Tag: All Time Faves

I always get a little nervous when I have to pick favorites on anything, because there is so much I love and could put in that category. Some are a little easier to narrow down, but I always look for those loopholes where I can get away with naming multiple things. I can't help it! Have you ever been asked about your favorite song? I mean, how do you even answer that with just one?!

I have based these answers on what I have been using for over a year and always go back to using. I have affairs with other products, but these little guys own the most real estate in my heart. I was tagged by Christine to do this tag and though it's YouTube based, we've put a blogging touch on it. And if there is one thing I have realized, it's that I am made for monthly favorites. Less stress!

Blush: MAC's The Perfect Cheek blush. It was a repromote in the Marilyn collection. It hasn't been repromoted since, to the best of my knowledge, but MAC usually brings them back after a few years. I can't recommend this color enough. I hate showing LE products after the fact, but it's so good. And here's hoping MAC repromotes it again soon!

Bronzer: I don't wear bronzer that often but when I do, I usually reach for NARS Laguna. It works for my pale skin and I really feel there is a reason behind the cult product status. The shimmer is just the right amount.

Foundation: Well, I'm more of a BB Cream + concealer girl. The MUFE Full Cover and Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse are one of my favorite combinations. The Full Cover concealer is the best thing to ever happen to my face. HOLY FREAKIN' GRAIL product until the end of time. There may be other concealers in my life, but nothing could ever compare to this bad boy.

Brushes: Most of my favorite brushes are eye brushes, but that's probably because eyes are my favorite thing to do in my makeup routine. I'm also throwing my Beauty Blender in the mix. It's not a brush, it's better. I apply pretty much all of my base products with this. The eye brushes featured are MAC's 217, 224, and 239 and Sigma's E75 (mine is the old number system). I also love the Crown Brush C433 (not pictured) as a dupe for the 217.

Lipstick: Tough call, man. There's so many. I want to include so many others, but I'll be good. The YSL Rouge Volupte #1 is one of those easy lipsticks that I grab and run out the door and know that it will always look good. I don't need accompanying lip liner or gloss, it's just good to go.

Palette: Always the original Naked. If you're not new around this blog, you know that. I don't shut up about it. It's probably been in a hundred of my posts by now. There are so many looks that can be done and it's just one of those I can grab and whatever colors I choose will look good together.

Highlighter: It was another tough choice. I could have went with my Amber Diamond or High Beam but when it boils down to it, the Forever Marilyn is my jam on most days. It pairs perfectly with The Perfect Cheek and is just so easy to apply. I know I know, another limited edition product. Bad Wendy! Again, MAC often brings them back. This one won't work for everyone, but it's great for pale girls. I'd love to recommend Dior's Amber Diamond, but they've broken the hearts of many by discontinuing it. Sure there is a replacement, but it's just not the same. Sad!

Mascara: Lancome's Grandiose is amazzzzzzing. The wand, the formula, the bottle. So good. I also love Benefit's They're Real and CoverGirl's LashBlast. Anything that lengthens and volumizes is my friend.

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1. What is your all time favorite thing about Youtube? 
I love the variety of videos. I follow accounts on music, food, home decor, beauty, etc. I can always find something to watch! I get as much inspiration from YouTube as I do on Pinterest, actually.

2. Out of all your makeup products, what is your all time favorite one that you HAVE to have at all times? (You can only pick ONE item.)
Eyeliner. Specifically a taupe one like Urban Decay's Stray Dog or MUFE's 24L. My eyes feel naked without eyeliner.

3. What is your all time LEAST favorite thing about Youtube? 
Comments and ratings. Not all comments, just the ones that haven't learned that the back arrow or exit button exists for a reason. If you don't like something, why watch it? Why comment on it? Why waste your time trying to knock someone else down? People sure do get brave behind a screen.

4. Who is your all time favorite Youtuber? 
Oh gosh, I have so many I enjoy. I'm quite older than her, but I adore Bethany Mota. MakeupbyTiffanyD, LoeyLane, Alejandra.tv, and Clean My Space are definitely at the top of my list. If you're an organizing freak, those last two are for you. You're welcome.

5. What is your all time favorite makeup product to apply? 
Said it above, but definitely eyeshadow. Probably because my eyes are my favorite feature.

6. What is your all time LEAST favorite makeup product to apply? 
Liquid eyeliner. Not my friend in the slightest. Takes me ages. I'm much better with gel or pencil liners!

7. What is your all time favorite brand of makeup? 
Probably Urban Decay or MAC. I'm trying to think of my stash and I'd say the amount that I have of both are pretty equal and they very rarely let me down. I might give Urban Decay the slight edge, because I am all about their Naked line of products.

