Quo for Orly~ Christmas Red NOTD

Full Sunlight

For my birthday this year (December 10th, so not too long ago) my sister gave me this little Quo by Orly polish along with a lovely shirt. This polish is a true red that doesn't lean blue, pink or orange. It didn't come with a name as it's a mini bottle but I believe in full size it is Red Hot. It's a perfect festive shade for the holidays, exactly the colour of Rudolph's nose or Santa's suit. All my photos are coming up a little orange but it doesn't have that cast in real life- it's a bright cherry red. 

(Truest to colour)

 I was actually really impressed by the formula of this little polish. It was almost completely opaque in one coat and it glided on really nicely. The brush though small was very good too, firm but flexible. 

In the photos I'm not wearing any base or top coat so as you can see it's quite shiny. It also seems to be wearing well so that's a bonus.

Beware those that have big fingers though! This bottle is tiny! I have small hands to begin with so you can sort of get an idea from the photo above. The little bottle stands about 2 1/2 inches high. But such a cute way to try a shade don't you think?

Quo by Orly polishes are available in Canada at Shopper's Drug Marts.

Overall, I like the colour, the packaging and the formula. Plus it's tiny so it doesn't take up a lot of room. Heck I may actually be able to finish a polish this size! Classic.

Sprite Rating: 9.5/10 Not sure why I took off a 1/2 point but I guess I just don't feel it deserves a perfect score. Maybe for the super small handle of the brush.

Would I buy this again? Yes, the formula was great and the mini is adorable, especially for colours you aren't planning on wearing too often.

Darling Girl Darling Deer Christmas~ Swatches and Review

I'm a bit late on this collection but I'm enjoying it! This is the Darling Girl Cosmetics Darling Deer Christmas collection! Some of the shadows and the liner are from the main collection but I'm including them anyways as they were a part of my order :D. I'm going to start with the lippies but I've got quite a few of the shadows too!

L-R: Kiss You Off Lip Balm in Cookies for Claus, Holo Gloss in Jolly Holly

L-R: Kiss You Off Lip Balm in Cookies for Claus, Holo Gloss in Jolly Holly

I'm ADORING the Kiss You Off Lip Balm in Cookies for Claus! Such an amazing Cranberry with gold reflect! Just amazing and festive!

The Holly Jolly Holo Gloss is also lovely. Slightly gritty due to the holographic glitter but a true red shade with gold and light green (but it looks gold on) glitter.

Midnight Train Aqua Liner

Aqua Liner in Midnight Train

Close-up of Midnight Train Aqua Liner

The colour of this liner is fantastic. Really beautiful and complex. Slate blue with magenta glitter. These aren't waterproof, but I believe Susan from Darling Girl is working to try and make them water resistant. I've not been able to try it on yet due to holiday madness but I hope to soon!

Loose Pixie Glitter in White Christmas

This glitter realllllly needs a glitter adhesive base. I tried it over two different primers and just had it ball up and fall off. It looks so pretty but as I left my Pixie Epoxy at school I'm not going to able to use it until January. If I remember I'll try to review it then.

Eyeshadow in Comet

Comet is a beautiful shade! However, I think this one would too benefit from a sticky base as just on primer it tends to go plum-red and loose the beautiful purple-green interplay. You'll be able to see what I mean in my swatch.

Dancer

My favourite from the collection is Dancer! A beautiful forest green with silver and red glitter! *Drool* So happy I got this one!

Blitzen

Blitzen is the most neutral shade I got from the collection. Gorgeous light peach-gold with a very faint pink reflect and gold shimmer. Something easily useable all year round!

T-B: Blitzen, Persuasion (GWP), Comet

Persuasion, the gift with purchase is a fantastic super shimmery light purple with gold shimmer. 

Comet if you look in the left part of the swatch you can slightly see the green reflect.

Rudolph

Rudolph is another really neat shade. Deer brown with lots of silver glitter, it also has a faint red reflect (like Rudolph's nose!). I love how unique this shade is.

Rudolph 

And finally the samples I recieved :D

Angel Face

Angel Face is a lovely matte purple (that looks grey in some lights) with light blue subtle shimmer.

