Retro Barbie Makeup Tutorial

Last month, I kind of fell in the rabbit hole of Youtube videos - watching the beautifully filmed and edited monthly favorites and lookbooks, it didn't take long for me to want to try it out for myself (even though I really am not a fan of my voice)! After weeks of trying to plot the perfect video, I filmed and edited my very own makeup tutorial. And what better subject then one of my ultimate beauty icons - Retro Barbie? I'm not 100% happy with the end result, but I'm still proud of myself for dipping my toe in such uncharted territory!

I got to show off some of my very favorite makeup products lately too - like Maybelline's new lip elixirs and Tarina Tarantino's hyperliner in kanzasi; which I bought from Emerging Thoughts, a favorite store who are giving Mermaidens readers 15% off all orders with the coupon code "kailey"!

Is making videos something you think I should keep trying to get better at? I'd love to hear your thoughts! ♡

ON MY FACE:
MAC's RiRi Woo (sold out; Ruby Who is nearly identical!)
Tarina Tarantino Hyperliner in Kanzashi
Benefit's POREfessional
Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream
Maybelline's Lip Exilir in Signature Scarlet

Yummy You! by Twinkie Chan Giveaway!

Right before I opened Mermaidens, I decided I wanted to be more creative and headed to the arts and crafts section at the library. There I found Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies - a book dedicated solely to creating food with crochet! Completely enchanted, I checked it out and marveled at Twinkie Chan's sheer talent and planned to make a bunch of adorable cupcakes and ice creams for myself - that is, until I actually tried to crochet... (cough) I vowed to leave the crocheting to Twinkie, and followed her creative peruses on various social networking sites with equal parts awe and admiration!

I was particularly excited by her newest venture, Yummy You!, where she has socks, scarves, magnets, and wallets - all at super affordable prices!

So when nestled in my inbox was an email from Selina at Yummy You! asking if I wanted to do a giveaway with them, I just about died from excitement!

In case you can't tell, I'm pretending to eat the cupcake scarf - as you do.

You can enter to win this ADORABLE cupcake scarf from Yummy You! by using the Rafflecopter widget below! This giveaway will end on November 18th and is open to international readers! GOOD LUCK ♡

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Briar Rose

BLOUSE: Forever 21 DRESS: Bought from Paige, originally Topshop PINK SANDALS: c/o Surfdome

Good morning! Is this not one of the most adorable dresses ever?! And it has pockets! I had been eyeing it for ages on Topshop, but it was always just a bit out of my price range and it sold out. I forgot about it until I saw the lovely Paige post it in a blog sale for an incredible price, so I snatched it up! I'm wearing it with a beautiful sheer blouse from Forever 21.

Meanwhile, I am positively smitten with these shoes by Mel Footwear! Surfdome was kind enough to send them to me for review, and I absolutely love them! I always feel rather awkward in heels, but that wasn't the case with these adorable pink sandals! Thank you so much again surfdome.com!

I've spent the majority of this past week fretting over my cat Fi, who wasn't acting herself and had lost some weight. The days leading up to the appointment I imagined every single thing that could be wrong (does anybody else do this?!) and how much whatever it would cost to fix whatever it was. Finally the day arrived and it seems she has stones + an infection - thankfully they gave her the necessary medicine and antibiotics and are pretty confident she will recover fairly quickly! I was so, so relieved I could cry - she's my baby and I've had her since I was just six! :')

Here's hoping you have a beautiful week ♡

Interview: Jazmine from Jazzabelle's Diary

Whenever I see a new post from Jazmine, 21 year old stylist, model, and generally lovely person behind Jazzabelle's Diary, my heart soars! This girl is so genuinely lovely inside and out - scrolling through her blog, the words "effortlessly chic" come to mind - and when trying to think of blogs that are the absolute cream of the crop, hers is one I immediately think of!

Jazmine was kind enough to let me interview her, and below you will find her answers to my questions about her personal style, photography, and Nicki Minaj! ♡

How would you describe your personal style in three words?
Simple, classic & ladylike.

I really love the fact your mother is your photographer - do you two have any photography tips or advice for taking the best outfit pictures?
I think taking your time, finding the perfect locations and discovering your own style are pretty important things. Also, my mum and I take the best pictures when I'm feelin' confident and happy, so I never force myself to take them just for the sake of a blog post, the moment has to be right.

What are five of your favorite things right now?
'I Love You More Than You Think' by Rizzle Kicks, The Mindy Project, a good ol' cup of tea (two sugars and a splash of milk!), my new Topshop teddy bear fur coat and lighting lots of candles around my bedroom.

