Some Encouragement for Friends (and Strangers;)

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to write a super quick note to share a couple things with you! For those of you that missed my SUPER HUGE GIGANTIC SURPRISING NEWS of yesterday, I was featured as an Editor's Pick on bloggers.com!! I'm not sure exactly what this means, or how they determine it, but apparently I was noticed and they decided to spotlight my blog! (yay!) What it meant to me was some extra page views, some new followers (hi everyone!!;) and some kind comments from some sweet people who probably wouldn't have found me otherwise.

If you're a blogger and think no one is reading your blog and no one cares what you have to say, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE! The Internet is a crazy thing that anyone IN THE WORLD can see what you have to say! There are people that will agree, will disagree, will like you, will hate you, etc. but what you say DOES MATTER!!

You may not have a hundred followers over night.... you may not have a hundred followers ever... you may get four hundred followers in a month and be a huge sensation! You just never know, but there a couple things I've learned:

Promote yourself! You are your own best advertisement! Be active on Twitter, Facebook, whatever social media venue you choose. Tell people about your blog. Invite them to see what you have to say. Encourage them to be a part of it. Reach out to them!

Put yourself out there! There are sooo many different sites you can join and advertise your blog (Blog Train, BlogUpp, Bloggers, just to name a few). They work!

Tell people in real life, too! I keep my blog business cards with me at all times because you never know when someone is going to talk about your nail art, your makeup, or anything else that can lead into a conversation about your blog!

And most importantly, blog because it's what you love and it's what YOU want to do. Don't base it on ANYONE ELSE or you'll struggle the entire time to please others and you won't have any fun at all! Please don't focus on the numbers or if anyone is reading; people will stumble upon you when you least expect it:)

And that concludes this edition of advice from Kristen lol. What have you found is the best way to advertise your blog? What is your favorite thing about blogging? How do you feel about people who try to get followers by any of the following means: follow for follow back; gaining followers just by hosting giveaways; getting people to retweet that they need X number of followers to get to XXX number?

Review: NYX Crimson Amulet Collection

Hi Lovelies! Before I jump in to today's post, I wanted to draw your attention to my fabulous new blog layout! LOL. I know I'd been saying that when I got my 100 followers, I felt like I was a *real* blog now and wanted to make it feel... better. Hahaha, I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but I knew I was just looking for something *more*... whatever that *more* was... I went through 100s of pages of blog templates.. and layouts... I looked at blog designers portfolios... I just couldn't see paying someone to do the work for me that I should be able to figure out on my own, ya know? (nothing against people who do do that; believe me, I was *very*close to having someone do it for me). But, my dad taught me years ago that you appreciate things more that you do yourself... and so... I fought on. Anyway! I think the finished product (for now) really captures my personality and what I wanted when I thought of the words "glitter" "gloss" and "glaze" nearly eight months ago!

So! Onto today's topic! I picked up The Crimson Amulet Collection bout a month or so ago from Ulta. This palette was based on the new Johnny Depp movie--Dark Shadows. I was really excited about getting this! It has twenty-four eye shadows, four lip colors, five blushes, one highlighter, one shadow base, and one liquid liner. OMG there is so much in this little box!!!

I'm going to be completely honest with you--I have not used any of the blushes, the liner, or the shadow base. (sorry!) But I don't want to wait any longer before at least starting the review! It's a limited edition collection, and if I wait much longer to review it, you won't be able to buy it! hahahah

So, I've also been putting off the review, because when I first started using it, I really wasn't that impressed. I don't like the lip colors at all... the consistency is just awkward for me... I think I was hoping they'd be more creamy.. more gloss like? And they're just very stiff... while there is some color variation, they aren't lip colors I'd really use a whole lot.

The eye shadows are good texture--typical NYX shadows. It's got a lot of neutrals with some pops of color--both matte and shimmery--I did like that part. The colors are all very blendable, and I'm pretty sure the possibilities are pretty endless.

I'm going to give it a positive review though because I have gotten more compliments on eye looks I've made from this collection than from anything else in a while. Every time I use the blues and purples together people are always asking "Close your eyes! Let me see!" or "What color is that on your eyes?" It's a huge hit!:)

However, here is the best part, ladies and gentlemen! You get all of this for $25!! I'm totally serious!! What a bargain!! So, while I don't really like the lip colors, the eye shadows make up for it, and I love how it's like a little book you can carry. You can throw it in your purse and pretty much use it to touch up or change your look throughout the day... perhaps change your daytime look to a date night or girls night out look!:)

Have you tried this collection? Do you have any favorite products that come in a package deal like this? Have you seen the Dark Shadows movie??

