: fancy flashlight for camping, Dr. Who dvd
    Sister-in-law: Voluspa candle set (I kinda wanted to keep this for myself!)
    Niece and nephews (ages 9, 7, 5): cool t-shirts and hats with skulls, Despicable Me 2

So, what did you get?  What was your favorite gift you gave?

Recent Favorites: Non-Beauty Edition

I thought I'd do something different and write a non-beauty related favorites post.

Ariel and Tigers mugs and hot chocolate -- I'm not a huge tea person, and I don't drink hot coffee, but I love hot chocolate.  I'm not picky about the brand or anything either.  Both of the mugs were gifts from my parents.

Cuddleduds leggings -- I believe I have 3 pairs of these.  I think there are supposed to be long johns that are worn under pants, but I wear them as leggings.  They are so soft and supple.  I bought them at Kohl's.

Game of Thrones books -- I'm reading these for the second time.  I decided to re-read them in preparation for the fifth book coming out on paperback so I could remember everything that has happened thus far.

That's a catnip toy in the upper right hand corner!

Cable knit cardigan sweater from Target-- I like the shawl-collar and cable knit, and it's a soft cotton.  I kind of wish I had gotten one in grey as well...

MSU Sports -- Both the football team and the basketball team are playing well this year, which makes it extra fun to watch them.

What are your recent favorite things?

Dragon Inspired Look of the Evening

I have these awesome boots that my husband gave me years ago that I decided to wear to La Traviata (the Verdi opera we went to see at the Detroit Opera House this past weekend).

The dragons on the boots are what inspired my makeup for the evening.

Eyes:  Marc Jacobs eyeshadow palette in The Starlet -- gold color on the lid
          E.L.F. eyeshadow palette from the Maleficent set -- dark green in crease
          Tarina Tarantino Hyperliner in Tommy Jet -- lower waterline
          Benefit They're Real Mascara

Cheeks:  Milani Illuminating Powder in Amber Nectar -- cheekbones
             Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Exposed -- apples of the cheeks

Lips:  Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Demure

Marc Jacobs The Starlet palette gold color, E.L.F. palette dark green color, Tarina Tarantino Tommy Jet eyeliner

Milani Illuminating Powder in Amber Nectar, Tarte blush in Exposed, Revlon lipstick in Demure

Just for fun, here are a couple photos of the Detroit Opera House.

What did you do for fun this weekend?