Etsy Pick of the Week, Baltimore Edition, Volume 4

Hello Sweet Readers!

For my fourth and final Baltimore Etsy Pick of the Week (maybe final) I would like to introduce you to For Goodness Grape!

Image: etsy.com

The woman behind the curtain at For Goodness Grape is named Lisa. She has a passion for the indie artisan lifestyle, and is dedicated to only using the finest all natural ingredients in every product she makes. In addition to entrepreneur, you can also find Certified Medical Assistant listed on Lisa's resume. The knowledge this certification brings comes in handy during the creation process. Lisa applies the same safety policies and procedures she learned to use in the medical industry while formulating her products. Therefore, she is able to guarantee to her customers that every product they purchase from her store is not only fresh, but free from contaminates, and 100% safe for use.

For Goodness Grape recently held the *Grand Opening* of their online store! This online store is an extension of the Etsy store but with way more informational content. While browsing the awesome new site, I started reading up on Lisa's philosophies. I learned that this lady loves all things fun and flirty, and incorporates it into everything she does. From the adorably clever name of the brand, to the confections she scents and flavors her products with, to the quirky font she uses, Lisa manages to sprinkle a dash of playfulness everywhere. 

A quote from Lisa's Etsy Bio:

"I believe that looking and feeling beautiful shouldn't be a chore, it should be FUN and For Goodness Grape brings you some of the finest all natural handmade products that you can count on having fun with and feeling flirty while wearing them."

I could not agree more. For me, if a beauty treatment isn't something that I find enjoyable and I am not left feeling pampered, I don't do it. 

You can stalk For Goodness Grape in so many ways! I highly recommend browsing around the dizzying array of delectable goodies and entertaining content at either online store. Make sure to spend some time reading Lisa's blog, and keep up to date with all things For Goodness Grape by following on Twitter and "like" the Facebook page!

Also, don't miss out by not signing up to receive The Grapevine. This newsletter will give you exclusive access to For Goodness Grape's news and notifications of sales and events!

Visit the Etsy store.

Visit For Goodness Grape's BRAND NEW WEBSITE!

Follow For Goodness Grape on Twitter.

Like For Goodness Grape on Facebook.

Check out Lisa's blog!
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The Interview:

1. What inspired you to start making your own beauty products?

I've always been an entrepreneur at heart and I’ve always loved making things. I decided I wanted to make excellent products with premium ingredients, offer them at reasonable prices and share the thought that feeling beautiful should be fun. I think I've accomplished this. I've been told by many customers that I have the best lip balms on Etsy. Some say the best on Earth! That’s pretty huge considering that on any given day there are over 9,000 lip related items offered on Etsy. I love the indie artisan way of life and the creativity it allows me. I am passionate about natural ingredients and have found a way to utilize nature to bring beauty to others. Being absorbed in natural and handmade products really opens your eyes and you end up knowing that natural and handmade are what’s best for your body and for our world. As an indie business, For Goodness Grape is very earth friendly and I try to give back to my community to share the rewards of this wonderful life.

2. What is your favorite For Goodness Grape product, and why?

Oh my gosh...I have so many favorites but here are my current favs and I do use all of these everyday:

1. Snowflake Shimmer Lip Tint
2. Pink Champagne Shimmer Lip Tint
3. Innocent Shimmer Lip Tint
4. Blueberry Lemonade Lip Balm
5. Earl Grey Lip Balm

3. What do you love about living in Baltimore?

I love being so close to the beach and it's also very convenient to get to so many places.

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The Swag:

The For Goodness Grape Etsy store is a lip balm addict's dream world. The variety of flavors, colors, and textures is amazing. As a self-proclaimed lip balm abuser I browsed the store in a frenzy, furiously clicking on products, devouring their descriptions, and drooling over their pictures. My must have list grew to epic proportions. 

The store doesn't just offer lip balms though. For Goodness Grape offers the most decadent lip scrubs I have ever seen, roll-on perfume oils, solid perfume sticks, and tinted balms and glosses. And gentleman, there is something for you too! For Goodness Grape has a whole collection of lip balms that come in masculine flavors and have the added bonus of SPF.

Lisa generously sent me three products to try. Keep reading to find out what I thought and I promise I will make getting through to the end well worth your time!! Yes, I'm bribing you.

Image: etsy.com

First up is the Kiss Me Coral Red Mineral Lip Gloss. ($7.50) People. It is rare that I can stamp a beauty product with the "Perfect" label, but it really applies here. Inside the clear tube is a non-sticky, oh so hydrating gloss. Really! I promise you it IS non-sticky! I know a lot of glosses claim that they are different than other glosses on the market. That their gloss will not make you feel like you coated your lips in pancake syrup.

