Author: Lara

 
+

February Birchbox – Rent the Runway

/

Excuses, excuses – I got my Birchbox two days ago and am just now getting around to posting it.

I just cannot resist the specially curated boxes! This month’s curated box is by Rent the Runway, a service that rents designer gown. I was ready to assume that it was a service I wouldn’t be able to use (like Stitch Fix), but they actually carry gowns up to size 22 – and not just a dozen or so…over a hundred! The fact remains though, even with a $30 off code in this box, I never, ever, ever have an occasion to wear a Badgley Mischka gown. Just never.

I will, however, use most of the other goodies in my box: derm e Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Glycolic Scrub, Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo (yup, another one), Not Soap, Radio Body Wash in “The Stuff that Cupid dips his arrows in” (blackberry and vanilla, with added pheromones – I’ll save this for Valentine’s Day), Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner in “Raina”, and theBalm Read My Lips lip gloss in “Bam!” (I’ve been wanting to try theBalm).

If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.

+

Bout Damn Time

I was wondering if my Ulta order was EVER gonna get here.

On the last day of January, I used a 20% coupon to get the stuff I couldn’t find in-store. I ordered Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in “Naked Medium Light”, a Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Blush and Ulta Makeup Brush and Sponge Cleaner to clean it. I also couldn’t resist grabbing stila’s Glow and Behold Makeup Set, which includes Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Cream in “Magnolia”, Deluxe Lip Glaze in “Gleam”, Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in “Lionfish” and a cool rhinestone headband. Normally priced $29, it was only $20 – $16 after my coupon! I really just wanted the headband. (I immediately put it on and showed my husband and he looked at me like I put a cat turd on my head. Ass.)

I chose the skincare sampler – yet another Smashbox sample – Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I also received Altchek MD Daily Moisturizer. Only 2 samples – so sad. I guess technically 3, if I count the philosophy “live joyously” scent card. I don’t.

+

So Cute I Could Puke

My nails are so cute…they make me wanna puke. Look at those hearts – gross!

After Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat, I used two different polishes – Julep “Lindy” on my thumb and ring finger and Julep “Carol”. I thought you would be able to tell the difference between “Lindy” and “Carol” – “Lindy” has shimmery flakies and “Carol” is a sheer jelly – but they look almost exactly the same when topped with Julep “Hartleigh”.

Julep got it right with “Hartleigh”. I had no problem getting the hearts on my nails – the bottle was packed! I got eat least two hearts on each nail and three on a few of them. It also wasn’t all goopy like “America”.

I topped with “HK Girl” to give those hearts extra security. Those suckers aren’t coming off unless I use sandpaper.

At least this Valentine’s Day is preceded by a Friday the 13th…I have that to look forward to.

+

Violet Candy

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lara (@knobbygirl) on

Zoya “Leslie” looks like candy to me – like a dusty violet conversation heart or maybe even a grape sweet tart. It’s hard to see in the picture, but there’s a subtle blue shimmer.

Zoya describes “Leslie” as a soft spring lavender metallic with an energizing turquoise flash.

I started with Zoya Anchor, then two coats of “Leslie” and topped with Zoya Armor. I got a little bit of crispiness around my cuticles again. Blech.

+

Genius Idea

/

So…I LOVE the “Swatch Me” stickers that come on top of Julep polishes. Those stickers make it a snap to find the polish in seconds, instead of having to dump my Color Caddy to find what I’m looking for. True – Julep does sell those stickers, but they’re hella expensive. What’s a girl to do?

A girl goes to Office Depot and spends $6.99 for a pack of 1,100 5/16 x 1/2 inch labels instead!

I really tried to find round labels, but they didn’t have any white ones that were small enough. I kind of like the rectangular ones though – they give the polish enough room to spread. They work great on the flat tops of bottles, but they don’t work so well on bottles that have a slight rounding to the top (Rimmel London). They also aren’t working great on bottles that have a raised imprint on the top of the bottle (OPI, Nicole by OPI, China Glaze, Sinful Colors), because the stickers are not sticky enough. I might have to use clear tape to keep them on.

