Meow.....

How excited are we for this?????????????????

Hello Kitty meets Mac--Available on maccosmetics.com Feb. 10, and in stores Feb. 12.

I guess I should start saving now, or should I put Macy's gift cards on my X-mas list!?!

120-Palette from Beauties-Factory

Hey Ladies....Okay I need some advice...I have been contemplating purchasing this palette for about two weeks, but I am STILL unsure....Here's a quick swatch video from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA-l1GfYJxs

There are some really great colors and it's $30.99 w/ Free Shipping over at Beauties-Factory. I think it may be similar to the Coastal Scents palette...

What do you all think??? Worth $31 or no...Check the video and tell me what u think!

My Dream. Our Dream. His Dream. Her Dream...

Has become reality........

The day after, and I am still in shock. Yes We DID!!!

Pic Courtesy of: YBF

You Still Have Time!!! Let's Make History!!! 11.4.08

It just LOOKS right. I got this in an email this morning...the day isn't over...make this a REALITY. VOTE for the CHANGE we NEED!!!!!!! OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes.We.Can!!!!!!!

I'm Back

Okay...SO! My life is finally SOMEWHAT back to normal.... And I have a couple of pics to share with my lovely ladies! I recently did makeup for my besties little sister and her cousin for their Homecoming...

Both girls wanted something really simple for Homecoming...they decided they'd go all out for prom. I did brows for both girls and used to same eye shadows for both girls(excluding the brow highlight) Off the top of my head I *think* I used Mac espresso in the crease, NYX Golden (which is really more of a bronzey color, and NYX Highlight which is a beige highlight color..hence the name ((duh)) lol; I also used a color similar to Mac's Satin Taupe but I am not sure of the brand or the exact name! I know, I know... I should have written all of this down or took a pic...I'm slackin!

Excuse her kool-aid grin...I couldn't get her to "smile with her eyes" for the life of me. At least I know she was happy with her makeup Lol....She had Mac Star Nova Lustreglass on her lips.

I was really happy with this look...I used the same shadows, but she didn't want any liner on the top. So I used a ton of mascara and lined her lower lashline with the royal blue shadow from the Covergirl Tropical Fusion Quad. She LOVED her makeup and wore Mac Nymphette Lipglass.

And just CUZ here's a recent EOTD I wore....Dunno why I didn't take any full face shots!

I'm so happy to be back and blogging, and hopefully before Christmas I'll make some changes around here!!!!!

I'll Be Back!

Hey Ladies,

I have plenty to post, but life has been...crazy to say the least! I am in the process of moving into a new place so I've been really busy and have had limited access to the internet. I'll be back to posting on the regular in about a week or so! I'll still be commenting on your blogs! Wait for me!!!!!!!!!! lol

QUICK FOTD

Hey Ladies,

Just wanted to share a quick FOTD with ya'll! I loved it mostly because my polish seemed to be a perfect match! Have a wonderful weekend, and don't go broke paying for gas due to Hurricane Ike!!!

UPCOMING POSTS: More m/u practice and my recent hauls!

Practice Makes Perfect....

Happy Friday ladies!

I recently took a short vacay and was able to visit some of my family. Perfect opportunity to practice my makeup skills, right?!

Here at home, I am not able to practice as often as I would like...I can do my makeup whenever I feel like it...but the real test is being able to work with different skin tones, skin textures, brows, etc. So I applied m/u to my older cousin, and my younger cousin. Keep in mind, that I am not saying that I did the best job.....this was just for practice. For one! I haven't worked with darker skin before..everyone I've worked with always seems to be my complexion..Yeah I know, sad but TRUE! So here we go......I'll start with the worst first (lol) CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM WELCOME

This is my older cousin, Val. All I really did with her was her brows, shadow, and lips. She had her own foundation and concealer. After seeing the pics, I see areas that could have been blended a little better...Also, I think that her brow highlight is a little too light for her skin tone. I am using my own PERSONAL collection, so many of the shadows fit my complexion. I don't think that it's a horrible job, but it could have been better!

Next up is my lil' cuzzo Bri :)

I thought her makeup came out pretty good. She didn't need any foundation OR concealer so all I used was a little pressed powder to even her out. She didn't want anything dramatic, just something natural with a bit of a "kick". And YES those are her lashes...lol :::jealous!:::: I didn't even have to curl them!

