Getting Nailed Challenge for the week of October 30th:

My salon got the Zoya's Magique collection.
http://www.artofbeauty.com/scrpt/scr.dll/cat?brand=%7BbrandID%7D

Of course I was giddy because they were brand spankin' new and chock-full of shimmer. I decided to wear the Ivy. I am not 100% happy with my choice. It is does not work with my skin tone. It is too warm.
It is a fiery rose copper color.

(From left to right) Pru in the bottle looks very similiar to Anastasia. However they are vastly different. Pru is a true grape. There might be a drop(more like a pin prick) of pink in there.

Ivy is a pink toned penny color with incredible shimmer.

Anastasia is a dark plum chocolate color with copper shimmer. It is very rich looking. Perfect for the dark fall nail look. Work friendly.

Evangeline is being described on the MUA nail board as a cherry color. On me it turned into a subtle raspberry shade with bursts of shimmer. It popped. This has the potential to be an all season color. Perfect for the cool days in fall and the hot lazy days of summer.

Charity is the most unique and potentially unwearable color from the collection. I would describe this as a dishwater lavender with a copper shimmer.

Colette was MIA. It looks like an impressive shimmery nutmeg shade. I have not seen it in person to make an informed description.

As a whole this is a solid performing collection. It only takes two coats to get the shade from the bottle. It has superior shimmer and many are true duochromes. If these were diamonds they would have a high "fire" rating.

What nail polish did you pick this week? Tell us the shade and if you are satisfied with it.

photos: Blogdorf Goodman

Happy Bday to my favorite "smarty pants" friend Tbone.

May her 30th bday be her best. I hope the day is jammed packed with great friends, some type of cake, delicious spirits, stunning prezzies and fun activities.

Besides being her Bday...November 1st marks the day that her second NaNoWriMo novel begins.

Last year it was about pirates.

This year it will be about a love story in space.

There will be robots. There will be romance.

There will be Parisjasmal.

I asked for a robot sidekick...but lets be frank...

I want a wookie.

Tune in at http://braintrappedingirlsbody.blogspot.com/ and help me wish T a great birthday in the comments!

Owl earrings $10 (FredFlare)

Barn Owl napkin holder from Chateau X by Jane Krolik $16 (Bergdorf Goodman)

Owl Pitcher $65 (Gumps)

Carved Owl Stool $195(Gumps)

Silver Owls Globe $28 (Anthropologie)

Nanny Owl Skirt by 5 Rue Keller $228 (Anthropologie)

Forest Denizen Parasol(with owl handle) $158 (Anthropologie)

There is a new blog in our ranks. It has everything I love.
There is nothing like a mysterious author dishing the dirt on their former workplace. Throw in fashion...and it becomes addictive.

http://allabouteva.wordpress.com/

A shoe or a bag or whatever gets placed on a black breakfast tray – the market pages in Not Vogue have black backgrounds, and Marianne says she can’t “envision” a $700 Swarovski studded Hollywould flat with her own initials seared into the velvet unless it’s on the right background.

Got any guesses? My "Nancy Drew mojo" is on mute right now. My head is in a fog with my own work related issues.
But when this passes...I will be reading this blog everyday looking for clues.
I have needed a new obsession...a new mystery to crack.
photos: gettyimages

Dear Santa,
Please throw this bottle down my chimney!

There is nothing like a stunning perfume bottle. This one deserves the center stage on any vanity table. I have seen this lovely in person and it is 1000 times better than this photograph. The blue is so deep and the crystals are on fire. Their shimmer power rivals a diamond.

It will house the juice Nuits de Noho.

Notes are Bergamot, Rosewood, Jasmine, Creamy Vanilla and Sheer Patchouli.

It will be available on November 3rd 2006 at the Bondno9 site.
http://www.bondno9.com/catalog/

photo: Bondno9

Aesthetics + Economics shows us that stripes will be the rage soon.

Fab Sugar gives ideas to stylish moms looking for the perfect playdate outfit.

Bag Snob. gives us the deets on a great handbag sale on Net A Porter. No Stams or the Miu Miu I passed up at Saks.

Beauty Addict introduces us to a new compact to covet.

Rachel at Stylebites helps organize your closet. I need all the help I can get.

Trashionista.net gives us the glimpse of the Viktor and Rolf collection at H&M. I covet that white ski jacket.

MakeupBag starts a new lemming for a shimmer powder. How can you resist?

TheMakeupGirl gives an overview of the best nude products. Bookmark this page.

