Amp Up Your Audio and Burn More Calories!

So, if you don't know I am a HUGE music buff and have a really wide range of genres I listen to... but, I thought it would be fun to post the songs that are on my workout playlist. I love songs that really get me going at the gym... you know, songs that makes you feel strong and tough. I need that boost where I feel invincible, like I can go 12 rounds and still be on my feet, haha. But did you know that when you listen to your favorite tunes while working out you actually burn MORE calories?? Cool right?! I think so... it makes sense - you get exhilerated and pumped up, therefore your heart beats faster and you inevitably will workout longer. So here's some great ear candy that will get you in the zone:

"Hell Yes" - Beck
"Discipline" - NIN
"Girl Can't Help It" - LMFAO
"Survivalism" - NIN
"Ghosts N Stuff" - Deadmau5
"Queen B (Narcovice Mix)" - Puscifer
"Main Vein" - Jamiroquai
"Megalomaniac" - Incubus
"Superfly" - Curtis Mayfield
"The Next Movement" - The Roots
"I Want You" - Common
"Judgement Day" - Methodman/Redman
"Technologic" - Daft Punk
"The Anthem" - Pitbull
"Mi Casa" - Methodman/Redman
"Petrified" - Fort Minor
"The Grudge" - Tool
"Pretender" - Foo Fighters
"Till I Collapse" - Eminem
"Renegades of Funk" - RATM
"Testify" - RATM
"Hard" - Rihanna
"15 Step" - Radiohead

Definitley not a "girly" playlist but, these are a few songs that will get your blood pumping! Take no prisoners!! hahaha, enjoy :-)

Makeup and Beauty Faves

MAKEUP QUESTIONS - WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PICKS?

Foundation: It varies, but I've found that Revlon Photo Ready is a great drugstore buy. My color is Shell - 003. I finally tried out the NARS Sheer Glow in Santa Fe - woo-hoo! The formula is amazing, so smooth and blendable and gives you that dewy, fresh glow. But beware - if you don't have olive/neutral skintones it may be a little difficult to find a good match for your skin...
Mineral Foundation: Bare Minerals in the color Light. It really is amazing.... covers well, doesn't look cakey!
Powder: Hmm, I don't really use powder, but Laura Mercier make a great transluscent powder, and so does Bare Minerals :-)

Mascara: L'Oreal Voluminous - Carbon Black. Honestly, it rocks. If you wanna be swanky and drop some cash, the Smashbox Bionic Lash is pretty awesome.

Blush: I love my Coastal Scents Blush Palette, it has such a gorgeous variety... but I also really like MAC's cream blush in Sweet William, their powder blush in Harmony (to contour) and Bare Minerals makes a beautiful peachy/pink called Golden Gate.
Eyeshadow(s): Bare Minerals e/s - Celestine and Bali. Such amazing goldy nude colors. I also am in a serious love affair with MAC's Naked Lunch, Fig, Parfait Amour and Smut... so hard to choose!
Lip Product(s): My go to for moisturizing is either Blistex Silk N' Shine, or L'Oreal HIP Jelly Balm in Plush. If we're talking gloss, than I really love the Sephora line of glosses - they have EVERY color and the texture is nice and smooth - not sticky. If I'm doing Lipstick - MAC really is fabulous... I am really loving the colors Hue and Ravishing.
Day Cream(s): I keep it simple. I have acne-prone skin, so I stick with Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer for Oily/Combo skin, with SPF 15.
Beauty Product Brand(s): If it's drugstore, than L'Oreal all the way. Higher End - MAC, Bare Minerals, Smashbox, NARS, Urban Decay and I really like the Kat Von D palettes.... oh yeah I like a lot of high-end stuff, haha
Essential Beauty Product: Olive oil. Eat it, use it, love it... you will glow, haha, but every girl needs a good moisturizer, pair of tweezers, and eyelash curler.
Favorite Makeup Product(s): Highlight and Contour... got to chizzle those cheeks! And mascara for sure.
Perfume: I make my own from Bath Junkie - it's a blend of Pink Sugar and White Tea. But my FAVORITE of all time is Dolce & Gabana Light Blue!
Nails: I don't really do a lot with my nails, because I'm always working with my hands... but if I paint them, it's usually simple... nudes and pinks... maybe a dark reds/browns/purples in the winter
Feet: Toenails are usually more adventurous in the color world.... it always changes, but I like brighter pinks, some golds, and corals. If you want to pamper your feet, I like those nice pedicure soaks.... weeee!
Hands: I'm a fan of Bath Junkie's Body Dessert. It has almond, coconut and avacado oils so it's really moisturizing. You fragrance it yourself, so I either go the Coco Madmoiselle/Pink Sugar route for a sweeter scent, or I go clean and fresh and do Lemongrass, Basil and Sage.
Three Products to bring on a deserted island: Hmm, "Smile! You're Dark" bronzing lotion, a case of Corona, and my iPod! Haha, far from practical but clearly the essentials...
Women I admire for their beauty: Charlize Theron. Adriana Lima. Olivia Wilde. Elizabeth Taylor in her prime. Angelina... (duh), Kate Beckinsale.... there are so many beautiful women out there I admire! They're all gorgeous in their own way :-)
Woman with the Best Sense of Style: Kim Kardashian always has great style.
My Favorite Fashion Publication(s): Vogue... it's a classic!

