Picasso had his blue period, I am clearly in an orange…

Date: June 16.2013
Polish: ORLY Mayhem Mentality, an outrageously neon coral-leaning orange cream. We’re talking practically glowing neon.

Mayhem Mentality is part of the new Mash Up collection for summer 2013. I’ll be bringing you all the shades over the next few weeks, because I’m downright obsessed with every one of them. The collection is just so colorful and summery, the bottles alone make me happy!

shiny happy polish

Photos don’t do Mayhem Mentality justice. It’s seriously neon. So neon that it’s hard to capture the intensity of it. And rather than just a straight forward orange, it has a bit of coral to it that makes it really creamy looking. The formula is a dream too, especially for a neon; 2 coats, no streaks.

I love the ORLY design all around; a rubber gripped handle, an old school round brush and a big ol’ bottle. These very well may be my favorite polish packaging design (big praise coming from a packaging snob like myself.)

Check out the footage of the ORLY team participating in the Color Run. How fun does that look?

we heartsters, are you a neon fan? I highly suggest you give this a glow, er…go!

Stef is many things. Amongst them: co-editor of we heart this, graphic designer, Philly girl in the California desert, borderline hoarder and a hardcore beauty junkie.

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Big weekend for me! It’s the Kiehl’s Freinds and Family event so I get to stock up on one of my top two holy grail skincare products – Calendula Toner. If you have oily or sensitive skin, this stuff is a must-have. Those marigold petals soothe like nothing else. I praise it to anyone who asks, and even to those who don’t. I buy the $62 bottle without hesitation, but love when I can get it at a discount! Use the code FAMILY and take 20% off now through June 17.

On to the League…

Question of the Week: What’s the most regrettable hairstyle you’ve ever had? (Details, please!)

Answer: My most regrettable hairstyle was Tyna’s 10th grade perm. Just kidding! You know what, I really don’t regret any of my hairstyles. I’ve had some doozies, but at the time I loved them all.

Phyrra – Want a camera bag without sacrificing style? You need the Epiphanie Lola, the best bag for beauty and fashion bloggers!

Vampy Varnish – Now you don’t need $250,000 to buy Azature Black Diamond Nail Lacquer Trust me, it’s fabulous stuff!

we heart this – tests Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil and asks the question “do you really need a $42 lip product?” Sorry wallets everywhere, you really do.

Beauty Junkies Unite – I just put COVERGIRL’s new Flamed Out Mascara to the test—check out the review with before and after photos!

Clumps of Mascara – is beyond obsessed with coconuts. So much so that she has been using these Pacificia Coconut Face Wipes daily!

EauMG – rounds up her most worn perfumes of spring 2013.

Gouldylox Reviews – Can a razor change your life? Pin it to win it and find out!

Lipglossiping – gets bedazzled by beauty after swatching the new Leighton Denny Holographic Collection. A matte holo? Whoulda thunk it?!

My Beauty Bunny – Want vibrant, sugar-coated candy nails for summer? Of course you do! We’ve got a look at the new Milani Texture Nail Lacquers that will add a sweet pop of texture to your summer mani.

Nouveau Cheap – If you’re a bright, bold matte eyeshadow lover who is also on a budget, you just might want to click right here.

Prime Beauty – is crushing on the new Lancôme Gloss In Love collection. Sparkle, shine and innovative packaging, oh my!

Guest Post of the Week, as chosen by Phyrra – Izzy from Musings of a Muse has been my guide for finding beauty most unusual, as well as the best in BB and CC creams. LOVE her blog!

What about you we heartsters, what’s the most regrettable hairstyle you’ve ever had?

