Being 8 months pregnant and being super weirdly private about it.

I've never been a super private person. I post tons of pictures of myself, probably overshare way too much on Facebook and then take the overspill to Twitter. That being said, I'm still reluctant to post about my kids on my blog.. the fear of pedophilia rings stealing my precious children's images runs rampant through my imagination.

When I found out I was pregnant, I wasn't sure if I should share it on my blog, or like the rest of my child related stuff, just keep it to Facebook. Time went on and I just never really found the right time or situation to be public about it, and wondered if anyone would really even care? So here I am, 4 weeks away from my due date and making an announcement!

I have actually been photoshopping my face slimmer recently, because I think it looks huge and puffy and fat (the above are obviously not PSed.. moonface (O3O) lolol). I know, it's ridiculously stupid and vain, but I can't help it! My boobs are huge too, which I don't mind as much lol. I will most likely be awol for a little while after the baby's birth (another boy! Number 3). I can't imagine I'll be inclined to do my makeup or hair for a few weeks, therefore I won't be taking any photos of myself! #vanity

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed when I found out we weren't having a girl. Yes, a healthy baby is all that matters, but after 2 boys I really, really wanted a little girl to share girly things with.. such as my love for Hello Kitty, nail polish and pink. My husband doesn't seem to like it when I try to share those things with the boys =_=; I was crushingly disappointed for a while, but I have come to terms with it and I know this little boy is going to be just as sweet and lovely as his big brothers. Plus I have lots and lots of nieces to make up for it!

Troll ultrasound tech decided to unsubtly rub it in ._.

No, really, thanks for pointing that out.

On another note, we still don't have a name! My husband and I can't seem to agree on anything. He has been pushing since baby 1 to have a namesake. He is named after his father and wants his son to carry on his name....... I am really not down with that. I just can't imagine calling my son the same name as my husband, not to mention my father-in-law. It's confusing enough as it is with two of them, let alone 3. And of course he'll end up with a nickname, just like my husband has a nickname.. which he doesn't like. What's the point in giving him the same name if he's just going to end up called by the nickname??? So anyway, now he just wants a C name (with a k sound) because he and both or other boys all have C names, but he has only suggested 2 so far. His contributions have been Caine (I don't like it... Sounds like pain) and Cassius (our last name is Clay. Cassius Clay??? Come on now). I really like the name Cai and have suggested so many others that my head is going to explode with so many C names, but he doesn't like any of them. What's a girl to do? I should just sneakily fill out the birth certificate when he's out of the room and play dumb until it's too late ;)

Thank you for bearing with me through this overly wordy post, I hope I didn't bore you!

Anyone got any C name suggestions for me? I'm getting desperate! Lol. Will be sharing my baby shower pics soon if you're interested! :)

Halloween Party! Cleopatra Costume, Makeup and Nails.

It's almost Halloween!! And that means Halloween parties :D

I went to one just this past Saturday and it was a lot of fun. Spooky sweet treats, crazy costumes and lots of creepy looking (but delicious) food. As I said previously, I decided to do a Cleopatra costume this year and I really liked the end result. It was super simple, just a black dress, gold sandals, wig, head dress, makeup and nail art. Most of the pieces I pulled from my wardrobe/makeup drawer, with the exception of the wig and head dress.

The classic Egyptian colours, gold and turquiose.

I also did my lips gold, mixing a gold pigment with clear lipgloss.

This didn't last through food though :(

Wearing my Ruby Queen Violet lenses!

Nail art.

Using Wet n Wild Black Creme and The Gold and the Beautiful, I did a black and gold glitter gradient, with a gold accent nail and a freehand painted Egyptian Ankh.

I got lots of nice comments on my costume from my beautiful friends :) A lot of them got decked out in costumes as well! Who says mamas can't dress up and have fun on Halloween? I don't usually drink, and can't at all right now (seeing as I am 8 months pregnant.... did I forget to mention that? :p), but I've never needed alcohol to have a good time. It's all about good food and great company!

