Review: Jordin Sparks Because Of You Fragrance....

Did you know that American Idol Jordin Sparks released a fragrance?

I didn't.

Well, it seems that late last year, Jordin released Because of You. I found this "travel/mini" set in Cato for $5.99 and I smelled the tester and I liked it, so I picked it up.

The fragrance is described as:


"Distinct, innovative, elegant, and subtle, this fragrance offers a long lasting sensuality. It celebrates the renaissance of extreme femininity and power of spontaneous emotion. This fragrance is a unique combination of luxury, art, and modernity for timeless elegance".

The notes are:


"The fruity floriental Because of You, concocted by Belmay Fragrances, has top notes of clementine, white imperial currant and orange blossom; a heart of nectarine, sharry baby orchid and coral charm peony, and a drydown of sheer musks, vanilla bean, Baltic amber and blond woods".




Pros:


- I love the scent!! Its a spicy oriental floral or a "floriental" in fragrance speak. I've been wearing for a week, and every time I wear it, I'm instantly reminded on old fragrance that my mom used to wear and I couldn't put my finger on it! It had the same punchy floriental scent but couldn't remember it.


So I did some research online and into Grandma my mom's brain and figured it out....


Are you ready??

credit


Because of You reminds me of Ex'cla'ma'tion, an late 80s classic for the drugstore set. lol!! My mom had the perfume, powder, and lotion and I was always intrigued by the shape of the bottle and the never forgotten scent it left behind.


Exclamation Perfume by Coty, Launched by the design house of coty in 1988, exclamation is classified as a sharp, oriental, floral fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of peach, apricot, amber and sandalwood


 The price point is very good for Because of You. Listed on her website, 2.5 oz is $14.95 and the set I got for $5.99 is $9.95.




Cons:


Like alot inexpensive "perfumes" and colognes, the lasting power is non existent and you will have to reapply for you want this scent all day.




Overall:


A must buy for a tight budget or for a perfume lover searching for something unique, fresh and new. Bravo Jordin!!

Fresh Coat: Color Club Magic Attraction.....

 This weekend NOTD was inspired by this picture that Miss Priss Jewels posted on Twitter...How cute!!:

I llllloooovvveeeeddd it! Visit her store for the compact....http://www.MissPrissJewels.com

 Here's my NOTD with Color Club Magic Attraction and a couple of $1 LA Colors Nail Art Colors....

Review: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Polish Strips in Laced Up....

 Happy Friday Everyone!!!

I've been anxiously awaiting to post this review on Sally Hansen Polish Stripsand I had some other things lined up but they fell thru:(. However the review will go up as promised!!

I bought my SH Polish Strips at Wal-Mart where we had a full display of them for weeks. Now, if you go that the display, most of the strips are gone! My Wal-Mart is never like that, so they must be good!

 The set comes with 16 strips, all different sizes, a file and a cuticle stick. So, basically its ONE application.

 I'm wearing Laced Up. It took me about 45 minutes. I was watching TV at the same time. lol!

They were fairly easy to apply and I'm not dextrous. I absolutely love them. They look professionally done for a few bucks. I took the advice of twitter friend/beauty blogger and put a top coat on them and the look lasted well over 3 days and probably more if I wasn't itching to change my polish.

The only con I would have would be the price. It was $8.50 for one application. I thought that was steep.

I plan on collecting as many of the printed and glitter ones that I can afford:).

Have you tried these and which are your favorites?

Jamie's Weight Loss Diaries....#7 Weigh In....

***Thursday is Weigh In Day...I weigh myself ONCE a week. I can't jump on the scale every day, all times of the day, when I feel fat, before a date....too much on my medicated brain. lol! Once a week is good for me. I'm a born again scale person. I'm  just now embracing the scale. I avoid it all thru my teens and twenties....***

February 23, 2011

-1 lbs

Down to 225lbs

(14 lbs lost since 12/30/2010)

I lost 1lb and I'm happy!!! Hey, I didn't GAIN and that's what's all the about! lol!

I did really well with my eating not with the exercise. I wish I was gym rat and fitness obsessed but I haven't caught the bug. Still doing my mini workouts which I'm trying to perfect.

