Update!

Where have I been? If you were wondering, I have some new info…
My husband and I moved back in November. My blogging slowed down in the months before because of packing, back to work, etc. We finally got into our new place mid-November. After about a week, I noticed that our neighbor was very loud. So loud, that I could hear every word of Rihanna’s greatest hits. I asked her about it kindly and she was so nasty. The second time, I actually put in a noise complaint with NYC. We also spoke to our landlord.

Though it got a little better, I then had to worry if I would hear her screaming- at anyone or thing. One afternoon, I heard her fighting with a male- screaming back and forth. A few days later, the music started up. Again. My husband and I looked at each other and decided it was time to move. We lived in the apartment for two months.
My mother-in-law happily took us in and we moved this past Thursday.
I can only imagine the next few weeks are going to be busy between unpacking and getting settled. At this point, I will probably be taking a break and it will be for some time. As much as I love my products, I also love my sanity!

I hope to be able to back soon and miss you all!
Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

I Guess I’m NOT Going…

I received this email today:

Sounds great, right? I thought so, too, but I can’t attend. A few hours later, I got this…

Is it just me or is that in really bad taste? I spend a lot of money on hair products and think that Miss Jessie’s should at least do something for clients that received that email in error.

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

Don’t Mess With Me!

Clearly disgusted.

I apologize for my absence! We are moving, and though our new place isn’t particularly far, we still have a few years of crapola that accumulated. I actually went out today with my sister. We had a lovely day of shopping in NYC. Our last stop on our outing was Sephora.
A visit to Sephora is not out of the ordinary for us. My sister and I love Sephora. It’s a little scary. We also had our VIB 20% off coupons, and armed with a rare and decent discount, we knew a trip was in order.
Needless to say, Sephora was a hot mess. It was jammed and filled with rude people. Knowing what we wanted, we picked it up and went to pay. I went to one register, my sister to another. After we were checked out, my sister said she didn’t receive a tote. I thought that was weird and I asked her, “Did you use your coupon?” She hadn’t. I made her walk over to the register and the salesperson kindly did the return and applied the discount. She then explained to my sister that EMPLOYEES OF SEPHORA WERE TOLD NOT TO REMIND CUSTOMERS TO USE THE DISCOUNT.
I won’t get into numbers but I will tell you this- I am a VIB Rouge member. That means I spent at least $1000 this year at Sephora. I have two friends that also are Rouge members. My sister is a VIB- she spent at least $500 this year. Actually her account states she still needs to spend more money to keep her status BUT after we looked at her account history, we discovered that none of her purchases from December to April were credited. Is it possible? Maybe-but it is highly
unlikely.
After the Friends and Family debacle,one would think Sephora would encourage people that spend A LOT of money in their stores to use a discount. It is probably naive of me but it really gets me angry!

A few other tidbits:
If you have enough points for a 500 point perk, you can redeem the points without a purchase.
Some special free gifts can also be picked up without a purchase if you’re a VIB. Read the fine print.

I am sorry to come back spitfire and I will be back in the coming weeks once we are settled.
And remember: USE THAT CODE OR COUPON! The current code for the VIB Shopping Event is VIBTOPIA 

 

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

Lashing Out with Benefit

I know, I know. I’m late to posting party pictures but better late than never! These are some snaps from my LashBash party back in September. Take a gander!

It started with a batch of goodies.

Tube upon tube of lash boosting goodness.

I emptied out my entire train case…

Have a close up.

I let everyone try the products but I sanitized the eye kit and I love it!

Goodie Bags- my sister, Shazzer, helped!

One of these things is not like the other…

I finally evened them out.

Trying out the goods.

Blushing you off.

Where’d you get those peepers?

Gorgeous!

And the night would not be complete without some of us being naughty…

There is always some kind of retaliation…

And there are always a few giggles…

And then there is me…

Throwing parties always make me nervous but my girls had a fabulous time!

Thanks to Benefit and Ipsy for selecting me to throw a LashBash!

Keep It Realsies & Primp ON! XOXO

Keeping It #Realsies! Prepping for the Benefit #LashBash!

Hey all! This past Saturday, I was one of 1,000 throwing a Benefit #LashBash, sponsered by Benefit and ipsy. I just want to share a few photos of my prep for a girls’ night in! Bat those lashes and take a peek!

Our “real” reason for the #LashBash!

I received small tubes for each of my guests!

I started by setting up my apartment. Though it is pretty spacious by NYC standards, I was having seven guests plus the hubs- he hid in his office but treated for pizza. He is the best!  Anyhoo- my coffee table was a beauty extravaganza. I set up sample and perfume tester stations for my guests to play with and take home to try before they buy!

