My new dressing room!

One of the perks of moving to our new house was the agreement that because my husband got his mondo sized garage, I could use a bedroom in the house for my "lady's nice things" room! I was very excited how this worked out, because having a room like this was something that I had only dreamt about in the past.

After we moved into the house in late October, it was a whirlwind of activity with the holidays and projects around the house. I didn't feel like I could truly focus on the purse room/dressing room until I had things take care of for the holidays. During December, I did get a good amount of momentum done on the room and I'm happy to finally be able to share the beginnings of my purse room!

Check out my video reveal on YouTube here:

I ordered a display cabinet from Home Decorators, the Essex Glass Door book case - and I'm using this to display a number of my handbags. Not all of them fit in the cabinet unfortunately - so I am looking for a secondary, likely smaller, cabinet to house extra purses and books…. However I love the styling of the Essex cabinet and the aesthetic it brings to the room.

The chair was a particular sticking point for the room. (And being able to finally share the room!) I wanted a chair that would pull out into a twin sleeping space, so that the room could function as additional guest sleeping space when we were hosting a number of people at our home. I originally was looking at a twin sleeper chair from Ballard Designs, the Tate Twin Sleeper Chair, and had settled on a fabric and design.

However at the last minute, I came across a chair at JCPenny, called the Twin Sleeper Chair, that was on *mega* sale - and it was a deal too good to pass up!! (Practically half of the price the Tate Chair was going to be.) In my hast in ordering from the few day sale going on, I missed that the fabric on the gray (my color of choice) chair was a microfiber… which because of fingerprint imprints would not be my first choice - overall I'm excited about the value and I think it will work great.

On the walls, I added a few prints by Lauren Maurer (check out her Etsy store!) - her gorgeous dress form watercolors have been some of my favorites to pin on Pinterest.

I also included a "charms wall" where I can add various wall pieces of interest as I find ones that speak to me.

All in all, I'm excited about the room and where it seems its headed. I think there is still a lot of work to be done, items to be ordered, and some more moving of things around… but I'm quite enjoying having my own space in our new home for my own passions and pursuits.

I'm looking forward to adding some finishing touches - changing out things like the chair at my vanity, adding a script print ottoman, and possibly a full size dress forum mannequin. It has been a lot of fun to be a bit "girlie" with a room in the house!

Do you have your own "lady's nice things" room? How have you chosen the decor for that room?

Ponds Luminous Finish BB+ Cream!

Pond's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream is in stores now and new for the US market in July 2013!

I have been trying it out the past few weeks and have absolutely been loving it! I was sent the Pond's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream by Influenster to do a product test of it before it released in the United States and also post a product review of it, if I felt the product was worthy.

I've enjoyed using the BB+ Cream, and I have to say the timing was absolutely perfect - as I had been leaning towards wearing BB creams for the majority of the summer. I was happy to try another option, and the Luminous Finish BB+ Cream didn't disappoint!

It claims to improve your skin texture over a period of two weeks and also decrease dark spots on your skin as well, I do believe I've seen an improvement in my skin and I know my skin feels better... so that is an important part as well.

Also, it gives great coverage and I can "build" it in areas where I would like a little bit more coverage - but it doesn't cake up or look like I'm wearing a ton of makeup. BB creams are great to let your natural skin shine through, and this BB+ cream is no exception, in that it gives my skin a nice healthy glow when I'm wearing it.

The BB+ cream also works great as a moisturizer, so i'm looking forward to wearing this during the winter months when my skin tends to get a bit dry - and if I can put faith in any company to know its moisturizers, it would be Pond's. A company known for its moisturizer world wide for decades.

This item is currently available on mass retailer store shelves now, and retail price is approximately $9.99.

See the full review and explanation of the Pond's contest below:

See my 2 minute entry in the Pond's Facebook competition for who best displayed and represented the product in under 2 minutes!

Vote NOW on the Pond's Facebook page for the best representatives of the BB+ Cream! Voting goes through August 12, 2013.

** Items in this review were sent complimentary for purposes of completing a review. This is not a paid review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Kodiak Cakes Flapjack and Waffle Mix!