8. What is your all time LEAST favorite brand of makeup? 
Is there a such thing? Haha! Let me think...probably Hard Candy. Their stuff is hit or miss and mostly miss for me. I do like a few of their powdered cheek products, though.

9. What is the one, all time lesson you have learned from being on YouTube a blogger?
It takes a lot more work than those who don't do it think it does. I hate when people are like "oh, she's JUST a blogger". No, I'm not just a blogger. I'm a photographer, an editor, a writer, a marketer. Bloggers wear many different hats! With so many blogs these days, you have to stick out and it takes a great amount of work. So my number one lesson has been time management and building a routine that works for me. A schedule that usually includes responding to business emails, editing hundreds of photos of the same things while trying to pick out the very best ones, chatting and sharing among several social media sites and blogs, writing blog posts, and still trying to get dinner on the table on time. Wouldn't have it any other way!

10. Who are you gonna tag? 
Kerri
Rebecca
Meaghan
...and YOU, if you'd like to do it.

Link me to your answers, if you participate!

Tag: Winterlicious!

Once again, Christine tagged me to do this. I love winter/holiday tags! If you hate them, just overlook this post. :)

1) Favorite Winter Nail Polish? -I like darker colors during winter. I gravitate toward colors like OPI's Russian Navy and Lincoln Park After Dark!

2) Favorite Winter lip product? -I live in the north, so I have to keep it real. My most used lip item is definitely a good moisturizing lip balm!

3) Most worn Winter clothing piece? -Any cozy sweater, but especially this fair isle one from Old Navy. It's soooo soft!

4) Most worn Winter accessory? -I live in scarves all year, but I especially love getting to wear the thick knitted ones in the cold weather. If I'm out of the condo, you'll more than likely see me in one! This magenta infinity one is from Old Navy.

5) Favorite winter scent/candle? -I typically remain the same with winter as in fall. I still enjoy Bath & Body Works Leaves and any pumpkin or apple scent. But I also really enjoy any scent with peppermint! I only like peppermint in the winter. The candle shown is Slatkin & Co.'s Dark Chocolate Mint.

6) Favorite Winter beverage? -Hot chocolate, hot apple cider, or the Starbucks Eggnog Latte.

7) All time favorite Christmas/Holiday movie? -So many! For this post, I'll narrow it down to Elf, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Polar Express. Ahhh, love these movies so much! I really hate narrowing it down, because most Christmas movies are such perfection in my eyes. :)

8) Favorite Christmas/Holiday song? -Again, it's like with the movies. So hard to choose just one or two! I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas, Santa Baby, and Baby, It's Cold Outside rank highly for me. You can see more of the albums that I like in this post.

9) Favorite Holiday food/treat? -Pinwheel cookies!    

10) What is your favorite Christmas Decoration this year? -My husband and mother-in-law bought me this handmade polar bear decoration at a craft show this year. I love it!     11) What's at the top of your Christmas list? -It changes a lot. Haha! I definitely want the Urban Decay Vice palette. I'm lucky enough to have gotten my Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC already as an early gift!    

12) What are your plans for the holidays this year? -Christmas Eve here with my husband, watching holiday specials, opening our gifts, and possibly ordering in takeout. Christmas Day will be spent at my SIL/BIL's house for dinner and opening gifts from the family. 

I tag everyone! I'm too lazy to link this time. ;)

Tag: Holly Jolly Holiday

I was tagged by Christine to do this tag. So why not?! :)

^photo taken by me in 2009

1. Do you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until the last minute? -Normally pretty close to the last minute, but this year we started around late October. We just finished with everyone on Monday, though!

2. If you could be in any Christmas movie what would it be? - Ah, I love so many Christmas movies. I'd have to say Love Actually, even though I've never even seen it (despite owning it on DVD for years...note to self to finally watch it this year!). I just really love the idea of being in London at Christmas. Otherwise, I'd totally love being an elf in The Santa Clause movies!

3. Which do you like better: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? -Christmas Eve! In my family, we opened the majority of our gifts on Christmas Eve with the special "Santa gifts" being saved for Christmas morning. Christmas Eve was also the night of our family dinner, so everyone could do their own thing Christmas Day.

4. When does your family put up your Christmas tree and who decorates it? -Normally it is after my American Thanksgiving. This year saw us doing it at the beginning of November, but only because every weekend after was booked with plans. I'm not complaining because I enjoy having extra time with the decorations! Both my husband and I decorate the tree. I take care of the other decorations around the house.

