Recent Favorites/Catch Up

Hey Everybody! I've spent the last 4 days sick in bed. Literally, can't get out of bed for more than 30 minutes. I planned on filming a video this week regarding some of my favorite beauty products recently because I haven't done a monthly favorites video in a while. Well, that clearly cannot happen now because I cannot muster up enough energy to film unfortunately! I haven't been buying many new things and haven't had many consistent favorites, but lately, I do find myself using some products that I have really been enjoying and thought I would share with you!

BioOil- I think I have mentioned BioOil before but I've just recently gone back to using it after finishing up some other oils I had opened. BioOil is my favorite oil to use on my face as I think it helps the most with preventing and managing Acne Scars, plus the scent is incredible! I only use it at night as it is very thick and very oily and would never hold up underneath make up.

Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturizer- I LOVE this line from origins. I have tried every product and each one has been a winner. I love using this moisturizer during the day because my skin has been extra dry so the thicker cream-like consistency makes it very comfortable to wear during the day. Though it is creamier, it is not heavy and is actually very light and wears well under make up.

Origins VitaZing Moisturizer- This moisturizer also has energy boosting qualities like the other one that I mentioned, but this one has a slight tint to it that helps even out skin tone. I wear this a lot to work because it is super quick and easy and does not need any other maintenance. The coverage it gives is very natural and I do find it to be very brightening. NOTE: I do NOT like wearing this under foundation. I do not find that it holds up well at all. Seriously guys, there is nothing like this on the market that I have found yet. 

Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua Foundation- I use this foundation every summer because it is so light and breathable. It makes your skin look super lit-from-within and luminous. The best way to apply this is just with finger tips because it blends out and melts in just perfectly. I don't find it necessary to always powder this foundation. The coverage is light-to-medium and it smells fantastic. 

Benefit Gimme Brow- Okay, seriously?! This stuff is incredible. If I want a bold brow, I pair this with my Anastasia DipBrow, but it is also perfect for days when you just use the "Fabulous 4" (Foundation, Blush, Mascara, Brows). I don't think I'll ever stop using this product because it is absolute perfection for any and all brow types. 

Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint- This is a cream-like product this is used to bring a lightness to the complexion. It appears an opalescent color and remains on the skin with a glow. A little bit of this goes a looongg way. I use this under foundation just under the eye area and on the bridge of nose and also the forehead. It looks a little intense, even just swatched, but once it is blended in with the foundation it looks so luminous. I think this product is so unique. 

MORE EMPTIES!!! REGRETS AND REPURCHASES

Hey guys, take a look at my trash ;-)

REVIEW: Bare Minerals BAREskin Foundations

Here with a review! Finally.

So, I've never really gotten into the Bare Minerals makeup, but now I'm sort of trying to get into it. Lately I've been more concerned about ingredients and things that could potentially be bad for your skin. I've always been cautious of skin cancer and have never ever been one to tan, and I'm trying to keep away from ingredients that may cause premature aging or pose a threat to my skin long term. Anyways...that was a tangent.

I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about bare minerals powder foundations except that one time my old co-worker was trying to put it on in the car and it fell and her car was COVERED in foundation. Also, I know that it can stain carpet, just a little warning. When I saw that they were launching a liquid make up, I was immediately intrigued. Then, they mentioned how the formula is a skin brightening serum foundation. Um, hello?!?! Do you know who you are talking to? I love serums, I love brightening, this seems perfect. 

I bought mine at Ulta and even bought the skin perfecting brush with the "foundation reservoir", but ended up returning that. I never apply foundation with a brush because I feel like it clings to dry patches and looks cakey and not blended. Also, I found the brush to dense and uncomfortable on the skin and honestly, a little gimmicky. 

As far as the foundation, the bottle is 30ml; which is the same as my Make Up Forever HD Foundation and my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. I am in the shade "Bare Natural 07". The color match is pretty good as long as I do not use too much. This is the trick you guys. This foundation is highly pigmented and not mixed with much liquid therefore it is very bold and will not match your skin tone unless you start with literally 2 drops of foundation and work it in. I like to apply it with my beauty blender. The finish is extremely glow-y on my skin and really enhances the center areas of my face naturally. It will stay fresh-looking for maybe 3 hours until I wish I had used a powder over top. I am still working with it to find the best form of application. The bottom line for me is that  for $28 a bottle that is the same size as my nearly $50 Chanel foundation, and you only need a few drops to cover your face, this is a great high end value. 

Ulta is great about returns. My recommendation? Try this out for yourself and see how you like it for a few days of applying it in different ways. If you don't like it, return it! But I will say, the way it makes my skin look, I'm extremely happy that I found it. 

