LAQA & Co Fat Lip Pencils Giveaway

Happy New Year and Happy Monday! Most of you are probably back to work, or, if you're in a wintery state like me (Michigan), you may have a snow day. Either way, I'm excited to bring in the New Year with a fun giveaway!

I've teamed up with Gloss48 to give away a set of 4 LAQA & Co. Fat Lip Pencils in Fairy Blood, Lambchop, Bossy Boots, and Wolfman. These fun lip pencils super stylish and come in fun packaging designed by emerging artists. 

Visit this link to enter the giveaway. Earn multiple entries for each friend who enters using your link and for each Twitter post! The contest ends January 13, 2014 so starting sharing today!

A little bit about Gloss 48....you're going to want to bookmark this site.  "Gloss48 offers beauty junkies a daily dose of the best, must-have niche beauty products to discover, shop, and share. Uncover every gem." Check out their latest sales, shop around and check out Gloss TV. Oh, and don't forget to check out their blog - you may see someone you recognize today!

Clean Eating Peanut Butter Cups Recipe

Happy New Year all! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I sure did, as you can probably tell from my lack of posting, we've been very busy throughout the holiday! Lots of visiting with family and friends, and I loved every minute of it.

I thought it would be fun to share one of my favorite clean eating desert recipes to kick off the new year. Clean Eating Peanut Butter Cups. They got rave reviews from the parties I brought them too this year. They are super yummy. Clean eating doesn't mean bland eating, it can be fun too! Below is a modified version of the recipe from HeandSheEatClean.com (love this blog...I get a lot of clean recipes from it!).

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all natural peanut butter (make sure the only ingredient is peanuts!)
1 heaping tablespoon of natural honey
20 oz of chocolate, 60% cacao, I used 2 bags of Giradelli chips
Mini cupcake paper cups



1 - Mix the peanut butter and honey together and set aside
2 - Melt chocolate chips in the mircowave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each 30 seconds.
3 - Once chocolate is completely melted, pour enough into each little cup to cover the bottom
4 - Layer on a dab of the peanut butter mixture in each cup
5 - Cover the peanut butter mixture with another layer of chocolate
6 - Freeze cups for an hour and the voila! Clean eating peanut butter cups!

This recipe makes about 50 small cups. I purchased a decorative holiday tray from my local grocery story and arranged them on this for the parties I went to. The tray was a nice leave behind as a hostess gift.

What did you bring to holiday parties this year? Or if you hosted, what did the menu include? Please share!

Beauty Blogger Coalition Weekly Roundup

Mama Fashionista: Could this be the best beauty subscription ever?!? Quinn invites you judge for yourself by examining her New Beauty TestTube "untubing!"

D.G.S.Beauty: Dinah loves the Crown Brush HD Sets. See why here.

BeautyTidbits: Enter to win the new Prepped and Primed Collection by TotalBeauty.com!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Are you looking for the perfect moisturizing cleanser that is gentle and hydrating, but thoroughly cleans the skin and removes every trace of makeup? Then Radical Skincare Hydrating Cleanser is for you!

Glamorable!: Have you tried a Wantable Makeup Box before? Check out this review to see the amazing goodies inside Anastasia's box this month!

Painted Ladies: a side-by-side comparison

TheFabZilla: Pressed for time & cash-strapped? TheFabZilla shares 10 products for $10 and under for your last-minute holiday shopping!

My Highest Self: Beauty Gifts from CVS, Target and Walmart all under $20!

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction shows us the Sibu Beauty Repair & Protect Nourishing Facial Cream. The key ingredient has been nicknamed the beauty berry!

Beauty by Miss L: Check out this dotticure where Miss L used holographic and white nail polishes.

Lipgloss Break: Need a last minute holiday gift? MAC Holiday Sets are always on my wish my list. Check out the colors in the Stroke of Midnight 'cool' face palette!

Pammy Blogs Beauty : It is the time of year for Festive Glitter, Shimmer, and Sparkle! Find out Pammy Blogs Beauty's Top 10 Picks for Glittery Shimmery Favorites!

Slashed Beauty: Miranda shares some easy ways to update your beauty routine for winter!

MAC Heroine Lipstick

Fierce is back! MAC Heroine Lipstick is back! Just in time for Pantone's color of the year, Radiant Orchid, to take play. This vibrant matte is just the pop of color you need this season.

Heroine Lipstick has pre-launched online at www.maccosmetics.com. It will be in stores January 2, 2014. #MACHeroine 

"How Do You Shop Style?" Game

What kind of shopper are you? I always knew I was a savvy shopper, and the ShopStyle 'How Do You Shop Style' game proved it! Check out the game to see what kind of shopper you are and for a chance to win a luxury bag! More info on the game can be found on their site and you can start playing the game by following this link.

Some of the questions in the game include...

So, I have to ask...how would you answer these questions?

Note: Post sponsored by ShopStyle.  Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

lucy #childspose Campaign

Who's ready for Christmas?? I have a few more easy presents to buy and then I'll be finished with my shopping! Between work, holiday parties and gatherings and traveling through the snow storms in MI, I'm ready for Christmas Eve to be here!