I was contacted by Kodiak Cakes to review one of their products, and while I don't normally accept food reviews and initially was set to decline, I changed my mind after some consideration . The concept of a healthier box mix without preservatives intrigued me and I also appreciated that it is a family owned business, being a former entrepreneur myself.

So I accepted the review and received two boxes of their FlapJack Mix to review (along with a super cute apron!) - I set off to try my hand at making some pancakes!

They really are straight forward, dare I say... easy? To make... Instructions were quick to follow and it just took 1 cup of the mix to 1 cup of water, a bit of whisking, and we were off!

They cooked up quickly, 1 minute on the first side and 30 seconds for the second, and turned out great! The true test was the taste... and they passed with flying colors! I would definitely say they tasted better than "other" box mixes I had tried in the past, and I thought the consistency was great. Light and fluffy, not too thick or thin, the 1 cup to 1 cup ratio worked out great for me!

I will be looking for other Kodiak Cake products at my local Target stores, as most Target stores recently started stocking their products. Will let you know what I find in an upcoming Target haul!

See the full video review here:

** Items shown in this review were sent to the reviewer complimentary for consideration of the review. This was not a paid review. All opinions are my own.

Sibu Beauty Skincare Line Review + Giveaway!

I've been using Sibu Beauty skincare items for some time now and was happy to receive the offer to review a few complimentary items from Sibu that I had never tried before - the exfoliating scrub and age defying eye cream!

I also had the rest of the daily skincare essentials by Sibu Beauty on hand, so I decided to do a full skincare line review!

Balancing Facial Cleanser - I've been using this product the longest, for over a year now, and I consider it to be one of the best cleansers I've ever tried! It has a nice light scent, and just a light bit of beading in the cleanser, so you feel like you are refreshing and doing a daily exfoliation at the same time. The balancing facial cleanser is 100% natural, so it works great for sensitive skin like mine and while I normally cannot use products with any fragrance on my face - the scent comes from natural lemon and orange oils - so they don't aggravate my skin. Retail on the cleanser is $17.95.

Clarifying Toner - This was a item that I recently purchased from Haute Look and had been wanting to try out. I love the spray pump applicator. It is a light toner, that is great for basic daytime toner and feels very fresh on the skin. Retail price on the toner is $24.95.

Exfoliating Scrub - Sibu sent me an exfoliating scrub to try, and I do love my exfoliators! It looks like it is going to be a lot more gritty than it feels like, but once it is on your skin - it provides a nice light exfoliation that I would not hesitant to use weekly. The scent is slightly strongly stronger than with other items from the skincare line, but still isn't overpowering. Retail price is $19.95.

Repair & Protect Facial Cream - The repair & protect facial cream is a light daytime moisturizer that is especially good for warmer months. I've found that my container has lasted for a long amount of time with daily use and made my skin feel especially nice when used in conjuction with other Sibu Beauty skincare items. Retail price on the repair & protect facial cream is $20.95.

Age Defying Eye Cream - The age defying eye cream was another item sent to me by Sibu Beauty, and I have to say... it is a new favorite! I occasionally get dark circles under my eyes when I haven't had enough sleep, and I found it to be effective. It was nice and light, absorbed into my skin nicely, and didn't feel greasy at all. Retail price on the eye cream is $24.95

Final Verdict:
 - I love that Sibu Beauty skincare line brightens my skin and makes it feel nice as well. My favorite products from the line up are the balancing facial cleanser and the age defying eye cream. The cleanser has been a favorite for a while, and the eye cream is a new favorite! The eye cream seems to give me nice results, and the retail price is less than comparable eye creams that I've tried that give similar results! So overall, this skincare line has been a great find for me and I really enjoy using it!

Giveaway!

Check out my YouTube video for how to win a full size balancing facial cleanser by Sibu Beauty! Giveaway ends April 4, 2013!

FTC Disclaimer: Items in this blog post were sent complimentary from Sibu Beauty for purposes of review. Those items were noted in the text. All opinions are my own.

