Category Archives: Blog News

Today’s the LAST DAY to Enter My Worldwide Giveaway!

Hey everyone!

HAPPY FRIDAY! 🙂 I hope that it’s a great one for you.

This is a little reminder to enter my worldwide giveaway, if you haven’t already.

Today’s the last day to enter for your chance to win the cute China Glaze Road Trip Travel Sized mini set, which features six polishes! (Ends tonight at 11:59 pm EST.)

Good luck!

Edit (Saturday January 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm EST): Congratulations, Sandra! You’ve won my giveaway! Please check your e-mail. To claim your prize, reply to my e-mail within 48 hours. Thanks to everyone for participating. I have more giveaways scheduled soon, so stay tuned for more fun.)

Worldwide Giveaway: Win the China Glaze Road Trip Travel Sized Mini Set

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Surprise Worldwide Giveaway!

Mini nail polishes are so cute and collectible. I love how they allow you to try out several different colours without committing to a full-size bottle of each. And, if you have small feet like I do, you know that mini lacquers have the ideal brush to paint your little toenails with!

When I came across the new China Glaze Road Trip Travel Sized Mini Set, I purchased a set for myself and one for you, so we can be nail twins! 😉

China Glaze Road Trip Travel Sized Mini Set Worldwide Giveaway

The China Glaze Road Trip Collection is the latest, and this Travel Sized mini set includes 6 of the 12 colours. All of them are spring-themed, but you can definitely wear them whenever you want.

Especially because the winter can be so dreary, I wanted something to brighten your day, and what better way than with some fun-coloured lacquer?

This is a little token of my appreciation to amazing readers like you who make my blogging experience so rewarding and enjoyable. Thank you so much for supporting me over the years and visiting the blog! 🙂

To enter my China Glaze Road Trip Travel Sized Mini Set Worldwide Giveaway, please carefully read all the details in this blog post because there are specific things you must do for your entry to qualify.

The giveaway starts now and ends Friday January 23, 2015 at 11:59 pm EST, so hurry to get your entry in!

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OPI Hawaii Collection Media Launch Recap

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OPI Hawaii Collection Media Launch Paying homage to the only U.S. state comprised entirely of islands, the OPI Hawaii Collection for Spring/Summer 2015 is set to hit stores on February 4.

I’ve never been to Hawaii, but after attending the OPI Hawaii Collection Media Launch on October 31, 2014, I got a taste of it, and let me tell you, it’s every bit the dreamy oasis that you can imagine!

Aside from Egypt and anywhere in Spain, Hawaii is one of the places that I hope to visit because of the tropical climate and scenic views. It seems like such a romantic destination that is full of soul.

During the OPI Hawaii Collection media launch, I was honoured to preview all 12 shades in the collection and be, once again, in the presence of the First Lady of Nails, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, who is the Co-Founder, Artistic Director, Executive VP, and Brand Ambassador of OPI.

(If you’ve dropped by Swatch And Learn before, you know that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Suzi Weiss-Fischmann on several occasions. If you’re new to my blog, I wish you a warm welcome. Feel free to check out my previous recap posts on those events: the first time, second time, and third time.)

Also, if you are mainly interested in seeing OPI Hawaii Collection swatches, bottle shots, and the official press release, click that link to see the post I published shortly after the media launch.

Although this post focuses on the OPI Hawaii Collection, I will also show you lots of photos I took throughout the event of the gorgeous displays, the long stretch-limo-esque seating area, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, as well as share my commentary on everything from the venue to the food.

It was a novel experience for me. I’m not usually invited to attend such grand events on a regular basis, so when I get to go, I soak everything up like a sea sponge nudged closer to a pool of water.

In essence, I want this post to make you feel like you were there with me and see everything that I did.

One of the things I enjoy the most about blogging is sharing experiences. I love hearing from thoughtful readers like you, too, so that we can get excited together and unite based on our passion. I consider my readers like my friends because I’m very fortunate to have such support from you, and it’s very encouraging for a blogger to have that degree of interaction. (Thank you!)

I want to extend a huge thank you to Langton Communications, the PR firm that formerly represented OPI in Canada and currently represents many other beauty, health, and lifestyle brands that are household names! Their tight-knit, dedicated team is hard-working, and they were among the first major PR firms that I began collaborating with about a year after I started my blog. Collaborating with all the smart women at the PR firm has not only been a pleasure, but also really exciting!

Additionally, I would like to put the spotlight on the incredible staff at Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, where the event was held. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen is located in Toronto at 85 Hanna Avenue.

The entire restaurant was closed to the public, so that the staff could cater to the needs of the private OPI Hawaii Collection media launch! (Very VIP!) 🙂 The service was impeccable!

Plus a shout-out to Chef Michael Leary, the Chef de Cuisine there. I gobbled up every one of his dishes. (Photos of those later in this post!)

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Happy New Year to My Amazing Readers!

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Dear Readers,

For 2015, I wish you the maturity and motivation to see the positive in every situation, even the negative experiences.

May you have the strength and the courage to pursue projects that help you develop and improve yourselves while making a difference.

