Illamasqua Collide Product Review

There's a new bunny in town, making a name for themselves in the US cosmetic industry! Have you heard of cosmetic company Illamasqua? They're out of London and if you haven't already, you should definitely start becoming familiar with their name. Some in the States have touted Illamasqua as the "new" MAC. Remember when MAC started, they were very edgy and "out there". Well many feel MAC has mellowed through the years. Well Illamasqua cosmetics are for the BOLD and the ones who dare to be DRAMATIC. Illamasqua's mission is to provide high performance, professional makeup to anyone who wants to self express and accentuate their look beyond the norm. (source).

Illamsqua caught my eye with their new I'mperfection (I'm Perfection) Collection (specifically their nail lacquer, which looks like the speckled eggs stores sell during Easter) I'm not quite ready to jump on the speckled nail varnish route, so I decided to try a bright pink varnish named Collide.

Well, let me tell you! This is not a pink for the modest at heart. It's a pink that packs a punch! Collide is a NEON pink WITH CLASS! I really like it! The application of it was very easy. Long brush, but it was very easy to control. I used 2 coats to achieve the look below. I think this is the fastest drying nail lacquer I've ever used. The vibrant color is amazing! The only thing I didn't like was it's distinctive nail lacquer scent. Plus I didn't read about it being Environmentally friendly or at least 3 Free.

This nail lacquer costs $14 at Sephora and £13.50 ($17.26 USD) on Illamasqua's website. It was shocking to hear from my International readers (in my last nail polish post) how much you guys pay for nail polish! I don't think I would ever do mine. Crazy wild!

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Illamasqua's Collide is Sweet!

Oops! Sorry little bunny! I got a little yummy doing this post ;)

Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church

With Easter (The Resurrection of Jesus Christ) upon us, I thought it would be nice to show you pictures of the church I attend. The name of my church is Mater Dolorosa, which translates to "Mother of Sorrow" or "Sorrows of Mary". It's a Catholic Church located here in New Orleans. My mom was married here. I was christened as a baby here. I celebrated First Communion at this church. There was also a connecting elementary school that I attended, but it closed in the 80's. So as you can see, it truly holds many memories for me. From the floors to the ceilings, this church is filled with beautiful mosaics, stained glass windows, paintings and sculptures. It was built in the 1800's and still prospers today.

Morgan Clare Boutique

Hi Everybody! We're going boutique shopping today. Here's a glass of champagne and some chocolate covered strawberries to munch on. Ready? Let's start.

Have you heard of Morgan Clare? Vogue Magazine listed them as one of Britain's TOP Boutiques! Boutique shopping is an experience like no other. Boutique's specialize in and sell very elite & fashionable items. Plus you receive extra special attention* (like the way I treated you above) while shopping. It's very VIP! Think "Pretty Woman"! HaHaHa

Morgan Clare not only has a boutique, but they also have an online website. I browsed their website (which ships worldwide) and they carry the cutest designs. It's all designer-wear! Stella McCartney, Helmut Lang, Diane von Furstenberg, Lanvin, Isabel Marant, Alexander McQueen, and J Brand are just a sampling of the brands they carry. They have an extraordinary assortment of clothes, shoes and accessories. Let's take a look!

 L-R: Peter Pilotto Purple Asymmetric Print Dress, Joseph Doll Blue Flute Dress, Stella McCartney Floral Short Sleeve Dress

L-R: Etoile Isabel Marant Andrew Blue Shirt Blazer, Castaner Isolda Navy Strap Sandal, Theory Nikay Stripe Dress

 L-R: Wild Fox Tres Rose White T-Shirt, Neutral Gold Boat Shoe, Current Elliott Skinny Roller Jean In Bleecker

L-R: McQ Alexander McQueen Green Butterfly Flute Dress, Alexander McQueen Gold Leather Skull Sandal, Alexander McQueen Leather Padlock Clutch

Tell me your thoughts!

Find designer clothes online at Morgan Clare! They ship worldwide!

*This is a sponsored post for Morgan Clare, written and designed by A Very Sweet Blog. 

Morgan Clare may or may not serve refreshments while you shop :)

OPI Euro Centrale Collection: Peep and S'more This!

Happy Monday Everybody! It's an Easter themed week here on A Very Sweet Blog. So Enjoy! Let's talk about OPI's 2013 Spring/Summer Euro Centrale Collection. The collection consists of 12 nail lacquers ($9 USD; OPI's gone up 50 cents) and celebrates the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania. This collection came out a couple of months ago and I literally fell in love with each & every shade. There were a lot of dark shades in this collection (I was surprised for this time of year or maybe not because Winter doesn't seem to want to go away haha), but I love them just the same. hahaha I purchased three shades from this collection and will probably buy one more. So let's get started...

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OPI's Euro Centrale Collection is Sweet!

Suzi's Hungary Again! (and so am I, but let me finish this post haha)

It's a pretty shade of pink, that's even prettier in person. Now, the application of the polish surprised me. I needed 3 (uno, dos, tres!) coats to achieve the opaque look below. However, once applied it proved very durable and the polish dried quickly after each application. If you would like a second opinion, look at the review my fellow blog buddy Andrea of Little Miss Andrea did on Suzi's Hungary Again. Also, I have SO many blues, that I didn't buy any from this collection, but Andrea also reviewed and swatched Can't Find My Czechbook. Czech it out! :P

My Paprika is Hotter Than Yours

Do you need a little spice in your life? Do you wanna feel hot, Hot, HOT? Well this is one orange-y shade of red (coral) you should add to your nail lacquer collection. After you apply it, you'll want to do the salsa or eat some! hahaha It's truly a beautiful color. I applied 2 coats to achieve the look below. I think I'm going to order A Woman's Prague-ative because it's in the same color family and exhibits the same punch.