Sephora Fragrance Sampler Reviews

Two great gift giving options from Sephora Favorites!

Louis Vuitton Multicolor Insolite Wallet Review

The Louis Vuitton Insolite wallet is a great large style wallet available from Louis Vuitton in monogram and multicolor prints. It also comes with a variety of interior options and is great to feel like you have a more "customized" wallet, rather than a plain colored one.

It opens up flat and holds 12 debit/credit or other cards - with two flat bill compartments, one interior coin area, and a large zippered area that is accessible without opening the rest of the wallet... Which is great for items you want quick access to!

So far, I'm really loving this wallet! It is easy to use and a great full-size wallet! The only cons I've found with the wallet so far is that is a lot more "exposed" than my previous Sarah style wallet, which felt more "private". The coin area on the Insolite also is not very user friendly and coins slide to one corner, which makes them hard to get to... a solution to that would be a separate coin change purse.

All in all, this wallet was a win for me and I'm enjoying it, and may even consider another one in the future!

* This is not a sponsored review. I am not affiliated with Louis Vuitton in any way, and all opinions are my own.

Tarte Carried Away Collector's Set Review!

I've enjoyed this collector's set from Tarte so much, that I had to review it and share my favorite parts of this set!

All around, it is just an incredibly great value - 24 shadows and 8 deluxe sample size glosses would be well worth the $54 retail price... but with the additional deluxe sample size blush, full sized face brush, deluxe sample mascara, deluxe sample finishing powder, & great travel bag that is included... It makes me feel fortunate that I paid as little for the set as I did!

There are a number of stand out shadows in the palette...

- From the purple quad: Boston Brick, Spanish sangria, & Napa grapes - beautiful and unique purple tones that blend nicely together

- From the top right quad: Pearl River - a gorgeous base color that looks great all over the lid and up to the brow; Seychelles Sand - a matte gray with a hint of taupe that is great for layering

- From the top left quad: snowfall in Paris - lovely cream with a hint of gold shimmer that is great as a base or highlight; pyramid gold - subtle gold tone tan that looks lovely on the lid

- From the bottom left quad: Iceland Air, Mystic Seaport, & concrete jungle - combine for a stunning blue tone look

The shadows have above average staying power - especially when combined with my NARS Pro Prime eyeshadow primer - and I'm happy with the pigmentation in all of my favorite shadows. There are one or two shadows that I feel aren't as wearable or maybe don't have much pigmentation - but honestly, for 20 out of the 24 shadows to be winners is an overall win in my book!

And in my opinion, all of the glosses are great... not too sticky, great consistency, and moderate staying power. My favorites are the colors with a bit of shimmer to them - but all of the colors have been winners to me. I especially like them over the Dior Addict lipstick, Pink Cherie.

Also with this set, you get three deluxe sample sized products: Smooth Operator finishing powder; Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara; and Adventurous Blush (shimmering rose).

The Tarte face brush included is a full size and decent quality - I've especially liked using it to apply the  blush from the set. The Adventurer bag that the set is housed in is pretty good quality and is laid out well for travel. It has a large mirror on the inside so that you could put everything you need to do your makeup in the bag and finish it while on the go!

I think this set would make a great gift for anyone that loves makeup and is perfect if you're wanting to try out multiple items from the Tarte brand. My final verdict: It is worth the money and a great value for all of the items that are included in the set! This will be one of my favorite beauty items for Fall & Winter!

Updated Britax B-Ready Stroller review!

Here's our updated review and final review showing the Britax B-ready with the infant carseat on the bottom. We've now ordered the second toddler seat for the bottom, and will be installing it this week. So the next follow-up review I do on the B-ready will have the two toddler seats!

This shows updated wear & tear on the stroller, as well as how it has held up with over a year of use:

Fisher Price toy reviews!

Two reviews on Fisher Price toys - the Zoo Talkers zoo and the Wheelies Stand 'n Play Ramp.

We love the Zoo Talkers zoo and accessories, Cupcake received this as a Christmas gift and it has done really well at holding her attention during the 6 months that we've had it. There are a number of animals that are available to purchase additionally for the zoo and there is also a fun jeep vehicle.

