SEPTEMBER FAVORITES

It's that time again!  We hope you enjoyed watching...bloopers and all (hahaha)...

Featured in September Favorites:

Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks
MAC Paint Pot in Genuine Treasure
Olay Luscious Embrace Body Bar with massaging design
Marc by Marc Jacobs Last Dance Thorn Necklace
Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer in SPF 20 in Halo
SEPHORA COLLECTION Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Glitter Khaki
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Siren
Emi Jay hair ties (purchased at Anthropologie)
lululemon athletica adjustable headband...YAY for getting a lululemon store in Richmond...we butchered our description of the lululemon logo, so we looked it up and here's the explanation:

The lululemon name and logo was created by lululemon founder Chip Wilson. The stylized "A" logo which appears on lululemon clothing has had its share of interesting interpretations: from a girl's flip hair-do to sensual parts of a woman's body (that's for you to guess!). The "A" originally stood for the first letter in "Athletically Hip". Athletically Hip was one of 20 names originally proposed to the original design team. The original design team like the stylized "A" but they preferred the name "lululemon".

Funny How Time Flies...plus a GIVEAWAY! - **Closed**

We are going to take you back old school today with Janet (Ms. Jackson if you're nasty!).  Do you guys know her song titled "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)"??  Well the title of that song is our theme today because it's our 6 MONTH BLOGIVERSARY!!!

We can't believe that it's been 6 months since we welcomed you to our blog with our first post and boy do we feel like we've come a long way.  Every day is an adventure here on HLNC and we've been enjoying the ride.  We've already created so many wonderful memories and can't wait to see what the next 6 months have in store for us.

We want to say again, from the bottom of our hearts, how much we appreciate each and every person who reads our posts, watches our videos, comments on the blog and on YouTube, and tweets with us.  We blog because we love it, but your interaction and support really makes our blogging journey extra special.

WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

And to show you how much we love you guys we are hosting a GIVEAWAY!!!  We know we just had back to back giveaways in August, but we can't help sharing the love!  So one lucky reader will win a $50 E-GIFTCARD to our favorite site for fashion inspiration...Piperlime!!!  Of course you can also shop at their sister stores such as Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta too!

HOW TO ENTER:
Comment on this post and let us know in which ways you are following HLNC (via Google Friend Connect, YouTube and/or Twitter).  You MUST be following via GFC in order to be eligible (if you aren't already following, just click on the blue "Join this site" button on the right hand side of this page).

For extra entries:
1 entry - Follow us on Twitter @HerLateNightCra and let us know your Twitter name
1 entry - Subscribe to our YouTube channel and let us know your subscriber name

FEEL FREE TO COPY AND PASTE THIS TEMPLATE BELOW AND JUST FILL IN YOUR OWN INFORMATION.  This makes it super easy for you to enter and very simple for us to record your entries.

I follow HLNC the following ways...

GFC: 

Twitter: 

YouTube Channel: 

My e-mail address (optional):


GIVEAWAY CLOSES:  Wednesday, October 5th at midnight EST
The winner will be selected via random.org and will be announced here on Thursday, October 6th.

NUMBER OF WINNERS:  One

PRIZE SHIPS:  ANYWHERE...straight to your e-mail address!

**The gift card will be sent to the winner via email, so we will need a way to get in touch with you.  If you are comfortable, please leave your email address in the comment, otherwise we will attempt to contact you via the way(s) you entered.  If we don't make contact with you by Saturday, October 8th then we will draw a new winner.  This giveaway was funded directly from our own pockets.**

Thanks so much and good luck!!

ULTA Butter Haul

Did you partake in ULTA's 21 Days of Beauty?  Drop us a comment to let us know.

Now Showing at SEPHORA

We were so psyched over the weekend to learn that our favorite skincare line is now going to be carried in OUR happiest place on Earth...

NOW FEATURING...

One more reason to visit Sephora...YAY (like we needed one)!!  Plus we love that our Origins purchases can now go into our Beauty Insider points bank, because more points equal more rewards (or "perks" as Sephora calls them)...and who doesn't love "perk me ups"?!?!  

Earlier this year when we discovered Origins products, not only did we immediately enjoy our results from the products, but we also appreciate being able to support a brand with the following mission statement:

Our mission at Origins is to create high-performance natural skincare that is powered by nature and proven by science.  We use potent plants, organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils.  And our long-standing commitment to protect the planet, its resources and all those who populate it is reaffirmed by our earth and animal friendly practices.

