Minajesty Exotic

Minajesty Exotic is a limited edition (and I mean limted! Like one night only on HSN.) fragrance by Nicki Minaj. As I stated earlier, it was sold for one night only in HSN. But you can still get it on eBay...for a price tag of usually $80-$100. Luckily I snagged this used bottle for $45. Yeah I know it's only about 60% full but I mainly just wanted the bottle....here's why...

Minajesty Exotic is described as a "summer" version of the original Minajesty. The original Minajesty contains opening scents of red berries, lemon and peach. Middle notes of magnolia, frangipani and orchid. The base notes are vanilla, tonka bean and musk.....basically these are about the same notes as Minajesty Exotic. I notice very subtle changes mainly focused on the red berries. 

Minajesty Exotic opens heavily with red berries and peach. After settling on the skin, you can notice the lemon and orchid but that's not that much different from its sister fragrance. The other subtle change I notice is the floral notes and musk seem heavier on the skin as the day goes by. I admit it does have a different smell after setting on the skin.

The bottle itself was my main focus. It features the same design as Minajesty with major changes. The wig is a platinum blonde that stands out amongst the other Nicki scents. The body is frosted unlike the other Minajesty. And the corset is super easy on the eyes unlike the other. It's a basic black with gold latches. 

I must say the entire bottle is so much more than its counterpart. It flows and doesn't have too much going on. I know wild is Nicki's style but she has really chilled out. So this bottle is a bit more grown up like Pink Friday Limited Edition. I favor these two because they keep a simple style.

Overall I am very impressed by the bottle and design. The fragrance, while delicious, isn't impressive. It reminds me of Pink Friday Special Edition. Very minor changes that don't stand out if you're not aquatinted with the scents like I am. 

So the harsh price tag of $80 to $100 isn't not worth it! Unless you are a collector of the bottle like I am, I don't really encourage the buy. $45 struck me as a good deal even with some of the product missing. I think the original tag was $75 which I still think is a rip off. I think it came with freebies but not enough to make up for the lack of originality. While the design is a step up, the scent is a step down. 

In closing, I give the bottle a huge 10/10! Flawless! The scent is a 7/10 only because I do like the Minajesty scent. And the increase of red berries is a pleasant scent. The price of $45 with free shipping (and amazingly quick shipping at that) was a good deal, a 9/10. But the other prices on eBay are not worth it. 

Harajuku Lovers: Super G

Harajuku Lovers is a series of adorable "dolls" with fragrances. They are produced by Gwen Stefani, former singer of No Doubt. And there is absolutly no doubt that the Harajuku Line is probably one of my top favorite fragrance lines. This particular HL is named Super G. She is a superhero that defends the world from crimes of fashion. Whilst dressed in a mid matched hero costume. That's brilliant Super G :D!!!

Super G contains basenotes of pineapple, freesia, banana juice, vanilla and musk. On the skin it smells like a fruit juice! It's not super strong so I don't think it's a long lasting scent. It defiantly doesn't have the power that HL Love (my favorite Harajuku scent) has to it. But it's a very sweet, refreshing smell. Kind of a super juicer fragrance like Paris Hilton's Heiress.

I just got this in about an hour ago. So far the fragrance is staying close to the skin. It's sort of a light smell though. It wouldn't have bothered me if it were a bit stronger.

Let's get to this bottle! Each Harajuku fragrance comes topped with a cute doll. Each has its own spunky personality. Super G is a limited edition scent. She is a super hero that defends against fashion disasters. Her costume is as follows...a red & white striped mask, a blue & white polka dot singlet, red & white striped belt with a golden yellow G, blue & lemon colored boots, a black & white striped cape with red inside.....it's kind of the pot calling the kettle black super power no? 

However this fashion no no is a huge yes in my book. Super G is by far the most adorable Harajuku Lover darling. Her golden yellow hair is in adorable pigtails, she has crimson lips and finger nails. If Super G were a real girl, she'd look ultra fabulous even in her unusual get up.

 

I had to take pics of the box from every angle. It's got every color that the bottle has. It's like a little comic book come to life. I could literally imagine comic characters like Betty & Veronica, maybe even Batgirl & Supergirl, wearing Super G. It's a cartoony scent of that makes sense!

Anyway the box is an eye catching neon yellow with red, blue and white designs. It's very attracting. 

