Parenthood

Yep, as you can tell from the title of this post, my husband and I now belong to a new club.  On June 5th, we welcomed two little boys into the world and there started our initiation into the Parenthood Club.  I wish I had a special world to sum up the experience but it was the most magical, emotional, life changing, lump in your throat, heart pounding, out of body experience I've ever had x2, literally. I highly recommend creating another human and giving birth to it....just sayin'.

Surprisingly enough they let us take them home just 2 days later and we've been trying to survive ever since. They just turned a month old and they seriously change every day.  Already they have established that they are not morning people, that it is possible for a 9 day old baby to roll over on his own, that there is no such thing as being peed on too many times, and that it is possible to spend all day staring at a baby.

The past month has definitely been a blur.  We've had good days and bad days.  We've managed to get a few date nights in and we've definitely learned the importance of sleeping when the babies sleep. Trust me when I say that a nap after becoming a parent will feel like a lottery win!

Speaking of naps...I should be indulging in one as we speak so I'll leave this blog post here and be sure to give an update when I can on the little men in our life!

I come with good news

HI!  So I've been wanting to sit down for a few months now and blog but every time I open up my laptop and start typing I hate everything that comes out.  So instead of trying to come up with a topic that I think everyone would enjoy reading I figured I'd just talk about something that has taken over my life. As of last Friday I am now 25 weeks pregnant...that's right I am a legit maker of human beings, so crazy.  I wasn't planning on blogging at all about being pregnant but my husband suggested I should so that I can keep everyone up to date on how things are going, so here I am!  In case you don't already know I am so very special...why you may ask yourself...because I am growing not one baby but two.  And to solidify my Superwoman status I have encountered the ability to grow two tiny men.  That's proof enough for me that women do in fact rule the world...just sayin'.  So let me catch all of you up on how we've made it to 25 weeks. 

First Trimester (4-12 weeks):
This trimester was rough for me, as I'm sure it is for many women. To be honest it was a little of a blur for me.  I'm pretty sure I slept through most of it and when I wasn't sleeping I was doing my best to keep as much food down as I could, which inevitably was not a lot considering I lost 5 or 6 lbs. What I do remember most about this time was at 11 weeks I had my first regular OB appointment (I had been seeing my fertility specialist up until this point) and she did an ultrasound and there they were...flipping and kicking and looking very much like real babies instead of gummy bears!  This was probably the moment I realized that all the struggles we faced for the past 3 years of NOT getting pregnant had been because I was meant to have these two little people.  Pretty incredible.  If you ask my husband he will also probably refer this trimester as the New Boobs Era. Men.

Second Trimester (13-present week):
I started this one off with the flu.  In fact I have contracted a lot of sickness in this trimester.  I can blame this on working in a pharmacy where I see sick people day in and day out.  And no matter how much I sanitize myself or hold my breathe while slinging their meds at them, I am a magnet. Thank you sick people of America.  Aside from my weakened immune system a lot has come about in these past few weeks.  My bump is finally a baby bump and the boys have learned the art of a swift kick. A lot of people ask me if I've had any cravings and sadly none of the weird pregnancy kind.  It's mostly been fresh fruit and ice cream.  Lame, I know.  As for the babies, there personalities are already starting to show themselves.  .  As of recently our days have been filled with hospital tours, project nursery, and c-section videos...I don't encourage you to watch one if your on the fence about having kids.  Baby A or as we call him...the ladies man, is definitely the more active of the two.  Every ultrasound he poses and waves at the techs and he is never shy about showing off his goods.  Men.  Baby B is our shy boy.  He rarely shows his face and when he does he's usually sucking his thumb. We go in for our monthly check up this week so I'll keep everyone updated on the weeks to come. 

Here is the bump progress so far...

Top Left: The day I found out I was pregnant, Bottom Left: 13 weeks, Middle: 18 weeks, Right: 23 weeks.

Oh..HI. Remember Me?

6 months is a perfectly expectable time frame for posting a new blog....FAIL!  Well I may not be a outstanding blogger but I do have a new post to share with you guys!

I am a women who obsesses over things...well I think by nature most females are this way but I am not exception.  I've gathered up a few products that I've been loving for quite awhile now and would like to gush a little bit about them.

