Shop Spotlight: HipHopHippos

A few weeks ago, my lovely friend Marisa asked me for some ideas for birthday gifts. I sent her a few things on my Etsy Favorites list, including a simple hand-stamped star necklace from the shop HipHopHippos. That happened to be the necklace she ordered for me, which I received yesterday. I {L O V E} it! It's small and pretty, and it features my birthstone, which is one of my favorite gemstones {it's a Peridot}. I initially found HipHopHippos by doing a random search on Etsy for hand-stamped jewelry, looking for something unique that could be personalized. I really liked what this shop was offering, and it looked like they use high-quality materials and put a lot of thought into their work.

Here's a little bit about the seller, from their description page:

"The Hippo is associated with birth, motherhood and the protection of young. The Hippo represents an intuition for truth that leads to our goals in life."

"Welcome to HipHopHippos! - Where personalized jewelry is lovingly hand stamped and made with high quality materials. Each creation is made with great attention to detail and can be packaged beautifully upon request. I would love for you take a moment and check out my line. If you don't see exactly something you are looking for, please don't hesitate to ask. I welcome custom orders and I would love to design something special and unique just for you"

Since I didn't order from HipHopHippos myself, I can't speak for the customer service aspect, but I do see that the item I received is listed with free shipping, which is really nice. Assuming that Marisa purchased it shortly after I sent her the ideas, the shipping would have been average to slightly above average in terms of how long it took to make the necklace and then ship it to me directly — as an estimate, under two weeks total.

Aside from the necklace I received, there are a number of other designs that I really liked, including this Sweet Little Baby Feet necklace, this Love Cupped necklace and this Initial Tag necklace. Depending on what you're looking for in a personalized necklace, I think HipHopHippos has something for everyone.

Here are some pictures I took of my necklace... it's very sturdy metal, polished nicely and the gemstone and pearl are securely attached. It came packaged in a cute ivory organza pouch and with a handwritten note included. Overall, it's pretty perfect and just what I was looking for!

{Photographed in natural light, on top of the organza pouch it came in}

{Photographed with a flash}

{On me, in natural light — the best pic of the peridot gemstone}

Stay Fabulous!

Birthday Week WINS

Overall, last week went swimmingly, and I scooped up a bunch of new things {mostly birthday gifts to myself, but a few from others}. I also placed orders for a lot of additional things, which means I have a lot of product reviews to look forward to! Some things I've ordered within the last week and will be receiving soon {or have received in the last few days}:

::: Eyeshadows from Sweet Pea and Fay {used a Heartsy voucher}
::: Makeup and other items from Ulta {post coming shortly}
::: Eyeshadows from Scaredy Cat Cosmetics {more sample vials!}
::: August Birchbox {post coming shortly}
::: Zoya nail polishes from Art of Beauty {there was a buy one, get two free deal!}
::: Makeup and brushes in a special set from Moi Minerals

I'm thinking... I'm spoiled! *smile*

As for things I picked up over my four-day weekend in my hometown last weekend {sorry it took a week to finally write this!}, here are some specifics.

:::  Coach  :::

The one I purchased {pictured below} is the Coach Ashley Signature Lurex Carryall, and I won't say it was an easy decision to pick this one from all of the great bags they had in the store. I wanted something that wasn't the typical black, tan or brown that Coach's signature collection often features. But I also wanted something that would complement any number of different colors/styles, so I didn't go for a bright stand-out color or mix of colors. Alas, my metallic silver/Lurex bag is perfect. And to top it off, they offered a 30% coupon at the door, good for that particular day only, so I really lucked out with my timing considering the Coach store is a 4-hour drive from where I currently live, and I just happened to be in town on the one day they had the sale going on {which is usually only once every few months}. I felt pretty lucky! They don't have to know that I would've purchased this bag with or without the coupon. :}

{click on pic to enlarge}

:::  Walgreens Miscellany  :::

While waiting around at the pharmacy, I picked up some random things that I didn't need in the least, but I'm glad I picked them up anyway. The light pink Sinful Colors nail polish is Pinky Glitter and did not wear well. I put on two coats, and because of the large glitter and particles, it made the finish on my nails very gritty, almost like sandpaper. Not a fan. I removed it right away and then painted my toenails with the darker pink color, which is Sinful Colors' Forget Now. This turned out very nice {see the picture below for the swatch I did on my fingernail}. I also used the Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen to doodle a bit, but I plan to use the nail pen more and practice some better designs before posting any pics. Then I topped it off with the new topcoat that I bought, which is Sally Hansen's Mega Shine clear topcoat. This was supposed to have a "mirror shine" to it, but it wasn't nearly as shiny as I thought it would be. I have a cheap topcoat that I've used in the past that offers a super-shiny finish and dries your nails in 60 seconds. I'll probably go back to that one. However, so far the polish is holding up well — I've had it on for 6 days now, and I don't have any chips whatsoever. I also wear sandals every day, so any nail polish that holds up during sandal season is awesome.

