Kitsch Vixen

Kitsch's Caboodles Vol. 7: Best Of 2013

This is a gift bag and card from Ryan that he gave me in 2013. I just thought it was the cutest.

Movies: World War Z, Red 2, Despicable Me 2, Seven Psychopaths
Vloggers: Vintage or Tacky, Leighann Says, Goldie Starling, MyHarto, Lil BUB, Klaire de Lys, Makeup Geek, xSparkage, Beauty Broadcast, Sprinkle of Glitter, Sorted Food, dailygrace, Sokolum79, Makeup By Alli, Sharon Farrell
YouTube videos: Bee and PuppyCat, Cats Stealing Dog Beds, My Drunk Kitchen: Toad in a Hole ft. SprinkleofGlitter, Thank You Hater!, Lip Sync Battle with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant and Jimmy Fallon, Lil BUB & Friendz, My Drunk Kitchen: Spatzle! ft. Flula
Albums: Natalia Kills Perfection, Deap Vally Sistronix, Oh Land Wish Bone, Paloma Faith Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?
TV Shows: Once Upon A Time, The Blacklist, Game of Thrones, Revolution, Bob's Burgers, Dancing With The Stars

best in beauty

Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion (I know that it's referring to a face primer, but I'm a horrible beauty blogger and I haven't tried any of the ones that I have!)
Foundation: Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation (and for drugstore I would say Revlon ColorStay)
Concealer: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye
Setting Powder: Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray (shush, I know it's not a powder, but it was my go-to setting method in 2013!)
Blush: Milani Baked Blushes
Bronzer: Milani Bronzer XL
Highlighter: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
Brows: IT Cosmetics Your Brows But Better Brow Power Skinny Pencil
Eyeliner: Physician's Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner
Eyeshadow Palette: Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette (Definitely a difficult choice... there were just so many amazing palettes that came out this year!)
Mascara: CoverGirl Lash Blast Clump Crusher in Very Black
Lip Pencil: NYX Slim Lip Pencils
Lipstick: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids
Lipgloss: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains (it's kind of a gloss, right?)
Lip Color: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars (I added this category cos I like the lip tars so much! js.)
Favorite Beauty Subscription: ipsy Glam Bag ($10/month, yes please!)
Misc: Blistex Medicated Lip Balm (I use this to prime my lips before lip color and put it on every night before bed)

best in skincare

Moisturizer: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (in the winter I used CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion)
Cleanser: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil Reducing Cleanser
Toner: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore Reducing Toner
Exfoliator: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel (when my breakouts were really bad I used Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution)
Mask: boscia Luminizing Black Mask
Treatment: Paula's Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment
Misc: Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen aaaaand Paula's Choice Shine Stopper

Let me know in the comments what your favorite things were from 2013!

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2013 in Review

The qt jellyfish the hubby picked up for me at the aquarium last year!

What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
I did a whole lot this year that I'd never done before. Moved in with my husband & cats, moved to Japan (my first out of the country travelling), I got to hangout with capybaras, learned (very minimal) Japanese...

Did you keep your new years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year. I still haven't decided if I have any for 2014.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! One of my besties gave birth to a beautiful girl, Emmi, and another friend became a father to a beautiful boy!

Did anyone close to you die?
I suffered two very big losses in 2013. My childhood cat, Midnight, and my close friend, Danny.

What countries did you visit?
Does Japan count?

What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
More social stuff. Make more friends and hang out with the ones I've already made out here.

What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 8, the day I quit smoking!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working with a brand for the first time and growing my blog!

What was your biggest failure?
Giving into my anxiety and letting it keep me from doing the things I wanted.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yeah, nothing too bad though!

What was the best thing you bought?
My blog layout. I love having it customized.

Where did most of your money go?
According to Quicken, savings/paying off debt and groceries.

What songs will always remind you of 2013?
Wrecking Ball (the Chester See version), Bad For My Body by Deap Vally, Money by Ivy Levan, My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up) by Fall Out Boy, I Love It by IconaPop, Dance Apocalyptic by Janelle Monae, Renaissance Girls by Oh Land, Upside Down by Paloma Faith...

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Everything. I wish that I had explored more of Kyushu, blogged more, wore makeup more, took more pictures, made more friends!

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Let anxiety slow me down.

How did you spend Christmas?
I hung out with my friends that live in the apartment below me. We watched Rudolph and played Spite and Malice and ate roast beast!

Did you fall in love in 2013?
Over and over again with my husband, Ryan.