BonBonsITB (a site I love!) gives us a honest review for the Borba drinks.

eBeautydaily starts a series on hair extensions. I had no clue that a needle and thread is actually used.

If you are a John Legend fan...you need to run to Vera's site I'm not Obsessed to check out a great interview.

Fall's best flats as reported by Natalie at Coquette. I have always loved this site. It is one of my daily reads.

Elke the beautynewsletter's shows us a blast from the past. Fond memories of the 80's.

Stylehives showcases the Liza top by Katrin Schnabl.

Girlawhirl shares with us some great handbags that support breast cancer research. Also check out her post for Salem, Massachusetts. I loved Salem and highly recommend it as a vacation destination.

Mattie Roberts introduces us to a store called Gavilane.

Omiru has the ready made outfit for your perfect dressed man: Hoodie and a Tee.

Jewelry for your guy? Ethnic Ehtos men's jewely on the Jewelry-Weblog.

Fashiontribes interviews EBay's Shawn Henderson.

Websnob
photo:gettyimages

This is the new Armani foundation. It is owned by Miss Griffie. It is called Designer Shaping Cream Foundation.
http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/_us/_en/home/index.aspx

It is a creamy silk-like foundation that gives incredible coverage.
In fact this might be the best coverage I have ever seen in a foundation.
It gave Griffie a luminous glowing complexion that was flawless.

It had incredible lasting power. It looked freshly applied at the end of our long shopping day. I was envious of that. My La Mer survives on my face but it will look worn and ready to come off by night fall.

Griffie stated that it felt like she had no makeup on. When a foundation is lightweight and just feels good on the skin....you know you found a Holy Grail product.

I think the gang will all cave soon. It appears that it is only a matter of time for Koneko and Cavewoman.
I am dragging my feet. I can not cheat on my La Mer just yet. We just found each other and it would be wrong to throw La Mer to the curb because a snazzy new product from Italy has managed to turn my head.
Where is my loyalty?

photo: Blogdorf Goodman

Remember when I said that I was never going to talk about black nail polish again?

Well...I fibbed.

These hands belong to Krakow. She is a dear MUA/Cleveland friend. One hand has the infamous Chanel Black Satin on it and the other is OPI's Black Onyx(edited: Thanks Melanie!). It is hard to tell the difference.
But there is a difference.
Everyone actually preferred the OPI polish...including the Chanel staff.

In case anyone was wondering...I never did get that call from my local Chanel counter.



photos: Blogdorf Goodman

I had the best makeover of my life a few weeks ago at a Macys event. It was at the Chanel counter.
Makeovers are always a blow to my wallet.
I get caught up in the moment.
This time was no exemption.
The only difference is each and every product I purchased is so damn wearable. They will never be regulated to the "what was I thinking drawer" that houses countless teal eyeliners and "hard to wear" magenta shadows.

Chanel's Winter Shimmer powder blush: A very lovely shade of pink with some shimmer. It smells like Creed's Fleur de the Rose Bulgare.

Chanel Inimitable mascara: The best I have ever used. Great brush that leaves no mess on lashes. No smudges, great volume, length and the best curl in a tube. I am beyond smitten.
My lashes have never looked better.

Chanel's Winter Nights: The most amazing palette. The greenish black shadow is the "Holy Grail" for any smokey eye. Worth every penny.

Chanel's Wonderland Glossimer: A soft pink(almost looks like pink tinged snow) with subtle shimmer. This is a strange one. It does not have a lot of pigment but somehow it just seems to make your lippie better. The shimmer and the lovely shine of the gloss make it a must have.

photos: Blogdorf Goodman

The NYTimes Style Magazine featured some lovely eyeshadows in a piece called Shadowlands.

The makeup artists at Rochas excelled at the sultry, smoky eye, which Osmond interprets here in a gunmetal shadow. She starts by applying a soft iridescent pencil, like Sisley’s Phyto Khol Perfect Eyeliner in Steel, or a creamy gray shadow, like Sisley’s Silver Touch, all around the eye, and then blends with a flat brush. Skip the blush and load up on Sisley’s Phyto Mascara Ultra Facil in Black and a superpale lipstick, like Sisley’s Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick in Soft Rose.

