Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas! 

This little blogger got a new camera, so there may be a video popping up in the near future!

Stay Tuned and enjoy your holiday!

Birchbox December 2013

Birchbox has always been a subscription box that I look forward to getting in the mail, and this month was no different.

 

 The box itself is pretty and made it all the more fun to open.  What didn't make it fun to open was the fact that everything was practically frozen, and stayed that way for about a day.  

The Lash Fusion XL Mascara was one of the frozen items.  I would have been very excited to get this and try it out, but to this day (about a week later) it is still unusable.  I don't know if it's the fact that it was frozen, or it being dried out, but it's really a shame.

The cell phone sticker and the hair tie were extras this month.  I won't be using the cell phone sticker because I already have a phone case, but I do like the hair tie.  I have a few I bought from Target that stretched out after a use or two, so I hope that this one will last a little longer.

I have a love hate relationship with sea salt spray.  I love how it makes everyone elses hair look.  I hate how itchy it makes my scalp and how it just makes my hair look stringy.  That being said, this Sea Salt Spray from Toni&Guy is ah-mazing.  It doesn't make my hair stringy, and it adds that coveted wavy voluminous look.  

The S.M.A.R.T Skin Perfecting Polisher is an interesting product.  You're supposed to put it on your face, rub it around, and when it balls up you wipe it off.  No water, no muss, no fuss.  I have no idea if it works, or how it would react with my skin right now so I'm holding off.  

The Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips made me giggle because of the name.  It was the other item in the box that came frozen/hard.  It took a good two days for this to thaw out so I could even see what it was like. I think this thick balm is perfect for the winter and I would love to see the full sized product in my stocking *Hint Hint*.

Neostrata Exfoliating Wash

Lately I've been sticking to strict three product routine.  I went from having terrible bumpy acne skin to dry almost clear skin, and decided that it was time to add some new products to the rotation.

Enter Neostrata Exfoliating Wash

First Impression: Ooh foam! Huh, this is getting a little thinner on my hands than I thought.  Where are the beads/sand/exfoliating things?  Why does this stuff smell like chlorine?  Is this even doing anything?  Where did all the foam I just put on my face go?

After the Shower:  Sweet Jesus my face feels amazing and soft.  My cheeks aren't nearly as flaky as they were before.  Uh oh why is my face feeling tight?  Damn I need some moisturizer.

Overall: I really love this product.  I would not recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin, or someone sensitive to any odors.  It makes my face feel tight after I use it, but it has actually made the dry patches on my cheeks smoother and happier, so I'll take it.  I can see this bothering sensitive skin though.  It doesn't have any sort of "traditional" exfoliating beads in it, so I'm guessing it's more of a chemical type of exfoliation.  Which could explain why it smells strongly of chlorine, which I will never get used to.  

Repurchase: Probably not, I just can't get over the smell, even if it does work like a dream.  I would much rather find another exfoliating wash/scrub that doesn't have the smell and works just as nicely.  I will use this until it is gone though. 

Motivational Wednesday Week #4

This is not just a quote but a life philosophy. 

Ipsy Glam Bag December 2013

This month's Ipsy Glam Bag was fun to open, and chock full of makeup.  

 

Look at this bag! How cute! You can use it as a little clutch all on it's own or as an upscale looking makeup bag.

Now to the contents of the bag:

I do not know how to properly apply false lashes.  There.  I said it.  I do love the natural look of these lashes and hope they can be the ones to break my lash curse.  Christmas is coming up and I have an idea of a cute pre-Christmas look I can pull off with these puppies.

 Honestly not crazy about the color of this polish.  I have never heard of the name Nicka K before, and the bottle is not only gorgeous but also really hefty.  The color is called Classic Taupe which is the perfect name for a bold nude shade. Although I said I'm not crazy about the color it is definitely a winter shade.  If I don't give it a shot I'm sure my mom will.

