maybelline baby lips: yuck.

After weeks of searching I found a store that had the Maybelline Baby Lips flavor I wanted. I didn't want any of the tinted balms because I like my lip balms clear. I have lip gloss to add color. The two plain flavors were Peppermint and Quenched. I wanted to find Quenched and trust me, I looked everywhere for it. Finally, I bought the last one at the Target on Route 22 in Union. I was so excited I ripped off the wrapping and immediately tried it out. If anyone has tried Nivea lip balm, I can compare it to that initially. Not as thick, has a greasier feel. Not greasy bad, just when I think of lip balm, I want it to stay. Greasier balms tend to wipe off and in this case that's just what happened. I loved the smell, taste, etc. but after a couple days of using this product I noticed a few things. One, I had to reapply A LOT. If I chewed gum, it was gone. If I had a snack, it was gone. So that was a little annoying, but then I noticed something worse. MY LIPS. In the warmer months, I barely use lip balm, but I always keep in on me. My lips were becoming as chapped as if it were the middle of winter. It was like the more applied the stuff, the worse my lips actually got. And what's really irritating is that this is supposed to be an 8 hour product. Try 8 minutes. Needless to say I know that a lot of people are raving about this product, but I will not be one of them. I'm going back to my Burt's Bees balm so I can repair the damage this has done. It's such a shame, I get so upset when a product isn't what it says it's going to be.

PUNCH BULLY: just another COVER band ?

Made up of David Artiaga - Lead Vocals, Dave Cecconi - Guitar/Vocals, Josh Starner - Bass, Fausto Artiaga - Drums/Vocals, and Sami Eldebs - Guitar/Vocals Punch Bully is a dynamic cover band that has been rocking the NJ music since 2010. With their ability to deliver such high energy shows, a crazy set list, and their non-stop desire to make the next gig their greatest, it is no surprise Punch Bully has become one of NJ's most sought after cover bands. The word is spreading quickly that these guys will bring the party every single time they show up. The bars are always crowded and their following has continued to grow and prove this band is the real deal. Punch bully is a five piece band containing professional, talented musicians who love what they do. This is a great combination of musical talents who are extremely energetic and have played in all sorts of venues to all sorts of crowds.

I attribute their growing popularity by breaking away from the ordinary and using certain ‘X’ factors to separate them from others as a cover band. Their secret weapon is a vocalist/front man David Artiaga who is exceptional at reading crowds and playing to their strengths in order to lock them into the party and hold them until the last song ends. With their willingness to cater to all types of crowds and music; Punch Bully has created a completely outrageous set list which includes Rock, Dance, Rap, Pop, audience participation and yes, even some Oldies.

You just don’t see many bands go from rap to rock to oldies in a single set. These boys give it all they've got every time they hit the stage, and they only know one way to do it, FLAT OUT! The crowds are always crazy, and this band will keep you coming back again and again! Simply said, you can’t stand still!

Band Info:

Visit the bands web site at http://www.reverbnation.com/punchbully for the latest information, photos, and shows.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PunchBully 

Twitter @punchbully

fashionistas come in all shapes and sizes

Thank you to Pinterest for making me obsessed with this one look that I can't have. So I am bringing it to you, awesome followers. I don't care what the trend is or what anyone says the spring/summer look is lace skirts. I don't care what color it is. I want you to have them all !

    

  

  




And not just lace skirts, I'm also loving sequined skirts too !


  


   

  




And if you're not following me on Pinterest, well you should do that too http://pinterest.com/accordingtovera/

vera! vera! vera! by MAC

Quick, before these beauties fly away…



MAC’s back with another inspired limited edition launch – Vera. This collection is based on the work of fabric and textile designer Vera Neumann. The American artist (who died at 86 in 1993) was known for brightly coloredlinens and scarves which were all signed “Vera” and featured her signature ladybug. Marilyn Monroe was said to be a fan; I think I would have been too.

But I’m going to keep the pontificating to a minimum and let the pics speak for themselves.



There’s that signature ladybug, debossed in a Pearlmatte Face Powders. That’s Sunday Afternoon, three shades of cool pinks (and a thin silver overspray accent) that when applied are a silvery pink. Adorable design, sweet color.



The stunner above is Butterfly Party, one of three Crushed Metallic Pigment Sets. And this 4 piece set has my head spinning with love. I mean, look at these colors!





Moss Garden is silvery slate green, with a chunky, glittery consistency.



Rain Drop is a bright teal with a hint of a golden sheen.



Desert Cloud is a beautiful metallic violet that has an electric sort of shimmer in the same shade. Really, it looks like it’s lit up! It’s on the glittery side too.



The namesake, Butterfly Party, is a red based purple with a lavender shimmer.

Now, I’d be lying if I said the Crushed Pigments were a breeze to apply. But I do think they’re worth the work. They have a chunky texture (like crushed gemstones) and a slightly wet feeling to them, which makes them less messy than loose pigments.

But they need to be either pressed into the skin or broken up first to apply. A simple swipe with a brush isn’t going to cut it. I actually like to break them up on the back of my hand with a brush and apply them from there. And you know, fingers also work pretty good with these.