POW! BAM! Holy caped crusader Batman!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Super Bass...no it's Super G!

Step aside Wonder Woman, there's a new chick in town.

So the scent wasn't exactly what I expected. This was a rare blind buy for me. Mainly because whatever the scent, the bottle makes up for! 

The fragrance is a 5/10. Not too faint, not too strong. It's one that just kinda limbs in the middle. The box art...yes this isn't just a design. This is art to me lol. I give the box itself a solid 10/10. And of coarse the bottle is a 100/100!!!! Can I grade it like that? I don't care if the scent smelled like dirt, the bottle and box are fantastic. 

This scent is only available in the 1.0 fl oz size. Unlike most of the other HL scents. Super G is a limited edition which isn't around in stores anymore. I got her off of FragranceNet.com for $19.00. To me that is a very reasonable price for the size and quality of this product. And it shipped on Thursday, I received it today! Very fast shipping!!! I recommend this site to anyone.

Robin approves of this scent :)

While we are on the subject. Many people have asked me, who is your favorite super hero? I have a lot of villains I like. But heroes? I have only one that I've loved for the past 20 years...

I'll just leave this here ;). The greatest Marvel superhero of all time, Jubilee!!! ❤️

Snooki box set.

Does anyone else remember the Jersey Shore explosion? When all you seen in magazines and tv were the idiot Jersey Shore cast? Okay okay I guess idiot is a harsh term...Vinny was pretty smart...ish. Anyway, the star of the cast is debatable among fans. Some say The Situation was the star, some say Snooki. Imo, Snooki did a lot after the show and sort of reinvented herself. I give her props for the hard work she did on her body. And for awhile she was doing all sorts of things. On top of the show and the spinoff, JWoww and Snooki, the pint sized star released a fragrance....

Snooki's basenotes include lychee, kiwi, jasmine, driftwood....but the main smells are vanilla cupcake and sugared musk. This fragrance is just as in your face as Snooki herself. It's probably the strongest scent I have next to Pink Friday Deluxe. I rarely wear this unless I want to attracted attention. I mean, I always do, however this one isn't pleasant attention. 

The scent stays close to the skin. It's very spicy! That's the best I can describe it as. It's got the vanilla and musk smell than that spicy kick. It takes awhile before it settles on the skin. I DO NOT recommend "blind buying" this fragrance. I suggest finding a way to test it first. I've seen people describe it as fruity but I do not agree. I don't in the slightest smell fruit. And when you look at the basenotes, there aren't many fruites in it. Maybe that's why.

The bottle is probably just as wild as the scent. It's cheetah print (uh duh!) in hot pinks and violet. There is a silver lock along with a "diamond" studed heart. I can't say it's fancy. I mean it's grown on me for sure. But there's a little too much going on. I don't mind cheetah print, I don't mind diamonds. But when there are so many colors and shapes, it's distracting. But that is Snooki's style so it's fitting.

This set not came with a lotion. It's in a plain hot pink tube with silver lettering. It's actually very easy on the eyes compared to the bottle. I think this lotion is 100% full. Much like my fragrance.

The set also came with a small charm bracelet which I misplaced. Overall...this set doesn't rank high. The fragrance is a 4/10, it's so spicy that I can't stomach to wear it. The bottle is give a 5/10, very creative but tacky. However it is Snooki's namesake scent. So stylizing the package to her personality is a brilliant idea. So I can't knock her for that. The price was on sale at $21.00 I do recall. Looking back, I don't regret buying it because it's just collection builder for me. But it's a waste that I don't even wear it. 

Like I said, I don't suggest blind buying this. Blind buying is where you purchase without testing the product. Maybe an Internet buy or from a shop without testers. You really have to have a spunky personality to wear this. Not saying I'm not spunky, I just don't care for musky/woodsy and dessert scents. 

In closing...the complete set gets a 5/10. I don't hate it, I don't love it. I imagine this fragrance and lotion will most likely be full for a good long time.

Monster High Boys photoshoot.

Here's a fun little side project I'm working on....

As we all know, 2015 has already been a turbulent year for the LGBT community. With the tragic suicide of transgender teen, Leelah Alcorn. The limbo of marriage equality for several states. And recently, the "Religious Protection Act" recently passed in Indiana. There is a never ending slew of unproductive, unsafe and heart breaking LGBT events.