5. White lights or colored lights? -Colored lights. I just love color! But honestly, any Christmas lights are pretty. I'm such a sucker for Christmas lights. If we were in a house instead of a condo, I'm not certain that I wouldn't be an honorary member of the Griswold family! ;)

6. Are you guilty of peeking at your presents or do you like the surprise? -I peek and I beg for hints. And I'm happy to say that over the years, I have become a master sleuth at determining what a good amount of gifts are. I hate surprises, but I do also love guessing what things are!

7. Would you rather live in a gingerbread house or in Santa's Workshop? -Santa's Workshop! I'd want to be the reindeer keeper. :D

8. Tell us your Christmas Eve traditions! -I mentioned my family traditions while growing up above. Here, my husband and I open our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve and then spend Christmas Day with his family for a dinner and to open gifts to each other. Now when I go home, I try to spend Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family and Christmas Day with my mom, stepdad, and little brother!

9. If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone who would it be? -All I need is my husband. ♥

10. What tops your tree? -Santa Claus this year. Last year was a snowman. I think I'll get a star or an angel for next year. I like to switch it up a bit! I keep them all and just rotate them. Sometimes we put up two trees, so I'll have two different types up.

11. Can you name the 12 days of Christmas? -The song? I know a few of the days, but I don't think I could do all twelve from memory. BUT I love Straight No Chaser's version...hilarious!

12. Have you ever gone Christmas caroling? -In elementary school with Woodmen of the World, we went to a nursing home and sang for the elderly. WOW have a lovely children's program that involves different activities through the year and a fun summer camp.  

13. Do you countdown to Christmas? If so, how many days are left? -Absolutely. My countdown starts wayyy early. One week!

14. What are some foods and treats you can count on having every holiday season? -In Canada, my MIL's homemade bread and cabbage rolls. In South Carolina, my aunt's banana pudding that she makes because she knows I love it.

15. How has Christmas kept its magic for you as you've grown older? -I have never lost the magic. Like I've said, I'm the annoying person listening to Christmas carols at any time of the year. Christmas is one time of the year that I feel like my home life was consistent. The fact that I have many good memories from past Christmases get forwarded on each year. Thinking of happy times and adding to them each year just makes the magic grow.

I tag: Kerri, Seonaid, Romz, Emily, Michelle, Emily, and you! :)
 

Tag: All I Want for Christmas

I was tagged by Christine to do this. Not sure that I've done a Christmas tag before, so here we go! :)

^Our cat Jade in her new favorite spot at the very back of our Christmas tree. She's going to be so upset when January comes around and she has to go back to her old spots. :)

1. What was the best present you received as a child?
When I was ten, my dad got me a beautiful German Shepherd/Collie mix puppy. He followed me everywhere to the point that I ended up naming him Shadow. For eight years, he was the greatest and smartest dog I have ever owned. He got liver cancer while I was in college and had to be put to sleep. It's been years since I had to say goodbye and I still love him as much as that very first day when he came running in the house to greet me.

2. Whats at the top of your wish list this year?
My list can be found here. I'm so lucky to have received the Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC bag that I wanted so badly. I definitely want the Urban Decay Vice Palette as I've already mentioned. Though the thing I probably want most is a white Christmas!

3. Do you have a funny Christmas tradition?
Not really funny, but my husband and I have always gotten personalized ornaments for every Christmas that we've been together. We're on #9 this year! Oh and my 3 foot stocking! My aunt made it for me when I was around three or four and I've used it ever since. She has since passed on, so it's nice to have that memory and tradition. Not so nice for my husband, since he gets the task of filling it... ;)

4. What are your 3 Christmas party beauty essentials?
A good makeup setting spray, smoky eyes, and a sparkling manicure!

5. Whats your favorite christmas movie?
Ack, so hard! I love almost all of them. My absolute favorites would have to be Elf and It's a Wonderful Life. It's a Wonderful Life has been a mainstay for me since I was growing up. I still cry!

6. Are you a giver or a receiver?
Both. I'm scared to say receiver, because I'm sure stereotypes are floating in your head. It's honestly not because of the gifts. I just really like ripping into wrapping paper and presents. It could be a wrapped toilet paper roll and I would not care. It's the five year old in me. I love to give too, unless it's to a person hard to please. It drives me crazy not knowing what to give someone!

7. Who will you be kissing under the mistletoe this year?
My husband, of course. ♥ Unless George Clooney happens to stop by...it's ok, my husband would understand. George is on "my list of accepted celebrities"! :P

I tag:
Seonaid
Emily
Romz
Fannie
and any of you reading this! Then, send me the link to your post in the comments.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

In My Shower

Do any of you have that obsession that I do where you love to see what is in other people's showers? I don't know why, but I love it as much as I love seeing makeup storage posts and videos. Anyway, I was taking out scents that remind me of winter with ones that I like for summer so I snapped this picture. Do you do that with your bath scents or am I just strange? Maybe you shouldn't answer that latter part. ;)

Here's a few shelves of my organizers. I did a massive overhaul of some products that weren't getting used enough to take up space in my shower and kept the things in there that I love. There are some items not shown, but they consist of my husband's things for when he chooses to use my shower over his (mine is bigger) and shaving items. In other words, the products below are the prettier and the more fun things!

