awesomevegan's adventures

Accidental Indi-Mex Chili

2011-08-18T14:33:00.001-04:00

This chili recipe sprung from a failed attempt at making lentil burgers inspired by Vegan for 3.33 a Day. I followed her veggie burger recipe but used lentils instead of beans and added curry powder, cumin and tumeric. They would NOT stick together. I am very inexperienced in the world of homemade vegan burgers but I thought they would make a mean chili... so I went for it. Here is my recipe along with some photos. It looks like a lot of ingredients but they are very simple. Enjoy!

Accidental Indi-Mex Chili
Ingredients:
3 Cups cooked Lentils
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 envelope onion soup mix (make sure you have a vegan one!)
curry powder (1/2 to 1 full tablespoon)
tumeric (about a teaspoon)
cumin (about a teaspoon)
1 can hearty tomato soup
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes (with or without green chilis)
1 can tomato sauce
1 can black beans
1 can chickpeas
Additional spices, hot sauce etc to garnish (optional)

Throw all in a HUGE pot and cook over medium to high heat until cooked through. Add additional spices based on personal taste. I hope you like it. :) It is a very quick meal if you have cooked lentils on hand already!

P.S. Like my new hair cut? It is short, about chin length. I am going to donate to Locks of Love! Thanks for reading!

Thai Tomato Mushroom and Lettuce Sandwich

2011-08-12T15:38:00.000-04:00

Long time no see everyone! I miss blogging for all of you. Here is a vegan food post for what I made for a late lunch after a bit of thrift shopping.

Latest creation: Thai Tomato Mushroom and Lettuce.
Step 1: Cook chopped fresh tomatoes and mushrooms in a pan with olive oil and thai chili sauce.
Step 2: Toast bread (I used whole grain)
Step 3: Spread toasted bread with Garden Tomato Pesto. (Gracious Gourmet or make your own)
Step 4: Put lettuce or salad mix on bread.
Step 5: Top with mushroom mixture.
Step 6: Place other slice on top and enjoy!

Sadly I did not get a photo because I was hungry and too excited and I ate both sandwiches! I will probably do a sandwich post at a later date. Would any of you be interested in that? I am going to make a couple of videos for YouTube soon. I got invited to earn revenue from my videos and I am happy and excited! I haven't figured out how to get it set up to work yet though. If anyone knows please let me know! I look forward to blogging and vlogging a lot more!

ITS LAURENNVLOGS :D

2010-11-18T15:56:00.001-05:00

Oh thanks. :) Did you sub to VegCouple? It is our couple's vlog. :)

Ask me anything

hi your my most favorite utuber ever :)

2010-11-18T12:33:00.001-05:00

Thank you! I wish I knew who you were! :)

Ask me anything

If you were single, would you date someone 10 years older, or does that sound gross?

2010-11-18T12:20:00.001-05:00

I have tended to gravitate towards younger men since I feel I have a youthful, fun personality but if I were single age wouldn't matter to me very much. My bf is younger than me but it doesn't bother me. It is about the individual person and your connection.

Ask me anything

Vegan Beauty Resources

2010-10-13T18:07:00.000-04:00

So today I got a package in the mail! :)

Wanna guess what it was?

It was my Vegan Palette from Urban Decay and Tuscan Blood Orange perfume from Pacifica. All packed up in a pretty brown Sephora box. :) It also came with 3 perfume samples... I think 2 of them may be vegan. I am trying to research them. I will get back to you when I know more. I am afraid that I am going to become obsessed with vegan perfumes. I have some solid ones from etsy... and a couple of roll on ones from etsy as well but not many spray perfumes. I would like to start collecting some, especially from Pacifica since the scents are so lovely and available at Sephora and I have a Sephora near me. The boxes and bottles are also lovely so they will look pretty if I ever get a vanity table set up nice in my room.

I plan to play with my palette and post combo ideas and maybe even a tutorial for those interested. I haven't used the palette yet but I may try it out tomorrow.

I was browsing the net looking for other vegan perfumes and makeup and such and wanted to share some sites and blogs related to the topic so check them out below:

Kindly Indulge Me blog about vegan indulgences including makeup, perfumes, food and more relating to a vegan lifestyle

Chic Vegan Blog about cruelty-free and vegan makeup, fashion and more

Cruelty-Free Face Products, companies and video tutorials

My Makeup Mirror List of companies that don't test and offer some if not most or all vegan products.

I am sure all you ladies, vegan or not will enjoy these links and there are even some posts and products that may help the men in your lives. Enjoy!

Long time no see!

2010-10-02T21:50:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't blogged in FOREVER... (just about LOL) but I was thinking about some topics I tend to like blogging about: makeup, fashion etc. So I figured I would write a blog entry for all my loyal blog followers who are still with me after all this time. Also hello to the new followers!

So what have I been up to? Well yesterday I went to the big city of NYC with my boyfriend, Brandon and my bff, Quincy. :) I will post some pictures soon but I am still waiting on all pics to be uploaded. There is also some video clips that need uploading and editing so I will do a seperate post about that. :)

In the world of fashion, I have been thrifting now and then lately and have been becoming a bit obsessed with fall fashion, ugly sweaters (which really aren't that ugly in my opinion) and chictopia. Please fan and friend me if you have an account there.

I have been quite lazy with my makeup lately and haven't Konaded in so long. I have misplaced my stampers yet again! I was thinking about posting outfit photos and haul photos and "things I am loving" pics to my blog. So what do you think? What would you like to see?

Some fashion and makeup type items I am lemming right now:

Susan Nichole handbags, particularly Stella and Savannah
Pacifica fragrances, especially the fruity scents such as Tuscan Blood Orange and Brazilian Mango Grapefruit.
The Urban Decay Vegan Palette: beautiful packaging, good reviews and would be my first UD palette and the only thing I own from them beside a blue eyeliner pencil (Deviant I think...)
Nubar nail polishes, most wanted are Peacock Feathers, 2010 and Purple Beach.

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-08-11T14:03:00.000-04:00

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was entertaining, touching and inspiring. It taught me about appreciating life and has encouraged me to follow my spiritual path more deeply. It only took me so long to read because the pages were large and the print was smaller than I am used to since this was in paper and not on my Kindle.

View all my reviews >>

Has anyone else read it? What did you think?

In unrelated news... I am going to upstate New York with my boyfriend, Brandon for a family reunion. I will take lots of pictures and will hopefully post them on here or make a video soon. If you haven't already please check me out on chictopia. It is a fun fashion blog site where you can follow people whose style you like, post your own pics and save your favorites. You can even earn points to swap for items you want.

Hey everyone!

2010-06-18T16:31:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. I am sitting here typing this on my bf's laptop because my cord on mine died... it is like literally fried. I have no clue what happened to it but until I can order a new one and it gets to me it may be a while until you see another vlog!

I took some pictures though I figured I would share.
Yesterday's outfit:

Like it? Rate me on chictopia!

Today a picture with my boyfriend's dog, Baby Harley:

A video of Harley :)

And on my tips and toes:
Color Club "Taboo" from the Master of Disguise Halloween mini collection:

A blue toned purple with slight shimmer. :)

Zoya "Roxy"

A deep magenta jelly with large pink glitter. :)

I hope you like my post. Please leave questions and comments below. Sorry the pictures aren't great but they are the best I have now. The colors are pretty accurate. Thanks for reading!

2010-06-12T23:13:00.000-04:00

A cute site I found!

http://pupe.ameba.jp/

You can make a little doll to dress up and earn ribbons to buy clothes for her. One of the ways to earn ribbons is by uploading pictures of your clothes. I am going to be taking pictures of my clothes and adding them here. If you want to play too you can check out my clothes while you are there. I am going to add some pictures tomorrow.

Hi everyone!

2010-06-09T23:52:00.002-04:00

I wanted to let you all know that I want to start posting more again. My question for you is... What would you like to see most? Makeup, nails, fashion, food? Please let me know. I also just signed up for chictopia last night. I haven't posted anything there but I plan to start. If you have any suggestions or inspiration for fashion, nails, or makeup ideas please let me know. :) I will see you all soon! :)

Slacker blogger!

2010-03-19T21:48:00.000-04:00

I have not posted lately at all! I have no excuse. I have been vlogging on youtube every day though so please check it out! www.youtube.com/awesomevegan. I will try to post more often soon. :)

Percy Jackson inspired eyes

2010-02-16T17:23:00.003-05:00

I was supposed to see Percy Jackson with Brandon today but the snow messed things up. I did my makeup anyway though and I filmed a video and took pictures. Enjoy!

Now for the pictures!

formspring.me

2010-02-09T12:12:00.001-05:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/awesomevegan

formspring.me

2010-02-09T12:11:00.001-05:00

are there any quirky habits you have or things you do when no one is watching?

I have many quirky habits about me, Quincy. I don't know where to begin... I play with my hair a lot. I pick at my nail polish when it starts to chip. I collect stuffed animals (still) I buy books for my Kindle and in paper even though I have plenty to read to keep me busy for a long long time. I buy clothes even though I have too many. I get excited when I see cows. I daydream about things all the time. I have food cravings that last for days. I go to look up something online and forget what it was. I can't think of any now but I have a "Nerdy Things About Me" video on YouTube you may like :) Sorry I took so long to answer. I totally forgot about this thing LOL.