There are many major companies coming out in support of the LGBT community. One of those being the toy company Mattel. 

Mattel has been a staple in the toy community for many decades. They are most famous for creating the teen fashionista idol, Barbie, in 1959. We all know that Barbie is super friendly to everyone! She is just an all around people person...doll...whatever. Every little girl, and many little boys, had a Barbie and or idolized her. Barbie has held several jobs (including at one point the only female rocket scientist) ranging from McDonald's cashier to US President. Now I am a HUGE Barbie collector/fan. But Mattel has recently created another doll fad.

Monster High has been around for a few years. They are infants compared to the legacy of the blonde bombshell Barbie. But the Monster High , and its sister series Ever After High, have made a huge impact on the collectors market. 

"You're not invisible to me..."

So today I had a little adventure with the Monster High and Ever After High boys. I bought Porter Geiss yesterday and couldn't wait to display him! I think he's the perfect match for fellow MH doll, Invisi Billy. 

Each MH doll is either the son or daughter of a famous monster or legend. Porter is the son of a poltergeist. But here he is sharing a tender moment with the Invisible Man's son, Invisi Billy. Both are awkward, creative and hip. Plus they can vanish whenever they want. What a perf couple ❤️.

Next, I paired an MH boy with an Ever After boy.

"Lemme stand next to your fire..."

Heath Burns is the son of a fire elemental. I don't have the slightest clue what kinda monster that is. Hunter Huntsman is from Ever After High and is the son of the Hunter. You know the one who was bountied to kill Snow White. Yeah he didn't, he was too nice :). 

Heath and Hunter are like a puzzle. They fit together perfectly. Heath is hyper, clumsy and fun spirited. Hunter is laid back, compassionate and intelligent. They're attributes compliment each other very well. And plus they are just plain hot ;). 

Now Hunter came packaged with a girlfriend named Ashlynn...she was just a beard ;). I actually have a photoshoot planned for Miss Ashlynn this weekend.

"Yeah they're invincible, and he's just in the background..."

So yeah. An LGBT themed shoot with the dolls. I was made fun of but I don't care. I think I did a wonderful job of capturing some cute pics. I don't have a professional camera, I don't do a lot of editing, and my models are dolls. But it was super fun and I like messing with my dolls. A lot of people do it so I'm not alone :).

The main point is, love your fellow human unconditionally. Don't hate someone because of their skin, personality, gender, sexuality or religion. I myself am gay, christian, mixed race and a little odd. But that's what makes me, me! I have a band of loyal friends and tons of random strangers who love me. I'm extremely lucky and I wish to spread that. There are lots of straight and lgbt youth who haven't had the great people I have. I love everyone with no limits. I hope to one day make that known worldwide...

1 Corinthians 13:13....Faith, Hope and Love; abide these. But the greatest of these is love.

Circus Fantasy box set.

So before beating cars with umbrellas, Britney Spears released her song 'Circus.' It was a pretty awesome song imo. Then after her fragrance, Fantasy, she released Circus Fantasy. A scented nod to her hit song.

Circus opens with raspberry and apricot blossom. Honestly all I really smell are the raspberries followed by a hint of vanilla and strong musk. Although these are in the base notes, they aren't overpowering. Honestly the musk gives Circus a surprising pow! I didn't expect this flamboyant fragrance to be so musky. Interesting side note...this is the fragrance that started my obsession and collection. Waaaaaay back in the Winter of '09. Actually I can recall that exact day! Christmas Eve 2009, I bought this on a mini shopping trip with my grandma. This exact set!

This shower gel has lasted me all these years. I don't often use it, I will explain later. But it's a little yellowish in its color. I thought that was a little different.

The body lotion, referred to as "body soufflé." It makes it sounds more like a pastry. I like how the lotion & shower gel follow the box design very closely. They both feature the turquoise/red/harvest yellow color scheme. It gives the box set even more of that old timey circus feel. Three very different colors that somehow fit very perfectly.

Now I in no way suggest using all three at one time. I don't suggest this with any box set. You end up making yourself smell way too strong. I learned through my mistake one evening. After using all three Circus products, I ended up smelling flat out like vanilla & musk. The fruits and florals were completely voided out. I really had no idea Circus had vanilla until I used all three. It was a nearly migraine inducing experience that I wish never to repeat.