My Go-To Spring Make Up Look! Ft. Orange Lips

Hey everybody! This is my go to spring make up look. I incorporated a diluted version of an orange lip as that is a huge trend this spring. I hope you guys enjoy!!

Review: Dior Glow Maximizer Primer

Ain't that the best picture you've ever seen (not!). I bought this luxurious Dior primer in hopes that I could use it with some of my heavy/matte/satin/long-wear foundations to give them a more luminous finish. Sadly, this was not the case.

I bought this and really wanted to love it. I reallllllly really did. I gave it several chances; in fact, I gave it 2 months of trial to get a fair opinion. What it comes down to is that for $42, it simply is not worth it. It sets up REALLY quickly so you must work fast to get it all over your face. Sadly I don't think The Flash could work fast enough to get this stuff spread evenly. It looked patchy and uneven every. single. time. 

On top of that, it was extremely iridescent. It was gorgeous swatched and honestly I didn't mind it on my skin, but be warned, if you have pores that you try desperately to conceal, this primer will most likely be your worst enemy. 

I'm very partial to the Hourglass Veil Primer, it is my favorite high end and I would spend money on that without thinking twice. As far as this Dior primer, I held onto it for so long but something much better has recently stepped into my life. the Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer is incredible. It does not have a silicony feel (which I actually like when they do, but I know some people do not). It spreads well and gives the face a beautiful glow that looks luminous and not sparkly. It is much less expensive and, in my opinion, far better than the Dior Glow Maximizer. 

Hope this was helpful!! 

Tanya Burr Lipgloss Review!

It is no secret that I am obsessed with YouTube. One of my favorite YouTubers is Tanya Burr who's channel focuses on beauty and fashion. She is absolutely fabulous, adorable, knowledgable, and so sweet. Seriously, you watch her and you feel like she really does want to come out of the computer screen and give you a hug. I just love her.
Tanya recently released what hopefully is just the beginning of a gorgeous make up line. She has a collection of nail polishes and lip glosses. Of course I couldn't resist and HAD to buy some of her glosses.

After seeing how gorgeous and modern she looked at her release party, I knew I had to get the shade "Picnic in the Park" because that is what she was wearing. I would describe it as a corally-hot pink shade. It is really unique because it isn't too peachy or pink and though it is worn beautifully on it's own, you could pair it over a pink or peach lipliner and it would really conform to whichever shade you want it to be. Kind of like a chameleon.

I also got the shade First Date; your quintessential soft, baby pink. This one is really pigmented and is a great gloss to have. It's one of those shades that you just need in your collection because it is great on it's own, to layer, or to throw in your bag for an easy, elegant lip look.

I have to say, I am really impressed with these. I bought them because I love and support Tanya and she deserves all the success in the world for her hard work and loyalty to fans. Her humility and humbleness is contagious.  The packaging is durable and not cheapy, they aren't too sticky but do last a while, they are pigmented, and very versatile. I love to layer mine over lipliners to create a glossy bold look but also love to just carry the glosses for touch ups through out the day. They are very pigmented but not like an opaque cream formula. They smell sweet and delicious and come in a beautiful range of colors. You can grab them here!

LIEBSTER AWARD!!

Hey Guys! I was so honored to be nominated for a Liebster award! So, to my understanding, I state 11 facts about me, answer 11 questions from my nominator, and ask 11 questions to the blogs I nominate. So lets jump in! I will have links and blogs to check out and a big Thank You to my nominator all listed at the end <3 

11 Facts About Me:

1) I am 21 years old

2) I am a communications student and absolutely LOVE it

3) A dream job for me would be to work for Twitter or write columns for a website or magazine

4) I would love to dabble in hosting and broadcasting at some point in my life

5) I want a dog so bad!! Once I have a home of my own with a yard and everything I hope to get a Pug with crazy eyes and a German Shepard 

6 )I have two kittens…well, they’re actually cats…and I love them to pieces!! I named them Morrison and Presley after Van Morrison and Elvis Presley

7 )I am a Disney freak! This past year I purchased my first Disneyland season pass and if it were up to me, I would go all 365 days of the year!

8) I am literally afraid of everything. Like, literally, everything. 

9) I don’t think I’m very “fashionable”, I just wear what I like and hope I don’t look crazy!! 

10) I compulsively buy hats, all kinds of hats. And very seldom do I ever even wear a hat.

11) I’m totally and completely obsessed with Saturday Night Live. It’s seriously the best show ever. 