This is not the first thing I've tried from the brand POP Beauty.  I like the brand itself, and find their products to be a good fit for me, and this palette is no different.  This is the Naturally Bare Trio.  The colors are beautiful, and it is the perfect size to keep in your purse.  The three shades are swatched on the right, and I heard they were chalky but I think they are pigmented and very pretty.  

  I called this the red collage.  The Be A Bombshell color stick is a really bright orangey red shade called sunset.  I have no idea when or where I could possibly wear this.  It is not something I would have ever picked for myself, but I guess I should try new things right? I'll let ya know how it goes.  As far as the J.Cats lip pencil goes, I love it.  First of all the color is called Red Rose. It is so pigmented that the area I swatched and promptly wiped off is still stained.  I will probably use this as a lip crayon and not just a pencil, because I'm lazy. That and it's just an amazingly rich color.

 I loved having a subscription box that was all makeup this month.  It really made me think about Christmas, and not just a dreary winter.  My favorite thing would have to be the lip pencil.  So much so that I am wearing it tomorrow.

What beauty subscriptions are you a member of?

Philosophy Hope In A Jar Night

Winter skin is my current nemesis.  Along with learning how to highlight and contour, my dry cheeks are the bane of my existence right now.  They are flaky, nothing sits on them well, and it makes it uncomfortable to smile.  All big no-no's.

Then this stuff came along in a subscription box and I swear I heard the angels singing the morning after I put this on.

 

Philosophy's Hope in a Jar Night lotion is a medium weight lotion that is supposed to help your skin retain moisture at night. Theory is you slap this stuff on your face, go to sleep, and wake up with moisturized plump happy skin.  Does it work?  I think so!

Alone this stuff works amazingly.  My cheeks were less dry in the morning and the rest of my face really felt smooth and happy (Read: No weird bumps/rough patches on my face., and no oil slick on my pillow.)  It sunk right into my skin and didn't leave it feeling oily and slick, just smooth and moisturized.

Now while it didn't completely take care of my dry cheeks it helped immensely.  Paired with Vitamin E over the top this really worked to help relieve the patchiness.  It worked great on the rest of my face all by itself though, which is still a major plus for me.  

What products from Philosophy would you recommend?

Pre-lipstick routine

I am absolutely terrible at doing anything before I slather on my favorite lipstick.  This usually means flaky patches, dry cracked lips, and a mess that gets wiped off about an hour after application.  When reading about lip preperation on Liana Beauty I decided I needed to kick my routine into high gear (or any gear at all) and start prepping my lips for not only this season but for lipstick application all year round.

I start off using a lip scrub by ELF.  It comes in a tube that looks like an actual lipstick, so application is really easy (just don't over do it).  When I first used this product I tried to get my lips all smooth and nice in one go and ended up damaging them to the point where it took over a week for them to heal.  Moderation my friends, moderation.

Next comes a lip balm.  I like the Chap Stick Hydration Lock and the Nivea A Kiss Of Milk And Honey.  If your lips are especially dry you can use a deeper conditioning formula, but for daily use and touch ups both of these work remarkably well.  Bonus is you can pick them up at the drugstore so if you lose them (like I do) you can replace them and not be too upset about it.

Using a lip liner seems old fashioned, but if you are wearing a highly pigmented color like the reds and berrys and plums that are oh so popular right now, it's somewhat of a necessity.  It prevents bleeding anf gives your lips definition.  You can overdraw a small lip, accent your full lips, or even create a really pretty ombre effect.

Finally comes the actual lipstick application.  Some people love using lip brushes, but I'm a straight out of the bullet kinda girl.  I like the no muss no mess quick swipe and blot method.  To each their own.

You can add an additional step by putting a tissue over the lips and taking a powder brush dipped in translucent powder to set a rich color and create a smudge proof look if you want your color to last longer.  It's not a necessity but it can be nice to have that added insurance if you don't know when you'll be able to sneak away to reapply.

What are some tips you have for applying lipstick? 

Skin, Why You Do This To Me?

