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!
I don’t expect you to admit you were wrong, I just wanna know how you’ve been.
I have only been without computer for a week now, but I started school about a week after my last actual post. Which really wasn’t a good post, at all. It is 2:46 am in Florida right now and I am going to blog. I called in sick today, and I really was/am, and got some much needed rest. So of course, here I am, wide awake at this hour. Let me just start off by saying that since I have started taking English Composition, I have a lot of trouble writing. All of the grammar rules make me feel like I know nothing. Speaking of…
Two weeks ago I turned in my first essay. It was a personal narrative essay that we had to write about a life changing experience. I wrote about Maya giving birth to Jacob. I wrote about this event because it completely changed my view on birth. I am now borderline natural birth advocate. I got my essay back last week. The way this class works is we turn in two essays, each a week apart. Our professor notes any corrections or suggestions, but does not grade the essays. Then we have one week to revise one essay of our choice and turn that in for a grade. Each (graded) essay is worth like 200 points. I got my first essay back last week. Aside from a couple punctuation errors and comma splices and the misuse of the word ‘aide’ I had all positive feed back. Last week I turned in an exemplification essay. We had to write about a belief that we once held and how we were proved wrong or a myth that many other people believe. I wrote about a belief that I once held. I used to think that Harry Potter was for children. WELL tonight I found out that I probably didn’t pick the best topic and I pretty much did the essay wrong. Needless to say, I will be turning in my narrative essay for credit. HOWEVER- My professor, who is by far my favorite instructor, gave me a compliment. Now, I don’t think I am all that pretty, nor do I have very many talents. I don’t believe one would compliment me on my reading skills or my ability to watch 6 straight hours of TV, but I do love to write. When he told me that I write very well my face just about exploded with joy. I mean, he’s one of the deans of liberal arts, his opinion has to count, like, a lot, right? It’s like someone telling you that you are really funny. I find that to be a wonderful compliment, cause you can’t fake that shit. You can’t PRETEND to be funny. So my essay was a little screwed up, but the content was really good. Oh AND I am the only one in the class that got a perfect score on the subject verb agreement quiz last week. I’ll be happy to never have to deal with that again. I fully intend on taking literature next semester. I am over composition. If I didn’t think poetry was a waste of letters I might take a creative writing class, but I know they LOVE haiku’s and stuff in those classes. I am really proving my writing skills right now, aren’t I?
I would go into my other classes, but I’ll end up on a tangent. Who wants to read that? Nope, didn’t think so. Here is some visual stimulation.
I bought these shoes. I was very apprehensive because I didn’t want to look like a pirate. I wanted higher boots, but I have MCS (man-calf syndrome) and none of them would go more than half way up my leg. I’ve decided they are a bit more cowboy-ish than pirate-ish. I got them from DSW and haven’t seen them on the Steve Madden site. So I think you may only be able to get them there. They were $49.95. You can click on the image to go to the DSW website.
I went to Sephora in search of a new eyeliner. With fall almost here and winter not far behind I won’t have to worry (too much) about my liquid eyeliner melting off of my face. Not even the worlds best primer can completely withstand Florida’s humidity! I wanted a softer color, my coloring is too fair for black black. I was looking for something in grey or dark brown in the Sephora brand. 1) Sephora brand products are much more inexpensive (NOT cheap, they are of good quality) and 2) They have quite a wide variety as far as color goes. I ended up finding the Sephora Long Lasting Metallic Eyeliner in Dark Grey. It wasn’t all that metallic, so it doesn’t look like I used a gel pen or something to put on my makeup, and it is much softer than black. It was only $10. Also, the applicator is super user friendly.
