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