The Wheelies Stand 'n Play Ramp is great for toddler that are into cars! Cupcake just received this for her 2nd birthday and it has been a total hit! She has started really liking cars (waving "hi" to cars, making the "vroom vroom" noise, etc...), so I thought she would love the little Wheelies in addition to the great ramp features. It is a great height for them to be able to access it on all levels and the features are very toddler-user friendly. The elevator makes a fun click noise and the sounds make her squeal when the car rolls over the sensor.

All in all, we've had the best luck with Fisher Price toys over any other brand we've tried. We're very pleased with all of the toys we've purchased. I think the quality is exceptional and the retail prices are reasonable given the amount of use that our children will be able to get out of them!

Product Review: Planet Explorers EPCOT 2012 Guide for Kids

I was given the opportunity to review the newest Planet Explorers e-guidebook, EPCOT 2012. Planet Explorers is a set of travel e-guidebooks for children aged 8-12. The guidebooks can be viewed on Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and smart phones, and are available for a variety of destinations including Orlando, Las Vegas, London, New York City, and more! They can easily be purchased on Amazon.com, and used immediately after downloading the guide to your device.

The guidebooks offer a concise overview of what children may expect to see at their destination and also offer helpful tips to make their trip more enjoyable.

EPCOT 2012 is one of Planet Explorers' newest titles and gives children 8-12 a glimpse at what they can expect when visiting the park. I've visited EPCOT a number of times in the past, so I'm familiar with the layout and exhibits that are in the theme park. The guide starts with a brief history of the theme park and then starts with a brief description of each of the exhibits starting at the front of the park, with Spaceship Earth and working its way through the different exhibits.

It is written in an easy to follow format that is appealing to upper grade school children and also has quick facts about each of the areas as you go through the guide. It is entertaining and is sure to capture the interest of a grade school children, as they use the guide to anticipate what to expect on their trip, or to plan what attractions they would like to see the most. There are a number of vivid images of each of the areas that also give a visual representation to give a great feel of what to expect in the theme park.

Current price of the Planet Explorers' EPCOT 2012 e-guidebook on Amazon.com is $2.99, delivered straight to your e-reader device!

My verdict: I think that the Planet Explorers e-guidebook on EPCOT is a thoughtfully written travel guide that is perfect for the child aged 8-12. It is entertaining and gives a great glimpse at what to expect during their trip, and would also be handy to reference while at the location to look up details or fun facts along the way. You can't beat the reasonable price either - at an average price of $2.99-$3.99 for the e-guidebooks, I think they would make great airplane reading material, attraction planning guides, and fun fact references while on the trip.

The Planet Explorers EPCOT 2012 guidebook can be purchased:

The Walt Disney World 2012 e-guidebook can be purchased here:



View all the rest of the Planet Explorer titles:
Planet Explorers

Learn more about Planet Explorers: www.planet-explorers.net
And visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PlanetExplorers

* Please note the products in this review were sent to the reviewer by the company to perform an independent review. I've given my honest opinions on the products mentioned.

Product Review: Gigi Hill Audrey Tote Bag

Gigi Hill is a company that was started by two moms that had fashion and function in mind. They wanted to create bags that were feminine, but could still meet the demands that moms have on bags. The company has a full line of handbags and accessories to meet the needs of any consumer that desires a bag that can be functional and pretty at the same time.

They've sent me a purse to review and I'm excited to share my thoughts with you on this feminine and functional accessory!

Gigi Hill Audrey Tote, www.gigihillbags.com, Starting at $130

The Audrey is a versatile tote style that I selected in the Enchanted color, because I thought it would be a great addition to be something different in my collection. The print is a gorgeous tangerine and pink rose floral against a neutral tan background. The exterior is a faux leather finish that is easily cleanable and could be wiped off with a baby wipe - and the interior has a laminated canvas lining that would contain spills while still being pretty to look at with a colorful striped lining.