Here is a shot of the whole table.

My “Try at Your Own Risk” sample bar!

My #realsies frame- you’ll see more of this in the next post- and my Fine. Brush Me Off. Station

There were sweet treats, too, along with a little bling!

I’m a teacher- we need books, even at a party.

I think the perfume sample bar was my favorite. I even had paper strips for testing scents!

You’re Getting Testy Perfume Sample Station

Carmella joined us, too!

In case someone forgot their mirror, I had that covered!

I see you.

I even made special gifts for each guest from my Product Hoochie stash plus a raffle for a skin brush or skincare set.

I set up the gift bags from Benefit and ipsy…

But this even isn’t half of it! My friends and I had a blast! Stay tuned this week for a post about the party and more goodies from Benefit & ipsy!

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

I was selected by Benefit and ipsy to host a Benefit LashBash. I received the Benefit products complimentary and this will have no influence on my review. All other items were purchased by me.

I’m Not Going to San Francisco

But I really, REALLY want to! Why? iFabbo is having their 2013 Media Conference on October 12th! I have three challenges- one is my day job. It is hard to fly out from NYC to California for the weekend. The second- my friend’s wedding. I would not miss it for the world! The third is the expense. I love to travel (A LOT) but not with house/apartment hunting on the radar. And I love San Francisco. I haven’t been back since 2011. I just can’t make the journey. Le sigh.

iFabbo is a is an organization that supports bloggers by providing free beauty products for online content. It is a great site, easy to use, and if you write a beauty product blog, a good way to try new products that you might not try on your own. (Click on my IFabbo badge for more information.)

The thing is this expo would be great for a blogger like me. I run a very small blog. I like to think that I am fun and informative to read. The iFabbo Social Media Conference would help me to build up my network and gain some new popularity. It would also be an excellent way to meet other bloggers in my boat and successful bloggers with many readers. I have plenty to say about the world of beauty- learning the ropes of a successful blog would help!

After all of my whining, that does not mean that you can’t go! If you are a West Coast blogger or can make the trip, check out iFabbo’s event page here.

See you soon!

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

Before You Dress… Caress (A Soiree & LaLa Anthony)

I always think of Product Hoochie as the little blog that could. I also know that without a lot of readers or some fancy format, it is really difficult to breakthrough in the blogging industry. That is why I was very pleasantly surprised to receive an invitation to a Caress launch event at the Gramercy Park Hotel.

Don’t take this lying down.

Gramercy Park (or Gramercy) is a neighborhood in NYC. The actual Gramercy Park is a private park and only those residing around the park that pay an annual fee get a key to enter. It is a district of bygone New York and The Gramercy Park Hotel sits right next to the park. It is a tapestry of the past, the present, and the future of the city that I call home. The Caress launch was up on the Gramercy Terrace, a beautiful space that channeled a vineyard.

Gramercy Park, New York, New York (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I stepped foot on the terrace, I was surrounded by a very seductive scent. At first, I was a little overwhelmed. (Social anxiety at its finest.) The sights, the smell, and people I did not know strolled the terrace and luckily, I was greeted by Jenn and her kind smile. She invited me to the event and was very gracious. After Jenn gave me the rundown (this was my first launch event after all), I met a few other popular bloggers and the festivities were soon underway.  LaLa Anthony, the  new Caress Fabulista,told us about her love for the latest Caress scent, Tempting Whisper. Created by Nicole Mancini of Givaudan, the latest Caress  shower gel uses  “fine fragrance elixirs”, a rarity in drugstore bath products.

The many fine fragrances of Caress.

Attendees soon were sent to activities. I feared bridal or baby shower games but no worries! We got to “shop” and do a perfume class. If you know me, you know these are probably my two favorite things in the world. I got to shop first and pick out a fabulous accessory that channeled my inner fabulista with a Rebecca Minkoff clutch.

The clutch for “My Junk” and a Tempting Whisper.

Then my inner wanna-be perfumer took a class with Nicole Mancini. She taught us how she built Tempting Whisper. We then experienced the fragrance in different ways, starting with test strips and ending with wine glasses. I rarely think about the ways I live in fragrance and this was a new way to appreciate how to interpret scent.

The fabulous LaLa Anthony. I think I read somewhere she is a Brooklyn girl, too!