What are your faves and top beauty picks??

xoxo,

Laura

Sigma Makeup Contest and Giveaway!!

Hey everyone!! So I am hosting a Sigma Makeup Contest/Giveaway on my blog and youtube channel, where one lucky winner will receive the "Something About Marilyn" Hollywood Glamour Kit!!! If you don't already know about Sigma Makeup than here's a brief introduction: Sigma specializes in quality hand-made products, beautiful eyeshadow collections full of rich, fabulous colors and they are well known for their professional line of makeup brushes - all which are individually tested for performance, resistance and durability! You can check them out at http://www.sigmamakeup.com

So what's in the "Something About Marilyn" Hollywood Glamour Kit, you ask??
Inspired by the iconic beauty Marilyn Monroe, this red-hot kit includes:
- 1 retractable kabuki brush
- 1 rhinestone encrusted heart shapped mirror - Size (closed): 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 inches
- Red and gold satin makeup bag: 9 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 3 inches
- *Bonus* - you will also receive a free eyeshadow and travel size SS217 Blending brush!!

So what are the rules and how do I enter??

1. You must be one of my youtube subscribers - go to http://www.youtube.com/user/pplcallmefish and click on the "SUBSCRIBE" button... it's free, and you'll get all the latest makeup tutorials and beauty reviews!! If you are not a subscriber, your comment will not be valid on the blog or youtube.

2. You can go to my youtube video titled "SIGMA MAKEUP CONTEST/GIVEAWAY" and write "ENTER ME" in the comment section. You may also comment "ENTER ME" in the comments below this blog and yes - you may comment as many times as you like!!

3. You may not "spam" or "flag" anyone else's comment or you will be disqualified from participating in the contest.

4. You have 2 weeks to enter and comment - The contest begins Wednesday, April 21st, 12pm eastern standard time and will end on Wednesday, May 5th at 11:59pm eastern standard time.

5. At the end of the contest I will gather all the comments from my blog and youtube video, and a winner will be chosen electronically by random selection. I will then contact the lucky participant so we can ship them their prize.

6. ***Contest is opened internationally***

7. Good Luck!!

XOXO,

Laura

   

Whip Those Abs Into Shape!

So I've been working out extra hard these past few weeks and wanted to share with you some great exercise tips to send you on the road to getting that flat, sexy stomach! Now, a few years ago I had a conversation with a personal trainer and he advised me to work on my abs every single day... unlike using weights for legs and arms where you need a day of rest in between, it's actually important to do a little cardio and core training every day... think of it as building your "foundation" for a strong body. Now, maybe your 'every day' is 5 days a week (which is awesome!), or maybe you have a busy lifestyle where you only have time to workout 2-3 times a week but still want a flat stomach... If that's the case, a good habit to get into is, as soon as you wake up, get on the floor and do 50 crunches. It only takes about 1 minute and will amp up your body's metabolism and put you in a "healthy" mindset for the rest of the day! I know, I know, the first thing I want in the a.m. is a big cup of coffee, but really pushing yourself to take that one measly minute before you do anything else will make a big difference!!
But on to the exercises... here we go!!