Rosie the Red Devil and I :)

With Mita, Ms. Cat in the Hat. How adorable is this costume???

Mai & I.

Yes, she is wearing a Twister mat dress. She is Twister. We did not play Twister though.

I'm looking forward to dressing up again on Wednesday to take the kids out trick or treating. Honestly, I feel that Halloween is ALL about having fun with costumes and makeup (for me anyway), I don't enjoy getting candy and sweets as much as I did when I was a kid, so I have to find something to replace that excitement with lol.

What are your Halloween plans? Have you been to any Halloween parties yet?

I'll be posting more pics after Halloween! Looking forward to seeing other people's costumes, makeup and nail art too :)

Ruby Queen Violet Circle Lens from Eyecandy Lens

This is the second pair of lenses I received for review from Eyecandy Lens, the Ruby Queen Violet circle lens.

 From EyecandyLens.com:

Ruby Queen Violet

Brand: NEO
Origin: South Korea
Water content: 45%
Diameter: 14.2 mm
Base Curve: 8.6

Duration: 1 year disposable

Create your signature look with the Ruby Queen series, a premium range by NEO Vision!  This series is designed to frame the iris multi-faceted diamond cut, exuding sophistication, class and personality.

This lens has a really pretty and unique diamond cut pattern. It looks stunning on the eyes. They are quite comfortable, I wore them for around 5 hours and they were fine. They are slightly smaller than the Dueba Max Pure Pink, and didn't seem to be as drying.

My face looks super white =_=;; I used a mattifying powder from e.l.f. and it made my face a bit ghostly in the flash. Please don't think I am purposely trying to whiten my face lol. The lenses are soooo vibrant, I love the way they look! I'm planning to wear them on Halloween with my Cleopatra costume and I'm sure they'll get a lot more use in the future :D Don't forget to use my code ISHAHBEAUTY if you order from Eyecandy Lens for a free surprise gift.

I'm going to do more circle lens reviews soon and possibly even a giveaway, so stay tuned :)

Dueba Max Pure Pink Circle Lens from Eyecandy Lens

I have been wanting a pair of pink lenses for a while now, so when Eyecandy Lens contacted me for a review I had to try these out!

From the Eyecandy Lens website:

Dueba Max Pure Pink Circle Lens
Brand: Dueba
Origin: South Korea
Water content: 38%
Diameter: 14.5 mm 
Base Curve: 8.6
Duration: 1 year disposable

A beautiful natural design inspired by the soft pink colour of sakura blossoms.  If you are looking for a colour between light brown and grey that will really make your eyes pop, then pink lenses are the perfect choice!

Please note that this item is manufactured by Dueba, under our Royal Vision label.

When you mention pink contact lenses, a lot of people would probably be thinking "Pink eyes???", but the Max Pure Pink design is subtle and really pretty, my eyes look lit from within. They have a soft glow and the colour isn't really super pink, it looks more like a soft pinkish brownish grey (my descriptive talent is awesome). At 14.5mm, they give a nice enlargement without looking too fake or being uncomfortable. I did notice a little bit of drying after a few hours, but I just applied some eye drops and they were fine. I LOOOVE how the Dueba Max Pure Pink lenses look and I will be looking at a few other colours in this series!

Artificial light

Artificial light

Natural daylight

Here's a short video so you can see them in action ;)

I will be reviewing a couple of other lenses very soon, so stay tuned :) Check out EyecandyLens.com for these gorgeous lenses and use my coupon code for a special free gift!

Halloween Costume Inspiration: Classy take on Cleopatra

Ah, the Queen of Egypt. Such an elegant, beautiful concept, but come Halloween it always seems to be interpreted in such a tacky way.

I decided that I would take the Cleopatra concept and incorporate things that work not just for Halloween, but in my usual wardrobe. So less 'tacky costume-like' and more 'elegant chic'.

