DIY FRIDAY: Lalaloopsy Nail Art

I tried. I really did.

I am obsessing over nail stuff recently. I've been buying loads of nail polish, nail art brushes, nail dotters and whatnot. Not that I'm a good nail artist (if that's even a correct term), I've never tried doing nail art until today.

My daughter found this Lalaloopsy nail art tutorial and we tried it this afternoon when she got home from school. Here's the video tutorial by Totally Cool Nails:

And here's what how my version turned out:

Lalaloopsy Nail Art

Mittens Fluff 'N' Stuff

Peanut Big Top

I didn't realize how difficult it would be to maneuver nail art brushes. And it didn't help that my hands were shaking. But I think I did a pretty decent job considering that this was my first try. I mean, the dolls look pretty much like dolls, right? *Um, yeah, scary looking dolls!* Hahaha. I tried. I really did! Anyway, I can't wait to play with my stash again! I have a bunch of nail art designs that I want to try on my Pinterest. :)

So that's what my daughter is wearing on her nails until Sunday (they're not allowed to wear nail polish to school). And here's what I'm wearing... Something to brighten up the gloomy weather. :)

Pastels Mani

AWESOME FIND: A Dress For Less

It's sale season!!! OMG. :) I haven't shopped in a long time and I've been really proud of myself for not succumbing to retail therapy. I think it's because I refuse to leave the house if I have no important business to do because I hate getting stuck in horrible traffic, which is like ALWAYS. But for the past weeks, I have managed to do some quick trips to the mall and have reacquainted myself with the absolutely wonderful feeling of shopping. :)

I got some stuff, alright, but I am not going to show them off one-by-one, don't worry. :) But I do have one purchase that I would like to boast about and it is a dress from... are you ready??? KIDS OF BAYO!!! Yes, Kids of Bayo! :) My daughter and I were shopping clothes for her and I was so kilig when I bought myself a dress in a children's clothing store. I mean I am already *bleeeeeep* years old (hahaha)! A total ego boost! I never ever dreamt that I would fit in their stuff, let alone, try on their clothes! And I must say that they have super adorable clothes!

I can't wait for my next purchase at Kids of Bayo. And I would love to get a piece of clothing for each of my daughters and me. I think it would be so cute for the three of us to be wearing the same thing! Like maybe this pretty dress! :)

Kids of Bayo knitted stripe dress. Sorry for the bad photo lighting....

At Php896.00 (about USD21.40), retail price? Yes! But at 50% off? HELL YES! Actually, I would gladly pay more than the retail price of this dress. But the discount makes it super sweet! I love it!!! :) Too bad, they no longer had sizes...

A super steal at Php448.00 (about USD10.70)!!!

I am one happy shopper! :) Visit http://kidsofbayo.com.ph to see their new collection and for store locations.

DIY Friday: Depot MAC Eyeshadow

Over the years of working as a professional makeup artist, I have learned how important it is to keep my kit compact. Being the hoarder that I am, the organizing task is quite a challenge. I carry A LOT of stuff with me. 3 bags and they're all heavy. Add another one if I need to lug around my airbrush makeup. Ridiculous, I know.

I refuse to bring just what I need and leave the rest at home. When I do, I always leave something behind - like the case where I keep all my pencils, or eyelash curler, or mascara, etc. And I always look for something I do not have with me. Always. So I'd rather bring everything with me than stress myself out while working.

Since I'm a stubborn packer (that sounds funny, hihihi!), I like making use of every little space I have in my kit. My ultimate goal is to fit everything in just one case or bag, which is quite impossible for me, honestly. But keeping things compact helps a great deal. One thing I love to do is to depot my eyeshadows and house as much in a palette. It doesn't just save me space but it saves me time of going through all the eyeshadows, looking for a specific color and opening the damn packaging. I used to keep the eyeshadows in their original boxes and neatly line them up in my kit. It was a really beautiful thing to see but it's too high maintenance.

There are a lot of depotting tutorials out there but here's how I depot an eyeshadow: (And I am proud  how perfect the eyeshadow looks after I depot it! :))

Here are the things you'll need:

The materials

• Alcohol
• Something sharp to stick through an opening, I used a cuticle pusher
• Flat iron
• Tissue
• Hand towel
• Tweezers (not in photo)
• MAC eyeshadow

First, turn on your flat iron and place a piece of tissue, folded in half, on the heating plate. I use medium to full heat.

Prepare the flat iron

Next, take the eyeshadow. Grab your sharp tool and stick it to the space between where the lid locks to close the container and the base. Remove the top part that houses the eyeshadow pan from the base.

Take apart the container

Place the small container with the eyeshadow on your heated flat iron, with the plastic facing down. Let it sit for a couple of minutes - about 3 to 5 minutes. This is to melt the strong adhesive so it will be easier to remove the pan from the base. Do not force the eyeshadow pan off the base, that will crack the powder and ruin it.

Melt the adhesive

Take the eyeshadow off the flat iron with a pair of tweezers. Carefully clamp on the sides of the plastic base and make sure the tweezers do not touch the eyeshadow so as not to ruin it. Do not touch it with your bare fingers as it will be very hot. Flip the container and check if the middle part has melted.  If it has, the eyeshadow pan will be ready to remove from the housing. Put the eyeshadow facing down on the towel, take your sharp metal tool and stick it to the middle to hold it down then take your tweezers and pull up the plastic base.

Remove the eyeshadow pan from the container

With the eyeshadow facing down, let the pan cool down for a minute of two. Grab your alcohol and tissue. Spray and wipe and repeat until you've removed all the sticky residue off the pan. Check the sides of the pan as well. Since MAC eyeshadow pans are not magnetic I added a metal sticker on the bottom of the pan since I will place this in a magnetic palette together with my other eyeshadows.

