Product Review: Blu-Ray High Def Powder by Cargo

Hello!  Here is a quick product review on Cargo’s Blu-Ray High Definition Powder.  I admit, when I brought it home and used it the first time I wasn’t impressed –plus, it retails at $30 and it doesn’t even come with an applicator.  I wasn’t too happy about that.  However, I was told that it’s great for pictures so of course I bought it!

I used it off and on for a couple of months –mostly for special occasions.  I tend to alternate my face makeup between Bare Minerals and Estee Lauder.  However, I ran out of EL and quite frankly, all of the steps involved in using Bare Minerals make it unbearable for a woman on the go.  ;)  Plus, temps this Summer in Dallas are averaging anywhere from 105 to 113 –I’m not joking.  So I have cut out the use of foundation entirely.  Luckily, I can get away with that on most days because I have good skin.   

I’m excited about this product NOW because I have been using it without any type of foundation and wow – I really do look high def!  I was browsing through some of my pictures from recent days and I can really tell the difference.  See above, this picture was not touched up and look at how smooth the powder appears.  It really is silky and although it doesn’t provide full coverage like a double wear powder would, in pictures it mimics full coverage without revealing all of the details.  I am really blown away.

Sooooo, Blu-Ray and I had a rough start but I think he has really redeemed himself.  Thanks to the folks at Cargo for this product…now if only they offered more than three colors!

Open for business!

Someone once said that my works were Etsyworthy.  Maybe he was on to something.  I've wanted to open up an Etsy shop for years so I have really been working hard at making it happen.  I have offically posted the first round of "playthings" --there are still many more to come!  All money will be used to fund my Art for the Heart Program so I hope I'm able to sell, sell, sell! 

You will find awesome playthings like this Queen Been Bottle Cap Necklace:

Or this Live Your Dreams vintage key and pendant:

Well, don't just sit there, click on my shop's banner to see the first round of necklaces available for sale NOW!  :)

HOPE

There is a lot going on in my life right now, lots of adversity and I'm feeling a little discouraged.  So I thought I'd make myself something inspirational.  I NEVER make things for myself or keep things for myself.  It's very rare.  But I made a ton of necklaces tonight and decided to keep a few.  This is one of my favs.  It's a reminder to remain hopeful --never give up.  :)  The more I think about it, I think I might gift this to a very sweet friend who shared some tragic news with me today.  Funny how looks can be deceiving.  Some appear to have it all together but on the inside they are lonely and suffering.  I become so self-involved with my own life that I neglect to see that someone out there needed me and that makes me really sad.  So here's to hope...we can all hope for the best and hope to be better people.  :)

Inspiration for a buck!

I got these in the dollar bin at Michael’s yesterday.  Aren’t they beautiful?  I consider myself a natural born leader and I love birds so I had to have these.  Yes, I bought every single pack they had in the store.  Calm down, they only had 5!  :D

Meeeeow!

Hello!

HELLO!  I had a TERRIBLE Friday --don't get me started.  :|  So it was nice to get out with one of my creative friends on Saturday.  We spent ALL DAY LONG at The Crafty Scrapper.  I was quite happy.  :)  You can find details of my day in previous posts.  Have a great week!

Baby Damien

Here are a couple of pictures of a mini-book I made for my cousin's baby boy.  It's really nice to sit and make cute and super easy stuff like this.  I know, it's very NOT MS. RUIN --but I still enjoyed it.  :)

Front:

Inside (I went ahead and put mats down so all she has to do is add pictures):

Chipboard album by Craft n Craftin, paper and embellishments by Debbie Mumm.

Kelly Rae and more

I love, love, love that I have a creative outlet --and I don't just mean the ability to create my own art or snap cool pictures...but I have this world that I can escape too...a world with other creative people.  You know, creative people speak their own language, I'm convinced of it!  And I don't say that to be snobby --I'm not one of "those" artists, but it's true...we speak a beautiful language through our work.  We make people feel different emotions and even empower people.  I am very much honored to have had others tell me that I my art has moved them or empowered them to be more expressive about their own feelings.  I too have an artist who moves me the same way and she moves me like NO OTHER artist does.  Her name is Kelly Rae Roberts and I am guilty of owning a lot of of Kelly Rae canvases and other little muses.  This weekend I spent a day with one of my creative gal-pals, Deb.  We did an all day at The Crafty Scrapper and had lunch at the Dove's Nest.  While there I decided to pick up a few Kelly Rae items for my studio.  :D  These are some of the first KR items because I keep most of my Kelly Rae collection at work.  But it's time I bring her inspiration into my home.  It's overdue!