But I always find myself cursing these lip glosses when the light breeze I generate while walking tosses my hair onto my lips and shellacks itself onto my face. I feel as though I have been tricked when my lips stick to my paper coffee cup after taking a sip. Or disappointed when I go to kiss my Husband and he backs slowly away from me, shaking his head, with a look of terror on his face. Like I have the plague.

But this gloss my friends is the real deal! For realzies!

Kiss Me Coral Red Mineral Gloss swatched.

The red/coral color is saturated yet totally sheer. And for fun, Lisa threw in some teeny metallic blue sparkles, and scented the gloss with blueberry! Totally unexpected right? Cherry, sure. Red Velvet Cupcake, why not? But blueberry? 

 I love it!

As you can see my tube has been well loved.

The wand has a plush sponge applicator and all of the packaging is eco-friendly. Kiss Me Gloss is formulated using lip loving oils and comes in eleven different colors and fragrances. (Including Coral Red.)

You guys, this next lip treatment is so indulgent, so effective, and so delicious that after trying it I am addicted. I will not be able to live my life without this in my possession. At all times. You know that show "Intervention" on A&E? It is entirely possible that my friends and family will send in a nomination on my behalf due to my compulsive use of this product. It became clear to me how serious my problem was during the moment I freaked out like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum when I eventually lost it in a horrible way. 

So are you dying to know what my new drug is?? For Goodness Grape's Vanilla Cake Batter Sugary Lip Scrub! ($7.75)

Image: etsy.com

I mean just look at it! Do you die??  

I have to admit this was my very first lip scrub experience. I always thought lip scrubs were unnecessary and probably really messy, so I never had them on my radar. The Sugary Lip Scrub is basically a lip balm that smells and tastes like vanilla cake batter. However, this basic (but luxiourious) lip balm is laced with organic raw sugar, and topped with sprinkles! RAINBOW SPRINKLES GUYS! Totally adorbs right?!  The sugar sweetly sloughs off dead skin, and the balm hydrates and conditions your pout. All of that in a neat little tube. No messes will be made while using this lip scrub!

After opening my new obsession. Also after eating (yes eating) some sprinkles. Don't judge me.

I love this lip scrub for countless reasons, but the fact that it is so easy to apply tops the list. I used it just like I would any other tube of lip balm. The only difference is that I would swipe it over my lips a little longer than other balms. Just to ensure a thorough scrub. Or because I am a compulsive weirdo with a problem. Whatever. After running circles on my lips over and over again, (and gaining an audience of people who are shooting me "she's a nut" looks) I would lick all of the sugar from my lips to remove the gritty feeling. That's right! I have been eating my lip scrub. It's so tasty! Seriously!! 

Don't squinch your eyebrows at me! You will for sure do the same thing with this scrub. Trust.

Quickly, I want to share with you the story of how I "lost" my beloved lip scrub. Yeah, yeah I know. I can't ever explain anything quickly. Stay with me though.

I was in the habit of taking this tube with me everywhere. Under no circumstances would I consider leaving the house without it. I would be in the car pulling out of the driveway, realize that I forgot it, then park and run back inside to get it.

One morning I was running late for work, and I was running around the house, rushing.  I hustled out my house so fast that I left my Sugary Lip Scrub on my dining room table and didn't realize it until I was in the office, stationed at my desk. No biggie, I thought to myself. At least I know where it is.

After work I came home, set my purse and mail down on the table and scanned the table for my tube. It wasn't there. After scouring the floor, my eyes landed on one of my dog's beds. Really it's my husband's dog, mine through marriage. I don't know why I feel like I need to explain that to everyone. Wait, yes I do. Because I think he's a jerk who is out to get me and I do not want to be associated with his salty behavior. He's old and grouchy. He opens my panrty door and eats whole loafs of bread! He has eaten and then thrown up my thongs, and he steals food right out of my daughters hands! So what I am dealing with is a geriatric jerk who also happens to be a dog. But not my dog.

I deliberately picked the most ridiculous picture I could find. Dogs may not understand humiliation or revenge, but this human does. That's all that matters. He looks so silly wearing a lei doesn't he?! Did you giggle? Sweet revenge.

There was my delicious scrub. The tube was torn to pieces and the scrubby balm was annihilated by Farkus. (the dog's name) My Sugary Lip Scrub was being digested by his doggie tummy, and was destined to end up as a pile of dog doo in my backyard. Heartbroken is not a strong enough word to describe how I felt. I really need to pick up a new tube. Or maybe I will get all twenty-one flavors. 

