Fall Lip Shades You Can Rock!

Autumn is officially here! Can we all just rejoice and pull out the oversized sweaters, tall boots and start diving into pumpkin spice lattes and oh yeah , Autumn makeup! 

 If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen this picture . Not only am I rock'n my tall boots alongside a monochromatic wardrobe but I'm also wearing this falls lip trend : dark, bold , vampy and almost gothic like lips. In both photos I'm wearing the same shade, Vintage by NYX.

//photo by a2_studio_photo//

In the spirit of Autumn here are my favourite lip shades.

It's really no surprise that NYX would be my go-to brand for matte liquid lipsticks. IMO NYX creates some of the most vibrant , pigmented and long wearing liquid lipsticks on the market. I can't forget to mention that they are very budget friendly ($9). The NYX Suede line is my absolute favourite. I wear "Soft Spoken" to work a lot! It's a pink undertone and lasts more than 7 hours on my lips and that's after eating and drinking all day. 

Favourite Fall lipsticks

"Antique Velvet" by MAC is a perfect dark matte brown and wish I had bought it earlier to wear for my fall blog shoot! It swatches beautifully and looks great on almost any skin tone really. I can't tell you for how long I've been looking for a matte brown reminiscent of the 90's look and I finally found it!

Captive and Hang-Up are also from MAC and have been staples in my Autumn makeup bag since last year. They are more berry tones and are  a satin and cremesheen finish. I wear these more for going out then going to the office, but you can definitely rock a berry lip around the water cooler, whatever works for you !

Midnight red was sent to me as a PR sample from Mary Kay. I instantly feel in love with it and captured it on Instagram here.

It reminds me a lot of  "Red Ochre" eyeshadow from the ABH Renaissance palette. Take a look at this photo and tell me I'm not dreaming! It's a gel semi-matte finish and long wearing (about 5 hours). As you can see from the swatch it's highly pigmented and only took 1 swipe to achieve this colour. 

Do you prefer a liquid lipstick or the traditional lipsticks? Do you have a favourite Fall lip colour? Leave me a comment below as I'm always looking for new lip shades to add to my collection !

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I bought all the lipsticks, with the exception of the Mary Kay Midnight Red"" that was sent to me as a PR sample. I was not compensated for this post and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.

XO, Maha 

First Impressions : Drugstore Matte Lip Stains

2015 was the year of Matte liquid lip stains! Everyone from Anastasia Of Beverly Hills, Stila, and Kat Von D came out with new formulations and colours of their already cult favourite matte liquid lip stains. The youngest of the Kardashian Klan(lol), Kylie Jenner jumped on the bandwagon and brought along with her a new younger crowd of matte liquid lip stain lovers. In 2016 this trend is still going strong and I couldn't be happier as I'm a huge fan of matte lipsticks/stains. I would change my outfit to match my lipstick colour...no joke...the struggle is real people. Pure Hollywood from Anastasia of Beverly hills was my first matte liquid lip stain purchase. I was so impressed by the long lasting formula. I loved it so much that I used up the .11oz tube very quickly. What does a girl do when she doesn't want to spend another $26 on a .11 oz tube of beautiful smooth, long lasting matte lip stain ? Look for equally impressive drug store options, right! I picked up a few options in the hopes of finding my drugstore holy grail liquid lip stain.

NYX Liquid Suede

NYX brand is vastly becoming a house hold name, if not so already. I blog about NYX products all the time as I love the higher end quality of their products. I was so eager to try out the Liquid Suede that as soon as I paid for the products,I got in my car and applied liquid suede, Pink Lust right away. The formula is very creamy and feels nice when applied. The applicator is easy to use but doesn't pick up a lot of  product at first so you need to dip back in a few times. The formula doesn't have any scent to it, bonus!. I had to reapply the lip stain a few times through out the day as it transferred onto cups easily.3 hours after my initial application I still didn't feel that it dried into a true matte formula. It applied creamy and settled into more of a silky look. Overall I like this product but I felt it wasn't a true matte finish and not something I would purchase if I was looking for a matte finish.