What was your favourite TV program?
The Blacklist? Once Upon A Time? Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

What was the best book you read?
Lil BUB's Lil BOOK! I'm really enjoying the Mallory's Oracle series too!

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oh Land, Deap Vally, and Natalia Kills!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Ryan brought me donuts and I turned 24.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to switch so many medications since Medical out here doesn't supply the ones I took in the states.

What kept you sane?
My hubby, the gremlins, my friends out here, baking, and makeup.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hannah Hart from My Drunk Kitchen!

Who did you miss?
I missed all of my friends back home, but I miss Danny the most.

What does 2014 hold for you?
Who knows?!

Hooray! Happy 2014 to everybody! If you fill this out, leave me the link to it in the comments!

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Review: Body Jewellery Shop*

A month or so ago, I had the pleasure of being contacted by David for BodyJewelleryShop.com and I was given the opportunity to pick out several pieces for review. So, big thanks to BodyJewelleryShop.com!

As far as the website goes, I'm a fan. They have categories like "Types of Jewellery, Jewellery Materials, Places on Body, and Fashion" so it's super easy to find the type of jewelry you're looking for. The website is simple to navigate and their prices are much better than retail stores like Hot Topic and Spencer's Gifts (which is where I did most of my body jewelry shopping outside of my tattoo/piercing shop offline)! Plus, they sell each piece separately (in most cases) so if you don't need a pair, you don't need to buy a pair. The website is based in the UK, but they ship worldwide.

If anyone is interested, these are the piercings I currently have: 18g (or 20g; it started as a 16g and I know that they've shrunk, but I can't remember what size they've shrunk to) hole in each nostril, 14g philtrum piercing, 16g vertical labret piercing, and 1/2" holes in each lobe.

review, body jewellery shop, body jewelry, silicon plugs, captive bead rings, nose screws, alchemy gothic jewelry, pmma plugs

Triangle Silicon Flesh Tunnels in Black ($8.80/pair)
Information from Body Jewellery Shop:
Make a statement with these black triangle silicon flesh tunnels. These tunnels will completely change the way your lobes look - perfect for a quick style update. They are more comfortable than other triangular tunnels, due to the softness of the silicone.

These silicon flesh tunnels are soft and comfortable. They are great for sleeping or when you wear headphones or helmets. They squash down under pressure. They are also very easy to insert - you can squish the tunnel to get it into your stretching.

Silicon is highly biocompatible and skin-friendly. If other jewellery irritates your stretchings we recommend trying out silicon flesh tunnels.

Soft and comfortable
Ideal for wear under headphones, hats and helmets
Ideal for sleeping in
Safer in event of impact to stretching
Suitable for healed, established stretchings only
Not suitable for stretching with
Not recommended for stretched cartilage piercings - cartilage cannot adapt to the shape

I had always been curious about different shaped flesh tunnels and plugs so I thought this was a great time to try some out. I was really surprised by how much I liked them. They were just as comfortable as any other silicon plugs and no, my holes didn't permanently change to triangle shapes. (I knew that they wouldn't, but still... Haha!)

Recommended for: anyone who is curious about flesh tunnels that aren't circular, anyone who wants a change from the norm

review, body jewellery shop, body jewelry, silicon plugs, captive bead rings, nose screws, alchemy gothic jewelry, pmma plugs

Jewelled Silicon Flesh Tunnel in White ($10.40/pair)
Information from Body Jewellery Shop:
Light up your look with these glam jewelled white silicon flesh tunnels. The white silicon really stands out and the jewels make sure your stretchings get noticed. They are very glamorous but comfortable enough to wear every day.

These silicon flesh tunnels are soft and comfortable. They are great for sleeping or when you wear headphones or helmets. They squash down under pressure. They are also very easy to insert - you can squish the tunnel to get it into your stretching.

Silicon is highly biocompatible and skin-friendly. If other jewellery irritates your stretchings we recommend trying out silicon flesh tunnels.

Soft and comfortable
Ideal for wear under headphones, hats and helmets
Ideal for sleeping in
Very lightweight
Safer in event of impact to stretching
Not recommended for stretching with

Super cute and comfortable flesh tunnels. I've always been partial to the metal flesh tunnels with jewels (I wore a pair for my wedding!) and hadn't seen ones made from silicon until I came upon these. They cross comfort with the style of plugs that I prefer and I can't say enough good things about them. I wore these for a pretty nice chunk of time and all of the jewels are still in tact and the flesh tunnels still look as good as new.