We made it to another weekend readers! This week at wht we dove into Aqualillies, tarte’s colorful and waterproof collection for summer, discovered the new must-have for lip balm addicts; Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil and felt the heat with MAC’s Temperature Rising line of bronzers and body oils. But life is about more than beauty products, here are a few links that made us happy this week:

• Have a picnic or party coming up and need a crowd-pleasing desert? Our image today comes from Christina of epicuricloud who has discovered the secret to whipping up a party sized batch of Nestle Toll House Recipe Bars (and couldn’t you eat one – or ten – of them right now?) – Bar Cookies for a Crowd – Recipe Tip

• Still reeling from last Sunday’s Mad Men episode? Just imagine what Sally must be feeling! (You can read our recap of ‘Favors’ here.) The folks at Vulture were worrying over Sally’s psyche as well and talked to professional to put it all in prospective. – A Psychiatrist Analyzes Mad Men’s Traumatized Sally Draper

• Speaking of Mad Men, if you love images from the 1950′s, have I got a site for you! Check out the work of Vivian Maier, a reserved nanny in 50′s NYC that had a love for photography but never shared a single image of her work. Decades later, after her incredible photographs were discovered when John Maloof purchased a box of never-developed film negatives from his local auction house, Vivian is being hailed as “possibly the most important street photographer of the 20th century.” Spend some time ogling her work starting with this collection – New York portfolio

• Finally, my biggest squee of the week came when I heard one of my most beloved bands of all time the Replacements, will be reuniting for a few shows this summer! If you are lucky enough to be in Toronto, Chicago or Denver, I highly suggest you take the chance to see this legendary band! – Replacements reunion at Riot Fest

Readers – what had you squeeing in excitement this week?

Tyna, co-founder and co-editor of wht, worries about becoming a crazy cat lady, reads at least a book a week, checks in at a Flyers fan forum every morning and is forever (some say obsessively) organizing her closets and drawers.

Face and body bronzers to help your summer sizzle

As if the eye and lip selections from Temperature Rising weren’t enough to stoke our feverish desires, MAC has also brought us a swoon-inducing array of bronzers to add shimmer and glow to our summer.

How many bronzers do your cheeks and body need? MAC Temperature Rising has covered any possibility with this release, and we tested every option:

The packaging for this collection is standard MAC with a few twists. All of the MAC Temperature Rising compacts have the limited-edition glowing bronze finish that screams hot summer nights to me. While the liquids come in MAC’s standard pump bottles with a locking feature that’s great for preventing leaks. Packaging aside, let’s talk about the colors!

Ripe for Love

Ripe For Love Powder Blush ($23) – a mid-tone apricot/peach that blends into a satin dark coral on the skin. This truly “ripe” color is the kind of glowing neutral that will work on practically any skintone. The creamy powder formula has only a hint of shimmer, which adds a subtle gleam. Talk about summer lovin’… if you’re a blush addict, track this color down!

Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden ($25)
Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder in Sun Dipped ($30)

Refined Golden Bronzing Powder

Refined Golden – finely spun bronze gold with soft pearl finish, with all the features I want in a bronzing powder: not too shimmery, easily buildable, believable. The color is on the darker side, but on my NC25 skin, just a light dusting gives me a natural-looking color (too much, and honestly, I’m a little dirty looking). The shimmer is almost invisible, but if I look closely, it’s there, adding a touch of magic to my “tan.”

Sun Dipped Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder

Sun Dipped – this light “dirty red toned” bronzer is packaged in a limited-edition soft touch bronze compact and offers a sheer touch of sun that wears for hours. Check the comments to see what our tester thought of this limited edition must-have for the summer. Our swatcher Stef said it was noticeably silkier than the regular bronzing powder.

Refined Golden, Sundipped, Ripe for Love

Bronzing Oil in Man Rays ($22.50)
Strobe Liquid in Golden Elixir ($31)

Bronzing Oil in Man Ray and Strobe Liquid in Golden Elixr

Golden Elixir – a lighter-weight version of MAC’s popular Strobe Cream, this light bronze liquid highlighter adds warm-toned shimmer and sparkle to the skin. The ultra-fluid formula is thin and absorbs quickly, leaving a wash of shimmering shine. Just a tiny bit mixed with moisturizer or foundation gave my skin a dewy, golden glow.

