Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

Two word sum these new lip butters up........moisturizingly creamy.  I don't think moisturizingly is a word, but it fits.  These are sooooo nice.   They are like a lip balm, but more creamy, and with color.  I only own two of them (as of now, I plan to purchase many more), I have gumdrop and pink truffle.  These are not in all drug stores yet, in fact I went to Walgreens, CVS and K-Mart before I found them at Rite Aid.  They run about $7.50 and I believe come in 20 different shades.  They are more sheer and softer then a lipstick, but still have pigment.  Not like a lip gloss at all.  Just creamy.  They are exactly what you would imagine a lip butter would be.  They feel great on the lips, and you can get away with just using these (and can put them on without a mirror which is a plus for those of us on the go).  They wear relatively well, but they feel so good, I'm constantly reapplying them anyway.  The packaging is just like the Colorburst lipsticks, but the lid is transparent.  The tubes are slanted (like the Clinique Black Honey for example).  I love these and have heard nothing but good things from other people that own them.  They are perfect for a spring/summer color, but great for moisturizing in fall/winter.  I highly recommend!

Gumdrop, Pink Truffle

Gumdrop, Pink Truffle

Tarte LipSurgence

These were a bit of an impulse buy.  Sephora and Ulta had a set of them (5) for $29.99, but I heard they were sold out.  I was in Ulta a couple of weeks ago, and they had them so I snagged one.  They are a limited edition set (the ones I bought), however you can order them in other colors for $24.00 a piece.  They are actually referred to as "lip treatments", and come in lusters and tints.  The colors in the box set are 3 lusters in Dazzled (pearly coral pink luster), Flashy (bright iridescent fuchsia luster), Glitzy (antique pink luster) and 2 tints in Perky (soft carnation pink tint) and Swank (light cherry tint).  They glide on really smoothly and are fairly shiney, but not a ton of pigment (IMO).  They are not sticky, so that's a plus for those of you who don't like that feeling.  They have a hint of peppermint and contain no parabens, synthetic fragrances or phthalates.  Basically they feel like a lip balm with some color and shine.  A couple of them are a tad on the glittery side.  They don't need sharpening, they twist up from the bottom.   I'm really glad I purchased this set, but I don't think I would buy them separately.  I gave 2 of them to my daughter so I only have 3 to show.

Swank, Perky, Dazzled

Dazzled (bottom), Perky (middle) Swank (top)

Review: L'Oreal Le Gloss

 I am in love with these lip glosses!  They are very pigmented, and taste and smell like cupcakes, or cake batter......or butter cream frosting........I haven't quite put my finger on it, but it's yummy!  The first one I purchased was Really Rose (I can't tell the number on it, it got "erased" while in my makeup bag).  It's a very pretty "earthy rose" color, that's the best way I can describe it.  It is very pigmented and opaque, a very nice fall color.  The second one I got was Nude Touch (152).  This one is also pigmented, not quite as opaque, and a little shimmery, very versatile.  Next was Baby Blossom (151).  This is my least favorite, as it's not as opaque, it's a little like a streaky nail polish.  It's a milky pink.....once you work with it and get it on right, it's pretty also, very light.  And lastly, Watermelon Crush (154).  This one is less pigmented, a little more "see through" but still plenty of color....maybe a light fuchsia.  They are not sticky at all (and I love mine sticky lol) but stay on 2-3 hrs without reapplying (or eating, drinking, etc).  Like I said the smell and taste is yummy.  The price averages about $7.99, and you can pick it up at most drug stores or department stores.   I recommend!                                                                                                                                                                                                  

         

Really Rose, Nude Touch, Baby Blossom, Watermelon Crush



Really Rose, Nude Touch, Baby Blossom, Watermelon Crush



Somewhere in Time.......

We just recently returned from our yearly vacation to the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan (Mackinaw City, St Ignace, and Mackinac Island to be exact).  This is either our 7th or 8th trip there.  The first time I went is when my boyfriend (who now lives here) came up from Texas to visit me.  It was February and he took me there to visit some of his old friends, and show me where he lived.  Although it was in mid February, and absolutely FREEZING (and I've lived in Alaska....I've never been so cold as when we went to Michigan), and the lakes were frozen solid, it was the most beautiful place I've ever been to.  I just fell completely in love with it.  We went again in the fall, and all I can say is........go there in the fall!  It's so beautiful.  All the trees are so colorful, the lakes are sparkling and because it's past tourist season, it's not crowded at all.  We were gone 7 days and I've never been more relaxed in my life.  We always stay at The Driftwood (which is in St Ignace) and then just travel across the Mackinac Bridge when we want to go to the lower peninsula.  This time, we stayed at The Lamplighter Inn in Mackinaw City for 3 days, did all our exploring below the bridge, then went north and stayed at the Bay View Hotel and did all the U.P. stuff.  More economical that way since one way across the bridge is $3.50.  Both motels were great, for different reasons.  The Lamplighter Motel was so quaint, a lovely room, designed to resemble the movie "Somewhere in Time" with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeves.  The bed was a four poster and huge!  Not much room to walk around in the room, but the decor made it all worth it.  They even have nightly bonfires for the guests, what a great idea!  Unfortunately they didn't have them while we were there, it may be more of a tourist seasonal thing.  The Bay View Motel we stayed in when we went up to the U.P. was quite large, and on the water!  We opened our two HUGE windows, and could see and hear the water lapping up on the shore.  I could actually sit on our bed and watch the waves, it was gorgeous.  There was a nice sized table with two chairs in the room, and lots more room to walk around.  The decor was more like a standard motel room, but beautiful none the less, largely because of the view.  The only downside to this room was cell phone reception.  It was sketchy and there was no phone in the room.  Which was ok, because, after all........we were trying to get away from all that.  I'll post some pictures below of some of the highlights.  If you get a chance to go.....I HIGHLY recommend both motels, and Michigan in general.  Quiet, calm, lots to do and see, and fantastic food.  What more could you ask for?

Here are a few pictures of some places we visited.

"Screams" Ice Cream Shop, in Hell, Michigan.  A stop on the way.  We ate the "Gravedigger", a three scoop concoction that was gooey and delicious.  We received a "death certificate" for finishing it lol

Pretty flower bed behind the shop, with picnic tables and mini golf

A beautiful inn on Mackinac Island.  You get there by boat only, no motorized vehicles are allowed on the Island, including cars.  We had a lovely horse (thank you Rex and Dobbin!) and carriage tour around the Island.

Some scenery while we toured the Island (notice the bike rack?  Lots of bikes on the Island, pretty much the only way to get around.....snowmobiles in the winter!)

Never seen a see through butterfly before!  This was at one of the Butterfly Houses on the Island

The Legs Inn in Cross Village, Michigan.  Awesome Polish food and an even better view!

Yummy Polish food and I order a burger lol.  It was delicious!  A pretzel bun!

The "backyard" of the Legs Inn.  So pretty!  When you turn around, you face the lake.  :-)

Taquamenon Falls, the water is tea colored because it gets its color from the Cedar Swamps

Those are just a few of the places we went to.  We also visited the Garlyn Zoo, the Deer Ranch, and Oswald's Bear Ranch.  Wonderful time :-)