Ask me anything

formspring.me

2010-02-09T12:03:00.001-05:00

When did you first start painting your nails or realize how much you loved nail artistry?--VeganValerie.blogspot.com

I just recently got into painting my nails again. I didn't have many nail polishes since all the ones I had were old and from before I went vegan. I have always loved color (I studied art in college) So I started looking for vegan nail polish brands and started collecting polishes and got into nail art as well. I have only been interested in my nails again for about the last year or so. Thanks for your question Valerie!

Ask me anything

Brown and Blue Eye Look

2010-01-22T13:12:00.000-05:00

This is a look I did one day last week. I took pictures but I forgot to upload them and blog about it. I got the inspiration from my boyfriend. His favorite colors are black, brown and blue.

I used Everyday Minerals eyeshadow in Laptop and Anna Karenina. Laptop is the brown color and Anna Karenina is the dark blue. I also used Urban Decay pencil liner in Deviant on the lower lash line followed by Anna Karenina to mute the color and deepen it so it wasn't as dark. Then I used Laptop OVER THAT to soften it even more. I finished with EcoBella mascara in Black and filled my brows with the brow color from E.L.F.'s Mini Makeup Collection. I used my regular foundation (EDM Beige Sun-kissed Fair in Semi Matte) and EDM Natural Reflections fininshing powder in Fair. I used EDM Timeshare blush (a matte berry tone - definitely cool if you are wondering)

EDM = Everyday Minerals
E.L.F. = Eyes Lips Face

As far as I know ALL of these products are still available. I did not get any of these products for free and am not getting paid to blog about them. Thanks :)

Moo! :)

2010-01-17T23:53:00.001-05:00

I did my nails tonight. I wanted to show them off! I hope you like them.

Base is Ghost of a Chance by Color Club (2 coats) spots are Konad black stamping polish. I used plate M61. Finished with Konad Top Coat.

Check out my daily vlog on YouTube. It's for Project 365. I upload a video every day about various things. :)

Thanks for reading! Please comment and follow me!

formspring.me

2010-01-17T12:05:00.001-05:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/awesomevegan

What a cute pet idea!

2010-01-11T11:40:00.000-05:00

I want to make one of these for my kitties :)

Just wanted to share. I know some f you must have pets or know someone who does!

Avatar Nails and Wavy Hair :)

2010-01-04T17:47:00.002-05:00

I went last week and seen Avatar with my boyfriend. I was inspired to create Avatar themed nails with Konad. I would have added glitter to the dots if I had glitter nail art pens. (Like the glowing freckles the Na'vi have.) I used Zoya's Jo for the background color and blue Konad stamping polish and plate number M73. I hope you like it. It is a more subtle look but that is what I was going for. I still have them done this way today :)

For the wavy hair:

I started at the nape of the neck and sectioned my hair with my fingers not a comb and braided. I worked in layers ending with the top of my head. Like so:

Then I left them in overnight and took them out and added Jonathan Leave in Conditioner to reduce frizzies and smooth it.

I hope you enjoyed my blog! Please follow and also follow me on twitter and youtube. My username on both is awesomevegan. :) Thanks for reading!

100 Books

2010-01-01T20:32:00.004-05:00

LAST UPDATE JANUARY 23rd, 2010

I am going to take part in this challenge to read 100 or more books in 2010. I hope you all join me! Click here to join!

I am going to list of the books as I read them and the date I finish them. I hope I remember to update this! :)

1. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - Read *****
2. Angel's Pawn by Nalini Singh - Read ***
3. Kept by Zoe Winters - ****
4. Blue Moon by Alyson Noel - ****
5. Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter - ***
6. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris - Currently Reading

5 Guys I Used to Like Tag

2009-12-18T22:24:00.002-05:00

I wasn't tagged by anyone as far as I know but I still wanted to play. I could easily pick 10 or 15 guys that I liked growing up. If I get officially tagged by anyone I WILL do this again. If you guys want I can do another post with a list of all my past and current celeb crushes. This is 5 of my favorites from when I was growing up.

Leonardo DiCaprio - I was so in love with Leonardo. I seen Romeo and Juliet in middle school for one of my birthday parties. :) I cried for HOURS after Titanic. I had it bad and I still really like him! :)

Austin O' Brien - My Girl 2... <3 I watched that movie almost every day for years straight. I have no idea why I loved him so much... But I loved him and that movie.
Elijah Wood - Drool... I am still trying to collect DVDs of all his movies. <3 I am still in love with him!
Vincent Kartheiser - Oh my goshness... Alaska, Masterminds, Indian in the Cupboard, Angel. I was crazy about Vinnie. I named my pet lizard Conner after his character in Angel. Unfortunately my lizard died :( I feel like a noob because I didn't know he was in Mad Men...

Now I have to go watch every episode!

Rider Strong - Boy Meets World <3 What girl didn't love Shawn? My favorite show for years! I sat through Cabin Fever for this guy... Now that's devotion!I found THIS post interesting. Maybe you ladies remember some of the others listed!

I am thinking of doing a list of celebs 40+ that I like. I think it is funny that I have mostly dated younger guys. (My boyfriend, Brandon is younger, yet I have many celeb crushes in this age group)

Jen and the Case of the Missing Package

2009-12-17T23:29:00.000-05:00

An update:

My missing package arrived today! It was postmarked 11/28/2009. Someone wrote "Wrong address return to sender" on it but the address isn't wrong... weird... I have no clue what that was about. I will do a video or pictures of it probably tomorrow if I feel up to it. I am still hurting from Tuesday's fall. If you don't know what I am talking about ready my Bare Bumm Bath blog.

Everything smells great and she included free samples. Poor Robin (thepinksink on etsy) even sent a replacement package already. I am going to have doubles but she said no worries and to enjoy them. What a sweetie! You should all check her out!

BareBummBath Haul Video

2009-12-16T22:42:00.000-05:00

I got a handmade soap haul on etsy. Please watch the video.

I fell on the stairs yesterday and hurt myself. I don't plan on doing my nails until I get better. I went to the emergency room last night. Nothing is broken. I have a contusion. Bruising under the skin. It hurts bad and you may notice me not moving my left arm too much in parts of the video. I hope you will enjoy the haul. This is not the replacement for the one that got stolen. This is from a different seller. I will update you when my other packages come. I have a few small packages coming soon. :)

Here is the video!

Thanks for reading and please follow me here and on twitter and subscribe on Youtube. Awesomevegan is the username on all.

Fairly Take and Fairly Give

2009-12-11T00:36:00.001-05:00

So apparently someone stole one of my packages I have been waiting for. It was delivered on December 3rd. My mom talked to the mail carrier who does our route and he said it was scanned and delivered just like my tracking number said. Stealing is wrong and not fair. People shouldn't take things they know are not theirs. It was taken either out of my mailbox or right off of my porch. It is bad I guess with the holidays here. People are stealing packages for the presents that may be inside.

I believe that one should "Fairly take and fairly give." Stealing is not okay. You shouldn't take something without paying for it or take something someone else paid for. Not cool, neighbor person who took my stuff. If I knew who it was I would be so angry. I talked to the etsy seller (thepinksink)and she said she would replace it but it is not her fault and she shouldn't have to. It is not fair to her either.

This is a time of year where people should be doing nice things for others.

I sure hope that they stink really bad and need it more than I do! If I loose any more I will go off! /end rant

What's up with Jen?

2009-12-04T20:54:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone. I am sorry for the lack of posts. I plan to do some videos for YouTube about some stuff I ordered online. I am waiting for everything to arrive. If you are not already subbed to me on YouTube, my username is awesomevegan. I will be doing some hauls and reviews and maybe a few tutorials soon so keep a lookout for those. My birthday is December 9th. I will be turning 25.

What would you like to see be blog or vlog about? Please leave a comment and let me know! I will try to get some pics of my fingers and toes for you! :)

Lemmings

2009-11-27T21:11:00.001-05:00

I am moving this list to a blog post and leaving a link to it on my blog to make my blog look neater. :) I will be updating this list regularly of course so check back if you are curious! And if you have any of these and don't want them let me know LOL.

Konad:
S09
M59
M71
M63
M51
M74
M64
Coraline Kit A
Glitter Top Coat in Silver
Special Polish in Chocolate Brown

Zoya:
Harley
Ki
Tallulah
Nova

Color Club:
Fashion Addict
Wild At Heart
Glitter Vixen Collection
Sexsea
Wild Child

OPI:
Smitten With Mittens!
Merry Midnight
Disco Ball Sparkle
Do You Lilac It? (or dupe in Color Club or Zoya?)

Nicole by OPI:
Lets Get It Star-ted (Layering glitter with stars in it!)

Nubar:
Peacock Feathers
Wildlife
Reclaim
Chocolate Caramel
Raspberry Truffle

24 Things I am Thankful For

2009-11-26T09:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Tofurky Day everyone!

I hope you all have a great day with your family and friends. I will be spending today with Brandon's family today. I thought I would take some time to share 24 things I am thankful for since it is my 24th Thanksgiving.

