Meet Your New Favorite Band: Cable Car

If you're like me, you're always looking for new music. If you're like me, you also like to big up your friends who are making music. So right now, I'm going to do both. Meet Cable Car. They're talented, they're cool, and they're stupid hot. You're welcome.

For readers who aren't familiar with your band, can you introduce yourself and your band?
My pleasure, My name is Nate Mott singer and guitarist for the band Cable Car. Always by my side a Mr. Surr Chevvie and a Mr. Jack Turner. We hail from Rhode Island, Vermont and the UK. Chevvie and I came out to Los Angles together and we met Jack living across the courtyard from us. We started Cable Car soon after meeting.

So when I met you, we were both standing in line for the X Factor auditions. Now, you've just released your first ever music video with your band, Cable Car. Take me through that journey: how did you get from there to where you are now? 
Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone. I had the time and the geographical means to see what an X Factor audition might be like. As you remember it was quite an experience. When we met that rainy morning I was still in the middle of my plans to get to LA. X Factor was a why the hell not moment. Still it felt great to beat out 18,000 people that day and push on to the next round before I was cut. As for the video it was just the right time for us. We have a great new record and we wanted to put out a great video for it.

As for the journey…well it's a long story really. I could fill the page with the details so I'll condense it bit. As I said Chevvie and I had already made plans to move out to LA. We had a few friends who had made the jump ahead of us so we knew we'd have a  few friendly faces to help us get acquainted. Once we made the move we got right to work. Not only writing together but with two other projects we kept to the sides. The one that stuck was Cable Car. Why? honestly because it felt right for us all. Time and place kind of thing. We loved the music and each other so we went for it. LA is now well acquainted with us! We just played Sayers club a place many of our favorite bands have played including ASTR! In fact Bastille played the night after us. What an honor that was.

What is life like out in LA? Why did you make the decision to go there to begin your music career as opposed to New York? 
I have spent plenty of time in New York and although I love the people I'm a warm weather kind of person. There were also some friends out here that I knew would make the transition a bit more fun.

How did you meet your bandmates and come together to form Cable Car? 
Chevvie and I were already playing together in Rhode Island and Jack we met out here. Started playing together and couldn't turn away from how good it felt.

What is the music writing process like for you? Do you write with your bandmates, do you write music and lyrics together or one after the other?
Our process has evolved a bit over the last year. Instead of the standard acoustic guitar and a notepad we decided to let the studio get right into the mix writing as we record, throwing it all in the session and peeling away what we don't love. Lyrics tend to be derived from the mood of the sonic landscape. However if a theme comes up we might gear the music in a particular direction to fit it. Create a mood so to speak.

What was the experience of making your first video like? How did you come up with the concept? Has it been well received? 
The song Tonight speaks a lot to the power fantasy has when left unrealized. So we sat with the director and hatched out a concept that allowed each of us to express our sexual fantasies to a psychiatrists. To make the video exciting we had her becomes the fantasy but never really give us what we wanted. I think the video leaves you wanting more and that was our intent!

Will there be a full length album release in the future? 
There may be but to be honest EP's just seem to be where it is at right now. You can get in the studio burn out 5 songs then get right back in and burn out another 5 without these long gaps between releases. It's a fun new format.

What are the next steps for your music career? What can we expect next from Cable Car? 
We intend to promote the self titled EP just released for 6 months by touring it around a bit. From there a hopping on an established tour is where we are headed I suppose.

Itunes: http://bit.ly/12kqBxt
facebook.com/wearecablecar
instagram: @wearecablecar
twitter.com/wearecablecar
www.wearecablecar.com

Lushie 4 Lyfe: Lush's BB Seaweed Face Mask, D'Fluff Shaving Soap, and You Snap The Whip Body Butter

It is no secret that I love Lush products. So when I had five empty black pots, I headed straight over there to get some more that I could use up and turn in for another free face mask.