11 Questions From Ashley

1) Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I had a huge passion for cosmetics and make up and followed so many YouTube channels. I knew that I ultimately wanted to make videos, but thought that blogging would be a great place to start. It became very addictive once people started following my blog and it made me want to write more and more, so I started a “daily” blog. I felt that if I was going to spend tons of money on beauty stuff, I might as well do something productive about it and write reviews to help others out!

2) What is your fav beauty product?

I’m taking this as a “I can’t leave the house without…” because Ashley specified “If you could only pick one”. My favorite beauty product is bronzer! I love that it shapes the face, gives color, and can help match foundation to your skin if your shade is too light. Bronzer is a MUST for me. I can go out without mascara or blush or lipstick, but bronzer is a HUGE must. 

3) What do you wear to feel most confident?

Skinny Jeans! I think Skinny Jeans that fit well with a flowey loose top is such a flattering look for my body type. I also think it can be paired with boots or heels or gladiators and just look classic and put together. 

4) what is your favorites app on your phone?

Twitter! I am a twitter FIEND and I really don’t like using it on my computer so my phone is the perfect option.

5) who is the person in your life that inspires you most?

Aside from family and friends who inspire and encourage me, I’m going to take a bit of a different approach to this question. I want to give credit where credit is due and say that a big inspiration in my life is Tanya Burr and Tyler Oakley (YouTubers). They have both built empires just by releasing content onto YouTube. They don’t get any help, as in, they don’t have producers or anyone writing the a script or giving them something to talk about. Tanya Burr has created a cosmetic line and Tyler Oakley has the coolest opportunities to broadcast and host which is something I would love to do someday. I think that established YouTubers deserve so much more credit than they are given 

6) If you have a day job, what do you do, and is it a life’s passion?

I do have a day job, I am a nanny. It’s not a “life passion” as in, I plan on being a Nanny forever. But, I do LOVE kids (especially the ones I have the pleasure of watching) and hope to be a mom someday so in that way I guess it is sort of like a passion.

7) If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

There are a bunch of places I want to (and really hope to) live in my life! After college, I hope to live in Los Angeles. I would also like to live in Seattle or Portland at some point in my life. I would also like to live in Maui and London for a year or two each. I’m not sure where I will find myself in my life, but I do expect great things! The future is so exciting and I cannot wait to see what it has in store for me. 

8) What would be your choice for a Last Meal?

Hmmm, that is a tough question! If I could have ANY last meal in the world, I would chose a dinner from my favorite place called Star Noodle, located in Maui. I would chow down on some Chow Funn noodle, Garlic Noodle, and their “Star Screams” for dessert. Washed down with a delicious hand crafted Sake cocktail, too!

9) If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Absolutely, 100%, I would chose John Lennon. My dad has always listened to The Beatles and I grew up listening to their music and still obsess over them. I like to think I know more about The Beatles than most people my age. John Lennon is a legend and always will be. He stood for peace and was a huge women’s rights activist. He just seemed so chill and sarcastic and I would love to hang out with him if he were still alive. 

10) If you could add any one piece to your wardrobe what would it be?

As of recently, I am totally obsessed with LouBoutons. I want to get a pair as a Graduation Gift to myself once I graduate so I can walk the stage in them. I think they are so classic and elegant and would be a piece that could last a lifetime.

11) Who is your celebrity Crush?

Where should I start?! My number one I think would have to be Jason Sudeikis, he just seems like husband material, he is so funny and I personally think he is totally handsome! I also am in love with Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson…biggggg surprise there. Zac Efron, Johnny Depp, and did I mention Harry Styles??

11 Questions For Nominations

1) Why did you start blogging?

2) Where is your dream vacation?

3) What is a beauty item in your collection you could not live without?

4) Any big and exciting plans in the near future?

5) Who is your fashion inspiration?

6) Which Hollywood star would you marry?

7) If you could act in any television show, which would you chose?

8) What is your favorite song at the moment?

9) What is your favorite food in the WHOLE world?

10) If you could play any instrument perfectly, which would you chose?

11) What is your dream job? 

So, ideally, somebody is supposed to be able to nominate 11 small blogs for a Liebster award, but I'm so ashamed to say that I really do not keep up with 11 small blogs! I think that it's really important to support bloggers and people that don't get free stuff for trial are the ones giving you 100% honest opinions because they are purchasing everything themselves. I will mention the blogs I want to nominate and why I love them!

