Bath and Body Works Flashback Fragrances - Limited Time Only!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015


I've been a fan of Bath and Body Works for so many years!  In fact, i still remember my very favorite fragrance ever... May Bouquet!  OMG what i wouldn't do to have that fragrance return... sigh!  All is not lost though because Bath and Body Works has brought back some of their most popular fragrances with their Flashback Fragrance event! These are only available for a limited time! Run, don't walk to your local B&BW store and stock up on old favorites like Cucumber Melon (major trip down memory lane with this scent), Pearberry, White Tea and Ginger, Juniper Breeze and one of my favorites, Country Apple!  These fragrances are only available until July 5th so don't wait!  Besides, if you shop now, you can take advantage of the Bath and Body Works Semi Annual Sale!  Don't tell my husband but I've already placed two orders! Shhhh it's our little secret OK?





So lets chat... what's your favorite Bath and Body Works fragrance? Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

*press samples - all opinions are my own.

Shine Out Loud - Butter London

Monday, June 29, 2015


I've been a fan of Butter London nail polishes for several years! My nail polish wall pretty much speaks for itself!  I was stoked when i learned that Butter London was expanding their line with makeup.  All i can say is, if you already love their nail polish, you will absolutely fall madly in love with their new products, particularly the lippies!  One of my favorite looks is a fierce cat eye and a bold lip.  The products I'm showing you today will help achieve this statement look with ease.  First lets chat eyes... Butter London's Wink Eye Pencil in Union Jack Black (btw i have the nail polish in Union Jack Black and it's hands down my favorite black polish) is a classic black eye liner that glides on beautifully for a flawless finish.  You can tightline the lash line or create a bold effect wearing this intense black beauty! Toss in some major lashes with Iconoclast Mega Volume Lacquer Mascara! This beauty promises 300% increase in volume with one coat, boosting lashes with the double feature, molded mascara brush.




Now for my favorite part... the bold lips!  Honestly, the Bloody Brilliant Lip Crayon in Ladybird was the true standout in this collection!  This highly pigmented color intense shine gloss is the perfect match for my lips.  The color is a bold reddish orange and the formula leaves my lips feeling hydrated and soft which i love.  I also love the wearability on this beauty!  It will easily last a few hours on your lips!  I highly recommend this lippie to everybody and anybody because i simply couldn't imagine anyone not loving the heck out of it!


Love matching your lipstick to your nails? Of course you do!  You'll want to reach for Butter London's Trend Nail Lacquer in Ladybird.  This color will make quite a statement!  I love that it's a perfect red for spring and summer!  It's warm enough that it's totally wearable for this time of year! You will most certainly see me rocking this beauty on my fingers and toes this summer!


Check out Butter London's line of makeup and nail lacquers!  I'm loving everything i've tried thus far and will definitely be adding more to my collection!

Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

IT Girl Contest Entry Video - HELP ME WIN!

Friday, June 26, 2015


Hi beauties!  You all know I'm a HUGE IT Cosmetics fan and am so excited to enter their IT Girl Contest!  I just posted my video to YouTube and really need your help to make it to the next level! Please view my video, give it a thumbs up and PLEASE share using the #VoteITGirl!!!!You can tag me on any of my social media accounts so that i can give you a virtual hug in return! My social media is listed via clickable links on the blog. In this video, i enlist the help of two very special little IT Girls (my twins) as well as my IT puppy!  I created a fun, easy look using my favorite IT products.  I hope you enjoy the video and i thank you SO MUCH in advance for your support... always! Xo, Carla

Nautica Life - Celebrating the Anchor in My Life!

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #NauticaforDad  #CollectiveBias



Father's Day is fast approaching.  This time of year always has me feeling quite nostalgic as i reflect on all the wonderful memories I've shared with my dad.  Growing up, there were two things that embodied my dad's essence most... his guitar and the scent of his cologne.  I grew up listening to countless hours of my dad strumming away at  his guitar.  He's so passionate about his craft and can literally fill a room with intense emotion when he plays some of his most beautiful melodies. However, his musical endeavors were not all that i remember.  My dad is an incredibly handsome man.  To this day, he still takes great pride in his appearance.  In fact, i have such wonderful memories of the days he took me shopping! We have a mutual love of all things fashion and could seriously spend hours upon hours searching for a few good gems! But fashion aside, dad never left the house without a splash of his cologne.  He always smelled amazing!  His signature scent often lingered in the air long after he'd gone yet was never overwhelming... in fact, i remember it being quite comforting.  As a child, i loved that i always felt him near me even when he wasn't.  




As father's Day approaches, it only makes sense to give my dad a gift that reminds me of the wonderful memories we've shared.  As i walked into my local Macy's men's fragrance aisle, i was quickly greeted by a few super friendly associates who help me pick out the perfect gift for dad! As i browsed the wonderful selection of fragrances, the Nautica Life Gift Set really resonated with me! The refined blend of uplifting freshness, mysterious aromatics, and seductive woods reminded me so much of my dad's cologne from my childhood!  One sniff was an instant trip down memory lane!  At that very moment, i knew I'd found the perfect gift for the anchor in my life!  


