Free shipping on "pick" purchases at maccosmetics.com

No code necessary, now thru March 25, 2008 (US and Canada only). Just look under the "Picks" menu for applicable products.

Free shipping on $25 purchase at Sephora.com

Use code DELIVERY25. It expires at the end of the Superbowl game.

Free makeup bag with $35 purchase on Comptoir Sud Pacifique

This is one cute lil makeup bag that beauty.com is offering as a gift with a $35 purchase of Comptoir Sud Pacifique. The most amazing part of this though is the expiration - this GWP is good until January 3, 2010. Now that's planning. Seriously, how many bags do they have? Color me impressed. It's so comforting to know that someone reading this blog next year should be able to get their bag.

I highly recommend Comptoir Sud Pacifique's Vanille Abricot. If you like sweet, foody scents, this staple of the line is a must.

Estee Lauder GWP at Neiman Marcus

Now through February 3rd, Neiman Marcus is giving a gift of the following items with a $55 purchase:

• Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Creme
• Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Serum
• Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick
• Exclusive Spring Look Compact
• More Than Mascara Moisture-Binding Formula

Your gift comes in a lovely ivory tote.

You could always try the famous Double Wear foundation, Magnascopic mascara, or the Pure Color lip gloss.

Diane von Furstenberg Sues Target

Diane von Furstenberg has filed suit over Target's fairly blatant copy of her Spotted Frog print dress, according to the Associated Press. Women's Wear Daily reported yesterday that DVF Studio had implemented some sort of program to combat copyright infringement (Copyright VAu 704-976 for the spotted frog print), and has filed several suits of a similar nature over the last few years. Here's a nice blog with pictures showing the dresses at issue in the 2007 Forever 21 suit.

The Spotted Frog print is very distinct, and as soon as I saw the Target dress online, I immediately thought that Tarjay was attempting a DVF-knockoff. The specific dress and pattern that the Target dress resembles is the Large Spotted Frog Beige print in the Samara style. This particular print comes in several other styles, and in another color as well (I own and love the Green Spotted Frog Jessica). I keep seeing blogs on this topic with pictures of the Green Spotted Frog Jessica or the Green Spotted Frog Gaby. The Target dress does NOT look like those.

I'll leave the debate of the legal merits of the case to the Fashion Lawyer , the Law Blog, and the Las Vegas Trademark Attorney (all offering a worthwhile read on the subject), but judge for yourselves based on the photos:

Below is the DVF dress:

The Target dress:

Target has produced other dresses that are very similar to DVF designs:

DVF Navy Scattered Stones Abel:

Target knockoff:

DVF Black Volante:

Target knockoff:

I am not sure if DVF has a case here, but I know that even as an owner of one of the Spotted Frog DVF dresses, I was tempted to buy that Target dress. I only found it online, and Target.com had it listed as an "online only" item. The AP reported that the complaint stated that the dress was not pulled from retail stores, but it has been pulled from target.com. I don't think it was actually ever in any retail stores. If anyone has actually seen it in a store, please comment.

Fashion Indie has an interesting perspective on this topic. Target has recently been teaming up with high-end designers to offer their fashions at a more modest price point. Apparently, DVF wasn't on board in this case. What do you think? Is DVF justified?

Adventures in Downsizing

If you have found my blog, you are probably a hardcore beauty addict like me. If so, you may also suffer from the enviable problem of a humongous makeup stash - one so large that you simply CANNOT use it all! While I must admit that this is a nice problem to have, it can be frustrating when one cannot find a specific product or when barely-used lip glosses start going bad. Thus, I am aware that my stash has grown too large and is need of downsizing.

Knowing and doing are two different things. I have found it very hard to let things go. I think so many items are special! Sometimes I will select some makeup to get rid of, and I end up changing my mind.

A few nights ago, my darling daughter said to me, "Mommy, you have too much makeup. You should give some away." (I've done this in the past) I said, you are right. She said, "I'll help you." We played and sampled, and believe it or not, she really did help me! I kept wanting to stop, and she kept saying we should keep going, and before I knew it, we had picked out a bunch of things.

All in all, my ruthless 5-year-old daughter helped me offload seventeen items from my stash! My blush drawer is now all perfectly arranged. Yay!

I already had a big bag of stuff, so now I have more items to add to it. I'm going to take it in to work and give it away. I did this a few months ago, and surprisingly, I got a great response at work. People loved it!

So my stash is still too big, but that evening was very productive and even somewhat fun. It made me aware of how much I am attached to these items, and frankly, I was a little surprised at how difficult it was for me to really let go of so much stuff at once. I have NO problems letting go of clothing that doesn't fit or that I don't wear, so why is it so hard to let go of makeup? I don't have the answer at this point, but I think I will explore the issue further on a later date.

Love your stash, everyone, and try to let go of items that do not elicit that love.

Free Shipping on Maccosmetics.com

Just in time for Valentine's day!!

Free shipping with any purchase on maccosmetics.com when you use the code POUT.

XOXO, MAC!