I’ve gotten through about 200 polishes so far – a little over 2/3 done. I’ve actually never counted my polishes, so I guess that means I have 350+. I’m not stopping til I hit at least 1,000.

+

The Knockouts of the Double R

/

Another outstanding polish from Hare Polish  called “The Knockouts of the Double R”. This Twin Peaks inspired polish was created to match Norma and Shelly’s uniforms at the Double R Diner.

I started with Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat and then two coats of “Double R”. I then got to try out my new Glisten & Glow “HK Girl” Top Coat! For the last few months, I have been seeing this top coat over and over again on Instagram. I would see hands rocking the same polishes I had, but they looked so much better. Almost invariably, they would be using “HK Girl” – so I finally ordered it. It’s $6.99 + $2.50 shipping, so not too terribly pricey. I’m going to try it out for a while before giving a full review, but so far – I love it!

 

+

New Year, New Hue

I finally got my “New Year, New Hue” $15 Zoya deal in! Any three polishes for “free” with $15 shipping, plus 3 mystery minis that have never been available Retail. Zoya sure does have odd sales, but I’ll take it.

I picked out “Binx” – spicy orchid purple dappled with gold metallic and holo sparkles, “Lara” (finally, a polish with my name) – medium magenta-rose pink with subtle yellow undertone and a soft cream finish, and “Paloma” – sheer deep fuchsia-berry with a buildable jelly gloss finish. I totally pink-ed out.

My mystery minis were the Peter Som Collection from New York Fashion Week 2014“Anais” – black with a vein of the same warm pewter pigment running through it for a unique oil slick effect, “Severine” – warm pewter metallic, and “Charlotte”nude.

I’m gonna have some fun!

+

Flakies!

/

Look at those flakies! Iridescent flakies AND glitter.

This is Sally Hansen Triple Shine “Scale Up” over 2 days old Julep “Elise”. The flakies seem to take on the color of the polish underneath – I should try it over a red or a pink…

One note about Julep “Elise” – it’s a staining son of a bitch. I used Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat, so my nails were protected for the most part – except the edges and my cuticles. I managed to get most of it off with Julep Vanish, but I’ll be wearing blue and green polishes until it wears off.

+

A Shadowy Birthday

/

Yesterday was my birthday!

I was able to schedule a birthday lunch with my BFF at Fuddrucker’s – our favorite place to get diarrhea.

She went all out on my gift – 2 Too Faced Eye Shadow Palettes – a la Mode Eyes and Cat Eyes – I had been wanting both of those, especially the Cat Eyes…it comes with wet/dry shadows.

She also got me Twin Peaks pajamas – absolutely blown away! The shirt says “the owls are not what they seem.”

Her birthday is in a few short months – I had better start shopping now…

/

I had known that my husband finally broke down and went to Sephora last weekend – poor thing, I think he was petrified. He did good though – he got me 2 Urban Decay Eye Shadow Palettes – Naked and Shadow Box. He even remembered to give them my email address so I could get the points! They also gave him my Sephora Birthday Gift from NARS – a 3 piece set with NARS Satin Lip Pencil in “Rikugien”NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Cruella” and NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in “Via Veneto”. He is definitely a keeper.

The kids also gave me awesome gifts. My son picked out a set of gourmet chocolate sauces and my daughter got me a Day of the Dead Tervis cup. I’m a lucky mommy.

I liked turning 39 – I think I might turn 39 again next year!

+

Letter to Elise

/

I was excited to try Julep “Elise” – it’s named after one of my very favorite people!

Julep describes “Elise” as indigo with purple microshimmer. It’s yet another dark polish that is difficult to photograph. it was cloudy as hell today and rainy to boot, so this is the best pic I could get – but look at that shine! It’s almost like a comic book.

I started with Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat, then two coats of “Elise” I was gonna let it go without a top coat, but it started to bubble anyway. Well, fuck. I waited 20 minutes and went ahead and used Sally Hansen Diamond Flash. The good news is that I didn’t get any additional bubbles and it somewhat masked the ones that were already there. Maybe that’s the secret to Julep – waiting.