REVLON, Ultra HD Matte LipColor

 As of today, Revlon has 8 shades in this line of matte lip colour. I bought HD Temptation. The tube is rounded flat and resembles the hourglass liquid lipstick. The applicator is shorter than the NYX liquid suede so it allows for more control in the application. As soon as I applied the lipstick I was hit with a sweet smell. I don't mind the smell but I know many people prefer to not smell and taste their makeup. It wasn't a showstopper for me, but I could do without it. Once applied the lip stain felt very creamy and I noticed it instantly hydrated my dry lips. As with the NYX liquid suede, I can't say it dried to a true matte stain but it definitely dried to a semi-matte. It still felt great on even after a few hours of wear. I didn't find it transferred colour easily, which is great! I only had to reapply, lightly, once through out the day. This formula is definitely a hybrid of a lip balm/gloss/lipstick because it's moisturising, semi-glossy and long wearing. I would definitely purchase this product again. I think REVLON is re branding themselves with fresh new products and I love the direction they're taking. 

L'OREAL Infallible Pro Matte Gloss

Have you ever bought a product and you thought to yourself, what did I use before this ? This is how I feel about the L'oreal Infallible Matte  " Gloss". To be honest, I didn't have high expectants for this gloss because the packaging didnt excite me very much. Yes, I'm one of those people that enjoys good packaging, I'll admit it! I like to display my makeup on my vanity as I find it adds a bit of glamour. Ok, let's get back on track now :) This product comes in 12 shades and I bought Forbidden Kiss. Love the name! I thourghly enjoyed using this product. The applicator itself is short so precise application is made easier. I love that the sponge tip is heart shaped(at least to me that's what it loos like).It actually allows me to lightly line my lips with the tip because of its unique shape. You have to apply this procdut with precision because it dries FAST! You better have a Q-Tip handy to wipe away any mistakes quickly! There was no transfer of product onto my coffee cup at 2pm (applied it at 9:30 am). At 4 pm the colour was still going strong with a bit of bleeding int he middle, but nothing a small touch up can't' fix. L'Oreal markets this product as a matte gloss and they I think it's true matte lipstick. I didn't find it was very hydrating to the lips and it definitely didn't give off any

 "gloss" resemblance.  In my opinion this product is the truest matte liquid lip stain that I've tried so far.I've been wearing it almost everyday now and went back to purchase Sunset and Barely Nude. A great drugstore alternative to the brand named liquid stains.

MAYBELLINE Vivid Matte Liquid

It's no surprise that Maybelline is one of my favourite drugstore brands. I blog about them often and NO, I am not sponsored by them!I just love that they make well formulated products that work for the masses. When I heard they came out with a new lip stain, I ran, no joke, to Shoppers and picked up heir latest product. Vivid Matte liquid comes in 10 high pigmented shades. I picked up Nude Thrill, Rebel Red and Pink Charge. The.26 oz tube is rectangular shaped and there's nothing to exciting about it. The formula itself is very creamy and has a sweet rose smell to it.It's not an overbearing smell but it's noticeable. The formula itself is creamy and long lasting. It doesn't dry to a true matte finish, but borderline semi matte. It definitely will hydrate your lips and there is some colour transfer of the product. I didn't have to reapply the product more than once through out the day. Even though this wasn't a true matte lip stain product, I would repurchase as the colours are very pigmented and hydrated my lips very well.

essence Liquid Lipstick

essence liquid lipstick was the most budget friendly product of the bunch. At $3.99 a tube, it's very affordable. The product comes in 6 shades and I purchased Make a Statement and Colour Party. The shades aren't too pigmented. They come in baby pinks, nudes and plum. The.13oz tube is transparent and short. The applicator is also very short making application, in my opinion, easier. The formula is creamy and not very long lasting. I believe essence should be marketing these products as lipgloss and not lipsticks. I wasn't too excited about this product, even though I do enjoy a lot of other essence products. This one just didn't excite me. I won't be repurchasing this product. Due to the sheer colour of these lipsticks,I ended up giving them to my daughter as they really are more of a gloss based product. 

I always want to be transparent with my readers so I will tell you that I have gone back and repurchased Anastasia Beverly Hill, Pure Hollywood and Stila, Stay All Day liquid Lipstick in Caramel. I think these brands make the best higher end liquid lip stains. I thoroughly enjoy these lip stains and will be doing a review on them shortly.