 

 

First on my list of loves is my Clarisonic Mia.  This is a cleansing brush that I have used for well over a year now.  Anytime I feel like my skin is blocked up and needs a deep clean  I use this (about 2x a week).  It's also made a huge difference in the texture of my skin since it  helps exfoliate too.

 

 

In conjunction to using the Clarisonic I've been using all natural coconut oil to remove my makeup at night.  That's right I use a cooking product to help clean my face!  I was having issue with getting all traces of makeup off with just a regular cleanser and then I read about how oils can actually help break down oils...weird.  I just take a nickel size amount, massage it into my face, use a cotton pad to remove it and then follow up with my regular face wash routine. 

 

Aside from washing my face I have also found two makeup products that have made it into my regular rotation.  First is a new foundation, Bare Minerals Liquid Foundation.  I've never been a huge fan of their powder form so I was hesitant about this.  But like usually, one day I was creeping on this girls skin that came into my work and asked her what she used and I was surprised that this is what she suggested.  Now I am in love....seriously amazing stuff!  The next product is something I got for Christmas (Thanks much Chels!)and I haven't gone many days without using it.  It's fancy name is Ambient Lighting Powder by Hourglass but real people just call it a highlighter.  If you don't already use a highlighter I highly recommend it!  I use this on the high points of my cheeks and a little down the center of my face and it immediately brightens everything up.

 

Now on to a couple of hair discoveries....I recently became a blond, not like a fully committed blond just like testing the waters type of situation.  I have to admit...I love it, maybe even a little more than being on the dark side.  But being inducted into the blond club has had a draw back.  I have definitely notice that I have to take a little better care of my hair now that it's bleached.  Enter...Joico K-Pak Color Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner.  I would buy this stuff for the way it smells alone but it's the real deal otherwise.  And last but not least is a dry shampoo.  I'm a firm believer in not washing your hair everyday. Note: I did not say I was a believer in not showering everyday...totally different!  I've tried a million dry shampoos and luckily I have found my one and only, Herbal Essence Naked Dry Shampoo.    Hair Tip:  Spray dry shampoo in your hair before you go to bed and wake up with some serious volume!

 

Well that's it....getting back in the blogging saddle again was easier than I thought.  I'm hoping to have some fun and interesting blogs and updates coming up in the future so talk to you soon!

 

 

 

Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure - Paulo Coelho "The Alchemist"



Beauty Splurge

The beauty market is a multi billion dollar industry.  I have contributed many hundreds, maybe even thousands (ugh...) of dollars over my 28 years to it and so have many others.  A little fact for your brain...drugstore brands like L'Oreal are also the same brand responsible for high end companies like Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, and Urban Decay to name a few.  So how do we know what products to shell out the big bucks for?  I've narrowed down my picks on some things that I think are worthy of a splurge.



1. Makeup Brushes:  A good quality makeup brush can really go the distance if you take care of them.  I make sure to clean mine with olive oil and antibacterial soap once a week to ensure their longevity.  Sigma Makeup Brushes are a good quality brand.

2. Foundation:  Now don't get me wrong...I think there are a few drugstore foundations that are amazing, I even use a few myself BUT after I purchased my first high end version it all made sense to me.  I have found through many foundation trial and errors (and many is an understatement) that the value for money is well worth the splurge.  Typically drugstore foundations usually last me 2 months tops, whereas high end formulations can stretch to 6 months.  My top two favorites are NARS Sheer Glow and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua.

3. Good Skin Care: My mom has always taught me to take good care of my skin.  I think it's important to have one product in your routine that is a splurge.  If not for the luxury feeling you get when you use it but also for the ingredients packed into it.  More and more beauty oils are making a name for themselves and I have been on this bandwagon myself for years now. My go to is Josie Maran Argan Oil (duh).  Another splurge item I use is an eye cream.  Although I think a lot of the age process is genetic but I cannot say enough about prevention, prevention, prevention!  This bad boy is currently in my lineup, Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Eye Cream. 

4. Signature Scent: This one is simple.  Find a perfume you love and wear it everywhere.  Every girl needs a signature scent.  To me CHANEL is H.B.I.C. (head b*tch in charge)  for feminine and classic scents and mine is Chanel Chance.

5. Concealer:  I'm still on the search to find a drugstore concealer that can replace my coveted MAC Studio Finish Concealer. I def. don't use this one under my eyes but this product is perfection when it comes to concealing any spots on the face.

