#bbloggers visitors for January 29, 2012

Want me to check out your blog? Then leave a link here (post only open for 2 days) and over the next week I’ll go visiting. As an extra plus, any other visitors from #bbloggers can also see links collected in one place. (Beauty/fashion blogs only, please. If you blog primarily about cooking, crafts, your cats, gaming, or anything else, your link won’t be listed here. You can comment on just about any other post - but real comments, please not drive-bys.) I’ll visit your blog a few times, and when I’ve decided that I want to keep visiting regularly I’ll add it to my blogroll. (After last week’s chat, I added five to my regular rotation. It usually takes me a few weeks to decide if I’m going to add someone to my blogroll or not - so if I don’t add you immediately, it’s nothing personal. Everyone has a different style of blog that they prefer to read, and a different style of blog that they prefer to write.)

If you’d like to start following my blog, choose whichever method that works best for you: my direct RSS feed, Facebook, Google Reader (you’ll have to add me manually), Google+, Twitter, Bloglovin, and more. (I’m even on Pinterest!)

A little spot of retail therapy

I have been jobsearching (this time around) for just over two months. I’ve read more books, taken an advanced programming class, applied to several dozen jobs, gone on four interviews, and been passed by for three of the positions I interviewed for. Intellectually, I know that in this economy, the fact that I’ve actually gone on four interviews (and been shortlisted for a few more positions where I didn’t actually make it all the way to the interview stage) is pretty darn amazing. But…it can really be dispiriting to keep hearing “Thanks, but no.” So yesterday, while waiting for feedback from a fourth interview and enjoying some of the first appreciable sun we’ve had in two weeks and trying not to pester the living daylights out of the recruiter who sent me to Interview #4, I was in serious need of distraction. Swatching things would have been one option, but since I really did need to be away from the computer (no feedback expected until today,) I did what just about any beauty blogger would do.

I went shopping. (Huzzah for coupons, BOGOF sales, and store reward systems!)

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Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice and DMCA and SOPA and PIPA

After yesterday’s blackout protests, and the news that many makeup conglomerates support SOPA and PIPA, I thought I’d talk about the two bills, and about its precursor the DCMA, and what all this means for you. And why I think that SOPA and PIPA are the corporations being lazy.

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#bbloggers visitors for January 14 2012

Want me to check out your blog? Then leave a link here (post only open for 2 days) and over the next week I’ll go visiting. As an extra plus, any other visitors from #bbloggers can also see links collected in one place. (Beauty/fashion blogs only, please. If you blog primarily about cooking, crafts, your cats, gaming, or anything else, your link won’t be listed here. You can comment on just about any other post - but real comments, please not drive-bys.)

If you’d like to start following my blog, I’ve got a page listing every method I currently have: my direct RSS feed, Facebook, Google Reader (you’ll have to add me manually), Google+, Twitter, Bloglovin, and more. Just choose whichever way works for you!

Other sites I’m checking out this week:
http://www.dreamincolour11.blogspot.com/
http://knightseclectic.blogspot.com/
http://www.glitterandcarousels.blogspot.com/
http://www.mediamarmalade.com/
http://whatlarryloves.blogspot.com/
http://utterly-butterly-utterly-me.blogspot.com/
http://www.sistersdontshare.com/
http://www.mrajbx3.com/
http://beautyimpassioned.blogspot.com/
http://zozeze.blogspot.com/
http://cupcakeandcosmetics.blogspot.com/
http://www.jennafroggy.com/
http://www.flutterandsparkle.com/
http://vanessabeautyfix.blogspot.com/
http://beautyobsessed2.blogspot.com/
http://chloeryanmakeupartist.blogspot.com/
http://www.quarterlifetalesofanniebean.blogspot.com/
http://highheelsandblusher.blogspot.com/
http://aimeesnails.blogspot.com/
http://thefashionistabubble.blogspot.com/
http://emmacharlottekay.blogspot.com/
http://thelondonbeautyblog.blogspot.com/
http://dancewithem.blogspot.com/
http://sweet—rachel.blogspot.com/
http://www.beautypassionista.blogspot.com/
http://lolaloves.blogspot.com/
http://mybutterfly63.blogspot.com/
http://wearandtearwardrobe.blogspot.com/
http://victorias-vintage.blogspot.com/
http://muslimahbeauty.com/
http://www.lydiaelisemillen.com/
http://blog-allthingsbeautiful.blogspot.com/
http://laurzrah.blogspot.com/
http://laurasbible.blogspot.com/
http://iheartmexo.blogspot.com/
http://boucheinthecity.wordpress.com/
http://roxyandroy.com/
http://www.whatcharleysaid.blogspot.com
http://www.missglitterbeauty.blogspot.com/
http://www.prettynotincluded.com
http://allthingspretty-izzy.blogspot.com/

2011 Favorites

2011 Favorites

I haven't gotten myself into the video realm yet (maybe by 2012?), or this would have made a great "first video." Well, I'm a latecomer to YouTube, but how many of you kids are recoding your sites in HTML5 already? We're all first at something.

Some of these products were introduced in 2011, others are just products I tried for the first time in 2011. They cover the whole range: indie, drugstore, conglomerate...if it impressed me this past year it's on the list. I haven't gotten around to reviewing everything just yet, so some of these don't have full write-ups on the site...but I'm working on it!

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Blogs I’ll be checking out (week 1 of 2012)

Some blogs I’ll be exploring this first week of 2012:

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Looking Forward: 2012

Looking Forward: 2012 (Happy New Year!)

It's that time of year, when just about every beauty blogger sets forth their resolutions or plans or wonders aloud what they should do next. And...I am no exception. I've accomplished a bit this past year, and in some ways, last year was my first fully "organized" year of blogging. I was more active on Twitter, I aggressively scheduled posts, I got on Facebook and Google+ (though I'm still kind of dubious about how much good that last one will do me...), I did some good, I think.

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4/5, based on 1 review

Looking Back: 2011

Looking Back: 2011

The past year has been fairly good, in that I've made a few template tweaks, made inroads to rephotographing my existing collection, and - since last June - have gotten a regular slate of posts scheduled in advance. This has let me stay organized, and has given me the structure to get regular good-quality photos and swatches. I've rarely been the First Kid on the Block with posts of the newest stuff, but since that wasn't my original goal, I'm okay with that. My purpose for starting my blog was twofold: catalogue my collection; and list similarities / dupes that I might find. It's changed slightly (as things do) but my overall purpose is still just to catalogue and review the things that I myself buy and use. I don't know that I have the energy to become a Product Reviewing Machine, receiving and soliciting PR samples of this and that and the other thing. I've got enough to do, just properly photographing and cataloging all the stuff that I do buy.

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Beauty Blog Advent Calendar 2011: Day Twenty-Five

Day Twenty-Five

Last day...and another cookie recipe! I've loved these since I was in my teens. They're soft and cakey, and they don't take a whole lot of prep. You can add a spice like cinnamon, sprinkle colored sugar on the top, add nuts or raisins...it's a good base. (I'm a purist. I like them plain. Then I dip them in cocoa or drinking chocolate..!)

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Beauty Blog Advent Calendar 2011: Day Twenty-Four

Day Twenty-Four

Like many others I was happy to hear that Aromaleigh was re-opening. I got several colors from the Fall Tapestry collection...and Celine quickly became a breakout favorite. I found myself using it a lot for interviews, because it was a good quick "minimal makeup" eye look. (No photos because It's Been A Week, and today I'm actually visiting my parents, so the camera and graphics software are at home.)

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