Spring is in full bloom and the May theme for Ipsy is Spring Fling! This month’s glambag comes with 5 beauty items packed in a colorful cosmetic bag featuring a fun zigzag pattern. Of course Ipsters also got various discount offers. Some bags also include a bonus goodie! Correct me if I’m wrong, but all of the items in my glambag are full sized. The total retail value of this bag is $61.85 so Ipsy provided a great deal for just $10. The $20 bonus item I got actually makes the value $81.85! These are all products I would use so it’s safe to say this is my favorite Ipsy glambag of the year so far. Check it out!

Ipsy Glambag May 2013 – Spring Fling

My May 2013 Ipsy Glambag

• Zoya Nail Polish – Blu
• Mirabella Colour Sheers Lipstick – Pixie
• Yaby Concealer Refill – Pecan
• Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss – Pink
• Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-on
• $110 NuMe Hair Styling Tool or Hair Extensions voucher
• Bonus: Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow – Moonspoon

Zoya Nail Polish

I was beyond delighted to see that the buzz about getting full sized Zoya from the Spring collection was true! My glambag included Blu from the Zoya Lovely Spring 2013 collection. I’m a huge Zoya fan and Blu looks like a pretty pastel cream. It’s very pale but I’m excited to test it out. I’ll share swatches soon!

Zoya Nail Polish – Blu – Lovely Spring 2013 Collection ($8 retail)

Mirabella Colour Sheers Lipstick

I do not have many Mirabella products, actually Ipsy (formerly MyGlam) introduced me to the brand. I received Pixie, a sheer coral lipstick. The color is very pretty and seems to compliment my skin tone well, as most corals do. Love coral! I’ll share lip swatches and a full review soon.

Mirabella Colour Sheers Lipstick – Pixie ($22 retail)

Yaby Concealer Refill

Yaby is another brand I don’t have a lot of. I think this is my 3rd or 4th item and all came from Ipsy. This month Ipsy provided concealer in the glambag. Many subscribers were questioning shade matching and Ipsy assured all that shades were based on our profiles. I’m glad to say mine was matched perfectly! I received Yaby Concealer Refill in Pecan, which finely blends with my tone. I tested it only for matching so I cannot comment on wear at all.

Yaby Cosmetics Concealer Refill – Pecan ($4.85 retail)

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss

Woot! Juice Beauty in the hizouse! Yes, I really just said that. I love Juice Beauty and I have wanted to try this lipgloss since I first heard it was coming. I got the shade Pink, the exact Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss I wanted! Holla! Yep, just said that too!

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss – Pink ($15 retail)

Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-on

Pacifica has fabulous products that I adore. By the sneak peeks Ipsy posted on Facebook I was pretty convinced Pacifica Perfume Roll-on was for sure in glambags this month. I wasn’t sure I would get one but I really hoped plus crossed my fingers and toes! I normally am not a fan of most vanilla scents but this is pure bliss for my nose! Love it!

Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-on ($12 retail)

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow

I’ve had my eye on Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadow, Zodiac to be specific. Also had Glitter Rock and Stargazer on my radar. Ipsy sent me Moonspoon as a bonus item. Score! Though this isn’t a shade I really had interest in, it is growing on me and will be a nice addition to my makeup stash. Also a great way to test out Moondust before grabbing the other shades!

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow – MoonSpoon ($20 retail)

So, what did you get in your glambag? Not a member, check the details below and try it out if you’d like!

Ipsy Glambag May 2013 | Spring Fling | Zoya, Pacifica, Urban Decay

Influenster sent me a complimentary jar of Aveeno® Positively RADIANT® Intensive Night Cream. I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now so I’m reviewing it slightly earlier than I would most skin care items. I also received a sleep mask which I really liked but I’m not sure if it comes with the product or Influenster decided to include it themselves. Aveeno Active Naturals Intensive Night Cream claims to improve:

• Tone
• Dullness
• Brown Spots
• Texture
• Blotchiness

Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream, My View

Aveeno products always seem to be hit or miss for me and Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream seems to be hanging somewhere in the middle from my perspective. I don’t hate it nor do I love it. The packaging is nice, however the box is a bit of a space waster. What is pretty cool is the back of the box has a display that shows the actual size of the container, so consumers aren’t completely fooled by the box size. Kudos on that! I like the actual container quite a bit. The product comes in a nicely durable 1.7oz jar with a twist lid.