Bronzing Oil in Man Ray and Strobe Liquid in Golden Elixr

Man Rays – glowing tan with multidimensional golden shimmer. This liquid bronzer packs a lot of glitter in its finish, and it’s an oil, so beware of staining. That said, it will look amazing as a sparkling tan enhancer. I’m picturing just a touch of it to add a gorgeous finish to bare shoulders or legs. We can look as if we just stepped off the beach even if we’ve been landlocked all week.

With Temperature Rising’s hot bronze packaging and even hotter colors, MAC is sending me into a sultry swoon. I can’t wait to add a little glow to my hot summer nights.

Readers – Do you use bronzers to fake or amplify your summer tan?

photos: we heart this, swatches shown on NC 25/30 skintone

Melissa loves road trips, bargain shopping, drive-in movies, lip gloss and rock ‘n’ roll. She lives in Baltimore with her precious pup Zeus.

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Premium Fuel for a Lip Balm Addiction

I’ve seen many people outing themselves as lip balm addicts here on we heart this. There is no shame in it. Truth is, lip moisturizing is big business with Americans spending two hundred million bucks a year on balm products alone. Addicts apply and re-apply obsessively – compulsively – seeking to retain that first swipe of suppleness.

Truth is, most lip balms and moisturizers contain petroleum which actually does nothing to retain moisture or nourish lips. So, we apply the product over and over, constantly seeking the softness we always seem to lack, spending more and more money along the way. Immediate gratification, lackluster results. Well, move over petroleum, Hourglass has got your number and it’s 28 – No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil, that is.

As many already know, Hourglass is a luxury line and it’s no surprise that their No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($42) is a luxury product. This lip treatment is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes and petroleum derivatives and like all Hourglass products it’s cruelty free.

Instead of petroleum, this anti-aging lip oil contains 14 essential oils (like lemon and orange seed oil and clove and sweet almond oil to name a few) along with Salipornine 8, a succulent derivative that studies have shown to increase moisture in the skin 6000 percent if used consecutively for 28 days. There are other fancy-schmancy proven wrinkle reducers and skin volumizers as well.

The performance of Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil is outstanding. The oil dispenses in a gel-like consistency and a little goes a long way. Lips look as though coated in a thick gloss but the oil is soaked up throughout the day.

A few hours after application the thick glossiness is gone but lips are left to feel soft and smooth. I did want to reapply the oil, but only because the scent is so deliciously soothing. The scent lingers only until the oil is absorbed, even if you lick your lips.

And, just so you won’t confuse the No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil with the other sticks and balms in your bag, Hourglass has devoted itself to its usual superstar packaging, a sturdy pump dispenser with a 24-carat gold antibacterial applicator that soothes lips as it looks regal. Gimmicky? Maybe, but gold really does have antibacterial qualities and that smooth, cool tip is quite soothing. This is a gimmick I can fall for.

The only con? Though this is totally worth the $42 price tag in my book, it’s still FORTY-TWO BUCKS! However, I would happily shell out for it. I loved all the natural essential oils and scientifically proven skin smoothers that look and feel great from the first application, yet continue to work to improve skin from the inside out. Also, that antibacterial gold tip is a showstopper that both germophobes and lovers of pretty, shiny things will adore.

My question for you all is, would an addict pay big bucks for a superior quality product like Hourglass? Or do you go for the cheap, quick fix? Social balmers, how ‘bout you?

photos: we heart this

Sherri is co-author of What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design, and of course, a wht writer!

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Dive in to tarte’s most gorgeous palette to date!

“Who and what are Aqualillies?” is what I asked myself when I first found out about the new tarte Cosmetics’ summer collection. I must be hiding under a rock because I soon found out that they are America’s most glamorous synchronized swimming group. No, really. They are incredibly gorgeous and so unbelievably talented it’s kind of insane.

Inspired by these retro-glam water ballerinas, this summer collection is all about looking and staying gorgeous. The Aqualillies for tarte line features products bursting with sun-kissed colors all in waterproof formulas.

To introduce the collection, tarte treated Los Angeles area beauty bloggers and the media to the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica to witness a performance by the inspiring group. And as you can see, they looked amazing before, during and after the show – and their makeup was still flawless after a dip in the pool.