Describe the average day in the life of Miss Jazmine.
I'll wake up around eight o'clock, have a cup of tea and start to get ready for work. I don't take too long to get ready, so sometimes I snooze my alarm for a bit, but I make sure I'm leaving my flat no later than quarter past nine. I'll then walk to my local train station, catch a train for two stops (I usually have a whole carriage to myself!), then pop to the Pret or M&S to grab somethin' for breakfast. I work in Cath Kidston, which honestly is the most lovely job, so I'm more than happy to arrive early so I have time for another cup of tea and a chat before we have to open shop at ten o'clock. As the in store Visual Merchandiser, I'm often doing the many displays, so sometimes I can be in the window all day changing the scheme for the new season or creating mini stories and displays in store.

After my four hour shift I usually head straight home (maybe stopping at the local florist or charity shop to treat myself to something!), to either get changed straight into my pajamas or get ready to take outfit pictures with my mum. Most evenings are then spent replying to emails, blogging, watchin' tv, listening to music and lounging around in my bedroom. I love the simple things in life, so I can be quite content in not doing much at all! Though sometimes it really is nice to be busy like I have been recently.

Lisette described you as "if Nicki Minaj and Audrey Hepburn had a child" - which I love and I think the perfect description of you! So I have to ask: what is your favorite Audrey film and your favorite Nicki song?
Oh, I thought that was the best compliment ever - I like to think I'm somewhat elegant and classic like Audrey, but then I also have a slightly wilder side to me - my Nicki Minaj alter ego, perhaps! Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday (Nicki Minaj actually has a song called Roman Holiday, would you believe!) and Funny Face are three of my favourite Audrey films, I honestly couldn't choose between them as I love them all for such different reasons. And let's not even start on my favourite Nicki Minaj songs! Can I pick a few? Super Bass is a total classic, I adore the lyrics in Fly, but more recently I've been lovin' High School as I love learning to rap tricky lyrics!

Visit Jazmine on Jazzabelle's Diary, Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram ♡

Thank you so much again Jazmine!

She and Reverie Camp Versailles Lookbook

The other day I opened my mailbox to discover an envelope from Small Girls PR - inside, the S/S 2014 lookbook for one of the loveliest brands around, She and Reverie!

Designer Quinne Myers' sweet aesthetic puts pastels and scallops in the spotlight with her gorgeous eye for lingerie and loungewear, and I've been under her spell since I saw Kate's post modeling one of her frothy skirts!

Inspired by Marie Antoinette and Versailles, this lookbook is utterly dreamy with beautiful ribbons and ruffles and model Ariel Winn-Mohler showcases Quinne's designs beautifully ♡

I definitely recommend checking out their other gorgeous collections as well - is this or is this not the cutest bra you have ever seen?! ♡

Happy Friday everybody - I hope you have a beautiful weekend!

At the Vanity

MAYBELLINE LIPCOLOR IN SHOCKING CORAL, REVLON LIPSTICK IN REALLY RED, REVLON LIPSTICK IN APPLE POLISH, LAURA MANFRE STICKERS *

I've been a bit down lately, and I find in those situations the best thing to do is try to find joy in the little things - like watching an animated movie or playing with new makeup. So when I heard Rite Aid was having a buy one get one half off drugstore makeup sale, I hightailed it to the nearest store! (◡‿◡✿)

TOP: SHOCKING CORAL MIDDLE: REALLY RED BOTTOM: APPLE POLISH

I ended up getting Maybelline's BB cream and one of their ColorSensational Vivids Lipcolors in Shocking Coral at Rite Aid - I've been meaning to try both for months!

I also walked to a local drugstore nearby and dug around in the clearance bin to find the last two Revlon lipsticks in Really Red and Apple Polish - each one only $2! I haven't tried any of Revlon's lipsticks before (besides the lipbutter!) so I was probably more excited then I should be over my discovery :|

I'm usually not really a fan of frosty lipsticks, but out of these three Apple Polish ended up being my favorite shade! When I got home I discovered it's discontinued color - sad face!

By the way, I almost killed these lipsticks trying to take pictures of them! The plastic shell in the background fell on top of them - thankfully they were a little smudged but okay! How do you beauty bloggers do it?!

MAYBELLINE DREAM FRESH 8-IN-1 BB CREAM IN LIGHT/MEDIUM
Meanwhile, I was pretty impressed with this! I did some research online and a lot of beauty bloggers agree that this product should be called a tinted moisturizer instead of a bb cream since it doesn't have anti-aging properties. That said, I was happy with my purchase since it was only $7, reduced the visibility of my pores, left my skin feeling pretty soft, and is SPF 30!

FOREVER 21 CAT TWEEZERS, FOREVER 21 CAT MAKEUP BRUSHES, LAURA MANFRE STICKERS *

Oh and by the way, how cute are my new Forever 21 kitty beauty brushes (sold out online but check your local stores!!) and tweezers?! Can't wait to play with them - the bristles are super soft!

FOREVER 21 SHEER BLOUSE, DRESS BOUGHT FROM PAIGE, ORIGINALLY TOPSHOP

And I know this isn't makeup related - but look how pretty my new dress and blouse look together! :')

What little things cheer you up when you're feeling blue? ♡