-I have a few different shampoos to use at all times, because they are all different types- clarifying, volume-boosting, etc. For conditioner, I typically only use Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle! For shampoo brands right now, I have: John Frieda, Neutrogena, Kiehl's, and Bumble and bumble.

-I also like to have different scents to choose from with my shower gels. In the lower right, I just have two Lush products that I'm trying to use up and my Soap and Glory body wash (LOVE). I also put in two of my favorite scents of Philosophy's 3-in-1s, a coconut one from Body Shop, and Country Apple and Charmed Life from Bath and Body Works.

-I keep some of my skincare in my shower. Not pictured is my Cetaphil. On the lower rack with most of my shampoos, I have some face and body exfoliators. A strawberry one from The Body Shop, a papaya one from Caryl Baker (Toronto based, I believe), and a St. Ives apricot scrub that is almost used up. Happy to see the St. Ives one go, because I am not a fan of it at all. I much prefer the Aveeno Positively Radiant cleansing pads!

-Then, of course I have my various loofahs and such below. There's an exfoliating cloth from The Body Shop, a few loofahs, exfoliating gloves, and a comb. I know I have loads of items that exfoliate, but it's pretty much necessary with my extremely dry skin.

If you want to do a post like this, link me to it. I'd love to see what kind of products you like to keep in your shower!

Tag: 11 Most Reached for Products

I thought I would do the tag that has been going around about the 11 products that you find yourself reaching for the most. I was going to make a video on it, but my voice isn't strong right now from allergies. Allergies would probably be the one thing I dislike about spring!

Also, I realize that this only shows high-end makeup except for the mascara. I didn't mean for that to happen, as I do use many items from drugstores. These just happen to be the products that I reach for when I need a quick "five minute face" to run out the door (which is really often!).



^ The face products! MAC Studio Finish concealer is one of my faves. I'm thisclose to hitting pan on it. Benefit High Beam is my absolute favorite highlighter, which I've said numerous times. Smashbox Blush Rush in Flush gives a pretty pink cheek and is a great texture. MAC MSF Natural often doubles as my powder and foundation.

^ The eye products! MAC Painterly Paint Pot remains my favorite base to go to. CoverGirl LashBlast mascara gets my lashes full. The Naked palette needs no introduction as to why it is fabulous. MAC 217 is a great eye brush that is capable of packing on color and blending. I use my MAC 224 to not only blend the crease on my eyeshadow, but I also use it to blend out my concealer. Urban Decay Rockstar eyeliner is my favorite alternative to black while adding a nice understated pop of color.

^ MAC Lazy Day is a really nice pink nude on my lips. I hate that it is LE and really hope MAC repromotes it in a future collection.

So what are your 11 products? Please share! :) I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! ♥

4 Things Tag

I was tagged by Raech to do this tag. I will apologize in advance now, but I will not be able to post tomorrow. We have people coming in to move our old furniture out in the morning, an appointment in the afternoon, and a concert at night. Busy, busy, busy!


4 things in my bag: (I'm going with an overnight bag on this one, but I assume bag is for purse and purse is actually wallet on the tag?)
Well, I'm actually packing a bag to stay at my MIL's. I was really smart and planned for our old mattress to be moved out on Thursday with our new one not arriving until Saturday morning. So we're staying over at her place. Silly me!
- my stuffed polar bear. I am not ashamed of this! :) He's one of the first things my husband got me when I came to Toronto. ♥ He goes where I go!
- my laptop
- makeup bag
- a magazine


4 things in my purse:
- lipgloss
- iPod touch
- Blackberry
- house keys


4 things in my bedroom:
- a handmade pillow a friend made me
- a fan, because I don't sleep well without one
- Nintendo DS Lite (*pictured is my old one, now I have a pink one)
- a record player


4 things I've always wanted to do:
- be a published photographer
- get over my stage fright
- take some more school courses
- travel to more countries


4 things I'm currently into:
- photography
- makeup
- blogging
- home decor


4 things I bet you didn't know about me:
- I am completely ambidextrous. I can do anything with either hand. While I might be better at something with one hand, I can still do it with the other. I go back and forth.
- I play the flute and piccolo. I was in the marching band in both high school and college.
- I've been to more visitations and funerals than years that I have been on this earth. I'm 26! I went to my first funeral at age 4.
- I love languages. I took seven years of French and two years of German. I'm thinking of learning some Spanish next! I love being able to travel places where it comes in handy to at least know enough of the language to get by. If you do not use it, you lose it. :)


4 songs I can't get out of my head:
- Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri
- Hey, Soul Sister by Train
- Alejandro by Lady GaGa
- You're Not Sorry by Taylor Swift


Rules:
Once tagged you must link the person who tagged you. Tag four bloggers and let them know they have been tagged. Give 4 answers to each question asked.

