NARS DANMARI ALL ABOUT CHEEKS PALETTE

Since the Sephora Friends & Family sale has begun, I've been trying to get my hands on this NARS Danmari All About Cheeks Palette.  This palette is sold out on Sephora for the past couple of days, and as impatient as I am, I decided to take a trip to the Sephora store to see if it was in stock.  It actually wasn't, but I asked the sales rep, who happened to have it in the storage area.  To my surprise, I was able to get this palette for the sales price of $65 and not the valued price of $107.  I was so thrilled, like a child on Christmas morning.  I don't own any NARS blushes and was excited to be able to get 6 of them for this great price.  Now, I also had the Clarisonic system on my wish list, but unfortunately, I have a baby to plan for, so it is out of my budget, for now.  So hopefully someone would be nice enough to get me that for Christmas.  

The NARS blushes are...

Hungry Heart Duo 1

Casino

Orgasm

Super Orgasm

Desire

Sin

FACE OF THE NIGHT (HALLOWEEN NAUGHTY NUN)

This weekend, I attended an annual all inclusive Halloween party "Mask" and I decided to dress up as a nun.  Go figure!  I had a great time at the party, for once.  I wanted a more dramatic face for the night and this was the finishing look...

Here are the products I used to create this look...

BH Cosmetics 120 e/s palette

Maybelline Super Stay Foundation

MAC Fix Powder

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Sleek Contouring Powder

Sleek Blush (Sahara)

Milani Eye Liner

Sephora Liquid Liner

Red Cherry Lashes #46

ANYA'S VICTORY..MY MISSION

Trinidadian's own Anya Ayoung-Chee was the chosen winner of last night's project runway.  Overwhelmed with joy is an understatement of how I feel at this moment.  I've always said that Trinidad and Tobago is rich with so much hidden talent, and at times, we get unnoticed amongst of other Caribbean islands that are more talked about than we are.  Anya's win proves that anyone has the ability to do whatever they want to do, learn, grow, and stay humble amonst the negativity.  Always well spoken and carries that smile that lights up a room, Anya only learned how to sew 4 months prior to entering the contest.  Despite the criticism from the other contestants, she remained true to her beliefs that it doesn't take a great seamstress to be able to have knowlegdge of great style.  Not only has Anya won this installment of Project Runway, but she was also chosen as a fan favorite where she will win an additional $10,000 dollars in which she would like to help those in the caribbean achieve their own dreams.  Tonight's winning proves that the impossible is always possible as long was we continue to believe.  For years now, I too dreamt of learning to sew, watching my mother create carnival costumes every year and sew up curtains to hang during the Christmas holiday, always inspired me.  I've always pushed that aside for various reasons until now.  I decided to sign up for sewing classes!  I'm excited and eager to learn to sew.  My goal is to occasionally create clothing that I can wear to show off my own sense of style.  I don't have dreams of creating a fashion line, just something of my own that I can do on my past time.  If the opportunity arises, I would be more than willing to take advantage of it, but until then, I just want to be able to say that I've done something that I've always wanted to do.  Thanks Anya for inspiring so many Caribbean women, like myself, to reach for something better. 

STYLE STAR "NICOLE RITCHIE"

Nicole Ritchie's style has evolved over the years from her wild and crazy, undefined fashion, to her modern day bohemian/hollywood starlet trends.  I'm really inspired by Nicole's fashion lately, because she wears such great pieces to suit her small frame, from her low plunging neck lines to long flowing dresses that expresses her love for the days of hippie flare.  With her rock hubby in tow, I've realized that she does cross over to some hard edge leather trends from time to time.  Overall, I'm in awwww, when I see her photos.  She has truly evolved into her own woman.

*Photos were taken from people.com*

SEPHORA FRIENDS & FAMILY WISH LIST

Sephora has their Friends & Family sale, which started last week.  This is the time when beauty fanatics stock up on their favorite items and must haves for the holidays.  I've never took advantage of this sale in the past, but there are two particular items that I'm very interested in getting my hands on.  

Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System is been on my wish list since last year.  There are far too many positive reviews on this product to stray away from it.  Priced at $119.00, this system is said to rejuvenate the skin like no other.  I MUST get my hands on it!

The NARS Danmari All About Cheeks palette is priced at $65.00.  Anyone who purchases NARS blushes, knows that it can be expensive.  Imagine getting this 6 blush, bronzer, and highlight palette for only $65.00.  It's too good of a deal to pass.  Unfortunately, it is out of stock, so I've been currently looking online everyday, till it comes back in stock.  This weekend, I hope to go to the actual Sephora store to see if it's in stock.

Here are some other items that you may be interested in...