1. Brandon - He makes me feel more loved than anyone in the world and can make me smile when nothing else can. He treats me like a queen, even if I don't deserve it.
2. My Family - They don't know how much I love them and appreciate my time with them. I like still living at home because I would miss them so much if I ever left.'
3. My Cats - Mittens and Blade are my babies. I don't know how I make it one night away from them (like last night) I am sure they miss me just as much.
4. My home - people take for granted having a home. A roof over your head and a place to sleep isn't something everyone is fortunate enough to have.
5. My health - I am lucky that I am generally healthy most of the time!
6. Food - I am happy to have food to eat.
7. Friends - My closest friends are there for me when I need them and give me someone to talk to just for fun! They make me smile and laugh and I don't see them enough.
8. My Dogs - I love them!
9. Brandon's Dog, Harley - I am playing with him as I write this!
10. My Laptop - Okay I know that the things I am thankful for are getting sillier and less essential now but I use my laptop every day. I had a bulky desktop for so long I really appreciate this thing!
11. My Kindle - Yes my Amazon Kindle Ebook reader. I use this basically every day. I love to read a lot and it is so much lighter than most books and I don't have to fuss with keeping the book open no matter what position I am sitting or laying. Plus I can store enough books on it to be able to always have something to read. I love it!
12. My Jewelry - I love my jewelry. Even on days I am too lazy to wear makeup I often wear my jewelry. My standard pieces are my Troll Bracelet, a personalized ring from Brandon and a solid hematite ring. I am obsessed with earrings too though!
13. My followers - I am lucky to have people interested enough to read my blog!
14. Makeup - I love to play with makeup. It is fun and creative for me in a way that makes me feel good about myself.
15. Nail polish - I love doing my nails. Having a pretty color on my nails makes me feel nice.
16. Konad - Another way for me to be artistic! Konad is so much fun too!
17. The Internet - This should probably be higher on the list. The internet can be very useful for information, entertainment, making friends and staying in touch with people. One of my best friends I met on Myspace which ironically I barely use anymore. I am all about the Facebook now!
18. Author - I am thankful to people that still write books. I believe people should read more and without all the people writing out there I wouldn't have so much to choose from!
19. Music - I love to listen to music. It can lift my mood or help me vent when upset.
20. Scott MacIntyre - His music makes me happy and has a profound inspirational effect on me. Click here to check out his MySpace music page. He has a new holiday single available on iTunes!
21. Thift Stores - I love the things I can find in there and I is so eco-friendly. A simple way to recycle!
22. Nathan Runkle - The founder of an animal rights group called Mercy for Animals and my inspiration for going vegan. I would love to meet him someday.
23. My blog - I am thankful to have a place to share my thoughts, experience and interests through words and pictures.
24. Today - I am thankful to have this day to share with family and friends. Hope you all have a nice day!

If you have the money to spare consider adopting a turkey this year!

Click here to learn more about turkeys!

New Moon with eyes and nails!

2009-11-23T19:57:00.001-05:00

I went to see New Moon with Brandon (my bf) I snapped some pictures of my makeup and nails so I thought I would share! The color are inspired by the Volturi, vampires in general and blood. Enjoy!

2 Year Anniversary!

2009-11-18T19:01:00.001-05:00

November 15th was my 2 year anniversary with Brandon (my boyfriend). We went to Boston and had lunch at Grasshopper (it was buffet day!) My favorite thing I ate was this battered gluten covered in sauce. I believe it is "The No Name" on the menu. Then we came back to my house and rented a movie and snuggled up to watch it. We didn't get many pics in the restaurant because the lighting wasn't great and it was very overcast outside. We did get some pictures back here though!

One of my favorite pics from our anniversary

Me and Brandon with my gifts, Sookie Stackhouse Novels (first 7 books) and an Amazon giftcard. (for my ebooks for my Amazon Kindle (ebook reader)

My Mani!

Image Plates: Konad M2, M3 and M4. Polish Colors: Zoya Pinta (pinky, middle, thumb) and Zoya Demi (ring and index) Stamping with Konad Special Polish in White and Light Pink.

Those wondering what an "Amazon Kindle" is here is a video for the older model(the one I have)

Click here to see the site for the new Kindle 2.

The Kindle 2 IS NOW AVAILABLE OUTSIDE THE USA. Make sure you read on the site about service in your country before buying one :) If you have any basic questions about the Kindle feel free to ask and I will answer the best I can or point you to someone who can :)

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! I have been very sick for 3 weeks. I got some new medicine when I seen the doctor today so I hope I will feel better soon. Haven't been in the mood to blog lately. But I want you to know I love you all and appreciate your comments and following me. Please share my blog with your friends and keep commenting. I read them all! :)

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT affiliated with Amazon.com or the Kindle Wireless Reading Device in any way. I have not been paid to mention them in this post nor have I been given any freebies or compensation (ie free ebooks) I am not trying to sell it to anyone. I received it last year as a gift and love it. That is all :)

Zoya Superfan Prizes and more!

2009-11-13T16:34:00.004-05:00

Here is a picture of my lovely prizes from Zoya.

They are the Truth and Dare Collections and a Zoya Tshirt. It is only available from contests at this point. :) I feel so lucky!

I won these by making this video for YouTube:

Let me know if you want the name of any of the colors I have on! LOL

Here is a mani I did earlier this week with a color NOT in the Truth or Dare Collections.

I used Zoya Shivon which is a pretty rosey, bronze type color that is hard to describe but very pretty! Plate numbers M13 and M36.

The Zombie Cupcakes I made for Halloween that I forgot to post!

There is strawberry jelly in them so when you bite in you get their brains! LOL <3

I am still sick so I am sorry for the lack of posts lately. I will be better! Let me know which colors you want to see on my nails! :)

For Thriszha: Asian Inspired Mani

2009-11-07T19:41:00.002-05:00

I did an Asian inspired look for our lovely thriszha of Fab Ur Nails. :)

I hope you like them. They don't follow any one particular Asian country's theme just a general "Asian" look.

I chose the colors warm golden/copper, red and black because they remind me of Asian decor. I used Konad image plate number M23 and Konad Stamping Polish in Black and Red. I did the black designs first then the red. (On my pinkies I did the red bird first) I used Konad Base and Topcoats. I used 2-3 coats of Zoya Penny.

I didn't take many pictures and didn't clean up because I have been sick for a while and still am and I am feeling lazy. Here is a picture. I hope you like them!

EDIT: Photobucket is being a butt. Picture as soon as possible!
Hope this Flickr version will work!

Please be sure to check out my other posts from today Zoya Superfan and Natalie Portman.

Please let me know what else you would like to see. Any theme or image plate? Any color? I will do my best to fill any requests. Love you all! :)

I love Natalie Portman! :)

2009-11-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

Natalie Portman recently wrote about what inspired her to go vegan. Click HERE to read about it.

ZOYA SUPERFAN!

2009-11-07T15:27:00.000-05:00

Oh my I won! I can't believe it! Check out the link about my winning video on Zoya's Blog and if you aren't already, follow them on twitter, facebook and blogger. Don't forget to check out their site! :)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/zoya_nailpolish
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZoyaNailPolish?ref=ts
Blogger: http://zoyanailpolish.blogspot.com/
Website: www.zoya.com

Click the link above to see what I won!

Pink With Skulls Nails

2009-11-04T12:38:00.001-05:00

I was inspired by a shirt I recently got to create nails to do with it!

Here is the shirt:

And here are the nails!

The Thumb:

Plates used (all Konad Brand)
M13 Skull
M28 Spider
M45 Fishnet Tips
M25 Purple 4-petal Flowers

Color is Zoya - Lola and the decals are made by Fing'rs. :) I used the Konad Top Coat and the Black bled through to the top. Any tips for this problem?

Don't worry! I got the shirt BEFORE I started Wardrobe Re-fashion! :) I plan to post pictures of things I make and refashion soon. :) I hope you like my nails and the other things I share.

Wardrobe Re-Fashion Pledge

2009-11-01T21:25:00.001-05:00

The idea is to not buy any new clothing. (I am not sure if jewelry or accessories count. I assume gifts don't count especially during the holidays. ) All items are to be thrifted, recycled, refashioned or handmade (etsy is allowed!)

I was a bit scared to do this but I figured I would give it a go. I have so many clothes already and since thrift store shopping IS allowed I decided to try it. I have very little if any sewing skill. Maybe this will inspire me to create more. I have so many things I could do something with in my wardrobe and maybe if I think creatively I can make some really cool things.

I am going to avoid buying jewelry and accessories during this time (except from thrift stores and received as gifts) I will however look for thrift store things that I can add to and take apart and redo. :) I need some supplies to make jewelry and for refashioning my wardrobe so I am assuming art supplies are A-OK since they help with handmaking and DIYing. I will post my projects here and on the Wardrobe Re-Fashion site and I encourage any of you who are crafty to give it a try. Let me know if you do. My pledge period ends Jan 1st, 2010. Wish me luck!

I was inspired by this lovely lady. Please check out her beautiful creations!

"Free" Mini Makeup Collection from E.L.F. with any order.

