Author Archives: Short Fuse

Sephora & Make Up Forever #WhatMakesYouBlush Event

Posted in Beauty by

MUFE & Sephora

Hey Lovers,

We’ve already discussed my not so recent obsession with all things beauty. Last week I attended a VIB Rouge event at the Make Up Forever Boutique in Union Square. For 750 Sephora points a friend and I got to enjoy bite sized snacks and cocktails.  We would then meet with Make Up Forever & Sephora’s best artists who would match us with the perfect Make Up Forever HD Blush for our skin tone and teach us the proper way to apply blush for our face shape. 

photo 2 (7)

In addition to our consultations we would be able to take home our perfect shade, for free! The free blush (and cocktails) are what got me to the event. What gave me life was, the moment when I saw this sign.

20%

Getting fabulous things for the low low and makeup are two of my favorite things. Sephora & MUFE clearly knew what they were doing. Fill me with cocktails then drain my wallet. 

Cocktails

I had the pleasure of meeting Josh who teaches the Make Up Forever Pro classes. We first discussed my face shape, then he applied 2 blushes. He used one on the apples of my cheeks and another as a sort of contour. I decided to choose the one he used on the apples of my cheeks, 515 Tangerine. 

MUFE HD Blush MUFE HD Blush swatch Hey Josh!

Since I had been drankin’ and the 20% off sign kept calling me I decided to get a few products. I got a Mist & Fix setting spray and 3 lipsticks. It’s a miracle I didn’t get more. The cocktails and the fact I had gone to Happy Hour before the event really had me on one, no Mama Joyce. 

MUFE Lipsticks

If any of the lipsticks look familiar, it’s because I’ve already worn 2 of them for the #NoBareLips30 challenge. As if the night couldn’t get better, we got gift bags. Who doesn’t love a good gift bag? The gift bag contained a $10 Sephora gift card, a travel sized Make Up Forever translucent powder and a double ended Make Up Forever blush brush.

MUFE 158 brush $53 image_5 (3) photo 4 (4)

Overall, it was a fabulous event. Who doesn’t want to get tipsy and save money?

$17.80 saved!

I want to thank my resident lunch buddy Nicole for accompanying me to the event. She was the voice of reason that I don’t have independently. Had I been alone, I would’ve spent more; way more.

Photo booth 

My good girlfriend Esta Fiesta went to the event also. We didn’t get to attend on the same day because the universe hates me. Check out her recap here.

Have you attended any VIB events? Have you attended any other makeup events recently? Comment below and let me know! 

#NoBareLips30 Challenge-Will you join me?

Posted in Beauty, Random, Uncategorized by

photo (4)

Hey Lovers,

As you know I’ve been obsessed with all things beauty lately. The other day my good girlfriend Esta Fiesta over at livingfiesta.com tagged me asking if I would join her on a challenge. I couldn’t see the details immediately but my first thought was “Challenge? Sure, Brooklyn don’t budge.” Then I got the details; sigh. The challenge is a lipstick challenge.  Continue reading →

Haul: The Balm on Haute Look

Posted in Beauty, Random by

Hey Lovers, 

Last month The Balm was on Haute Look. If you’re not familiar with Haute Look, it’s a Nordstrom company that offers flash sales on everything from art, to furniture, to clothing and of course, makeup. The only complaint I have is, shipping takes like 40 days and 40 nights. All the items are discounted which is my favorite part. When The Balm pops up on Haute Look all the items are discounted 50%! To make sure the discount was accurate I visited a luxury Duane Reade to check (crazy I know). Check out the products I picked up. 

image_1

 

The Nude’tude eyeshadow palette (some say it rivals the Naked) Haute Look price $18.

image_2

 

Iris Night Face Cream $22.50.

image_3

 

Cabana Boy Blush $10.50. Instain Blush $11

image_5

 

Women’s empowderment brush $12

image_6

 

Balms Away eye makeup remover $10

image_7

 

Put a lid on it, eye primer, $9. No Money No Honey over shadow $7.50. 

image_8

 

Time Balm concealer in “After Dark” $9

What are your favorite products from The Balm? What are your favorite sample sale sites? Comment below and let me know! 

UPDATE

I forgot to add my favorite product originally!

image_4

Betty Lou Manizer $12 

Clarisonic Aria, love it or leave it?

