Archive for April, 2010

I saw the following article this morning on Yahoo, so any hubbub before it I totally missed… All I can say is “Ew!” Makes me not feel as bad for returning an item to MAC that’s going to be ruined (at least the packaging will be recycled)!

Have you ever purchased cosmetics from QVC? If so, was there anything suspicious about your products when they arrived? One QVC customer created a big stir on the site’s online forum when she complained about receiving used makeup in the mail.

After writing about how she returned a used Dr. Perricone kit, many other customers chimed in, saying that similar incidents had occurred when they ordered from QVC. “I just had this happen to me,” one buyer wrote. “Mine was a LG blush I received that was not in the original packaging and upon checking the compact it looked as though someone had brushed across the top.” Another shopper said, “There have been many, many reports of people receiving used items here on the boards for years so I definitely believe it.” One convinced buyer said, “I check my cosmetics over very carefully to make sure it doesn’t look like someone else’s return.”

Some users on the community message boards are very upset by this news, and some claim that they won’t purchase makeup or personal items from QVC. One user said they witnessed similar incidents in the past. “About a year and a half ago, this was happening very frequently on here,” the user wrote. “Some people were getting face creams with finger marks in them and hairs in the cream and there were tons of posts on the boards about it. So a lot of us on the boards decided to start emptying the containers and marking a big black ‘X’ on the jars when they were sent back so that people processing the returns wouldn’t re-send them to others. Yuck.”

On the other hand, many devoted customers feel the brand is known for their “quality, value and convenience,” and refuse to believe that QVC would intentionally re-sell used products. These consumers believe that if any such incident occurred, it must have been human error. One doubtful shopper thought the story must be completely made up. “My guess is that a ‘complainer’ uses the product and wants to return it and get their shipping and handling refunded — claiming they received a ‘used’ product,” the QVC fan wrote.

The idea of a company deliberately selling used goods is horrifying and disgusting. (Remember when Macy’s, Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom were caught re-selling used underwear?) Though we may never know for sure if QVC has been selling used makeup, there is one thing we have learned recently: Used makeup can give you herpes, pink eye, E. coli, and other gross problems you probably don’t want. So if you do receive a used makeup item from any company, return it immediately.

Via Yahoo! Shine’s Joanna Douglas

So, yesterday morning I went on Twitter and happened to catch a tweet from Michelle of The Lacquer Files.  She was posting about a new forum for nail polish lovers, Polished Up! Definitely join and get in on the action!  Lots of your fave bloggers are over there, and you might even learn about some new bloggers!  Yours truly is on as AquilahR, which is also my Twitter username FYI

My friend D and I are mani twins today!  Yay!  I would definitely have to say Maybelline Hip Huggers is a blurple at it’s very best!  It has insanely barely there shimmer, so it looks like a creme, until you REALLY look at it!  It’s a gorgeous color, and I’m proclaiming it as a fave color!  My friend had gotten me Chi Between The Sheets, which is supposed to be a dupe, because I never thought I’d get to own this beauty.  Alas, I do and couldn’t be happier!  Before I change my mani tonight I’ll have to take comp pics of this and the Chi.

A week without holo isn’t complete! So, maybe that’s why last week was kinda “eh.” I didn’t use a holo! Magenta Magic is just that, a magical magenta holo. It’s more “purple” than SH Golden Tourmaline, which leans more “red.” Does that make sense? I’m not too great with words today for some reason… Has anyone found a red holo yet? Maybe I should just buy a holographic top coat to use over red? One day I shall have a red holo!

I figured it was time to post a new recipe since it’s been about two weeks. I made these caramel rolls this past weekend, and they were divine! Definitely enough to satisfy even the sweetest sweet tooth! I’ll be making these again soon, but I think I need to find a good cinnamon roll recipe first LOL! Enjoy!

Preparation time: 20 min
Baking time: 15 min
Cooling time: 5 min
Yield: 12 rolls

TOPPING INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) stick LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
3 TBSP sugar
3 TBSP firmly packed brown sugar
3 TBSP light corn syrup
1/4 cup chopped pecans

FILLING INGREDIENTS:
1 TBSP sugar
1 TSP ground cinnamon
2 TBSP LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened

ROLL INGREDIENTS:
1 (10.6-ounce) can refrigerated bread stick dough

DIRECTIONS:
1) Heat oven to 375°F.
2) Combine all topping ingredients except pecans in 9-inch round cake pan; stir until well mixed. Sprinkle with pecans. Set aside.
3) Combine 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Set aside.
4) Unroll dough; separate into 12 strips. Spread each strip of dough with 1/2 teaspoon softened butter; sprinkle evenly with sugar-cinnamon mixture. Roll up loosely, starting at 1 narrow end; pinch seam to seal. Place rolls evenly in pan.
5) Bake for 18 to 23 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Invert onto serving platter. Let stand 1 minute before removing pan. Serve warm.

