Hi! I'm baaack!

Hi!  I'm baaack!

There have been lots of changes since I posted last.  I lost both my Gram and Ebony.  My schedule at work has changed again.  I've been battling my anxiety and depression more over the Spring and Summer.  It is finally getting a bit easier to deal with everything, but it has been an uphill fight.  Gram's death really hurt.  We have always been close and the only thing that truly comforted me was that she wasn't suffering anymore.

All of that bad news aside, I feel up to writing again.  I'm not making excuses.  I appreciate everyone that stayed subscribed and that checked in with me.  So, I will be starting to post regularly again.  As of right now, I don't have a set schedule, but I'm going to try for once a week.

I have lots of new products to review and ideas to share.  I'm thinking of adapting some popular You Tube tags to apply to my blog.  Is there something that you'd like to see from me?  Please let me know in the comments and I'll try my best!  Thanks again and I'll be posting soon!  :)

Bravon Beauty review #1: Motto Matte Moisturizing Lipstick and HD Vinyl Liquid Lipstick

Hi everyone and welcome back!  I hope you all had a great weekend!  I spent most of it with my family, celebrating my Gram's 92nd birthday!

I was trying to wait until I had tried everything from my massive Bravon haul, but yesterday, my step-mom told me that I should just do reviews on the items as I go, because I need to get the word out there about this awesome brand and the amazing products offered.  Can you tell she likes everything so far?  Lol!

When I did the haul, I mentioned that I received a thank you gift pack for being patient while they were doing inventory and updating their website.  This Motto Matte Moisturizing Lipstick in Always Positive Pink was in that pack.  While it was gifted to me, it was not for promotional purposes.  This and my future Bravon reviews aren't sponsored and, while he is a very nice man, he has no idea that I'm a beauty blogger or that I'm reviewing his products this way.

I've worn this several times and it amazes me.  I will honestly tell you that I would never have bought this lipstick before trying it.  Why?  I can't stand matte lipsticks.  They are super drying and make my lips hurt.  The color usually wears off too soon to deal with the painful experience.  I've been testing it out and have fallen in love with the formula and wear time.  On Saturday, I put it on at 10:30 AM and then spent the day with my parents and Gram.  We ate, drank and had a normal day.  I was there until about 5 or 6 PM.  When I was leaving, my step-mom looked at my lipstick and asked if I had reapplied during the day.  I told her no and explained that I was testing the wear time and performance for my blog.  She was really impressed and so was I.  As it wears, the moisturizing does fade away.  It stains the lips true to the lipstick color, with the pigment fading evenly.  It was so impressive that I took over another color sample to my step-mom today when I went over for lunch. She loves it so much that she had me place an order for her!  I also ordered another color, Rise Above Rose, while I ordered her Conquer and Magenta (which isn't as scary and bright as it sounds, I promise).  I'm waiting for Courageous Rose Pink to come back into stock and looking at the other shades, plotting what I'm going to order next.

The other lip product that I've tried and am totally loving is the HD Vinyl Liquid Lipstick.  I chose the color Grenache Rose in my sample pack.  It is so moisturizing and pretty!  It was a shorter wear time than the matte lipstick, but that doesn't bother me.  I wore it today and my step-mom and Gram both loved the color on me.  It wore for about 4-5 hours, lasting through lunch.  The shine wears off, but it does stain, just not as pigmented as the matte lipstick.  The pigment also fades evenly for this lipstick.  I have already ordered a full size of this lipstick and color, it is on the way to me as I type this,  The next shade in this lipstick for me to try is Hot Buttered Rum.  

The Motto Matte Moisturizing Lipstick sells for $17.00 and the HD Vinyl Liquid Lipstick retails for $16.00.  You can find both on www.bravonbeauty,com and all of the other products he sells,  I am, on a whole, extremely impressed with this brand.  I can't wait to review more of these products for you and other brands.

I have some upcoming reviews in the works: Clarisonic Mia 2, Mary Kay skin care products, home made coconut oil and baking soda scrub, and many more.  Thank you for stopping by and I'll see you again on Thursday! 