I initially got this wig from Walmart, because I liked the gold head dress, but the wig itself was SUCH bad quality. It was like straw and completely out of shape.. all kinked up and wouldn't sit straight even with brushing. This ended up being the epitome of tacky, so I had to look at other options. That's what I get for buying a wig at Walmart.

So then I decided to just use the headpiece and buy another wig from Ebay. I found this one for around $18 and it's MUCH better quality. It's actually quite nice and doesn't look too fake, so I can use it for taking photos too :) The only thing is, the fringe (bangs) are too long, so I'll have to trim them a bit.

I found these GORGEOUS cuffs on Forever21.com and I think they'll go perfectly with my outfit. They're not the stereotypical snake jewellery which is so prevalent in Cleopatra costumes and I'll be able to incorporate them into my regular wardrobe after Halloween.

I have a dress similar to this one already, but without the ruching at the bottom. I think it's pretty perfect for the look I have in mind.

I also have a pair of gold sandals and just bought some gold ribbon to hopefully make them look similar to the sandals below. I only spent 0.94c on the ribbon, so it's a great deal cheaper than buying new shoes for at least $20.

Last, but not least, I saw this absolutely gorgeous makeup look on the Sugarpill Cosmetics facebook page. It's done by @vegas_nay, be sure to check her out on Instagram! I doubt I can recreate it as beautifully as hers, but I'm going to try =_=;;

Are you dressing up for Halloween? Have you looked in your wardrobe to see if there's anything you can pull together for a costume? I think a diy costume using regular clothing and accessories is an easy and inexpensive way to do something classy for Halloween.

I'm looking forward to pulling this look together and showing you all some pictures.

Pink Wednesday: Eyeko Nude Polish #BCA manicure

October as we all should know, is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

I don't have anyone in my family with breast cancer and hope I never do, but we have been touched by other forms of cancer and really, cancer is cancer. We all should be aware of how devastating it can be when it affects us or someone close to us.

Today I decided to do my part in spreading breast cancer awareness for October and do a pretty pink mani.

This is 2 coats of Eyeko Nude polish with a coat of Zoya Chloe over it. The butterfly on my ring finger was done with a Kiss nail art stencil and Sally Hansen HD Nail Color in Hi-Res.

Hope you all take part in going pink for October! I'm posting some new circle lens reviews soon, along with a video, so keep your eyes peeled!

Blogazons Roundup 10/15

 

 
• Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If you want the perfect Vampy Lips, then meet Cleo and Evelyn's Journey from Susan Thompson Cosmetics- it's Lola's favorite combination for the season!
• Polarbelle: Polarbelle fell in love with the iconic Marilyn Monroe eyeshadows from Mac Cosmetics.
• Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Be the Ghost with the Most if you win this Halloween giveaway from Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom!
• Lacquer Buzz: This month we got all sentimental for Polish Days. Take a look at this polish that holds a special place in my heart.
• Embellished Nails: fun tribal print manicure that you can do yourself!
• Beauty Product Review : Did you know that when girls feel bad about their looks more than 60% globally avoid normal daily activities? Let's change that with the #DoveInspired Campaign!
• The Passenger’s Element: Ulta haul of repurchases
• Jamegackie: Come take a look at my Up inspired nails for Polish Days
• Très Beau Glamour: Looking for something tasteful to make your at home spa days a bit more fun and delicious? Try a fruit smoothie facial mask that won't break the pocket -- it's to die for!
• TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla takes inspiration from a dusty artwork. Check out her Egyptian nails
• Samarium's Swatches: Do Zombies need Manicures? Sarah thinks so!
• Trouble-Maker On Heels: Trouble-Maker on Heels has started her first makeup challenge with using Autumn colour - first challenge Brown
• Addicted to OPI-yum: Ideas to Help a Depressed Person for Depression Awareness Month from lovenailpolish at Addicted to OPI-yum
• Adore-a-polish: Kristina shows us her favorite products of September.
• The Beauty Specialist!: Looking for a lip stain in a shocking pink shade?? Try this!
• Midnight Manicures: Join Midnight Manicures as Jeanie brings you one of the new Barielle Fall Collections - Runway Fever. Enter to win Barielle's Product Sweepstakes too!
• Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful: Think only the most expensive lipsticks will do? Check out Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful diving into her swatches & review of the Rimmel London Kate Moss Lipsticks!
• Amber Did It!: Looking for Halloween nail art ideas? Amber has a Spider Web nail tutorial this is just what you need.
• The Beauty Think Tank: Vampy Fall Lips AND a Beauty Steal? See how you can make your drugstore work for you with Revlon's Black Cherry Lipstick and the Think Tank!
• Lipgloss Break: Lipgloss Break gives you a 'splurge' and 'steal' option for her favorite nail polish color for work.
• Liesl Loves Pretty Things: Liesl takes a Walk on the Wild Side in NARS Andy Warhol collection Sephora exclusive nail color.
• In-The-Red Nails: OPI So So Skullicious Giveaway
• The Science Of Chic: Tired of buying pricey brush cleaner? Why not make some yourself with this cheap and easy DIY recipe!
• Ishah x Beauty: Fun, feminine polka dot nail art for Sentimental Polish Days.