First off, I want to nominate my best friend, Tiffany. Now, hear me out. I am not just nominating her because she is my best friend, but seriously, this girl has a way with words! She talks about beauty, travel, inspiring quotes, book reviews, and just life in general. I love catching up on her blog and seeing what she is up to and what she's been reading and all her thoughts. You get a total laid back vibe from reading her blog, and I LOVE it. 

http://tcricket.wordpress.com

Next, I want to nominate my blog buddy Charlene. She has been nominated before, and it comes as no surprise. This girl makes you want to be her. Seriously. Her life is SO cool, and she is kind of what I consider a "pen pal", kinda dorky right? She has such a bright and positive attitude that shines through her blogging and she is always up to something exciting and adventurous. She is the first person I really started following on wordpress religiously and I think she rocks. 

http://theadventuresofcharbar.wordpress.com

A HUGE thank you to Ashley, who nominated me for this Liebster award. I am so honored that you follow my blog and like the content. You guys should TOTALLY check her out, her blog rocks and she is always putting up really fun things to read. I love her crisp lay out and original posts. Thanks again! 

http://www.beautyandthereads.com

My First Unboxing! Ipsy, Birchbox, and Bauble Bar!

Hey Folks, I forgot to blog once I got this last video up. I came home to a slew of boxes and decided to film an unboxing of them and give a "first thoughts" type impression to you guys. I hope you enjoy it (and will subscribe...and give me a thumbs up! Please??)

As a look into the future, I have a blog post written up that will hopefully get posted very very soon. In the meantime, be sure you're following my other blog dakotasdailydoses.blogspot.com for life updates, random thoughts, photo journals, and other stuff!!

Taupe Eyes and Bold Lips!

Hey guys, here with a NEW video!
This is pretty much my standard go-to makeup look for everyday...you all know how much I love bold and bright lips!

Please don't forget to subscribe and thank you SO much for watching!

Put A Bauble On It!

Lets talk statement pieces, shall we? Statement pieces vary from jewelry, blazers, shoes, anything really that just adds a big pop of "WOW!" to your outfit. Statement pieces are usually something that are worn with an otherwise fairly simple outfit to dress it up or make it stand out a little bit more. 

I've been a big fan of bright colored scarves for years now and usually used those as a simple statement piece. I've always wanted to dabble in statement coats/blazers but here in California, we just don't have the type of weather that justifies spending loads of money on brightly colored outerwear (to be honest, we are actually in the middle of a drought!). 

Anyways, I've always heard of BaubleBar from different YouTubers including Ingrid (missglamorazzi) and Elle (allthatglitters21) and many, many more. Anyways, I was going to a Christmas dinner in December and did not want to buy a new dress--lets be honest, buying new dresses can be really fun, but a lot of work. Usually with buying a new dress you then need new shoes, sometimes even a new jacket. I just did not have the energy to go through all of that and to be honest, I really do not need another dress hanging in my closet. Really. 

I decided I would wear a Target dress I picked up for my 21st Birthday and finally buy my first Bauble to dress up the outfit. Upon logging into the website, I was immediately overwhelmed. All the sparkle, all the silver, all the dazzle, ahhh I was drooling! I spent a good hour searching all the pages over and over again tying to decide which ones I wanted. I finally decided on the Marine Contessa Bib. Unfortunately due to the holiday rush, I wasn't able to get this piece before my party BUT I did get it a couple days down the road and it is my most worn Bauble. It is so beautiful and versatile, and a great pop of Bling and Blue. 

The next day (I showed my mom the site the day before to ask for an opinion on which one to order), my mom selected a bunch to order for her and I as gifts to each other for Christmas. I was ecstatic because there were so many I wanted to badly. I even got my friend aboard the Bauble Bandwagon and she was going crazy, too. 

My first pick was elegant Silver Dame Necklace that feature only clear gems on a silver backing that dangles down your decollate. I love to wear this one with simple tees as a way to dress up a simple shirt and sweater outfit. Perfect for those days when you have work and then a nice dinner to head to after, this piece will take you straight from day to night!

Next was a pick from Missglamorazzi's BaubleBar collection. I was originally super drawn to this piece because it seemed so whimsical and the blush-coloring of it was really alluring. This Rose Dandelion Bib is great for spring and summer.

Upon receiving the Rose Dandelion Bib I noticed that one of the small stones was missing. DO NOT REMOVE THE WHITE TAG UNTIL YOU MAKE SURE ALL THE STONES ARE WELL IN PLACE. I shipped it back and had a really fantastic customer service experience. BaubleBar has a very personal and professional business team that is very committed to good customer service. When they shipped me the repaired necklace, they sent an "extra bit of sparkle" for my troubles.

I'm not sure what the name of this bright pink fringe piece is but I can't wait to wear it with some matching lipstick and nail polish!! 

