Welcome to another installment of the Bionic Boondoggle! It’s basically a “best of” roundup from the perspective of moi.

My snake-bitten ankle is finally healed and I’m doing strengthening exercises daily. I’m still visiting north Florida and loving the area here more and more! For a little get-outta-the-house time, my friend and I headed to the Devil’s Millhopper park in Gainesville. We packed our cameras and a few of our Moleskine journals and sketchbooks. I also wore tall, heavy leather boots. I have vowed never to hike without leather boots on again. No more snake bites for me, thank you very much.

Devil's Millhopper - One really old sinkhole!

I love greenery, shade (as you can tell by my paleness), and humidity. The Devil’s Millhopper suited me perfectly. There were teeny waterfalls winding through limestone covered in liverworts, lichens, and mosses. The waters flow through the porous limestone, making its way into the Florida Aquifer, and finally… very very slowly flows towards the Gulf of Mexico.

A trickling stream through limestone rock covered with mosses and liverworts

On our trek, I spotted a few native orchids (unfortunately not in bloom), some really cool aquatic plants, tiny glossy mushrooms, and more ferns than I’ve ever witnessed in one locale. It was truly a fabulous day! The only mar on the day’s perfection… I seem to have dropped/left/lost my digital camera. So if anyone found a pewter and black Olympus digital camera at the Millhopper over the weekend, could ya please send it back to me? I’ll bake you brownies and my famous banana bread! I miss my super-macro mode already for taking makeup shots. Grrrr.

Writing in my journals + surrounded by greenery = Happiness in Bionic-land.

Anyhow, let’s get on Boondoggling, shall we?

Ever wondered what some of those big long tongue-tying names are in your hair care products? Beauty with Brains gives you a 101 course on Polyquaternium 11.

Beauty and Fashion Tech uses skin care products from Arcona and Peter Thomas Roth to help cure her adult acne.

My dog “The Amazing Woo” is holding giveaway for a pet goody bag from Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul. Y’all should enter if you’ve got any furry friends!

E.l.f. Cosmetics has some pretty fabulous discount codes that are available for a very limited time. Shop quickly, everyone!

• Get a free 3 piece back to school makeup set from e.l.f. cosmetics when you purchase $20 or more in their makeup goodies. Use code BTSAF. This coupon code expires August 31, 2010.
• Now through August 31, you can save 30% off elf’s Studio Makeup collection with a minimum $20 purchase. This offer is valid with coupon code STUD30.

Lastly, here is my favorite quote from the book I finished last week…

“Truth can never be defeated, Sarene. Even if people do forget about it occasionally.”
~King Eventeo in the book Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.

Have you spotted anything wonderful around this web this week? Feel free to share sales, favorite quotes, funny videos, or whatever strikes your fancy in the comments section below

Heading to a salon Grand Opening!

While it looks like not much happened on Bionic Beauty today, I’ve been working behind-the-scenes since 8am. Hopefully you all will benefit from the upgrades soon. I’m working on an improved navigation bar so everyone can find articles related to a specific topic in an easier and quicker manner. Also in the plans- a FAQ page and a page listing the most-popular tutorials. I’m open to other suggestions to improve Bionic Beauty, just leave your thoughts in the comments.

Now, let’s get down to a Bionic Boondoggle! For those of you who don’t know what a Bionic Boondoggle is… it’s basically a mash-up of wonderful things that caught my eye recently.

First up… the sales!

• Get a FREE $5 gift card from e.l.f. cosmetics with a $20 purchase! Just use coupon code CINCO when you checkout.
• From now through April 30th, get 25% off your entire purchase plus get FREE standard ground shipping at Sally Beauty’s website! Enter promo code 555919 at checkout. I know I’ll be stocking up on Ion Color Brilliance hair color! I just wish I could use this in their brick n’ mortar stores as well, but I guess we can’t have all our wishes granted.
• YBF Skincare is celebrating their 3 year partnership with The Skin Care Shop. Between now and June 1st, YBF is giving away over $1500 of their incredible skin care products via Twitter! Head over to the YBF website for the giveaway schedule and learn how to enter!

From around the web

• Mo at Mythbuster Beauty got her hands on MAC’s new Stacked Crushed Metal Pigments and created a very pretty makeup look! For non-MAC peeps (me included), I’m not sure what that fancy-dancy name means, but I think they are powdered shimmery eye shadows. *wink*
• I’ve long been a fan of Kristarella for her awesome web design skills and extremely helpful tutorials. She’s pretty much my blogging idol. Recently she posted an article chronicling her weight loss that I felt should be shared. It was so open and real – she definitely qualifies as a Powerful Beauty in my book!
• One of my fave indie makeup lines, Purely Cosmetics is exhibiting at the IMATS makeup show in LA on June 26th and 27th. If you’re going to be in the area, please stop by the PC booth and tell Robyn I said “Howdy!”. I really wish I could go. Alas, some day… maybe.