Every Wednesday, the day before I weigh in, I eat a splurge meal....and I do it unconsciously...real talk! This Wednesday, I had a Hardee's Thickburger Meal with fries and sweet tea and I slayed it...murdered that heaux, there was even no ketchup left!!! Splurge Meal the day before I weigh in....smh.


Like I've said before, I don't eat out much. First, its money consuming and I need my coins. Second, there is nothing healthy at fast food restaurants no matter how much research you do. I'm not going to buy a $6 salad when I can make it at home with 1/2 the price and 1/2 calories. Third, If I go out to a restaurant like my favorite place, Monsoon Noodle House in Spartanburg or PF Changs or our local Mexican spot...I'm going to eat WHAT I WANT, so I make that trip out to eat , the "splurge meal". I don't want steamed fish and veggies at PF Changs...I want Garlic Noodles, Lettuce Wraps and Wonton Soup! No more that ONE splurge meal a week. If I eat more than one, I gain weight...last weigh in was proof of that. The getting to the splurge meal is hard work, too. The wait is crazy, but most of time, I dont even eat the whole meal or it either makes my stomach hurt or bloated.

I won!! Kleancolor Color Beauty Blast Contest!

Remember when I entered Kleancolor's Facebook Monthly Beauty Blast Contest and I ask you guys to vote???

Well, I was one of the 10 winners!!!! Yayy!!!

****Check out ALL the winnners...HERE****



I will be receiving Kleancolor's "Ten best selling items from KleanColor lines" as a prize and I will make sure to do a post on it so everyone can see it:)

To everyone who voted on my picture and supported me...THANK YOU!!

Fresh Coat: OPI Simply Smashing and OPI Black Shatter....

 I finally got the OPI Black Shatter!!! Woo- Hooo!!! LOL!

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, I've been on a hunt for this. Well, actually I was waiting for one place to get it, my local Trade Secret. First, they didnt have it, then they did, I arrived two days later and they sold out. They were literally selling the Black Shatter out of the duo kit because they sold out of the single bottles of it. Finally, they got some more in but only had the the duo set with Simple Smashing. So, I had to cave in and get the set.

I wasn't happy either. That set....$15.95 for TWO BOTTLES OF POLISH. You know how many Kleancolors I can get with $16? 16 bottles. lol! I digress.

 At least the chick who rung me up ( who I went to high school with and we were on the band together) threw me in a goodie....OPI Nail Envy ( retail at $15.95).  Thanks ggguuurrlllll!!!

 I did Simply Smashing underneath the Shatter. Simply Smashing, three coats, still too sheer. That will probably end up in my Spring Blog Sale unless someone wants it now. ( email me at ruralglamour at yahoo dot com for details:)).

 But that Shatter....honey...I. AM. SOLD!!! I'm sold on the hype of it!! I love the look of it and after it has dried and you put a clear top coat on, its absolutely fabulous!!!

Next up...the massive hunt down of the China Glaze Crackle Polish. I rather buy them at Sally than order them online and wait for them but I must have them all. Send good vibes in the universe for me to find them!

Review: Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Bronzer....

 Hi Family!!!

Today I am reviewing Physician's Formula Happy Booster in Bronzer. When I saw these in Wal Mart I thought the packaging was sooo pretty. Then I started to  search around online and I noticed two things:

-People were saying that it was sold out everywhere.

-The lack of Women of Color reviewing them.

Now there are Happy Boosters in  Beige, Translucent, and Light Bronzer that are way way way too light for me. I can look at it in the packaging and tell that wouldve been $13 down the drain. So, I thought that the Bronzer shade would work better.

 Everything about this packaging is gorgeous!! The metallic pink double compact, the perfect sized mirror, the cute brush and the pretty hearts beautiful shades of  brown, gold, pink and bronze. Bravo PF!!

Physician's Formula also added a scent to this Bronzer. They tout it as "Violet"...but it smells more "Rose" to me.