Hello Dolls,

Lately my skin has been an awful weird mess.  It started out really oily and awful this summer, to the point where any and all face makeup would slide off without an overzealous powder sesh.  At that point there was really no point in me wearing foundations at all (even a BB cream), so I went for a natural face with the main focus being on my eyes.  

Then the seasons changed and the fall was approaching and I have had nothing but breakout after breakout.  There has not been one day since fall hit that there has not either been a pimple, crazy blackheads, or an under the skin pimple thing happening on my face.  Even without me wearing a lot of makeup it has been a nightmare.  Thankfully with my new (and extremely minimal) skincare routine they have subsided. Thank you to the products below.

Buy The Face Wash, Buy The Moisturizer , Buy The Vitamin E Capsules

 

 

 

 

 

When winter sprung up my face went from the oily combination mess it was to this dry flaky awful monster of a thing.  Even my oily t-zone has seen the light and dried right up.  I'm seriously considering wearing night time face lotion to keep my cheeks in check.  My skincare regimen is not made for this sudden and severe change in condition.  No makeup looks right, no amount of moisturizer can break through the dryness.  Even writing this I have just taken my makeup off not fifteen minutes ago, a full face to hide the insanity happening underneath it, washed and toned my face, and put on night moisturizer with vitamin E over the top and STILL my cheeks are dry and laughing at me.

I am currently on the hunt for anything to even out this dryness and make my skin a nice plump moisture filled heaven for makeup.  Any suggestions?

What Not To Wear To An Interview

In a previous post I outlined what are some of the best things to wear to an interview, and now I am going to highlight some extreme no no's when it comes to interview attire. 

You mean this won't work?

Tee Shirts- Funny, witty, cute, solid, wild, whatever they may be, leave them at home.  Opt for a button up or a blouse.  Any applicant that walked in wearing a tee (or god forbid tank), was soon seen walking out without an offer or even a promise of a callback.  It can be seen as disrespectful for someone to be giving you their time to interview you and have you not even make an effort to look professional.

Jeans-  Dark wash, acid wash, skinny, flare, boyfriend, doesn't matter.  Don't wear them.  If you can invest in ten pairs of jeans in different styles you can buy one pair of dress pants to wear to interviews.  I promise you that jeans, even the darkest wash, don't impress anyone at an interview.  Please stop pretending they look super professional.  

Leggings- If you can't wear them to work why would you wear them to an interview.  They're too tight, most of the time see through, and altogether not appropriate for the workplace.  Please please please do not think this is acceptable to interview in.  (Unless they are sheer and under a dress in Alaska in the middle of winter.  Not even under a dress people.  Wear some pantyhose/stockings.)

Anything ripped- Please retire your ripped jeans, the jacket with a hole, the scuffed hem of your dress pants.  Nothing looks as unprofessional as showing up to an office, asking for a large salary, all while wearing clothing with holes in it.  If you only have one good outfit make it your interview outfit.  I am a huge fan of the Salvation Army for interview clothes when you have limited funds, and I promise you there are clothes there that can look good and don't have holes.  

Anything see through- I don't understand the see through trend. I tried to go shopping when I moved down to VA for clothes to wear that looked professional and dressed up, and even in the ladies section their clothes were see through.  Come on guys.  Think of it like this, if your father were a pastor and you were to come to Sunday service in see through clothing, would he be happy about it?  Probably not.  I don't want to see your undergarments, no one wants to see your bra or underwear or anything that could possibly be under your clothes.  If you showed up to an interview in see through clothing the first thing I would think was "excuse me but where are the rest of the fibers that belong in your clothing, and why do you deem this appropriate to wear today?"

Tight revealing clothing-This is not cute, and will not get you a job.  It looks desperate and like you are hoping a horny teenage male will be interviewing you.  Wearing this type of clothing will not get you a leg up, or an advantage over other "frumpy" applicants.  Stoppit. 

Cleavage- Just, no.  Cover up.  Like wearing tight and revealing clothing, showing off the ladies is cheap looking and not something people want in their applicants. They want to be looking at your resume and not your chest. 