Review: Basq Cucumber Tea Eye Gel

Hey Lovelies! I don't know about you, but I've had dark-ish undereye circles for as long as I can remember! Not horrible it-looks-like-I-got-punched-in-the-eyeball dark circles, just a little discoloration like I haven't had a good night's sleep in a while (hmm? Perhaps that is it?? lol)

As I've gotten older, I also know how much care I need to care for that skin around my eye area--you know wrinkles will probably be there soon!:(

I've tried several different eye cream products (and I need to do a review on some other the other ones I tried and liked... or didn't like:) but I was super excited when I got this little jar in my Glossybox!

Here's what it claims:
Refreshed, beautiful eyes no matter what the issue -- lacking sleep, have the pregnancy "puff", working too hard or just on a mission to improve your eye area! Cucumber is a natural coolant that really fights swelling and puffiness - there's a reason spas place them on eyes! The antioxidants in Green Tea battle free radicals from the environment that cause damage to the skin and lead to aging. This gel is an ideal boost to your anti-aging routine, the Cucumber - Tea combo smoothes fine lines and improves skin tone. Keep in the fridge for an even greater, intense, cooling pop.

It's definitely a gel not a cream.. It has a consistency like aloe vera and has a smell a little like Vick's vapor rub... It's kind of sticky, but feels refreshing as soon as you put it on. Now, I don't use it during the day, I just put it on every night before bed so that my eyes will wake up looking refreshed!:)

It's also supposed to be really good for pregnant women and new mom's! So that's exciting!!:)
The basq line received Frommer's prestigious World's Best Maternity Skin care award!

basq Cucumber Tea Eye Gel has been highlighted as a make-up artist favorite in Fit Pregnancy and Readers Choice Winner in Pregnancy and Newborn magazine. Basq recently received an iParenting Award for 2010!

The big questions! Did it work as claimed? And would I repurchase? Eh... it worked in the sense that my eyes did feel refreshed when I'd put it on... but when I'd sleep with it on, I'd wake up with a little sticky residue around my eyes... not a huge deal, but a little irritating. I probably wouldn't repurchase it. It's $24 and I think I can find a product that works better for me for less money. But! Since it was sent to me in my Glossbox (for free, which btw does not affect my opinion:) I will definitely continue to use this product!:)

Have you tried this product? Do you have a favorite eye gel/cream?

Let me introduce you to my friend, ARGAN

Hello! I hope all you lovely Americans are having an amazing Memorial Day and are taking a moment to remember all the fallen service members who fought and are fighting for our freedoms. And I hope all you international lovelies are having a simply fabulous May 28th!!;)

via

Today I wanted to quickly tell you about my LATEST OBSESSION. OMG, I really think I could become addicted to this stuff. But before I get right into it, have you heard of Argan Oil?? Basically, it's oil that comes from the kernel of a tree in Morocco. It used to be harvested out of goat poo (ew, I know), but there's a newer (cleaner?) way to do it now by pressing the kernels. Anyhow, it has high amounts of Vitamin E and fatty acids that are known to fix a bunch of skin issues. The other super cool part is that the pure oil comes from Morocco and is harvested by women! Like it's this whole women's cooperative thing that allows them to work and be involved in the fair trade industry! How could you be against something that helps other women, right??:)

Read more about Argan oil here.

clearly, I was a fan ;)

Anyway, I'd kind of heard of it before, but it wasn't until I started Beauty Army and I got to try BABOR Argan Cream. (which, p.s. is like $125 for a very small amount). I LOVED IT. It feels different than other moisturizers.... I don't want to say it leaves you slimy.. 'cause that sounds bad and it is definitely *not* slimy... but like, it's light and it makes your skin just feel very smooth...

So! Let us fast forward to a couple weekends ago when I was at the mall and meandered my way into LUSH. The fabulous salesman asked me if I'd tried Ro's Argan yet? No, I hadn't, but wait a minute, did you say ARGAN? Sign me up! So he took me to the sink to have my try this (amazing fabulous must have) product he was trying to sell me! (and he didn't have to try hard! This stuff sells itself!)

Basically, it's like conditioner for your skin. You know how you're supposed to put conditioner in your hair and leave it in for a while to allow it to really get into your hair? Same way this stuff is! So during your shower (after you're clean;) you rub some of this on to your skin and leave it. It feels a lot like regular lotion, but softer... almost like... butter that's been sitting out for a while... you know that really soft almost mush-able consistency? So it sits on you skin for just a few moments (he said 30 seconds.. I usually do about a minute) then rinse off and it is AMAZING! Like, it feels like you have just lathered your body in lotion! And you did it all in the shower!