Until next time....Happy Holidays!

Get Your Health On

Well...well...well...we meet again.  I'm not even going to start this blog with another excuse why it's been so long since my last post but I'm back!  Anyways...we've made it to fall!  Not my favorite season but it still remains the runner up.  I love the leaves changing colors, the ridiculous amount of pumpkin flavored things, feeling a little cozier at home, and definitely the fall fashion.  Now that we've put away the tank tops, bathing suits, and shorts, it's also the time of year when we start to let ourselves go a little bit.  That's right, I'm on to you...but don't worry I'm here to give some quick tips on how to maintain a healthy outlook.  These are the simple things I live and swear by:

• Eat breakfast!  Everyday and no I'm not just talking about a banana on your way to work.  Breakfast is the time when you need a pretty hefty amount of protein and calories.  Not only will it help keep you from having mid-morning cravings but it sets you up to start your day off with a ton of energy. My go to breakfast is rolled oats with almond milk, cinnamon, blueberries and peanut butter and a banana on the side.

• DO NOT skip meals.  I know a lot of people may think that this may help overall with losing weight and that is completely wrong.  Not only does this slow down your metabolism making it harder for you to lose pounds (if that's your goal) it also seriously alters your energy levels. Food is fuel so make sure your eating 3 good size portions a day or 5 smaller meals to keep your body in check.

• Green tea is your friend.  I could go on forever about the benefits of green tea, I love it!  A few of it's super powers include antioxidant, brain booster, helps burn fat, and strengthens immunity.  I try to incorporate at least 1 cup if not more everyday.

• Fast food is not your friend.  It is poison, really it is.

• Treat exercise like having to brush your teeth.  I know that's a weird statement but what I mean is it should be something you don't have to consciously think about doing, it just comes automatic to you.  That doesn't mean that you have to obsessively be on the treadmill or lifting weights every single day. On the days that you aren't doing those take the dog for a walk, go shopping, hike a trail, swim, just BE ACTIVE!

• Don't over think it.  Nothing sucks more than having to plan out a diet.  Just thinking about all the things you can't have makes you want them that much more, so just don't do it. Everyone has enough common sense to figure out that more fruits and veggies and less fried food is good. The more you start to incorporate the goods things the easier it becomes to maintain them.

Having a healthy lifestyle can do wonders with our outer appearance. For me it's just as important as to what it does for the inside as well.  I want to live as long as possible, like vampire life span, but obviously that isn't necessarily in the cards for just a mere human like myself,  so eating healthy and exercising is my way of contributing to longevity.  Hope this post was more helpful than annoying!

Real women have cellulite

This post is strictly directed towards women. Men are welcome to read, but you will not relate, sympathize, or even understand half of what I'm about to talk about (that should be the slogan for all woman/man relationships, lol).

 So..this is all about WOMANHOOD. There's all kinds of formal and informal ways to indicate that you've reached womanhood. I remember being younger and desperately longing for a period and boobs like that was going to magically give me the body of a Victoria's Secret model (teenagers have a delusional way of thinking, don't they?). Little did I know that there are all sorts of weird and uncomfortable changes that I would have to look forward to for years to come.

 I have to say that I haven't hit any major bumps in the road thus far but there is one change that's been creeping up on me in the past few years. It's called CELLULITE and it is nobodies friend! I always assumed that because I eat pretty clean, I drink tons of water and workout regularly that I wouldn't have to worry too much about it. WRONG, here's a fact...healthy bitches get it too! No matter what size you are, a crazy 85% of woman get cellulite at some point. but WHHHYYYY??

 The biggest contributor, GENES. Yo mama got the cellulite then you got it too! Another big one is our hormones. Yep, women can't escape those things either. TRUTH is it's really hard to avoid cellulite all together and even worse... nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can get rid of it for good! All those lotions, potions, and creams only minimize the appearance temporarily, so don't buy into the hype. However I have discovered a couple of ways to help the skin appear smoother:

 Building muscle in the areas you have it, for most woman, including myself this is the back of the legs and butt area. Because your building muscle, your creating a more toned look to those areas, which in return helps reduce cellulite effect.