:::  Yankee Candle  :::

I stopped at the Yankee Candle Factory store last weekend and picked up some big candles that should last me a long while. I got two large 3-wick candles in Coconut Bay and Sparkling Lemon, along with a travel set that contained two Coconut Bay votives and a Coconut Bay hand sanitizer {which fits nicely in my new Coach purse *smile*}. I topped it off with some car jars, which were buy two, get one free, in Lemon Lavender {I love lavender}, Coconut Bay {see a trend here?} and then gave the free one to my mom, so I don't recall which scent she chose. Something food-ish, like caramel toffee, which isn't my kind of thing. I love Yankee Candles because they tend to give off a subtle scent even when they're not lit, so they last a lot longer than most candles. Plus, their scents are always very smooth, well-blended and spread throughout large areas.

That's all for now! I'll be back later to post some reviews for my Ulta purchase that I just received on Wednesday, my Zoya nail polishes and August Birchbox, along with August Fashion/Beauty Picks, a product highlight, shop spotlight and some other random things along the way. *Whew* lots to work on!

Stay Fabulous!

Scaredy Cat Cosmetics: A Review

A while back I placed orders with a handful of different indie MMU companies and Etsy sellers to see what's all out there as far as mineral makeup. Scaredy Cat Cosmetics is a seller on Etsy that caught my eye with its super-cute sample "vials."

:::  The Specs  :::

Scaredy Cat offers two different options for their shadows: sample vials, or their customized 3-gram sifter jars that hold 1.5-2 grams of product. The sifter jars feature different designs for each color, which I think is a cool idea and really thought-out. This seller has a very strong brand story and overall concept, which is refreshing. Some of the colors are vegan, while others aren't, but it's clearly noted on each product's description page, along with the ingredients. Each product description page also describes the color of the pigment, which areas of the face it can be used on, and shows pictures of the pigments in the jar, on a model and a close-up shot of the product.
The sample vials come with a generous 1/4-teaspoon of product, and they're packaged in baggies so you can dump the product into the baggies if you prefer that to the vials. I only ordered the vials, not the full-size jars, so I can't speak to those jars. From the pictures they look professional and as I would expect from any MMU company.
Since I received my order back when I wasn't documenting specifics like shipping and packaging, I don't recall how the sample vials arrived, though I believe they were packed nicely in a bubble mailer.

:::  The Pictures  :::

Sample Vials: Muertos, Smooze, Teal Deer, Don't Be Koi, Unicorn Breath

Swatches

And in case you're interested in the full-size jars, here's a picture of the Muertos jar, borrowed from Scaredy Cat Cosmetics' Etsy shop:

Picture courtesy of Scaredy Cat Cosmetics on Etsy {love the triangle-shaped jars!}

:::  The Products  :::

I purchased the 5 for $5 sample vials. The colors, in my opinion, are:
(1) Sample Vial of Muertos — A shimmery black that's great when used as a liner.
(2) Sample Vial of Smooze — A lovely violet with just enough shimmer and vibrancy.
(3) Sample Vial of Teal Deer — A subtle yet substantial teal with a touch of silver.
(4) Sample Vial of Don't Be Koi — A coppery, rich metallic gold that really makes blue eyes pop.
(4) Sample Vial of Unicorn Breath — A fresh white with magical shimmer.

As mentioned, the sample vials were 5 for $5, and the shipping was $2.50, so I paid a total of $7.50 for my order. It was processed, shipped and received in a very timely manner. Full-size jars in their shop are $5, which is about average for price.

:::  The Opinions  :::

The colors that I received seemed to be very accurate to the way they were shown and marketed on their site. Unicorn Breath began as my favorite of the bunch, but now I'm quite partial to Don't Be Koi and Smooze, both of which work well with my fair skin and blue eyes. I usually wear Don't Be Koi as a light sweep of color as opposed to more opaque, and Smooze I wear as an accent or crease color. All of the pigments are very easy to work with, which a small amount of fallout — even when I really blend it and layer it on. Because I'm really digging the sample vials, I have just placed another order this afternoon for the 10 for $10 vials, along with one full-size jar, so I can see what the triangle-shaped jars are like. I'm fond of the different designs that appear on each jar, usually to coincide with the name of the pigment. It's apparent that the owner took a lot of time to really think through their product offerings and overall brand image. I think that's awesome! So I ordered the 10 vials, and the full-size jar of Metamorphosis. I'll plan on doing another review once that order is received.

:::  The Rating  :::

Stay Fabulous!

Opinionista Happenings and Randomness

This blog is certainly sporadic — a week without any posts, and now two posts in one day. But, nothing is 'routine' about my life, and as a result, this blog is anything but consistent. And I'm okay with that.

So there's a lot going on this week in many different areas. In an attempt to cover it all, I'm going to skip all over the place and hope you'll join me. :}

:::  The Bachelorette  :::

Yeah, you read that correctly. I watched the most recent season of "The Bachelorette," which ended last night. Boy, was this the wrong season to follow. I had watched a few seasons in the past, mainly for some mindless entertainment. Emphasis on the mindless. However, this season didn't have a single episode that didn't annoy the heck out of me. The Bachelorette herself, Ashley {lovingly referred to by many as "Trashley"}, was boring, irritating, naïve, immature and anything but classy. In most cases, the guys on the show were too good for her, and some of the really great guys were sent home too early, in favor of a handful of guys who were, well, uber boring. Most of the dates were lackluster compared to past seasons, and overall, Ashley just didn't make a good Bachelorette. After every show this season, the blog "Daydream Believer" posted a witty, sarcastic yet completely accurate synopsis/response, complete with plenty of ridicule and humor. I highly recommend her blog: Daydream Believer.