The bottle itself is the same design as Fantasy and Midnight Fantasy. A round bottle bedazzled and a crystal round cap. However the color scheme makes this the more appealing of the group. It's turquoise body, red studs and see through cap are perfect. I don't know what the design is around the cap, but it's another lovely addition. 

Circus Fantasy, I've heard, is the best of Britney's fragrance collection. I haven't smelled them all so I can't 100% agree. However, from what I have smelled, Circus is very memorable and elegant. Miss Spears has a unique fragrance line that is very well worth the money. Circus, as well as the others of her's I've used, last hours. That's what I look for in a fragrance. Something that remains close to my skin without fading away completely.

Overall, I give the entire shebang an 8/10.  The design is genius, scent is fantastic, bottle is adorable...the price varies but is always reasonably affordable. Circus is usually a main fragrance sold in box sets at various stores during Christmas. So it's safe to say Circus is also reliable. It's strong, it's easy to find and gets compliments. I've never called a fragrance reliable, but you get the point haha. 

For me, Circus will always be close o my heart. Even though I've matured into other scents, Circus is still a must in my collection. It started it all! I don't use it often. When I do, it takes me back to fond memories. I could go on for hours about this subject. But bottom line is, if you have a chance to get Circus, do it!

 

Pink Friday fragrance and set.

Pink Friday is Nicki Minaj's debut fragrance. It was a worldwide hit for the hood-lite rapper. It shocked even the most sophisticated critic for its breathtaking scent.

Pink Friday opens with a combo of starfruit, Italian mandarin and boysenberry (a mix of blackberry and raspberry.) The middle notes consist of lotus and jasmine. Mainly the fruity notes hit your sinuses first with the under note of musk accompanying it. After settling for a few hours, the floral notes stick to your skin. I noticed the musk and fruites tend to linger longer if you spray it right on your forearm/wrists.

Pink Friday is such a refreshing scent. I am a big fan of starfruit and passion fruit notes. So seeing that starfruit would be a major player, I was immediately in love. 

The bottle started off the bust craze. All of Nicki's bottles are a different bust of the singer. Representing her chameleon-esq looks. Unfortunately, mine had the necklace broken off :(. But that's the least of my concern. The bottle isn't too intricate but it is just the debut design. I don't think Pink Friday was expected to be as successful as it was. The bottle isn't as wild as Minajesty or Onika. But it's still very entertaining.

This is the mini lotion tube. It's hot pink ombré into a royal purple. The lettering is gold which really pops. I'm NOT a fan of pink and purple as a color combo. However this is very easy on the eyes. The lotion has some sparkle to it. It's almost velvety looking! It smells just as wonderful as the fragrance. It has a tad stronger musk smell if I do say so myself.

The body wash is purple that ombrés into pink. Not really much to say about it. It smells very good. I got these mini bottles after buying the 30ml set from Walgreens. I gave the fragrance to a friend and kept the lotion & body wash. 

Overall I give Pink Friday an 8/10. The bottle is very unique but is easily outdone by its successor. The scent itself is very outstanding. It's fruity/floral openings followed by the musk under tone is very relaxing. It's not overbearingly fruity or floral. A perfect balance of both. I paid $50 for the bottle so I was a little upset with the broken necklace. But $50 isn't too bad for the full bottle. Especially since I got it around its initial release. 

Pink Friday was a superb entreé to Nicki's line of fragrances. It gave me a sense to not judge a book by its cover. Of coarse Pink Friday looks very out of place around the more upscale fragrances at Macy's. Dior, Chanel No. 5 and others may seem intimidating to the rapper's scent. But Pink Friday proved to win over some snooty critics. I was surprised at how highly praised it was by some of the older counter ladies in the perfume department. Many of them even wear the scent as a day to day perfume. 

Pink Friday will most likely go down in history as comparable to Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth. A singer venturing into the world of fragrances. However, it will remain a very unique staple for sure.

vintage Avon Roses, Roses cologne.

Another cute item from the vintage Avon haul. And only for a whopping .69 cents!

This unique piece is probably from the 60s or 70s. Unfortunately the cologne is all gone :(. But the scent still lingers within the bottle. It's...rosey. Very rosey! It reminds me of elderly woman perfume or a funeral home. It lives up to the name, Roses Roses. It's not a bad smell by far, just so much rose. It's not even floral, straight up rose. I can't express the smell without using the word rose 100 times haha.