Just some random thoughts

Hi everyone!  Welcome back!

I want to apologize for not posting last week.  Valentine's Day is never great for this single gal and I also had some things come up that pulled my attention and focus away.

I hauled a few items this week, but don't have pictures.  I'm going to tell you about them anyway.

First, I bought myself a set of dishes that is a service for 8.  The last time I bought dishes was over ten years ago.  That set was missing bowls and pretty sad.  I feel all fancy now, with everything matching and all pretty!  The set I purchased is sold on QVC and is called Temp-tations Floral Lace 24-piece Dinnerware Service for 8 in red, item # H204392.  It was on 4 Easy Payments when I purchased it.  I was a bit worried, since there were reviews about pieces arriving broken, but the packaging truly impressed me.  Nothing was broken and everything looks so pretty!  One thing that people do forget is that hand painted items like these do have little things that may not be exactly perfect, but for me, that is part of the charm.  If I wanted everything to be identical, I'd get something mass produced and not hand painted.  I absolutely love my new dishes and am getting used to having bowls again!

I also bought the Mary Kay TimeWise skin care set and the TimeWise Microdermabrasion Plus set in combo-oily to try and review.

I replaced my Clarisonic Plus with a Clarisonic Mia2 and some extra brush heads.  I love my new one, much simpler and easier to use than the Plus model.  I use it at night daily.  I use a regular wash cloth in the morning.

There's been a lot of testing recently of new makeup.  I've been loving lots of what I have tried.  The Bravon review is still coming up, but there is SO much for me to try and I only have one face, lol! Right now, I can tell you that the lip products, blush, mascara, eye shadow primer and powder are very good.  My oily skin makes it difficult for some products.

I also have been testing a new primer that is mattifying AND pore filling.  I look forward to reviewing that as well.

I'm having two rooms of carpet installed tomorrow!  I can't wait!  I'll be able to put my office back together soon.  Right now, I'm typing at my kitchen table because there is nothing left in my office.  My cat is sleeping on one of my kitchen chairs.  He really isn't reacting well to the empty rooms, poor Nicky!

Huge Bravon Haul

Hi everyone and welcome back!

I started hearing about Bravon Beauty about three of four months ago.  Then, the company started popping up in my Facebook, Instagram and You Tube pages.  I couldn't help being curious.  All positive reviews and people seem to like the company and their customer service just as much as the makeup.  

So, I placed an order. He has these awesome sets called "the tryout" custom sample 6-piece set plus brush.  You have the option of getting any combination of fifteen products in any color that they offer.  I ordered two of those, his mascara, and a pencil sharpener.  The picture below is what I ordered.

Bravon Beauty's website was down for maintenance and inventory the weekend before I ordered. There was a post on Bravon Beauty's Facebook page that he'd include a thank you gift for being patient while the website had been down if you ordered between 2/1/16 and 2/5//16. The thank you gift that I received contained: 1 full size Susumu Suede blush in Spring Bouquet $16.00, 2 pans of magnetic eye shadow solo satin in Light Mist and Aventurine $11.00 each, 1 duo magnetic palette $6.00, and a Motto matte moisture lipstick in Always Positive Pink $17.00.  The total value of the thank you gift was $61.00!  Then, I was sent eleven different shade samples of his soon-to-be released Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundaion with SPF 15.  The total number of shades that will be offered is fifteen.  There were also an additional 6 samples included!  Since the normal sample set with the mesh bag and brush are $14, I figured that the extra samples along with the foundation samples were worth at least $28.00.  There was also a handwritten note from Bravon, thanking me for my order.  There wasn't any sales pitches, just hoping that I enjoy playing with my samples and asking if I could leave a review or two on his site.  I received fourteen different products from his line, in several different shades.  

The customer service I received has really impressed me.  He has no idea I'm a blogger and this isn't sponsored.  I never mentioned it.  This is the type of service he gives everyone,  I loved the handwritten note.  It was so nice.  

I'll be doing a full review of everything as soon as I get enough time to play and experiment.  I received everything on Monday, so I'm trying out things as the week goes on.  Needless to say, this weekend will be a Bravon weekend!  