Posted in Beauty by

Josie Maran LE

Hey Lovers,
I had been eyeing a Clarisonic since my sister bought the Clarisonic Plus a couple years ago. I decided I’d get a Clarisonic in 2014 so those dollars would be put towards being a VIB Rouge in 2015. I have a problem, I’m aware.
For some background, my battle with acne began when I was about 11 years old and my dark spots are war wounds. Thankfully as an adult, acne has ceased being the severe problem it once was. I can’t say the same about my dark spots; they don’t quit. What I’ve learned is that I need to avoid break outs at all costs since my dark spots seem to be committed once they appear. As a result of my perpetual dark spots and hyper pigmentation I wear makeup; daily. As you can imagine full time makeup wear isn’t always great for your skin.  Continue reading →

Birthday Beauty Haul

Posted in Beauty, Random, Uncategorized by

20140331-214358.jpg

Hello Lovers,

My birthday was earlier this month. I knew I wanted to get everything I had been eyeing from Sephora. In an attempt to behave like an adult I decided to refrain from all unnecessary makeup purchases until my birthday. Above is a picture of me rocking The Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid. Below is a video of all the things I got.

Have you picked up any new products lately? Comment below and let me know!

Crazed for Cragels

Posted in Food, Random by
The Bagel Store Williamsburg

The Bagel Store Williamsburg

Hey Lovers,

I hope 2014 is treating you well. I just wanted to take a minute to tell you about my new favorite thing. . .cragels. The cragel is the newest addition to the hybrid food craze. It’s part bagel, part croissant and all delicious. Cragels are the brainchild of self-proclaimed “bagel artist” Scott Rossillo of the Bagel Store. I still have not been able to get my hands on one of Dominique Ansel’s cronuts. I’m all about a hybrid food item but what I will not do is wait in line for 3 hours. I learned of the cragel through NY1’s Zagat report.  When I realized The Bagel Store has one location in Williamsburg and another location in Bushwick, I knew I could not rest until I got a cragel.

I visited the Williamsburg location at 349 Bedford Ave. There was no line and they still had cragels at approximately 8:15AM. It is not hyperbole when I say the cragel is the best I’ve ever eaten.

Original Cragel

The cragel does not have the annoying get everywhere flakiness of a typical croissant but has more of the dough that every reasonable person loves. The cragel has such a rich glaze that it doesn’t even require butter or cream cheese (but those things are available at the Bagel Store). For those of you who don’t live in the neighborhood, the Bagel Store does deliver. 

After my first cragel, I was hooked. I had to have more. I couldn’t just eat cragels and jeopardize my Weight Watcher’s progress with impunity. Yesterday I became a woman with a mission. I had to try all the cragels and decide the best flavor.

Part cinna-bun part cragel

Cinnacragel

 The cinnamon cragel is a threesome of cinnamon bun, bagel and croissant. The taste is amazing but the sweetness can be distracting.

Chocolate Cragel

The Chocolate Cragel puts the “a” in aggressive. The mix of chocolate and cragel dough does make for an interesting taste. I am not a chocolate lover so this taste was a bit overwhelming. If you are a lover of all things chocolate this may be for you. For me, I’m satisfied with the memory.  

Vanilla Rainbow Cragel

Vanilla Rainbow Cragel

The Vanilla Rainbow Cragel is a twist on the original cragel. The colors are just for decoration, the flavor is vanilla. This cragel is the closest to original cragel. It breaks apart with the same ease as the original cragel and vanilla flavor gives it an additional sweetness that is more refined than straight sugar.

Chocolate Chip Cragel

Chocolate Chip Cragel

 The Chocolate Chip Cragel is a nice marriage between the original cragel and a hint of chocolate. I’m not into melted chocolate so this cragel doesn’t score well with me but an occasional lover chocolate would enjoy it.

So, what’s my verdict for the best cragel? 

The Original Cragel. The Vanilla Rainbow Cragel is a close runner up.  

Have you tried cragels? Have you tried cronuts? Have you tried any other hybrid food item? What are your favorite hybrid foods? 

Comment below and let me know! 

Sephora Haul

Posted in Beauty, Random by

Kat Von D Book of Shadows

For those of you who may not know over the last couple years I’ve become a makeup stan. Check the video for a haul of goodies I got from my last few visits to Sephora. Below are a few pictures of the packaging I didn’t have in the video.

