Stila Jewel Lip Glaze Review

So I won a $50 gift card from dBeauty Junkie's Blogmania giveaway a couple weeks ago, and I placed my first-ever Sephora order. I feel kind of lame for never having ordered from them before, especially when it seems like EVERYBODY owns at least five products by Smashbox, Benefit, Urban Decay, Stila, Tarte, or what have you. One of the things I ordered was the limited edition Jewel Lip Glaze Trio by Stila, which was on sale for a fraction of its value of $66.


The description refers to these as "a trio of glistening, jewel-infused glosses".

"Glistening" is a tad misleading. Try "sparklier than a Forks vampire". Now that's not a bad thing, unless you dislike that and are more into less dramatic looks. The stock image doesn't show the intense sparkle very well. I like lots of sparkle, so these glosses are my favourites right now!


Even this pic doesn't really capture the multi-faceted sparkle, but it does show the glosses' true warmth as compared to the stock photo which makes them look cold.


Swatched on my inner forearm. Sorry for the mediocre pic, but it's very difficult to capture the beauty of these glosses. I have pink-undertoned skin, by the way.

Here's my take on the products.

Amethyst - Dark, dramatic plum with gold and pink sparkle. This one can be put on sheer and can work for dead-white gals like me, and it can be built up and made much darker. This colour probably looks amazing with an olive skintone.

Golden Topaz - A GORGEOUS medium gold with multicolour sparkle. It looks great alone or over a lipstick. The sparkle isn't as intense as it is in the other two, and it's my fave of the three.

Pink Diamond - By far the most striking of the three, as you can tell from the swatch photo. It's a VIVID icy-pink with pink sparkle. Very bold.

Application: I've never been fond of "dial-up" style brush pens where I can't control the gloss. If I accidentally dial up two times too many, the gloss can come flowing out. That could lead to product waste, so be careful when dialing the bottoms of these pens. The glosses are not sticky or waxy whatsoever. Amethyst and Pink Diamond are a teesny bit gritty because of the sparkle. Re-applying is as normal for me as for other glosses, though the tiny glitter sticks around after the gloss itself fades.

Conclusion: So, if you've been thinking about buying these glosses and are a fan of glitter, then you NEED these glosses. Not even kidding. They're only $16 right now for the set, and you can snap them up here. If you're not a fan of this much sparkle, then I recommend you pass these up in favour of Stila's regular line of Lip Glaze.

Wobble Over Wednesday

Come visit and leave a linky at Wobble Over Wednesday! It's a great way to meet and befriend new bloggers, especially if you're new like I am! :)

Hoo Are You? Week 1

This is my first week of answering HOO ARE YOU?> questions over at Night Owl Crafting (see my right sidebar in the Go Visiting section). Check the link below for all the details you need to know!



The questions this week are perfect! Fall has settled into southwest Virginia, and after a few consecutive days of grey chill weather and rain, we now have sunlight and changing foliage. This is my favourite season and one in which I feel absolute freedom to express artistic and fashion creativity.

1. List 3 words that remind you of fall.
Leaves, cider, pumpkins
2. Do you wear jewelry often?
I'm a bit of a jewelry fanatic, actually. I'm always on the lookout for interesting necklaces, earrings, and statement rings!
3. Do you like your toe nails painted or natural?
I almost always have them painted. I think the only time that I DON'T have them painted is in the dead of winter.
4. Do you ever wear a hat?
Only in cold weather. I love stylish cloches in fall and fuzzy trapper hats in winter!
5. Do you have someone that you talk to everyday on the phone?
Yes, my husband while I'm still down here in the US.

Something About Mary 26-50

I've got a few product reviews coming soon, plus an update at my digiscrapping blog! In the meantime...


26. I have a fondness for brightly coloured socks.
27. I greatly fear rejection.
28. I love to study other religions and cultures.
29. I'm the first female in my family to reach 26 years of age and not have kids yet.
30. I think I might be a Japanophile.
31. I hate vacuuming.
32. I have about 30 hardbound journals dating back to early 1998.
33. My first kiss was when I was 19.
34. I have a thing for Victoriana.
35. When I was 13, my dream was to be a country singer O_O
36. I write fantasy, fantasy sci-fi, and paranormal fiction.
37. I see myself as more of a kid with experience than an adult.
38. One of my biggest weaknesses is anything related to cosmetics.
39. My favourite season is autumn.
40. I just got accepted into my second term as a Digital Elite Team digiscrapper on DSP.
41. Cool, cloudy days make me thrive creatively.
42. I can't drink decaf coffee; it literally makes me physically sick.
43. I have some pretty intense anxiety issues.
44. I see my life as a Nicholas Sparks novel.
45. I used to write all kinds of fanfiction.
46. One of my favourite authors is Anne Rice.
47. Thunderstorms excite me.
48. I've been writing since before I knew HOW to write.
49. Oreos, Whoppers, M&Ms, and Reese's are my four biggest junk food weaknesses.
50. I'm addicted to entering blog giveaways!!! AAHHHH