The third and final product I tried was the Frosted Cupcake Perfume Oil Roll-On. ($9.50) 

Image: etsy.com

Well, I didn't really try it. I smelled it. More than once. And it smells heavenly. Like the most perfect, fluffy cupcake topped with a heaping mound of sweet buttercream frosting. It's so good you guys! I also am in love with the feminine label and size of the glass bottle. It's about the same size and shape as a lip gloss which makes it super easy to toss into your bag so that you can touch up throughout the day. The perfume oil formula is blended and infused with richly scented perfume grade oils along with essential oils. Then the finished scent is incorporated into coconut and jojoba oils which help the perfume oil absorb into the skin fast. Because really, no one wants oily wrists. 

Since I didn't actually take the perfume oil for a test run I cannot vouch for how long it lasts. In my experience rollerball perfume oils tend to last longer than perfumes packaged in spray bottles because fragrance oils do not contain alcohol. So I would imagine that you will smell like a vanilla cupcake all day long. And if for some reason it didn't have staying power, the fact that it is portable totally makes up for it in my opinion. You can touch up all day long wherever you are!

Are you wondering why I didn't try it on myself? Well, because I was thinking of YOU!

Sweet readers, I am so super excited to announce that you could win the bottle by entering the very first giveaway on Frances Is A Beauty!!

YAY!! ARE YOU PUMPED???!!!

One lucky winner will win a full sized Frosted Vanilla Cupcake Perfume Oil Roll-On! Please keep in mind that I HAVE opened it AND smelled it multiple times. But, I have NEVER used it on my skin. 

I made winning as easy as I possibly could because I am self-absorbed and really just wanted to make all of this easy for me. I was feeling a little anxious about everything going smoothly since this is my first expereince with Rafflecopter and with hosting a giveaway. Promise me please that if you experience any problems entering through the wideget, hit me up via email me so I can figure out how to fix it. You can send questions and concerns to francesisabeauty (at) gmail.com.

PLEASE be sure to read the terms and conditions. I don't want to have to delete entries or disqualify folks for not following the rules. Be patient and wait for the Rafflecopter widget to load below.

Before you start feverishly clicking through the tasks, I have something to say about why I chose two of the tasks....

There are two "Share the Love" tasks that I am asking you to complete. I did not make them mandatory, but know that if you choose to complete these very special tasks it will mean so much to me.

I am lucky enough to have two very talented Beauty Bloggers as dear friends. Their blogs are gorgeous, well written and informative. Because I adore them I am asking you (who I also adore!) to follow their blogs. I promise you will not be disappointed. That is why the tasks are so special. I am sharing the love with two of my favorite ladies!

Claudia, Sam....I love you guys! 

This is going to rock! Good luck to all of you!!

I want to give a BIG THANKS to Lisa of For Goodness Grape. Lisa, your participation and generosity is very much appreciated! Here's to you and For Goodness Grape! I wish you nothing but luck and success in the future!

Etsy Pick of the Week, Baltimore Edition, Volume 3

For this third volume of the Baltimore edition I am going to introduce you to Mineral Love.



Image: etsy.com

After years of thinking about curating her own cosmetics line, Trica found inspiration in an unlikey place. In 2009, she turned a devastating experience into a positive outlet for the grief she felt by paying attention to her desire to create beauty. Driven by her "love of makeup and passion for creating", she made Mineral Love a reality. Tricia makes vegan, mineral makeup in amazing colors. Gorgerous, glittery eyeshadows, perfect face powders, and luscious lip gloss are just a few of the offerings from Mineral Love.



"The Foxy Collection"
Image: etsy.com

Tricia sent me an eye shadow set called "The Foxy Collection" to take for a test drive. 

Everything I received. 

The following was taken from Mineral Love's Etsy page that features the Foxy Collection:


"You know you're a cute little heartbreaker". 
(Foxy)
"You know you're a sweet little lovemaker".
(Foxy)


The Foxy Collection was inspired by the intense, wailing groove of Jimi Hendrix's guitar. 
::swoon::


Do you love how I covered the words in a "Purple Haze"? Get it? Purple Haze? 

Super Sexy Jimi Hendrix
Image: amazon.com

I too swoon when I think of Jimi Hendrix and his guitar so I can totally respect the inspiration behind the collection. As you can see from the picture displaying my Mineral Love swag, I received a generous supply of stuff. Inside the sexy black lace bag was The Foxy Collection ($15.00) which consists of four pots of eye shadow and a bottle of Magic Mixing Medium ($5.00). I will explain what Magic Mixing Medium is used for shortly.


