Seattle Love

Oh Seattle, I LOVE you! Even when the weather is less than charming you always manage to show your good side!

Your views and sense of community shine no matter what.

I went for a walk around the neighborhood today,and came across a wonderful community garden or "P-Patch"
I was so impressed, that I decided to post about it and share a few pictures.

This area is made up of many cultures, one of them being Scandinavian. People come here to garden,share stories,and plant little seeds of kindness by leaving  mementos for their loved ones.

I found everything from rocks with inscriptions on them,a pair of felt lips and of course...Scooby!!

This definitely put a smile on my face, as did the view from the hill coming back.

Until next time~
Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Fall Trend Show

Teen Vogue was on the scene Saturday, August 10th,at Coronado Mall for their back to school fall trend show.

The music was hot,and the action was hotter.All the latest back to school styles were shown as well as fall makeup trends,shades of copper,wine,and plum.

Sephora was on  hand to do quick "on the spot" makeovers as well as give a hand in choosing what shades are best for you.

The action was throughout the mall with a dj playing at the Sears court and a mini style show near Macy's. The event was jammed packed with everyone from teens to moms and even fashion forward grandmas.

What are some of your favorite styles for back to class?  Looks like denim,tees, and jackets are still a favorite here!

Until next time~
Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
 BellevueGrl Productions, 2011.

Birthday "Benefits"

Looking at the calendar, I can hardly believe it is August! Where did the time go? Wasn't it just Summer?

The past month has been so hectic, have barely had time to put thoughts to paper.

One of the things I wanted to share with you was this great little Beauty Insider gift from Sephora.

 Each year, as part of their loyalty program,they have a little birthday surprise for their members. This year was no exception.

The "treat" this year was a duo from Benefit cosmetics; a mini version of their Watts Up highlighter (which can be used on cheeks,eyes (under brow) and anywhere you want to turn the spotlight on you! Along with that was a They're Real! mascara.

 I love the brush on this mascara wand, as it "grabs" all those lashes to add superstar length! These are perfect for travel, just toss into your bag or pocket and go!

Turn up the glam with these little "glo-getters"

Pick up your gift at Sephora,and if you haven't registered to become a Beauty Insider, it's free and can be done online or in store.

Until next time~
Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
 BellevueGrl Productions, 2011.

Happy Fourth Of July Weekend

As we are sipping drinks and grilling hotdogs and burgers on the patio,please take a moment to reflect on those who were willing to give their lives  so that we may enjoy this time with our families and celebrate our freedom.

Thank you to the men and women who continue to serve and protect our country!

May you have a blessed 4th of July and a wonderful weekend with those you love.

 Until next time~

Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
 BellevueGrl Productions, 2011.

"Impress" Me

I don't know about you, but there are days when I just don't have the time to sit down and do a full on manicure. I had wanted to try Impress for awhile to see if they really did work as well as the tv and magazine ads claimed. They just seemed to be a great alternative to nail stickers,and waiting forever for your nails to dry.

I picked these up at Target,and loved the design. There are quite a few to choose from ranging from floral to lace,and animal prints, as well as just simple everyday shades of pink,purple,and red. The ones shown here are called "Shout"

These were easy to size,and there were enough in the package for two full sets of nails,so it was a great value. The application is easy! There's a little tab that you pull off, simply size and press. The look was even,and the edges of the nails are smooth, not rough like some of the other nail products I have tried. Nothing to catch on your pantyhose or clothing as you get dressed.

Impressed? Yeah, very! The overall wear-ability was pretty good. They aren't really meant for long wear, but for a night out or a special occasion where you just want a nice manicured look, these are perfect. You're probably not going to want to do dishes in them, but they will last for dinner and a cocktail or two.


What I liked best was that they come in different lengths for both small and regular sized nails. Right now, I am sporting shorter nails,and these fit just right.

Find these at Target,Walgreens,CVS, Rite Aid,Fred Myers,Walmart,etc.

Until next time~

Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
 BellevueGrl Productions, 2011.

Spring Beauty Essentials

Have you seen these great new sets from Sonia Kashuk yet? I purchased these as a little Mother's Day gift for myself at Target,and just love the way they fit into a handbag or makeup kit.