As I said, I'd love for my fellow beauty bloggers to give me some tips and tricks! I have a friend that is an up and coming fashion designer, and was asked to do makeup for her show...so I'm trying to get my stuff together in the next couple of months!

I'll be asking for product reccomendations among a million other things, so be prepared ladies! Also, I'm trying to keep up with my post and soon I'll have everything on a fixed schedule. I know its so much easier to keep up when you know when to expect a new post. Between classes, work, and my boyfriend...I'm pulling my hair out!

But hey....Life is good right now. I finally feel everything is falling into place!

Have a fabulous weekend!!!!!!

Fashion Week Comes to Detroit

Laaaddiieess! I have big news :) (big to me). I have been chosen as the Volunteer Coordinator for Detroit Fashion Week.



I was able to land the position by emailing the leading staff of the production and luckily, this job became available! Initially, I was only interested in being a volunteer....I wanted a piece of the action, and I wanted to share my experience with you all!! I can't express how ecstatic I am! This is a great way to get my foot in the door! I'll be able to mix and mingle with local designers from Detroit, some from Chicago, and a couple from NYC. >>>LUCKY<<<>

I realize that Detroit never crosses your mind when you think 'Fashion'. In fact, most think that they will be a.) shot dead upon crossing city limits, b.) robbed upon crossing city limits, or c.) BOTH (none of which is true). BUT one thing I can say is that my people are most definitely fashionable....swaggerific to say the least. lol. You've probably heard of the city referred to as the Gator Capital, but we have so much more to offer....we have some great shopping districts, malls, and boutiques. People sleep on 'The D', but all we can do is show...talk is cheap!!!!


_duece, deuce ladies!!!!

NOTD

Here is my current NOTD, Orly Charged Up

Excuse my *shorter than normal* nubs...I broke about 3 nails, so I had to cut them all! =( I don't like long nails, but these are a lil too short for my liking. But HEY...they will grow back!

And here's my new phone.....the Samsung Instinct from Sprint....comparable to the i-phone. My boyfriend has the i-phone and I actually like my phone a little better, but this may be because he has the first model, and not the newer one. They have a lot of the same features and applications. I was quite happy when Sprint introduced a touch screen phone...that way I didn't have to end my contract 1 1/2 year early! hehe.......

Okay I am *officially* done posting for today! Lol. *dueces*

*Haul*

Hey Ladies,

I know I'm a little late on this post, but between my Cedar Point (amusement park) trip and dealing with the Financial Aid office for school I have been so out of it. But I have plenty of pics from my latest hauls to share with you lovely ladies =) It's not much but I scored some pretty great stuff....for little to nothing. Let's take a closer look!

I absolutely love the dress! I got it at H&M...surprisingly I wasn't sold just looking at it on the hanger, but when I tried it on I had to have it! H&M's clothing fits me really well...in their store I'm a PERFECT size 6. I am one that embraces my curves and believe me, this dress hugs every curve... yet still classy and elegant. It's not *super* dressy...I believe it can be dressed up or down. I plan on wearing it to a dinner cruise with my Mom and Dad paired with a black wide belt & black patent peep toe mary janes. I purchased the jeans from 4ever 21 and they also fit really well. I needed a new pair of dark denim jeans to wear with pumps, and these fit the bill perfectly. Who can't be happy about spending less than $50 on a quality dress and a nice pair of jeans??

This lil' kit is so convinient! I'm constantly breaking, chipping, or slamming a nail in a file drawer at work so sometimes, I need a quick fix. It was only $1 at Meijer...can't beat it! (I had to add my own crystal nail file to the kit)

I really do not remember the name of this Revlon blush, and since I'm blogging from work I can't grab it (I'll edit later) But I DO know that it was only $2.25 on clearance and was orginally $10+. Can we say STEAL?!

I was also able to get this NYX trio on sale (50% off) at my local Rite Aid...In the end I think I only paid about $3 for it...give a few cents.