Caress is really revamping the line. It isn’t just that pink bar of soap anymore! I like the idea that they use exquisite ingredients. We all know beauty products can bust up your pocketbook and Caress makes finer fragrances really affordable. In our economy, it is important to be able to treat yourself without breaking the bank. If Tempting Whisper is what that smells like, I will be hopping on.

Luxury at home!

I plan on using Caress Tempting Whisper today. There will be a full on review  and some snippets of my chat with Nicole Mancini of Givaudan very soon. A special thanks to Jenn and all the members of Team Caress!

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

*Pardon the not so great pictures. I wanted to capture so much and didn’t do it so well!

Beauty Boxes & Bags

Hello there! Since canceling my Birchbox subscription, I have been trying not to order any other beauty by month mailings. I did receive two packages this week and I want you to meet the first… The HauteLook & Nordstrom Summer Beauty Bag.

The HauteLook & Nordstrom Summer Beauty Bag was $29 US and since I loved the HauteLook Spring Bag, I figured I would love this just as much. Well, for $29 I am disappointed. First of all, there aren’t any full size products. They are all pretty much deluxe size samples. Second of all, I would have never ordered it if I knew that HauteLook’s Summer Beauty Bag was coming out a few weeks later. It was like a bait and switch. Knowing that HauteLook is a Nordstrom company, adding Nordstrom to “HauteLook Beauty Bag” seemed pretty okay. Is it only me that would infer that they were one and the same in beauty bags?  Yeah. I ordered the HauteLook Summer Beauty Bag, too, for $20 and it seems to me that the things in that bag are going to be way better.

I’ll give you the goods. The way too overpriced goods.

Let’s start with the cosmetics pouch. I like the design and the the size is great for a weekend getaway.

Classic colors

Okay, onto the make-up. The first item shown below is Laura Mercier Tinted Moistuizer SPF 20 in Nude (o.5 oz). I happen to love this product and it is a bit pricey. A 1.5 oz tube is $43 US, making my sample worth about $14 US. Coverage is pretty good and I like that the SPF keeps me a little sun safe. It also comes in a range of 14 colors, so it is easier to find a match.

Supergoop! CC Cream Daily Correct Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Sunscreen in Light to Medium is next in line. I happen to like Supergoop! products but as you all know, being an oil heiress (on my face), this is probably not a good idea knowing my history with BB creams. It is a little unfortunate because this is a self-adjusting shade. The sample is 3 ml which means probably enough to use once and maybe cover half of my face. A full size 1.6 oz tube is $32 US.

Teeny tiny

I don’t think I have ever tried a Napoleon Perdis product and in my bag is a 5 ml/.17 fl oz tube of Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer. I will give this a try but again, I might get only one or two uses out of the teeny tube. A full size tube is $59 US, so even if I love it, that is never happening.

I happen to think Estee Lauder mascara is decent and the pouch included Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in 01 Black. A tube is $24 US and I think this little guy might last a week.

With face and lashes covered, the last cosmetic piece is a Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain. Again, super small and cute but what the heck will I be able to do with this? Forget the obvious here. These samples are way to small to really make an informed decision!

Be soft.

The two creams I received in the bag were the most “deluxe” in size. AHAVA is a great line and their Body Firming Cream might just be lovely. A full size tube (6.8 oz) is $38. 50 US. AVEDA Hand Relief will eventually make its way into my bag since I like to carry hand cream. AVEDA actually sells this size tube for $8.50. I guess this is the official full size product in the bag.

Not for your lips!

The next item might be a dangerous addition to my bag. Sole Goddess Blister Protection Foot Balm is supposed to help prevent blisters caused by shoes that rub against feet. The tube sold on the Sole Goddess website doesn’t really look like a tube of lip balm and is $18.75 US. The stick in my bag is clearly marked “sample size.” It will probably never get used.

Now, for the last products.

There is one Emi Jay Hair Tie– ONE. A 3 pack is $5.99 US and you shouldn’t wear these in water. Give me the ones from Walgreen’s.

Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts Somerville 360 Body Tanning Towelette is a disposable towelette that is applied to the body for self-tanning. I’m just curious as to what the ONE towelette I received will do, as the Somerville website explains, “Use as often as needed for a deeper tan or to maintain your glow.” A box is expensive, too, at $48 US for eight towelettes.

Xen-Tan Face Tanner Luxe Sunless Tan in Medium/Dark can be used daily to  give an instant glow and self-tanning power. Self-tanner on my face scares me. I’m afraid I might channel an Oompa Loompa. A full size tube is $24 US for 2.7 oz.

Sunless tanning towelette and a hair tie that can’t get wet.