Check Out Aveeno

• Aveeno.com
• Like the Aveeno page on Facebook

Disclosure: The products mentioned in this post were provided complimentary by Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream Review

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Crocs. All opinions are 100% mine.

Darlings, I have to share this awesome sweepstakes with you! Surely you’ve heard of Crocs, yes? Crocs makes comfy yet stylish footwear in several different styles that I’ve recently come to love! Well you could win a $3,000 shopping spree in the Crocs Splash of Color Sweepstakes! Yes, I said three thousand! It’s very simple, quite fun and I’m going to tell you all about it! Read on and get ready because this #splashofcolor sweepstakes ends on May 20, 2013!

We all use Instagram these days…if you don’t then grab it, you’ll need it for this fun sweepstakes! Just use Instagram on your smartphone to snap fun photos that show off splashes of color. In the description of the photos you must include the hashtag #splashofcolor for it to count as an entry. Then simply connect your Instagram account through the Crocs Instagram Sweepstakes page. and enter to win this fabulous prize! You can upload up to 3 photos per day for the sweepstakes just remember to tag them with #splashofcolor okay?!

I love photography and use Instagram already since it’s a fun way to share photos when I want to give my pro camera a break and go mobile. With the huge parks here in Orlando and the industry conferences to attend, I’m always ready for comfort for my feet while still looking chic so I definitely entered! While I’m sure I’d grab a variety of things if I won the shopping spree, I’m sure I’d pick up several pairs of Crocs! Here are my first 3 entries:

I’m a beauty and fashion blogger so of course I love vivid colors and nail polish. This red is absolutely gorgeous!

How adorable is the mommy and baby chicky? They live in my backyard

A bit of fun zigzag nail art? Yes please!

Now that you’ve got a little inspiration, hop onto Instagram to upload your #splashofcolor photos and enter via the Crocs Instagram Sweepstakes page! Good luck darlings!

#SplashofColor | Enter The Crocs Splash Of Color Sweepstakes!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CB2. All opinions are 100% mine.

CB2 has partnered with the super amazing Novogratz duo for their latest collection of home decor. Cortney and Robert Novogratz are a husband and wife design team with 7 children and an amazing talent for eyecatching creations. If you haven't heard of team Novogratz simply tune your television to any home design show! Seriously! Aside from shopping the fabulous CB2 and Novogratz Collection, CB2 is also giving you the chance to win a one week getaway for 4 at the Novogratz's vacation home in Brasil! I've got the details below for you to enter!

CB2 is a great shopping site with great selections and price ranges and I'm such a huge fan of everything Novogratz so this partnership is very exciting! There are so many modern and vintage pieces to choose from. I love that Cortney and Robert use the inspiration of Brasil and their travels to come up with such bold, colorful and fun designs. Perfect for the chic style of any beauty or fashion lover's home! I can already see exactly how I could spruce up my beauty area with these favorites of mine from the new collection. The Quadrado Rug is definitely my ultimate favorite of the collection. The colors are fun and the aqua and orange remind of nail art I did a few weeks ago using the same colors and a zigzag pattern similar to those in the rug design. This rug would really be the perfect accent for my room!

So how about that amazing giveaway I mentioned? You and 3 friends could win the trip of a lifetime! Win a one week stay at the vacation home of CB2 collaborators Bob and Courtney Novogratz in beautiful Trancoso, Brazil. Plus 10 other lucky winners will receive a CB2 giftcard worth $100 along with a personally signed copy of the book “Home by Novogratz”! Fabulous Awesomeness right?! You can enter the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes via cb2.com/sweeps. Hurry and enter as the sweepstakes runs thru June 3, 2013!

You should keep up with CB2 on their social media channels for updates on the Brasil trip of a lifetime and other news. You can follow @CB2Tweets on Twitter, follow CB2 on Pinterest and like the CB2 page on Facebook.

Have you seen the new CB2 and Novogratz collection? Which pieces are your favorite?

