I tried to keep it to "needs" over wants this year.... didn't quite happen... still came out to be over $300. :(
What I bought this year:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo (Brunette) - this is my 3rd refill. So natural and stays on well for a powder. I use the lighter of the two shades more often and use a little of the dark at the ends where I'm missing a few hair spots. :)
PROS: natural looking, stays on well, duo shades
CONS: a brow brush is needed to apply it (but I prefer applying my brows with a brow brush)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (Brunette) for my mom - it's a twisted brow pencil. I've tried this as well as the powder duo and I like the powder duo better. It looks more natural.
PROS: no sharpening needed (just twist), long lasting
CONS: gives a pencil not natural looking stroke.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil (Dark Brown) for my mom as well. - I have this one in my purse and wanted her to try this pencil version over the twisted one. The pencil version strokes on more natural and the color seems like it might fit my mom better.
PROS: easy to throw in your purse, stays on well, lots of color selection, have a brush wand on the other end to blend.
CONS: have to sharpen it (but not often)
Josie Maran Winter Dream Argan Skincare Collection - bought this for a friend's birthday gift. I normally buy gifts I would like myself. AND BOY DO I LIKE THIS ONE! I was tempted to buy myself a set because I use and love this line.
PROS: small travel size samples of all their best skin care products
CONS: don't care for their oil cleanser in the collection
Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 - love that it's natural high SPF and natural moisturizer. This was my second refills.
PROS: natural SPF and moisturizer, light-weight, non-greasy
CONS: pricey
Make Up Forever HD Press Powder (travel sample size) - to travel with and is less messy on-the-go.
PROS: not messy like their loose powder version, flawless finishing look
CONS: can sometimes make you looks powdery if you don't blend well.
SMASHBOX Step-by-Step Contour Kit - been wanting to try this for a while but it was sold out at multiple Sephora when I went looking for it several months back. I've been using a bronzer to contour my face but learned that a contour color should have a gray undertone like a shadow (which totally makes sense). I was happy to see it was available during my VIB shopping spree :) This kit has a contour color, bronzer, and highlighter. I don't care for the bronzer as much because I already have a favorite bronzer. But the contour is the perfect shade for contouring. I do see a difference between using a grey undertone color vs a bronzer to contour your face. Game changer! The highlighter is a matte white/bone-like color. The highlight color is nice but somehow it doesn't brighten/highlight the area as well as my NARS contouring kit duo. Even though I prefer the NARS highlighting powder in their contour duo, the SMASHBOX contouring color is much more like a shadow.
PROS: perfect shade on their contouring color (more grey undertone than the other brands I've seen). Comes with a bronzer and highlighter and brush.
CONS: The highlight color needs more pigment or something. Didn't do it for me.
Wanted to buy Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Lip Stain & Shine in Honeymoon Honey but they ran out. It was gorgeous on my friend! :)
To justify the spending, 3 of the items weren't even for me!!!! Guess I did pretty good :)
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
My First Backpack Camping Experience
"Camp??!!! Heck ya I camp! I go camping every year with my family and close friends." was my proud response when J asked if I've gone camping before. "I'm not talking about the kind of camping by the car, I mean REAL camping... carrying all your sh*t and hiking it in and camp"... umm, ok... well, then the answer is no,... but I slept outside in the tent and not in a cabin... I think that should count for something... hahaha... apparently not. :)
Shortly after that conversation, J got a permit for us to go camping at Stuart Lake in early August (for 3 days, 2 nights). I bought my first hiking backpack and lightweight sleeping bag for this trip. Sprayed all our clothe, our backpacks, and tent with permethrin (mosquito repellent). Bought natural deet-free repellents just to find out a couple days before our adventure that the bugs/mosquitoes are extremely bad where we're going during this time. I'm allergic to mosquito bites and all mine tends to swell up like a golf-ball. Have you seen the movie Hitch? My mosquito bites look like Will Smith's face! LOL! The moment I heard of this update, we went out and got "jungle juice" at REI (99% deet).... If this sh*t doesn't work, I'm OK to say I did the best I can.
The hike up was about 5 elevated miles. It wasn't so bad but I was ready to find a spot, sit, and take the heavy backpack off my back. We went with another couple and the two guys found the most beautiful spot I can imagine. It was a small spot out of the forest and slightly above the water. Either we got lucky or the camp location saved us (being slightly out of the woods), but we had little experience with mosquitoes.
Day 1, was basically hiking to our camp spot, relax, eat dinner and call it a night.