As I was writing this post, I realized how disappointed I really am with this $29 bag. I know I will not use four of the samples I received and the ones I will use won’t last for very long. What HauteLook & Nordstrom did was really deceiving and that is unfortunate because I do like both the website and the Nordstrom store. There also weren’t any coupon codes for discounts on any of the products. I did find a card about Nordstrom’s Anniversary and Beauty Bash, explaining that there will be some deals on some cosmetic brands. The kick-off is Friday, July 19 and is in-store and online. If I remember I may take a look on Nordstrom’s website.

Is there anything you think you would use in this bag? Are the bag and its contents worth the $29 US I spent? I want to know what you think!

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

Happy Birthday, Product Hoochie!

Happy Birthday (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well, well, well… looks like we made it! Product Hoochie is ONE! This is a time for celebration. I want to thank all of you out there that read my words. Sometimes I have no filter and I appreciate that you still come back and enjoy my spouting. Here is a year in review of Product Hoochie:

On June 16, I introduced myself to you- in Dolce & Gabbana (lipstick.)

Some D&G Lipstick

July had me reeling and I wanted some advice. Only two people emailed me.

I wonder what happened to this lipstick…

In September, I refused to give you a beauty tutorial…

My face is asymmetrical…

And in October, I tried to make you giggle with a face mask chronicle.

Channeling Swamp Man

By December, I was a bit more comfortable!

January was cool…

I always make this face when applying products.

By February, I explained the feelings I have for laser hair removal (love it!)

Portrait of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside (Photo credit: Wikipedia) We have come a long way!

By the time March rolled around, I shared my roots with you.

There are my roots. As you can see, those shimmery things are the gray hairs that need to be annihilated.

And by April, I was invited to guest blog for the Moody Sisters- a pretty sweet accomplishment.

Everything’s coming up roses!

May came rushing in…

I got a new tattoo. See it?

June, you could not come too soon!

Things are super peachy!

From eye shadow to wrinkle erasers, we have been through a lot together. Thank you for reading about my antics this year. I hope that I can always make beauty products more accessible to you!

You still have a few more hours to enter my giveaway! Do it here! Winners will be announced tomorrow and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

To another year!

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

ipsy-licious!

Hi Lovlies! I am home today with a nasty cold. I can’t hear out of my ears and my head is pounding. Great fun for a Friday. To ease my feeling yucky, I figured I would write about my ipsy delivery. I read about the June bag over at Pink Lady Beauty. Melissa got a slightly different bag but I am happy with the contents.

The theme of this month’s bag is “On the Wild Side.” I think the products I received actually fit into this idea quite nicely!

For the birds!

J. Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette ($4.49 US) : These glitter creams are neutral and that is better for me. If they were colorful I might have more trouble using them than I already will. I am not big on glitter and though these are really pretty, I probably won’t have much use for them. On the description of ipsy’s website, it says to NOT use them on the eyes, which makes it more problematic.

Lots of lights in this bag.

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil($18 US) :  This pencil will get some serious use. I usually use the beige NANO pencil from Sephora and this one is a chubby pencil that I can use in the corners of my eyes or under my brow bones. This pencil can also help conceal redness and blemishes. This type of pencil is great for people that wear glasses. I do and I swear by some highlighting to help enhance the area that is hidden by my specs.

Starlooks Lips Pencil in Tickle Me Pink ($12 US): I have read a few reviews on Starlooks boxes and am intrigued. If I didn’t already get ipsy, GlossyBox, and Birchbox, I might have taken the plunge. The Starlooks line claims to have quality make-up at pro-prices (I guess they mean a discount.) The color seems to be very vibrant and I will probably use it this summer with a nice gloss over it.

Putting the pieces together.

NYX Mosaic Powder in Dare ($7 US): I love my NYX cosmetics! This powder has shimmer and matte colors. This is more of a rosy gold and I think will make it easy to use, as it can almost double as a light bronzer.

And I hope this next one gives you a giggle. I have now received my fourth bottle of… DRY SHAMPOO. I. CAN’T. EVEN.

My best secret?

Psssst! The TRUE Original Dry Shampoo (Travel Size $2.99 US): Great for sopping up oily roots and adding volume, Psssst! is the matriarch of dry shampoos. Basically, you spray in and brush out- which I why I probably can’t use it. If I put a brush to this head, you’d be looking at Frankenstein’s Bride.

Wild Things!

I am pretty pleased with the month’s bag. It far exceeded the $12 monthly charge.

You still have a few days to enter my giveaway. Click  here for a chance to win!

Until next time…

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO