Clinique is clearly prepping us for summer! Their Superbalanced Powder Bronzer, Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup, and Long Last Lipstick are perfect picks for the season’s hottest looks!

I want to start with the Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral-talk about a light, refreshing, and vibrant lip color! I love this color! It made its debut during New York Fashion Week and I’ve been using it the moment I got it. Coral is hot hot hot!

And if you want a healthy sun-kissed glow, then you’re going to want to check out the Superbalanced Powder Bronzer. “It provides a special 3D contouring system composed of layered platelets and spherical shaped particles that optically resurface skin by reflecting light. This creates a more contoured and perfect glow from every angle.” I have to have a good bronzer!

Clinique’s Stay-Matte Oil-Free makeup is a great foundation for anyone who suffers from oily skin. You know we want a foundation that offers coverage but doesn’t feel super heavy. Yeah, that’s often my problem.  This give your skin a matte appearance. My skin appreciates that.

These are all available now at your favorite Clinique counter and Clinique.com.

Disclosure: I was NOT compensated for this post. I was provided samples for review purposes only. The above is my true and honest opinion.

I’ve been a fan of Johnny Depp since I was a teen and he never ceases to amaze me in the diverse roles he plays. And Dark Shadows is no exception. OK, nevermind the fact that hes amazingly talented and handsome, but could you have ever imagined him as a vampire?

Directed by Tim Burton, Dark Shadows hits theaters May 11. Depp plays Barnabas “a rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972.”

Are you already thinking about hitting the theater? Well, in the meantime, how would you like to enter to win a Dark Shadows beauty prize pack?

One lucky reader will win…

1 – Dark Shadows NYX Crimson Amulet Make up set
1 – Dark Shadows Charcoal Collinsport T-shirt
1 – Dark Shadows Strange is Relative T-shirt – Can is not included as shown in image
1 – Dark Shadow Disco Ball Key Tag
1 – Dark Shadows Poster

To enter, leave a comment below telling us what color lipstick Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) is wearing in the Dark Shadows trailer.

Watch the Dark Shadows trailer now!

Disclosure: No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited. You must be 18 years or older to enter. Open to United States residents only. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Contest end 5/15/12. Prize pack is courtesy of Warner Bros.

Where are my Starbucks Frappuccino® lovers? I know you’re out there!! Wow…I wish I had one right about now. Droooooool…

If you’re a true Frapp fan, then you probably already know that from now until May 13, you can visit your local participating Starbucks store from 3-5 p.m. for Frappuccino® Happy Hour, and enjoy Frappuccino® blended beverages, any flavor and any size, at half-price!

Yay! Make sure you try their two new flavors- Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino® and Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino®.

And to get you started on that next yummy delicious Frappuccino®, Starbucks wants to give you the chance to enter to win one of two $5 Starbucks gift cards!

To enter, follow ALL of the instructions on the widget below. Make sure you enter the initial one or the other entries will not count.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Genesis Rodriguez and Rodrigo Santoro are among the all-star cast of this hilarious new comedy.

It’s about five couples whose lives are turned upside down by their soon-to-be parenthood. This sounds pretty funny! The film hits theaters on May 18, but you can enter here to win advance screening passes to the following cities:

• Los Angeles, CA
• Chicago, IL
• El Paso, TX
• Miami, FL
• Dallas, TX
• Houston, TX
• New York, NY
• Phoenix, AZ
• San Diego, CA
• San Jose, CA

To enter: Please tell me which city you’re interested in going to and a comment below sharing the best moment you experienced while you or someone you know was pregnant. 

I will randomly choose five winners from each city! Good luck!

Take a peek at this fun video with make-up artist Marco Ochoa giving us fun and quick beauty tips!

Disclosure: I wan not compensated for this post. These passes are courtesy of Lions Gate. You must be 18 years or older to enter. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited. Ends 5/14/12.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Pink Grapefruit Line

Where are my beauty lovers at? I have another amazing Neutrogena giveaway for you! Another one? YES! I love you all that much!!