Now onto Buried Baubles...the reason my Bank Account cries at night in solitude while I sit in bed wearing my finest Statement Necklaces. BaubleBar releases a Buried Bauble every Monday and Friday by sending out an email with clues to lead you to the treasure. The Buries Bauble is marked down to either $10 or $20, usually about half off a Bauble!! Who can pass up that offer??

My first Buried Bauble was this Pastel Pinwheel Collar in the color "Ivory". It has a mix of Ivory and Mint on a gold backing that is just absolutely stunning. I paired this with a neon yellow shirt the other day and LOVED the combination of Pastel and Neon. Can we make that a thing??

The second Buried Bauble I purchased was this Mod Lizzie Collar in "White" and OH MY GOODNESS, this is more gorgeous than I could have ever expected. I have to say, I would recommend this Bauble to anyone that didn't know which Bauble to pick. The stones are iridescent and so shiny. I also like that the chain is a little thicker than the others making the gold on white really stand out. If you don't know which one to pick, pick this one. (It's kind of similar to the Rose Dandelion Bib, but more chunky and shiny). 

The other great thing about BaubleBar is getting everyone hooked on it! Borrowed Baubles are always fun.

I especially love to borrow my mom's Tortoise Deco Strand...

You can accumulate points with each order which are redeemable as money towards your BaubleBar purchase, and by referring someone by email, you can gain 150 points! So, if you are interested in BaubleBar, definitely check it out! The best part? If you leave me your email address, I can invite you and you can get 15% off!

Maybelline Color Elixirs Review || Glossy Gloss Goodness

I have been trying out lots of new products this week and trying to get a couple of reviews up. So, here we are with the first review of the week.

Maybelline has released a new line of lip-laquering goodness that is supposed to be a combination of pigment, comfort, and gloss all rolled into one pout-pursing punch. 

I've personally heard really mixed reviews on these. Some say it's too thick, others don't like that it isn't as full coverage as the Rimmel Show Off Lip Creams, and some think they're the bomb. Time for my two cents...

I think that these Color Elixirs are incredible. I think they are easier to wear than the Rimmel Show Offs because they are thicker and do not bleed outside the lip lines. I love the vast color range--though I have found that they differ from other displays at different locations (Target only has about half the collection). These are not full of color coverage, it can be sheer or it can build up color but it is not how it is portrayed in the add as a liquid lipstick. 

My favorite way to wear these are over a lip liner. The Color Elixir stays on for ages and just to ensure I won't have to touch up for hours and hours, I lay it over a lip liner. This also makes the pigment much bolder. Also, depending on which color you line and fill in your lips with, the Color Elixir will bounce off of that color and change with different shades of liner. 

I have been using my Mac Magenta Lip Liner so my Color Elixirs take on a bit more of a purple hue. Anyways, I'm totally and completely obsessed with these!

The first color I picked up is Dashing Orchid which is a shimmering Orchid-Purple color. It's totally my type of color.

Next up is Hibiscus Haven, a true hot pink color which layers gorgeous over that Mac Magenta liner I was talking about. This is like a liquid "Candy Yum-Yum" (by Mac) shade.

The fact that these a a gloss make them a little more wearable than a lipstick for those of you who are a little intimidated by bright colors. 

I think these look best if you apply them and kiss the back of your hand to blot off some of the excess. These are also the type of product you don't want to apply before eating as it is a thick consistency. But I'm telling you guys, I am COMPLETELY OBSESSED! I expect to pick up a lot more of these. 

My First BirchBox!

Anyone out there love subscription services?! I really, really, really, love free samples. Like, a lot. I've always thought about Subscription boxes but never really signed up for one. They're pretty inexpensive in theory for what it is that you are getting. I refused to pay more than $10 for my first round of Subscription boxes just because I wasn't sure how much I was going to be into it.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with subscription boxes, it is basically a company that you can sign up to and pay X amount of dollars a month and they send you your monthly subscription of beauty products (well in my case beauty products, but they even have these things for your dog!). Some popular Beauty Subscription Services include Ipsy, Beauty Army, and Birchbox.
I am subscribed to two different services and want to see how the first 2-3 months go and then I will ultimately pick just one to stay subscribed to. The first box to come in was Birchbox and I was apprehensive.
After reading several reviews comparing all the different companies to pick from, I've heard my fair share of positives and negatives for all of them. As far as I'm concerned, I am totally impressed with my first box!

Upon subscribing to Birchbox, I had to fill out a quiz that vaguely asked what kind of products I was interested in. I mentioned hair, skin care, and of course, make up. I was a little surprised to see they gave me a nail product because I know that I didn't pick that on my quiz but oh well! 