To get a taste of this talented, eclectic group, check out the Aqualillies site and watch their lively video. You’ll soon be inspired to dive in a pool and start dancing!

Who can blame tarte for creating a makeup collection with the Aqualillies as their muses? Talk about a cool concept! Today, we’re looking at the star of the line and between the inspiration to the final execution, the Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye and Cheek Palette ($38) seriously does not disappoint.

Tarte really did make a splash (pun absolutely intended) with this gorgeous, limited edition palette. Our favorite eco-friendly and cruelty-free makeup company just gets better and better. I can just cry tears of joy that this palette includes only eyeshadows and blushes. The fact that it’s waterproof is an awesome idea (more on that in a bit) and you get a full range of products to produce an entire look.

Like all tarte collections, Aqualillies features some exquisite packaging. It’s a bit different from what I’ve seen from tarte in the past and it’s a nice change indeed. It’s luxurious, with the aqua/coral/gold combo and beautiful pattern. When I hold it in my hands, I feel like I’m holding a way more expensive product. The palette includes a large mirror under the lid, making it all you need for travel purposes too. My only gripe is that the lid is a bit heavy and can close the compact while standing on its own.

Here’s the rundown of what’s inside the Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye and Cheek Palette:

Six new Eyeshadow shades:
Hammock – chocolate brown
Bikini – golden peach
Barefoot -golden nude
Parasol -champagne rose
Sundeck – light brown
Poolside – turquoise

Bronzer:
Park Avenue Princess – matte cocoa brown

Highlighter:
Champagne – shimmery white

Limited Edition Blush:
Captivating – warm peach

Each and every product in this palette is infused with Amazonian clay making it beneficial to all skin types, resulting in a flawless fade-free finish lasting up to 12 hours. The eyeshadow selection is a neutral palette lover’s dream come true – but with a little twist. The edition of Poolside, a pretty shimmery turquoise, makes it so much more fun!

Champagne Highlighter, Park Avenue Princess Bronzer, Captivating Blush

Having four shimmers and two mattes gives a bit of variety too. I know that tarte includes a Park Avenue Princess bronzer a lot in palettes and kits, but you can’t go wrong with it. The highlighter and blush are a dream to use. The blush will go with so many skin tones and if you already love the Amazonian Clay blushes, you will be very pleased with this new peachy shade!

Eyeshadows: Hammock, Bikini, Barefoot, Parasol, Sundeck, Poolside

I can’t fully vouch for the palette being waterproof because it hasn’t been hot enough for pool or beach days for me quite yet. However, I have worn this out in the sun on some warm days and haven’t seen any colors fading or disappearing. I know some are against makeup at the beach or pool, but if you wanted to use ONE makeup product, let this be it!

I have tested this palette with full looks using nothing but these products and I’m totally in love with the colors and longevity.

A closer look at the light shadows

Pros:
• Eco-friendly and cruelty-free!
• Formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic fragrance and gluten.
• This perfect summer palette is a one stop shop for a full face look.
• Can you believe you get all of this for $38? Me neither.

Cons:
• Even with the turquoise eyeshadow, it may be too neutral for some.
• Sadly it’s limited edition.

Readers – Will you be an Aqualilly this summer with this new tarte collection?

photos: we heart this, swatches shown on NC 25/30 skintone

Amanda is a beauty & fashion lover who hopes to own a Shiba Inu one day. She spends most of her time frolicking in NYC, chowing down, perusing blogs and updating her own; mandabear. She’s also getting seriously involved with her iPhone.

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Mad Men is back! If you’re a fan, join us regularly for Mad Men Musings – a space to discuss selected highlights, low points, or just plain water-cooler worthy moments of each episode.

Favors can be such simple things, a quick way to help someone in need. But what happens when a favor tips a set of dominoes into irrevocable motion, the kind that can alter lives? With two episodes of Mad Men left in the season, we’re about to find out. And it’s not going to be pretty, my friends.