Now, before I get too far ahead of myself, I wanted to tell you about the smell. It's kind of a unique smell to try to describe. It's called "Ro's" Argan because of the person who invented/created it, but also it's supposed to smell like "Roses"... and it does! But in a more softer, romantic way. Like, it reminds me of an old smell... not an old moth-ball kind of smell... but an old vintage smell... like the way I imagine my Nana would've smelled in the 1940's when she met my PopPop at the USO, ya know? It's not super flowery.. it's just... pretty. And the craziest thing is how the smell lingers! I catch myself sniffing my arms throughout the day because it is just such a beautiful smell!

I wish this could be a scented picture!

Another fabulous perk of it? Okay, ladies, let's be honest. After shaving, how many of us put lotion on our legs and have that excruciating burning feeling! And the bumps! Ah, the misery! This doesn't do that. Oh, you read that right, this doesn't burn AT ALL! I exfoliate, shave, put this on, rinse it off... my legs look like I just stepped out of a shaving gel commercial on TV. You know, with that light little shine? A-Maz-Ing. It's like a miracle product, it really is.

So the negative? Not a huge negative for some, but here it is. I got the "sample" size (to see if I really liked it and it was worth the money) for $5.95 for 1.5 ounces. The full size is 8.4 ounces for $29.95... not HORRIBLY expensive, but a little pricey for what it is, because I'm honestly not sure how long that size would last. A lot of it will depend on how often you use it, how much you use, etc. I've started doing it just on my legs because I want to make it last longer lol... and it's hard to know how much to use since you have to scoop it out...

...but let's not kid ourselves. If I have an extra $30 lying around, I probably will buy this again. And I bet if you try it, you would want to buy it too:)

Have you tried anything with Argan oil in it? Have you seen Ro's Argan at your local LUSH? Have you tried it? I highly encourage that you do;)

100 Follower Contest Winner Guest Post!!

Hellllllooooo everyone!! I'm very excited today to share with you a guest post!! You may remember when I hit 100 followers I held a contest to have other bloggers with less than 100 followers compete to get a guest post, a button on my sidebar, etc. to help promote their blog!

I was super excited that Lizzy entered! She has an adorable little blog full of fun things! Like most of the rest of us, she loves beauty products! And she has simply gorgeous hair!! I'm also thrilled with what she chose to write about! I've tried knitting (okay, tried and succeeded! Everyone in my family got a scarf last Christmas lol) but I haven't tried crocheting yet! I may just try this pattern that she has to share with us!

Soooo without further ado, I'd like you to all welcome LIZZY!!!!!:) (and after you read her post, go follow her blog!)

Hi everyone! My Name is Lizzy and I'm a newbie to the blogging world. I won this guest post from Kristen at GlitterGlossandGlaze's on her 100 Follower Contest. I typically blog about my current beauty subscriptions, or reviews of products I've been sent complimentary for testing purposes. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of anything beauty or freebie (or both combined) related. 

I chose this DIY Crochet post because it is something a lot of people have asked for, and its quite simple for a beginner at crochet to follow. If you would like to learn how to make a stylish chunky/slouchy beanie, then keep reading!

After posting a video response to TraceyBeauty's "DIY: Chunky/Souchy Beret" on Youtube, I've had many people ask for the written pattern (via YouTube) and Tracey said It was perfectly fine to post this, so here it is!I apologize for the delay, this has been quite the challenge as I have never written a pattern before. 

I also apologize in advance for the pattern itself. (wording, abbreviations) I wrote this pattern in the best way I could. It may be off in terminology or format but If you're one of the viewers who've been really wanting this pattern to be written, I feel this will do it justice.

You can view Tracey's Video HERE and my Video Response HERE.

Slouchy Beannie Pattern:

Supplies:

1 Skein of Worsted Weight Yarn

Size J Crochet Hook

Yarn Needle

Scissors

1Wooden Bead (optional)

1 Small Crochet Hook (small enough to fit through your bead)

Abbreviations:

CH: Chain

Sl St: Slip Stich

SC: Single Crochet

DC: Double Crochet

BPDC: Back Post Double Crochet

FPDC: Front Post Double Crochet

* Repeat For the Entire Round

1. Ch 60 

2. Sl St into the very first chain to create a circle.

3. Ch 3, (Count as a DC here and throughout)

4. DC into each stitch for the rest of row, keeping in mine to not allow the circle to twist. To connect the current row, Sl St into the top of the very first DC.