The best product I got was a pretty substatial sized Shampoo and Conditioner by Fredrick Fekkai from his "Glossing" line. I have been dying to try this duo out for a really long time and so I was ecstatic to find it in my preciously wrapped box. 

The next product I got was a Nail Rock glitter set that gives you a really intense glittery accent nail. I'm not sure I will get a lot of use out of this product as I really loath glittery nail polish and the whole process of removing it. But it's definitely worth a shot! And it is a full size kit, which is really impressive.

I also got a Mineral Eyeshadow in a gorgeous blueish-silver duo chrome. I will definitely get some good use out of this and I think it will be perfect for layering over black eyeshadow or worn alone. Gotta love duo chromes!

The "extra" gift was this really interesting deodorizing wipe that you can use to make your clothes smell fresher on a long day, for example if you were flying and needed to smell nice when you landed. Interesting concept...we will see.

Over all I am totally excited about my new subscription service! I'm already excited to see what I get next month!!

Hope you guys are having a nice week! XOXO

December Favorites! 2013

Ahh, it's midway through January of 2014 and I am just now getting up my December Favorites video! Things have been totally crazy busy lately, does anyone else feel like that too? I feel like everything leading up to the holidays is insane and then afterwards, it just doesn't settle down. Anyway, I hope you guys found some good favorites through December and that if you like this video you will please please please subscribe to my YouTube channel!! Youtube.com/beautyandblogging

I've Got A Lipstick Fever!

Things are getting very serious, guys. I am in the process of saving up money (well, trying to! Anyone have any good tips to staying motivated at saving money?? I could really use them!) and try not spending as much on cosmetics at the moment because I'm buying a new computer soon and apparently need new tires in the near future. Do you ever feel like, really? New tires? Didn't I just get those?

Anyways, since it has been a while since I've posted here on Beauty and Blogging I thought I would share with you a few lipsticks I have my eyeballs set on that are on my wish list. I hope you all are doing well and feeling beautiful; I hope you had an awesome holiday season and are really enjoying 2014! 

Elizabeth Arden "Red Door Red"

Inspired by my life idol, Tanya Burr, she rocked this color several times during Vlogmas and mentioned how much she loved it. Now, I know many will argue that I probably don't need another Red Lipstick (in which case, I would agree), but come on, it's gorgeous! The packaging, and color, the shade. So beautiful!

Chanel "L'Adoree" Lipstick

My reason for really needing this lipstick is that it is only seasonal and part of a collection AKA get yours while you can. I would have never known about this gorgeous shade but while hanging out with some girl friends the other day, my friend showed me this gorgeous shade and it was love at first sight. Chanel Lipsticks are super ultra pricey and I've never owned one, but, if I were to own one, this would be the one at the top of my list! Also, being as I'm the biggest promoter of purple-hued lipsticks it's only fitting I pick this up, right? 

Elizabeth Arden "Neoclassical Coral" 

The fact that I would even consider this shade is insane. I've bought so many peach and coral lipshades and never seem to like them BUT the red tones and bright pink hue in this is what is really convincing me I need it. Again, Tanya Burr wore this while in Dubai in a Vlogmas video and I was dying to know which shade it was. Once she mentioned it I knew I had to pick it up. Though I haven't bought it (yet?), it seems really unique and very beautiful. It's really like nothing else I own. 

DIY Sparkly Reindeer Crunch!

This post is PERFECT for those of you with kids in your life, whether your a mommy, dad, babysitter, nanny, sibling, anything!

I remember doing this when I was a kid and it being so much fun! But this year, my mom had the great idea (gotta give credit where credit is due) to make a special "reindeer crunch" for the kids I work with.

Basically all this Reindeer Crunch is is smashed up cereal with glitter and a Jingle Bell. And let me tell you, yesterday I gave the kids a handful of small gifts including cookies and ornaments, but nothing compared to their special Reindeer Crunch!

So lets get started! The best part? You'll be done in 5 minutes!

Things You'll Need:

A few handfuls of Frosted Mini Wheat Cereal (or honestly, whatever you have on hand)

Some Red and Green Glitter

A Jingle Bell

A Plastic Bag

A Ribbon

Step 1: Take your plastic bag and crumble up some of the Cereal into the bag. You can crumble as much or as little as you want.

Step 2: Add in some glitter! We used red and green but feel free to use any colors you think your kids will enjoy!

Step 3: In the bag, add in the Jingle Bell. Mainly for Decoration, but of course there is a reason in the story (you'll see in a little bit!)

Step 4: Tie the bag tightly with a ribbon and tell your little "holiday helpers" this...