CB2 And Novogratz Brasil Giveaway! Win A Brazilian Getaway | #CB2NovogratzBrasilSweepstakes

Time to kick off #SpringIntoSummer beauty! To get started I have got a giveaway featuring some fabulous OFRA Cosmetics lip products. These are the same products in which I will be sharing reviews, tips, swatches and more! I want to extend a huge thank you to OFRA Cosmetics for allowing me to curate this bundle of goodies especially for you! One lucky darling will be receiving the following lip products to help perfect your warm weather pout:

• Lip Exfoliator
• Pure Vitamin E Lipstick
• Brush #10 – Lip Brush
• Rainbow Lips – Skin Tones
• Luminos Lips Lipgloss (Clear)

#SpringIntoSummer Lips with OFRA Cosmetics & Mina Slater

These are a few of my current favorites by OFRA Cosmetics for healthy, gorge, kissable lips! This bundle is a retail value of $76.90 and one of you lucky darlings on planet earth is going to snag it! That’s right, this giveaway is worldwide. So all my international lovelies can enter too!

#SpringIntoSummer Lips with OFRA Cosmetics & Mina Slater

Entering the #SpringIntoSummer May giveaway is super easy. Just use the entry tool below to claim all the entries you want. All are optional and there are plenty to choose from so enter how you wish! This giveaway will end on June 1, 2013 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be randomly selected and has 48 hours to reply to the winning email notification or another winner will be selected. The confirmed winner will be announced on the Giveaway Winners page.

#SpringIntoSummer Beauty with Mina Slater featuring OFRA Cosmetics

Be sure to keep an eye out for all the #SpringIntoSummer beauty posts coming up! You can find out all the details on the main #SpringIntoSummer Beauty With OFRA Cosmetics | Warm Weather Essentials post. Good luck darlings!

#SpringIntoSummer May Giveaway | OFRA Cosmetics Lip Product Bundle

Spring is finally making an appearance in many areas and summer isn’t far behind. It’s no secret that skin care needs and beauty trends change from season to season. I’ve teamed up with OFRA Cosmetics on a 3 part #SpringIntoSummer beauty series to help take you from Spring to Summer. I am a huge OFRA Cosmetics fan and am so excited to share some of my favorite products from their line for the next few months as temperatures rise and we’re all ready to enjoy while looking fabulous!

Spring Into Summer Beauty with Mina Slater featuring OFRA Cosmetics

#SpringIntoSummer Details

OFRA Cosmetics allowed me to curate themed sets of products of each part for the #SpringIntoSummer series. Each month will have a different focus and I’ll be sharing reviews, tips, looks and more here on Fabulous Awesomeness as well as throughout social media. There will also be monthly giveaways where you could win a set of the products featured in each theme! I might even sprinkle a few extra mini giveaways here and there. These could be anything from answering fun trivia questions or randomly getting a freebie for actively participating in the series. The #SpringIntoSummer beauty series schedule is:

• May – Spring Into Summer Lips (Enter the May Giveaway here)
• June – Spring Into Summer Skin
• July – Spring Into Summer Eyes

A few of my faves from OFRA Cosmetics

The #SpringIntoSummer beauty series is going to kick off with a giveaway on Monday night, May 13th, 2013! So get ready for reviews, giveaways, fun discussions and more! I want this to be fun so get involved by sharing your thoughts, favorite looks, tips and more during each theme. Have questions? Ask away! You can submit May questions about lip care or OFRA lip products starting today! You can email me your questions or tweet them and tag @Mina_Slater and @OFRACosmetics and be sure to include the hashtag #SpringIntoSummer in your tweets! You can also email me with requests for things you’d like to see during the series such as looks, how-to posts, etc and I’ll try to include it! Also be sure to get friendly with OFRA Cosmetics and myself on the social networks to follow along and make sure you don’t miss a thing! Here is where you can find us:

#SpringIntoSummer Beauty With OFRA Cosmetics | Warm Weather Essentials

Almay has been highlighting women’s beauty for uber decades! I use it, my mother uses it and my Nana used it too! This is why I was so honored when Dino Dogan, founder of Triberr, emailed me to become a spokesperson for Almay! I’ll be sharing the latest Almay news and more! I’m so excited. So much has changed with beauty trends over time, but one consistent thing through 3 generations in my family is that the love of Almay has never faded!

The gorgeous Kate Hudson & her beautiful mother Goldie Hawn, 2 awesome actresses I love!