NUTRITION FACTS (1 roll):
Calories: 190
Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 15mg
Sodium: 250mg
Carbohydrates: 25g
Dietary Fiber: <1g
Protein: 2g

Recipe and Picture Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes

I tried out the lightbox this morning, and I think it did better in my initial test shots than it did today. I’m still playing around with it though, so hopefully by the end of the week I have awesome pics!

Blackened Maroon is a gorgeous color, and the color seems dependent on the lighting. To me, the color is more of a dark, warm chocolate as opposed to a blackened maroon a lot of the time, but my pic makes it look more maroon that I can recall seeing it. The bottle definitely makes it look maroon though… Either way, it’s a beauty of a color!

WHAT YOU NEED:
Cardboard box (preferably 12x12x12)
Tissue paper
Matte poster board
Ruler
Tape
Scissors
Box cutter (or X-acto knife)

DIRECTIONS:
Step One
Take a box measuring approximately 12x2x12.  On both sides and the top, mark lines measuring 1-inch all the way around.

Step Two
Take a box cutter (or X-acto knife) and carefully cut along the lines you drew.  Tape the back of the box together, and cut off the side top and bottom box flaps.

Step Three
Take tissue paper, and using one piece at a time, take the tissue paper to the exposed openings.  Once you’ve finished the box and taken test shots, you can add more tissue paper as needed.

Step Four
Cut a piece of matte poster board big enough to fit into bottom of the lightbox and the back “wall.”  Leave a curve as this allows a edgeless look.  Tape the poster board into the box.

Step Five
Take some test shots, and see if you need more tissue paper.

***SIDE NOTE***
The original tutorial I got this from tells you to use poster board over the tissue paper on the top and sides so as to block light from other directions.  I’m only using my lightbox for NOTDs and the miscellaneous pic, so I wasn’t too worried about this.  I was able to get the look I needed using one piece of tissue paper and my camera on the macro setting.  I’m still playing with it though, so I’m going to try using my gooseneck light with it to see if the pics get any better or worse.

If you want to build a sturdier lightbox, here is a link to one using PVC piping and other materials, and it’s still relatively inexpensive.  I only spent $2 for the tissue paper and poster board since I already had the tape and boxes in the house.

Well what have we here?  Two NOTDs?  Yep!  I went big LOL!  I didn’t get to post yesterday’s mani since I literally did it was I was walking to the door, and then I was busy last night getting me laptop back (yay.  So, you get a two for one today!

04/22/2010 – Sally Hansen Magicals in Copper Cauldron - You know how I love my holos!  Fast drying and nearly a one-coater, Copper Cauldron is a gorgeous color.  To me it’s more peach or coral than copper, but it’s gorgeous either way!  There’s only a few from this collection I haven’t gotten since I already have holos in those colors, but I’m going to crack soon enough and get them too.

04/23/2010 – China Glaze Blk-Bila-Bong – This has been a longtime lemming of mine, which was finally fulfilled in a swap.  It’s a gorgeous blackened blue, and it’s just become a real favorite for me.  It’s just too pretty, and application was as smooth as can be.  I was worried Maybelline Blackened Teal would be a dupe since I have that coming too, but it looks like the blue is more prominent and it’s more of a frost than shimmer.  I get it today, so maybe I’ll do a comparison since I already have this on. (Please excuse the slight pre-cleanup mess!)

Yay!  I’m so glad this is back!  Last year Zoya offered the nail polish exchange, and a lot of us were hoping Zoya would bring it back!

In honor of Earth Day, Zoya is allowing you to send in 6 or more new or old polishes, and for however many you send in, you get to pick that same amount in Zoya polish for FREE!  Yes, the polish is free, and you just pay $3.50 per bottle for shipping.  The offer is valid from April 22 (Earth Day) through June 30, 2010.

Now, you’re probably going, “What’s the point?”  Well, for one, Zoya will recycle your polish properly and then for that same polish, you get a B3F Zoya of your choice for essentially half off.

Be sure to check out the Zoya blog here for more information, or to get a better understanding of the program.  I know I’ll bite, but I’m not sure with which colors yet.  What do you think you’ll be getting?

A big thanks to my friend over at Short And Sweet Nails for the award!  Thanks chica!  I appreciate it!

Here are the Rules:

- Post the award on your blog
- Link the person who has given you the award
- Pass the award to other 10 blogs you’ve discovered:

keerthemina pretty ballerina

Tartofraises

tobywoo

Nihrida’s Blog

Prim and Polished

Naive Nails

Lacquermanic

Lacquered Lizard

Lacquer Laine

Dr. Frankenpolish