Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Legal Disclaimers

So recently, the FTC updated their blogger guidelines.  UGH BUMMER.  I think it's good, because there are bloggers that are not as transparent as they should be; if only we could get photoshop guidelines, right?!  But I think on the other hand, there are online magazines and real magazines that are as opaque as can be because they don't have to follow these guidelines.  I do have a disclaimer on the right-hand side of my blog that says: "Unless explicitly stated otherwise, any products reviewed have been purchased by Ms. Meghan for review/enjoyment."  And this is still true, but I wanted to hash out the details a little bit more clearly.  So with all that being said let's get a few things out of the way.
  1. Advertorials, sponsored posts, and straight up ads.  I have not done any previous to this post, and I also don't anticipate doing any.  I am a little fish in a big blogging pond but regardless if the opportunity comes my way I will comply with FTC guidelines and make it clear that this is a sponsored post (although TBH I feel like those are pretty obvious when people do them).
  2. Affiliate links: I don't have any and I don't see myself using any in the near future. 
  3. Products sent for promotional review: I don't get products sent to me but I am not adverse to the practice.  If a company were to send me a product for review,  I would obviously disclose it and also try to give a fair, balance, review.  I don't gifts with purchase, point-of-sale samples, or in-store requested samples under this umbrella.
  4. Conflict of interest:  Okay, this one is tricky.  A few years ago I applied and was technically hired to work freelance for MAC which as an FYI is owned by Estee Lauder Companies.  And then maybe 6 months later (July 2010?) I re-submitted my paperwork so that I could correctly be input into the system and conceivably work for MAC.  However beyond my initial tryout interview I have not spent even a minute working behind the counter.  So technically while I am "employed" by MAC I've never worked for them nor have I received compensation from them.  
  5. Any links in my sidebar or within posts are websites and/or blogs I go to on my own time and do not receive compensation for providing any links.  Any links posted on my Twitter/Tumblr fall under this with the exception of reblogs/retweets for giveaways.  While technically if I won I would be receiving compensation for promoting a blog, I haven't won yet.  Also I think that's pretty transparent in the reblog/retweet. 
  6. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.  I work for a very large corporation and I have no intention of mentioning who my employer is and what they do, however I would like to make that abundantly clear.
All statements made in this post regarding the presence or lack thereof of specific types of content are true as of the date of this post but are subject to change.  Any changes in content will be reflected in clear disclosures in each post. 

Monday, December 31, 2012

A Triumphant and (somewhat) Fierce Return!

Hello friends!

I'm sure you all are wondering where on earth I went.  Let's make a list:
  • I worked 2 jobs over the summer which took up more of my time than expected.
  • Had to deal with a large grain weevil infestation; I shake my tiny fist at organic soba noodles which were definitely the cause!  As a result I had to throw out A LOT of food.  Ugh.  No food = no recipes.
  • Went on my first week long vacation of the year and threw my back out, for reals!  I spent the week on muscle relaxants and asleep.
  • Spilled some boiling water on myself resulting in 1st & 2nd degree burns on one arm and 1st degree burns on my chest.  I couldn't dress myself properly for at least 2-3 weeks, let alone cook or do beauty posts.  I mean I still painted my nails, because I'm pretty sure almost nothing could stop me from doing that.  ;)
  • Dealing with mental health and developmental issues that I've pretty much always dealt with but they have been exacerbated significantly in the past 6 months or so.
 It's been a heck of a year, let me tell you!  I'm pretty pleased to see 2012 go, mostly because it kind of sucked

So even though I am spending New Year's at home with Mr. Core, I thought I would post my hypothetical New Year's Eve look.  I recommend this look for anyone who is fierce and single on New Year's Eve.  It's not for the timid, as black lipstick rarely is.  But it makes a statement about how badass you are, and you don't need no one to kiss, you are amazing all by yourself!

This look was initially inspired by MAC's Strength collection.  I was SO EXCITED that Pink Pigeon (bright pink) and Party Parrot (warm, bright pink) lipsticks were coming back plus Firm Form, a black and gold lipstick?!?!  And then MAC decided not to distribute it to counters, which meant it quickly sold out online. :(  So no new lipstick for me.  But I decided to give golden black lipstick a try.  Because anyone can do a shimmery black smoky eye and neutral lips but why not try something different?