2009-11-01T10:09:00.004-05:00

You can add any one item to your cart and just pay shipping and cost of that one item and get the Mini Makeup Collection for free.

The code is LOYAL. I just tried it and it works but I already have one so I am not going to order now LOL. It works even for just a 1 dollar item. If you do that the subtotal before tax is $7.95 in the USA. I don't know which other countries they ship to.

Also Target now carries E.L.F. products. :) Be sure to check them out if you live near a Target. :)

E.L.F. Also now has an "83 Piece Essential Makeup Collection" ($30) and a "141 Piece Master Makeup Collection" ($40) Needless to say I want the big one! I wonder if Target will have them before the holidays...? :)

Here is a video on Youtube about the different makeup collections! Enjoy!

COUPON CODE EGSTUDIOX still works for 50% off studio line items with orders of $15 or more before shipping. If you want the medium or large collection use that code! :)

I want it. I want it bad :-P

Happy Samhain (Halloween)!!!

2009-10-31T23:17:00.000-04:00

I love Halloween. I would love to share a bit of history about the holiday and share some links if you would like to read more.

Traditionally celebrated on October 31st (and sometimes November 1st) Samhain (pronounced SOW-en) is the anchient Celtic holiday which marks the end of summer and the last harvest and the beginning of the winter season. In modern traditions of Paganism, Druidism, Shamanism and Wicca it is still celebrated as both a celebratory holiday and a somber occasion to honor ones ancestors. People would dress in costumes to ward away bad spirits and light candles and leave food gifts for loved ones who have passed to guide them on their journey home. Samhain is believed to be the time of year when the veil between our world and the spirit world is the thinnest. Turnips and gourds were also carved to ward away negative energies and protect the homes.

Today, Samhain is seen as the Wiccan New Year and is a time representing death and rebirth. Many old Celtic traditions have been adapted by people of many religious backgrounds to celebrate this time of year, such as dressing up and the carving of pumpkins.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look into the history of Halloween. For more please check out the following links.

History.com
Wicca.com

Great Veg and Vegan Sites!

2009-10-31T13:55:00.002-04:00

I am going to make this a list of some of my favorite sites and blogs about vegetarian and vegan topics. I will update this regularly when I find something cool. There will be a link in the sidebar so you can always find it!

VegWeb.com:
Make a veg/vegan online recipe box and label the recipes with your own labels. If you want a Vampire category go for it! Need a category for recipes for your picky family members? You can do that too. :) If I try any recipes here and they come out great I will tell you! :)

Vegan Yum Yum:
This girl is incredible. She also has a book out. You will find a variety of delicious recipes that are very creative.

Post Punk Kitchen:
The vegan cupcake queen. Isa Chandra Moscowitz. This woman is a vegan goddess. She has several vegan cookbooks out and the site has many free recipes submitted my her and site users. Awesome! Try the Banana Bread, Pumpkin Bread or Zuchini Bread. :)

I am going to think of more and will add them as I remember them or find them. Until then have a great day.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween. My post about the history of Halloween will be this evening. :)

I think I am going to make these today!

Two Manicures and Some Kitty Eyes

2009-10-30T20:01:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I have for you 2 contest manicures and a cat eye look.

ALL PICTURES SHOULD BE CLICK TO ENLARGE!

The first manicure is for Nail Juice's Nautical Nail Art Contest.

I used a sheer blue, medium blue and darker blue. I used the sheer blue N.Y.C. Scandalas Blue Green Glitter over the whole nail. Then I layered Zoya - Jo over 2 thirds of my nail and used No Miss Biscayne Blue on the tips. I applied No Miss Top Coat then stamped across the line where the sheer and medium blue met using Konad Special polish in white. I used image plate m24. Then I used Art Club Black nail art paint (and toothpics when I got annoyed with the brush) to draw the anchor and wheel. :) I finished with Konad Top Coat. I hope you like it!

The next manicure is for Nail Art World's Winter Manicure Contest.

For this manicure I used 2 coats of N.Y.C. White Lights Glitter. Then 1 coat of No Miss Top Coat. Then I stamped with Konad Silver (very subtle) the flower/star/snow pattern on plate m5 on all my nails. I randomly positioned them. :)

Then I stamped the white snowflake like pattern from plate m20 on my index, middle and pinky (I did the thumb after the candy cane.) I alternated the placement of the snowflake. I then stamped the snowman on the ring finger and the red candy cane on my thumb. I followed with the snowflake on my thumb. Next I went over each tip with N.Y.C. Starry Silver Glitter fishing out the large pieces of both pink and blue (repeat). Next I did the black snowman eyes with Art Club Nail Art Paint. Finally I applied Konad Top Coat and applied a pink flower rhinestone in the center of the thumb snowflakes. Once dry I applied a 2nd layer of topcoat on my thumb. :) I hope you like this one too!

My manicures are getting more complicated but I am so proud of myself! :)

Now for the cat's eye!

For this look I used E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadow primer. Next I applied Everyday Minerals - Mistletoe to my lid and into the crease. Next I used E.L.F. Black liner (from my mini makeup collection I wouldn't nessesarily recommend this one) to line below my lower lashes and extended the line up at an angle pointed toward the ends of my brows as a guide. Next using the E.L.F. Studio Line Small Precision Brush (LOVE) and Back To The Earth Cosmetics - Tree Spirit (dark green) I lined under the lower lashes (over the pencil liner), created a defined outer V and continued a bit into my crease. I only blended where the 2 greens met NOT THE EDGES. I wanted to leave the edges sharp and fierce like an intent cat stare! I used a bit more Tree Spirit and carefully drug the precision brush up at an angle towards my brow to create the cat eye style wing. I know it is a bit over the top but I love it! I finished with Glittersniffer - Carnivore (ironically my fave highlight color) under the brow. It looks scary and pale green in the package but it is awesome. I got it as a free sample and I love it! Then of course my favorite mascara (EccoBella Black.) Please excuse my insanely messy brows!!!

I have included links most of the retailers sites. E.L.F. and Eccobella are also available in some stores in the U.S. I don't know about outside of the U.S. Everyday Minerals is available internationally from their site.

Back to the Earth doesn't appear to be on Etsy anymore. If I find it I will update with a link.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Leave comments, questions and requests! Please follow, subscribe and share!

43 Things

2009-10-28T22:12:00.000-04:00

Have any of you heard of this site yet? You make a list of goals you want to complete and see how many others have that goal. I made a list but I don't have 43 things yet and I don't have them in any particular order.

Here is my profile there.

If you have one please share your link! Thanks!

Car Painted with Nail Polish

2009-10-28T14:57:00.001-04:00

I found this ammusing! Now thats a LOT of polish!

KONADomania's Konad Giveaway!

2009-10-28T14:50:00.000-04:00

Check out KONADomania's giveaway for Konad, additional nail polish and natural beauty samples (and possibly more to be added) HERE.

Salem, MA and a Hallowmani!!! :)

2009-10-27T20:01:00.001-04:00

ALL PICS SHOULD BE CLICK TO ENLARGE. Links to the museums are included!

Yesterday Brandon (my bf) and I went to Salem, MA.

It was a lot of fun! When we got to Salem we parked and went to the visitor center to pick up a map and stuff. Then we went to one of our favorite places for lunch, Cafe Kushco. It is this little cafe on Washington Street that has soup, sandwiches and soft serve both dairy versions and vegan! I ordered Meditarian Grilled Eggplant Soup and Brandon ordered the Three Bean Chilli. The restaurant is not entirely vegetarian but the vegetarian soups are labeled on the daily selections sign and it lists which ones have dairy and eggs and such. The corn chowder sounds like it would be vegetarian but it is NOT it has anchovies in it. Just a warning if you are there and are veg or with a veg! Also if you are vegan or allergic to dairy ask for no bread because they put butter and melted cheese on the bread. I forgot that they gave bread with the soup. I gave mine to Brandon because he is vegetarian but not vegan and he still eats dairy. After finishing my soup I ordered a "frozen tofu" (vegan soft serve) and selected peanut butter for the stir in. It was DELICIOUS!!! My soup was great and so was Brandon's btw. I stole a bite of course (since his soup was vegan as well)

My handsome bf, Brandon!

Next we made our way to the Witch History Museum. We got the combination ticket to this museum and the Witch Dungeon Museum and the Pirate Museum. You save 5 dollars per person. :) They tell you a bit of history about the witch hysteria and bring you through exibits with sound and human-like figures which are somewhat realistic. It was very informative and I recommend it if you haven't been to Salem or are bringing a group for an educational experience. They also have a gift shop.

We made our way to the Witch Dungeon Museum next. This one was eerier and spookier than the last one. You watch an actors rendition of part of a witch trial and then are lead down below for a tour of a replica of the dungeons. There was a beam there from the original dungeons and it is said to be good luck for women to touch it so of course I did. Here is a picture of it.

Then we checked out shops for a while and hurried to catch the last tour for the New England Pirate Museum. Strangely this was Brandon's favorite although I am not too surprised! He loves pirates. It was entertaining and more lighthearted than the witch related museums.