"To help Santa find his way to your house, sprinkle this special Sparkly Reindeer Crunch" on your front lawn on Christmas Eve Night, just before you go to bed. The glitter will sparkle so brightly that it will catch Santa's Reindeer's eyes while they're flying high in the sky. While Santa is giving you all your presents, they can crunch on their special Reindeer Crunch! The Jingle Bell is very important, it's to help you remember to put it on the lawn on Christmas eve. Santa is going to be so pleased that you were thoughtful enough to give his reindeer such a yummy snack that maybe he'll give you some extra special gifts!"

This could be fun to do with your kids, or just to give to them. We are keeping ours tucked into the Christmas tree so that we won't forget and so that we can tell everyone that looks at our tree what it is. Room moms: this is a super simple class gift to give each of the students! And if you're clever enough, you can even write a cute story on a little tag and tie it to the ribbons.

This is just a jumping off point, get creative with it! The kids in your life will love it and maybe it will even become a family tradition!

Hoping your Holiday Season has been bright thus far! 

November Favorites! 2013

Hey Everybody! Just uploaded my November Favorites! Man oh man, I have sooo many great lip products to share with you! I was also house sitting when I filmed this so I apologize for the dog's jingling collar, he wouldn't stop scratching his neck. 

Favorites

Face

Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation (N Bisque)

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser (Light)

Bobbi Brown Concealer Stick (ivory 01)

Nars Blush in "Sin"

Eyes

Avon Mega Effects Mascara

CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara

Skin

Glam Glow Youthful Tingling Exfoliant Face Mask

Lip 

Soap and Glory "Great Kisser" Lip Balm

Milani "Chilled Brandy" Lipstick

Milani "Sangria" Lipstick

Milani "Uptown Mauve" Lipstick

Mac "Nightmoth" Lipliner

Mac "Rebel" Lipstick

Mac "Diva" Lipstick

Mac "Plink" Lipstick

Covergirl Outlast "Tempt" Lipstick

Random

Casey Homes (itsbl0ndie) on Youtube

1D Day

One Direction Midnight Memories Album

Deep Burgundy Lips--Four Fun Picks!

Hey guys! I finally have a new beauty post to get up. This was hard because I had a couple I wanted to pick up and buy but I couldn't because I was participating in "No-Buy November". But, now that it is December, I have FOUR really fun deep lip colors for you guys to try out!

Deep, red/plum lips are really in this season and I think they are really wearable and anyone could pull them off. Just be brave and commit, I think you'll be happy with the results! 

In general, I'm a huge fan of red lipstick but something about burgundy, wine, and plum colored lipsticks is just so perfect...save those candy apple red lipsticks for Christmas to make a statement! 

This is the shade "Rebel" by Mac. This is like a cult favorite--everyone loves it and I am no exception. It leans towards the purple side of burgundy but is really versitile. If you use a lipliner, it can really transform the color. Worn lightly, it appears as a lipstain, but the coverage can be built up. This has been a favorite for 2 fall seasons now!

A nearly exact drugstore dupe for "Rebel" (dupe alert, dupe alert) is Milani's lipstick in the color "Sangria". I think the pictures speak for themselves; these two shades are definitely twins! Milani makes my favorite drugstore lipstick, I think that they are great, smell good, and are really comfortable. 

Above is "Diva" by Mac. I love this deep, vixen-y red color. Here I wore it alone, but over a lipliner (a personal favorite being "Nightmoth" by Mac), it takes on a whole new level of vampyness. I absolutely adore this shade. Don't be taken back by the "matte" label on it either, this particular shade is very comfortable on the lips. I highly recommend this to those who want a red but are a little nervous to go bright red. This is a good medium blue-toned shade. 

Last but certainly not least is my new FAVORITE lipstick. I adore this shade so much. This is Milani's "Chilled Brandy" lipstick. Oh my goodness. I wasn't expecting to like this at all because it is shimmery and I haven't had much good luck with Mac's shimmery line (the "Frost" finish lipsticks). This shade has absolutely blown my mind. I have reached for this everyday since I've bought it. It is a deep red color with a gold sheen in it and it literally looks like a Christmas ornimant. It's drop dead gorgeous and extremely wearable. I think this may be the most wearable red I have ever found (and trust me, I have bought a LOT of red lipsticks).

I hope you guys found this helpful and will go out and try a new shade of lipstick! It can be really fun stepping outside of your box and trying out something you haven't before, especially around the holiday's when you have fun events to go to and lots of people to impress. 

A HUGE Cosmetic Purge

It's about that time of the year where you will probably be given lots of cosmetics, clothes, fragrances, etc. as gifts. While searching for a scientific calculator the other day, I found myself throwing out so much old makeup that I never even use anymore. I hope you enjoy this type of video, I thought it may be interesting to see what it is that I'm tossing and maybe it'll help you to clean out your collection!