Tricia also stuck in a card with a picture of the completed look on an eye, (same picture of the eye that I featured above) and also gives step by step instructions on how to achieve the look using the shadows. I will not be sharing the steps with you. You will just have to buy the collection to get the tips. *Insert Evil Laugh Here* The last thing in the bag was Mineral Love's business card which had four sample packets of eye shadow attached to the back. I was really excited about that because samples rock. Duh.

The Foxy Collection Eye Shadows

Here are the eye shadows. The bottom three are sparkly while the top, dark color is matte.

Foxy Collection swatched dry.
(left to right)
Delicate, Glitz, Katelyn, Anne

Now here is where the Magic Mixing Medium comes in....

Magic Mixing Medium
Image: etsy.com

The Magic Mixing Medium transforms any of Mineral Love's eye shadows or blushes into rich, dense colors. Perfect for using as eyeliner or if you prefer cream blushes. The blendability (so not a word) of these shadows is so perfect and I would imagine that the same would be true of the blushes.


So what you do is you take some of the powder and tap it out into the cap. Then you squeeze a drop of Magic Mixing Medium on top of your powder mound in the cap.

A drop of Magic Mixing Medium in each cap.

Then simply swirl around to mix everything up and *BAM*, your makeup is transformed!

Swatched after adding Magic Mixing Medium.
(left to right)
Delicate, Glitz, Katelyn, Anne

You can see that the colors intensified after swirling with the Magic Mixing Medium. The texture obviously changes, becomes creamier, but still applies flawlessly. I am a huge fan of using eye shadow as eye liner as opposed to a pencil. It ends up looking less severe on my pale skin, and the color options are much more varied when selecting from my eye shadow collection instead of relying on my boring black/brown eye liner pencil. I absolutely adore using Anne as eye liner and have been doing so daily. It works well dry as a liner for day and at night I can add umph to my signature smoky eye by applying Anne wet as liner and then covering my lid with it dry. Perfection.


You may be asking yourself if I tried to create the "Foxy" look on myself. Where are the pictures?? Well I did try out the look. I succeeded in making my eyes look super Foxy but I refuse to take pictures of the result. 


Here's why....A.K.A. "my whiny excuses" 


March was the worst and presented me with a storm of catastrophes. (that I promise to address in a later post!) Therefore, my eyebrows have not seen a wax strip in at least four weeks. My overgrown eyebrows were ruining my Foxy pictures! I am seriously staring to look like Bert from Sesame Street. Or Martin Scorsce. For reals. So just use your imagination and visualize in your mind a picture of my eyes looking all sultry, smoky, and sparkly thanks to these eye shadows. Maybe it will erase the vision you have of me looking all like this:

Hello Unibrow!
Image: herr_hartman

Yes this is really Mr. Scorsese. I adore this rare, casual shot of him.
Image: Tyler Durdan_

Yup, this is a classic case of BEAUTY BLOGGER FAIL. I need to get it together, have a professional to maintenance my bushy brows, and take some pictures!


I'm getting off track here. Mineral Love!


The sample eye shadows that Tricia gave me were so pretty! Pastel and shimmery, they are so right for spring. 

(Clockwise from top left)
Elise, Emaline, Christina, Bombshell

The packets were harder to work with for obvious reasons. To use with the Magic Mixing Medium, I took a Q-Tip and fluffed a little of the eye shadow out onto a plate. Then I put a drop of the Magic Mixing Medium on top of the fluffed shadow. Below are the swatches....

Dry Swatches
(Left to Right)
Bombshell, Christina, Emaline, Elise

After adding Magic Mixing Medium
(Left to Right)
Bombshell, Christina, Emaline, Elise

Really pretty right?! Just like with the dark and smoky Anne, I love using Bombshell as eye liner. I was really frustrated while taking these pictures because some of the lovely effects didn't show up well. Like Christina has a awesome lilac sheen to it dry and as a creamy shadow. All of the colors have a kiss of shimmer, even Bombshell. 


Using alone, you can create a simple but stunning look for the office or running around town. Or you can whip up a night time look using all of the colors. I promise you won't look like a unicorn. And really, if you ended up looking like a unicorn would it be so bad? No! It would be magical!!  


OMG. Will someone let me know when my "World's Favorite ADHD Blogger" award arrives? I will be in the kitchen dumping out the rest of my third cup of coffee. 