This time I'm breaking the rules. I want YOU to do it! If you're reading this, you're tagged. Link me to your answers so that I can get to know you and comment. :)

Tagged: 8 Questions

I was tagged by Kathryn to do this! How it works is I answer the 8 questions she chose, tag people, and then give them 8 questions of my own. Let's try it out, shall we?! I'm guessing you're supposed to tag 8 people, since it's based on that number. I don't normally tag people, but I can't just go and ruin the "8 tag"! :) If I didn't tag you, please feel free to do it and link me to your entry so that I can read your answers!


Kathryn gave me these questions:
1. What is your favorite thing to do with friends? SHOP! I love the little chit-chat sessions as we walk through a store or mall. :) Eating out would be the second choice.

2. How would you describe yourself in one sentence? I am a very sensitive, loyal, and random person!

3. When was your first kiss? July 2004. I'm married to him now. He was my first of everything good. ♥

4. What is your favorite holiday? Why? Christmas. Not just for the religious factor, but because I love bright lights and decorations. It's one of the only times where people can get away with being gaudy! The more lights and decorations, the better!

5. If you could go back in time and experience any event without changing history, what would it be? Woodstock. What a music festival and positive message!

6. What song would you use to describe your life right now? Fearless by Taylor Swift.

7. If you had $100 extra dollars right now, what would you do with it? If not used on makeup, then probably a Michael Kors watch that I have my eyes on.

8. What fall trend are you most excited about wearing? Cozy sweaters and leopard print!


Linh
Mel
Raech
Lillian
Jennifer
Courtney
Kerri
Christine


1. If your bags were packed by the door right now for a vacation, where would you choose to go?
2. What is one TV show that you can watch over and over?
3. What is one song that you absolutely cannot stand right now?
4. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
5. What is one thing that people rave on about that you thought was actually horrible?
6. What color would you never paint your bedroom?
7. What is one article of clothing that you wouldn't be caught dead in?
8. What is your favorite book?

Would You Rather Tag

I was tagged by Linh to do this! I could have made a video on YouTube to do it, but I'm way too lazy to get my camera out and film. :)


1. Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice make-up or nice hair and no make-up?
Because I rarely have a nice hair day, I'd definitely take the nice hair and no make-up. I go out without makeup all of the time. :)

2. Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out?
Eyelashes. I'd get really tired of having to draw in my eyebrows everyday. And quite frankly, I never notice anyone's eyelashes unless they are ridiculously long.


3. Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life?
I'm surprised that I haven't heard a single person choose MAC for this. I am going to have to go with Sephora. While I absolutely love my MAC, I don't think I could stick with just one brand. I'm much too fickle of a consumer! :)

4. Would you rather wear lipgloss/lipliner look or 80's perm?
80s perm. Heck, maybe it would give my thin hair some volume!

5. Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush?
Oh man, neither? Haha! I guess I would choose the foundation line because I don't pay attention to that sort of thing. Overdone blush just screams clown to me...and I'm afraid of clowns! :P

6. Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public?
I'm a big girl. To make me wear Hammer pants would be cruel to both me and the rest of society. With biker shorts, I could put a dress or a long tunic over them. As a matter of fact, I do that already. I don't need everyone and their brother seeing my knickers. True fact.

7. Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered?
Weird tan lines. Been there and done that. I don't think I'd want to walk around looking like an Oompa Loompa.

8. Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair color?
Bad haircut. I've had so many in my life. After awhile, you become a pro at hiding them with changing the part, throwing it up in a ponytail, etc. It's a little more difficult to hide the color.

9. Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever?
Ooh, I'm addicted to both. I would have to go with twitter. I could watch YT videos all day long and never grow bored.


10. Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara?
Mascara! Oh man, I would kick someone really hard if they tried to take my brushes away! :D They are one of my prized possessions in my makeup collection!

If you do this tag, please link me to your post in the comments section! I tag all of my readers!

Spreading the Love

Sorry for a lack of posting yesterday! Today, I've decided to share some blogs that I enjoy visiting. Check them out, if you get a chance. Of course, you can look at the blogs that I follow and that follow me to find some other great ones. I just couldn't include everyone this go-around. :)

Kerri- I love this girl. She's one of the sweetest gals I know. :) She also has a YouTube channel under the same name. So check her out!