Next morning, we woke up to the sun rising over the water. It was breathtaking. There is definitely a feeling of humbleness when you wake up in nature and surrounded by the beauty and simple living. I sat on the rocks looking into the sun with a cup of coffee in my hand and leaning against my husband. I took a deep breath and remember feeling like this was the most perfect moment. And most of all, I felt extremely grateful.
Day 2, we decided to do a day hike to Horse Shoe Lake.... it was mostly all OFF TRAIL hiking (I mean, climbing over huge boulders, using branches to help pull us up, and stepping over plants and dead branches) all at a 45 decree incline the whole time. It was crazy but a lot of fun. We made it to the top with a beautiful view of our Stuart Lake and had lunch there. With Horse Shoe Lake not in sight, we decided to head back to camp.
We ended the day with dinner and playing Pictionary! It was so funny and a lot of fun!
Day 3, I had another wonderful, quiet, coffee morning on the rocks looking over the water as the sun rises. This day we took our time breaking down camp and hiked back down. Downhill was easy and felt super fast to me. I sorta wished it was a few more miles to be honest. Seeing that we were already at the parking lot, I felt a little disappointed. It was a great first-time backpack camping experience! I'm hooked!!! :)
There were some people that didn't think I was a backpack camping type of girl because I enjoy wearing makeup. I don't understand how wearing makeup makes you not a sporty or active girl but I've been told I look very girly-girl and feminine. I'm actually a lot stronger and tougher than I look.... SURPRISE!!!!... hahaha! I know when people think of camping and being in nature, they think you should go all-natural and wear no makeup.... UM, not me... I know a nice face won't save me from the mosquito bites, poison ivy, or bear attack... but I ENJOY makeup... here's the difference though.... I wear a tinted moisturizing sunscreen as my foundation and light natural looking makeup vs how I would look normally if I were to go out to a nice evening dinner.
Here was my skincare routine at camp:
- At night I used a makeup wipe to remove my makeup and build-up of sunscreen, then I wet a little clothe and use it to remove any lift over makeup and to feel more fresh.
- I use a light moisturizer (not a night cream because I try to minimize what I bring).
- In the morning I wet a clothe and wipe my face. The cold water is really refreshing.
- I put the same light moisturizer on in the morning,
- and then applied a heavy layer of sunscreen.
Here was my makeup routine at camp:
- I use a tinted moisturizer foundation I created myself and put it in a small sample container I got at The Body Shop. I love their sample containers! (get a sample of their products and re-use the container)
- Several drops of Maybelline Super Stay in Nude (love this foundation because it stays on well in humility and when you're active).
- A squeeze of primer
- A couple drops of sunscreen
Now the foundation is diluted and sheer enough to looks like a tinted moisturizer.
- I put some bronzer on to add some color
- Light pink blush
- Gotta do my brows
- And brought a gift-with-purchase eye shadow mini-case sample with multiple colors I got from Estee Lauder and used the natural gold and gray colors to create my look.
- I lined my eyes with a black eye liner pencil and smudge it to look more natural and less harsh.
- Applied SPF 15 chapstick, a natural nude rose lipstick, and for the rest of the day I simply applied gloss.
TA-DA!!!! DONE! :)
Shortly after that conversation, J got a permit for us to go camping at Stuart Lake in early August (for 3 days, 2 nights). I bought my first hiking backpack and lightweight sleeping bag for this trip. Sprayed all our clothe, our backpacks, and tent with permethrin (mosquito repellent). Bought natural deet-free repellents just to find out a couple days before our adventure that the bugs/mosquitoes are extremely bad where we're going during this time. I'm allergic to mosquito bites and all mine tends to swell up like a golf-ball. Have you seen the movie Hitch? My mosquito bites look like Will Smith's face! LOL! The moment I heard of this update, we went out and got "jungle juice" at REI (99% deet).... If this sh*t doesn't work, I'm OK to say I did the best I can.
The hike up was about 5 elevated miles. It wasn't so bad but I was ready to find a spot, sit, and take the heavy backpack off my back. We went with another couple and the two guys found the most beautiful spot I can imagine. It was a small spot out of the forest and slightly above the water. Either we got lucky or the camp location saved us (being slightly out of the woods), but we had little experience with mosquitoes.
Day 1, was basically hiking to our camp spot, relax, eat dinner and call it a night.