If this has peaked your interest, please check out his website at www.bravonbeauty.com.  I found the prices affordable and a wide selection of different products and formulas.  

One sneak peek into my upcoming review: I normally hate matte lipsticks.  They are dry and make my lips extremely uncomfortable.  I love his motto matte moisture lipstick.  I wore it from 6 pm until 11 pm Monday evening and it was comfortable, never traveling and barely came off on my glass.

  

Another Tag

Hi everyone and welcome back!

I've decided that I'm going to post on Sundays and Wednesdays.  Just wanted to let you know!

My friend, Flory, did a get to know the You Tuber tag, so I decided to adapt them to a get to know the blogger tag.

1. What is your blogger and real name?  My blogger name is Chicklet.  My real name is Amanda.
2. Reason for starting your blog?  I actually couldn't see myself doing You Tube videos for lots of reasons, but I love to write and a blog seemed manageable and lots of fun.  :)
3. How old are you?  I just turned 40 in December. 
4. When did you get passionate about makeup?  I really started to get into it about 2 years ago.
5. Are you single/married/divorced and how long?  I'm single and loving it!
6. Any Children?  No, but I have a spoiled cat...
7. How long have you been blogging?  About a month.
8. What does your user name mean?  I love to write and my email starts with poetrychick.  My bestie decided to call me Chicklet and I like it, so it stuck,  :)
9. What's your blog about?  Makeup reviews, hauls, tags, my cat, my parents' dogs, family stories, home repairs, and anything else that I feel like writing about, lol!
10. What other interests do you have besides makeup?  I love to read and write short stories.  I like to counted cross stitch (designs on t-shirts and sweatshirts as well as bookmarks are my specialty), I love music and my taste is really varied.  I love watching movies.
11. Something odd about me?  I'm a text book introvert, so blogging, texting, facebook and instagram are wonderful for me.
12. Favorite t.v, show?  Dancing with the Stars, Stargate: Atlantis, Criminal Minds, Dawson's Creek
13. Favorite color?  Pink, rose gold, red
14. What do you do most days?  I go to work, make dinner, do whatever needs to be done around the house, take a bath, and relax.
15. Are you a spender or a saver?  I'm a spender, but working really hard to become a saver!
16. If you were a Disney Princess who would you be?  I think I'd be a combination of Belle and Mulan.  I love to read, like Belle.  I'm more concerned with who people are in the inside.  Like the both of them, I'm not really good at fitting in and can be extremely awkward.  My family comes first and I've found out that I'm much braver than I thought I was.  
17. What is your favorite beauty product?  Eye shadow and lipstick
18. Favorite perfume?  I really don't have one right now, but I do love CK One
19. Favorite Song?  I love Fall Out Boy, so anything from them.  I also love listening to Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Be not afraid, Melissa Ethridge, and so many more...
20. Favorite lipstick?  I love those "my lips but better" colors.  Too Faced La Creme lipstick formula is my absolute favorite.  I hate matte lipsticks.

25 Things You Might Not Know About Me

Hi everyone!  Welcome back!

Sadly, my parents had to put my Ebony to sleep on Monday.  She was in so much pain and they couldn't do anything else for her.

I still wanted to do a blog today, so I'm posting 25 things you might not know about me.