The eyeshadow is soft,shimmering,and the perfect shade for sultry summer nights. The sleek compact shown here houses four duel purpose cheek and lip colors.

These are sized just right,and are beautiful,sheer shades that can be worn alone on cheeks or lips ( pair with your favorite gloss on top for an edgy,pop of color) The shades are a little bit darker than my flash would allow,but the colors are so versatile!


My favorite brushes have always been from Sonia Kashuk,something about the way the blush brushes are made, just allows for easy handling. I love this little set,and again it is just perfect for tossing into a makeup kit or your favorite purse for an on the go touch up.

Find these, and more at your local Target!

Put a little "Spring" in your makeup routine

Until next time~

Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
 BellevueGrl Productions, 2011.

Self Magazine 2013 Healthy Beauty Awards‏

Last year, I had the pleasure of being a product tester for Self Magazine's 2012 Healthy Beauty Awards. This year, I am pleased to announce that once again, I made the panel of ladies selected to test products for their upcoming article.

This year, I got to test the best of the best for anti-aging serums. I was sent a bevvy of products to test each night,over a course of a few weeks,and out of all the products ,my absolute favorite was Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.

This amazing serum is gentle to sensitive skin,and just melts right in after cleansing. I saw visiable results within 2-3  days. Vichy, is named after warm thermal waters first discovered by the Romans, and this serum is formulated with Rhamnose,which is a naturally derived plant sugar.

My skin felt hydrated,softer,brighter,and had a "plumper" appearance. There was no oily or greasy feel,and it paired with my existing moisturizer perfectly.
Vichy products can be found at www.vichyconsult.com   The Liftactiv Serum 10 retails for $53.00

My second choice was Lumene Excellent Future Age-Defying & Repairing Serum. I liked this because it contained 90% all natural ingredients,was paraben,colorant, and fragrance free,and is made for all skin types.

This was super gentle to my skin,combining both artic cloudberry and apple stem cell technologies. It took about a week to see results,so it was not an instant glow,but I did like the way it worked.  $27.00

Find out more at Lumene.com  These products can easily be found at your nearest Rite Aid,or CVS stores.

Once again,I am very happy to have had this opportunity to try out some great new products, and find the perfect serum for me.

Thank you Self Magazine for the chance to be a Healthy Beauty Awards tester.

Until next time~

Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
 BellevueGrl Productions, 2011.

Spring "Greens"

Want to add a little fresh Spring appeal to your look? Try this fresh shade from Essie.

I loved this Mint Candy Apple because it adds just the right amount of pop to any outfit.
Luckily, most Essie shades can be found at your local Target, Walgreen's,CVS,and of course, Ulta.

I paired this shade with OPI Gold Shatter to give it a sophisticated look. Mint Candy Apple, on it's own is a soft mint green cream.

You can find out more by visiting the Essie site at : http://www.essie.com/resorts/  including details of their newest collection.

Until next time~
Hearts and Hugs
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
BellevueGrl Productions,2011.

March "Madness",Moving, and Southwest Style

It seems like forever since I've been on here! March was, in the famous words of Muse "some kind of madness" I recently moved back to my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be with family and boy,what a change it has been.


After living in Seattle for almost eight years, this girl is so not used to the strong desert sun! My eyes have to adjust. While I'm certainly not complaining about waking up to bright blue skies and sunshine, it does play havoc on the skin and your hair..so I am doing everything I can to protect my "Twilight" inspired fair skin,and keep my hair from drying out.



I made a quick trip to my local Whole Foods store and spoke with a gal in the natural healthcare and beauty department. I explained that I am used to alot of moisture and that my hair is now getting very dry. She recommended a great conditioner from Desert Essence that would nourish my hair with coconut oil,shea butter,and sunflower oil.There is also a matching shampoo that contains organic jojoba oil,and olive oil. ($8.99) 
A little goes a long way, but wow, the results were amazing!  These were sample sizes, but I will be going back for the full size tube for sure!  For more information on this product, check out https://www.desertessence.com/store/coconut-conditioner

Anyone that is familiar with the Southwest knows that we are famous for our beautiful sterling silver jewelry. I'm not too keen on large turquoise pieces,but I do like well styled bracelets,rings and earrings. I wanted just a little something to embrace the culture out here,as most of my collection is vintage style, so I hopped over to a little gift shop and found two lovely items that I knew would be perfect with anything. These are from Da Vinci.