I would recommend the combo ticket to these 3 if you have never been to any of them. If you are in the mood for something a bit different check out the Pirate Museum! :)

After the museums we went to dinner at Thai Palace (located in the Museum Place Mall) We went there last year as well and enjoyed it. This time we both ordered the same thing! It was funny. We got the Sweet and Sour veggies with Tofu. Brandon ordered desert of Orange Pineapple Ice Cream. I didn't try it since it was dairy but he said my peanut butter tofu ice cream was better! LOL

Here are some more pictures!

The fall colors on the 2 hour drive there!

My mani! Seen pictured with this spooky eye bracelet I got in Salem!

I used basecoat, 2 coats of Zoya Sienna. I applied 1 coat of No Miss Top Coat. Let it DRY! Then I stamped designs from m13 and m28 and used decals by Fingrs Edge and then 2 thin coats of Color Club Abracadabra (from the Master of Disguise mini kit) on the tips. I applied 1 coat of Konad topcoat, placed the rhinestone eye on Mr. Pirate and then did KTC on the other nails. I applied a SECOND layer of Konad top coat on all fingeres after they had completely dried. I applied a THIRD layer of Konad topcoat in the morning only to make the glitter feel smoother. On my thumb I applied 2 coats of Color Club Dark Romance (from the Dark Romance Mini Kit - came in my Master of Disguise kit instead of the correct black) Then I stamped the pumpkin from m13 and applied the glitter (CC - Abracadabra) all around the pumpkin and on tips. (Three total layers of top coat on the thumb too.)

Blade wanted some love! (This of course was when I was trying to take mani pics and pics of my stuff!)

My necklace and earring set found for a DOLLAR in the sale bins at The Pickle Pot (jewelry/beading store in Pickering Wharf in Salem, MA) Also a nice shot of my thumbnail!

Some fruit and veggie wine charms from The Pickle Pot sale bins! I am going to make jewelry with them!!!

My new Salem shirt!

Blade is investigating my pirate pen! (Really he is just rubbing himself on it like he does with EVERYTHING!)

A picture from our trip last year! This is outside of the Salem Witch Museum which I HIGHLY recommend seeing. It has a presentation about witch history and hysteria with lighted scenes and a tour witchcraft through history to today. It even includes Hollywood representations of witches.

I will post more about Wicca, witches and the history of Halloween on October 31st. I hope you enjoyed this post and I apoligize if it was too long and picture heavy but I feel like you are my girlfriends and I wanted to share it all with you! :)

For more pics go to here.

Thanks for reading! Please Comment, Follow, Subscribe and Share!

If you have me on your blogroll please let me know! Thank you!

(Bare with me if there are any spelling errors and code errors with the pictures. I am checking them and will fix errors ASAP!)

Color Club Revvvolution

2009-10-27T16:45:00.001-04:00

This NOTD was from last week. I love this color so much and the picture doesn't even begin to do it justice. It is a medium to dark gray holo with many colors in it. I think the most prominent holo sparkles are dark green, and orange/brown/gold. It is incredible and if you can find it at a local beauty store or see it online snatch one up. I thought it would look strange against my skintone but I love it! It is one of my favorites now! Here is the picture:

Click to enlarge!

I have counted my polishes!!! I now have 50 polishes not including basecoat, topcoat, nail art and Konad Stamping polishes. If you would like to see looks with any of them let me know. I will be posting a list of my collection soon. I will try to organize it by color or put a short description next to each. :) In the meantime if you have any requests for themes or colors leave them in a comment. I owe Thriszha a Asian themed look and I need to do a nautical before the end of the month for that contest, if I can remember who it was for! I do promise to get to the requests that are left though.

I am working on my Salem blog and will post that as soon as it is finished.

You Make Me Smile Tag!

2009-10-22T01:53:00.003-04:00

I was tagged by GlitterMillie :) I love her blog and am honored to be tagged by her. :)

The rules are that I am supposed to post a song that makes me smile and tag some other blogs that make me smile and why I love them!

I chose this song that my boyfriend discovered and shared with me! It is an original song by Mike Lombardo. I think he is cute and funny and can sing and play piano/keyboard very well.

Other songs that make me smile are Hey There Delilah by The Plain White Ts, Here in your Arms by hellogoodbye, Everything I Do (I Do it for You) by Bryan Adams, Swing Life Away by Rise Against (my bf and my song) and anything by Scott MacIntyre.

I tag:

Nicole (Magic Maid): Nicole is my newest follower! I love her blog because she has great swatches in more than one lighting condition (my flaw is I don't have good pictures because I am lazy and hate dealing with my camera) I also like her descriptions of the colors :)

Beauty Judy: I love Judy's blog because she has a variety of brands and posts nice swatches. She is friendly and gives honest reviews whether she buys the item/collection or is sent it and she always thanks the company for sending it. :)

Thriszha (Fab Your Nails): This is one of my favorite blogs! Her designs are very creative and always well done. :) She takes very good pictures too! :)

KonADDICT: I think this was the first beauty/nail blog I followed. This one along with others inspired me to try Konad. I like her step by step pics and the borders around them are so cool! She has complex designs but makes you feel like you could pull them off yourself.

I also tag anyone else who hasn't done this tag yet! :) All my followers and blogs I follow make me smile. These are just a few of my many favorites :)

And as a bonus:
I'll Take Tom (The Myspace Breakup Song) by Scott MacIntyre. (my other boyfriend LOL)
I have 3 reasons to justify adding this one as a bonus:
1. I love Scott!
2. This song makes me smile and LOL.
3. It is the perfect geeky breakup song to go along with the geeky love song!

Embedding was disabled on that one. If you like it you can buy his EP "A View from Above" on iTunes. It is a great buy for any Scott fan! :)

And for Lucy!

Happy Birthday Graphics

That is all! Hope you enjoyed the song(s)!

First Matte Polish & Simple Vegan "Recipe"

2009-10-18T23:23:00.002-04:00

I had my very first experience with matte nail polish. I received my back-ordered polishes Savita, Harlow and Roxy yesterday from Zoya. Last night I painted my nails with Harlow. Honestly I don't think I am a matte convert. I would be happy for any tips or links you could share about matte polishes. The polish dried very fast and I am not used to using that type of formula. The finish is different and an interesting change but they chipped by morning. I let them dry plenty before bed. I applied it directly to the nail with no base or top coat. I read that was what you are supposed to do. I couldn't stand the chipped look so I tried to disguise it with a couple of coats of Roxy on the tips which worked surprisingly well but didn't last on the fingers that were chipped. I broke my thumb nail on my right hand. I don't know if this is from lack of base coat or the matte formula.

So I ask you ladies: How do you feel about mattes? Does putting a shiny topcoat on the tips prevent chipping? How long do they wear for you? Do you ever use matte polishes on just your toes?

I am sorry I didn't bother with pictures and hope you will forgive me. I will probably create a new mani tomorrow.

Vegan Chili Mac
For the simple vegan "recipe" (if you can even call it that) I used 1 box of wheat shell pasta, 2 cans of vegan chili and about 1/3 of a block of Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Nacho Cheese (shredded). You could use more of the "cheese" if you have it. This would also be good for using up leftover vegan chili you make yourself. Just cook the pasta and drain, add the chili and "cheese" and heat on the stove stirring until hot and "cheese" is melted. Enjoy! Brandon really liked this :)

Thanks for reading! Comment, follow, subscribe and share please!

Hey There Deliliah

2009-10-15T10:48:00.003-04:00

There is a little story to these nails and why I bought the polish used to do them.

The polish is Zoya's Delilah. It is a deep red with lots of glitter. It is 2 coats. The Konad is done with Konad Special Stamping Polish in White. I used image plates M43 and M73. I chose these designs because it is my 23 month anniversary of my first date with my boyfriend, Brandon. I think they look very romantic. All photos can be clicked to enlarge. :)

I added a little detail with my thumbs to fill the corner. I used Art Club by Color Club nail art paint in Neon Pink.

And the reason I bought this polish:

Her name is Delilah, named after a little song... you may have heard it :)

This song was playing in my head when I was holding her and my mom said I could name her. She is sweet and pretty and I think the name suits her.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the song "Hey There Delilah" by The Plain White T's or know any of them personally. The video is linked directly from their record label's Youtube account. Thank you :)

Hallowglam Konad Mani Starring M57

2009-10-12T14:36:00.003-04:00

Konad Rule #1: M57 is to be worshiped like the goddess that she is.
Konad Rule #2: Black stamping polish is a pain in the booty to work with.
Konad Rule #3: Lining up patterns takes patience and practice :)

This mani was done with yesterday's post's color, Zoya Sienna. To read more about my thoughts on the color and application and see yesterdays post. :)

I was wondering if anyone has any tips for cleaning up the edges. I am going to clean them up better before I go out tomorrow. I used I cotton swap dipped in acetone. Should I try the pointed tip ones or a french corrector pen from Konad or anything else. I feel like my manicures could be so much neater.

Here are the pictures as promised of my Halloween Konad. I call this one Hallowglam. It was done using plate M57 and Konad Special Stamping Polish in Black. :) The lighting today was pretty gloomy and overcast. I think it adds to the mood of the mani. I used festive decor for some of the pictures.

All pics can be clicked to enlarge! Enjoy!

Thanks for reading! Please comment, follow, subscribe and share!