My dad has sported Nautica for as long as i could remember. A Nautica man really speaks for an everyday hero, a man who loves water and seeks the connection to nature and to people through this element. My dad is the epitome of this man!  Growing up, my dad connected me with nature through many camping adventures, endless beach days and picnics on the grounds of my favorite palace in Portugal (The Feather Palace aka Palacio Da Pena).  I'm so incredibly blessed for being able to experience all of these things with my hero!



While I'm no longer a little girl dancing on my daddy's toes, i love and embrace the man that he is today.  From the day he walked me down the aisle, to the proud look in his eyes when he sees my little girls. So this Father's Day, i celebrate the lifelong journey of my dad's love with the new Nautica Life fragrance.  I know daddy will love it too!  This gorgeous set includes a 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette, 2.5 oz After Shave Balm, 2.5 oz Shower Gel and 1 oz Eau De Toilette (perfect for travel) for only $65 (total value $128).

Want more? Check out this amazing giveaway! One Grand Prize Winner will win  a $4,000 Cruise Vacation Package.  Five Second Place Winners will win a Nautica Men's Fragrance Gift Package.  

Nautica for Dad

Now that I've shared some of my favorite memories of my dad and I, I'd love to know... who is the anchor in your life?

Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette

Monday, June 15, 2015


Last month, when i attended Sephora's VIB Rouge event, i actually had the Kat Von D Shade + Light palette on my shopping cart!  Sadly, i took it off thinking i already have way too many palettes and really don't need anymore!  WTF was i thinking?!!!!  When i got home, i filmed my haul video and felt as though i'd made a major mistake by leaving this beauty behind!  So i quickly added it to my virtual shopping cart and patiently awaited this beauty in the mail.  When it arrived at my doorstep, i quickly put it to good use!  I was anxious to see if it was actually worth keeping!  In one simple word... YES!  This is one of those palettes that people will notice immediately!  Expect lots of compliments!  You can create some incredible looks from deep smokey to light and neutral.  The thing that sets it apart from many is that the color payoff is intense and a little goes a long way! It's funny because when i first purchase this palette, my parents were away on vacation and everytime we skyped my mom complimented my eye makeup even after a long day of work when i felt as though i looked a mess. The thing is, no matter what the rest of your face looks like at the end of a long day, your eyes will still look uhhhhmazing when you wear these shadows!  You'll get a 'how-to' pamphlet teaching you how to create several contoured eye looks which is quite helpful.  I've worn the heck out of this palette and love it.  If you want another Kat Von D recommendation, definitely splurge on the Tattoo Liner!  It's my absolute go-to liner for creating the most perfect cat eyes!









Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM


Pixi Pretty!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015


I always get excited when pretty little Pixi packages arrive at my doorstep.  If you've kept up with my blog, you know i'm a huge fan of this brand and look forward to trying new products whenever i can. Well, today i'm showing you a few treasures that you'll want to keep close to you this summer!


You've heard me say over and over that i'm a lover of multi-tasking products.  This is partly due to the fact that i'm a busy mom always on the go... but lets face it, who isn't always on the go (mom or not)! Pixi's Brow Powder Palette is the ultimate multi-tasking situation!  It features six gorgeous eye brow shades that will compliment just about anybody's brows.  You can pick the shade that best suits you or simply mix a few together to customize your color.  The best part for me is that i can use these beauties as shadows!  You can't go wrong with neutrals... but if you want to bring on the drama, this palette will certainly help you achieve a fierce smokey eye!  At $12... you simply can't afford not to have this beauty in your makeup stash!




One of the products i can always count on is Pixi's array of Endless Silky Eye Liners... seriously, these babies pack on the color and don't budge! Well, i nearly gasped for air when i laid eyes on Pixi's new Endless Silky Eye Intensify Duo Eye Liners! These waterproof, super-long-wear, no-smudge, silky duo eye liners are designed to bring out either warm tones (Brown Eye Intensify) or cool tones (Blue Eye Intensify) in your eyes!  Eyes instantly look brighter and lit from within!  These are officially a staple in my makeup bag!


The weather is heating up and so is this gorge new Pixi Nail Color in Sweet Strawberry! Seriously, this nail hue is so summer perfect... it's bright, happy and an incredibly delicious feast for your eyes! A total summer must have!

You can get your Pixi fix here or at Target stores and online.  Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM (press sample - all opinions are my own).

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CEW Beauty Insider's Choice Beauty Awards 2015

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

CEW Beauty Insiders’ Choice Beauty Awards are the only award voted on by industry experts. The CEW Insiders’ Choice Beauty Awards spotlight the most innovative products of the year, and its list of 210 finalists makes a gal want to hit the stores stat! 

