Femme Fatales!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Sisterly Love

Looking at the title you're probably wondering is that actually what my post is about?  And yes it is!

Last week my best friend, my sister came to visit me for a few days.  This trip was supposed to have happened last year and has been planned and rescheduled for what seemed like forever, so to finally have had her here still seems surreal.
She is my best friend, my sister, my confidant.  Nobody knows me the way she does.  There's things I tell her that I can't even tell my own mother!!

You know what I'm talking about.  A friend who never lets you down and when she does is quick to make up for it.  A friend who you can go without seeing or talking to for months at a time and then finally one day you both get together and it's as if no time has passed between you two at all!  She is that friend for me.
I love you sis!

I made this sign for her while waiting at the airport, only her flight got there before I did so I had it sitting on the passenger side of the car for her with a pink feather boa.



We went to restaurants and cafes and taste tested what ever we wanted.  Bring on the sweets...and coffee...and a little bit of everything!


I gave her a little scenic tour of my favorite little town Fort Langley as we were on our way to the movies...




 We got there extra early because we wanted to make sure we got good seats.  Bridesmaids!  Excellent girls night out movie.  Ladies if you haven't seen it yet, it will make you laugh and cry at the same time.



We went out for a hike with the dogs...of course I brought my camera and started shooting away...


She tried to flatten a tree with her bare palms...lol



We chilled at Crescent Beach...

...while eating cupcakes.  Mine was the Cookies and Cream, she had the Chocolate Chip Mint.  They were to die for!


We watched a little sailboat capsize....ok more like the wind blew it over.



We played pretty and...


...gave ourselves pedicures.




We also prettied ourselves up for each other...aren't we sexy?!?






You're my best friend, my sister, and I Love ya!!



XoXo,
Zxen

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Giveaway Winner!




to



Jasmine1485

You are the Mini Giveaway Winner!
you will be contacted by email shortly


Please keep checking back for more blog updates and new giveaways :)

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Mini Giveaway

Hello Darling Divas!

I am doing a small giveaway of a few products I bought to try.
Normally when I try new things I always buy a second to give to a friend so we can try it together.  This gives me someone to compare it with.  Keeping with that spirit I went to Bath and Body Works across the border and bought a few candles (for those of you that know me you know I LOVE to burn candles).  Bath and Body Works had a hugs sale happening but because I've never bought from them before I only bought small trial sized candles, until I get a feel for their products and decide if I officially like them or not.

One of you will get to try three of their scents with me :)  Isn't that exciting?

The Giveaway




as well as:


The rules

1. Be a follower of this blog
2. Tell us what your favorite candle scent is 
3. Tweet about this giveaway (for extra entry)


I realize it might not be a BIG giveaway, but it's a cute one, and big or small, we ALL love getting something in the mail :)

Contest closes May 15th @8pm Pacific Time and is open internationally

Saturday, April 30, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge = Complete

It comes as no surprise that lately I've been such a bad blogger.  Bad blogger!  In saying that I'm instantly thinking of The Emperors New Groove where he calls himself a bad llama.  Bad llama!



Haha, come on, it was pretty funny, admit it.  You laughed, just a little :)  I LOVE that movie!


I'm gonna take the time to finish anything I've left unattended for a while, like my 30 Day Song Challenge.
I've left off at Day 23...so...



Day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding

Considering that I'm already married and to be honest it was such a whirlwind, one song I would have loved to have heard back then is...



...and just for good measure here's one of our wedding pictures :)

Maybe not my best lol, let me just say it was a good night! :)



Day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral

Well that's morbid.  I never thought about that before.



Ok, so I have Glee on the brain.  But in an ironic way it would be a perfect song for a funeral.


Day 25 - a song that makes you laugh



LOL!


Day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument

Does it have to be the whole song I wonder?  I taught myself on the piano how to play...



So the truth is I can't play it that good but I can still play it and that counts for something, right?


Day 27 - a song that you wish you could play




Day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty

Of what?  har har.  Ok Ok...hmmm...



So I do have a few things to feel guilty about afterall and this song is very fitting of that feeling.