Zoya Sienna!

2009-10-11T21:57:00.002-04:00

Zoya Sienna is a semi-bright medium orange with lots of orange/gold/yellow shimmer/fine glitter. :) It is a very pretty color for Halloween! I thought I would share some pictures with you! These are taken in the sun and my timing was pretty good because the sun went and hid after I took these. I left the edges messy because I knew I was Konading it (as I usually do!) I would have pics of the Konad but when I tried to take pictures after Konading I realized my camera is dead! I need a new one terribly. It eats batteries like crazy! Anyway... here is Sienna in all her glittery glory.

Zoya Sienna: 2 coats with No Miss Base Coat and No Miss Top Coat. (Base coat has a cloudy look but goes on clear. ) I bet it would look amazing layered over a black creme. :)

Don't you worry... I will have pictures of the Konad tomorrow! I hope I get more sun! *crosses pretty manicured fingers*

Zoya Akyra Konad M39, M56

2009-10-08T11:23:00.002-04:00

I did my nails yesterday and thought I would share!

I used No Miss Base Coat.
The base color is Akyra by Zoya. I would describe it as a deep teal (blue/green) with a slight silver/blue shimmer. This color seemed watery and thin compared to my other Zoyas. I applied one thin coat then one thicker coat.

I applied No Miss Top Coat and let it dry a while before stamping. I stamped the tips with the swirly pattern on french plate M56 with Konad Special Stamping Polish in Sky Pearl. I then stamped the triangle arrangement of flowers from plate M39 with Konad Special Stamping Polish in Silver.

I feel that the Silver is very subtle compared to other Konad polishes. I realize they are not perfect and I am not that great with lining things up and my frenches are wonky but they were a lot of fun to do! You could use many different patterns for a similar effect. Please excuse the messy edges. I forgot to clean them up before taking pictures! :( Hope you can forgive me? <3I need lots of practice with my french tips so expect to see many more soon!

Thanks for reading! Please comment, follow, subscribe and share!!!

Over The Top Blog Award:

2009-10-08T00:39:00.001-04:00

I was tagged by Sherry for:

Thanks for tagging me! Now my answers (must be one word each)

Where's your cell phone: purse

Your hair: brown

Your mother: British

Your father: loud

Favorite Food: asian

Dream last night: forgotten

Favorite drink:

What room are you: mine

Hobby: blogging

Fear: loneliness

Where were you last night: home

Something that you aren't: carnivorous

Muffins: yummy

Wish list item: KONAD

Where did you grow up: Massachusetts

What are you wearing: tee

Your pets: cats

Friends: ecentric

Something you're not wearing: socks

Favorite store: thrift

Favorite color: purple

Last time you laughed: today

Your best friend: Damian

Place you go to over and over: restaurants

Person who emails you regularly: none

Favorite place to eat: vegan

I pass this tag & award to the following people:

You!

A Konad Video I Found

2009-10-07T21:58:00.000-04:00

I did not make this video but I enjoyed all of the Konadicures in it so I thought I would share it with you. It was made by mraya22 on youtube.

There are lots of others I like on Youtube I just love how that video has SO many Konad ideas in it! :)

Which Konaders do you like on Youtube (or other site)? Do you have a favorite Konad related video? Please post the links for me! :) I LOVE watching nail videos!

I have new nails!!! I will post pictures of them tomorrow.

I have went back and edited many post so that the nail pictures are bigger when you click on them. If you find any mistakes like missing pictures or broken links let me know. I am going to use this new format for my pictures from now on. They will be both bigger on the blog and even bigger when clicked. I will try to take better pictures and crop them better as well. Thanks for the suggestions, Lucy. I hope everyone will like the new changes. I am trying to make this blog better for everyone! Feedback is welcome!

Check out paintedladyfinger's Halloween Contest

2009-10-07T13:06:00.001-04:00

Here's the link to the contest info!

For Lucy: Bigger Better Pictures In the Works!

2009-10-06T12:35:00.001-04:00

I haven't been able to figure out how to make the images clickable and larger on the blog itself at the same time. I have had to either resize the pictures or make them clickable thumbnails... maybe if I had two copies of each picture on photobucket I could link the smaller picture to the really big one. I am somewhat new to blogging and I am still trying to figure some things out. Any suggestions are welcome. Please know that I am trying hard to make this the best blog I can with the knowledge that I have at this time. :) Please be patient with me. If I am able to figure it out I will make ALL pictures medium size in the blog and HUGE when you click them. :) I will attempt to go back and edit all previous posts as well but that may take some time.

I posted this as a new post (as opposed to a comment) so that everyone could see the changes I plan to make. If during the process pictures wind up missing or links don't work please 1. be patient with me and 2. let me know that things aren't working right.

To the seasoned bloggers out there... any tips to improve my blog are greatly appreciated. I don't quite know what I am doing yet. :)

EDITED TO ADD: I have already put the changes into effect on my "Zoya Toe Swatches" post. Please let me know if this formating is better. I love it and think it is awesome! :)

I have 3 columns now!

2009-10-05T01:23:00.001-04:00

I figured out how to make 3 columns with the help of a tutorial I read. Let me know how you like it :) If there is anything that could make browsing my blog easier on you just let me know :) Thanks for reading :)

Zoya Toe Swatches!!! (plus shipping news!)

2009-10-03T22:51:00.004-04:00

I did it!!! I swatched my new Zoya's and Trixie just cuz I love her on my toes. By request the pictures are now clickable to make them bigger. Try it out and let me know how it works. :)

The Pinks, Reds and Oranges

The Others

I will have more on my hands soon.

Zoya contacted me and let me know that my order will ship in a couple of days.

My Scott MacIntyre CDs have shipped and are on their way to me too so I have 2 packages I am awaiting!!! You better believe there will be swatches of Harlow, Savita and Roxy when they arrive. And don't be surprised if you see a Scotty Mac inspired mani soon! :) I love my Scottie Too Hottie <3 For those of you who don't know who he is check out his music here.

Here is a picture of Scott for you :)

NOTE: I tried the picture sizing thing on this blog. With the 2 foot pictures I had them link to a larger copy of the picture (If you click on it you will see). Let me know if this works better for you all. :) I didn't do this with Scott though. I just left him be. :)

Coming Soon: Zoya!!!

2009-10-02T16:27:00.001-04:00

I received my order of Zoya from the BOGO promotion. Sadly 3 of my polishes are missing :( I sent an email and I know they are best sellers (Harlow, Savita and Roxy) so they may be out of stock and I am not too worried. On a happier note... I now have 12 Zoya's that I can swatch for all of you (all 8 of you) hehe.

I have the following colors:
Midori (which you have seen a couple of times)
Trixie
Vegas Freeze

The NEW ones: (and how they look to me in the bottle)
Jennifer -looks light brown :) - my name polish!
Penny - coppery, orange gold
Sienna - bright orange glitter
Shivon - very hard to describe gold, rose, brown?
Delilah - glittery red - one of my dog's name!
Lola - Pink with blue shimmer?
Jo - calming blue with subtle blue/silver shimmer
Juno - deep purple possibly duochrome?
Akyra - teal, blue/green

Would anyone be opposed to toe swatches??? :)

Zombies Attack Halloween Konad

2009-10-01T11:28:00.002-04:00

This is my entry for the Halloween Konad/Nail Art contest hosted by Sasse.

I applied 2-3 coats of Zoya Midori last night and did the Konad today. I stamped the blood splatters and drips first, then the Zombies. Does anyone else have trouble getting the Zombies to transfer to the stamper? I got the blood great! But the Zombies were a real pain!!! :-/ I have been wanting to use those Zombie Girls since I got the Konad! I recommend Zombie Girl eyeshadow by glittersniffer (on etsy) with this manicure. :)

The link to the contest is here.

There is about as week left I think. :) Hope you like it. Please comment and follow me!

Blue EOTD, New Organization, New Blog Colors!!!

2009-09-29T12:51:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone!!! You may have noticed that I haven't blogged in a little while. I was busy with Brandon (my boyfriend) the last few days.

I have made a few lovely changes to my blog and my makeup storage!!!

I went out with my sweetie and he bought me some storage drawers because he knows I have a bit of an addiction when it comes to my makeup. :) I tweeted about wanting to get some organization stuff. He is the best.

I also had all of my makeup laid out the night before (to see what I had to tackle to organize!) and so I seen some shadows I haven't used in a while (or at all). So the other day I did my eyes really pretty. :) This is the same day that we bought the organizers from Target! Here are some pics!