Something About Mary 1-25

1. I seem to think people will actually care enough to read these random facts.
2. One of my biggest obsessions is fragrance. I have so many perfumes & body mists that it's crazy. Virtually one for every mood!
3. For the first 8 years of my life, I lived just 4 hours from my husband.
4. I love being kind to people.
5. I have a huge crush on actor Zachary Quinto. Yum yum!!
6. I'm a HUGE geek, especially when it comes to Star Trek and Final Fantasy.
7. I hated girly things when I was in my late teens. I was all super-feminist.
8. I'm working on my very first webcomic.
9. People confuse photos of me for my 14 year old niece, and vice versa (we're actually biological sisters and we DO look almost identical now).
10. I met my husband on the internet in 2002.
11. I've always wanted to play violin.
12. My favourite season, where I feel I can really express myself in style and creation, is autumn.
13. My favourite holiday is Christmas, followed closely by Halloween.
14. My married name means "apple tree" in Hebrew.
15. I own a lot of beautiful healing crystals and stones.
16. I was 23 when I first rode a city bus.
17. I began writing short stories before I could even write properly.
18. I adore Sharon Osbourne.
19. I've been battling with my weight all my life.
20. I might have a thing for shoes.
21. My husband is like the male version of me.
22. In offline life, I'm pretty shy and awkward.
23. I'm a prolific digital scrapbooker, going by the name SilverHealer in most digiscrap communities.
24. My official pseudonym's first name & middle initial are a play on my SilverHealer username, which I've widely used online since 2002.
25. My favourite time of day is evening/night. I'm a vampire!

The Posie Pocket Flower Clip Review

Say hello to my very first review! *sweats bullets*


**The Posie Pocket**

Click here to go to the shop

The Posie Pocket is a shop on Etsy that specializes in gorgeous handmade accessories. Their prices are very affordable and their products are BEAUTIFUL! They sell clips, headbands, ruffled shirts, and even pretty headbands for kids! Here are some of my favourite items from the shop:





I won the Navy & Plum Clip from a giveaway and promptly received it from the shop.



My Thoughts:
This clip arrived carefully wrapped in tissue paper. It wasn't flattened or smushed in any way. It's made well and is sturdily attached to an alligator clip. The pictures just don't do the flower justice; it has the most BEAUTIFUL shades of midnight blue and rich, deep plum in satin and tulle. The black bead cluster in the centre is an elegant finishing touch.



I wore it in my hair straightaway, and I just felt so dang pretty that I got a nice boost of confidence. I received many compliments on the clip and it's so lovely that I find myself creating outfits around it. The clip can be worn with my hair up or down, either way looks great. The clip is $9 and while I think it's a little much, it's entirely worth it for something you're not going to find anywhere else.

Rating: ***** [five stars: great product and am 100% satisfied]

* * *

Guess what?? I won not one but TWO prizes from the incredible Blogmania event that just ended! I scored a $50 Sephora gift card from dBeauty Junkie and this wonderful package from Book Sake. Chubby Cheeks Thinks was even sweet enough to regift to me an e-book that she won. The book is Unholy Night by Candice Gilmer, and I'm excited to read it.

So there we have it, my very first review :) I hope you liked it!

Welcome!

I have a blog solely for my digital scrapbooking adventures, layouts, and creations *points to the right sidebar*, but I felt like I ought to make a blog for everything ELSE in my life! Here you'll find lots of stuff that might be random at times! I'll post photos, my latest crafting/art/writing projects, and my journey to live greener and become a Canadian mother. Everything, including product reviews, will be coming straight from my heart.

I've seen lots of great blogs for product reviews lately, and they've really inspired me. I like trying new products and testing their quality to my best ability. I'd like to be able to offer my readers good reviews so that they may make well-informed decisions when buying products (books, jewelry, accessories, makeup, clothing, eco-friendly housewares, fragrances, etc.)

So, I figure I might as well blog about what my latest purchases consist of. Hopefully I can rally up some companies to let me try their products to review and sponsor some giveaways while I'm at it! I ADORE giveaways and have just recently won a couple, myself. I'd love to be able to offer the same to my readers!

If you're seeking to have your products reviewed & sponsor a giveaway, please contact me and let me know!

PR Friendly

My name is Mary and I am the author of The Sweet Maple Life. I am a PR Friendly blog. I am accepting items for review. My email address is silverhealer21@msn.com. Please email me if you are interested in me reviewing your product.

About Me
I am a 26 year old wife of nearly two years. I'm an avid reader, writer, crafter, artist, geeky cat lover.

Reviews & Giveaways
I would love to review your product. We will review books, women’s items, jewelry and accessories, home items, food, eco-friendly items, and health and beauty products. I will also host giveaways in the near future (information to come soon).

What You Are Responsible For:
Businesses are responsible for providing the review item (and the giveaway item, when I decide to host giveaways). Although I do not charge for a review, I need the actual product in order to review it. If you choose to have me host a giveaway, I will hold it for 2 weeks+ depending on your preference. Your business will be responsible for shipping the item to the winner. Reviewed items will not be returned.

How the Review or Giveaway Works:
After my family and I have reviewed your product(s), I will post the review on my blog. The review will contain links back to your main page as well as any specific product links required. I will advertise my post on Facebook and Twitter. If you choose to do a giveaway, I link up with other blogs and share my giveaway information there. I also will include entries that encourage interaction with your website.

Advertising
** INFORMATION COMING SOON **

Thank you for considering The Sweet Maple Life for your review or giveaway item.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.


Disclosure Policy

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by us. We will, and do, accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations.

The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements.

The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.


To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org