Fireworks...

These are photos from the fireworks we let off in the street last night. I love the many textures and colors in them. Some are beautifully colored, some are electric looking, some look violent and some even look hairy. Enjoy the show!

Aromaleigh's newest limited edition collection "Hot in the City"...

Miss K is preparing the collection for sale and she'll let us know via her various social networks (facebook, twitter, blog, forum) when it's ready. But here is a sneak peek at the swatches and names. READ MORE...

Mascara review...

In my never ending quest for a mascara that lengthens, adds volume and doesn't wear off under my eyes by the end of the day (I have huge issues with this), I purchased several mascaras from ULTA last week. I tried each of them out and here is my review...

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Waterproof ($5.49)

This is what I currently use (just finished my first tube). I bought a new one just in case I didn't like any of the others I purchased. The brush head is a little larger than I like but it's not as big as some I've seen/tried. It provides decent length and volume but can be a bit clumpy (I think it's because of the brush). It also dries out and gets thicker faster than other mascaras I've used in the past so I have to replace it more frequently. But it does last all day with no wear-off under my eyes. So far, this is the best mascara I have found that suits all my criteria.

Covergirl Lash Blast Waterproof Volume Mascara ($7.99)

I never got around to reviewing whether or not it lengthened or added volume because the brush was so huge it was very difficult to maneuver around the inner corners. It also deposited way too much product on the brush. Bleck! I removed this immediately This mascara is not for me.

Max Factor Lash Perfection Volume Couture Waterproof ($7.99)

I wasn't sure if I was going to like the iFX brush (I'm used to the old school type of brush) but it held just the right amount of mascara and it kept my lashes clump free. It provided nice length and volume, and did not wear off under my eyes after a full day. Yay!

Max Factor Lash Perfection Stretch & Separate Waterproof ($6.99)

To my eyes, the brush is identical to the Volume Couture one (see comparison photos below). It also provided the same amount of length and volume as the Volume Couture and did not wear off under my eyes after a full day. I checked the ingredients list and they are identical as well. Hmm...

vc brush on the left -- s & s brush on the right

Two days in a row I wore each of these mascaras (one on each eye and I alternated which eye I wore it on the following day) and they both performed beautifully. So I'm wondering, why would I spend more for what amounts to the same mascara? Upon further investigation, the difference became clear...the Volume Couture contains .24 fluid ounces of mascara and the Stretch & Separate contains .13 fluid ounces. So the Volume Couture contains nearly 2x the mascara for only $.80 more. I found my winner - Max Factor Lash Perfection Volume Couture Waterproof!

I hope you found this review to be helpful in your quest for the perfect mascara. Have a safe and fun 4th of July!

Great makeup sales going on!

Cherry Culture: 20% off all orders over $50. Offer good July 3 through 7. Use code GR4S.

Nonpareil Boutique: 20% off site wide. Offer good through July 7. Use code ID20. I love this site. Their everyday prices are already ridiculously low (NYX round lipsticks $1.90, Mega shine gloss $3.98), and that's before the 20% discount!

And although Ms. CuppyCakes doesn't have a sale advertised on their site, their NYX round lipsticks are everyday priced at just $1.25. Their other NYX products are offered at great prices as well. P.S. If you're not familiar with Ms. CuppyCakes, they exclusively offer NYX cosmetics, Red Cherry Lashes and also have an extensive selection of natural hair brushes on their site.

Aromaleigh Mineral Cosmetics has many items offered at 25% their regular price every week. They also have over 100 retired Limited Edition eyeshadows up for auction on eBay right now, including entire sample sets. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Click here to check out Aromaleigh's weekly sale and click here to check out the auctions. Did I mention that Miss K is also having a contest related to the auction? Click here to check that out as well.

So go grab yourself a bargain girls!

Robyn's Nest July Contest!

See the complete contest rules to the right in my sidebar. Here is the prize...

• 1 full size ULTA salon formula nail lacquer in Antique Rose (perfect for pale pink summer toes)
• 1 full size ULTA salon formula nail lacquer in Runway (perfect for pale peach summer toes)
• 1 Aromaleigh eye lustre eyeshadow sample in Diamanda
• 1 Aromaleigh carolina summer matte eyeshadow sample in Starfish
• 1 Aromaleigh opulent lustre eyeshadow sample in Tamarind
• 1 Aromaleigh perle powder multi-purpose powder sample in Solace
• 1 Aromaleigh color infusion lipstick sample in Pout
• 1 Aromaleigh aromatherapy lipbalm sample in Pink Grapefruit
• 1 ULTA super shiny lipgloss in Honey
• 1 double-side salon style nail file
• 1 90-page Indulge strawberry memo pad (just stripes on the inside)

Color Descriptions (where available):

• Diamanda -Luxe orchid shade, purplish pink pearlescent sheen
• Starfish - A muted warm clay shade
• Tamarind - Warm purple-mauve with the Opulent's liquid metal effect
• Solace - A clear peach shade with a golden highlight
• Pout - A romantic subtly shimmering shade with pink/copper/golden/russet tones

Good luck!

Second Time Around Tuesday...

Welcome to 2nd Time Around Tuesday. Our host Diane at A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words says, "You can join in by creating a post of something that is ‘new’ to you but not new-examples are something inherited, from an estate sale, garage sale, thrift store, etc."

I just came across Diane's blog this evening and realized that I just acquired something that fits the bill for participation. This past weekend, we took the kids to our cabin at Sunset Beach. Right before we packed up to leave, I put away the freshly washed dishes. Something told me to stand up on the kitchen counter and check the upper most cabinet. I did, and this is what I found. My grandma's Homer Laughlin Georgian eggshell soup tureen and a Knowles serving tray. Yay! I snapped them up and brought them home before they got misplaced or accidentally destroyed. They must have been up there for years. These pieces are in mint condition and are a welcome addition to my vintage dish collection (and I'm going to actually use them).

Yummy Chicken Salad Recipe...

This is the best chicken salad ever! It's the grapes that make it special. Everyone who has ever tried it loves it, including my kids. Feel free to alter it to your liking. I've listed some options below the recipe.

Chicken and Grapes Salad

• Two 10 ounce cans chunk chicken breast in water drained


• 1/2 cup Best Foods low fat mayo


• 2 scallions (aka green onions) finally sliced


• 2 small/medium (or 1 large) stalks celery finally diced


• 1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes (cut each grape in half or in quarters if really big)

Mix everything together. Add fresh ground pepper and salt to taste. Voila! Makes 5 sandwiches.

Options:

• use more or less celery, scallions and grapes to suit your taste


• add chopped pecans or walnuts


• full fat mayo, of course, can be substituted


• I use Oroweat Double Fiber bread (4 grams of fiber in each slice), but it's really good on a croissant too.
  
• Potluck idea: I buy a large plastic box of mini-sized croissants from my grocery store bakery section and take this to potlucks for a do-it-yourself sandwich bar. I pre-slice the croissants to make the sandwiches easier to prepare.