Monet's Waterlilies

I am so excited. I just got word, via Temptalia (thanks!), about the rumored Ungaro collection. Now I must say, since I am not a designer kind of gal, I had no clue what to expect, but I am pretty interested now. It comes out when Cult of Cherry does, but it's polar opposites! Think, as a MAC key MA says, Monet's Waterlilies. Now, I have way, way, way too many pastels...but I may just have to get this collection as Monet is one of my favorite artists and especially his waterlilies, so anything that reflects that idea, I am all for. I have seen them twice at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris and they were so beautiful I got teary eyed (okay, not hard for me). Pinks, blues, and lilacs. Pinks are my weakness. I have two full palettes, plus others in smaller sets and plenty of pigments too. According to Temptalia, "the 14-item MAC Emanuel Ungaro lineup, which is slated to launch in October, includes lipsticks and lip glosses, eye shadows and liner, cream color bases, blush, mascara and a brow set". CCBs? Still don't get these. I was hoping for new Paint Pots. I dream of a silvery one.

Anyhow...I cannot wait to see what the collection looks like.

Nordies Exclusive Preview

Guess what I got to see at my local Nordies. The July Exclusives. Happy dance!

Of course, I forgot my camera that day! Aargh! I was mostly interested in the pigments and the richmetal highlighters. The MA gave me swatch sheets for the pigments and a few of the RHs.

Here's my take:
Pigments
Jardin Aires (no swatch) - a repromote. I do like this color as either a highlighter or a lid color for subtler looks.
Steel Blue (no swatch) - another repromote. Love this color especially applied wet or over Delft paint pot.

Glided Green - pretty, but nothing special.

Circa Plum - another pretty color, but doubt I will get this.






Tea Time - unique matte color with golden glitter. The color itself is not iridescent, so it will be good for neutral, subtler looks. My favorite by far.

Royal Flush - a pretty rusty red. Would be the only other one I may get, though I wonder if the red will annoy my eyes.



Richmetal Highlighters
All are very pretty, though I am interested to see how they wear. I avoided the whole Metal-X group due to creasing.

Female - this is the only one I am getting. The swatch does it no justice. The color is a very pale pink with gorgeous green iridescence. Totally will be the it of the collection.

Quick Flash - very pretty, rich gold. I may get this if the formula is worth not getting my discount.




Rose Bullion - Very pretty, I want to compare this to Rose CCB as it looks like it may be similar. I love the color, but hate my CCBs.

I did not have her make me a sheet with the others, but did play with them.

So, all in all, the colors were very pretty, but without being able to get my discount, I am limiting my purchase to the Tea Time pigment and the Female Richmetal Highlighter.

Nordies preview

After seeing the images on Temptalia, I am not sure if the ones in the store are the final versions or if the photos show the right items. The Color Form Powders that I saw were a circular pattern, not the blocked pattern shown. Also the Richmetal Highlighters were in CCB sized pots, not the square ones shown on Tempalia.

Richmetal Highlighters
Dark Influence - Frosty purple with pink pearlized pigments
Deep Deposit - Frosty deep blackened burgundy
Female - Frosty pale pink with green gold pearlized pigments
Positive Charge - Frosty copper with gold pearlized pigments
Quick Flash - Frosty warm gold
Rose Bullion - Frosty mid-tone pink with gold pearlized pigments

Pigments
Circa Plum Frosty mid-tone lavender
Gilded Green Frosty mid-tone green with gold pearlized pigments
Jardin Aires Tan with gold pearlized pigments
Royal Flush Frosty mid-tone red
Steel Blue Rich deep turquoise green blue shone with small pearlized pigments
Tea Time Bronzed brown with multi-dimensional pearlized pigments

MAC Cool Heat is cold

So, again, I am underwhelmed with the new MAC collection. I was really looking forward to these blue and green hues. I only got one, Gulf Stream, and the only reason I got it was that I had a B2M. I actually had enough for two B2M, but could not even pick out a second color. The Gulf Stream e/s is almost identical to Teal pig. Since I know I'll never get around to pressing my pigments, I thought the e/s was marginally worth it. Here's my thoughts looking at them on my pale skin.

Solar White = slightly lighter than White Wheat, WW had more pigmentation
Warming Trend = unique, but too warm for me, I prefer Patina
Warm Chill = no pigmentation, prefer Brill or Aquavert
Gulf Stream = looks like a e/s version of Teal pig, this is the one I got
Cool Heat = not too different from Parrot that it cannot be dupped
Climate Blue = almost a matte with pink glitter, would like if it was more irredescent, is pretty though and who knows...maybe I'll get it.
Blue Flame = Deep Truth is prettier, IMHO

I did not like the Slimshines mostly because I did not find any of them unique enough and I don't like the texture. Their coverage is not enough for my taste. I forgot my camera and figured I'd get weird looks if I wore it to Babies R Us, Lowe's, and to see DH. The MA had a gorgeous look of Gulf Stream with Cool Heat in the crease. I'll try it tomorrow and get a photo of it. I also got to check out her look book since they did not put any looks online. One look that sounded pretty was Greenstroke p/p with Warm Chill over it. I'll try that with Aquavert.

Very much looking forward to the July releases...I have more B2M to turn in!
Mamade

Visit to Grammy and a growing girl

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for mom. Her doctor is saying that her level of recovery is a miracle. We don't yet have a date for her to come home, but we are anticipating it soon. I know lots of you want to visit once she is up for vistors. She has really been appreciating all the phone calls from everyone. She'll still have physical therapy for probably a year or more as she learns to overcome the paralysis. You don't know how great it was watching her walk, with her walker of course, around her room, down the hall, and anywhere she needs to go. The therapists don't let her use her wheelchair very often now. From everything I have read, the more she pushes now, the better. It sounds like there is a "end date" at which time major recovery stops and then only minor recovery happens. But, as her doctor says, it's a miracle. When we were last up, she was still using the wheelchair and only walking during physical therapy. It was so wonderful to see her walk - it brought tears to my eyes! Thank you again to everyone praying for her. It's truly working.


The kids enjoyed seeing mom and dad as usual. The Blonde Boy is always spoiled by the nurses, therapists, and administrators at the care home. Oh to be a cute, blonde boy! He got ice cream, his first Twinkie, and M&M's while there. Ha! Nothing like a sugar high before having to sit in a car to get home!

Thank you all again for your prayers. Prayer truely does lead to miracles.

Other news is that our little Betty Boop is growing up. Her first tooth broke the surface last night. That explains the nipping I was getting! Got to grab the camera and get the last few toothless grin photos. She has also finally decided that moving around is fun. It looks like she'll be a tushy scooter as she gets very mad when she ends up on her belly. Very, very mad. She figured out the tushy scoot a few days ago and is perfecting it. It's slow going as compared to crawling, but it's cute. She's also learning about standing up at the coffee table. It makes an awesome drum for little hands.

The two also got to have their first bath together. Thankfully they are young enough to not get mad at me putting this photo of them online. It makes bathtime so much easier.