Step 1: Basic crunch at moderate speed(2 sets of 50 reps):

This gets the heart rate up and engages your muscles. Put on your favorite song and you'll be at #50 in no time.

*STRETCH*!!!! It is sooooo very important to rest and stretch in between these exercises, this is a key element in getting the stomach flat. So, lay face down, place your hands by your shoulders like you would for a push-up, and arch back:

In yoga, this is called the "seal". Be sure to suck in your stomach and stay there for about 1 minute.

Step 2: Bicycle Crunch (2 sets of 50 reps- 25 slow/25fast)

Yep, as you can see this one's a little more challenging, but it's so worth it! It really helps to shape the obliques and knockout those "love handles"!

*STRETCH*

Step 3: Lower Ab Reverse Crunch (25 reps)

Now once you are in this position, simply lower the legs to about 45 degrees (still bent), then back up to the starting form. This one is super challenging for me so I get to about 10, have to rest, then continue on. This one is so great for that tummy "pooch", but definitely takes time and practice to be able to do a lot of reps! Be careful though - if you experience lower back pain - stop and move on to the next exercise! come back to this one once you've built a stronger core :-)

*STRETCH*

Step 4: Stability Ball = Your Best Friend!! (2 sets of 25 reps)

I got one of these bad boys for about $30, and it is worth every single penny!!! You just choose the right size ball depending on your height. It's great for your back, works your legs and butt (because you have to support yourself) allows you to stretch further back on the ball and gives you a wide range of motion to work your all of the muscles form top to bottom!

So guys, these are some of the exercises I work on to tone up my midsection and have gotten great results so far... If you can't do as many reps, that's ok!! Just work until you feel the burn, and eventually you will get stronger and tougher. Dig down deep for that motivation and give it a shot -  we can all have  those washboard abs together!! Haha... I have to really find that inspiration for myself each and every day to get myself going, but you will feel a thousand times better once you've taken that step to achieve your goal. Good luck to you all and just know... you can do it!!

xoxo,

Laura

Is Revlon Colorstay Foundation Really Worth All The Hype??

I think all of us ladies know, finding the perfect foundation can be quite a challenging feat. From finish, formula and color, to the application and endurance test (will this stay on through a hot day!?) we are faced with several questions when deciding just what will work best. 

I've always loved watching beauty gurus on youtube and found that there was an ASTOUNDING number of people who swooned over Revlon's Colorstay Foundation. So naturally, I wanted to give it a try. I was a huge fan of their Photo Ready Foundation and, although that had quite mixed reviews, I figured because so many people recommended it, this one would be even better...
Now when I was shopping, I was very impressed with the color selection - I think there were at least 20 different shades to choose from, which is soooo helpful in a drugstore where you can't test the product directly on your skin. Also, they have two formulas - one for dry skin, and one for oily/combination skin, both with SPF 6. I found an exact match to my skin - 180 Sand Beige for oily/combination. When I got home, I washed my face, exfoliated and moisturized, and cracked open the bottle...
Now, unfortunately, the bottle doesn't have a pump - which can make it a little messy to work with, but I just dabbed a bit on my finger and dotted it all over the skin. I grabbed my Bare Minerals Feather Light Stippling brush and started to blend out one cheek. Once I got to the other cheek, the foundation had already dried in little globs on my face! I thought I had a steady routine when applying liquid foundation, but there is no time to admire and look pretty in the mirror while blending out one area... you have to move lightening fast and really blend, blend, blend, for it to look half decent. So this poses a bit of a time issue if you need to get your makeup done in a hurry in the morning... let's just say, it ain't gonna happen!
My next problem was that I took tips from at least 3 or 4 well acclaimed gurus in their application tutorials and, maybe it's just me, but it seemed as though they were using WAY too much product. In applying the same amount to my own skin, as they did for theirs, it was so thick and heavy. I do have my fair share of breakouts as well, so I thought that maybe it just needed a minute to settle into the skin. There was no settling. The foundation is a matte finish - which is fine, but it looked too chalky. So I stood back from the mirror and, like Cher says in the movie "Clueless", I was a total 'Monet'. Good from far away, but up close - not so hot. I felt that it accentuated my pores and visibly colored those little tiny hairs and peach fuzz on the face.
So the next morning, I was getting ready for work and thought I should give it another try, apply a little less, and see how it held up throughout the day. So I applied a thin layer of primer (Milk of Magnesia, believe it or not!) then put my little hands on super-speed mode to apply the color. It definitely looked a thousand times better when using a little bit of product. It still didn't blow me away just yet, but I had to finish the rest of my makeup and be out the door. Now, the claim-to-fame is that it will last up to 16 hours and, again, several reviews attested to it lasting at least 8 hours with an occasional "T-Zone" touch up. I left the house at about 11am and was only working until 5:30 that evening. Just to let you know, I work at a place surrounded by mirrors, so I was fully aware of my facial status at all times. By about 4 o'clock, I was a greaseball disaster!!! It was a moderately hot day, but I was in AC and do not have terribly oily skin. This was such a bummer! The color had melted away in 5 hours or less, and you could see all my breakouts screaming though. And I don't really get many opportunities to re-touch my makeup throughout my shift, nor do I want to have to - so I just had to grin and bare it until I went home.