Day 29 - a song from your childhood



I grew up on Michael Jackson.  He was, and will always be a legend.  I remember stealing my dads cassettes late at night so I could listen to them.  Oh yeah, I was a bad ass.


Day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year

You expect me to remember that?  I'm lucky to remember what I had for supper yesterday!
I'm gonna dig real deep and see if anything comes to mind, anything at all.



Ok, so it's not exactly last years favorite at this exact time, but I did have it on ipod list last year and I still do now.  Close enough :)

Remember, to see the complete list of the 30 Day Song challenge, click here :)

Sunday, April 10, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 22

Day 22 - a song that you listen to when you're sad

When I'm sad, I'm sad, not really sure what I listen to.  If I'm that sad the last thing on my mind is to put some music on but I do listen to even sadder music.  It may sound weird but sometimes I just need to get all the 'sad' out of my system so I can move on, a sad ballad does just that.



"sniff sniff"  What do you listen to when you're sad?

For a complete list of the 30 Day Song Challenge, click here.


XoXo,
Zxen

Saturday, April 9, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 21

Day 21 - a song that you listen to when you're happy

Lately I've been listening to one song that I've heard on the radio, wether I'm happy or sad, I listen to it.  wether I'm working or doing house chores, I listen to it.  Wether I'm driving, or at the gym, I...well you get the idea  :)



Tell me this isn't catchy?!  Elly totally rocks it!!
So yes, I've been listening to this when I'm in a good mood, or at the very least it puts me in a good mood :)

For a complete list of the 30 Day Song Challenge, click here.


XoXo,
Zxen

Friday, April 8, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 20

Day 20 - a song that you listen to when you're angry

This is a really tough one.  Usually if I'm mad I go to the gym to work out my frustrations and listen to whatever is on my playlist which varies daily.  I guess I would say I would listen to motivational music because it helps to calm me down and reminds me that for whatever reason I'm angry it isn't worth it.

A good one would be:



This always gives me an extra push to pump harder, run faster, add an extra five minutes to whatever I'm doing  :)  So catchy!  Of course it always helps to visualize Kevin Bacon dancing in the warehouse :)  Oh yes it does!!


For a full list of the 30 Day Song Challenge click here.

Join in, it's fun!  :)


XoXo,
Zxen

Thursday, April 7, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 12, and 13, 14, 15, and 16, 17, 18 and 19!

Yikes!  How did I fall so far behind?!
Anyways, here we go!  We got a lot of catching up to do!  :)

Day 12 - a song from a band you hate

I wouldn't necessarily say I hate any music, but there is some that I dislike and would rather NOT listen to, for instance:



and this is just an example...nothing personal against this band...it's more all heavy music, I love the guitar solos but all the screaming and raving is lost on me.

Day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure

there's actually two :)



I'm so 80's!!  LOVE it!!  In every way possible!!  :)

and the second is



Day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love



Day 15 - a song that describes you

That's a tough one.  I can't think of any song that describes me except one, it seems like I'm always searching for this:



always in pursuit of happiness!!

Day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate



bleh!  that's all I'm gonna say.

Day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio



:) :) :)

Day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio



everybody boogie wonderland.....  :)

Day 19 - a song from your favorite album



LOVE this song!!  Somedays I keep it on repeat!!

And we're all caught up, that wasn't painful was it?  Of course not  :)


Remember, if you want to join in on the 30 Day Song Challenge click here.



XoXo,
Zxen

Long Overdue Blog Award

Waaaay back at the beginning of the year I was awarded a second blog award by one of my lovely and talented followers Alicia from Liquored on Lacquer.

Please forgive me as it has taken me this long to properly thank you and post it on my blog.  I am so grateful to have received this award (though I feel so undeserving for having left it for so long).

As I always say, better late (in this case waaay late) than never!

I have been awarded the Stylish blogger Award and truly I am honored.


