There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.
There is something about sharing the discovery of a wonderful product that makes me so happy. I’m not sure what it is, but there are few things better than a good find! I haven’t reviewed anything in a while (let alone blogged!) so here are some good picks and one thing to stay away from!
As usual, most of this is coming from Sephora.
My birthday is on Monday so earlier this week I went to Sephora to redeem my free birthday gift. Last year I got a set of lipglosses that weren’t anything to write home about, so when I saw that this year they had Sephora Collection Beautiful Eyes Kit I was excited, but I wasn’t expecting too much. However I really like the mascara that comes in the kit! The full sized Sephora Brand Lash Plumper is $14, which is a steal in comparison to the Dior Iconic Mascara that I have been using. It definitely plumps your lashes, and even though it isn’t waterproof, there isn’t any smudging. However, I have been using a lash primer, so I am not sure about the mascara by itself.
When I went in to redeem my free gift I decided to look around. After purchasing the China Glaze Matte Magic Top Coat, I became obsessed with matte nail polishes. The only thing I don’t like about the Matte Magic is that it can be a little streaky depending on what color you put it over. I found a shelf of the Sephora by OPI matte nail polishes that were on sale for $5 each! They had a black and a pinkish purple color, so I got them both. I have been wearing the Domestic Goddess all week and it has barely chipped, which is saying a lot since when I am at work I am either typing or putting on latex gloves to draw blood. I love this color and I love the matte, as well!
Next up is not a rave review, but it does have a happy ending. I went into Sephora wanting a concealer. Late nights studying have wreaked havoc on my under eye circles. I happened to speak with a Benefit makeup artist who was just there for the day and she recommended the Benefit Erase Paste. When she put it on me, it looked amazing, but when I got home I couldn’t recreate it, of course. It was kind of goopy, a bit too yellow, and it made some lines visible that otherwise wouldn’t normally be so obvious. Sephora is great in that if you try a product and don’t like it, you can return it or exchange it. So I brought it back and this time I spoke with a Sephora beauty advisor. She asked me what I didn’t like about the first product and then we tried out a couple others. I ended up going home with the Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer. The best part was that when I went home and tried it myself the next day, it looked just as good! It is a bit pricey at $32 but it’ll last me forever. Plus, it comes in a lipstick type tube, so application is easy. It’s better than sticking my finger into a pot of concealer and getting under my nails!
The last thing I want to talk about is a hair product. Erika and Tyger gave me a free bottle of Paul Mitchell’s Hot Off The Press. It is a heat protectant with hold. Meaning it will protect your hair from your curling iron or flat iron, and it will help hold your style and protect it from humidity. I don’t flat iron my hair as often, usually just my bangs, but what I like to do is use this as a light weight hairspray once my hair is almost air dried. I have natural waves but there are still some pieces that like to stay straighter than I’d like them. The spray adds volume, hold and just the perfect amount of texture to my hair. I have very fine hair and this stuff doesn’t weigh it down at all. An added note, don’t go buying this at Target! A quote from Erika. “please do not buy professional salon products from supermarkets. it’s called Diversion and it’s a big NO-NO in the beauty industry! if it isn’t purchased from a salon, we can’t guarantee the quality. it could be expired. it could be water and piss. and it lowers the value of a professional product.”
So here is a picture with my makeup done, I’ve used the concealer, heat protectant spray and the mascara.
Well, I think that is about it for tonight. I’ll probably do a bit more homework for my Human Growth and Development class. It’s online so I want to get ahead while I can. Oh, I signed up for a tumblr. I don’t know how much I will post on it, I prefer facebook, but Erika and Candice are more about tumblr. We’ll see how it goes!
We are made to persist. That’s how we find out who we are.
Today was BEAUTIFUL. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better day. I really love Florida. It’s funny to think that there are people who grew up here in Jacksonville that are DYING to get away from it, the way I was with Fairfield.
It has been a long week. Nothing exciting, really. I thought I was pregnant, but I’m not. If you don’t feel like reading about trying to conceive, don’t read the next paragraph.