Happy New Year 2015

No matter what challenges and curve balls life throws your way, I hope that you face them and conquer fears, as you rise above. (Remember, you’re never really alone. The wandering eyes in the haunted portrait down the hall ARE actually watching you. Haha, just kidding!) 😉

Here’s to another year that will be filled with memories and experiences that we’ll hold dear to our hearts.

Love,
Mary

P.S. I snapped the above photo when I was at the Atrium on Bay in Toronto during the Christmas holidays. There was a large, beautiful tree with deer decorations. (You may recognize it from the Instagram photo I posted just days ago.)

Blog News: I Was Featured on Illamasqua’s List of Best Nail Art in 2014

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Illamasqua is a brand that I look up to because they’re not afraid to push the envelope and to be edgy or artistic. So imagine how ecstatic I was when one of my long-time readers, Gareth, messaged me on Facebook and told me that he saw Illamasqua mentioned me in their latest blog post!

I was over the moon to be mentioned. Period. But for Illamasqua’s List of Best Nail Art in 2014? I was beyond flattered! It made my eyes water.

In their post, they chose one manicure for every month in 2014.

I am incredibly honoured to be listed among such talented nailphiles. Thank you, Illamasqua!

Below is a screenshot of the post featuring the Rainbow Dotticure I did in January 2014. (You may remember my Rainbow Dotticure Nail Art I posted on the blog.)

Also, be sure to click on the link to the Illamasqua Best Of 2014 Nail Art article or on the below screenshots to check out the other striking nail art! (You will gain a lot of inspiration from those other nailphiles – truly spectacular talent and eye for detail!)

Did you check out the other awesome nail art in the Illamasqua article? Have you thought of what you’ll wear for New Year’s Eve? Is there a nail-art design you’d like me to do a tutorial on?

Wishing a Merry Christmas to You, My Amazing Readers

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Dear amazing readers,

Thanks for keeping me company on my blogging journey, for teaching me new things all the time, for boosting my spirits, and for sharing my excitement over new products and experiences.

I wish you love, happiness, peace, and hope! May you have a very Merry Christmas!

P.S. I took the above photo yesterday when I was at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto. (If you want to see my clip of this tree when the lights changed colours, check out my Instagram video of it here or by clicking on the photo.)

Blog News: I Attended the Inglot VIP Beauty Blogger Event Yesterday Evening

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Inglot Toronto SwatchAndLearn I had the incredible opportunity to attend the exclusive Inglot VIP Beauty Blogger Event yesterday, and I have so much to tell you because it was chock-full of inspiration up the whazoo! (A makeup Picasso would go nuts at Inglot!)

No doubt you’ve read glowing reviews of Inglot makeup products on many beauty blogs. (I sure did!) Strange thing is that I never dabbled into Inglot makeup before, despite hearing rave reviews. Well, that all ends now because I think that I’m in love!

Haha, I bought stuff on Saturday and then during the VIP Beauty Blogger Event, I ended up buying more. (The makeup addiction is real, people!)

In case you didn’t know, Toronto has a new makeup gem at Yonge-Dundas Square. Yes, that’s right – Inglot’s only store in Canada is in the heart of downtown! How exciting is that? (For those who are local Torontonians like I am, it’s across from the H&M at the Toronto Eaton Centre, near the Hard Rock Cafe. This location is so convenient!)

Yonge-Dundas Square is full of life, and if you ever visit Toronto, it’s the place to go. There are always lots of things to see and cool events going on. Plus in the summer, I’ve seen free music concerts and public movie viewings. Trust me – you can’t get bored here! (If you do get bored, I think you should invest in a defibrillator. Haha!)

Especially after attending the Inglot VIP beauty blogger event yesterday, I feel that the location fits the brand’s image perfectly.

Inglot is a company with products made in Poland that takes it to the next level and doesn’t play it safe. I applaud them for thinking outside the box and for not following the flock. They put out so many different colours, so even if you want bright blue lipstick, you’ll find it here! (Later in this post, I’ll show you photos of blue lipsticks I found at the Inglot Toronto store.)

In the photo above, I’m standing beside the Inglot presidents, Marcin Bielen (left) and Silver Laus (right).

In addition to getting a tutorial by Asha Houghton featuring the new Inglot HD Perfect Cover Up Foundation, I also got to speak with Marcin Bielen in-depth about Inglot. (How many makeup company presidents do you know who will give you the time of day and actually chat with you one-on-one, treating you with respect instead of as your superior?) My conversation with Marcin quickly made me realize that Inglot is a company that’s doing things differently and better!

Why better? They put customer service first. They treat everyone like they’re VIPs. Even bloggers like me who aren’t makeup artists or who don’t have tons of followers on social media get attention and are made to feel like we’re important and that our opinion counts! (More on this later.)

In this post, you’ll see tons of photos that I snapped during the event of Inglot makeup, and I’ll share my thoughts on everything I saw and learned! (This is a new-to-me brand, so I soaked it all up.)

Also, if you have any questions about Inglot, feel free to leave a comment and ask me. I will be more than happy to reach out to Inglot to get your questions answered!

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