Happy New Year!!

I hope you all have a happy, fun, and safe New Year! Be careful! :)


Don't forget about my Orglamix giveaway, posted below. Start your New Year off by winning fabulous mineral makeup!

Orglamix Review & Giveaway!

The holidays have come and gone, and they were wonderful! I'm happy to have gotten what I did from my family, considering how hard the economy has been this year. Hopefully the new year will bring more joy and prosperity.

To get back into the blogging game, I'm hosting a giveaway for Orglamix makeup. If you visit a lot of blogs, you may have come across these lovely cosmetics made by Cheri. She graciously agreed to send me an eye color collection to review, as well as give away one color collection (or three single color shades) to one lucky reader!

I've won several shades from other blog giveaways, so I'm pretty familiar with these products. However, the color collection Cheri sent me was the Wicked collection, pictured here. As a rule, I'm not one to pull off bright greens and dark shades, but I felt adventurous and wanted to give it a try.

Orglamix is home to mineral makeup that is formulated without a lot of unnecessary chemicals such as nano particles, synthetic dyes, parabens, and bismuth oxychloride, which can cause skin irritation and can be dangerous in mineral makeup when not filtered correctly. Bismuth is used to make makeup shimmery and affix to the skin easier, but Cheri has found a way to accomplish this without using this chemical. Simply put, her mineral eyeshadow stays on wonderfully and shimmers for long periods of time. Her Sweet Pea shade is very light and yet shimmers like diamonds. Also, she is a member of PETA, so you know that these are animal cruelty-free.

Here are pictures of me wearing the Wicked collection. The greens Eucalyptus and Lagoon are so lustrous, and the dark shade Obsidian gives a smoky effect that really speaks of the popular Broadway show. Note that I don't have the best camera in the world.

Compared to others like MAC, Orglamix is very affordable at just $3.99 per shade (before shipping). Some would say that the container is too small, but you're paying over $10 less, and you really don't need to put a lot of the powder on! (And recently, she has upgraded her container size!) She sells brushes and Magnetism, an eye primer, but I've successfully used these products with just concealer cream and a cheap eye brush. Just imagine these with her applier products!

And now, onto your favorite part of reviews: The Giveaway!!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Orglamix's store and pick your favorite eye color collection (or three shades). Come back here and post a comment with your favorite. With every entry, including this one, please leave a way to contact you, either with an email address or Etsy username.

Optional Extra Entries:

1) Heart Orglamix on Etsy. Leave your Etsy username for proof. 1 entry

2) Follow Orglamix on Twitter @hautebeauty AND tweet about this giveaway: Giveaway! Win an Orglamix eye collection from @hautebeauty, hosted by @spektorish! Click here: http://tinyurl.com/yjuutvu Link back here with your Twitter name. 1 entry

3) Become a Facebook fan of Orglamix. Link back with your name. 1 entry

4) Follow me on Twitter @spektorish. Link back with your Twitter name. 1 entry

5) Follow this blog using Google connect. 1 entry

6) Heart my shop at laurart. Leave your Etsy name. 1 entry

7) Subscribe to my blog using the RSS Feed. 1 entry

8) Blog about this giveaway. Post a link back. 2 entries

This giveaway is open until January 11th. On that day it will close at 12pm, or noon CST. That's plenty of time to get all entries in! I will pick one winner at random by Random.org and then contact them for details. Good luck to you all!

Christmas on Etsy.

Well, tomorrow I'm going home for the holidays, so this blog will be on a mini-hiatus as I celebrate with my family and friends. When I return, it'll be back to tweeting, posting, and Etsy-ing while doing art. Also, I'll be reviewing Orglamix makeup and holding a giveaway for one of her amazing eyeshadow collections, so don't forget! :)

For my "final" blog post, I just wanted to showcase some items I found on Etsy that are Christmas-themed or colored. Some are just plain cute, some are elegant, and some are practical. Here are a few of my favorites, in no particular order...