I’ve been monitoring my cycle since January, which was when I stopped my birth control. From January until March we decided simply that we weren’t going to prevent a pregnancy. In March I bought some ovulation test strips and that is when we decided that we were trying to get pregnant. I assumed my cycle was 28 days long, because that is the norm. But I eventually discovered that I am more of a 32 cycle day person. The ovulation tests never showed a positive LH surge. (When you ovulate you have a surge of luteinizing hormone) So I wasn’t sure if I just never ovulated or if the tests weren’t accurate. Regardless, we had sex regularly during the time I would most likely be ovulating. (approximately 14 days before I was supposed to start my period) So I was supposed to start LAST Saturday. Between then and yesterday I had taken about 7 pregnancy tests. All of them were negative, of course. But I still hadn’t started so I thought I might be knocked up. By Friday I had decided that if I didn’t start by Monday that I would call my gyno and schedule an appointment. He told me previously that if I missed my period to come in and they would do a test (hopefully blood) and then if it was positive they would refer me to an obstetrician because they don’t have one at the VA clinic. Well of course I woke up Saturday at 8 am with cramps. I hadn’t started so I took another test and of course it was negative and I started my period like 5 minutes later. I was pretty upset at first, and pretty much all of Saturday but I think I’m okay now. Tana asked what we were going to do, if I was going to continue to take the ovulation tests, had I thought about basal body temperature monitoring … and we’ve come to the conclusion that we’re going to focus on relaxing. Stress can really mess with your body, even if you don’t notice it. So we’re going to have sex regularly (Not just when I’m supposed to be ovulating because that can start to feel like a chore.) and just relax. I’ve marked a few dates on my calender. The day I should start my period 28 days from now (average cycle) 32 days from now (my previously regular cycle) and 39 days from now (how long this past cycle was) and then I’ve marked 14 days before those dates for possible ovulation days. Sperm can last for 3-5 days, but an egg has about a 24 hour life span. So I’ve marked the dates to keep track, but other than that it’s just regular nookie and relaxation. Maybe some yoga, too.
This weekend was very productive. Robby mowed the lawn. I’m going to pull some weeds tomorrow. I started and finished painting the front bathroom. I even decorated it. This was pretty difficult because I wanted to find towels and rugs that matched the paint. I SHOULD have picked out the towels and stuff FIRST and then had the paint matched to that, but what can I say? I’m difficult. Tana is hoping to come visit for a week later in May (hopefully around the time of Olivia’s birthday party!) so I think that really kicked my butt into gear to get the bathroom together. Here are some pictures of the completed bathroom and kitchen. Some before photos, too.
Bathroom BEFORE:
Kitchen BEFORE:
Kitchen AFTER:
(the cabinets on the right aren’t painted blue, it’s just a shadow)
I do feel the need to address our giant microwave. When we were in Georgia we did the majority of our shopping for home essentials. There was a microwave installed above the stove in our apartment then. When we moved to Florida we didn’t have one. However, Robby’s mom was remodeling her kitchen and offered us hers, but it was the over the range one. These are much larger than your normal countertop microwaves. But seeing as how microwaves are ridiculously expensive (Did you know microwaves are like $60!?) we graciously accepted. I looked into buying a new one when we moved this time, especially since we have less counter space, but I still can’t bring myself to spend the money when we have one that works just fine. Even if it is ridiculously huge. If you notice any great home appliance sales, let me know. Please.
Robby and I got our tax returns this week and I payed off both of my credit cards! The total balance between them was about $800, which isn’t a lot, but I couldn’t seem to pay them off, even though I was doubling up on the payments. I never used them, but the interest rates were kicking my ass. I am so happy to have that debt cleared. We’re building up our savings by having some of my paycheck going into a separate account so we never really miss the money. The only debts we have left are my car (Around $7,000) and Robby’s major credit card (around $4,000) once I get the rest of my bonus we’re going to pay off most of Robby’s card and then we’ll pretty much only have my car to pay off. By March of next year we hope to be completely debt free and to buy a house!
We decided to use the rest of our returns frivolously. Robby needed some shirts for work and new shoes, I needed (read wanted) new make-up. So I have another make-up rave! Tana has gone on and on about DiorShow mascara and how it makes her eyelashes look amazing. I was in the market for new mascara so I bought some. Or so I thought I did. They had the tester on display with boxes of the mascara on a shelf behind it. I grabbed one and didn’t take a second look. What I actually bought was the DiorShow Iconic mascara. When I got home and opened it I was a little upset because I bought the wrong one, but I used it and it is ah-mazing. Seriously, I’ll post pictures of my eyelashes. The reviews seem high and low, but personally, I have short, light eyelashes that stick straight out. This mascara separated, lengthened and curled my lashes. They looked fake! (In a good way!) I also bought the Anastasia Brow Powder Duo. I was a long time user of the Clinique brow powder, but they stopped making it. I have blonde eyebrows and I look like a freak without filling them it. I used the samples for a long time, so I knew I’d love it, but they ran out and I was forced to buy the brow powder. My favorite part is that they come with two shades, I use the lighter one for everyday use and the darker one if I am going out and want more dramatic eyes.