Clean the pan

If you're as OC as I am, I like placing the original label of the eyeshadow on the depotted pan. To do that, take the main container and place it on the flat iron with the sticker facing down for a minute. Take your sharp tool and carefully remove the sticker from the container by scraping the label off on the sides. Take the sticker and place it on the bottom of the pan (in this case, on top of the metal sticker). It should have enough adhesive to stick to the bottom of the pan.

Add the label

Now your newly depotted eyeshadow is ready to move in its new home. Yipee! :)

Ta-dah! MAC Paradisco, depotted!

The newbie with her sisters

My Z PRO Black Palette. Look, I have space for one more! :)

Now don't throw away the main container just yet. Keep it, collect some more then bring them to Singapore or Hong Kong (hahaha, such a hassle!) and Back-To-MAC them and get a free lippie! I know, it sucks that MAC Philippines has discontinued the Back-To-MAC program when most countries participate in this environmental program. This is why I rarely buy locally as my way of protesting. Anyway, you can ask your friends to do this for you if you have no plans of leaving the country soon. That's what me and my friends do!

Ready for Back-To-MAC

Don't have a palette, yet? Check out our store, We Heart Makeup. We carry Z Palettes, UNII Palettes, Sigma brushes and a lot more! Visit our Multiply site and Facebook page! :)

Z Pro Black Palette - Php1,350.00
Metal Stickers - Php250.00 / pack of 30 pcs or Php10.00 each

Yosi Samra Obsession

I honestly thought I wouldn't need another pair of Yosi Samra's foldable ballet flats. I got a black glittery one early this year and was pretty happy with my color pick as it goes with almost everything. I actually have another pair in leopard print which I haven't used and I'm thinking of selling them - any size 9s out there? :)

I practically stopped breathing for a second or two when I saw these gorgeous colors. And the ever so confusing wanting feeling is there again...

Yosi Samra Two-Tone Ballet Flats

Cobalt / True Blue

Kelly / Lime

Nude / Pink

Yosi Samra Patent Two-Tone Ballet Flats

Black / Orange

Black / Pink

Black / Yellow

Yosi Samra Colorblock Ballet Flats

Lemon / Lime / Cobalt

Lemon / Pink / Lime

Light Grey / Orange / Dark Grey

Navy / Orange / Cobalt

Nude / Violet / Navy

Orange / Violet / Blue

Right away, I am drawn to the grey ones. But the navy / orange / cobalt is really nice as well. And so are the black & neon combos. And both nudes as well. How confusing!!!

I wonder if these are available here in Manila already? I haven't been at the malls in a long time. *I'm such a good girl!* :)

How about you, which do you like?

Locally, Yosi Samra is available at:
GAS, Greenbelt 3
2/F Trinoma Mall
Powerplant Mall
Alabang Town Center

BEAUTY GO-TO: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock

Thank goodness for my curiosity. I believe I have found my HG daily sunblock.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock SPF 70 Helioplex

 
I blogged about this (here) when I saw a magazine ad last year and did my best to get a hold of it. I have been using it regularly for months already and I am very happy with it. I love that it is light and not sticky and that it has a high level of SPF (70, to be exact). It does have that distinct sunblock smell but it goes away, or maybe you get used to it, after a while. This particular sunblock claims that it "layers invisibly under makeup". I am not sure if it doesn't really produce a white cast (like what regular sunblocks or makeup with SPF do) in photographs as I hardly have my photos taken but I am quite satisfied how I can thinly spread the product on my face and it applies almost clear.

"l ayers invisibly under makeup"

Before I started on this bottle, I was using Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF15 and I didn't want to open this until I finished the previous one. But this was one of those rare moments when my EQ gives up on me. Hahaha.

My ex-moisturizer - Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15

There was a time when I couldn't find the Neutrogena and used the Cetaphil instead and I just hated how it felt on my skin. Offhand, it was really thick and heavy and made me oily even before I left the house. The photo below shows just how thick the consistency of the Cetaphil compared to Neutrogena.

Cetaphil on the left. Neutrogena on the right.

Since my skin gets naturally oily through out the day, I realized that I don't need a heavy dose of moisturizer. What I really need more of is sunblock. We all need more, actually. And this sunblock actually gives me the right amount of moisturization without the crazy oiliness. And with the high amount of sun protection it has, I am very satisfied. Another simple and affordable product that works.

Sadly, this isn't available locally but if you have access, it is widely available in the US. It is also available on Amazon.com for USD9.92 (about Php411.00).

AWESOME FINDS: Free Fonts

I love fonts. I think all people do. Well, most, at least, hopefully. I love them so much that I hoard them. And I always question myself why I have so much when my head starts aching from searching for that perfect font when I'm working on a project.

My favorite are script fonts. Maybe because my script is horrible and I've always had this desire to be calligraphist. Hopeless combination. I also love handwritten fonts and I found this website with handwritten fonts submitted by readers. It's very interesting to see so much different handwriting.

Kevin & Amanda Font For Peas

Here are my faves:

They also have some cute dingbat fonts:

 

To my surprise, they have another site of free scrapbook fonts! More freebies!

Kevin & Amanda Free Scrapbook Fronts

And there are a lot of interesting fonts:

It's really just amazing how fonts have the ability to evoke a certain mood or feeling. Go ahead, check the websites out and download away! They're free! FREE! :)

Kevin & Amanda Fonts For Peas, click HERE.
Kevin & Amanda Free Scrapbook Fonts, click HERE.