Sandals- Dressy sandals, flip flops, sandals with a heel, any concievable type of sandal is a no go.  Opt for a flat, or closed toe shoe, or wedge.  No one wants to see your foot at an interview, and just like a good pair of shoes can pull together an outfit, a bad pair can ruin it.

Sneakers- For the love of all that is holy please do not come into an interview in your workout sneakers or your latest Nike purchase.  Even a black on black pair.  This can be okay depending on the place you are interviewing if you are a male, but in an office setting you better walk in the door with a pair of dress shoes or heels/flats if you are a female.  Like I said, shoes can make or break an outfit and sneakers always fall short when in an interview situation.

Messy hair/makeup- Take a little time today to spruce yourself up. Wash and comb your hair, put on a dusting of blush and some mascara.  Put your hair in a low ponytail, pin it up in a bun, braid it (no pig tails please), straighten it, put some product in it, just make a little effort.  The more you look put together (even if it's only one day and the rest of the time you come to work with hair in a pony tail everyday or left to it's own desires), the better your chances are at landing a job.  I know this is probably extremely superficial but sometimes we have to come to terms with the fact that interviews are your first ever impression to a company, and they do care about how you look.  You will be a representation of their brand, and if you come in looking like you just woke up and fell into ill fitting clothes with some of last nights makeup still holding on for dear life they will judge you.  It's a fact of life.  If you are morally opposed to the above statement I am sorry, you can come in with no makeup and three day old unwashed hair and try and prove me wrong.

Crazy/over the top jewelry-  Don't let your several bangles and ten rings take over the interview.  Jewelry is a great conversation starter at a party, but at an interview it's your work experience their interested in. Tone it down and wear one statement piece to bring out your personality, not overshadow it.

These are just my opinions and not proven fact, but as someone who has worked in the HR position during a hiring season these are the things that people come back and say "you would not believe what that person just wore".  A visual impression is the first impression you get when interviewing.  Even your resume is a visual impression of your work skills.  Don't let your clothing and personal image jeopardize your resume and personality.

New Series Alert!

I read a lot of blogs.  By a lot I mean I am following over 100 different beauty and lifestyle blogs.  That may sound a little insane but it helps me get new ideas to try out and new products to add to my wishlists.

Now because I read what sounds like an insane number of blogs I do feel like there is a missing segment of posts.  I like to call them posts for the real person.  Or posts for the non-beauty blogger. It consists of hairstyles you can actually wear, makeup from the runway that can be worn to work everyday, the not so high praised products of the drugstore, how the heck do you shop at Sephora, and the like.

With that being said a new series of posts has been born on Hey There Dollface.  This series will be titled "Things I Wish Beauty Guru's Covered".  Or something like that.  I'll come up with a better title I promise.

Happy Thursday Everyone!!

Motivational Wednesday Week #3

Motivational Wednesday is the one day of the week I give you guys a quote or phrase to help you (but mostly myself) get through the week.  This weeks quote is all about support.

 

I am one of those people who finds themselves every so often shedding old acquaintances and focusing on those who bring out the best in me.  Just last week at lunch I told one of my very good friends that I needed people in my life who were focused on the world around them and not on themselves.  If I am going to get out of my little turtle shell I need people around me who want to experience life, and not those who can't see past their own nose.

Who we need in our life varies from person to person, and changes with time.  I've had the "cool" friends, the "edgy" friends, the friends who were always up for a drink, or the friends who were always available to come hang out after work, and even the friends who suck everything out of you and you keep them because you need to feel wanted.  One thing they all had in common?  They all pushed me up, they all supported me, and at that moment we were each others family and we made each other better.  

When you look for new friends, or even at the ones you've had for years, the one standard should be that they pick you up and make you the best version of yourself.  Gone are the days of keeping people around just because you ride the bus together, or sit near each other at lunch.  Find those true friends (chances are there will only be a handful) and give them 110% just like you want them to give you. 