Ok here are some pictures. Don’t mind my bloodshot eyes, I had just washed my makeup off.
No makeup:
Eyebrows done, one eye with mascara:
(note: I only put mascara on my top lashes)
Both eyes done:
(don’t mind my left eyelashes, they can be a little wonky)
In pictures my eyebrows don’t look that crazy, but in person I swear they are invisible.
Maya is going to schedule her date to be induced on Monday, I think she is going to try for the following Monday, the 27th, so hopefully I can get it off and drive down there on Sunday. I really hope I can make it. I haven’t seen her in a long time, I can’t wait to see how big Hailee and Sadie have gotten!
Okay, it’s late. I think I might have some other things to blog about. Maybe I’ll do it later. I’m contemplating a Twitter account. No Candice, I couldn’t even make it past the user name part! Any ideas??
Have laughs:
And postsecret:
I feel that God, religion, faith… whatever you want to call it, is different for everyone. Just because I view God one way, doesn’t make it anymore right or wrong than anyone else’s God. It’s about having someone to trust that everything will be okay, and having someone to thank when everything IS okay.
To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did, I ought to know because I’ve done it a thousand times.
Day .75
I had my last cigarette this morning, around 11. I haven’t been an avid smoker recently. But I’ve found an excuse to buy a pack every now and then. This last packs excuse was New Years Eve. I’ve mostly been a social smoker, but I’ve turned to it because of stress as well. It’s not much of a habit, but it easily became part of my life. I could go all day without a cigarette, and then someone would mention smoking, and I’d want one. Because it wasn’t habitual or an addiction I was able to justify it for so long. I knew I could quit if I wanted to, but I didn’t really want to. But now I want babies. It is no longer only my life I would be damaging. So if I want to get pregnant, I need to be healthy. I need to quit. I can’t be selfish anymore. I hope that I can blog about quitting and it will help. Tana was smoking earlier while I was on the phone with her and I really wanted one, too. But I’m fine now. It’s just about 10 and I’m going to go to bed soon. We’re almost to day 2.
I’m a little frustrated, and it’s partly my fault. Robby and I aren’t financially responsible. But we want to start a family. So I am trying to get everything in line. I don’t know HOW MANY people told me, “You’ll never be financially ready for a child.” blah blah blah. So when I finally decide that I think we’re ready to try I hear, “Maybe you should wait a while until you get things in order.” Now, I’m not blaming anyone, it will be mine and Robby’s choice when we decide to get pregnant, not anyone else’s. But shit. If you can’t keep your opinions straight, keep them to yourself.
I bought the Make Up For Ever Mist&Fix that I mentioned previously and I LOVE it. I do NOT recommend using it everyday, however. I don’t know if it’s because I fell asleep with with a full face of makeup on New Years Eve, or if it’s because I used it for 3 days straight, but I have a couple pimples. It could just have been stress or the alcohol from New Years (since I rarely drink) but I’m a little broken out. I’ll only use it a couple times a week and see if that helps.
Since it’s Sunday.
I do, too.
laughs, all around.
The library is the temple of learning, and learning has liberated more people than all the wars in history.
I can’t help it, I love the smell of library books. Some of my older books kind of have that smell. I turned in A Wolf At The Table. I’ll check it out when I finish Possible Side Effects. I renewed Possible Side Effects and The Almost Moon. I WILL finish them. I’m really excited because the lady helped me set up an account and now I can renew my books online! Nope more late fees! Hey, whatever happened to like $.10 a day? I had to pay like $3! Possible Side Effects is going much more quickly, it’s just a bunch of short stories, so I can pick it up and put it down, and I never really miss anything. It helps that I know almost everything about the man. I am a self admitted memoiraholic. I would be one of those crazy people who if I ever met David Sedaris, I wouldn’t be over excited, because I feel like I know him. I would love to have coffee with him. Or better yet, watch a movie with him. I bet he’s a good movie talker. Especially during a really bad one.
