Lowdown on perfume. How to choose the perfect scent.

Ever been at an intimate gathering, in a closed-in space? Maybe it's a cocktail party, or maybe a small group of friends, getting together to blow off some steam. Or maybe it's even a date, at a small cafe, squeezed into a tiny table with the man of your dreams....a tall, dark, and handsome man (not to sound cliche), that is funny, witty, and still a little bit exotic, and mysterious. You're in a dream-like moment, where it feels that nothing exists in this world, except for you and him, in this wonderful place. And suddenly, you smell it....an overwhelming stench, that gets stuck in your nose, to the point you can't smell or taste anything else. It's perfume--either cheap or VERY over-done perfume.  Then, you realize it's your perfume! You're the culprit! This can ruin any girl's night, because lace face it...no man wants to be gagged down by the overwhelming smell of bad perfume. It's violating, and sure to not land you another date with Mr. ahhhhhmazing. But, with my simple tips, you are sure to not let this happen. I will lead you in the right direction. 

Now, let's get started with some boring basics. There are 4 types of scents that you need to familiarize yourself with.

1)Eau de Cologne: 3-5% perfume oil, mixed with water. Lighter and refreshing scent. You can find a lot of these in drug stores, and are usually a little less expensive. They are fun for the summer time, for a splash of freshness.

2)Eau de Toilette: a slightly higher percentage of perfume oil, mixed with alcohol instead of water. This is a little stronger of a scent. My favorite choice of these is Barbie "Eau de Toilette" (Don't knock it until you try it/can't help I'm a Barbie girl)

3)Eau de Parfum: 15-18% perfume oil, mixed with alcohol. These are very common in department stores, such as Victoria's Secret. Also, a lot of times, stores will offer an Eau de Parfum choice, which is less expensive than the regular Parfum. My favorite is Victoria's Secret "Love Rocks". 

4)Parfum: Avg of 30% perfume oil, mixed with alcohol. It often comes in the smallest bottles, but costs the most money.


Now, that you know what different types of perfume there are, and can speak the lingo, let's move on to scent types. There are four scent types when dealing with perfumes: floral, fresh, oriental, and woody. In order to pick the one that compliments your skin the best, try them on the inside of your wrist, and walk around the mall with them for a few hours. Let them soak in, and see how your skin chemistry reacts with them. Of course, always start out with a clean canvas, that way you truly know how the particular scent you are choosing reacts with your body.

   

Good luck, and remember: Perfume can be the ultimate accessory, or the ultimate turn off, when the right scent is not chosen. Dont let your perfume make an entrance before you do!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girls night out attire

Going for a girls night out? Want the perfect attire? Let me let you in on a little secret. Black blazers are a key piece to achieve the perfect outfit, almost as important as an lbd. They can spruce up any outfit, for a last minute happy hour with the girls. Check out how I turned jeans and a regular shirt into a swanky girl get up!!  This outfit has just the right amount of sexiness, and just the right amount of chic... all because of a lbb (little black blazer). Paired with heels, and walah.. Youre good to go. 

I threw in my red hoop earrings, and sexy red heels, and wore minimal makeup, which consisted of powder, mascara, eyeliner, and red lipstick. Easy peasy!! 

I used the curling wand to create a few soft, loose curls. It took me less than 10 minutes. Im cocktail ready!  Now, what kind of cocktail would look good in the hands of a classy girl at a trendy bar? A pomegranate martini seems fitting. High class! 

Dont forget to have fun, and smile. A happy girl is a beautiful girl, and a smile is a free accessory that goes with any outfit. 

Outfit #5

Today, I wore a short-sleeve sweater from New York & Co., and a pair of Apple Bottom Jeans, and knee-high brown boots. I was feeling casual today.  The sweater had burnt orange and gold undertones, which sparkled.

Makeup choices today were a key feauture in complimenting this outfit. I started with my normal foundation, and bronzer. Then I used Clinique concealer in nude. Then I used Clinique's all about shadow in "at dusk". I finished up my eyes with Clinique's quickliner in "intense ivy", and lash doubling mascara. I blended Revlon's lipstain in "forbidden" and Clinique's chubby stick in "mega melon", to create a slightly orange lipcolor. 

Ive really been liking the straight hair lately, with this cool weather. However, I didnt feel like going through the washing and blow-drying ritual, so I applied Not Your Mother's dry shampoo. This is a shortcut worth trying! And accessories today consisted of brown earrings with orange jewels at the top, and an orange bracet. Not too shabby!!

