Lipstick Queen Jean Queen and Pinky Nude

 

lipstick queen

Top color is Saint Pinky Nude, Bottom color is Jean Queen.

I don’t know what it is about lipstick, but I kind of, sort of, well LOVE IT! I have always liked make-up but as I’ve gotten older I no longer wear a ton of it. One of the few items I still wear religiously is lipstick. I remember years and years ago my mother once said to me “Go put some lipstick on, you look dead.” Not the most flattering comment she has ever given me, but still it helps emphasize my need for a little color in my life. I do tend to be rather fair skinned and with my (now) grey hair, I can look a bit washed out if I don’t add a subtle color to my lips.

So when I recently took a trip to Ulta I headed straight to the makeup department. That is where I was introduced to Lipstick Queen. I had never heard of this line before and still don’t really know much about it. I do understand it was started by a woman named Poppy King from Australia who couldn’t find the right lipstick and instead decided to make her own. Well, I have to say  I love her lipstick (at least the ones I’ve tried so far). I have only decided to purchase 2 lipsticks so far, but I’m going to add at least one more to my collection by asking Santa for it this Christmas.

Jean Queen

Jean Queen is actually the second Lipstick Queen lipsticks I purchased. After buying Saint Pinky Nude I decided to do a little research on Lipstick Queen and found out about Jean Queen. It is supposed to be the perfect color to wear with blue jeans and is considered appropriate for all skin tones. Although the color looks rather intense it is actually very sheer. For me that is a must as I like to look a bit more natural with my lipstick color. I do find the color to be really appealing and natural looking while still offering a kick to my less than colorful lips.

Saint Pinky Nude

When I first encountered Lipstick Queen I saw this really lovely nude color. It was Saint Pinky Nude. The sample tube was labeled Pinky Nude and I kept seeing Saint Pinky Nude and Sinner Pinky Nude on the boxes. Took me a few minutes to realize they were 2 separate incarnations of the same color. Saints, in the Lipstick Queen line, are sheer colors while Sinners are more matte and opaque. As I said above I like a sheer lipstick as I feel more natural in it. This Saint Pinky Nude perfectly mimics my natural color while supporting it with a fresher, slightly more intense look. I adore this lipstick and it is my go-to daily color. This is perfect for those times when you want to look put together but not made up! It is my everyday, kick around the neighborhood, go shopping and picking up the kids at school-color. For me, it is the lipstick that started my new obsession with Lipstick Queen.

So I mentioned above that I want to get a few more colors and that I might just be asking a certain man in red for at least one more this holiday season. Want to know which one I am obsessing over now? Hello Sailor! It is pretty funky looking since it is a blue lipstick. BUT fear not. It can be worn alone, but I want to use it as an understain to my other colors. I think it will add a richness and depth to some of my M.A.C. lipsticks I currently own. I have to say, Lipstick Queen is easily outpacing M.A.C. in my opinion.

Have you tried Lipstick Queen? What are your favorite lipsticks?

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Wordless Wednesday Floral Painting

My latest watercolor. Still unfinished.

flowers

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Gluten Free Meal Plan with Ham and Cranberry Sauce

This week our Gluten Free Meal Plan will include some tried and true favorites. My boy have busy Mondays and Tuesdays so I often rely on dishes I know how to easily execute and I know will always turn out. One of our favorites is baked ham with sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce.

 

Gluten Free Meal Plan

Monday – Roasted Chicken with roasted potatoes and broccoli

Tuesday – Gluten Free pizza featuring Udi pizza shells and Wegman’s Special Blends Salad Kits

Wednesday – Gluten Free Meatloaf with greek spaghetti squash

Thursday – Grass Fed Steak, organic non-GMO corn and salad

Friday – Ham, mashed sweet potatoes and homemade cranberry sauce

We LOVE homemade cranberry sauce every fall and winter. My boys specifically request I make mine (which is really very simple and pure) for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, no matter where we are celebrating. I tend to purchase large bags of cranberries from places like Costco and then take a free Sunday to make and can the sauce. That way we have cranberry sauce throughout the season.

 

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

1 Cup water

1/2 Cup sugar (organic)

1/2 Cup brown sugar

12 oz package of cranberries, washed

In a large saucepan bring water and sugar to a boil. Add cranberries and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally so the mixture does not burn. Allow to cool and refrigerate until ready to serve OR can while still piping hot. This recipe is based on the classic Ocean Spray recipe

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VTech Kid Connect and Innotab 3S Giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided by VTech with a subscription to Premium Kid Connect to facilitate this review. VTech is supplying the Innotab 3S for the giveaway.

kid connect 3

I recently told you about the cool VTech Innotab 3S that my boys have really been enjoying, but now that tablet has become even cooler. We finally installed the VTech Kid Connect which allows my boys can send me text messages from their Innotab 3S directly to my mobile phone anytime and anywhere. To me the beauty of this is that we are on a safe and secure system that only allows them to text approved devices. No chance of them texting the wrong person, or more importantly have a stranger text them! And although we don’t have a second InnoTab 3S, if we did, our kids could safely text message each other directly. I think it would be fun if my in-laws were to get an Innotab 3S for our niece and nephew so my sons could stay in touch with their cousins, whom they love dearly. I know hijinx would ensue as soon as those 5 got a hold of Kid Connect.  They would be talking to each other every chance they got. Which for us would be a wonderful relationship builder.

As the mom of a child with autism, I know how important it is to build connections between my child and other kids. With Kid Connect my boys can talk to friends, each other, and me and my husband in a very safe environment. They still get the thrill of using an electronic device, and I get the piece of mind that we know exactly who they are communicating with. Such a win-win situation!

VTech Kid Connect app is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play, and the Innotab 3S comes with a one years subscription to Basic Kid Connect.We got a chance to try out the Premium Kid Connect subscription and it is super fun! My boys have really enjoyed sending me voice message, photos and drawings. I have actually loved sending drawings back to them, but I think they like getting the voice messages the best. For the first two weeks after registration of your InnoTab 3S, a Deluxe Apps package with Premium Kid Connect is available for $14.99. The package also includes Movie Maker (a $7.99 value), a stop-motion animation app that lets kids become movie directors. Once the two week promotional period is over, Premium Kid Connect can be purchased separately for $14.99.

Kid Connect 4

To find out all the latest information about VTech and Kid Connect you can follow them on Twitter or like them on Facebook

GIVEAWAY

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