For the longest time I had trouble achieving a smoky eye look on myself. I am sure I have mentioned before how fair my skin is. More often than not, the colors that I selected to work with were too harsh for my porcelain complexion and I would end up looking like someone punched me in the eyes. A hot mess. So when I was just starting out with this look (not that I am an expert now) I used light colors. Once I "mastered" the technique, I was able to play around with darker, but still flattering colors. I would recommend this method of "Smoky Eye 101" to amateurs everywhere. The light, dreamy colors I received in the sample packets would be so perfect for this! Bombshell as liner, Elise on the lid, and Emaline either in the crease or in the upper corner of the lid. Then finish off using Christina as a highlighter, applying to the inner corner of your eye and the brow bone. Easy, enchanting eyes!


After browsing the Mineral Love's Etsy store, I came up with a short list of must have products. Short because I want one of everything from each category! So I just picked some favorites.

Ready Set Go Oil Absorbing Powder
Image: etsy.com

Ready Set Go Oil Absorbing Powder ($14.99) is a light and fluffy finishing powder that was designed to minimize shine and extend the life of your foundation. 

Images: etsy.com

Saturday Full Size Eye Shadow ($9.99) is a taupey, purply, gray that I am always looking for. Perfect for any day, all day. 

Images: etsy.com

Just look at it! Who doesn't need Pink Unicorn Lip Gloss ($6.00) in their life??!!


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I chatted with the beautiful Tricia from Mineral Love about starting her own makeup line, customer compliments, and of course....Baltimore.

Tricia being all gorgeous.
Image: esty.com

Why did you decide to create your own makeup line?

  

I feel like everything I've experienced in my life (both professionally and personally) has led me to my passion. The thought of starting my own line had crossed my mind numerous times, but not until my father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer did I take action. Watching his sickness and his inevitable degradation made me realize just how fragile and short life is, and I wanted more out of life than I had given myself up until that point. I immediately delved into research and development, which served two purposes: not only was I working towards creating a satisfying life for myself, but it also helped me do something positive with my grief instead of slipping into a chasm of sadness. In a way, my dad's passing actually helped me renew my own life, of which I am eternally grateful.  

Which product are you most proud of and why?

Ooo, this is a tough one! I am extremely proud of every product I create, but if I had to choose just one, I would say my eye shadows. I never get tired of hearing my customers say "I love your shadows so much more than <insert big box cosmetic company's name here.> Yours are all I use!" I am still blown away and humbled by the tremendous outpouring of support from my fans and friends; it inspires me to create even more awesome shades!

I also do custom requested colors, and there is no greater joy than seeing the look on their faces (or reading their elated emails) when I've made The. Perfect. Color. 

What do you love most about living in Baltimore?

There is so much that I love about Baltimore! I was born in another state, but was raised here (my mom is originally from here, and we moved back when I was just a baby.)  I love how connected everyone really is (they don't call it "Small-timore" for nothing!) and I love the indie brick-and-mortar shops in each of our different neighborhoods. I love the Visionary Art Museum. I have fond memories of cutting last period and heading to the Inner Harbor or Fells Point (I mean, uh... I'm a perfect angel... I never cut class...) Most of all, I love all of the amazing people I've met and how diverse our city is. Charm City is where my heart is. ♥

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Mineral Love is so totally worth your time. If you love makeup as much as I do, you will "ooooo" and "ahhh" over the huge variety of products and spectrum of colors. The texture of the eye shadows is amazing and really one of the best I have ever tried. The best part of all? Every product is reasonably priced. Which means my must have list will absolutely get crossed off soon! 


I would like to give a shout out to Tricia. Thank you for your generosity, patience, and participation. I wish you so much success and luck in the future!


Visit the Mineral Love shop on Etsy, like Mineral Love on Facebook, and keep up to date on the latest news by following Mineral Love on Twitter.


SO....are you dying to get over to Mineral Love? What is your favorite product? Do you think I can take my little black lace bag that my products arrived in and turn it into a hot thong? Maybe sell it on Etsy? Repurposed thongs anyone? I will name my store "Kit's Knickers". YES!

Birthday Wishes

Image: freakgirl

Oh Hello There!

So my birthday is tomorrow and in honor of that, I thought I would share with you my birthday wishlist. Yeah. I understand that this is very last minute. But you know what? I am so last minute with everyone else's birthdays, it would only be natural for me to be the same way with mine. Should you choose to purchase something from this list to give to me as a gift, (I love you!) I will completely understand if it is late.

Tarte Maracuja Oil $46.00

Image: qvc.com

I need another facial oil like I need a hole in the head, but this is too awesome to not want. It is so new that I can't find it anywhere. Not even on Tarte's website. If you happen to locate it there or at Sephora, please forward the link. Anywho, for some reason, QVC is currently selling it. According to the description, this oil delivers much needed fatty acids and Vitamin C to the skin to keep it hydrated. I live for Vitamin C! But let's stop focusing on the formulation and the claims. Look at the cute little box! I am a sucker for packaging!

