More fun with light trails, and a song from a band I just started listening to called Cut Copy. I think it fits the pic perfectly.
Bright Like Neon Love
Thanks to NARS ValparaÃso Pure Matte Lipstick, Berries Are in Season This Spring
Today I live in the burbs about 30 miles north of San Francisco, but back when I did live in the city, it was smack dab in the middle of the dot-com boom, and the place was hoppin’.
Rental rates were out of control! Dot-coms were shooting up everywhere you looked, and housing of any kind was hard to come by. I struggled to find a place to live and eventually ended up renting a room in a sketchy house out in SF’s Sunset District, living with a cavalcade of characters, like the DJ/herbal enthusiast (let’s just say she wasn’t growing rosemary, if you know what I mean), and the kleptomaniac.
Honestly, I have no idea what I was thinking when I signed that lease. It wasn’t one of my better life decisions, but the rent was cheap, and I was hell bent on moving out of my parents’ house.
Which brings me to the new NARS ValparaÃso Pure Matte Lipstick for Spring 2012…
Behind the sketchy house was a massive raspberry bush that had completely overtaken the yard, and in the middle of it, the branches parted to form a tunnel.
I never explored the tunnel because I was convinced it was filled with rats, but I always wondered… Where did it lead? Probably just to the back fence, but naturally my overactive imagination entertained the prospect of an entrance to Narnia on the other end.
Regardless, there was definitely something magical about that bush because it produced berries all year round — rich raspberries, like $25 NARS ValparaÃso.
For gals who feel that rich raspberry mattes belong in fall, you know François. He’s not afraid to break the rules. 🙂
With NARS Gaiety Blush on My Cheeks, Merriment Ensues
Well, I’ll be darned… There’s shine in that thar blush!
After seeing the new NARS Gaiety Blush ($28) in its pan, and even after the first quick swatch on the back of my hand, I was sure this candy pink would apply as a straight up matte, but it turns out that this member of the new NARS Spring 2012 collection has a secret up its sleeve — it likes to shine. Coupled with its medium pigmentation, this sweet sheen transforms Gaiety from a pretty pink blush into a thing of beauty.
Imagine the light flush you get when your crush notices that you’re wearing your hair differently. For me, that’s Gaiety. 🙂
Chanel Knightsbridge Collection
Three of the four pieces from the limited edition Chanel Knightsbridge collection (available now exclusively online).
Pretty, yeah?
Benefit Sun Beam
A quick peek at the new Benefit Sun Beam liquid highlighter ($26), available now at Benefit counters, Sephora and also online.
Review in a few!
The $34 Limited Edition NARS Paramaribo Eyeshadow Duo, and the Time I Was on Jeopardy
Karen: “Hmm… Since I’m on a roll, I’ll take Famous Crazy Cat Ladies for a thousand, Alex.”
Alex Trebek: “This pop star, crazy cat lady and ex-wife of Russell Brand has a perfume line with bottles shaped like cats… Karen?”
Karen: “Who is Katy Perry?”
Alex Trebek: “Correct! Well, you certainly know your cat ladies, Karen, and your Madonna lyrics and Ryan Gosling trivia. Two categories left — Projectile Sports, and the NARS Paramaribo Eyeshadow Duo.”
Karen: “I’ll take NARS Paramaribo for $200, Alex.”
Alex Trebek: “Paramaribo is named after the capital city in this tropical South American country… Oh, and there she goes.”
Karen: “What is Suriname, Alex? NARS Paramaribo for $400.”
Alex Trebek: “These five attributes distinguish NARS Paramaribo from your everyday, run-of-the-mill eyeshadow duo… Karen?”
Karen: “What are soft texture, high shine, punchy pigments, booyah blending, and color that resists creasing and fading? Let’s keep going with NARS Paramaribo for $600, Alex.”
Alex Trebek: “This duo from the NARS permanent collection is sometimes mistaken for Paramaribo due to its bronzy tones… Karen, first on the draw.”
Karen: “What is the NARS Star Sailor Duo?”
Alex Trebek: “Correct!”
Karen: “I’ll stick with NARS Paramaribo for $800, Alex…”
NARS Paramaribo on the left and Star Sailor on the right
Swatches of NARS Paramaribo on the left and Star Sailor on the right
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Tabs and the Snooki Boots
Note the look of disdain. Clearly he doesn’t approve my $10 Snooki boots.
The NARS Mexican Rose Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Diaries (Uncensored)
Excerpted from the diary of a NARS Mexican Rose Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil…
Dear Diary,
Didn’t do much yesterday other than radiate awesomeness.
Yeah, that’s right. I make it rain! And if that makes me sound conceited, so be it.
My pink-haired roommate (we totally match!) tells me all the time, “you’re basically the sh*t.” She clearly sees that I’m the chupacabra of perfect pink lips.
I think she might be my new BFF, which is funny… Girls usually get so jealous of my dense pink pigment, high shine and easy-to-apply pencil tip.
But it’s not my fault that I’m so awesome and unique. I can’t help that I start off all super shiny like a gloss or that I morph into a hot pink lip stain with a subtle sheen.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s so not easy being flawless, and when I finally make my debut beside the rest of the NARS spring 2012 collection on January 13, not only will I have to shoulder the burden of perfection, but popularity, too.
Oh, well… Both of them are crosses I’m willing to bear.
Anywho, the pink-haired girl and I hung out for 12 full hours yesterday. She slipped me on shortly after brunch. Then, I watched her write a bunch of cheesy @ss puns — “Mexican Rose blooms with intense pigment,” “This pink is the hot house flower of NARS spring 2012,” and “Send me a dozen Mexican Roses for Valentine’s Day” — while we shared six cups of tea, a Honeycrisp apple (wow, those are good!) and spent time harassing her rotund tabby cat.
Next thing I knew, night had fallen, and we were off to yoga class (I would’ve preferred a swanky museum opening or a garden party).
I gotta say, I was the hottest pink lip in the room — well, the only pink lip in the room, but details, shmetails.
At one point in the class, between awkward downward dogs, the pink-haired girl checked herself out in the mirror and mouthed, “Holy crap! Mexican Rose is still going strong!”
Back at the house, we watched an episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (is Brandi’s butt for real?!) and had a dinner of slightly burnt broccoli and pasta, with a few kisses from a dude who kindasorta looked like Detective Stabler for dessert.
Glossy!
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