Teeny Manolo

The wonderful folks at Stila were kind enough to send me an impressively large package filled with goodies. Now, I thought for a minute of leaving the country, changing my name, and being forever happy with my fabulous stash.

But then guilt got the better of me, and I decided to play nice and share.

The sacrifices I make for you. Really.

I have two prize packages worth over $100 apiece, and a Grand Prize worth over $150 in glorious Stila products to make you look even prettier than you already are.

Today I am giving away the first prize package, which includes such lovelies as: Eye Shadow Trio, Lip Glaze, Lip Glaze Stick, High Shine Lip Color, Eye Shadow Duo, and a Smoky Eye Palette.

Seriously, are you not just delirious at the thought of all that?

Here are the rules:
1. Enter the contest by commenting on this post.
2. Contest open only to Canadian and United States residents.
3. Contest deadline is midnight (Pacific) August 15, 2008.
4. Only one entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted.

The winner will be chosen by a random number generator, but it never hurts to compliment people shoving free things at you.

Good luck!

Um, wow. I’m nearly speechless. If you aren’t, put it in the comments section:

from BoingBoing passed along by Glinda

As responsible Parentosphere bloggers we’ve previously noted the bizarre celebrity fad for money as literal plaything. See this image of adorable Violet Affleck, toying with the weekend box office take for Daddy’s last movie.

Well, the fad has spread even unto the Scientology Celebrity Center, and amid shocking, completely unforseen reports that Tom Cruise can no longer command $20 million a picture, we can see that the normally highly competitive Suri “Louboutins” Cruise has had to scale back from Benjamins to Jacksons as well.

Makeup should be fun.

It should look good, make me feel good, and as a bonus, smell good.

These lip balms by on10 do just that.  Playing with a retro vibe and using high quality natural and organic ingredients, they will provide much olfactory pleasure, and they also have a pleasant taste.  I have the Hershey’s Almond, which I bought because almond is actually one of my all-time favorite scents, but it fell out of favor with makeup/perfume manufacturers for quite a while.   And now I get to smell it every time I slather it on my lips, so that can only be a good thing.

These balms are not heavy or greasy, but go on lightly, at least for a balm.  With scents inspired by Schweppe’s and Hershey’s, how much more fun could you possibly have?

on10 Schweppes Lip Balm Ultra-Moisturizing Trio SPF 15 This trio of retro tins contains Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Seltzer, Tonic Water, and Lime soda flavors.

on10 Hershey’s Lip Balm Ultra-Moisturizing Trio SPF 15 Includes three cute tins of Hershey’s Vanilla Creme, Milk Chocolate, and Almond flavors. 

Not content with dressing the anatomically impossible Barbie in tame outfits like fairy princesses and snow queens, Mattel decided to finally give Barbie the outift her figure has been crying out for all along.

Yes, Black Canary Barbie (based on a comic book character) is certain to captivate that certain elusive demographic Mattel has yet to successfully reach. That of the obsessed fanboy living in his mother’s basement.

Oh, and if a few little girls happen to see their favorite doll dressed like a dominatrix, complete with fishnets, uber-shiny latex and groin-grinding boots, well, that’s apparently not their problem.

When a brave paparazzo informed Ms. Campbell that the game is entitled “Drop the Baby” and not “Pitch the Baby” she tossed the hapless prop orphan to her longsuffering entourage, demanded ten thousand dollars and a bottle of Cristal, and stormed off to cry on Diddy’s yacht.

Twisite over at the Basement of the Bargains has discovered a great deal on a very cute bake set. I want one too!

Oh lotion, how do I love thee!

I admit, I have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with lotion. Especially scented ones, although I do have a few unscented staples that I rely on as well.

I am so obsessive that my lotion must match several criteria. One, it must fit the weather. No heavy French Vanilla on a warm summer day! No, it must be coconut or pomegranate or something equally light and frothy.

Secondly, it must NEVER clash with my perfume. I am not one of those matchy-matchy with the lotion and perfume people. I understand that layering a scent makes it last longer, but I prefer a more mix and match strategy. A scent mixologist, if you will.

Thirdly, the scent must last a reasonably long time. I mean, if it doesn’t, why did I waste my money on it? I should be able to lift my arm up to my nose a couple hours after application and still be able to smell it.

So, what are the lotions I have an undying affetion for?

Kiehls Creme de Corps

This is a fairly heavy, very rich lotion. I don’t necessarily use it all over, but it works wonders for rough patches and dry areas such as the elbows. Unbeatable moisture.

AmLactin Moisturizing Lotion

This is my go-to lotion. Due to the whole lotta lactic acid it contains, it softens everything up, including elbows and feet. It isn’t as heavy as the Kiehls, though. I tend to mix this with scented lotions if they don’t quite measure up in the moisturizing department.

Bath & Body Works Pleasures Plumeria Body Lotion

I like my lotions like I like my drinks- fruity. Especially in warm weather. Plumeria is a nice scent that goes with most of my summer-weight perfumes. And who doesn’t like to pick up some Bath and Body Works lotion when it’s on sale?

Here is some charming video of beautful little baby girl, laughing and having fun. Creeeeeeeeeeepy.

73,000 views! She’s a star! I’d put her in the same wholesomely twisted category as Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams, Winona Ryder as Lydia, the freaky Goth in Beetlejuice, and every female character in an Edward Gorey story.

Do I know my readership or what? Yes, you may now thank me for finding you The Most Perfect arts and crafts project to share with your children. Not only will they have fun printing this out and putting it together, but there is nothing a kid likes better than to see Mommy proudly wearing the result of his/her handiwork; that is something Mommies find much easier to bear when the result is not a macaroni necklace but rather:

An authentic Hermes Kelly bag.

The Birkin is so Twentieth Century, really.

Pick your design or use coloured paper (use handmade Japanese washi paper if you want to get really fancy), print out the pattern and cut and glue to your heart’s content. These babies are beautiful (I like the cherry blossom one, if I can’t have a plain black calf Kelly straight from the workshop). Kellys have always been superior to the relatively sloppy, vulgar Birkin in my arrogant and not-uninformed opinion, but it is a matter of personal taste: It’s To Catch a Thief versus Je T’Aime; Moi, Non Plus.

From Hermes via Counterfeit Chic.