Some of our favorite products include:

Checks and Balances
Frothy face wash

A Perfect World
Deep cleanser with White Tea

A Perfect World for Eyes
Firming moisture treatment with White Tea

Origins VitaZing SPF 15
Energy-boosting moisturizer with Mangosteen

A Perfect World SPF 25
Age-defense moisturizer with White Tea

Once Upon A Shine
sheer lip gloss

Currently, Origins at Sephora is only available online and in select stores.  If you are a Sephora Beauty Insider, you can score a Checks and Balances frothy face wash with any online order over $25 (while supplies last) with the code ORIGINS.

We're curious to know if you've discovered Origins yet.  If so, let us know which ones are your favorite.  We still have so many products left to explore!

September Birchbox Review

If you aren't familiar with Birchbox, then check out their website here.  Tempted to try it out for yourself??  Let them know that Her Late Night Cravings sent you!

SUPERCALIFRAGILIPSTICK Launch!

The fabulous Kate Spade has just launched her own first-ever lipstick collection.  It's called...

What a great name!  She teamed up with Australian lipstick maker Poppy King, the LIPSTICK QUEEN, and has just released four universally flattering shades.

Fuchsia Fete - $24

"we’re calling this chic shade a delicious departure from the expected work week hues. in a smooth, moisturizing formula with a sheer finish, it’s the perfect finishing touch, whether holding court in the corner office or charming the cocktail crowds after hours."



Adventurous - $24

"there are few things we love as much as the perfect shade of red lipstick. we jumped for joy (and clamored for samples) upon discovering this juicy hue—a just-right red in a sheer moisturizing formula."



Pop Art Pink - $24

"we believe that lipstick is more than a cosmetic. it’s the finishing touch that pulls everything together. it’s like adding an exclamation point at the end of your wardrobe. the name of this sweet shade says it all—it’s a pop of pink, making a statement that’s both flirty and fun."



Bashful Blush - $24

"a sheer nude designed to lift your mood and subtly brighten your day—this perfectly smooth lipstick features a moisturizing formula, finished with smart packaging (and a few unexpected details)."

The packaging is true to Kate's style with the decadent and ultra-feminine gold case and the words "Pucker Up" etched on the tube...so clever and so much fun! 

This is definitely a product that we would splurge on and we'd love to give it a try and see what we think.  Would you guys purchase or do you think Kate needs to stick with designing handbags???

And in true Kate Spade fashion this lipstick collection can't be complete without some accessories...


Supercalifragilipstick Small Natalie - $85

 

Supercalifragilipstick Small Henrietta - $60



Supercalifragilipstick Necklace - $78



Supercalifragilipstick Scarf - $155



Let us know your thoughts!!

Drop It Like It's Hot

It's been awhile since I've brought you guys an 'Adventures in Cooking with Mendi' post, so today I thought I'd hit you up with a peculiar, hot little recipe that piqued my curiosity.  It's the most unlikely of suspects and via quite a random source.  Allow me to explain.  I commute 45 minutes each way to work everyday and there's no way that I could survive it without my SiriusXM satellite radio, specifically the Cosmo Radio channel, where I get my daily dose of my favorite morning show, Wake Up with Taylor, which is best summed up by this description and photo...

"Taylor (the lil cup of espresso) and Kenny (Cosmo's resident girl-boy) bring you celeb gossip, hilarious stories, and a burst of energy to get you through the day."

Cosmo® Radio / SiriusXM Channel 109

One morning last week, I heard TayTay (in my mind, I can call her TayTay because we're BFF's...she just doesn't know it yet) talking about an Indian meatball soup that she had just made.  I heard her say that she tweeted out the recipe, so I immediately jumped on Twitter to snatch it up.  It went a little something like this:

@taylorstrecker
1lb grnd turkey/1 bunch cilantro/1onion/1/4 cup sriracha hotsauce/1cup bulgar wheat

@taylorstrecker
2 boxes of swanson chicken broth...chop cil and onion...mix w turkey

@taylorstrecker
Then Add toTurkey mix 1 egg 1/4 cup hot sauce & bulgar wheat...mix 2gthr...make little balls...bring chick broth to boil...

@taylorstrecker
Add balls/big chunks of carrots/mini potatoes/celery to broth...cook for 15-20min medium heat and ta-dah! That was all from memory baby!