New Year's face
YEAH BLACK LIPS!
Let's do a look breakdown:

Face:
-Smashbox Hydrating primer mixed with Benefit Girl Meets Pearl
-L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation
-Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer
-Sonia Kashuk face powder
-Too Faced Milk Chocolate Bronzer to contour cheeks
-MAC Peachykeen blush & Lightscapade MSF to highlight

Eyes:
-Tarte Clean Slate Eye Primer
-MAC Coquette eyeshadow for my brows (I've also used Mystery)
-a mix of MAC Bare Study Paint Pot and Buxom Stay There eyeshadow in Poodle on the lid & lower lash line
-Sephora Prisma Chrome eyeshadow in Moon Beam generously on crease (it looks like it's been DC, it's a lovely pale champagne with a pink flash)
-Wet n Wild Creme Brulee on browbone
-L'Oreal Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara in Very Black

Lips:
-Urban Decay Lip Primer
-Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero
-NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean
-NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Aigle Noire (ultimately unnecessary but what else am I going to do with it?)
-L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Gloss in The Muse's Shine which was LE but any gloss with a strong gold shimmer will do.

Basic steps:
1. Prep your face as needed.  You don't want to go overboard with blush or shimmer, the goal is clean, slightly glowing skin.  As I get oily skin pretty quickly, I opt for luminizer in my primer and a matte powder to set, but you may need to switch it up.  A light cheek contour with blush/highlighter completes the look.

2. Luminous, glowing eyes: I wanted a clean, shimmery eye look, to brighten my eyes without making them the center of attention.  Mixing pale shimmers adds depth without too much extra work and a matte shadow on the brow bone nicely balances the shimmery lids.  The look is complete with precise but not overdone brows, curled lashes and mascara.

New Year's face
3.  THOSE LIPS THOUGH.  Okay prep the heck outta your lips.  Exfoliate and moisturize, but wipe off the excess moisturizer before applying the lip primer.  Give the primer a little time to set, and then outline and partially fill in your lips with black long-wear eyeliner.  Smudge it towards the center of  your lips, and then fill your lips in with the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil.  You can top it with the NARS pencil but I ultimately felt this step was unnecessary, as it didn't make much of a difference.  I found the easiest way to apply the gloss was to put some on the back of my hand and apply it with a lip brush, making sure to add a little extra along the cupids bow and in the center of the bottom lip.

New Year's face
SRS BIZNESS FACE!

I assure you, I tried to style my hair, it's not just bedhead.  And yes, there is a slight pink tint because I like a little bit of pink hair on the weekends.

If I had to pick a New Year's Mani, instead of the shimmery purple I'm wearing right now, it would have to be a version of my opal manicure:

opal nails
This is seven coats of nail polish, but I think the end result is SO FREAKING GORGEOUS so I don't care.  I'll do an upcoming post on this (promise!) but it is basically a white jelly sandwich with opalescent glitter & gold shimmer in between the white layers.  I think it's prettier and slightly unexpected compared to the the usual metallics.

And that's my New Year's post!  I'm definitely planning on blogging more in 2013, I've got recipes I've been working on and beauty to chat about!  Happy New Year everyone! 

love and cupcakes,
Ms. Meghan

Monday, June 18, 2012

What do we mean when we talk about: trigger warnings

Hello friends!

I've got a social justice type post for you today, as one of 2 prequels to a post I'll either throw up tomorrow or Wednesday.  Today I wanted to talk a little bit about trigger warnings.  You may have seen the phrase "trigger warning: ______".  I wanted to explain what these terms are in a meaningful way, because I think that having a better understanding of something can help to change things for the better.

Trigger warnings
Let's open this with the simple idea that other people are going through or have already gone through a rough period in their lives.  This could include being a victim of violence, sexual assault, or abuse.  This could be dealing with addiction, self injury or an eating disorder.  These experiences are incredibly difficult and often leave a person particular sensitive to reliving these experiences if they are reminded of them.  Sometimes a literal reminder of previous or present difficulties, such as discussing excessive dieting around someone struggling with an eating disorder, but it is also possible for something not as literal to trigger someone.

What does it mean to be "triggered"?
Honestly, this is different for everyone.  For some people, being triggered could give them a panic attack, an anxiety attack or it could give them the urge to take part in self-harming behavior.  Without going into details, I do have some triggers myself, and my reaction is one ranging from queasiness to a small panic attack: my stomach twists up, my heart races, I can't think straight, I get very upset and sometimes cry depending on the severity of the trigger.  I haven't developed very good coping mechanisms, so I can be a bit haunted by the imagery/content for some time after I initially experience it.  I would consider myself pretty lucky, in that I don't have too many triggers and I can manage okay even if I am triggered by something, but for some people being triggered can send them into a paralyzing spiral of really awful feelings.

Why should I use a trigger warning?
 I'm firmly of the opinion that you should use a trigger warning because it is a decent and considerate thing to do.  When something isn't put under a cut, or doesn't have a trigger warning, it sometimes feels as if whoever created the post is saying "remember that really horrifying thing you experienced?  Well why don't you read about something similar and while you're at it just relive the whole experience."  Especially in cases of traumatic events, that's what it can feel like.  It's a matter of respect and courtesy because you just don't know what people are going through. 