Makeup Forever HD Wild & Cheek Best of Makeup Forever $55.00

 Laura Mercier The Book of Nudes $48.00

Makeup Forever HD Makeup Starter Kit $79.00

SIGMA BRUSHES & BH COSMETICS HAUL

I just received these products this week and wanted to do a haul.  I've been wanting to get my hands on Sigma Brushes for a long time now, and decided to finally place my order.  I initially wanted to buy the entire $99.00 set, but I realized that many of the brushes in the set, were brushes I already had.  I chose to get these individual brushes instead, which came up to about $110.00.  Here are the brushes I chose...

Precision Round P82 used to apply e/s primers and can also be used to apply highlight shades

Precision Flat P80 used to conceal under eye circles and blemishes

Round Kabuki F82 used to apply liquid and cream foundation

Large Powder F30 apply powder products

Small Contour F05 used to contour cheeks and apply blush

Large Shader E60 used to apply look e/s, pigments, and glitter

Tapered Blending E35 

Eye Shading E55

Complimentary gift from Sigma Blending E25

BH Cosmetics 120 e/s palette 3rd Edition

FEELING THE BLUES MAKEUP TUTORIAL

It's been a while since I've done a makeup tutorial and I decided to do this one using the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary palette.  This is my first time using the palette on myself.  Honestly, at first, I felt that I sort of wasted my money buying this palette, because some of the colors were similar to those in the UD Naked Palette, but the 15th anniversary palette, includes a lot of bright colors that the Naked palette doesn't have.  Like all UD eye shadows, they are very smooth and easy to blend.  I also applied false lashes (Red Cherry #15) for the first time.  It was much easier than I thought, but I did have to apply the lash glue a couple of times before it could really stick.  Now that I've seen the finishing look with lashes, I'm eager to apply them, more often.  Here are a list of the other products that I used in this tutorial...

Makeup Forever HD Foundation

MAC Studio Fix Powder

Bobby Brown Concealer

UD e/s in Chase, Evidence & Blackout

MAC Ricepaper

Clinique Brow Pencil Black/Brown 04

MAC e/s Espresso

Milani eye liner

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

MAC lip liner Cork

MAC lipstick Peach Stock

Sleek Contouring Kit

MAC blush Gleeful

*If you have any request for makeup tutorials that you would like for me to do in the future, please leave a comment below or send a request in my inbox.  Remember to comment, rate, and subscribe to my channel*

ANOTHER MINI MAC HAUL...SIGH

I'm starting to become more embarrassed by my recent purchases from MAC because I've always preached on how many alternative makeup brands are far more superior to this mega brand.  Lately, I've been really loving their lipsticks and so it keeps me coming back for more.  This time around was no different.  I actually intended on buying absolutely nothing and walked out with these 5 items...

When you think of a MAC staple lipstick, you have to name Ruby Woo on the top of that list.  I for one am a lover of red lipsticks and this winter season will be calling for matte colors like these.  I also purchased the Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Kiss Me Quick to wear with the lipstick.  If there is anything that I can swear by with MAC is that their longwear products are the shit!  LOVE IT!

My favorite brow retractable pencil at the moment, from Clinique, is finished and I went to the mall to restock on 2 of them.  Unfortunately, they only had 1 in stock.  I decided to try out MAC's brow pencil in Lingering.  The makeup artist at MAC decided to do my eye brows and apply Espresso eye shadow over the brow pencil to intensify the look and also give it more staying power.  She used a 226 brush, which I already have in my brush collection to apply the eye shadow and I loved the finish look, so I decided to buy both items.  I hope to do a comparison between the Clinique and the MAC brow pencils and post a review, in the future.

I never purchased or wore a MAC blush and really loved the look of this mineralized blush in Gleeful.  

IT'S A......

OUTFIT OF THE NIGHT (EUPHORIA)

This night, I attended Natural Freak's & Back 2 Basics carnival Wednesday fete Euphoria (which I actually enjoyed) and this is what I wore...

Denim Tunic: Marshalls

Brown wedge: Saks Fifth Avenue

Clutch: Ebay

OPRAH'S LIFE CLASS "LETTING GO OF ANGER"