I'm a visual person, so I'm gonna just assume that you guys are too, so therefore, I took tons of photos for you to see step-by-step.  Here are all of the ingredients ready to go:

And here you have the ground turkey getting ready to get his mix on with the cilantro and onion:

You're gonna mix the turkey, cilantro, onion, sriracha hot sauce and bulgur wheat all together to make these little *balls* (sorry, that makes me giggle):

(Now this is where I'm gonna ask that you not pre-judge my little soup like I almost did.)  I've added the *balls* (heehee) to the chicken broth, thrown in some cubed red potatoes and carrots and it's at this point that things are looking a little questionable.  For some reason, this wasn't what it had looked like in my head, but I decided to not give up.  (Oh, and I skipped the celery...the hubz & I aren't big fans.)

I will note that I could only find cans of the Swanson chicken broth at my grocery store, so instead of getting two boxes, I got four cans.  And wellllll...I have to say that I think it needed about two more cans.  The broth cooked down quite a bit and I was left craving more.  See my lack of broth...no bueno...

But alas...salt and pepper to your pleasure, sit back, tune into a football game and enjoy this shocking little concoction.

Admittedly, I had my doubts about this little fella, but much to my hubz and I's tastebuds' pleasure (say that three times fast), it was shockingly really good, y'all!!  If you like things on the spicy side, feel free to dial up the intensity by splashing a little more of the sriracha hot sauce into your bowl of soup, but beware, sriracha is not for the faint of heart.

Let me know if this is a recipe that you're curious enough (like me) to try.  Or if you're a seasoned pro at Indian meatball soup, let me know that as well.  I'd love to know how your concoction goes.  

Now that fall is upon us, I promise to be bringing you guys more recipe posts.  There's something about this time of year that makes me want to stay in, whip up some comfort food and cuddle under a blanket.  If you have any suggestions for me, send them my way!!  The hubz will thank you. 

Mendi

MK Outlet Haul

"Hello.  How 'bout that ride in?  I guess that's why they call it Sin City."  You can't talk about Vegas and not reference The Hangover. 

As I mentioned in the video, my husband and I are off to Vegas soon to celebrate our 2-year anniversary.  To say that we are excited is a total understatement.  And now I have some new clothes for my trip!  I love the Michael Kors store at the Williamsburg Prime Outlets. 

We are so ready to go!  We plan on hitting the pool, eating our faces off, drinking until we fall down, doing a little gambling and, of course, WINNING while we gamble.  HAHA!  Honestly, we don't have any hardcore plans, we're just going to go with the flow and have fun!

Wonder if we will come back with a baby named Carlos...hmmm...  :-)

Have you ever been to Vegas??  Please send your "must-see" recommendations my way!

Jayme

TOP 11 FALL 2011 FASHION TRENDS

One of our most favorite things to do here at Her Late Night Cravings is to compile a list of examples for you guys of some of our favorite trends for each season.  Thanks to the fine folks over at Piperlime who inspired us and provided their top 11 (not just 10!) must-have items for fall, today we're putting our own personal stamp of approval on the following:

TREND #1:  PENDANTS

Kenneth Cole New York Amethyst Duo Pendant Necklaces

Piperlime = $38.00

What HLNC says:  We love that this purchase is a 2-for-1...wear them together or alone.  And amethyst is such a gorgeous stone for fall.  A simple way to jazz up a casual outfit.

TREND #2:  MIDI SKIRTS & DRESSES

Ya Los Angeles Midi Length Dress

Piperlime = $59.00

What HLNC says:  No doubt, some girls will rock this trend, but we think this one is a toughie.  We like how the hemline on this dress is scooped, so that it's shorter on the sides.  Pair it with a little leather jacket and you have a great outfit for a night out.

TREND #3:  CHUNKY-HEELED BOOTS

Vince Camuto Braden Boot

Piperlime = $198.00

What HLNC says:  HOT!  HOT!  HOT!  We would buy these boots in a heartbeat!  From the rich taupe suede to the super high shaft height to the totally manageable 3" stacked heel, these boots are begging to be worn with leggings and an over-sized sweater.

TREND #4:  70'S PLATFORMS

Steve Madden Cirkus-S Platforms

Steve Madden = $169.95

What HLNC says:  Can you say Saturday Night Fever???  These 70's-style platforms are like a disco ball on your feet.  We'd SO wear these...just sayin'.

TREND #5:  CAPES & PONCHOS

Tinley Road Ladylike Wool Cape

Piperlime = $89.00

What HLNC says:  We love this trend and are both itching to join the caped crusaders, but we're curious to see if we'll spot much of this trend happening here in Richmond, Virginia.  

TREND #6:  BELLBOTTOM FLARES

J Brand Love Story Flare Jeans

Piperlime = $189.00

What HLNC says:  We totally approve of the super dark wash and the large cuff at the hem of these jeans.  If you're gonna go for a bellbottom jean, we say "go big or go home!"