Necklace of Mother of Pearl Buttons and Felt Balls, $35

By derinmavi

Eye Pillow Slip Cover - Funky Christmas, $3

By BoutiqueKarma

Felt Christmas Tree Ornament, $2

By MiniMaxwell

Ribbon Candy colored pencil art, 8x10 print $23

By paulapertile

Noelle Headband, $18

By FlockTogetherCrafts

Little Red Dress, $82.50

By 3ampoems

Ceramic Christmas Cereal Bowl Set, $40

By handpaintedbykristin

Garden Essentials - Garden Journal, $32

By PrairieGarden

Hot Chocolate Soap, $4.75

By MySpaSecrets

Hope your eyes had a lovely feast! Hope your actual holiday feast is delicious, hope you have a wonderful time with your loved ones... and hope you get the gifts you wanted. :) Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and to all a good night.

Be Safe... on your Blog.

My computer is just sitting there, in the room. I go downstairs to enjoy dinner and some time with my guy. I go upstairs, sit in the chair, and look at the screen.

My background has changed to green and black with "WARNING! Your computer has been infected. Serious malware has been detected!" Things are popping up (those gray pop-up boxes with the "dun!" noise) about Trojans. Yep, my computer has been infected. Still is, as I type this.

It was just a month ago when my PC had been infected the first time. Not the first ever time, but the first in a long long time. That was easily taken care of, but I noticed weird programs in my task manager's list. Jipsysguard.exe, by the way, is not something you want in there. So this could've been the root of this new virus, deemed Netsky.

The first infection came right after I visited a blog I follow. A popular one. I won't name names, and I'm sure this person doesn't know about it, but viruses can creep through the net. I hadn't opened any attachments, but I clicked on an article link and boom, infected. So keep an eye out on what you put on your blog and keep your computer clean by regularly checking up using software. (By the way, AVG version 9.0 is not good enough unless you're willing to pay, because it will not clean those viruses. Get an older free version.)

So be safe everyone! Other than that, I am excited about Christmas and, as a gift, Patrick is getting computer parts to build a new computer, so hopefully I won't have to deal with this crap anymore. :P Happy holidays!

Sunday Shares.

So, I finally found the time to take some pictures and post new Etsy listings! About time, right? Sometimes I wish I could make clothes and jewelry because it'd be faster with more quantity. But, you know, you stick with the gifts you were given.

Let me share them with you. I've posted several prints and one customizable drawing! That's right, a commission drawing, and it's not as expensive as you'd think. ;) Here are some pictures of what's up:

Hopefully some fish will bite before soon! I'm still weary of posting numerous listings and paying those fees ($.20 accumulates fast!) with no sales to show for it.

So please, take a look! Show your friends (especially if one is engaged or to be married). Post a comment here with some of your new listings for me to view.

Most of all, though... Christmas is near!! Hooray! :)

Friday Featurette.

Today's late featurette goes to marbled, the shop of designer handbags and totes. I only need one purse from time to time, but I still like to admire all the lovely handmade bags out there on Etsy.

Everyday Black & Cream Bag, $28

Marbled is just plain cute, and pretty affordable when compared to other stores of the handmade variety. Chic and elegant, to just plain cute! There are plaid, floral, and solid colors to choose from. This is my favorite:

White Core Bag, $28

Etsy indicates this store is only a few months old, so it's rather novel with just 17 items for sale, but hopefully more products will come with more exposure. I just love little tote bags! :)

Stay tuned for a makeup giveaway coming up!

Lykke Li.

Now, I'm not usually one to write posts in adoration of musical artists. I don't usually review because I usually hear things by radio (I love Pandora), or movies. Or someone else's iPod. But every now and then an artist comes along that really gets to me, that blows me away, where at least 90% of his/her/their songs are enjoyable.

My musical taste is rather bizarre. I like alternative, indie, rock, some pop, to classical music, then to some heavy metal. On off days, I like rap. Not the vulgar, cussing-every-second trash that comes out of autotune or whatnot, but people like Missy Elliott and Ludacris somehow get into my brain and make me shake my rump a little. I also like techno and 80s music. I have some Dimmu Borgir CDs. Anyway, to the point.

