{mascara experiment}

Which is the $6 Maybelline Volum Express Mascara and which is the $30 YSL Singulier Mascara?? Both have one coat only.

• ease of application: The YSL was much smoother. It just glides on, while the Maybelline catches and clumps and requires more strokes to smooth out the clumps.
• Neither mascara flaked at all which was impressive.
• ease of removal: Both mascaras remove easily with makeup remover.

{mascara}

I am always looking for that perfect mascara.

I just purchased YSL's newly released Singulier and we shall see about this one.

I also came across this video which you may find interesting. I was surprised that the testers did not like Diorshow and rated it poorly. I wonder why??

Bottom line:

Top-rated was a department-store brand, Lancôme Définicils, $24.

But several other very good mascaras are sold in drugstores and supermarkets for just $7 to $9: Max Factor Lash Perfection Volume Couture, Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume, Cover Girl VolumeExact, and L'Oréal Telescopic Clean Definition & Lengthening.

{blog & web design coupon!}

Jessica, the graphic designer from Front Porch Studio, has offered PIP readers a 20% discount off any blog or web design today through next Friday! If you have been thinking of updating your blog then now would be the perfect time. You may reach her by e-mail: studio@thelovelist.net and just mention code: Paradise.

Here are a few examples of her blog work:

{Mignon Faget}

Mignon Faget is a jewelry designer based in her (and my) native city of New Orleans. Every New Orleans lady, so it is said, owns at least one piece of Mignon Faget jewelry. This adornment is as central to a lady's wardrobe in this city as a piece from Tiffany & Co. in New York.

Starting today, November 1st, MF is offering free shipping on all orders of $100 or more!

I fancy the "New Orleans" charm bracelet above with it's streetcar, red bean, crawfish, alligator, pelican, & Fleur de Lis charms. (The Fleur de Lis is an official symbol of the state of Louisiana. Following Hurricane Katrina it has also been used as a symbol of grassroots support for New Orleans' recovery.)

Below are some of her other popular items, most offered in sterling silver or 14k gold.

Fleur de Lis pendant:

Moonsnail Cuff:

Garden Snail ring:

Moonsnail earrings:

Hot Pepper charm bracelet:

Medium Bow ring:

Fleur de Lis tumblers:

By the way--if you are planning a trip to NOLA in the near future *ahem* be sure to find the boutique nearest you. A trinket from Mignon Faget makes a fabulous souvenir of your trip!

{Atlanta Tweet-up}

From left to right: The Brocks Rock, My Blonde Reality, Pretty In Pink Megan, Puttin on the Grits, Paisley & Pearls, Through Rose Colored Glasses, Just Dandy, and me!

The Dishy Decorator is in the middle below!

I spent this past weekend in the city of Atlanta meeting some of my best blog friends! We have become friends through blogging, Twitter, e-mail, chat, and phone conversations. All of the other girls have also posted about our fun weekend on their blogs, so I am going to make this short and sweet!

I simply love each and every one of these girls! They are the real deal, so genuine, funny, and just a delight to be around.

Oh, yes....and I learned a LOT this weekend....it reminded me of that first overnight trip with my sorority sisters back at Loyola. Haha!

Below is a really bad video of all 10 of us crammed into one taxi on the ride to Shout. Good times!

{things that make you go hmmm}

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything they have.

Being happy is easy if we are grateful. Unfortunately, seeing what we don’t have is often easier than seeing what we have. Sometimes we need to experience loss before appreciating what we have. So don’t take things for granted. Look at what you have and soon you will have plenty of reasons to be happy.

I know this to be true!

{Tory Burch--Petunia's Picks}

Today a new Tory Burch boutique opened at my mall, so after the morning's surgery I went to check out all of the new things and found quite a few pretties.

This dress with it's bell sleeves is adorable, and I might even pair it with a cute black leather belt (also at TB) to give it a little something unexpected. It is from the new Holiday line:

I LOVED this fun coat and asked if it was faux but the SA told me it was rabbit fur.....shame on you Tory! I liked it until I found out that little deal-breaker. I can't stand the thought of all of those little bunnies being skinned...

Cute dress--love the sleeves!

Pair the above dress with these Velvet pumps in Pomegranate with their cute bamboo heel:

Love this blouse!

Pretty sweater--a cashmere-wool blend:

Love the neckline on this one:

This wide belt in either brown or black leather is stunning in person. There is no buckle, it just hooks into itself with hidden closures. If I had had an extra $250 burning a hole in my pocket then this would have come home with me.

I wouldn't have picked this one based on the model's photo, but the SA was wearing this blouse and it looked SO CUTE with her jeans!

{Sesame Street REM}

My favorite Sesame Street episode--the one where REM plays for the muppets! Love this song (although they obviously changed the lyrics a little bit)!. Enjoy!

:)

{J Crew Merino Ethereal Ruffle Cardigan}

I have this NWT Merino Ethereal Ruffle Cardi in XS that I am returning this week to my B & M. It is just not the sweater for me, but I know that it was a very sought-after item. J Crew even made my store remove this poster from the wall because they have no more of this color cardigan in the company.

If anyone would like first dibs on it, just let me know & I'll have my SA put it on hold in your name and you can call her to send it to you!!

{Katie's NYC townhouse tour}

So, everyone knows that Billy and Katie are divorcing because she was cheating on him. Have you seen that old video tour of Katie Lee Joel and their NYC townhouse HERE ? I love the house, the closet is pretty nice, but I don't know....something seems a little off about her....like she had a glass of wine or two before the camera crew arrived or something. Her manner when speaking of her husband is disturbing to me (seems a little like foreshadowing). She was only married to him for five years. Really, I don't think she should get any of his money, do you? Who would have bought Katie Lee's cookbook before 2004?

According to the National Enquirer:

"He signed Katie Lee to a prenup when they married in 2004, but he's preparing for a nasty $100 million divorce battle."
"When Katie Lee found his $32 million Long Island mansion 'dull and boring,' he purchased a cool $6 million condo in Manhattan so she could entertain her young friends. Then she wanted a beach house, and Billy paid a whopping $16.5 million for an oceanfront home.
"Billy also helped her land a gig as host of the first season of Top Chef in 2006, and he's helping her open a restaurant."