You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Sample Society Beauty Box December 2013

I am a huge fan of subscription boxes.  You never really know what you're going to get, and nine times out of ten you are getting products you've never tried before.

This months Allure Sample Society Beauty box was all about Holiday Hair / Winter Skin.  

 

Contents of the box

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - When I first opened the box I thought this was a liquid with a pump on it, but it's actually a powder.  It's a rice based formula that is supposed to be gentle on your skin, and it has no noticeable scent.  I've never used a powder exfoliant before (I've had one waiting in my stash for a few months but they make me a little nervous to be honest).  This may just be the thing that makes me change my mind though.

Alterna Bamboo Style Texturizing Boost Power-  If this stuff works I'll be amazed and I will also repurchase it, which will be a first and an excuse to use the discount code.  I have big hair but lately it's been a sad state of affairs.  I would love some volume from the roots and not the ends (I know, it's weird, I don't understand it either).  Definitely excited about this product.

Alterna Caviar Dry Shampoo-  I already have this and have only used it once.  Now that I have two samples of this I can give it an honest review and not worry about using too little or too much.  The one thing I can say is that it is much different than an aerosol and gives a cleaner application, and you don't have to worry about it getting everywhere.

  

Philosophy Hope in a Jar Night Moisturizer-  I  will be giving this a shot tonight.  I have heard good things about this brand and how it doesn't break you out so I'm excited to use this.  Another bonus is that it smells really good too!

Diego Dalla Palma Rossorosetto Lipstick in Mauve-  I put up a swatch to show the color, and it's a sophisticated color that I would normally never choose.  The sample is extremely small but I can probably get two or three applications from it.  It has no smell whatsoever and is highly pigmented, both great qualities in a lipstick, but the price for the full sized tube is a little much for me.

Overall I love this month's box.  I will use all of the products in this box and hope they all live up to their claims.  If you're not subscribed to this service you definitely should be.  It's $15.90 a month with a yearly subscription and you can sign up here!

Are you subscribed to any subscription boxes?

Quick Little Review: Japanese Agarwood Body Wash

I posted yesterday about the Japanese Agarwood Body Wash by Lisa Hoffman Beauty that I received in my Blush Mystery Beauty Box and could not stop myself from writing this review about my thoughts on it.

I love love love the smell.  It takes me right back to being in a Spa with all the relaxing smells.  I first thought this would be really overpowering but it ended up lightly perfuming my skin and turning my bathroom into a relaxing oasis.  Think of warm woodsy smells like bergamot and amber, and light clean essential oils like eucalyptus and ginger, and you have the perfect combination for an at home spa shower experience.  They should make a candle of this stuff it just smells so amazing.

You don't need a lot of this product to get a really nice lather, which doesn't dry out your skin after like a lot of body washes.  It is a light creamy white color when it comes out of the tube which was much to my relief.  I honestly thought this stuff might come out green.

Overall I am so happy I got this in my Blush box.  I'm really picky when it comes to body washes, and only use liquids that are creamy and not highly scented (damn you sensitive skin).  It left just the right amount of fragrance on my skin after getting out of the shower and will be my go to body wash from now until it runs out.

What are some of your favorite shower products?

Blush Mystery Beauty Box December 2013

If there's one thing I've noticed about Decembers subscription boxes it's that they're geared towards skin care.  Now, since I'm a total skincare / lotion newbie I don't mind at all, and actually enjoy the break from lipglosses I won't use and my seventh mini mascara.

I can say with absolute certainty that this is the oddest and best combination of products I have ever received in a subscription box.  You'll see why.

 

When you first open the box you see a black cloth bag and a strange long box.  When you open the bag you get a little card detailing all the products inside (Love these! I keep them all).  

The first thing I pulled out was the NYX Love In Paris palette.  This is perfect to slip into a handbag and all the shades are completely wearable nudes which are great for winter.  I can't wait to start using this.  