 Another is exfoliating and massaging the area on a regular basis. By exfoliating your helping to increase lymphatic drainage. An ingredient you want to look for in a body exfoliant is caffeine. It's helps support blood flow allowing for a smoother looking appearance to the skin.

The third tip is  WATER, WATER, WATER. Drink a lot of it. All the time. Period. Water helps flush out toxins in the body that can contribute to cellulite.

And the last helpful tip of mine...EMBRACE IT.  Welcome to Womanhood!

Get Your Matcha On!

Meet my new OBSESSION....

Teavana Matcha Tea

Yep, it was all over the second I tried this stuff!  So what is it?  It's called Matcha and it's a green tea.  Sounds really basic huh?  Well, it's not just any green tea, it's pretty amazing for your insides and just may give you super powers (ok, not really).  Let me give you the run down on this traditional Japanese ceremony tea and why I love this stuff.

• It's lime green, seriously LIME GREEN!
• It packs some serious antioxidant power.  Nearly 10x more than regular tea!
• Helps boost metabolism and lower cholesterol
• Doesn't leave you with that jittery feeling that coffee sometimes can cause.
• One of the highest grade teas on the market, umm...FANCY!
• It's just soooo damn good!

Here's how I drink it.

1. Put 1 teaspoon of Matcha powder and 1 teaspoon of sweetener into your fav. coffee mug.
2. Use a small whisk to mix the two together
3. Whisk 1/4 cup of hot water with Match mix until it's a little foamy on top and well blended
4. Heat up 3/4 cup of almond milk and then add to your Matcha.
5. One final whisk to mix everything together and your ready to enjoy!

And YES it's suppose to look like that...don't be scuuured!

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Have a little faith in me

Hi Everyone!  Well...it's the day before my birthday and like every birthday I've had past the age of 25 I always do a little life reflecting of how each year is different from the one before.  I turn 28 tomorrow, officially in my late 20's, and I have to say that 27 has been one of my most challenging years.  A lot has changed and a lot has stayed the same.  This past year I have had many thoughts about religion....yep go ahead and click out of this blog if free speech offends you or just bores you.  I've never been much for religion, the idea of it confuses me and most of it sounds a little ridiculous.  I don't personally pray, in fact I don't think I have since I was like 6, because it makes me quite uncomfortable most of the time.  With that being said, my husband is religious, not like crazy person religious, but he does have faith and I respect him for it.  Awhile ago I asked him if it bothered him that I didn't "believe" the way he does and his response was the most heartbreaking and romantic thing I've probably ever heard from him.  He told me that he hoped someday I would be open to it because he wanted to be assured that when we were both no longer alive that we would be together in the same place.  I was speechless, I had never really looked at it that way.

Most of you reading this already know that we have been trying to have a baby for well over a year now and it's just not happening.   I feel like a lot of times people have kids because that's just the next step. So I made a decision a long time ago that if I ever was going to be a mother that I would make sure I truly wanted to be.  So of course the last 15 months has felt like one big test.  A test of my marriage, my strength, my patience and even my so called faith.  Which is where religion comes in to play.  For the first time in my life I get it.  Having faith in a  higher being and being able to "talk" to them comforts people, it makes them hopeful, it reassures them, as my husband said.  I've realized that life is difficult because it was meant to be.  If it were easy people would take things for granted and have nothing to look forward to.  Maybe our life plan is much bigger than falling in love with the right person and having your shit together. Believing in that makes me a little more hopeful for our future.

 I challenge everyone reading this to end their day by saying one positive thing that happened that day.  My advice is to wear your difficult times proudly because in the end they have a way of making you a better person. And if your going through a tough road, read the Alchemist...that shit will change your life, lol.

Until next time..."It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting." Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

A challenge of the FACE!

It's FRIDAY everyone!!  The weather's been looking up here in Ohio and I am on a small break from classes...summer is around the corner and some much needed relaxation and QT with my hubby is on the horizon!  Because I have an amazing husband that takes care of us through and through, he has had a second job for quite some time now to save some extra cash for...well...life.  So long story short, I feel like we see each other for a couple hours at a time in which most of those hours are either spent sorting out building our first house and not going broke in the process, trying to create a human being, running circles around our high maintenance dog, maintaining our sanity and keeping the rest of our shit together and whatever time is left...sleeping.  So it will be nice to get my husband back for awhile or at least until he decides to throw something else on his plate.