 Read more about their designs here: http://www.davincidesignerjewellery.co.nz/about_davinci_designer_jewellery.htm


I've been busy unpacking, and setting up my home. I hope to go exploring a bit in the upcoming weeks and tap into a bit more of the fashion and culture here,and will post as soon as possible.



Here's a little sample of the great food you will find out here...Yum! Red chile is so good! I am lucky enough to live right across from a great New Mexican restaurant called Monroe's. They've been a NM staple since 1962.

To new adventures!

Until next time~
Hearts and Hugs
BellevueGrl
(aka BosqueGrl)
Photo Credits

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
BellevueGrl Productions,2011.

Moving On

As I look around my suddenly bare home, I realize that this is my very last weekend in Seattle.



It's hard to imagine after 7 years that I will be saying goodbye in just a few short days.

I have had a love hate relationship with this town,but mostly it has been love. I adore the greenery (which comes from all of the rain), I still am amazed by the site of the water,I am thrilled every time I see a bald eagle ,and still get excited to see the space needle,and Pike's Market. I love the music venues here,and the friends I have made through my love of certain bands and my trance family.

I will greatly miss my dear friends that I have still kept in touch with from Alltel,and I will miss the towering buildings of downtown Bellevue and the cool vibe of the shopping centers and local restaurants that became my favorite hang outs.

My home is filled with boxes against the wall, but my heart is filled with memories.


 My first Seahawks game,my visit to the Point Defiance Zoo, the U2 concert at the then Qwest Field,my very first concert here, Pearl Jam at the Gorge, seeing Depeche Mode at the Key,ah, so many things.

I will be returning to my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico later this week,and re-discovering why they call it the "land of enchantment." I will be on the road for a few days,but will check in when I have access to internet/wi-fi and will have my smartphone with me.

I am looking forward to meeting again with family and old friends.

My Grandmother hated to say goodbye,and so, I will not do so either;instead, I shall say "so long" as I hope to return now and then for a visit or two from time to time.

BellevueGrl will continue to be a fashion and beauty blog,just maybe from a different locale (should that be "BosqueGrl", Lol!) but I will still keep it updated with currant trends,etc.

Please feel free to keep in touch,as I will still have my twitter,email,and facebook,and those of you who know me,don't be strangers!

 We are still looking at the same sky.

Until next time~
Hugs and Hearts
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
BellevueGrl Productions,2011.

A Little Love (Easy Valentine's Day Nail Look)

Looking for an easy way to finish a manicure for Valentine's Day?

This one is fast and looks oh so cute!





For this look, I used OPI in  "Number One Nemesis;" a true, frosty silver.





  I then added just a few sparkly nail decals for about $1.99 to do an accent nail.

To keep the nail decals on, just seal with a good top coat.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my loves!

Until next time~
Hearts and Hugs
BellevueGrl

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission.
BellevueGrl Productions, 2011

"On A Blue Note"

Urban Decay

Decided to pull out my Smoked eye shadow palette from Urban Decay and play with a blue-green smokey eye look.

Smoked Palette

Loaded

I really like how this shade makes my eyecolor "pop". Shown here is "Loaded" which looks very green in the pan, but came out a bit blue on me when used in the inner corners and crease. I used "Kinky" as my lid color;a soft,satin beige.  

A smoldering look

I then applied LORAC multi-plex 3D mascara in black, and added a LORAC black felt tip eyeliner to finish my look. 

Easy, elegant,and stayed all day without a smudge.

This palette gives you alot of mix and match choices. 

Until next time~

Hearts and Hugs

BellevueGrl 

Photo Credits:

All photos are property of the blog owner, and may not be used without permission. 

BellevueGrl Productions, 2011.