I have to admit I check from time to time to see how many followers I have, let's face it, we all want to know that we don't spend all this time blogging and sharing our interests (or lack there of for me recently, my bad!) for ourselves.  We all want to be accepted and to know that there are people out there who look up to us, appreciate what we have to say or simply enjoy whatever it is we blog about and I am one of those people.  I don't want to be the crazy lady at the super market who talks to herself or laughs crazily to things in her head.  Do I want justification for my life on this earth?  Hell yeah!  Though it would be great to be as popular as DulceCandy or JessicaHarlowe or perhaps even Michelle Phan, I wonder, is it really all it's cracked up to be?  Either way, I want to send out a huge thank you to all my loyal followers, it means the world to me that you would stick by my side even when I'm MIA (sorry!)

Back to the award!

There are some rules:
  1. Thank and link back to the person who sent the award
  2. Share 7 things about yourself
  3. Award 15 (really?) recently discovered bloggers
  4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

First - 7 things about myself:
  1. I went back to school (taking a night course on photography and fell in love with it!!!)
  2. I bought my own car (yay! it's been long over due)
  3. I'm finally coming out of my shell and getting in contact with other fellow photographers (difficult and intimidating since in person I can be very shy and reserved, but I'm doing it!)
  4. I love to have one day a week where I do NOTHING!!
  5. I love my husband but man some days I wish I could smack him upside the head!
  6. I will turn 30 at the end of the month (yikes!)
  7. very frustrated with my weight loss, going soooooo slowly sometimes I just want to pack it all in and give up

And tonight's award goes to:

Glamour Girl Boutique (who introduced me to Adele <3)
Makeup Junkie 88 (she already has one but here's a second)

I realize that's not exactly 15 blogs but it's all I got.

Thanks again Alicia <3

Metallic Madness

It's been a while since I've done a make-up post and my little sister (my best friend but we call each other sisters, we even got sisters tattoo's together) has asked me to do a simple tutorial using non expensive drug store make-up, so that's what I did.

My little sister is just starting to experiment with some make-up so she requested a more earthy tone.  I went and got Maybeline New York Modern Metallic 50Q in Sunlit Bronze.  Basic earthy tones but with a metallic twist which I think will be great for this summer.  You can keep it neutral with just a hint of jazzy sparkle.  Dare to be different?  I do!

I used a few other products I already had in my home but since she's just starting and maybe you are too, to get just the eye look finished cost me under $30 dollars and that includes tax.  Not bad right?  Playing with make-up doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg after all.


This is what we will be using for our eyes.

*swatches in natural daylight and inside the house*

I started with a fresh face already, meaning I already applied concealer and foundation, not a must but it depends on how you feel or how much coverage you want.  After that I applied lid primer, I LOVE Smashbox Photo Finish!!
By applying lid primer it helps to really make the colours from the eyeshadow pop and it helps it last longer before it needs to be touched up.

I applied primer to my lids and under my brow bone.

Using the base color (and it tells you right on the shadow, it has a number and says, Base, Crease, Lid, etc.) I apply it to the whole eye area, top to bottom.

Next I use the lid colour and apply it only to my lids.

#3 or Crease colour gets applied directly to the crease of the eye, but I like to feather it out at the edges and bring it up a bit under the brow bone for a more smokey metallic look.

Lastly to finish the eyeshadow part apply the liner colour as close to your lashes as you can to line them. I use a really small fine brush for this.  Remember, at night you can omit this step and use real liner to line your eyes to really take it from a day to night look.

Next I like to fill in my brows, because they're so thin and sparse a nice brow shape really helps to smoothen your look out.

Lets not forget our lashes.  I LOVE my L'Oreal Lash Explosion and as you can see from the picture and faded name brand I use it quite a bit.  Again you can dramatically change this look by adding false lashes before applying mascara and take it to a whole other level.

Dab a bit of blush to your cheeks.

Add some colour to your kisser.
(Because the eyes aren't as heavily noticeable with these metallics a bold lip colour contrasts really well)






And.......







Voila!
Your look is complete.
A neutral colour with a daring dash of metallic sparkle!



I hope you've enjoyed this look.

What colours will you be sporting this summer??


XoXo,
Zxenarea