:::  Tumblr  :::

W T F  is Tumblr anyway? I clicked a link on the Ann Taylor website that took me to their Tumblr page, which looked somewhat like a blog, but with lots of pictures as the posts. So, I went to the main Tumblr site to create an account and see where it would take me. And, that ended up being... nowhere. Now that my account is active, I have no idea what to do with it. If it's just supposed to be like a blog, then obviously I don't need it. But I'm guessing it's meant for some other use, and I just have no idea what that may be. So, my Tumblr page remains a template with no content, as I scratch my head and continue to think "wtf."

:::  The Happiness Project  :::

I saw a book called The Happiness Project advertised in a magazine {Marie Claire, I think}, and Lord knows I'm always looking for things that will make me happy. So I bought it for under $10 Amazon.com, and just started reading it today. The summary from the Happiness Project website:

“The Happiness Project is one of the most thoughtful works on happiness to have emerged from the recent explosion of interest in the subject. Rubin weaves together philosophy, scientific research, history, analysis, and real-life experiences as she explains what worked for her—and what didn’t. Her conclusions are sometimes counter-intuitive – for example, she finds that money can buy happiness, when spent correctly – but they resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

Filled with practical advice, sharp insight, charm, and humor, The Happiness Project manages to be illuminating yet entertaining, profound yet compulsively readable. But The Happiness Project isn’t just an engaging and provocative book. Gretchen’s passion for her subject jumps off the page, and reading a few chapters of this book will inspire you to start your own happiness project.”

Aw, now isn't that nice? I think it'll be a nice break from my usual psychological thrillers and disturbing memoirs. :}

:::  The Debt Ceiling Drama  :::

I assume everyone knows what this is, since you can't go online, listen to the radio or watch TV without seeing/hearing something about it. However, my focus isn't on the politics involved with this situation, but instead, the image of hope that was portrayed last night, in the midst of all the divisiveness and political pandering.

This article from the Huffington Post explains it: Gabrielle Giffords' Debt Ceiling Vote

Gabrielle Giffords. What an amazing recovery this woman has made so far. And it's not just about her recovery, but also how passionate she is about her constituents, the state she represents, and America as a whole, all of which gave her the strength and will to travel to D.C. for the first time since that terrible day so that she could ensure that her state had a voice in this historic vote. The video of her receiving applause from her colleagues brought tears to my eyes {and still does} — not only because of everything she's overcome, but also because it's one of those few times in America when you see politicians forgetting about themselves for a few moments, coming together as a UNITED States, and showing appreciation and support for someone regardless of political affiliation. It may have only been for a few minutes, but it was one of those defining moments when a person could finally feel... hope.

:::  The Lincoln Lawyer  :::

I had some rare free time over the past weekend, and watched the movie "The Lincoln Lawyer," starring Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei and one of my favorite actors {the ridiculously gorgeous} Josh Lucas. Click that link behind his name. Look at those eyes. *swoon* Anyway, the movie received some good reviews in Entertainment Weekly and on a few different blogs, so I expected it to be somewhat decent. I was really happy with the storyline and the acting — it was something different, but not unrealistic or overdone. I've watched other movies within the last few weeks, but none of them were quite as good as this one. Matthew McConaughey plays a skeezy lawyer rather well. :}

I think that's enough randomness for one day.
Stay Fabulous!

Weekly Spotlight: White House | Black Market

I'm a White House | Black Market newbie, so I haven't been able to fully investigate all the awesomeness that this chic retailer sells. However, I've had time to pick out more than a handful of cute styles that made it to the top spots on my virtual wish list.

For those who follow fashion, WHBM isn't necessarily a new place to shop. It's actually been around for a while, though it really burst onto the scene when First Lady Michelle Obama was photographed in a number of different WHBM dresses that were absolutely stunning on her. Obama was already a style icon in her own way, dressing with sophistication and contemporary chicness that appealed to women all over the world. WHBM took her already lovely look and did something even more amazing: made it attainable. How many First Ladies of the past do you recall dressing in clothing that even working-class women could reasonably afford to buy? In fact, I don't recall a First Lady of the past who was as much of a fashion icon as Obama currently is, with the exception, of course, of Jackie O.


Now, for my current favorites.

Tulip Wrap Dress {Photo from whitehouseblackmarket.com}

Ruffled Shirt Dress {Photo from whitehouseblackmarket.com}

Ruffle-Collar Shirt Dress {Photo from whitehouseblackmarket.com}

Obviously you can tell from their selection online and two of the pictures above that White House | Black Market has pretty much perfected the little black dress. The favorites I showed aren't really "little," but they're classy and versatile, which is the point of a LBD. I plan to make the third one {or a similar style} a staple in my wardrobe.

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Stay Fabulous!