Now that I have rambled on...I will get to today's post!  My skin has been in a meltdown for quite some time now.  Nothing I seem to do to is helping and like the true woman I am....I bitch about it!  While in bitching mode one day my clever husband says to me, "have you ever thought that it's because you use way too many products on your face...why don't you just try using less." I will admit that my day and night skincare routine somewhat resembles a spa treatment with a ridiculous amount of products but isn't that how all woman attempt to stay young and beautiful??  So like the makeup/skincare geek that I am, I went online and started researching the ingredients that were in the products I use and I found nothing positive.  Come to find out that almost every single thing I use has some sort of pore clogging or skin irritating ingredient in it.  So I've decided to entertain the idea of a minimalist face routine for the next week and a half to see if I have truly been sabotaging my own face.  I will update with before and after pictures when the verdict is in. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other" -Audrey Hepburn

Spring Trending: LIPS

Well it's starting to actually reflect Spring time here in Ohio, for now, but I'll take whatever I can get!  Keeping up with my spring makeup trends, I'm talking all about lips in this post.  I'm a nut for bright lips and of course I was excited to see that they are spring worthy.  It's not just any old bright colors that are in full effect but neon, electric, in your face colors I have been seeing a lot of.  So like any good makeup junkie I set out to hunt down for some lipsticks to rock myself.  Here are my top two finds...

The first I picked up is a L'Oreal Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Coral Tattoo.  It's is an orange/coral color and it's a little more subtle of the two BUT it wasn't necessarily the color that got me about this one.  The formula is much different from anything I've ever used and it's kind of genius!     It's a wet stain, so the more you layer it, the brighter the color pay off is. I was most surprised at the lasting power of this thing and definitely a perfect find!

The next is a Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Fuchsia Forever.  I just have to say that when I first saw this color I was scared.   I thought it was a gorgeous color but did not think it was something I was going to be able to pull off.  If I've learned anything from my many makeup trial and errors it's that the only way of knowing if you are going to like something is to try it on, soooo....I got it!  I stepped out of my comfort zone and it was worth it, I am in love.

Until next post..."Happy girls are the prettiest." -Audrey Hepburn

Spring Trending - Brows

Like the beginning of all seasons I have been looking and searching through makeup trends that are expected to be on many faces for the next few months.  Makeup trends are usually hit or miss with me, in the past I have found a lot of them just don't translate in "real" life very well and some are just way over the top.  With that being said this year I am definitely going to be eating my words!  For the next few weeks I have decided to post the Spring makeup trends I personally love and will be experimenting with.

First up is eyebrows....truth, I am a freak about eyebrows.  It's probably the first thing I look at on other women and I am obsessed with my own.  Yes it's a bit weird but eyebrows can make a huge difference in your facial features as well as the makeup you are wearing.  A big spring trend this season is something that can only be given credit to Miss Audrey Hepburn herself and that's thick-full on brows.  Don't worry if you weren't born with Princess Jasmine-esque brows, these are reasonably easy to pull off with the right products.

These are the products I use.

Maybelline Clear Mascara, NYX brow powder, and Anatasia Brow Wiz

First I line the outer edges of my brows with a wax brow pencil, going a little thicker than my natural brows. This just helps as a guide to where you'll need to fill in.  Use light small strokes as if you were mimicking the look of actual eyebrow hairs.  Next I use powder and an angled eyeliner brush and fill in any sparse areas inside of the area that is outlined.  An eye shadow that is similar in color to your brows will work just as well for this step too.  The last step is to run clear mascara (YES mascara) or a color eye brow gel over the hairs, making sure to brush upwards.  This gives brows texture so they look less drawn on and more like your own brows.

So they are a little high maintenance BUT they are fun if your looking to change up your look for the day!

Face of the Day #1

This is how I put on my face.

I was getting ready for an interview and decided to turn on the camera and record it.  These are my favorite type of videos to watch on YouTube....I am obsessed!  Watch it to see a neutral but put together look or just to make fun of my putting on makeup faces!