The other pigment set i got a look at is Aloha, a coppery bunch that the warm-toned gang are going to love. This set has a noticeably finer consistency, as opposed to Butterfly Party.



Shifting Sands is a metallic nude pink.



Aloha is brown with a peachy hue to it. My notes say “buttery brown, yum!” Guess I liked it (or I was hungry).



Campfire is a copper with really beautiful dense pigment.



Lantern Light is all kinds of fabulous. In the pot it looks dark coppery orange, but when you put it on it’s this gorgeous golden peach. I was mesmerized by it!



I got to take a look at one of the two Nail Lacquers; Play Day. It’s a creamy apricot shade (MAC calls it milky coral, but this didn’t read as coral to me). It took three coats for me to get rid of most of the streaks, and they were still even there a bit.

Fashion Fanatic & On a Holiday

I’ve always been a Plushglass fan. I love their tingle. I dig the odd scent they have that I can’t quite place (they don’t smell like lipglass). So I’m always up for a new one. That’s On a Holiday on the left. Check out that iridescent violet micro glitter! It’s a bright-ish medium pink that applies sheer, but that glitter catches the light in really fun ways.

I also got a look at Fashion Fanatic, a light milky pink with silvery white shimmer.

from top: Lord It Up, Undercurrent, Black Swan

And boy, do I love me some Pearlglide Intense Liners! Buttery soft, they glide on like a dream and stay on until you take them off. It’s no coincidence that I already own two in this launch (Black Line and Undercurrent). They’ve got great pigment and are loaded with a pearl finish.

Lord It Up is a medium brown with gold pearl. It’s really similar to Teddy (which I go through like candy). Teddy has more of a bronze sheen though, and this is gold. Undercurrent is an intense teal with gold pearl. Black Swan is a deep charcoal with silvery charcoal pearl.

I love it ! Plus i mean i'm VERA the makeup is VERA perfect !

#doomsday are you ready ?

where’s your survival emergency kit? do you even have one? do you think you’re ready an emergency? i know i’m not!

& unfortunately, none of us really know when disaster is going to strike! i don’t know about you, but i want to be prepared… you know what they say “better safe than sorry.”

i found an interesting article about  “the power of 3.” basically it’s an emergency preparedness plan that focuses on the first 3 minutes, the first 3 hours, the first 3 days, the first 3 months, and even the first year after a disaster.

basically, it’s a baby steps approach to emergency preparedness. perfect for someone like me!

so, if you aren’t fully prepared for an emergency, i encourage you gather your own supplies, & together we can become “ready.” survival emergency kit {the first 3 hours}

* battery operated or solar powered am/fm emergency radio (with extra batteries)

* first-aid kit with adequate supplies, medications & personal need for each family member

* gas, water & electronic meter shut-off tools (secured to meters if possible)

* search & rescue equipment, such as: leveraging tools, rope, face masks, lantern/ flash light, loud whistle, duct tape, fire extinguisher

* “GO” binder (or small expandable file) that contains names, addresses, phone numbers & map for local/ out-of-state contacts & rendezvous locations. you should also include important document for each family member, such as: general family information (social security cards, passports, birth certificates, insurance cards, or proof of insurance, all insurance policy numbers, bank account numbers & vehicle ID numbers), spare keys, etc.

see… what did i tell you? pretty painless eh? you probably have most of these supplies already laying around your house. all you had to do, was gather them all together, so when an emergency strikes, you don’t have to go searching for them. now, when disaster strikes, you’ll be prepared for those first 3 minutes & the first 3 hours.

if you have ALLERGIES read this. seriously.

For those of you who dread seeing those first spring blooms because of seasonal allergies, there may be some relief in sight local honey. Local honey is believed to prevent the symptoms of seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. Drinking local honey may work much like an allergy shot in that it exposes you to small amounts of allergens to help your body build immunity to the allergens. When bees pollinate to make honey, they bring back allergens from the flowers, trees, and other plants. This leaves small traces of those allergens in their honey. Just like the doctor gives you small amounts of allergens when he or she gives you an allergy shot.

It is best to find raw honey that is as close to home as possible because it is far more likely to contain the same allergens that you are exposed to on a daily basis. You should also start drinking the honey in very small doses, just in case of an allergic reaction to the pollen that is in the raw honey. Gradually work your way up to about two teaspoons a day. This regimen should begin several months before the onset of allergy season. The honey should be raw, unpasteurized, and unheated for best results.

There are many other health benefits to drinking raw honey. It has been proven that raw honey has many antibiotic properties. For years, people have consumed it for nausea and gastritis. It is also known to prevent the formation of ulcers, and certain kinds of cancer. So, as you can see, trying raw local honey to treat your allergies certainly would not hurt, in fact, it could help you with a number of other ailments. The best part, there are virtually no side effects, unless you are allergic.

To find the most local honey, you may contact a local bee keeper or go to the next farmers market. Try to get the local honey that is closest to home. Immunizing yourself to allergens that you are never exposed to carries no benefits. It is also recommended that you don’t plant any plants that you know you are allergic to. To build immunity, you must be exposed in small doses. Large doses of allergens will only increase your likelihood of developing worse allergies to them. 

Here is a list of local beekeepers http://www.njbeekeepers.org/BeeProducts.htm !