To help get you through the holiday and into the New Year, Lucy, the women's active wear brand, started a fun campaign centered around yoga's child's pose. They have produced a short film (directed by the talented Elizabeth Banks!) that features a series of stressful situations that every women can relate to. When faced with these situation, Lucy encourages you to get into the child's pose to relax. Check out the video and animated gifs here!

If I have to go to the mall before Christmas Eve, you may find me in child's pose outside of Sephora! Where would you most likely be found in child's pose? Please share in my comments below, FB and Twitter, using the tag #childspose.

Beauty Blogger Coalition Weekly Round Up

TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla's foray into the enchanting world of cult-favorite Rouge Bunny Rouge continues. Will it be a rave for the blush and lippy this time? Find out.

Mama Fashionista: Cold weather drying out your skin? Quinn shares her Fab Five Favorite body lotions to keep your skin soft and fragrant all winter long!

Endless Summer: Elena shares her New Year's Eve Party makeup tutorial.

Painted Ladies: Wet n Wild has new 5-pan Coloricon Palettes for 2014 - is Floral Values a hit or miss?

D.G.S.Beauty: Yes to Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub Review

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Looking for the perfect sun-kissed ethereal glow? Then you need Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light in your life!

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: BH Cosmetics Blush Duo Review and Swatches!

Glamorable!: Le Metier de Beaute came out with another fabulous product - Cheeky Chic Face Kaleidoscope. Click here for swatches and review.

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura dishes about her new favorite shower gels, RITUALS Foaming Shower Gel Sensation.

Lipgloss Break: Enter to win a set of Limited Edition ChapStick Holiday Tins!

Makeup by Kim Porter: Kim loves the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand cream. Read the review to see why.

Spontaneous Chick: Spontaneous Chick has posted some cute holiday nail art ideas that you can do at home.

My Highest Self: The bareMinerals Naturally Luminous Skincare Trio is a great gift idea, check out my review!

Beauty by Miss L: Eye-catching manicure for short nails.

Slashed Beauty: Curly Hair? Straight Hair? Don't Care? The grass is always greener on the other side... see why!

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen shares her picks for Beauty Gifts Under $50 for your beautiful besties! Guaranteed to put a huge grin on their face come present time!

MAC Holiday Sets

Want to give the gift that keeps on giving? In my opinion, that's a MAC holiday gift set. I put these on my Christmas list every year. Each year, they put out a new line of limited edition holiday sets with a theme. This year the Stroke of Midnight sets are decked out in gold, white and black packages, and look like mini clutches. So classy!

Here are some swatches from the Stroke of Midnight Face palette in Cool:

Closed compact that looks like a clutch - so posh!

Packaging for kit

Close up of full face palette, including Iridescent powder in Sparkling Rose, 2 lipsticks in Sublime Pleasure and Romantically Inclined, 3 eye shadows in All Races, Scene and Magic Moor, and an eye pencil in Ebony

Full palette with mirror. Also note there is a black flap cover that goes over the lipsticks, so you don't get shadow in them.

Close up of lipsticks and eye shadows

Lipstick swatches, Sublime Pleasure on the left, Romantically inclined on the right

Eye liner and shadow swatches, from left to right: Ebony eye pencil, All Races, Scene, Magic Moor

What's your idea of the perfect gift?

-->Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Lord & Taylor Friends & Family Sale

Still holiday shopping? Check out Lord & Taylor's Friends and Family sale. It starts today and will run through December 18th, both online and in stores. Almost all regular and sale merchandise will be 25% off and customers will also be offered 10% off cosmetics and fragrances. Normally these sales don't apply to cosmetics, so this is a special event!

Beauty Blog Coalition $500 Visa Gift Card Giveway!

The bloggers from the Beauty Blog Coalition are at it again and want to give you the opportunity to win a little money right before the holiday season!

All terms and conditions are listed in the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open from 10 December until 21 December, internationally to all those ages 18 and up. You may tweet using the Rafflecopter option once a day until the giveaway is over for extra entries. One winner will receive a $500 prepaid Visa gift card. Two more winners will receive a $200 prepaid Visa gift card. (Both are available as a one-time PayPal transfer if the winner so chooses.)

Please take time to visit the bloggers who made this giveaway happen and good luck!

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A Little Polish
Ashley is PolishAddicted
Beauty and Fashion Tech
Beauty by Krystal
Beauty by Miss L
Beauty Info Zone
Big Time Beauty
Blushing Basics
Blushing Noir
Citizens of Beauty
Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom
Cosmetic Sanctuary
D.G.S.Beauty
daydreaming beauty
Fabulous Awesomeness
Geniabeme
Glamorable
Glamorous Mama
GlitzGlamBudget
Hairspray and Highheels
Honeygirl's World
InTruBeauty
Justina's Gems
Kat Stays Polished
KellieGonzo.com
KillerLipGloss
Lawless Lacquer
Liesl Loves Pretty Things
Lipgloss Break
Logical Harmony
Makeup by Kim Porter
Midnight Manicures
Moxie Reviews
My Highest Self
My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog
Peace Love Lipgloss
Peek & Ponder
Phyrra
Pointless Cafe
Polarbelle
PolishGalore
polish insomniac
Portrait of Mai
Pure Natural Diva Botanicals
Set in Lacquer
Smashley Sparkles
Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful Blog
The Crumpet
The Lacquerologist
TheFabZilla
Will Paint Nails for Food

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