Angel Face

Angel Face (Artificial Lighting)

Here you can see Angel Face as grey and if you click to enlarge you can see the blue shimmer.

T-B: Mustang eyeshadow, Purple Haze Blush

Mustang is a lovely neutral medium smokey brown eyeshadow. Purple Haze is a super pigmented magenta/berry blush with a slight sheen. 

Did you buy anything from Darling Girl Cosmetic's Darling Deer Christmas? Anything here that really pops to you? 

Note! Darling Girl Cosmetics is closed until the New Year, but the Christmas collection will still be available then!

 Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day!

Holly Jolly Christmas Tag

I saw this tag on Jaci Walker's blog and I just had to do it! I love Christmas so I wanted to share with everyone else some of things I do around this time of year!

1. Favourite Christmas movie?
Every year I try to watch The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the one with real people). I love this movie it makes me so happy! Another one of my favourites is the really old Rudolph movie where he goes to the island of misfit toys.
2. Are you on the Naughty list or the Nice list?
Considering I don't get up to much while I'm at school probably the nice list, or at least I'd like to think so!
3. Show us an embarrassing Christmas Card photo! (We know you have one)
Sorry, no pictures for Christmas cards in this family. I think it's that we always forget until it's way too late lol.
4. Have you ever had a White Christmas?
Almost every year, I live in Canada and I love having snow until about February than I don't want snow anymore. I do enjoy downhill skiing though.

5. Where do you usually spend your holiday?
Well before my Grandparents passed my whole family would have Christmas eve and morning at their respective homes and then travel to my grandparents for a huge get together/feast. We'd then spend about a week with them. Now however we usually have my great uncle down and have a smaller feast and relax at the house.
6. Play or sing your favourite Christmas song!
All I Want for Christmas is You, is one of my favourites, however mostly I enjoy the really traditional songs like God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen, etc.
7. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?
Mostly no, but I can remember one year that we opened one gift Christmas eve.

8. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Yep lol- Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. I'm a little obsessed with the reindeer. 
9. What holiday tradition are you looking forward to most this year?
Being all together and eating all the amazing food my mom makes!
10. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?
It's always been fake, plus I don't really like the idea of cutting down a tree for just a month of decoration. Not to mention they're less stable and drop needles everywhere. 

11. Hands down, what's your all-time favorite holiday food and holiday sweet treat?
Shortbread cookies, and Curry cauliflower. Strange sounding I know but my Grandmother served it every year at Christmas and it's amazing (which is saying a lot as I don't like cauliflower otherwise.)
12. Be Honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?
I think it depends on the person! Does that sound awful?

13. Show us your tackiest Christmas attire (eg: Ugly Sweater)
Awwe I love tacky Christmas sweaters! And Christmas themed pjs. I don't have a pic at the moment but I got this awesome reindeer sleep shirt this year which I am enjoying greatly. :D
14. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?
I like having Christmas at home, but afterwards Costa Rica or South Africa would be awesome to visit! And I'd enjoy visiting St. Lucia again.
15. Does your family have a special holiday recipe you like to help make?
I tend to avoid cooking but we often have thimble cookies, shortbread cookies and other various yummy baked goods I help eat. 
16. Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably? 
I think I'm somewhere in the middle. I'm not horrible but I'm not exactly skilled either lol.
17. Most memorable Holiday moment?
Laying under the christmas tree at night looking up at the lights and ornaments.
18. What made you realise the truth about Santa?
I heard something somewhere about the Easter Bunny not being real and asked about Santa. I cried.
19. Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick to them?
No, because I don't stick to them.
20. What makes the Holidays special for you?
The feeling of happiness/oneness with my family. The decorations, the food and gifts come next though.

Darling Girl Darling Deer Christmas 2011

I just recently tried out Darling Girl Cosmetics for the first time about a month ago with their adorable Darling Ghoul Halloween collection, and their Christmas collection Darling Deer is dragging me in despite my no-buy too! This collection is super cute, and exactly what I envision Christmas to be, yet it is really really unique at the same time! These are the preview pictures Susan of Darling Girl cosmetics has posted and I'm sure you all will be as blown away as I am!