As a super girly teacup human who loved dressing up and being a little diva, I really admired my mother. To me she was the smartest, most beautiful, superhero mommy. Yes, I thought my mom was a superhero…and she was! I would play dress up with her clothes as she got dolled up. I wasn’t allowed into the makeup stash so I’d sit quietly in awe, watching her put on her makeup. I’d see her eyeballing me though the mirror and let out a little a giggle. One time I sneaked into her makeup when she was at my grandmother’s house. For the love of blush and lipgloss, I made a huge mess and had cake face! Of course my mother walked in right on time to catch me in the act! Can you believe she didn’t get mad? She laughed, hard! She cleaned me up and in the sweetest way only a mom could, she said “Less is more babygirl” and put a touch of makeup on me for the day. A bit of pink lipstick on my lips and a dab of the same on my cheeks, blended out as blush was all she used.  That’s how I learned there was more than one use for lipstick! I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until my teens, but that day was a treat and I was a barbie princess! Kind of funny how now, as a beauty blogger, I’m the one giving my mother makeup tips.

My beautiful mother & I. I love my Cupcake (mother)

Almay Makeup Moments with Mom Contest

Almay is giving you a chance to win a trip to NYC with makeovers for two in the Almay Makeup Moments with Mom Contest! A trip to New York for two…with makeovers? Yes please! You can enter on the Almay Facebook Page until June 2, 2013 at 11:59pm ET. One entry per person. The contest is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, age 18 or older.  Here is how to enter:

It’s that simple! A photo of you and your mother…fabulous. Sharing your most memorable mommy and daughter makeup moment…awesomeness. Winning a trip to Manhattan plus makeovers for 2…Fabulous Awesomeness! So go on hot foot, get your lovely self over to the Almay Facebook Page, like them and enter to win! Before you go, tell me, what’s your fave makeup moment with mom or something you learned from her?

P.S. Did I mention I’m super flippin excited to be an Almay spokesperson?!!!

I’m An Almay Spokesperson! Win A Trip To NYC With Makeovers For Two

Darlings, I have a fabulous fashion guest post from Isabella Franklin for you today. She will be sharing a bit of fashion advice with style inspiration from the lovely Kelly Rowland (who I totally adore!) as well as Nicki Minaj. You can find Isabella over at CosmeticSurgeryGuru.com and @Cosmetic_Bella on Twitter.

With money to throw around, celebs are renowned for their trend setting ways and unique fashion vibes. They push the boat out when it comes to looking good, so check out these two very different A-list performers and steal their style – on a budget.

Kelly Rowland Style

She’s dominated the headlines in recent years thanks to her breast implant procedure and successful solo career, but Miss Rowland’s dress sense has always excited fans. The singer has rocked many styles since she first found fame with Destiny’s Child, but she’s always happy to show off her killer abs and well-toned legs and arms. Short shorts and tank tops are her thing and she was recently seen in a revealing black Georges Chakra gown at the 2013 Grammys.

Kelly Rowland – Style – Georges Chakra Couture dress at Grammy Awards

Get the look: The good news for us penny-pinchers is that Miss Rowland’s style is easy to copy without breaking the bank. Sure, she probably spends a fortune on her wardrobe (and why wouldn’t you if you’re rolling it in?), but the strappy short and top combo is not hard to find at a reasonable price. Team this look with some short boots or strappy sandals and you’ll be onto a winner. Peekaboo dresses are also in this season, so if you’re happy to flash a bit of flesh, you’re bound to find something affordable on the high street.

Nicki Minaj

Let’s face it, Nicki Minaj is no wilting violet. She regularly flaunts her bountiful curves and is often spotted wearing bikini tops under jackets, t-shirts or just with shorts – especially in her music videos. Her clothes are often as bright as the wigs she wears and she doesn’t shy away from figure-hugging dresses or thighs-skimming skirts. All in all, her dress sense is revealing, but a little Minaj attitude could help spice up your wardrobe.

Nicki Minaj

To get the look: Whether you’ve had a breast augmentation to improve your bosoms or are naturally buxom, now’s your chance to shine.  Of course, you might want to be a little bit more conservative in your dress sense, but there’s no harm in exposing a bit of cleavage. A decent bra is a must and if you’re going on holiday this year why not invest in a brand new bikini? Make it bright, make it bold but ensure it keeps your chest under control. In terms of everyday attire, Miss Minaj loves her loud, fluorescent shades as much as her extravagant bling and seeing as bold fabrics are also on-trend you shouldn’t have to look too far for a well-priced garment.