Size wise, the bag is the perfect tote size... large enough to carry all of the things you would want to carry in a large tote, without looking like lugage. It is spacious and could carry everything from items for a diaper bag, to work essentials. There is a magnetic button closure at the top and snaps on either side so that you cinch in the sides to create more of a closed look when you don't need the top to be open. The strap drop is 10.5 inches and comfortably fits on the shoulder.

There are a few special details which make you realize that the creators of Gigi Hill really are passionate about handbags and creating something special for their consumers. The interior has a tag that reads, "a great bag is a woman's treasured secret place" ~ gigi hill. There is also a matching key holder that can hang from the d-ring on the inside. I think these extra touches just make the bag feel that much more personal and special.

My verdict: I think that the Audrey style tote bag is a fabulous bag that would be perfect all types of occasions. From mommy bags to work tote, this bag could do it all! The enchanted print is perfect for summer and the bright floral print feels very in tune with this season's trending colors. It is comfortable to use and the perfect tote size.

In a few words, substantial, beautiful, and most definitely worth the $130 pricetag. If you're looking for reasonably priced durability that will last you a long time, I think that a Gigi Hill bag would be perfect.

Watch my video review on the Audrey Tote here:

Learn more about Gigi Hill here:

http://www.gigihillbags.com

View the Audrey Tote, Starting at $130 - HERE

Stop by their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/gigihillcollection

* Please note the products in this review were sent to the reviewer by the company to perform an independent review. I've given my honest opinions on the products mentioned.

Disappointing Beauty Products!

These are products from beauty categories: hair, makeup, mascara, and nail polish that I was disappointed in and would not repurchase again! Some products I disliked so much that I will not even continue using them!

I try to do a fair bit of research when I'm buying cosmetics and rarely buy things on impulse - most of the time especially with more expensive items I'm pleased with them and the items perform how they are supposed to... but sometimes even when I've done research on items they just don't work out for me. Since I share my favorites fairly each month, I thought I would share some products that haven't worked out...

Hair: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Garnier Fructis Flat Iron spray - both items left horrible build up on my hair and left it feeling icky!

Face: Revlon Colorstay foundation made my sensitive skin break out horribly and Revlon foundation primer worked okay, but had an over-powering floral smell that I didn't like at all.

Mascara: The wands on both Bare Minerals Flawless Definition and Benefit's They're Real mascara were disappointing and actually made my lashes clump together MORE... Benefit's They're Real and Maybelline Falsies left me with horrible smudging and smearing...

Nails: Revlon's Quick Dry polish top coat was anything but quick - and two Essie polishes that I tried were difficult to work with, had a thinner consistency than I was used to (compared to Zoya & OPI - which I LOVE), and were just generally streaky when applied. I'm going to give the Essie polishes more tries, but the first impression was overall just not good.

What's in my travel makeup bag?

So we recently just got back from our trip, and I wanted to share what I packed in my travel makeup bag! These are my go-to items and things that I feel like I can really count on when I'm traveling, to give me a consistent makeup look that I know what to expect and can count on it not taking me forever to get ready!

Updated Louis Vuitton Collection video! 2012 HD style!

I finally did an updated Louis Vuitton collection video... my first ever in HD! Hope you enjoy the update!

Thanks for watching!

Update! Britax B-Ready Double Stroller Review - Infant & Toddler Configuration

I've been using our Britax B-Ready double stroller for about 10 months now, so I figured it was time for an update on how I'm liking it. I used it for a little over 7 months as a single stroller - and now of course I'm currently using it as a double stroller, in infant bottom & toddler top configuration.

Here's my You Tube video review:

I really loved using the stroller as a single stroller. It folded up neatly and only took a bit more space in the back of our Honda CRV than the Chicco Cortina I was previously using. Cupcake had a higher riding position, so she liked the vantage point and being able to get into the bottom storage area from any angle with the zippered entrances was a definite plus. The larger wheels in the back make it incredibly easy to navigate tough terrains or to "ramp" the stroller onto a curb - however I do still get caught on doorways more often than I probably should. Operator error?