And last, an explanation for my picture- this weekend, I got dazzled up to attend a friend’s salon/spa grand opening in trendy SoBe. So that’s me playing grown-up-prom-night. Fun times!

Now it’s your turn to Boondoggle! Have you spotted a funny video, or a quote you love, or a moo-lah saving sale? Did you do something extremely fun or meaningful this week? If so, please share!

Now that you all know my fave beauty products from 2009… it’s time to share some super-special news about a few of the brands!

In honor of being named on of “Bionic’s Best of 2009″, Jeune D’age Organic skincare has offered Bionic Beauty readers an EXCLUSIVE discount! Enter “BestOfBionic” (without the quotes) at checkout and you’ll get 25% off your order! Sorry but it’s only open to USA residents. This discount expires on February 14th at midnight US ET.

Seriously ladies, this line rocks. You won’t regret it. Bionic Bronnie and I are both hooked. Have questions on what you should try, or the products themselves? Leave your questions in the comments section below and I’ll get them over to Jeune D’age (or just use their contact form). Happy shopping!!

Besides having wonderful makeup, Robyn from Purely Cosmetics also runs a beauty blog. She’s currently holding an amazing giveaway…

for a full size bottle of Perricone’s High Potency Eye Lift serum. I know this line is on many a woman’s wish list, but also on the “I don’t have the budget for that” list (it normally costs $95 for a 1/2 ounce bottle). So here’s your chance to win a bottle! It’s simple to enter, just comment and you’re golden. More entries for those who tweet, Facebook, etc. Read her article for details.

And now for some lovey themed quotes to get in you in, or out of the mood, for Valentine’s Day. For the record, I asked my dog to be my Valentine. He accepted with a “Woof”. So now I have a Valentine and don’t even need a special makeup look or dress!
For the jaded, Vday’er…

“Happy endings are just stories that haven’t finished yet.”
~Jane Smith, from the movie Mr & Mrs Smith.

And here’s one that truly speaks to me, since I believe our society has lost the definition of true love. So many people approach relationships as something disposable- like a rental agreement or a car that they’ll own for 5 years and trade in…

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”
~St. Augustine

Feel free to share your favorite finds from the week, quotes that you love, or plans for Valentine’s Day in the comments below!

I hope all the Bionic Beauties out there have a fabulous rest of your week and a happy Valentine’s Day, and whatever that may mean for you.
Stay Bionic,

I have been remiss in posting a Bionic Boondoggle for a long time. Okay, so it’s been months (and months) to be transparently truthful. Since my 2010 is finally settling down, I rounded up some of my favorite things from the interwebs this week…

Looking for a laugh? Nenette over at LifeCandy always keep me on my toes. Hilarity ensues when you mix VHS tapes, cat poop, yoga pants, and coffee into one article… Mark my words, you may need brain-floss after reading this. *wink*

Just for some "pretty" this week...

True or False? The Mineral Makeup Coach wants to know if you know your skincare myths from facts. Does oily skin need less moisture than dry skin?

Since most people love to win things, Jen at Mythbuster Beauty is holding a giveaway for a $150 gift card to SkincareRx! There are loads of ways to enter, but do so quickly because the deadline is February 8, 2010 (USA residents only).

DIY makeup organization that is as functional as it is beautiful. Robyn from Purely Cosmetics blog gets uber-crafty creating her own Book of Shadows!

Licensed esthetician and an all-around wonderful person, Jessica, debunks a few of the common skin care myths. Jessica’s blog is chock-full of skin care reminders, information on ingredients, and intelligent research.

A heart warming tale of WHY all products from Cactus & Ivy have been, and always will be, cruelty-free…

American Apparel is coming out with their own nail polish… and oh my… that gray color on the front left is screaming my name!

For balance, here’s some animated humor- check out Simon the cat in “Cat Man Do”. He is THE ultimate in snooze alarms.

Did you spot anything inspiring or fun on the internet this week? Feel free to leave your favorite links below!

I haven’t put together a Bionic Boondoggle for quite some time… but I have quite a few small tidbits of news to share, so I thought today would be perfect! There’s a huge sale at Sephora, a fantastic Mario Badescu giveaway, and a new blogroll member…

First up… it’s Sephora’s Family and Friends Sale time! The sale launched today (October 19th) and runs through November 2nd. You’ll get 20% off almost all of their cosmetics, makeup, skin care, hair care, nail polish, etc.
Simply use the coupon code FF2009 when you check out. Plus orders over $50 get FREE shipping!