Stark Skincare "The Whole Shebang" $118.00 (But it is on sale for $85.00 right now!!)

Image: starkskincare.com

I just discovered Stark Skincare, and the brains behind the brand Jessica was kind enough to send me some products to review. While the post will not be up for a while, I can tell you that I am hooked. Lovely formulas, I am thrilled with the things that the stuff is doing to (and for) my skin, and dammit the packaging is so freaking adorable! I feel like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka when it comes to this line. I want it all! And I want it NOW DADDY!

Timberland Grandby Tall Zip Boot $129.99

Image: piperlime.com

It is February, and usually by now it is super cold in Baltimore. But for some reason, winter has not been the bitch is usually is this year. While I am glad because I hate winter, I really think that we are all being punked. At some point it will get cold as shit, snow, and I am going to need some boots for walking around downtown. I need a boot to keep my feet warm but still be sleek enough to wear to the office. I hate carrying around shoes, (usually requires a second bag) and only do it when absolutely necessary. So....these boots by Timberland fit the bill I think. Cute, look warm, decent price, and I can see myself wearing them with my work clothes. Also, they come in black AND brown. I will need both colors to make sure I am always ready for snow. What? Some people need shovels and salt. I need boot options.

Coach Madison Leather Fashion Swingpack $158.00

Image: coach.com

I love this bag. Easy to carry. I could fit everything I need to in it. It's beautiful. It's by one of my favorite brands and my oldest daughter's name is Madison. So of course I was drawn to it. I hate the name though. It reminds me of a keyword heavy title for an eBay listing.

A Great Grey At The Office Dress $62.99

Image: modcloth.com

Oh Modcloth. Jeeze I love everything on this website. I am a huge fan of dresses and wear one to work almost every single day. Dress, cardigan, and a scarf. My uniform. All of the dresses on Modcloth make me think that I too can be a sultry sixties office siren. Like Jean Holloway on Madmen. Yup. I look just like her. Minus the great rack, gorgeous curves, and red hair. So really I look like her because we are both incredibly pale. But, if I popped on this dress then you would most definitely not be able to tell us apart! Right?

Tom Ford Stuff

Of course you all know how smitten I am with Tom Ford, and really this list would not be complete without a few Tom Ford wishes.

Tom Ford Private Blend "Noir de Noir" Eau de Parfum $195.00 for 1.7 oz

Image: nordstrom.com

To quote my fantasy boyfriend Tom Ford:

"Private Blend is my own scent laboratory; it's where I have the ability to create very special, original fragrances that are unconstrained by the conventions of mainstream scent-making. Private Blend is designed with the true fragrance connoisseur in mind."

Oh swoon. I will be your fragrance connoisseur anytime baby.

Noir de Noir opens with an earthy mantle of saffron, black rose and black truffle with hints of floralcy. (Floralcy? Is that even a word TF? Just sounds like fancy jibber jabber to me.) Then, vanilla, patchouli, oud wood, and tree moss soften the intensity.

Here is what I think. I bet this smells so sexy. Like what a night of fun with Tom Ford would smell like on my sheets the next morning. Too much? Did I go to far?

Tom Ford "Leila" Sunglasses $395.00

Image: nordstrom.com

How hot would I be in these? To be honest with you, it doesn't really matter how hot I would look in these because they will never be on my face. First, $395.00? I don't even think my husband loves me enough to spend $395.00 on sunglasses for me. And second, I would be way too scared to wear them. I would end up walking around craddling them in my arms like a newborn baby. Every now and then I would open the luxury case up (that I am sure they come with) and show my sweet baby glasses off to my family and friends.

Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick in Crimson Noir $48.00 

Image: nordstrom.com

Because Tom Ford would want my lips to be painted with this. Plus, this red lipstick will just blur the lines between myself and Jean Holloway even more.

American Eagle Outfitters AEO Octopus Ring $15.50

Image: ae.com

So I ended up buying this as a Happy Birthday to myself yesterday. I love anything with an octopus on it. Just look into those sweet eyes. He hypnotized me. "You need me on your finger. I will make you smile. I will make your life better." Jesus. Pictures of rings on the internet are talking to me. Maybe thirty-one is the year I go bat-shit crazy.

Happy Birthday To Me!!