When and how should I use a trigger warning?
Again, I am of the opinion that a trigger warning is an easy and considerate thing to use.  I encourage people to err on the side of caution but generally, if you are writing about something in graphic detail, if it is a sensitive subject matter, or if it contains potentially offensive language.  If you can, put this warning at the top of the post and if possible, put any triggering content under a cut.

How is this not censorship?
The purpose of a trigger warning is not to stop everyone from experiencing your content (which is what censorship is) but instead to give a heads up to people who would not want to partake of it in the first place because of the negative effect it would have on them.  They are still able to choose whether or not they want to view/read/listen to your content, and no one is restricted from your content.

I think that covers everything!

If you still have questions, please [respectfully] leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them!  Here is a great tumblr post that explains trigger warnings.  Here is a tumblr post with a list of some more well known triggers.  Please keep in mind that I am writing this based on personal and peripheral experience, so if anything needs to be corrected, please let me know.

Thanks for reading!

love and cupcakes,
Ms Meghan

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Friday Jams: nerdyfuntimes edition!

Hey there!

Here's a quick friday jams post while it is still friday!  (ed. note: I wrote this last night, really, and must have been really tired because I didn't actually post it, sorry!!)

Jam:
Star Wars Radio Play from the 2012 ECCC
This video features some of the best voice actors in the biz, doing some of the voices that they're most known for in a live reading of Star Wars scenes.  This includes Kevin Conroy (Batman) and TARA FREAKING STRONG (Bubbles, Twilight Sparkle, Raven and SO MANY MORE).  I could've done without so many celebrity impressions but I was still dying with laughter and I bet you will too!

Jelly:
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH.  I've read it twice now, and this past week, I started reading it, after getting about halfway through and putting it aside months ago, and honestly it's like I never left.  The premise (as I understand it) is that instead of emigrating to Israel a large portion of European Jews were given a piece of Alaska to settle in.  The story itself is a really good police procedural built within this reality and it's just perfection. 

Marmalade:
Alkaline Trio!
I love that Alkaline Trio has gotten even more catchy than they already were but they still maintain a nice air of spookiness, they are one of my go to bands when I am in a rotten mood and need to sing in the car.

That's it for this week, have a great weekend!

love and cupcakes,
Ms Meghan

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

On vanity and drivers licenses

Hello friends!

So this past weekend I realized that I absolutely had to get my license renewed which also meant a new picture! I spent part of Saturday morning watching youtube tutorials and planning my makeup, which sounds silly but if this is a picture that will be around and scrutinized for the next 5 years, I want it to look as good as humanly possible. Are you in a similar situation?  If so, then read on for my tips for a super fine license picture!

I can narrow down my license photo makeup tips to two words: Clean Definition.  For me this meant the following:
  • Bright eyes with sharp brows: Primer, a lighter than flesh-tone shadow (WnW Creme Brulee), a thin line of black eyeliner (UD Zero), and mascara.  I use a MAC shadow and brush #208 to fill in my brows.
  • Lip tint and blush: I'm a big fan of Benetint and Stila's lip crushes, and any low-shimmer pink blush.
  • Even skin: Primer (I'm really liking Tarte's primers right now), Smashbox BB Cream (or use the foundation of your choosing), concealer, and powder to set. 
I also needed the appropriate products for contouring but there was one problem, contouring was a complete mystery to me!  And maybe it's also a mystery for you?  Well mystery solved, thanks to the wonder that is the Pixiwoo youtube channel!
This video is a great guide to basic contouring and made a world of difference for me!  Now to show you what products I used:

contouring for fun and profit
Too Faced Milk Chocolate bronzer, Wet n Wild Creme Brulee eyeshadow (a perfect pale beige matte shadow, which is getting its own post soon!),  Sonia Kashuk Flushed blush, Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmer Powder in Champagne (a pale gold/white shimmer) and a couple of Ecotools brushes.  And this is my look:

contouring for fun and profit
My goofy face.  So in case it wasn't super obvious, I only contoured the left side of my face (and was a little heavy handed with it) to give you an idea of what kind of difference contouring makes.

Since license pictures wash everything out, it's important to use a slightly heavier hand for the contour, brows and lips, while leaving your eyes and cheeks light so that they're still easily visible.  Especially your eyes, if you wear an overwhelming eye look they could be totally lost!

So in spite of all my time and effort, when I went to AAA on Saturday they told me their camera was broken and would just re-use my old picture.  Of course!  Nevertheless, I hope this helped you and here's to many lovely license pictures!

love and cupcakes,
Ms Meghan

Monday, June 4, 2012

Apologies and polish reviews!