(This is where you connect your row/circle)

 And this i what it will look once it is connected

5. Ch 3, *FPDC into the first stitch, BPDC into the second stitch* To connect the current row, Sl St into the top of the very first DC

This is what the band of the hat will start look like.

6. Repeat step 5,  four more times

 This finishes the band. 

7. Ch 3, *1 DC into the first stitch, 2 DC into the next stitch* Sl St to connect the current row

Where the hook is pointing, is the stitch you will DC into

This is what the finished row will look like

8. Repeat step 7, two more times

 9. Ch 3,  *1 Dc into each stitch* Sl St to connect the current row

This is what step 8 & 9 will look like when finished

10. Ch 3, *1 DC into every other stitch* Sl St to connect the current row

This is what Step 10 will look like when finished

11.  Ch 3,  *skip two stiches, 1 DC into the the third stitch* Sl St to connect the current row

Tho hook is pointing at the 3rd stitch in which you need to DC into

12. Repeat Step 11 one more time.

This is Step 11 finished

13. 1 SC into every other stitch until you have no where left to go. 

 Keep going! You're almost there!

14. This step is for the optional bead. Cut off  your yarn with about 3- 4 inches. 

Insert your bead through a smaller hook

Grab the yarn through the hook

Tie the yarn around the bead twice

Slip the two ends through the hat

Tie about two-three times ensure its strong enough to hold.  

And there you have it, a finished slouchy beannie!

If you have any questions regarding this hat, please feel free to comment! I understand how frustrating it can be when you're still learning. 

Special Thanks to Kristen for allowing me to guest post and helping me with my button for my blog!!

xoxo

mattabellax3

www.mattabellablogs.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/mattabellax3

mattabellax3@gmail.com

Flashback Friday: Graduation Day!

Happy Friday!! In case you missed my Twitter yesterday, I've decided to transition Throwback Thursday officially to Flashback Friday! I'm not sure if I'll keep the linky or not; I think you all like reading and seeing some of my old stuff, but no one really is doing it, too:) So we'll see!

Now, something historic happened 11 years ago yesterday. Something so monumental it has stayed with me forever! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, on May 24, 2001, I graduated high school!!! Ahhhhh!!!

Wow, now let us take a moment to take a deep breath in realization of just how long ago that was. And how old I really am....

Actually, let's not dwell on that! hahaha.

Graduation was a huge deal! Everything we knew was going to be over and the future was full of complete unknowns. Sure, most of us knew where we were going to college and maybe had an idea of what we'd major in, but what would we do after? Who would we marry? Would we have kids? Where would we live? It was a vast unknown, and it was scary.

And exciting.

And sad.

This song actually came out for the class of 2000, but it was still played on the radio graduation season of '01 and to this day, when I hear it, it holds special memories to me! Do you all remember this song??:)

*sigh* good ol' days.

My high school graduation was pretty wonderful. I was valedictorian (okay, go ahead and talk about what a dork I was lol) and had a really fabulous speech! (I'm going to share the parts of it that I remember sometime because it's honestly relevant for even today!) It was the last big event that my Grampa was able to attend before he passed away in 2004. After the reception, high school boyfriend and I went to McDonalds and I'm pretty sure the McDonalds worker thought we had just gotten married! (I was in a white dress and he in a suit and tie lol).

So... eleven years later... and look how far I've come... finished college... have a real job... no husband or kids yet (and I'm okay with that!:) but at times... I still feel like I'm that seventeen year old girl. I have a lot of the same insecurities and fears. The same thoughts and feelings. I've definitely matured, but I think there's a part of me that will honestly always be that seventeen year old girl...

How about you? Do you remember your graduation?? How long ago was it?? (if it's within like 5 years, don't tell me, I'll just feel older jk;) What special memories do you have from high school? How has your life changed?

Share your thoughts with me in the comments!!:)

Nail Challenge Week 21: Fruit Mani

Strawberries! Bananas! Pineapple! Kiwi! Cantaloupe! What do all these words have in common?? They are some of my favorite fruits! (ooh peaches and plums too!!:) I was both excited and nervous about this week's challenge! A fruit mani. *sigh* As with all of these challenges, it could go sooo many different ways! As usual, for inspiration, I checked out Google. So many girls did so many fabulous designs on their nails! I considered doing a variety of fruit--almost like little fruit baskets on my hands! But that was just sooo much work...