I ended up getting BB Seaweed at the recommendation of the Lushy girls (who are always amazing). It's made with seaweed, honey, rose, and aloe vera so it's not only soothing and moisturizing but it smells amazing. This mask didn't leave me feeling dried out like some others do, but left my face feeling really soft and silky. I was really really pleased and I can't wait to continue using it. Plus the joy of hearing WHY IS THERE SEAWEED CRAP IN MY FRIDGE from my father is totally worth it.

Second pick is D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap. First off, this shit smells so good you want to eat it. I'm serious. My boyfriend kept smelling my legs like a freak. Plus, I have never been left so silky smooth after a shave. No razor burn, no missed spots, only clean and smooth and strawberry-scented skin. Loving it that I may as well go back and buy a huge pot of it now because I'm never gonna use another shaving cream ever again.

I love me a body butter, so I went with You Snap The Whip this time instead of King of Skin. It's got charcoal in it, which is the new thing for beauty products - charcoal soaks up impurities, so its great for a deep clean. Plus, this little beauty has exfoliating stuff in it too, so you're cleaned, scrubbed, and moisturized all in one. And let me tell you, I am about that life. That's the goal right there.

All in all, it was a successful mini-Lush haul. No regrets here.

Foam Party: Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel Sensation

I acquired this in possibly the best way possible: for free, on the street.

The Rituals girls were just....gifting them. It was amazing. I was on the way back to the office from lunch and they were there on the corner giving away free shower gel. Bless Soho, man. They were also running some instagram contest at the same time, so I guess this was a promotion. But it worked, because it did get me interested in the brand and wanting to go back for more. So good job, Soho Rituals store.

Most importantly, this shower gel is the coolest. It's not your average Dove or whatever. I think most people don't really think about their shower soap even though they should. So you just slather it on, rinse it off, and be done with it. But cleansing the rest of your skin is just as important as cleansing your face, and especially for me and my dry skin, it's important to take care of my whole body.

Ritual's Zensation sets itself apart because it foams. And it's so boss.

It starts as a gel and as soon as it hits water, it foams up and gets all creamy bubbly. This is great for two reasons: one, because it makes me feel like a kid again. Two, because a little bit really goes a long way, and you can use a dime sized amount to cover your whole body. Zensation smells clean and fresh (it doesn't have a really distinct scent so it isnt overwhelming and won't conflict with all your other smelly products) and  does leave me feeling clean and silky.

But honestly, it's just fun to play with foamy bubbles in the shower. I am all about that.

Confessions of an Arbonne Consultant

I went to my first Arbonne party a few months ago when my friend Julie announced that she had become a consultant. And I was a bit skeptical - from what I'd seen, it seemed geared towards old ladies who wanted anti-aging crap. And I'm 26, I'm not quite there yet. 

I was pleasantly surprised. 

The party started with Julie's sponsor introducing the business, and then we got to try some products. I was shocked at the range of products that Arbonne offers - I had no idea that in addition to skincare, they also offer makeup, diet supplements, and products for men. And it isn't overwhelmingly geared towards the anti-aging crowd. There are a lot of great products, and honestly I feel much better about my money going to support my friend than to some Corporate Conglomerate. 

The RE-9 system (pictured above) is basically their starter skincare regime kit - it's cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and a night cream. It's a lot of shit but I mean, most people use at least half of those products anyway, and I like the idea of having a system with similar ingredients so they all work together in harmony. The formulas are smooth and creamy, they don't smell like anything in particular which is great, and your face really does feel great when you take care of it properly. 

I also ended up buying  the Nurturing Day Lotion moisturizer from their FC5 line because it had 20 SPF, which I've been happy with so far. I went with the Sparkling Citrus Sugar Scrub because I am a sucker for sugar scrub, and its fucking great. It's oily so it leaves your skin super duper soft and smelling nice and fresh and lemony and I dig it and use it all the time.

