Previous Polish Progressions Part 1 of 3 (2012 Edition)

These are some outdated photos of when I had a lot more time. It's a collection of various nail art and nail polish swatches I did back in 2012. They are in no particular order really, except by what kind of nail art (sort of). There are some nail polishes that I don't have anymore and/or were borrowed, so I can't exactly list all the names, but I will try my best. Also, I apologize for the quality of the photos and the "unruliness" of my nails. My camera phone wasn't exactly topnotch, and a lot of these were done before I made use of a nail buffer properly. =P

Nail Art Stickers

Here is the first of the series; nail stickers. They are the easiest way to decorate your nails with graphics. It does help for them to adhere better when your nails are buffed and a base coat is applied. A top coat after does help them last longer too. So easy and convenient.

Sephora by OPI's Trend Tips in Birds

I may have to hunt another pair of these stickers down. They are really one of a kind.

Sephora by OPI's Trend Tips in Lace

I really love these. They're so steampunk and styling. A Clockwork Orange, anyone? ;)

Swatches

These are some of your standard shades and styles. =P

Essie's A Splash of Grenadine, topped with Sally Hansen - Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Strobe Light.

This is one of the first Essie polishes I've ever owned. It is probably one of my favourites too. The Sally Hansen glitter polish is nice, though I have a problem with how SH polishes age. They don't have a very long shelf life since they tend to dry out too fast. They are pretty though...

Sally Hansen's Mint Sorbet

Apologies for the blurriness on this one. I was also wearing a lot of colours this day, with my poison mushroom buckle - one of my faves. This shade I don't have anymore, because the polish was too dried out and goopey. it is a nice minty colour though.

Thanks for reading and viewing these polishes. I hope you enjoyed the first part in this series.

~Misty

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Expansion Anticipation

For anyone who is interested, Diablo III is a stand alone game. You don't HAVE to play the previous Diablo games in order to understand this one. There is some shared lore, but the story and characters are pretty solid, in my opinion. =)

Diablo III is coming out with it's first expansion, Diablo III: Reaper of Souls on March 25th. This is one game that I actually played when it was originally released in 2012, but the previous account with Blizzard was not my own.

From the Blizzard Diablo3 media site.

So, during the past month or so, I have rebuilt my Demon Hunter from scratch, and it was definitely a helluva lot easier with the Community Event Buff (*PLUS* +50% more bonus experience). I believe the buff has been maxed to +100% more EXP for THIS WEEKEND ONLY. It is available only up until the day before the release of the expansion, and available only for PC and Mac. So you have until March 24th to level up your characters as much as you want. Three more days.  And apologies to my dearest console friends.

Concept art of Diablo's face, also from the Blizzard site.

I think we can expect the newly added character will definitely be popular to players who have been at this game for a long while, and to players who have missed the Paladin from Diablo 2. For those who don't know Diablo III well, you initially have the options to play Barbarians, Demon Hunters, Shamans, Wizards, and Monks. You don't get to choose their basic features, but you do get the option to pick the gender of your character. Personally, and I can vouch for my brothers too, I am definitely looking forward to creating the newly added Crusader. From what the D3 Wiki says, they already remind me of the days filled with Dungeons and Dragons, and my Lawful Good Cleric kicking butt. ;)

With the expansion, the level cap will be topped off at 70, whereas it was at 60.  Much like the expansions on the MMORPG, World of Warcraft, the caps have been extended a few more levels. I'm not sure that really helps with Blizzards' continuing love for making players level grind. Though with that said, I don't mind it with this game much since it's a fast-paced hack and slash game.

Another thing I am gleefully clapping my hands for, are additions to the Followers back stories. There were a lot of questions on my part that included Lyndon the Scoundrel's and Eirena the Enchantress' back stories, so I'm hoping Blizzard doesn't disappoint. Yeah, yeah, you can put Kormac the Templar in there somewhere too.

Tyrael, though, is by far my favourite character of the game. He is just so badass. I picked up this Pop! Games (Funko) figurine at a local EB Games. He was $9.99 (CAD). I just couldn't resist those little blue wings.

Lastly, I think we can all say we're looking forward to new loots. Since the Auction House has been shut down (as of Mar 18, 2014), I'm wondering how that will affect trading between players. Though I already think the Loot 2.0 version far outclasses the old system. Yay for less junk! I have noticed a few items meant for crusaders only, so it's just adding to my geeky anticipation.

Wings of Valor equipped in-game.