I also found this little gem. Stila Made In Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe. It is a nice collection of foundations by Stila, ranging from illuminated tinted moisturizer to a natural finish oil free foundation. It includes a moisturizing primer and a “convertible color” compact. The convertible color is a pink cream that doubles as cheek and lip color. I use Bare Minerals almost everyday, but sometimes I like a little more coverage. I am intimidated by liquid foundation, though. I think this set is great because there is no real commitment. There are four foundations to choose from and each tiny tube offers quite a bit of use so you really have the opportunity to compare each one. I haven’t tried them all, but so far the illuminated tinted foundation is a little light, I like to wear it under my Bare Minerals if I want more coverage. The GOOD thing about it being so light is that I CAN wear it with my Bare Minerals, get more coverage, but not feel like my makeup is caked on. The oil free natural finish foundation seems to offer the most coverage, but I still feel the need to put a loose powder on afterward. It, too, felt very light on my skin, but did take care of the redness and dark circles. I would recommend an additional concealer for any blemishes. The primer is kind of so-so. It didn’t melt off of my face like the Bare Minerals Prime Time or the Smashox Photo Op, but it didn’t seem to give a real stick like my Laura Geller Spackle. Still, I’ve only used it twice. Now the convertible color. I LOVE this stuff. Though, I bought the “Light” color kit, so I don’t know about the other packages and colors, but I do NOT like this on my lips. It is a pale pink, which looks weird on me. I know some people love that kind of pale Barbie-ish pink. And I am not knocking them, it just doesn’t look good on me. But I love it as a cream blush. Awesome stuff. Best part? Only $18. See? No commitment at all.
I also picked up some more DiorShow Iconic mascara. Steep at $27, but oh-so-worth-it. Some of the reviews say it is clumpy. I bought this for my sister-in-law’s birthday. A couple weeks after she saw it on me she wanted it. She said it was clumpy at first but it just took her a while to work with it. She loves it now.
One of my favorite recent purchases is the Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Soother. I actually bought two. They were about $6 at Target or Wal-Mart. My lips get REALLY chapped when the weather changes and most lip stuff just sits on top of the dry skin. This stuff TASTES great, has a nice shine without being super sticky, stays on your lips longer, has a SLIGHT cooling sensation (not like super minty or lip plumper tingle) AND *ta-da* it MOISTURIZES! Love it.
Oh, it is almost 4 am. Let’s wrap this up. New favorite purse. Mine is actually in peach, but this is the only color they show on the website. It was on sale for $40 at Urban Outfitters. It’s super soft, very roomy and there are some pockets inside for organizing. Any of the faux leather material from the Deux Lux line feels so nice and it really lasts.
I bought a new comforter set for our bedroom. I needed something a bit warmer (*for winter*), really comfy (*for cuddles*), durable (*for the dog*), and something that matched because I didn’t want to deal with replacing the curtains. I found this set at Home Goods. I’d been looking at it for several months but always talked myself out of it because it was like $80 and I can’t bring myself to spend that much on a BLANKET. But when I went in the other day it was on clearance. FOR $50! Also (this was a sign) they only had a twin and a full. I took a chance and bought the full. If they had a queen, I would have bought the queen, and it would have been too big. Our bed is really low to the ground so the full was PERFECT! I couldn’t find it online, but here is a picture. It’s from some brand called paul&leroy.
And last, but certainly not least. All American Eagle sunglasses are on sale for like $7. I go through sunglasses like toilet paper so I never spend more than $20 on a pair. I take really good care of them for a couple months, but then something tragic always happens and they end up scratched or broken. It’s a curse. I popped into American Eagle just to browse and I couldn’t believe that they were so inexpensive. The website has some listed at $10, but in the store they had more selections and they were ALL $6.95. Even the men’s. I bought two pairs. Couldn’t pass up such a good deal. In fact, online this pair is listed at $10, but I got them in the store for $7.
I linked all photos to their respective websites.
I would like to go to Africa. Jessica Goza has joined the peace corps and leave for Guinea in November/December. I firmly believe that if she could have visited me in Iraq she would have, so I would like to visit her in Africa. Because I can. However it will cost me about $2,000. So any and all donations are greatly appreciated. Haha, I am just kidding. But I really plan on going to Africa. I am very excited. What is the weather like in Guinea. Maybe I should be asking about the political and social climates, instead. Right?
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?