But don't take it from me, take it from Julie, my Arbonne Consultant:

What got you interested in being an Arbonne consultant? 
When I met my sponsor I was 9 months pregnant & definitely looking for something more in my career. I've worked side-jobs before, and Arbonne offered an extra stream of income on my own schedule. Her success inspired me that this could be a full-time job & business, not just a fun hobby.  She was able to quit her teaching job, which I would love to be able to do and work from home with my daughter.  The brand is amazing, and I was already spending money on personal care products- as a consultant I would receive a 35% discount + turn an expense into a profit.

What do you think sets Arbonne apart from other beauty brands?
Our stand-out quality is our motto: "Pure, Safe, and Beneficial". Arbonne products are natural and botanically based, not filled with the toxic and petroleum ingredients found in most other beauty brands. Our nutrition line is vegan & gluten-free, nothing is tested on animals- these are all things people are looking for today.
We also offer more than just beauty products, we have a market for everyone- men, babies, health & wellness, you name it!

What is the benefit of hosting an Arbonne party and buying through a consultant? 
Party hosts receive wonderful rewards such as the option of being "consultant for a night" and getting our 35% discount on their purchase. We also offer hosts package options that will give them $100+ worth of free products.  There is the added perk of having a fun night with friends & being able to try our products for free!...Buying from a consultant gives you the benefit of becoming a preferred client (20% discount), and being first to know about any special sales your consultant is offering.  You get to buy products you're already using from family & friends instead of giving your money to faceless corporations.

What are your favorite Arbonne products?
I LOVE our Intelligence CC cream- it has built-in primer, moisturizer, and color correction; provides lightweight coverage for everyday wear, and gives you a dewy "glow"
I'm a huge advocate of our ABC baby line; it cleared up my daughters dry patches in days, after months of using Aveeno & Burt's Bees to no avail.
Our FC5 facial scrub gives you a nice exfoliating cleanse.
I enjoy our pomegranate fizz sticks added to water for a natural boost of energy to replace daily coffees.

What products would you most recommend to people who have never tried Arbonne before?
 Our most popular line is our RE9 anti aging skincare.  Cleanser, toner, day/night cream, lift gel, eye creme- it offers something for every facial need, and makes your skin look & feel beautiful!  The cellular renewal masque gives an amazing glow & tingle the following morning
Our makeup primer is a best seller- feels like silk on your skin to prep it for flawless makeup.
Our FC5 daily shampoo/conditioner doesn't lather & strip hair; and Pure Vibrance line nourishes color-treated hair.


Use consultant ID 21331334 to order through Julie and try Arbonne for yourself!

Living Without Apology: Makeup As Warpaint

So, this is a thing that happened:

I wanna start off by saying I was actually debating on whether or not to post this, because the second after I posted it on Tumblr, I got this:

But this is my blog, so fuck you. I am not stupid, and I am going to continue to show this to more people. Insert Evil Cackle Here.

As a makeup and beauty blogger, I am constantly inundated with advertisements telling me that I NEED this new product or this lipstick is a MUST HAVE or whatever. And I hate that shit. I hate it when advertisers shove stuff down my throat and tell me that I need all this extra crap to be a decent human being. I love makeup and I love fashion because it's fun, because it lets me create the woman I want to be, because it lets me state exactly who I am without having to say a word. It's a creative outlet just like any other.

And I don't, on a day-to-day basis, think "Oh I have to put on eyeliner so my boyfriend thinks I'm cute today", and I don't think most women do. But this isn't really about me or my personal practices. This is about the bigger picture. Women have been enhancing their features using makeup for centuries, and yes, historically this is a mating practice. We are victims of centuries of this type of thinking. Hence my urging that these thoughts must be destroyed.

