Unboxing #NDL04 from Quarterly Co.

My fourth delivery from No More Dirty Looks via Quarterly Co. arrived on Black Friday. I was very excited. A little song and dance in my kitchen may have been involved. #NDL04  ran into a few obstacles getting here like backorders and then Hurricane Sandy. This post was then postponed due to conflict with the Gift Guide, so let's get down to business before #NDL05 gets here.

This quarter is all about a little company called Sprout; which due to a recent slew of changes is now called S.W. Basics. From the site: "...all of our ingredients are either certified organic, Fair Trade, or sourced from small family farms."

With S.W. Basics the packaging is pretty, the ingredients are simple, and I think any of their products would make great stocking stuffers.

Sprout Lip Balm Flight is a sleek little tin holding a handy little drawstring bag containing all 4 flavors of lip balm. Available in ethically sourced Beeswax or Vegan. Flavors are Peppermint, Cocoa, Citrus, and Cinnamon. I love love love lip balm, so I was particularly excited about this part. My lips are very important to me.

I dove right into the cocoa flavor which I would characterize as light and delish (in scent and flavor). It's not sticky like some other beeswax balms I usually buy.

2 oz. Sprout Makeup Remover composed of Sweet Almond Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Jojoba Oil is all organic and doubles as a moisturizer. I'm usually terrible about taking off my makeup at the end of the day, but this oil is providing the incentive to change that. I love the way it feels on my skin, it works even on waterproof mascara, and so far it hasn't caused any breakouts.

Snowflakes for December!

I'm going to talk about winter again because, well, it's winter! But also because I'm going to be going to Costa Rica for 10 days starting on the 13th so I will be missing half of my favorite time of year being away! I found this nail art challenge on Instagram for the month of December and thought I would give it a go! 

Day 1 is snow and since snow is made up of snowflakes, I made snowflakes! I recently purchased China Glaze's First Mate and then found this awesome wrapping paper that completely inspired me. 

I used several brushes from this brush set and I'm sort of really in love with how they turned out. I think the whole thing probably took an hour and half and once I finished the first few nails the whole process went pretty quick. Considering this is only my second time using striping brushes, I think I did alright. Prepare for too many pictures! Muhahaha!

To start, here are the polishes in question. 

From the Left:

OPI's I've Have a Herring Problem

Ulta's Cream of the Crop

Milani's White on the Spot 

China Glaze's First Mate

Essie's Snap Happy

I love China Glaze's First Mate so much so here is a swatch of just that alone. I'm so in love with it. It's an amazing navy blue with some purple undertones and it's just fabulous. 

Happy Polishing!

Skull-A-Day Calendar

Per a fan request I've created a 2013 calendar featuring 12 images from my original Skull-A-Day project!

Get yours through Zazzle today HERE.

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win a Baby Bones Clothing $100 Gift Voucher

This contest has ended.  Thanks to everyone who entered for the great comments.

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday, December 5th  to enter our latest giveaway contest for a $100 gift voucher from Baby Bones Clothing.

[NOTE: If you are reading this on Facebook or Google+, you must go to THE ACTUAL BLOG POST HERE to enter this contest! You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+] 


Of course you don't have to wait for our contest to be over to win. Right now Skull-A-Day readers can receive 10% off by emailing their orders to admin@babybonesclothing.com.au. Quote the keyword "Skull-A-Day" to make sure you get the discount.  Thanks again to Jess and the Baby Bones crew!

Sunday Simulacra - Version 6.27

This week's simulacrum come from unordinary places.

Minta Thomson of Phoenix, AZ was cleaning out her Degu enclosure and discovered this dusty skull stuck to the plexiglass door...

...and Heather Reizner of Rolling Meadows, IL was being spied upon at the Manteno State Hospital for the Insane, in Manteno IL. It was abandoned in 1985, and this is in the ceiling of one of the underground tunnels.



Once again we see that the hidden skulls around us can be ANYWHERE! Be sure to submit your finds to add to our collection. Thanks, Minta and Heather!

Calavera de Mariposas

Today's colorful skull is titled "Calavera de Mariposas", and it comes from Emily Austin of Rockvale, TN. Starting with just an idea of a butterfly for a nose she created this piece with pens, pencils, and paint.

The butterflies and sunflowers are full of cheerfulness that make you want to smile just like this skull is.  A fitting tribute to remember, with liveliness, those who have passed before us in the most positive of lights on Dia de los Muertos.  Thanks for adding this to our weekend, Emily! 

Christmas Yoga Advent Calendar

Bonus Weekend Post!

It's always interesting to see what the yoga community comes up with to keep yoga fun for the holidays, and today's addition is no different.

At just one pose a day the Christmas Yoga Advent Calendar by Nicola Jane Hobbs makes yoga totally accessible. Start today to finish in time for Christmas Corpse Pose. If you want more - it could also be done together as a full sequence. You could even add on each day until you're doing the full sequence on Christmas.

Available to Download and/or Print. Free!