When it comes to skin care, there’s nothing better than a product that actually works and provides results. Take the NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Pink Grapefruit line, it smells great and helps remove those yucky blackheads! Those are one of my skin care pet peeves!

This maximum strength dermatologist-recommended products is a unique formula made with 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract plus vitamin C. It’s a powerful line of acne cleansers that treats and helps prevent breakouts. It gets rid of all that oil and dirt without over-drying your skin. Yay! Gotta love that!

*This line is ideal for those with acne-prone skin.

Neutrogena wants to give one lucky reader the following set valued at $35! Enter to win below!

• NEW! NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes Pink Grapefruit
• NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Cream Cleanser
• NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser
• NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub
• NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Wash

*REMEMBER, IF YOU DON’T LEAVE THE INITIAL COMMENT, YOUR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES WILL NOT COUNT

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It looks likes gifting season is officially here! Mother’s Day is right around the corner with graduations and Father’s Day following! Seriously? And don’t get me started about all the birthdays. It’s like every other weekend we’re celebrating something!

If you’re that person who doesn’t know what to give, let Mary Kay help you out! They have this amazing gift guide. You can find a gift for that special mom, father, graduate, or birthday star in your life!

I especially like their limited edition Thinking of You Mother’s Day Set (hint hint)! And the Limited Edition Mary Kay Mint Blossom Pedicure set is something any one can use (maybe a college grad?). Don’t forget dad…you can get him a bottle of their Velocity for Him Cologne (it smells really good!).

If you know a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant make sure you contact them today to get your gift shopping done or find one here.

Disclosure: I was NOT compensated for this post. I received complimentary samples for review purposes only. The above is my true and honest opinion.

The HBO New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) is accepting entries for the short film script competition until May 18, 2012!

That means if you’ve been thinking about submitting your short film script, then you really need to hurry! The winner will receive $15,000 in HBO funding to produce and direct an original-scripted short film. They will also get an HBO creative executive to mentor them during the process. Their film will be shown at the NYILFF screenings and will be considered for broadcasting on HBO.

NYILFF is now in it’s 13th year and they are the premier Urban Latino film event in the entire country! It will be held August 13-19, 2012 in New York City. Their mission is “to showcase the works of the hottest emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the U.S. and Latin America, offer expansive images of the Latino experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community.”

Here are the rules for entry:

The HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition is open to U.S. and international entrants 18 years and older. Only original scripts will be accepted and must be written in English by a person of Latino descent or focus on the Latino experience, and entrant must hold all rights to the material. The screenplay cannot be more than twelve (12) pages long and final film cannot exceed a maximum running time of five (5) minutes. The submitted screenplay or work produced from it must not have had previous cable, broadcast or internet exhibition, won awards at any other festival or been previously submitted to the HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition under its current or any former title.

Each entry must be accompanied by one completed submission form and $20.00 fee, a filmmaker bio and photo, a director’s reel or copy of last film produced (DVD NTSC only), and one executed HBO/NYILFF Short Film Competition release form. There is no limit to the number of entries that can be submitted (see rules for more specifics). Entries must be received by May 18, 2012. Winning entry will be notified by June 22nd.

For official rules, regulations and submission forms, log on to www.nylatinofilm.com.

Attention all race car fans, you’re going to love this! Well…I hope you do. LOL! As part of the Kia Fun and Forty Ride and Drive we were invited to the Kia 200. It was held at the Homestead Miami Speedway and I had so much fun!! When I was little my dad would take me to to watch the NHRA drag races. But, I’ve never been to a Grand-Am race. With  my ear plugs in I sat their and watched the entire race. The Kia cars didn’t win (boo!), but it was one of the best experiences. I’ve found my inner race fan and not a second too soon! Thanks Kia!!

Are you a racing fan? What do you love most?

Disclosure: Entrance into the race was courtesy of Kia. The above is my true and honest opinion.