Recommended to: anyone who wants comfort and style

review, body jewellery shop, body jewelry, silicon plugs, captive bead rings, nose screws, alchemy gothic jewelry, pmma plugs

PMMA Flesh Plug in Brick ($12.00/pair)
Information from Body Jewellery Shop:
This PMMA flesh plug features a stunningly eyecatching brickwork design.

This PMMA flesh plug is double-flared, only suitable for healed and loosened stretches that allow for the larger flare insertion. To help with easy fitting, use some lubricant (savlon or saline solution is often used) and soak the ear in warm water to soften the skin.

I'm pretty skeptical when it comes to double-flared plugs because I have a history of them just... popping out every once and a while (I blame it on having the same lobe size for so long). Luckily, these haven't done that while I've been walking around so I like them already. Not to mention that I'm diggin' the design. Definitely two thumbs up.

Recommended to: anyone!

review, body jewellery shop, body jewelry, silicon plugs, captive bead rings, nose screws, alchemy gothic jewelry, pmma plugs

Steel Nose Disc
Information from Body Jewellery Shop:
316L Surgical Stainless Steel Nose Disc ($2.90/each)

I wear hoops about 99% of the time because I think my nose looks even bigger when I wear studs, but I really like having a pair for special occasions. They're really subtle because there's no colored jewel on it (which sometimes looks like a pimple on me, depending on the color) and I've always been a nose screw gal when it comes to studs. I don't mind the "L" shaped pieces, but I'm not a fan of the straight nose studs. These are easy to get in and won't come out on their own. Plus, they're great for job interviews and the like since they aren't flashy or large.

Recommended to: anyone who wants subtlety

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Surgical Steel Ball Closure Ring with Hematite Ball (1.6mm x 22mm - $4.20/pair)
Information from Body Jewellery Shop:
Get a classic look with our steel ball closure ring with a hematite ball.

This BCR has a hematite clip-in ball and makes a stylish alternative to regular steel BCRs. The hematite has a lovely metallic dark grey colour that makes the BCR stand out a little more.

Hematite is a natural gemstone rich in iron. It is associated with strength and was carved into protection amulets by cultures such as the Ancient Greeks.

I got a pair of these to thread through some flesh tunnels and I am so glad that I did! I love the fact that it has a hematite ball so it's a little mismatchy and BodyJewelleryShop.com offers these in different diameters. I grabbed the 22mm ones because they are large enough to hang down, but not too far down. Ever since I was in high school, I really adored the look of these threaded through flesh tunnels and have only ever found three other pairs that I liked and had a large enough diameter to fit. I totally love these.

Recommended to: anyone who wants something to dress up flesh tunnels, anyone who likes hoops and doesn't have their lobes stretched too large

review, body jewellery shop, body jewelry, silicon plugs, captive bead rings, nose screws, alchemy gothic jewelry, pmma plugs

Alchemy Gothic Cult Of Isis Pendant ($14.90)
Information from Body Jewellery Shop:
Enjoy a classic style with this cult of Isis pendant. It has a simple yet eye catching finish that will brighten up your look in an instant. The translucent red enamelled disc features horns and is throned with a similar detailing to that of the Egyptian goddess Isis. Towards the base of the pendant the word Isis is engraved into the pewter.

This alchemy gothic pendant with chain is made from fabulous pewter and finished with an elegant enamelled disc. Pewter has a dark oxidised finish, which gives it a beautiful antiqued/distressed look that is perfect for showing off the gothic nature of this piece. Team with all your favourite outfits to create an eye catching statement style. Hand crafted in the UK this pendant is finished to a high standard ensuring you get the best possible quality piece of captivating alchemy gothic jewellery.

Includes featured nickel free chain
Chain length: 20 inches
Pendant size: 31mm x 19mm

I really like that BodyJewelleryShop.com also offers a variety of fashion jewelry in addition to body jewelry. Alchemy Gothic is a company that reminds me of my teenage years and I couldn't pass up this awesome piece. It wears beautifully and (in my opinion) is the perfect length for a necklace. I haven't noticed any problems with it and I'm so happy to have this in my collection!

Recommended to: anyone!

All in all, my experience was a very good one with the jewelry! Not a bad piece in the batch. If you have any questions about the jewelry I reviewed, please don't hesitate to ask!

*All items were received c/o BodyJewelleryShop.com.

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Kitschmas 2013!

Christmas this year was on the 26th instead of the 25th cos Ryan had to work from 0500-1900. Here's a bunch of pictures of our decor and the things we did and got!