So, I cheated. Again. And I know stamping isn't really *cheating* but it still kinda feels like the easy way out. Hahah.

Thank you Shany for making a plate with a strawberry on it!:) lol

My plan was actually to make it look like the strawberries had been drawn on and colored in on my nails. In my head, my inspiration was the Dooney and Bourke bags that looked like they'd been doodled on

via

So two coats of ORLY Opal Hope... p.s. how beautiful is this color??? I love that it's soft and shiny and changes colors in different lights. When applied by itself, it doesn't totally go with my skin tones, but for this, I think it was perfect! After that, I kinda did some red blotches with Sinful Colors GoGo Girl (still my fave shade of red right now!!;). Then stamping with Konad Special Black.

Someone at work pointed out they look like lady bugs... and I think they kinda do, but they're STRAWBERRIES!!:) Yay!:)

What's your fruit? What fruits would you have put on your nails??:)

Who doesn't love a good blog hop??

Hi Lovelies! I've been working on a new page that I should have posted soon that will share with you some fun blog hops and all my favorite blogger buttons (p.s. if you have a button and want to do a button swap, I am totally interested in doing that!! Send me a note!)

Anyway, Melissa over at This Girls Life started Wow Wow Wednesday Blog Hop a couple months ago! I think last week was my first time participating in it and this week I was selected as the featured blogger! Yay!! It's still a young and growing hop, so you all should hop on over to Melissa's blog and check out her and everyone else who's sharing their links!:) If you like my blog (and why wouldn't you? jk) there's a good chance you'll enjoy hers as well! She has a lot of different reviews and tips -- both beauty related and just every day life! She has some fab organizing advice and a few recipes scattered in here and there!

Also, if you know of any other good blog hops that you think I should share, just let me know!!

Review: L'oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

Hi Lovelies! And welcome to the start of another week! When someone asks you what your favorite products are, you probably have a pretty good idea--my favorite foundation is X... my favorite eye shadows are Y... my favorite lip gloss is Z... etc. But when it comes to mascara, I have one I really like, but I'm not sooo comitted to it that I'm not willing to try others.

In fact, if we're being completely honest, I'm what one might call... a mascara whore... lol. Anytime a new mascara comes out, I feel like I *need* to try it! I have this compelling need to see if it does what it really claims! ('cause you know EVERY mascara promises to thicken, lengthen, plumpen, darken, yada yada yada. But do they really???!)

So, I've tried A LOT of mascaras. And some work.. some get gloopy.. some make my eyelashes fall out.. okay, that one hasn't happened, but it's felt like it at times! lol.

When I saw this mascara at Ulta ($9.49), I was quite intrigued! It didn't have the normal mascara wand, but rather a little ball on the end of it! What an idea! I figured it could get into all the little crevices of my eye where it may be harder (and more possible to stick in my eye) to use the regular classic wand design.

May I introduce you to L'oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara!

Before I get into a full review, can I please draw your attention to this packaging. It looks like a.... wait for it... TELESCOPE!!!! OMG! I honestly did not even see that when I bought it; it wasn't 'til I'd been using it for a few days before I saw it! HAHAH Love it!

So when you open it up, you can see how it has a little ball on it:

Here's what it claims: "100% of lashes are extended and separated. The spherical brush allows you to apply in every direction - result... you have fanned out lashes for a dramatic effect." I know a lot of girls didn't really like this. And I'd even been warned before I used it. Someone told me, "Oh, I tried that; you're not going to like it." So I went in to using it kinda nervous... and skeptical.

I think this mascara is actually pretty fabulous. I've been using it for about three weeks now, and I'm very happy with it. The formula is lovely--not too thick, not too thin. It's starting to get a little clumpy, but since I've been using it every day, I'm not too surprised.

I like that it makes my eyelashes look dark (I got it in blackest black) without making them look too shiny or like I have a lot of mascara on, ya know?

I don't feel like my lashes are a whole super lot longer, but I do believe it "fans" them out and makes them appear longer. People have noticed my eyes more since I've been using it, so it definitely works:)

Final opinion? I like it, but it is a little pricey. I probably will not buy it again, not because there is anything wrong with it, but I still haven't found a mascara I'm ready to commit to and will continue whoring myself out until I do:) Next up? I'll be comparing Ulta's Lash Blow Out to this one!

So, have you tried the ball mascara applicator yet? What did you think? And what is your favorite mascara?? Do you have one??