Hello friends!

So a week went by without a peep on here, I'm so sorry!  I fell behind on blog posts and as soon as I would turn my thoughts to posting something, I caught an extreme case of writer's block!  But I'm back and I have a few new polishes to review plus one layered manicure that was so froofy I couldn't NOT post it!

The good:
Essie Mojito Madness!

Essie Mojito Madness
How gorgeous is this?!!?


Essie Mojito Madness

This is a part of the "Bikini So Teeny" collection, and I had been wanting a color like this for a while and I'm so glad this is the polish I picked up!  It applied like a dream and I barely needed 2 coats for it!  I did apply over a ridge filler, but I use that more to protect from staining.  Either way I bet it would still apply really well, this polish didn't get goopy or drag and it looks BEAUTIFUL.  Definitely recommend it.

The Bad:
Revlon Runway Pearl

Revlon Runway Pearl
4 coats!
I wanted to love this polish, it's a beautiful LE white/ivory with a red/orange/gold shimmer.  It's really stunning in the bottle.  BUT it goes on so thick, a little streaky, it took 4 coats to build opacity AND IT BUBBLED LIKE CRAZY.

Revlon Runway Pearl
THE BUBBLES! (editing note: I cropped and sharpened this using flickrs editing tools)

And you can see a little bit of the bottle in the above shot, the shimmer is really beautiful but the formula isn't worth the headache.

The Awesome:
Here are my "prom dress" nails!  Every time I looked at my nails I kept picture a puffy skirted sky blue dress with baby pink tulle that was covered in bits of silver glitter.  I have a major soft spot for froofy dresses, let me tell you.


Prom Dress nails!

This is OPI What's with the Cattitude topped with 2 coats of Pirouette My Whistle from the NYC Ballet Soft Shades collection that just came out and CND Raspberry Sparkle on top of all that.  I really like PMW, it's a mix of silver microglitter and white pearl hex glitter.  It's really beautiful and looks lovely over pastels.  It's the best picture I could get of my nails before I took this off but isn't it lovely?

And that's all I've got for today!  I've got another beauty post in the works for Wednesday and of course there's Friday Jams!  Thanks for stopping by!

love and cupcakes,
Ms. Meghan

Friday, May 25, 2012

Friday Jams: The Hoopy Frood Edition!

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm so sorry I missed my Wednesday post, I was just losing my mind this week and I got distracted and spooked watching a scary movie for 365 Days of Horror!  This is the 3rd guest post I've done, and I watched House on Haunted Hill!  Vincent Price sure is dreamy but it's a little disconcerting to watch the movie alone in your basement apartment.  You can read my review of HoHH here, and you can read my other two reviews if you're interested: Suck and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.

But onto the jams!!!

Jam:
HAPPY TOWEL DAY EVERYONE!
If you are a hoopy frood then you know where your towel is, and you know that today is Towel Day!  Today is meant to celebrate the life and works of the late author Douglas Adams, who wrote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and all but one of its sequels.  It's crazy funny sci fi and they also made a movie, starring Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, and Sam Rockwell.  Even if it's not book accurate it's one of my favorite movies, here's the trailer:
I just love this movie!  It's so charming!

Jelly:
REGINA SPEKTOR
Speaking of people I love, this lady is amazing.  And she has a new album out this Tuesday!!  In the meantime you can listen to a stream of the whole amazing record on NPR here!  Or watch the video for the single "All the Rowboats" if you're so inclined:
Eeee I'm so excited!  I really love this album, and I think it's better (or maybe just brighter?) than her last one.

Marmalade:
EGGPLANT BACON!
No that is not a word salad and I am not having a stroke, eggplant bacon is the genius invention of IsaChandra Moskowitz, as seen in her cookbook "Appetite for Reduction"!  But if you really wanna try it, she's also posted the recipe here!  My 2 tweaks: I toasted some spices (whole peppercorns, cardamom, coriander, crushed red pepper flakes and chunks of garlic) in a tiny pan and added the soy sauce to that with a little water and let that mixture heat up.  It's like a spicy soy sauce tea, but this adds more flavor without extra fat/calories; I let that cool before adding the liquid smoke and eggplanting it up.  And when I put the eggplant slices back in the oven for the last time, I sprinkled a little paprika on top because paprika is wonderful.  And this was so delicious!  I had an eblt with garlic hummus and OH MAN IT WAS WONDERFUL.  Definitely give this recipe a try, I wasn't even sure I liked eggplant but this made me a believer!

And that's it!  Happy long weekend friends, I hope you have a good one!

Love and cupcakes,
Ms. Meghan