Obsessed Makeup Addict- She always has some great ideas and reviews. I enjoy talking makeup with her!

Ashley- She has a crazy collection of nail polishes! If you like to see swatches and hauls of loads of polishes, her site is perfect for you!

Fern- She's one of the first to follow my blog! Product reviews, swatches, and more can be found at her site.

Florrie- Girl, I just realized that my "follow" request never went through. That's all settled now and I'm following you. Florrie is fantastic. She does a lot of outfit of the day posts and I love her style. She's not like everyone else and that's a good thing!

Also, I made a Google search story on YouTube about things I love. It doesn't take much time to make one. So if you have a YT channel and you made one, link me to it. I think it's a fun idea to tell a story in just search phrases. :) Anyway, I thought I would share mine here!

Today marks six years that my husband and I have been together. While we don't really go all out with celebrations for our dating anniversary now that we're married, we still try to make it a special day. Six years! I can't believe it...feels like just yesterday... ♥

What I'm Using: Meme Pt. 2

Currently listening: Christmas music
Currently drinking: water
Currently feeling: horrible...migraine
I did this for the first time back in August here, but I thought I'd do it again since it's been a few months. A few of my answers have changed and are noted as such. The ones that are the same...well, you can just tell how much I love them since I'm still using them! So here we go!

As always, I don't mind recommendations at all. So if you have a favorite product for one of the topics below, please share. If you do a list of this on your own blog, feel free to link me to it!

Shampoo - Bumble & bumble Seaweed Shampoo (changed)

Hair Mask - The only thing I do is deep condition with Aussie's Three Minute Miracle
Styling Products - John Frieda Brilliantly Brunette hairspray, TreSemme Heat Tamer spray, CHI Silk Infusion
Body Wash - Soap & Glory Clean On Me
Body Moisturizer - Soap & Glory Righteous Butter
Deodorant - Dove Invisible Solid
Fake Tan - I just use a makeup bronzer or I don't even bother.
Makeup Remover - Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover (changed)
Cleanser - Cetaphil and Neutrogena Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse (changed)
Exfoliator - St.Ives Apricot Scrub
Primer - Gosh Velvet Touch primer (changed)

Foundation - L'Oreal Bare Naturale or Clinique Almost Makeup
Concealer - MAC Studio Finish or Maybelline Mineral Power (partly changed)
Powder - Mac's MSF Natural in Light
Blush - NARS Orgasm layered with MAC's MSF Porcelain Pink (partly changed)
Bronzer - Annabelle
Highlighter - Benefit High Beam
Eyebase - MAC's Paint Pot in Painterly or UDPP (changed)
Eyeshadow - Urban Decay Sin is my everyday go-to! (changed)
Eyeliner - CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus and Almay liquid eyeliner
Mascara - Benefit BADgal Lash or Maybelline Pulse Perfection
Lipstick - MAC's Creme D'Nude
Gloss - MAC's C-Thru (layered over Creme D'Nude)

Nail Varnish - OPI's Russian Navy

10 Questions Meme

Currently playing: Yacht on Facebook
Currently smelling: Body Shop's Coconut Body Butter...mmm.
Currently feeling: hopeful about seeing the meteor shower tonight!
I'm still at my MIL's house helping with Nan. My SIL and BIL have been on vacation for the past week and a half or so. Some of the posts I'd like to do will have to wait until I'm home again, because I didn't pack too many things while I'm here. It's only a five minute ride home, so why bring everything but the kitchen sink? :) I figure I haven't done a questionnaire in a while, so why not?!

If you want to do this, post your answers in the comments or on your blog! And link me to them, so I can read your responses!


1. Dramatic eye looks or Natural Eye looks?
Natural for most days. I like to save the dramatic looks for special occasions or for days that I'm just in a fun mood to experiment.

2. Matte or Shimmer Shadows?
I often use matte ones (like my Coastal Scents 88 Pc. Matte Palette), but I love a little shimmer sometimes. Or I make the matte ones shimmer a bit by adding a shimmery base.

3. Purple Pinks or Blue Greens?
Purple pinks. I love working with purple! I've done a few blue looks, but unless it's dark blue it's looks too 80s with my already blue eyes. I enjoy greens though!

4. Lips with gloss or without gloss?
Gloss! I'm a gloss fanatic. Unless a lipstick has a shiny-type finish, I always top it with lip gloss as well. I often just wear tinted lip gloss when I go out.

5. Contour Or Bronzer?
Contour. Even with my bronzer, I only mainly use it as a contour. I care more about shape than color on the face.