White Apricot's Green Grab Bag

You guys! I have discovered the coolest idea in the beauty bag craze! A beauty bag dedicated to green products. Do you prefer vegan, all natural or organic beauty products? Yes? Then this bag is for you!

White Apricot's Green Grab Bag is a beauty box subscription service. Each month a selection of all natural, organic and vegan beauty products will be delivered to your door so that you can try before you buy. This is great news for me since it is so hard for me to find green beauty products that I like. I have tried so many and been to so many stores, but all to often I find myself not liking what I picked. Such a waste of money! So Green Grab Bag is a steal at $15.00 a month. If I hate the sample there is no harm done. You can also subscribe for a full year and save 20%. A year of Green Grab Bag costs $145.00 which is a savings of $35.00!

Green Grab Bag

 

Lovely Packaging

Contents of my bag!

First I want to point out how adorable the packaging is! Everything is recyclable from the bag, to the tissue to the ribbon and the crinkly things. Attached to the bag was an informational page explaining how to use each of the products. I received my Green Grab Bag about a week ago, and have ample amount of time to try everything out. So....I will go through everything I received, describing each product in detail and include my thoughts. (of course!) At the bottom of this post, I will list each product individually and include the price of the full size product and the website where you can purchase it. Let's do this!

Amal Oils Toning Mist

Amal Oils 100% Organic Moroccan Neroli Water Toning Mist

Amal Oils claims their Toning Mist minimizes pores, calms skin irritation and replenishes moisture. Neroli Water hydrates while calming anxiety and uplifting your spirits. The scent of Neroli can be described as a kiss of citrus notes with a hint of fragrant floral notes, making it peaceful, pleasant and refreshing. To use, just spray your face after cleansing or throughout the day to refresh skin.

I was really hopefully about this toning mist because simply put, I love a good toning mist. They are refreshing, easy to use and really portable. While I was hopeful, I sort of had the feeling that this would be a fail for me. I really despise Neroli but I gave it a fair shot and used it for a couple of days. The formula is fantastic. Applying the spray is very refreshing and my face felt super hydrated. I just can't get past the smell. Amal Oils Toning Mist also comes in a Rose version, which I bet is fantastic. I love the smell of roses, and like I said the formula is great, so I would be willing to give it a shot. 

Collective Wellbeing Corrective Cleanser

Collective Wellbeing Natural Face Corrective Cleanser

This cleanser is a non-foaming, oatmeal based face wash that promises to remove dirt and makeup without stripping your skin. Oats soothe irritated skin, Raspberries contain fruit acids that gently promote cell turnover and Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil hydrate your skin.

In my opinion this is more of a face scrub than a run of the mill cleanser. A super gentle scrub that contains Oat bits in it. Like whole pieces of Oats. At one point one got stuck in the opening of the tube! That's great though since I love scrubs with big bits in it. This stuff is amazing and I will absolutely purchase the full size. My face felt refreshed and hydrated and looked flawless after using. I could really tell the difference in my skins texture after one use. Highly recommended.

HollyBeth Eye Cream

HollyBeth Eye Cream

HollyBeth's Organic Emollient Eye Cream


HollyBeth's eye cream contains Vitamin E that acts as an anti-oxidant. It's rich and creamy texture gently moisturizes while soothing and relaxing the skin in your delicate eye area.

This product is another winner in my opinion. It is super rich so I have only been using it at night. The eye cream is fragrance free and really moisturized my super dry under eye area so well. And I am in love with the packaging! I love the little design on the lid! Weird but true.

Lavera Faces Self Tanner

Lavera Faces Summer Glow Natural Self Tanner For The Face


Lavera Faces uses only natural ingredients in their Summer Glow Self Tanner for the Face to deliver a streak-free, sun-kissed glow. Soy extracts react with the amino acids that are already present in skin to give you a tan complexion in four to five days. The gradual self tanner also offers additional skin care benefits. Extracts of Calendula, Peach, Kiwi, Apricot and Papaya nourish skin. Vitamin E and C provide you with antioxidant protection against environmental damage.

I am going to be honest here. I have not used this product. I have incredibly pale skin and self tanners worry me. More often than not, I am left orange and streaky. Which can be okay in the winter if it happens on your body. You can easily cover up mistakes with pants and turtlenecks. On your face, not so much. So I can't really review this product. The formula sounds lovely and the idea of an all natural self tanner is intriguing to me. I'm just not willing to risk it. Sorry guys. If I ever do get brave and try this out, I will update accordingly. If anyone out there has tried this, please leave comments to share your thoughts!