One bit of warning, I recommend you shop as soon as possible since this sale is so popular. It’s not uncommon for items to sell out within a few days.

Other specials at Sephora.com…

• Get a free Bare Escentuals 10 day trial makeup kit with a mini kabuki brush with any order. Use discount code TRYBE at checkout.
• Get a free Bare Escentuals Buxom mini lip gloss. You even get to pick your shade! You do have to register to be a Beauty Insider for this special to apply (but it’s free to join). Use coupon code BUXOMKISS at checkout.

With all those great discounts and freebies, who can resist a little Sephora.com shopping! What do you plan on buying?

Mario Badescu skin care is having a fabulous contest for acne suffers! I adore their Buffering Lotion and Drying Cream. Five lucky winners will receive a consultation with one of our skin specialists and a customized regimen of Mario Badescu Skin Care products. Don’t delay… head over to MarioBadescu.com to enter now!

I’ve also added a new link to the Bionic Beauty “blogroll”. This is the official welcome to the Cosmetology School Guys “Beauty Schools” website. Beauty Schools is a thorough guide for people seeking a certified cosmetology school. It’s simple to navigate and since some of you may be looking along this career path, I thought it may be helpful to include. Have a visit and tell them Bionic Beauty sent you!

You can find a rotating list of my favorite sites in the far right sidebar under Links Bionic Loves. It refreshes with a few new sites every time you visit! If you’d like to view the entire list of my favorite sites, simply visit the Bionic Beauty Blogroll page.

I’m a day late in posting this… my weekend got a little busy. The Bionic-sister was in town and we did some gardening, movie watching and nail painting. I, of course, sent her home with a ton of shampoos, lotions, and other “essentials”.

I was also at the Washington Nationals Spring Training game this week! Lots of fun in the sun… but I was covered head to toe in zinc sunblock. Gotta protect my paleness. What did you do over the weekend?

My favorite articles from this week:

Kelley from the Mineral Makeup Coach blog (and founder of PRIIA Cosmetics) wrote an amazing article: “Teens, Dairy Products and Acne- Is there a connection?“  While it says teens, the information contained in the article is handy for anyone who suffers from occasional or regular breakouts.

Sarah is a lucky duck. She has this store called Bath Junkie close to here where they let you mix your own fragrances for your bath products, make it your own color (everything can match your tile now! tee hee!) and then the store employees add the necessary ingredients for what you chose. So everything’s pretty, scented and super fresh. Darn it… I want one!

Jen from Mythbuster Beauty was featured on We Heart This. Congrats Jen! Be sure to read the interview with her… even I learned some new tips, and facts about Jen.

Decorative Diva did a super cool manicure and pedicure over the weekend. Love the colors! I’ll be trying something similar on my hands this week.

Very special sales worth noting…

• Loose Lips NY is holding a March Madness special (see, it’s a sports theme this weekend on Bionic Beauty!) use code marchmad20 for 20% all orders the month of March.
• $2 shipping at e.l.f. Cosmetics with coupon code SHIPTWO (on orders of $20 or more). Woo hoo!
• Eeek! My favorite mineral makeup line, Purely Cosmetics has their foundations on sale ($18 instead of the normal $22)! And… there’s a very cool flat-top synthetic Kabuki brush which is $20 ($5 off) and perfect for all of us moving to synthetic or taklon brushes. Ok, ladies, I’m off to stock up on my California Blonde foundation!

Did any articles catch your eye this week? Special quotes or songs or photos that inspired you? Share your loves in the comments!

It’s time for another Bionic Boondoggle! For those of you new to Bionic Beauty, the Boondoggle is posted on weekends and contains fun articles, quotes, photographs, videos, movies, internet tools, etc. Basically anything that helped me be a bit more beautiful this past week. And then, you can share your items in the comments section!

Bionic Beauty enjoys some chilly time at the beach.

Over the past week, some of the women in my life have inspired me to goosebumps. Accompanied occasionally with tears, smiles, and more goosebumps. This weekend’s Boondoggle features some of those amazing ladies.
So here’s to you. You have no idea how much you impact my life!

Mo, co-blogger at Mythbuster Beauty, and author of her own blog “Fried Green Madness”, wrote a most splendid article this week: Love Yourself. Really. It’s simply a must read.

My amazing sister shared the “Class of 99, Wear Sunscreen” video/song by Baz Luhrmann with me. It came via email, but even across the states that separate me & her, I knew we were thinking the same thoughts.
I encourage you to watch this video and listen to the lyrics. Really listen. Ignore the cell phone, TV and your pets for 7 short minutes. Then try to implement some of Baz’s statements in your life.

Nenette, over at LifeCandy, has rustled up the ponies and wagons and started back on the shampoo-bandwagon. Her hilarious post gave me some much needed laughs.