I've become an avid viewer of Oprah's Life Class since it's premier, but this episode in particular, resonated with me like no other.  The act of letting go of the past and learning to forgive is very hard for me to do.  For the past 2 years, I've held on to this anger, towards someone I was very close to, at one point in my life, though there were times when I have tried to resolve our issue and move past it, I've realized that the feelings weren't reciprocated by the other party.  I became angry and bitter not only towards that person, but towards my sister for continuing a friendship with that person, instead of cutting the ties like I have done.  If my sister and I would get into an argument about something, somehow, I will constantly bring up her friendship with this person and how I felt betrayed by her actions.  This anger I have built up inside of me has gone on for too long and it is until I saw Oprah's episode featuring writer Terry McMillan that I realized how many years I have wasted, holding on to the anger of the past.  Oprah said something that struck a cord with me, that basically nothing we say or do will change what has already happened, and that we have to learn to forgive what has happened, in order to move on with our lives.  I truly believe that this built up anger I've held for so long, has stopped me from living my full potential.  Here I am almost 5 months pregnant, and I'm still carrying around this grudge, and not even truly recognizing the blessing that God has given me.  What does the incident that happened 2 years ago, have to do with the present? Absolutely nothing!  I am writing this post as a way to place this long standing anger I've bottled up for 2 years, and let it go forever.  By doing this, I'm releasing the grudge I've kept inside of me, forgiving the person, for their actions, and allowing myself to live my life to its full potential.  This post will allow me to apologize to my sister for the anger I have put towards her for her choices, and realizing that as adults, we may not always agree with them, but we have to learn to accept them.  From this day forward, I will not allow this incident to interfere with my present.  The past has nothing to do with the present.  Thank you Oprah!

OUTFIT OF THE NIGHT (RED EYE)

Miami Carnival weekend, I attended Red Eye Breakfast party at King of Diamonds.  The party itself was a complete disaster filled with rain showers, lack of parking and not being about to get inside the actual fete, but I did like what I had on.  This is what I wore...

Orange & Tan dress: Asos

Platform sandals: Lulus

Clutch: Ebay

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

Since I've announced my pregnancy, it amazes me that people will say "it's about time" before they ever utter out the words CONGRATULATIONS.  Some coming from people I know, and others coming from complete strangers.  Conceiving a child, doesn't come as easy as it does for others.  Infertility affects more than 12% of the population.  While certain couples can have sex once and conceive, others will take years to get pregnant, while some never even see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Not to say that I have or had infertility problems, but there are many factors that can affect a woman from not being able to conceive sooner than others.  Stress, dieting, and other lifestyle choices can be a factor, and while I am happy to be able to get pregnant, I do sympathize with those that still struggle to do so.  I didn't get pregnant to satisfy the many people who say, "when are you going to have a child."  At the end of the day, I knew that it would happen when I was financially and physically ready.  I'm blessed to have a great job to support myself and my child and a great partner who has gone above and beyond to support this new life that we are about to bring into this world.  Many people bring a child into this world, without a solid foundation and are left struggling because they were so quick to have a child to prove that they can conceive.  I'm not one of them!  So keep your "it's about time" because I don't want to hear that shit, I rather hear congratulations or I'm so happy for you, instead.  That seems more genuine and kind.

MAC "STYLEDRIVEN COLLECTION" MINI HAUL

So I went to MAC last week, to purchase a lipstick for my mom and decided to pick up these goodies for myself.  Lately, I've been really stocking up on MAC lipsticks, preferring them over the other lip brands in my collection.  I knew that I wanted the Love Forever Prolong lipcreme from the Styledriven collection, because I saw YouTube guru "A Complicated Melody" wear it in one of her haul videos.  I love that the pink didn't look so Barbie pink and that a brown girl like myself can wear this in the fall/winter season. It has a creme finish, which I love.  I also picked up More To Love Prolong Lip Pencil to accompany the lipstick too. Love Forever Lip Creme is priced at $17.00 and More To Love Lip Pencil is priced at $18.00.

SHARING AMONGST FAMILY AND FRIENDS

It's been a long time since I featured a Question of the Day on Chatty Patty, and I thought it would be interesting to start it off again, with this topic....

If you had a sexual long term relationship with someone, without the official boyfriend/girlfriend title, but have since moved on to other relationships, is it ever okay if a friend of family member gets involved with that person.  What will be the reasons why it would be okay, and what will be the reasons why it wouldn't?

My opinion...

I honestly don't think it's ever okay for anyone that I am close with to begin dating and having sex with anyone that have been involved with in the past.  I for one, do not date or mess with any leftovers from anyone I have close relationships with.  I find it disrespectful.  There are so many men in this world that you can date and for someone to start dating my past, would make it uncomfortable for me to be around at family functions or any kind of outings.  I'm not an insecure woman, I just think there should be a line drawn when it comes to such things, but we live in a society where people have no boundaries and if they want something, they will go after it, no matter the cost.  

WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE EXCITED?

I wasn't prepared at all for this pregnancy, cause like I stated in my earlier post, I had already accepted the fact that I wasn't going to be a mother.  So when this pregnancy began, I had all these expectations for what it will be and soon found out that it's nothing that I had imagined.  My boyfriend keeps telling me that I should be more excited, and I am, but he has no clue the emotional changes a woman goes through during this time.  I've become extremely moody and short tempered.  I'm constantly screaming at him for some of the most unimportant reasons, while he takes the blunt of my attacks and I find myself apologizing a short time later.  Most of my anger comes from people telling me what I SHOULD do, instead of giving me some friendly advice.  I've always been a defiant person, and when I'm told that I shouldn't do something, I tend to get very angry.  I realize that I'm now carrying a life inside of me, and though at times, I feel like childless Patty, I must remember that my actions effect my baby too.  Despite it all, I am extremely happy for my pregnacy.  My happiness carries the joy on the inside, because I'm not a person that can verbally or physically show my appreciation for the gift that God has given me.  Though I know I must learn to become more affectionate, knowing that I will soon have to share that with my child, it takes time to adjust to these changes. 