GLAM NYE LOOK

I can't believe 2015 is coming to an end! For all of you that live in Ottawa,don't you love all the snow that finally landed on our beautiful city! I know you won't let a little snow distract you from your New Years Eve plans. To ring in the NY I collaborated with Rania Abdullah from The Wardrobe Stylist, HairByNadine and our model Simar from Mini Me City to put together a Makeup + Hair + Styling tutorial on how to pull off an easy but GLAM NYE look!

Trust me when I say this is easy to do. 

It was our first go at it and I have to say we really enjoyed ourselves(a bit too much) and I believe we truly accomplished some work worth sharing. 

MAKEUP LOOK

The key to a great cut crease is patience, and a bit of practise!

1. Apply eye primer such as MAC PRO LONGWEAR PAINTPOT in soft ochre to the entire lid.
2. Apply a highlight like Gesso on the inner corner of the eye and brow bone.
3. Along the crease area, draw a line from the outer corner of the eye to the inner corner with a kohl pencil or eyeliner.
4. Use an eye shader brush like the Eco tools brush to blend the eyeliner out. Use small windshield wiper movements to blend the kohl or eyeliner.
5. Apply any eye shadow colour you like over the line ( I used Naked from the UD NAKED palette). You can go a bit above the line as well. Ensure you are blending the colour toward the inner corner of your eye.                                                                                             
6.  TIP: I wanted a dramatic cut crease so for the step above I thickened the eye shadow line with the NAKED shadow.
7. Apply shadow all over the lid to add colour to the look. I used Half Baked from the UD NAKED palette.
8. Create a winged look with any liquid/gel liner you have on hand. I used Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner in Black.
9. For a more dramatic look add glitter on top of the Half Baked Shadow. I used Annabelle Glitterama in Solar Flare. 
10. For added drama, apply Naked from the UD NAKED Palette to the lower lashline and go over it with a bit of Darkhorse, also from the NAKED palette.
11. Line your inner lashline with kohl black pencil.
12. Finish the look off with falsies and a good coat of mascara. I used Maybelline Volume Express Colossal 

STYLING

To achieve an ultra GLAM look Rania, from The Wardrobe Stylist, suggests adding these accessories to your outfit of the night.

1. Aqua stone ring (this one has a silver frame though)

2. Cuff bracelet

3. Hair chains

4. Ankle bracelet

5. Kaftan paired with pants and ultra comfortable tank

6. Bangles

7. Slave bracelets

8. Cuffs

9. Arm band

10.Oversized rings in natural stones

11.Simpler rings such as the criss cross x ring

12.Head chains (These can be found on Etsy at great prices)

14.Ankle bracelet or ankle slave bracelets

You can read more about the Styling for this specific look over on The Wardrobe Stylist

HAIR

1. Blow out the hair before styling

2. Section by section curl hair with the curling iron or wand

3. Once all the hair is curled, loosely pin up each curl with a bobby pin

4. Let the hair set for 15-20 minutes

5. Take the pins out and brush each curl out seperatetly to create a wave look

6. Spray with light hold hairspray if desired

7. Clip the hair chains underneath the hair strands close to the ears to hide the attaching clips

8. Add the top head chain and align with the hair partition. 

Voila! You're all Glammed up for NYE!!!

What's In My EveryDay Makeup Bag ?

I tend to stick to the basics when it comes to my everyday makeup. If I know I'll be heading out to a function after work and not heading home first, then I'll include my Urban Decay naked 2 palette and Urban Decay all nighter setting spray in my bag to glam up my day look to a night look.I didn't include any liquid foundation and eyeshadow in this post as it would be deceiving to include them because 90% of the time in the Fall/Winter I don't wear liquid foundation and eyeshadow on a daily basis. I'll wear them on the weekend or if I'm going out to an event. I'll do an updated "What's in my makeup bag " post in the Spring as the items in my bag will change from season to season.

Tyler Dawson for Clinique

I love this makeup bag. It was a free gift with purchase from Clinique.I love the pattern and it's a really good size and fits all my makeup.