In the box is a hair extension from the brand Sultra in the Ultra Pink Cheetah style.  It's hot pink/magenta and has black dots all over it.  I will probably never wear this, and I only say probably because there's always Halloween and punk theme parties that may happen. 

 The next part of the bag was lotions/body things.  

The Japanese Agarwood is a full sized body wash from Lisa Hoffman Beauty (the featured curator of this months box).   This stuff smells ah-mazing.  If you've ever been to a spa, it smells just like that.  Woody but clean and oh so relaxing.  Not only is the smell amazing, but I am in love with the packaging. (I'm sensing a green theme for the body products ay?)

 Then came the Eminence Stone Crop Body Lotion.  This lotion is the travel sized version and comes in a very pretty little pot.  The smell is very clean and yet again reminds me of something you would find in a spa or salon.  I will probably be using this as more of a hand lotion as opposed to a body lotion because the scent is very strong and it's not a huge sample.  

The last body care item is an Avocado foot cream by Nailtiques.  The scent reminds me of Ponds Cold Cream and older scented lotions my mother used to use.  Being that it's not a super girly smell and won't bother anyone's nose I can probably get my boyfriend to try this out for me.  

 This next part of the bag is really what I'm most pleased with.  Especially since my face has been breaking out and being generally rude lately I know that some of this stuff will have to wait until it calms down, but i'm excited nonetheless.

The look on my face when I pulled out the  Murad Advanced Active Radiance Serum must have been pure joy.  I have been wanting to try it for a while but couldn't bring myself to fork out the money on a serum I'm not sure will work or not. It claims to improve brightness, clarity and radiance by 60% in less than one week.  Big claims I hope are true because this winter is gonna be a cold one and I for one don't like sad winter skin.

The Neova Makeup Remover will definitely be getting a lot of use from me in the near future.  I have been using the Chamomile makeup remover from the Body Shop and it's time to switch it up.

I am a huge fan of moisturizers so when I pulled out the Ren Hydra-Calm Global Protectin Day Cream I was thrilled.  This product is made for sensitive skin that comes in contact with pollution like a city or smoke.  I live near the Capitol and my skin is super sensitive lately so this little gem will be my go to in the morning before heading off to work.

The last thing I pulled out of the bag was a cleanser.  This Exfoliating Wash by Neostrata claims to stimulate cell renewal and enhance texture and clarity of the skin.  I have been looking for an exfoliant that isn't harsh and can be used in place of my St. Ives facial scrub so if it can exfoliate and keep up to the claims it makes this may just be a repurchase for me.

Overall I love this months box.  I think it is the perfect thing to get your skin prepared for winter, and all of these products can really give you the full spa experience.  If you're not subscribed yet, you should head on over to the Blush site and get yourself signed up.  That's not an order, only a very strong recommendation.

Happy Saturday All!

Tame Those Brows

I was never a huge brow girl until lately.  I could never find the right color to fill in my brows and they always seemed to have a mind of their own when it came to tidiness.  

Then this little package came in one of my beauty boxes and I thought "What the heck, why not try something a little different?"  

 

 

I love the packaging.  It's cute and small and I like the look of the goldish silver tube swimming arund in the bottom of my handbag.  It held my brows up pretty well and kept them in check for the better part of the day.

That's where I start to fall out of love with this product.  Every time I've used this product it has made my brows look wet and slick. Even with a light hand. It also made them really hard and it would flake off around the edges as the day wore on.

Now I'm not saying this is a bad product by any means, but it just doesn't work well for me.  Maybe if I just lightly brushed it over part of my brows it would work better, but that defeats it holding things in place in my opinion.  Especially when my brows go every which way when I let them run wild.  I have not given up on brow gels and brow products though.  My ideal product would be one where I could apply it thick enough to get the hold I need without it looking slick and oily.

Motivational Wednesday

 

 We spend most of our lives worried about the past or stressing about the future. Our past haunts us and keeps us up at night, and our future weighs on our shoulders.  Why can't we just let it all go?  Why can't we just move past our pasts and stop worrying about what the future may or may not hold for us?  Why must we always stress about things we have no control over?