 This a swatch of the bronzer...barely. Its not a heavy pigmented  bronzer but even on the  back of my hand, it barely shows up. It has a pretty golden sheen but if you are looking for a punch packed bronzer, this is not it.

 Can't see it can you. Yep. Happy Booster in Bronzer just blended right into my cheekbone. I wasn't disappointed, though. I could tell that was going to happen after I swatched it on my hand. Its shows up in real life, glowy and subtle. Great for the day time. The best part was that I could smell the Violet scent on my face, I liked that!

Consensus:

- I like Happy Booster in Bronze but I don't love it. Is it worth $13? Depends on what you like in a blush or bronzer. If you are looking for a subtle cheek shimmer, buy it. I'll probably play around with this some more.

Jamie's Weight Loss Diaries.... #6 Weigh In

***Thursday is Weigh In Day...I weigh myself ONCE a week. I can't jump on the scale every day, all times of the day, when I feel fat, before a date....too much on my medicated brain. lol! Once a week is good for me. I'm a born again scale person. I'm  just now embracing the scale. I avoid it all thru my teens and twenties....***

February 17, 2011

+3 lbs

Up to 226lbs

(13 lbs lost since 12/30/2010)

You read that correct. I gained 3 lbs.

And I have a laundry list on how it happened. It all started when I missed a couple of days journaling my food in the my food journal.

-Then I had the weekend from hell. A fallout with my parental unit and a sick child who was two hours away from mewrecked my appetite.

-Two words: Valentine's Day. smh. That was the Ice Cream mishap day.

-The day after V- Day I ate out TWICE. One of those times was a Chinese Buffet that didnt go too great.

-I worked out only twice.

And I gained 3lbs back.

I was completely devastated but I've been through worse in life so I used Thursday to bounce back to journaling, better food choices and I've worked out twice since yesterday already. I'm determined to get the weight off and set backs will always come and go. That's life.

Did my mid-week grocery run yesterday and picked up my food for the weekend too. I've also figured out another weak point in my eating habits I'm going to have to work on...My mother's Sunday afternoon dinner. This past Sunday, she made Chicken Tetrazinni and I ate it a total of THREE times. I'm a bit surprised about my 3lb gain now. lol!

Getting this first 40 off and going to tougher than I ever imagine and keeping it off is going to be the fight of my life.

Dollar Tree & "Dollar Star" Haul...

I got out and about yesterday in Spartanburg. I need a mini, itty bitty "get way" from the hustle and bustle of my small town.

I stopped by my favorite Dollar Tree. Its located on E. Main St in Spartanburg and has the best beauty section. The key is to catch it the day of or the day after it has been stocked. Somebody in that city thinks just like me because, if you mess around and go on the wrong day, there is nothing left!

I hit the jackpot today!!

 Am I the only one loving the revival of discontinued drugstore products at the Dollar Tree??!!

They are bringing back so many memories. Plus they are in AMAZING shape and quality!

Cover Girl Wet Slicks and Nail Slicks polish duos....I got the one with the Frostslicks because I saw it on Nouveau Cheap.:)

L'Oreal  Lip Glosse' in Caramel Cruise. I don't remember these. :( But, I'm going back for more.

I thought I owned most of the Colour Juices...seriously I have like 50 of them....I started collecting them in '04.But these didnt seem familiar. Turns out I dont have these.  They also had some CJs from that L'Oreal collection that they did with Beyonce for the movie Pink Panther. That's like 2005 old. Those CJs are called Panther Pink.

Pretty nude shade from Maybelline...I'm into nudes for some reason...Could it be spring approaching?

Now, this is a fairly new mascara from Almay. I actually owned this and I liked it alot but the retail on it was about $7.99. They had a wall full for a $1.

I grabbed the one and only lone e.l.f. polish there. There must have been more. See what being late will get you? lol!

This small haul is from a place called Dollar Star. Its one those independent dollar stores that have all kinds of stuff and different prices. I prefer these over the Dollar Tree chains, real talk.

Grabbed this Sinful Colors polish, Jessie's Girl loose powder and Wet N' Wild brow kit for .99 a piece. I never have enough time to scour that store. I'm going carve out some time to really dig in there soon.