1.  I love Italian food,  I could live on it and be perfectly happy.
2.  I love to write and I have a degree in Journalism.
3.  I'm an introvert.  Large groups and parties are not my thing.  I'll start planning ways to leave  before I even get there if I don't have enough people that I feel comfortable around there.
4.  I love the colors pink, red, grey, and silver.  
5.  I love gold and rose gold jewelry.
6.  I'm finally ok with being single.  I don't want to settle.  I'm seeing a lot of my friends divorce  and it makes me appreciate what I have.  
7.  I love t-shirts and jeans.  I hate wearing dresses.  I like being comfortable.
8.  I purchased my smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy S5, a year ago,  It didn't take me long to fall in  love with apps, like Instagram!
9.  I have a collection of old character drinking glasses,  The one that I usually use on Mondays is  my Darth Vader Empire Strikes Back glass.  
10.  2015 was also the year that I replaced my desk top computer with a laptop.  I love it!
11.  Red lipstick is WAY out of my comfort zone and I don't own any.
12.  My favorite lipsticks are hydrating and creamy ones.  I hate matte lipsticks and refuse to buy  any.
13.  The bulk of my lipstick collection are what is referred to as your lips but better shades.
14.  My favorite darker lipstick shade is a deep berry.
15.  I've always been a dog person.  Slowly but surely, I've also become a cat person as well, but  dogs have always been my favorite.
16.  I hate coffee.  I think it is false advertising that it smells so good and tastes so terrible.
17.  I am an unapologetic geek girl.  I love fandoms and fan fic.  I love sci-fi movies and tv shows.  I have no issues being called a geek or nerd,  To me, they're complements.
18.  I love to read.  The first piece of brand new furniture that I''m buying is a chaise lounge for my  office so I have somewhere comfy to read,
19.  My father, who also loves to read, cringes when I tell him I need more book cases.
20.  Thanks to Mally Roncal, I've perfected my 10 minute face, which includes powder foundation,  eye shadow, lipstick and eyeliner.
21.  I'm a huge fan of rose gold makeup.  It makes me so happy.
22.  There is only a Sephora inside JC Pennys in my area.  I avoid it like the plague and prefer    Ulta.
23.  I'm always on the search for my holy grail cleanser and foundation.  As a result, I have way to  many of both.
24.  I love the Harry Potter books.
25.  My favorite nail polish color right now is Sinful Colors Gold N Roses, #1592.

My Furry Friend Tag for my Ebony,Done My Way

Hi everyone!  Welcome back!

Today, I went over to visit my parents.  I tried to help my Dad with his computer issues and gave my Mom a makeover/makeup lesson.  Yet, for me, the most emotional part of the visit was seeing my Ebony.

Ebony and I have always had a special relationship.  My parents adopted her from out local SPCA. She had been brought back at least once, maybe twice.  We bonded from the first and I cried when I moved out and I wasn't allowed to take her with me.  She came to visit me when my Dad did, once a month, while I was living in Binghamton, NY.  She knew when they got close enough that she'd perk up.

She had a totally different name when we got her, but it has been so long that I can't remember what it originally was.  She is a black lab mix, but we're not sure what the other parts may be.  We've had her for years, she's a senior dog now, but I think she's at least 12 or 13, maybe older.

Ebony makes huffy noises in her sleep.  She loves to bury her head in your lap, leg, chest, places like that.  She is very protective of us, barking at any threat, real or imagined.  I think she is more of a cuddle monster than my cat, Nicky.  I could sit there and pet her the whole time that I'm there and she'll still want more.  When I have to leave, she still looks at me and begs me to stay with her eyes.

There is no type of unconditional love like dogs have for us.  I can't begin to tell you how special she makes me feel.  It is a different relationship than I have with Nicky.  Ebony makes me feel like I hung the moon.  Nicky keeps me grounded.  Yet, I have no idea what I'd do without either one of them.

I call her Eb, Eb dog, Ebeneezer, Ebonia, and Ebony.  I have a dumb song that I sing to her, telling her how beautiful she is to me.

I'm really worried about her.  She's been in two dog fights with my parents' other dogs this month and she's pretty beaten up.  Today, she barely moved for the first few hours that I was there.  She is clearly in a lot of pain from her injuries.  Mom gave her a different pain medicine and she was up and walking around by the time I left.  Hopefully, the vet will be able to see her tomorrow.  I'll be honest, if it is the best thing to put her to sleep, I'll be heartbroken, but I'll know she'll be pain-free.  My poor girl has had problems with her back legs before, but this really made things much worse.  I just want my baby to have the quality of life she deserves.  What I saw tonight, before Mom gave her the different pain pill, was awful.  She could barely move and, when she did, her back legs couldn't support her very well.  I hope to have decent news after work.  I love you, my beautiful Eb dog.