Red lips in the daytime

Hi everyone!  Since I've recently cut my hair short I've realized that I can get away with  playing up my makeup a little more in the daytime.  I've really been experimenting with bright lips but I have to say red lips in particular have been my go to color.  I am definitely guilty of feeling like maybe wearing a red lip in the middle of the afternoon might seem a little too much!  BUT I've discovered it can be pulled off and it can look amazing on EVERYONE!  Here are some tips and tricks that I think are worth knowing.

1.  Skin should look like your skin.  By this I mean very little foundation needs to be used.  I usually go for a tinted moisturizer or a very light layer of foundation.

2.  Minimal eye makeup looks more relaxed and casual.   A light cream color or skin toned eye shadow, maybe with a little shimmer, all over the lid and some black mascara does the trick.

3.  ALWAYS line your lips!  This goes for any bright color lipstick and red lips are no exception.  Apply a lip liner all over your lips will help the lipsticks staying power as well.

4.  Layer, Layer, Layer, and more Layering.  This is so key if you want your red lips to last for a long time.  Apply a thin coat of your red lip of choice and use a lip brush to spread and cover all over your lips.  Once you've done that blot your lips with a tissue.  Repeat application and blotting a few times until you get the color intensity you want.

5.  Confidence is key.  If you walk out of the house and feel awkward, you will no doubt look awkward!  I think you'd be surprised at the positive reactions you will get from your bold red lips.  So just channel your inner Gwen Stefani and have fun with it!

Warning:  Pictures you are about to see contain my no makeup face, haha.

BEFORE

AFTER

Thank goodness for makeup!  Happy Monday!

Spicy Tofu Surprise

Happy February everyone!  To start February off I thought I'd post a recipe since it's been awhile.  So one day it was dinner time and I was hungry...(haha) there wasn't much in the fridge or pantry so I had to get creative.  I chopped, mixed, sprinkled, and sauteed to my inner chef's desire and came up with something I will call Spicy Tofu Surprise!  I took my first bite, gave myself a pat on the back and shoveled the rest in my mouth promptly!  To make sure I wasn't imagining the goodness of my dish, I made it again another night for my husband and he confirmed that it was worthy of a blog post.  SO here it is!

What you'll need (makes about 2 to 3 servings):

-1/2 a medium onion, chopped
-1/2 cup brown rice, cooked as instructed on box
-1 1/2 cups frozen carrots, thawed out
-3 slices of tofu (extra firm), about half inch each, then cubbed
-1 tbsp olive oil
-1 oregano (I used dried but I suggest using fresh if you have it on hand)
-1/2 tsp parsley (again fresh would be better)
-1/2 tsp cumin
-2 pinches of garlic powder
-2 pinches of cayenne pepper (more or less if you like)
- salt
-pepper
-3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
-Red or White wine

(Sauteed mushrooms would also be good added into this as well)

Step 1:  Pour yourself a glass of wine and take a sip, cooking is much more fun this way!

Step 2: Pour olive oil in pan and turn stove to medium-high heat.

Step 3:  Add your onions and saute for about 2 minutes

Step 4:  Add tofu and saute for another 2 minutes

Step 5:  Add carrots, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, cayenne, and cumin.  Stir and saute for another 2 minutes.

Step 6:  Add cooked rice and spaghetti sauce and stir to mix everything together.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Step 7:  Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.

This is what your end product will look like, a little like mush, but GOOD mush!  Enjoy!

Lip Product Love

Hi Everyone!  So my only two New Years Resolution this year was to be less stressed and be a better blogger and I'm already failing miserably at both!  To be quite honest I just haven't been very inspired by much as of late.  I've gone on a no makeup buy until I use up some of my old products.  My cooking has been very unadventurous.  Hubby and I haven't gotten much QT (quality time) together recently and another semester of school has arrived! UGH!  I also blame my slump on the cold-ish weather, it really does make me unmotivated.  BUT enough with the whining...I was going through some of my stuff trying to get some ideas of a post and came across some oldie but goodie lip products.  Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains.

(L-R) 001 Honey, 025 Sweetheart, 040 Rendezvous, 030 Smitten

I picked one of these up probably six months or so ago and immediately went back to get more.  I'm a big fan of a bright lip but sometimes I feel like full on lipstick during the day can be a little too much which is why these are so perfect.  There marketed as a balm which I agree with as they are very moisturizing and a much lighter consistency than lipstick.  Another good thing about these is that they stain your lips so the color lasts  much longer without having to retouch every hour. 