The bottle, my main focus, is an old Victorian house. Crisp and white with a rose pink roof. It's very simple but elegant. It reminds me of the old Victorian furniture that was the fad of the 60s.

While I'm a tad sad the cologne is gone, it's still a great item. Another timeless piece that represents a golden era for decor in history. 

So, with a HUGE price tag of .69 cents, this item nearly broke my clutch wallet ;). Still wishing there was just a dab or two of the cologne. But I'm glad the scent is still trapped inside. The bottle is beyond cute and artsy. Yet another gorgeous bottle by Avon. So...10/10! I encourage anyone with a vintage Avon fetish to look this item up. Most of the old Avon stuff tends to run cheaply on etsy or eBay. 

vintage Avon Brocade beauty dust.

So I had a little Thrift Store adventure today! I went to my favorite thrift shop in Kettering, Ohio (on Woodman dr) called 'St. Vincent.' They have a huge selection of vintage Avon items. There's nothing I love more than the old gimmicky Avon junk. That's where I found this gem for 99 cents. The Avon Brocade beauty dust.

I don't know the date on this, I'm guessing it's late 60s early 70s. Im also unclear of the purpose of it. It smells like a scented baby powder, it looks like face powder. I'm taking a guess and assuming it's something face wise. I'm debating on if it would work as a powder contour for highlighting. It blends super easily! I love white powder to really make my forehead and under eyes pop. So I'll keep you updated on if it works.

Now the powder is the last reason I really bought this item. The bottle was the first thing I spotted in my quick trip. It's a cute white circular bottle. But the main wow factor is the shocking pink fuzz on top! HOW FRIGGIN CUTE! I had to snap this up. I would honestly have paid more for this. Powder or no powder. 99 cents is a steal in my book.

There are several items I look forward to keeping for eons! This is one of them. It's a timeless piece that represents a wild era. The bottle is very reserved but has that umf with the fuzzy top. It's just plain cute and cool.

I give this item a huge thumbs up and 10/10 for every aspect. Price, quality, bottle, label...Avon should really think about bringing cute stuff like this back. Avon is a staple in cosmetics and really innovated an era of unique items. I am forever a fan of their gorgeous trinkets.

Hello Kitty flavored lip balm.

Remember the Hello Kitty lip gloss review? Well I'm back with another one. What possessed 18 year old me to buy these terrible lip balms? Sure they're Hello Kitty, they were cheap and colorful. But I have an unlimited collection of Bonne Bell Lip Smackers. The Cadillac of lip balms! Why on earth would I need these HK balms that are basically Carmex with flavor? 

Well at least I can say they beat the HK lip glosses by a long shot. But that's not saying much either. These balms came in a set of 6... 

-Cherry Cheesecake

-Blueberry Muffin

-Orange Sorbet

-Whipped Cream

-Strawberry Ice Cream

-Vanilla Birthday Cake

So let's get into the flavors. Pretty much none of these smell like they're namesake. Blueberry muffin and Orange sorbet have hints but not much. Cherry cheesecake smells more chocolate than anything. Plus the label is brown so maybe they were going for chocolate cherry and thought "screw it. These suck anyway. Let's just do whatever we want." Whipped cream is actually not that bad of a smell. It doesn't smell like whipped cream at all but it's decent. Although absolutly none of these taste in your lips like they smell. They all have a wax taste that reminds me of hair grease. NOT that I know what hair grease tastes like. I should say they taste like the smell of hair grease. 

In addition to my "screw it. These are these suck anyway" theory...why do none of the caps match their flavor? Here's the rundown..

-vanilla birthday cake...cherry cap?

-orange sorbet...ice cream cone cap?

-blueberry muffin...donut cap?

-whipped cream...pie cap?

-cherry cheesecake...strawberry cake cap?

So granted strawberry ice cream does have a strawberry cap...wouldn't the ice cream cap be more appropriate? This adds to my theory that the company, Added Extras, has no clue what they're doing. Please leave the cosmetic game now. I wouldn't give these to anyone, much less the children they're intended for.