Yes, there is a huge plethora of new updates and shinies. I've only touched on a few things I'm looking forward to. You can check out all that new jazz right here. And, If you grab that pre-order BEFORE the release, you're going to get some pre-orderly loots (3 DAYS!). My screenshot doesn't really do the Wings of Valor much justice though. The long golden feathers flow and move like wiry waves, taking on the unique style of wings featured throughout the game.

No Wings equipped in-game. =(

My Demon Hunter decked out in Royal Dyed armor.

Anyway, thanks for tuning into my first video game post. If you guys are interested in the game, I recommend grabbing a copy to enjoy the Hells out of it. Cheers, and happy gaming!

~Misty

New Hourglass Blushes

These new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes have been out in stores for about a month now, and I went and treated myself to two of the shades, Luminous Flush and Mood Exposure.

One of the reasons I purchased these were because they are free of parabens, talc, fragrance, nanoparticles, and gluten. Yep, that's right. It's on the box.

These blushes are so comfortable and light to wear. They are silky and the finish is just gorgeous. I find them to be sheer when applied, but the colour is buildable if desired. There is a very slight shimmer, but since the powder is so fine, it comes off very natural. Their packaging states, "A truly multidimensional blush that enhances cheeks with seamless, soft-focus color, and a natural radiant finish." They definitely hit their mark. These blushes do not disappoint.

They are available at Sephora for $41.00(CAD) each.

Because of my darker medium tone skin, I felt these shades were the best accommodating. The pigment is just so vivid. Below is Luminous Flush and Mood Exposure, respectively. Luminous Flush is a rosy pink colour, and Mood Exposure is a thirsty plum colour.

These two are on the brighter spectrum of the shades available, and Mood Exposure is the deepest shade. When applied the marbleized hues mix to create the unique colour payoff you see in the swatches.

The compact is smaller than Hourglass' original Ambient Lighting Powders. At 4.2g(0.15oz), they sit easily in the hand. Though smaller, I don't think I would recommend travelling with them. Even the packaging states the blushes are fragile and require care when handled. The marbleized appearance is lovely, but when you start using the product, the powder mixes easily.

I think that's all I can say and show about these fabulous products. Thanks for reading!

~Misty

L'Occitane en Provence Must Haves

Just an opening disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. I purchased these products with my own money, and this is my own opinion and experience with using L'Occitane products.

I have been using A LOT of L'Occitane en Provence's Shea butter hand cream lately, and I am loving it. I have a huge history with eczema-ridden hands due to very dry weather, and dry office environments don't exactly help my case. Anyone from the Alberta, Canada can relate to this.

This winter has been yet another difficult interval, and who doesn't suffer from weather that is dry, and cold, and dry? Layering up just doesn't cut it. For me, my hands will split, crack, and flake easily a lot during the season.

I survived the winter with L'Occitane's Shea Butter hand cream in my bag. I started out with the 30 ml (0.1 oz) mini tube. I think it was a godsend when I first used this cream. I find that my hands are looking and FEELING the best they have ever been in my entire life. I didn't think it was possible with my history with eczema. After the tube was out, I went and got a 150 ml (5.2 oz) tube for home, and even one for the office.

Retail prices are as follows:
150ml (5.2oz) Hand Cream Tube - $30 CAD
30ml (0.1oz) Hand Cream Tube - $12 CAD
150ml (5.2oz) Pure Shea Butter Tin - $45 CAD

While the Shea Butter is only available at the L'Occitane store, the hand cream is available at both L'Occitane stores and Sephora stores. Online shopping is applicable too. ;)

The cream is a richer formula that is non-greasy. It does have a light scent, but it isn't overbearing at all. What I love about it is that there is no oily "after-feel" when applied. It sinks into the skin like no other moisturizer I have ever come across. I find that my hands are a lot more comfortable than they have been in a very long (looooooong!) time.

There are a few things I would like to mention about their packaging. The mini tubes are light weight, made of plastic, and are great for taking them on the go. It is recommended that you recycle all the plastic/paper parts. The bigger sized tube is made of metal, and is not meant for recycling (just for clearing that up). The lid for the metal tube is plastic too! A bonus to the large size products is that the packaging actually includes braille. I know it's not a requirement for brands to do this, but when they do, I find their integrity to sell a product just goes the extra mile.

I am also a big fan of their pure Shea Butter tin. They add vitamin E which makes a great combination to healing chapped skin.

Apparently it's L'Occitane's 20th year on the market and even as a new subscriber, I find their deals are pretty sweet. Just yesterday I picked up a free redeemable hand cream trio (all 10 ml or 0.3 oz) that comes in a small knitted pouch that resembles a bad Christmas sweater. Seriously! This was free with the code in your email. No purchase required or necessary. There are minis to the mini tube. No more needs to be said.

Thanks guys!

~Misty