Does anyone else know Lykke Li? She is a Swedish indie singer. Lately I've been getting enchanted by foreign artists such as Imogen Heap, Fever Ray, and Feist. But Lykke Li has some real charm to her electronic, "powdered-sugar pop" melodies. For Twilight fans, she wrote one of the songs for the New Moon soundtrack titled Possibility. That's when I first heard her, and I was intrigued.

Basically, her stuff is great. It's quirky, it's cute, it's lovable. But some songs, including Possibility and Time Flies, are almost haunting. I definitely suggest checking out her stuff, such as: Breaking It Up, Little Bit, Everybody But Me, and Dance Dance Dance.

Who are some of your favorite artists, ones you listen to over and over again without it getting old?

My first handmade journal.

I've always wanted to make one of these!

It's made from cardboard, decorative paper, handmade paper inside (made from elephant dung?), and yarn. I used the Japanese stab binding technique. It's the same thing as the lesson plan I used in field experience for middle school; it's a lot of fun!

I'm proud of it and honestly don't want to sell it. I encourage you to try it out!

I passed my PLT by 20+ points more than needed for my state, yay!! I can't believe it, considering I didn't study as much as I should have. That's one down, two more to go.

So glad Christmas break is here, finally! Time to get to work relaxing and doing what I want artistically. :)

Motivation Monday.

I will do well today. My Printmaking final will be great. The matte redo will be great. The items are great, the title is great, and my critique will be great. Some flaws will occur, as usual, but it will not tarnish my overall design.

I will do fine on my Ed. Psych exam. I will make the necessary grade, or better, to get an A in that class. I will be prepared for it, though I haven't had much time to study. I will do well on it by taking my time and breathing.

I will get all As this semester, no matter what. I will do well today.

Okay, let's go! :)

And now, the Winner!

I'm very happy with the response my big giveaway received. After the deadline passed I went to random.org, put in the numbers, and came out with #27 or...

MissKnits! Congratulations, Mel! The prize-givers have been contacted, and I will mail out my prizes on Tuesday.

She has a lovely shop of handmade items, as well as a supply store at BitsfromMissKnits. You can also check out her blog here.

For those who didn't win, don't be discouraged! I'll be holding another giveaway soon. Makeup lovers, definitely stay tuned!


Well, tomorrow is my last day. Printmaking final, and an Ed. Psych exam. I'm kind of nervous!! I really hope to make all As, I worked my butt off this semester and it has been the toughest so far. Wish me luck!

And thanks for visiting. :)

Only two remain!

Phew, so that's three classes down, and only two more to go. My drawing final went really well, as well as my e-portfolio for Art Ed. and photography final was good. The only problem is is I've been up for over 36 hours with only 6 hours of sleep in between. That's what college finals are about, though, if you aren't a time management god/goddess.

I'll be teaching middle school tomorrow morning, then finishing up Monday with an Ed Psych exam and my printmaking final. Exciting! I am really ready for the holidays to get here; REST REST REST! And maybe I'll be able to produce some good stuff to put on Etsy.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET: my BIG giveaway ends on Saturday at noon! Six people including myself are giving away great prizes, and under 100 people have entered so your chances are pretty good compared to most big big giveaways. Click the link or scroll down, spread the word to your friends! You don't want to miss it.

Better updates to come with this break. :)

Saturday Spotlight.

I missed yesterday's featurette thing, so busy with school! Also, please don't forget about my big giveaway, it doesn't end until December 12th! (Scroll down.)

Today I'm going to feature thaimodish. It's about time I did! I love so much about this store: the unique style, the colors, the fair pricing (shipping is expensive, though). I've been pining after so many items I've lost count! Here are just a few of my favorites:







I would definitely love to own one of those pieces for Christmas. It's a bit out of my reach for now, but I can dream! :) Take a look, you'll be amazed.

The VAS sale was pretty slow, because there was a championship football game going on in the nearby stadium. Some sales were made, including one of my printmaking designs! *Squee!* I was so happy when the girl picked it out and showed her mother. I also traded in that tea-n-coffee stained painting for a lovely silk scarf with a fellow craft student. So, for me, it was a success.

I'm loving the response to my giveaway posted below. Also, I've recently received a few items I've won myself. I don't know how I've been living without Etsy and all of you fine folks behind it! The holidays just got brighter. :D