Okay so yes I did buy this one years after the others. I know I know I should have learned by then. BUT...this lip balm came with a Gumball scented lotion and hair spray. Now those totally rocked. I wish I still have some left but it was too good. The mystery is...with a Gumball scented lotion and hairspray, why a cotton candy lip balm? It came attached to the lotion via keychain. Why not a Gumball flavor balm? Any why is Hello Kitty sitting on a mountain of gumballs for a cotton candy balm?!?! Added Extras has to be the worst flavor/marketing/design company to distribute within Target (yes these are only at Target). Anyway the cotton candy balm doesn't smell too awful bad. It has a cotton candy scent but with a brown sugar after smell.

Overall I am 100% confident that Added Extras put little to no effort in their recipes. I can only imagine the poor little girl (or boy) who got these. It's a waste of hard earned allowance cash.....the sad thing is...I actually have another set floating around my house 0.0. Yes I bought into a Christmas set hoping it would somehow rival Bonne Bell....no. No it didn't.

Minajesty box set.

Minajesty is the second fragrance produced by Nicki Minaj. It's a fruitier partner to the previous scent, Pink Friday.  

At first smell, this fragrance smell very similar to its predecessor. However, Minajesty features a few different notes that differs from Pink Friday. Minajesty opens with red berries, lemon and peach. It features floral middle notes which help make it a bit different. To me, Minajesty doesn't have that musk undertone that Pink Friday heavily features. Even though both contain musk, Minajesty masks it with the fruits and florals. After settling on the skin, Minajesty does have a musk under tone.

The bottle is of coarse a bust of Miss Minaj. Like a mini ghetto Roman statue! Minajesty, in all its glory, dawns a fuschia puffy wig, deep coral lips and a red bustier bedazzled with rhinestones. Now contrary to Pink Friday Deluxe Edition, I bought this for the fragrance AND the bottle. I can honestly say that I actually favor the scent over the bust. But both are very well worth the price.

I seemed to have misplaced the body wash. However both the lotion and wash are the same scent. I do think the wash has a stronger resemblance to the fragrance though. I do want to note that the lotion is a shocking pink tube and the wash is more reddish. Just me being super accurate with colors haha. Trust me I'm a color buff so I note those small differences :).

This is the box it all came in! For $67 you get the full sized bottle, full sized lotion and body wash, the box (worth keeping!) and a free gift...most of the time. I received the Minajesty air freshener. I opened it but never hung it up. After nearly 2 years, it still smells good. I have it in a keepsake box with my letters, cards, pictures and stuff. It's keeping the box smelling really good. So that's a plus. 

The box is shiny...ooOOooOoOooo shiny! I'm not really sure what it's going for. It's sort of tacky-fancy esq. There are spots of glitter on the windows. I'm guessing it's supposed to be snow? Anyway it's a sturdy box that I believe is worth keeping. So $67 honesty is a great deal.

The fragrance itself is great. The bottle is very cute. The box is pretty. The lotion and wash is yummy and the air freshener is super cool. It's a nice memento of the entire Minajesty promotion. I HIGHLY suggest this box set for anyone looking for a fragrance as good, if not better than, Pink Friday.

Avon Pennsylvania Dutch foaming bath oil.

I am a huge vintage cosmetic/knick knack buff. So it was a no brainer when I found this at a local thrift store. I love the gimmicky array of things Avon whipped up in the 1970s. 

So I did some brief research before I even started this entry. Apparently, Pennsylvania Dutch is a culture of early German settlers that rested in Pennsylvania. I don't know if this was a popular decor in the disco era or what. I mean to a vintage geek like me, the design is delicious! It's...it's...groovy man!

So I had a tad hesitation on this $0.82 purchase. I had to test the smell of the product. Seeing as how it is verging on over 40 years old. It's a...strong smell needless to say. It's actually not bad though! I don't know how to explain it really. Maybe a bit musky and woodsy. It defiantly opens up the sinuses!

As you can see, this is a "foaming" bath oil. Please someone correct me if I am wrong, foaming means it well..foams! 

My skin is very sensitive. I break out relatively easily, especially on the forehead. So you can imagine my resistance to actually using this ancient gem. But one night I wanted a little scent to my bath. So I dabbed a bit into my water. It didn't foam, it didn't do much to the water at all actually. It smelled a bit but not much. After all I didn't use too much in caution of my face. I guess I was expecting some bubbles or foam but it is vintage. So I guess maybe some of the properties of "foam" have broken down over the years. Seeing as how this Avon relic has seen the Regan years, the entire run of Little House on the Prairie, several Cher comebacks and the Clinton scandal. I guess I can give it a break.