TREND #7:  SPICY TONES

Tulle Short Vintage Wool Jacket

Piperlime = $78.00

What HLNC says:  Spicy tones...we like the sound of that!!  This FAB wool coat screams "I'm ready for cooler temps, but I still want to be hot!"  What a great jacket to carry you from the bright colors of summer to the autumnal tones of fall! 

TREND #8:  HIKER BOOTIES

Heart Soul Kacia Boot

Piperlime = $79.00

What HLNC says:  We are 50/50 on this one.  If you're going to try this trend, we definitely recommend staying away from the light tan Timberland-style boots from back in the day.  So we think going with a darker color bootie for this style is the only way to go.  For example, this boot in hunter green with navy laces is a lot more fun and up to date!  

TREND #9:  TIE-NECK BLOUSES

Remain Tie Neck Satin Blouse

Nordstrom = $88.00
What HLNC says:  To be honest we weren't completely sold on the tie-neck blouse trend until we saw this particular top.  This blouse had us at hello.  We adore the ultra feminine color (ballet pink) and its dainty bow mixed with the longer cut in the back.  Business in the front and party in the back!  It's the only appropriate way to sport a "mullet".

TREND #10:  FAUX FUR

Jack by BB Dakota Janika Faux Fur Vest

Piperlime = $57.00

What HLNC says: So you already know how we feel about faux fur...CAN'T GET ENOUGH!  This is a super affordable way to join in the trend, so don't be scared to flaunt some fur and pop your collar.

TREND #11:  LADYLIKE BAGS

Walker Park Tate

Kate Spade = $245.00
What HLNC says: When we think "lady like" we automatically think of Kate Spade.  Her brand alone is the epitome of "lady like" and femininity.  This bow handbag can be dressed up a bit with a suit or a dress and can easily transition to casual wear when paired with jeans, a crisp white shirt and some suede flats. 

We hope you enjoyed our take on these fall trends.  We are so excited to hear what you guys think?  Are there any that have you running to your favorite store or do you feel like there are some trends that are falling a little flat.  We'd love to hear from you!

Making the Grade: Drugstore Lip Products

We hope you enjoyed the video!  As we stated, these are our favorite drugstore lip products to date and they are all "tried and true".  Just goes to show that you don't have to break the bank to to find that perfect product to perfect your pout.

What are some of your go to drugstore lippies?  We'd love to hear from you guys!

Anthro Fashion Show

To close out Fashion Week, we thought we'd share with you guys what event we attended last Friday night.  We received an e-mail invite to a runway show from Anthropologie to celebrate their new fall fashions.  It was an impromptu decision for us to attend the show, so we apologize that we weren't better prepared with either a better digital camera or video camera.  The photos that we have to share here on the blog were all snapped from our iPhones (sorry they aren't better).

The store was closed for the private Anthropologie Members-only event, so we had to RSVP that we were attending.  Once we checked in, we found that they were providing lots of yummy goodies and get this...champagne!!!  Who doesn't love to shop and drink champagne at the same time?!?

As for the runway show itself, there were about fifteen to twenty different looks that walked the "runway."  

After the show, we took our time perusing the store, trying to decide what we wanted to take home with us.  We tried a lot of things on along the way and snapped some pictures of our favorite mannequins.

Do you guys remember when we wrote a post called The Best of the Vest a couple of weeks ago?  You might recall an Anthropologie brown faux-fur vest making our list.  We saw it in the store and Mendi decided to tease herself by trying it on. Too bad it's $148...that's a little too much to spend on a vest...although it is FAB-U-LOUS!!

Jayme has a love for hats, so when we came across a table displaying their new wool fedora hats, she just had to try it on for size.  It's a total "wish list" item because it costs $58. It sure was pretty though!

But alas, our wallets weren't quite prepared for us to go as shopping crazy as we would have liked.  Jayme picked up a pair of earrings and Mendi snagged a comfy yellow sweater for the fall.  We both picked up a "statement" necklace that we'd been eyeing for quite some time.  And get this...it was on SALE!  We paid only $9.95 for it, as opposed to the original price of $58.00.  YAY!  We've both worn our new necklaces since then and we snapped a picture so that you can see them...

Mendi's Anthro "steal"

Jayme's Anthro "steal"

Today we say goodbye to New York Fashion Week and we hope that you all have been enjoying the coverage.  We had a great time celebrating our little version of Fashion Week at Anthropologie and can't wait to see what happens next year. 

We know that just about everyone craves a little "Anthro" so tell us what's on your wish list for fall!