My Blue Eyes: (seems like a of products but it isn't too hard to do)

Products Used:
Eyes:
E.L.F.:
Mineral Primer
Cream Shadow Duo in Butter Pecan (as a sticky base for the pigment)
Liquid Liner in Black
Everyday Minerals:
Babysitter (light blue in inner corner)
10 Items or Less (Crease/outer corner) - d/c shade
TKB Trading:
Blueberry Pop pigment (lid color
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in "Deviant" under lower lashes)
Eccobella Black Mascara
Carnivore by Glittersniffer on etsy (brow bone highlight)

Face:
Everyday Minerals
Foundation in Beige- Sunkissed Fair
Natural Reflections Fair
Cookie Sheet Blush - d/c shade

Lips:
I think I was just wearing lip balm. I can't remember if I had any lipstick or gloss on.
EcoLips: Bee-free

MY NEW ORGANIZATION!!!
If you want to know what any of the products are or would like to see swatches or ANYTHING in more detail let me know. :) I would be happy to share. This is more to show how I organized things than to show my collection. I am NOT trying to brag. I hope you like it! :)

The whole setup:

Wooden Shelf above: Nail tools, acetone, witch hazel other random beauty stuff
along top of drawers: My tools, primers, bases and liners (in old vintage jewelry box), my solid perfumes from glittersniffer on etsy, my vintage mirror (lights up and has magnification settings)
In drawers left to right: Face products, Lip products, eye products
Silver case: Konad Salon Pro Case

And some more close-up pics:

This I had before but I wanted to show you:

It is a kitchen spice cabinet. My dad moved the shelves and added new ones. He used the actual polish bottles to determine the spacing of the shelves. They are at various heights for different brands :)

I hope you liked this post and maybe got some ideas.

Have a great day! :)

The Big Apple Blog!

2009-09-24T22:39:00.003-04:00

I went to NYC on Tuesday with my boyfriend, Brandon and one of my very best friends, Quincy. Brandon is vegetarian (for almost 8 months now) and both Quincy and I have been vegan for years. Needless to say we checked out a lot of vegan food (or NOMS as Brandon and I affectionately call them) I thought I would share some pics from the trip. :) I hope you enjoy! There is some nail and makeup stuff in here for those interested! :)

In the car on the way there.

My Makeup was:
Eyes: Tinsel Time by Everyday Minerals and some black mascara (Ecobella) Tinsel Time was a l/e holiday shade. I wore it since this was a special day :)
Lips: E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick in Rosy Tan
Blush: Best Friends! (wore this for the name alone and I love the color on me. :)
Face: EDM foundation in Beige - Sun Kissed Fair (semi matte) and Natural Reflections in Fair.

My eyes: (Tinsel Time l/e holiday shade by EDM)

My Big Apple nails: Zoya Midori, Konad Stamping Polishes in Red and Green and plate M55 (click to enlarge)

Babycakes book I bought for my friend, Quincy. He loves that place and loves the book. It is one of the places we went.

Me with my guys :) hehe (on the subway)
From Left: Brandon (bf), Me and Quincy (my friend) Not too flattering of me LOL.

Store in Chinatown with my name in it!

My Lucky Cat found in Jen's Super Store (it's solar powered!)

OMG there is a COW in the subway!!!

The Phantom of the Opera is there... inside my mind!

The Phantom is LOVE!!! We didn't see the show. I watched the movie I have on Wednesday though to satisfy my craving a bit. Still haven't seen the show live. :(

The food places we went to were Babycakes, Atlas Cafe, Vegetarian Dim Sum House and Vegetarian Paradise 2. If you want reviews about these places I can post them as a separate blog.

The non-food places we visited were Chinatown, Time Square, Toys R Us, The Hello Kitty Store, The Disney Store, the Majestic Theater (only the outside) and obviously the Subway.

Oh and my shirt says "Life is Better Vegan" :)

I have many more pictures and can't possibly post them all! Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for reading and following me!

Sorry for lack of posts!

2009-09-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

I am going to post new nails tomorrow most likely. :) I am also going on a trip on Tuesday to NYC, so I will hopefully have pics from that up on Wednesday!!! Please let me know what you would like to see for future bog posts. :) Thanks for reading!

How do you organize your cosmetics?

2009-09-19T13:30:00.000-04:00

I am in desperate need of organization tips. I have too much makeup and nail supplies etc. I don't know how to tackle organizing them. There are a lot I don't use enough since I don't have them organized well. Please share your pics and spread the tag around. I will post mine when I get them organized better! (Videos are good too)

I tag in no particular order:

Casual Lavish
KONADomania
thriszha
Beauty Judy
FAB UR NAILS
GETCHA NAILS DID
KonADDICT
The Kronicles of a Konad-er
Sasse's 'nad Stamping Stampede
kittyluvscolor

:)

First Attempt Sponging + news

2009-09-14T11:32:00.000-04:00

My first ever attempt Sponging with the Konad.

I did these on my niece. She loved them and they looked nice I think. She went swimming the next day and they started to peel up. If anyone knows more about this and could help me improve my technique I would be grateful :) Maybe I sponged it too thickly? I have no clue. I followed the directions it came with.

The image SHOULD be clickable to make it bigger.

NEWS: I went shopping yesterday and I got this new cookbook:

She has a blog too so check it out.
The book has full color pics for almost every recipe I think and it was about 19 dollars. :)

I also got a new nail polish! It will get its OWN post soon :)

I also got some awesome new pants which I am going to do matching nails for soon. :)

Thanks for reading!

KONAD REQUESTS!!!

2009-09-13T00:27:00.000-04:00

I have plates M1-M45 and M55, M56, M57, M61 and M73.

If you would like to see images from any of these plates on the nail please comment me here or on my twitter :)

I have pics to go up in the morning of nails I did on my niece :)

Will have more new nails (and makeup!) on me later this week.

Just an update and please send in your requests!

I think you are an awesome girl award!!!

2009-09-10T22:53:00.000-04:00

I was tagged by Kitty Loves Color. :)

10 facts about me:

1. I love veggie sushi. I could eat it several times a week no problem. My favorite kinds are Forest Maki (cucumber, avocado and seaweed), Vegetable Roll, Avocado & Cucumber, and Seaweed Salad Roll.

2. My favorite color is purple.

3. My favorite American Idol contestant EVER is Scott MacIntyre. You can by his EP on iTunes and get full CDs from iTunes or CDBaby. Follow him on twitter Twitter.com/idolscott. Hear some o his music on myspace. http://www.myspace.com/scottmacintyre Check out my myspace fan page http://www.myspace.com/scottstreetteam
I think my bf worries if I ever meet Scott that we will fall in love and run off and get married.

4. I only own 33 bottles of nail polish (not counting the Konad stamping polishes and my base and top coats.) A couple of these are doubles because they were bought in sets. I say only because I have at LEAST 20 on my wishlist now. Most of them from Color Club!

5. I love cows. I have a cute kitten reaction to cows. I get all "BABY COWWWWWWWWW!!!" When my bf and I drive by any.

6. My favorite gadget aside from my laptop is my Amazon Kindle (1 not 2) I love to read and read every night before bed even I just for a lil while.

7. I love reading and watching anything relating to vampires, supernatural and paranormal. I love Twilight etc and I hope to read more vampire books and see more movies and series about them. I like to compare the different theories about them.

8. I am Team Edward. :)

9. I collect Frank Sinatra records.

10. I am going to see Cirque du Soleil's Alegria a week from today and I am so excited since I have wanted to go to a Cirque show for YEARS! Stay tuned for fun nails and makeup for that show!!!

I tag in no particular order:
VeganYumYum
Getcha Nails Did
Nihrida's Blog
KonADDICT
Konadomania
Polish Addict
The Nail Phile
Dizzy Nails
Nail of the Week
Violet ~ Tales of an Ingénue

Bright Zebra Konad (First Full Nail Stamping) M57

2009-09-10T21:52:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. This evening I decided to play with my Konad again since the fairy nad was chipping bit and I needed an excuse to practice more LOL.

These nails were partially inspired by some jeans from Hot Topic. The jeans are actually PINK and blue not ORANGE and blue. However I feel like the orange is great since it is blue's complement on the color wheel.

This orange is from N.Y.C. It took 3 coats to get it this color and I still saw some smile line. It also didn't quite dry evenly and I got some dents even after Konading. The color isn't quite TRUE orange it is a bit of an orange/magenta. Oh well. It was good practice and I think it came out pretty good. Here is a picture.

And the jeans... well they were on the clearance rack at HT and they didn't have my size. I would have gotten them if they did since they were an ADDITIONAL 50 percent off the already clearance price.

Bonus Pic:

This is Pumpkin our adorable stray cat that sleeps on our porch bench. He loves us because we give him food and pet him. He has been fixed through TNR with the Homeless Cat Project. TNR means trap, neuter, return which means that the fix them and return them back into the wild so that they won't contribute to the cat overpopulation crisis. If you have strays in your area contact a local group that does TNR.

KONAD Plates M35, M36, M32, and M16

2009-09-08T10:29:00.002-04:00

My Nails!

I just love the fairies. They transfer surprisingly well considering I am new to this and they are so delicate!

My Toes!

My Niece's Nails

I think her's came out great. I was happy she chose the buttons since I wanted to try them out :)

How do you like them???

BONUS My Bracelet (Mostly Trollbead with a Pandora cupcake and Lovelinks Cow :) )

Contest for BeautyJudy

2009-09-04T20:03:00.000-04:00

Enter here to win Nubar's Modern Matte Collection!

Coraline Konad Contest at Painted Lady Fingers Blog

2009-09-04T18:42:00.000-04:00

Painted Lady Fingers

:)

She has a fun blog so check her out! :)

Konad!!!