I also picked up Orly Charged Up...I think its a great transitional purple from Summer to Fall...I was surprised to see that it was released with a few of their neons because well.....It's not really a neon :-/ But still beautiful

And look at this beauty! OMG...look at the holographic glitter......I was speechless when I found this...I saw sooo many ladies rocking it over at the Nail Board on Makeup Alley and loved it...so imagine my delight when I found this at my local Ulta.

Look at that! Just gorgeous! This is definitely not your average black polish. You can achieve bottle color with two coats, but I'm a three coater myself!

That's about all I've purchased lately...I'm on a huge low buy after purchasing a new phone PLUS I have to buy books for the upcoming semester! OH! And I know I still haven't posted my minimal makeup look, but believe it or not I am JUST now getting that breakout I mentioned under control. I haven't been wearing anything but mascara and carmex, but now that it's nearly clear...I'll work on that post! Have a great day ladies!!!!

QUICK NOTD

Hey Ladies,

One more post for the day....Here's a quick NOTD. It's Covergirl Boundless Color in Candy Corn. It's a really pretty summer color...wish I would have taken more pics!

We Got to Do Better!

I told yall that my posts would be all over the place...I just have so many things on my mind and I can't help but to share!

But onto the hot mess that is Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.....if you're one that keeps up with current events and news I'm sure that you've heard of the infamous "Sex & Text Scandal" surrounding Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick.

As a resident of the Metro Detroit area, you can not turn on the television without being bombarded by the latest, breaking news in the Kilpatrick trial. Frankly, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired of hearing about him. He either needs to a.) be put out of office or b.) be a man and step down. While he has brought many jobs, businesses, and major events to the city...he must realize that (allegedly) inviting strippers to the Mayor's mansion and lying under oath will overshadow anything positive that he has done for the city of Detroit. Let's not be naive and pretend that he hasn't been under the microscope since he was elected years ago. He wasn't "supposed" to get that position in the first place. We got to do better!

If you are unfamiliar with the case/scandal Click here for a timeline leading up to the trial against the Mayor.

pics courtesy of CNN and ScurvOriginalz

Oh Em Gee (lol)

Just a really quick post.....I just had to share.....how fly are these shoes!?!???!!!!! must.put.away.credit.card! lol. They would be a great transition from summer to fall....the color is just ..... too fab. Can't wait for fall!

Eff that....I'm gettin em! Pics soon! lol

And my minimal makeup post is coming...I just got hit with a CRAZY breakout.....damned PMS! Ugh...................

It's Official.....

I'm back and I have missed blogging so much. Its so nice to have people who understand my obsession with all things beauty and fashion! I'm tired of getting the side eye everytime someone asks exactly how many times I polish my nails within a week...I mean so what! I get bored easily and with 100+ bottles of polish who has time to keep one color on for an entire week......yeah not so much! That's like....an eternity! Look at the nail polish over flow.......I need another storage method cuz this right here.....aint gettin it!

To mark this historic day (((because you should mark it on your calendar: Alyssia is BACK!))) I bought my very first Essie nail polish thanks to my girl Brit over at Clumps of Mascara. She's such a frickin enabler! Lol, i kid! But anyways i purchased Body Language which is a muted gray creme...hard to describe...almost reminds me of a mushroom....anyways check the swatch! It's very unique! Almost fugly...but for some reason I love it! Oh and I most def recommend that you get a few Essie polishes in your collection...they apply like butter!

Ya'll have to excuse me...I know this isn't the greatest post! But I'm gettin back into the swing of things....slowly but surely!!

Upcoming post: Minimal makeup

Guess who's Back!!

I know, I was gone for quite some time but I am most defenitely back. The only difference will be that I will focus on all aspects of things I enjoy....Tracez will now include posts regarding life, beauty, skin care, nail care, hair care, and fashion.

Be on the lookout, cuz I'm back!

emm-eye-ay (still)

Hey Ya'll!

I know, I know still haven't posted in a ridiculously long time. I have so many things to post about, but no internet connection at my apt. yet! BUT new posts are defenitely coming soon...

UPCOMING POSTS:
*beauty tips [can you believe it?!]
*my updated skin care regiman
*hauls
*more on spring trends [beauty and fashion]
*rants

There has been so much going on in my life [lol] expect my next post to be a very long one!