Birthstone Series: May Emerald

from  My Jewelry Center/

For those who were born in the month of May the Emerald is the traditional birthstone. The May birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Emerald is associated - loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the May Birthstone Emerald are memory, clairvoyance and faith. The healing properties of the May birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the eyes, fertility, the spine and headaches. The Emerald is also used to enhance mental capabilities. Birthday Gems

Used: Shiro Rupee on the inner corner, Shiro There and Back Again across the lid and for my brows, Victorian Disco Sailor Jupiter (Makoto) on the outer corner, Hello Waffle Envy as liner and for the crease colour. And a touch of Collection glitter liner for sparkle and funsies.

I really like this look! I do love greens anyway and I really liked the shape. I need there to be more green, purple and red birthstones, those looks come out best (possibly because I have the most different variations of those shadows).

Chinese New Year: Year of the Goat

This year Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Yeaar) falls on the 19^th of February (that's tomorrow) and the lunar new year this year is the year of the Goat, more specifically the year of the Wooden Goat.

The Goat comes 8th in the Chinese zodiac. The 12 zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. According to Chinese astrology, each year (starting from Chinese New Year) is associated with an animal sign, occurring in a 12-year cycle. For example 2015 is a year of the Goat.Lucky Colors: brown, red, purpleLucky Numbers: 2, 7Lucky Flowers: carnation, primroseYear of Birth: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027

I was born in 1991, but as I mentioned last year technically I am Year of the Horse (according to the Lunar calendar and the date that the New Year fell on). However I feel like I associate a lot more with the emotional profile of someone born in the year of the Goat, although I like horses as animals a lot more.

People born in a year of the Goat are generally believed to be gentle mild-mannered, shy, stable, sympathetic, amicable, and brimming with a strong sense of kindheartedness and justice.They have very delicate thoughts, strong creativity, and perseverance, and acquire professional skills well. Although they look gentle on the surface, they are tough on the inside, always insisting on their own opinions in their minds. They have strong inner resilience and excellent defensive instincts.Though they prefer to be in groups, they do not want to be the center of attention. They are reserved and quiet, most likely because they like spending much time in their thoughts. Goats like to spend money on fashionable things that give them a first class appearance. Although goats enjoy spending money on the finer things in life, they are not snobbish.

I'm not tough on the inside or good at spending money on the finer things I think that's where I'm more like a Horse. But for the most part, that's me.

Anyhow, I don't really believe in any of this Astrology stuff, I just find it interesting. Now, on to the look, I tried to incorporate all of the 'lucky colours' for the Goat. Especially red as red is traditionally associated with the Lunar New Year and is worn at the celebration.

Used: Victorian Disco Why is it Always You Three? on the inner corner, Darling Girl The Boogeyman across lid, My Pretty Zombie Brisket on the outer corner & crease, Fyrinnae Scarlet Macaw on the lower lashline & crease, Aromaleigh Cagnazzo & Hello Waffle Lust as a liner and finally Innocent + Twisted Warm & Fuzzy & My Pretty Zombie Brisket for my brows. Mascara was L'Oreal Miss Manga.

All of my information came from the China highlights site

Hello Waffle Swatches

A little while ago I ordered a sample pack from Hello Waffle having seen them raved about on /r/indiemakeupandmore (I know I keep mentioning them, but I've spent a lot of time on Reddit recently and they're massive enablers even without posting a lot on there). Today I finally have some swatches to share with you.

I bought the 10 sample pack for $12.50 and Christine very kindly included a free sample, which makes my eyeshadow hoarder heart happy. As always swatches are done over primer on the right and pixie epoxy on the left (top and bottom for the vertical swatches) and photographed in natural daylight.

from the Ouroboros Collection

Envy Medium forest green with multicoloured sparks

Greed Golden pastel yellow with gold shimmer and blue sparkle

Lust Dark berry with purple and blue shifts

Sloth Light olive brown with green sparks

from the 1000 Likes Collection

1000 Likes Dark gold shimmer

23 Rose gold shimmer, more on the rosy side

Enabling Copper with gold shimmer

Heavy Breathing Cat Golden silver shimmer

(this was so hard to capture, it looks more silver or taupey-gold depending on the angle)

a few random picks

Bartok Copper with bronze, gold, and red sparkle. Caution: Sparkle-bomb (Musicians Collection)

Mad Shimmery orange peach that leans copper with a gold undertone (Painted Flowers Collection)

Amber (GWP) Dark orange-gold shimmer (Alternate Universe Collection) 

I think Lust, 23 and Bartok are my favourites, though all the shadows are stunning. 

Everything can be purchased from Hello Waffle

Samples (1/8-1/4 tsp) come in sets of 5 or 10 which are $6.25 or $12.50 respectively.

Halflings (1/3 tsp) are $3.75.

Full Size (3/4tsp or 2g) are $6.

Sets of the full collections in sample, halfling and full size as well as mix n match sets of halflings/full sizes are also available. As are pressed shadows, blushes and special loose shadow duos/trios. 

Shipping is a flat rate of $6 for everyone, including international orders, which is amazing and great value for those of us not in Canada as international shipping can be very steep!