6. Nude lippies Or Pink Lippies?
How about a meet in the middle answer? A pink nude!

7. Coral or Pink Blush?
Pink. I have discovered that I don't exactly pull off coral that well. I'm also lazy and find that it is way too easy to overdo coral blush and I hate having to buff it in to make it look good. With pink, it's much easier to add more if needed. My opinion, of course!

8. Drugstore or Departmental Store Makeup?
A mixture of both. A great majority of what I own is department store, but many of my all-time favorites are drugstore brands. Contrary to what many might think, I'm not a makeup snob at all. If I like a product, it's because of the product and not because of the name stamped on it. For example- I'll take my L'Oreal Bare Naturale powder foundation over Bare Minerals foundation any day.

9. Sponge or Brush for LIQUID foundation?
Sponge. It works much better with my dry skin. I sometimes use a brush, but I prefer the final look that a sponge provides. I just dampen the sponge, stipple it on, and then rub in the foundation with the sponge.

10. TAG or Tutorials?
I like both. I don't mind doing tags or tutorials (even when I suck- haha!). When tagged, I try to do them. And if I come across a look that I like, I'll post a tutorial (or at least a FOTD post). As far as YouTube goes, I've only done one tag video. I don't think I'm anywhere near good enough to post video tutorials. I'd rather not fuel the mean girls out there with reasons to ridicule me. Even some of the best artists get too many nasty and rude comments. It's just not right. :(

Random is my middle name!

Currently watching: AGT
Currently drinking: iced coffee
Currently feeling: worn out from a full day
Ok...some of you have been asking me to get more personal about myself sometimes. Or maybe it's the same person who has been asking. I don't know, but I suppose I'm pleasing at least one person! This is about as personal as I'll get. Here is a random survey going around and I thought I would share my answers. Feel free to play along or tell me what a loser I am! :)

1. What is your favorite item of clothing?
My favorite is an old shirt that I have had since I was around eight years old. I still wear it! My grandmother was a dispatcher for the police department and had to take classes every so often to learn more about the codes. She got me a navy South Carolina Criminal Justice t-shirt and it was so big that it came down to my knees. I'd sleep in it all the time. I grew into it and now it fits me better than any other shirt and I remember her every single time I put it on.

2. What are your biggest current obsessions?
My mainstay obsession is Kelly Clarkson. I'm also in love with my Nikon that I got for my birthday. I often have an obsessions/favorites post each month, so I guess there will be more on that list!

3. Who inspires you?
For me, it's more like what inspires me. I get the most inspiration just by looking around me or the sounds that I hear. Inspiration comes in so many forms!

4. Who is your favorite designer and why?
Marc Jacobs. He is not afraid to push boundaries and has a bit of a punk edge to him. He also takes prices into consideration for many items and created Marc by Marc Jacobs so that everyone can afford a designer piece.

5. What is your favorite song ever?
Oh goodness, I have so many favorite songs. For me, the ones that stand out the most are Breakaway and Because of You by Kelly Clarkson. Every lyric in Breakaway relates to me and the sentiment behind Because of You is one that I also can relate to. If I can relate to a song in any sense, I do often consider it a favorite.

6. What is your favorite song right now?
I'm really feeling Battlefield by Jordin Sparks. It really showcases her voice and has a catchy chorus while still hitting you with a powerful message.

7. If you were a cookie, what would you be?
Well, that's a strange question. Perhaps a Nutter Butter! I love peanut butter and I'm rather nutty! :)

8. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet- what words would describe your rainbow?
Moleskine planner (red), soda (orange), roses (yellow), iPod shuffle (green), nail polish (navy blue), flip-flops (indigo), and eyeshadow (violet). I suppose those are the things I use the most with those colors. :)

9. What's your favorite film?
Dirty Dancing, Grease, The Devil Wears Prada, Finding Nemo, and My Fair Lady. Am I cheating by picking more than one? Yes, but I love them all for entirely different reasons. :) And I can't simply just pick one! If going based on cinematography alone, What Dreams May Come wins hands-down. That is one of the most fabulously made movies ever.

10. Who's your favorite actor?
Actor: Mel Gibson, George Clooney
Actress: Audrey Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman

11. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
London. Great shopping, great fashion, great music, great sights...the list goes on. Normally I would say Paris, but I've been falling in love with London for the past year. Plus, it's easy enough to get to Paris from there...so I could always get to the other in the same trip! There I go finding a loophole again! :D

12. What are your three favorite smells?
Rain, vanilla frosting, and apples are among my favorites.

13. What are your three favorite tastes?
Cheesecake, apples, and vanilla are ranked high.

14. What is your most treasured possession?
I know I should probably say my wedding and engagement ring, but my answers might surprise you. I say answers because while it's under the same classification, it's from two different people. My aunt and grandmother both left me their jewelry collections. I don't have that much to really remember them by (besides stuff they gave me) and I feel them with me every time I wear an item. Those two women raised me and I like to remember everything they did for me. If I could choose another thing, it would be my stuffed polar bear that Larry gave me back in 2004. I love polar bears and this little guy has slept with me almost every night since I got him. Yep, I'm 25 and I still sleep with a stuffed animal. I'm not ashamed! My polar bear's name is Nanook which is the Inuit word for "polar bear", so I basically have a polar bear named Polar Bear. Yep, I'm original...HAHA.