Cherry in the Air

Cherry in the Air

On sale for $3!

On sale for $3!

Tweezerman

Too Faced

Too Faced Beauty Editor Faves

Concealors

Concealors

One Night Stand

One Night Stand

Sephora Lash Stash

Sephora Lash Stash

Sephora Lash Stash

What are your most favorite recent beauty finds? Comment below and let me know!   

Sweet Yeezus

Posted in Culture, Music, Random by

If you haven’t heard by now, Monday, Kanye West visited The Breakfast Club on New York’s Power 105.1. If you haven’t heard it, check it  out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1W_QWDWHiI.

Let me begin by saying I loved this interview! He gave us the Kanye Crazy we love and a social message that people need to hear. Let us not forget that there is a thin line between genius and insanity (see Howard Hughes). After listening to this interview I think Kanye needs an outliner. He needs someone to organize his thoughts old school style. You know Roman Numeral “I”, sub point “A”, sub-sub point 1. . .

There were some Yes Yeezus moments and and even more WTF moments. Let’s discuss! The following moments had me saying “Yes Yeezus”

  •  Black people don’t have old Jewish money. You already knew that. 
  • He gets sonned by Nike. This made me feel a little sad. If Kanye West gets sonned by Nike what chance is there for the rest of us?
  • There are no Black suit designers. Immediately I thought about Sean John but then again there are exactly zero Wall Street bankers wearing Sean John suits while they close the deals that will probably ruin the economy (again).
  • Obama & no money v. Bush’s oil money. George Bush led us into 2 wars with little opposition. Obama gave everyone healthcare and they shut down the government. 
  • He wanted to learn Jay-Z’s likability. Don’t all of us want to be better?

There were a few moments when I felt like I should’ve been high or Kanye got too high before the interview. 

    • God told him to wear a kilt. I didn’t know the Lord influenced fashion choices. 
    • Tupac of Product. I’ve listened to the interview 3 times and I still don’t know what that means or what it’s supposed to mean. If you know please let me know. 
    • World War Z. If this is WWZ how did I miss wars A through Y? 
    • Eve, Adam, illegal nudity. I’m with Charlamagne in my confusion. Someone who wants to sell clothing shouldn’t be upset that being naked is illegal. 
    • Hunger Games. File this in the same drawer as the “Tupac of Product.”

If I were directing the Yeezy’s movie I’d insert the intro “Money, Power, Respect ” where Lil Kim says “First you get the money, then you get the power. After you get the power ***** gonna respect you.” It is easy to call Kanye crazy. However, if you take out the parts about Kim being Marilyn Monroe and the desire for a White trash video and think about his point about the billionaires he’s actually on to something. Lucky for you, I did the research so you don’t have to. I checked Forbes. Kanye is right about there being 7 Black billionaires. They are:

  • Oprah $2.8B
  • Aliko Dangote, Nigeria, Sugar/Flour & Cement $16.1B
  • Mohammed Al-Amoudi, Saudi Arabia, Oil $13.5B
  • Mike Adenuga, Nigeria, Oil $4.7B
  • Patrice Motsepe, South Africa, Mines $2.9B
  • Isabel Dos Santos, Angola, Investments $2B
  • Mo Ibrahim, Sudan/Britain, Investments $1.1B  

Now that we know the only 7 Black billionaires names according to Forbes, let’s think. 4 of the top 10 richest people in the world are Waltons, of  Walmart fame. Each of them are worth about $32 billion. In other White people stay winning news, let us not forget that if King, I mean, Mayor Bloomberg lost $28 billion he would still have Oprah’s money. This made me remember Chris Rock’s “I’m not talking about rich. I’m talking about wealth skit.” If you’re unfamiliar with it check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kglXIoiXDFM. 

Finally, I really need to understand why Kanye kept cheer-leading for Drake. He said it’s Drake season multiple times. To that I say “since when?” Do you feel like it’s Canadian, biracial, Jewish, actor, rapper/singer season? Let’s file that under the visionary stream of consciousness. After this interview I wish MTV still did “Diary.” I’d love a few days worth of Kanye Crazy. I’m not a God but I am a little crazy which is why I’m into Kanye-type rants. Thanksgiving is upon us. We should be thankful that Kanye feels marginalized enough to give us Olympic level crazy.   

What are your thoughts on the interview? Loved it? Hated it? Comment below and let me know!