I stand by my belief that women should reappropriate makeup as war paint. I believe that makeup is an art and is a key to creative expression. I stand by my belief that women should not feel the need to do anything to themselves to please or to catch a man (or a woman, or a nonbinary, whatever you want). I believe that the thought that a woman should do such things for a man's benefit is detrimental to both sexes because it does not allow anyone to be themselves completely, and is always keeping a woman in a submissive position, if she is always thinking about pleasing someone else. If we hold our women back, we are all held back.

And the truth is, it's different for everyone. I'm not telling anyone that they shouldn't make an effort for someone they care about. I think the issue is not wanting to look good. The issue is the belief that it is a woman's job to look pretty or else they are worthless to a man.

I will reiterate: I do not wear makeup for you. I do not wear clothes for you. I do not smile for you. I am not here to placate you, to make you happy, to be the thing you want me to be. I didn't ask your opinion and I never will. I will be beautiful and terrifying. I am living without apology.

But First, Lemme Take a Selfie: Julep's Photogenic Palette

Frequent readers of this blog know I'm a huge fan of Julep products. I've been a Maven (their monthly nail polish subscription box) for over a year and it's the only box I haven't cancelled yet. They have great colours, great deals, and their customer service is amazing. 

But while Julep is best known for their nail polish, their other beauty products are pretty badass too - I've been happy with their lipglosses especially. But in the eyeshadow department, I felt they were lacking. Their first palette was a mini sort of Naked Basics knock-off deal, with boring boring browns and taupes and it was boring and nothing special. Then they had gel/liquid eyeshadows for a while that didn't really go over well either. 

But when I saw this baby, I knew I had to have it. Enter Sweep - The Photogenic Palette

First off, the colours are beautiful. It's not your average Naked knock-off palette. There are bright, holiday-ready colours in here. The colour payoff is really great too - each tone has got just the right amount of shimmer and the pigment is bold while still being really wearable. The formula blends really well, and you can use this one palette for a whole variety of looks, from something more natural to a bolder, brighter vibe. 

From bottom: Flash (which you can barely see since it's almost the exact same colour as my arm), Gala, Focus, Pose, Filter, Sepia, Icon, Selfie, Debut, Star, Fame.

The brush it comes with is really nice too - dual ended with soft bristles. I've been having so much fun creating looks with this palette. It's unexpected, and a really great holiday offering from Julep.

The Photogenic Palette  makes for a great gift for makeup lovers in your life, or for yourself! It's on special discount right now and its TOTALLY WORTH IT. Julep winning it yet again. 

Evil Queen Beauty is now The Evil Queen Grimoire

Stay Tuned! 

Fall/Winter Lingerie Edit: Lace & Garters

Victoria's Secret, Agent Provocateur, Victoria's Secret

"I love it when you can go about your daily business with the knowledge that you have a little secret of your own on underneath" - Dita Von Teese

Why I Left My Job

"I left my job. I don't have a plan. And I'm okay."

This is my first video! I hope it isn't too awful. Please feel free to leave comments.

I Anticipate Us Making Out: Urban Decay's Full Frontal Lipstick Stash

Urban Decay was having a sale, okay? I couldn't resist. Don't give me that look.

I'm always hesitant when it comes to lipstick, because MAC is my go-to, and I have my signature colour and I pretty much stick to it. But I ended up getting myself Urban Decay's F-Bomb Revolution Lipstick  because that is fucking hilarious, and irresistible.

And let me tell you a thing. This colour is amazeballs.

It really is a "Fuck You" Red - bright. bold, and unrelenting. It's a moisturizing formula so your lips don't try out, has just a little shimmer that catches the light when you laugh in the face of your enemies.

So when UD was having their Friends & Fans sale, I scooped up this beauty with a selection of UD's bestselling Revolution lipsticks - they call it the Full Frontal Lipstick Stash, and it features 6 shades in miniature sizes, as well as their 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Ozone

From Top: Ladyflower, Crush, Illicit, Gash, Liar, and F-Bomb

It's a collection of six super wearable colours, that's for sure. I was actually a little bit disappointed about them being miniature sized, but the great thing about that is you can put it in your purse or pocket or clutch bag and not have to worry about it. Plus, it's great for someone who maybe doesn't wear lipstick everyday, because this way you don't have to worry about shelling out $22 for a whole tube. Instead, you get six for #39, which is a pretty good deal if you ask me. 