OPRAH'S LIFECLASS "THE LOST DREAM"

Oprah's OWN network hasn't been a fixture on my television for quite a few months now.  I wasn't amazed at the lineup of shows and really missed that inspirational talk that we've all come to love from Oprah.  Now with Oprah's Lifeclass, I'm thinking of giving it another chance, in hopes that I hopefully remember the channel without going through my guide book.  Yesterday's episode was about not giving up on your dreams and how we as people can work towards making them our reality.  While watching the show, I was brought back into my childhood and how I've always had a love of writing from such a young age.  I never realized that starting a journal at the age of 10, was setting my foundation to what I do now, which is blogging.  Somehow in between, fear overcame my eagerness to make my writing something that the world can read.  I felt ashamed, and not up to par with other writers that surrounded me, and somehow, I let the dream of writing become something I do in my past time, instead of something I put forward on a daily basis.  Oprah says it's never too late to become what we've always wanted to become and somehow, I'm still not passed that phase of truly believing that that is true.  I'm aware of the negative thoughts that run through my head when I think of the thought of "could writing be my ticket to true happiness" and time and time again, I allow it to hold me back.  Years have been wasted, and I think back to where I would of been if I didn't allow my insecurities to let my dreams slip away.  I watch all these stories of people with ideas and thoughts and how they brought them to life, and I do want to do the same, but I have to get pass the what if's.  At least this show has awoken me to the possibility that I once had a passion that I can rediscovery and incorporate it into my life again.  

MIAMI CARNIVAL 2011 WRAP UP

Hi guys, I know it's been a moment since I've last blogged, but that is to be expected around this time of the year, being that it's Miami Carnival time.  Unlike previous years, I wasn't able to play mas because of this pregnancy and some of the minor difficulties I faced during this time.  So I opted to pay for my sister's costume instead while I watched my niece.  I did get a chance to go to the Miami Carnival location later on in the evening to watch some of the bands cross the stage, but the feeling wasn't the same.  I'm not one to be a spectator and playing mas has been in me since the age of 4, but I recognize that the health of my baby is more important than any carnival, so I'm relieved that I decided to stay out this year.  I did get a chance to go to a couple of fetes, which in my opinion, failed in comparison to last year.  Hip hop and dancehall seemed to be played more than soca, which is a complete turnoff to me.  Those two genre of music have absolutely NOTHING to do with the artform of carnival and I wish these dj's would remember that and dig into their crates and pull out the enormous catalog of soca tunes that came out for 2011.  The fetes were very disorganized and lacked any kind of creativity.  There are so many fetes for the carnival season, and for some reason, I continue to attend the same ones year after year.  I'm convinced that next year, I will change things up a bit and start to attend some all-inclusive fetes and really surround myself with a more civilized crowd.  Overall, I'm happy that the season is over.  My excitement level, leading up to carnival came and went many times, so I'm not surprised that I will label this year, one of the most unenjoyable years.  Until next year.... 

INGLOT, RED CHERRY, AND OCC BEAUTY HAUL

I picked up a couple of random beauty products this week and others a couple of months ago, that I forgot  to post on my blog.  

I've been longing to try Inglot's gel liners for a while now, and I chose these 2 colors #74 & #83.  Since fall and winter is on the horizon, I figured I pick some colors to compliment the season, instead of the normal black liner.  I swatched the colors on my hand at the store and even at the end of the night, prior to showering, the colors were still there.  

I've never been the one to wear lashes, but lately, I've been yearning to try them out.  I figured Red Cherry lashes are the way to go.  After looking at a couple of YouTube tutorials, I liked the above lashes, #1, #15, and #46.  I was able to get 10 pairs of lashes for $20.00 at www.butterflyvixen.com.  Miami Carnival is this week, and I hope to try them out.  Look out for the finish look on an upcoming tutorial/FOTD/FOTN post.

I purchased these items from OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics) back in June, and never had an opportunity to post them on this blog.  At the time, OCC was having a sale on their products, and I took advantage of the sale.  I purchased the pigments in Rori & Distortion.  Please excuse the bad swatches.  Though I've heard great reviews on their products, though the packaging needs improvement.  I also purchased the lip tars in Strutter and Melange.  I've worn both lip tars before and I have to say I'm in love with them.  They are extremely pigmented and a the tiniest drop goes a very long way.  The staying power on the lip tars last for hours.