Britax B-Ready in Double Configuration: Infant bottom, Toddler top

When we transitioned it to a double stroller, it felt very odd for about a week - but then after I had a chance to get use to it, it was very user friendly again. We purchased an adapter to be able to place the infant carseat on the lower level from Buy Buy Baby. (Also available for purchase on Amazon HERE.) Our Britax Chaperone carseat snaps right into the adapter and after a bit of practice you can practically do it with one hand.

Carseat adapter for lower level

Speaking of one hand, most operations on the stroller DO take two hands to operate it - closing it you have to simultaneously pull levers on both sides of the push handle. Opening it also takes two hands to open the lock and kind of balance the stroller as you open it. However for the loss in being able to easily open or close the stroller with one hand - I would much rather gain the smaller footprint that this double stroller has, compared to other double strollers.

It is very similar in size to a single stroller and has a similar footprint when folded and when open. My biggest concern was that it didn't take up the entire back of our Honda CRV - or possibly even not fit. (When I looked at the Chicco Together in the store, I took one look and first thought, "Would that thing even fit in the back of my car when it is folded???") When you have the second toddler seat on the stroller, it folds up with both seats still in place, likewise - you can also fold it up with the lower infant carseat adapter still in place as well.

Britax B-Ready folded up in the back of our 2008 Honda CR-V

All in all... it gets good ratings from me still. The only issues we've had with it were Cupcake being able to chew pieces of the foam off of the bar that goes across the front of the upper toddler seat. (Which thank goodness is removable.) The five point harness straps on the toddler seat can also get kind of "fumbly" sometimes, since the top strap is removable from the waist strap - and if they detach when you're not wanting them to, that gets frustrating. Also, we've had one seam starting to come undone in the footrest area of the toddler seat... I haven't decided what to do about that and I may even contact Britax about it to see what they say. I will get back to you guys on that one.

Area my daughter chewed on the toddler safety bar

Loose seam on upper toddler seat

With these things in mind, I still think that its issues pale in comparison to issues I would be having with different larger, harder to fold, and bulkier to push double strollers that are on the market. I think this has been a great option for us!

You Tube Video: Comparison between Louis Vuitton Accessories: Pochette, Eva, & Cosmetic Bag - What fits inside

This is a video that I got the idea for after I took some photos trying to show the size difference between the Eva and cosmetic pouch. I thought it would be helpful to show the size difference and difference in what each can carry for the pochette accessories, Eva, & cosmetic pouch.

I use them for totally different things, but if you wanted one item that served multiple functions - these are all great options. The pochette is an easy going grab and go bag, that would also work great down inside your purse to hold cosmetics (or other essentials... like a Nintendo DS). The Eva is the ultimate grab and go bag, that can be used as a clutch with the attached gold chain or cross-body with the longer strap that is included in it. And the cosmetic pouch is perfect for its intended use as a cosmetic bag, but also would work great down inside a diaper bag or as a quick grab clutch to hold your essentials to run into Starbucks or something of that nature.

Side view of the pochette, Eva, & cosmetic pouch

Front view of the pochette, Eva, & cosmetic pouch

Interior of the Eva & cosmetic pouch

Front view of the Eva & cosmetic pouch

Featured in the video are the Louis Vuitton pochette, Eva, & cosmetic pouch.

What's in my bag? You Tube Video: Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM

What I carried in my bag today!

I carried my Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM and inside I fit:
- Louis Vuitton Sarah wallet in Violette
- Louis Vuitton Cles in Violette
- Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Cosmetic Pouch
- Juicy Couture card case
- Chanel sunglasses case
- Canon SD1200 digital camera
- iPhone
- Keys
- A scarf

... all with lots of room leftover! This is a great every day bag that doesn't disappoint!

Nars Lipsticks: Neutral Pink Comparison (Dolce Vita, Mayflower, Cruising, and Sexual Healing)

I've expanded my love for NARS from their long-wearing blushes to their lipsticks as well. I've tried a few NARS lipsticks in the past, but it had been a while since I had picked up anything from their lip lines so I decided to give them another try.