Let me start this post with a little background. Growing up, I was raised around classic cars. My dad is a car lover and would often rebuild them. I would sit and watch him or attend events with him as a kid. Today, I’m married to a man who also loves cars and works in the automotive industry. And this past weekend the car lover is me surfaced, and I’m not sure it’s going anywhere soon.

Last week I was invited to the Kia Fun and Forty Ride and Drive event in Miami, Florida. I will write a couple of more parts to this post, because I took so many photos. In this first one, I want to share the vehicles that were behind this entire event-the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and 2012 Rio.

Kia is the fastest growing car company in the US today; with the Optima and Sorento being two of their three best sellers. Last month alone they reportedly sold 15,000 vehicles! And according to Kelley Blue Book they are the #1 non-luxury brand with the lowest total cost of ownership. While we spend 58% of our time driving on the highways, don’t you want a car that not only looks good, but is cost effective at the same time?

I had the chance to test out both vehicles with a drive from Miami to Key West and I will tell you the Optima Hybrid was my favorite, it is spacious with a very sleek design. I was comfortable the entire time and in love with the panoramic tilt/sliding sunroof and the UVO Infotainment System. Seriously cool! It’s the little and convenient things that impress me.

I will be honest and tell you I never considered a Kia as my next vehicle, but with what I witnessed it’s a serious contender. Stay tuned for more posts of my Kia experience!

Are you a Kia owner? What do you love most? 

2012 Kia Rio

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

Inside the Kia Optima Hybrid

Getting ready to head out on our road trip.

Infinity Speakers

Kia Optima Hybrid Emblem

40 MPG and below.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. All travel and accommodations were provided by Kia. The opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

At some point in our lives we get sick. It never fails. Whether it’s a cold, chicken pox, or upset stomach-it’s bound to happen. I’ve had pretty much everything and my mom was always there with medicine ready to comfort me. Don’t you just love moms?

Today, when I get sick it’s different. My mom lives a little far from me. LOL. And if I can’t find the medicine I need at the drugstore, I head to my doctor. Like a lot of people out there, I don’t have regular medical insurance. I’m a veteran and I rely on my VA benefits to get me through.

The VA Medical Center I attend is amazing and the pharmacist always has what I need. Most of the time they prescribe me the generic drugs, which makes my co-pay a lot cheaper. That makes me a happy and healthier blogger.

As we all know, prescription drugs are very expensive. It’s annoying. ConsumerReportsHealth.org offers us a few tips on how we can get the best price for our medications.

• Talk to your doctors and pharmacists. Tell your doctors and pharmacists that the cost of your drugs is important to you. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic drugs if possible. Tell the pharmacist that you want generics. Generics usually cost much less than brand-name drugs.
• Compare drug prices. Drug prices vary. In general, you can save on generics—and sometimes on brand-name drugs—by shopping around locally or online.
• Shop around locally. Call or visit at least 3 pharmacies. Include at least one large discount store. Wal-Mart and Target sell a 30-day supply of many generic drugs for about $4.00 and a 90-day supply for about $10.00 each. Also ask about discount cards. They can save you 10% to 25% of drug costs.Tell each pharmacist the names of the drugs you need. Ask how much they cost. Explain that you do not have drug coverage and that you will be paying for the drugs yourself. If the store with the lowest price is far away, ask a store near you to match the lower price. Smaller pharmacies will often do this if you live in the neighborhood.

Are you interested in learning more about prescription and generics drugs, and how to save when you visit your pharmacist? Join a very special Latinos and Social Media (LATISM) Twitter party! 

DATE: APRIL 26, 2012
TIME: 9-11 PM EST
HOSTESS: @ERGEEKGODDESS
GUESTS: @NewHealthDoc @CRenespanol
TO JOIN: Visit http://www.tweetchat.com/room/latism

Disclosure: This campaign has been funded by LATISM to help educate latinos on prescription drugs. I was compensated for this post. The above is my true and honest opinion.