Throwback Thursday: The Birthday Present That Helped Create a Future Beauty Blogger

For my 14th birthday, my (awesome) brother gave me a present that really ended up changing my beauty game. I unwrapped the package he handed me to discover Victoria's Secret Pear Glace Scented Body Lotion waiting for me inside.

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Get Gilded: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24Hr Eyeshadow in Bold Gold

I love a good cream eyeshadow. If I don't need an eyeshadow primer and it stays in place all night long? Even better. Enter Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24Hr Eyeshadow in Bold Gold.

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Melt My Heart: Too Faced Melted Liquified Longwear Lipstick

Fun fact about me ... I don't really wear a lot of makeup. (And yes, I know I'm a beauty blogger.) I think it stems from all the theater I did as a kid, piling tons and tons (and tons) of makeup on my face. Ever since, I've just felt like I'm playing a part whenever I wear eyeshadow or lipstick, instead of just being myself. Well, I'm throwing all that out the window, because Too Faced Melted Liquified Longwear Lipstick has come along and completely changed the game.

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#ManiMonday: The Paintbox Ice Queen Manicure

Over the weekend, my best friend Katie and I took a girls trip to NYC. And, while we've had plenty of those over the years, this one was more special than most -- because we were celebrating our 35th birthdays! (Hers was on the 14th, mine is this coming Saturday, the 31st.) Katie and I have always loved nail polish (you can see the proof in our 12 Days of Favorite Nail Colors Series), so we decided to treat ourselves to a bunch of beauty treatments. And at the top of our list? A trip to Paintbox.

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The Beauty of Life Turned 8! Happy Blogiversary to Me!

A little over 8 years ago -- on January 12, 2007 to be exact -- The Beauty of Life was born. I'd been wanting to start a blog for awhile, but was struggling a bit with what I should write about. At the time, LiveJournal was all the rage (remember that?) and my brother gave me a very sage piece of advice: "Whatever you do, Jamie, don't start a LiveJournal blog. You don't want just anyone reading about your exploits." How very right he was! So as I looked around my room one night, eyes settling on everything from nail polishes and body creams to eyeshadows and candles, I suddenly realized that I had a lifelong passion for (read: obsession with) all things beauty. And just like that, I started this very blog!

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