First and foremost is this piece right here.  It is an 18"x32" canvas.  I HAD to have it...it says "Dreamer" and well, that's a very special nickname for me.  :D

Close-up:

This is another canvas that I also decided to keep in studio.  This is an 8"x12" "Fearless" canvas.

And I couldn't pass up the "Fearless" journal!  How else am I going to write about all of the fears I am overcoming in my life?  ::BIG SMILE::

I also bought two Big Girlie dolls...one is for me...

(don't just dream big --DREAM BIGGER!)

And the other one is for my mom.  :D

While at the Dove's Nest I also came across this notebook that just happened to say "Dreamer" --uhhhh, hello, clearly I had to have it!

And just for Marion --this is just a preview of the inside.  There's different pages inside.  :)

Hope you enjoyed all of my new playthings! 

Necklace Frenzy

A while back I purchased a few items to make necklaces.  I'm not sure why I thought I wanted to make necklaces, it was just one of those impulsive buys.  You know me!  Well, one thing led to another and I have been making necklaces like a madwoman.  But yanno, it all works out because I am using the money to fund my Art for the Heart!  That makes me happy and I am also so excited that people love my necklaces.  I REALLY need to open my Etsy shop already!  What is wrong with me?!?!?!  Anyway, here are the necklaces that I made last weekend:

Rest In Peace

I have told several people that when I pass I want an old distressed looking headstone.  I will roll over in my grave if I get a new shiny one.  No.  Not for me.  Something like this would be wonderful!  :)

Day One: Colorful

My friend and very amazing photographer, Chera Thompson Meyers, posted a 30 day photo challenge.  Although I got my camera back, I did not get the lens back.  So I might use new photos for this challenge but I will also likely look back at photos from the archives as well. 

Day one's challenge is "COLORFUL".  This is a picture of a Mexican tomb.  Looks like the person that is buried here continues to celebrate even after death.  ;)

By the dawns early light

Flags are beautiful to photograph, especially the flag of our great country, The United States of America.  Stars so bold they pierce your heart and stripes that express themselves with such graceful fluency.    And these colors don’t bleed!  Happy Independence Day from Though These Eyes. 

Excuse me!

Please pardon the chaos!  I am in the middle of moving posts around from one blog to another.  As of last week I now have a VISUAL ART blog and will no longer be posting my photography on this blog.  If you would like to follow me, please do so.  You can find me here...

THROUGH THESE EYES VISUAL ART by MS. RUIN

xoxo,

Ms. Ruin

Let freedom ring (for the fairies)

This is one of those pictures that screams “what in the hell?”  So let me explain…I have had the pleasure of meeting the Ambassador to the Fairy World and her name is Katie.  Sometimes she says things that are a bit out there but I get it.  I get her.  It seems that we have all forgotten to dream, to imagine, and to play.  Katie inspires me to find my inner child and that I did when I saw this garden ornament.  I immediately pictured all of Katie’s fairies swarming around the big yellow mushroom.  I pictured a forest among the plants where the fairy’s friends including gnomes and leprechauns would walk up and down the trails –all headed to the mushroom with satchels full of delicious food where they would meet with their winged friends and celebrate Independence Day!  So this is for Katie Poeticgarden…I know your fairies and their friends are watching the sky light up this Fourth of July. 

Come to my window

Who doesn’t love a good ghost story?  I do!  This picture was taken at what used to be a homestead for African Americans during the Great Depression.  The homes are most dilapidated and fire has claimed some of the structures.  But some of the frames are still in place.  This window caught my attention.  It seemed to be the only wall standing in this particular home.  I imagined how many times someone stood at the window, peering out the sea of pine trees.  What were they thinking?  What were they looking for?  Who were they looking for?  What did they see?  These structures may not have a supernatural entity but I like to imagine the ghosts of people pasts –the ones that stood and looked out that window.

Blow your Bubble

I took this picture over a year ago I think.  But I just re-edited it for my friend’s birthday.  This is very Keira…and I know this because I love it and she and I have the same taste.  I love the innocence of the bubble blowing with the naughtiness of the dark tones, the red lips and the chipped nail polish.  I love capturing my friends in this light.  It’s quite glam and I’m all about the glam!  Happy Birthday, Special Agent K.  Over.  ß It’s a walkie talkie thang.  :D

Rayando el Sol

Last night I was able to take something off of my bucket list and that was seeing Mana in concert.  I think I’ve see all of the bands that I wanted to see before I die and although I do really want to see Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Mumford & Sons, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t.  So my visual art piece from this concert was inspired by the song “Rayando el Sol”.