There were so many amazing products selected this year!  I'm featuring a couple that really stood out but honestly... i can just go on and on and on about this year's amazing selection!  
Narciso Rodriguez is a designer i've admired for years! Narciso Eau De Parfum was created exclusively for Bloomingdales and is the ultimate in luxury.  I would describe it as a beautiful, woody-musk floral that is instantly intriguing and captivating! This beauty will make heads turn! 
Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer is insanely gorgeous!  I'm a huge fan of shiny nail polish and this one certainly knows how to make your nails shine!  I'm loving the color Pandore 754... a beautiful, timeless red that will instantly add a touch of glam to your nails!  
If you've kept up with my blog, you know i've been LOVING Living Proof Lately!  The Living Proof Instant Texture Mist is doing wonders for my second day hair!  I've been rocking their Curl Collection and when i add a bit of this mist to my locks, it instantly adds life into my locks!  It's definitely a current BFF of mine.  I love that i can just spray, shake and go! 
I'm excited to share a sneak peek of the first CEW Insiders’ Choice Digital Beauty Guide, the ultimate go-to beauty resource for consumers.  The digital magazine includes winning and finalist products, expert tips from industry insiders, trend forecasts and clickable icons to purchase products. An online version of the guide will be available on CEW.org and an app version is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play by searching “CEW Beauty Awards Insiders’ Choice Guide.”
These are just a few of many CEW finalists i'm loving right now... Head on over to CEW.org for more info on this year's finalists! 
Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM (press samples - all opinions are my own)
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It's All About You!

Sunday, June 7, 2015


It's that time again... IT Cosmetics has teamed up with QVC to bring you a 'one day only' special deal featuring some of their customer favorites!  It's All About You! 4-piece customer favorites collection is a gorgeous assortment of products i personally use everyday.



For this QVC TSV, IT Cosmetics has released the new Naturally Pretty Face Palette combining their famous Vitality Matte Bronzer which I've loved for years, Hello Lights Creme (one of my favorite highlighters), Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder (omg there isn't one single day i don't use my BBP loose powder so needless to say i was thrilled to see the pressed version) and gorgeous pink blush!  This is a seriously amazing one stop shop situation!


If you ask me about holy grail products, the first one on my list will always be Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer!  Listen, there is nobody... nobody on this earth with darker, puffier under eyes that i!  No I'm not being overly dramatic, I'm speaking my truth!  As a beauty blogger I've tried and tested hundreds of concealers and i have yet to find one that lives up the likes of IT's Bye Bye Under Eye... therefore, this is the one and only for me!  This full coverage, anti-aging concealer helps to visually camouflage the appearance of imperfections and is long lasting!  It is infused with collagen and vitamin C so you can rest assured that while it's doing its thing to conceal the necessary, it's also keeping your skin young and protected.


Celebration Foundation is one of those products you simply have to try for yourself to see the kind of impact it has on your complexion.  A few swirls of this beauty and your skin will look flawless and airbrushed.  It's so cool!  I still remember the first time i used it a few years back... i walked past a mirror and literally did a double take!  My skin looked like porcelain! For this TSV, IT's reformulated this already perfect beauty with SPF 50!  Just in time for summer!!!


I'm obsessed with IT brushes... i mean, who isn't really!  But if you ask me which is my fave (OK who am i kidding, that's quite a difficult question) but i can tell you that i own several Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brushes because i use them for everything!  I conceal, i contour, i highlight, i apply blush... really the list goes on and on.  I don't know how anyone can live with less than 3 of these!  If you already own one of these then you know what I'm talking about!


The worldwide launch of this set will only be available for 24 hours, starting at 12:01 AM on Monday, June 8th at an incredible deal (under $60)!!!! You don't want to miss out!  If you're curious, my shade is medium.  Head on over to QVC and pick up this set before it sells out! Get excited and happy shopping!  Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

Saved By My Skimmies!

Tuesday, June 2, 2015


It's no secret that I'm obsessed with fashion!  I love nothing more than to style fun new looks for my everyday life!  Accessories have become everything to me when creating a look.  Yet, it's what we often don't see that helps give your already perfect outfit that extra kick it needs to really rock your confidence!  For me, Jockey's new Skimmies have essentially saved my summer!  Yes, I'm aware that summer has yet to officially begin but in just a few short weeks, I'll be rocking my favorite skirts and dresses and lets face it, we all need a little extra sense of security when wearing certain things. Wearing my Skimmies makes me feel confident and less afraid of a possible Marilyn Monroe stepping over a vent moment.  I mean sure she looked all glamorous letting the wind flow up her gorgeous dress... on me however, not quite the same effect!  Trust me!





I've had so much fun styling my Skimmies! For this post, i drew some inspiration from People Style Watch magazine and paired some of the outfits i wear my Skimmies with along with my favorite accessories! Skimmies are super light weight and help keep panty lines to a minimum while offering anti-static defense for flowy skirt days!  Since it's flowy skirt season, i may need to add a few extra Jockey Skimmies to my collection!  Have you checked out Jockey's Skimmies yet?  They're so comfy you'll want to stock up!

Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla

*My Skimmies were sent by People Style Watch Magazine to try.  All opinions are my own. #savedbyskimmies #stylehuntersloveskimmies
- DESIGNED BY ECLAIR DESIGNS -