15. What did you always want to be when you grew up?
A teacher. I think I would still want to be if I were back home. I don't really want that here. It's not a knock against the school system here. It's just that many of my credits would not transfer and I just don't feel like starting over with all of that. Instead, I'm hoping to do something in the fashion industry or with photography (even better if it's a mix of the two!).

16. If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be?
And I thought the cookie question was strange! I'd be that chocolate-vanilla mix. I'm a no-fooling kind of girl, kind of like the flavor vanilla. I don't hide behind anything. And I'd throw in a little chocolate just because I like to mix things up a bit and give the unexpected!

17. If someone made a movie of your life, who would play you?
I think I'd want Rachael Ray, Ellen DeGeneres, or Natalie Portman. Rachael is bubbly and talkative. Ellen is the funny girl. And Natalie is the smart and down-to-earth girl. Goodness, I don't know. No one looks like me, so I'm having to go on personality traits! And I think I just successfully made myself sound conceited in this answer. D'oh!

18. What would your perfect afternoon consist of?
An unlimited shopping spree with my best friend, playing with my baby brother and cousins, lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, and dinner at The Olive Garden with my hubster. :) And maybe throw a chick flick in there!

19. If you were a flower, what would you be?
A rose. While being delicate, if taken care of properly, they can grow and blossom each year.

20. Tell me a random thing...be it your favorite line from a song, scene from a movie, quote from a book...tell me about something you love.
Right now, my obsession is Glee. The pilot was full of so many of my new favorite quotes, but one of my faves is from Mercedes! Her character is hilarious!

"Look, I'm not down with all this background singing nonsense. I'm Beyoncé, I ain'ts no Kelly Rowland!"

20 Things About Me

Currently eating: a cherry popsicle!
Currently surfing: youtube
Currently feeling: crafty
Just another one of the tags going around! :)

1. Things you cannot leave the house without
purse, camera, keys, iPod Touch, cell phone
2. Favourite brand of Make Up
Anything at Sephora (especially Urban Decay and NARS) and MAC
3. Favourite flower
Roses (specifically yellow roses with red tips or pink English Roses), Cherry Blossoms, and Tulips

4. Favourite clothing store

Everyone who follows or knows me knows the answer to this one. Old Navy! Great quality for a bargain!

5. Favourite perfume
Marc Jacobs Daisy
6. Heels or Flats

Flats. I love heels for style, but I love comfort more. Plus, I'm 5' 9" barefoot so I don't really need them.

7. Do you make good grades

N/A at the moment, but I did. I was in all honors and AP classes with close to a 4.0 GPA in high school. Not great, but not too bad either. In college, I was burned out from high school. My grades definitely slipped.

8. Favourite colours
Pink,red and purple.
9. Do you drink energy drinks

No. They taste horrible.

10. Do you drink juice

Not usually.

11. Do you like swimming

Absolutely love it! I'm a dolphin in the water. I'm a Cancer, so I'm a water sign. :)

12. Do you eat fries with a fork
The only time I wouldn't is if I'm eating something with my hands like a burger. If the ketchup or toppings are on top of them and not to the side, I will use a fork.
13. Favourite moisturizer
Soap & Glory Righteous Butter
14. Do you want to get married later on in life
I already am!

*photo credit to my wedding reception photographer: Danielle Lawrence
15. Do you get mad easily
Yes. I have anger issues, I'm pretty sure.
16. Are you into ghost hunting
Yes. And I have! I love everything supernatural.
17. Any phobias

Spiders, needles, blood, doctors, and a lot of other things!

18. Do you bite your nails
Yes. I have done so since I was around three because I'd see my mom do it. It's really annoying! The longest I've been able to go without biting is about two weeks, sadly. And that nasty-tasting nail polish does not work for me. I just get used to it!
19. Have you ever had a near death experience
Yes, I almost drowned at age four! After that it took me until age 10 to learn to swim and leave the shallow end. I now love it. I faced that fear and overcame it!
20. Do you drink coffee
Yes, hot and cold! I love coffee. Mmm...

If you do this on your own blog, link me to it so I can find out more about you! Or just do it in the comments. I would love to know more about my readers! :)