Over at Purely Cosmetic’s Shopaholic blog, Robyn has been busy conducting mad science experiments on Urban Decay’s Primer Potion and a new Mineral Eye Shadow sealant. In my opinion, it’s a must-read if you use (or are interested in) eye shadow primers.

And for something fun, be sure to VOTE in the Golden Compact Awards! These beauty, skin, hair, and makeup awards were started by a few beauty bloggers and voting is now open to the people. Pick your favorites! (And then let me know what (*you* think should have made the cut…)

And finally, I’m going to use this Boondoggle as a place to vent about something. I was watching the Today Show on Wednesday morning when their “beauty” segment came on. Hosted by some chick named Bobbi who writes for In-Style magazine. Anyhow, she was all a-gush over these new-fangled things called “lip stain markers” and said beauty bloggers were “buzzing over them”.
Huh… lady??? I’ve got some news for you… those markers have been around for yearsssssss.
Maybe she was trapped in a timewarp. Maybe it was too many martinis. I don’t know, but let’s at least consider things “new” if they were created this century. Sheesh.

So what inspired you this week? Feel free to link to your favorite photos, tools, articles of the week below!

Coming to you from my Grandmom’s house in sunny and warm Miami, Florida. We’re just down for a long weekend to visit my family and partake in some delightful Cuban food. I can’t wait to have some yucca and plantains tonight!

This week’s Boondoggle has some of my favorite links, a quote that seemed appropriate for all us gals, and my own list of happy things.

Be sure to enter the My Lip Stuff giveaway over at Mythbuster Beauty! Have you tried My Lip Stuff’s balms yet? If not, you’re in for a treat. Over 400 varieties (!!!) and you can read my review if you’d like.

The Cheap Chick employs her wonderous humor and attitude to give us a review of L’Oreal’s new Bare Naturale mascara.

Luxe Tips has a HOT drugstore body wash find for you. I’ve seen this body wash at some of my local grocery stores too, and have been longing to try it.

Kelly at Massage Therapy Careers came up with a list of 50 (yes, 50!) health and beauty products that you can make at home. Talk about a splendid way to save some bucks this holiday season!

Quote of the Week:
“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” ~Ashley Smith

Things that made me smile this week:
Seeing my Grandmom after being away for so long; watching one of the Doctor’s at Mayo react to my newly purple hair (Oh! Wow!) when he walked in the room; old style coffee percolators; finding a pair of designer jeans in my size at the local thrift store for $2 (and they still had the original tags on them!); modifying my Bionic Beauty T shirt into a one-of-a-kind style (see me modeling my new creation & my thrifty jeans find below); and listening to the all female string group, Bond, while driving (best driving music, ever).

So ladies, what made you happy this week? Did you have a grand adventure, live by a certain mantra, find any articles that you loved?
Share your links, thoughts, and happiness!

Welcome to the FIRST EVER “Bionic Boondoggle”!

Readers who have been with me for awhile might remember that I used to participate in large “link roundups” on some weekends. However, they never really sat right with me. And so, the Bionic Boondoggle was born… I’ll post these on the weekends and there will be a bit of news, maybe a photo or two, maybe a song- basically whatever made me go hmmm… through the week. These items are purely and 100% chosen by moi; no outside influence.

I’m going to start by sharing these tidbits of goodness twice a month and maybe increase it from there. Let me know your thoughts on this new feature since YOU, Bionic Beauty readers, are who this whole blog is for.

First off, a Bionic Beauty reader sent in this photo of her daugher’s Hunter and Sydney. Sydney is sporting the uber-fashionable pink Bionic Beauty T-shirt. Doesn’t she look powerful!

Enter to win a $100 holiday gift certificate from the brand new eyebrow cosmetics line: The Model Brow. Deadline is November 28th, 2008.

LooseLips NY is giving away a FREE Sugar Lips Scrub with all purchases over $40.

Mythbuster Beauty gives out the details on the upcoming Sephora Friends and Family discount. This one’s for all you shopper’s out there! (You know who you are…wink!)

Did you know OPI has lip colors? Yeah, the nail polish company. Huh, me neither. Girl Gloss gave me the heads up.

This photo (by nyki_m) is my favorite of the week. It made me think of all the blatent lies on cosmetics packaging these days and once I looked at it for awhile… I really started to think about the Powerful Beauty articles (on Friday). This little girl reading the beauty book and how our society can sway young girls and teens with the “perception” of what is beautiful.
Anyhow, it made me think, so I wanted to share it with you all.

My favorite quote this week:
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” ~Peace Pilgrim

Do you ladies have any fun finds from around the web this week? Anything strike your fancy?