There are 12 shades total,  ranging from light to dark colors.  As you can see they are fairly sheer but with a good color payoff.  I definitely recommend these if your curious about wearing a bright lip but are hesitant to make the leap.  As soon as my no makeup buy is other I will be purchasing more of these myself!

The A-Team

Makeup junkies get excited because this one is all about what I think is the MOST important part of any makeup routine, foundation!  I am always on the lookout for the perfect base and I have tried A LOT!  Of course I wish I was born with pore less skin with no discoloration and had no idea what a post pimple mark looked like but that's just not fair...or so that's what I tell myself.  Longevity is my number one requirement when it comes to foundation.  I'm not a touch up girl, if I put it on it better stay on.  I also don't want to feel like I'm wearing a mask, foundation mask look is scary ladies!  Through my quest I have found some stand out foundations that have stuck with me.

Here they are!

(Left to Right) Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation ($13.99),  Clinique Even Better Foundation SPF 15 ($27),  Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup ($35),  NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($42), Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua ($45)

Revlon Colorstay Whipped is the foundation I use most on a daily basis.  The texture of this really freaked me out when I first got it because it's fairly thick but I learned that a little goes a long way.  I would say that this is medium coverage and the lasting power is amazing.  The other interesting thing about this foundation is when you first put it on it's not that impressive but I notice that after about an hour of wear it started to really melt into my skin and make my skin look smooth and pore less.  I would say the finish of this is a semi-matte but still looks very natural.  The few cons I have for this is the chunky glass bottle it comes in, it's just not practical.   The other is the color selection, I find that Revlon foundations just don't cater to yellow undertones all that well.

Clinique Even Better Foundation is the newest addition to my collection.  I picked this up after seeing it on someone else who's skin looked so gorgeous and glowing, I had to have it of course!  I love the finish of this foundation the most.  It's just slightly dewy without making me look oily.  I find a little of this goes a long way as well and it does really well at cover any spots or redness.  If your skin is a little on the drier side and looking dull I think this foundation would work best for you.  The only con I have on this one is that it's too dark for me to where right now!

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid  is my go to foundation for the summer.  This foundation is so light weight and when it's hot outside it's perfect.  Nothing worse than feeling like a pound of makeup is sliding off your face in the summer heat!  Even though it's light weight the coverage still manages to be pretty decent.  This foundation blends really well into the skin, giving a your skin but better finish.  I would say this works best for someone with pretty good skin already that's just looking to even their skintone.  Con for this one is coverage, I wish it had just a tiny bit more.

NARS Sheer Glow is always the foundation I reach for on a night out or special occasion.  NARS brand of makeup is hands down my favorite and this foundation is no exception to that.  It's glowing, with the right amount of coverage, and manages to blur out imperfections.  When I want a really perfected base this never lets me down.  I rarely have to spot conceal on blemishes if I wear this, which is a big plus for me too.  They also have a Sheer Matte version of this if you are on the oily side or just like a matte finish.  The con I have with this is that sometimes I feel like it can be too heavy for the daytime.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua....hello CHANEL!  Almost every beauty blogger and makeup guru as raved about this foundation and rightfully so.  I actually don't wear this foundation too often but I am in love.  This is very similar to the Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid because they are both extremely light weight on the skin.  I don't even know how to describe the finish it gives...  It just gives your skin this really flawless but natural look.  I was blown away by the effect it gave.  Unfortunately the cons I have for this foundation are what keeps me from wearing it more often.  The first is the smell...all Chanel foundations have this floral like scent, it's not unpleasant but I personally just hate when foundations have a fragrance, I don't get it. Because my skin does not respond well to fragranced products I breakout if I use this too often.  BIG BUMMER!

A couple weeks of life in pictures

Pic 1:  I buckled down and finally cleaned out and organized my closet.  There is no telling how long it will stay this way.  Pic 2:  Finals week, so glad it's over.  Pic 3:  I've been helping my husband out with candied pecans he is selling.  I would buy these just for the way they make your house smell. YUM.   Pic 4:  Zoya Nail Polish in FeiFei, LOVE this!  Pic 5:  Our Christmas Tree was looking a little sad this year, thank goodness for cell phone picture apps!  Pic 6:  I discovered soy lattes, where have you been all my life?!  Pic 7:  I will NEVER be without these shoes, I have 2 pairs of the same ones and they were only $15!  Pic 8:  It's rare to find Penny Lane not running around looking for trouble, let alone napping in the middle of the day BUT lookey lookey here! haha.  Pic 9:  Got a haircut, went short...again.