Next morning, we woke up to the sun rising over the water. It was breathtaking. There is definitely a feeling of humbleness when you wake up in nature and surrounded by the beauty and simple living. I sat on the rocks looking into the sun with a cup of coffee in my hand and leaning against my husband. I took a deep breath and remember feeling like this was the most perfect moment. And most of all, I felt extremely grateful.
Day 2, we decided to do a day hike to Horse Shoe Lake.... it was mostly all OFF TRAIL hiking (I mean, climbing over huge boulders, using branches to help pull us up, and stepping over plants and dead branches) all at a 45 decree incline the whole time. It was crazy but a lot of fun. We made it to the top with a beautiful view of our Stuart Lake and had lunch there. With Horse Shoe Lake not in sight, we decided to head back to camp.
We ended the day with dinner and playing Pictionary! It was so funny and a lot of fun!
Day 3, I had another wonderful, quiet, coffee morning on the rocks looking over the water as the sun rises. This day we took our time breaking down camp and hiked back down. Downhill was easy and felt super fast to me. I sorta wished it was a few more miles to be honest. Seeing that we were already at the parking lot, I felt a little disappointed. It was a great first-time backpack camping experience! I'm hooked!!! :)
There were some people that didn't think I was a backpack camping type of girl because I enjoy wearing makeup. I don't understand how wearing makeup makes you not a sporty or active girl but I've been told I look very girly-girl and feminine. I'm actually a lot stronger and tougher than I look.... SURPRISE!!!!... hahaha! I know when people think of camping and being in nature, they think you should go all-natural and wear no makeup.... UM, not me... I know a nice face won't save me from the mosquito bites, poison ivy, or bear attack... but I ENJOY makeup... here's the difference though.... I wear a tinted moisturizing sunscreen as my foundation and light natural looking makeup vs how I would look normally if I were to go out to a nice evening dinner.
Here was my skincare routine at camp:
- At night I used a makeup wipe to remove my makeup and build-up of sunscreen, then I wet a little clothe and use it to remove any lift over makeup and to feel more fresh.
- I use a light moisturizer (not a night cream because I try to minimize what I bring).
- In the morning I wet a clothe and wipe my face. The cold water is really refreshing.
- I put the same light moisturizer on in the morning,
- and then applied a heavy layer of sunscreen.
Here was my makeup routine at camp:
- I use a tinted moisturizer foundation I created myself and put it in a small sample container I got at The Body Shop. I love their sample containers! (get a sample of their products and re-use the container)
- Several drops of Maybelline Super Stay in Nude (love this foundation because it stays on well in humility and when you're active).
- A squeeze of primer
- A couple drops of sunscreen
Now the foundation is diluted and sheer enough to looks like a tinted moisturizer.
- I put some bronzer on to add some color
- Light pink blush
- Gotta do my brows
- And brought a gift-with-purchase eye shadow mini-case sample with multiple colors I got from Estee Lauder and used the natural gold and gray colors to create my look.
- I lined my eyes with a black eye liner pencil and smudge it to look more natural and less harsh.
- Applied SPF 15 chapstick, a natural nude rose lipstick, and for the rest of the day I simply applied gloss.
TA-DA!!!! DONE! :)
Thursday, January 16, 2014
House hunting
Just got married, now looking for our FOREVER home. This will be the home we plan to raise our kids in and grow old in. Being that it's our FOREVER home until our kids put us in a retirement home, :) we have to make sure it meets all our requirements or at least have the potential of a remodel to meet our requirements.
The sucky part is that all the good ones are selling FAST and we keep getting screwed. It can be very depressing especially when you have your heart set on one and can see your future in it and the seller accepts the other offer paying in CASH…. WHAT THE? CASH??!! Are you kidding me??!! I can’t beat that one!
Now back on the drawing board and feeling like nothing compares to the one I just lost. Lots of our friends and family tells us to not worry because there are plenty out there, blah, blah, blah…. I get it but it still hurts and SUCK-ass! My husband’s metaphor last night was “it’s like going through a breakup,…. You know there are others out there, but not what you want to hear at that moment.”
We did put in a backup offer for that house in case the other person’s drug deal doesn’t go through (crossing my fingers):)
Anyhow, I’m excited for that day to come when we find our perfect home. J thinks I should take a break from it a while since I get so invested and emotional when we don't end up getting it. Sorry, can't help it. That's the way I'm engineered. Passion can come with a price. But that's what my husband loves about me. :)
Wish us luck!... I think I'm in the wrong buisness... I need to be in the cash-only business too... the power of CASH. Damn you CASH!
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