Needless to say, I do enjoy this item. I really love the old Avon stuff. Especially when there is still product in it. Not that I'm eager to use any of it. But owning something from a generation I never saw is the epitome of nostalgia. 

Dandy bow tie.

Who doesn't love American Horror Story? Thanks to AHS, many of us have formed unhealthy love obsessions with deranged but sexy serial killers. Who doesn't love a man with gorgeous eyes, a sexy body and a killer mind....pun intended. Who is cuter than AHS Freakshow's psychopath, Dandy Mott? Sure he killed his mother, his maid and Precious. He also had a five year olds temper, but cmon! Finn Wittrock's portrayal of Dandy Mott was beyond convincing. It makes you wonder if any of your sexy crushes just may bathe in the blood of the innocent. It also makes you wonder about yourself. Like "gee murders are hot...do I need therapy?" Let me schedule an appointment with Dr. Melfie. 

Back to my point. I became familiar with an etsy shop owner named The Hatbox Ghost. Her name is Niki and she is based out of Texas. She is talented, gorgeous and super sweet. She makes hats, necklaces, rings, bows....all unique. Miss Niki takes requests in addition to her stock on etsy. 

That's how I got this gem! I custom ordered a bow (which I use as a clip on bow tie) of Sir Shoots 'me Up, Dandy Mott. Miss Niki gave me an unlimited option of colors for the material. My choice, shocking pink! All I had to do was send her an image. She gave me a date of when she would be finished. No even 12 hours later, she was done. I swear this lady is The Flash!

The bow was I believe $8 total with shipping. It was shipped on a Monday and I got it on a Wednesday. 

I can't even tell you how much I love it! It's a big bow and the image is perfect. The material is so bright and vibrant. I can't thank her enough for the amazing work she did :).

I've added a link to her etsy show below. The prices are super reasonable for the work she puts in. Shipping is lightening quick and affordable. I just love ordering from the Hatbox Ghost!!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHatboxGhost?ref=s2-header-shopname

Pink Friday Deluxe Edition.

Here we have the spinoff scent of Nicki Minaj's debut fragrance, Pink Friday. 

The deluxe edition is a pure perfume which is vastly different from an eau de toilette. The difference is mainly in the volume of the essential fragrances used to create the spray. Pink Friday Deluxe Edition uses the same scents as its successor, only intensified! This is NOT a good thing!

First off, I was super excited to pick this puppy up! Even if I did have to spend $100. But, with a sale price, I got the Deluxe Edition for $75. I thought this was a steal...I was wrong. I found out exactly why a lot of us prefer eau de toilettes per "eau de parfum." This fragrance is supposed to have the same scents as Pink Friday. Basically they have a higher concentration so they fade off at a slower rate on your skin. But all I smell in this is the musk and woodsy scents. I don't smell any of the starfruit or mango which are my favorites of Pink Friday.

Onto the bottle. Basically the main reason I bought it. Deluxe Edition is a glossier take on its big sister. Nicki's bust is gold with a glosses black wig. The only bad thing about the bottle? It's not see through like the previous scent or the other Minaj fragrances. Therefor you can't tell how much you have left. Now my Pink Friday and Minajesty are half empty. However this edition will most likely forever remain full. I've used it 3 times. Not even kidding. It's so bad I can even recount when I used it! Not a good sign in my fragrance collection. 

My mother suggested I resell it seeing as how I still have the box. I never throw the boxes away...but I am a completist. I mainly wanted it for the collection. So Pink Friday Deluxe Edition stays put!

So here is the final grade. I didn't expect this to be so overbearing. It reminds me too much of a cologne. The scent gets a 3/10 from me. After it settles (like hours later) it's bearable. I can't give it that much.

The price gets a 1/10. If you aren't looking to just collect the bottle, it's not worth it. Don't buy it as a gift, don't buy it just for something to wear. Take your money and invest in Pink Friday or Minajesty.

The bottle, it's saving grace, is 10/10. And the box, which I will post pics of soon, is cool as well. So pretty much the bottle makes up for the entire mistake of buying this.