Vant To Bite My Neck?

Welcome to the DARK side! HaHaHa I've tried lavender...I've tried lilac...But I've never purchased a really deep purple nail lacquer before. I would describe it as a real life fruit colored plum on the verge of black. When I saw this shade I immediately fell in love with it. It's definitely glossy and if you want to razz-a-ma-tazz it, purchase Polka as an overlay. I'm definitely wearing this shade during the winter months. If you're a fan of deep purples or near black shades, then this nail lacquer is for you.

What did I do with all the PEEPS when I finished this blog post?

I added graham crackers & chocolate and made some colorful S'MORES! :)

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Product Review

The first time I heard about foundation primer, I immediately thought about the primers painters' use before painting. At the time, I couldn't imagine needing something like that for my face. I was young! I just slathered on foundation, blush & lipstick and was out the door. Well as you get older, stuff changes. Particularly your skin! The foundation or bb cream you love, doesn't glide on as easy! HaHaHa  The blush you apply, doesn't lay as readily. And little imperfections seem to pop up here, there and everywhere. So what are you going to do?

My advice to women of nearly ANY age, is to use a foundation primer (of your choice). 1. It's a wonderful layer of protection (some even have SPF) and/or barrier between your skin & the makeup you apply. 2. Foundations and bb creams will apply more evenly to your skin and 3. Companies are now formulating primers so they "hide" any imperfections you may have in your skin. I received a deluxe sample of Smashbox's Photofinish Foundation Primer with my Sephora order and I must say, I am very impressed. Here's my review.

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Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer is SWEET! 

company name: Smashbox 

product name: Photofinish Foundation Primer 

size: .25 fl oz / 7.1 ml e (sample only)

scent: super light scent, that's hardly detectable 
allergic reaction: none

purchased from: sephora, sold almost everywhere 
cost: $36 and up

This primer is colorless & lightweight. It's not oily or sticky. It does have a silicone feel, but nothing that turned me off. To really see if there was a difference in my skin by using a primer, I washed my hands and didn't apply lotion. I drew a dotted line down the middle of my hand, applied Smashbox's Photo Finish to one side and left the other side bare. I was completely amazed at how it hid imperfections in my skin and made it look smoother. Upon applying it to my face, my foundation went on better (I didn't have to use as much) and it truly gave me a mini-facelift. I love this product. I like it better than Benefit! I faithfully used Benefit's Porefessional Primer before trying Smashbox. When I compared both on the same hand (not pictured), Benefit caused my skin to look ashy/duller, it had a strong scent and the primer flaked. So this is my new primer for now. This product has been out on the market for awhile. Are there any primers that you use, that are better than this? Let me know in my comments section.

Follow Me On Bloglovin...

Google reader is going away July 1. I'm asking all of my readers and blog buddies to follow A Very Sweet Blog via Bloglovin'. I want to stay in touch with you guys! I've already added many of the blogs I read and comment on daily to Bloglovin' (please return the favor), but there are a couple of bloggers that have not signed up for Bloglovin' yet. Please do so when you have a chance. It's free, open internationally and the majority of bloggers use it. Share any thoughts about the Google changes in my comments section.Thanks!

CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW! THEN CLICK THE BLUE FOLLOW BUTTON!

A Bravo Weekend!

Did everyone have a great weekend? I hope you did. The weather couldn't have been any prettier in New Orleans. The skies were blue, the sun was shining, the flowers were blooming and there was a really nice breeze in the air. It was definitely a weekend to be out and about.

My mom and I decided to go to Bravo Cucina Italiana restaurant in Metairie, Louisiana. Bravo Restaurant's are scattered throughout the United States. I've dined at Bravo's a number of times (for both lunch & dinner), and the quality of the food and service is always excellent. They have the best waiters. They're always attentive, knowledgeable, pleasant, and go that extra mile. I must also commend their cooks! Bravo's dishes are always presented so beautifully and they taste just the same. They remodeled the outside (sitting) waiting area with beautiful umbrellas, white twinkle lights, chairs & sofas and the inside decor is equally as exquisite. Always clean & polished, I highly recommend everyone dine at Bravo's. Plus, the prices are as fabulous as everything else there.

 

Bravo's has a wide selection of appetizers. We ordered their Artichoke & Spinach Formaggio (w/parmesan flatbread). They also give you a basket of their warm foccacia bread. It's really good. Order a glass of white wine. Relax. I had other stops to make afterwards, so I enjoyed a glass of their refreshing iced tea instead.

For lunch, my mom ordered a Grilled Chicken Salad. Her salad, was pretty & colorful. It was filled with grilled chicken, peppers, cucumbers, onion and lettuce. Bravo's salads are HUGE! So it's definitely a meal in itself. I love pasta! So I ordered their Pasta Woozie. It's grilled chicken, fresh spinach, and fettuccine pasta with alfredo sauce.

Ready for dessert? We ordered the Tre Dolce! It's a sampling of their three most popular desserts: tiramisu, torta di cioccolata, and chocolate chip bread pudding. So good!

Ahhh, my Lucky Charms! Since it was St. Patrick's Day weekend, I brought my clover coin purse with me. Remember, I told you I collect coin purses. Well here's one of them. If you're on instagram, you saw my ruby slippers coin purse. Our bill, including the tip was approximately $65 at Bravos. Great food, delightful atmosphere and an enjoyable time. If I had to suggest anything to Bravo's of Metairie, it would be to talk to the front hostess about greeting customers right away. It wasn't busy, her head stayed down and we had to approach her. Also, I think the presentation of the dessert could've been prettier. Sauce was sliding off the sides of the plate. Remember presentation is everything! Other than those two things, I still give Bravo's a sweet rating.

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Bravo's in Metairie is Sweet!