Outfit #4

Pretty in pink today with a pair of my token Miss Me jeans, and a hot pink sweater. The sweater was too sheer to wear without a Cami, so I chose beige to neutralize the look.

Jewelry today was a pair of hot pink cuffs that made my face pop, and a pink and silver Brighton ladybug bracelet. Both jewelry pieces complimented this outfit very well.  The last touch of jewelry, which is one of my personal faves was a hot pink and silver cocktail ring.

 

Note: When choosing hot colors like this, it's always best to choose simple jewelry pieces, and be careful not to overdo it.

 

 

For my hairstyle today, I chose to to with the sleek look, using a Chi flat iron.

Makeup choices today were made up of chocolate colors and pinks--ranging from light to dark. First, I started with my normal base (garnier BB cream and Clinique super-balanced foundation). Then, I applied shadow in Clinique's "pink chocolates". The palette comes in four shades, and I utilized all of them, with the lightest two shades on the innermost part of my eyelid, and under the brow, and the darkest shade on the outermost part of my eyelid, to create a slightly smokey-eye look (not full-blown smokey-eye, because this was daytime). I finished up my eyes with Clinique's brush on cream eyeliner in "Deep Brown". I decided to forgo the bronzer today, and instead applied blush in Clinique's "Clover".   I finished up with the lips, which was a three-layer process. The first layer was a lip stain made by Elf in "hot pink". The second layer was an all-natural moisturizing lip  balm made by Basin in "vanilla". I have only been able to locate this stuff in Las Vegas, or online, but it's amazing. I finished up the last layer with Clinique's Superbalm moisturizing gloss in "Grapefruit".

 

I give this outfit 5 out of 5 shoes, because it is hot pink, and how can you not fall in love with pink! I truly felt happy in this outfit, and attitude is the ultimate accessory!

Outfit #3

This outfit is one of my personal favorites. It's a glamour look. I paired one of my beloved Miss Me jeans with a black and gray leopard print shirt, and black ballet flats. 

My makeup choices were pretty simple today. I pretty much kept my colors matte, with black eyeliner, and NYC's smooch proof lipstain in "Rock on Ruby", with Burt's Bees lip balm as a top coat (I wanted my lips to be the main event).  The only jewelry I wore was red hoop earrings. 

Note: when using read, used soft colors everywhere else, so that you dont have too much of a made up look. 

Dont forget, manicures are the ultimate accessory, and I dressed the part with red gel nail polish glitter in glamour. 

I used Remington's Wand to curl my hair, and it did not disappoint. These babies are a useful tool, and for a good value too! 

This outfit gets a rating of 5 out of 5 shoes. I truly felt like a glamour girl today, and had all the accessories to go with it. 

Outfit #2

Today, I chose a feminine/girly look, but still kept it casual with the jeans and ballet flats. The shirt was a chocolate brown silk with a floral print in two different shades of pink. I paired this with a white Cami, and Charlotte Ruse Runway skinny jeans in dark denim. I chose dark pink ballet flats, that matched the color of the dark pink flowers in the shirt.

Today's accessory choices were a large pair of pink pearl earrings, and a Pandora Charm bracelet, which has a few light pink charms that compliment that light pink in the shirt. I chose the pearls, and the Pandora bracelet, because it accentuates the overall feminine look I was going for.

Now for my favorite...the makeup!!!! I was feeling a little tired today, so I started the day off right with Clinique's All About Eyes anti-puffing eye serum. This serum is a lifesaver, and definitely worth the $28.00 bucks you pay for it. You roll it under your eyes, before applying makeup, and it diminishes the look of fine lines, from sleeping too hard, and puffiness.  Next, I applied the BB Cream By Garnier Fructis, and then Clinique's Supermoisture makeup in stay beige. I used Bella Terra Mineral Makeup in sweet gold for my eyeshadow and my lipstick! That's what I love about these little guys...you can use them as blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, or lipstick. For the lipstick, I blended with vanilla scented Bella terra lip balm.

***Note****If you plan on buying Bella terra cosmetics, I would not get them from the mall. I would buy them online, and skip the process of having to deal with rude, pushy, salesman, that don't want to take no for an answer. Their products are great though, and 100% minerals, so I do recommend them.

Outfit #1

Today, I chose a low-key sweater, which I layered with a white cami, to give it that little extra. I paired this with my dark blue Miss Me jeans, with the white design on the back.  I thought these colors tied in well together. 

Accessories/Makeup for this outfit were quite simple. I wore multi-colored earrings, and used neutral makeup, to ensure that the shirt was the main color pop. 