Scrubz and Butterz

Scrubz Body Scrub and Butterz Body Butter


Scrubz Body Scrub is made up of what the company calls their 8 botanical oil blend. The oils in the blend consist of Coconut, Vitamin E, Canola, Jojoba, Aloe Vera, Grapeseed, Soybean and Essential and Fragrance Oils. Shea Butter and Refined Sugar round out the rest of the ingredient list. The Sugar based scrub is non-irritating, can be used before or after shaving and is also recommended for the face.

Butterz Body Butter is a rich, creamy Shea Butter that has been whipped with the company's 8 botanical blend.

I received the scrub in the Warm Vanilla scent which is a toasty, sweet scent, reminiscent of cookies and cakes. The Butterz was fragranced with the Pear Vanilla scent which is a combination of Warm Vanilla and Sweet Pear and smells sweet and delicious.

I can not say enough positive things about this duo. Scrubz was a decadent shower treat. A rough, dense sugar scrub that did not irritate my skin in any way. It left behind a small amount of oil on my skin which really hydrated, especially my legs.Once out of the shower, I applied the Butterz lotion to my body (not that I needed it since Scrubz alone left me so moisturized) and it absorbed well and left a pleasant scent behind. I highly recommend this brand and their products! If you love a scrubs and rich butters, this is for you. The scents were to die for and I was really surprised that with all of the oils in the scrub that it wasn't messy and didn't leave behind a gross mess in my bathtub. I'm hooked! I will tell you though, I was afraid to use this on my face. I know that oil can be good for your face but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Tsi-Organic Eau de Parfum

Tsi-La Organic Eau de Parfum


Tsi-Organics offers 100% natural perfumes using the world's finest essential oils and plant botanicals. The packaging is gorgeous and the scents sound beautiful.

I received the Fiori D' Arancio fragrance which has sparkling notes of lucious orange blossoms, juicy tangerines and playful Neroli Flowers. They are combined in a base of Vanilla Orchids and a drop of Honey.

Alright. I know I said earlier that I loathe the scent of Neroli. But here is the thing....you can't smell it in this perfume. Even though the description says that Neroli is present, I couldn't smell it. To me, this smells like summer. Bright and sweet, citrusy. Just gorgeous. I love this perfume and have been wearing it daily since receiving it. My only complaint with the perfume is that it doesn't last very long. I usually notice that by mid-day it is gone. But seriously, if that is my only problem than I think I can live with it. It just smells too good!

Vapour Blush in Spark Swatch

Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blush in Spark


Vapour's Multi-Use Blush gives a natural flush of color and is meant to be used on the cheeks, lips or eyes. It blends like a dream and is made with 70% organic ingredients and 30% mineral pigments and vitamins. The formula nourishes skin with Vapour's face specific infusion of inflammatory Frankincense, antioxidant Tulsi and moisturizing Lotus Flowers.

What I received was a FULL SIZE of this product in the Spark color. I am so in love with this! The cream blush is the perfect color for my vampire skin and it is true, it blends like a dream. Just swipe it on and blend with fingertips. Boom. Done. I could hardly tell that I had anything on at all. My complexion just looked naturally flushed. Like my crush just smiled at me flush. Another fantastic product in my bag. I should mention that the blush retails for $28.00, so receiving a full size version of it paid for the Green Grab Bag! Also, I should add that I did try this on my lips and the formula was a bit dry for use without a balm or a gloss. The color looked pretty though. I did not try this on my eyes. Only because I feel weird about pink, red or orange colors on my eyelids. It makes me look sick. But that's my problem, you may feel differently.

If you are not convinced after reading my (lengthy, sorry) post that you need to head over to White Apricot's Green Grab bag NOW and sign up for a subscription then, well,  you my friend are crazy. Why would you not want to introduce yourself to amazing, all natural beauty products? I am in love with this bag, adore the "green" niche, and encourage you to check them out!

Get your Green Grab Bag HERE!

Here are the products listed, their retail cost and website:

Amal Oils 100% Organic Moroccan Neroli Water Toning Mist $21.50
http://www.amaloils.com/

Collective Wellbeing Natural Face Corrective Cleanser $14.99
http://www.collectivewellbeing.com/


HollyBeth's Organic Emollient Eye Cream $32.00
http://hollybeth.net/


Lavera Faces Summer Glow Natural Self Tanner for the Face $23.50
http://www.lavera.com/


Scrubz Natural Body Scrub $26.00/16oz and $16.00/8oz
Butterz Body Butter             $25.00/4oz and $15.00/2oz
http://www.scrubzbodyscrub.com/


Tsi-Organic Eau de Parfum $95.00
http://www.tsilaorganics.com/


Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blush $28.00
http://www.vapourbeauty.com/