“ Normally, Lisa’s the type who talks from one end of the picture to the other. A character will spread mayonnaise onto a chicken sandwich and she’ll lean over, whispering, ‘One time, I was doing that? And the knife fell into the toilet.’ Then she’ll settle back in her seat and I’ll spend the next ten minutes wondering why on earth someone would make a chicken sandwich in the bathroom.” -David Sedaris “Repeat After Me”
I received a gift certificate for Sephora for Christmas, and I spent almost an hour in there yesterday trying to make up my mind. Usually I enter the store with a purpose. A new product I’d sampled, or a regular one that I am out of. Attempting to shop in Sephora without an agenda is a dangerous thing. I was seriously stressed out.
I went in and the only thing I had in mind was the Fat Hair Lotion by ghd. I had a sample and I LOVE this stuff. It smells wonderful. I could shower at night and apply it to towel dried hair. When I woke up and flat ironed my hair I still had SO much volume. It wasn’t stiff, or sticky, like mousse. And a plus, it made my DEAD hair shiny! But of course, they were out of it. So I tried to be sensible. What could I use everyday that I didn’t already own in some other shape or form? (i.e. I own like 4 mascaras, do I REALLY need a new one? Want? Yes. Need? Not so much.)
After a thousand steps around the store, some nail biting and heart palpitations I decided on the Benetint Pocket Pal. I already own a small sample of the the Benetint and it lasted a VERY long time, but I was almost out. Plus, this came with a gloss, as well. I love how long the stain lasts, and it comes with a brush, so I don’t stain my fingers. (I used to own a MAC cheek and lip stain that I LOVED but it came in a tube, and it stained my fingers, boo.) I am very happy with my purchase, but I still have about $30 left on my gift card and I had no idea what to get, until now.
One of the other purchases I considered was a new foundation primer. I love the bareVitamins Prime Time, but I have oily skin and by lunchtime I have what I like to refer to as a GLAZE on my cheeks and T-zone. But I asked some of the employees at Sephora, and mostly they recommended the same product, or type of product. (I trust their opinions, if I worked at Sephora, I would try EVERYTHING. I’m sure they get some great freebie’s, too. They always want the employee to be able to endorse the product, right?) So after some very rigorous research, I’ve decided my final purchase will be the Make Up For Ever Mist&Fix. Colin used to swear by a similar product made by MAC, but I honestly can’t stand much from MAC other than their eyeshadows. Their lipstick is okay, too. (It’s drag queen makeup, go figure.) But I hope to be very pleased with this purchase. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I wrote an awful lot about makeup, and frankly I haven’t got much else to write about.
Work sucked today. Robby made chili (in our brand new chili pot!). I talked to Tana. I read a few chapters of Possible Side Effects.
Oh, you know that blog that some stewardess writes? About stupid people on airplanes? I’m considering doing the same about the lab.
DON’T name your kid some obscure, fictional name like RENTON and then give me a dirty look when I ask if SHE has had her blood drawn before. How the hell am I supposed to know it’s a boy?
DON’T write illegibly on the sign in sheet and then get offended when I mistake your sloppy Joyce for Jorge.
DON’T put your baby in the color blue before SHE even has hair and then get defensive when I call her a HIM.
DON’T lie to your kids and tell them it won’t hurt. It will, and they’ll resent you for it later.
When I tell you to keep the bandage on to prevent bruising, don’t be surprised that you have a bruise when you took off the bandage as you walked out the door.
Please brush your teeth.
YOU CAN DRINK WATER WHEN YOU ARE FASTING FOR A BLOOD DRAW. THIS IS NOT FUCKING SURGERY, I DON’T GIVE A DAMN IF YOU ASPIRATE ANYTHING.
I don’t care if your insurance information is the same, I still want to see your card AND your ID, kind of like when you use a credit card? You should be thanking me, not fucking questioning me.
You are going to wait longer because you didn’t make an appointment, that’s what appointments are for. This is no one’s fault but your own, quit bitching about the wait time, or I’ll use the big needle.
I may have only gone to school for 6 months for this, but that’s six months longer than you have. I’m not going to use a butterfly because you’re a big fucking baby. It’s not going to kill you. If there were a chance, you’d probably have to sign something.
Now, laugh.
oh. Lenny died. I don’t want to talk about it.
I’m thinking about getting a Guinea pig.
They’re like mini Capybara’s.
Is it too soon?