1.Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion +

2. Oil free City Block Face Protector 

( not shown but I use this sunscreen before apply moisturizer)

1.MAC Studio Fix, shade NC35

2.NYX Butter Lipstick, shade Pops Explosiv

3.Smashbox Photofinish Primer

4.Maybelline Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara, shade Blackest Black

5.NARS Creamy Concealer, shade Ginger

6.NYX Blush, shade Mauve

7.Body Shop, White Musk (old packaging)

8.MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush

9.MAC 129SH Brush

Before I forget,I wanted to include a picture of my handbag. As you know, I was on the hunt for an everyday handbag for months. I finally found something practical, stylish and reasonably priced. Funny story about this particular handbag; I found the brand Tutilo online and I really liked the style, practicality and affordability of their handbags but of course never found the time to actually purchase the bag online. A few weeks later I walk into Marshall's and what do you know...the bag is staring me in the face. I was so excited! Marshall's and Winners now carry a few of the Tutilo product line. I absolutely love the bag and highly recommend it. It's faux pebbled leather,includes a take-away clutch,very roomy, and super stylish. I have received so many compliments on this bag. My next purchase will be this Tutilo handbag. 

P.S. To my readers who look forward to my monthly favourites, I'm sorry but I skipped it for October. I didn't do a lot of purchasing this month and the items I did buy I didn't feel were really that great to write about, so I'll be combining my October and November favourites. I already started working on this post so you know it' gonna be good!!!

Maha :)

//Please Note that this is not sponsored posts//

NYX Cosmetics Product Review

With all the excitement and talk about NYX Cosmetics opening their first ever free standing stores across the US and Canada (Toronto), I thought it would be the perfect time to review a few NYX products. I buy my NYX products from Rexall pharmacy and now from a new store at the Tanger Outlet called Beauty Box. They carry an extensive line of NYX products. I’ve been using NYX products now for over 2 years. At first I wasn't too sure what to expect, but quickly found out why they’re a cult favourite. The majority of NYX products are very well formulated and comparable to a lot of higher end products but don’t carry the expensive price tag! They are super affordable and are 100% animal cruelty-free. I LOVE THIS! Although NYX carries a lot of great products, here's a review of just a few products I have used and would recommend.

NYX Highlight and Contour Pro Palette

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NYX Cosmetics hit a home run with this Highlight and Contour Pro Palette. You get 4 highlighting shades and 4 contouring shades. All 8 shades are finely milled, blendable, highly pigmented and extremely easy to experiment with. I personally love the variety of these shades. It doesn’t matter if you’re fair, medium or dark, you will find a H&C shade to work with.  My favourite is the Cream matte highlighter (2nd from the left, referred to at times as the banana colour ). I don’t own the Anastasia Beverly Hills contour palette anymore (there was an unfortunate accident), but I can truly say that the banana powder in the ABH palette and the cream powder in the NYX palette are VERY similar. You will achieve the same result with this $25 contour palette that you would with a $52 palette. NYX also sells these shades individually so you can always replenish your palette. I recommend this palette if your a novice to H&C or even a PRO. I can definitely see myself repurchasing this product.

NYX Powder Blush

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I own 3 NYX powder blushes: Mauve (my latest), Pinched (for a night out) and Silky Rose (most used). There are a total of 24 shades and I will most likely own all 24 shades soon! It's very doable at $8.99 a piece. I bought the Mauve blush to wear this Fall with a dark lip. I'm not sure why it's called Mauve because it's more of a pinkish/brown colour rather than purple/brown. Regardless of the name, it's my new favourite. It's a matte formula and layers beautifully and is surprisingly long wearing (about 7.5 hrs).All the NYX blushes have a smooth, non flaky consistency. NYX also makes cream blushes so I may pick one up to try it out later this month. I'm not a huge fan of cream blushes but NYX may convert me.

NYX Butter Lipstick

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I own 3 NYX butter lipsticks in Firecracker, Pops, and Summer Fruits. I wasn’t really expecting much from a $7.99 lipstick but now I'm almost positive I will buy all 22 shades! The quality of this formula is superb. I find them to be super creamy, non-drying and really pigmented. They really do glide on like butter while leaving your lips feeling ultra-soft. IMO these butter lipsticks can be long lasting as long as you apply a bottom coat to your lips such as a lip liner. I’d like to add Moonlit Night to my stash. It`s a deep burgundy and it`s definitely calling my name begging to be worn this fall/winter!!  