For makeup, I started off with garnier bb cream, to moisturize, and for minor coverage. I then used Clinique pressed powder in matte beige. I dusted my cheekbones with Clinique's bronzer in "sunkissed". 

For my eyes, I went with Clinique's All about shadow in "at dusk", and "peach pop" ( blended together to create a subtle smoky eye). I lined my eyes with clinique quickliner in "slate gray". I topped this off with Clinique's lash doubling mascara. 

The lips took a little bit of layerying, using revlon Just Bitten lip stain in "Dawn" as the base, Burt's Bees replenishing lip balm to moisturize, and Pixi tinted balm in "lucent glow"as the top coat.

Note: When using a stain, always moisturize your lips with a good balm, I like Burt's Bees, but others work too. 

All in all, this is a simple outfit, but with the right makeup/accessories, you're able to pull off a very cute girl-next-door look. 

I rate this outfit 3 out of 5 shoes, only because I was in too big of a hurry to pair the right shoes and purse. 👠👠👠

Does Paris have more babies?

I was thinking about the one lone kitten all day. cute as he was, I really wished he had little brothers and sisters to play with. It was actually bothering me. There must have been more. But what happened to them? The possibilities of what could have happened to these cuties made my heart hurt. What must "Paris"be going through as a mother, to only have one of her babies left. I just wanted to take "Paris" and "Blackjack" home, and make them my own. It would make me feel better knowing that they are safe, away from all the harmful things that nighttime brings about. They could spend cold nights cuddled up to "Bella" (my chocolate lab lover), instead of in cold bushes. I was thinking about the new editions to my family all day, right up until the point where I went back to the bushes where I had found Blackjack earlier, crying for help. I approached the bushes slowly, not to scare Blackjack or Paris. I started to hear a rustling in the bushes, so I stood perfectly still. "Blackjack" started to come out of the bushes first, being the fearless kitten he is. Then, I saw another black kitten come out behind him, then another....a gray kitten so small that she could barely stand up straight, but so beautiful, and perfect in every way. I picked the gray one up, and held her in my arms. She did not try to scratch or even make a movement, just sat still, looking up at me. This was the most awesome night ever. "Paris" was watching every move I made from a few feet away, but she seemed to trust me. I put more food in her bowl, and held the three kittens for a while. Then, I noticed that there was a fourth small black kitten, that was very shy, hiding in the bushes. He went to the very edge of the bushes, and would take small steps towards me, but then go back into the bushes. He's the only kitten that would not let me touch him, so I named him "Dice", because he doesn't like to take chances. I later named the small gray kitten "Queen", because she is so perfect, and all the other kittens seem to dote on her. Before it's all said and done, I will hold "Dice".

Paris and her baby

I discovered blackjack first, and thought that he had been abandoned. He was so cute and friendly, and basically crying for help. So, I scooped him up, and held him for a long time. Then, I saw the mom cautiously walking towards me. I thought she was gonna scrap, but surprisingly she  just wanted me to return the little guy. So I did, and I think me and that mama have been cool ever since. But what I didn't know, is that there would be so much more in store for me than just this one little cutie and his mom!

Bizarre Beginnings

One might wonder, how does someone refer to themselves as a "bizarre barbie". Well, it was not a name I came upon lightly. I've always wanted to be just a barbie...just a perfect, "all-American", blond, "trend-setter", with the perfect barbie body, despite my love for sweets and "comfort food", rich and happy--without a problem in the world. But, it took a lot of life experiences, and me turning 30 (sad face) to realize that that concept simply doesn't exist. She's a doll for crying out loud!!!! I had to accept the reality that the only "trend-setting" I am a part of is on the weekends when I get to wear business-casual clothes at work, instead of my navy blue uniform shirt (ugh navy). And my "perfect barbie body" has a few (or maybe more) imperfections, including but not limited to a butt so big I refer to it as needing it's own zip code. I'm far from rich, and I've discovered that happiness comes in little moments filled with meaning. And problems? Well--I don't really have problems, but I spend most of my days fixing others' "problems", and getting paid far less than a psychiatrist does for doing the exact same thing. But--life is, and always has been one big adventure for me, filled with passion....a lot of passion. I'm ruled by passion, and it reflects in everything that I do, and every emotion that I exert. That's where the bizarre comes in. Well, that and an angry letter to the CEO of a tanning salon that I felt "wronged me", but that's neither here nor there. So, this blog is not an overnight thing. It's something that I've wanted to do for a long time. It will be an "everything blog" with stories and pics from my "bizarre", everyday adventures. I can't wait to share! My first blog will be about the kittens (pics included), and I know you will love it!!!!