There are great directions to get the perfect smokey eye at About:Beauty
http://beauty.about.com/od/allaboutyoureyes/ht/smokeyes.htm

Golden Girl Osmond used theatrical pigment to punch up the heavy-metal eye found on the Dolce & Gabbana catwalk. To take this look to the streets, groom brows, and then give them some definition with a product like Guerlain’s Divinora Eye Pencil in Brun. Sweep the gold shadow from the Guerlain Terracotta Duo Matt and Shine in Sable and Or up to the tip of the brow. Rim the upper lash line with Guerlain’s Noir Ébène eyeliner, and wing it out slightly ‘‘so it gives a nice shape to the eyes,’’ Osmond says. Then add ‘‘a lot of black mascara.’’ Pair with a matte face and orange lips. Try Guerlain’s KissKiss Maxi Shine lipstick in Orange Shine.


photos: Style.com,NYTimes, and look.at.com
Rochas Fall 2006, Guerlain's Kiss Kiss Maxi Shine lipsticks, Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2006 and Donna Karan Fall 2006.

Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick. Gwyneth Paltrow

MAC's Powerhouse(edited: Thanks Mar!), Lancome's Behnaz and Armani's Hollywood Red.

Run and grab MAC's Powerhouse before it disappears from the counters. It is the best match so far to Lancome's Behnaz.
It is also offically discontinued.

Photo: Blogdorf Goodman

Cavewoman located this Prada at our local ytown TJ Maxx. It was priced at $39.99 and was the only one left.

I prefer the Intense version because the amber note is more pronounced. It is warm and comforting. This original version has a sugary patchouli note. The patchouli is not earthy or dirty. It is sweet like it was rolled around in Sweet N' Low.

I think I might like it.

The notes are: Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Mandarin, (all three of these notes wear off quick on me)Mimosa Absolute, Rose absolute(faint but lovely), Indonesian Patchouli, Patchouli Absolute Labdanum, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Indian Sandalwood and Benzoin Resinoide.

photo: Blogdorf Goodman

This perfume picture is brought to you from the kind support from the Cleveland round table. It is part of the collection of Tussah.
It is called Bois d’Encens by Armani. It is available at Saks.
It is one of the great incenses.
One sniff and you are in a Catholic church dodging nuns.
It is gorgeous.

Read an incredible review at:
http://boisdejasmin.typepad.com/_/2005/11/fragrance_revie_6.html

Photo: Blogdorf Goodman
Stylist: Cavewoman

God Save the Queen!

Sephora's Marie Antoinette Palette $36.

Antonia Fraser's The Journey

Marie Antoinette Action Figure $8.95 @Archie McPhee

A Scented Palace by Elizabeth de Feydeau

Paper dolls by Tom Tierney $9.95(amazon)

Marie Antoinette soundtrack $14.95 (amazon)

Meteorites Powder For The Face(inspired by a jewelry box owned by Marie Antoinette) $48 @ Sephora

Marie-Antoinette Necklace(contains a glittery lipgloss) $20 @ Sephora

Le Sillage de la Reine @ http://www.chateauversailles.fr/fr/1_Souscription_pour_un_parfum_de_Reine.php

***Read about the perfume @ http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2006/5/21/1973818.html

Pieces of heaven inspired from Marie Antoinette from Ladurée. Prices unknown. http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/actualites/actualites_marie_antoinette1.html

Fan @museesdefrance.com

photos: Yahoo, Sephora, Amazon, Archie McPhee,chateauversailles,Laduree and museedefrance.

Cargo Liquid Powder

When it comes to powders I prefer loose to pressed. I love the quality and how it stays fresh throughout the day. Unfortunately this preference comes with a price. It is a "disaster waiting to happen" when you lug your Caron tin or worse yet...try to carry your La Mer jar in your handbag. Spilling or breaking these pricey jars is not something I want to risk.

So I started looking for alternatives.

Cargo makes a loose powder with the convenience of a tube. It is very silky to the touch and gives an instant matte look. It is a natural looking finish that does not cake, turn orange or settle into any fine lines. It evened my skin tone and gave it a lovely sunkissed glow.

It has those magical light reflecting pigments(makeup pixies) that seem to trick everyone into thinking you are healthy, well rested and free of skin issues. The key ingredients are Retinyl Palmitate(form of vitamin A, a combo of retinol and palmitic acid=antioxidant and skin conditioner) and Silica(my friend silicone=helps with blendability, creasing, and lasting power).

I thought this would be similiar to Prescriptive's Magical Powder based on how it felt on my fingers. Instead of that unsettling wet feeling, you get a cashmere soft finish.
It feels amazing on.

It is available at Sephora and retails for $22.
http://www.sephora.com/;jsessionid=OZFHI3VJM4I0LLAUCKBBXCQ

photos: Sephora and Blogdorf Goodman(I am taking truly awful pictures lately---I have lost my mojo.)
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by the PR Firm for Cargo