NYX Wonder Pencil

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The Wonder Pencil has many uses and comes in 3 neutral shades, light, medium and deep. You can use these pencils to conceal blemishes, line your lips to prevent lipstick from bleeding, highlight brow bone or to brighten your eyes along the waterline. I use this pencil in medium to line my waterline for the sole purpose of looking somewhat awake in the morning! The result is very subtle but effective. If you’re not a fan of black liner in your inner rim, try this flesh tone pencil for a wide eyed look. I have tried brand name nude/flesh tone pencils and honestly why spend more than you have to, this pencil gets the job done! The last few times I went to purchase the Wonder Pencil at the pharmacy it was sold out. I went back a week later and they were fully stocked so of course I stocked up! It`s a hot item ladies!

Makeup tip: To ensure liner lasts an extra-long time on your waterline, pat eye shadow on top of the liner. This will ensure the liner on your waterline doesn’t smudge or move and it even gives your look that extra pop. It's best to match your eyeshadow colour with the colour of your liner.

NYX Hot Singles Eyeshadow

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NYX offers 88 Hot Single Eyeshadow shades. They are all pigmented and easy to blend. I have quite a collection now and I find myself reaching for these shadows more often than my MAC shadows. I especially love the matte NYX shadows. Matte shades are sometimes harder to blend because they can be too powderyo or too stiff, but that's not the case with these matte shadows.They blend very easily. The colour payoff, even without eye primer, is top notch. My absolute favourite NYX Shadow is Innocent. It's a beige shade with pink undertones. It`s very wearable on it`s own and compliments IMO all skin tones. So pretty! It definitely is a must have in every girls makeup bag.

Makup tip: To really intensify any eyeshadow colour instantly, apply NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk all over your lid and then apply your eyeshadow of choice. Applying the thick white colour on your lids not only intensifies your shadow colour but also prolongs your shadow wear. 

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favourite NYX products. Please leave me a comment and let me know what your favourite NYX products are :)

P.S. If your wondering "are there any NYX products Maha has tried and didn't like ?" Yes, and you can find them here , here and here.

Maha
xoxo

AUGUST FAVOURITES

I can't believe August is over! Where did the Summer go? The only great thing about August coming to an end is that I can finally reveal my monthly favourites! I'm so excited about these products. I've purchased all these items and just love them so, obviously, I have to share with you all. There is one "Lust" item that made the list! Get ready cause I've been loving a lot of things this month!




EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream

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This non - foaming, 24 hr moisturizing shaving cream is my new holy grail! I'm very prone to red bumps after shaving or waxing and I didn't experience the bumps with this product. It's probably because it's loaded with natural conditioning oils and Shea butter! It left my legs feeling so moisturized that I could have done without applying any lotion, it's that hydrating!You can use this product wet or dry. The best part is this shaving cream is made from recycled plastic so it won't leave a rust ring in your shower. You can choose from Vanilla Bliss ( my fave), Pomegranate or Lavender Jasmine. 

LORAC - 3D Liquid Lustre Top Coat

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I'm always looking for new products that add Oomph! to the eyes. I have a lot of glitters and pigments, but I wanted something different. I read in Allure magazine that this product was the new "Must Have "for the Summer/Fall so of course I had to have it :). These 3D lustre top coat add intensity, shine and sparkle to any eyeshadow look. They can be applied as a top coat for your eyeshadow but also can be worn alone. I like to wear a nude eyeshadow look and add the top coat over it to get a more dramatic day time look without looking overdone. I just love it. I know I'll get further use out of them come holiday party season. The only downside with Lorac products is that they only ship within the U.S and Sephora no longer carries their products in Canada. I was fortunate and had a U.S. address which I used to get these babies. 

Korres Lip Butter

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I'm a huge fan of lip balms and have them scattered everywhere in my home and office space.  I bought this lip butter from Sephora, where it's exclusively sold. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. The staying power of this product is on average to any other tinted balm I've tried, so about an hour, but what I really LOVED about this product was that my lips really felt moisturized and stayed hydrated for a couple of hours even after the tint wore off. This to me is worth the $12 price tag. This product has a thicker consistency so I like to apply it with a lip brush but you can use your fingers of course. I like to layer my application so I wear a neutral lip color like M.A.C blankety or creme cup and add the Korres lip butter on top. I love the shine it gives off. The only drawback about this product is the packaging. It's a bit flimsy and I would have preferred the product in a tube as it's more sanitary. I initially picked up pomegranate but now have all 4 colors. 

Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Radian Lotion

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I've been using the Vaseline Cocoa Radiant lotion for a few years now. The packaging has changed, but it still has the same great formula. This lotion is super creamy, super hydrating, thick and non- sticky. It's everything you need in a drugstore moisturizing body lotion. If you're not using it, your  missing out! Your skin will thank you. Yeah... it smells like Cocoa and it smells DEVINE!

L.A. Girl USA HD Pro Concealer

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If you watch Youtube makeup tutorials, you'll notice a lot of beauty gurus use these HD PRO Conceal tubes for highlighting and contouring. I was really intrigued so I ordered them to try them out first hand. I ordered creamy natural, beige, and bronze. I was somewhat impressed...let me explain. The formula is good, but doesn't compare to my NARS or Benefit concealers when it comes to concealing dark circles. If you use them to conceal imperfections or dark circles, I recommend using a corrector first before applying this concealer. If you use these conceal tubes for the sole purpose of highlighting and contouring ( H&C) then you have a definite winner! They are very compact and obviously portable making them so convenient to throw in your makeup bag or in my case, my kit. I used them on almost everyone I worked on this summer to give a light highlight and contour and the result was flawless. I still used my Anastasia of Beverly Hills contour powder palette over the PRO Conceal to ensure the H&C didn't budge. I'm so happy I ordered them. I definitely will be ordering other shades. If your new to the whole highlighting and contouring game definitely give this product a try. At $5.00 US  you can't go wrong.

Morphe M438 Pointed Contour Brush

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I ordered this Morphe contour brush without any expectations. I just wanted to know what all the hype was about. Let's just say my only regret is not ordering more brushes at the same time! This contour brush is AMAZING. It's super soft and versatile as it can be used for contouring but also for applying setting powder under your eyes, blush on cheekbones and bronzer all over. It's angled so it's very precise at applying product exactly where it needs to go. I paid $10.00 US. I would compare the quality of the quality of this brush to my Sigma F25. I love this brush as well but I paid over $30 US for it. I definitely will be ordering a few more Morphe brushes.

e.l.f Studio Stipple Brush

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I paid $1.99 for this synthetic brush from Winners. It was on clearance. It's my go to foundation brush in my own personal makeup bag. I love it. You can buy it online for $3.00. You will use it over and over again as it's super light and the bristles will not scratch your face like other cheaper priced brushes. The bristles are very soft and it evenly distributes my foundation on my skin. I'm not naive, I know this brush will shed at some point but my Chanel brush also shed for the first time last week. No biggie because at $1.99 or $3.00 I can buy another one and not feel guilty

www.papyrusonline.com

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I have a slight obsession with stationary! I own a few boxes of unused greeting cards and more than normal amounts of unused notebooks. I have no intent in mailing these cards out or writing in these notebooks. They're so pretty so I collect them. Papyrus is a beautiful site and I shop from this site often. Papyrus.com offers a broad range of contemporary greeting cards, stationary , gifts and gift wrapping materials. They offer you the option to personalise any item. The notebooks are my favourite, especially the Kate Spade collection. I love how elegant they look on my home office desk. Just love it!!! 

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

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This is my 2nd time reading this book and I, most likely, will read it a 3rd time. I spent a good portion of my "glamping" trip this summer reading it. What a beautiful story about friendship, exile , separation and an everlasting love for ones home country. It's a beautifully written novel that is cherished by many. I highly recommend this book as you will forever feel changed after reading it.

NIKE SportWatch  + GPS GOLD LIMITED EDITION

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I know this isn't makeup or beauty related, but this gadget is a must for anyone wanting to set fitness goals this fall. This baby right here is at the top of my birthday list! Not only is it functional (tracks calories burnt, goals, pace and has GPS) but it looks really cool on and almost futuristic. Yes, I''m a gadget junkie and this baby here is coming home with me soon.


Talk soon,
Maha

**STAY TUNED FOR MY NYX PRODUCT REVIEW **