Sylvia and Arnold’s son, Mitchell, serves at the catalyst for the main event. The Vietnam War has been an omnipresent dark presence in the background this season, but Mitchell brings it to the foreground. Having sent his military draft card back in protest, he’s now caught between going to war or running away, fugitive style. Of course, Sylvia and Arnold are complete wrecks over this, and Don becomes increasingly desperate to find a solution, a way to help.

There are so many reasons for Don’s motivation here: his deep respect for Arnold, his belief that “war is wrong,” and perhaps most of all, his own tortured memories, the burden of guilt that he drags around with him like a dead body. (We’ll get to Sylvia in a second). Saving Mitchell becomes a redemptive and symbolic gesture, a way for Don to try to balance the scales. (Oh, the irony).

Don is so intent on helping Mitchell that he even attempts to broach the subject at a Chevy business dinner, because GM is a major defense contractor. Super gauche, Don. Ted and Roger deftly steer the conversation away from the danger zone, but Ted is NOT PLEASED. In fact, Ted’s been nursing a Don-grudge all around the office, slamming doors and whining about juice – the dual fruity goodness of Sunkist and Ocean Spray, to be exact. Because the agency is still not properly integrated (people are not getting the memo, quite literally) Ted thinks Don is still trying to make power plays and pull rank via the Sunkist account. In reality, Don could care less about cranberries and oranges – in his head, it’s all Mitchell, all the time, right now.

In a funnily obtuse conversation between Ted and Don, rife with war and gun references, Ted finally sees Don’s desperation and offers a potential way out for Mitchell, in the form of a high-ranking official in the National Guard who is “always looking for good pilots.” Don seems flabbergasted that Ted would help out in this way; in Don’s world, everything usually comes with a price. And sure, Ted wants Don to stop working against him and start working with him, but he’s also just being a good guy, as is his custom.

Don tries to reach Arnold, to give him the potentially good news, but, yeah, Sylvia answers. This was one of three moments this episode where I felt like I was watching a horror movie, saying “No! Don’t go in there! Don’t listen to him, Sylvia!” But, alas, they went there – a grateful, tearful Sylvia is confident that Don fixed things just for her, and the longer their conversation went on, the deeper my heart sank. Here’s the thing (and I’m hoping to see what you guys think): Don was not helping Mitchell because of Sylvia. Maybe he was in a very abstract way, but it seems to me that his fixation was much more about himself, about Dick Whitman, than it ever was about the affair. A grateful, emotionally fragile and ready-to-rekindle-hot-sex Sylvia? That’s just a glorious bonus prize for Don, and he’s not above taking total advantage of it.

In a different way, Mitchell also acts as a catalyst for the second oh-my-gosh-I’m-in-a-horror-movie-moment. This one, of course, centered upon poor Sally. First of all, Sally’s friend seems to be basically starring in the late 60’s version of “Mean Girls” — calling Megan Mrs. Draper to get under her skin, taunting Sally about her lack of romantic experience, and, of course, signing Sally’s name to that mortifying note about Mitchell. Now, Sally knows Don is not getting any father of the year awards anytime soon, and yet she seems to love and respect him. But what she sees – and oh, that bedroom tableaux looked so tawdry, with Don’s un-tucked shirt and Sylvia’s sensible mom under-things – alters their relationship forever.

Let’s not forget that Sally has already seen Roger and Megan’s mom in an, um, compromising position, and now this? Pouring more salt in the wound, Sally has to watch Arnold and Mitchell come in and sincerely thank Don for his help, plus watch Megan gush over what a great guy he is. Later, a blotto Don insults Sally’s intelligence and pours on the weak-sauce, telling Sally that he was just comforting Mrs. Rosen, blah blah blah. A defeated and broken Sally says “ok” but this is not okay, Sally – none of it’s okay.

The question remains, of course: what hath Don wrought? Will Sally choose to lob this particular grenade? Even if she tries to keep Don’s secret, Betty seems to have a sixth sense about these things; I could definitely see her ferreting this intel out of Sally. Frankly, I’m dying to have Megan find out – the stasis of Don being Don needs to change. He’s skated through this far, but destroying the one potentially pure facet of his life, his children, is just too much.