So yes, I just wanted to put my opinion out there because it seemed as though this held the crown for "Best Of" within drugstore foundations, and I had quite the opposite experience. I suppose I could try the "dry skin" formula, but I highly doubt it will solve my little "greaseball" problem at the 5 hour mark. Truthfully, I recommend the Photo Ready Foundation with a little transluscent powder, or even L'Oreal's True Match Foundation over Revlon's Colorstay. But try it out for yourself if you're feeling adventurous, it may work for you. It's about $11 which isn't too bad, yet, even though I don't live under a money tree, investing in a high quality foundation that is double that price might be a better investment for my skin after all!

Ciao,
Laura

Summer Wishlist....

So, as summer is fast approaching, I've been piling up things on my fashion and beauty wishlist for the new season... although, I guess I don't really "need" the new season as motivation because it always seems like I'm dying for new and fabulous things!

First up is the HeadKandy Hair Extensions. Now, I have never worn hair extensions before, but my best friend can't live without them - SO, I kind of want to give them a shot. I had super long hair for awhile, but recently gave it a much needed chop - but some days, I reeeeeeaaaallly miss my hair! So I found these through a bunch of well-praised youtube reviews and, I must say, they look GORGEOUS. They are known for the great quality and thickness of the 100% real human hair, and that your purchase comes with 10 wefts!! That's a lot!!! I really loved the extensions they created based off of Cheryl Cole's mane, and I thought they might match perfectly to my hair:

Now, the cool thing is, you can actually send them a picture of your hair at info@headkandy.com, and they will email you back with a color reccomendation! I'm still waiting to hear back, but I just emailed last night. OH! And did I mention they come in lengths upto 24-26"?!?! Crazy - Hello, Eve in the Garden of Eden...

If you want to check them out, you can visit http://www.headkandy.com

Next up is, of course, bikinis! I love the Victoria's Secret website - they have such great deals, and tons of cute selections. Each time I hit the site, I always head to the "Specials + Sales" tab and click on the "$39 and Under Swimwear". These two are my faves:

Simple, I know, but that's my bathing suit style. I actually like to spend a lot of time in the water, so something too beaded and glitzy wouldn't be my first choice. I also really like that you can choose from a ton of different colors and patterns once you find the style you like - it's great! And there is so much more to pick from online, than in the store. Both of these swimsuits around $30 for the set, so hopefully I'll be seeing these heading my way soon! (www.victoriassecret.com)

Continuing on, I really want to pick up this St. Tropez Self Tanning Bronzer:

It's a mousse-like texture, but works like magic. I tried a bit on my underarm the other day and it gives the most gorgeous, natural looking glow... They also have it in lotion form, but this seems much easier to blend. Oh yeah, and it's safe!!! :-)

I know this is so late, but I still am dying for the NARS Sheer Glow foundation. I've sampled it, and it gives a really great coverage, but still reflects light in a beautiful way to make it luminous and glowing. When I was talking to a NARS rep, she mentioned that the foundation is meant to be applied with your hands, which was Francois Nars' technique he lived by. Other than most eyeshadow and precise contouring, a lot of the products are formulated and meant to be applied with your own "handy" tools to achieve a more organic and natural look. So, easy enough - don't have a brush? That's ok, you can still have gorgeous skin~!