So far I'm really loving Crush and Gash, as well as my new baby F-Bomb. If Urban Decay does one thing well, it's bold colours. And that is right up my alley.

And for those of you who are thinking about Holiday gifts, this is a GREAT option for the makeup lovers on your list! 

I Caved and Bought Another Naked Palette

I know I'm going backwards with the Naked palettes by Urban Decay.

I started with Naked 3, which is beautiful and perfect. The truth is, I always thought the other two were too brown for me. And I know that's like, sort of the whole point of the "neutrals" thing. But I'm not really a neutrals girl - I stay away from browns and beiges in all things, not just makeup.


And so I was really hesitant to purchase any of the other Naked palettes, because there were only one or two colours that I would really go for normally (greys and blacks, thank you very much). But I saw the Naked 2 used on my sister for her wedding, and I sort of went, alright fine, Urban Decay. You win again. 

So far I'm really happy with Naked 2 - the colour payoff is great, and now that I have both, I can mix colours and they still blend together perfectly. So far I'm using Pistol the most; it's a shimmery grey and it works really well with the pinks of the Naked 3. I love Blackout too, as well as YDK and Tease.

Overall, it's like, shut up and take my money, UD. Whatever, I give up trying to resist. But also, can we maked Naked 4 white, grey, black, and like, lavender? That would be great, thanks.

The Fall Uniform Flat Lay

Flannel by Uniqlo, Hat by Urban Outfitters, Headphones by Urban Ears, Skirt by Topshop (similar), Sneakers by Steve Madden

A Rose By Any Other Name: Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer

It takes a lot for me to want to break up with my favourite moisturizer. I really love Fresh's Soy Moisturizer - it works for my dry skin and has SPF. But it's fuckin pricey, dude. And it's seriously hard to find. Sephora doesn't seem to be carrying it anymore, so when the Fresh store by my office closed down and I ran out of supply, I was forced to go hunting for a new moisturizer. 

Enter: Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream . Swoon. 

Because of my amazeballs nighttime moisturizer (see this post), I really don't have to use a moisturizer every morning (I know, I know, I should be putting SPF on my face everyday. Death is coming. Whatever.). Korres offering is the perfect balance - where Origin's Night-A-Mins is thick and creamy, Korres is light and airy - like putting silk on my face. It's so soft and smooth you barely feel a thing, yet it's keeping me well moisturized and balanced. Plus, it smells like roses. 

It's a little less expensive than my usual too, so this might be a repurchase. If it had SPF, that would be even better, but I live a vampire life anyway so not a huge loss. 

Nightynight: Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Nighttime Moisturizer

This is a story about a product that transformed my face. 

I have very very dry skin. I'm talking itchy, flaky, sensitive, easily damaged dry skin. And it's not just my face - its my scalp, arms and legs, everywhere. For a very long time I ignored it, because I believed that nothing would ever help, and I just had to deal with my skin being the way it was. But since I've started this blog and started really looking for skincare, I've discovered that healthy skin is possible. And Origins Night-A-Mins Moisturizer is a total game changer. 

Not only is my skin thoroughly moisturized, but its almost oily - I'm serious. Within about a week of using this product, my skin was totally different. It feels like I don't have to moisturize every day anymore. It feels soft and clear and bright, and I'm seriously in awe. Like, I want to put this stuff on my whole body it's that good. This is a miracle product. And it makes your face smell like oranges.

So pretty much I am going to recommend the shit outta this stuff for anyone who has super duper dry skin. You may not even have to use it every night after a while, just maybe three times a week or so and you'll be good to go with totally smooth, soft skin. Just like, fucking do it already, okay? Okay. Glad we had this chat. 