Whether you have an athletic body shape like Kelly or an hourglass physique like Nicki, you too can look red carpet or dance floor ready in no time.

Thank you Isabella for sharing this style post on Fabulous Awesomeness! I love Kelly Rowland’s style, how about you darlings?

Look Like A Celeb | On A Budget (Guest Post) | Style & Fashion

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ZzzQuil. All opinions are 100% mine.

Surely you have experienced difficulty sleeping, tossing and turning with frustration. Sleeping is important for our mental and inner physical health but sometimes we forget that it also has an impact on our appearance. The resting phase is a huge factor in skin health, remember that darlings! As a beauty blogger, I know first hand how lack of good nightly rest can show on the outside…starting with the eyes! If you’re following my on Facebook or Twitter, you probably know I’ve been having a bout with sleeplessness. It showed big time on my face, dark circles galore! Let’s not talk about my lack of work productivity at the time, yikes! I needed sleep badly! P&G came to the rescue and provided me with a sample of ZzzQuil!

ZzzQuil is a sleep-aid by the makers of Vicks NyQuil and it is available over the counter! ZzzQuil isn’t for colds, the active ingredient is diphenhydramine HCI which helps lessen the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. That’s exactly what I need, since my problem isn’t staying asleep…it’s falling asleep in the first place! It comes in LiquiCap® or liquid form and I got the liquid Warming Berry flavor which is good since I’m horrible with swallowing pills. If you’re the same way and need an over the counter sleep aid, ZzzQuil is your best bet since it is the only one available in both forms.

I like the ZzzQuil packaging for two reasons. First, the label is different so I don’t confuse it with NyQuil which is also in my medicine cabinet. Second, I love that I can see how much product is left in the bottle. You all know how I loathe running out of things and not having a replacement handy! I have asthma and bronchitis so I asked my doctor first as suggested on the warning label. She gave me the green light so that night I read the directions and poured myself a dose of 2 tablespoons using the handy measuring cup included.I was a bit worried the ZzzQuil liquid Warming Berry would taste horrible like liquid medicines products but it wasn’t bad at all. I didn’t need to chase it with a cup of juice, there is no lingering taste and it truly does have a warming effect.

It took me about 45 minutes to fall asleep which is great since I’d been fighting to sleep for several hours on my own an entire week prior! I felt ready for bed but not uncontrollably tired or loopy. I woke up to my morning alarm with no problem, I didn’t feel drowsy or sluggish. I felt awesome and refreshed! I did take a second dose the next night and have been back on my regular sleeping pattern on my own ever since. I haven’t needed to use ZzzQuil in about 2 weeks but I’m glad I have it on hand in case I have another sleepless period again!

Have you ever had occasional sleeplessness? Totally not good for your health and us gals need our beauty sleep! You should check out ZzzQuil and if you try it, share your experience on Twitter using hashtag #ZzzQuilNight and be sure to like the ZzzQuil page on Facebook!

Get Your Beauty Rest With ZzzQuil | Help For Occasional Sleeplessness

The Beauty Blog Coalition is a group of Beauty Bloggers who work to bring you the latest on all things beauty. We have collaborated to offer our readers a chance to win $500 in the Beauty Blog Coalition Spring Giveaway! That’s right, one lucky darling is going to win $500! Simply follow the Rafflecopter instructions below to enter the Beauty Blog Coalition Spring Giveaway. This giveaway is open to international participants and ends on May 17, 2013.

Here is a list of the member’s participating in the current giveaway – be sure to check them out for some enjoyable reading:

Blushing Basics
PolishGalore
Clumps of Mascara
Justina’s Gems
Beyond Beauty Lounge
Beauty 101
Cosmetics Aficionado
Just For Trendy Girls
Peek & Ponder
Pretty In Pink
Aquaheart’s Obsessions
InTruBeauty
Beauty Info Zone
Moxie Reviews
Prime Beauty
Midnight Manicures
Geniabeme
Blushing Noir
Beauty by Miss L
Peace Love Lipgloss
TheFabZilla
polarbelle
My Highest Self
MinaSlater.com – Fabulous Awesomeness
george&bear
Lipgloss Break
Painted Ladies
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beauty Blog Coalition Spring Giveaway | Win $500!