In other news of sexual dysfunction, the nurse, Manolo, that Bob Benson recommended to Pete is working out nicely. A little too nicely, in fact. Peggy has a disjointed conversation with Pete’s mom, in which she confides that Manolo is, um, making her feel things she has never felt before. She also gives Peggy a near-heart attack when she brings up Pete and Peggy’s child, but she’s confused, thinking that Peggy is really Trudy. It’s a tense moment, though: so much has happened that sometimes I forget about Peggy’s baby. From the look on Peggy’s face, though, her child is always with her – heartbreaking.

In happier news, there was brief hope that Stan would provide rat-killing services (and additional friends with benefits services) but that hope was dashed, alas. Stan used his “sexy voice” and everything, but it wasn’t to be. Also, judging by the size of the rats in her apartment, I kind of think Peggy needs to upsize her house cat to like, puma size.

And we’ve saved horror movie moment number three for last – when Bob Benson professed his undying love for Pete. The second Bob sat down, his eyes all big and shiny, my stomach lurched. This is Pete, people, the most uptight, judge-y, least likely to accept Bob Benson’s, or any man’s, love ever. EVER. I am still at a total loss here. So, the dark mystery is that Bob Benson is gay, I guess, except none of that clears up the mystery at all. All that solicitude and helpfulness was simply to get to Pete? Unless Bob Benson’s a complete alien, how on earth could he ever think Pete would be receptive? Or is he just a sociopath and this is all part of some grander plan – at this point, he’s reminding me of “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Guys, help me out on this one: my brain hurts and I need a tumbler of scotch, stat.

Readers – What are your predictions regarding Sally and what she saw? Did anyone else think Don was going to have a literal stroke when he went chasing after Sally? (Also, does anyone think Don is going to die, for reals?) And please discuss your best Bob Benson ideas, because I’m fresh out.

all photos: via AMC

Amity writes and teaches in Central PA. Her obsessions include: Rodarte (she can’t afford any Rodarte, mind you, but a girl can dream), espresso, books, vintage/thrift fashion and fountain pens. She thinks you should dress like a weirdo once in a while, just to shake things up.

Thanks for stopping by, I made breakfast for you! They’re egg cups; lil’ muffins of bread, bacon and egg, topped with a bit of Parmesan. Let me know in the comments if you want the recipe! They’ve become my company go-to.

Ok, let’s do some Leaguing, shall we?

Question of the Week: What are some of your favorite beauty-related print magazines?

Answer: I love Allure, Lucky and Vogue.

Prime Beauty – chooses her Top 10 Must Haves for Summer 2013. Are any of them on your list?

Phyrra – brings you the Top 10 Best Cruelty-Free Summer Beauty Products.

we heart this – Have you ever tried Caldrea housekeeping products? Well, their Body products are just as fab, and we’re giving away a $116 set of six in the scent of your choice!

Beauty Junkies Unite – Maybelline takes on an indie nail polish trend with the new Color Show Polka Dots collection shades that launch in July–but you don’t have to wait. Sneak a peek of the review & swatches now!

EauMG – reviews 4 vegan floral perfumes from Sweet Anthem.

Gouldylox Reviews – Ever wondered if Wen makes your hair fall out? I’ve got the answer to that and other burning questions!

Lipglossiping swims against the tide with her distaste for Rimmel’s much-lauded Apocalips line, find out why she thinks they’re some of the worst lip products she’s ever had the misfortune to try!

My Beauty Bunny – Inglot Cosmetics already won us over with their Freedom Palette system. Now they’ve tripled the fun with their Satin Rainbow Eye Shadows featuring a gradient of three colors each!

Nouveau Cheap – Here’s your first look at all six of the new Wet n Wild Summer 2013 Limited Edition Pop Art Craze Eyeshadow Trios (if you like bright, bold colors, you’re going to love these).

Pink Sith – takes you back to India with the new Lise Watier India Palette Eyeshadows. Six colorful shades with endless possibilities!