For day to day wear, I wear a neutral pink lip - think MAC's Blankety or Too Faced's Free Love with a gloss over them. NARS has a number of gorgeous lip colors with a pink neutral base, so I decided to give them a try!

Featured in the same order in each picture... Dolce Vita, Mayflower, Cruising, & Sexual Healing

Dolce Vita - This is probably the deepest color of the neutral pinks I've featured, but it is still a pretty one. It is more matte than the other more shimmery colors, and is close in tone to Mayflower when it is on my lips. It is still a great option for days that I want color, but I'm keeping it low key.

Mayflower - This is the first lipstick that I bought on my venture back into NARS lipsticks, searching for the lipstick featured at the top of Sephora's website. This has more of a raspberry tint to it and coincidentally is not the color featured. It is a pretty color though, and has some shimmer to it. I wear this when I want a bit of subtle color that shines.

Cruising - This is THE lipstick! Cruising is the best neutral lip lipstick shade I've found and even ranks above MAC's Blankety in my opinion. It is a true neutral and plays up the natural color of my lips. I always wear a gloss over my lipsticks, so I can choose a neutral shimmery pink gloss to make my lip color just compliment the rest of my look and not stand out. This one is LOVE!

Sexual Healing - Name I can't say in front of my parents aside... This is an awesome shade! This is the shade actually featured at the top of Sephora's website for NARS lipstick. I'd been admiring this color for quite a while now, and had tried some of the other shades above thinking they were the colors that Sephora had featured. I finally stumbled upon an answer directly from Sephora one day while reading reviews, stating that this was the color featured at the top of the page. I bought it immediately! It is a nice shimmer color, more of a neutral beige with a pink undertone in my opinion. The Sephora website makes it look pinker than it is in real life, but I still think this is a great option for every day.

All in all, NARS lipsticks are great lippies, the only complaint I have is that they are slightly dryer than some lipsticks I use. The colors are gorgeous though, and I begin my day with NARS lipsticks on my lips. Whether it is because of the shape of my lips, I'm unsure... but I do have a problem more so than most people of lipsticks or glosses lasting on my lips. I do have to re-apply multiple times a day, no matter what brand I'm using.

NARS lipsticks last a few hours before I have to re-apply and the colors are gorgeous, so these are definitely keepers in the makeup collection!

Diaper Bag Review: Coach Op Art Baby Bag in Dark Merlot

What fits in a Coach Op Art Baby Bag from Coach?

Enough items to go out for a day trip with an infant & a toddler!

This You Tube review shows what I carry in my Coach Op Art Diaper bag, and shows how functional it is.

The size is 21 inches long by 12.5 inches high by 4.25 inches wide. I would classify it as a "medium sized" diaper bag... bigger than the bag that diaper bag that I used as a quick grab and go bag with only one child - but smaller than some gigantic diaper bags I've owned or seen. (Most notably, the Coach Signature Stripe Diaper bag that I originally bought when I was pregnant with my first. It was so gigantic... I couldn't justify keeping it and sold it. Now of course, I'm wishing I would have held onto it - because it would have been a good diaper bag for those days when having "just a bit more" would be appropriate. Like for trips into Chicago.)

It works great for two children in diapers though, one still using bottles and one using sippy cups. I place the larger sippy cups on the outside. (One for milk, one for water.) And on the interior, there are two elastic banded areas that can fit bottles. (We use Tommee Tippee bottles and the 9 ounce size fits fine in this area.)

It came with a portable changing pad that works fine for infants and smaller toddlers. I honestly prefer to use a larger JJ Cole changing mat with my older daughter who is just shy of 2 years old. (The JJ Cole changing mat came with a quick change bag that I use now, which I will review and show in a separate post. It is super handy to hang from the stroller handle for quick changes!) For infants however, the changing pad that came with the Coach bag is good enough, and fits conveniently in the front snap pocket of the bag for easy access.

On the back there is a zippered area that would be good to hold items for Mommy, but I use this area for travel table placements and other odds & ins, since I always carry a handbag for myself.