Candy Cane Nails

Since Christmas is just 26 days away why not post a Christmas inspired nail art.  Enjoy!

What you will need:

Nail Polish Remover, Cotton Balls or Swabs, Clear Coat Nail Polish, Light Pink or White Nail Polish, Red Nail Polish, Tape, and Scissors.

1st Step:  Coat your nails with a the clear coat polish, I find this helps a little with the lasting power of nail polish.

2nd Step:  After clear coat is dry take your red polish and paint all of your fingers EXCEPT your ring finger on each hand.  Use has many coats as you prefer.  Then take light pink or white polish and paint ring finger on each hand.  Let them dry COMPLETELY!

3rd Step:  Take a piece of tape and cut 3 small strips, don't stress if they are no all exactly alike..  Place these strips at a diagonal as evenly passed as you can across your ring finger.  Repeat this on the other side as well.  Make sure these are taped on securely so they don't slip or move.

 

4th Step:   Take your red polish and paint over your taped ring fingers, try to use very thin coats.  

 

5th Step:  Let them dry for a good 20 minutes and then slowly peel off each strip of tape.  Clear coat over your nails (if you like) and you should have a candy cane effect!

 

If you really have the time and patience this would look even more festive on all of your fingernails!  Or maybe with green and red for more Christmas effect! 

Quick Update

Life update...I'm not sure why I do updates because I've come to realize that I am a creature of habit and routine.  Not much changes = keeps me a happy girl.  So a few months back I posted a blog about me trying out a vegetarian diet, here's a run down of how it's been going.

There are a lot of positive things that vegetarianism has brought.  I have been much less bloated, less tired, have discovered some really good recipes, grocery bills have been a little bit cheaper, and I haven't contributed to killing innocent animals.  BUT there are also some downfalls to it as well.  The first I noticed was my skin, I have had more breakouts in the last 3 months than I have in a really long time.  Although I have felt much healthier, I have also noticed that even with 3 meals a day I never feel full which leads to the 3rd downfall.  I have put on 6 pounds in 3 months.  UGH.  So...I had a "girl" moment and it went a little like this in my head, " OH MY GOD, am I really going to sacrifice my figure to make a point, what is my butt going to look like if I keep this up another 3 months?...Amber don't be such a girl about it, it's just the exterior, Bambi doesn't care what your butt looks like, it's only 6 pounds anyways!"  (Yea I know you've had one of those moments too.)  So to make me and my internal animal rights activist happy I'm going to make a compromise.  I'm going to continue to stick to a mostly vegetarian diet but I'm not going to torture myself if I decide to have a turkey sandwich.

On to the next...my husband and I took a little trip to Gatlinburg, TN last weekend and met his sister who drove up from Alabama.  We had a really good time, lots of relaxing and catching up.  Every time my husband and I make a trip to Alabama or Tennessee to see family I love the mountains and the people and I always wonder if I could live in the country.  It's not until we get home that I realize that I prefer the noise over the quiet and maybe I even sort of like the fact that I'm not always going to run into the same people at the grocery store every week. Our weekend in Gatlinburg also made me realize that if I were stranded on a deserted island with only 2 people, my husband and sister in law would have to be my best choices.  There is never a shortage of laughing around both of them.

Well that's really about it since my last post... Hope everyone has a good week!

Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone!  I really do love Halloween.  This apparently wasn't always the case.  My mom says that when I was little I would get all dressed up in my costume to go trick or treating and then want to go back home after visiting just a few houses.  Too tired and probably too cold, I was a smart girl, lol.  While I've long passed the appropriate age for trick or treating, dressing up and creating a character is my favorite.  Last year for Halloween my husband and I had no real plans until the last minute so we searched through our closets and threw some face paint on.  This year we decided to go to this thing in Columbus called Halloween Highball with a group of friends, so I wanted to go all out.  I was a Mad Hatter and PJ was Beetlejuice. 

We saw so many amazing costumes while we were out!  So many ideas for next year!  Happy Halloween!