2009-09-04T17:23:00.003-04:00

I got my Konad order from OCNailart.com. I got the Salon Pro Kit and 5 additional plates. It comes with LOADS of stuff. Of course I took pictures. My first attempt wasn't so great. I should have used a lighter base color. I wasn't thinking A Grape Fit was that dark! Enjoy the pics!

A smiling Jen :)

The pretty butterflies on the case

SOME of what's inside. Special polishes are under the sponge/foam.

The loose round plates. There are 14 here. Sorry for the reflection LOL

My first semi-fail Konad attempt! (Click to enlarge)

I need practice for my Konading (lol) so I am accepting requests! I have plates m1-m45 (except for the reversed m36) and also plates m55, m56, m57, m61 and m73. If you would like to see any of these images on the nail I can try them :) If you would just like to see a look using a certain plate I can try that too. :) Also to anyone with more experience than me any suggestions for good images or plates to start practicing with are welcome! :) Hope you enjoyed this! Thanks for reading! Please comment and follow me!

Girl At The Rock Show!

2009-09-02T17:40:00.000-04:00

I went with my bf to a Blink 182 concert last Friday. I took some pics of my nails and makeup. :)

PRODUCTS USED:
The eyeshadow is by Glittersniffer at glittersniffer.etsy.com
(Zombie Girl, Manny and Pink Pistol)
Blush is Walkee Talkee by Everyday Minerals at everydayminerals.com
lipstick is E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick in Fiery Fuschia at eyeslipsface.com)
Mineral Foundation in Beige - Sunkissed Fair by Everyday Minerals
Natural Reflections Powder in Fair by Everyday Minerals
Mascara in Black by EcoBella
Black Liquid Liner by E.L.F.

Eye Closeups (lime green is Zombie Girl, bright blue is Manny and hot pink is Pink Pistol. Any other colors are from blending :) )

And my Rocker Nails: (E.L.F. Nail Polish in Black. Decals by Fingr's Edge found in a dollar store!) Used with No Miss Base and Top Coats. )

Hope you like! Comment and follow me!

Revamping my Blog!

2009-08-29T12:50:00.000-04:00

I plan to post more on here about what I am doing in life. Expect to see a range of topics including vegan makeup reviews, nail art, makeup looks, book reviews, recipes, vegan food pictures, craft projects and more. This blog it truly going to have a bit of everything! :) I hope I can get more readers and you like it!

I ordered a Konad Professional Salon Kit and 5 additional plates. I will post pics when it arrives and I am accepting requests for plates to use in designs. :) I will have M1-45 (except for reverse M36) and plates M55, M56, M57, M61 and M73. :) I have a lot to start with and plan to collect more. Expect to see looks inspired by the holiday seasons, books, movies, art, nature and more!

Update: Crafts, Reading and Goals:

2008-11-09T22:09:00.000-05:00

I haven't written in a long time. I have been a few crafty things. I have been making potholders with loops and looms. Haven't done much knitting lately.
I have been reading a lot though. I got an Amazon Kindle as an early birthday and Christmas/Yule present. I did some research and found out the case it comes with is NOT leather OR suede despite what some of you may have heard, so the Kindle is vegan safe :)
I am currently reading Nightworld Book 1(its 3 books in one). I have a lot of classics I plan to read eventually and a few new supernatural authors I would like to explore.
I am very open-minded and if you have any suggestions or recommendations feel free to share. I want any books I have to pay for (ie not public domain) to be realitively inexpensive and/or longer books so I get a lot of reading out of them. I can read a novel that is 300-400 pages in about 4 days if it is really good.

BOOKS TO READ SOON:
Nightworld Book 1 (Currently reading as of Nov 9)
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Pride and Prejudice
War and Peace

MY GOALS FOR 2009:
Read at least 1-2 books a month
Lose some weight
exercise daily
Try 10 different vegan foods or ingredients I haven't used yet

Also I'm looking forward to 2 big things in November. My 1 year anniversary with my boyfriend and the Twilight movie.

I love my boyfriend!

2008-08-01T21:01:00.000-04:00

As if I needed another reason to love my wonderful boyfriend: he gave me one.

He bought me my Trollbead bracelet yesterday. I got a silver chain and plain silver clasp (I like the plain clasp) and 2 silver stoppers and... a lovely unique OOAK bead (one of a kind). It is SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I will post some pics of it soon.

Not very artsy lately...

2008-07-10T21:04:00.000-04:00

Haven't written in a while but I've been in a creative slump. Haven't knitted in a long time. I have tried to learn to crochet but am failing miserably. I need to get back into something creative. I need to vent my stress. My computer died on me, I don't know if I can get it working again. I lost all my Sims and custom content if I can't get it working. :( It makes me very sad.

On a happier note everything is great with my boyfriend and we are going on 8 months. We got to see each other these last 2 days and had lots of fun.

I am going to see American Idol on tour! My favorite is Jason Castro.

I have recently been very interested in synthetic dread falls and may like to learn to make them myself. I think dreads are cool but I don't know how I would look in them. My hair isn't very long. I also am unsure if I want the commitment of real ones.

I graduated in June with honors. I haven't found a job yet, but I might have to soon. I can't find anything good in my area. I don't drive so I don't know what to do. I need some inspiration, a new computer, and probably a job :(

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in quite some time. I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking. I am working on knitting a red hat.

My fave sites for vegan recipes are theppk.com and veganyumyum.com. Check them out!

These are from theppk.com and they are awesome! They look like little snowballs!
Peanut Butter Balls
Submitted by Andrée

prep time: 45 minutes | cooking time: none | makes Approx. 25 balls

My aunt brought this for me for Christmas dinner so I could enjoy a dessert too. I was really touched. Turns out this is an old family recipe and favorite.

Equipment:
Mixing bowl

Ingredients
-1 cup peanut butter
-1 cup confectioner’s sugar
-½ cup minced dates
-½ cup finely chopped nuts
-diluted frosting (a little confectioner’s sugar and water)
-coconut for rolling balls in

Directions
Mix peanut butter, confectioner?s sugar, minced dates and nuts together. Form into 1-inch balls. Roll or dip into diluted frosting then roll into coconut. Refrigerate and keep refrigerated until served.

UPDATE

2007-07-21T22:45:00.000-04:00

I have been knitting a bit more lately.

Currently on the needles

Size 13 straights - black and white funfetti shawl (yes still LOL)

Size 35? circs - brown and spring color fun fur scarf

Size 8 straights - cell phone sock (K1 P1 ribbing)

Size 8 straights - pink garter ridge summer T top

Butterfly Loom (it's not "really" knitting but still there lol) - red shawl

RECENTLY FINISHED

***Last month I finished my garter stitch scarf for fall/winter. I started it in February! It was knit on size 8 needles. Blue/purple variated yarn. VERY pretty.

***I also made a funfetti scarf on the circs (size 35) I think I binded off too tightly cuz it did a weird twisty thing... but it was my first thing I ever made on circs and it is still pretty and I love it!

***I also made a funfetti scarf on my Speed Stix my mom got me. (size 50 needles!) It only used one ball of yarn! decent length too. I think that was 20 stitches across. Worked all in garter. Only a few hours total to make. I don't knit very fast though.

working on my shawl again

2007-04-16T21:49:00.000-04:00

i put my shawl down for a while... i got the urge to work on it again... so i am doing that right now :)

First Knitting Project Complete!

2007-03-27T19:21:00.000-04:00

My first finished piece was a "pocket purse" for my niece. She loved it and I think it came out great!

If you want to make one leave me a comment!

My List:

On The Needles:
size 8's - Garter Stitch Scarf blue/purple - ME
size 15's - fuzzy shawl black/white - ME

In Waiting:
Sweater belt for mom
Red Scarf for BF
Blue Scarf w/ fringe for Jamal
Pink Pocket Purse for Kim
Wristlets for me

Much Later:
Hat for Adam (more skills required)
Leg Warmers for me (more skills required)

Current Projects March 25th, 2007

2007-03-25T18:52:00.000-04:00

I am working on a pocket purse for my niece. It is rainbow colored. Made from variated worsted weight (acrylic) on size 8 needles. ALL GARTER STITCH. Hopefully will be finished by tonight.

Also got a shawl going on my size 15 needles. It is made with black yarn with white things hanging off. Its kinda fuzzy looking.

Working on a variated purple/blue scarf (size 8, worsted, garter)

Waiting in the wings are:

Red Scarf for my boyfriend
Sweater Belt for Mom
Wristlets for me

New to blogger

2007-03-11T11:39:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. This is my first blogger post! I decided to join blogger because there seems to be a lot of vegan knitters and crafters here. If you are vegan or a vegetarian send me a message or something. I don't know how the messages work here yet. I hope to make lots of friends here!

I am a 22 year old college student. I have a degree in graphic design and am currently studying fine arts. I love art, music, movies, vegan food, vegan knitting, meditation, nature, taking photos and making videos. I have 2 cats. I love them lots! I have a boyfriend who I love sooo much. I am new to knitting. I have been vegan for almost 3 years and vegetarian a total of almost 5 years.

I enjoy blogs and networking and video sites. I am also on myspace, youtube, spruzeme, and livevideo. Please welcome me to the site and don't be shy, I love making friends!