Guest Post of the Week, as chosen by Prime Beauty – The Recessionista is a guide to all things beauty, fashion, style, food, wine and travel at a discount. I dare you not to love it!

How about you we heartsters, what are your favorite magazines (beauty or otherwise)?

Happy Friday weheartsters! This week we puckered up with L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Caresse Aqua Lacquer Lipgloss, introduced the exquisitely scented and luxe line of Caldrea Body products and got summer travel ready examining Kim Greene’s Makeup Bags. But life is about more than beauty products, here are a few links that made us happy this week:

• I’m quilt obsessed and even though I’m not a Mom I couldn’t help but squee over the above heirloom quilt constructed with old baby clothing. Want more ideas like that? Etsy shares some fabulous upcycling tips and new uses for your favorite mementos – Making Memories Last: The Art of Sentimental Upcycling

• I love television and I love lists, so of course I was all over the recently released list of best written television shows as determined by the Writers Guild of America. Love that Mad Men and MASH cracked the top 10 – but Buffy only rates 49th place?! See where your faves land here – 101 Best Written TV Series

• Speaking of tv, for those that loved the original incarnation of Television Without Pity (the site that brought the word ass-hat to the American public) I have some good news. The founders of the snarky site have a new boobtube obsessed domain – check it out! – Previously.TV

• Finally, I haven’t been able to stop listening to Daft Punk‘s latest album, Random Access Memories, and when I do, it’s only to watch this inspired video featuring the first single “Get Lucky” (be prepared to hear it at parties all summer long) mashed up with prime Soul Train line dance clips:

Readers – what have YOU been obsessed with this week?

Tyna, co-founder and co-editor of wht, worries about becoming a crazy cat lady, reads at least a book a week, checks in at a Flyers fan forum every morning and is forever (some say obsessively) organizing her closets and drawers.

Who better to design a Makeup Bag than a Makeup artist?

I learned early in life, if you want to be successful at something, look at what the professionals in that field are doing and learn from their actions. My Achilles heel is remaining organized and efficient with my beauty products while traveling. Enter the Kim Greene Line of cosmetics and travel bags to help me (and you!)

Kim Greene designed her line of bags after years of traveling and working as a makeup artist in the film and television industry as a way to keep her life organized, and her supplies sanitary and in top condition.

I was thrilled to test out the Essential 2.0 Bag ($23) and its features include:

• 3 Outer Zippered Pockets – to assist with organization

• Two smaller pockets – these are perfect for cotton balls, q-tips, lip gloss or anything smaller that you do not want to co-mingle with other items

• One larger pocket – it’s great for palettes, make up brushes or combs

• A removable and adjustable (up to 15 inches) shoulder strap – so you can sling it over your shoulder, around your wrist or hand it from anywhere in your hotel room (like a door knob)

• The bag is made with .5 PVC heavy gauge see through vinyl – so you can see all your products at glance

As you can see by the image, this is nicely sized and I could stuff it with all of my essentials (and a few extras). Once in use, I could see that this is one quality bag made with top-notch vinyl and it will outlast most any other makeup bag. As a bonus, it is also easy to clean and wash. This tote will save me some money in the long run, as I won’t need to throw away yet another damaged and/dirty bag. (Trust me: I have killed many makeup bags since I travel three to five nights a week for work.)

The Essential 2.0 Bag is available in five see-through accent colors; pink, green, blue, grey and clear. I love the concept of color coding my various skincare, makeup and hair items. I think it would help me stay organized and simplify my cosmetic bags on the run.

Speaking of being on the run, in this helpful video, Kim gives a quick demo and packing lesson on how get the most from her Essential 2.0 Bag.

Pros
• Great quality and very sturdy
• Easy to clean
• All compartments have a zipper and it helps keep everything in place and sanitary

Con
• Price may be a bit expensive for some – especially if you want one in every color like I do!

Readers – are you an organized packer? Share your secrets in the comments!

photos: we heart this

Holly is a Midwestern gal living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She loves gardening, animals and is a skin care junkie. Holly is always on the quest to try something new or old and live the best life possible.

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