On the interior the bottom area is ample enough to hold two shirts and one pair of pants for a toddler, one sleeper for a newborn, and two burp cloths. On top of that, I fit two snack containers - a hard plastic snack container from Innobaby that I featured HERE - and a smaller toddler hand held snack container. Also in the middle I've shown a travel formula container from Munchkin. Occasionally, I will also toss in an additional 5 ounce Tommee Tippee bottom on top of these things, and there is room for that as well.

Overall, I would rate this diaper bag 4.5 out of 5 stars. I appreciate that it is subtle and doesn't have a crazy print all over it. Not that I have anything against prints, but some days I would just like something more neutral. The color is beautiful, a burgundy - purple color that isn't flashy, but is more special than a black or gray diaper bag. The space is perfect for two children if you pack just the essentials, and I would imagine would work great for one child on longer trips or if you want to carry a bit more on a day to day basis.

Despite its 21 inch length, the bag doesn't look overwhelming against a short frame. I actually thought it was going to look a lot bigger when it arrived, but it is definitely not what I would classify as a "large" diaper bag... I've seen much larger bags, especially from Coach. (I would consider a JJ Cole Mode diaper bag a smaller diaper bag, for reference.)

All in all, it is a great diaper bag that is well worth its $298 price tag. (Especially if you can a PCE discount on top of that!)

Louis Vuitton Comparison Review: Palermo PM vs. Tivoli GM

One of the bags I just recently got is the Tivoli GM. It's a style that I'd wondered about for a while, it seemed like a great everyday style and a good size. I used to own the Tivoli PM, purchased at the LV boutique a few months after it was released and subsequently sold about a year after buying it, because it was just a little on the small side for me. Also since it was an exclusively handheld bag, it just wasn't working for how I liked to use my bags.

The Tivoli GM on the other hand is a great size for every day. Plenty of room on the interior and adjustable handles that look great either hand held or comfortably sitting on your shoulder. I've found that it is easy to find things inside and get in & out of at check outs. (Although the zipper is a little stiffer than I would prefer, but I am hoping that will get better after some use.) I've been using it the past few weeks, and I can definitely say - it is fantastic!

At the same time that the Tivoli (PM & GM) was released, the Palermo (PM & GM) style was also released. These two styles always seemed a bit comparable to me and I think are often compared when someone is considering what to purchase, because of the styling of the pleats and hanging LV tag on the zipper. I've now owned all sizes of the Tivoli and Palermo - Tivoli PM, Tivoli GM, Palermo PM, and Palermo GM! I sold the Tivoli PM because I found it was too small... I sold the Palermo GM because I found it was too big. Currently, I still own the Palermo PM and Tivoli GM - which I believe are just right!

Since these two styles, the Tivoli and Palermo, are so often compared when trying to decide which bag to get - I thought I would do a quick comparison review of the two with pictures side by side with the Tivoli GM and Palermo PM. These two bags are actually very close in size and what I would consider to be a good every day size. (Medium sized bags that comfortably hold a wallet, makeup case, sunglasses case, card case, cell phone, keys, etc. - with a bit of room to spare.) Both can be worn on the shoulder, the Palermo PM with the long shoulder strap and the Tivoli GM with the regular handles. Both look good hand held.

You can see that the size of the two is quite comparable and neither one is overwhelming on a regular sized frame. (For more petite frames the Tivoli GM might be a tad big.)

The interiors of both has pockets on the side for easy access to your tech items or keys.

The foot print of both bags is quite similar.

So as you can probably tell from my blog post... I'm a fan of both the Tivoli GM and Palermo PM. I think they are the ultimate choices from these two lines if you can pick two. If you could only pick one out of the two, I think I would have a hard time choosing just one - they both look great and are super functional. Right now since I'm wearing the Tivoli GM, I would probably place it as my number one choice - however catch me a few weeks from now when I'm using the Palermo PM - and my order may have changed!

In short, you can't go wrong with either one. All sizes of the Tivoli and Palermo are beautiful, but for either stylish mom on the go or professional choices - I think the Tivoli GM & Palermo PM are just great!

(Photos taken with our new Nikon D3100, which I'm loving!! Will do a proper review on our new camera sometime soon!)