elf Python Collection - Gold Glitter & Butter London Matte Finish topcoat.

The second of my elf Python Collection polish purchases: this unnamed gold glitter. Again, I flexed my creativity muscle and came up with this awesome name... Gold Glitter. Hold the applause, please.

This consists mainly of fine gold glitter, with a small amount of larger silver hex glitter pieces. It was difficult to get any of the hex glitter on the nail, so I had to use the dab/placing method to get the few that I have on there. Again, the smell is awful. When I opened it, I actually looked around to see what was giving off that chemical stench because I just didn't even think that it could be the nail polish. Luckily the smell goes away a little while after application.

I applied one coat over the Oxblood Red Crelly mani from yesterday.

It's alright. Nothing amazing.  I had to change my nail shape (again), because two of my nails chipped on the edges, making it completely impossible to keep my square shape. So oval it is, for now.

I decided to matte it up with my Butter London Matte Finish topcoat, just for kicks.

Loving the matte effect! It's so appropriate for this season :)

elf Python Collection nail polish - Oxblood Red Crelly

So I saw the elf Python collection for Fall in Target and I had to pick up a couple of nail polishes. The bottles are really cool, rounded with a snakeskin pattern on the cap.

This one is a perfect Oxblood shade, which I had been looking for. It's a rich, vampy, almost burgundy red jellyish creme (crelly), which is truly reminiscent of the colour of blood. The true colour is a little darker than the in the photos. It has no name, not even a numeric code differentiating the shade. There is a code on it, and I've seen some people assume that this is the code for the shade, but all of the polishes have the SAME number on them. So for my own purposes, I have named this Oxblood Red Crelly (ridiculously ingenious, amirite?).

 

 See that code? Yep, it's exactly the same on all of the polishes.

The formula is sooooo buttery, it's extremely easy to apply and looks gorgeously smooth and shiny even without topcoat. The only gripe I have is that it smells BAD. It's stronger than the 3 or 5 free polishes that I have, so I'm wondering what exactly is in it that makes it smell so strongly. It does go away after application, though.

Have you picked up any of these shades yet? Or anything else from the Python Collection? I am still on the lookout for the Warm Python pallette, they are sold out in my local Target.

Polish Days - Sentimental Polka Dot Nail Art.

It's time for Polish Days again!

For this month's Polish Days the theme is sentimental. I decided to use two of the very first polishes I ever bought after becoming interested in nail blogs and blogging. Essie Turquoise & Caicos is a beautiful blue-green, almost minty colour. It is one of my favourite shades and is so soft and pretty. China Glaze Something Sweet is a lilac pink pastel, the very first pink I went out looking for. I love pink and this is just the epitome of feminine!

I decided to play on the soft, feminine theme and do a half moon mani with pretty polka dots :) The gold is a Kiss nail art polish. I hope you like it!

Check out the other Polish Days posts!