Hair product to DIE FOR?? Moroccan Oil Shine Spray:

I sampled this too, and it is soooo delectable. It is all natural, sulfate and paraben free and smells like heaven. It's lightweight, fresh and makes your hair silky and bouncy. I find this an easier method than applying the actual "oil" just because, for me - it can be easy to overdo it and put a little too much on the hair, making it greasy. But you can find this at www.moroccanoil.com! Let me know if you have tried it, too!

Oh Etsy, how I love thee. Unless you live under a rock (j/k), you probably know about www.etsy.com - the fabulous market where artists can sell a multitude of whatever it is that they make! But my favorite are the jewelry makers. I always find cute, original things that are (for the most part) super reasonably priced. For example -  - This leather bound turquoise bracelet with a cute jeweled "buckle" if you will, is only $8.50 with $3 shipping from Thailand! This particular designer - www.etsy.com/shop/BeadSiam - has tons of leather bound bracelets and a very earthy touch to all his pieces.

Another fabulous designer is Heidi Roland. Now I found her at a craft show outside of Philly and she is definitely one of a kind. She makes earrings out of photographs that are different on both the front and the back of the earring, and they are made to look like little "picture frames".

These are similar to one pair that I purchased:

And I am loving these Zebra Print  feather earrings ($23):

She makes some lace-up arm pieces too, which are pretty cool as you can see on the model, but if you like this style, find her here - www.etsy.com/shop/heidiroland

And lastly, on the pricier side ($62), I really love these bangals by LexLuxe:

They are actually organic pounded silver and 14k gold, and just fabulous looking. I think I really dig them because it reminds me of Kenneth Cole's jewelry, which I love. Anyway, there's lots of cool things this designer makes, so if you like that "rustic metal" look, check out: www.etsy.com/shop/LexLuxe.

That's it for now! And just to mention before I go, everything I voiced is of my own opinion. No one asked me to review or post these items, these are just things I found, fell in love with, and wanted to share with you!! 

Ciao,

Laura

Check out my youtube channel! (Green Eyes Makeup Tutorial)

In case you don't know, I've got a beauty channel on youtube where I post makeup tutorials and other beauty related videos.... check out my latest video: Makeup For Green Eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhUeimxEUp4

Ahhh, green eyes.... the eye color of all eye colors... literally. Green eyes have tones of gray, blue, gold, and brown all meshing to create a unique green. When I was young, the eye doctor told me I had every eye color possible in my eyes - well, except for violet, but hey, we can't all be Elizabeth Taylor. I always thought that was pretty cool, so naturally - with my love of makeup, I constantly played with different ways to enhance my eye color so here are a few tips:

-You can use contrasting colors, such as shades of purples/plums on the lid to make the green appear brighter
-Adding touches of gold on the lid, brow bone and cheekbones will pull out the warm golden and brown undertones of the iris
-Lining with copper shadow is a simple and subtle way to really make the green pop
-If you are someone who likes to wear neutral tones and not much color, choose brown shades with a slightly reddish undertone
-Using an olive/champane/plum combination on the lids will make your green eyes appear more blue!
-Line the waterline (inner rim) with a black pencil - this will make any light colored eye stand out
-If you don't like to wear any shadow, try a little mascara in a dark plum color - it's very subtle, but still does the trick
-Lastly, if you prefer to wear a strong lip color, using shades of coral, a lavender undertoned pink, or an orange undertoned red will really balance out the face and make your eyes extra green

Products Used For This Look:

*Coastal Scents 88 Matte Shadow Palette (Cool/Warm Toned Purple)
  http://www.coastalscents.com  (only $20!)
*Bare Minerals e/s - Firefly; Bali
*L'Oreal Le Kohl Eye Pencil - Carbon Black
*Cover Girl Lash Blast Volumizing Mascara
*Physician's Formula Shimmer Brick - Vegas Strip
*MAC Lipstick - Ravishing (Creamsheen)

Thanks, and Enjoy! (Click the blog title, and it will send you straight to the video :-)

~Laura