Fall Drugstore Makeup Tutorial (FULL FACE!)

So heres to the longest video I've made yet. Honestly, I can't imagine anyone wanting to watch a nearly 18 minute video but in case you do, here is one I made that is a full face drugstore tutorial. All the products used (except a few brushes) were from the drugstore. I encourage you to search through your collection and work with what you have; I didn't buy anything new for this tutorial and just worked with what I have. I think you'll be surprised if you can rediscover some oldies but goodies in your collection. I think I may have even found some of this months "favorites" while filming this. Enjoy!

The Mac Counter--Why I Hate Going There

Here I am again with yet another rant. These seem to becoming more and more frequent here on Beauty and Blogging but this is definitely a beauty subject that needs to be addressed. Especially because while researching some of my material on google such as "do Mac employees work on commission?", my search results were flooded with forums saying "because they sure are bitches!"

And you know what ladies and gentlemen, I am going to have to agree.

I do want to make a point right now loud and clear; this is not meant to be a hasty generalization. I'm speaking from experiences of my own and through others. This is not to say that there haven't been times when I've gotten great service at the Mac counter (meaning the counters or the free standing stores, by the way) and had someone who was willing to help, not pushy, and easy to talk to, but these times have been few and far between.

As a cosmetic junkie, I find myself in Mac quite often. I really do love Mac Cosmetics. I love my Mac palettes, adore my Mac lipsticks and liners, lipglasses, blushes, the whole nine yards. What is really important to realize, is I do not just wander into a Mac store to "browse" anymore. I know that place like the back of my hand and always go in with specific things I want to pick up. I never walk in NOT to buy. My bestie put in best in her blog (check it out! She rocks) the Mac counter is like an adult Crayola Crayon box. You cannot beat the selection of colors and finishes at Mac. With all these times that I am in the Mac store, I very rarely spend less than $50; I like to think I am a good customer. Apparently the majority of employees think otherwise. 

I always walk into the store and go to the display of things I'm planning on buying. I'll swatch them out and compare them to a few other shades and what not and wait patiently for someone to come help me. Most of the ladies and men working in there just gaze over my head like I'm not even there. If I'm feeling not quite annoyed enough, I'll sometimes ask "excuse me, could I get some help?" and they will usually say "Sorry, I'm helping someone else". That's fine, could you send one of the 7 ladies behind the register my way to help me?

Of those 7 ladies behind the register, maybe one is actually ringing things up? Whatever. So I go jump in line with a bunch of other people who are waiting to be rung up; the only difference is the majority of them must look like high rollers because all of the items they would like to purchase are behind the counter with a sticky note with their name on it. 

The worst part of the whole experience is when I get to the front and they ask what I want from the back, they never apologize for the lack of assistance that I recieved. Then, they ALWAYS have the audacity to try to up-sale me. 

"Oh, well you know, buying one pigment is almost as much as the set" 

"I know, Just the one pigment please"

"Well, I would just like to make sure you understand that for only 12 more dollars, you can get the whole pigment set"

"yes, I understand, I am educated, I can read the numbers, I've already told you just the pigment"

"Now, You're sure you just want this ONE pigment, instead of the set?"

OH. MY. GOSH. YES. I. AM. SURE.

"do you have a lipliner to match this lipstick, or do you need to purchase one now"

"yes, I do, at home"

"what brand is it? what is the shade?"

I cannot take the up-sale. ESPECIALLY after receiving bad....not even bad, actually, it's non existent service. 

It also drives me crazy when they run out of products; you are responsible for ONE brand, how are you ALWAYS out of the things I need? 

Why would I buy the empty palette without the insert? WHY? So I have to come back and deal with more poor service? How are you out of the inserts, but not the palettes? 

The whole deal about ALL of these events is that they are not one time occurances. I usually never get helped, usually one of the several items I'm purchasing is out (there have been occasions where all 4 things are out of stock...how?!), and I'm always a victim of the up-sale. 

I'm not sure is Mac employees work on commission, but I'm sure they do. I would think they would want to impress customers and try to build a retention with them so people will continue to come to the same employee and purchase items through them. Maybe I'm wrong. I do know what it is like working in an establishment that runs on commission, and though it wasn't my favorite way of working, at no point under any circumstance was I ever rude to a customer. I also would never ignore a customer; upon walking in the door, you should be greeted by an employee even if you are not able to assist them right away. 

Does anybody else experience this at the Mac counter? I would LOVE to hear stories down below in the comments =D