Because we're human that's why.  It's our flaw, one of many, but one that can be managed.  We HAVE to let go of the past.  We have got to stop obsessing about what may happen.  Truth is, we all want a reason to feel bad about ourselves.  Whether it be looks, a memory, or a situation we have been placed into.  But it's not healthy.  It only hurts us in the end.  It leads to us sitting on the couch eating a bag of chocolate and watching lifetime movies. 

Here's to letting go and keeping present.  Meditate, drink some tea, and even if it is the darkest day find something to smile about.  Put a picture of your favorite baby animal on your computer.  Burn a candle that makes you think of sunshine and happiness, and wear clothing that makes you want to take on the world.  Think positively, and smile.  Above all else smile.  It instantly cheers you up and makes those around you happier.  Remember that when you're starting to stress out and over complicate your life.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!  Keep present and positive!

My Christmas Wishlist

Every Christmas I try and make a wishlist of the things I want and every year I end up  giving up and saying "money, clothes, gift cards, anything shiny or mustache related... preferable shiny mustache related".  This really bugs the crap out of my mom, and as I get older I can see why.  You want your presents to mean something, and it shows that someone took the time to find you something they know would make you smile.  Even if the presents you receive are things you told them you wanted specifically, and maybe even picked out.   It's the thought that counts.

This year I have asked for a kitten and a new camera from the boyfriend, clothing I had picked out months ago from my parents, and from myself these are the little things I hope to put under the tree for myself.

 

Everyone is raving about the Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadows, so much so that I feel slightly ashamed that I don't own one yet.  Never fear makeup bag, you will be graced with their presence in the next month!  These little gems are PERFECT for lazy eye days, and especially since I'm going back to work very soon I know that me and mornings will not be getting along.

The Naked 2 Palette is another extremely hyped up beauty product.  I own my fair share of neutral eyeshadows, but none in a compact I can throw in my purse without it opening and causing a ruckus in my bag.  While it is pricey, I think I can justify buying this on the sparkly shades and sturdy compact.

A while back I heard about Serious Serum and it's claims to do pretty much everything as far as improving skin.  Lets just say I want this stuff, and I want it bad.  I have been telling myself I don't need it and blah blah blah, but with the current state of my skin (hello serious breakout number 2 in the past month) I'd say it's about time I invested.  If this stuff can do half of what it claims I'll be a happy lady.

Another facial product is from Skin Owl.  It is an argan oil infusion with geranium which is supposed to balance and decongest the skin while diminishing sign of aging.  Like I said, my skin is absolutely wretched right now, and I have been looking into getting a facial oil for a few months now and this one looks to be the winner. If it can really brighten my face and balance this mess I have going on I may just cry from happiness.

Let me introduce you, and myself, to Concoction products.  I want one of each of them.  Lets be honest here.  You can take an amazing smelling base and add in little capsules that are each designed to do something different to improve your hair.  This is a UK based company, so unless I get my dream trip to London I'll probably never see this in stores, but they do ship to the US. Fingers crossed I can make up my mind on what shampoo I want before I talk myself out of it.

Last but not least are shoes.  They are called smoking shoes.  I want these shoes, and about six more pairs so I can wear one every day of the week.  All different styles/colors of course.  They are perfect to just slip on and walk around the house in, or out for grocery shopping, and even for a lunch date.  I think these are classic and cute and fit my style perfectly.  With a pair of these I can officially retire a pair of my moccasins which may or may not have a hole or two forming in the sole.  Don't judge me.

Happy shopping everyone!  What are you looking forward to under your tree this year?

Starting The New Year A Little Early

Hey There Dolls,

This time around I'm starting the new year off early and making some resolutions while I have them fresh in my mind.  

1. Smile more.  People always say they never see me without a smile, and I was always called bubbly by my teachers growing up.  Lately I've lost that smile and I am determined to get it back.  Even if it means smiling like a crazy person all the time, I'll make it happen.