Evil Queen Book Club: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

I find it very difficult to talk about books I really loved because all I want to do is give you all copies and make you read it yourselves. The Ocean at the End of the Lane was one of those books - read it now, you won't regret it.

I love Neil Gaiman. I cannot express enough how much I love him. He is, for me, a perfect writer - he is smart, eloquent, and fantastically talented. He writes books that feel like they were meant for me, that feel like home to me. It seems to be really difficult to find books that have fantasy or science fiction elements without feeling like genre pieces or YA (You either get Twilight or Game of Thrones) - not to discredit those, but that's not always what I want. I like literary fiction that is still fantastical - and Neil is able to hit that mark for me every time. His books have become cherished favourites. Stardust was my first, and to me, as a lover of fairy tales and magic, Stardust is a perfect story. American Gods is perhaps his most well known story, which is on the opposite end of the spectrum - its gritty, bloody, dirty, and an epic story.

Ocean at the End of the Lane is more on the Stardust end of the spectrum - it reads like a fairy tale and sits gently on the fence between children's literature and adult literature (there's a little bit of sex in it, just a hint); it feels like a fairy tale but is a sophisticated, prosiac read that leaves you with a massive book hangover - you know, that feeling you get after you finish a book and are still existing in it's world? It doesn't happen every time, but it definitely felt it with The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Without giving any spoilers away, I can tell you it's told from the perspective of a grown man remembering his childhood - a childhood that just so happened to be touched by a magical new friend and a terrifying nanny. It's a nightmare we all know so well, where the adults are terrifying and controlling, and they don't realize the evil around them. The children in this story hold the power, and it's a reaffirmation of the power of imagination and strength in friendship.

I really thought this one from Neil was so beautiful, and I want everyone to have a copy in their library. Go. Go get it. Go sink into a fairy tale.

On Raw Denim: Uniqlo's Pure Blue Japan Collection

Pure Blue Japan denim cropped shirt, Pure Blue Japan sweatshirt, Pure Blue Japan relaxed skinny fit tapered jeans

It's really difficult to find the perfect pair of jeans, isn't it?

We try on different styles from different brands, skinnies, straights, boyfriends, and pay ridiculous amounts of money for premium denim that feels like you've owned them forever.

However, new offerings from Uniqlo's Pure Blue Japan collection will solve all your denim woes.

Their latest special collection is pretty much the perfect transitional wardrobe - great chambray button downs, comfy sweatshirts and t-shirts, denim jackets, and most of all - perfect fit raw denim jeans. And those babies are under $80.

This is also the first time Uniqlo has offered Selvedge denim for women - for those of you who don't know, Selvedge is a type of raw denim characterized by that finished edges (see that bit of red and white on the cuff there? That's prevents fraying). Usually you'll find folks wearing them cuffed to show that off. It's a pretty cool detail, and worth it to invest in jeans that won't fall apart. Uniqlo's Selvedge is made by Kaihara, one of the oldest denim looms in Japan. Normally jeans like these run for over $100, so Uniqlo's are a super good deal.

Plus, they're super comfy and fit like a glove. Count me in. Loving them cuffed with a pair of wedges and a chunky sweater or sweatshirt, or the denim shirts unbuttoned or tied over a comfy tee.

Fall Style Inspiration: Stealing from the Brit Boys

Harry Styles, Matt Hitt, Matty Healy

Fall Essentials by evilqueenstyle featuring Urban Decay

T shirt
etsy.com

Uniqlo purple shirt
uniqlo.com

H M biker jacket
$57 - hm.com

Topshop short skirt
topshop.com

Steve Madden black leather boots
stevemadden.com

Alexander McQueen skull ring
couture.zappos.com

Rag bone black hat
rag-bone.com

Urban Decay lipstick
$24 - johnlewis.com