Be My Valentine!

Ahhhh Valentine's Day!  While i was never a huge fan of this particular holiday, my perspective changed once my little girls were born.  Having them in my life made me want to celebrate the heck out of this day!  But you know, it's not all about them!  Here are a few things this mommy is absolutely loving right now!  

Too Faced Sweetheart Perfect Flush Blush - OK while at Sephora the other day, i absolutely fell in love with this stunner!  Aside from the fact that it's heart shaped and adorable, these lovely shimmery shades will brighten your complexion and give you that 'just made out with a super cute guy' flushed look instantly!  I have seriously found my new favorite blush!  I'm currently sporting it in Peach Beach! 

When i spotted this Picnic for Two basket at Anthropologie my heart skipped a beat!  Gosh it's been years since my hubby and i have gone on a picnic!  Wait, did i just say gosh?!  I'm getting old! Ok focus Carla... Sometimes, it's the simple things that fill heart.  I may have to pick this up and plan a little picnic for us... now if only this dang snow would finally go away!  Can you tell i've had enough?  We are snowed in again!  Ok enough ranting... 

Valentines' Days is synonymous with pink right?  Well, i think i've found the perfect pink to dazzle your manis and pouts this V Day! Check out this spectacular Bobbi Brown 'Uber Pinks' polish in pink peony!  This shade will turn heads!  Perhaps i'm a bit partial to the name as peonies are my absolute favorite flowers!  If you're looking for the perfect compliment to your pretty pink mani, consider this stunning Jouer Lip Gloss in Malibu... or if  you want to be real matchy matchy, they also make a pretty little pink in "peony"! These glosses add just the right amount of color while keeping your pretty pout hydrated and looking its best!  I absolutely adore them!

One might say i have a slight obsession with Alex and Ani bracelets!  I can't help myself... they're just so addicting! I swear, the bigger the stash the better the arm candy!  I hope my sweetie surprises me with this pretty little number... but if not, i'll get it for myself!  Why not right?! 

Everybody loves a sweet love note!  With all this new technology, emails, text messages etc... love notes have become a thing of the past.  But this old fashioned girl still loves a great hand written love note... this card completely stole my heart!  

Whatever you decide... i hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!  If you don't have a valentine... consider making today all about you!  We all need a little pampering... why not pamper your pretty little self!  Happy Valentine's Day lovies! xoxo Carla

Oh wait... there's MORE!  Read up...

If you follow me on Instagram, then you've already seen this but it's that time of year again!  Allure Magazine is holding their annual Beauty Blogger of the Year Awards!  I encourage you all to enter.  I had the most amazing experience as a finalist last year and can honestly tell you that's it's been a life changing experience! I'm so grateful to Allure for giving me such an incredible opportunity and seeing something special in my blog.  For all of you that think... 'they'll never pick me' ENTER... you never know!  Pssst... i was one of those who thought they'd never pick me... but they did!  Good luck everyone!  Can't wait to cheer the finalists on! 

I'm a FINALIST in Allure's Beauty Blogger of the Year Awards!!!! Ahhhhh

I've waited a ONE YEAR to make this announcement, and the day has finally arrived!  Last year, two months into starting FMM, Allure selected me as an alternate in their Blogger of the Year Awards contest!  At the time, i was thrilled to have been recognized by my beauty bible knowing my blog was so young!  I knew that with a little bit more time to build upon my blogging ventures, perhaps I'd make into the actual contest a year later!  So, when Allure began accepting applications this year, i sharpened my eye liners, brushed up on my video editing skills (which you'll get to see when the challenges go live) and went to work!  I submitted my best work and waited anxiously for that phone call that may or may not happen!  Well, it did!  At that very moment, i felt as if all of my blogging dreams were finally coming to fruition!  I was no longer an alternate... i was a FINALIST baby!  This year, Allure selected only 10 finalists to compete in the BBA.  Also, aside from the smaller number of competitors, Allure has changed things up a bit from last year's competition!  I won't go into too many details so not to spoil any fun surprises but stay tuned!  Starting today, you can view my (as well as the other contestants) introduction videos and bios here!  On Monday, April 15th, the contest officially goes live and you will be able to see our first challenge posts complete with fun videos!  I hope all my wonderful readers come back and support me on this most wonderful journey ahead!  I'm so excited for this beauty throw down!  May the man with the best lipstick... WIN!

FMM Turns ONE!

Today is a very special day!  FMM turns ONE!  One year ago today, i sat in this very same chair, and set off on what would be a life changing journey for me.  You see, fashion and beauty have been a passion of mine since childhood.  While many of my teenage friends shopped their local drugstores for lipsticks and eyeshadow, i saved up every last penny i could get my hands on to splurge at the Nordstrom's MAC counter!  I studied fashion and beauty magazines as though they were college text books... still do!  I sketched many clothing in hopes of one day becoming a fashion designer.  I even attended FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) over the course of a couple of summers to indulge my love of fashion.  After college graduation, i decided to work in fashion.  Sadly, that dream went silent after September 11th.  It was a day that changed my whole life... i became petrified of traveling to NYC everyday.  So my life took on a different course.  One I'm incredibly proud of and happy with.  However, for years and years, i longed for something more.  I searched and searched, knowing one day, it would come to me.... and it did.  I'm honestly not sure why i didn't do this sooner, but perhaps i just wasn't ready.  But one year ago, i embarked on this wonderful journey.  I knew in my heart of hearts that this blog would be a tremendous success.  Not so much in the conventional term for success... but simply for what success means to me.  This blog has been a wonderful vehicle for me to share my innermost passions for fashion and beauty.  Interestingly enough, my initial intention was to create a fashion blog, hence the name.  But as the weeks and months progressed, i realized that beauty was my nitch and what i most loved to write about. 

My dream was completely validated when only two months into my blogging ventures, Allure Magazine selected my blog as an alternate in the beauty blogger awards.  I couldn't believe they selected my little blog out of thousands!   While i didn't make it to the actual competition, this selection alone was an incredible nod from the beauty Gods affirming that this was indeed what i was meant to do.  So much has come to fruition this past year.  I'd say that my absolute favorite venture was being selected to represent Allure Magazine and the HBA Global Expo in NYC.  Wow, talk about an amazing experience!  I am very much looking forward to the year ahead!  I look forward to new ventures, new opportunities, and most importantly providing my amazing readers with fun and informative material to read!  I thank each and every single one of you for your precious time... every comment, and every compliment validates all my time and effort.  Being a mommy sometimes poses its challenges when it comes to finding the time to post... but this sweet little blog of mine was the last piece of the puzzle i searched so long and hard for.  Now... I'm complete.