Aren't they all awesome!? I'm totally loving White Christmas, Vixen, Rudolph, Holly Jolly, Dancer, Cupid, Cookies For Claus, Comet and Blitzen. If I had to choose just one it would be Comet, look how complex it is! 

Which ones are you interested in? Excited for Christmas/ Holiday of Choice?

Haus of Gloi Yule

Haus of Gloi released their Yule 2011 collection today. It's quite a bit smaller than their Halloween release but I believe their Autumn release is their biggest of the year so that is expected. Anyways, it looks like a nice selection of scents. All prices are in USD.

Eggnoggin- The Haus 'nog! Cream, sugar, and a shot of dark rum topped with fresh grated nutmeg. Available as a Perfume Oil, Bubbling Scrub, Emulsifying Scrub, Pumpkin Butter, and Whipped Soap. This one sounds lovely doesn't it?

Hearth- The warm glowing centre of home. Autumns last apple pickings, warm bread, orange rind, various fire roasted nuts, cracked black pepper all nailed down by an oozing sticky benzoin. Available as Perfume oil, Bubbling Scrub, Emulsifying Scrub, Pumpkin Butter and handmade soap. Also interested in smelling this one.

Parkin- Glorious ginger cakes celebrating Guy Fawkes Day! Brown sugar, black treacle, oats, a peculiar blend of white spices topped with chopped roasted chestnuts and coated with the lightest of icings. Available as a Perfume oil, bubbling scrub, handmade soap, pumpkin butter, and sugar exfoliant.

Plotter's Breakfast- Oatey porridge, stove smoke, kindling wood, a hint of gunpowder and a pinch of sweet pipe tobacco. Available as a perfume oil, whipped soap, bubbling scrub, emulsifying scrub, and pumpkin butter.

Snow Wolf- Bristling and prowling, lonesome and haunting. Three howling firs, white frankincense, vanilla bean husk, tainted by droplets of blood cedar. Available as a perfume oil, bubbling scrub, handmade soap, emulsifying scrub, pumpkin butter and sugar exfoliant. This one sounds intriguing, I think I'd either love it or hate it!

Sweet Potato Treat- For me, this is the epitome of holiday comfort food: Sweet potatoes with mild spices, butter and brown sugar baked off with marshmallows. Available as a perfume oil, pumpkin butter and whipped soap. Personally not interested in this one, but that's because I don't like sweet potatoes.

Three Treasures- Sacred gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold. Smoldering with warmth and brightened with a touch of mandarin rind. Available as a perfume oil, a handmade soap, bubbling scrub, emulsifying scrub, and a pumpkin butter. Oooh! This sounds like something I'd really like!

The perfume oils from this collection are $3 for a sample vial and $15 for a 5ml vial.
Bubbling scrubs are $3- $4.50 for a small 2oz tub or $9- $10 for a 6oz tub.
Emulsifying scrubs are all $11.
Pumpkin butters are $4.50 for a 2oz tub or $10 for a 6oz tub,
Handmade soaps are all $6.50 a slab.
Whipped Soaps are all $7.00 for a 6oz jar.

Anything you're going to order?

Cult Nails Winter Pre-Sale- This Weekend Only!

THE SUPER POWERS COLLECTION Power Thief (right) is a milk chocolate brown with a spark of powerful shimmer Time Traveler (below left) is a royal navy blue jelly that dries to that perfect Cult Nails shine Mind Control is a slate gray polish with a perfectly complementary magenta fleck Clairvoyant (left) well... honestly... need we say more

Cult Nails http://shop.cultnails.com

Get all 4 colors for $30 plus shipping and handling  www.cultnails.com Twitter: @CultNails facebook.com/cultnailslacquer

The pre-sale event will start 11/4/2011 and go through 11/11/2011

The collection sells for $30 (USD) during the pre-sale event only.  That is 25% off the regular price!  The pre-sale event will only include the entire collection.  Individual colors from will collection will release after the pre-sale event.