2. Read more.  I read blogs, texts, billboards, directions, but rarely books.  Growing up I read like a madman and was always looking for the next literary adventure.  I have decided I need more adventures and novels in my life, and will hopefully be writing up a little snippet on my favorite book of the moment on here once a week.

3. Eat better.  I am borderline celiac, and feel much better when I cut wheat out of my diet, so starting today I am going gluten free!  It's a big life change, and since I believe the word diet to be one of the devils words I will not be calling this change a diet, I will be calling it healthy eating.  Even my boyfriend is getting into the g-free spirit (while I'm around anyways) and he has agreed that while food costs may be higher, we both need to get healthy.

4. Blog consistently.  I actually like writing out blog posts and thinking of what I want to share with you guys.  It keeps my mind occupied, and gives me something to do that combines my passions of writing and pretty things.  I have started to shift the blog away from makeup and into more lifestyle posts lately and I like how that feels.  Don't get me wrong, I have a bunch of products that still need review, but I find it infinitely harder to write product reviews over anything else.

5.  Make the most of my day.  No more sleeping until 12pm.  Even if I don't get to bed until 3am I am going to make a conscious effort to be up by 7am every day.   The worst feeling is waking up and feeling lazy because you overslept.

These few things are just the start of my journey to a better me, and a better self.  By the end of this month I am sure there will be even more resolutions I've made for myself, but hey, life's about growing right?

Happy Monday Everyone!

Christmas Tag

Hi There Dolls,

I was browsing around in the blogosphere and I found this cute little tag on Makeup Pixi3's blog and just had to take part in this.  It's a Christmas tag, which she opened up to everyone, and I am opening up to everyone as well!  

Here it goes:

1.  Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

Synthetic.  A one time buy that you can tuck away in a closet every year.  I worked in a home improvement store that sold real trees and loved the smell, but hated the cleanup.  Also I'm not a strong person so I could never cut the damn things.  The thought of having to freeze my toes off every year to cut down a tree never appealed to me, even being from the north and spending six months in the cold weather.

2.  You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

Peppermint Hot Cocoa.  I drink coffee everyday, so I'm pretty boring with my coffee choice.  I like it strong, with cream, and no sugar.  But around holiday times they bring out the hot cocoa with peppermint and I just can't resist. 

3.  Whats your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

White and blue.  If I could have a tree with white lights and blue ornaments on it every year I would.  If I was forced to change it up the ornaments would be purple, but the lights are always white. 

4.  Giving or receiving?

Giving!  I love the look on peoples faces when they open presents.  I put a lot of thoughts into what to give people so that they light up when they open their presents. 

5.  To mince pie or not to?

Never had it.  I don't really have any want to try it.  I'm a pumpkin and blackberry pie girl.  Not pumpkin blackberry... seperately of course.

6.  What's your traditional sunday lunch?

If you mean what do we eat on Christmas that would be ham, meatballs, rolls, sandwiches, cookies, and pies.  Super unhealthy, but still a tradition. Christmas eve is steak, crackers, cheese, pigs in a blanket, a veggie tray, any kind of finger food basically. 

7.  Christmas day fashion

Sweaters.  Everyone wears sweaters and jeans.  When we used to go to church on Christmas we used to wear dresses and nice clothes and looked presentable, and as soon as we got home we would change into sweaters and jeans and open presents. 

8.  What's your favourite Christmas song?

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  Silver Bells.  Every Christmas song ever.  I love Christmas songs.

9.  What's your favourite Christmas film?

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty The Snowman, The Year Without A Santa Clause.  All the stop motion classics.

10.  Open presents before or after lunch?

Both.  Like I said before when we used to do church in the morning it was after lunch, but now we all open presents in the morning in our respective households, and then all congregate at my Grandmothers house to eat food and exchange gifts among the family.

I love tag posts.  They seem really fun and give a little insight on the individual as well.

If you see any other tags out there let me know!